Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
@normfarrell.bsky.social
I began writing IN-SIGHTS.CA in April 2009, covering Canadian public affairs with a focus on British Columbia. I am particularly interested in climate, energy, and matters of integrity in governments and industries.
Alberta Politics commentator David Climenhaga blamed religious “parents’ rights” groups for driving the UCP’s no-sex and anti-2SLGBTQ+ book ban policies. But Margaret Atwood may have had the best response.
in-sights.ca/2025/09/02/j...
in-sights.ca/2025/09/02/j...
Jackassery in Alberta
Alberta Conservatives recently demanded that inappropriate books be removed from schools. The order specified that students should not be exposed to sexual content. Among other things, there was to…
in-sights.ca
September 3, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Alberta Politics commentator David Climenhaga blamed religious “parents’ rights” groups for driving the UCP’s no-sex and anti-2SLGBTQ+ book ban policies. But Margaret Atwood may have had the best response.
in-sights.ca/2025/09/02/j...
in-sights.ca/2025/09/02/j...
"It is utterly ridiculous to talk of the rapacity and despotism of the employer. The tyranny of the employed over his master would be an infinitely truer version of the case. Proprietors have suffered for years from intolerable and increasing oppression."
in-sights.ca/2025/09/01/l...
in-sights.ca/2025/09/01/l...
Labour Day – Canadian heritage moment – Rerun
In modern times, the Canadian union movement has lost influence but not relevance. It is easy to forget that unions enabled a broad middle class. Workers in unionized company towns in BC’s 20th cen…
in-sights.ca
September 2, 2025 at 3:44 AM
"It is utterly ridiculous to talk of the rapacity and despotism of the employer. The tyranny of the employed over his master would be an infinitely truer version of the case. Proprietors have suffered for years from intolerable and increasing oppression."
in-sights.ca/2025/09/01/l...
in-sights.ca/2025/09/01/l...
Other nations are dealing more successfully with homelessness and extreme poverty. The Netherlands and Finland are two examples. So what are they doing? in-sights.ca/2025/08/27/h...
Homelessness and extreme poverty
MPs, MLAs and council members seem to prioritize salaries, expense accounts, and pensions. If only they would have the same concern for action on homelessness. If they did, this would happen…
in-sights.ca
August 28, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Other nations are dealing more successfully with homelessness and extreme poverty. The Netherlands and Finland are two examples. So what are they doing? in-sights.ca/2025/08/27/h...
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
A Western Canadian company had to go to Bavaria to launch its first commercial clean energy project. I said that was because European policies are not dictated by oil and hydropower interests. That led to a response by Glen Clark, Chair of BC Hydro… in-sights.ca/2025/07/11/t...
The heat beneath our feet
After writing about geothermal energy, I made a remark on Facebook regarding a Western Canadian company having to go to Bavaria to launch its first commercial clean energy project. I said that was …
in-sights.ca
July 12, 2025 at 1:07 AM
A Western Canadian company had to go to Bavaria to launch its first commercial clean energy project. I said that was because European policies are not dictated by oil and hydropower interests. That led to a response by Glen Clark, Chair of BC Hydro… in-sights.ca/2025/07/11/t...
The 2025 Global Peace Index ranks Canada 14th, ahead of 149 other nations. The USA ranked 128th, down 34 positions from when Donald Trump was a private citizen, in-sights.ca/2025/08/24/g...
Global Peace Index
The 19th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness. It covers 99.7 per cent of the world’s population. Produced b…
in-sights.ca
August 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The 2025 Global Peace Index ranks Canada 14th, ahead of 149 other nations. The USA ranked 128th, down 34 positions from when Donald Trump was a private citizen, in-sights.ca/2025/08/24/g...
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
An American colleague told me about an elbows up experience he had in Canada. He asked the bartender what kind of bourbon she had.
The woman replied, "Honey, as long as that orange asshole is in power, you will never get a drink of bourbon here."
#boycott
ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/kentuck...
The woman replied, "Honey, as long as that orange asshole is in power, you will never get a drink of bourbon here."
#boycott
ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/kentuck...
