Thursday: Just some good news and a few funny posts, plus World Cup Stories

Busy day today so a shorter blog piece tonight!
First, some good news and funny posts about Canada and Carney

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Here's how you hold an impromptu press conference. youtu.be/IMiPkgUoxDQ?...

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— anita72.bsky.social (@anita72.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 1:50 PM

Wednesday Wit: some good comments about Poilievre and Trump and Carney and US-Canada relations and living your dreams, plus World Cup Stories

So Poilievre went to Calgary and it didn't go very well:

The Canadian media is constantly, desperately trying to prop Poilievre up at this serious policy thinker but fortunately he regularly intervenes to make clear that he’ll never surpass his true Facebook comment section self

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— Martin Concagh (@mconcagh.bsky.social) July 7, 2026 at 6:40 AM

Today's News: World Cup stories - Everything Trump Touches Dies. Plus, Carney get Subs, and checking in on Canada's far-right

The world is laughing at Trump

And at FIFA

Canada ends its World Cup journey. Plus Sunday Funday posts, Getting Old(er), Animal Crackers

Our World Cup journey is over

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— Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 (@jmcelroy.bsky.social) July 4, 2026 at 1:02 PM

The boys did good

Canada’s World Cup Journey Ends in Houston. What a Ride It Has Been. 🍁 By Annie Koshy A 0-3 defeat to Morocco today in Houston in the Round of 16. A bridge too far, against one of the best teams in the world. Five matches. Two wins. One draw. Two losses. Canada’s men scored eight goals and reached the Round of 16 of a home World Cup after 40 years of waiting for a single win. Jesse Marsch built something real. Jonathan David announced himself to the world. Alphonso Davies showed what a player he has become. Stephen Eustáquio became a national hero in stoppage time in Los Angeles. This generation of Canadian footballers changed what this country believes is possible. The Men’s World Cup goes on. Canada’s done us proud . 🍁⚽❤️🙏🏽

- Annie Koshy

Read on Substack

on one hand getting to the round of 16 is an unqualified success but between the first half and the davies and koné injuries we’re going to have a “what if” debate for years to come but maybe that’s the beauty of sports and wait you’re all yelling at me yeah okay that’s fair

— Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 (@jmcelroy.bsky.social) July 4, 2026 at 12:53 PM

Its Cartoon Day! Plus catching up with the news, some TrumpWatch, and World Cup stories

A few good cartoons: 

Today's News: Absolutely excellent Canada Strong announcements, plus World Cup Stories

When July 1 happens on a Wednesday, Canadians usually take the Thursday and Friday off too, so we engineer a five-day weekend to kick off the summer.
This year, that break did not happen for PM Carney. 

Wow!

Canada and British Columbia Sign Cooperative Prosperity Agreement on Energy, Trade, and Infrastructure By Annie Koshy Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Columbia Premier David Eby signed the Canada-British Columbia Cooperative Prosperity Agreement in Vancouver today, one of the most consequential federal-provincial economic deals signed in British Columbia in a generation. On LNG, the federal government committed to accelerating permitting, financing, and construction of LNG Canada Phase 2, Ksi Lisims LNG, Cedar LNG, and Woodfibre LNG. These projects would substantially expand Canada’s export capacity at a moment when allied demand for reliable energy has never been higher. The G7 statement at Évian last month explicitly welcomed Canada’s potential to deliver significant additional energy capacity to global markets. This agreement is the domestic mechanism through which that potential begins to be realized. A $500 million investment will expand the Red Chris Mine, increasing Canada’s annual copper production by more than 15 percent while reducing emissions by over 70 percent once operational. The North Coast Transmission Line receives $3.9 billion, projected to create $10 billion in new economic activity, reduce emissions by up to three million tonnes annually, and serve as the backbone of a clean energy corridor connecting British Columbia, the Yukon, and potentially Alberta. On trade infrastructure, Roberts Bank Terminal upgrades will unlock over $100 billion in new trade capacity and add approximately $3 billion to Canada’s economy annually. The George Massey Tunnel replacement receives up to $3 billion for a modern eight-lane structure replacing the aging four-lane tunnel along Highway 99. The Ports of Prince Rupert and Stewart will be developed as critical minerals trade corridors in partnership with First Nations. The environmental commitments are substantive. A new National Carbon Credit Framework will be established. A $250 million Whales Initiative will reinforce Southern Resident Killer Whale habitat protections along British Columbia’s coast. The federal North Coast tanker ban will be maintained in accordance with the proposed Alberta pipeline route, threading the needle between British Columbia’s environmental priorities and Alberta’s export ambitions. All projects will be built in consultation and partnership with First Nations, with explicit commitments to co-ownership and economic benefits. The Team Canada Strong initiative will train up to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers to build these projects. Over $630 million in affordable child care funding is also included. The ambition is considerable. Implementation will define whether this agreement delivers on its historic framing. https://www.youtube.com/live/DaJAB7ANkl8?si=Vov88U_HrQpdldVg

- Annie Koshy

Read on Substack

Wednesday Wit: Thanks Carney, Trudeau, Marc Miller, Bryan Adams, Tod Maffin, plus Canada Day stories, political cartoons, some comments on the passing scene, and World Cup Stories

Thanks Carney!

