When I was in elementary school we sang O Canada and God Save the Queen every day. I still love singing Our National and Royal Anthems.
And so many of our fathers, sons, brothers and husbands lie in graves around the world, having fought and died for King and country under the banner of the Union Jack.
It is unfortunate that Canadians today seldom hear this great old tune played or sung. It is such a fine piece of music. And its intriguing history is little known.
Americans are now more familiar with the tune than we are -- and few are aware that the melody was written by Dr. John Bull, son of a London goldsmith. He began as a choir boy in Queen Elizabeth Chapel in 1572. Ten years later, he was appointed organist at Hereford Cathedral. By 1589, he had earned a doctorate of music at Cambridge University and became one of the most famous keyboard musicians and composers in England.
I recall hearing it sung tinged with bittersweet sadness and pride on Armistice Day, remembering the gallant lost souls who never returned to their loved ones.
Bull wrote God Save The King in 1619. That same year, English settlers arrived in America with an order from King James to celebrate their arrival with a day of thanks, leading the Jamestown colony to celebrate America's first Thanksgiving Day.
John Bull later moved to Belgium, where he became the organist at Antwerp Cathedral. He died in 1628 and it was said the piece of music that become God Save The King was found among his papers. It would be over 100 years before his tune was published: A printing of the music appears in the 1744 English tune book Thesaurus Musicus.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Another obamessiah pick has tax troubles
Another obamessiah scandal. Surprise!
Sebelius admits errors, pays $7,000 in back taxes
By ERICA WERNER
The Associated Press
Tuesday, March 31, 2009; 6:37 PM
WASHINGTON -- Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius has corrected three years of tax returns and paid more than $7,000 in back taxes after finding "unintentional errors" _ the latest tax troubles for an Obama administration nominee. The Kansas governor explained the changes to senators in a letter dated Tuesday that was obtained by The Associated Press. She said they involved charitable contributions, the sale of a home and business expenses.
She and her husband paid a total of $7,040 in back taxes and $878 in interest to amend returns from 2005-2007.
Several Obama administration nominees have been derailed by tax issues, notably the president's first nominee for HHS secretary, former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle. He withdrew from consideration while apologizing for failing to pay $140,000 in taxes and interest.
Sebelius admits errors, pays $7,000 in back taxes
By ERICA WERNER
The Associated Press
Tuesday, March 31, 2009; 6:37 PM
WASHINGTON -- Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius has corrected three years of tax returns and paid more than $7,000 in back taxes after finding "unintentional errors" _ the latest tax troubles for an Obama administration nominee. The Kansas governor explained the changes to senators in a letter dated Tuesday that was obtained by The Associated Press. She said they involved charitable contributions, the sale of a home and business expenses.
She and her husband paid a total of $7,040 in back taxes and $878 in interest to amend returns from 2005-2007.
Several Obama administration nominees have been derailed by tax issues, notably the president's first nominee for HHS secretary, former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle. He withdrew from consideration while apologizing for failing to pay $140,000 in taxes and interest.
Earth Hour in Quebec: no big deal
Its funny that Quebecers pretty well ignored earth hour. There was perhaps a % % drop in power usage, most of which I suspect was people going to bed. I guess they are following the goreacle example.
In Quebec, the peak drop was from 8:45 to 10:15 p.m.
Hydro-Québec said the decrease in energy use was about five per cent of the 3,000 megawatts normally consumed during that time.
In Quebec, the peak drop was from 8:45 to 10:15 p.m.
Hydro-Québec said the decrease in energy use was about five per cent of the 3,000 megawatts normally consumed during that time.
Support Connie and Mark!!!
My friends Connie and Mark at Free Dominion need our help. They are fighting for the rights of every Canadian and every user of the internet. Their opponent is of course maximum disruption Richard Warman.
During his cross-examination, Mr. Warman admitted (after initially denying) that he had participated in communicating messages on Internet Websites similar to the Northern Alliance Website utilizing pseudonyms such as "Pogue Mahone" and "Axetogrind".
Cross-examination is under oath, of course. Lying under oath is called perjury. The Tribunal noted that, at first, Warman didn’t tell the truth. The Tribunal didn’t use the word “lie”; it just pointed out that Warman’s original answers under oath weren’t true. Again, regular people would say “what a liar!” It’s not the first time for Warman.
You can read some details here as well. Michael Geist is harldy particularly sympathetic to the right, but he sees the threat to all of us.
More from Hunter here.
Connie and Mark are certainly not wealthy. They need our help . I sent them some money yesterday. You should all send more to help make sure this case is properly appealed. Donate here.
During his cross-examination, Mr. Warman admitted (after initially denying) that he had participated in communicating messages on Internet Websites similar to the Northern Alliance Website utilizing pseudonyms such as "Pogue Mahone" and "Axetogrind".
Cross-examination is under oath, of course. Lying under oath is called perjury. The Tribunal noted that, at first, Warman didn’t tell the truth. The Tribunal didn’t use the word “lie”; it just pointed out that Warman’s original answers under oath weren’t true. Again, regular people would say “what a liar!” It’s not the first time for Warman.
You can read some details here as well. Michael Geist is harldy particularly sympathetic to the right, but he sees the threat to all of us.
More from Hunter here.
Connie and Mark are certainly not wealthy. They need our help . I sent them some money yesterday. You should all send more to help make sure this case is properly appealed. Donate here.
Toxic multiculturalism
I haven't written a letter to the editor in a while. I did write one recently to praise HM Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason kenney's efforts to reform Canada' s policy on multiculturalism.
Give them 'a multiculturalism of inclusion, not ghettoization'
National Post
I was born in India, and am now a proud Canadian. Many so-called "ethnic" Canadians resent the toxic, self-serving Liberal version of multiculturalism, which is no more than a vote-buying scheme. We want a multiculturalism of inclusion, not ghettoization.
Roy Eappen, Montreal.
Give them 'a multiculturalism of inclusion, not ghettoization'
National Post
I was born in India, and am now a proud Canadian. Many so-called "ethnic" Canadians resent the toxic, self-serving Liberal version of multiculturalism, which is no more than a vote-buying scheme. We want a multiculturalism of inclusion, not ghettoization.
Roy Eappen, Montreal.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Galloway Ban upheld
Some of my friends , and others such as Lord Black want galloway to come here to entertain us. I am somewhat conflicted on this issue, but I think in the end this is the right decision for this individual. I am happy about the upholding of the ban against him, even though it's bringing him more publicity. galloway is a known funder of a terrorist organization. His so called charity is now being investigated. Its not like he;s being silenced. All his various utterances are being reported in great detail in our media.
This charity, backed by Mr. Galloway, has said it raised around $2-million, largely as a result of public outcry at Israel's offensive there in January.
Last week, the British Charity Commission launched an inquiry after Viva Palestina offered "no substantive response" to requests for detailed financial information. It also expressed concerns with the charity's financial governance structure.
This charity, backed by Mr. Galloway, has said it raised around $2-million, largely as a result of public outcry at Israel's offensive there in January.
Last week, the British Charity Commission launched an inquiry after Viva Palestina offered "no substantive response" to requests for detailed financial information. It also expressed concerns with the charity's financial governance structure.
goreacle Celebrates Earth Achievement hour
Seems I wasn't the only one to leave the lights on during "earth hour". Hard to take this Nobel Laureate all that seriously.
The kicker, though, were the dozen or so floodlights grandly highlighting several trees and illuminating the driveway entrance of Gore’s mansion.
I [kid] you not, my friends, the savior of the environment couldn’t be bothered to turn off the gaudy lights that show off his goofy trees.
Transcript and video of HM PM Stephen Harper on FNS
I have found the video of yesterday's interview of HM PM on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. Here is the transcript and video.
The following is a rush transcript of the March 29, 2009, edition of "FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace." This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
CHRIS WALLACE, HOST: This week, world leaders gather in London for the G20 summit, discussing how best to fight the global financial crisis.
Joining us now is one of those leaders, the prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper. And, Prime Minister, welcome to "FOX News Sunday."
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER: Thanks for having me, Chris.
WALLACE: Before we get to the G20, let's discuss Afghanistan. Canada, which has 2,800 troops there and has, unfortunately, lost more than 100, plans to wrap up its combat mission by the end of 2011.
Now, you said recently that if President Obama had a clear strategy for success and for departure, you might re-think that. You've heard the president's plan. Might you consider keeping Canadian troops in Afghanistan longer?
HARPER: Well, I don't think that's quite what I said. We're operating on a parliamentary resolution. We got consensus of the two major parties to pass that resolution. We're very clear in our objectives. We're in Kandahar, the most difficult province.
Our objective now is to train the Afghan forces so they can take over day-to-day responsibility for their security by the end of 2011. That's what we're working on.
We are — as Secretary Gates said, we are in Canada ramping up our civilian presence and our civilian commitments in Afghanistan in preparation for the end of the military mission. But we're going to continue to be there and continue to assist with governance and development challenges.
WALLACE: But you did not hear anything from President Obama that would make you change your mind and say, "You know what? We should keep Canadian troops, combat troops, in Afghanistan longer."
HARPER: We're not planning to do that. In fairness, when I met with President Obama, he didn't make that request. President Obama did recognize the significant — very large and significant and robust contribution that Canada has been making in Afghanistan, in Kandahar in particular.
WALLACE: You said recently that Afghanistan has had an insurgency for most of its history, and then you added this, "Quite frankly, we are not going to ever defeat the insurgency."
Prime Minister, does that mean that we're going to have to learn to live with Al Qaeda and the Taliban in that part of the world?
HARPER: No, I wouldn't — I wouldn't put it that way. I think what Secretary Gates said is correct, that first of all, we absolutely have to see the elimination of any kind of threat to the wider world, to North America.
Obviously, the Al Qaeda insurgency and the Al Qaeda element of this has to be — has to be eliminated. I think we agree with that.
In terms of the rest of it, you know, I don't think it's a case that we — we've got to see progress on the insurgency. We've got to see a state where the Afghan government can handle its own day-to-day security.
I just think it would be unrealistic to suggest we're going to eliminate every last domestic insurgent in Afghanistan. Certainly, the history of the country would indicate that's not a very realistic objective, and I think we have to have realistic objectives.
WALLACE: But — but — but forgive me, sir. Your statement was a little broader than that. You said we're not going to ever defeat the insurgency, not eliminate every single bad guy out there. That seems to indicate you think that we're not going to be able to defeat Al Qaeda.
HARPER: Well, I think if you — if you actually look at my comments in context, this is what I was saying. I do believe you'll see some kind of insurgency in Afghanistan for some time to come. It's been the nature of that country, unfortunately.
But we certainly want to see a situation where the Afghan government can handle that security situation on a day-to-day basis, where they can take care of their own responsibility, and obviously where the insurgency is of a nature that it doesn't threaten the wider global community.
WALLACE: Let's turn to the world's economic situation, starting with Canada.
HARPER: Sure.
WALLACE: You were the last industrial nation to go into recession, and one of the great joys of this job is you study up on things, and I learned that, in fact, in 2007, you started cutting taxes, and your corporate tax rate is 10 points lower than it is here in the U.S. Am I correct in that, sir?
HARPER: I — I forget what the relevant American rate is, but I can tell you that our goal is to have a combined federal-provincial corporate tax rate of no more than 25 percent. We're on target to do that by 2012.
We will have significantly — by a significant margin the lowest corporate tax rates in the G-7, and that's our — our government's objective.
WALLACE: Do you believe that's better for the economy than President Obama's plan to raise taxes on the wealthy and some businesses?
HARPER: Well, I'm not going to be drawn in, Chris, as you can imagine, to commenting on American domestic policy. Let me just say that the United States has a significantly different problem than Canada, which is even before this recession, the United States was running a significant budgetary deficit.
Canada is in budgetary deficit now only because of the recession, only because of stimulus measures, and we will come out of it. We will go back into surplus position when the economy recovers. So there is no need in Canada to raise taxes.
I'm — as a conservative, I tend to oppose raising taxes at the best of times. But we have not got the structural budgetary deficit that exists in the United States. It obviously limits the administration's options.
WALLACE: Canada is also the only western nation that has had no bank bailouts. Your banks tend to hold on to mortgages. They don't then send them — sell them to other investors. You have strong, activist regulation.
