tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112827272024-03-19T02:48:23.013-06:00Accidental DeliberationsAll for ourselves, and nothing for other people, seems, in every age of the world, to have been the vile maxim of the masters of mankind. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14818125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-21435138322576085322024-03-15T20:13:00.000-06:002024-03-15T20:13:09.035-06:00Musical interlude<p>Elderbrook & Tourist - Howl</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Zmnz2U_xmA?si=CZ2TwCG2kufSpoIW" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-52416356395327499782024-03-15T09:57:00.003-06:002024-03-15T09:57:51.354-06:00Friday Morning Links<p>Assorted content to end your week.</p><p>- Andrew Phillips <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/canadians-are-going-to-pay-for-climate-change-with-or-without-a-carbon-tax/article_96ecdb90-e22e-11ee-84ee-67deec77dd20.html">offers</a> a reminder that Canada will pay the price for a climate breakdown whether or not it partially prices emissions in the moment - though it's worth noting that even the existing combination of taxes and regulations falls far short of the investments we should be making in transitioning to a clean society (especially when compared to the massive subsidies incentivizing increased fossil fuel extraction). And Aaron Wherry <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carbon-tax-trudeau-premiers-1.7142878">notes</a> that thanks in part to the know-nothingism of the Cons and their oil industry backers, there's very little public awareness of the rebate side of the federal carbon pricing system. </p><p>- Andrew Nikiforuk <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/03/15/Danielle-Smith-Sounds-Like-Australian-Billionaire/">points out</a> that Danielle Smith is adopting some of the most laughable coal baron talking points on the planet in an attempt to excuse pushing further extraction with no regard for the climate crisis or the need for potable water. </p><p>- David Climenhaga <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2024/03/15/Alberta-Stealth-Move-Provincial-Police/">writes</a> about the UCP's plans to assemble a provincial police force under their political control. And Jim Bronskill <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10347167/officers-werent-told-of-threats-to-harm-police-rcmp-freedom-convoy-report/">reports</a> that the bigoted Flu Trux Klan was given primacy over any interest in police safety, as officers weren't warned of active threats to harm police. </p><p>- David Moscrop writes about the immense power accumulated by <a href="https://thewalrus.ca/loblaw-has-become-an-everything-company/">Loblaws as a provider of everything</a>, and <a href="https://jacobin.com/2024/03/big-tech-apple-epic-regulations">corporate tech giants as the largest monopolists on the planet</a>. And Erica Johnson et al. <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/marketplace-hidden-camera-banks-1.7142427">report</a> on the continued pressure banks are putting on their employees to push financial products which consumers don't want or need. </p><p>- Finally, Susan Riley <a href="https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2024/03/11/baby-steps-pharmacare-a-test-of-our-humanity-and-of-our-political-leaders/413983/">writes</a> that the prescription drug plan being developed at the federal level represents only a few baby steps toward a full pharmacare program - and wonders whether we'll ever see that latter goal reached. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-10372815407317848042024-03-14T12:51:00.002-06:002024-03-14T12:51:32.648-06:00Thursday Afternoon Links<p>This and that for your Thursday reading.</p><p>- Kate Irwin <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/tesla-t-mobile-netflix-are-giving-billions-to-execs-pennies-to-uncle-sam">reports</a> on new research showing that dozens of the U.S.' largest corporations are doling out more money to their five top executives than they paid in total federal income tax. And Robert Renger <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/03/14/Taxing-BC-Giant-Land-Value-Gains/">makes the case</a> that windfall gains in British Columbia property values should be taxed to ensure the benefits aren't limited to those already wealthy enough to own land. </p><p>- Seth Borenstein <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/warmest-february-climate-change-1.7136294">reports</a> on yet another month of record-high temperatures, while Thor Benson <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/methane-emissions-remain-near-record-high-2023">notes</a> that the fossil fuel sector's claim to be limiting methane emissions is proving as disingenuous as its other climate messaging. </p><p>- Phillip Meintzer and Alienor Rougeot <a href="https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-if-alberta-is-serious-about-energy-project-cleanup-lets-start-with-the-oilsands">point out</a> that if the UCP were actually interested in limiting the environmental impact of energy production, it would be focusing on the tar sands rather than selectively undermining renewables, while Jordan Kanygin <a href="https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/what-exactly-did-we-get-alberta-senator-questions-hundreds-of-millions-to-clean-up-orphan-wells-1.5792062">reports</a> on the lack of any return on massive public giveaways to major oil companies to clean up their own industry's messes. Bob Weber <a href="https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/alberta-commission-finds-renewables-pose-little-threat-to-agriculture-environment-1.6806775">reports</a> on the Alberta Energy Regulator's findings that there's no air of reality to Danielle Smith's attempt to paint renewables as a threat to agriculture or the environment. And Norm Farrell <a href="https://in-sights.ca/2024/03/11/clean-energy-solutions/">highlights</a> how British Columbia is belatedly recognizing the value of investing in distributed clean energy rather than falling for the promises surrounding megaprojects. </p><p>- Finally, Joel Lexchin <a href="https://theconversation.com/canadians-need-to-know-how-much-money-big-pharma-gives-health-care-providers-but-this-information-is-far-too-difficult-to-find-225066">highlights</a> the dangers of an opaque financial relationship between big pharma and the health-care providers who can be induced to push its products. And Nicole Brockbank, Angelina King and Lori Ward <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/shoppers-drug-mart-medication-review-targets-1.7142626">report</a> on the growing pile of documentation refuting Shoppers Drug Mart's claim not to have a plan to exploit public funding for medication reviews. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-58057964198839251042024-03-13T14:31:00.006-06:002024-03-13T14:31:55.278-06:00Wednesday Afternoon Links<p>Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.