Category Archives: Thirsty Thursdays

Change of the Guard

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‘Biden is out, Trump is still in,’ Camp said. ‘And the only way out of a disastrous second Trump administration is apparently Kamala Harris. I cannot believe that people actually think Trump is smart and coherent. He clearly is not. I’ve heard part of his rambling speech and actually felt embarrassed by it all. Is that the best the Republicans have? If it is, it’s a sad day at the office.’

            ‘A Washington Post newsletter described the GOP convention as energized and focused. Considering that the gathering featured a sex worker, Hulk Hogan and a spaced-out Trump, that’s really lowering the bar.’ 

            ‘And then there is the MAGA crowd. As I see it that acronym stands for Make America Go Away. I mean they want to undo the America two generations fought so hard for. Civil rights, equality, inclusiveness, reproductive rights, emancipation. They want all that to go away and send the country back to a time before all those achievements,’ I said.

            ‘Now, the people have the chance to focus on the future once again instead of the past that the republicans glorify and never really existed. I’m also convinced that everybody is better off with Biden concentrating on being president until his term is up, rather than waste his remaining energy on a re-election campaign that he could not win because he wasn’t just fighting Trump but also himself.’

            ‘Harris now has the chance to bring those millions of disaffected voters, who were disgusted with the choice between two old men, back into the voting booth. She has a chance to inspire and take it all back but she will have to fight against an angry, aggressive headwind of lies, defamation and obfuscation.’

            ‘Will Trump actually debate her live on TV?’ I asked Camp.

            ‘I doubt it. She can certainly outsmart and outdebate Trump but she needs to paint him into a corner and make him loose his cool which should not be hard. A cornered Trump will lash out with fury and hatred for all to see. According to his own words he wants to be president for vengeance, retribution and punishment of those who oppose him and to get rid of all those pesky lawsuits against him. Also, he has a poor understanding of geopolitical issues, has a limited vocabulary and is not interested in facts and truths which makes him a poor debater against anybody with an education.’

‘Harris is also a former prosecutor and as she already pointed out she has met plenty of people like Trump in her previous jobs. ‘I took on perpetrators of all kinds; predators who abused women, fraudsters and cheaters who were only interested in their own gain. Her own record against Trump’s should be a no-contest.’

‘It will be an interesting few months until November but there is a sense of optimism in the air that a second Trump term is not a forgone conclusion as it was only last week after Biden’s disastrous public display of incoherence.’

‘We will watch from our easy chairs and bar stools and hope that common sense will prevail and that the young people come out and vote for the future, not for some mystical past that never existed.’

‘How are we doing today?’ Vicki asked setting down a couple of refills.

‘We’re happy that Biden made the right choice and now there is a chance Trump will lose. Let’s face it. Would you buy a used car from Trump?’

‘Nobody would,’ Vicky said. ‘I wouldn’t even let him drive.’

King of the USA

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‘Now that the Supreme Court declared the President immune to criminal prosecution for acts committed while in office; they elevated the person holding the office of the highest civil service in the country to King and above the law,’ Camp said, shaking his head of grey curls in disgust and disappointment.

‘It’s a war,’ Steve Bannon said, before heading off to serve his 3 months jail term. ‘He meant that him, his acolytes and Trump followers, have declared war on the liberal and tolerant people who uphold democratic and moral principles. He and his kind want to nazify the state and re-install their disposed king. They want vengeance and are fueled by hate and rule by fear and punishment. They want to cut all aid to Ukraine instantly, mass deportations on the southern border and a deconstruction of the administrative state. And Bannon thinks that Trump is a kind hearted person.’

‘I guess this would officially spell the end of the Peace, Love and Happiness era, the end of tolerance and inclusiveness, the end of kindness and the end of respect for each other, no matter our personal origins, beliefs and opinions.’

‘It’s either you’re with us or you’re against us. There is no such thing as agreeing to disagree any longer. Bannon says that we’re never going to be reasonable until we get what we want. Might is right and they also claim to have God on their side.’

 ‘I think the meek are weak and turning the other cheek just means getting slapped around til you fall down,’ I said, downing my first pint.

‘We know they fight dirty. We know they lie, cheat and deny any wrong doing and yet many still think they can convince this basket of deplorables with arguments about the truth and facts, with appeals to their common sense, with a childlike belief that we can make them see the error of their ways. It’s long past that and we are truly at war,’ Camp said, ‘not yet with guns and bullets but with poisonous words and deeds.’

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Time Warp

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‘How was your trip into the Kootenay’s last weekend?’ Camp wanted to know.

