Society, Uncategorized

Dismayed by Western Leaders’ Meek Response to Putin

I’m finding the overall namby-pamby Western response to Putin’s manipulation toward WWIII dismaying.

Have we not learned anything? He’s a bully, and thrives on bullying. Perhaps we need some kindergarten teachers to step in where our political leaders will not.

This is bully behaviour, and needs to be nipped in the bud.

You name the metaphor, inch/mile, whatever.

He’s clearly stated he misses the days of the USSR when millions were killed, or enslaved, or sent to moulder in prison gulags in Sibera — by their own government.

The past he seeks to restore was horrific.

The past he seeks to restore benefited the Russian 0.5% — take your era, be it Tsars and the aristocracy, be it the Soviet leaders and their dachas, be it today’s toadies and corrupt “elite.”
Music

Long Weekend Project Sorting, Cataloging Old LPs

Long weekend project — sorting and cataloguing old rock/pop/blues LPs. I have a 3 X 5 card catalog that I created in my early 20s, and will update it.

sorting old rock blues pop LPs

One find today was a Heart Dreamboat Annie photo LP. A quick Google shows they can go for up to C$50 or so depending on condition.

I’ll have to do some research on current values.

I am holding the first two LPs I ever bought, The Best of the Guess Who and Three Dog Night Live at the Forum 🙂. Likely purchased in the early 1970s.

There are close to 350 albums, and that doesn’t include classical, jazz, and Ukrainian ones eh?

They’ve been hiding behind the couch in the living room, fairly inaccessible. I wonder if I can create enough room in my basement office to move them down there and play them.

Can’t remember the last time I bought an LP, but likely over 30 years ago. I gather they’ve been staging a revival. . .
Sustainability

Donating Stuff for Breathing Space

I’m gradually getting better at getting rid of stuff.

We inherited a good amount of furniture from my late Mom and her husband when they downsized many years ago. A lot of that we still use, but some has been sitting in the garage for years.

It’s hard to let it go, but I’ve been listing some on Craiglist for ridiculously cheap prices, with nary a bite. So the other day we donated two armchairs in great condition to the local Salvation Army Thrift Store.

A couple of well-used rolling office chairs likely beyond anyone’s interest we arranged for a City of Burnaby “large item” pickup. One of them we got at a Restore outlet for $5 or $10 about five years ago, and the other was a salvage when Yumi’s workplace downsized during Covid.

And the garage looks much more spacious as a result.

Yay!

Food

Reporting on Public Commitment to Lose Weight

I vaguely recall making a public commitment to lose weight, so am reporting that I’m pleased to be down 10kg, or 22lb, from where I was at this time last year.

Slow but steady, eh?

No special diets, no fads or programs. Just simply tracking every single calorie eaten, and every calorie expended through exercise.

If I repeat that this year, I won’t have to buy any pants for years because I’ve got several pairs of jeans and several pairs of cargo pants that I, er, outgrew over the years, and that are still in great condition 🙂.

There are already a few pairs that I can wear now that were too tight a year ago. . .

Ganbarimasu!

Streamkeeping, sustainability, community, business, photography, books, and animals, with occasional forays into social commentary. Text and Photos © Paul Cipywnyk