For the last few weeks, an ad for the fiction novel Gehenna Station has appeared on the sidebar. Author Jim Hume sent me a copy and I was finally able to dig into it on the flight to San Francisco weekend before last.
Though science fiction isn’t really my usual genre of choice, (and with conflict of interest duly noted), I did enjoy the read. I suspect those with a military background/interest would also find it entertaining. You can find out more (and check out several positive reviews) by clicking here.

“It’s like a satanic game of parcel ping-pong.”

I wonder how many Canadians under the age of 30 know that the CBC once televised his Crusades?

Why it’s sometimes important to know when to say “no”.

Brought to you by Google Earth.

Lacks realism.

Kathy Shaidle seeks assistance – “I’m begging everyone out there with a working knowledge of the Canadian film & TV industry to tell me why we can’t make a movie that looks one-tenth as pretty as, just off the top of my head, Wedding Crashers”

Here’s your chance to offer predictions, observations, insult Flames fans, postmortem the game and celebrate and/or drown your sorrows.
Please keep the language clean and don’t break any windows. This ain’t Whyte Avenue and I do know where to find you.
Now, I’m going to make one of those rare exceptions here on SDA to step outside my hard earned reputation as a scrupulously balanced, unbiased and objective commentator.
Go Oilers!

A reader asks;

I know you’re watching the hockey game (between the 2nd. and 3rd. right now) so I need to know if you caught Coaches Corner. Don showed a “Support our Troops” ballcap on his show and an e-mail address to order them. I didn’t write it down, do you have it or can you find it? Maybe put it on your site?

If someone has that info, kindly drop it in the comments section or send me a private note.
UPDATE the answer from a reader – http://www.cfpsa.ca/canex – but it crashed not long after it was on the show, maybe tomorrow.”
Correction – “Unfortunately, they showed the wrong address – twice. The right one is http://www.cfpsa.ca/en/canex Just go to the link with the yellow ribbon (even though it doesn’t mention the cap, it will take you there.)
For more eloquent coverage, Colby Cosh is, as expected very good. (language warning)
Open thread on the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Another open thread on the Stanley Cup playoffs.

It ain’t over ’til it’s over.
An open thread on the Stanley Cup final.

Next on the agenda for the politically correct: ensure high school physics teachers avoid the use of water in calculating displacement because, you know, a lot of people have drowned and some of them were schoolchildren.
(Or, maybe David Lapp should just use a football for his experiments.)
h/t BOFA.

New Champion Minuteman Wild Imagine Nation
As it turns out, I’m home a day earlier than planned. (Winning the group from the classes helped speed the process somewhat.)
While I was gone, reader Peter L. wrote with a good sports-related topic suggestion;

Once again the CFL is about to kick off.
How about another open thread this year so we can boost our teams?
Go Green, until they meet Big Red 😉

Have it it!

I wrote my one and only post related to an American Idol contestant.

At the Supreme Court of Canada? Let’s hope this signals a trending back towards placing responsibility where it lies – with the individual.

Canadians are not responsible for making sure their house guests don’t drive away drunk, the Supreme Court of Canada said on Friday.
The top court ruled that Zoe Childs cannot sue the people who let a known drunk leave their party in Ottawa and drive away in 1999.

Hours before the court ruled I heard an audio clip from an interview with her lawyer. He volunteered a comment that raised my eyebrows – the drunk driver is often uninsured and in no position to pay damages. Thus, the only way a victim could receive compensation was to collect from the host.
One feels sympathy for any victim, especially those like Zoe Childs, who was paralyzed as a result of the accident. However, transferring the responsibility for that crime to a third party for the explicit purpose of expanding the damages pool is not justice – it’s civil predation.

Over the past 72 hours, I chanced upon two photographs that one can only describe as extremely disturbing.
Actually, “chanced” isn’t the right word. I was tricked into viewing them by fellow bloggers I thought I could trust. Indeed, going back and forth in my mind, I truly cannot decide which person I should punish first.
So, I’m putting it to a vote!
Extremely Disturbing Photo A
Extremely Disturbing Photo B
You may cast your votes in the comments. No matter how strong the compulsion to purge yourself of these psychologically damaging images, please refrain from being too specific about the subject matter. We needn’t spoil it for others.

.
And isn’t nearly grateful enough.
h/t

I don’t run these very often, but this was too good to pass up;

(Adrian Wyld/CP)

A Liberal MP plans on bringing back “meals” of seal meat from the Newfoundland hunt. Then, apparently, he plans on feeding it to fellow parliamentarians..
Allow me the privilege of quoting myself from a post directed to the anti-seal hunt propagandists, written on April 6, 2004, in which I remark on this creature so conspicuously absent from the Canada Food Guide.

They’re parasite infested 350 lb water rats.
They taste like rancid codfish.
Yes, they do.
You’ve never eaten seal meat.
I have.
They are also hugely responsible for massive declines in fish stocks. What the hell did you think they ate? Seaweed? Fish, which – in case you haven’t noted – is high on the menu at your favorite sushi bar.
In fact, if seal didn’t taste like rancid codfish, it would be on the menu at your favorite sushi bar.

In the spirit of non-partisanship, I offer this advice to Members of Parliament from all parties; do yourselves a tremendous favour. If there is even the most remote of possibilities that Mr. Russell may follow through on this made-for-photo-op taste test – be away that day. Claim the stomach flu. Dead Aunt. Food allergy, if you must.
Supporting the seal hunt is an important political issue in Canada, to be sure.
But is this the swill you want to die on?

Amazing.