David Gilmour's controversial remarks.

As stated by Katie J. M. Baker on Jezebel.com:

"If you're into books written by women (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA what's that) don't take University of Toronto professor David Gilmour's fiction class; he's "not interested" in teaching women authors (except Virginia Woolf, who somehow manages to entertain him). "What I teach is guys," he says. "Serious heterosexual guys." Got it.

Here's what Gilmour told Hazlitt re female writers, queer writers, and Chinese (?) writers:

I’m not interested in teaching books by women. Virginia Woolf is the only writer that interests me as a woman writer, so I do teach one of her short stories. But once again, when I was given this job I said I would only teach the people that I truly, truly love. Unfortunately, none of those happen to be Chinese, or women. Except for Virginia Woolf. And when I tried to teach Virginia Woolf, she’s too sophisticated, even for a third-year class. Usually at the beginning of the semester a hand shoots up and someone asks why there aren’t any women writers in the course. I say I don’t love women writers enough to teach them, if you want women writers go down the hall. What I teach is guys. Serious heterosexual guys. F. Scott Fitzgerald, Chekhov, Tolstoy. Real guy-guys. Henry Miller. Philip Roth."

Some have defended him, whilst others are outraged. He himself has since backed off and apologized for those comments.

Now, here's what I think: David Gilmour's situation is an example of many things, not the lest of which is that you can never be too careful nowadays in making 'absolute statements'. As an English litt student myself, I of course prefer a passionate teacher vs a dispassionate teacher; that being said, we can't only and always do what we love. If he only wanted to teach male writers, then let that course be entitled as such. As it is, it's dishonest to his students to teach an English literature class; he robs and denies them of an all-emcopassing view of that Literature (it wasn't only written by "Serious heterosexual guys"). "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than can be dreamt of in your philosophy".

Has Canada become G.W. Buch-era U.S.?: "Tories axe gun show laws"

Tories axe gun show laws

OTTAWA – The Conservative government has repealed gun show regulations, on the advice of the same controversial advisory committee the prime minister recently distanced himself from.

Meanwhile, Ontario’s chief firearms officer says he fears the decision will eventually bring American-style gun-show problems to Canada.

The changes kill a set of rules that were introduced by the Liberals in 1998, but never brought into force after years of consultations and deferrals.

The regulations would have required the sponsor of a gun show to notify local police and the chief firearms officer of the province before an event, and to ensure the security and safety of the location and the firearms.

The government says it consulted Public Safety Minister Vic Toews’ Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee, which felt that gun owners already abided by a set of existing rules.

The decision was published Wednesday in the Canada Gazette, but did not appear on Public Safety Canada’s website. It notes that MPs and senators were given 30 days to request changes to the repeal, but neither House did.

“Canada has a strong gun control system and we will not weaken these protections,” said Julie Carmichael, a spokeswoman for Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.

“The purchase, transport and storage of firearms continues to be strictly controlled in Canada and these strict rules apply to gun shows. Our government has taken concrete action to strengthen our laws and to stop violent crime and illegal firearms.”

But earlier this month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper candidly rejected some of the committee’s recommendations to loosen other gun laws.

The Coalition for Gun Control has criticized the advisory committee for being stacked with gun enthusiasts including firearms dealers and representatives of the Canadian Sport Shooting Association. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has been unable to get on the committee.

Committee member Greg Farrant, of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, says under the Liberals the same group was stacked in the other direction — with gun opponents.

He says that two police officers among the current group provide balance and valuable front-line viewpoints.

“There’s not always unanimity on the committee,” Farrant notes.

“There are varying degrees of support for certain measures, there are things that are discussed by the committee and put forward to the government for consideration.”

Chief Firearms Officers in the provinces had told the government that they wanted the regulations to come into force, particularly in light of the fact the gun registry was being shut down.

The registry made it necessary for long-gun transactions to be cleared first — the registrar had to verify the license of the purchaser and then issue a new registration in that person’s name.

Ontario’s Chief Firearms Officer Chris Wyatt said there is now no official way to ensure sellers are verifying licenses, and nothing on the books that requires a gun show sponsor to tell police an event is being held.

Wyatt says there are genuine concerns about theft and illegal sales at gun shows.

“Gun shows are a major source of illegal firearms in the United States, and that could happen here. That’s why we thought there should be greater regulation of gun shows now that the registry is gone,” said Wyatt.

