Public Groceries

Avi Lewis, the new NDP leader, is proposing a network of government run grocery stores as a solution for the high cost of food. On average, Canadians only spend about 10% of their disposable income on food, but for a lower-income family, that can easily rise to 40%. And getting that food to us is a complicated process, from growing, to harvesting, shipping, distributing, and selling in a mega grocery or corner store. And an expensive process, meaning a typical markup of 20-50% is needed to ensure a profit margin of 3-4%. Not a huge margin, but still can be billions in total profit for a mega store.

Could the government do better? Your local CanadaFoods store would be buying from the same wholesalers, and with a smaller footprint, so it might pay more than a mega-store. Tax-free properties, maybe government-owned stores and trucks, and government managers would not really cut costs, just shift them to subsidies, paid from tax dollars. And while a public company is not focused on profits, it's also not that focused on efficiency, as it’s run on politics. Think about Canada Post, a great idea at the start, but unable to pivot to meet the needs of a changing world.

Why not just increase lower-income subsidies? CBC had a good article that examined this problem and suggested that, while using subsidies to offset the impact of a corporation's profits, there may be ways to improve some intermediate steps in the process, such as creating regional distribution centres to lower transportation costs.

Eating Out

Some of us still do go to restaurants, in spite of rising menu prices. And in spite of an increase in the “suggested” tip, but that’s another issue. Here’s an article, “19 Ottawa restaurants where you can eat well for $20 or less”.

Mississippi Miracle

From 1998 to 2024, their fourth-grade reading and math scores went from the worst in the country to among the best.

How? They applied a science of reading, including phonics. But they also held students, educators, and policymakers accountable for these scores. Here is a good article from The Atlantic on this.

What Do AI Programs Feel?

A journalist asked Claude, “How do you feel about the US military using you to select a target?” Because Claude is being used within the US Maven system. A system that is being used for setting Tomahawk missile targets in Iran. The response to him is interesting—click on the ‘video’ tab in this link.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

BuzzBallz

Nothing to do with personal grooming. These are premixed cocktails in a colourful orb - 200 ml, 15% alcohol, $5 each, and a perfect size to pop in a pocket or your kids’ lunchbox. Supposedly around since 2009, but I haven’t seen them in liquor stores here in Ontari-ari-ari-o. The supplier, Sazerac, says they are careful not to market to minors. Other than the handy size, cute name, and bright colours.

More Coffee

The algorithms seem to pop up lots of these stories for me:

High-tech grinding - Disclaimer - I’m a paper cone pour-over guy, and just use a Starbucks pre-ground dark blend. Not as basic a process as my father, though, who used to brew a cup of Maxwell House Instant, using hot water from the tap. But for the true connoisseur, brewing machines, especially for espresso, are very high tech, with touch screens, saved profiles, and cloud integration. Grinders have remained essentially a flat or conical burr, with a motor or crank. Grind by weight was added, but now they support a direct connection to your espresso monster and flow meters, and collect detailed statistics for you.

Medication - If you wash down your morning handful of pills with a cup of java, be careful. Some may not mix well, so you might want to wait a bit. And check with your doctor and/or pharmacist. BTW - check the article, tea may have a similar effect.

• Antidepressants - caffeine can interfere with how these are metabolized and absorbed. Or they can make you feel jittery.

• Thyroid medication - coffee can reduce the absorption of levothyroxine, used to treat hypothyroidism, possibly by up to 50%. So wait 30 minutes.

• Osteoporosis Medication - Can reduce absorption.

• Sudafed - Also a stimulant, so it can ramp up the effects of that morning caffeine jolt. It may also combine to raise blood sugar levels.

• Antipsychotic Medication - Phenothiazine, clozapine, haloperidol or olanzapine, caffeine can interfere with how they are metabolized.

• Asthma Medication - Caffeine can increase the side effects from a bronchodilator, such as nausea or nervousness.

• Blood Thinners - Caffeine can also slow blood clotting.

Evolution

Plants use light energy in the photosynthesis process to ‘split’ H2O and recombine the result with CO2 to produce carbohydrates, or plant ‘food’.

CO2 + 2(H2O) + photons → [CH2O] + O2 + H2O

Scientists have discovered several new species of black fungus in the radiation-rich environment around the Chornobyl reactor site. No, it doesn’t walk, or post to Trump Social. The difference, they theorize, is that it uses melanin, rather than chlorophyll, and feeds on ionizing radiation in a similar process that they call radiosynthesis. And the melanin may also protect the plant’s DNA against the more harmful effects of the radiation.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

Happy Hare Day

Like many of our traditions, Easter and the Easter Bunny have roots in pagan beliefs and early folktales. In this case, the link is to the spring equinox (March 21) and the celebration of fertility and growth associated with the season.

Initially, the folklore referred to the European Hare, which brought eggs, real eggs, to good little girls and boys. A bit of morality there, of course—perhaps Santa’s naughty and nice list was reused, for a small fee. Eventually, the lanky-looking hare, with its long ears, was replaced by the cuddly little bunny rabbit, the eggs became chocolate, with its endorphin rush, and children were denied the treats only if they had mean parents.

BTW - Easter Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Wine Face

Marcos Alberti took a series of photos of some friends—happy hour portraits. First, a sober photo, often after a long day of work. Then a photo after one, two, and then three glasses of wine. As expected, as the alcohol kicked in, they looked more relaxed, more casual and playful. His website has more information and photos on his wine project. Also, there is a link to another study he did, the “O” project. Another series of four photos, documenting women’s faces before, during, and after the . . .

Best Bedtime

A consistent bedtime matters, but apparently, there is also a ‘best’ time. A study in Europe monitored over 100,000 people, over almost 6 years, and found a definite correlation between bedtime and cardiovascular disease. Specifically, 10-11 pm meant 25% less risk. They think it’s linked to circadian rhythm and the reset you get from exposure to morning light. The study didn’t mention whether it would be better to adjust by season, with a bedtime set to eight hours before the changing time of sunrise.

Coffee Pros

I’m a big coffee fan, so I look for articles like these to confirm my bias.

Gut Biome - “An epidemiologist who has been studying the gut for 30 years confirms that coffee has a surprising effect on the microbiota”. I know too much coffee can act more like a purge, but this study found a healthier gut in coffee drinkers, specifically for Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus. The consequence is better metabolic and digestive health. If caffeine makes you jittery, they found similar results from decaf.

Dementia - From the Harvard Gazette - “Drinking 2-3 cups of coffee a day tied to lower dementia risk. Marked differences between caffeinated, decaffeinated drinks in analysis of more than 130,000 people”. This study looked back through almost 40 years of data and found a strong correlation. They theorize it could be related to the polyphenols and caffeine, which can be related to reducing inflammation or cellular damage while protecting against cognitive decline. Or not. The US Secretary of Health, RFK, may wish to weigh in on the topic.

Drunk Driving

“Tesla drives drunk owner while he naps, Police still arrest him on DUI”. Wasn’t he just being responsible and sleeping it off? Will we eventually become trusting/naive enough to allow this?

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

Some quirky things that have caught my eye on a Sunday.

Smart Underwear

From Gizmodo - How Many Times Do You Fart a Day? ‘Smart Underwear’ says it’s way more than you think. The small device, which just slips down your Jockeys, brings the study of farts “into the 21st century,” they boast. The study is composing the Human Flatus Atlas, an extensive study of these gases and their relation to our gut health. Because I was worried we were lagging in this field.

