This isn’t the first time in this blog’s existence that the city has announced an attempt to persuade smokers not to throw their butts all over the place. Even though buildings install cigarette disposals outside, close to a third of the city’s litter is still discarded butts, full of toxic substances.
Updates from May, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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Kate
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Kate
The first cruise ship of the season berthed in the Old Port Saturday, two weeks later than usual because of the height of the river.
Aside from that, boaters have been banned from watercourses around Montreal because of high water levels.
mare
“L’industrie mise d’ailleurs beaucoup sur le développement de ce secteur, puisque les touristes qui arrivent par bateau dépensent plus que les autres, note M. Lalumière. « C’est un marché de luxe. Ils vont dans nos hôtels de luxe. Les dépenses touristiques sont dans le coin de 500 ou 600 $ par jour », fait-il remarquer”
Okay, so cruise ship tourists book expensive hotel rooms in hotels while they already pay for their cabin (and meals) on the ship? I sincerely doubt that, I’ve always understood that cruise ship passengers are NOT spending a lot of money in the cities they visit, apart from the souvenirs they might buy, and entrance fees for tourist attractions.
SteveQ
Montreal is often used as a starting point or a final destination for cruise ship tourists. People might fly from Europe to Montreal, spend several days here and then hop on a cruise that is heading to New York city, per example, and from there fly back to Europe. Or the other way around.
2 years ago I met a couple at the Miami port. I asked them to take a picture of me and when they realized I was from Montreal they began telling about their journey. They were from California. They flew from LA to Montreal, spent some time in the city (it was in fall) and started cruising from there. Their goal was to reach Brazil. In most port they remained in their cabin for sleep except for few exceptions.
Needless to say that, so far, they loved their Montreal/Québec experience the most. Mainly because of the fall colours but also the vibrancy of the city and the cultural difference du to the french language.
They didn’t really enjoy Florida. The land is too flat, they said.
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Kate
We’ve had a slow start to gardening, with our already short growing season clipped by a gloomy spring. I heard a gardening expert on CBC radio yesterday saying everything’s at least a week later than usual, and this Journal piece is making it as much as two.
I dropped by Jean-Talon market yesterday, and although the usual dealers are displaying their offerings of flower, herb and vegetable flats for planting, there were few takers under the lowering sky.
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Kate
Although Quebecers say they welcome diversity, we’re also suspicious of Islam in particular and think of it as a threat.
I’ve been hesitant to pursue the whole Bill 21 mess in detail, but Ingrid Peritz provides a good vignette and summary. On Facebook, I read an anecdote – not officially reported or corroborated, so take it for what it’s worth – that two women in hijab were declined for jobs in a daycare, even though the law is not meant to apply to daycare workers: that employers beyond the remit of Bill 21 will feel justified in turning down applications from people wearing religious symbols (which means, for the most part, women in hijab) is to be expected: if the government won’t employ them, why should we?
denpanosekai
Somewhat related, I’ve been seeing more and more “smoking weed is haram” stickers in the metro, particularly around Peel and McGill stations. I mean they’re probably not wrong, but I didn’t need the memo or vandalism.
Chris
I’ve said it before and will say it again: Islam is a collection of mostly bad ideas. And there’s nothing wrong with criticizing (bad) ideas. Some incorrectly conflate criticizing Islam with being bigoted against Muslims. If one criticizes capitalism or vegetarianism, it doesn’t necessarily mean one thinks capitalists and vegetarians should be shunned, denied jobs, killed, etc. (Some may think both.) It just means you disagree with some of their ideas. Likewise Islam and Muslims. Bill 21 is bad, and Islam is bad, there is no contradiction there.
denpanosekai, Quran 5:90-91 basically say that intoxicants are not allowed. It’s therefore a reasonable interpretation to say weed is haram. Of course, there are as many interpretations of Islam as there are Muslims. 🙂
Kate
Chris, the debate is not about whether we like any given religion’s theories. The debate is about whether we’re going to deny someone a livelihood because they’re wearing a scarf or other symbol. One of the things I’ve read about Bill 21 is that it tends to support an assumption that we know what’s going on in somebody else’s head. We don’t.
Kevin
So how long until people are cited for wearing wedding rings unless they can prove they had a civil ceremony?
qatzelok
“denpanosekai, Quran 5:90-91 basically say that intoxicants are not allowed.”
