Viral Fads? Collective Escapism Through Displaced Fear?
I could be wrong, but every indicator to me so far is that the latest virus scare is vastly over-hyped, as they almost always are. Still it’s at 2,800…
2020
Assorted Thoughts In The Age Of Collapse
Assorted Thoughts In The Age Of Collapse The “gig economy”, or the Uberization of the workforce: the right to be under-employed and in a precarious position no matter how…
Coronavirus: The latest in over-hyped threats & DANGERS
Read my essays, Danger and Delusion, and, Reality Check, on my blog and Twitter. Poverty, hunger, and obesity are vastly bigger killers than any infectious disease. Boost your immunity…
The Disappearing Green Party
With massive disruptions taking place across Canada in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, it may seem a little trite for me to sit down and write a critique of the…
Human Rights Tribunal To Investigate Cabbies Disrespect Towards Blind Man
Three cheers for blind taxi passenger Graeme McCreath and his brave stand against Bluebird Taxi. Mr. McCreath alleges cabbies with the respected Bluebird firm discriminated against him and insulted him…
Vancouver park board general manager Malcolm Bromley plans to retire after leaving lasting mark on city
by Charlie Smith on February 27th, 2020 After nearly a decade as the de facto CEO of Vancouver parks and recreational facilities, Malcolm Bromley will soon have a lot more…
Are the Blockades Backfiring?
If the objective of those protesting the construction of the Coastal Gaslink pipeline through Wet’suwet’en territory was to bring attention to the issue, they have certainly done that. If their…
Next generation wind energy
Those of us who opposed construction of the Site C dam—including the BC NDP until May 2017—argued that rapid advances in alternative energy systems meant flooding the Peace River valley…
The Iranian Pseudo-election
Last week, Iran held an election for members of its Islamic Consultative Assembly, the country’s Parliament or Majlis. The Majlis is something less than a ruling body. To begin with,…
A Court Rules Against a Government Over Climate Change
The UK government has committed itself to some impressive climate change targets and, to the country’s High Court, that means there’ll be no third runway for Heathrow Airport.
Canada’s shame
Lost in the fuss as governments of British Columbia and Canada act to expropriate rights and lands of the Wet’suwet’en people is a sad situation that already gave proof to…
The Complicated History of Hereditary Chiefs and Elected Councils
Elected chiefs and council generally hold authority over reserve lands and their infrastructure. Traditional chiefs oversee the territories and hold ceremonial and historical importance to First Nations. by Emily McCarty,…
Critiquing capitalist spirituality
McMindfulness: How Mindfulness Became the New Capitalist Spirituality Ronald E. Purser Repeater Books, 2019 It is interesting to note just how many of the leaders of self-help culture present their…
A Canadian coronavirus catastrophe
“Stockpile food and medication.” That’s a quote. That’s something you’d expect from a whack-job prepper, not a federal Minister of Health. Reckless in the extreme. Her job is to reassure…
The National Dilemma or Trudeau’s (Sophie’s) Choice
An Angus Reid poll finds that Canadians are split, almost half and half, on the Wet’suet’en/Coastal Gaslink demonstrations and blockades. 47 per cent support ‘patience and dialogue’ while 53 per…
Unconstitutional anyone? If Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell is doing her job, she’ll refuse to sign Bill 1 into law
Bill 1 is a breathtakingly terrible piece of legislation. The bill, given first reading in the Alberta Legislature on Tuesday, is called the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act. Edmonton lawyer Simon…
Into The Past
As further proof that the Conservative Party is marching backward, consider Andrew Scheer’s and Peter Mackay’s reactions to indigenous protests across Canada. Heidi Mathews writes in Macleans: In attempts to…
This is the Age Of Unreason
Some things are timeless — like the fight against bigotry and racism. @kinsellawarren’s AGE OF UNREASON might take place in the 1980s, but its lessons are relevant to all of…
Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Ezra Klein discusses the socialist ethic behind Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. And Umair Haque writes that the antidote to Donald Trump’s authoritarianism…
Ships Enhanced by Wind Power Improve Shipping
Sails on ships aren’t anything new. Heck, we’ve been following this “new” technology on cargo ships since 2005. It’s time for our almost annual check-in on how modern ships are…