Friday digest

- Why is it that Ottawa mayoral front-runner Alex Munter feels the need to place his signs at twenty feet intervals on every thoroughfare across the city? As my wife says, if he's going to waste this kind of money on signage, how is he going to spend our tax dollars?

Incumbent Bob Chiarelli isn't much better when it comes to reminding us at a rate of about 5 times per kilometre driven that he is running for office once again.

As for Larry O'Brien, he had my vote sewed up until yesterday, when it was revealed that when asked on Wednesday who the mayor of Gatineau was, he was unable to answer. Then, on Thursday, he was asked again and he STILL couldn't answer.

Very sloppy.

- While on the issue of government advertising, why is the Royal Canadian Mint promoting itself on the backstop during Canadian World Series broadcasts? What is that supposed to do, make me run out and purchase a collector's edition of nickels and dimes commemorating the '76 Olympics or something?

- Riots have started again in France. This editorial makes a convincing case that a law-and-order line against the miscreants will only be a half-measure if France's overly rigid labour market is not reformed to allow for new arrivals to more fully participate in the French economy.