Latest news with #Rousseau
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Wildcats advance to Memorial Cup semifinal with 6-2 win over Oceanic
RIMOUSKI - Gabe Smith scored two goals and had two assists as the Moncton Wildcats advanced to the Memorial Cup semifinal with a 6-2 win over the Rimouski Oceanic on Wednesday night. The Wildcats will take on the London Knights in Friday's semifinal. The winner of that matchup meets the Medicine Hat Tigers in Sunday's final. Juraj Pekarcik and Julius Sumpf added a goal and an assist each, Etienne Morin also scored, and Mathis Rousseau made 32 saves for Moncton (1-2), which lost games to London and Medicine Hat earlier in the round robin. Alex Mercier added an empty-net goal and had an assist. Preston Lounsbury pitched in with two assists. The Wildcats captured the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League title in Rimouski last week, winning the championship series in six games over the Oceanic. Mathieu Cataford and Maël St-Denis replied for Rimouski (0-3), which exits the tournament after qualifying as the host team. Mathis Langevin stopped 26 shots at Colisée Financière Sun Life. The Oceanic controlled the first period, but the Wildcats shifted the momentum with two goals early in the second to take a 3-2 lead. Pekarcik deflected Dylan MacKinnon's shot from the high slot to beat Langevin at 1:27 and tie the game. Smith then put Moncton ahead at 4:05, capitalizing on a failed clearance from Luke Coughlin. Loke Johansson kept the lead intact with a goal-line clearance in the dying moments of the second period while Moncton was killing a penalty. Jacob Mathieu's shot deflected over Rousseau and into the blue paint with seven seconds left in the frame, but the Wildcats defenceman swept the puck away. Early in the third period, Moncton poured it on. Sumpf first missed a breakaway before Vidicek ripped a shot off the post. Morin then made no mistake, converting a point shot at 4:02 to double the lead. Rousseau continued a strong outing with a save on Cataford less than a minute later. Anthony Paré later struck iron with a slapshot midway through the period. Rimouski pulled the goalie for an extra attacker with 2:33 remaining, but couldn't generate a quality chance before Smith scored an empty-net goal with 1:48 left. Mercier added another with 59 seconds remaining. The Oceanic came out strong in the first period with their season on the line, dominating the shot count at 17-6. St-Denis energized the home crowd with a big open-ice hit on Maxime Côté in the opening minutes. Rousseau turned aside two shots from Thomas Belzil and also denied Maxime Coursol's scoring chance to keep the game scoreless early. The Wildcats opened the scoring when Sumpf finished a cross-ice feed from Pekarcik at 7:39 in the first period for Moncton's first goal by a forward in the tournament. Rimouski continued to pepper Rousseau with pucks until St-Denis broke through with a backhand on the blocker side to even the score at 13:27. Cataford put the Oceanic up 2-1 with just under three minutes remaining in the period, deflecting a feed from Olivier Théberge to complete a pretty passing play and lift the fans out of their seats. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wildcats advance to Memorial Cup semifinal with 6-2 win over Oceanic
RIMOUSKI – Gabe Smith scored two goals and had two assists as the Moncton Wildcats advanced to the Memorial Cup semifinal with a 6-2 win over the Rimouski Oceanic on Wednesday night. The Wildcats will take on the London Knights in Friday's semifinal. The winner of that matchup meets the Medicine Hat Tigers in Sunday's final. Juraj Pekarcik and Julius Sumpf added a goal and an assist each, Etienne Morin also scored, and Mathis Rousseau made 32 saves for Moncton (1-2), which lost games to London and Medicine Hat earlier in the round robin. Alex Mercier added an empty-net goal and had an assist. Preston Lounsbury pitched in with two assists. The Wildcats captured the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League title in Rimouski last week, winning the championship series in six games over the Oceanic. Mathieu Cataford and Maël St-Denis replied for Rimouski (0-3), which exits the tournament after qualifying as the host team. Mathis Langevin stopped 26 shots at Colisée Financière Sun Life. The Oceanic controlled the first period, but the Wildcats shifted the momentum with two goals early in the second to take a 3-2 lead. Pekarcik deflected Dylan MacKinnon's shot from the high slot to beat Langevin at 1:27 and tie the game. Smith then put Moncton ahead at 4:05, capitalizing on a failed clearance from Luke Coughlin. Loke Johansson kept the lead intact with a goal-line clearance in the dying moments of the second period while Moncton was killing a penalty. Jacob Mathieu's shot deflected over Rousseau and into the blue paint with seven seconds left in the frame, but the Wildcats defenceman