[CAN] Elbows up!

[Prairie Gal]

https://player.vimeo.com/video/1056619122?h=f6ec47dac6

This was so moving.

That was amazing, although I wasn't able to recognize all the folks featured.

One of the few good things to come out of this nonsense is the renewed sense of Canadian unity. I envy you for this, since the USA is so clearly divided right now. We're a mess, I can only hope that Canadians eventually escape this morass.

That was amazing R@63! Thanks for sharing it.

[RetiredAt63]

https://player.vimeo.com/video/1056619122?h=f6ec47dac6

This was so moving.

That was amazing, although I wasn't able to recognize all the folks featured.

I didnt either.  ;-)

[GuitarStv]

Canadians are now being targeted by law enforcement in the US for unwarranted search/interrogations.  If you're travelling to the US, be very careful.  Remember to fawn over how much you love the US if stopped, because who knows how much jail time you could be otherwise doing given that Americans have suspended due process.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-musicians-pulled-over-asked-canada-or-us-1.7488950

[Metalcat]

https://player.vimeo.com/video/1056619122?h=f6ec47dac6

This was so moving.

That was amazing, although I wasn't able to recognize all the folks featured.

One of the few good things to come out of this nonsense is the renewed sense of Canadian unity. I envy you for this, since the USA is so clearly divided right now. We're a mess, I can only hope that Canadians eventually escape this morass.

I didnt either.  ;-)

I recognized most, but I lived in the Canadian media world for years

[DoubleDown]

I think it's interesting that Hitler's first "conquest" was Austria, Germany's closest geographic and cultural neighbor. Germany was able to bring Austria into the German empire without a shot being fired. I think Trump's similar interest in Canada is not a coincidence.

[ToTheMoon]

Canada's "Cobra Chickens"

https://youtu.be/M3dy2xLKfX4?si=96Jp8O3c6zXa9Zfr

I always find this good for a giggle. IYKYK

[Metalcat]

Canada's "Cobra Chickens"

https://youtu.be/M3dy2xLKfX4?si=96Jp8O3c6zXa9Zfr

I always find this good for a giggle. IYKYK

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DyIjaxrQBkPk&ved=2ahUKEwizjPeWlKSMAxW-q4kEHXRkCVEQwqsBegQIDhAG&usg=AOvVaw0c92boNyFfohowV5WcQ14g

[RetiredAt63]

Let's hear from the penguins of Heard Island     ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oebVIRsNp2Y

[RetiredAt63]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so here is as good as any.

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-american-age-is-over

Sounds pretty accurate to me.

[BNgarden]

In case any of you have facebook accounts.  Not CA Elbows Up, but a telling tariff meme

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02oWvGWyeJZBiuucGobLt3dx2PaWbk3ADYydg27LNSjTbgr7vBzam1XHXR9mYdG1xMl&id=100064860241186

[RetiredAt63]

This was amazing!

https://www.tiktok.com/@nationalballet/video/7479640137736015109

[Sandi_k]

I'm tempted by this one...

[Telecaster]

So you know how Trump keeps railing on Fentanyl ???
Well he is giving himself more ways to go beyond the economic warfare, now it looks like they are inventing WMDs !!

Yes, they are making it about things that are not tariffs, which makes it essentially impossible to remove the tariffs.   Top officials like Peter Navarro and Howard Lutnick have stated that the tariffs are non-negotiable as long as things like VAT are in place.  Fentanyl is another example.  Any amount of  fentanyl coming across the border is excuse for the tariffs.  And if it wasn't fentanyl, it would be something else.   

There is only one way this end.  The US Constitution gives Congress the power to levy tariffs.   If the Democrats win control of both the House and Senate in 2026 and and a enough Senate Republicans join them to gain a veto-proof majority, the tariffs could be repealed.   

However, given the extreme cowardice of the modern Republican party, I don't think this is likely.  But we can hope. 

[Prairie Gal]

I'm tempted by this one...

Haha! Good one!

[Prairie Gal]

This is pretty funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bhP2xIEDNs

[RetiredAt63]

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew rocks!

Manitoba Hydro had expiring contracts with the US.  Instead of renewing them, the province is letting them lapse and make plans to use that power internally.

So 500 megawatts just slipped away.  Nothing nasty, no cut, just not renewed.  There is still power going to the US, just not as much.  And all planned in advance.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-kinew-repatriating-hydro-1.7509857

[Kmp2]

I'd love a future where Wab Kinew is PM one day.

[RetiredAt63]

I'd love a future where Wab Kinew is PM one day.

