What public figure do you disagree with the most?
{{Today’s featured image was an AI-creation from WordPress. I typed in “arguing with an immobile object” and got this weird cartoon.}}
Based on the full-boat-crazy found on social media, I want to be careful with the definition of “public figure”. Technically, this blog is a manifestation of me. This blog represents PN, TS, 2 house-panthers, Black Dog Biscuits, NeemTree, “the future site of BCB&B” and the future site of “3black cat bakery”. I’m a public figure.
If I post embarrassing shit online or espouse my core beliefs, my neighbours and/or readers on social media COULD have the right to criticise the ever-loving crap out of me. Does disagreeing with public figures mean the same as disrespecting that person. Are they a person, with human rights? Or are they a character whom I can attack? Verbal attacks… editorial attacks… journalistic attacks… social media attacks. I can’t support physical attacks (no matter the cretin).
As a retired school teacher, I represented my government. I was a public figure. Your Canadian taxes paid for my salary, benefits and my (DOG bless you) pension. My salary and collective agreement is on public record. Hell, my teaching certificate is online at the public register. As a public servant, I had to censor myself. Often.
Today’s writing prompt is a notoriously tricky item to answer (without getting shat on or DOXXED or SWATTED). Mister Neem the school teacher is NOT the same as Farmer Paul the rock rancher. Does Canada’s Charter Of Rights And Freedoms protect BOTH school-teacher-neem and 2025-Paul? I would argue, no. I have MORE protections now than when I was a public servant. Again, thank you for paying your taxes. And I’m relieved to be out of the pedagogical limelight.
Let me define the phrase public figure: I consider a such an entity as a famous person who is often written about in newspapers and magazines or is often on television or the radio. The person is well-known. I agree with Wikipedia’s definition — a public figure is a person who has achieved fame, prominence or notoriety within a society, whether through achievement, luck, or in some cases through no purposeful action of their own. Wikipedia used definitions from the 1983 edition of Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal and the 1992 edition of the Golden Gate University Law Review.
Famous persons. Big name. Celebrity. National treasure. Glitterati. Living legend. Superstar. Celebrity. Household name. It girl. Social Influencer. Movie star. Actors. I can get into the weeds about how Canadian law defines a “person”. Apparently, the United States and the United Kingdom have each attempted to codify how much protection public figures may have. Are public figures protected like other persons? Can public figures be protected against defamation? Are citizens, public figures, persons, and corporations the same entity? Welcome to the rabbit hole!
My sources: (a) https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/public-figure ; viewed Tuesday July 29, 2025 at 15:26 EST. “What Is A Public Figure”. Cambridge University Press. (b) Wikipedia contributors. (2025, July 3). Public figure. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:27, July 29, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Public_figure&oldid=1298612524 . (c) Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Public figure. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved July 29, 2025, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20figure at 15:30 EST.
Let me tell you which public figures I have positions that I cannot defend (names that bubble to the surface as I enjoy a Flying Monkeys Juicy Ass IPA after farm chores):
Neil Gaiman. Justin Trudeau. Donald Trump. Bruce Cockburn. David Suzuki. Alan Sherman. Orson Scott Card. Vladimir Putin. Martin Luther. Jesus Christ. Mohammed. Buddha. God. Elon Musk. Joseph Stalin. Jian Ghomeshi. Margaret Thatcher. John Lennon. Mao Zedong.
I find it amusing how my brain skips around and tries to categorize these public figures. Yes, a chunk of these ENTITIES are not alive or are mythical. Slurp… Good IPA. Thank you, MS (my neighbour from up the road). Burp. >:-)
Are you still reading my blog entry? Thank you for not having me lynched nor slashing my truck’s tires. I was going to include THAT German from World War 2, and then violate Godwin’s Law (link to this fallacy [I consider it the fastest way to END a conversation]). I honestly believe in putting my name on any post online. I have to be willing to take credit for my clever or profound notes. And take responsibility for any horse-shit that I vomit forth. Author and (assuming he wrote it [without a ghostwriter]) author Denis Leary wrote a brilliant 2008 diatribe about being an American. Why We Suck. A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid. I’m an American… a North American (whether I want to admit it or not). His point: Leary doesn’t give a shit what I spew forth. He can chose to NOT LISTEN TO IT.
Useful reference: Wikipedia contributors. (2025, July 9). Godwin’s law. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:59, July 29, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Godwin%27s_law&oldid=1299688409
Another useful reference: Wikipedia contributors. (2024, July 28). Why We Suck. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:00, July 29, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Why_We_Suck&oldid=1237222751
July 29, 2025 rock farm report.
While TS was at the Electric Woodpecker, I dismantled a storage crate that was used to transport Duxton-brand exterior windows and doors to our straw-bale farm house.
Some of the construction screws were made out of HARDENED steel. I know this because the DeWalt brand blade started smoking and bent its teeth. I have no clue why Duxton went overboard with this packaging crate. I guess they have had to deal with freight damage and so were not taking any risks.
JULY 31st ROCK REPORT.
Version 2.5 hummer feeder’s now up. Less droop, more rigid.
Version 2.5.1 will be moving the eye hook to the beam’s side, so I don’t dump fuel on my face.