‘I love that drive through all these different climate zones, into the heart of the Purcell mountains along Kootenay lake. Nelson today is a bustling, affluent town with scores of restaurants and sports stores. Not the depressed and struggling town of the 80’ies when every second house was for sale for below $ 100’000 and there were no jobs,’ I said.

‘That’s when the pot industry brought in some hard cash to the floundering economy,’ Camp said.

‘You’re right. There was an exhibit in 2022, in the midst of the pandemic, put on by the Nelson Museum, Archives and Gallery called ‘Grow Show’ about exactly that. Now there is a book out documenting the activism and the underground economy of the early growers in and around Nelson. Quite fascinating how the cops often looked the other way, the local businesses pretended that the rolls of poly and the fertilizers were for tomatoes and carrots, paid for in cash.’

‘And it all ended with legalization, didn’t it?’

‘It sure changed the business model. Not everybody joined the government growers with all their fees, requirements and safeguards which made growing the stuff not lucrative. Many chose to remain off the grid and are still producing much better products than the government grow-ops.’ 

‘You used to live there, didn’t you?’

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New and Old Cults

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‘Less and less people subscribe to traditional religious organisation like Catholicism or the reformist Protestant doctrine. The churches are empty and so are the pulpits.,’ I said to Camp who I know is interested in that sort of thing. 

‘Not a lot of young men want to be priests or clergy, unlike a couple of generations ago when every family aspired to have at least one member in the church.’

‘Where did all the believers go Camp? ‘

‘Some became atheists like you and me but many others joined Christian cults which adhere to a much more radical and militant doctrine than the traditional religions. Sects like the JW’s, Scientology, the Mormons, Seven Day Adventists and such. These days it’s the Reformed Baptist and Methodist; others are the Pentecostal’s, Churches of Christ, Plymouth Brethren and other of their ilk. These non-denominational organizations are all relatively new evangelical movements.’

‘You’re talking about cults,’ I said.

‘Yes, you could call them that. Like the Assemblies of God or the Calvary Chapels which draw anywhere from 10’000 to 30’000 devotees for their weekly services.

‘I would say these are exclusive, fascist congregations who will most likely decide the election in November. Their flocks are all republicans and want a world full of rules and restrictions. And they all have God on their side.’

            ‘Yes, also many people do not like this new woke world where every word has to be weighed for its implications, historical relevance and perceived prejudice. The gender confusion and the binary world of AI as well as the complicated messages coming from the mostly corrupt and self-serving body politic do not help. Therefore, many flock to organizations and follow leaders that promise order and simple solutions to complex problems.’

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Genocide and Protests

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‘South Africa has alleged that Israel’s war on Gaza constituted genocide. Israel contends it has a right to defend itself after the October attacks by Hamas.’

‘While both sides want the other one eradicated from the face of the earth this latest attack by Israel on the population of Gaza bears no comparison to the genocide in Rwanda, which started exactly 30 years ago or the Armenian genocide which was the systematic destruction of about 1 million of the Armenian people during World War I or the holocaust perpetrated by the Nazi regime. The systemic mass execution of 6 million Jews, Roma Gypsies, disabled and homosexual people on an industrial scale is unprecedented in human history. The incinerators, gas lines and train stations servicing half a dozen termination or death camps as well as hundreds of concentration camps were designed and engineered with one object in mind: Efficient killing of as many people in as short a time as possible. Nothing in today’s many wars comes even close to that.’ Camp stated unequivocally. I agreed totally. There was nothing to add.

‘Have you seen Jonathan Glazer’s movie The Zone of Interest loosely based on Martin Amis’ novel?  It’s about the so-called normal life of the Höss family, living next to Auschwitz Concentration Camp, which was under Höss’ command.’

‘Can’t say I have nor do I have any interest in seeing it. You know me and movies. I don’t watch them. I’d rather read a book.’

‘Clare and I watched it the other night. Not much of a film or a story really. Just the life of the family sharing a wall of their backyard with the Auschwitz camp next door. I think the most unnerving and disturbing aspect of the film was the constant industrial sound track, punctuated by the odd cry and some rifle shots but it was always there, twenty-four hours a day. The mechanized noise of murder and death.’

‘Thanks for that. Now I’m definitely never going to watch it. I saw the Holocaust exhibition at Izzy Asper’s Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg. Seeing the blue prints of the death factory layout and the staff photo under the famous gate ‘Arbeit macht Frei’ was quite enough for my sensibilities. Secretaries and workmen all smiling and waving as if this was a holiday resort and they’re just welcoming new guests. I cannot and will never understand the depravity that humans are capable off. Nothing explains it and you can analyze it to death but it doesn’t make it any more accessible or palatable.’ 