And this time he waited until the pancake was set before he flipped it - I think he's taken some lessons!

Heads up, Stampeded -- PM Carney now appears to have some pancake game!

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— davidakin (@davidakin.bsky.social) July 1, 2026 at 9:44 AM

A Canada Day hug between Carney and Trudeau

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— Scott Robertson (@sarobertson.bsky.social) July 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM

Kicking Back on Canada Day! Plus more Forward Guidance, World Cup stories and Pride update

This cartoon is an oldie but a goodie -- hope you are also enjoying just kicking back and swatting those annoying mosquitos!

Brittlestar explains Canada Day to Americans:

Happy Happy Joy Joy! Canada advances to round of 16. Plus more World Cup stories, catching up with the news, and today's Pride Update

What a game that was on Sunday afternoon!

Here are some posts I found about it:

Canada scores in stoppage time to reach World Cup last 16. How far can the co-hosts go? www.nytimes.com/athletic/740... 'Oh Canada' WE SALUTE YOU. It was Carney. I hope you know that.

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— Judy Gitlin (@xcised120.bsky.social) June 28, 2026 at 5:34 PM

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Sunday Funday; Good posts and comments, Funny posts and cartoons, Getting Old(er), Carney Hat Trick, TrumpWatch, Animal Crackers, World Cup Stories

So what's happening here? Lets start with a few good posts and thoughtful comments

I'm putting this right at the top so its easy to find when I want to read it again

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Moving on

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Things that piss me off and things that make me happy. Plus World Cup Stories

First, I was so happy today to see that PM Carney has a plan for renovating 24 Sussex Drive.  Tod Maffin made an interesting Short about the building and the plan:

Carney says he will not live at 24 Sussex himself. "I may not look like it, but my kids are already grown."

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It's Cartoon Day! Plus Carney's press conference, World Cup Stories and Today's Pride Update

I'm not too energetic tonight, so here are a few good cartoons I've seen lately:

Today's News: Some good commentaries, plus some World Cup stories

Some good commentaries today: 

In her substack, Joanne Pettis writes Maybe I’m the Fruitcake! Seeking Balance in a Siloed World

So, I read a lot of articles and posts that support my worldview on things.
Trump bad; Mandami good
Poilievre bad; Carney good
Danielle Smith bad; Wab Kinew good
You get the picture.
I fear though that in my way, I may not be much different from some old Maple MAGA broad who devours extreme right-wing conspiracy nonsense. Maybe I just lean the other way. Like kibbles and bits but different.
I don’t think my opinions are drawn from conspiracy blather of the left-leaning variety, but maybe I’m wrong. I realize my notions are frequently intensified by the writing of the cranky among us. However, I believe I also seek out considered, well-informed insight from reputable sources. I feel, therefore, fairly righteous about my opinions, believing them to be, in truth, informed by fact, fair, and balanced.
But how do I know that the opinions I think are balanced are not, in fact, as loonie-tunes as those of some fruitcake in MAGA land?...

Yes, I wonder about myself sometimes too.

Wednesday Wit: some funny posts and comments on the passing scene. Plus World Cup stories and Today's Pride Update

Well, for one thing, I'm happy because its finally summer.

And also I've been noticing my Sunday Funday posts often get more visitors than the more serious posts.

So I think its time I put together more Funday-type posts two or three times a week, for the rest of the summer at least. Hope you enjoy them!

“Never trust any quote of mine you read on the internet - they’re mostly hogwash.” - Mark Twain.

- Mike Sowden

Read on Substack

- Science Is Fun

Read on Substack

I ordered a chicken and an egg on Amazon. I'll let you know.

- Colin Devonshire

Read on Substack

Catching up with the news: Carney mostly getting it right, Poilievre's "comment section with parliamentary letterhead", Trump's pool, plus World Cup Stories

Fascinating Politico article by reporter Calder McHugh and Ottawa bureau chief Nick Taylor-Vaisey: Mark Carney Plays Hardball On the world stage, Canada's prime minister is a statesman. In Ottawa, he is a ward boss.
Its an interesting summary of Carney's first 18 months in politics.

...In just over a year, Carney has learned to navigate the deeply insular, often ugly game of Ottawa politics as a skilled tactician and ruthless party boss. The jetsetting king of Davos still clutches to the persona of a political outsider, more interested in the long arc of history than the petty grievances of the day. At home he benefits from an “informed naïvété,” in the words of one close Carney adviser granted anonymity to speak candidly. Carney now can do the ugly work of politics precisely because Canadians believe he is above it.
“I always knew Mark would be good at politics,” said Gerald Butts, the principal secretary to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and still a close adviser of Carney’s. “I didn’t know he would be this good at politics, to be honest. But who did? I’m not even sure he did.”...

My only minor quibble is that I think Trudeau deserves more credit for rousing the country from December 2024 to February 2025 to oppose the Trump threat, which cut the CPC off at the knees.

Then Carney picked up the torch:

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