Category Archives: Commentary

The Blood of War

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This originally started as a reply to a post that Jim at A Unique Title for Me posted. It got me thinking about the broader context of government and in particular the idea that the people are accountable for the action of their government. In particular, Russians when it comes to Putin.

Yes, Vladimir Putin gave the order to invade Ukraine, the former Soviet republic that declared its independence on January 22nd, 1989. Putin has chosen this path not because of the excuses such as “denazification” or the perceived threat NATO presents to Russia if Ukraine achieves member status. It is all smoke and mirrors to hide the real reasons for Putin’s war, to turn back the clock to a bygone era. To return to some perceived Russian greatness that never really existed. He alone must answer to the world for his illegal actions in Ukraine and the war crimes he has committed in the name of Mother Russia.

I will say that from a world perspective I do not believe the international community and the allied countries of the West are doing enough to quell the Putin threat. Russian aggression in Ukraine has the eerie feel of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939. The parallels are well documented elsewhere and too many to list here. We the world must stand with Ukraine and prevent history from repeating itself.

I believe the Russian people are good people. Historically they have suffered immeasurable hardship. For the record, the Russian experience is not unique. Many other peoples in various parts of the world have suffered repeatedly at the hands of internal and external forces. That type of suffering creates a certain pathos that brings about insecurity in the people of a nation. It doesn’t require a great leap to see how people end up following someone like Putin who instills a sense of national pride by assuaging their collective vulnerabilities and making them feel whole again.

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The Witch of November

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This week’s theme for Sunday Song Lyric is “Precipitation”. Of course, there are hundreds of songs that reference rain and picking just one was a difficult task.

In the end I chose a track from one of Canada’s most prolific songwriters. It was once said that SOCAN, the Canadian equivalent of ASCAP, maintained the collected works of Canadian artists in the main archive and then maintain a separate room in the archive to hold the collected works of Gordon Lightfoot. Keep in mind this was before the age of electronic storage and likely an old wives’ tale but it speaks to how prolific Lightfoot was as a songwriter.

I can think of several Lightfoot songs referencing rain including such hits as “Rainy Day People” and “Early Morning Rain”. Those are not the songs I have settled on for today’s challenge. The song I have chosen does not explicitly speak of the rain although it does mention ‘freezing rain’ in the lyric. Instead, as you listen to the song you can feel the freezing November rain driving across the deck as Lightfoot skillfully weaves through his tail of mariner woe.

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A Question of Times

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Fandango’s Provocative Question asks us to weigh in on the U. S. Senate decision to do away with the semi-annual time change with the following questions:

Assuming you agree that we should have the same time year-round rather than moving up an hour each spring and back an hour each fall, do you favor going to permanent Daylight Saving Time or permanent Standard Time? Why do you feel that way?

Find my response below…

I must admit I have a love-hate relationship with the semi-annual time change. Love the extra hour of sleep in the fall and hate losing it in the spring. Personally, I prefer the time change but if I had to choose I’d give up the extra evening light and remain on Standard Time year-round.

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Drums and Trumpets

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I bring you a double shot for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday. In 1985 the Waterboys released their third studio album “This Is the Sea” marking the end of what was known as ‘the big music’ era in the band’s history. The first two tracks “Don’t Bang the Drum” and “The Whole of the Moon” both make mention of musical instruments in their lyrics. The first one is obvious as it appears in the title and the second mentions trumpets later in the song.

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Safe Passage

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Bombs rained down around the village, now a target in a tyrant’s senseless war. Heorhiy thumb the cracked screens on the electronic gadgets in his hands hoping the screens and circuitry survived the concussive force of nearby explosions.

He was a farmer, not a fighter but she knew he would defend his homeland to the end. First worked to secure safe passage for his family. Lesya did not want to leave him but he insisted. She understood and accepted his need to see them safe. She watched him frantic, harried, as he searched for a signal from anywhere. Seeking information on the safest corridor, ensuring they safely fled to refugee centers across the border.

As they joined the convoy of millions moving north she could see he was torn, tempted to stay. She begged him to abandon this foolish fight and stay with them. The losses inflicted were enormous. She knew staying was a death sentence.

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Farewell, Old Friend

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Farewell old friend, you will be missed.

I remember when you first came home, Andrew was adamant you were going to be named Spiderman. He lived and breathed the web-spinning superhero and nothing else would do. It took a little convincing but eventually you became Parker. Yes, we stayed with the Spiderman theme; you were named after the webhead’s alter ego Peter Parker.

