To thine own self be true

for the pipe bomb epidemic. If he hadn’t made a habit of routinely sowing discord and routinely identifying his enemies, none of this would be happening now. The times in the States have become obviously very dangerous and divided thanks to Trump. He has only his loose mouth and hate-inspiring comments and insults to blame for the current state of  domestic fear and terrorism. He is/was the first domino to fall and set the process of hatemongering in motion from the top down.

Fact. Truth. Not fake news.

Further/ Trump’s hearty support of the Republican who body-slammed an opponent, his lack of concern for Jamal’s beheading, dismembering, and dissolution in acid, his continuing war on the media, and the forced evacuation of CNN because of a bomb threat–all again illustrate how journalism has become the most dangerous, precarious profession in the world today.  Trump remains The Enemy of Truth and Journalism, of free speech, of responsible news reporting and empirical fact-checking. For anyone who cares about Truth, Trump had made over 5,000 false or misleading claims by the time his reign reached Sept. 2018. An incredible record for any high profile figure let alone the POTUS.

Huckleberry Finn
Lord of the Flies
Animal Farm
The Old Man and the Sea
Of Mice and Men
Brave New World
To the Lighthouse
A Passage to India

(Banned in Canada, Beloved in the States)

One of the main differences between the US and Canada can be seen by the PBS top 100 books headed by To Kill a Mockingbird at #1. That one continues to fly high while Canada is closing down its school ties to Harper Lee’s classic for purely political correctness reasons. Total contrast.
The pot legalization also highlights the two country’s very different values and approaches.

by Richard Davies

it’s that If there’s a problem or hassle, it’s usually because of others; and Sartre was right–Hell can be other people.

Relative to others, it has been a long-time practice for me to walk away or detach when others are negative forces of energy or simply toxic. Often relationships ended simply because of the limits and limitations of others and their deep zero growth possibilities. That is, the other person was incapable of making constructive and positive changes often to their own detriment, let alone mine.

Life is short and there are many positive possibilities and personal growth possibilities, often not requiring the presence of another.

In the end, one cannot count on others except one’s dog, one’s closest family (often) and one’s truly close few friends. In that, much value and gratitude for the best playing out of Truth in human relationships.

Well beyond the fact that all and everything changes and that permanence and eternity are rare achievements, is the fact that What was once so important, significant, relevant, nurturing, and satisfying passes (sometimes within minutes; moreso over months and years)) and that whatever importance, significance, relevance, meaningfulness, and inner fulfilment in the passing moments of the here-and-now present in later life perhaps matter more or the most of all.

It is only through the prisms of long life experience and observation that one comes to see well below and beyond the physical surfaces, mere exteriors, and mental first impressions, and comes to know the deeper, inner, more essential learnings and states of living in the passing moments. Focus and decision-making or choices become greatly simplified as one accepts and appreciates more. As they say, Life becomes simpler and the old life-long restlessness for the unknown dissipates.

There is more peace and inner harmony after retirement and, importantly, more freedom to live one’s life as one wants to day after day. One can see more clearly and has more perspective about most things. There is a zen-like confidence and wisdom that potentially arrives in later lives when the world is in other hands. It is necessary, though, to shut out distractions–the madness, irrationality, and lack of common sense in the outer world and other people. These will only negatively affect one’s personal trajectory in later years.

As I’ve stated here before, it is most important to be one’s own person and to assume responsibility for one’s own life. And far more fun to be living life on one’s own terms, free of the group and conventional choices.

There can be much satisfaction in looking backward on a life lived that way–warts, mistakes, and misses aside. To have written one’s own story and to be happy with the way it turned out–the rightness and appropriateness of most of the decisions and calls. Much of what this blog has been about for the past six years is centered on Hamlet’s famous quote “To thine own self be true.” Shakespeare, one of the Wisest Ones of all-time knew well and got it ultra-right, methinks.

1. Smokers will flaunt the Share the Air guidelines. This will lead to problems in apartments and condos, parks, and in neighborhoods (house to house).
2. The resale value on pot smokers’ houses and condos will be lower than the rest of the market.
3. Smokers who proclaim themselves to be ‘greeners’ are simply ludicrous hypocrites given how they pollute the air.

(a fine DVD documentary available from White Pine Pictures, Canada)

is the definitive documentary on Canada’s most mysterious artist. Much of the mystery comes from his strange death (spoiler: there is evidence in this film that he always remained buried at Canoe Lake), his largely solitary nature and unknown private life, as well as how he was able to produce such unique, powerful work.

This Canadian documentary takes its time (95 minutes) in trying to unravel these three aspects of the painter and his work. Numerous paintings are shown and the directors Hozer and Raymont do a good job of contextualizing Thomson’s life, in the process making clearer WWI’s effects on Canadians, and Thomson’s influence in the formation of The Group of 7.

In five remarkably short years, Thomson crammed in a major body of work that defined and still defines Canadian wilderness painting. His work also continues to draw astronomical prices at auction to support the idea that he remains our country’s greatest painter.

A highly recommended film about a Canadian icon and a truly splendid artist.

“Alberta is running out of weed” at stores.
and
Canada Post is going on strike, interfering with pot delivery.

who is s-o-o wise. Didn’t think of the pot store employees whose lives and safety are in danger when dopers decide to rob the stores and sell the dope to make a profit. So much for the legalization reduces crime ‘argument’. Dumb, dumb.