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Free speech in the United States of America

Sep 18th, 2025
by Craig.
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It no longer exists.

As has been predicted by just about everyone, the fascist American trump administration régime has gone after, is going after, and will go after (as trump himself has already made plainly clear) any type of disagreement with trump. It’s a playbook we saw back in the 1930s. It’s not new; it’s shocking in the 2020s, yes, but it’s not new or unexpected.

I don’t know how the American right and their apologists can do this with a straight face. The hypocrisy is galling; it’s the very “cancel culture” of which they accuse the left … or the “radical left” as trump so eloquently keeps putting it. Whether or not there are any mergers in play is irrelevant, the Federal Communications Commission should not be, in a free country, threatening anyone. It’s the very “big government” that the Republican Party claims to be against. But the Republican Party is not in control anymore, we know that. The American Republican Party party in the 2020s has become the National Socialist Party of the 1930s. And the MAGA whiners wonder why we Canadians don’t want to cross the border?!

The crackdown on free speech continues. The “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show used to run on the ABC network, and so does “The View”. The next morning, after “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was suspended, the usually talkative current events panel just glossed over the topic as if it never even happened, as if American democracy wasn’t crumbling around their very ears. Whether they didn’t talk about it because they were self-censoring or because they received a sternly worded memo from ABC brass telling them not to, the bottom line is that they didn’t.

I don’t find Kimmel particularly funny. His disappearance from TV won’t affect my daily life one iota (and I’m in another country, thankfully), but I’m not on TV; I’m not on TV because nobody on the planet knows who I am or whether or not I’m funny. But Kimmel is on TV (or was) because he is well-known, and (apparently) some people think he’s funny. It’s called entertainment. If you don’t like the so-called entertainment on one channel, change the bloody channel! I don’t think any one person will find their life not worth living because any one entertainer disappeared from their list of choices, but that “any one person” needs to consider the bigger picture; it’s not just about any one entertainer.

Do I really need to remind everyone of the following admonition:

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

Apparently there are many cowards in the United States, including and especially among shareholders.

Updated, 2025-09-19: Better characterised the trump régime.

Posted in: Opinion.
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“Prove me wrong”

Sep 14th, 2025
by Craig.
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If you’re going to start a conversation with, “Prove me wrong,” you’re doing it wrong. Because the phrase, “Prove me wrong,” implies that you’re opening with the statement, “I’m right, prove me wrong.” So if you start out by telling your opponent, “I’m right and, ergo, you’re wrong,” then maybe you should start with another phrase?

Just another tip in my, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” course that you can buy now for 9.99. It might save your neck. You’re welcome.

Posted in: Opinion.
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The CFIA seems to have become the poster child for anti-vaxxers

Sep 9th, 2025
by Craig.
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God forgive me for taking the side of anti-vaxxers like Tamara Lich (whose surname I pronounce like the worm I believe she is), RFK Jr., Dr. Oz and others, but I’ve re-discovered that they still exist (long after the pandemic ended and their catastrophic predictions were proven wrong) through the “Save our Ostriches” website, but politics make for strange bedfellows.

When I was in elementary school I participated in a school project which was, as I recall, an in-school version of an inter-school competition called the Young Scientists Exhibition. It was a competition to create the best project, complete with posters and all the “stuff” you could come up with to make it engaging for the people touring the exhibition — so, working models, demonstrations, etc., and ostrich scat (poop) in my case. My project, the subject of which I chose, was on ostriches. (I was a bit of an ornithologist at that age, and I thought ostriches were pretty cool birds.) That was in 1979, and I still had the papier mache ostrich my father helped me create with its welded wire skeleton and marble eyes until I finally decided there was no point in my carting it around from house move to house move in the early 2000s. But anyway, ostriches and I go back a few years.

I’ve read a lot — largely through the “Save our Ostriches” website, I will admit — about the case with the ostrich farm and the cull order issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It’s hard to disagree with the assertion that the CFIA has overstepped the boundary of its authority in ordering this cull. Would humanity have ever made its way out of the caves if we mindlessly executed every human that ever caught a cold? Sure, maybe killing every single chicken in an infected flock makes some sense, but ostriches are not chickens. I’m not sure that any CFIA bureaucrats have ever seen a chicken or an ostrich outside of a picture book in their offices.

Fortunately, as of a few days ago, the Federal Court of Appeal seems to have come to its senses … for now.

Posted in: Opinion.
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Sad day in Canada

Aug 19th, 2025
by Craig.
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As was to be expected, Albertans left their brains at home when they went to the polling booths in Battle River-Crowfoot, voting, of course, for Pierre Poilievre. It’s hilarious to me that the people on that side of the spectrum who make a big deal about not being “sheep”, blindly follow their sheep herder and just vote for the party rather than for someone local who would actually have been a good representative for them in Ottawa.

