A Letter to my family. Transgenderism? Meh. Isn't that just role-playing.

Hey folks.  Going to be a lot going on here, but before we get going, I think it important that we get some basic definitions out of the way here, okay? 

♦ Male is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or ovum, in the process of fertilisation. Y'know, big bones, tall, heavy muscles.

♦ Female. An organism's sex is female if it produces the ovum (egg cell), the type of gamete (sex cell) that fuses with the male gamete (sperm cell) during sexual reproduction. So...Demure, lighter, smaller bones, weaker.
Gotcha!

♦ Trans. Root - Trans- is a Latin prefix meaning "across", "beyond", or "on the other side of". In Sociological terms, may also refer to Transgender, Transsexual and Trans. Originally, Trans-sexual was a term applied to patients in the course of changing sexes via hormones followed up my surgical reassignment. Obviously, this no long holds true.

♦ Alternative Lifestyles. My apologies here, as I do not want to wander into the muddy waters of LGBTQ+[insert alphabet here] definitions.  I would rather go back to the overall cover of "AL" to refer to all "Alternate Lifestyles" of the non-Cisgendered, okay?  Lets keep it simple without being insulting.  Okay. Right, carrying on...

♦ Transgender (often shortened to trans) person has a gender identity different from that typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.  This Gender Identity may be real, or it may be simply acting out. I think we will discuss this later on. 

Just thinking - is "Butch" a gender, or a lifestyle?  Is there a difference?  Really?

♦ The opposite of transgender is Cisgender, which describes persons whose gender identity matches their assigned sex. So, we are talking mental "identity" here, and not physical, right? No? Yes? I dunno...  Awww, frack! Both? (hopefully?)

In any case, according to this definition, I am now a Cisgender, and no longer Hetro?  WTF?  When did that change? {"Hello, department of sexes?  WTF is happening here?"}

So...Transgenders - folks who like to pretend that they are the other gender without actually taking the leap and getting a Gender Reassignment Surgery? Or folks who just want to Filk around? Who are they? What do they want? Why? How?

In my mind, that is no excuse to go play on the opposite sex's sports team. If I'm 5' 11.5" tall, 210 lbs and a football tackle, but suddenly decide that my inner gender is female, can I automatically play on the Las Vegas Ladies Football league?

No, of course not. But THAT is exactly the disconnect between Transgenders and Cisgenders and all the other "genders" that folks think are out there.

Transgenders WANT the ability to do this, no matter how different their bodies are from all their team-mates. But physically, it is not fair. And never will be!

Sometimes (but not always) related to Gender Dysphoria.

ALSO:

♦ Although the term transgenderism was once considered acceptable, it has come to be viewed as pejorative, according to GLAAD.

Psychiatrist John F. Oliven of Columbia University used the term transgenderism in his 1965 reference work Sexual Hygiene and Pathology, writing that the term which had previously been used, transsexualism, "is misleading; actually, transgenderism is meant, because sexuality is not a major factor in primary transvestism".
 

♦ Male/female dimorphism between organisms or reproductive organs of different sexes is not limited to animals; male gametes are produced by chcytrids, diatoms and land plants, among others. In land plants, female and male designate not only the female and male gamete-producing organisms and structures but also the structures of the sporophytes that give rise to male and female plants.

To some, that is NOT Transgenderism.  They'll say that is using a bullshit lifestyle to pretend to be the opposite sex.  Men have been doing it for thousands of years, and just in the last 100 years men, as lofty as Kings, often wore women's clothing and play-act as a woman. They never considered themselves "Transgendered", Gay or anything else.  They were Cisgender with an odd habit, right?

But we don't let kings play women's volleyball, do we?  

Wait, Holy crap, there's more!

By the mid-1970s both trans-gender and trans people were in use as umbrella terms, while transgenderist and transgenderal were used to refer to people who wanted to live their lives as cross-gendered individuals without gender affirming surgery!

By 1984, the concept of a "transgender community" had developed, in which transgender was used as an umbrella term.

So, now I'm really frikkin' confused and I'm almost at the end of this little rant.
  

The "loosy-goosie" definition of "Transgenderism" is "anyone who feels or pretends to be of another gender" is a very loose, but accurate of what Transgenderism is - and it is NOT a change from one Gender to another. But definitions have changed so radically from the 1950's that definitions are often a generation out of context.

