Sunday digest

- Gas prices are about supply and demand and nothing more.

- No less a serious academic journal than Rolling Stone is suggesting that W. is the worst president of the last 100 years, complete with a cover cartoon with the President wearing a dunce hat. Putting personal opinions aside, isn't it a little premature to jump to conclusions? And like this commentator says, if it matters, you gotta measure it, and the Rolling Stone piece does neither. Here are some first quarter stats from 2006 to chew on:

- Business investment up 16.4%.
- US exports up 12.1%.
- Consumer spending up 5.5%.

I think those are economic figures that Jimmy Carter would have loved to see, no? And perhaps most importantly - no large-scale attacks by al-Qaeda in over five years, as Fareed Zakaria points out.

- Presidential candidate Sen. George Allen (R-VA) is apparently a racist because he wore a Confederate flag pin in a 1970 high school yearbook photo. Let this be a lesson to all you kids out there who played with Dukes of Hazzard General Lee dinky cars: You'll never be president. Oh, and you had bad parents, too.

- One man's thoughtful plea for America to stay the course in Iraq.

- Oh, and I almost forgot: Devils in 4 over the Rangers. Sens are also into Round 2. Yeah, baby!

Gig Review: Eddie Turner, Rainbow Bistro, Ottawa, ON, April 28 2006

Checked out Eddie Turner on Friday night after a hard week of work. I was hoping to see some lightning fret work on top of some soulful riffs, and I got exactly what I was looking for. Turner's blues-rock-funk sound combines amazingly with his husky Motown-esque vocals to create a live wall of sound that evokes the kind of artistry that only comes from hungry, independent musicians who make their instrument an extension of themselves.

Although his Northern Blues recordings are produced by Kenny Passarelli, (ex-Elton John, Tommy Bolin and co-writer of Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way"), you have to see the man live to appreciate his work. Unlike a lot of show-offy players, Turner always puts the song first and makes sure that the groove is properly laid down before going wherever his fingers will take him. He'll be playing at Ottawa's Bluesfest in July on the "Blues Till Dusk" stage, and you gotta check him out if you are looking for something new, fresh and real.

Overall rating: 9.25/10

Duh

Yesterday, there was an anti-war rally in New York, featuring Jesse Jackson, Cindy Sheehan and Susan Sarandon.

Here are some quotes from the story linked to above:

"This is what democracy looks like," said chief organiser Leslie Cagan, national coordinator of the anti-war lobby United for Peace and Justice.

"We are here to send a message to the White House and the Congress that we must end this war now, bring our troops home and also end the attack on our civil rights at home."

"Today we march, tomorrow we organise and in November we vote," Cagan told cheering supporters.

Police were out in force as the demonstration wound its way through lower Manhattan toward City Hall.

"Our sole aim is to facilitate the march," said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

"We are not the fringe anymore. We are mainstream America," said Sheehan, who gained prominence when she camped outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch last year to demand a meeting with the US leader.

"To be anti-George Bush is to be pro-American," she said.

Another prominent participant in the march was Daniel Ellsberg, the former military analyst who precipitated a national uproar in 1971 when he leaked the Pentagon Papers, the US military's account of activities during the Vietnam War, to The New York Times.

The release of the documents succeeded in substantially eroding public support for the war, and Ellsberg urged those in the Bush administration opposed to the current policy in Iraq to follow his example.

"My message is: Don't just resign. Leak," Ellsberg said. "I don't think George Bush is stupid. I think he's dangerous, and he has to be stopped."

So what are we to conclude?

- Democracy is authentic and legit only when the far left comes out on top.

- Americans' civil rights are being violated by the government, but the NYPD, paid for by the public purse, made sure that the protestors were able to freely express their opinion by "facilitating the march". (Not quite sure which civil rights were being violated yesterday.)

- If you break national security laws regarding confidentiality to make W. look bad, it's OK because that's being patriotic.

I'd say the number one thing that the anti-war movement needs is a PR strategy. They decide to have a march complete with signs like the one above in the same city that al-Qaeda attacked on 9/11 on the very same weekend that United 93 opened up?

And after feeding listeners a steady diet of pedantic and preachy breast-beating rhetoric by know-it-all professional protestors like those above, is it any wonder that Al Franken's left-wing Air America radio network is going down the tubes, even in liberal New York City?

And they think that only they, the anointed philosopher kings, are smart enough to be in charge.

My thoughts on the US State Department report on terrorism in Canada

The US State Department has released a 220-page report which suggests that Canada is still not doing its part to combat radical Islamists within its borders (see coverage here and here.)

Usually, I am pretty pro-American, and although I haven't read it, this report sounds like it's complete nonsense.

First of all, they point to the Arar case as demonstrating that there are issues with the free flow of information between the two countries. Fair enough. But this quote is the kicker: "The Arar case underscores a greater concern for the United States: the presence in Canada of numerous suspected terrorists and terror supporters."

Now I don't think Maher Arar is lillywhite, but there have been absolutely no criminal charges laid against him, so pointing to the fact that Maher Arar is a free man today as proof that there are numerous terrorists walking around is a half-truth at best. I don't doubt that there are terrorists walking around but the Arar affair doesn't prove anything on that front.

Secondly, the fact that there are five non-citizens being held on security certificates (which means they have been deemed inadmissible to Canada and are considered a threat to national security) is not evidence of a problem, as the report apparently alleges, but rather, evidence that Canada possesses and uses the legal tools available to it in order to detain and remove those non-citizens whose presence within the country could be injurious to its national security. There is so much misinformation floating around out there about security certificates that it would a lot easier (and perhaps more politically expedient) for governments of Liberal and Conservative political stripes to just let these men go, but Canada is sticking firm. I don't see that as a bad thing, especially not if you're American and are concerned about Canada being used as a staging ground for attacks on US soil.

Finally, they say that the Anti-Terrorism Act has only been used once to arrest someone for plotting terrorism. True, the very existence of the Act in the face of tons of criticism from the civil liberties left AND libertarian right shows that Canada is determined to use the necessary powers to prevent attacks from happening. The laws are on the books, and although the Charter handcuffs authorities from taking any action which may be considered or construed by lawyers as draconian in any sense, authorities are very much aware of the Act and have repeatedly stated that they need it. There's also the deterrent effect. (I wouldn't say that al-Qaeda sympathizers look at our anti-terror laws and think twice, but its provisions certainly make it a lot harder to plan and carry out an attack than if they weren't encoded in law.)

Americans need to be reminded time and again that the 9/11 attackers did not come from Canada. They came from within America's own borders. I believe that the Canadian government could and should be doing more on the national security front by dedicating more resources to it, but the fact is that there is a broad bi-partisan consensus (leaving out the Bloc and NDP) on the importance of ensuring that Canada is not a threat to our allies. This is a fact and there are a lot of people who work very hard day in and day out to ensure that North America is kept safe from al-Qaeda. Diverting attention away from America's own shortcomings on national security by bashing Canada is dishonest and cheap because Washington should look in the mirror before pointing fingers up north.

Restaurant Review: Curries, Ottawa, ON

When I do a restaurant review here on the Hammer, I like to scour the web for a picture of the place. I thought that since I took a business card from the cash register at this joint with a URL printed on it, I'd have no problem. However, the web address doesn't exist. That's exactly what I expected after eating at this half-assed joint today for lunch.

I don't know about you, but when I get a craving for Indian food, it better deliver. This place doesn't, and the main reason why is because their food just wasn't warm enough. I'm not talking spice, I'm talking heat. There's nothing worse than biting into a lukewarm piece of butter chicken.

