Trump's Sins: A Missing Piece: Historical Perspective.

Last evening news broke about D. Trump's US presidential campaign. I watched for a while on CNN. They were hysterical about the magnitude of the story. The story: a reporter from the Washington Post had published a video from 11 years ago in which Trump is heard to say demeaning, sexist, comments about women and his thoughts and behaviour towards them.

Some commentators felt that this publication could be the death knell for Trump's presidential bid. The commentators came down very hard on Trump. No one dared excuse his comments, even his most loyal backers.

And then, in a campaign first, Trump tweeted a half hearted apology. This was followed, after consultation with his team, a video post where Trump reframed the apology in more humbling terms, clearly as a damage control exercise.

But to my mind something was missing. For lack of a better phrase this moment, I'll call it historical perspective.

Not one commentator made reference to how society's attitudes to thoughts, words and conduct like Trump's had morphed over the last few decades. Not one, and I viewed many commentaries reactions.

Another thing that has changed over the last few decades is society's views related to the difference between public statements and conduct and private statements and conduct. Again no commentator I heard made reference to this phenomena.

While I have never been to an intimate bridal shower, based on a loose recollection of the odd tidbit shared with me by participants, some women will say and do things at a private gathering like this that they would never consider saying or doing in public. This because it would be shocking and offensive to do/say those things in public, in a mixed gender environment. Those women would be pilloried, and would squash any prospects for public office had their private behaviour been known publicly.

In days past, within certain bounds, it was considered fairly acceptable to keep the public and private spheres separate. What guys said at the hunt camp, tended to stay at the hunt camp.

The world has indeed changed. There is now no refuse or safety for comments made in the private sphere. Everything is considered to be as if it were done/said in public.
And everyone is measured as if the current conventional wisdom has always been the conventional wisdom. And that is the problem.

I carry no brief for D. Trump. He is a goof ball, and is not in the least suited to be President. It would be disastrous if he were to be elected I speculate.

Trump's sin is that he has failed to keep pace with the changing orthodoxy in Western thought.
I have not the slightest doubt that Trump's core beliefs have made some changes consistent with society's changes. I do not believe that his 2016 beliefs are the same as those he seems to have held in 2005. On the scale of acceptable gender views, he has surely improved.

Have his beliefs come into alignment with today's currency? Almost certainly not. He is, at his core, I figure, still way behind the curve. Call him a dinosaur if you wish, a species that is long extinct. But in this epithet, lies a clue about the weakness of his detractors. Dinosaurs last lived 65,000,000 years ago. Trump is only behind the curve by about 50 years.

If I had more time, I'd speak about North American attitudes 50 years or so back. ( and I'd speak about my Dad, and his experiences of 70 years ago as an engineering student at the close of the Second World war.) And I'd also bring in comments about what it was like 100 years ago. You know times were significantly different then. Trump's comments would seem far less out of place back then. Not that many would ever have heard or seen them, because they were private, and would have stayed private.

For a good little piece that touches on these points consider Jonathan Kay's item in The Walrus.
sins-of-the-past

I close by offering a personal view. Let us be mindful of how society's attitudes change over time. And when we presume to judge others, let us remember how much and how fast society has changed. It is hypocritical to begin with the premise that today's prevailing attitudes have always prevailed.

Six Great Reasons to Dine In !

Allow me a quick upfront confession.
The title is mere click bait.

Now to the premise.

'Dining in' offers higher satisfaction, better value and more benefits than the alternative of 'dining out.'

For clarity, by dining in I mean eating at your own place, or someone else's residence - a residence with a kitchen and dining table, however modest or extravagant. As compared to the alternative be it your favourite pub & grill, that suburban Italian restaurant or the one price Chinese buffet place.

I offer as Exhibit 'A' for the proponent, a short recital of my experience this eve, complete with warts.

Best perhaps to start with the menu.

1. Grilled (BBQ) top sirloin steak - 9 ounce (about 250 grams) portion
2. Boiled potato - with salt, fresh ground pepper and salsa
3. Garden Salad - lettuce, yellow pepper, red onion, seasoned croutons, Paul Newman's Italian  dressing, and cherry tomatoes
4. Libations:
1. gin martini (traditional) (50mil)
2. Steamwhistle tall boy  (Canada's Premium Pilsner 500 mil)
3. Cinzano on the rocks with a twist (200 mil)
4. Tea - Himalayan green

 5. dark Chocolate pieces for dessert.

