On 7/31, police observed "unknown male" selling drugs. He and Lisi visited "the Animal Eye Clinic" and "the Doug Holyday campaign office."Well, maybe just a little
— Chris Selley (@cselley) October 31, 2013
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Ford Drug Scandal Engulfs Hudak Tories?
Blogging Tory Bites The Dust
The Canadian Forces has ordered a member of the military who is also president of the Ottawa South Conservative Association to resign immediately from that position and cease his political activities.
The move comes a day after the Citizen reported on the growing anger among former soldiers who accused Daniel Dickin of branding a prominent veterans advocate and his organization as “extreme” and a threat to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Some veterans and Citizen readers also questioned why Dickin was being allowed to post highly controversial and politically partisan writings while he is a serving military member. Dickin’s writings have attacked the NDP as well as Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who he called a “criminal” while praising Harper as “the Best PM we’ve ever had.”
Dicken has now made his blog invite only. You can still take a look inside at the older stuff if you use google cache. Meanwhile, he is still on the BT blog-roll. Stephen Taylor must be so proud.
The move comes a day after the Citizen reported on the growing anger among former soldiers who accused Daniel Dickin of branding a prominent veterans advocate and his organization as “extreme” and a threat to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Some veterans and Citizen readers also questioned why Dickin was being allowed to post highly controversial and politically partisan writings while he is a serving military member. Dickin’s writings have attacked the NDP as well as Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who he called a “criminal” while praising Harper as “the Best PM we’ve ever had.”
Dicken has now made his blog invite only. You can still take a look inside at the older stuff if you use google cache. Meanwhile, he is still on the BT blog-roll. Stephen Taylor must be so proud.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Jonathan Chait's Puzzling Defense Of Keystone XL
He writes:
Keystone is at best marginally relevant to the cause of stopping global warming. The whole crusade increasingly looks like a bizarre misallocation of political attention.
My view, which I laid out in a long feature story last spring, is that the central environmental issue of Obama’s presidency is not Keystone at all but using the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate existing power plants. That’s a tool Obama has that can bring American greenhouse gas emissions in line with international standards, and thus open the door to lead an international climate treaty in 2015. The amount of carbon emissions at stake in the EPA fight dwarf the stakes of the Keystone decision.
This is bizarre. The Obama administration has already committed to having the EPA regulate new and exiting power plants (starting with the easier and less controversial situation re new plants). Chait is asking the environmental movement to focus its attention on a battle that, for the time-being at least, they seem to have already won. What is the point of that? Why not look for new victories? Why not aim and for Keystone dead AND coal regulated into obsolescence?
Keystone is at best marginally relevant to the cause of stopping global warming. The whole crusade increasingly looks like a bizarre misallocation of political attention.
My view, which I laid out in a long feature story last spring, is that the central environmental issue of Obama’s presidency is not Keystone at all but using the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate existing power plants. That’s a tool Obama has that can bring American greenhouse gas emissions in line with international standards, and thus open the door to lead an international climate treaty in 2015. The amount of carbon emissions at stake in the EPA fight dwarf the stakes of the Keystone decision.
This is bizarre. The Obama administration has already committed to having the EPA regulate new and exiting power plants (starting with the easier and less controversial situation re new plants). Chait is asking the environmental movement to focus its attention on a battle that, for the time-being at least, they seem to have already won. What is the point of that? Why not look for new victories? Why not aim and for Keystone dead AND coal regulated into obsolescence?
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
The State Of Stand With Ezra
Update: In the comments, Dawg says the music is Turkish.
It's Just A Forum Poll, But...
