What Would It Look Like If You Were Standing On The Wrong Side Of History?

November 16, 2023

NOV 12

What would it look like to be on the wrong side of history? If there were a mass atrocity taking place presently which history will end up judging harshly in the future, and you were supporting the wrong side of it, what signs might you expect to see that that’s the case?

Well, I imagine you’d probably be seeing terrible news about what’s happening coming out every day that under normal circumstances would cause you to cry out in horror, but then you’d be getting a bunch of words and stories from your side explaining why those self-evidently terrible things are actually not what they appear to be.

If you found out thousands of children were being violently killed by your side in this mass atrocity, for example, you’d normally view that information as self-evidently terrible by itself, but then a bunch of narrative framing would come in explaining to you why that information isn’t damning for your side. Blame for the deaths of those children would be placed on other parties. If your side was undeniably responsible for their deaths, their deaths would be framed as accidental tragedies which are the unavoidable consequence of military action, and are still indirectly attributable to the actions of the other side.

You’d see the raw data of what’s happening, and then an overlay of narrative would be rolled out on top of what you’re seeing to alter your perception of that data. And every time, the unaltered data would make your side look bad, while the data filtered through the narrative overlay would make your side look much better.

Over and over again you’d see this take place: information which at a glance makes it look like you’re on the wrong side of history, then a deluge of narratives helping you to understand that your eyes deceived you at first actually, and you’re on the right side of history after all. Day after day after day this would happen: new terrible information that would normally make you feel bad about your position, followed by narrative framing which makes you feel better about your position.

We may be sure we could expect to see this because we live in a civilization that is dominated by narrative control. Powerful manipulators figured out a long time ago that because human consciousness is dominated by mental stories, if you can control the stories in their heads, you can control the humans. They do this via propaganda and spin, with the wealthiest and most powerful people having the ability to exert the most control over the dominant narratives in our society.

In a sense this leaves us living in two worlds: the real world and the narrative world. The world of unfiltered sensory input controlled by no one, and the world of easily-manipulated mental stories controlled by the rich and powerful. Maturity is waking up out of the narrative world and learning to perceive reality as it’s actually happening.

Because the powerful are continuously working to insert narratives about the world into our minds and manipulate our stories about what’s happening, it’s a safe assumption that if something terrible was being done by powerful people and we were on the wrong side of it, we’d be experiencing a continuous feed of narratives readjusting our perception and understanding of the thing that is happening. This would ensure that we remain supportive of the agendas of those powerful people, even if it leaves us on the wrong side of history.

Anyway, that’s just something to keep in mind in case you see anything like that happening in the future. Or who knows? Maybe even in the present.

My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece here are some options where you can toss some money into my tip jar if you want to. Go here to buy paperback editions of my writings from month to month. All my work is free to bootleg and use in any way, shape or form; republish it, translate it, use it on merchandise; whatever you want. The best way to make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. All works co-authored with my husband Tim Foley.

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Old Tricks

November 16, 2023

March 30, 2007

Old Tricks

Just heard word that old Hank (‘Grumpy,’ as I may have referred to him in these pages some time ago), has found his way back into the can. He was released from here 40-odd days ago after serving what I believe was eight months of a one year sentence for his fourth drinking-driving offence. Aside from the offence itself he was also in breach of his probation. This means that he is currently sitting in remand down in Victoria at Wilkenson Road, awaiting trial. Looks like he’ll never learn.

While he was here he defiantly balked at entering the core programs such as ‘Substance Abuse Management,’ or ‘A.A.,’ which no doubt is noted on his records somewhere. To not only take a mere 40 days to re-offend for a fifth time but do so while under a driving suspension as well, it’s sounding like it couldn’t be much worse for him. About the only thing that could be seen as positive for Hank in all of this is that everyday spent awaiting trial, counts for two days against his eventual sentence. Well that, and the fact he didn’t hit or kill anyone. What a poor, stupid bugger.

I could ask, “Won’t you ever learn, Hank?” If not for the understanding such rhetorical question I gather he doesn’t need to hear at present…especially from a fellow red.

His last sentence was a year.

He re-offends for a fifth time within 6 weeks of release, with a suspended driver’s license.

