Don't Ask Me

Now, before I start I want to establish that I'm not talking about innocuous questions such as what color to paint a room or what I think about an outfit or a sport or a book. Those are generally matters of taste and I'm happy to leave them at that. But with regard to The Great Questions, questions about how to act or what to do in serious situations, that's what I'm addressing here.

Far too many folks these days begin a presumably serious, introspective discussion with something like, "Be honest, because there's no right or wrong answer."

Here's my painfully honest and arguably harsh response. 

Don't bother me with the damn question then. If you aren't trying to find out what's really, truly, actually right or really, truly, hideously wrong with a venture or outlook then we ain't got nothing to talk about. If there really is no 'wrong' answer then it don't matter what we do. And if there is a right answer, the statement is hypocritical nonsense, if not downright Orwellian, dangerous to our growth and well being as persons. It's as simple as that.

People wonder what's wrong with the world. I can tell you that readily. It comes from answering serious and necessary questions as though there's no right or wrong answer.

No Need To Imagine

I have said before that, while most things don't bother me too much these days, some things nevertheless instantly infuriate me. The Montreal Canadiens infuriated me, instantly, this past Saturday night. Before their hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, they played John Lennon's Imagine. They did it to show support for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.

Are you kidding me? There's a joke, a very bad one, in there somewhere, isn't there? Several jokes, I, uh, imagine.

You don't think so? Then allow me to explain.

To begin with, Lennon's song says 'Imagine there's no countries' before a sporting event featuring a team named, for all practical purposes, after a country. That's such delightful irony that it must have been intended as humor.

But let's continue to imagine no countries. There might not be a Ukraine in the next few weeks, so the joke must be that Soviet, er, Russian leader Putin is doing what he can to aid the ringing in of the ex-Beatle's dream world.

Imagine no religion. Well, Putin apparently has none, so there's another of John and Yoko's visions coming true.

Imagine nothing to live or die for. Well, I guess the whole war is Ukraine's fault then. The Ukrainian people dare to believe they have something worth living for, and therefore worth dying for. They deserve to be imagined out of existence. It fits the narrative of the song, does it not?

Imagine all the people living for today. Well, Putin certainly is, while Ukrainians die for today. Another unforced error by Kyiv.

Imagine no hell below us. Well, the Ukrainians don't have to do that. Hell is all around them.

Just so you do get it, and just because I'm mad enough that I want to be a total smartass right now, I'm quoting Lennon's song and offering explanations for the rank stupidly behind it as applied to real world events. Do you understand that?

Because if you don't, keep singing. An attack on your smug self righteousness will surely come upon you someday to explain it more powerfully.

Add another to the list

You all know how I've been slowly compiling a list of dumb/useless words and sayings? Well, guess what? I have another.

While driving out to meet some friends for lunch yesterday, I passed a store. Okay, I passed dozens of stores. But one in particular gave me pause. A sign, displayed loudly and proudly in its front window, screamed PRE-SALE IN PROGRESS!

So, then, you're having a sale, correct? A sale right now, this very moment, correct?

Pray, then, it's not really a pre-sale, is it? It isn't a pre-anything, is it? It's an actual we've cut prices and have specials event, isn't it? In other words, A SALE.

Am I the only upset by things like this?