Louis C.K is an asshole. If you’ve cancelled him, I don’t blame you.
I never followed the guy in the first place.
BUT nobody has explained White Privilege more succinctly:
“⌠I’m not saying that white people are better. I’m saying that being white is clearly better. Who could even argue? If it was an option, I would re-up every year. ⌔ đ
I’m in Tromsø, Norway as I post.
Most oil rich small nations suffer from severe economic and social issues â but not Norway (5.5 million).
Norway kept control of natural resources in Norway. In 1990 they created the Norway Sovereign Wealth Fund – today worth about $1.2 trillion.
By comparison, the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund where I live is worth only about $18.9 billion. Norway did it right. Alberta did it badly. The 2015 Fraser Institute report titled Fumbling the Alberta Advantage details the bungling.
Norwegians pay some of the highest taxes in the world â but enjoy some of the best health care, education and infrastructure. Small towns well above the Arctic Circle enjoy a good quality of life.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Summer 2022, their lawyers are doing everything possible to avoid payouts.
As I feared, Westjet airlines will not compensate me for being stranded at an airport overnight.
They are pretending there was a delay at my international connection in Toronto â my Westjet flight from Europe landed on time and I planned a long layover just-in-case.
My Toronto flight departed 80 minutes late causing me to miss a connection by about 10 minutes.
The problem had nothing to do with my international connection.
My cost was only about $100 and time â so I don’t think I’ll take Westjet to small claims court this time. But if I did, I’m sure I’d win.
Cable news and social media bring too much attention to extremists â ignoring the vast majority.
For example, FOX wants Marjorie Taylor Greene on air because her wrong and stupid statements get ratings.
In reality …
đ One chart worth sharing: As polarized as America seems, Independents â who are somewhere in the middle â would be the biggest party.
An important quote often ascribed to Socrates.
I admire those who can hold their tongue while running through this checklist.
ME?
I often check to see if something is true.
Much more rarely do I stop to ponder whether it’s kind. Or necessary.
… I’ll try to do better.
Cork OâConnor, now a Private Investigator, paints a picture of racial conflict in rural America, as well as a sensitive look at the secrets we keep from even those closest to us and the destructive nature of all that is left unsaid between fathers and sons, husbands and wives, friends and lovers.
Of the series so far, this is the book I enjoyed least.
It’s too complicated. Too violent.
Gundamentalist Americans make insane mistakes yet the author seems to have nothing against guns â aside from Cork moving his own weapons away to safe keeping.
A school shooting thrown into the mix too.
In Coach Education we have a concept called ETHICAL ACTION.
If you see something you think is wrong, take action.
Record what you saw in a diary. Keep records.
Videotape what you saw.
Notify authorities in a respectful, diplomatic way.
Ideally you ask the (possible) offender: “Why are you doing that? I don’t understand.”
People wonder why I’m so vocal about the high crimes of Donald Trump.
Ethical action. That’s why.
Trump inspired smarter people in Florida to enact a law called Don’t Say Gay. That’s like passing a law called Don’t Say Black. Don’t Say Latino.
We should take ethical action against people who discriminate when their Constitution clearly states that ALL ARE CREATED EQUAL.
Support the lesser of two evils if both sides are bad.
Martin NiemÜller was a Lutheran pastor. Initially a supporter of Adolf Hitler and a self-identified antisemite. Later best known for his opposition to the Nazi regime during the late 1930s and for his widely quoted 1946 poem:
“First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak outâBecause I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak outâBecause I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak outâBecause I was not a Jew. Then they came for meâand there was no one left to speak for me.”
Mountain Pine Beetles are native to the forests of western North America from Mexico to central British Columbia. …
As of May 2013, the Pine Beetle is aggressively devastating forests in all 19 US-American western states and Canada …
These insects are thriving as average temperatures increase. Dead and dying trees make good fuel for fires.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I’m often critical of Elon Musk. Turned off by his egomania.
Disappointed in his juvenile comments from the bully pulpit of Twitter. One of the richest and most powerful men in the world attacking and mocking people who are unable to fight back.
I’m disappointed that a guy who claims he doesn’t care about money is so reluctant to pay more in taxes though his businesses have received billions of dollars in tax subsidies.
That said, I admire almost everything else. His work ethic. His companies, especially Boring and Starlink.
Elon Musk does much more good for the world than bad. He’s scientific and well aware of the risks of climate change. He calls for a carbon tax. Musk endorsed Andrew Yang and expressed support for his proposed universal basic income.
Though the headlines shout that Elon is a “free speech absolutist”, Musk himself says Twitter must abide by the laws of each nation. I doubt much will change in terms of Twitter policy in Canada or the USA.
In fact, I’m guessing Twitter will be better for me with Musk as owner.
Warren had me watch this recent interview. Elon defends his life and ethics quite well.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda is the best anti-war song I know. Pete Seeger called it “one of the world’s greatest songs.”
Remind yourself that old men of privilege and power like Putin send young men to needless deaths.
Click PLAY or watch the Pogue’s version on YouTube.
It was written by Scottish-Australian Eric Bogle in 1969.
Rick McCharles 