AI is Coming for Your Job

We know this is happening, but a recent study by Anthropic claims the impact can be much better/worse than we think. They look at which jobs AI is now actively performing vs how many more are possible. Now the estimates are ‘some’, but coming is ‘most’. And these are not just entry-level white-collar jobs. One study finds that the most exposed group is 16 percentage points more likely to be female, earns 47% more on average, and is nearly four times as likely to hold a graduate degree, compared to the least exposed group. The lag is due to various legal constraints, technical hurdles, and the need to keep humans involved to review the work. But this can all change, of course.

Polievre, Don Cherry and the Order of Canada

It’s just a nomination so far, by MP Andrew Layton. But, according to the headline “Poilievre says Don Cherry ‘embodies what it means to be a proud Canadian,’ backs Order of Canada nomination.”

In my not so humble opinion, Cherry was always outspoken, to the point of being a racist bigot. He appealed to a shrinking group of right-wing rock em’, sock em’ mentality—I always muted him. Hopefully, this effort dies.

A Busy Mind

A recent study, published in Neurology, shows that an active mind can delay the onset of Alzheimer's by up to 5 years. Or maybe it’s that people who are not prone to developing this disease tend to keep their minds busier. Either way, I seem to be ‘busier’ every year, exploring a variety of new directions in science, technology, and the arts. Maybe it’s just my Sparkly Things Syndrone.

Music

One of the areas mentioned in the above article is music. I’ve always been a singer, a whistler, a hummer. Choir school, piano lessons, school band, local orchestra, and now I have an Arturia MIDI controller keyboard, along with Ableton Labs DAW and a collection of software instruments. I have some piano books, and I am gradually relearning some of those skills. But I also want to explore synths—here’s a sample of some classic riffs. The presenter is a little odd, but many of these seem doable.

Here’s a tune for you - synthesizer blended with an orchestra. I love the various rhythms - is that a repeating note on a flute? Is there a pattern to the repetition?

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

Last night was the SOTU, Trump’s State Of The Unbalanced address to the US Congress. He did confirm that he was still unbalanced. I watched all 1 hour and 47 minutes worth of the circus, but off and on. I was also cooking, doing dishes, and driving my train in Railroader, so the evening wasn’t a complete waste.

The official requirements for this address are only that the President report to Congress from time to time—not necessarily annually, or in person. Plus, entry has to be granted by Congress. Since the advent of TV, though, it’s become more performative, with Trump excelling in this aspect, as he often does. It’s the biggly-est spectacle ever, but where does this all end? David Frum of The Atlantic questions whether this form of the address should continue, or at least that it be called for what it is.

Donald Trump misused the annual presidential tradition in ways so radical as to call the ritual itself into question.

President Trump’s State of the Union address last night was very like the man who delivered it: divisive, abusive, and childish.

It was a night full of shameless bragging about how great he is, how great America is, how terrible it was when he swooped in to save it all. Many bendings of the truth, many out-and-out misstatements/lies.

He railed against the Supreme Court’s disgraceful rejection of his tariffs, but said there were still many other methods he could use for the same end result, all without even having to go to Congress for approval. True, he can use any existing tariff laws Congress have already approved in past years, but he still can’t create new tariffs without their approval. I assume he’ll misuse these other avenues and wait for the courts to challenge him.

As for his repeated assertions that other countries pay the tariffs—sort of true. Many of them pay the US money in response to tariff threats, paying in the form of billions in investment. Or a promise of investment, as actually building or even expanding manufacturing plants is a multi-year commitment, not something decided on the current whims of an unbalanced President.

He did speculate that tariffs, paid for by foreign countries, might eventually replace income tax, to great applause from Republicans. In reality, income taxes provide trillions, tariffs a tenth of that. Plus, when tariffs encourage domestic production and purchasing, imports decrease, and tariff revenue decreases. He may have been thinking of the olden days, as in pre-1913, pre-income tax. Back then, revenues were raised through public land sales, tariffs, and excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco. There were few government programs to support at the time, so this was sufficient. However, demands for funds increased, and there were also concerns that these taxes and tariffs unfairly impacted the lower classes. Hence, following ratification of the 16th Amendment, income taxes were introduced, with the initial high threshold targeting just the top 1% of the population. The same top 1% that is now likely to pay very little income tax, relative to their incomes.

There was also a lot of trash-talking of the Democrats, of pretty well all non-supporters, although it took Trump longer than expected to let loose. A bar in DC started pouring free suds at 9 pm, vowing to keep going until the first insult. The bartender assumed that it would take 5-10 minutes. Nope, not until forty-five minutes in did Trump let loose on “Biden and his corrupt partners in Congress.” And then he kept going. By then, most of the patrons were too drunk to care.

The SOTU is seen as a rallying cry for the midterms for the president’s supporters. This one certainly gave them a lot of rah-rah to quote back home, lots of alternate-fact talking points about how great everything is now. Missing was talk of new, exciting programs to justify another two years.

Leave a comment

Share

Some quirky things that have caught my eye on a ‘Sunday”.

IMS - Irritable Male Syndrome

According to this article, and to Doctors even more learned than Dr. Oz, this is a thing.

Are you a grumpy old man now, shaking your fist at those damnesd kids on your lawn, hammering the keyboard in all-caps messages, or yelling at every driver on the road? You may have IMS. Symptoms include:

• Mood changes, including irritability, lower motivation and feelings of depression

• Cognitive changes, like difficulty concentrating or memory lapses

• Low energy and fatigue that isn’t explained by poor sleep alone

• Reduced libido and fewer spontaneous erections

• Loss of muscle mass and strength despite regular exercise

• Increased body fat, particularly around the midsection

• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or poor-quality rest

Basically, it’s male menopause, but it comes on slower, as it can sneak up on you over a period of a decade. And it’s without the hot flashes, but adds a limp noodle. No real cure for this, but lifestyle changes can make it more bearable for you. And for those around you.

Edit - I decided to add more here, mainly on causes. Here’s a shopping list to choose from:

• hormonal - dropping testosterone levels

• high cortisol levels from stress

• lifestyle - diet, lack of sleep, no exercise

• psychological - loss of male identity, anxiety, isolation

• general biochemical shifts.

Solutions? Deal with some of the above, some are an easy fix.

Man Grows Some Dirt

Ok, he did more than that. According to this article, a YouTuber dropped by the quiet shallows of a nearby river and collected some things. He took some algae-covered stone, a several weeds, a few random water insects, and river water, and added it all to a large (2-quart?) jar. He sealed it up for six months, in a bright-ish spot, and observed the resulting ecosystem. I’ll be heading over to my local river in a few months to do the same.

Using AI to Hide From AI

A group of Wikipedia volunteers spent years cataloging AI ‘tells’, the give-aways that enable us to flag AI articles. They did this as part of a project to clean up Wiki. Now there’s a plugin to hide these tells, a ‘humanizer’. Written for Claude Code, it shows how to NOT write like AI - not that surprising a development. Still in early development.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

Some quirky things that have caught my eye on a ‘Sunday”.

Reading Corner

I assume you’re a reader - you’re here after all. Do you read books? Even more - do you read print books? Do you have a nice little book nook for that? Not the diorama kit type, but a real-world cozy little corner. A place to relax and lose yourself for hours in other world.