Is the Obama administration, do you think, right now to get more involved in policing the financial markets?
HARPER: Well, without getting into detail, I think that the — what I've read of the Obama administration's moves certainly parallel the kind of recommendations we're making at the G20.
Canada, along with India, is co-chairing the G20's working group on reform of financial regulations. And broadly speaking, what we are suggesting certainly is in line with where the American administration is going.
This is a problem that absolutely has to be fixed. We have to fix the mess in the American and global financial sector. We cannot have recovery until we fix that.
And we've got to have good systems of national regulation with some kind of — with some kind of international peer review in the long term. That's our judgment. I think it's moving in the right direction, but obviously that's a domestic debate.
WALLACE: Now, you're a conservative. A lot of conservatives in this country say if you get the government too involved, you squeeze out all the innovation, all of the risk-taking, that is so important to a free market system.
HARPER: Well, and that — that's a risk. And you know, I think we have got a pretty decent balance in Canada where we have good macro prudential regulation but we don't try and micro manage financial systems.
But I — I would say this as a conservative, if I — if I can be frank. It's great to say, "Let's have less regulation in principle and less intervention in the marketplace," but where has that led us, Chris, in many countries?
It's led us to a situation where the government is, in fact, intervening massively as a consequence of under regulation, and where we now have, effectively, in many countries, nationalization of the financial system.
I know in Canada there have been some criticisms in the past that we were perhaps too activist, intervening too much, but we're emerging from this with probably the only truly free market financial system in the world.
So I think, you know, a happy medium of regulation is the way to go.
WALLACE: As you head to the G20 summit this week, there has been quite a dispute with President Obama urging some of our European allies, and their disagreeing, especially France and Germany, to pass big stimulus packages of their own. Canada has passed a stimulus package.
HARPER: Right.
WALLACE: But for our European allies to pass those kinds of packages to help draw the entire world economy out of recession. What do you expect from the G20 on that front?
HARPER: Well, look. I'm hoping very strongly that, first of all, the G20 meetings will be focused on fixing today's financial problems. I think that's really important we don't get distracted by a whole lot of other issues. And I also hope there'll be some consensus.
Now, my negotiators, the people working on these various summit declarations, tell me there's a lot less difference of opinion than you would — than you would understand in the media, that everybody understands that we have got to fix the financial system if we're going to turn the corner on the global economy.
And I do hope also that all countries will understand the necessity of doing at least what the IMF has said, which is 2 percent fiscal stimulus, and not just for our own economies. We have to remember we're in a global economy.
The purpose of fiscal stimulus is not simply to sustain activity in our national economies, but to help the global economy as well, and that's why it's so critical that measures in those packages avoid anything that smacks of protectionism.
WALLACE: I've got a couple of minutes left. I've got two questions I want to ask you. First of all, on autos, President Obama will announce plans tomorrow to give more money to G.M. and Chrysler but along with strict deadlines on concessions from both the auto workers and also the bond holders.
You've given bailouts to G.M. and Chrysler in Canada. How confident are you that these — that, one, we can, and, two, we should keep these two companies out of bankruptcy?
HARPER: Well, let me be clear that we're engaged in this exercise because the United States is. If we're not — it's an integrated industry. If we don't do our share north of the border, the industry will simply shift out of Canada, and it's too important an industry to have collapse in Canada as it is in the United States.
We're working very closely with the Obama administration on this. Everything I have seen indicates that the Obama administration is determined to impose the tough conditions necessary to make this bailout work — in other words, to make sure that at the end of it we have viable companies.
The last thing we want to do in Canada, I'm sure the last thing the United States wants to do is do, is do a bailout that fails in any case. If we're going to put taxpayer money in this, we have to make sure it works. And I think given the scope of this — size of this industry, we have no choice.
WALLACE: Finally, briefly, if I may, sir, candidate Obama talked a lot last year about reopening NAFTA, renegotiating our trade agreements. Now that he is President Obama, has there been any serious move in that direction?
HARPER: Well, what President Obama said to me is he's concerned about the labor and environmental aspects. Those were side agreements in the original NAFTA agreement. He'd like to see ways that those are more comprehensively incorporated into the main body of NAFTA.
We're not close (ph) to doing that, provided we don't open the whole package, because I think it would be hard to ever put — ever get the cat back in the bag if we tried to renegotiate the thing.
WALLACE: Prime Minister Harper, thank you. Thank you for coming in and talking with us, and safe travels, sir, to the G20 summit.
HARPER: Appreciate it.
WALLACE: Pleasure to talk to you.
HARPER: Thanks for having me, Chris.
The following is a rush transcript of the March 29, 2009, edition of "FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace." This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
CHRIS WALLACE, HOST: This week, world leaders gather in London for the G20 summit, discussing how best to fight the global financial crisis.
Joining us now is one of those leaders, the prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper. And, Prime Minister, welcome to "FOX News Sunday."
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER: Thanks for having me, Chris.
WALLACE: Before we get to the G20, let's discuss Afghanistan. Canada, which has 2,800 troops there and has, unfortunately, lost more than 100, plans to wrap up its combat mission by the end of 2011.
Now, you said recently that if President Obama had a clear strategy for success and for departure, you might re-think that. You've heard the president's plan. Might you consider keeping Canadian troops in Afghanistan longer?
HARPER: Well, I don't think that's quite what I said. We're operating on a parliamentary resolution. We got consensus of the two major parties to pass that resolution. We're very clear in our objectives. We're in Kandahar, the most difficult province.
Our objective now is to train the Afghan forces so they can take over day-to-day responsibility for their security by the end of 2011. That's what we're working on.
We are — as Secretary Gates said, we are in Canada ramping up our civilian presence and our civilian commitments in Afghanistan in preparation for the end of the military mission. But we're going to continue to be there and continue to assist with governance and development challenges.
WALLACE: But you did not hear anything from President Obama that would make you change your mind and say, "You know what? We should keep Canadian troops, combat troops, in Afghanistan longer."
HARPER: We're not planning to do that. In fairness, when I met with President Obama, he didn't make that request. President Obama did recognize the significant — very large and significant and robust contribution that Canada has been making in Afghanistan, in Kandahar in particular.
WALLACE: You said recently that Afghanistan has had an insurgency for most of its history, and then you added this, "Quite frankly, we are not going to ever defeat the insurgency."
Prime Minister, does that mean that we're going to have to learn to live with Al Qaeda and the Taliban in that part of the world?
HARPER: No, I wouldn't — I wouldn't put it that way. I think what Secretary Gates said is correct, that first of all, we absolutely have to see the elimination of any kind of threat to the wider world, to North America.
Obviously, the Al Qaeda insurgency and the Al Qaeda element of this has to be — has to be eliminated. I think we agree with that.
In terms of the rest of it, you know, I don't think it's a case that we — we've got to see progress on the insurgency. We've got to see a state where the Afghan government can handle its own day-to-day security.
I just think it would be unrealistic to suggest we're going to eliminate every last domestic insurgent in Afghanistan. Certainly, the history of the country would indicate that's not a very realistic objective, and I think we have to have realistic objectives.
WALLACE: But — but — but forgive me, sir. Your statement was a little broader than that. You said we're not going to ever defeat the insurgency, not eliminate every single bad guy out there. That seems to indicate you think that we're not going to be able to defeat Al Qaeda.
HARPER: Well, I think if you — if you actually look at my comments in context, this is what I was saying. I do believe you'll see some kind of insurgency in Afghanistan for some time to come. It's been the nature of that country, unfortunately.
But we certainly want to see a situation where the Afghan government can handle that security situation on a day-to-day basis, where they can take care of their own responsibility, and obviously where the insurgency is of a nature that it doesn't threaten the wider global community.
WALLACE: Let's turn to the world's economic situation, starting with Canada.
HARPER: Sure.
WALLACE: You were the last industrial nation to go into recession, and one of the great joys of this job is you study up on things, and I learned that, in fact, in 2007, you started cutting taxes, and your corporate tax rate is 10 points lower than it is here in the U.S. Am I correct in that, sir?
HARPER: I — I forget what the relevant American rate is, but I can tell you that our goal is to have a combined federal-provincial corporate tax rate of no more than 25 percent. We're on target to do that by 2012.
We will have significantly — by a significant margin the lowest corporate tax rates in the G-7, and that's our — our government's objective.
WALLACE: Do you believe that's better for the economy than President Obama's plan to raise taxes on the wealthy and some businesses?
HARPER: Well, I'm not going to be drawn in, Chris, as you can imagine, to commenting on American domestic policy. Let me just say that the United States has a significantly different problem than Canada, which is even before this recession, the United States was running a significant budgetary deficit.
Canada is in budgetary deficit now only because of the recession, only because of stimulus measures, and we will come out of it. We will go back into surplus position when the economy recovers. So there is no need in Canada to raise taxes.
I'm — as a conservative, I tend to oppose raising taxes at the best of times. But we have not got the structural budgetary deficit that exists in the United States. It obviously limits the administration's options.
WALLACE: Canada is also the only western nation that has had no bank bailouts. Your banks tend to hold on to mortgages. They don't then send them — sell them to other investors. You have strong, activist regulation.
Is the Obama administration, do you think, right now to get more involved in policing the financial markets?
HARPER: Well, without getting into detail, I think that the — what I've read of the Obama administration's moves certainly parallel the kind of recommendations we're making at the G20.
Canada, along with India, is co-chairing the G20's working group on reform of financial regulations. And broadly speaking, what we are suggesting certainly is in line with where the American administration is going.
This is a problem that absolutely has to be fixed. We have to fix the mess in the American and global financial sector. We cannot have recovery until we fix that.
And we've got to have good systems of national regulation with some kind of — with some kind of international peer review in the long term. That's our judgment. I think it's moving in the right direction, but obviously that's a domestic debate.
WALLACE: Now, you're a conservative. A lot of conservatives in this country say if you get the government too involved, you squeeze out all the innovation, all of the risk-taking, that is so important to a free market system.
HARPER: Well, and that — that's a risk. And you know, I think we have got a pretty decent balance in Canada where we have good macro prudential regulation but we don't try and micro manage financial systems.
But I — I would say this as a conservative, if I — if I can be frank. It's great to say, "Let's have less regulation in principle and less intervention in the marketplace," but where has that led us, Chris, in many countries?
It's led us to a situation where the government is, in fact, intervening massively as a consequence of under regulation, and where we now have, effectively, in many countries, nationalization of the financial system.
I know in Canada there have been some criticisms in the past that we were perhaps too activist, intervening too much, but we're emerging from this with probably the only truly free market financial system in the world.
So I think, you know, a happy medium of regulation is the way to go.
WALLACE: As you head to the G20 summit this week, there has been quite a dispute with President Obama urging some of our European allies, and their disagreeing, especially France and Germany, to pass big stimulus packages of their own. Canada has passed a stimulus package.
HARPER: Right.
WALLACE: But for our European allies to pass those kinds of packages to help draw the entire world economy out of recession. What do you expect from the G20 on that front?
HARPER: Well, look. I'm hoping very strongly that, first of all, the G20 meetings will be focused on fixing today's financial problems. I think that's really important we don't get distracted by a whole lot of other issues. And I also hope there'll be some consensus.
Now, my negotiators, the people working on these various summit declarations, tell me there's a lot less difference of opinion than you would — than you would understand in the media, that everybody understands that we have got to fix the financial system if we're going to turn the corner on the global economy.
And I do hope also that all countries will understand the necessity of doing at least what the IMF has said, which is 2 percent fiscal stimulus, and not just for our own economies. We have to remember we're in a global economy.
The purpose of fiscal stimulus is not simply to sustain activity in our national economies, but to help the global economy as well, and that's why it's so critical that measures in those packages avoid anything that smacks of protectionism.
WALLACE: I've got a couple of minutes left. I've got two questions I want to ask you. First of all, on autos, President Obama will announce plans tomorrow to give more money to G.M. and Chrysler but along with strict deadlines on concessions from both the auto workers and also the bond holders.
You've given bailouts to G.M. and Chrysler in Canada. How confident are you that these — that, one, we can, and, two, we should keep these two companies out of bankruptcy?
