The Anarchist is Back

I am back. I know I have been remiss in posting but I have been really busy, so this has been put off. I want to write more, but I have not had much to say. I have a couple of things I want to get off of my chest.

The first, is a back to China and Tibet thing. In a scene out of the fucked up universe, the Chinese ambassador to Canada came out with the official party line statement calling the Dalai Lama a "liar" and pretty much an agent of the devil as the "cause" of unrest in Tibet. I am sorry, but the people who brought you "Fun in Tianamen Square" back in 1989 (and those folks really have not changed) is pointing their fingers at somebody else. The propaganda and appeal to Chinese nationalism, though heart warming, is just so fucking laughable. Man, a regime that represses, is tyrannical, corrupt and as transparent as mud, spews garbage and actually seems to believe the garbage it is spewing.

I am alone here? It is a credibility issue. Who do you believe? The Dalai Lama, who is calling for peace and discussion/diplomacy or the repressive regime that thinks it can deem reality to what works for it? From here there is no contest. The Lama himself a man, makes no bones about his human frailties. He is certainly more likeable, believable and credible than the Chinese government. I mean, the government cannot be trusted with their economic numbers, so why whould they tell the truth now? Opacity is a way of being in the world of dictatorships.

They have to keep "reality" hidden and not accept the faults if they intend to keep preaching that they are all knowing and all powerful. If not, the rabble may decide to topple a regime that does not work.

The Chinese have a lot of trouble ahead of them. They HAVE to grow their economy at around 8%+ a year in order to keep people working. What that means is that they open factories that are not productive. They must sell below cost just to keep the factories running and people employed. Idle hands are the work of the devil and can only foment unrest--send in the military to put them down. Again, that is not so bad because it spares Taiwan and India from dealing with a focused Chinese military. It is a prophecy writ large when Orwell wrote "1984".

I may have to go back and re-re-re-read that book, along with "Animal Farm". Again, recall that all animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others. Brilliant observation then and holds true today.

The second issue is this Earth Hour bullshit. We get to go "dark" for an hour and this has been embraced by many. My issue is this. Like that damn Al Gore Global Warming Concert, the point is really being missed. So fucking what if you go dark for an hour? What is it worth when you go back to living high on the energy hog, like before. It sends a false sense of accomplishment. The goal is to think about and actually be more energy efficient EVERY moment of your existence, not for one fucking hour in a lifetime.

I have not seen that message played out. We are going to have a lot of Aunty M's patting themselves on the back for some non-accomplishment. Fucking WHOOP-DE-DOO! Leave a huge carbon footprint and say that does not matter, just like Al Fat Fuck Gore and his cadre of Rock 'n Roll believers, because we are making people "aware". All people are equal, some are just more equal than others.

Love the message! Read between the lines! Rise up, destroy, and re-create what needs fixing! This has been another moment from Anarchy corner! Ciao!

China, Tibet and George Orwell

I am back. Just thought I would get a little political on your asses today. I was thinking about what is going on in Tibet and the official Chinese response. I have to say that what is boiling over in Tibet is no shock, nor is the response of the Chinese government. That does not mean that they are not Han, er ham, handed (a little ethnic humor there) in their means.

The Communist regime in China ignored its nation's own history when it "invaded" Tibet and forced the Dalai Lama into exile. They have forever branded him a traitor and agitator. They have gone as far to claim he controls the "violence". It is all so deliciously Orwellian and that is why it appeals to me.

Like any totalitarian regime, China has the need to try and control the perception of reality. Like North Korea, the official party line is that there is nothing wrong in the state and nothing will ever be wrong. In fact, everybody's shit smells like roses. The reality is starkly different. As long as they believe they control the message, they believe they control reality.

How fucking laughable! They control the guns and the press, they do not control the reality, try as they might. They cannot see the futility of it, it is beyond their dumbass comprehension.

So, here we have the Chinese government trying to paint the Dalai Lama as the creator and controller of violence in Tibet. The Chinese in China may "buy" it but they are trying to sell that made up pig of an excuse to a cynical and better knowing Western world. It ain't happening and they look foolish for trying to sell it. In Ayn Randian terms, they are trying to tell us all that "A is not A".