This great article points out three cautions around this zone. I’ll summarize, but do check it out.

• Too many book. While it can be comforting to be surrounded by all your ‘friends’, it can also be intimidating to be stared down by all those stacks of ‘to be read’. Keep a few on a cute little shelf, along with a knick-knack or two, and send the rest back into the main stacks of your library.

• Too cute a spac. Yes, that turn a little closet into a hideaway article looked charming, but it’s all a little too twee, as it’s often fitted with just a padded bench. Get an old armchair, the kind with actual padded arms, so you can shift around, curl up, and stretch out. Sit it by a window, and add a little ottoman too.

• Too much other stuff - keep it simple here. Get rid of distractions like electronic devices, craft projects, and televisions. This is a place to focus on the books, or to stare into space and daydream. OK— a pen and paper are allowed, just to jot down any inspirations that hit you, and a small plant.

This related article from the WAPO also caught my eye. The author feels that the quite reading space also need to be a souerce of inspiration, for those momentys when you lift your gaze forn the page and stare at . . . what? We don’y all have a quiet Englisgh garden to stare at, but we do have a bit of blank wall. People tuirn on YouTube projectors and cast videos on the wall, of a garden, a library, a window with raindrops trickling down, a crackling fireplace, all with soft background music.

Happy B-thuth-dy WTP

100 years ago, in 1926, the first Winnie the Pooh book was published. This article reminds us what a good model this little bear can be. He felt no need to dazzle the world, was the first to admit his shortcomings, and he wasn’t always rushing about. The article goes on to describe the history of this Bear of Little Brain, the real world Christopher Robin, and the sad twist his life took.

BTW - I did a series of Winnie the Pooh podcasts, reading from these stories.

DIY Senior’s Home

Four ladies, here in Ottawa, have set up a communal home, where they can grow older together. Two were physicians, one a nurse, and one a high school teacher. They had a home designed and built custom for their planned life. Each has a small private unit with a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, and they share a larger kitchen, dining room, living room, craft room, and even a garden. They are from 74 to 81, and share ownership and duties.

They were all fortunate enough to have enough income to build this and cover living expenses, and hopefully will share in good health for several more years. And it helps that they were already friends, of course.

But not all seniors, assuming they have enough money, can afford to tie it up in homeownership. And medical needs can vary, and can change with disturbing swiftness. It can be a leap to go from the independence and responsibilities of home ownership, or even of renting, to a bed in a seniors facility. But there are alternatives. Here’s a link to Advantage Ontario. They represent various not-for-profits providing seniors’ care and are supported by both their local members and the government. Abbyfield houses are one of these solutions. This group will often convert a house into private rooms and common areas, add some senior amenities, and provide housekeeping and meals. Most of these are in BC, including Port Alberni, but they are across Canada too, including Ottawa and Toronto.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

Some quirky things that have caught my eye.

Journalling

I’ve journaled for years/decades. Mostly using Moleskine and a fountain pen, but it varies. Sometimes I start the day with a few to-dos, log my progress throughout the day, add thoughts, observations, and reminders, and finish with a reflection on how the day went. Sometimes I only do some of that. Sometimes I miss a few days.

I find that, when I use a journal, many recommend it as a good way to slow down and reflect. I have a shelf full of these books, but I rarely go back to them. They are handwritten (badly), not digitized, so unless I made a note in the book’s index for the page where a critical event occurred, it’s lost. Digitizing my handwriting is possible, but cumbersome. An online journal would solve this, but I’m not a fast typist, and I like the slow pen and paper process.

Do you journal? Tell me more.

The Globe and Mail had a good article on this, with several stories from pen and paper people.

Help With Resolutions/Solutions

I’d written a few days ago about New Year’s Solutions. How are yours doing?

I found another good article from the G&M, on making 2026 a year of curiosity. The article suggests that if we keep trying new things, then we can see challenges as opportunities to explore. As opposed to just hiding under the covers ;-)

• Monthly - explore a new topic, dabble in a new hobby.

• Weekly - do a review of what went well, and what could be next.

• Daily - try one new thing, be it a recipe or a different route to work.

Recent Videos

Trakt tells me I watched 775 hours in 2025. Yikes! Although that is only 15 hours a week. The bulk was in Drama, primarily political and period pieces. And a third was re-watching, thanks to a repeat of Mad Men and The West Wing, and two repeats of Killing Eve. This is me being more consumer than creator, so won’t help my New Years (re)solutions, but I will try to push for higher rating shows, and newer ones. Mhz Choice does carry some interesting European crime shows.

Let’s look at December, for now. These are some I liked:

• Only Murders in the Building - I just started but well writtten and filled with cameo performances.

• Sherlock and Daughter - a miniseries (8). A quirky take on it and well done.

• Silo - ongoing. A Sci-fi series based on a trilogy by Hugh Dowey. I read the first book, I think. Finishing Season 1 of 2, but it is starting to drag.

• A Christmas Carol - A 2019 3-part series from BBC. Dark, and good.

• Killing Eve - finished, for the third time. Love this, especially Jodie Comer’s acting. All characters are good, though.

• Northern Exposure - finished (re)watching Season 1. Entertaining, but not great, so is off the list now.

• Raiders of the Lost Ark - Another rewatch, but it’s been years. Still fluffy and silly, but good.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

I’m reposting this from my old blog, now offline. This got many hits every year at Christmas. I’d forgotten about it—thx Patty, and thx Wayback Machine for a copy. Brew some up for one last party before heading back to the grind next week. Or for any occasion. Happy New Year

*******************************************

I went to a party a few weeks ago (Dec/2005), where they served Moose Milk. Scuttlebutt there was that the potent drink was originally a Canadian military (Navy?) tradition, but it is a drink suitable for just about any winter party - military or civilian. Of course, each branch of the services claims to have the original and best recipe for moose milk - the Navy especially. I asked an RCMP friend if they made it at their own parties. She said they usually just checked online for the location of the nearest military mess serving it and went over and drank theirs. Her own at home recipe for it was just ice cream and rum.

Here’s my Canadian recipe for Moose Milk - metric of course:

• 1 L rum

• 1 L Kahlua

• 1 L vodka

• 3 L vanilla ice cream (softened)

• 3 L 2% milk (just to be diet-conscious)

• chocolate pieces (break up a dark chocolate candy bar or two- this is the added secret moose poop garnish floating around in it)

• nutmeg

Stir together, leave in some lumps. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.

You may need to play with the proportions to suit your palate, less kick with less vodka, obviously. Dark rum adds more flavour too. This recipe does make a lot, but that usually doesn’t seem to be a problem, as somehow it gets used up. It can leave you with a bit of a hangover, probably all that milk. Or maybe it’s from heading out for spicy food after— been there, done that.

