Here are some interesting links I ran across this morning…
First off, James Bow is about to become a dad. Please take a moment and shoot some congratulations his way, even if you disagree with him politically.
Jay Currie has a good post up on the current kerfuffle between Austria and the rest of the EU over whether or not Turkey should be admitted.
Andrew over at BBB takes a look at blog etiquette.
Angry tracks an interesting use of softwood lumber funds.
James Koole takes a look at the recent release of Judith Miller from the point of view of an up and coming journalist.
Kathy is thinking that taking the vote back from women might actually be a good idea. I, of course, am absolutely dismayed that Kathy would say such a thing! (Note to my wife who will be reading this later: See hon? I was being good. Don’t hit me.) Update: I just re-read the post and discovered that Kathy was highlighting a post at Spleenville, so my apologies to her for putting words in her mouth (keyboard?).
Please drop any good reading you’ve found in the comments, or trackback to any posts on your own blogs that you feel deserve some exposure.
Bush lied, the Internet died
I can’t wait to see what the tinfoil hat brigade has to say about this:
A senior U.S. official rejected calls on Thursday for a U.N. body to take over control of the main computers that direct traffic on the Internet, reiterating U.S. intentions to keep its historical role as the medium’s principal overseer.
“We will not agree to the U.N. taking over the management of the Internet,” said Ambassador David Gross, the U.S. coordinator for international communications and information policy at the State Department. “Some countries want that. We think that’s unacceptable.”
[link — h/t: Neale News]
Any minute now we’re going to see Cindy Sheehan starting a vigil outside Verisign prostesting all those poor TCP packets that died in transit because of American occupation of the Internet.
Angry White Males
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I’ve noticed that people on the left have an amusing habit of dismissing those to sitting to their right on the political landscape as Angry White Males. It doesn’t matter if the person the label is being hung on is actually male, or even white, this is the sign you’re expected to carry around as punishment for not being progressive enough. Okay, fine. Please allow me to introduce Canada’s own Angry AWM will be published twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays. I hope you |
Not all registries are bad…
We all know that Canada’s gun registry is a Tool of the Devil™. However, I’d be thrilled to see Canada adopting a national Do Not Call registry simliar to the one they have down south. There used to be a time when I enjoyed tormenting telemarketers on the phone, but my options (and vocabulary) have been greatly reduced now that I have a wife and child within earshot.
I’d also love to have a national Do Not Proseletyze registry that would keep those bloody Pentecosts and JWs off my doorstep (my wife chased off the first two JWs from our new home today). I could go for a No Chocolate Covered Almonds registry as well since I’m trying to lose weight and school fundraisers really louse that up. Finally, a Do Not Campaign registry would be a godsend come election time.
Of course, none of these will come to pass. Even if they did, they wouldn’t be implemented properly (like our gun registry that can’t tell the difference between a Ruger handgun and a Ruger shotgun). It would just be another opportunity for the Liberals to grease up their buddies in Quebec, and elsewhere, without actually managing to accomplish anything.
Still, I can dream, can’t I?
Oh Canada
We on the right seem to spend a lot of time bashing Canada. How about, just for a change, we talk about some of the things we like about living here? Here’s my short list:
- Newfie culture and music (Great Big Sea rocks!)
- Our geography
- The freedoms we enjoy (which are still considerable)
- Canadian photography (Yusef Karsh was a Canucklehead!)
- Living on the prairies
- Stompin’ Tom
What do you folks like about Canada?
Gmail Invites
I’ve currently got 100 Gmail invites sitting unused. Anyone who has been wanting an account there only has to send me an e-mail at digiteyesed [a+] gmail dot com and I’ll slip you an invite. It’s a shame to just let them sit there and gather dust.
(I’ve turned off comments on this post to keep people from putting their e-mail addies where a spam harvesting ‘bot can find them.)
