Somebody tweeted this morning that an MP wanted to change the Canadian flag because of some poll  in South America said that the maple leaf looked like a pot plant.  I’m not sure if she meant John McKay, who is one of the more conservative Liberal MPs though. I did some research and couldn’t find a Canadian federal MP by the name of Ian McKay, but I could be wrong.  In fact, I couldn’t find any stories or articles pertaining to this, but then again, given the outlandish excuses the Harpercons give for their actions, nothing would surprise me anymore. If anybody knows or …
[Read more...]

This week: The US Senate surrender, denynig the undeniable, deniers turn on each other, more blacklist hypocrisy, where has all the phytoplankton gone?, happy 35th birthday global warming, and the skeptic debunk of the week. Download audio file (IC10.mp3) Irregular Climate is now accepting donations. Feedback is always appreciated. This is the last episode until September. I am taking a late summer hiatus. Subscribe in To irregular Climate:   Related Posts (auto generated and almost random):Irregular Climate Episode 8 Irregular Climate Episode 9 Irregular Climate Episode …
[Read more...]

CANADIAN LABOUR NEWFOUNDLAND:NEWFOUNDLAND FIGHTS ON:While the Vale Inco strike in Ontario has ended with, whatever the claims of the union, essentially a defeat the strike of the USW in Newfoundland continues. Perhaps people in Newfoundland are under less of an illusion that the white knight of a politician will ride to their aid and so depend more upon themselves and find political generosity as a surprise. Something that it should always be taken as. Here's an item from the St. John's Telegram about the 1 year anniversary of the strike in Voisey's Bay. NLNLNLNLNLby Lana Payne 365 days of …
[Read more...]

LOCAL EVENTS WINNIPEG:CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE PROVINCES FORUM:Here's an upcoming public forum to be held here in Winnipeg on August 4. I have to say that this sort of thing makes me somewhat "itchy" and not just because its sponsors such as the 'Council of Canadians' are in most other circumstances advocates of centralization in the Canadian federation. It's also because their presumed "strategy" of reducing carbon emissions via delegation of responsibility to the provinces would only get 'self-interested support' in an unequivocal manner in two Canadian provinces - Québec and Manitoba. Their …
[Read more...]

As has been mentioned before on this blog, the waltz between Russian bombers and Canadian fighters is a carefully orchestrated and choreographed dance. The show up just outside our air space, we intercept, they go home. This happens so often it's usually barely mentioned in the press. The well established predictability of the thing is key to avoiding some sort of mistake. It is a game, yes, but a very serious one with clearly defined boundaries. The Russians do not enter our airspace, and we don't shoot them down. And some serious international stupid doesn't happen. Safe enough provided …
[Read more...]

Having trouble with comments section. Apparently, comments not working among other plug-ins at my site ever since I upgraded to wordpress 3.0.1. I certainly hope they’ll correct the problem soon! If you are having trouble posting a comment, as well as any other site issues,  please email me. Thanks! …
[Read more...]

Frankly I don't think we can be expected to write a whole new blogpost every time DefMin Flying Ace "Airshow MacKay" and his trusty sidekick Woodstock Kory climb up on top of the Con doghouse to fight off the Red Baron yet again in the Arctic, so this time we're just going with what David Pugliese reported last time 18 months ago (h/t Maclean's) :"The military officers I was talking to yesterday were full of kudos for Defence Minister Peter MacKay for a move that one described as “playing the media like a finely-tuned fiddle.”The officer was referring to the breathless Canadian news media …
[Read more...]

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR TURKEY:SUPPORT TURKISH UPS WORKERS:There's an ongoing struggle in Turkey to unionize employees of the multinational UPS. Here's an appeal from the ITF via the online labour solidarity site Labour Start for solidarity with these workers.TLTLTLTLTLTurkey: Support sacked UPS workersUPS workers in Turkey need your support.The ITF-affiliated TÜMTIS has been taking steps in the recent months to unionise this company and its sub-contractors. As a result, 120 employees in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir have been dismissed without any application of the procedures stipulated by …
[Read more...]

