Lifes Lessons, Philosophy

Cerebral Yet Delusional

It’s a perplexing phenomenon. We empathize with those who lack capacity but you’ve seen the ones who have been part of your company who on the surface have everything going on intellectually but then fail at logic when confronted with facts which contrast with their preferred ideology. Objectivity is lost when facts conflict with philosophical bias. Those transparent interpretive thinkers come away bemused / disappointed / shocked at the shortcoming of a friend or acquaintance who fails to connect events concisely through to conclusion and wonder if he / her too has been afflicted with online group think, paranoia, fear, or even subversive like resentment. A reference to the “deep state” has captured the imagination of flailing citizens reaching to grasp for reason of circumstance for misfortune, apathy, and an inertia laden lifestyle. Instead of looking within, the despondent gravitate to those looking to assuage. The affinity for fellowship amongst followers begins to define the persona leading to isolation and ultimately impenetrable borders of being. The aberrant becomes the norm. White becomes black and the reasonable take respite and artificial intelligence takes the stage

Lifes Lessons, Music

Back To Black – Amy Winehouse

While you were watching the Oilers win game seven, I was at the movies taking in the tragic life of Amy Winehouse at Chinook Theatre. The best part was the phenomenal job done by Marisa Abela in the role. You really did pick up the veracity in Amy’s outlandish visceral personality but more astonishingly was the closeness in resembling her vocals – native accent aside.

The pundits of course are sounding off by the film’s shortcomings but the scene where she meets Blake is in and of itself worth the price of admission. Wouldn’t you all want to be as coy when by happenstance encounter a rising star sitting solo in a bar?

The striking affinity folks had with Winehouse was not only her amazing voice but her flaw filled persona from which fans found identify. The day labourer in us all sees a woman operating intuitively from instinct unbeknownst to consequences whilst we put fantasy first in a drama documentary pleading for an ultimate denouement other than her fate. Thankfully we were spared of a scene portraying her untimely death.

Marisa had spent months training her voice for this. Movie critics are all caught up in chronology, accuracy, and exploitation while missing the key success ingredient of the film, that being an Amy Winehouse characterization. The tragedy is worthy of publicity because her life and times were distinctive, emotionally wrought, colourful while dark, with lessons sewn sweepingly as her picturesque head dress. 

Lifestyle, Philosophy, Politics

Passing of Rex Murphy

Rex Murphy was a wordsmith, he possessed common sense, and he wasn’t beholden to other’s opinions and this is why I stood up and took notice whenever he spoke or penned an editorial. I also admire people who actually reach for the best words in order to express a point. His expression was the antipathy of those now so compelled to use the word “fcuk” in every grammatical form because they have been too lazy delve into the depths of the English language. Rex Murphy put context and pragmatism toward thought. He had capacity to empathise in every direction while articulating the best route forward cognizant that we can’t be everything to all people all of the time. Rex had instinct in knowing how not to go too far in presenting a position so that the audience had room to conceive for themselves. Rex coaxed you toward the dictionary because your English teacher may not have been as illustrious.

There was also a mystical kind of delivery because he operated with an intention to provoke. Satire was to be expected and the monotony of tone was purposeful so that he could catch you when the hyperbole went over your head. His thoughtfulness was etched throughout his piece in such a way that even the ardent with entrenched beliefs couldn’t help but be jostled.  

Without the likes of Rex Murphy…we can and will descend to gutter like politics showcased south of our border.   

Economics

Canadian Productivity In The News

A Scotiabank economist today reflected on comments from a Bank of Canada official (Carolyn Rogers) that Canadian productivity has reached an “emergency level”. I am not surprised by what see on the street and within my accounting practice. The radical characterization is placed in the context of large age gains with thirty per cent of Canada’s work force tied to labour unions compared to ten per cent in the U.S.

Poor productivity combined with higher wages is a formula for disaster because businesses lose sustainability and without a private sector there goes the public sector jobs as well. The pulse I see around Calgary seems to be one of entitlement. The Oil and Gas crowd is back to strutting their stuff in the plus fifteens downtown because the oil price has taken a good run and geopolitical factors are creating a baseline of support for the commodity.

West downtown Calgary lacks vitality because behemoth pension funds and REITs in ownership of downtown office buildings are showing little wiggle room for the Tier 2 and Tier 3 leaseholder. Canadian employers are still way too lenient with the work from home model generated by the pandemic. Productivity is absolutely lost through poor supervision and communication yet tepid management teams across the country cower.  

Our education system has been poor at turning prospective students to the trades and the construction industry has been poor at making work environments friendly. This has got to change and change is in the making but the change is way behind when it needed to happen. This particular problem is a material contributor to the productivity challenge. 

The investment required to better the Canadian way of life unfortunately lacks “velocity”. In other words capital lurks in registered accounts and home equity with a conservative temperament at play due to rising interest rates and credit card debt at levels never seen before. 

It’s about time some economist in Canada stepped up and made an unequivocal statement having harboured the implications of  poor economic data. 

Gratitude, Philosophy, Politics

Gondek Booed At Flames Game

She seemed to have handled it well. It would be best though if cultural ceremonies were kept clear of the sporting arena. There are other venues and opportunities to honor the those deserving of society’s recognition. Those folks after all are paying stupid ticket prices to watch hockey.

I’ll say this about Gondek and City Hall. This woman did work some overtime back in the fall during an occasion to hear from the public on the housing crisis. You could have went to see what was up. I was there. She listened attentively. She has also dealt with some hate directed toward her residence. The police had to step in. She has also dealt with increases in demands by constituents lobbying for the Green Line and its construction. Then of course there is the replacement to the Saddledome which has had much contention due to the expectation of taxpayer participation. Many of those same advocates for a new arena are those complaining about a property tax increase. There has been administrative oversight in updating venues and the never ending oversight of new public works and community development. She will be busy managing conflicting interests while staying true to her ideal of what lead her to public office in the first place. In lieu of some pressure…..apparently she got involved with some sipping straws. If this is why you were booing at the game ignorant of her tasks in aggregate…shame on you. Most of the larger decisions at City Hall are made in context of a council made of people from diverse backgrounds. They hold votes and she casts hers singularly.