iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Wait, are you saying that getting locked up by ICE for several weeks before getting deported to some random third world nation is not taking off as adventure tourism?

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 18h

Imagine where gas prices would be if Republicans (and Conservatives in Canada) took climate change seriously in 1990's/2000's. Actually you don't need to imagine it. We'd be an electrified economy driving electric cars powered by solar and wind energy and you wouldn't care what the price of gas was.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

Again, I don't think there is as much lack of competition as you describe. Maybe moreso in food wholesale and distribution but less so in retail. There are probably close to a dozen different stores within 10 minutes from me where I can buy groceries.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

There are plenty of other industries that suffer from more price gouging and need more competition more desperately than grocery. Telecommunications, airlines (including competition from better rail service), car dealerships (a small number of companies operate nearly all dealerships in Ottawa).

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

But there are plenty of options for everyone too. I have several grocery stores within a 10 minute drive. Loblaws and No Frills from the Loblaws family, Farm Boy and FreshCo from the Sobey's family, Metro and Food Basics from the Metro family, plus Walmart and Costco. There is competition.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

Fewer cashiers and bag packers can reduce prices and also allow stores to offer other services like dedicating employees to providing store pickup and delivery services which can be a great option for seniors that have mobility issues. This is a good thing.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

My apologies if it came across as harsh and condescending. I, and seemingly millions of Canadians, don't seem to have a problem with self checkouts. It's analogous to ATMs and bank tellers. ATMs didn't reduce employees, it just moved people more advanced, less medial jobs than counting cash.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

It would be interesting to see how this compares with other countries. I know yields have been rising in Canada and elsewhere, but I'm not sure if the rate of increase is similar or not.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

There are plenty of ways to support the business and labour practices you prefer, but you may need to sacrifice a particular apple variety or the deeply discounted 'loss leader' sales stores offer to get you in the door. But you get to make that choice every day of your life.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

There are more places to buy groceries than most other products. You can even buy online for store pickup or delivery and support labour by having someone pick items off the shelves for you and then deliver them to your car or even pay someone to deliver your groceries to your front door.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

There are three major grocery corporations in Canada, all with multiple grocery chains with a variety of shopping experiences plus Walmart and Costco and dollar stores and corner stores and smaller independent/regional stores, butchers and farmers markets.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

Again, you have the choice to support that or not. If you choose not to boycott Loblaws because they have a specific kind of apple that you can't get elsewhere maybe you aren't as worried about labour, customers doing unpaid labour, or one person doing multiple jobs than you believe you are.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

What items don't have other options? "Sales worth grabbing" means you are choosing a lower price over the inconvenience of self checkout. Biggest problem we've had with store pickup is an item not being available so you don't get it but if you shopped in store you aren't getting it either.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 29/09/2026

You could choose not to shop at those places or order online and get store pickup or home delivery.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 28/09/2026

Potentially relevant to Leaf fans today. My analysis of Marchehnko in the summer. He's very good.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 27/09/2026

It's a dog and pony show at best.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 25/09/2026

Evidence that AI should remain artificial intelligence and not super intelligence. Umm, how in the world does Pierre think this makes him look Prime Ministerial?

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 23/09/2026

I realize many American scientists, researchers, doctors and other highly skilled workers are leaving the U.S. for Canada but I'm not sure it amounts to 'millions & millions'. In truth, Trump is trying to rile up Canada's far right ahead of the Alberta referendum to divide Canada. He's desperate.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 21/09/2026

Trump's Presidency in summary: We need nothing from Canada. We kidnapped the Venezuelan president and stole their oil so we won't need oil from Canada. We tried the same in Iran and disrupted the global oil/fertilizer supply. We'll get Potash fertilizer from Belarus so we don't need Canada's Potash.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 19/09/2026

I hope the electorate sends Trump and his supporters a massive electoral defeat in November. Not just a blue wave, but a truly massive defeat. One that forces even the spineless Republicans to actively turn on Trump. That would at least send some positive vibes that Trump's America isn't permanent.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 19/09/2026

Deep down we understand that most Americans don't support this, but we also see that many Americans do while many others dismiss Trump's comments as unserious jokes, or are misled into thinking this is about trade. Canadians don't see it as a joke. The rest of the world doesn't see it as a joke.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 19/09/2026

The tariffs were a catalyst but the cause of Canada's boycott is Trump's attacks on our sovereignty and that extends to his enablers (spineless Republicans, MAGA, the electorate more generally). For Canadians it is all about sovereignty, our right to exist, our culture and our independent economy.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 19/09/2026

This should not be surprising. The boycotts actually started slowly in Dec '24 before Trump was even President when Trump questioned Canada's ability to exist sans U.S., grew in Jan '25 when he threatened to use 'economic force' to annex Canada and took off when he first imposed tariffs in Feb '25.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 18/09/2026