‘What do you think of the pro-Palestine student demonstrations all over America and now Europe and Canada?’ I asked Camp who I knew had a definite opinion about it.

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No End in Sight

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‘Despite the new U.S. aid package for Ukraine, peace or the end of the war is still far from being in sight,’ I said to Camp who was looking out at the lovely view from our pub on the harbour. ‘The US finally approved a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine. This means that Ukraine at least has another chance to defend itself against the overpowering opponent from the east.’  

‘It’s hopefully not too late. But there is no reason for euphoria. Russia’s economy seems to be resilient despite sanctions; thanks to Chinese and Indian electronics for their war machine and third-party importers for everything else, all paid for with oil shipped out with their dark and rusty ghost fleet. Then there are the casualties on both sides of the war. About 100,000 soldiers are said to have died so far, two-thirds of them on the Russian side. In addition, more than 10,000 civilians were also killed. Second, there are no signs at all that the war, which has been going on for two years now, will end in the foreseeable future.’

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Middle Class Blues

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‘I had a long chat with one of my regular customers the other day,’ Camp said after he got comfortable in his usual chair by the window. ‘We talked about how we are all struggling to keep up with inflated prices, home ownership, rentals and affordability.’

            ‘The working poor? The pensioners using the foodbanks?’ I asked.

            ‘No, this woman, I call her Jane, laid out her financial situation to me without any qualms about privacy or shame. Jane has a 14year old daughter and is divorced. She and her husband owned a mortgaged home together but since neither one could afford to buy the other one out, they agreed to rent it out for the time being.’

‘Sounds like she is ok, maybe upper middle class?’

‘Jane has a master’s degree in health management and makes over $ 100’000 a year. After taxes around $ 72’000. Take away pension contribution and health plan and you end up with about $ 65’000 in your bank account or about $ 5’400 per month.’

            ‘Wow, that pares it down significantly,’ I said.

‘Yes. This is what she said: The rent on the house we still own together pays the mortgage and taxes on the property. If we sell it, neither one of us will be able to afford to buy back into the market today. My daughter and I live in a small house I rented for $ 3000.- per month, Hydro, natural gas, TV, internet, insurances etc. about $ 1’000 per month. Which leaves us around $ 1’400 for food, clothes, petrol and various other small expenses. Forget about travel, forget about savings, forget about emergency funds like if I need a new car or my daughter wants to go on a holiday with her friends.  Forget about extra curricula activities. Period.’ I just stood there, following the numbers game to zero with Jane.’

‘Wow, less than $ 1’500 a month for two people to live on? What kind of middleclass standards are those? Mind you, nobody is going to feel sorry for Jane.’

‘Exactly. I’d be happy to make a hundred grand a year from the book store. I pay myself a minimum wage and expenses. If it wouldn’t be for Muriel’s teaching job, I’d be moving in with you and Clare,’ Camp said, taking a healthy swallow from his pint.

‘Which leaves the question how most people manage. Not everybody makes a hundred grand a year.’

‘I checked it out,’ Camp said. ‘Consider that the median (not average) income of Canadians is around $ 55’000 per year while a 2bdr condo rents for around $ 2’600 per month. A house would be more. It takes more than one income per household to afford a house, either mortgaged or rented. The rule of thumb is that you should not pay more than 30% of your income for rent. If you make $ 60’000 a year, then you cannot afford to rent even a one-bedroom condo in today’s market.’

‘There goes the illusion of middle class if you earn $ 100’000.’

‘Where does that leave the pensioners?’

‘90% of seniors get Old Age Security (OAS) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) while around 30% receive Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). On average, these pensions provide an annual income of around $ 23’000 per recipient. Not exactly living in the clover. Without savings these old folks live on the edge of bankruptcy and more and more are dependent on food banks. And living in trailer parks.’

‘Some sobering numbers,’ I said.

When Vicky came around to swap our empties I had to ask. ‘How much rent do you pay if you don’t mind me asking?’

‘I live with my mom, who is also my primary baby sitter and I help out with the food and bills.  Then there is my tuition for which I took out a student loan. Let’s just say, I couldn’t afford to move out with my 5year old if it wasn’t for my mom. Life in the fast lane boys.’

We left her a royal tip. 

Elephants and Swiss Senior Women

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            ‘Well, what’s new my friend?’ Camp asked me when he sat down at our usual corner table at our favorite watering hole.

            ‘Two items have caught my attention this week. One is about elephants and the other about Swiss senior women,’ I said.

            ‘Oh, please tell. I haven’t followed the news this week; busy with the store and the new spring releases in the ever-fickle publishing market. It’s a guessing game I play every year as in: who will buy what to read this summer?’

