help me find a new series to binge-watch
I need a new series to binge-watch. Requirements:1. Must have a ton of episodes2. Must have good characters and relationships3. Nothing too scary4. Nothing sweet or heartwarming5. No zombies6. Best…
laura k
in which i contemplate the personal pros and cons of social media
I’ve been taking a break from social media, and I am feeling the positive effects. But I do miss people. But I feel better…but I miss people…but I feel better.…
labour day 2017: demand more
CUPE Ontario’s striking new graphic urges us to be brave, to be bold, and to demand more. Those two words — demand more — deserve our attention. Every single law…
what i’m reading: the attention merchants by tim wu
Everywhere we look, every available space is filled with advertising. The Toronto skyline is a sea corporate logos. The due-date receipt from my library book features an ad on the…
harry hoo, nick yemana, and the persistence of racism on mainstream tv
My “comedy before bed” TV watching — the habit of a lifetime, and the surest way for me to fall asleep — has gone retro again.* I watched “Get Smart”…
rtod: herbert marcuse
Revolutionary thought of the day: Liberty Can be made into a powerful force of domination. Free election of masters does not abolish the masters or the slave — free choice…
what i’m reading: maximum security book club
I have an abiding interest in prison librarianship, and try to learn about it wherever I can. Whenever the OLA Superconference features a session on prison libraries, I attend. I’m…
join the ndp and vote for niki ashton: deadline aug 17
The deadline to join the NDP and vote for Niki Ashton is August 17. Last night I saw something that shocked me, and today I did something I’ve never done…
in which old photos make me think things
I’ve been scanning some old photos — some of Allan and me through the years, others with my siblings at various ages — and have been posting them on Facebook.…
what i’m reading: city on fire
I finished City on Fire, Garth Risk Hallberg’s astonishing debut novel, a few days ago, but stories from the book are still playing in mind. I initially didn’t want to…
an open letter to loblaw: greed is not good — especially for public relations
Loblaw Companies Limited1 President’s Choice CircleBrampton, Ontario, L6Y 5S5Attention: LCL Customer Relations Centre Dear Loblaw Ltd.: I am a Loblaw customer and I was extremely disappointed by recent public statements…
things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #24
I have a TIHATL double-header today, plus a bonus round. A customer asked for something by Omar Tyree. We had only one copy of one title, and that was in…
why do we need to say black lives matter? a brief and partial history lesson
The African American experience in Los Angeles County, California: a brief and selected timeline of sorts.* From 1940-1960, thousands of African Americans migrated from Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, and other southern…
what i’m reading: pit bull: the battle over an american icon
If you have an opinion about pitbulls, chances are good that it’s based on myth, misinformation, and even disinformation. I know a good deal about dogs, and I thought I…
in which telehealth sends me to the emergency room and i wonder why. or, what’s the deal with telehealth?
I used Telehealth for the first time this past week, Ontario’s call centre for health questions. I thought it was a great service, but now that I’ve spoken to others…
a must-read if you’re responding to ignorance and bigotry about omar khadr’s settlement
In case everyone hasn’t seen this yet, written by someone named Ben Feral Selinger. July 6 Okay, I’m fucking sick of the idiocy and done with writing a diatribe every…
adventures in streaming: tubi, dick cavett, and the manster
The Roku streaming device gives you access to thousands of apps… most of which are completely useless. That doesn’t mean I don’t love Roku. I do! But we use it…
happy strike-iversary!
The City of Mississauga has a community recognition program, through which community groups can have their banner fly at City Hall for a day. When the program was announced, I…
the politics of the hardboiled detective novel
I love these old covers! Last year, I blogged about a wonderful essay by Raymond Chandler called “The Simple Art of Murder“, written in 1950. Reading that, I realized that…
the great whole foods experiment of 2017
In our home, shopping at Whole Foods was once reserved for special dinners or used a stop-gap during an extremely busy week. Then slowly, over time, it became habit —…