Wideleft

Combine the ignorant, the self-interested and the 38% who couldn't bother to vote and this is what we get.

So sad that there will be no more new Barry's. The last season felt rushed (but entertaining). A great way to go out.

Holding your nose to vote for a party infiltrated with racists and bigots is no more than putting a price on your vote. A very low price. "Yeah, they're totally going to take away rights for LGBTQ2S people, but damn it - I hate that consarned carbon tax!" You really have to wonder what the breaking point is for these voters and their apologists.

When conservatives suddenly become environmentalists.... I'm actually torn on this one. The product is a huge part of the green economy and will be a boon to Manitoba economically. But, Sio Silica has to prove they can do this without damaging the water supply, because that's a problem that cannot be fixed once the impact is made. I've always been against fracking for the same reason. It used to be that the insurance companies would just screw disaster survivors over. Now, it's so bad, they don't even want to risk it.

Hope everyone recovers fully. 16 children, 1 adult injured in fall at Fort Gibraltar in Winnipeg 3 children taken to hospital in unstable condition, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service chief says CBC News · Posted: May 31, 2023 11:51 AM CDT | Last Updated: 13 minutes ago Seventeen people, 16 of them children, were taken to hospital after they fell 15 to 20 feet at Fort Gibraltar in St. Boniface, emergency officials said Wednesday. "Today at 9:55 a.m., we received a 911 call at Whittier Park for a school group that fell," Jason Shaw, a Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service assistant chief, told reporters on Wednesday. Three of the children were in unstable condition; the other 13 children and the adult were in stable condition, he said. The children are 10 and 11 years old. Emergency responders and health-care providers will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. CT outside the Children's Hospital. CBC will livestream the news conference on this page. The children were St. John's-Ravenscourt School students on a field trip, CBC has confirmed. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/fort-gibraltar-winnipeg-injuries-1.6860519

Literally half the UCP board is made up of Christo-fascists. Even Kenney said the lunatics were now running the asylum in the UCP. Calling them far right lunatics is more than fair.

A list of Alberta communities losing doctor care According to the AMA, 400 clinics in Alberta are laying off support staff or considering closing. Here are some of them. https://albertaworker.ca/news/a-list-of-alberta-communities-losing-doctor-care/ Oooooo. Fresh meat!

GCN20 this morning:

Private healthcare is red meat for the anti-conservative vote. The Fed Libs will definitely not ignore it.

Huge upset for Latvia over Sweden today (3-1). This proud Latvian-Canadian couldn't be happier.

Our own Manitoba government is borrowing money to fund tax cuts.

7 facts about Pierre Poilievre that probably aren’t true but we refused to be briefed on the actual situation 1 HOUR AGO by LUKE GORDON FIELD ( @LUKEMAYBEFUNNY ) Even though Pierre Poilievre has been leader of the opposition for a while now there is still so much we don’t know about him. And we were outraged to discover these 7 almost certainly not true facts after we refused to be given the real information as it may prevent us from sensationalizing the situation with a bunch of false propaganda that plays to our base. 1. He invented the saying ‘Case Of The Mondays’. 2. If he wasn’t a politician his preferred career would be selling predatory reverse mortgage loans to confused elderly people. 3. He is also compromised by a foreign power. But because none of the “big guys” wanted him, he’s been selling our secrets to the Czech Republic. 4. He voted against gay marriage even though his father, a gay man, was about to get married to his partner. (Oh ****, this one’s real). 5. His favourite television series is Mindhunter but “only the BTK parts.” 6. His favourite donut at Tim Hortons is a Boston Cream with extra Cream. 7. He hates the CBC because it cancelled his favourite show Being Erica Update: We deleted a part of Number 4 that said Poilievre’s father was in the House during the vote, because the source on that wasn’t definitive, and we take our job as fake news journalists more seriously than Poilievre takes his. https://thebeaverton.com/2023/05/7-facts-about-pierre-poilievre-that-probably-arent-true-but-we-refused-to-be-briefed-on-the-actual-situation/

