Category Archives: Politics

Friday Fun Link – Barack Obama Dances With Kids During Alaska Trip

After yesterday’s depressing post, I needed something to raise my spirits. This story and video of Barack Obama’s visit to Alaska (including the fact that’s he’s the first POTUS to use a selfie stick and also that a fish ejaculated on him) definitely helps…

Music Monday – “Who muzzles the poor scientist?/Calls troubled people “terrorists”?/Who wants the courts to just say yes?/Suppresses freedom of the press?”

The “Harperman” protest song is interesting for a number of reasons: the person who wrote and sang it is a federal civil servant and is now suspended from his job for an investigation about whether he violated the Federal Government’s employee ethics agreement At issue is whether Turner violated the code of ethics that all public servants […]

“Enough” – Great NDP Ad

One of my pet peeves is people who say that all politicians are the same. It is true that there are good and bad people in every party but the level of corruption and criminality in the current Conservative party is unparalleled in Canadian history.

How Australia and Other Developed Nations Have Put An End To Gun Violence

I wouldn’t say we’ve “put an end to” gun violence in Canada but our numbers (like those in most developed nations) are extremely low compared to the US. There are a whole host of interconnected reasons why this is the case.  But I think one of the largest is the fact that gun ownership is enshrined […]

The Eyes Have It – Jim Flaherty Reacts When Stephen Harper Says He Didn’t Tell Ray Novak About Nigel Wright Payment #canpoli #cndpoli #duffy #harper #lyingliars

No matter your politics, the late Jim Flaherty (who was Stephen Harper’s Finance Minister) is widely regarded as a stand-up guy – honest, sincere, and reliable. That’s what makes Flaherty’s reaction to Stephen Harper talking about the Mike Duffy payment by Nigel Wright during Question Period in the House of Commons so incriminating. Tim Powers, vice-chairman […]

How Google Could Rig the Election

This is about next year’s American election but could apply equally to the upcoming Canadian election. Our new research leaves little doubt about whether Google has the ability to control voters. In laboratory and online experiments conducted in the United States, we were able to boost the proportion of people who favored any candidate by […]

Two Months to Canadian Federal Election

The Federal Election was called nearly three weeks ago and I haven’t written about it nearly as much as I thought I would. I mean, if you’ve read this blog for more than a couple days, I think my politics are pretty clear.  Beyond that, there are tons of others who are covering every aspect […]

How Do You Make Amends For Trying To Erase A Culture

I met Tasha through friends while in University but never knew her story until now. Worth a read…

Saturday Snap – Privatized Liquor Stores In Action #yqr

As a general rule, I tend to prefer public ownership of essential services – utilities including power, natural gas and telephones; grain marketing (especially as opposed to ownership by Middle Eastern corporations) and, of course, liquor. 😉 Under the Brad Wall government, Saskatchewan has opened a couple private liquor stores recently including one in a former steak house […]

Timmins Library Relents, Allows Girl Into “Boys Only” Robotics Program

The public library in Timmins, Ontario recently tried to offer a “boys only” robotics class but ended up facing a huge backlash (including many female scientists and engineers) after not allowing a girl to register for the program. I understand what the library was trying to do in offering a program focused on reaching boys who tend […]