Book #6: A Line in the World by Dorthe Nors
This is a dense, poetic, first-person account of the people and communities on the Danish coast. I’ve never lived more than two kilometres from the ocean and I saw a reflection — a common thread — of my home in this book. Not a fast read, but worthwhile.
I’m a big believer in not abandoning fandom to terrible people. FIFA/IOC/govts don’t own global sport: it will belong to the people. But there is a level of malfeasance that cannot be ignored in the name of sport. Unfortunately, we are well past that line. We must imagine something better now.
As a soccer fan, my excitement for a home World Cup (with a competitive Canadian team) was struggling with my misgivings about the human cost of hosting. But at this stage, it is abundantly clear that this WC will be a competitive and cultural farce. Fans who boycott won’t miss anything. #cdnpoli
Anyone following amateur sport in North America has known this for years: thousands of athletes have been denied the chance to compete because of American visa policies. This undermines the fundamental nature of competition. We now see this on a high-profile global scale. @endofsportpod.bsky.social
It has been clear for many years that any ethical future for major games (Oly/WC/etc.) must involve fixed sites that rotate hosting duties.
In addition, US/Israeli athleticide makes clear that these host countries must commit to neutrality in military and immigration policy @nkalamb.bsky.social
This is apparent from this year’s budget. Sim was abundantly clear: “zero means zero”. He really harped on the logic of it.
“Zero” except for the $2m fireworks, $1m sign, and up to $4m police academy.
You only speak out of both sides of your mouth if you think people are too stupid to notice.
I have a theory about this: Sim’s path is CPA to banker to mayor. The finance-to-politics archetype is defined by a belief that most people are stupid.
IMO Sim really believes he can just say stuff without any consequence; either he won’t get found out or people will just forget. #vanpoli
Really pleased with my February stats. It’s a short month and the whole family was sick the first week, so just hitting 100km was an achievement and well-on track for my 2026 goal! #running #runchat #strava
Carney’s statement does nothing but lend respectability to the military campaign that US/Israel have been itching to wage for decades.
You’re expecting country that has killed at least 56k Arab civilians in 2 years to protect Arab civilians. If that “sounds good”, go look for a moral compass.
If you’re interested in fighting misinformation, I would suggest reading things more carefully. And perhaps look up the meaning of “false dichotomy”.
There is a wide range between “support” and “bomb”. We shouldn’t support Hungary’s racist & homophobic govt, but I don’t think we should bomb them.
To everyone who cheerleaded Carney's faux speech in Davos & posturing as independent middle power -
His atrocious statement today backing US-Israeli attacks on Iran make clear that he & Canada are firmly aligned with dominant imperial interests.
And he did so while shaking hands with Modi in India
“Iran has a terrible human rights record, so we should bomb them” says the Canadian PM, while on a visit to India.
Huh, that’s a pretty strong statement. Hey, how are Sikh and Muslim people treated in India and Canada? (specifically Québec right now) Anyone hear anything?
bsky.app/profile/nkal...
All parties learned from the Trudeau era that voters are desperate for a cult of personality. They want a leader who says the right things, so they don’t have to interpret evidence on a daily basis, just trust the leader. Burying one’s head in the sand doesn’t make the world a safer place #cdnpoli
I’ll give Carney credit for one thing: it was a brilliant speech, in that his constituency ate it up.
Of course, he couldn’t even be bothered to clear the first hurdle, but that’s okay because thousands of voters will call you a “hater” if you dare to point that out. #cdnpoli
I find this behaviour so offensive because it is a flagrant violation of a principle that has fundamentally shaped my attitude towards sport since I was a teenager: game recognize game. (short 🧵)
p.s. The reason these guys are such losers is that they can’t conceive of hockey as self-actualization. They think it’s normal to make millions playing a child’s game instead of having a real job; they think they deserve it. It’s “head empty, no thoughts, just vibes” and the vibes suck.
Seeing the Olympic gold medalists mock the accomplishments of their teammates for the amusement of a geriatric despot is not just offensive, it undermines the legitimacy of their accomplishment. If that’s how the men view their fellow athletes, then they themselves are unworthy of that title. /end
That realization laid the groundwork for the philosophy that guides my coaching/professional life, which is that all sport is fundamentally self-actualization. Sports are contested by people who are developing their skills and fulfilling their potential; that’s what makes it meaningful.
As a teenager, I saw athletes show love and respect to one another, across different sports and at different levels of skill (i.e. pros to college/amateur). And that fundamentally changed my outlook. I still think basketball is awfully boring — I won’t watch it — but I respect the game.
Growing up, I internalized a toxic attitude about sport. I played hockey, which was the toughest sport; sports with less physical contact were lame and irrelevant; sports with more physical contact lacked finesse and therefore irrelevant. I was a child and it goes without saying, that was stupid.
I find this behaviour so offensive because it is a flagrant violation of a principle that has fundamentally shaped my attitude towards sport since I was a teenager: game recognize game. (short 🧵)
I can buy imported strawberries at Safeway right now. But strawberries grow right, 30 minutes from my front door… god forbid we should wait until the summer to have strawberries? Maybe the entire global food chain is kinda wonky and inherently unethical?
Every time I walk into the grocery store, I think: it can’t be a good thing that we have every type of food available all the time, right?
Idk I love avocados but maybe we shouldn’t ship them from Peru to Canada so I can buy one for $2.50 literally anytime I want… clearly something is wrong here.
“Football developed in countries that didn’t televise matches. If MLS’ broadcast quality gets any worse, US Soccer may finally be heading in the right direction.”
@wstpitchbot.bsky.social
This also ties into the place-based kick I’m on right know: all of the people profiled identify as being culturally “Chinese” — not surprising, as they run chinese restaurants — but the places in which they settled has informed so much about their lives and even their food.
Cover of the book “Have you eaten yet” by Cheuk Kwan.
Book #5: Have You Eaten Yet? by Cheuk Kwan
I really enjoyed this series of vignettes that trace the existence of the Chinese diaspora via their restaurants. Growing up in Vancouver, there is no culture (of any kind) without diaspora and this book captures the resilience of the Chinese diaspora.
And the situation the club is in relative to the transfer windows and their season. There’s no question that getting Sargent’s contract is worth more — to TFC specifically — now than it was on January 1st.
As someone that is deeply involved in amateur sport, it's a frustrating tension to have many events funded in whole or in part by these corporations. That shouldn't be their money to spend and yet, it is... so, community orgs end up competing to access it and the company gets a win 🤷♂️
It's frustrating that it's just accepted that these corporations are spending *our money* and we are supposed to be grateful... this is under-taxed money that should be government revenue. Instead, it's a write-off and a PR win for the company as they rake in massive profits.
I mean, it's referenced in his (admittedly glib) post. Everyone talks about the narrow, dangerous lanes on the old bridge (valid), but they didn't built a $1.6B replacement to make the lanes wider... it's because the old bridge is falling apart and likely to collapse in a moderate earthquake.
