Commentary on the Scream, moral basis of our political choices, why sitting kills you, trapped in an Orwellian-Kafkaesque reality, and where will Wildrose lead Canada.

What was the scream saying?

Financial Times -- So, what does ‘The Scream’ mean?
Tipped to reach a record price at auction next month, Edvard Munch’s painting is one of the world’s most recognisable and disturbing images.

Quote worth noting.

“The Scream’ for me shows the horrifying moment when man realises his impact on nature and the irreversible changes that he has initiated, making the planet increasingly uninhabitable.”

Why liberals and conservatives are different. Thanks to Patricia of Victoria.

TED -- Jonathan Haidt on the moral roots of liberals and conservatives 
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies the five moral values that form the basis of our political choices, whether we're left, right or center, and together not in opposition they create a balanced society.

 

The 5 Moral Pillars
1. Prevention of harm and desire to care
2. Fairness and reciprocity
3. In group loyalty
4. Authority/respect
5. Purity/sanctity (in terms of your body)

Move or die.

The Atlantic -- Confirmed: He Who Sits the Most Dies the Soonest
Another study shows that sitting is really, really, really bad for your health. Please, just get a standup desk!

Ai Weiwei’s Chinese insanity.

Economist -- Orwell, Kafka and Ai Weiwei
EARLIER this month, Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei decided to mark the anniversary of the day in April 2011 when he was detained by police, taken to a secret location, held in solitary confinement for 81 days and interrogated, he reckons, about fifty times.

Related.

Economist -- Never again?
The gross abuses of human rights in North Korea shame the whole world.

Will the tail wag the dog? Ironic that a province that is a creature of the federal government may reshape Canada.

Globe and Mail -- An Alberta shakeup would be felt across the country
Four different parties have governed Alberta since it joined Canada as a province in 1905. The Wildrose Party has a shot at becoming the fifth on Monday.