tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46144817447266339852012-02-16T16:14:24.596-05:00The Cycroft Gleaner (formerly Cycroft.com) is all about up-to-date news and opinion coverage, with a focus on Canada and the United States and the many issues that make up North American politics. The Cycroft Gleaner is edited by Russ Campbell of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. You can contact him at “cycroft [at] gmail [dot] com”.Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comBlogger811100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-3302601310188415752011-02-21T07:27:00.004-05:002011-07-29T09:06:16.960-04:00

The Cycroft Gleaner is all about news and opinion coverage, with a focus on Canada and the United States and the issues that make up North American politics.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-78713216433611085012011-02-18T08:30:00.002-05:002011-02-21T07:24:26.216-05:00

CanadaHarper slams U.S. travel feeHackers after weapon information: expertHouse speaker Milliken asked to rule on Bev OdaConrad Black appeals to U.S. top courtCall girls, cronyism and corruption: backroom dealings in B.C. Rail sale revealed in B.C. Supreme CourtU.S.GOP activists in Iowa divided on whether Palin can carry 2012 bannerHouse slogs through $1.2 trillion spending billUS seeks to avoid

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-2654813085938242022011-02-17T11:56:00.001-05:002011-02-17T11:56:45.129-05:00

Canada Foreign hackers attack Canadian government China denies role in reported government of Canada hack Dollar reaches near 3-year high Tories propose new immigration point system Average Canadian family's debt hits $100,000   International Bahrain military seizes control of capital Protests Spread to More Iraqi Cities   U.S. Obama proposes travel tax for Canadians Obama budget

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-89302069025813706562011-02-16T12:47:00.001-05:002011-02-16T12:47:05.604-05:00

Canada Opening Bell: TSX pushes past 14,000 Alberta moves to keep bitumen upgrading at home Visas for skilled workers set to drop More Canadians crossing the border to fly Brit says ‘no-fly’ list has him trapped in Toronto   International Libya hit by anti-government protests William and Kate coming to Canada Journalist recovers at home after Tahrir Square ordeal   U.S. US military

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-38423724687067583362011-02-14T08:13:00.001-05:002011-02-14T08:13:51.344-05:00

Canada Immigration abuse must stop: minister Ontario might pay to help you quit smoking PM hasn’t blinked on corporate tax cuts   Egypt Egypt's generals impose martial law Cairo square protesters told to leave Mubarak loyalists change stripes to fit into the new Egypt Dual Uprisings Show Potent New Threats to Arab States Protests spread to Iran and Bahrain Young Protesters Clash With

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-51727427620504573822011-02-13T09:08:00.001-05:002011-02-13T09:08:07.988-05:00

Canada Kelly McParland: Ontario quietly reverses field on wind, solar energy Vancouver 2010 now: What legacy remains? Egypt Egyptian army clears Cairo square - Sunday, February 13, 2011 Egyptian troops challenged by continuing protests - Sunday, February 13, 2011 News Analysis: Egypt’s Path After Uprising Does Not Have to Follow Iran’s - Sunday, February 13, 2011 - By ANTHONY SHADID U.S. &

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-19715618636700305972011-02-12T09:46:00.001-05:002011-02-12T09:46:37.293-05:00

Canada Nenshi’s Toronto tour opens up ethics debate Probe launched into B.C. medical scans affecting 3,400 patients Ontario expresses further concern about TMX-LSE merger Police open criminal investigation into G20 arrest Soccer under-12s' matches may no longer be scored Tory MP wants veiled voting banned   Egypt Egypt: A coup by the people New Era Dawns in Egypt and Across the Arab

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-52973250198571488072011-02-11T11:45:00.001-05:002011-02-11T11:45:39.229-05:00

Canada NORAD may add land, sea defence Canada to challenge EU seal ban at World Trade Organization Exports leap most in 30 years Father of missing twins wrote in letter that he killed them Egypt LIVE: Video stream from Cairo's Tahrir Square Egypt's Mubarak resigns Investors cheer Mubarak exit U.S. & International WikiLeaks: U.S. spied on NATO boss Iraq refugees in US scrutinized for

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-54131485536499927002011-02-10T10:14:00.001-05:002011-02-10T10:14:16.090-05:00

