SpankyMcFarland

Sorry, could you explain what you mean a little more there.

Are those outcomes corrected for stage? I took a quick look at the paper and it seems they are not. A good example of why this matters is prostate cancer. If a man lives long enough he will probably get it but many remain dormant in the prostate. In a fee for service system, the urologist has an incentive to do as many surgeries as possible so people get their PSA measured who shouldn't get it measured and end up having costly and dangerous surgery - and making the stats look better. Rudy Giuliani, a prostate cancer survivor, failed to appreciate this basic point when he compared US and UK stats on prostate cancer. Even the scientist who discovered PSA now says it is used too freely. The US is good on procedures and quality; where it falls down is access and cost. Many poor people don't get simple, chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes treated, with predictable results.

He's our problem. If we start stripping citizenship for one crime, rest assured we will find other reasons to do it in due course.

Brexit may break up the UK. Scotland and NI are being forced out of the EU against their will.

The vote seems to have been more of a plebiscite than a referendum given it turns out not to have been binding on its own after all. The UK lacks a simple, written constitution in one document so such misunderstandings are prone to arise. I do think Brexit will grind on, however, and the effects, of course, are impossible to predict: politically in Scotland and NI where the Remain vote was particularly strong and economically everywhere.

For all its faults, the EU remains one of the greatest free trade zones ever created. It brought prosperity and peace to Europe.

Perhaps some are reincarnated under new names? Where is moderation discussed on this site? I think debate rules could be loosened up a bit.

We North Americans are chubby. On this issue, the border doesn't matter very much. The main problem is too much simple carbohydrate. Eat less, my friends.

Even in Newfoundland, we are seeeing a big uptick in opioid-related crime, e.g. convenience store hold-ups, and break-ins to hospitals and pharmacies. Opioids are now so commonplace now, I see there is a drug marketed to treat opioid induced constipation (OIC) for crying out loud. The guy in the ad has back pain.

Get ready for a crime wave: http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/swann-says-the-growing-fentanyl-crisis-is-driving-up-property-crime-dramatically

The last incident I saw was in March 2016 in Calgary airport. The official was yelling at an elderly Chinese man in front of me. The only person who looked entirely unbothered by this performance was the old man himself.

I certainly don't mean to do that. I have been travelling to the US for over forty years and, in the vast majority of trips, have seen no problem at all. I do notice an increase in agents shouting at people, usually people who appear not to speak English well. There's no point to this. It just stresses everybody out.

Every traveller deserves respect. That is not a new standard in a civilized society.

1. No, it is a good manners thing. 2. A non-starter. 3. They are professionals who should be courteous.

1. I have never been denied entry to the US but I have witnessed officials being gratuitously rude to other travellers on multiple occasions. 2. Skype for funerals? 3. No drama queen meltdown, sunshine - just witnessing thuggish behaviour. 4. No boycott either. I will still go when I have to. Have you ever visited Canada?

Why do countries figure in plans? For the usual reasons. Relatives etc.

Breaking up the EU weakens Europe. What sort of person wants that? Well, Mr. Putin does.

The USA is less attractive for me than it used to be. I go there when I have to. Their customs officials are rude.

I'm more intrigued than upset by this story of Trump and the Russians. Do you think there is nothing to it at all?

This is rather comical in a dark sort of way. To avoid running afoul of the mods, I will let it speak for itself: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/dentons-kpmg-offshore-tax-dodge-1.3618257

Next time I get a letter from CRA I'll be thinking about this humiliating national fiasco. The law gets very flexible at the upper end, even in goody two shoes Canada: KPMG offshore tax dodge: Trudeau vows to do 'better job' with tax avoiders - Business - CBC News Canada Revenue offered amnesty to wealthy KPMG clients in offshore tax 'sham' - Business - CBC News https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2752975-May-2015-CRA-amnesty-offer-to-KPMG-Clients.html http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cra-kpmg-anger-at-secret-deal-1.3479792 http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/harper-government-partnered-with-industry-group-battling-cra-over-kpmg-case-1.3257994 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kpmg-canada-revenue-agency-jeff-sadrian-1.3526618 At least these captains of industry are getting named at last despite our own taxman's best efforts to protect their precious privacy (and save his own blushes of course). http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/kpmg-offshore-sham-1.4006469 Your common or garden yob tax doodler can't offer you stuff like this: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kpmg-canada-revenue-agency-receptions-conferences-1.3540285 So why should you treat the lower orders nicely? Put the boot in. I would prefer if JT just gave us the truth: nothing will change; nothing can change.

Right-wingers must feel very strange denying a Republican President's Russian connections - I can't recall a more unexpected story - and the connections just keep on popping up.

How is it that the UK's NHS, so often derided in North America, can afford a national prescription drug program and we can't? UK doctors are surprised when they come here to find the working poor unable to afford drugs they prescribe.

I thought Kimmel did well - relaxed and low key. The crowd response is usually poor so the jokes don't land very well, although a lot better than the WH correspondents' dinner which must have the most apathetic crowd in the world. A President as controversial and strange as Trump is going to get mentioned in jokes at the Oscars.

That suits us fine up here. I don't envy Americans one little bit these days. They've a lot on their plate. My main worry is the weather.