Service is also not that great. My friend and I were sitting for a good 5 minutes before the server came up and poured us some water. That's a long time.

Bottom line - despite the low price ($7.99) for the lunch buffet, I'd say that you're better off going elsewhere in the downtown core for Indian food.

Gloucester at O'Connor, and wheelchair inaccessible as far as I could tell.

Overall rating: 3/10

Friday digest

- As Peter Howell of the Toronto Star points out, with the release of "United 93", thinking people of all political stripes now have an alternative to the sophomoric and juvenile character assassinations described as documentaries by those who peddle themselves off as serious commentators.

- Looks like the drive to implement sharia law has come to Sweden. Separate swimming lessons for kids based on Islamic teachings? Putting that aside, how about asking Islamists to sponsor their own segregated swimming lessons instead of getting government to provide them? (However, this is Sweden we're talking about, where the government not only takes care of you from cradle to grave, or from womb to tomb, but from erection to resurrection.)

- It looks like there is a move afoot to try to take the edge out of Quebec history lessons by watering down anti-English undertones. I'll believe it when I see it. The unions will quash this first chance they get because bashing the Anglais, asti, is the surest way to create a dyed in the wool Pequiste from a healthy young age.

- If Al Gore is this unhinged in public, one has to wonder what he says in private. The guy makes David Suzuki look like the voice of environmental reason.

Thoughts on the playoffs so far

- Why did everyone in Tampa boo Wade Redden tonight so mercifully? The guy just lost his mom and travelled across North America to suit up for his team. No class, Hockey Bay, USA.

- Everyone is saying that Justin William's stick ending up in Saku Koivu's eye was an "accident". Well, accident or not, you are responsible for keeping your stick down and ensuring that your blade does not end up under a guy's visor, much less puncturing his eye. This is a potentially career-ending injury to a guy who represents everything that is great about hockey. I think Williams is getting off easy.

- Tonight, I am really hoping the Oil and the Sharks go up 3-1 in their respective series, not least because I don't have any Wings and have tons of Sharks in my hockey pools. I have a feeling that Detroit and Nashville's records were inflated this year because they got to beat up on the pathetic Blues, Hawks and Jackets in the Central.

On being a dad

Very thought-provoking article here.

Every man should read it.

Thursday digest

- A BC senior recently died in a hospital hallway despite the pleas of his daughter for attention.

This is the type of story which demonstrates why reform (read: the introduction of choice in health care provision) is inevitable.

On a side note, it's interesting to me that a lot of folks who are pro-socialized health care - a system which is obviously imperfect - are also now suggesting that one of the proper roles of government is to babysit toddlers and pre-schoolers. Now, wouldn't it make sense to improve one government program before running out and starting up a new one, or are we to be happy with two half-assed attempts at getting the nanny state right?

- Sticking with the theme of inconsistent logic, Israel is reporting that Iran has purchased North Korean missiles which can carry nuclear explosives to Europe. No doubt that those who fault the White House for not reacting to pre-9/11 intel would scream bloody murder if the Administration took any proactive measures on this, just like they did in the spring of 2003 when UN, French and German intel (among others, but hey, I'm nothing if not daft) pointed to an imminent threat from Iraq.

- Oil self-sufficiency: It's time for environmentalists to get out of the way.

- Right-wing commentator Mike Adams looks like he'd be both an arsehole and bully in the real world, but from time to time, his smart-aleck observations online are good for a laugh. See here and here.

- Returning to Canadian politics, the Tories are apparently going to hold the line on spending in next week's budget. The federal government alone takes almost $200 billion in each year (see here.) I remember less than 10 years ago when I was involved in partisan politics, the feds were taking in $120 billion per year. So, in less than 10 years, the size of the federal government has nearly doubled. It's not like the population of the country has doubled, either, so ask yourself this: are you getting anything near double the services for your tax dollars? (The family in the first article above sure didn't.)

- Finally, Toronto sports personality Pat Marsden has passed away from cancer at the age of 69. Money line from the story: "Marsden said he had been a smoker since the age of four."

I say to you: WTF??

Quote of the year

"Oddly enough, gender differences spring from the one thing men and women have in common. They're both trying to impress women." - Author unknown

Anonymous GQ writer says Republicans are better lays

I only have one thing to say about that: kink.

Wednesday digest II

- You know the conventional wisdom is changing when even Maclean's does a story on how to purchase your own health care. How this could have possibly happened since we have just had 12 years of Medicare-defending Liberals in power is beyond me, but anyways, the terms of debate are shifting - slowly - but shifting, nonetheless.

- And speaking of conventional wisdom, if you're a fan of turning it on its ear, you'll love this story - from a Harvard academic, no less - which makes the case for using private firms in peacekeeping operations. (Bonus for Seinfeld fans: a guy named Joe Mayo is quoted in the article.)

- Finally, to make it a nice round three, even John Kerry's economic policy advisor is defending Walmart these days.

The passion that unites us all

Wednesday digest

- With Canadians paying nearly 50% of their income to the taxman, isn't it time for Canadians to demand a more broadly-based tax cut than a simple 1% reduction in the GST?

Unless you have a kid under 6 or in sports/ride the bus/are a student or an apprentice, the Tory platform basically has nothing for you. This is very disappointing and I'm not holding my breath for anything that isn't essentially managerial in tone (read: gas tax reductions).

I predict this budget is going to be basically indistinguishable from what we saw under the Liberals. A few sops here and there (continuing the well-established Canadian tradition of government picking winning and losers), but nothing of substance.

- From the "great philosphers of our time" file, I bring you Gordon Gekko. (Here's the problem with the contrasting point of view.)

- Did the West really lose the cartoon wars? (You know if the boys from South Park are backing down, there's a chill in the air.)

- A fair bit of over-reacting from the usual sources on Iran. No, I'm not talking about the threat, I'm talking about how many are jumping to conclusions that the Administration is considering using nukes when it was simply presented to them as one in a series of options. Fulsome briefings involve looking at any and all possibilities. It doesn't mean that W. is about to push the button, caricatures aside.

- Next time someone tries to tell you that the US economy is going down the toilet, cite some of these figures. The alarmists are dead wrong.

The pomposity has reached new heights

Broken-down hippies and cocaine wastecases Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young are coming to a town near you to protect your ability to speak out.

That's right, the Freedom of Speech '06 tour is on its way.

Look out, warmongers, because there's nothing that's going to block our heroes as they defend truth, justice and the American way ... oh, and the right to make loads of cash peddling "dissent".

Top ticket price: $125.

(But that's got nothing to do with it, right?)

Tuesday digest

- Could it be that a deal on softwood lumber is imminent? It's amazing what can happen when actually accomplishing something takes priority over playing to anti-American sentiment to score cheap political points.

- Interesting article here about how Waterloo Region, where I come from, is bounding ahead economically despite recent job losses in the manufacturing sector. What strikes me is how local government and business have found success by working together to achieve mutually desirable goals. It's also obvious that unions have priced themselves out of the market, so to speak, and are being left behind.

- Ever wonder why Jews are often liberals, despite the fact that the American (and Canadian) right are often Israel's staunchest allies? Interesting article on that above.

- John McCain, sleazeball.

- And it's about time someone said it: The vast majority of Leaf fans are not hockey fans. They're Leaf fans. During university, many Leaf fan friends would simply turn off the TV after two periods of the Leafs playing losing hockey. Also, each spring, after the Leafs are inevitably knocked out of the playoffs, most Leaf fans I know don't have a minute for hockey once their beloved Buds hit the links. This is to say nothing about the legions of empty seats at Copps Coliseum during Hamilton Bulldogs games.

I'm just sayin'.

