A potpourri for Sunday.
Babel-on-the-Bay has resisted the urge to do an occasional potpourri of comments. We usually try to stick to one (related at least) topic at a time. If we did a…
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Election roulette: picking winners in the impossible election
There is only one thing I can say with absolute certainty about the provincial election of 2015. Jim Prentice has made a terrible, terrible mistake. After that, all bets are…
The Baseload Mistake
One of the hangups some of my friends have about converting the electrical grid to renewable energy, has been the difficulty in storing electricity generated for use when energy input…
Your Big Five Bank Account Needs a Condom…..
New bank fees target kids’ accounts and allow ‘double-dipping,’ say customers RBC says new fees ‘cost of doing business’ By Rosa Marchitelli, CBC News Posted: Apr 29, 2015 5:00 AM…
Careful words
Note the careful words, words that are worthy of a former Prime Ministerial spokesweasel: “I deeply regret the ordeal this has been for my family,” he said. “There’s been no…
One would think…
One would think that the question “How many jobs will be created by the federal budget?” when asked of the bloody finance minister who had just delivered the thing would…
Canada’s Oily Media
There are opportunities to support journalism in Canada that doesn’t take millions from the oil industry and the oil-soaked Conservative government. Had you heard that the Conservative Party communicated with…
Eurocentrism and the Communist Movement
Robert Biel’s Eurocentrism and the Communist Movement traces the history of Eurocentric — and anti-Eurocentric — currents in the Marxist-Leninist tradition, arguing that this distortion was key to the development…
Stuff Happens, week 15: Oilers clean house, Notley cleans up
The Edmonton Oilers, the widely-despised local hockey squadron, continue to make a lot of news for a team that missed the playoffs. After lucking into the No. 1 draft pick,…
2020 Solar Power for 100% of Saskatchewan Homes Possible
This letter appeared in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix on Saturday. In response to Kurt Soucy’s letter about the cost of powering the entire provincial grid with Photovoltaic (PV) solar power,…
Saskatoon Riding the Coattails of History
Acknowledging that an important feature in Saskatoon was constructed by the government, then bragging that construction of a future valued feature (a wind turbine) was avoided by the government instead…
Goodbye Bill Blair: You failed us.
Toronto has not lost a police chief. It has gained freedom. It has left an era of bad policing behind. It has new opportunities for better policing. It has new…
Stuff Happens, week 14: Oilers get lucky; Hillary hits the road.
The “big story” this week is one that may have long-term implications. Of course, I’m talking about the Edmonton Oilers literally defying the odds and winning the no. 1 NHL…
Why governments must embrace the new global digital reality
The essay below was in the Globe and Mail on April 10th. On Jan. 28, 2011, in the middle of a popular uprising, the president of Egypt turned off the…
Where Abstinence Sex-Ed Goes Wrong
She's being completely condescending. "You can look up anything on the internet" Then refers him to site on abstinence education! — Alice Dreger (@AliceDreger) April 15, 2015 "You'll find a…
Opposed to Coalition?
Yesterday’s news: .@davidcommon Odd report by @ElliottLouise about @JustinTrudeau & @ThomasMulcair #coalition didn't mention @ElizabethMay & @CanadianGreens. — Saskboy K. (@saskboy) April 15, 2015 Today’s news: Most Canadians are opposed…
NSA Wants To Apple-fy All Computers
Do you want a computer that will only install US Government authorized applications? That’s what the NSA wants for you, so they’ll have a front-door to every device.
Workers Link $15 Minimum Wage to Decent Work
Wednesday April 15th is a global day of action on a $15 minimum wage and decent work. Actions are happening across the U.S., and in BC, Ontario, and Nova Scotia.…
Forcing An Athiest to Practice Religion
Here’s what it can feel like to practice religion when you don’t believe in the common fantasy . I knew from a young age that I didn’t see religion as…