Nothing like making a virtue out of not wanting to pay provincial civil servants for one day a year, and accommodating our proud Canadian selves to the American holiday schedule.
I am sure it was a coincidence when our humorously named provincial premier, Dalton “I am doing God’s work” McGuinty
introduced Family “surely this is something everybody approves of and I hope I don’t offend any group” Day to be held on Presidents’ Day. I think Apple Pie Day sounded too American.
Wait, is it all presidents? Not just good old George “my teeth were not made of wood, that was British propaganda” Washington’s? The poor guy who lost his birthday to a calendar shuffle, if I remember correctly. Ah yes, here we go. It is President’s Day. My apologies for my too inclusive apostrophizing. It is all about George, who’s birthday was moved:
George Washington was born in Virginia on February 11, 1731, according to the then-used Julian calendar. In 1752, however, Britain and all its colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar which moved Washington’s birthday a year and 11 days to February 22, 1732. [From The Center [did you have to reinvent spelling as well as throw off your colonial yoke?] for Legislative Archives, George Washington’s Birthday]
I still don’t understand why they had to move his birthday 11 days as well. I mean, at least let him keep the 11th as his birthdate. I am still adjusting to the introduction of the metric system back in the early 1970’s, so can easily imagine the confusion it must have caused the young Washington, suddenly a year further away from the legal drinking age. The number 22 is a lucky number around here, so there is that to be considered, but your birthday is your birthday, arbitrary calendars notwithstanding. Maybe that’s what made him angry enough to start a revolution!
Now don’t get me wrong and think I don’t like families, or something. Or don’t appreciate the provincial government shutting down for an extra day, thereby doing less damage potentially, while saving my tax dollars. It is just that a) admit we are tied to the U.S. economically, and it isn’t a bad thing; and b) it is so lame. Why not just Nice Day. Or we could go totally modern and declare Happy Day. Have a Good One Day. Or make it a national holiday and call it Sorry Day, eh! for that real Canadian feel.
So hot on the heels of the dreaded Valentine’s Day, that makes you panic and sweat if you are in a relationship, trying to guess at a level of reciprocity, or makes you incredibly sad if you aren’t in a relationship, when suddenly everywhere there is commercialized romance in the air, and you feel like Leslie Nielsen [trivia point: his brother, Eric Nielsen, was a Canadian parliamentarian for 30 years representing the Yukon, and was Brian Mulroney’s Deputy Prime Minister, and a very powerful Conservative politician] in Naked Gun:
we have Family Day. So go and kiss a family if you live in the Province of Ontario, and if you are American, I am sorry, your holiday has historical significance and you might have to learn something about your history or do something patriotic to celebrate your revolutionary papa.
But just as our Premier could pretend that the introduction of Banal Day wasn’t an attempt to trim budget excess by introducing a mandatory holiday, but was instead a celebration of that little recognized familial unit, the family, who could now go out for a picnic in -18 C weather on President’s Day, I think we can be pretty sure that George Washington could tell a lie and might well have cut down a cherry tree or two.
So the two holidays do have lying politicians in common, something we can use to help foster a common North American culture, and hence better bi-lateral relations. But President’s Day does have a hint of ancestor worship, and what with Washington’s picture all over things, you wouldn’t want to think you were part of a cult of personality or anything. We Canadians, on the other hand, get to be part of a cult of nicebanlity. From the Ministry of Labour website, here’s why we got this wonderful day off:
Ontarians work very hard and they deserve more time to spend with the people they love.
Wasn’t that nice of them? And they kept all the words nice and simple, too. So today, despite my initial impulses, I am going to spend time with the people I love. Thanks guys!
Of course, I screwed up and put this on the old thread, so here goes again.
Looks like the Gold Bug Cult meme is getting some traction out there. First at Trader Dan’s, now in the comment section at Bron’s blog. Bron’s post really has nothing to do with it, but the comments are interesting.
http://goldchat.blogspot.com/2014/02/fractional-reserve-bullion-banking-and_14.html
viva la meme!
excellent find EO. i’m going through it now. it’s about time is all that i have to say right now. i had a bad day, weather caused, but what a nice thing to come home too. this is no longer about getting even either. it is about doing what is right. shine light folks. it is not OK to stay silent when others are being abused!
i’ll be back later i hope.
this is the best comment so far from Bron’s link above. every single freaking trait.
Anonymous said…
ok….i went to that link above and this came to mind…
“The Cult Leader”
They all have or had an over-abundant belief that they were special, that they and they alone had the answers to problems, and that they had to be revered.
They demanded perfect loyalty from followers, they overvalued themselves and devalued those around them, they were intolerant of criticism, and above all they did not like being questioned or challenged. And yet, in spite of these less than charming traits, they had no trouble attracting those who were willing to overlook these features.
Here are the typical traits of the pathological cult leader (from Narcissists Among Us)
He has a grandiose idea of who he is and what he can achieve.
Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, or brilliance.
Demands blind unquestioned obedience.
Requires excessive admiration from followers and outsiders.
Has a sense of entitlement – expecting to be treated special at all times.
Is exploitative of others by asking for their money or that of relatives putting others at financial risk.
Is arrogant and haughty in his behavior or attitude.
Has an exaggerated sense of power (entitlement) that allows him to bend rules and break laws.
Is hypersensitive to how he is seen or perceived by others.
Publicly devalues others as being inferior, incapable, or not worthy.
Is frequently boastful of accomplishments.
Needs to be the center of attention and does things to distract others to insure that he or she is being noticed by arriving late, using exotic clothing, overdramatic speech, or by making theatrical entrances.
Has insisted in always having the best of anything (house, car, jewelry, clothes) even when others are relegated to lesser facilities, amenities, or clothing.
Doesn’t seem to listen well to needs of others, communication is usually one-way in the form of dictates.
Haughtiness, grandiosity, and the need to be controlling is part of his personality.
When criticized he tends to lash out not just with anger but with rage.
Anyone who criticizes or questions him is called an “enemy.”
Refers to non-members or non-believers in him as “the enemy.”
Acts imperious at times, not wishing to know what others think or desire.
Believes himself to be omnipotent.
Has “magical” answers or solutions to problems.
Is superficially charming.
Habitually puts down others as inferior and only he is superior.
Has a certain coldness or aloofness about him that makes others worry about who this person really is and or whether they really know him.
Is deeply offended when there are perceived signs of boredom, being ignored or of being slighted.
Treats others with contempt and arrogance.
Is constantly assessing for those who are a threat or those who revere him.
The word “I” dominates his conversations. He is oblivious to how often he references himself.
Hates to be embarrassed or fail publicly – when he does he acts out with rage.
Doesn’t seem to feel guilty for anything he has done wrong nor does he apologize for his actions.
Believes he possesses the answers and solutions to world problems.
Believes himself to be a deity or a chosen representative of a deity.
Rigid, unbending, or insensitive describes how this person thinks.
Works the least but demands the most.
Has stated that he is “destined for greatness” or that he will be “martyred.”
Seems to be highly dependent of tribute and adoration and will often fish for compliments.
Uses enforcers or sycophants to insure compliance from members or believers.
Sees self as “unstoppable” perhaps has even said so.
Conceals background or family which would disclose how plain or ordinary he is.
Doesn’t think there is anything wrong with himself – in fact sees himself as perfection or “blessed.”
16 February, 2014 22:37
Here’s an entertaining read about sociopathic 1%ers, something I never tire of reading about. Confirmation bias? Of course, but so much fun, and kept separate from portfolio management.
1% Jokes and Plutocrats In Drag: What I Saw When I Crashed a Wall Street Secret Society