It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Monday, June 25, 2007
CBC Blog Watch
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No Two State Solution
It's been forty years, and yet Israel has become married to the settlements and to an ideology that sees a Jewish state with inherent rights over its non-Jewish citizens, but more critically it as an expansionist state that believes in the right to permanent domination of the lands it controls. The only way to break down a racist and exclusivist structure is to chip away at its base and force an alternative reality. This would require not only ending the occupation, but looking internally at the Israeli state, a Jewish state, a state which doesn't and can't function as democracy for all its people. Many Palestinians leaders and supporters within Israel have come to realize this and have been ostracized for bringing this notion to light, namely Azmi Bishara, while many more will be undermined and attacked in the future. Yet, divestment, boycott, and sanctions coupled with a movement forward for both Israelis and Palestinians to live as equals in a shared society is the only hope for true peace.
See:
Israel
Palestine
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Belus?
That's what the Globe and Mail is calling the idea of the merger between Telus and Bell (BCE).
In this latest poll you find that those of us who have experienced Telus are opposed to the merger for the reasons I have given here and here.
The Angus Reid poll found that 48 per cent of Canadians believe the government shouldn't permit a merger between Vancouver-based Telus and Montreal-based BCE. Another 27 per cent supported it, while 25 per cent weren't sure.
The highest levels of opposition to such a deal came from British Columbia and Alberta at 57 per cent and 61 per cent, respectively. "What surprised us the most is the high level of skepticism from Alberta and B.C., where virtually everyone deals with Telus on a daily basis," Mr. Canseco said.
If such a merger were to go through, 62 per cent of the poll's respondents didn't expect better customer service. Moreover, 68 per cent said it's somewhat or very likely wireless rates would increase, while 62 per cent said the same thing for Internet prices.
See:
Monopoly Capitalism in Cyberspace
Telus
BCE
CRTC
Bernier
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Sunday, June 24, 2007
A Tale Of Two Canada's
Hundreds of thousands flock to TO Pride Parade
Canadian Anglicans vote no on blessing same-sex unions
See
Whose Family Values?
Marx on Bigamy
Paul Goodman
Libertarianism
Five Things Feminism Has Done For Me
Gay MarriageSSM
Same Sex Marriage
Tags
Canada, gay, lesbian, homosexual, Same Sex Marriage, SSM, marriage, Christian, Conservatives, Stephen Harper, PM, Canadian Government, GLBT, LGBT, parliament, right-wing, social conservatives, MP, free-vote,
Rain Rain Go Away
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING. THIS IS AN ALERT TO THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES TAKE IMMEDIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING OVER THE FOOTHILLS AND SWAN HILLS THIS AFTERNOON AND MOVED NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE PROVINCE. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL, HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND GUSTS.
Sunday Overnight | Monday Morning | Monday Afternoon | Monday Evening | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Temperature | 9°C | 11°C | 14°C | 12°C |
Condition | Chance of thunder- showers | Rain | Thunder- showers | Cloudy with showers |
P.O.P. | 80% | 90% | 60% | 90% |
Wind | NE 10km/h | N 15km/h | NW 15km/h | NW 20km/h |
Humidity | 93% | 100% | 96% | 100% |
Rain | close to 5mm | 5-10mm | 5-10mm | close to 10mm |
Long Term Forecast
Tuesday June 26 | Wednesday June 27 | Thursday June 28 | Friday June 29 | Saturday June 30 | Sunday July 1 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 19°C | 22°C | 20°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C |
Low | 10°C | 10°C | 14°C | 15°C | 16°C | 15°C |
Condition | Cloudy periods | Mainly sunny | Mainly cloudy | Cloudy periods | Thunder- showers | Scattered showers |
P.O.P. | 30% | 0% | 30% | 10% | 80% | 40% |
Wind | NW 20 km/h | SE 25 km/h | SE 25 km/h | NW 10 km/h | W 5 km/h | NE 10 km/h |
Steady Eddie in Decline
Premier Stelmach's own approval ratings have slipped from our last sounding, with a bare majority (54%) of Albertans saying they approve of his performance as Premier, down 12 percentage-points from April. Of that, 15% "strongly approve" (down 6-points) while 39% "moderately approve" (down 6-points). Notably, Stelmach's approval rating is much lower in Calgary (42%) than in either Edmonton (58%) or the rest of Alberta (63%).