swept the puck away. Early in the third period, Moncton poured it on. Sumpf first missed a breakaway before Vidicek ripped a shot off the post. Morin then made no mistake, converting a point shot at 4:02 to double the lead. Rousseau continued a strong outing with a save on Cataford less than a minute later. Anthony Paré later struck iron with a slapshot midway through the period. Rimouski pulled the goalie for an extra attacker with 2:33 remaining, but couldn't generate a quality chance before Smith scored an empty-net goal with 1:48 left. Mercier added another with 59 seconds remaining. The Oceanic came out strong in the first period with their season on the line, dominating the shot count at 17-6. St-Denis energized the home crowd with a big open-ice hit on Maxime Côté in the opening minutes. Rousseau turned aside two shots from Thomas Belzil and also denied Maxime Coursol's scoring chance to keep the game scoreless early. The Wildcats opened the scoring when Sumpf finished a cross-ice feed from Pekarcik at 7:39 in the first period for Moncton's first goal by a forward in the tournament. Rimouski continued to pepper Rousseau with pucks until St-Denis broke through with a backhand on the blocker side to even the score at 13:27. Cataford put the Oceanic up 2-1 with just under three minutes remaining in the period, deflecting a feed from Olivier Théberge to complete a pretty passing play and lift the fans out of their seats. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
Local France
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
French farmers suspend protests as taxi drivers scale down airport action
Unions representing French farmers and taxi drivers have both separately announced that they will suspend or decrease protest action on Tuesday. However, it remains possible that new demonstrations could spring up again, as negotiations move forward with the government. Farmers Arnaud Rousseau, the head of the leading farming union, FNSEA, announced on the RMC radio station on Tuesday morning that the farmers' action "has been suspended following good news". "We're suspending the mobilisation (...) Tractors are returning to their farms, even though we had planned to still be there this Tuesday and Wednesday," he said. Rousseau was, confusingly, referring to the rejection of the Duplomb bill by MPs in France's Assemblée Nationale. The Duplomb bill is an agriculture bill making its way through parliament that intends to ''remove constraints placed on farmers", in part by allowing for easier access to pesticides. As a result, it has been contested by environmentalists and left-wing politicians. On Monday, a bloc made up of centrists, the right wing, and the far right deliberately rejected the bill to circumvent the 3,500 amendments that were tabled by the left. Advertisement This means the bill will go directly to a joint committee for debates, and it will do so in the Senate's version of the text, which farming unions have been supportive of. "It's good news, even if it's difficult to explain. The spectacle isn't encouraging, but what matters is seeing concrete results on our farms," Rousseau told RMC. Taxis France's national taxi union ( l'Union nationale des taxis ) on Tuesday also announced they would be decreasing their presence, but they did not say they would suspend protests entirely. The head of the national taxi union, Rachid Boudjema, told Franceinfo that "there will be no action around airports" in France on Tuesday. "The mobilisation is not weakening. We are still mobilised on the Boulevard Raspail in Paris, and we are waiting for developments," he told the French press. Unions representing taxi drivers were set to meet with representatives from the French government on Tuesday, with two meetings scheduled for the day. The first was set to be with the Ministry of Transport, and the second would be with the Ministry of Health. On Saturday, French PM François Bayrou announced that the government would review the health insurance agreement. Advertisement The new agreement intends to save the government €300 million, but it would revise fares for patient transportation in a manner that taxi drivers oppose. Will protests pick back up? The head of the farmers' union said that the FNSEA would remain "vigilant" as the farming bill makes its way through parliament. As such, it is possible more protest action could start up again. As for taxi drivers, continued protests at airports remained possible, depending on the outcome of meetings with the ministries of transport, health, and the actions of the prime minister. "We'll need a little more than promises," Boudjema told the French press. Emmanuelle Cordier, the head of another taxi union, the Fédération nationale du taxi (FDNT), told BFMTV on Monday that starting on Wednesday, there would be a "blockade if the meetings are not successful". You can keep up with updates at The Local's strike section.
