Northland Power Inc has proposed reshaping an existing "waste rock pile" into a huge water reservoir, above and adjacent to the homes of many people in the village of Marmora. A similar one built in Missouri during the 60's was the upper reservoir for the Taum Sauk pumped storage plant. It failed in December 2005 and released four million cubic meters (about 1 billion gallons) of water in 12 minutes.

There’s an ongoing debate about rights, whether we have “natural rights,” or if rights pre-exist, or if they are independent of morality.

"Rights" have no meaning for a person living alone on a deserted island. As soon as two (or more) people attempt to live together, it seems to me they need to agree how they will deal with one another. If they don't agree that one person may not take another's life, or his means of maintaining his life, then life will indeed be short and brutish for all but the strongest and/or smartest.

I recently received a fundraising letter from the Society for Quality Education (SQE). They do a lot of good stuff in an attempt to improve the school system. They produced a documentary available on DVD, Charter Schools: Alberta’s Best-Kept Secret, which I highly recommend as an example of what can happen when schools are allowed to compete. They are often critical of the methods used by the public schools to teach our children, which is why I support them.

Their letter included a survey with an invitation to provide comments on a separate page. So I took advantage of the offer. What follows is my comments to the SQE, although I doubt it will make much difference. They believe they can be most effective by working to improve the existing system.

Prime Minister David Cameron plans to privatise delivery of most public services other than security forces and the judiciary.  I found out about it in a publication on the Frontier Centre for Public Policy web site.  It says Cameron wants to end the ‘State Monopoly’ in provision of public services.  He starts with a presumption that private companies, voluntary groups or charities are as able to run schools, hospitals and many other council services as the state.  

On February 5, 2011 Professor John Robson gave a presentation on the Magna Carta to the Ottawa (Ontario) South Libertarian meeting. He described how it came about and it's application through British Common Law. He explains how Britain (and Canada) have a long tradition of liberty.  Also discussed is the need to reclaim it in Canada as a tool to reduce the size and intrusion of government in our lives.

The video is an hour and a half long, but even if you only get to watch the first 15-20 minutes, you will find it fascinating.  View the video here.

The Society for Quality Education (SQE) blogged about semestering in Ontario's government-run schools. It appears that this is another bad decision made by the bureaucrats at Queens Park.  Analysis of results shows students do not do as well in semestered schools as in unsemestered schools.  As I commented on their blog:

This is another example of why centrally-planned, government-run schools are bad for our children. 

As many of you may know, Peter Jawarski has hosted the Liberty Summer Seminars at his parents property near Orono, north east of Toronto.  One of the highlights was the home cooked meals prepared by Peter's parents and their friends.  Last year the Health Department told them they would have to order in 'properly prepared' food, since their kitchen hadn't been approved.  After the Seminars, the municipality of Clarington charged them with contravening the zoning bylaw.  The property wasn't zoned for convetions.  The maximum penalty is $50,000. 

Ally is running a number of commercials these days using kids to show how much better they are than the other banks.  I particularly like the "Ègg Management Fee" commercial.  The tag line is "Even kids know it's wrong to take other people's stuff." 

Fortunately McGuinty resisted the urge to tell us what’s good for us this time. In spite of the pleadings of the CAA and Ontario Safety League he refused to offer a tax credit for winter tires. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/12/15/ontario-winter-tire-ta... Even better, he refused to pass a law requiring all cars to have winter tires, like Quebec. No doubt the tire companies and stores are disappointed.