</p><p>- Melissa Lem and Samantha Green <a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/03/13/opinion/doctors-know-banning-fossil-fuel-ads-matter-life-death">write</a> about the push from the health care community to ensure that fossil fuel companies can't keep deceiving the public about the harm caused by their operations. And John Woodside <a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/03/13/news/federal-budget-looming-majority-want-big-oil-slapped-windfall-tax">reports</a> on the majority popular support for a windfall tax on oil companies - even in the provinces where they've entirely captured the political class. </p><p>- Meanwhile, Max Kozlov <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/03/12/covid-lowered-global-life-expectancy-more-than-previously-thought-new-study-suggests/?sh=52a32ce6576b">discusses</a> new research showing that the oil industry's pivot to plastics stands to create a whole new set of harms to people's health. </p><p>- Peter Walker <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/08/health-gains-of-low-traffic-schemes-up-to-100-times-greater-than-costs-study-finds">reports</a> on a new study showing that policies supporting low vehicle traffic produce immense fiscal and health benefits. And for anybody needing an additional push away from car culture, Kashmir Hill <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/technology/carmakers-driver-tracking-insurance.html">exposes</a> how auto manufacturers are tracking and sharing details about drivers' activity with data brokers. </p><p>- Ricardo Tranjan <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/rent-controls-work-they-don-t-reduce-housing-supply-but-they-do-limit-profit/article_77ca720a-dfd5-11ee-982b-3ba3433ea220.html">writes</a> about the effectiveness of rent controls in reducing housing costs - while refuting the myth that they do anything to limit the supply of homes. </p><p>- Finally, Kate Schneider <a href="https://theijf.org/ultra-wealthy-canadians-hosting-pierre-poilievres-fundraisers-in-their-homes">reports</a> on the private parties being held in millionaires' mansions to facilitate Pierre Poilievre's pay-for-access fund-raisers. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-91356392410306481662024-03-12T20:14:00.001-06:002024-03-12T20:14:12.642-06:00Tuesday Night Cat Blogging<p>Sprawled cat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmMcHBwFdXv1SDCWCKqFOoK18jm36Ehz3YmtHSikQwHIdcEH3Axo-VFaFbB6nHxXNuwrhy5tWmepgJCxjyaqFcEeGsLJW3bW0d4cYoNaSLNk1eEjtgl5H96INCcvwZKJIdyAsVEt6SdqKF_Ppc7wnUIe8mxmLVbYKqIE6GQuq34Z8nEJzB7QnxQ/s2048/430323658_10168528734385397_2699292929662756110_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmMcHBwFdXv1SDCWCKqFOoK18jm36Ehz3YmtHSikQwHIdcEH3Axo-VFaFbB6nHxXNuwrhy5tWmepgJCxjyaqFcEeGsLJW3bW0d4cYoNaSLNk1eEjtgl5H96INCcvwZKJIdyAsVEt6SdqKF_Ppc7wnUIe8mxmLVbYKqIE6GQuq34Z8nEJzB7QnxQ/s320/430323658_10168528734385397_2699292929662756110_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3QoLHlby0UhgMIcob1wzAEhN3V6r1F5Mk8A73vjrUQBQ_kBYsVut2uItuBSRbIeEo6lSgN51GmjiSQ63_Qyy1xarmyt6Ur3CqeqCrdh5imiNlYkKKQWWM1mXIfrsrRYytvs1Am2M5-wce2uxucpwdDYI4W7a9Eej4LCzEJwyZUlZ_WwDPy590Q/s2048/432075228_10168528734635397_2396383290462286118_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3QoLHlby0UhgMIcob1wzAEhN3V6r1F5Mk8A73vjrUQBQ_kBYsVut2uItuBSRbIeEo6lSgN51GmjiSQ63_Qyy1xarmyt6Ur3CqeqCrdh5imiNlYkKKQWWM1mXIfrsrRYytvs1Am2M5-wce2uxucpwdDYI4W7a9Eej4LCzEJwyZUlZ_WwDPy590Q/s320/432075228_10168528734635397_2396383290462286118_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTv7CEch3KsmXKy0Cgt_BCVCUSh32w_3kALdrrZUHfvhct94PUHjWmmnJhWYMNGtBp0VrmnTArQwMXXfxbZR66HlVAEOkx05zT6mrCzU4GdJBCxl-3oy0iZrHhoUjFuoiEhEjZ4MdoqzjQjjq8RaeRdbHWgO_EKeZVxs8MQGyccL7YEoG0a5rZrQ/s2048/430294524_10168510544460397_7040405011619062513_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTv7CEch3KsmXKy0Cgt_BCVCUSh32w_3kALdrrZUHfvhct94PUHjWmmnJhWYMNGtBp0VrmnTArQwMXXfxbZR66HlVAEOkx05zT6mrCzU4GdJBCxl-3oy0iZrHhoUjFuoiEhEjZ4MdoqzjQjjq8RaeRdbHWgO_EKeZVxs8MQGyccL7YEoG0a5rZrQ/s320/430294524_10168510544460397_7040405011619062513_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-9804444852505992182024-03-12T11:08:00.003-06:002024-03-12T11:08:26.056-06:00Tuesday Morning Links<p>This and that for your Tuesday reading.</p><p>- Brishti Basu <a href="https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/03/11/Long-COVID-Patients-WorkSafeBC/">reports</a> on the ill effects of WorkSafeBC's decision to push people back to work while they continue to suffer from long COVID. And Alex Skopic <a href="https://www.currentaffairs.org/2024/03/covid-19-is-still-a-threat-so-is-bidens-cdc">calls out</a> the CDC's choice to direct people back to work while they're still infected with COVID-19, while Reina Sultan <a href="https://www.self.com/story/cdc-new-covid-19-isolation-guidelines">talks to</a> experts who point out the obvious and avoidable risks to others including workers and customers arising from that guideline. </p><p>- Anita Hofschneider <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/the-us-buried-nuclear-waste-abroad-climate-change-could-unearth-it-marshall-islands-greenland/">writes</a> about the looming prospect that the effects of a climate breakdown will include the exposure of nuclear waste. And Mari Yamaguchi <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/japan-marks-13-years-massive-tsunami-disaster-closer-108000062">reports</a> that 13 years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, authorities still have little idea of the condition of the damaged reactors or the status of the fuel waiting inside. </p><p>- Meanwhile, Joseph Winters <a href="https://grist.org/regulation/detergent-pods-are-only-the-start-of-clothings-microplastic-pollution-problem/">reports</a> on the push to ban detergent pods due to their propensity to release microplastics into the environment - as well as the reality that the problem with microplastics generated by clothing goes far deeper. </p><p>- Mouhamad Rachini <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/teacher-shortage-has-staff-across-canada-working-in-survival-mode-1.7140253">discusses</a> how teachers across Canada are barely getting by (while administrators have put more and more unqualified babysitters in charge of children as a substitute for providing adequate education resources). And Megan Ogilvie <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/beyond-crisis-levels-why-ontario-doctors-are-fleeing-family-medicine/article_b82fb960-cc46-11ee-9f14-33f832ff1016.html">highlights</a> how Ontario has been driving family doctors out of the profession while funneling money toward impersonal corporate substitutes. </p><p>- Finally, Paul Willcocks rightly <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2024/03/12/Strange-Story-Vancouver-Subsidy-Small-Private-School/">questions</a> why a supposedly austerian Vancouver mayor and council are funneling tens of millions of dollars to a single private school. Jennifer Lee <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-leaving-privatized-lab-service-costly-1.7140203">reports</a> on the $97 million price tag to reverse the effects of the UCP's ideological decision to push lab services into the corporate sector. And Adam King <a href="https://www.readthemaple.com/doug-fords-failed-wage-restraint-measure-has-cost-ontario-billions/">points out</a> the much higher cost of Doug Ford's attempt to suppress public-sector wages. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-54273544046388433342024-03-11T12:17:00.005-06:002024-03-11T12:17:43.176-06:00Monday Afternoon Links<p>Miscellaneous material to start your week.