@RobSilver @kylekirkup I like lawyers. They're the only way to protect yourself from other lawyers. Or rather, I fear them.
— Bigcitylib (@Bigcitylib2) January 24, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Random Observation Re Legal System
Thursday, January 23, 2014
The Price Of Free Speechiness?
The Richard Warman Vs. Free Dominion defamation case has been winding down for awhile now. The Fourniers lost. Had their asses handed to them, in fact. In addition to $43,000 in damages, we find today that they've been hit with $85,000 in costs:
Meanwhile their latest funder stalled out after raising $23.67. Connie's been talking about selling her pancreas. Mark was trying to sell his liver, but it was deemed hazardous materials.
Richard Warman costs awarded against @freedominion folks: $85,000. (Damages another $43,000).Not sure I can even count as high as that.Whew.
— Dr.Dawg (@DrDawg) January 23, 2014
Meanwhile their latest funder stalled out after raising $23.67. Connie's been talking about selling her pancreas. Mark was trying to sell his liver, but it was deemed hazardous materials.
A Broken Ankle Is A Pain In The Ass
Probably be worse if it was mine. But boy is the wife ever complaining!
Had her in to see the ortho guy this morning and, as such things go, its not serious. The fibula, I think. Off work for a week; in a cast for eight weeks.
Emerge at Scarborough General last night was surprisingly efficient; they weren't crowded and we were done in two hours. Wife says it's because nobody wants to go there. Anyway, not much blogging today as I shop for T3s and other medical supplies. Luckily we have a Goodl-Life Gym nearby.
Had her in to see the ortho guy this morning and, as such things go, its not serious. The fibula, I think. Off work for a week; in a cast for eight weeks.
Emerge at Scarborough General last night was surprisingly efficient; they weren't crowded and we were done in two hours. Wife says it's because nobody wants to go there. Anyway, not much blogging today as I shop for T3s and other medical supplies. Luckily we have a Goodl-Life Gym nearby.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Julius Suraski In The MSM
I missed this yesterday, about one of the guys in PM Harper's Israel trip entourage, from Stephen Maher:
Sorry about the small print. For some reason I can't get the original to copy and paste. Maher also ignores the JDL/EDL connection, which I think is even more important than the Geller one, given the EDL's known propensity to violence and criminality.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Bombed At Steak Queen: Mayor Falls Off Ford Wagon!
Last night, apparently:
When is Ford not at steak queen?
— m&m (@mmerwar) January 21, 2014
And the inevitable video:
And an interior shot of Steak Queen
Monday, January 20, 2014
Your Daily Nazi: Did Harper Israel Trip Participant Help Arrange Meetup With English Neo-Nazis?
David Akin has published a list of the folks accompanying PM Stephen Harper to Israel. As Hardy notes in the comments here, one the people on the list is Julius Suraski. If you click on the image below, you can see that he is given as the "events coordinator" for JDL-Canada, and indeed there are mentions and pics of him on-line in regards to various JDL-Canada activities.
Presumably, given his title, Julius helped arrange the bringing of American hate-monger Pam Geller (recently banned in the UK) to Toronto. Even more disturbingly, he seems to have been part of JDL Canada's outreach to Tommy Robinson, leader of the English Defense League, an anti-Muslim Group with deep ties to UK Neo-Nazis, these ties noted here, for example. The EDL (although not Robinson himself) also apparently had connections with Norwegian mass murderer Anders Brievik, a story I broke here, and which was then widely pursued by the UK press. Also in The New Yorker.
So, nice company you keep, Mr. Harper.
PS. FWIW, it looks like Ezra's dad is also on the trip.
PPS. Just to provide a bit of context on the JDL/EDL connection. Why, some might ask, would a Jewish group sidle up to this crowd?
Basically, Suraski and JDL hooked up with English Defence League because of the latters alleged opposition to "radical Islam" But in fact the EDL was largely a spin-off from BNP (British National Party), which was openly Neo Nazi. To put it bluntly, EDL founders figured that post 9/11 it was easier to hate Muslims than Jews. So alot of them opportunistically dropped beliefs they had espoused only a few years earlier and adopted anti-Muslim/pro-Israel rhetoric instead. But the change never really went that deep. And the JDL knew all this at the time.
So, nice company you keep, Mr. Harper.
PS. FWIW, it looks like Ezra's dad is also on the trip.
PPS. Just to provide a bit of context on the JDL/EDL connection. Why, some might ask, would a Jewish group sidle up to this crowd?
Basically, Suraski and JDL hooked up with English Defence League because of the latters alleged opposition to "radical Islam" But in fact the EDL was largely a spin-off from BNP (British National Party), which was openly Neo Nazi. To put it bluntly, EDL founders figured that post 9/11 it was easier to hate Muslims than Jews. So alot of them opportunistically dropped beliefs they had espoused only a few years earlier and adopted anti-Muslim/pro-Israel rhetoric instead. But the change never really went that deep. And the JDL knew all this at the time.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
What To Do About John, Eh?
Bernie Farber had a piece in the Ottawa Citizen yesterday re our nation's first Prime Minister:
...Sir John A. Macdonald was also a racist who disdained Chinese rail workers, the very same men who helped build his national dream, by imposing a discriminatory head tax on each of them. And it was Macdonald whose policies of forced starvation helped clear First Nations from the prairies in order to build that railway. Indeed, James Daschuk from the University of Regina argues quite cogently in his book, “Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation and the Loss of Aboriginal Life,” that Macdonald’s starvation policies led to the deaths of thousands. As Daschuk explains: “For years, government officials withheld food from aboriginal people until they moved to their appointed reserves, forcing them to trade freedom for rations. Once on reserves, food placed in ration houses was withheld for so long that much of it rotted while the people it was intended to feed fell into a decades-long cycle of malnutrition, suppressed immunity and sickness from tuberculosis and other diseases. Thousands died.”
What are we to do once we know this? Make sure its taught in our history classes is one thing, I suppose. When I was in high-school it certainly was not. Sir John A. was simply known as a charming drunk who launched the nation from the bottom of an alcoholic stupor. Class conversations would have been much more useful if this stuff had been part of the lesson.
...Sir John A. Macdonald was also a racist who disdained Chinese rail workers, the very same men who helped build his national dream, by imposing a discriminatory head tax on each of them. And it was Macdonald whose policies of forced starvation helped clear First Nations from the prairies in order to build that railway. Indeed, James Daschuk from the University of Regina argues quite cogently in his book, “Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation and the Loss of Aboriginal Life,” that Macdonald’s starvation policies led to the deaths of thousands. As Daschuk explains: “For years, government officials withheld food from aboriginal people until they moved to their appointed reserves, forcing them to trade freedom for rations. Once on reserves, food placed in ration houses was withheld for so long that much of it rotted while the people it was intended to feed fell into a decades-long cycle of malnutrition, suppressed immunity and sickness from tuberculosis and other diseases. Thousands died.”
What are we to do once we know this? Make sure its taught in our history classes is one thing, I suppose. When I was in high-school it certainly was not. Sir John A. was simply known as a charming drunk who launched the nation from the bottom of an alcoholic stupor. Class conversations would have been much more useful if this stuff had been part of the lesson.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Having Trouble Sleeping?
Watch the 2nd episode of 24/7, the PMO's weekly propaganda video:
But don't play it while you're doing anything that requires an alert mind, like juggling chainsaws or picking fleas off a baby rhino. Seriously, folks, there ought to be a warning label on this thing saying you shouldn't drive or operate heavy machinery while it's on. I haven't passed out so fast since I watched Andrew Coyne talk monetary policy. But even then, Andrew would occasionally say cashola and I'd snap back to attention.
This video has no redeeming qualities.
But don't play it while you're doing anything that requires an alert mind, like juggling chainsaws or picking fleas off a baby rhino. Seriously, folks, there ought to be a warning label on this thing saying you shouldn't drive or operate heavy machinery while it's on. I haven't passed out so fast since I watched Andrew Coyne talk monetary policy. But even then, Andrew would occasionally say cashola and I'd snap back to attention.
This video has no redeeming qualities.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Copernicus Publishing Terminates Pattern Recognition In Physics
Here's what you see when you go to the home page of the journal Pattern Recognition In Physics:
It looks like I may have been wrong about this being a first issue in my previous post. It was still, however, a relatively new journal.
In any case, Kudos to Copernicus Publications.
In any case, Kudos to Copernicus Publications.
On Pattern Recognition In Physics
Pattern Recognition In Physics (PRP, I'll call it) is a new, open access journal devoted to "experimental and applied aspects of pattern analysis, extraction, classification and clustering in all branches and disciplines of physics". This sounds quite sciency but may mean not very much when you parse it carefully. Anyway, it's published by Copernicus Publications, an "innovative" open access publisher of open access scientific journals that, from what I hear, is making an honest stab at intellectual respectability.
To do a bit of foreshadowing, publishing PRP won't help them in achieving that goal.
One of Copernicus publishing's "innovations" is that they allow you to "Launch Your Own Journal":
PRP appears to one of these launch-your-own numbers. And if you look at the Copernicus home-page its shown as a "new title", and the only papers listed are very recent. We are looking at a first issue.
Here's a cover shot of that issue:
Hmm. So its a "Special Issue". What exactly does that mean? Lets see:
Pattern Recognition in Physics (PRP) offers an efficient new way of publishing special issues which are commonly the result of a session or multiple sessions at conferences, but can also be from a small group of people deciding that a given special issue on a given subject of theme would be appropriate.
