Sunday Morning Links

This and that for your Sunday reading.

- Nazeem Muhajarine, Cory Neudorf, Kyle Anderson and Alexander Wong each point out the desperate need for Saskatchewan to keep people healthy in the face of new COVID-19 variants, while Zak Vescera discusses the contrast between what experts and recommended and what Scott Moe has chosen to do in minimizing any effective response. And Chris Chacon reports on similar warnings from Alberta's doctors which are likewise going unheeded, while Jason Herring notes that the cresting third wave is entirely preventable. Which means that it's time for a Photoshop inspired by the phrase commentators have begun using to describe Doug Ford's PCs (who themselves deserve nothing but criticism for increasing risks when we can least afford it):

- Meanwhile, Sara Mojtehedzadeh points out the gap between the COVID-19 cases actually traced back to Amazon, and the much smaller number reported to Ontario's workers' compensation system.

- Alexandra Rendely, Anjali Bhayana and Seema Marwaha discuss how the severe and long-lasting effects on long-haul COVID patients have all too often been erased from any discussion of both public health choice and health case systems. 

- Moira Walsh reports on the effects of the coronavirus on the nurses working to prevent and treat it. And Jennifer Yang looks at the plight of refugees and other precarious workers facing the risks of the front lines of a pandemic.

- Finally, Sharon Lerner discusses how big pharma plans to turn COVID-19 into a cash cow by inflating the price of vaccines as soon as it can find an excuse to do so.

Signs of the times

It's been awhile since I've done much with Photoshop, and I can't take credit for the concept of working with this background. But for those interested, a couple of takes on Donald Trump's most prominent recent sacrilege:

On defining images

I've previously linked to Doug Cuthand's column on the climate obstructionists who are endangering our future. But I'd think it's worth putting his most powerful conclusion in a form which better connects the perpetrators to the problem.

And so...

Polluted by crimes, but torn by no remorse

Shorter Brad Wall on what's truly important as an oil spill pollutes drinking water along the North Saskatchewan River:

I only hope this monster running amok doesn't make it harder to sell new reanimation technologies.

Or in graphic form...

New column day

Here, on the contrast between Brad Wall's choice to spare no public expense in planning for his own comfort while travelling, and his apparent lack of any forethought in navigating the national political scene.

For further reading...
- The NDP broke the news about Wall's use of "travel scouts" to seek perks and upgrades in advance of his travel to Asia here.
- I've pointed out Wall's extracurricular activies in posts including these. And Susan Wright nicely contrasted Wall's belligerence against Rachel Notley's work building connections to other governments.
- Finally, for the more visually inclined, I'll end with this (with apologies to Paul Dechene):

Good to go

A few images which may or may not become highly relevant in just a few minutes.

The mystery advantage

Shorter Brad Wall:

On gleeful destruction

Others have pointed out Stephen Harper's remarkably joyful mood at the prospect of getting into another Iraq war. But lest we let the moment pass without some photographic and Photoshop memory, I'll offer up the following...

#MacKayTees

I won't claim to match Stephen Lautens' collection of #MacKayTees. But I will add a couple to the mix.

First, making using of a picture which fortuitously made its way around the Internets yesterday:

And second, encapsulating conservatism in four small words:

Happy [REDACTED] Day!

Building on Nickie's idea, I figured we'll all feel a bit more festive this Canada Day using a Canadian flag as approved and redacted by the Cons and their Public Safety department.

Enjoy!

On sucker's deals

Shorter Brad Wall:

But what you less-sophisticated, not-so-business-savvy people don't understand is this: when you pawn the furniture, you get CASH MONEY UP FRONT. How can that be anything but a great deal?

Update: On further reflection, this calls for a photoshop:

The sales pitch

Following up on yesterday's Photoshop post, let's salute one of the most eminently parody-worthy moments of the Cons' spring: namely, Joe Oliver's pitch to get Canadians drinking water from oil sands tailings ponds.

Joe Oliver pitches Conservative Sludge

On truth in advertising

It's been quite some time since I did anything new with Photoshop - and lately, that's been more out of a lack of time than a lack of readily available material. But now that we're into a quiet political season, let's start working on some images to define the Cons' plans for Canada - starting with a slight revision to the party's logo based on their commitment to environmental devastation in the name of oil exports:

On thuggery

Without belabouring the point, now might be a great time for a reminder that since the Cons took power, there's been exactly one case of politically-motivated vandalism in Canada which wasn't immediately condemned by all parties. That of course took place in December 2008, when a Con MP declared in response to the firebombing of one of NDP MP Nathan Cullen's signs that Cullen "had it coming". And there's been no indication that the Cons have ever made the slightest effort to ensure that either the MP involved or the thugs who they supported faced any justice for their actions.

So as in so many other cases (such as years of criticism of the "Liberal culture of entitlement" where their only objection in practice seems to have been the "Liberal" part), the Cons' real beef with anarchist vandals seems to be that their destruction isn't dedicated to the greater glory of Stephen Harper and his party.

Graphic content

Following up my post this morning, this seems to be in order to make sure Norman Spector's characterization of Stephen Harper sticks:


(Edit: fixed label.)

Truth in Logos

pale has a great start to spoofing the Cons' attitude toward the Canadian public. But let's go with the full visual effect:

On big projects

I'll have plenty more to say about the Regina municipal races over the next little while. But for now, I'll take a moment to mention my stake in one of the campaigns, as I'll be contributing some content to the web presence for Heather McIntyre's campaign in Ward 2.

But of course I'll also continue to put together content which is purely mine rather than having anything to do with the campaign - such as this first response to the "The ONLY" theme which McIntyre's opponent Jocelyn Hutchinson is pushing:


Needless to say, suggestions working off the theme are more than welcome.

"We chose not to" Photoshops - #3

"We chose not to" Photoshops - #2

"We chose not to" Photoshops - #1

Let's follow up on this post with a new set of Photoshops from the Libs' slogan that keeps on giving. Here's the first: