Ottawa

Now up at the Western Standard is a feature article by Joseph C. Ben-Ami and Joseph B. Varner entitled "No Choice Now: Canada must support Kosovo independence."

An excerpt:

"The truth is that there are no good choices available to policy makers on the question of Kosovo’s independence–only bad and worse. By delaying a decision on recognition of Kosovo’s independence, Canada has already demonstrated its unease with the situation, and its frustration that the mission in Kosovo should have been so badly botched in the first place.

(Read the full post about ‘No Choice Now: Canada must support Kosovo independence’…)

Yesterday–and I suppose, given Buckley’s passing today, somewhat presciently–I sent Noam Chomsky an email about his televised debate with William F. Buckley Jr. from 1969. Here’s part one of the video:

(And here’s the link to part two).

I had interviewed, with Western Standard reporter Terrence Watson and fellow colleague  Jay Lafayette, Jonah Goldberg this past Monday, and took a bit of an interest in the history of the National Review. That lead me to look up videos of Buckley, the founder of the magazine.

(Read the full post about ‘Chomsky vs. Buckley’…)

The authors of Kickstart Canada have added a Teacher Resource section to the Kickstart Canada website. Resources include: sample classroom discussion questions, tips for interviewing and suggestions on how to get students engaged with  their own writing.

For more information click here.

William F. Buckley, Jr., a founder of the conservative movement in the English-speaking world — if not in the West — died, today.

Nigel Beale talks to Sally Cooper about her second novel,  Tell Everything. She reveals that, “with Tell Everything that [she] wrote the book [she] wanted to read.”

You can find the entire interview here.

Syed Sohawardy, the man who launched the human rights complaints against Ezra Levant and the Western Standard has an op-ed piece in today’s Straight Goods online newspaper:

The re-printing of the cartoons wasn’t about free speech. The originals are readily available on the internet for any who wish to see them. The reprinting is rather about forcing people who are deeply unhappy about the cartoons, and who would not seek them out, to be faced with them again. This is hurtful to many in the Muslim community, and can create ill-will between Muslims and non-Muslims.

(Read the full post about ‘Syed Sohawardy on Syed Sohawardy’…)

Maureen Jennings, author of the Murdoch Mysteries and Christine Morris Mysteries, will be part of the International Readings at Harbourfront on Wednesday, March 5th.  She will read from The K Handshape, the second book in the series featuring Detective Christine Morris.

 

The reading will take place on Wednesday March 5th at Harbourfront Centre, 7:30pm, in the Brigatine Room. For more information click here. 

Now that Stephen Harper has an open road to having the longest-serving minority government in nearly 80 years (or the longest this side of William Mackenzie-King), it looks like my country will be the only one in North America with a national election.

As such, there may be more interest in my theory of the "Hispanic" vote: namely, that such a thing is as mythical as the "francopohone" vote up there (that "monolith" that split practically three ways in the last Quebec provincial election).

Ottawa-based optical transport systems provider Optelian establishes operations in Mexico. Focusing initially on sales, customer service and technical support for the Mexican market, the Mexico City office will also serve as headquarters for other Latin American markets. The venture is being undertaken with assistance from Export Development Canada, which is providing Optelian with market expertise and a global ARI (accounts receivable insurance) solution. “Optelian has achieved success by being close to our customers to ensure we understand and meet their needs. Our decision to establish in-country operations in Mexico is a continuation of our customer focus philosophy that has been successful for us in the rest of North America.

(Read the full post about ‘Mexican move’…)

The Orléans Soapbox Derby will no longer be a sanctioned event, officials say. File photo Soapbox derby loses steam The annual Orléans Soapbox Derby has had its sanction revoked by the country’s governing racing body, leaving the event’s official status in limbo even as organizers expect to draw record crowds this year. Canadian Soap Box Racing Association spokesperson Bernie Daynes said the decision – which means no national race circuit members will participate at this year’s event, set for June 7 – was taken after he and others observed a series of CSBRA rule violations during last year’s event.

“These rules and guidelines are developed to ensure fairness in the various racing classes, and to ensure the safety of the racers,” said Daynes, who has helped organize the Orléans race since its inception. (Read the full post about ‘Soapbox derby loses steam’…)