A terrible day in Saskatchewan

This morning we woke up to the alerts on our cell phones:

Canadian police searched across Saskatchewan for two suspects believed to have stabbed to death 10 people in an Indigenous community and a nearby town in one of the deadliest mass killings in the country’s history. https://t.co/jV6JYC93De

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 5, 2022

Ten dead, at least 15 hospitalized -- the news about this horrific tragedy has now gone around the world - I saw tweets tonight from many countries, and reports of many people overseas calling loved ones here to make sure they were OK. 

The James Smith Cree Nation and the town of Weldon are north of Saskatoon -- here is an Associated Press map.

APTN News reports that Saskatchewan RCMP released this timeline Sunday : 

 5:40 a.m. – RCMP receives multiple calls from James Smith Cree Nation about stabbings at different locations. 

 7:12 a.m. – Saskatchewan RCMP issues dangerous persons alert, says police trying to locate two suspects. Area residents of James Smith Cree Nation and surrounding communities of Candle Lake, Prince Albert, Melfort, Humboldt and Rosthern told to seek immediate shelter, use caution. 

 7:57 a.m. – RCMP releases names and photos of suspects: Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson. Damien Sanderson is described as five-feet-seven inches, 155 pounds with black hair, brown eyes. Myles Sanderson was described as six-feet-one inch, 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. 

 8:20 a.m. – RCMP extends dangerous persons alert to province of Saskatchewan, saying the suspects are believed to be travelling in a vehicle. 

 9:45 a.m. – RCMP issues fourth dangerous persons alert saying there have been multiple victims in multiple locations, at least one at James Smith Cree Nation and another victim at Weldon. Some of the attacks appear to be random. 

 11:25 a.m. – RCMP sends request to Mounties in Manitoba and Alberta to extend dangerous persons alert to their provinces. 

 12:07p.m. – RCMP issues fifth update saying witnesses report seeing suspect vehicle in Regina on Arcola Ave. Residents asked to shelter in place. The vehicle is described as a black Nissan Rogue with Saskatchewan license plate 119 MPI. 

 3:45 p.m. – RCMP announces 10 people have been killed and 15 others injured in the attacks, which they say took place across 13 locations. 

The first crew from Saskatoon triaged patients at the scene, the second aircraft brought a physician to the scene to lead the response

Sask. RCMP suspect dangerous persons in Regina after multiple stabbings in James Smith Cree Nation, Weldon | CBC News https://t.co/vfpzdryTSO

— kathy mahar (@kathymahar) September 4, 2022

Regina police released this update earlier this evening:

The @reginapolice continue to work collaboratively with our partners @RCMPSK on this investigation that started this morning on James Smith Cree Nation. Suspects have not been located. An active, focused investigation will continue until they are located and taken into custody. pic.twitter.com/8m91oSINIU

— Chief Evan Bray (@evanjbray) September 5, 2022

Some information is now being posted online in memory and tribute to the people we have lost and the Associated Press is also reporting on some of the victims tonight. I had thought I might copy some of these tweets and excerpts but then I reconsidered - I think its more respectful to wait a bit until official announcements are made.

But here is an incredible series of tweets I saw tonight. First, these:

Asking all Indigenous people to be kind to yourself. Horrific, unspeakable tragedy has struck #JamesSmithCreeNation. We all feel this pain. Reach out. Hold prayers, use your medicine, sing your song, use your gift to help those in pain & grief.

— Leah GW (@GWLeah) September 5, 2022

and let yourself breathe. These days will be difficult, and let your spirit find comfort in knowing that the Ancestors await our loved ones, no matter what; Love awaits them on the other side. Justice is not ours nor is judgement. Leave that to Grandmothers and Grandfathers.🪶💔

— Debbie ᑳᑫᓯᒧᑐᑕᐁ (@ironbow) September 5, 2022

My sister and I talked about this, the brokenness of our nations. Hurt people, hurt other people. Add substances and alcohol and you can almost be assured something finds its way inside the heart and spirit. Something from death and darkness. There is no reasoning, only evil💔🪶

— Debbie ᑳᑫᓯᒧᑐᑕᐁ (@ironbow) September 5, 2022

And then these:

Northern Lights put on a show tonight. #northernlights #sky #saskatchewan pic.twitter.com/PVz2jQLC4I

— SaskCate (@CateSask) September 4, 2022

The last time I saw them in city limits was when my daughter left us. I walked to the field and told the kids to watch as I spoke with them. They lined up in one bright straight line directly in front of me. Then they were gone. I cried so hard. They gave me hope, comfort.🪶💔

— Debbie ᑳᑫᓯᒧᑐᑕᐁ (@ironbow) September 5, 2022

In our cultures, we believe in our Ancestors who are these beautiful dancers in the sky. Their energy is this, the powerful beauty of it all. To love them is to understand them in this way. They show us who they are. Faith is in this belief we have, yes, comfort.🪶

— Debbie ᑳᑫᓯᒧᑐᑕᐁ (@ironbow) September 5, 2022

My smudge tonight felt different. The connection between 🌍 and the Ancestors lingered for a long time before it burned out. As if it was trying to carry as much of the grief & anguish away from those hurting, as it could. Maybe I’m wrong, but that is what it felt like to me.🧡

— 🙏🏼🇺🇦AliCat 🇨🇦🏁🐕⚾️ (@OilrGrl) September 5, 2022

Weekend funnies

Gordon Lightfoot - 83 years old! - performed at the CNE tonight in Toronto and people loved it, lots of tweets about it.

Kiefer Sutherland happened to be in town to catch Gordon Lightfoot's performance at the CNE, so they had him introduce Lightfoot. As you do.