So either the Term is incorrect, or the diagnosis of this issue is incorrect. 

There once was ONLY <Sex#1> Change <Transgender> Change <Sex#2>

If there is no Change, then there should be no Transgender. Physically speaking. 

So, by 1994, Leslie Feinberg stated that "Transgender as a term to unify all forms of gender nonconformity; Susan Stryker said that in this way transgender has become synonymous with Queer, transsexuality, heterosexual transvestism, gay drag, butch lesbianism, Native's "Berdache"" or east Indian "Hijra".

That's it.  Transgender. Transgender means everything except Male or Female Cisgender folks.  

I wonder - does the "Furry" folk fall into this category too???

THAT has been co-opted by the Far-Right in the US, and now in Canada, as a giant distraction to divide folks in our Province, and too many folks are falling for it!

Like Antifa is Communist.  LOL.  Even today, Fox News continues to use Antifa as a talking point when everyone knows (or ought to know) that it means Anti-Fascist!

But you get my point, eh?

You and I know that there are many examples of folks from both genders that can play on opposite sex sports teams.  Female Goal Tenders in the NHL. Great idea as women generally have a faster reaction time.

Mixed Volleyball. Murder-ball (Real leagues in Europe and US!), Softball. On and on.

Where does "Transgendered" fit in?

Well, Transgenderism is a VERB, which means to change from one to another. But theorists and doctors have stuck their 2 cents worth in, and now no one knows what the fuck is going on. Am I Bi? Dysphoric? Gay? Cis? WTF?

But what is the issue in Alberta? 

 

So, forget all the definitions and focus instead on what the Ab Government is doing to piss off most of it's citizens.
 

The Alberta Government is banning the use of puberty-blockers until age of 16?

WHY?  Politics. Period. No other defining reason to do so.

Sure Trans issues need to be sorted out be cause mankind has been ignoring this issue locally for over two hundred years (and literally thousands more!), preferring to "set it aside until another day, and until then, we'll just make it illegal" kind of attitude.

However, when a Political point can be scored using children with a diagnosis of gender dymorphism, well, that is just sick!

What is Gender affirming surgery?

Well, it is a series of operations to change primary or secondary sex characteristics so that they correspond with your gender ( courtesy Transcarebc.ca/surgery)
These include, but are not limited to:

►Breast Construction - steps.
►Removal of testes.
►Vagina & Vulva Construction.
►Chest reduction and construction.
►Uterus & ovaries removal. And,
►Penis construction.

A great source of information on exactly what is required for each surgery can be found at PubMed, National Library of Medicine at the NIH (National Institute of Health) in the USA.  

That is if Trump and Kennedy have not already taken it down since I wrote this piece! Check out Gender reassignment surgery: an overview.

But why, WHY, do you think these kids NEED to be on Puberty-Blockers? 

 
(Medscape.com - what are puberty blockers)

In a nutshell, these are utilized because a sexual reassignment surgery cannot commence until the child has finished growing up (Physically).

Ever listen to an ADULT that has had gender reassignment?  It is not done on the "Turn of a dime" as it is a real dangerous issue because the surgery, and all the massive amount of drugs afterwards that is needed, is daunting. Sometimes it could take months, or even years between surgeries, and obviously, sports is out of the question. Many would rather live their lives as transvestites than take a surgery simply because of the pain, cost of medication, and so on.

However, if a 16 y.o. has finished growing (mostly), without hitting Puberty, the gender reassignment surgery is much simpler to perform as all the body parts are the right size, and the after-actions such as much less massive doses of hormones and other gender-specific drugs - nowhere near as daunting as an adult.  And psychologically wise, it a much smoother transition between genders without introducing non-aligned emotions.

In the case of a Boy -> Girl reassignment, the transgender child will not grow massive muscles as they would have as a boy.  They may require less doses of hormones to maintain the body's requirement for things such as less hair on body, lower muscle mass, breasts, slimmer hips and many more.

In the case of a Girl -> Boy, after reassignment and with appropriate hormones and other medications, will increase muscle mass, develop thicker bone density, become taller (possibly), body hair begins to grow out more, voice changes, personalities change (yes, it's a chemical thing too!!!) and it provides a scaffolding for the new person in their NEW Gender - no longer "Transgender" because they are now legally either a Boy or a Girl.

