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Academia V The Real World: Clear and Transparent Conflict of Interest
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Rants
- Hits: 3258
This is education as sponsored by corporations:
Link: http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/braid-cannon-case-at-u-of-c-may-prompt-ethics-rules
Now there's a whole hell of a lot wrong going on here, yet they're apparently "saved" by the lack of clear rules. Everyone wants to make up their own rules as they go along, and be accountable to no one, but clearly as dean she's made herself accountable to Enbridge, and not the University. And while they are a major sponsor, when Academia is accountable to corporate interests and donations rest assured that education will be directed along the comfortable paths dictated by it's sponsorship. Note that a faculty member with concerns about the new facility was not in a position to voice them (again, the University absolves her for scolding him, but this is clearly not the free environment of ideas and questioning thought that an institution supposedly dedicated to higher learning should be). And I have, frankly, little sympathy for someone who needs to top up their base salary of $480, 000 per year with sitting on corporate boards. This is clear and transparent conflict of interest, which is why there are no explicit rules about it.
Solution? Well, the Dean has a job on the board of Enbridge. Clearly that's where her loyalties lie, and while we can appreciate she's a hell of a fundraiser, her approach to transparently obvious ethical considerations should see her out of a job at the U of C.
Related: http://business.financialpost.com/news/energy/enbridge-university-of-calgary && http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/faculty-associations-slam-university-calgary-enbridge-1.3300340
Synecdoche, New York
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 2290
I was surprised to discover this - I haven't seen it. Given I loved Being John Malkovitch, and appreciated Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Adaptation, this will have to be remedied - probably this evening.
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The whole movie is actually posted online.
But this comes as a preparation for Anomalisa, coming out this December...
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Which proves that I'm clearly getting older, as this has me far, far more excited than the new Star Wars. It's been a while since I've so looked forward to a movie...
Ronnie Burkett - The Daisy Theatre
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 2024
At his absolute best, irreverent improvisation, with 30 years of marionettes, song and bawdy innuendo to draw upon. I've seen almost every show he's done, there's few that compare, if you get a chance you should check him out...
End of the Rocky Horror Picture Show
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 2751
It's the end of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Halloween, and I've talked a few of the co-workers into going, they've never seen it. But I've seen it, how many times, 3, 4 years in a row? And I'm getting bored...
This year, it's rather less attended then most years, perhaps only 3/4 full, and a more subdued host, not as much absurdity, antics. Still a lot of absurdity and antics. They all enjoy it, salad girl, her boyfriend, the new Italian waiter, G and his girlfriend, everyone is happy but me...
Next year it will be the daughter's introduction, I'm just going to dump her and a friend and let them figure it all out. I'm done, I love the movie, the characters, the songs, but 3, mebbe even 4 years in a row, there's gotta be a better party out there somewhere, it's Halloween, I know there is...
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