How Kentucky bourbon went from boom to bust
Tariffs, oversupply and teetotaling Gen-Zs have all contributed to the downfall of one of America's most iconic liquors.
ca.finance.yahoo.com
August 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
An American colleague told me about an elbows up experience he had in Canada. He asked the bartender what kind of bourbon she had.
The woman replied, "Honey, as long as that orange asshole is in power, you will never get a drink of bourbon here."
#boycott
ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/kentuck...
The woman replied, "Honey, as long as that orange asshole is in power, you will never get a drink of bourbon here."
#boycott
ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/kentuck...
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
Australia election has striking parallels to what just happened in Canada--Labour coalition returned, Trumpist conservative leader who was poised to win a few months ago loses his seat of 24 years. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Australia federal election: Anthony Albanese wins in landslide
Donald Trump loomed large over the election, with comparisons drawn between the US president and defeated opposition leader Peter Dutton.
www.bbc.com
May 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Australia election has striking parallels to what just happened in Canada--Labour coalition returned, Trumpist conservative leader who was poised to win a few months ago loses his seat of 24 years. www.bbc.com/news/article...
American company Quaise Energy intends to use beams of energy to vaporize bore holes through rocks and access deep geothermal heat. By going deep, we can tap into the Earth’s heat from anywhere on the globe and use that energy for heating and electricity generation.
in-sights.ca/2025/07/22/t...
in-sights.ca/2025/07/22/t...
Terawatts of clean energy
American company Quaise Energy is developing a new way to access the largest untapped energy source available. It will use established production methods of the fossil fuel industry, but the techno…
in-sights.ca
July 22, 2025 at 8:33 PM
American company Quaise Energy intends to use beams of energy to vaporize bore holes through rocks and access deep geothermal heat. By going deep, we can tap into the Earth’s heat from anywhere on the globe and use that energy for heating and electricity generation.
in-sights.ca/2025/07/22/t...
in-sights.ca/2025/07/22/t...
Always articulate and thoughtful reader Lew Edwardson joins Norm Farrell to comment on management at all official levels responsible for generating electricity in British Columbia. The losses that ratepayers will absorb measure in the tens of billions of dollars.
in-sights.ca/2025/07/13/l...
in-sights.ca/2025/07/13/l...
Lew Edwardson on BC Hydro
Always articulate and thoughtful reader Lew Edwardson left a comment on the IN-SIGHTS article THE HEAT BENEATH OUR FEET. I think it needs to be amplified. Drought in northeast BC continues to be a …
in-sights.ca
July 14, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Always articulate and thoughtful reader Lew Edwardson joins Norm Farrell to comment on management at all official levels responsible for generating electricity in British Columbia. The losses that ratepayers will absorb measure in the tens of billions of dollars.
in-sights.ca/2025/07/13/l...
in-sights.ca/2025/07/13/l...
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
The existing american agricultural labor system is hellish and coercive enough, and somehow the gentry want to make it even worse.
July 14, 2025 at 2:20 AM
The existing american agricultural labor system is hellish and coercive enough, and somehow the gentry want to make it even worse.
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
NPR had a quick, upbeat mention about how farmwork could function as healthcare with people "prescribed" to do it and it feels maddening that a significant swath of elite opinion seems to be trying to soft relaunch serfdom.
July 14, 2025 at 1:59 AM
NPR had a quick, upbeat mention about how farmwork could function as healthcare with people "prescribed" to do it and it feels maddening that a significant swath of elite opinion seems to be trying to soft relaunch serfdom.
It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.
in-sights.ca/2025/01/30/n...
in-sights.ca/2025/01/30/n...
Nothing Left anymore, right turns only
I have never liked the left-right, straight line concept of a political spectrum. I prefer to think of a u-shaped curve that moves from progressive to reactionary, with extremes of both sides shari…
in-sights.ca
July 12, 2025 at 3:43 PM
It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.
in-sights.ca/2025/01/30/n...
in-sights.ca/2025/01/30/n...
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
So true. Powerful piece of art by @laloalcaraz.bsky.social.
July 11, 2025 at 2:59 AM
So true. Powerful piece of art by @laloalcaraz.bsky.social.