An article proving once again that conservatism is not a politics, but a diagnosis:Well, what’s the big deal about it making [the census] voluntary, then?This question astounds statists. “Voluntary” defeats the purpose. The census is about coercion. Information is almost incidental. The long form’s function is to accustom respondents to being wards of the authorities.Social engineers are prepared to put on a velvet glove if the Harper-government insists, but how can they plan, redistribute, regulate and expropriate without the iron fist? Long forms elicit information to serve the …
[Read more...]

Frankly I don't think we can be expected to write a whole new blogpost every time Flying Ace "Airshow MacKay" and his trusty sidekick Woodstock Kory climb up on top of the Con doghouse to fight off the Red Baron yet again in the Arctic, so this time we're just going with what David Pugliese reported last time 18 months ago (h/t Maclean's) :"The military officers I was talking to yesterday were full of kudos for Defence Minister Peter MacKay for a move that one described as “playing the media like a finely-tuned fiddle.”The officer was referring to the breathless Canadian news media …
[Read more...]

Oh yeah, Jojo, compassionate, like, say,  Stevie Spiteful and the Harpercons? Stevie I want only free market wealth care for billionaires?  ”Canada is a Northern European state of the worst kind?”  Stevie who would cut old age pensions and EI in a nano second?  Stevie who wants thinks F-35s are more important than universal health care? Stevie who is responsible for the largest mass arrest in Canadian history?  Stevie who silences dissent in the most hideous of ways until he finds even more hideous ways to do so? Stevie, who kicks Helena Guergis out of caucus on the word of a …
[Read more...]

Feds deny funds for Middle East conference The Conservative government ignored the advice of its bureaucrats and denied funding for a conference on the Middle East planned by a human-rights group, internal documents show. The conference, called Global Crises and Local Challenges, was organized by Alternatives and planned to focus on environmental degradation, global economic crises and conflicts in the Middle East. ... Documents obtained under the Access to Information Act show bureaucrats from the Canadian International Development Agency recommended the agency fund at least part of a …
[Read more...]

It looks like a blogger that I was beginning to read on a daily basis has just picked up and deleted all of her posts. FLJ (or For Liberal Justice) has had all of her posts removed from her blogspot account and cleared any follower that may have been following her. It makes me sad, to [...] …
[Read more...]

Only in Calgary West. Actually, no. It just so happens that Harpercon MP Rob Anders and Liberal candidate, Jennifer Pollock happen to be from the riding of Calgary West. It’s those shrieking Harpercon cheerleaders, who once again, show their total lack of coherence. First, here’s Rob Anders. I don’t really have to delve further into that. Rosie Barton does a fine job of displaying his  hot headedness and stupdidity on her own. Ok, Rob, you may get a head-ache; you may even get a nosebleed. But I’m going to send a thought your way.  In any country; any culture, if …
[Read more...]

MOLLY'S POETRY CORNER:'MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT' BY VOLTAIRINE DE CLEYRE:When that sumyr with his showers sooteThe drute of March hath pierced to the rooteand bathed every vein in swich lickoorOf which virtu engendred is the flur.Then longen folke to go on pilgramageMolly's poetry corner for to seekeTo bringen smyle onto the faceAnd cure the souls that are fair saike.-With apologies to Geofrey.Yes folks, it's that time again. Our author for the day is Voltairine de Cleyre, and we begin with her poem 'Mary Wollstonecraft'.ABOUT THE POET:The American anarchist Voltairine de Cleyre (1866-1912) oddly …
[Read more...]

There are few things that make me angry. Hah- that's a lie.  There are a lot of things that make me angry.  But this one deserves your attention. Jay Phillips was attacked by three White men after they yelled racial slurs. This isn't my favourite account- because there's so much censoring of the actual hate speech- but WHY these men aren't convicted of a hate crime is so very confusing to me.  And why, in the youtube video, the police are SO hesitant to call it a hate crime and say that these guys aren't White Supremacists is ridiculous.  So in short.  YEAH, that's racism.  And yes- it …
[Read more...]

There are few things that make me angry. Hah- that's a lie.  There are a lot of things that make me angry.  But this one deserves your attention. Jay Phillips was attacked by three White men after they yelled racial slurs. This isn't my favourite account- because there's so much censoring of the actual hate speech- but WHY these men aren't convicted of a hate crime is so very confusing to me.  And why, in the youtube video, the police are SO hesitant to call it a hate crime and say that these guys aren't White Supremacists is ridiculous.  So in short.  YEAH, that's racism.  And yes- it …
[Read more...]

