Daily Digest July 13, 2008

The DAILY DIGEST: INFORMATION and OPINION from ST. JOHN'S to VICTORIA.
ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/

EDITORIALs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
Can't anyone think big?
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=152305&sc=80

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Pugwash and proliferation
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorial/1067353.html

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
Historic Crown share settlement a political victory Post a comment
http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=152365&sc=61

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Too much compassion can erode the rule of law
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=9d076a3c-284a-4a00-9ced-e4edeb02ac5d

TORONTO STAR -
Ethanol two-step
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/459013

Alberta going green?
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/459012

India nuclear ties need full debate
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/459011

CALGARY HERALD -
Cyberbullying laws already exist
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=f5493c36-fb20-4b3e-a8fa-cd73b5601c67

CALGARY SUN -
Ed's premier challenge
http://calsun.canoe.ca/Comment/POV/2008/07/13/6144371-sun.html

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Global heartburn from G8 summit
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/opinion/story.html?id=ca050798-dc7b-4ef0-9ab9-b34848e77414

EDMONTON SUN -
True blue Tories go green
http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/Commentary/2008/07/13/6143336-sun.html
 
LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Alberta's rejigging gamble
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_11368.php

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Rural life report misses the mark
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=0cebf6b4-711c-4802-8949-d314aa155041


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -          
Fontaine to seek 4th term as top native politican
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080713/fontaine_race_080713/20080713?hub=Canada

Fewer aboriginal cops in First Nations communities
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080713/aboriginal_cops_080713/20080713?hub=Canada

Pine beetle damage is also hurting First Nations way of life
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080713/national/beetle_first_nations


AFGHANISTAN -
War? What war? Bland words feed our indifference
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=cedb783a-68a1-4a33-8243-2d43cf3b9f37&p=2

U.S. can't hunt for bin Laden on our turf: Pakistan
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080712/pakistan_laden_080712/20080712?hub=TopStories

U.S. considering pulling more troops out of Iraq
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080713/iraq_pullout_080713/20080713?hub=TopStories

Taliban launch deadly attack on a combat outpost in Afghanistan's Kunar province
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/07/taliban_launch_deadl.php

Afghanistan's 'sons of the soil' rise up
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia.html


CANADIAN FORCES

'SUNNY ASSESSMENT AT ODDS WITH GRIM PORTRAIT PAINTED BY ALLIES'
WALLY IN LA-LA-LAND: DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY
MEANWHILE, ER, 21 DEAD IN AFGHAN MARKET SUICIDE BLAST
AND 9 US TROOPS KILLED IN ATTACK ON REMOTE BASE

Growing violence in Kandahar 'insignificant,' top soldier says

CANUSA/USACAN



ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Breaking up GM will be hard to do
http://www.thestar.com/article/459290

Companies hurt while inventories waylaid at ports by CBSA rules
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/11/ports-trade.html

Sealers brace for impact on industry as EU discusses import ban
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080713/national/eu_seal_ban


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Canadian scientists test new electronic surveillance of Northwest Passage
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080713/national/arctic_surveillance_tests

President George W Bush backs Israeli plan for strike on Iran
As Tehran tests new missiles, America believes only a show of force can deter President Ahmadinejad
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article4322508.ece

Europe faces Russian nuclear missile threat
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4322468.ece


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Biosolids a 'disaster waiting to happen'
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/459347


MIGRATION
Genuine couples punished by 'fake marriage' crackdown, say experts.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080713/national/fake_marriage_crackdown


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
N.S. to get $870M from feds in Crown share dispute
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080713/crown_share_080713/20080713?hub=Canada

Campbell caught in carbon-tax contradiction
Premier claims to embrace California's green shift -- but only when it suits him
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=e9ddfb34-e03f-47ad-8f55-3273ad1fc3ab

Newfoundland sues to recoup cash from five ex-politicians
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080712.wspending0712/BNStory/National/home

The West's economy: a rerun of That 70's Show?
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=33ceca11-4c27-41c0-8a1c-bb8299ea5bea


PARTY POLITICS
Kennedy frank on Liberal errors
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/459365

Expert contradicts Cadman tape claims
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080713.wcadman14/BNStory/National/home

Crown share deal changes nothing for Casey
http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=152369&sc=58


POLITICAL OPINION -
PM clings to Bush's tattered coattails
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/459021

Election in air as Harper shuffles
Harris gang reunion http://www.torontosun.com/News/Canada/2008/07/13/6142816-sun.html

Putting spin on Dion's words doesn't make him noble
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=ef4043e9-3189-44c9-b061-ee01e5722adc