</p><p>- Bill McGuire <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/07/opinions/climate-scientist-scare-doom-anxiety-mcguire/index.html">discusses</a> why anybody with an understanding of climate science is terrified of a living environment that's careening out of control. Carbon Brief <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/interview-why-global-support-for-climate-action-is-systematically-underestimated/">notes</a> that there's plenty of public support for meaningful climate action. But Andre Mayer <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/billionaire-bunkers-doomsday-1.7130152">observes</a> that while the wealthiest and most powerful people are using their outsized influence to make matters worse, they're also spending large amount of money trying to insulate themselves from the consequences of a disastrous future. </p><p>- Ajit Niranjan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/08/oil-industry-has-sought-to-block-state-backing-for-green-tech-since-1960s">reports</a> on new research showing how the oil industry has been systematically undermining clean energy for over a half a century. And Aaron Regunberg and David Arkush <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/179624/fossil-fuel-companies-prosecute-climate-homicide">write</a> that there's a compelling case to prosecute fossil fuel companies for homicide as a result. </p><p>- Meanwhile, Elizabeth Chuck <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/lead-gasoline-blunted-iq-half-us-population-study-rcna19028">reports</a> on new research showing widespread harm caused by exposure to leaded gasoline. And Drew Anderson <a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-drought-fracking/">points out</a> how fracking is a major contributor to Alberta's looming water crisis. </p><p>- Gleb Tsipursky <a href="https://www.thestar.com/business/opinion/whats-the-secret-agenda-behind-return-to-office-mandates-corporate-control/article_9afe236e-da4b-11ee-9040-6b4a770e2328.html">discusses</a> how return-to-office mandates are all about employer control (with no consideration for anybody's well-being or even productivity). And Ashlie Stevens <a href="https://www.salon.com/2024/03/10/let-them-eat-cereal-how-accusations-of-greedflation-fueled-consumer-ire-against-kelloggs/">highlights</a> how Kellogg's and other corporate food producers are rightly getting called out for greedflation to line their own pockets while consumers' expenses spiral out of control. </p><p>- Taylor Noakes <a href="https://jacobin.com/2024/03/brian-mulroney-canada-neoliberalism-privatization">writes</a> that Brian Mulroney's death should serve as reason to remember how he imposed corporate control at every turn - not to paper over the damage. And Michael Sainato <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/26/anti-union-lawsuit-conservative-courts-musk-starbucks-trader-joes">reports</a> on the growing push by U.S.' corporate overlords to outlaw any labour organizing and collective action which might create a check on their power. </p><p>- Finally, David Moscrop <a href="https://jacobin.com/2024/03/billionaire-global-wealth-tax-proposal-brazil">discusses</a> the growing movement for a global weath tax on billionaires. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-7291794541901285782024-03-08T20:24:00.003-06:002024-03-08T20:24:38.749-06:00Musical interlude<p>Disaster Pony - Dead Neon & The Noon Sun</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8ahNluDWmVY?si=G57gC-phzPDw_FhI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-7002840119185094562024-03-08T16:00:00.003-06:002024-03-08T16:00:39.871-06:00Friday Afternoon Links<p>Assorted content to end your week.</p><p>- Oshan Jarow <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2024/3/8/24093650/mental-health-report-happiness-growth-well-being-smartphones">discusses</a> Sapien Labs' work measuring mental health levels around the globe - and the resulting conclusion that "conveniences" including smartphones and ultra-processed foods may contribute to a lower level of mental wellness. And Michelle Gamage <a href="https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/03/08/First-Nations-Life-Expectancy-Has-Plummeted/">writes</a> about the plummeting life expectancy of Indigenous people in British Columbia, along with the solutions based in ethics of care and community. </p><p>- Julia-Simone Rutgers <a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/manitoba-ice-road-emergency/">writes</a> about the damage global warming is causing to the ice roads which have historically served as vital lifelines for Canada's North. And Arthur Zhang and Anna Kanduth <a href="https://440megatonnes.ca/insight/supercharging-battery-storage-grid/">discuss</a> the readily-available options to shift Canada to a cleaner electrical grid and reduce our ongoing carbon pollution. </p><p>- Meanwhile, Charles Rusnell <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/03/05/Dome-Secrecy-Protects-Smith-Alberta-Pension-Push/">reports</a> on the lengths the UCP is going to to prevent Alberta from knowing how little support their is for their plan to hijack CPP funds to be handed to dirty energy operators. </p><p>- Brittany Trang <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2024/03/07/nursing-homes-hide-profits-with-related-party-ploys/">discusses</a> a new study showing how nursing home operators are able to hide the majority of their profits in order to paper over higher prices and deteriorating care. And Cory Doctorow <a href="https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/08/the-fire-of-orodruin/">calls out</a> the NHS' choice to pay massive amounts of money to corporate operators - and share of sensitive personal health information with them - rather than setting up secure open-source research databases. </p><p>- David Moscrop <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/03/06/What-Heck-Is-Ordered-Liberty/">offers</a> a warning about Pierre Poilievre's intention to impose "ordered liberty", with the primary intention and effect of ensuring the freedom of those with more wealth and power to control and exploit anybody with less privilege. </p><p>- Finally, Linda McQuaig <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/canada-should-support-g20-plan-to-tax-billionaires/article_4ab870ce-dbe7-11ee-80f6-430d850b31d6.html">makes the case</a> for Canada to support and sign onto the G20's plan to ensure billionaires can't avoid paying taxes. