Years ago a friend asked me to drive them to the tanning salon. I was less than thrilled by this plan, but carried it out with much grumbling. It’s not much better than driving someone to the store so they can pick up cigarettes, and it bothers me. Here’s a
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Those Emergency Blues: A Note about Alan Sullivan
Nearly two years ago, the poet and blogger Alan Sullivan died. His final project, a new translation of the Book of Psalms, has been published. The translation can be ordered here. His collaborator and advisor on this translation, Seree Zohar, was kind enough to send me a note to tell me
Continue readingSlap Upside The Head: Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives Finally Acknowledge Their Progressive Side
Alberta Premier Alison Redford took part in Edmonton’s annual Pride parade earlier this month, making her the province’s first premier to ever participate in a Pride event. While this might seem awfully late compared to other provinces, it’s actually a pretty big deal for Alberta. When I left Alberta in
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Harper Government to Aid Canadian Calendar Industry (guest blog)
(The following is reported {in jest} by Richard of Cornwall) — “Since the former Liberal Government created the new territory of Nunavut, the Canadian calendar industry has been suffering. It is the intention of the Harper Government to redress this wrong.” This is a quote from Stephen Harper on a
Continue readingIn This Corner: Beautiful women, rabid fans … oh, and soccer. Why you should watch Euro.
If you’re a soccer fan, you have been watching Euro 2012. Maybe you PVR the games then spend the rest of the day avoiding all your Facebook friends and Twitter followers so you don’t hear the score (only to overhear a conversation on the bus that spills the beans). Maybe
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: New Operation Maple video highlights corporate tax evasion
Thirty Fortune 500 companies didn’t pay any tax in the last three years. Ever wonder why corporations continue to pay less or no tax while governments become more and more destabilized by debt? Our friends at Operation Maple have just released … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Summer election may be fought over sneaky clause in budget bill
Dalton McGuinty is threatening to pull the plug on his own government after the opposition parties amended his budget bill yesterday in the legislature’s finance committee. Like the Harper government budget bill, the McGuinty government inserted a large number of … Continue reading →
Continue readingLeft Over: And the “I didn’t Vote” Whingers are at it Again….
As the proverbial dust settles on our raped and pillaged Canadian democracy, there are outcries everywhere about this drastic rewrite of our country’s laws and protections.. How many of the whiners out there actually voted, and if they did, voted for the Tories? Bet they won’t be too quick to
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Eye of Scheer over Peace Tower of Sauron #LordOfTheBills
What’s going on inside the House of Commons today is no laughing matter. In fact, Minister Tony Clement told me that if I don’t like his joking about the step back from democratic debate in Canada, I shouldn’t read his tweets. Seriously. @saskboy @kady Don't like my sense of humour?
Continue readingCritical Brain Candy: How to codify anti-discrimination in law
This is great: Ontario amends Human Rights Code to extend protections to transgender people, but really, can’t it be possible to write the law in such a way that we don’t have to list out each new criteria of groups of people that are discriminated against? I assume it’s not possible,
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Prairie Music
Saskatchewan is known for many musicians, and types of music. It has a provincial name that is a challenge to include in songs too. However, not many people have heard the musical qualities of grain bins. It’s like steel drum meets vocalist. Enjoy! I’ve spent a few minutes of my
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Ten Years Blogging
I may have marked this milestone in February, but Google doesn’t tell me I did, and I don’t remember. Old bloggers also repeat themselves. My blogging is ten years old this year, making me a veritable Tyrannosaurus Rex of Open Data. I started posting photos and tales of my voyages
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: MPP Bill Mauro introduces 2,000 signature petition to Ontario legislature
Liberal MPP Bill Mauro introduced a 2,000-signature petition into the Ontario legislature today calling upon the government to use its influence to reopen the Canadian Blood Services Thunder Bay Plasma Donor Clinic. The clinic closed its doors back in April … Continue reading →
Continue readingLeft Over: Quebec Should Stop Apologising For Speaking Truth to Power…
I am really, really tired of Jewish organizations condemning everyone and everything as it relates to the ironic use of fascist salutes, arguments and rebuttals..Like it or not, the term ‘Nazi’ and the salute made so famous by Hitler’s sheeple has become part of the lexicon..and there isn’t much anyone
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: When the shift hits the fan
Dr. Danielle Martin has practically catalogued the various attacks on Canada’s Medicare system over the last two decades. The Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare says that while the arguments continually “shift,” the prescription from the right is always the … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Docs take McGuinty to court – case likely to decide whether government can unilaterally impose fee schedules and wage freezes
Ontario’s doctors are fighting back after the government unilaterally cut $340 million in fees last month. The Ontario Medical Association is applying to the Ontario Supreme Court of Justice for a review of the government’s negotiations tactics and the imposition … Continue reading →
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: ConCalls: CEAP Adscam 2.0?
The annoying Canadian Economic Action Plan acronym CEAP appears in the latest Conservative phone calling scandal because a company Dean Del Mastro hired, got CEAP money to develop GeoVote. It’s unclear to me at this moment exactly how the economy would be stimulated by a program that identifies voters geographically
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: I Spill, You Spill, We all Spill for Oil
The Canadian Press had a rather disappointing effort in presenting the true harm to the Red Deer area animal (and human) system. I know they’re short on time, so why not just publish the press releases from Midstream Oil Gusher Co. Ltd. instead of pretending like they’re journalists? After all,
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: “My place is destroyed” – Albertan
Plains Midstream Canada, wow, what an ironic name given their midstream oil leak on the plains of Alberta. I hope Plains Midschool Canada, or Plains Midlake Canada don’t operate in Regina. Gord Johnston grew up on the banks of the Red Deer River, at a place his family first settled
Continue readingLeft Over: Will Women Ever Wake Up?
Nechemya Weberman, Orthodox Counselor To Hasidic Community, On Trial In Sex Abuse Case By COLLEEN LONG 06/10/12 06:53 PM ET Here’s an informative little missive from Huffpo today that is a discussion of a woman who finally spoke out about being abused by, yes, you guessed it, her ‘religious’ advisor…not again?
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