Strange. The blog has gone for 15 years without the comment section being anything other than entirely civil. There's been a change. Over the last three weeks I'm having to go and delete the occasional violent tirade. These are always anonymous and heavy on 'Anglo-Saxon' vocabulary .The post about the 'Canada's not for sale' hats seems to have been particularly incendiary. To be called a 'Canada lover' is , I'm guessing from the rest of the ( now deleted ) comment, not a term of endearment.
Life here on the North Sea falls into two distinct phases. The wind and rain battered hibernatory phase between late November and late February and the days of stunning sunrises and lingering sunsets that last for the rest of the year. We're now, thankfully, clawing our way back into this second phase . Last night we spend £6 to watch a showing of Six degrees of separation at the Film Society. 'The Font' enjoyed it although my abiding memory is that not all student lecture theatre seats are comfortable. I'd also forgotten that Will Smith was in it.
St Andrews is a town of gates that lead to places the tourists rarely explore. The railings outside the chapel cast a gloriously geometric triangular shadow .
17 comments:
I’m sorry you’re having to read vitriol. That’s not pleasant. Unfortunately there seems to be a strand in society that favours rudeness and shouting over reason and intelligence. I was truly shocked by Trump and Vance today. I went off afterwards to do the shopping and did not buy our usual mandarins- they’re American and I couldn’t face supporting anything American just now. Canadian, Mexican - fine. Ukrainian - yes (they do a great crispy dried fruit biscuit we enjoy. Little people can only make little gestures, but better than nothing.
On the one hand I've been delighted to see the crocuses appearing in my garden (Moray). On the other, I'm disturbed at how early they're now appearing. When my daughter was small they were in flower for her birthday in mid March. Now they'll be over by then. Quite an acceleration in only 20 years.
Yes, sorry about the trolls. It's interesting that they have now penetrated to this type of communication. My law school class secretary recently sent a message asking us all to use the next set of class notes to create a record for the future of what we are all doing now to fight back. I suggested that sometimes the Resistance might prefer to act in secrecy, but he is determined. I am torn, especially after yesterday's egregious performance by JD Vance, who is, embarrassingly, a graduate of the same school. The Oscars have completely eluded me this year, I haven't seen any of the films. I am now watching Zero Day and agree that De Niro's performance is remarkable.
Hari OM
Angus, you can alter your comments section by clicking the options in settings so that "Anon" cannot comment - only those signed into their Google accounts. I know one or two regulars here sometimes have trouble with that (I think that difference comes from when using phone v laptop v tablet) but am sure they will not object to you introducing that level of control.
What happened yesterday was like watching some dystopian film unfold... we all desperately need our daily dose of crocus watch and fish orders to help balance the madness. YAM xx
I realized that I end up as Anon if I have somehow been logged out of Google, probably after a reboot.
And I lose my avatar photo if I am somehow logged into my daughter's account. Will try to do better!
This is why I ended up with comment moderation. I didn't want to read that stuff myself and certainly didn't want anyone else to have to see it before I got to it.
I am so sorry you are getting trolls. This is my morning stop for calm and informed writing. I love our neighbors to the north, and I hope they will let me in, I have a conference in Toronto in August.
I never could have dreamed or imagined this in our country. I am embarrassed to live here.
Indeed, i finally realized the few times I turned up as anon was after a tablet reboot and I forget to log back into Google. Easily remedied once I engaged my brain. Yours is the first blog I read each morning Angus. I genuinely appreciate the time and effort you put into generating such a calm, thoughtful and very engaging read. Its a shame about the troll. Personally, I feel those who leave nasty comments as anonymous are cowards.
It's exactly like his first time in office. I didn't know what would happen exactly, but It was clear that every day would be worse than the one before it. I'm sorry you have to see this. Most Americans don't really want it either
I'm sorry the trolls have visited - have they nothing better to do?
Trump and his cohort are a disgrace - rude, ill-informed, and busily destroying America.
I especially like the picture of the old house. What happiness to see spring returning! But what happened yesterday in the Oval Office was evil and I don't use that word lightly.
I feel stuck in a bind, living in the US right now. I love Canada and have always wanted to move there, but I stayed here to care for my elderly parents, never imagining that Mom would live to102 (for which I am grateful, but which also prevented my starting a new life outside the US). So here I stay, in my tiny Democratic-leaning city in a Republican-leaning state, mourning the loss of my beloved country.
Nina
I can't imagine how trolls came to this blog... I won't say anything except that I am ashamed of where I live. I will always try to sign in through Google and hope you will keep me on the "good guy" list.
Lizzie
I am surprised to hear that any of this group of "friends" hold views of that sort, let alone unload them here. And so I say, it's not us. My SIL 's lovely family is in Nova Scotia, my husband has cousins in Quebec. We love Canada. We are horrified at he current WH regime. I hope the world resists. Do not make their work easy. Support Ukraine, Mexico, Canada. 4 elections NOW :WEIL & VALIMONT in FL. GENDEBIEN in NY. Susan Crawford in WI . Every D counts. I donated to each.
BTW, I would LOVE to reside in that old home. It's beautiful. The Oscars? We never watch them. I always seem to comment that actors are paid well to act, they should not need a trophy as well.
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