I'm going to run out of titles for these daily wraps for my radio program in a hurry. I'm hoping the links and videos are of use and get sent around. Here's a video of an Irishman getting it right about Wall Street, that the good people at Crooks and Liars posted today. It's dead on in so many ways and extremely funny, but the language is definitely NSFW. So to begin by following up on the Iran acquiring the technology to create a nuclear weapon and why the west should now go to war with Iran story, well, things remain unclear. The leaks that were making the rounds this week suggested that …
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Remember the Iraq war? Wasn't all that murder and torture awesome? Didn't taking out Saddam make the world a better place, help the economy to hum along smoothly and unite us all in one glorious, orgasmic moment of unity and brotherhood? No? Well get ready boys and girls because the people who brought us the quagmire in Iraq are planning to bring us more war, this time with Iran and they are assuring us that this time, for sure, it will all go smoothly. Here just for you, through the magic of the internets is a play by Tim Robbins called 'Embedded.' It's terrific and also a timely reminder …
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I wish I could get it all together: the radio show, the podcast and the blog. Truth is I do it alone and simply run out of steam and so I keep my primary focus on the radio show and offering up an alternative to the bilge that the media spews forth daily. It's simple, if you want to remain informed all you need is the desire coupled with the digital media. I'm going to start offering up my heavily linked posts once again as a tool for you and for myself so I can bring some sort of order to my radio show. The U.S. State Department has announced that their chief investigator will review the …
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Last week Exxon-Mobil announced their 2011 third-quarter earnings, reporting $10.3 billion in profits, which is an increase of 41 percent from the same period last year. So far, Exxon has earned over $31 billion in profits in the first nine months of the year. It needs to be noted that Exxon-Mobil is also one of the big five big-oil companies that spends the most money muddying climate-change science - to add to their long list of egregious behaviour. The people at Shell are also onto good times. Royal Dutch Shell announced their 2011 third-quarter earnings, announcing profits of $6.98 …
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There has been an unending stream of propaganda coming from the people in big-oil about the tar sands. In particular a group that calls themselves CAPP (Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers) representing the exploiters of the tar sands, have been busy greenwashing the destruction that is taking place in Alberta through a series of print and video ads. Greenpeace has a rundown here. As Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Mike Hudema says, "CAPP needs to realize that the tar sands don't have a public relations problem, they have an environmental-impacts problem that's not going to …
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I promised a friend who has been sleeping and cooking for the good and earnest people at Occupy Montreal that I'd post this rather brilliant speech by the American Journalist Bill Moyers, given at a memorial for the historian Howard Zinn. The speech manages to encapsulate all the reasons the Occupy Wall Street movement came to be and why it needs all of our support. Watch this video on YouTube …
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As Richard Wilkinson says, "Something we instinctively know, inequality is divisive and socially corrosive." In this TED talk he takes us through the data, charts and numbers that demonstrate the effect this has on us all: …
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I don't think you can view the documentary film "Inside Job," and not be clear on what the Occupy movement is all about. It's about the criminals who have savaged our economic system for greed and their own personal gain. It's about the lives they have ruined and the need for there to be restitution. We need at bare minimum new laws and regulations with teeth. An awful large number of sociopaths need to be fitted for orange jump suits and pay for the millions of lives they have ruined. Watch the film and I defy you to tell me any different. Untitled from harisgr on Vimeo. …
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Tom Morello happily inspiring those in attendance at Occupy Vancouver: Pete Seeger doing the same at Columbus Circle in New York: And if anyone ever asks you why people are angry with Wall Street in the first place, you can always begin with the simple phrase that happily fits into a soundbite, "The Unregulated Actions Of Wall Street Impoverished 64 Million People Worldwide."  This is criminal, Wall Street speculators have in a literal sense speculated people to death. There needs to be, at minimum, new financial regulations to prevent the kinds of speculation that led to the 2008 …
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A bunch of links from around the Canadian web all related to the upcoming democratic exercise that is so pissing Stephen Harper off!  The Conservative Leader refuses to comment on reports of campaign rally attendees being kicked out or barred entry for 'suspect' partisan loyalties -- one young woman was apparently ordered to turn her T-shirt inside out because it had a slogan endorsing environmentally-friendly fuels. Mmmmm, that's some pretty tasty democracy! Apparently I'm not the only one who is noticing the similarities between the PM's campaign and the one run by …
