In all the hullaballoo the past week or son you may have missed a couple of fine examples of local reporting. For starters, check out Curtis Rumboldt’s profile of a man who was disfigured in an industrial accident but who has made a truly inspiring recovery. This is award-winning stuff.
Continue readingPeace, order and good government, eh?: Can we get a free speech warrior to weigh in on this?
If Conservative MP Brian Jean was talking seriously about legislating against foreign funding for any group that’s attempting to influence the crafting of public policy in Canada, then he might at least be able to claim to be acting on principle. Legislation like that would apply to so-called think tanks
Continue readingBlevkog: A Friday Tune – The Front Bottoms
I’m really starting to like these guys…
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Bill C-304 Up Next Week
That’s the one that repeals Section 13, the hate-speech provision in the Canadian Human Rights Act. A vote will be held next day. And still sign of the Tory’s plan to beef up the criminal code’s hate speech provisions to replace S.13. Source
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Musical Chairs Belong At Children’s Parties, Not In The Senate
I really have nothing to add here. The absolute puerility of the Conservatives speaks for itself: OTTAWA—The so-called house of sober second thought witnessed the kind of contest normally associated with first-grade birthday parties, as a showdown erupted over seating arrangements this week. The newly elected chair of the Senate
Continue readingWise Law Blog: 140 Law – Legal Headlines for Friday, February 10, 2012
Here are the leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter for Friday, February 10, 2012: Foreclosure Deal to Spur U.S. Home Seizures – Bloomberg Shafia mom joins husband, son, in filing intent to appeal murder convictions Jury deliberating in Vander Zalm defamation case Spain high court convicts judge Garzon
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Hypocrisy Is Stunning
Today, on his road trip through China, Stephen Harper took another swipe at those “radical” environmentalists: Our government is committed to ensuring that Canada hasthe infrastructure necessary to move our energy resources tothose diversified markets,” Harper said. “We will uphold ourresponsibility to put the interests of Canadians ahead offoreign money
Continue readingRedBedHead: February 11: The Day Egypt’s Revolution Kicks Out The Jams
The last year the revolution in Egypt has been a source of inspiration to people around the world. It has spawned movement across the region and, indeed across the world. In the minds of the ruling class it has inspired fear from China where mention of the Egyptian revolution was
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Letter to Supporters: We didn’t want to do this, but we have to
We really didn’t want to send you another email so soon, but we know you count on us to alert you about major threats to Internet choice and affordability. So here it is… According to copyright experts, giant media conglomerates are lobbying for Internet lockdown powers allowing them to cut
Continue reading350 or bust: Permaculture, Peak Oil, Climate Change and the Soul of the World
ANIMA MUNDI official trailer 2011: Will you survive the transition of human industrial civilization happening now due to peak oil and climate change? Can you see the forest for the trees, the earth for the dream, the universe for the seed? Anima Mundi is an innovative documentary about the planetary
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – David Climenhaga marvels at the fact that the Fraser Institute manages to claim charitable status while serving as an entirely political organization: The Fraser Institute is serious all right, although its research is not serious in the normal sense of transparency and lack
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: The DWR Friday Musical Interlude – Battlestar Galactica Passacaglia
The last for awhile from the Bear McCrary and the Battlestar Galactica series. Passacagilia contains one of my favourite motifs right now. I will include both the string and piano version, as I am slowly working on music. It is quite past my level (alternating 6th’s quad chords!) but this
Continue readingmark a rayner | scribblings, squibs & sundry monkey joys: A Valentine’s Day gift to remember
The year is 1952. After discovering the patent for Michael Flannigan’s infamous “Mammary Sympathizer” in a back issue of 19th Century Inventions That Could Have Been Less Offensive, early Emily Chesley enthusiasts Barry Tickson and Orson Flatbread (both citizens of … Continue reading →
Continue readingwmtc: (un)lawful access: watch, share, remix, and take action
Last summer I worked as a research assistant on a project about video surveillance in stores, malls and public spaces.* That project was headed by Andrew Clement, an expert in the field of identity, privacy, and surveillance. Andrew co-created this mini-documentary with Kate Milberry, about the so-called “lawful access” legislation
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 – Saganash Bows Out
In my most recent leadership candidate rankings, I mentioned that I still saw a possible path to victory for Romeo Saganash. To expand slightly on what I’d planned to turn into a more substantive post, that view was based on the possibility that he could effectively put into practice Tarik
Continue readingRedBedHead: Like You Needed To Be Told The Ford Bros Were Full Of S**T
Here was Mayor Rob Ford’s equally odious brother, Doug Ford at the transit debate on Wednesday: “The St. Clair streetcar is a total disaster.” Ahem..oh, really? Much maligned St. Clair line not so bad after all – The Globe and Mail: “Since the June, 2010, completion of the right-of-way from
Continue readingImpolitical: Notes on the Toronto-Danforth nomination meeting
Grant Gordon was nominated as the Liberal candidate for Toronto-Danforth last night for the upcoming March 19th by-election. I attended as a scrutineer and have just a few observations on the night. In terms of impressions of the newly nominated candidate, Grant Gordon, he connected well with the room, which,
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Contradiction? What contradiction?
Prime Minister Harper in China on the tarsands: Prime Minister Stephen Harper blasted “foreign money and influence” behind critics of Canada’s oil sands even as he welcomed Chinese investment in Canada’s energy sector…At the same time, he made clear he does not equate Chinese foreign investment in oil sands development
Continue readingImpolitical: On the lighter side…
Blessed art thou, F-35, amongst holy implements: Associate Defence Minister Julian Fantino reached heavenward for words Thursday when trying to defend his government’s purchase of F-35 fighter jets during question period. Fantino said a recent report criticizing the purchase in the Canadian Foreign Policy Journal was “critical of everything that
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Best interests #nlpoli
Fisheries minister Darin King rejected Ocean Choice International’s proposal for exporting and processing fishery. He held a news conference on Thursday. King claimed the decision is in the best interest of the people of the province. King also said the decision did not mean he was opposed to reform in
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