Yes, so the debate is whether weed is an intoxicant. Pot’s first use was as an oral medicine, unlike alcohol, which was created (by Muslims) to disinfect things. So alcohol is an intoxicant because you are drinking disinfectant. And this disinfectant causes permanent IQ damage, unlike weed.
My question is why do literate people need these simplistic short-cuts called religious texts?
Kate
qatzelok, you and Chris should go have a coffee and congratulate each other on being such enlightened, clear-eyed members of your species.
You do not know what others are thinking or what they believe. Any person’s relationship with a religious text is going to be more complex and nuanced than you can possibly guess. Religious writings, like any others, are human artifacts and, as such, are windows into human creativity and the human mind. As such they’re valuable and you dismiss them at your peril.
qatzelok
Kate, I assure you that I have read many religious texts, and respect those who have read them as well. My issue is with people who have ONLY read specific religious texts and put too much weight on them because they don’t read other texts to add more information from other writers.
I am not personally threatened by superstition or ignorance, but our society is. And limiting one’s knowledge to a single ancient text is bad methodology for improving yourself or society. It’s a return to the Dark Ages of religious fear.
Likewise, wearing your religion around your neck is offensive to many people. Just like wearing gay rainbow flags over your head (while you teach kindergarden). Rainbow flags are fine: but kindergarden is for teaching other things.
Kate
As to the latter, that does not seem to be a problem.
I say again, it’s not the texts, it’s the complexity. You (and others) seem to think wearing a symbol necessarily implies the wearer has a literal and simplistic belief in the assumed religion to the exclusion of all else. You can’t know that. You’re making a huge assumption.
mare
@qatzelok I raise you a Children’s Bible Club with a rainbow flag. Symbols mean different things in different cultures, in The Netherlands the rainbow is appropriated by fundamentalist Christians.
http://www.colmschate.info/targets/introonly/de_regenboog_logo.jpgChris
Kate, you said “the debate is not about whether we like any given religion’s theories”, yet your first sentence of this thread included “[Quebecers are] suspicious of Islam in particular.” i.e. Quebecers don’t like some of Islam’s theories.
“You do not know what others are thinking or what they believe.” -> You do when they tell you! There is lots of polling on Muslim opinion. Like I pointed out the other day, less than 2/3 of (Middle Eastern) Muslims agree with “It is up to a women to dress as she wishes in public”. In public! Not just judges/cops/teachers.
The Devoir article says 32% of Quebecers think it’s important for practitioners of Islam to proselytize. That is substantially *lower* than what Muslims themselves think: https://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-interfaith-relations/
“You [qatzelok] (and others) seem to think wearing a symbol necessarily implies the wearer has a literal and simplistic belief in the assumed religion to the exclusion of all else” -> I, for one, do no believe that *at all*. Some people wear the hijab only because it’s required by law, some wear it because they fear family reactions of removing it, some wear it because of religious devotion, etc. there are a zillion reasons.
You, on the other hand, seem to think that theists view religious texts though a nuanced skeptical eye and have a romantic view of them as ancient art and a window into the human soul. If only more thought as you! Again, we have polling: ex, when asked if Sharia was developed by man or is the revealed word of a supernatural being, the majority literally think the latter: https://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-beliefs-about-sharia/ Many many many people take these old books seriously and literally!
Again, Bill 21 is stupid! Wear a hijab, collider, or nothing at all, I don’t care. But let’s not pretend that the doctrine of Islam is all rainbows and unicorns and never question/criticize it in the name of “diversity”.
Chris
“You do not know what others are thinking or what they believe.” -> You do when they tell you! There is lots of polling on Muslim opinion. Like I pointed out the other day, less than 2/3 of (Middle Eastern) Muslims agree with “It is up to a women to dress as she wishes in public”.
The Devoir article says 32% of Quebecers think it’s important for practitioners of Islam to proselytize. That is substantially *lower* than what Muslims themselves think: pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-interfaith-relations/
“You [qatzelok] (and others) seem to think wearing a symbol necessarily implies the wearer has a literal and simplistic belief in the assumed religion” -> I don’t believe that *at all*. Some people wear the hijab only because it’s required by law, some wear it because they fear family reprisals for removing it, some wear it because of religious devotion, etc. there are a zillion reasons.
You seem to think that theists view religious texts though a nuanced skeptical eye and have a romantic view of them as ancient art and a window into the human soul. If only more thought as you! Again, we have polling: ex, when asked if Sharia was developed by man or is the revealed word of a supernatural being, the majority think the latter: pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-beliefs-about-sharia/ Many many many people take these old books seriously and literally!
