Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Mark Taliano discusses how corporatocracy is replacing democracy in Canada, while Jaisal Noor talks to John Weeks about the similar trend in…
February 2014
New column day
Here, starting from Nattavudh Powdthavee and Andrew Oswald’s study to discuss on how people have trouble telling the difference between luck and merit (particularly when they’re enjoying the benefit of…
A Telling Distinction
Recommend this Post
It’s Not Inevitable
Stephen Harper has said that the Keystone XL pipeline is “inevitable.” He bases his conclusion on a simplistic analysis: We’ve got the bitumen. You need it.” The first part of…
Second: Ponder positive policies.
One of the very first lessons of politics is to understand that the average voter does not relate to discussions involving millions of dollars. What people relate to is coffee…
With Great Fez Comes Great Responsibility
Long before Giuseppe Del Balso invented cross-dimensional rift surfing, full-frontal time travel, or the pleasures of Zoot, he had many adventures, riding through the Italian countryside on his iron Dobbin.…
dispatches from ola 2014, part 2: a year of tween programming
Tweens – older kids who are not yet teens – are among my favourite library customers. Tween books are my favourites to read, and a tween audience is my most…
Overheard in Toronto – On #RobFord’s Critics
On #RobFord’s Critics: “You know why Rob Ford still wins and will keep on winning? All these people in the newspapers, writing blogs and rushing to criticize him are upper-middle
Conservatives eye Arctic reindeer reserve for oil and gas exploration
http://www.castanet.net/news/Business/109345/Conservatives-eye-Arctic-reindeer-reserve-for-oil-and-gas-exploration
Free Ukraine
I won’t claim to be well-enough versed to provide any deep commentary on the deteriorating situation in Ukraine. Despite a truce between protesters and the government, more violence and bloodshed…
Stephen Harper’s Horribly Humiliating Day in Mexico
Well I think it's safe to say that Stephen Harper's Great Tiny Tour of Mexico is shaping up to be the most pathetic foreign trip ever by a Canadian Prime…
The Harlem Renaissance is “Coming Back Again”
Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes dropped earlier this month. My esteem for Langston Hughes, his insight and vision, and the too-often ignored human/cultural catalyst that was the Harlem…
Kevin Logan: Exploding BC LNG Myths- Part 2
Rich Coleman: “The opposition wouldn’t know LNG if it came up and bit them, they’re totally uninformed.” For over three years Rich Coleman has led the BC LNG charge however…
The natural evolution of de-growth
I read an excellent story today, which as some of the commenters pointed out probably suffers from confirmation bias, but I don’t really care. What’s important is it’s becoming a…
Montreal 2014
Let’s talk about what’s really happening at Montreal 2014. It’s not about a race between Liberals jockeying for positions in the party. That’s essentially sewn up, except for membership chair…
Olympic Hockey: It’ll take Grit to overcome Sisu – are Tories patriotic enough to let it happen?
Looks like Finnish hockey to me! Can’t understand what they’re saying, but, Canadians beware, they might have Sisu. Below: A Sisu truck; Lauri Rapala, inventor of the lure of Vaaksy.…
New lobby group Legalize Canada wants to elect pro-marijuana MPs in 2015
Following the lead of successful campaigns in several U.S. states, a new Canadian lobby group has a $7 million budget and a two-year plan to elect Members of Parliament hat…
Harper Embarrasses Himself, His Office and Canada to Boot
The president’s gone, Mr. Harper. You can come out now. Give the man his due, Stephen Harper towers over every other prime minister before him in how he has managed…
Aristotle contra the math stick: Magic numbers redux
In the last post I explored how magic numbers, such as a 90% debt-to-GDP ratio or a 2% inflation target, at once over-simplify and stifle economic policy debate. The role…