Go Leafs Go

What's the difference between the Leafs and a cigarette machine?
The cigarette machine has Players.

Guy buys big-screen TV and invites buddy over to watch hockey game. Leafs score first goal and guy's dog barks, jumps up and down and wags its tail for five minutes. Buddy asks what that's all about. Guy says he always does that when the Leafs score a goal. "Wow that's amazing! What does the dog do when Leafs win a game?" "Oh, I don't know. I've only had him for two years."

Why is the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto?
That's the only way the Stanley Cup will ever be in Toronto.

Leaf officials announced that the club would wear brown uniforms next year.
Apparently Leafs do change colours when they fall.

Why don't the Leafs drink tea?
Because the Canadiens have all the Cups.

What do you call $37 million worth of mannequins?
The Toronto Maple Leafs.

Why doesn't Hamilton have an NHL team?
Because then Toronto would want one too.

How many Leaf fans does it take to change a light bulb?
Six. One to change the bulb and five to tell everyone how good the last one used to be.

Do you know how many Leafs players it takes to win the Stanley Cup?
No?...Me neither.

A Canadian peacekeeper is on patrol in the Middle East when he stumbles across a lantern half buried in the sand. He picks it up, rubs it and out comes a genie. The genie tells the peacekeeper he can grant him one wish - anything he wants. The peacekeeper pulls out a map of the region and says he wants nothing more than peace throughout the region - no more fighting.
"Wow," says the genie, "that's a tough one. Do you want anything else?"
The peacekeeper thinks a moment and asks, "How about my Leafs winning the Stanley Cup?", to which the genie replies, "Let me see that map again."

And my personal favourite:

Pat Quinn took $100 million worth of hockey players to Torino and in just two weeks he turned them into the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Monday digest

- The NHL playoffs opened this weekend. I think it's premature to talk about the way the games are going with only one or two in the book so far, but one thing I can't help but notice: is it just me, or does NBC's coverage completely outclass the CBC's? The production values are so much better. The Edmonton-Detroit game yesterday looked and sounded like it was taking place underwater on the CBC, while over at NBC, the volume was jacked up, the lighting was much brighter, and the announcers were actually awake.

- Canada lost four soldiers this weekend in a roadside bombing. I hope their families can take comfort in knowing that millions of Canadians and our allies are grieving their deaths as well. Bin Laden can't hide forever and courageous young men and women like those four are going to be the ones who capture him and bring him to justice.

- Speaking of al-Qaeda, it's now apparent that the litmus test for being anti-Islam is whether or not you agree with the funding of suicide bombers. If that's the case, then put me foursquare in the anti-Islam camp. Here's why.

- Has there been a politician in recent memory who so transparently cares about so little besides their own publicity than John McCain?

- Happy belated Earth Day. (I think it was this weekend or something, but I'm not really sure. Shows you how much I care about my unborn kids, I guess.)

- A couple of interesting looks at how we define compassionate societies, here and
here.

Friday digest

- According to the Toronto Star, fobbing your infant children off on complete strangers so you have time to take care of things at the office is now a parental "right". One has to ask, if civil servants lazy, disconnected and overpaid, why would we want them looking after the kids? After all, that's what publicly-funded daycare providers really are at the end of the day - government workers.

- On that note, while it's true that there's a lot of redundancy in the civil service (for instance, I blogged recently about how there are over 80 programs dedicated to climate change government-wide), isn't it also true that if the federal government was more focused and limited itself to a few key priorities - administering criminal justice, the legal system, regulating trade, securing the border, and national defence - the cream would rise to the top?

- In a typically Red Tory performance, former PM Brian Mulroney seems to have bought into the global warming hysteria. We shouldn't have expected anything better, I suppose.

- 9/11 co-conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui had a rough childhood, so we're supposed to go easy on him for wanting to murder infidels.

Gimme a break.

- Great interview here about life in the Ivy League.

Thursday digest

- The PM is non-comittal on the need to cut gas taxes. This is troubling, considering that in 2004, he said that when prices are above 85 cents a litre, the feds need to step in to reduce excise taxes on fuel. Now, he's saying that the 1% GST cut will be enough to take the pressure off. The budget, which will be delivered in a couple of weeks, should contain some kind of relief at the pumps in addition to the absolutely pathetic 1% GST cut (where you have to spend $100 to save $1). After all, he's supposed to be a conservative, right?

- It looks like we've got our own in-house Noam Chomsky at Rideau Hall. Check out these conspiracy theories, outlined in an upcoming documentary film by Jean-Daniel Lafond, otherwise known as Mr. Michaelle Jean:

The film also gives voice to two rather spectacular conspiracy theories. One suggests that the Carter administration allowed agents of the Ayatollah Khomeini to arrange assassinations of his political enemies on U.S. soil in exchange for opening negotiations to free American hostages held by revolutionaries in Iran. The other -- the so-called "October Surprise" theory -- holds that campaign aides of Ronald Reagan and the President's father, George H. W. Bush, made a secret deal offering to supply arms to Khomeini in exchange for preventing the release of American hostages in Tehran until after the 1980 presidential election, in order to help defeat Jimmy Carter.

What?

I'm sure Oliver Stone/Cindy Sheehan/Ward Churchill and the rest of the Far Left will just eat this stuff up.

- How would a Hilary Clinton White House deal with Iran? Timothy Garton Ash tries to answer that question.

- The global warming crowd needs to take a chill pill.

- This fellow says that the black community should support electronic eavesdropping programs because any future terrorist attack on a major American city would disproportionately impact African-Americans.

I think it's pretty sad in 2006, calls to support policies intended to thwart and prevent the deliberate and calculated mass murder of innocent and unsuspecting civilians are being made on the basis of racial solidarity rather than the simple fact that men, women and children of all backgrounds will be killed.

Wednesday digest

- While it's undoubtedly true that democracy requires patience, the statistics from Iraq are encouraging. Consider the following:

- unemployment down to 25-40% from 50-60% three years ago;
- per capita GDP up from $802 US dollars in 2002 to $1,051 now (an increase of over 25%);
- almost 100% of homes have access to the electricity grid;
- almost 4 in 5 homes have access to piped water;
- over 3.1 million registered vehicles, up from 1.5 million pre-war;
- almost 7 million telephone subscribers, up from just under 1 million pre-war;
- an operational court system with 351 trained judges, up from 0 in May 2003; and
- a total of 44 commercial TV stations, 72 commercial radio stations and over 100 independent magazines and newpapers, up from 0 in all three categories pre-war.

There is still a long way to go but it cannot be denied that things are progressing on several key measures.

- A harrowing look at the workers' paradise of North Korea, here.

- How many taxes did you pay today?

- Ottawa's gay pride parade committee is claiming poverty. The municipal government should tell them flat out to not bother coming knocking on the taxpayers' door for a bailout. There is certainly enough private money in this city that can be raised to keep the parade afloat without property owners having to pay the bill. However, I'm not hopeful, especially with Alex Munter threatening to defeat Bob Chiarelli this fall.

- From the Western Standard blog, a satirical letter supposedly sent to the White House on the illegal immigration issue recently. Gold, baby.
Dear President Bush:

I'm about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family, and I would like to ask you to assist me. I'm going to walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few arrangements. I know you can help with this.

I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here.

So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Vicente Fox, that I'm on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

1. Free medical care for my entire family.

2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.

3. All government forms need to be printed in English.

4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.

5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.

6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.

7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.

8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.

9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won't make any effort to learn local traffic laws.

10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from Pres. Fox to leave me alone, please be sure that all police officers speak English.

11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.

12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and don't enforce any labor laws or tax laws.

