Will You Be Allowed to Vote?

Tomorrow is the Canadian federal election. I already voted, early. Tonight I’m wondering, in this new democracy where people are allowed to make one choice only, call it coerced, whatever word you like. Will this be our last election?

First, I thought about future elections requiring a vaccine passport. Only those who have been vaccinated several times (with “the vaccine” not all those other vaccines, they just don’t count now) will be allowed to vote. But, then, why not take it a step farther and get rid of the political parties and candidates. Just admit Canada is no longer a democracy but a dictatorship. So, elections will be a thing of the past. I really don’t think it matters which party gets in. They have all become a blob, all the same, doing the same, acting the same. The faces and the words and promises are irrelevant. Their actions are the same.

I think it is a short step to removing the rest of the rights and freedoms people have from where we have come now with the so called pandemic as an excuse. Privacy is flying out the window pretty quickly. I could not imagine having my medical records made public, demanded even, by someone as proof of my being allowed to enter a restaurant, or any kind of public place.

Now I don’t want to write or think more about it. Too much. If this were a science fiction story no one would believe it.

Rockhounds in Ontario and Canada

A rockhound is an amateur geologist or collector of rocks, minerals and gemstones. It’s not always about the value or selling them. Not for me. I like the history of rocks. Such ancient things, far older than even the oldest of trees. Eroded by time and the elements (mostly water) found on and under land, sea and space, small enough to fit into a pocket or far too massive to consider moving at all. How can anyone not find even the most common rock a bit interesting.

There is some difference between being an ordinary rock collector and someone who actually knows whether the rock they just picked up (because it looks interesting) is a gem, mineral, or just another rock. I’m the ordinary rock type of beachcomber, streetcomber, forestcomber, (even though only one of those is a considered a real word at this time).

I like rocks, sometimes I carry one home in my pocket. It’s a casual hobby. But, I couldn’t say for sure whether the rocks I keep are anything but an interesting looking rock. I did study geology in high school, so I know (remember) a little about how rocks are formed.

Ontario (I live in Ontario) with links found for the other Canadian provinces afterwards.

Ottawa Lapsmith and Mineral Club
The Niagara Peninsula Geological Society – St Catharines
Barrie Gem and Mineral Club (Currently inactive).
The Gem and Mineral Club of Scarborough – Toronto

The British Columbia Lapidary Society
Victoria Lapidary and Mineral Society
Ripple Rock and Gem Mineral Club – Campbell River
Port Moody Rock and Gem Club

Alberta Federation of Rock Clubs 
Southern Alberta Rockhounds Association
Edmonton Tumblewood Lapidary Club
Calgary Rock and Lapidary Club

Prairie Rock and Gem Society – Regina, Saskatchewan

Montreal Gem and Mineral Club Quebec

The Central Canadian Federation of Mineralogical Societies
Mineralogical Association of Canada 
Gem and Mineral Federation of Canada

Do you know all of these, what they are or even more about each of them? They are all connected to rocks in some way. Not on this list was rock piling or stacking. I’ve seen people turn them into bridges which continue to stand without anything but friction and gravity keeping them together. Also, Inukshuks, traditionally used for navigation and communication in northern Canada.

  • lapidary
  • tumbling
  • carving
  • sculpture
  • architecture
  • fossils
  • geology
  • paleontology
  • prospecting

List from: Virtual Museum of the History of Mineralogy

Modern Schools Teach Sex and Leave Young People Ignorant

What is the purpose of school for children any more? They don’t seem to know English (the language, spelling, etc), or history, or geography. Schools must (I hope) still teach enough for them to function but ask them questions… there is a LOT they don’t know. Especially here in Ontario. My nieces and nephew don’t know basic Canadian history or geography, and they are not taught Canadian spelling and language arts. Test your own children, can they spell, locate on a map and tell you something about the Canadian province of Saskatchewan (even those who live in Saskatchewan, though I’d hope they would know more/better).

I taught my nieces and nephews about Canadian history, geography, spelling and cursive writing. (Typing/ keyboarding is no longer taught now either. Children are expected to be proficient due to frequent computer/Internet use. I find that sad). Of course, there is still far more they don’t know. The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know, yet. But, basic things like finding the provinces and territories on the map. Knowing the capitals and how to spell it all. Why isn’t that taught in schools? The schools we pay for with our tax money. But, that’s just part of it. I want them to know basic Canadian things and have a good general education before they graduate into high school and then onto college, university or a job.

The kids do seem to be taught a lot about sex. Still not told condoms are NOT 100% effective. That always comes as a surprise to them. I tell them about that when they hit high school age. I know schools delve into all of that early, far too early, and make it something the children research on their own, on the Internet of course, the source of such great and reliable (pornographic) information. But, the school does not teach other important things which we used to learn at school, not only reading, writing, arithmetic, simple science, regional history, and geography. But things like hygiene, good posture, penmanship, good sportsmanship. I taught my nephews and nieces about hygiene, even at high school age they didn’t seem to know basic things about being clean, walking (picking up their feet versus walking like a troll) and standing/sitting without slouching, and speaking clearly (good elocution). I can remember that being part of what I learned in school. My Mother and Grandmother also learned about those things and told all of us.Schools don’t seem to do that any more.

Ironic that modern schools teach children a lot about sex, gender based on stereotypes, sexual fetishes, etc but it is now left to parents and family members to teach children about reading, writing, arithmetic, science, hygiene, posture, etc. All those hours children and young people spend in school, even now during the so called pandemic, but they don’t seem to be learning about anything that really matters, just how to fuck themselves and others. What a waste of time. What are schools setting our young people up for in life? What are they capable of doing, when the schools say they have graduated.

Test the young people, see what they know and where they learned it. I found more about condoms than I ever cared to know, or needed in 50+ years including being married some of those years, but they did not know how to spell Saskatchewan. I learned that early and I made sure I remembered it. Canadian spelling, history, geography were things that mattered to me. They still do. What matters to young people now when their education seems focused on sex, not things that young people really need to know to be successful, or at least competent, in life.

Talk to people who hire young people for jobs. They can give you some real stories about our young people, not being able to work, even at basic tasks, not being able to read, write or figure out simple things. Some of them on drugs, prescription drugs, which leave them unable to function. Some so addicted to their cell phone they just lean against a wall and say anything more is too much for them to handle. (These are actual cases, real cases, which my sister has experienced as a local employer over the past few years). What are schools doing to this generation of young people? It seems to me schools are failing, badly.

Note, I do see wonderful young people and feel very proud of them, happy to meet them and hear they are doing well, feeling good and happy. I wish that for all the young people.

Peace by Chocolate – Delicious

My Mother read about this company, Peace by Chocolate. I was surprised to find it in the Vince’s grocery store just a few days later. I bought two of them, one for her and the Canadian maple for me (I don’t love hazelnuts and I am fond of almost anything Canadian).

The chocolate was really good! The wrappers are interesting and the business is supporting Canadians (newcomers as they are supposed to be called now, not immigrants). Probably too late for ordering in hopes of a Valentine’s Day delivery, but it is really good chocolate, so just treat yourself. I’ve scanned the wrappers from the chocolate I bought.