HARPER: Well, let me be clear that we're engaged in this exercise because the United States is. If we're not — it's an integrated industry. If we don't do our share north of the border, the industry will simply shift out of Canada, and it's too important an industry to have collapse in Canada as it is in the United States.
We're working very closely with the Obama administration on this. Everything I have seen indicates that the Obama administration is determined to impose the tough conditions necessary to make this bailout work — in other words, to make sure that at the end of it we have viable companies.
The last thing we want to do in Canada, I'm sure the last thing the United States wants to do is do, is do a bailout that fails in any case. If we're going to put taxpayer money in this, we have to make sure it works. And I think given the scope of this — size of this industry, we have no choice.
WALLACE: Finally, briefly, if I may, sir, candidate Obama talked a lot last year about reopening NAFTA, renegotiating our trade agreements. Now that he is President Obama, has there been any serious move in that direction?
HARPER: Well, what President Obama said to me is he's concerned about the labor and environmental aspects. Those were side agreements in the original NAFTA agreement. He'd like to see ways that those are more comprehensively incorporated into the main body of NAFTA.
We're not close (ph) to doing that, provided we don't open the whole package, because I think it would be hard to ever put — ever get the cat back in the bag if we tried to renegotiate the thing.
WALLACE: Prime Minister Harper, thank you. Thank you for coming in and talking with us, and safe travels, sir, to the G20 summit.
HARPER: Appreciate it.
WALLACE: Pleasure to talk to you.
HARPER: Thanks for having me, Chris.
Fox in the lead again
Once again Fox news beats the combined ratings of CNN and MSNBC. They report we decide.
Fox remains on a mountain above its two closest competitors, with its prime-time audience in March more than that of MSNBC and CNN combined. "The O'Reilly Factor" has done particularly well, keeping more of its postelection audience than anything else on CNN and MSNBC.
Fox remains on a mountain above its two closest competitors, with its prime-time audience in March more than that of MSNBC and CNN combined. "The O'Reilly Factor" has done particularly well, keeping more of its postelection audience than anything else on CNN and MSNBC.
HM PM interviewed by NP's Sheldon Alberts
HM PM Harper has been very busy today. Here is yet another impressive interview.
Transcript: Sheldon Alberts interviews Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Posted: March 29, 2009, 2:52 PM by Scott Maniquet
WASHINGTON -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper leaves for Europe on Tuesday for the Group of 20 leaders meeting on the global economic crisis, where he will press for nations to spend up to two per cent of their GDPs on fiscal stimulus packages. Later in the week, he’ll attend the NATO summit.
Ahead of the two summits, Harper spoke Sunday with Canwest News Washington correspondent Sheldon Alberts at a suite in Washington’s Willard-Intercontinental Hotel. Among the topics, Harper’s reaction to the new U.S. strategy on Afghanistan, whether Defence Minister Peter MacKay should be NATO’s new secretary general, and auto industry bailouts.
Following is a transcript of that conversation:
Transcript: Sheldon Alberts interviews Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Posted: March 29, 2009, 2:52 PM by Scott Maniquet
WASHINGTON -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper leaves for Europe on Tuesday for the Group of 20 leaders meeting on the global economic crisis, where he will press for nations to spend up to two per cent of their GDPs on fiscal stimulus packages. Later in the week, he’ll attend the NATO summit.
Ahead of the two summits, Harper spoke Sunday with Canwest News Washington correspondent Sheldon Alberts at a suite in Washington’s Willard-Intercontinental Hotel. Among the topics, Harper’s reaction to the new U.S. strategy on Afghanistan, whether Defence Minister Peter MacKay should be NATO’s new secretary general, and auto industry bailouts.
Following is a transcript of that conversation:
Sunday, March 29, 2009
God Bless Bishop Nazir-Ali
The Lord Bishop of Rochester Nazir Ali has decided to resigna nd minister to persecuted Christians in Muslim countries. He is a brave man. . Though I would have perferred that he become Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, he is obviously called by God to do this important work. May God Bless and protect him in his new task
Bishop of Rochester resigns to become defender of persecuted Christians
The Bishop of Rochester has surprised the Church of England by announcing that he will stand down this year to become a defender of persecuted Christians.
By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 5:54PM BST 29 Mar 2009
The Rev Michael Nazir-Ali has resigned from his post as the Bishop of Rochester. Photo: CHRISTOPHER PLEDGER
Dr Michael Nazir-Ali is only 59 and could have stayed for another decade in his post, one of the most senior in the Church, but has chosen instead to devote the rest of his career to working in communities where Christians are in a minority.
While this is likely to see him involved in the Middle East and Pakistan, the bishop revealed that he also plans to work with Muslim converts to Christianity in Britain.
He said he has been inspired by the story of Hannah Shah, an Imam's daughter who faced being killed by her family for refusing an arranged marriage before becoming a Christian.
Bishop of Rochester resigns to become defender of persecuted Christians
The Bishop of Rochester has surprised the Church of England by announcing that he will stand down this year to become a defender of persecuted Christians.
By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 5:54PM BST 29 Mar 2009
The Rev Michael Nazir-Ali has resigned from his post as the Bishop of Rochester. Photo: CHRISTOPHER PLEDGER
Dr Michael Nazir-Ali is only 59 and could have stayed for another decade in his post, one of the most senior in the Church, but has chosen instead to devote the rest of his career to working in communities where Christians are in a minority.
While this is likely to see him involved in the Middle East and Pakistan, the bishop revealed that he also plans to work with Muslim converts to Christianity in Britain.
He said he has been inspired by the story of Hannah Shah, an Imam's daughter who faced being killed by her family for refusing an arranged marriage before becoming a Christian.
The Pope on condoms
Condoms have a failure rate of anywhere from 5-18%. I do encourage people to use condoms, but there is evidence that this is not really a solution to the problem of the spread of HIV. ndeed this researcher thinks the Pope is right.
Guess who says pope was right about condoms, AIDS
Harvard scientist: Those mocking pontiff's stand are wrong
Posted: March 23, 2009
By Drew Zahn
© 2009 WorldNetDaily
A senior Harvard research scientist confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI, who endured heavy criticism for declaring that condom distribution programs worsen the AIDS epidemic in Africa, was actually correct.
Dr. Edward C. Green, director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, told National Review Online last week that despite AIDS activists and media outlets pounding the pope for downplaying the effectiveness of condoms, the science actually supports the Catholic leader's claim.
"The pope is correct," Green told NRO, "or put it a better way, the best evidence we have supports the pope's comments."
"There is," Green added, "a consistent association shown by our best studies, including the U.S.-funded 'Demographic Health Surveys,' between greater availability and use of condoms and higher (not lower) HIV-infection rates. This may be due in part to a phenomenon known as risk compensation, meaning that when one uses a risk-reduction 'technology' such as condoms, one often loses the benefit (reduction in risk) by 'compensating' or taking greater chances than one would take without the risk-reduction technology."
Aboard a plane traveling to Yaounde, Cameroon, last week, a French reporter told Benedict that the Catholic approach to combating AIDS – encouraging monogamy within marriage and abstinence before – was often considered unrealistic and ineffective.
Guess who says pope was right about condoms, AIDS
Harvard scientist: Those mocking pontiff's stand are wrong
Posted: March 23, 2009
By Drew Zahn
© 2009 WorldNetDaily
A senior Harvard research scientist confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI, who endured heavy criticism for declaring that condom distribution programs worsen the AIDS epidemic in Africa, was actually correct.
Dr. Edward C. Green, director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, told National Review Online last week that despite AIDS activists and media outlets pounding the pope for downplaying the effectiveness of condoms, the science actually supports the Catholic leader's claim.
"The pope is correct," Green told NRO, "or put it a better way, the best evidence we have supports the pope's comments."
"There is," Green added, "a consistent association shown by our best studies, including the U.S.-funded 'Demographic Health Surveys,' between greater availability and use of condoms and higher (not lower) HIV-infection rates. This may be due in part to a phenomenon known as risk compensation, meaning that when one uses a risk-reduction 'technology' such as condoms, one often loses the benefit (reduction in risk) by 'compensating' or taking greater chances than one would take without the risk-reduction technology."
Aboard a plane traveling to Yaounde, Cameroon, last week, a French reporter told Benedict that the Catholic approach to combating AIDS – encouraging monogamy within marriage and abstinence before – was often considered unrealistic and ineffective.
HM PM Harper on Question Period
Uber liberal craig oliver interviews HM PM. Even oliver says HM PM seems relaxed and at ease. See the video here.
oliver questions HM Pm on Afghanistan and the economy. HM PM once again showed he was a true free trader. Once again HM PM is very impressive. craig was his usual unfriendly to conservatives self. I think HM PM did a very good job. This should also partly silence the liberals and their media outlets who say HM Pm should have given an interview in Canada and not the US, but given their complete bias it won't.
oliver questions HM Pm on Afghanistan and the economy. HM PM once again showed he was a true free trader. Once again HM PM is very impressive. craig was his usual unfriendly to conservatives self. I think HM PM did a very good job. This should also partly silence the liberals and their media outlets who say HM Pm should have given an interview in Canada and not the US, but given their complete bias it won't.
Blackbird
I recently saw the Canstage production of Blackbird. This was not a play I particularly enjoyed it had elements of pedophilia and vulgar language which were jarring to my ear. The play was supposed to be thought producing. It is essentially the story of two people who met years before and couldn't forget each other. The acting was also not great. Some disagree with me.Thankfully the performances only lasted 75 minutes.
Earth Hour
I turn off the lights in rooms of my home, that I am not using and minimize power consumption. It is a habit I picked up from my parents. Yesterday I turned on as many lights as possible. Earth hour is a useless sham. Lawrence Soloman agrees. Being frugal is a good idea. Suffering is not a good idea.
Lawrence Solomon: Vampire hour
Posted: March 28, 2009, 1:42 AM by NP Editor
Lawrence Solomon, Earth Hour, environmentalism, Energy Probe, energy conservation, electricity conservation, Direct Energy, vampire electronics, Greenpeace, WWF, standby energy, standy powerThe every-little-bit-counts crowd behind Earth Hour doesn’t understand the bigger human picture
By Lawrence Solomon
In the 1970s, when environmentalists like me first began to make headway in touting the benefits of energy conservation (or energy efficiency, as it was also known), our adversaries in the energy industries countered with accusations that conservation meant “freezing in the dark.” We won the debate by showing that energy efficiency improvements didn’t mean hardship, that improved insulation in buildings, computer controls on industrial processes and electricity meters that gave consumers superior information would not only economically replace the need for energy production but also improve the quality of life.
Lawrence Solomon: Vampire hour
Posted: March 28, 2009, 1:42 AM by NP Editor
Lawrence Solomon, Earth Hour, environmentalism, Energy Probe, energy conservation, electricity conservation, Direct Energy, vampire electronics, Greenpeace, WWF, standby energy, standy powerThe every-little-bit-counts crowd behind Earth Hour doesn’t understand the bigger human picture
By Lawrence Solomon
In the 1970s, when environmentalists like me first began to make headway in touting the benefits of energy conservation (or energy efficiency, as it was also known), our adversaries in the energy industries countered with accusations that conservation meant “freezing in the dark.” We won the debate by showing that energy efficiency improvements didn’t mean hardship, that improved insulation in buildings, computer controls on industrial processes and electricity meters that gave consumers superior information would not only economically replace the need for energy production but also improve the quality of life.
Very Impressive
I have been watching HM PM Stephen Harper on Fox News Sunday. He was very impressive. He held his own with Chris Wallace. He repeatedly said he was a conservative. He avoided criticizing obamessiah, but did talk about the differences between the US and Canada. Canada will have the lowest taxes in the G8 by 2012. We will ahve the freest financial system in the G8 at the end of this. That's a very good thing. I will post the video as soon as I get it.
obamessiah and violating the Constitution
obamessiah and the dems see to think the constitution is a needless inconvenience. Recently harry reid and barney frank attacking members of The US Supreme Court, the only branch of the US government that is now interested in the
US constituition. The new law on the AIG bonuses is probablyly unconstitutional. Common law and the US constitution forbid retroactively changing contracts.
George Will has more.
Bailing Out of the Constitution
By George F. Will
Sunday, March 29, 2009; Page A15
It is high time Americans heard an argument that might turn a vague national uneasiness into a vivid awareness of something going very wrong. The argument is that the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) is unconstitutional.
By enacting it, Congress did not in any meaningful sense make a law. Rather, it made executive branch officials into legislators. Congress said to the executive branch, in effect: "Here is $700 billion. You say you will use some of it to buy up banks' 'troubled assets.' But if you prefer to do anything else with the money -- even, say, subsidize automobile companies -- well, whatever."
FreedomWorks, a Washington-based libertarian advocacy organization, argues that EESA violates "the nondelegation doctrine." Although the text does not spell it out, the Constitution's logic and structure -- particularly the separation of powers -- imply limits on the size and kind of discretion that Congress may confer on the executive branch.
US constituition. The new law on the AIG bonuses is probablyly unconstitutional. Common law and the US constitution forbid retroactively changing contracts.
George Will has more.
Bailing Out of the Constitution
By George F. Will
Sunday, March 29, 2009; Page A15
It is high time Americans heard an argument that might turn a vague national uneasiness into a vivid awareness of something going very wrong. The argument is that the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) is unconstitutional.
By enacting it, Congress did not in any meaningful sense make a law. Rather, it made executive branch officials into legislators. Congress said to the executive branch, in effect: "Here is $700 billion. You say you will use some of it to buy up banks' 'troubled assets.' But if you prefer to do anything else with the money -- even, say, subsidize automobile companies -- well, whatever."
FreedomWorks, a Washington-based libertarian advocacy organization, argues that EESA violates "the nondelegation doctrine." Although the text does not spell it out, the Constitution's logic and structure -- particularly the separation of powers -- imply limits on the size and kind of discretion that Congress may confer on the executive branch.
A night at the MSO
i attended an interesting MSO concert last week.
The first piece featured two Inuit throat singers. I usually hate modern classical music, but this wasn't bad. This is a very traditional Inuit art form. The work was commisioned by Maestro Nagano for a Northern Tour a few years ago.
THe second piece was a Mozert concerto played by the great Emmanuel Ax and finally the amazing Brahms third symphony.
The OSM and Maestro Nagano were in fine form.
Grand Concerts:
Kent Nagano and Brahms’s Third
Kent Nagano here conducts one of the best loved and most performed symphonies in the
repertoire, Johannes Brahms’s Third. Hans Richter, who led the premiere with the Vienna
Philharmonic, endowed it with the nickname “Eroica” through association with Beethoven’s
Third, which esthetically Brahms’s is close to. Contemporary critic Eduard Hanslick declared
the Third to be “the most nearly perfect” of the Brahms symphonies. The theme from the
third movement was used in the Anatole Litvak movie Aimez-vous Brahms?, and has also been
taken up by Serge Gainsbourg and Carlos Santana.
Well-known to audiences since he won first prize at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano
Competition in 1974 and the Avery Fischer Prize in 1979, Emanuel Ax is renowned for his
poetic temperament, his sterling technique and his versatility. In 2005-2006, Mr. Ax was
appointed pianist in residence with the Berlin Philharmonic and appeared in many concerts
with the orchestra, both in Berlin and on tour. A friend of long standing of the OSM’s, he
joined the Orchestra for a tour of the U.S. and Asia in 1989. This time he will be playing the
Concerto No. 25, K. 503 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, finished at the same time as the
“Prague” Symphony (they had their premieres at the same concert), a grand and superb score
that makes good use of counterpoint.
Also on the program is Take the Dog Sled, a work for small ensemble and Inuit throat singing
by Alexina Louie, recipient of several awards, including a Juno, that had its premiere
during the tour by OSM musicians to Nunavik last September. The strategies of the throat-
singing game are many and reflect a degree of competition. One of the singers, assuming the
role of leader, adds a new element, to which her partner must respond. The one who breaks
the pattern first is the loser, which generally causes the competitors to burst out laughing.
Evie Mark and Taqralik Partridge will be the performers, along with a number of OSM
musicians.
Kent Nagano, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Evie Mark, inuit guttural singer
Taqralik Partridge, inuit guttural singer
Alexina Louie, Take the Dog Sled
Composition for small ensemble and inuit guttural singers (OSM commission)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 25, K. 503
Johannes Brahms, Symphony No. 3
Throat singing
Emmanuel Ax plays
The first piece featured two Inuit throat singers. I usually hate modern classical music, but this wasn't bad. This is a very traditional Inuit art form. The work was commisioned by Maestro Nagano for a Northern Tour a few years ago.
THe second piece was a Mozert concerto played by the great Emmanuel Ax and finally the amazing Brahms third symphony.
The OSM and Maestro Nagano were in fine form.
Grand Concerts:
Kent Nagano and Brahms’s Third
Kent Nagano here conducts one of the best loved and most performed symphonies in the
repertoire, Johannes Brahms’s Third. Hans Richter, who led the premiere with the Vienna
Philharmonic, endowed it with the nickname “Eroica” through association with Beethoven’s
Third, which esthetically Brahms’s is close to. Contemporary critic Eduard Hanslick declared
the Third to be “the most nearly perfect” of the Brahms symphonies. The theme from the
third movement was used in the Anatole Litvak movie Aimez-vous Brahms?, and has also been
taken up by Serge Gainsbourg and Carlos Santana.
Well-known to audiences since he won first prize at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano
Competition in 1974 and the Avery Fischer Prize in 1979, Emanuel Ax is renowned for his
poetic temperament, his sterling technique and his versatility. In 2005-2006, Mr. Ax was
appointed pianist in residence with the Berlin Philharmonic and appeared in many concerts
with the orchestra, both in Berlin and on tour. A friend of long standing of the OSM’s, he
joined the Orchestra for a tour of the U.S. and Asia in 1989. This time he will be playing the
Concerto No. 25, K. 503 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, finished at the same time as the
“Prague” Symphony (they had their premieres at the same concert), a grand and superb score
that makes good use of counterpoint.
Also on the program is Take the Dog Sled, a work for small ensemble and Inuit throat singing
by Alexina Louie, recipient of several awards, including a Juno, that had its premiere
during the tour by OSM musicians to Nunavik last September. The strategies of the throat-
singing game are many and reflect a degree of competition. One of the singers, assuming the
role of leader, adds a new element, to which her partner must respond. The one who breaks
the pattern first is the loser, which generally causes the competitors to burst out laughing.
Evie Mark and Taqralik Partridge will be the performers, along with a number of OSM
musicians.
Kent Nagano, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Evie Mark, inuit guttural singer
Taqralik Partridge, inuit guttural singer
Alexina Louie, Take the Dog Sled
Composition for small ensemble and inuit guttural singers (OSM commission)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 25, K. 503
Johannes Brahms, Symphony No. 3
Throat singing
Emmanuel Ax plays
Saturday, March 28, 2009
CBC on the CBC
The House has some interesting interviews with Perrin Beatty, former CEO of the CBC and HM Minister of Heritage James Moore. In the latter clip one of the experts urges total deregulation of the broadcast industry. I agree get rid of the CRTC and sell off the CBC! Derugulation could help the private broadcasters that people actually watch. I also think think this, as proposed by several Tory MPs, is a good idea.
Lord Black on George Galloway
Lord Black thing HM Government should allow galloway to come to Canada for the entertainment value.
Conrad Black: The magnificent absurdity of George Galloway
Posted: March 28, 2009, 12:00 AM by NP Editor
Conrad Black, Full Comment
Jason Kenney is an excellent minister and MP. And I fully share his view that Canadians would happily be spared a visit from the egregious George Galloway. Yet I urge Jason Kenney not to deny Canadians the entertainment a Galloway visit would give them.
Rex kind of agrees.
Conrad Black: The magnificent absurdity of George Galloway
Posted: March 28, 2009, 12:00 AM by NP Editor
Conrad Black, Full Comment
Jason Kenney is an excellent minister and MP. And I fully share his view that Canadians would happily be spared a visit from the egregious George Galloway. Yet I urge Jason Kenney not to deny Canadians the entertainment a Galloway visit would give them.
Rex kind of agrees.
HM PM John Howard
I got to meet HM PM John Howard a few weeks ago. Here is a video of an interview they did with him at that time. He talks about the economy and foreign affairs. As I said before HMPM John Howard is a principled conservative, who should be an example to politicians throughout the Anglosphere and the world.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 1
Part 2
Salim Mansur on Gaza
I have always found it odd that many years later the Palestinians' Arab "brothers" have done nothing to resettle their" brothers". It is mostly the west that send money to the Palestinians. the Palestinians have been pawns for their Arab siblings.
Gaza is not exceptional in terms of poverty and despair. The conditions in places such as Darfur and the flood-afflicted areas of Bangladesh are similar, if not poorer, than what is found in Gaza.
But what makes Gaza stand apart is the Arab-Israeli conflict, and how this conflict makes demands on western governments for diplomatic and material assistance for Gazans.
The Gaza narrative of this conflict is rather simple. Israel blockades the territory, which has a population of 1.5 million squeezed into an area half the size of Toronto, and Palestinian resistance spirals into an asymmetrical conflict.
There is another narrative that rarely gets into print in the mainstream media. Nonie Darwish's rare personal account of Gaza as "an Arab-made misery," recently published in the Wall Street Journal, offers this other perspective.
Ms. Darwish was raised in Gaza in the early 1950s when the area was occupied by Egypt. Her father, Col. Mustafa Hafez, was the intelligence commander in Gaza sent there by Egypt's dictator, Col. Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Hafez's responsibility was recruiting volunteers from among Gaza residents and Palestinian refugees for the "fedayeen" (those willing to self-sacrifice) operations against Israel. He was killed in an Israeli retaliation in July 1956.
Following the UN partitioning of Palestine in 1947 and the first Arab-Israeli war of 1948, Gaza was turned into the staging ground of terrorist operations against the Jewish state by Egypt, and it has returned to being the same since Israeli withdrawal in August 2005.
Gaza is not exceptional in terms of poverty and despair. The conditions in places such as Darfur and the flood-afflicted areas of Bangladesh are similar, if not poorer, than what is found in Gaza.
But what makes Gaza stand apart is the Arab-Israeli conflict, and how this conflict makes demands on western governments for diplomatic and material assistance for Gazans.
The Gaza narrative of this conflict is rather simple. Israel blockades the territory, which has a population of 1.5 million squeezed into an area half the size of Toronto, and Palestinian resistance spirals into an asymmetrical conflict.
There is another narrative that rarely gets into print in the mainstream media. Nonie Darwish's rare personal account of Gaza as "an Arab-made misery," recently published in the Wall Street Journal, offers this other perspective.
Ms. Darwish was raised in Gaza in the early 1950s when the area was occupied by Egypt. Her father, Col. Mustafa Hafez, was the intelligence commander in Gaza sent there by Egypt's dictator, Col. Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Hafez's responsibility was recruiting volunteers from among Gaza residents and Palestinian refugees for the "fedayeen" (those willing to self-sacrifice) operations against Israel. He was killed in an Israeli retaliation in July 1956.
Following the UN partitioning of Palestine in 1947 and the first Arab-Israeli war of 1948, Gaza was turned into the staging ground of terrorist operations against the Jewish state by Egypt, and it has returned to being the same since Israeli withdrawal in August 2005.
HM Minister Jason Kenney and multiculturalism
I think HM Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason is a super hero. His work in the last few weeks in particular has been stellar. As a so called ethnic Canadian , who has always resented trudeau's liberal , toxic multiculturalism ( which was a completely cynical attempt to buy votes), I welcome a reworking of this ghettoizing policy. His encyclopedic knowledge of diverse religions and cultures shows that unlike grit politicians, Jason truly respects people. I have complete confidence in Jason's ability to deal with these complex issues and he has the confidence of HM PM. I am waiting for jason to leap a tall building in a single bound.
For a country with the highest average per capita immigration rate on the planet - roughly 250,000 new residents arrive yearly from nearly every region and creed - maintaining such philosophical hygiene will take great energy, audacity and support from within Canada's ethnic communities, where immigration reform is personal. It will take, also, someone able to absorb repeated accusations of racism or xenophobia, which are already flying Mr. Kenney's way. When he advocated to the Calgary Herald recently a limited federal role in promoting multiculturalism - "I think it's really neat that a fifth-generation Ukrainian Canadian can speak Ukrainian - but pay for it yourself," he said - Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj complained the minister was jettisoning sacred tenets. "He's the minister in charge and he fundamentally disagrees with the intent of the [Multiculturalism Act] legislation that supports his portfolio," Mr. Wrzesnewskyj says. Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis this week called Mr. Kenney "intolerant" for raising the issue of enhanced language requirements. The Arab Federation has painted him a Zionist lackey.
