Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians celebrate New Year's 1957-1958.
Midnight at Time's Square.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
RIP Brave Canadians
The four soldiers who died yesterday were identified today. Again I offer my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of these brave Canadians.
Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard -- Commander of Task Force Kandahar -- took time Thursday to offer heartfelt words about each of the victims.
Sgt. Miok, based in Edmonton, was remembered as a "dedicated" officer that was well-liked by his troops. "The welfare of his soldiers came first, and they knew they could turn to him for advice and guidance."
Sgt. Taylor, based in Yarmouth, N.S., was known as "Sgt. Morale" because of his sense of humour and calm demeanour.
"He enjoyed a challenge and though he didn't seek the spotlight, he would take the difficult jobs without complaint," said Brig.-Gen. Menard, adding Sgt. Taylor was passionate about his job mentoring trouble youth back home in Canada.
"He brought the same enthusiasm with him to Afghanistan."
Cpl. McCormack, based in Edmonton, was recalled as a team player that was passionate about his family and looking forward to soon marrying his finance.
"He was a very caring individual who always lent a helping hand to others," Brig.-Gen. Menard said. "He always had a way of raising morale by making the rest of the section laugh."
Pte. Chidley, based in Shilo, Man., but from Cambridge, Ont., could always take his friends and fellow soldiers at video games. "He was a great driver, the one you wanted for difficult tasks."
Pte. Chidley loved to talk about his family, Brig.-Gen. Menard said, especially time spent with his father, Cam.
Cam wrote about his son on Facebook Thursday. "My Ex-wife Sian and I have lost our son Garrett in Afghanistan yesterday. God help us and please watch over our daughter Devon, and our son Joe."
Though new to Kandahar, Brig.-Gen. Menard also said Ms. Lang "touched many of us" through her sensitivity and ability to connect with people.
"Michelle . . . was a young, dynamic reporter who strove to excel at her job," he said. "(She) was passionate about life and inspired those around her."
Lang, 34, was just two weeks into her first stint in Afghanistan and was the first Canadian journalist to die there since the Canadian military mission began in 2002.
Wednesday was an especially bloody day in Afghanistan. In addition to the attack on the Canadians, eight American civilian workers died in a suicide bomb attack on a U.S. military base close to the border with Pakistan, officials said.
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for both attacks. "This work is done by us," Yusuf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the Islamist insurgent group told AFP.
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai issued a statement of condolence Thursday.
"The Afghan's will not forget your sacrifice," Mr. Karzai said in statement reported by Canadian Press. "Your children sacrificed their lives for the people of Afghanistan and the threat of terrorism," Mr. Karzai said.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay said all Canadians share in the loss.
"Today I stand with all Canadians as we mourn the loss of four brave and selfless Canadian soldiers and one Canadian journalist who died after the vehicle they were riding struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while on patrol in an area south of Kandahar," Mr. MacKay said.
"I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Sgt. George Miok, Sgt. Kirk Taylor, Cpl. Zachery McCormack, and Pte. Garrett William Chidley who were killed yesterday while working to bring peace and security to the people of Afghanistan. My thoughts are also with the loved ones of Michelle Lang who was also killed while bravely risking her life to report on the important work Canadians are undertaking."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's spokesman had issued a statement Wednesday.
"Four brave soldiers paid the ultimate price while courageously serving their country in Kandahar. They perished seeking to help the Afghans build a better future for themselves while working tirelessly to advance Canadian values. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten," said a statement Wednesday night from Dimitri Soudas.
"Also fallen is a brave reporter, Michelle Lang, who lost her life reporting on the invaluable work being done by Canadian soldiers, aid workers and diplomats in Afghanistan. Her unforeseen and tragic death will be felt in Calgary and in communities across Canada.
HM PM Harper at Copenhagen
HM PM Harper's more climate realist position , contrasted with the chicken little hysteria of other world leaders, including the premiers of Queec and Ontario. I like the title of this peace and the Kipling references.
Quite so. In contrast, Mr. Harper was himself never more eloquent than in the three days he spent in Copenhagen - when he said absolutely nothing. Surrounded by a madness of politicians (that is, by the fevered rhetoric of the leadership of 160 countries), tormented by the mendacity of environmentalists (that is, by the absurd naming of Canada, which produces less than 2 per cent of the world's carbon emissions, as Fossil Fuel Country of the Year), Mr. Harper kept his head, a remarkable performance that proved him again - however else he may be judged - an authentic leader.
Rudyard Kipling once described this kind of self-control in poetic detail. If you keep your head even as everyone else loses theirs, you prove yourself. If you trust your judgment even as everyone else doubts it, you prove yourself. If you wait without getting impatient, you prove yourself. If you restrain from making yourself "look too good," or making yourself "talk too wise," you prove yourself. Relentlessly hounded by all the usual howling mobs, Mr. Harper proved himself in all of these ways in Copenhagen.
Quite so. In contrast, Mr. Harper was himself never more eloquent than in the three days he spent in Copenhagen - when he said absolutely nothing. Surrounded by a madness of politicians (that is, by the fevered rhetoric of the leadership of 160 countries), tormented by the mendacity of environmentalists (that is, by the absurd naming of Canada, which produces less than 2 per cent of the world's carbon emissions, as Fossil Fuel Country of the Year), Mr. Harper kept his head, a remarkable performance that proved him again - however else he may be judged - an authentic leader.
Rudyard Kipling once described this kind of self-control in poetic detail. If you keep your head even as everyone else loses theirs, you prove yourself. If you trust your judgment even as everyone else doubts it, you prove yourself. If you wait without getting impatient, you prove yourself. If you restrain from making yourself "look too good," or making yourself "talk too wise," you prove yourself. Relentlessly hounded by all the usual howling mobs, Mr. Harper proved himself in all of these ways in Copenhagen.
Lorne Gunter on the real threat
people in the west have become so scared of given ofeense, that we now risk our lives and freedom. Lorne Gunter also understands this.
Not all Muslims need be harassed -- not even most. Following 9/11, a U.S. think-tank devised a pre-flight screening technique that would red-flag the appropriate suspects.
Anyone, Muslim or not, who had a mortgage, had held the same job for more than 10 years, had a lengthy history of incident-free commercial flights, had a solid credit rating, a retirement account and no reports, like Abdulmutallab's, of extremist tendencies might well still have to do the detector walk-through, but wouldn't need to toss his latte and nail file before getting on a flight.
The trouble is, we are too timid as a culture to do the obvious -- focus on young Muslim men with radical connections, who have proven themselves to be 99 per cent of the problem.
Not all Muslims need be harassed -- not even most. Following 9/11, a U.S. think-tank devised a pre-flight screening technique that would red-flag the appropriate suspects.
Anyone, Muslim or not, who had a mortgage, had held the same job for more than 10 years, had a lengthy history of incident-free commercial flights, had a solid credit rating, a retirement account and no reports, like Abdulmutallab's, of extremist tendencies might well still have to do the detector walk-through, but wouldn't need to toss his latte and nail file before getting on a flight.
The trouble is, we are too timid as a culture to do the obvious -- focus on young Muslim men with radical connections, who have proven themselves to be 99 per cent of the problem.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Great Sadness
My deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Michelle Lang and the four soldiers that were killed in Afghanistan. I am deeply saddened by these deaths. We will not forget those who died for freedom.
A Canadian journalist and four Canadian soldiers died in Afghanistan on Wednesday in the blast of an improvised explosive device. Reporters are vital to a functioning democracy. This brave young paid a heavy price for seeeking the truth. May they all rest in peace.
