thoughts for 2009

Whereas:
-Support for socialism died (in most parts of the world) due to corruption and ineffectiveness, leading to non-responsive to the needs of the people; and

-Nationalism is going the same way, mired in stakeholder consultation/communication planning loops and poisoned with petty partisanship; and

-Capitalism is imploding because of the rotten core and the absence of regulatory assurance; and

-Consumerism, the punch-drunk high of unbridled environmental exploitation and nouveau-riche giddiness, is environmentally unsustainable and economically doomed;

I ask you,
What -ism do you think will drive the next generation??
(this is a serious question - the first to answer "geo pr-ism" wins a kick in the ass)

I wish you a balanced 2009.
Happy Festivus!

what's the frequency kenneth?

my mental song dial is stuck between stations right now; i can tell there are a couple of songs competing in the background noise but its too vague and broken to be discernable. kinda neat.

petition

http://causes.ca/signatures/petition?cause_id=2

letter to GG

Excellency,
I have been shocked again and again at the belligerence, divisiveness, and contempt for Canadians that Mr. Harper has shown, all the while marketing himself as an "ordinary" Canadian and "protector" of democracy. I hoped the recent election would bring about a more humble, cooperative nature, and initially that is what he portrayed. Unfortunately, that was probably only a ploy to buy time and public opinion while preparing a budget update that clearly goes against core values of this country: respect, fairness, equal opportunity for personal growth, and entraide. His party's actions time and again indicate to me that they wish to diminish all Canadians to "ordinary" status, such that they can be easily manipulated (need to look no further than the conflicting attacks in English and French) and poorly paid, with limited ability to defend let alone promote themselves (example: the contempt for galas). I do not believe that the Conservative Party of Canada is taking this country down a good path.

Given the Parliament we have elected, I believe the Liberal-NDP Coalition is the most effective means of achieving a government that is fair and representative of the values Canada enjoys at home and has promoted abroad. I cannot say whether proroguing the current session will be beneficial or not (likely best merely to cool tempers and let coole heads prevail), but I do humbly request that you grant the Liberal-NDP Coalition the opportunity to form a government, with all the authority of your position and a reassuring speech that we must remember what we stand for together, not only with our traditions, but with our vision.

Sincerely,

sigh

after writing and erasing three rambling rants on the proposed coalition, how harper's reacting to it, and how disappointed I am that so many Canadians seem to be lapping up the obviously manipulative lies without questioning harper's raw contempt for quebec, i've decided i have too many thoughts to write interesting words.
i'm going to bed.

who's being undemocratic?

Nelson Wiseman, political science professor at the University of Toronto, […] dismissed Harper's attacks on the coalition, who reportedly called it an "undemocratic seizure of power."

"The Conservatives are arguing it's undemocratic, but actually elections don't elect governments," said Wiseman. "They elect Parliaments. Parliaments make a government. Parliaments can break a government."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/02/gg-return.html

deconstructing Conservative party lies

Broadbent (past leader of NDP) speaks out:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/03/coalition-broadbent.html

And former GG speaks up:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/12/03/parl-schreyer.html

This type of scenario (arguing over who/what we vote for/give a mandate to (i.e., party or MP)) will never be put to rest until we elect a President (or GG), independently of parliamentarians we send to the Commons. This is the real democratic reform this country needs (Senate reform is purely a red herring that simultaneously provides a convenient excuse to abolish it in the quest for absolute rule).

this is NOT a "coup d'état"

from Google:

(Fr. "strike at the state") the sudden overthrow of a government by a small group.
www.nmhschool.org/tthornton/tignorterms.php

A sudden, decisive exercise of power whereby the existing government is subverted without the consent of the people, in a more or less violent fashion.
arabbox.free.fr/islamaphonia1/Muziq.htm
"without the consent of the people" - that must be why Conservatives are desperately trying to rally Canadians...

a sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
nothing illegal or forceful about this

A coup d’état (also coup) is the sudden, illegal overthrowing of a government by a part of the state establishment — usually the military — to replace the branch of the stricken government, either with another civil government or with a military government.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup d'état
nothing illegal about this

The sudden overthrow of a government, differing from a revolution by being carried out by a small group of people who replace only the leading figures
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coup d'état
for the record, wiktionary's big sister wikipedia defines it a lot better:
A coup d’état, often simply called a coup, is the sudden unconstitutional overthrow of a government by a part — usually small — of the state establishment — usually the military — to replace the branch of the stricken government, either with another civil government or with a military government.
there is nothing unconstitutional about this proposal, unless they go so far as to disregard an unfavorable decision by the Governor General...

So please, if you're ignorant, please feel free to continue calling this a coup d'etat.

Information - bad for public opinion!

...You'd think that's the marketing mantra for the conservatives these days.

They've created a website, rally 4 canada (i'm not going to honour them with a link or even correct spelling), with a lot of misinformation. allow me to deconstruct some of their lies:

Layton negotiating with Duceppe "for quite some time to form a plan to seize power" - that's what opposition parties do during a minority government. In fact, I'm pretty sure the Conservatives were doing the same when Martin was PM...

"and to overthrow the government" - that's part of how the first past the post system is supposed to work.

"overturn the results of the last election" - overturn the results, you mean introduce non-elected members to parliament? clearly Harper is trying to implant the (FALSE) notion that Canada elected Him personally. (that's NOT how our system works, folks!)

"without seeking consent from we the Canadian voters" - the electorate does NOT choose who the government will be - they, we merely choose who we send from our riding to REPRESENT us. Forming the government is the responsibility of the party representing the most ridings, and consent is only required from the Governor General (symbolic, I know).

"from we the Canadian voters" - WE ??? disappointingly reminiscent of the divisive neo-conservative (somebody will surely correct me) friend or foe strategy.

"the Bloc Quebecois is dictating the terms of the next government" - meanwhile, in French, they mock the Bloc for "selling out to a federalist party."

"this unelected government" - again, their members were elected exactly the same way the cons. were; besides, in a minority government, MORE people voted AGAINST the party in power than in favor...

"the government of Canada would be at the mercy of the people committed to destroying our confederation." - how is that different from before? The Bloc has (when convenient to Quebec) supported the previous cons. minority government on surely several occasions. Doesn't that also put Harper's government at the mercy of the same good people?

"people committed to destroying our confederation" - there's an interesting hint of Trudeau in that! fact of the matter is, separatists just don't believe that the current direction Canada is heading in corresponds to the promises made during Confederation; they are bitter over the ol' "bait and switch" that was pulled on them time and again, and they are simply there to ensure an eventual transition is orderly and respectful when (if) ever they choose to go their own way. That's a little different from say, Iran committed to destroying Israel, for example, wouldn't you agree? Additionally, they have a better chance of creating a ideologically compatible federal atmosphere with Dion and Layton than under Harper.

"democracy-loving Canadians... gather to support democracy" - uhm, didn't we do that at the polls six weeks ago? what's undemocratic about parties coming together to represent a majority of ridings trying to form a government? didn't the old PC and Reform parties do exactly that a few years ago?

"support democracy, not political games" - ha, that's funny coming from them.

"in this time of crisis" - what crisis? I thought our "fundamentals were strong," this was only a "technical recession," and "a good time to invest" ?

Funny too, how I can't find the rally 4 canada website in French... might actually allow people to compare their claims! No wonder they are against "expensive" bilingualism - it just makes it harder for them to divide and conquer.

the senate

"By virtue of our appointment, we are able to focus on long-range issues that may not receive the same attention by politicians running for re-election. In this way, we provide a balance to Parliament that ensures that legislation and important concerns facing Canadians get the attention they deserve."
http://www.liberalsenateforum.ca/In-The-Senate/Our-Role

cattle as recyclers

Printed on a trading card from The Ontario Cattlemen's Association:

Cattle are recyclers. As plants grow, they take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. When cattle eat the grass, they burn the gasses back into the air. Some of this gas is carbon dioxide that is then recycled by the plants.

Uhm, wtf?
Mr. OED, please invent something that allows us to distinction between recycling that is good for the planet, from that which is bad for the planet. Because clearly, this company is greenwashing on semantics.

Throne Speech: Environment Critique

The following excerpt from the Speech from the Throne, 19 November 2008 sounds really good; it is uplifting and, I am surprised to say, almost inspirational. Here it is, with my observations:

Our Government understands that Canada’s economic prosperity cannot be sustained without a healthy environment, just as environmental progress cannot be achieved without a healthy economy. Our Government will continue its realistic, responsible approach to addressing the challenge of climate change.

responsible and realistic? the alliteration makes it sound nice, and it is surely meant to be reassuring, but it's also a cheap partisan shot.