TORONTO, OCTOBER 23, 2013 ‐ In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1859 Canadians 18 years of age and older, almost 4‐in‐10 would vote Liberal if an election were held today (39%), compared to just 3‐in‐10 who would support the Conservatives (30%). Fewer than a fifth would vote NDP (19%), and fewer than a tenth would opt for the Bloc Quebecois (7%), the Green Party (4%) or any other party (1%). These findings represent a widening of the gap between the two leading parties, from 5 points last month to 9 points this month. The Liberals are favoured by older voters (55 to 64 ‐ 45%), the least wealthy (43%) and the wealthy ($80K to $100K ‐ 43%), in the Atlantic provinces (56%), among the best educated (post grad ‐ 47%), non‐Christians (47%) and among those of non‐European ethnicity (48%). Of note, one third of those who voted NDP in the last election will vote Liberal this time (33%), as will just fewer than one fifth of past Conservative voters (17%)
Note that Justin pulls a lot from the 2011 NDP, and some from the 2011 CPC vote. SO he is able to fish in both ponds. Not sure how previous Forum polls chopped the numbers, but it also looks like the LPC might own the largest chunk of the "not born in Canada" vote, which they've been fighting for with the CPC over the past couple of years.
PS. This poll may have come out last week, but since I got nothin' else this morning, I will leave the post up.
Note that Justin pulls a lot from the 2011 NDP, and some from the 2011 CPC vote. SO he is able to fish in both ponds. Not sure how previous Forum polls chopped the numbers, but it also looks like the LPC might own the largest chunk of the "not born in Canada" vote, which they've been fighting for with the CPC over the past couple of years.
PS. This poll may have come out last week, but since I got nothin' else this morning, I will leave the post up.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Can't Argue With It
OTTAWA ― The Canadian Labour Congress says that a study released by the Fraser Institute, which attacks the pensions paid to men and women who provide public services to Canadians, is hypocritical.
“The Fraser Institute claims to be independent and non-partisan,” says CLC President Ken Georgetti. “But the Institute is well known for taking millions of dollars in contributions from right wing American think tanks and multinational corporations then producing studies that conveniently push their agenda. Who paid for this one, big oil, big pharmaceutical companies, tobacco companies, or the business leaders in Canada who regularly donate to the Conservative Party?”
Georgetti says that in 2011 Michael Walker, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute, was paid $424,000 funded by tax deductible, charitable donations. “At the same time, the Institute says that we can’t afford to pay a pension of $18,000 a year to retired public servants.”
My favorite fact about The Fraser Insitute is that until 2011 their editorial advisory board, which peer reviews their reports, was mostly dead.
“The Fraser Institute claims to be independent and non-partisan,” says CLC President Ken Georgetti. “But the Institute is well known for taking millions of dollars in contributions from right wing American think tanks and multinational corporations then producing studies that conveniently push their agenda. Who paid for this one, big oil, big pharmaceutical companies, tobacco companies, or the business leaders in Canada who regularly donate to the Conservative Party?”
Georgetti says that in 2011 Michael Walker, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute, was paid $424,000 funded by tax deductible, charitable donations. “At the same time, the Institute says that we can’t afford to pay a pension of $18,000 a year to retired public servants.”
My favorite fact about The Fraser Insitute is that until 2011 their editorial advisory board, which peer reviews their reports, was mostly dead.
On The Occasion Of The Death Of Mr. Lou Reed
I spent my teenage years lugging The Velvet's 1969 from house party to house party, trying to get someone to play it, but with little luck. Then in 1980 I met my buddy Dave. He was a few years older, and known as something of an intellectual; or at least he'd swiped The Anarchist's Cookbook from UVIC's library and was using it to make smoke bombs and home-brewed chloroform.
Dave had lucked out. He had managed to rent a small cabin on an acre of land right in the middle of down-town Langford. The previous owner had died, and Dave was promised the place until the developer finally decided what would happen to it. The property bordered a couple of strip-malls, so after closing you could play your stereo as loud as you wanted without attracting complaints or police attention. It was a great place to hang out. But the previous owner, an old eccentric, had killed himself by sealing up the windows and running his lawnmower in the living room until he passed out from the gas and asphyxiated. When Dave wanted you to know he was tired of you and it was time to leave, he'd bring out the same lawn-mower and fire it up until the last kid was off his property.
Anyway, one day I had him throw on this song from the album...