This could go in the Canadian or US Politics threads as well because it deals with the rise of fascism. Since it's specifically about Russian fascism, I'll leave it here. Russia’s Frighteningly Fascist Youth A new generation of Russians glorifies war, death, and Vladimir Putin. MAY 21, 2023, 7:00 AM The term “fascism” may have a vexed history, but this paradox—war is peace—is central to its political philosophy. Umberto Eco, the Italian philosopher, noted that one of the key facets of fascism was the constant war that had to be waged to prove that the nation was always on the path toward a cleansing regeneration. “Pacifism is bad; life is permanent warfare,” he wrote in the mid-1990s. But why should Putin, a 21st-century autocrat seemingly without real internal threats to his power and ruling a country fueled by income from abundant natural resources, be attached to such a vision? The British scholar Roger Griffin argues that fascism seeks to regenerate the nation through war. It aims to destroy elements of modernity in order to create a new world order in response to the “degenerative forces of conservatism, individualistic liberalism, and materialist socialism.” The obliteration of morally degenerate enemies and moral orders by an ethnonationalist society totally dedicated to this goal is meant to bring about a new era in history. That new era, however, only ever recreates a supposedly lost past: a time of mythical, wondrous harmony when a nation and its subjects were culturally and militarily powerful. For Russia, this fantasy era picks apart and reassembles chunks of the medieval, tsarist, and Soviet past, where symbol and myth transcend historical reality. The longed-for utopia can only ever exist as fictional spectacle, performed for and by the public. It is pure fairy tale. Putin’s Russia has bolted the fascist dream onto a distinctly modern popular culture. Modern fascist culture, Danish scholar Mikkel Bolt Rasmussen argues, spreads itself not through formal political parties and institutions—21st-century Nazi parties or Brownshirts—but through popular and internet culture. There are no closed doors beyond which fascist ideology cannot reach. Parties are no longer needed to create mass movements when social media groups can be created, joined, and eviscerated at the click of a mouse. Fascist governments and their subjects continually construct and reconstruct themselves—and do the opposite to their enemies—online and in “real life.” In online spaces where performance and public display easily overpower everyday reality, fascism is apt at staging what Bolt Rasmussen calls “a simulacrum of society.” From Foreignpolicy.com https://archive.ph/5O8Dt#selection-1069.0-1081.22

Or it could be someone close who is dying a slow death. This is none of our business.

From May 17 Free Press: Bombers suspend Grant, cut 11, add a pair The Bombers transferred return specialist Janarion Grant to the suspended list early Wednesday morning. According to head coach Mike O’Shea, there’s no reason to be alarmed. The all-star isn’t in any trouble, it was simply a roster move. “Just needed some time. Personal reasons,” said O’Shea.

While Conservative Provincial governments are hiding record transfers from the Feds in order to cut taxes for their wealthy donors instead of improving or implementing their own social safety nets to help those poor people you mention. Conservatives have always been about punching down. I don't know how you don't see it.

I quite liked the movie, but haven't yet read the book. A friend who read the book first also didn't like the movie.

Al Franken's political commentary books are very, very entertaining. Forrest Gump may be the funniest novel I've ever read. I didn't find Lamb as hilarious as my wife did, but it definitely has its moments. The birth of Jesus has been well chronicled, as have his glorious teachings, acts, and divine sacrifice after his thirtieth birthday. But no one knows about the early life of the Son of God, the missing years -- except Biff, the Messiah's best bud, who has been resurrected to tell the story in the divinely hilarious yet heartfelt work "reminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams" (Philadelphia Inquirer). Verily, the story Biff has to tell is a miraculous one, filled with remarkable journeys, magic, healings, kung fu, corpse reanimations, demons, and hot babes. Even the considerable wiles and devotion of the Savior's pal may not be enough to divert Joshua from his tragic destiny. But there's no one who loves Josh more -- except maybe "Maggie," Mary of Magdala -- and Biff isn't about to let his extraordinary pal suffer and ascend without a fight.

All is forgiven.

I think any discussion about books and reading is welcome here. Banning books is a ridiculous notion given how easy it is to find books online. When it comes to schools and public libraries, I do think there needs to be intelligent, thoughtful and expert guidance on what belongs and I think that for the most part it has worked out very well in Winnipeg particularly, thanks to the expert guidance. Some red-cap wearing Floridian lady should not be allowed to single-handedly have books removed from schools and libraries across the state like we're seeing. It's a complex issue similar to curriculum development that can be corrupted if the wrong people are in charge or responding to complaints. The unfortunately titled Lies My Teacher Told Me delves into the mess caused in Texas jurisdictions by ideologues afraid of history. I say "unfortunately titled", because for the most part, it's not the teachers' fault in any of his examples, but more on the curricula decision-makers. It is a fantastic read at any rate.

Finished this a few months ago. So much information about so much, but also about how science "worked" over the last couple centuries or so. I want to reread it and tab about 75 pages. The ultimate eye-opening journey through time and space, A Short History of Nearly Everything is the biggest-selling popular science book of the 21st century, and reveals the world in a way most of us have never seen it before. Bill Bryson describes himself as a reluctant traveller, but even when he stays safely at home he can't contain his curiosity about the world around him. A Short History of Nearly Everything is his quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization - how we got from there, being nothing at all, to here, being us. Bill Bryson's challenge is to take subjects that normally bore the pants off most of us, like geology, chemistry and particle physics, and see if there isn't some way to render them comprehensible to people who have never thought they could be interested in science.

How many times will Edmonton play the Riders? That could be 200+ a game.

