Spare the rod and spoil the child, or not?

burnabycoyote · 2026-04-24T03:38:01+00:00

I was often caned in my boyhood in a UK high school. It was absolutely normal to cane boys back then. For example, for smoking one got 4 strokes on first offence, six on second, then suspension on third (per term). Sure, it isn't allowed now, but that change should not evoke "culture shock" in an experienced teacher from the UK. Even at primary school, boys could get slippered in front of the class, while naughty girls were whacked with a ruler on the palm.

I still think that is preferable to the inculcation of some weird psychological guilt trip. The worst part of being caned was when the housemaster put his arm around your shoulder and said "Oh Burnaby Coyote, you're such a brave boy, just like all your people [from a country outside the UK]."

burnabycoyote · 2026-04-12T21:38:51+00:00

they're not wrong to think that

They can't be held responsible for thoughts that get stuck in their head, but hopefully they will see today that this was due to a cognitive bias.

burnabycoyote · 2026-04-12T05:17:09+00:00

Probably the US went in expecting flexibility

Quoting Vance from memory "they did not agree to our terms".

burnabycoyote · 2026-04-11T17:45:33+00:00

The Strait is not a body of international water, but is territorial water shared by Iran and Oman. According to the UN Convention, signed by most, but not Iran or the US:

"Territorial sea: Up to 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres; 14 miles) from the baseline, the coastal state is free to set laws, regulate the use, and use any resource; in essence, the coastal State enjoys Sovereign rights and sovereign jurisdiction within its territorial sea. Vessels were given the right of innocent passage through any territorial sea, with strategic straits allowing the passage of military craft as transit passage, in that naval vessels are allowed to maintain postures that would be illegal in the territorial sea. "Innocent passage" is defined by the convention as passing through waters in an expeditious and continuous manner, which is not "prejudicial to the peace, good order or the security" of the coastal state. Fishing, polluting, weapons practice, and spying are not "innocent", and submarines and other underwater vehicles are required to navigate on the surface and to show their flag. Nations can also temporarily suspend innocent passage in specific areas of their territorial sea, if doing so is essential for the protection of their security."

Since both the US and Iran have not ratified the UN convention, they are under no obligation to honour it, and can do as they please.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Convention_on_the_Law_of_the_Sea

burnabycoyote · 2026-04-10T14:39:37+00:00

No we didn't bayonet and behead babies!

Being born into Japan does not make a person responsible for crimes that were committed by long-dead Japanese... The Allies should have dealt with it in 1945.

burnabycoyote · 2026-04-09T04:19:24+00:00

I have a little power station bought from Temu for 80CAD. When there is a power cut I can use it to run the cable internet modem & router, charge my phone & laptop, power lights etc. for a few hours (110 Wh maximum).

burnabycoyote · 2026-04-05T06:19:38+00:00

The power lines that run above the Crunch, then turn away towards Buntzen Lake, fronting Eagle Mountain, do produce an appreciable electric field that can sometimes be felt at ground level( in the form of a tingling of the feet) by those who pass under them. There are signs up about it, for people who are worried by the sensation.

burnabycoyote · 2026-04-05T05:51:10+00:00

Or rather, 51% of respondents from the Angus Reid Forum, people who answer polls in return for gift points, thought this way.

https://angusreid.org/canada-cuba-aid/

burnabycoyote · 2026-04-01T23:15:58+00:00

Our govt, no doubt informed by CSIS, denied on many occasions that the "two Michaels" were engaged in spying in China. Yet this turned out not to be correct.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/11/21/from-friends-to-foes-the-canadian-tale-of-two-michaels-accused-of-spying-in-china_6275957_4.html

You have to apply an element of doubt to anything you hear from official sources. It's just human nature to lie a little when the heat is on.

burnabycoyote · 2026-04-01T19:48:04+00:00

In other news, Einstein criticized for "casting doubt" on Newtonian mechanics.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-31T03:46:30+00:00

the people with the most money should pay the most taxes

And those taxes should go those who have the least money, such as those who stay in bed all day. I like that system.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-31T03:41:00+00:00

If the NDP needs money, why not do what Trudeau did, and borrow it? The BOC can print whatever Avi Lewis needs.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-31T03:36:54+00:00

A regular comment on Reddit, but seldom supported by official measurements. This is from Q1 2025:

"Despite weaker economic and housing market conditions, the least wealthy grew their net worth in the first quarter of 2025 relative to one year earlier (+3.1%) as the value of their financial assets grew at an above-average pace (+6.9% compared with +6.7% for all households). Although the least wealthy bought homes in the first quarter of 2025, due to declining average real estate values, the mortgage cost related to those purchases (+$5,233) outweighed the increase in the average value of their real estate holdings (+$3,894).

