🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥

@deborahobrien

Emergency RN practitioner x25 years Academic who loves books 📚

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🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· 1d

Partial Solar Eclipse times for reference

PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE TIMINGS FOR MAJOR CITIES
Location
Local time (maximum coverage)
% of sun's disk covered
New York City
1:54 p.m.
9%
St. John's,
Newfoundland, Canada
3:35 p.m.
53%
Nuuk, Greenland
4:35 p.m.
79%
Oslo, Norway
7:57 p.m.
83%
Berlin, Germany
8:08 p.m.
84%
London, U.K.
7:13 p.m.
91%
Paris, France
8:17 p.m.
92%
Tangier, Morocco
7:40 p.m.
92%
Dublin, Ireland
7:10p.m.
94%
Lisbon, Portugal
7:36 p.m.
94%
Nice, France
8:24 p.m.
95%
Madrid, Spain
8:32 p.m.
99.96%
Barcelona, Spain
8:29 p.m.
99.82%

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· 3d

The orange man is making Americans sick 🤢

America should be placed under Canada's legal guardianship until a competent adult can be found to take it over.

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· 6d

Can somebody give me a little feedback on this? I had a conversation based on ⬇️ about 🇺🇸 50% tariffs against 🇨🇦 even on 🏒 sticks. Section 232 makes me 🤬 how can we 🇨🇦 be a national security threat? This has been settled by Supreme Court, yet here we go again 😤 what should our government do? #freetrade

1. The Birthright Citizenship Loophole
In June 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. Barbara that Trump's 2025 executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants was unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. ®
However, Trump signed two new executive orders to circumvent that loss: -
• The Strategy: The White House openly admitted they are "making adjustments" to bypass the court. Instead of a blanket ban, the new orders are much narrower. They target commercial "birth tourism" and expand definitions of who is ineligible (such as children of foreign citizens lobbying for foreign governments). Al Jazeera +1
• The Legal Fiction: Because these new orders explicitly target "visa fraud" and "birth tourism operators" (which are already technically illegal under immigration law), the administration argues this is a completely new policy that wasn't strictly covered by the Supreme Court's recent 14th Amendment ruling. The Guardian +1
2. The 50% Canadian Tariffs & Section 232
You are spot on about the bizarre nature of calling Canada a "national security threat" to pass tariffs. Legally, the Supreme Court previously ruled that sweeping, arbitrary global tariffs were a violation of congressional trade authority. To get around this, the White House has weaponized two distinct, pre-existing trade laws to issue 50% tariffs on Canadian goods like wine, cement, and hockey sticks, effective August 19, 2026: •• BBC +3
• Section 338 (The Tariff Act of 1930): Trump formally invoked this rare law to claim Canada is engaging in "discriminatory" trade practices against American cars, dairy, and alcohol. It allows the president to retaliate with heavy 50% tariffs, bypassing standard CUSMA/USMA free trade protections. ** BBC +2
• Section 232 (Trade Expansion Act of 1962): This is the specific law used to levy tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and auto parts. It grants the president unilateral authority to impose tariffs without congressi…

How is Canada a "National Security Threat"?
From a literal standpoint, no one realistically believes Canada is a military threat to the United States. However, the legal definition of "national security" under Section 232 is interpreted incredibly broadly by the executive branch. cBC
The administration's legal argument is that a country's national security relies on a completely self-sufficient manufacturing base. The White House argues that by allowing cheap Canadian imports of steel, aluminum, auto parts, or manufactured goods to outcompete American factories, the U.S. risks losing its domestic industrial capacity.
Therefore, in a worst-case global crisis, the U.S. would be dependent on a foreign supply chain-even a friendly neighbor like Canada. * The White House (.gov) +1
Why Are They Being "Let" Do This?
The reason the system allows this is the slow speed of the courts versus the immediate power of an executive order. A president can sign an order in five seconds. It then takes months or years for advocacy groups or foreign trading partners to sue, gather evidence, and work their way back up to the Supreme Court. By the time the court strikes a law down, the administration simply tweaks a few sentences, changes the legal justification, and forces the entire court battle to start all over again. Al Jazeera +2
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that Canada's trade negotiators are matching Trump's aggressive approach, calling their own strategy "nasty" in defense of Canadian workers. But until Congress passes a specific law stripping the president of Section 232 powers, the White House holds the legal leverage to keep treating trade partners as national security vulnerabilities. •свс +2