— Myrna ❄️ (@SailorSoapbox) September 4, 2022

If you could read my mind @Lightfoot365 @CNE pic.twitter.com/jfaypSFQrS

— Joe Warmington (@joe_warmington) September 4, 2022

I recall sailing with the Navy and having “Sundowners” where they’d play the song Sundown on the PA system and we could go to the upper decks with a beer. I believe it was at six pm. 😎

— Evan McFatridge (@EvanMcFatridge) September 4, 2022

 

His voice isn't as strong as it once was, but it would have been a great concert, a truly Canadian experience too.

I'm watching Gordon Lightfoot do the song about the boat.

— T. Bernie Diamond (@T_Balazo) September 4, 2022

 

I don't expect he did The Canadian Railway Trilogy, but its my own favorite:  

Here's another Canadian moment:

For anyone unsure of the process...You just have to look in a mirror, sing a chorus from a Gordon Lightfoot song, and the Queen appears, bops you on the head with a bag of milk and poof you're a citizen.

— Ashley MacDonald (@MacDonaldAshley) September 2, 2022

Speaking of music...

Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys goes on an epic rant against MAGA grifters with no lies detected and the Boston accent is the chefs kiss pic.twitter.com/jrFUFu3K67

— Wu-Tang Is For The Children (@WUTangKids) September 3, 2022

See, Saturday’s are made for pic.twitter.com/yGEUlVvxCT

— Dennis Herring (@dcherring) September 3, 2022

You can’t do a failed coup then complain about divisiveness

— John Legend (@johnlegend) September 2, 2022

The only thing worse than a file marked “Top Secret” being somewhere it shouldn’t be is an EMPTY file marked “Top Secret” being where it shouldn’t be.

— Jay Black (@jayblackisfunny) September 2, 2022

If I could have dinner with any person, alive or dead, I’d choose Donald Trump, dead

— jonathan slater☮️ (@joslater37) August 14, 2022

They’re only technically called “semi-fascists” if they come from the fascist growing region of Italy. Otherwise it’s just sparkling white supremacy.

— Jay Kuo (@nycjayjay) September 3, 2022

"God keeps giving me his hardest battles" Bro, you are literally just being asked to wear a mask when you are indoors around other people

— Roxi Horror 💀🌸 (@roxiqt) September 3, 2022

Just following up ....

Tonight, just some follow-ups on some of the stuff I talked about earlier this week: 

More on conspiracy theories and rage farming:

Unbelievable. Do conspiracy theories cluster? Um, yep.

- GMO fearmo

Don't forget the wind turbines that kill everything that flies and the poor kids mining cobalt for solar panel production in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

— Dr Richard Gawel (@oliveoilguy) September 2, 2022

ngering?✅
- Chemtrials? ✅
- Anti-fluoride? ✅
- 5G nonsense? ✅
- Antivaxx? ✅ (I mean, obviously).
- Nanobots in vaccines? ✅
- Ranting about all this in a car? ✅
- ENDORSED BY THEO FLUERY? ✅ https://t.co/pppMUKq8I4

— Timothy Caulfield (@CaulfieldTim) September 2, 2022

I don’t think we should underestimate just how many seemingly smart and decent people have gone down this rabbit hole. I’m legit concerned. The issue is you can’t dispute their views. There’s no reasoning. They’re lost. /2

— David Brown (@OrbitStudios) September 2, 2022

Again, “Everyone is entitled to their opinion” means you can’t tell someone they’re wrong for liking rocky road over Neapolitan. It doesn’t mean you can wrap bigotry, ignorance or misinformation in the veneer of an “opinion” and expect others to give it respect or consideration.

— Aaron Hoyland (@aaronhoyland) September 1, 2022

For a guy who says he’s all about freedom you sure do plan to ban, cancel and “not allow” people to do a lot of stuff.

— Barney Panofsky's Best Intentions (@mynamesnotgordy) September 1, 2022

Remember how Harper hired a bunch of Hitler Youth to shut up scientists? Sounds like Poilievre plans the same thing, except for all departments & all civil servants, in the name of "plain speaking".

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) September 2, 2022

Pierre Poilievre the Language GATEKEEPER! pic.twitter.com/BJNqEIX03g

— Nickie with an 'e' 😷 💉 🚲 (@winter_canada) September 2, 2022

Liberals: “we’re still working on everything Harper broke”

Conservatives: “OMG Harper was 7 years ago, talk about what’s happening now!”

Also conservatives: “Hey did you hear about Chrystia Freeland’s grandparents during WW II??!?”

— Dean from Winnipeg (@Dean_Winnipeg) September 2, 2022

Today's News: Dark Brandon rises

At first I wasn't sure whether Biden's speech tonight was a good idea. But seeing the speech and now the reaction to it, I am feeling a very positive vibe. 

Since the chaos of Jan 6, 2021, I think Americans have worried about what is happening to America. With Biden's recent successes and rising popularity, he finally had the platform and credibility to identify the MAGA Republicans, to shame them as fascists, and to challenge Democrats to rise up in defense of their country.

DARK BRANDON KILLED THIS SPEECH, DAMMIT

—
BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) September 2, 2022

"Democracy must be defended, and it is up to us." President Biden

— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) September 2, 2022

I don't think the MAGA Republicans really knew much about Dark Brandon until tonight's speech.