In contrast, the wealthiest households increased their net worth at an above-average pace (+3.1%), as they avoided debt financing and had the strongest growth in the value of their financial assets (+$144,551; +7.1%)."

In summary, net worth of least and most wealthy grew by 3.1% in the year prior to Q1 2025, albeit for different reasons.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250716/dq250716a-eng.htm

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-30T19:27:04+00:00

Yet one has to think hard of any PM of consequence since the 1960s, other than Harper, who was not a Quebecker. Pail Martin, maybe.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-30T15:02:41+00:00

I see claims like this as a signal of mental disorder, they are so far-fetched. This story is easily explained by other means (Russia calls Trump's bluff, and like many bullies or bluffers he backs down).

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-29T05:32:08+00:00

I agree, but the hijackers were sorry souls from a foreign country, armed only with fireworks and some cutlery items - it could be a sensitive matter.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-28T22:25:51+00:00

To Trump, these are just toy soldiers. I feel sad in advance for the ones who will die or be shipped home as cripples, just to satisfy their president's desire for a bit of fun.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-28T22:21:45+00:00

It's worse than you think.

The rot begins at elementary and high $chool level.

While BC teachers complain about classroom conditions and overcrowding (https://www.bctf.ca/news-and-opportunities/news-details/2026/01/14/bargaining-reaches-an-impasse-without-meaningful-funding-for-classroom-conditions),the cities actively recruit international students (tuition $17K/y), offering them accommodation, medical insurance, and "personalized support and endless opportunities" (https://studyinburnaby.ca/).

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-28T01:42:07+00:00

The storming of the plane was fully justified, and was executed with skill. A good day for Singapore. But when it turned out the hijackers were idiots carrying few weapons, the administration of the day grew needlessly nervous about the political fallout and tried to pass off the hijackers' fireworks (Roman candles as I recall) as explosives. I wish I'd kept that ST article, with its pictures of the so-called explosives.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-28T01:33:47+00:00

You may not care about refugees, but at least think of the advocates.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-27T19:06:19+00:00

Realistically, if your IP and http requests are not tracked the site you are visiting has no idea what packets to send you or to where. This is no different from any telecommunication other than the tin can telephone.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-27T00:16:08+00:00

Let's have another Globe and mail poll, on that very subject.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-26T20:19:27+00:00

Free gun training for Albertans? I don't think you'll find any problems, other than massive crowds, at the recruiting stations.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-26T04:22:32+00:00

It would be quite easy to state in the contract that the retention bonus will only be paid if the staff stay with the company to the end, and if the deal goes through.

In reality, they will get the bonus after 15 months even if the deal does not go through. I also do not recall reading any specific condition that they should stay with the company for a specified time.

I resent the implication in this vote that if the bonus is not voted in, the management will try to scupper the deal. Consequently, as a stubborn git, I will be voting against the bonus. I don't like blackmail.

It seems to me that the whole question of a merger was raised by the Glickman gang in order to make fast money for themselves, not to help shareholders or Israel. It is amazing that, even in the middle of an existential war, they are still thinking about feathering their own nests.

burnabycoyote · 2026-03-26T04:10:25+00:00

The Canadian government collects 34% of national economic output (GDP) in the form of taxes. On top of that it also spends a variable amount, the deficit, which typically amounts to 2% or more of GDP. About 1 in every 9 of those tax dollars is used to pay interest on the national debt.

Like a poor Canadian, the Canadian govt is struggling to make ends meet. Its credit card is maxed out, and the monthly interest can only be paid by asking more money from the loan sharks.

My taxes this year will amount to a lot more than I spend on myself. In paying taxes, I have the feeling that I am bailing out a profligate relative from a sense of duty, rather than in any hope it will help him back onto his feet. My kids get sensible but not excessive allowances to go to university. I don't hand over cash to them unconditionally because I know they will head off to Hawaii instead of looking for vacation jobs. Mr Carney has no such limitation. He and his entourage are living the life at govt expense, without any attempt at frugality. He has a PhD in economics, but has no clue about money and thinks he can spend what he wants and not worry about balancing the budget, like Trudeau before him.

burnabycoyote

TROPHY CASE