            ‘Berlin’s Green environment minister, Steffi Lemke, proposed a new law restricting the import of elephant hunting trophies. When Botswana’s president Masisi heard about this, he threatened to send 20’000 elephants to Germany. Botswana is home to 130’000 elephants, about a third of the world pachyderm population while Germany is one of the biggest importers of such trophies in the EU. Masisi said elephant numbers had exploded as a result of conservation efforts, and hunting helped keep them in check.’

            ‘I suppose the spectre of neo-colonialism hasn’t occurred to Ms Lemke, Camp said, shaking his head of white curls. ‘What about the Swiss seniors?’

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Follow the Money Again

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‘You know Camp, it’s almost been six months since Hamas attacked and murdered 1140 Israelis and took 240 hostages. Until now Hamas still holds over 130 Israeli hostages and none of the senior leaders of Hamas have been captured or killed.’

 ‘Also, none of its 2billion dollar annual budget has been curtailed. Hamas’ leaders, like Khaled Mashaal, whose cumulative net worth is estimated at 11billion dollars, live a life of luxury, staying at 5-star hotels in Qatar and Turkey and fly around in private jets, as their brothers and sisters starve and fight over aid in Rafah on the Egyptian border.’

‘Meanwhile tens of thousands of civilians have died in Gaza and the whole population of Gaza, now over 2.3 million, is at risk of a catastrophic famine.’

‘Where does Hamas get its millions and billions from?’ I asked, knowing Camp had an answer.

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The Art and the Artist

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Our pub has become something of a hide out, only accessible by a set of steep stairs up from the boardwalk or down a never-ending staircase from the street level above. The town, in its infinite wisdom, pushed by an insurance company I’m sure, has removed the connecting ramp between the wharf and the building along with the pub’s front entrance, even though the ramp could hold a herd of elephants and more than the single vehicle traffic into the underground garage. It was built of steel beams and solid timbers. Now the garage is an empty inaccessible space and the patrons like Camp and I have to clamber down or up a steep flight of stairs. ‘Not exactly wheelchair accessible,’ Camp pointed out. 

‘We went to see ‘One Love’ last week, the Bob Marley movie about the last few years of his roller coaster life that was cut short at only 36 years by a rare form of skin cancer. The mediocre film was produced by Brad Pitt, Rita and Ziggy Marley,’ I said, once I got comfortable in my old corner chair.

‘Oh yeah, how was that? I love the music but the man? One Love could have been named Many Loves,’ Camp said. ‘Didn’t he have a soccer team full of kids from many different women?’

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Movies and Memories

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‘Did you watch the Academy Awards?’ I asked Camp, knowing full well I’m going to get an ear full.  

‘You’re talking to somebody that doesn’t even own a TV and I’m certainly not interested in the glamour and self-congratulating gizillinaires parading their gowns that cost more than some people earn in a year.’

‘There were some great movies made this year Camp and as one of the winners pointed out: Movies make memories and memories make history.’

‘And then the victors revise the history and make more movies about a fictional past. What about AI? Soon they’ll need no actors or locations. It will all be generated by a computer. It will be a perfect world. What memories? What history?’

‘I have to take you to a movie some day Camp. It’s not all fantasy and make believe. Some documentaries visually highlight the subject matter. It could be nature, music, even war. The Ukrainians docudrama Mariupol, about 20 days of the brutal Russian siege of that town, won an Oscar for best documentary. A first for Ukraine. The director said that he would much rather not have made the movie. Or The Zone of Interest, a disturbing film which is inspired by the real life of the commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Also, the film industry is a good employer and over 5000 people work in movies and TV here in Hollynorth. These are good paying jobs Camp.’

‘You should know. Isn’t it what you did? I thought you always portrayed it as just an army of pushers, shovers, pullers, riggers, draggers of equipment and builders of temporary sets destined for the garbage heap. You called yourself a carnie. Setting up and tearing down rides.’

‘Well, that is one aspect. True, my job was just that, a job but the film industry offers a myriad of employment opportunities for people of all ages and genders and their trades: Carpenters, lighting techs, special effects, hair stylists, makeup and set decorators, greens and landscapers, costume and camera crews, caterers and drivers and then a whole army of post filming specialists from editors to musicians and visual and computer-generated effects people. Not to mention the actors and stunt people, stand-ins and extras, the production and locations teams, all of them making decent money.’

