Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog: My Life in Egypt (A Children’s Story)

Hello. Let me introduce myself. My name is Reggie and I am the luckiest and happiest dog in the world. Please read my story and find out why I am saying this.

Before we start my story I well tell you I am a 15 year old Shih Tzu mix living with Master and Mistress in Toronto, Canada. I am becoming a senior dog. My legs are a bit stiff and I have to bark around 5 every morning so that Mistress and Master can come downstairs and put me out to pee in the backyard. When you become an old dog you have to go the bathroom more often! But I get taken up to their bed and can snuggle under the covers and fall back to a wonderful sleep knowing I am safe and loved. This was not always the case in Egypt.

I was born in an Egyptian city called Cairo. I can’t remember who my parents were or where exactly I was born as that was so long ago. But I do remember that I had an owner called Anwar who lived alone in a small house outside Cairo.

Anwar was a well-known writer for a national newspaper. He was always happy and laughing after he said his morning prayers. He would feed me and then have his breakfast with two cups of tea and after that he would put my leash on and we would go for a walk. I pranced and swaggered being so very proud to be with Anwar. There were many dogs of all sizes who ran wild in the streets. I thought I was better than them as I had a home, food, water and a human who hugged me, played with me and fed me.

I was with Anwar for two years enjoying a happy life. We would watch a lot of television most of which was in English so that is how I learnt to speak and understand English. I would sit on his lap or beside him and if I was lucky I would get my tummy rubbed. That felt so good!

So you may ask how did I get the name Reggie? Anwar used to watch an American cartoon called Archie and his favourite character in that cartoon show was Reggie!

As I am an old dog my memory is not as good as it used to be. I learnt this from some documentaries I used to watch with Anwar. The same happens to humans when they become older.

What I remember was that one evening there was a banging on Anwar’s door with many angry voices outside shouting, “We are the army. Open your door!” Anwar opened the door and heavily armed soldiers stormed into our house. The soldiers told him he was under arrest for sedition because he had written articles in the newspaper criticizing the government. This is the last I saw of Anwar. One of the soldiers kicked me hard and shooed me out of my house saying awfully bad things to me. This soldier pointed his gun at me and said he was going to kill me like the dirty dog he thought I was but another soldier stopped him and I ran off so frightened and confused.

It was in the middle of the night and I had nowhere where I could go. There was no one to feed me and give me water and the tummy rubs that I loved. In my life I never knew that humans could be so mean to dogs. I never hurt them. I never barked at them yet here I was all alone on the streets with many other dogs and cats. I did make a few friends with some of the smaller dogs. The big dogs sometimes growled and barked at me which made me very frightened.

So how did I live? I lived outside hiding in abandoned cardboard boxes. I was near an outdoor market most of the time so I would go and beg for food and sometimes I would get a goat bone but most of the time the merchants would spit and say bad words to me and some tried to kick me.

My dog friends warned me that the life of an unwanted dog was frightening as police and animal control would often shoot or poison stray dogs. Very few people cared about stray animals in Cairo and killing them was a way to control them and not to find them homes with caring masters and mistresses.

One day I was so hungry as there was no food or garbage with food in it I could eat. Inside the gates to the market there was a guard dog who was at least five times my size. I think it was a Rottenwhiler.I was starving so I snuck under the fence and when I thought the big dog was not looking I started to eat food from his bowl but before I knew what happened out of nowhere he bounded up to me and bit my leg. I ran away under the fence and as he was chained he could not catch me. But I had a big cut in my leg and I was bleeding. I was hurting so very much I closed my eyes and cried like I have never cried before. This is where my journey to Canada started.

“All The Streets Are Silent”: Hip Hop and Boarder Treasure Trove New York Style

Nothing could be farther from silence in the streets of New York in this documentary that chronicles the convergence of hip-hop, rap and skateboarding (1987-1997) in New York City. The documentary is full of the roaring streets of New York City with a subculture of boarding and rap and hip-hop music. You know once upon a time New York was a dilapidated and not safe particularly downtown where Mulberry and Prince were down and out and not cool. New York has gentrified with lots of Russian, Iranian and corrupt Third World cash where about as raw as you get is on Canal Street with Italian fake goods is presented as sort of a drama for unsuspecting tourists. I have been visiting New York City from the early 70’’s and those times were a bit dicey and a visit to Harlem unthinkable. But gentrification has spread throughout Manhattan and the poor have been uprooted and moved to Jersey!

