Filed under: Interesting Tagged: running video

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, if somebody can name a reason why this government would not want Kiewit to be successful in this contract earning thirty-five years of work for people of the Province, Mr. Speaker, I would like to know what it is. Condition for a loan guarantee? - srbp -

What's in a name?   Iran has just unveiled its latest surface-to-surface missile.  It's been given the unfortunate name, Qiyam which, in English, means "Resurrection."  Can we quit with the Apocalyptic names, please?   Just give it a rest.And from the "Yeah and if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle" file, two stories.  Outgoing US Defense Secretary Robert Gates warns that Hezbollah has a variety of rockets and missiles that could be used to deliver biological or chemical weaponry.  What does "could" mean anyway, other than anything you want it to mean but can't back up with a shred of evidence.  Not to be outdone, a senior official from the US National Intelligence Director's Office warns that North Korea could eventually develop a ballistic missile capable of reaching America."No one is looking at the North Koreans as building these systems to have a first-strike capability or anything like that. That's not what we're really…

Conservative senators balking at Senate reform.Seriously, who could not have predicted this? I sure did. To get appointed, you say yes sir yes sir Mr. Harper sir I will sir: but once you've been appointed to your job-for-life, its fuck you! time.

The people who assess the risks of nuclear war spend a lot of time casting bones and reading entrails.   Right now they warn that Pakistan is seen readying to "cross the nuclear threshold."Pakistan's test launch last month of a new short-range ballistic missile, when added to its quickly growing arsenal of lower-power nuclear weapons, indicates the South Asian country is seriously readying to use its nuclear deterrent should war break out again with India, the Times of India reported on Sunday.Federation of American Scientists Nuclear Information Project Director Hans Kristensen said the nuclear-capable Hatf 9 missile appears to be designed to attack an invading force of Indian soldiers."While that wouldn't threaten Indian survival in itself, it would of course mean crossing the nuclear threshold early in a conflict, which is one of the particular concerns of a short-range nuclear weapon," Kristensen said.Concerns about the security of Pakistan's nuclear…

America's military/industrial/civilian warfighting complex must be running out of countries to bang away on.  It's hard on a true warfare state when you run short of wars and begin suffering the pangs of acute Casus Belli Deficiency Syndrome (CBDS).  Just in the nick of time those enterprising war dogs at the Pentagon have found the solution - make up new "acts of war."According to The Guardian, the Pentagon is moving to make cyber-attacks an act of war.  You bring down America's computers, be prepared to get a giant missile up your ass.The US government is rewriting its military rule book to make cyber-attacks a possible act of war, giving commanders the option of launching retaliatory military strikes against hackers backed by hostile foreign powers.The Pentagon has concluded that the laws of armed conflict can be widened to embrace cyberwarfare in order to allow the US to respond with the use of force against aggressive assaults on its computer and IT…

There's only so much you can read into the critic portfolios assigned to the third party in the house - especially when numbers dictate that everyone gets something. But the Liberal shadow cabinet deserves a bit of attention, if only because it marks Bob Rae's first significant public decision as interim leader.Among the notables:-Ralph Goodale is an obvious and deserving choice as Deputy Leader, given his experience and the need to grow the party west of Mississauga.-In Rae's most notable and encouraging move, Stephane Dion winds up with intergovernmental affairs and democratic reform. True, these are not high profile posts in the Harper government (quick quiz: name the intergovernmental affairs minister), but between the NDP's murky position on the Clarity Act and the number of Premiers jumping into the Senate reform frenzy, this is an important role, and one Dion is perfectly suited for.-On the leadership front, Dominic LeBlanc takes over from Rae as Foreign Affairs critic,…

...and, I would note, the fat guy in the photo will steal a well-paying, unionized job off your local garbage-man.  Is this some kind of deal between Rob Ford and the Hudak Torys to privatize T.O.'s trash collection?Enquiring minds want to know.

Into the belly of the diseased, open jaws of Conrad Black yellow journalism, where she once held court and can now once again discard any pretence of objectivity and balance that must have weighed on her at the grey lady.Good for Christie. And great for the Globe & Mail.

The following letter to the editor was submitted to the Sudbury Star for publication on Thursday, May 26, 2011. At the time of posting, the letter has not been published.-----ATV's on streets will create conflict for cyclistsLater this year, our municipal council will be considering the creation of a by-law which may permit all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s) on a significant number of our city’s streets. Council should carefully consider how this by-law will impact pedestrians and bicyclists before agreeing to allow ATV’s on our streets, and whether such a by-law is in keeping with building a healthy and sustainable community.As the price of gasoline continues to rise, we can expect more people to opt for alternative methods of transportation. Along with being environmentally sustainable, walking and cycling are healthy transportation choices for residents. For some residents, walking and cycling may be the only transportation option available, due to cost factors.Recently,…

Is Quebec a nation? Is Canada a nation? Can there be a nation within another nation? These are difficult points, but some committment on these issues seems to underlie both proponents' and opponents' attitudes towards Quebec separation and nationalism. (See? It's even in that word: nationalism.)What is a nation, generally? This is a notoriously tricky question. One can't simply define "nation" in frankly legal terms -- so, "nation" equals "state" -- without just begging the question against Quebec nationalism (and Scottish nationalism and Basque nationalism and so on). While folks opposed to the idea might like that result, it's a pretty cheap move -- victory by fiat.A better way to go for those opposed to Quebec separation or nationalism would be to work with a better definition, and show that Canada satisfies it, while Quebec does not. Now, the most common ways of defining a nation appeal to things like a shared history, common language and defined borders. And that works well…

Salon has an interesting piece about the strange obession of Matt Drudge of the Drudge Report with obsessively tracking down and hyping stories of violence between whites and blacks:In an era when urban white flight is reversing and violent crime is at record lows across the nation, this world of race riots and constant violent attacks on innocent Caucasians exists only in the imaginations of Matt Drudge and the paranoid suburban and exurban white people he wants to keep terrified. Stoking those racial fears goes beyond cynical political point-scoring. To devote so much energy to attempting to make whites terrified of blacks is just vile.Speaking of Christie Blatchford...Christie Blatchford's columns will soon be back in the pages of the National Post, parent company Postmedia news network announced on Wednesday.Veteran journalist Christie Blatchford is joining Postmedia News, which will see her columns return to the National Post. Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press The veteran…

Die BUND-Aktion unter obigem Titel habe ich nicht nur persönlich unterstützt, sondern empfehle sie sehr gerne allen, die der Regierung sagen wollen, dass der mögliche Atomausstieg frühestens 2022 kein gesellschaftlicher Konsens ist. Macht mit und sagt "Nicht mein Konsens, Frau Merkel!"

