Oct. 1o: Evil
75 years ago, I was a child standing on a main street in downtown Montreal and spellbound by the hysteria of thousands of people. A huge crowd followed a leader…
October 2020
what i’m reading: all my puny sorrows by miriam toews
I’ve just finished reading All My Puny Sorrows, the haunting, heartbreaking, hilarious, and life-affirming 2014 novel by Miriam Toews. It’s difficult for me to write about fiction. I don’t like…
North Cowichan councillor who sits on Cowichan Tribes disqualifies herself from vote
Council seeks public’s patience amidst ‘uncharted territory’ North Cowichan councillor Debra Toporowski has disqualified herself from a vote on consultation with First Nations on the Municipal Forest Reserve on the…
Coals to Newcastle
From what I’ve read, sales of legal marijuana (government stores and licenced retailers) haven’t lived up to expectations. This is especially true for what was once known as the Napa…
Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Alisha Haridasani Gupta discusses why so many women have been excluded from the workforce during the course of the coronavirus pandemic. And Kathryn…
Has Bill Barr Decided It’s Now "Every Man for Himself"?
Bill Barr deserves no sympathy, none. As Attorney General, Trump’s very own Renfield, has betrayed the American people, disgraced his office, damaged the Department of Justice over which he presides…
Does Trump Want to Spread Covid-19?
It’s hard to imagine an American president choosing to put the public in harm’s way as a pandemic rages but those expectations don’t apply to the Trump administration. With “second…
South America’s Self-Inflicted Environmental Catastrophe
North Americans are all too well aware of our wildfire crisis as, every year, vast swathes of forest are consumed by fires that spread so fast they seem almost diabolical.…
Why “mansplain” is an obscenity
The word “mansplain” is one of those English-language fads that I hoped would quickly go away. It’s hasn’t, and there seem to be some people fueling it. So, I will…
It’s Called "Micro-evolution"
It seems that humans are evolving at rates faster than ever before. Two examples: wisdom teeth and arteries. Wisdom teeth may be on the way out. An extra artery is…
Saturday Photo: Never Hurts to Stop and Take Stock, Or Happy Thanksgiving
I’m far from being a religious person, but I think it’s important to occasionally stop and consider what we have in this life. That’s particularly true in this Plague Year,…
Who’s He Talking To?
Bruce Arthur writes that Doug Ford seems to be confused. When asked about Thanksgiving: He said stick with 10 people, indicated he would do the same, denied he said it,…
Democracy Denied.
Canadians should stop worrying about the fascist leanings of that guy in the American White House and worry more about the death of democracy in Canada. Every day, we see…
Will The Second Wave Overwhelm Our Hospitals?
Maybe it was pandemic fatigue that left so many feeling apathetic and demotivated. Too tired to fight a virus that could kill them and their loved ones. Or maybe it…
Covid Journal, October 10, 2020
A quick snapshot reminding us that democratic socialism is much better than the ‘dog-eat-dog’ capitalism of the US.
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue remains atop Alberta independent booksellers’ bestseller list
Here are the lists of the top 10 fiction and non-fiction titles sold by independent booksellers in Alberta during the week ended Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. The lists are compiled…
a little story about learning to play piano
Recently I was unable to play piano for three weeks — a combination of the unbearable hives (now about 75% gone!) and being on vacation. Since beginning Pianote’s “Foundations” course…
Pelosi Sets Up Constitutional "Nut Patrol" or "Nancy Bells the Cat"
Well, this will have Donald J. Trump drooling into his pillow tonight. House Democrats have unveiled a draft bill to monitor a president’s capacity and, if necessary, remove him/her from…
Musical interlude
Modjo – Lady