First, and foremost at this moment in time, is that my Mom is doing well. She is still in hospital and improving day by day, up and about already! She is receiving excellent care! Mom sends me little messages, letting me know how she is doing.
I think it is time for the media to start presenting helpful news.
There isn’t much in the way of helpful news presented right now. Viewing and reacting to the vitriol emitting from the open mouths of bullies isn’t going to stop them from being bullies, and it isn’t going to enhance the chances of surviving the bullying. When their aim is outrage, I say don’t be outraged, be an agency for survival, your own and those you care about. I live in Canada, so after myself, friends, and loved ones, Canadians come next, then come all the other decent honest people on planet earth… which in reality is most people, the majority.
I’ve accepted that we are in for tough times, as a fact of life.
What to do!
I intend to do what Mom did, what Granny did, and what all my Grandmother’s before them did… I intend to get busy surviving.
I think there is lots we “little” people can do. I think there are a lot of “little” people already doing it. We don’t hear about them, they are busy doing things, not busy looking for attention.
My first step is to review my internet exposure.
News.
I will avoid looking at news media. Instead I will visit Prime Minister Mark Carney’s site, and Ontario Premier Douglas Ford’s site, to read what they are up to. Having said that, I am well aware of the degree to which some politicians are adept at self praise and diversion. I do not indulge in outrage about this, I simply accept that corruption exists, deplore it, then get on with things. The activities I indulge in are those that I feel promote a better world for all, which is beyond outrage, or screaming into the machine-controlled void.
This journal.
Well it goes without saying I love this, and will continue as along as I am able.
Facebook.
I have mixed feelings about Facebook.
I love to know how my friends are doing, and some of the groups I belong to are quite helpful and positive.
But the algorithms aggressively promote unhealthy values, as do the ads. Furthermore the constant analysis of my activity and subsequent manipulation of information available to me is nefarious. And then there are the thousands, probably millions, of hysterical people, bad actors, and bots. The negative aspects tend to dominate the Facebook experience.
So I will probably continue to visit occasionally for the positive aspects.
Other social media.
I don’t really do other social media. I tried, had accounts, lost interest very quickly.
Phone.
We have a VOIP telephone as a “land line”.
The cell phone we have is old, but so far it still works. I turn it on when we are travelling, to check road conditions. It is an emergency phone that is turned off unless we actually need to use it… that happens every so often, months pass.
Computers and iPads.
Attila reads the news on the iPad. I play solitaire on the iPad. I also use the iPad as a timer, an alarm, and a notification device.
We use a computer to watch streamed entertainment.
I use a computer to access the internet.
Our thermostat is smart, but it is offline at all times.
There are no other smart devices in our home.
No plans to purchase additional technology.
So really, as far as the digital world is concerned, the only significant change I will be undertaking is to stop looking at news media.
I doubt this much change will form an adequate strategy for surviving tough times. So I will be considering other kinds of measures in future.
I wonder what other people do to protect themselves from the ravages of the digital world?
World
Weather
21°C
Date: 11:00 AM EDT Wednesday 9 September 2026
Condition: Light Rainshower
Pressure: 101.7 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: 20.9°C
Dew point: 19.3°C
Humidity: 91%
Wind: SSW 26 gusts 42 km/h
Humidex: 28
Visibility: 8 km
Quote
“A harbor, even if it is a little harbor, is a good thing… It takes something from the world, and has something to give in return.”
Sarah Orne Jewett
1849 – 1909
I think it is a grand thing to be a harbor, by whatever means the universe sends you. Our lives are as similar and as different as snowflakes.
You are right to be wary of the current and future paths of technology. Both of our sons work in tech companies and are very worried about where things are going.I am gobsmacked (as the Brits say) at how mercilessly we are all being manipulated. I also am reducing most of my social media use to only Facebook and only forums that I find worthy. I do like to keep updated with family and friends though.
On an another note I find it beyond reason that you have been made to suffer such trauma to protect your life and safety in the cataract surgery fiasco. I would be inclined to write a comprehensive description of the whole sorry tale and send it to the hospital CEO copied to the Minister of Health for Ontario. It may not get you anywhere but would give you the satisfaction of having tried.
So happy to hear that your mom has had a successful surgery.
Sandra, gobsmacked is an apt response! My Granny, who lived through the first world war, the 1918 epidemic, the great depression and the second world war, would never allow television or radio, none at all. She knew the potential, and always put her energies into the cohesion of the community she lived in. Today, the sophistication of the media is complex and managed by forces that have little interest in humans or their communities.
Still, I have hope for us.
I am not really sure what went on with the cataract surgery, the whole situation beggared belief, it was bad from the first second I set foot in the surgeon’s office, and only got worse and worse. I wonder about the surgeon, as the conflicts were between the pharmacy and the surgeon, and the hospital and the surgeon, they were involved with all aspects of the fiasco. The surgeon pointed to the pharmacy as the problem, and then tried to shift all responsibility for medications to the hospital, who after talking to her cancelled the surgery. What actually went on behind the scenes is unclear.
I am not sure what my next step will be, but there will be a next step. One thing is certain, I do not want to deal with that surgeon, or that hospital ever again in this lifetime.
Mom sets the bar for her children, always looking at what is possible, what can be done.