PRESSURE POINTS
Biofuels take flight
Airlines investigate alternate ways to keep their planes in the air
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Environment/Suzuki/2008/07/13/6145426-sun.html


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Tell me when it hurts
Hunting for a family doctor? Then, like Julie Mason, you're well aware it's a pain in the neck
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=e0897459-cb8a-4d61-a508-f5eb41eb017b

Say good bye to the good old days
Randall Denley explains why we're going to look back at the past 20 years and wonder at how good we had it
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=ce5b2e56-7be4-405d-8dfd-3cb1db54763c

A refreshing way to dodge those dreaded household jobs
Lawn need a mow and you can't say no? A ready excuse is as close as the fridge, Kelly Egan writes
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=b171f019-ea4c-496c-877e-2e1698dcb824

Antidote for poison of bigotry
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/459020

Moral order is easy to tear down, hard to build
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=8d8634f7-4b2d-4847-8e5b-be440ce5c2ec

Gas prices fuel 'hypermilers'
Conservation key to growing movement among motorists
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/1067362.html

Truth a foreign concept
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice tries to justify eight years of contempt for diplomacy
http://www.ottawasun.com/Comment/2008/07/13/6141801-sun.html

Parochial thinking in the age of globalization
http://www.torontosun.com/Comment/2008/07/13/6142681-sun.html

Yo, G8 leaders, love your act
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Margolis_Eric/2008/07/13/6142581-sun.php

Not so fast on vindication declaration
http://www.ottawasun.com/Comment/2008/07/13/6141806-sun.html

G8 too exclusive, losing relevance: former diplomats
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080713/qp_china_080713/20080713?hub=Canada


INFOS 
Un expert contredit deux spécialistes dans le cadre de l'affaire Cadman-Harper
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080713/N071393AU.html

Ottawa et la Nouvelle-Ecosse règlent un litige remontant à 1986
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080713/N0713111AU.html

Les policiers autochtones sont moins nombreux au sein des Premières nations
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080713/N0713113AU.html

Un système de surveillance est mis à l'essai dans l'Arctique
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080713/N0713127AU.html

Phil Fontaine aurait l'intention de briguer un quatrième mandat à l'APN
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080713/N071395AU.html

Le nouveau dirigeant de l'armée s'est rendu en visite en Afghanistan
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080713/N0713105AU.html

Des députés canadiens veulent venir en aide à des Cubains emprisonnés aux USA
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080713/N071314AU.html

Des interprètes afghans blessés réclament le droit d'asile au Canada
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080713/N071359AU.html


La Teoria Conspiratoria

BELOW(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)

Which article is the more reflective of reality?

Al Qaeda spokesman and Afghan commander Abu Yahya al Libi released a seven-minute videotape earlier this week titled "A Message To One of the Sheiks." Al Libi said the attacks on Coalition bases and suicide attacks show the Taliban is gaining strength and is "determined to turn the upcoming winter to hell for the infidels." The Taliban in Afghanistan "are going through continuous triumphs ... and are in a better shape compared with what they had been before," he stated. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/07/taliban_launch_deadl.php

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN ­ Canada's top soldier has dismissed the growing violence in Kandahar as "insignificant," contradicting all public data and highlighting the growing gap between Canada's upbeat view of the war and the sober analysis from other NATO countries. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080713.wafghan14/BNStory/Afghanistan/home

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From: HS Sims
Subject: DD

Hi Becky,

A delightful rebuttal to Joe's letter. If those who believe as Joe does, and
Khadr is released to Canadian justice he will be pardoned as juvenile
offender. Also, he will then be in a position to sue the Government of
Canada for we should have never allowed him to leave Canada at such
a young age. I concur, let him face American military justice.

Hank

===================================
From: Bob Taubman

Regarding  Rebecca Gingrich and comments as follows;  "Joe--frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn! Khadr killed a man."

First, I would like to know, how she knows, that Khadr "killed a man.".  There seems to be some doubt as to who it was that killed the U.S. soldier as there was another "combatant" present at that time.  Also, the report of the incident appears to have been rewritten to accommodate the prosecution's claim that Khadr in fact killed the soldier.

I for one "give a damn" that Khadr receives fair and honest legal representation.  I don't know what crystal ball Rebecca is using, but I certainly  don't know if Khadr killed anyone, and in fact, neither does she.  Khadr deserves a fair trial, not the dog-and-pony show going on in Guantanamo.  It seems to me that the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights has very selective application.

Bob Taubman,
Ottawa, ON

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary saftey, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Benjamin Franklin, American icon.