I did find a blender recipe for the solitary drinker - the single moose:

• 1 oz. Dark rum

• 1 oz. White rum

• 0.5 oz. Kahlua

• 2 scoops ice cream

• Nutmeg

Blend just until smooth, sprinkle with nutmeg. Repeat as needed, but I’m betting that before you know it, you’ll have friends over, encouraging you to fill the blender to the top, and then you start looking for that old punch bowl and calling DoorDash for supplies. For either of these recipes, don’t drink near an open flame, and be careful when standing up suddenly. This tastes best on a cold winter’s day, but also works in warmer climes, to help Canadians brag about how cold it is back home.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’ve also added a link to the Wiki article for Moose Milk, meaning real milk from a moose. Not necessary for these recipes. Do not head out after the punch bowl is empty to find the local zoo, as real moose do not appreciate sudden surprises, like cold hands fumbling underneath. The article does clarify:

Canadian Air Force Messes traditionally serve “Moose Milk” at their New Year’s Levees. This alcoholic concoction contains no moose milk whatsoever. The recipes vary, but tend to include eggs, sugar, maple syrup, cream, or ice cream, and some combination of rye whiskey and rum.

I don’t know if it’s served overseas, but judging by the amount of booze in it, hopefully not in an area with loaded guns. And maple syrup? Maybe.

I found a pre-made variation online. Sold out, though, and the contents are not specified. It won’t be as good as a hand-crafted version.

I remember we tried a variation of this one year when I was home from college, with eggnog and brandy and whipping cream. “Uncle” Ted (ex RCAF?) made it for the family on Christmas Eve, and it went down very smoothly. We never did make it to Midnight Mass. Good thing.

Half the fun is in exploring different ways to make this, so here’s a link to some other moose milk recipes to try. Let me know which ones you like - as long as the keyboard doesn’t look too blurry to type. The recipe is on many online military sites, each showing its own genuine recipe, all variations on alcohol, ice cream, and some creamy liqueurs. Some use beaten egg yolks, but if you want that variation, it’s easier to just add commercial eggnog. And then more rum to compensate for the added nog. Reddit has a good selection from them, here.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

TL;DR - a change in focus to more of a creator, less of a consumer. With optimism.

My sister prefers the term “solutions” to “resolutions”. I agree. Resolve implies a focus on the firmness of determination that a problem will be solved, a commitment to it. All well and good, but ‘solve’ focuses more on first finding a good answer. We can certainly do that at any time, but the start of the new year is a convenient time to identify and/or admit to a problem, to an issue that we might have. Perhaps nudged on with some guilt over Christmas over-indulgence and a year with successes, but also with some failures. It’s a process many friends and family are also optimistically going through, so it’s a good time to be part of the gang and jump right in, sharing the camaraderie, the goals and the resolve, proud of the noble cause for becoming an even better you, and grateful for the helpful nudge of peer pressure. And then we can share the camaraderie with others in the failure of your resolution—80% by mid-February, according to a random AI source. If you are one of the few that do manage to succeed, do so quietly, OK?

But back to solutions. Actually, back to the initial problem, whether it’s something new, a big thing that must be dealt with, or a minor but annoying detail that you’re tired of ignoring. It, of course, needs to be something you can identify with and are motivated to address. Next step, you will need a goal, a long-term aspiration, realistic and achievable, but with a bit of a stretch to it. Then find a solution on how to get there, with S.M.A.R.T. objectives. Build some routines, some rituals. some habits, and give yourself a bit of wiggle room in case ‘life’ intervenes. Measure the successes of tiny steps, give yourself some little awards. I know none of this is news to most of us, but maybe my take on it will give it the spin you need for success.

As for me, my New Year’s Solutions are a WIP. Starting off vaguely with a desire for a new focus. Retirement comes with the freedom to pick and choose pretty well whatever one wants for the day’s to-do list. Or leave it blank. Fewer pressures, fewer challenges, fewer successes. Some days can be a whirlwind of checklists, of new venues explored, of gratifying accomplishments. Some can be long hours buried in news coverage, binging on sitcoms. or deep into online gaming, broken up with the occasional nap. Not that there’s anything wrong with that—until there is. I’d like to see more long-term progress for myself, so I'm changing focus to create more and consume less.

I used to have writing and music as my main creative outlets. I was a choirboy in my youth and passed my Grade 5 Conservatory piano level. I spent several years as a high-school band geek, and then I played trombone in a local orchestra 10 years ago. Played well, I was told, and I enjoyed it. I published and sold two novels 15 years ago. I wrote six novels since then, all sci-fi/fantasy, all sitting as drafts in various stages of editing, plus I put almost 200 short stories up on my blog. An additional creative flair was some detective work in genealogy, working on my family tree. Years of on-and-off progress, but I recently renewed my subscriptions to various sources. I think my intent was to nudge myself to get active in that again.

The short stories were done as Flash Fiction, 1000 words maximum, part of a series of challenges. I’ve been posting them weekly on my Substack, with minor edits. For the better, I assume. I think some of them are good enough to submit to a publication online. A nice goal would be to get some published, so a (vague) solution could be to start sending one to online publishers each week. I subscribe to Duotrope and have used it in the past to find publishers and track progress. A stretch goal for this would be to actually write more new short stories. However, as I read more great online stories and write fewer of my own, my personal quality bar is set higher for good vs crap. A solution for that is another WIP.

Still on writing, those novels that are all sitting in draft form were part of NaNoWriMo challenges. Some have stronger storylines and/or plots than others, and all are at various stages of completion. A very stretchy goal would be to get them all published; a more reasonable one would be to assess each of them, set some priorities, then pick one for the year.

I do write occasionally on my SubStack. I curate an occasional Sunday Sparklies post, highlighting a few quirky things that caught my eye over the past week. A creative outlet, and it does get feedback from fans, but a goal would be to be more regular with it.

Part of my consumer side is following the news through online sources, newsletters, and Substack journalists. Too much so at times. I do create the occasional post, as a summary and a commentary, but the input/output ratio is too high, as the news is a constant stream. And often depressing. The goal would be to keep this as an occasional thing only. Solution - delete a few of those sources.

On my SubStack, I also do a 30-minute podcast twice a week, reading from various novels. The classics, as in copyright free. That has lasted for two years now, and while feedback is almost non-existent. I enjoy both the process and the regular schedule. I have a good voice for it, and have improved my equipment and process, but more feedback would be nice. Another WIP, I think.

Related to my SubStack is my brand, and various domain names that were linked to an old blog. I still have the domains and have started on a new blog, but never did finish the transition, as my needs changed, as did my priorities. But, an easy goal would be just to finish setting up the damned thing ;-)

And now music. I’m always humming and whistling when I’m out and about, and I listen to various sources while doing chores or playing games. I tried singing in a choir a few years ago as part of an amateur Handles’s Messiah at a local church. It was OK, but I’ve lost volume and range with age, so no more. Ditto for trombone, as I rejoined that local orchestra and found that while I still had the chops, my aging eyesight meant reading the music was difficult for those evening practices in poorly lit auditoriums. Plus, my current building is very quiet, and a trombone is not. So, no.

I bought a used MIDI keyboard a few years ago, an Arturia Keylab Essential 49. It comes with free software that emulates dozens of instruments, plus an intro version of Ableton Live. Lots of potential there for creating. looping. layering, etc., but so far I’ve just dabbled in it. Two goals could pop up here. First to get the piano mode going, crack open the ‘piano for returning adults’ book, and do a bit each morning. Secondly, vaguely, dig into all that software and explore it.