The Globe headline this aft as news comes that one of Harper's most committed partisans is leaving: "Harper loyalist Dimitri Soudas stepping down as PMO spokesman." Termed a loyalist in a headline of the national paper. It sounds quite honourable at a glance. Marjory LeBreton is consulted: Senator Marjory LeBreton said she will miss Mr. Soudas.“He's been an outstanding, hard-working colleague,” Ms. LeBreton said.“I have nothing but admiration for his hard work and devotion to the Prime Minister.” Further on, they do touch on some of the controversies involving Soudas' tenure such as ignoring some journalists, Soudas' involvement with the pre-determined journo question list, his "sway" in Quebec that was probably inordinate given his position as a young spokesperson. But it's done in a general way. Not mentioned in the Globe, however, that very recent and significant controversy involving allegations of interference by Soudas in the Montreal Port Authority's board. A…

She’s a left the Grope & Fail and sayin’ hello to the Pestmedia!  CEO Paul Godfrey is just so wild about havin’ her! “We are thrilled to welcome Christie to Postmedia,” said Paul Godfrey President and CEO. “Christie Blatchford is a game changer in the world of journalism and we’re overjoyed to have . . . → Read More: What Have You Done, Clucking Christie Bitchford?

Fracking-illustration-001.jpg Hydraulic fracturing in areas of the United Kingdon has been halted due to concerns that the procedure is responsible for two small earthquakes triggered in the town of Lancashire. One earthquake occurred in April and measured a 2.3 on the Richter scale, and another occurred last week measuring 1.5 in magnitude. Both quakes happened at the same time and in the same location where the Cuadrilla Resources energy company was actively fracking gas wells. No significant damage was reported from either earthquake. The British Geological Survey suggests that the earthquakes are a result of fracking, as gas and oil drilling has been known to cause small earthquakes in other areas of the world. <!--break--> From a report in the UK’s The Independent: "It seems quite likely that they are related," said Brian Baptie of the British Geological Survey (BGS). "We had a couple of instruments…

Don’t Know Much About – History, Geography or Civics By Alan Singer In April 1943, as the United States prepared to invade Nazi dominated Europe and hopefully rebuild the continent on democratic foundations, the nation was shook, at least mildly, by a study that showed a tremendous “ignorance of U.S. History” by college freshman (Benjamin [...]

For a week or so we have heard rumours about GM closing or reducing production in Oshawa. A little over a year ago Stephen Harper said "in the eye of a global economic storm, our government acted quickly and responsibly to protect Canadian jobs." That was the right thing to do. But now it seems GM has forgotten its moral responsibility to Oshawa (and Canada). Harper says he saved GM to protect Canadian jobs -- he should be reminding GM and safeguarding Canadian jobs.

As officially adopted May 28th, 2011Socialist Party of OntarioThe ConstitutionClause 1: NameThe name of the Party is the Socialist Party of Ontario. Clause 2: PreambleThe Socialist Party of Ontario is founded on compassion and fairness. Its purpose is to create alternative institutions to challenge and replace the hierarchical, oppressive and exploitative nature of the existing neo-liberal political structure and capitalism. The Socialist Party of Ontario is committed to the abolition of capitalist exploitation and its replacement by a system of democratically controlled socialist planning. To this end, its members will work continually to ensure that all voices are heard within the party, in opposition to the exclusionary policies of existing political entities. This is the primary objective of its democratic socialist constitution. The Socialist Party of Ontario will fight and organize within the electoral context of Ontario to elect MPPs to our Provincial Parliament, with the…

Likely makes some sense -- she will be a better fit in the Post newspapers. Her pieces were always interesting (often infuriating!) but did not seem to blend with the rest of the Globe's text.

Of course! It’s all so obvious now.

We had heard rumors for a number of months now concerning the murder of Mark Mariani but didn't have anything concrete. Today, however, two of the founders of the Aryan Guard offshoot WEB were arrested for his murder: 2 arrested in year-old Calgary murder By Stephane Massinon, Calgary HeraldJune 1, 2011 Two people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Calgary man last year

With 59 of their 103 seats in Quebec, we could expect the NDP to pay close attention to Quebec's concerns. That would, of course, be appropriate. But what I wouldn't have expected them to do is propose eroding the democratic rights of the rest of us in order to favour that province. This is what Jack Layton has proposed with his suggestion that the government give Quebec more seats in the House of Commons.With 24.4 per cent of the seats for 23.2 per cent of the Canadian population, Quebec is fairly represented in the House. Furthermore, its share of the population is decreasing.Democracy is nothing less than equal political power and one citizen/one vote is the embodiment of that principle. Now it appears Mr. Layton is willing to sacrifice my political equality for his political gain. First-past-the-post has already reduced the value of my vote to essentially zero in federal elections, and the only hope I have of giving it meaning is a system of proportional representation.…

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 We’re most of the way through the Spring 2011 sitting of BC’s Legislature – the first under Premier Christie Clark and Opposition Leader Adrian Dix.  What have our elected officials been doing for the environment?  Actually, given how short the sitting, there’s been a surprising number of environment-related laws introduced. We’re most of the way through the Spring 2011 sitting of BC’s Legislature – the first under Premier Christie Clark and Opposition Leader Adrian Dix.  What have our elected officials been doing for the environment? Actually, given how short the sitting, there’s been a surprising number of environment-related laws introduced. read more

