Category: Uncategorized

Eton school, please stop what you’re doing.

By - September 6, 2019
Harry Shannon I was born and raised in the UK, so I pay some attention to what's going on there. A while ago I heard the headmaster of the British school Eton justifying its ultra-exclusivity and the fact that almost all its students are from very rich families.  (Eton actually calls itself a ‘College’.)  The headmaster claimed that ma…

Media Hype? Check the Numbers

By - May 21, 2019
Unless you’ve been under the proverbial rock for the last few weeks, you’ll know that the TV show Game of Thrones (GoT) has just aired its final episode.  It has had eight seasons. Clearly fans of GoT were really into the show (although I gather that they weren’t so enthusiastic about the final season).  Based on the attention in th…

My letter in the Hamilton Spectator, May 14

By - May 21, 2019
Background: This letter responded to one a few days earlier in the Hamilton Spectator.  That letter in turn was commenting on the story in the paper about Rabbi David Mivasair, who went to the West Bank to help repair a road used by Palestinian villagers to access health care, etc.  He was arrested by Israeli forces. RE: RABBI’S VIEWS CLASH…

My letter in the Toronto Star, May 14

By - May 21, 2019
Background to this letter: The Conservative government in Ontario opposes the federal carbon tax, claiming it is ineffective.  Premier Doug Ford is taking the matter to the courts.  As well, Ford has talked about increasing speed limits on Ontario highways.  My letter was joining some dots. Re He who tweets by gas prices, dies by gas prices,…

Econ 101 Pop Quiz

By - April 29, 2019
It seems the economic policy known as ‘supply-side’ has made a comeback in the U.S. under Donald Trump.  The underlying idea was, I understand, proposed by Arthur Laffer in the 1970s and formed the basis of Ronald Reagan’s approach in his presidency.  The claim is that if taxes are reduced, society as a whole will benefit becaus…

How I lost three hours to Summer Time

By - April 7, 2019
Harry Shannon Spring forward, Fall back; so goes the saying.  Which means you ‘lose’ one hour when the clocks go forward in Spring. Yet I managed to lose three!  I was in Canada for the first one on 10 March.  North America extended the summer time period some years ago.  The U.S. Congress were pretending they were takin…

How to be a philanthropist: An 11-step guide

By - March 26, 2019
Harry Shannon Pay your workers starvation wages, preferably in low income countriesIgnore labour laws and health and safety hazardsMake obscene amounts of moneyBefriend powerful politicians and donate to their partiesContinually deny any wrongdoing or dreadful labour practicesTransfer your money to tax havensGive a tiny fraction of the taxes s…