Marge’s Nightmare is Our Reality as The Simpsons Spoof the Presidential Race

The Simpsons is no stranger to making pointed political commentary, so did you think that the craziness of the 2016 U.S. Presidential race was going to pass without notice? Hardly. In a new video posted Saturday night, Marge is being driven to night terrors about the hyper-partisanship and the acidic vitriol of the presidential campaign so far, and while many of us aren’t hyperventilating yet, we’ve certainly felt like we have been. Can the presidential race be a bit more harmonious, as Homer suggests? Let’s find out. Continue reading “Marge’s Nightmare is Our Reality as The Simpsons Spoof the Presidential Race” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 11, 2016

We said we’d never go there, but they tasked us. They tasked us! So on this week’s Open Sources Guelph, we’ll open with discussion of the trial of Jian Ghomeshi, and how just about no one involved, including the media covering it, will come out looking good. We will also dig into the complexities of affordable housing in Guelph, the greater complexities of the war against ISIS, and the curiosities of the U.S. Presidential race. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 11, 2016” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 4, 2016

The clown car has sprung a leak. On this week’s Open Sources Guelph we’ll journey to the Hawkeye State where the weird and wild journey of the American presidential race finally lead to some actual voting. Meanwhile, there’s some voting here in Ontario too as a by-election comes to a head, to say nothing of the debate around one of the most controversial trade agreements ever negotiated in total secrecy. Perhaps that’s a lesson to learn as the Royal City begins sitting down with its outside workers, officer staff, and librarians. This week, as it turns out, the show is one big segue. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 4, 2016” →

The Weekender: What Happens When Money is Top of Mind

The narrative of the 2016 Presidential race in the United States has been that the problems in America can only be solved by people how have had no previous dalliance in the political class, at least on the Republican side. Donald Trump, Ben Carson, and Carly Florina have all, to varying degrees, enjoyed success with voters looking for an outsider to tell Washington what to do. This populist movement has somehow managed to tie itself to people that have a lot of money and in the is imbued the hope that they can restore balance to the world, and it’s working so well, they’re apparently giving it a try here in Canada. Continue reading “The Weekender: What Happens When Money is Top of Mind” →

The Weekender: Comparing Trump to Rob Ford is an Insult to Rob Ford

After an absence from the the political scene as he underwent his second round of cancer treatment, Rob Ford popped back up on the radar this week with an interview with his official stenographer Joe Warmington of the Toronto Sun, and a Q&A stand-up comedy routine on Twitter Wednesday. Gone are the days of nonstop Rob Ford verbal blunders, mostly because of his illnesses, but also because he’s been relegated to the relative harmlessness of his old Ward 2 council seat where he can focus on returning phone calls and casting belligerent, obstructionist votes in peace.

These days, you want outrageousness in politics, you have to look southward to Donald Trump, who just completed another week of campaigning, which mostly involved telling rabid supporters why he’s awesome and why others stink. Make no mistake though, to compare Donald Trump and Rob Ford, which many have already tried, is a grave disservice… to Rob Ford. Continue reading “The Weekender: Comparing Trump to Rob Ford is an Insult to Rob Ford” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday January 7, 2016

We’re back! It’s the beginning of year two on Open Sources Guelph, and the beginning of a new year, and when those two forces combined it makes for a very busy work week indeed. More trouble in the Middle East? Check. Presidential Election talk? Check? Current U.S. President makes last ditch effort for gun control? Check. Nuts that prove the reason why gun control is needed? Check, and double check! Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday January 7, 2016” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday December 10, 2015

One more week till Star Wars, two more weeks till Christmas, but Open Sources Guelph still has a lot to say before the year’s end. Canada got back to business as the holiday season ramped up, so how does the new government look as compared to the old? Meanwhile in Guelph, city council had passing the second budget of the term top of mind, but there was also that small matter of a one-lane bridge… Then we will catch up with a major criminal investigation in California, which will segue nicely into what might by the five most dreaded letters of 2016, T-R-U-M-P. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday December 10, 2015” →