Calgary Herald reporter Michelle Lang, 34, was on secondment to Canwest News Service and was travelling with a provincial reconstruction team in Kandahar when the attack occurred.
The Department of National Defence has not yet released the names of the four soldiers killed in Wednesday's explosion, but their deaths bring the toll of Canadian soldiers to 138 since the mission there began in 2002.
Details of the attack have not been released.
It was Ms. Lang's first stint in Afghanistan. She arrived in the country on Dec. 11 and was due to return to Calgary on Jan. 22.
Forgiveness
Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
A central theme of Christian faith is forgiveness. This woman's actions completely humble me.
The wife of a killed Salvation Army major says that his work ministering to people in a North Little Rock neighborhood will continue.
Salvation Army Maj. Cindy Wise led a Sunday service in the building where her husband, 40-year-old Philip Wise, was shot to death during a robbery attempt on Christmas Eve afternoon.
Authorities have said that as Philip Wise and his three young children approached the entrance to the facility, two men accosted him. One of the men pulled a gun, demanded money and then shot Wise.
A central theme of Christian faith is forgiveness. This woman's actions completely humble me.
The wife of a killed Salvation Army major says that his work ministering to people in a North Little Rock neighborhood will continue.
Salvation Army Maj. Cindy Wise led a Sunday service in the building where her husband, 40-year-old Philip Wise, was shot to death during a robbery attempt on Christmas Eve afternoon.
Authorities have said that as Philip Wise and his three young children approached the entrance to the facility, two men accosted him. One of the men pulled a gun, demanded money and then shot Wise.
L Ian Macdonald on the political player of the decade...
HM PM Harper. It is almost 4 years since the Tories wrseted power from the entitled, corrupt grits. It is increasingly evident that HM Pm Harper has really grown into the ob. In the next year he will be even more on the international stage because of the G8 and G20 meeting in Canada, as well as the 2010 Olympics. Hopefully this neww decade will continue being a Canadian decade,
Subsequently, the government's message was twofold - first a steady hand on the wheel through the recession, and then staying in Ottawa to run the country's affairs through to an economic recovery. The core attribute of government is competence and the government has passed it, from the GM bailout to the H1N1 rollout.
But as the year and the decade end, the biggest change has been in Harper himself. From the February bilateral meeting with Barack Obama to a series of international summits, Harper has developed a comfort zone on the world stage, a role he will grow into more next year as he hosts the G8 and G20 summits.
At home, in the House and on the hustings, he has grown into the role, as well as the job, of prime minister.
All of which makes him Canada's political player of the year and, indeed, the decade.
Subsequently, the government's message was twofold - first a steady hand on the wheel through the recession, and then staying in Ottawa to run the country's affairs through to an economic recovery. The core attribute of government is competence and the government has passed it, from the GM bailout to the H1N1 rollout.
But as the year and the decade end, the biggest change has been in Harper himself. From the February bilateral meeting with Barack Obama to a series of international summits, Harper has developed a comfort zone on the world stage, a role he will grow into more next year as he hosts the G8 and G20 summits.
At home, in the House and on the hustings, he has grown into the role, as well as the job, of prime minister.
All of which makes him Canada's political player of the year and, indeed, the decade.
The gender wars are coming to an end?
A very interesting piece by Barbara Kay. I certainly hope she is right. I think she is a tad opptomistic. Men and women are different and those differences should be xelerated. There should be equality between the sex. Male bashing is a terrible way to run a society. All men are not responsible for the monster marc lepine. Women can also be violent. Let's fight for true equality of the sexes. That's better for everyone.
Something odd occurred in the two days following the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre earlier this month. Commentaries by both Margaret Wente of The Globe and Mail and Jonathan Kay of the Post were sharply critical of the emotive and irrational linkage of the Massacre with the phenomenon of domestic violence against women. Neither pundit is known to be anti-feminist in general, but both columns recommended we desacralize the Polytechnique killings, accept them for the freak tragedy they were and stop guilt-tripping all men for Marc Lépine’s unique paranoiac fixations.
Ranting about the unwholesome social ends to which the Massacre has been put used to be my lonely job every Dec. 6. Finding myself in such good company was a happy surprise and, I think, an iconoclastic cultural moment: Let us recognize that female victimhood is not intrinsically more tragic than male victimhood, these columns seemed to say.
Commonsensical Canadians are losing patience with the angry, blame-all-males school of feminism. It’s no accident that the feminist Toronto Women’s Bookstore, for years a bustling cynosure of the cultural zeitgeist, is in danger of closing down. Or that once overflowing women’s studies classes are emptying out, or morphing into “gender studies” to attract more students (a trap, really: Gender studies are also gynocentric, offering a more subtle version of heterosexual male-bashing than women’s studies).
Something odd occurred in the two days following the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre earlier this month. Commentaries by both Margaret Wente of The Globe and Mail and Jonathan Kay of the Post were sharply critical of the emotive and irrational linkage of the Massacre with the phenomenon of domestic violence against women. Neither pundit is known to be anti-feminist in general, but both columns recommended we desacralize the Polytechnique killings, accept them for the freak tragedy they were and stop guilt-tripping all men for Marc Lépine’s unique paranoiac fixations.
Ranting about the unwholesome social ends to which the Massacre has been put used to be my lonely job every Dec. 6. Finding myself in such good company was a happy surprise and, I think, an iconoclastic cultural moment: Let us recognize that female victimhood is not intrinsically more tragic than male victimhood, these columns seemed to say.
Commonsensical Canadians are losing patience with the angry, blame-all-males school of feminism. It’s no accident that the feminist Toronto Women’s Bookstore, for years a bustling cynosure of the cultural zeitgeist, is in danger of closing down. Or that once overflowing women’s studies classes are emptying out, or morphing into “gender studies” to attract more students (a trap, really: Gender studies are also gynocentric, offering a more subtle version of heterosexual male-bashing than women’s studies).
More from Dr Krauthammer
Dr Krauthammer says that bo is in denial and trying to avoid the jihadi threat. Watch here.
The problem in the United Kingdom.
Which is also the problem in Canada.
The problem in the United Kingdom.
Which is also the problem in Canada.
HIH Prince Reza Pahlavi
Regime change must happen now!!! The murderous mullahs must go. Stand with the people of ran.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Racial profiling
I am from India and I am Christian. This is not really apparent to people at the border who don't know who I am. Racial profiling does worry me , but since I think it will help protect us all, I am willing to be searched more often.
The Current in the first hour, my friend Tarek Fatah defends profiling. Listen here.
The Current in the first hour, my friend Tarek Fatah defends profiling. Listen here.
dems will kill cap and tax
Many moderate dems see the writing on the wall and want bo to shelve cap and tax legislation. Once this happens the scam will unravel. If this is legislation is pushed back until after the 2010 midterms, it is unlikey ever to pass. This is good news for Canada as well.
Asked if she has urged the White House to abandon cap and trade — at least until after the mid-terms — Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana told the Politico website yesterday: “I am communicating that in every way I know how.”
At least five other high-ranking Democrats have lobbied the Administration in similar terms. Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota said that winning passage of climate change legislation in an election year had “very poor prospects”, and Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska said that he would “just as soon see [climate change] set aside until we work through the economy”.
Asked if she has urged the White House to abandon cap and trade — at least until after the mid-terms — Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana told the Politico website yesterday: “I am communicating that in every way I know how.”