Subject: Link to Khadr case from Toronto Star
FYI
http://www.thestar.com/article/458284

===================================
From: NANCY CLARKE - NL

To Rebecca: I totallly agree. What does Manning know about science. Unless, it is the bibical science that is needed for the Harper government to justify their cuts and changes made to programs that usually benefits all Canadians.
To Lorimer: 12 point? When I do not like the text font, size or colour - I change it.

===================================
From: Ron Thornton

*Hi Joe:

At 15, our fine young countryman was involved in a firefight in Afghanistan. Based on the fact he has Canadian citizenship, on its own, is not enough for me to wring my hands over his fate. For that matter, if you or members of your family want to participate in the fighting in support of the Taliban or any other insurgent organization not supported by our Canadian government, I think you should not be surprised to discover that you are on your own. You are free to go, you are free to fight, but once you are no longer free, the best of luck to you.  It would appear Rebecca and I agree on this matter.

Now, has Below 30 become boring, Joe?  Well, once upon a time we actually read what each other wrote and responded to it, even if only to mock the writer. We don't seem to do much of that anymore.  We used to have interesting debates here, where one had to be on their toes to defend their own views.  One could find themselves enlightened, or at least come to an understanding why we each think the way we do (even if the result is mistaken and misguided in our view). Not so much anymore.

Joe, you included some commentary alluding to how it will take years, even decades, of commitment to Afghanistan to even hope for any measure of long-term success, and I agree. So does history. However, I also hear from those who are there where the mines explode and the bullets fly that they believe that we should be there, that we are doing good things.  Their thoughts carry a lot of weight with me. If in being there we are keeping the bad guys from blowing the crap out of us here on the home front, then it is a good thing.  If it is not, then it should be reconsidered.  What are the thoughts on the matter of those who are putting themselves on the line?

I have something of a reputation of being something less than a true blue Preston Manning fan. However, unlike Rebecca, I don't think one has to be a scientist to serve on a science advisory panel. One just has to be able to sense bullshit when they hear it, and not be afraid to say so. Solomon did not go to law school, but history gives him a reputation of having a clue.  However, there may be some doubt as to whether Preston and Solomon share the same traits.  Still, I like the idea of having a reasoned, inquisitive person on board with a logical mind to test the theories, one less inclined to blindly buy into the bunk. While I believe man-made global warming is a scientific hoax, it reminds me that one of our greatest threats is global stupidity.

Hopefully I've managed to keep this within Lorimer's guidelines.

Ron Thornton

===================================
From: "Suan H.Booiman"
Subject: Afghanistan

Joe,
 
We can read and talk about Afghanistan till we see blue in the face.
Till such time that we are able to convince the people from within to
open the "code of silence among them" we will not achieve anything.
 
The day they respect life, there is a chance. The media does not
understand, as headlines carry what wrong the US and at times
Canada does, but little do they point the finger at the murderers
from within that heritage. The top violent religious leaders "kill
the infidels". The amount of people killed by foreign forces is minor
to those done by their own people without any consideration.
 
The day the Western world will be able to solve the problem of the
need for oil products will be the day that the flow of dollars funding
this violence will end. However, yes there is an "however", our
American fire-arm hungry society will look for other places to support
war material production, as Canadian TV so proudly showed the
American camp in which parents teach their children the use of machine
guns in Oklahoma, so popular, that the camp now will be held twice a year.
 
Suan

===================================
From: "Peter Robertson"

Joe,
 
                A couple of weeks ago, I posted a note about the Omar Khadr case; unfortunately, not one of  your readers responded to it.
 
                If Canada is governed by the rule of law; If all Canadian citizens enjoy the same rights and are subject to the same responsibilities; if in Canada it is an offence to discriminate, then we must apply the law fairly and justly to everyone – whether or not we agree with that person's point of view, religion, sexual orientation, et cetera.  This means that sometimes we must stand up for the rights of someone, like Omar Khadr, with whom I suspect that nearly every reader of this blog disagrees.
 
                If we do not stand up for citizens like Khadr (and Khadr is a citizen!), then who is next?  Liberals, when the Tories are in power?  Tories, when the Liberals are in power?  New Democrats? Greens? Members of small, fringe parties?  In order to stand up for our rights, we must tell our "leaders" forcefully and clearly, when they are wrong.  Stephen Harper is wrong in this case.  He is wrong because he has allowed his own ideology and his penchant for toadying to the Americans to take precedence over his clear duty, as Prime Minister, to uphold the law and the rights of every Canadian Citizen, including Omar Khadr.  I think this will cost him in the next election.  The issue is not confined to Khadr: it affects every man, woman, and child in this country, and is sufficiently important to merit everyone's attention.
 