Yes.  He is awesome.  But I think he is NDP?  So faint hope.  We can barely manage to keep the middle-of-the road Liberals in power, the world-wide shift to the right is all-present.

[rocketpj]

I'd love a future where Wab Kinew is PM one day.

Yes.  He is awesome.  But I think he is NDP?  So faint hope.  We can barely manage to keep the middle-of-the road Liberals in power, the world-wide shift to the right is all-present.

There is some history of former NDP Premiers becoming federal Liberal Cabinet Ministers (Bob Rae, Ujjal Dosanjh).  Wab Kinew would be a good PM, but it would be Manitoba's loss.  Sometimes it's better to just let someone carry on being excellent at the job they are doing.

[RetiredAt63]

I'd love a future where Wab Kinew is PM one day.

Yes.  He is awesome.  But I think he is NDP?  So faint hope.  We can barely manage to keep the middle-of-the road Liberals in power, the world-wide shift to the right is all-present.

There is some history of former NDP Premiers becoming federal Liberal Cabinet Ministers (Bob Rae, Ujjal Dosanjh).  Wab Kinew would be a good PM, but it would be Manitoba's loss.  Sometimes it's better to just let someone carry on being excellent at the job they are doing.

Yes, we need good Premiers.  When we look at Provincial responsibilities a good Premier is important.  Look at what Danielle Saith is doing to Alberta education and health care as a bad example.

The fun thing about Wab Kinew is he knows full well that he doesn't need to do these dramatic sign-offs.  These were in long-term planning.  They are spoofs of someone else's TV ops.  He even reminds people this is when they are supposed to clap!  Good sense of humour.

Hmm, PP has no sense of humour.  In politics (in this world) you need a sense of humour.

[Metalcat]

Premieres are as if not more important than prime ministers.

The federal government is extremely limited in what it can do without actual action from the provinces

[RetiredAt63]

Premieres are as if not more important than prime ministers.

The federal government is extremely limited in what it can do without actual action from the provinces

Exactly.

One obvious example, all the inter-provincial trade barriers.

[RetiredAt63]

I know we are sort of maybe going into spring, but here is some knitting for next fall/winter.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elbows-up-toque-2

[Sandi_k]

Love the "W" in that hat. :D

[Kmp2]

I'd love a future where Wab Kinew is PM one day.

Yes.  He is awesome.  But I think he is NDP?  So faint hope.  We can barely manage to keep the middle-of-the road Liberals in power, the world-wide shift to the right is all-present.

There is some history of former NDP Premiers becoming federal Liberal Cabinet Ministers (Bob Rae, Ujjal Dosanjh).  Wab Kinew would be a good PM, but it would be Manitoba's loss.  Sometimes it's better to just let someone carry on being excellent at the job they are doing.

Yes, we need good Premiers.  When we look at Provincial responsibilities a good Premier is important.  Look at what Danielle Saith is doing to Alberta education and health care as a bad example.

The fun thing about Wab Kinew is he knows full well that he doesn't need to do these dramatic sign-offs.  These were in long-term planning.  They are spoofs of someone else's TV ops.  He even reminds people this is when they are supposed to clap!  Good sense of humour.

Hmm, PP has no sense of humour.  In politics (in this world) you need a sense of humour.

You don't have tell me! I'm living it... you should also see what she's doing to our electricity market! Totally agree premier's have much more direct impact on day-to-day living. They can empower cities to, as well (or they can restrict cities too, ahem Green Line FIASCO, or TO bike lanes). I wish Alberta had had a few more years of overlap with NDP provincially/ and Liberal federally - the NDP could've gotten so much more done with the money that the Liberals have been offering - and DS/UCP has been outright refusing.

Wab's young, he could very much be premier of Manitoba for 10-20 years, then move federal. As to being NDP... I live in a province where the NDP party is arguably right of the federal liberals... so that provincial - federal tie based on party name doesn't really hold water to me. We just had a wonderful NDP MLA choose to run for the liberal party in Edmonton, if I remember correctly.

And I think a shift left is desperately needed to reset the overton window so *current* right wing policy isn't quite so palatable. For example as much as I think Notely would be an excellent replacement for Singh... on the whole, it would move Canadian politics further right.

[RetiredAt63]

I can't think of anyone as an obvious person to replace Singh.  Charlie Angus lost to him last leadership convention and is retiring. No-one in the caucus, at least that I have noticed.

Everything has shifted right, not just in Canada.   I'm sure by European standards the NDP are barely left of centre.   Carney has many good qualities but 40/50 years ago he would have been a red Tory.