Canada Conclusions about crime are ‘badly distorted’: report The myth of the climate consensus Kirpan banned at Que. national assembly Christian university won’t assist in probe Drunk driving tops list of pardoned offences Will Doug Ford join provincial Tories?   Egypt Egypt bus drivers strike as unrest spreads Labour unrest sweeps Egypt; new threat of martial law Egyptian army '

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-37053178305809586672011-02-09T11:47:00.001-05:002011-02-09T11:47:37.628-05:00

TSX, London Stock Exchange to merge Protesters ignore Suleiman warning Protest in Egypt Takes a Turn as Workers Go on Strike Ranks of protesters swell in Cairo even as Egypt's government offers assurances US tries to end conflicting messages on Egypt U.S. report finds no electronic flaws in Toyotas that would cause acceleration Nokia at crisis point, warns boss Clues take the search for

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-30791935084140328862011-02-08T11:55:00.001-05:002011-02-08T11:55:43.776-05:00

Senior Mountie tells MPs of boss's 'abuse' Govt to release findings of Toyota investigation Why China’s rate hike is good for Canada Egyptians stage big protest, dismiss power plan Egypt Details Reforms as Protest Takes On New Life Muslim Brotherhood eyes comeback in Egypt

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-5461109813947310392011-02-07T10:32:00.001-05:002011-02-07T10:32:50.092-05:00

Huffington Post, an Internet news site that has become mainstream and influential, especially among liberals, said it agreed late Sunday night to a $315 million purchase by AOL Inc., once the leader of online access and digital content that gave millions their first online experiences. New York City-based, the Huffington Post reportedly reaches more than 20 million unique visitors each month,

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-59322269229873246712011-02-07T10:03:00.001-05:002011-02-07T10:03:06.424-05:00

Queen’s Park is distributing a six-page pamphlet this week to every household in Ontario as part of a public-relations blitz to tout the new 10 per cent discount on electricity. “What we’re trying to convey is why we’re doing this,” McGuinty said late Saturday after a 40-minute speech to 300 Liberals at the party’s pre-election policy conference here. … more

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-26852269319891855512011-02-05T16:19:00.001-05:002011-02-05T16:19:15.004-05:00

David Cameron’s frankness in saying that Britain’s attempts at what he calls “state-sponsored multiculturalism” have failed—and that the United Kingdom needs a stronger national identity in order to root out the sort extremism that leads to terrorism—has predictable provoked controversy and quick responses from Muslim leaders. As can be seen from the reactions below, there are leaders in

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-91984661477019255792011-02-04T10:12:00.001-05:002011-02-04T10:12:26.591-05:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is meeting today with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. to sign a framework agreement on border security. … more

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-38004145232176644562011-02-04T07:25:00.001-05:002011-02-04T07:26:01.944-05:00

The CRTC, Canada’s telecom regulator announced Thursday that it will review its decision to end “unlimited access” Internet plans after a storm of complaints from consumers and the threat by PM Stephen Harper’s government that it will reverse the ruling. “In light of these requests and the evident concerns expressed by Canadians, the Commission has decided to delay the implementation of

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-33048389840788254292011-02-04T07:25:00.000-05:002011-02-04T07:25:15.042-05:00

The government has implemented changes to its security screening at Canadian airports. Transport Minister Chuck Strahl was scheduled to outline the changes Thursday morning at the Ottawa International Airport. The Vancouver Sun reports:  “Soon, Canadians will be allowed to bring items such as small manicure scissors and small eyeglass screwdrivers onboard, government spokeswoman Melisa Leclerc

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-54231234571883072692011-02-03T12:47:00.001-05:002011-02-03T12:47:26.071-05:00

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-84560646918896160212011-02-03T11:56:00.001-05:002011-02-03T11:56:27.702-05:00

The effort by Republicans to repeal President Barack Obama health care legislation failed in a 51 to 47 strict party-line vote in the Senate. … more

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-89102598256434492962011-02-03T11:13:00.001-05:002011-02-03T11:13:50.228-05:00

Apparently, the government of PM Stephen Harper has decided to overrule the recent decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to ban unlimited Internet usage pricing options. This follows the CRTC’s ruling last week that usage-based billing, the business model used by Bell Canada, Rogers Communications and other large Internet service providers (ISPs) to

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-24546102470574708352011-02-02T12:01:00.001-05:002011-02-02T12:01:45.017-05:00

