Alert! Episode 186
Economist Jim Stanford explains why the economic recovery has stalled, that the causes of the economic crisis of 2008-9 have not really been dealt with, and that only radical restructuring…
September 2011
One More Reason To Like The Beatles
Still recovering from some Toronto Film Festival fun and getting back to work but thought it worthy to post this little cultural tidbit. The first thing is that it's weird…
Wedding Dresses as an Anti-Poverty Aid: Nicolas Kristof Tells How
One of the things that came back from storage/cleaning after the fire was my wedding dress. Much to small now, of course, and neither my daughter nor daughter-in-law have any…
Happy Democracy Day, Canada! Or Is it?
Happy Democracy Day Canada! Wait, what? That’s not even…huh? That’s right, Sept. 15 is the International Day of Democracy. The fourth annual! Apparently. I know, I hadn’t heard of it…
Happy Democracy Day, Canada! Or Is it?
Happy Democracy Day Canada! Wait, what? That’s not even…huh? That’s right, Sept. 15 is the International Day of Democracy. The fourth annual! Apparently. I know, I hadn’t heard of it…
Bush Toronto speech ‘abruptly canceled’. The power of the populace.
Tea Partiers and the right wing love to think they are populists. Bullshit. Real populism comes from the grass roots - people - doing it for themselves, not from billionaire…
There are no free lunches #nlpoli
Heard that before, right? And it’s true. Just because it is true - and most adults know it is true – doesn’t mean that all of them still aren’t willing…
Privacy commish sues Dunderdale gov over “political” e-mails on gov comps, phones #nlpoli
The province’s access to information and privacy commissioner is taking the Dunderdale administration to court for its refusal to provide the commissioner with copies of e-mails on government computers and…
Long live death! (3)
Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in the state of Georgia on September 21. American death culture rears its ugly head yet again, this time in…
Brampton Courthouse
This huge and modern courthouse was overloaded when it was completed. There is a serious need for more courthouses -- but that doesn't require new construction. Some of our best…
Sun News Network and the emasculation of the North American right wing
I haven't had that much exposure to Fox News North but from what I've seen there's obviously something fishy happening at that network which is symptomatic of a bigger issue…
I guess it depends on how you define "core services"
Two weeks ago: Hundreds of job cuts announced over the summer at Environment Canada were not politically motivated and will not affect core services in the department, Environment Minister Peter…
Mulcair can still be Deputy Leader
The media frenzy over the Federal NDP leadership is getting a little silly. First it would be good if they actually understood the NDP. They have experience covering the Conservatives…
140 Law – Legal Headlines for September 15, 2011
Take some time to click through today's leading legal headlines, from Wise Law on Twitter:Ontario judge hits airwaves to sate appetite for legal info - Vancouver Sun - http://goo.gl/4vy3N Lawsuit:…
What’s Our Back-up Plan?
Naomi Klein, author of Shock Doctrine and No Logo, discusses why our society is so addicted to risk, particularly when it comes to the natural world. From TED Women, December…
Fighting Poverty: Why Not Just Provide Better Public Services, Or Getting Down to Basics
First there were the various beefcake calendars put out by firemen to raise funds for burn units and the like. Then came "sex muffins of science," another calendar (which I…
Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading.- Dan Gardner makes the case (with which I wholeheartedly agree) as to the importance of making thoughtful decisions at the best of times:If…
I’m Reading in Oshawa
This Sunday, the 18th, I’ll be reading at 2:50 at the First McLaughlin Literary Festival! I’ll be reading from The Singing Fire and talking about Web of Angels. Location: Parkwood…
New column day
Here, on what the Keystone XL pipeline debate started by Peter Lougheed means for Saskatchewan in managing its own natural resources.
Conscious and rousing morning…
if what you're reading here grips you, holds you, fascinates you, provokes you, emboldens you, pushes you, galvanizes you, discomfits you, tickles you, enrages you so much that you find…