But in the last bad days of New York hip hop and boarding rather fused together for a brief rebellious moment with creativity until the Great American Way capitalized on the trend with boarder videos, stores, fashion and a great sell out to the capitalist way. Boarder and hip-hop culture was invaded by posers wearing the latest boarder “fashion” listening to commercial hip hop often played on boarder videos and then all this seemed to collapse and head to California creating a rift between West Coast rappers and hip hop and the New York scene.

What I can say about this eccentric and historical documentary is that it is rather just that…eccentric and historical and perhaps irrelevant in 2021. However is history ever really irrelevant?

What I can say this is a supercharged intensity doc drippingly rich with the rise of rap and hip hop in gritty New York centred downtown which was rough and dangerous. Now it is centre of fashion and hip gentrification. But forget all that and focus who might be interested in this documentary;

  1. Those who love hip-hop and rap
  2. Boarders
  3. Lovers of New York City and its history
  4. Those interested in the process of commercialization of grunge into profitable mainstream cool

You have so many musicians and boarders in this documentary you’ll either be confused or revelling in its depth. I’d say it is richer in music than the boarder culture. But there is so much intensity of characters and themes dealing with boarders and musicians if you are not into that the documentary may be overwhelming which I say it was for me and what held it together for me was the archival footage of rappers and hip-hoppers.

It starts off on July 23rd virtually at Ted Rogers Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto and July 23 virtually and July 30 In-Cinema at The Cinematheque in Vancouver.

This is a 2020 89 minute American documentary is historical and represents a New York of long ago. Musical and boarding buffs will love it. Most others will be confused and overwhelmed by it. You can catch the trailer here https://vimeo.com/ondemand/allthestreetsaresilent/560216445

RKS Wine: The Penniless Pensioner, Bernie Madoff and Organic Wine.

You know the Penniless Pensioner had an ultra modern wine cellar in his plush “Lonsdale” penthouse condo in Toronto but he had to sell his condo and wine collection to pay his legal bills. Not only did Bernie Madoff swindle him but he also acted as counsel to Madoff and got his ankles wrapped up in litigation something he mumbles about as a “bogus conspiracy case”. Now he has no cellar and his fancy trophy wines are a thing of the past. And he told me he doesn’t miss them being happy with the under $15.00 category. Is he bullshitting me and putting on a brave face?

He asked me to find him an organic wine from Italy and I found a Primitivo at $14.75. Primitivo was brought to California (where it is known as Zinfandel) and southern Italy from Croatia where the grape is known as crljenak kaštelanski. It can range from dry to sweet the dry being more akin to American Zinfandel.

The aroma is full bodied and very clean and pure. Sweet red cherry, blackberry and chocolate covered raisins. On the palate it is dry with spice and laser beams of sweet red cherry and a tad of licorice. It is smooth and clean tasting. Hooray for organic wine. This would suit grilled beef or spicy Hunan Beef served over Soba Noodles. Overall smooth, delightfully simple and as organic wines are new to the Penniless Pensioner I remind him they are free of herbicides and pesticides.

Drink by the end of 2022.

(Salento Agricolo IGP Primitivo 2018, Vino Biologico, Cantine Paololeo, San Donaci, Italy, $14.75, 14%, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 17529, 750 mL, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 89/100).

RKS Wine: The Penniless Pensioner Goes to Côtes du Roussillon

Many of you ask who the Penniless Pensioner is. Well, he was a very successful corporate lawyer working in New York and Toronto making boatloads of money. He was seen at the right restaurants, clubs and with models and young women offering to curate him on social media. Well then Bernie Madoff came along and invested a huge chunk of the Penniless Pensioner’s money. It was too late to recoup the swindled funds as he was in his late 60’s. He relies on The Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Supplement and with his remaining savings lives a frugal life in a frugal apartment in Toronto where many women in Burkas walk the streets quite a fall from the swanky Lonsdale condo he used to live in. He used to shop at Pusateris for groceries but now shops at Sunys looking for deals on Halal chicken and beef. But he always had an appreciation of fine wine to suit his image. He wouldn’t hesitate to drop hundreds of dollars for a bottle of wine in a restaurant and over a thousand if he could expense it. I have taken pity on the old chap and he pleads with me please keep the cost down so he can afford it.

