November 29, 2007
Godspeed, Suzuki!
In an effort to humanize our cetacean friends, Greenpeace is currently conducting an online poll of 30 possible names for the humpback whales travelling on the “Great Whale Trail”. The names are mostly cribbed from Pacific languages and international dignitaries. That said, anyone with a soft spot for the propogation of Maori culture better get their vote on soon — “Mister... [More >>]
November 21, 2007
In praise of taxing and spending
In These Times magazine has a refreshing article by Susan J. Douglas calling for a reclamation of the term “tax and spend liberals” in the United States — a nice reminder that Democratic politics need not go down the pro-business road it is now. She mentions a new book by Paul Krugman, The Conscience of a Liberal, in which the case for a new New Deal is laid out. She concludes: For... [More >>]
November 19, 2007
‘Oil flows south, impact flow north:’ Dominion graphic
As part of its continuing coverage of the Alberta tar sands, The Dominion has published a detailed map of Alberta’s oil apparatus, as well as proposed and likely future hot spots for Alberta, B.C. and the North. It’s an excellent graphic, and a great example of how web content need not include bells and whistles to be effective, informative and pleasing to the eye. [More >>]
November 17, 2007
Weekend links: Our beautiful blue planet, Stars go green, leafblower hockey and an event
The Japanese space agency has these beautiful photos and video of an “earth rise” taken from their satellite Kaguya. For musicians with an eco-conscience, going on tour must come with a twinge of guilt. All that driving around can’t be good. Well one band we like, Toronto/Montreal indie-pop sweethearts, Stars, is carbon offsetting their tour. This makes us love Torquil, Amy and the... [More >>]
November 15, 2007
Uganda Rising
More than a hundred people gathered in Uganda’s capital city two weeks to debate the future of LGBT rights in the notoriously homophobic nation. According to Uganda’s Penal Code Act, homosexuality is a criminal offense. In 2004, the government fined a radio station $1000 for airing a positive portrayal of LGBT people. More recently, James Nsaba Buturo, Minister for Ethics and Integrity,... [More >>]
November 14, 2007
Judy’s back!
She’s the sassy American philosopher who took Simone de Beauvoir’s assertion that “one is not born a woman, but rather becomes one”, and brought it to it’s logical conclusion in 1990’s Gender Trouble. That’s right, Judith Butler is totally back and she’s blowing minds. Yesterday marked the launch of Judy’s newest book, Who Sings the Nation State?... [More >>]
November 9, 2007
November-December issue now online
Never thought theatre was political? We’ve got a bundle of features in the new issue of This that says otherwise. Check out political puppets acting up, an award-winning playwright who bolted for TV writing, the inside scoop on a successful prison drama program and much more — and all of it online as of right now. Just surf over to the home page and dive in. [More >>]
November 8, 2007
Stephen Lewis, The Hour and This Magazine
The September/October issue of This was given some airtime on CBC’s The Hour. Stephen Lewis offers his insights, and cradles that magazine like a newborn baby. He can’t seem to put it down. Check it out here, at about 4:48 into the segment. [More >>]
November 4, 2007
Weekend links: Brijit, Guardian ponders its eco-impact, one clever ad
Cory Doctorow from Boing Boing reports on a bank in Delhi run by street kids. The kids get to save a bit of money (which otherwise would be squandered or worse stolen) and learn valuable skills. Let’s face it long-form magazine articles are pesky. I mean c’mon we all know everyone buys magazines for charticles and pretty photo spreads (and all those perfume ads). Brijit is a site that takes... [More >>]
