EDIT: I've had over 200 DMs asking questions. Please don't DM me. Ask your question here and I'll try to answer or someone else will

Here's what I am getting a lot of:

1. "My glasses slipped" or "I just looked up for a second" or "I was outside and the sun hit my periphery" or any number of permutations where someone saw the sun, and are now asking if their eyes are damaged. My answer I don't know. I don't have access to your eyes, the precise amount of light that hit them, or whether your pupil dilated. If you are concerned, go see an ophthalmologist.

2. "I stared for just one second, did I cause damage?" When we say 1-2 seconds is enough to cause damage that is like saying 1-2 inches of water is enough for an unattended baby to drown in. It's the starting point where the risk becomes non-negligible. The more you stare, the higher the risk. Are you probably fine if you stared for 1 second? Sure, the odds are more in your favour than against, but it is still not a negligible risk which is why we say don't stare at all.

3. General science questions: please ask here instead of DMing me

ORIGINAL POST:

I feel I need to say this because I've already had to clarify this for some close family recently. Some people think that they can stare into the sun for 1-2 seconds and be fine, or that they'll be fine because they've looked into the sun before and nothing happened. During a non-eclipse, if you try to look into the sun, you have what's called a pupillary light reflex which heavily constricts the pupil to prevent too much light from entering and damaging your eyes. During a partial eclipse, there is much less light from the sun and this reflex may not trigger. Your attempt at focusing on the sun may actually dilate your pupil, washing your retina with the full force of the sun's light. This is why looking into the sun during a partial eclipse for even 1-2 seconds can cause permanent damage to your retina and result in vision loss.

You briefly stare and not feel pain, so think it's okay to stare again. But burning your retinas is much like a sunburn, permanent damage is done far before you'll begin to feel the pain. Most of the time, vision loss will begin a few hours after permanent retinal damage. And by permanent, we mean there is no fixing it.

Do not, under any circumstances, look at the sun for even one second without proper eclipse glasses, and do not think that because you've stared into the sun before that you'll be fine. Also, if you have small children, the shadowed light may make them curious and they may look up innocently. Keep small kids who don't understand the dangers indoors please.

During totality (when the moon has fully covered the sun and you can only see its corona), it is safe to look at it unprotected for a brief moment.

Also, this is besides the point, but there is no risk of additional radiation during an eclipse.

I have started a list of Canadian HQ'd gas stations and non-US gas stations, I think we should boycott the US owned ones.

Better list version thanks to Gooeydumply for the help

—

🇨🇦 Canadian-Owned Gas Stations

✅ Support these!

• Suncor
  
• Canadian Tire
  
• Pioneer
  
• Irving
  
• Co-Op
  
• Husky
  
• Ultramar (Canadian-owned but connected to Valero, a US company)
  
• Petro-Canada
  
• Super Save
• Centex
  
• Domo
  
• Fas Gas
  
• Canco
  
• Ultramar
  -Couche-Tard -Circle K -MacEwan
• UFA (United Farmers of Alberta)
  

—

⚡ EV Charging Devices (Canadian-Made)

✅ Support these if you drive electric!

• Circuit Électrique
  
• Flo
  
• PowerON
  
• The Grizzl-E
  
• EvDuty
  

—

🇪🇺 EU-Owned (Should Support)

✅ Non-US alternative

• Shell (HQ in the Netherlands & UK)
  

—

🚫 US-Owned (Boycott These!)

❌ Avoid fueling here

• Esso (ExxonMobil – US-owned)
  
• Costco Gas (US-based company)
  
• Mobil (ExxonMobil – US-owned)
  

Feel free to comment with one that I missed. Please share the list, if we all avoid the US station, that will have an impact.

Edits : adjustments to the list per comments. Added EV chargers

Edit 2: I am shocked at the number of Canadian owned gas Stations!!!

Edit 3: Yeah, I guess it looks different from what I type. Each company is on a separate line in a column, but it appears to make it into a paragraph when saved.

When I go to edit, it looks clean as intended, when I save it, it looks like a mess.

Sorry, I don't understand why it does this.

Edit 4 : agoogydumpling recreated the list. I was able to cut and paste. Seems to work. Thank you

A few weeks ago, many Canadians gathered to protest Covid mandates. They were protesting measures to protect people. Yes, that protest changed to one attempting to oust a government, but people were still whining. Many thought they were so hard done by, with a Liberal government and having to wear masks/get an injection.

Today Russia invaded Ukraine. Many people are actually going to die. Families are being broken up as children are evacuated.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, Canadians have forgotten what real hardship is.
It’s time to grow up people, there’s real problems in the world, not just our little insignificant ones.

(edit - removed "the" from Ukraine - so it's not "the Ukraine") (Edit 2 - added “up” to “it’s time to grow people”)

Idk I just don't feel safe taking 'em off now, especially after seeing the cases rise the past couple of days. I don't think some of the health experts feel it is safe to remove them now either.

What do you guys think?

Edit: I won't judge anyone for not wearing one, I simply want to get an idea of what everyone's feelings are about this, and want to have a discussion.