Our Conservative government is playing down a U.S. government report highly critical of security along the Canada-U.S. border, saying it’s working with President Barack Obama’s administration to make improvements. Apparently U.S. legislators are using the report to call for tighter security along a border over which $1.6-billion in bilateral trade passes each day, a move which is almost certain

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-3970982959214715762011-02-01T14:30:00.001-05:002011-02-01T14:30:13.774-05:00

The Obama administration has opened talks with a potential successor to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in reaction to the hundreds of thousands of Egyptians determined to force out their leader for the last 30 years. The discussions with Nobel peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei were taking place as more than a quarter-million Egyptians gathered in Cairo’s main square in defiance of Mubarak. The

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-85981792373796252932011-02-01T14:00:00.001-05:002011-02-01T14:00:01.296-05:00

Now Magazine and InsideToronto.com report that Rocco Rossi has become a Tory. Apparently, the former national director of the Liberal Party of Canada and Liberal fundraiser, who recently bowed out of a bid to be Toronto’s mayor, has agreed to run as a Progressive Conservative candidate in Toronto’s Eglinton-Lawrence riding in the next provincial general election October 6. Rocco Rossi was former

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-3414131630949399652011-02-01T13:30:00.001-05:002011-02-01T13:30:45.888-05:00

In a move inspired by several nationwide protests in Tunisia and Egypt, Jordan’s King Abdullah II has bowed to internal public pressure, firing his government on Tuesday and asking his new prime minister to boost economic opportunities and give his people a greater say in politics. …more

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-43095433145916926672011-02-01T13:13:00.001-05:002011-02-01T13:13:35.896-05:00

The federal cabinet will apparently be reviewing a decision by the CRTC that will make Internet usage-based billing a standard practice among all ISPs. This could mean that the Tory cabinet is preparing to intervene against the controversial decision that threatens to drive up Internet pricing and drive down innovation through loss of competitive pricing. Sending an encouraging signal, Industry

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-66051175231888730902011-01-31T18:03:00.001-05:002011-01-31T18:03:02.391-05:00

In November, Canada’s GDP by industry advanced 0.4 per cent on a “real” (i.e., inflation-adjusted) month-to-month basis, according to Statistics Canada. Annualized, that’s a 4.9 per cent growth rate. Service-producing industries (+0.5% month to month) outpaced goods production (+0.1%). Also, after an annual revision of employment data as conducted by Statistics Canada, and taking into account

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-19124583598121870922011-01-29T17:25:00.002-05:002011-01-29T17:55:09.890-05:00

My news and blog aggregator, The Cycroft Gleaner, has been updated and is being re-launched today. The Cycroft Gleaner is all about up-to-date news and opinion coverage, with a focus on Canada and the United States and the many issues that make up North American politics.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-11959467735733003392009-08-01T13:14:00.001-04:002009-08-01T13:14:05.399-04:00

Death came quietly for Bahanuzi Mihigo. Unconscious from a soaring fever, his body full of infection, the 36-year-old farmer lay under a white hospital tent in this tiny village, a place that floats like an island in a vast sea of roadless jungle. It was a cool evening, and the fighting that had chased Mihigo from his home was far away now. … Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-64150930436366405082009-08-01T13:06:00.001-04:002009-08-01T13:07:18.805-04:00

A convoy of campaign workers for Afghan President Hamid Karzai was ambushed five times on Saturday, officials said, as Taliban insurgents step up efforts to disrupt the presidential election. The U.S. military also said three U.S. troops were killed in the south, while a French soldier died and two were wounded in fighting in Kapisa province in the east, French officials said. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-18782578098400403732009-08-01T13:02:00.001-04:002009-08-01T13:02:09.746-04:00

Toronto's civic workers’ strike ended by a thin margin after a long day of angry rhetoric, as city council voted 21-17 to endorse new contracts with 30,000 striking employees. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-64889522612092689752009-08-01T12:56:00.001-04:002009-08-01T12:56:28.163-04:00

It would have been the most far-reaching case of computer sabotage in history. In 2003, the Pentagon and American intelligence agencies made plans for a cyber attack to freeze billions of dollars in the bank accounts of Saddam Hussein and cripple his government’s financial system before the United States invaded Iraq. He would have no money for war supplies. No money to pay troops. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-2927164734194873142009-08-01T12:50:00.001-04:002009-08-01T12:50:14.401-04:00