As for consuming, be it glued to the news, bingeing on a series, reading fantasy novels, or driving my truck simulation, hopefully a schedule with more creativity will force a better balance. I used to stream my various simulation games online, but setting it up was always a pain, the feedback was often from people who needed banning, and it got to be too much like work. Any creativity in those simulations now is limited to exploring the games and finding solutions to their challenges. That’s fine for now,

Finally, the Schedule - my nemesis. I’ve an aversion to timelines and to-do lists; it seems I've come up with a lot of goals and solutions, and I have limited time—don’t we all. I will need to sneak up on myself, I think, by setting aside Creative Mornings. Tuesday and Thursday mornings are already a regular podcast gig, so it's an easy checkmark there. Friday is for flash fiction, with the current re-posting plus an added submission to a site. Sunday Sparklies will be more of a regular, while Saturday morning is often gaming and chatting with a friend. That leaves Monday and Friday as chunks of time, as well as the occasional stormy afternoon, when I’m not shopping/walking.

Those chunks, maybe three hours at a time, could work through a checklist of tasks: get my web page working, sort through my draft novels, set up a piano-mode place and software, configure Aturia/Ableton, re-sync genealogy files.

So here I am. Some introspection, some goals, solutions, and timings, but more detail and rigour are certainly needed. More creativity. Stay tuned?

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

Peak Oil Prices

One topic discussed around the recent Alberta/Feds pipeline Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is when oil prices will peak. The International Energy Agency (IEA), one of those big think tanks, had predicted this would happen in 2030. They did this in projection back in 2023, based on projected energy demand and worldwide “greening” plans to transition away from fossil fuels toward alternative sources. Based on this date, many didn’t think investors would be willing to commit to this project. They would be building a new pipeline and possibly a new ocean port that would take at least 5 years to start pumping oil.

However, the IEA just released a new forecast, predicting that oil prices won’t peak until at least 2050. They looked at the staggering energy demand by AI, and any actual ‘greening” actions of governments, as opposed to the optimistic plans. Trump and the US in particular were considered, but many other countries are reacting to the economic stress and loosening some environmental constraints. With a 2050 peak date, a new pipeline looks a little more attractive.

Granted, there still are other issues. There still have to be serious BC and First Nations consultations, although neither has a veto. Those groups are being offered a piece of the action, too, in terms of investment and some of the profits. There is also a tanker ban for the BC coast, all the way from Vancouver Island to Alaska. Risks of any oil spills can be mitigated, though, with costs and benefits. Finally, the massive Pathways project must move forward, that’s a firm condition. This is an enormous initiative in Alberta that is still in its planning stage and looking for investors. It will spend billions to store CO2 underground, and will never make a profit. Major subsidies will be needed, and it’s just treating a symptom of Alberta’s continuing oil production and the burning of fossil fuels. We might be better off paying Alberta not to pump out oil, like farmers can get paid for not growing a crop.

We might get lucky, too. The AI bubble could burst. Estimates are of over a trillion dollars in investment, with revenues still in the tens of billions. Or there could be an environmental disaster. We could see the mid-Atlantic flip, meaning that the Gulf Stream basically stops. Or the entire Greenland ice cap could slide into the ocean. Fingers crossed.

In the meantime, Carney’s enviro minister, Guilbeault, has quit, and the Greens and NDP are starting to look like a possibility for voters. However, the reality is that this whole plan is very preliminary, with a number of roadblocks, or at least speed bumps, in the way. Carney may have realized this and decided to put this MOU out there. Firstly, to calm down Premier Smith and get her more “Fed-friendly”. She seemed delighted at the signing ceremony, almost giddy. That worried me a bit. But secondly, Carney may want to see if laying out a long-term plan will add enough stability to encourage more foreign investment in Canada.

Nine Bad Laws

Premier Smith of Alberta is happy that this process will get rid of what she calls “bad laws”. Laws that add various environmental regulations and policies, and thus, from her point of view, hinder Alberta’s economic expansion. These include:

• Oil and gas emissions cap: There is a proposed federal regulation to cap emissions from the oil and gas sector. The MOU between Alberta and Ottawa includes an exemption for the province.

• Clean Electricity Regulations (CER): These are Federal regulations for a net-zero power grid. The MOU states that the CER will be suspended for Alberta for the time being.

• Bill C-48: Canada’s Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which prohibits oil tankers from operating on British Columbia’s northern coast. The MOU suggests a limited exemption to allow for the export of bitumen.

• Industrial carbon tax: Alberta’s government has expressed a desire to negotiate (as in reduce) the federal environmental regulations, including this one, which is a part of the broader negotiation between the provinces.

• Electric vehicle mandate: The federal government plans to push for increasing quotas for sales of electric vehicles, effectively a ban on gasoline and diesel car sales. The federal government already suspended this mandate in September.

• Bill C-69: This is a federal law to streamline (as in improve and strengthen) the environmental assessment process. Smith’s government is fighting against this legislation, and the MOU suggests further discussions on the future of major project investment in Alberta.

• Other environmental regulations: The broader category of federal environmental regulations that Alberta wants to negotiate, including methane regulations

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Share

You’re Soaking In It!

Remember those Palmolive commercials from the ‘70s with Madge? Apparently, there’s a new meaning for “soaking”. The meme peaked a few years ago, but it came up in Utah for Jimmy Carr recently at one of his shows (starts at 1:20 here). He’d never heard of it, so his audience tried to explain the concept, amidst much laughter. It’s a way of getting around the Mormon ban on premarital sex. Male on top, penis into vagina, and don’t move. The male is just ‘soaking’, in whatever. As an added bonus, your friends can help with ‘jump humping” —they jump on the bed next to you. It sounds like they’ve found a loophole with their God, similar to the poophole loophole.

A Diet to Lower Agression

No, not Ativan. Fish oil, for its omega-3. A recent meta study of 29 trials over th last 20 years found up to a 28% reduction, across variables such as age, gender, medical diagnosis, and length and dosage of treatment. The reductions were both in the reactive and the proactive forms of aggression.

The researchers think something in the way that omega-3 reduces inflammation and keeps vital brain processes ticking over might be helping regulate aggression. There are still a lot of unanswered questions, but the team suggests there’s enough evidence to look into this further.

Music and Dementia

A recent study in Australia showed a correlation between regular music listening and a lower risk of developing dementia.

In the study, published in October, researchers looked at data spanning a decade and involving more than 10,000 relatively healthy people, aged 70 and older, in Australia. People who listened to music most days slashed their risk of developing dementia by 39 percent compared with those who did not regularly listen to music, the study found.

Not a causal relationship, as there are likely other factors involved, but still interesting. The type of music didn’t seem to matter either, so it could be bubble-gum pop or a Beethoven symphony. When you listen, various parts of the brain are activated. Motor areas, even when imagining dancing around. Sensory areas, for emotions, imagination and daydreams.

Recent Videos

From my Trakt history:

• Fallout - big hype on its renewal, so I thought I’d check it out. I lasted for 2 episodes - slow, filled with fluff.

• Pluribus - speaking of slow - nope. Two episodes did for me. Slow and boring. Too illogical - I know it’s fiction, but the logic and science should at least try.