Our Government has committed to reducing Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020.

I'm glad to see he's using all GHGs, not just carbon, but what year is he using as a baseline?

We will meet this goal while also ensuring that Canada’s actions going forward remain comparable to what our partners in the United States, Europe and other industrialized countries undertake.

While this may be good for the (currently deeply flawed) economy, it is not good enough to protect unique Canadian environmental needs.

We will work with the provincial governments and our partners to develop and implement a North America-wide cap and trade system for greenhouse gases and an effective international protocol for the post-2012 period.

Another partisan shot (implying other approaches would be ineffective), and buys him lots of time - a clear warning too that any delays will be the fault of the partners' and/or provinces. Does that qualify as bullying?

To meet the challenge posed by climate change, we will also need to make greater use of technologies that do not emit greenhouse gases.

No shit, sherlock, but what about the continued rape of the tarsands?

Our Government will set an objective that 90 percent of Canada’s electricity needs be provided by non-emitting sources such as hydro, nuclear, clean coal or wind power by 2020. In support of this ambitious national goal, our Government will continue to provide support for biofuels, wind and other energy alternatives.

"continue?" how about increasing them?

To ensure protection of our vital resources, our Government will bring in legislation to ban all bulk water transfers or exports from Canadian freshwater basins.

Outstanding! But what is "bulk water" - does bottling count? And for the Great Lakes, on which our southern neighbors have a legitimate 50% claim, what action will he take to prevent them from piping that water down to Arizona?

Our Government will work with all parties in Parliament to introduce sensible policies that can help consumers and improve our environmental well-being, such as increasing incentives for energy-saving home retrofits.

Glad to see he's reaffirmed the stupidity of scrapping the previous gov'ts program.

Bottom line: are these words meant merely to impress?

fast food - tasty, but...

some things you`d rather not know, but you're glad you do.

Another illustration of science (chemistry and research) raising
concerns of the 'fast food' industry i.e. tracing the source of this
industry's food supply and what is really in your combo/trio selections
from McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King ...

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081114/forbes_fast
_food_081115/20081115/

one, for the money; two, for the show

From http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=dcdefae2-c7aa-4655-abbf-61446f34c608:

Jim Flaherty, as expected, keeps the key portfolio of finance. Senior government officials say it is vital to show some stability in that role during the current economic crisis.

Silly me, I would have thought competence would have been the first consideration.

Pollster Frank Luntz, a regular guest on the Fox News, joked that MSNBC is "the only network with more letters in its name than viewers."

On a more serious note, Luntz said it's a problem that the electorate chooses to watch news programs not for information but to confirm already-held beliefs, and that applies to viewers of CNN and Fox News as well.

Note that this isn't meant to discourage anybody who reads this...

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE49R0GK20081028

power

an effective illusion - if somebody seems to have power, we naturally tend to respect (not necessarily honour) it.
is it our survival instinct, out of greed (share of likely spoils), or just mental laziness (accepting what others seem to have already decided)? something else? likely a combination of several.


background: knighthood (the facebook game) made me reflect on this. since i no longer play, i thought i'd offer the stores of various weapons and gold my minions have produced on autopilot to the player that i thought was the most worthy. he came back with appreciation and a promise to distribute them to lower-ranked players to help them along.

i recognized his power by (a) his power score but mostly (b) the number of people actively playing with him (he is the founder of a successful league or alliance or something). he was acting as an escrow or something in a trade i was conducting, and that's when he earned my trust (what little was needed for me to want to offer him my redundant riches).

this isn't democracy - this is benevolent monarchy, but in a fantasy world that you can take your chances in and not lose anything if things go wrong. yet the social interaction, honour and recognition between players is something that the current political "democratic" system fails to offer - or at least seems to fail to offer and by extension isn't in a position to offer it. and so our governments are relegated to the back burner of social conscience, to a role of dealing with the things that have to be done but without significant meaning to the average person, and subject to control by parties that seek opportunities for financial gain (if not for them, then for the people that supported them). a competition of kingdoms, so to speak, where the winner is decided not on the battlefield but in elections. the fact that elections are now scheduled regularly just makes them more mechanistic and dull. one ray of hope survives, that the canadian people have insisted once more to maintain their involvement and hold on to the strings of power by denying yet again a majority government.

poisoning principles

how can you have a proper democracy (with informed, caring and idealistic voters) when one party campaigns (regardless of whether an election has been called, I might add) with an obvious bloodthirst for power?
http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/thesearch/archive/2008/10/23/pollsters-conservatives-attack-ads-hurt-voter-turnout-and-democracy.aspx

x or... ?

Had a very interesting discussion today with a new colleague.
Range of topic was very broad, but definitely political-philosophical in nature.

For example, binary "Friend or foe" is an ancient school of thought obviously still used in modern politics. As to whether W used it intentionally (ie what he truly believed) or manipulatively (purely to mobilize the masses for political support) is questionable, also leading to the other age-old debate over whether the ends justifies the means. We also briefly discussed the variants of that philosophy (a german (Kant?) once believing that it is more accurately an incantation of "I or not-I") or something like that, which led me to ask "what about friend or "not-friend"? He recognized the importance of that distinction, and stroked my ego by taking the time to think about it, then surmised that is an interesting shade of gray that is too complicated for most people to ponder and therefore usually ignored.

Another discussion about what makes a good leader - his intrinsic values and actions (righteousness), or his effectiveness (heavily dependent on external factors)? That question arose when we disagreed over who would be a "better" leader for this country (at this time).

I learned a few other things, and was rightfully corrected on one in particular:
I offhandedly remarked that PM Harper was a brilliant but Machiavellian strategist; when in actuality he's (and his group) are more students of the "Straussian" political school, and that it is very elitist. one message for the elite, a different message for the masses (sidenote: i wonder if that ever influenced Depeche Mode's choice of album title?) Anyway, it would seem once you've proved yourself worthy and smart enough to read between the lines you get the secret decoder ring - meanwhile, all sorts of things happen with contempt for the ignorant supporting public).

I just now looked up Straussianism on Wikipedia - all about "deadly lies" and "noble truths" (myths used by political leaders seeking to maintain a cohesive society). Takes us right back to the question of ends justifying means.
Interesting. Very interesting...

uh-oh, time for more tax cuts

cuz obviously the "trickle-down effect" isn't going far enough yet...
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hpTxH6LhUx_paxYTA1q9R7ipHcrQ

well said

A female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Western Wall to pray, twice a day, every day, for a long, long time.

So she went to check it out. She went to the Western Wall and there he was, walking slowly up to the holy site.

She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, using a cane and moving very slowly, she approached him for an interview.

'Pardon me, sir, I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN. What's your name?

'Morris Fishbien,' he replied.

'Sir, how long have you been coming to the Western Wall and praying?'

'For about 60 years.'

'60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?'

'I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims.'

'I pray for all the wars and all the hatred to stop.'

'I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults, and to love their fellow man.'

'How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?'


'Like I'm talking to a fuckin' wall.'

there's a sucker born every minute...

no this is not about the recent Canadian election (though it might as well be).

http://www.ewg.org/reports/bottledwater

time for debate, not more bait

Open Letter to leaders of Canada’s federal political parties

The signatories agree on these 10 principles:
1. Canada needs to act on climate change now.
2. Any substantive action will involve economic costs.
3. These economic impacts cannot be an excuse for inaction.
4. Pricing carbon is the best approach from an economic perspective.
1. Pricing allows each business and family to choose the response that is best and most efficient for them.
2. Pricing induces innovation.
3. Carbon is almost certainly under-priced right now.
5. Regulation is the most expensive way to meet a given climate change goal.
6. A carbon tax has the advantage of providing certainty in the price of carbon.
7. A cap and trade system provides certainty on the quantity of carbon emitted, but not on the price of carbon and can be a highly complex policy to implement.
8. Although carbon taxes have the most obvious effects on consumers, all carbon reduction policies increase the prices individuals face.
9. Price mechanisms can be regressive and our policy should address this.
10. A pricing mechanism can allow other taxes to be reduced and provide an opportunity to improve the tax system.

contempt of democracy

old file, still highly pertinent.

beyond irony

Extract from liberal party email received today (emphasis added):

"After intense pressure from media and political opponents, it appears that Mr. Harper will release a platform tomorrow – a week before the vote and one day after advance polls close.

Many Canadians, including university students, military personnel serving overseas and those whose religious observances include the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, will have already voted – without ever reading a word of the Conservative platform. Is this how Stephen Harper holds himself accountable?"

