Hal Babcock
@hal1944.bsky.social
Former history teacher and runner/skier
Agree, and this is where the departure of Elizabeth Renzetti has left a moral vacuum at the Globe.
December 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Agree, and this is where the departure of Elizabeth Renzetti has left a moral vacuum at the Globe.
Maybe instead of talking today about an ephemeral turning of Niagara Falls into Vegas, Premier Ford should instruct our Chief PHO, Dr. Kieran Moore, to make his position matter.
December 15, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Maybe instead of talking today about an ephemeral turning of Niagara Falls into Vegas, Premier Ford should instruct our Chief PHO, Dr. Kieran Moore, to make his position matter.
As a lad I spent some time in Ontario barns caring for pigs, but we only used the term “pigsty.”
It was a delight to discover that “piggery” is a word originally used by Arthur Young, one of the important founders of the 17C agricultural revolution in England.
Thanks for the reference!!!
It was a delight to discover that “piggery” is a word originally used by Arthur Young, one of the important founders of the 17C agricultural revolution in England.
Thanks for the reference!!!
December 14, 2025 at 2:13 PM
As a lad I spent some time in Ontario barns caring for pigs, but we only used the term “pigsty.”
It was a delight to discover that “piggery” is a word originally used by Arthur Young, one of the important founders of the 17C agricultural revolution in England.
Thanks for the reference!!!
It was a delight to discover that “piggery” is a word originally used by Arthur Young, one of the important founders of the 17C agricultural revolution in England.
Thanks for the reference!!!
This used to be taught in classrooms but so few citizens subscribed to a newspaper it became pointless, just as asking a student to write a newspaper story on Ontario’s literacy test became an anachronism. But the broader “media literary stuff” should now be a critical part of all subject areas.
December 11, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This used to be taught in classrooms but so few citizens subscribed to a newspaper it became pointless, just as asking a student to write a newspaper story on Ontario’s literacy test became an anachronism. But the broader “media literary stuff” should now be a critical part of all subject areas.
This is why I have very little use for “populism” of any variety. None of us, including myself, are knowledgeable enough to make valid decisions on matters like calming traffic, etc. I thank the experts who have the courage to speak up on these issues, but mightily disappointed in those who won’t.
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
This is why I have very little use for “populism” of any variety. None of us, including myself, are knowledgeable enough to make valid decisions on matters like calming traffic, etc. I thank the experts who have the courage to speak up on these issues, but mightily disappointed in those who won’t.
Like Trump, Pierre’s party has created an epithet “Red Tory” which will be deployed with little basis in reality.
November 7, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Like Trump, Pierre’s party has created an epithet “Red Tory” which will be deployed with little basis in reality.
U of T has a lab that tests winter boots for traction on ice. I have found their results really helpful as a more scientific evaluation.
November 4, 2025 at 6:53 PM
U of T has a lab that tests winter boots for traction on ice. I have found their results really helpful as a more scientific evaluation.
Good point! Whenever I think about pursuing this “back to the office policy” in downtown Toronto,” the word “unsustainable” leaps to my mind.
It is certainly a policy that John Tory would have embraced. Where is the creative vision from Olivia Chow?
It is certainly a policy that John Tory would have embraced. Where is the creative vision from Olivia Chow?
July 28, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Good point! Whenever I think about pursuing this “back to the office policy” in downtown Toronto,” the word “unsustainable” leaps to my mind.
It is certainly a policy that John Tory would have embraced. Where is the creative vision from Olivia Chow?
It is certainly a policy that John Tory would have embraced. Where is the creative vision from Olivia Chow?
I know little about the law on this nor the contracts governing their employees, but are the banks and Rogers anticipating cutting the workforce by using AI, thereby using these silly policies to encourage resignations without severance packages? I’d be happy to be corrected and less cynical.
July 28, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I know little about the law on this nor the contracts governing their employees, but are the banks and Rogers anticipating cutting the workforce by using AI, thereby using these silly policies to encourage resignations without severance packages? I’d be happy to be corrected and less cynical.
Thanks for posting this!
July 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Thanks for posting this!
I follow you because those are all topics I am interested in and I appreciate your insights. Frankly, it was inappropriate for me to respond as I belong to the generation who have not made the world a better place. Your passion does give me hope and my values may well be based on nostalgia.
July 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I follow you because those are all topics I am interested in and I appreciate your insights. Frankly, it was inappropriate for me to respond as I belong to the generation who have not made the world a better place. Your passion does give me hope and my values may well be based on nostalgia.
And I should have known better than to reply. Apologies for creating a distraction on your very worthwhile posts.
July 17, 2025 at 2:11 PM
And I should have known better than to reply. Apologies for creating a distraction on your very worthwhile posts.
“Typically liberal” is an interesting label. Food for thought. I prefer labels that do imply a less pejorative judgement and seem to engage discussion. I will be quite willing to admit I got my vote wrong this spring. But I will wait for that decision.
July 17, 2025 at 1:52 PM
“Typically liberal” is an interesting label. Food for thought. I prefer labels that do imply a less pejorative judgement and seem to engage discussion. I will be quite willing to admit I got my vote wrong this spring. But I will wait for that decision.
I appreciate the passion with which you express your viewpoints. If you wish to attract some of us to those opinions it might be best not to call us “partisans”, “indistinguishable from conservative bots,” and suggest that Carney is “Harper 2.0.” Some of us would like to be called “pragmatists.”