13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might place on the economy.

14. Eventually I want to be able to vote and have all election materials and notices sent to me in English with Spanish as a second language..

I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico.

I am sure that Pres. Fox won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely. However, if he gives you any trouble, just invite him to go quail hunting with your V.P.

The Devils prove once again that they are synonymous with excellence

It's time for everyone who appreciates tenacity, grace under fire and all-around performance to acknowledge another 100-point season in the Swamp.

Down 3-0, the Devils scored four unanswered goals tonight en route to a 4-3 road win over the Habs in Montreal to clinch the Atlantic Division title. Eleven wins in a row going into the playoffs and firing on all cylinders, the Devils look to be in great shape after a season of tumult which saw their best player miss two-thirds of it with hepatitis (Elias), the moving on of the two best defencemen in franchise history bar none (Stevens and Neidermayer), and changes behind the bench. Not only does Pat Burns continue to deal with cancer, but an ineffective Larry Robinson resigned one month before Christmas to leave team president and GM Lou Lamiorello to take over the reins.

I believe that there are three things a team needs to be successful in the playoffs: goaltending, special teams, and the intangibles (leadership, desire, and above all else, heart). The Devils have demonstrated that they have all three in spades right now.

Now, it's across the river to Manhattan to take on the Rangers.

Devils in 6.

Tuesday update

- A very important article here about doctors who are refusing to treat patients who don't take care of themselves. I believe that a socialist health care system subsidizes poor behaviour. I'm all for choice, but in Canada, if you make certain choices (overdrinking, overeating, smoking, and choosing to live a sedentary lifestyle rather than an active one), others are expected to pay for it. I don't think that's fair. To me, people should be allowed the choice to do with themselves what they like, but at the same time, they should be the ones who have to cover the cost of the eventual medical treatments related to those choices.

- Unlike the man he beat in January, our Prime Minister's life goal isn't to obtain and keep power. I'd also say that's a big reason for his success. This is going to resonate with Canadians bigtime.

- If groups like this represent a significant constituency, why are they dependent on taxpayers for funding?

- Katie Couric: Who cares?

- Dick Cheney gave over $7 million to charity last year. I can't wait to find out how much Michael Moore gave. It's obviously going to be a higher amount than the VP gave, if only because our boy Mikey cares more than those evil Republicans.

- And that being said, it's time for a reminder of Rumsfeld's Rules.

Film Review: "Thank You for Smoking" (2006)

In the most clear-eyed political flick to come out in years, Aaron Eckhart leads a stellar cast through a hilarious look at do-gooders, special interests and those whose careers depend on the PR battles that go on between the two. Nick Naylor (Eckhart), lobbyist for Big Tobacco, gets into a massive war of wits against William H. Macy's sanctimonious, holier-than-thou and "I know what's best for you" Democratic senator from - wait for it - Vermont, who wants to put a skull and crossbones on cigarette packages. Throughout, not only those who get behind the latest cause-du-jour are lampooned, but campaign financing, the press, junks scientists, and the alchohol and firearms industries are also sent up.

If you think that people are fully capable of deciding for themselves about what to consume, you'll like this flick a lot. If you think that government knows best, you won't. Obviously, I loved it and laughed out loud several times. An intelligent, quick, and topical movie, the likes of which I didn't really think Hollywood was capable of producing anymore.

Overall rating: 9.5/10

Monday digest

- Lately, I've been blogging a lot about taxation because it's the time of year when we all fill out our income tax forms. Have you ever thought about how much your total tax burden is, even after income taxes? Think about the following: GST, PST, employment insurance premiums, sin taxes on essentials like gasoline, and if you own a home, property taxes. Here's a look at that issue from an American point of view, but the same principles apply here in Canada. And think about this while you're at it. It's what taxes are supposed to be paying for, after all:

"How many of you have ever used an automatic bank machine overseas?" Newt Gingrich asks, and since this is a pretty affluent New Hampshire audience, a fair number of people raise their hand. "Do you get impatient waiting for the money? You're 4,674 miles from home, in a foreign banking system, and there's your money, in 11 seconds on average. Now, say you're a small-business owner wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. How long does it take the Federal Government to respond to your emergency loan application? More than 11 weeks, on average ... Katrina was a decisive moment for our country. It proved that our government is broken. We need real change, and here's my new slogan: Real change means real change. Your experiences dealing with the government need to be more like the experiences in the rest of your life—more like using an automated bank machine."

- Speaking of bureaucracy, would the issue of illegal immigration be such a problem if the state focused on two or three key priorities before all others (e.g. securing the border for the lawful flow of goods and people) rather than getting itself into all kinds of other business where the private sector could do a much better job? See here. A lot of social unrest is resulting from government not doing its job. And who can argue with the observation that by rewarding illegal behaviour, all you'll get it more illegal behaviour?

- One of the great things about America is the get-up-and-go attitude. In the article above, Niall Ferguson takes a look at how this plays into the US economy right now through the lens of Miami, Florida, and concludes that optimism underwrites it all. Compare that to a country like, say, France.

- Free trade: short-term pain for big-time long-term gain. And I love it.

- Anyone who doubts the seriousness of Iran should read this. It sounds like they will settle for nothing less than complete domination of the Middle East. On that note, here is one of the more thoughtful pieces I've read recently on Iraq.

- I've heard a lot of nonsense from environmentalist whackos over the years, but this takes the cake. I never really thought that any dire prediction would ever beat out what my high school world issues teacher said would happen if everyone in China lined up on that country's east coast and simultaneously jumped (a tidal wave that would completely flood North America, if you're wondering ... how he knew this, I'll never know). However, floating the idea of killing off 5/6 of the Earth's citizens comes close.

- Young black men remain at risk, but at least the Cos is fighting the good fight.

Book Review: "Sorry, I Don't Speak French - Confronting the Canadian Crisis that Won't Go Away" by Graham Fraser (2006)

Here, the Globe and Mail's Graham Fraser, a bilingual anglophone, tackles the most sacred of cows. His conclusion is simple and one that we should expect from such a charter member of the Ottawa establishment - we should all learn French not because it will make Quebec feel more loved or because it will improve our employment prospects, but rather, just because it's the good, Canadian thing to do (notwithstanding - there's that word again - the fact that a lot of folks have other priorities in life like school, careers, community, and family, among other interests).

Fraser realizes that the concept of bilingualism doesn't work as well as its initial champions had hoped, but he is still a strong believer in it and concludes by warning that if more English Canadians don't become bilingual, it will eventually cost us the country. (I'm not too sure about that, personally.)

For my taste, he spends too much discussing how bilingualism policy came to be pre-Trudeau. More pages should have been devoted to subjects like intermarriage between francophones and anglophones. Another issue which needs to be addressed is how the quality of French taught in language schools is often completely different than the vrai francais of the Quebecois people. Other issues he could have tackled with more depth would be a statistical analysis of workplace bilingualism and the effect it has had on hiring and promotions within various government departments, and also, the role of American media culture in undermining opportunities for learning French within English Canada. I mean, wouldn't you rather watch Friends than a Quebec soap opera? Let's see ... Aerosmith or Eric Lapointe? I'm sorry, you don't know who he is? Didn't think you would, actually.

This is an interesting book but it doesn't go nearly far enough. I believe there is a way to recognize the need to demonstrate respect for French Canadians through bilingualism, but that depends first on being 100% honest about how dysfunctional it is right now. Fraser doesn't do that, but by pulling his punches, at least he won't lose any friends in either the newsroom, academia, or Liberal and Red Tory circles.