1. Weaponize Critical Minerals and Energy Leases
Canada should not cut off oil or electricity, but it should place strict, immediate export restrictions on critical raw minerals and rare-earth elements (like lithium, nickel, and cobalte
• Why: The United States' defense sector and domestic tech manufacturing are entirely dependent on Canadian minerals to build everything from military equipment to electric vehicles. e
•The Impact: Forcing American manufacturing giants to lobby their own government for an exemption is the fastest way to get the White House to drop the tariffs.
2. Implement Immediate Domestic Tax Offsets
To keep Canadian industries like forestry, steel, and manufactured goods competitive under a 50% tariff, the federal government should immediately issue targeted tax credits to impacted businesses.
• Why: Directly subsidizing the factories would violate international trade laws and drag Canada into endless court battles.
• The Impact: Reducing corporate tax rates or providing massive tax write-offs for energy costs for impacted manufacturers allows Canadian companies to lower their baseline production costs, helping them absorb the tariff penalty without going out of business. a
3. Fast-Track Infrastructure to Non-U.S. Markets
Canada must aggressively break its near-total economic dependence on the United States by fast-tracking infrastructure to export resources elsewhere. ®
• Why: The United States is an unreliable trading partner as long as Section 232
national security loopholes exist.
• The Impact: Canada should immediately approve and fund deep-water ports, railways, and shipping infrastructure specifically designed to export Canadian liquid natural gas (LNG), grain, and minerals directly to European and Asian allies under existing free-trade pacts like the CETA and CPTPP. ®

4. Form a "United Middle-Power Coalition"
Canada should not fight this trade dispute alone. The federal government should form an immediate, coordinated legal and economic alliance with other major U.S. trading partners currently facing similar unilateral tariffs (such as Mexico, Japan, and the European Union). •
• Why: A single country can be easily bullied or ignored by a superpower.
The Impact: Filing joint challenges at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and coordinating matching, synchronized regulatory restrictions against American corporate interests globally forces the White House to face an organized international front, vastly increasing the cost of their protectionist policies.

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· 6d

If your cat loves buffering, then turn on YouTube Fish for Cats. All 3 of your fur babies will love it

Fish for cats YouTube video that cats love

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· 12d

Well thanks to @rorycj.bsky.social I am going to attempt to make sourdough bread. My new Dutch oven just arrived and hopefully the sourdough starter kit will arrive tomorrow and I will attempt to have fresh bread on Sunday 🙏. I didn’t realize how heavy the cast iron pot would be, wow.

Cream coloured cast iron pot just out of the box and placed on counter top. Ready for use😊🤞

Rory Cellan-Jones receipe for sourdough bread 🍞

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· 13d

It’s been a very long winter and with an absence of spring my balcony gardening has been way behind schedule . But Mother Nature knows best and my Asian Lillies are finally blooming. Gorgeous if I do say so myself

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· 18d

Are your garden apples sweet? Or are they tart like crab apples? I picked these last Halloween and I made 🍎 apple sauce; I gave it out to my elderly relatives as it was lovely to help them swallow their medicines through the day; also I used honey instead of sugar. Just a thought 💭

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· 21d

Birds in flight. So very precious

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· 25d

I survived months of winter just to be absolutely defeated by a blazing 19°C. ☀️ Send ice chips, a personal fan, and someone to shave my belly. 🧊 Happy #Caturday from the hottest cat in town! I will be staying right here on this rug until autumn." 🥵 #Caturday #MeltedCat

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Jul 8

You must be my cousin. I have M over my nose too.

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Jul 5

Thank you so much. They don’t grow here, so I always have to wait for them to arrive. I will definitely use your recipe! 👩‍🍳 This is my family recipe and it’s really easy, your grandchildren will love them. Snowballs are a big hit with my great nieces and nephews. The little balIs in the back.

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Jul 1

#MemorialDay WWI, my family suffered loss in both wars. WWI at Beaumont Hamel 700 Newfoundlanders fought and at roll call only 68 were present. In WWII my great grandmother lost 4 sons and husband becoming the most bereaved mother. I will never forget, will you?

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Jun 24

I wasn’t able to see your entire shoe but I really would like a pair for an upcoming wedding. Is this it?

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Jun 20

## Happy #Caturday! 🐾 Caught someone plotting world domination from behind the chair slats. 😹

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Jun 16

I like that you know what a sou’wester is. 🏆 I’m curious why hardly anyone knows what it is. Well done 🌎 everyone who lives on an island in the Atlantic Ocean has one lying around 😊

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Jun 6

He really is dumb. This dumb, drunk fall guy is the head of America’s armed forces ⛴️. Thanks for the very accurate summary because those beaches that were stormed 82 years ago weren’t an ideology. Speaking for my family-we don’t have dangerous ideologies and America changed sides, no longer allies 🌎

I'm remembering my great-granny Margaret O' Brien, most Bereaved Mother of WWII.
She lost 4 sons and her husband:
Maurice (HMS Forfar, 1940)
Michael (SS Eastlea, 1941)
James (Lost at sea, 1942) David (HMS Frisky, 1942)
And my great-poppy
Maurice, 1942
My family lived at the bottom of Signal Hill where Marconi sent the lst wireless transatlantic radio signal in 1901.
My family lost so much and gave the ultimate sacrifice; I will never forget. How about you?