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A bunch of links from around the Canadian web all related to the upcoming democratic exercise that is so pissing Stephen Harper off!  The Conservative Leader refuses to comment on reports of campaign rally attendees being kicked out or barred entry for 'suspect' partisan loyalties -- one young woman was apparently ordered to turn her T-shirt inside out because it had a slogan endorsing environmentally-friendly fuels. Mmmmm, that's some pretty tasty democracy! Apparently I'm not the only one who is noticing the similarities between the PM's campaign and the one run by Karl Rove on behalf …
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Not discussed in any detail yet on this campaign was the gutting of an important Canadian institution: Statistics Canada. For those with short memories here is a sample of the fear-mongering, that preceded their doing away with the mandatory long form census, that came from the mouth of Industry Minister Tony Clement: “I cannot support the opposition's belief that Canadians not wishing to answer these questions are criminals,” Mr. Clement said in a statement released Tuesday evening. “It is truly regrettable that the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois will not take a reasonable approach …
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Not discussed in any detail yet on this campaign was the gutting of an important Canadian institution: Statistics Canada. For those with short memories here is a sample of the fear-mongering, that preceded their doing away with the mandatory long form census, that came from the mouth of Industry Minister Tony Clement: “I cannot support the opposition's belief that Canadians not wishing to answer these questions are criminals,” Mr. Clement said in a statement released Tuesday evening. “It is truly regrettable that the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois will not take a reasonable approach …
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This is rich! The Liberals have quickly put a very timely ad out there about Canadians being denied the right to attend Harper rallies if they're wearing the wrong t-shirts or have the wrong bumper stickers on their cars or have befriended sketchy liberal types on their facebook pages. The quick turnaround so far as this ad goes is very impressive. Have a good laugh and ask yourself if this reminds you of anything? …
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This is rich! The Liberals have quickly put a very timely ad out there about Canadians being denied the right to attend Harper rallies if they're wearing the wrong t-shirts or have the wrong bumper stickers on their cars or have befriended sketchy liberal types on their facebook pages. The quick turnaround so far as this ad goes is very impressive. Have a good laugh and ask yourself if this reminds you of anything? …
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When writing about the 2011 Canadian election, it could be a pretty facile exercise to point to the Conservative candidate, proclaim he's just like his American counterpart (Bush) and then go further and declare that the tactics used as being the same as those used by the oft vilified Karl Rove, aka Bush's Brain. So let's get specific and take a hard look at exactly what is this playbook all about.  First, go on the offensive and establish the public perception of their candidate, define what the major issues of the campaign are and do everything in your power to influence the …
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When writing about the 2011 Canadian election, it could be a pretty facile exercise to point to the Conservative candidate, proclaim he's just like his American counterpart (Bush) and then go further and declare that the tactics used as being the same as those used by the oft vilified Karl Rove, aka Bush's Brain. So let's get specific and take a hard look at exactly what is this playbook all about.  First, go on the offensive and establish the public perception of their candidate, define what the major issues of the campaign are and do everything in your power to influence the …
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As the parties enter their second full week Harper's strategy of attacks based on a fictional premise, taking credit for the recovery, avoiding answering inconvenient questions and pretending he has nothing to do with the sketchy cast of characters surrounding him is working... at least according to the latest NANOS poll. Their lead over the Liberals has increased in the last week in spite of numerous missteps by the PM and his party in the opening week of the campaign.  Today there was more of the kind of news that would rattle some parties and their followers but not this party, not …
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As the parties enter their second full week Harper's strategy of attacks based on a fictional premise, taking credit for the recovery, avoiding answering inconvenient questions and pretending he has nothing to do with the sketchy cast of characters surrounding him is working... at least according to the latest NANOS poll. Their lead over the Liberals has increased in the last week in spite of numerous missteps by the PM and his party in the opening week of the campaign.  Today there was more of the kind of news that would rattle some parties and their followers but not this party, not …
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Wresting the narrative away from the spinners and media is an auspicious way to begin a campaign and Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal Party deserve a lot of credit for taking this beast by its' antlers and waging a far better than anticipated opening to their campaign.  The Ignatieff platform delivered Sunday, is what he is calling his 'Family Pack' of measures that will deliver relief to the Canadian middle-class. There are details about the costing of some of the already announced initiatives, including $1 billion to be spent on the Family Care Plan,  $1 billion the …