July 17, 2025 at 1:33 PM
I appreciate the passion with which you express your viewpoints. If you wish to attract some of us to those opinions it might be best not to call us “partisans”, “indistinguishable from conservative bots,” and suggest that Carney is “Harper 2.0.” Some of us would like to be called “pragmatists.”
Reading your posts, I don’t think you squandered your history studies! In my third year we had to take British Constitutional History as a prerequisite for law school. That concentrated the mind wonderfully on our future.
I hope you can share some of the exciting ideas/sources she encounters.
I hope you can share some of the exciting ideas/sources she encounters.
July 10, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reading your posts, I don’t think you squandered your history studies! In my third year we had to take British Constitutional History as a prerequisite for law school. That concentrated the mind wonderfully on our future.
I hope you can share some of the exciting ideas/sources she encounters.
I hope you can share some of the exciting ideas/sources she encounters.
The Guns of August remains a treasure, and I am sure she knows that there are a significant number of history podcasts that are entertaining and educating. Her choice of history lets her focus on a university that provides a programme with the skills/themes that she has tentatively identified.
July 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The Guns of August remains a treasure, and I am sure she knows that there are a significant number of history podcasts that are entertaining and educating. Her choice of history lets her focus on a university that provides a programme with the skills/themes that she has tentatively identified.
I qualified for free Paxlovid last autumn and my family doctor found it challenging to prescribe it for me. It appeared that the system was not designed to make the process a simple one. Perhaps that difficulty was a feature not a glitch.
June 16, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I qualified for free Paxlovid last autumn and my family doctor found it challenging to prescribe it for me. It appeared that the system was not designed to make the process a simple one. Perhaps that difficulty was a feature not a glitch.
I am fully confident that Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health, is carefully monitoring the situation in her own riding which is part of the WDG Health jurisdiction. Naw, who am I kidding.
May 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I am fully confident that Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health, is carefully monitoring the situation in her own riding which is part of the WDG Health jurisdiction. Naw, who am I kidding.
Listened to a podcast by John Michael McGrath and Steve Paikin, both of TVO. In my view, they found Ford’s rant entertaining as opposed to the concern espoused by some of our leading judges in Ontario, a concern they ignored. As in the USA, the media seem unable to take these matters seriously.
May 3, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Listened to a podcast by John Michael McGrath and Steve Paikin, both of TVO. In my view, they found Ford’s rant entertaining as opposed to the concern espoused by some of our leading judges in Ontario, a concern they ignored. As in the USA, the media seem unable to take these matters seriously.
I am wondering if the qualities of an extrovert help lead to promotion in a bureaucracy as they tend to “nail” the interview. Personally, those interviewees made me nervous despite the qualities that might be useful. Not many on hiring teams would share my concerns.
April 30, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I am wondering if the qualities of an extrovert help lead to promotion in a bureaucracy as they tend to “nail” the interview. Personally, those interviewees made me nervous despite the qualities that might be useful. Not many on hiring teams would share my concerns.
An eight week summer course to begin my career, and then a six week course the next summer to reflect upon my experience in the classroom, that was my training.
This approach relied upon a real sense of collegiality with your colleagues. It also encouraged the unsuitable to just leave after a year.
This approach relied upon a real sense of collegiality with your colleagues. It also encouraged the unsuitable to just leave after a year.
April 30, 2025 at 1:08 PM
An eight week summer course to begin my career, and then a six week course the next summer to reflect upon my experience in the classroom, that was my training.
This approach relied upon a real sense of collegiality with your colleagues. It also encouraged the unsuitable to just leave after a year.
This approach relied upon a real sense of collegiality with your colleagues. It also encouraged the unsuitable to just leave after a year.
As a provincial Deputy Returning Officer in the late 70’s I had to swear in vote helpers for Seniors who needed such aid. At that time party affiliation was not on the ballot. The most common guidance they sought? “Which one is the Conservative?”
Made me rethink my position on minimum age to vote.
Made me rethink my position on minimum age to vote.
April 28, 2025 at 6:01 PM
As a provincial Deputy Returning Officer in the late 70’s I had to swear in vote helpers for Seniors who needed such aid. At that time party affiliation was not on the ballot. The most common guidance they sought? “Which one is the Conservative?”
Made me rethink my position on minimum age to vote.
Made me rethink my position on minimum age to vote.
If the trend continues then we can also imagine cemeteries once again featuring tombstones for young children. This is unbearably sad, unnecessary, and unconscionable for those in charge of public health.
April 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
If the trend continues then we can also imagine cemeteries once again featuring tombstones for young children. This is unbearably sad, unnecessary, and unconscionable for those in charge of public health.
I might well benefit from that class but a “learn to book” for vaccines would also be valuable 😀. When I went to Shoppers this week I took in a printout of the guidance from NACI lest there be questions.
April 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
I might well benefit from that class but a “learn to book” for vaccines would also be valuable 😀. When I went to Shoppers this week I took in a printout of the guidance from NACI lest there be questions.
I agree about family physicians but many people don’t have one. Don’t think Public Health Units have the means of spreading the message. Shoppers Drug Mart do a very limited job of aiding the elderly. Kieran Moore is a disgrace in performing his purported responsibilities to all age groups.
April 23, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I agree about family physicians but many people don’t have one. Don’t think Public Health Units have the means of spreading the message. Shoppers Drug Mart do a very limited job of aiding the elderly. Kieran Moore is a disgrace in performing his purported responsibilities to all age groups.