[BNgarden]

Marg, Princess Warrior, is up to her old tricks!

https://youtu.be/fjwI9spQsfI

[RetiredAt63]

Marg, Princess Warrior, is up to her old tricks!

https://youtu.be/fjwI9spQsfI

Isn't that great!?!


Rick Mercer didn't like PP 11 year ago.    ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzaZLiYcQxw

[Metalcat]

Marg, Princess Warrior, is up to her old tricks!

https://youtu.be/fjwI9spQsfI

Isn't that great!?!


Rick Mercer didn't like PP 11 year ago.    ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzaZLiYcQxw

That's exactly around the time that DH worked with him and yep that's *exactly* what the general sentiment was from anyone who ever had to interact with him.

[Freedomin5]

Saw this on Taobao today. I’m a bit tempted to buy it.

[RetiredAt63]

Saw this on Taobao today. I’m a bit tempted to buy it.

Oh do.  And get me one too?

[BNgarden]

If your cottage developer has a 'gift' shop, bet they'd sell out in a heartbeat.

[Freedomin5]

Saw this on Taobao today. I’m a bit tempted to buy it.

Oh do.  And get me one too?

It’s a bit of a sketch shop with no sales so I don’t know if it is a real listing, but I can try if you really want one. Just let me know your size/measurements. It’s not a big financial risk - $7.25 Canadian.

If your cottage developer has a 'gift' shop, bet they'd sell out in a heartbeat.

They do have a gift shop.

The site also has several other less snarky styles that just say “Canada” or “Happy Canada Day” or “Send Wishes to Canada” - stuff like that.

[Prairie Gal]

This is pretty funny. Would be better if they knew how to pronounce Jacques.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0GQ2-rFo80

[RetiredAt63]

This is pretty funny. Would be better if they knew how to pronounce Jacques.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0GQ2-rFo80

Points for trying.   ;-)

[RetiredAt63]

I have been reading stories about people going to vote in the advance polls.  Someone went, found she and her husband were not on the list, and got added right then and there with the proper information.  In typical Canadian fashion she commented that she was glad it wasn't busy right then, so they weren't holding anyone up.

It's times like this, when I compare our voting process to the American voting process ( = let's see how many people we can get off the voter's list) that I truly appreciate our system.

[Fru-Gal]

I have been reading stories about people going to vote in the advance polls.  Someone went, found she and her husband were not on the list, and got added right then and there with the proper information.  In typical Canadian fashion she commented that she was glad it wasn't busy right then, so they weren't holding anyone up.

It's times like this, when I compare our voting process to the American voting process ( = let's see how many people we can get off the voter's list) that I truly appreciate our system.

In defense of our system it varies by state. It is controlled by states.

But democracy requires eternal vigilance.

[RetiredAt63]

I have been reading stories about people going to vote in the advance polls.  Someone went, found she and her husband were not on the list, and got added right then and there with the proper information.  In typical Canadian fashion she commented that she was glad it wasn't busy right then, so they weren't holding anyone up.

It's times like this, when I compare our voting process to the American voting process ( = let's see how many people we can get off the voter's list) that I truly appreciate our system.

In defense of our system it varies by state. It is controlled by states.

But democracy requires eternal vigilance.

This is a federal election so Elections Canada runs it.  Provincial elections are run by provincial Election organizations.   Having voted in 2 election so close together I could see the difference in the ballots between Elections Ontario and Elections Canada.

One of the oddest American election quirks, from a Canadian viewpoint,  is that states have involvement in federal elections.  Here the 2 are totally separate.

Democracy may require eternal vigilance but making sure eligible voters can vote is definitely part of a functional democracy. 


Edited to add - I started thinking about a system when provinces run the federal elections, and it was surreal.  Can any Canadian imagine some of our more fractious provinces letting other provinces be involved in federal elections?  C'est a rire. 

[Metalcat]

I have been reading stories about people going to vote in the advance polls.  Someone went, found she and her husband were not on the list, and got added right then and there with the proper information.  In typical Canadian fashion she commented that she was glad it wasn't busy right then, so they weren't holding anyone up.

It's times like this, when I compare our voting process to the American voting process ( = let's see how many people we can get off the voter's list) that I truly appreciate our system.

In defense of our system it varies by state. It is controlled by states.

But democracy requires eternal vigilance.

This is a federal election so Elections Canada runs it.  Provincial elections are run by provincial Election organizations.   Having voted in 2 election so close together I could see the difference in the ballots between Elections Ontario and Elections Canada.

One of the oddest American election quirks, from a Canadian viewpoint,  is that states have involvement in federal elections.  Here the 2 are totally separate.

Democracy may require eternal vigilance but making sure eligible voters can vote is definitely part of a functional democracy. 


