Category Archives: government

I want to PAY for my motorcycle accident

August 21, 2010 – 5:03 am

Coming from Canada, I’m still shocked at the number of Americans riding hogs without helmets. … Motorcycle helmets greatly reduce injuries and fatalities in motorcycle accidents, thus many countries have laws requiring acceptable helmets to be worn by motorcycle riders. These laws vary considerably, often exempting mopeds and other small-displacement bikes. In some countries, most [...]

By rickmc | Also posted in economics | Comments (2)

why a FREE MARKET won’t work

August 10, 2010 – 5:02 am

In response to Google and Verizon trying to circumvent FCC rules on Net Neutrality: The Economist: If companies always agreed with regulators’ rules, there would be no need for regulators. The very point of a regulator is to do things that companies don’t like, out of concern for the welfare of the market or the [...]

By rickmc | Also posted in Google, economics | Comments (0)

abolish nukes?

August 9, 2010 – 5:02 am

Climate Change is not my issue. I’m much more worried about nuclear annihilation. The US ambassador to Japan, John Roos, today became the first US representative to attend an annual ceremony to honour the victims of the bombing of Hiroshima. Roos’s presence at an event to mark 65 years since a US bomb left Hiroshima [...]

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breaking – politicians are lying scumbags

July 20, 2010 – 5:02 am

Who knew … Only those of us who live in tents and don’t drive vehicles can righteously criticize the Alberta oilsands. … Oops. Actually I own a vehicle now. Therefore I support the oilsands. Garth linked to an article in the Montreal Gazette criticizing their own Premier and other politicians for disingenuous grandstanding: Oil patch [...]

By rickmc | Also posted in economics | Comments (2)

The Green Zone – a review

July 19, 2010 – 5:01 am

This Matt Damon Hollywood blockbuster The Green Zone brings Iraq back to public interest. It details blunders made and deliberate lies told by some in the U.S. Government. Iraq’s been largely forgotten, I feel, as attention shifted to Afghanistan. This movie is timely. … The film was inspired by the non-fiction 2006 book Imperial Life [...]

By rickmc | Also posted in ethics, movies, product endorsements | Comments (0)

burqa to be banned in France

July 15, 2010 – 5:01 am

While France is the most wonderful nation on the planet, I find this trend disturbing. Paris, France (CNN) — France’s lower house of parliament Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a ban on any veils that cover the face — including the burqa, the full-body covering worn by some Muslim women. The vote was 335 to 1. The [...]

By rickmc | Also posted in Islam, ethics | Comments (1)

best political TV ad ever

June 26, 2010 – 5:01 am

Even the left wing Huffington Post loves this Republican commercial. … Dale Peterson may have finished third in the GOP primary for Alabama Agriculture Commissioner, but he’s not done being a YouTube star. With the race heading to a runoff between Dorman Grace and John McMillan, Peterson has returned to endorse McMillan in a new [...]

By rickmc | Also posted in humour, product endorsements | Comments (1)

speed bumps and speed dips

June 22, 2010 – 5:09 am

I’ve seen my share of “speed bumps” over the past few months, caught unawares by a few at too high velocity. They’ve got many names around the world including: speed hump, road hump, speed breaker, slow child, judder bar. My favourite: “Sleeping Policeman“. They do slow vehicles, but there are plenty of downsides, too. If [...]

By rickmc | Also posted in product complaints, product endorsements | Comments (0)

Sarah Palin defends Drill Baby Drill

June 17, 2010 – 6:53 am

“Drill, Baby, Drill!” was a 2008 Republican campaign slogan originally used at the 2008 Republican National Convention by former Maryland Lieutenant Governor, current RNC chairman Michael Steele. The slogan expressed support for increased drilling for petroleum as a source of additional energy. … Sarah Palin used it often during that campaign. I watched the vice-Presidential [...]

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Tiananmen Square, June 4th, 1989

June 4, 2010 – 5:49 am

No one understands better the importance of symbolic imagery than totalitarian governments. One day this photo will be revered in China. Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 – Wikipedia The Unknown Rebel – AP photographer Jeff Widener. A lone protester delayed the tanks for over half an hour.

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