Oh, he has lost ground. Europe no longer trusts him and the U.S. and are actively weaning themselves off of U.S. defense and technology products and are offering EU Associate membership status to Canada so Canada can do the same

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 18/09/2026

The great dealmaker announces a deal to secure rights to a military base on Greenland, rights he already had and guarantee rivals will not occupy Greenland which was not a threat to happen. More succinctly, the great dealmaker successfully negotiated a deal to maintain the status quo.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 17/09/2026

Trump can usually buy/bribe people to be 'friends' with him but it isn't working with Carney. It has to be irritating him to no end. He's jealous of Carney's strength, intelligence, popularity (even in the U.S.) and hates that Carney is choosing different friends who genuinely adore him.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 17/09/2026

Poor guy is feeling jealous and left out of the club.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

That's fine, but would have preferred he not bring it up while trying to sell Canada as a stable place to invest.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

If we just looked at the airport/passenger service fees YYZ/YUL return flight airport fees are 85% higher than Sydney/Brisbane return flight airport fees. Canada's airports are 85% more expensive for passengers. Maybe the current not for profit system is actually inefficient and overly expensive.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

I went to the Quantas website to find fees for Sydney to Brisbane return flight: Passenger Service Charges: 49.66 AUD Safety/Security Charge: 27.10 AUD Total: $76.76 AUD or $76.19 CAD Now for an Air Canada return YYZ to YUL: Security Charge: $18.92 Airport Improvement Fee: $91.19 Total: $110.11

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

Then if/when the U.S. is ready to re-engage with the western world they will have to do so under this new alliances rules, not the ones the U.S. dictates.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

In Carney's dream I think he wants it to be a model for Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand (possibly others) to join under similar security/trade arrangements forming an economic and military alliance that can rival the U.S. and China both economically and militarily.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

This is likely the case. I suspect there may also be much more alignment in regulations (safety, intellectual property, privacy, environmental, etc.) to make trade and human capital mobility easier.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

I just think right now Canadians are looking for ideas and solutions not negativity. Avi is not Poilievre but he can do more selling NDP ideas. If Avi wants to be a viable option in the next election he needs to always be showing he has a vision and has constructive ideas.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

You can link to your policy platform. Carney frequently posts what he has done with a link to follow for more details. I said he wasn't as bad as the Conservatives but read his recent posts. They are mostly complaints, often complaints about things that haven't happened and might not happen.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

The Jays might still make the playoffs but don't deserve too.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

I realize Vladdy may not be due for another HR at home for another year, but we could really use one now.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

Some yes and it was politically genius. He neutered Polievre's effective Trudeau-based critiques, stole MPs from the Conservatives, got the majority he needed to implement his bold agenda and made Poilievre look like the political weakling he is.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

The problem with both the Conservatives and NDP is they are heavy on criticisms and light on suggestions. This is more true for the Conservatives than NDP but Carney is getting so much support from Canadians because he has a bold vision and big plans for Canada. Could use more of that from CPC, NDP.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 15/09/2026

Guns/butter have been around a lot longer than AI so it's an odd comparison. If Avi wants new laws/regulations he should consider becoming an MP. AI is an international problem. Would be great if we could coordinate our laws/regulations with partner nations for maximize impact. Maybe with EU?

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 14/09/2026

Yeah, me too. I wish there was less packaging associated with them. But I am not using solution bottles so some gets offset.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 14/09/2026

That's the way to do it. When I only used biweekly I would sometimes save some old lenses to use for when I went swimming. That way I could see but wouldn't care if I lost a lens. Now I have switched to dailies 100% of the time. I hate they cost more but they are so convenient.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 14/09/2026

I deliberately try not to get punched in the face. Do you use dailies?

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 14/09/2026

I've bought from Kits online but I don't recall ever waiting 9 days for them, but then I usually try to order early so a delay would never be something I'm concerned about. But yes, sometimes convenience costs more whether it makes sense or not.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 14/09/2026

Ask for your prescription and buy them at Costco or online.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 14/09/2026

Credit card points are a financial transfer from the poor to the middle class and higher. The poor can't get a credit card or can't get a high reward credit card but they pay the same price for products. Costs are spread across everyone but benefits (points) don't get distributed to the poor.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 13/09/2026

I bet he starts with The Heard and McDonald Islands. Those pesky penguins better watch out.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 13/09/2026

Of course the dividend money will never reach your left pocket but you will still have less money in your right pocket while the billionaire class' pockets are overflowing. This basically summarizes current Republican politics. Everything else they say/do is a distraction.

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David Johnson @hockeyanalysis.com · 13/09/2026

Dear Americans: When Republicans, who are running $2 trillion deficits, talk about giving you dividends they are telling you they will steal money from your grand children to put in your left pocket so you don't notice the President and his billionaire cronies stealing money from your right pocket.

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