                As I said before, I applaud Mr. Dennis Edney's strong representation of Omar Khadr.  He is doing what a good lawyer should do.  However, it will take more than Mr. Edney's eloquence to get Khadr out of Guantanamo Bay.  I ask you this: if it were your child, how would you feel and what would you do?  Think about it, and then act.
 
Peter Robertson.

===================================
From: "Don Keir"

To Becky Gingrich:
 
I can agree with the .last paragraph of your letter that opposes the war in Afghanistan but your lack of understanding for Khadr puzzles me. The Americans have been responsible for the very nearly complete destruction of the country he grew up in merely to gain control of the oil that is below the ground there. The aggressors have been reponsible for two wars, "shock and awe" carpet bombing, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, devastating sanctions for ten years, the deaths of close to one million Iraqis, and the displacement of 4 million more. But you  do not understand why he felt justified in throwing a grenade over a fence in a battle against a force that was attempting to kill him in his own country. All this in a phoney war against "terrorism".
 
Don Keir

===================================
From: J Edgar Robertson
Subject: Fw: Music to his ears !!!

One sunny day in 2009 an old man approached the White House from across
Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench.

He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in
and meet with President Bush."

The Marine looked at the man and said, "Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer president
and no longer resides here."

The old man said, "Okay" and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the
same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."

The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no
longer president and no longer resides here."

The man thanked him and, again, just walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very
same U. S. Marine, saying "I would like to go in and meet with President
Bush."

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and
said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to
speak to Mr. Bush. I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the
president and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?"

The old man looked at the Marine and said, "Oh, I understand. I just love
hearing it."

The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow."

(Edgar, can we be sued for this joke?)
===================================
From: "John Brine"
Subject: How to extract oil from tar sand

My learned friends,
 
Does anyone know how much water is used to separate oil from tar sand?

How much water does the industry use and is it recoverable and how is it reclaimed?
 
I still don't know.
 
John Brine

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2008/07/11/TARSANDS.pdf

===================================
From: "Rubie"
Subject: Canadians Ponder Cost of Rush for Dirty Oil

Rubie wanted to share this article with you:
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/12/10318/

AND THIS

Subject: The Arctic Resource Rush Is On | Water | AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/water/91059/?page=entire

===================================
STRATOS
===================================

POLITICAL OPINION -
Will the offshore deal mean Casey?s return?
http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1067188.html
Let's just say that that's highly unlikely. No Leader worth his salt lets men and women he can't trust in a pinch back into Caucus. A Caucus suspension is the ultimate in final warnings. Party expulsion is death.
 
The ONLY way that Mr. Casey can conceivably getr resurrected is if it looks like every seat will count in an upcoming election, and his seat is marginal, and his being readmitted will likely secure the seat. Add to that that Mr. Casey will have to play kissy ... uuhh ... face.
 
The odds are long against.
 
Terrorism is hard
... and terrorists are extremely unlikely to ever kill us. So why are we afraid of them?
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/observer/story.html?id=b327c240-1b26-4825-b4ce-ded51b38f1e6
Because they don't have to kill hundreds of thousands of us for there to be generalized fear in the country? And for the country to be gravely wounded, even if it doesn't come to a standstill?
 
An analogy: only "a few" people ever came down with SARS in Toronto in 2003. And yet, as I recall, it WAS a big deal ...
 
OPINION AND INFORMATION
In the end, will the price we pay in Afghanistan be worth it?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080712.BLATCH12/TPStory/National/columnists
Given that the alternative would be our having to learn to live with a large space serving as a base for international terrorists willing to fly planes into buildings? Uuuhhhh .. yeah!
 
Sharia law thin edge of wedge
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Mansur_Salim/2008/07/12/6135696.php
Personally, I have no compunction when a person chooses to live by the strictures of any particular social code, provided that that person WILLINGLY chooses to by it, that that person have OPPORTUNITY to NOT live by it (i.e., to defect), and that it doesn't illegally annoy others. (By "illegally annoy", I mean active annoyance, not the mere living of a lifestyle that clashes with the local "that not how we do things around here" sensibilities). Thus, if a person chooses to follow social rules and conventions that a majority look down upon or find disgusting, that person should be free to follow those rules even at his/her own disadvantage.
 
BUT ... those rules and conventions must be understood as social norms, NOT as laws of the land. A person may choose to live by sharia, voodoo, or whatever, and reap the gains and suffer the consequences. BUT ... that person must ALWAYS be able to have recourse to civil law if he or she refuses to abide by a social code that he/she espouses.
 