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-81459554617510079342024-03-05T20:19:00.002-06:002024-03-05T20:19:13.079-06:00Tuesday Night Cat Blogging<p>Basket case cat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GqhmgReK-IZSnmtOZF-0nbXqrxE2AlJObRI_4AM539NZm5oL1ORra4cNiJuvWcWFQEd-RaYPIBuSiD0a2KRRSdJ4r7UAPHLsegdlLNP8a8LBNIEZ7CDhVrVXFqwygb6SpAPXXIFVQNInilCSr7eok8IV6j6kNOqHAVQnfwaAsP2C1Y_UvmQzyA/s2048/430266841_10168510543845397_9175465018604141520_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GqhmgReK-IZSnmtOZF-0nbXqrxE2AlJObRI_4AM539NZm5oL1ORra4cNiJuvWcWFQEd-RaYPIBuSiD0a2KRRSdJ4r7UAPHLsegdlLNP8a8LBNIEZ7CDhVrVXFqwygb6SpAPXXIFVQNInilCSr7eok8IV6j6kNOqHAVQnfwaAsP2C1Y_UvmQzyA/s320/430266841_10168510543845397_9175465018604141520_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1IEOYRsUe7y-Gq9m8jeAnpv6vZNPOUEncWbz7LK_phjKslclCm7M49R-AduYZXpRYDp-hZ051OD7EEYWxWoGWJwwC3FnOIaWIPrKUBo09B4Ri_4FzCaPEccA_oGswYtsbuskoHxfhMAdRZ7mQVqeF3IzEeIkThZGn1yHGLvhfPzuVRZoUUkltA/s2048/430282747_10168510544140397_8361613040088263098_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1IEOYRsUe7y-Gq9m8jeAnpv6vZNPOUEncWbz7LK_phjKslclCm7M49R-AduYZXpRYDp-hZ051OD7EEYWxWoGWJwwC3FnOIaWIPrKUBo09B4Ri_4FzCaPEccA_oGswYtsbuskoHxfhMAdRZ7mQVqeF3IzEeIkThZGn1yHGLvhfPzuVRZoUUkltA/s320/430282747_10168510544140397_8361613040088263098_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTioj9VsgtdZMv4fibRNooMyQo-mw3pQ_fr-6FN7ySmDO0kzeyFVFVxWXjq9un-gKJXOZVlx-ddKZR5jdKt5EpE1zHKcBeJHB2Gri1yhqltDbZEmD35HZ8S_EXF7742CwCLzKElH9oRC5En3DQozuB0-bCmvaTaIiKQV9HWoVGXJwtw_-95bo0w/s2048/430253135_10168510544350397_7163843523309702131_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTioj9VsgtdZMv4fibRNooMyQo-mw3pQ_fr-6FN7ySmDO0kzeyFVFVxWXjq9un-gKJXOZVlx-ddKZR5jdKt5EpE1zHKcBeJHB2Gri1yhqltDbZEmD35HZ8S_EXF7742CwCLzKElH9oRC5En3DQozuB0-bCmvaTaIiKQV9HWoVGXJwtw_-95bo0w/s320/430253135_10168510544350397_7163843523309702131_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-64183825751286889132024-03-05T10:51:00.000-06:002024-03-05T10:51:12.904-06:00Tuesday Morning Links<p>This and that for your Tuesday reading.</p><p>- Julia Doubleday <a href="https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/unmitigated-covid-is-overwhelming">highlights</a> how the continued unmitigated spread of COVID-19 is collapsing hospital systems around the globe. Priyanjana Primanik <a href="https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240304/COVID-19-linked-to-long-lasting-cognitive-deficits-study-finds.aspx">examines</a> how the coronavirus leads to long-lasting cognitive deficits, while Isabella Cueto <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2024/03/04/covid-19-south-korea-japan-study-lupus-sjogren-autoimmune-disease/">discusses</a> new research confirming a connection between COVID and autoimmune disease (which is partially ameliorated by vaccination). </p><p>- But then, Richard Luscombe <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/03/florida-measles-outbreak-preventable">examines</a> how Florida's anti-science response to the pandemic is resulting in the spread of measles and other easily-preventable diseases as quackery replaces any pretense of public health policy. </p><p>- Rochelle Baker <a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/03/05/news/calls-mount-crackdown-false-fossil-fuel-ads">reports</a> on the growing calls to at least limit how fossil fuel corporations lie to us about their contribution to the climate breakdown. But Markham Hislop <a href="https://energi.media/markham-on-energy/danielle-smith-misleading-albertans-with-wind-and-solar-lies-soft-moratorium/">notes</a> that Danielle Smith (among other petropoliticians) is an eager participation in the misinformation campaign intending to promote the continued spewing of carbon pollution over any clean energy transition. </p><p>- Meanwhile, Frederic Cyr <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-climate-change-is-messing-up-the-oceans-biological-clock-with-unknown-long-term-consequences-224581">points out</a> that the list of alarming effects of the climate crisis now includes radical changes to seasonal patterns of ocean algae blooming. </p><p>- Pete Wilde <a href="https://theconversation.com/ultra-processed-foods-largest-ever-review-shows-many-ill-effects-on-health-how-to-understand-the-evidence-224806">discusses</a> the largest-ever review of the effects of ultra-processed foods, with the result being a stark connection between UPFs and numerous health problems.</p><p>- Finally, Adam King <a href="https://www.readthemaple.com/collective-bargaining-rights-are-being-systematically-undermined/">points out</a> how governments are interfering with collective bargaining (particularly in the public sector) to prevent workers from achieving gains for themselves and the people who depend on them.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-85843050997489064372024-03-04T13:07:00.008-06:002024-03-04T13:07:56.431-06:00Monday Afternoon Links<p>Miscellaneous material to start your week.</p><p>- Alan Urban <a href="https://www.collapsemusings.com/the-collapse-will-be-normalized/">writes</a> about the reality that establishment institutions are working on normalizing civilizational collapse - as well as the need to fight back against that process. And Cory Doctorow <a href="https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/28/5000-bats/">discusses</a> the appalling results of the juxtaposition of predatory private equity and health care.</p><p>- Akielly Hu and Joseph Winters <a href="https://grist.org/economics/how-to-decouple-emissions-from-economic-growth-these-economists-say-you-cant/">write</a> about the impossibility of decoupling a growth-based economic model from increasing carbon pollution, while Science X <a href="https://phys.org/news/2024-03-world-resource-surge.html">points out</a> the warning from the UN Environment Programme's International Resource Panel that resource usage is projected to surge from an already-unsustainable starting point. But while trying to graft care for our living environment onto the ideology of the cancer cell is futile, Deborah de Lange <a href="https://theconversation.com/renewable-energy-innovation-isnt-just-good-for-the-climate-its-also-good-for-the-economy-223164">notes</a> that a focus on renewable energy development and innovation produces improved better economic outcomes.</p><p>- Marina von Stackelberg <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/emergency-preparedness-wildfire-season-natural-disasters-harjit-sajjan-1.7128697">reports</a> on the demand from communities for support in dealing with increasingly frequent and severe climate disasters. And Sarah Miller and Zach Carriere <a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/03/04/opinion/keeping-new-homes-out-harms-way">comment</a> that we need to direct new housing development to areas which steer clear of the most imminent risks. </p><p>- Sarah Wild <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00616-5">writes</a> that over two millions research papers have disappeared from the Internet - meaning that the store of real knowledge is eroding even as AI-generated junk proliferates. And Glyn Moody <a href="https://walledculture.org/how-copyright-makes-the-climate-crisis-worse/">points out</a> that copyright laws are among the structural factors driving an insufficient policy response to climate change, as scientifically-accurate studies are ignored in favour of more-accessible fossil fuel propaganda. </p><p>- Finally, David Wren <a href="https://www.postandcourier.com/business/charleston-google-data-center-public-records-oregon-portland/article_c5f00fd8-d6f9-11ee-b3c1-f3f5e0012225.html">discusses</a> how Google's business model relies on shaking down governments and refusing to contribute to the jurisdictions which provide it with its profits. And Natasha Bulowski <a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/03/04/news/trade-deal-could-put-corporate-profits-over-people-say-groups">highlights</a> how even after decades of lessons in the effects of corporatism, the Libs are continuing to lock Canada into "free trade" agreements which give corporate profits precedence over people's health and well-being. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-4070428510964403072024-03-01T20:18:00.001-06:002024-03-01T20:18:07.251-06:00Musical interlude<p>Strontium - Phenomenon</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EfxyHkz8JS4?si=XXv5cyp7hI_6dX0t" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-78844268833390878392024-03-01T14:50:00.001-06:002024-03-01T14:50:03.540-06:00Friday Afternoon Links<p>Assorted content to end your week.</p><p>- Ziyad Al-Aly <a href="https://theconversation.com/mounting-research-shows-that-covid-19-leaves-its-mark-on-the-brain-including-with-significant-drops-in-iq-scores-224216">offers</a> a reminder of the immense body of evidence showing that COVID-19 leaves a lasting impact on the brain. And Hannah Devlin <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/28/brain-fog-from-long-covid-has-measurable-impact-study-suggests">reports</a> on new research on the sustained impact of "brain fog" in particular. </p><p>- Ryan Meili <a href="https://ryanmeili.substack.com/p/syndemicity-iii">writes</a> about the syndemic effects of communicable diseases and poverty. And Scott Santens <a href="https://www.scottsantens.com/billionaire-fueled-lobbying-group-behind-the-state-bills-to-ban-universal-basic-income-experiments-ubi/">exposes</a> the billionaire-funded campaign to prevent local governments in the U.S. from alleviating poverty through basic income projects. </p><p>- Drew Anderson <a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-renewable-energy-pause-end/">examines</a> the absurdity of Danielle Smith's ban on clean energy, as the same government <a href="https://www.thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/02/28/UCP-Gives-New-Life-Contentious-Coal-Mine/">pushing</a> through open-pit coal mining on the side of mountains declares that renewable energy will be stifled in the name of "pristine viewscapes". And Jason Wang <a href="https://www.pembina.org/media-release/alberta-hamstrings-renewables-sector-rules-not-required-other-industries">writes</a> that the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/wind-solar-danielle-smith-pristine-viewscapes-analysis-1.7128985">attack</a> on renewables is contrary to any desire to keep utilities affordable, while Duane Bratt <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-with-alberta-renewables-ban-business-common-sense-goes-out-the-window/">points out</a> that it's also irreconcilable with any interest in economic efficiency. </p><p>- Meanwhile, Anderson also <a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-budget-2024-environment/">notes</a> that the nasty surprises in the UCP's budget include making Alberta the latest province to target a specific tax toward emission-free vehicles, confirming their desire to subsidize carbon pollution. And Graham Thomson <a href="https://www.thetyee.ca/Opinion/2024/03/01/Alberta-Budget-Broken-Tax-Cut-Promise/">observes</a> that the UCP is managing to break promises and defy belief by simultaneously imposing austerity, borrowing more and relying more heavily on one-time resource royalties. </p><p>- Finally, Andrew Gregory <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/28/ultra-processed-food-32-harmful-effects-health-review">reports</a> on new research into the large number of health risks from ultra-processed foods </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-89743122764118615832024-02-28T10:38:00.002-06:002024-02-28T10:38:25.095-06:00Wednesday Morning Links<p>Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.</p><p>- Susan Riley <a href="https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2024/02/26/a-rapidly-changing-climate-and-a-glaring-political-disconnect/412578/">points out</a> the glaring gap between the urgency of the climate crisis, and the Canadian political response which (Charlie Angus aside) ranges from mealy-mouthed corporatism to outright sabotage. And Gillian Steward <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/as-rivers-dry-up-alberta-officials-still-balk-at-calling-it-climate-change/article_a1feca4e-d4d1-11ee-9ce3-fff4c14f5bf3.html">calls out</a> the UCP's continued climate denial which is preventing Alberta from responding to fires, droughts and other disasters caused by the climate breakdown. </p><p>- Meanwhile, Andrew Nikiforuk <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/02/28/UCP-Gives-New-Life-Contentious-Coal-Mine/">discusses</a> the UCP's insistence on barging ahead with a coal mine repeatedly rejected by the courts as a painful example of how petropoliticians will never accept any environmental regulation on fossil fuel extraction, while Amanda Stephenson <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/trans-mountain-expansion-cost-estimates-grow-1.7127619">reports</a> on the continued escalation of the up-front cost of the Trans Mountain pipeline which the Libs insist on funding at public expense.</p><p>- Max Fawcett <a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/02/22/opinion/canada-needs-wealth-tax">discusses</a> why a federal wealth tax would represent both good politics and good policy. </p><p>- Linda McQuaig <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/pierre-poilievre-wants-to-look-tough-but-bows-to-donald-trump/article_5d52ebe2-d043-11ee-82ac-f3afa2220f1c.html">highlights</a> how the Cons' claims to care about responsible public spending and affordability are utterly irreconcilable with their determination to shovel public money into the military-industrial complex as a sop to Donald Trump. And Rhianna Schmunk, Angelina King and Lori Ward <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ontario-medcheck-shoppers-drug-mart-pressure-1.7126811">report</a> on the exploitation of Doug Ford's corporatist health care plans by systematically billing for unnecessary medication reviews (at rates far higher than doctors receive for prescribing). </p><p>- Finally, Luke LeBrun <a href="https://www.convoywatch.ca/p/city-of-ottawa-no-fines-or-arrests">exposes</a> how Ottawa's police once again allowed right-wing extremists the run of the city - and are only now <a href="https://www.convoywatch.ca/p/ottawa-police-board-orders-operational">reviewing</a> their lies about that course of action after they've been exposed in the media. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-3911730140970585062024-02-27T20:18:00.001-06:002024-02-27T20:18:18.211-06:00Tuesday Night Cat Blogging<p>Trapped cat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULfi5LDOuWVF5j9UI8REZMJhhP9lq7KXax_SMp1bx7ndvDTVgH84ilBMRb2JKYrtS40mniUXa0j4AoNJ4nuIA8zad68mVCRo3NAlUpcIyObGdnurNUpG87PzYEjEpjN3tT_dpCnwz_02giwcWF3wi7WgTte_tu6FVBV-67dh-oL1baqVKn1yEQw/s2048/428660699_10168490768480397_8684592189368137017_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULfi5LDOuWVF5j9UI8REZMJhhP9lq7KXax_SMp1bx7ndvDTVgH84ilBMRb2JKYrtS40mniUXa0j4AoNJ4nuIA8zad68mVCRo3NAlUpcIyObGdnurNUpG87PzYEjEpjN3tT_dpCnwz_02giwcWF3wi7WgTte_tu6FVBV-67dh-oL1baqVKn1yEQw/s320/428660699_10168490768480397_8684592189368137017_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpvkfO9yxOhvHnwymS_fVdZtSYluQcKGHBsUDt9nQqSn_Q1Txtg6Kj7Zhuds3tpa8yebiCAp2gj6yY3aCgSThBpcnnJbO0TpyZ916fbCcjatN4UZI38HlyPJmFPDGGc0Kxlygb5Gq4vfneFMYd2pk1Jx3uq-dpexuChnO1PFm_EHeVwPhOzfdeQ/s2048/427927659_10168490695395397_3678942565983709357_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpvkfO9yxOhvHnwymS_fVdZtSYluQcKGHBsUDt9nQqSn_Q1Txtg6Kj7Zhuds3tpa8yebiCAp2gj6yY3aCgSThBpcnnJbO0TpyZ916fbCcjatN4UZI38HlyPJmFPDGGc0Kxlygb5Gq4vfneFMYd2pk1Jx3uq-dpexuChnO1PFm_EHeVwPhOzfdeQ/s320/427927659_10168490695395397_3678942565983709357_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KlqvEgWfsEnk4SLIxHtM4U_V4BQSo3jjUAGNN170wBpwDz6k-TitvQiFL54hWcaujDDpeqghaIiLptyfvK31fwozU0fCP2CTR6_ipJzBSLNiTZu2wwFFSGTrhIPxeoI0_0WR_c7UNWbVLF4VIvRQMfvDE3d4kt1L6-KpAQxNxPoHarvPzNR5Lg/s2048/430277462_10168490695695397_5427907240641620859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KlqvEgWfsEnk4SLIxHtM4U_V4BQSo3jjUAGNN170wBpwDz6k-TitvQiFL54hWcaujDDpeqghaIiLptyfvK31fwozU0fCP2CTR6_ipJzBSLNiTZu2wwFFSGTrhIPxeoI0_0WR_c7UNWbVLF4VIvRQMfvDE3d4kt1L6-KpAQxNxPoHarvPzNR5Lg/s320/430277462_10168490695695397_5427907240641620859_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-15211804860949449062024-02-27T13:39:00.000-06:002024-02-27T13:39:20.778-06:00Tuesday Morning Links<p>This and that for your Tuesday reading.