I can't believe it's not a democracy!

Nova Scotia is beautiful. Baddeck (the town where my father was born) was fabulous.

And our welcome couldn't have been more perfect: 

That's about 40 hard shell lobsters, caught that morning.  Another 80 were cooked up after this batch was gone.  My cousin cooked the lobsters in water he got from the salt water spring about 100 yards away--it was where our ancestors got salt water to produce their table salt.  Heat up the water, drop in the lobsters, boil for 12 to 18 minutes, and then enjoy the best lobster you have ever tasted.  No melted butter needed.  Honestly, I don't think it can get any better. 

I guess Obama will have to declare war on Ecuador:

Julian Assange seeking asylum in Ecuadorian embassy in London. You know the U.S. will do something shitty to Ecuador if they offer asylum to Assange, who, I believe, is being railroaded. If you have followed this case you know that something smells very bad. It is obvious that the U.S. wants to punish Assange to deter future activists who believe in transparency, truth, and decency. And god bless Bradley Manning, too.

I think I need a small break.

Work is insane.  Not insane busy, just insane as in upper managment is seemingly raising the bar on stupid. It's almost as if they want to destroy the place.  They may get their wish.  So no peace there.  

Meanwhile, this weekend a good friend had to put down her very well loved cat, and one of my closest friend's father died.  It was expected--he was very ill--but that doesn't make it easier.  He lived a very good and long life, and he was--without a doubt--the best father I ever met.  I can't even begin to tell how much he will be missed and by how many people.  Yeah, he was a very special man. 

Long and short, it's been a rough couple of weeks, and I need to take care of personal matters and then chill.  On Friday, June 22nd, I am going on a road trip to Nova Scotia to meet the cousins who did not know that I existed (nor my brother and half-brother) until a couple of years ago.  Ah, family secrets.  I didn't know I was the butt of one, and probably not for a good reason.  Still, it's not their fault or mine and the person who placed the obstacle between us is dead and can't do a damn thing now.   

So, I may post something between now and the end of June, or maybe not.  I probably won't be visiting my usual must see sites for a while too, but I'll be back.  Have a lovely rest o' June. 

Yet another sign of end times:

Off to Camp, but First ... a Wax?. I mean, really, 12-year old girls? Ok the piece say it's about girls feeling comfortable at camp, not being typecast, etc. Yes, the hairy girl probably is the target for the camp Heathers, but is that where you want to send your kid? It's not free, after all. How about researching into bitch-optional alternatives? Christ, we are talking 12-year olds. And meanwhile, middle class kids whose parents couldn't afford to send them away for two-month sleep away camp are moving back home because they can't find a fucking job. There's the real story, mainstream assholes.

Are there no work houses? Why yes, yes there are....sorta:

Unemployed bussed in to steward river pageant -- Coachloads of jobless people brought in to work unpaid on river pageant as part of Work Programme. The river pageant? Celebrating the 60-year reign of that bejeweled parasite. And when the guillotine goes up in Trafalgar Square, the rich twits will wonder what's going on. When that time comes, I hope the CEO of Close Protection UK is in the first waves of tumbrils.

I used to think that the UK rightwing was much more sophisticated than the republican mooks here. But then I see this:

George Osborne demands massive cuts to windfarm subsidies. Adds the subhead: PM's 'greenest government ever' claim undermined by chancellor's move, which follows pressure from Tory MPs.

What makes this particularly boneheaded is the the UK, with the exception of Scotland, does not have a ready supply of fossil fuels, and Scotland's contribution in the North Sea has had a lot of oil already tapped out. Meanwhile, as it is working to enslave the rest of Europe, Germany finds time to secure its future: Germany sets new solar power record, institute says.