Sunday, December 31, 2000


Saturday, December 30, 2000


Friday, December 29, 2000

I have always assumed that Logic was some form of magical potion, and that Quine was immortal.

Saturday, December 23, 2000

With the violence, the racism, the lack of concern for anything other than monetary selfishness, and now the Bush dictatorship, is it time for all non-Americans to boycott the United States of America?

Wednesday, December 20, 2000

It's Christmas and someone has died, so I think of my favorite Christmas song (arguably the only decent Christmas song), 'Fairytale Of New York'.

Saturday, December 16, 2000

People are wondering whether Colin Powell is the right choice for Bush's Secretary of State. Of course Powell is the right choice if American foreign policy is going to consist of war, threats of war, and preparations for war. This is how the military-industrial complex makes its money.

Wednesday, December 13, 2000

The Supreme Court of the United States granted the request for the injunction halting the Florida recount and then decided for Bush on the basis that the recount couldn't be completed as the time had run out. The majority of the Justices therefore were the cause of the problem which they found that the case turned on. It would have been easier if Scalia had invited Bush to the Court and put the crown on his head. Bush could then have returned the favour by annointing Scalia Chief-Justice-in-Waiting and gowned him with a silly gown like the homemade one sported by the current Chief Justice.

Wednesday, December 06, 2000

The only possible explanation for this horrible tragedy is that he was such an outstanding actor that he could make you think he was facing you pointing a gun when he was actually turned the opposite way.

Tuesday, December 05, 2000

This article is about the disruptive effect of computers in the classroom. Computers pose another level of distraction for the students, take up valuable time and energy of the teachers, and draw money from the whole education system. I've often thought that the 'necessity' of having computers in the classroom was merely salesmanship by computer companies. Their new term is 'the digital divide'.

Sunday, December 03, 2000

The nightmare of George Bush and his friends/handlers and how they plan to let the military-industrial complex rape America.

Friday, December 01, 2000

Katherine Harris, running George Bush's campaign in Florida and (allegedly) sleeping with his brother, would seem to have a conflict of interest in the Florida vote certification. The decent thing to do would be to recuse herself from the whole mess, but it is too late for that now, as her damage has been done. Perhaps, however, she has enough decency to announce that she will respectfully decline any Bush government position offered to her in the future.

Thursday, November 30, 2000

I'm reading a lot of rationalizations in the American press about how the current election mess somehow proves that the 'system' really works. It is as if the journalists really have to work to convince themselves that, despite all appearances, the United States is still a functioning democracy. Of course, there is no shame in a close election. However, it seems to me that the true mark of dictatorship is the passive reaction of the vast majority of the populace whan the Powers That Be use force to install their figurehead. It's the outrage and the action that distinguish the freeman from the slave. The slave is always quick to say that it doesn't really matter who the leader is, I actually like the leader better than the guy I voted for, I can't do anything about it anyway, the government will hurt me if I complain, etc., etc. Americans now sound and act like Eastern Europeans before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Whatever happened to the spirit of the American Revolution?

Wednesday, November 29, 2000

On Monday Canadians managed to avoid: 1) the return of the death penalty; 2) an American-style gun-addled society; 3) civil war with native peoples; 4) making abortion illegal; 5) the utter and complete destruction of the healthcare system; 5) the end of practically all government programs which don't involve armies or police; 6) a theocratic government where all decisions are made in the name of a strict evangelical protestant interpretation of the Bible; 7) the funding by the government of any and all religion-based schools, and the consequent starvation of the public school system; 8) a completely unjust tax system (not that the current one is so great); and 9) rule by an unholy combination of religious nuts and big corporations, with absolutely no say from any other voices. Whatever you may think of the arrogant, lying Liberals, Monday still wasn't a bad days work.
One of the most wonderful things about the recent Canadian election is that Conrad Black won't get his title anytime soon. Of course most Canadians already have a title for him.

Sunday, November 26, 2000

The whole problem in the Middle East, which seems very complicated, will come down to whether Israel would prefer settlements in Palestinian lands or peace.
Canadian voters on Monday are in the interesting position, if they vote for the wrong people, of going to bed in Toronto and waking up in Tehran.

Friday, November 24, 2000

Two mobs, each trying to subvert justice - one failed and one succeeded.

Friday, November 17, 2000


Thursday, November 16, 2000

Should the police be allowed to give evidence in a lawsuit involving a doughnut shop, given the known predilection of policemen for doughnuts and the consequent likelihood of doughnut corruption?
Clinton is concerned about his "legacy", given the blue dress and all. He was hoping he'd be known for peace in the Middle East, but that doesn't seem to be working out. He will, however, be fondly remembered for many years to come for his openness in releasing government secrets, and will be even better thought of if he releases more, particularly if Bush becomes president and covers up the sins of his father. Clinton could also help his place in history if he gave executive clemency to Leonard Peltier. Both releasing secrets and granting clemency will make some people angry, but History will smile.
Seasons have rights too.

