Assholes...a Theory

Assholes*               *a Theory

It was a ‘movie’ I just had to see!

Outside the Ted Rogers Theatre

It has become more and more evident that there are many assholes around me.

What is going on?  

Being bombarded with false news on a constant basis!  

People so full of themselves that they are obnoxious!

So many ‘me’ people in today's society!

Blockheads who can only see their own point of view!

And the list could go on endlessly.

When I heard that www.hotdocscinema.ca had a lecture on this topic I just had to go.

I made Carol go with me, even though she does not like those ‘swear’ words. She has a ‘swear jar’ you put in a quarter for each four letter word you utter that does not meet her approval.

On the Bus

Back to the Movie:

We took the local bus for about an hour to get downtown. Snow piled up left and right in the streets here in Toronto would have prevented me from getting a good parking spot should I have taken the car, so the TCC is a good way to get around Toronto.

I looked up Quora to see what other people think of assholes and yes, there are quite a few points of view. You can read it for yourself, just click on the bold word Quora. 

The accounting for and descriptions of an ‘asshole’ within the film were excellent. University professors, high end Wall Street tycoons, soldiers, police folks, women and many just ordinary people had a lot to say about their daily exposure to ‘assholes’.

Here is a peek into the movie trailer I found for references.  You can get an idea of how deep this concept goes. MOVIE  
 
What is scary about these people who are assholes is that they do not take criticism at all. They truly believe they were given the ‘right’ to be as they are. They are ‘righteous’ to a degree that baffles my mind. Faced with their behavior, they explain to you that they have the ‘right’ to be the way they are.

And… they make you feel that it is YOUR fault and that YOU are in the wrong. That YOU don’t understand. 

The Asshole Symbol

In the movie we saw; it is explained that this behavior today comes from the top down. It starts with the highest offices in the land, the heads of the biggest corporations; the best known celebrities who model unacceptable behavior until even whole countries behave in a certain way. 

All because common sense and courtesy seem to be parked someplace else. 

The daily news describes the self-righteous proclamations of both sides of every issue. 

A case in point was the example of Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister who, according to the film was (is?) a good example of an asshole. 

John Cleese Had a Lot to Say About Assholes

No words were minced naming Google, Apple or even Zuckerman from Facebook. And examples of their words, their actions were given to show what assholes look like.

I did not know there was a book out with the same title. I have not read it ‘yet’. But yes, if you want to read the book instead… read if here.

To get further into what it takes to be an ‘asshole’, here is a blip from YouTube.   

Nice Acknowledgement

The deeper, underlying problem with an asshole being in charge of a country is that it leads to that country becoming a total Asshole country.  If we don’t want to be a society of pure assholes, with an attitude that is totally disliked by others, we must confront the assholes and remind them what is acceptable behavior. 

The film is an eye opener, if you can find it near you…. Go and see it, don’t be an Asshole.

Some people have asked me lately where I will spend this winter. Well, folks, I am sticking around Toronto.

Every time I go to some ‘weird’ cultural performance I will write about it.

I bet there are good things in your neighborhood, too.

Yes, I am also certain, that you have lots of assholes in your circle of life.  That’s just a theory, of course!

Billy Elliot the Musical

Billy Elliot    Nov. 2019

I know this is not a new play. But then I am behind the times in many things.

The Story...

The Story Continued

I am OK with that; we had a fine time driving to Stratford, ON to see the play.

We even visited the Pork Store in Shakespeare, ON for some goodies to take home. Yum!

And the theater we were in had all the latest gizmos, lighting, props, etc. to make the performance spectacular. 

We timed our travels perfectly, arrived about 1 hour before the performance started and we had our lunch sitting in the car, in the parking lot. We made our sandwiches at home and brought them along in a cooler, which we left in the car after we ate.

11 Years Old and So Talented

I liked the play; I loved the dancers and the young 11-year old boy Nolan Dubuc acted, danced and sang outstandingly as Billy Elliot.  

Music By Elton John

The play flowed well; the action in general was very good and pulled the audience into the play.

The dancing was fantastic as were the costumes and sets.

If you have a chance to see this play near you… go and see it.

But, be forewarned… the language is a bit rough (I wish they could clean this up) and we had actors that all spoke with a Liverpool, England accent… tough on my ear … hard to follow when they speak very fast… 

 I hope your performance will be a bit better in that respect… but I give this an 8 or 9 out of 10.

What is YOUR rating?

Winter 2019, OZ - 30 Geelong and the End

2019 OZ - 30   Geelong and the End

Walking Trail Up to Mariners Lookout

We are close to Melbourne now; we timed our trip fairly well. Tonight we stay in Geelong to say so long to Oz. Well, it was not really our last day but close enough.

Holy Bushes with Berries

We climbed a steep hill near just outside Apollo Bay called Mariners Lookout, to get a bird’s eye view of Apollo Bay. First we had to drive a twisty road up, 
then get out of the car and do the last 30 minutes on foot.

Quite a Few Lambs But Got Close to This One

  
It was worth it, an impressive spot, a bit idyllic with sheep nearby just grazing in pastoral peace. 

Pointing to Apollo Bay From the Lookout

We stopped for a break in the town of Lorne. We had a friendly cockatoo sit right next to us, begging for food.

A Friendly Cockatoo

He Let Us Get Very Close

 

Main Street, Lorne, Restaurants, Motels, Shops

The town itself has many, many shops. I could easily spend a few weeks right here, living as an Australian. We just wandered around the town, had coffee at an outside café, visited the beach and watched a surfer school teach young people to use the boards. 

We were slow, lazy tourists.

Learning the Basics

More Practice + Better Waves Needed

 

End of the Great Ocean Road

Carol mailed her paper work (brochures, envelopes, maps and entrance ticket stubs, etc) via the postal system to her house. This way she did not have to carry it all in her luggage. 

We gave our trip a lazy ending; we just relaxed from here on out.

Tonight's Best Western Hotel in Geelong had ants in the kitchen and Carol was told the Pest Control guy would come in the morning to take care of it, but… well; we will not be here then.

The Mantra Hotel in Tullamarine, Vic, near the airport in Melbourne was our last Motel before our flight out but it’s all the same from here on in.

Getting Close to Melbourne

After our last dinner with wine and desserts, we slept well.

After waiting and repacking, after resetting our phones, putting in the normal sim we were awakened at 4.45 AM by the phone… someone called and had hung up, but we were awake.

The alarm went off at 5 am, we had breakfast at 6 am, took the shuttle to the airport at 6.35 AM for the long flight home. 

There were 500 plus people on the plane, the flight was totally sold out. Boarding started at 9.15 am and it took forever to get all the folks on board.  

 

Now For the Long Trek Home

Phew! This was a long trip for us, 3 months of being on the move, constantly getting new impressions, we now deserve a few months off, doing…. Nothing?

Hah, you don’t know Carol very well, do you?