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Wresting the narrative away from the spinners and media is an auspicious way to begin a campaign and Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal Party deserve a lot of credit for taking this beast by its' antlers and waging a far better than anticipated opening to their campaign.  The Ignatieff platform delivered Sunday, is what he is calling his 'Family Pack' of measures that will deliver relief to the Canadian middle-class. There are details about the costing of some of the already announced initiatives, including $1 billion to be spent on the Family Care Plan,  $1 billion the …
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In the previous post about media coverage of the NDP, my desire was to illustrate one of the many ways in which the media can help to marginalize ideas and even an entire political party. It all depends on what aspect of a story they choose to emphasize.  This can work both ways of course. You can help make a party look good by omitting mention of important parts of their tacit platform. This past week, so far as the Tories are concerned, the platform they wanted to discuss had little to do with the reality of the policy they're supposed to be defending. That, after all, is the …
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In the previous post about media coverage of the NDP, my desire was to illustrate one of the many ways in which the media can help to marginalize ideas and even an entire political party. It all depends on what aspect of a story they choose to emphasize.  This can work both ways of course. You can help make a party look good by omitting mention of important parts of their tacit platform. This past week, so far as the Tories are concerned, the platform they wanted to discuss had little to do with the reality of the policy they're supposed to be defending. That, after all, is the …
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There's little chance that Jack Layton will get a fair reading of his platform and people's response to it from the mainstream Canadian media. A great example of this is a sleazy little piece written by Gloria Galloway, who's covering the NDP campaign for the right leaning Globe and Mail. She chooses to lead off her article by insinuating that the last time the NDP held a town hall meeting in a northern Ontario locale, it was staged. No proof, just a snide aside and an unsubstantiated rumour.  Those are some crazy journalistic standards they're held to over at the Globe where even the …
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There's little chance that Jack Layton will get a fair reading of his platform and people's response to it from the mainstream Canadian media. A great example of this is a sleazy little piece written by Gloria Galloway, who's covering the NDP campaign for the right leaning Globe and Mail. She chooses to lead off her article by insinuating that the last time the NDP held a town hall meeting in a northern Ontario locale, it was staged. No proof, just a snide aside and an unsubstantiated rumour.  Those are some crazy journalistic standards they're held to over at the Globe where even the …
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You can't overstate the importance of the role the media plays in shaping how election campaigns and the candidates themselves are perceived. So early on here during the race I've been keeping track of things the media is trying to spin for us. For example did you know Harper got off to fast start in this campaign and had Iggy on his heels over the coalition fear-mongering? You didn't? Well that's because it's preposterous!  It was only seven days ago, I was there and Stephen Harper got off to as bad a start as an incumbent PM can have. Starting with his government falling, not on the …
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You can't overstate the importance of the role the media plays in shaping how election campaigns and the candidates themselves are perceived. So early on here during the race I've been keeping track of things the media is trying to spin for us. For example did you know Harper got off to fast start in this campaign and had Iggy on his heels over the coalition fear-mongering? You didn't? Well that's because it's preposterous!  It was only seven days ago, I was there and Stephen Harper got off to as bad a start as an incumbent PM can have. Starting with his government falling, not on the …
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In a memorable rant Rick Mercer lays out a host of reasons those between the ages of 18 and 25 should get out and vote in the coming May 2 election. For starters there's 3 million such voters which is more than enough to have a massive effect on the results. For seconds the powers that be are happy that the youth aren't voting. That way they don't have to listen or even care about their concerns or as Rick Mercer puts it, "That's why your tuition keeps going up!" The best reason to take 20 minutes out of your day and vote is because you'll scare the crap out of the people that run this …
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In a memorable rant Rick Mercer lays out a host of reasons those between the ages of 18 and 25 should get out and vote in the coming May 2 election. For starters there's 3 million such voters which is more than enough to have a massive effect on the results. For seconds the powers that be are happy that the youth aren't voting. That way they don't have to listen or even care about their concerns or as Rick Mercer puts it, "That's why your tuition keeps going up!" The best reason to take 20 minutes out of your day and vote is because you'll scare the crap out of the people that run this …
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I'm having a difficult time not writing about Stephen's petulance as if he were some whiny assed titty-baby. His contempt for his opponents, the Canadian people and democracy in general have been difficult to watch during the first week of the campaign. He's apparently decided that at campaign stops he's only going to answer five questions. That's it! Five questions and no more, and the media is to be kept in a cage away from wherever he is. Can't you just smell the transparency and accountability that Harper has brought to Ottawa these past five years?  Now he's decided he's fed up …
