Category Society
Deja Vu
The Public Health Agency of Canada announced it would not follow other countries’ lead to screen travelers from China for COVID-19. Just like in 2020. Then it reversed its decision. Just like in 2020. The Chinese government says such screening is racist and meant to punish the Chinese people. Just like in 2020. My suspicion […]
Another Year Ends…
I feel as if I should be marking the end of 2022 here somehow, but I am not sure exactly how. For many people it has been a year best forgotten quickly. The COVID -19 pandemic seems to drag on, though at least the panic part seems to have died down as we have come […]
Welcome to Boxing Day
There’s been a social shift in the past decade. Boxing Day is no longer what it once was. It used to be the day you got the best shopping deals, as retailers sought to unload leftover merchandise in the post-Christmas period. And they still do that. But the sales don’t seem as big. It’s Black […]
Waiting on Christmas Eve
It is a time of waiting. Always has been. Christmas Eve. As a child we were waiting for the church service to end perhaps. Or for the snow to fall. Or for morning when presents could be opened. (We were envious of those whose tradition allowed them to open their gifts on Christmas Eve.) It […]
So Much I Could Say…
This video has had millions of views in just a couple of days if I am reading the analytics right. Does that mean it has gone viral? . There is so much I could say about the messaging, about government ads targeting children (which may violate Canadian advertising guidelines), about feeble attempts at humor, about […]
Only In Ottawa
The commission of public inquiry report on Ottawa’s light rail (LRT) system is out and the results are not pretty. As expected, the report isn’t complimentary towards those in charge of the multi-billion dollar project. Ordinarily you would expect repercussions for those who made bad, possibly illegal, moves while misleading the public and city council. […]
Remembering in 2022
I took time today to remember those Canadians who fought and died for democracy. Two minutes of silence at 11 a.m.isn’t much, but it is gesture with huge symbolic meaning. That sadly seems less fashionable as the years go by. Earlier this week I was walking on the campus of the Royal Military College in […]
Don’t Vote For Me!
Municipal election day in Ontario is today, October 24. When I go to the local polling station I get to choose who I want to represnet me as mayor, councillor and school board trustee. One thing that I won'[t be doing is putting an X next to my own name. I was asked by several […]
Monday’s Random Thought
Looking at the news and thinking. Two weeks after Hurricane Fiona swept through, electric power has not been restored in some parts of Atlantic Canada. In my hometown of Ottawa, a derecho storm in May saw power out for a similar period for some people. In my part of town it was only a little […]
The Joys of Bureaucracy
Changed dental plans. Not a big deal. New plan came into effect on specific date. Went to the dentist on two days after that. Submitted claim. Claim denied. Telephoned to enquire as to why. Simple explanation. Plan went into effect on X date. I had gone to dentist on X plus two days. Asked them […]
random thoughts from lorne 
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