Update
I have 87 invites left. I have sent one out to everyone who asked so far. If you have a Hotmail account, you may need to check in your spam folder to find a reply as I heard that’s where Hotmail dumps them. Kirby T, I sent out your invite but your e-mail provider bounced it back with a 550 error (mailbox not available), so you may want to look into that.
Queer Buy for the Gay Guy
Remember that $10,000 ring Svend Robinson pocketed? It turns out that he could have afforded it if he had just waited a bit. The RCMP paid Her Majesty ten thousand smackers after his pants got torn and his leg got a boo boo during a scuffle at the 2001 Free Trade Summit:
Former NDP MP Svend Robinson received a cash settlement of $10,000 from the RCMP, government accounting ledgers show.
Robinson said his calf was cut and his pants torn during a protest at the 2001 free-trade summit in Quebec City.
Public accounts published yesterday show that Robinson received the money for “pain and suffering.”
Robinson, out for a walk with his dogs last night, said he couldn’t speak about the payment.
He declined to say whether the money had helped to ease his pain and suffering.
[link — h/t: Neale News]
Me, I’m thinkin’ that a person could buy a whole lotta nipple clamps with $10K. Which would perhaps explain why Svend not only couldn’t afford the ring, but also why he didn’t want to discuss ‘pain and suffering’.
He may have a point, but…
I’m not sure this sort of ‘Frank’ness is what’s called for at this juncture.
America: “Do I look fat in this?”
Canada: “Why yes, honey, you could stand to lose a few pounds, but I love you just the same!”
Nice going. They’ll be writing that $5B cheque any day now.
First Annual Small Dead Blog Awards
I figure it’s time that I gratuitously abused Kate’s blog. With her off on a road trip, this is the perfect opportunity for me to foist a blogging award contest on her. Therefore I proudly annouce the 2005 Small Dead Blog Awards. We will be taking nominations in the following categories:
- Best Canadian blog
- Best new Canadian blog
- Best American blog
- Best new American blog
- Best ‘Blogging Tories’ blog
- Most outrageous Canadian ‘Moonbat’ blog
- Most humorous blog
- Best blog run by a member of the MSM*
- Best hard news blog
- Best ‘Whistleblower’ blog
- Best ‘Photoblog’
- Best Canadian political blog
- Best American political blog
- Best coverage of Iraq war by a blog
- Weirdest Canadian blog
- Best blog post**
Nominations will close and voting begins on Friday October 7th at 12 noon eastern time. The prizes for the winning blogs will be a cute button to put on your site, a huge traffic boost, and bragging rights.
* Andrew Coyne, Paul Wells, Colby Cosh, etc.
** Added by request.
Shoot first, ask questions later
There is a new ad campaign trying to warn tourists away from Florida. They figure that Canadians are apt to get ventilated by angry Floridians under the state’s new Shoot First law. My personal feeling is that it will probably be safer to vacation in Florida than the rest of the U.S. now that criminals are on notice they can be taken down with fewer consequences. And if this law has the side-effect of encouraging everyone to improve their manners when dealing with other members of the general public, so much the better.
Schr�der Denies Resignation Plans
German Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der denies widespread speculation that he is about to resign in the wake of the humiliating defeat in the September 18 elections.
Government Denies Resignation Rumors (Deutsche Welle)
While Germans wait for the announcement of a new government, speculation is rising about Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der’s resignation. Meanwhile, the opposition believes more and more in a grand coalition.
The surprising optimism following Wednesday’s talks between Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der’s Social Democrats (SPD) and the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) led by Angela Merkel has now been followed by further speculation about how the country will find a way out of its political paralysis. The rumor mill in Berlin is churning out speculation that Schr�der would rescind his claims of being chancellor for a third term.
The Berlin-based tabloid B.Z. splashed the question on its front page: “Schr�der Resignation on National Holiday — Monday Last Day?” Politicians also believed that Schr�der would soon resign so that a new German leader can finally be named.
