Fighting the commodification of housing
Century home and adjacent lot comprising the 214-230 Sherbourne properties. Photo by Andre Bermon. For the last year and a half, I have been part of a local grassroots struggle…
The abuse of entrusted power for private gain
Corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division and the environmental crisis. Exposing corruption and holding the corrupt to account can only happen…
Some amusing thoughts on Wexit, Wexitry, and Wexiteers in a potentially confusingly united Western Canada
Let’s imagine a scenario that even a year ago would have seemed all but impossible but is now within the realm of possibility. Participants in a pre-pandemic pro-Wexit demonstration at…
The problem with democracy
Democracy, it seems, is going through a rough patch. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the world showed a “continuing democratic malaise” in 2023. The number of democratic countries…
NDP Leadership Candidates’ Slogans: A brief discussion
According to those who know about these things, political slogans, those short pithy statements plastered across websites, banners, and lawn signs, are an important part of a candidate’s brand. The…
Saturday Photo: The Roman Empire for Today
How often do you think about the Roman Empire? For a project that has a lot ot do with what we remember, collectively, I'm been doing a lot of lateral…
Saturday Photo: The Roman Empire for Today
How often do you think about the Roman Empire? For a project that has a lot ot do with what we remember, collectively, I’m been doing a lot of lateral…
CBC Strives for Supermarket Tabloid Status
As a source of credible journalism, CBC used to be one of the standards by which other media measured themselves. It was reliable, honest, and responsible. Oh, how far CBC…
Yeah, isn’t this just what we all needed now … bird flu!
So let's all worry about bird flu now!The @USDA is closely tracking #H5N1 #flu in the dairy industry, and it's turning up in a very dispersed pattern across the USA.States…
Yeah, isn’t this just what we all needed now … bird flu!
So let’s all worry about bird flu now! The @USDA is closely tracking #H5N1 #flu in the dairy industry, and it’s turning up in a very dispersed pattern across the…
My latest: is this obstruction of justice?
Politicians can’t direct police. They can’t direct prosecutors. But can they do indirectly what they can’t do directly? They shouldn’t. And, in the case of two politicians who are members…
Here Come The Nutbars
InfoWars nutbar Alex Jones has endorsed Pierre Poilievre. Emily Leedham writes: Pierre Poilievre has earned a new admirer — conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Jones, who regularly promotes conspiracy theories and…
What’s Good for the King is Good for the Kids
We KNOW that Covid makes kids sick, which affects attendance, and we KNOW cleaning the air will help (since so many have been convince not to wear masks to class),…
Impediments to establishing truth about the Rwandan genocide
Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Kigali, Rwanda. Photo from Flickr. Facing history means facing ourselves. No history is hermetically sealed. One of the most serious historical tasks is to examine our…
Musical interlude
Lastlings – Let You In
Friday Afternoon Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Thomas Neuberger (via Ian Welsh) discusses the imminent reality that insurers will refuse to cover massive swaths of property due to the climate…
Trump and Hitler: disturbing parallels
Many people think that Hitler was democratically elected chancellor of Germany. He wasn’t. In fact, some highly influential conservatives convinced President von Hindenburg to appoint him to the position. The…
Eating on the Road: The Bicycle Thief in Halifax
I did a great deal of research and sought advice from local experts before my visit to Halifax, intending to make the most of my time from a culinary perspective…