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Before Twitter was launched (2006), before Instagram and Pinterest (2010), before Snapchat (2011), there was an opinion columnist who decided to retire (2004).

In doing so, she wrote she was retiring from “being a thorn in the side of pompous politicians, overbearing bureaucrats and anyone in the public eye who is overstuffed with his or her own self-importance.” Alas, 14 years of trying to ignore the above has not improved my morale, nor has time rid the public sphere of the aforementioned. They still exist and the truly pompous, narcissistic, misogynistic, greedy and grasping inhabitants of this and other countries have, if anything, gotten even more so. It was time to return, even at the risk of fomenting the anger of respondents who believe (as one did) that “Dear Godless Bitch” as the salutation in a letter could hurt my feelings, my job or my life.

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When I retired, war, famine, pestilence and death were front-page news. The Four Horsemen still are, albeit few people seem willing to believe their own eyes, scientific research, sworn testimony or, sadly, the news. A cynic would say the Apocalypse can’t be far behind the election of Donald Trump in the U.S.A., Doug Ford in Ontario and, sadly, the impending election of Jason Kenney in Alberta.