Overall rating: 5/10

Film Review: "C.R.A.Z.Y" (2005)

This award-winning film tells the story of Zachary, the fourth child in a middle-class family of five boys as he grows up in Quebec. Essentially, what this film is about is Zachary's fight to accept his burgeoning homosexuality, and, in turn, how his family reacts to that.

The vestiges of the Duplessis years and the inherent Catholic flavour of middle-class Quebec are also woven into the family's tapestry as the tension between religious tradition and secularism cloud the struggle between generations.

"C.R.A.Z.Y." drags at times, but strong performances pull it above your regular critically acclaimed navel-gazing fare.

The major upside of the film is in how it illustrates the necessity of, and difficulty with, accepting your child for who they are, which I'm sure can be seemingly impossible for parents at times. In the end, "C.R.A.Z.Y" demonstrates how family is at once our greatest challenge, yet, with persistence and acceptance of both others and of self, also our greatest reward.

Overall rating: 6/10

DVD Review: Judas Priest - "Live Vengeance '82" (2006)

The studs, leather and metal riffage are in full effect on this release from the mighty Priest. Shot in Memphis in December 1982 and later broadcast on MTV, it's an excellent look of one of hard rock's most prolific bands in their ascendancy. Vocalist Rob Halford prowls around the stage like a caged animal and his vocals and stage presence are vintage, especially in comparison to the for-fans-only "Rising in the East" DVD from last year's Japanese tour.

In addition to all of the big tracks up to that point in Priest's career like "Breakin' the Law", "You Got Another Thing Comin'" and "Green Manalishi", there are some excellent and more obscure tracks performed here like "Bloodstone" and "Head Out To the Highway". These classics definitely separate the men from the boys when it comes to the "Metal Gods".

For those looking for an introduction to Priest, I'd recommend the "Electic Eye" DVD, but for those who like what they see there, this is another excellent way to drill down into the madness and mania that is Judas Priest.

Overall rating: 9/10

Saturday digest

- The top 100 Noam Chomsky lies. Thank God he's an American, because in many other countries, he'd be executed, jailed, or fired for what he says about the activities of his country's government. As it is, the guy has numerous best-sellers, a great gig peddling his opinions at MIT in Boston, and a speaking fee in the tens of thousands. Ain't Western civilization grand?

- Quote of the day from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:
"Whether you like it or not, the Zionist regime is on the road to being eliminated". Clearly, the time for action against Iran is now.

- This is laughable.

Friday digest

- Today is Good Friday, the day we commemorate the death of Jesus on the Cross. It's also a holiday as sanctioned by provincial and state governments all across North America. And no doubt all those who wish that Harper and Bush would stop saying "God bless America" or "God bless Canada" are showing up for work today anyways, all in the interests of separating church and state, right?

- China: overrated.

- Isn't it increasingly obvious that a two-state solution is not something that Palestinians are interested in?

- The flatter the tax, the more beautiful it is. Dick Armey explains why.

- Charles Krauthammer has one simple question to the protestors demanding amnesty: "The politically mobilized millions need to tell America where they stand: Are they ready to be welcomed into the American family as the last illegals -- or only as the first of many millions more?"

- While the rest of the world ponders next steps on Iran - a country whose leader has called for the destruction of Israel - the Canadian Islamic Congress has urged Canada to "assist" in the enrichment of uranium.

I'm just sayin'.

- People are asking if al-Qaeda member and thwarted 9/11 attacker Zacarias Moussaoui should be executed for his participation in the planning of the mission which killed over 3,000 people of all nations and faiths. I say he shouldn't, not just because I am firmly against the death penalty but also because such a loathsome, disturbed and bloodthirsty individual should not be made into a martyr.

- In the face of numerous calls to replace Rummy , a very important piece here from this week's Washington Post by an Iraq vet named Wade Zirkle:

Earlier this year there was a town hall meeting on the Iraq war, sponsored by Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), with the participation of such antiwar organizations as CodePink and MoveOn.org. The event also featured Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), a former Marine who had become an outspoken critic of the war. To this Iraq war veteran, it was a good example of something that's become all too common: People from politics, the media and elsewhere purporting to represent "our" views. With all due respect, most often they don't.

The tenor of the town meeting was mostly what one might expect, but during the question-and-answer period, a veteran injured in Afghanistan stood up to offer his view. "If I didn't have a herniated disc, I would volunteer to go to Iraq in a second with my troops," said Mark Seavey, a former Army sergeant who had recently returned from Afghanistan. "I know you keep saying how you have talked to the troops and the troops are demoralized, and I really resent that characterization. The morale of the troops I talk to is phenomenal, which is why my troops are volunteering to go back despite the hardships. . . ."

"And, Congressman Moran, 200 of your constituents just arrived back from Afghanistan -- we never got a letter, we never got a visit from you, you didn't come to our homecoming. The only thing we got was a letter from the governor of this state thanking us for our service in Iraq, when we were in Afghanistan. That's reprehensible. I don't know who you two are talking to, but the morale of the troops is very high."

What was the response? Murtha said nothing, while Moran attempted to move on, no pun intended, stating: "That wasn't in the form of a question, it was a statement."

It was indeed a statement; a statement from both a constituent and a veteran that should have elicited something more than silence or a dismissive comment highlighting a supposed breach of protocol. This exchange, captured on video (it was on C-SPAN), has since been forwarded from base to base in military circles. It has not been well received there, and it only raises the already high level of frustration among military personnel that their opinions are not being heard.

In view of his distinguished military career, John Murtha has been the subject of much attention from the media and is a sought-after spokesman for opponents of the Iraq war. He has earned the right to speak. But his comments supposedly expressing the negative views of those who have and are now serving in the Middle East run counter to what I and others know and hear from our own colleagues -- from junior officers to the enlisted backbone of our fighting force.

Murtha undoubtedly knows full well that the greatest single thing that drags on morale in war is the loss of a buddy. But second to that is politicians questioning, in amplified tones, the validity of that loss to our families, colleagues, the nation and the world.

While we don't question his motives, we do question his assumptions. When he called for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, there was a sense of respectful disagreement among most military personnel. But when he subsequently stated that he would not join today's military, he made clear to the majority of us that he is out of touch with the troops. Quite frankly, it was received as a slap in the face.

Like so many others past and present, I proudly volunteered to serve in the military. I served one tour in Iraq and then volunteered to go back. Veterans continue to make clear that they are determined to succeed in Iraq. They are making this clear the best way they can: by volunteering to go back for third and sometimes fourth deployments. This fact is backed up by official Pentagon recruitment reports released as recently as Monday.

The morale of the trigger-pulling class of today's fighting force is strong. Unfortunately, we have not had a microphone or media audience willing to report our comments. Despite this frustration, our military continues to proudly dedicate itself to the mission at hand: a free, democratic and stable Iraq and a more secure America. All citizens have a right to express their views on this important national challenge, and all should be heard. Veterans ask no more, and they deserve no less.

- Sam Kinison. He ruled. Thanks to my cousin Mike, I got into the guy back in about grade 10 with his "Leader of the Banned" album. A lot of my more uptight, angry and - ahem - left-leaning acquaintances would say that explains a lot.

- Have a lovely extra long weekend, folks!

Thursday digest

- The Globe and Mail is reporting that there are 166 - count 'em, 166 - programs in place at the federal level alone related to the fatally flawed and nearly 10-year old Kyoto Accord on climate change.

How much money have Canadian taxpayers shelled out over the last decade via ALL levels of government to fund something that was established and promoted despite the absence of clear scientific consensus that there's even something to be worried about here?

- I realize Canadian agricultural producers are put at a disadvantage because of subsidies in both the States and Europe, but I'd suggest that blocking food distribution centres is not a good PR strategy.

