How to build a government bulldog

Back in the horrid days of Covid (although I'm not sure they ended...) I was astonished by how many people constantly repeated the government talking points. The media, coworkers, strangers, it didn't matter who I was around, I was hearing them parrot all the absurd lines, such as, 'two weeks to flatten the curve' and 'we're all in this together'.

Neither of those things turned out to be true. Still, people ignored this fact. Without realizing it, we entered a boiling-a-frog scenario. You never turn the water up too much right away, but let him enjoy a warm bath first. We know this because the next stage was, 'good people get vaccinated' and 'good people wear masks' (you should check back HERE where I talk about virtual signaling) which turned up the heat on that same frog. Finally, we reached the 'take the fucking vaccine or you'll be ostracized from society!' stage. This is where the frog boils This is the behavior of a tyrants but apparently, if 'health' is the concern (or children) then literally anything can be forced down your throat even if it's not logical.

None of this would've gotten off the ground if people hadn't complied. Not only did they comply, but they quickly became the government's bulldog, screaming at people in checkout lines because they stood too close or cut them out of their lives for not doing what the government wanted. To this day, those same people will justify their actions, claiming it was perfectly acceptable and....normal to act this way, considering the circumstances. All I'm saying is that I'm happy that these same people weren't guards in Nazi camps, during World War 2. They'd later be the same people who'd say, 'I just did what I was told', taking no accountability. If, at this point, you still feel justified being a government bulldog, then you're probably beyond help.

Covid aside, it hasn't stopped, has it? We've seen this again and again in various situations, always involving the government. Yesterday I heard about a 15-year-old kid who sang the American national anthem at a hockey game and was booed by Canadians. Who told us Americans were our enemy?

Oh yes, Trudeau. The same Trudeau who didn't want to deal with potential tariffs so hid under his desk for over a month, then played victim, as he always does. Then he rallied his bulldogs (I feel like someone in history did that.....🤔) and they fell in line. As it's been pointed out on social media, the same people who spit on fellow Canadians during the trucker convoy, now are so pro-Canadian that it hurts. The same people who wanted to get Pfizer tattooed on their face during covid, now want to replace it with a Canadian flag. The same people who were completely happy to see Canadian businesses close down (some, for good) during the pandemic, now want to only shop Canadian. Give me a fucking break.

Just like wearing brand names as a status symbol is considered respectable now, so is being a government bulldog. It's what 'good' people do. Of course, you might want to stop admiring false Gods when you decide to sharpen your teeth. If you're going to pull up your sleeves and fight for someone, make sure the person you're fighting for would do the same for you, and more importantly, are worth it.

Don't f*ck with my friends 🙅🏼‍♀️

Growing up with no siblings, just my mother and me, and minimal connection to other relatives, I've always viewed my friends as family. They've been the people I confided in, who supported me, and in turn, who I support. During the whole Covid nightmare, it was my friends who kept me sane. We helped each other through the dystopian tyranny that we lived under in Canada, which in some ways, hasn't completely ended. (but that's another story for another day)

At any rate, I know who those people are and I also know who those people aren't. My friendships have changed a great deal in the last few years. I can no longer be friends with people who don't support freedom of speech in this country (which is, surprisingly, a lot more common than you think) or people who think it's justifiable to ostracize a portion of society because they didn't want to get a vaccine or even worse, feel they should be punished by not 'following the rules'. Those friendships could be a slippery slope and unfortunately, you might not want to find out as you're sliding into the gates of hell and it's too late to stop. I have no reason to believe this is the kind of person who'll have my back if needed.

This touches on one of the reasons I was prompted to write this blog today. It's also to complain about people's lack of self-control on Facebook. I often offer up my opinions on the site, especially political, to show people what's happening in the world. They can think or believe what they want, I don't care. However, I don't appreciate having my opinion attacked on the app. A reasonable argument is fine, but a full-on attack on my comments is insane. The fact that people feel comfortable doing it is a bit concerning. However, when you attack my friend's comments on a post, that's another story. That's when I'm done. 

I was about to completely go off of Facebook yesterday for that reason. I posted a FACTUAL statement about a politician want-to-be, something I felt people should be aware of and my friend made a comment, then someone else jumped on and attacked her. That was enough for me. The fact that pure hatred is directed toward me or my friends over an opinion is just disgusting. Furthermore, why are people so quick to stand up for politicians? Would the same people stand up for me? And if you don't remember anything else from this post, then remember this: Politicians love it when we fight with each other because we aren't directing anger toward them, and we don't notice the underhanded things they're doing. Why would anyone stand up for a politician or put their complete faith in any of them, I'll never understand. But to fight with someone on Facebook over it?  It's pathetic. 

So, I'm no longer on Facebook. My account is still up because I oversee my writing fan page and deleted almost everything. You see, attacking my friend, was the final straw. My friends are my family. And you don't fuck with my family. 