</p><p>- Andre Picard <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-return-of-measles-is-cause-for-concern-not-disdain/">highlights</a> the dangers of treating the return of measles (and other threats to health exacerbated by anti-science zealotry) as something to be mocked rather than taken seriously. And John Paul Tasker <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/primary-care-canada-10-000-canadians-report-1.7125990">discusses</a> the widespread frustration Canadians are experiencing trying to get access to primary health care in an overwhelmed and undersupported system.</p><p>- Markham Hislop <a href="https://energycentral.com/o/energy-mix/china%E2%80%99s-peak-oil-demand-bombshell-eviscerates-danielle-smith%E2%80%99s-energy-strategy">highlights</a> how China's long-term plans to ramp down the use of fossil fuels makes the UCP's plan to entrench dirty energy (including by <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-renewables-wind-solar-ban-moratorium-1.7126195">stifling</a> the development of renewables) into a fool's errand. But David Climenhaga <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2024/02/26/Danielle-Smith-Stick-Taxpayer-Fossil-Fuel-Risks/">notes</a> that Danielle Smith's priority isn't so much to develop a sustainable economy so much as to ensure the public pays the long-term price for the oil industry's extraction of profits. </p><p>- Roland Berger <a href="https://www.climateaction.org/news/how-to-decarbonize-the-1000-most-co2-intensive-assets">examines</a> how the most carbon-intensive industrial activities on the planet can be converted to less harmful alternatives.</p><p>- Adam Cseresznye et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935124004419">study</a> the ubiquity of persistent organic pollutants in electronic waste even in Europe where disposal of electronics is subject to some regulation. </p><p>- Finally, Joan Westenberg <a href="https://joanwestenberg.com/blog/if-the-republican-party-bans-the-ubi-what-the-fuck-is-their-plan">asks</a> how politicians who are determined to shut down any reliable income supports (including basic income programs) can claim to have any interest in affordability and economic security. And Crawford Kilian <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2024/02/26/Set-Maximum-Wage-Rich/">discusses</a> Ingrid Robeyns' <i>Limitarianism</i> as providing a model to rein in income and wealth inequality while also ensuring the resources are available to meet people's needs. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-26096383829543412172024-02-26T15:39:00.005-06:002024-02-26T15:39:54.385-06:00Monday Afternoon LinksMiscellaneous material to start your week.<div><br /></div><div>- Kevin Jiang <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/canadian-scientists-helped-run-the-worlds-largest-covid-19-vaccine-safety-study-heres-what-they/article_e437cee6-d18f-11ee-9c1e-e31400d2e3d0.html">reports</a> on the results of the largest-ever study into the effects of COVID-19 vaccines - which concludes they've been extremely safe (while serving to prevent far worse outcomes). But Gregg Gonsalves <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/society/undermining-public-health/">laments</a> that public health authorities are under attack by the forces of ignorance - and taking a dangerously defensive posture as a result. And sadly, Patrick Butler's <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/19/the-devestating-impact-of-covid-and-austerity-on-children-in-england">summary</a> of issues facing children in England reinforces the false and anti-health message that the effects of a pandemic on child development should be blamed solely on public health measures to control the spread of COVID, rather than the dangers and effects of the disease itself. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Leigh Phillips <a href="https://jacobin.com/2024/02/pandemic-treaty-intellectual-property-big-pharma">discusses</a> how wealthy countries are sabotaging work on a global pandemic treaty by insisting that drug manufacturers' profits take precedence over people's health. And Helen Santoro <a href="https://www.levernews.com/americans-paid-11-billion-to-make-drugs-you-cant-afford/">reports</a> on new research showing that big pharma has made over $70 billions in profits off of $11 billion in public research expenditures to develop ten drugs - and has the gall to be demanding that it be entitled to avoid negotiating those drugs' prices to make them remotely affordable to patients. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Mark Olalde and Nick Bowlin <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/the-rising-cost-of-the-oil-industrys-slow-death">examine</a> how the oil industry's profits are similarly based entirely on extracting subsidies from, and dumping environmental costs on, the general public. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Matthew Rosza <a href="https://www.salon.com/2024/02/23/plastic-experts-say-recycling-is-a-scam-should-we-even-do-it-anymore/">weighs in</a> on the need to stop treating ineffective recycling programs as an excuse for permitting the mass pollution generated by plastics. And Gerry McGovern <a href="https://www.gerrymcgovern.com/designing-waste-out-of-networks/">notes</a> that the default assumption that we should accept waste in the name of convenience serves as a source of easily-avoidable energy use. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Gil McGowan <a href="https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-albertas-trickle-down-nonsense-will-gut-public-services">writes</a> that the UCP's corporatist zealotry represents a grave threat to basic public services. And Joan Westenberg <a href="https://joanwestenberg.medium.com/the-side-hustle-bait-and-switch-d64ee8e9aa08">calls out</a> "side hustle" culture for seeking to squeeze even more out of workers while the rich accumulate more and more unconscionable fortunes. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Finally, Cory Doctorow <a href="https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/26/horsehoe-crab/">offers</a> a much-needed response to the establishmentarians who spout "horseshoe theory" to falsely equate work at building equality with its polar opposite. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-92226425254350068592024-02-23T20:20:00.000-06:002024-02-23T20:20:12.021-06:00Musical interlude<p>Dash Berlin feat. Hoyaa - Aviation</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8gBB7StWBSA?si=g6_6LueByNPVQfg1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-58021560714030904682024-02-23T14:15:00.004-06:002024-02-23T14:15:34.211-06:00Friday Afternoon Links<p>Assorted content to end your week.