Get that?  Legally, there is no difference.

But as many folks are only taking hormones to "visually" change their appearance/gender, then, in MY mind, they are not Trans - they are Gay, living the Gay lifestyle, simply because they do not actually transition from one gender to the other. Gays are NOT Trans folks. Nice try, but totally different things happening here.

In other words, Transgender folks want their cake, and they want to eat it too.

I mean, if you, as an adult, take hormones to change your gender appearance, then go all the way and get surgery, the well done!  And I don't mean just Boobs.  If you are going to do it, go all the way.  Chop off the penis. Sew up the vagina! (or whatever).
THAT is the way to change genders. Not drugs!  That's just a lazy step.  Otherwise, why bother doing so? It's all play-acting up to that point.  Unless one has gender dysmorphia, that is. Then this is NOT playing - it is sorting out internal issues using medicine and the best manner of resolving the dysphoria!

One cannot have boobs, keep one's penis, and "identify" as a female.  That is just bullshit, and as a definition, should not be allowed to play in women's sports.  And honestly, at my age and health, my boobs are larger than my wife's, so there is no use applying that metric, right? Does having boobs mean I can not play on women's teams?

Of course not!

What about those with both full sets of genitals?  There are a lot of them out there, and I do not even want to try to guess how they identify.  Do they choose one gender on different days?  Or just use one because of whom they are dating?
Do they opt to surgically remove one of the genders?

Listen - It's none of MY business what sex my neighbour becomes except to congratulate them on starting a new life!

But when folks stick their noses in other peoples medical business for strictly POLITICAL reasons, I find that reprehensible!  I mean, what the hell is going on here???

Should we start turning in our family and friends for having our dogs and cats "fixed"???  Note how they recommend doing so before puberty sets in???  Huh???

Same difference.  But you and I just cannot see, nor can we understand what these dysphoric children go through as little ones going to school, when their bodies are screaming at them to do things differently, to play differently, to go to the washroom, shower and bathe differently, dress differently or even talk differently FFS.

Gender dysphoria is a real thing, studied the world over, and understood by the international scientific community as a medical condition - not necessarily Psychiatric, but definitely a medical issue brought on by medical and gender issues.  You don't say "psychiatric" issues because that would imply that both Male and Females are psychiatric problems as well, and  gender dysphoria is generally not a problem if handled by parents and medical professionals correctly. 

That they no have to wait until their body juuuuust about hits Puberty is torture, as well as forces the child to endure even more torture after the surgery that late in life. That is CRUEL, RUDE, UNNECESSARY and totally a POLITICAL Distraction.  Anyone else who says that this is a huge issue in Alberta, when we have 10x as many Pedophiles living in our Province, tells me that the Government has their eyes cast upon the wrong issues!!!

Ohhh, sorry, but, without listening to this podcast, I automatically sense that they will try to turn Transgenderism into a major thing, when in reality, it is NOT a big thing.  

We are "allowing" politicians to turn it into a big thing.

When we are talking about sports, then if is swings, it plays boys/men's sports.  If no swinging parts, then girls/women's sports it is!

Nothing else matters when it comes to Estrogen/Testosterone comparisons, and THAT is the standard that should be met. Junk and Hormones are the two characteristics of a Gender to me.  Of all the various "Genders" out there, the original TWO Genders, male and female (with all their various combinations of X, Y and any other chromosomes) are what defines the Gender.

In Sports, Gender is M/F with matching hormone levels.

All that other hysteria about Transgenderism is all a load of hoopla, folks trying to live life "in the middle".

If they do, then they are not really "Transgender", are they?  They are actually living the "Gay" lifestyle, often exhibiting indications of bi/gay sexual preferences. 

It's not surprising to read "My boyfriend would like me to have boobs for more fun sex, so I started taking Estrogen hormones to grow some for him.  I identify as Transgender, when in reality, I'm just gay."

What some do-goodies call "Transgenderism", is actually adults taking hormones of the opposite sex and stating that they are a brand new "Sex", and that is absolutely wrong. They still are the birth gender, but on drugs.  
Big Deal.

Don't let DNA into the conversation, as that will never change. Period.  Until we can reprogram our DNA over the entirety of our human body, our physical genders will match the DNA. 