The Supreme Court's decision on sexual assault and consent in R. v. J.A. has been hot topic since its May 27, 2011 release. Complaints that the decision essentially criminalizes a wide range of innocent sexual activities are flourishing across Twitter (and the nation). The facts underlying the Court's ruling in J.A. are not disputed: a man and woman engaged in consensual sexual activity, which included the man choking the woman unconscious. While she was briefly unconscious, he inserted a sex toy into her anus - something she later admitted in testimony they had done before. after removing the toy, they had vaginal intercourse which she stated was consensual. She complained to the police some time later. (She later attempted to withdraw her complaint, stating that she had made it falsely as a result of a custody threat he had made regarding their son.) He was charged with sexual assault among other crimes and convicted.The Supreme Court's 6-3 majority decision, authored by…

Former BC Liberal Party leader Gordon Gibson's column in the Mop and Pail today is an excellent example of the essential policy incoherence and inherent cognitive dissonance that are the core features of neo-liberalism's Canadian strain.He correctly identifies the essential problems of the Canadian Liberal Party; the impression that they stand for nothing and the generation of squabbling internecine battles and jockeying for power and influence that have hollowed the party out. He suggests they need to stand for something again, for policies that will make them stand out from the other parties.Where to find unique policies? The obvious places are the “third rails” of politics, the ones others fear to touch. These are things like our drug policy (insane), our prison policy (likewise), our immigration policy (revolutionizing Canada on an ongoing basis without debate), democratic reform, the importance of supporting Canadian culture, a leadership of ideas (not cash) in things…

gavel.jpg Attorney General Eric Schneiderman of New York has filed a lawsuit against the federal government for failing to properly study the effects of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) before granting permits to gas drillers. The lawsuit seeks to stop fracking in the Delaware River Basin until a comprehensive analysis of the dangers is performed by the government. Schneiderman warned Washington last month that he would file suit if the government didn’t take immediate action to study the effects of fracking. Schneiderman says that federal officials have failed to assess the fracking process properly, and that the environmental protections for the Delaware River Basin have not been evaluated by government officials to determine if they are adequate to address the fracking boom. Independent studies have shown that fracking fluids contain numerous toxic chemicals, and that the potential to contaminate water supplies…

Well! Well! Well! What have we here? Now that Stevie has a majority, you’re not so happy anymore, Dimitri?  Why so glum, chum? Didn’t get that bonus? Stevie not appreciating you as you think you should?  He’s claiming family priorities now. Senator Margie LeBreton, yanno, that dame who would ostensibly take over the . . . → Read More: Stevie’s Pocket Dog Will Be Leaving!

The federal government wants to hire a national detective service to streamline the way it investigates allegations of electoral impropriety in native communities. Indian Affairs and Northern Development, now known as Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, issued a tender last...

If she was still upright Mrs. DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe, would be blowing out 85 candles today.WFDS

I’ve never supported the Clarity Act, and spoke against it when it was still a Bill. I remain a supporter of self-determination for Quebec, but heck, these days I even have Lorne Gunterin my corner, sort of. And who was...

This marks the first step in the reversal of the Honduran coup of 2009. Mel is back, and dialogue is ON, babies: Part 1 of several; keep clicking through for the rest. Note that Mel’s plane is one from the fleet of the Venezuelan national airline, Conviasa. Chavecito and his neighbor, Juan Manuel Santos of [...]

I saw pump prices advertised at $131.9/litre yesterday.   Lately I've developed a game for these occasions.  When I see a gas price spike I try to match it to some supply catastrophe.  Is it the Mississippi refineries hit by recent flooding?   Could it be the civil war in Libya?  Perhaps it's just another manifestation of "peak oil."Maybe, maybe not.   Then again the real villain may not be Gaddafi but Goldman or one of the other Wall Street parasites who are making a killing gaming everything from oil to food staples and causing enormous suffering worldwide in their wake.Enter Wikileaks.   They've released a confidential State Department cable from 2008 that sheds a lot of light on what's going on.  From McClatchey Newspapers:When oil prices hit a record $147 a barrel in July 2008, the Bush administration leaned on Saudi Arabia to pump more crude in hopes that a flood of new crude would drive the price down. The…

You might have heard about the Congressman Anthony Weiner’s twitter account where he supposed to have posted a picture for a girl that he was chasing. Weiner denies it and claims that his twitter account was hacked. Jon Stewart, who once was roommate of Weiner, has interesting take on it. It is quite funny.

Jessica Murphy of Sun Media dug out the info from a study by McMaster researcher Alex Sevigny that confirmed what Parliament watchers already knew: when it comes to civility Jack Layton of the Bloc NDP is dthe rudest of them all at 39.To pit that in perspective John Baird scored a 49/100.The average was 54. Rona Ambrose scored the highest on the table, getting a 68.WFDS

Globe and Mail - "The world’s leading authority on cancer research has declared the radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by devices such as cellphones are possibly carcinogenic, a major step that is raising new questions about cellphone safety.The International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, made the announcement on Tuesday after 31 leading experts from 14 countries met in France to review the existing evidence.The panel concluded that radiofrequency electromagnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic “based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use.” Numerous other substances are considered “possibly carcinogenic,” including gasoline, some pesticides and occupational exposure from dry cleaning and firefighting.Although there are many sources of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, such as near transmitters, cellphones are the highest source of exposure…

A new poll shows that a majority of Canadians don't really support Conservative policies. 53% said that they didn't want the Corporate taxes to drop and only 39% agreed. On the Fighter jets 52% disagreed with a purchase and 37% agreed. On the Long Gun registry the country is split on what to do, but currently it's 46%-43%in favor of keeping the registry.  So how did Harper get elected. Well he didn't really run on these policies in the first place, and guess what he only needed to get 40% to get his majority around where his policy approval is. Yet again a reason to reform the house. As it shows once again the only right wing party just needs to get the right wing vote to get a majority even though a majority didn't like the Conservative policies. Here is another interesting fact. A overwhelming majority support senate reform I wonder how much support house reform. The poll doesn't even mention abolishing the…

Where is Jason Nesmith when you need him? The fictional commander of the fictional star ship Protector at least took a firm stand when delivering a stock line: Never give up!  Never surrender! Noob Bloc NDP member of parliament Ryan Cleary could only deliver a weak-assed line among a string of other superficial comments when he told CBC’s Debbie Cooper that in his new lifestyle as a politician, “there’s give and take, there’s compromise, but I’ll only compromise so far.” Compromise on what, one might ask? Clearly not spending public money. Cleary promises to fly to his home in St. John’s every weekend. Beyond that Cleary is not very clear on most things. And why should he?  The guy knew nothing about politics before he got into, nothing about the Commons and the role it plays and after four weeks of MP school he is barely scratching the surface of what he doesn’t know.  Heck, Cleary is stuck at the “it’s too hot up here, give me…

The next 28 hours are the last chance to submit your Form 6 for the illegitimate "Special Convention" that nobody will get to speak on. Coincidentally, the LPC(o) and LPC websites are conveniently not working as I write this blog. But hardly anybody is screaming that the whole "virtual meeting" is a sham, right Mr. Apps?