Now that's what it says for PRP. The language seems to be adapted from Copernicus Publishing boiler-plate. Here's another example. But note that the last clause of the above (starting with "but can also...") is missing from the ESurf statement, and from similar statements made re other Copernicus journals.
So this is the first issue of a journal that's basically the result of a "small group of people deciding etc.". Lets see who these are, shall we? Below is the authors list for the General Conclusions paper; the authors of the other papers in the issue are a subset of this list.
People that read this blog may be familiar with some of these names. They are climate change denialists of one stripe or another. Tattersall is a blogger who writes under the name of Tallbloke. W. Soon = Willie Wei-Hock Soon. N. Scaffeta = Nick Scaffeta. Nils-Axel Mörner is a crazed wingnut who is also a goddamn water witch! JE Solheim thinks that a simple harmonic model (movements of the sun, moon and planets together with linear trends) provides a better fit to the global temperature data since 1850 and likely a better predictor than the assembly of 44 climate models used by the IPCC. So you knows he's messed up in the head.
And etc. with the rest of them.
So what appears to have happened is that a small group of denialists paid money to Copernicus Publishing, launched their own journal under its imprint, and published crap Now they can say its all passed "peer review". It will be interesting to see exactly what this means under the circumstances. That they read one another's stuff?
On the other hand the reputation of Copernicus Publishing just took a boot to the nads. I'm already hearing rumors of editors of/authors for other Copernicus journals launching complaints over this. If you are trying to maintain your cred as a scientist you don't want to be seen in proximity to this kind of nonsense.
PS. I was wrong about this being a first issue. Its the second issue but the first special issue, and the last of any kind, apparently. This is the first issue; its mostly the special issue with a few non-climate-related papers added.
To do a bit of foreshadowing, publishing PRP won't help them in achieving that goal.
One of Copernicus publishing's "innovations" is that they allow you to "Launch Your Own Journal":
PRP appears to one of these launch-your-own numbers. And if you look at the Copernicus home-page its shown as a "new title", and the only papers listed are very recent. We are looking at a first issue.
Here's a cover shot of that issue:
Hmm. So its a "Special Issue". What exactly does that mean? Lets see:
Pattern Recognition in Physics (PRP) offers an efficient new way of publishing special issues which are commonly the result of a session or multiple sessions at conferences, but can also be from a small group of people deciding that a given special issue on a given subject of theme would be appropriate.
Now that's what it says for PRP. The language seems to be adapted from Copernicus Publishing boiler-plate. Here's another example. But note that the last clause of the above (starting with "but can also...") is missing from the ESurf statement, and from similar statements made re other Copernicus journals.
So this is the first issue of a journal that's basically the result of a "small group of people deciding etc.". Lets see who these are, shall we? Below is the authors list for the General Conclusions paper; the authors of the other papers in the issue are a subset of this list.
People that read this blog may be familiar with some of these names. They are climate change denialists of one stripe or another. Tattersall is a blogger who writes under the name of Tallbloke. W. Soon = Willie Wei-Hock Soon. N. Scaffeta = Nick Scaffeta. Nils-Axel Mörner is a crazed wingnut who is also a goddamn water witch! JE Solheim thinks that a simple harmonic model (movements of the sun, moon and planets together with linear trends) provides a better fit to the global temperature data since 1850 and likely a better predictor than the assembly of 44 climate models used by the IPCC. So you knows he's messed up in the head.
And etc. with the rest of them.
So what appears to have happened is that a small group of denialists paid money to Copernicus Publishing, launched their own journal under its imprint, and published crap Now they can say its all passed "peer review". It will be interesting to see exactly what this means under the circumstances. That they read one another's stuff?
On the other hand the reputation of Copernicus Publishing just took a boot to the nads. I'm already hearing rumors of editors of/authors for other Copernicus journals launching complaints over this. If you are trying to maintain your cred as a scientist you don't want to be seen in proximity to this kind of nonsense.
PS. I was wrong about this being a first issue. Its the second issue but the first special issue, and the last of any kind, apparently. This is the first issue; its mostly the special issue with a few non-climate-related papers added.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Dean Del Maestro Trashes Neil Young For Being A Californian
Well, its a novel angle at least:
Perhaps the most surprising part of his recent criticisms goes back to where he has called home for the past 50 years, namely California a state that continually ranks amongst the worst in America for ground water, soil and air pollution.
Incidentally, I am pretty sure Neil still owns land on Vancouver Island. He did back in the 80s, when he would occasionally show up to look at it and visit him mom.
Perhaps the most surprising part of his recent criticisms goes back to where he has called home for the past 50 years, namely California a state that continually ranks amongst the worst in America for ground water, soil and air pollution.
Incidentally, I am pretty sure Neil still owns land on Vancouver Island. He did back in the 80s, when he would occasionally show up to look at it and visit him mom.
If Tim Hudak And Andrea Horwath Want Someone To Meet Rob Ford
Then they should go ahead and meet him. Oppo leaders often meet people the premier won't, as they typically have more time on their hands than the premier. It would be a lovely opportunity for a photo-op with the mayor. I'm sure Tim Hudak would like more pictures of him and Rob Ford together; I'm sure Andrea Horwath would like a few more too.
PS. I'm a T.O. resident and I'm fine if Premier Wynne would rather deal with someone else rather than the mayor. What good would a meeting do other than further the man's re-election plans?
PS. I'm a T.O. resident and I'm fine if Premier Wynne would rather deal with someone else rather than the mayor. What good would a meeting do other than further the man's re-election plans?
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Northern Gateway Pipeline: Something I Didn't Know
There is also an interesting wrinkle in the JRP’s [Joint Review Panel's] decision, specifically its inclusion of a “sunset clause.”
And that states “the certificate [to proceed] will expire on 31 December 2016, unless construction of the pipeline or the Kitimat Terminal has commenced by that date.” For reasons mentioned above, that is very unlikely.
So would this mean back to square one for Enbridge if shovels aren't in the ground by 2017? Stalled for another...two...three...five years?
And that states “the certificate [to proceed] will expire on 31 December 2016, unless construction of the pipeline or the Kitimat Terminal has commenced by that date.” For reasons mentioned above, that is very unlikely.
So would this mean back to square one for Enbridge if shovels aren't in the ground by 2017? Stalled for another...two...three...five years?
At Issue: Does Fort Mc Smell?
We're in about day three of the backlash over singer/songwriter Neil Young's comments re the tar sands. Particularly contentious was this bit:
"(I) drove around the tarsands in my electric car viewing and experiencing this unbelievable smell and toxicity in my throat — my eyes were burning," he recalled. "That started 25 miles away from the tarsands. When I was in Fort Mac, it got more intense. My son, who has cerebral palsy, has lung damage, (so) he was wearing a mask to keep the toxic things in the air out of his lungs and make it easy for him to have lungs after he left."
A number of folks, both within the media and outside of it, took umbrage at these words. Some suggested Neil had spoken falsely. Colby Cosh (@colbycosh) for example:
So I googled about to see if I could find references to the smell of Fort McMurray, Alberta, on the Internet. Whoo boy could I ever! From a visitor to the place:
A few locals still refer to the industrial stink that occasionally blows down into Fort McMurray as the smell of money. But for visitors and those not directly employed in the mines, the smell is more akin to hot garbage on a tire fire.
Now, the author of these words works for a men's mag, and Colby felt he was too effete-y elite-y to be trusted when it comes to industrial smells.
OK. So here's from some local inhabitants:
Okay, is it me, or does anybody else smell that kind of "dump smell" in the air here in Thickwood and Timberlea. My husband says it is from the oil mines. To me, it smells like the garbage dump. It is disgusting! If it is coming from the oil mines, then we are really in Fort McMoney, Oilberta and that is the smell of money (kaching!)
From another visitor:
I did not like the smell when we got close to the mining operations and processing sites - it would take a while to get used to. It is probably not too good for the health, but I have not done the research, or lived there long enough to find out.
From the Alberta Lung Society:
The main concern related to oil sands development with regards to air quality is from hydrogen sulphide gas: H2S(g). H2S(g) has a very distinctive odour, of rotten eggs, however the gas can quickly paralyze one’s sense of smell. If you do encounter the smell, this should serve as a warning to evacuate the area immediately and seek respiratory protection if possible.
H2S(g) is often found at high levels in the Fort McMurray area and other oil sands sites. Exposure to H2S(g) leads to similar health effects suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning such as: dizziness, headaches, difficulty breathing and eventually death.
Although, here is a bit of good news, I suppose:
What sparked my attention was that I started noticing every guy in Fort McMurray smelled amazing. How could all the guys in this town smell soooooo good? I mean really, with all the dirty jobs out there at least one of them had to be a stinky dude. But no I couldn’t find one stinky guy.
The residents are resiliant, and have found a way to cope.
In any case, the point isn't to pick on Fort McMurray. At least not entirely. The point is that Neil's observation seems backed up by a fair bit of evidence. It smells pretty much like he says it does (at least when the wind is blowing right). And while we may be entitled to our own opinions re Fort Mc and the tar-sands, we are not entitled to our own facts.
"(I) drove around the tarsands in my electric car viewing and experiencing this unbelievable smell and toxicity in my throat — my eyes were burning," he recalled. "That started 25 miles away from the tarsands. When I was in Fort Mac, it got more intense. My son, who has cerebral palsy, has lung damage, (so) he was wearing a mask to keep the toxic things in the air out of his lungs and make it easy for him to have lungs after he left."