The Côtes du Roussillon can be found in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France proximate to Spain. In fact historically it was once part of Spain. It was at one point producing 50% of French wine and much of it was plonk but quality has radically improved. The Penniless Pensioner in his days as a low-income law student liked the wines from the Côtes du Roussillon but as he moved up the legal ladder of fame and fortune he rejected these lower cost wines for Bordeaux first growths.

So I venture into his past and try a Hilario 2019 Côtes du Roussillon at $15.95 which is five cents below his top end. It is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Carignan and 10% Mourvèdre. Aromas of big fat ripe strawberries at their prime, blackberries, black cherry and spice. Moderate tannins with a good grip. Although a hearty wine it is nonetheless smooth. The Grenache dominates with a heavy raft of those big fat strawberries. A most agreeable, simple and well-made wine. Given its tannins it just might improve in the bottle over the next 3-5 years. As for food what a delightful match for Putanesca Sauce over pasta. Heavy on the anchovies and spicy sausage please. There is rebel streak in this wine as it stares at expensive Bordeaux with contempt and self assurance. It is a wine of the people and not for the elite which is perhaps a difficult pill to swallow for Penniless but he will no doubt recognize his new station in life and accept it so he can attain some inner peace. And of course, for the elite if they recount their youth and don’t revel in their nouveaux riche wealth they might recognize a good wine for what is in the bottle as opposed to the prestige of a label or region.

(Hilario 2019 , AOP Côtes du Roussillon, Confrerie Des Domains, Fontiès D’Alide, France $15.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 18503, 14%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 90/100).

“Mutantism on the March” :Chapter 83 “Hecklevesque’s Rubbish”

There was jubilation in the province of Quebec and for the most part throughout Canada with the “withdrawal” of the Americans. To celebrate the Quebec chapter of the mutants hosted a gala ball for the “fighters”. After a free vegetarian dinner many a guest rose to speak of this momentous victory. The loudest applause was reserved for none other than René Hecklevesque who as we readers know was Jiber. He tore into the American government and the lechery of the Canadian federal government. Squid couldn’t disagree in general terms to the Hecklevesque message but there was something slightly distasteful yet familiar with the man. There was a latent sense of distrust that was instinctual. He couldn’t quite grasp the why of it but it was there and could not be ignored.

There was no doubt Hecklevesque was a fine orator but he overemphasized nationalism which ran contrary to Squid’s distrust of nationalism as a rotten lever in the game of political control. Perhaps he was simply a pied piper capitalizing on troubled times. Mutants and the rest of the oppressed of the world could never achieve lasting and durable success unless they extended themselves over national boundaries. Hecklevesque’s nationalism may have been inspiring but upon close analysis there was not much substance to it other than its ability to excite. The delightful ruse of nationalism was that it appealed to so many but catered to so few. Once mass passion was aroused it could be easily manipulated by its leaders and used for political gain. It seemed the population of Quebec was becoming enamoured with this new national star. Quebec mutants soon lost any enthusiasm they had for this political actor. To many of them Hecklevesque was an opportunistic politician from the establishment searching for situations that advanced political and financial ambitions. And why did Hecklevesque have no past credentials. It was like he appeared from nowhere like someone from another dimension for some specific purpose. The Quebec mutants were on high alert.

Did anyone really care what the mutants had to say. The “normals” saw the mutants as misfits and oddballs under the spell of a clever revolutionary Squid. Jiber eyed them with equal suspicion. They were one fringe group who had not offered him their support. Mutants were dangerous to Hecklevesque as they were internationalist which threatened his isolationist nationalism. The more Squid listened to him the more suspicious he became of him. One part of a Hecklevesque speech left a bad taste in his mouth and on his brain when he said, “So you see we must not tolerate any interference from foreigners in our Quebec politics including immigrant groups and the English clustered in the City of Montreal. They are a threat to our national identity. If we withdraw from Canada we will have our own truly Quebecois nation and culture and an impediment to our development as a unique and free society. Let us fight for a Quebec nation clean and free”.

Hecklevesque’s speeches were full of rubbish but did the common man have the intelligence to see through the transparent babble of this trickster? There was no easy solution to the status of Quebec within Canada. Sure there were hard times brought about the English colonizers but what was Hecklevesque advocating. His grand plan consisted of isolating the province and fabricating a cultural nirvana. What would change if the province of Quebec became a country? The same class distinctions would prevail. The English boss may have fled to Toronto or New York but what was the difference going to be with a Quebec boss? Would a separate Quebec give anyone more dignity? What would happen if you were not a “true Quebecois” and who would make the classification? How would protest be dealt with? Would it be a crime against the “nation”? Would dissent make you a traitor? In such a situation a despot could rule easily justifying his actions as being in the national interest.