At least five other high-ranking Democrats have lobbied the Administration in similar terms. Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota said that winning passage of climate change legislation in an election year had “very poor prospects”, and Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska said that he would “just as soon see [climate change] set aside until we work through the economy”.
Krauthammer on Iran
Krauthammer understands the profound change that would come with the fall of the murderous mullahs.
and also this from the Wall Street Journal.
Sure, France immediately condemned the violence against peaceful protesters and called for "a political solution." Italy called "for a dialogue with the opposition." And the United States and Germany joined with their talk of the Iranian people's "universal rights" (U.S. National Security Council Spokesman Mike Hammer) and that the world "will observe and not look away," in the words of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
These words sound hollow to the Iranian people. Over the past 30 years, the West has done nothing except to "look away" whenever Iranians were oppressed, tortured and murdered. What only really counted, particularly for Europeans, was trade. And now six months after the emergence of powerful yet peaceful resistance that is bringing down one of the most brutal dictatorships of our age, the international community still has not been able to put the needs and wishes of the millions of freedom-loving Iranians at the center of its Iran policy. Words of solidarity mean nothing if they are not followed by tough action.
Since the rigged June elections, there can be no more doubt that this regime is as illegitimate is it is oppressive. And yet it was precisely during this period of popular unrest against the mullahs that the free world restarted negotiations with Tehran. This was a stunning betrayal. A betrayal of the freedom-seeking people of Iran and a betrayal of our own universal values. Despite the pictures of millions of Iranians risking their lives for freedom, the international community refuses to acknowledge and support the democratic, peaceful and prosperous alternative to the Islamist rulers. People in the West still think this all about the fraudulent re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and don't recognize that it is regime change that the Iranian people want.
and also this from the Wall Street Journal.
Sure, France immediately condemned the violence against peaceful protesters and called for "a political solution." Italy called "for a dialogue with the opposition." And the United States and Germany joined with their talk of the Iranian people's "universal rights" (U.S. National Security Council Spokesman Mike Hammer) and that the world "will observe and not look away," in the words of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
These words sound hollow to the Iranian people. Over the past 30 years, the West has done nothing except to "look away" whenever Iranians were oppressed, tortured and murdered. What only really counted, particularly for Europeans, was trade. And now six months after the emergence of powerful yet peaceful resistance that is bringing down one of the most brutal dictatorships of our age, the international community still has not been able to put the needs and wishes of the millions of freedom-loving Iranians at the center of its Iran policy. Words of solidarity mean nothing if they are not followed by tough action.
Since the rigged June elections, there can be no more doubt that this regime is as illegitimate is it is oppressive. And yet it was precisely during this period of popular unrest against the mullahs that the free world restarted negotiations with Tehran. This was a stunning betrayal. A betrayal of the freedom-seeking people of Iran and a betrayal of our own universal values. Despite the pictures of millions of Iranians risking their lives for freedom, the international community refuses to acknowledge and support the democratic, peaceful and prosperous alternative to the Islamist rulers. People in the West still think this all about the fraudulent re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and don't recognize that it is regime change that the Iranian people want.
John Bolton on Iran
John Bolton thinks no revolution without army support. He does want regime change!
Watch here.
A little more optimism from PBS
and the LA Times.
The usual propaganda from the murderous mullahs.
Watch here.
A little more optimism from PBS
and the LA Times.
The usual propaganda from the murderous mullahs.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Freedom for Iran!!
Watch this video. Ordinary Iranians free two men from public hanging and then get shot at by Islamist thugs of Ahmedinejad.
Iranians must be rid of these murderous mullahs
Iranians must be rid of these murderous mullahs
Another diplomat speaks
A diplomat writes about the duties of his profession and finds Richard Colvin lacking. He also points out that Colvin is not the Pope Ex Cathedra. If he is wrong he should be criticized. He also points out that Colvin should probably have resigned. A very interesting analysis.
A deputy minister of foreign affairs once instructed his staff to tell lunchtime callers that he was out for lunch not out to lunch. My colleagues, the former ambassadors who are lining up to a sign a letter defending Richard Colvin, are decidedly out to lunch. So are some of my new colleagues at Carleton University who don’t know what to tell their students, as we learned from an anguished Citizen op-ed last week.
The issue is not whether Colvin was publicly criticized by Defence Minister Peter MacKay. If the minister or senior officers consider Colvin’s reports to be unfounded or poorly documented, he should be criticized.
At an early age, diplomats learn that timely and accurate reporting is one of the basic tools of the diplomatic trade. They also learn that diplomats are not journalists and confusing diplomacy with journalism is unprofessional. Rumours, innuendo and hearsay evidence, which apparently are the basis of the bulk of Colvin’s reports do not meet the high standard expected of diplomats. David Mulroney, Colvin’s boss at the time, was quite right in his testimony before the House Committee that information of this quality should be reported orally...
In our system of government, it is ministers who decide and civil servants who implement their decisions. If the decisions or lack of decisions taken by ministers is in the view of the civil servant unethical, his or her duty is clear. It is to say so fearlessly and, if ignored, to resign.
Going to the media without resigning would be unethical conduct. This is always the wrong choice.,,
A deputy minister of foreign affairs once instructed his staff to tell lunchtime callers that he was out for lunch not out to lunch. My colleagues, the former ambassadors who are lining up to a sign a letter defending Richard Colvin, are decidedly out to lunch. So are some of my new colleagues at Carleton University who don’t know what to tell their students, as we learned from an anguished Citizen op-ed last week.
The issue is not whether Colvin was publicly criticized by Defence Minister Peter MacKay. If the minister or senior officers consider Colvin’s reports to be unfounded or poorly documented, he should be criticized.
At an early age, diplomats learn that timely and accurate reporting is one of the basic tools of the diplomatic trade. They also learn that diplomats are not journalists and confusing diplomacy with journalism is unprofessional. Rumours, innuendo and hearsay evidence, which apparently are the basis of the bulk of Colvin’s reports do not meet the high standard expected of diplomats. David Mulroney, Colvin’s boss at the time, was quite right in his testimony before the House Committee that information of this quality should be reported orally...
In our system of government, it is ministers who decide and civil servants who implement their decisions. If the decisions or lack of decisions taken by ministers is in the view of the civil servant unethical, his or her duty is clear. It is to say so fearlessly and, if ignored, to resign.
Going to the media without resigning would be unethical conduct. This is always the wrong choice.,,
Sunday, December 27, 2009
HM PM Harper is getting on well....
with bo. The red star seems quite surprised at how well things are going in Canada US relations, while the delusional grits whine that the relationship is in jeopardy. iffy says hee needs to be in power to fix it. iffy really is a luagh a minute.
HM PM Harper has shown himself to an excellent particularly when it comes to foreign affairs.
In a year of lemons, Barack Obama and Stephen Harper made lemonade
By Mitch Potter Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON–It swung quickly from giddy to nitty-gritty. From Ottawa winning pride of place hosting the first foreign victory lap for a triumphant Barack Obama to where we are today, with drawn-out negotiations aimed at tightening the nuts and bolts of the complex Canada-U.S. relationship.
But as bilateral experts look back on a year of furious activity between Washington and Ottawa, what stands out is not what went right, but rather, how little went wrong, given the economic malaise on both sides of the border.
Stand with the people of Iran!
My friend Winston is reporting on the clashes in Iran. The murderous mullahs are teetering. The west should help push them into the abyss. The minions of the murderers have killed 4 so far. What about it barack? When will you help ? Time for regime change.
Read what is going on in Iran.
More info and video here. More pictures here.
