TFPO column: CAPS' peaceful protest at Bark Works reminds us to adopt from shelters

I enjoy the colourful lights and sparkling decorations, even the Christmas carols when they’re not looped on the stereo system while the tofurky is still warm on the table. But to be honest, I don’t care for Christmas. To some extent, it’s because I have no personal interest in the birth of Jesus. Mostly, Christmas always strikes me as the most inauthentic time of the year, stirring my idealism but ultimately reinforcing my cynicism. Instead of invoking the ghost of columns past, however, I’d rather focus on those elements of the Christmas spirit that we can and should all come together for regardless of our religious persuasion: compassion, peace, goodwill. And as I contemplate these most universal of values in light of the day’s mostly grim news, I also have to think about other areas in which we can take the opportunity to exercise compassion. Hence, this week's column about extending compassion towards animals...

CAPS' Peaceful Protest at Bark Works Reminds Us to Adopt From Shelters

film review: stash

Without much ado given the lateness of the hour, except to point out that Stash is yet another successful example of the indie mockumentary genre, I give you this week's film review with apologies for the lack of film reviews over the past few weeks.

Entertainment: ** (out of two)
Craft: ** (out of two)

Stash: Porn-Be-Gone!

I miss my traffic light symbols for the ratings.

updates: TFPO, Morbid Outlook, the ladder

Apologies for the lack of timely updates. Here's a quick rundown of what's going on:

My second of an anticipated three columns on climate change posted at TFPO on Monday. I diverged slightly from my intended topic to answer editor Ari Noonan's editorial - Why Won’t the Global Warmies Engage in a Manly Debate? - with a question of my own Why Won’t Climate Change Deniers Accept the Science?

A new edition of In Rotation at Morbid Outlook with reviews of The Genitorturers, Ascension of the Watchers, Echo & the Bunnymen, Synthetic Dream Foundation, and Anders Manga.

Finally, The Ladder...What's so special about the patient code-named Red Queen? What is Dr. Harriman Seldon Poole's interest in her? How will Eriq and Vlad come up with a superhero that is more Superman than Superman? And what was Dr. Lumen working on before he disappeared? The answers to these and other question will continued to be unveiled in January.

As always, thanks for reading.

TFPO column : climate change denial, science, and the burden of proof

Climate change deniers puzzle me to no end; the hysteria, the irrational contempt, the seeming lack of compassion for the planet (not to mention life on said planet). Some arguments, seen everywhere from the pundits to the various comments in feedback forums at HuffPo and others, are so flawed it's amazing they still have any momentum. Yet, momentum they have. In honour of the climate change talks in Copenhagen, I tackle some of these unwarranted doubts.

Climate Change Denial, Science, and the Burden of Proof