Anime (Japanese animation) is certainly one of my two top forms of entertainment. Partly this is because the animationis simply well done. Partly it is because I find the Japanese style of storytelling enjoyable. But it is also true that there area considerable number of anime that actually get me thinking about issues. American cartoons have rarely elicited thesame reaction. One second you may be enjoying a light-hearted tale about some art students visiting an antique shop &the next a […]
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The Tory Pirate - Politics & Policy: Random Thoughts: Canadians Abhorring Climate Change Whilst Enjoying Its Benefits?
So it has been another few months of above average temperatures. Focus has been on COP21 and what politicians hopewill be the deal that saves the Earth. Now while a fair amount of ire has been directed at climate change deniers theymay not represent the greatest obstacle to fixing CO2 levels.Consider this scenario: Its December and the average should be 0 degrees Celsius. Now what if the temperature was anice 15 degrees all month. What would be the response from the average Canadian? My mon […]
Continue readingThe Tory Pirate - Politics & Policy: Random Thoughts: Directly-Elected Executives Vs. Legislatures?
The US Senate in all its impotent glory. While commenting on one of Warren Kinsella’s older articles(comment has not appeared as of this writing due either toconnection failure or queuing) I pointed out that when acountry has a directly-elected executive the executive tends towin in any disputes it has with the
Continue readingThe Tory Pirate - Politics & Policy: Random Thoughts: Oddities of the Political Spectrum
I have taken a large number of political quizzes over the years. Some, such as the Political Compass, I come back to fromtime-to-time. I have noticed something unusual: no matter the country political opinion seems to flow along a diagonalline from left-libertarian to right-authoritarian. No country seems to have a
Continue readingThe Tory Pirate - Politics & Policy: Random Thoughts: Just Not Ready For The Meme Campaigning
So today I was at work (I do this a lot these days) and it was fairly quiet. My coworker from the Flooring Department wasvisiting my glorious Paint Department. He has been learning how to work in the department in his free time (probably aspart of some plot to supplant
Continue readingThe Tory Pirate - Politics & Policy: Random Thoughts: Scattering the Provinces
If you’ve been paying attention lately you’ll know that the provinces have been trying to work through their differences (mostly involving pipelines). You may also be aware of the low-level animosity between the East and the West. In short, the provinces could get along better. While it is tempting to
Continue readingThe Tory Pirate - Politics & Policy: Random Thoughts: Ammunition Expiry Dates & War
A few days ago I was talking to a coworker who is in the Reserves. He happened to mention that the munitions he uses often has very short expiry dates (3-5 years). This got me thinking. I wonder if you cross referenced weapons purchases and military engagements (of the USA
Continue readingThe Quantum Buddha's Blog: The New Age
I am thinking about this task I set before me. But what is this task? Every time I define it, I eventually realize that my solution is disconnected from life. This is happening more and more. When I examine a problem, and break it down into its essential parts, understand
Continue readingThe Quantum Buddha's Blog: The New Age
I am thinking about this task I set before me. But what is this task? Every time I define it, I eventually realize that my solution is disconnected from life. This is happening more and more. When I examine a problem, and break it down into its essential parts, understand
Continue readingThe Quantum Buddha's Blog: Dan’s Estimation of the Age of the Universe
As a follow up to my post on the theory of relativity’s implications on the age of the universe and the nature of reality, I am pointing out something that has been bugging me for see time. How did quasars get 33 billions years away from us in just 13.75
Continue readingThe Quantum Buddha's Blog: Dan’s Estimation of the Age of the Universe
As a follow up to my post on the theory of relativity’s implications on the age of the universe and the nature of reality, I am pointing out something that has been bugging me for see time. How did quasars get 33 billions years away from us in just 13.75
Continue readingThe Quantum Buddha's Blog: Einstein’s Estimation of the Age of the Universe
According to Einstein, when objects approach very near the speed of light (one of the boundary conditions of the universe) the passage of time will slow, among other bizarre effects. The universally accepted theory (proven by atomic clocks) is that if you had two identical twins, and one climbed into
Continue readingThe Quantum Buddha's Blog: Einstein’s Estimation of the Age of the Universe
According to Einstein, when objects approach very near the speed of light (one of the boundary conditions of the universe) the passage of time will slow, among other bizarre effects. The universally accepted theory (proven by atomic clocks) is that if you had two identical twins, and one climbed into
Continue readingThose Emergency Blues: Privacy, judgment and ethics aside, I have caring to do.
A few years ago I cared for an acquaintance. She was a friend of a friend who had been living out of the country for several years, but had come home to visit family friends. She was rushed in to the ED and before I even knew who she was
Continue readingThose Emergency Blues: Generation Gaps
I recently took a course with nurses of varied years of experience and ages, but it was primarily made up of fairly new graduate nurses within the last year or two. During one lecture the facilitator was speaking about the future of nursing and how we need to address the
Continue readingThose Emergency Blues: Having the Talk about Birth Control
One of a series of YouTube videos from Bedsider, a program of the U.S. National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, on having the birth control discussion with a physician. [More videos can be found here.] From Bedsiders webpage: Babies are great…when you’re ready for them. We think in the meantime women
Continue readingThose Emergency Blues: “How Did I Ever Live So Long Without a Monkey?”
Not what you think. Trust me. You may even have a tear or two. More information can be found here. Filed under: Advertising Hitting The Mark, Random Thoughts Tagged: monkeys, MS, multiple sclerosis, service animals
Continue readingThose Emergency Blues: Your Man Reminder
Anti-pink ribbon breast cancer awareness from Rethink Breast Cancer. The charity bills itself as the “first-ever, Canadian breast cancer charity to bring bold, relevant awareness to the under-40 crowd; foster a new generation of young and influential breast cancer supporters; infuse sass and style into the cause; and, most importantly, respond
Continue readingThose Emergency Blues: “What’s Wrong With Our Bodies, Anyway?”
Um, nothing. Just that runway models — and expectations — are getting skinnier. From Plus Model Magazine. On the left is a “straight-size” runway model, on the right, “plus” size model Katya Zharkova (size 12-14). A stunning contrast between the near-anorexic “norm” and healthy reality, wouldn’t you say? According to the
Continue readingThose Emergency Blues: A Nasty, Medically Unnecessary, Coercive Procedure
This is just grostesque: A Republican supermajority has muscled two of the most restrictive anti-abortion bills in years through the Virginia House, despite bitter yet futile objections from Democrats, with one GOP delegate deriding most of the procedures as “matters of lifestyle convenience.” You want to put what where? [SNIP]
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