Led by declines among youths, employment decreased by 39,000 in July, and the unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 7.2%. With this decrease, employment gains have averaged 11,000 per month over the past six months, slower than the average of 27,000 observed during the preceding six-month period. The experts
Continue readingcentre of the universe: Remember to put flowers in your hair
Because the last few posts have been somewhat whiny and complainey, I thought you probably wanted nothing more than to see what I’ve been up to this summer, and possibly that you were jonesing for photos of some of the crap I have growing in my yard. I know you
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: What Do a Kid’s Sneakers and a Warplane Have in Common?
When I was a youngster growing up in the early postwar era, parents used to economize a little more than we do today. I think we were more likely to wear our clothes until they wore out. Being second in line, I got a lot of “hand me downs.” But,
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: What LifeSiteNews’ attack on Pat Robertson says about religious freedom.
Last week, there was some curious notice given to American televangelist Pat Robertson, after he expressed support for transitioning trans people, and their access to sex reassignment surgery. Less noticed was the backlash from other far-right groups over the same comments. But it’s worth revisiting, because of what that backlash
Continue readingLisaKirbie.com: The Ontario PCs are sharpening their knives
Let the leadership war begin! It seems that no lessons were learned from the Chretien/Martin years. There is now open revolt in the Tory ranks, which is genuinely awesome. As I said on Sun News yesterday, as a Liberal, I welcome a full and open PC leadership review. It will
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Australia’s Senate Drops Climate Change Wrench into General Election
The contenders to form Australia’s next national government have night & day differences on climate change. The incumbent, Labor’s Kevin Rudd, trails his rival, Tony Abbott’s Liberal Coalition, 48 to 52. Abbott is a strong climate change denier. Now into the mix comes a bipartisan report from the Australian Senate,
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Sen. Duffy changed bank address after Senate audit announced: RCMP
The RCMP now alleges that Sen. Mike Duffy changed his banking address from Ontario to PEI just four days after the Senate announced an internal audit into the senator’s fraudulent expense claims. The post Sen. Duffy changed bank address after Senate audit announced: RCMP appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingLisaKirbie.com: LA in 72 hours
Can you do LA in 72 hours? Yes – just don’t plan on getting a lot of sleep. I spent a year in LA in the late 80s doing some modelling, which didn’t go so well – I was considered too “fat” (seriously), too ethnic and too old (I was
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Barbara Kay on REAL Women Canada’s Outburst
In one sense, I was very happy to read Barbara Kay’s column excoriating Gwen Landolt and REAL Women Canada for their attack on Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird this week. I was pleased to see that at least someone on the far right could see the ridiculousness of Landolt’s position.
Continue readingLeDaro: Extreme weather: Are these signs of Climate Change?
In the Maritimes we have been getting so far thunder and rain storms as well as hail storms. Some coastal communities were flooded. Is this the new normal? Are these the symptoms of Climate Change? There has been news coming from other parts of Canada and the U.S of extreme
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: The Content of Their Character
Represent! I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. – Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream, 1963 What has been most
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Let’s get serious about cigarette litter – no ifs, ands, or butts
In 1965, half of Canadians smoked. By 2011, that had dropped to about 17.3 per cent, or 4.9-million people, with only about 13.8 per cent daily smokers. Unfortunately the downward trend has levelled off in recent years, and tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in Canada, according to
Continue readingThe Moncton Times@Transcript - Good and Bad: August 9: Good news…
…after only a week of requests, Bell-Aliant is at least going to hook up my computer (but it will take another week.) What an age of electronic miracles! Today’s issue of the TandT will be a joy for lovers of pictures of Harper talking about nothing in particular while having
Continue readingLet Freedom Rain II: Friday Morning Funnies: ‘Australia’s Sarah Palin’ supports Jews because they ‘follow Jesus Christ’
Can’t vouch for the veracity of this video but it is funny as hell. H/t: Dangerous Minds
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Our Tories are troubled tra-la!
When writing about the ‘Dump the Dummy’ campaign among Ontario Conservatives a couple days ago, we could hardly imagine the Tories having any choice. It gives you serious pause though when you find out who are the people leading the charge to get rid of Ontario Leader Timmy Hudak. If
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Labour Force Numbers Worse Than They Look
Today’s Labour Force numbers provide more evidence that Canada’s labour market is still mired in a 3-year funk. Following one year of decent recovery from mid-2009 (the trough of the recession) to mid-2010, driven mostly by extraordinary monetary and fiscal stimulus, further progress has been stalled ever since. Most headlines focus
Continue readingmark a rayner | scribblings, squibs & sundry monkey joys: Thag make sex toy!
Thag was preparing himself for a long hunting trip. He’d already sharpened his fire-hardened spear, and collected fresh grasses for insulating his clothes and moccasins. The last thing he needed to do was cut himself a fresh set of knives … Continue reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Politics with your Folk
TweetFor this political junkie, one of the small highlights of attending Edmonton’s Folk Music Festival each year is flipping through the $5 programme book to sneak a look at the political ads placed in the programme guide. The political ads are always from politicians sitting in the political centre or left
Continue readingLeDaro: Bears Dancing
They are quite entertaining. 🙂 CBC News.
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