This seems to have put paid to any hope that the members of the Conservative Party might treat Poilievre the same way they treated Sheer and O’Toole, booting him from office as leader of the party. The fact that he blew a twenty-somethng percent lead in the general election would spell the death knell for any other party leader, but I don’t think even the Conservatives take themselves seriously any more.

Hey, I used to be a Conservative; it’s not the philosophy I have a problem with, but my problem is with mouthy, yappy, “I’m so tough and shouty” guys like Poilievre who have done nothing for Canadians other than be shouty and yappy! How are those leadership qualities?! How does that make you the best choice to be prime minister of this country?

It doesn’t.

I was hoping that Poilievre would be defeated and then we could stop watching him rant and rave on television, and perhaps someone with a brain might take over the Conservative Party. But is there anyone with a brain left in the party? There doesn’t appear to be.

I just thank the god I don’t believe in every day that we have an adult governing this country, rather than a career politician who couldn’t feed himself if he had to go out and get a real job. He dodged that bullet yesterday.

Posted in: Opinion.
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Dictators meet in Anchorage, Alaska, nothing happens

Aug 16th, 2025
by Craig.
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The world’s press has spent the last few days, and today (Friday here) in particular, trying to make a “nothingburger into filet mignon”, as one commentator said. Anyone with a brain knew well in advance of today that nothing substantive was going to happen without the presence of Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the summit, especially as trump wants so desperately to be seen as a friend of the enormously popular (excuse me while I retch) putin. After absolutely nothing happened except that putin got to ride in The Beast and watched a brief personal airshow, they both jumped in their planes and burnt a few more holes in the atmosphere to fly back to opposite sides of their continents.

All that I really saw was that the world’s most powerful dipshit and wannabe dictator spent the day sucking up to the world’s current biggest war criminal … who, I will point out, was not arrested when he landed, but this is no surprise given that the United States refuses to become a party to the International Criminal Court (ICC), has been aggressive towards the ICC and has hosted other war criminals in the past.

In fact, it was just two dictators getting together for lunch; trump probably asked putin for advice on getting away with sending troops into his capital city!

But maybe we’ll never know what they talked about because, other than admitting utter failure to negotiate a peace deal (certainly not why putin was there), both sides have refused to say anything. So in the absence of any information we’re left to wonder if the world’s two super-dictators have cooked up some sort of deal where they both get richer and the little guy (Ukraine) gets shafted.

It was just a typical “nothingburger”! Nothing else to be said!

Posted in: Opinion.
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I’d like to get away from trump, literally and blog-wise, but … there’s Pete Hoekstra

Aug 15th, 2025
by Craig.
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The latest idiot to raise my ire is his ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, who has pissed me off in at least two ways recently:

  1. As I’ve said before — although I can’t speak for all Canadians, but this certainly applies to this Canadian — I am not boycotting travel to the United States where I regularly used to spend thousands of dollars a day (pardon my extreme exaggeration) because I am “punishing” Americans because I don’t like their choice of president. I am simply covering my ass because I don’t want to be caught up in some dragnet of an ICE raid of the day and dumped in jail in the southern United States because I am a foreigner. I’ve given examples for why I, as a law-abiding person, have a reasonable fear of that happening to me. There’s no way I am crossing the border until 21 January 2029 … under the assumption that trump doesn’t somehow change the constitution to allow himself to run a third time. (God, I hope he doesn’t live to see the end of his second term, never mind run for a third fourth time! [Sorry, fourth term; I forgot that he failed in his second attempt.])
  2. Now he (Hoekstra) is going on about how Canada is the party that has “pulled the rug out” from under the United States as far as tariffs and CUSMA are concerned! Hello! Did you ever watch one of your boss’ campaign speeches, in particular the one where he announced that he had discovered the word “tariff” and what a wonderful word it was/is? Are you aware that he does not know the difference between a “trade deficit” and a “subsidy”? Have you ever heard him refer to Canada as the “51st state”? Have you ever heard him whine about now “nasty” (a word you’ve used in the same vein) Canada and Canadians are? Sure, maybe you can look at that as all in good humour, but if we had the might and started referring to the US as our “cherished” eleventh province, I’m pretty sure you’d lose your sense of humour (humor) pretty quickly. So fuck you. It’s blatantly obvious to any onlooker who started this bullshit.

If you want to whine about where you find yourself because of your boss upending the entire world order, foisting the cost of tariffs on American consumers and turning decades of economic integration between our countries inside out, don’t blame Canada. We’re just spectators in this farce you and your boss have created. Having just scanned your Wikipedia article, you sound like more of a dipshit than a “diplomat” should be, but that doesn’t surprise me.

I’ll have more to say in the very near future about how you’re fucking up Ukraine as well.

Posted in: Opinion.
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Victoria Mboko wins the Canadian Open, wipes the floor with Naomi Osaka

Aug 9th, 2025
by Craig.
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I’m late posting this because of … excuses.