A number of folks, both within the media and outside of it, took umbrage at these words. Some suggested Neil had spoken falsely. Colby Cosh (@colbycosh) for example:
A few locals still refer to the industrial stink that occasionally blows down into Fort McMurray as the smell of money. But for visitors and those not directly employed in the mines, the smell is more akin to hot garbage on a tire fire.
Now, the author of these words works for a men's mag, and Colby felt he was too effete-y elite-y to be trusted when it comes to industrial smells.
@Bigcitylib2 @dstaples Tell me more about what it's like in Ft. McMurray! You seem to know a lot about it from reading "men's magazines".
— Colby Cosh (@colbycosh) January 15, 2014
OK. So here's from some local inhabitants:
Okay, is it me, or does anybody else smell that kind of "dump smell" in the air here in Thickwood and Timberlea. My husband says it is from the oil mines. To me, it smells like the garbage dump. It is disgusting! If it is coming from the oil mines, then we are really in Fort McMoney, Oilberta and that is the smell of money (kaching!)
From another visitor:
I did not like the smell when we got close to the mining operations and processing sites - it would take a while to get used to. It is probably not too good for the health, but I have not done the research, or lived there long enough to find out.
From the Alberta Lung Society:
The main concern related to oil sands development with regards to air quality is from hydrogen sulphide gas: H2S(g). H2S(g) has a very distinctive odour, of rotten eggs, however the gas can quickly paralyze one’s sense of smell. If you do encounter the smell, this should serve as a warning to evacuate the area immediately and seek respiratory protection if possible.
H2S(g) is often found at high levels in the Fort McMurray area and other oil sands sites. Exposure to H2S(g) leads to similar health effects suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning such as: dizziness, headaches, difficulty breathing and eventually death.
Although, here is a bit of good news, I suppose:
What sparked my attention was that I started noticing every guy in Fort McMurray smelled amazing. How could all the guys in this town smell soooooo good? I mean really, with all the dirty jobs out there at least one of them had to be a stinky dude. But no I couldn’t find one stinky guy.
The residents are resiliant, and have found a way to cope.
In any case, the point isn't to pick on Fort McMurray. At least not entirely. The point is that Neil's observation seems backed up by a fair bit of evidence. It smells pretty much like he says it does (at least when the wind is blowing right). And while we may be entitled to our own opinions re Fort Mc and the tar-sands, we are not entitled to our own facts.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
David Soknacki's Modest Proposal
Mayoral candidate David Soknacki announces if elected he'd kill Scarborough subway and instead revert to LRT pic.twitter.com/8KEnuxLzQ7I'm one of the many, many Scarberians whose property taxes will go up to pay for that damned project, but who will almost certainly never use it...it's miles away...so I am all for this. End the 1.6 per cent tax-hike! Soknacki can't win, but he sure has found an interesting way to distinguish himself from the rest of the candidates.
— Natalie Johnson (@NatalieCTV) January 14, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
Neil Young And The Tar Sands
Just to stave off the usual complaints about Neil's being a washed-up rocker. It's true I don't wait for his new music like I used to, but every once in awhile he can still pull off a real corker. It usually involves screaming guitars and feedback.
And all the money he raises will be real enough.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
You Know Winter Is Over When
From here. From last night, apparently.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
The PM Has A New TV Station
@pmharper @pierrebourque Sorry. It's the night I bathe my pet hamster.
— Bigcitylib (@Bigcitylib2) January 11, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
On That Accomodation Thing Up At York U
I find myself in the minority on this one, thinking that the University should have accomodated student X, even if the accomodation was to placate his religuously induced discomfort with women.
An interesting bit of news came out this morning:
[Rhonda Lenton, Provost for York U] told host Matt Galloway the student's request for accommodation was supported because the class was billed as an online course and no interactions with other students would be required.
"The course had been advertised as an online course and the student had signed up for the course on the understanding that he would not be required to attend on campus," said Lenton. "If it had been an in-class on-campus course, the likely response here would have been that an accommodation would not have been provided."
I think much of my sympathy for student X stems from my own fairly recent experiences with on-line courses. They're kind of a rip-off, and really the only advantage to them is the fact that you don't have to be at a particular place at a particular time to complete the work and get your credits. And it is that feature, generally speaking, that you are paying for when you enroll in one.
Now, the reason you don't want to be at a particular place at a particular time...should that be relevant?...as long as the course you sign up for states up front that you won't have to be?
I don't think so. Since we know that the course syllabus said your physical presence was not required, and we know another student was granted an exemption from the same project, this project was obviously considered non-core material. In a sense, student x was punished by his professor for his religuous beliefs...made to do work he wouldn't otherwise have had to if he hadn't invoked his religion as a means of getting out of it. If he had begged off because he was going to be elsewhere at the time...snowboarding in the Alps, perhaps...there wouldn't have been a problem.
An interesting bit of news came out this morning:
[Rhonda Lenton, Provost for York U] told host Matt Galloway the student's request for accommodation was supported because the class was billed as an online course and no interactions with other students would be required.
"The course had been advertised as an online course and the student had signed up for the course on the understanding that he would not be required to attend on campus," said Lenton. "If it had been an in-class on-campus course, the likely response here would have been that an accommodation would not have been provided."
I think much of my sympathy for student X stems from my own fairly recent experiences with on-line courses. They're kind of a rip-off, and really the only advantage to them is the fact that you don't have to be at a particular place at a particular time to complete the work and get your credits. And it is that feature, generally speaking, that you are paying for when you enroll in one.
Now, the reason you don't want to be at a particular place at a particular time...should that be relevant?...as long as the course you sign up for states up front that you won't have to be?
I don't think so. Since we know that the course syllabus said your physical presence was not required, and we know another student was granted an exemption from the same project, this project was obviously considered non-core material. In a sense, student x was punished by his professor for his religuous beliefs...made to do work he wouldn't otherwise have had to if he hadn't invoked his religion as a means of getting out of it. If he had begged off because he was going to be elsewhere at the time...snowboarding in the Alps, perhaps...there wouldn't have been a problem.
Thursday, January 09, 2014
Dying Media Continues To Die
Postmedia earnings out. Lost $11-million, blames most of it on $15-million in restructuring charges.Though a little more slowly:
— Steve Ladurantaye (@sladurantaye) January 9, 2014
Postmedia's 1Q revenue was down 8.4% to $194M, bit of a slower decline than past few quartersAnd what is to blame?
— Christine Dobby (@christinedobby) January 9, 2014
Postmedia 1QFY2014: “The largest contributor to revenue declines in the first quarter was classified print advertising which was down 24%.”
— matthew braga (@mattbraga) January 9, 2014
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Driftpile First Nation To Enbridge: Who? Us?
Phony signatures on Enbridge's list of First Nations who've expressed support for the Northern Gateway pipeline? The Driftpile First Nation is on the list, though they've gone to extensive lengths to express their opposition to the project. Naturally, they are curious as to how this might have occurred. And here, in another piece from APTN, we find out that about 20 BC FNs have signed "protocol agreements", and 20 more are "pending", of 138 FNs across B.C. From the sounds of it, some of these were signed ages ago...in 2005 or 2008 while the pipeline project was in its infancy. And some of them may be entirely bogus. So hardly a ringing endorsement from B.C.s aboriginal community.
Monday, January 06, 2014
Speaking Of Losing Your Lawyer: Mark Steyn Has Lost His in Mann v. National Review
A print-screen from a recently filed motion (its only two pages long):
One can only speculate. But Steyn has, as Ezra Levant sometimes does, kept up with the abuse after proceedings have been launched against him. For example last week on his N.R. blog. Lawyers don't like it when you make their job defending you more difficult by playing an asshole on the Internet.
So it might have something to do with that.
Some background here.
One can only speculate. But Steyn has, as Ezra Levant sometimes does, kept up with the abuse after proceedings have been launched against him. For example last week on his N.R. blog. Lawyers don't like it when you make their job defending you more difficult by playing an asshole on the Internet.
So it might have something to do with that.
Some background here.
Ezra Manouvers
From Joe Brean's twitter feed, the rumours are confirmed:
O yea, O yea, O yea, court is in session. First up, motion to adjourn. At this rate, we'll hear opening statements next year.
— Joseph Brean (@JosephBrean) January 6, 2014
Ezra Levant has been trying to get a new lawyer since October. Christopher Ashby, his lawyer of record, is beside him. No explanation.
— Joseph Brean (@JosephBrean) January 6, 2014
Khurrum Awan opposes the adjournment. Judge says he has "significant justification" to throw away his costs.
— Joseph Brean (@JosephBrean) January 6, 2014
Brian Shiller says his client Mr. Awan "vigorously opposes" adjournment. "We were ready to go [last fall]," he said. Ready again now.
— Joseph Brean (@JosephBrean) January 6, 2014
Same nonsense Ezra tried in Vigna v. Levant. Lets hope the judge doesn't allow it.
Update: Crap, he did! But he seems to dinged The Ez for some dough:
Update: Crap, he did! But he seems to dinged The Ez for some dough:
Levant trial adjourned to March 3. Cost him a few bucks. Iain MacKinnon, known for media work in the Rob Ford follies, is his new counsel.
— Joseph Brean (@JosephBrean) January 6, 2014
Sunday, January 05, 2014
Craig Chandler Asked To Run For Alberta PCs?
He says he's been:
From here. A weird smell to this. Alison Redford won last time by rejecting teh crazies. Can't see her embracing them any time soon.
PS. Here's my entire Craig Chandler file.
