Trudeau forgets Alberta; Alberta flips out
Canada is a special place; but Alberta is a little prickly. The Soapbox family celebrated Canada Day at Olympic Plaza trying to dislodge a Big Red Ball wedged between some…
propaganda
How the everyday use of militaristic jargon makes us more combative
The language of warfare and violence dominates public discourse in the United States and around the world, even when war isn’t part of the conversation. Nan Levinson, a writer, teacher,…
Where is Che now that we need him?
Maybe it’s simple nostalgia, but it seems to me the world was a lot better off when the Soviet Union was around. Really. Bear with me while I explain. When…
Type Crimes and Taxes
Type crime is the term author Ellen Lupton uses in her book, Thinking With Type, to describe egregiously bad typography. That description came to mind as I perused the latest…
“The News” – Jefferson, Chomsky, propaganda, and alternatives
As I keep saying, stop watching, reading or listening to “the news.” It is misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, distortion, lies and illusions, mass distraction and mass manipulation – psychological warfare, to…
Bernie Sanders: The backlash is on – surprise, surprise!
Bernie Sanders was effectively silenced and blacked out of the media, by and large, for a long time, until he became too popular and too prominent to ignore. Now, the…
Empiricism and Dogmatism
Or, Evidence-based opinion versus ideological fundamentalism There is a major difference between evidence-based opinion and opinion-based evidence. The former is empirical, and sane, the latter, dogmatic, and either insane or…
Empiricism and Dogmatism
Or, Evidence-based opinion versus ideological fundamentalism There is a major difference between evidence-based opinion and opinion-based evidence. The former is empirical, and sane, the latter, dogmatic, and either insane or…
Trudeau is “just not ready” to be Canada’s next prime minister: Poll
According to a new Forum Research poll, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is “just not ready” to replace Stephen Harper as Canada’s next prime minister. The post Trudeau is “just not…
Pretty much every time I hear Canadian Prime Minister Stephen…
Pretty much every time I hear Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper or one of his Conservative minions speak, I think of this song: “Propaganda” by the defunct punk/Oi! band Blitz.…
Should the CBC Walk the Proverbial Plank?
http://montrealsimon.blogspot.ca/2015/01/what-needs-to-be-said-about-cbc-scandals.html The only valid argument for saving the CBC is that it has a MANDATE, coast to coast to coast, to be there for all the people of this country,…
In the Time of the "Official Truth" There’s No Room for Journalism
John Pilger looks at what the Western media offer up as journalism and sees instead propaganda. He sees the essence of the mainstream media as not information but power. The…
Danger and Delusion: From ISIS to Ebola
There are very real dangers in the world, but let’s not lose all perspective. Perspective is everything. Don’t believe the hype. It must be stated directly: the majority of people…
Video of Syrian boy ‘hero’ under sniper fire exposed as fake: other Syria-related propaganda
In its coverage of a video that purported to show a Syrian boy braving sniper fire in the course of rescuing a young girl, the Daily Mail lauded the spectacle…
So, Just Who Is The Terrorist Here?
In 2014 in Canada, we have had several incidents involving people attacking various institutions and symbols of government. Consider the following list: January: “GG” Plans an attack on a Veteran’s…
Israel vs. Hamas or Likud vs. Gaza—framing the issue
A major goal in a propaganda war is to frame the issue on your terms. For example, in labour disputes, businesses (and their political and media allies) often claim the…
Israel & Palestine – It’s All a Game of Who Controls the Narrative
And it’s a game in which Israel and its collaborators abroad consistently win. The side with the loudest, most professional voice – Israel, of course – gets the all important…
Noam Chomsky on media’s “shameful moment” in Gaza
by: Democracy Now! | Posted Mon. Aug 11, 2014 As a new 72-hour ceasefire takes hold in Gaza, we turn to part two of our interview with world-renowned dissident and…
Will Ferrell does a mock music video of gangster rap – and it’s a scathingly hilarious critique of the genre
A musical commentary, followed by social and political analysis, followed by hilarious spoof rap videos, and more This is scathingly funny. Will Ferrell does a mock music video of macho…