  Episode Two was not as bad as the first one, but I won’t waste more time on it. 5.10

• Predator: Badlands - I liked this. Not your standard Predator movie, as it is cast as a likable protagonist. With Elle Fanning playing his smart-ass sidekick. Hope there’s a part 2. 7/10

• The Age of Innocence (1993) - I watched this to check out the story for a podcast. Maybe. It’s 19th-century New York high society - similar to the Golden Age series. Great with Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder, and some guy. 8/10

• Howards End (1992) -another historical drama, examining the struggles between the various classes. Less subtle than The Age of Innocence, so better suited to be heard aloud. Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Prunella Scales, etc. 8/10

• Alien Earth (2025) - sci-fi series, just out. Aliens, syntheics, and a trillionaire with a Peter Pan complex. I liked it. Another 8/10

• Killing Eve - ongoing. Almost finished with my third pass through it. So many nuances to pick up. Then I watch something like Pluribus get 9/10 ratings and realize that Apple TV knows their audience - the bar is set pretty low for that demographic. Although many Breaking Bad fans are following it. 9/10.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

New York City just elected a new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, a person whom Trump vehemently opposed. In his victory speech, Mamdani said, “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.”

The mayor is a Democratic socialist. For myself here in Canada, an NDP supporter, socialist is not a red flag. For Trump, it’s the equivalent of waving Chairman Mao’s Little Red Book in his face. Today, Trump was that claiming “people” are telling him they need to leave New York because they don’t want to live in a communist regime. Mamdani is also an Indian immigrant from Uganda and a Shia Muslim, all things that annoyed the hell out of Trump. Annoyed him so much that The Donald actually backed Cuomo in the race, a man who has often been anti-Trump. Cuomo is also a Democrat, with a history of corruption, sexual scandals, and racism, but he is an old white guy and a ‘good’ Catholic. And not Mamdani.

It’s a day of setbacks for Trump, as are several Democratic victories across the country. In addition, today, the US Supreme Court is hearing arguments on the legality of Trump’s tariffs. I listened to the audio for a while, and it was interesting to hear the legal discussions back and forth as they clarified points in their submissions. One of the Justices did admit that unravelling the tariffs, and repaying them to the US importers and customers, would be “a mess”. The solicitor general, Sauer, ended the hearing with a rebuttal that was full of bombast and bluster, an approach that likely didn’t really help his case. He also claimed that tariffs were meant to be controlling, to regulatory, so were actually more effective if nobody ends up paying them. Hours later, Trump was in Clorida bragging that tariffs had helped raise hunded’s of billions of dollars.

From the NYT -

At one point, Justice Kavanaugh asked, why would Congress give the president the power to shut down trade but not to take a less severe step, like impose a 1 percent tariff. That, he said, appeared to underscore the government’s claim, creating an “odd donut hole in the statute.”

“It’s not a donut hole,” responded Gutman, the solicitor general of Oregon. “It’s a different kind of pastry.”

Challengers of this “taxation without representation” are asking not only for an end to the tariffs but also for the return of the billions of dollars the government has collected from US importers. Supporters of tariffs say that the loss of them would leave the US vulnerable to the rest of the world, and thst payback would drive the US into bankruptcy. There may be a bit of hyperbole there.

After almost three hours of arguments, the most important takeaway was that the administration’s lawyer faced sharp and skeptical questions from several members of the court’s conservative majority, indicating that major elements of President Trump’s tariffs program may be in peril.

Many suspect the court will issue an interim decision allowing tariffs to stand for now, basically kicking the can down the road. This would give Trump time to tweak his language and actions in hopes of making this look better, but would that help the case they made so far? A final decision is not expected for several months. until the spring of 2026. More importantly, there are several other cases already on the court’s docket challenging the President’s use, or abuse, of his authority. So they really need to decide on a position sooner rather than later.

As for Canada, the budget was as we’d expected. Bold and forceful, yet conservative-ish. It’s been described as being designed to take Canada from reliance to resilience, using deficit funds for a long term focus on increased productivity and new markets, and a short term focus on supporting those now being impacted. Details are still to come over the next few days, of course, but the path is laid out. There are a few items aimed at the NDP, and the floor crossing to the Liberals by Chris d’Entremont was a big deal. He was not a hard-core Conservative, but was unhappy with where the party was going with all their negative talk. Apparently Poilievre was not happy with his indecision soi he was dumped. Or asked to resign. D’Entremont had some choice words about the Conservatives’ attitudes and policies, as well as those of Poilievre. The party lost no time in rushing to denounce him as a traitor to them and to Canada.

There was good CBC budget coverage yesterday. But Power and Politics had Melissa Lantsman on, the Conservative Deputy Leader, in the hopes of providing some balance. Like most Conservatives, she started right in with trash-talking d’Entremont, and then carried on with Polievre-style lies and slogans. David Cochrane tried his best to slide in some facts, but she rudely steamrolled on, constantly interrupting him. She seems to be aiming for the leadership. As a clone of Pierre, just with the smarmy smirk and bitchiness volume turned up, she would be a good fit.

Next week, Parliament is on a break, before the November 17th vote. This will give the MPs a chance to discuss the budget with their constituents, and for some behind the scenes tweaking and negotiating. Maybe even another floor crossing.

If you need some reading material, here’s a link to the budget. https://budget.canada.ca/2025/home-accueil-en.html

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Share

It’s Carney’s first budget - should we be nervous?

There have been a few leaks, fewer than Trudeau used to have, but still, there will be no big surprises. This budget is mainly a reaction to Trump, a plan to manage the economy in both the short and long term. There will be more spending on infrastructure and expanded trade partnerships, but all chosen to increase our productivity and reduce our reliance on the US. More government ‘efficiencies’ and strategic cutbacks. And targeted programs for those hard hit by this downturn. No big tax cuts, and hopefully increases for the wealthy. There will be an increase in the deficit and an increase in austerity.

The gamble is that these measures will pay off in the long run, enabling us—or our children—to pay off that deficit. And I don’t think the focus is just on outlasting Trump, as he will leave behind a transformed America, weaker internally in terms of economics and politics, and weaker externally, as it is no longer a trusted partner for other nations. America will never be great again.

Carney’s approach is similar to you using your line of credit to pay for a course to get a better paying job, or upgrade your house insulation to cut costs, and then paying it down later. It seems the best solution to me.

Poilievre wants to decrease Federal spending, leaving any growth opportunities to the provinces, and also reduce taxes—meaning less revenue. He tells the youth that they have suffered enough, that they don’t have to give things up. He says, “I want you to know that I see you. Conservatives see you.” He only sees their vote, of course.

We will all have to give things up. For example, there’s a growing food delivery industry out there. I don’t know who has the money for Uber Eats every week now. Not me, plus I haven’t been to a restaurant since last year. Where do people get the “spare change” for tickets to Taylor Swift concerts or Blue Jays games? Why do so many want it all and think they deserve it all? And maybe fewer people will believe that their only choice is to own their own house in a perfect neighbourhood. Finally, renting needs to be more of a lifestyle choice, rather than something only losers settle for, as is implied.

Today, as I wait to watch the CBC budget coverage, I’ll be making a big pot of chili, so that I can have half a dozen meals stacked up in the freezer.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Share

Butt Breathing

Not the same as talking out of your butt. In 2024, several US and Japanese scientists won an Ig Nobel prize for finding that many mammals can breathe with their lower intestines via the anus. Using animals with respiratory diseases, they found that injecting an oxygen-rich liquid into the rectum relieved symptoms. Clinical trials were done this year with 27 male volunteers to investigate this further, but this is still very exploratory. Surprisingly, I couldn’t find any clinics offering it, although I did find some offering Rectal Ozone Therapy. Because, why not?

