Tag: canada

Canadian Civics

*long, exaggerated sigh*

I was going to make this a podcast, or whatever, but I am just so frustrated. I keep seeing people push blame onto our Prime Minister here in Canada for stuff that has little to nothing to do with the Federal branch of our government. It makes me wonder if people actually remember the half-course that we all had to take in highschool, or if they just wished we lived in a dictatorship so they could take the easy road of blaming one person.

Federal Government
– Maintains spending on a country level
– Deals with military actions
– Handles foreign relationships

Provincial Government
– Healthcare, schools, provincial roads
– Housing, taxes on fuel, licences
– Has the most impact on your daily life

Municipal Government
– Local Streets and Parks
– Overall look and feel of immediate area
– Garbage and recycling

There are some crossovers, but nowhere near as many as people seem to think there are. Yes, the Federal Government can suggest laws down the line, but really that is all they are going to do. Let’s take into consideration the lockdowns that have been happening. The Federal branch recommended to the Provincial what should or should not take place. Enforcements were to be taken primarily on a provincial scale, with smaller infractions to be handled by Municipal governments.

Yes, these are just broad-strokes. There are a million tiny things, points, and ideas that I have left out because I could be here writing this for hours. No, I am NOT a professional. I am not even involved in politics at this time, aside from what I read in passing. I did NOT want to have to write this, but everyone is getting on my nerves by accusing arms of government for not doing what they think they should, or giving a pass to arms of power that do not deserve them.

Unintended Victory

I’m not going to be putting sources because this is mostly opinion/observation, also massive news regarding Roe V Wade in the states.

Has anyone else noticed how the Republican Party in the USA just guaranteed all future wins for the Democratic party over the last half decade?

Between The Former President orchestrating a failed coup that is now getting massive attention world-wide, and the SCOUS removing the main government from decisions regarding abortion, they have cemented a larger voice for those who don’t agree. As bad as all of their decisions have been over the last little bit, and how catastrophic they have been for democracy, it is becoming more and more apparent just how self-sabotaging those political moves have been.

To those who don’t get how it works (incredibly simplified), Roe V Wade meant that individual states have no say on abortion. This meant that it was up to the federal level to regulate how things like that worked. This was great on the macro level, but what was not thought about by the “Justices” is how unliked their ruling was in the collective mind. Now, someone running for governor just has to promise to keep/remake abortion legal in their state. There is enough support for that to make the elections extremely one-sided.

To be extremely clear: I am not a fan of democracy done that way. However, the right keeps making it easier for the “left” from the standpoint that their rulings are so incredibly unliked.

To be clear, I am NOT supporting this ruling. I wish I could do more to help those who need support, and I have made it my mission to amplify voices and movements to better the world. The Supreme Court has demonstrated just how relevant they are in today’s world, and keep making proclamations that cement that idea.

To get ahead of the question of why a Canadian cares: because I am human. Because what happens politically seems to try to cross the border. Because I want things to be better for others. Because I have some sort of compassion, in opposition to the consensus.

Let’s Talk Money

I found myself dwelling on the horrible concept that minimum wage is far to low. Mainly, I find myself rhuminating on the idea that someone could think that we’re paying enough for minimum wage jobs because they don’t deserve the same wages as a soldier, or whatever people are using for a wage cap.

Don’t you think that is exposing? If you don’t want Jimmy at Wal*Mart making as much as our soldiers, I hate to sound classist, but you’re kind of right. At the same time, Jimmy should not work for literally nothing.

So, let’s frame this differently. Jimmy should make more, so he can afford food, AND our soldiers should make more, so they feel appreciated. In fact, everyone should be able to afford food, shelter, and basic needs. The face that I live in a “rich” nation that presses for slave labour to keep things “affordable” is disgusting.

This is why I think Univeral Basic Income (UBI) is a great idea. You can keep the minimum wage down, if you must, AND people can afford life.

What I find most upsetting; having this opinion is considered radical and brave.

A Dilemma

I want to talk about the book idea I just had, but is that even a good idea? It is rather cerebral, and there is a good chance that I am nowhere near smart enough to make it happen. Hell, I have little more than a concept, at this point.

I have talked to family about the idea. One thought it sounded like an interesting concept, but did not elaborate. One thought it would make an interesting screenplay, but could not see it working as a novel. I get that take more than most: I write a lot of ideas out that would make great screenplays but fall short as novels. Maybe I should write a movie? Do I really want to enter that world right now?

That is part of the reason I haven’t been writing here so much in recent times. Between that new concept, and two books that I have been working on for a bit, I am mildly distracted.