As the Chinese keep coming out with statements claiming that the Lama, himself, is responsible for the uprisings by Tibetans it belies the reality of his explicit proclamations preaching non-violence (and his Nobel Peace Prize, but that means nothing since they gave one of those puppies to Yassir Arafat and Kofi Annan, as he presided over, or at least did NOTHING to stop the genocide/violence in Rwanda). It is pretty hard to convince "free" people that "A is not A" if you do not control the media and all the observational evidence that is out there.

It is like the Chinese government has only one tool, a hammer, in their aresenal, so all their problems look like nails to them. In reality, there talk is not selling because it is just so ridiculous. With the Lama saying he would renounce his political position as leader in Exile of the Tibetans if they continued the violence, he has outflanked the Chinese in the eyes of the World.

Again, they are playing the us vs them card (being embarrassed in the eyes of the world as a political weapon while China looks to make a grand impression with the Olympics). It is just not working here. Yet, they keep ratcheting up the rhetoric. It is like they are trying to provoke a response that cannot turn out to be good (for anybody).

They pretty much have to go back to their history to find a solution. What the Chinese have brought to Tibet is not all bad. They have modernized an impoverished territory on Top of the World. It has also been done with an insensitivity (almost like the Bush White House in Iraq) to the native population. They really need to look to their past.....when the Mongol Empire and Ming Empire viewed Lhasa (Tibet's capital) as Rome and Paris viewed The Vatican, the seat of spirituality. There was a split between politics/government and the spiritual or religious side of the people. This is similar to what the Lama proposes, so let us hope they can get there.

Like in all negotiations, both sides need to be able to "spin" it as a victory. That will not be easy and the Chinese are making it all the more difficult by increasing their bellicosity. I mean, this ain't Burma!

Ciao!

Deja vu?

I am back. Here is a funny, I guess that is in the eye of the beholder, one. I am having a strange deja vu sense today. Since, I have FIL's piece of shit car, the Beast, and I want rid of it. I have MIL's 2004 (no mileage since she really did not drive much) Honda Civic available to me (and I would much prefer having it. I do not mind having it miss a winter, this one especially). A deal was struck with my brother in law (since he did not want the car, two years ago) that if he took over all the bullshit and sold the car, he could keep the money.

Anyway, I know the Beast needs an oil change (I have not done it since last March) and brakes (that was told to me when the snow tire split and I had it replaced). My brother in law finally picked up the car to take it in (for certification?) last night. He left us his Honda Accord.

Here is the deja vu. His 1993 White Honda Accord used to ours. It was the Wife's car that was leased back in 1993, when her Mazda 323 basically melted its engine. I loved that coupe, eventhough it was automatic and front wheel drive. I am driving that car today.

I was getting ready to leave in the morning, when it dawned on me. I do not recall that car having any cup holders (damn old cars). I checked and was right. I could not bring my brew with me as I usually do. Also, the seats seemed so low. I am not used to sitting that low anymore, but it has been a wonderful change. I would take that car over the beast any day, then again, I have a Civic to look forward to (as much as i look forward to any vehicle).

Well, pretty funny, huh? It wasn't. Well, Fuck You! And come again! Ciao!

The Joker Lives in Thornhill

I am back. Where do I begin? We have the making of a financial disaster in our midsts. Are we headed for another depression (I know I am, but again, that is just me and my demons)? There will be blood on the Street. There has to be. The day of reckoning has been put off for far too long. Insanity has ruled and been abetted by the sane, sadly.

And yet, I am going to give you an example of another "What the Fuck?!!!" moment I experienced. I was heading up to the Wife's aunt and uncle's house for dinner on Friday. I am north of the city and getting shaky. It is sunny, the one upside to daylight savings time. I look over at a pedestrian woman. She looks Persian, but what the fuck to do I know. (I will return to that thought in a minute with a story).

Oddly, I notice she is dressed in clothes that are green and purple. Two thoughts struck me. First, 1991 called and wants their colour scheme back. The second, and funnier, is that The Joker called he wants is wardrobe back. I am telling she looked like Jack Nicholson in Batman from 1989. Then again, she was more swarthy than Joker pasty. Which had me thinking that perhaps her dress was an homage to Heath Ledger, the late actor who was playing The Joker, in yet another Batman movie. Who knows?

Now, back to the "Persian" comment. There are a number of Persians that live up that way. It does remind me of a comment that I had heard over 20 years ago. It was a frat function and there was a stripper involved. She was nice enough, but not the prettiest thing I had ever seen. She did not have a smokin' hot bod either, but she was game. I guess that is what you want, give up a certain esthetic for a gamer. Anyway, she is doing her thing and I am one of a bunch of guys making lewd comments (it is just what I do and did).