He’s in breach of the probation imposed upon him for his fourth offence.

He is fucked.

If Sean Miller is the ‘Big Dawg,’ then Hank is most definitely the ‘Old Dog,’ for it is an old dog that has no room left for new tricks.

The Future of Democracy in Canada – Perri Gorrara

November 16, 2023

The Future of Democracy in Canada

Given the current political situation in Canada, it is perhaps, time for Denman and Hornby Islanders to reflect on the current state of affairs and contribute to the restoration of our honour, social and political rights and our place in the world as a peace-loving, fair, unprejudiced and honourable society.

The ideas below are, largely, drawn from The Canadian Citizens Declaration of Non-Confidence.

The Trudeau government’s history of scandals, ethical violations and lack of transparency, including but not limited to the Aga Khan scandal, the SNC Lavalin affair and the WE Charity scandal demonstrate a clear disregard for the rule of law and the ethical standards to which all public servants must adhere.

Accusations of political interference in critical national institutions such as the RCMP erode the essential separation of the powers of the state and put at risk the independent functioning of our democratic system.

We are experiencing threats to our National Security that are being ignored by our government.

The current minority government has taken alarming steps to infringe upon the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of Canadian citizens. Specifically, the deliberate vilification of citizens who are exercising their right to freely assemble and express their dissent. Despite the fundamental role of peaceful protest in a democratic society, citizens have faced arrest, legal sanctions and the freezing of their financial assets by the Federal government. These actions have a chilling effect on free speech and the right to protest, representing an overreach of government power that threatens the very foundation of Canadian democracy.

Lastly, the coercion to take the Covid-19 vaccine was not, simply, undue pressure, it was a tyrannical act that borders on medical fascism. Trudeau’s government used employment termination, social ostracization and exclusion from fundamental societal services as tools of compulsion, amounting to nothing less than a flagrant infringement upon our most basic human rights.

In light of these concerns, we need to look at ways to resolve these issues and prevent them from occurring again in our future.

Here are some ideas that could encourage discussion in our communities.

1. A National Election should be declared immediately, given the evidence of malpractice listed above.

2. The practice of whipping votes should be abolished. Each member of Parliament should vote according to their conscience and the needs of their constituents, not their party. Party leaders must earn, not command, the loyalty of their colleagues.

3. Any proposal involving foreign aid expenditures over $5,000,000.00 must be subject to open debate and votes in the House of Commons and the Senate.

For decisions involving the funding of a foreign war, the electorate should have the final say through a National Referendum.

4. Each Member of Parliament should make a binding commitment to uphold the principles of truthfulness and transparency in their interractions within the House of Commons, with the media and the general populace. Violation of this oath will be subject to criminal prosecution and dismissal from Parliament.

5. The Governor General and members of the. Senate shall no longer be appointed. They will be elected by the Canadian people for one eight-year term, through a referendum process.

The Preservation of Individual Liberties will be preserved in the following ways:

1. The end of plans to implement a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

2. The end of plans to implement a Digital ID System.

3. Legislation to make Vaccine Passports illegal.

4. Legislation to prohibit foreign, non-governmental organizations, such as the WEF and the WHO from having any decision-making authority over Canada’s national sovereignty.

As Freedom-loving Canadians, it is imperative that we tirelessly exercise our democratic rights- be it through voting, peaceful assembly or free expression- until a government that is truly of the people, by the people and for the people is re-established in Canada.

It is my hope that this article will encourage discussion here on Denman and Hornby Islands.

Carpe Diem comme on dit! Perri Gorrara.