‘I guess it’s a more fun industry than an ammunitions or a fertilizer plant. All for our entertainment and leisure. I guess I’m in the wrong business. Mind you, I remember when there were video games and movie rental stores. I even sold tapes and Cd’s in the early days. Now it’s all streaming and uploading. It’s a never-ending world of zeros and ones determining everything from what we watch on our gadgets to what’s in our bank accounts to our personal info. Zero’s and One’s.  We couldn’t exist without our plastic cards or digital identities. It’s a binary, plastic world.’ 

We both concentrated on our beers for a beat.

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The Fight is On

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’Time to drink up. I’m going home and listen to Biden’s State of the Nation speech to the US Congress’, Camp said., downing his pint.

‘I promised to cook dinner tonight. I’m planning an eggplant casserole with left over spaghetti sauce. It’s always a winner,’ I said.

‘You can cook and listen, can’t you?’ 

‘Like multi-tasking? I prefer to cook with music, maybe some Steel Pulse reggae or the latest Stones album.’

Camp gave me an exasperated look. ‘This is going to be an important speech, a make-or-break moment for Biden.’

I took his comments to heart and instead of music turned on the telly and listened and watched the speech. Even Clare paid attention. It was worth our time. I consider it one of Biden’s best speeches ever. He’s a man of integrity and honour, having served his country for over 4 decades as a senator, vice-president and president. He could easily fold his tents and head out to pasture but his rival and adversary compels him to stick around and hopefully thwart Trump, his boot lickers in congress and cultish followers. Can he convince the American people to turn away from hate, racism and extremism? After listening to Biden’s passionate address, I have some hope and optimism.  If not, we are all in trouble, walking down a dark road towards fascism and the demise of democracy as we know it. 

We’ve seen it before, the flag waving and simplistic symbolism, the bigger than life lawn signs and the arm bands, buttons and silly hats, the stadium rallies and frenzied mass chants. It doesn’t bode well for a peaceful and democratic election and I’m afraid it will be a civil war no matter which side wins. But as Camp said many times before: ‘The world needs Trump to lose in November.’

I’m tired of seeing Trump’s mug on the front page every day and his primitive and vitriolic outbursts. People are becoming used to hear and read about his latest lies and baseless accusations, his pompous claims to greatness and his chest thumping, self-congratulatory outbursts. There is a general fatigue and resignation taking hold of many people about some inevitable trainwreck in the near future. Unavoidable and disastrous. Nobody wants to talk about it, read about it and Trump’s possible taking the presidency back has the characteristic of a bad joke that nobody wants to repeat. It makes me mad and even invades my sleep. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about the future a Trump presidency would entail. Yes, it’s only four years and we’ll get over it. The world will still rotate on its axle and the sun will still rise in the east. And yet I can’t shake the feeling that there will be more unnecessary tragedy on the southern US border, in Ukraine and Gaza unless some smart, educated and committed people take charge and address these humanitarian crises with a sober and intelligent approach. Not Trump and his cronies. Not the Republicans. 

As a Swiss-Canadian I feel I have some objective distance to what’s playing out in America right now. I like to think that I can watch this political drama from afar but I also know that it’s outcome in November will affect the whole world and suddenly my distance shrinks to where we’re all caught up in the fight for the survival of a fair democracy that upholds equality, liberty and respect. Even here in Canada, the forces of righteousness and restrictive social behavior are gaining traction. I don’t really understand this movement to the right, this drifting towards limitations of freedoms our generation fought so hard for.: Woman’s choices over their own bodies, our open-doors immigration policies, our tolerance of other’s, our acceptance of majority votes, our ability to agree to disagree, our opposition to bullies and dictators, our willingness to include, not exclude minorities. All of these virtues are threatened and the future of our world and the welfare of our children are in peril. But after last night’s speech I am a little bit more hopeful that in the end, common sense, dignity and respect will win the day. 

Boomers Time is Up

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‘Farewell to the Boomers is the title of the new book by the German sociologist Heinz Bude. He’s a boomer himself and explores the present state and the legacy of the boomer generation. ‘Okay Boomer’ a New Zealand MP accused an older colleague in 2019, dismissing him as somebody past his due date and taking up space,’ Camp said.

‘We’re both boomers aren’t we,’ I pointed out and looked around the pub. ‘And we’re not alone.’

            Camp gave me an exasperated look and kept on going. ‘Okay Boomer became a generational battle cry meaning: your time is up, move on over, make room, head out to pasture and all of that.’

            ‘Who are the Boomers? I know it’s short for baby boomer. Most of us are now in the process of retiring or are already out of the workforce.’