Incredibly à propos and not without irony, gmail's quote of the day is from Bono: "The less you know, the more you believe."

political vigilanteism

It would seem there is a violent segment of the population that feels threatened by Liberal platform/policies and, more importantly, doesn't believe in free speech. What does this say about the other parties platforms (and their followers)?

Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart

awesome:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/3/43222/8057/718/618653

from tribalism to religionism to nationalism to... ?

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=2f608f0e-0cd2-451c-bf24-1c40aae3b7b1

First a simplified context. Our survival once depended on living in tribes led by a strong leader. Gradually the groups became larger as the smarter (or desperate or beaten) leaders aligned themselves with stronger leaders. Low-level conflict was inevitable. Eventually groups aligned themselves along religious lines, leading to larger more brutal conflicts culminating in WWII. We still can't all agree on which god/being(s) is/are supreme - but at least for the last 60 years or so that argument has been more or less irrelevant and the world's borders have been relatively stable (thanks in part to the UN's slowness (aside: I wonder if it wasn't designed that way to allow emotions to simmer)). This assurance of stability permitted investment in infrastructure and private enterprise, improving our standard of living significantly. We may not have the same religion, but there is consensus and respect of each other's national borders, which is why I still believe the state - you and I and everybody else - must maintain a meaningful presence in society, actively investing in the threads stitching our social fabric together.

What comes next though? Advances in transportation facilitated massive migration around the world, where people gathered naturally (sometimes more, sometimes less) in specific areas of every city. Nationalism, democracy, hard work and a common conviction in human rights eventually broke down the barriers separating them and respectful integration began. More recently, however, human rights excesses, cultural districts reaching critical mass and more particularly advances in communication almost eliminate entirely the need (and sometimes the will) to integrate themselves with their host nations and national borders lose their relevance.

if not a centralized government system, who will we (people in general) sign a social contract with next, to decide what is best for us, ensure social justice, defence of our interests and ways of life? Since "we" are increasingly divided along cultural and religious lines, is there still hope to reconcile and (re)integrate the more extremist groups, and if so, what who gets to decide what means are justifiable? Or are we past the tipping point?

I believe people come to this country because of perceived ideals and opportunites for a better way of life. If they are disillusioned upon arrival, is that is not our fault? and is it not the natural tendency for them to gravitate toward areas where their old culture has already been reestablished, which may be less than ideal, but at least is familiar to them? (Mis-)application of current policies only accelerate this phenomenon and our disrespect for them anyway further compounds the problems. So, shouldn't we start looking at approaches to realize an environment where ideals and opportunities for self-actualization and interdependency really exist? Such a Canada was once valued as important and achievable and that perception still exists abroad. I personally still believe in it, but if we collectively "know better" now that that ideal is wrong or that it is just not achievable, do we not have a responsibility to ourselves and the rest of the world to admit it, agree on something better, and move on?

accu-wrath with bill maher

is it safe to poke fun at people who take things too seriously?

in the public interest?

haven't been keeping up with quebec politics much, so I wasn't aware that the province removed catechism from the curriculum as a gesture toward political correctness (or more probably, fiscal responsibility since they would have had to offer dedicated precious state resources to establish and implement curricula for the other principal religions (though non-RC accounts for less than 17% of the population). many surely agree with this move, saying that the state has no business teaching silly things like religion when half the kids in high school can barely spell their own names.
I disagree.
And not just because I think too much focus on the problem areas probably makes performance in those areas worse.
I disagree because it weakens the state and redirects those seeking that kind of instruction to the Church, thereby re-establishing the influence of religious leaders in society, one that the quiet revolution tried so hard to curtail.
This may sound big-brotherish, but I much prefer a well-rounded education, including religious instruction (and regular classes in gym, music and arts), in state-funded (and therefore state-supervised and accountable to the public) setting. That way all students can taste everything and knowingly choose what they want/don't want to pursue (as opposed to getting spewed out of a meatgrinder with a generic vanilla diploma and no personal, social, nor professional orientation).
And the fact that Radio-Canada is showing off how well the Montreal diocese is recruiting those "abandoned" by the curriculum (so they can teach what was deemed not-in-the-public-interest and actually teach things that may quickly become AGAINST the public interest) without balancing the piece with a counterpoint, really tees me off.

angry mice

I tried signing up for a trade show on national security scheduled for the near future, but when I called them with problems with the online registration process, they told me the event was canceled due to security concerns.

ironic (and scary) what happens when you try to build a better mousetrap these days...

negative motivation and leadership

from http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/bsp.2008.0008

"...refusal rates [of the anthrax vaccine] were related to perception of the threat [of exposure]."

Nothing new there, but this next part (the conclusion, with added emphasis) is particularly interesting:

"The findings provide evidence that for some people, the policy to increase confidence in the anthrax vaccination program may have led to a decrease in levels of trust."

So - what are campaign promoters going to retain from this? Don't focus on the program - instead, distract them with fear! One small step for marketers, another giant leap backward for mankind (it was bad enough when certain political parties were already doing this).

violation of democracy

Right-wing policies accelerate polarization - widening the social gaps between cultural groups and between haves and have nots.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080917/CPMONDE/80917025/-1/CPMONDE
Their premise that "trickle-down economics" works is faulty - people generally only like dealing with perceived social equals, the rich club becomes more and more exclusive and money (and automatically power) becomes more and more concentrated. What a shameful violation of the one of the basic principles of democracy and a fair market - all should have equal access to the means and opportunities to succeed.
At least I can console myself with the web 2.0. Long live net neutrality!

best.SNL.openingskit.EVER

Part of me is feeling guilty about the other part of me that is tempted to support McCain just so I can see more of Tina! Oy Fey!
I guess I could buy myself a few of these action figures to pass the time.


More on this skit from The Gazette:
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/arts/story.html?id=2232e2cd-d3c6-4c4b-bb98-e79c052ab03e&p=1

for those who are picky about spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.

this is tow funny:
http://wordsplosion.com/

Stonehenge mystery solved?

gotta wonder if Stonehenge wasn't just another case of a clever druid guy showing off or a frustrated druid wanna-be trying to prove something!

For hundreds, maybe thousands of years, people have been trying to
figure out how primitive people could build huge structures such as
Stonehenge and the pyramids out of stone blocks weighing thousands
of pounds. Scientists have been stumped.

Then along comes a normal guy - a retired construction worker - and
he says well, I would do it like this. And he does. This guy uses
the simplest tools known to man and shows how simple and easy it
would have been to create Stonehenge .

This is a really great video clip. Amazing how this guy could figure
out something that has confounded scholars for centuries. And not
only figures it out, but demonstrates it!

This guy could build a replica of Stonehenge single-handedly, while
a committee of 20 or 30 Civil Engineering professors from leading
universities would be debating how it might be done.

http://j-walkblog.com/index.php?/weblog/posts/moving_big_rocks

on shortsighted policies and campaign promises

Buying votes with tax cuts amounts to little more than blowing your kid's tuition fund on a popularity contest.
It amazes me what some of today's parties (not unlike yesterday's Republicans) will resort to in order to support their addiction to power.

ah - the joys of an unregulated market!!

from http://russiatoday.com/features/news/30486:

Large-scale construction work is in full swing near the burial sites of anthrax-infected animals, which were disposed of a century ago.

"This cemetery dates from 1882. Fifteen years ago the construction of summer houses started near it, expanding the village. Although the safety zone is one kilometre away from the cemetery, every house drills a well," Sharapov said.

The diseased animals were usually burnt and buried two metres deep. But the spores of anthrax can live in the soil for decades. If mixed with dust they can be inhaled by humans and animals. But the fact doesn't seem to bother Russia's rich, who are ready to pay up to $US 300,000 an acre at what has become Moscow's Riviera.

Tver's veterinary authority says it didn't give its approval for building projects in the area.

Amazing how some people demand freedom then get carried away with greed. It's too bad others have to suffer for it though.

Adolph Harper loses it

overstepping jurisdiction?

If I read this news release correctly, and understood the basics of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, this means our trusted government intends to extend its Contiguous zone to what is already recognized internationally as Exclusive Economic Zone (200nm). Problem is, this law of the sea states explicitly that the Contiguous zone "may not extend beyond 24 nautical miles" (UNCLOS, Part II, article 33). I wonder how seriously this posturing will be recognized by other countries aching for the NW Passage "our internal waters"...

-----Original Message-----

From the Prime Minister's Web Site
Sent: Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 13:48
Subject: News Release / Communiqué

Prime Minister Harper Announces Government of Canada Will Extend Jurisdiction over Arctic Waters


Canadian Environment and Shipping Jurisdiction to be Enforced an Additional 100 Nautical Miles Offshore
August 27, 2008
Tuktoyaktuk, NT

The Government of Canada will extend its jurisdiction in the Arctic by doubling the range at which Canadian environmental laws and shipping regulations will be enforced, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today.

