Now is the time at SDA when we juxtapose!
Louisiana – “Dude, hurricane Katrina is coming. Let’s throw a hurricane party!”
North Dakota – “I think the river is mad that she lost the last time,” said engineer Mike Buerkley, managing a smile through his dark stubble as he tossed sandbags onto his pickup truck after working 29 straight hours.

Now is the time at SDA when we juxtapose!
Regina Leader Post, Feb.24 – Of the nearly 3.9 million needles distributed last fiscal year, about 3.5 million were returned for exchanges.
CBC, March 19 – New infections with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, were detected in 174 people in Saskatchewan in 2008 […] a 40 per cent increase over the 124 new cases detected in 2007
Note: Saskatchewan’s population was estimated in 2008 at 1,020,847
More – “Multiperson use of syringes among injection drug users in a needle exchange program : A gene-based molecular epidemiologic analysis”

Syringe-sharing behaviors among injection drug users (IDUs) are typically based on self-reports and subject to socially desirable responding. We used 3 short tandem repeat (STR) genetic biomarkers to detect sharing in 2512 syringes exchanged by 315 IDUs in the Baltimore needle exchange program (NEP; 738 person-visits). Demographic characteristics as well as direct and indirect needle-sharing behaviors corresponding to the closest AIDS Link to Intravenous Experience (ALIVE) study visits were examined for association with multiperson use (MPU) of syringes. Overall, 56% of the syringes exchanged at the Baltimore NEP had evidence of MPU. Less MPU of syringes (48% vs. 71%; P < 0.0001) was seen with more rapid syringe turnaround (<3 days). IDUs always exchanging their own syringes ("primary" syringes) were less likely to return syringes with evidence of MPU (52%) than those who exchanged syringes for others ("secondary" syringes; 64%; P = 0.0001) and those exchanging primary and secondary syringes (58%; P = 0.004).

Via readers Loki and Langmann (check out their comments in this thread) including this;

Another phenomenon I witnessed in Vancouver was people deliberately infecting themselves with HIV in order to be able to collect welfare for life. If someone is able-bodied and collecting welfare, they are urged to get work. OTOH, if someone is HIV+ then they are assumed to be incapable of working (something my population of gainfully employed HIV+ patients would vehemently disagree with). Becoming HIV+ was a quick and dirty way of getting the welfare office off ones back and opening the door to all sorts of additional support.”

If you build it, they will come.

Now is the time at SDA when we juxtapose!
Reuters: – “Saskatchewan sees budget surplus, chops taxes”
Bourque – Quebec’s “Scorched Earth Budget”
So long as they can keep that cheap daycare! Related, from the Fraser Institute – “Saskatchewan Prosperity: Building on Success”

Now is the time at SDA when we juxtapose!
“As The Economy Worsens, Experts Call For Obama To Focus On The Fundamentals”
“EPA may soon require refineries, automakers and coal mines to report greenhouse gas emissions”

Now is the time at SDA when we juxtapose!
Las Vegas Review Journal: On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported 340 event cancellations in the past 90 days…
Las Vegas Sun: Senate passes hotel room tax hike
h/t Jim O.