For the last ten years or so, I’ve been surrendering slowly. Like a dwarf peeing on a forest fire, I’ve been raging against the forces of evil who want to turn everybody on this planet into a grim-faced, Politically Correct automaton — just as miserable as they are. These are the folks who destroyed satire, abolished irony, replaced love with the “relationship” and sucked the fun out of every holiday from Valentine’s Day to Christmas. And I’m not even going to go into what they did to sex and junk food! Anyway, with Covid-19 and American politics fueling the fire, for a while there, I thought all was lost. Man, do I need to replace my rose-coloured glasses! There are tons of cool things happening all over the world, and every one of them is a bucket of hope to pour on the flames. So here are just a few things I’m cheering for these days.
Hallowe’en parents – It’s a tough year to have little trick-or-treaters, so I’m cheering for anybody who’s trying to keep the holiday alive – especially the one who aren’t boycotting Mulan.
Women who wear skinny jeans – I have no idea how they get into them, and I’m sure they can’t be comfortable, but anybody who strikes a blow against yoga pants gets a cheer from me.
Movie makers – Actually, I’m giving 3 cheers to the people who’ve decided only villains wear those hideous Man Buns. Good going, folks!
My niece and her husband – They’ve been together forever and have never once mentioned the word “relationship.” (I think they’re in love.) And now they’re having a baby. The audacity of optimism! Total congrats!
Je suis Samuel – It goes without saying that I’m cheering for anybody who stands up to those idiot terrorist bastards
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – Since she was elected leader in a very weak minority government, she’s handled a terrorist attack, a couple of natural disasters and kicked the crap out of Covid-19 – and, oh yeah — in her spare time, she had a baby. Living proof that not all politicians are dolts. BTW, last week, she was re-elected with the largest majority in 50 years!
That Guy in Canada – A Canadian onion seller tried to put an advertisement on Facebook, but it was rejected because it was “overtly sexual.” (The ad was just a picture of onions.) Laughing all the way to the bank, Jackson McLean posted the same picture and Facebook’s rejection on his own website. The onions sold out in 3 days! Take that, you mindless techno-tyrant!
And finally:
The Danes – Every one of them. The Danes have a word, samfundssind that basically means “community spirit,” but it’s more about people taking responsibility for the community — kinda like “Hey, we’re all in this together, so don’t be a dick!” This flies in the face of the WHAT-ABOUT-ME culture most of the rest of us have. But it also means Denmark is a cool place to live. People there are nice to each other; they wait their turn; they don’t throw trash in the streets; they say please and thank you and clean up after their dogs. But mostly, they trust each other to be just as reasonable. FYI, Danish parents routinely leave their baby buggies on the sidewalk when the go into shops and cafes. That’s some serious trust! We should all take a page out of that book.
WD Fyfe 
We need more lists like this one – thank you! Refreshing clip of the NZ Prime Minister; she seems so normal for someone in her position. “Samfundssind” sounds like a part of the cultural practice of “hygge” you find with the Danes and Norwegians. Finally, I’ll add the Swedes to the list, who seem to have figured out COVID without tanking their society in the process.
That whole Nordic part of the world has a cool take on life. They don’t seem to sweat the details but their productivity is huge. As I say we North American should take a page out of their book. cheers
As someone who has no business squeezing into skinny jeans but does it anyway, thanks for the encouragement. Lol
Anyone who’s willing to do it gets my vote. I think they’re one of the few cool fashions to come out in recent times. Good on ya. cheers
I think Jacinda Ardern defines the difference between a politician and a leader.
No doubt and it proves that it can be done so there’s always hope. cheers
I guess skinny jeans are the new corsets. Women have always been tortured by the sadistic fashion world. Don’t get me started on bound feet!
Sharing your enthusiasm, Buddy. There’s still hope.
Always
This is a good list, there is still hope in the world, and we should share it whenever we can. Thanks.
As Aragon once said, “There’s always hope.”
Good for New Zealanders! They know a good thing when they got her.
Here’s the secret to skinny jeans: spandex. (They’re about 1/4 all stretchy.) And they’re not nearly so uncomfortable as you’d think. 😉
My jeans are like me hopelessly stuck in the 80s