Hotter, Drier = More, Bigger Fires
As the world heats up and dries out, ever more and ever bigger wildfires are becoming the new normal.Many Canadians were shocked by the wildfire that engulfed Fort McMurray. Those…
May 2016
Achievements Don’t Equate To Happiness
The pursuit of happiness is life to some people, although they’ll likely never achieve it. They won’t get to their desired level of happiness because they think that a certain…
We grow old, we grow old
I have a son who was born 18 years ago today – his arrival prompted by a bank robbery, a garage sale, and a crazy ride in 1974 Volkswagen Beetle.…
300 Economists Urge World Leaders to Close Down Tax Havens
Photo by Matthew Straubmuller Over 300 leading economists from 30 countries have written to world leaders to explain that there is no economic justification for allowing tax havens while urging…
Dean Del Mastro Wants Us To Know He’s Not Happy
Gawd. Or Mama Mia. I thought we'd seen the last of Dean Del Mastro, when he lost his appeal, and the judge ordered him to spend a month in the…
‘Everyone’s outraged’: angry Greeks foresee Grexit and drachma’s revival
Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images In his tiny shop in downtown Athens, Kostis Nakos sits behind a wooden counter hunched over his German calculator. The 71-year-old might have retired had…
As Flies To Wanton Boys
As flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods.They kill us for their sport.King Lear, Act 4, Scene 1In earlier times, we would have blamed the gods for their…
On Childhood: Introduction
Henry Darger, “At Jennie Richee. Hard pressed and harassed by the storm” (details). The original work is in the collection of the American Folk Art Museum, New York. “Children are…
The Pressure Is Building
Tim Harper writes that Justin Trudeau will soon be under pressure to approve a pipeline -- whether he wants to or not:When the economic cost of this tragedy is tallied,…
Alternatives to Ghomeshi
Sounds like an indie band, eh? But, after this morning, I suspect many will be wondering if there was a better option in the R. v. Ghomeshi cases. The first…
Trapped in terminal technology.
We have seen it many times over the years. It is government funded attempts at trying to take quantum leaps in technology with computer equipment. It is usually just a…
All lined up, battery brides
For reasons I do not fully ken, these two Eighties gems popped into my head this morning. I am a sucker for a weirdo bass line. Useless facts: one guy…
in which i ride an emotional roller coaster and get off at the top
Short version: Tala has had surgery and has a very good chance of remaining cancer-free. Whoo-hoo!It's been a crazy couple of days. Monday afternoon we hear the biopsy results. Tuesday…
Why Bernie Sanders’ Campaign Will Not Surrender
Bernie Sanders won another Democratic primary yesterday, this time in West Virginia.White House dreams fading, Bernie Sanders added another state to his tally against Hillary Clinton with a win in…
The politics of history (again) #nlpoli
Originally written for The Independent in 2003 "The politics of history" has become a post that continues to resonate with your humble e-scribbler if no one else. it first appeared…
Always Brings a Big Smile
Sure, the world is pretty screwed up. But, if you just look for them, there are these gems.Chester Arthur Burnett, a half a century basking in Howlin' Wolf:That's as powerful…
If you are searching for truth, turn off the commercial media and listen to the comedians
The comediens are bringing us far more rational analysis on trade deals that our elected officials who are controlled by the forces driving the TPP and other corrupt trade deals.…
Fort McMurray provides a humanizing break from hyper-partisan politics in Alberta
One year ago, the Edmonton Journal published a letter written by Greg Stevens, in which the former cabinet minister sent Alberta’s newly elected New Democratic Party best wishes at the…
Norway’s Unions Confront Neoliberalism
By Asbjørn Wahl For a long time, Norway has represented an exception in Europe and the word. The main reason has been the abundance of oil revenue, which has made…
Tuesday Night Cat Blogging
Elevated cats.