"Whether it is the thawing of the Northwest Passage or the suspected resource riches under the Arctic seabed, more and more countries are taking an interest in the waterways of the Canadian Arctic," said the Prime Minister. "We will be sending a clear message to the world that our environmental standards and sovereignty are not up for debate -- if you are in Canada's Arctic you will be playing by Canada's rules."

The Prime Minister announced that his government will be introducing changes to the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act as part of its fall legislative agenda. Currently the Act allows the Canadian Government to regulate all shipping in zones up to 100 nautical miles from the nearest Canadian land in order to guard against pollution of the region's marine and coastal environments. Under the proposed new law, this jurisdiction will be extended to 200 nautical miles.

In addition the Prime Minister announced that his government will establish new regulations under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 that will require mandatory reporting from all ships destined for Arctic waters within the same 200 nautical mile limit.

"As an environmental matter, as a security matter and as an economic matter we are making it perfectly clear that not only do we claim jurisdiction over the Canadian Arctic, we are also going to put the full resources of the Government of Canada behind enforcing that jurisdiction," said the Prime Minister. "We are acting today to protect our environment, improve the security of our waterways and ensure that all Northern residents - and, in particular, the Inuit - have a strong say in the future of our Arctic for generations to come."

The Prime Minister's Office - Communications

Don't get me wrong though - I understand that the ecosystem in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago is very fragile, where even the smallest chemical spills will take forever to dissipate (too cold for anything to evaporate on its own quickly enough), and it is eyed with great interest internationally. This probably doesn't make the archipelago waters any more "internal" to Canada than planting a flag on the Moon made it American, but posturing counts for a lot in politics so I think its a good move.

water electricity carbon money spirituality and lies

Some reading about recent ban on bottled water (london ON) prompted further surfing on the topic.
Was shocked to learn that, based on calculations at Queens U, the electrical requirements alone (for each refrigerated vending machine and the associated cooling load on the HVAC system) cost the university $1178 every year (at 9.5c/kWh). The total electricity consumption (for 150 machines) in 2002 was calculated to be 1.86 GWh.

In comparison, Thunder Bay Generating Station (coal-fuelled) produces typically 1,500 GWh annually. Merely 0.12% of one power station - but that's just one vending machine contract with one institution. How much carbon emission does that represent, over and above the emissions related to the bottle-making, bottling, packaging, distribution, retail storage and consumer transportation of bottled water (assuming the extraction and filtering costs of bottled and municipal waters cancel each other out)?

On top of that, the total electrical load for the vending machines at Queens amounted to 2.3% of their annual electricity spending. That's a 2.3% tax the student population and government subsidies have to pay for the convenience of those rich (or stupid) enough to pay $2 a 500mL bottle for something that costs 50c per 1000L.

The bottled water fad also hurts tap water by taking away public support to improve and protect it, will disproportionately hurt those who can't afford to buy their water privately. Clean water is essential to life - cleanses the spirit and the temple - it should be a right, not a simple commodity!

All this because big marketers created a need (based on a 1960's study that said you need 1mL of water for every calorie of food you eat - but they omitted the inconvenient next sentence that most of that was already present in the food that carries those calories).

Not to mention, of course, the environmental costs of recycling (energy and effort consumed in the collection, sorting, melting and re-processing) these bottles that good people send back for recycling, and the pollution caused by the whopping 40% of bottles that aren't.

References:
http://www.polarisinstitute.org/files/utility%20calculator,%202.pdf
http://www.opg.com/power/fossil/thunderbay.asp
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/story.html?id=b4392be6e338-4206-8817-592210089ea2&

election threat?

so - he instructs his party to boycott parliamentary committees and his party's parliamentary committee members to cause all sorts of procedural delays, and then he says the system is deadlocked (because of the opposition, naturally) and says he has no choice but to call an election. boo hoo.
i suppose he's just doing what he needs to so he can get what he really wants - absolute power to rival the mighty Putin. And here I thought he was only copying the Nazi party's strategy book. Silly me!

Bush could weaken Endangered Species Act

Parts of the Endangered Species Act may soon be extinct:

# Bush wants federal agencies to decide for themselves if projects harm wildlife
# Changes would "seriously weaken" habitat protections, says conservationist
# New rules end reviews that developers say increase many project cost
# Similar bill passed in the House in 2005 but died in the Senate

Another step backward to a bleak future.
Apparently Conservatives/Republicans are the only species on earth in a symbiotic relationship still trying to kill its host...
I'm glad somebody (Dion) has the balls to try to rebalance the economy to take environmental sustainability into account. I wish him luck.

actions speak louder than words

his absence is more of a statement than anything his PMO can spin.

PM STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE XXIX OLYMPIC GAMES TAKING PLACE IN BEIJING

August 8, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement on the occasion of the XXIX Olympic Games taking place from August 8 to 24 in Beijing:

"I am joined by all Canadians in wishing our athletes and their coaches the very best during their upcoming competitions. You are an enormous source of pride and inspiration for all Canadians and we salute your perseverance and dedication in your quest for excellence.

Canadians recognize and admire the years of effort involved in preparing for Olympic Games. From the playground to the podium, the values we learn from sport - teamwork, discipline, achievement and confidence - are values that make a society and a country stronger.

The Government of Canada is a proud partner in supporting excellence in sport. As the world comes together in Beijing to reach for one dream, we want you to know that we are following with great pride and excitement your performances at these Games.

From September 6 to 17, Canada's paralympians will also inspire Canadians as they compete in the XIII Summer Paralympic Games. We look forward to conveying our support to these exceptional athletes."

---

The Prime Minister's Office - Communications

"Handlebars" by Flobots

I love this song, not just for its catchy beat: it starts silly and innocuous at first - and builds dangerously close to paralleling American politics.

"Handlebars"

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars
I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

Look at me Look at me
Hands in the air like its good to be
Alive and I'm a famous rapper
Even when the paths are all crooked
I can show you how to do-si-do
I can show you how to scratch a record
I can take apart the remote control
And I can almost put it back together
I can tie a knot in a cherry stem
I can tell you about Leif Ericson
I know all the words to De Colores
And I'm proud to be an American
Me and my friend saw a platypus
Me and my friend made a comic book
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want 'cause look

Look

I can keep rhythm with no metronome
No metronome
No metronome
I can see your face on the telephone
On the telephone
On the telephone

Look at me look at me
Just called to say that its good to be
Alive in such a small world
I'm all curled up with a book to read
I can make money open up a thrift store
I can make a living off a magazine
I can design an engine 64
miles to the gallon of gasoline
I can make new antibiotics
I can make computers survive aquatic conditions
I know how to run the business
And i can make you wanna buy a product
Movers shakers and producers
Me and my friends understand the future
I see the strings that control the systems
I can do anything with no resistance 'Cause

I can lead a nation with a microphone
With a microphone
With a microphone
And I can split the atoms of a molecule
Of a molecule
Of a molecule

Look at me Look at me
Driving and I won't stop
And it feels so good to be alive and on top
My reach is global
My tower secure
My cause is noble
My power is pure
I can handout a million vaccinations
Or let em all die from exasperations
Have them all healed from their their lacerations
Or have em all killed by assassination
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like 'em
I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command because

I can guide a missile by satellite
By satellite
By satellite
And I can hit a target through a telescope
Through a telescope
Through a telescope

And I can end the planet in a Holocaust
In a Holocaust
In a Holocaust
In a Holocaust
In a Holocaust
In a Holocaust

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars
I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

from www.azlyrics.com

Al Gore

Al Gore Places Infant Son In Rocket To Escape Dying Planet

scientific literacy

“At some point,” he said, “the public at large has to step up to the plate in terms of scientific and policy literacy, in terms of commitment to education and strong and effective political leadership, and in terms of their own general self-improvement.”

Boy, we are not out of the hurt locker yet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/science/earth/29clim.html

uhm, i did this

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/politicalbytes/2008/07/prop_tv.html

centralization

The problem with centralizing is that not everybody agrees on what; the problem with decentralizing is that nobody can agree how.

1000s of wild monkey still captured yearly for experiments

Guilty of reckless abuse for foods, cosmetics, even vaccines, humans are determined to win the race no matter what.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4276460.ece

Obviously countries like Britain who pass "feel good laws" should be using more than peer pressure to influence others since the mighty dollar gets more attention.

FW: Good one to think about

Where our money goes before we fill our municipal dumps:

A MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

The provincial government is sending each and every one of us a $100
rebate for the carbon tax.