I think you and Attila are well-positioned for survival. Looking at the physical side: You grow and preserve your own foods. I’m guessing you already save seeds. They do recommend having was clean water source. And you want to be able to make a fire if needed. Being near water but not big bodies of water would be smart (rising oceans and inland waters). A portable, crank radio is a good idea. You’re already thinking about psychological survival which is good. There’s so much propaganda out there. Yay! that your Mom is improving. She’s a survivor!! ((HUGS))
Sandy, adjusting to my anaphylaxis has led us to our present lifestyle, the garden, the food preservation etc. A silver lining to that cloud! The water is tougher, it takes up a lot of room when stored, not quite there yet. we had the wood stove installed and saved the wood from our dead trees for firewood. We are above the elevation predicted for the maximum sea level, but we are close to bodies of water. I think we have a crank radio too!
Thanks for your good wishes for Mom! ((HUGS))
Hi Maggie That Is a silver lining! Because you’re both self-sufficient, I’m guessing you are better prepared than a huge percentage of other Canadians. We have Lake Michigan here which seems like a small ocean sometimes. Sounds like we could both use a couple of good boats!
Sandy, boats! Now that is something I hadn’t thought about… you have we musing now!
I lost my Insta account because I back talked a troll. So far, the FB and Bluesky are being okay. Though the FB is wonky and sometimes wants to me to facial id to participate in group chats. Not happening! I try to avoid the yuck by going from wall to wall of my friends. I still get ads, but they aren’t too horrid.
I do catch certain NY Times articles if they are of interest. But I do avoid most of the depressing political stuff. And we watch the PBS Newshour, a good news source.
I’m glad to hear your mother is recovering nicely after her surgery.
Joan, I have not attempted a group chat, good to know some ask for facial ID. I am not giving that kind of personal information online, and am very leery of signing up for anything that wants personal information. I understand the desire to screen out bots and trolls, but not at the expense of my privacy. I am going to try travelling around friends posts again, that sounds like a sane approach!
I had not heard of PBS News Hour, and will look into the availability in Canada, you never know. The best the US has to offer!
Thanks for the good wishes for my Mom!
Hi, Mags! I’m glad your mom is doing well.
Over here, things could be better. DH’S Dad fell last week. He has cuts on his head and arms. But worse, he’s broken a small bone where the neck meets the spine. He went to the big city for tests, today and will do more tests in 4 weeks. He turned down surgery. At 91, he doesn’t like the odds. The doc says he won’t get out of his very rigid shoulder to chin brace for 8 weeks.
We’re trying to talk to the doctor. Last week he said FIL should go to a long term care home but now he’s ignoring calls to discuss his patient’s needs. DH has dad’s approval to discuss things, so no idea what’s going on.
When it comes to media and news. I have my sources that I believe are honest. But even with those I limit myself to very short videos or articles on subjects that I choose.
We had to take Skye to the vet, today. The benadryl we were giving her for her fall allergy couldn’t keep up with the pollen, rinsing her feet didn’t help, and neither did the lavender and chamomile dry shampoo that had helped last year. So, we took her to the vet in search of a dog drug that could work better than the human stuff. We chose a shot that should work for 4 to 8 weeks but was supposed to take 24 hours to start working. Thankfully, it had kicked in an hour after we brought her home and she is now sleeping peacefully and no longer itching. 🙂
Teri, thanks for the good wishes for my Mom!
I hope DH’s Dad heals quickly and well! That is awful that the doctor is avoiding consultations with the family!! There must be a playbook for some doctors on how to make a challenging situation worse. I found that the telephone people were rude and unhelpful throughout my challenge, and that sending an email to the office elicited more respectful responses.
Very wise to choose the articles and subjects of interest!
Glad to hear Skye found some relief! Allergies are miserable, and this year plant life is abundant.
Thanks for the suggestion of using email to get a discussion going. I wonder if 5he doctor has an email address they’re willing to use to discuss options? I know our family doctor has a system for outgoing info, though we’ve never heard of one for incoming email that contains personal information.
Time for some research!
My GP does not have an email address either, but does send me messages via a secure web site. The ophthalmologist’s office has an email address, printed incorrectly on their hand outs, but I figured it out and sent an email, had a much more knowledgeable individual who answered that email, but not the surgeon, they relied on their non-medical staff to relay information, not a good system.
I remember when my brother was first dealing with the symptoms of ALS, some doctors were dismissive, and even denied care. He was being advised to return to work as a roofer, if you can imagine with ALS symptoms being up on a roof where coordination is essential. The care some people are getting, when they get any care at all, can be amazingly inadequate, to put it mildly.
Ironic. The father of DH’s first wife was also diagnosed with ALS. That was in the mid-90s. Fortunately, he lived in two major cities that had university hospitals, so they caught onto it rather quickly.
It guess ALS is kind of like an orphan illness. There are so few that have it and the original symptoms are often so inconsequential (like dropping a glass) that years ago many doctors were either uninformed or didn’t clue in right away.
My brother passed in 2021, so not that long ago. He was diagnosed around the time Covid hit, so it was hard to even find a doctor for treatment. The doctor he was assigned was cherry picking her patients, and refused him care. The government stepped in and told her that if she refused him care her funding for patients would be curtailed. She accepted him as a patient after that, but she was not a very effective health care provider.
My Mom moved in with my brother and did almost all of his care, right until the end. The PSW came occasionally, the ones that actually showed up anyway, a lot of no shows. Mom was in her 80s, a tiny woman, the whole situation was pretty disgusting at times. Mom saw it through for her son, bless her.
I’m so sorry. It was a horrible time to be ill.
I was under a doctor’s care at that time and they closed down the hospital and shipped the doctors off to work with the elderly in nursing homes.
Teri, thank you for your kind thoughts!
I didn’t know that they did that, what a horrible time it was! Glad you survived it all and here we are!