Lord Black on the first decade of the new millenium
I hope the US Supreme Court does the right thing and overturns the vague, ill conceived law under which Lord Black was convicted. Lord Black has some observations of the last decade. His admiration for HM PM Harper has increased, while his dismay at bo steadily increases.
The great stars of Copenhagen were the Chinese and the Canadians. The Chinese strutted and gloried as a mighty economic growth story, a super-power presumptive, while leading the G-77, as the under-developed countries now modishly style themselves, out of the conference in protest against the supposed miserliness of the advanced countries. China has staged the greatest act of international pocket-picking in history, beggaring the U.S. by dumping trillions of dollars of cheap goods in it, which the United States bought with money largely borrowed from China. And as it spurned the importunity of the United States at Copenhagen, and basked in the adoration of the Third World, its leaders po-facedly demanding hundreds of billions of dollars to clean its economic growth, while refusing the donors the right to monitor the use of the money.
All Canadians should be proud of Stephen Harper. Of all the leaders of serious countries, he is the most conspicuously skeptical of this great eco-scam. This is Canada’s finest foreign policy hour since Mackenzie King supported Charles de Gaulle’s takeover of St. Pierre and Miquelon from Vichy at Christmas 1941, against the mindless opposition of the U.S. state department.
The great stars of Copenhagen were the Chinese and the Canadians. The Chinese strutted and gloried as a mighty economic growth story, a super-power presumptive, while leading the G-77, as the under-developed countries now modishly style themselves, out of the conference in protest against the supposed miserliness of the advanced countries. China has staged the greatest act of international pocket-picking in history, beggaring the U.S. by dumping trillions of dollars of cheap goods in it, which the United States bought with money largely borrowed from China. And as it spurned the importunity of the United States at Copenhagen, and basked in the adoration of the Third World, its leaders po-facedly demanding hundreds of billions of dollars to clean its economic growth, while refusing the donors the right to monitor the use of the money.
All Canadians should be proud of Stephen Harper. Of all the leaders of serious countries, he is the most conspicuously skeptical of this great eco-scam. This is Canada’s finest foreign policy hour since Mackenzie King supported Charles de Gaulle’s takeover of St. Pierre and Miquelon from Vichy at Christmas 1941, against the mindless opposition of the U.S. state department.
Christmas makes a comeback
Rex has a nice piece on Christmas. I have noticed that more people are saying Merry Christmas.
This is a difficult phenomenon to pick a quarrel with. But we live in a morbidly prickly age, and a hyper-consciously politically correct one and there have been souls – if that is not too large a term – who took umbrage at the singing of Silent Night and would flinch at being the target of so non-inclusive a greeting as Merry Christmas. But not as many, it seems, this year. Maybe it's a backlash against the backlash to traditional Christmas. It doesn't seem quite as daring this year to offer the traditional greeting, rather than the timid, mingy, costive Happy Holiday. I don't see quite as many ads for the winter solstice or those other evasive circumlocutions.
Maybe it's because 2009 has been so tumultuous and anxious a year, and we've gotten through it without the worst that some imagined, and few spoke of, happening. Perhaps this piece of good fortune puts a stay to more niggardly emotions, to those petty flares of egotism and self-regard that fuelled most of the “anti-Christmas” preciousness. Or maybe it's all much simpler. Maybe the great tidal force of common sense is reasserting itself. I have never really understood at all, in matters of this kind – certain human-rights complaints come equally to mind – why the objections of one or a few should have government over the innocent wishes and practices sanctioned by the tradition of millions. Why the merest flyspeck of “offence” should work to impoverish what Dr. Johnson, in a different context, called the “public stock of harmless pleasure.”
This is a difficult phenomenon to pick a quarrel with. But we live in a morbidly prickly age, and a hyper-consciously politically correct one and there have been souls – if that is not too large a term – who took umbrage at the singing of Silent Night and would flinch at being the target of so non-inclusive a greeting as Merry Christmas. But not as many, it seems, this year. Maybe it's a backlash against the backlash to traditional Christmas. It doesn't seem quite as daring this year to offer the traditional greeting, rather than the timid, mingy, costive Happy Holiday. I don't see quite as many ads for the winter solstice or those other evasive circumlocutions.
Maybe it's because 2009 has been so tumultuous and anxious a year, and we've gotten through it without the worst that some imagined, and few spoke of, happening. Perhaps this piece of good fortune puts a stay to more niggardly emotions, to those petty flares of egotism and self-regard that fuelled most of the “anti-Christmas” preciousness. Or maybe it's all much simpler. Maybe the great tidal force of common sense is reasserting itself. I have never really understood at all, in matters of this kind – certain human-rights complaints come equally to mind – why the objections of one or a few should have government over the innocent wishes and practices sanctioned by the tradition of millions. Why the merest flyspeck of “offence” should work to impoverish what Dr. Johnson, in a different context, called the “public stock of harmless pleasure.”
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Feast Of St Stephen
The feast day of the martyr St Stephen.
"Christian friends, your voices raise.
Wake the day with gladness.
God Himself to joy and praise
turns our human sadness:
Joy that martyrs won their crown,
opened heaven's bright portal,
when they laid the mortal down
for the life immortal."
(h/t)
"Christian friends, your voices raise.
Wake the day with gladness.
God Himself to joy and praise
turns our human sadness:
Joy that martyrs won their crown,
opened heaven's bright portal,
when they laid the mortal down
for the life immortal."
(h/t)
Krauthammer on Iran
Dr Krauthammer lambastes bo on the lost opportunities the US had in Iran this year. I agree. The US had the opportunity to push help push the murderous mullahs toward the abyss, instead bo did almost nothing while the murderous mullahs laughed at him. jimmy carter redux.
2009: The year of living fecklessly
By Charles Krauthammer
Friday, December 25, 2009
On Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not just reject President Obama's latest feckless floating nuclear deadline. He spat on it, declaring that Iran "will continue resisting" until the United States has gotten rid of its 8,000 nuclear warheads.
So ends 2009, the year of "engagement," of the extended hand, of the gratuitous apology -- and of spinning centrifuges, two-stage rockets and a secret enrichment facility that brought Iran materially closer to becoming a nuclear power.
We lost a year. But it was not just any year. It was a year of spectacularly squandered opportunity. In Iran, it was a year of revolution, beginning with a contested election and culminating this week in huge demonstrations mourning the death of the dissident Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri -- and demanding no longer a recount of the stolen election but the overthrow of the clerical dictatorship.
2009: The year of living fecklessly
By Charles Krauthammer
Friday, December 25, 2009
On Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not just reject President Obama's latest feckless floating nuclear deadline. He spat on it, declaring that Iran "will continue resisting" until the United States has gotten rid of its 8,000 nuclear warheads.
So ends 2009, the year of "engagement," of the extended hand, of the gratuitous apology -- and of spinning centrifuges, two-stage rockets and a secret enrichment facility that brought Iran materially closer to becoming a nuclear power.
We lost a year. But it was not just any year. It was a year of spectacularly squandered opportunity. In Iran, it was a year of revolution, beginning with a contested election and culminating this week in huge demonstrations mourning the death of the dissident Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri -- and demanding no longer a recount of the stolen election but the overthrow of the clerical dictatorship.
jihadi terror?
It seems the jihadis have once again tried to attack , this time on Christmas day. The jihadis usually kill many muslims. This latest attempt has resulted in increased security measures. Why any Muslim would join these terrorist scum , who mostly kill other Muslims and other innocent westerners is still a mystery to me. My Muslim friends are sickened, that these vermin try to say they kill in their names. Imams preaching this nonsense need to be ejected from their mosques by their parishioners. The war against terror must continue. The jihadis are still an imminent threat. They now also use other vehicles such as lawfare. We must must all continue to be vigilant. Have a nice time in Hawaii bo.