In true Bichon Frise fashion, you were loyal to the last person to pay you any attention. A ball of white fluff, a big suck so tough barking at every dog that passed from behind the windowpane but hiding behind my leg if we ran into a four-legged friend in the park. You were a good companion to both Andrew and Emily being a constant for them through some difficult times. We are all richer for having you in our lives.

So as you head off to that big dog run in the sky, remember to sniff every fire hydrant you pass, chew every bone you can get your teeth on and remember us fondly as we will never forget you.

Farewell old friend, may you rest in peace.

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Peaches

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Fruit is food from the Gods. It has eye catching curves and beautiful shapes. It’s soft and supple, gently yielding in your hand when ripe for the picking. Once bitten its sweet intoxicating nectar flows forth filling ones senses with joy. Is it any wonder men have written poems and songs comparing the fairer sex to that of fruit?

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Vladimir the Terrible

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With the criminal actions of Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation, the world is less safe today. Democracy, freedom and the stability of Europe are threatened by the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The world must respond harshly and without waiver in condemning the despicable act of war initiated by a tyrant and bully. This may seem abstract and distant to many in the West, do not be lulled into a false sense of security. Russian aggression and our responses are being watched by China and other threats to human rights, freedom of speech and the very core values of free and democratic societies. Now is the time for the international community to show these despots that our resolve is strong. Stand strong for Ukraine, Europe and for freedom everywhere.

Vladimir the Terrible,
Has he gone insane?
At the word of a madman
Tovarishchi Putin Ukraine.

Across the border
At lighting pace,
With an F. U. to the world,
“I Putin your face!”

To the West I implore
You’d best not forpass.
zanimat’sya svoim delom
or I’m Putin nukes up your ass.

For his reckless actions,
International sanctions he’ll face,
But with Beijing behind him
He won’t be Putin his place

No time to be insouciant,
We must stand up as one,
Thumb our noses at tyrants
And with Putin be done.

For this act of war,
He deserves a beat down,
or a dose of Novichok
For to be Putin the ground.

tovarishchi (товарищи) – Russian for “comrades”
zanimat’sya svoim delom (заниматься своим делом) – Russian for “mind your business”

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What Are We Giving Up?

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There have been a couple of events recently that make me wonder if we have given up too much of our privacy. We are nothing but a complex series of seemingly infinite data points to be mined for profit.

I am not a privacy zealot. I really have nothing to hide, I use my name and personal information online. I don’t hide behind fake accounts or pseudonyms. The intrusions I accept are the ones where I’ve agreed to allow access to my information. My concern is more about the stuff these companies seem to be collecting when I’m not online or working in the public realm.

The first example of note happened about three months ago. I work shifts and on a Saturday night about quitting time I received a notification from my phone. The notification from Google read “Would you like to call <insert wife’s name>. You normally call them at this time on Saturday evening.” I did a double-take. This was clearly based on my call history and that is none of their fucking business. It is not the same as agreeing to cookies when surfing on Amazon or Google or whatever website I visit. It is an invasion of my privacy pure and simple.

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Christmas Message 2021

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As December draws to a close and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season reaches its crescendo we all begin to reflect on the year that was 2021.

Of course, COVID continued to play a significant role in all our lives. Vaccines and variants became household words and we’ve all become expert virologists. Well, not really, although some of us are certain we know something our doctors and scientist just can’t figure out. For the record, you don’t. These people along with our nurses and other healthcare professionals are working tirelessly to save lives. Trust them, trust the science. Most importantly do everything you can to protect yourself, your family, and your community and get vaccinated. We’ve all got or are scheduled to get our third doses here and there have been no side effects, I mean other than the three Microsoft computers I was compelled to buy shortly after each shot. Damn Nanobots!!!

Personally, it has been a busy year. In August we moved into our new home and we are now pretty much settled in for the long haul. Of course, there is still some unpacking to be done.

In preparation for Christmas, I built some decorations for the yard. I built these three colourful trees out of wood from old pallets. It was a fun project and as you can see Nathaniel was an excellent helper. I hope to build a snowman for next year as well as another tree for inside. Expect to see them in next year’s message!

It is hard to believe Nathaniel is five this year (and only a couple of months away from six) He has grown so much. Below he is catching snowflakes on his tongue from early December of this year. I have also assembled a collage of images from Christmases past. Where has the time gone?

That’s all folks! I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.