But there are those, many of them within Canada's ethnic pockets, who support such a muscular approach.
For a country with the highest average per capita immigration rate on the planet - roughly 250,000 new residents arrive yearly from nearly every region and creed - maintaining such philosophical hygiene will take great energy, audacity and support from within Canada's ethnic communities, where immigration reform is personal. It will take, also, someone able to absorb repeated accusations of racism or xenophobia, which are already flying Mr. Kenney's way. When he advocated to the Calgary Herald recently a limited federal role in promoting multiculturalism - "I think it's really neat that a fifth-generation Ukrainian Canadian can speak Ukrainian - but pay for it yourself," he said - Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj complained the minister was jettisoning sacred tenets. "He's the minister in charge and he fundamentally disagrees with the intent of the [Multiculturalism Act] legislation that supports his portfolio," Mr. Wrzesnewskyj says. Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis this week called Mr. Kenney "intolerant" for raising the issue of enhanced language requirements. The Arab Federation has painted him a Zionist lackey.
But there are those, many of them within Canada's ethnic pockets, who support such a muscular approach.
Hannity interviews Hannan
Daniel Hannan was an obamacon, don't think he is any longer. Hannan's rant has struck a nerve all over the world. Sean's interview with Daniel Hannan here. I hope our politicians are watching as well!
Racism
Its Ok to be racist or bigoted as long as you attack white people or Jews or Christians.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has criticized the European Union and the US for tariffs on products from developing countries and has advocated a bigger say for developing countries in decisions on the world economy, pointed a finger to Western bankers.
"This crisis was caused by the irrational behavior of white people with blue eyes, who thought they knew everything and now show they know nothing," Lula da Silva said after a meeting with the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the country's capital of Brasilia.
Lula da Silva's comments were widely reported in the press and drew charges of racism from message boards and CNBC viewers.
When challenged about his claims, Lula said: "I only record what I see in the press. I am not acquainted with a single black banker," according the Guardian newspaper.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has criticized the European Union and the US for tariffs on products from developing countries and has advocated a bigger say for developing countries in decisions on the world economy, pointed a finger to Western bankers.
"This crisis was caused by the irrational behavior of white people with blue eyes, who thought they knew everything and now show they know nothing," Lula da Silva said after a meeting with the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the country's capital of Brasilia.
Lula da Silva's comments were widely reported in the press and drew charges of racism from message boards and CNBC viewers.
When challenged about his claims, Lula said: "I only record what I see in the press. I am not acquainted with a single black banker," according the Guardian newspaper.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Brittany McComb to appeal to SCOTUS
I have been following this story since 2006. her case against the school board was dismissed by the very left wing Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals( they don't call it the ninth circus for nothing). She will appeal. I hope she wins.
The Rutherford Institute says it will now ask the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that school officials violated McComb's constitutional rights.
"This is a very important free-speech case that will affect the rights of all persons across America," states John Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, in a press release. "If government officials can extinguish speech by turning off microphones at public assemblies, then none of us will have any rights."
He argues that McComb's case is another example of a "politically correct culture" that silences Christians in order not to offend those of other beliefs.
"Brittany McComb worked hard to earn the right to address her classmates as valedictorian," Whitehead says on his firm's website, "and she has a constitutional right -- like any other student -- to freely speak about the factors that contributed to her success, whether they be a supportive family, friends, or her faith in Jesus Christ."
Brittany McComb was one of three valedictorians chosen to deliver a speech at the June 2006 commencement ceremony at Foothill High School. She is currently studying at Oxford University.
The Rutherford Institute says it will now ask the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that school officials violated McComb's constitutional rights.
"This is a very important free-speech case that will affect the rights of all persons across America," states John Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, in a press release. "If government officials can extinguish speech by turning off microphones at public assemblies, then none of us will have any rights."
He argues that McComb's case is another example of a "politically correct culture" that silences Christians in order not to offend those of other beliefs.
"Brittany McComb worked hard to earn the right to address her classmates as valedictorian," Whitehead says on his firm's website, "and she has a constitutional right -- like any other student -- to freely speak about the factors that contributed to her success, whether they be a supportive family, friends, or her faith in Jesus Christ."
Brittany McComb was one of three valedictorians chosen to deliver a speech at the June 2006 commencement ceremony at Foothill High School. She is currently studying at Oxford University.
David Frum on environmentostalinism
I have been unhappy of late on Frum's attacks on some on the right, but I do agree with him here.
Wind, solar, and geothermal, by contrast, are the most expensive alternatives to coal. A kilowatt of power from such renewables typically costs about ten times as much as a kilowatt from coal — and more than six times as much as a kilowatt from nuclear or hydropower.
Alternative energy promoters, including former vice president Al Gore, promise that these prices will decline if only the government subsidizes the necessary technological innovation. Those promises have not come true over the past three decades, and it’s extremely unlikely that they ever will.
The price of solar panels and wind turbines could fall to zero, and sun and wind power still could not compete in an unsubsidized marketplace, for three main reasons:
1) Unlike coal and nuclear plants, which can be sited near the point of energy consumption, the winds blow strongest and the sun shines brightest hundreds of miles from major energy markets. Renewable power would have to flow hundreds and thousands of miles to users. The cost of building a transmission system to move that power would be enormous—and is not susceptible to economies of scale.
2) Unlike coal, nuclear and hydro, which can generate huge quantities of electricity in a relatively small space, wind farms and solar facilities require enormous amounts of land—and vast networks of interconnecting wire. The land has to be bought or leased, the wires have to be strung and maintained. While technology costs tend to decline, the costs of land and labor do not.
3) Unlike coal and nuclear, which can be ignited at will, the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow. Since power cannot be stored in any significant quantity, a system based on sun and wind will require elaborate backup systems that are costly to build and operate.
Wind, solar, and geothermal, by contrast, are the most expensive alternatives to coal. A kilowatt of power from such renewables typically costs about ten times as much as a kilowatt from coal — and more than six times as much as a kilowatt from nuclear or hydropower.
Alternative energy promoters, including former vice president Al Gore, promise that these prices will decline if only the government subsidizes the necessary technological innovation. Those promises have not come true over the past three decades, and it’s extremely unlikely that they ever will.
The price of solar panels and wind turbines could fall to zero, and sun and wind power still could not compete in an unsubsidized marketplace, for three main reasons:
1) Unlike coal and nuclear plants, which can be sited near the point of energy consumption, the winds blow strongest and the sun shines brightest hundreds of miles from major energy markets. Renewable power would have to flow hundreds and thousands of miles to users. The cost of building a transmission system to move that power would be enormous—and is not susceptible to economies of scale.
2) Unlike coal, nuclear and hydro, which can generate huge quantities of electricity in a relatively small space, wind farms and solar facilities require enormous amounts of land—and vast networks of interconnecting wire. The land has to be bought or leased, the wires have to be strung and maintained. While technology costs tend to decline, the costs of land and labor do not.
3) Unlike coal and nuclear, which can be ignited at will, the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow. Since power cannot be stored in any significant quantity, a system based on sun and wind will require elaborate backup systems that are costly to build and operate.
Pretty ridiculous
They call this a fact finding trip. They claim they didn't look. Just like Bill Clinton didn't inhale.
I don't particularly care that they went a strip club, its just the sanctimoniousness of calling it government work. Did they expense this?
Toronto councillors tour strip club
DALE BRAZAO/TORONTO STAR
From left, Cesar Palacio, Frank Di Giorgio and Giorgio Mammoliti leave House of Lancaster on March 26, 2009.
Mar 27, 2009 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (78)
VANESSA LU
DAVID BRUSER
CITY HALL BUREAU
With bass-thumping techno music blasting away and a naked woman on stage, three city councillors walked into a dark Etobicoke strip club yesterday, took a tour and sat near the stage for lunch.
On a break from a community council meeting, Councillors Frank Di Giorgio, Giorgio Mammoliti and Cesar Palacio took an "industry facility tour" at the invitation of the Adult Entertainment Association of Canada, a group representing many of the city's 21 strip clubs.
"I think we made constructive use of our lunchtime," Di Giorgio said. "We basically came over to see what the facility was like – what kind of facilities they have for the girls that work in there, whether everything was clean, whether they had space to store their materials.>Toronto councillors tour strip club
DALE BRAZAO/TORONTO STAR
From left, Cesar Palacio, Frank Di Giorgio and Giorgio Mammoliti leave House of Lancaster on March 26, 2009.
Mar 27, 2009 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (78)
VANESSA LU
DAVID BRUSER
CITY HALL BUREAU
With bass-thumping techno music blasting away and a naked woman on stage, three city councillors walked into a dark Etobicoke strip club yesterday, took a tour and sat near the stage for lunch.
On a break from a community council meeting, Councillors Frank Di Giorgio, Giorgio Mammoliti and Cesar Palacio took an "industry facility tour" at the invitation of the Adult Entertainment Association of Canada, a group representing many of the city's 21 strip clubs.
"I think we made constructive use of our lunchtime," Di Giorgio said. "We basically came over to see what the facility was like – what kind of facilities they have for the girls that work in there, whether everything was clean, whether they had space to store their materials.
I don't particularly care that they went a strip club, its just the sanctimoniousness of calling it government work. Did they expense this?
Toronto councillors tour strip club
DALE BRAZAO/TORONTO STAR
From left, Cesar Palacio, Frank Di Giorgio and Giorgio Mammoliti leave House of Lancaster on March 26, 2009.
Mar 27, 2009 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (78)
VANESSA LU
DAVID BRUSER
CITY HALL BUREAU
With bass-thumping techno music blasting away and a naked woman on stage, three city councillors walked into a dark Etobicoke strip club yesterday, took a tour and sat near the stage for lunch.
On a break from a community council meeting, Councillors Frank Di Giorgio, Giorgio Mammoliti and Cesar Palacio took an "industry facility tour" at the invitation of the Adult Entertainment Association of Canada, a group representing many of the city's 21 strip clubs.
"I think we made constructive use of our lunchtime," Di Giorgio said. "We basically came over to see what the facility was like – what kind of facilities they have for the girls that work in there, whether everything was clean, whether they had space to store their materials.>Toronto councillors tour strip club
DALE BRAZAO/TORONTO STAR
From left, Cesar Palacio, Frank Di Giorgio and Giorgio Mammoliti leave House of Lancaster on March 26, 2009.
Mar 27, 2009 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (78)
VANESSA LU
DAVID BRUSER
CITY HALL BUREAU
With bass-thumping techno music blasting away and a naked woman on stage, three city councillors walked into a dark Etobicoke strip club yesterday, took a tour and sat near the stage for lunch.
On a break from a community council meeting, Councillors Frank Di Giorgio, Giorgio Mammoliti and Cesar Palacio took an "industry facility tour" at the invitation of the Adult Entertainment Association of Canada, a group representing many of the city's 21 strip clubs.
"I think we made constructive use of our lunchtime," Di Giorgio said. "We basically came over to see what the facility was like – what kind of facilities they have for the girls that work in there, whether everything was clean, whether they had space to store their materials.
mcliar listens to HM Minister of Finance Flaherty?
I am not a fan of dalton and I hate most of his new budget, but he has cut some business and small business taxes. This is what many, including HM Minister of Finance among others have been telling him for months. The cuts are certainly not enough, but they are among the only bright spots I see in this horrible budget.
Sweeping tax cuts would save Ontario businesses $4.5 billion under new budget
Thu Mar 26, 7:24 PM
Kristine Owram, The Canadian Press
TORONTO - Ontario businesses would save $4.5 billion over three years under sweeping corporate tax cuts meant to bolster the province's struggling manufacturing industry and other sectors, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said Thursday.
Duncan said the tax cuts will enhance Ontario's competitiveness with other jurisdictions as the province struggles through a recession that has hit its manufacturing, forestry and mining industries particularly hard.
