Dear Canadian Taxpayer Federation:

I have an idea for your next target research focus.

Attawapiskat must pay Ottawa appointee $1,300 a day

While the known costs for the auditor are $1,300 daily, that sum could rise significantly once travel and other expenses are factored in, said Grand Chief David Harper, of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. In fact, Harper suggested that the final tab could be about $300,000.

PS – Don’t read the comments below that CTV story if you still love this country. They may change your mind.

Derek Boogaard article in the New York Times

This is a very well-written, well-researched article that describes the life and death of Derek Boogaard. For those that don’t recognize the name, Boogaard was a feared and respected enforcer in the NHL. He died of a drug and alcohol overdose last May at age 28. It’s a long, three-part look into his life by John Branch. A fascinating and disturbing read.

Part 1: Derek Boogaard: A Boy Learns to Brawl

Part 2: Derek Boogaard: Blood on the Ice

Part 3: Derek Boogaard: A Brain ‘Going Bad’

The Habitable Exoplanets Catalog

The Habitable Exoplanets Catalog is an online database for scientists, educators, and the general public focused on habitable exoplanets discoveries. The catalog uses various habitability indices and classifications to identify, rank, and compare exoplanets, including their potential satellites, or exomoons. (this text is taken directly from the site’s introduction.)

The HEC ranked the exoplanets (and exomoons) discovered thus far by the Kepler telescope according to surface habitability and similarity to Earth.

A taste:

This planet is ranked #1 by habitability according to the metrics used on the HEC site:

This planet is the most earth-like:

Fun! Science! Science fun!

Deconstructing dog-whistles feeding off Attawatapiskat

âpihtawikosisân

A great deconstruction of the racist shit spewing all over the blogosphere and the House of Commons regarding Attawatapiskat. With numbers!

For a link to Attawatapiskat’s budget, go here (pdf).