Our neighbourood (all 500 square miles of ocean and separate islands) has a newsletter. It is called the SNOTRAG and it is published every month by the intrepid Judith-of-Calm-waters fame. (Judith undertands the Marshall McCluan premise that she who controls the media controls the world.)

And so it is that the SNOTRAG defines our world. World? Think: ‘POND’. But it can be a good read.

If you wonder about my version of life Off-The-Grid you can always subscribe to the SNOTRAG and read the news unabridged from the viewpoint of J-of-CW. She has good sources. Mine aren’t so good (just me). The challenge: to get a subscription. Rags are issued on a need-to-know basis. Those not connected by history or family to the area are not usually eligible.

“They don’t need to know!”

Put another way: the SNOTRAG is an underground publication.

I find all this ironic in a ‘marketing-by-playing-hard-to-get’ kind of way. Lots of people want on the S-rag subscription list and are refused. The SnotRag is very exclusive. Ergo, more want on.

I, on the other hand, virtually beg a readership. I am embarrassed to say I even let out an involuntary ‘whoop’ of delight when I noticed my followers had increased from 16 to 17 a couple of weeks ago. I am the opposite to exclusive. I am for sale cheap.

Well, for free, actually (I am even willing to subsidize for hardship cases. Bribe, if you must.).

Price, however, doesn’t seem to matter. The Rag has an irresistible cachet. For me, fame is an elusive specter.

Of course, It (Dispatches from Off-the-Grid) is/are primarily just about me. And, admittedly, I am biased/focused/occupied and writing in my own favour. On most things, anyway. In fact, I am completely and totally swayed by my own point of view most of the time. I am helpless in front of me and almost always side with myself. But, it’s a turn-off it seems. Who woulda known?

But it is not all my fault. Sally can (and does) make necessary changes to our things mostly whenever she wants, so I am not totally responsible for the complete and total me and/or the opinion and point of view of me you see in this blog. I am sure you understand (if you are male, anyway).

In other words: We can all blame Sal for much of this nonsense.

Put another way: I am not totally responsible for me or for what I do anymore. I need to be vetted. Believe it or not, this blog was edited and great swathes of content were deemed ‘unpublishable’.

“You can’t say that! Are you crazy? Stick with the squirrels and the logging stuff. A little on the garden, perhaps. Keep politics, people and any sensitive subjects for publishing later when it has all blown over! Do a raven piece. Everybody likes raven pieces.”

If you are still not clear about this form of censorship, contact my power-of-attorney/official rep: SJT Davies at SallyD@Hughes.net for further information/and/or permission for………whatever.

Just be careful.

Remember: resistance is futile!

So, anyway, for balanced news off the grid, subscribe to the SNOTRAG. I can’t give you the address. Nor will I pass on your name. You have to have ‘connections’ and mine aren’t influential enough.

(Hint: one of the Victoria CBC news-readers may be able to get you on.)

It costs $10.00 annually to be an official ‘SNOT’ member (the ‘A’ list) and, although many of you may qualify in every other respect of snottiness, money-on-the-barrelhead is required for admission to the newsletter-receiving club. Just write to: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX@hotmail.com and she’ll sign you up.

Maybe.

I doubt it.

Me? I am already in trouble just for telling you this!