Sunday Afternoon Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Eric Doherty, and Eric Galbraith and Ross Otto, respectively write that the response to the coronavirus shows how it’s possible to imagine…
2020
The Impact of COVID-19 on Democracy
James Madison said tyranny arises “on some favourable emergency”. The COVID-19 pandemic is today’s “favourable emergency.” It’s being used by unscrupulous politicians as a smokescreen for undemocratic behavior in Alberta’s…
Park Board closes parking lots as part of COVID-19 response
March 22 2020 Effective immediately, the Vancouver Park Board is prohibiting parking at its most high-traffic parks and beaches across the city, including: Kitsilano Beach English Bay Queen Elizabeth Park…
What’s Next? Since You Asked. Covid-19 And the Flood Risk.
It was just a few months ago that we were told to prepare to respond to major calamities, two, perhaps three at a time. Covid-19 certainly qualifies as one. We…
Welcome to Panicville. Population: us
Have you heard that Tom Brady has left the New England Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? This is HUGE news … at least it is right now. Normally, I…
When the lights go on for the people…
While the world is currently in Chamberlain mode (denial), it may soon go to Vichy/Quisling mode (collaboration & surrender – giving up). Despite his enormous faults, we need people…
In praise of the Saskatchewan CCF… the roots of Medicare
On the March 21 edition of CBC radio's The House Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said, "This is a moment when all Canadians should get down on their knees and…
In praise of the Saskatchewan CCF… the roots of Medicare
On the March 21 edition of CBC radio's The House Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said, "This is a moment when all Canadians should get down on their knees and…
In praise of the Saskatchewan CCF… the roots of Medicare
On the March 21 edition of CBC radio’s The House Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said, “This is a moment when all Canadians should get down on their knees and…
Vancouver Park Board closing all public outdoor recreation facilities in parks, beaches
by Nikitha Martins and Tarnjit Parmar Posted Mar 22, 2020 10:57 am PDT NEWS 1130 VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The Vancouver Park Board has announced it’s closing all public outdoor…
Power Games: Any Enemy Will Do – Even A Virus
From the Russian Revolution until the fall of the USSR, the Western power elite used the pretext of fighting Communism to justify, rationalize, and provide cover for imperialist wars around…
Time For A Massive Reorientation
It is perhaps to state the obvious that a crisis of the scale the world is currently experiencing is also an opportunity to reorient our perspective and our society. As…
in which i begin re-learning how to play piano — using pianote.com
I’m taking piano lessons! I’m really happy and excited about it. I’m using an amazing site called Pianote, which combines traditional lessons with seamless, user-friendly technology. * * * *…
Covid Journal, March 22, 2020
Some news recaps. I’m feeling strangely optimistic today and encourage everyone to play along with self-isolation. When we turn the corner (and we will), we ALL have to understand that…
The New Normal
For years now, the gig economy has been morphing into our new economic model. Martin Regg Cohn writes that the coronavirus has made gig workers of us all: If you…
Political-Economy 101
Governments and corporations, and the state-corporate media they control, systematically distort or conceal the truth, peddle illusions and starkly deceitful false narratives, and lie. (Does anyone remember Iraq’s WMDs?)…
Leadership is in the eyes of the followers.
Bob Hepburn of the Toronto Star wrote an opinion piece last week that commented on Doug Ford of Ontario looking “downright ‘leaderly’.” I rarely argue with Hepburn, but in this…
farmers concerned about harvest labour: improve working conditions, hire locally
I’ve read that the recent border closures, part of the effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, have raised concerns in the agricultural sector. Farmers are worried that there will…
This One Could Stretch Our Attention Span
One thing you’ll find on this blog a handful of times every year are posts that discuss some major ecological calamity that conclude that the whole business will be down…