Canadian would-be astronauts in line to colonize Mars (in The Toronto Star)

"[Stephen] Fenech, who has travelled to Antarctica and the middle of the Sahara desert, is no stranger to isolation and extreme climates. He says he’s not going into this blinded.

"“I know there is risk involved but I’m willing to take that chance because I figure I can leave my own mark on society,” he said."

Canadian would-be astronauts in line to colonize Mars

It's a lot more important than "leaving his mark" on society - this may be the only hope for the species... if they can lick the cosmic ray protection problem...

Aquaponics brings fish-fuelled vegetables to Toronto (in The Toronto Star)

"Aquaponics operates as a complete ecosystem: Farmer feeds fish, fish poop in water, effluent-rich water is pumped to vegetable roots....

"The do-it-yourself farm — built from an aquarium, a garden trough, a pump and grow lights — only cost her about $300. ...

"Toronto only has two aquaponics farms aside from hobby farms. They are set up in two high schools to teach students about farming.

"But Toronto’s first large-scale commercial aquaponics farm is now in the works, and it is expected to bring fresh, fish-fuelled vegetables to Toronto markets in the new year."

Aquaponics brings fish-fuelled vegetables to Toronto

The way of the future?

Stephen Bede Scharper: Environmentalists have reason for hope in 2014 (in The Toronto Star)

"As we progress toward the New Year, three ... signs of hope ... come to mind.

"First, Bolivia is on the verge of passing one of the most far-reaching environmental bills in history. The “Mother Earth” or Pachamama law, approved by Bolivia’s majority governing party, draws deeply on indigenous concepts that view nature as a sacred home. ...

"A second beacon of hope can be seen emanating from Vatican City in the humble, pastoral and compassionate smile of Pope Francis...

"A third source of hope is the creative, dynamic youth who are embracing the environment as a focus of their studies, avocation and chosen careers."

Environmentalists have reason for hope in 2014: Scharper | Toronto Star

Stephen Bede Scharper is associate professor of environment and religious studies at the University of Toronto. 

Joe Fiorito: The apology at the front door (in The Toronto Star)

"He said, “I cut taxes. I built the subway.” I said, “You’ve raised taxes. You blew millions cancelling the LRT agreement. You built nothing, and you cut services to the poor.”

"“I stopped the gravy train.”

"“There was no gravy train.”"

The apology at the front door: Fiorito | Toronto Star

Wonderful piece by Toronto Star columnist Joe Fiorito - Toronto readers will know exactly who he's talking about!

Rick Salutin: Harper, Hudak and the dangers of an education (in The Toronto Star)

"Tim Hudak is a great example of the damage a good education can do. So is Stephen Harper. Both are products of university economics departments in the late 20th century. Each has a proud M.A. in the field. Like their American cognate — Paul Ryan — they’ve chosen to implement economic policy with no or little experience in the work world....

"...Yves Smith of nakedcapitalism.com, ... notes the special delusion of economists: “Every social science save economics rests on the assumption of human irrationality.”"

Rick Salutin: Harper, Hudak and the dangers of an education.

Great article - only slightly tongue-in-cheek! It's good to read someone drawing people's attention to the dangers of the non-science called "economics".

Christopher Hume: Climate change vs. Rob Ford and Stephen Harper (in The Toronto Star)

"Toronto Mayor Rob Ford isn’t this country’s only global embarrassment; Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s appalling record on the environment and contempt for international diplomacy has also shamed Canada around the world.

"Harper’s ... abject servitude to business, especially the oil industry, knows no bounds....

"The meltdown happening in Canada’s leadership is much more immediately gripping than that unfolding in the Far North. It has a beginning, a middle and at some point, an end. Besides, it makes for better TV.

"And though these dual disasters leave Canadians feeling frustrated and impotent, we are responsible for both. The difference is that one will go away; the other will be around forever."

Climate change vs. Rob Ford and Stephen Harper (in The Toronto Star)

Economists deserve the battering they're getting (in The Toronto Star)

"It’s been a rough patch lately for economists, no question about it.

"You might even say it’s been a tough millennium.

"Generally unloved at the best of times, practitioners of the dismal science have come in for a pummelling at home and abroad for a range of sins.

"A recent Bank of Canada internal audit found, according to media reports, that its economists had difficulty “being succinct, grammatically correct and prioritizing the data into useful information.”

"Now, the fact that some number-crunchers routinely take cover in the hazy vagueness of jargon and bafflegab hardly comes as a surprise, not in an age when bombs are referred to with straight face as improvised explosive devices...

"Hard on the heels of the Bank of Canada report came word of American research that finds economists are not merely incoherent but are more apt than others to be greedy, selfish weasels...

"[The study by three Cornell University professors] said economics majors were more likely than others to fleece colleagues and that they, and students who had taken at least three economics courses, were more likely than their peers to rate greed as good.

Economists deserve the battering they're getting (Jim Coyle in The Toronto Star)