Hiding From the Fourth Estate
Last week Danielle Smith announced her new “one question, no follow up” rule for journalists asking questions at her press conferences. She said the “one question” rule would apply to…
April 2023
On Crime Waves and Policy
Much ink (most of it virtual) is being spilled these days about how “dangerous” our cities have become. Shootings, assaults and so on seem to take place on our transit…
Broken windows and broken lives
Russian opposition activist Konstantin Kotov protesting in support of Azat Miftakhov outside the General Prosecutor’s Office in Moscow, June 3, 2019. Photo from Wikimedia Commons. There is only one Russian…
what i’m reading: bread & roses: mills, migrants, and the struggle for the american dream
I’d be willing to bet my paycheque that Bruce Watson, author of Bread & Roses: Mills, Migrants, and the Struggle for the American Dream, did not want his book to…
At What Point is Inaction a Form of Eugenics??
This impressive and prescient thread worthy of saving is from Miles W. Griffis. He interweaves a speech from Vito Russo, AIDS activist, back and forth with current headlines on Covid-19…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Kenyon Wallace writes that the only reason we’re not observing large COVID waves is that we’ve been pushed to accept a perpetual…
This weekend’s tonic from Chantal Hebert: “Is it time to step down? Five questions about Justin Trudeau’s future as he marks 10 years as Liberal leader.”
This weekend’s tonic from Chantal Hebert: “Is it time to step down? Five questions about Justin Trudeau’s future as he marks 10 years as Liberal leader…none of the would-be successors…
Eerily Prescient
In 1986, Frank Zappa appeared on Crossfire, a show that billed itself as a forum for debate between opposing views. In the following clip, (you can see the entire episode…
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is a problem right across the country. In Toronto, one of the candidates for mayor has suggested a solution. Edward Keenan writes: When mayoral candidate Josh Matlow unveiled…
What’s the Big Idea?
It would be a shame to tell all those people running to be mayor of Toronto that they are doing it all wrong. This is not a long campaign. It…
Weekend funny stuff: Some stories, some writing, and some animal crackers, of course
Here are some interesting stories for your weekend. First, this is an absolutely wonderful story: Last year, a coworker randomly asked me to hand-deliver an antique violin across the country.…
Message to Alberta’s media: Danielle Smith has neither the authority nor the power to restrict you to one question – ignore her decree!
It’s in Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s nature never to admit she’s wrong, so it was no surprise after her announcement Friday that she wouldn’t allow reporters at a government news…
Saturday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Zak Vescera reports on the CCPA’s new research showing how an increasing number of jobs in British Columbia are precarious – with already-disadvantaged…
Fossil fuel capitalism rewards John Horgan
Former BC Premier John Horgan. Photo courtesy the Province of British Columbia/Flickr. When former BC premier and NDP leader John Horgan announced that he is joining the board of a…
Saturday Photo: Bixis are Back
Signs of Spring: bees in the flowers and Bixis on the corners! Such a change from a week ago when we were recovering from the ice storm. No blog post…
Just Another Lie
The United States is ruled by a crumbling gerontocracy. Maureen Dowd writes: Carl Hulse and Annie Karni wrote in The New York Times about Washington’s actual gerontocracy and the challenges…
Mr. Ponzi would be so Proud.
It is getting harder every day to support the unedited freedom of the Internet. Do we have to get used to faux sites, false advertising, scurrilous accusations and outright thievery?…
The victim of her own repeated blunders, Danielle Smith decrees a limit on reporters’ questions
It looks like Alberta’s going to need a Sam Donaldson in this election campaign. Former ABC White House Correspondent Sam Donaldson in 1995 (Photo: John Matthew Smith via Wikipedia). You…