Ezra Levant, His Future
Friday, January 03, 2014
Searching The Internet For Time Travellers
From the abstract:
Abstract. Time travel has captured the public imagination for much of the past century, but little has been done to actually search for time travelers. Here, three implementations of Internet searches for time travelers are described, all seeking a prescient mention of information not previously available. The first search covered prescient content placed on the Internet, highlighted by a comprehensive search for specific terms in tweets on Twitter. The second search examined prescient inquiries submitted to a search engine, highlighted by a comprehensive search for specific search terms submitted to a popular astronomy web site. The third search involved a request for a direct Internet
communication, either by email or tweet, pre-dating to the time of the inquiry. Given
practical verifiability concerns, only time travelers from the future were investigated. No
time travelers were discovered.
Here's one example of a search term they thought might be sufficiently unique to reveal prescient knowledge (and therefore indicate a time traveler from the future):
On 2013 March 16, the newly elected pope of the Catholic Church, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, chose the
official name of Francis. Bergoglio is the first pope ever to choose the name Francis. Therefore, the term "Pope Francis" is relatively unique and came into the public lexicon during our search period. Since Christianity is currently the most popular religion on Earth, Roman Catholics comprise the largest sect of Christianity [20], and papal histories are well recorded, it seems reasonable to assume that "Pope Francis" would remain memorable well into the future. Before 2013 March, however, there is little reason for anyone without prescient information to mention a "Pope Francis". Discussions or even mentions on the Internet of Pope Francis before 2013 March were therefore searched for as potentially prescient evidence of time travelers from the future.
But, again, nothing.
On the other hand, as they say, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. If you're sitting around bored at work today and want to do some research that could overturn all of physics, you might consider throwing an hour or two at the problem.
Abstract. Time travel has captured the public imagination for much of the past century, but little has been done to actually search for time travelers. Here, three implementations of Internet searches for time travelers are described, all seeking a prescient mention of information not previously available. The first search covered prescient content placed on the Internet, highlighted by a comprehensive search for specific terms in tweets on Twitter. The second search examined prescient inquiries submitted to a search engine, highlighted by a comprehensive search for specific search terms submitted to a popular astronomy web site. The third search involved a request for a direct Internet
communication, either by email or tweet, pre-dating to the time of the inquiry. Given
practical verifiability concerns, only time travelers from the future were investigated. No
time travelers were discovered.
Here's one example of a search term they thought might be sufficiently unique to reveal prescient knowledge (and therefore indicate a time traveler from the future):
On 2013 March 16, the newly elected pope of the Catholic Church, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, chose the
official name of Francis. Bergoglio is the first pope ever to choose the name Francis. Therefore, the term "Pope Francis" is relatively unique and came into the public lexicon during our search period. Since Christianity is currently the most popular religion on Earth, Roman Catholics comprise the largest sect of Christianity [20], and papal histories are well recorded, it seems reasonable to assume that "Pope Francis" would remain memorable well into the future. Before 2013 March, however, there is little reason for anyone without prescient information to mention a "Pope Francis". Discussions or even mentions on the Internet of Pope Francis before 2013 March were therefore searched for as potentially prescient evidence of time travelers from the future.
But, again, nothing.
On the other hand, as they say, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. If you're sitting around bored at work today and want to do some research that could overturn all of physics, you might consider throwing an hour or two at the problem.
Wednesday, January 01, 2014
Ezra Deletes
Before he deleted them like a coward, here's everything @ezralevant tweeted about Christopher Peloso: http://t.co/N6K6Mb6y4t #topoliPretty loathsome stuff, as per usual with The Ez. Thing to remember is Ezra don't delete unless someone tells him to. Like boss Kory Teneyke, or a Sun News lawyer.
— Ian MacIntyre (@MrIanMacIntyre) December 31, 2013
PS. It appears as though not all of Ezra's tweets on this topic were deleted. You can still view most of them in all their shameless, no-class awfulness on his original twitter feed.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Getting Ready For 2014
Friday, December 27, 2013
How Many Anti-Wind Activists In Ontario?
They can usually bring numbers in the low hundreds to their big protests, but the hard core appears to be much smaller. From a recent Environmental Review Tribunal hearing:
When asked, Palmer said he was a party to the appeal against the Enbridge Wind development in Kincardine in 2007.
"I was an appellant," said Palmer. "I was one of 37, three of which maintained full party status, while the rest were represented by one person."
"Many of those people became members of Wind Concerns Ontario?" asked Meuleman.
So the WCO core was about three dozen people. This is interesting in light of the public response to the Grand Valley Wind Farms Inc. project in East Luther Grand Valley, back in 2012:
A total of 89 comments were received in response to this Environmental Registry notice. Forty-eight responses were form letters which objected to allowing a private developer to harm species at risk and questioned how such authorizations can be justified under the ESA.
As I noted at the time, it looks like the WCO provided that form-letter. Looks like pretty much their entire membership recopied that letter.
So: several dozen of the committed who can rally a couple of hundred to their big events. That's the extent of it, it seems.
When asked, Palmer said he was a party to the appeal against the Enbridge Wind development in Kincardine in 2007.
"I was an appellant," said Palmer. "I was one of 37, three of which maintained full party status, while the rest were represented by one person."
"Many of those people became members of Wind Concerns Ontario?" asked Meuleman.
So the WCO core was about three dozen people. This is interesting in light of the public response to the Grand Valley Wind Farms Inc. project in East Luther Grand Valley, back in 2012:
A total of 89 comments were received in response to this Environmental Registry notice. Forty-eight responses were form letters which objected to allowing a private developer to harm species at risk and questioned how such authorizations can be justified under the ESA.
As I noted at the time, it looks like the WCO provided that form-letter. Looks like pretty much their entire membership recopied that letter.
So: several dozen of the committed who can rally a couple of hundred to their big events. That's the extent of it, it seems.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Toronto Ice-storm, 2013: An Harrowing Eye Witness Account!
This post is reconstituted from notes that were originally written using the ash of a burnt-out candle, smudged onto an old shower curtain that my wife and I tore down and used as a blanket during the height of the blackout. Hopefully, they will aid historians in understanding the near-calamitous events of these last few days.
Sunday, December 22nd, 10 AM: The darkened face of my clock-radio alerts me to morning's portending danger. Soon after, my wife enters the bed-room and tells me the bad news. Our power is gone, and she's used all of the leftover hot water!
I brace grimly for the day ahead!
10:45 AM: Our fridge contents have gone bad overnight, so we must venture outside for sustenance. Down in the lobby, other building residents have gathered to swap information and tales of survival! One of them has been up and down to the underground several times during the course of the morning, listening to news on a car radio. Thus far, the lift's emergency power source has held out! She has not been trapped! Brave woman! And the guy I thought a weirdo at the last condo Board meeting turns out to be fairly decent. He explains that 250,000 customers without power means 1,000,000 people awakening to darkness. "Holy hell!" I think. "A million Torontonians inconvenienced! Talk about a disturbance in The Force! Margaret Atwood will probably write a whole damn book about this! Call it Survival or something along those lines."
We brave the outdoors, but McDonald's is closed. This day will clearly require desperate measures!
1:15 PM: A long, danger filled shuttle-bus journey takes us to The Pad Thai Palace downtown where we find a wireless connection, and check our emails and update our face-book statuses. What is the state of my mother-in-law's turkey, which we are supposed to eat on Xmas day? Has their freezer been secured? I don't want to get stuck with burgers. My Pad Thai, incidentally, is quite delicious, made especially piquant by the thought that this meal might be my last. Until tomorrow anyway. And as I eat I think of those less fortunate, for whom a meal and a warm apartment are luxuries beyond reach. Then my side of shrimp-puffs arrive and I find them a tad meager, and complain to my wife about it for the rest of the afternoon
6:20 PM: We sit in our car in the underground and desperately attempt to recharge my wife's cell-phone, but I have purchased the wrong model of car charger, and nearly set the phone ablaze when I plug it into the lighter. I near despair, and my wife advises me to think of the nicer things in life. I realize that the office munchies at work get better as Xmas nears, and that Monday's offerings will almost certainly include chicken wings and sausage rolls. Later, I go to sleep under a mountain of blankets, and dream of sausage rolls.
Monday, December 23rd, 1:45 AM: The power comes back, goes out 20 minutes later, comes back on permanently a half hour after that. It seems like our long ordeal is over.
8:45 AM: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! My office has been closed! A day of no real work and little finger foods has been destroyed! I am forced to purchase a cheese bun at Longos!
But there's an upside! I can go home and put on Pacific Rim, and watch Gipsy Danger punch it out with "Knifehead" for the 70th time. And I reminded again of the Spirit of Toronto, that combination of luck, pluck and the old Protestant Work Ethic that has always managed to get us though hard times, even a whole day without power in the middle of the first world. I am proud of my adopted city. We will rebuild, and probably do some replanting as well. The Leafs will miss the playoffs, and the Blue Jays, and The Raptors, and probably The Argos, but otherwise we shall once again stand tall on the world stage.
Sunday, December 22nd, 10 AM: The darkened face of my clock-radio alerts me to morning's portending danger. Soon after, my wife enters the bed-room and tells me the bad news. Our power is gone, and she's used all of the leftover hot water!
I brace grimly for the day ahead!