Astronomers are puzzled by a strange bright spot which has appeared in the clouds of Venus. The spot was first identified by an amateur astronomer on 19 July and was later confirmed by the European Space Agency's Venus Express spacecraft. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-59947812669883258662009-08-01T12:44:00.001-04:002009-08-01T12:44:50.871-04:00

Six Christians have been killed in religious unrest in Pakistan's central Punjab, after days of tension sparked by the rumoured desecration of a Koran. The four women, a man and a child died as Muslim militants set fire to Christian houses in the town of Gojra, officials said. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-66739186150332263512009-08-01T12:40:00.001-04:002009-08-01T12:40:56.369-04:00

The trial has begun in Iran of 100 people arrested for their alleged involvement in post-election violence. The charges included rioting, vandalism, “acting against national security,” and conspiring against the ruling system, state media reported. Those on trial included members of the opposition reform movement, including a former vice-president. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-57863002319089790312009-08-01T12:36:00.001-04:002009-08-01T12:36:47.198-04:00

The father of slain Woodstock, Ont., girl Tori Stafford is hosting a kick-off to his planned bike ride to Alberta. Rodney Stafford's Kilometres for Kids trip to raise money for Child Find Ontario begins with a 12-hour event Saturday at the fairgrounds in Woodstock. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-29716949893674528432009-08-01T11:59:00.001-04:002009-08-01T11:59:43.121-04:00

In a move that won’t surprise anyone that has been listening out for rumors, Nikon has launched the D300S, a refreshed version of its successful mid-level DSLR. Compared to the D300, It offers full 720p HD video recording, a faster 7 fps continuous shooting and Dual CF and SD card slots. It also sees an addition of a new Quiet drive mode and a dedicated Live View and Info button. The camera’s

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-67968100756311705542009-07-31T12:34:00.001-04:002009-07-31T12:34:52.339-04:00

Bombs exploded near five Shiite mosques around Baghdad within 45 minutes on Friday as worshipers attended prayer services, killing at least 29 people in what appeared to be a coordinated attack against followers of the anti-American cleric Moktada al-Sadr, Iraqi officials and a Sadr aide said. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-3188815694964036652009-07-31T12:23:00.001-04:002009-07-31T12:23:24.029-04:00

Toronto’s mayor, David Miller, urged council members to approve the deal that ended the 38-day strike by 30,000 city employees who are members of two CUPE unions. Wagging his finger in the air, Mr. Miller said: “I don’t need to say what the consequences are if councillors vote this down today, you know, you know. I don’t need to mention it because you all know.” The debate kicked off with

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-44350228464056794232009-07-31T12:03:00.001-04:002009-07-31T12:06:08.696-04:00

Defence Minister Peter MacKay says the Canadian government is closely watching Russian plans to drop paratroopers in the Arctic next April. Earlier in the week a Russian general had announced that his country plans  a re-enactment to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its first parachute drop at the North Pole. In response, Minister MacKay says Canada will protect its sovereign territory and

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-18740637633002951442009-07-31T11:39:00.001-04:002009-07-31T11:39:31.287-04:00

The gross domestic product fell 0.5 per cent in May, a faster rate of decline than in the previous three months. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-17247242229089334092009-07-31T11:36:00.001-04:002009-07-31T11:36:32.453-04:00

Canadian astronaut Julie Payette has landed safely at Cape Canaveral, Fla., after spending more than two weeks aboard space shuttle Endeavour.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-79366991010959334032009-07-31T11:32:00.001-04:002009-07-31T11:32:38.866-04:00

The Firefox Web browser is fast approaching its billionth download and is likely to hit that milestone some time on Friday. Mozilla has a Web site and a Twitter feed where people can keep track of the total. On Thursday afternoon, the feed showed more than 999,180,000 downloads, with about 15 more happening each second.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-47965607637119371502009-07-30T17:03:00.001-04:002009-07-30T17:03:41.885-04:00

EHealth Ontario awarded $11 million more in untendered contracts than previously revealed, new documents show. Full Story | Reaction

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-36197454581983074542009-07-30T15:49:00.001-04:002009-07-30T15:49:44.003-04:00

