QP: The sound of knuckles grazing
For the first few exchanges, everyone was pretty much convinced that it was going to be a rerun of yesterday. Turmel faced off with Flaherty and Paradis alternately about unemployment…
World Alzheimers Day
I just wanted to briefly mention that today is World Alzheimer’s Day. This is a disease that affects a lot of people, but doesn’t seem to be in the public…
Is Harper more dangerous to freedom than Perry, Palin and Bachmann put together?
Yes. He's one sick f*ck.Tough on crime? Hell, he's tough on freedom, choice and progress. The one thing he's not tough on is violent crime. It's all just one big…
"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" ends in the U.S. as YouTube Gay Soldier coming out video goes viral…
YouTube's Gay Soldier: 'Never Thought I'd Be So Comfortable' - ABC NewsYesterday marked the official end to the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy in the American armed forces. Now, finally,…
Global Financial Leaders Recommend Cutting Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Oil_Money.jpg Global financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have released a new set of recommendations for G20 countries to meet their goal of providi...
Althea Thauberger’s photo mural speaks of Vancouver’s darkness
Thauberger in Afghanistan (Photo: Sharon MacKay) It would be nearly impossible to accuse Vancouver artist Althea Thauberger of being weak or fearful; in fact she is quite the opposite. Not…
CRTC’s New Vertical Integration Rules Include New Safeguards, but Won’t Stop the Price-Gouging
openmedia_logo.jpg September 21, 2011 – The CRTC’s decision on vertical integration today is nothing more than a half-measure, says citizen engagement organization OpenMedia.ca. Earlier this ...
Tim Padgett, corruption apologist
Meet Leopoldo López…corrupto, violent agitator, and “popular” politician of the Venezuelan far-right. And apparently, the crushboy of a certain crap “reporter” for TIME Magazine… The Inter-American Court of Human Rights…
A francophone Ottawan in Alberta — Part 1
Ok, so I am off to the YOW for a domestic flight to Calgary. A few thoughts: Why is their airport code YYC ?!?! Why does Banff National Park, paid…
Call for Tea Party Tim to denouce xenophobia #1532
I received this email that has been going around faster than the Fall flu. ______________________________ Should Tim Hidak denounce these statements? 1. «Compared to the west, most Muslim countries…
Stephen Harper’s Police State
Doesn’t HE look grand? From the first throws of holding office , Steve’s done nothing but a series of playing dress-up and enacting the game….only, in real life. So he’s…
Oxymoronic ‘Ethical Oil’ Meets Irony
I hate promoting the severely flawed concept of 'ethical oil', so much so that I don't even like using the phrase as it spreads the meme. Still, with the Keystone…
An informal Will
Getting a Will made is not difficult and is not very expensive. Most lawyers will prepare a Will for around $500. Considering that a will disposes of everything you own,…
Right-wing takeover at SFU
Staff who operate many of the student services at SFU, including Out on Campus, the Women’s Centre, and the SFSS Print Centre, have been locked out, without a contract for…
Horwath downplays coalition talk; asks Toronto Council to halt TTC cuts
Anyone hoping that a recent plea from provincial NDP leader Andrea Horwath to Toronto City Council to hold off on transit cuts will make a difference is kidding themselves. Or…
The Voice of Integrity: Munir Sheikh
Those not seduced by the siren call of simplicity promoted by the Harper government will be pleased to learn that Munir Sheikh, the former head of Statistics Canada who resigned…
Update, finally!
So the Conservatives are finally starting to have fun with their majority. We all knew this day would come -- when we would be forced to helplessly sit at the…
Serial killer Clifford Olson reportedly dying of cancer
A truly appalling series of brutal crimes -- almost a script for a horror movie. That said, such criminals are rare -- most homicides are within the family. And murder…
Low Tech and High Tech
Today there was construction on my street and I have a cold. The combination of noise and brain fog meant no work. Instead I listened to music and sewed in…
Judging credibility on appeal
R. v. B.A., 2011 ONCA 603 is a good example of how an appeal court can, sometimes, reverse a credibility finding. A trial judge, acting properly, must explain why a witness's evidence is…