10:45 AM: Our fridge contents have gone bad overnight, so we must venture outside for sustenance. Down in the lobby, other building residents have gathered to swap information and tales of survival! One of them has been up and down to the underground several times during the course of the morning, listening to news on a car radio. Thus far, the lift's emergency power source has held out! She has not been trapped! Brave woman! And the guy I thought a weirdo at the last condo Board meeting turns out to be fairly decent. He explains that 250,000 customers without power means 1,000,000 people awakening to darkness. "Holy hell!" I think. "A million Torontonians inconvenienced! Talk about a disturbance in The Force! Margaret Atwood will probably write a whole damn book about this! Call it Survival or something along those lines."
We brave the outdoors, but McDonald's is closed. This day will clearly require desperate measures!
1:15 PM: A long, danger filled shuttle-bus journey takes us to The Pad Thai Palace downtown where we find a wireless connection, and check our emails and update our face-book statuses. What is the state of my mother-in-law's turkey, which we are supposed to eat on Xmas day? Has their freezer been secured? I don't want to get stuck with burgers. My Pad Thai, incidentally, is quite delicious, made especially piquant by the thought that this meal might be my last. Until tomorrow anyway. And as I eat I think of those less fortunate, for whom a meal and a warm apartment are luxuries beyond reach. Then my side of shrimp-puffs arrive and I find them a tad meager, and complain to my wife about it for the rest of the afternoon
6:20 PM: We sit in our car in the underground and desperately attempt to recharge my wife's cell-phone, but I have purchased the wrong model of car charger, and nearly set the phone ablaze when I plug it into the lighter. I near despair, and my wife advises me to think of the nicer things in life. I realize that the office munchies at work get better as Xmas nears, and that Monday's offerings will almost certainly include chicken wings and sausage rolls. Later, I go to sleep under a mountain of blankets, and dream of sausage rolls.
Monday, December 23rd, 1:45 AM: The power comes back, goes out 20 minutes later, comes back on permanently a half hour after that. It seems like our long ordeal is over.
8:45 AM: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! My office has been closed! A day of no real work and little finger foods has been destroyed! I am forced to purchase a cheese bun at Longos!
But there's an upside! I can go home and put on Pacific Rim, and watch Gipsy Danger punch it out with "Knifehead" for the 70th time. And I reminded again of the Spirit of Toronto, that combination of luck, pluck and the old Protestant Work Ethic that has always managed to get us though hard times, even a whole day without power in the middle of the first world. I am proud of my adopted city. We will rebuild, and probably do some replanting as well. The Leafs will miss the playoffs, and the Blue Jays, and The Raptors, and probably The Argos, but otherwise we shall once again stand tall on the world stage.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Heatless In Scarberia
Not right now, though. Wife and I came downtown looking for power sources, Internet access, and food. Pretty much everything between Markham Road and VP is dark, but for a few pockets around Scarborough General and the VP subway station. Fallen trees everywhere. Passed a little pet-shop while riding the bus. All those poor fish have frozen by now, if they didn't asphyxiate when the aerators stopped. And I hate to think of the budgies and parrots and etc. sitting in their cages in the cold and dark.
A kid we met waiting for the bus said he witnessed a transformer station explode and go up in flames early this morning. He said it was as though a lightning bolt came down out of the sky, and then sparks filled the air, Personally, I slept through all of that.
Next few days will be interesting if, as they are saying, power remains off. Our food's out on the balcony, but has probably gone bad anyway. The beer should be OK, although it poses a bit of a conundrum: left on the balcony it freezes, kept in and its on the warm side. Oh well, at least there's lots of it. If the local Metro has back-up generators they might hold out, but otherwise all their fresh food will have to be tossed and they probably won't restock until after Xmas. Eating over the next couple of days will be a challenge.
The backup generator in our building is supposed to last for 50 hours, and then the elevators stop working and you can't get your car out of the underground. As for phone and Internet access, somebody ignored all the warnings about power outages and forgot to charge her cell yesterday. And is now desperately hunting around for a car charger.
Anyway, keep safe fellow T.O. residents. And remember, there's worse things: you could be in Lethbridge.
A kid we met waiting for the bus said he witnessed a transformer station explode and go up in flames early this morning. He said it was as though a lightning bolt came down out of the sky, and then sparks filled the air, Personally, I slept through all of that.
Next few days will be interesting if, as they are saying, power remains off. Our food's out on the balcony, but has probably gone bad anyway. The beer should be OK, although it poses a bit of a conundrum: left on the balcony it freezes, kept in and its on the warm side. Oh well, at least there's lots of it. If the local Metro has back-up generators they might hold out, but otherwise all their fresh food will have to be tossed and they probably won't restock until after Xmas. Eating over the next couple of days will be a challenge.
The backup generator in our building is supposed to last for 50 hours, and then the elevators stop working and you can't get your car out of the underground. As for phone and Internet access, somebody ignored all the warnings about power outages and forgot to charge her cell yesterday. And is now desperately hunting around for a car charger.
Anyway, keep safe fellow T.O. residents. And remember, there's worse things: you could be in Lethbridge.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
A Nice Xmas Card I Recieved Today, Of A Famous House
Friday, December 20, 2013
A Brief Post On The State Of Northern Gateway
Roger Kingkdade is host of Kingkade & Kelly on News Talk 770 in Calgary:
Come get some, tar cowboy.
PS. NEP = National Energy Program.
PS. NEP = National Energy Program.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Andrew Coyne: The Case For Heartlessness
After coming to the aid of James Moore when the Industry Minister displayed his rabid child eating hating tendencies, Andrew is working up a new column in defense of Canada Post's Deepak Chopra, another Harper appointee, who stated recently that that seniors would welcome the exercise brought about by the discontinuation of door-to-door mail service and the introduction of community mailboxes.
I have recieved a copy of the first draft of Andrew's column, which I reproduce below without comment:
We can argue about the causes and about whether it is a worthy metric, but it is at least worth noting that 76% of seniors in Canada today own at least one gold encrusted walker with an attached jet pack. It is beyond question that we are dealing with a segment of the Canadian civitas that is swathed in decades of nanny-state entitlement, and which desperately needs to be disrobed before the cold winds of Economic Reality.
This is not to advocate any sort of truly radical solution. For example, melting the old down into Soylent Green, which could then be redistributed through the back window of our limosines as a form of edible, if sticky, coinage to those indigent laborors who will later be shipped off to work in the Alberta Tar Mines or wherever required by the iron necessities of Neo-Liberteranian Theory, would strain the social consensus of the day. Nevertheless, any initiative that can liberate the "stranded labour" of our elderly, now wasted in the form of trips to Florida and summer evenings spent on the porch "whittling", should not be dismissed out of hand.
In fact, as we near Xmas I would suggest that we owe both Mr. Moore and Mr. Chopra a hearty thanks, for they have brought us the gift of Economic Clarity. I am reminded of that touching scene in "A Christmas Story" where the venerable Scrooge whips that cripple with his belt: "More? You want MORE? While more you shall get, ingrate!" And then: Smack! Smack! SMACK SMACK SMACK!!! Smack...Smack!!...SMACK SMACK!!!!
I funny thing is, I kind of agree with Coyne on this issue.
I have recieved a copy of the first draft of Andrew's column, which I reproduce below without comment:
We can argue about the causes and about whether it is a worthy metric, but it is at least worth noting that 76% of seniors in Canada today own at least one gold encrusted walker with an attached jet pack. It is beyond question that we are dealing with a segment of the Canadian civitas that is swathed in decades of nanny-state entitlement, and which desperately needs to be disrobed before the cold winds of Economic Reality.
This is not to advocate any sort of truly radical solution. For example, melting the old down into Soylent Green, which could then be redistributed through the back window of our limosines as a form of edible, if sticky, coinage to those indigent laborors who will later be shipped off to work in the Alberta Tar Mines or wherever required by the iron necessities of Neo-Liberteranian Theory, would strain the social consensus of the day. Nevertheless, any initiative that can liberate the "stranded labour" of our elderly, now wasted in the form of trips to Florida and summer evenings spent on the porch "whittling", should not be dismissed out of hand.
In fact, as we near Xmas I would suggest that we owe both Mr. Moore and Mr. Chopra a hearty thanks, for they have brought us the gift of Economic Clarity. I am reminded of that touching scene in "A Christmas Story" where the venerable Scrooge whips that cripple with his belt: "More? You want MORE? While more you shall get, ingrate!" And then: Smack! Smack! SMACK SMACK SMACK!!! Smack...Smack!!...SMACK SMACK!!!!
I funny thing is, I kind of agree with Coyne on this issue.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Tories On Dope
Justice Minister Peter MacKay is hinting that the government might take steps to "modernize" Canada's marijuana laws:
Fining pot smokers for possession of small amounts is one policy the government will likely consider.
"That doesn't mean decriminalizing or legalizing, but it does mean giving police options, for example, to issue fines in addition to any other sanctions, or as a substitute for other sanctions," MacKay told QMI Agency. "These are things that we are willing to look at in the new year, but there's been no decision taken."
Looks OK. In fact, looks like Justin may be dragging the CPC left on this issue. Not so fast, says Ottawa Citizen columnist Dan Gardner:
Looks better when you click on image.
So, maybe a bad idea. Although on the other hand, as noted above, it looks as through the CPC thinks it has to play on Justin's field. I'd suggest this means that JT's proposals on the issue are resonating a bit among the general populace.
Fining pot smokers for possession of small amounts is one policy the government will likely consider.
"That doesn't mean decriminalizing or legalizing, but it does mean giving police options, for example, to issue fines in addition to any other sanctions, or as a substitute for other sanctions," MacKay told QMI Agency. "These are things that we are willing to look at in the new year, but there's been no decision taken."
