This was one of the best things of the week, the projection that was done on to the Verizon building in New York City on Thursday night while Occupy Wall Street protesters were crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. This was the message flashed over the span of a few minutes: “99%
Continue readingMorton's Musings: A story about Doug Coo
As mentioned earlier Justice Coo has died. A real loss. I thought about telling this story and concluded there is no harm — it says a lot about him. Years about, before the merger of the County and District Courts and the Supreme Court, I appeared before His Honour on
Continue readingeaves.ca: The New Government of Canada Open Data License: The OGL by another name
Last week the Minister Clement issued a press release announcing some of the progress the government has made on its Open Government Initiatives. Three things caught my eye. First, it appears the government continues to revise its open data license with things continuing to trend in the right direction. As
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: ACCCE Doesn’t Want To Pony Up For Life-Saving, Job-Creating New Emissions Standards
scrooge-mcduck-make-it-rain.jpeg The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is apparently trying to show the EPA its empty pockets as a new set of standards capping mercury, arsenic, acid gases, and other toxic chemicals is about to go forward. Although the new laws will save thousands of lives, the coal
Continue readingStaffroom Confidential: Change sweeps across many BC school Boards
My home district of Victoria was just one of many to see a wave of change in the school trustee elections yesterday. Three incumbent trustees were defeated by three newcomers – all three endorsed by the Labour Council and the local teachers’ association. All three newcomers are advocates against cuts
Continue readingThe Sixth Estate: Today, Sixth Estate Will Be Open-Minded and Agree That Homeopaths Could Eliminate Influenza From the Entire Universe Using Oscillococcinum
Getting called a racist European missionary the last time I took on the smoke-and-mirrors world of alternative “medicine” stung personally, but it didn’t bother me nearly as much as the fact that some commenters seemed to think an appropriate counter-argument was simply to suggest that I was just being “close-minded,”
Continue readingcartoon life: Suggestions of something real
Derya Unutmaz originally shared this post on Google+ Philosopher Dan Dennett makes a compelling argument that not only don’t we understand our own consciousness, but that half the time our brains are actively fooling us. Dan Dennett: Can we know our own minds? Mute the volume until Dennett is onscreen. Filed
Continue readingLife...A Small Spark Between Two Eternities: Canada Goes to War (Again)
Mr Harper wants to go to war again (Iran) and again (Syria)
Continue readingStupid Science Tricks: 20 papers in five minutes
Two young women present a list of actual research papers that reads like the nominees for the next Ig Nobel prize. Sex, immaculate conception, plumbing, it’s all in there. Breasts make the list twice (what IS it about boobs?), and cat food and cockroaches also put in an appearance. My
Continue readingHalf an Hour: BlogForever Interview
This is an interview of me conducted by Karen Stepanyan for the the BlogForever Consortium, a project co-funded by the European Commissionwithin the Seventh Framework Programme. An audio version of this interview is available here. First,we would like to understand your background. This will help us to understandthe context of your answers. 1. Could
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Would law apply to all violent rioters?
News Item: “OTTAWA – It could soon be illegal for rioters to hide behind masks. “A proposed law would allow cops to arrest those participating in an unlawful gathering or a riot if they cover their faces with bandannas and balaclavas. “This is exactly the kind of thing we need
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Fixing Vision Vancouver’s Democratic Deficit
Now that Vision Vancouver has self-actualized as a political party, it’s time to see if they’ll now address some longstanding democratic deficits. The complexion of the city changed markedly last night as Vision elected all its candidates, the Greens got a seat on council, the NPA increased its representation and
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Dump big internet service providers, lobby group says by Jason Magder
As a result of the CRTC’s ruling, telecom companies can choose to either charge independents a flat rate for usage, or based on capacity, and independent ISPs will have to decide each month how much bandwidth to purchase.
Continue readingWise Law Blog: Monday at 10:00 a.m. – Ethical Considerations in an Age of Technology
Welcome to those who will be joining us tomorrow (Monday, November 21,2011) at 10:00 a.m. for Ethical Considerations in an Age of Technology, a live webinar from the Law Society of Uppor Canada’s CPD department. A couple of quick notes: If you are following the festivities on Twitter, we are suggesting
Continue readingcartoon life: This post has no title
Found through Your Version HD – one of the more obscure news fetching apps – an article from an Indian newspaper published tomorrow, about an exhibition of conceptual art objects: What is the value of art without the artist’s name on it? And how does an artist brand his work
Continue readingCuriosityCat: The Case Newt Gingrich could make to beat President Obama
Don’t write off The Newt as a possible president come 2012. He has baggage, and lots of it (but not that much of import compared to a sitting president and unemployment in the 9% range with little prospect of a dramatic decline in the next six months). He has some
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your Sunday reading. – Thomas Walkom rightly points out that the voters most affected by the Cons’ push for privatized pensions are the ones paying the least attention to the issue: For workers over 50, the pension reforms introduced by Canada’s Conservative government on Thursday mean virtually
Continue readingFascism goes to college: 2
In which a distinguished American poet, sceptical of reports that police were beating students at Berkeley, checks out the scene—and gets beaten himself. It can happen here. [H/t Tabatha Southey via deBeauxOs]
Continue readingUC Davis Chancellor Katehi’s perp walk
Dawg and others have posted this but it’s powerful enough to post once again. This is indeed powerful; Dr. Katehi walking to her car, passing by OccupyUCDavis seated in absolute silence. This is an iconic video, representing the perp and the peaceful. UPDATE: More from someone close to the scene: A pretty remarkable thing
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