Edward Horace Finn, C.M., passed away peacefully in Ottawa on December 27, 2020 at the age of 94. He is survived by his loving wife, Dena, and children, Kevin and Kerri-Anne, grandchildren Garrett and Heather, and brother, Thomas Michael, as well as numerous nephews and nieces. Predeceased by his parents, Sarah and Edward, siblings Patricia, … Continue reading Ed Finn, 1926-2020
Author: Ed Finn
Most dangerous day in human history was unquestionably October 27, 1962
October 27, 1962, is not a date that most people consider an especially noteworthy one. It certainly doesn’t rate with 9/ll or John Kennedy’s assassination or the fall of the Berlin Wall. But it was by far the most dangerous day in human history – the day the world came perilously close to being devastated … Continue reading Most dangerous day in human history was unquestionably October 27, 1962
Science fiction helps us to envision the future, as well as clarify the past
When I started reading science fiction, in my teens, it was widely regarded as a disreputable form of literature. This was not surprising, since at that time -- the early 1940s – science fiction was confined to pulp magazines with lurid covers, often depicting scantily-clad heroines shooting ray-guns at BEMS (bug-eyed monsters). Living in Newfoundland … Continue reading Science fiction helps us to envision the future, as well as clarify the past
Canada’s mistreatment of the elderly shameful, but so is shoddy care and neglect of children
The extent to which services for seniors in many of Canada’s long-term-care homes are terribly delinquent was starkly exposed by Covid-19. Nearly half the people killed by the coronavirus were residents of such lodgings, especially those that are privately owned. The abominable conditions in which they were abused – deprived of adequate food, bullied, drugged, … Continue reading Canada’s mistreatment of the elderly shameful, but so is shoddy care and neglect of children
With two pandemics challenging us this fall, we face a more turbulent future than ever
This fall brings with it several serious threats to the health and welfare of Canadians. The most obvious, of course, is the persistence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to the willingness of most of us to undergo prolonged isolation, social-distancing, and frequent hand-washing, the severity of the plague has been curbed in Canada, amounting to … Continue reading With two pandemics challenging us this fall, we face a more turbulent future than ever
The Capitalist God’s 10 Commandments
Brian Arden and Ed Finn Thou shalt honour Me as your one true God and have faith in my religion of neoliberalism, globalization, free trade, and private ownership. Thou shalt accept the impoverishment of the many and the enrichment of the few, for in my religion avarice is to be valued over social and economic … Continue reading The Capitalist God’s 10 Commandments
Outcome of the clash between Covid-19 pandemic and capitalist pandemic will shape our future
Earlier this year, I posted a piece on rabble in which I claimed that the global Covid-19 pandemic, though devastating for humankind, has not been nearly as pernicious as the social and economic plague of global capitalism. Many readers of this essay disagreed with my hypothesis, some quite vehemently. They thought I was exaggerating the … Continue reading Outcome of the clash between Covid-19 pandemic and capitalist pandemic will shape our future
Laughter in the middle of a pandemic not a cure, but helps us endure it
With so many journalists (including me) obsessed with writing about the morbid coronavirus pandemic, it’s getting harder to maintain a good sense of humour. Some might even feel that mirth of any kind during such a plague is inexcusable and inappropriate. But jokes and puns should never really be impermissible. Take Robespierre, for example. As … Continue reading Laughter in the middle of a pandemic not a cure, but helps us endure it
When so many practise individualism and spurn collaboration, prospect for global anti-virus campaign dim
In a recent letter to the editor of the Ottawa Citizen, D. J. Phillips disagreed that everyone should be compelled to wear a face-mask. “It is your right to wear a face-mask,” Phillips conceded. ”However, it is not your right to inflict your preference on anyone else. If you feel better, use one, but don’t … Continue reading When so many practise individualism and spurn collaboration, prospect for global anti-virus campaign dim
Have business and political leaders decided to co-exist with COVID-19 instead of seeking its curtailment?
Politicians and corporations in the United States and Canada have started to open up their economies and relax strict safeguards against the spread of Covid-19. This is happening even though the coronavirus remains prevalent in both countries. In the U.S., the pandemic still proliferates in several states, where the rates of infection and fatalities continue … Continue reading Have business and political leaders decided to co-exist with COVID-19 instead of seeking its curtailment?
The Nonagenarian's Notebook 