Wednesday digest

- In the latest example of municipal politicians without enough to do, Ottawa city councillor Alex Cullen is proposing that perfume and cologne be banned in public places.

This is so stupid. Would Cullen extend the ban to nightclubs? Would he propose shutting down the fragrance counter at the Bay so that the poor souls walking by who might be extra sensitive aren't at risk of getting a headache? And how would this be enforced?

Cullen should forget about this and get back to dealing with sewers and sidewalks. That's his job, not dreaming up more reasons for Ottawa bylaw officers to intrude into our lives.

- A new book reveals that as a young man, Pierre Trudeau would have made an excellent Pequiste.

- Moving to US politics, I'd say the Republicans are in better shape than the Dems these days, but that's not saying much. I am also not expecting big Dem gains this fall because as disappointed as conservatives are, the GOP will always be preferable to right-wing activists than a Democratic congress, and they'll work and vote towards keeping Capitol Hill in Republican hands this November. Republican ground strength is always more effective than the Dems' "netroots".

- Another victim of political correctness comes to us from Massachussetts, where opposing gay marriage is enough to disqualify you from sitting on the board of the local fire department. This is the same type of thinking that prevented Gwyn Morgan from being able to serve as Public Appointments Commissioner here in Canada. What one's opinions on same-sex marriage or Jamaican crime gangs have to do with their ability to either fight fires or vet public appointments is beyond me, but then again, I'm not a member of the thought police so perhaps I'm the wrong guy to offer my views on that.

- Finally, why is everyone freaking out about Ricky Williams signing with the Argos? Everybody needs to calm down. It's not like the guy was snorting coke, smoking crack or using a performance-enhancing substance that gave him an advantage over the competition. It's pot. So what if he enjoys sitting back with a spliff from time to time (a substance which, by the way, was almost decriminalized in Canada last year)?

Ricky Williams is a very good athlete who will help increase interest in the CFL, a league that needs it at even the best of times. Plus, if Toronto ever got an NFL team, with the cast of characters that comes with THAT terrority, you can bet the Toronto media (which has been crapping all over the perfectly good CFL for years in the hopes that it would just fold and pave the way for four-down football) would be looking the other way at behaviour that is way more destructive than enjoying the odd joint.