For Immediate ReleaseJune 1, 2011Introducing the Liberal TeamOTTAWA – Liberal Leader Bob Rae today introduced the Party’s new House of Commons line-up – one that builds on the depth and experience of the Liberal Caucus. In addition to critic assignments, Mr. Rae announced his Senior Caucus Leadership Group which will assist in managing Parliamentary business and work closely with the Party and the caucus on overall operations. MP Ralph Goodale will be Deputy Leader, MP Marc Garneau will be the House Leader and MP Judy Foote will be the Whip.“The Liberal Party has the advantage of having a Caucus of talent and experience,” said Mr. Rae. “I am thankful for the confidence that our Caucus and our Party have placed in me, and I am proud to lead a team of individuals who will serve Canadians with skill and integrity and play a pivotal role in rebuilding the Liberal Party of Canada.”Earlier today, the Caucus also elected Francis Scarpaleggia as Liberal…

Today, Ontario is announcing the last stage of the rollout of full day kindergarten. In a highly competitive, globalized, knowledge-based economy it is absolutely essential that Ontario invest in the younger generation to ensure that we build a powerful workforce that can compete and win against the best anywhere on this planet, and investments in families like FDK go a long way to securing Ontario jobs and strengthening our economy.And up until last weekend, reckless rookie Tim Hudak wanted to scrap this program. But, in his slick, angry, and dark scheming unveiled over the weekend, Tim Hudak - just as he has on human rights, the HST, and creating Ontario jobs – has flip flopped.What once was a “frill”, he now says he’ll keep. After saying he would “freeze” the program and create two-tier schools, he now says it would be “a mistake to disrupt its implementation”. Despite his flip-flop, with a $10 billion dollar hole in the middle of his platform, important…

I’m in it. My tooth is killing me – ol’ number 36 for you dental-philes out there. Tylenol 3 doesn’t work. Ibuprofen does work, but only for a short time. Meanwhile, the pain is radiating into the rest of my head and my neck. I can’t sleep, can’t focus and am in a hell of [...] No related posts.

I have my own gripe with Alberta and quadding culture, but that mostly has to do with not being able to paddle down a crystalline mountain river without meeting an ATV zipping in and out of the water every ten minutes. Or using said river to wash off the mud and oil from all that zipping. I cringed when I spoke to someone who had just bought their 9 year old a quad, thinking it was an anomaly. Apparently not.Doctors at Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital are calling on parents to keep their children off all-terrain vehicles until they are at least 16."It breaks my heart when I have a teenager ... go on one of these machines — a 12, 13-year-old — and then dies in my ICU," said Dr. Daniel Garros.This month alone, Stollery doctors treated four children with severe injuries sustained while riding ATVs. Two have died.Last year, the Stollery treated 105 young patients for ATV-related injuries which Garros said include severe head trauma, broken spleens and damaged…

Inspired by this story:http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/06/01/pol-conservative-caucus.html

With a major freshwater crisis setting in throughout South Asia, India and East Asia and warnings that already record prices for food staples may double by 2030, this is what you can expect for the future.    China is making a major land grab, this time not in Africa but in Argentina, and it's got people in the South American state nervous....the [Chinese] state-owned agribusiness company Beidahuang has joined the global scramble for land and water that has accelerated since food prices spiked in 2008.At the end of last year it was confirmed that the company had signed an agreement with the government of Patagonia's Rio Negro province that will provide the framework for it to acquire up to 320,000 hectares of privately owned farmland – along with irrigation rights and a concession on the big San Antonio port in the region.Details of the deal, which are alleged to have been kept quiet until it had been completed, have been emerging in recent weeks as…

The Onion satire on Planned Parenthood's new Abortionplex is developing serious Intertooz 'legs'. First, bloggers like DJ! picked it up.Then, things started going meta. A site called Literally Unbelievable was created to collect outraged, humour-impaired Facebook reactions to this and other Onion stories. Now, it has spawned a Yelp page. Not being much of a shopper, I hadn't heard of Yelp.Yelp, Inc. is a company that operates yelp.com, a social networking, user review, and local search web site. Yelp.com has more than 39 million monthly unique visitors as of late 2010.Talk about black humour. Here are some samples:I agree with Waldo W. Without a doubt, I was overwhelmed by the state of the art facility. It's quite awe-inspiring. And while I can appreciate the vision of Cecile Richards, I think she may have missed the mark. Yes, they removed the fetus quickly, yes I recovered by watching Bridesmaids in the cinema, yes I indulged in some post-abortion Dunkin Donuts' Munchkins,…

Whatever happened to Bruce Carson?It appears our Attention-Deficit news-gathering organizations have forgotten him. Thanks to Red Tory, much remains of that disgusting chapter in the ongoing saga of corruption in the highest reaches of the Contempt Party's PMOpolitburo.It's worth remembering Carson, in light of the treatment Kathryn Smithen received from a panel of Law Society of Upper Canada reviewing her application to the Bar. “Despite her horrendous behaviour in the past, she has come to grips with all of the reasons that propelled her to act so badly and has made a commitment to herself and others to conduct herself with honesty and integrity,” wrote James Caskey, on behalf of the three-member panel. From here. The *horrendous behaviour* that was alluded to? From 1979 to 1993, she was charged five times with 39 offences, she says, including fraud, theft of money and credit cards, and forging documents. She got 18 months in jail.Smithen also worked as an escort to…

