tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31619596745565716172024-03-15T20:04:44.953-04:00Queer-liberalThe personal blog of @mattfguerin, a media manager, loving husband, writer, filmmaker, political junkie, union activist based in Toronto, Ontario, CanadaMatt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.comBlogger438125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-39676823483858906362024-03-08T13:43:00.003-05:002024-03-08T17:06:30.848-05:00Today's tonic: In his SOTU speech, "Biden projects a vision of strength that’s been missing from his presidency but will be needed in 2024 campaign"<p><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/08/politics/biden-state-of-union-analysis/index.html " target="_blank">Today's tonic: In his State of the Union speech last night, "Biden projects a vision of strength that’s been missing from his presidency but will be needed in 2024 campaign"
</a></p><p>Like many decent, progressive people, I've been alarmed by the return of the lying, criminal, rapist, fraud-loving, anti-democratic, narcissistic, ineffectual, dangerous Donald Trump to the American presidential race this year. </p><p>Despite the misguided worldviews of the Republican base who seem happy to tolerate the lowest depths of depravity their favourite candidate constantly embodies, despite everything his corrupt Supreme Court Justice appointees are doing to help Trump win, I still had confidence in the wisdom of the majority of the American people to not return this villain to the White House this year. </p><p>Last night, President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech put to rest any notion that Biden's too tired and unable to show the strength, vigour and inspiring progressive vision to excite the United States again and win this thing. Biden knocked it out of the park! He gave us all a tonne of great policy to get excited about and get behind to help him win re-election. </p><p>I've learned to ignore the media frenzy, the constant coverage of this race designed to keep you watching, keep you riled up and upset, and worried for the future. It's not real. </p><p>The fundamentals of this race are clear. And last night, we're reminded that Biden can and always brings it when he needs to. He did it spectacularly well in 2020. And I think he's in the process of doing it even better in 2024. </p><p>Time will tell but I'm feeling very good today thanks to Biden's performance last night. </p><p>In the meantime, if you didn't watch it, have a look at the speech from last night. </p><p><br /></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="285" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cplSUhU2avc?si=RPLZelwmqbJVXFbf" title="YouTube video player" width="510"></iframe>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-86347985370983474252024-03-07T15:33:00.003-05:002024-03-07T15:33:22.144-05:00Today's call out against hypocrisy: "The new generation of gay Conservative sellouts"<p><a href="https://xtramagazine.com/power/melissa-lantsman-eric-duncan-conservative-263766 " target="_blank">I wanted to highlight this Xtra article this week by trans writer and activist Faye Johnstone, <b><i>"The new generation of gay Conservative sellouts." </i></b></a></p><p>Here's an excerpt below: <b><i><br /></i></b></p><i>"Never underestimate the willingness of rich, cis, conservative gay people and so-called allies to sell out the rest of us.
</i><p><i>"In the 1970s, some gay community leaders turned their backs on the
“less respectable” (read: trans, gender-weird, drag-performing, poor,
racialized and/or flaming) members of their community in a cynical ploy
to gain acceptance and power for themselves—at the expense of their more
marginalized peers. There’s no better example than when, in 1973, the
New York Pride Committee <a href="https://wams.nyhistory.org/growth-and-turmoil/growing-tensions/marsha-p-johnson/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tried to bar</a>
trailblazing trans women of colour Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera
from participating in the Pride parade because they were giving the
organization “a bad name.” This decision by the local Pride committee
exemplified a <a href="https://www.verygoodlight.com/2020/06/29/lgbtq-history/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">broader trend</a> where some gay activists sought to push out more marginalized community members to win respectability and influence. </i></p>
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<p><i>"Flash forward 50 years and history is repeating itself in Canadian politics. As <a href="https://theconversation.com/queerphobic-hate-is-on-the-rise-and-lgbtq-communities-in-canada-need-more-support-214932" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">anti-LGBTQ2S+ hate rises</a> across Canada, with even <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-lgbtq-warning-violence-1.7114801" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CSIS sounding the alarm</a>,
and trans lives being used as a political punching bag by far-right
groups, Melissa Lantsman and Eric Duncan, the two (and only two) openly
gay Conservative MPs, and other Conservative MPs who’ve called
themselves our allies, are turning their backs on LGBTQ2S+ rights.</i></p>
<p><i>"Following federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre siding <a href="https://xtramagazine.com/video/pierre-poilievre-puberty-blockers-262845">with transphobes in his opposition to gender-affirming care for minors</a>, his remarks at rallies about so-called “gender ideology” and, most recently, his <a href="https://xtramagazine.com/video/poilievre-trans-women-bathrooms-263294">comments in support</a>
of banning trans women from women’s washrooms, not only have Duncan and
Lantsman refused to speak out, Lantsman went so far as to defend
Poilievre’s comments. Asked about <a href="https://t.co/vJiv7LJNXd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">his stance by the Hill Times last week, </a>Lantsman
said, “I think the leader has made his common sense Conservative
position very clear, and our caucus stands by it, alongside most
Canadians.” </i><br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-42475466619829415762024-02-15T09:26:00.001-05:002024-02-15T09:26:06.046-05:00Today's warning: "CSIS warns that the 'anti-gender movement' poses a threat of 'extreme violence' to the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Canada"<p><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-lgbtq-warning-violence-1.7114801" target="_blank">Intelligence agency says risk will 'almost certainly continue' over the coming year</a></p><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-lgbtq-warning-violence-1.7114801" target="_blank"><i>"Canada's intelligence agency is warning that extremists
could "inspire and encourage" serious violence against the 2SLGBTQI+
community — a threat the Canadian Security Intelligence Service says
almost certainly will continue over the coming year.</i></a><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-lgbtq-warning-violence-1.7114801" target="_blank"><i>"CSIS's
comments come as provincial policies on gender-affirming surgeries and
pronoun preferences are being hotly debated across the country.</i></a></p><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-lgbtq-warning-violence-1.7114801" target="_blank"><i>"CSIS
assesses that the violent threat posed by the anti-gender movement is
almost certain to continue over the coming year and that violent actors
may be inspired by the University of Waterloo attack to carry out their
own extreme violence against the 2SLGBTQI+ community or against other
targets they view as representing the gender ideology 'agenda,'" said
CSIS spokesperson Eric Balsam in an email to CBC News."</i></a></p><p></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-74434180921020840782024-02-05T02:42:00.006-05:002024-02-05T15:57:28.900-05:00Why Danielle Smith’s proposed anti-trans legislation is so wrong...<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMErAhL97j3kdYqOkkKwFgdcSaykzgK4j0b0D1pxSLvvo_OgLbfUH5ahuWY6Uck7kl9BH8Bek6oNB8EmXczVPrcw7o37EoFsYu1x4KIT70ppl8lxGqTrfcgrHSQbUlHT2ndLfYF8bJ6_4Up48hzqK8Cbgn21HetZJ-GLN8vF5F3cZ8JcsgsSj6uUCFvEo/s1136/GFlCRgyWoAA5Xoh.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMErAhL97j3kdYqOkkKwFgdcSaykzgK4j0b0D1pxSLvvo_OgLbfUH5ahuWY6Uck7kl9BH8Bek6oNB8EmXczVPrcw7o37EoFsYu1x4KIT70ppl8lxGqTrfcgrHSQbUlHT2ndLfYF8bJ6_4Up48hzqK8Cbgn21HetZJ-GLN8vF5F3cZ8JcsgsSj6uUCFvEo/w225-h400/GFlCRgyWoAA5Xoh.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Sadly, it was probably only a matter of time before Alberta Premier Danielle Smith used her majority government power as Conservative premier to try to control and even put at risk the lives of queer youth. <p></p><p>Smith's history supporting queer rights isn't stellar. Just 12 years ago, she didn't think it was a big deal for one of her
then-Wildrose candidates to have called for all queer people to burn in a
"lake of fire". Her judgment has been questioned for some time. I think she's just gotten better at looking the part of premier lately. <br /></p><p><a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10264436/alberta-parental-rights-policy/" target="_blank">Except last week when Smith announced new legislation she plans to introduce this fall</a> in the Alberta legislature that would, among other things, ban gender-affirming health care of any kind for Alberta youth 15 years old or younger, even puberty blockers and hormones.</p><p>Smith's paternalistic rationale given to justify this ban is that youth must be prevented from making decisions they may regret later in life. </p><p>It's the same sort of paternalistic, nonsensical thinking that surrounded the debate over sexual orientation and gay people in decades past in Canada. Back then, many conservatives like Smith also believed being gay was somehow a "phase" or something you fell into by choice, and could easily be "converted" out of through some old-fashioned Christian deprogramming. Of course, they were wrong then about gay people, just as they're wrong today about trans people. I knew I was gay when I was 13, and it definitely wasn't some "phase." <br /></p><p>The end result of this particular provision in Smith's proposed law today will be that more trans youth - who typically experience higher rates of depression, self harm and suicide after the onset of puberty - will have to suffer in painful silence until they're 16 before they can do anything about it. Many more of them won’t make it to 16 if this law passes. <br /></p><p>Smith is also promising to ban trans girls from competing in
sports against cisgender girls. It's not clear at all that this is a
problem in Alberta or anywhere else. It's not like there are armies of
highly athletic and muscular trans girls demanding to get into girls'
soccer leagues or swim teams. This is a solution in search of a problem. <br /></p><p>In addition, Smith announced that should trans kids under 16 want to at least be called a name or a pronoun that conforms with their gender at school, they will be outed to their parents, who will then be able to veto this freedom. If those parents then become violent toward those kids or kick them out of their homes, Smith doesn't seem to care. <br /></p><p>Furthermore, Smith announced if 16 or 17-year-olds want to change their names or pronouns at school, they will also be outed to their parents (who at least won't have a veto over that choice). If those same parents then become violent toward those young people or kick them out of their homes, Smith again doesn't seem to care. <br /></p><p>The end results of all of these policies will be more suicides, more self harm, and more violence. </p>Smith's plans also call for bans on any types of gender-affirming surgeries for those under 18. <br /><p><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/gender-affirming-care-canada-1.6967503" target="_blank">Fact: no one under age 18 has ever undergone gender re-assignment surgery in Canada because the medical profession and other professionals, not to mention trans folks, have rightly decided those irreversible steps do need to wait until adulthood. <br /></a></p><p>So why ban something that isn't even happening? </p><p></p><p>The answer is simple: Smith's priority is playing politics and further inciting cultural wars, and she seems happy to sacrifice the well-being and safety of queer youth to do it. <a href="https://queer-liberal.blogspot.com/2023/08/conservatives-circle-their-hateful.html" target="_blank">Rabid right-wing zealots have latched onto the issue of transgendered peoples as a wedge issue to try to spread hate, divide societies and win more political power. </a></p><p>Smith is a part of that problem, <a href="https://calgary.citynews.ca/2024/01/25/danielle-smith-tucker-carlson-reaction/" target="_blank">as evidenced by her recent appearance with American right-wing liar Tucker Carlson, Canadian asshole extraordinaire Jordan Peterson and convicted criminal Conrad Black.