To thine own self be true

The depths of the pandemic, but still the way a lot of days start here recently on the home front. We all live “under the ribs of death”–an Existential perspective that actually makes the brighter days devoutly to be wished for, plus making our choices more important and meaningful in that greater context. “Screwball Central”: and, certainly, there is no question that the world is a mad, absurd place not unlike Lewis Carroll’s classic–probably the most important literary work I studied in depth at university.

“Off with their heads!”

they will begin to run into people, houses, and overhead wires, and then the lawsuits shall begin.

only then will there start to begin a serious effort by cities, towns, municipalities, provinces, and Canada to deal with what is already a dangerous situation.

The UCP in Alberta, which is rat-free, should spring for mobile pig-hunter employees to bring this burgeoning problem under control.

World famous golfer, who won 8 PGAs and the World Cup in 1968, went to Bannatyne School, my elementary school in the 1950s. He is still revered by many golfers for his ultra-smooth swing.

Only human beings are capable of littering not just our planet, but Mars as well. The Mars Rover left a piece of thermal blanket foil from its last descent on the red planet.

is Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. In it, he shows the dangers of mass media control over citizenry, citizens’ preference for ignorance and subservience to dictatorships (thereby losing personal freedom), the pervasiveness of narcotics and stimulants like drugs and alcohol, how much science and technology influence our lives, society’s obsession with the pursuit of pleasure and happiness, the dangers of social controls relative to personal autonomy and freedom, industrialism and limitless consumption.

He sure did. I added one word to the tee shirt statement to round out its meaning.

Metaphorically speaking, there are layers of meaning to this selection carefully crafted, minimalistically, with 4 rhythmic monosyllabic words.

Many poems also rely on the voice of who is speaking; in this case, Orwell, whose voice has been the loudest of 20th century writers in forecasting the future we have inherited. (Only Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World rivals it with its predictions about technology and totalitarianism.)

Part of my appreciation of Orwell also stems from the fact he was underappreciated and criticized by literary critics for the quality of his writing and its style. He had the last laugh, though; ’twas the quality of his thesis, ideas, and subject matter which spake loudly and clearest.

Ah, be it ever so humble, there’s no place like Nome, or Edmonton in death-grip of the annual deep freeze. “Feckless mayors” who only make snow clearing worse each passing year along with ridiculous city demands like citizens being forced to clear sidewalks covered by mountains left behind by snow ploughs.

The annual homeowner nightmare is that the power will go out–which it has previously–for long/er periods of time. Come to think of it, with the price of gas going up–despite ample gas produced in Alberta, keeping vehicles gassed up in winter will likely become an exponentially increasing problem for many. So, when your house is down and you can’t afford gas for your vehicle, what can you do? Where can you go?

(scene of the crime, p. 66)

(typical brownish brushstrokes by Wyeth)

In terms of microcosm and macrocosm, a simple, insensitive move creates death and mess, forever changing another life and a quiet afternoon read. We have all inadvertently stepped on or deliberately ‘offed’ more problematic insects and asserted the power of death over smaller subspecies. Happens all the time. But the episode forced me to philosophize and ponder any larger implications of my thoughtless act.

(brilliantly written by Alan Price and performed at the end of the classic movie of the same name)

If you have a friend
On whom you think you can rely
You are a lucky man
And if you found the reason
To live on and not to die
You are a lucky man

The preachers, and the poets
And the scholars don’t know it
The temples, and the statues
And steeples don’t show it
If you’ve got the secret
Just try not to blow it
Stay a lucky man
Stay a lucky man

Because on and on
And on and on we go
And it’s around the world
In circles turning
Earning what we can
While others dance away
The chance to light your way

So you know that if you have a friend
On whom you think you can rely
You are lucky man
And if you’ve found the reason
To live on and not to die
You are lucky man

You know the preachers, and the poets
And the scholars don’t know it
And the temples, and statues
And steeples won’t show it
If you’ve got the secret
Just try not to blow it
Stay a Lucky man
Oh, stay a lucky man

And it’s around and round, and round
And round, and round we go
And it’s around the world In circles turning
Earning what we can
While others dance away

The chance to light your day
So, it’s on and on and on
And it’s on, and on and on
Around the world in circles turning
Earning what we can
While others dance away
The chance to light your day

So it’s on and on and on
It’s on and on and on
Round the world in circles turning burning while we can
While others dance away the chance to light your day….