Rocket Talk: When's the TTC Going to Roll Out More Fare Collection Methods?
Newsstand: November 9, 2009
Zack Taylor in Disney Mama Drama
Santa's Weston Workshop
The Daily Photoist: November 9, 2009
Chalk River reactor's risk level was 1,000 times greater than normal. However, Stephen Harper is a certified nuclear engineer, so if he says it's safe, then shouldn't we trust him? Wait, what? He's not a certified nuclear engineer? Well, dang.
John McCain wins crucial Florida primary. The old coot narrowly defeated the Mormon android and the world's angriest ex-mayor to maintain his momentum in the Republican candidates' race. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton beat Barack Obama in the delegate-less Florida Democratic primary, which depending on who you talk to was either a meaningless no-score win or the crucial turning point of the race.
Toronto trustees vote in favour of black-focused schools. (No joke for this news item. I'm too chicken. Deal with it.)
Ontario judge is an idiot. Turns out that Jon-Jo Douglas thinks that HIV viruses are able to stay active without water for years, and for this reason he insisted that an HIV-positive witness don a facemask while testifying in his courtroom. The important story we take from this: legally speaking, HIV viruses are kind of like tiny camels!
Charles Smith admits he "lost perspective" and made untrue statements as a pathologist. But hey, it's only the innocence and freedom of potentially innocent individuals at stake here, so don't worry about it. (Interesting sidenote: the government has opened up all Smith cases after 1991, but not beforehand, presumably because in 1991, Charles Smith just turned evil. Before 1991: perfect judgement. After 1991: evil!)
And the Raptors lost a squeaker in overtime last night.
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Well the usual defense I have heard that pertains to the starting of the school is that there is Native and Gay oriented alternative schools. These are not a defenses against a bad idea, and I won't get into those at the moment but I disagree with them also. For now lets deal with the horrid idea this is.
I first find the concept racist. Yes I know I am not Black but I am still allowed to have the opinion. I find that this segregates and in the end does more harm then good. What does someone who is say Muslim and of African Decent from say Kenya have in common with a Rastafarian from Jamaica besides the colour of their skin pigmentation. Segregation is Segregation whether voluntary or forced and no good in the long term can come of it. It makes skin colour an issue and that is just wrong on so many levels.
I am surprised that this is being put forward as a good idea. Our tax dollar should support one public school system and one only. We need different schools for different educational needs but the idea we start schools to segregate differences based on Race, Religion or Sexual orientation opposed to educational needs is so , so wrong. My opinion, if people don't like oh well. I have kids in the Public School system and it has many problems, but this does not rectify a single issue but promotes to me what is just a very bad idea.
Torontoist: With regard to your subhead, "Ontario judge is an idiot." Didn't David Topping or any other genius there study libel law in journalism school? Did you ATTEND journalism school, for that matter? I don't support Judge Douglas's point of view about AIDS, but you folks urgently need a few pointers about libel. There is a tremendous difference between the Toronto Star saying the judge is ignorant about AIDS, and Torontoist calling him an "idiot." Go spend your time taking photos of snow-covered garages illuminated by streetlight, Topping!
i think your ire should be directed towards the explosively-talented christopher bird, who has probably yet to be bought a damn pony.
i will not disparage the judge but i will point out that someone in his position is expected to be learned, and capable of weighing fact, hearsay, falsehood, and opinion; someone in his position is expected to know the difference betwixt. although the judiciary are all older than i, i still have some expectation that during their career they have had some exposure to information about safer sex practices which would include the debunking of the myth that HIV can be transmitted by sharing materials like paper, or sitting on the same chair, or by coughing. if his honour is expected to weigh the presentation of arguments in this case and has such outdated or plain wrong information guiding his actions, then it calls into question the fairness of the trial. i suspect that unless some action is taken quickly, if this case goes to its conclusion the appeal will be brought within seconds of a verdict being read.
Doggiez - This is a blog, not a newspaper, so it's his opinion and not presented as a fact.
T-Rex: Libel laws still apply. It doesn't matter that Torontoist.com is a blog.
It doesn't matter that Torontoist is a blog rather than a newspaper for the purposes of libel.
It does matter that the statement in question was pretty obviously presented as opinion rather than fact, however. That makes it, you know, not libel.
I believe there are special legal considerations for satire as well.
Doggiez:
Obviously, libel should be avoided. However, fair comment is fair comment, and one should recognize that an unreasonable fear of libel may chill some valid expression.
In this case, ETCB's comment is unlikely to be considered defamatory, and even if it were, it would likely be protected by the defence of fair comment.
Besides, if everyone could sue for libel anyone else who ever called them an "idiot," the courts would be clogged with nothing but libel cases.
There's no satire exception in Canada.
But this is not libel because: a) it is clearly an opinion, and b) truth is an absolute defence
My point about it being a blog is that it's *all* opinion. If Torontoist was a newspaper it would only have editorial/opinion columns. You can't sue someone for expressing their opinion that you are an idiot.
(Particularly not when you are an idiot.)
Did you know that the HIV virus can lay dormant in the wigs of drag queens for a period not exceeding 10 years?
Love your comment, Dillion, bravo!
I will see if I can find Judge Douglas's email, and send this string to him -- he'd be the best person to determine if the "idiot" comment is libelous.
OH NOES!!
"Oh Yeahhh!" says thge Kool-Aid man.