Whales

November 16, 2023

Whales

by Mr. Unknown

One of countless attractions

On the coast of B.C

Is an extremely unique creature

Monarchs of the sea

The most well known and respected

With black and white tones

Orcas travel in pods

Whip out your cameras and phones

The great humpback

Leaves a feeling of awe

That white patterned belly

That low calling song

Playful and smart

Shiny and gray

Dolphins follow your boat

Staying behind in the wake

Take a trip further and deeper

To meet the king of the giants

The massive blue whale

The biggest creature confirmed by science

Whales are almost a fantasy

How the rise and they fall

The fin breaking the surface

The rest follows tall

Whales call to each other

For miles on end

Singing a loud low note

To communicate with a friend

To keep this species alive

May stand a tall order

The numbers have declined

We must give population a border

The wrongdoing is not ours

Our ancestors take the blame

Whale blubber provided lamp oil

Along with soap

This made a great pain

With one dreaded harpoon

An animal life ended for fame

We still marvel

We still look

Over splashing salty water

Our breath is now took

They thrive

They live

They eat

They give

A thrill

As they dip

In and out of the sea

Our eyes see a whale

But a strong feeling overpowers

In you and in me

Take a breathtaking trip

Take an adventure of fun

And you might

You just might

See a surfacing whale baking in the sun

Cutting the wavy pacific

Swimming down deep

Symbolising the ocean

With every water churning leap

Rulers of the ocean

Whales

Take Money to Grave

November 16, 2023

Green Wizardries: A Hand-Made Christmas

November 16, 2023

Yes, I know it is November and the holiday frenzy properly begins in December. I like to start early and avoid the frenzy altogether. In fact, I used to hate Christmas because it meant shopping for gifts and the mere thought of prowling through a moodily-lit shopping mall, listening to canned, sappy Christmas music while navigating through a dense, restlessly-milling crowd of what appeared to be the damned, really put me off.

I also hated parting with money for some thoughtless gift that I would buy in desperation to be outside the shopping mall. I marvelled at just how many of the shops appeared to be selling the same over-priced tee shirts and jeans. How do they all stay in business?

So, it must be twenty years ago that I opted out of the commercial aspects of the holiday season and pursued a policy of make, bake, grow or sew for my holiday gifting. Not only was this a relief to me but people really seemed to enjoy the gifts I made for them.

For example, I baked some old friends a tin of Mexican wedding cakes which are really a very simple shortbread cookie that is rolled in a mixture of powdered sugar and cinnamon while they are still warm. I gave the tin to the father of the family who lived about a ten minute drive from us. He received the tin with marked enthusiasm and, much later, his daughter told me that not one cookie had made it back to their house. Her father had lost control in the car on the short journey home and had wolfed all the cookies down. I was really surprised as he was normally the most considerate of men but everyone has their breaking point.

Raisin bread also has that effect on a lot of people and I have given gifts of a warm loaf of raisin bread to friends and later asked how they had enjoyed it. I usually received the sheepish reply that the loaf had forced them to consume it all in one sitting with a great deal of butter. I begin to think it is possible that I knead into my baking my own lack of control over sweets.

Now, not everyone wants the gift of uncontrolled gluttony so it is good to ask if a friend might like some cookies for Christmas for example. I was out walking with friends and they both agreed they would like to receive some cookies for the holidays. Later, one of them confided in me that he is planning to make sorbets in his ice-cream maker for his gifting. He makes the most delightful sorbets.

This year, I received a Finnish steam juicer as a present from a friend. It is my new favourite toy! I have a bunch of quince to deal with and they are difficult to peel and core, being a very hard fruit. With this steam juicer, all I had to do was wash the fuzz off the quince and chop them up and load the steamer basket to the rim. I filled the water chamber and let it steam away. By the time the pan of water was almost gone, the quince was a mere defeated remnant in the bottom of the pot and I had two and a half quarts of quince juice.

The next day, I stood at the stove and had a half-hour zoom call with an old friend while I stirred and tested the mixture of sugar and quince juice that became the most spectacularly red and tasty jelly. I poured it into jars and it set up beautifully. This was much easier than making membrillo, a quince paste, which takes hours to prepare and the Mexican side of the family really enjoys. The jelly is mostly going to be Christmas presents. You cannot generally buy quince jelly so that makes it a really special treat.

There is far too much sugar and food consumed in the holiday season so you may not want to make food gifts. I get together with some friends and we paint Christmas cards. This is really easy and fun and you don’t need heaps of equipment to enjoy watercolour painting. I paint a lot of cards and use them as stationery all year long and some of my friends collect and frame the cards and the result is really pretty.