It's no secret that Andrew Breitbart hates black people. His crusades against the left are obsessively and almost exclusively devoted to going after African Americans. Now I learn his old buddy Matt Drudge has upped the ante and is in full-scale KKK mode.Despite the falling violent crime in the US, since just before he ascendency of Barack Obama, Drudge has made it his obsession to highlight violent images of blacks and promote any story that has to do with violence involving African Americans. It's so obvious, it is sick.But this is the new America. Same as the old America. White folks desperately in need of something to fear - the devil they were taught as kids. Americans must have a devil or they are not fully functional. Commies, liberals, Muslims come and go, but blacks are always there.Opportunists like Limbaugh, Ailes, Drudge and Breitbart know all about fear. They know the popular targets throughout the history of the US and make them everyone's bugaboo today. This year…

Danny Williams a couple of days ago: I demand due diligence!Danny Williams now: I demand it in a "very, very short timeframe"

R. v. Eastgaard, 2011 ABCA 152 is a useful case in clarifying the need (or lack thereof) for extensive reasons following a short trial. Basically, the reasons have to be clear enough that the parties can understand what happened but they do not have to set out every issue in complete detail, especially if the information can be gleaned from the rest of the trial: [12] Reasons issued at the conclusion of, or very shortly after, relatively short trials need not precisely lay out every issue so long as a path to the result can be determined. That path can include argument, exchanges between counsel during argument, and observations made by the trial judge during argument and the trial.

"I see, said the blind man to the deaf dog, who wasn't listening anyway" is a phrase that comes to mind reading reports of federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's press conference on the economy. Generally speaking we expect governments to do more to solve looming crises than beg somebody else to do it for them. It is a sign of just how ideologically blinded are the Tories that they will ride the

Yesterday I was reminded by the fact that I have great friends – friends who are far better to me than I deserve. You see, yesterday was my birthday and I was overwhelmed with the number of well wishers who sent me a little note.  I'm so, so lucky - something I should never forget. [...]

PROZAC IS KILLING BACTERIA in the Great Lakes. According to Annalee Newitz at IO9, So many humans are taking Prozac that traces of the antidepressant drug are showing up in the Great Lakes of the United States, where bacteria are dying as a result. At least they're not depressed, I hope.

40% Total30% Catholic52% Jewish12% Muslim50% Regular church-goers27% Non-religiousDennis Gruending times them all together, and even manages to shed light on this post election meeting between Msgr. Patrick Powers, the general secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Jason Kenney.

Anglican churches in Nova Scotia and P.E.I. will now apparently have the individual autonomy to choose to bless same-sex marriages.A tiny step to be certain, but at least it's one in the right direction.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene of a three-vehicle collision in at Hwy. 401 and Stevenson Road in Oshawa.The collision took place shortly after 8:50 a.m. OPP Sgt. Dave Woodford said the crash involved a motorcycle, a red Toyota and a tractor trailer. A coroner is en route to confirm the death, he said. All westbound traffic will be diverted from Harmony Road, said the OPP. The investigation could take several hours. Ramps from Courtice Road, Harmony Road, Ritson Road and Simcoe Street leading to the westbound 401 have also been closed for the investigation.

i've meant to table at every Hamilton bookfair so far, but there's been a variety of events and calamities that have always interfered ... but not this year! Finally it seems like we'll be able to be there, tabling for Kersplebedeb and PM Press too ...if you're in Southern Ontario, make sure to drop by and say hello!Saturday, June 4th 201110am-5pm51 Stuart StreetHamilton, OntarioFree Lunch and Free Childcarehamiltonbookfair@gmail.com As the organizers say:The 4th annual Hamilton Anarchist Bookfair is right around the corner — are you coming? It’s happening this Saturday, June 4th!We want you all to come. It’ll be fun, promise! Together, we’ll talk all about what’s terrible, and how we might wanna fix it. We’ll sit side by side, and be glad to share our intensity, our dreams, and our relentless passion — I’m sure we’ll find that we have a lot to learn from each other! There will be over 27 vendors with books and literature, 8 workshops and discussions; and of…

Three people who worked closely with Sarah Palin in her early political years have collaborated on a book that sets the record straight on Governor Quitter. Despite being filled with regret for his own actions while serving for nearly four years under candidate and then half-governor Sarah Palin, Frank Bailey came to fear that his former boss remained a voice in American politics. In Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin, former insider and my co-author Frank Bailey said of his ideals when we first met, “I am still a Fox News Conservative.” Frank went on to explain that Sarah Palin, despite her carefully managed image and “word salad” lip service to conservative ideals, cared little for the smaller government and social values that attracted him to her candidacy in 2005. She was (and he admits guilt in getting sucked in, and participating wholeheartedly) consumed not with governance, but with image, vindictiveness, and ultimately reaping worldly rewards. Go read the rest at…

Too bad in Canada the majority of Canadians don't count. There's something deeply wrong with our electoral system when a party can form a majority government - an irresponsible, spendthrift one at that - and wield power over a nation, introducing unpopular policies and a disastrous ideological bent to our courts. Too bad there's no real media representing the majority of  Canadians and no cohesive, effective opposition to wage the fight that needs to be fought.When Harper says he is "all about earning and maintaining the trust of Canadians", he is clearly lying.

Via Dan Pinnington, LawPro Counsel at Avoid A Claim Blog: "The Toronto Lawyers' Association announced today that they will be providing internet access to the Toronto Civil Court lists. Currently you can access Trials, Pre-Trial & Case Conferences, Motions and Masters' Motions. The Commercial and Bankruptcy Lists will be available soon. The TLA aims to have the next day's list posted by 5 pm each day (the lists are subject to change). To access the lists visit the TLA home page at www.tlaonline.ca and click on "Court Lists" link. To help make this happen the TLA acknowledged the efforts of Regional Senior Justice Then, the assistance of the Court staff including Jacqui Soutar and John Cottrell, then TLA Executive Director Joan Rataic-Lang and immediate past president Nestor Kostyniuk."