...and got him to open all the doors and windows, and then I herded everyone onto the roof, where we lay on our backs and stared up at a clear, moonless night. Pretty soon his house began vibrating in time with the guitars, and for ten minutes it seemed as though we were riding a giant space-ship, sailing just under the stars.
Later Dave decided that his life needed structure, and joined the armed forces. Last I heard (mid 80s) he was off to Kingston to work on computers for them.
Dave had lucked out. He had managed to rent a small cabin on an acre of land right in the middle of down-town Langford. The previous owner had died, and Dave was promised the place until the developer finally decided what would happen to it. The property bordered a couple of strip-malls, so after closing you could play your stereo as loud as you wanted without attracting complaints or police attention. It was a great place to hang out. But the previous owner, an old eccentric, had killed himself by sealing up the windows and running his lawnmower in the living room until he passed out from the gas and asphyxiated. When Dave wanted you to know he was tired of you and it was time to leave, he'd bring out the same lawn-mower and fire it up until the last kid was off his property.
Anyway, one day I had him throw on this song from the album...
...and got him to open all the doors and windows, and then I herded everyone onto the roof, where we lay on our backs and stared up at a clear, moonless night. Pretty soon his house began vibrating in time with the guitars, and for ten minutes it seemed as though we were riding a giant space-ship, sailing just under the stars.
Later Dave decided that his life needed structure, and joined the armed forces. Last I heard (mid 80s) he was off to Kingston to work on computers for them.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Justin On Keystone
People may have been surprised, but shouldn't have been. Justin's position on Keystone XL has been on record for awhile know. And though I personally oppose Keystone and all other pipelines out of Mordor, that is not a tenable stance for a politician looking to win seats in Alta. or Sask. Indeed, of the three pipelines currently under consideration, Keystone is the easiest to get behind because its fate is entirely out of Canadian hands. There's nothing that need to be done, or can be done at this point, but add a few cheers from the side-line. More bothersome to me is Justin's apparent support for the Trans Mountain line (through 2nd link above). But since there's no regulatory application even on the table yet for that one, presumably he will have time to change his mind.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Andrew Leach Lays Out The Odds
"We see Northern Gateway as the most vulnerable," Samir Kayande, vice-president at ITG Investments, said during a panel discussion on the Financial Post website this week. "[TransCanada's Corp.'s] Energy East and TMX [Kinder Morgan Inc.'s Trans Mountain] are most likely [with TMX benefiting from having built the loop through Jasper before the opposition to pipelines really built]," said Andrew Leach, associate professor at the University of Alberta, who participated in the discussion.
"Both have [at least partial] existing rights-of-way and so are starting from a better place....
This sounds about right to me. Note the modifier "at least partial" in front of rights-of-way. Particularly in the case of Trans Mountain, the ultimate odds of the line gong through depend heavily on how partial is partial. At the moment this is impossible to know, but there is some evidence that the line will breach the current right of way in more places than originally advertised. This means more land to be purchased, expropriated, or otherwise gained-access to so new pipe can be laid. More landowners to piss off, in other words. More legal difficulties, more potential blockades, more bad stuff in general if you are betting on the line.
"Both have [at least partial] existing rights-of-way and so are starting from a better place....
This sounds about right to me. Note the modifier "at least partial" in front of rights-of-way. Particularly in the case of Trans Mountain, the ultimate odds of the line gong through depend heavily on how partial is partial. At the moment this is impossible to know, but there is some evidence that the line will breach the current right of way in more places than originally advertised. This means more land to be purchased, expropriated, or otherwise gained-access to so new pipe can be laid. More landowners to piss off, in other words. More legal difficulties, more potential blockades, more bad stuff in general if you are betting on the line.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Warman Offers FreeD An Honorable Exit
Maybe the money they lost when he successfully sued them for defamation can be put to good use:
Update – 21 October – I have today offered to the defendants in the libel action below to donate all damages received after payment of my legal fees to children’s charities. The offer is conditional on them accepting the verdict of the jury they asked for, and any subsequent order of Justice Smith regarding the case. The offer is open for acceptance until Thursday, October 24th.
I guess will know after the end of today whether the Fourniers and co. want to drag this out any longer.
