What Happens When I Feel Up Fruit?

I've realized that every time I go to the produce section of a supermarket, I get depressed. There are a few reasons for this. I see fruit and vegetables that are brought in from all over the world, just to rot. When I am feeling around for stuff that is ripe to my liking, I am sometimes tempted to take things that aren't perfect, because I know they are going to go to waste. These items are not rotting or defected to the point where they are deemed sale-worthy, either (meaning that they are not going to get separated and put on a discount shelf). So, the idea of tons of produce going to waste depresses me. As a sidenote, buying locally is a nice idea, but is not even an option in my Brooklyn neighborhood.

Then, I start thinking about the earth's dwindling ability to produce food for its entire population in general. I just don't see how it can be done in a responsible way in the future. If it's not done responsibly now- what is going to happen when desperation enters the picture?

I'll tell you what is going to happen- the Cornucopians are going to step in. They already have. (Note: I try to block out most of what I learned studying politics in college, but occasionally, it rears its hideously realist, debbie-downer head.) Cornucopians essentially feel that increasing demand for dwindling supply can always be met due to advances in technology. That is my own, personal description. They are optimists and believe that science will always have an answer to any problems that arise. They don't get depressed in the produce section of the grocery store.

People like me get depressed at the grocery store. This guy back at the start of the 19th century named Thomas Malthus wrote about the potential problems that would arise with population and agriculture. His ideas counter those of Cornucopians, and predict that eventually, there will be widespread poverty since population will supersede the ability to produce food. A term for this is a Malthusian Catastrophe, and it is often extended beyond food sources, into oil supply and economic growth. We see this happening already. (And those things also depress me, but that's for another day...)

Now, Cornucopians will argue that constant advances in technology will prevent widespread famine from occurring. Genetically modified food is a perfect example. But in my eyes, quick answers to long-term problems have the potential to be devastating beyond repair. In a Cornucopian's eyes, there will always be a way to fix something wrong, and if that solution has negative effects, than they will just find a way to fix it. Interestingly enough, most of the men I date are of the Cornucopian ilk. Maybe that's why I date them- for their innovation and positivity. Or maybe they just pretend to be that way, to make us both feel better.

Yes. This is what goes through my mind as I walk through the aisles of the grocery store, feeling up the fruit.

Bubbles of Guilt....burbujas culpable?

Me gusta la mente
que est abajo de mi sombrero
Pero a veces yo pienso
“Quiero mas dinero!”
El viaje de la fortuna,
tiene muchas vias
A veces- el vino perfecto
Otras veces– las uvas son agrias.

I like the mind
that is under my hat
But sometimes I think
“I want more money!”
The journey of fortune
has many ways,
Sometimes- the perfect wine
Others- the grapes are sour.

*there are most likely a few mistakes above. my spanish is suffering. i speak like 2 sentences of spanish now. and i don't even care....

I am a big fan of blowing bubbles at festive events. I am actually a master bubble-blower, and I wow people at festivals and parties with my skills, which includes blowing bubbles inside of bubbles, smoke-filled bubbles, and occasionally, my bubbles actually dance to the beat of the music. I joke you not. But this only happens in the right circumstances.... not everyday. And I have not done a square bubble, but I saw on youtube that it is possible. I don't have the patience for it at the moment.

Anyhow, for a long time, it was my dream to have a bubble gun. I got one at the ghetto mall in Philly; it cost 5$ at Five Below, a large 5 dollar and under store with mostly junk. I don't go there anymore. The gun didn't work. Then I found one that did work in Rome- I bought it from one of those guys on the street, in front of the most beautiful fountain in the world (true- most beautiful fountain in the world... I could barely look at it). Anyhow, as mentioned in this blog's postings back in May or June 2009, I was SO happy I got a functioning bubble gun. I think it was 5 euro. And I lost it shortly thereafter. So, I got a little one in Queens... it worked. I liked it. Nice and portable. But I don't know where it is at the moment.

So, tonight I will be going to a party at Freedom, the bar I dj'ed at lastnight. Then at one or so, we are going to take a boat to the 3-day party, at a really special place on the lake (accessible only by boat). A few years ago, I went to parties there. I rocked it, picked up hulahooping, danced to breakbeats on vinyl played by these French people (who sadly enough were hijacked down in Brasil and some of them were shot dead), and I partied with some people who are still in my life. I am excited to return. Anyhow, back to bubbles... I knew I would need some for these next few days, so I went up the hill to town. I found the a bubble gun... for $2.50 or so... I got it... and it works! Really well! It makes a loud space-gun sound, which I have mixed feelings about.

I also picked up some other bubbles at a different store. They are the same ones I bought in both Italy and Croatia. And now they are here in Guatemala. I like these specific ones because they are small enough to carry around and the top stays on tight. The bottles themselves have a unique design, are made in China, and I assume, that the factory just puts on labels with different languages on them depending on where they are being sent to.

So this got me wondering- what is it like for the people over in China who work at this factory that assembles my preferred choice of bubbles? So much stuff is manufactured in China, because of low labor costs, and as a consumer, I enjoy the cheap fruits of that cheap labor. Anyone can speculate on how widely the working conditions and wages range in a places like China, or Hong Kong, or Indonesia, but in the end I wonder- do most of the people who work in factories, such as my preferred bubble-making factory, like their life? Do they slave away miserably, wishing their lives were different, or do they go to work and accept it as what is necessary order to enjoy the other parts of their life? And what is their idea of enjoying life? Sometimes I wonder about this, and I think of Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, when he gets a candy bar for his birthday, and shares it with his family (the creepy, sort of gross old people who lay bed). Sometimes I feel bad that I buy products from countries that don't protect their people's rights to make a fair and safe living. I feel helpless in the situation though, as I do with all global issues. And yes- you can argue that there are socially responsible companies from which products can be purchased. To which I respond that I can only afford some of these things. And I would then present you a 2-folded counter-argument; if I were to reach a position where I could afford all socially-responsible products, One- Many people who can afford socially or environmentally-responsible products are in that position because they exploit others, somehow. That's business. (Or they live in California, which is a less-exploitive business environment and is definitely not the norm). And Two- Even if I could afford to buy only socially-responsible products, the overwhelming majority will still not enjoy the same privileges.

If injustice is just a fact of life, then what part do I play in it? The part that's more fortunate than many but not as fortunate as some? I am ok with that. More than ok.... I live in a garden of the great life (.com!) But in this garden, compassion does not escape me. Nor does guilt.

I Heard Something I Really Liked

Well, I was at this skunk train costume party up in Mendocino county. It starts at the ocean on a train at 10 am with electronic music, and goes into the redwoods, where it stops at a party with food, booze and a band. Then it returns to the coast, and other parties happen, such as the one at a beach house.

I went in costume as the 9-5 Nemesis, since I am not down with the 9-5. One of the people I met told me something I really like. He said that "it isn't what you do that kills you, it's the guilt about it". This is kind of along the lines of what I say- "embrace your vices".

So yeah, the skunk train party was great.