Don't be loyal to a color

I recently read a fascinating (non-fiction) book that took place about a hundred years ago. Probably the most fascinating thing, however, was the fact that despite all the times people got fucked over by the government, they continued to support the same parties that fucked them over.

Am I being too blunt?

Without getting into too much detail, this family was loyal to one, specific political party. Later in the story, we learn that this particular party completely screwed over the family. Not only did they financially screw them over, they essentially used them up and spit them out. And yet, the family continued to be loyal supporters of the party.

I guess this fact wasn't so surprising to me, considering I see it in real-time in my own century. What surprises me is that people weren't smarter back then, but equally naive as they are now. I always thought people were gullible now for a multitude of reasons including being much more distracted with technology, tied in traffic, and things that wouldn't apply to people in the early 1900s. Having said that, I hesitate to say they're busier now because we are talking about a time when manual labor was much more intense than it is now. You didn't throw the dishes in a dishwasher and clothes in the washing machine and sit your ass down to stare at Facebook for an hour in 1920. 

These days, it shocks me how blindly (and I can't emphasize that word enough) people follow some political leaders and make excuses for them. I mean, I once considered myself a Liberal, then for a short time an NDP, and now I've swung more Conservative and People's Party of Canada because I watch what they're all doing and saying. I don't loyally stick to a party and make excuses for them and pretend I don't see what I don't want to see. And really, that's the problem now. I'm pretty sure these supporters are the same people whose 16-year-old could get high on cocaine, steal their brand-new SUV, and smash into another car, killing a family and they'd make excuses for him. 

Johnny's friends were a bad influence on him. You just don't understand. 

The problem is that the car wreck that's Canadian politics now can't be resolved until everyone admits the truth and make politicians accountable. Maybe even dive in and learn about a topic, rather than automatically accepting the mainstream media spin on things. I don’t give a fuck what side you’re on officially, our country is in trouble. If you want to show your loyalty, show it to Canada. 

Shopping Canadian is not a new concept

With recent discussions about a 25% tariff on products coming to Canada, people have been talking more about shopping for Canadian products. To many people, this isn’t a new concept. Many of us attempted to shop in Canada before any tariff threat. After all, we wanted to support our country, workers, and people. But why does it take a tariff threat to encourage loyalty to our country?

There's been a lot of talk lately about Canadians being discouraged from loving their country. I was brought up to have pride in Canada, to sing our national anthem in school, and to believe we're the greatest country in the world. Is that still the case? Do Canadians still have loyalty to their country? We certainly aren’t encouraged to with our government. And if we step away from that whole can of worms (and it is, once you start digging - a whole other topic for another day) why would we go for the foreign companies and products and not buy from Canada?

It's the price. Many people will tell you that foreign chains are cheaper. Maybe they have different products that are more appealing, but also you have to consider that less manufacturing is done in Canada now.

I remember when I was a teenager, I loved to shop in Moncton, NB. I had the chance to get off the island and see more selection than was available on PEI. One store I often shopped at was Bootlegger and I remember even as a kid, I would check the tags and be happy to see that (at that time) the clothing said 'Made in Canada'. Now my memory may be a bit hazy, after all, it's been a minute, but I'm pretty sure this was a possibility back in the day. Good luck finding that now.

I currently live in a rural area and try to shop in my community as much as possible. If I had a family, perhaps the lure of shopping in a larger area would have more appeal since there would be more mouths to feed on a budget. However, I try to shop for sales (and stock up!), and if I can't find what I want here, I try to shop for Canadian stores online. If I order from Amazon, I buy a gift card at a local store, so they at least get a sale. Maybe it's not much, but it's something. I've researched companies to make sure they're Canadian. And sure, they probably have products made in other countries, but at least I'm helping keep a Canadian business going, keeping their staff working. Having worked retail, I know that does make a difference. No business means no hours.

It takes time and a little research, but in the end, it's worth it.

Do Canadians support Canadian artists? 🎭🎤✍🏼

After publishing my first book in 2010, I bent over backward to get attention for my work. I contacted the media, tried to run ads, attempted to have contests, and offered to have a signing at a large Canadian chain, you name it. I did everything I could think of, but all this was relatively new and quite terrifying to me, but I recognized that I had to at least try. Everything felt like three steps forward, two steps back, and sometimes, it felt the other way around. 

As the years moved forward, I continued to push forward, continued to write, and continued to get frustrated. At a certain point, I decided to just do my thing and make an effort, but I was constantly swimming against the tide. I had some local media (mostly newspapers and a rare CBC radio interview) but it was hard and I didn't know the best strategy. It was like being stuck in quicksand and trying to move ahead. I finally decided to focus on my writing and not stress so much about my success rate. 

It was during those early years a former coworker told me something that struck home. She said her boyfriend was studying journalism and how it was apparently well-known that the industry in Canada didn't support their artist after they found success. Although I was still terribly insecure about my writing skills, something in that statement rang true. And to be honest, in years since, I've heard the same thing repeatedly for Canadian artists. Those powerful enough to help an artist move forward in their career often show no interest until they've found success elsewhere, then consider them 'Canada's own' with a sense of pride. It's kind of a kick in the ass. 