I’d like to think White House comms said, “Tonight, Dark Brandon rises.” https://t.co/YKOZVQQsXa

— Schooley (@Rschooley) September 2, 2022

The White House is really taking this Dark Brandon alter ego shit seriously pic.twitter.com/f3iAkh1ETZ

— I Smoked The Top Secret: SCI Documents (@BlackKnight10k) September 2, 2022

Biden: "There is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven by, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country ... MAGA Republicans do not respect the constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law." pic.twitter.com/Ox8PReq2zd

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 2, 2022

President Biden, closing out his speech in Philadelphia: "If we do our duty, in 2022 and beyond, then ages still to come will say, we — all of us here — we kept the faith, we preserved democracy." pic.twitter.com/9kxYLbGwDQ

— The Recount (@therecount) September 2, 2022

There's a part of me debating whether Biden's speech wasn't tough *enough*. But it was necessary and right to give it.

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) September 2, 2022

President Biden is completely and absolutely fed up with the MAGA Republicans. As are we all. He’s tired of the Conspiracies. He’s disgusted by the calls for violence. And he’s not letting them get away with it anymore. This is the most patriotic, American speech of the decade.

— Dash Dobrofsky (@DashDobrofsky) September 2, 2022

A historic moment. A sitting US President accepting the burden of admonishing his predecessor's powerful cultural movement, doing so honestly and resolutely, and framing it as a threat to the country.

— David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) September 2, 2022

I am not sure whether America, and particularly the US media, are up to the challenge:

Biden calls on the nation to unify to protect our democracy... and MAGA world responds by calling him #PedoHitler. And somehow CNN will report this out as Biden being divisive.

Lookin' at you @brikeilarcnn @jeffzeleny

— Lauren Windsor (@lawindsor) September 2, 2022

I think certain types of Republicans got real comfortable with the idea of flaunting and openly ignoring voters while trying to subvert elections with no pushback, so Biden directly calling it out feels shocking to them.

— Conner Hafen (@Conblob) September 2, 2022

the house is on fire and you’re complaining that the firefighters are stomping on the flower beds. PUT THE FUCKING FIRE OUT

— David Mack (@davidmackau) September 2, 2022

Here's the problem for the elite political media: To cover the threat to the republic truthfully, they're going to have to write/broadcast things that have collateral benefits to the Democratic Party. No way around it. The point is not to worry about that.

— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) September 2, 2022

Let's be completely honest here: the entire White House press corps knew who he was - all four years, hell from the escalator on down - and pretended he was a legitimate political figure. The failure is astounding. Not of skill - but of character and ethics.

— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) August 31, 2022

Biden's speech is also timely because in general I think people have now had enough of the fascists and MAGA Republicans, and want to push back on the crazy:

Agree. Gloves off. Same here in TX. People who used to be afraid of putting up Beto or any Dem signs etc are now finally saying eff it we're fighting back!

— Jan Burnett (@JanBurn94198569) August 28, 2022

There are the same worries here in Saskatchewan:

I know family’s that live in fear as neighbours are so radicalized. My mechanic bro said otherwise nice folks he used to share a few beer with, he has to be careful what he says, worried about his pets getting hurt as they’re casual about their hatred & brag about shit they do.

— CFLNumber1Fan-Sharon (@CFLNumber1Fan) August 28, 2022

It shouldn’t be this way. It’s hard but we need to be braver. When people became aware of my “leftist” views others reached out.

— FlawedFilter (@elegant_funk) August 27, 2022

Happy happy joy joy

Just some happy things today:

Serena wins and Palin loses and for one second the world feels in balance.

— Brian Koppelman (@briankoppelman) September 1, 2022

Serena wins! 

I found out today that Serena turned pro in 1995, which was several months before Anett Kontaveit was even born - that's the Number 2 seed who Serena beat tonight. And that's how incredible it was to see her win.

Mary Jo Fernandez: How did you do it?
Serena Williams: Well, I'm a pretty good player. pic.twitter.com/hOnY1x11LK

— Julie Cohen (@FilmmakerJulie) September 1, 2022

apparently when Serena left the court before the third set she consumed an entire box of nails and is now spitting them out one by one

— ya girl (@goldengateblond) September 1, 2022

🐅 ✘ 🐐 @TigerWoods with a classic fist pump for @serenawilliams 💪 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/egoBoC96Ch

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 1, 2022

It was a privilege to watch greatness. Congrats @serenawilliams

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) September 1, 2022

Serena’s father in 1999 📷

Serena’s daughter in 2022 📸 pic.twitter.com/wt8TOrO66s

— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) August 30, 2022

I thought these were insightful comments:

The play of Serena is a thing to behold
But the mind of Serena. Whew!
The mental toughness & composure. The way she allows for playfulness. She embraces the headwinds & accepts the target on her back. And through it all is clearly guided by LOVE.
Love of game
Love of self

— Michele Norris (@michele_norris) September 1, 2022

Old enough to remember how condescending Chris Evert, Johnny Mac and crew were to Serena, Venus and their father when they first started playing major tournaments. You can still smell the tinge of saltiness on their breaths.

— AKA Mikki: Dem & VP Stan💗💚 - 💛🐝 (@akamikki08) September 1, 2022

Exactly. Like Ali, she is going to be one of those historical figures who, years later, everybody pretends to have cherished all along.

— Jim Naughton (@JimNaught) September 1, 2022

Today's News: Rage-farming

Conservatives never let a lie get in the way of rage farming. pic.twitter.com/mmqMShpABF

— Currently Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (@IAMSMRT1) August 30, 2022

The term "rage farming" was a new term to me when I started to see people talking about it on twitter - here is the Slang Dictionary definition: 

Rage-farming is a slang term for the political tactic of intentionally provoking political opponents in order to create or increase exposure for one’s group or cause. The tactic is especially associated with conservative and far-right political groups. 