The business tax reforms are meant to send a signal that "this is a good place to do business and it's going to get better," Duncan said.
"Reform of our tax system will improve this province's competitiveness and set the stage for growth and economic recovery."
The provincial budget will see Ontario cut its corporate income tax rate from the current 14 per cent to 12 per cent by July 1, 2010, then to 10 per cent in 2013.
Sweeping tax cuts would save Ontario businesses $4.5 billion under new budget
Thu Mar 26, 7:24 PM
Kristine Owram, The Canadian Press
TORONTO - Ontario businesses would save $4.5 billion over three years under sweeping corporate tax cuts meant to bolster the province's struggling manufacturing industry and other sectors, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said Thursday.
Duncan said the tax cuts will enhance Ontario's competitiveness with other jurisdictions as the province struggles through a recession that has hit its manufacturing, forestry and mining industries particularly hard.
The business tax reforms are meant to send a signal that "this is a good place to do business and it's going to get better," Duncan said.
"Reform of our tax system will improve this province's competitiveness and set the stage for growth and economic recovery."
The provincial budget will see Ontario cut its corporate income tax rate from the current 14 per cent to 12 per cent by July 1, 2010, then to 10 per cent in 2013.
how long before...
The butcher and his thugs attack Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai speaks the truth. The so called veterans are thieves. The butcher's thugs are still at it.
He is brave man, all at a time when he has suffered a terrible loss. I am still not convinced that the butcher was not responsible for the accident.
Zimbabwe 'to arrest land thieves'
Morgan Tsvangirai has long criticised the land invasions
Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said that anyone invading farms will be arrested - in an apparent challenge to Robert Mugabe.
Mr Tsvangirai said the recent land invasions "are actually acts of theft".
President Mugabe has said that the government would continue to seize white-owned farms as part of his land reform policy.
Veteran opposition leader Mr Tsvangirai joined Mr Mugabe in a power-sharing government last month.
The seizure of white-owned land is one of Mr Mugabe's defining policies but his critics say it has destroyed the economy.
The occupation of farms resumed shortly after the power-sharing government was sworn in, with some accusing hard-line allies of Mr Mugabe of trying to scupper the deal.
Anti Semitism and the leftists MSM
Another article exposing the anti-semitism of many on the left and a lot of their media.
THE MARGINALIZATION OF ISRAELIS BY THE LEFT...
By Michael Burwick
March 27, 2009
...Joseph Goebbels Returns as a Latte-Drinking Upper West Side Liberal; And Why I am a Conservative.
A cartoon recently ran in The New York Times and The Washington Post that depicted a conquistador pushing a large Star of David with teeth on wheels while chasing after a woman holding a child with the word “Gaza” on her Arab garb. Cartoon here.
Are you kidding me? This crap is right out of the Nazi playbook! The history here is simple. Hamas is a terrorist organization. It is responsible for the death of thousands. Americans, Israelis, and greatest in number, other Palestinians whom Hamas terrorists view as compromised. Maybe they support the peace process. Maybe they have spoken out against violence. Maybe they have voiced support for the Palestinian Authority. No matter, Palestinian "moderates" are dead men (and women and children) walking. Why? Because they are more simpatico with the freaking PLO, now operating under a kinder, gentler name, than Hamas!
Hamas controls Gaza. Hamas is opposed to peace with Israel. Hamas targets civilians. Hamas recruits pregnant women and third graders to whom they strap explosives and instruct to walk into Israeli restaurants, bus stations and movie theaters and blow themselves to pieces, hopefully taking as many Jews with them as possible. Hamas is friends with Iran and Syria. Hamas receives a constant supply of weapons -- guns, ammo, rockets - from sponsors with the dough and the means to deliver. Last year alone, Hamas hit Israel civilian centers with more than 1,750 Qassam rockets. This number does not include the Katyusha rockets also fired into civilian populations on a regular basis. The number in 2009 is already in the hundreds and climbing.
THE MARGINALIZATION OF ISRAELIS BY THE LEFT...
By Michael Burwick
March 27, 2009
...Joseph Goebbels Returns as a Latte-Drinking Upper West Side Liberal; And Why I am a Conservative.
A cartoon recently ran in The New York Times and The Washington Post that depicted a conquistador pushing a large Star of David with teeth on wheels while chasing after a woman holding a child with the word “Gaza” on her Arab garb. Cartoon here.
Are you kidding me? This crap is right out of the Nazi playbook! The history here is simple. Hamas is a terrorist organization. It is responsible for the death of thousands. Americans, Israelis, and greatest in number, other Palestinians whom Hamas terrorists view as compromised. Maybe they support the peace process. Maybe they have spoken out against violence. Maybe they have voiced support for the Palestinian Authority. No matter, Palestinian "moderates" are dead men (and women and children) walking. Why? Because they are more simpatico with the freaking PLO, now operating under a kinder, gentler name, than Hamas!
Hamas controls Gaza. Hamas is opposed to peace with Israel. Hamas targets civilians. Hamas recruits pregnant women and third graders to whom they strap explosives and instruct to walk into Israeli restaurants, bus stations and movie theaters and blow themselves to pieces, hopefully taking as many Jews with them as possible. Hamas is friends with Iran and Syria. Hamas receives a constant supply of weapons -- guns, ammo, rockets - from sponsors with the dough and the means to deliver. Last year alone, Hamas hit Israel civilian centers with more than 1,750 Qassam rockets. This number does not include the Katyusha rockets also fired into civilian populations on a regular basis. The number in 2009 is already in the hundreds and climbing.
Charest in freefall
Premier Charest's government's popularity is in free fall. I guess having an early election was a good idea for the Quebec liberals. The PQ is at 50%. That's not good news. The ADQ is at 10% , same as the Tories in recent polls in Quebec.
The sudden appearance of a large budget deficit, the catastrophic results of the Caisse de dépôt et controversial choice of a new president Michael Sabia: Quebeckers have not liked what they saw in Quebec City since the last election.
The Charest government suffered a thawed in both voting intentions as regards the satisfaction of voters.
If elections were held this week, the Liberals would have harvested 33% of the vote against 40% in the Parti Quebecois and 10% for the ADQ, once divided proportionally 20% undecided, CROP observes in its latest survey for La Presse, 12 to 23 March.
For liberals, it is a fall of 10 points compared to the results of elections on 8 December 2008. The PQ climbing it, 5 points, while losing 6 points adéquiste, said the survey of 1000 respondents. A margin of error of 3 percentage points applies.
The sudden appearance of a large budget deficit, the catastrophic results of the Caisse de dépôt et controversial choice of a new president Michael Sabia: Quebeckers have not liked what they saw in Quebec City since the last election.
The Charest government suffered a thawed in both voting intentions as regards the satisfaction of voters.
If elections were held this week, the Liberals would have harvested 33% of the vote against 40% in the Parti Quebecois and 10% for the ADQ, once divided proportionally 20% undecided, CROP observes in its latest survey for La Presse, 12 to 23 March.
For liberals, it is a fall of 10 points compared to the results of elections on 8 December 2008. The PQ climbing it, 5 points, while losing 6 points adéquiste, said the survey of 1000 respondents. A margin of error of 3 percentage points applies.
Breakthrough
This could truly revolutionize medicine. MRI's can be quite useful , but they are slow and this could speed them up and vastly improve their diagnostic power.
Medical scan sensitivity boosted
MRI can be an invaluable aid to diagnosis
A technique using the fuel which powers the space shuttle could make a form of medical scan much more sensitive.
The University of York developers say it has the potential to help doctors make a faster and more accurate diagnosis for many medical conditions.
Medical scan sensitivity boosted
MRI can be an invaluable aid to diagnosis
A technique using the fuel which powers the space shuttle could make a form of medical scan much more sensitive.
The University of York developers say it has the potential to help doctors make a faster and more accurate diagnosis for many medical conditions.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
I love this
I met the guy sitting next to Mr Hannan at the Climate realists conference. MEP Hannan slaps down HM PM Brown very effectively.
Where in the world is iggy?
Iggy the man with no ideas? A great Rick Mercer rant. He also talks about the no policy policy convention.
Ezra Levant and Nigel Hannaford at the Rideau Club
Nigel and Judy Hannaford
Vanessa SchneiderYesterday, I decided to go and see two of my favourite champions of free speech. It was a Fraser Institute event at the Rideau club. It was a great event. I got to have a drink with Ezra before the event and chat a bit with him and Stephen Taylor.
The event was chaired by Vanessa Schneider and I saw many friends , several of whom I had recently seen at the Manning Center Conference. I had a nice chat with Nigel and Judy Hannaford who I met at Civitas last year. Vanessa started off talking about 20 years of student programs at the Fraser. Interestingly the first intern at the Fraser was Ezra!
Nigel and Ezra gave a spirited indictment of the hrc thought police. Nigel and Ezra gave example after example of hrc abuses.
The audience was decidely friendly and Ezra thanked the many people in the room that had helped him in his fight against the hrcs. I won't list the many horror stories cited. You should buy Ezra's book, they are all listed there.
I also got to attend the dinner after the event. It was a lively chat about hrcs, free speech and freedom in general. Nigel seems very optimistic that the hrc in Alberta may be defanged and hopefully there will be a domino effect. Ezra and Nigel think the supreme court will end up redeciding their 4;3 decision and will rule in favour of free speech ( Justice Mclachlin was in dissent on this decision). There may indeed be hope! A truly marvellous evening.
Correction for the London event
A correction to my post from yesterday.
The organizers have corrected the location. I urge you all to go!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A great event in London
Ontario, not the United Kingdom. My friends Salim Mansur, Kathy Shaidle and Ezra Levant will be talking about the HRC's.It's always fascinating to hear from these three and the subject is one that should be important to everyone who loves freedom.
catsmeat and his minions tried to have this event cancelled. Rub it in their faces. Attend in large numbers. I'm sure catsmeat is calling every liberal cabinet minister in the province trying to cancel the event. He failed with the same tactics with Steve Paikin and humiliated himself and the grits. He has launched countless vexacious lawsuits , which I am sure he will lose or drop. I wonder if the Law Society is watching? I wonder how much money he wasted on outing BCF? This is obsession and it is not very healthy. People who care should maybe do an intervention.
obamessiah's press conference
Here is a video of of the press conference. Which I found to pretty dull. I was also amazed about the obamessiah's flippant comments on charity. I like this assessment.
Bill O'Reilly on the teleprompter in chief.
Karl Rove on the press conference
Governor Rendell on the
Dick Morris on the press conference
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Bill O'Reilly on the teleprompter in chief.
Karl Rove on the press conference
Governor Rendell on the
Dick Morris on the press conference
An interesting T Shirt
My friend Gareth Westwood posted this on Facebook. You can get these t shirts here.
Is obamessiah punch drunk?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Gordon Lightfoot
I am a big Gordon Lightfoot fan. I have seen him a number of times in concert . While driving home from an MSO concert, I was flipping the channels on the radio and this interview with Lightfoot wit Jian Gomeshi on (shudder) CBC. Lightfoot is 70 now. Its amazing that he has survived the alcohol and drugs.It is interesting that a lot of his best songs happened during messy breakups. He also thinks alcohol was a bit of a muse
You can listen to the interview here.
Two of my favourite Lightfoot songs.
You can listen to the interview here.
Two of my favourite Lightfoot songs.
Medical Shows
I usually don't like watching medical shows on TV. They have many unrealistic and just wrong information that have given patients funny ideas about modern medicine. I also cover the ICU and teach residents. This is pretty scary. At McGill we have a simulation center where such things are taught in a far mnore systematic way then when I was a resident, almost 20 years ago.
I atopped watching E/R years ago when George Clooney without gloves in street clothes put a central line in a child's right atrium.
Young doctors learn bad habits from TV medical dramas
Tom Blackwell, National Post
Published: Monday, March 23, 2009
HandoutA recent study shows that medical dramas like ER have actually been influencing how real life doctors perform procedures.
When physicians at an Alberta hospital asked why so many medical students and residents were using a faulty technique for inserting life-saving breathing tubes in patients, they received an unexpected answer: It's television's fault.
Many of the doctors in training said they had learned the procedure from watching medical dramas. And a subsequent analysis of the show ER revealed its fictional MDs and nurses performed intubations incorrectly almost every time.