“Some of these gun shows, they have hundreds of vendors and thousands of firearms. It might be an attractive target for criminals to steal firearms or acquire firearms. With long guns, the standard is now very low for accountability.”

Canada’s National Firearms Association hailed the decision Wednesday.

“In short, the Conservative government recognized that the gun show regulations were an unnecessary part of an ideological liberal agenda to gradually eliminate firearms ownership and cleared out this ill-intentioned piece of legislation for which there was no justifiable need,” said Sheldon Clare, president of the association.

- Jennifer Ditchburn, The Canadian Press/Metro

#GunControlNow

This is what's wrong with the U.S.

Newton, Connecticut Shooting: Decembre 14th 2012

At 9:30 AM (ET) Friday, Dec 14th 2012, the Newton Police Department received a 911 call informing them that there was an incident going on at the local elementary school, Sandy Hook.

Quickly, the news broke nation-wide in the U.S., and world-wide not long after that.

What we know is this:

Adam Lanza, aged 20, shot his mother (a teacher at Sandy Hook) in her home before proceeding to the elementary school where he fired over a hundred rounds, randomly shooting twenty-seven people in two classrooms in one section of the school.

Eighteen children, between ages five and ten, died on-site. Two more children in the same age group died from their injuries in the hospital. Six adults, including the principal (who had run to the classrooms presumably to help the kids) and (unconfirmed) the school psychologist, were also killed on-site. Another, reportedly female employee, is still in hospital, but in stable condition.

The gunman perished either by his own hand or by police fire, it is unclear, as is the motive of Lanza.

Obama fights back tears as he addresses the nation.

President Obama was briefed and later gave this speech, stating so rightly that "our hearts are broken", and "As a country we have been through this too many times".:

Now, what does this unspeakable tragedy mean? Should we now, after having for so long ignored it, open the discussion on stricter gun control laws, especially in the U.S.? I believe so.

On Twitter, the debate raged on almost immediately:

@The_Regionrat: "We can't limit the psychos in the world, but we can limit what they have access to."

@Cath J "After the #Aurora shooting, it wasn't the time or place to have #guncontrol discussions... How about now? Or do more innocents have to die? #ct"

@iamrashidajones: "Thanks, gun lovers, for all your hateful tweets. Good reminder of another endemic nat'l issue : a lack of humanity, civility & accountability"

@washingtonpost: "EDITORIAL: Time to talk about gun controlhttp://wapo.st/UMUuul ”

@Cath J "#GunControlNow It is obviously time for a change. The right to live is bigger than the *privilege* to bear arms. #ctschoolshooting"

@Cath J "The tipping point has come and gone in this #guncontrol debate. People need to wake up and realize that more guns does not = better! #pnpcbc"

“Hours after (CT) kindergarten shooting, Michigan GOP calls for allowing guns in schoolshttp://thkpr.gs/UYhj2o ” And the NRA featured (briefly) this picture on their Facebook page after the shooting. 

@MissKellyO: "Its disgusting that ppl even have access to guns at all! #GunLaws should be stricter! In this day & age things like this should not happen!"

@GabbyGiffords's husband]@ShuttleCDRKelly On #Newtown#CTSchoolShooting: We Need Leadership On Gun Controlhttp://huff.to/TSXXs8 

Two tweets seemed to sum everything up:

@DamianKindler: "Just completely devastated. Gun control. Now. For the love of humanity."

@oliviawilde: "It is possible to grieve and take action on the same day. Remove the selfishness from anger and you're left with determination."

There were also some online essays about gun control.

Now, how can we talk about this? One must be aware of certain facts when thinking about opting for stricter gun control laws, keeping in mind the multiple deadliest shootings in U.S. history: And you should perhaps contact your representative and tell them that this is enough! 

To help out, click here. 

There is also a Facebook page for the young victims.

Catherine Pelletier, Catherine's Encyclopaedia.

Edmonton to be 1st Canadian partner city with Council for the Parliament of the World's Religions

British soldier unexpectedly gives birth in Afghanistan

U.S. city first to proclaim bisexual pride day

Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly to spar

"Green Lantern" to add an Arab-Muslim character

Viewing up in 2011: CRTC

Hummer driver saves lives

SKITTLES CHAMELEON: TASTE THE RAINBOW

Photo montage by: C. F. Pelletier