The term rage farming is always used in a critical way. It is typically applied to the act of posting intentionally inflammatory content or otherwise trolling political opponents online with the goal of eliciting a large number of angry responses, thus leading to widespread exposure for the original poster. However, the term may be applied to practices other than online posts, such as making inflammatory comments in interviews or speeches that will be widely covered by the media. 

Similar, I guess, to the practice of sending a bunch of flying monkeys after a blogger or twitter-poster. Except in this case creating more rage itself is the point. 

A recent Tyee article by Edmonton reporter Charles Russnell discusses the Freeland attack as part of the larger rage-farming phenomenon by conservative politicians: 

A political scientist told The Tyee he expects aggressive attacks on politicians to increase in Canada as right-wing politicians continue to engage in “rage farming” by advancing false and misleading conspiracy narratives. 

“They know how to feed those narratives,” said University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley. 

“It is little half-truths, sometimes more blatant lies, that kind of plant the seeds for this rage farming,” he said. 

...[Wesley said] politicians in Canada were stoking resentment of so-called elites. 

“This time around, it’s not just anti-elitism, it’s what we call anti-pluralism,” Wesley said, explaining that United Conservative Party politicians in Alberta in particular advance the narrative that there are “pure people out there, pure Albertans.” 

And so when people like Freeland come to their town, they are targets for abuse because they are not viewed as real Albertans or real Canadians, he said. Freeland is from Peace River, Alberta, north of Grande Prairie. 

All three politicians [Kenney, Poilievre, Smith] have, for example, been pushing the narrative that Trudeau is somehow attempting to punish farmers by searching for ways to lower emissions from fertilizer. 

Smith in particular, has made numerous statements about how vaccine mandates were an unnecessary intrusion on people’s freedoms and she has threatened to fire the board of Alberta Health Services and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. 

She has advanced the idea of an Alberta Sovereignty Act that she says would allow Alberta to opt out of federal laws, including those governing guns. 

“What these narratives do for conspiracy theorists, is that it helps them make sense of, first of all, complex things that don’t otherwise make sense; it’s boiled down into something really simple,” Wesley said. “And secondly, it gives [conspiracy theorists] an out of sorts, where it allows them to see other people as being either the source of their problems or as being less moral or less worthy.” 

Ironically, he said, this extreme behaviour by people like McDavid will make it less likely that politicians will come to hear them out in their communities because they don’t wish to be abused and they legitimately fear for their safety. 

When an incident like the attack on Freeland happens, it takes a politician away from the message they were there to deliver. 

“So this creates a spiral; a populist spiral where people say they are not listening to us.” Wesley said.

“Well, of course, they are not listening to you. Look at what is happening when they try to listen. It is just a self-perpetuating cycle.”...

There appear to be three sections on the Canadian rage-farm right now: 

1. World Economic Forum

2. Covid vaccines (plus related mandate-hate, mask-hate etc)

3. Climate change (plus related fertilizer panic, insect panic etc.)

Here's some stuff on all of these, with a certain amount of cross-over raging, too

Does anyone expect anything rational from Smith or the Prosperity Project when it comes to our global #ClimateCrisis?

This not just #RageFarming anymore. It's full-on stupidity that worships O&G no matter if our planet is on fire or not. https://t.co/3UwVS8OwCn pic.twitter.com/Cc0IH4lUBj

— Elke Babiuk (@ElkeBabiuk) August 30, 2022

Poilievre deleted his latest ‘rage farming’ anti-vaxx Tweet. Ironic, he is vaccinated but lives to rile up FreeDumbers who are incapable of thinking critically. #PierrePoilievreIsLyingToYou https://t.co/Vog22nuduu pic.twitter.com/Rdx0Rq9BId

— Isis Wise¸.•*¨🐈‍⬛ (@IsisWise) August 30, 2022

It's such nonsense. He could just as easily be inveighing against the European Figure Skating Federation if a bunch of sleazy conspiracy mongers had decided that's the boogyman of the day.

— Stephen Maher (@stphnmaher) August 30, 2022

Oh my god this is insane. https://t.co/0op0Vtj8LK

— Andrew Coyne 🇺🇦 (@acoyne) August 30, 2022

If you’re ever curious how many ragey right wing accounts created in the past 4 months are following you, include a WEF reference in one of your tweets.

— Barney Panofsky's Best Intentions (@mynamesnotgordy) August 30, 2022

This explains the "eating insects" hysteria. It is stunning how anyone would believe something this stupid:

https://t.co/bCMlESkKeG

— Greg MacEachern (@gmacofglebe) August 30, 2022

“On July 5, Cheryl Gallant, the Conservative MP for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, creates a Facebook post linking protests against sustainable farming practices in the Netherlands to February's Canadian Freedom Convoy protest with the caption, ‘Trudeau wants us to eat crickets.’”

— Greg MacEachern (@gmacofglebe) August 30, 2022

It's true. Trudeau keeps mailing me crickets. And recipes. 😂

— If they are all Fredo, we are all Frodo (@FaganKara) August 30, 2022

...the crickets I'm hearing these days are from Conservatives, when asked what their actual plans are for governing...

— Pat Johnston (@patjinfo) August 30, 2022

Reverend Coren, as usual, is spot on. @VoiceOfFranky ’s longitudinal public sentiment data are consistent with this.

Rage farming is damaging our social fabric, though. Social media cos are complicit. It needs to stop. https://t.co/c85ZMX32mt

— David Fisman (@DFisman) August 29, 2022

Today's News: "We have a lot to do"

This pretty well summarizes everything, doesn't it:

That being said, we have to work on equality, health care, education, housing, public services, pharma and dental, small businesses, foreign investment, elections, and the Russia Ukraine war. We have a lot to do.

