Random sampling, election polling and lunch

, April 16, 2011

I’ve just started reading a book called Canuckology by pollsters Darrel Bricker and John Wright. It’s intended to be an account of “what Canadians think and why,” based on meticulous market research. Among other things, its introduction contains a rather eloquent summary of what polling actually is. “Imagine that you have 100 people in a […]


Posted in Democracy, Election 2011 |

Link of the Day: Project Democracy

, April 16, 2011

“More than 60 percent of Canadians do not support Harper and his government’s contempt for democracy. Yet, he could win a majority with as little as 35 percent of the popular vote. “Project Democracy is a tool to help you determine if there is a way to ‘amp up’ your vote and stop a Harper […]


Posted in Link of the Day |

Please update your feed settings

, April 15, 2011

Moving this site from one platform to another has meant that I’ve had to change my RSS feed address. If you’ve subscribed to this blog, then the feed address you’ve been using will no longer work for you. Please use this address from this point forward. Thanks! http://www.mattblair.ca/?feed=rss2


Posted in Site News |

A new platform, a new look, and a lot of work to do

, April 15, 2011

As promised, I’ve just migrated my blog from Textpattern to WordPress. After spending a few days searching fruitlessly through tutorials and what not, I found a plugin that made the whole process relatively easy. There’s quite a lot to do in order to get the site to where I’d like it to be, and certain […]


Posted in Site News |

It’s Friday, so here’s the video for “Open Your Eyes” by Alex Metric, Steve Angello and Ian Brown

, April 15, 2011

This is definitely one of those cases of a great video propping up an otherwise negligible track. Not that “Open Your Eyes” is a stinker by any means, but nor is it anyone’s best work. The true star of this thing is Peter Serafinowicz in a pitch perfect performance. Do check it out.


Posted in It's Friday |

Link of the Day: Shit Harper Did

, April 15, 2011

If you haven’t already done so, I invite you to check out Shit Harper Did. It’s been making the rounds on Twitter and Facebook, which is probably no surprise for a site that draws its name from a social media phenomenon. It’s well worth checking out, even if only as a reminder during yet another […]


Posted in Link of the Day |

See you later in the week

, April 11, 2011

The ol’ blog’s been a little quiet lately, and it’s going to stay that way for a little while longer. I’m at a work conference in Richmond Hill until tomorrow night, and I won’t have much time to write anything. I’ve also decided I am indeed going to make the switch to WordPress, which I’ll […]


Posted in Uncategorized |

Link of the Day: Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

, April 6, 2011

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is an international Non Governmental Organization (NGO) with national sections, covering all continents with an international secretariat based in Geneva, and a New York office focused on the work of the United Nations. “Since its establishment in 1915, WILPF has brought together women from around the […]


Posted in Link of the Day |

Currently enjoying “Doctorin’ the Tardis” by the Timelords

, April 5, 2011

It’s the sort of thing that seems laughable until it actually happens. Who would have thought that a single that was little more than a blend of an anthem by Gary Glitter and the theme from Doctor Who would rocket to the top of the UK pop charts? Certainly not the Timelords, better known as […]


Posted in Currently Enjoying |

In defense of the indefensible Conservative PR team

, April 5, 2011

Yesterday I threw a bone to Tony Phillips, the junior Conservative staffer who no doubt put his job and his future in politics in jeopardy by publicly complaining about the “stupidity” of his party’s communications people in perhaps the most ironic way possible. As much as I would love to see Harper get spanked in […]


Posted in Uncategorized |