Monthly Archives: January 2010
Newswipe: S2E1
It seems I may be slacking a bit of late by not reloading these clips fast enough… I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I wish we had a media critic here in Canada to demolish our own homegrown TV … Continue reading
The Dark Heart of “Teabagging”
Al Jeezera English explores the troubling correlation between marginalized ideological extremists like “disenfranchised” neo-Nazi white supremacists and the angry populism of the “Tea Party” insurgency. It’s hard not to think that a powerful undercurrent of racism and bigotry doesn’t help … Continue reading
Filed under Racism, Right-Wing Haters, Wingnuts
7 Obnoxious Words & Phrases
I’m not a purist by any means in this regard; most certainly when it comes to nitpicking over what constitutes “proper” spelling or correct grammar (despite having a reputation as a “Nazi” when it comes to such things), but the … Continue reading
Filed under Education
How to Report the News
Charlie Brooker surgically dissects the routine conventions of mainstream media news reportage. Brooker’s savage show about the news media returns to BBC this month, about which he had this to say: “The return of Newswipe is both exciting and daunting, … Continue reading
Stephen Harper @ Davos
Ze Dear Leader appears on der Weltbühne in Davos, Switzerland (mit ein teleprompter!!!) after a lengtzy introductory monologue by Col. Klink. Update: CTV news coverage of the event and the sharp criticism Canada’s environmental policies by other world leaders.
Filed under Stephen Harper
Weird or Different?
Derek Sivers, the founder and former president of the independent music outlet CD Baby, illustrates the expression “There’s a flip side to everything.” It’s a valid point, but unfortunately one that’s inclined to engender false equivalences, or in the extreme, … Continue reading
Filed under Philosophy
Reconsidering Citizens United v. FEC
Allen Asch (aka “LiberalViewer”) presents a very cogent counter-argument to the widely held perception that the recent SCOTUS decision fundamentally corrupts democracy. I’m still not entirely convinced that the SCOTUS decision isn’t a perniciously harmful one — only time will … Continue reading
Filed under Legal Issues, SCOTUS
The Crux of the Matter
No, I’m not referring to that incredibly silly person, but rather, the failed Vice-Presidential candidate, pseudo author of her own biography and ex-half-term governor of Alaska who now finds herself embroiled in a dispute concerning her allegiance to the Tea … Continue reading
Filed under Republican Party
Why Are So Many Great Men Short?
Stephen Fry and the “QI” panel examine the aforementioned question. Although this common assertion is largely spurious, it’s still somewhat interesting to learn that many of the so-called “great men” of historical note were so diminutive, relatively speaking. For example, … Continue reading
J.D. Salinger: Surprisingly Dead
It was kind of an astonishing shock to learn that the reclusive author was a fairly awesome 91 yrs old when he gently passed on the other day of heart failure. More than a little existentially ironic that… “What I … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