A Montreal woman said she feared for her life after hearing several bangs that sounded like gun shots, and seeing a man on fire while her plane was landing in Detroit Friday.
“The man was on fire and the flames were so high, they almost hit the roof of the plane,” said Dollard des Ormeaux resident Shama Chopra, 54, who travelled from Mumbai to Amsterdam, and then to Detroit, before landing in Montreal late last night.
Chopra said she was sitting in business class, about four rows ahead of the 23-year-old Nigerian man, who authorities said may have links to Al-Qa’ida. He apparently tried to set off an explosive device aboard the Delta Air Lines plane as it approached Detroit Friday, but was overpowered by passengers and crew.
A Montreal woman said she feared for her life after hearing several bangs that sounded like gun shots, and seeing a man on fire while her plane was landing in Detroit Friday.
“The man was on fire and the flames were so high, they almost hit the roof of the plane,” said Dollard des Ormeaux resident Shama Chopra, 54, who travelled from Mumbai to Amsterdam, and then to Detroit, before landing in Montreal late last night.
Chopra said she was sitting in business class, about four rows ahead of the 23-year-old Nigerian man, who authorities said may have links to Al-Qa’ida. He apparently tried to set off an explosive device aboard the Delta Air Lines plane as it approached Detroit Friday, but was overpowered by passengers and crew.
A rogue mullah
A very interesting obituary of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri. Seems even murderous mullahs can learn.
Going Rogue
Hosein Ali Montazeri, 1922-2009.
by Reuel Marc Gerecht
When I first encountered the Persian word mofangi, I struggled to grasp its meaning. It implies a certain timidity, physical weakness, and awkwardness. Seeking to put some flesh on that definition, my language tutor told me to envision Grand Ayatollah Hosein Ali Montazeri. "He's more than a little mofangi," remarked the tutor, expressing the condescension that well-educated, leftwing Iranians often have for the clergy who stole their revolution.
That was in the mid 1980s, and Montazeri was the number two cleric in Iran, a mullah who once passionately believed in exporting Iran's revolutionary tumult and was instrumental in building the institutions of Islam's first theocracy. Yet, unlike his former teacher and friend, the formidable Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Montazeri didn't scare anyone. With his big owlish glasses, squeaky voice, and sartorial dishevelment, Montazeri was clearly a man of the people--to the extent that any accomplished Shiite jurist can be an ordinary man.
Yet in the end Montazeri, who died last week at 87, caused, and will continue to cause, untold trouble for the regime. By the end of his life, he had come to represent the fusion of three unstoppable ideas: that the Islamic Republic as built by Khomeini and led by Khamenei is illegitimate; that only democracy can redeem the republic and save Islam as a vibrant faith capable of shaping society's mores; and that clerics who support Khamenei are intellectual dullards and moral reprobates. It was Montazeri's religious passion, his argumentative rigor, his common-man roots, and his courage that
drove the regime nuts. His disciples are everywhere.
For all my Iranian friends and readers
Going Rogue
Hosein Ali Montazeri, 1922-2009.
by Reuel Marc Gerecht
When I first encountered the Persian word mofangi, I struggled to grasp its meaning. It implies a certain timidity, physical weakness, and awkwardness. Seeking to put some flesh on that definition, my language tutor told me to envision Grand Ayatollah Hosein Ali Montazeri. "He's more than a little mofangi," remarked the tutor, expressing the condescension that well-educated, leftwing Iranians often have for the clergy who stole their revolution.
That was in the mid 1980s, and Montazeri was the number two cleric in Iran, a mullah who once passionately believed in exporting Iran's revolutionary tumult and was instrumental in building the institutions of Islam's first theocracy. Yet, unlike his former teacher and friend, the formidable Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Montazeri didn't scare anyone. With his big owlish glasses, squeaky voice, and sartorial dishevelment, Montazeri was clearly a man of the people--to the extent that any accomplished Shiite jurist can be an ordinary man.
Yet in the end Montazeri, who died last week at 87, caused, and will continue to cause, untold trouble for the regime. By the end of his life, he had come to represent the fusion of three unstoppable ideas: that the Islamic Republic as built by Khomeini and led by Khamenei is illegitimate; that only democracy can redeem the republic and save Islam as a vibrant faith capable of shaping society's mores; and that clerics who support Khamenei are intellectual dullards and moral reprobates. It was Montazeri's religious passion, his argumentative rigor, his common-man roots, and his courage that
drove the regime nuts. His disciples are everywhere.
For all my Iranian friends and readers
Friday, December 25, 2009
Persecution of Christians
It is not easy being Christian in many parts of the world on this the day of Our Saviour's birth. It is easy to profess our faith here, not so in Pakistan and many other lands. Let us support our brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember them in your prayers. Support organizations who try and help them. Pressure governments to respect human rights.( h/t)
Despicable chinese commies
The chinese commies have sentenced dissident Lu Xiabo to 11 years in prison. His crime? Asking for freedom and democratic reforms. I pray for the day that the people of China are delivered from the evil that is communism.
Chinese dissident's jailing draws international anger
Liu Xiaobo (left) met his wife for the first time in months at his sentencing
There has been widespread condemnation of the jailing by China of leading dissident, Liu Xiaobo, for subversion.
The US, UN and EU were joined by human rights groups in a chorus of anger over Mr Liu's 11-year sentence.
The UN human rights commissioner said it was "extremely harsh", and cast an ominous shadow over China's commitments to protect human rights.
Mr Liu, 53, helped draft Charter 08, a petition urging political change in China. His wife said he would appeal.
Liu Xia was allowed to see her husband for the first time since March at Friday's sentencing in the Chinese capital, Beijing.
Chinese dissident's jailing draws international anger
Liu Xiaobo (left) met his wife for the first time in months at his sentencing
There has been widespread condemnation of the jailing by China of leading dissident, Liu Xiaobo, for subversion.
The US, UN and EU were joined by human rights groups in a chorus of anger over Mr Liu's 11-year sentence.
The UN human rights commissioner said it was "extremely harsh", and cast an ominous shadow over China's commitments to protect human rights.
Mr Liu, 53, helped draft Charter 08, a petition urging political change in China. His wife said he would appeal.
Liu Xia was allowed to see her husband for the first time since March at Friday's sentencing in the Chinese capital, Beijing.
HM the Queen's Christmas Message
This has always been part of my Christmas.
We must not forget our soldiers who are far away, defending our freedom.
We must not forget our soldiers who are far away, defending our freedom.
Merry Christmas
I want to wish all my friends, family and all of my readers a very Happy Christmas and my best wishes for happy, prosperous and healthy 2010. May the Blessing of the Christ Child be upon you all. Here is a wonderful little card for you all. It was sent to me and now I send it to you.
Luke 2:1-20
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
More favourite Christmas songs.
Luke 2:1-20
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
More favourite Christmas songs.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A more conservative Canada
Jonathan Kay has a good piece extolling a more conservative Canada. We aren't quite there, but I think we have mad significant steps forward. I also congratulate HM PM Stephen Harper and my friend and Tory superstar HM Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
We can argue all day about the extent of Harper's fidelity to small-c conservative values. But overall, he provided the conservative movement with something absolutely indispensable: ruthless professionalism. Without that, nothing else matters. As the Reform Party demonstrated, voters can smell amateurism.