Edited to add - I started thinking about a system when provinces run the federal elections, and it was surreal. Can any Canadian imagine some of our more fractious provinces letting other provinces be involved in federal elections?  C'est a rire.

Ew, that would be gross.

[RetiredAt63]

Nice reminder to trump that we are not alone.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/king-charles-royal-visit-italy-canada-sophie-duchess-edinburgh-spruce-meadows-1.7511706

[deborah]

The thing is that you’re not alone. If a war starts between the US and Canada, it may be that the US is on its own, and it ends up being the US vs the world.

[Metalcat]

The thing is that you’re not alone. If a war starts between the US and Canada, it may be that the US is on its own, and it ends up being the US vs the world.

Very much this. No one in Europe or Asia wants the US and Russia to control the arctic. This isn't like Ukraine where a lot of the world was like "uh...yeah...we want to be outraged and help, but...uh...it's just not that important to us."

The arctic is a crucial area to control and if Canada falls, the US and Russia will consolidate a completely unacceptable level of control.

I strongly recommend that anyone not up on their arctic geopolitics look into it to better understand what stakes are at play here in terms of energy resources, military positions, and trade routes.

This is an arctic conflict, and it's incredibly obnoxious that that's not being talked about because too little of the public grasps anything about the significance of the arctic geopolitically.

[RetiredAt63]

The thing is that you’re not alone. If a war starts between the US and Canada, it may be that the US is on its own, and it ends up being the US vs the world.

Very much this. No one in Europe or Asia wants the US and Russia to control the arctic. This isn't like Ukraine where a lot of the world was like "uh...yeah...we want to be outraged and help, but...uh...it's just not that important to us."

The arctic is a crucial area to control and if Canada falls, the US and Russia will consolidate a completely unacceptable level of control.

I strongly recommend that anyone not up on their arctic geopolitics look into it to better understand what stakes are at play here in terms of energy resources, military positions, and trade routes.

This is an arctic conflict, and it's incredibly obnoxious that that's not being talked about because too little of the public grasps anything about the significance of the arctic geopolitically.

When you consider that the search for the Northwest Passage was a big part of our early history, and that we spend a fair chunk of money on ice-breakers, Canadians should be more aware that this is important.

If the US and Russia control Canada and Greenland,  they have the Arctic.  Shipping, oil, minerals.

[Metalcat]

The thing is that you’re not alone. If a war starts between the US and Canada, it may be that the US is on its own, and it ends up being the US vs the world.

Very much this. No one in Europe or Asia wants the US and Russia to control the arctic. This isn't like Ukraine where a lot of the world was like "uh...yeah...we want to be outraged and help, but...uh...it's just not that important to us."

The arctic is a crucial area to control and if Canada falls, the US and Russia will consolidate a completely unacceptable level of control.

I strongly recommend that anyone not up on their arctic geopolitics look into it to better understand what stakes are at play here in terms of energy resources, military positions, and trade routes.

This is an arctic conflict, and it's incredibly obnoxious that that's not being talked about because too little of the public grasps anything about the significance of the arctic geopolitically.

When you consider that the search for the Northwest Passage was a big part of our early history, and that we spend a fair chunk of money on ice-breakers, Canadians should be more aware that this is important.

If the US and Russia control Canada and Greenland,  they have the Arctic.  Shipping, oil, minerals.

It's shocking how few people have any awareness of the importance of the arctic.

[RetiredAt63]

The thing is that you’re not alone. If a war starts between the US and Canada, it may be that the US is on its own, and it ends up being the US vs the world.

Very much this. No one in Europe or Asia wants the US and Russia to control the arctic. This isn't like Ukraine where a lot of the world was like "uh...yeah...we want to be outraged and help, but...uh...it's just not that important to us."

The arctic is a crucial area to control and if Canada falls, the US and Russia will consolidate a completely unacceptable level of control.

I strongly recommend that anyone not up on their arctic geopolitics look into it to better understand what stakes are at play here in terms of energy resources, military positions, and trade routes.

This is an arctic conflict, and it's incredibly obnoxious that that's not being talked about because too little of the public grasps anything about the significance of the arctic geopolitically.

When you consider that the search for the Northwest Passage was a big part of our early history, and that we spend a fair chunk of money on ice-breakers, Canadians should be more aware that this is important.

If the US and Russia control Canada and Greenland,  they have the Arctic.  Shipping, oil, minerals.

It's shocking how few people have any awareness of the importance of the arctic.

I sort of knew it before all this ramped up, but it wasn't at the forefront of my mind until recently.  Out of sight, out of mind.

