Robin Metcalfe

I'll be part of a panel on local Queer history Tuesday night, 8 July at 6:30 on Zoom. Here is the link to register:
smu-ca.zoom.us/.../register...

I don't know enough to vouch for this Trans Lifeline, but if it is reputable, I'm sure it serves a critical purpose. The US number is (877) 565-8860. The Canada number is (877) 330-6366. Monday–Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM Pacific, 1 PM to 9 PM Eastern, 2 pm to 10 pm Atlantic. Comment if you know more.

Living here in America right now feels like that time.
Stuck riding shotgun in a car with a drunk driver. – Chuck Wendig

Halifax staff recommend three-phase approach to deactivate X account by July 15 - Halifax Examiner The report and results of a social media survey to go to Halifax regional council on Tuesday.

Halifax Regional Municipality's Council has approved a staff recommendation to leave X and to migrate its public account to Bluesky.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca/government/c...

Palestinian paramedics shot by Israeli forces had hands tied, eyewitnesses say Senior doctor who saw bodies says men appeared to have been ‘executed’, adding to evidence of potential war crime

Their ambulance came under Israeli fire on the way to collect injured people from an earlier airstrike. 13 of the dead were in a convoy dispatched to retrieve the bodies of their colleagues. One was a UN employee. A Red Crescent paramedic is still missing.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

I like the sound of this bottle in the US section of a Newfoundland liquor store.

I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped I was stuck in a freezing cell without explanation despite eventually having lawyers and media attention. Yet, compared with others, I was lucky

Wondering whether to travel to the US? You may end up in a prison-like detention centre being treated like an animal. It happens to white Canadians with a passport. People of colour & those from less privileged countries face far worse.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trans women transferred to men’s prisons despite rulings against Trump’s order Incarcerated trans women report being groped by male guards and suicidal thoughts: ‘I’m punished for existing’

Trans women in men's prisons face dire and life-threatening circumstances. The US govt is murdering Trans people. Some Canadian conservatives support such policies. People I love would suffer and die under a Poilievre govt.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Mayflowers with buds ready to bloom when the weather warms.

Elbows up, Canada.

YouTube video by Jesse McFaul We Will Survive

We've got a new anthem! And you can dance to this one.
With thanks to Gloria Gaynor. Lyrics Gord Moran; vocals Sonya Zaback; produced by Wayne McFaul

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pei...

party time!!

Something like that.

Trump’s Attack on Zelensky Sends a Clear Message to Canada and the World - Policy Magazine In a stunning scene at the White House on Friday, US President Donald J. Trump and Vice-President J. D. Vance verbally attacked Ukrainian president Volodymyr

A clear warning from three distinguished analysts at McGill. Time for a new defence alliance among the remaining democracies.

www.policymagazine.ca/trumps-attac...

The Honourable Mr Hees. He deliberately wore shirt collars one size two tight.

Ukraine ‘gambling with world war three’, Trump tells Zelenskyy in fiery meeting Meeting between US president and Ukrainian leader degenerated into shouting match before being cut short

Trump's thugs escorted Zelenskyy out after a public shouting match. This is not good news, but better than signing over Ukraine's mineral resources to the US. Time for NATO-minUS to rally behind Ukraine, as Denmark's Mette Frederiksen has called for.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Artist Kelly Mark died on 21 February. Each of her works – economical, playful and challenging – was a Zen koan manifested in an object or performance. Her company was as witty and stimulating as her art. She will be sorely missed. The art will endure. Photo: Exist, 2009. Ph: Steve Farmer.

Oh but cis men’s psychological security is so easily bruised. (To be clear, I identify as a sis man.) It grieves and alarms and enrages me to see the increased harassment and danger my Trans friends are being exposed to.

This is very bad news.

Earth First. Just met with people from 5 continents to monitor the ecosystems in which we live. Proud citizen of the most beautiful, miraculous planet in the known universe. Grateful to share it with my fellow humans and all other life forms. We have a lot to do. Now let's get to work. Photo ESA.

12 There is no neutrality. Non-commitment is a betrayal of the responsibility we owe our fellow humans and the living world. Study history. Form discussion groups. Organise. Slava Ukraini! Black Lives Matter. Women, Life, Freedom! Free Palestine! Vive le Canada !

11 Keep your eyes on the prize; but prepare to get your hands and your principles dirty. We won't like all our coalition partners; may choose expediencies we had once ruled out. The task is to survive, enough of our principles intact to have a hope of rebuilding, better, a shattered world.

10 Expel the US from NATO now: there are ample grounds. It threatens other members with military aggression, supports Russia against Ukraine and subverts democratic processes in member states. Rename and expand NATO to include Japan, South Korea, Australia, Ukraine, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, etc.

9 Don't give the US time to further corrupt or destroy multi-national institutions. The General Assembly of the UN must suspend the Security Council and strip its permanent members of their veto power.

8 Liberal democracies must re-arm. We must seek anti-fascist alliances where we can on every continent. Assume that a world war is beginning. It has. Do we have the means to win this fight? We do, because we must. The choices are to fight or to die. Ask Ukraine.

7 The US piggy bank is smashed. Its military is in the hands of the enemy. The surviving liberal democracies must fill the gap: to fund UN programmes, defend Ukraine, deter Russian, Chinese and US aggressions. No truck, no trade with the US or Russia. Extreme caution with China.

6 Prepare for the corruption or destruction of public-serving institutions: universities, museums, libraries, archives, responsible media. Secure independent communication channels. Act now to duplicate, smuggle out, hide and safeguard all critical records, research data, cultural artifacts.

5 Don't pin hopes on the US judicial system or the mid-term elections. By all means, use any available instruments to delay the carnage and buy time for the resistance. But expect American democracy and the US constitution to be demolished before this summer.

4 Trump is a frontman: he is not the power behind the coup. The tech bros, Project 2025 and their ideologues are the real threat. Beyond Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg lie Peter Thiel, Russel Vought, Curtis Yarvin, Kevin Roberts. Learn their names. They are running the world now.

3 Trump cannnot be negotiated with. He is immune to diplomacy; he does not bargain. He may be tactically distracted or manipulated. Diplomacy is useful inasmuch as it gives him cover to retreat, but the only real options are to surrender to him or to defeat him.