The supporting-actor award goes to Jason Kenney. If you told me 10 years ago that a religious, unapologetic, hardcore conservative like our current Citizenship Minister would have a prominent role in government, I wouldn't have believed you. But there he is, doing his thing. And in today's Canada, he gets away with it.
Last month, Kenney released a new citizenship guide for immigrants — a document that symbolizes, more than anything else, how much Ottawa has changed over the last decade. It contained this line: "Canada's openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, 'honour killings,' female genital mutilation or other gender-based violence. Those guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada's criminal laws."
That's something perfectly obvious to all of us. Yet until Kenney came around, no one in government dared say it — especially to immigrants, whom the Liberals so desperately courted at election time.
For that matter, who before Kenney would have had the guts to take on a pro-Hamas British MP on the public airwaves? Or to announce a cutoff in Canadian funding to an anti-Israel charity — and to have the balls to make the announcement ... in Israel? Every successful political movement needs a disciplinarian. But it also needs a badass — a guy with the guts to expand the range of acceptable political speech and gestures, for the benefit of everyone else in the movement, both inside and outside the government.
We can argue all day about the extent of Harper's fidelity to small-c conservative values. But overall, he provided the conservative movement with something absolutely indispensable: ruthless professionalism. Without that, nothing else matters. As the Reform Party demonstrated, voters can smell amateurism.
The supporting-actor award goes to Jason Kenney. If you told me 10 years ago that a religious, unapologetic, hardcore conservative like our current Citizenship Minister would have a prominent role in government, I wouldn't have believed you. But there he is, doing his thing. And in today's Canada, he gets away with it.
Last month, Kenney released a new citizenship guide for immigrants — a document that symbolizes, more than anything else, how much Ottawa has changed over the last decade. It contained this line: "Canada's openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, 'honour killings,' female genital mutilation or other gender-based violence. Those guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada's criminal laws."
That's something perfectly obvious to all of us. Yet until Kenney came around, no one in government dared say it — especially to immigrants, whom the Liberals so desperately courted at election time.
For that matter, who before Kenney would have had the guts to take on a pro-Hamas British MP on the public airwaves? Or to announce a cutoff in Canadian funding to an anti-Israel charity — and to have the balls to make the announcement ... in Israel? Every successful political movement needs a disciplinarian. But it also needs a badass — a guy with the guts to expand the range of acceptable political speech and gestures, for the benefit of everyone else in the movement, both inside and outside the government.
A bold step?
Chantal Hebert suggest that the grits are a spent force and need a defacto coalition with the dippers to survive. I just don't see this happening. If it does, it will gladden the hearts of many Tory strategists. It will essentially mean HM PM harper and the Tories will have reshaped the national scene into a left/right dichotomy. I would also be happy if this happened. I think the grits will finally officially admit that they have left the mushy middle and become leftists. I suspect that a great deal of the more conservative elements of the grits would join the Tory family. It is nice to see the deep ( if grudging) respect that Hebert has for HM PM Harper.
To put their coalition on the next ballot, the NDP and the Liberals would have to strike an electoral coalition and agree to run only one candidate of either party in each of the country's 308 ridings. Such a proposal would involve a lot of give-and-take – not least of which at the grassroots levels – and much heavy lifting on the part of the Liberal and New Democrat elite to make it happen. It would require nothing less than a dramatic change in the federal culture.
But that change is increasingly overdue.
The alternative is to continue on a downward spiral to ineffective minority Parliaments and/or virtual one-party rule under the Conservatives.
Over the past 25 years, the Liberals have lost all but one (2004) of the campaigns they fought against a united Conservative party. They are now a spent force in large areas of the country. The dice are loaded against their return to power, especially with a national majority.
Yet, the NDP is nowhere near being seen as a serious contender for government. And its fallback role of influence in a minority setting has turned out to be highly overrated when dealing with a government that would rather render Parliament irrelevant than allow the opposition to be relevant. From co-writing a budget with Paul Martin five years ago, Layton is now down to hoping for progressive policy crumbs to pick off Stephen Harper's table.
Seven years ago, Harper put his leadership in the balance of a major reconfiguration of his side of the federal scene.
His success in that endeavour, combined with the enduring presence of the Bloc Québécois, fundamentally changed the parameters of the federal electoral game. Instead of responding with new original moves, the Liberals and, to a lesser degree, the NDP have persisted in playing checkers on what had become a chessboard.
To put their coalition on the next ballot, the NDP and the Liberals would have to strike an electoral coalition and agree to run only one candidate of either party in each of the country's 308 ridings. Such a proposal would involve a lot of give-and-take – not least of which at the grassroots levels – and much heavy lifting on the part of the Liberal and New Democrat elite to make it happen. It would require nothing less than a dramatic change in the federal culture.
But that change is increasingly overdue.
The alternative is to continue on a downward spiral to ineffective minority Parliaments and/or virtual one-party rule under the Conservatives.
Over the past 25 years, the Liberals have lost all but one (2004) of the campaigns they fought against a united Conservative party. They are now a spent force in large areas of the country. The dice are loaded against their return to power, especially with a national majority.
Yet, the NDP is nowhere near being seen as a serious contender for government. And its fallback role of influence in a minority setting has turned out to be highly overrated when dealing with a government that would rather render Parliament irrelevant than allow the opposition to be relevant. From co-writing a budget with Paul Martin five years ago, Layton is now down to hoping for progressive policy crumbs to pick off Stephen Harper's table.
Seven years ago, Harper put his leadership in the balance of a major reconfiguration of his side of the federal scene.
His success in that endeavour, combined with the enduring presence of the Bloc Québécois, fundamentally changed the parameters of the federal electoral game. Instead of responding with new original moves, the Liberals and, to a lesser degree, the NDP have persisted in playing checkers on what had become a chessboard.
R.I.P. Lt. Andrew Nuttall
I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of another Canadian soldier. Losing a loved one any time is horrible. Losing someone at this time of the year is even more devastating. My deepest sympathies to the family and friends of this brave young hero. His sacrifice for freedom will not be forgotten. My sympathies also to the families of the Afghan soldier who was also killed.
Lt. Andrew Nuttall, along with an Afghan soldier, died when an improvised explosive device detonated in the town of Nakhoney, the military said early Thursday - Christmas Eve.
An interpreter was seriously injured.
Nuttall, 30, of Prince Rupert, B.C., belonged to the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton.
"Andrew came to Afghanistan because he honestly thought he could make a difference to the people of Afghanistan," said Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard, commander of coalition forces in Kandahar province.
"He wanted to lead from the front and set the example, attributes he passionately displayed every time he was in front of his platoon."
Menard described Nuttall as generous, someone who always had a smile on his face and "greeted everyone he met with enthusiasm and goodwill."
Nuttall is survived by his mother Jane and father Richard.
In a statement, Nuttall's family said he always put others ahead of himself and they were proud of his decision to join the military. The statement added that he believed his service in Afghanistan was making a difference.
"We have lost a bright light in our lives," the family said.
A list of all who have died defending freedom on the Afghan mission.
Josh Groban sings Christmas
Some Christmas songs from another one of my favourite singers, Josh Groban.
A Paper from Canada
An interesting new paper from Canada. Dr. Lu finds that CO2 is not the main culprit and predicts global cooling for the next 50 years. (h/t)
"My findings do not agree with the climate models that conventionally thought that greenhouse gases, mainly CO2, are the major culprits for the global warming seen in the late 20th century," Lu said. "Instead, the observed data show that CFCs conspiring with cosmic rays most likely caused both the Antarctic ozone hole and global warming. These findings are totally unexpected and striking, as I was focused on studying the mechanism for the formation of the ozone hole, rather than global warming."