Freezing rain.No one complains.20 below zero.No one complains.Blizzards, blowing snow, black ice.No one complains.But when it gets nice out like it was in your capital yesterday.Everyone complains.WFDS

I think it was in the Martin or the Dion years, when, on Canadian Cynic, I told Ti-Guy that I wanted the Liberal Party of Canada to die, because they deceived progressive-minded Canadians and made them believe that they could have their cake and eat it too.Ti-Guy replied something to the effect that by giving the centrist majority of Canadians a compromise between the extremist Conservatives and the loopy NDP. Without the Liberals, the majority of Liberal supporters would stupidly migrate over to the Conservatives (with whom they feel more comfortable).At the time, I wasn't sure that the thesis was worth the explosion in homelessness, in poverty, in the massive decline in our manufacturing sector, the occupation of Afghanistan and the subsequent war crimes, the increase in inequality, the creeping privatization of health care, the dallying with missile defence, and on and on and everything that Liberal governance represented.And what if it's the case that "centre cannot hold"? I…

We’re just one day away from the House coming back for what is expected to be a short, budget-focused few weeks. Which is just as well, considering that they’ll have the summer to get accustomed to their new offices, staff, and in some cases, actually visit their ridings. As for that budget, Flaherty says he’s not going to be changing any of his fiscal projections. Good to know.Nova Scotia premier Darrell Dexter joins the list of premiers opposed to Harper’s unilateral Senate reform plans. As well he should be. Dexter also suggested that Julian Fantino’s military procurement role is to protect MacKay politically when it comes to naval procurement, which is a good theory.Also opposed to the Senate reform bills? Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, but he went a step further to say that reform is impossible, so we should just abolish it. *sigh* Seriously, guys? The this whole conversation has degenerated to the…

Crude oil prices are the pedestal on which Kathy Dunderdale’s empire of debt called Muskrat Falls is built. The provincial Conservative’s plan to burden the people of Newfoundland and Labrador with a huge public debt and grossly increased electricity prices – while shipping cheap power out of the province – is based on one simple premise. From the time Kathy Dunderdale first unveiled the scheme,  she keeps insisting that oil prices will skyrocket between now and 2017 when the project is supposed to start producing electricity.  Without Muskrat Falls, according to Dunderdale, people on the island of Newfoundland will be forced to pay ever higher amounts for electricity as oil climbs higher.  The culprit is the Bunker C fuel needed to make electricity as Holyrood. Oil is supposed to be more than $120 by 2017 and at $200 by 2020 in order to make the Conservatives’ Muskrat Falls scheme work.  That’s the only way that a $10 billion megaproject of…

Here are today's leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter for the first day of June!:Making yes mean no - National Post - http://goo.gl/TqdYGGoogle's Schmidt says he didn't react quickly enough to Facebook - San Jose Mercury News - http://goo.gl/r1IAwFeds, John Edwards Reportedly at Impasse in Talks re Possible Plea - http://goo.gl/Of4hjJudge lets 31 accused Hells Angels bikers free; Quebec court can't handle caseload - http://goo.gl/gwgll Philly judges tell reporter he can't take notes in court -http://goo.gl/eaQGDUS Supreme Court Seeks American Views on Cell Phone Suit, as WHO Sees Possible Cancer Link - News - ABA Journal -http://goo.gl/7fJzxGoodbye Ogilvy Renault, hello Norton Rose OR | Canadian Lawyer Legal Feeds - http://goo.gl/glgaGLaw Society Regulatory Proceedings for May 2011 | SYS-CON MEDIA - http://goo.gl/Y2INVMistaken mastectomy pathologist won't be licensed -http://goo.gl/1rnGiEdwards Grand Jury Delayed | FrumForum - http://goo.gl/RD3eHSeriously? A Canadian…

Wer sich für Studienreisen der Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung nach Lateinamerika und/oder Israel interessiert, findet aktuelle Reiseberichte auf http://bpb-studienreisen.blogspot.com/. Viel Spaß beim Lesen! In Zukunft dürften hoffentlich weitere Berichte hinzukommen. Das Programm mit anstehenden Studienreisen der bpb findet sich hier.

The celebratory mood seems to have died down a little in the US as perhaps they realize celebrating the gross violation of international law loud and proud might not be such a good thing.  If the same sort of action where to happen to us, we would not be in such a happy mood, I [...]

Oh no. I'm afraid my campaign to bring a non-partisan point of view to the progressive blogosphere has met with a bruising setback.A sucker punch from Sister Sage.Last, but certainly not least, Simon, I have always liked your blog, but I find myself at odds with you lately, like today. The passage below, I find particularly interesting.But if they don’t see the errors of their ways, and keep on attacking the NDP instead of the Cons, I will have no choice. Attacking the NDP instead of the Cons? Uh, excuse me, I don’t remember any protesting when the NDP starting putting out attack ads on Iggy and Iggy alone following the debates and basically leaving Stevie Spiteful alone, just as they had in previous election campaigns. Because as far as I know I've always criticized BOTH sides. And a low blow  from Volkov.Another sign a merger will not happen? This rambling post by Montreal Simon is a good reason. Where's the co-operation everyone on that side…

When she sees some, she takes it.

Reported on Sunday in the Guardian: Greenhouse gas emissions increased by a record amount last year, to the highest carbon output in history, putting hopes of holding global warming to safe levels all but out of reach, according to unpublished estimates from the International Energy Agency.The shock rise means the goal of preventing a temperature rise of more than 2 degrees Celsius – which scientists say is the threshold for potentially "dangerous climate change" – is likely to be just "a nice Utopia", according to Fatih Birol, chief economist of the IEA. It also shows the most serious global recession for 80 years has had only a minimal effect on emissions, contrary to some predictions.Last year, a record 30.6 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide poured into the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuel – a rise of 1.6Gt on 2009, according to estimates from the IEA regarded as the gold standard for emissions data.I did a quick search to see if Peter Kent, our Environment…

Parliament resumes today, and with it, we step into a great unknown. Will Stephen Harper's Conservative majority plunge us into chaos? Will the government impose a neoliberal austerity agenda that shreds what's left of Canada's social programs? Will his social conservative base have free rein to chip away at our rights and freedoms? And if so, will the NDP opposition oppose him at every turn?Lying beneath these questions is a truth we cannot repeat often enough: the majority of Canadians did not vote for this government. A new Environics poll shows that the majority of Canadians oppose two central pieces of the Conservative plan: corporate tax cuts and the purchase of wasteful, unnecessary fighter jets. But the popular opposition goes much deeper than that.In the recent federal election, 5,832,401 million Canadians voted for the Conservative Party. In our ridiculous undemocratic, first-past-the-post system, this translated into 23 new Conservative seats in Parliament, but…

Smack my gob. A revealing CBC investigation has exposed an electoral arithmetical travesty, hitherto unseen. Apparently, only two-fifths of Canadians support key CPC policies, whilst a clear majority of people oppose them and don’t want them implemented. Key Conservative policies lack clear support A majority of Canadians don’t support corporate tax cuts and are opposed [...]