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· May 19

I’m wondering if someone can help me discern whether or not the Ai answered me properly when I asked about the news today of Canada’s lower inflation rate compared to America. Thanks 🌎😊

Headline: Canada's Inflation and What It Signals
• The Core Trend: Canada's inflation rate is tracking lower than the United States, signaling a cooler domestic economy and softer consumer demand north of the border.
• The Main Driver: Weak domestic spending allows the Bank of Canada greater flexibility to cut interest rates faster than the U.S. Federal Reserve.
• The Mortgage Relief: Softer economic indicators bring quicker borrowing relief to Canadian homeowners dealing with high renewal rates.
• The Currency Tradeoff: Shifting interest rate differentials put downward pressure on the Canadian dollar, making imports from the U.S. more expensive.
• The Consumer Gap: While part of the gap stems from differences in how consumer baskets are measured, the overarching trend highlights a highly resilient American consumer compared to Canada.

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· May 18

#Spring #Snow Ok I think I jinxed it posting about how all the snow has melted. Guess what Miss Spring?Mr. Winter is not happy so he sent more snow flakes. You may not be able to see it but it started snowing again 🥶😡

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· May 18

#spring #sunshine The mountains of snow are finally gone and Miss Spring has arrived with beautiful sunshine. Buds of life are creeping up and bending towards the warmth of sunshine ☀️ coming up my beautiful Asian Lilies, my favourite flowers

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· May 16

Miss Sophie I think there’s a rule that you can’t chase cats on Saturday because it’s #caturday but any other day go for it 😊

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· May 10

#mothersday Happy Mother’s Day Mummy. Life hasn’t quite been the same since I lost you. You may be gone but you’ll never be forgotten. Every single day I pick up a phone to call you and then sadness, knowing I’ll never hear your voice again. 🥹 my sadness will never end 🥲

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· May 2

#caturday The snow finally decided to retreat, so my fur baby marched triumphantly back onto the balcony… only it’s raining cats and dogs with a fog blanket thicker than soup, and just stands there, staring at me like, “Fix this. You did this.”  Sorry, love—I control the treats, not the weather. 😅🐾

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Apr 25

#caturday #winterstorm Dear Mother Nature, you missed a turn—we’re still stuck in winter. The snow was melting, and now we’re hit with another storm, see before and after says it all. My little fur baby keeps meowing, wondering when she can go back out on the balcony and hide behind the flowers.

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Apr 22

April 22 and it’s -5C. These trees look like they’re flowering but nope. Freezing rain at its best. Feels like winter is never ending 😠 argh

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Apr 16

But there's no real distinction here. True, Orban has not declared the election stolen, but he stayed in power for 16 years the same way Republicans are trying to stay in power now—in ways no liberal-democratic party in the western world has attempted.
Through capture. Orban supported gerrymanders in one partisan direction, just like Republicans. Orban extorted, then commandeered, the country's media, education, corporate, and judicial institutions—the same consolidation the Trump regime is attempting right now.
"Both sides" emphatically do not do it. The implicit equivalence between authoritarian parties and broadly liberal ones rests entirely on insipid or dishonest right-wing tropes. An American conservative might complain that redistribution of income from rich to poor amounts to buying votes; Trump-aligned Republicans skip the highbrow plaint and cut straight to the racist lie that Democrats only win by importing illegal
voters.
In reality, the Democratic Party's approach to power-building in the U.S. bears no resemblance to the Republican modus operandi of claiming office, crushing rival power centers, and arrogating the residuals.

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Apr 15

My last infusion, then hopefully remission until June 🙏

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Apr 14

Spring forgot us this year too 😜 we still have mountains of snow. We did manage to get 4C today so it’s going to take a while but I’m fed up with winter this was last week ❄️🌨️🤦‍♀️

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Apr 6

Absolutely beautiful and the colours are spectacular. Very similar to the colours of my Asian Lilly that hasn’t begun to bloom yet because we still have lots of snow. Ms Mother Nature turn around, you forgot us 🌎🥶😡

🩺 Deborah O’Brien 🏥@deborahobrien· Apr 4

#caturday #Spring #Easter #HolySaturday Spring has sprung everywhere but Miss Mother Nature has forgotten about us. Over 200cm in March. Last Wednesday 25cm and today 20cm and counting. Ba humbug for Easter 🐣 It’s #caturday and my fur baby is not happy 😡 because she can’t go outside ❄️🌨️