Jul
31
My stepfather is in very bad shape and is not expected to last much longer. If any of you have it in you, please keep Frank in your thoughts. While he has fought a long, brave fight, his time on this rock is coming to a close.
Be peaceful Frank and thanks for making my Mom happy. You are one hell of a man. My thoughts and love are with you. Fare thee well.
Jul
28
Jul
27
So here’s the question: does social media influence political policy? Over the last few years, the rise of social media as a medium in which to interact with people locally and around the world has created a dramatically different landscape for those hoping to be elected as well as for those in power. Social media exemplified by Twitter, Facebook, and a whole host of blogs, has produced an entire generation of people that can not only get their viewpoints out to the public vis a vie the internet, but also be contacted by politicians in a new way.
For instance, let’s say that you’re sitting at your computer when you hear a knock at your door. You get up, open the door and see a politician running in a local election. Now let’s say you’re sitting at your computer and you see that the same politician is following your twitter account, or has added you as a friend on Facebook; or maybe they made a comment on your blog. To which are you more receptive? Read more »
Jul
26
Other bloggers have written some great looks at how social media is becoming an important player in the current unrest in Iran. Western media cannot report on the situation in Iran, so tools like Twitter have emerged to raise awareness of the bloodshed that is resulting in that country. Just this morning, I was saddened to read (and retweet) this message:
Amir Javadifar, a student protester arrested on Jul 9th, died in prison. #iranelection http://bit.ly/XqsqH #Iran #g88
Messages like this are source material in the history of one of the most important fights of my generation. They also speak to the power of social media. The western world would not know that Amir Javadifar died in prison if not for social media. And then there is the organizational power of the social sphere. Read more »
Jul
25
On Friday, July 24th, John Conway announced that he was going to run for City Council in Ward 3. Dr. Conway is a familiar face in and around Regina – he is a noted scholar and writer who spent 18 years on the Public School Board.
From what I have read, it sounds like Conway plans to run an interesting campaign. In statements, Conway has said that he wants to focus on tax policy environmental policy, affordable housing, preferential treatment for unions, heritage properties and affordable opportunities for culture and recreation. And, the Leader-Post quoted him as saying, “I think I share with many people a perception that the current council basically is carrying out an agenda that’s set forward by the business lobby.” Read more »
Jul
24
The Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. saw its shares rise yesterday, despite disastrous second quarter results. The Potash Corporation reported that its profits dropped to $187.1 million, compared to $905.1 million in the second quarter of 2008. Despite this bad news, its share rose 7 points to close at 104.59 (see graph of the day’s trading)
Profits declined in the face of a sharp decline in revenues. In the second quarter of 2008, the Potash Corporation reported $2.6 billion in revenue. In the second quarter of 2009, the Potash Corporation only had revenues of $856 million. These declines were blamed wholly on the recession and cautious attitudes surrounding it.
Such a serious decline is a harsh blow to the Saskatchewan economy and seems to contradict the jubilant economic statements that the Saskatchewan Party has been making. Not all is rosey in Saskatchewan – since last year at this time, our unemployment rate has increased, the number of people in Saskatchewan receiving EI payments has increased, and now the resource sector shows signs of weakening. Is this an omen of bad things to come or merely a market correction? What do you think?
Jul
23
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article that expressed support for the Saskatchewan Party’s apparent decision to seek legislation giving marriage commissioners the right to refuse to marry same-sex couples. Today, the marriage commissioner who touched off the controversy lost his appeal of a human rights ruling.
This might surprise you, but I support that particular ruling. While I support legislation giving people the right to refuse to perform any ceremony on religious grounds, I also know that, at the time of the offense, laws were written in such a way that Nichols had to have been guilty of discrimination. Interpretations suggested that freedom of religion was not reasonable grounds to discriminate against another. Read more »
Jul
18
I just wanted to drop a line and let everyone know that the Impoverished Gourmet is ready for some online action! This afternoon will mark the first online installment of the most delicious and affordable recipes out there. A word to the wise… our goal is to show that cooking is much more fun and easy that most people think!
Now for the hard part… is it possible to be succinct enough to have a cooking column on a blog?? Stay tuned!
IG
Jul
16
There’s something that has caught my attention from the very start of the Regina Streets Magazine, and it continues to peak my interest since the start of this website. That is, we get just as many comments and compliments from the “right” of the political spectrum as we do from the “left”.
I think that partisanship is both detrimental and ridiculous, in politics and in life. Take this magazine. Do I have to be on the left to talk about the causes and effects of poverty? Do I have to be on the right to have a strong corporate business model and believe in microdevelopment? Absolutely not. Read more »
Jul
15
Yesterday, I talked about a controversy that has erupted around Saskatchewan’s unemployment numbers. Since unemployment is such a major factor in poverty, I felt it was important to give some more statistics about unemployment in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Party and the Provincial N.D.P. are looking at the same basic numbers and coming to two dramatically different conclusions. The Saskatchewan Party says, “Regina and Saskatoon have the two lowest unemployment rates in the country. Our future is bright.” And the Provincial N.D.P. says, “But wait a minute, unemployment may be low, but more people are seeking unemployment benefits now than one year ago. Things are not as bright as they seem, in fact, the sky is falling.” Read more »