“Mutantism on the March”: Chapter 82 “Anti-American Sentiment Manipulated and Actual Engulfs Quebec”

Jiber’s agitators fully capitalized on the anti-American sentiment they worked hard to create. This missile plant was manna from heaven. For Jiber it was hate that was the basis for social change thus it was crucial his crew do everything in their power to stir up anti-American hatred. So far they had done well even helping to form Militant Quebec Mothers Against American Imperialism. Other groups marched to the Quebec Vermont border crossings and taunted American customs authorities. Families of American executives of businesses in Quebec were harassed. However attempts to bomb American factories and offices in Quebec were not successful but Jiber thought the attacks would soon start.

The issue of the missile base flooded the international media the prevalent attitude from the capitalist media was not criticism of the American and Canadian politicians for jointly agreed plans to construct a “secret” missile base but rather for deceiving their populations. The American mutant movement suffered great embarrassment and Romania offered them political asylum. Jean Droolpoop the mayor of Montreal the pie face liar was suspiciously silent. Prime Minister Pester Mommyboy of Canada threatened to send troops to Quebec to quieten the agitators.

Blarney Duncehead, the Canadian Minister of Defence issued a brief and quietly hysterical statement that read, “The continent of North America is rich with resources that communist enemies of freedom would dearly like to commandeer. Canada is directly threatened by the communist uprising in Vietnam. Only yesterday two North Vietnam submarines were spotted in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Quebec City. Canada is highly vulnerable to attack by Uncle Ho’s terrorists because our armed forces are too sparse and would not withstand a North Vietnamese attack so our most trusted ally and friend, the United States of America has offered at no cost to Canadians to construct a sophisticated defensive nuclear missile base in Montreal. We should relish this gift with open arms and warmly thank the concern our dear neighbours have shown. Why some Quebec agitators have threatened this glorious endeavour is beyond me and most likely fueled by too much Pepsi and too many Mae Wests and Michigan Red Hots. A few discontents should not be permitted to disturb the security of our Canada. I plead with Quebeckers not to fall prey to the whims of communist agitators. Let Canada remain free and united against those who threaten to impose tyranny and injustice.”

The American government was refusing any public comment whilst their bureaucrats were busy planning some sort of exit strategy, They ignored the din of annexationists who were clamouring for the U.S. Marines to invade “to protect the liberty of American property and the American way of life”. Fortunately calmer heads prevailed in Washington believing that an attempt to annex Canada while a war was being fought in Vietnam was poor timing. The American public was becoming increasingly critical of the Vietnam War and another conflict would not go over well. CIA intelligence units had concluded that the Canadian Army would not defend against any American invasion but that Quebec units within it were prepared to wage a guerilla war against the American troops. Quietly the Americans cancelled their plans for this missile base and the inept Canadian government was left blushing with a wad of soiled paper in their hands.

The American State Department placed a series of statements for insertion into Canadian newspapers,

“Dear Canadians and Quebeckers

We regret the inconvenience caused you by the proposed construction of a nuclear missile base in Montreal. We had the understanding your Canadian government had agreed to the plan and secured your approval. That this is not the case this is not an American problem. We apologize for any misunderstanding and let this not hamper our wonderful relationship with you. The American government will not be involved with any construction of a missile base in Montreal.”   

Jon Kabat-Zinn: “Full Catastrophe Living”: Negativity and Pessimism and a Reduced Lifespan

“Dr. Seligman’s overall conclusion from these and other studies is that is not the world per se that puts us at increased risk of illness so much as how we see and think about what is happening to us. A highly pessimistic pattern of explaining the cause of bad or stressful events when they occur seems to have particularly toxic consequences. Dr. Seligman’s work suggests that this way of thinking puts people at risk for illness and may explain why some people are more susceptible to illness and premature death than others, when other factors such as age, sex, smoking habits and diet have been taken into account. A pattern of optimistic thinking in response to stressful events, on the other hand, appears to have a protective effect against depression, illness and premature death.”