His conclusions are based on observations that from 1950 up to now, the climate in the Arctic and Antarctic atmospheres has been completely controlled by CFCs and cosmic rays, with no CO2 impact.
"Most remarkably, the total amount of CFCs, ozone-depleting molecules that are well-known greenhouse gases, has decreased around 2000," Lu said. "Correspondingly, the global surface temperature has also dropped. In striking contrast, the CO2 level has kept rising since 1850 and now is at its largest growth rate."
In his research, Lu discovers that while there was global warming from 1950 to 2000, there has been global cooling since 2002. The cooling trend will continue for the next 50 years, according to his new research observations.
"My findings do not agree with the climate models that conventionally thought that greenhouse gases, mainly CO2, are the major culprits for the global warming seen in the late 20th century," Lu said. "Instead, the observed data show that CFCs conspiring with cosmic rays most likely caused both the Antarctic ozone hole and global warming. These findings are totally unexpected and striking, as I was focused on studying the mechanism for the formation of the ozone hole, rather than global warming."
His conclusions are based on observations that from 1950 up to now, the climate in the Arctic and Antarctic atmospheres has been completely controlled by CFCs and cosmic rays, with no CO2 impact.
"Most remarkably, the total amount of CFCs, ozone-depleting molecules that are well-known greenhouse gases, has decreased around 2000," Lu said. "Correspondingly, the global surface temperature has also dropped. In striking contrast, the CO2 level has kept rising since 1850 and now is at its largest growth rate."
In his research, Lu discovers that while there was global warming from 1950 to 2000, there has been global cooling since 2002. The cooling trend will continue for the next 50 years, according to his new research observations.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Charity at Christmas
Matthew 25:34-4034 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
In Canada most of us are incredibly blessed. This is a time of joy. A time for family and friends . A time to welcome Our Lord and Saviour into our homes and hearts.
Charity and volunteer work are vital to us, as much as to those we give to. The Salvation Army does amazing work with the poor. I always donate to them and a variety of charities at Christmas. I hope you remember them wherever you see their kettles or better yet send some cheques to the charities of your choice.
In Canada most of us are incredibly blessed. This is a time of joy. A time for family and friends . A time to welcome Our Lord and Saviour into our homes and hearts.
Charity and volunteer work are vital to us, as much as to those we give to. The Salvation Army does amazing work with the poor. I always donate to them and a variety of charities at Christmas. I hope you remember them wherever you see their kettles or better yet send some cheques to the charities of your choice.
The bells ring, not majestic bells from old cathedrals, not alarm bells from high office towers.
No, little bells shaken by Ruth Horney, a lively 70-year-old who lived 38 years in Trail, B.C., and worked on the presses for the local paper and thinks it is a good idea to get out and help.
Having taken the bus into downtown, Ruth is in a busy location at the lunch hour, in the walkway going to Bankers Hall, prime real estate.
Swanky, too. A designer sale, a dining spot being outfitted with crisp white linen, a shoeshine while you wait. Sushi, Belgian truffles. It's all here. You especially notice the flowers, glass vases of beautiful flowers. You notice the price tags as well. Here's one for $130, another $230.
Excellent
HM Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty is talking about sashing government spending. That is an excellent idea. Much of government spending is inherently wasteful. We don't need so much nanny state. Cut! Cut! Cut! While you're at it cut the civil service by 25%.
OTTAWA–Faced with the largest federal deficit in history, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says he will start looking for programs to axe and government assets to sell off as soon as the economy recovers.
"It's necessary for restraint to happen" to rein in Ottawa's spending, Flaherty told the Toronto Star in a year-end interview.
"We get hundreds and hundreds of programs that just trundle along, growing at 3 or 4 per cent a year or more – ahead of the rate of inflation – and it takes some resolve to restrain that spending growth."
With a chuckle, he admitted that slashing government programs can prompt public outrage. "Every program has a group of people who believe strongly in that program," he said.
OTTAWA–Faced with the largest federal deficit in history, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says he will start looking for programs to axe and government assets to sell off as soon as the economy recovers.
"It's necessary for restraint to happen" to rein in Ottawa's spending, Flaherty told the Toronto Star in a year-end interview.
"We get hundreds and hundreds of programs that just trundle along, growing at 3 or 4 per cent a year or more – ahead of the rate of inflation – and it takes some resolve to restrain that spending growth."
With a chuckle, he admitted that slashing government programs can prompt public outrage. "Every program has a group of people who believe strongly in that program," he said.
Our Princes' Charity work
HRH Prince William helps the homeless and many other charities.
Watch Prince William leads teens on charity climb.(20090726) in News | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
HRH Prince Henry on his work in Lesotho.
Watch Prince William leads teens on charity climb.(20090726) in News | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
HRH Prince Henry on his work in Lesotho.
Freedom for the People of Iran
My friend Winston has a great post about freedom for the land of his birth. The murderous mullahs must go.
If only the stupid government bureaucrats in western countries realized the massive potentials of a free Iran at the heart of the middle-east. It's absurdly unfortunate that they don't seem to grasp the reality and what they've done so far has bolstered the regime through these endless nuclear negotiations. The western governments' concern about nuclear weapons in the hands of the current rapist regime in Tehran is truly understandable but there is no chance to disarm this regime by talking to them. It's imperative that the current regime be prevented from having any nuclear weapons capability for the sake of international peace and safety. A brutal regime that doesn't have mercy on its own people, can not be trusted with weapons of mass murder. But the way to achieve this is not through endless negotiations.
If only the stupid government bureaucrats in western countries realized the massive potentials of a free Iran at the heart of the middle-east. It's absurdly unfortunate that they don't seem to grasp the reality and what they've done so far has bolstered the regime through these endless nuclear negotiations. The western governments' concern about nuclear weapons in the hands of the current rapist regime in Tehran is truly understandable but there is no chance to disarm this regime by talking to them. It's imperative that the current regime be prevented from having any nuclear weapons capability for the sake of international peace and safety. A brutal regime that doesn't have mercy on its own people, can not be trusted with weapons of mass murder. But the way to achieve this is not through endless negotiations.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sarah Palin in Hamilton
I will be attending the event in Hamilton. You can buy tickets at the number listed above. It should be a very interesting day. Why not meet the real person , instead of the leftist media spin fantasy figure, you think you know.
More Goldstein on the sham
Kyoto was an absurd treaty, that had no effect. Indeed the grit hypocrites signed the treaty and the CO2 levels increased substantially. Lorrie Goldstein congratulates HM PM harper and the Tories for understanding the obvious.
Congratulations to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister Jim Prentice for receiving both the "Colossal Fossil" award and the most "Fossil of the Day" awards from the enviro nuts at the now-concluded Copenhagen climate summit.
This means Harper and Prentice remembered their duty in Copenhagen was to represent Canadian taxpayers, not radicals who would happily destroy our economy, primarily for ideological reasons.
As Harper and Prentice noted, Canada achieved some success in Copenhagen.
The conference formally recognized that the successor agreement to the Kyoto accord, which expires at the end of 2012, must have the active participation of all 192 countries in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, not just the 37 industrialized nations, including Canada, targeted for emission cuts under Kyoto.
Kyoto, requiring Canada to reduce its emissions by an average of 6% below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012, while demanding absolutely no cuts from more than 150 other countries, including the world's two biggest GHG emitters -- China and the U.S. -- is an absurd treaty.