What I would like to remind people is that Canada is coming up to an election. I implore you to vote for YOUR interests, and not just tow a family line on principle alone. I am going to have to vote strategically for the first time in my adult life, and I am far from a fan. I want to vote NDP (you know: one of the five major parties of Canada. We do have more than two.), but to keep out the party that would damage my way of life the most, I will have to vote Liberal.

More on Epilepsy

I don’t know why I research this topic. I am always overcome with a feeling of dread as I scroll through diagnoses and side-effects.

On that note: YAY LIVING IN CANADA AND HAVING PRIVILEGE!

ahem… I promise that I will not speak of privilege again.

The fact that Epilepsy is considered a disease according to the WHO is strange. It makes sense when you consider that some epileptics get a viral infection that readjusts the chemistry of the brain. Everyone I have met with epilepsy, however, has had physical brain damage. Maybe it’s just me, but calling that a disease is like saying someone with an amputation has a disease. Disease, to me, is acute.

So, as I was writing the “disease is acute” line, I started trying to define ‘acute’ in my head. Part of me doing that was identifying an acute disease. I noticed quickly how my definition was crap, but I still stand by my statement that epilepsy should be viewed less as a disease and more of a physical impairment.

I’m on a fucking role, I NOW HATE THE TERM PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT.

You know what I’m getting at.

Anyway, The thing that I really wanted to point out is that epilepsy goes hand-in-hand with a plethora of mental disabilities, including depression and anxiety. I know that I have noticed an uptick in depressive episodes since my first diagnosed seizure. I am using that as a marker because that is when I started tracking. I’m not saying that is when my depression set in, and I am well aware that I might just be depressed because I’m looking for signs of depression.

My point that I was trying to get to, is that over 50 million people worldwide suffer from some form of epilepsy. The article I was reading pointed out how 70% of people cannot get treatment, but I choose to look at the fact that only 30% of people have access to treatment. I, myself, have gone a very long time without a conscious seizure, probably due to the medications that I am on. I don’t even take the largest dose, and I have gone two consecutive days not taking it because I’m an idiot and forgot.

I’m sorry, Texas.

I need to extend an explination to my friends and readers from the State of Texas.

I have been rather unsympathetic to your plight as of late. To be fair, parts of what you are dealing with sounds pathetic to those who deal with it all the time. It’s easy to forget that even a monicrom of snow is a huge deal to some parts, and temperatures around freezing are strange for a large part of your State.

I find it kind of strange how you got our winter, kind of. We have had about a month of snow, and equal time of freezing temperatures. I understand that the inclimate weather hit suddenly and fast (for you), but our winter has been mild and relatively snow free. At our pique, we had a foot and a half of snow (imperial measurements are a pain in the ass). We have hit temperatures of -20 C this year, which is -4 F for those who measure that wrong.

Seriously, however, your power situation is disgusting. I cannot believe how your power companies have literally hung you out to freeze, and your government is bloody useless. I’m sorry.

Remembrance Day

Today is a day I hold higher than any other day: even my birthday. I only learned recently that it is only recognized by the Commonwealth nations, and I find that sad.

For those who don’t know what I am talking about; Remembrance Day is a day put aside to remember military conflict, primarily the World Wars, but has extended out to any military action over the last 100 or so years. It is a day to remember the sacrifices made, the lives lost, and the peace gained.

The fact that it’s only celebrated by the Commonwealth nations makes me very upset. It is important to remember what we have achieved, both as nations and as people. I feel as though remembering the lives lost has garnered a kind of reverence in regards for life and a collective respect for the potential atrocities of war.

ANY-WHO, I just wanted to kind of explain why this day exists for those who have never heard of it before. I learned recently that it is far more than I imagined, and that makes me upset. Even if you don’t recognize it, for whatever reason, knowing what it is rates as very important: to me, anyway. The only thing that is asked is a moment of silence at 11am today.

TO MAKE IT CLEAR: Remembering the actions of the men and women who give their lives is NOT compliance with the military. I, myself, am very anti-conflict. I still recognize the importance of today because we need to learn about what went wrong in the past to make the future better.

(Tomorrow is my birthday, then starts the usual time off until the next year!)

Total Collapse

I have been ruminating on writing this for literal weeks. Not because I am afraid of offending people, the people who would be offended somewhat need to be offended. No, simply because there is too much that has been going on in my head.

I hate the culture of ignorance around this pandemic. It feels like there is willful ignorance and too many fake professionals giving their two cents. If I hear how horrible it is that Canada hasn’t opened its borders to the US again, I think I will actually lose my voice screaming at the screen. Same goes for letting kids back to school, or how the vaccine has a microchip, and the most egregious: how the mask is inconvenient.