Update – 21 October – I have today offered to the defendants in the libel action below to donate all damages received after payment of my legal fees to children’s charities. The offer is conditional on them accepting the verdict of the jury they asked for, and any subsequent order of Justice Smith regarding the case. The offer is open for acceptance until Thursday, October 24th.
I guess will know after the end of today whether the Fourniers and co. want to drag this out any longer.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Canadian Broadcast Standards Council Dings Ezra Levant Again!
From the release:
The host of The Source, Ezra Levant, showed videoclips of a protest that had occurred outside the Sun’s Toronto office. The protestors objected to Sun Media’s coverage of the Idle No More movement. A few days later, Levant replayed the clips, saying that, following their initial broadcast, he had received information from viewers about who some of the protestors were. He identified one couple by their names, stating that they were “professional protestors” who had engaged in other protest activity.
The CBSC received a complaint from the identified woman, who asserted that she was not the person in the clip as she had not attended the Sun Media protest and had not even been in Toronto at the time. She also complained that Levant had tarnished her reputation and that of her husband by accusing them of being professional protestors and using the Aboriginal movement to cause a “ruckus”.
The CBSC’s National Specialty Services Panel concluded that Sun News Network breached Clause 6 of the CAB Code of Ethics for including inaccurate information in the talk show. Levant had acknowledged his error on the February 8 episode of The Source.
The actual decision can be found here. Its worth noting that Ezra didn't bother correcting himself until after the complaint was filed (not when the error was first pointed out).
I wrote about this one previously. From the original complaint:
Neither me nor my husband was even in the country when that protest took place, nor have we been anywhere near Toronto since Jan. 1 of this year. After writing Sun to tell them that the information that they aired was false, demanding an apology, Sun actually aired the program again!
There has to be some accountability. This is the just tip of the iceberg in terms of their racist, misleading, and at times outright false programming.
At the time, I contacted the complainant via email. They were considering legal action at the time, which I think meant another defamation suit; I don't know what has happened with that.
PS. I have an theory about who fed Ezra the false names in this case. Ez, baby, you shouldn't trust that pair with anything.
The host of The Source, Ezra Levant, showed videoclips of a protest that had occurred outside the Sun’s Toronto office. The protestors objected to Sun Media’s coverage of the Idle No More movement. A few days later, Levant replayed the clips, saying that, following their initial broadcast, he had received information from viewers about who some of the protestors were. He identified one couple by their names, stating that they were “professional protestors” who had engaged in other protest activity.
The CBSC received a complaint from the identified woman, who asserted that she was not the person in the clip as she had not attended the Sun Media protest and had not even been in Toronto at the time. She also complained that Levant had tarnished her reputation and that of her husband by accusing them of being professional protestors and using the Aboriginal movement to cause a “ruckus”.
The CBSC’s National Specialty Services Panel concluded that Sun News Network breached Clause 6 of the CAB Code of Ethics for including inaccurate information in the talk show. Levant had acknowledged his error on the February 8 episode of The Source.
The actual decision can be found here. Its worth noting that Ezra didn't bother correcting himself until after the complaint was filed (not when the error was first pointed out).
I wrote about this one previously. From the original complaint:
Neither me nor my husband was even in the country when that protest took place, nor have we been anywhere near Toronto since Jan. 1 of this year. After writing Sun to tell them that the information that they aired was false, demanding an apology, Sun actually aired the program again!
There has to be some accountability. This is the just tip of the iceberg in terms of their racist, misleading, and at times outright false programming.
At the time, I contacted the complainant via email. They were considering legal action at the time, which I think meant another defamation suit; I don't know what has happened with that.
PS. I have an theory about who fed Ezra the false names in this case. Ez, baby, you shouldn't trust that pair with anything.
For Mac Mayor Talks Global Warming: B.C. Is Sinking And Alta. Real Estate Is Going UP UP UP
Three-time mayor Melissa Blake on AGW:
“I’m a big believer that, yes, the climate is changing. If the climate goes up by two, three, four degrees in the future, we’re lucky to be here in Fort McMurray. We’re lucky not to be in California or BC. They’re going to fall in the ocean. In a place like this, we’re going to survive a lot better.”
