I have experienced a number of revelations about the state of North American democracy in the last few years. In 2016 I thought it was solid as a rock. How could it not be? We and the Americans have solid constitutions, centuries of experience with democratic governance, loyal militaries, free
Continue readingTag: security
THE FIFTH COLUMN: How to Make Credit Card Purchases Safer – Banks, Are You Paying Attention
Do you worry about the security of your credit card information when you provide it to lesser known merchants to make payments ? Do you worry that the information you provide to well known major merchants could be stolen as their databases are hacked as seems to happen regularly ?
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Big Brother Is Watching You – and Yes, It Matters
I talked to my boy in the car this past weekend about what to do when he drives, if he has any problems; and he talked to me about the language learning, free software that he uses on his phone. Two days later, Virgin Mobile, now owned by Bell, sends
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Gold, Savings & Security In The Real World
Here is what the crowd, the authorities, and the mainstream media, including the business press, will tell you: It’s called BS. Think for yourself. For example, when real inflation rates of 8% or more are counted, money in the bank is losing money, and most investment funds are losing money.
Continue readingThings Are Good: How We can Track COVID-19 and NOT Invade Your Privacy
To figure out the spread of COIV-19, or other diseases, the technique of contact tracing gets used by researchers to decipher who is likely to have been exposed. When too many people are infected then contact tracing takes too much labour and subsequently becomes less useful, which has led tech
Continue readingWell-being as National Security
When the term “national security” crops up, our thoughts usually turn to things military. Indeed the dictionary on my Mac defines national security as “the safety of a nation against threats such as terrorism, war, or espionage.” But the security of a people is often threatened by things other than
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: A Wonderful Father – It’s About Love and Security
This is my father, James “Babe” Thomson. I miss him so much – he passed away after a series of strokes in 1975. From my Dad, I learned to feel secure. I learned kindness and the benefits of a quiet mind. I learned how to control my temper and how
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Ethnic Separatism – Not A Solution?
Well colour me surprised. Separating people into homogeneous enclaves isn’t really an effective solution for creating a stable state. The State, at its best, exists to serve its’ citizens. We are on the verge of forgetting that conception here in the West. Providing security so people feel safe day to
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how Quebec’s latest poverty plan falls far short of the “basic income” title it’s received in some national coverage – and on how we should insist on political leadership toward the genuine article. For further reading…– CBC has reported on the new plan and the response it’s received,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on Ottawa’s Canada 150 event which was planned solely for the benefit of VIPs and businesses rather than mere people – and how that reality fits the Trudeau Libs’ general governing themes. For further reading…– Again, CBC reported on the Canada Day fiasco, while the Ottawa Citizen published accounts
Continue readingThings Are Good: Amnesty International’s Guide to Safe Messaging
Thanks to the bravery of whistleblowers we know that the Five Eyes are monitoring all internet chatter regardless of who’s talking. This is a big concern for people who care about freedom and rights to have personal communication. As a result, Amnesty International put together a review of messaging apps
Continue readingThings Are Good: Easily Browse Online Anonymously
In a world where our digital lives are tracked by democratic governments (Canada and the UK amongst them) we need to ensure that we can have private conversations online. Over at Digg they have collected a very easy to follow setup to get your protecting your privacy online in only
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Big oil, pipelines, Trudeau, and energy security for Canada
Why does the Canadian government continue to subsidize the oil industry with billions of dollars a year when the environmental crisis demands the opposite, and when investment in energy efficiency, conservation and green energy create many more jobs? Why does Canada import 40% of the oil we consume when we
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: The Vile Maxim of the Servants
Adam Smith wrote about “The vile maxim of the masters,” which is, as he describes it, “All for us, none for anybody else.” And the vile maxim of their loyal servants seems to be, “Whatever you say boss. You make the rules.” The vile, amoral service to power – nothing
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: The Vile Maxim of the Servants
Adam Smith wrote about “The vile maxim of the masters,” which is, as he describes it, “All for us, none for anybody else.” And the vile maxim of their loyal servants seems to be, “Whatever you say boss. You make the rules.” The vile, amoral service to power – nothing
Continue readingMaple-Flavoured Politics: Playing the Security Card
The Conservatives are trying to make security a “ballot box question.” To hear Stephen Harper tell it, there’s a jihadi terrorist lurking in every shadow, ready to pounce on us when we least expect it. (Funny that they are always “jihadi” terrorists, as if the Timothy McVeighs and Ted Kaczynskis
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Kent Roach & Craig Forcese: Press the reset button on security
The ongoing work of Professors Kent Roach and Craig Forcese on C-51 provides the most exhaustive analysis of the bill and is a must-read for anyone concerned with the issue. Article by Kent Roach and Craig Forcese for the National Post Security issues are a campaign issue — at least
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: David Suzuki: Vote for a better, cleaner Canada
David Suzuki sees climate change as the biggest threat to Canadians’ health and security, urges voters to elect MPs who will be part of the solution when the go to the polls on October 19. The post David Suzuki: Vote for a better, cleaner Canada appeared first on The Canadian
Continue readingAlberta Politics: ‘Event logisticians’? Give us a break! They’re bouncers! What’s that tell you about the Tories?
PHOTOS: Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets a group of foreign event logistics consultants while travelling abroad (Government of Canada photo). Below: Pierre Trudeau does suppressed fury the right way; Mr. Harper does it with considerably less appeal. Clearly, the continuing uproar about Stephen Harper’s “event logistics team members” tells us
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: The Inquirer: ICANN’s plan to end online anonymity would radically undermine Internet privacy
ICANN plans to end online anonymity could undermine the privacy of almost anyone who purchases a domain name. At OpenMedia we believe privacy is a fundamental human right, and one that the Internet should safeguard and protect, rather than undermine. Article by Carly Page for The Inquirer DIGITAL RIGHTS
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