Chokawa!

All roads lead here, some even leave, if you follow,ⁱ
Canberra caresses Victoria, verily towards Venice,
Iron fist in a Glooskap glove, rhythm, sensing, patience.ⁱⁱ

As it turns out, métier is not matter, but mystery,
Data most sacred, Democracy too,ⁱⁱⁱ
As if Lizards run the show, not hybrids of Sloths.^iv

Ungrateful forecasts beget tear-tickling fears,^v
Venturous Malsum, restrained amidst Agitprop Ground Zero,
Public ears forsaken, talking mouths too, eyes Coming Soon™^vi

We darkened your door, in our darkest hour, and didn’t give up,^vii
Forging forward, Labour divided like sour cherry branches,
The Capital on its birthday, Chokawa!

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[header photo credit: (C)Gaylon Yancy 2020-2021]

1. Spake Zohar (archived):

   Laws like “don’t steal” and “don’t murder” fall under the category of Mishpat, a law that makes sense, is universal, and obviously benefits society. The sacrifice of an animal for its symbolism, by contrast, is a harder sell for the modern reader. But when we think about failure and return, more generally, we realize that their causes are highly personal, often subtle and intangible. It is easy to regulate behavior with carrots and sticks, and that is how Mishpat works. But the character of a person who engages in harm or self-harm can’t be reasoned with according to the tools of Mishpat. For such idiosyncratic cases, idiosyncratic tools are needed, and that is what a chok may do. Much like art, it tells us what we need to hear without doing so directly. Chok [law without obvious meaning] touches the heart of motivation where Mishpat touches only the consequences of our motivation.

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2. Spake Chat:
   

   “Glooskap and Malsum” is a tale from Algonquin mythology that explores themes of duality, good versus evil, and the balance of nature. This tale varies somewhat across different communities, but the broad strokes often remain the same.

   Glooskap and Malsum are typically portrayed as twin brothers born from a mother who, depending on the version of the story, may be the Earth itself or a powerful being who dies during their birth. In some variations, they emerge from the ash tree or are formed from natural elements.

   Glooskap, the elder of the two, is kind, benevolent, and embodies wisdom. He is often depicted as a culture hero and a transformer, creating many things in the world and teaching people important skills and morals.

   On the other hand, Malsum is wicked, cruel, and holds power over dangerous creatures and harmful elements. He is a trickster and sorcerer, representing chaos and destruction.

   In their mythological tales, Glooskap is always striving to transform the world into a better place for humans, while Malsum attempts to thwart his efforts, sowing discord and strife.

   One of the most well-known tales tells of a rivalry between the two brothers, culminating in a dramatic confrontation. Malsum attempts to kill Glooskap with a feather, believing it to be his only weakness based on a trick Glooskap played on him. When Malsum fails, he reveals that his own vulnerability is a specific root. Glooskap, seeking to restore balance rather than out of vengeance, kills Malsum with that root. However, in some versions of the story, Malsum is resurrected as a fearsome wolf, continuing his role as an adversarial force in the world.

   These stories served an important function in Algonquin societies, teaching about morality, the power of transformation, and the constant interplay between harmony and chaos.

   This story is only too relevant because modern-day Ottawa is located on traditional Algonquin territory. ↩

3. On sacred:

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4. No, not that kind of hybrid. Thank goodness! That kind is fine for economy but fairly miserable for anything resembling performance (ie. leading to fun, joy, etc.):
   As far as performance sedans/wagons go, the best ever made remains the fully-electic 9J1 Taycan. Second best? Probably the fully-combustion F90 M5 CS. ↩
5. Real shot taken in Ottawa IN JUNE 2023!!!!1 This was the rest of the country like 2 years ago, but in the Capital the spooks still be good ‘n’ spooked

   

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6. On VisionPro:
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7. The new Burtinsky-Libeskind mash-up that opened in late 2017 – just a few months after my last visit to our Nation’s Capital – was my own completely private grounds for reflection on this gloomy Tuesday morning in late June. Edward’s murals really gave the site its power:

   

   

   

   

   

   
   

   

   

   

   

   

   
   

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