Currently on my night stand: Brexit. Trump. Ford Nation. In this timely book, David Moscrop asks why we make irrational political decisions and whether our stone-age brains can process democracy in the information age. In an era overshadowed by income inequality, environmental catastrophes, terrorism at home and abroad, and the decline of democracy, Moscrop argues that the political decision-making process has never been more important. In fact, our survival may depend on it. Drawing on both political science and psychology, Moscrop examines how our brains, our environment, the media, and institutions influence decision-making. Making good decisions is not impossible, Moscrop argues, but the psychological and political odds are sometimes stacked against us. In this readable and provocative investigation of our often-flawed decisions, Moscrop explains what's going wrong in today's political landscape and how individuals, societies, and institutions can work together to set things right. In the absence of motorized boats and gondolas, Venice's waters have returned to a sparkling blue color. Deer have been spotted roaming cities in Italy, and mountain goats recently took over a small seaside town in Wales. Taking advantage of the decreased boat traffic, whales have returned to roaming Vancouver's harbours. The absence of "regular" human activities has dramatically affected our environment. In this book, Bob McDonald turns his focus to global energy sources, and shows how the global shutdowns may have been exactly what we needed to show us that a greener future is achievable. This is not another "wake-up call," and not another plea to heed the climate science. This is an exploration of the incredible technologies that our species can use to get out of the mess we've made for ourselves. It is a work of immense optimism, to counteract the sense of doom that hangs over most discussions of the environment. Many alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal have been available for decades--but they alone will not be enough. Additional power will come from small nuclear reactors the size of an office desk, and space-based solar power satellites with enormous mirrors that can capture sunlight, convert it to microwaves, and beam it to the ground to light up entire cities. Energy will be captured from waves, tides, and hydrogen. Vehicles will no longer have tailpipes that emit smog particles. Food will be sourced locally. Green technology is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and will only continue to skyrocket as current products improve their performance and new products emerge. A new green age is upon us--let this book be your guide to the future. "Anand Giridharadas shows the way we get real progressive change in America--by refusing to write others off, building more welcoming movements, and rededicating ourselves to the work of changing minds." --Robert B. Reich, best-selling author of The System The lifeblood of any free society is persuasion: changing other people's minds in order to change things. But America is suffering a crisis of faith in persuasion that is putting its democracy and the planet itself at risk. Americans increasingly write one another off instead of seeking to win one another over. Debates are framed in moralistic terms, with enemies battling the righteous. Movements for justice build barriers to entry, instead of on-ramps. Political parties focus on mobilizing the faithful rather than wooing the skeptical. And leaders who seek to forge coalitions are labeled sellouts. In The Persuaders, Anand Giridharadas takes us inside these movements and battles, seeking out the dissenters who continue to champion persuasion in an age of polarization. We meet a leader of Black Lives Matter; a trailblazer in the feminist resistance to Trumpism; white parents at a seminar on raising adopted children of color; Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; a team of door knockers with an uncanny formula for changing minds on immigration; an ex-cult member turned QAnon deprogrammer; and, hovering menacingly offstage, Russian operatives clandestinely stoking Americans' fatalism about one another. As the book's subjects grapple with how to call out threats and injustices while calling in those who don't agree with them but just might one day, they point a way to healing, and changing, a fracturing country. David Steinberg's name has been synonymous with comedy for decades. The Canadian-born comedian, producer, writer, director, and author has been called "a comic institution himself" by the New York Times. He appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 140 times (second only to Bob Hope), and directed episodes of popular television sitcoms, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, Friends, Mad About You, The Golden Girls, and Designing Women. From 2012-2015, Steinberg hosted the comedy documentary series Inside Comedy, which featured such comedy greats as Billy Crystal, Chris Rock, and Gary Shandling. In this entertaining history of comedy, Steinberg shares insightful memories of his journey through his career and takes the reader behind the curtain of the comedy scene of the last half-century. Steinberg shares amusing and often hilarious stories and anecdotes from some of the most legendary comedians in the industry--from Groucho Marx, Carol Burnett, Mel Brooks, and Richard Pryor to Lily Tomlin, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Tina Fey. Inside Comedy presents in-depth portraits of some of the most talented and revered comedians in the world of comedy today. Don't bother unless you like stories of wanton killing of wildlife in the early 1800's. David Thompson's journals are far more interesting, insightful and descriptive: https://electriccanadian.com/makers/davidthompsonsnar.pdf A fascinating read. Made the WaPo's best of the year list. For fans of The Wager and Mutiny on the Bounty comes a thrilling true tale of power, obsession, and betrayal at the edge of the world. In 1808, an American merchant ship happened upon an uncharted island in the South Pacific and unwittingly solved the biggest nautical mystery of the era: the whereabouts of a band of fugitives who, after seizing their vessel, had disappeared into the night with their Tahitian companions. Pitcairn Island was the perfect hideaway from British authorities, but after nearly two decades of isolation its secret society had devolved into a tribalistic hellscape; a real-life Lord of the Flies, rife with depravity and deception. Seven generations later, the island's diabolical past still looms over its 48 residents; descendants of the original mutineers, marooned like modern castaways. Only a rusty cargo ship connects Pitcairn with the rest of the world, just four times a year. In 2018, Brandon Presser rode the freighter to live among its present-day families; two clans bound by circumstance and secrets. While on the island, he pieced together Pitcairn's full story: an operatic saga that holds all who have visited in its mortal clutch--even the author. Told through vivid historical and personal narrative, The Far Land goes beyond the infamous mutiny on the Bounty, offering an unprecedented glimpse at life on the fringes of civilization, and how, perhaps, it's not so different from our own. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Forrest Gump the book is absolutely hilarious - far more absurdity (which I love). The movie Field of Dreams is the one that stands out for me as far better than the book. The book is really a bit of a mess, in my opinion.