On Russell Brand’s Politics
I want to look at a few things Russell Brand has to say – in print and on video (quotations below are from both). As Elizabeth Renzetti said in yesterday’s…
2013
Goodbye Rick Miller, one of the good ones.
It was a few days after the disastrous provincial election of 2008, when the entire Class of Edmonton Alberta Liberals 2004 when down to unexpected (and unwarranted) defeat at the…
The Overton window and its relation to reality
The Overton window and its relation to reality This figure by Michael Tobis should have been published when the IPCC AR5 was released as a reminder of how skewed the…
These questions can only be answered by you
How different might the Internet look five years from now – and what will our future look like when it comes to accessing and sharing knowledge and culture online? At…
Harper is an economic threat to Alberta
The Harper Conservatives are a direct threat to Canada’s economy and Alberta’s well being. We need to invest in our energy infrastructure. Without proper investment, regulations, and energy, our resources…
Anti-Intellectualism: The New Elitism
There’s a growing – and disturbing – trend in modern culture: anti-intellectual elitism. The dismissal of art, science, culture, philosophy, of rhetoric and debate, of literature and poetry, and their…
Congratulations Mayor Nenshi!
John Macfarlane, editor of The Walrus,* asks the question: When did society turn against its best and brightest and more importantly, why? He was bemoaning the fact that Torontonians had…
Lou Reed Dead, 71
Slate.com is reporting Lou Reed died today, age 71. The cause of death has not been announced, but Reed underwent a liver transplant in May. Reed joined up with John…
Plutarch on Democratic Class War
From Plutarch’s Moralia: When the Megarians had expelled Theagenes their tyrant, for a short time they were sober and sensible in their government (politeia). But later when the popular leaders…
I’m Waiting For The Man
Selfie in SoHo, in September. Bought the tee at Yellow Rat Bastard the day before. Kind of was hoping I’d run into Mr. Reed. Didn’t. Won’t.
Senate’s Conservative leader is dilly-dallying on suspensation motion
Claude Carignan, the Conservative leader in the Senate, now says that he may consider amendments to the motion to suspend Senators Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau, and Pamela Wallin without pay.…
Canada’s Camo Coup
One of Canada’s most widely known contribution to 21st century warfighting has been the invetion of pixelated camouflage patterns. It became widely used by combat troops in the West’s south…
Some NDP hypocrisy on oil pipelines
I want to remark on an online/social media phenomenon I’ve seen, (mostly on Twitter) the past couple of days, where NDP activists, particularly ones who are active in the Toronto…
Stephen Harper’s Book of Fables – Logged and Chronicled
The closer Shifty Steve Harper gets to the political gallows, the better, the richer and more fulsome his memory becomes. It all flows out in a progression of fables. Fable…
you know her life was saved by rock and roll: lou reed, 1942-2013
Lou Reed, 1942-2013Songwriter, Musician, New Yorker “One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.” – Lou Reed “The first Velvet Underground album only…
Prison Guards Face Civil Suit in Attack on Virginia Prisoner Frank “Outlaw” Reid
“We will have to earn, if not demand, respect for our rights through sacrifice and struggle just like the masses of other politically, socially and economically marginalized people on this…
Forget the polar bears, what about the moose?
As the Earth inexorably warms up due to human folly, one species after another pays the price. The most iconic example is of course the polar bear. And why not—what…
Oct. 27: A Sunday Sermonette – sort of –
– but we won’t be having any pancake breakfast or pie sale, so it isn’t a religious sermonette. I notice, too, that readership is up today. That’s because yesterday was…