Local France
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
French farmers' union calls for more protests in May
Arnaud Rousseau, the head of France's leading agricultural union, FNSEA ( Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d'Exploitants Agricoles ) had called for a new wave of mobilisation by farmers starting on Monday, May 26th. Rousseau made the announcement on Thursday morning, noting that the call to action included the Jeune Agriculteurs (JA) union as well. Previous farmers' protests have included motorway blockades and rolling roadblocks, as well as dumping hay or manure in front of government buildings and more symbolic actions such as turning village signs upside down. Advertisement As of Thursday, it was unclear exactly what the actions in late May would entail. The FNSEA boss said French farmers "felt betrayed" by unfulfilled government promises and that the mobilisation of a year and a half ago had not borne fruit. "This is intolerable for us (...) If farmers don't mobilise again, then these promises won't be kept," Rousseau told French news outlet RMC on Thursday morning. In February and March of 2024, farmers' protests brought over 70 of the country's autoroutes to a standstill after widespread rolling roadblocks and blockades. These protests were largely meant to put pressure on France and the EU against certain trade policies French farmers consider to be threatening, such as the 'Mercosur' free trade agreement, which France is still seeking to block. After the 2024 protests, farmers were given certain assurances by the French government, but Rousseau argued that these remain unrealised. "We need to see the concrete action on our farms, for example on the issue of water or on the issue of production. "We believe today, after having demonstrated, worked, and endured everything that's happening politically—four prime ministers in one year—that the answers and promises we've being given have not materialised," Rousseau told RMC. Rousseau also called for people to support the projet de loi Duplomb, an agriculture bill making its way through parliament that intends to ''remove constraints placed on farmers', in part by allowing for easier access to pesticides. As a result it has been contested by environmentalists and left-wing politicians. The bill will begin to be debated in the Assemblée Nationale from May 26th.
Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Rousseau and the Performance of Being Yourself
Commentary 'I have entered upon a performance which is without example, whose accomplishment will have no imitator. I mean to present my fellow-mortals with a man in all the integrity of nature; and this man shall be myself.' — Rousseau, 'Confessions' Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) didn't just preach sincerity—he tried to live it, even when it meant showing himself in an unflattering light. In 'Confessions,' he infamously admitted to placing his five children in the care of the state orphanage, where they likely died. It's tragic, wrong, and disturbing. But what's striking is how he tells us this without self-justification or spin. He claims he's not writing to impress, only to be honest. He doesn't seek admiration—just the cold comfort of knowing he told the truth, even if it makes him look awful. Unlike modern autobiography—or the YouTube vlog where someone cries, then plugs their merch—Rousseau isn't performing virtue. He's trying, for once, not to perform at all. It's all about being real . 'Be yourself' is the thing now. Instagrammers, TikTokers, pop psychology magazines, self-help guides, even your cereal box tell you to do it. It's everywhere. The desire not just to seem natural, but to be , is ever-present. But behind our modern obsession with authenticity is our 18th-century philosopher, already wrestling with this idea long before the puppy-face filter existed. Rousseau might've viewed LinkedIn bios the same way he viewed powdered hairpieces: fake, stiff, and yawningly dull. He believed that true freedom wasn't just doing whatever you wanted—it was living in alignment with your natural self , the one crushed under social norms, labels, but especially our endless thirst for validation. Related Stories 5/4/2025 4/5/2025 For Rousseau, sincerity was only possible in private life, because social relations were full of norms, expectations, and virtue-signaling. Modern society has turned humans into evolved monkeys climbing a social ladder made of appearances. Some hide behind filters and curated feeds; others flash academic titles or job promotions. The platforms vary, but the goal is the same: to be seen, admired, validated. And to Rousseau, there was something deeply fake—and deeply damaging—about this. That's why he sparked what we might call the 'authenticity cult,' a countercultural rebellion against society's performance-based living. Let's be honest, though—society needs those public morals to function. 