I hadn’t heard of Victoria Mboko until less than a week ago, now she is my heroine. She’s my heroine for two reasons: (a) all the bloody TV commentators who can’t/won’t pronounce her surname properly because they don’t know how to pronounce African names with successive consonants and African words in general, and (b) because she soundly beat Naomi Osaka.

As you will know if you’ve read me for a while, I am no fan of Naomi Osaka. For me she’s the female version of John McEnroe, a whiny crybaby, but the difference is that McEnroe had to have known that he was making a spectacle of himself. Per the article to which I’ve linked above, I feel that so-called professional athletes should learn, not only their sport, but also how to behave under pressure. That means not wimping out when the going gets though (the topic of the post to which I’ve linked), but also losing and winning graciously. Osaka has yet to acquire that skill, and she demonstrated that beautifully on the court with Mboko and off the court afterwards.

Hey, listen, elite athletes are getting younger and younger, which means top athletes are being evicted from their perches younger and younger and sooner and sooner! Accept it, and get over it. You’re not gonna be number one forever. Your pouty and pissed-off faces on the court and not even making an attempt to get to some balls only show how little you deserved the top spot in the first place.

Congratulations Victoria Mboko!

Posted in: Opinion, Sports.
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Follow-up on the last post, “Dave Cooper and AI”

Jul 23rd, 2025
by Craig.
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This won’t be an ongoing theme, I can assure you, but I did as I suggested yesterday I’d do today, which was query Duck.ai again and see what nonsense it came up with this time. As I suspected, a link to my previous post was now in the search results and the AI-generated output was totally different!

Here it is:

Dave Cooper is known for his contributions to discussions about Zambia’s history, particularly when it was called Northern Rhodesia. He has shared insights about the region’s past and its cultural significance.

Background on Northern Rhodesia

Northern Rhodesia was the name used for what is now Zambia during British colonial rule. It was established in the late 19th century and became a British protectorate in 1924. The region was rich in natural resources, particularly copper, which played a significant role in its economy.

Dave Cooper’s Contributions

Dave Cooper is noted for his historical insights into Northern Rhodesia, particularly regarding its geography and cultural history. He has shared valuable information about the region’s past, including maps and personal anecdotes from his experiences growing up there.

Cultural Significance

The area is known for its diverse wildlife and rich cultural heritage. Many people, including Cooper, have fond memories of exploring the local bush and observing various bird species. This includes references to sunbirds, which are often confused with hummingbirds due to their similar feeding habits and vibrant colors.

Modern Zambia

Today, Zambia is recognized for its mineral wealth and is home to a growing population. The legacy of Northern Rhodesia continues to influence Zambian culture and identity, with ongoing discussions about its historical significance and impact on contemporary society.

I suppose if one searched for “salt” and generated an AI answer, the results would be pretty much identical each time. I searched for my own name without any additional search terms and, as expected, the output was about some slightly better-known person than me. So I added a couple of search terms and all I can say is that the result gives a whole new meaning to the term, “ego surfing“. If you need to generate a very important-sounding résumé for yourself, this might be the way to go! In fact, post your AI-generated output on your blog, on LinkedIn and a bunch of other places and it could be the equivalent of Google bombing / link bombing.

Just don’t tell them I sent you.

Dave Cooper according to AI a day later

Dave Cooper according to AI a day later.

Posted in: Friends, IT.
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Dave Cooper and AI

Jul 23rd, 2025
by Craig.
1 comment

Huh, interesting. I searched for Dave’s name on DuckDuckGo and decided to query their AI feature, “Search Assist”, not expecting much. These were the surprising results:

Dave Cooper was a notable figure associated with Northern Rhodesia, known for his vibrant personality and contributions to the community. He passed away on July 19, 2025, and was remembered fondly by friends and family for his unique character and love for life.

Dave Cooper’s Connection to Northern Rhodesia

Background

Dave Cooper was a notable figure who had a deep connection to Northern Rhodesia, now known as Zambia. He spent his childhood in Kitwe, where he developed a passion for exploring the local wildlife and nature.

Recent Events

Dave Cooper passed away peacefully on July 19, 2025, in the Netherlands. His life was marked by a vibrant personality and a love for the natural world. He was remembered fondly by friends and family for his unique character and the impact he had on those around him.

Memorial Plans

Cooper’s remains were cremated on July 22, 2025. In a tribute to his enduring friendships and shared passions, his ashes will be scattered in Québec, which he considered his second home. This ceremony reflects his connection to both his past in Northern Rhodesia and his later life experiences.

Legacy

Cooper’s legacy includes his love for nature and the memories he created during his time in Northern Rhodesia. His story is a reminder of the rich history and personal narratives tied to this region.