Lucia Whelan should have been invited to share a brew with the Prez, the prof and the cop. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-7331481940216757772009-07-30T15:42:00.001-04:002009-07-30T15:42:33.753-04:00

The Boston cop suspended for calling Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates a “banana-eating jungle monkey” in a mass e-mail was turned in by fellow cops. The revelation that Officer Justin Barrett’s brothers in blue were also revolted by his hateful words came as the police commissioner tried to repair to reputation of Boston’s police department. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-78764389043114247882009-07-30T15:02:00.001-04:002009-07-30T15:02:27.778-04:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says there is no need for another federal election in times of economic instability, insisting that the priority for Canadians is to have Parliament take care of the economy. Full Story

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-5479038196949977962009-07-30T14:43:00.001-04:002009-07-30T14:43:46.695-04:00

A ferocious piece of malware (Trojan horse) has infected between 100,000 and 1 million PCs and is stealing a financial information from consumers and businesses that log on to their bank, stock broker, credit card, insurance, job hunting and favorite e-shopping sites, a noted botnet researcher said today. “Clampi [Trojan horse] is the most professional thieving pieces of malware I’ve ever

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-49011881843957450122009-07-30T14:31:00.001-04:002009-07-30T14:31:44.071-04:00

With polls showing public support for President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform waning, Senate negotiators hit another snag on Thursday when a key Finance Committee Republican said the panel would not be ready to vote until September.  Full Article   |  Video

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-47749145998481084922009-07-30T13:19:00.001-04:002009-07-30T13:19:25.195-04:00

Baton-wielding Iranian police fired tear gas on Thursday and arrested protesters mourning the young woman killed in post-election violence who has become a symbol for the opposition to Tehran's hardline leaders. Full Article

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-84862328279084089102009-07-30T13:13:00.001-04:002009-07-30T13:13:12.536-04:00

The NHL Board of Governors approved a bid Wednesday by Jerry Reinsdorf to assume ownership of the financially troubled Phoenix Coyotes, and unanimously rejected an application by Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie to buy the team. …full story. See reaction here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-91316630603600117562009-07-29T16:43:00.001-04:002009-07-29T16:43:12.798-04:00

The House Energy and Commerce Committee will resume work on major health care legislation on Wednesday, after House leaders and a faction of fiscally conservative Democrats who had stalled the bill apparently reached a compromise after days of fitful negotiations. Full story here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-57277055015507224112009-07-29T15:20:00.001-04:002009-07-29T15:20:01.140-04:00

Nigeria is being threatened by a group  known as “Taliban”—apparently, they are not connected to the Taliban of Afghanistan and Pakistan. They have launched attacks across northern Nigeria, threatening to overthrow the government and impose strict Islamic law. Some believe these fundamentalists took their name from the radical Afghan Taliban, but there are others who say the name is more a term

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-12292996194070201812009-07-29T14:26:00.001-04:002009-07-29T14:26:18.819-04:00

One night after he was soundly beaten by Germany’s Paul Biedermann, Phelps set a world mark in the 200-metre butterfly with a time of one minute 51.51 seconds — more than a half-second ahead of his previous mark, 1:52.03.  Full story.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-2197365823484764312009-07-29T14:14:00.001-04:002009-07-29T14:14:11.838-04:00

The United States may be seeing “the beginning of the end of the recession,” President Barack Obama said Wednesday, as the world’s biggest economy combats its worst slump in decades. Read full story here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-23859906934067416142009-07-29T13:59:00.001-04:002009-07-29T13:59:48.242-04:00

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said Tuesday he’s not ready to declare the recession over, as the governor of the Bank of Canada did last week. But Trade Minister Stockwell Day supported the bank’s analysis in a newspaper column Monday. Read full story here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-66948285127346298882009-07-29T10:51:00.001-04:002009-07-29T10:51:20.553-04:00

Health Canada is probing whether drugs produced by Canadian generic drug giant Apotex are safe for consumers after U.S. regulators found “significant deviations” from good manufacturing practices during an inspection at one of the company’s key facilities. Full story here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-53419271284178684962009-07-29T10:47:00.001-04:002009-07-29T10:47:34.461-04:00

The City of Toronto and union representatives are scheduled to meet this morning to iron out some “outstanding issues.” that stand in the way of ending the 38-day civic workers strike. Full story here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-57665085160346389602009-07-29T10:10:00.001-04:002009-07-29T10:10:17.779-04:00

