This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Richard Denniss calls out Australia’s government for its “nothing to see here” approach to an ongoing public health emergency. And Falko Tesch et al. study the connection between COVID-19 infection and subsequent autoimmune diseases, while Tim Requarth discusses the multiple effects COVID can have on
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The Cracked Crystal Ball II: Danielle Smith’s Magical Email Investigation
So, last week very serious allegations of the Premier's office attempting to intervene in the prosecutions resulting from the Coutts blockade last year. By Saturday, the Premier's office was going to "investigate" by reviewing the GOA e-mail servers. On Monday, the Premier issued a "we found nothing" statement. There are
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Katie Camero discusses how the belief that the COVID-19 pandemic is over (pushed by businesses and politicians eager to avoid responsibility for anybody’s health) is creating avoidable dangers for everybody. Sydney Stein et al. study the persistence and dispersal of COVID in
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Afternoon Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Emily Crane reports on a new report commissioned by the U.S.’ Department of Health and Human Services finding that masking policies are needed just to deal with the known dangers of long COVID. And Abdullah Shihipar, William Goedel and Abigail Cartus point
Continue readingScripturient: Another Abuse of Power and Position
As this term of council winds down, with only a few weeks before the election, it seems some members at the table can’t help themselves abusing their position and their power. Their sense of entitlement is an embarrassing display. At tomorrow’s council meeting (Sept. 20), Councillor Jeffrey will make the
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Corruption – who cares?
An earlier piece by Lew Edwardson recalled one example of public sector corruption. Such occurrences are so common that most pay scant attention. In British Columbia, we have government quietly granting subsidies worth billions of dollars to fossil fuel producers, more billions gifted by BC Hydro’s secret contracts for private
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Mary Ward and Lucy Carroll report on New South Wales’ warning of the potential for COVID-19 reinfection as the newer Omicron variants become dominant. Zoe Swank et al. find that people with long COVID may have viral reservoirs in their bodies for a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Afternoon Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Ryan Tumulty reports on Theresa Tam’s warning that Canada may be headed for another COVID wave this fall. CBC News reports on the warning from Fahad Razakthat the province shouldn’t have lifted mask mandates this week, while Jennifer Lee points out that Alberta
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Richard Sima examines how the steps needed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in indoor workplaces would also help address longstanding air quality issues. But Robert Pearl notes that rather than taking systemic steps to protect health from COVID as well as
Continue readingScripturient: Looking for Information
I am looking for information — and hopefully confirmation — about some local events that may have involved people who may be — or may wish to be — in “high places.” Some may also intend to put their name(s) forward for the 2022 municipal election. I believe that public
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: The Faux-Feathered Falcon
Led by the accomplished but politically naïve Andrew Wilkinson, BC Liberals were crushed in 2020 by John Horgan, a man who was opposite of the Opposition leader. That led to BC Liberal influencers deciding an old reliable was needed to regain days when the region’s government was of business, by
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Jeff Zuk writes that there are plenty of reasons why COVID-19 case loads still matter – making it a sign of gross negligence that so many governments have decided to stop counting and/or reporting them. Bryann Aguilar discusses the obvious links between Ontario’s
Continue readingScripturient: Utterly Corrupt and Contemptible
Last night, our council contemptuously appointed a replacement for former councillor Tina Comi, who had been bullied out of office by the Gang of Six of the seven currently at the table. The man they chose was former mayor, Chris Carrier, who also: Is a registered lobbyist in Collingwood for
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Reuters reports on research showing that public health measures implemented in response to COVID-19 also saved hundreds of thousands of lives by limiting the spread of dengue fever. Nadia A. Sam-Agudu, Boghuma Kabisen Titanji, Fredros Okumu, and Madhukar Pai discuss how wealthier countries
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – C Raina MacIntyre offers five reasons to keep wearing a mask even after mandates are removed – and the arguments are even more compelling in areas where waves of infections are still in progress. And Elizabeth Yuko reports on the victims of
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Carly Weeks examines why so many Canadian children still haven’t been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. John Loeppky asks that we not eliminate the digital solutions which have allowed people with disabilities to participate on somewhat more equal ground. Zak Vescera reports on Saskatchewan’s ballooning waitlists
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Doug Cuthand writes that all spin to the contrary, the #flutruxklan has nothing to do with freedom. Rachel Gilmore reports on the its connections to white nationalism and racism. Justin Ling reports on the warnings to MPs that they’re at risk of violence
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Afternoon Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Zak Vescera reports that the Moe government’s push toward privatizing COVID testing has turned into such a fiasco that even the for-profit operators are calling for somebody to apply regulations to protect the public. Ninan Abraham et al. call out a Globe and
Continue readingScripturient: Power Play Behind Council’s Closed Doors
In the recent meeting of the Strategic Initiatives Standing Committee, last Tuesday, one of the issues discussed was the replacement of Deputy Mayor Hull during his unexplained absence, as well the “potential” (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) “Mayoral Vacancy” coming soon (readers will recall that Mayor Saunderson sloughed off his mayoral
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: On Political Corruption – Sarah Chayes
No one likes talking about the corruption in OUR system, yet it is present and it is a festering problem that threatens the social fabric we all depend on. “Elections boil down to conflicts within the business community.” ( T. Ferguson) When you add together the Reagan deregulations, the
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