Afterward, she and I get to chatting. Her line to me was this...."you look Armenian." What the fuck did that mean? I know what an Armenian is, I have met a number of Armenians. Armenians, at least the ones that I have met, tend to be rather olive skinned, with dark hair, brown eyes, etc. I do/did have dark hair, brown, though and not black, but my eyes are blue. Not your regular blue, but more of a navy blue (freakish eye color that I have). I, to this day, am not sure how she pulled Armenian out as a label for my ethnicity.

There, just thought I would share that story, among others. Ciao!

Who knew? Mary Anne and Gilligan...Potheads

I am back. I have some time and the inclination to post on a Sunday. I remember what I wanted to go on about from last week.....the marijuana possession conviction of Dawn Wells.

This one is pretty funny when you really think about it. Dawn Wells, who played Mary Anne on Gilligan's Island, was arrested, and convicted, I think, of possession of marijuana when she was pulled over after a birthday party (her 69th) and the cop found 3 or 4 partially smoked joints. He pulled her over as she was swerving and he could smell the dope that she was allegedly smoking.

The funny part is that she is the second castaway, er cast member, to get nailed for smoking dope. I recall that Bob Denver, Gilligan himself and before that beatnik Maynard G. Krebs (which would explain his dope smoking) was arrested for a similar offense before his death (though to arrest him after his death would be much more funny and really just as absurd).

Here is a case where the "harm" (at 69, I am not sure what the harm actually is) is personal in nature, but the state, the fucking nanny state at that, steps in and has to slap an individual on the wrist for having the audacity to follow the mantra of the forefathers of the United States and follow her pursuit of happiness, without harming others in any direct manner (not withstanding some poor driving, which may or may not have been marijuana induced).

Is this not the most ironic thing? The United States, a nation and culture, founded on the principles of individual self-determination and liberty, finds itself sucking at the teat of government....all at the price of individual liberty.

I will not get into Canada as the history is different. We have a greater sense of the collective good, or so we are told by the nanny state, so it must be true. Then again, we achieved are independence as an act of British Parliament, so conceivably, our independence can be taken away in the same manner, so there is NO pretense of individual liberty in this fucking country. Bullshit, there is....we are fed to believe in this individual liberty, but it is an illusion and is always taken away when the desire is there.

Of course, my American friends cannot even debate any issue without epithets and labels being handed out by either side of the debate. Thought, or independent minded thought, based on the facts at hand and not the ideology espoused has been banished. I have to agree with the boys of Green Day with their American Idiot recording. There is a grave danger of thought and action in the US and it is all based on the fear of terrorism on the home soil.

It does not seem to matter that the sacrifice of liberty and debate is the price to be paid for the illusion of security. Then again, the US has history on their side, as the McCarthy era and the good work done by J. Edgar Hoover many years ago attest. The funniest part is that as the Boomers have taken the reins of power, the same ageist undercurrents rear their heads. It was not so much the the generation of those in power that determined their "odd" actions but their demographic position. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss as Pete Townsend would have told you.....before he became the "new boss".

I guess my ultimate conclusion is leave the 69 year old Dawn Wells alone to blow out. She is not harming anybody, so what is the point? Who is actually served here? How is society in general protected? It is not.

Now, I wonder if Ginger and the Professor like to engage in a little 4:20 action? Of course, with Skipper, Gilligan and the Howells gone, I am pretty sure we do not have to worry about them getting caught with a doob in their mouths (or cars).

Ciao!

Eliot, Call (Girl) Home

I am back. The Dayton fun is done and I have not much to say. Pity about poor, as in judgment, Eliot Spitzer. I guess what happens in Albany is supposed to stay in Albany.

To give the man his due, he can be one smart cookie. To get caught like this, due to bank records and anti-money laundering rules, laws he was happy to enforce as Attorney General of New York, boggles my mind.

Let's be honest. This was a personal transgression. His major crime, notwithstanding the embarrassment he has brought to his wife, family and self, is being loud, sanctimonious and holier than thou. It is hubris laid bare. This could not have been written any better than a Greek tragedy.

Man deigns to fly. Flies to close to the sun. Man plummets to earth. Man dies. Gods reign supreme. I am not sure how this differs. The names change but man stays the same.