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Brother Wars

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‘As the world seems to arm itself to the teeth and wars are being fought in many places it strikes me that these conflicts more often than not involve members of the same tribe, the same ethnicity and the same geography. I’m referring to the Bosnians vs the Serbs, the Chinese against Taiwanese, the Irish against the Irish, Somalis against Somalis, North Koreans against their southern brothers and sisters, Ethiopia vs Tigray, Russians vs their cousins, the Ukrainians, even the Palestinians against the Jews, members of the same gene pool, way back when they were all Canaanites. What’s with all that? Why do we fight our neighbours and brothers and sisters?’

‘Most the world’s conflicts are all based on cultural belief systems. Religions against each other. Like in Sri Lanka, where the Sinhalese Buddhists hate their cousins, the Tamil Tigers,’ Camp said. ‘Or the eternal schism between the Sunni’s and the Shia’s, hatred even within the same religion.’ 

‘Small tribes, small wars; big tribes, big wars,’ I said, quoting a well-worn cliché, and let’s not forget it’s always men against men while the women and children bear the brunt of the misery these wars create.’

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Retirement

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‘Two weeks ago, we had the coldest week with persistent sub-zero temps, ever recorded in these latitudes. Minus 50 degrees in parts of Alberta. It almost broke their power grid. All e-cars were parked.’

‘Frozen Tesla’s everywhere,’ Camp said.

‘And now, this past week, atmospheric rivers lasting over a week with accumulated rainfall of almost 2ft, 220mm with the warm springlike weather melting the snow and raining on the mountains. What kind of winter is this?’

‘Do you really want me to answer that? No. I didn’t think so. Extreme weather patterns are the new normal. Get used to it.’

            ‘You’re right, no point complaining. Nobody is listening.’

‘’You’re retired so why are you hanging around this year?’ Camp wanted to know.

            ‘Something went wrong in the planning department,’ I admitted. ‘We did a road trip  to California but next year, we will not be around for the deep freeze and biblical rains if I have a say in it. How about you Camp? When do you plan to retire?’

            ‘What is retirement? Just quitting the job and staying home? I happen to like my job and don’t see it as a burden. Also, the book store is not exactly a valuable corporation and the occasional paycheck comes in handy. I could not live off the government pensions and since I’m self-employed I get no pension from the bookstore.’

            ‘I guess you have to define retirement,’ I said. ‘Like you said, it’s doing what you like to do but without having to worry about money. In other words, it’s an affordability question. Many people would like to retire but can’t afford it. Not if they still carry a mortgage or have expenses that cannot be met with the meagre government pensions.’

            ‘Exactly. I’m lucky to love what I do and many who continue working into their dotage are happier for it. Look at Henry Kissinger, who worked until his death at 100, or Clint Eastwood or Joe Biden for that matter. Grand-grandpas all of them.’

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 Rich vs Poor

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‘The super-rich know that their wealth is unfair,’ says Mr. Marlene Engelhorn, a Viennese heiress who is giving away 25 million Euros to the general public by way of a committee of 50 selected citizens, without personal input in how it is distributed. She was spotted in Davos protesting at the World Economic Forum (WEF), with a sign that said: Tax the Rich,’ Camp said as I sat down. He was already halfway through his first pint. I guess this is a slow time of year at the book store.

            ‘It’s admirable and she certainly has a point but it’s quite unusual for the rich to demonstrate against themselves. What is her message?’

            ‘The WEF is basically an exclusive club of the super-rich and some government reps promising to make the world a better place. The reality of course is nothing like it. It’s mostly hobnobbing at seminars and dinner parties albeit without the Russians this year who were notorious for their lavish, bacchanalian parties.’

‘Nobody advocates for debt-relief for the poor countries nor does anybody offer a fairer tax system or a better wealth distribution,’ I said.

‘Giving away money is not a new idea but only 2 percent of the money spent on charitable purposes by foundations around the world goes to climate protection – that alone shows that there is little to be made of traditional patronage.’

‘And the rich get richer and the poor stay poor,’ I said.

‘The five wealthiest people in the world, all men by the way, have more than doubled their wealth since 2020 while at the same time, nearly five billion people, the poorest 60 percent became even poorer. That’s from a study by Oxfam, just published before the current WEF.’

‘Go figure. A better wealth distribution by way of taxation would be a welcome thing, bring the poor up while the wealthy remain just as rich. Maybe an inheritance tax over one million dollars would be a start.’

‘I agree with you but the argument against that is the inherited money has already been taxed as income.’

‘Bullshit. As Ms Engelhorn points out: It’s normal for money to be taxed several times. Income tax on your salary, purchase tax when you buy something, Goods and Service Tax everywhere, alcohol tax when you drink or buy alcohol. Why not inheritance Tax?’