— Rod Farva's litre of cola (@RodKahx) August 29, 2022

Across the country, Canadians are worried about the breakdown in hospital services -- because too many health care workers keep on getting sick with Covid, at the same time as the system grapples with the cumulative effect of two years of delayed surgeries and neglected health conditions. 

Premiers seem to think that "privatization" will magically make more services available, and indeed it may prove to be sensible to create stand-alone clinics for some routine surgeries like joint replacements, if it actually frees up hospital beds for more complex cases - rather than just allowing hospitals to cut their staff budgets accordingly.  No provincial politician should ever think that "privatizing" will save money while making people happier with their health care.

I know all about provincial and federal jurisdiction. But if there is one battle the federal government should fight right now, it’s protecting universal public health care. Explore every option available. Don’t let it pass. Be a pest to the Premiers. People are worried. #cdnpoli

— Dr. Matthew S. Johnston (@mattjohnstonca) August 24, 2022

I want Trudeau to come out and tell Canadians what is happening.

"Conservative premiers are coordinating to collapse our Healthcare system on purpose. So they can privatize. You will pay more for Healthcare now. Many will go bankrupt. Many will die."

Say it.#cdnpoli

— Andrew (@AndrewCote91) August 30, 2022

This is how Ontario thinks it will solve hospital crowding:

As if the elderly were not already treated as excess baggage to be shuffled off into storage, this would legalize disposing of them.

— V. Sears (@Sueshuz) August 30, 2022

Here in Saskatchewan, ERs are in crisis, ambulances are delayed, and rural health care facilities are struggling:

My whole family is terrified of having to try to access an ER these days. Luckily we have all been healthy enough to avoid them since 2020, but that can change in an instant. https://t.co/uuTTdZ0KNt

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) August 27, 2022

Saskatchewan plans to pledge cash hiring incentives for health care workers in remote and rural parts of the province as they struggle to recruit and retain staff, resulting in shuttered and curtailed services in dozens of communities https://t.co/9sM9Niaz9F

— Zak Vescera (@zakvescera) August 24, 2022

Here's a great idea:

It was great to hear @SLangeneggerCBC's interview with @joelghill this morning. Such an important initiative.

He's right - the province should provide a lot more information about health service disruptions in communities. It's dangerous not to.#skpolihttps://t.co/oe4mFk1D4E

— Carla Beck (@CarlaBeckSK) August 29, 2022

The website he created is here: Sk Service Disruptions Why Sask Health hasn't done this already, I don't know. 

And PS - Covid is not over!

You're the third person *today* I've seen on Twitter say someone they knew died in their sleep from Covid.

Sweet Jeebus.

— ☕ - It's what's for dinner (@DellaLuna) August 30, 2022

Today's News: Funny business!

Tonight here's a bunch of recent tweets that made me laugh: 

 First, here's a great Coyne concept -- hitting for the Conspiracy Theory "cycle": 

... was killing thousands of people, including children, with vaccinations.”https://t.co/3BVFtl91io

I believe that’s what’s called hitting for the conspiracy theory cycle.

— Andrew Coyne 🇺🇦 (@acoyne) August 28, 2022

#Ucpldr, #cpcldr Jason Kenney, Pierre Poilievre, Danielle Smith have been #RageFarming for yrs as have many Conservatives & Stochastic terrorist groups like Canada Proud.

It's now turned on them & they still don't get that the monster they created can't be leashed anymore. pic.twitter.com/vpc8ODILfm

— Elke Babiuk (@ElkeBabiuk) August 28, 2022

Ass$&@$ pic.twitter.com/MsILNoDhJk

— Canadian SmokeEater 🇨🇦 (@CDNsmokeater14) August 28, 2022

Its a funny way to treat the CPC leadership ballots, but you do you:

Nothing says that you are working to preserve the secrecy of the the vote by handing completed ballots to random dude in a Leafs hat, telling him to hold them up for a photo, and then tweeting out who those votes are for. @ElectionsCan_E

— Ally Stewart 🏳️‍🌈 (@TheAllyStewart) August 28, 2022

What a great line, one I must remember -- "It's a mask. We're not asking you to donate a kidney!"

It’s a mask. We aren’t asking you to donate a kidney. They work. They are easy to use. They cause zero harm. ZERO. There are many things you could be up in arms about. Masks should not even be on the radar. Get some good ones (KN95) for you, and your kids, and use them indoors.

— Chuck Wurster, MD (He/Him) (@ChuckWurster) August 26, 2022

Today's News: What a week!

Beginning with a wonderful palate cleanser:

Nazem Kadri brings the Stanley Cup to the London Muslim Mosque.

This is believed to be the first time in history that the Cup has entered a mosque. @HkyNightPunjabi @NHL @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/wRIZAm8hvv

— Amrit Gill (@AmritG) August 27, 2022

A short stop at today's Globe and Mail:

"Bell, what is your plan?...What will you do not just for Lisa but for us all." I joined many others in signing this open letter in @globeandmail to Bell Canada about @BellMediaPR's "business decision" to fire Lisa LaFlamme in prime of her career. Have a read & RT if you support. pic.twitter.com/RlrW0JoBAr

— Catherine McKenna (@cathmckenna) August 27, 2022

At this point, Bell Media will have to offer LaFlamme the National News vice-presidency before this controversy will be quelled. And I would be fine with that.

   

Moving to today's news, first here is a great cartoon illustrating the trolls Canada is dealing with these days:

Which one of these characters would be that guy from Grande Prairie who cursed at Chrystia Freeland yesterday as she was getting into an elevator? 