Jon Kabat-Zinn: ” Full Catastrophe Living”: Catastrophizing

“Some people tend to be pessimistic in the ways they explain the causes of a bad event to themselves. This pattern involves blaming themselves for the bad things that happen to them, thinking the effects of whatever happened will last a long time and will affect many different aspects of their lives. Dr, Seligman refers to this attributional style, as it is technically called, as the “It’s my fault, it’s going to last forever, it’s going to affect everything I do” pattern. In the extreme, this pattern reflects a person who is severely depressed, hopeless, and inordinately self pre-occupied. Some people call this mode of thinking catastrophizing. An example of this style night be the reaction “I always knew I was stupid, and this proves it: I can never do anything right, when you experience a failure of some kind.”

Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto Opens Major Andy Warhol Exhibit

Andy Warhol. Elvis I and II, 1964. Silkscreen ink and spray paint (silver canvas); silkscreen ink and acrylic (blue canvas) on linen, Framed (overall): 213.5 × 422 cm. Art Gallery of Ontario. Gift from the Women’s Committee Fund, 1966. © 2021 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / SOCAN
    For Immediate Release: July 7, 2021
    AGO re-opens with a POP! on July 21Tickets on sale now for the summer blockbuster Pop art exhibition Andy WarholTORONTO — The AGO is re-opening! On July 21, 2021, the Gallery welcomes visitors back with a summer blockbuster, several new exhibitions, a new patio – and a lot of excitement.

    “After eight months, we are absolutely thrilled to re-open our doors,” says Stephan Jost, the AGO’s Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO. “This time has served as a powerful reminder that art and culture are vital to our collective sense of wellbeing. I can’t wait to welcome our visitors in person again to see great art and reconnect with the ideas that inspire us.”
     
    Pending final confirmation from the Province and Toronto Public Health, the Gallery will safely open under the public health regulations of Step 3 of the Ontario Roadmap to Reopen. Preparations have been underway for weeks, with the health and safety of staff members and visitors remaining the top priority.
     
    There could be no better way to celebrate this happy moment than with the blockbuster of the summer! Opening on July 21 is the must-see exhibition of the Pop Art phenomenon, Andy Warhol. Tickets are on sale now at ago.ca.
     
    Andy Warhol charts four decades of art-making in the life of one of the world’s most famous artists, told through more than 250 artworks including paintings, drawings, photographs, films and installations. Blurring the divide between the art world and popular culture, Warhol (1928 – 1987) funnelled his beliefs and desires into his art, captivating the world with his provocative images and collaborations.
     
    Curated at the AGO by Kenneth Brummel, Associate Curator of Modern Art, Andy Warhol is an international collaboration between the AGO, Tate Modern and Museum Ludwig, Cologne. The exhibition features iconic portraits of Elvis, Dolly Parton, Karen Kain, Wayne Gretzky and Elizabeth Taylor, alongside Warhol’s conceptual works and experimental installations. The exhibition debuted at the Tate Modern, curated by Gregor Muir, Director of Collection, International Art, and Fiontán Moran, Assistant Curator.  
     
    The AGO Community (Members and Annual Passholders) is the first to see Andy Warhol. A Members window runs from July 21 – 25. Annual Passholders are eligible to join Members to see it as of July 24, and the exhibition opens to single-ticket visitors on July 27. There’s no better time to become a Member or Annual Passholder. For more information on how to join the AGO Community, visit tickets.ago.ca.
     
    July 21 also marks the opening of several new exhibitions including Ben Woolfitt: Rhythms and Series; Meditation and the Medieval Mind; and Shuvinai Ashoona: Beyond the Visible. For more details about these, in addition to ongoing exhibitions such as the compelling video installation Ragnar Kjartansson: Death is Elsewhere, visit ago.ca/exhibitions.
      
    How to Visit
     
    The AGO takes safety very seriously, and will strictly adhere to all public health regulations. Everyone entering the Gallery over the age of two must wear a face mask or face covering, and physical distancing will be required. Visitors are encouraged to visit and review our reopening web page for more information and helpful FAQs, and to self-assess before visiting the Gallery.
     
    Advance purchase or reservation of a timed ticket is required for all entry to the AGO, including General Admission. A limited number of tickets is available for each 15-minute timeslot in order to help control the flow of visitors.
     
    Admission is free for AGO Members, holders of the $35 AGO Annual Pass and all visitors ages 25 and under. Single tickets are $25 per person. Memberships, Annual Passes and single tickets are available at tickets.ago.ca.
     
