Poet Shai Ben-Shalom writes: "Canadian doctors asked to volunteer in West Africa, help fight Ebola..." READ MORE
Book Review: Malls On Earth
Any tourist can describe Burmese jungles or the snows of Kilimanjaro. It takes talent to write a travel book about shopping malls. “I am writing a book on boredom, on repetition, on déjà vu, on replication, on the dysphasia of constructed landscapes, on the tackiness of the world and how it is shrinking,” writes Swiss author Rinny Gremaud. All The World’s A Mall pops and snaps. It is outstanding. “It never ceases to amaze me how fatalistic people are about the ugly environments they live in,” she writes. Yes, the food courts in Edmonton and Casablanca look much alike. Yet Gremaud’s book is no tiresome rant against commercialism. She captures the contrasts of life on Earth through the lens of shopping centres. It’s easy to sneer at malls as “sinister places, cultural and aesthetic deserts where the dead souls of a population that has converted to the religion of consumerism mill around,” writes Gremaud. They are much more. READ MORE
Could Not Do It Without You
Warmest wishes to friends and subscribers for a safe and happy Christmas. Blacklock's pauses to bid you the best of the season -- The Editor READ MORE
Dep’t Wrote Up 629 Staffers
The Department of Employment last year disciplined 629 employees for misconduct from absenteeism to theft and fraud, records show. Disclosure was intended to “show what happens when wrongdoing or misconduct is reported.” READ MORE
Sought Excuse To Spend $34K
Chief Science Advisor Mona Nemer’s office worked up an excuse to spend more than $34,000 on a UFO survey no parliamentarian asked for, records show. Staff in an Access To Information document sought “justification for why the survey is needed” at a time when cabinet pledged to cut unnecessary spending: "Explain the manner in which this research is required." READ MORE
Mexican Embassy Is Fed Up
The Government of Mexico complains it is too expensive and bureaucratic to do business with Ottawa. The candid report by diplomats comes three months after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a “new era of cooperation" with Mexico: 'Many expressed concern about excessive requirements, cost or red tape.' READ MORE
Fault Hajdu Over Strike Bans
Labour Minister Patty Hajdu undermined constitutional rights with her frequent use of strike bans, says the nation’s largest pilots’ association. The union in a submission to the Commons human resources committee said strike bans had “now become commonplace.” READ MORE
Guest Commentary
I was a boy when Hank Williams died. I once spoke of that day with a friend who played steel guitar in our band. He recalled hearing the news on the car radio, New Year’s Day 1953, driving to a gig. They pulled over and cried. People knew what this loss meant. I don’t think Hank died of his addictions. He used everything up and had no more life to live. Hank burned out at 29 from alcohol and morphine. He was a gun fancier with a violent streak, and had these painfully awkward moments as alcoholics do. Yet he had a powerful sway over people.