</a> <br /></p><p>Even more awful was Smith's duplicitous presentation last week, speaking in soft tones (what an accomplished actor she is), pretending to "care" about the well-being of queer youth. While in truth, she stabbed them in both the face and the back. </p><p>Tucked away in the announcement is the pledge to now remove "sexual orientation" education, as well as "gender identity" education and even sex education from school lessons for all Alberta youth unless their parents "opt in" and consent to their kids receiving these lessons. Yes, Alberta students won't be allowed to learn anything about LGBTQ+ people unless parents are okay with it. <br /></p><p>In the 80s and early 90s, my high school was a hotbed of homophobia and violent harassment mostly thanks to my fellow heterosexual students. I suffered in great silence and isolation in my Catholic public school, but I don't think my experiences were much different from those who attended public schools in Ontario. Rampant, repulsive homophobia was completely mainstream then. It was hard to live through. <br /></p><p>Today, sadly, I suspect if you walk down typical high school hallways in Ontario, Alberta, or anywhere, I'm sure there's little difference: verbal assaults using the word "faggot" I hear are still common, as is vicious bullying, as we know. </p><p>Schools, school boards and governments are obliged to try to provide safe learning environments for all children, not just heterosexual children. </p><p>The introduction of mandatory education into the truths around sexual orientation - including that LGBTQ+ people don't choose their orientations, and that homosexuality exists in roughly the same percentages (about 3 to 5%) across all demographics in society and has for centuries (since we've been able to record these histories) - is essential to combating homophobia in schools and promoting the safety of queer youth in our care. </p><p>To make this essential education now optional, with the likelihood the most homophobic will now be free to continue their homophobic bullying, even encouraged to do so implicitly by Smith's draconian law, will make Alberta schools more dangerous for queer youth and queer people in general. <br /></p><p>Even to target LGBTQ+ peoples for this special mistreatment sends a message of anti-queer disrespect, that there is something wrong about learning these truths. Why else would you be required to opt in to receive them? <br /></p><p>Merely teaching children that LGBTQ+ people exist is not indoctrinating children. It's teaching them the truth about the real world. For the queer children in schools, learning you’re not alone saves lives.</p><p>It has long been clear that when it comes to laws governing children or youth in our care - such as in our public schools, or in other laws impacting on children - those laws must always be in the "best interests of the children." Courts have struck down numerous laws that violated the "best interests of children." </p><p>Of course, "best interests of the children" doesn't mean "doing whatever the kids want." In fact, many children might disagree often with what is determined to be in their best interests. <br /></p><p>I do sympathize with parents who feel they have a right to know if their kid is using a different pronoun or name at school. I also sympathize with queer youth who have a right to privacy and safety as they struggle to figure out who they are and where they fit in this scary world. </p><p>As we struggle to find the right balance on this issue, I think one thing is clear: our laws should always be written with the best interests of children in mind. </p><p>The proposed laws announced last week by Danielle Smith are anything but. When or if Smith actually introduces this legislation in the Alberta legislature, we'll see if she includes the Charter of Rights' notwithstanding clause in it, which would exempt the legislation from Charter challenges for five years. </p><p>But I’m not sure even the notwithstanding clause would protect these laws from being challenged and struck down. They are clearly written in violation of the best interests of children or youth. They clearly put children and youth in danger and subject them to considerable harm. I expect the courts would agree and strike them down given the chance. </p><p>This is not an area in which provincial governments should be legislating. One-size-fits-all policies will lead to inevitable harm. We ought to leave these difficult, deeply personal and medical issues up to the individuals involved: the parents, the medical professionals, the educators, and most importantly, the children and youth in our care. Not overreaching, misguided politicians trying to win more political power for themselves. <br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-77814429337595569952024-01-17T12:40:00.004-05:002024-01-17T12:40:52.700-05:00Today's tonic: "Andrew Scott is right – it’s time to retire the phrase ‘openly gay’"<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/16/andrew-scott-is-right-its-time-to-retire-the-phrase-openly-gay " target="_blank"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NmVpJNO-fHdrJ8V80lClBy6WpSb3m6fgkhwUzBtwWrSydRzqnsz1GCoNHTxsJHUe9hFNbtNfpWn4LmmDvJY0N0Ll_FUA4uREyVMbwJq5KTD-W1t770TNUicPp9zYtwFWHnAkaKDnvbpJe2XiVAJ-cWKtorwHRmxfHcQdolVN3fjLKlXnmATCMOiQ3jI/s2911/andrew%20scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="2911" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NmVpJNO-fHdrJ8V80lClBy6WpSb3m6fgkhwUzBtwWrSydRzqnsz1GCoNHTxsJHUe9hFNbtNfpWn4LmmDvJY0N0Ll_FUA4uREyVMbwJq5KTD-W1t770TNUicPp9zYtwFWHnAkaKDnvbpJe2XiVAJ-cWKtorwHRmxfHcQdolVN3fjLKlXnmATCMOiQ3jI/s320/andrew%20scott.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actor Andrew Scott<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I couldn't agree more with this charming, smart actor, Andrew Scott (currently starring in the awesome feature film <i>All of Us Strangers</i>) that the phrase "openly gay" is old school and needs to be retired, as writer Ryan Gilbey highlights in this Guardian piece.<br /></a></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/16/andrew-scott-is-right-its-time-to-retire-the-phrase-openly-gay " target="_blank"><i>“I’m going to make a pitch for getting rid of the phrase ‘openly gay,’”
said Scott, steering the conversation in a more illuminating direction.
“It’s an expression that you only ever hear in the media. You’re never
at a party and you say, ‘This is my openly gay friend…’” Why, he
wondered, is “openly” always attached to that adjective? “We don’t say
you’re ‘openly Irish.’ We don’t say you’re ‘openly left-handed’…There’s
something in it that’s a little near ‘shamelessly.’ ‘You’re <span class="dcr-epamsi">open</span> about it?’ You know what I’m saying?” He proposed that “it’s time to just sort of park it.”</i></a></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-26036852631285302322023-12-31T13:21:00.005-05:002024-01-04T17:29:26.990-05:002023 was a tough year for the planet, but thank the Universe for Jimbo! <p>It's been a tough year for the world. </p><p>Fascism and dictatorship are on the rise, while democracies are under constant attack. War continued in Ukraine thanks to the most evil person on the planet: Putin. </p><p>Fascist Islamic antisemitic hatred in the form of Hamas also
lashed out and brutally murdered 1,200 Israeli citizens and kidnapped
over 200 more in southern Israel on Oct 7th. </p><p>The Israeli
response pushed back hard, as any decent country would, launching a war against the Hamas cowards, who
willingly again hid among their own people in Gaza, thus causing Gazan
casualties to skyrocket. </p><p>Fascism continued to rise in the U.S. with the dangerous man child Donald Trump continuing to seize attention and win the hearts of the deplorables in the morally bankrupt Republican Party. </p><p>Other forms of bigotry skyrocketed too, inspired by Donald Trump and other fascists. </p><p>Trans youth, perhaps the most vulnerable and misunderstood human beings on the planet, were the targets of amoral, despicable right-wing politicians and others eager to join the fascist bandwagon. </p><p>There was decent pushback though. Jack Smith courageously charged the fascist Trump with many crimes in the U.S. surrounding his efforts to destroy American democracy. Trump and co-conspirators also faced other charges in the state of Georgia and Florida. </p><p>Those who believe in the rule of law continue to demand it be followed. We'll see if Republican-leaning judges still stand by it too in 2024. America may be reverting to fascist / sociopathic rule one year from now if some polls are to be believed (I don't believe them.) </p><p>I'm lucky to be with my loving husband going into 2024. My family is relatively well and happy. My friends are still pushing through despite some personal setbacks this year. I'm thankful for so many good things and pledge to continue to work hard to better those things I can change. </p><p>As I look back at this year, I remember the great art and entertainment that brought me and many others happiness. </p><p>My favourite pop culture icon to re-emerge with a hilarious vengeance: <a href="https://houseofjimbo.com/" target="_blank">Canadian-born drag queen superstar Jimbo</a>, who won Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 8. </p><p>Yes, they've had eight All Stars seasons. This Canuck made me proud and helped me laugh my ass off this year. Put aside your worries and enjoy some of the highlights below as you end out 2023:</p><p> </p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="280" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dGFXDm2ljcM?si=VAjsRet9LPqAYfP0" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-45075319869872913892023-12-30T16:27:00.029-05:002024-01-22T19:26:52.539-05:00My Favourite Films of 2023 - FINAL<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iQJ-QF5B6s-A5zxT-Ct6uUCzqlNzZDh1sm_JB274uBoaOjbu9OIMSpmkzY5K0cCRS0rnFrnfTxw_8K6mK5IPfbzWmPgH_6xfPdft3WqNUhZ8ECSR6P3GNhFfNejQctHD3tGxIYpG7tp9q3QhACQVbhyphenhyphenWaZqC54dKG5BzKlH4D1eCM9O0v1akGN4Ic1s/s2048/16saltburn1-cvmf-superJumbo.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iQJ-QF5B6s-A5zxT-Ct6uUCzqlNzZDh1sm_JB274uBoaOjbu9OIMSpmkzY5K0cCRS0rnFrnfTxw_8K6mK5IPfbzWmPgH_6xfPdft3WqNUhZ8ECSR6P3GNhFfNejQctHD3tGxIYpG7tp9q3QhACQVbhyphenhyphenWaZqC54dKG5BzKlH4D1eCM9O0v1akGN4Ic1s/w400-h300/16saltburn1-cvmf-superJumbo.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Barry Keoghan in Saltburn<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>FINAL UPDATE January 18, 2024: </b> I'm happy once again to share my annual list of my favourite films released this past year. When I first posted this on December 30th, 2023, I hadn't yet seen all of the major 2023 releases I wanted. But as of this week, I've finally seen everything I expected to be near the top of my list. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Here is my list of 2023 favourites, in order! </b></span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Saltburn</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - This one is not for everyone's tastes. I tend to prefer well done films that I also find super fun to watch over and over as my top pics every year. If some of the cultural politics around a film also appeal to my sensibilities, that helps a lot. This year, this darkly comedic, artful, satirical thriller takes the cake on so many levels. Adorable and talented Irish actor Barry Keoghan gets his sexy star turn as an Oxford scholarship student who befriends the rich son of an aristocratic family, and spends the summer at their lovely castle estate named Saltburn. This wicked tale exposes and demolishes the stupidity of its upper class characters, who spend the movie largely bullying Keoghan's lead, slowly laying the groundwork for their fates. Additional viewings of this flick are essential, especially the final scene featuring a very naked Keoghan dancing throughout the mansion, probably the hottest, most beautiful image released on film this year. This is an instant class revenge / queer classic from director Emerald Fennell, who proves her stunning feature debut </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Promising Young Woman</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was no fluke, but the start of a hopefully long, great filmmaking career. </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Oppenheimer </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Probably Christopher Nolan’s most accomplished film, he paints a chilling picture of science and technology in cahoots with military and geo-political forces racing to beat the Nazis at the end of World War II. Cillian Murphy is perfectly subdued as the head scientist grappling with his own ethics. The rest of the cast, let alone the technical achievements here are stunning. The notion these nuclear scientists literally gambled on destroying the planet by conducting the first atom bomb experiment, depicted here as only Nolan can with minimal special effects, is bone chilling. It is three hours long, and by the end many might feel overloaded with details. I’m not sure what could possibly have been cut, though. I am sure Nolan’s headed to a well-deserved Best Director Oscar at the Academy Awards in March 2024. </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>3. American Fiction</i></b> - I missed this film at the Toronto International Film Festival where it won the Audience Award in 2023. Finally, I caught the film in January 2024 and it's utterly wonderful, goodhearted, smart, and hilarious! Oh, man, this is so good. Jeffrey Wright plays an African-American fiction writer unable to get his next serious and straight-laced book published, and frustrated by what he deems the plethora of badly written "black trauma porn" stories finding massive audiences on the market. So he decides to write his own version of said black trauma porn called "<i>My Pafology</i>," which he later renames "<i>Fuck</i>". Hilariously, publishers eat it up and the book gets published and becomes a huge hit, even the movie rights get sold, leading to a deeply funny, ironic, perfect ending. I'm still chuckling about moments in this film days later. Plus, the characters and family story lines here are so enjoyable and moving. Overall, a great viewing experience! </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>4. Poor Things</i></b> - Yorgos Lanthimos' latest masterpiece is also more charming, engaging and energetic than his previous great works (which include <i>The Favourite</i> and <i>The Lobster)</i>. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I loved the sharp hilarious writing in this edgy re-working of the Frankenstein story. Emma Stone is perfect, as are all the actors involved. This is very much deserving of the praise it's receiving. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The art direction, costume design, hair and make-up, and all other technical aspects of this film are beyond beautiful. The stunning attention to detail is so welcome, giving this bizarre fantasy comedy such vibrancy, especially on the big screen. It probably didn't need all the nudity, but it certainly adds to the rawness of the festivities. </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. The Zone of Interest </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- British Jewish director Jonathan Glazer presents here perhaps the most quietly disturbing and unforgettable portrait of civilized evil I’ve seen on film in years. The Nazi commandant in charge of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, lives alongside the horrific camp in a lovely house and grounds with his German wife and children. We never see directly inside Auschwitz, only its foreboding walls and barbed wire, plus we often hear sounds of gunshots, dogs barking, muffled screams and trains pulling into the camp. We also occasionally see the burning smokestacks especially horrifying at night shining shades of fiery red through closed bedroom curtains. Much focus is paid to how these characters try to normalize everything about their existences, focusing on the comforts and beauties they cling to, including garden flowers (occasionally covered by human ash) and swanky parties amongst the Nazi elites in the area. When the commandant is threatened with a transfer to another camp, it’s despicable how his wife fights to stay in her “fantasy” home they’ve spent years striving to build. Living next to Auschwitz is literally her dream come true. These characters are all complicit in the evil that surrounds them. Evil’s fascination and comfort with physically beautiful things makes those things seem complicit too. </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Barbie</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - I have to say this film delivers on the social commentary and satire we hoped it would. It is truly a new feminist masterpiece! The acting by Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as her boyfriend Ken is stupendous, particularly Gosling whose performance is the stuff of comic genius (and will likely be rewarded with a Best Supporting Actor nomination early in 2024.) But the biggest accomplishment is the writing by Greta Gurwig and Noah Baumbach. America Ferrera’s monologue on the impossible challenges of being a woman is a stand-out. This film’s massive international success reminds us that you can recycle a concept or even a toy brand and turn it into something modern, smart, thought-provoking, supremely funny and entertaining, as long as the creatives in charge are uniquely talented.</span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Killers of the Flower Moon</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Martin Scorcese’s latest masterpiece depicts a series of murders of Osage members and relations in the Osage Nation after oil was discovered on tribal land. The tribal members had retained mineral rights on their reservation, and thus became the targets of racist, greedy white invaders trying to get their hands on that wealth. The story focuses on how William King Hale (played by Robert De Niro) manipulates his simpleton nephew Ernest Burkhart (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) into marrying Mollie Kyle (played by Lily Gladstone), an Osage woman whose family owned oil head rights. The film is long at 3.5 hours, but still kept me engaged throughout, but perhaps my bathroom break at the halfway point missing a few minutes helped with my viewing stamina (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">note to movie theatres: it’s time to bring back 10-minute intermissions to give the audience a break so they can comfortably endure ever-longer feature films.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) Nevertheless, this is a timely exploration of the immense evil that took shape around a little known and tragic period of racist American history. </span><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. The Holdovers</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Touching, beautiful, this is a quiet masterpiece about a brilliant but cantankerous classics teacher (Paul Giamatti) charged with supervising a handful of high school boys at their private school over the Christmas holidays in early 1970s New England. Particular focus is on the emotional and intellectual bond that forms between Giamatti and one brilliant young student played by newcomer Dominic Sessa. Da’Vine Joy Randolph as a mourning mother who keeps the males at the school fed adds to the delight of this latest masterpiece by </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sideways</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> director Alexander Payne. I do agree this is Payne’s best film and will warm your heart if you give it a chance.</span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Anatomy of a Fall</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - A refreshing take on the whodunnit / courtroom drama, this French film with a tonne of English dialogue details the criminal investigation and trial of a successful writer after the surprise death of her less-successful writer husband at the family chalet. The only witness is her partially blind young son. Sandra Huller plays the woman to perfection, leaving us wondering throughout if she’s guilty or not. The gripping conclusion unfolds organically, giving great satisfaction and emotional authenticity to a tragic situation.</span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>10. All of Us Strangers </i></b>- This lovely film is more muted and minimalist than I anticipated, but still quite moving. The story is about a lonely gay man in London, UK played by the beloved Andrew Scott. Approaching middle age and somewhat dissatisfied with his screenwriting career, he visits his childhood home where he miraculously finds his parents, both dead since they were killed tragically when he was 12, alive and the same age as he last saw them. Of course, this film engages in a lot of magic surrealism, integrating this mental and emotional exploration of the past with the present, as the lonely man simultaneously begins a new relationship with an attractive and equally lonely neighbour played by Paul Mescal. The effect is deeply authentic, but might leave some strangely dissatisfied with its quiet ending. There are no easy resolutions in life, and this film admits it readily, while still being beautiful. </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11. Past Lives</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - A remarkably endearing and honest cross-decades romance about revisiting old loves who got away. The best straight romance of the year. </span></p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12. The Killer</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - David Fincher again delivers shocking action and tension in this artful and well-written thriller about an assassin (played by the always sexy Michael Fassbender) who screws up on the job and then spends the rest of the movie (very efficiently) cleaning it up.</span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13. Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - This animated adventure sequel (as well as the first <i>Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse</i>) adds as much if not more wonderful depth, character development and intrigue than most of the live action versions. </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14. Asteroid City</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Another quirky delight from Wes Anderson, who brought us one of my favourite films in <i>The Grand Budapest Hotel</i>. This one is less funny and accomplished, but still greatly entertaining. The alien visitation scene is worth the price of admission. </span></p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15. Maestro </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- I enjoyed this somewhat flawed character study about uber talented conductor Leonard Bernstein. Bradley Cooper completely inhabits the character and is 100% convincing in all aspects of the role including the musical genius, body language, and frequent queerness. I also bought into the romance with his true love played by Carey Mulligan, the woman who accepts him unconditionally. Cooper does suck up most of the oxygen but Mulligan does hold her own next to him.</span></p><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16. One Life</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - I saw this at TIFF 2023, although it won’t be released until 2024. This moving, absorbing story about a British humanitarian who helped save 700 Jewish refugee children from German-occupied Czechoslovakia just before the start of World War II is made greater by the ever-wonderful Anthony Hopkins in the title role. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17. Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - I’ve loved this trilogy in all of its naughty, original, hilarious, once-impossible-to-produce glory. Oddly for this third part in the trilogy, I found myself tearing up on several occasions. But also laughing out loud often. This features another great vocal performance by Bradley Cooper who again plays Rocket, arguably the lead character this time around. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18. Rustin</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Colman Domingo is great in this good film about activist Bayard Rustin whose friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. set the groundwork for the 1963 March on Washington. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">19. Nyad </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Annette Bening delivers as Diana Nyad, the marathon swimmer repeatedly attempting to cross from Cuba to Key West. But I especially loved Jodie Foster as her best friend who provides essential support to Nyad's exhausting efforts. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>20. Air</i></b> - Thoroughly entertaining story about the partnership between a visionary Nike executive played by Matt Damon and basketball legend Michael Jordan </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">that <span><span>revolutionized the world of sports marketing and athlete compensation in major commercial deals. <br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21. John Wick: Chapter 4</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Delivers what John Wick films have always delivered, but even more. And with more beautiful art direction. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><u><b>Disappointing: <br /></b></u></span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May December</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Decent enough, although not at all convincing and ultimately disappointing film from the inconsistent Todd Haynes. Natalie Portman is always interesting to watch in this, while Julianne Moore simply wasn’t. Was she underwritten? It would seem so. I also didn’t buy the central story set-up of an actress spending weeks with her troubled subject before shooting a movie, nor did I believe Charles Melton’s character only now comes to realize he might've been exploited by the love of his life. Far too easy a conclusion for a film that pretended to be more nuanced. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Little Mermaid </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Fine enough adaptation, but overly slow and often boring. Stick with the animated original. </span></p><p><u><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not interested in seeing: </span></b></u></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Napoleon</i></b> - Sadly, director Ridley Scott has been phoning it in for years now and, from what I can see, this film looks horribly inaccurate and heavy-handed with tropes that were tired in Scott films directed 20 years ago, let alone today. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I still need to see these films, in order:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blackberry</span></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Origin</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Color Purple</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Priscilla</span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Marvels</span></b></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Passages</span></b></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></b></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Wonka</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Boys In The Boat</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ferrari</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Haunting In Venice</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dicks: The Musical</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dream Scenario</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eileen</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Boy and the Heron</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Memory</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manodrome</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Iron Claw</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pain Hustlers </span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dumb Money</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bottoms</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyone But You</span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-11986180675735495582023-12-29T13:42:00.002-05:002023-12-29T13:42:13.004-05:00Today's tonic: "Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoes bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors"<p><a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/ohio-dewine-transgender-house-bill-68/index.html" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="69d32-0-0"><span data-text="true">Wow! Leadership on protecting trans youth from a Republican governor! How refreshing! </span></span><span style="color: #1d9bf0;"><span data-offset-key="69d32-1-0"><span data-text="true"> </span></span></span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/ohio-dewine-transgender-house-bill-68/index.html" target="_blank"><i>"Ohio’s Republican governor has vetoed legislation that would have
barred transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care, he said
Friday.