The portion of the video after he had been kicked out of the hotel shows he was just so very pleased with himself, so absolutely delighted to "own the libs".  Everyone is pointing and laughing at him now, but we're also acknowledging that this kind of behaviour is unhinged and possibly dangerous:

This appears to have been in Grand Prairie, where Freeland had events scheduled today. Comments on TikTok are overwhelmingly supportive of this guy. (The OP’s feed is full of expected anti-mandate and conspiracy posts.)

— Glen McGregor (@glen_mcgregor) August 27, 2022

The Director’s Cut is worse of course. Rage Farmers have taken over the Conservative Party, and they’re about to put their man in charge. https://t.co/ycQ17OPCiQ

— Gerald Butts (@gmbutts) August 27, 2022

Canadian politicians from all parties are also speaking out against this - even Conservatives, albeit with a little nudging:

Are there any vertebrate conservatives remaining in Canada? Any of you going to stand up to this madness?

— Gerald Butts (@gmbutts) August 27, 2022

To @PierrePoilievre: Polite suggestion for your next video. Instead of talking to genuine wood or an imaginary PM, how about talking to the biggest asshole in Canada 🇨🇦 the guy in Grande Prairie who confronted @cafreeland How about giving him a piece of Jenni Byrne’s mind?

— Charles Adler (@charlesadler) August 27, 2022

Deputy Prime Minister @cafreeland is a proud Albertan and a dedicated public servant. I have seen her commitment to our province and our country firsthand. The harassment and intimidation she has faced is completely unacceptable, and is in no way representative of Albertans.

— Amarjeet Sohi (@AmarjeetSohiYEG) August 27, 2022

There can be no liberty without order. Political leaders of all stripes must denounce this type of unacceptable conduct. 2/2

— Erin O'Toole (@erinotoole) August 27, 2022

This is gross intimidation. People are angry. I get it. But this is dangerous behaviour. It cannot be normalized. Every political leader must speak out and condemn this. #cdnpoli https://t.co/azcuUE4vst

— Jean Charest (@JeanCharest_) August 27, 2022

The verbal harassment and threats directed at Minister @cafreeland during her visit to Alberta yesterday were reprehensible.

If you disagree with a politician, by all means exercise your right to protest. But screaming threatening language & physical intimidation cross the line.

— Jason Kenney 🇺🇦 (@jkenney) August 27, 2022

My friend Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance @cafreeland didn’t deserve this. No one in public office does. This needs to stop. Canada is better than this.

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) August 27, 2022

Pierre Poilievre’s deafening silence on the Freeland event is probably the most honest thing he’s done.

— Dean from Winnipeg (@Dean_Winnipeg) August 27, 2022

The diminishing cohort of principled conservatives are struggling with core values and path to power. Not sanguine about how this turns out

— Frank Graves (@VoiceOfFranky) August 28, 2022

Canadians were shocked and angry, and thousands tweeted support for Freeland:

Chrystia Freeland is an absolutely brilliant woman with an astonishing list of accomplishments during her stellar career. Yet, some inbred, uneducated hillbilly thinks he has a right to stalk, harass, & call her misogynistic names because he has a dick. That's misogyny in action. pic.twitter.com/HmVc0n1yGr

— Janet Wagner (@janetwagner21) August 27, 2022

Note. It’s pretty hard to intimidate a woman who defied the Russian secret police, who stood up to Putin and Trump, and who can run circles around most bullies, in high heels, no less. She greets him in an open friendly way, then strides coolly into that elevator when he goes off

— Paula Simons (@Paulatics) August 27, 2022

Dear DPM @cafreeland, you showed absolute grace and class while you were verbally attacked by a #WhiteSupremacist who @PierrePoilievre panders too. As a First Nations woman, born in #Alberta you are more than welcomed anywhere in my peoples country. Much love and respect.🪶🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/edYkjik6fm

— Blackfoot/Lakota FN’s 🪶🇨🇦🧡🇺🇸💙🇺🇦💛 (@ThoughtsNations) August 27, 2022

Not sure who needs to hear this but Ricky from the Trailer Park Boys was presented as a caricature, not a role model.

— Barney Panofsky's Best Intentions (@mynamesnotgordy) August 27, 2022

The Sound of Silence "Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again"
Today that silence comes from every right wing Conservative who has not flatly condemned the verbal assault and threat to Chrystia Freeland in her home province of Alberta.

— Mike Morris (@1MikeMorris) August 27, 2022

I was part of every single round of 2017-19 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇲🇽 negotiations & had many of my own meetings with the White House.

$16B in new auto investment in CANADA since the signing speaks for itself. It’s more than the previous 20 yrs combined.

No kidding Jared didn’t like @cafreeland. https://t.co/PtGOkmGZcP

— Flavio Volpe (@FlavioVolpe1) August 26, 2022

Class:

pic.twitter.com/peGNcXFysk

— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) August 27, 2022

Today's News: CTV News is losing its soul

The very definition of a professional news organization is one that reports news without fear or favour. 

Over the years, news organizations have fired reporters, editors, anchors, editors, publishers, for good reasons and bad, pleasing or angering their audiences. But when a news organization also lets its own corporate actions compromise its objective news judgements, and then starts slanting its news stories to justify or cover up its own unethical behaviour, it has lost its soul. 

That began to happen to CTV News today. 

For the last two weeks, CTV and Bell Media has been embarrassed by the burgeoning corporate Going Grey movement, because corporations across Canada have been reflecting Canadian anger with CTV's unwarranted firing of Lisa LaFlamme. 

Today CTV News finally "covered" this story, but in a threatening way - they picked up a Canadian Press story which had found a "retail analyst" and a marketing professor to provide contrarian "takes" about how companies endorsing Going Grey really needed to watch their steps.  Then Bell Media outlets and CTV stations across the country dutifully "tweeted" the story out, one after the other.

