Google got 38 user data requests from Ottawa in 6 months
Inspired by this story: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/07/08/pol-google-governments.html
July 2011
Sucker bet: windy moose version
The guy who did such a bang-up job of looking after the Hurricane Igor disaster is now the guy leading the fight against moose-vehicle collisions. Anyone care to wager on…
Canada’s military… is Sweden next???
We have fairly suddenly become a nation of Hawks. War is good and it is necessary. Wave the flag mightily. Buy the best of the best for the troops. Support…
Techvibes: The unfathomable markup of text messaging
By Knowlton Thomas for Techvibes Text messaging, or SMS, has become one of the core elements of the mobile world. Smartphones or dumbphones, prepaid or postpaid, everyone texts. You may…
Taking Sides In Syria
The article below is a reprint of a longer article by Simon Assaf, a British-Lebanese socialist, that will appear in the upcoming issue of the British magazine Socialist Review. It's…
Friday Afternoon Links
Assorted content to end your week.- I'll join the seemingly long list of commentators who wouldn't ever have expected to cite David Brooks, but can't avoid it based on his…
RCMP "Suspensions": The Unanswered Questions
I blogged about it here as this isn't being investigated by anyone outside of La Presse.Pierre-André Normandin is following up with his story here. Here are the highlights:The NDP and…
A different story
Yessiree, the conventional wisdom goes, Canada's political parties are all the same. Especially the NDP, which having reached Official Opposition status is sure to abandon any pretense of principle when…
RealClimate Reveals Willie Soon’s “Scientific Sleight of Hand”
Willie Soon has been an individual of significant interest lately in climate circles. Last week, he spoke at the Heartland Institute’s Sixth International Conference on Climate change, or as we…
Why we should not hold a referendum on proportional representation
It seems that every time the subject of changing the voting system comes up, we automatically assume that a change must be sanctioned by a referendum. I increasingly feel this…
Interpretation of Wills and Extrinsic Evidence
Traditionally a Will is to be interpreted without consideration of extrinsic evidence. The Will is taken as being the best evidence of the testator's intentions and, similar to the parole…
"Anti-Semitism" Committee A Rearguard Defence Of Israel’s Crimes
It's nothing new really - the right wing, who can barely make their lips form the words "anti-racism", spend boatloads of cash to "take a stand" against anti-Semitism. Except that…
Burned by B.C.’s Toxic HST Debate
“The fact that the Clark government’s Frankenstein HST hybrid will significantly reduce provincial sales tax revenue at a time when public services are already under intense fiscal pressure is a…
Thinking about the universe in a post-shuttle world
Coming fast on the heels of Canada’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and the official handing over control from Canadian to US armed forces is another milestone ending in Canadian – actually,…
Kate Middleton: Nice Pic
I am no royalist but this is a nice pic of her. Some similarity with Marilyn Monroe's famous picture. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge speaks to soldiers as she arrives at…
Your National Board Is Meeting! Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
In "Report From Alfred Apps, National President To The Members Of The Liberal Party Of Canada," Liberals were informed that on July 9 a meeting of the National Board would…
From Passive, Helpless Spectator To Creating Positive Change: “You Can’t Help Being An Optimist”
“You can’t help but be an optimist when you are contributing to positive change. Believe in your own power and then to be bold enough to use it. Together we…
Is This A Quest For Justice, Or A Thirst For Revenge?
While I doubt that I will ever be accused of being 'soft on crime,' agreeing with the view held by many that the Canadian judicial system tends to be too…
Alas!
Canadian Jews lose their sanest, most progressive voice:Effective July 1st, the Canadian Jewish Congress is discontinuing its activities. Canadian Jewish advocacy will be handled by the Canadian Council for Israel…