Since coming into existence in 1776, the United States has enjoyed just 21 “war free” years. The last four of those were under president Jimmy Carter who didn’t see much point in blowing other people, their kids and all their stuff into smithereens just to make a point. No wonder
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Art Threat: Print your own gun
This week’s Friday Film Pick is a new 24-minute documentary produced by Motherboard and distributed by Vice Magazine, on 3D gun printing (video after jump). The film peaks into the weird and extremely controversial world of Cody Wilson and associates, young gun-loving geeks who celebrate the intersection of firearms, freedom
Continue readingArt Threat: Bowling for Columbine turns ten
Editor’s note: Art Threat has launched a cultural archaeological project that involves digging up previously published but now inaccessible film reviews and cultural musings from Montreal-based writer and teacher Matthew Hays. We’re calling it The Hays Files, and to get things rolling, we’re republishing a review Hays wrote of Bowling
Continue readingArt Threat: Tillett Wright’s million shades of gay
When Tillett Wright began her photographic project, Self Evident Truths, back in 2010 she didn’t expect the groundswell of requests for photographs that she ended up receiving. She originally wanted to shoot 4-5,000 people, but the response has led her to increase her goal to 10,000 people. “I basically decided
Continue readingThings Are Good: Open-Access Science Growing in Reach
Many academic journals charge a subscription fee that is out of reach for the common person, which means that independent researchers and students are at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing information. Elementa aims to make research about the anthropocene era we’re in freely accessible for everyone. Elementa follows
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Canada’s Missing Founding Fathers
Children who have an absent father are more likely to have low self esteem, to abuse substances, exhibit anti-social behaviour, and engage in criminal activity. That is the personal impact of a missing father, but what of the political and social impact on our nation of the absence, even in
Continue readingbastard.logic: SHOCKING: Republican Voter Suppression Efforts Suppress Democratic Votes
The NY Times: Several recent polls and studies suggest that long waiting times in some places depressed turnout in 2012 and that lines were longest in cities, where Democrats outnumber Republicans. In a New York Times/CBS News poll taken shortly after Election Day, 18 percent of Democrats said they waited
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: America the Sick
Let’s hope money can buy happiness because it sure isn’t buying Americans much in the way of health. A report from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences finds that, although Americans pay more for health care and services than anyone else, they’re less healthy and likely to die earlier than
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: America the Not-So-Beautiful: God Shat His Grace On Thee
Close your eyes, and conjure up a mental image of the stereotype of the Ugly American. Loud. Large. Willfully ignorant of customs and countries that lie beyond the border of the US -of- A. Rabidly proselytizing the gospel of liberty, freedom and patriotism bestowed unto their nation via God and
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Knock, Knock – It’s Climate Change
I wonder who we’ll blame after the next super hurricane or the next drought? I’m curious as to what will be the explanation for those that come after us be when we’re done here on Earth. Let it be shown here in 2012 that we’re still talking about if climate
Continue readingdrive-by planet: Obama sheds tears for Sandy Hook victims: silent on child victims of drone strikes
The US has an estimated 310 million guns (2009 figure) in circulation and second amendment rights that codify the right to bear arms. Gun ownership is part of the American way… even though back in 1791 the law makers who ratified the Bill of Rights didn’t have the Bushmaster AR-15
Continue readingThings Are Good: Marijuana Decriminalization Lowers Youth Crime Rate
Marijuana has been recently decriminalized in a few states in the USA, and based off of data from California the overall rate of youth arrests will drop dramatically. This is good news because now so many young lives won’t be destroyed for participating in using a drug that has negligible health effects (way less than […]
Continue readingRedBedHead: Gaza & The Not So Slow Decline Of Israel
Not alone any more: Egyptian protestors in Tahrir last year In some ways what just went down in Gaza was business as usual. Israel provoked a mini-war with Gaza killing a leading Hamas politician (who was, in fact, the chief negotiator for a long term ceasefire with Israel) after engaging
Continue readingNorthern Insight: The 47% watch
Willard Mitt Romney:
“…there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care…
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Deep-seated seething fury is 2016 frontrunner
After Obama Victory, Shrieking White-Hot Sphere Of Pure Rage Early GOP Front-Runner For 2016
H/T Susan H.
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Did you know?
The Great Star Fleet
At the turn of the 20th Century, the Alaska Packers Association assembled the largest fleet of privately owned sailing ships in the world. It was an era in which the shipping industry was mothballing its sailing ships in favor of…
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Grover Norquist: The Bathtub Drowner meets his comeuppance in 2012
The 2012 presidential election has been a time of momentous and historic changes in American politics. For the first time the Republican voter suppression tactics boomeranged, with millions of those targeted turning out to exercise their votes – taki…
Continue readingNorthern Insight: A caution for Canada’s Conservative Party
Six CPC members of Parliament may be deposed if the Federal Court accepts allegations of widespread voter suppression during the May 2011 election. This action, to be heard in December, is separate from the investigation of misconduct by Elections Cana…
Continue readingCuriosityCat: America should step over the fiscal cliff
Step over the fiscal cliff, Americans!The fiscal cliff has been described as a fiscal suicide pact by some gloomy British obervers:There has to be an agreement. If the two sides can’t get behind a plan to cut the deficit there will be pretty horrible c…
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Like Emily Litella, without the never mind
In fact, mid-day November 7, Obama leads Romney in popular vote by almost 3 million votes.
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