gdp's Comments

Macleans.ca : Ch-ch-changes

Mon, 9 May 2011 18:58:15 +0000

The most annoying thing about "joining" a well established comment site is that all the good names are already taken...<sigh> although, I will say that it totally give me a chance to rebrand myself. (double underscore and all)

Macleans.ca : Hey look: Maybe it's just a bunch of stuff that happened

Mon, 9 May 2011 18:21:11 +0000

I don't think this is one of those "Choose-your-own-adventure" books... :)

Macleans.ca : Controversial new study suggests low-salt diet increases risk of death

Wed, 4 May 2011 18:03:01 +0000

"...following them an average of 7.9 million years. " wow! thats one heck of a long study! (of course when they fix that typo, this comment is going to be very out of place)

Macleans.ca : The good neighbours

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:49:08 +0000

"Shimkus has said there is no need for governments to try to stop climate change because the Bible’s Book of Genesis says that after the great flood, God promised Noah that he would never again destroy the world with rising waters." God will not cause the flood, but He didn't say He'd stop one if we made it! LOL

Macleans.ca : A life lost and a life destroyed

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:27:15 +0000

As much as I hate getting thumbed down, here goes… Some are missing a crucial point in the case. The “defendants” are being charged with multiple offences, one of which is regarding killing their friends while driving drunk. For the other driving charges, they are guilty with out a doubt, but the murder/vehicular homicide I think requires a more nuanced view. Many have pointed out that the driver knowingly drove while drunk. Well, that same criteria can be applied to the occupant of the vehicle. Using the Russian Roulette comparison, the driver has the gun and pulls the trigger, but the passenger put his head right beside. If the families of those involved plead for mercy on behalf of the driver, it should be taken into consideration by the Judge. It is neither mine nor your decision how these families feel and how they want the **justice** to be carried out. But the driver is still responsible for the other charges relating to the drunk driving.

Macleans.ca : Murder and sex, Canadian-style

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:16:15 +0000

"Making a fuss afterwards is very Canadian, too, with an immediate call for counseling for everyone" Thanks Barbara, that brought a smile to my face. A very Canadian Attitude to be so worred about others. Also, I seem to remember a number of people (Media or commenter’s, don't really remember which) asking that high level officials be monitored or examined by other professionals to make sure they were in a good state of mind - what a logistical nightmare!

Macleans.ca : Mugabe's new tenant farmers

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 22:25:55 +0000

I guess that means Africa's "Breadbasket" is still going up in smoke...

Macleans.ca : Stephen Harper: the brain in a jar

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 22:07:38 +0000

I think it goes something like "Whatchu talkin' bout Willis"? ;P

Macleans.ca : U.S. is more charitable than Canada: report

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:14:41 +0000

I agree. I think a lot of our charities ask for government contributions. Does anyone have any facts on this matter? I think the stat might be a little provocative, but that is nothing new. I wonder how much charites receive in relations to our GDP from all funding - donations and grants, and then to see what the difference between US and Canada would be on that scale. Can anyone think of a better scale?

Macleans.ca : You see kids? Fear works

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:45:05 +0000

I think this is the link "becauseno" was pointing to: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2010002/art... (this is the HTM page, not the PDF)

Macleans.ca : Conservative senators kill climate change bill

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 02:01:50 +0000

I’m just on the sidelines, quietly watching the events unfold. I’ve read about people saying Harper plays chess while the others play checkers – meaning Harper is all about strategy. Now I’m pondering if this is really a way for Harper achieves his objective of removing the unelected senate. I believe that was one of his platform promises. So it works like this: Kill a bill he doesn’t want, creating a controversy over the power the senate has, then propose a way for this never to happen again. Anyone and everyone who was upset about the bill being killed falls hook line and sinker for the proposition to abolish the unelected senate and Harper gets to cross another thing off his list. Anyone else see it that way? (note: I’m talking about political strategy here, not the pros or cons of the actual actions – but I think getting an elected senate would be a good thing in the end)

Macleans.ca : Politics all the way down

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:56:00 +0000

Seconded!

Macleans.ca : Building a better bee

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:59:11 +0000

Gotta hand it to the backyard scientist! I hope everyone involved keeps up the good work. It says he's been working on this for more than a decade...thats some real dedication!

Macleans.ca : The political genius of Rob Ford

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:28:06 +0000

hmm, I just wish there was an option to read what was deleted by the administrator....[polldaddy 3924401 http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/3924401/ polldaddy]

Macleans.ca : The secret script for ‘Fox News North’

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:49:55 +0000

I really enjoyed the part about the commercials...so true!

Macleans.ca : I'd like to reply to that Editor's Note

Thu, 13 May 2010 23:28:41 +0000

Brian: re: "P.S., I've lived in the GTA for 10 years now and have never heard of or seen the "Mississauga News"" The GTA is a pretty big place though...do you live in Mississauga? I'm guessing not. If you did, you'd probably get the Mississauga news delivered right to your door. Somehow I doubt that the Mississauga News gets wide delivery outside of Mississauga, much less the rest of the GTA. I don't read the "news" part of it all that often, but it comes with lots of local flyers. Otherwise, good post. (just representin'' for the 'sauga)

Macleans.ca : The big player

Sun, 9 May 2010 15:50:44 +0000

<begin rant> and what i'd really love to know, is why some people have HUGE long comments, but for mine I have to split them up into multiple posts! grrr <end rant>

Macleans.ca : The big player

Sun, 9 May 2010 15:48:37 +0000

However, I’ve also read that it can be used to help clean up industrial sites http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia “Paulownia has the ability to reclaim ecologically stressed and degenerate patches of land relatively quickly. Its root systems run deep and penetrate compacted and contaminated soils which have resulted from industrialized development. Paulownia is a phyto-remediator, increasing the organic content of degraded soils, processing and filtering contaminants through the uptake of its vascular system, and emitting oxygen into the atmosphere.” I’d be a little concerned about furniture made from these trees, because the contaminants (mercury and/or other heavy metals?) would just be sitting in the wood, brought into your home. Would they eventually leak out posing another health issue? Perhaps they would only be exposed during processing or if they caught fire? Any answers or thoughts on these questions?

Macleans.ca : The big player

Sun, 9 May 2010 15:48:23 +0000

I’ve read that this wood isn’t strong enough for Construction purposes. It does seem intriguing for furniture uses though. If all the promises hold true, hopefully it will become cheaper to get solid wood furniture – without the Formaldehyde/Benzene. I’d much rather have solid wood over particle board or plastic. Solid wood furniture could perhaps become the norm again.

Macleans.ca : Middle East war clouds

Wed, 5 May 2010 17:32:51 +0000

If a war does break out, I'd count myself very lucky that the TV is the closest I'd be to it.