    Following its re-opening week (which begins on a Wednesday), the AGO will resume its regular weekly hours of operation from Tuesday to Sunday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Gallery closes at 5:30 p.m., except on Wednesdays and Fridays, when it’s open until 9 p.m. Free Wednesday Nights return on July 21, with a limited number of free General Admission tickets released on the AGO website each Monday. For more information visit ago.ca.
     
    Shop and Dine
     
    ShopAGO’s on-site store will re-open to the public on July 21, featuring a curated selection of merchandise available for purchase. Capacity limits and physical distancing measures will be in place. Customers may also shop online at shop.ago.ca, which offers a range of art-inspired books, gifts and jewelry. Online shopping/delivery is available now.

    AGO Bistro will offer take-out as well as patio dining in a brand new outdoor space at the corner of Dundas and McCaul Streets, starting July 21. For hours and menus, visit ago.ca/ago-bistro. Café AGO, the Espresso Bar in Galleria Italia and the Norma Ridley Members’ Lounge remain temporarily closed. Capacity limits, screening and contact tracing measures will be in place as appropriate.
     
    Acknowledgements

    Andy Warhol is organized by Tate Modern, London, in collaboration with Museum Ludwig, Cologne, and the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. It is curated by Gregor Muir, Director of Collection, International Art, and Fiontán Moran, Assistant Curator, Tate Modern; and Yilmaz Dziewior, Director, and Stephan Diederich, Curator, Collection of Twentieth-Century Art, Museum Ludwig, Cologne. Curated at Art Gallery of Ontario by Kenneth Brummel, Associate Curator, Modern Art.
     
    Signature Partner                RBC
     
    Supporting Sponsors          Bulgari
    Heffel Fine Art Auction House
                                                   Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky
     
    Generous Support               Janet Scott Family
     
    Generous Assistance          Carol & Morton Rapp
     
    Supported by the Government of Canada

    @AGOToronto | #WarholAGO ABOUT THE AGO
    Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world. In 2019, the AGO launched a bold new initiative designed to make the museum even more welcoming and accessible with the introduction of free admission for anyone 25 years and under and a $35 annual pass. Visit AGO.ca to learn more.

    The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. Additional operating support is received from the City of Toronto, the Canada Council for the Arts and generous contributions from AGO Members, donors and private-sector partners.

    “Mutantism on the March” :Chapter 81 “Anti-American Sentiment Grows in Montreal”

    With Squid’s impassioned words the assembled mutants were flushed with rage and ignoring the pleas of Bertie Foonbean rushed out of the hall in a near frenzy, some with tears streaming down their eyes. They marched to the American consulate in Montreal but they were a bit late as a group calling themselves Hecklevesquer’s For Freedom had been there first and were enjoying a bonfire of American flags. The fireman and police were there not arresting but clapping and cheering. The mutants being beaten to the punch went to the nearest McThinalds restaurant and smashed windows and scattered the restaurant’s cat meat all over the street.

    Remember Garth Reseudo? He was the Zorollian oppositionist to Redbeard who had been exiled to Earth by Redbeard the despotic Zorollian leader and had exposed the corruption of Rufus Moonhead in California and had been forced to flee to Montreal by Moonhead corruptionists who threatened him with death. He and a group of his passive anarchists numbering in the hundreds had marched to the offices of the American Industrial Company, the company that stood the most to gain from the “sewage plant” construction and decided to stage a mass hunger strike. The Montreal police arrived and in a fit of nationalistic pride offered jugs of gasoline to create a blazing imitation of Detroit in a riot mode but Reseudo declined by saying, “A rampage will accomplish little. It will only bring more hate and repression. I don’t speak for everyone here but we can think of a nonviolent way of confronting American domination. My experience as an anti-war demonstrator in the United States taught me the futility of violence when confronting a vastly superior force of legalized counter violence. Let the world clear the stink of American imperialism. Such a world would be a more peaceful place to live in. Of course, the other great imperialists, the Russians would also need to be neutralized. Any chance of a docile Russian and American response does not seem to be reality. But at least we can fight to end American moral corruption. How can any nation that arms itself with nuclear weapons be morally legitimate? Millions can perish at the push of a button, And yes accidents can happen. These nuclear weapons are supposedly technologically advanced but are primitive and foul. I love the planet Earth and would hate to see it destroyed by such filthy and dirty weapons. The history of my galaxy is replete with horrid tales of nuclear devastation. In The Federation in another universe, we have learnt the truth. So comrade police we stay here until the construction of the missile base is halted. I will stay here and die until this happens.”