Sometimes, well, you just don't feel like blogging. The past month of my life has been just such a time- what with the holiday season, job searching, a new web project to get up and running AND a research project on the renewable energy sector, well let's just say entries on Ape Rifle have taken on a rather low priority as of late. I spend much of my time during the week in front of a computer,

The other night I was chatting with some friends, and our conversation turned to political matters. This is perhaps not so surprising given that 1) many of us are interested in and/or directly involved in affairs of state and 2) Canada is currently in the midst of its third federal election since 2001. A topic which got emotions going in particular was that of voter participation, and the

Ladies and gentleman, I am pleased to announce the launch of Urban Impressions, the city-focused (and somewhat more serious) site from the devious mind that has brought you Ape Rifle. After much thought and consideration I decided to fork out some cash, set up a Typepad account and have a serious go at putting together a website that doesn't exude half-assedness. Of course, at the moment the

I came across this picture while perusing the site of that well respected bastion of quality journalism, the China Daily (although I will admit their new columnists provide fairly interesting, readable, non-plagiarized content). Anyways, this shot puts me at a loss for words, able only to conjure up one of the basic questions pertaining to human existence: "What the f--k!?!" Other overcrowded,

Over the past year or so, we've been bombarded with stories of riots, protests and general grumbling over the widening income disparity in China, associated with such fun things as pollution, corruption and a so-called gaping rural/urban divide (never mind that tons of poor people live in cities too). Well, your intrepid correspondent uncovered just such a protest last April in Xiamen, and was