Plain language, power, and politics #nlpoli
In the midst of a political controversy over recent fishing quotas in NEwfoundland and Labrador, two people are talking about the need for better communication about science and the fishing…
April 2017
Here we go again: Opacity not transparency characterizes Alberta’s right-wing merger talks
PHOTOS: Wildrose Opposition Leader Brian Jean and Progressive Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney uncomfortably shake hands in this obviously staged photo in what appears to be Mr. Jean’s office. (Wildrose…
The Return of Stuff Happens, week 14: Trump casts his lizard eyes on Canada; I solve the Toronto housing crisis
This week in Donald Trump Land: Remember last week, when Donald Trump sent an “armada” (actually just an aircraft carrier) towards North Korea as a warning to the maniac kingdom?…
Principles vs Politics
The Wildrose Opposition spent the last three weeks berating the NDP government for not spending millions and millions of dollars fast enough. Wait, what? The Wildrose says farmers are being…
Another Perspective on the Rise in Anxiety
Anxiety is… “not a coherent fear of a particular thing, and it tends not to focus on the problems you already have. Anxiety is the ambient apprehension that terrible things…
More council secrecy, more council scheming
On Monday’s council agenda there are again two in-camera topics that reinforce just how much little respect The Block have for process, ethics, the public, legality, openness and transparency. On Monday,…
Give Up My Job to Give Care? OK, Pay Me.
Many years ago and before we had children, my husband and I took a week-long holiday at a Caribbean resort. We befriended a couple from Baltimore who had an interesting…
A Response to the 2017 Saskatchewan Budget
I have an opinion piece on Saskatchewan’s recent budget in the Regina Leader-Post. Points raised in the opinion piece include the following: -Reductions in personal and corporate income taxes help…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Nick Bunker points out that the worst of the U.S.’ growing inequality since 2000 has come from the growing share of income…
All the Money in the World. No Class. None, Zero, Nada.
Why can’t Donald Trump just hire somebody to keep his foot out of his damned mouth? Why does he have to constantly remind us that he’s someone you wouldn’t have…
what i’m reading: swing time by zadie smith
Zadie Smith is on my list of “authors I will follow anywhere”. I may not love everything about every book she writes, but that’s unimportant. For me, her books are…
Is Justin the adult in the school yard?
Has Prime Minister Trudeau been getting advice from psychologists on how to handle a bully? It is certainly to his credit that he is keeping his cool. Donald Trump continues…
He And They Are Insane
Yesterday, Donald Trump announced that he will hold a “BIG” rally to celebrate his first one hundred days in office. Henry Giroux writes that there is little to cheer about:…
Some random thoughts on Earth day 2017
Earth Day was started 47 years ago. Gaylord Nelson, a Democratic Senator from Wisconsin, was moved to action after witnessing the ravages of an oil spill in Santa Barbara, California…
24 April 2007 – 24 April 2017
I’m feeling some anticipatory trauma, if there is such a thing, as we approach the tenth anniversary of the mishap which would, soon thereafter, take the life of my brother…
Saturday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Eva Schaherl offers her take on how to fight against climate change: Stop being distracted by the “Sad!” theatre of the Greatest Show…
Leadership 2017 Links
The latest from the NDP’s federal leadership campaign. – The Canadian Press reports on Pat Stogran’s official campaign launch. And Alex Ballingall highlights Stogran’s criticism of Justin Trudeau’s empty-suit governance,…
This is science; it is not something to toy with
It is not something to say I chose not to believe e-mc2; YOU DONT HAVE THAT OPTION! When you have an established scientific emergent truth, it is true whether or…
Twitter pen pals
So, Chelsea Clinton tweeted this cool thing, which I retweeted: Letter I wrote to President Reagan at 5. (I never got a reply). Thank you to all who shared your…
what i’m reading: giovanni’s room by james baldwin
James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room, a landmark in LGBT literature, is one of our library’s current “Raves & Faves”. The 1956 novel takes place in Paris, narrated by a young American…