In open defiance of the Canadian Charter of Rights, the Quebec government is denying child benefits to the children of Canadian citizen Abousfian Abdelrazik. Readers will remember Abdelrazik, illegally marooned in Sudan for six years, tortured there (likely with CSIS...

Law society accepts former escort as lawyer - thestar.com“We look at the totality of the individual and not just certain aspects of their lives.” Smithen will be called to the bar on June 17. Her friends and family will be there cheering for her.

Walkom: Unionizing the Wild West of bike couriers - thestar.comUnions — particularly public-sector unions like CUPW — may be out of favour with the glitterati. But Barnhorst thinks they’re crucial. “We can be fired on a whim,” he explains. “We’re at the whim of our dispatchers … Some of us are paid less than the minimum wage.”

My Premier, Dalton Mcguinty, has been long on the record that he is for killing the Senate, rather then reforming it, and he reinforced that with another statement to that effect in response to Harper’s proposed Senate reforms. He is joined in that belief by the Nova Scotia Premier, and both of them are [...]

Two separate articles in recent days that confirm Harper's failure on the Israel/Palestine question. What we have witnessed may win certain domestic friends, but the lack of sophistication, the tin ear when it comes to foreign policy nuance, has produced a truly unfortunate situation. A couple of days ago a Haaretz editorial supported the notion of Harper's irrelevance, with the general thesis being support from Harper was fine, but without Obama onside, Israel receives no practical benefit:It's nice that Netanyahu found a leader of an important Western country ready to support his pronouncements, after other leaders turned him down. But Netanyahu's lobbying only brought Israel the illusion of success. Obama didn't change his position and neither did the leaders of the European Union. Even after supposedly yielding to Netanyahu's demand, they still believe that Israel should retreat from the West Bank, evacuate the settlements and allow the Palestinians to set up an independent…

I don’t really like the looks of mobile homes either, but banning their use as an emergency shelter after the tornado disaster? That’s just ridiculous. Scores of homes, businesses and city buildings were destroyed or damaged by the time the winds died down. Nearly every red-brick storefront was whacked along Main Street, which is now [...] Related posts:Québec and the new kid in town Quebec bans religious teaching in publicly subsidized daycares – and Ontario stands by…

Abdelrazik can't get child benefits while on terror list The Quebec government has told a Montreal man that he cannot receive child-assistance benefits because his name appears on a United Nations terror watchlist. It's the latest in an ongoing saga for Abousfian Abdelrazik, who spent six years in forced exile in Sudan including time in prison where he says he was tortured. Despite being exonerated, he still finds himself on the UN Security Council's 1267 list -- which means Abdelrazik can't leave Canada and all of his financial assets remain frozen. It also means he can't have a bank account, can't work and can't benefit from government programs like child tax credits. As Abdelrazik himself points out, we're effectively penalizing his children for crimes he himself has never been convicted of committing. So why bring John Baird into it now? The letter advised him to get a certificate signed by the minister of foreign affairs stating he can collect child-care benefits. The…

The Anglican Church in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island approved a motion last week that would allow for individual churches to bless same-sex couples. The Anglican Church offers blessings for various things, including weddings, births, graduations, and even inanimate objects like boats and pets, but until now same-sex couples had been an issue of [...]

Premier of Ontario said to just abolish the senate all together. There is really no use of the senate. We have a house that is actually elected and only need one elected house having two elected houses is silly. As it would allow for dead lock just like in the U.S were progress becomes to hard to do. We have one elected house and we should consider on reform it with proportional representation. The senate also favours the Atlantic and is unfair to the western provinces like Alberta and British Columbia. Why waste money on senators that are appointed by the PM almost making Canada not look like a democracy. With having a senate that kills bills that were passed in Parliament it doesn't truly show democracy. Canada needs to reform the house and eliminate the senate. I may be a Liberal, but I want fair representation for Alberta which is one of the least represented by the senate, and if eliminated Alberta will be more properly represented by the House of Commons.…

The unmade bed tells a story, although I’m never sure whether it’s a coming-of-age story, a mystery, a thriller, or a book of rumpled poetry. Pillows askew, sometimes huddling on the floor, does the damned thing wait for someone to return, or is it basking in being alone for the last few minutes of restful [...]

Media and cocktail party chatter has recently suggested the natural configuration of a democratic nation is two parties -- one on the Right and the other the Left. By this logic there is little room for a party of the middle and so we Liberals ought to just fade away and divide up into Conservatives or NDPs. There's an advantage (obviously) for the Conservatives and NDPs to suggest this. And we do have to do some work (well, a lot of work) to keep relevant and be a viable government in waiting. But the idea that middle of the road parties are toast isn't borne out by international evidence. The USA does seem to have two polarised parties (and it does that country little good). But other countries (Great Britain seems an obvious example; but there are others in Europe) have several parties and middle of the road parties survive and prosper in all. Indeed, as I have argued elsewhere, the Conservative success has been achieved in part by moving to the middle.…

Filed under: Fun, Interesting Tagged: lion video

Though they were best known for their aggressive neo-fascist jazz stylings of classic Tyrolian folk tunes, The Pillage People were equally popular with a certain sect of gigantic silly hat fetishists. (You know who you are.) Pictured, from left to right are: Amanda Uhgenkitz (flugelhorn and pistol), Betrand “Stumpy” Russell (sousaphone, vocals and umbrella), Dennis [...]