Even after surgery, DNA will still revert to birth-gender. But that is the point, isn't it?  After Surgery, the new "Gender" kicks in with both Physical and Emotional engines idling in tune with each other. The Body will change with the addition of hormones, and eventually, playing on one's gender-specific team should be a non-issue.  

But I'm sure some bible-thumper will find out about the surgery and raise all holy-hell because...Jeezuz and all that.  FFS, grow up. (I'm talking about far right busybodies, here in Alberta!)

In that I agree!  Either piss or get off the pot!  
Taking hormones?  Better be waiting for gender reassignment surgery!
Otherwise, it's all play acting!

What if I suddenly decide to buy a motorcycle and ride it all around, but my argument is that I can ride a bicycle or my powered mobility scooter, or an automobile, so by wearing a helmet, I should be allowed to drive a motorbike anywhere, any time I like without getting a motorcycle license because I already have an automobile license, and I can ride a powered scooter without a license...

Real sex-change kids are not interested in Bi-Gay sex - they just want their lives to make sense to themselves. So, they go for gender reassignment.

Transgenders do not. They are all play acting with their bodies, some folks who will also take drugs to change their physical appearance without actually undergoing gender reassignment surgery. 

That's right. 

Most of those so called "Transgendered" folks?  They are just role-playing, IMHO.

And that is what pisses me off about the whole fucking issue.

Summing it all up - for me, that is.

I had joined the TransAction Alberta online petition to block the NotWithstanding Clause from UCP abuse, but that does not mean I don't have issues with all the definitions flying around out there.

I mean - They still do not agree with the modern terminology, and they actively support "Transgenderism", whereas I do NOT (Because Science!!!). Lumping everything into one definition is a losing cause, and a major source of disagreement between citizens, both gay and cis. 

I refuse to use "Trans" as an umbrella definition as it is entirely too broad!

Children/Teens taking puberty blockers are NOT Transsexuals!  They are awaiting Gender Reassignment.

The folks NOT waiting for Gender Reassignment, are the TRUE Transexuals - whether or not they are taking medications/drugs/hormones.  Until they actually undertake the reassignment surgery, they are just play-acting.

If you were to ask me, I would say that this very situation here in Alberta has been driven by the UCP Government to divide the province's citizens over bullshit definitions through invoking a seriously flawed political decision.

Lets get this UCP government taken out, and get on with equal rights for everybody, and not a single Right more!

And that is just the way I see it.  

I'm not sure I did this discussion any favours, but I needed to get my head around this issue, and surprisingly, changed a couple of my opinions with better data/definitions.  Such as they are.

I now have my opinion better seated with better facts, and boys and girls, some of you may not like what I think.

But I would like to think I am fair, no matter what you may think.  So I suppose I'll just have to wait out how this is going to settle down.  

Government Abuses or a New Election.

Hydrogen Cell Technology - today. What's coming down the Yellowhead?

I've secretly always wanted an electric full sized car.  

 

Like a BMW 733i I used to own, but electric.  Now, it was not overly heavy, but probably more than a typical electric vehicle, so I would want to stick a hybrid system into it after removing the ICE and associated equipment.
So that just leaves me with a H2 Fuel Cell Stack system.

I can dream...I'd really like my Bimmer back - only car I could reliably do 240kph and not blow a gasket! Got it from a doctor, so it was (at the time) loaded.  Gas warm-up heater, so car was  warm before you left your home to get in. Ran on gasoline, exhaust was right under the passenger door LOL. Ran on a Timer! My small-town Mechanic used a stethoscope to give it a tune up. Taught me to keep an eye on oil level when going up to and coming down from over 200kph. Something to do with expansion...?

Anyways...

I think a 2Kw Battery in back, fuel tank(s) under rear seat, FCS under the front seats and all the other junk up front where the motor used to be. Still can go 250kph on the Autobahn, right?

Why? Why would I want this kind of car.  Is it worth it. Can I afford the newest offerings.
Lets find out What, Why and How Hydrogen power can be made without burning it.

So... 

 Lets talk Hydrogen cell technology.  The clear leader in this field is Toyota, having been selling H2 Cell technology cars for almost 20 years, and each year, it gets better and better.