- A good look at tax burdens. The same principles apply to Canada. Imagine how much better we could be doing. And Harper's tax cuts will give us back $1 for every $100 we spend. It's time for wholesale tax reform, not just tinkering, but like that will ever happen. Too many vested interests (166 climate change programs?!?), and as George Will points out, welfare states can't declare bankruptcy if things aren't done correctly ... and could it ever be done correctly, really, given the awesome success rate of government?

- I find it very interesting to see how one minority treats another. Quebecois enjoy a number of protections within the Canadian state. Will they extend the same considerations to a minority within their own midst? Based on the comments at the end of this story, it's a lot more likely to happen with the more urbane, sophisticated and worldly Liberals in power than with the narrow-minded PQ.

- Nice work, Washington Post.

Album Review: Foo Fighters - "In Your Honor" (2005)

Ever since the advent of albums, every decade has produced a defining double-length rock recording. The 60s had the White Album, the 70s Physical Graffiti, the 80s brought the Wall, and the 90s Use Your Illusion I and II. As for the 2000s, well, this isn't it, but it's not bad at all.

This project is divided into a harder and a softer half. Long-time listeners of rock radio won't be surprised by the first disc which is typical Foo ... big drums, big guitars, lots of growling by Dave Grohl. While it's a little more melodic than recent releases, unfortunately it's not as catchy as their second album, "The Colour and the Shape", but I suppose one shouldn't expect to be whistling tunes from a former member of sludgemasters extraordinaire Nirvana.

The second disc is a treat, however. It reminds me of Led Zeppelin III's lighter moments - mellow and textured rather than sparse. Lots of strings, too, which are a nice touch. It sounds like Grohl has been listening to a bit of John Mayer.

Overall rating: 7.0/10
Disc one: 5.25/10
Disc two: 8.25/10

Album Review: Queensryche - "Operation: Mindcrime II" (2006)

This sequel to 1988's "Operation: Mindcrime" concept album is, in a word, disappointing. The production is at times razor thin (no bass). Vocalist Geoff Tate's range is about a third of what it once was. A few good leads and licks as well, but they are outnumbered by the ones which are non-descript and seemingly half-hearted in their execution. Other irritations include poor placement of backing vox (more often than not, they just don't fit). I find that on some tracks, the band is trying to do too much, while on others, it's not trying hard enough and is selling the whole effort short.

As far as the story goes, it's confusing at best. For fans like me who were hoping that the band would rediscover its soaring, challenging '88-'90 era, this album isn't a great effort, despite some interesting moments. However, who knows? I may return to it in a few months and have it grow on me.

One positive thing are some of the comments Tate is making as he does press rounds for this disc ... here's a quote:

In 1991, there was a shift in the music industry when all the corporations fired all the music people and replaced them with Harvard-educated law school business people that we considered bean counters. They were not into music; they were into charts and figures and had a sports-team mentality to music that really sank the music business.

And we see the effects of that. It’s a conveyor-belt process that bands are on. They sign up a zillion bands now or the songs are about the same things and they throw it on the wall and see what sticks. There’s no long-term plan. .

Overall rating: 5.5/10 ... in the meantime, here's hoping for the next great metal concept album. (Bonus for Priest fans: after seeing this, you have to wonder what would have happened if Priest had replaced Halford with Sebastian Bach.)

Wednesday digest

- Big thumbs up today to Oprah. Here's a woman who faced grinding poverty, dealt with sexual assault as a teen, and rose above it all to become one of the most successful people ever at her craft. Now, she says that she doesn’t feel one bit of guilt for making money and enjoying the finer things in life. Right on. There’s nothing wrong with earning an honest dollar and spending it on whatever the hell pleases. It’s what makes the world go around, despite protests to the contrary (h/t: Right Wing News).

- Some right-wingers have their knickers in a knot because anti-war marcher Meredith Vieira of “The View” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” is taking over from Katie Couric on “Today”. I happen to think that Vieira is eminently qualified to take over the post and I also highly doubt that she’s getting the gig due to her politics.

I’m the first one to shout “media bias” when I see it, but Vieira has a light and easy on-screen manner. She’s also very attractive. These qualities are important in bringing in the viewers. Vieira hasn’t OK’d any forged memos just yet or falsely reported on Korans not being flushed down the toilets by US soldiers, so everyone should just give her a chance. (On the other hand, here’s something that those with an interest in fairness should be very concerned about.)

- The Accountability Act has been tabled. I won’t comment much on this largely “inside the Beltway” legislation but it is great to see that partisan hacks are going to have to compete for civil service jobs just like the rest of us schleps in Ottawa. Hey Liberals – you like your affirmative action programs and onerous language requirements? Then live with ‘em!

- While it seems that the Left likes to stay in school longer, right-wingers are more likely to give to charity, according to this piece. Very interesting. One thing's for sure: the 30-plus professional student that pontificates at your local campus bar to a captive audience of freshmen and sophomores is not bloody likely to be a Republican, now, is he?

- The spokesman for the group cited here is a former executive with the Canadian Arab Federation. The evidence keeps piling up - the Muslim and Arab diaspora do not want a two-state solution, period.

- On that note, Mark Steyn and Daniel Pipes.

- One of the Pointer Sisters has died. Listen to "Automatic" and "He's So Shy" and tell me that the 80s didn't rule.

Tuesday digest

- Good article here on how both sides have it wrong when it comes to the labour market these days, while Bruce Bartlett asks if Americans are overtaxed. It would seem that most think they are. What about Canadians?

- On that note, Econ 101: Why raising the minimum wage is bad for the unemployed, French protestors notwithstanding. And here's a brief look at the disease that is sweeping Europe and is bound to put even more distance between the economies of North America and the Old Continent.

- A couple of interesting looks at two of the Left's favourite catchphrases these days: "support the troops" (which really means get them to lay sandbags in Winnipeg in spring rather than having them hunt down the Taliban in Kandahar) and "progressive" (which really means establishing tariff walls, quitting NATO and declaring pacifism while hoping Osama scratches you off the list, and expanding the size of government exponentially).

Monday digest

- I'm happy to see that the archaic and antiquated Canadian establishment myth of "two founding nations" is steadily losing currency. The more we start treating each other as unique and dignified individuals rather than just members of certain ethnic or linguistic groups, the better off we'll all be.

- Let's say that the PM heeds the advice of these 60 scientists and scraps Kyoto. How many activists, bureaucrats and so-called experts would have to look for new jobs because their entire existence depends on the "threat" of global warming?

- The latest Hollywood liberal to go off his rocker is Ben Affleck. Isn't it true that if they hated al-Qaeda as much as they hated Tom Delay, America would be a lot better off? And who are they going to cheer for the GOP primaries now?

- On that note, the Taliban and the NDP seem to be increasingly of the same point of view regarding Canada's presence in Afghanistan in that they both want us to leave. Jack Layton himself recently said that fighting radical Islamists is not a noble cause: "We have not accepted the concept that Canada should simply join with George Bush and the American military in rooting out terrorists around the world. That is not a decision that we've ever made or supported." I really hope that there's a unite-the-left movement in Canada with the NDP and the Bloc Toronto because Layton's party is so far outside of the mainstream, it's embarassing.

- This gal has uncovered some evidence which shows that daycare for kids under 3 is not healthy. She'll be on Coren tomorrow night (Tuesday) debating the issue, which should be very interesting.

- Just how corrupt is the UN? Check out the link above for a thorough examination of why anything that has the UN's fingerprints on it should be taken with a healthy dose of cynicism.