It is a pity that it has come to this. He was caustic and self-righteous on his way up, and that help create enemies. Even without enemies, there is an element of Schadenfruede (German for taking joy in the misfortune of others) here. As if, you are going to be holier than thou, you had actually better be holier. Paying high priced call girls is not holy. He was living in a glass house and still felt safe throwing stones.

He was too smart by half. It is the curse of the big name politician. The very qualities that compel them to seek office (often the same as those of a sociopath) are the same qualities that lead them to believe that their shit does not stink. They believe themselves to be the smartest guys or gals in the room. This proves they are really not and could stand a good reality check.

So Eliot Spitzer resigns, by the way I say those same holier than thou attitude in Rudy Giuliani when he was a Manhattan prosecuter in the late 1980s and his arrogance knows no bounds, I hear he may be brought up on charges and be disbarred. That may be a little extreme for a personal transgression. Then again, I have heard he has spent $80,000 on call girls.

What the fuck is that all about? Poor Sidla, his wife, gets to see all this in the headlines. Brilliant job, Mr Spitzer, brilliant job.

Ciao!

The final Dayton Chronicles Instalment

I am back. I decided to finish the damn Dayton story so I could get on to new business. Not that I have any, but.....I want to maintain that option.

I think I left off with the Wife's twit of an aunt, M, "dancing" and making quite the spectacle of herself. She really is something. Firmly grounded in her own fantasy world, oblivious to how she is perceived by others (not that is really a problem, it is just that she cannot "read" her audience--like she is autistic), it was quite a sight. Again, all I needed was the visual of her in spandex, doing her aerobics stepping, excuse me I have to go hurl.

Better. We came back to the hotel after the party. We had to be up to check out, go to my sister in law's for brunch, then hit the road. All that seemed easy, until we went outside. It was sunny and fucking cold. If it were that cold there, there was no telling how cold it would be back home. It was also really windy. My hands went numb putting our luggage and shit (we believe in carrying it around with us--it is a security thing) in the hatch. What was going on?

Brunch was uneventful. We were able to get on our way by about 11 or even earlier. By the time we got to my sister in law's, M had already left for the airport. I did not get to see her sunshiny face that morning. Yada Yada Yada, we were on our way.

It was pretty eventful in an uneventful way. I had to fight the car in the wind. We would be bathed in sunshine and then hit a patch of blowing snow. I am filling up the tank in Northern Ohio, my ears freezing, my hat in my pocket, when I go into pay. I put my hat on, just as the blowing snow kicks up (I am a bit of a moron, obviously). The skanky girl at the counter looks up and says its a "blizzard" and "I hate winter". I pipe in, "I am from Canada and that is no blizzard". She apologizes to which I say, "I am no fan of winter, especially this one (I do not mind winter in principle, it is in practice that I am not pleased) myself".

Back on the road and more of said same. Live to make it through Detroit and cross the border-no hassles. No bad weather between Windsor and London. I need gas and fill up. I go to clean the windshield and notice the fluid is a blue slush. That was how cold it was. Now, I am thinking about how much snow would I need to shovel when we arrive home.

Back in 2001 (early March), we flew to Dayton for similar festivities. It snowed the day we left and really snowed when we arrived. I remember carrying the luggage from the limo to the house mid shin deep in snow and then shovelling.

After some whiteout conditions near Woodstock, getting home was a breeze. There was the usual traffic. We made it home by six and I only had a little shovel to do.

That was the journey. Hope you enjoyed the re-tell. Gotta go. Ciao!

A rare Sunday Post

I am back. I do have a birthday shoutout for Dr. Crack or Stuie the Chiropractor as it is his birthday today. Fuck he is turning 45 and I do not believe that.

I know a Sunday post. I just have some time and a thought or two to share. It is back to that Fucking Winter comment of yesterday. The snow continued to fall. We did go out with our friends, as his SUV cut through the snowy roads like a hot knife through butter. We ended up for dinner at a local restaurant that was not crowded, given the conditions outside. They enjoyed us so much that we got free shots of Sambucca after dinner. It was good.

After all the shovelling I did yesterday, I was out again around six to clean a path for our guests, it was a breeze this morning. The sunshine also helped brighten the day. The pall of those cloudy, gray days was lifted. It is really beautiful out there with the thick (2 feet thick) blanket of white on the ground.