Robyn O’Brian, author of “The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick and What We Can Do About It” shares her personal story and how it inspired her current path as a “Real Food” evangelist. Grounded in a successful Wall Street career that was more interested in food as good business than good-for-you, [...]

The New York Times reports on this probably up side of recent tornados and other disaster in the US this morning, "Reconstruciton Lifts Economy after Diaster." The story says: "There is no silver lining to a funnel cloud, as anyone who survived the tornadoes can attest, but reconstruction can help rebuild local economies as well as neighborhoods."A little less than 15 years ago, heavy rains and a burst dam led to severe flooding on the Saguenay River, north of the St. Lawence. I remember having supper with friends that July week where there was much tut-tutting about the damage. One guy, however, said, no, the aftermath was going to lift the area out of the slump it was in since reconstruction financed by insurance settlements and government rescue payments would pump in what amounted to "stimulus money." To my surprise, he turned out to be more correct than the doomsayers who said the disaster was the death knell for the towns. I needn't add that he was a Keynes…

"They should have known Dick's 'long history of assaulting patrons."

I've updated my election spreadsheet, and will be posting some riding-by-riding analysis over the next while. For now, a list of somewhat interesting numbers from the last campaign:1: Ridings the Bloc Quebecois won by more than 3 percentage points, showing how close they came to a complete wipe out.2: Ridings won by the Liberals without a Liberal incumbent - Charlottetown (Sean Casey) and Kingston and the Islands (Ted Hsu).3: Number of ridings in Alberta where the Liberals finished second, down from 9 in 2008 and 19 in 2006.9: The number of ridings where the Greens got at least 10% of the vote, down from 41 in 2008.10: Number of provinces where Liberal and Green support dropped from 2008. The NDP increased in support everywhere except Newfoundland, with the Conservatives up everywhere except Quebec.20: The number of ridings the Liberals won by more than 5 percentage points, down from 63 in 2008.28: The number of ridings where turnout was down from 2008, with the largest drops…

In what is being hailed as a world first, the Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal has given official recognition to its third gender or Meti citizens. This means that in the country of over 29 million, transgender human beings have been counted and documented, thereby validating their presence in Nepalese society. The move is a sign of the country's relatively swift progress on establishing equality for its entire population. Gay relationships in Nepal were decriminalized in 2007, and the government, which includes Sunil Babu Pant, the country's first openly gay lawmaker and founder of the LGBT rights organization Blue Diamond Society, continues to work on changing numerous discriminatory laws so that gender minorities can enjoy the same rights as others.

Carola Vyhnak Urban Affairs Reporter A Whitby father of three will spend four months in jail for assaulting two women in a schoolyard brawl with homophobic overtones. Mark Scott, 45, committed a “crime of violence” witnessed by numerous children and parents, Justice Katrina Mulligan said during sentencing in Oshawa court on Tuesday. “Vulnerable victims have been deeply impacted and the incident has smudged an entire community,” she said as she handed down two concurrent sentences of four months each. Scott was convicted of assault causing bodily harm three months ago for hitting same-sex partners Jane Currie, 39, and Anji Dimitriou, 33, at Oshawa’s Gordon B. Attersley Public School in November, 2008 http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/1000294--whitby-man-jailed-4-months-for-schoolyard-attack-on-women?bn=1

web-keystone_jp_1281063cl-3.jpg Today, TransCanada shut down its Keystone oil pipeline following its second pump station leak in less than a month. The most recent spill dumped nearly 1,600 litres of oil at a pumping station in Kansas over the weekend. With two spills in the last month, and ten more over the course of the last year, how can TransCanada convince U.S. authorities to trust the safety of its controversial expansion plans?   As DeSmogBlog recently reported, spills are far more common than industry would have us realize. A 2007 report by the Alberta Energy Utilities Board recorded a whopping 5,000 pipeline spills between 1990 and 2005 in Alberta alone.  The string of spills over the past year have only heightened public worries about the safety of North America’s ageing pipeline network, and provide evidence that the proposed Keystone XL and Northern Gateway lines…

Conrad Black, back in the day, lectures a Calgary Herald employee for having the temerity to engage in a legal strike. Mr. Black’s effort to have his subsequent U.S. criminal convictions overturned was rejected yesterday by the U.S. Supreme Court. Below: Governor General David Johnston, wearing his Order of Canada gong.Governor General David Johnston is a distinguished lawyer, so he surely understands the importance of precedent, both as a practical and symbolic matter.Now, early in his term as Canada’s vice-regal personage, Mr. Johnston is faced with the urgent need to act decisively to protect a cherished Canadian institution.I speak, of course, of the Order of Canada, and the pressing requirement that the notorious and unrepentant felon, Conrad Moffat Black, lately a resident of Coleman, Fla., be removed from the ranks of the Order’s membership post-haste.It is mildly ironic and powerfully symbolic that Mr. Black, also known as Baron Black of Crossharbour, failed…

With condolences and respect to the family and friends of Bombardier Karl Manning, 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Valcartier Quebec.Honi soit qui mal y pense

Artist says city erased mural it paid him to paint - thestar.comMethinks Ford wanted to paint over the art that was commissioned by an old political foe - Adam Giambrone.

Well, it's finally come to pass. KFC has closed its doors. Would-be customers today found locked doors and a sign referring them to the nearest franchise. Rumour was the site had been sold to a European company, so we've been waiting for something to happen. Are condos the likely successor? And if so, how high? Stay tuned.... More regrettably, Phnom Penh also closed its doors this week. This wasn't a huge surprise either, for those of us who follow the commercial real estate listings in the 'hood. G's Peanut allergy did keep us away the last few years, but they did have a fine Pad Thai. I will miss them. In its place will be an Italian-inspired restaurant called Burnt Butter. Its owners are an Ottawa couple, Steve Wallace and Gen Lamorie - he's been a chef in the area for a while (in fact, we may have worked together in the Ritz on Clarence back in the mid-80s). They promise a fixed seasonal menu as well as daily offerings, a wine list with plenty of Prince…