There’s a popular belief in Canada and the US that heavy drinking of alcohol actually began with the passage of prohibition. Not true. Canadians and Americans were heavy drinkers up to 1840. Then they turned against it. By the 1870s, no respectable person would admit to even thinking of tasting
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: No Warts, No Boils – Yet
No boils. Not a wart to be seen. I was a little worried about what I might discover when I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror this morning. Yesterday I voted NDP for the first time ever. For this guy. Now, in fairness, I didn’t have a lot of
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: UN must challenge Canada’s complicity in mining’s human rights abuses
Canada is due for review at the UN human rights council – abuses by its mining companies must not be overlooked By: Meera Karunananthan | The Guardian (UK), Published on Wed Apr 24, 2013: Canada is scheduled for its universal periodic review (UPR) at the UN human rights council on 26 April. The UPR is
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Hearsay admissible in Child Welfare matters only if a traditional exception or principled approach applies
Nunavut (Director of Child and Family Services) v. S.Q. and L.K., 2013 NUCJ 05, released a few moments ago holds that the hearsay rule applies to child welfare cases in Nunavut. While relying on local legislation the case – a Superior Court level – is telling in that it suggests
Continue reading350 or bust: Rolling The Dice: CO2 Concentration Hits Record High Amid Global Inaction On Climate Change
Via The Guardian: The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached 399.72 parts per million (ppm) and is likely to pass the symbolically important 400ppm level for the first time in the next few days. Readings at the US government’s Earth Systems Research laboratory in Hawaii, are not
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: "Untermensch" Enters the American Right’s Political Dialogue
The Heritage Institute – neo-conservative America’s premier think tank – is warning Americans that Hispanics are way too intellectually inferior to be accorded U.S. citizenship. In High German I think the word is untermensch. Earlier this week, the Heritage Foundation released a new report, “The Fiscal Cost of Unlawful
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: All for show
Predictably, the Cons are running through their Rolodex of excuses as to why they’re spending public money on partisan media monitoring – with the answer being that they want to make sure that PR stunts achieve additional partisan goals: The prime minister’s spokesman Andrew MacDougall told HuffPost PCO tracks the
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: What Must Prince Charles Think of Canada’s Prince of Darkness?
If there’s one bunch of Canadians who adore the monarchy it has to be Conservatives. That’s why it was no end of fun to see the Royal next in line for the throne set fire to the coat tails of the climate change “forces of darkness” which has to include
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: ConCalls: No Robo #RoboCon #cdnpoli
Good news on the RoboCon front: A team of talented, non-political-party-aligned Canadians is working to notify masses of people of the piles of evidence detailing the largest election fraud scheme in Canadian history. There are piles of evidence. I’ve collected some of the most important bits here for you to
Continue readingRecreating Eden: A New Generation Discovers Robert Nelson
Robert Nelson has new fans! The leader of the 1838 phase of Lower Canada’s Rebellion and president of the Republic of Lower Canada has his own page and song produced by the Quebec hip hop group Alaclair. Well, it helps that one of the leaders of the group has taken
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: An Embarrassment To All of Us
Like the dotty uncle no one wants to invite to family dinners anymore because of his wildly inappropriate comments, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver is fast becoming an international persona non grata. With the passion of a senescent zealot, Oliver has drawn unfavorable attention to Canada in recent weeks over
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Yes, it’s for the best that some of Canada’s pre-eminent scientists are offering to walk Joe Oliver through the realities of climate change. But Nik Beeson’s offer of political detoxification looks like the more important step for those of us who aren’t in
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Labour Force Participation Below Two-Thirds
This morning, Statistics Canada reported an apparently decent month of data for April, with a modest increase in employment, all full-time and all in paid positions rather than self-employment. Despite this seemingly good news, the total number of Canadians participating in the labour force edged down. As a result, the
Continue readingWise Law Blog: 140 Law – Legal Headlines for Friday, May 10, 2013
Here are the leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter for Friday, May 10, 2013: And the most trusted judge in America is….Judge Judy! Once a lawyer, always a lawyer Which law schools pay tenured profs the most and least? Survey has 68 median salaries Advice for those getting
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Big Steve Is Watching You
One wonders if the Harper caucus has any backbone at all. We know that Big Steve has spent taxpayer money keeping an eye on his own MPs: Opposition parties accused Stephen Harper’s government of spying on its own MPs and being poor money managers Thursday after The Huffington Post Canada
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: The DWR Friday Musical Interlude – Bolero
Love it it or hate it, Bolero is a fine piece of music. I try and post work that make me stop what I’m doing and just listen. This performance by Hong Kong’s Orchestra did just that. Enjoy 🙂 Filed under: Music Tagged: Bolero, Flash Mob, The DWR Friday
Continue readingWarren Kinsella: You know, I think it should be okay to climb a tree
…but, apparently, it has become a criminal offence in Toronto. Assaulting a kid with developmental issues, and breaking his collarbone, meanwhile – that should be illegal.
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: Into Wine: New Book by Olivier Magny Explores Terroirism, Soil Health and More
This is a guest post by French sommelier Olivier Magny, author of the new book, Into Wine: An Invitation to Pleasure. When you like wine, and start to learn more about it, you quickly realize that the soil makes a difference. Studying how vineyards were farmed has helped me grasp that the
Continue readingmark a rayner | scribblings, squibs & sundry monkey joys: Ask General Kang: I may have inadvertently started an intergalactic war with the Bleugzag Imperium. Do you think this might be held against me when I apply for college?
Wow, good on ya! I’d hold this against you if you DIDN’T report it on your application. Starting an intergalactic war takes a great deal of organization, planning, and above all, unbridled enthusiasm. (Though that can get you into all … Continue reading →
Continue readingWarren Kinsella: No fake, that Drake
I’m no fan of celebrities, but I thought this story was uniquely Canadian (and Toronto): black, white, Jewish, American, Canadian, and millionaire rapper. Sounds like us.
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