Revolutionary thought of the day: We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both. Louis Brandeis (1856-1941)
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wmtc: the ballad of polly bee: in which newbie homeowners learn things they didn’t want to know, but turn annoyance into opportunity
Evil! As you may or may not recall, Allan and I are first-time homeowners. In 2019, both of us in our late 50s, we bought a home in Port Hardy, BC, on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. We were lifelong renters, and had no desire to change that. But
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: a first time for everything, delightful autobiographical tween graphic
A First Time for Everything, by Dan Santat, is a perfect tween book. It’s funny, sweet, honest, sometimes poignant but not sad. It’s a gentle comfort for every kid who has ever felt awkward and different, and an incentive for everyone who is afraid to try new things. It’s a
Continue readingwmtc: another insidious bit of the digital divide: access to customer service for smartphones only
We need another word for it. The digital divide — the gap between those with access to modern information and communication technologies and those without — has been recognized since at least the 1990s. Attempts to narrow this gap are usually publicly funded, always operating from scarcity, or small concessions
Continue readingwmtc: i used to be an activist: another piece of myself has gone missing. or maybe it’s on hiatus.
In my experience, the best activism begins like this. I used to be an activist. Not being actively involved in a grassroots movement, a part of myself is lost. It’s an intentional choice, given the realities that I cannot change. It’s what I need. But it’s a loss. There’s a
Continue readingwmtc: capitalism won because it is better and other right-wing lies
In recent years, I see a greater awareness that capitalism — at least in its present form — is the root cause of so many issues that plague our society. This awareness makes sense, given how extreme the evidence has become. Proof is all around us We grapple with the
Continue readingwmtc: yet another post about tuna: tuna-pasta salad, my current favourite way to eat tuna
You might not think that tuna is a frequent topic of this blog. But I blog about tuna more than you might think. In 2009, after reading about the decline of tuna worldwide, I said I would stop eating tuna. This didn’t last. I ended up eating tuna, but feeling guilty.
Continue readingwmtc: historic news: south korea bans dog meat trade
I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the email from HSI Canada: South Korea has banned the dog meat industry. Human Society International Korea, along with many other organizations and individuals, have been working on this for decades. I think everyone echoes JungAh Chae, director of HSI/Korea, who said:
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: an immense world by ed yong
Long ago, I briefly observed one of our dogs do something that has always stayed with me. I was walking Cody in our New York City neighbourhood, and saw, in the distance, a neighbour walking a dog that Cody was in love with, called Little Bear. Cody had never interacted
Continue readingwmtc: we movie to canada: best of "what i’m watching" 2023
These are the best movies and series I watched in 2023, in no particular order. Five stars: the best of the best KimiThis overlooked thriller is as taut and suspenseful as it gets. Zoƫ Kravitz is brilliant as the agoraphobic tech worker who must face her fear in order to
Continue readingwmtc: "the secret pocket": children’s books on residential schools, reading for reconciliation, and other library things
This post started as a standard “what i’m reading” post. But as I thought about it, I realized that it touches on several other themes that are important to me: history, Reconciliation, libraries, readers’ advisory… and maybe some others I’m not seeing yet. The Secret Pocket In September, for National
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: 2023 wrap-up, a reading plan for 2024, and why i now create reading plans
I’ve finally figured out this reading plan thing. A list that will guide me but not overwhelm me. A way to make sure I read at least a few old titles that have been languishing on my Books Universe list for ages. A list that will keep me obsessively reading,
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the invisible kingdom: reimagining chronic illness
The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness by Meghan O’Rourke is a important book. I would even call it a landmark. For ten years, O’Rourke suffered from a debilitating condition that was either misdiagnosed or dismissed. Her search for answers forms the structure of this book. Although the author writes about her
Continue readingwmtc: write for rights 2023: my fifteenth year #w4r2023
2023 marks the fifteenth year that I have participated in Amnesty Interntional’s Write for Rights. Fifteen years ago, I chose one case, one person. I wrote to officials about them, and wrote to them as well. I upped the ante a bit more every year, until the year (date unknown!)
Continue readingwmtc: five years on: reflections on the big life change
The Port Hardy skyline Since starting this blog in 2004, I’ve experienced three Big Life Changes. The first, of course, was emigrating to Canada. The second was becoming a librarian. More than a career change, this was a huge shift in lifestyle and identity. The third Big Life Change was
Continue readingwmtc: an obvious life hack: how to make streaming more affordable and still enjoy ad-free viewing
Much ink is being spilled, metaphorically speaking, about the changing trends in subscription-based streaming services. Headlines scream that shows on Netflix and Prime will now include ads, implying that users will pay the same rates plus see ads, as we did with cable TV. But that’s not true (at least not
Continue readingwmtc: as genocide continues in gaza: 11.11
The Palestine Project I almost missed my annual Remembrance Day post. While a handful of countries commemorate the most pointless and horrific of wars to end all wars, a genocide against the Palestinian people is being perpetrated by the State of Israel. In the English-speaking world, people are being punished
Continue readingwmtc: achievement unlocked! what i’m reading: gotham: a history of new york city to 1898
Ta-da! I finished! I’ve been reading Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 in weekly installments, since March of 2022. And now I have finished it. I thoroughly enjoyed both the book and the reading experience. I have a list of doorstoppers that I’d like to approach the same way.
Continue readingwmtc: from the archives: my journey to palestinian solidarity and the myth of the self-hating jew (a three-part story)
This seems like a good time to re-post this three-part series. It remains one of the best pieces I’ve written. Part one, my Jewish identity: my journey to palestinian solidarity and the myth of the self-hating jew Part two, my awakening: my journey to palestinian solidarity and the myth of the
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