Category: government

Environment Minister Rona Ambrose on her way OUT

On By Rick McIn governmentLeave a comment

Rona_Ambrose1.jpgShe’s young, female, cute. But a liability.

I expect a factor in the Prime Minister’s decision to make the Rona problem go away was my critical blog post of Nov. 22nd.

(See, blogs are influential.)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will shunt aside embattled Environment Minister Rona Ambrose early next month in favour of one of his top lieutenants, sources tell The Canadian Press.

Jim Prentice, Indian affairs minister and head of cabinet’s powerful operations committee, is expected to take on the pivotal environment portfolio.


Harper to drop embattled Ambrose as environment minister, sources say – National Post

Most are blaming Harper for making such a poor appointment in the first place. Rather than choose someone qualified and experienced for such a sensitive position, he made a political appointment.

what causes war?

On By Rick McIn bad news, economics, government, IslamLeave a comment

I did the 4 minute Wikipedia research.

Factors leading to war:

* Historical theories
* Psychological theories
* Anthropological theories
* Sociological theories
* Demographic theories
* Evolutionary psychology theories
* Rationalist theories
* Economic theories
* Marxist theories
* Political science theories

Causes of war:

* Extortionate
* Aggressive
* Colonial
* National liberation
* Religious
* Dynastic
* Trade
* Revolutionary
* Guerrilla

Religious differences are significant, but not one of the major causes of warfare.

Significant exceptions were the massacres of Indian Independence (1947, Hindu vs. Muslim) which I’ve studied. Sheer stupidity. Hundreds of thousands of lives could have been saved if the British handled the withdrawal better. (Are you listening USA?)

Wars, Massacres and Exterminations Due to Religious Intolerance – rateitall.com

“religion is the cause of most wars”

On By Rick McIn economics, government, IslamLeave a comment

I heard that again last night.

Wrong again, in my opinion.

Religion is often used as an excuse for war. The instigators are invariably after money and power.

Religion is just one of many factors that sets “us” against the “other”.

It helps “demonize”.

Look at recent history. The Germans under Hitler were evil. Now Germany is our friend. Then the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour. They too were the great enemy (along with sad sack Italy). Now we drive Japanese cars and dream of vacations in Tuscany.

Then came the cold war with Russia. (We’re still a little suspicious of them.)

Now the enemy of the West is radical Islam. We fear Arabs in particular. (How soon would that go away if there were no oil in those countries?)

Next North Korea. Then, almost inevitably, China.

Who after that?

_39894323_bush_203.jpgAll of these conflicts were not caused by religion. Anyone who thinks Hitler, Saddam Hussein, or Kim Jong-il motivated by religion are wrong.

George Bush now?

Well there are a few world leaders that may actually be guided by religion. But they are the exception to the rule.

Can religion be blamed for war? – Mike Wooldridge, BBC

JibJab – Year in Review – funny

On By Rick McIn government, humourLeave a comment

Wow. The quality of JibJab cartoons is excellent.

“The Web gives us the creative freedom to make videos we think are funny without having to worry about what a studio executive is going to think,” said Gregg and Evan Spiridellis, co-founders of JibJab, in a statement sent to TechCrunch on Monday. “We are in the midst of a media revolution where mega-media conglomerates are losing their grip on the audience and new brands like JibJab are being born. It’s a very exciting time to be creative entrepreneurs.”


Caroling For Pop Culture: Sing Along With “Nuckin’ Futs” – TechCrunch

Click PLAY or watch it on JibJab.com.

the year of truthiness

On By Rick McIn government, humourLeave a comment

Merriam-Webster gets hip. Announces “truthiness” the word of the year.

Truthiness (no need for quotation marks anymore; it’s a word now) is perfect for the times in every way. It is a fake word invented by a fake person, Stephen Colbert, the comedian whose character, Stephen Colbert, parodies cable news talk shows on his own cable show, “The Colbert Report.” …

Webster’s has now sanctioned truthiness with two definitions:

“truth that comes from the gut, not books”, and

“the quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts of facts known to be true.”

At the end of his truthiness skit, Colbert says, “I know some of you may not trust your gut, yet. But, with my help, you will. The truthiness is, anyone can read the news to you. I promise to feel the news ‘at’ you.”

The Truth Of Truthiness, Taking Comedy Seriously Is Dumb, A Perfect Job For CBS’ Dick Meyer – CBS News

promoting cycling in Canada

On By Rick McIn cycling, government, health & fitnessLeave a comment

An unsolicited email escaped my spam filter:

At this address: http://www.gopetition.com/online/10170.html there is a petition aimed at the Canadian federal government, asking them to promote cycling as a preferred means of transportation. It mentions the health and environmental benefits of commuting by bicycle, and suggests ways that the Federal government could entice more Canadians to become bike commuters. …

It strikes me as increasingly crazy that our society is so geared towards the automobile, and almost discriminates against public transit and the bicycle. I’m hoping that – someday soon – people who WANT to switch from driving to biking are able to do so – that the infrastructure will be there (bike lanes, bike lockers etc) to make it possible.

If you feel at all inclined to help the petition along and helping us switch to a more environmentally sound method of transportation, it’d be much appreciated.

I signed the petition because I do want a higher priority put on the cycling infrastructure. And because I appreciate that taxpayers have another way to be heard in government via the internet.

This group used the GoPetition.com service. Works well.

http://www.gopetition.com/online/10170.html – more information

I want to join Lovely

On By Rick McIn government, humourLeave a comment

The Kingdom of Lovely (official website) is a micronation which claims the flat of its creator and ruler King Danny as its domain.

… In July 2006 Lovely had 421 citizens registered on its website, although everyone who signs up to view the forum is (knowingly) included as a citizen.

The Latin motto is Die dulci freure (sic – the correct Latin is fruere), meaning “Have a nice day”.

Lovely (micronation) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

lovely.jpg
King Danny petitioning the U.N.

do you have a passport?

On By Rick McIn economics, government, travelLeave a comment

passport.jpgPassport Rules Changing – Gadling

Making my way to Canada this year to spend a week in the gloriously beautiful Canadian province of Newfoundland, I discovered a nasty little surprise. My wife and I got to the airport and discovered that Newfoundland requires Americans traveling there to bring a passport or birth certificate to enter by air from the United States. I had no idea.

For years living in Seattle I came and went to Canada and needed only to show my drivers’ license. I was pretty damn upset because no one told us that the rules had changed, and so we had to go back and get our passports and needless to say, we missed our plane.

Well my hardies, the rules HAVE changed, although they have not taken effect Canada-wide quite yet, and when they do take effect, they will cover Mexico as well. Yes, visitors to the NAFTA states North and South will soon have to bring along passports to cross the country’s borders…well, the key is really getting back in. The rules take effect December 31 for air travelers to and from the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada.

A year later, on Dec. 31, 2007, the requirement will be extended to all land-based border crossings as well.