To thine own self be true

than reaching the top of the ladder and discovering you’re on the wrong wall.–Joseph Campbell

(Also when you’re not getting back anything resembling the great amount you’re giving, sharing, and putting out.)

No telling what will speak to one at a given moment.

(For the record, this was the most beautiful parade I’ve ever seen. A truly joyous, spirited cultural sharing which transformed Katzville’s drab streets into crafted beauty and wonder.)

most days.
–RD

which is frighteningly shallow, stupid, ignorant, frivolous, trivial, lowest-common-denominator-banal, unschooled, post-literate, unempathetic, empty-skulled, 24/7 distracted, dumbed-down, petty, namby-pamby, inconsequential, there is no use anymore for ‘old’ words like the following:
lofty
elevated
sublime
deep
elevated
perspective/d
comprehensive
well-educated
wise
perspicacious
appreciation
appreciative
perspicacity
discernment
insight
wit
gratitude
bon mot
quiddity
epigram
subtlety
profound
learned
greatness
grandeur
eminence
gentility
courtesy
good manners
grace
civilization
importance
significance
substance
cornerstone
essentials
cardinal point
humility
quintessence
absolute
authority
context
personal responsibility
trust
probity
principles
hope

*In point of fact, the most appropriate response to today’s diminished hand-me-down d-/e-world is truth, honesty, wit, and non-stop irony.

“You piece of sh-t!” (to Conservative Peter Kent in the House of Commons)

“Get the f–k out of my way!” (on the House floor yesterday)

A language model and lesson for all Canadian youth. A definite chip off the old “fuddle-duddle” block. Arrogant,selfish, and corrupt.

But worse in other ways– a fascistic bully, a relentless control freak openly hostile to and contemptuous of other MPs, a violent holier-than-thou harasser, a rude and crude spoiled mutt in need of serious anger management.

The first item of the House agenda today was “The Physical Molestation of the Member from Berthier-Maskinonge” aka Elbowgate and Boobgate. It starred the model-selfie-feminist and totally-out-of-control JT.

Yes, the honeymoon with Cap’n Sunny Ways is now o’er. “What a genuinely contrite hero! What a serial apologizer! What a peaceful man! What a benevolent democratic leader! What a truly decent all-round guy!” What an insult to the office of Canadian Prime Minister.

Canadian history and the study of and familiarity with it is d-e-a-d. Younger generations and even people in their 30s and 40s no longer have a sense of historical context by which things have been traditionally viewed. Like everything else today, there is a total lack of respect for anything resembling authority, canon, or larger context and perspective. That is why old white dead guys don’t matter along with their sacrifices for Canada in past world wars leading to pc maniacs trying to LGBTQ male pronoun references in our national anthem, for instance. No sense of context and inappropriate, disrespectful appropriation and deconstruction of anything traditional or smacking of pre-millennial times.
Past prime ministers are totally rejected for anything perceived as anti-pc choices and ‘attitudes’. Again, with no sense of past contexts or that all of us are not perfect when viewed by the narrow pc agenda out there today. The result is that, for most people in our society, Canadian history and heroes are either irrelevant (for newcomers and young people) or offensive (if one lives life narrowly pc’ed).
Sooner or later John A. MacDonald will be removed from our money and Terry Fox will be found to have been corrupt or extremely egotistical. Yes, we are moving rapidly and steadily with all this ongoing debunking, deconstruction, and unperspectived criticism toward a country with no history and no heroes. Just a country with a bunch of transgendered bathrooms, zero common sense, no sense of proportion, and no sense of what is truly important or fundamentally relevant to the vast majority of Canadians in their daily lives.

A sacred place if ever
there was one.
The perfume of lilacs
hanging purple
on the boughs.
The mallard couple
by the Arts bldg stream
Two great orange fish
waiting for donations
at the Humanities’ pond.
There is much here that
speaks to soul and
whatever’s left of
Inner Child.

Returning to the van
I walk on one side of
Saskatchewan Drive
while joggers stream by
on the other
their cheer and laughs
limited or forced pleasantries,
more like performances
than anything else.

My side has only a
threatening gander
hissing as I saunter by
and Alberta School of Business
flags above, proclaiming
a hundred years of excellence
relevance and impact,
though none for me.

There is a democracy
to death and No,
Warren Buffet has
little to do with this
solitude, cannot buy
one extra minute of life,
has zero relevance to
this dream, my life and day
and all this to-die-for
subtle beauty.

“I read Shakespeare directly I have finished writing. When my mind is agape and red-hot. Then it is astonishing. I never yet knew how amazing his stretch and speed and word-coining power is, until I felt it utterly apace and outrace my own, seeming to start equal and then I see him draw ahead and do things I could not in my wildest tumult and utmost press of mind imagine. Even the less known plays are written at a speed that is quicker than anyone’s quickest; and the words drop so fast one can’t pick them up….Evidently the pliancy of his mind was so complete that he could furbish out any train of thought; and, relaxing, let fall a shower of such unregarded flowers. Why then should anyone else attempt to write? This is not “writing” at all. Indeed, I could say that Shakespeare surpasses literature altogether, if I knew what I meant.”
–Sunday, April 17, 1930, A Writer’s Diary

Everywhere I go these days, I am asked to make a donation for the evacuees. Yesterday Safeway was selling food donations which was right-on and we bought some. I was asked to donate at Staples, Canadian Tire, and even the bottle depot was asking for customers to donate their bottle money to the cause! (Wed.–add DynaLIFE lab accepting food donations!)

There are many days when one is confronted with numerous disheartening examples of human ignorance and evil, but this widespread pulling-together humanitarian response, particularly in Alberta, has been very heartening and gives one hope that we are still able to play the higher role of being our brother’s and sister’s keeper. This all certainly offsets the increasing hate, crime, and corruption which is otherwise so common nowadays.

Local firemen called to 46 fire pits ablaze set by dopes who ignored the province-wide fire ban.

Think of all the smokers who toss their lit butts into trees, bushes and grass, too.

We have met the enemy and he continues to be us.

ps/ Tues./Paula Simmons points out there have been over 100 fire pit breaches.