If we spend that money at WalMart, the money will go to the U.S.

If we spend it on gas, it will go to the Arabs or Alberta.

If we purchase a computer, it will go to Taiwan.

If we purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and
Guatemala.

If we purchase a good car, it will go to Japan or Korea or Europe.

If we purchase useless junk, it will go to China and none of it will
help the B.C. economy.

The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it on
prostitutes and marijuana, since these are the only products still
produced here in B.C.

Thank you for your help and support,

Gordon Campbell
Premier of British Columbia

misc notes

busy lately.
things i've been wanting to post but haven't gotten around to:
-stephane dion's announcement of shifting the taxebase to polluters: awesome. in fact, i'm pretty sure i blogged FOR exactly that a long time ago.
-city of ottawa and garbage gasification: glad to see there are people raising a stink about the destruction of garbage to extract energy. my best guess is that it only recovers about 5% of the energy that was invested in the production of that garbage. would make a whole lot more sense to divert and reuse it to save 100% energy required, wouldn't it? (ok, maybe 90% to account for the handling and redistribution - but still, way worth it)
-bottled water: a freshwater specialist observed that canadians buying drinking water in a bottle is like eqyptians buying sand in a bucket. time to reverse that unjustified waste of resources (making plastic bottles, distributing water) and source of pollution (where do most of those bottles end up? you got it, in the trash, mostly - the rest collect in hedges, in ravines, etc. oh and a few lucky ones are also collected for recycling). see www.insidethebottle.org
-shade: never noticed how much (a) the house was poorly insulated and (b) trees just outside the house provided so much shade, until I cut them down (were too big too close). Now i'm looking for awnings and such to block the sun on the southwest wall.

there's a number of other things meandering in my brain but I think they're mired in my subconscious at the moment. stay tuned, maybe they'll surface again next time I have a few minutes to post (in a week or so, maybe!).

"i made this"

I'd like to think I'm the proponent of the following amendments:
http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2007/10-10/pec/ACS2007-PTE-POL-0052%20ENGLISH.htm

I researched and campaigned strongly to change the policy affecting the Chimo area to allow residents to select from "special areas, appendix B1" in addition to the generic "all other areas." I am also pleased to see they noted my points about maintaining the character of the neighborhood in the "whereas" section.

Final Draft policy (prior to this amendment): http://www.ottawastreetlighting.ca/PDF%20Doc/RLP%20Final%20Draft%2009-12-07%20EN.pdf

Thanks, councillor Feltmate!

World's Most Bizarre Statues

http://www.oddee.com/item_89236.aspx
There's a fine line between being imaginative/spurring public creativity, and insolent/generating public distrust and resentment.
This is probably why public art is too often perceived as unjustifiable in Canada, but there are some organizations trying to change that. One particularly impressive example is Maman, the giant spider with marble eggs. I'd like to commend the National Gallery of Canada for their acquisition and choice of location.

Louise Bourgeois's sculpture Maman (1999, cast 2003 © Louise Bourgeois), in front of the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Photo from National Gallery of Canada.

know your limits

"Kicking the addiction isn't pleasant - headaches, fatigue, negative mood."

Who'da guessed (other than my wife...) they were talking about caffeine?

Avoiding the question - or Ignoring basic indicators

Wouldn't it be even more feasible to drop the penny altogether?

28 May, 2008
Dear Sir or Madam,

I acknowledge your email of March 19, 2008, regarding the one-cent coin. I apologize for the undue delay in responding to your query; it was an unfortunate oversight on our part.
First, I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your comments with us.
No decision has been taken on the future of the penny. The Government of Canada's objective is to serve the currency needs of Canadians and any decision would take the potential impact on consumers and businesses into consideration.
Unfortunately, the Mint does not provide the total cost to produce coins as this information is considered commercially sensitive because we bid on foreign coin contracts. However, the metal cost associated with the production of a one-cent coin is eight tenths of a cent.
Regarding our Coinstar recycling service, we are encouraging Canadians to recycle their coins regardless of their denomination, as this is more feasible than the Mint having to produce new ones.
--------Original Message--------

From: mg labreche
Sent: 19/03/2008
To: Royal Canadian Mint

thanks for posting the report of consumer and retailer attitudes toward the 1c piece. Where can i find out more on the costs of its raw materials, processing, minting, distribution, and recovery? Finally, if 70% of coins processed in your Coinstar machines are pennies, and people are willing to pay nearly 10% to get rid of
them, isn't that an indication that they are highly undesirable?

civilizational exhaustion

indeed...
http://www.nationalpost.com/most_popular/story.html?id=563845

reasonable accommodations

Un CPE l'emporte contre un père musulman

sanity 1 - religion, well, already too high to count.

Headrush

The World is Upside Down, NYT Op-Ed
A shift in economic power is under way to which the developed world has not yet adjusted. Of course the G-8 and the permanent membership of the U.N. Security Council need to be expanded to reflect this change. The 21st century can’t be handled with 20th-century institutions.

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about. Glad to see that Harper has been emphasizing less on trying to implement failed American policies of 20 years ago. Have I just stopped paying attention to him, or could it actually be he's finally coming around?

empty rhetoric

how much more of it will we be bombarded with before real reductions are made?

PRIME MINISTER HARPER ADDRESSES UN CONFERENCE ON THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

May 28, 2008
BONN

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today addressed the 9th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Prime Minister was invited to speak at the Conference by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and both leaders were presented with awards recognizing their nations' contributions to the protection of biodiversity by the Executive Secretary of the UN Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

In his speech, Prime Minister Harper congratulated delegates on their constructive efforts during the Bonn conference. He also described the work that Canada has done to preserve and protect biodiversity at home and around the world.

"Over 10 per cent of Canada's land mass, an area greater than the size of France and Germany put together, and three million hectares of ocean waters have been protected by federal, provincial and territorial governments," Prime Minister Harper said, as a collage of spectacular photographs of Canadian parks and natural landscapes appeared on large screens inside the conference venue. "These large protected areas include famous national parks like Banff, Fundy, Gros Morne, and Nahanni, of which our government announced a significant expansion last summer."

The Prime Minister noted that his Government has undertaken several new initiatives to further protect Canada's biological diversity, including:

Establishment of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, the world's largest freshwater protected area.

Working with the local aboriginal community to establish a huge new national park on Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories.

Investing in more than 1,000 projects to protect habitat under our Habitat Stewardship Program.

Significant investment to protect the Great Bear Rainforest in Northern British Columbia, home to the majestic white Spirit Bear.

And providing funds for the 13 biosphere reserves that UNESCO has designated in Canada.

Prime Minister Harper noted that climate change represents one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity, and a particular threat to Canada's Arctic. "That's why we have made the development of a comprehensive regulatory plan to fight against climate change one of the highest priorities of our government," said the Prime Minister. "We have to get past the empty rhetoric and take real action to require Canadian industry to make real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

Glory Without Guts

This is exciting, to say the least, from a technical standpoint. But whats the impact to personal responsibility for one's actions? or to social responsibility for the government's actions?
What will happen to guilt and honour when sacrifice is reduced to inconvenience? http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/05/26/regrowing.body.parts/index.html

reality bites...

... for an opposition party that becomes elected and accountable all of a sudden.
... for consumers having to pay more at the pumps.
... for the government to have so little ability to affect the price of gasoline.
... for Canadians to have a PM with such obvious contempt for democracy ongoing.

Then And Now: Gas Tax
Image: Brian Gable / The Globe and Mail.

role models?

funny, harper keeps referring to the US and Israel as role models, with exemplary records... they are obviously not using the same metrics.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2008/05/20/5617071-ap.html

Pro Valore

nice touch, repatriating the highest military honour. a little ominous, mind you.

GOVERNOR GENERAL AND PRIME MINISTER UNVEIL CANADA'S VICTORIA CROSS

PM HAILS NATION'S HIGHEST MILITARY DECORATION AS NOW 'TRULY CANADIAN'

May 16, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General Michaëlle Jean today unveiled Canada's newly minted Victoria Cross medal at a formal ceremony at Rideau Hall.

Until now the Victoria Cross, Canada's highest military decoration, was minted in Britain. All future medals awarded to Canadians will be minted in Canada. Though the design is faithful to the original design commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1856, Canada's Victoria Cross includes a number of small but significant Canadian design and content features. "Today the Victoria Cross becomes fully, truly Canadian," Prime Minister Harper said.

