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Typical to automatically assume the word citizen refers to American Citizens. The wording is a little off, but it is pretty clear they are referring to Canadian Citizens working for US-Owned corperations.

The privacy commissioner was referring to Canadian citizens living in BC. The provincial government wants to out-source all medical services plan data to a subsidiary of an american defence contractor. Because we have mandatory health coverage, every resident of BC has an MSP record. That's 4 million Canadian Citizens whose medical records could be demanded by a foreign intelligence service without a warrant issued by a Canadian judge.

According to this story the provincial government is going to outsource anyways.

This is so important to understand, I'm going to re-post it above the discussion about bin Laden's tape.

This story (and this summary) really should be front-page material

1,350,000,000 Chinese. (Give or take.)

18,000,000 bars checked. (One for every 75 people.) That's not bad. That would be the equivalent of 3.9 million bars in the U.S.*

18,000 bars need "rectification." That probably means they were fined and told to do X, Y, and Z. Only 1% of bars needed to be rectified. These bars remained open.

1,600 bars were completely shut down. That means out of all the bars, 0.0089% were shut down. One out of every 1,000 were fined/rectified. 1 out of every 11,250 were shut down. Why were they fined or shut down?

"...allowing children to play violent or adult-only games and other violations... ...Porn, gambling, violence and similar problems..."

So, the issue here is, not censorship, but that the Chinese Government regulates internet bars, and that some bars allowed children to do everything from play violent video games (admittedly not that big on an issue) to see explicit sex videos (not sure any parent would want their 7-yr old doing that).

Yes the parents should've checked the bars, but hey, so did the government. And now because of one parent's lousy parenting (not checking to see what their kid did), the government stepped in. And did this on very rare occasions.

Frankly, I don't see what the fuss is about.

BONUS NEWS@: The Internet Society of China recently released a blacklist of 112 internet protocol (IP) addresses of spam servers.

* Metric Conversion: 4.5 Libraries of Congress / Volkswagen.

Except, what you say in your point one is not true.

Try reading the criminal code if you are concerned about it. The hate crimes laws are fairly specific. You can hate people all you want. It becomes a crime when you are inciting violence (in several forms, including illegal public disturbances) against an identifiable group of people. The wording is sometimes claimed to have some looseness, but the intent is fairly clear in actual case histories.

To put it into context, this section of the criminal code starts out addressing specifically the promotion of genocide. This is extreme. But all of the related sections follow this similar theme.

You conclude: "the full truth deserves to be out there so people can make informed decisions". I won't address your other points, because they are as misinformed as your first... over blown, out of context, based on uninformed opinions, etc.

No offence.

The reverse (U.S. resident getting a Canadian dish) applies as well. I'm not sure what Canada has that the U.S. isn't allowed to get though.

It's mainly used by the police to look for marijuana grow-ops. I just hope the police chopper flying overhead isn't watching my heat signature as I'm taking a dump or viewing internet pr0n. :-) The Court's full decision is here.

Yes, because the media is always right and always reports accurately especially when they have reliable Iraqi civilians feeding them information. And the media is unbiased of course. I understand what the Israeli's go through with the media reports having now heard how ours and the world's reports what happens here. It's a lot different from reality.

Those pesky journalists should just stick their noses in the more prurient affairs where they belong. That way, stories like these will go unreported.

Don't forget CBC - in Canada anyway.

Okay as an US citizen I will say that I know that Canada has a democratic system. I will also say that I am guilty as charged about not knowing when Canada holds there elections. I can not vote there so... It really does not matter to me.

But perhaps it should, seeing as how Canada is the US's largest trading partner, and how the US has a major trade deficit with Canada.

Whether or not it matters to you is ultimately up to you. Personally, it doesn't bother me a whole lot if Americans don't know when Canada is in election time, what the issues are, or whether or not any of those issues would positively or negatively affect the US. I've come to expect that the US populance is ambivilent towards Canada for the most part -- and that's okay.