</p><p>- Gary Fuller <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global/2024/feb/23/eu-countries-could-save-238000-lives-a-year-by-meeting-who-air-pollution-guidelines">reports</a> on the European Environment Agency's estimate that EU countries alone are responsible for 238,000 deaths a year arising from their failure to meet World Health Organization air pollution guidelines. </p><p>- Adam Lowenstein <a href="https://www.desmog.com/2024/02/15/recycling-plastic-center-for-climate-integrity-report-fraud/">discusses</a> the Center for Climate Integrity's report tracing the plastics industry's half-century-long pattern of deceit about the inability of recycling programs to avert a plastic waste crisis. And Francesca Fionda, Jeffrey Jones and Chen Wang <a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-mining-liabilities-cleanup-costs-taxpayers/">report</a> on the massive unfunded mining liabilities which stand to be absorbed by the public in British Columbia. </p><p>- Robert Frank <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/22/tax-evasion-by-wealthiest-americans-tops-150-billion-a-year-irs.html">reports</a> on new figures from the IRS showing that tax evasion by U.S. millionaires costs upwards of $150 billions every year. And Christine Wen et al. <a href="https://theconversation.com/students-lose-out-as-cities-and-states-give-billions-in-property-tax-breaks-to-businesses-draining-school-budgets-and-especially-hurting-the-poorest-students-222940">highlight</a> how tax giveaways to already-profitable businesses have starved education systems and other social supports. </p><p>- Cory Doctorow <a href="https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/21/im-feeling-unlucky/">notes</a> that Google has long since broken the "monopolist's bargain" of claiming that perpetually increasing dominance is necessary to preserve long-abandoned claims to security and functionality. And Steven D'Souza et al. <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rising-food-prices-canada-north-1.7122481">report</a> on the effects of monopoly food pricing in Canada's North - as well as the Libs' utter lack of interest in doing anything but subsidizing the problem. </p><p>- Finally, Mike Elgan <a href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/3712843/the-hidden-high-cost-of-return-to-office-mandates.html">points out</a> how return-to-office mandates have resulted in immense losses to workers without producing any discernible benefit for the employers imposing them. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-67090726501918671732024-02-21T14:44:00.007-06:002024-02-21T14:44:46.093-06:00Wednesday Afternoon Links<p>Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.</p><p>- Armine Yalnizyan <a href="https://www.thestar.com/business/opinion/why-is-ontario-embracing-private-health-care-the-scandinavian-experience-shows-it-hurts-both-the/article_a6042152-ca95-11ee-8a09-1ff6ab24257e.html">offers</a> a warning about the spread of the tapeworm economy in which corporate profiteers wriggle their way into public services and siphon off resources. </p><p>- Julia Velkova <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/reimagining-public-values-in-algorithmic-futures/whats-new/dismantling-public-values-one-data-center-at-the-time">discusses</a> how reliance on tech monopolists undermines the capacity to decide and deliver on social priorities. And Allen Best <a href="https://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/columns/why-tax-breaks-for-data-centers-theyre-coming-anyway/article_4b9f7de2-d049-11ee-ad7c-7fab98834827.html">points out</a> the absurdity of subsidizing massive data centres which inevitably cause environmental harm and strain on public infrastructure. </p><p>- Andrew Nikiforuk <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/02/19/Alberta-Brutal-Water-Reckoning/">discusses</a> the precarious state of Alberta's water supply - and the utter lack of any government response to avert disaster. And Dana Nuccitelli <a href="https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/02/how-oil-sands-undermine-canadas-climate-goals/">writes</a> that the tar sands are singlehandedly preventing Canada from living up to its climate commitments - while also resulting in our oil sector generating far worse carbon pollution per capita than even the U.S.'. </p><p>- Michael Haederle <a href="https://hsc.unm.edu/news/2024/02/hsc-newsroom-post-microplastics.html">points out</a> new research finding microplastics to be present in every new human placenta. And Sandee LaMotte <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/01/health/predigested-food-wellness/index.html">writes</a> about use of predigested slurries to keep people from having their hunger fulfilled. </p><p>- Finally, Ethan Cox <a href="https://ricochet.media/en/4034/exclusive-information-commissioner-finds-feds-withheld-details-of-relationship-with-private-spy-agency">exposes</a> how the federal government has lied and withheld information about its use of private spies who are actively monitoring journalists. And Bryan Carney <a href="https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/02/19/RCMP-Web-Surveillance-Methods-Blasted-Privacy-Commissioner/">reports</a> on a special report from Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne on the RCMP's systematic violations of privacy through undisclosed online surveillance. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-65657933930741468482024-02-20T17:11:00.002-06:002024-02-20T17:11:16.311-06:00Tuesday Night Cat Blogging<p>Cat among toys.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4tB6Otuybp7lFLK8IvX_MCHaMW6dsfAv5MKwMHyZOOT67Y5XMd2E5tWD_si5GKarwAz6Efp06iQ0TOc3HWsDgVuvbpX8kHqnLR9DwgCdfcRgdcCaCj147cgrFACBfgc0aolNSYmSg28-JnaW736u2QEO1sfSlh11XmZBrsfTbTedBfN3k8c52w/s2048/422713435_10168471947795397_244468362333622997_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4tB6Otuybp7lFLK8IvX_MCHaMW6dsfAv5MKwMHyZOOT67Y5XMd2E5tWD_si5GKarwAz6Efp06iQ0TOc3HWsDgVuvbpX8kHqnLR9DwgCdfcRgdcCaCj147cgrFACBfgc0aolNSYmSg28-JnaW736u2QEO1sfSlh11XmZBrsfTbTedBfN3k8c52w/s320/422713435_10168471947795397_244468362333622997_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZMkTg3wck1Rn8VmxA6_-f9qesg4BjgTbaBShwwrsNbhl05zo9cHRDQ370vocqbQhfkSaKeLxgBt38ziM0tmdgP-ZKSpVVCJ05ze4xjGKFCG7m7JsPzM5EsTLOQ_wnXIDghxBqrRG47ocsfE2PAj6QgXrba1gHf3hFR3yIqfk235WI6yKoo5xYw/s2048/422651352_10168471947830397_7674265801812237658_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZMkTg3wck1Rn8VmxA6_-f9qesg4BjgTbaBShwwrsNbhl05zo9cHRDQ370vocqbQhfkSaKeLxgBt38ziM0tmdgP-ZKSpVVCJ05ze4xjGKFCG7m7JsPzM5EsTLOQ_wnXIDghxBqrRG47ocsfE2PAj6QgXrba1gHf3hFR3yIqfk235WI6yKoo5xYw/s320/422651352_10168471947830397_7674265801812237658_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb1HY5TKKVKf94QTejF2DBrOz38bVJpIO7KxQzGKLiKoh23fyfiZ8RBGAOrPGnQV2Lw923TVCkRSh-y6ehKKy_menC_tAk-kh3URKXsgbZWLayvs-guU-ajyPbfIaCHpoinWMtMhn0OUfcoM3AdTfbOUwQ7uspEUNz6z7Ket3hjFCbkmcHzMscg/s2048/423326028_10168471947870397_6195565563318276627_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb1HY5TKKVKf94QTejF2DBrOz38bVJpIO7KxQzGKLiKoh23fyfiZ8RBGAOrPGnQV2Lw923TVCkRSh-y6ehKKy_menC_tAk-kh3URKXsgbZWLayvs-guU-ajyPbfIaCHpoinWMtMhn0OUfcoM3AdTfbOUwQ7uspEUNz6z7Ket3hjFCbkmcHzMscg/s320/423326028_10168471947870397_6195565563318276627_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcaRPaX9Ta7CrmtxHAzsdlNCX0CVxbaCWCRlKHUQFjsZ6U8J7uUgon60qAfV2UJMO9YwsI1IVPKOiy3SiJamM9_EMrxNCRinV36o9KPOiNGv_Cu0b5IUcORvaMMmygZBBVtENeQTxjMpjUlVTyPbpqdoHaVlHFOgXIQh9mEHur5gatT6maUy2NA/s2048/422664769_10168471948210397_6450347254610485977_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcaRPaX9Ta7CrmtxHAzsdlNCX0CVxbaCWCRlKHUQFjsZ6U8J7uUgon60qAfV2UJMO9YwsI1IVPKOiy3SiJamM9_EMrxNCRinV36o9KPOiNGv_Cu0b5IUcORvaMMmygZBBVtENeQTxjMpjUlVTyPbpqdoHaVlHFOgXIQh9mEHur5gatT6maUy2NA/s320/422664769_10168471948210397_6450347254610485977_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-82311367914817867692024-02-16T20:12:00.004-06:002024-02-16T20:12:59.345-06:00Musical