How Should We Judge Historical Figures
Should historical figures be judged by the best things they have done or the worst. Should they be judged by the standards of today or of their time. Should some…
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Follow The Fifth Columnist on Twitter Over The Summer
For the past two years I have kept to my goal of posting at least once a month but it seems this summer outdoors activities, mostly biking, have taken me…
Climate Change, The Pandemic and Multi-Use Pathways (MUPs)
The greatest long term threat to humankind is undoubtedly climate change. While the planet can no doubt survive anything short of a collision with a planet sized meteorite or asteroid,…
The Argument for White Supremacy
It seems that the main argument of the white supremacists is that white western European countries would not have conquered the world if they were not superior societies. Of course…
The future of Laurentian University is in the hands of a flawed process and an anti-education government
When Laurentian University was founded it was not to create a profit making enterprise but to create an educational institution to serve the north, one that went on to include…
Ontario’s COVID-19 Disaster in Five Words
The Ontario government would like to blame the behaviour of Ontario’s citizens for this disaster implying somehow we are so much worse than the citizens of other countries, and even…
So Why Would I Buy An E-bike
It’s not that I have anything against e-bikes. I think they are great for people who want to use them as basic transportation or for whom cycling would be difficult…
The Unspoken Privilege – English Privilege
We all know what White Privilege is but no one seems to speak about English Privilege. English privilege is simply the ability of English language speakers to get by practically…
Build a Better City – The Ultimate Reality Show
The worlds biggest reality challenge – two groups of 10,000 workers in 100 groups of 100 each face of to see who can build the better city on two separate…
Does Canada Need a Head of State
From Twitter Adrian Harewood @CBCAdrianH 23 Jan Why in 2021 is a Canadian Prime Minister, the leader of a #G7 nation, still reporting to a #Queen who doesn’t live in…
Sharing My Desktop PC Wallpaper Collections
When I’m not mountain biking or cycling, mapping trails or ranting about political or social issues I may be taking photographs. The last few years I have been using the…
Bikes from Eh to Zed
A bike What everyone needs. Everyone should have a bike. B bike Be at one with your bike. Be the bike. C bike A homophonic cross reference to bicycle. See…
Happy New Years
Community My New Years Resolution for our society is to no longer worship at the twin altars of individualism and technology but rather to embrace the saviour of community. From…
The Pensioner and the Pandemic
This is the post I was going to write before I was rudely interrupted and told to lock myself in my room. I may indeed be the least affected person…
Money Cannot Buy Happiness But …
They say money cannot buy happiness but it certainly can buy food and shelter and education that can make the difference between misery and happiness, not to mention that health…
Can America Be Saved
I am writing this as a citizen of a world that no matter where we live are strongly impacted by whatever America does and whatever happens in America America is…
The MEC Mess an Intuitive Understanding
These comments are not based on any comprehensive analysis but rather my intuitive response to what has been filed in court and published online and the media coverage. It appears…
Is Charity Evil
We supposedly live in a major developed industrialized country which is one of the seven most advanced economies in the world, yet: many people depend on charity to be fed…
Lessons We Must Learn From COVID-19 to Build a Better Society
Community is the key to the future. Those societies that are fairing best in responding to COVID 19 are those with a strong sense of community. America’s dismal response is…
On Television Part 2 – Cutting The Cord
Those of you who have read THE FIFTH COLUMN: On Television may wonder if the Fifth Columnist has finally decided to cut the cord as it made a pretty good…