Ben Atkinson, PhD

"He said, ‘Kid, it’s a smash! You gotta trust me!’ I thought he was crazy." The Smashing Pumpkins classic Billy Corgan thought was "stupid" - and that his own label boss had to talk him round on Praise be for the persuasive powers of the music exec who brought Corgan round to his way of thinking

I did not know Bob Mould called Smashing Pumpkins the “grunge Monkees”, but reading it now made me chuckle. www.loudersound.com/bands-artist...

Every Rush album ranked from worst to best Prog rock heroes Rush have amassed an immense discography over a 50-year career... and now they're hitting the road again

My ranking is so different. I will not write it out, but Grace Under Pressure is “worst” and Hemispheres is best. I know why people diss Hold Your Fire, but it is high on my list. Snakes & Arrows was best since Moving Pictures, and Counterparts was best in between www.loudersound.com/features/rus...

Braid: Big talk, bold promises from candidates who won't tackle the real problem — city hall itself The Calgary mayoral debate was a dismal affair with windy promises from candidates who created the problems in the first place.

Don Braid: “As I reported recently, administration told elected councillors they can’t personally talk to officials about problems in their wards.

“Like everyone else, they need to try 311.

“That doesn’t just show disregard for council. It’s contempt.” calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

Crucial chapters of city's past preserved with restoration of Calgary's Chinese cemetery The Erlton Chinese Cemetery was restored with the help of a Feng Shui expert.

Bill Kaufmann: “Restoration of the Erlton Chinese Cemetery, a resting place for many of the pioneers from that Asian country who helped build Calgary and Western Canada, has been completed.” calgaryherald.com/news/local-n...

Varcoe: Return of the zombie pipeline — As Halloween looms, fresh talk arises of reanimating Keystone XL Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed Keystone XL during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.

“‘Keystone XL has become some weird meta-meme in the place of actual progress in Canada’s oil industry. Never built, but never fully dead, always there when someone needs it,’ energy economist Rory Johnston, founder of the Commodity Context newsletter, wrote on X.” calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

Maria Corina Machado wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Venezuelan opposition leader recognized for promoting a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy

“Venezuela’s Maria Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

“She won ‘for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy’...” www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...

Pentagon warns Toronto ‘dangerously close’ to winning World Series WASHINGTON D.C. - Following last night's elimination of the New York Yankees, the United States Department of War has advised the White House that the Toronto Blue Jays are "perilously close" to acqui...

"In a related story OKAY! (okay) BLUE JAYS! (blue jays) LET’S! PLAY! BALL!" www.thebeaverton.com/2025/10/pent...

The Political Economy of Distrust in Science - ProMarket Skewed incentives and the distribution of resources toward corporations have undermined the integrity of scientific research and contributed to the public’s distrust in expertise. Matt Lucky explores ...

Matthew Lucky: "We need to trust science in the right way, which entails maintaining a healthy understanding of the very real limits of what it can say." www.promarket.org/2025/10/09/h...

Ben Atkinson, PhD (@wallsandbridges) I am writing this list before reading the list in the article. If I had to summarize Rush’s career in 10 songs, they would be: “Working Man” from Rush: This is the song that started their ascent, whe...

I am writing this list before reading the list in the article. If I had to summarize Rush’s career in 10 songs, they would be: substack.com/@wallsandbri...

RUSH Announces Additional Dates On 'Fifty Something' Tour Due To Incredible Demand Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, Grammy Award-nominated icons, and RUSH co-founders Geddy Lee (bass, keys, vocals) and Alex Lifeson (guitar, vocals) recently announced their return to the stage f...

Same cities, but more dates in each one (except Mexico City which is still just one date). blabbermouth.net/news/rush-an...

Danielle Smith wants a fight with Canada, not a new pipeline Alberta's premier has opened the door in her party and province to separatists. Now, she's claiming that other people are the ones threatening Canada's future.

Max Fawcett: “It’s hard enough to get a pipeline built in Canada... But Alberta Premier Danielle Smith seems determined to make it nearly impossible.” www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/09/o...

PM Carney announces Charter of Rights to be renamed Charter of Optional Ideas OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney held a press conference today to announce a renaming of the “Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms”, the document that enshrined our foundational set of rights in...

“Invoking in the Notwithstanding Clause to pass a law is often what happens when rolling around on the ground and crying doesn’t work. So the renaming of the Charter brings our legislative procedures in line with how it is currently practised...” www.thebeaverton.com/2025/10/pm-c...

WWIII without bullets: everyone loses in Trump’s trade war - Asia Times As US President Donald Trump enters his second term, his aggressive trade policy has reignited what many are calling a global economic conflict—a de facto

An excellent piece in Asia Times from one of my former students, Ghin Shoute.

“For developing nations, trade is not a chess piece in a geopolitical contest—it’s a lifeline. They are the invisible casualties of this economic conflict.” asiatimes.com/2025/08/wwii...

Danielle Smith announces plans to hold her breath until she gets what she wants EDMONTON – After meeting with Mark Carney to discuss pipeline construction, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has vowed to hold her breath until the Prime Minister gives her absolutely everything she ask...

Satire.

"EDMONTON – After meeting with Mark Carney to discuss pipeline construction, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has vowed to hold her breath until the Prime Minister gives her absolutely everything she asked for during negotiations." www.thebeaverton.com/2025/10/dani...

