After, what seems like a direct channeling of distant memories of grade 11 biology combined with a recent visit to a reconstructed Iroquois [or more correctly, Haudenosaunee: People of the Longhouse] village, I had this thought: don’t the plans of a Iroquois village with its longhouses look remarkably similar to that of a biological cell?
Author Archives: michael
Canada to immigrants
Canadians expect to hear a conventional discourse from their immigrants. Canadians, like citizens of any other country, have constructed national beliefs about immigration, which inside its borders tend to be accepted uncritically.
Posted in Canada, First Nations Leave a comment
Battle of Stoney Creek 2011
Every year in Stoney Creek for the last 30 years people have reenacted the Battle of Stoney Creek. This was a small but pivotal battle between the Americans and the British during the War of 1812.
Posted in First Nations, Peace Leave a comment
Waterboarding may or may not have worked!
The main issue is not whether waterboarding ‘worked’ or not, the main issue–which is as clear as day in almost all places, in all minds that have a molecule of rationality, sensibility or compassion–is whether waterboarding is morally reprehensible or not.
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Election second thoughts
Anti-environmentalism is not a sustainable political strategy. Soon, voters will expect all parties to pay lip service to it. Canadians may or may not value social democracy but they do value environmental issues, if well presented. Therefore, the party that could really do well in the next four years is the Greens. Their leader Elizabeth May sounds creative, intelligent and articulate.
Posted in Canada Leave a comment
The Killing of Osama bin Laden
Operations such as the bin Laden killing are known as Black Ops. Obama is expected to do well politically as a result of this one. People dancing in Times Square is to be expected. Americans shouldn’t be surprised though if the dancing is more restrained outside of the US.
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Canadian Election Results 2011: Neo-Cons vs. the Social Democrats
The Conservatives and the NDP involve two distinct visions of Canada’s future: either a US-influenced neo-conservative vision, or a European-influenced social democratic vision.
RIM and its new PlayBook
Tablet makers are currently in a frenzied catch-up mode to Apple. They are trying to duplicate the stunning success of the iPad. If a tablet manufacturer is to be successful in this fight they have to come up with some truly innovative ideas that create real buzz, as opposed to say, ridicule.
Posted in Design, Software 3 Comments
This pesky coalition business
One of the most prominent issues of the current Canadian election campaign is the idea of coalitions. Stephen Harper, the right wing Conservative leader, presents them as an affront to Canadian values and all that is right about our democracy. The absurd position, which has no historical foundation, is not countered in any substantial way by the other parties.
Posted in Canada Comments closed
Update on Colborne St South in Brantford
One of the more distressing events of 2010 was the demolition in Brantford of a heritage streetscape on the south side of Colborne St. What was once a canal-side assemblage of interesting, historic buildings is now a steep gradient covered in dark mulch.
Posted in Cities 5 Comments