Again, Bill 21 is stupid! Wear a hijab, collider, or nothing at all, I don’t care. But let’s not pretend that the doctrine of Islam is all rainbows and unicorns and never question/criticize it in the name of “diversity”.
Michael Black
I’ve been stuck in hospital since the end of March, a big collapse and a rare disease. It’s a lousy situation, I stay alive through deliberate action.
The nurse last night had a hijab, so did a doctor last week. There are asian, black, Jewish, Muslim, and white nurses, doctors and orderlies here.
Some aren’t a good as others, but identify is not the factor. Some are better with people than others, I suspect I just don’t get along with all of them. Itt’ s an incredible invasive space, and if I worry about something, it’s that too many of the “menial” jobs are non-white.
I also started applying for a Manitoba Katie membership, if. nothing else I.believe in the birth of the Metis nation as resistance. It also means embracing native American culture and even religion to some extent. I’m not deluded, like you seem to imply many afe.
Two hundred years ago my great, great, great grandparents stepped out of their cultures to cross a greatdivide, one that still exists. They found things in common, maybe just a smile he writes about. They lived together for 44 years, until he died. There’s some speculation that he came from Scotland to make money, and return. If so, he was no settler, he stayed for Sarah and the children.
This is life. People are different but we get along. That’s all that matters.
Michael
Chris
Get well soon Michael !
Kate
Michael, I’m sorry to hear that you’re ill. We’ve never met, but is there anything you need there that I could bring you?
Tim S.
I hope you feel better soon, Michael. I very much enjoy your observations.
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Kate
This is a weird story. A group has been putting up anti-gay messages in hopes of collecting shocked reactions from passersby. I haven’t spotted any of these messages, but this strikes me as a poor choice of tactic, since there are still plenty of folks who don’t need encouragement to heartily agree with such messages. Anyone here spotted one?
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Kate
A piece of land in Old Montreal has finally been sold after an epic about bribes and corruption surrounding it – there’s even a timeline included. Sadly, the federal government is going to put an office building on it – not the most exciting use ever of scarce space in the Vieux. The word “revitalisation” comes in, inevitably, although it’s not as if this part of town was exactly dead.
denpanosekai
I think it’s for the best, as long as the architecture is inspired by the area. Right across the street is pretty pathetic too, a burned down building and a weird multi-level private parking space (possibly used by La Presse).
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Kate
The Sisters of Sainte-Anne in Lachine are holding a big sale this weekend, preparatory to leaving the convent where they’ve lived for more than a century. Lots of furniture and other domestic items, but if you’re looking for religious statuary, this may be for you.
Update: The sale was very well attended. Item notes that there were once 312 nuns but now there are “only” 180, and their average age is 87.
Jonathan 07:17 on 2019-05-19 Permalink
I did a bit of research myself a while back on what kind of toxic chemicals are actually in cigarette butts and found that there was nothing toxic in cigarette butts… The filters are made out of plastic fibers… So definitely a nuisance..
It seems like the only thing I could find about toxicity is just quotes from people like in this article saying they are toxic. But no actual evidence.
I’m not a smoker. Haha.
Kate 07:42 on 2019-05-19 Permalink
Maybe they’re not toxic till used?
dhomas 08:48 on 2019-05-19 Permalink
Kate is correct. Un-smoked cigarette butts are “just” plastic (Cellulose acetate), basically, though this is already not very good. Once smoked, cigarette filters retain up to 25% of the cigarette’s nicotine content as well as other toxins from the cigarette. The cigarette tobacco, as well as what’s left in the filters after they are smoked, is indeed toxic, especially for marine life, but also if ingested by children. There are some scholarly articles on the topic, but even just reading the Wikipedia article gives you enough information.
Chris 10:27 on 2019-05-19 Permalink
Also, toxicity isn’t boolean, it’s a matter of dose. Even water is toxic at high enough dose: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication
Kate 10:56 on 2019-05-19 Permalink
Chris, you’re the prince of tangents. Yes, even breathing air will eventually kill you, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China? The problem here is the accumulation of toxins over time.
Chris 12:04 on 2019-05-19 Permalink
Kate, I’m not disagreeing that the problem is accumulation over time. It was just a example of why categorizing something as toxic or not (just two categories) is misleading.