Five years after the made-for-teevee 'Shock 'n Awe' invasion of Iraq, journalists are seizing this war-i-versary to count the flowers and candy.Overflowing cemetaries. Unclaimed bodies.Refugees in Syria, refugees in Jordan, Refugees in their own cities.Oh but the "surge" is working. Divide, subdivide, and sub-subdivide. Arm the militias, arm the death-squads, and arm the sheikhs in the "awakening" councils. Pay no mind when these same sheikhs are bought off, assassinated, or accidentally killed by US forces. Go back to sleep.IPS, Oct 19, 2007:Abu Risha, who had been arrested by Saddam Hussein, … [Read more...]
Whileaway North: Hostile Environment
March 19, 2008 By
It's an ongoing struggle to get more young women to enter traditionally male fields. Engineering is certainly one of those fields that is heavily male-dominated. Sometimes people argue that it's just that women aren't as interested in these areas of study. But when stories like this hit the news, I find it more remarkable that any women are brave enough to puruse an engineering degree in the first place.It's kind of a textbook example of a hostile environment. The engineering students' society's newspaper, the Oral Otis, published a mock sex-advice column* which included some pretty nasty language. … [Read more...]
Hope and Onions: Muppets: is there anything they can’t do?
March 19, 2008 By
This made me happy, today. I know it's the day after St. Paddy's, but that's ok: Danny Boy isn't really an Irish thing, anyway ;) … [Read more...]
Hope and Onions: What do you think you’ll do then?
March 15, 2008 By
What do you think you'll do thenI bet that'll shoot down your planeIt'll take you a couple of vodka and tonicsTo set you on your feet againMaybe you'll get a replacementThere's plenty like me to be foundMongrels who ain't got a pennySniffing for tidbits like you on the ground© 1973 Dick James Music Limited … [Read more...]
Whileaway North: International Women’s Day
March 8, 2008 By
Today is International Women's Day. Here are some suggestions for how to celebrate: support a female politician. Equal Voice can help you find out who they are. write a letter to support women around the world. Amnesty Canada has a list of current actions relating to human rights abuses against women. support a local charity that helps women in need, whether by giving them money, or giving them your time. write a letter to Stephen Harper and your MP, telling them exactly what you think of the Unborn Victims of Crime Act (aka the Sneak an Abortion Ban in Through the Back Door act, aka … [Read more...]
Hope and Onions: Pay no mind to the recriminalization of abortion; the important thing is that you had a good time. (UPDATED X3)
March 6, 2008 By
***3 Updates follow***So, like Ken Epp's fetus-personhood-granting Bill passed 2nd Reading in the HoC on Wednesday evening, 147-132.What's that? Didn't hear a peep about this on the news, last night? JJ and Birth Pangs were all over this story since last November, when C-484 was but a glimmer in Epps' eye. Here's what JJ said, Nov 23, 2007:The UVOC [Unborn Victims of Crime] bill would "protect a mother's choice to give birth", making it a crime to cause the injury or death of a fetus in the commission of violence against the mother.Don't get excited. Nothing "anti-abortion" to see here, noooooo, … [Read more...]
