Chloe Desilets

I comment on the Government of British Columbia's recent decision to suspend its affordable-housing fund, and how its budget--like all budgets--reflect its choices and priorities.Sources:https://vicnews.com/2026/02/18/b-c-quietly-suspends-major-affordable-housing-fund-leaving-proponents-holding-the-bag/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/affordable-rental-scrap-projects-housing-fund-b-c-9.7096640https://globalnews.ca/video/11020608/b-c-premier-talks-tariffs-and-cancelling-grocery-rebatehttps://www.biv.com/news/commentary/rob-shaw-eby-leaves-bc-families-famished-for-relief-as-trade-war-looms-10091167https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMaySGIThe words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

A (frankly disjointed)  recounting of what I've learned (so far) about anarchism.Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchismhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/anarchismhttps://plato.stanford.edu/entries/anarchism/https://philosophynow.org/issues/128/A_Brief_Explanation_of_Anarchismhttps://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/54132/do-anarchists-want-to-eliminate-all-the-power-or-only-juridical-one#:~:text=So%20the%20power%20that%20anarchism,purpose%20of%20preserving%20said%20authority.-https://usa.anarchistlibraries.net/library/crimethinc-frequently-asked-questions-about-anarchismThe words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

I talk about kyriarchy, the origins of the term and theory, and its effect on society.Sources:https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/sep/10/kyriarchy-and-patriarchyhttps://stayconfused.substack.com/p/intersectionality-and-kyriarchy?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=webhttps://medium.com/@annaleo_/hierarchy-requires-constant-maintenance-not-equality-the-myth-of-inevitability-in-power-cdea269611c9https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Elisabeth_Schussler_Fiorenzahttps://www.britannica.com/topic/intersectionalityThe words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

I put in my two cents' worth about DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) and the backlash against it.Sources:https://thewalrus.ca/dei-was-always-flawed-but-the-backlash-is-truly-alarminghttps://theconversation.com/understanding-the-backlash-against-corporate-dei-and-how-to-move-forwardhttps://www.catalyst.org/insights/2024/dei-backlash-causeshttps://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240304-us-corporate-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-programme-controversyThe words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party under his leadership want to abolish DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, and bring back what they call 'the merit principle; I discuss, from my point of view, exactly what that entails.Sources:https://vernonmorningstar.com/2025/10/17/the-turner-files-poilievres-war-on-dei-isnt-about-merits-its-about-power/https://people.acciona.com/organizational-culture/meritocracy-organisations-paradox#:~:text=Implementing%20meritocracy%20requires%20a%20facelift,they%20call%20%E2%80%9Cmoral%20credentials%E2%80%9D.https://www.noemamag.com/the-dark-side-of-meritocracy/https://press.princeton.edu/ideas/a-belief-in-meritocracy-is-not-only-false-its-bad-for-you?srsltid=AfmBOorefTcqxRgpG1MR-i_55BExqXC9Pvyg0lNryaW0MwDoOZgDkEEahttps://www.vox.com/identities/2019/10/21/20897021/meritocracy-economic-mobility-daniel-markovitshttps://deconch30.medium.com/the-myth-of-meritocracy-30229d316dcbhttps://archive.discoversociety.org/2018/10/02/meritocracy-as-neoliberal-mantra/https://citizen-network.org/library/the-rise-of-the-meritocracy.htmlThe words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

I discuss the Protestant work ethic, its long-standing effects on society and those in power, and how we need a better attitude towards, and a healthier relationship with work.Sources:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P40sJOkxnachttps://www.thegazelle.org/issue/246/romanticization-hustle-culturehttps://partably.com/protestant-work-ethic/https://morganpaulett.substack.com/p/get-your-fing-ass-up-and-work-hustle?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=webThe words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

My thoughts on learning about the circumstances surrounding two public elementrary schools in Vancouver, how they reflect the priorities of the powers that be, and my hopes that the final decisions about these schools will favour students and not people with money to burn.The words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

Exactly as the title suggests--with help from the articles I sourced.The words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

My thoughts about a...unique development in Canadian politics, and the effect I believe it has on Canadian electoral policies.The words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

I describe the parallels I drew between the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and the Nottoway Plantation fire this year, and compare the socioeconomic status of--and social attitudes towards--these buildings and what they represent.The words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

I--as an aspring writer and artist--finally stick my oar in about generative artificial intelligence, and how plagiarists are abusing it to make quick cash--while taking advantage of their own and other people's tendecies towards instant gratification-- at the expense of the actual creatives who put in the time and energy to create real art.(Part of the title inspired by the Dire Straits song, 'Money for Nothing'--which is ostensibly about people making bucketloads of money doing the bare minimum in their field)The words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

My thoughts on local transit company TransLink's current financial situation, and s couple of suggestions on how they can at least start fixing it.Sources:https://movementyvr.ca/movement-responds-to-federal-transit-funding-announcement-calls-for-focus-on-relief-for-canadians/https://thebreaker.news/business/translink-pay-parade/https://www.comparably.com/companies/translink/executive-salarieshttps://www.translink.ca/-/media/translink/documents/about-translink/corporate-reports/ecp_details.pdf (I know this is old, but whoever reads this will get the general idea)The words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

My thoughts on news that reputed con artst Billy McFarland is allegedly hosting a second Fyre Festival.Sources:The original source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqorrrmBLiw (The Podcast That Rocked)https://www.yahoo.com/news/fyre-festival-2-tickets-sale-032357343.htmlhttps://people.com/fyre-festival-2-does-not-exist-isla-mujeres-tourism-board-says-billy-mcfarland-claims-its-real-11691724https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjU8pSqWReEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWC2HJq1wCwThe words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

I talk about Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim's plans to gentrify the Downtown Eastside, and how he plans to do it, the criticisms of the plans, and express my initial thoughts about the situation.Sources:https://globalnews.ca/news/10974788/vancouver-transform-dtes-pausing-new-social-housing-crime-crackdown/https://globalnews.ca/news/10976443/downtown-eastside-plan-critics/https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/smacks-of-deportation-mayors-office-pitch-on-helping-dtes-indigenous-residents-relocate-gets-pushback/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GentrificationThe words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

My thoughts about the Government of Canada's plans to distribute a grocery rebate amongst struggling Canadians, the possibility of grocery code of conduct, and how they will work under the framework of capitalism.The words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

I express my thoughts about the current conservative backlash, by talking about the most obvious examples thereof.The words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.

I describe my thoughts about attending this year's Walk for Peace in Vancouver.The words I use in the recording may not match the words in the transcript.