- It looks like France is capitulating
to the demands of the socialists. The chickens will come home to roost on this one, like they always do. Youth unemployment will remain alarmingly high (above 20%), social unrest will continue, and France will further decline.

- Note that the press is reporting that W is considering using nukes to take out Iran's own underground nuke facilities, but the New Yorker article on which the reports are based suggest no more than that it is an option that the Department of Defense put forward, along with a strong recommendation against doing just that. Ahh, the work ethic, rigour and accuracy of the mainstream media.

Thursday/Friday digest

- Details are still murky at this point, but it looks like President Bush authorized the declassification of information to throw political hand grenades at those who said that he manipulated intelligence in the leadup to Iraq (Valerie Plame, Joseph Wilson). While what he did is totally legal, it's also ethically questionable. Very sloppy.

- Nice try, NBC.

- For those who smoke or have ever been smokers, this is funny.

Film Review: "Failure to Launch" (2006)

Sadly, not even Sarah Jessica Parker's outstanding carriage can make up for this film, which includes mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a mockingbird, nude shots of Terry Bradshaw's 60+ ass, and some of the most contrived examples of product placement in recent memory (Coke).

Overall rating: 2.5/10

Wednesday digest

- Happy early Easter (H/T: Lee).

- It's tax time again. Instead of dealing with Schedule 1 and Form 3 and T4As and the like, wouldn't it just be easier if we all wrote our income on the back of a postcard, deducted 25% of it, and sent that number into the government, which would then refund us accordingly based on the taxes we paid through the year?

- It looks like Venezuela's press is under siege, thanks to the new "social responsibility" laws in that Marxist utopia. (Expecting to hear any protest from the Western left? Don't hold your breath.)

- Loved the CBC coverage of the Speech from the Throne last night. Apparently it's American (complete with images of President Bush) to invite guests like Canadian soldiers to the Senate Chamber. In fact, Harper apparently "Reaganized" the occasion by doing so, according to correspondent Eric Sorensen. I can only conclude that Bill Clinton dragging welfare moms to Congress days after the Monica scandal during the State of the Union back in '98 escaped the CBC for some reason.

- And on that note, the 2005 Dishonour Awards.

- The older ones gets, the more traditional one becomes, so they say. Hell, even Gloria Steinem married at 66, and now Prince and Madonna are distancing themselves from their pasts. What's next ... Hef selling the Playboy Mansion?!?

- I can't believe it. I'm on the same side of an issue as the ACLU. Apparently, a school in California has banned "patriotic" clothing. Has it really come to this?

Tuesday digest

- Miss Vickie's honey and roasted garlic chips: Thumbs up.

- Very interesting discussion going on at the Western Standard blog concerning how Jill Carroll's captors were convinced of some Jewish cabal in American journalism (if they only knew). From a post by a blogger named "ex-liberal":

Since 9/11, whenever I have pointed out the irrational anti-Jewism spewing out of Arab/Muslim world, liberal co-workers, family and friends have all tried to avert their gaze and make like I am overreacting, or just not correctly understanding that the "Jews stole their land", or that well you know "there's two sides to every story and we have our religious crazies" (see Justin above). This is basically why I have become ex-liberal.

Isn't it time to be clear about the real enemy instead of caring more about looking non-judgmental towards Middle Eastern haters?

- Now here's some fair and balanced coverage. Note how they picked a NASCAR race and not, say, the University of Wisconsin at Madison. You're likely to find as many whites at one place as you are at the other.

- Speaking of campuses it seems some academics don't like having to face the court of public opinion. For anyone who denies that there is a liberal bias on campus, I dare you to enroll in an arts or social science class at your local university, declare your support for tax cuts, Israel, and the merit principle in hiring, and tell me what happens - likely, a version of this.

- Apparently, mathematics is racist, at least for those wanting to be cops in Virginia Beach. A sample question from a test for applicants, which the US Justice Department has found to be discriminatory against blacks and Hispanics: “On Tuesday, Officer Jones worked the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift. At 10:55 p.m. he was called to the scene of an accident where he remained until 1:30 a.m. How long past his regular shift did Officer Jones work?”

You can read more about it for yourself here.
It's what Thomas Sowell (I think) called "the soft bigotry of low expectations".

- I've always wondered why so many Trudeaupians and other lefties admire Bill Clinton. After you read this, you should, too. Let's take a fr'instance:

You also hear about Bush pandering to Enron. Well, there’s no denying that the sleazebags at Enron donated over $400,000 to the party, and kicked in another $100,000 to help pay for the president’s inauguration. And there’s no getting around the fact that Enron’s chairman stayed at the White House on 11 different occasions. Talk about having access! What’s more, the Export-Inport Bank subsidized Enron to the tune of $600 million in a single transaction.

Clearly, where Enron is concerned, the president has a lot to answer for. But the president we’re talking about happens to be Clinton. Bush, in case you didn’t notice, is the president whose administration has Enron CEO Ken Lay up on charges.

Isn't that the same Justice Department which (under Bush) decided that math was discriminatory against minority police applicants? Seems that W's gang is not as deep in the pocket of the rich white oil baron as we think, huh, Mikey Moore?

- Back to reality with this piece from the WSJ. Intellectually, there is a lot of exciting debate happening within conservatism. I am loving it because it demonstrates richness and vitality within the coalition.

It's a big tent, baby. How long till the Cos admits he's a conservative?

Monday digest

- Iran is flexing its muscles while Hans Blix is already indicting the US for aggression before they've even fired a single bullet. I suppose the right thing to do would be to wait the five years Blix claims it will take for Iran to develop nukes - and after Tel Aviv gets levelled - before we take action, despite the fact that even Richard Clarke says that Iran makes al-Qaeda "look like kindergarten". After all, we don't want to be in contravention of international law, right?

- Note to Democrats: You lost. Twice. Get over it.

- Speaking of Albert Gore and the media, here's a good piece debunking a lot of the global warming articles that have come out lately.

- The students' strike in France: Reams of material.

- Skeelo's MLB preview. I'd be thrilled if the Jays were in the playoff race until late September. Here's hoping.

Sunday evening digest

- Here's Victor Davis Hanson on the protests happening in the US as organized by illegal immigants wanting to be declared US citizens immediately: "Why march in protest waving the flag of a country to which you do not wish to return while screaming insults at the people with whom you wish to live?" (HT: Watchman's Words.)

This has always puzzled me about multiculturalism. Some folks seem to be so patriotic about the place that they emigrated from to the point where the citizenship of the host country is almost an afterthought. I wonder, if you are so much in love with the place from which you came, why did you want to leave?

I will never forget reading about a match between the Greek national basketball team versus Team Canada in the early 90s at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens where Team Canada was actually booed.

Absolutely disgraceful.

- Steyn tells it like it is. You have to ask yourself, what would Reagan be saying about radical Islamic terrorists if he were still around (and lucid, for that matter) today?

- The only thing surprising about Barry Bonds accusing MLB of racism is that it didn't happen sooner.

Marty in fourth place for all-time wins

Yesterday, my buddy Marty Brodeur picked up his 436th career win, putting him ahead of Jacques Plante on the all-time list. He now has only Terry Sawchuck, Eddie Belfour and Patrick Roy in front of him. More importantly, the Devs picked up two points against Philly, who they're chasing for fifth spot overall in the Eastern Conference. I'm really hoping that they land the fifth seed because it looks like the team in that hole is going to be playing Buffalo in the first round, and the Sabres have really gone in the tank as of late (7-0 losers to the Leafs last night - ouch). I don't expect the Devils to do much in the playoffs this year, especially after a season which saw three free-agent busts, Patty Elias missing half the year because of hepatitis, and turmoil behind the bench, but winning a round would be nice.

