Category Archives: Canada

Gwynne Dyer: How Trump’s Tariffs Could Change the World

GWYNNE DYER, April 7, 2025

Trump’s tariffs have ricocheted around the world. Here’s how it will change the system
He may have overestimated the role the US plays in trade

In 10 whirlwind weeks, Donald Trump had already smashed the international system of rules and alliances that more or less kept the peace for the past 80 years, but his bizarre ‘tariffs on everybody’ policy has given us a glimpse of what may take its place.

It’s the United States against the whole world, and America’s only possible great-power ally is Russia.

Continue reading Gwynne Dyer: How Trump’s Tariffs Could Change the World

We Interrupt Your Jury Vigil for An Urgent Bulletin on — Canadian Tulips!

Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Canada

The  Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has reported that the end is near —

Tulips-purple-PEI

—for the annual crop of tulips in this small but historic province:

“For full bloom and perfect photos, visit around May 25th or later. Tulip season typically lasts about 21 days and is projected to end by June 10th. Bloom percentages are 25-40% from May 18-24, 50-80% from May 25-31, and full bloom from June 1-10, though the season’s end is nearing. Continue reading We Interrupt Your Jury Vigil for An Urgent Bulletin on — Canadian Tulips!

Solar Eclipse? Meh. Wake Me When It’s Over.

A photo of the July 10, 1972 solar eclipse in totality, taken in Siberia. My experience was a bit different.

The best part for me about the total solar eclipse I actually saw (on July 10, 1972), came several months later, in Carly Simon’s wonderfully bitter tune “You’re So Vain,” and the line about the cad she was sticking it to went to Saratoga New York for a horse race, and then:

“You flew your Lear Jet up to Nova Scotia,
To see the total eclipse of the sun . . . “

That’s what I did. Continue reading Solar Eclipse? Meh. Wake Me When It’s Over.

Is QAnon the Future of North Carolina Education?? It’s On The Ballot!

Enforcing school discipline can sometimes mean imposing tough penalties.

— Writing something 50 times on the board?
— Time-outs?
— Detention after school?

Michele Morrow, communicating

Naaah. Wishy-washy liberal mush. Michele Morrow, who hopes to be elected state superintendent of public instruction, says it’s time to get serious about public schooling in North Carolina:

— How so? Maybe by boycotting the public system? Morrow prepared to run the North Carolina public schools by homeschooling her own kids, so they never spent a  day in them.

— Or what about by joining a coup? Morrow was in the crowd at the U. S. Capitol on January 6 2021 as part of the drive to “Stop the Steal.” Morrow told the Raleigh News & Observer that “I broke no laws . . . I damaged no property. I did not enter the Capitol Building.”  Maybe. But she also posted a video from there declaring “We are here to ensure that President Trump gets four more years.” (Aka= overthrow a lawful election.)

Continue reading Is QAnon the Future of North Carolina Education?? It’s On The Ballot!

Don’t Miss This Classic Radio Christmas Story from Canada!

War clouds were gathering as winter arrived in 1990. President George H. W. Bush was mobilizing a huge military strike to roll back Saddam Hussein’s occupation of Kuwait. War fever was being ginned up on every side, ignoring huge protests and objections even from Pope John Paul II.

I was working at a large post office in northern Virginia, moving sacks and bundles and mails, on shifts that stretched into the cold nights. I was surrounded by many coworkers who were traumatized Vietnam veterans, being triggered in numerous ways by the approaching battles. My opposition to the war was very much a minority view there; mainly I kept quiet about it. Continue reading Don’t Miss This Classic Radio Christmas Story from Canada!