Beware of the wrath of the Party of Calgary.
Stelmach Tanks
To add insult to injury they are not even real cabinet ministers, they are mere 'associates'. You know like WalMart Associates.
Unfortunately it is too little too late.
Honeymoon Officially Over For Stelmach Government
CALGARY/AB--(Marketwire - June 23, 2007) - A new Ipsos Reid poll finds a substantial decline in support for the Ed Stelmach-led Progressive Conservatives. The Progressive Conservatives currently have the backing of 47% of Alberta's decided voters, down 12 points from 59% just two months ago (April). This returns the Progressive Conservatives to the same level of voter support they achieved in the 2004 Alberta provincial election. In fact, all four major parties have returned to exactly where they stood in the last election. Among decided voters, 29% say they would vote Liberal, 10% would vote New Democrat and 9% would vote for the Alberta Alliance Party.A look at voter support by region produces some telling results for the Progressive Conservatives. In Calgary, Stelmach's party has the support of 42% of decided voters. This is a decline of 8-points from the 50% support the Progressive Conservatives achieved in the last election. In contrast, the Progressive Conservatives are up 12 points in the Edmonton CMA (47% today vs. 35% in election) and up 2-points in the rest of Alberta (53% today vs. 51% in election).
SEE
- Stelmach Blames Eastern Bums
- Terrror In Tory Town
- Calgary Elbow Goes Liberal
- It's A Sweep
- Alberta Election Results
- Where's The NDP?
- Election Day In Alberta
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Ding Dong Tories
Even if it meant protecting Canadians who elected them from being subjected to a communications monopoly, the likelihood that the privatizing Conservatives, whose love of big business is expressed my its Industry Minister , would do anything like interfere in the market well ferget about it. Canada telecoms merger up to regulators: Harper
A consumer advocate warned Thursday that a proposed $50-billion merger between Bell Canada Inc. and Telus Corp. would be a loser for customers of the two telecom giants."The government and the regulators should simply turn down this merger," said Charles Tanguay, communications manager for Quebec's Union des Consommateurs. "This is critical because it would weaken competition in both the traditional wireline and wireless markets and expose consumers to continuing high prices and second-rate services."
Canadian consumers already pay almost twice the average per-minute charged in the U.S. and Europe and the market has too few players, Tanguay noted.
"A monopoly would be worse than today's duopoly, influence regulated markets unduly and freeze out new entrants."
See:
Monopoly Capitalism in Cyberspace
Telus
BCE
CRTC
Bernier
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My Post To the Carnival of Anarchy
Murray Bookchin An Apprectiation
While the Mainstream Media, and the right, have been focusing on Rachel Carson, whose 100th birthday is this year, and her work Silent Spring as the foundation of the modern North American ecological/environmental movement it is important for anarchists to point out that Murray Bookchin was also a founder of the modern ecology/environmental movement.Find blog posts, photos, events and more off-site about:
carnival of anarchy, anarchy, anarchists, blogs, blogging, weblogs, bloggers, libertarian, libertarian s ocialism, left libertarians, mutualists, individualism, individualists, social ecology, anarchism, Bookchin, politics, aniti-politics, libertarian, ecology, municipalism, writers, authors, left wing, anti-authoritarianism,
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Afghan Civilian Deaths No Accident
Afghan police said overnight bombing in Helmand province left 25 villagers dead, which by one count would mean at least 250 civilians have died by accident this year under fire from international forces and their Afghan allies.
