"American Sniper" – to Chris Hedges, It’s America’s "Triumph of the Will"
What does the Eastwood hit movie, American Sniper, say about America in the 21st century? To Chris Hedges it says a lot, none of it good. “American Sniper” lionizes the…
The Mound of Sound
Learning to Live With ENSO
The bad news is that ENSO is expected to get a helluva lot worse. The worse news is that nobody really cares. ENSO, the El Nino Southern Oscillation, is a…
Only in Harperland is a Verdict a "Matter of Opinion"
Nice House of Commons You Got HereIt’d Be a Shame if Something Happened to It Dean del Mastro wants a do-over. Presumably it has something to do with being on…
Will Ted Cruz Become the First Canadian to Run For President?
Something’s up. Ted Cruz, the Republican poster boy for all things far right, has still not ditched his Canadian citizenship. It’s a relatively easy process. He could probably go into…
What It Takes to Watch FOX (or Sun) News – by John Cleese
Legendary Python, John Cleese, gets down to the basics of what it takes to be a viewer of FOX (and we might add Sun) News.
40 Years of Downsizing Democracy
The Tyee’s Murray Dobbins sees signs everywhere that our civilization is heading for collapse. The exceptionally successful four decades campaign to change the “ideological fabric” of society has put western…
A Troubling Disconnect
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has criticized the bigwigs attending the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos for a lack of focus on green infrastructure investment. “We see this at the…
Well, They Do Have It Coming
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of Australia. A new report claims that the ‘land down unda’ will be hit harder by climate change impacts than the rest…
Just a Matter of Time
Mini-drones, hand-launched devices that can deliver small payloads on flights of 15-minutes or more. The Genie is out of the bottle and proof came in the form of a small…
But Gosh It Sure Looks Purty
One of the great threats facing mankind discussed at this year’s World Economic Forum meeting in Davos is algae blooms triggered by agricultural run off into coastal waters and freshwater…
Religion’s Twelve Deadly Sins
Alternet’s Valerie Tarico has written an insightful piece about 12-concepts, integral to organized religions, that “promote conflict, cruelty, suffering and death rather than love and peace.” First up is the…
A Nation Vexed by Anti-Vaxxers?
There’s a cult in the United States that’s come to be called the “Anti-Vaxxers.” The term describes parents who prevent their kids from receiving ordinary medical vaccinations. They claim the…
Ditto What Australia Said. America Can Be a "Dangerous Ally"
Former Australian prime minister (1975-83), Malcolm Fraser, fears his country’s dependence on the United States could drag Australia into a war not of its own choosing, a war with China.…
When All the King’s Horses and All the King’s Men Can’t.
The Atlantic’s James Fallows was interviewed on Bill Maher’s show last night. The discussion focused on Fallows’ article in the latest edition, “The Tragedy of the American Military.” One point…
Said the Man With the 145-Foot Yacht
He made his billions in real estate but Jeff Greene could have had a great career in stand-up. Greene’s private jet was one of 1,700 that conveyed the rich and…
It’s Three Minutes to Midnight
The Cold War relic, the Doomsday Clock, has been moved two minutes and is now set at three minutes to midnight. “Today, unchecked climate change and a nuclear arms race…
CBC Folds, Finally. On-Air Talent Barred from Paid Speaking Gigs.
Was it Amanda Lang’s excesses or the scolding Mother Corp got from the Guardian’s George Monbiot? In an email to CBC staff shared with Canada.com, top management told reporters all…
Is Harper Collaborating With the Saudi Princes to Crush Their Shiite Minority?
Stephen Harper is beginning to catch a bit of flack over the sale of 15-billion dollars worth of Canadian-built light armoured fighting vehicles to Saudi Arabia. At first blush it’s…
Salvaging Order Out of Chaos
I don’t want to blame America for this but, somehow, on its unipolar watch, much of the world was set ablaze. It’s not just Afghanistan (along with neighbouring Pakistan) and…
It’s Nearly "Duffy Time" Again
We’re just over two months away from the start of the trial of senator Mike Duffy. It’s scheduled to open April 7 and continue to May 12, when it will…