Patriot Realm

I have just spoken with my Mum about my Dad and we have enjoyed a trip down memory lane about Old Times. It is his birthday today and while he is not longer with us, he is still very much part of our lives. As much as he has gone, he is still with us. Everyday. While we, as a family, mourn his passing some years ago, we still celebrate his life. 

When it is his birthday or the anniversary of his passing; when I am feeling lonely or in need of guidance or help – I just reach out and lo and behold, a connection happens and I get a FEELING, a wondrous gift… It does not matter who your loved one is – talk with them and share with them. Stay in touch. Keep the lines of communication open . 

On my Dad’s important days, I do something I know he would like. It might be eating a “ goodie “ – his term for an indulgence like  a creamy doughnut full of real cream and strawberry jam. Later, I must confess, I drink the forbidden fruit of alcohol and overindulge and wake up the next morning telling him it was all his fault…. Strange how he rarely responds to me with an answer on those occasions.…. except to tell me it was my own bloody fault and not to blame him.

The difference between life and death is a millisecond. How can one fraction of a second suddenly dictate that this loving friendship is over?  All that has happened is that we have lost the telephone line, the internet or the postal service. We just find a new way of staying in touch.

In a 2016 interview with photographer Steven Edson, CNN asked, “What makes a car sexy?”

Edson replied, “It’s because a lot of the parts of those cars are, in fact, sexy.” He cited the taillights on the 1959 Cadillac Series 62, which he described as “like rare ruby earrings.”

Most of today’s cars, however, Edson lamented, are “homogenous” and offer little of interest to the photographer.

Enter Elon Musk. In 2019, the Tesla Model Y completed the company’s long-awaited “S3XY” family of models – the S3Xyest cars on the road today. That’s one major reason they sold well. Even so, Carscoops admitted that whether Tesla’s S3XY family was sexy remained up for debate.

Maybe the sex appeal of the electric vehicle is wearing off. Tesla is slashing prices, Ford cut back production of its electric pickup and cut the price of its Mustang Mach-E, and General Motors is looking at bringing back plug-in hybrids. Even the EPA is toying with extending the timetable for the total phaseout of non-electric vehicles.

Today, I want to write about a politician. We are surrounded by these public figures who love to bask in their reflected glory through the lens of the media, social media and their own lens of self importance.

They think they can do no wrong.

We have politicians who lie, cheat, exploit their office for self gratification and financial reward; all the while thinking that they are doing nothing wrong.

And no, I am not talking about Donald Trump. He already has more money than he could spend in a lifetime and more public support and adoration than just about any man on earth today. So if you feel that way, bugger off. This blog and post are not for you. 

No, I am talking about your run of the mill, average " Uncle Joe " politician who can seemingly go from modest to millions in a matter of years with a bank account that is off the charts. 

And it all comes down to greed, inflated egos and self delusion. 

The definition of online freedom has been depressingly constricted over the last thirty years.

You have surely heard that your search results on Google (with 92 percent share of the search market) reflect not your curiosities and needs but someone or something else’s views on what you need to know. That’s hardly a secret.  

And on Facebook, you are likely inundated by links to official sources to correct any errors you might carry in your head, as well as links to corrections to posts as made by any number of fact-checking organizations.  

You have likely also heard of YouTube videos being taken down, apps deleted from stores, and accounts being canceled across a variety of platforms.  

You might have even adjusted your behavior in light of all of this. It is part of the new culture of Internet engagement. The line you cannot cross is invisible. You are like a dog with an electric shock collar. You have to figure it out on your own, which means exercising caution when you post, pulling back on hard claims that might shock, paying attention to media culture to discern what is sayable and what is not, and generally trying to avoid controversy as best you can in order to earn the privilege of not being canceled.  

I have just read something I wrote 4 years ago. It is the anniversary of my little Jack's departure from this world in 2022.    He was nearly 18 years old.  

June is a very important month . My birthday coming up too , Mr Redhead's birthday as well, and a 74th wedding anniversary ( if he was still with me to share it). But we made 65 years together. My dear little Jack Russell departed this world on the 1st June , and I visited the RSPCA and took home my 2 Manx cats on the 4th June. 2 years ago. Those very ones that so kindly wake me every morning around 4.45 am !

When I re read it, it made me realize that while things have changed, (we are no longer restricted in movement , people are able to visit .. and those dreadful masks have gone) .. except of course by the criminals.

But instead of confined to homes, the homes have been stolen from some people and they are reduced to caravans and tents .   Jobs have been lost and can you name one person in Australia that has not had a member of their family or a close friend who has not suffered some dire ailment from the "jab".