Topics

1

Life from a feminist view / Young woman beated to death on Longueuil cycle path

« on: October 23, 2014, 09:13:53 AM »

Isn't this also terrorism?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/woman-dies-after-savage-longueuil-bike-path-assault-1.2808491

Sadly, because of the events in Saint-Jean and Ottawa, people are talking about this savage attack on a woman simply for being a young woman cycling or jogging on a path - in the middle of Vieux-Longueuil, the old, dense centre of a large suburb on Montréal's south shore, not an area thought of as deserted or dangerous.

2

Poverty / US Republicans make the poor pay (Gary Younge)

« on: November 05, 2013, 09:41:45 AM »

I'm putting this excellent article by the Guardian's Gary Younge in "poverty", not US, because while the phenomenon is more acute in the US with their lack of healthcare and de-unionized labour force, it affects workers and unemployed people here and elsewhere as well.

It also has a Hall of Infamy Evil Capitalist spokesbot quote:

During a discussion at the University of Michigan in 2010, the billionaire vice-chairman of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway firm, Charles Munger, was asked whether the government should have bailed out homeowners rather than banks. "You've got it exactly wrong," he said. "There's danger in just shovelling out money to people who say, 'My life is a little harder than it used to be.' At a certain place you've got to say to the people, 'Suck it in and cope, buddy. Suck it in and cope.'"
But banks, he insisted, need our help. It turns out that moral hazard – the notion that those who know the costs of their failure will be borne by others will become increasingly reckless – only really applies to the working poor.
"You should thank God" for bank bailouts, Munger told his audience. "Now, if you talk about bailouts for everybody else, there comes a place where if you just start bailing out all the individuals instead of telling them to adapt, the culture dies."


http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/04/us-republicans-make-poor-pay-budget
As many comments point out, the Democrats in the US - and the Labour Party in the UK, have essentially similar policies...

3

Weather / Late October - sudden chill

« on: October 25, 2013, 10:13:42 PM »

Summery September lasted almost through October, but now there is a sudden chill, and I'm aching all over despite 3 ibuprofen... Like a slap in the face (and all over) from sandals to gloves.

I was busy working all day and scarcely ventured out, but had to run some errands before sunset, and my hands are still aching hours later, despite woollen-lined, leather gloves.

Gord, I loathe winter.

4

Environment / Sept-Îles oil spill

« on: September 09, 2013, 01:42:16 PM »

Yet another oil spill, this time near the largest city on Québec's North Shore, Sept-Îles. (Our friend Boom Boom lives quite a distance east of there).

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/09/07/quebec-oil-spill-sept-iles-bay-cliffs-natural-resources.html

5

Europe / Cécile Kyenge, Italy's first black minister, targeted with bananas, rape threats

« on: July 28, 2013, 08:15:56 AM »

Historically, Italy (like Ireland, Greece and other poorer European countries) was an exporter of migrants, and millions of Italian emigrants experienced discrimination and sometimes violence. How soon societies forget their past.
I'm not at all fond of the current "caretaker" government in Italy, applying austerity measures, or of the Democratic Party's participation therein, but that is beside the point in terms of the barrage of gross racist - and sexist - insults against Dr Kyenge, who is of Congolese origin:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/28/cecile-kyenge-targeted-banan...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/15/ignorant-racists-ita...

6

News / Disaster in Québec town after derailment of train carrying crude oil

« on: July 06, 2013, 11:58:48 AM »

Holy shit: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/07/06/quebec-train-derailment-fire.html

Town centre devastated, explosions, fires, many people missing... A radio report said that (on a hot summer Friday evening) many people were still enjoying themselves at the terrasses of cafés and bars in the town centre.

This is a disaster for people in and around this town, but also an environmental disaster - and warning...

7

Chef's Corner / Worst restaurant dish in US is ... FISH! (Big Catch from Long John Silver chain)

« on: July 02, 2013, 01:44:47 PM »

Hey, I thought fish, despite mercury and depletion fears, remained among the better protein choices. But the Big Catch is quite a take on the riches of the deep:

Quote:

WASHINGTON — A batter-laden fried fish dish packs two weeks worth of harmful trans fat in a single serving and was named worst restaurant meal in America Tuesday by a US consumer advocacy group.
The Big Catch meal, sold at the fast food chain Long John Silver’s, contains 33 grams of trans fat and 3,700 milligrams of sodium, said the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/02/long-john-silver-packs-3700-milligrams-of-sodium-into-americas-worst-restaurant-meal/
There is very little actual fish "entombed" in the greasy trans-fat laden breading...

