It’s a frustrating and disappointing day for public health in Canada. We have officially lost our measles elimination status, which we have held since 1998. This status has symbolic value: it signaled to Canadians and the world that the disease was under control. But it has material value, as well, since the elimination of measles means much less child suffering and much less public health expenditure. The implications of losing this status, while not immediately dire, are nevertheless troubling, expensive, and indicative of larger problems. (more…)
TAGGED POSTS / special
10Nov
2025
Canada’s Measles Setback Is a Symptom of a Larger Illness
05Nov
2025
Interview With a Five Year Old
I’m a university professor, which means that I’m supposed to deal daily in matters of the intellect. This is, of course, debatable. I have, in the course of my work, reveled in the company of people whose IQs are scarily high. Even so, I’m starting to suspect that the smartest person I’ve ever met might just be my own five year old son. No pressure there, kiddo.
Now, you and I might define “intellect” differently. I don’t want to get into that right now. The point I’m trying to make is that despite his very young age, I’ve learned to pay attention to my son’s opinions and insights on matters in which he has zero knowledge and experience… even when those insights are complete nonsense.
So, why not? Why not present him with the pressing matters of our time? That’s exactly what I did. And here are his responses.
24Oct
2025
When The Sky Is Blue…
It was Monday, Diwali, nine days after my mother had had an impactful heart attack. She had been immobile and weak for many days but was finally showing strong signs of progress. On this day, she was finally sitting up on her own, showing an active appetite, and engaging in laboured conversation. The trajectory was promising, so much so that an occupational therapist came to her room and assessed her cognitive state as excellent, and we began making plans to structure her rehabilitation at home. (more…)
11Sep
2025
The Sun Machine is Coming Down
My older brother, a long time heavy metal fan who introduced me to Rush and Van Halen when I was quite small, recently asked me, “I don’t get David Bowie. Why do people think he’s so great.” (more…)
- PAGE 1 OF 119 -