By one estimate, that suggests civilian casualties are running at twice the rate of last year. Human Rights Watch has estimated that NATO and U.S. military operations killed 230 civilians in 2006.
And its not International forces, its American air support.
Americans are infamous for air support friendly fire incidents in Afghanistan, where they have killed our own troops, and in Iraq, where they killed British troops. Let alone the regular civilian casualties which have occurred this year almost every time air support operations were launched in Afghanistan.
Which is why land based tank and infantry missions are more successful in NOT killing villagers. You can see who the bad guys are, while from the air everyone looks the same, little blips on the computer screen.
This is a great way NOT to win hearts and minds. And all the PR fluff about the Taliban using human shields cannot cover up the fact that air support is a sure fire way to get civilians killed.
Also See:
Friendly Fire
Afghanistan
War
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Friday, June 22, 2007
Anarchy and Ecology
Beginning today, though as per usual with our little anarchist cooperative someone posted early and someone will likely post late, the Carnival of Anarchy will be hosting a weekend of blogging on the topic of Anarchism and Ecology. Green Anarchy, environmental anarchy, social ecology,etc.
Dust off your old Murray Bookchin books.
The period of contribution runs from Friday June 22nd to Sunday June 24th.
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Land Mine?
Worse yet the soldiers were unprepared, unprotected since they were riding in an unarmored ATV. An ATV for gods sakes.
Three Canadians travelling between two checkpoints just a few hundred metres apart died Wednesday in Afghanistan when their all-terrain vehicle hit a roadside bomb that insurgents apparently managed to plant without being detected.
The small John Deere-made open-top six-wheeler had no armour to protect its occupants.
Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant, commander of the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, shrugged off questions about what soldiers were doing riding around dangerous trails in an all-terrain vehicle primarily used to whip supplies around military bases. The risk seemed manageable and, besides, it was about the only type of vehicle that could weave through the tight off-road trails in the area, he argued.While the accident could force the military to give its procedures a second look, the sketchy details suggest the military has already decided this is a tragic accident and not a case of procedural or protocol carelessness.
"The vehicle was appropriate for the task at hand and the terrain that they were travelling in," he told reporters.
Also See:
Friendly Fire
Afghanistan
War
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Vroom Vroom
Seems that my and other bloggers comments on the Conservatives 'C' Car in the Canadian NASCAR races has raised hackles on the right; here and here.
They of course both fit the NASCAR profile of 'voters' the Conservatives claim to 'want' to represent.
63% of fans at the track and viewers at home are between the ages of 30-49.
69% of motorsports fans make between $30,000 - $75,000 a year.
74% are homeowners.
75% are males.
Running a car in NASCAR Canada is what we call advertising to the converted.
The 12-race series will likely attract about 70,000 people across Canada -- the only B.C. stop is Vernon -- with some additional viewers on TV.Despite its popularity in America, in Canada motor sports are still elitist, as are Harpers Conservatives.NASCAR has a big middle-class fan base that the Tories want to get their message out to.
Immigration Minister Diane Finley says sponsoring a car is a way for the Conservatives to tap into that following.
A Conservative source said the goal is to reach middle-class voters who don't like current Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion and have bad memories of Brian Mulroney's leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1984 to 1993.
"We're targeting what we have termed the Canadian Tire voter. It's basically a middle-income house owner in suburban areas, regional centres and rural communities with a do-it-yourself mentality. These people in the past have often seen the Conservative Party as out-of-touch and elitist," the source said.
This spring's budget served up a sprinkling of tax and spending initiatives for everyone from seniors to farmers, and Conservative strategists have identified a number of segments to target, such as the "Tim Hortons" crowd and the "Canadian Tire" crowd.
Greg Weston of the Sun makes a good point about why we should be concerned about this and other Conservative party political advertising. We pay for it as taxpayers, but the party is not accountable to the public for its spending, which even the boys on the right should be outraged about.
But so far, they have all missed the real question that should be of interest to the vast majority of Canadian taxpayers: Whose money is it, anyway?