It's because this ambivilence doesn't bother me (for the most part) that I'd be suprised if suddenly the US media started heavily promoting one candidate over another in a Canadian election, as the previous poster suggested. And then I'd get over it, shrug, and go on with my life.

Note, however, that if Americans (through their elected government) are going to continue to self-proclaim themselves as a superpower, and wield that power whenever and wherever they want to in this world, disregarding international law (and even the spirit of US dosmestic law) in the process, then all of those people who are affected by this are going to be interested in and influenced by the outcome of the election.

I'm somewhat ambivilent about this election myself. As a Canadian, I'm angered over the US government breaking treaties, both international and bilateral, which have harmed the Canadian economy and ordinary Canadians, who have lost their jobs because of such actions (and here, I refer specifically to insane softwood lumber tarrifs -- the bilateral FTA panel has ruled the US tarrifs illegal, as has the WTO on numerous occassions (ref: http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/06/11 /soft040611.html).

At the same time, the current US administrations continuing increase of the national debt and their virtual complete ignoring of economic issues has been pushing the Canadian dollar higher these past few years, all while the Canadian dollar has been soaring. This has both its up and downsides, but in the end Canada has become a more popular place for foreign investment due to the declining US economy and sagging employment rates.

Most Canadians would seem to side with Kerry, although to my mind I'm having a hard time telling him apart from Bush. About the only benefit I can see of Kerry over Bush for Canada is that Kerry seems more willing to work with his friends, rather than against them.

The US has become a vastly more insular place these past four years in a world that, thanks in no small part to the Internet, is becoming ever more international in scope. As a nation, I consider the US a bad friend -- they seem to have no qualms about screwing us, and their own house seems to be a mess, but at the same time I remember all the good times when we worked together to make North America (and the world) a better place by being an example to them. I, for one, hope the US gets itself together again so we can put our strained friendship back on a solid footing.

Yaz.

It's also interesting to note that "hypo-allergenic" has no medical definition. People assume it means the product will be safe for allergy sufferers, but there is no certification process because there is no such thing, from a medical perspective, as hypo-allergenic. Not such a big deal when you're talking about a $5 bar of soap, but I suspect people will be pretty pissed if their $3500 designer pet turns out to make them just as itchy as the free kitten their cousin offered them.

The problem is that mankind has never proven it could build any structure to last the time needed weather the half life of these radioactive elements. Building a "permanent" underground facility will need to last ten's of thousands of years.

Quirks and Quarks did a great story on these nuclear waste storage scenarios in September.

(for those of you who haven't figured this out, I'm speaking this as devil's advocate, not someone who agrees with him).

i couldn't find anything on pressure thresholds, but there is an article talking about how turgor pressure effects plant growth. turgor is a biology term that princeton defines better than i do. i'd imagine that the turgor pressure corresponds to atmospheric pressure in slightly different ratios species-to-species... The article also talks about yield threshold, which i think is just the output of good crop. here is more info on what plants NASA wants to grow for their astronauts ( wheat, rice, lettuce, cabbage, soy, potatoes, and others ) and some issues that they are facing ( one article mentions nuts and fruits are difficult ). too bad NASA is really buries their information...

Brazil's possible nuclear capability. It is likely that this capability means that Brazil is capable of delivering a nuclear payload a much longer distance than either Iran or North Korea.

I am not claiming that Brazil should be lumped in with either of these two nations, however it is an interesting opportunity to test a dual purpose launch vehicle and perhaps reflect the first of the 'developing' countries probable intercontinental capabilities.

Given recent trade tensions between Brazil and the USA I have no doubt that this is turning a few heads in the commerce / state department.

Trollification:

We are in a first world country with a decent infrastructure and it is extremely unlikely that we will have mass powercuts

Yeah, that'll never happen

Enjoy.

Enjoy.

You could also just click on the story link, and look to the right of the story, where there is a 1:53 video in both Quicktime and RealVideo formats, and a 2:22 RealAudio clip. There's also the synchrotron website linked on the right side.