What is a Fuel Cell Vehicle?  Basically, the H2 is combined with Oxygen from the atmosphere, using special plates in each cell, which generates electricity as the ions move from the Positive plates to the Negative plates, generating electricity and producing water as the waste element. Water that is simply dumped onto the ground in all cases. Some will have a hose, some will have a container to be manually emptied.

Here is a rundown of exactly how the H2 provides power to the batteries, then to the final drive motor.
                    

1. Hydrogen is supplied to the anode (negative) side of the fuel cell

2. Hydrogen molecules activated by the anode catalyst release electrons

3. The electrons travel from the anode to the cathode (positive) side of the fuel cell, creating an electrical current

4. The hydrogen molecules that released the electrons become hydrogen ions and move through the polymer electrolyte membrane to the cathode side

5. Hydrogen ions bond with ambient oxygen and electrons on the cathode catalyst to form water

6. Electricity produced by the fuel cell is directed to an electric motor to deliver drive to the vehicle

7. Regenerated energy is stored in a secondary battery that supplements power from the fuel cell by providing auxiliary power to the electric motor

I offer this graphic just so that you can see the difference between an Electric, Electric-Hybrid and a Fuel Cell.  In the FCS, there is no motor of any kind at all.  Any water produced in the Fuel Cell Stack is dumped outboard via exhaust pipes, or held in a tank until parked.

                  

This year, Toyota is selling worldwide, the Toyota Mirai, a  mid-size hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV) manufactured by Toyota, and is the first FCV to be mass-produced and sold commercially.

 

So, looking at the Mirai back in 2021, it had a 5.65kg tank of H2.  Combined with the battery pack, it had a range of over 1,360km (845 mi).  The ICE version of the Mirai had a max range of 500km (300mi). {EDIT- This may be an error as source document seems corrupted}  I'm thinking now that the range is more likely 5-600km per charge,  a mistake that a source seemed not to support.

I did some calculations, and the 5.65Kg H2 Tank would have been refilled 3 times for this trip.  Each tank of H2 contains, by volume, something like 67.63 cubic meters of Gas for use to convert to Electricity.

To be clear - there is NO motor that the H2 burns within.  It is totally a continual chemical process to keeps producing electricity as long as H2 is introduced to the "stacks".

IN Canada - 5.65Kg of H2 Fuel would cost $83 - that is the cost of fill-up using Canada's price guide of $14.70/Kg.  

Do you see any savings here???  Hmmmmm

Anyways.

So, even though it was not the best Toyota made, it still made worldwide industry clutch their pocketbooks closer to their chests.  

I'm not going into details about horse power and torque (247 lb.ft) but I will mention something that initially dropped my jaw.

Back in 2018, two British gents took their new Mirai to the furthest northern point of the Great Isles (Orkney, apparently) then drove South to Land's End, a total of 1,785 km, averaging a speed of 90 kph. They made 3 stops for refueling, including start/near finish.  total fueling time at all 3 stops was 15 minutes.  That was only because a mobile truck took almost 10 minutes to refuel and the stations only took 3 minutes.

 The journey took 19 hours, 40 minutes with H2 consumption of 0.9 kg per 100km.

Doing the math, and confirming with online data, the car consumed 16.1 kg of H2 for the entire trip. In Canada, the H2 cost total would be just over Cdn $236!!!

BUT - With Zero Emissions!!! And filling up in all cases was under 5 minutes, often much faster! 

Convinced yet?  Well, hold on a second, there's more.

So, lets look at the science.  

All we need to make electricity is Hydrogen (H2) and Oxygen (O), which is taken out of the ambient air around us. The Hydrogen is stored in the Toyota's 3-layer composite shielded tank, capable of easily maintaining the 10,000 psi pressure cryogenic H2 requires.  

We've already discussed the "range" of the world-record trip, the ludicrous range the large tanks provide, but not the voltage, amperage and wattage.

The 2018 driving motor is a 113 Kw drive (about 152 Hp), driven from a 1.6Kw  245V NiMH battery pack, similar to the one used in the Camry Hybrid. By 2025, the final drivel was upped to 182 hp!  I had to laugh because the 2025 model comes with "dual exhaust", when in reality, a simple drip tube would have been sufficient LOL.