The thuggery couldn't have been clearer - "nice little brand you got here. Be too bad if something were to happen to it"

Tell me this doesn't read like CTV is doubling down on its sexism/ageism/misogyny w/ what amounts to veiled threats against corporations, etc. who side w/ Lisa LaFlamme... https://t.co/kRKlGKJE8s #cdnpoli

— somecanuckchick 🍁 (@somecanuckchick) August 26, 2022

Maybe brands like @BellMediaPR should be wary of supporting sexism, misogyny & ageism. Just sayin.

— Covid's Not Done With Us Yet 💉😷🐝 (@Jennymd1) August 26, 2022

So let me get this straight. A media outlet owned by Bell media puts out a piece essentially say that other brands should be wary of taking a position on what Bell has done. Congrats @CP24 your corporate overlords will be very pleased.

— CFLFan@sevendeucemgw (@fan_cfl) August 26, 2022

@tara_deschamps just gotta wonder how you were pressured into writing this article. In my opinion, it is absolutely mind-blowing 🤯 that any @CTVNews female employee would agree to write such bullshit. @BellMediaPR #FireMichaelMelling https://t.co/HVpLZDk2q2

— D♠️R (@Dale_Roth22) August 26, 2022

New headline: In wake of firing LaFlamme, the public should be wary of Bell Media trying to censor brands that speak out against its discriminatory practices #LisaLaFlamme #KeepTheGrey #LetsTalkAboutBell https://t.co/BAAXGhtxxf

— Priya Sam (@PriyaSam) August 26, 2022

This is beyond hilarious. It’s the op-ed version of three kids - stacked up in a raincoat - pretending to be a grownup to buy beer. https://t.co/o3qmpeB8vW

— Bob Mackowycz (@BobMackowycz) August 26, 2022

.⁦@CTV⁩ you really need to read the room. #Wendys #Dove 💪🏻 https://t.co/ZAyW9ZfvpL

— Jill Davis (@Jdavis_Halton) August 26, 2022

Today's News: This you?

Its sorta hysterical, really. 

So yesterday Biden announced $10,000 student-loan forgiveness policies, which are a great thing that will help millions of people. 

And predictably, some Republicans went nuts about how irresponsible Biden was to just wipe out indebtedness with the stroke of a pen. 

And, also predictably, Twitter then started checking on whether any of those Republicans had also borrowed money and been forgiven for the loans. 

And, shore nuff, many had. They had  taken hundreds of thousands in Covid salary protection loans which were then also forgiven totally, including the interest. 

So "Republican" can now also be spelled h-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e.

The last 24 hours of this app has just been people posting stuff like, "Let me get this straight: the urinal cleaners of my community owe hipsters $10,000 now?" and then a reply that says, "This you?" and it's a PPP loan receipt for their podcast Reassessing Franco.

— Michael Arria (@michaelarria) August 25, 2022

The 10k is nice. But the repayment caps are huge game changers. 5% of income, 20 years of payments max.

Way to go Joe.

— Trevor Burns (@BurnsieMN) August 24, 2022

The internet's dunking on student loan debt complainers with PPP loan receipts
Beware of the 'this you?' https://t.co/DxhiSFHNvy

— Biff Rendar (@biffrendar) August 25, 2022

If you need a laugh, check out a bunch of conservative a-holes getting "this you?"'d in the 🧵below: https://t.co/38C33x4dZW

— Wesker’s Wifey (Shanny) (@weskers_wifey) August 25, 2022

Even the White House got into the act:

They do and it's glorious:https://t.co/LHuJ8pH1dB

— John Amussen 💛🐝 (@JRA81) August 25, 2022

Dark Brandon has the password to the White House Twitter account https://t.co/oscEuZwJZi

— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) August 25, 2022

The White House fully embracing Dark Brandon and letting their social media go wild is exactly what I am here for

— Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_) August 25, 2022

The White House Twitter account has gone goblin mode pic.twitter.com/Th3YI5Zs3m

— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) August 25, 2022

The White House is throwing lightning bolts all over Twitter like it’s freakin’ ZEUS, I love it

— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) August 25, 2022

Wow. The White House just called out Marjorie Taylor Greene for having $183,504 in PPP loans forgiven. Biden tolerated MAGA for as long as any man could — but now he’s fed up with their lies and blatant hypocrisy. Thank you, White House, for putting Marjorie Greene in her place.

— Dash Dobrofsky (@DashDobrofsky) August 25, 2022

iconic @megancoyne23 purr 💅🏾(h/t @mattbc) https://t.co/RJZX0SKhGf

— maybe: diane (@dianelyssa) August 26, 2022

Actually its "freezing rain", but "this you?" must be a close second by now!

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) August 25, 2022

if you have a problem with the student loan cancellation because you already paid off your loans, just pretend its a tax cut for the rich that you also never got but mysteriously didn't complain about.

— Katelyn Burns (@transscribe) August 24, 2022

Preemptively posting this. pic.twitter.com/3xSCANnBGg

— Anthony Michael Kreis (@AnthonyMKreis) August 24, 2022

Six months of war in Ukraine

Here are a few selections from the New York Times collection of Ukraine photos during 6 months of war

Dusk in Kyiv Feb 24 (Brendan Hoffman)

A volunteer fighter at Mykolaiv March 10. (Tyler Hicks)

Sister Diogena Tereshkevych in a bomb shelter in Lviv April 15. (Finbarr O'Reilly)

A family with their dog flees into Kharkiv April 29. (Tyler Hicks)

Irpin, a suburb of Kyiv, in ruins on May 2. (David Guttenfelder)

Twin sisters Nika and Miya survey vehicles destroyed in the war near Irpin, May 8 (Daniel Berehulak)

Carpathian Sich Battalion reviews drone footage of an attack against Russia in Kharkiv region on May 11. (Lynsey Addario)

Soldiers going to the frontline near Kramatorsk in eastern Donetsk May 25. (Finbarr O'Reilly)

Random and funny stuff

it’s hard to remember that the future is still being built. it’s hard not to think of those days as pre-made— squares on a board game waiting for our little thimble or race car. it’s hard to see the future for what it is: an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of possibility, of hope.