I atopped watching E/R years ago when George Clooney without gloves in street clothes put a central line in a child's right atrium.
Young doctors learn bad habits from TV medical dramas
Tom Blackwell, National Post
Published: Monday, March 23, 2009
HandoutA recent study shows that medical dramas like ER have actually been influencing how real life doctors perform procedures.
When physicians at an Alberta hospital asked why so many medical students and residents were using a faulty technique for inserting life-saving breathing tubes in patients, they received an unexpected answer: It's television's fault.
Many of the doctors in training said they had learned the procedure from watching medical dramas. And a subsequent analysis of the show ER revealed its fictional MDs and nurses performed intubations incorrectly almost every time.
I kind of agree with red star's jim travers
It is most unsual , but in this instance I agree with travers. It is better in the long run that HM Government remain opena nd transparent on funding.
Where parties stand in Ottawa depends on where they sit in the Commons. The opposition righteously demands financial transparency; the government defends the opaqueness that makes following the dollars impossible.
If Conservatives listened to their own rhetoric – and weren't hunting eastern, swing and urban voters – shooting the gun registry would have been a first-term priority. If they believed in protecting the public purse, then the Prime Minister wouldn't be asking for $3 billion to spend behind closed doors. If accountability was more than a slogan, parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page wouldn't be fighting for the independence and funding necessary to do his job.
What Conservatives grasp – and what the forecast of deficits for years to come makes so much more important – is that adding oversight to loose spending exponentially increases the risks of political damage. Just as the gun registry separated Liberals from their voters, an exposé of, say, a bailout gone wrong or infrastructure millions somehow finding their way into politically friendly pockets could abruptly distance Conservatives from those who hoped changing ruling parties would also change government behaviour.
That risk began rising in September when the stock market fell. It pushed into the danger zone last week with U.S. outrage over AIG's relatively small yet hugely telling use of a public bailout for private bonuses. Along with bringing simmering anger to the boil, that utterly callous decision brought voters back to their senses. Public scrutiny is never more essential than when politicians are throwing around wads of public money.
Liberals paid the highest political price for avoiding that discipline. Now Conservatives are making the same mistake even as they continue pointing fingers at the Liberal folly. What both missed or ignored is that ruling parties put themselves at greatest peril when they spend fast, loose and in the dark.
Where parties stand in Ottawa depends on where they sit in the Commons. The opposition righteously demands financial transparency; the government defends the opaqueness that makes following the dollars impossible.
If Conservatives listened to their own rhetoric – and weren't hunting eastern, swing and urban voters – shooting the gun registry would have been a first-term priority. If they believed in protecting the public purse, then the Prime Minister wouldn't be asking for $3 billion to spend behind closed doors. If accountability was more than a slogan, parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page wouldn't be fighting for the independence and funding necessary to do his job.
What Conservatives grasp – and what the forecast of deficits for years to come makes so much more important – is that adding oversight to loose spending exponentially increases the risks of political damage. Just as the gun registry separated Liberals from their voters, an exposé of, say, a bailout gone wrong or infrastructure millions somehow finding their way into politically friendly pockets could abruptly distance Conservatives from those who hoped changing ruling parties would also change government behaviour.
That risk began rising in September when the stock market fell. It pushed into the danger zone last week with U.S. outrage over AIG's relatively small yet hugely telling use of a public bailout for private bonuses. Along with bringing simmering anger to the boil, that utterly callous decision brought voters back to their senses. Public scrutiny is never more essential than when politicians are throwing around wads of public money.
Liberals paid the highest political price for avoiding that discipline. Now Conservatives are making the same mistake even as they continue pointing fingers at the Liberal folly. What both missed or ignored is that ruling parties put themselves at greatest peril when they spend fast, loose and in the dark.
John Hawkins on obamessiah
John Hakins has a great piece on obamessiah's patsies and scapegoats. So much for personal responsbility.
Barack Obama's Top 5 Bart Simpson Moments
by John Hawkins
"I didn't do it, no one saw me do it, there's no way you can prove anything!" -- Bart Simpson
Ah, if only Bart Simpson had a staff and was as shameless as the man in the White House. Oh, the things he could have gotten away with! Just ask Barack Obama, who has blamed his staff for just about everything under the sun at one point or another.
Barack Obama's Top 5 Bart Simpson Moments
by John Hawkins
"I didn't do it, no one saw me do it, there's no way you can prove anything!" -- Bart Simpson
Ah, if only Bart Simpson had a staff and was as shameless as the man in the White House. Oh, the things he could have gotten away with! Just ask Barack Obama, who has blamed his staff for just about everything under the sun at one point or another.
Good riddance to Petrocan
petrocan was a horrible marxist trudeau grit idea. It cost billions of dollars, inflated prices were paid for petro fina and I have long suspected grit cronies made a pretty penny on these deals. It helped alienate the west for a generation. Thank goodness this vile statist experiment is now fully over.
Don Martin: Petro-Can's legacy still haunts the west
Posted: March 23, 2009, 9:23 PM by Ron Nurwisah
Don Martin, Canadian politics
It’s always stood for much more than a gas pump, car wash or souvenir Olympic torch relay glass.
The government-created oil giant of 1975 was Liberal ideology at its most interventionist, vilified as the unfair advantage invading an Alberta oil patch where Petro-Canada stood for “Pierre Elliott Trudeau Rips Off Canada.” Its headquarters, which towered over a Calgary plaza, were derided as Red Square.
But the tax-supported beast that gobbled up so many others — Pacific Petroleum, Petro-Fina, BP Canada and Gulf Canada all fell to its early expansion appetite — has now been swallowed itself in a made-in-Canada merger.
The proposed deal appears to pass the twin litmus tests of energy asset synergy and national public interest.
It seems set to finally pry the government’s fingers off a company that, even after its privatization was completed in 2004, is still held in takeover check by a Petro-Canada Public Participation Act limiting any single shareholder to buying 20% of the company’s ownership. .
Don Martin: Petro-Can's legacy still haunts the west
Posted: March 23, 2009, 9:23 PM by Ron Nurwisah
Don Martin, Canadian politics
It’s always stood for much more than a gas pump, car wash or souvenir Olympic torch relay glass.
The government-created oil giant of 1975 was Liberal ideology at its most interventionist, vilified as the unfair advantage invading an Alberta oil patch where Petro-Canada stood for “Pierre Elliott Trudeau Rips Off Canada.” Its headquarters, which towered over a Calgary plaza, were derided as Red Square.
But the tax-supported beast that gobbled up so many others — Pacific Petroleum, Petro-Fina, BP Canada and Gulf Canada all fell to its early expansion appetite — has now been swallowed itself in a made-in-Canada merger.
The proposed deal appears to pass the twin litmus tests of energy asset synergy and national public interest.
It seems set to finally pry the government’s fingers off a company that, even after its privatization was completed in 2004, is still held in takeover check by a Petro-Canada Public Participation Act limiting any single shareholder to buying 20% of the company’s ownership. .
Monday, March 23, 2009
The jihadi threat
The insidiousness of the jihadi threat is made clear here. The jihadis and their front organizations are trying to put their tentacles into every aspect of of society. We must be vigilant against the threat.
Heritage Canukistan?
by Farzana Hassan
for IPT News
March 23, 2009
Things are heating up in the sweepstakes for the most incompetent department of Canadian government to face Islamic radicalism. For a while, bets were on Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board, which, for 11 years, had the president of the extremist-sympathizing Canadian Arab Federation – big on Hamas and Hizballah – on its board. His job there was to decide who was too dangerous to let into the country.
But now "Heritage Canada," a Canadian government department whose bid for the title is made with the help of the Calgary-based independent Centre for Faith and the Media (CFM) has jumped in the fray.
Heritage Canada pushes a multiculturalism agenda, and the CFM seems to be a one-employee outfit with a volunteer Board of Directors of sympathetic religious people – with one exception. Positioning itself as a link and information clearinghouse between journalists and religious communities, CFM has been decisive in moving Heritage Canada into committing blunders.
The current fiasco started when Heritage Canada funded the Centre to start something called "The Muslim Project." This initiative involves a series of cross-Canada "roundtables" prominently displaying CFM's sole paid employee, Executive Director Richelle Wiseman, as moderator. The end-product? A "study" of media portrayals of Muslims and Islam in Canada, due out within the next year or ...
Heritage Canukistan?
by Farzana Hassan
for IPT News
March 23, 2009
Things are heating up in the sweepstakes for the most incompetent department of Canadian government to face Islamic radicalism. For a while, bets were on Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board, which, for 11 years, had the president of the extremist-sympathizing Canadian Arab Federation – big on Hamas and Hizballah – on its board. His job there was to decide who was too dangerous to let into the country.
But now "Heritage Canada," a Canadian government department whose bid for the title is made with the help of the Calgary-based independent Centre for Faith and the Media (CFM) has jumped in the fray.
Heritage Canada pushes a multiculturalism agenda, and the CFM seems to be a one-employee outfit with a volunteer Board of Directors of sympathetic religious people – with one exception. Positioning itself as a link and information clearinghouse between journalists and religious communities, CFM has been decisive in moving Heritage Canada into committing blunders.
The current fiasco started when Heritage Canada funded the Centre to start something called "The Muslim Project." This initiative involves a series of cross-Canada "roundtables" prominently displaying CFM's sole paid employee, Executive Director Richelle Wiseman, as moderator. The end-product? A "study" of media portrayals of Muslims and Islam in Canada, due out within the next year or ...
Gutfield apologizes
I am a little surprised by the over reaction by Canadians to a silly, thoughtless rant by a comedian at 3AM on FOX. I once asked Robert Novak, why he always trashed Canada on CNN's Crossfireand why he didn't like Canadians. He replied he was just playing to the American audience. Bashing foreigners is often a safe way to get laughs in many places. In Canada bashing the US by comics is a way of life for many in comedy and by the grits and dippers.
Now Gutfield has apologized. Before you all accuse me of hating the troops, let me say I am very proud of our troops. I am often brought to tears when I hear of their deaths. I am not so proud of HM Governments over the years who have not done enough to keep our troops safe. HM present Government has made that a priority. Last week HM Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice told the story of a woman who came up to him and thanked HM Government for buying the best equipment because some of that new armour saved her son. Most of the rant was about the poor equipment of HM Canadian troops and this was the case. Maybe Mr Gutfield should be invited to one of our forward bases in Afghanistan.
Fox News host apologizes in face of Canadian outrage
Updated Mon. Mar. 23 2009 2:41 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The host of a Fox News program has apologized for a segment on the Canadian military that Defence Minister Peter MacKay called "disgusting" and "crass."
A group of pundits on "Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld," which airs weekdays at 3 a.m. on Fox News, each took turns trashing Canada and its military during an episode that aired on March 17.
Gutfeld mocked Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, chief of land staff, who suggested in early March that the military may need a year-long break in operations due to personnel and equipment shortages.
Now Gutfield has apologized. Before you all accuse me of hating the troops, let me say I am very proud of our troops. I am often brought to tears when I hear of their deaths. I am not so proud of HM Governments over the years who have not done enough to keep our troops safe. HM present Government has made that a priority. Last week HM Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice told the story of a woman who came up to him and thanked HM Government for buying the best equipment because some of that new armour saved her son. Most of the rant was about the poor equipment of HM Canadian troops and this was the case. Maybe Mr Gutfield should be invited to one of our forward bases in Afghanistan.
Fox News host apologizes in face of Canadian outrage
Updated Mon. Mar. 23 2009 2:41 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The host of a Fox News program has apologized for a segment on the Canadian military that Defence Minister Peter MacKay called "disgusting" and "crass."
A group of pundits on "Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld," which airs weekdays at 3 a.m. on Fox News, each took turns trashing Canada and its military during an episode that aired on March 17.
Gutfeld mocked Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, chief of land staff, who suggested in early March that the military may need a year-long break in operations due to personnel and equipment shortages.
double standards
When the grits and the dippers call in American experts , no one says they want to be assimilated by the dems. When the Tories have American speakers , the left and their msm lapdogs go crazy.
NDP strategists look to Obamaguru for guidance
Allison Hanes, National Post
Federal New Democratic Party strategists yesterday partook of the same wisdom that helped propel U. S. President Barack Obama to the Democratic nomination and the White House.