Eight cities, including Chicago, Cleveland, Denver and San Francisco, showed price increases in May, up from four in April and one in March, according to data released Tuesday. Two other cities, Charlotte, N.C., and New York, were flat. For the first time since early 2007, a composite index of 20 major cities was virtually flat, instead of down. “We’ve found the

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-32625173321293741782009-07-29T09:16:00.001-04:002009-07-29T09:16:32.237-04:00

Microsoft and Yahoo announced on Wednesday that they had agreed to collaborate on Internet search and advertising, in a bid to challenge Google. Under the pact, Microsoft will provide the underlying search technology on Yahoo’s popular Web sites. The deal provides a lift for Microsoft’s recent overhaul of its search engine, renamed Bing, which has won praise and favorable reviews,

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-18658837051581143832009-07-28T16:41:00.001-04:002009-07-28T16:41:11.100-04:00

Two days from now, there will no longer be any other nations with troops in Iraq—no “multi” in the Multi-National Force. As Iraqi forces have increasingly taken the lead, the United States will become the last of the “coalition of the willing” that the Bush administration first brought together in 2003. Full story here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-827325918755922122009-07-28T16:32:00.001-04:002009-07-28T16:32:11.337-04:00

Police say eight security guards have been killed in a bank robbery in Baghdad, the second in two days.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-9602807507320975312009-07-28T15:43:00.001-04:002009-07-28T16:53:27.425-04:00

The Saint John Telegraph-Journal, a New Brunswick newspaper, has issued an apology for a July 8 story that claimed, among other things, that PM Stephen Harper pocketed a communion wafer during former governor general Romeo LeBlanc’s state funeral. Both the names of the newspaper’s editor, Shawna Richer, and the publisher, Jamie Irving, do not appear on the masthead of Tuesday’s edition. The

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-23927443719257846912009-07-28T11:26:00.001-04:002009-07-28T11:26:37.725-04:00

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said during a visit to Iraq on Tuesday that the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from urban bases was paying off as Iraqi forces assumed the lead for the fragile security. Full Story.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-36580144016557929452009-07-28T11:20:00.001-04:002009-07-28T11:21:31.016-04:00

This from CBC News: “The public inquiry into German-Canadian businessman Karlheinz Schreiber’s dealings with former prime minister Brian Mulroney will hold its final  hearing in Ottawa on Tuesday. “The Oilphant Commission will hear testimony from Sue Gray, director of the Propriety and Ethics Team of the U.K. cabinet office as well as from Canada’s ethics commissioner, Mary

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-7974847934031028442009-07-28T11:04:00.001-04:002009-07-28T11:04:34.840-04:00

Another from the National Post: “Swedish telecommunications giant LM Ericsson’s acquisition of Nortel Networks Corp.’s wireless business was met Monday with concern from Ottawa and Ontario that the country was letting key, home-grown technology fall into foreign hands.” Full Story here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-91905151361037261762009-07-28T10:24:00.001-04:002009-07-28T10:24:38.267-04:00

Terence Corcoran of the National Post: “Since we have no truth on the table, Toronto taxpayers cannot yet claim to be free in the wake of the city’s 36-day garbage strike. A settlement has been reached, they say, but no whiff of fact or scent of detail was released. Even after workers get back to work, and the truth is known, the whole rotten affair may still leave a dank fiscal pall over the

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-59197603549549976452009-07-28T10:15:00.001-04:002009-07-28T10:15:46.617-04:00

Unfortunately, a major two-day interruption occurred at Cycroft headquarters preventing updates to any of the Web sites. The problems have been resolved and updates resumed this morning.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-14039170372715148232009-07-25T17:48:00.001-04:002009-07-25T17:48:35.173-04:00

What began as a protest about a brawl at the other end of the country soon became China’s bloodiest incident of civil unrest since the massacre that ended the Tiananmen Square protests 20 years ago. The ethnic Uighurs in the far western city of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang province, accused Han Chinese factory workers in the southern province of Guangdong of racial violence against Uighur

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-70906516857465325122009-07-25T15:42:00.001-04:002009-07-25T15:42:02.131-04:00

