Barry McLarnon 🇨🇦
@bdmclarnon.bsky.social
Retired engineer (electrical/communications), frequent N95 user, organic gardener, heat pump owner, green energy + clean air advocate. Like: hiking, canoeing, geocaching, wine, food, music (esp: singer-songwriters), Linux.
This piece by Dan Gardner should be required reading for all Canadians.
Since the end of the Second World War, Canada has revolved around the United States like a planet around the sun. Author Dan Gardner argues it’s time for Canada to stop orbiting and start leading. thewalrus.ca/this-is-the-mome...
November 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
This piece by Dan Gardner should be required reading for all Canadians.
Reposted by Barry McLarnon 🇨🇦
An excellent made-in-Canada choice for clean air. Highly recommended!
Quiet, 283 CFM CADR and drawing only 8 Watts of power.
Quiet, 283 CFM CADR and drawing only 8 Watts of power.
After some finagling to get the assembly procedure just right we are finally releasing the aluminum bodied POLARIS air purifier, made-in-Canada and based on the open-source design by Zack Deis.
1/3
#airpurifier #indoorairquality #covidisairborne
1/3
#airpurifier #indoorairquality #covidisairborne
November 14, 2025 at 12:08 AM
An excellent made-in-Canada choice for clean air. Highly recommended!
Quiet, 283 CFM CADR and drawing only 8 Watts of power.
Quiet, 283 CFM CADR and drawing only 8 Watts of power.
Back in the days before it was enshittified by Postmedia and I cancelled my subscription, the Ottawa Citizen had some great columnists, one of whom was Dan Gardner. This new piece by Dan is well worth your time to read.
Probably the best, most accurate thing written about modern Canada this year, though I have little faith in Carney. Ingenuity and creative thinking are not his strong points. As for the environment, "Values" seems like a bad joke.
dgardner.substack.com/p/lets-go-ca...
dgardner.substack.com/p/lets-go-ca...
Let's Go, Canada!
A few thoughts about travel and getting big things done.
dgardner.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Back in the days before it was enshittified by Postmedia and I cancelled my subscription, the Ottawa Citizen had some great columnists, one of whom was Dan Gardner. This new piece by Dan is well worth your time to read.
I don't see the equivalent of Mamdani on the Canadian scene (which is a pity), but I do see a strong parallel between the Democrats and the Liberal Party of Canada in that the latter is also addicted to rich donors and consultants, and is also tacking to the right.
The Democratic establishment's ugly reaction to Zohran Mamdani reveals an unpleasant truth.
They would rather lose elections than change.
The addiction to rich donors and consultants is killing the party. But Mamdani shows a path out. An analysis.
www.salon.com/2025/11/03/z...
They would rather lose elections than change.
The addiction to rich donors and consultants is killing the party. But Mamdani shows a path out. An analysis.
www.salon.com/2025/11/03/z...
Zohran Mamdani knows how to win
Not just in New York — Mamdani's campaign shows how to inspire voters nationwide
www.salon.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I don't see the equivalent of Mamdani on the Canadian scene (which is a pity), but I do see a strong parallel between the Democrats and the Liberal Party of Canada in that the latter is also addicted to rich donors and consultants, and is also tacking to the right.
I live in Ontario and choose green sustainable energy (I have a heat pump, but lack the funds to add solar), but unfortunately, the voters chose a government in 2018 that immediately killed all green energy initiatives, and then compounded that grievous error by re-electing them twice.
If you want expensive power a decade from now (that never arrives on budget), by all means choose nuclear. But if you want cheap power as soon as next year, choose wind, solar and storage. The economics are straightforward. #EnergyTransition
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Ontario power rates to rise on higher nuclear generation costs, conservation spending
Rate jump of 29% partly offset by higher provincial electricity rebate
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I live in Ontario and choose green sustainable energy (I have a heat pump, but lack the funds to add solar), but unfortunately, the voters chose a government in 2018 that immediately killed all green energy initiatives, and then compounded that grievous error by re-electing them twice.
Reposted by Barry McLarnon 🇨🇦
Mud Lake (west Ottawa), on an afternoon walk today.
October 30, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Mud Lake (west Ottawa), on an afternoon walk today.
My wife and I flew from Amsterdam to Montreal recently on a full 787, wearing our N95s. As far as I could tell, we were the only passengers wearing any kind of mask. It left me feeling sad about the way we have been manipulated by the powerful elites who worship at the altar of capitalism.
1. I've had a surprising number of conversations about Covid-19 over the past week or so, all sparked by the fact that I was, as always, wearing an FFP2 respirator. People in healthcare facilities, taxi drivers, people on trains and buses.
