If it's going wrong, it had to start somewhere

Could this be it?

McDavid assures fans of plans to win in Edmonton, while attending '26 Olympic Orientation

Oilers challenged in 2025 against Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.

Make Canada Christian again?

No absolutely let him sell his wares and sing his songs and preach, in some form of social decorum, perhaps a rented facility, and the proselytizing under wraps, of course the social life of Christianity is a part of Canadian life. It has always been, but the observances are personal and private and distinguished from governance. I don't believe a Legislature, for example, is the ideal venue for Christian hoopla, or any hoopla. And the organizers don't grasp how nefarious it is to make public facilities religious battlefields. Then it's time to shut it down the leave the building.

I mean. How would you like it if the Church of Satan took over the Legislature and started playing whatever music and singing whatever songs the Satanists sing? And follow that with, I don't know, how about a year long sit-in by Tibetan Monks who chant in gratitude for Alberta LNG?

Now people go around thinking it's the Government restricting the use of religion in the making of laws in countries like Canada, and the U.S., and UK, etcetera. It's not the governments at all putting up the prohibition. It's the Bible. "Give unto God that which is God's and Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's." Right there, instruction manual for civilizations says, what God demands is completely separate from what human authority demands.

And they do not actually meet. Strange. Human beings are instructed to run on instinct.

Give unto God, that which is God's. Which is basically nothing. And Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, which is basically everything. So. Instinct.

Now interestingly, government will invoke religion to make war. And men follow instinct to conduct war because some of the men say God is telling them to.

Hey Grok, was the Suez Canal a big deal?

Was the Suez Canal a big deal?

Yes, the Suez Canal was and still is a big deal. Opened in 1869, it’s a 120-mile artificial waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, slashing travel time between Europe and Asia by avoiding the lengthy route around Africa’s southern tip.



It handles about 12% of global trade, with over 1 billion tons of cargo passing through annually in recent years.

Its strategic importance made it a focal point in conflicts like the 1956 Suez Crisis, and blockages, like the 2021 Ever Given incident, disrupt global supply chains, costing billions.

Geopolitically, it’s a chokepoint, influencing trade, energy flows, and military strategy. Egypt’s economy heavily relies on canal revenues, around $9 billion annually. So, yeah, it’s kind of a linchpin.

Ever Given?

The Ever Given is a massive container ship, one of the largest in the world, operated by the Taiwanese company Evergreen Marine. In March 2021, it became infamous for getting stuck sideways in the Suez Canal for six days, blocking the critical trade route. The 400-meter-long ship, carrying about 18,300 containers, was caught by high winds and a sandstorm, wedging itself diagonally across the canal. This halted roughly $9-10 billion in daily trade, stranding over 400 ships and spiking global shipping costs. The blockage exposed the fragility of global supply chains, delaying goods like electronics, oil, and consumer products. Egyptian authorities and salvage teams eventually freed it using tugboats, dredgers, and high tides, but the incident led to weeks of logistical chaos. Compensation disputes between Egypt and the ship’s owners dragged on, with Egypt initially demanding $916 million for losses. The Ever Given’s mishap remains a textbook case of how one ship can mess up the world’s economy.

Why didn't I hear more about this? Covid?

The Ever Given incident, which blocked the Suez Canal for six days in March 2021, did get significant media coverage at the time, but it’s plausible you didn’t hear as much about it due to the overwhelming dominance of COVID-19 in the news cycle.

 Here’s why: COVID-19 Overshadowed Everything: In early 2021, the world was deep in the pandemic’s grip. News was saturated with stories about vaccine rollouts, new variants (like Delta), lockdowns, and rising death tolls. The global focus was on health crises, economic fallout, and social restrictions, which likely drowned out other stories. The Ever Given incident, while disruptive, was a temporary event that didn’t directly affect most people’s daily lives the way COVID did.

Scale of Impact vs. Public Attention: The Suez blockage caused massive economic ripples—delaying $9-10 billion in daily trade and spiking shipping costs—but its effects were mostly felt in industries like logistics, retail, and manufacturing. For the average person, the impact (like delayed goods or price hikes) wasn’t immediately obvious, unlike COVID’s direct hit on health, jobs, and social life. News outlets prioritize stories with immediate, relatable consequences, so the canal story faded faster.