Sarah Palin, John McCain’s former Republican running mate, resigns as Alaska’s governor on Sunday with her political future clouded by ethics probes, legal bills and a dip in the polls.   Full Article

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-18342555546120668542009-07-25T11:00:00.001-04:002009-07-25T11:00:14.348-04:00

The CBC News is reporting that Swedish telecom giant Ericsson has emerged as the winner in the bidding war for Nortel Networks Corp.'s wireless division with a purchase price of $1.13 billion US, Nortel said in a statement early Saturday. This pretty well shuts out RIM. Read more here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-27437818447503169082009-07-25T10:55:00.001-04:002009-07-25T10:55:28.598-04:00

The Canadian Press reports that Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has issued an ultimatum to Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff to either drop his party’s proposal for easier access to employment insurance or there’ll be no election-averting deal on EI reform. “The Liberal leader is advocating a single national standard of 360 hours of work to qualify for EI benefits. The current

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-49865751919588184162009-07-25T10:38:00.001-04:002009-07-25T10:38:20.692-04:00

According to Associated Press in the States: The Bush administration in 2002 considered sending U.S. troops into a Buffalo, N.Y., suburb to arrest a group of terror suspects in what would have been a nearly unprecedented use of military power, The New York Times reported. Vice President Dick Cheney and several other Bush advisers at the time strongly urged that the military be used to

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-28851570489639925432009-07-25T10:22:00.001-04:002009-07-25T10:22:44.032-04:00

Tarek Fatah offers his take on the recent apparent killings of four children and a wife from a polygamous relationship in today’s National Post. “Almost as soon as news broke that the murders of three Afghan-Canadian teenage sisters and their father’s first wife in Kingston, Ont., were possible ‘honour killings,’ some in the Muslim community reacted in the most predictable fashion:

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-16382958153063683512009-07-24T17:02:00.001-04:002009-07-24T17:02:52.773-04:00

CBC News: Increased spending and lower tax revenues boosted the budget deficit to $7.5 billion in the first two months of the fiscal year, the Finance Department said Friday. The figure is roughly in line with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s forecast of a $50-billion-plus deficit for the full year, which ends March 31, 2010. Full story here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-26470844756104226062009-07-24T16:49:00.001-04:002009-07-24T16:49:56.971-04:00

Canwest: The celebrity website TMZ.com is reporting natural causes, suicide and accidental overdose are being ruled out as the cause of Michael Jackson’s death, according to a draft of the toxicology report. TMZ claims “law-enforcement sources” are saying results from the autopsy will show the cause of death as “almost certainly” homicide. Full story here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-51451631840221409292009-07-24T16:40:00.001-04:002009-07-24T16:40:00.317-04:00

Ottawa Citizen: The Crown corporation that manages public service pension funds took a 22.7-per-cent hit to its portfolio in its last fiscal year—a loss of $9.5 billion. In its annual report released Thursday, the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, which invests the proceeds of contributions for the pension plans of the public service, the Canadian Forces, the RCMP and the Reserve Force

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-30316274814614624862009-07-24T15:51:00.000-04:002009-07-24T16:44:15.073-04:00

Canada.com: President Barack Obama said on Friday he should have chosen his words more carefully when he said police “acted stupidly” in arresting a prominent black Harvard scholar, touching off a debate over race. “Because this has been ratcheting up and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up, I wanted to make clear in my choice of words I think I unfortunately gave an impression that

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-10961831225188911952009-07-24T15:40:00.001-04:002009-07-24T15:40:16.118-04:00

The Globe and Mail: Union president says locomotive engineers are officially off the job; most passenger rail service across Canada shut down. Full Story here. And view the video here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-55799868309298107542009-07-24T15:34:00.001-04:002009-07-24T15:34:02.492-04:00

Toronto Star: That's a theory being pursued by police as family members are charged with first-degree murder in bizarre drowning of a woman and three teenaged girls in the Rideau Canal. Read the fill story here.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-14911332664048523782009-07-24T00:45:00.000-04:002009-07-24T00:46:01.076-04:00

Test of new blog.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4614481744726633985.post-89405501773928648302009-07-23T16:50:00.000-04:002009-07-23T16:50:06.635-04:00

This is the new home of the Cycroft Gleaner, the latest brainchild of Russ Campbell.

Russ Campbellhttps://profiles.google.com/113059136148544858389noreply@blogger.com