Looks OK. In fact, looks like Justin may be dragging the CPC left on this issue. Not so fast, says Ottawa Citizen columnist Dan Gardner:
Keeping pot possession a crime but adding ticket option = major net-widening. Absurd to call it “softening.” http://t.co/soCU6fA0q1
— Dan Gardner (@dgardner) December 18, 2013
Why net-widening? Many now let off with warning because cop thinks charge is too severe will get a ticket. ie. more punishment, not less.I asked after this, and the following exchange ensued:
— Dan Gardner (@dgardner) December 18, 2013
So, maybe a bad idea. Although on the other hand, as noted above, it looks as through the CPC thinks it has to play on Justin's field. I'd suggest this means that JT's proposals on the issue are resonating a bit among the general populace.
Sun Media Getting Out Of Media Business?
Not quite, but they're selling a few weeklies out in Haliburton:
Haliburton-based company Maple Key Media has announced its acquisition of the Haliburton Echo, Minden Times, Bancroft This Week, and Barry’s Bay This Week from Sun Media. It has also purchased The Highlander Newspaper.
Must be nice to be out from under the thumb of PKP.
H/T
Haliburton-based company Maple Key Media has announced its acquisition of the Haliburton Echo, Minden Times, Bancroft This Week, and Barry’s Bay This Week from Sun Media. It has also purchased The Highlander Newspaper.
Must be nice to be out from under the thumb of PKP.
H/T
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
Kinder Morgan Pipeline: Might Be A Little Problem With That
Seventy-three per cent of the proposed new routing will follow existing rights-of-way. About 980 kilometres of new pipe would need to be constructed.
According to my calculations, Kinder Morgan will have to buy or otherwise gain access to a strip of land 311 klicks long (about 186 miles) and probably about 25/50 meters wide, if Keystone XL is any guide. I've written earlier that the chances of this project happening vary inversely with the amount of new right-of-way Kinder Morgan needs to get hold of. I would suggest that those chances have fallen somewhat.
A Couple Of Polls On CDN Pipelines
From Forum, so FWIW:
A bit surprising, or at least other polls in B.C. have shown support for NG drifting upward. And, nterestingly enough, opposition to the Keystone XL line is and remains much higher in Canada than in The United States.
A bit surprising, or at least other polls in B.C. have shown support for NG drifting upward. And, nterestingly enough, opposition to the Keystone XL line is and remains much higher in Canada than in The United States.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
CPC Minister James Moore Talks Poverty...And Pizza
looks good! “@AbelardoGD: I wonder what Minister @JamesMoore_org thinks about his pizza at the Parliament Pub. pic.twitter.com/ctm9adD4Zt”
— James Moore (@JamesMoore_org) September 27, 2013
James Moore, Xmastime 2013:“Is it my job to feed my neighbour’s child? I don’t think so.”
PS. If James Moore ever missed a meal in his entire life, please let me know.
Lauten On Dale Vs. Ford
A good piece, especially where he discusses what sounds like it will be Ford's line of defense:
A further distinction without a difference is the suggestion that in speaking with Black Ford was merely "reliving the moment" when he confronted Dale and expressing what he was thinking at the time. The facts as found by the police don't support Ford in his belief that Dale had taken any photos of Ford's children, so it was not a reasonable belief to being with.
It is hard to see how it is any better for a slander action for Ford to say that it was at the time of the confrontation he thought Dale was a pedophile, and in his interview with Black he was just recalling it without saying he no longer believed it to be true. Ford has never apologised for such a mistaken belief and has now repeated it and says that he stands by it. To say that he was merely repeating what he was thinking at some time in the past doesn't excuse a present slander if he leaves the door open for his audience to think he hasn't changed his mind.
IANAL but I think Dale has damaged his own case by rattling on about it again and again in The Star. WK says it here. Put another way, you either try to win in court, or in the court of public opinion, but not both. Judges don't like you using their courtroom as a means of pursuing your extracurricular activities. Which is to say they just might agree with the Fords that this whole spat is "all about selling newspapers".
A further distinction without a difference is the suggestion that in speaking with Black Ford was merely "reliving the moment" when he confronted Dale and expressing what he was thinking at the time. The facts as found by the police don't support Ford in his belief that Dale had taken any photos of Ford's children, so it was not a reasonable belief to being with.
It is hard to see how it is any better for a slander action for Ford to say that it was at the time of the confrontation he thought Dale was a pedophile, and in his interview with Black he was just recalling it without saying he no longer believed it to be true. Ford has never apologised for such a mistaken belief and has now repeated it and says that he stands by it. To say that he was merely repeating what he was thinking at some time in the past doesn't excuse a present slander if he leaves the door open for his audience to think he hasn't changed his mind.
IANAL but I think Dale has damaged his own case by rattling on about it again and again in The Star. WK says it here. Put another way, you either try to win in court, or in the court of public opinion, but not both. Judges don't like you using their courtroom as a means of pursuing your extracurricular activities. Which is to say they just might agree with the Fords that this whole spat is "all about selling newspapers".
A Brief Note: Winter Storm, December 2013
Passed what must have been one of the city yards where they keep their snow-plow fleet early Friday morning before it all started. With the plows testing their engines and lights, the flashing red, blue and white looked like Toronto's biggest Xmas tree.
Also, why does Markham do so much better at clearing its streets? Steeles is like a border between plowed and un-plowed territory. Even quiet side-streets like Denison are in better shape than the corner of Markham and Ellesmere.
Also, why does Markham do so much better at clearing its streets? Steeles is like a border between plowed and un-plowed territory. Even quiet side-streets like Denison are in better shape than the corner of Markham and Ellesmere.
Friday, December 13, 2013
History Of Paranormal Research In Russia And The Soviet Union: 1917 To Present
Unconventional research in USSR and Russia: short overview is a fascinating document. I've just excerpted bits below and added a few comments. Of course the Americans did this kind "research", so you would expect the Russians did as well. I didn't know they were up to it this early, however:
In any case, one of the things that first made me love the Internet was Jessica Utts analysis of the Stargate Program . It was made available as a downloadable document, charts and tables and all, and it made me think that the on-line would become a repository of secret knowledge. A library of magic, perhaps. In the end it it turned out to be a repository of hardcore porn, but for a brief moment...
No further work was done until the beginning of the Cold War:
Most of the recent research is considered pseudo-scientific in The West. And indeed it seems as though a good deal of modern day pseudo-scientific beliefs originated behind the Iron Curtain. Some of us are old enough to remember "pyramid power" from the 1970s. Interestingly enough:
And indeed we see that research on like topics continued even into the new millenium:
Bruce Hyer Is A Bad...BAD...BOY!!!
...has infected the entire party, a party run in better days by the man they called "Happy Jack".
PS. Congrats Green Party of Canada. You are clearly on the march.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Ostrander Point Update
Gilead Power Corporation's Ostrander Point Wind Project was the first one to be rejected on appeal by the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT). This was not due to human health issues, or worries about the effects of nine proposed turbines on migratory birds, though the project is located near an Important Bird Area (IBA). No. It was due to the presence on site of a population of humble Blanding's Turtles:
...the problem lay with a road network that would have been built in order to construct and maintain [the project]. This network would have been smack dab in the middle of the turtle's habitat; the beasts would have been forced to cross these roads on multiple occasions and at multiple points during their life cycle. Since the network would have been publicly accessible, more ATV and other traffic would have been drawn to the area. Furthermore, available mitigation measures were judged ineffective. Nobody obeys road signs, for example. And culverts where the turtles might safely cross under the road depend on the species having crossing "hot spots"--preferred road crossing points--where these devices might be installed. Unfortunately, Blanding's Turtles do not use their habitat in the appropriate manner.
Gilead Power has appealed the rejection, making what I thought were some rather weak arguments. However, now they are proposing some extra measures to protect the turtles:
On January 20 the developer will seek to present new evidence to the appeal hearing. Specifically it will ask the court to consider a plan to erect a series of gates securing access to the road network it wants to build on Crown land at Ostrander Point.
“Restricting public access to the access roads would also provide enhanced protection for wildlife, including species at risk, from traffic mortality,” wrote Mike Lord to the Ontario Ministry of Resources (MNR) in August.
In September a MNR official agreed it would issue a lease of the Crown land to the developer to enable it to build the fence, pending the approval of the project. The MNR also sought a “Project Access and Control Plan” for the access roads. That plan calls for six double swing gates to be erected at key points, one at the entrance and at five other locations where preexisting trails intersect with the proposed access road. The gates would be locked from May 1 to October 15. Gilead staff will monitor and enforce access restrictions.
I'm not sure this will do the trick. It sounds from a cursory read that off-road vehicles coming from local trails will be able to avoid the gates and abuse the project's access roads, although Gilead Power staff will be monitoring the area. Important to note, however, that the danger is not from the turbines themselves but from local Oiks and their ATVs.
...the problem lay with a road network that would have been built in order to construct and maintain [the project]. This network would have been smack dab in the middle of the turtle's habitat; the beasts would have been forced to cross these roads on multiple occasions and at multiple points during their life cycle. Since the network would have been publicly accessible, more ATV and other traffic would have been drawn to the area. Furthermore, available mitigation measures were judged ineffective. Nobody obeys road signs, for example. And culverts where the turtles might safely cross under the road depend on the species having crossing "hot spots"--preferred road crossing points--where these devices might be installed. Unfortunately, Blanding's Turtles do not use their habitat in the appropriate manner.
