Periodic Haircuts

So . . . I got a (rather severe) haircut last week, and of course that got me thinking about Dimitri Mendeleev.  You know, the guy who came up with the periodic table of elements.  No, not because my hair is comprised of carbon and trace elements of the various minerals in my system (come back, zinc!), but because of his odd grooming habits.

Students: Can't Live With 'Em, Can't Live Without 'Em

So . . . as a university professor I have a first-hand view (or is it first-eye view?  My hand can't see!) of how students manage their post-secondary education.  And when a commentary comes along, like in the Globe and Mail this weekend, about the so-called universal right to higher education, or when a political leader proposes a plan to increase university enrolment as part of his platform, I take notice.  Because unlike many, I don't necessarily think that increasing the number of university students is necessarily a good thing.  And I don't think that post-secondary education is for everyone.

First Past the Post Post

So . . . the Canadian electoral campaign is still raging (an overstatement I know, but the 12-year-old in me gets a kick out of "raging election") with the debates scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday.  The French-language debate was supposed to be Thursday, but because more people care about the Bruins-Habs playoff game scheduled for that night, they moved the debate.  Today is part three of my election "coverage" (so quotated because I haven't really be covering the election so much as commenting on marginal issues) and the topic of the day is our electoral system. 

The Paradox of Outcomes: A Real-Life Case!

So . . . if you've been reading this blog for a little while you are undoubtedly familiar with my constant (obsessive?) interest in outcomes and chance.  Almost a year ago now I wrote this post, which used as an example the idea of entering a lottery and making the best decision (the decision that makes the most sense prior to a deciding event like a lottery drawing) and the right decision (the decision that ultimately proves most beneficial after the event).  Well, two weeks ago there was a lottery drawing that is (almost) right in line with my reasoning, and it proves to be a very difficult test case for me to defend.  But I'll try anyway.

Fear of a Black School

So . . . the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) decided to quit while they were ahead and scrap plans for an "Afro-centric" high school.  The idea was the brainchild of a group within the board who had successfully started an Afro-centric elementrary school two years ago.  They wanted to build on that success (210 students with a 55 student waiting list) with the obvious next step, a high school.  This is a particularly misguided idea, for several reasons.  The story can be followed here; I'm mostly going to add commentary.

Looking for Extra-Chunky Spaghetti Sauce in Canadian Politics

So . . . it's week two of the Canadian federal campaign, and the two major parties have started promising billions of dollars that we will never, ever see.  I'm sure the minor parties have also been promising a lot, but come on, let's be honest - they will never be in power so their promises are even less meaningful than those of the Liberals and Conservatives.  And though I, like most Canadians, already know who I will be voting for; like most Canadians, I will be voting for the same party as last time (if you know me personally you can probably guess which party).  But Canadian politics has a party problem (not like that of Miley Cyrus - I don't think that Harper or Ignatieff have tried salvia), and that's what I'm discussing today.

No Foolin' Around - Help the Capital Protesters

So . . . one headline got me incensed today, more than any other.  It's about the ongoing protests in the Middle East, and I just feel like I've had enough of this.  But I really think it's starting to go too far.  The headline: "Rival Protests Fill Yemen's Capital."  I know what you're thinking: why this headline?  Why is this one the one that pushed him over the edge?  Well, you may disagree, but I believe that it's beyond the pale for protesters to have to fit into the the triangular wedge between the two upright lines of that letter.