Just got an e-mail from Google telling me that they will change my region from “Canada” to “United States — Oregon” in 30 days, unless I change it back. They seem to be taking Trump’s annexation threats a little too seriously.

Just got an e-mail from Google telling me that they will change my region from “Canada” to “United States — Oregon” in 30 days, unless I change it back. They seem to be taking Trump’s annexation threats a little too seriously.

Geddy Lee was talking about Anika Nilles two years ago Geddy Lee has also revealed how German drummer Anika Nilles became Rush's choice for their first live shows in more than a decade

"...German drummer Anika Nilles. The band will begin their Rush Fifty Something tour in Los Angeles next June, and Nilles will be behind the kit, having previously plied her trade with the likes of Jeff Beck, folk rocker Tom Liwa and jazz-rockers Panzerballett." www.loudersound.com/bands-artist...

Opinion: When Mark Carney visits Donald Trump, the best outcome might be none at all In the long run, the hope may be that Mr. Trump becomes so preoccupied with other issues that he mostly forgets about us

Tony Keller: “It’s starting to sound like the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, who after his arms are chopped off insists that ‘it’s just a flesh wound.’” www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...

YouTube video by Rush Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson Oct 2025 Rock Hall Event re Rush Legacy and 2026 Tour, with Geoff Edgers

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson will be getting back together for a very limited tour next summer! Anika Nilles, who was in Jeff Beck’s band, will be the drummer, and they will have a keyboard player, too. Only two dates for Canada, and naturally they will be in Toronto. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVze...

For anyone in Calgary, you can find the candidates for Mayor, Councillors, etc. at the following link. You can also figure out your ward number here. This is a great site because it also provides contact information and websites for all candidates, as well. www.calgary.ca/content/elec...

RUSH's ALEX LIFESON Opens Up About His Serbian Heritage, Love Of History In a new interview with the Hear 2 Zen podcast, RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson — who was born Aleksandar Živojinović in 1953 in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada and was raised in a Serbian immigrant fami...

Alex Lifeson: “There seems to be a waning in the support that the Ukraine is getting from the West… One of their most powerful allies isn't doing anything and, in fact, sides with Russia on a lot of it. Thank you, Mr. Trump." blabbermouth.net/news/rushs-a...

ANALYSIS | Calgary is racing to 2 million people. Will next council prepare for it? | CBC News City's population has hit 1.6M far faster than expected. City hall will face pressure to manage continued growth and the strains that come with it.

Jason Markusoff: “Yedlin readily acknowledges that education and health are provincial responsibilities, and out of city hall's hands. But that speaks to the need for the provincial and federal governments to help assure a booming city has the resources to succeed...” www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Regina and Saskatoon moving to yearly homeless counts in 2025 Amid a growing crisis across the country, Saskatchewan's two major cities plan to conduct homeless counts every year starting this fall.

"Volunteers are expected to be out in Saskatoon and Regina this month to co-ordinate the latest point-in-time (PiT) count, which had previously taken place at least once every three years." nationalpost.com/news/saskatc...

Trump advisor claims ICE could attend Bad Bunny's Super Bowl A Trump advisor has warned that it is highly likely that ICE will be present at the Super Bowl show, where Bad Bunny is set to perform.

ICE might be present at Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance, Trump advisor claims faroutmagazine.co.uk/ice-bad-bunn...

Thanksgiving Turkey Gets Cheaper, but the Sides Are Stuffing Your Wallet This year’s Thanksgiving dinner may cost virtually the same as last year, but the story lies beneath the surface.

Last Wednesday, FreshCo’s flyer preview advertised 3-9kg turkeys for $0.99/lb (Western Canada, limit=2). My head exploded as I had not seen that price in years, but later changed to $1.66/lb (no limit).

Maybe posted a future sale price too early? agrifoodanalyticslab.substack.com/p/thanksgivi...

In Unhinged Speech, Pete Hegseth Says He's Tired of ‘Fat Troops,’ Says Military Needs to Go Full AI The Secretary of War lectured America’s generals on fitness standards, beards, and warriors for an hour.

Hegseth apparently considers the VP and the President's two oldest sons to be “Nordic Pagans” and “unprofessional beardos”. www.404media.co/in-unhinged-...

WATCH: Ted Cruz says “How about we all come together and stop attacking pedophiles”

Braid: Student speaks out at Alberta Next session, gets referred for a spanking Braid: A top Alberta government official said a student who tried to ask a question about the teacher strike should get a parental spanking.

Don Braid: “McAllister looked like a privileged government man speaking power to truth. And he raised a question: Is this how they think of students in the premier’s office?” calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

Breakenridge: Higher minimum wage won't solve poverty, but it's a start The province bears responsibility for ensuring the policy is focused on driving joblessness and poverty rates downward.

“If those in or near poverty are working low-wage jobs just above the minimum wage — or not working at all — then minimum wage increases won’t address or improve their situation.

“…we should also see a clearer strategy to target poverty and unemployment.” calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

"When you eliminate...obviously false excuses, you’re left with the obviously true one: the grocery giants in this province would really, really like to keep making all the profit from alcohol sales without even the slightest bit of environmental or social reciprocity." www.tvo.org/article/anal...