Of course, I'm not talking about the fans. Fans are a whole, different thing. Canadian artists often have a lot of support from those who appreciate their work, although I'd be lying if that was always the case. It sometimes happens that people can also be contrary until the artist has shown success, but overall, I think most people want to see their hometown talent shine through. It's just unfortunate that elitists at the top can't see that.

And just like that, I was back in the 90s again

I was recently captivated by a video that appeared on my Facebook feed from Moncton, New Brunswick in the early 2000s. As a former resident of the city, I'm always interested in vintage videos, images, or stories from the province where I spent most of my youth. The video was probably 5 minutes long and had been recorded from the passenger side of a car, as the cameraperson documented what they were seeing as they drove through the downtown area, from businesses to city landmarks. It brought back memories inspired by locations where I spent time, many of which no longer exist. 

I decided to check out this person's YouTube channel to see what else I could find. Much to my surprise, a cascade of memories pulled me back in time when I saw a video centered on friends from my youth, in the form of a documentary of a band they once were a part of in the 90s. I spent many hours in the house featured in the video, with the residents and others often dropping by, shortly after I moved to Moncton in the 90s. It was the first place I really felt I belonged, with a group of friends that accepted me. And when I started to watch this video, it was as if I were back in time again, walking through that same doorway.

The house itself was large, and old, from a time when homes had character, and with the right amount of TLC, it could've been a beautiful place again. Unfortunately, it had been neglected through the years. It was known as a party house before my friends moved in (in fact, I think they were some of the partiers) and I remember them saying there was a lot of deep cleaning required before anyone would move their worldly possessions in. I vaguely remember posters on the walls, the smell of cigarette smoke surrounding me, and empty Tim Horton cups sitting on the coffee table. And there was always music. Either a guitar being strummed or grunge music being played. In fact, I can't listen to an Alice in Chains song without being reminded of those days, that house, and my friends who lived in it. If walls could talk. 

People were in and out of that house, probably all hours of the night and day. Mostly because the tenants worked all hours, some with more than one job, just to get by but also because a stream of visitors (including myself) was frequent. This was back in the day when people still visited one another before devices became more important than eye contact. None of us knew how lucky we were or how much the world would change. 

Sadly, the changes included death. It was during that time that friends in my youth would start to die, much too young. One of the house's previous tenants, a man who became my friend after calling out 'hello' one day as I passed by, would commit suicide a few years later. I had spent some time with him but to this day, regret not having got to know him better. He was charismatic, friendly, and probably the first person I ever met whose reputation preceded him, for various reasons. He was a fascinating character who could've done a lot with his life. I regret he didn't have the opportunity.

Another friend I made during this time would pass away a few years later after I regretfully lost contact with him. During my early years in Moncton, we had many late-night chats on the phone, while he sat waiting for calls at a pizza delivery service that employed him. He essentially just sat there, waiting for the phone to ring, so he could chat on the phone in between. My friend was perfect for the job with a very smooth, kind voice, which made everyone at ease. When I found the video on YouTube that he was in, it sprung so many memories. Tears were in my eyes when I heard him talking to the camera, that voice I hadn't heard in decades. His easy-going manner, holding a guitar, it was as if time stood still. 

I have so many memories from those days. Friendships that faded for one reason or another, but all are a part of me and always will be.

Drab colors at Christmas? Does fashion reflect our times?

I'm not sure if you noticed it, but the colors are quite drab this season. I'm not saying this as a challenge for you to 'but, what about...' me, but to merely point out what I've noticed from a few retail sites that send me marketing emails regularly: Drab, dreary, dark clothing, ironically during a season most known for bright, vibrant colors. Has anyone else noticed this trend? 

This first got my attention in October when I was actively looking for a robe as a Christmas gift. I prefer shopping Canadian (I plan to make a blog post about this soon) so I went to the various sites that I thought might have something that I had, at the time, considered to be quite simple. I wasn't looking for a robe with a specific and distinct style. I wanted a long, warm robe. I preferred one that was high or reasonable quality, not the kind of garbage you'd buy for $20 at a discount store. I also wanted something with a pretty color. 

All I found were either short robes that barely covered your ass (the gift is for a 70-year-old, so she probably prefers something a little less provocative) or dark, dreary, gross colors. Some were white, which sounds pretty and luxurious until you spill coffee, get a nosebleed, and drop food on it, possibly all on the same day. But that's a whole other story.

That's when I noticed from my various emails that most of the clothing being advertised was depressing colors. Where were the rich red sweaters? The fun, pretty holiday colors? What about the flattering, beautiful dresses and shiny high heels to match? Most of the colors that I'm noticing are tame compared to what I was expecting. Perhaps it has always been this way, and I dreamed up something more, or maybe it's a reflection of our times. 

This brings us to the real question: Does fashion reflect our times? And what does this fashion say about our current times?