Short Duration: The blockage lasted only six days (March 23-29, 2021). Once the ship was freed, the story’s urgency dropped, and coverage shifted to the resolution and memes (like the tiny excavator next to the giant ship). COVID, by contrast, was a multi-year crisis with endless developments, keeping it front and center.

Media Fatigue and Focus: By 2021, people were experiencing news fatigue from the relentless COVID coverage. A complex story about global trade logistics might not have grabbed attention compared to more emotionally charged pandemic updates. Plus, the Suez story lacked a human toll or ongoing drama to sustain long-term coverage.

Geographic Disconnect: If you’re not in a region heavily reliant on Suez Canal trade (like Europe, Asia, or the Middle East), the story might’ve felt distant. In contrast, COVID was universal, affecting everyone directly.

The Ever Given saga did spark some viral moments on platforms like X, with memes and jokes about the stuck ship, but these were fleeting compared to the pandemic’s grip on public discourse. If you were tuned into COVID-related news or avoiding news overload, it’s easy to see how the Suez story slipped under your radar.

Hey Grok? Does Israel play a role in the security of the Suez Canal?

Israel plays a significant role in the security dynamics of the Suez Canal, primarily due to its strategic location and military capabilities, though it does not directly control or secure the canal itself. The Suez Canal, located in Egypt, is a critical global trade route, and its security is primarily managed by Egypt. However, Israel’s proximity and geopolitical influence in the region contribute to the broader security environment. 

### Key Points: 

1. **Geopolitical Influence**: Israel’s location near the Suez Canal, particularly its control over the Sinai Peninsula until 1979 (returned to Egypt via the Camp David Accords), and its current borders near the canal, make it a significant regional player. Its military presence and intelligence capabilities help deter threats that could destabilize the region, indirectly supporting canal security. 

2. **Regional Stability**: Israel’s conflicts and alliances impact the Middle East’s stability, which affects the Suez Canal. For instance, tensions with groups like Hezbollah or Iran-backed militias could lead to regional disruptions, potentially threatening maritime routes. Israel’s military actions against such groups help maintain a balance of power that indirectly secures critical infrastructure like the canal. 

3. **Naval and Intelligence Operations**: Israel’s navy operates in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, near the canal’s northern and southern entrances. Its intelligence-sharing with Egypt and other allies, including the U.S., enhances monitoring of threats like terrorism or piracy that could target the canal. 

4. **Egypt-Israel Cooperation**: Since the 1979 peace treaty, Israel and Egypt have maintained a cooperative relationship, including security coordination in the Sinai Peninsula, where threats like ISIS-affiliated groups have emerged. This collaboration helps Egypt focus on securing the canal by addressing shared threats. 

5. **Historical Context**: During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel’s occupation of the Sinai Peninsula led to the canal’s closure until 1975. While Israel no longer controls the area, its historical involvement underscores its strategic interest in the canal’s stability. 

### Limitations: - **Egypt’s Primary Role**: Egypt is solely responsible for the canal’s direct security, with its armed forces and Suez Canal Authority managing operations and protection. - **Indirect Influence**: Israel’s role is secondary, focusing on broader regional security rather than direct canal operations. 

https://x.com/i/grok/share/EvWE5vz38tzJXA2pNWWVY8Yjt

Indian Act passed in 1886 by Liberal government of Alexander Mackenzie

 There are 122 sections, and insults, theft, and imprisonment begins at the beginning . . . .  "Section 2 (1) (Definitions) In this Act, "band" means a body of Indians (a) for whose use and benefit in common, lands, the legal title to which is .  .  . . " under the aegis not of the First Nation people).

      

"The Indian Act seems out of step with the bulk of Canadian law. It singles out a segment of society -- largely on the basis of race -- removes much of their land and property from the commercial mainstream and gives the Minister of Indian & Northern Affairs, and other government officials, a degree of discretion that is not only intrusive but frequently offensive," says Bill Henderson.

