A Near-Guarantee That a Reporter is Competent

When DT-45 calls you either "nasty", "third-rate" or "threatening"(or some other word with similar intent). There are exceptions, I'm sure, but this item might give you some additions to the trustworthy list:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/04/07/trump-anoints-a-new-class-of-media-stars-173514

More on other topics as the day goes on. Might have some job search leads to share later, as a consequence of my own continuing search.

Another Observation

We're having snow today in Ottawa-Gatineau. Actual snowfall. As if winter wasn't over yet.

If you think I was kidding about the snowfall?

Think again. Those of you living here will already know this.



Yes, it's the second weekend of April coming up, Easter weekend or Passover. Still. Mildly surprising, this was.

(I don't own the place. I just live here. For now.)

Meanwhile, in Ottawa...

The Emergencies Act being invoked? Maybe?

For some context:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/emergencies-act-province-letter-1.5526496

Noting these paragraphs from John Paul Tasker in particular:

The Emergencies Act includes some major depatures from the War Measures Act, however — most notably the requirement that the government needs Parliament's participation in invoking the act.

If an emergency declaration is made by cabinet, Parliament must be summoned to "sit within seven days after the declaration is issued" — a measure added to the act to avoid abuse by the government of the day.

This Parliament has been temporarily adjourned, but a handful of MPs already have made the trip back to Ottawa to push through, and tweak, crucial measures like the wage subsidy program, and are already in talks about returning again.

If you're interested in the text of the Act itself:

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-4.5/page-1.html

Section 5(b) sets the stage with its definition of a "public health emergency".

Sad News in Exercising, With a Side of Possible Consequences

My stationary bike will either need re-welding, or retiring. One of the main spars(?) has had its welding to the base of the bike become partially unstuck. The bike is therefore now unstable for riding purposes. I may know someone within walking distance who might know how to handle the former...but for the time being, the bike has to sit unused here next to my workstation in the basement.

I'm going to have to get used to walking around the neighbourhood for my exercise again.

It might be workable to take a camera with me on occasion to get images of more of the local street name signage and track down the origins of their names. But I don't want to get into trouble with neighbours who don't know my history with street names. Especially now.

SF&F/CANADA/HEALTH: Waubegeshig Rice's Novel and the Pandemic

Waubgeshig Rice used to be a reporter with CBC's Ottawa news division until he moved back up to Sudbury to keep doing that work there. Somewhere along the way, he started writing books as a sideline, and his first SF novel, Moon Of the Crusted Snow, published two years ago, seems to have ended up being more predictive than he expected or planned.

I hope that it's still in print when this mess is over.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/why-stories-matter-now-more-than-ever-1.5526331/blew-my-mind-how-waubgeshig-rice-s-post-apocalyptic-storyline-became-a-reality-1.5526691

http://www.waub.ca/

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: "All Along the Watchtower"

This interpretation was organized via the organization Playing For Change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UHHc7POovg