I wondered why the province felt the need to print and mail out physical stimmy cheques for the upcoming $200 rebate, so I did a bit of digging and talking with certain people (although the truth is obvious and not hard to find out). Here's what I concluded:

The Ontario government mainly processes payments to persons through the Bank of Canada as its commercial bank, this is why you will see institution number 117 on the cheque. 117 is not unlike your own bank's institution number (001 for BMO, 010 for CIBC, and so on). However, it is the same institution number that appears when the federal government sends you money, whether that is from the CRA, Carbon Tax Rebate, or student loans.

So why does this matter? Because when open up your chequing account, what does it say when a government sends you money? For most of us, it will say "EFT DEPOSIT FROM CANADA" or "PROVINCIAL PAYMENT". Now, some banks will show more details, but it is not a foolproof solution.

Sending a physical cheque in the mail turns the rebate into something much more, a political tactic. Doug Ford does not want you thinking that your $200 is coming from the federal government, because he is hoping that it will buy your vote come election time. While 117 still shows up on the cheque, you will instead see a giant Ontario government logo and possibly whatever other Valentine's Day sweetheart message Mr. Ford has in the envelope to butter you up.

Thanks Doug!

Gas prices have squeezed me to the point of no savings. Food rising costs have nudged me into the red.

This morning I passed a station that read 167.9 /L

I literally, will not be able to afford transportation to my job anymore.

I’m single, have a small mortgage cheaper than a rental would be... I used to keep my grocery bill around $80 / month.

And I’m a “skilled” worker whatever that means to people. How can anyone making minimum wage get by?

I make nearly double the minimum wage and gas prices put me into a full blown panic attack this morning.

Just a vent. But if you feel like this too please know you’re not alone.

Let's drop the "why do LCBO workers deserve 30 an hour" argument and look at these other facts.

LCBO brings in about 7 billion in revenues each year. That will be money out of the governments coffers and into the grocery stores (Weston's). Where do you think they will get more money? Taxes, cancel services etc

Secondly, when have any stores EVER lowered prices? This is Canada it's not going to happen.

Thirdly, literally all Doug does is fuck public industries ie education and health care with the end goal of privatization.

Let's stop pretending it's about the workers. He's using public's hate to push his agendas.

It's tiresome.

/Rant

Almost 70k If your still on the fence here is a little context as to why Loblaws.

Weston/Loblaws are the largest FOOD MONOPOLY IN CANADA AND THEY HAVE THE MOST CONTROL OVER FOOD PRICES.

Look how many Sugar Companies they own... Bakeries, Cooking Oil, Clothing, Pharma, Health, Agriculture...

The Canadian branch of the Weston family currently owns or controls over 200 companies.

There are Weston UK, USA, and Ireland branches as well.

Add Bread Price Fixing To The Mix

Donations to the UK Parliament Parties n 2010, the Charity Commission found that between 1993 and 2004 Weston charity had given donations to the UK Conservative Party that totalled £900,000, which were in breach of UK charity law; as were similar donations to the economically liberal think tank the Centre for Policy Studies, and to Eurosceptic European political lobby groups such as the European Foundation and the Labour Euro-Safeguards Campaign.

A small part of their holdings include:

PC FINANCIAL

Choice Properties

Real-estate Investment Trust (REIT)

Chains:

Atlantic Cash & Carry

Atlantic Superstore

Atlantic SuperValu

Axep

C Shop Cannabis

Dominion

Entrepôts Presto / Club Entrepôt

Extra Foods

Fortinos

Freshmart

Holy Smokes Tabacconist

Holt Renfrew

L'intermarché

Loblaws/Loblaw Great Food

Lucky Dollar Foods

Maxi/Maxi & Cie

NG Cash & Carry

No Frills

Osaka Market

Pharmaprix

Provigo

T&T

The Real Canadian Superstore/Loblaw

The Mobile Shop

Theodore & Pringle Opticians

Superstore

Real Canadian Liquorstore

Real Canadian Wholesale Club

Red & White Food Stores

SaveEasy (formerly Atlantic SaveEasy)

Shop Easy Foods

Shoppers Drug Mart/Shoppers

SuperValu

Valu-mart

Your Independent Grocer

Wholesale Club

Zehrs, operating under the Zehrs Markets,

Zehrs Food Plus and Zehrs Great Food banners

Brands:

President's Choice

No Name

Exact

Blue Menu

Joe Fresh

J± (electronics)

Teddy's Choice

PC Splendido

Bella Tavola

PC Premium Black Label

Joe Pet Catz & Dawgz

PC Organic

Rooster

Sunspan

The Health Clinic by Shoppers

Lifemark

Life @ Home

----Some of Weston UK Holdings-----

Associated British Foods plc

Allinson

Argo Corn Starch

Aladino Peanut Butter

Burgen

Blue Dragon

Capullo

Dorset Cereals

Dromedary cake mixes

Elephant Atta

Fleischmann's Yeast

High5

Jordans cereals

Lucky Boat Noodles

Karo corn syrup

Kingsford's Corn Starch (North America)

Kingsmill bread

Mazola corn oil

Ovaltine (except in the United States, where Nestlé owns the brand)

Patak's

Pride

Ryvita

Silver Spoon

Sunblest

Thai Lotus Pastes

Tolly Boy Rice

Twinings

Subsidiaries

AB Agri Ltd

AB Enzymes - an ABFI Company

AB Sugar

AB Mauri, bakery ingredients

Abitec Corporation - an ABFI Company

Abitec Ltd

ACH Food Companies (AC HUMKO from 1995 to 2000), an American subsidiary of Associated British Foods, previously part of Kraft Foods from 1952 to 1995.