— tiny fairy tales✨ (@tinyfairytales) August 22, 2022

I've collected some funny tweets so far this week:

QAnon. It’s like Scientology, but for homeschoolers.

— Jane of the North (@JaneotN) August 23, 2022

Twitter has its problems, but where the hell else am I supposed to find comedy like this? pic.twitter.com/fHXcsMRPD0

— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) August 23, 2022

Look, were the Peterborough protestors fuckwads? Yes. But was it right for the mayor of Peterborough to come out and call them fuckwads, thereby normalizing politicians dismissing the concerns of people that are detached from reality and think rules don’t apply to them? Also yes.

— Aaron Hoyland (@aaronhoyland) August 17, 2022

The Trump documents story gets murkier by the day. I think Nichols is on to something here:

As I keep saying: he's looking for something, and worried about what's in there https://t.co/uvZZWDaAvc

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 24, 2022

History is really just one damn thing after another!

As a history grad student, I think I picked a great week to start following history twitter.

— Rhonda Creed (@tolkienhistory1) August 22, 2022

pic.twitter.com/65SjJ9itOx

— Dolores Turenne (@dolly511) August 23, 2022

Today's News: Shaking hands with the devil?

So Poilievre shook hands with a white supremacist and now he won't apologize. 

And the CPC wants Canada to think this guy and the juvenile sycophants surrounding him are PMO material?

Pierre Poilievre is ignoring calls to disavow a far-right extremist identified as a national security threat.

Poilievre’s spokesperson mocked the media after the leadership candidate shook hands with a man flagged in a counterterrorism report.https://t.co/6YO1Fn2Qbq #cdnpoli

— PressProgress (@pressprogress) August 21, 2022

The Conservative Party and Pierre Poilievre don't have to endorse white supremacy - White Supremacy endorses them.

— G McThink ☮ (@redsnoopy69) August 21, 2022

Just so I understand this correctly - Pierre Poilievre wants the top job in the country but is blissfully unaware of meeting face to face with a high profile national security risk?

He’s just not ready.

— Dean from Winnipeg (@Dean_Winnipeg) August 21, 2022

Singh knows how important it is for politicians to denounce violent extremists:

Maybe Mr. Poilievre didn’t know who he was shaking hands with.

But he does now.

Will he denounce Jeremy Mackenzie and Diagolon - designated as violent extremists by Canada’s Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre?

Or will he continue to wink at white supremacy?

— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) August 21, 2022

A pretty simple statement that he didn’t recognize the guy and abhors what he and his organization stand for would go a long way. The fact that Poilievre’s campaign hasn’t issued one speaks volumes. https://t.co/Cog3wNKCvW

— Gerald Butts (@gmbutts) August 22, 2022

Conservatives try to "whatabout" the Poilievre handshake. Another Con Fail!

The Conservative leader took terrorists out for a pizza dinner, spare me your concern about what you think the liberals do. pic.twitter.com/azbDcqTkKe

— Rob Gill (@vote4robgill) August 21, 2022

Today's News: Just a little light treason

Just a short one tonight:

 

Ron Johnson believes that there's a five second rule for both food dropped on the floor and treason.

— Steve Metz (@steven_metz) August 22, 2022

Senator Johnson knows a little light treason when he sees it -- he was one of the senators who celebrated July 4 2018 in Moscow:

You remember that trip, right @RonJohnsonWI? The one where you and seven other Republican traitors debased yourselves and flamboyantly displayed your treason for the entire world to see and Putin didn’t even meet with you. We do.#PartyOfTreason pic.twitter.com/gzdzhzXVkm

— Andrew Wortman 🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸 (@AmoneyResists) August 22, 2022

Moving on, this is terrific:

Almost 700k views on this of Biden reimposed onto Christopher Walken’s body in the Fatboy Slim video

pic.twitter.com/PRNcoZzNiw

— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) August 19, 2022

The Republicans are going to regret their attempt to characterize Biden as a doddering old man but also some kind of dictator:

I feel like the Sleepy Joe thing was a misstep from conservatives in retrospect because it makes it harder to sell the urgency of fighting him now that they want to paint him as a tyrant.

“BIDEN WILL SEND US ALL TO CAMPS... once he wakes up and remembers where and who he is.”

— Starfish In Charge Of WB Tax Evasion Dept. (@IRHotTakes) August 21, 2022

Actually, if there is anybody who is both a wanna-be dictator AND a doddering old man, it is Trump, isn't it. 

Turns out there really is "Music of the Spheres":

The misconception that there is no sound in space originates because most space is a ~vacuum, providing no way for sound waves to travel. A galaxy cluster has so much gas that we've picked up actual sound. Here it's amplified, and mixed with other data, to hear a black hole! pic.twitter.com/RobcZs7F9e

— NASA Exoplanets (@NASAExoplanets) August 21, 2022

Finally, here's another amazing story:

Tube on strike, I dawdled to Paddington on Friday. Passing the old wrought iron sign for Pizza Express, I was reminded of an event 30+ years ago, when I got caught up in a drama that resulted in a divorce, two marriages and many changed lives.

It began with a heart attack 🧵

— Electra Rhodes (@electra_rhodes) August 21, 2022