You could also just click on the story link, and look to the right of the story, where there is a 1:53 video in both Quicktime and RealVideo formats, and a 2:22 RealAudio clip. There's also the synchrotron website linked on the right side.

You could also just click on the story link, and look to the right of the story, where there is a 1:53 video in both Quicktime and RealVideo formats, and a 2:22 RealAudio clip. There's also the synchrotron website linked on the right side.

Available here under "Watch the National online." You'll have to forward and rewind to get to the juicy bits, though, as it's a couple stories embedded within the hour-long newscast.

I thought there was a canadian citizen that we intercepted at our borders and then sent to Syria where he said he was tortured.

There was. Maher Arar was picked up by the US, detained, questioned, and then deported to Syria where Arar claims US officials new he would be tortured. So far, CSIS has been cleared of any wrongdoing, however the RCMP is looking pretty bad. Arar is now back in Canada and is filing suit against the US government.

I submitted a story about the CBC streaming in Ogg more than two weeks ago.

As of today, no mention of it has shown up on the front page.

This isn't about ego. ("Hey, it's that Anonymous Coward who really likes using parentheticals. I like his, or her, or their, style!") But I find it... interesting... that the absence of Ogg from a glorified walkman seems to excite people more than the presence of Ogg at the national radio service of a G7 nation.

The CBC will soon celebrate one month of Ogg Vorbis streaming, and the collective reaction from Slashdot will not even amount to a yawn. In the aggregate, we care so little about actual real-world use of Ogg Vorbis that we can't even bother to scoff.

If I were an Apple executive, I know what conclusion I would draw.

Canadian health care gets more or less the same results that American and other rich countries do.

How's that "terrible"? What do you think American health care would look like if we spent 40% *less* than we do?

There are shows out there that are science based, but how many people watch them?

Nova has been around for ages, as has Nature. Both are excellent shows, but what kind of audience do they have? Sadly, not enough. Even with such excellent programs as this: The Elegant Universe. (Note, you need to downgrade your version of quicktime if it is new to view it due to a quicktime bug. I reccomend the full screen version BTW.)

Up here in Canada I have been watching The Nature of Things for as long as I can remember. We also get Quirks and Quarks on CBC radio, which is actually quite popular up here. (I reccomend downloading some episodes in MP3. Jay Ingram from Daily Planet used to host this show.)

So, there are good shows out there for such a network, but the question becomes, would people watch? I know I would, hell, I would subscribe to a cable channel of that nature in an instant. However, as it is, I use my ATI All-In-Wonder and the PVR software that came with it to record and play back these shows, so I have a "custom" science channel of my own.

Michael Schermer has been working towards this for some time: as shown here.

I think though, that one VITAL thing to add would be along the lines of what Schermer already does (and the Mythbusters TV show does to some degree as well): Teach Joe Sixpack the nature of scientific thinking, specifically critical thinking as outlined in Carl Sagan's The Demon Haunted World, Science as a Candle in the Dark. Once more people begin to understand this concept, they will likely become more open to scientific televison, well, that is what I hope for anyhow.

There are shows out there that are science based, but how many people watch them?

Nova has been around for ages, as has Nature. Both are excellent shows, but what kind of audience do they have? Sadly, not enough. Even with such excellent programs as this: The Elegant Universe. (Note, you need to downgrade your version of quicktime if it is new to view it due to a quicktime bug. I reccomend the full screen version BTW.)

Up here in Canada I have been watching The Nature of Things for as long as I can remember. We also get Quirks and Quarks on CBC radio, which is actually quite popular up here. (I reccomend downloading some episodes in MP3. Jay Ingram from Daily Planet used to host this show.)

So, there are good shows out there for such a network, but the question becomes, would people watch? I know I would, hell, I would subscribe to a cable channel of that nature in an instant. However, as it is, I use my ATI All-In-Wonder and the PVR software that came with it to record and play back these shows, so I have a "custom" science channel of my own.

