Opinion
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Genetic testing: the good, the bad and the ugly
With a sample of your blood, hair or skin, scientists can determine many characteristics of your physiology – including health problems that you may have now, could acquire in the future, or even what your children could be susceptible to.
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Do we need God?
For the next three issues of The Uniter, Rev. Jack Duckworth will argue the case for Christianity, coinciding with a number of dialogues he is holding here at the university. In response, a variety of guest and regular Uniter writers will try to show the wide ranging and passionate opinions that arise when questions of faith are brought to the table.
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Hydro ignores our history and heritage
It is amazing what a difference one day can make. In fact, in the case of Manitoba Hydro – that most sacred cow of all Manitoba’s crown corporations – the period of time that it took to go from announcing an almost impressively naïve expansion plan to public repentance for that very plan took less than 24 hours.
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Pretirement: the future is now (and much cleaner)
Hey Gang, J. Williamez here, with yet another installment of Good and Evil. In sticking with my theme, I’d like to talk to you all today about something which is both good and evil: employment.
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A Canada you can believe in
Last week I had the opportunity to make my way down to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration of the new president. In the whirlwind of long lines and security checkpoints, surrounded by ecstatic crowds and vendors hawking everything from Obama track suits to condoms (“The real stimulus package!”), I could not help but have thoughts about the lackluster state of politics in my own country.
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Who to choose? Neil Young, Feist…
By the time you read this, Barack Obama will have been inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America. After one of the most indelible political campaigns of all time he will find himself at the helm of the most influential political position in the world.
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Change isn’t a one way street
Touching down at San Salvador airport gives an amazing first impression. Immediately you feel the warm air hit you like a wall, the sounds of hundreds of palm trees rustling a hundred yards away mixed with the calls of various birds and animals tickle your ears. It’s beautiful.
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Do we need God?
Since the 1940s Canada has witnessed a significant decline in the number of people who attend religious institutions. Specifically, it is young people who are pulling farther away from traditional religious behaviours. What has led us to question our faith? And should we be concerned by this disillusionment?
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Warning! rampant Hippyism on the loose
Do you make many of the important decisions in your life based on vibes and energies? Do you often go weeks without bathing or wearing socks? Do you ever start emotional and politically driven speeches, but forget what you’re talking about after around 15 minutes of complete non-sequitur?
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Between good and evil in the holy land
After stalling for over a week to produce any considerable public comment concerning the latest outbreak of hostilities in Gaza, the Canadian government finally broke its ill-advised silence on the matter last week. Junior foreign affairs minister Peter Kent was sent out to inform Canadians of their government’s position on the situation.
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A big, carbon copied guilty pleasure
There are two words any self-respecting Winnipegger hates to hear: urban sprawl. The level of disgust we feel for this term is exemplified in the many downtown and inner city projects aimed at renewal, re-growth, and revitalization of our city core.
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Upwards and onwards
In a time of economic loss and uncertainty around the world, a great deal of comfort has been taken here in Manitoba’s ostensibly stable economy. Owing to the province’s diverse set of natural resources and the nationalization of the largest of those – hydro-electricity – Manitoba has never really had one leading sector. Because of this, Manitoba has gone for years without experiencing sharp economic declines.
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Anarchism is never the answer
When a machine or system gets more complicated it often develops more problems, more flaws and more inconvenient hiccups.
As these problems develop, they often affect anybody attached to the machine in a variety of ways, and that is when the custodians of that machine need more training and education in order to address those problems. Currently, the most complicated system in existence is society.
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Forgetting BJ at Christmas a big mistake
Well, the holidays are over and it’s back to the grind for all us hard-working folk. I spent Christmas in Jamaica this year, which was a little surreal. Palm trees and curried goat took the place usually filled by snow and turkey, while the drinking I normally do at Christmas was replaced by drinking in a pool. All in all I had a great time.