A Western Canadian company had to go to Bavaria to launch its first commercial clean energy project. I said that was because European policies are not dictated by oil and hydropower interests. That led to a response by Glen Clark, Chair of BC Hydro… in-sights.ca/2025/07/11/t...
The heat beneath our feet
After writing about geothermal energy, I made a remark on Facebook regarding a Western Canadian company having to go to Bavaria to launch its first commercial clean energy project. I said that was …
in-sights.ca
July 12, 2025 at 1:07 AM
A Western Canadian company had to go to Bavaria to launch its first commercial clean energy project. I said that was because European policies are not dictated by oil and hydropower interests. That led to a response by Glen Clark, Chair of BC Hydro… in-sights.ca/2025/07/11/t...
He's back. Work has resumed at IN-SIGHTS. Today, it is an update on a Canadian company's work on geothermal energy. But it's not happening here because European policies are not dictated by oil and hydro interests. in-sights.ca/2025/07/07/g...
Geothermal, ever present energy
Months ago, I wrote Geothermal — clean, non-destructive renewable energy. It was about Calgary-based Eavor and the company’s use of unique drilling technology to realize geothermal energy. I …
in-sights.ca
July 8, 2025 at 2:54 AM
He's back. Work has resumed at IN-SIGHTS. Today, it is an update on a Canadian company's work on geothermal energy. But it's not happening here because European policies are not dictated by oil and hydro interests. in-sights.ca/2025/07/07/g...
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars.
Finally the auto industry is coming to its senses. Real buttons are sooooooo back baby!
Finally the auto industry is coming to its senses. Real buttons are sooooooo back baby!
Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its sen...
www.wired.com
May 5, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars.
Finally the auto industry is coming to its senses. Real buttons are sooooooo back baby!
Finally the auto industry is coming to its senses. Real buttons are sooooooo back baby!
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
I’m not catholic but I find this wildly offensive
May 3, 2025 at 3:15 AM
I’m not catholic but I find this wildly offensive
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
Best sign from yesterday.
May 2, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Best sign from yesterday.
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
#BankruptCasino #BidensFault
#BankRuptTrumpUnivesity #BidensFault
#BankRuptTrumpSteaks #BidensFault
#BankRuptTrumpWine #BidensFault
#34Felonies #BidensFault
Biden's been busy!! 😂🤣😅
#JoeBidensFault 😂🤣
#NOTsoSLEEPY 😊
#BankRuptTrumpUnivesity #BidensFault
#BankRuptTrumpSteaks #BidensFault
#BankRuptTrumpWine #BidensFault
#34Felonies #BidensFault
Biden's been busy!! 😂🤣😅
#JoeBidensFault 😂🤣
#NOTsoSLEEPY 😊
May 2, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
The acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., has sent letters to several leading medical journals asking for information about their editorial practices.
Medical journals hit with threatening letters from Justice Department
The acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., has sent letters to several leading medical journals asking for information about their editorial practices.
www.npr.org
May 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM
The acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., has sent letters to several leading medical journals asking for information about their editorial practices.
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will direct federal health agencies to explore potential new treatments for measles as the U.S. faces its largest outbreak in 25 years. Experts fear the decision could have grave consequences, as studies show the existing vaccine is 97% effective in preventing infection.
RFK Jr. Orders Search for New Measles Treatments Instead of Urging Vaccination
Decades of research have turned up no miracle treatment for measles, but studies show the M.M.R. shot is 97 percent effective in preventing the disease.
www.nytimes.com
May 2, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will direct federal health agencies to explore potential new treatments for measles as the U.S. faces its largest outbreak in 25 years. Experts fear the decision could have grave consequences, as studies show the existing vaccine is 97% effective in preventing infection.
Reposted by Norm Farrell IN-SIGHTS.CA
Auchincloss on Fox News: "What I'm seeing is a president who is more interested in the valuation of his memecoin than he is about people's 401ks. What I'm seeing is a president who along with Howard Lutnick is self-dealing on crypto instead of worrying about the strength of the US dollar."
May 2, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Auchincloss on Fox News: "What I'm seeing is a president who is more interested in the valuation of his memecoin than he is about people's 401ks. What I'm seeing is a president who along with Howard Lutnick is self-dealing on crypto instead of worrying about the strength of the US dollar."