The original inscription, "For Valour," has been changed to the Latin "Pro Valore," on Canada's Victoria Cross. "We are using the ancient language employed by our English and French ancestors to express the universal ideal that they shared," said the Prime Minister. Other uniquely Canadian elements include metal from the 1867 Confederation medal, as well as metals from each of Canada's regions.

Ninety-four Canadians have won the Victoria Cross for displaying extraordinary courage, endurance and sacrifice in battle. The last living recipient, Second World War veteran Smoky Smith, died just over a year ago.

Every day, in military missions at home and abroad, Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen are putting their lives on the line for us", said Prime Minister Harper. "Someday, somewhere, one of those men or women will do something so brave, so gallant, so exceptional, that he or she will join the legendary cadre of the Canadian Forces who wear the pride of a nation on their chests".

Canada's Victoria Cross was produced through a collaboration of the Departments of National Defence, Veterans Affairs, and Natural Resources, the Royal Canadian Mint and Rideau Hall.
The Prime Minister's Office - Communications

all hail king Garth!

I was just watching CPAC. Garth Turner (now liberal) was asking why the finance minister was sitting back idly watching mfg jobs evaporate. Naturally, the neo-con stand-in for the finance minister gave the default response (he avoided the subj and attempted to discredit him by saying "the only job you're worried about is your own") [he crossed the floor some months ago after saying that any MP that switches parties should automatically force a byelection - needless to say, that didn't happen]. After a few more minor exchanges, Garth pointed out that [to the best of my memory] "the average working Canadian family income is $60,000(?) after years of training, but the Finance Minister's speech-writer makes $300,000 and the only pre-req is to be a Conservative."

not bad, if you can get it. job may be a little insecure, however, but heck, that's FIVE TIMES the average family income. If cabinet ministers surround themselves with people in that kind of salary bracket(!), is there any wonder they don't think there's a problem?

Anyway, thanks for pointing that out Garth, keep it up!

tipping point

Cartoon creator Mike Adams www.NaturalNews.com

"[...]the collapse of honeybee populations is just one sign of many that humans have pushed Earth's ecosystems over the edge. We've polluted the skies, the land and the waters. We've raped the planet of its minerals, slashed and burned its rainforests, depleted its soils and devastated its wild animal population. We've dumped chemicals, radioactive waste and endless mountains of trash into the oceans and waterways. And then we balk when nature hiccups. We scratch our heads, wondering why some element in nature that we've exploited for so long suddenly stops behaving in the way we want. Why are the ocean fish populations collapsing? Why are our food crops nutritionally depleted? Why are infectious diseases now threatening to unleash a new pandemic? Why are honeybees going on strike?

The answer, of course, is because humans have turned planet Earth into a toxic world. We've poisoned the one thing in the universe that openly and unselfishly offered to give us so much for free. Yet instead of appreciating Mother Nature, we've chosen to betray her. We've turned what was once an Eden into a toxic world, and it's only a matter of time before the destabilizing, harmful practices we've adopted to feed an expanding human population come back to haunt us in a devastating way."

CANADA FIRST DEFENCE STRATEGY

"Beyond strengthening our security at home and abroad, the Canada First Defence Strategy will deliver significant economic benefits for tens of thousands of Canadians," said Prime Minister Harper. "Moreover, by investing in new military equipment and technologies, the Strategy will benefit Canada’s knowledge and technology industries, which will produce lucrative civilian commercial spin-offs," said Prime Minister Harper.

Uhm, this doesn't seem to have paid off for the Americans for the past 20 years, why does Harper think it'll work for us now? Could it be the American industrial-military complex is looking to expand its power-base oops I mean market?
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2095

ray of grim reality

WHO SHOULD MDs LET DIE IN A PANDEMIC? REPORT OFFERS ANSWERS
By Lindsey Tanner
Associated Press in Physorg.com
May 5, 2008
"Now, an influential group of physicians has drafted a grimly specific list of recommendations for which patients wouldn't be treated. They include the very elderly, seriously hurt trauma victims, severely burned patients and those with severe dementia.
The suggested list was compiled by a task force whose members come from prestigious universities, medical groups, the military and government agencies. They include the Department of Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The proposed guidelines are designed to be a blueprint for hospitals "so that everybody will be thinking in the same way" when pandemic flu or another widespread health care disaster hits, said Dr. Asha Devereaux. She is a critical care specialist in San Diego and lead writer of the task force report."
"To prepare, hospitals should designate a triage team with the Godlike task of deciding who will and who won't get lifesaving care, the task force wrote. Those out of luck are the people at high risk of death and a slim chance of long-term survival. But the recommendations get much more specific, and include:
-People older than 85.
-Those with severe trauma, which could include critical injuries from car crashes and shootings.
-Severely burned patients older than 60.
-Those with severe mental impairment, which could include advanced Alzheimer's disease.
-Those with a severe chronic disease, such as advanced heart failure, lung disease or poorly controlled diabetes."
The full article can be found at: http://www.physorg.com/news129180991.html

Coming soon to a government near vous

or can I say "tu?" never quite sure. must be that darn American influence.



http://newquebec.blogspot.com/2008/05/bloc-qubcois-party-wants-to-block.html

ruling like a king

and tasking the real sovereign's representative. anyway, where better to send the GG than out of reach of canadian media during Quebec's quadricentenial? is he worried she'll say something unscripted and inconvenient to his political ideals?

PRIME MINISTER HARPER ANNOUNCES STATE VISIT TO FRANCE BY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL

May 4, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will represent Canada on an official visit to France from May 6 to 10, 2008.

The Governor General will travel to France to highlight the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City and participate in celebrations commemorating Victory in Europe Day, May 8, 1945. The Governor General will visit Paris, Ouistreham, Bény-sur-Mer, La Rochelle and Bordeaux.

This visit will provide an opportunity to highlight both the historic ties that unite the two countries and their common values, which include respect for freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

France is an important partner on the international stage. 2008 is a significant year for the bilateral relationship, with the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City, but also Canada's hosting of the Francophonie Summit and the Canada-European Union Summit, coinciding with France's presidency of the European Union. The Prime Minister's Office - Communications

royal visit

harper seems to be wading (ahem) pretty deep into provincial jurisdiction here...

PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER TOURS FLOODED AREAS IN NEW BRUNSWICK

May 2, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today was joined by New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham and Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson to view some of the worst-hit flooded areas in the St. John River valley. The Prime Minister saw firsthand the flood-ravaged region from the air aboard a Department of National Defence Griffon helicopter. The Prime Minister also made stops at Maugerville and Edmunston N.B., two of the hardest-hit communities, where he met with flood victims and volunteers.

"The combination of heavy rains and melting snow have created some of the worst flooding Fredericton, Maugerville, St. Anne, Edmunston and other communities in this region have seen in thirty years," Prime Minister Harper said. "Hundreds of families have been forced to leave their homes and scores of houses and businesses have been inundated by the near-record floodwaters. This is a very difficult situation, and our Government is working closely with local and provincial authorities to minimize the damage, monitor the continuing threat, and provide shelter and support for flood victims."

Federal government support for the flood response and relief effort so far includes:

Tents, heaters, tables, chairs, off-road vehicles and an engineer barge from CFB Gagetown.

Rescue craft and landing barges and crews from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Coast Guard.

Pollution monitoring and meteorological data from Environment Canada, including Dash-8 aircraft from Transport Canada for pollution monitoring.

National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS) depot in Ottawa put on stand-by.

"Fortunately the river did not crest at record levels in this region as had been feared," noted the Prime Minister. "But the threat remains high for the Saint John region in the south and we are monitoring the situation closely."
The Prime Minister's Office - Communications

Time to Stop PMs from Ruling Like Kings

Stephen Harper has taken the government to a 'new level of centralized command and control,' he's the latest in a line of prime ministers to pull power to the centre. The shift, however, has so profoundly redefined the roles and relationships of Parliament, cabinet, political parties and public servants that Donald Savoie, a leading scholar on public administration, argues it's time for a public debate over what they should be.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=42acc6a7-2523-42ff-8b27-5abeb908f633&k=64398&p=1

Good racket to be in, if you have no morals

Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each.

The villagers seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest, and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10, and as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort.

He further announced that he would now buy at $20. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again.

Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer increased to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so little that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone catch it!

The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on behalf of him. In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers. 'Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them to you at $35 and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each.'

The villagers rounded up all of their savings and bought all the monkeys. Then they never saw the man nor his assistant again, only monkeys everywhere!



Now you have a better understanding of how the stock market works.

Stop junk mail

http://www.ambysoft.com/ideas/reduceJunkMail.html

Only YOU can prevent deforesting for flyers!

we're gonna need the BFG for this one

It's worse than i thought.
All this time I've been optimistic, thinking society is finally coming to its senses. Meanwhile, Christian fanatics have been multiplying quietly in the sidelines like cockroaches in a closet, and with the internet, somebody finally opened the door. What a mess.