I'm sure there are more delightful meal cards out there to be had, but realistically not without a really big fuss. On my scorecard this is a deluxe meal

Ignoring for a moment the fixed (or almost fixed) cost components ( BBQ, fuel, microwave & electricity, running water, plate, glass, cutlery, and a place to accommodate all this...) the variable cost of this feast was less than the remarkably low $10. mark. Booze represents almost half of this amount.

In a restaurant you'd be hard pressed to get this for 50 bucks, plus tip, plus taxes for a real currency grab of over $60.

Geez there has to be a lot of special benefits to the restaurant to tip the scales in the restaurant direction.
And yes let me admit to certain circumstances where the scales might just get tipped.
Say for a 21st birthday, or 65th, or maybe even a 100th.
or perhaps to celebrate the birth of your first child.
but not because it is Wednesday.

Next consider the dramatic difference between the two (dine-in and dine-out)  on the spectrum of bizarre chemicals that humans put in the restaurant foods, generally speaking. Preservatives and flavour enhancer type stuff.

True enough dining-out keeps you on your arse longer - in a lineofleastresistance path.
And there is no having to mind the stove, or wash the veggies. And happily (for many) no dishes to wash. That's gotta be worth something.

Yeah, maybe - but surely not the 600 percent increase in financial outlay. Absent special circumstances of course.

Anyways that's the view from 277 at this hour,

bonsoir
M

What's Important Now.

Notre Dame football coach /legend Lou Holtz used to give motivational talks around the theme set out in the title.
It's a catchy slogan: What's Important Now? (The W.I.N. Principle)
This to answer the question 'what should I be doing?', with a question.

As helpful as it may be at times, the question-answer is incomplete.
That's because it does not, nor could it always, provide a solution to the (increasingly frequent for me) conundrum of exactly what one/you/I should be doing at any particular moment.

Let me quickly acknowledge that this is a first world problem - by which I mean a problem afflicting the affluent and well off.
Let me say further, that recently I have been afflicted.

A certain lethargy has been noted.
Maybe it's an age thingy.
Maybe it's cuz a full break is overdue.
Maybe it's just poor personal management.

My recollection is that I have typically answered the question with responses that centered around
office work, or home/shelter tasks, or kids & family, or personal hygiene or sleep - with a dose of fun stuff mixed in.
And these still continue - but candidly, with fewer pressures or deadlines.

About 10 years back I reflected on similar themes, and I hit on an overarching approach.
That was that I should embark on a project, which would cover my retirement years, that emphasized being a good role model for the long now concept. That is encouraging a long term view to all life's questions.

Rosseau was to be my test ground.
Planning and hopefully building a thousand year structure was to be the model project.
This would be a project that had utility, and meaning, consistent with what I understood to be essential principles as articulated by the sages of the ages.

But I seem to have run out of gas.
And just as distressing, I am sensing diminished physical capacities.
The initial formulation of the project now seems out of reach on a bunch of dimensions.

Recently I have been reflecting on alternate paths.
Of course this is troubling, until one settles on a path.
As a matter of common sense, at some stage one has to stop planning, make a commitment, and start doing.
And whenever a possible change of path starts infecting one's thoughts, well, that's when the confusion emerges, and the circling begins.

Oh well...
I will not resolve this at this keyboard session.
It is good to simply note it crudely as I have done.
Fates willling I will return to give further comments in short order,
ideally with a path that I can embrace with greater resolve.

bon soir,
M

Extending Life: Good News

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Yes, you can do things to extend your own life !
So say the science researchers. Apparently the science comes out of the Netherlands, as reported by CBC radio yesterday.

Good news? Well,... maybe.

They say one hour of bike riding adds one hour to your life.
Sounds good to me.  Initially.

Imagine, on hearing this news you decided to set yourself a target,or goal, to extend your life by a fixed amount of time.
Let's say one year.