Wednesday, November 15, 2000

Do Canadians have any right to feel intellectually superior to Americans if a fellow who has a chance to be the next Prime Minister is a creationist? I feel like I'm in Kansas. Dinosaurs do indeed walk with men.
The main reason that Bush has been able to insist that it is up to Gore to concede is the fact that the networks mistakenly declared Bush the winner. Now it turns out that the decision to do so was made by Bush's first cousin. Fox, who hired the cousin, admits to knowing who he was, and now claims to be concerned about their credibility as he may have improperly divulged confidential information to the Bush camp during the course of election night. Bush could quite easily become President based entirely on the fact he had a relative in the right place at the right time! Fox cannot be given any credibility on any matter after this.

Sunday, November 12, 2000

He may get away with it anyway, but if his lollygagging costs him the election, Bush will have a lot of explaining to do to the people who gave him hundreds of millions of dollars to win.

Saturday, November 11, 2000

Don't you find it at least a little odd that huge pressure is being put on the guy who currently leads the United States election in both determined electoral college and popular vote to concede in favour of the guy who doesn't? I think Gore has a good chance of pulling this out, but he has to be tough. He could use some Bill Clinton advice right now, but he may still be too mad at Clinton to take it.

Friday, November 10, 2000

Another outstanding article by Chomsky on Israel and the Palestinians.
Things are getting clearer on the American election. First, the networks declare Florida a win for Gore. This is based on exit polls and is supposedly foolproof. Bush vigorously disputes this declaration, and the networks eventually, and mysteriously, back off. They admit to making a terrible mistake, and have taken all sorts of criticism for sheer incompetence. In the middle of the night Bush is declared the winner, based on his winning Florida. Finally, as the count in Florida procedes, it turns out that no one knows who won. All sorts of irregularities start cropping up. Is it crazy to conclude that the original network declaration was right, based on exit polls actually reflecting how people voted, but Bush was confident of victory because his brother, Governor of Florida, could assure him that the fix was in? This may sound crazy, but it reconciles the mystery of the foolproof exit polls failing, the confident protestations by Bush that the early declaration was wrong, and the corrupt election problems that are now appearing in great profusion, in a state where brother Jeb has control.

Wednesday, November 08, 2000

I've been following the Bush-Gore Florida result through the morning on the Miami Herald site. I noticed Bush up by 40,000 votes, then 25,000, then 10,000, then 4,000. Now he's up by 600. Did the networks, perhaps in response to their earlier Florida mistake, jump the gun?
Now that the executive and the legislature (with the judiciary soon to come) are firmly in the paws of the military-industrial complex, what will the United States look like in four years? It looks like open season on all those who aren't blessed by God to be very, very rich.
How would you feel if you lost to a stiff? Does voting for one feel like voting for 'none of the above'?

Monday, November 06, 2000

This is an excellent article about the almost bizarre way the American press treats Israel and the Palestinians.

Sunday, November 05, 2000

This is the first set of violent Israeli outrages against the Palestinians that has been covered by the internet. It is now much easier to read people like Chomsky or Fisk, and get away from the amazingly one-sided coverage of the Middle East by the mainstream American press. Will access to the truth make any difference at all?

Saturday, November 04, 2000

A striking fact about the Nader campaign is that the United States is the only non-dictatorship in the world without some plausible left-wing party. The Democratic Party has always passed for this left-wing party. Now that the Democratic party has moved firmly to the right, there is absolutely no progressive party influence on U. S. politics, except for Nader. What would be downright weird in any other country is just considered normal politics in the United States. Why is this?

Friday, November 03, 2000

Am I being way too cynical to think that [vast amounts of money raised by U. S. Presidential candidates] + [increased need for candidates to advertise if the race is too close to call] = [built in reason for the large media corporations to commission polls and manipulate the news to make it seem that the candidates are running neck and neck]? Isn't there a conflict of interest if the news reporters can make more money on advertising if the race is close? Should they be allowed to charge for political advertising if they can manipulate the need for it?

Monday, October 30, 2000

Reagan-Bush is much less likely to be taken by

Wednesday, October 25, 2000


Sunday, October 22, 2000


Saturday, October 21, 2000


Sunday, October 15, 2000


Friday, October 13, 2000


Thursday, October 12, 2000


Wednesday, October 11, 2000


Tuesday, October 10, 2000


Monday, October 09, 2000


Friday, October 06, 2000


Thursday, October 05, 2000


Tuesday, October 03, 2000


Sunday, October 01, 2000

How does Sharon live with himself?
And now this.

Saturday, September 30, 2000

Bravo to the Danes for telling their own government and the Euro-crats where they can stick the Euro.

Thursday, September 28, 2000

Reason before passion. Just watch me. The state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation. Fuddle duddle. The just society. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A walk in the snow. R. I. P.

Wednesday, September 27, 2000

Watch the Olympics? I don't think so. I'll start watching when two conditions are met. First, the meat-puppets who compete should never receive the awards. The awards should go to the team of pharmacologists and doctors who prepared (i. e., drugged) the 'athletes' to win. Second, the International Criminal Organization (isn't that what IOC stands for?) has to be completely remodelled. Here are two possible changes: first, all IOC members have to have actually competed in an Olympic Games; and, secondly, no IOC member can have been associated with a government run by Franco.

We could all effect big changes if we did one thing. Boycott all the corporations that sponsor the Olympics. It is ultimately money from these corporations that funds the corruption.