     

Henderson says, the IA, "removes much of their land and property from the commercial mainstream" and this is very important, because how many Canadians realize that 60 percent or more of Canadian law is commercial law? Therefore, First Nations people have NO access to 60 to 70 percent of the law of Canada! It seems to me that when a group has no access to legal recourse, they are deprived the rights enjoyed by the rest of the population.

SEE MORE

 Bill Henderson`s Annotated Indian Act 

HERE  

 http://www.bloorstreet.com/200block/sindact.htm

The agriculture of farmed salmon

 The agriculture of salmon delivers pathogen-free, genetically-consistent farm animals produced on a scientific basis, as food safe as you get from any farms in the world. 

As a matter of fact, the science of agriculture is humanity's first science, after first aid, one presumes. It would be humanity's move toward civilization. 

The agriculture of fish is no less of a move toward living in civilization than agriculture of wheat, or canola. This is a move toward food security and better health, considering the scientific standards applied to the production of these animals.

If there wasn't a hidden agenda, somewhere, this reality would not be in dispute.

How much more destruction of the ocean environment results from overfishing? Entire ecosystems will collapse if humanity over fishes the oceans.

In relation to the true nature of issues, the world's environment as impacted by agriculture is nothing compared to the plunder of resources.

The reason the salmon in pens are any issue whatsoever, is, honestly the politicians who govern Canada in a manner that says, "We know something you don't," when they don't listen to the science, the market, the labor force, and the people in communities where industry wants to invest.

They govern Canada like it's a lost cause, in so many ways, including this issue with the agriculture of salmon on the longest coast in the world. As long as Canadians allow political parties to govern this way, it's going to feel like a lost cause, and turn into a lost cause. And there is no reason on Earth for this to be the case. And no reason why Canadians in British Columbia, including Indigenous Canadians, cannot continue to farm salmon for millions of consumers.

The first discovery Cook made on Vancouver Island was slavery

. . . there is no evidence of cannibalism

That's right, Canada. You say you were never a slave nation. You're a liar.  You were an active slave nation well into the 1900s. That's a fact.

This is what set me on course to square the facts.  I object to calling the arrival of Europeans in North America an act of 'colonial dispossession.' when the act of arriving turned into saving a lot of people from their worst nightmare. The facts don't exactly agree with the existing narrative. 

Aren't Indigenous freed from a form of entrapment? Shouldn't there be a celebration or at least a sense of gratitude for the changes wrought by newcomers? After all, there is only so much to celebrate about being Indigenous before Europeans arrived.

A completely overlooked fact was what Captain James Cook discovered when he landed in Nuu Chah Nulth Nation on the west side of present day Vancouver Island, Canada, which he did in 1778. 

 (It's ironic that Cook would next discover cannibalism when he was eaten in Hawaii, not all of him, just the parts the Hawaiians removed. I grant you there are revisionists disputing whether the purloined parts were eaten.)

Cook discovered slavery in the land to become known as Canada. Hard core slave economics were underway across the entirety of North America, formidably underway, and I say this because I hear a lot about how dreadful colonizers were to form Canada  and one presumes their descendants are equally wretched. 

Now of descendants of Indigenous people, we hear a different story, the modern narrative ignores the wretchedness of slavery. Today we hear the coastal nations were hapless victims of a heartless juggernaut rolling over and stopping them in their tracks. 

Stopping them from conducting slavery.

The reality is the British didn't get around to banning slavery until 1833, building up to the ban starting in 1807: "Great Britain banned the slave trade in 1807 with the Slave Trade Act, which prohibited the buying and selling of slaves within the British Empire. Slavery itself was abolished in most of the British Empire with the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, which came into effect on August 1, 1834. This act freed enslaved people in the colonies, with some exceptions like Ceylon and India, where slavery continued until later. Full emancipation, including transitional arrangements, was completed by 1838 for most territories."

I wrote to the historian, as a response on X:

Hi, Historian! and this was what I said:

Do you have a copy of the Indigenous constitution, Historian, declaring which tribes make the best slaves? How long are slaves supposed to be enslaved before they are executed in the territories under the slave masters authority? Any idea of the menu this week in the Big House? Are we cooking neighboring tribes? Or are we settling for leftovers?