To make a start at painting Christmas cards, you need only a box of kid paints and some brushes, some 140 lb watercolour paper, some card stock, a glue stick and some glitter glue and you have all you need to begin painting cards with your friends and family. The resulting painting parties will become a treasured part of the festivities. All these supplies can be found on Denman at Abraxas Books.There are heaps of free painting tutorials on Youtube, aimed at the beginner level.

The same skills used to make cards can also produce bookmarks and if your friends don’t always need more bookmarks, you may have the wrong kind of friends.

Are We There Yet?

November 9, 2023

Publisher Mike Van Santvoord bought The Islands Grapevine 6 years ago, and has more than doubled circulation of the print version, and expanded its circulation to readers everywhere through his efforts to reach out from Denman Island to Hornby Island, Union Bay, Fanny Bay and the Baynes Sound region, and he’s increased the value to TIG advertisers by doing so. The refreshed and updated theislandsgrapevine.com is TIG’s most recent improvement.

Mike’s commitment to TIG from the beginning was to provide a weekly snapshot of our communities, and a mirror of the diversity of viewpoints that exist, without an obvious ideological bias. Of course Mike has his own opinions, but the Letters to the Editor and other content TIG publishes aren’t necessarily Mike’s personal views. Since the 2020 pandemic response, this editorial policy has become far more controversial. Even the small percentage of dissenting views on all things COVID that TIG published have triggered passionate and sometimes extreme responses. Ironically, those who would prefer that TIG exclude dissent, are often those people most often unconcerned with the facts relating to important matters.

The perceived controversies are exacerbated by the belief that if Mike does not “de-platform” dissent, not only is he supporting these views, he becomes a target of suggestions that he holds an unacceptable and offensive worldview not just relating to the pandemic, but by association, he must have all sorts of problematic and even bigoted views. When these kinds of false assumptions are manifested in gossip and hearsay without any rigorous attention to the facts, it has led to elevated levels of community conflict. Whatever your level of sensitivity, the residents of our areas of circulation hold a diversity of opinions, while there is a small but vocal group of residents who wish to damage the livelihoods TIG supports.

Sometimes the result is that Mike and TIG become smeared with the worst kind of pejorative labels, without any factual evidence of the characterizations or conduct, in a “pile on” mentality of what has become known as cancel culture. Cancel culture can be best characterized as when no process of fair review of the facts is necessary when a smear or a pejorative label is flung in someone’s direction. And to Mike’s great credit, he has not conceded to this kind of bullying nor has he capitulated to the threats, the lies, or the intentions of those who would work to damage his livelihood. After all, TIG survived the business disaster that was the pandemic response, where some of our advertisers’ activities were either shut down or severely limited.

Team TIG has doubled down on its commitments to growing its reach, expanding its coverage, and improving the clarity of the writing contained within it. This has caused some consternation from some of TIG’s regular contributors, challenging us to curate less, while they have pushed back on editorial feedback and our requests for revisions from time to time. In each case, and as a result of our learning that a lack of clarity or unnecessary ambiguities can be perilous to our editorial policy, we are more determined than ever to stay the course of curating content in an increasingly divisive climate, both locally and otherwise. Contrary to local misperceptions, TIG’s editors work each week to support a healthy information ecosystem.

TIG is grateful to its contributors, its readers and advertisers and its staff, which represent a diversity of identities, both gender and sexual, and the varied representations of culture and ethnicity. We support inclusiveness, mutuality, the principle of peaceful coexistence, and a commitment to a free press that does not pander to those who would attempt to limit open discourse, and censor the publication of views they do not share. We believe that more speech and more independent and community journalism is the healthiest idea for representing who we are, even when it’s sometimes difficult to embrace the reflection in the mirror.

It is in that spirit that we welcome the proposed new publication, The Barnacle, and sincerely wish its publisher and contributors well in the New Year.

Predator Update

November 9, 2023

Predator Update

by Wildlife Advisory Committee of DIRA, November 6, 2023

By Peter Karsten Co-Chair WAC

September 18: The WAC received the first report on bear presence feeding on pears at a residence on Greenhill Road near Stanehill Park. A bear scat (feces) was found on Greenhill Road and examined. It contained only fruit particles and no animal matter.

