“The Empire Strikes Back” – 30 years on
Like an old soldier reluctant to talk share war stories, I’ve always been somewhat reticent to disclose my service to the “Star Wars” saga over the last thirty odd years. Not that I’m...
Month: June 2010
Protest at the G20: Is It Really Toronto the Good Anymore?
Saturday June 26th, as dignitaries were arriving in Toronto Canada for the G8/G20, the streets of the downtown core were erupting in a violent protest. At first it was a fairly passive display, with...
Australia’s new Prime Minister and a clash of values
Last week in Australia, Julia Gillard became the first female Prime Minister in the country's history. Three or four months out from an election, Gillard went to (now former) Prime Minister Kevin...
Oil in the Gulf: Beyond politics, bigger problems
I can think of great political reasons why President Obama wants to create a six-month drilling ban on new deep-water oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico. There are millions of gallons of oily black...
Israel and Turkey: Tracing the decline
All of a sudden, everyone’s worrying about Turkey. The concern stems from two recent Turkish acts – heavy criticism of Israel in wake of the Gaza flotilla and Turkey’s Security Council vote...
In Minnesota, debtors’ prison is not a thing of the past
The term 'debtors' prison' immediately conjures images of the mid-nineteenth century, when both men and women were locked in prisons until their families could afford to pay off their debt. For some,...
2010 New York Asian Film Festival: melodrama perfected
With its lavish, sumptuous production design and attention-grabbing camerawork “Bodyguards and Assassins,” which makes its New York debut at this year’s New York Asian Film Festival is...
World Cup: The Trial of the Vuvuzelas
We rejoin Popular Opinion CourtTV's coverage of the Vuvuzela Trial, already in progress: “… Welcome back to Popular Opinion Court TV's coverage of the Vuvuzela Trial. I'm , the prosecution has...
What New York can teach us about ENDA: laws aren’t enough
As the ongoing fight about a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) bill rages on in the United States, a recent report in New York has raised questions about the effectiveness of...
Mexico’s Drug Cartels: a no-win situation
Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s military campaign against drug cartels has failed miserably. It’s no stretch to call it the single worst human-made disaster in Mexico since the Mexican...