THERE’S JUST NO PLEASING SOME PEOPLE
Canada curtailed the wildfires enough that President Donald Trump didn’t impose tariffs over the smoke. Now he’s slapped on 50 percent ones because Canadians are apparently ingrates.… Read the rest
DEAR AI COULD I HAVE A HUMAN PLEASE
This week’s post is being written in trepidation of déjà vu. Last week’s effort didn’t make it online until Sunday, because a glitch in the website drove me, against my will, to enter a version of Hell — the mind-masticating maw of AI.… Read the rest
SOMETIMES REALITIES CAN BE A CHOICE
Mathematicians took 2,300 years to prove squaring the circle is geometrically impossible. In one day, six kayakers and two loons showed me why it became the perfect idiom for trying to reconcile two conflicting things… Read the rest
GREAT EXPECTATIONS, MEET REALITY
The Trump administration and Iranian leaders reaching a comprehensive and lasting peace deal, is about as likely as pair of pyromaniacs agreeing to design and pay for a new fire station. … Read the rest
ALL WE CAN SAY IS SORRY, EH?
Dear President Trump; Your rants and threats to impose 50 percent tariffs over smoke from our wildfires blowing into the U.S. have, as we Canadians say, seriously cheesed us off. So I feel compelled to live up to our stereotype and say Sorry, eh?… Read the rest
SO MANY WORDS SO LITTLE PROPERLY SAID
The loons that grace the lake where I am now ensconced, can say everything they need others of their species to know, simply by mixing the syllables of four clear calls. English-speaking humans seem compelled to do the opposite.… Read the rest
THE FOLLIES MY AFFLICTED EYES DOTH SEE
I have the (thankfully rare) distinction of genetically-induced tunnel vision. I gave up driving before I was forced to, because of the danger I posed to myself and others.… Read the rest
EMPATHY: NATURE’S VICTIMS AND GAZA RULES
The world has developed a severe case of empathy schizophrenia. This week’s egregious symptom is the aid and sympathy pouring forth for earthquake victims in Venezuela, and the absence of either for civilians in Gaza and southern Lebanon.… Read the rest
THE DEAL IS AS ARTLESS AS THE DEALER
The end of the shooting in Iran should have cleared the confusion and skewed judgement of the “fog of war”. Instead, it’s been replaced by the fog of the catchall label “deal”.… Read the rest
WHAT WE NEED IS A FIFA REFEREE
The historical claim that the FIFA World Cup presents “…an opportunity to foster peace and goodwill among competing nations” is, unfortunately, more lofty ideal than reality. But it does have a useful application in the foul-beset field of diplomatic gamesmanship — Red and Yellow cards.… Read the rest