The problems in the world have nothing to do with a lack of intelligence. They have everything to do with denial: and in particular, not just a denial of certain issues and social and ecological realities, but, more essentially, a denial of our own common sense. (See the great sociologists
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Blevkog: Ideology versus principles
Just a thought running through my head right now: When does ideology trump principle? Are there people who exist for whom principle always trumps ideology? Lets look at some examples: Mayor Rob Ford smoked crack. Two news organisations, one reputable, the other less so, ran a story in which their
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Rob Ford Does The Expected
If there’s an incriminating video out there, naturally you’d hire a criminal cracker to destroy every copy. My prediction? Rob Ford will announce a new housing strategy.— Andrew Matte (@AndrewMatte) November 05, 2013 #CrackHousing? Then spend months denying there’s a video. When the police confirm they have recovered the video
Continue readingBlevkog: Unwise Crack
Mayor Rob Ford, according to multiple media outlets, has now admitted, for the record, that he smoked crack cocaine while he was Mayor. This, by definition, is an illegal act, so this should actually be the beginning of the end. You have to give the guy credit in that he
Continue readingMelissa Fong: Why is Captain Picard so awesome?
First, this halloween getup: and now this: Jean-Luc, you are a stone cold fox. Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Amnesty International, awesome, Patrick Stewart, social justice, […]
Continue readingBlevkog: Full Esteem Ahead
This morning, as I was making my way through my email, I caught a short news item in Academica Top Ten about a school in Calgary discontinuing awards and competitions based on the work of Alfie Kohn, an author who writes about child behaviour and parenting. The theory is that, “awards eventually lose
Continue readingLeft Over: Rob Ford: I’m No Edsel…
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford ‘could easily get re-elected’ The mayor’s base of support hasn’t eroded much, say experts By Andre Mayer, CBC News Posted: Nov 05, 2013 5:00 AM ET Last Updated: Nov 05, 2013 6:32 AM ET Ford’s so-called ‘apology’ was the smart move for him…after all, it worked for Gordon
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Few anti-stigma campaigns based on evidence — Stuart
“Mental health is set aside as that other kind of health care we don’t want to talk about.” – Asante Haughton, one of three youth featured in the Ontario Shores produced film “Talk To Someone: You’re Not Alone.” Queen’s University … Continue reading →
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Conservatives Win Friends and Improve Policy…
…Or that might be what the usually compliant and forgiving media would say if they hadn’t been pissed off about being locked out of policy meetings at the Conservative Convention last weekend in Calgary. the weird, unsettling vibe that hung over the whole event. (We’ve grown used to seeing prime
Continue readingBlevkog: Remember, Remember The Fifth Of November. And Remind Your Government Too.
Remember, remember the fifth of November, The gunpowder, treason and plot, I know of no reason Why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent To blow up the King and Parliament. Three score barrels of powder below, Poor old England to overthrow; By
Continue readingBlevkog: Will No One Rid Me Of This Troublesome Mayor?
Probably not the best way to go about it. Emmet MacFarlane over at the Globe and Mail has an interesting column on Mayor rob ford’s apparent belief that, over and above everything else that makes him Ontario’s personal laughing stock, association with known criminals is no reason for him to
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Robots replacing workers in health care
His or her name is Casper. Casper is really an “it.” Casper is also the future we need to start talking about – one where humans get replaced by machines. It’s no longer a matter of science fiction. It’s now. … Continue reading →
Continue readingExcited Delirium: SuperCrook: I Can Break Any Rule …
… so long as I promise to pay the right people.
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Pacific Rim
I watched “Pacific Rim” [7/10] after “Super 8″ [7/10] and was not as impressed by either as I’d hoped to be. First, I can’t hear Pacific Rim any more without thinking Job after, thanks to the team named that at Owl Pub Trivia I go to frequently. Second, the movie
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: The new epidemic: Death cults and the culture of despair
An article in The Atlantic speaks to the growing death-fetish that is gripping more and more youth. It is a bad omen for the state of modern industrial civilization as a whole, I would contend, and it indicates a broader trend toward anxiety, hopeless and despair, which must be confronted
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Democracy at Putney Church, continued
This post continues from my previous post about on the Putney Debates; a debate that took place between Cromwell and the Army Grandees on the one hand, and the representatives of the Leveller movement on the other. The debate signifies a milestone in the development of democratic ideas in England.
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Frontenanc Community Mental Health a case study in empty promises
You would think these would be the best of times for community health care providers. The Wynne government is freezing base hospital funding and telling Ontarians that they can instead have it all closer to home. The policy is one of a burning … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Social Determinants: Low income second leading cause of death in Canada
Dr. James Dunn makes it clear that wealth not only is a key determinant of a person’s health, but it is stratified so that each economic level outperforms the one before it. That means each layer in the economic pyramid … Continue reading →
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Imagine common sense
John Lennon, Imagine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRhq-yO1KN8 Think about how widely loved this song is. Then think about the lyrics and what they say – this is a song that is urging anarchist communism. And the people love it. That says a lot. In fact, it would be hard to think of a
Continue readingExcited Delirium: Crack’d: The Cons Behind the Cons
When depraved and corrupt people run our lives and our governments, what options do we have?
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