To Tony Blair, who was born on May 6, 1953. I have spent the better part of the last two days at a conference, co-hosted by McGill and UdeM, addressing the question: “What remains of Cool Britannia?” There are panels on the third way and the economy, devolution, culture, europe, etc., a solid look at […] More »

While we’re on the unfortunate topic of the passing of fine humans. I took a couple of hours yesterday and read — then re-read — Bill Cameron’s piece on living, then dying, with Cancer. It’s in the new Walrus, and it is one of the best pieces I’ve read anywhere this year. My early impressions […] More »

Sad about the news of Bob Hunter’s passing on May 2nd. I work in a complex of small not-for-profits here in ‘the big insensitive’ (Toronto), and there are a number of enviro-groups in residence. Mr. Hunter was a bit of a legend in these parts, as I’m sure he was elsewhere… and not just because […] More »

It’s a sad week for the environmental movement, having lost one of its icons, Bob Hunter, to cancer, on Monday. I for one really enjoyed Hunter’s “paper cuts” segment daily on Breakfast Television, I think in many ways anticipating what would become media blogging like you see here, or on Maisonneuve’s media scout. But to […] More »

The lineup for this year’s Waynefest will be announced tomorrow night (May 5, 8:00 pm) at the kickoff party at the Sidetrack Cafe in Edmonton. WTF is Waynefest??? Well it’s just about the coolest little three-day music event organized by non-industry people EVER. And it’s named for lovely Wayne Alberta, deep in the Badlands. This […] More »

To my great surprise, the Globe and Mail has been running an excellent series this week on electoral reform, using almost the full editoral space to offer balanced, cogent, and occasional wise advice on Canada’s electoral system, its virtues, and its deficiencies. In particular, they gave a solid and well-deserved body-slam yesterday to the ludicrous […] More »

As noted on Monday, THIS Mag contributors are up for a number of National Magazine Awards this year (It is a human number, and the number is 5). Completely without prejudice, I hereby submit to you the poem that should win this year’s award for poetry, in my humble opinion—by THIS contributor Kevin Connolly. Contractual […] More »

My first rock show was Iron Maiden with Twisted Sister opening. 1984, Ottawa Civic Centre. Everyone went nuts when Number of the Beast started, with the ominous voice-over reading from Revelations. My friend Kenny knew it by heart: “Let him that hath understanding reckon the number of the beast: for it is a human number. […] More »

The Guardian comes out in favour of limited strategic voting: Vote Lib Dem, if it is safe. In the end an election is about choosing a government and a parliament. We are clear where we stand, in spite of our misgivings. We want to see Labour re-elected to government and we want to see more […] More »

Congratulations to the legions of writers and editors and artists who contribute to make This Magazine great! We’re nominated for five National Magazine Awards: Science, technology and the environment Clive Thompson, Science Fiction Health and medicine Clive Thompson, Science Fiction Poetry Kevin Conolly, Contractual Obligation Essays Bill Reynolds, Crossing the line Society Alex Roslin, Killer […] More »

“The sponsorship program was the right thing to do.” That’s Warren Kinsella, in today’s Post. I agree, 100%. Pierre Trudeau was right, when he wrote in Federalism and the French Canadians, that Canada would never win a battle of symbols and myths for the hearts of Quebecers. But that was never a battle Canada had […] More »