This is issue number 1 of “Off The Cuff - Enough!”. Just short thoughts and stuff to keep your mind huffing along. Medicine sometimes is good in just small doses. So here she goes …
Censorship. You can’t get away from it. Joe Rogan is the new “baddie”. However, they are aiming at the wrong target. He’s a sort of accessible intellectualism and the majority of people without their headsuptheirasses realize he’s just honestly, sincerely trying to inform and discuss and debate ideas. That’s good and we sure as hell wish our news outlets would allow alternative takes on things that are important to us. And Neil Young - he can keep on rockin’ in the unfree world. Let’s live in a world where people can say what they want so long as it isn’t hateful. But doesn’t look like even Spotify is going to do this. Now they are taking down many of his episodes.
Truckers. Again, censorship is in this story. Gofundme has blocked their millions in funds donated by salt-of-the-earth Canadians. Why? Because the Canadian government leaned into them - saying it would be an example of violence and supporting unlawful activity. Huh? What violence? What breaking of the law? Just truckers parking their vehicles and feeding the homeless, cleaning the streets. I hope Gofundme meets Gosueme. But if it comes down to it, when a law is tyrannical, it is our obligation to break that law. MLK Jr. His gospel.
Nicaragua. Where I live but will soon leave. My cleaning lady Gaida just graduated from teachers’ college! And she got a job right away teaching. Great news. However, she is lucky. The dictator is busy taking revenge now that the fake election is over. The knives are out. He decertified most of the better universities in Nicaragua. They can no longer issue diplomas, accept money. All revenge for 2018 where these universities led protests and where 300+ people were killed, gun downed. Hundreds more imprisoned. Not a great-looking future here, given so many are young. Why I’m leaving. Can’t support this kind of shit. Gaida is lucky she was able to graduate. So many won’t until Ortega is 6 feet under.
Jonathan Harris. He’s a guy I’ve admired so much throughout the years. A very different, “with it” kind of artist. He’s been quiet the last 4 or 5 years but now from his farm, he’s launched a new project. His latest essay, hits things bang on about art, our culture, our society. How the “modern” is going in the wrong direction. Check it out.
What if we learned to see beauty, not as something to be created and possessed, but as an intrinsic property of life itself, waiting to be discovered? What if our primary role as human beings were simply to notice this beauty that already exists, and then to work to extend it by making our own environments even more beautiful — not as an economic endeavor, but as a humble act of sacred service rooted in deep respect and gratitude for the gift of being alive? In such a world, what would be the function of art?
Mandates falling. Over 12 major western democracies have now thrown out all “emergency” legislation, edicts, rules, “musts” about Covid 19. Thank god. Still, the Great Reset pushes on hard in many countries, China included. They want to wreck small businesses, censor to death media and keep you dumb, buy up everything and have you happily amused. We still need to keep fighting back, pushing back. Just in shock that these cats can openly talk about this world domination shit and not be tossed into the river Hades.
MSM (is dumb). Meanwhile on the new main street, 5th Avenue - no media is reporting about the Canadian truckers. Head to the NYTs, the world’s largest news outlet and type in “truckers”. You’ll get a few 2-year-old stories, that’s all. Duh? And now Facebook has begun taking off all references to the BMJ - the British Medical Journal. All links are being cleansed. Why? Maybe because they are publishing a lot of studies challenging the main street narrative of - just trust us, do as we say, it will all be okay. And did you hear anything in mainstream media about this JOHN HOPKINS study showing that lockdowns only has a 0.2% effect on stopping Covid? And we, who suffered for that? No, you won’t hear about that study, just Cheetos commercials and public shaming. Neil Oliver as only he can, summed up the stupidity of our leaders and their failed Covid policies. All I ask for is maybe a little “I’m sorry”?
China. What the hell - China has had no deaths from Covid for almost a year. The USA, 845 a day! Almost everyone who dies with a positive covid test dies from covid in the US. Much like this data released by the British government showing they over-reported Covid deaths by 9X. Then on the other hand, you have the stupid Chinese saying they have totally eradicated all death from it. Truth is the middle road - said the Buddha.
To End - Art. It heals. This sculpture caught my attention. Titled: Rising Cairn by Celeste Roberge. It encapsulates what art truly should be. Let’s hope the world follows suit and begins to heal …
Over and out.
David
PS. Never cook while writing what you are passionate about. My french fries will have to wait for another day.