The University of Manchester has told its staff not to use the word mother while celebrating Mother’s Day in an attempt to promote diversity
Happy Mother’s Day! Oh, I’m sorry. Have I offended you? Please accept my apology, especially if you’re a student at the University of Manchester in England. I came across a story on the internet a while back with the click-bait headline “Manchester University bans the word ‘mother’ ahead of Mother’s Day.” I checked it out,…
Suggesting humanity got it wrong by eating meat is unsupported by scientific evidence
Protein wars have taken a back seat to the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020. Most of the attention was obviously given to the virus, variants, vaccines and how to keep safe. That makes sense. But since we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, proteins appear to be back in the spotlight. Just…
Remember to keep your personal and work lives separate
Faith Wood knows how to resolve conflict. Her years in front-line law enforcement taught her how to effectively de-escalate any situation to a successful conclusion. Faith will use her knowledge of conflict management to guide you through the often stressful experiences you may encounter in your personal or professional life. Her Conflict Coach column appears…
We have to beware tyrannies and autocracies that use oil and natural gas as weapons
By Mark Milke and Lennie Kaplan Canadian Energy Centre History shows tyrannies and autocracies use oil and natural gas as weapons when interacting with democracies. This is obvious during wars – tanks and jets don’t run on vegetable oil – as well as peacetime. For example, in 2009, Russia cut natural gas supplies to Ukraine in…
We continue to sell military equipment to Saudi Arabia, which is responsible for much of the suffering in Yemen
During the Cold War, we were told that our allies did nothing wrong and our enemies did nothing right. In the late 1970s, the Cambodian genocide was very well reported in the Western media. That was a good thing because Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge were horrendous war criminals. Yet, at almost the exact…
Geoscientist sheds new light on permafrost thaw in the geologic past and what it could mean for our future
Geoscientists have uncovered surprising results that reveal a complex history of ancient permafrost thaw – with implications for understanding the effects of permafrost thawing and climate change in the Canadian Arctic today. “Permafrost is really a geological expression of climate, so permafrost response to past periods of global warming is like a natural experiment for…
Plastics have allowed a revolution in material science that has vastly improved our quality of life
By now, most everyone has seen the memes of Dr. Evil ordering a change of focus in his campaign to maintain global fear: “Fear of [the last crisis] is no longer working. Release the murder hornets!” To judge from recent news articles, the meme should read: “Fear of COVID-19 is no longer working. Restart the…
Just because your life isn’t perfect right now doesn’t mean it will be like this forever
Are you having financial troubles? Perhaps you’re going through a divorce? Does it feel like your life is falling apart? Don’t despair! A positive attitude can go a long way toward creating happiness. Everyone has problems at some point. Over 12.5 million work days were lost in the United Kingdom alone in 2017 due to…
Searching for a better solution to a clinical problem facing many patients with skin cancer
A team of University of Alberta researchers has discovered a way to use 3-D bioprinting technology to create custom-shaped cartilage for use in surgical procedures. The work aims to make it easier for surgeons to safely restore the features of skin cancer patients living with nasal cartilage defects after surgery. The researchers used a specially…
When regulators threaten doctors for engaging in public debate, doctors go quiet and patients suffer
“Call for help.” This is one of the first rules in every advanced life-saving course. When you see someone collapse, rush over to assess and call for help. Raise the alarm. Let people know. Doctors and nurses do this all the time in hospitals across Canada. It would be professional misconduct to do otherwise. What…
Happy Mother’s Day! Oh, I’m sorry. Have I offended you? Please accept my apology, especially if you’re a student at the University of Manchester in England. I came across a story on the internet a while back with the click-bait headline “Manchester University bans the word ‘mother’ ahead of Mother’s Day.” I checked it out,…
