It is interesting to consider the evolution of surveillance capabilities available to police. Within one person’s lifespan, authorities moved from no-tech to high-tech. In the 20th century’s first half, police depended on […]
Evolution of policing
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should
Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Steve Sweeney covets electronic cameras used for Olympic security. Mayor Gregor Robinson says that City Council has no appetite to keep the devices. However, they might as well […]
Everyone belongs to everyone else – Updated
The 1931 novel Brave New World forecast that eventual populations would be drenched by false and meaningless information and truth would drown in a sea of dross. With youngsters cultivated to not […]
No huddled masses please
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, and I’ll send them right back to you. Martin Macias, new media journalist denied entry to Canada, is not […]
David Eby says . . .
Executive Director of the BC Civil Liberties Association writes a blog that should be read by every person who respects justice. Go there to read the rest of this entry from January […]
A right to complain
Andrew Jackson, 7th U.S. President, was a racist who supported slavery and tolerated aboriginal genocide. But, he knew how and for whom government operated: Every man is equally entitled to protection by […]
Sliding toward totalitarianism
The Independent, Dec 3/09 Jerome Taylor: I was questioned over my harmless snapshot I was on the South Bank of the Thames trying to compose a shot of the Houses of Parliament […]
Civic irony, but the mural is now restored
Update: voices heard. The artwork is restored. From Marsha Lederman at the Globe and Mail, Vancouver orders removal of anti-Olympic mural: The city of Vancouver has ordered the removal of a mural […]
A story evolves
April 1, 2009, Statement from Metropolitan Police: A member of the public went to a police officer on a cordon in Birchin Lane, junction with Cornhill to say that there was a […]
Follow the links
A $1 billion dollar expenditure for security requires perceptions of enemies. If they don’t exist, we must provide them. Hearings to be held for agents provocateurs
Welcome to the court of public opinion
Ian Mulgrew of the Vancouver Sun wrote: Access to justice in B.C. is becoming more problematic for the less-than-wealthy and is a principal reason for declining confidence in the legal system. Court […]
Apologies come after the Games
Lately, I’ve been thinking of Network, a great Sidney Lumet movie written by Paddy Chayevsky. It makes we wonder. Is it, finally, time to be angry? Will even that question result in […]
in-sights.ca 
Blair Fix at _Economics from the Top Down_ also wrote two very good papers on the converion of housing into…