I find it interesting that this was created based on only my own personal website — where Dave is only mentioned once (making him “notable”), in his obituary yesterday — and on the Great North Road website where there is currently only a placeholder page and a link to a PDF document he created based on an original document from 1936 which, of course, isn’t about him!

I think there was a lot of interpolation by AI and, of course, some nice, trite words based on AI’s understanding of what recent death means to us humans. I wonder what the output from an AI will be tomorrow based on the addition of this string of text to its corpus. (Interestingly, Google’s search results don’t include any AI output, at least not for the same search string.)

Dave Cooper according to AI

Dave Cooper according to AI.

Posted in: Friends, IT.
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Dave Cooper, 28 April 1950 – 19 July 2025

Jul 22nd, 2025
by Craig.
1 comment
Dave Cooper at Cape Point in South Africa

Dave Cooper at Cape Point in South Africa.

I have nothing better to add about Dave to the excellent obituary provided by his long-time partner Vince.

[…] ἐχθὲς μὲν μυξάριον, αὔριον δὲ τάριχος ἢ τέφρα. […] Τοῦ ἀνθρωπίνου βίου ὁ μὲν χρόνος στιγμή, ἡ δὲ οὐσία ῥέουσα, ἡ δὲ αἴσθησις ἀμυδρά, ἡ δὲ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος σύγκρισις εὔσηπτος, ἡ δὲ ψυχὴ ῥεμβός, ἡ δὲ τύχη δυστέκμαρτον, ἡ δὲ φήμη ἄκριτον˙ συνελόντι δὲ εἰπεῖν, πάντα τὰ μὲν τοῦ σώματος ποταμός, τὰ δὲ τῆς ψυχῆς ὄνειρος καὶ τῦφος […] Πομπῆς κενοσπουδία, ἐπὶ σκηνῆς δράματα, ποίμνια, ἀγέλαι,διαδορατισμοί, κυνιδίοις ὀστάριον ἐῤῥιμμένον, ψωμίον εἰς τὰςτῶν ἰχθύων δεξαμενάς, μυρμήκων ταλαιπωρίαι καὶ ἀχθοφορίαι,μυιδίων ἐπτοημένων διαδρομαί, σιγιλλάρια νευροσπαστούμενα. […]

Yesterday a drop of semen, tomorrow a handful of spice and ashes. […] In the life of a man, his time is but a moment, his being an incessant flux, his senses a dim rushlight, his body a prey of worms, his soul an unquiet eddy, his fortune dark, and his fame doubtful. In short, all that is of the body is as coursing waters, all that is of the soul as dreams and vapours […] An empty pageant; a stage play; flocks of sheep, herds of cattle; a tussle of spearmen; a bone flung among a pack of curs; a crumb tossed into a pond of fish; ants, loaded and labouring; mice, scared and scampering; puppets, jerking on their strings […] that is life.

(Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE), Meditations [writings to himself], IV: 48, II:17, VII:3)

A Farewell to Dave,

It is with a heavy heart, but also with a sense of peace that I share the news of Dave’s passing. He died peacefully in his sleep on July 19, 2025, in Roermond, the Netherlands.
The period leading up to his death saw him grapple with dementia, an illness that is hard to define rationally. His passing was, in the words of the Stoic Seneca the Younger, a “good death.”

“It is not a question of dying earlier or later, but of dying well or ill. And dying well means escape from the danger of living ill”.

(Seneca, Moral letters to Lucilius, LXX:6)

Dave was Dave until the very end: full of energy and an enigma. He wore his heart on his sleeve, misanthropic, dramatic, empathetic, generous, show-offy, difficult at times, and, above all, tremendously loving. Almost everyone I’ve spoken to since he passed said that Dave was one of a kind, and he truly was. I’ll miss him!

Dave and his friend and companion, Erik Wampler, who passed in 1996, were great admirers of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic philosophy he left behind. Dave even included the above-quoted lines from Aurelius’s Meditations in Erik’s eulogy.

Funeral and Scattering of Ashes

Dave’s remains will be cremated on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CET (1:30 a.m. PST).

In a final tribute to their enduring friendship and shared passions, Dave and Erik’s ashes will be scattered in Québec, Dave’s deuxième patrie. I am currently in touch with our Québec friend, Alain Durand, to finalize the details of when and where this will take place. Further information will follow. You are welcome to be there.

Staying in Touch

If you have any questions, thoughts, or simply wish to connect, please feel free to reach out to me at [my email address] or find me on WhatsApp or Signal at [number redacted].

Thank you,

Vincent,
my brother Merlijn, who made the obituary,
and my friend Ros, who edited the text.

p.s. How better to remember Dave than through the music he liked.

Dave has also been memorialised on the home page of the GNR (Great North Road).

Obituary of Dave Cooper, from Vince

Obituary of Dave Cooper, from Vince.

Posted in: Friends.
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