For example: sharia legal convention stipulates that when a person dies (possibly without a will but maybe always), each son gets a share of the inheritance and each daughter gets half a share (or put another way, sons get double shares). I'm not sure what happens when a mother dies, but I think that when a father dies, everything that he owns goes to his children and nothing goes to their mother. When a mother dies, I'm not sure whether her property goes to her husband or to her children or both.
 
Now, if both parents die, each son will get receive a larger inheritance than his sisters will, IF THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS ALL AGREE TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF SHARIA LAW. If any one of them dissents, then he or she should be able to have recourse to the civil laws of the land. In other words, the door must always be open to have access to civil law ... but one must walk through the door oneself.
 
As concerns cases when social intimidation (e.g., social shunning from other a dissident's group), whether and to what degree a government should support a dissident suffering from such intimidation is a legitimate subject of social and political debate. In other words, to what degree should a government support DEFECTION passively by mitigating its consequences (e.g., money, facilities, and programs, for "defectors", etc.) and by making people aware that defection is possible. Also, to what degree  should a government actively encourage defection (or offer it as an life option) through advertizing, "social proselytizing", etc.
 

36 per cent support keeping troops in Afghanistan through 2011: poll

Firm finds limited enthusiasm for mission among 1,004 Canadians

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/07/afghanistan-poll.html

Right-o. Ask those same Canadians if we should stay until "the job is done" (i.e. the place is pacified and the people there can lead semi-decent lives by their own standards), and you'll get most of them to say that we should.

 

Two conclusions: 1. Canadians' thinking is ambivalent; and 2. the dominant emotion is ennui (as in "Who cares?").

From: "Rebecca Gingrich"

Subject: a ludicrous appointment

What does Manning know about science? Wonder how long it will take for him

to destroy this board? Gives junk science a whole new meaning! Wonder if

he knows more about science than he does 'democracy'?

becky

New gig for Manning

Reform Party founder appointed to science advisory panel

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2008/07/12/6135856-sun.html

The corresponding article in the Globe and Mail says that the panel deals (primarily?) with biotech, bioengineering and such. Parson Manna may not have a handle on science, but he DOES know something about bioethics, which have a religious component to them.

 

A few years ago, PM founded a group whose purpose is to serve as a forum for discussing issues and forming social policy on matters where religion and science intersect. Stereotypically, this would mean medical ethics, bioethics, and such. And creationism / intelligent design versus "something happened but we have no idea why". Personally, I'm all for this this kind of thing, even though as of 2007 I consider myself to be a Christian (and in a larger sense religious) apostate (i.e., I've read and learned enough to make me "understand" that all religious events and histories have been a succession of frauds and fabulations). Doesn't mean that we all, colelctively, shouldn't discuss all of this ... I mean it IS a pretty big part of how we see ourselves and the world we live in.

 

That being said, PM once said that more scientific types should get into politics because very few politicians really understand physical science and so they're often clueless when it comes to judging facts, bumpf, arguments, and so on. Of the 300-odd MPs in Ottawa, I'd figure on no more than twenty having any sort of physical-science background (and I'd wager that there are fewer than 10). Think about it .. .how many MPs do YOU know whose experience and training are grounded in chemistry, biology, environmental science, engineering, and so on? Now think of how many come from the business, financial, legal, "social", and "pure political" worlds. I rest my case ...

 

P.S. I'm an engineer who's interested in "res publica", that is public affairs. And among all the people whom I've run across and whose background I've found out, there is only ONE doctor and ONE engineer other than myself among them.

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From: Lorimer Rutty

Subject: boring

Boring because you have allowed it to become an iChat symposium. It airs petty gripes and old political hates.

I have suggested countless times that it must be in 12 point, it must be in black, each submission must be submitted to some 500 words or less.

It takes me about 15 seconds to scan the below 30.

Hahahaha ... Some folks WISH that I'd keep my arguments down to 15 seconds. Thing is, though, keeping them that short amounts to stating one's opinion and going no further. I read Below 30 to get a sense of what people think and feel but also to learn next stuff and to see and learn to think in different ways. And the seeing-learning thing can't be done by reading 15-second "I say that ..." declarations.

 

Not that 15-second items are of no interest ... it's just that longer stuff has its own reason to be, too.

 

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 Rubie Britton

Hello Joe, Wasn't the US at war when Khadr threw the handgrenade over the wall,and 'happened to kill an American Marine?' How do they known that the handgrenade killed the Marine,-and wasn't it "War?" 

Technically, it wasn't war, in the sense that two governments weren't facing off. People running around shooting guns does not war make.

 

Derek Skinner

Is the Fourth Estate a Fifth Column?

Corporate media colludes with democracy?s demise

http://www.inthesetimes.com/about/author/1883