Delivered in time for the weekend to arrive

What to talk about in the backyard

HuffPost Canada @HuffPostCanada

“It’s not just about me. There’s been some attention to incidents involving me, but I’ve heard from so many women, from so many men," the Liberal minister said.

huffp.st‘Really Worrying’: McKenna Wants More Protection For Politicians Facing ThreatsShe and two other Ottawa politicians, Lisa MacLeod and Laura Dudas, have all been targeted recently.

Ottawa police launched a hate crime investigation after a man screamed obscenities outside the office of Catherine McKenna. The infrastructure minister considers it part of a trend of threats to politicians. Ottawa MPP Lisa McLeod is again under police protection, and NDP MP Charlie Angus has been contending with a stalker.

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Self-owning a press credential

National Post @nationalpost

NP View: Poor judgment and short memories in the Alberta press gallery

nationalpost.comNP View: Poor judgment and short memories in the Alberta press galleryThis difficult process of reinventing our industry to meet the challenges and needs of 21st century readers cannot be threatened by established legacy players strangling ambitious new outlets

Postmedia’s chain-wide editorial announced the withdrawal of its reporters from the Alberta Legislative Press Gallery, ironically after its members voted in agreement with National Post reporter Tyler Dawson’s call to banish Rebel Media. Meanwhile, the Post reposted The Logic’s feature on the success of Quebec’s very nationalist newspapers.

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“CBC Statement on Coverage of Arts and Entertainment in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.” Arts columnist Tara Thorne tweeted a joke about the repetitive sex sounds from her downstairs neighbour, the son of outgoing Nova Scotia premier Stephen McNeil. While she apologized, twice, CBC Radio has cancelled Thorne.

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Kamala Harris’s old home week

Personal contact in the past four decades wasn’t a prerequisite for former Montreal classmates and teachers to heap plaudits upon the presumptive Democratic vice-presidential nominee, who’d arguably be a Conservative by Canadian standards. But a more personally heartfelt take came from this American non-citizen of some renown:

Malcolm Gladwell @Gladwell

At this blessed moment for (half) Jamaicans, a personal story. Many years ago a talented young man enrolled at the Univ of West Indies. He asked his advisor: what should he study? “Math!” his advisor said. That student? Kamala’s dad. That advisor? My dad.

Malcolm Gladwell @Gladwell

No math, no Berkeley grad school. No grad school, no marrying Kamala’s mom. No marriage, no Kamala. Ok. I’m stretching things. But if Kamala wins it all one day, my Dad (from up there) will be happy man.

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City of Toronto warns that about 550 people may have been exposed to COVID-19 at a strip club. Brass Rail Tavern cheekily promoted its reopening with images of dancers wearing masks, but it didn’t stop an infected employee from working four shifts. Precautions required for reopening included recording customer names.

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Finally, double duty at a café

Kathleen Edwards stepped back from international singer-songwriter fame in 2014 and poured her energies into Quitters Coffee in Stittsville, Ontario, as part of taking a mental health break. Quitters is now central to her first album release since then, because it’s not like crossing the border for its launch is a practical plan these days:

Kathleen Edwards @kittythefool

Catch Kathleen LIVE from @QuittersCoffee performing songs from her new album ‘Total Freedom’. Watch today at 3pm EST on Facebook, YouTube or @amazonmusic’s Twitch channel. All available watch options here ➡️ lnk.to/KETotalFreedom