[…]
The grand coalition as the final solution to the inconclusive elections on September 18 became more and more likely after Angela Merkel and the Christian Democrats exited talks with their preferred partners, the free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP) on Thursday. “The possibility or likelihood of a coalition with the SPD is much higher than the other constellations,” Merkel told reporters. In addition, she said there was a “very high possibility” of success of creating a coalition with the Social Democrats.
Guido Westerwelle, whose FDP came out as the surprise third-strongest party with almost 10 percent of the vote, thought that result would be more than enough to accompany the conservatives into power. But he now appears to be coming to terms with the likelihood that the FDP will remain in the opposition. “It seems in all probability that we’re heading for a grand coalition,” he told reporters, adding that Schr�der should now step aside for the good of the country.
Grand coalition is an odd outcome but has always seemed the most likely. As odd a marriage as CDU-SPD would be, it far beats cobbling together a government based on several fringe parties.
Related:
crosspost from OTB
Schr�der Denies Resignation Plans
German Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der denies widespread speculation that he is about to resign in the wake of the humiliating defeat in the September 18 elections.
Government Denies Resignation Rumors (Deutsche Welle)
While Germans wait for the announcement of a new government, speculation is rising about Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der’s resignation. Meanwhile, the opposition believes more and more in a grand coalition.
The surprising optimism following Wednesday’s talks between Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der’s Social Democrats (SPD) and the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) led by Angela Merkel has now been followed by further speculation about how the country will find a way out of its political paralysis. The rumor mill in Berlin is churning out speculation that Schr�der would rescind his claims of being chancellor for a third term.
The Berlin-based tabloid B.Z. splashed the question on its front page: “Schr�der Resignation on National Holiday — Monday Last Day?” Politicians also believed that Schr�der would soon resign so that a new German leader can finally be named.
[…]
The grand coalition as the final solution to the inconclusive elections on September 18 became more and more likely after Angela Merkel and the Christian Democrats exited talks with their preferred partners, the free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP) on Thursday. “The possibility or likelihood of a coalition with the SPD is much higher than the other constellations,” Merkel told reporters. In addition, she said there was a “very high possibility” of success of creating a coalition with the Social Democrats.
Guido Westerwelle, whose FDP came out as the surprise third-strongest party with almost 10 percent of the vote, thought that result would be more than enough to accompany the conservatives into power. But he now appears to be coming to terms with the likelihood that the FDP will remain in the opposition. “It seems in all probability that we’re heading for a grand coalition,” he told reporters, adding that Schr�der should now step aside for the good of the country.
Grand coalition is an odd outcome but has always seemed the most likely. As odd a marriage as CDU-SPD would be, it far beats cobbling together a government based on several fringe parties.
Related:
crosspost from OTB
Canada�s Military Not Ready to Defend Against Terrorists
Canada’s Senate defense committee reports that the country’s armed forces are woefully underfunded and totally unprepared to defend the country against the inevitable terrorist attack.
Report: Canada’s military can’t meet needs (AP)
Canada’s military is “wounded” and the country’s defense without the money to do its job properly, according to a Senate report released Thursday. The report laments the lack of resources and coordinated manpower to deal with a terrorist attack or natural disaster. “A hard, honest look at the facts has made it clear to the committee that the funding is simply not there to end Canada’s sad era of military darkness,” said the review of defense policy by the Senate Standing committee on National Security and Defense.
The report notes that of the C$12.8 billion (US$10.9 billion) the government promised over the next five years to beef up the Canadian Forces, only C$1.1 billion ($938 million) was earmarked for the first two years. This means the rehabilitation process won’t get started until 2008-2009. “Even when the process does stutter to a start, it will remain vastly underfunded, primarily because the armed forces have been starved for money for so many years,” reads an executive summary by committee chairman, Liberal Party Senator Colin Kenny.