Gilead Power has appealed the rejection, making what I thought were some rather weak arguments. However, now they are proposing some extra measures to protect the turtles:
On January 20 the developer will seek to present new evidence to the appeal hearing. Specifically it will ask the court to consider a plan to erect a series of gates securing access to the road network it wants to build on Crown land at Ostrander Point.
“Restricting public access to the access roads would also provide enhanced protection for wildlife, including species at risk, from traffic mortality,” wrote Mike Lord to the Ontario Ministry of Resources (MNR) in August.
In September a MNR official agreed it would issue a lease of the Crown land to the developer to enable it to build the fence, pending the approval of the project. The MNR also sought a “Project Access and Control Plan” for the access roads. That plan calls for six double swing gates to be erected at key points, one at the entrance and at five other locations where preexisting trails intersect with the proposed access road. The gates would be locked from May 1 to October 15. Gilead staff will monitor and enforce access restrictions.
I'm not sure this will do the trick. It sounds from a cursory read that off-road vehicles coming from local trails will be able to avoid the gates and abuse the project's access roads, although Gilead Power staff will be monitoring the area. Important to note, however, that the danger is not from the turbines themselves but from local Oiks and their ATVs.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
OHRT Reform: Randy Hillier Comes Back Small
From his website:
Randy Hillier, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, introduced a Bill to reform Human Rights Tribunals in Ontario. This Bill would allow the awarding of costs to the defendants in a Human Rights Tribunal if their defense is successful. Currently only plaintiffs are awarded costs. This is inconsistent with all other courts.
Not necessarily a bad idea, though I think the last two statements are incorrect. Or at least I'm pretty sure that the B.C. tribunal has ordered costs to the defendant, though I can't find the link, and I'm not entirely sure the OHRT is prevented from doing so. More important, however, is how far Hillier has come in the past four years. When he ran for PCPO leader he was going to abolish the Tribunal, which inspired a whole orgy of stupidity from the other potentials, including current leader Tim Hudak prior to the 2011 vote. Years of touting an unpopular cause seem to have evolved Randy towards something approaching civilized thinking, at least on this issue. Good news, I suppose.
Randy Hillier, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, introduced a Bill to reform Human Rights Tribunals in Ontario. This Bill would allow the awarding of costs to the defendants in a Human Rights Tribunal if their defense is successful. Currently only plaintiffs are awarded costs. This is inconsistent with all other courts.
Not necessarily a bad idea, though I think the last two statements are incorrect. Or at least I'm pretty sure that the B.C. tribunal has ordered costs to the defendant, though I can't find the link, and I'm not entirely sure the OHRT is prevented from doing so. More important, however, is how far Hillier has come in the past four years. When he ran for PCPO leader he was going to abolish the Tribunal, which inspired a whole orgy of stupidity from the other potentials, including current leader Tim Hudak prior to the 2011 vote. Years of touting an unpopular cause seem to have evolved Randy towards something approaching civilized thinking, at least on this issue. Good news, I suppose.
Gimme Shelter: Bernie Farber On Church Sanctuary
From yesterday's G&M:
How is it possible that in Canada in 2013 “Sanctuary,” a medieval concept of Church protection, is still necessary? As we reflect on today, International Human Rights Day, we must also contemplate the fact that desperate, stateless people have come here with a hope that Canada would treat them fairly, would strive to understand the brutal circumstances which forced them to leave their homes and dream of being welcomed in a country with a once proud reputation for kindness and sensitivity. Instead they have had to go into hiding under the protection of a Church with the hope that compassion will in the end win out.
In other news, fans will be sad to note that Bernie will not be running in any Thornhill by-election. Also, as you can see from the Globe pic it looks like he's got a new 'stache. Very dapper.
PS. The site of JRAN, noted in the article, can be found here.
How is it possible that in Canada in 2013 “Sanctuary,” a medieval concept of Church protection, is still necessary? As we reflect on today, International Human Rights Day, we must also contemplate the fact that desperate, stateless people have come here with a hope that Canada would treat them fairly, would strive to understand the brutal circumstances which forced them to leave their homes and dream of being welcomed in a country with a once proud reputation for kindness and sensitivity. Instead they have had to go into hiding under the protection of a Church with the hope that compassion will in the end win out.
In other news, fans will be sad to note that Bernie will not be running in any Thornhill by-election. Also, as you can see from the Globe pic it looks like he's got a new 'stache. Very dapper.
PS. The site of JRAN, noted in the article, can be found here.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Shades Of Astroturf Campaigns Past
Before there was Working Canadians--its website, devoid of all personal touches that might make you think it was created by a real concerned citizen rather than a PR firm, can be found here--there was People for a Better Ontario, who appeared not long before the 2011 election call. Tristan Emmanuel, the guy who stole Neil Young's sideburns, did their PR work which, if I remember correctly, amounted to one single sad youtube clip that I can't find anymore. This effort looks far more polished. But all connected up the yin-yan with Tim Hudak's PCPO.
Monday, December 09, 2013
Tom Adams In Sun: Mostly Sane
There are bits of it I don't agree with. For instance, any fair reading of Ontario history would show that the province's dalliance with gas power predates the Green Energy Act, and wasn't a conspiracy to cover-up (or "backstop") the poor performance of its wind farms.
But most of it (meaning over half) is OK, even relatively informative. There are several bits that are particularly interesting, because they undermine the arguments anti-wind types, Adams among them, have made on previous occasions. For instance this:
Adams said the real effect of the wind and solar investments on bills has yet to sting ratepayers but will drive up prices over the next few years.
...which is to say that, Vic Fedeli aside, you can't really lay any serious portion of the recent increases to your power bill at the feet of wind energy (well, a little bit--wind & solar account for about three per cent of your total bill though that, as everyone admits, will rise in time).
And then there's this bit:
Ontario hydro ratepayers pay Bruce nuclear and solar and wind generators even if the power isn’t needed or used, he said.
Gas plants are a guaranteed a rate of return through a monthly stipend — even at times when the power they generate is not needed, he said.
Which is to say that the kind of deal arrangement that critics of wind power complain about (ie wind farms are paid to produce unneeded power) also exist between the government and all the province's other electricity producers. So why single out wind for special approbation?
But most of it (meaning over half) is OK, even relatively informative. There are several bits that are particularly interesting, because they undermine the arguments anti-wind types, Adams among them, have made on previous occasions. For instance this:
Adams said the real effect of the wind and solar investments on bills has yet to sting ratepayers but will drive up prices over the next few years.
...which is to say that, Vic Fedeli aside, you can't really lay any serious portion of the recent increases to your power bill at the feet of wind energy (well, a little bit--wind & solar account for about three per cent of your total bill though that, as everyone admits, will rise in time).
And then there's this bit:
Ontario hydro ratepayers pay Bruce nuclear and solar and wind generators even if the power isn’t needed or used, he said.
Gas plants are a guaranteed a rate of return through a monthly stipend — even at times when the power they generate is not needed, he said.
Which is to say that the kind of deal arrangement that critics of wind power complain about (ie wind farms are paid to produce unneeded power) also exist between the government and all the province's other electricity producers. So why single out wind for special approbation?
Sunday, December 08, 2013
The Future Of The Green Party Of Canada: Glory Or Oblivion?
The CDN Green Party is in tough these days. Some are suggesting they throw in the towel and throw their voters to the federal Liberals. But I can't say who exactly because I can't find the link. But believe me.
But I think that kind of thinking gets it backwards. The Green Party should continue to exist as an entity that attracts between five and ten per cent of the vote nationally so the big progressive parties have to fight for those votes, to offer them something. So if rogue NDPer Bruce Hyer goes GPC and doubles their numbers in HOC, and presumably provides a funding boost as well, then this is for the greater good.
That is all.
PS. If he goes LPC, then that's OK too.
But I think that kind of thinking gets it backwards. The Green Party should continue to exist as an entity that attracts between five and ten per cent of the vote nationally so the big progressive parties have to fight for those votes, to offer them something. So if rogue NDPer Bruce Hyer goes GPC and doubles their numbers in HOC, and presumably provides a funding boost as well, then this is for the greater good.
That is all.
PS. If he goes LPC, then that's OK too.
Saturday, December 07, 2013
Northern Gateway Set To Heat Up
The National Energy Board (NEB) report on the project is set to be released by month's end. All the media hoopla around the release will occur...wait for it...in Alberta, with B.C., the province through which most of the pipe-line will run, made a mere spectator. Assuming the NEB gives its approval, and Harper's cabinet signs off on the project, this issue will dominate B.C. politics up until the next federal election. Former government chief of staff Norman Spector gives a hint of the gathering mood:
“There are a lot of people in Alberta who think the federal government is going to bowl this pipeline through British Columbia. It isn’t going to happen, whatever the legal authority. It isn’t going to happen. They better wake up and smell the coffee.”
Recent polls appear to have shown a rise in support for the pipeline, but I suspect that's because it has fallen out of the headlines for awhile. Watch sentiment to turn negative as things heat up. And if the feds try to push this thing through, expect national unity problems out on the West Coast.
“There are a lot of people in Alberta who think the federal government is going to bowl this pipeline through British Columbia. It isn’t going to happen, whatever the legal authority. It isn’t going to happen. They better wake up and smell the coffee.”
Recent polls appear to have shown a rise in support for the pipeline, but I suspect that's because it has fallen out of the headlines for awhile. Watch sentiment to turn negative as things heat up. And if the feds try to push this thing through, expect national unity problems out on the West Coast.