If the NASCAR deal were being paid entirely by donors to the Conservative party, it would not be an issue to anyone but those who have coughed up the contributions.
But it's not a private party issue.
Thanks to the genius of Jean Chretien's banning of corporate and union donations, Canadian taxpayers now fund the federal parties to the tune of roughly $28 million this year.
More than $10 million of that will go directly into the coffers of the Conservative party to spend on pretty much anything it wants.
Add to that the tax deductions for individual contributions to the Conservative party, and probably close to two-thirds of the money in the Tories' overflowing till is coming from taxpayers' pockets.
And while NASCAR fans express their outrage over comments made about the Conservatives opportunism lets not forget that other little fact, this is a kick back to their pal Pierre Bourque who writes his headlines for them.
It turns out the party logo - a big blue "C" - appears on the hood of the car driven by Pierre Bourque, whose popular Internet news aggregator sells torqued headlines to political operatives.
Bourque's website confirmed the connection Monday, linking to a story by Inside Track Motorsport News that noted his Dodge Charger is the sponsored Tory vehicle.
Research on the business model for Bourque Newswatch suggests the federal Conservative party has just guaranteed itself favourable coverage for the foreseeable future by sponsoring Bourque's hobby.
Past and current Bourque clients have confirmed to The Canadian Press that advertisers on the site can expect flattering headlines or links, or headlines and links denigrating their opponents.
The Conservative party refuses to confirm or deny that it employs Bourque's headline service directly. But months of negative headlines and links to scathing blogs about Liberal Leader Stephane Dion on Bourque Newswatch indicate someone with an axe to grind is paying the news aggregator, which openly advertises its headline service for sale.
When the Conservatives announced the NASCAR sponsorship Sunday, they also neglected to mention the sponsored vehicle is driven by Bourque.
Instead, the party's news release referred to Whitlock Motor Sports.
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I Thunk It
I must say thank you to Politics n Poetry and Werner Patels who nominated me for a Thinking Blog Award. And so as this is a meme I will now nominate my five favorite blogs that make me think.
The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote (There is an alternative silver version if gold doesn’t fit your blog).
These will be shameless plugs for folks who I consider kindred spirits.
1. Larry Gambone, my old pal who publishes Porcupine Blog, and is a long time anarchist activist. Larry represents the ideals of Proudhon and the mutualist traditions in Anarchism, voluntary cooperation, self management, and is a fellow pantheist.
2. Pat Murtagh, another old anarchist pal who publishes Molly's Blog under the pseudonym of Molly's Mews. He is decidedly not a fellow heathen, but that can be forgiven since he is critical of scientific fundamentalism as he is of religious fundamentalism. And I like the fact he does a weekly round up on his blog.
3.BigCityLib Strikes Back who shares with me a fascination with cryptozoology.
4. Mike over at Rational Reasons, because he comments here, and because his blog should be read by more folks, who think you can't be libertarian and support the NDP.
5. Idealistic Pragmatist a fellow Redmontonian and anonymous female blogger, whose commentary on fellow bloggers and political news is always worth reading.
There you go, I could add more, but the meme says five. So thats what ya get, a high five guys.
On to you.
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How Do You Spell Monopoly
The Edmonton Phone Company. EdTel, was formed because neither Alberta Government Telephones, AGT, nor Bell Canada would provide services to Edmonton. Over a decade ago it was sold off at a fire sale price by the city to its old nemesis the predatory AGT now privatized and called TELUS.
It was announced that the privatized Telus, which now includes Ed Tel as well as B.C. Tel, is preparing a take over bid of Bell Canada; BCE. How the wheel turns.
All this privatization of public enterprises was to end their 'state monopoly' and create 'competition'. So instead it creates privatized monopoly and reduces competition.
We are so much better off now. Except we sold the farm and now we buy back our milk and eggs.
See:
Monopoly Capitalism in Cyberspace
Telus
BCE
CRTC
Bernier
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