Michael Schermer has been working towards this for some time: as shown here.

I think though, that one VITAL thing to add would be along the lines of what Schermer already does (and the Mythbusters TV show does to some degree as well): Teach Joe Sixpack the nature of scientific thinking, specifically critical thinking as outlined in Carl Sagan's The Demon Haunted World, Science as a Candle in the Dark. Once more people begin to understand this concept, they will likely become more open to scientific televison, well, that is what I hope for anyhow.

And then you get this:

Maher Arar sent to Syria

Note how the authorities go on a finger pointing spree.

Vip

Washington State, British Columbia... what's the difference?

Well, let's see...... Maybe...
Pot Cafe's?

Here is the link to slashdot's coverage on the RBC computer glich

CIBC (another Canadian bank also had computer gliches this summer as well.

Goes to show that any institution (or industry) can be susceptible to computer problems.

-FL

...There is already an AIDS crisis in China at this moment. Except that the Provincial Government of Henan has been trying to keep it's dirty little secret, well, secret.

CBC had a documentary on it

It's only now coming to light, really. Yahoo and a quick Google search.

Maybe a Leonard Nimoy reality show in Vulcan, Alberta?

Oh, BTW, In our system, you choose your doctor. They're not "assigned" to you.

Oh, BTW, In our system, you choose your doctor. They're not "assigned" to you.

Oh, BTW, In our system, you choose your doctor. They're not "assigned" to you.

There are such things as conspiracies. There is no such thing as The Conspiracy. The former requires the cooperation of several people; the latter would require the cooperation of thousands of people, all of whom would need to be clever enough not to get caught. And People are just too Stupid for that to happen.

-FL

So why do the Indian family keep pressuring their children to study, and get college degrees only get a job running cash machines?

Outsourcing is nice, but that's a small fraction of the population.

According to CBC http://www.cbc.ca/india/schedule.html
http://media.cbc.ca:8080/ramgen/cbc.ca/thecurrent/ media/200405/20040525thecurrent_sec3.rm

You need a degree just to work at the cashier in India!

I have a feeling that North America is fast getting that way - The best way to prevent under employment is not to make people ambitious.

So why do the Indian family keep pressuring their children to study, and get college degrees only get a job running cash machines?

Outsourcing is nice, but that's a small fraction of the population.

According to CBC http://www.cbc.ca/india/schedule.html
http://media.cbc.ca:8080/ramgen/cbc.ca/thecurrent/ media/200405/20040525thecurrent_sec3.rm

You need a degree just to work at the cashier in India!

I have a feeling that North America is fast getting that way - The best way to prevent under employment is not to make people ambitious.

• The idea that people would actually keep it in their own homes is not realistic, though

• Whether you agree with the justification or not, the military did a nice job of disciplined strikes. There were some accidents, but that happens.

• I believe that one of the largest tragedies of 9/11 aside of the loss of life from so many victims was the assault on our civil liberties from our own government that soon followed.

They tried this in Canada by implementing a ban on publishing polls 48 hours before the election, and not allowing Media stations to report on election results before all polls across the Country closed (4 Time Zones - 4.5 in Newfoundland)

But, a provincial judge found the ban unconstitutional and struck down the law. Our most recent federal elections was a free-for-all, but it still didn't make much difference in the final results due to Ontario's urban population.

They tried this in Canada by implementing a ban on publishing polls 48 hours before the election, and not allowing Media stations to report on election results before all polls across the Country closed (4 Time Zones - 4.5 in Newfoundland)

But, a provincial judge found the ban unconstitutional and struck down the law. Our most recent federal elections was a free-for-all, but it still didn't make much difference in the final results due to Ontario's urban population.

It's just ridiculous that someone defends Bush. Anyone who wants to take the time can show that the problems are far, far worse than a Slashdot comment can possibly say. Check Google for Bush idiot Canada

Carolyn Parrish did not call Bush an idiot, apparently. She said Americans were a "coalition of idiots". And she is not sorry.