And given my age, 64, and my own expectations of health going forward, let us also say that this goal should be reached in a 10 year period. That is by the time I reach age 74.

Here's how the numbers crunch.
One further assumption. That is that I would work on this goal, doing the exercise 3 times a week, from now on for a 10 year stretch.

Turns out that every exercise session - say every Monday, Wednesday and Friday - I would hop on my stationary bike and pedal for the required time to meet my target.

It would take just over 7 hours of cycling per session to reach the goal.
That's the same as a full shift of a standard work day.
So, if I gave over my life to this goal, then 3 days a week, I would have to put in a full shift on the bike for the next 10 years to add one year to my life.
Seems like I would have just lost 10 years, instead of gaining one.

Or am I missing something?

Oughta Write - form Rosseau

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Good blues music in background on what should be a prototypical Northern Ontario summer night, here at 4500 Aspdin Road. Just me and Bucky - and the free from air radio signals, the final haze of the photon stream from the sun, and a grid connection - both power and internet data.
So this is being composed on the blogger.com site.

And it has been crossing my head good chunks of the day, that I ought write, write something down, cuz it is a strong suit of mine relatively speakin'.
And there are all sorts of ideas that come to me, even outside of thoughts of ought to be writin', that I then think - well, hurry up quick and write down this idea, because it is a good one for me, and  others - relative to what other folks have written to good receptions.

I read something today about the importance of being persistent, long after the first feeling that 'you are done'. And the suggestion it may be a simple matter of will power, aided often by good coaching. Just keep pressing, and shut down the voices that say enough far too early (for some).

Could be for push-ups.
Could be for a blogspot (blogger.com) post.
Which BTW is connected to my bayhaus@gmail.com com
with a password for Google that could be
2585Goog

consistent with the password algorithm I follow best I can these days.

I note that this writing feeling is improved in effectiveness
with a little snort of good whiskey
This time Jamesons, as a nod to Irish heritage.
Invariably gives a brief creative, do it, stimulant push, or at least nudge.

I could write about Bucky.
He only has a couple of weeks left with me.
Then he's moved. To Fran and Guy Loiselle, soon of Bonfield ON.

He and I get along well here at Rosseau cabane.
No chains, ties, leads, muzzles, ropes, fences, or gates.
He's free to go wherever, and whenever.
Just don't hurt nobody.

Today he did pretty well riding in the back of the Mule. (better for me)
Trip to Skeleton, both ways, only one incident: when a couple of other 4x4s passed in the other direction.
Bucky went, as he is known to do, temporarily, berserk.
The dictionary definition of berserk suggests to me that it is entirely appropriate for Bucky in those situation. Wild, manic, destructive, frenzied and deranged. Helluva of a package. Deal breaker actually.
Happily he didn't jump - from a moving vehicle.
But he did his share plus of howling.
Lunatic.
I do believe though it is remedial.
Some regular attention, and firm training, and he'll be a gift.

well, I've moved the unit to my bedside table, preparing to crash for the eve.
The Buckmeister has already claimed a spot, that slightly encroaches on my bed space.
Always testing limits that mutt.

till next time
M

Got everything I need; almost

Title is from a great tune that DownChild Blues band made a hit.
It occurs to me that at no previous time in my breathing has this line applied with such veracity.

Mindful of Maslow's hierarchy of 'needs', (which formulation I generally subscribe to) things are going real well for me these days.

Topping that list is shelter. Got it covered in spades. Indeed I have ownership interests in 3 places - 277 Elm, 68 Hennessy Rd., and 4500 Aspdin Rd. Any one does the trick more than adequately for me and if need be a few others. Three is near an embarrassment.  All places I observe have auxiliary wood stove heating - and decent supplies of firewood close at hand.

Food and water are equally well covered. While my stocks of food are modest, I want for nothing in this department. With cash in my jeans and a large grocery store within a couple of blocks, I eat pretty well what I want when I want. And this northern Ontario living keeps me close to the world's greatest reserves of fresh water - can't be beat. And in the city, it is simply a matter of turning on any one of a half dozen taps and clean clear water flows faster than I can use it.

