listening to joni: #1: joni mitchell (song to a seagull)
This is my first post in my re-listen to the music of Joni Mitchell in chronological order of album release. These posts come with all kinds of disclaimers, chiefly that…
2017
Some Implications of Boycotting Art
And another thing… Here are two more issues I have with implication surrounding how we’re treating the sexual harassment and assault cases further to my concerns previously discussed and further…
Can Science Turn Conservatives Into Liberals?
Ever since my days at McGill, I've been interested in studying the brains of Cons, to try to determine what makes them so dumb and so bestial.And for years I've…
Responding To The Outrage
Yesterday, I posted about the outrageous treatment graduate student Lindsay Shepherd experienced at the hands of the Wilfrid Laurier University thought police. As usual, Toronto Star readers had much to…
Sealing His Fate
As Americans celebrate their Thanksgiving, it may be hard to see any blessings which Donald Trump is showering on his fellow citizens. But Robin Sears sees several: Wilmot Collins, an…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Ed Broadbent discusses how Bernie Sanders offers an example to emulate – and in some cases a source of ideas well beyond…
Black on black.
It never pays to be pedantic but enough is enough. I try not to sound off on how others write, spell, punctuate or capitalize. I can make my own mistakes.…
Alberta III% In The Addictions Recovery Business. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Members of the Albert III% militia, posted by member on October 28, 2017 When ARC published the story on Friday focusing on the desire of many on the far right…
Meet our grandson
Harry. He’s pretty chill. His parents have a Harry Potter thing. So, yes, he is holding a wand. Really.
Media’s formulaic approach to terror attacks ignores roots of violence
Photo from Public Domain In Canada, thanks to saturation coverage in mainstream and social media, mention of the June 3 terrorist attacks on London Bridge will forever call up the…
African aid can’t keep up with stolen wealth
Photo by hdptcar The question gets asked often: How can Africa be so poor when it receives so much aid? The answer is simple. The world economic system sucks more…
National Struggle and Class Struggle: Complementary or Contradictory?
Photo from Public Domain Parallels Between Catalonia and Quebec A major item on the agenda of the upcoming convention of Québec solidaire (QS), to be held in the Montréal suburb…
McGill University and the Jewish National Fund
Photo by Independent Jewish Voices Canada While accusations of student anti-Semitism at McGill draw international headlines, the university administration’s open association with a Jewish supremacist organization has been ignored. In…
On the Rails: A Case for Renewed Leftist Infatuation with Transport
Photo by kermitfrosch A few weeks ago, at 3:30 in the morning, the Manitoba government froze public transit funding to Winnipeg, equivalent to a $10 million cut. It was a…
Sympathy for the Devil?
To some, Julian Assange is a martyr in the cause of free speech. To others, those who have watched his antics over the past two years, he’s the grand corrupter…
Why Are We Backing the Beast?
Canada’s Middle East policy, whether Conservative or Liberal, is shameful. We back Israel on everything (just look at our voting record in the UN General Assembly if you don’t believe…
When Will the Fiesta Start? Mexico-Canada Relations in a New North America
Stephen Clarkson The following is a contribution in the blog series on the exceptional contribution of Stephen Clarkson to Canada. Stephen Clarkson died in 2016. The substantial work he undertook…
It’s All Our "New Normal"
Every day without fail Google Alerts delivers to my inbox summaries of the latest news reports on selected subjects including climate change, sea level rise, droughts and floods, NASA, NOAA…
Far Right Protest and Counter Protest in Quebec City
A couple of days ago Storm Alliance founder and president Dave Tregett posted a video touting the planned march by the Storm Alliance and La Meute in Quebec Cty. He…
Policticialy correct or a step backwards?
A group of activists called on the Ontario government to ban the practice of stationing uniformed police officers at high schools across the province after the Toronto District School Board…