October 8, 2025 at 1:56 PM
My wife and I flew from Amsterdam to Montreal recently on a full 787, wearing our N95s. As far as I could tell, we were the only passengers wearing any kind of mask. It left me feeling sad about the way we have been manipulated by the powerful elites who worship at the altar of capitalism.
Reposted by Barry McLarnon 🇨🇦
Unfortunately, the decisions of the current Ontario government are not evidence-based, they are directed by powerful special-interest groups, most notably the fossil fuel industry. Renewables are ready now, but investing in new nuclear gives them many more years to keep extracting oil & gas.
“For years, the nuclear industry and the IESO have been saying we’ve got to invest in new nuclear because #wind, #solar, & battery storage can’t provide us with 24/7 reliable power. This [IESO] report says they can,”
says Jack Gibbons, chair of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance.
shorturl.at/DsP1b
says Jack Gibbons, chair of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance.
shorturl.at/DsP1b
September 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Unfortunately, the decisions of the current Ontario government are not evidence-based, they are directed by powerful special-interest groups, most notably the fossil fuel industry. Renewables are ready now, but investing in new nuclear gives them many more years to keep extracting oil & gas.
I endorse this message wholeheartedly.
Excellent interview by @drgorfinkel.bsky.social on the importance of masks
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
© CBC/Radio-Canada 2025. All rights reserved.
www.cbc.ca
September 25, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I endorse this message wholeheartedly.
Let's take a look at Ontario's electricity generation: right now, 47% nuclear, 32% gas, 21% renewables. This is an epic failure. We have been sliding backwards since 2018, and we face years more of this travesty continuing. Are we powerless to stop it?
Nova Scotia is moving ahead with new onshore wind 🌬️⚡: shorturl.at/dFMIC
Meanwhile, #Ontario is stuck in the past while #DougFord throws billions at costly nuclear 💸 and polluting gas 🔥.
Why aren’t we building our own affordable, #renewable future? 🌞
#onpoli #climatenews
Meanwhile, #Ontario is stuck in the past while #DougFord throws billions at costly nuclear 💸 and polluting gas 🔥.
Why aren’t we building our own affordable, #renewable future? 🌞
#onpoli #climatenews
New wind farms nearing completion will nudge N.S. closer to renewable energy goal | CBC News
With the final blades installed, the Benjamins Mill Wind Project is expected to start generating electricity for the grid this year. Three other onshore wind projects are supposed to come online by th...
shorturl.at
September 23, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Let's take a look at Ontario's electricity generation: right now, 47% nuclear, 32% gas, 21% renewables. This is an epic failure. We have been sliding backwards since 2018, and we face years more of this travesty continuing. Are we powerless to stop it?
Today is Sun Day, and the sun is shining shining brightly here in Ottawa and, it appears, in most parts of southern and eastern Ontario. So let's check the grid... we're getting 1.9% of our electricity from solar, and a whopping 29% from gas.
The Ford government is mortgaging our future!
The Ford government is mortgaging our future!
September 21, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Today is Sun Day, and the sun is shining shining brightly here in Ottawa and, it appears, in most parts of southern and eastern Ontario. So let's check the grid... we're getting 1.9% of our electricity from solar, and a whopping 29% from gas.
The Ford government is mortgaging our future!
The Ford government is mortgaging our future!
Reposted by Barry McLarnon 🇨🇦
PM Carney: We can build a better nation with renewables. Scratch new U.S. nuclear off your major projects list.
www.cleanairalliance.org/u-s-nuclear-...
#onpoli #cdnpoli #energy @mark-carney.bsky.social #buycanadian
www.cleanairalliance.org/u-s-nuclear-...
#onpoli #cdnpoli #energy @mark-carney.bsky.social #buycanadian
U.S. Nuclear Reactors will NOT Build a Strong Canada
PM Carney: We can build a better nation with renewables. Scratch new U.S. nuclear off your major projects list.
www.cleanairalliance.org
September 17, 2025 at 5:27 PM
PM Carney: We can build a better nation with renewables. Scratch new U.S. nuclear off your major projects list.
www.cleanairalliance.org/u-s-nuclear-...
#onpoli #cdnpoli #energy @mark-carney.bsky.social #buycanadian
www.cleanairalliance.org/u-s-nuclear-...
