in which the death of a rock legend makes me think about how our world has changed
When this came out, I hung the cover on my bedroom wall. Sharing memories of David Bowie, as so many of us were after his too-early death this week, led…
2016
350orbust: Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu
For those of you who have been faithful followers of my blog since it started in 2009, for my most recent followers, and for everyone in between, it’s time to…
Jan.17: No newspaper today. Hurray!
Beautiful day. Sunny, and not a copy of the Irving press in sight. Even better, there are some good news sources to catch up on. There are these photos of…
Evidence-based tweet
STOP SAYING "EVIDENCE BASED." JUST SAY SOMETHING IS TRUE OR NOT TRUE. — Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) January 17, 2016
A New Deal for Alberta?
Oilpatch worker urges Justin Trudeau to help Alberta in widely shared Facebook post ‘Please start helping our own people through these tough times’ By Andrea Huncar, CBC News Posted: Jan…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading.- Will Wachtmeister reviews Malcolm Torry's book of arguments for a basic income, focusing in particular on social cohesion and innovation as important reasons…
On timing
Following up on the subject of the federal NDP's leadership, I'll note that the Edmonton convention won't figure to be the only one before the next federal election - and…
On organization
Given some of the odd twists and turns in Paul Wells' latest piece on Tom Mulcair's future, I'm hesitant to give too much credence to his unnamed sources. But to…
Democracy In Crisis
This is a clearer and more succinct explication of the rise of dangerous right-wing politics than I think I have ever heard.Don't let Trump fool you: rightwing populism is the…
Kanile’a Islander GL6
What a difference two strings make. Late last week, I traded my Jupiter Creek steel-stringed baritone, solid-body uke for one of these Kanile’a nylon-stringed GL6 “guitar-leles” which the company calls…
The Heart of London walkabout tour app continues
Hi folks! The Heart of London App is now released for Android tablets and phones! This means it is available in both the Apple and Google Play App Stores! To…
Rona Ambrose and the Monster in the Room
Oh dear, pity poor Rona Ambrose. It's all going horribly wrong. Already.She may be the interim Queen of the Cons, but she's finding her throne so uncomfortable, she might as…
Sub-Continent votes won’t help Brown.
He must be joking. Toronto Star writer Martin Regg Cohn tells us that there is some sort of contest going on for the votes of the Sub-Continent Diaspora in Ontario.…
When Artists And Public Intellectuals Sell Out
American neo-liberalism has become a juggernaut, Chris Hedges writes, because it has successfully convinced citizens to forget their intellectual heritage:America’s refusal to fund and sustain its intellectual and cultural heritage…
Omar Khadr: The Last Post and the Happy Ending
In the last nine years I wrote more than 100 posts about the case of Omar Khadr, because I considered it one of the most shameful episodes in modern Canadian…
It’s not just the #kudatah – it’s the feeling Alberta’s conservatives are all boarding the Crazy Train
PHOTOS: George Clark, Alberta’s answer to Joan of Arc. (Screen grab from Youtube.com.) Below: Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean, who with his MLAs is tacitly supporting Mr. Clark’s efforts; the…
Emotional harm and negligence
PP v DD, 2016 ONSC 258: The elements of a negligence claim are: (1) the defendant owes the plaintiff a duty of care; (2) the defendant's behaviour breached the standard…
Eight on Hateful Eight
1. It’s boring. 2. It’s too long. 3. The acting is bad. 4. It thinks beating women is funny. 5. It uses the N word so many times people walked…
Pot and Politicians- A Curious Blend That Is Hard To Keep Lit.
I’m not holding my breath! Justin Trudeau, our newly elected Prime Minister and occasional pot smoker, has set the cat out amongst the pigeons with his announced legalization of marijuana…
How the BC Liberals killed WAC Bennett’s dream of affordable public power, ferries, rail
Longtime BC Premier WAC Bennett's dream of affordable public power, ferries and rail is dead. Rafe Mair describes how a need generation of right wingers - the BC Liberals -…