You mean digging up bitumen is a good thing, because it will make Fort McMurray’s winters milder?
With a nervous laugh, she assents: “And that means my real estate becomes a very important asset in the future, so I’m not selling my house anytime soon.”
What sweet sentiments. I am sure the folks in B.C., though which Alberta oil must flow, will be very happy.
“I’m a big believer that, yes, the climate is changing. If the climate goes up by two, three, four degrees in the future, we’re lucky to be here in Fort McMurray. We’re lucky not to be in California or BC. They’re going to fall in the ocean. In a place like this, we’re going to survive a lot better.”
You mean digging up bitumen is a good thing, because it will make Fort McMurray’s winters milder?
With a nervous laugh, she assents: “And that means my real estate becomes a very important asset in the future, so I’m not selling my house anytime soon.”
What sweet sentiments. I am sure the folks in B.C., though which Alberta oil must flow, will be very happy.
Who Will Replace Stephen Harper?
When the history of Duffygate is written, I wonder if people will say look back and say Oh! So that's why Industry Minister James Moore's website looked so much like a campaign-for-leader site. Others have already speculated that he might be the Tory's next one, although no-one really saw the transition occurring before 2015. But now there's a real possibility that PM Harper may ride off into the sunset in the back of a police vehicle, and who knows maybe Mr. Moore saw it all coming? In any case, if Harper pulls a McGuinty, watching Moore and Kenney fight it out for the soul of the party would be terrifically entertaining.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
The Facebook More Crap Than Usual Today
"Some of the functionality is missing from Facebook this morning. You can't post, comment or like anything today."
The link is to \., which which now experience the BCLSB Effect, during which time they will receive a barely perceptible bump in traffic that will put no strain on their servers whatsoever.
The link is to \., which which now experience the BCLSB Effect, during which time they will receive a barely perceptible bump in traffic that will put no strain on their servers whatsoever.
Life In Scarborough Part Whatever +1: The State Of Coffee In Scarborough
Noticed today that the Coffee Time outlet next to Kennedy Avenue subway station had gone TU. It was obviously too upscale for this neighborhood. It's been replaced by a pimply white kid in a mesh-back cap sporting an LA Raiders logo on it who sells 8-balls of crack out his car window. I asked him for a double-double, and he offered to pop a cap in my ass. Somewhat confused, I declined the
offer. (*)
Such is life in Scarborough, sometimes.
(*) Based on a true story.
offer. (*)
Such is life in Scarborough, sometimes.
(*) Based on a true story.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Victory Or Valhalla!
The race is on in the federal ridings of Toronto-Centre, Provencher, Brandon-Souris and Bourassa.
A special shout-out to Rolf Dinsdale, once lead guitarist for SFH and a guy with what might only be described as a thing for hats. Good luck as LPC candidate out in Brandon-Souris, dude, because I don't think they'll let you back into town if you lose. Or even if you win, come to think of it.
And, just as a note to the LPC as an organization: throw it all at these by-elections, even where there is, based on recent trends, no hope. That's how you break through, by showing up and putting out even if you know you won't win. People take note, and appreciate. And next time maybe you do win.
PS. I've met Rolf a couple of times, and seen him play. He's a decent guy, and a decent guitar-player. As an MP, he would rule OK.
A special shout-out to Rolf Dinsdale, once lead guitarist for SFH and a guy with what might only be described as a thing for hats. Good luck as LPC candidate out in Brandon-Souris, dude, because I don't think they'll let you back into town if you lose. Or even if you win, come to think of it.
And, just as a note to the LPC as an organization: throw it all at these by-elections, even where there is, based on recent trends, no hope. That's how you break through, by showing up and putting out even if you know you won't win. People take note, and appreciate. And next time maybe you do win.
PS. I've met Rolf a couple of times, and seen him play. He's a decent guy, and a decent guitar-player. As an MP, he would rule OK.
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