</i></a></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clqqupils0008356hgehnr61j@published"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/ohio-dewine-transgender-house-bill-68/index.html" target="_blank"><i>
"Signing the bill would “be saying that the state, the government”
knows what’s better for youth than their parents, Gov. Mike DeWine said.
</i></a></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clqqupils0009356huj7syaae@published"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/ohio-dewine-transgender-house-bill-68/index.html" target="_blank"><i>
"State lawmakers passed House Bill 68 just before the holiday break...
</i></a></p><div class="ad-slot-dynamic ad-slot-dynamic--1" data-placement="{"mobile":{"position":5},"desktop":{"position":3}}" data-unselectable="true" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/ad-slot-dynamic/instances/sharethrough@published">
</div>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clqquybqt0002356hcmfb17vz@published"><i>
"<a href="https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/solarapi/v1/general_assembly_135/bills/hb68/EN/05/hb68_05_EN?format=pdf" target="_blank">The legislation</a>
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/ohio-dewine-transgender-house-bill-68/index.html" target="_blank">would have prohibited gender-affirming care for trans and nonbinary
youth, including hormone blockers, hormone replacement therapy, medical
or surgical procedures and some mental health services.
</a></i></p>
<div class="related-content related-content--article" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/related-content/instances/clqqvsznw0001356hn4tvew25@published"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/ohio-dewine-transgender-house-bill-68/index.html" target="_blank"><i>
"The bill also sought to prohibit transgender athletes from taking part in female sports.
</i></a></div><p><a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/ohio-dewine-transgender-house-bill-68/index.html" target="_blank"><i>“Parents have looked me in the eye and told me but for this
treatment, their child would be dead,” DeWine said at a news conference.
</i></a></p><p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clqqvcni100083b6f6h3usu25@published"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/ohio-dewine-transgender-house-bill-68/index.html" target="_blank"><i>
"People who have transitioned told him “they are thriving today because of that transition,” he said.
</i></a></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clqqvd19b000a3b6fjsg1ijby@published"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/ohio-dewine-transgender-house-bill-68/index.html" target="_blank"><i>
"For transgender minors and their families in Ohio, “the
consequences of this bill could not be more profound,” he said.
“Ultimately, I believe this is about protecting human life.”
</i></a></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-73306193630399818262023-11-07T17:01:00.004-05:002024-01-05T10:57:57.840-05:00Today's sobering alert: "Trump and allies plot revenge, Justice Department control in a second term"<p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/05/trump-revenge-second-term/ " target="_blank">The Washington Post published this article yesterday: "<span class="PJLV" data-qa="headline-text">Trump and allies plot revenge, Justice Department control in a second term"</span></a></p><p><i><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/05/trump-revenge-second-term/" target="_blank">"Donald Trump and his allies have begun mapping out specific plans for using the
federal government to punish critics and opponents should he win a
second term, with the former president naming individuals he wants to
investigate or prosecute and his associates drafting plans to
potentially invoke the Insurrection Act on his first day in office to
allow him to deploy the military against civil demonstrations.<span class="PJLV" data-qa="headline-text">"<br /></span></a></i></p><p><span class="PJLV" data-qa="headline-text">Make no mistake: if Trump manages to win the 2024 presidential election in the United States, he'll be setting up his own banana republic. This will undoubtedly hurt Canada and most of the world. </span></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-90818527373245039612023-10-16T12:14:00.007-04:002023-10-16T12:28:47.704-04:00Today's tonic: Poland frees itself from its neo-fascist, homophobic, anti-democratic government and embraces change<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/16/poland-election-results-law-and-justice-party-donald-tusk-coalition" target="_blank"></a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCQv-C0inUdA1c_AP2W9eEGAc-pkafGn4JtZty5In34qmYQM1IJKW_gqyRzlhvqMmwhYbtpDFTkfm9XZK6JllIPT8jTI6dVnSP0AybGkckNfTZv1Aat659oIdNs6IRjshuDRS7oRfpYnGGyjwQCr9Qpg017aZJM51WV8OSZbhefu0HCSPoce8HhkJcuQ/s620/donald-tusk-former-president-of-the-european-union-eu-and-leader-of-the-civic-coalition-speaks-during-an-election-night-rally-at-the-party-headquarters-in-warsaw-poland-on-sunday-oct-15-2023-poland-s-opposition-is-on-track-for-a-majority-in-sunday-s-.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCQv-C0inUdA1c_AP2W9eEGAc-pkafGn4JtZty5In34qmYQM1IJKW_gqyRzlhvqMmwhYbtpDFTkfm9XZK6JllIPT8jTI6dVnSP0AybGkckNfTZv1Aat659oIdNs6IRjshuDRS7oRfpYnGGyjwQCr9Qpg017aZJM51WV8OSZbhefu0HCSPoce8HhkJcuQ/s320/donald-tusk-former-president-of-the-european-union-eu-and-leader-of-the-civic-coalition-speaks-during-an-election-night-rally-at-the-party-headquarters-in-warsaw-poland-on-sunday-oct-15-2023-poland-s-opposition-is-on-track-for-a-majority-in-sunday-s-.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donald Tusk, leader of
the Civic Coalition </td></tr></tbody></table><p>Amid the many horrors in Israel and Palestine this past week or so, this little bit of international good news is extremely welcome. <br /></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/16/poland-election-results-law-and-justice-party-donald-tusk-coalition" target="_blank">Exit polls indicate that Polish voters this past weekend have given their progressive and centrist opposition parties enough seats in their next parliament to form a government, thus turfing out the far right neo-fascists of the Law and Justice Party, also known as PiS.</a> Now that's an appropriate term for these jerks. <br /></p><p></p><p>The neo-fascists greatly hurt many democratic ideals during their eight years of elected power in the country, including taking away women's rights over their own bodies by virtually outlawing
abortion, threatening the independence of the judiciary and press
freedom too by taking hold of the state broadcaster, and attacking LGBTQ rights. </p><i>"The
exit polls suggested that the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party
received the most votes (about 36.6%), but that Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition together with
two other opposition parties should have a route to a parliamentary
majority.</i><p class="dcr-1kas69x"><i>Tusk, who was Polish prime minister between 2007 and 2014 and then became European Council president for five years, <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/15/poland-exit-polls-pis-party-wins-most-votes-but-opposition-coalition-possible">declared victory almost immediately after polls closed on Sunday</a>, claiming there was no route for PiS to claim a third term in office.</i></p><p class="dcr-1kas69x"><i>“It’s
the end of the evil times, it’s the end of the PiS rule. We made it,” Tusk said, speaking at a party event inside Warsaw’s ethnography museum to
the sound of cheers from supporters. “We won democracy, we won freedom,
we won our free, beloved Poland … this day will be remembered in history as a bright day, the rebirth of Poland.”</i></p><p class="dcr-1kas69x"><i>An
updated exit poll released on Monday put PiS on 36.6% and Tusk’s Civic
Coalition on 31%, with strong showings also for two groups that could
form a coalition with Tusk: the centre-right Third Way (13.5%) and the
leftwing Lewica (8.6%). The poll projects that the opposition coalition
will win about 248 out of 460 seats. </i> </p><p class="dcr-1kas69x">Final results are still coming in, but it seems clear change is coming for Poland. <br /></p><p class="dcr-1kas69x">Wonderful news for democracy and freedoms for all. <br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-23589382905293221692023-09-20T12:35:00.007-04:002023-09-25T21:13:49.677-04:00No one is imposing "gender ideology" on children in schools, decent folks are trying to save trans & queer kids' lives and anti-LGBTQ protesters today are simply trying to hurt or even kill them<p>Let's call a spade a spade.</p><p>Gender-non-conforming kids and queer kids in our schools are extremely vulnerable to bullying, discrimination, harassment, and violence. </p><p>This was my experience as a gay youth in my high school. Sadly, it's the experience of most queer youth. </p><p>Kids who are questioning their identities aren't a new phenomenon. </p><p>Kids who are today questioning their gender identities are simply authentically asking these questions because we live in an era when many correctly have come to understand that trans and non-binary people are, have always been, and always will be a small but very beautiful part of the human family. This has to happen in safe spaces where such kids don't fear violence, harassment and ignorance. </p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/crowds-gather-in-toronto-ottawa-fredericton-as-demonstrations-expected-across-canada-over-gender-diversity-and/article_bb821a46-7bef-5863-abde-f8e82464d880.html " target="_blank">So-called One Million March for Children Canada protesters marching today to promote hatred, purportedly to defend children, are actually attacking children including their safety. They are promoting an environment which promotes violence and intolerance of children. They are making their lives more dangerous. Period.