Montreal

A Bientot I say, and Halie laughs, humored by the handful of French words I know and how separate they are from what I mean to say. I arrived in Montreal early on a weekday, taken by how a North American city could still be so francophone. High-waisted jeans are in and everything is under construction. The Honda Fit is called the Fit, not the Jazz. What a great city for cycling - there are protected bike lanes, affordable rental bikes stationed every few blocks, and beautiful converted paths like the old tow path along the Lachine Canal. Much of architecture seems like it's prepared for winter, but people go outside when the sun shines. Every bar has a parklet. St. Ambroise IPA is tasty and St. Viateur bagels are legit. The Portuguese food and vegan sushi is delicious. There's an independent sports store, Logos, that basks in Expos glory. Avenue St. Laurent has it all. The idea of Habitat 67 is so cool, in practice maybe less so, but all the more worth seeing to compare design with experience.

Family separation is the ultimate expression of state power

Time passes, and finally today California is set to abolish the cash bail system. Can you imagine if your freedom - the very ability to move where you want, read what you wish, eat what you can afford - were curtailed simply because you didn't have a lump sum of cash to go home? Posting bail can't be all that different than buying freedom from slavery; it's simply an archaic reincarnation in modern times. Holding those otherwise eligible for bail in jail is a decision not based on morals or what's right, but on the holding power of money, stacked in favor of those who have it against those who don't. California finally recognizes there is a better way and I hope others follow.