 The 2025 model lists it's fuel consumption  "equivalent" averages 3.2 L/100 km. The range is unknown, but reading a reddit stream, most owners were stating that they were getting between 300 and 350 miles per fill-up.  (500-600 km)

Looking at Inside EV's dot com (https://insideevs.com), I see that they have an article on the latest models of Toyota Mirai.  The fuel cell stack can produce 114 Kw of power, and they state it has a range of about 300 miles (500km). The list says the tank volume is 37 L, so with a consumption of 3.1/100 km equivalent, this car should have a range of almost 1,000 km, however they then list the "cruising range" of 300 miles.  WTF?

Then it states that the storage mass (the H2 itself) is approx 5.0 kg.  

But the next line goes on to  state "Combined tank weight" is 87.5 Kg.  That means that the tank alone, weighs around 80Kg!

I think Wikipedia may be out to lunch as the Inside EV's article was referenced in the Wiki as the source of the 87 kg of fuel, not weight of tank. That is obviously wrong.  The tank is heavy because it has to contain up to 100,000psi.

That being said, the latest article also states "With the new fuel cell, it could theoretically drive up to 480 miles on a full tank."

Prices for the 2025 Mirai in the US are currently around $57k, however they estimate that the price could potentially fall to under $45k. 

Can you imagine, say, an Austin Mini with a 182hp  drive???  Yuh, someone will attempt this, I'm sure LOL.

Summing up right now.

So, is H2 the fuel of the future, or only for industrial applications.  Burning H2 in an ICE vehicle seems a waste simply because of the cost of the fuel, the lower power, the poorer pulling capability, and difficulty finding a fueling station, because of late, they have been scarcer then Alberta Conservatives using public hospitals.

Even the 2 chaps in England had to arrange the 3rd fill-up from a mobile truck, thus costing them 7 minutes more than the expected 3 minute fill-up.  Dammmmnnnn!

The other issue is that parts cannot be sourced after-market as each part is particular to each vehicle, and not enough of them are on the road to permit such parts to be manufactured anywhere but the Factory. 

The Good? Well, It's electric, so it is silent, quiet and fast, dare I say?  This means way fewer parts to wear out/break, lower maintenance costs, no pollution, 3 minute fill-ups,  and did I mention it's quiet?  Okay, the Mirai's latest Fuel Stack can convert the same amount of cyro-H2 (5.2Kg, was it?) for 480 miles (770km) for a $83 fill-up in 2 minutes?  Sure, that's much better than the 2024 stats.  

Additionally, Toyota says this new 2025 Fuel Stack is simpler to manufacture, making it cheaper and passing on savings to owners.  A double win.                                

That is about all I have to say about H2 - It is an option, it is all-season, it is electric drive, environmentally friendly and not overly more expensive than running, say, a ICE Sedan or SUV.  I just hope they will start making some mid-sized cars too, not just roller skates.

I'm still waiting for my Amazon Mr. Fusion adapter kit to arrive!               

Peace friends, 

Edwin.

.- .-. 

Really scary stuff - give it a read, and see if this sets off any "coincidence" bells, eh?

Information just posted by a friend. I think the original source was a National Post Article. Really Scary Stuff! Highlighting/My Edits are is done by me.

New UCP policy considerations.

Alberta UCP members want to debate policies around Bitcoin, mRNA vaccines, separation and more.

The policies they want debated include a ban on pronouns in email signatures and unification of Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Members of Alberta’s United Conservative Party want a detailed plan explaining the “potential benefits and negative consequences” of the province becoming an independent nation, according to a draft, obtained by National Post, of prospective policy proposals to be debated at the party’s annual general meeting.

Each year, before the convention, the party collates a list of potential policy resolutions. The party’s members then go through the list, selecting the ones that are most important to them, and the final list sees debate on the convention floor. The meeting kicks off on Nov. 28 this year.

The draft resolutions, obtained by National Post, contain a much wider set of policy proposals than the final list of resolutions, and gives insight into the priorities of a swathe of the party’s membership.

“We do know that (Danielle) Smith is very closely attuned to the concerns of the party base, and that’s where this is,” said Duane Bratt, a University of Calgary political scientist, in an interview.

 
There are three separatist-adjacent proposals, coming at a time when Alberta alienation seems to once again be on an upswing. Over the weekend, thousands of supporters of Alberta independence rallied at the Alberta legislature, and there are dueling initiatives to get a secession referendum on the ballot.