I guess that seemed like strong language to you. No, it is weak language. Look at the other links:

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien called Bush a "buffoon". Is that high enough in the Canadian government for you?

Jodine Chase, a media adviser to Ralph Klein's Alberta government apologized for referring to the US President as "that idiot" in a memo. According to the article, there is a new government policy in Canada: "These words cannot be used in reference to President Bush:

-moron
-idiot
-wanker
-idiot
-wanker
-dufus
-President of dumb
-Leader of the stupids
-that guy with Dick Cheney
-Commander-in-Comma"

Also see this in the same article: Francoise Ducros has resigned as Prime Minister Jean Chretien's director of communications after the media reported on a private conversation in which she called U.S. President George W. Bush a "moron."

Sorry, I don't have time to continue with the words the German and French government leaders use for Bush.

Call an AA chapter. Ask someone there if it's true that "once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic".

Few Americans realize how really, really bad the present administration is. U.S. media writers are afraid they will lose their jobs. Those from other countries can tell the truth about what they see.

Ask someone at AA if alcoholics are abusive, as the Prime Minister of Canada said. See this: The psychological effects of alcoholism provide a framework for understanding the Bush administration. Check the list of points 1 to 13.

It's just ridiculous that someone defends Bush. Anyone who wants to take the time can show that the problems are far, far worse than a Slashdot comment can possibly say. Check Google for Bush idiot Canada

Carolyn Parrish did not call Bush an idiot, apparently. She said Americans were a "coalition of idiots". And she is not sorry.

I guess that seemed like strong language to you. No, it is weak language. Look at the other links:

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien called Bush a "buffoon". Is that high enough in the Canadian government for you?

Jodine Chase, a media adviser to Ralph Klein's Alberta government apologized for referring to the US President as "that idiot" in a memo. According to the article, there is a new government policy in Canada: "These words cannot be used in reference to President Bush:

-moron
-idiot
-wanker
-idiot
-wanker
-dufus
-President of dumb
-Leader of the stupids
-that guy with Dick Cheney
-Commander-in-Comma"

Also see this in the same article: Francoise Ducros has resigned as Prime Minister Jean Chretien's director of communications after the media reported on a private conversation in which she called U.S. President George W. Bush a "moron."

Sorry, I don't have time to continue with the words the German and French government leaders use for Bush.

Call an AA chapter. Ask someone there if it's true that "once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic".

Few Americans realize how really, really bad the present administration is. U.S. media writers are afraid they will lose their jobs. Those from other countries can tell the truth about what they see.

Ask someone at AA if alcoholics are abusive, as the Prime Minister of Canada said. See this: The psychological effects of alcoholism provide a framework for understanding the Bush administration. Check the list of points 1 to 13.

A Canadian government leader called Bush an "idiot".

I realize this is from said article, but suggesting that Carolyn Parrish is a Canadian government leader is sadly mistaken. She is a back-bencher. A nobody.

-FL

Well, the CBC is doing one on one interviews with Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow about the lockout. So you can give them a piece of your mind.

You can submit a question here: here

Well, the CBC is doing one on one interviews with Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow about the lockout. So you can give them a piece of your mind.

You can submit a question here: here

Well, the CBC is doing one on one interviews with Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow about the lockout. So you can give them a piece of your mind.

You can submit a question here: here

You poor bastard.... They'll probably conclude that you're Muslim, then... and that's way, way worse .

Well the CBS is reporting it as well, without images or any more details than yahoo however. Of course CNN's main page is covered with HURRICANE SEASON EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN BE AFRAID EVEN IF THERE IS NO HURRICANE ANYWHERE NEAR HOW (ok so that's how I interpret the way they are presenting it) and remembering, honouring, mourning, etc September 11th stuff. If this cratar was big enough for satellites to see, I have no idea why major news corporations in the US aren't going "LOOK AT THIS".