We both emptied our pints and looked out at the monochromatic scenery behind a curtain of rain. Typical weather for this time of year on the Pacific West coast.

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CARBON TAX

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‘What do you think of the carbon tax Camp and why is it such a bone of contention? ‘

 ‘Like any government tax it is always opposed especially if people don’t understand it. The carbon tax is a price levied on emissions from fossil fuel sources, be it from coal, oil, natural gas or gasoline. The levy varies based on how much carbon dioxide a fuel releases when burned. Coal, for example, releases more carbon pollution than natural gas to produce the same amount of energy, so the tax is higher on coal than natural gas,’ Camp explained.

‘As I understand it, the Liberals under Trudeau, introduced the tax in 2019 and it is designed as a financial incentive for people and businesses to change their behaviour to burn less fossil fuels and transition to greener forms of energy, thus helping Canada lower its emissions.’

‘That’s about right and typically people oppose the costs of the carbon tax but forget the associated rebates, which are worth roughly $70 to $140 per month for a family of four, depending on where they live. That’s a nice chunk of change.’

‘Axing the carbon tax would also axe the rebates. How much money are we talking about here?’ I said, knowing that Camp had looked into this issue, unlike most of us who just hear the buzzwords, the bumper sticker and the complaints.’

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 God Made Trump

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            ‘Have you seen the latest campaign commercial released on X by Trump? It’s called: God Made Trump.’ I asked Camp as soon he sat down. 

            ‘It’s frigging cold out there,’ he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around himself. ‘The arctic freeze is here.’ He shook his head in disgust. ‘Yes, I’ve seen it. The one where he claims that God Almighty personally appointed him to come down to earth to save America.’

            ‘Yes, that one where he promised God and America that he would work 7 days a week, not only 6 like his boss, work until midnight every day, use his strong arms to wrestle the Deep State and then deliver his grand child?’

            ‘You don’t have to repeat it. It made me barf the first time. At first I thought it to be a farce, a comedy stunt but no, this is a genuine Trump narcissistic maniacal promo video. No doubt to be lampooned at nauseum by Saturday Night Live, Steve Colbert and every self-respecting Late Night Show comedian.’

            ‘Adding fuel to the fire, no doubt, more press, more exposure. Just exactly what he wants.’ I said.

Let me read you something that shows who is is. ‘He a liar and a cheat, says sports writer Rick Reilly. When he plays golf he takes ‘mulligans’ (extra strokes that aren’t counted in one’s score), throws opponent’s balls off the greens and into the bunkers, and kicks his own errant shots back onto the fairway so often that one of his caddies nicknamed him Pele, after the soccer star. Trump doesn’t just cheat at golf, Reilly concluded. He cheats like a three-card Monty dealer. He throws it, boots it and moves it. He lies about his lies. He fudges and foozles and fluffs.’

‘It’s harmless behavior on a golf course but not on the international stage as president of the USA,’ I said.

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Dog People

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            ‘There are people who have dogs and then there are dogs who have people,’ I said to Camp who was already enjoying a pint of golden liquid in our usual spot by the harbour. 

            ‘I know what you mean,’ Camp said. Dogs are a big responsibility. There are those who have dogs for companionship, some who have them to guard against bears and thieves and then there are those who have dogs, especially the small designer breeds, as accessories. I can never get over it when they drag the small animal on its 3-inch legs behind them.’

            ‘And then there are those who use dogs as deterrents. Some pit bulls are like loaded guns,’ I said. 

   ‘Some dog owners lavish so much emotional capital onto their pets as if they were people, and instead of proper training they yell at them as if the dogs could understand.

   Pets can fill an emotional void, maybe even in lieu of a child, but they can be valuable companions for lonely and elderly people. Dogs get their owners out walking and dog people have an affinity with other dog owners and thus have an unlimited amount of dog lore to talk about. There are so many dogs these days, in high-rise apartments and small flats, left alone all day or fostered out to doggie daycare. It’s a massive industry from petfood to vets.’

            ‘Let me consult Siri,’ I offered. ‘There are approximately 8 million cats and 6 million dogs in Canada. Approximately 35% of Canadian households have a dog and 38% have a cat. (source: Ipsos Reid). From 2020-2022, the Canadian dog and cat populations continued to grow, increasing from 7.7 million to 7.9 million for dogs, and from 8.1 million to 8.5 million for cats. Pet food sales in the US increased by 10 percent in 2020 to a total of US$ 42 billion for the year (according to American Pet Products Association, APPA), and Canada exported $ 1.1 billion worth of pet food in 2020,’ I quoted. 

            ‘I’m in the wrong business,’ Camp said, ‘And more people seem to have acquired a dog during the pandemic. I’m wondering if they kept them once we could travel again.’