BTW - The Ig Nobel Prizes are an annual group of satirical awards. Their aim is to “honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think”.

Tinder Face Check

I like this. They use encrypted face maps to verify user authenticity. You submit a short selfie video and get a Photo Verified badge. This will also help reduce multiple profiles and impersonations. They say the image is only used for verification. but I’m sure there is a temptation to market it. The US will be photographing non-US visitors on entry, and other police forces use it already. Will this all be fed into an database? Wait - I checked online - that would be the current INTERPOL Facial Recognition System. Or the FBI one.

So what to do? Wear a mask? Or use makeup for Computer Vision Dazzle?

Healthier Lay’s

The chip manufacturer is redesigning their packaging to emphasize the various ingredients. No more artificial flavours or colours. Not that the green onion will actually contain chopped up onion, but they will “all use natural flavors, made from spice, fruit, vegetable, yeast, herb, plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and coloring from natural sources, like vegetable juice and paprika.“ Also coming are versions with lower fat and less salt. This is mainly in response to the US FDA revoking permission for several synthetic dyes, but maybe it’s a positive benefit of the Make America Healthy Again plan?

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

Benefits of Ear Seeding

I just had to read the article, of course, just to find out what it was. I knew about the belief that the careful placement of acupuncture needles connects together invisible energy pathways for ‘chi’ throughout the body, promising to alleviate pain and cure various ailments. Apparently, the placing of tiny beads or “seeds” on specific points of the ear can be equally beneficial, as shown by comparable evidence. It’s called holistic auriculotherapy. Online certification courses are available.

Solar Flares and Heart Attacks

A recent article points to a correlation between disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field resulting from solar storms and an increase in the frequency of heart attacks, especially among women. There is no causation yet, as the study was conducted in a single city with a small sample size; however, the authors suggest a need for further investigation.

Minecraft Library

I just learned that there’s a huge virtual library in Minecraft, called the Uncensored Library. Launched by Reporters Without Borders in 2020, the initiative aims to circumvent media restrictions established in various countries. It contains hundreds of books written by journalists from countries such as Egypt, Russia, and Iran, and is regularly updated. Accessible by Minecraft players anywhere, and downloaded to many sites, so can’t really be blocked or taken down.

AI in the Classroom

We read about concerns over the use of AI by students, but it‘s a helpful tool for teachers, too. It’s not just about knowing your subject; you also have to be able to teach it to students with varying degrees of motivation and often different learning styles. They use it to help set up a curriculum, to devise special activities to help teach it, and to create a guide for grading. I suppose some might argue that this would enable mediocre teachers to outperform their less techie peers, but that’s just the impact AI has in many areas. It’s just another tool/resource for teachers to use. Decades ago, public school teachers were expected to also be piano players, in order to use music in the classroom. Then they started showing up with a record player and no keyboard skills. They were hired.

Disclaimer - my posts are all AI-assisted. I used to use just a spellcheck, but now I have Grammarly. It will also suggest different phrases or even a change to the sentence structure. I learn from the suggestions, and sometimes implement them. Sometimes not.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

Finding a lost cat

Just ask other cats. There’s been a revival lately, via TikTok, of what’s called the “Japanese missing cat method”. You find a neighbourhood cat, stray or tame, whisper to it that you’ve lost your cat and how much it means to you, then finish off with a treat. Within a day or two, your cat will return. The article quotes many anecdotes of this working, so that proves it, right?

Daydreaming is Work

Researchers have confirmed that daydreaming, or simply letting your mind wander, can sometimes lead to great solutions to a problem or the sudden flash of an epiphany. It helps if you are good at solving problems, and like solving them, but when the mind wanders from the problem, then some of your assumptions, some of the constraints of literal thinking, fall away. Lateral thinking starts working more in the back of your mind, and it’s a “Eureka!” moment.

Cherry Blossoms

Remember these? A gooey maraschino cherry surrounded by crunchy chocolate. I loved them as a kid.

Hershey’s in Canada discontinued these back in January, and the asking prices on eBay are now in the hundreds of dollars and more. One aficionado stocked up with 15 at the time, but now has only eight for sale. He and his daughter have eaten seven so far.

Out of Africa, or Asia?

It has been the story so far that Homo Sapiens first evolved in Africa and then spread from there. According to a Guardian article, the re-assessment of a one-million-year-old skull that had been found in China may change that story. Initially, it was thought to be another example of Homo Erectus, but it is now believed to be Homo longi, much earlier in the evolutionary tree. I sort of understand it - this more detailed article in Science may help. Or not.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

TL;DR - US politics is so depressing.

It's both saddening and frightening to realize that the current President of the United States, Leader of the Free World, Messenger of God, Very Stable Genius — yada, yada — very often does or says things that seem at the minimum strange, and at the most downright maliciously evil.

And significantly, now each time we must consider the possibility that this president, deliberately surrounded by sycophants all eager to maintain their power, is acting out of plain old ignorance. Or, worse, he is perfectly aware of the 'wrongness', and just doesn't care, as it's all about him.

But what can “we” do about the US situation, other than rant and rave, worry and fret? Do we just turn off the news and give up, and assume it changes on its own? Do we save those eyeballs and ulcers to focus on Canadian politics, with Parliament reconvening next week and the return of the Conservatives’ yappy little attack dog?

Trump’s own supporters, both politicians and the public, are gradually turning away from him. It will become even harder for him to accomplish things through Congress — not that he tries much now. That will likely force even more reliance on Executive Orders, which are often both illegal and challenged, thus costing him more support in the long term. Court rulings are increasingly not in his favour. The negative economic and social impacts of his flailings are growing, and hard to ignore.

In the short term, the US Federal Reserve rate decision is next week, and Trump is pushing for a drop, a big one of several percentage points down from 4.5. As in to 1.5! This would be a severely inflationary move, according to economists who do not work for Trump, but he doesn't really care. He still sees himself as a successful businessman.

Congress has returned, with a revival of the Epstein files issues, and yet another imminent shutdown on the way. Once again, they are stuck in panic mode, as government funding needs to be approved by October 1st or the lights go off. This is supposed to be an annual process, but often ends in a deadlock, with a Continuing Resolution used for short-term relief. Cooperation and compromises are needed between both sides to pass a budget, and the Republicans do have a small majority in both places. Still, with the increasingly wide right-left split in America, the frequent rejection of facts and science by the right, and Trump's inevitable interference, a solution seems unlikely. They can do a short-term extension, but that won't really be of much help. The good news is that Trump and Musk slashed and burned through so many government departments that there are fewer workers to be affected. And there is little difference between abysmally slow services and none at all. Finally, I suppose the Very Stable Genius can just issue another slightly illegal Executive Order. Perhaps he can write off part of the $38 trillion federal debt against the money he claims other countries owe due to trade imbalances. Or charge the EU for the US financial cost for WW2, trillions in today's dollars.

Longer term, there are the midterms in a year, when 1/3 of the Senate seats and all of the House seats are up for grabs. The Republicans currently hold a small majority in the House and Senate, but their support is waning for some of them. Many are working to distance themselves from the current administration, their administration. They are realizing that an endorsement by Trump for someone may no longer be a good thing.

BTW, with fixed 2-year terms, I can see how House representatives always seem to be in election mode.