interlude<p>Thornley - Come Again</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QXBY_nOlpnY?si=qXn22rZGQbg-Jfvm" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-67053040242680539932024-02-16T13:01:00.000-06:002024-02-16T13:01:01.894-06:00Friday Afternoon Links<p>Miscellaneous material to end your week.</p><p>- Amy Peng et al. <a href="https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae065/7606553">examine</a> the profound positive impact of mask mandates in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Ontario. And Sheena Cruickshank <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/15/covid-booster-jabs-campaign-spring-2024-uk">warns</a> about the avoidable harm we can expect as so many respond to the political and social signals to abandon all precautions in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. </p><p>- Luis Guanter et al. <a href="https://eartharxiv.org/repository/view/6709/">document</a> an immense methane leak from a single well blowout in Kazakhstan. Michael Barnard <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2024/02/15/ccs-redux-best-carbon-capture-facility-in-world-creates-25x-more-co2-from-use-of-product/">offers</a> a reminder that the definition of a carbon capture and storage "success story" is the release of 25 times more carbon pollution than is captured.</p><p>- Zoe Yunker <a href="https://www.thetyee.ca/News/2024/02/15/Quality-Cannot-Be-Compromised-Trans-Mountain-Urgency/">reports</a> on the federal government's choice to scrap pipe supply and testing requirements for a particularly treacherous stretch of the Trans Mountain pipeline. Fatima Syed <a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-climate-impact-report/">discusses</a> how the Ford government has suppressed a study which shows how the climate crisis endangers numerous facets of life in Ontario. And Raidin Blue and Betsy Again <a href="https://www.pembina.org/reports/deep-retrofits-supply-chain-analysis.pdf">study</a> (PDF) how bottlenecks in labour and material supplies are among the obstacles to making buildings more energy-efficient - making clear that the price of subsidizing dirty energy expansion is to divert the resources needed to transition to a cleaner economy. </p><p>- Matthew Kurtz <a href="https://monitormag.ca/articles/costly-gambles/">examines</a> the problems with making educational institutions beholden to capital investments.</p><p>- Finally, Erika Shaker <a href="https://monitormag.ca/articles/from-battleground-to-common-ground/">writes</a> that trans children deserve far better than to be used as pawns in the right's culture wars. Rob Reiner <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/rob-reiner-christian-nationalism-trump-documentary-1234969196/">discusses</a> how hostility toward diversity is behind the willingness of U.S. religious nationalists to support Donald Trump. And Laura Woodward <a href="https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/sask-church-pastor-wants-shelter-shuttered-1.6771246">reports</a> on the appalling demand by a Saskatoon church to shut down support services for homeless people - and how it's being echoed in Sask Party policy. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-85628954704878300092024-02-15T14:13:00.011-06:002024-02-15T14:13:48.813-06:00Thursday Afternoon Links<p>This and that for your Thursday reading.</p><p>- Rachael Lyle-Thompson <a href="https://www.mother.ly/parenting/social-safety-net/">discusses</a> how children are happier in countries with social safety nets which reduce the anxiety level around them. And Eric Galbraith et al. <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2311703121">find</a> that satisfaction levels in small-scale Indigenous societies may be just as high as in the wealthiest countries - offering yet another indication as to how substituting GDP for social well-being misses the mark. </p><p>- Evan Halper <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/02/13/plastics-schools-plastivan-recycling/">discusses</a> how the plastics industry is attempting to hijack school systems to avoid answering for the harm it does to the environment. And Taylor Noakes <a href="https://www.desmog.com/2024/02/09/fossil-fuel-advocates-spread-disinformation-about-canadas-false-advertising-bill/">examines</a> how the dirty energy industry is responding to legislation seeking to rein in deceptive advertising with a barrage of exactly the type of dishonesty which demands a public policy response. </p><p>- Arthur Neslen <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/12/litigation-terrorism-how-corporations-are-winning-billions-from-governments">discusses</a> the "litigation terrorism" being used to block even the most minimal of environmental laws and policies. And Billy Briggs <a href="https://theferret.scot/legal-threats-environmental-campaigners/">examines</a> the systematic abuse of litigation threats against individual climate activists. </p><p>- Max Fawcett <a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/02/15/opinion/danielle-smith-still-dreaming-when-it-comes-oils-future">writes</a> that Danielle Smith's obsession with the perpetual expansion of fossil fuel production (and resulting carbon pollution) exceeds even that of Saudi Arabia - even as Alberta stands to pay the price for being a laggard in both climate and economic terms. </p><p>- Finally, Catharine Tunney <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-lgbtq-warning-violence-1.7114801">reports</a> on CSIS' warning that anti-trans bigots pose a threat of extreme violence. Gillian Steward <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/when-danielle-smith-targeted-transgender-teens-she-was-following-orders-from-her-most-extreme-supporters/article_55730302-c9b9-11ee-b833-bb9270db93a3.html">discusses</a> how Smith is serving exactly those forces in aiming her government's power against trans teens, while Althia Raj <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/on-transgender-issues-pierre-poilievre-twists-the-truth-and-punches-down/article_e0e6c17e-c795-11ee-8f95-afcd632ed2e1.html">highlights</a> how Pierre Poilievre is twisting the truth to justify his own attacks on trans people. And Jason Vermes <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/foria-gender-affirming-care-privatization-and-politics-1.7115611">reports</a> on the gender-affirming clinics who have no choice but to operate privately as right-wing governments refuse to recognize their work as health care. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0