8

Health / Hospital infection killed Rita McNeil

« on: April 26, 2013, 07:58:47 AM »

A very important story from André Picard of the Globe: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/andr-picard-rita-macneils-death-should-make-us-angry/article11561551/
(do note that the Globe has a subscription wall after ten stories, I believe).

The shocking finding is that these infections kill twice as many people as breast cancer does. (Though of course the patients killed are already ill).

9

Activism / Earth Day Actions

« on: April 21, 2013, 11:31:56 AM »

Earth Day March (Marche pour la terre) kicking off at 2pm here, at Place des Festivals (near Place-des-Arts métro). Leaving soon. While I don't anticipate the huge crowd there was last year, there might be quite a few people, so I want to get there a bit early with my bicycle.

Last year was huge, with people from all over Québec. Boom Boom, too bad the road stops short of your village; there were people from Natashquan and the nearby Innu Reserves, and we hope there will be more this year as the action is in partnership with Idle no More - have to remember to wear my red feather!

Anything going on where you live?

10

Europe / Thatcher dies

« on: April 08, 2013, 08:16:02 AM »

I have nothing good to say about her, and her becoming PM was in no way a step forward for women.

We will remember that like Reagan and Klein, she had dementia and no longer remembered any of the evil she had done.

11

Politics / NDP Convention - Montréal

« on: April 05, 2013, 11:04:05 AM »

Anyone planning to attend?

12

Weather / Will March spring forth?

« on: March 01, 2013, 02:39:07 PM »

Thinking of the heady spring last year, that started in February. Massive demonstrations before it was actually spring, and the weather cooperated. Summer temps for the 20th of March demo for "families and friends", all-ages.

Weather hasn't been as kind this year, but it was dry and mild for the large demonstration this past Tuesday, at the phony "Education Summit" here in Montréal.

Hoping Idle no More and other forces will make spring spring forth anew, as the ghost of Stéphane Hessel, who inspired the indignant, outraged and occupiers, passes in the late-winter sky.

Tonight, a party for the 35th anniversary of L'Association des locataires de Villeray.

13

Weather / February pewter mornings

« on: February 01, 2013, 11:19:02 AM »

By Atwood:

(...)
Cat, enough of your greedy whining and your small pink bumhole.  Off my face! You’re the life principle,  more or less, so get going  on a little optimism around here.  Get rid of death. Celebrate increase. Make it be spring.
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177285

I'm not always an Atwood fan; I find some of her fiction too contrived, but this poem gives a sense of this heartless and stabbed-through-the-heart, mercifully short month!

At least the days are noticeably longer and houseplants are starting to grow again. Still, I want warmer weather and want it NOW! (So does the cat).

14

Technology & Science / Dawson College computer student expelled for finding massive security flaw

« on: January 21, 2013, 09:30:13 AM »

20-year-old computer science student Ahmed Al-Khabaz has been expelled from Montreal’s Dawson College after he discovered a flaw in the computer system used by most Quebec CEGEPs, one which compromised the security of over 250,000 students’ personal information.
http://news.techeye.net/security/student-kicked-out-for-exposing-huge-security-flaw

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/20/youth-expelled-from-montreal-college-after-finding-sloppy-coding-that-compromised-security-of-250000-students-personal-data/

The student union is calling for Al-Khabaz to be reinstated, and for an apology: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/montreal/Dawson+Student+Union+calls+reinstatement+softwareflaw/7848596/story.html

15

Cause we're all in this together / How do you tell a toddler his mummy's dead? (Guardian)

« on: January 19, 2013, 01:00:42 PM »

This is a beautifully-written piece by a young widower whose wife was suddenly killed by a speeding car when they and their wee son were heading home from a dinner with friends.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/jan/19/telling-toddler-mummys-dead

It is well-worth a read, but don't be surprised if it elicits some tears.