Congratulations to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister Jim Prentice for receiving both the "Colossal Fossil" award and the most "Fossil of the Day" awards from the enviro nuts at the now-concluded Copenhagen climate summit.
This means Harper and Prentice remembered their duty in Copenhagen was to represent Canadian taxpayers, not radicals who would happily destroy our economy, primarily for ideological reasons.
As Harper and Prentice noted, Canada achieved some success in Copenhagen.
The conference formally recognized that the successor agreement to the Kyoto accord, which expires at the end of 2012, must have the active participation of all 192 countries in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, not just the 37 industrialized nations, including Canada, targeted for emission cuts under Kyoto.
Kyoto, requiring Canada to reduce its emissions by an average of 6% below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012, while demanding absolutely no cuts from more than 150 other countries, including the world's two biggest GHG emitters -- China and the U.S. -- is an absurd treaty.
His All Holiness Bartholomew
A profile of the Ecumenical Patriarch. There is persecution of the Christian Church in Turkey. Why is this consistent with entry into the eu?
Climate realists on Fox
Fox News special featuring Canadians Ross McKitrick and Steve McIntyre. Phil Jones and Michael Mann are in hiding.
Monday, December 21, 2009
daily kos on obamacare
The GOP will reap huge gains from obamacare. The left and right agree.
DR. HOWARD DEAN (D-VT): For me, I'd kill the bill all entirely.
MR. MOULITSAS: And according to my own polling, we use an independent pollster, 86 percent of Republicans plan on turning out or are likely to turn out. Only 56 percent of Democrats are--similarly believe they're going to turn out or likely to turn out. Only 32 percent of African-Americans, only 41 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds. We have numbers like that, we're going to get killed in 2010. So the Democrats have to start paying attention to the base, have to start probably picking some fights. I mean, maybe regulatory reform could be a way to do that.
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DR. HOWARD DEAN (D-VT): For me, I'd kill the bill all entirely.
MR. MOULITSAS: And according to my own polling, we use an independent pollster, 86 percent of Republicans plan on turning out or are likely to turn out. Only 56 percent of Democrats are--similarly believe they're going to turn out or likely to turn out. Only 32 percent of African-Americans, only 41 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds. We have numbers like that, we're going to get killed in 2010. So the Democrats have to start paying attention to the base, have to start probably picking some fights. I mean, maybe regulatory reform could be a way to do that.
500 papers refute the Chicken Littles
Al Gore says there are almost no papers refuting his hoax. he hasn't looked very hard.
The following papers support skepticism of "man-made" global warming or the environmental or economic effects of.
The following papers support skepticism of "man-made" global warming or the environmental or economic effects of.
Polling the pols
An interesting piece in the Hill Times on what our federal politicians think. See if you agree. I certainly agree with numbers 1, 2 and 6.
1. Who was the year's most valuable politician?
Stephen Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has come a long way this year, from an embarrassing backtrack on the economic update in which he almost lost his government, to playing the piano and singing the Beatles' Get By With A Little Help From My Friends to a titillated crowd at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Along the way he and his wife, Laureen, clapped along to Bollywood dancers in India and he will soon be playing host to the Winter Olympics in February. It's been a good turnaround that showed his chameleon-like ability to adjust to a changing landscape.
Conservative MP James Rajotte says Mr. Harper has "found his groove."
"If you look at last fall when we were certainly in some trouble, politically, to where we are now, he seems to have really found his groove and just have done an excellent job as Prime Minister, both on the political side but as well, I think more important, on the government side."
2. Who was the year's least valuable politician?
Michael Ignatieff
1. Who was the year's most valuable politician?
Stephen Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has come a long way this year, from an embarrassing backtrack on the economic update in which he almost lost his government, to playing the piano and singing the Beatles' Get By With A Little Help From My Friends to a titillated crowd at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Along the way he and his wife, Laureen, clapped along to Bollywood dancers in India and he will soon be playing host to the Winter Olympics in February. It's been a good turnaround that showed his chameleon-like ability to adjust to a changing landscape.
Conservative MP James Rajotte says Mr. Harper has "found his groove."
"If you look at last fall when we were certainly in some trouble, politically, to where we are now, he seems to have really found his groove and just have done an excellent job as Prime Minister, both on the political side but as well, I think more important, on the government side."
2. Who was the year's least valuable politician?
Michael Ignatieff
Our Royal Family
The Telegraph has a wonderful photo essay on the Royal Family in the first decade of the new millenium.
Educating Rita
I recently saw the Segal production of Educating Rita. It was extremely well done. The acting was great. the actor who played Frank ( Ian Deakin) was alast minute replacement. Carly Street who played Rita was also good. The play was funny and poignant. It reminds me of Shirley Valentine. The pretentiousness of academia was evident. The set was great. It was an enjoyable evening of theater.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Stuff Happens
I recently attended the Mirvish co production of Stuff Happens. It is David Hare's speculative drama on the Iraq war. It was an interesting and well acted play. However it had a somewhat leftist anti American viewpoint. It portrayed Collin Powell as a hero and the had some of the usual Bush bashing. It did have one speech actually celebrating freedom for the Iraqi people. There was some balance in the play and President Bush did come off as someone who did get what he wanted done, done. The staging was auster, yet effective. It was an interesting play . It had rave reviews in the past. I thought I would hate the play, but I didn't
More on NPR
Free Speech and Liberty Symposium
I attended The Ottawa Free Speech and Liberty Symposium and the evening event of the Macdonald Cartier Society event 2 weeks ago. It was a great day of discussing freedom. I saw many friends like Joseph Ben Ami , Gerry Nichols, Deborah Gyopang ( who as usual took pictures), Fred Litwin, Connie and Marc Fournier and many others. I did meet Walker Morrow who reported extensively on the events.
My friend Gerry Nichols gave two great speeches. Brian Lee Crowley, John Robson and Joseph Ben Ami also gave great speeches. I particularly enjoyed John Robson's speech on the history of liberty.
The Macdonald Cartier society has another great even in Toronto on January 23, 2010. You shuld attend it is a great line up of speakers.
My friend Gerry Nichols gave two great speeches. Brian Lee Crowley, John Robson and Joseph Ben Ami also gave great speeches. I particularly enjoyed John Robson's speech on the history of liberty.
The Macdonald Cartier society has another great even in Toronto on January 23, 2010. You shuld attend it is a great line up of speakers.
Goldstein's copenhagen awards
Lorrie Goldstein has a reply to the chicken littles fossil awards.
Copenhagen sure was a gas
... and here are a few emissions awards we'd like to see handed out to the deserving
Now that the enviro nuts have finished handing out their "Fossil of the Day" and "Colossal Fossil" awards, unfairly smearing Canada at the just-completed Copenhagen climate summit, let's return the favour with some well-deserved honours of our own.
Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, we present the Copenhagen Flatulence Awards, honouring those who raised the art of generating hot air and gassy emissions to new intensity levels during the UN-sponsored festival of indignation....
Copenhagen sure was a gas
... and here are a few emissions awards we'd like to see handed out to the deserving
Now that the enviro nuts have finished handing out their "Fossil of the Day" and "Colossal Fossil" awards, unfairly smearing Canada at the just-completed Copenhagen climate summit, let's return the favour with some well-deserved honours of our own.
Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, we present the Copenhagen Flatulence Awards, honouring those who raised the art of generating hot air and gassy emissions to new intensity levels during the UN-sponsored festival of indignation....
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