The Non-Debate Abortion Debate: Beyond the Thunderdome by Alex

There is an abortion debate happening in Canada right now. It might be shrouded in coded language and denied by the Prime Minister but it is happening. Stephen Woodworth, an anti-choice conservative MP for Kitchener-Waterloo proposed a private members motion (M-312) to create a committee whose purpose is to redefine personhood. Canadian law considers a person to be a person once they check out of the womb by way of the vaginal canal. Woodworth thinks that it's a pretty dated definition considering the advances of modern medicine and science (science! Super important when taking away women and Trans* people's bodily autonomy! Meaningless when put up against creationism and climate change!) which, ok fair enough, the definition doesn't account for c-section births or the stork babies or cabbage patch kids but this isn't about being a stickler for medical science: it's about criminalizing abortion. The definition he's all grumpy about is found in Section 223 of the Criminal Code, the section that defines homicide. Make no mistake, if the definition of person is extended to fetuses, at all, abortion will be criminalized.

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5 Band Names Inspired By Rob Ford's Maniacal March 22 by Alex Snider

Could Rob Ford be a band-name-creating savant? I think maybe? Just today in his three sputtering TTC rages he came up with five reaaaaally convincing rock monikers. TO musicians take note:

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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". 

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Save the Port Lands by Alex Snider

Wow, Rob Ford and his cronies have been keeping us on our toes, huh? Grassroots activism geared towards saving libraries, the Riverdale farm, subsidized housing and bike lanes (to name a few). All nighters at City Hall where citizens had the chance of voicing their opinions about all the proposed cuts. Nearly every weekend offering an opportunity to get out and protest the blatant disregard and disrespect for democracy which our mayor has displayed over and over again, to call out the political thuggery that has taken hold of city council.

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A Headline is Worth a Thousand Words by Alex Snider

You can really tell a lot from each of these paper's headlines regarding Harper's recent Islamicism-is-killing-Canada fear-mongering interview and where they stand in the political spectrum/allegiances (not that there are any surprises to be had).

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Good Bye, Jack, Thanks For Everything by Alex Snider

Oh wow, sad news this morning: Jack Layton, leader of the Canadian New Democratic Party (the historically third tier lefty party that brought us such things as Universal Heath Care) succumbed to cancer this morning, only just two and a half months after an incredible, underdog (like, Mighty Ducks underdog) win over the Liberal party for the official opposition against the Conservative party and the lead cyborg, Stephen Harper. I cannot stress enough how amazing it was that the NDP, under Jack, and really, because of Jack given his integrity as a leader and a human being -- wow, this is such a staggering loss for Canada -- leapt from fourth place to second Federally, when few thought it possible. 

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$9460 on haircuts and his hair still looks like poop (and he will eat your soul)

Update added 4/13/11 4:55 PM: And let's not forget this precious gem. Nickleback endorsed Harper. Effing Nickleback. If that's not a reason to vote for change, I honestly don't know what is.*

via artthreat

You have to watch this video, and visit ShitHarperDid.com for more. Seriously. Go. Do it now, come back to us later. We don't mind.

The Kelowna accord was a $5 billion breakthrough agreement to improve the quality of health and education for Canada's First Nation's Peoples. Harper canceled it in 2006, immediately after taking office. (via ShitHarperDid.com)

Since you came back, we thought we'd also tell you to read this compelling comic strip by just some guy. It is amazing. Come back when you're done.

Hey again, want more? Why is Stephen Harper trying to pretend to be a totally normal guy? We think Bonhomme looks more normal here than dear leader. More here.

You can also visit The Harper Government for more "hilarious" (depressing) memes here

*Other than all of the other crazy, fucked up stuff that the Harper Government has done. Like:

In the 2011 budget, the Harper government failed to allocate any new funding for drinking water on First Nations reserves. 100 First Nations communities currently have water advisories, including 49 communities which are high risk. Harper also refuses to sign the UN Declaration designating clean water as a human right. (via ShitHarperDid.com and rabble)

And:

At the 2009 G20 Harper actually said this - 'We also have no history of colonialism. So we have all of the things that many people admire about the great powers but none of the things that threaten or bother them.' (ShitHarperDid and rabble)

And:

In 2007, Harper cut $1.2 Billion in spending for the establishment of quality national childcare. However, he never kept his promise to cut the $1.4 billion in tax breaks he gives to oil companies (the wealthiest corporations in history). (ShitHarperDid and CUPE)

You get the idea...