'Thank you,' he said, even though he wanted to scream. 'Lovely weather today,' she muttered, in the middle of an existential crisis. 'Let's have lunch sometime!' (They both hoped it would never happen.) These polite lies make peaceful, prosperous lives possible. So, there's a case to be made for maintaining appearances. Rousseau might push it too far by claiming sincerity should be society's highest value. That road could easily lead to a world where cruelty is excused as honesty. We have to tread carefully here. After all, we don't want serial killers or unfiltered narcissists running wild in the name of 'just being themselves.' Still, Rousseau raises an uncomfortable truth: our obsession with 'being yourself' online is rarely about actually being yourself. What we want is to appear natural—but in a way that still gets likes, followers, and brand deals. We're not removing our masks; we're just putting on a new one labeled 'authentic.' It's the same old performance—just with better lighting and a self-care hashtag. It's like showing up to a costume party dressed as 'someone not wearing a costume'—only it took you three hours to put that outfit together. So, is real authenticity—and with it, real freedom—now only possible off the grid? According to Rousseau, yes. That's why in 'Émile,' his book on education, the child is to be raised without social comparisons. Rousseau's idea was radical: educate a child by shielding him from social influence so that his natural self could develop without vanity. The only book Rousseau allows Émile to read is 'Robinson Crusoe'—not by accident. Crusoe's story represents the ideal of self-sufficiency: a man who learns to survive using reason and direct experience, not second-hand opinions. Crusoe is alone, but free. No social games, no prestige contests, no likes. That's the kind of human Rousseau wanted to cultivate: someone who forms his identity from within, not from external validation. Later, of course, Émile must return to society and learn to dance to its rhythm. Civilization has its perks—Rousseau wasn't telling us all to become noble savages. But he did believe that people should recognize the social hypocrisy around them, even if they had to play along. After all, you should have table manners. Being authentic doesn't mean being abrasive. Manners still matter—even Rousseau, radical as he was, wouldn't want you spitting on the table in the name of sincerity. As the Russian writer Anton Chekhov is often credited with saying—though I've never found the exact quotation in his works—'Good manners are not about never spilling the sauce, but about pretending not to notice when someone else does.' A little social performance can be a kindness—not a lie, but a form of grace. In fact, it's this kind of empathy—this ability to see the person behind the role—that lets us rise above the rules when the rules lose their purpose. True civility isn't rigid obedience, but knowing when to bend in favor of compassion. That, too, is part of being fully human. And while we may champion freedom in liberal democracies—freedom from coercion or permission, as thinkers like Friedrich Hayek or Deirdre McCloskey might frame it—Rousseau reminds us that there's also a more subtle kind: the freedom to think differently, to be ourselves, even when it's unpopular. After all, what if, in the name of freedom and authenticity, we're just building new chains? One thing is freeing yourself from others' judgments; another is swapping one mold for another—this time with a shiny 'authenticity' label from Silicon Valley. Maybe Plato said it best: 'Not that human affairs are worth taking very seriously—but take them seriously is just what we are forced to do, alas.' Because in the end, maybe Rousseau saw something we still wrestle with: that we're all caught somewhere between performance and sincerity, between rules and rebellion, trying to figure out how to be free and decent at the same time. From the Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