</a> <br /><p>Sadly, these anti-gay protesters are, in truth, trying to hurt or even kill these vulnerable youth. </p><p>If their rights are denied, if their lives are disregarded and negatively impacted by these ignorant crackdowns on rights, many of these vulnerable youth will suffer, choose suicide or self-harm. </p><p>I'm thrilled many counter protesters, who seem to outnumber these bigots in many places, are out in full force today to communicate clearly the rights of these kids matter. <br /></p>This debate is simple: what's more important? The best interests of children in our care? Or parents who may be so ignorant about their children's identities they need schools to tell them these truths. Those parents need to have better relationships with their kids. Not strip all queer kids of their rights. <br /><p>The safety, security and best interests of children and youth in our care should always be the top priority of adults, parents, educators and all. Everything else is secondary. <br /></p><p>Parents do not have the right to undermine children's safety. <br /></p><p><span class="r-18u37iz"><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1cvl2hr r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoSpaceForHate?src=hashtag_click" role="link">#NoSpaceForHate</a></span></p><p>ADDENDUM</p><p>I just want to add that I think our laws need no changes or inappropriate interventions from government. Educators are already empowered to inform parents when concerns about a child or youth’s safety or security arise. </p><p>I simply don’t agree schools should be legally compelled by government to inform parents if a youth decides to experiment with name changes or gender identities. It’s one size fits all and inappropriate. Instead, if there is an issue of safety or security for the youth, including if they are vulnerable to self harm, and educators believe the parents must know about the situation, then of course parents must be informed. </p><p>I also don’t believe outing kids should be banned as there might be cases when that’s appropriate as it’s in the best interests of the children for their parents to know. </p><p>I’m against banning outing and I’m against mandatory outing. Every situation is different.</p><p>I compare it to a case of a Muslim or Christian student who decides at their school to explore a different religion. Imagine if the government compelled schools then to inform parents of those choices. It would be unconscionable. So why must gender identity be treated differently?</p><p><br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-49104171142656904182023-09-16T12:55:00.006-04:002023-09-16T12:55:27.389-04:00Today's tonic: "My question for Doug Ford: When it comes to gender who is indoctrinating whom?" <p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/my-question-for-doug-ford-when-it-comes-to-gender-who-is-indoctrinating-whom/article_e3b27a5d-a4b0-5cf2-895a-579cde424ffe.html" target="_blank">Today's tonic: "My question for Doug Ford: When it comes to gender who is indoctrinating whom?" by Toronto Star writer Emma Teitel. </a></p><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/my-question-for-doug-ford-when-it-comes-to-gender-who-is-indoctrinating-whom/article_e3b27a5d-a4b0-5cf2-895a-579cde424ffe.html" target="_blank">"This entire gender identity
freakout rests on the wildly idealistic belief that “woke-ism” has
eviscerated age old gender norms. In truth, it’s hardly dented them. In
order to genuinely believe gender norms are eroding one must live his
entire life at the centre of a pride parade. Because to walk around
mainstream society — and to raise a child in mainstream society — is to
be hit over the head at every turn with the reminder that girls are girls and boys are boys, and don’t you forget it.</a></i></p><div class="subscriber-only">
<div class="adLabelWrapperManual hidden-sm hidden-xs inArticleLeaderboard adSizingLeaderboard subscriber-hide hidden-print" style="clear: right;"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/my-question-for-doug-ford-when-it-comes-to-gender-who-is-indoctrinating-whom/article_e3b27a5d-a4b0-5cf2-895a-579cde424ffe.html" target="_blank">"After all, it
isn’t baby boomers throwing gender reveal parties; the explosion of that
trend occurred in recent years thanks to my generation, “woke”
millennials who are supposed to have forgotten the meaning of tradition.</a></i></p></div></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/my-question-for-doug-ford-when-it-comes-to-gender-who-is-indoctrinating-whom/article_e3b27a5d-a4b0-5cf2-895a-579cde424ffe.html" target="_blank">"However,
it turns out we love tradition, especially if it involves cutting into a
cake to reveal a baby pink interior (it’s a girl!), or in more devoted
cases (as happened in Arizona in 2017 and California in 2020)
detonating a pyrotechnic device that releases a plume of colourful
gender-indicating smoke into the air, resulting in a wildfire that burns
thousands of acres of land and in the latter case, kills a firefighter.</a></i></p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/my-question-for-doug-ford-when-it-comes-to-gender-who-is-indoctrinating-whom/article_e3b27a5d-a4b0-5cf2-895a-579cde424ffe.html" target="_blank">"Queer
people are not erasing the gender binary. Straight, cisgender people
are literally setting the world on fire to preserve it.</a></i></p><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/my-question-for-doug-ford-when-it-comes-to-gender-who-is-indoctrinating-whom/article_e3b27a5d-a4b0-5cf2-895a-579cde424ffe.html" target="_blank">"...Ford has good reason to weigh in on trans kids: they’re a convenient scapegoat and distraction from the Greenbelt scandal.
The federal Conservatives, on the other hand, have a far better chance
at maintaining their lead among younger voters if they never talk about
trans people again.</a></i></p>
</div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/my-question-for-doug-ford-when-it-comes-to-gender-who-is-indoctrinating-whom/article_e3b27a5d-a4b0-5cf2-895a-579cde424ffe.html" target="_blank">"But it seems
Conservatives at all levels just can’t help themselves. Whether the root
cause of their transgender fixation is opportunism or bigotry (or
both), they’re not dropping the subject anytime soon. The so-called
culture war has arrived in Canada. We were never better than the
Americans. We’re just late to trends."</a></i></p></div></div><p></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-59637984198953518332023-09-09T12:28:00.004-04:002023-09-09T12:28:24.364-04:00Today's tonic: "Why Does Flying Suck so Much?" by Robert Reich, in one of his best videos #airlines #rippingusoff #flying<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/eTzaMXXelew?si=tWKxKYTUrQHHZ4K5" width="480"></iframe></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-28263601707021057322023-09-02T13:33:00.010-04:002023-09-02T14:44:43.042-04:00Today's tonic: "Stephen Lecce’s stance on gender identity in schools is a recipe for more homeless youth"<p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/stephen-lecce-s-stance-on-gender-identity-in-schools-is-a-recipe-for-more-homeless/article_5d8ddef1-a5f2-5df6-a139-4045f712329f.html " target="_blank"></a></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/5a/e5ab2bc9-85f2-5911-837c-2bd80836a241/64efadd2b4f4b.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/5a/e5ab2bc9-85f2-5911-837c-2bd80836a241/64efadd2b4f4b.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/stephen-lecce-s-stance-on-gender-identity-in-schools-is-a-recipe-for-more-homeless/article_5d8ddef1-a5f2-5df6-a139-4045f712329f.html " target="_blank">Today's tonic: "<span>Stephen Lecce’s stance on gender identity in schools is a recipe for more homeless youth", by writer Emma Teitel. </span></a><p></p><p>Let's imagine young Stephen Lecce tells his teacher at his Ontario high school in the 1990s or 2000s that he's gay and suffering from discrimination and bullying. His teacher suggests he tell his parents about it because they may be able to help. But young Mr. Lecce tells the teacher his parents have been saying homophobic things his whole life, and he worries their conservative Catholic upbringing may lead them to reject him as a son. <br /></p><p>Young Mr. Lecce then joins his school's straight-gay alliance to find support. But then, the government adopts a policy if teenagers join such clubs in high school, even private high schools, the high school is then legally obliged to inform Lecce's parents about it (unlike any other club the student may join in high school.) The revelation leads to young Mr. Lecce getting into a major fight with his parents who contend he's humiliating their family. The fight becomes violent and young Mr. Lecce is ordered to "straighten up or get out!" The next day young Mr. Lecce leaves home and becomes homeless. What kind of future will he have now? <br /></p><p>This scenario is fiction, but sadly rings true to the experiences of many queer youth. Something like it could have even happened to Stephen Lecce, for all I know. (Although Ontario's Catholic high schools including private schools like his St. Michael's College certainly didn't have any gay-straight alliances in the 1990s or 2000s, so not as written above.)