so what next?

 

recently there was the great storm in a teacup over the need for the hyper sensitive to change the name of an ice cream. I suppose the very mention of the name Golden Gaytime is enough to send the insanely correct into a seething rage. Far be it from me to suggest something that will set them off once more but I think I have the very thing that will generate a petition lodging frenzy. Just exactly who they want to complain to has got me stumped. But I guess I really don't really know the power of the internet when in the hands of the mentally unhinged.

Patsy Cline. Walkin' After Midnight. 

I go out walkin' after midnight

Out in the moonlight

Just like we used to do, I'm always walkin'

After midnight, searchin' for you 

I walk for miles along the highway

Well, that's just my way

Of sayin' I love you, I'm always walkin'

After midnight, searchin' for you 

I stop to see a weepin' willow

Cryin' on his pillow

Maybe he's cryin' for me

And as the skies turn gloomy

Night winds whisper to me

I'm lonesome as I can be

I go out walkin' after midnight

Out in the moonlight

Just hopin' you may be somewhere a-walkin'

After midnight, searchin' for me 

I stop to see a weepin' willow

Cryin' on his pillow

Maybe he's cryin' for me

And as the skies turn gloomy

Night winds whisper to me

I'm lonesome as I can be

I go out walkin' after midnight

Out in the moonlight

Just hopin' you may be somewhere a-walkin'

After midnight, searchin' for me 

of course, it's obvious isn't it? This tune just screams promoting rape culture. It makes me think why they haven't tried to ban it sooner. Forget women mock tribbing and licking on the Grammy's, this is outrageous.

then there is my trip to the supermarket the other day  - 

"where's the Coon cheese? what's it called now?"

there is no way I'm going to tire of asking that question. It's based on a family name and has nothing to do with race. Get over yourselves, you morons.

 

activism

 so here are two tales of activism.

earlier in the week, I went to a protest. They met at Carlton Gardens in the afternoon to protest climate change. I have been busy dong other stuff but the day seemed free so I thought I would participate. A few observations - 

1. There should be some award for having more police present than protesters. On foot, in cars, in vans and on horses.

2. Once they started marching, I wished they walked a little slower. Savor the protest; I couldn't keep up with the throng. Maybe the protesting game is a younger person's game or maybe I'm just not protest fit. Part of me thought the copious amount of police surrounding us as we were marching were setting the pace

3. When they reached the main destination, a bunch of them locked themselves together or locked themselves to power poles or bike stands. Maybe it's just me but I didn't get it. It came across sort of petulant and childish.

anyway, I participated.

the next story involves a woman at the tram stop at Moreland Road, on the corner of Sydney Road. This woman comes up and asks if the tram is coming soon. I was drinking a coke and she goes into a lengthy diatribe about the carcinogenic properties of diet coke, which I wasn't drinking but she seemed to be leveling some kind of barb at me. Then she asked me if I had learnt anything new today. My response was just now I had learnt the value of peace and solitude - or lack of for that matter. Not getting the hint at all she starts singing some protest song in relation to some incident at Melbourne University from who knows when. Now get this - I leave and she starts following me and continues singing along Moreland Road. Because she is probably getting a tram she gives up not too far from the tram stop.

as I was walking away, I thought, is this the future when activists get old and remain active to embracing whatever cause on hand? 2 possible scenarios came to mind as I was walking away.

1. The first immediate thing that came to mind was to bark at her to fuck off.

2. Then I thought could there be some merit in just calmly stating to her that I am going to ignore you - because it saves time.

it turns out that actually performing and not stating the actions of scenario number 2 worked out fine.

 

3 things in one day

 

this was on a Sunday. I have no idea what it would mean if it happened on any other day. Sometimes it is either everything or nothing. I've had my fair share of nothing for a while; maybe it was time for a bit of everything.

1. So late morning and half the people on the tram aren't wearing face masks. There is one distinct exception to the rule however, as the majority of them are drinking. They are alcoholics and swilling cans of beer or mixer - all late on a Sunday morning. It still seals the deal for me as to what is the point of face masks. I think of the sum total of people during the week not wearing masks and this moment just seals the deal. Overall, if people can't be bothered, why should I? Yet I comply. I hate it, but I comply.

2. I am outside the front of the supermarket and I decide to clean my eye glasses using a hand sanitizing wipe from the dispenser out front. This woman walks up to me and asks if I am allowed to do this. My response is that I am doing it anyway, but if you have any great concern, maybe you could report it to the authorities. Or maybe you could go away and mind your own business. She was offended and stormed off in a huff, but strangely not so upset as to actually report it to anyone - and that was my suggestion. This makes me think what insane draconian measures people would come up with if they let their imagination run wild if they were in charge. Death penalties for all kinds of things.

3. I eat my lunch at the climbing wall across the road from Barkly Square. Two kids are playing there and one of them asks what am I eating. Before I can respond the mother walks up and says that our family are having quiet, private time together and she would appreciate that I not say anything to my children. I haven't said a word and stated that her kid approached me and said something. Her response? Nevertheless, just say nothing. I asked for quid pro quo. In turn, can you keep away from me? At best, you are mentally unhinged and I fear for the future of your children. As she was getting heated and animated I turned and walked away. Part of me wanted to really provoke her and say you've caught me on a Sunday, I usually assign my serial killing to a Thursday.

But that would require effort and based on the sum total events of today; basically, I am exhausted.

the nature of the beast

 

so I have resigned myself to the fact that the whole thing has been dysfunctional for so many years long before the crazy antics of Prince Harry in his formative years and the actions of Prince Phillip in those moments when he merely opened his mouth but looking at history, my relatives killed your relatives so we rule you. What exactly is the point of the royal family? If It means this degree of insanity, you can forget it.

now I wish no one to go through the trauma of suicidal ideation, but then I learnt about the fee the couple were going to be paid for the interview. $9 million dollars. Apparently, money can't buy happiness, but for that tidy sum, you can surely rent some happiness for a while. Plus renovations on the family home would go some way. Courtesy of the English taxpayer.

but there still the one thing that nags me and that is the cost. Have a look at this chart

to be frank, I am still wondering about Prince Andrew. Sure, he may not be on the books and has stepped down from his public duties, his actions may not scream jail, but at least trial. The Queen's net worth as of 2020 is $460 million dollars. For what? 

really, this is enough to give an aspirin a headache. Especially when it comes to the point of all this.

part of me gets the feeling that all kinds of factions that are seething in the United States alone are going to get one trigger that will set them all off and make this Royal nonsense a mere footnote. The President is senile and not long for this earth. Just one complication and watch out - the mess is about to explode.

so they've gone

the next door neighbors have moved out. This is great for two reasons: when the wind blows in a certain direction I no long have to smell the second hand smoke from the bongs they suck all afternoon in the back yard and mid-pandemic they must have changed dealers and the smell was something strong and different.

I thought it must be great that I don't drive for the sheer amount of second hand smoke I did inhale because it surely must have registered on detection equipment. Compliance is a surreal thing in this case - I haven't smoked anything but there was a possibility that I could have tested positive.

the people who have moved in are a family and are renovating their house down the street. They all seem fine and above board. They seemed to be happy they were providing some sort of relief in the hooch department.

I know I have mentioned it before but not only legalize it but apply protocols as to where it is smoked. I want nothing to do with it and don't want to go down for ingesting it second hand. All those months and I didn't even remotely get a buzz.

I am now not even remotely curious as to where they have moved to.