---------- Forwarded message ----------


http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1b5bd6e3e034d00b4f73

neo-con process manual

step 1: ride the wave of disgust fueled by the previous government's inquiry into the twice-previous government's mismanagment of keeping the country together.
step 2: clamp down, hard, on all party members and what can say (to who, when and where).
step 3: run national campaign over budget, then compensate by breaking (sorry, "reinterpreting") election law.
step 4: rename the previous government's accountability bill, sneak in a few nasty changes, and tout as own.
step 5: run into problems with Elections Canada? if stonewalling fails, launch personal credibility attacks and/or distracting lawsuits.
step 6: run into problems with public support? if smearing the opposition fails, return the favours of a few reporters (whose professional ethics may be questioned) who have been friendly to the party - handpick them for a secret by-invitation-only press conference. attack the personal credibility of any challengers.
step 7: have the house leader declare this "a positive step in transparency."

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080422/ad_scheme_080422?s_name=&no_ads=

Beware of cultural undertows

Canadian Islamic Congress launches human rights complaints against Maclean's
http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20071130_111821_7448

Scope and mandate for Human Rights Commissions need to be revisited - pronto.

forever a pair

Huh. I just noticed how I usually use two labels together: polirant (no good that the neo-cons are up to) and integrity (the minimum standard I hold a government to).

some of the sheen is finally wearing off

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/04/15/rcmp-tories.html?ref=rss

Pfah. The Conservatives - what a sorry bunch of crooks. What a disgrace how their banana-republic, dictatorial, above-the-law attitude has led the federal parties into lawsuits!

Let's play spot the differences

Canada's Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Rick Hillier, announced his retirement yesterday. Some conflict about the announcements that came through by email today:

From the CDS' email to all DND and the CF (emphasis added):

"I have chosen to retire from the Canadian Forces and end my tenure as your Chief of the Defence Staff in July of this year. [...] I will continue to serve as your CDS until relieved of my duties by my successor, to be named in due course by our Prime Minister."

From the Prime Minister's [propaganda] Office (emphasis added):

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement on the planned retirement of General Rick Hillier as Chief of the Defence Staff:"

What's wrong with this? On the one hand, we have a surprise announcement (as far as timing goes, anyway) from the CDS, saying he has "chosen" to retire. On the other hand, we have the PM's communications office saying it was a "planned" retirement. But, if it was planned (at least by the PM's office), and the PM is responsible for naming the successor, shouldn't they already know who the successor will be? I suspect this is yet another example of the PMO (Propaganda Minister's Office) trying to colour the facts in their favour.

conservative secrets

Insightful response from a socio-political junkie law clerk friend of mine:

Sorry it took so long to get back to you.
In addition to everything else that "conservatives" have in common, one
strand is a belief in the need for secrecy. And this manifests in many
forms. Conservatives tend to be more religious, for example, and so tend to
believe in universal "mysteries." Conservatives tend to be stricter in
terms of crime and punishment (both at home and on the society-wide basis),
which includes as part of the approach a fundamental belief that authority
(god, state, or leadership) really should not be questioned. To me, there
is a direct relationship between this mindset and the themes discussed in
the article (which, I should say -- and I am sure you picked up on this --
is the same charge constantly leveled at the Bush administration). It
comes down to a belief that those in power have certain knowledge that is
special and out of reach except on a need-to-know basis.
I should also add that American conservatives (Republicans) have hit on a
very easy lever with which to deflect or diminish criticism of this
ultra-secrecy: simply claim that disclosing the information would either
directly undermine national security in a time of war, OR that disclosing
the information would be the equivalent of weakening the special powers of
the executive, which cannot be allowed to happen because this is a time of
war and the executive needs to be all-powerful to confront the "enemy of
the 21st century." In other words, we have power and we will be secretive,
and if you challenge that, you are undermining national security: you are a
traitor.
Can you say "slippery slope"?
My second point flows from the maxim that all politics is local. The
article mentions that the Harper government denied that a conversation
occurred between the prime minister and the president of Mexico, whereas
the Mexican government released a detailed summary of the conversation in
question. This merely reflects political considerations unique to each
country. My bet is that there was nothing to be gained by the Canadian
government admitting that the conversation happened, whereas the Mexican
authorities are always trying to convince Mexicans that they matter, that
their leaders are on an equal footing with foreign leaders, and so on. In
other words, it benefits Mexican politicians to "tell all" when it comes to
talking to foreign leaders. Not so, the reverse.
SPQR aeternum!

Subject: curious to know what you make of this:

PUBLICATION: The Toronto Star
DATE: 2008.04.07
EDITION: Ont
ILLUSTRATION: Allauddin Khan AP file photo Canadians have an
interest in what isgoing on in Afghanistan, says assistant federal
information commissioner Suzanne Legault. ;
BYLINE: Richard Brennan
SOURCE: Toronto Star
COPYRIGHT: © 2008 Torstar Corporation
Government keeps public in the dark, critics warn; Canadians denied
information to which they are entitled
Canadians are increasingly being kept in the dark by the federal government
and its agencies on matters ranging from the war in Afghanistan to the most
routine information, experts say.
Critics are alarmed at the growing trend to deny basic information that
Canadians are entitled to, especially in the two years since the
Conservative government came to power with a promise to be open and
accountable.
Suzanne Legault, assistant federal information commissioner, says that
government and its institutions have to "move from disclosing information
on a need-to-know basis to disclosing information on the right-to-know
basis."
Legault said the John Manley-led panel report into the Afghanistan mission
"hit the nail on the head when it said the government has to understand
that Canadians have an interest in what is going on in Afghanistan and
various issues that the government is tackling."
"The government has to do a better job at disclosing information," she told
the Star last week.
Former Ontario Liberal MPP Sean Conway, who spent 28 years in politics
before leaving in 2003, said the simple truth is that Canadians have a
right to know.
"It is one of the assumptions of a democratic society that its citizens are
going to be provided with timely, relevant and understandable information,"
said Conway, a former cabinet minister and now special adviser at Queen's
University.
Conway said when governments frustrate that flow of information "they are
doing something quite destructive to one of the key pillars of democratic
society."
During its more than two years in power, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's
Conservative government has often been criticized for being unnecessarily
secretive.
Just recently, Harper's aides refused to confirm whether the Prime Minister
talked with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. But Mexican officials
released a page-long news release not only confirming the two leaders spoke
but providing highlights of the topics they discussed.
Meanwhile, Legault said Canadian should not have to resort to using the
Access to Information Act to get information that should be readily
available.
"The Access to Information Act should only kick in as an exception. It
should not be the norm," Legault said.
"The norm should be that we proactively disclose information."
Legault noted that complaints filed under the Access to Information Act
have doubled in the past year, to 2,164 from 1,050. But she is quick to
point out that 70 institutions, including the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation, are now subject to the act, as a result of changes included in
the Conservative's Accountability Act.
Legault said the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada is
investigating additional layers of approval needed before information is
released that are creeping into the process, as well as the routine
applications for extensions.
Critics say the access to information act is also proving to be less and
less useful.
National security and other exemptions are cited to deny the release of
information. And even when Canadians are lucky enough to pierce the wall of
secrecy, the information is either so heavily edited that it is virtually
useless, or is so dated because of delays that it's no longer timely.
The Conservative government promised during the last election campaign that
it would be more accountable and transparent in the wake of the Liberal
sponsorship scandal.
Recent stories by The Canadian Press show the lengths the government or its
agencies will go to restrict information.
The national wire service found that government refused to release
information on compensation paid to Afghan civilians or their families for
accidental deaths or injuries.
The Canadian Press' access to information request was returned almost
entirely censored.
The agency also discovered through another access to information request
that the RCMP is now refusing to release information on the use of Tasers
that must be recorded each time an officer draws the electronic weapon.
The information - such as whether the person on whom the Taser was used was
armed or injured - used to be released, but the national police force
unilaterally decided to stop.
Taser report forms obtained under the Access to Information Act show the
Mounties have used the weapons more than 4,000 times since introducing them
seven years ago.
"In the last 15 years, as governments advertise great openness often
through legislated mandate like freedom of information and other such
policies, ... citizens get less information," Conway said.
On Parliament Hill, access to Harper and his cabinet has been so restricted
that it's a standing joke among reporters. The Hill Times recently carried
a story on how Harper goes to great lengths to avoid reporters by taking
the freight elevator and slipping out the back door.
Harper runs a very tightly controlled government where MPs are expected to
toe the line and where permission must be granted in many cases before they
are allowed to talk to reporters.
Conway said he has been struck by Harper's reluctance to make himself
available.
"Mr. Harper, now Prime Minister for over two years, has certainly made no
bones of his desire to run a highly centralized government and ... intends
to give the Canadian public such information as he thinks they should have
at that particular time."
With files from Bruce Campion-Smith and Tonda MacCharles

Greenwashing exposed at Enbridge

Submitted a small rant to Enbridge today. They're our natural gas supplier, and they've been promoting their eBill service as "Easy. Convenient. Environmentally friendly." Pfah.