By the time two individuals reach the point where they're joyously, frantically, gratefully or athletically (or any combination of those qualifiers) sharing bodily fluids, a number of mental, emotional and physical processes have preceded "la chose". (As in - porté, portée sur la chose.)Example: for a vast majority of men, receiving a blow job from a skilled, gifted and enthusiastic practitioner of the art is a dream come true. However, it matters to most of them whether the person who bestows this pleasure upon them is female or male. Why? It shouldn't be a factor, if sex if purely …
[Read more...]

Let's start off with an instrumental from Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters called Chili Ba Hugh. No, I have no idea. And this is Robben Ford and the Blue Line with Start It Up. When John Mayall turned 70 in 2003, there was a concert held to mark the occasion. He and his band provided the music with help from some old band-mates. This is Mick Taylor with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers on Somebody's Acting Like a Child. …
[Read more...]

When the Harper government announced its intent to make 54 of the 62 questions on the long census form voluntary, Harper and Tony Clement claimed that it was to protect people’s privacy from invasive questions.  I, like many businesses, academics, politicians, government agencies, and rationally minded citizens, felt that explanation seemed… lacking, which made me suspicious of Harper’s actual motivations.One month later, while the controversy over the census rages on, the CPC announces that they intend to “review” the government’s hiring policy in regards to affirmative …
[Read more...]

When the Harper government announced its intent to make 54 of the 62 questions on the long census form voluntary, Harper and Tony Clement claimed that it was to protect people’s privacy from invasive questions.  I, like many businesses, academics, politicians, government agencies, and rationally minded citizens, felt that explanation seemed… lacking, which made me suspicious of Harper’s actual motivations.One month later, while the controversy over the census rages on, the CPC announces that they intend to “review” the government’s hiring policy in regards to affirmative …
[Read more...]

I’m taking a break from politics. At least, for the time it takes to complete this post anyway.  I could easily (and probably will) go to Twitter afterwards and catch a newsbreaking story or better yet, drop by the Blogging SupposiTories and see who would deserve a good verbal bitch slapping from your’s truly. You get the idea. A co-worker of mine retired as of 15;30 this afternoon. A woman who worked for the agency for over 30 years as an adminstrative assistant in various departments. Someone loved by all. She was the worker who could handle the most difficult of co-workers …
[Read more...]

Via Dammit Janet: Crazy right wing lady conbot Phyllis Schlafly, self-styled as America's ''leader of the pro-family movement since 1972,'' exhausted from her travails against gays and lesbians, uppity women, healthcare advocates, liberals, anti-gun activists, etc. etc. etc., has now set her sights on that scourge of western society ... the single welfare mother! Unmarried women, 70 percent of unmarried women, voted for Obama, and this is because when you kick your husband out, you've... …
[Read more...]

I think we can all agree that a man who impersonates his identical twin to have sex with that twin's friend or partner is a species of rapist. The issue of consent is very clear--none is given.But a recent case in Israel raises some fundamental questions about the nature of consent. In this instance, a Muslim who adopted a Jewish name had sexual relations with a Jewish woman. He's now doing 18 months in jail.The man, an Arab Israeli by the name of Sabbar Kashur, told a woman he met at a bar that his name was "Dudu," a diminutive of Daniel David. That was all the silver-tongued devil had to do, …
[Read more...]

Longtime readers -- and I do appreciate your loyalty and patience during my absence from the blogosphere -- know that I have bitched loud and often about how US/Canada/NATO have used and abused women and their (human) rights as an excuse to continue the war in Afghanistan. Oh, it's never about the oil, the pipelines, the mineral rights, the regional hegemony, or anything like that. No no. It's always about the women. Save the women.... …
[Read more...]

A statement written for Climate Justice London, Ontario - Members of our group took to the streets around the G20 Summit in Toronto with concerns about climate change, the Alberta tar sands, assaults on native sovereignty, and other environmental injustices. The Summit police in Toronto threatened, searched, arrested, and detained Climate Justice London activists, while other local climate justice activists stayed away from Toronto to avoid the G20 police regime. Our dissent was not permitted at the Summit. In fact, anyone who was outdoors in downtown Toronto was a potential target for the …
[Read more...]

