Watched the Grapes of Wrath the other night. Too lazy to read the book but it’s my understanding that Steinbeck is considered to have captured the essence of the Great Depression. If that is true and the movie captures the essence of the book I’m really not looking forward to the Great Depression II.
Of course I’m not really sure if we’ll have a Great Depression II. The people in charge appear to have learned from the first one and decided to borrow from the grandkids before the collapse to avoid a great depression rather than waiting to borrow from the grandkids after it has begun to “stimulate a recovery”. But let’s face it - ever since we’ve been spending tomorrow’s money knowing we can borrow again tomorrow.
But lets pretend for a minute that some disgruntled individual decides to stop extending vast amounts of unrealistic credit (luckily the Board of Directors system appears to prevent any individual from having that kind of power) and the house of cards comes down. In the movie the only thing the people have to hang on to is their family. Even their fellow Okies let them know it’s every man (family?) for themselves when push comes to shove.
Given the stats we see today about people who feel they are alone in the world and the general dismantling of the close knit family group I’m thinking that if the system starts to collapse the glue that held off the chaos demons in the thirties (according to the Grapes of Wrath) might not be there. And if there is a lesson from western christendom’s recent foreign adventures it’s that we do not have nearly enough men and women in uniform to enforce a kind of peace if the population was to get rowdy.
The farmer we recently visited who views his co-op members as invested partners to help work and protect his farm if things turn sour seems less crazy now.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
July miscellany
Went to the Urgent care clinic last night. It seems I have a likely torn Posterior Cruciate Ligament. The Doctor says wear the brace every day and watch cowboy movies while drinking beer and eating potato chips for three weeks to get back in zombie fightin’ shape.And I have no idea how I did this.
Or I'll continue my current reading binge. Another decent book about canadian farms and farming is Apples to Oysters by Margaret Webb, a lesbian from Toronto who visits one farm in each province. I only mention that the author is a lesbian because she seems to think this is important with constant references to her sexual orientation throughout the narrative. I guess she wants you to know that when she loves a farmer it's platonic?
Just started endgame by Derrick Jensen. So far it's a pretty crazy Manson-esque manifesto. The guy is outlining a similar (if slightly more extreme) world view than my own. I am intrigued to see how far he is going to take it.
Started the new job. So far it's going well. I think.
Appalachian Trail to Africa = madness.
Or I'll continue my current reading binge. Another decent book about canadian farms and farming is Apples to Oysters by Margaret Webb, a lesbian from Toronto who visits one farm in each province. I only mention that the author is a lesbian because she seems to think this is important with constant references to her sexual orientation throughout the narrative. I guess she wants you to know that when she loves a farmer it's platonic?
Just started endgame by Derrick Jensen. So far it's a pretty crazy Manson-esque manifesto. The guy is outlining a similar (if slightly more extreme) world view than my own. I am intrigued to see how far he is going to take it.
Started the new job. So far it's going well. I think.
Appalachian Trail to Africa = madness.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The quest comes to and end
I have two more entries but Cider quest 2010 has all but come to an end. I’ll start with the two new entries.
Mystique is a craft cider from Quebec. Although I appreciate the efforts to ensure I got to sample it I wasn’t that impressed. It is best when cold not very good when warm and I don’t get the point of the wee little bottle (250ml).
The last entry is the Growers Granny Smith Apple Cider. I had high hopes for this as it is not only Canada’s number one cider I happen to be a fan of granny smith apples. But apparently the granny smith is not really a cider apple. I preferred the Growers Peach. I may yet sample the Growers Blueberry but I’d like to find it in individual bottles rather than have to invest in a whole six pack.
You might be wondering why Cider Quest 2010 is all but dead in the water at such a tender age? Well it was hit with a broadside that has all but blown cider out of the water. Adnam’s Broadside Strong Ale to be precise. Now I don’t normally like strong beers but the Broadside is a great beer despite it's 6.3%. Yes, great.
You'll have to move quickly if you want to experience this masterwork of the brewing craft though because as appears to be a trend with quality products at the LCBO it is being discontinued.
Mystique is a craft cider from Quebec. Although I appreciate the efforts to ensure I got to sample it I wasn’t that impressed. It is best when cold not very good when warm and I don’t get the point of the wee little bottle (250ml).
The last entry is the Growers Granny Smith Apple Cider. I had high hopes for this as it is not only Canada’s number one cider I happen to be a fan of granny smith apples. But apparently the granny smith is not really a cider apple. I preferred the Growers Peach. I may yet sample the Growers Blueberry but I’d like to find it in individual bottles rather than have to invest in a whole six pack.
You might be wondering why Cider Quest 2010 is all but dead in the water at such a tender age? Well it was hit with a broadside that has all but blown cider out of the water. Adnam’s Broadside Strong Ale to be precise. Now I don’t normally like strong beers but the Broadside is a great beer despite it's 6.3%. Yes, great.
You'll have to move quickly if you want to experience this masterwork of the brewing craft though because as appears to be a trend with quality products at the LCBO it is being discontinued.
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