Friday, December 06, 2013
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
The Reform Act: The Pro-Life View
Some quotes from a vvvvery interesting Lifesite piece:
Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition, said that while he saw positive aspects of the bill, it could hamstring a good leader from working towards pro-life-and-family legislation.
And, my favorite:
Though Chong is deemed “not supportable” by Campaign Life Coalition because of his support for abortion up to 20 weeks gestation, the bill could come as a boon to pro-life-and-family advocates seeking to run as candidates.
Outspoken pro-life advocates have a history of being rejected from the top as candidates for a riding.
In 2007 Conservative party brass in Ottawa cut off Heather Stilwell’s run for the Conservative nomination in a B.C. riding. Stilwell had launched her campaign prior despite warnings that the Conservative Party would not allow her to run due to her history as a prominent advocate for the right-to-life and the traditional family. The party’s decision was reversed days after LifeSiteNews.com broke the story.
Harper rejected the candidacy of outspoken social conservative John Pacheco, organizer of the 15,000-strong March for Marriage on Parliament Hill in 2005, during the Ottawa West nomination that same year in a move to protect the party’s preferred candidate John Baird, a staunch proponent of homosexual ‘marriage’.
Pacheco, an unflinching pro-life advocate who runs the blog Socon or Bust, welcomed the news of Chong’s bill.
“Since the political culture in Ottawa is firmly rooted in the culture of death, any structural change that lessens its grip and gives more influence and leverage to the pro-life movement and pro-life MPs is a good thing,” he told LifeSiteNews.com.
“Time and time again, whether it's abortion, gay ‘marriage’, or euthanasia, we see that the people are against these totalitarian and destructive ideologies, yet the political class and the power-brokers behind the scenes ram it through anyway.”
Pacheco sees the bill as benefiting the political effort to protect unborn life.
“It stands to reason that anything we can do to saturate government's power is a good thing for the pro-life movement. This measure and any others like it should be strongly backed by people who value family and life,” he said.
So, Andrew Coyne, whose totally hot for Chong's bill, doesn't have any truck with the worry that extremists might use The Reform Act to infiltrate and undermine mainstream political organizations and, well, bring in Reform Party-style legislative changes.
PS. Welcome back Flanders! Love you, crazy dude!
Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition, said that while he saw positive aspects of the bill, it could hamstring a good leader from working towards pro-life-and-family legislation.
And, my favorite:
Though Chong is deemed “not supportable” by Campaign Life Coalition because of his support for abortion up to 20 weeks gestation, the bill could come as a boon to pro-life-and-family advocates seeking to run as candidates.
Outspoken pro-life advocates have a history of being rejected from the top as candidates for a riding.
In 2007 Conservative party brass in Ottawa cut off Heather Stilwell’s run for the Conservative nomination in a B.C. riding. Stilwell had launched her campaign prior despite warnings that the Conservative Party would not allow her to run due to her history as a prominent advocate for the right-to-life and the traditional family. The party’s decision was reversed days after LifeSiteNews.com broke the story.
Harper rejected the candidacy of outspoken social conservative John Pacheco, organizer of the 15,000-strong March for Marriage on Parliament Hill in 2005, during the Ottawa West nomination that same year in a move to protect the party’s preferred candidate John Baird, a staunch proponent of homosexual ‘marriage’.
Pacheco, an unflinching pro-life advocate who runs the blog Socon or Bust, welcomed the news of Chong’s bill.
“Since the political culture in Ottawa is firmly rooted in the culture of death, any structural change that lessens its grip and gives more influence and leverage to the pro-life movement and pro-life MPs is a good thing,” he told LifeSiteNews.com.
“Time and time again, whether it's abortion, gay ‘marriage’, or euthanasia, we see that the people are against these totalitarian and destructive ideologies, yet the political class and the power-brokers behind the scenes ram it through anyway.”
Pacheco sees the bill as benefiting the political effort to protect unborn life.
“It stands to reason that anything we can do to saturate government's power is a good thing for the pro-life movement. This measure and any others like it should be strongly backed by people who value family and life,” he said.
So, Andrew Coyne, whose totally hot for Chong's bill, doesn't have any truck with the worry that extremists might use The Reform Act to infiltrate and undermine mainstream political organizations and, well, bring in Reform Party-style legislative changes.
@punditsguide All for debate. There are stronger arguments and weaker arguments. “Neo-Nazis will take over” = weaker.
— Andrew Coyne (@acoyne) December 4, 2013
But this may be because he doesn't think extremists will bother to even attempt a take-over. But now I think its obvious that they will bother. Perhaps this fact will cause Andrew to reconsider...PS. Welcome back Flanders! Love you, crazy dude!
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
Chong's Reform Act And The Physics Of Hot Potatoes
The official CPC talking points can be found below (they read better if you open them in a new tab):
...which seems like pretty tepid stuff from the party of CPC Iron Man Stephen Harper. I suspect, as this bill wends its way through the parliamentary process, that the CPC will find a means to make it disappear. If they don't, especially if Harper allows them to facilitate the process, then you have to wonder how invested he is in the post-2015 political world.
Monday, December 02, 2013
Elizabeth May Disinvited To Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) Fundraiser
This story has been churning for a week now. The CJPME disinvite tells it succinctly enough. For me the most important bit is:
May had accepted CJPME’s invitation to speak at its fundraiser earlier in the fall, and had not indicated any discomfort with CJPME’s policy focus on upholding international law in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Nevertheless, the Jewish Tribune article published November 19 – following an interview with May – quoted her as stating that CJPME maintained an “anti-Israel stance” that she wanted to distance herself from. CJPME immediately contacted May and asked her to correct the article if it misrepresented her stances. In response, May issued a statement on the Green Party website November 27th denying, among other things, that she had called CJPME “anti-Israel.” Nevertheless, two days later the Jewish Tribune published the full transcript and audio recording of the interview, which reveals that May’s “correction” was actually false.
The transcipt and audio in The Jewish Tribune can be found here. My first and second impressions are that the Trib and CJPME desscribe the situation correctly. May trashed CPJME in her original interview, then claimed she didn't. As for CPJME's stance re Israel, or at least the ones at issue, I have no particular problem with an individual/group boycotting a nation's products as a means of forcing them to alter their behavior, or even an individual/group's pressing their government to enact such a boycott. And as for the CJPME's "Disappearing Palestine" ad, well its tough talk, but the Trib is B'nai Brith's paper, and BB has in the past put out stuff that is far more inflammatory.
May had accepted CJPME’s invitation to speak at its fundraiser earlier in the fall, and had not indicated any discomfort with CJPME’s policy focus on upholding international law in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Nevertheless, the Jewish Tribune article published November 19 – following an interview with May – quoted her as stating that CJPME maintained an “anti-Israel stance” that she wanted to distance herself from. CJPME immediately contacted May and asked her to correct the article if it misrepresented her stances. In response, May issued a statement on the Green Party website November 27th denying, among other things, that she had called CJPME “anti-Israel.” Nevertheless, two days later the Jewish Tribune published the full transcript and audio recording of the interview, which reveals that May’s “correction” was actually false.
The transcipt and audio in The Jewish Tribune can be found here. My first and second impressions are that the Trib and CJPME desscribe the situation correctly. May trashed CPJME in her original interview, then claimed she didn't. As for CPJME's stance re Israel, or at least the ones at issue, I have no particular problem with an individual/group boycotting a nation's products as a means of forcing them to alter their behavior, or even an individual/group's pressing their government to enact such a boycott. And as for the CJPME's "Disappearing Palestine" ad, well its tough talk, but the Trib is B'nai Brith's paper, and BB has in the past put out stuff that is far more inflammatory.
Dan On Polling
Probably the best piece I've read on the Forum Polling cock-up in Manitoba:
Instead, what we’re dealing with appears to be flawed methodology. Bozinoff has admitted that some respondents may have been called for 3 consecutive polls, and that likely wouldn’t have happened unless the response rate was in the neighbourhood of 1% (typical for robo-polls, when you don’t do callbacks). Heck, Sunday being the Grey Cup, it may have been even lower. Sampling methodology only works if you assume survey respondents are similar to the public at large – otherwise, these polls are no more accurate than the “self selecting” click polls you see on websites, asking what you think of Miley Cyrus’ antics.
Read the whole thing, and next time you see a poll from Forum Research, just say to your self "Oh, that's just a poll from Forum Research!"
Instead, what we’re dealing with appears to be flawed methodology. Bozinoff has admitted that some respondents may have been called for 3 consecutive polls, and that likely wouldn’t have happened unless the response rate was in the neighbourhood of 1% (typical for robo-polls, when you don’t do callbacks). Heck, Sunday being the Grey Cup, it may have been even lower. Sampling methodology only works if you assume survey respondents are similar to the public at large – otherwise, these polls are no more accurate than the “self selecting” click polls you see on websites, asking what you think of Miley Cyrus’ antics.
Read the whole thing, and next time you see a poll from Forum Research, just say to your self "Oh, that's just a poll from Forum Research!"
Sunday, December 01, 2013
If A Gaffe Falls In The Forest, And No One Hears It Poll...
Nothing much to say about this Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey, other than that its obvious that Justin Trudeau's missteps have cost the LPC and he's in over his head and yada yada yada.
In other news I officially finished my Xmas shopping today. Fuck you frenzied world. I intend to sit around for the next month and get drunk.
In other news I officially finished my Xmas shopping today. Fuck you frenzied world. I intend to sit around for the next month and get drunk.
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