CNN : WikiLeaks founder may have 'blood' on his handsReuters : WikiLeaks may have blood on its hands, U.S. saysBoth sources quote Admiral Mike Mullen :"Mr. Assange can say whatever he likes about the greater good he thinks he and his source are doing," Mullen said. "But the truth is they might already have on their hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family."Guardian : The War Logs :"...the marines opening fire with automatic weapons as they tore down a six-mile stretch of highway, hitting almost anyone in their way – teenage girls in fields, motorists in their cars, …
[Read more...]

If you can make an issue out of the Census, you can make an issue out of anything.  But in the Season of Dumb all things are possible: The Tories’ indulgence in this melodrama shows we have more cause to worry about the ninny state than the nanny state. Indeed.  And what’s next on the Ninny State agenda? Phone Books:  Convenience?  Or naming names?  (Ma Bell:  Agent of the State?) Food Inspection:  Health?  Or an infringement on your right to host the parasites of your choice? I doubt it’s a coincidence that the Harper government went full-metal Freedom Fighter on the …
[Read more...]

Seriously? The latest statistics show that 29 per cent of men admitted being distracted by short skirts and low-cut tops in the Summer weather, leading to record numbers of accidents on the roads. And according to car insurance company Sheilas' Wheels, the summer smash phenomenon is getting worse each year - in 2009 men made 16.4 per cent more claims during the Summer than in any other month. Behavioural psychologist Donna Dawson explained: "Research shows... …
[Read more...]

Should anyone who reads my blog be interested in hearing me rant LIVE on radio …. tune in Sean Holman’s Public Eye show on Victoria’s CFAX Radio 1070  Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 .a.m. where I will be part of a panel discussion. Others on the panel will be Eleanor Gregory, former NPA school trustee: [...] …
[Read more...]

Jesus vs. Satan. Ya gotta love Flash. The site is not politically-correct, so if you're the type who gets their tighty-whities in a wedgie, try Lawrence Welk on YouTube. Haven't played it, because I'm into Return to Castle Wolfenstein and a 3-D spatial challenge called BORX, but the start page illustration is a hoot — Satan and Jesus facing off at a nightclub bar. …
[Read more...]

Lawyers want return of mandatory long-form census In a letter to Industry Minister Tony Clement, the Canadian Bar Association calls for the return of the mandatory long-form census, saying lawyers and judges use the information to help determine how much injured clients should claim in court. And then they, perhaps unwittingly, explain why Harper wants to weaken the integrity of the census data in the first place. The association says the ditching of the mandatory form will especially hurt women, children, the disabled and others without a regular work history. …
[Read more...]

There is one thing, aside from Hockey, that Canadians have perfected. It is the art of complaining. We complain about our leaders, the economy, those damnable Americans, the atheist-statist nutters in Toronto, the fascist-zealots in rural BC/Alta., the lines at Tim Hortons, the warm government beer, the cold but chaotically priced private beer, those damnable [...] …
[Read more...]

CNN : WikiLeaks founder may have 'blood' on his handsReuters : WikiLeaks may have blood on its hands, U.S. saysBoth sources quote Admiral Mike Mullen :"Mr. Assange can say whatever he likes about the greater good he thinks he and his source are doing," Mullen said. "But the truth is they might already have on their hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family."Guardian : The War Logs :"...the marines opening fire with automatic weapons as they tore down a six-mile stretch of highway, hitting almost anyone in their way – teenage girls in fields, motorists in their cars, …
[Read more...]

CNN : WikiLeaks founder may have 'blood' on his handsReuters : WikiLeaks may have blood on its hands, U.S. saysBoth sources quote Admiral Mike Mullen :"Mr. Assange can say whatever he likes about the greater good he thinks he and his source are doing," Mullen said. "But the truth is they might already have on their hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family."Guardian : The War Logs :"...the marines opening fire with automatic weapons as they tore down a six-mile stretch of highway, hitting almost anyone in their way – teenage girls in fields, motorists in their cars, …
[Read more...]