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Saturday April 1, 2017

March 31, 2017 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 1, 2017

Swedish, Norwegian newspapers to ditch April Fools’ stories amid ‘fake news’ concerns

As scheming jokesters across the globe prepare their April Fools’ pranks, Swedish and Norwegian newspapers have announced they won’t be taking part in the fun, over fears that silly stories might be spread as “fake news.”

January 24, 2017

Swedish newspapers Dalarnas Tidningar, Hallpressen, Vasterbottens-Kuriren, Smalandsposten, and Jonkopings-Posten are among the publications which say they’re going to suppress their inner trickster this year.

“Historically, we’ve had super successful April Fools jokes. But because of debates and discussions about the media’s credibility being connected to fake news, we didn’t want to do it this year,” Ingvar Naslund, editor-in-chief at Vasterbottens-Kuriren, told TT news agency.

Smalandsposten’s editor-in-chief, Magnus Karlsson, also said he doesn’t want the newspaper’s good name to be “spread with a potentially viral and erroneous story.”

“We work with real news. Even on April 1st,” he said.

March 1, 2017

Erik Berger, editor-in-chief at Jonkopings-Posten, said his paper will be publishing an article on April Fools’ Day as to why it isn’t participating in the international day of pranks.

Media outlets in neighboring Norway have expressed similar sentiments, including public broadcaster NRK, Aftenposten, VG, and Dagbladet.

NRK also reported that local newspapers would follow suit.

One of those local papers is Bergens Tidende, whose editor Oyulf Hjertenes told NRK that it would be a “mistake on our part” to publish jokes on April 1, considering the current climate in which “false news is spreading.”

Meanwhile, the publishing editor of local paper Drammens Tidende said that “what is written in Drammens Tidende must be true,” AFP reported.

“Fake news” has become a household term since gaining the spotlight in the 2016 US Presidential election, with some claiming it helped propel President Donald Trump to victory. (Source: RT)

Thursday August 6, 2015

August 5, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

From L-R: Mars Rover, R2D2, Bender (from Futurama), Wall-E, Promo (from Rocketship Seven), and Intelligent dog

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 6, 2015

HitchBOT’s parts are being returned to Canada

HitchBOT’s California dreams have been dashed for 2015, but there is a possibility the robot will be back on the side of the road next year.

The Canadian-made hitchhiking robot’s creators released a statement Wednesday saying that the hitchBOT’s 2015 “summer adventure is over,” and that they are considering rebuilding for a 2016 journey, or introducing it to schools and allowing children to determine its travels.

“As researchers, we wanted to know, ‘can robots trust humans?’ and knew there would always be the possibility that hitchBOT would be damaged or stolen,” said David Harris Smith, hitchBOT co-creator and assistant professor at McMaster University. “Even though it did end badly for hitchBOT, we’ve learned a lot about human empathy and trust – everything we’ve learned will be borne out in the resulting research and used in future planning for hitchBOT’s adventures.”

HitchBOT’s journey was cut short in Philadelphia over the weekend, two weeks into its adventure across the United States after successful trips across Canada and into Europe.

A pair of YouTube pranksters admitted to creating a fake video that appeared to show one of their characters beating the child-sized robot. Jesse Wellens of PrankvsPrank and his friend Ed Bassmaster released a video on how they faked the video, but have denied that they destroyed the robot.

The “social robot” went offline on Aug. 1 while waiting for a ride in Philadelphia.

In a press released issued Wednesday, hitchBOT’s creators said the the body of the robot has been found by some its fans, and that the parts are currently “being sent back to its family in Canada.” (Source: CBC News)

Wednesday May 13, 2015

May 12, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 13, 2015

Meet Patrick Who, Ontario’s new Progressive Conservative leader

The only thing that is absolutely certain about Patrick Brown, the new Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, is that he loves the political process. He has attended an enormous number of community events, everywhere from his federal riding in Barrie, Ont., to the state of Gujarat in India – where he made a particularly rewarding connection with the future prime minister of India, Narendra Modi.

Tim Hudak elected 2009

Long-time MPP and relatively moderate Christine Elliott was expected to easily win the leadership when the campaign began, but Mr. Brown’s relentless contact-making, politicking and membership-selling put him far ahead in the end.

John Tory elected 2004

Mr. Brown was rather a silent MP in Ottawa, so it’s hard to make out what he stands for. There is evidence of his being a social conservative, but on becoming leader, he was quick to say he would not revisit divisive social issues. He now calls himself a pragmatic conservative, and he points out that he has attended Gay Pride events in Barrie.

Ernie Eves elected 2002

The Ontario Liberals have been in power ever since 2003. In the past two provincial elections, the Conservatives, led by Tim Hudak, offered a platform and a tone modelled on what got them Mike Harris elected in the mid-1990s. It might as well have been called Common Sense Revolution II. They are still in opposition.

Mr. Brown needs to win a seat in the Legislature before long, but more importantly, he needs to articulate a substantial reason why people should vote for his party, one that is neither dogmatic nor vacuous. The next election is not until 2018, but the province needs an Official Opposition that can present a serious alternative to the Liberals. There’s a strong suspicion that Mr. Brown will try to win the next election by essentially repeating the strategy of the past two, or possibly running even further to the right, and doing even less to attract voters beyond the base. That would be a mistake. He and his party have three years to think it over. (Source: Globe & Mail)

Tuesday February 28, 2012

February 28, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday February 28, 2012

Harper denies robocall charges

Standing firm amid questions and allegations of a political conspiracy, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing in the robocalls scandal, and challenged the opposition parties to prove his Conservatives were guilty.

On the first day back for parliamentarians after a week off, the opposition parties used the majority of question period to demand answers from the government about what Conservatives knew about the robocalls and when they knew it.

A Postmedia News-Ottawa Citizen investigation revealed last week that Elections Canada has traced fraudulent phone calls made during the federal election to an Edmonton company that worked for the Conservative party across the country.

Opposition parties demanded the Conservatives come clean and provide information proving they were not involved in any telephone campaign to harass voters and direct them to non-existent polling stations.

“The prime minister must be tough on crime,” interim NDP leader Nycole Turmel said. “Will he commit all the necessary resources to investigate and prosecute and put an end to vote suppression?”

Harper rejected what he called “broad, sweeping” allegations from the opposition parties, and put the onus on the NDP and Liberals to provide evidence of wrongdoing.

“If the NDP has any information that inappropriate calls were placed — and we certainly have information in some cases and we have given that to Elections Canada — then I challenge that party to produce that information and give it to Elections Canada,” he said. (Source: Vancouver Sun)