I take my beloved dog George with me almost everywhere I go. Once, George even shared the stage with me on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
The bond I have with George is not unique. Like me, countless Canadians share their homes and lives with pets they consider to be part of the family. We know that they have individual personalities and quirks (George loves apples, for example) and that they feel both physical and mental pain.
Pigs, specifically, outperform even chimpanzees on some tests of cognitive prowess.
So of course these animals also deserve our care and attention. That’s why I was so heartened to learn that Canada is taking steps toward improving the treatment of animals in the food supply.
Specifically, Canada’s National Farm Animal Care Council, which sets...
Politics
With just over one week left for New York state lawmakers to act before the end of this year's legislative session on June 17, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has joined forces with Lady Gaga and co-written an op-ed, given exclusively to Billboard, pledging support for his comprehensive sexual assault policy at the state's public college campuses.
Cuomo introduced legislation in February to make this policy apply to all of New York's campuses, including private universities, and launched the Enough Is Enough campaign in support of the bill. Gaga revealed in a December 2014 interview with Howard Stern that she was a victim of sexual assault by a producer roughly 20 years her senior when she was 19 and has become vocal on the issue. (The song "Swine" from her ARTPOP album was inspired by...
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I online keep seeing people committing ‘social media suicide’ all the time in one or two ways, but listen by responding to all criticism it means you’re never going to find time to complete important milestones of your own and by responding to things that don’t warrant a response, this lends more credibility by driving traffic, and I know many will quote me been in deffence of these global icon, philanthropist, former vice president of the federal republic of Nigeria and lastly Africa’s business globally. Moreover i am running faster than wind now in deffence of turaki against destitute of ill and bent ideologies, which i reasonably defy and go in the negative position to false contradications and immoral talks upon his dignity,I'm full of response because he is above response to petty...
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Dear Peter,
I don`t remember exactly, but know that we have got acquainted some 10 and more years ago. You and me frequently travel across the Globe and attend different high-level events relating to mass media and journalism.
We`re the people who acts for fair and ethical journalism. We defend, support and promote high profile in journalism. Because we believe, that only fair and ethic journalism can survive and gain respect of people all over the Globe.
Dear Peter,
You are longstanding experienced journalist. When I see your column online or on paper just read it. Because I trust you and need your expertise as an experienced veteran journalist.
But unfortunately not everything looks good in The Guardian and some other internationally known newspapers. It seems some...
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Dear Mayor and City Council,
I am sure you are aware of my lawsuit against the City that I filed in 2006. As you know, my lawsuit is pending on appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. You are also aware that I have made some very serious accusations of criminal misconduct against the San Jose City Attorney’s Office and three former police administrators, as well as, several federal court officials relative to my lawsuit. The purpose of this letter is to make one last appeal for an investigation into this matter based on the conduct of the City Attorney’s Office and other entities of the City.
I believe the San Jose City Attorney’s Office under the leadership of Richard Doyle has been run like a criminal enterprise: my contention is based on the criminal acts that have been...
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Dear Guardian and Observer,
I am extremely surprised and deeply concerned about your recently published article '‘Extremist’ sect threatens protests against Dalai Lama during UK visit' http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/13/dalai-lama-uk-visit-extremist-protests
This is either very lazy journalism or intentionally inflammatory as it contains many factual inaccuracies and is almost slanderous in nature. My understanding is that your job is to find and report the truth so I'm hoping you'll appreciate the corrections below.
I have been a practising Buddhist for more than 17 years and not once before have I been referred to in such a degrading fashion. This kind of shoddy reporting of important human rights and religious freedom issues is exactly what inflames and divides...
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Dear NRA and members
I want to talk about your new advertising campaign that tells campus women they should own a gun to protect themselves in the event of an attempted rape. I have been familiar with guns since I was a child. My grandfather taught me and a cousin to shoot. My cousin was the best marksman, eventually working his way up to the Olympics, but we had the same teacher, and learned with the same riffle. I may not be the marksman he is, but I can hold my own.
In college, I lived off campus and had a revolver at my apartment when I was raped. The gun was loaded, but no bullet chambered as my weapon does not have a safety feature. It was out of sight, but easily accessible. I did not have a trigger lock or safe (no children were ever in my college residence and my...
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Dear Mr. President,
I am writing to share with you the sadness I am feeling today in light of all the tragedy and heartbreak we have all felt since last Friday. In fact, I have been feeling this for much longer than that.
My sadness began to swell when I first heard the term “kill Romney”, and has grown throughout the last months listening to your call for “revenge” when speaking to your constituents during your campaign, listening to you support the union members and Democrat officials calling for “blood” when they don’t get their way, and for standing silent while union thugs physically attack a news reporter while he witnessed the tearing down of a tent sheltering peaceful Americans, some in wheelchairs, simply expressing their right to free speech.
How can you expect to play...
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Open letter to Westminster Council
After spending a few weeks in the West End photographing buskers and beggars against a background of extreme wealth I decided to write an email to Westminster Council suggesting that they should do something to help these individuals – after all it doesn’t look or feel right to have people living with extreme difficulties in the world’s most expensive office market. Verity Sinclair, Executive Assistant to Leader of the Opposition replied “(...)passed on your comments to the West End Commission for their consideration. I will let you know if and when I receive a response.”
The Tories leader never replied.
After six months without any developments whatsoever, I feel obligated to address Westminster Council publicly on this matter:
1 – Buskers...
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Dear Governors Jeb Bush, Rick Perry and Mike Huckabee.
Old friends, I'm in a bit of a pickle. I'm pretty sure that all three of you will be asking me to campaign for you somewhere along "the trail." It will, in fact, hurt my feelings if you don't. But if I choose one of you at the expense of the other two, there will be a lot of hurt feelings.
I do not want that.
So, here's the deal, I will gladly hit the trail with you – if you will agree that I can hit the trail with the other two.
If you are still reading this letter, let me address a couple of other things I will and will not do.
First, I will sing a couple of songs and tell a funny story or two about our long friendship. Then, when I have the audience's attention I will say, "Folks, do NOT vote for this man (long...
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