Why TV Keeps Almost Being Good
There was once a show called Revolution. And another called Scorpion. Each had a great premise: a world after electricity, and what happens when you have a bunch of geniuses…
February 2015
Tweet #protectmeharper to ask for Harper’s protection from other unlikely events
Stephen Harper has begun to deceive the Canadian people on entirely new levels. Spreading fear of terrorism when Canadians are more likely to be struck by lightening then be harmed…
Sunday evening candidate nomination updates in Alberta
With a provincial election expected in the next few months, the 43-year long governing Progressive Conservatives are expected to have all their candidates nominated by the end of March 2015…
Forbes Lays Into Boehner, Netanyahu
Oh, Damn. What Did We Just Step In? On 28 January, old Malcolm’s oddball son, Steve Forbes, wrote an over-the-top endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled address to Congress. Forbes called…
Six Political Personalities: Which One is Jim Prentice?
The only thing worse than a political strategist spouting theories on how to beat the competition is a blogger discussing a political strategist’s theories on how to beat the competition.…
Abbott Survives, For Now. His Opposition Breathes Sigh of Relief.
For how much longer is unclear but Aussie prime minister, Tony Abbott, has survived his caucus’ ‘spill motion’ that would have lead to a leadership runoff had he lost. Abbott…
Norway’s fjords flooded with escaped, diseased farmed fish
An escaped steelhead caught near Bergen, Norway, showing serious symptoms of disease On January 10, 2015 a hurricane of wind and snow hit the coast of Norway. They called it…
Fifty shades of domestic abuse
Last night, my (feminist) partner and I went to see a movie. The trailers came on, and one was for Fifty Shades of Grey, which has attracted no small amount…
Friend Or Foe?
You decide. A message from Anonymous to ISIS: We will hunt you, take down your sites, accounts, emails, and expose you…From now on, no safe place for you online…You will…
The (New) Hockey Song
It would have been more of a tribute if the puck was dropped by a disabled vet. https://t.co/mQIN0NKFf1 #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/um7HxKoinb — Stephen Lautens (@stephenlautens) February 8, 2015 I’m seeing alarming…
Interview Stephen Downes by Renée Filius
Renée Filius: So what I see at course evaluations is that teachers say: ‘Well, when I teach online I tend to ask brief questions. Or students just give brief answers…
Feb. 8: Excellence. Ignorant rant. And the irrelevance of Christian churches.
Back to the Dec. 7 (Saturday) issue of the Irving press where page A4 has a big story about “This week’s J.D. Irving, Limited Reading is Wild Readers of the…
The more things change…
Tim Naumetz’ comparison between the NDP’s place before the 2011 federal election and its current position is worth a read. But what’s perhaps more noteworthy is how little has changed.…
A Call to Cull – Waterfront Homes, That Is.
There’s a name for many splendid waterfront homes in Massachusetts. They’re called “severe repetitive loss” properties and critics are beginning to say enough is enough, tear’em down. The owner of…
Ontario PCs now must choose between moderate mainstream or Tea Party takeover
Tea Party Ontario PC leadership candidate Monte McNaughton I love Kathleen Wynne dearly and greatly appreciate her style of leadership. I find that I agree with her on most issues.…
What Harper doesn’t protect us from
Stephen Harper has decided it is necessary to protect Canadians from terrorists. So necessary that he is handing new unchecked powers to our national police force and spy agency. Powers…
The Phone Lines are Buzzing Between Ottawa and Canberra. We Listen In.
“Hello” “Hi Tony. Stephen here.” “Hi Steve, good to hear a friendly voice. Bloody few around here today.” “Tony, I heard about this “spill” thing. Is it true? Can those…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Scott Santens links the themes of health and equality by suggesting that we treat a basic income as a needed vaccine against…
Stuff Happens, week 5: Death and the supreme court; the comeback of measles.
The big story of the week was a Supreme Court decision allowing physician-assisted deaths in certain cases. Polls have shown Canadians solidly in favour of allowing Canadians to die with…
The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld
Certain good qualities are like senses: people entirely lacking in them can neither perceive nor comprehend them. You might think that was written about local politics, or a comment on…