<br /></p><p>Even so, it's disappointing that Lecce isn't showing more expressed sympathy for the trans youth whose rights and basic safety <a href="https://www.cp24.com/news/parents-must-be-fully-involved-in-student-s-decision-to-change-pronouns-ontario-education-minister-says-1.6538025" target="_blank">he is now putting up for debate in Ontario. All of his talk of late has been about parents' rights. </a> <br /></p><p>He's wrong. This debate should be about the best interests and safety of the children in our care. Full stop. <br /></p><p>The hysteria that is being spread by the conservative right on this issue - like all hysteria spread by the right - is corrosive and will only lead to more pain and violence. And in this case homelessness. And is just being pushed to distract from other issues. </p><p>It's shameful and gross. It could lead to the destruction of young lives before they even have a chance to start or to find out who they truly are. </p><p>Whatever happened to personal freedom and autonomy? Erring on the side of personal freedom rather than government control? Apparently for conservatives, that policy only applies when you are exactly like them, and the more different you are, the less freedom and autonomy you should have. </p><p>Do you agree with them? I sure don't. I wish Stephen Lecce would provide something resembling leadership here rather than the usual, thoughtless, and in his case hypocritical, conservative ideology. <br /></p><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/stephen-lecce-s-stance-on-gender-identity-in-schools-is-a-recipe-for-more-homeless/article_5d8ddef1-a5f2-5df6-a139-4045f712329f.html" target="_blank">https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/stephen-lecce-s-stance-on-gender-identity-in-schools-is-a-recipe-for-more-homeless/article_5d8ddef1-a5f2-5df6-a139-4045f712329f.html </a><br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-60276301387861716222023-08-25T15:23:00.016-04:002024-01-05T15:38:18.800-05:00Conservatives circle their hateful wagons around trans people; Have any of you ever actually met and spoken with a trans person? <p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9lZYveobFQ-8vrkVPoi_Fb3qG5A7rZvRBUEPqH59fOzrXXGiqtISGLRtFNWiNmqMbQli7X3r0DlnUNbnWx9doxWQ78nivtqRyxUMrfuJuKB2HtrlIyuqTyOFhR5Bphi_BfWY1sqK-tb6kX7T8zMVZH39DCbzeA5YocnpygZUC_GXF3O2pHPk6RKUQ7w/s640/264883_1421179546856_7200767_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9lZYveobFQ-8vrkVPoi_Fb3qG5A7rZvRBUEPqH59fOzrXXGiqtISGLRtFNWiNmqMbQli7X3r0DlnUNbnWx9doxWQ78nivtqRyxUMrfuJuKB2HtrlIyuqTyOFhR5Bphi_BfWY1sqK-tb6kX7T8zMVZH39DCbzeA5YocnpygZUC_GXF3O2pHPk6RKUQ7w/w300-h400/264883_1421179546856_7200767_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dear late friend Kyle Scanlon<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I've been heartbroken watching <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-transgender-2slgbtq-legislation-1.6842069" target="_blank">the repeated, nasty attempts south of the border</a> and now <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/23/n-b-doubles-down-on-lgbtq-school-policy-after-report-says-it-violates-charter-rights/" target="_blank">in Canada to demonize</a> transgendered people, all for political gain. <p></p><p>Trans folks have become the latest targets of the hate-filled right in North America determined to distract the masses from the immense damage that conservative economic policies are actually doing to most people. </p><p>Conservatives always hurt the "little guy" whether they are straight or queer, female or male or non-binary, white or POC. <br /></p><p>But to distract the little guy from what they're really doing, conservatives often love to find some unpopular or misunderstood minority group and demonize it, claiming the minority group is the greatest threat to ordinary families. Through shared hatred, the conservatives attempt to bond with ordinary people. Donald Trump is an expert on this strategy. <br /></p><p>I've lost count of the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/wave-of-anti-transgender-bills-in-republican-led-states-divides-u-s-faith-leaders" target="_blank">number of anti-trans laws that are spreading throughout the U.S.</a>, all based on ignorance and fear. In Canada, New Brunswick has also started playing politics with the lives and safety of young trans kids in their schools, <a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/23/n-b-doubles-down-on-lgbtq-school-policy-after-report-says-it-violates-charter-rights/" target="_blank">forcing teachers to disrespect and ignore the chosen names and pronouns of young trans kids in the classroom. The result is a school system in New Brunswick that will be more hostile and dangerous for trans kids, who are the most vulnerable of our children.</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/08/23/as-conservative-premiers-talk-gender-and-kids-poilievres-grassroots-ask-same-of-him/" target="_blank">Now Pierre Poilievre's party is threatening to take this hatred nationally.</a> And <a href="https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/pierre-poilievre-to-pm-trudeau-butt-out-of-new-brunswick-s-policy-713-1.6457954" target="_blank">PP has already called out Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for daring to speak up for vulnerable kids in Canadian schools. </a> </p><p>While I abhor the disgusting opportunism that conservatives are practising both here and in the U.S. to make political gains at the expense of the most vulnerable, I do understand the hesitation of some parents to get their heads around this issue. </p><p>I get that most people, at first, react with some repulsion, or confusion, or ignorance to the whole trans issue. Our society's gender norms are quite entrenched and when someone dares to live outside of those norms, they tend to stand out and draw much attention and, sadly often, scorn and violence. </p><p>For me, I ask that you please try to put aside any misgivings and actually speak with and get to know trans people. To learn from them. </p><p>I had very little understanding of the lives of trans people until the mid-2000s when a longtime friend I'd first met as Kelli told me one night over drinks that his real name was "Kyle" and that he was in the process of transitioning to becoming a man. </p><p>Kyle opened up my mind to the realities of trans life. He told me stories about his childhood growing up in Hamilton, Ontario when he was still somewhat happy. It wasn't until puberty struck and breasts began to form on his body (as a biologically born female) that a deep depression took hold. No more could he pretend to be a "boy" as the body he was born with clearly no longer conformed with how he felt in his heart and head. </p><p>Years of struggle, depression and denial ensued. But finally in his adulthood, several years after coming out as a lesbian, Kyle embraced his true identity as a trans man. He began taking medications and prepared for surgery which would bring his body more in line with his identity. </p><p>Kyle was a sweet, loving, kind, smart, friendly man. His transition did bring great happiness to his life and I know he lived many of his dreams. <br /></p><p>Alas, depression is a terrible thing and not so easily overcome. Sadly, Kyle took his own life in 2012. </p><p>I mourned him along with all of his friends and some family. I often wonder if there was anything I could've done to be a better friend to him. To help convince him to ignore the demons in his head and live longer. I'm sure all of those who loved him have asked themselves the same things. </p><p>Nevertheless, Kyle's legacy in all of our lives was to enrich us with great friendship and love. And also greater understanding of his experience as a trans man. I'll never forget what he taught me. </p><p>For me, it's simple. How can we as a society support gay people who are sexually attracted to their own gender? And make room for gay people and even let us marry? But not have support or acceptance in our hearts for people who simply don't conform with traditional male-female identities we've all inherited? Is it that big a stretch? I don't think so. <br /></p><p>We know masculinity and femininity are fluid and beautiful aspects of human life. There is nothing wrong with being a woman, and nothing wrong with being a man. Most of us don't fit neatly within the cultural gender confines we've inherited. It makes sense to me that some of us would be biologically born one gender, but biologically or psychologically also find ourselves more identifying as another. I'm not threatened by this reality. <br /></p><p>I ask all of you reading this: please, before you judge trans people and go along with any nasty campaigns against them, please seek out opportunities to talk with or learn more about actual trans people to find out their sides of the story. Personalize the experience by actually speaking to the people in question. And then, having listened to both sides, come to your conclusions. </p><p>Please don't support misguided school policies that target trans youth without first speaking to trans youth to understand their points of view and what impacts those policies will have on their young lives. <br /></p><p>The way forward is always openness, communication and inclusivity. Life is too short to make it torturous for the most vulnerable among us. <br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-68237881171652629852023-08-13T13:38:00.005-04:002023-08-15T00:41:37.433-04:00Today's tonic: "Michael Coren: My conversion on LGBTQ rights tells an important story" <p>Thank you, Michael Coren, for your advocacy and inspiration. <br /></p><p><i><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/12/opinions/priest-conversion-lgbt-rights-coren/index.html " target="_blank">"Jesus doesn’t mention the issue, and St. Paul’s comments, mainly
in his letters to the Romans, are more about men using
young male prostitutes in pagan initiation rites than about loving,
consenting same-sex relationships. There is, however, one possible
discussion in the New Testament. It’s when Jesus is approached by a
centurion whose beloved male servant is dying. Will Jesus cure him? Of
course, and Jesus then praises the Roman for his faith. The Greek word
used to describe the relationship between the Roman and his “beloved”
servant indicates something far deeper than mere platonic affection.
</a></i></p><i><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/12/opinions/priest-conversion-lgbt-rights-coren/index.html " target="_blank">"Then there’s the love of David and Jonathan, Jesus refusing to
judge and the pristine beauty of grace and justice that informs the
Gospels. Most of all, there’s the permanent revolution of love that
Jesus didn’t request but demand. His central teaching, remember, is to
love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. We’re told this in three
of the four Gospels — Matthew (22:35-40), Mark (12:28-34) and Luke
(10:27). It’s a transformational moment for Christians, to know that
only by loving others can we properly know and love God."