Maslow doesn't talk about intoxication, but perhaps he should. It is a regular part of all of my days. There's cold beer in the fridge (and a beer store 5 minutes walk away), a case of wine on the racks, and whiskey under the counter. No need for me to ration these spirits, there's more where they came from. Then there's the thc stuff - with a couple months supply stashed close by. And some very nice smoke if I do say so - a couple of varieties of hash and 3 or 4 strains of pot.

For transport I have a surprisingly reliable 2004 Toyota van which has served me super well. And a bicycle for backup.

Of special interest these days, is the status of my bank accounts. For the first time I have a real good cushion of liquid assets, most of it in the credit union.

2bcontinued

Notes on Bucky 1 yr.+

Ahhh Buckminster.
Before I forget, a few words about the canine, as he seems to me these days.

It overstates the case to call this canine domesticated.
At best the domestication element is a work in progress.
Too frequently, but perhaps less frequent than 6 months ago, he shows off his 'wildness'.


B is persistent in his calls for attention. Really persistent.
Like some used car salesman who simply cannot register the sound No.
(for the record I have also tried the German 'Nein' with similarly poor results.)
I have also tried physical gestures - a tug on his leash, an elbow or knee to his chest,  a shove with my hand - and never does the first attempt get results.

Mostly he wants to play. With a ball or a stick or some battered toy.
But his understanding of play is twisted.
As much as he would like to chase a thrown ball or stick, he adamantly refuses to part with the thing.
He'll keep it in his mouth and urge you to take it from him. ... As if that's a fair contest.

B is a long dog. Long in limb and torso. And relatively lean, especially with a trimmed coat.
Standing on his hind legs, with his front paws supported - by your chest, or a fence, or a wall, - he appears well over 5 feet in height. Some find this intimidating.

B's range of vocalizations is remarkable.
Most notable is his 'big dog bark'. Terror inducing I'd say. So have others.
It'll stop you in your tracks, instantly.
This is the bark of a creature that is signalling its intention to disassemble your body parts messily.
At the other end of his vocal spectrum is the soft plaintiff wailing and whining - infant like.
And there is an array of in between sounds.
Exhalations of exasperation.
Short, sharp, barks just to grab attention.
Whole sessions of medium barks to announce the detection of intruders, or merely passers-by.
Quite the repertoire.

Bucky is a sneak.
He knows when you are watching, and the moment your gaze averts, off he goes.
Too clever by half this mutt.

Late Lesson

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When I was at the over ripe age of 57, a former lineman gave me a tip that now seems like an important life lesson.

I was helping him do a job around his place, at the waterfront if memory serves.
I was asked to tighten on a cable, having just finished tightening a bolt. The wrench was still in my hands. This made it tough to tighten the cable. I struggled until the master said it would be easier to tighten the cable if I put down the wrench first.

He was right. I put down the wrench, and with both hands free to tighten the cable, the job was done quickly and well.

One has to let go of the last task, to get the current task done right.

I have since reflected on this incident and lesson many times.
Often in circumstances while I was still holding a metaphorical wrench in my hands. His advice was remembered, and the new job became easier and quicker.

I wonder if my penchant for hanging on tight to the wrench is associated with being a twin. Best not perhaps to let go of the teat that a rival sib might take over. Who knows?

Bucky: Observations

composition date 2016.Jan.04 - first day back at office routine after a nice Christmas break.

I spent more time with The Buckmeister recent like, since I had this nice break from law work. Consequently I have come to form some new views, and thoughts, based on spending more time with him.

And here are a few random notions, about the characteristics of this pet.

On occasion,

• the proud and elegant gait of a Lipizzaner stallion.
• the rage and contortions of a Brahma bull, when restrained
• the slapstick antics of a classic Vaudevillian
• the good looks of a Hollywood icon 
• the manic behavior or a crazed meth addict
• the gentleness of a toddler looking for affection
• an incredible range of vocalizations from loud big dog scary bark, to wolf howls, to plaintiff whimpers that mimics humans
• eccentric circling when bored or curious
• an appetite that defies satiation
• a Velcro pet that tracks me relentlessly, save when he exercises
• an independence that makes him oblivious to all entreaties.

Bucky is currently at my feet, prone. Whining for even more attention and play.
I succumb.