The Weekender: Fake News Isn’t Our Only News Problem

This week on the show we talked about the recent issues around fake news, and whether these fake news industries that have arisen, websites that create posts that are sold as news but are barely related to actual news happening anywhere, had an effect on the U.S. Election. Fakes news is obviously a problem, but as we pointed out on the show, the problem has been significantly affected by the fact that few people seem to know what real news is anymore. That’s not a problem created by Russian oligarchs, alt-right provocateurs, or unemployed post-grads, it’s being caused because there are times when our local news stations don’t know what real news is. Continue reading “The Weekender: Fake News Isn’t Our Only News Problem” →

Get Your Questions Ready for #AskMayorCam Part 2!

Last year, Open Sources Guelph hosted Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie for a full-hour of discussion after only just six months since his 2014 election to head of the Royal City’s government. It was a tremendous success, and it was thanks i to you, our beloved audience, who gave us such great questions to ask the mayor live on air. So in the grand Hollywood tradition of doing things so right the first time that we have to do it again for a second, get ready for #AskMayorCam Part 2: Electric Boogaloo! Continue reading “Get Your Questions Ready for #AskMayorCam Part 2!” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 24, 2016

Here on Open Sources Guelph, we can’t guarantee that we’ll always get them right, but also promise not to intentionally mislead you. It’s an important distinction this week as we dig into the phenomenon of fake news, and whether or not it had an effect on the U.S. Presidential election. Also this week, we’ll talk about how if you can walk and talk, you can go to Brock, and get elected to Queen’s Park as we look at the Ontario by-elections. We’ll also look ahead to the 2017 British Columbia provincial election, and how in another 13 years, Santa won’t be able to leave coal in your stocking anymore. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 24, 2016” →

From Spannerbook: Carte Blanche

Spannerbook

hat-and-mug The first headline to finally cut through the President Trump news tsunami on my feeds was “Mosul battle: IS hangs bodies of 40 civilians from poles in Iraqi city, UN says” on November 11th. The Daesh are feeling the heat and are reacting as classic fascists do; killing civilians, getting teenagers and children to suit up and do their dirty work, sending out the suicide bombers into the markets of the unarmed and defenceless as only cowards can do. Are they finished? It’s very difficult to wipe out an ideology. You can beat it back but the latent period will end eventually. An entrenched idea will inevitably regain traction in the greater consciousness. Sometimes it’s a slow burn and other times it’s as if a switch has been flicked. Trump is insistent he is going to take care of ISIS but he seems to have unleashed a taste of an…

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Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 17, 2016

We’re pleased to take a break from the live-feed of the Washington circus this week on Open Sources Guelph to deal with more present matters here in Canada. Yes, there are plenty of leadership-related predicaments here in the Great White North, and they need to be given some air time too. For instance, did you know that no one’s running for the federal NDP leadership yet? Meanwhile, things are getting a little off the rails in the Federal and Alberta Conservative leadership campaigns, and if you’re a journalist in Montreal, you better check your phone, because your phone might be listening to you. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 17, 2016” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 10, 2016

It’s a mad house! A mad house! How many you felt like George Taylor realizing that he was on Earth along after experiencing the ascension of Donald Trump to the presidency this week? Open Sources Guelph does. We may not be on the Planet of the Apes, but you’d have a tough time convincing us that we’re not on a planet of deplorables. We will talk for the last time about the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election before starting the countdown to the first days of the Trump presidency, and then we’ll consider more local matters with out latest guest from city council, and he’ll tell us what he thinks of Trump (just kidding). Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 10, 2016” →

Things We Learned in the Fire

President-Elect Donald Trump. Never thought I’d have to write those four words in once sentence, but that was the verdict in the United States last night. A decisive victory for a man who has no experience in elected or appointed political office, and no military or diplomatic experience to speak of besides military school and running the Miss Universe pageant. The historic double-election of Barack Obama may be exceeded by the complete 180 degree turnaround the country committed to last night, but before we consider the future, let us first reconsider the past. What lessons can we take away from the 2016 election? Continue reading “Things We Learned in the Fire” →