</a></i><p><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/12/opinions/priest-conversion-lgbt-rights-coren/index.html " target="_blank">https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/12/opinions/priest-conversion-lgbt-rights-coren/index.html </a><br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-31378534585231287042023-08-11T11:46:00.003-04:002023-08-15T00:42:28.646-04:00Friday's tonic: "Doug Ford’s Greenbelt scheme betrayed the public — and he should pay dearly for that"<p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank"></a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/79/b79531e8-3408-552e-9f70-c05cba8a6164/64d44f2e5a386.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C745" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="800" height="199" src="https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/79/b79531e8-3408-552e-9f70-c05cba8a6164/64d44f2e5a386.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C745" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The buck stops with nobody!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank">The Ontario premier who came to power alleging corruption by a previous Liberal
government now presides over a corrupted political process of his own
making, Toronto Star's Martin Regg Cohn writes</a>:<p></p><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank">"...Obediently and quietly, this government rewrote the rules of the game —
shifting timelines, contorting criteria, excluding experts, ignoring
consultations — to shoehorn choice tracts of land into a gift-wrapped
package approved by the premier. The developers didn’t so much win the
lottery as the government rigged it — leaving all of us as losers.</a></i></p><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank">“The buck stops with me,” the premier added predictably.</a></i></p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank">"<b>What
he didn’t say is that eight billion bucks won’t stop accruing to
developers, courtesy of the same premier. And what he didn’t agree to do
was reconsider the entire fiasco, as firmly recommended by the
auditor’s report.</b></a></i></p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank">"A crusading populist who once
conditioned the public to see corruption everywhere, Ford is now trying
to persuade people that there is nothing to see here. In that sense, he
is both the author of his own political misfortune and the instigator of
the public’s suspicion and perception of corruption by his own
government.</a>..</i></p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank">"...<b>For
it defies credulity — and integrity — when the head of government says
he didn’t realize corners were cut when the Greenbelt was carved up. In
truth, despite his hidden agenda, the disembowelling of the Greenbelt
has been a personal project of the premier from first to last.</b></a></i></p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank">"Ford
confided to potential donors, when seeking the Progressive Conservative
leadership in 2018, that he would unravel the Greenbelt once he won
power. When video of his private promise went public, he hurriedly and
publicly promised to leave the protected lands untouched.</a></i></p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank">"Yet
within weeks of winning re-election in 2022, Ford went back on his
promise while moving forward with a false premise — that a surge in
immigration and resettlement of 500,000 people a year requires more land
to build 1.5 million more homes over a decade.</a></i></p>
</div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank">"<b>The government’s
own housing advisory task force and the legislature’s independent
auditor general have both demolished that claim. In fact, there is more
than enough land that can be released, rezoned and repurposed to meet
the government’s building targets without resorting to the protected
lands of the Greenbelt.</b> In any case, as the auditor notes, the
government had already met its specific housing targets last October,
precisely one month before it took the draconian step of degrading those
protected lands.</a></i></p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><i><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html " target="_blank">"Lost
in this controversy is the potential folly of Ford’s hasty,
seat-of-the-pants planning. By gaming and goosing the process, he has
risked the reputation of his government without any assurance of success
— for his own political prospects, the developer’s financial prospects,
or the province’s housing potential."</a></i></p></div>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-84166758887387197592023-07-31T12:07:00.001-04:002023-07-31T23:50:36.952-04:00Today's tonic: "Protests during Pride. Pushback against LGBTQ events. Inside the fight galvanizing some conservative Muslims in Canada"<p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/protests-during-pride-pushback-against-lgbtq-events-inside-the-fight-galvanizing-some-conservative-muslims-in/article_ed26419e-43b7-5b6c-b793-9e0e5209ec2a.html" target="_blank"></a></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a0ZkD6aQ62BVjaObxyksurT_K-7GgpXug2bkXx0ukCiOMlIwP-xVy2V6I9o0-1cAWOB0kfXzxGrNOLUd2Ph66Gh7L0ZmW0UlNFUSwLHebYYKBNSg0KLR8IG_LWiluo744HDXnAzc0aGAQ1aV9FZD0CvlCUx-11L1bZSDwERYOCxauppIFURd2Ov0IA8/s1200/64c46368d97eb.image.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a0ZkD6aQ62BVjaObxyksurT_K-7GgpXug2bkXx0ukCiOMlIwP-xVy2V6I9o0-1cAWOB0kfXzxGrNOLUd2Ph66Gh7L0ZmW0UlNFUSwLHebYYKBNSg0KLR8IG_LWiluo744HDXnAzc0aGAQ1aV9FZD0CvlCUx-11L1bZSDwERYOCxauppIFURd2Ov0IA8/s320/64c46368d97eb.image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="caption-text">
<p>Counter-demonstrators in Ottawa June 9</p></span><span class="credit"><span class="tnt-byline" itemprop="author"></span>
</span></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/protests-during-pride-pushback-against-lgbtq-events-inside-the-fight-galvanizing-some-conservative-muslims-in/article_ed26419e-43b7-5b6c-b793-9e0e5209ec2a.html" target="_blank">Today's tonic: "Protests during Pride. Pushback against LGBTQ events. Inside the fight galvanizing some conservative Muslims in Canada" <span><span class="tnt-byline" itemprop="author">by Toronto Star staff reporter Omar Mosleh.</span></span></a><p></p><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/protests-during-pride-pushback-against-lgbtq-events-inside-the-fight-galvanizing-some-conservative-muslims-in/article_ed26419e-43b7-5b6c-b793-9e0e5209ec2a.html" target="_blank"><span><span class="tnt-byline" itemprop="author">This fair and thorough piece does a good job detailing the various sides of the ongoing debates in our societies. It does an excellent job detailing how Christian fundamentalists, who used to demonize Muslims and do everything they could to exclude them from Western societies, are now using Muslim conservatives to try to bolster their hateful, anti-LGBTQ agenda. <br /></span></span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/protests-during-pride-pushback-against-lgbtq-events-inside-the-fight-galvanizing-some-conservative-muslims-in/article_ed26419e-43b7-5b6c-b793-9e0e5209ec2a.html" target="_blank"><span><span class="tnt-byline" itemprop="author">The most interesting points of the piece for me are made by Anver Emon and Junaid Jahangir about the nuances on the issue amongst more moderate Muslims: </span></span></a></p><div class="subscriber-only"><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/protests-during-pride-pushback-against-lgbtq-events-inside-the-fight-galvanizing-some-conservative-muslims-in/article_ed26419e-43b7-5b6c-b793-9e0e5209ec2a.html" target="_blank"><i>"While the Navigating
Differences letter highlights a conventional Islamic view — that sexual
relations are only permitted in a lawful marriage between a man and
woman and that medical transitions are only allowed for people with
“biological ambiguities” — there are also Islamic scholars who point out
that there is precedent in the Islamic tradition for recognizing
non-binary genders, such as the khuntha, or someone with both sex organs (or hermaphrodite)...</i></a></p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/protests-during-pride-pushback-against-lgbtq-events-inside-the-fight-galvanizing-some-conservative-muslims-in/article_ed26419e-43b7-5b6c-b793-9e0e5209ec2a.html" target="_blank"><i>"There have been debates in Islamic jurisprudence on whether a khuntha
could lead prayers, a role traditionally restricted to men, says Anver
Emon, Canada Research Chair in Islamic Law and History and director of
the Institute of Islamic Studies at the University of Toronto...</i></a></p></div><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/protests-during-pride-pushback-against-lgbtq-events-inside-the-fight-galvanizing-some-conservative-muslims-in/article_ed26419e-43b7-5b6c-b793-9e0e5209ec2a.html" target="_blank"><i>"...Junaid
Jahangir, an economics professor at MacEwan University and co-author of
“Islamic Law and Muslim Same-Sex Unions,” has written about how there
is precedent of non-binary gender identities being recognized in Islamic
societies, such as mukhannathun (effeminate men) and the khuntha.</i></a></p><div class="subscriber-only"><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/protests-during-pride-pushback-against-lgbtq-events-inside-the-fight-galvanizing-some-conservative-muslims-in/article_ed26419e-43b7-5b6c-b793-9e0e5209ec2a.html" target="_blank"><i>"Jahangir,
who is gay and Muslim,...told the Star in an email that mainstream Islamic
discourse on LGBTQ issues doesn’t capture the full spectrum of views on
the subject.</i></a></p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/protests-during-pride-pushback-against-lgbtq-events-inside-the-fight-galvanizing-some-conservative-muslims-in/article_ed26419e-43b7-5b6c-b793-9e0e5209ec2a.html" target="_blank"><i>“Islamic
texts offered such individuals prayer space between the rows of men and
women. Even in recent times, there was a fatwa (religious edict) by a
Sunni group of clerics in Pakistan permitting them to marry. This is
apart from the permission on gender reassignment surgery from the
highest bodies of both Sunni and Shia Islam,” he said.</i></a></p></div><div class="subscriber-only"><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/protests-during-pride-pushback-against-lgbtq-events-inside-the-fight-galvanizing-some-conservative-muslims-in/article_ed26419e-43b7-5b6c-b793-9e0e5209ec2a.html" target="_blank"><i>“The
Muslim position on gender and sexual variance is far more diverse than
what the Christian right and the Muslim right would like us to believe.”</i></a></p></div>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-90026199145720127092023-07-29T13:42:00.005-04:002023-07-31T01:22:40.045-04:00This week's tonic: Lawrence O'Donnell: "We now know who the star witness in the Trump docs case will be"<p></p><p></p><p></p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/_xhA6Eb7e5A" width="480"></iframe><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;"> </span></span></p><p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;">MSNBC’s super awesome host Lawrence O’Donnell analyzes a new superseding indictment filed by Special Counsel Jack Smith in the Mar-A-Lago classified documents case this week, including new details about Donald Trump’s co-defendants Walter Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira trying and failing to get security camera footage deleted. </span></span></p><p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;">Most of us don't follow the minutia of the case, but O'Donnell in this video takes us through the actions of co-conspirators and Trump employees Nauta and De Oliveira, on Donald Trump's orders, to try to convince the I.T. guy, also known as Employee #4, at Mar-A-Lago to delete all security videos that showed them moving boxes of classified documents around the property, in defiance of a subpoena and in a criminal attempt to obstruct justice. </span></span></p><p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;">At around 9:50 in this video, O'Donnell clearly describes the moment when unidentified Employee #4 at Mar-A-Lago, rather than commit a crime for "the boss" like Nauta and De Oliveira were seemingly willing to do (and are now charged along with Trump for those actions), refused to go along with the criminal conspiracy and that refusal led to many of the charges we see today. </span></span></p><p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;">Minutes later, O'Donnell hilariously suggests that when Trump found out from De Oliveira the bad news about Employee #4's refusal, that's also when Trump realized "he had hired the wrong I.T. guy at Mar-A-Lago...someone who would not commit the crime that Donald Trump and Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira are now accused of urging him to commit."</span></span></p><p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;">"It didn't matter to Trump Employee #4 that the boss wanted the server deleted, and so (he) is not a co-defendant in the indictment...His next appointment with history is when he raises his right hand to take his oath as a star prosecution witness in the case of United States of America versus Donald J. Trump, Walt T. Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira." </span></span></p><p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;">When criminal activity as grievous as this, when such disregard for the law is on so full display for so many years including in this case, to see those criminals charged and facing justice as Trump and his co-conspirator lemmings are now facing, it brings solace to the hearts of the just. It means maybe, just maybe, justice will finally prevail over the evil idiot criminal called Donald Trump. </span></span></p><p><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;">The case continues in the months ahead. <br /></span></span></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-45959136429123233972023-07-26T09:18:00.002-04:002023-07-26T09:18:25.840-04:00Today's tonic: "Canada’s conservative rage farmers get a taste of their own crop," by Max Fawcett<p><a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/07/26/opinion/canada-conservative-rage-farmers-trudeau-belleville " target="_blank">Today's tonic: "Canada’s conservative rage farmers get a taste of their own crop," by National Observer columnist Max Fawcett. </a></p><p><i><a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/07/26/opinion/canada-conservative-rage-farmers-trudeau-belleville " target="_blank">"Farmers aren’t usually caught off guard when it comes time to harvest the
crops they’ve dutifully planted and fertilized. But some of the
prominent conservative pundits who have spent years farming rage against
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seem genuinely surprised by the latest</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v66zrvJ0yOU" target="_blank">ugly outburst</a>
<a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/07/26/opinion/canada-conservative-rage-farmers-trudeau-belleville " target="_blank"> against him in Belleville, Ont., last week, one that included
antisemitic slurs and accusations of pedophilia and treason. Who knew
that reaping what you’ve sown could be so much trouble?" </a></i><a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/07/26/opinion/canada-conservative-rage-farmers-trudeau-belleville " target="_blank"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/07/26/opinion/canada-conservative-rage-farmers-trudeau-belleville " target="_blank">https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/07/26/opinion/canada-conservative-rage-farmers-trudeau-belleville </a><br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-53672243293999595952023-07-25T02:19:00.002-04:002023-07-25T02:41:32.593-04:00Today's tonic: "Trump is gearing up for his ‘final battle’. So should we," by Robert Reich<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/24/donald-trump-2024-election-final-battle " target="_blank">"Trump and the Republicans will lose this battle. Even if they win Republican primaries, they will lose the general election...</a>" by former US Labour Secretary Robert Reich. <br /></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/24/donald-trump-2024-election-final-battle" target="_blank">"...We want to live in a nation where no one is above
the law. We want to be able to sleep at night without worrying that a
president might unleash armed lackeys to drag us out of our homes
because he considers us to be his enemy...</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/24/donald-trump-2024-election-final-battle" target="_blank">"...Folks, it is finally time to lance
this boil. It is time to decidedly rescue democracy and the rule of law.
