Hey, this is Crasstalk’s 8000th post!
Dogs hasn’t seen Frozen. Haysi hasn’t seen Raiders of the Lost Ark. I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen any of the Toy Story films except the original, nor Godfather III. I’ve definitely not seen Robot Punch Monster, but at least I’m not alone there. What are some of the cinematic hits or cultural touchstones that “everyone” has seen except you? Continue reading
We at Crasstalk are a sophisticated and erudite bunch. We drink tea with our pinkies raised and say “Pardon me” after we pass gas.
Wherever we go, we always make sure to stop by the local museum. Whether it’s the Louvre in Paris or the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota, we love them all. Continue reading
Having a positive outlook isn’t usually a deal breaker in a relationship or in life, even though sunshiny people make our left eyes twitch if we’re not caffeinated enough. But then there’s the twee personality, or the twee affect, or the shroud of perpetual happy that’s all consuming in a way that’s only supposed to surround Pixar animation or most everything found on Etsy.com. Continue reading
Last weekend I went on a small getaway to Washington DC to see a longtime friend, which I had been really looking forward to. I haven’t been to DC in ages! The only time I had ever gone was in the early 90’s and I don’t remember much besides the Lincoln Monument. This was basically going to be a whole new city for me. So, last Saturday I hopped on a cheap bus from NYC and I was off! Continue reading
Not being able to sleep tonight, I finally decided give in to Ambien now about 4:00am. So while I’m waiting for it to kick in, lo and behold I ran across an article in the BBC that the acting icon Bill Hunter had lost his fight against cancer. It was extremely sad considering that if there was anyone that shouldn’t be raptured it shouldn’t have been him. I loved him as the dad in Muriel’s Wedding but even more so as the Australian Dancing Federation president in Strictly Ballroom. Those were my two favorites with him included but there have been so many more over his 50-year career including Gallipoli and Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.
The Tao Te Ching is the best-known and most-translated work of the Taoist spiritual philosophy. Even in ancient China, the work enjoyed a great popularity and was studied both by Taoists and Confucians. For those that don’t speak any of the Chinese languages or dialects here is a pronunciation guide.
| Chinese | Sound | Meaning |
 |
Dao | The Way |
 |
De | Virtue |
 |
Jing | Book |
The book consists of 81 short chapters. The goal of the Taoist philosophy as explored in the Tao Te Ching is to become one with Tao – loosely translated as “the way” or “the flow” of life – inwardly attaining a cosmic return to the source. For this purpose, the seeker has to achieve a state of emptiness and to consciously practice non-doing.
I first discovered this book when I was 19, and nearly a quarter century later, it still resonates deeply within the heart of me. Following are some of my favorite chapters. I have taken the liberty of putting them in the order than best conveys the crux of the spiritual teaching that I am seeking to share.
I recommend anyone who is interested to get the translation by Gia Fu Feng (with stunning black-and-white nature photographs by Jane English). In my estimation, this captures best the essence of the philosophy of “following the flow.”
Without going outside, you may know the whole world.
Without looking through the window, you may see the ways of heaven.
The farther you go, the less you know.
Thus the sage knows without traveling;
He sees without looking;
He works without doing.
The softest thing in the universe
Overcomes the hardest thing in the universe.
That without substance can enter where there is no room.
Hence I know the value of non-action.
Teaching without words and work without doing
Are understood by very few.
Look, it cannot be seen – it is beyond form.
Listen, it cannot be heard – it is beyond sound.
Grasp, it cannot be held – it is intangible.
These three are indefinable;
Therefore they are joined in one.
From above it is not bright;
From below it is not dark:
An unbroken thread beyond description.
It returns to nothingness.
The form of the formless,
The image of the imageless,
It is called indefinable and beyond imagination.
Stand before it and there is no beginning.
Follow it and there is no end.
Stay with the ancient Tao,
Move with the present.
Knowing the ancient beginning is the essence of Tao.
- Hey.
- I’m not a lumberjack, or a fur trader, and I don’t live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dog sled, and I don’t know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I’m certain they’re really, really nice.
- I have a Prime Minister, not a President. I speak English and French, not American, and I pronounce it ‘about’, not ‘a boot’.
- I can proudly sew my country’s flag on my backpack. I believe in peacekeeping, not policing; diversity, not assimilation; and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.
- A tuque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch, and it is pronounced zed: not zee – zed!!
- Canada is the second largest land mass! The first nation of hockey! And the best part of North America!
- My name is Joe!! And I am Canadian!
- … Thank you.
If this left you confused, or angry, you probably aren’t Canadian.
This was part of a series of Commercials released in the late 1990’s by Molson, the beer company. It prompted many spoofs and spin offs- it’s been a long running joke up here that Americans don’t know much about their neighbours to the north, a fact that both irritates and amuses. On one hand, as seen above, it can be fun to play up the stereotypes. There’s this understated sense of entitlement among Canadians that since we know more about you than you know about us, we’re just a little bit better. However, we would almost never admit it- that would be rude. As Canadians we seek our southern partner’s approval with almost an embarrassing eagerness (We’re just like you, honestly!), yet at the same time cast aside the idea that we are the same. We’re like the little sibling desperately wanting to be included with the older one, yet not wanting the fact to be pointed out.
I’ve been struggling with ideas for posts, trying to think of topics that I know quite a bit about. Then it struck me like a hockey puck to the side of my toque-covered head- I am among a select few Canucks here. Why not write about that?
So just like SiS asks for topics about science and then writes stories on that, I am asking this of you: What is something about Canada that you would like to know about? Politics, beer, our East vs. West mentality, marijuana, shopping, sports, culture, tv personalities, healthcare, differences between the American way and the Canadian way of doing thigns, how we survive 6 months of winter… you name it, I will do my best to talk about it. If I have no clue, I’ll try to figure it out. I can’t speak for the whole country, just my little neck of the woods.
(Disclaimer: I love you guys, I really do. I mean no offence to anyone and I am sincerely sorry if any has been taken.)