One of the proposals aims to ensure that a secession referendum appears alone, alongside no other referendums, if the question of leaving Canada is ever put to Albertans. Another aims to push for “Canada 2.0,” with an established Alberta Constitution “establishing Alberta’s sovereignty” and then negotiating “the terms of a new federation.” The third is the explanation of the benefits and consequences of secession.

“Many are in support of independence already but many aren’t either because of lack of real facts and education,” the resolution’s rationale explains.

The resolutions are wide-ranging. One says that cursive writing should be taught to schoolchildren, to ensure they have a connection to their past. Another suggests that the Calgary International Airport be renamed Calgary-Ralph Klein International Airport. (There was a failed push in 2015 to get the airport named after former prime minister Stephen Harper.)

There are some proposed resolutions that will be of interest only to locals, and only some locals at that, such as a proposal to allow for five-year vehicle registrations or allowing for single-egress stairs in apartment buildings to “unlock apartment construction affordability.”

Others are no surprise to anyone who follows conservative politics, such as allowing for publicly funded, privately delivered and privately funded and delivered medical services, restoring a 10-per-cent income-tax rate as the highest bracket in the province or pushing for innovation and economic diversification within the province.

Others, though, expose some of the tensions that exist — and have long existed — within Alberta’s right wing, between the concerns of the grassroots members and the more mainstream concerns that might appeal to a broader cohort of Alberta’s voting public.

For years, Alberta’s occasionally unhappy conservative parties have struggled to hold together a large-tent party comprising many of the factions of Alberta’s right, from old-school progressive conservatives to those demanding the right to bear arms.

For example, member Dione Martin proposes an “immediate moratorium on the administration of mRNA technology to Albertans.” The COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines.

There’s a call to create a “strategic Bitcoin reserve.”(My edit - this is a scam that profits only the first few "investors". They all are scams, TBH.)

Three constituency associations are calling on the province to push for greater transparency from the federal government on “weather modification or geoengineering programs.” (My edit: Folks still think this stuff is real!)

Five constituency associations have banded together, calling for an end to water fluoridation, which they suggest “constitutes medical treatment without informed consent.” (My edit: Hmmm. Idiots?)

The constituency association of Grande Prairie calls on the province to study the “health impacts from devices that emit electromagnetic frequencies,” such as telecommunications towers near where people live. (My Edit: There already are hundreds of reports available worldwide from many sources that address this very concern. Save the Money, look at current data!)

“Public concern is growing and they need facts and data that come from non-bias trusted sources,” the resolution states. (My Edit: "You think?")

Some of the proposals are likely to appeal to a broader cohort of United Conservative Party members, such as ensuring university instructors don’t “promulgate their personal worldviews in their classrooms” or that only official government flags can be flown over government buildings.

The Calgary-Buffalo constituency association wants a ban on contractors of the public service and Crown corporations from including their personal pronouns in official communications, such as emails, in order to avoid perceptions of bias and prevent those who don’t have pronouns in their email signatures from feeling pressured to include them. (My Edit: Oh, my peepee is sore...)

“The unilateral use of personal pronouns in official communications may be perceived as signalling a stance on gender identity, a contentious social issue,” the proposed resolution states.

There are also several policy proposals that have existed in Alberta for a long time — adopting an Alberta pension plan and a provincial police force, for example, and a resolution from Calgary-Buffalo calls on the government to ensure that temporary residents, visitors and “unsuccessful asylum-seekers” must pay for their health care while in Alberta. The Alberta Next panel, which met over the summer to weigh options for increasing Alberta’s autonomy from Ottawa, considered whether Alberta should withhold social programs from newcomers if the “number or kind of newcomers moving to our province” isn’t in line with what the provincial government wants.”

In perhaps a nod to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency in the United States, two constituency associations are calling on the government to establish an “Independent Reform Commission” to “reduce wasteful spending, eliminate excessive regulation and streamline government operations,” as, the resolution argues, reform “through normal political channels” has been unsuccessful.

My Edit: I mean, how much of the "Alberta Plan" is reflected in the US's Project 2025 is very interesting, and many of these proposed ideas reflect that!

These are the ones we want leading us into the future?

Holy Shit!