It is time to defeat Trump and his enablers who are determined to defy
the core values of America.</a></p><p class="dcr-gemuoz"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/24/donald-trump-2024-election-final-battle" target="_blank">"Let the battle begin."</a></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-26981401387479618282023-07-05T09:01:00.007-04:002023-07-05T09:01:58.575-04:00Today's tonic: "Why the world backs Canada in its battle with the Big Tech bullies" like Google and Meta<p><a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/07/05/why-the-world-backs-canada-in-its-battle-with-the-big-tech-bullies/ " target="_blank">Today's tonic: "Why the world backs Canada in its battle with the Big Tech bullies" like Google and Meta, by Damian Collins OBE MP, is a former UK government Tech Minister and
chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee.</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/07/05/why-the-world-backs-canada-in-its-battle-with-the-big-tech-bullies/ " target="_blank">"...I have been watching with great interest – and dismay – at how Meta and
Google have been wheeling their old bullying tactics against Canadians
in their coordinated campaign against Bill C-18, otherwise known as the
Online News Act. What’s more, is that this is not the first time Big
Tech has pulled these stunts, as they are running a near identical
playbook to the one they used in Australia to try and strong arm the
Australian government over its News Media Bargaining Code (NMBC)." <br /></a></p><p><a href="https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/07/05/why-the-world-backs-canada-in-its-battle-with-the-big-tech-bullies/ " target="_blank">https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2023/07/05/why-the-world-backs-canada-in-its-battle-with-the-big-tech-bullies/ </a><br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-15831037354600584182023-06-06T12:43:00.002-04:002023-06-06T12:43:13.047-04:00Today's tonic: "York’s Catholic school trustees are abusing their power by refusing to raise the Pride flag. Their day of reckoning is coming"<p><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2023/06/06/yorks-catholic-school-trustees-are-abusing-their-power-by-refusing-to-raise-the-pride-flag-their-day-of-reckoning-is-coming.html " target="_blank">Today's tonic: "York’s Catholic school trustees are abusing their power by refusing to raise the Pride flag. Their day of reckoning is coming," by Martin Regg Cohn</a> <br /></p><p>I couldn't agree more with the columnist on this. </p><p>It's long past time for an Ontario leader to be brave enough to take on this sacred cow of a separate system just for Catholics and unite our public education systems to end this systemic discrimination based on religion. No faith should have special rights in modern Ontario. </p><p> In 2007, the public made clear in that provincial election (with the crushing defeat of John Tory's PCs who advocated that year expanding funding to all religions) they certainly don't want to further silo off our public education system to create even more religious public schools. </p><p>Instead, the solution to this discrimination is clear: one system for all. <br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-46045837892537592802023-05-25T22:36:00.003-04:002023-05-25T22:36:35.107-04:00Tonight's tonic: "Debunking three big myths about bike lanes...and why every North American city needs as many bike lanes as they can possibly build"<p class="MuiTypography-root-974 jss22 MuiTypography-body2-975"><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank">Tonight's tonic: "Debunking three big myths about bike lanes" by Taylor C. Noakes, a public historian and independent journalist.</a></p><p class="MuiTypography-root-974 jss22 MuiTypography-body2-975">I couldn't agree more with <a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank">these facts</a>. Enough of the neo-con nonsense that Mark Saunders is spouting in this election, which is just being pushed to divide Torontonians against Torontonians simply to win political power - the sleaziest game so often played by conservative politicians these days. <br /></p><p class="MuiTypography-root-974 jss22 MuiTypography-body2-975"><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank"><i>"Some Toronto mayoral candidates question their efficacy — but every
North American city needs as many bike lanes as they can possibly build..."</i></a></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank"><i>"If you’re having a hard time deciding who to vote for, let me make it
easy for you: anyone advocating removing bike lanes from any part of the
city should be immediately disqualified. They are not a serious
candidate — they simply do not understand fundamental aspects of how
cities work. </i></a> </p><p class="MuiTypography-root-974 jss39 MuiTypography-body1-976"><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank"><i>"Bike
lanes have a greater passenger capacity than lanes for vehicular
traffic. The average single lane of private motor-vehicle traffic has a
capacity of between 600 and 900 vehicles per hour, representing between
600 and 1,800 people (and it’s closer to the lower end of that range
because most cars have but a single occupant).</i></a></p><p class="MuiTypography-root-974 jss39 MuiTypography-body1-976"><i><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank">"By contrast, the average two-way protected bike lane (which typically occupies less space than a single lane of traffic),</a> <a aria-label="has a capacity of 7,500 people per hour opens in a new window" href="https://nacto.org/publication/transit-street-design-guide/introduction/why/designing-move-people/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">has a capacity of 7,500 people per hour</a>.</i></p><p class="MuiTypography-root-974 jss39 MuiTypography-body1-976"><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank"><i>"Congestion isn’t just a problem of people not getting where they need to
go in a timely manner; it’s also a problem of pollution and emissions.
Congested traffic is a major source of the carbon-dioxide emissions that
are fuelling the climate emergency.</i></a></p><p class="MuiTypography-root-974 jss39 MuiTypography-body1-976"><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank"><i>"A common
yet utterly debunked argument against bike lanes is that, because they
often replace street parking, they are therefore bad for small
businesses. I always thought this was a particularly ridiculous
argument, given that most cars travel too fast for most drivers to get a
good look at what’s inside a shop window. </i></a></p><p><i><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank">"People
who use bikes as their primary means of conveyance are in fact better
stimulators of local businesses than are people in cars. A recent</a> <a aria-label="study from Transport for London provides some truly jaw-dropping insight opens in a new window" href="https://content.tfl.gov.uk/walking-cycling-economic-benefits-summary-pack.pdf" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">study from Transport for London provides some truly jaw-dropping insight</a> <a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank">into just how much economic stimulus can be created by re-orienting city streets to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists.</a></i></p><p class="MuiTypography-root-974 jss39 MuiTypography-body1-976"><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/debunking-three-big-myths-about-bike-lanes " target="_blank"><i>"Over the course of a month, a cyclist or pedestrian will spend 40 per
cent more than a motorist. Improvements to the public realm that
facilitate pedestrian or cyclist access can increase retail sales by as
much as 30 per cent. Installing bike-parking infrastructure can yield as
much as five times the amount of retail spending per square metre than
the same allowed to car parking. Cyclists and pedestrians were also
shown to visit the small businesses of their local commercial
thoroughfares more frequently than motorists did — frequently twice as
often."</i> </a><br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161959674556571617.post-67062841904298728792023-05-19T14:31:00.003-04:002023-05-19T14:31:15.525-04:00Today's tonic: "The Leap: Alberta Conservative Lee Richardson on Why He’s Voting NDP"<p><a href="https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-leap-alberta-conservative-lee-richardson-on-why-hes-voting-ndp/ " target="_blank">Today's tonic: "The Leap: Alberta Conservative Lee Richardson on Why He’s Voting NDP"</a></p><p><a href="https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-leap-alberta-conservative-lee-richardson-on-why-hes-voting-ndp/ " target="_blank"><b><i>"Policy: Why won’t you be voting for Danielle Smith? </i></b></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-leap-alberta-conservative-lee-richardson-on-why-hes-voting-ndp/ " target="_blank">"Richardson: I am a Conservative, a Progressive Conservative in the Peter Lougheed tradition. Danielle is not a Conservative.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-leap-alberta-conservative-lee-richardson-on-why-hes-voting-ndp/ " target="_blank">"Sadly, she is not the Danielle Smith I first knew and admired 30
years ago. She was President of the U of C campus Progressive
Conservative Club and a hard-working Progressive Conservative volunteer
in my ‘93 federal election campaign. She was then bright, thoughtful,
and driven – always challenging herself to get over her fear of meeting
people, something she’d have to do, to someday get elected herself.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-leap-alberta-conservative-lee-richardson-on-why-hes-voting-ndp/ " target="_blank">"Over the intervening years, a clear vision or consistent political
ideology or party loyalty would not impair that goal. As her political
career ebbed and flowed, her self-professed libertarianism gave way to
grievance politics and tactical populism. Danielle’s Tucker
Carlson-inspired radio talk show provided the vehicle for the resurgence
of her political following while stoking division, hate and fear in
listeners, with negative rhetoric, culture wars, and conspiracy
theories. The more provocative, outrageous, or extreme were the views
expressed, the higher the ratings. Lost were the traditional
Conservative values of integrity, ethics, respect for our institutions,
authority, the rule of law, and the norms of a democratic society..."</a><br /></p>Matt Guerinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307050875070980292noreply@blogger.com0