Ads For Subs in the Suburbs
Dec. 18th, 2025 09:26 pmSaw an interesting thing today for the second time: an ad on the back end of an OC Transpo bus for Hanhwa Ocean's KS-III submarines. Hanhwa Ocean is one of the firms competing for contracts to build submarines for the Canadian Navy. I'd expect to see the ads in the tunnel under MacKenzie King Bridge that connects the Rideau Centre with DND HQ. Not on a bus out in the eastern suburbs of Ottawa.


Horizon Ottawa: Back Off, Premier Ford!
Nov. 1st, 2025 07:17 pmThere's a petition making the rounds re: Ford's tendency to remote-hijack municipal governments across Ontario...
https://www.horizonottawa.ca/back_off_ford
https://www.horizonottawa.ca/back_off_ford
"Remigration" and What It Means
Jun. 16th, 2025 02:25 pmThis is one of the major reasons why I still think Canada should get out of the so-called "Safe Third-Country Agreement" with the US government right bloody now. Yesterday would have been better, and today would still be good. We need more people up here in Canada anyway to do all manner of work. Whether it's through regular immigration channels, regular refugee channels, or emergency "save the people about to be put through refoulement ASAP, dammit" measures.
Yes, there's a specific word for what Trump and Miller are trying to do to millions of people across the USA right now.
Refoulement.
That's what "remigration" is code for. Sending them back to the undeserved hells they've escaped from.
I intend to have a word about this with my MP and/or her staff. Today.
Go read this if you want cues on how to respond and you live in the States:
https://flamingsword.dreamwidth.org/496875.html
https://flamingsword.dreamwidth.org/496875.html
Health: Dental Milestone Made Official
Jun. 10th, 2025 04:14 pmI mentioned privately last week that I'd been accepted for enrolment into the Canadian Dental Insurance Plan. The one that our federal government hired Sun Life to administer for everyone earning less than C$90K/year and not already covered by their employer or their province?
That one.
I finally got the card in the papermail from Sun Life today.
Orange and pink and white plastic.
It's just hitting me now that, after over three decades of paying out of pocket by instalments for my dental health basics - exams, fillings and repairs of same, that sort of thing - I no longer have to worry about that part of my life's financial juggling. It's already covered through my federal income tax from now on unless I land a sufficiently lucrative job with its own coverage.
Hoping it all works out.
That one.
I finally got the card in the papermail from Sun Life today.
Orange and pink and white plastic.
It's just hitting me now that, after over three decades of paying out of pocket by instalments for my dental health basics - exams, fillings and repairs of same, that sort of thing - I no longer have to worry about that part of my life's financial juggling. It's already covered through my federal income tax from now on unless I land a sufficiently lucrative job with its own coverage.
Hoping it all works out.
Apparently, there's a mass dismissal of workers in the works this weekend.
So you might want to heed Allison Gill's advice in the link below before reading any of your office e-mail.
No joke.
https://www.muellershewrote.com/p/attn-hhs-employees
So you might want to heed Allison Gill's advice in the link below before reading any of your office e-mail.
No joke.
https://www.muellershewrote.com/p/attn-hhs-employees
Transit: Activism Ill-Thought Out?
Sep. 10th, 2024 07:22 amI have just signed up to delegate to the Ottawa Transit Commission about the upcoming service changes. I have next to no script for this. I am almost certain to have to do this while I'm working on my day job, and it will be over Zoom.
I have somewhat less than two days to decide whether or not to settle for a written submission instead, and if so, what to write for it.
I have somewhat less than two days to decide whether or not to settle for a written submission instead, and if so, what to write for it.
Horror re: CBC Staffing
Dec. 4th, 2023 08:34 pmThis is not what I want for the future of the Public Broadcaster:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cbc-radio-canada-layoffs-budget-1.7048530
Here and I've been listening to this year's edition of the Massey Lectures for most of the afternoon while I was working on the new day job...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cbc-radio-canada-layoffs-budget-1.7048530
Here and I've been listening to this year's edition of the Massey Lectures for most of the afternoon while I was working on the new day job...
Not So Random News - 16 October 2023
Oct. 16th, 2023 09:11 pm1. Trump on testing in general?
https://alexandraerin.substack.com/p/testing-trump
2. Criminalisation of climate activism:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/12/how-criminalisation-is-being-used-to-silence-climate-activists-across-the-world
3. The trial of Barber and Lich re: the Ottawa Siege continues.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/freedom-convoy-made-it-near-impossible-to-live-zexi-li-tells-trial-1.6997367
4. Conservatives targeting the CBC again, more of that "War on Expertise" that David Brin warns us about...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-cbc-terrorist-language-guide-policy-1.6997926
https://alexandraerin.substack.com/p/testing-trump
2. Criminalisation of climate activism:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/12/how-criminalisation-is-being-used-to-silence-climate-activists-across-the-world
3. The trial of Barber and Lich re: the Ottawa Siege continues.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/freedom-convoy-made-it-near-impossible-to-live-zexi-li-tells-trial-1.6997367
4. Conservatives targeting the CBC again, more of that "War on Expertise" that David Brin warns us about...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-cbc-terrorist-language-guide-policy-1.6997926
Edge of Midnight Chapter 14
Oct. 9th, 2023 10:23 pmThe fan fiction project by John Concagh that I've been working on that map for just uploaded a new chapter tonight.
https://edgeofmidnight.weebly.com/chapter-fourteen.html
https://edgeofmidnight.weebly.com/chapter-fourteen.html
1. For my trans friendlisters: https://rydra-wong.dreamwidth.org/973911.html
2. Medical screening gaps in Canada: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/scoliosis-screening-spinal-surgery-1.6978493
3. The Saskatchewan MinWage rises, and it's not far enough fast enough: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-minimum-age-increase-cost-of-living-1.6982982
4. One more reason to install the NDP in government in Manitoba: https://pressprogress.ca/heather-stefanson-has-no-plan-to-fix-manitobas-healthcare-system-advocates-say/
5. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was yesterday: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-truth-reconciliation-indigenous-orange-shirt-1.6983656
2. Medical screening gaps in Canada: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/scoliosis-screening-spinal-surgery-1.6978493
3. The Saskatchewan MinWage rises, and it's not far enough fast enough: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-minimum-age-increase-cost-of-living-1.6982982
4. One more reason to install the NDP in government in Manitoba: https://pressprogress.ca/heather-stefanson-has-no-plan-to-fix-manitobas-healthcare-system-advocates-say/
5. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was yesterday: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-truth-reconciliation-indigenous-orange-shirt-1.6983656
May Day 2023
May. 1st, 2023 09:16 amThis is what Labour Day was created to distract us from in Anglophone "North America", right?
As of this year's edition, I'm still looking for steadier work, better work, honest or at least honourable work. My most recent contract was fun, good, mentally healthier, better-paying than I'd had before. Too bad it was only two months.
Pleased to see the tentative agreement between Treasury Board of Canada and four bargaining groups represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Hoping it goes better for the Union of Taxation Employees and soon.
As of this year's edition, I'm still looking for steadier work, better work, honest or at least honourable work. My most recent contract was fun, good, mentally healthier, better-paying than I'd had before. Too bad it was only two months.
Pleased to see the tentative agreement between Treasury Board of Canada and four bargaining groups represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Hoping it goes better for the Union of Taxation Employees and soon.