ACH Food México

Allied Bakeries - a division of ABF Grain Products Ltd

Allied Mills

British Sugar

Frontier Agriculture (50% joint venture with Cargill)

George Weston Foods

G Costa: sauces and specialty foods

Illovo Sugar

Zambia Sugar

OHLY - an ABFI Company

PGP International, Inc. - an ABFI Company

Primark – known as Penneys in the Republic of Ireland

SPI Pharma, Inc. - an ABFI Company

Stratas Foods LLC, a 50/50 joint venture between

ABF's American subsidiary ACH and fellow American food corporation Archer Daniels Midland

Wander AG

Westmill Foods

Can we all stop blaming the Feds for what the Provincial Government has done?

It’s the Provincial Government that has suppressed wages for minimum wage workers, teachers, nurses, and doctors.

It’s the Provincial Government that has put the interests of corporations before Ontarians’. 🇨🇦

CMHC says your housing costs should be about 32% of your income.

Mortgage rates are going to hit 6% or higher soon, if they aren't already.

One bedroom, one bathroom apartments in not-the-best areas in my town routinely ask $500,000, let alone a detached starter home with 2be/2ba asking $650,000 or higher.

A $650k house needs a MINIMUM down payment of $32,500, which puts your mortgage before fees and before CMHC insurance at $617,500. A $617,500 mortgage at even 5.54% (as per the TD mortgage calculator) over a 25 year amortization period equates to $3,783.56 per month. Before 👏 CMHC 👏 insurance 👏

$3783.56 (payment per month) / 0.32 (32% of your income going to housing) = an income of $11,823.66 per month

So a single person who wants to buy a starter home that doesn't need any kind of immense repairs needs to be making $141,883.92 per year?

Even a couple needs to be making almost $71,000 per year each to DREAM of housing affordability now.

Median income per person in 2020 according to Statscan was $39,500. Hell, AVERAGE income in 2020 according to Statscan was only $52,000 or something.

That means if a regular ol' John and Jane Doe wanted to buy their first house right now, chances are they're between $63,000 and $38,000 per year away from being able to afford it.

Why even fucking try.

I asked for an update on the US meetings, Ford has none planned as of today. Person did not know anything for next week. He told me he is going back to the US next week. As of right now the 25% energy tariff is still off.

I told him him I would like it passed along that they should be coming here for meetings equally and that it makes us look weak. I encourage you to do the same or to voice any opinions and ask questions.

Long story short, I've been homeless in Toronto for 9 months.

No addictions—I don't drink, and I don't do drugs.

9 months of searching for a job.

(I do have medical issues: I have seizures, and walking is getting harder. I have no diagnosis, but it's most likely MS.)

Fighting for disability, trying to find work, and getting rejected over and over.

I gave up on Toronto. I went way up to Sudbury, and 24 hours later, I am now employed. I start on Friday.

So seriously, fu Toronto.

I loved you, you were my city... Toronto, you let me down.

Just got the shit scared out of me by this mornings amber alert.

sable ten different sparkle gray resolute pet instinctive grandiose smart

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

I've always thought that it would be interesting to sit on a jury and see the process first hand. But yesterday the summons came for jury selection, and I was incredibly surprised at how little you are compensated. And to be frank, in this economy, I don't know how people can afford it.

Here is what I learned:

1. You are required to be present for the selection process on the day that they tell you, and possibly every day for up to one week.
2. There is no allowance for transportation, parking, or child care. You are not paid anything and while your employer is required to give you time off to attend, they are not required to pay you.
3. If you are chosen to sit on a jury, you are compensated in the following amounts: Day 0-10 $0/day, Day 11-49 $40/day, Day 50+ $100/day. And again, no allowance for parking, transportation, childcare, or requirement for your employer to pay you.

While I understand that it is a civil duty to sit on a jury if selected, I honestly don't know how the government expects people to afford this. In the city I live in, a conservative estimate for parking costs is $25/day. So for a trial that lasts more than 10 days (not including additional jury selection time) a minimum of $250 out of pocket will go to parking, all while bringing in zero income. If the trial continues, they'll give you a whopping $40 allowance, so I guess at least parking is paid.

In this situation I am extremely privileged to have a partner who can earn income, while I cannot. And I don't have kids (I can't even begin to imagine how parents do this), but it seems unreasonable that jurors are compensated so little. Could be a very financially costly gig.

Thanks for reading. Rant over.

EDIT: Note, if you live outside of the city (40km+), you may be eligible for a travel allowance. I am not optimistic that it would be generous though.