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I'm having a difficult time not writing about Stephen's petulance as if he were some whiny assed titty-baby. His contempt for his opponents, the Canadian people and democracy in general have been difficult to watch during the first week of the campaign. He's apparently decided that at campaign stops he's only going to answer five questions. That's it! Five questions and no more, and the media is to be kept in a cage away from wherever he is. Can't you just smell the transparency and accountability that Harper has brought to Ottawa these past five years?  Now he's decided he's fed up …
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For those who drop in and check out the election related news links I've been posting and my comments you've probably noticed I have some talent for being able to read tea leaves, but for all I know perhaps it's just a talent for the bleeding obvious. There's little need to be cocksure about this. After all, most in the progressive Canadian blogosphere had also noted that the Liberals started this election season off smartly and that their campaign had quickly gathered momentum. This sentiment was backed up by yesterday's early poll numbers. But there's five more weeks to go and so …
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For those who drop in and check out the election related news links I've been posting and my comments you've probably noticed I have some talent for being able to read tea leaves, but for all I know perhaps it's just a talent for the bleeding obvious. There's little need to be cocksure about this. After all, most in the progressive Canadian blogosphere had also noted that the Liberals started this election season off smartly and that their campaign had quickly gathered momentum. This sentiment was backed up by yesterday's early poll numbers. But there's five more weeks to go and so …
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Okay, so I've coined a silly word and am probably jumping the gun on this. Michael Ignatieff has only a smidgen of momentum but it's a good start for a guy who has been unable to get any for almost three years now. According to pollster Nik Nanos, Iggy's improved Leadership Index Score, a compendium of responses measuring voter attitudes toward trust, competence, and vision among the party leaders, is only really significant if it continues down this path. Leadership scores Nonos says are a leading indicator of momentum. “When a leader’s numbers start going up or down, there’s usually …
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Okay, so I've coined a silly word and am probably jumping the gun on this. Michael Ignatieff has only a smidgen of momentum but it's a good start for a guy who has been unable to get any for almost three years now. According to pollster Nik Nanos, Iggy's improved Leadership Index Score, a compendium of responses measuring voter attitudes toward trust, competence, and vision among the party leaders, is only really significant if it continues down this path. Leadership scores Nonos says are a leading indicator of momentum. “When a leader’s numbers start going up or down, there’s usually …
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With five parties vying for Canadians votes -- the Bloc of course restricted to the province of Quebec where they will likely to retain or at least be in contention for approximately one sixth of the seats available in Canada -- there are a lot of narratives to pay attention to. Starting with Michael Ignatieff who today will offer more money for middle-class families as he announces the third major plank in a platform he is funding with the $6-billion he says will be saved by reversing corporate tax cuts. This announcement, at a pharmacy in Vancouver, follows his $1-billion pledge Tuesday …
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With five parties vying for Canadians votes -- the Bloc of course restricted to the province of Quebec where they will likely to retain or at least be in contention for approximately one sixth of the seats available in Canada -- there are a lot of narratives to pay attention to. Starting with Michael Ignatieff who today will offer more money for middle-class families as he announces the third major plank in a platform he is funding with the $6-billion he says will be saved by reversing corporate tax cuts. This announcement, at a pharmacy in Vancouver, follows his $1-billion pledge Tuesday …
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I have had my heart set on going to the polls since last year when Harper, our Evangelical Christian PM, reverted to form once again and started cramming his beliefs into Canadian policy. For me it began when he and his party decided to deny  funding for maternal health care to organizations that included abortion services in their health care options. This program was for women in the developing world who are often the victims of war, rape, extreme poverty and incest. This is a reversal of what has been Canada's position on maternal health in poor countries for almost three …
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I have had my heart set on going to the polls since last year when Harper, our Evangelical Christian PM, reverted to form once again and started cramming his beliefs into Canadian policy. For me it began when he and his party decided to deny  funding for maternal health care to organizations that included abortion services in their health care options. This program was for women in the developing world who are often the victims of war, rape, extreme poverty and incest. This is a reversal of what has been Canada's position on maternal health in poor countries for almost three …
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I'm a fan of Green Party policies and sincerely wish for their sake that they capture a seat or two as they deserve a seat at the table. Have a listen and maybe go check out their site: …
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