There’s been some talk lately about why Vancouver Island isn’t a Canadian province in its own right. The argument is that, if you look at the maritime provinces, we’re bigger, more populous, even more affluent so why not? It’s the sort of discussion that flares up and then simmers along
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: It’s First Nations, Surfers & Loggers Versus Those Damned Dirty Hippies
A confrontation is brewing on the north island where remote Raft Cove Provincial Park is bracing for a flash mob of 2,000 hippies planning to stay there for up to a month. It’s called the “World Rainbow Gathering”, an annual event that’s been going on since 1972 at different spots
Continue readingLet Freedom Rain II: BC closes Vancouver Island park due to influx of ‘hippies’ and their ‘values’
Thousands were set to gather at Raft Cove Provincial Park due to thousands of dirty fucking hippies expected to visit. Only about 70 people have shown up and already the predictions of disaster from the authorities has closed the park. (Emphasis mine.) VICTORIA – BC Parks is closing Raft Cove Provincial
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: An Elegant Solution
Earlier this month I posted an interview with Neil Turok, head of The Perimeter Institute and the deliverer of this year’s Massey Lectures. As I indicated in my original post, I was struck both by Turok’s humanity and his optimism, perhaps best exemplified when he said that almost all the
Continue readingLeDaro: Human Intelligence and its Weaknesses
According to Steve Pavlina there are 10 major weaknesses. All of them are interesting. I especially liked #4: “4. Infinite loops: Once a pattern of thought and behavior has become conditioned, it can be very difficult to reprogram. This causes bad habits, addictions, and Republicans.”
Continue readingwmtc: a kiss on the wrist: the absence of same-sex love on star trek as a measure of how far we’ve come
Earlier this year, I re-watched the original “Star Trek” series end-to-end on Netflix – a thoroughly entertaining experience – then decided to watch “Star Trek: The Next Generation” for the first time. It wasn’t long before I was completely hooked. The show has a lot to recommend it: compelling story lines,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On efficiencies
Nick Falvo offers one response to Tom Mulcair’s latest comments on taxes. And I certainly won’t argue with the position that it’s utterly bizarre to see the leader of a progressive party declare that he’s perfectly happy with the restrictive revenue streams (and associated lack of social programs) set up
Continue readingThe Moncton Times@Transcript - Good and Bad: August 10: Letters….
I won’t spend much time on the TandT news today because most of it reads like a tabloid, a really, really boring and trivial tabloid. It doesn’t even have the story about how Camilla killed Prince Charles a year ago, and sold him for snacks at a church tea. Section
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: "The Greatest Water Grab in History"
Across south and east Asia, water is power. If you want to know why China invaded and seized Tibet, it was the water. New academic research shows that India, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan are engaged in a huge “water grab” in the Himalayas, as they seek new sources of electricity
Continue readingLeDaro: King Harper visits Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick
King Harper was visiting the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick. Only cameras were allowed. When a Globe and Mail reporter asked a question, Harper staff removed all the reporters from the bus that Harper was travelling on. This news was on CTV Atlantic but I could not
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Gun, Check. Point at Head, Check. Squeeze the Trigger?
Think we’re on the cusp of a “clean energy revolution” that will sweep the world and rescue our grandkids from environmental catastrophe? Think again. A report from the Our World 2.0 project of the United Nations University warns that coal, that accounts for almost half of energy-sector greenhouse gas emissions
Continue readingcentre of the universe: Hairy Flowers
Continuing on from yesterday’s post, in which you are dying to know what I’ve been up to and what crap I have growing in my yard, I present 2) Renos: Round 2 – Whew. So it makes sense that the last post was ENORMOUS. A lot of work went in
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Who Are the Leaders with an Authentic Way Forward?
What are they saying to the growing inequalities of the 21st century? “I want Dr. King to know that I didn’t come to Selma to make his job difficult. I really did come thinking I could make it easier. If the white people realize what the alternative is, perhaps they
Continue readingLeDaro: Oprah Winfrey faces racism in Switzerland
Racism is well and alive in Europe and North America. Oprah Winfrey was denied service at a store in Zurich, Switzerland. She said she had similar experiences in America. Earlier Barack Obama commenting on Trayon Martin case stated that he faced similar treatment as he was growing up. It is
Continue readingwmtc: more roku joy: post your pbs and nfb recommendations here
Roku has added an app for PBS! This means we watch music clips from Austin City Limits, and in the winter we’ll binge on American Experience history documentaries and American Masters biographies. These documentaries are consistently worth watching, and often truly excellent. On American Masters, we’ve recently seen “There But
Continue readingWarren Kinsella: Rob Ford’s debt to a drug dealer
The court transcript, here. Oh, and he was on something last night on the Danforth, here. I’m sure it’s all a great big coincidence.
Continue readingLeDaro: Earth: Does it breathe?
Time-lapse photos from the International Space Station shows ice and snow, expanding and receding, with the seasons, a lot like the way lungs expand and contract when someone breathes. Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Continue readingA Canadian Lefty in Occupied Land: Review: Catastrophism
[Sasha Lilley, David McNally, Eddie Yuen, and James Davis. Catastrophism: The Apocalyptic Politics of Collapse and Rebirth. Oakland CA: PM Press; Toronto ON: Between the Lines; Pontypool UK: The Merlin Press Ltd., 2012.] A surprising assortment of political approaches in a broad range of traditions depend in one way or
Continue readingExcited Delirium: CRTC SUN Block?
The CRTC puts on SUN block for Canadians. The Cons will find some way to make sure we get their brand of melanoma.
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Big Brother becomes capricious.
You have seen the full page advertisements in the newspapers. You have wondered just who the big telecoms—Bell, Rogers and Telus—are trying to reach. And you also wonder why they are spending so much money in the process. It seems to all boil down to their not wanting to allow
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