AUGUST 1st ROCK UPDATE.
Bears, I can handle. Mosquitoes, I can tolerate. Hell, whippoorwills at 12 a.m. and yowling cats at 4:15 a.m., I can get my head around. It’s human vandals I have zero tolerance for.
My community has to deal with thieves year round. My local Mountain Trout Camp (MTC) has to deal with so much nonsense off-season, one must call several days before even considering using their boat launch. And one must report exactly WHEN (time IN, time OUT), HOW MANY IN THE VEHICLE, and VEHICLE MAKE-MODEL are entering their property. Shit, MTC had might as well put a barbed wire gate across the entrance after tourist season.
My neighbour near the highway cautioned me about locking our green farm gate whenever we leave to do errands. A locked gate advertises to local (and out-of-town) assholes that the farm is unsupervised… Come on in and snoop around! Therefore, I take my neighbour (he’s the Lorax, with superior firepower)’s advice seriously 😳.
I was able to go to my favourite Sthil dealer in Springmount (~10 minutes north of Owen Sound, ON) and buy a replacement bar for my little spitfire saw. It’s much easier to use than its monster big sister!
Oh good, I can resume processing all the deadfall around the farm. And the nearby poplar can be felled and processed for next year’s tourist season. I might segregate it and add better burning species with it as a mix.
TS introduced a new product to Black Dog Biscuits today. Rusks, based on a recipe from the old country (Republic of South Africa). A close family friend introduced us to this unusual buttermilk biscuit several years ago. It’s a VERY shelf-stable sweet-and-savoury biscuit best enjoyed with tea, chai, and/or coffee. As the story goes, rusks are a Dutch creation exported to Africa. There, it was modified as a way to capitalize on dairy products. Its preparation is surprisingly labour-intensive, and it requires a slow oven. It’s twice-baked, and requires the baker to consistently turn them. A batch of buttermilk rusks take 5-6 hours from start to finish. TS muses that most rational people cannot be bothered with such a arduous process. Take that with a grain of salt — this is the same humanoid that mills her own sweet potato flour (to make better-tasting dog treats).
Wait! Is that legal to do in Ontario? Are we allowed to sell mint tea packages and packaged rusks ON THE SAME TABLE AS DOG FOOD?! In short — yes.
- Our biscuits contain no meat.
- All of our packages are clearly labelled. You won’t confuse dog cookies with our other product lines.
- Since we sell mint tea leaves at our sales booth, that classifies Black Dog Biscuits as a farm producer.
- Ontario farm producers, who sell at farm markets, where >50% of the dealers GROW and SELL their own produce, are allowed to use their own kitchens to make shelf-stable baked goods.
- Shelf-stable products are defined as foodstuffs that do not require refrigeration, nor are canned nor bottled.
- Farmer’s markets, craft fairs, craftspeople cooperatives, and maker’s markets are NOT the same. They have different rules.
- Do you want to learn more about this arrangement? Visit this link. Or, go to this page within the support documents.
- Food safety.
- Low-risk foodstuffs. Baked foodstuffs without cream or perishable fillings.
- High-risk or potentially hazardous foodstuffs.
- Health inspector’s role at farmer’s markets.
- Food safety matters! For your pets. For you!
AUGUST 3RD ROCK REPORT.
06:40 EST. We’re about to leave and do our second weekend market down in the big village of Wiarton. My brother-in-law wants us to get TS photographed besides Wiarton Willie. There’s a statue of the rodent south of the town, across from the Ontario Provincial Police station (that services the entire region… talk about conglomeration). Despite me being peopled out and antisocial, I have to put on my game-face for the day. The 2025 Wiarton Homecoming event is an event-packed specticle. Softballs crashing onto parked vendor vehicles. Monster trucks. Awful pre-event singers. Creative and crass vendors. Hell, at least the bathrooms are well-maintained and there’s a distinct (undercover?) police presence. That, or the lake-creatures are avoiding the throng. I’m pleased to see the event’s tone is attracting visitors from the city. I appreciate the multicultural flair in the spectators. Unfortunately, the food vendors are very WHITE. No spices in sight… boiled potatoes. Yawn.
Yesterday, I struck up a conversation with the 3 representatives at the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) booth. They represent the Peninsula Trail Club. We mused about our shared trail section, map 40… Lindsay Road 40 multi-use path… Crane Lake Road drama (comedy?)… snakes… bears… and trail users who reopen closed-off paths. Yesterday, at day’s end, one of the BTC reps came by and gave me an updated map-guide book. I didn’t expect that and am thankful for their kindness. You have ONE MORE LANDOWNER who supports the BTC. Together, the BTC and our rock farm can leave a legacy and promote local biodiversity.
20:30 EST. We survived a Sunday at the 2025 Wiarton Homecoming. It’s over. The crowds were lighter than day 1. With the Manitoba bushfires, the air quality outside was awful. Expect to see Black Dog Biscuits at the event in 2026 and at the 2025 Wiarton Fall Fair.
Tomorrow’s the August civic holiday. We’re staying off the roads to allow visitors safe passage home.
BCB&B, neemtree, bdb, and blog 