Now, I am ready for it to melt away and disappear or I am ready to melt away and disappear. I mean our single car (width) driveway is now something less than single car. Somebody, if not both driver and passenger, has to get out into a snowbank. The banks on either side of the driveway have to be at least 5 feet high. It is fucking insane the amount of snow I am seeing in these parts. Yet, we soldier on. We Canadians are a hearty breed and will not let a little, or in this case, a whole ton of, snow stop us from going about our business (which obviously includes a lot of shoveling).

Well, that is all for this day. I hope all those in the area are enjoying the fun part of the snow. Ciao!

Fucking Winter!

I am back. It is a rare Saturday post. It will be short. Fucking Winter!

That is pretty much it. I am a wee bit, wholly fucking understatements, Batman, tired of the snow. Actually, I am tired of shoveling it. Driving in it, I can take or leave. I like the go slow and kick up snow, slip and slide fun. I have always loved driving after a snowfall, or during one, assuming I am on friendly streets and not jammed bumper to bumper on the highway (then again, that is sitting and not driving).

I have to go out and shovel yet again, today. We are supposed to go out, as the Lad is sleeping over at a friend's house. We will see what happens.

I hope to end the Dayton story soon. I really only have to go over the journey home on the Sunday. That had its moments but was relatively uneventful.

The Wife who visited her father today said he kept asking about MIL. When is MIL coming? 2 minutes after the response, he would ask again. And again. Ahhhh! You could tell him the truth but it will not sink in, so you would be forced to deliver the sad news again and again. Who wants to go through that.

Fucking Winter! Ciao!

The funniest Dayton Chronicles episode (no. 7)

I am back. I know it has been a while. I did not post on that Leap Day. Bad weather and a lot of work to be done. The funny thing was the Wife's aunt and uncle were to come for dinner but the weather had them cancel.....late. I did not get home until seven, but it was all good.

Anyway, on with the show. Back to Dayton. Let me take you back. It is Saturday February 9, 2008. We, the Wife, her cousin and myself, have left the hotel....laughing at the stupidity and (for me, at least) the coping strategies of the Wife's aunt, M. We were charged with getting some vodka and wine. Again, not having any idea how many adults were to be there, we may have gone overboard.

We bought a big ass bottle of Skyy vodka and a 26 oz bottle, just in case, 2 bottles of red and 2 bottles of white wine. It ran about $100 along with some stuff to mix with the vodka. It seemed an awful lot and that was confirmed when my brother in law greeted us at the door. I think they would take back a bottle of each wine, though they may have kept them, and the smaller bottle of vodka.

I got into the vodka, early and often. It was a kids' party and that was okay with me. The Lad did not sit with us, but with his cousin and his friends. It was good.

There I am eating at a table with M, yet again. My skin was crawling. The music is pumping. She is standing by the dance floor with the Wife's brother, his lady friend, the Wife and others. I hear the music and then I see a couple of sights that had me splitting my gut again. This woman, M, is "dancing". She made Elaine Benis (Seinfeld) look like a great dancer (btw that episode was on the other night and I nearly pissed myself when Elaine started dancing---Sweet Fancy Moses, indeed). Her dancing was more like somebody doing a step class.

It was like watching the 20 minute work out....without the spandex, beautiful women, style and rhythm. It was like watching a train wreck only funnier. I started to get the vision of her doing aerobics and then my thoughts ran to her in spandex. She would look like a lumpy sausage in her gear. Blahhh!!! It is a mental image that I am having trouble getting out of my head. Unfortunately, with that mental image comes a softening of the genitalia. I think about that and my blood refuses to flow to my penis. No hard ons for me with that image. Fucking woman!

Anyway, the best is yet to come. Understand this, Jewish mourning ritual states that mourners, MIL's children and husband, are not to dance for 1 year. M has my brother in law dancing (if that was what it was, she did call it that, but what does that mean) with her (he is either a few blueberries short of a pint or has no ability to say "no" and mean it--no spine). Then she asks the Wife to dance.

The Wife replies, properly, that she cannot dance. M says,"Sure you can." The Wife, "No. I cannot." M, "You know how to dance." The Wife, "I am in mourning." To which a dumbfounded look appears on the face of M, which really is just her normal look, really.

Man, I still laugh when I think of her "dancing". I wish I had it on video, so that I could show you all. Too bad. Gotta run! Ciao!