Of my many eccentricities, none is as improbable as my involvement in tent pegging. Often referred to as equestrian skill-at-arms, the sport has a mounted cavalier riding at a full gallop across a timed course, on the flat and over jumps, using sword and lance to smite a succession of
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Are Canadian Political Parties Afraid of the Dark? – Akaash Maharaj Videocast
CBC Television’s The Hour canvasses Bob Rae, John Tory, Olivia Chow, and me on why Canada has yet to see a visible minority party leader. Ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime, the programme included calls for “affirmative action” and more Americ…
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Integrity and the Liberal Leadership – Akaash Maharaj Videocast
Sarika Sehgal of CBC Newsworld interviews me on my support for Stephane Dion, and on how the Liberal Party can re-animate Canadians’ passion for politics. With the convention behind us and the election before us, the question of civic engagment in the…
Continue readingCoteGauche: Harper’s Folly
Some of Stephen Harper’s recent initiative are starting to resemble high risk political gamesmanship with little regard for the unity of the nation. I’ll give him political points for picking up the Quebecois Nation issue from the Liberals and turning it (possibly) to his political advantage – at least in
Continue readingCoteGauche: Harper’s Folly
Some of Stephen Harper’s recent initiative are starting to resemble high risk political gamesmanship with little regard for the unity of the nation.
I’ll give him political points for picking up the Quebecois Nation issue from the Liberals and turning…
Continue readingCoteGauche: In their own words
November 18, 2002
Stockwell DayWhen [Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham] thought everything was lovely about this gentlemen, he was talking about him all over the place. But when he gets information he’s dangerous, all of a sudden it’s ‘Oops maybe I…
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Politics and Principles – Akaash Maharaj Podcast
In the wake of the Quebecois Nation issue, TV Ontario’s The Agenda asks if politics and principles are Canada’s true twin solitudes. With Steve Paikin as moderator, Val Meredith for the Conservatives, Robin Sears for the NDP, and I for the Liberals.
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Politics and Principles – Akaash Maharaj Podcast
In the wake of the Quebecois Nation issue, TV Ontario’s The Agenda asks if politics and principles are Canada’s true twin solitudes. With Steve Paikin as moderator, Val Meredith for the Conservatives, Robin Sears for the NDP, and I for the Liberals.
Continue readingThus Prate the Pundit » Social Critique: Dissecting Proprietary Doublespeak–ISC Letter Criticism Part 2
Now to continue what I started yesterday–criticising the letter (PDF) from the Initiative for Software Choice’s (ISC) Hugo Lueders. Why bother criticizing this? Is it of any consequence? I think so, if not because the letter itself may actually influence policy, but rather because this kind of thing is visible
Continue readingThus Prate the Pundit » Social Critique: Dissecting Proprietary Doublespeak–ISC Letter Criticism Part 1
What would we do if George Orwell hadn’t enabled us to come up with doublespeak neologisms? Matthew Broersma of Techworld.com wrote about a “leaked” letter (PDF) from the Initiative for Software Choice (ISC) regarding a UNU-MERIT study on FLOSS in the economy. Broersma describes the ISC as a “Microsoft-funded pressure
Continue readingThus Prate the Pundit » Social Critique: Would Gov’t Procurement Process Neglect FOSS?
The Canadian Association for Open Source (Clue) published a thought provoking letter to an ITBusiness.ca article today. The Clue letter says that “…What is needed is for the government to separate the pricing and procurement of the source product from the various value-add services…” which is an interesting reflection for
Continue readingThus Prate the Pundit » Social Critique: Are Co-ops the Ideal FOSS Business Structure?
Free and open source software is a community affair. One would think it might be a perfect fit for a cooperative type of business entity. Businesses surviving and growing in virtue of FOSS ecosystems develop some interesting business models–the support and services model for example (though becoming increasingly common) relies
Continue readingConfessions of a Liberal Mind: Bitching 1
Okay, folks. Let’s start things off right, and complain.Disclaimer: The language contained herein will be crude, foul and definitely offensive to conservatives.It’s not bad enough being a Democrat in today’s society. The true crime, according to most h…
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Who Wants to be a Party Leader? – Akaash Maharaj Podcast
Ottawa Morning, CBC Radio One’s news and current affairs programme in the national capital, explores the question of why the field of candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada appears to be contracting. Hallie Cotnam hosted in Ottaw…
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Interviewing Leadership Candidates, Call-In – Akaash Maharaj Podcast
Host Alan Neal of CBC Radio One’s Ontario Today and I take telephone calls from across Ontario on the people’s choice for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: The Fall of Paul Martin – Akaash Maharaj Podcast
Former Cabinet Minister Herb Dhaliwal and I review the long road for Paul Martin from his triumphal entry as Liberal leader to his humble departure after the general election.
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Visionary Politics – Akaash Maharaj Podcast
A feature-length CBC Radio One national debate between Judy Rebick of the NDP, Adam Daifallah of the Conservative Party, and myself on visionary politics in Canada.
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Visionary Politics – Akaash Maharaj Podcast
A feature-length CBC Radio One national debate between Judy Rebick of the NDP, Adam Daifallah of the Conservative Party, and myself on visionary politics in Canada.
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Political Machines – Akaash Maharaj Podcast
The CBC’s Anna Maria Tremonti and I discuss the role or organisation, policy, and machine politics in the Liberal Party of Canada, in this nationally broadcast Radio One special.
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