1. 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.

Dental 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?

1. 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.

1. From The Atlantic's Science Feed: Transparent wood?

2. Our galaxy is stealing stars?

3. X-Ray binary stars are real.

1. 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/

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

Not 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

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

1. What striking federal workers actually do for a living.

2. The pursuit of truth about COVID-19's origins and how that pursuit affected one researcher.

3. Food supply chain concerns.

4. A proposal for automating tax-return filing for low-income Canadians. Might I qualify for this, and what information would I still have to have ready just in case they miss it?

5. Remote work: a perk or a right?

From PBS on a trend in public transit:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/some-cities-turn-to-free-public-busing-to-counteract-inequity

From an activist group in Ottawa:

https://www.ottawatransitriders.ca/wfh_could_be_a_golden_opportunity_for_better_transit

From the Transport Politic blog:

https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2023/01/12/openings-and-construction-starts-planned-for-2023/

I'd like to think that all of these things are good news telling of helpful things in progress.