Empathy Down, Narcissism Up?
A University of Michigan study of 14,000 university students found empathy is in serious decline, especially over the past ten years, while narcissism has soared. The research, led by Sara…
The Mound of Sound
James Hansen Leaving NASA to Campaign on Climate Change
The U.S. government’s most prominent science voice on climate change, James Hansen, is leaving NASA. In an e-mail Monday, Hansen wrote that he decided to step down “so that I…
Monbiot on the "Inveterate Bastards" Who Have Hijacked Our Democracy
He writes of the plight of Britons but he could as easily be speaking to you. Most of the world’s people are decent, honest and kind. Most of those who…
Chris Hedges Takes Down Intellectual America – Iggy’s On His List Too
To Chris Hedges, America’s intelligentsia are a pack of sell-outs who showed their true colours when they lined up to support George w. Bush’s war on Iraq. And Hedges is…
Don’t Rush On Our Account
The federal information commissioner has finally, at long last, been pushed to investigate the Harper government’s policies and practices for muzzing Canadian government scientists. The office of Suzanne Legault is…
The Pill Too Bitter to Swallow
Oddly enough, they tend to be Republicans or at least they were in years past. Most of them were prominent insiders in Republican administrations up to but rarely past the…
Why is Ralph Klein Greater Dead Than He Was Alive?
They’re all lining up to heap praise upon old Ralph now that he’s dead. They sure didn’t seem to be so reverential to him while he lived. Yes, Ralph Klein…
Why Doesn’t Warawa Go Out and Start, Oh I Don’t Know, a Reform Party?
That’s the ticket. Disgruntled Conservative backbenchers should take a page out of the past and split. They should form their own party, one that speaks to their concerns and aspirations.…
Obama’s Too Modest Dream
Barack Obama has unveiled plans for a multi-billion dollar programme to repair and upgrade America’s decaying highways, bridges and other critical infrastructure. Among his proposals were renewed calls for a…
Why "Happy Easter"?
Why Happy Easter? Because, before the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ got tacked onto it, Easter – or Ishtar or Eostre – was a celebration, a lovely pagan festival. …What…
The Dark Face of European Anti-Semitism
I am a regular critic of Israel, particularly its policies and acts toward the Palestinians and its destabilizing nuclear arsenal. One cannot speak of these things without inviting accusations of…
"We Will Not Let Them Fail" – At Least Not Yet
British general Bob Bruce, commander of Task Force Helmand, says now’s the perfect time to let Afghan army troops take over the job of battling the Taliban. General Bob added,…
Up From the Ground Came a Bubblin’ Crude, Bitumen That Is
The latest grand winner in the Athabasca bitumen sweepstakes is the State of Arkansas and what a state it’s in thanks to an Exxon Mobil pipeline failure that has released…
Tom Flanagan’s Too Brief Exile
Consider Tom Flanagan rehabilitated. All it took was a dead premier to get him back in the public eye. That and the Globe & Mail. On the occasion of the…
Putting America’s "Wars of Choice" in Perspective
America, land of the formerly free and home of the lamentably broke. A recent Harvard study estimated the costs of America’s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq at at least $4-trillion…
Property Sales Heat Up Post-Hurricane Sandy
A new generation of home buyers, lured by low, post-hurricane prices, are moving in to coastal neighbourhoods devastated by Hurricane Sandy. They may be on the losing end of a…
What? And They Took His Stereo Too?
Clark Aposhian heads his state’s biggest gun lobby, the Utah Shooting Sports Council. Aposhian is a true believer in the right to bear arms, including the AR-15 assault rifle. He…
Natural Gas Is the Answer, Until the Truth Leaks Out
BTU for BTU, natural gas is a lower-emission fossil fuel than oil and, especially, coal. The snag comes when you realize that those figures cover natural gas that’s actually burned…
Well, When You See the World From That Perspective…
A poll by the Pew Research Center finds 48% of American Christians believe Jesus is almost here and will show up within the next 40-years. Only 38 % rule it…
I Know It’s Easter, But
Even if you’re a Christian, you’re also kind of an atheist.