About 100 party organizers from across Canada were in Ottawa for a lecture by Marshall Ganz, a Harvard University professor and advisor to landmark political campaigns from Robert F. Kennedy to Mr. Obama.
NDP strategists look to Obamaguru for guidance
Allison Hanes, National Post
Federal New Democratic Party strategists yesterday partook of the same wisdom that helped propel U. S. President Barack Obama to the Democratic nomination and the White House.
About 100 party organizers from across Canada were in Ottawa for a lecture by Marshall Ganz, a Harvard University professor and advisor to landmark political campaigns from Robert F. Kennedy to Mr. Obama.
Lorne Gunter on change
Lorne Gunter has a wonderful piece on the worsening obamessiah mess. I am particularly worried about his corrupt community organizer friends at acorn.
And the President has enlisted the voter registration group ACORN to help with the next U. S. census, the results of which determine not only federal funding to cities and counties by population, but also how many congressional districts each state will have and where. This is an interesting choice, considering ACORN was previously mired in controversy for adding people's names to voters' rolls without their knowledge and for allegedly added deceased and imaginary voters.
And the President has enlisted the voter registration group ACORN to help with the next U. S. census, the results of which determine not only federal funding to cities and counties by population, but also how many congressional districts each state will have and where. This is an interesting choice, considering ACORN was previously mired in controversy for adding people's names to voters' rolls without their knowledge and for allegedly added deceased and imaginary voters.
Change
Interesting that obamessiah accuses chavez of exporting terrorism and at the same time cozies up to the mad mullahs. Iran is a state sponsor of terror.
Apprently hugo doesn't see like his fellow socialist obamessiah.
Venezuela's Chavez calls Obama "ignoramus"
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama was at best an "ignoramus" for saying the socialist leader exported terrorism and obstructed progress in Latin America.
"He goes and accuses me of exporting terrorism: the least I can say is that he's a poor ignoramus; he should read and study a little to understand reality," said Chavez, who heads a group of left-wing Latin American leaders opposed to the U.S. influence in the region.
Chavez said Obama's comments had made him change his mind about sending a new ambassador to Washington, after he withdrew the previous envoy in a dispute last year with the Bush administration in which he also expelled the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela.
Apprently hugo doesn't see like his fellow socialist obamessiah.
Venezuela's Chavez calls Obama "ignoramus"
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama was at best an "ignoramus" for saying the socialist leader exported terrorism and obstructed progress in Latin America.
"He goes and accuses me of exporting terrorism: the least I can say is that he's a poor ignoramus; he should read and study a little to understand reality," said Chavez, who heads a group of left-wing Latin American leaders opposed to the U.S. influence in the region.
Chavez said Obama's comments had made him change his mind about sending a new ambassador to Washington, after he withdrew the previous envoy in a dispute last year with the Bush administration in which he also expelled the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
chavez cuts budget...
and uses the army to take over airports and transportation hubs. Can martial law be far behind? Venezuela is now a police state.
Chavez cuts budget over oil price
President Chavez urged Venezuelans to be "more realistic"
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has unveiled a series of measures to offset falling oil revenues that account for about 50% of the national budget.
He proposed to cut the 2009 budget by 6.7% and increase sales taxes.
Mr Chavez also pledged salary cuts for senior public officials, but a 20% rise in the minimum wage.
His announcement came shortly after the government had sent army to take control of the country's key airports and sea ports.
The government says the move - which was rubber-stamped by parliament a week ago - centralises the running of the country's main transport hubs.
Opponents say the move is unconstitutional, accusing Mr Chavez of consolidating power.
Chavez cuts budget over oil price
President Chavez urged Venezuelans to be "more realistic"
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has unveiled a series of measures to offset falling oil revenues that account for about 50% of the national budget.
He proposed to cut the 2009 budget by 6.7% and increase sales taxes.
Mr Chavez also pledged salary cuts for senior public officials, but a 20% rise in the minimum wage.
His announcement came shortly after the government had sent army to take control of the country's key airports and sea ports.
The government says the move - which was rubber-stamped by parliament a week ago - centralises the running of the country's main transport hubs.
Opponents say the move is unconstitutional, accusing Mr Chavez of consolidating power.
obamessiah and Iran: What about Omid Mir Sayafi?
Bill Kristol ( who has been replaced at the nyt, I don't think he could take the pinkos) has written a scathing piece about obamessiah's Iran policy. the mullahs are responsible for the death of a young blogger recently, but obamessiah wants to overlook that and every other evil thing perpetrated by the mad mullahs.
The day before Obama's message was released, reports reached the West that a young Iranian blogger, Omid Mir Sayafi, had died in Tehran's notorious Evin prison. He had been jailed for insulting the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic. Another Iranian blogger reported that Sayafi was jailed for writing, "Mr. Khamenei, can you love me as much as you love Sheikh Nasrallah's son?"--questioning Iran's support for Hezbollah. But President Obama has respect for Sayafi's persecutors.
obamessiah: the nanny state gone mad
This is utter craziness. How far will these pinkos go. Will everyone's pay be regulated by big brother? How many bureaucrats will be need for this nonsense. Just wait with nationalized healthcare and other obamessiah policies, the US is now a socialist republic.
Report: Obama Administration Seeks to Regulate Executive Pay
Obama is expected to announce the plan, which officials said would include a broad new role for the Fed to oversee large companies, ahead of the G-20 summit in early April.
The Obama administration will call for increased oversight of executive pay at all banks, Wall Street firms and possibly other companies as part of a plan to overhaul financial regulation, the New York Times reported.
Obama is expected to announce the plan, which officials said would include a broad new role for the Fed to oversee large companies, ahead of the G-20 summit in early April.
The administration was still debating details of the plan including how broadly it should be applied and how far it should go beyond simple reporting requirements, the Times said, quoting unnamed officials.
Report: Obama Administration Seeks to Regulate Executive Pay
Obama is expected to announce the plan, which officials said would include a broad new role for the Fed to oversee large companies, ahead of the G-20 summit in early April.
The Obama administration will call for increased oversight of executive pay at all banks, Wall Street firms and possibly other companies as part of a plan to overhaul financial regulation, the New York Times reported.
Obama is expected to announce the plan, which officials said would include a broad new role for the Fed to oversee large companies, ahead of the G-20 summit in early April.
The administration was still debating details of the plan including how broadly it should be applied and how far it should go beyond simple reporting requirements, the Times said, quoting unnamed officials.
omar khadr is not a child soldier
I oppose bring omar khadr to Canada. He should be tried by the United States for his crimes and punished if found guilty. If it were possible Canada should deport the whole vipers' nest of the khadr clan. Once again Canada and the west support those who would gladly destroy us
Harper's right: Omar Khadr is not a child soldier
Just because he was 15 when captured doesn't make him one
BY HOWARD ANGLIN, OTTAWA CITIZENMARCH 20, 2009
Many Canadians were surprised by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's recent declaration that Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr was not a child soldier. A 15-year-old is a child, they reasoned, so a 15-year-old captured on a battlefield must be a child soldier. When requests for an explanation were rebuffed, surprise turned to skepticism. Did the government have a legal basis for the prime minister's position?
Harper's right: Omar Khadr is not a child soldier
Just because he was 15 when captured doesn't make him one
BY HOWARD ANGLIN, OTTAWA CITIZENMARCH 20, 2009
Many Canadians were surprised by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's recent declaration that Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr was not a child soldier. A 15-year-old is a child, they reasoned, so a 15-year-old captured on a battlefield must be a child soldier. When requests for an explanation were rebuffed, surprise turned to skepticism. Did the government have a legal basis for the prime minister's position?
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Another dishonour killing in Jordan
I guess this isn't news, which makes it all the more tragic. What a monstrous act. What kind of love is this?
Jordanian beats daughter to death for wearing makeup in 'honour' killing
AMMAN, Jordan - Jordan's prosecutor has charged a man and his two sons for the premeditated murder of his 19-year-old daughter Saturday, in the latest "honour killing" to take place in this conservative desert kingdom.
Jordanian beats daughter to death for wearing makeup in 'honour' killing
AMMAN, Jordan - Jordan's prosecutor has charged a man and his two sons for the premeditated murder of his 19-year-old daughter Saturday, in the latest "honour killing" to take place in this conservative desert kingdom.
Charles Krauthammer on AIG
Dr Krauthammer puts the bonuses in context. obamessiah and the dems and even som of the GOP are engaged in stupid class warfare, which in the end will accomplish nothing. He even points out the laws trying to confiscate the bonuses are unconstitutional. It is grotesque to see Chris Dodd and his friend say he was misled.
I wonder if Geithner will survive this mess. He should, but what wonders what the villagers with torches and pitchforks will do now.
Bonfire of the Trivialities
by Charles Krauthammer
WASHINGTON -- A $14 trillion economy hangs by a thread composed of (a) a comically cynical, pitchfork-wielding Congress, (b) a hopelessly understaffed, stumbling Obama administration, and (c) $165 million.
That's $165 million in bonus money handed out to AIG debt manipulators who may be the only ones who know how to defuse the bomb they themselves built. Now, in the scheme of things, $165 million is a rounding error. It amounts to less than 1/18,500 of the $3.1 trillion federal budget. It's less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the bailout money given to AIG alone. If Bill Gates were to pay these AIG bonuses every year for the next 100 years, he'd still be left with more than half his personal fortune....
I wonder if Geithner will survive this mess. He should, but what wonders what the villagers with torches and pitchforks will do now.
Bonfire of the Trivialities
by Charles Krauthammer
WASHINGTON -- A $14 trillion economy hangs by a thread composed of (a) a comically cynical, pitchfork-wielding Congress, (b) a hopelessly understaffed, stumbling Obama administration, and (c) $165 million.
That's $165 million in bonus money handed out to AIG debt manipulators who may be the only ones who know how to defuse the bomb they themselves built. Now, in the scheme of things, $165 million is a rounding error. It amounts to less than 1/18,500 of the $3.1 trillion federal budget. It's less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the bailout money given to AIG alone. If Bill Gates were to pay these AIG bonuses every year for the next 100 years, he'd still be left with more than half his personal fortune....
Fulford on the CBC
A very interesting piece on the cbc by Robert Fulford. He gives a good analysis of this ossified fossil. I still want it sold off piece by piece, even if Fulford says that's impossible.
In mass communications, which demands spontaneity and imagination, they show little originality and barely a hint of daring. This comes through when they acknowledge, condescendingly, that they are appealing to the young. The melancholy results usually appear to be the work of 30-year-olds instructed by 45-year-olds on how to appeal to 20-year-olds.
Broadcasters who came to the CBC with dreams of making great programs instead find themselves conscripted into a nightmare of sclerotic bureaucracy in which everything matters more than broadcasting. What counts most is the endless, baffling shuffle of titles and responsibilities, a byzantine turf warfare.
To work at the CBC is to live in a world of memos, usually concocted by bosses whose insecurity dictates that they write in incomprehensible gibberish. Memos explain that the bosses want to “Ensure that all managers have development plans based on leadership competencies according to identified timelines,” which are “part of ongoing efforts to better align resources and workflow with evolving needs.” (I’ve lifted two sentences from two different — but both actual — CBC memos.) The tone is deadening, joyless, self-defeating.
In mass communications, which demands spontaneity and imagination, they show little originality and barely a hint of daring. This comes through when they acknowledge, condescendingly, that they are appealing to the young. The melancholy results usually appear to be the work of 30-year-olds instructed by 45-year-olds on how to appeal to 20-year-olds.
Broadcasters who came to the CBC with dreams of making great programs instead find themselves conscripted into a nightmare of sclerotic bureaucracy in which everything matters more than broadcasting. What counts most is the endless, baffling shuffle of titles and responsibilities, a byzantine turf warfare.
To work at the CBC is to live in a world of memos, usually concocted by bosses whose insecurity dictates that they write in incomprehensible gibberish. Memos explain that the bosses want to “Ensure that all managers have development plans based on leadership competencies according to identified timelines,” which are “part of ongoing efforts to better align resources and workflow with evolving needs.” (I’ve lifted two sentences from two different — but both actual — CBC memos.) The tone is deadening, joyless, self-defeating.
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