Yeah, like it’s just not something other countries do. Maybe Russians pretend to be Ukrainian or something but that’s about it.

Flagjacking:

When Americans wear Canadian flags abroad because they refuse to own their country’s failings.

I need to make time for this after my present zoom group is over.

Forward Guidance with Prime Minister Mark Carney YouTube video by Mark Carney

"Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become our weaknesses, weaknesses that we must correct."

Bombshell speech from @mark-carney.bsky.social

Whether you're a fan of the current government or not, this is worth a watch.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2T...

Oh good, you’re believing his latest shovels full of “I’m truly changed now” bullshit.

Fuck off. Honestly.

Monterey Park becomes the first city in California to ban "all data centers within city limits" Residents of the small enclave east of LA not only killed their city's proposed 250,000 square foot data center, they pushed city council to ban them altogether

Last night, after an hours-long public hearing, Monterey Park became the first city in California to pass an ordinance permanently banning data centers.

The city council voted unanimously to declare data centers a public nuisance, and to "prohibit all data centers within city limits."

My story:

No. Wrong.

That has nothing to do with why I won’t buy Adam’s peanut butter or why I changed my breakfast i eat times per week just because I want to avoid US cilantro.

It’s not the travel boycott that is breaking the American economy, it’s ALL the boycott.

The way Americans largely (not you, dear reader) shrugged at Trump’s threats against Canada and Greenland and his attacks on innocent people in the Caribbean and only reacted when he made gas prices go up is pretty much what the most cynical person would have predicted.

Yep. This and the refusal to accept that anyone else should feel pride or protective about their country, because America is soooooo great that why are we not just a-okay with all this?

Cultural brainwashing.

They want it to be about tariffs because it makes us seem unreasonable in our reaction. Americans will always, always position themselves as “objectively right”, no matter how wrong they are. They have to, its part of their national identity.

But there is no metric for this on the geopolitical landscape BECAUSE NO COUNTRY IN HISTORY has been as stupid as the American regime, nor has anyone LOST trade to the capacity of this government without exterior forces causing loss in trade.

This is the biggest self-own in geopolitical history.

Go look at business writing. How hard is it to win a new customer versus retaining old customers?

The WORLD was the USA’s customer. There ARE no new customers to win.

In business it’s thought to be 25x harder/more expensive to win customers versus retaining them.

We understand why we are Big Mad and we will keep boycotting All Things American because we understand breaking the economy is what breaks the government, and essentially the country.

The US government thinks it can weaken us with economic levers?

They don’t know SHIT about playing the long game.

We’re not that mad about tariffs because we know you’re the people who have to pay them.

We don’t give a shit. Are Canadians paying tariffs? We are not.

We are about the 51st state talk and the lack of seriousness that the media and the people seem to give our complaints.

But that’s okay.

The more that the USA media keeps going “wow, Canadians are so upset about tariffs,” the more that Canadians just think “we can’t take you seriously, you won’t even fucking listen to what’s upsetting us.”

Then there’s carry-over into the public who ALSO think we’re Big Mad on Tariffs.

The tariffs are effectively housekeeping. “Okay, these guys don’t care about civil trade & balanced impacts— not great.”

But the 51st state shit? That is FUNDAMENTAL RULE OF LAW stuff the USA is mocking & dismissing.

The entire tone makes us want to collectively punch America in the face.

One year later: How tariffs are changing trade, travel, and ties between the U.S. and Canada MPR News host Angela Davis and senior economics contributor Chris Farrell explore how the Trump administration’s tariffs on Canada have affected both countries over the last year.

Starting to see some “one year into the tariffs” conversations on American media, like this, where they’re all failing to recognize that it’s not tariffs that angered Canadians — it’s THREATENING OUR SOVEREIGNTY.

I don’t know how hard that is to understand. It didn’t end. It continues.

And it takes a lot of responsibility out of the consumer of these things because they “trust” the account and don’t bother to learn more than what’s being broadcast at them by someone who may or may not have a hidden agenda.

Oh my god — no one knows any substance behind headlines anymore.

Oh, that it’s performative and pointless? Go, team.

Also “want a” cookie because “wanna” is a contraction/slang for “want to”.

Have a better day than you deserve.

You’re just being obnoxious to everyone.

Really hope that’s doing all the heavy lifting for your self-esteem that you seem to think it does.

And you asked my opinion when you started being an asshole to other people without having the facts on grammar.

Maybe get a better hobby.

Hi! In GRAMMAR, you capitalize “Black” but never the word with it.

This is called grammar. Learn it.

ALWAYS capitalize Black. But not women. Not culture. Not music.

I edit for a living. That’s what I do.

Attacking someone for knowing grammar better than you just makes you look silly.

George Michael - The Long and Winding Road (Concert for Linda 1999) YouTube video by The George Michael Archive

Another good one from George Michael. This was the concert in tribute to Linda McCartney and breast cancer, after her death.

George lost his mom the same way and decided to sing the Beatles' Long & Winding Road for them both. The story goes, Paul was so overcome backstage, he had to take a minute.

That was fun. I'd never watched it on a large monitor before to fully appreciate Bowie in the back.

I forgot about this video. At the end, they start showing David Bowie watching in the background, and he goes from appreciating it to visibly enjoying and admiring it.

(Yes, the Wham doc is good. YouTube has a lot of stuff, especially a lot of UK long-form interviews and live performances.)

George Michael Unplugged Remastered) - YouTube

Three years ago, apparently, the George Michael Archive added remastered videos of George's MTV Unplugged concert.

They look great. The playlist is here:

The whole planet banned aerosol and changed refrigeration systems around the world, all because we knew it worked.

Crazytown.

George Michael Waiting for that day (South Bank Show / 1990) YouTube video by ÆFAN CHANNEL

This is a very, very cool clip of George Michael talking about how he made a song after chatting with some buddies about an overused James Brown drumbeat.

If you didn't already know: He produced probably 95%+ of his own music. Wrote, arranged, played, produced.

Once-a-generation talent.

Yes! The good old days, when the impending demise of the planet seemed Not Good and a Noble Cause For All.