October 14: At a Stanhill Place residence a wire fence was pushed down and remaining apples disappeared. A branch was broken of the apple tree.

October 19: On Stanehill Place as suet cake was disappeared from a bird feeder. Claw marks damaging the feeder post were seen. Suet feeding was curtailed.

October a number of comments were received about feeding on fruit in the community. The bear apparently roamed over the entire Island.

October 27: An adult sheep was killed and partly consumed at the farm of Dave and Fern Niedermoser. It was reported to the Conservation Officer (CO). The CO advised that they are not taking action at this point. The CO advised that the community should be notified to secure their livestock and to remove attractants (potential bear food).

October 29 and November 1: two Nubian goats were lost at the Landor farm but no carcass found.

November 3: Desperate bleating of a goat was heard in the early morning hours at the Landor farm. 2 goat carcasses were found and examined. Signs suggested bear kill. A bear scat containing animal matter and berries was found near the suite. Clear, fresh foot prints of a black bear were found on the farm in several locations. A detailed report with photos was submitted to the CO Office in Nanaimo.

The WAC highly recommends that Islander read the well-presented information by the Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection (MWLAP) on the coexistence of humans with bears and other predators i.e. “Bear Smart” brochure and Background Report of the MWLAP 2002.

The take-away is that humans share prime habitat with bears of high food productivity for humans and bears. Humans have extensively displaced bears from that environment to less productive habitats with resulting food shortage for bears. Years with a poor berry crop resulted in higher cases of wildlife conflict. Bears must sequester enormous food quantities to build up fat reserves for hibernation this puts additional pressure on searching food in our communities. Bears are fast learners about where they can safely find food. They are omnivores as we are and our food is perfect bear food.

In the past two decades the WAC had reports of bears visiting Denman Island to feed in fruit, predominately in the fall. Livestock was not taken and the bears left the Island on their own.

To protect farm animals, they are best held (at least at night) in solid barns with electric fencing to protect it. One farm had built a large goat corral with 4 heavy electric cables which would keep a bear back but unfortunately the bear spooked the goats and they crashed through the fence to become accessible to the bear. It takes combination of a stock fence that keeps farm animals in with an addition of at least two strands of electric wire on the outside to create a bear-safe barrier. A desperate bear trapped behind it could still break trough ignoring the electric wire and scaling the fence, even an 8-foot game fence. Protecting livestock from bears is a challenge. The presence and barking of dogs seem to have deterred the roaming bear.

To avoid conflict is in our hands. We can participate in a “Bear Smart Program” to improve public safety, reduce property damage and have fewer bears killed. This is a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach. Several communities have taken the program.

The Ministry states that on a ten-year average they received close to 4,000 complaints, followed up on almost 2,000 and destroyed over 600 black bears.

The WAC encourages Islanders to report sightings and conflict with predators to the WAC. Phone numbers are on the inside of the Denman Phone Directory. We will investigate kills and signs to establish the cause and evidence of predators. We also investigate dog incidences.

Any loss of animals or property damage due to wild predators should be reported immediately directly by the owner or custodian to the CO phone 1 877 952 7277 (RAPP)

As The Lights Go Out In Gaza

November 9, 2023

NOV 1, 2023

In America they killed all the buffalo just to take away food from the natives,
made mountains of their skulls and posed proudly in photos
like they posed proudly in front of burnt bodies after lynchings in the south.

In Australia they stole the brown children and gave them to pale families
and watched their ancient civilization disappear into the toxic fumes of industry
like a sailboat into the mist.

In Israel teenagers play with buttons that cause explosions on screens
and look forward to the end of the Gaza operation
so they can leave and go play better video games.

In Gaza mothers clutch tattered pieces of flesh and clothing to their chestsand scream names that will never again be answered
and call out questions to the heavens that will also go unanswered.

And the ghosts of the buffalo roam through the ruins
looking for their heads
while the people of Gaza comb through the rubble
looking for their dead,

and the rest of us stare at screens and cry like babies
and ask our own unanswered questions
of heavens clouded by the fumes of industry,
vanishing stars above a dying world
as the lights go out in Gaza
one by one.