Film Review: "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" (2006)

One of the great loves of my life is heavy metal music, and so yesterday I went to go check out this 90-minute documentary on the genre put together by Sam Dunn, a metal fan and anthropologist from Victoria, British Columbia. Dunn sets out to answer the following question: What is it about metal that inspires such passion, either for or against? In trying to answer this, Dunn interviews a number of legends from Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden to Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead to Rob Zombie. He also sprinkles in an overly healthy dose of let's-take-a-trip-up-my-own-ass analysis from various sociologists, musicologists and other windbags.

As an intellectual look at a subculture, this was very well done. Dunn looks at themes of sexuality, religion, power and violence and how they all fit into the heavy metal world. In so doing, interesting anecdotes are revealed regarding the origins of the "devil's sign" from Ronnie James Dio, the dark imagery used by Sabbath in the 70s, and the Spinal Tappish big dick/tight pants look of Robert Plant and others.

At about the 3/4 mark, I found that things got a little tedious because Dunn spends a lot of time discussing the obscure Norwegian death metal scene and the implications that has had on Norway's cultural landscape. I mean really, who cares? I'd rather hear more stories from Vince Neil about life on LA's Sunset Strip back in the day.

As a fan, this was very good as well, but the film was largely a product of Dunn's own tastes in metal. I love hearing Alice Cooper talk as much as the next guy, Geddy Lee is awesome, and Dee Snider recalling how he testified before Congress in opposition to the Parent's Music Resource Centre in the mid-80's (note their "Filthy Fifteen") was delicious. However, I don't think enough credit was given to two of my top five favourite bands of all time and their role in advancing metal: KISS and Judas Priest. Dunn's tastes are also a little harder than mine (what the hell is grindcore, anyways?), but to each his or her own. (I've tried to find a copy of the chart that Dunn presents tracing the development of metal, but I can't.)

If you're wondering why metalheads never seem to "grow out of it", I'll share a few observations from other fans in the film. First, as a 13-year old Quebec girl says, metalheads are never afraid to share their opinion with you or ask the tough questions if they disagree with something. True. Secondly, metalheads are loyal. We never grow out of it because metal bands are never the kind that you're into for oh, about a week. You either love it or you don't. And finally, if you still don't get it, that's just fine, because almost 40 years after Black Sabbath's debut album was released, we seem to be doing just fine without you.

DVD, pictured above, out next month (May 23.) Official website here.

Overall rating: 6.5/10

Sunday morning digest

- Former Reform leader Preston Manning has mused about taking over the premiership of Alberta from Ralph Klein. It looks like he's positioning himself to be the reluctant candidate in order to create a "Draft Manning" campaign. Good politics. I don't believe for a minute that the man is playing wait and see. He's basically dancing on Ralph Klein's grave before the inscription on the tombstone has even been written. This guy likes being the boss, but he's never been in a position where he can make decisions as a part of government, much less leading one. Here's his chance, and I have no doubt he's rubbing his hands together with glee right now. In fact, he's probably already drafting his first Throne Speech.

- More interestingly, I'm not sure if this is a late April Fool's joke or not. The Ayatollah of Rock and Rollah as Premier of Manitoba? Can't really see it happening.

- Contrast the reaction of Jill Carroll, just released from captivity, to the equivocations made by the Christian Peacemakers, and tell me who you respect more. Here's her official statement:

I'm so happy to be free and am looking forward to spending a lot of time with my family. I want to express my deep appreciation to all the people who worked so long and hard for my release. I am humbled by the sympathy and support expressed by so many people during my kidnapping.

In the past few days, the U.S. military and officials have been extremely generous, and I am grateful for their help. Throughout this ordeal, many U.S. agencies have committed themselves to bringing me safely home.

My colleagues at The Christian Science Monitor have worked ceaselessly to secure my release, and worked with security consultants to do so. Many other news organizations, both inside and outside of Iraq, as well as many officials from Iraq and other countries, worked hard to bring about my freedom.

So many people around the world spoke out on my behalf.

Thank you, all of you.

During my last night of captivity, my captors forced me to participate in a propaganda video. They told me I would be released if I cooperated. I was living in a threatening environment, under their control, and I wanted to go home alive. So I agreed.

Things that I was forced to say while captive are now being taken by some as an accurate reflection of my personal views. They are not. The people who kidnapped me and murdered Alan Enwiya are criminals, at best. They robbed Alan of his life and devastated his family. They put me, my family and my friends - all those around the world - who have prayed so fervently for my release - through a horrific experience. I was, and remain, deeply angry with the people who did this.

I also gave a TV interview to the Iraqi Islamic Party shortly after my release. The party had promised me the interview would never be broadcast or aired on television, and they broke their word. At any rate, fearing retribution from my captors, I did not speak freely. Out of fear I said I wasn't threatened. In fact, I was threatened many times.

Also, at least two false statements about me have been widely aired: One, that I refused to travel and cooperate with the U.S. military and two, that I refused to discuss my captivity with U.S. officials. Again, neither statement is true.

I want to be judged as a journalist, not as a hostage. I remain as committed as ever to fairness and accuracy - to discovering the truth - and so I will not engage in polemics. But let me be clear: I abhor all who kidnap and murder civilians, and my captors are clearly guilty of both crimes.

Now, I ask for the time to heal. This has been a taxing 12 weeks for me and for my family. Please allow us some quiet time alone, together.

- Jill Carroll

I think Ms. Carroll could teach our Canadian friends a few lessons about humility, thanks, and love of country.

Restaurant Review: Pubwells, Ottawa, ON

After downing a couple of pops with the bride last night after work, we rolled into Pubwell's to celebrate my buddy J-Mac's birthday which is coming next week. I've been regularly darkening the door of this fine establishment for the better part of three years now thanks to the recommendations of my good friend Riley who used to live just down the street. Let me tell you, I haven't looked back.

The signature dish at Pubwells is the much vaunted and affectionately known $12.95'er. The $12.95er, which was once the $9.95er when I started going there, is a 12 ounce steak with your choice of fries, Caesar's salad or both. Sauteed onions and mushrooms are also provided as is a nice little serving of garlic bread to top things off. I've been to Pubwells over 20 times and I have to say that I've only ever had the $12.95er. Obviously, it keeps me coming back. I've also been told that the pizza is just delicious, and last night the fish and chips were also a big hit. I've also had the wings, nachos and fries over time and each was far beyond your regular pub fare that's found at the Royal Oak or Local Heroes.

Now, I have had a couple of $1295ers over time which did disappoint but batying .900 is an average that anyone would be happy to take. Also, last night, my beer glass had just come out of the dishwasher and was a little warm. However, as a total package. with friendly service, an inviting neighbourhood atmosphere and prices that are right up my alley, I can't really complain.

Come on down to Pubwells and experience what I don't hesitate to call Ottawa's best kept secret for yourself.

Preston near Somerset.

Overall rating: 9.5/10

Wrestlemania XXII

This weekend, it's Wrestlemania XXII from Chicago, and for the first time in years, I'm not planning on watching it. Although the state of the business isn't as bad as it was when Bastion Booger and the Goon were regulars, I think the likelihood of any of the matches being included in a future list of the great Wrestlemania matches ever is unlikely. (Sorry John Cena, but you're no Batista.)

I've always said that when rasslin' is bad, there's nothing worse, but when it's good, there's nothing better. There are rumblings that the WWE is going to build a program between the two biggest moneymaking personalities in the history of the mat in Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan this summer, probably to culminate at SummerSlam.

Now that I'll pay to see.