A Sad Walk, Downtown

 .

November 30, 2024, a Saturday. 
A little snow on ground, more due this week. No question, winter is here for the next while.

Yesterday was Black Friday, the shopping spectacular around the continent, anticipating Christmas '24 by a month .

So, at 2pm I got out for a walk, as I try to do daily. The problem is generally, Where To? 

Downtown on a Saturday afternoon seemed like a good bet, especially since Christmas shopping should be on the agenda. Plus, I had a small list of items that would be welcome in the house. Some Cheesies snacks, a slim 3 ring binder, that sort of thing.

Just back now, and on reflection it was a sad experience.
It's not to early to say Downtown is Dead. I'd say it's probably at 20 percent functionality.
Very few pedestrians on the streets, sidewalks, or store aisles. Not much car traffic for that matter. Easy to jaywalk.

I'm a slow walker, and no one passed me in an hour of walking.

As for stores and shops, the scene was just as dismal. Some examples:
Muirheads Stationers - tho' that's no longer their name - for many decades the pre-eminent stationary and office supply sore in the region was along the path, on the main drag (Elm). Closed. Not open Sat. or Sun.

Grocery Store - subleased 1/2 space to national franchise coffee shop - for starters, though there remained an internal connection and the thought that they might share staff. The shelves were not, repeat not, empty. That's cuz each item had it's own face fronting presentation, e.g.   12 bottles of cleaning fluid took up about 6 linear feet of shelf. Contents were probably 10 percent of what one might ordinarily expect in a functioning shop like this. Might have been 2 other customers in the 400 sq.m. of floor area.

Optometrist had given up his space and had moved in with the mall Optician.

Hart Department store have given over half their space, inclusive of storefront, to some pop up like discount mess, where the goods are thrown into various waist height bins.

Pharmacy - General store with the primary entrance on the main street closed, probably contrary to their site plan. Pedestrian access is inconveniently around back, near to the parking area.

Clinic - might close early...

First School

I first went to school with my twin Maureen in the rec room of a modern house in a neighbourhood near by Marymount School when we were about 4 years old - maybe even 3.

If memory serves we were age 4 for most of Grade 1, at the original St. Thomas school, and this home based experience was obviously before that.

What surprises me is that I can have a memory of this early age.
For sure, my present memory has been influenced by recalling and even re-telling this story over the years. Still, some of the recollection seems genuine - however foggy.

Of interest to me is that the school was primarily a French language place. There was some English, but we were schooled to learn French.

There might have been 15 students or a few more. Not a big gang.

The Genius of Trump

 .

Well, here we are a week plus since the 2024 US federal and state elections, and to the surprise (or shock to some, mostly Democrats) Donald J.T.  prevailed over K. Harris.

I think DJT is a goof. A loud, brash, narcisistic, inconsiderate pig.
Holding these thoughts too prominently messed up a rational analysis. Could it be Trump Derangement Syndrome?

Anyways, on reflection, admittedly sometimes 'buzzed', I know figure it is best to openly acknowledge the Genius of Trump.
The guy has succeeded. He won the election. 

Trump excels at getting attention from the people. He is an Attentioneer par excellence, seemingly in command most of the time over the popular communications channels, to the dismay of his political opponents.

It is this facility at grabbing and holding Attention of the populace that is DJT's greatest attribute.
He does it like no one else before in my experience. He does it against the odds - as imagined by the political cognoscenti.

This past few days there have been a spate of announcements of DJT's new cabinet. Many appointments were not unexpected. The Home team was content, the Visitors chagrined. And while the Visitors were publicly grousing, the next move to grab attention was unfolding. 

And then the Announcement. For the ultra sensitive position of Attorney General, the prime legal adviser to the federal Government of the USA, and all its departments and agencies, DJT named nut bar Matt Goetz. Now that was attention gaining. It immediately shot up the news rotations. It was the topic of water coolers wherever one or more politically tuned-in folks gathered.

The necessary result is that Attention on all other topics diminished. The war in the Middle East. etc etc.

And then while tongues were still wagging on Goetz, DJT announces that RJKennedy Jr. would indeed be in the Cabinent as Secretary of Health ++.
Talk on Goetz diminished.
Say what you want about Attention, all must acknowledge that it is necessarily scarce (limited). Each of us only has so much Attention to give. 

to be ccontinued...