The report notes Canada — named by al Qaeda as one of five target nations deserving of an attack — has done little since 9/11 to invest in anti-terrorism prevention. “Canada has an unenviable place on Osama bin Laden’s infamous list of countries to be targeted. We may get lucky. But it’s not a bet you’d want to make. “Despite the increasing complacency of most Canadians as the memory of 9/11 slips to the back of our minds, there is every likelihood that an attack will eventually occur on Canadian soil,” the report said, yet noted that Canada ranks just 128th out of 165 countries in defense spending as a percentage of its gross domestic product.
Truly a shame. The Canadian Forces are well trained and professional but they operate in a political culture even more tepid on national defense than that which pervades Western Europe. They have the good fortune, however, of bordering a superpower that happens to be their strongest ally and trading partner.
Related:
Canada Defenseless
Canadian Counter-Terrorism
crosspost from OTB
Alberta Separation
I am a member of the Separation Party of Alberta. A person once accused me of treason because of this, but how can one commit treason when Canada’s government actually has legitimized a process whereby provinces can separate? (Clarity Act.)
I’m curious to know how many other SDA readers are Alberta separatists. If you are, what pushed you over the edge? If you’re an Albertan who isn’t in favour of separation, why not?
Let’s try and keep the comments on topic for this post, folks.
MTV Comes Back to Canada
MTV is coming back to Canada, in a rather backdoor manner
CTV partnership brings MTV back to Canada (CTV)
Canadians who want their MTV will soon be able to get their fill. CTV and the iconic American music channel have announced they are joining forces.
The new strategic alliance announced Wednesday will see CTV and U.S.-based MTV Networks team put two new MTV channels on the Canadian television dial. Under the terms of the deal, CTV has also gained exclusive access to MTV’s broad array of channels, Internet sites and video on demand services.
According to Brad Schwartz, an expat MTV Networks International executive who has returned home to lead the new venture, viewers can look forward to a unique 360-degree entertainment experience.
[…]
Within hours of the announcement, there were already reports rival broadcaster CHUM Television would be keeping an eye on the new venture. CHUM, through a growing slate of MuchMusic channels, has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with its American counterpart. And it doesn’t intend to let any newcomers edge it out without a fight. “We’ll be intrigued to see how Talk TV can be morphed into an MTV brand and still remain a talk channel as licensed,” CHUM Limited CEO and president Jay Switzer said in a statement released Wednesday. “We will be actively encouraging the CRTC to enforce both the spirit and letter of all Talk TV’s conditions of licence.”
But Schwartz dismisses any suggestion that rebranding TalkTV will violate the station’s broadcasting licence. “We’re going to take that MTV DNA, that irreverance, and engage and excite the Canadian production and creative communities to come up with great stuff for us,” he told CTV Newsnet, distinguishing MTV’s lifestyle branding from the music-focused Much Music.
CTV has already enjoyed popular success broadcasting a number of MTV programs. From the car-customizing show Pimp My Ride to Punk’d and Newlyweds with Jessica Simpson, audiences have demonstrated their love of MTV’s irreverant TV style.
Why is it the government’s business whether a cable television station plays music or talk?
It’s quite incredible how much regulation people will put up with.
Of course, a people who will watch “Pimp My Ride” deserves the government it gets.
crosspost to OTB
Reader Tips – Thursday, Sep 29/05
You all know the drill. Put any good news tips into the comments or just trackback to this post from your own blog. 🙂
Bated breath
Whatever.
Good God. Will they? Won’t they? The election will occur at precisely the moment that is most advantageous for the Liberal Party. Wake me up when the writ drops. In the meantime, all parties will keep their spinners and fartcatchers on high alert. We’re heading the canoe of state into The Canyon of Stupid again people. Hold on to the gunwales.
It’s getting late
You won’t really have any idea when you were middle-aged until you die.
It needed to be said.
More on Dingwall
So David Dingwall got us to pay for his golf game and his limos. But did we also pay him to lobby the government on behalf of itself and did he even lobby his former department?