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A Near Miss and a Death
Jul. 29th, 2025 08:19 pmOnce I got back to the house from this morning's visitation, the job search resumed. No applications filed today. Not sure what impulse brought me back to Facebook tonight. Maybe it was seeing the news from Elayne Riggs on Blogspot about her employer's office building being the site of the shootings in Midtown Manhattan yesterday. (Glad you're okay, Elayne!)
And now that I'm here, I've learned that Pat Augustine has finally passed away.
We knew each other from Mike Norton's Comic Book Crossroads fanzine as contributors. A few years back, as part of his downsizing efforts in the wake of his cancer diagnosis, he sold me his Wacom Cintiq, which I'm still using as of tonight. It's been incredibly useful in my art hobbies. (We were both annoyed at the import duties I had to cough up in addition to what I paid him as I recall.)
A good guy, and I miss him.
(And I note that his Discord account is still logged in as I type this. Not a complaint.)
And now that I'm here, I've learned that Pat Augustine has finally passed away.
We knew each other from Mike Norton's Comic Book Crossroads fanzine as contributors. A few years back, as part of his downsizing efforts in the wake of his cancer diagnosis, he sold me his Wacom Cintiq, which I'm still using as of tonight. It's been incredibly useful in my art hobbies. (We were both annoyed at the import duties I had to cough up in addition to what I paid him as I recall.)
A good guy, and I miss him.
(And I note that his Discord account is still logged in as I type this. Not a complaint.)
Assorted Items of Note - 9 July 2025
Jul. 9th, 2025 05:15 pm1. Meet some more people who believe that, in religion, there must always be compulsion.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/why-you-should-be-worried-about-a-new-trump-appointed-commission-you-probably-haven-t-heard-of-opinion/ar-AA1IfTTD
2. A science fair about things that won't be learned.
https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/science-fair-congress-canceled-grant-funding
3. Not only are we dealing with wildfires up here at home at the insistence of the fossil fuel industry, certain members of the US Congress are bashing us while Trump's making annexationist noises...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canadian-wildfire-smoke-ruining-americans-summer-1.7580738
4. Coal Taurozzi, the last of the Parliament Hill Cats, is no more. :-(
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/last-parliament-hill-cat-dies-1.7580650
5. Our chartered banks can be mean at times. One of the latest cases in point:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rbc-bank-investigator-scam-1.7577770
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/why-you-should-be-worried-about-a-new-trump-appointed-commission-you-probably-haven-t-heard-of-opinion/ar-AA1IfTTD
2. A science fair about things that won't be learned.
https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/science-fair-congress-canceled-grant-funding
3. Not only are we dealing with wildfires up here at home at the insistence of the fossil fuel industry, certain members of the US Congress are bashing us while Trump's making annexationist noises...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canadian-wildfire-smoke-ruining-americans-summer-1.7580738
4. Coal Taurozzi, the last of the Parliament Hill Cats, is no more. :-(
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/last-parliament-hill-cat-dies-1.7580650
5. Our chartered banks can be mean at times. One of the latest cases in point:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rbc-bank-investigator-scam-1.7577770
About the 2024 Canada Post/CUPW Dispute
Dec. 26th, 2024 08:36 amThe dispute between employer and workers isn't over. The workers did get ordered back to work, though, and if memory serves...the dispute has been sent to arbitration.
Subject to correction.
Subject to correction.
Three Things - 16 December 2024
Dec. 16th, 2024 07:18 am1. I really don't trust François Legault's definition of "secularisme" in Québec.
2. Looks like papermail delivery is restarting in Canada tomorrow (AKA December 17th, 2024). I worry about the possible consequences of how that was arranged.
3. If you've watched a recent Hallmark Christmas-themed movie, you might have seen parts of Ottawa.
2. Looks like papermail delivery is restarting in Canada tomorrow (AKA December 17th, 2024). I worry about the possible consequences of how that was arranged.
3. If you've watched a recent Hallmark Christmas-themed movie, you might have seen parts of Ottawa.
Medical Stuff - Mid-October 2024
Oct. 18th, 2024 08:23 pmDental checkup is done. No new work expected between now and May next year, by which point I expect to be signed up to the federal dental care insurance plan. Pre-paying for my dental care through my taxes will be somewhat easier than out-of-pocket payments, I expect.
What else?
Tomorrow, I get COVID vaccine dose # 9. I would like to have Novovax(?) for that, but Canada's not getting any of the newest formulation. I am unclear as to why none was ordered. So are a lot of other Canadians.
Also, I am getting my influenza vaccination in the same appointment. May as well, right?
What else?
Tomorrow, I get COVID vaccine dose # 9. I would like to have Novovax(?) for that, but Canada's not getting any of the newest formulation. I am unclear as to why none was ordered. So are a lot of other Canadians.
Also, I am getting my influenza vaccination in the same appointment. May as well, right?
Some News of Interest - 14 Jan. 2024
Jan. 14th, 2024 09:24 am1. David Chase fears that the end of long-form TV has arrived. I'd like him to be able to celebrate being wrong.
2. Peter Capaldi wants to make sure that entertainment talent from the lower classes remains discoverable and supported. He's absolutely right about that.
3. I got through the latest storm okay. Just so you know.
4. A lot of people miss Ed Broadbent.
5. Looks like a propagandist for Reichsters had a hand in Claudine Gay's problems at Harvard.
2. Peter Capaldi wants to make sure that entertainment talent from the lower classes remains discoverable and supported. He's absolutely right about that.
