what fresh hell is this?: February 2012

Monday, February 27, 2012

Voter Suppression and the Harper Government: What Kind of Canada Do You Want by Alex Snider

I want you to think about Bill C-30, the internet surveillance bill that will grant government agencies access to Canadians' personal online activity (including emails and browser history) completely warrant-free.

And to think about Bill C-10, the crime bill which will increase mandatory sentences, mandate prison time for non-violent and minor offences and require new prisons.

Oh No-No He Didn't... Posted by Rebekah Hakkenberg

He's totally right, though.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Must Read: Rob Ford's War on Facts Posted by Rebekah Hakkenberg

I just couldn't stand to look at another picture of our less than
photogenic mayor. So how about a picturesque view of the
fjords of Norway, instead? Much better, I think.

There is a riveting piece over on our companion blog, The Little Red Umbrella by Adam Bunch, on Rob Ford and the alarming trend in Conservative politics to disregard the facts. You should read it. Here is an excerpt:

Doris and Mona is a segment brought to you by Alex and her friend Allison and accessories and props from the store they work at. These are the displays they make, and these are their stories.

1. Sweet November

And Continuing My Saucy Post Titles: Fuck You, Rob Ford by Alex Snider

Fuck you, Rob Ford for getting your TTC board goons to fire Gary Webster because he didn't put “forward positions consistent with the position being proposed by the mayor".

The boreal forest, also known as Taiga, covers 60% of Canada stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Southern Ontario to the Arctic (and majority of Russia and northern Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Japan as well as most of Northern Europe) and is the world's largest terrestrial biome. More so than even the tropical rain forests, the Taiga is the earth's greatest carbon sink meaning that the forests sequester 22% of the carbon stored on the planet's surface. This means approximately 186 billion tonnes of carbon or 27 years worth of the emissions we burned in 2003 are held in the Boreal forests, wetlands and muskeg. Obviously, if carbon emissions are held in the Taiga, they are prevented from entering the atmosphere. Basically, Boreal forests are our best friends.

Holy Shit, Ron Swanson was on Deadwood by Alex Snider

Yep, Nick Offerman was in episode 2 of the first season as Tom Mason, the road ranger who killed Sophia's family and tried to kill Wild Bill.

Colorlines has a campaign going right now called Drop the I-word, that is fighting against the derogatory use of the word "illegal" in the media towards undocumented immigrants in America:

Fuck PeTA and Their "Violence Against Women Sells" Mantra (Also, They're Racist) by Alex Snider

I know it's not any surprise that PeTA has come up with yet another offensive campaign that demeans women in the name of animal rights but I can't resists calling attention to this video that overtly promotes domestic violence as one of the benefits of a vegan diet.

Stolen Moments from the Lives of GB and Al #48

The portrait of a carefree, easygoing gal. And I like ducks.

This is what Rebekah had to say about me last night as we discussed our first impressions of each other over pints:

This entire Sun article is a mess, brimming with all the preteen adulation, awkwardness and boners of a Tigerbeat profile but with Justin Beiber crossed out and replaced with Rob Ford.

This doesn't happen in a vacuum. This didn't come out of nowhere. The attack on contraception, the numerous attempts to outlaw a woman's right to govern her own choices, her own body undertaken by the American government and individual States is not a fucking surprise.

Happy Valentine's Day Posted by Alex Snider

Spend it with those you love!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Don't Watch the Grammys by Alex Snider

Three years ago, Chris Brown attacked his then-girlfriend Rihanna the night before the Grammys (where they were both set to perform) putting her in the hospital and him on five years of probation for assault. Brown has since made a comeback (although it is debatable whether he ever suffered any real repercussions, certainly he has always had a lot of vocal support and has shown little public contrition) with two albums (debuting at #7 and #1) and being named Billboard's Artist of the Year in 2011.

Sunday Songs: Amazing Grace Posted by Rebekah Hakkenberg

Friday Fiction: Black History Month Part Two by Alex Snider

It is a common for clueless privileged White people to plead "colourblind" when talking about racism today and the real ways in which it continues to hurt Black Canadians and Americans*. "Colourblind" means that one simply doesn't notice any differences between White and Black people, we're all the same. "Colourblindness" shuts down any conversation about racism and the disparities between racialized groups and White people. "Colourblindness" erases and silences. The Angry Black Woman wrote on her blog in response to a dude who was baying on about a dream of "total multiculturalism": "you’re hoping for a world where the differences between peoples will be erased and we’ll all just be a cultreless, raceless blob of sameness. Making everyone the same does not equate to racial harmony" (read the whole post, it is fantastic).

Rob Ford: Council's Meeting on Transit "Irrelevant" by Alex Snider

Awesome day for Toronto, crappy day for Rob Ford and a great day for those of us who love it when politicians say stupid things on camera.

BLR (BadLipReading) masterfully dubs inanities over random political speeches and music videos to create hilarious, nonsensical YouTube videos. Most notably the GOP 2012 candidates. The hardest part must be coming up with shit that's even more ridiculous than what the candidates have actually said.

Overandoverandover... Posted by Rebekah Hakkenberg

Sunday Songs: Prison Songs by Rebekah Hakkenberg

A Girl's Best Friend... by Rebekah Hakkenberg

It's Black History Month, which both gives me a break from having to come up with vaguely clever Friday Fictions and a chance to focus solely on some really amazing Black writers. Problem being, there are so many amazing books that I want to talk about : (( Good thing there are four Fridays in February : )) (Roller coaster of emotions, guys!) This week: short story collections.

Why Can't You Just Let Chuck and Blair Be Together, God? #Chairforever by Alex Snider

Best quote from this week's episode of Gossip Girl (yep): "I know you think you can't be with Chuck because of the pact you made with God".

Monday, February 27, 2012

Friday, February 24, 2012

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Friday, February 17, 2012

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Friday, February 10, 2012

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Friday, February 3, 2012

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Wednesday, February 1, 2012