MAKE EBILLS ECOFRIENDLY
Your marketing people may claim that your new (since end of January) ebill format is more visually appealing, but it's anything but "environmentally friendly." In fact, it is unnecessarily wasteful of resources and abusive of my pocketbook.
-- Cut the eBill down to two pages so it can be printed on a single sheet, double-sided. I can save paper AND storage space in my filing cabinet that way.
-- Also, remove the colour backdrop - it looks fancy, but it burns through my ink like there's no tomorrow!
If not, I'm going to cancel eBill and have the fancy printing and mailing done at YOUR cost!

I think everybody should wake up from the matrix and take the time to call a spade a spade - and take back some control!

Drop the penny, support Bill C-531

Sent this to my MP, the Honourable Gordon O'Connor:

Sir,
I fully support the withdrawal of the one cent coin ("penny") from circulation. The good people in your department could calculate the exact numbers for you, but purchasing power of the dollar today is less than one-twentyfifth over the past 130 years or so; it therefore doesn't make any sense to continue squandering financial and environmental resources to support its production and distribution. No sense throwing good money after bad, so to speak.
The rounding method proposed for section 8 subsection 2 is reasonable. The resistance from the Royal Canadian Mint (and their spin doctors' attempts to control the damage the results of their November study inflicted upon them) is understandable, and the nostalgic value of the penny should be acknowledged, but as will all things, there comes a time when we must let go. The time has come to recognize that the penny has become obsolete, merely a heavy, expensive reminder of days gone by when you could actually buy something with it.
The only logical alternative would be to enact a "new canadian dollar" worth ten of today's dollars. Then the penny would be worth a dime, and worth fighting for.

Sincerely,

post-existence

In the end, nobody goes to a heaven or a hell except in the hearts and minds of those whose lives they've touched.

Heaven being that place in our hearts where we preserve the memories of loved ones who have moved on; hell is that place where we shackle our spirits to memories of those who have crossed us.

religion and the survival of mankind

Humanity is blessed with enough different religions, each effective to varying degrees against any particular threat, that, on the whole, allows it (humanity) to survive any and all threats to its existence. The power they (religions) will enjoy will ebb and flow over time in response to perceived threats. Meanwhile, the conflicts between them are necessary to keep mankind's skills, wits and swords sharp and groups cohesive; ready to fight for a common objective, if ill-aimed and (generally) misunderstood.

Religion, in that sense, is the ideological codification of knowledge and the ritualization of survival tips and tricks that have enabled the tribe/race/species to perpetuate itself thus far, and that, ultimately, allow it to carry its part of the greater Knowledge so that one day, It can all be put together again.

head shaker

ugh.
Dems vs Republicans today, ballers/crips tomorrow.
The future is in great hands alright!

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/15851207/detail.html

oil prices

mmm... is it time we adopt the gold standard again? or some other more stable commodity? apparently the authority of the US dollar is being threatened.

Iran to OPEC: Stop selling Oil in US Dollars
Monday, 2008-04-07

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is urging OPEC members to form a joint bank and stop pricing oil trades in U.S. dollars.

According to the Iranian government's Web site, Ahmadinejad told OPEC Secretary General Abdalla Salem el-Badri the cartel "should establish a joint bank as well as having joint currency."

Oil is priced in U.S. dollars on the world market, and the currency's depreciation has concerned producers because it has contributed to rising crude prices and eroded the value of their dollar reserves.

Iran has repeatedly urged OPEC members to shift sales away from dollar. But Iran's proposal to trade oil in a basket of currencies is not supported by enough OPEC members, which include staunch U.S. allies such as leading producer Saudi Arabia.

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/693/52/

rights shmights

The thing that bothers me most, is that the public doesn't seem to care, that they almost seem relieved of being able to delegate their fundamental democratic authority to people working in some neogothic tower with secret passageways and exits. Meanwhile, people are busying themselves with meaningless stuff like redecorating, installing big screen HDTVs, bigger fancier cars, and Hollywood starlets leading the craze of self-destruction.

The Toronto Star, 2008.04.07, page A13
COPYRIGHT: 2008 Torstar Corporation
Government keeps public in the dark, critics warn; Canadians denied information to which they are entitled
Canadians are increasingly being kept in the dark by the federal government and its agencies on matters ranging from the war in Afghanistan to the most routine information, experts say.
Critics are alarmed at the growing trend to deny basic information that Canadians are entitled to, especially in the two years since the Conservative government came to power with a promise to be open and accountable.
Suzanne Legault, assistant federal information commissioner, says that government and its institutions have to “move from disclosing information on a need-to-know basis to disclosing information on the right-to-know basis.”
Legault said the John Manley-led panel report into the Afghanistan mission “hit the nail on the head when it said the government has to understand that Canadians have an interest in what is going on in Afghanistan and various issues that the government is tackling.”
“The government has to do a better job at disclosing information” she told the Star last week.
Former Ontario Liberal MPP Sean Conway, who spent 28 years in politics before leaving in 2003, said the simple truth is that Canadians have a right to know.
“It is one of the assumptions of a democratic society that its citizens are going to be provided with timely, relevant and understandable information” said Conway, a former cabinet minister and now special adviser at Queen’s University.
Conway said when governments frustrate that flow of information “they are doing something quite destructive to one of the key pillars of democratic society.”
During its more than two years in power, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has often been criticized for being unnecessarily secretive.
Just recently, Harper’s aides refused to confirm whether the Prime Minister talked with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. But Mexican officials released a page-long news release not only confirming the two leaders spoke but providing highlights of the topics they discussed.
Meanwhile, Legault said Canadian should not have to resort to using the Access to Information Act to get information that should be readily available.
“The Access to Information Act should only kick in as an exception. It should not be the norm” Legault said.
“The norm should be that we proactively disclose information.”
Legault noted that complaints filed under the Access to Information Act have doubled in the past year, to 2,164 from 1,050. But she is quick to point out that 70 institutions, including the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, are now subject to the act, as a result of changes included in the Conservative’s Accountability Act.
Legault said the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada is investigating additional layers of approval needed before information is released that are creeping into the process, as well as the routine applications for extensions.
Critics say the access to information act is also proving to be less and less useful.
National security and other exemptions are cited to deny the release of information. And even when Canadians are lucky enough to pierce the wall of secrecy, the information is either so heavily edited that it is virtually useless, or is so dated because of delays that it’s no longer timely.
The Conservative government promised during the last election campaign that it would be more accountable and transparent in the wake of the Liberal sponsorship scandal.
Recent stories by The Canadian Press show the lengths the government or its agencies will go to restrict information.
The national wire service found that government refused to release information on compensation paid to Afghan civilians or their families for accidental deaths or injuries.
The Canadian Press’ access to information request was returned almost entirely censored.
The agency also discovered through another access to information request that the RCMP is now refusing to release information on the use of Tasers that must be recorded each time an officer draws the electronic weapon.
The information - such as whether the person on whom the Taser was used was armed or injured - used to be released, but the national police force unilaterally decided to stop.
Taser report forms obtained under the Access to Information Act show the Mounties have used the weapons more than 4,000 times since introducing them seven years ago.
“In the last 15 years, as governments advertise great openness often through legislated mandate like freedom of information and other such policies, ... citizens get less information” Conway said.
On Parliament Hill, access to Harper and his cabinet has been so restricted that it’s a standing joke among reporters. The Hill Times recently carried a story on how Harper goes to great lengths to avoid reporters by taking the freight elevator and slipping out the back door.
Harper runs a very tightly controlled government where MPs are expected to toe the line and where permission must be granted in many cases before they are allowed to talk to reporters.
Conway said he has been struck by Harper’s reluctance to make himself available.
“Mr. Harper, now Prime Minister for over two years, has certainly made no bones of his desire to run a highly centralized government and ... intends to give the Canadian public such information as he thinks they should have at that particular time.”
With files from Bruce Campion-Smith and Tonda MacCharles

Why should Canadians allow HIM (or anyone, for that matter) to decide when we're ready for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?