3. I got through the latest storm okay. Just so you know.
4. A lot of people miss Ed Broadbent.
5. Looks like a propagandist for Reichsters had a hand in Claudine Gay's problems at Harvard.
"Forced Financing"?
Dec. 19th, 2023 07:20 amFrom CBC News:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kia-canada-car-sales-1.7063216
Considering that we need to pick up the pace of EV adoption across multiple countries, who else is doing this, and in how many countries?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kia-canada-car-sales-1.7063216
Considering that we need to pick up the pace of EV adoption across multiple countries, who else is doing this, and in how many countries?
Selected News Items - 21 Oct 2023
Oct. 21st, 2023 06:18 pm1. Mikmaq keyboard to be available for Apple products. I first heard of this via CBC Weekend World Report on the radio.
https://www.kinu.ca/stories/mikmaw-keyboard-available-in-apple-products
2. Anti-trans laws in the US getting support from a Canadian researcher. CW: anti-trans rhetoric quoted at some length, with "protest"-march posters to match.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/investigates/james-cantor-gender-affirming-care-bans-1.6979356
3. The argument for off-planet mining is gaining strength in some quarters.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/10/space-is-starting-to-look-like-the-better-mining-operation/
4. The political state of "British Columbia", from one perspective:
https://thetyee.ca/News/2023/10/20/BC-New-Political-Map-Right-Split-Kevin-Falcon-Conservative-Surge/
5. An argument for Pharmacare in Canada:
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2023/10/19/Pharmacare-Big-Moment-Political-Will-Trudeau-Liberals/
https://www.kinu.ca/stories/mikmaw-keyboard-available-in-apple-products
2. Anti-trans laws in the US getting support from a Canadian researcher. CW: anti-trans rhetoric quoted at some length, with "protest"-march posters to match.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/investigates/james-cantor-gender-affirming-care-bans-1.6979356
3. The argument for off-planet mining is gaining strength in some quarters.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/10/space-is-starting-to-look-like-the-better-mining-operation/
4. The political state of "British Columbia", from one perspective:
https://thetyee.ca/News/2023/10/20/BC-New-Political-Map-Right-Split-Kevin-Falcon-Conservative-Surge/
5. An argument for Pharmacare in Canada:
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2023/10/19/Pharmacare-Big-Moment-Political-Will-Trudeau-Liberals/
Matt Galloway and Rachel Maddow discuss how "all of this has happened before; all of this will happen again"...and not in the context of Second Galactica.
Yes, what we're seeing in the States at the moment is not the first attempt to steer that country onto a permanently fascist course.
Yes, what we're seeing in the States at the moment is not the first attempt to steer that country onto a permanently fascist course.
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
Items of Interest - 16 July 2023
Jul. 16th, 2023 10:49 am1. Scientific American: Moral Injury Is an Invisible Epidemic That Affects Millions - published in 2022. This is a thing that politicians with kind intentions might be dealing with, too...
2. Canadian Press via CBC News: Foreign interference means Canada should get serious on media literacy, advocate says - published in 2023. A concern of every nation at this point, yes?
3. CBC News - Is the Bank of Canada making things worse? - published in 2023. Central bank bosses seem to be missing the points of much of the wider public right now, don't they?
4. CBC News - Construction labour crunch leaves Canada in need of boosting ranks of home builders - published in 2023.
5. Post News - COVID-19 Update for July 2023: Risks Are Low But Rising, and Too Many Are Ignoring Longer-Term Risks by Augie Ray
2. Canadian Press via CBC News: Foreign interference means Canada should get serious on media literacy, advocate says - published in 2023. A concern of every nation at this point, yes?
3. CBC News - Is the Bank of Canada making things worse? - published in 2023. Central bank bosses seem to be missing the points of much of the wider public right now, don't they?
4. CBC News - Construction labour crunch leaves Canada in need of boosting ranks of home builders - published in 2023.
5. Post News - COVID-19 Update for July 2023: Risks Are Low But Rising, and Too Many Are Ignoring Longer-Term Risks by Augie Ray
Ottawa: After the Barrhaven Tornado
Jul. 13th, 2023 05:23 pmNot my neighbourhood. Friends live there, so I've been worrying a bit for them.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/tornado-ottawa-barrhaven-july-13-1.6905782
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/tornado-ottawa-barrhaven-july-13-1.6905782
And switching from listening to The Current on CBC Radio One to watching Ottawa City Hall's Environment and Climate Change Committee meeting scheduled for this morning!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYHOotGLeso
Yes, my job search continues as I watch this. I consider watching city council meetings part of my job search intel-gathering process.
About the provincial "Blue Box" programme in Ontario?
https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=128210
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYHOotGLeso
Yes, my job search continues as I watch this. I consider watching city council meetings part of my job search intel-gathering process.
About the provincial "Blue Box" programme in Ontario?
https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=128210
World Press Freedom Day 2023
May. 3rd, 2023 08:47 amNoting that today matters, and this is one more of the reasons why:
https://www.unesco.org/en/days/press-freedom
Apparently, this is the 30th anniversary of the start of this practice.
https://rsf.org/en/2023-world-press-freedom-index-journalism-threatened-fake-content-industry?data_type=general&year=2023
https://j-source.ca/introducing-staying-alive-preserving-local-news-in-canada/
https://www.unesco.org/en/days/press-freedom
Apparently, this is the 30th anniversary of the start of this practice.
https://rsf.org/en/2023-world-press-freedom-index-journalism-threatened-fake-content-industry?data_type=general&year=2023
https://j-source.ca/introducing-staying-alive-preserving-local-news-in-canada/
