Gender Failure: Highly readable, highly recommended
I got an advance copy of Gender Failure, by Ivan E. Coyote and Rae Spoon. It’s not quite available in the stores yet, but it’s coming soon and I urge…
D. Politics
Mayor Rob Ford: Way worse than Larry O’Brien
I’ve been riveted by the Rob Ford debacle, but I am conflicted about it. On the one hand, Rob Ford is – and always has been – a repugnant, pugnacious,…
Scandals within scandals!
This has been a crazy week for news in Canada! Scandals within scandals! Between the scandal about the prime minister’s office covering up Conservative Senator Mike Duffy’s expense scandal, the…
When words turn bad
The other day I was on a conference call and we were discussing which tags and keywords should be included in a collaborative online database. The terms “substance use” and…
Larry O’Brien’s ‘Book Lunch’
This was a present from GC. He took advantage of the special offer on Larry’s publisher’s website: SHIPPING FEE WAVED (sic) FOR THOSE WISHING TO PICK UP AT THE OTTAWA…
My visit to the seamy underbelly
At the harbour, outside my hotel So…I went to Vancouver for a whirlwind business trip. I arrived Wednesday afternoon and left Friday morning. I was working most of the time,…
I agree, somewhat, with Tom Flanagan
I have what I know will be a very unpopular opinion about a highly volatile subject. I should probably keep it to myself, but I feel compelled to share it.…
A day in the life
This is what my day looks like so far: 9:00-12:00 – all-staff meeting at work to do a SWOT analysis of the organization (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) 2:00-3:30 –…
I was wrong
I’m outraged that Rona Ambrose, Minister of State for the Status of Women in Canada, voted to re-open the abortion debate. The legal right to choose if and when to…
Happy Canada Day, Stephen Harper. Here’s 59 cents.
It’s hard to look at yourself objectively, but rightly or wrongly, I’ve always thought of Canadians as peaceful, fair, decent, thoughtful and compassionate people who respect diversity, care about social…
Safe injection sites: Treating people with addictions like they matter
Last October, the Supreme Court ruled that Insite, Vancouver’s safe injection site, could stay open despite the Harper Government’s objections. The arguments hinged on whether addiction was primarily a health…
I’m starting to wish I hadn’t joined the NDP
I can hardly wait until March 24th when all the NDP leadership candidates stop compaigning for my vote. My phone has been ringing off the hook with recorded messages from…
Last chance to join
I’ve pretty much always voted NDP, but now I’m an official card-carrying member. I signed up last week so I can help choose the next leader of the Official Opposition…
I love public outrage
Sometimes I feel bad about how hard it is to change the world. It seems that change for the worse happens so much more quickly and easily than change for…
The politically (and otherwise) incorrect former mayor
I see Larry O’Brien has apologized. At the official unveiling of his portrait at City Hall last night, he told a reporter he was sorry about the racial slur. Instead…
Larry O’Brien steps in it again
Our former mayor, Larry O’Brien, has managed to publicly disgrace himself once again. This time it was by being openly racist on his public Twitter account. David Reevely, of the…
Salvation Army goes on strike
Sixty unionized workers at the Salvation Army Booth Centre went on strike at 3:00 pm today. The Booth Centre provides emergency shelter and food to homeless men in Ottawa. PSAC…
Larry O’Brien endorses Ron Paul
Larry O’Brien has declared Ron Paul as his hope for President of the United States. He likes his economic policies, which include immediately balancing the budget while eliminating the Federal…
Sometimes I miss Larry O’Brien
The main drawback of Jim Watson being elected mayor of Ottawa is that we don’t have Larry O’Brien to kick around anymore. He was such an irresistible target. I don’t…
Happy Birthday to Me!
Here are a few things you can do to celebrate my birthday today! The Fabric Flea Market – at the Glebe Community Centre from 10:00 to 2:00. All proceeds go…