Category: Politics

Solid and sound

Dan DickinsonLeave a comment

Ummm…I didn’t hear this. Or anything about it on the news. But it would explain why there were police cars all over the neighbourhood this morning.

Police are looking for a number of suspects, after a Toronto bouncer was shot at. A fight broke out, outside the Brass Rail on Yonge, between the bouncer and some patrons, around 2:15. One of the patrons pulled a gun and fired. Luckily it just grazed the bouncer’s chest and he’ll be ok.

The Rail is, of course, right around the corner from us, so it’s weird that there was gunfire right there. But then, I don’t plan to ever be in a fight outside the brass rail at 2:15 AM, let alone be a bouncer trying to break it up, so I’m not too worried.

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From the BBC: US Vice-President Dick Cheney has condemned as ‘offensive’ US media disclosures of a secret programme that probes global financial transactions.

“What I find most disturbing is the fact that some in the media take it upon themselves to disclose vital national security programmes, thereby making it more difficult for us to prevent future attacks against the American people.”

Sounds scary, no? Until you read something like this, courtesy of Hermann Goering:

“Of course the people don’t want war. But after all, it’s the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.”

Sounds scarier now, doesn’t it?

Chocolate, gun nuts and caribou

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Salon is right: chocolate is becoming almost as snobby as wine.

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The UN proposes “a broad set of recommendations to reduce trafficking, proliferation and misuse of guns.” The NRA responds by calling them “dictatorships, terrorist states and so-called ‘free’ nations” who wish to “strip all citizens of all nations of their right to self-protection.”

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It’s not every day that you have caribou for lunch. But today I did.

[tags]chocolate, un, nra, caribou[/tags]

One of God's special slaves

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Quiz time: who said it, Ann Coulter or Hitler? [via Yes But No But Yes]

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I couldn’t agree with Chuck Swirsky more: “The thought of seeing Alonzo Mourning receiving an NBA title ring irritates me.” In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ll summarize: Raptors trade Vince Carter for two bags of water (aka Eric Williams and Aaron Williams) and Alonzo Mourning. Mourning hadn’t played in a while and told the Raptors that his injury would prevent him from ever playing again. The Raptors buy out the remaining millions of his contract. Mourning promptly experiences a miraculous recovery and signs with Miami. Raptors are left with no superstar, no centre, two men with benches stapled to their asses and a lot less money. Suffice it to say, this was the beginning of the end for Rob Babcock, but Alonzo Mourning will forever go down in Raptors lore as a whiny little whore. Cheers, ‘Zo; you’ve always been, and always will be, Shaq’s bitch.

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There’s an article in this month’s Esquire about John Walker Lindh, the American captured in Afghanistan fiighting with the Taliban. It’s pretty eye-opening. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to be persecuted by practically every man, woman and child in your country and not be allowed to defend yourself, to explain what happened, to tell your side of the story. I thought Tom Junod did a pretty good job of telling us his story for him.

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The Much Music Video Awards are being re-broadcast right now, probably for the umpteenth time. I saw it on the guide and had to tune in so that I could put some context around Aaron Wherry’s hilarious play-by-play (found at Zoilus). However, now all I can hear from the other room is stupid kids screaming their heads off at…I dunno, Yellowcard or something. And who the hell-ass-balls is Hedley? Ugh. Gotta go turn it off.

[tags]ann coulter, hitler, chuck swirsky, alonzo mourning, john walker lindh, tom junod, mmva, popwherry, zoilus[/tags]

"Alice Cooper held my hand once."

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Scott Adams asks his readers for their most incredible, shocking stories. The results are all over the place, from guardian angels to gashed forearms. Check it out.

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From Yahoo: Rove evades charges in CIA leak scandal.

Karl Rove, the political master who choreographed President George W. Bush’s twin White House triumphs, will escape charges in the CIA leak scandal triggered by the political firestorm over Iraq.

Really? Jesus, I did NOT see that coming.

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It’s fun to watch Antonia Zerbisias box Jonah Goldberg’s ears.

[tags]scott adams, karl rove, cia leak scandal, antonia zerbisias, jonah goldberg[/tags]

Preach, Rupert

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The Independent tells it like it is:

“Iraq is going to hell in a hand-basket. The trade and budget deficits are spinning out of control, and petrol prices have gone through the roof. Yet the US Senate has devoted two days to a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage that everyone knew had not the slightest hope of passage.

In the event the body that calls itself – without a blush of embarrassment – the ‘greatest deliberative body on Earth’ yesterday backed by 49-48 a procedural motion to end debate and bring the measure to a formal vote.”

I think it’s more than Iraq that’s going to hell in a hand-basket.

[tags]the independent, gay marriage, us senate[/tags]

"I think we can conclude that the Muslim lobby in the U.S. is not as effective as they would like it to be."

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How blindingly stupid would you have to be to think that only 1,000 people died in World War II? Jesus.

Anyway, Scott Adams suggests that it would be interesting to make people take a general knowledge test when voting. Nellie’s of the same opinion, but thinks people below a certain score shouldn’t be given a ballot.

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West 8 was announced as the winner of the waterfront redesign contest, so it looks like Toronto’ll be getting a great big maple leaf in our harbour. Nooooooot sure I like that, but any progress is welcome. [from Spacing]

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The Polaris prize: Canada’s answer to the Mercury Prize.

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Asshat see, asshat do. Sorta.

[tags]wwii, west 8, toronto harbourfront, polaris prize, mercury prize, same-sex marriage[/tags]

Bland & blander

Dan DickinsonLeave a comment

This video, found via Antonia Zerbisias, shows you what war really looks like in Iraq, and it’s not what we see on the 11:00 news. Warning: not for the particularly squeamish.

In related news, Mohamed ElBaradei is warning the world not to jump the gun with Iran:

“Iran does not pose an immediate nuclear threat and the world must act cautiously to avoid repeating mistakes made with Iraq and North Korea.”

‘Course, he’s just the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a Nobel peace prize winner, so what does he know?

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The new Snow Patrol and Pilate discs are not very good, unfortunately. Very bland. Like hearing the same Coldplay song again and again.

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Speaking of bland…I finished watching a documentary called Going Upriver: The Long War Of John Kerry (imdb | rotten tomatoes). It was released in 2004, before the presidential election, in part to counter the “Swiftboat” attack ads targeting Kerry’s military service. As skewed as it was, it was interesting to see the context around why we saw that shot of Kerry testifying before Congress in his ODs. It was also maddening to know that the young, courageous, eloquent John Kerry had his idealism ground out of him through years of politics and image scrubbing, leaving nothing but a bland, wishy-washy mouthpiece.

[tags]iran, nuclear, mohamed elbaradei, snow patrol, pilate, coldplay, john kerry, swiftboat, going upriver[/tags]

"A four-minute f*** you to the format and our listeners"

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I don’t like country music. At all. But this CNN story about the Dixie Chicks is right when it says “it’s tough to deny that by gambling their careers, three Texas women have the biggest balls in American music.”

Twenty years from now I wonder who people will remember as being groundbreaking, pioneers, important…Faith Hill, or the Dixie Chicks? My Chemical Romance or Green Day? James Blunt or Sufjan Stevens?

[tags]dixie chicks[/tags]