#onpoli #cdnpoli #energy @mark-carney.bsky.social #buycanadian
Reposted by Barry McLarnon 🇨🇦
On one hand, Trump can't do this because it's wildly illegal. On the other hand
August 19, 2025 at 7:47 PM
On one hand, Trump can't do this because it's wildly illegal. On the other hand
I spotted an interesting visitor in the backyard garden today: a White Admiral butterfly, resting on a cherry tomato plant. Butterflies have not been abundant around here this summer, except for Cabbage White butterflies, which attack brassica crops and are major pests.
August 8, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I spotted an interesting visitor in the backyard garden today: a White Admiral butterfly, resting on a cherry tomato plant. Butterflies have not been abundant around here this summer, except for Cabbage White butterflies, which attack brassica crops and are major pests.
Reposted by Barry McLarnon 🇨🇦
Everybody could use a piece of good news in these dark times. Here you go!
August 6, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Everybody could use a piece of good news in these dark times. Here you go!
No one could have predicted this...
/s
/s
July 29, 2025 at 2:48 PM
No one could have predicted this...
/s
/s
Reposted by Barry McLarnon 🇨🇦
Why we don't need carbon capture: We need courage
Why the energy transition is stalling due to distraction and delay
energynews.biz/why-the-ener...
Why the energy transition is stalling due to distraction and delay
energynews.biz/why-the-ener...
Why the Energy Transition Is Stalling: Mark Jacobson’s Case Against Distraction and Delay - Energy News
Carbon capture, for example, is frequently marketed as essential to achieving net-zero targets. But Jacobson points out that removing a ton of CO₂ via direct
energynews.biz
July 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Why we don't need carbon capture: We need courage
Why the energy transition is stalling due to distraction and delay
energynews.biz/why-the-ener...
Why the energy transition is stalling due to distraction and delay
energynews.biz/why-the-ener...
Real people need real food, not UPF junk.
In related news, 1/3 of US kids aged 12-17 are prediabetic.
In related news, 1/3 of US kids aged 12-17 are prediabetic.
The mechanisms by which ultra-processed foods (UPF) drive obesity, an outstanding review article
"the evidence is sufficiently strong to justify immediate public health efforts to reduce UPF consumption."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"the evidence is sufficiently strong to justify immediate public health efforts to reduce UPF consumption."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
July 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Real people need real food, not UPF junk.
In related news, 1/3 of US kids aged 12-17 are prediabetic.
In related news, 1/3 of US kids aged 12-17 are prediabetic.
One of these guys made a surprise appearance while I working in the backyard garden this morning. Alas, my phone was in the house charging, so I couldn't grab a photo. Hasn't been seen since, of course.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_w...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_w...
Least weasel - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
July 13, 2025 at 11:15 PM
One of these guys made a surprise appearance while I working in the backyard garden this morning. Alas, my phone was in the house charging, so I couldn't grab a photo. Hasn't been seen since, of course.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_w...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_w...
🎯 A healthy diet, smart urban design that discourages private motorized vehicle usage, and sound public health practices that prevent infectious disease spread, for the win.
The USA is an emerging failed state. That life expectancy curve is a lot like the Soviet Union’s was toward the end.
Here's what it gets you
July 12, 2025 at 5:55 PM
🎯 A healthy diet, smart urban design that discourages private motorized vehicle usage, and sound public health practices that prevent infectious disease spread, for the win.
Most of southern and eastern Ontario is sunny today. At noon, only 1.5% of Ontario's electricity was coming from solar, while a whopping 25.2% was from gas. The Ford government, acting on behalf of fossil fuel interests, sabotaged development of renewable energy and locked us into gas for decades.
July 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Most of southern and eastern Ontario is sunny today. At noon, only 1.5% of Ontario's electricity was coming from solar, while a whopping 25.2% was from gas. The Ford government, acting on behalf of fossil fuel interests, sabotaged development of renewable energy and locked us into gas for decades.
Let's hope the Canadian negotiators keep their cool.
#ElbowsUp
#ElbowsUp
Trump's tariff letters impose new import taxes that go into effect on August 1. But on July 31 the courts hear arguments about whether they're unconstitutional.
It seems implausible that any country would strike a deal in the shadow of a tariff threat that is likely illegal.
It seems implausible that any country would strike a deal in the shadow of a tariff threat that is likely illegal.
July 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Let's hope the Canadian negotiators keep their cool.
#ElbowsUp
#ElbowsUp
Sounds like a plan fit for a madman!
My plan to revive American manufacturing is to: raise the price of inputs like steel, aluminum & copper; create shortages of rare earths; generate less electricity; invite retaliatory tariffs; cut R&D; raise borrowing costs by blowing out the budget; and to cover it all in a cloud of uncertainty.
July 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Sounds like a plan fit for a madman!