The U.S. government is making it more difficult for Canadians to access the Stanstead, Que., library, an iconic building that straddles the border, according to town and library officials. The Haskell Free Library and Opera House, built in 1904, has been declared a heritage site in both countries and has long been considered a symbol of harmony between Canada and the U.S. The mayor of Stanstead, representatives from the library and local residents spoke out Friday against the U.S. government's decision to limit Canadians' access to the main entrance to the building. Jody Stone, Stanstead's mayor, said an agreement had been in place for more than a century to share access to the building. Stone, who grew up in the area, said the restrictions undermine the spirit of cross-border collaboration in the area. "We drink the same water, we share the same sewer plant," he said at a news conference near the library. "Without borders, you wouldn't even know we were two separate communities. Today's announcement makes no sense in my opinion." https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/us-border-canada-quebec-stanstead-library-1.7489528

[image: 1742579197707-20250312_202528-resized.jpg]

Is it theater? Is he trying to make a point? I hope so, because otherwise it’s not funny.

People don't actually die of measles. They generally die from pneumonia, which is a complication that can arise. Less common is measles -induced encephalitis, which can cause serious cognitive impairment, deafness, and death.

The Trump administration has not staffed an office established by Congress to prepare the nation for future pandemics, according to three sources familiar with the situation. The White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy was established by Congress in 2022 in response to mistakes that led to a flat-footed response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The office, called OPPR, once had a staff of about 20 people and was orchestrating the country’s response to bird flu and other threats until January 20, including hosting regular interagency meetings to share plans. “We did it very much behind the scenes,” said Dr. Paul Friedrichs, a physician and retired Air Force major general who was director of OPPR during the Biden administration. As of this week, only one staffer will remain, and it’s unclear who that person reports to, according to a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the information. OPPR’s pages have also been removed from the White House website. The new administration has not halted the country’s response to bird flu completely, but recent agency announcements and interviews with government sources show its focus has changed. For example, a leading goal of the response now is to bring down egg prices, rather than tackling the spread of the virus or preparing for a worst-case scenario in which the virus mutates and spreads easily from person to person. OPPR exists “in name only,” said a source familiar with the status of the office who worked inside the White House during the last administration. “It has fallen into the abyss.” Duh. President Donald Trump disbanded a similar White House pandemic unit in 2018 and was heavily criticized for the move when Covid-19 hit the US. Despite this, in an interview with Time magazine when he was campaigning in April, Trump said he thought he would disband OPPR if elected because it was expensive and potentially wasteful when pandemics are difficult to predict. https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/17/health/pandemic-preparedness-office-trump-bird-flu/index.html

I've experienced the same, Bernard. They ought to at least wait a few days.

Alexa please change presidents.

It's good to make the international shipping lanes safe for all countries

Twofer. Eclipse and aurora. https://petapixel.com/2025/03/17/photographers-once-in-a-lifetime-shots-of-the-lunar-eclipse-and-aurora/?utm_placement=newsletter&user_id=66c4c06e5d78644b3aab4472

Boycotts seem to be gaining momentum Ivan Hansen, a retired Danish police officer, loaded up his basket at the supermarket, carefully checking each product to avoid buying anything made in the United States. No more Coca-Cola, no more California Zinfandel wine or almonds. The 67-year-old said it’s the only way he knows to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies. He’s furious about Trump’s threat to seize the Danish territory of Greenland, but it’s not just that. There are also the threats to take control of the Panama Canal and Gaza. And Trump’s relationship with Elon Musk, who has far-right ties and made what many interpreted as a straight-armed Nazi salute. On his recent shopping trip, Hansen returned home with dates from Iran. It shocked him to realize that he now perceives the United States as a greater threat than Iran. “Trump really looks like a bully who tries in every way to intimidate, threaten others to get his way,” he told The Associated Press. “I will fight against that kind of thing.” https://apnews.com/article/denmark-europe-france-boycott-usa-trump-6e4b568ef4ae5705ac200a3986a8ebf6

Right after they lay of all of the clerks, sack the cleaners, stop paying the utilities, and sell the building to make way for a new Tesla dealership.

WaPo, bought and sold. Glad I canceled my subscription.

Smart decision.