My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece here are some options where you can toss some money into my tip jar if you want to. Go here to buy paperback editions of my writings from month to month. All my work is free to bootleg and use in any way, shape or form; republish it, translate it, use it on merchandise; whatever you want. The best way to make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. All works co-authored with my husband Tim Foley.

Bitcoin donations: 1Ac7PCQXoQoLA9Sh8fhAgiU3PHA2EX5Zm2

Soul in a Bowl

November 9, 2023

My bread bowl is one of those big old-fashioned white ceramic beauties that I acquired in Edmonton in 1978, and carried back to Cranbrook where we were living at the time. A friend walked me through the Tassajara Bread Book recipe and a love affair with bread-making began. I made a pact with myself to bake bread only when the spirit moved me, only when I wanted to, not because I had to. I wanted to put good energy into it. That, I figured, would definitely impact the taste of my bread, and I still abide by that philosophy. What I did learn though, was that I didn’t have to be in a great mood to bake bread, I just had to want to. In fact, over the years I brought my anger, my frustration, my rage at the world’s failures of imagination – many a negative emotion – to my bread bowl and found that the baking process transformed those emotions to something more positive. Many a tear has been shed into my bread bowl over the years. And I have always found comfort there.

Part of how bread-baking evolved to becoming a soulful exercise that strengthened and enriched me, was my early sense of identification with humans everywhere who were, at the same time as me, preparing food by hand for their families. This idea brought me a recurring image of world community and a broader sense of purpose in this humble act, which has always had a calming and restorative effect. The simple act of kneading bread was so valuable for me, a person who tends to be in her head, way off somewhere, rather than grounded and in the present moment. I learned I had to be with my bread, pay attention to it and care for it like a baby. Many was the time on Denman when I’d pack my bread bowl off in the car with me, because I had to take the kids somewhere or run an errand and my bread was rising. Once you start the process, you must stay close to it.

Another gift of bread-making was the learning that things don’t have to be perfect to be perfectly fine. It is very hard to make a bad loaf of bread when you pay attention to your process and make it with love! For me, perfectionism wasn’t really a problem, but there’s always that little self-critic, saying it could be better, or the comparative mind at work, telling me that others were doing this a lot better than I was. The smell of fresh bread in the oven and the sight of those loaves cooling on the racks are such rewards, it becomes an easy practice to continue. Most homemade bread is perfectly fine.

I had a full career for which I travelled, yet I wanted my children to remember me as one of those “homey” mums, not someone who zoomed in and out with store bought wonders. I learned that this secret plan had indeed succeeded when one of my adult sons arrived at our house on Hornby one time when bread was emerging from the oven and sighed: “Ahhh, the smell of my childhood.” Yes! Now he’s the family bread-maker in his home.

Bread-making is one of those simple nurturing activities that helps us be grateful for what we have. It makes us slow down because it has its own time frame; you can’t rush bread-making.

It is a creative exercise because there are so many different types of bread – the possibilities are many. It makes a fine gift because it comes directly from our labours. It take us out of the mad consumerism of modern-day life in that we only need one bread bowl, a few bread pans or even cookie sheets, and a few basic ingredients – oil, honey, flour (organic though, is a must) yeast and water. And oh yes, an oven.

I sometimes used bread-baking as a metaphor when I taught mediation. I liked it because the subject matter is so familiar – most of western culture enjoys bread. Bread-making came from what has traditionally been a woman’s world, the home kitchen. Our great grandmothers probably all made their own bread, and in bread-eating parts of the world, my hunch is that the majority buy their bread product very locally, or still make it themselves. The mostly male world of lawyers I was teaching mediation could benefit from exposure and attention to something as humble as this. The key ideas for me as a teacher of mediation were that you work with the ingredients you have, you work carefully and patiently, you do not know what the end result will be, so it’s not about control, but if you give it your best focus and energy, and be mindful of the process, the outcome will most likely be positive.

We all need ways to slow ourselves down in our hectic-paced world, ways that aren’t necessarily an escape from our world but rather an engagement with it that is satisfying, that is creative and purposeful, that can be a gift for those in our lives. Soul in a bowl – I highly recommend it.