I had a conversation last weekend with a friend who owns property in the Interior, and he was all up in arms about, among other things, the loss of private ownership within Treaty lands and the ceding of control of all mining in the province to the First Nations. That’s right. Complete control. And according…
Category: Social Commentary
Social Commentary
Mix & Match in the Auto Industry
by renaissanceadmin • • 0 Comments
For most of us, the deeper workings of world’s economic system remain a complete mystery, Most of us are resigned to having it stay that way, because of the seeming impossibility of figuring it out. And more important, our complete inability to do anything about it. Wait a Minute! There is actually something we can…
Politics, Social Commentary
The Irony of a War over Oil
by renaissanceadmin • • 0 Comments
It is notable that sometimes political actions have opposite effect from their original objectives. For example, the Arab Oil Embargo in 1973 resulted in downsizing of American cars, a rise in the sale of Japanese compacts and the development of US government standards to increase fuel efficiency. The end result? A reduced Western dependence on…
Politics, Social Commentary
The Wrong Kind of Competition
by renaissanceadmin • • 0 Comments
It turns out there are two different types of competition. Or perhaps, a continuum between two extremes. Who Cares? The difference between these two types explains the state of present political climate, because the two different types invite different solutions. Global and Personal Most competitions we engage in have two elements. First is the outside…
Social Commentary
Zoned Out on Time
by renaissanceadmin • • 0 Comments
I apologize to my long-time readers who have heard me rant about the idiocy of Daylight Savings time. I thought we had finally made up our minds. But oh, no. The Over-Opinionated now have to wage war on whether it should be permanent Daylight or Standard. Pontifical medical people who should know better than to…
Social Commentary
How Not to Get Rich
by renaissanceadmin • • 0 Comments
I’ve cadged a bunch of this from a Facebook post by Warren Buffett, but the ideas are not new, and I’m sure he won’t mind. My wife taught for years at a school with a wide socio-economic spread. Acre lots on the riverbank overlooking the city, small lots with mobile homes back in the forest.…
Politics, Social Commentary
AI and Fascism Part 2: Creating the Environment
by renaissanceadmin • • 0 Comments
Nobody denies that Artificial Intelligence will change the world in the next few years. It will change the job market in both positive and negative ways. It might even create a super-computer that will take control of the world. Looking back through history, the development of new farming technology and methods led to the Enclosure…
Social Commentary
AI and Fascism Part 1: An Update on AI
by renaissanceadmin • • 0 Comments
A favourite topic of discussion online these days is “what effect will AI have on human society?” One scary outcome deals with the development of fascism. I recently discovered an online influencer who publishes under the moniker of “Seggy Says.” He works on the novel premise that, if we think AI is so smart, we…
Social Commentary
Media Coverage of the Tumbler Ridge Tragedy
by renaissanceadmin • • 0 Comments
I’m having a pretty normal week. The usual ups and downs. But every once in a while, a whisper of sadness swirls through my head. And I think, “What have I got to be sad about?” And then I remember Tumbler Ridge all over again. I expect that feeling will be with me for a…
Social Commentary
Resisting the Hard Sell
by renaissanceadmin • • 0 Comments
In my worldly travels I have visited countries with different levels of involvement with the mainstream tourist trade. It is notable that the attitude of street vendors is indicative of the length of their experience with mainstream tourists; the less the contact, the better the manners of the salespeople. For example, I’ve been to small…