I get the allure of having kids go back to school. “Free” daycare so parents can go to work. There are so many things wrong with these sediments, but the easiest rebbutle is that this will cause the pandemic to spring back up in numbers. Kids are gross and needy. They will touch each other, no matter the precautions that are put in place. This puts teachers lives in danger. This puts families lives in danger. I cannot even express how blind and arrogant this whole idea is. Again, I understand the want. I just have a hard time accepting that we (as a society) are ready when we just have quintuple digits worth of new cases spring up in some places in the states.

Do you have a license? Do you have pets? Do you notify the government when you move? Do you collect mail? Do you have a cellphone? Do you belong to a country with universal healthcare? Do you have a bank account?
If you answered yes to any of the above: THE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T NEED TO MICROCHIP YOU.
There is nothing that they cannot access already that they could learn from checking your blood. Health records are accessible to government agencies, so they know everything from your blood type to your diet.
And no: you cannot figure out sexual orientation or physical disability from blood. I HATE THAT I HAVE TO WRITE THAT.

The states have literally created an Orwellian police state. Here is a video showing and explaining much better than I could.

Wear your fucking mask. Just, wear the fuking thing. Yes, it can be uncomfortable, but there is no excuse whatsoever. If you think there is, then doctors shouldn’t wear one when they do surgery. Wear your fucking mask.

I am not an expert. I am just sick of being assaulted constantly with so much misinformation that I don’t know where to start my tyrades.

Classic Album Review :: Kill The Lights — Buffalo [of] Love

I have wanted to share this album with as many people as I could, and FINALLY someone put it on YouTube, so now I get my chance!

I saw this band back around the release of this album. They were awkward and it was amazing! Not only is the drummer one of the fastest drummers I have ever seen, the nuance and intricacies of the music blew me away. As I mentioned, I saw this band back when this album had been out for not a year, but they made playing these songs seem effortless! I was floored.

Okay, I need to make my amazement seem a bit more warranted. I had never heard of this band before. Like most independent bands in Canada, they were over shadowed by the bands that got huge around that time, whether it was deserved or not. Since this band was from Montreal, the French part of Canada, they got little to no attention from even the circles they belonged to. This is a fact that KILLS ME, but it hurts me even more because I understand it.

What this band did that few other did was combine disco, indi-pop-rock, and jazz. It sounds like an unpleasant mess, but a few notes in, one awakes to the fact that it works in the most inappropriate way.

Did I mention the part about the drummer and how I rate his one of the fastest I have ever seen? If I had not have seen them live, I would swear the drums on the album were sped up or manipulated. To add insult to injury, he is the least impressive looking man. Not that musicians have a look, but you would pass him on the street minutes after seeing them play. I only bring that up because it was actually STRANGE to see someone who looks so… well… plain!

I digress, love this band. I mean, LISTEN. Well, and love. There is something endearing about them that makes you fall in love with the almost-off-key squeals and almost-not harmonies.

Little side note: there seems to be some conflicting reports on if the album is Buffalo of Love or just Buffalo Love. That’s why I put the square brackets in the title.

Classic Album Review :: Kittie — Oracle

I don’t know why I got this album in my head. I was wheeling through my kitchen humming the chorus for What I Always Wanted when my wife, being rather concerned, asked what was wrong with me. The awkward thing is that song is not the only one on the album with singing, but has the least interesting pattern to get stuck in your head.

For being from London, Ontario, this album still scratches an itch that only a few bands can. I hesitate to call it Nu Metal, but it did come out around right around Untouchables by Korn (predating it by a year). Really, a better comparison is The End of All Things to Come by Mudvayne with less “David Bottrill” in the whole sound area.

Very simple guitar and bass. Almost too much (in a good way) drums. Vocals that pierce every inch of your soul. Beautiful singing. To be honest, that is why I have gone this long with never bringing this band up before. I love them, the first 3 albums anyway, but that is literally all I have to say about them.

If you just want something heavy, yet beautiful (in a broken way), you can do MUCH worse. They do the early ’90s sound yet still remain relevant. I mean, Mudvayne and Korn are my only (halfway) decent comparisons, and they really don’t describe this band at all.

Oracle is amazing. Spit and Until the End are good, but a bit more particular. They have one more album, but I hated it.

Personal note: don’t y’all enjoy how I am like “BYE SEE YOU NEXT YEAR” and then publish a review in the same week? I am going to not be doing blog stuff, and I am only going to be writing about music you should check out. I say that not expecting anything fascinating to happen in any other regards this year. I might be wrong.