    ‘As inflation puts cost pressures on pet owners and many return to in-person work, people are surrendering their pandemic pets, overwhelming animal shelters across the country, according to a CBC report. The L.A. Times just ran an article about overcrowding shelters and the L.A, City Counsel moved to halt new permits for dog breeding.’

    ‘Yes, people got lonely and worked from home. Ergo, get a dog. And thanks to us carnivores who eat all the meat, the pets get all the innards, bones, blood and viscera. Nothing gets wasted. It’s all protein.’

 ‘Interesting point,’ I said. 

‘Did you ever have a dog?’ 

            ‘No, but when I was a kid, I fantasised about a Lassie dog and when we were in New Zealand I looked after a Weimaraner for a few months. It was a very needy dog with unbounded nervous energy and it hated poodles but we definitely took a liking to each other. But with our travel and work lives we could never see the room for a dog.’

            ‘Same here,’ Camp said. I often thought about having a dog, one that would obediently lay at my feet in the book store and walk me home at the end of the day but I decided against it because it entailed to much responsibility for my liking.’

            I asked Vicky, our server, if she had a pet when she brought our fresh pints around.

            ‘I have a stuffed dog, Fluffy, that’s been with me since early childhood. It’s very cuddly and no bother at all and doesn’t mind staying home alone.’

            ‘Also, no pet food,’ Camp said.

            ‘And no pooper scooper,’ Vicky added laughing.

Another Year bites the dust

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‘As the year draws to a close and we are celebrating it’s also a time to reflect. Are our celebrations joyful or hedonistic, should we cry instead of laugh. Should we celebrate our lucky selves or should we bemoan the fate of those less fortunate?’ I asked Camp as I took my seat and Vicky served us wearing a rakish white Santa hat. 

‘Maybe we can do both. Compartmentalize is my key word for the year,’ Camp said.

‘Was it a good year? Will the next year be better?’ 

Camp was pensively looking out the window at the grey waters of Howe Sound.  ‘What’s there to look forward to in the next year?’ he shrugged his bony shoulders, shaking his unruly mane of curly grey? ‘Best not to think too far ahead and concentrate on the here and now.’

 I’m not sure if he was being facetious or serious. I call myself a realist which is often mixed up with a pessimist or a cynic. ‘I will try to keep my focus on the things I can influence and maybe even change or at least comment on and maybe be heard. Shut out the noise from the rest of the world and concentrate on what’s going on in my life. Is that being selfish or obtuse? Is that kind of ostrich behaviour good for my health? Maybe but it is what people around me – Clare, you and assorted friends – recommend?’

‘I’ll drink to that,’ was Camp’s response. 

Personally, my last year was a success. I travelled, sailed, biked and hiked; I stayed healthy and enjoyed hanging out with friends and family. Life is good and I do my very best to continue on in the same mode for next year. 

On the downside I lost some important people in my life: one a long-time friend who exited with dignity, courage and humour despite the collapse of his nervous system that left him paralyzed but cognizant. As Al said when we said good-by to him: It was nice knowing you. Two others were not close friends but outstanding individuals who I interacted with over a number of years, who encouraged and supported me in my writing attempts and who shared their own thoughts and time. They both passed suddenly, taken out of this life without any indication that their time was up. Both were healthy to within a week or ten days of their passing and had already made plans for next year’s travel and beyond. I will miss Bev and Jaime. 

On the upside we welcomed two new members to our family, both girls, Lou and Mara, born to nieces and nephews in Switzerland and it strikes me as profound that those babies will be in my age group when the present century draws to a close. What adventures and challenges await them is an exciting and intriguing mystery. It seems like a long time looking ahead but looking back is a different vista altogether. While the future stretches out infinite ahead of us, the past is now compressed into memories and stories, repeated over and over until present company stifles a yawn. ‘Thanks Camp.’.  

‘Any predictions for the new year?’ Camp asked.

‘Let me consult my crystal ball,’ I said, staring into my empty pint. ‘Trump will choke on a cheeseburger, Trudeau will come out as gay and the Ukrainians, Israelis and Palestinians will be supported in managing their own countries.’

‘Sounds more like a Santa wishlist than predictions.’

‘Maybe but here is a small fact. Fresh off the press. The world population grew by 75 million in 2023 and will pass 8 billion people on New Year’s Day, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.’

Camp pondered this and let it sink in. 

‘All I know is that time is fleeting and you better drink up. Here come the refills.’

‘The best of the season to you and your families,’ Vicky toasted us while setting down the last two foaming mugs of golden goodness in front of us.