Slabs on side of new building are part of government’s radical new policy on crime
Harry Shannon
People passing by the new Toronto Courthouse in downtown Toronto have been puzzled by the slabs extending from the east side of the building (shown in the photo). ProbablyMaybe can now reveal their purpose. They are an integral part of …
Category: Satire
Mass clear out of books from Florida schools
Harry Shannon
Florida schools continue to allow parents to decide which books can remain in the libraries of the state’s public schools.
Since Governor Ron DeSantis announced the new policy, many groups, especially Christian organizations, have demanded the removal of most books from the shelves.
This includes almost all the English cla…
Fox Corporation revises staff training
Harry Shannon
Fox Corporation will change the training its employees receive when they start work. The primary focus will be on how to avoid being caught in a lie or a criminal offence. The move follows two recent scandals involving Fox.
The first is now well known. Rupert Murdoch, the founder and chair of the board of Fox, has acknowledged …
U.S. and Canadian politicians join forces in renaming project
Harry Shannon
Former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is working with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to change the names of the Trans-Canada Highway and the Trans-Alaska pipeline.
Palin told a news conference that evangelical groups have complained about the use of “trans” in…
U.S. Supreme Court justices sought new solution to problem of originalism
Harry Shannon
The U.S. Supreme Court justices who believe in originalism have been using an unusual method to help their decisions.
Originalism is the view that interpretations of the U.S. Constitution should be based on the “original meaning,” that is, the meaning understood by those who adopted the Constitution.
As many critics have…
Ebola epidemic sweeping across Alberta
Since a male Alberta resident returned home from overseas several weeks ago, 273 people have died from ebola disease and thousands more are believed to be infected. Other provinces are refusing entry to anyone from Alberta.
The initial case (‘Case X) flew home maskless from Europe while asymptomatic. Case X fell ill and was diagnosed with ebo…
Anti-Science group folds after only a few days
Harry Shannon
The group Anti-Science Politicians, or ASP, has rapidly backed down from its aims and is disbanding less than a week after it announced its formation. ASP was a growing international movement that promised to reject science and the products of science.
ASP was founded by Mike Pence and includes anti-vaxxer politicians and other…
News Flash: Bank call centre tells truth
Harry Shannon
We’ve all heard it far too many times: “Your call is important to us.” Indeed, that’s the name of a book by Laura Penny. Most, if not all, of us probably view that in the manner of the book’s subtitle, “The truth about bullshit.”
So I was surprised when I phoned the CIBC Visa call centre (CIBC is one of the bigges…
Exclusive! Paula White mystery solved
Harry Shannon
You may have seen the video of Paula White, Donald Trump’s ‘spiritual advisor,’ praying for a Trump victory in the US election. If you haven’t seen the clip, it’s quite remarkable, and worth a look if only to expand your horizons to see a level of crazy that I didn’t know existed. (And check White’s Wikipedia entry t…
British Museum to change its name
Harry Shannon
Late in August, the British Museum moved a bust of its slave-owning founding father, Sir Hans Sloane. It was described as an attempt to confront the museum’s links to colonialism.
In a surprise follow-up, Hartwig Fischer, the museum’s director, announced that the museum will change its name. It will henceforth be known as …