The fact is, the Potlatch was eventually outlawed on the west coast because they learned the purpose of this cadastre of art, imagery, and boundary was to record, and a keep record of accounting for the slave-based economy, therefore burning the art, the paintings, the masks, the carvings, the totem poles meant freeing vassals from bondage.

The design and contents of the drumming, dancing, whistling, snotting, singing (chanting) pointed to who was a slave. The potlatch, with masks, and totems, and welcome poles, and imagery in all pointed to the slave trade, which composed up to 40 percent of a village in some cases, and was a major part of the economy on the west coast from Alaska to Oregon, recorded details of ownership in the Potlatch and Hamatsa artist renderings, which made a legal statement everywhere they went in this civilization. 

Hamatsa society, the Cannibal Society as it is sometimes called, kept the slave economy functioning. It was their surveillance and authority keeping this economy alive, in a sense, they were a functional equivalent to lawyers under the Magna Carta, and it was Hamatsa recordings in these images, which, to repeat, they composed as the artifice, statements of the cadastre, the legal binding of what kept  slaves in place and doing what they were told.

In fact, this slavery was a functional system until  the 1900's, some of it operating in secret. But by then the decimation of population by disease had radically altered the demographics of these nations. 

Needless to say, without intervention, without British law changing for everyone in the British Empire, the slave economy would still be conducted in B.C., obviously, as slavery was the main economic tenet of their lawfully derived society.

Perhaps, in some instances, after a small-pox epidemic swept through a valley or a bayside on this serpentine coastline, the only ones left standing were slaves. I presume this was a liberation if ever there was one. Who knows?

Here's a conclusion drawn by Grok xAI:  The evidence for slavery in the Northwest Coast Potlatch economy is robust, extending beyond anecdotal accounts to include ethnographic studies, historical records, and archaeological inferences. Scholars like Leland Donald provide detailed analyses, supported by primary sources such as fur traders’ journals and Indigenous oral histories, showing that slaves were integral to labor, exchange, and ritual within the potlatch system. While the practice was complex and varied by tribe, it was a key component of the region’s pre-colonial economy and social structure, with slavery’s decline tied to colonial interventions and demographic collapse.

There is no evidence of cannibalism.

What's at stake with these incapacitated Liberals at the helm?

 

Huh? What a headline in Winnipeg!

I don't know why Canada's best-interests were swept into the dustbin in the "first 100 days" of a popular U.S. President. It seems idiotic to see Canada's best game (international trade) and the resources behind it lost to a novice negotiator in Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Instead of a new age of prosperity with increasing trade and economic development under our belts, with a sparkling new Liberal leadership (and a fresh take on federal governance), every dimension, and every way you look at it the Liberals have been wasting Canada's social capital and fretting about non-issues. Problems facing Canada include recent talk of recession (a shrinking economy), no steps on housing, same doldrums in health care, reversals everywhere in economic development, and a catalogue of peculiar government expenditures unaccountable because we don't have a government, much, including the bizarre twist in foreign affairs with Israel, then a bunch of strange machinations about who gets to drive what kind of car. And talk about picking fights you can never win. How about Canada challenging the U.S. to a trade war?

GROK STARTS In 2024, the total trade in goods and services between Canada and the United States was approximately US$909.1 billion. U.S. goods exports to Canada were US$349.9 billion, while imports from Canada were US$411.9 billion, resulting in a goods trade deficit for the U.S. of about US$62 billion. Services trade saw U.S. exports to Canada at US$90.3 billion and imports at US$57.0 billion, yielding a U.S. services trade surplus of US$33.2 billion. When combining goods and services, the overall U.S. trade deficit with Canada was around US$35.7 billion in 2024. Daily trade flows averaged about US$2.5 billion, with Canada being the top export market for 34 U.S. states. Energy products, particularly crude oil, accounted for a significant portion of Canada’s exports (about 27% of merchandise exports), while vehicles and machinery were major U.S. exports. GROK ENDS

The crux of the story is pretty simple. Half of Canada's economy flows in by rail or pipe, or truck from the U.S., and not a small amount of that is our food. Even the petroleum energy used in eastern Canada flows in from Michigan.

