Patrick Brown: who he really is, and who he reminds me of
Who am I? Chantal Hebert has a column in today’s Star about the new Ontario PC leader. I’m biased, but I think she pulls her punches. Here are some of…
May 2015
Terrific Debate News
I like this move. I don’t support Mr. Harper, but I support this decision. Now, for our next debate change, can we please skip the part where we get “ordinary…
Autonomedia Books via Leftwingbooks.NET
Autonomedia described itself as “an autonomous zone for arts radicals in both old and new media. We publish books on radical media, politics and the arts that seek to transcend…
Reform? Forget It.
http://www.nationalpost.com/ Michael Chong’s Reform Act is about to die in the Senate. Andrew Coyne writes: The private member’s bill, introduced by Conservative MP Michael Chong, is popular with the public,…
The Humanitarian Douchery That is Voluntourism
“Voluntourism” is the growing trend of rich people using their vacations to go to poor places where they think they can help. A good chunk of the time these voluntourists…
First-Past-the-Post debate ignites Brits.
A sudden influx of hundreds of readers can make any blogger’s heart go pit-a-pat. Since last week, Babel-on-the-Bay’s readership has reached new heights. It was not because of our sage…
Alan Borovoy, RIP
I actually debated him once or twice. He kicked my ass, I think. Didn’t agree with him on most things, but respected him on all things. A great Canadian.
Myth busting
Andrew Nikiforuk wrote advice for Albertans in his recent article Eight Steps to Reform the Broken Petrostate: Behave like an owner: Alberta’s oil and gas resources belong to Albertans. The…
The Con Regime and the First Shadows of a Police State
When I saw this photo during the hearings into Bill C-51 it sent a chill down my spine.Because that posse is a horrible combination of stupidity and brute force, it…
Right Wing Mag Sacks Michael Coren!
His problem? The Interim could no longer countenance the guy’s heterodoxy! So: Boom! Coren’s outta there, and apparently being replaced by some dude who will natter on endlessly about Free…
When is a cut not a cut? #nlpoli
A couple of years ago, the province’s auditor general noted that a Crown agency responsible for developing an integrated health information system was paying salaries to its employees that were…
With Lieutenant-Governor Donald Ethell, in frail health, set to retire, PM must choose replacement with care
PHOTOS: Lieutenant-Governor Donald Ethell prepares to read the Speech from the Throne in November 2014. Below: Mr. Ethell again and past lieutenants-governor Lois Hole and Norman Kwong. Photos from the…
My Full, Frank, and Totally Sober Defence of Elizabeth May
I didn't think I'd have to ride to the defence of Elizabeth May again. I thought one post was enough. But since she has been mercilessly pilloried, and some are…
Father, Forgive Us, For We Know Not What We Do
* As Psalm 104 reminds, we live on an amazing planet. EB White once said: “Every morning I awake torn between the desire to save the world and an inclination…
When Punk Rock Hit Vancouver
Vancouver, 1978. So I am over at Glen Ward’s place and he puts an album on for me that he had ordered from Europe and we both were killing ourselves…
Canada falling behind America and unprepared to meet shared climate commitment
It is incomprehensible to realize that Canada, once the envy of many throughout the world, has after a decade of right wing neo con governments, turned its back on the…
Monday Evening Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading. – Sara Mojtehedzadeh highlights how Ontario employers are exploiting temporary workers rather than making any effort to offer jobs which can support a life:…
Interesting (online) Things i have read recently
Stalinist caterpillar into libertarian butterfly? – The evolving ideology of the PKK, by Alex de Jong, International Viewpoint, March 11, 2015 What kind of Kurdistan for women? (+ video), by…
Alphabeatic: Canada still leads in high wireless prices
Wireless savings? Not for now. Canadians’ wallets are still hurting. Article by Peter Nowak for Alphabeatic With the CRTC’s decision this week to forego implementing rules that would have allowed…
Rethinking Parking
Parking in Collingwood – especially downtown – has been a contentious issue since at least the mid-1980s. Numerous studies have been done advocating a variety of answers, none of them…