When it is proclaimed by Chris Spence, the disgraced former Director of the Toronto District School Board who lost his job earlier this year for extensive plagiarism. In what the Toronto Star describes as a ‘far reaching interview,’ Spence says “there are no excuses for what I did; I didn’t
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Milton Friedman And Edward Snowden
Murray Dobbin writes that both men are connected, despite the years. Friedman was famous for coining the phrase “Free To Choose.” He sold right wing ideologues on the notion that the free market ensured absolute freedom. His acolytes believed, therefore, that free market capitalism was the cornerstone of democracy. Except
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: The DWR Friday Musical Interlude – Bach, “Little” Fugue in G minor, BWV 578
Fugue in G minor, BWV 578, “Little” (popularly known as the “Little Fugue”), is a piece of organ music written by Johann Sebastian Bach during his years at Arnstadt (1703–1707). It is one of Bach’s best known fugues and has been arranged for other voices, including in an orchestral version
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: Louisiana Sues Oil Companies For Wetlands Damage in Gulf Showdown
After decades of operating with complete disregard for the environment, the dirty energy industry finally has to face the music for destroying the wetlands that form a natural barrier against storm damage in the state of Louisiana. The suit, filed by the board of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East,
Continue readingmark a rayner | scribblings, squibs & sundry monkey joys: Robots need love too
Seriously. Robots need love too! If we’re going to survive the coming Toaster Uprising, then we have to love our robots. We have to instill them with love. It’s really what Ray Kurtzweil is talking about in The Singularity Is … Continue reading →
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Justin Trudeau and the Great Marijuana Debate
Well I'm glad to see that Justin Trudeau has come out in favour of legalizing marijuana. For the noblest of reasons:“It’s one of the only ways to keep it out of the hands of our kids because the current war on drugs, the current model is not working. We have
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Like water for muskrats #nlpoli
Wednesday it was Kathy Dunderdale. Thursday, they sent Tom Marshall to chat with Bill Rowe on Open Line to do damage control in the wake of two huge setbacks for the Muskrat Falls project. Some people thing Tom is a good spokesperson because he talks in soft tones. But truth
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Harper Government’s Message To The Blind
First person translates this gets a free ice-cream cone. But only one scoop, for I am not made out of money. Inspired by.
Continue readingbgrice blog: Justin Trudeau in Vancouver
My wife and I joined Laurier Club members from across Vancouver in welcoming Justin to town.
Continue readingJustin Trudeau in Vancouver
My wife and I joined Laurier Club members from across Vancouver in welcoming Justin to town.
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: You See, Justin? It’s Really Not That Hard.
Justin Trudeau has taken a policy stand, one calculated to trigger condemnation from the Harper regime. Pushing on an open door, Trudeau has come out in favour of not just decriminalization but outright legalizing of marijuana possession and use. Even Paul Martin wanted to get marijuana possession and use out
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: What Conservatives Should Ask About The Economy
If civilization’s value could be summed up in Trillions of dollars, how many would it be? Is $60 Trillion everything we know? Let’s assume it’s $100 Trillion for fun. If $60T damage is inflicted on everything which is $100T, can the remaining $40T of production recover? How long would it
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: CBC: Friends of Canadian Broadcasting launch anti-Harper ad [VIDEO]
Friends of Canadian Broadcasting has launched an anti-Harper ad, urges Canadians to resist the Conservatives’ plan to “undermine the CBC’s editorial independence and turn our national public broadcaster into a government propaganda machine – a state broadcaster!” The post CBC: Friends of Canadian Broadcasting launch anti-Harper ad [VIDEO] appeared first
Continue readingB.C. Policy Perspectives: Mr. Mulcair to Blame?
Attempts by the Conservative government (and even some Liberals),to deflect blame for the Lac Megantic disaster by attacking the Leader of the Opposition for “exploiting” the tragedy are simply mistaken, in my view, and in the view of many more responsible commentators. Consider this excerpt from an editorial in the Globe
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Thousands speak out to shape our Digital Future
What does your digital future look like? Thousands of citizens are speaking out right now to shape the future of our Internet. They’re taking action to help prevent radical new Internet censorship proposals that could drastically restrict how we share and collaborate online. The extreme proposals are contained within the
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: ‘Nobody Understands’ Spills at Alberta’s Cold Lake Tar Sands Operation
Richard Hub Hughes-Political Blogger The pollution in Northern Alberta attributable to ‘Fracking’ and Tar Sands’ Operations is out of control. The latest seemingly unstoppable spill of significance is devastating wildlife and the environment. They cannot stop it. Nothing is being done and it seems obvious that the politicians first concern is
Continue readingMorton's Musings: This is hilarious
The Sun Media editorialists decide to call up the toll-free number featured in the government’s much-reviled Economic Action Plan advertisements. Result? “A polite receptionist referred us to the ministry of finance website Budget.gc.ca, explaining she didn’t have a direct phone line for the EAP, nor was she aware of the Actionplan.gc.ca website,
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: What’s That Behind Our Boat? A Cougar?
The local waters out here teem with life. That includes several species of whales, including newly returned populations of humpback; dolphins and porpoise; seals and sea lions; sharks and rays; all manner of fish and shelfish; and mammals such as deer, bears and wolves migrating from island to island. But
Continue readingDefending Public Healthcare: Will premiers fight for federal health care funding?
At this week’s meeting of the provincial premiers there were some sharp complaints about the federal government. But missing — so far — is any significant complaint about the one issue likely closest to the hearts of Canadians — public health care. Yet the federal government plans to kill
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