[Prairie Gal]

The thing is that you’re not alone. If a war starts between the US and Canada, it may be that the US is on its own, and it ends up being the US vs the world.

Very much this. No one in Europe or Asia wants the US and Russia to control the arctic. This isn't like Ukraine where a lot of the world was like "uh...yeah...we want to be outraged and help, but...uh...it's just not that important to us."

The arctic is a crucial area to control and if Canada falls, the US and Russia will consolidate a completely unacceptable level of control.

I strongly recommend that anyone not up on their arctic geopolitics look into it to better understand what stakes are at play here in terms of energy resources, military positions, and trade routes.

This is an arctic conflict, and it's incredibly obnoxious that that's not being talked about because too little of the public grasps anything about the significance of the arctic geopolitically.

When you consider that the search for the Northwest Passage was a big part of our early history, and that we spend a fair chunk of money on ice-breakers, Canadians should be more aware that this is important.

If the US and Russia control Canada and Greenland,  they have the Arctic.  Shipping, oil, minerals.

It's shocking how few people have any awareness of the importance of the arctic.

I sort of knew it before all this ramped up, but it wasn't at the forefront of my mind until recently.  Out of sight, out of mind.

Thanks for explaining this. I knew that Cheetoh and Putrid were being buddy buddy, but I thought it was more about land routes and our natural resources. Despite their denial that they don't need anything we have,  the U.S. is obviously salivating over them.

It is also a bit reassuring that the rest of the world would be with us, but it is still terrifying!

[RetiredAt63]

This is more for Americans popping in here - why we have fast and reliable* election results:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dneYLgBtaDc


* No hanging chads, no worry about hackers

[Freedomin5]

The thing is that you’re not alone. If a war starts between the US and Canada, it may be that the US is on its own, and it ends up being the US vs the world.

Very much this. No one in Europe or Asia wants the US and Russia to control the arctic. This isn't like Ukraine where a lot of the world was like "uh...yeah...we want to be outraged and help, but...uh...it's just not that important to us."

The arctic is a crucial area to control and if Canada falls, the US and Russia will consolidate a completely unacceptable level of control.

I strongly recommend that anyone not up on their arctic geopolitics look into it to better understand what stakes are at play here in terms of energy resources, military positions, and trade routes.

This is an arctic conflict, and it's incredibly obnoxious that that's not being talked about because too little of the public grasps anything about the significance of the arctic geopolitically.

When you consider that the search for the Northwest Passage was a big part of our early history, and that we spend a fair chunk of money on ice-breakers, Canadians should be more aware that this is important.

If the US and Russia control Canada and Greenland,  they have the Arctic.  Shipping, oil, minerals.

It's shocking how few people have any awareness of the importance of the arctic.

I sort of knew it before all this ramped up, but it wasn't at the forefront of my mind until recently.  Out of sight, out of mind.

Thanks for explaining this. I knew that Cheetoh and Putrid were being buddy buddy, but I thought it was more about land routes and our natural resources. Despite their denial that they don't need anything we have,  the U.S. is obviously salivating over them.

It is also a bit reassuring that the rest of the world would be with us, but it is still terrifying!

What I don’t really understand is that Russia is also part of BRICS, which seems to be set up against the US. So is Russia playing both sides?

[Kmp2]

I have been reading stories about people going to vote in the advance polls.  Someone went, found she and her husband were not on the list, and got added right then and there with the proper information.  In typical Canadian fashion she commented that she was glad it wasn't busy right then, so they weren't holding anyone up.

It's times like this, when I compare our voting process to the American voting process ( = let's see how many people we can get off the voter's list) that I truly appreciate our system.

In defense of our system it varies by state. It is controlled by states.

But democracy requires eternal vigilance.

This is a federal election so Elections Canada runs it.  Provincial elections are run by provincial Election organizations.   Having voted in 2 election so close together I could see the difference in the ballots between Elections Ontario and Elections Canada.

One of the oddest American election quirks, from a Canadian viewpoint,  is that states have involvement in federal elections.  Here the 2 are totally separate.

Democracy may require eternal vigilance but making sure eligible voters can vote is definitely part of a functional democracy. 


Edited to add - I started thinking about a system when provinces run the federal elections, and it was surreal.  Can any Canadian imagine some of our more fractious provinces letting other provinces be involved in federal elections?  C'est a rire.

The line ups in Edmonton would be out of this world!

[Freedomin5]

51st State? No Way! EH! EH! A Canadian Musical
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JhA3bpjah5k

This one is also funny. The last line is hilarious. I love Julie Nolke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY7vF-0DMWQ