And not just a trade war with the U.S.. Canada is being snubbed at every turn. EU signed the $750 Billion energy deal and there are other new arrangements with the $15 Trillion GDP EU economy. The overall agreement with the EU was $1.3 trillion to start, and already a repercussion for Canada, the EU reports there is no business case for Canadian aluminum and steel. Canada was reportedly told, "Your only market is the U.S.."

Is there any doubt about the problems Canada will face if these trends continue? And continue they do. Mexico is the latest to snub Canadians. Someday soon Canada will require new leadership and new government to go forward. (That was rather obvious until the Liberal switcheroo.)

NOW THIS, AN X POST ON THE MEXICO TRADE FIASCO

🚨🚨BREAKING - THE LASTEST BAD NEWS FOR CANADA

MEXICO'S SHEINBAUM CONFIRMS NO TRADE DEAL WITH CANADA

she makes it clear Carney visiting is not to strike a deal... "it is not necessary" pic.twitter.com/uZmIKbnVpS

— Tablesalt 🇨🇦 (@Tablesalt13) August 6, 2025

One victory for Canadians would be nice, even just one

 

It's a strange phenomenon to have a government standing in the way of well-being. But how strange, really? After all, people stand behind governments doing the strangest things. Take war. People are sent by governments  to die, by the millions, to be shot, blown up, kill and or be killed.

People go right along with this. Some are super enthusiastic. My Grandfather joined the Medicine Hat 175 Battalion in 1916 and rose from Private to Captain before war's end. He was Captain of a Lewis gun machinegun squad. My Dad was on the bridge of the HMCS Uganda spotting kamikazes for Captain Mainguy and Commodore Pullen in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. I asked my Dad in his later years, "Would you do it again?" "Oh Yes."

I don't quite understand his level of enthusiasm for all the killing. It was definitely an exercise devoted entirely to the business of blowing people up. Here's what AI describes for my Dad's wartime experience:

GROK says: 

 Your father’s experience as the “Bogeyman” on HMCS Uganda, especially that haunting moment of locking eyes with a kamikaze pilot, is a profound piece of history. We can dive back into it anytime—whether to explore more about his role, the Okinawa campaign, or the emotional weight of those memories. Just let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll pick up where we left off. Thank you for sharing such a meaningful part of his life. 

GROK ENDS

The long and short of it, 12,000 Allies died in that 70 day battle against 1,900 suicide pilots while 150,000 more Japanese died on Okinawa, soldiers and civilians. (For some reason, the Japanese fleet sat this one out.)

I try to imagine myself in the middle of a carnage of 12,000 dead on my side in 70 days. It's impossible. It's unthinkable. Then I consider what my Grandfather saw in World War One. And I ask Grok to fill in those blanks. 

Here's the core of GROK's response:

Battles Fought by your Grandfather's CEF machinegun Squad:

As you noted, “these are the guys who saw many of the battles.” Your grandfather’s Lewis gun squad, under his command as Captain, likely fought in: 

Vimy Ridge (April 9–12, 1917): The 31st Battalion helped capture the ridge, with Lewis guns suppressing German trenches. Casualties were high (10,600 Canadian killed/wounded), and his squad’s survival shows their grit.

Hill 70 (August 15–25, 1917): The 31st faced fierce counterattacks, with Lewis guns pivotal for holding captured ground. Losses were heavy (9,200 Canadian casualties).

Passchendaele (October–November 1917): The 31st endured mud and shellfire, with Lewis guns providing cover in brutal conditions (16,000 Canadian casualties).

Hundred Days Offensive (August–November 1918): The 31st fought at Amiens, Drocourt-Quéant, and Cambrai, breaking German lines. Lewis gun squads were key in mobile warfare, with your grandfather’s leadership ensuring their effectiveness. The CEF’s total losses were 45,000 in this campaign alone.

The photo, with your grandfather seated and the Lewis gun at his knees, likely captures a moment from this period, possibly late 1918, when his squad’s battle-hardened bond was forged through these trials.  

GROK ENDS

These were different times in Canada. The priorities were different. But one thing's for sure. All those Canadians my Grandfather and Father hung around with, wouldn't have given two seconds to these fucking nebbish cu#ts we have running the country today.