Though the success of one ambition has led to the default of another, I have the happy circumstance of not caring less. Really to imagine that anything I do at this stage carries weight is pushing it. Speaking for myself however I rejoice today in having made it to the beach. The unrelated failure to which I allude is even less gripping, a technical computer issue of no consequence.
Habit, though it has the unfavourable distinction of mediocrity and bland repetition, is for me nonetheless the much needed balance of my epicurean and hedonistic lifestyle. I find it permits me by its strict and seemingly unimaginative constraint to avoid what is otherwise often regrettable behaviour. Habit is an uncompromising commitment by any account. By my personal definition habit expresses the benefit of what is as well frequently the accumulation of years of sometimes punishing and loathsome experimentation. This is in spite of whatever cheerful or bawdy anecdotes may subsequently emerge. I am a confessed visceral person, one who submits readily to the allure of his instincts, passions and appetites. These are often perilous credentials. The examples of abuse are too numerous to mention, the most common among them being anything drinkable or digestible. And while I am able to argue my way out of material expense, I must nonetheless admit to often woeful accumulation and superfluity.
For days I had floated in my mind the possibility of having a warmed chocolate croissant and black coffee for breakfast at Sprout Momma on Arrow Road. Each time I pictured the culinary undertaking it materialized as a civilized and moderately European enterprise befitting a cosseted though constrained morning integration. And each day it surged with vibrato. Such is the artistic strength of my fancy. In my head I argued the nutritional propriety of coffee and a sweet. Especially first thing in the morning. What, I reasoned, was a more urbane way to start a day!
Speculation is no doubt rampant worldwide. However the simple, bald and undeniable truth is that things are about to change. This is so quite apart from any media frenzy heightened as it may be by the glitter of royalty. With King Charles III stepping back and possibly down to William the entire world is on the precipice of change and likely to be overshadowed by climate and pollution. This bodes ill for MAGA among other global interests.
If the King were to become so ill that he is unable to carry out his full duties on a temporary basis, he would be able to delegate some of them to two or more Counsellors of State. The current Counsellors of State are Camilla, William, Harry, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice. If the King became completely unable to carry out his constitutional duties, to the point where the state could no longer function properly, his powers can be withdrawn and assumed by a regent. Under a 1937 law, that would be the next in line to the throne, which is Prince William.
Liz Taylor and Richard Burton were parading upon the large screen television when I drifted into the drawing room earlier this afternoon. The technicolor production of V.I.P.s (1963) was iconic. With an astonishingly young Maggie Smith, Rod Taylor, Margaret Rutherford (of Miss Marple fame), the portly (though extremely well attired) Orson Welles and handsome Louis Jordan. Elsa Martinelli (of whom I had never heard) gave a creditable performance too. The costumes were by Pierre Cardin exhibiting Miss Taylor in an uncommonly discrete reversible mink/overcoat, the first example of which I had seen at Pat Flesher Luxury Outerwear in Ottawa, Ontario.
Last week, as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a provisional ruling in South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel, it sent an authoritative message to the world: Allegations of genocide against Israel are not meritless. Notwithstanding Hamas’s unlawful conduct that started the war last October, the court clearly indicated an overwhelming disapproval of the way that Israel has been fighting the war—stating, notably, that Palestinians face a “real and imminent risk” to their right to be protected from acts of genocide.
The ruling issued by the ICJ ordered six provisional measures including for Israel to refrain from acts under the Genocide convention, prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to genocide, and take immediate and effective measures to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.
It isn’t every day that invites the lethargy and revitalization of an afternoon retreat. But today is one of those days. The weather is windy and cool. The sea and the sky are grey. And I’ve accomplished what for me are the routine essentials of daily living; namely, getting out of bed before nine o’clock in the morning, undertaking the usual ablutions and refreshment of clothing, bicycle ride and car wash. Sadly perhaps that’s it. And to be honest I say so without apology or regret. In fact if I were to outline to anyone of my age a favourable way to spend one’s day, I cannot think of any manner more ideal – other than communion of one sort or another with one’s family or friends, reading a good book, performing a hobby or playing the piano. All of which is to say that I acknowledge the limitation of my daily enterprise but I am willing to accept that others have a far more expansive regime than I.
It’s Sunday morning. Traditionally a time for leisure and thoughtful repose. Thankfully, in spite of having gone to bed late last night, I awoke before nine o’clock this morning. Immediately I attacked a technical computer problem which is what kept me going until after midnight. I got it working in part, then abandonded the ambition in the interest of preserving my sanity and to acknowledge the lack of imperative. Some things really don’t matter.
One of the advantages of having recurringly visited Hilton Head Island, SC over the past 20 years is that we have acquired – albeit unwittingly – an estimable knowledge of the place. Specifically a grasp of what is within the proximity of Sea Pines where we have perched during our sojourns here. Historically I might have further qualified the acquaintance as being within cycling distance of our habitat for that is normally how we have insinuated the environment. This ambient limitation has however noticeably expanded; which is to say, the variance of my cycling communication has dwindled. This hindrance has in turn arisen by reason of nothing more astonishing than the effluxion of time and predictable human decomposition. While I generally snap my fingers at this predominantly unattractive evolution, I accept too that the constraint is real and not easily overcome. A degree of accommodation is required.
Very often we hear it spoken disparagingly of lobbyists. No doubt it is as much a collateral indignation of popular conversation as defence practice is of the legal community. Either way it is equally clear that both viewpoints are sustainable. It is a useful reminder that writing to one’s legislative member, urging a certain way to vote (whether for climate change or gun control for example) is lobbying.
Lobbyists communicate the views of special interest groups to lawmakers, including members of Congress. They aim to influence how lawmakers write or vote on legislation related to particular issues—immigrant rights, health insurance, clean energy, housing development, transportation, and many others.