Further out, there will be Presidential elections in 2028. Possibly. Will Trump try to stay on as he has promised/threatened? Aside from the legal barriers, including the actual Constitution, my own selfish hope is that he will either be too sick to continue or dead by then. Other than another sniper shot, maybe a stroke would be 'best', leaving him too ill to continue, but still aware enough to realize he is blocked, and is being vilified for the mess he has left. Because it will surely be a mess that the US and the world will never fully recover from. Our PM, Mark Carney, refers to Trump as being 'transformational', a term which can go either way.

I suppose statements about an early demise for Trump get me on the radar of the FBI, as well as Homeland Security. I suspect I got there in the mid-60s when I joined the War Resisters League, out of Boston. Not that I have any plans to travel to the US.

As for replacing Trump, if the thoughts and prayers of many are answered and that event happens sooner rather than later, then Vance will be elevated to the throne and take over. He would not be as bad; he can’t be, with the bar set so low. Right now, someone with radical right-wing ideas might be okay if they are at least consistent and predictable.

Would Vance be a shoe-in for 2028 then? Who else do the Republicans have? Maybe Marco Rubio, or Kristi Noem, or Ted Cruz. As for the Dems, slim pickin's there. Gavin Newsom is a possibility, or perhaps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, or even Kamala Harris again.

Thx to Paul Krugman for an article that got me thinking on this today. It’s a good primer on fiscal dominance.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Share

Are saunas good for you?

TL;DR - Probably, according to this Economist article.

They certainly are popular in Finland, with one sauna for every 1.6 people. Apparently they can act as a source of controlled, gentle stress - heart rate increases, blood vessels open up.

“A standard 15-minute sauna session triggers the same heart-rate and circulation boost you’d expect from moderate exercise,” says Dr Kunutsor. Over time, he says, these repeated pseudo-workouts might teach the body to handle stress better, dial down inflammation, and protect the brain and blood vessels.

Some studies have found a link between sauna use and a healthier life, but also acknowledge that frequent sauna users tend to be wealthier and healthier to begin with. Some found no apparent link. The article doesn’t mention the effect of a sauna when followed by a roll in the snow, or a plunge through a hole in the lake ice, or several shots of ice-cold vodka.

Solar panels from IKEA

These can be fitted on the outside of your balcony, plugging directly into your home's grid - on your side of the power meter. As they generate power, they reduce how many watts you have to draw from the public network. In fact, if you don’t have many devices running — say you’re at work for the day — they will feed power into the public grid. In Canada, we have strict standards on how they connect to the grid, but in Germany, they just plug into your home circuits.

Coffee cheek pouches

Similar to those used for tobacco, these just fit between gum and cheek, where the caffeine is quickly absorbed. Complete with a touch of blueberry or chocolate flavour. The doses range from 50 mg — a half-cup of coffee — to more than 200 mg. The benefit is a quick hit, without having to stop in a cafe, or juggle a cup on a crowded bus. Risks include overdoses, with heart palpitations and maybe a cardiac arrest to round out the day. Never mind the effect of irritating the guns with these, and the assorted miscellaneous ingredients. They are not approved in Canada.

Tamagothci’s

Remember these from the early 2000s? Tamagotchi’s — Japanese for “egg watch’, were little plastic pets you had to babysit — feeding it, playing with it, cleaning up after it. This went on constantly. or else! Oh, the drama as schoolkids had them taken away for the day, and their little friend DIED!!

They’re back, riding a wave of nostalgia. The supplier, Bandai, recently passed a milestone - 1000 million shipped worldwide. You likely have one buried in a junk drawer somewhere, or you can get one on Amazon. And there are clubs everywhere to meet up with like-minded people and bond over your pets.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share

Silicon-smooth Hair

I bought a new bottle of shampoo, carefully selected because it was on sale. Bonus, turns out it’s also silicon-free! Apparently, that’s a thing. Silicon is an additive (hidden under different names) to many shampoos and is used to coat the fibres and make them feel silky-smooth. However, not all of these are water-soluble, so then you need a ‘clarifying’ shampoo, like the one I grabbed by Garnier Fructis. It’s also cruelty-free, so it's not tested on animals. Maybe it’s sent to third-world countries, or your hairstylist gets free samples. And it’s vegan, so no animal-derived ingredients, plus vitamins B# and B6, and Aoe. Caffeine-free, I assume too. It’s a complicated business trying to make one’s product appear better than all the rest, and it can be complicated to choose. Like I said - I pick what’s on sale. And maybe a pretty bottle.

BTW - this shampoo, while not containing silicon, does contain the following: 1067868 Ps1 Aqua / Water / Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Mineral Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Fragrance, Olive Leaf Extract, Olive Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Isopropyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Bht, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Ci 19140 / Yellow 5, Caramel, Alpha-isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate F.i.l. #d192439/1”

AI and Scams

Purolator text scam - My sister was caught by this scam recently. A text message said Purolator had missed a delivery and asked for $6.31 to reschedule. She had been eagerly expecting a package, so she paid the fee online. It said it was accepted, but there were bumps in the process, so she called me with her concerns.

Turns out there was no notice slip on the lobby door of a missed delivery, and no message from the supplier saying the parcel was actually shipped. She called her bank and blocked her card — it had been used already to open Apple and Google Pay accounts. Any charges were reversed, and a new card was issued.

Yes, she should have caught this, but she's not that tech-savvy, and these are very well done now. Rather than a real person calling, they can hit more people with computer texting and a script. They can also use a script with AI behind it, so it can tailor itself to your responses, either through voice scams that sound like a grandparent in need, or a text scam that responds individually. Scary.

Elsewhere in the AI world, yet another scary tale. According to a CBC article, people are reading AI summaries on Google search instead of the actual news stories the summary is based on. Aside from the usual AI mistakes, such as suggesting using glue to help pizza toppings stick better, these summaries are based on assumptions made as to what is important and what is not. Plus, with little cross-checking for accuracy, or whether some author was just being sarcastic. There’s the slippery slope here, of a need to keep the user happy, as in keeping them clicking. So why not bias the summary to things they are likely to prefer to hear?

Jackalopes

Remember these? It was a mythical animal, created in the 1930s when a taxidermist grafted deer antlers onto a jackrabbit carcass and sold the mashup to a local hotel in Douglas, Wyoming. Other taxidermists joined in, and it became quite the craze across the US for a while.

It’s back, sort of, with the appearance of rabbits with ‘horns’ growing out of their heads. It’s actually the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus, and can result in spiny growths on their heads.

Gopher-pocalypse

There are too many of these pests in Saskatceqwan now. Gainer is the cute little gopher mascot of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but he’s the only one people like now. Drought has meant a lot of bare areas, which they actually prefer (gophers, not Roughriders. Open fields mean they can see predators from a distance.

Back in 1917, there was a school holiday declared to deal with a gopher infestation. The child who captured/shot the mist got a Shetland Pony. There was a bounty for years after that, but that’s been replaced by various Integrated Pest Management programs, including habitat modifications. Their large holes are a danger to horses, cows, and farm equipment. Local solutions include poison, gas cartridges, and holding gopher shoots for area hunters. I couldn’t find any estimates of how many is too many, though, as the focus seems to be on killing rather than counting.

Buy me a coffee

Leave a comment

Share