R.I.P.

The music flag flies at half-staff today.
Wilson Pickett has died. The soul giant was 64.
The man could flat-out sing.
R.I.P.

The REAL enviro agenda

Major league shout-out to Fred for discovering this one.

The global population is higher than the Earth can sustain, argues the Director of the British Antarctic Survey in the first of a series of environmental opinion pieces on the BBC News website entitled The Green Room.
Meet Chris Rapley, in his own words...
Although reducing human emissions to the atmosphere is undoubtedly of critical importance, as are any and all measures to reduce the human environmental "footprint", the truth is that the contribution of each individual cannot be reduced to zero.
Only the lack of the individual can bring it down to nothing.
The Montreal climate talks: Did they have the issue right? So if we believe that the size of the human "footprint" is a serious problem (and there is much evidence for this) then a rational view would be that along with a raft of measures to reduce the footprint per person, the issue of population management must be addressed.
Let us assume (reasonably) that an optimum human population level exists, which would provide the physical and intellectual capacity to ensure a rich and fulfilling life for all, but would represent a call upon the services of the planet which would be benign and hence sustainable over the long term.
A scientific analysis can tell us what that optimum number is (perhaps 2-3 billion?).
With that number and a timescale as targets, a path to reach "Utopia" from where we are now is, in principle, a straightforward matter of identifying options, choosing the approach and then planning and navigating the route from source to destination.
Oh, let's just off 4 billion people.
That's just a holocaust 670 times greater than Hitler's madness in World War II.
And we'll let Chris Rapley choose, right?
He can go straight to hell.

This is not a rant.

Open mouth, insert both feet all the way up to the hip

Can things get more bizarre?
LONDON, Ont. — The Liberals are in full damage control this afternoon after a high-profile campaign endorsement by the head of Canada’s largest private-sector labour union turned disastrous.
Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove used a campaign stop in nearby Strathroy to call Conservative Leader Stephen Harper a separatist whose Alberta-born political principles place him outside mainstream Canadian values.
He seemed to agree with questioners that Quebecers vote for the Bloc Quebecois over the Conservatives.
Prime Minister Paul Martin issued a retraction on Hargrove’s behalf as soon as the comments hit the news wires, and was forced to praise Harper’s patriotism in an effort to quell the controversy.
Kiss that trip to the Senate goodbye, Buzz.
And forget about getting back on Jack Layton's good side, too, while you're at it.
Oh, and by the way, Kyoto will kill your union because you won't have any automakers left. Did you know that?

Well, maybe...

You Are an Indie Rocker! You are in it for the love of the music...And you couldn't care less about being signed by a big label.You're all about loving and supporting music - not commercial success.You may not have the fame and glory, but you have complete control of your career.

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

Some talking points

* Where is Paul Martin campaigning these last days of the campaign? In areas where his party is trying to hold on for his cabinet -- Screeching Annie and Ralph Malph Goodale. Where is Stephen Harper campaigning these last days? In areas where his party has a chance to gain seats. Does that say something to you?

How low can they go?

Limbo lower now.
Limbo lower now.
This is how low...
Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan filed a lawsuit today against Liberal MP Denis Coderre, alleging the former sports minister falsely accused him of making a slur against francophones during an NHL game.
Doan also demanded that Coderre make a public retraction in the motion filed in Quebec superior court.
Coderre had asked Hockey Canada in a letter on Dec. 22 to expel Doan from Canada’s Olympic hockey team unless he apologized for reportedly uttering an ethnic slur to referee Stephane Auger at the end of a Dec. 13 game between the Coyotes and the Montreal Canadiens.
Copies of the letter were released to the media.
Doan denied making the remark and an investigation by the NHL found no evidence that he used an ethnic slur.
Coderre, the federal MP for the Montreal riding of Bourassa, said during a news conference today that he would not apologize and vowed to fight the lawsuit “right up to the end.”
He said he asked the NHL for a copy of the referees’ report on the incident and was turned down. He said he would have the report and the referees’ account of the incident made public in court if necessary.
But Colin Campbell, the NHL’s executive vice-president and league discipliarian, said Coderre won’t see it.
“Our game reports are not for public dissemination and particularly not for politicians who may be using this whole disjointed affair to seemingly garner votes,” Campbell told The Canadian Press.
The motion said Doan was seeking reparations for damages to his reputation over “false and defamatory” remarks made by Coderre, both in his letter to Hockey Canada and to the media.
The player asked for $200,000 in moral damages and $50,000 in punitive damages. The motion said Doan, who is earning $3 million US this season, would donate any money he is awarded to charity.
In an affidavit attached to the motion, Doan said he “did not make any comment that could be construed as derogatory toward French-speaking people during the hockey game.
“Such remarks are completely incompatible with the values I espouse as both a hockey player and a proud Canadian.”
Doan, from Halkirk, Alta., was given a misconduct penalty by Auger for verbal abuse of the officials at the end of the game won by Montreal at the Bell Centre. Both referees and both linesmen for the game were francophones.
“Something happened,” Coderre said at a news conference. "There’s no doubt in my mind that on Dec. 13, something happened, so why can’t we see that report?”
Coderre repeated the alleged ethnic slur in his letter to Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson, a copy of which was sent to Canadian Olympic Committee president Mike Chambers.
In his letter, Coderre said that Doan “has not only insulted our country’s francophones, but the vast majority of Canadians.”
Chambers concluded there was no evidence Doan made the remark and said he was told it may have been made by another player on the ice.
Doan made a formal request to Coderre on Dec. 23 that he retract his statements within 10 days.
Coderre is desperate for votes, for sure, eh?
Shane Doan is the captain of the Phoenix Coyotes.
He works for Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky wouldn't put up with that crap for a minute.
And Colin Campbell's observation (emphasis mine) was brilliant.
“Our game reports are not for public dissemination and particularly not for politicians who may be using this whole disjointed affair to seemingly garner votes.”
Give Coderre a negative score on his IQ test.
In this campaign, that might be a high grade for the Liberals, though.

Pity party for Paulie

The arrogance of some people...
Liberal Leader Paul Martin chastised NDP Leader Jack Layton, claiming he had given up the fight against the Tory agenda to attack the Liberals.
"Jack Layton has been making some very strange comments during this campaign. He's attacked Liberals, not Conservatives. In fact, he's all but ignored Stephen Harper."
Martin said Layton would rather risk a Harper victory "than be faithful to his own party's principles."
Layton has asked Liberal voters to "lend" their vote to the NDP while the Liberals cleanse themselves of the sponsorship scandal.
"Jack Layton has taken a pass" on fighting the Conservatives, who will end the Kyoto climate-change deal, cut social programs and introduce a socially conservative agenda, Martin said on Tuesday, during a tour of a solar-power company in Burnaby, B.C.
Martin is calling for a "coalition of progressive voters," to unite behind Liberal candidates in order to deny the Conservative party an electoral victory.
CBC News reporter James Cudmore said the new attack on Layton marks a shift in Liberal campaign strategy – an acknowledgement that Martin is now facing a fight on two fronts.
He said that since the weekend, the mood in the Liberal camp has darkened.
Wow.
What arrogance.
Martin can't run his own campaign, and he's telling Jack Layton how to run his?
Layton is running a wise campaign. He knows that he's not going to pick up many voters who might support Stephen Harper, except perhaps in ridings where the Conservative candidate is weak and the NDP might unseat a Liberal. He also knows that he's not going to lose votes to the Conservatives, except perhaps in ridings where the Conservatives are in position to dump a Liberal. He knows any increase in his party's vote totals will come from disaffected voters who had been in the Liberal camp.
The same is true for Harper.
The logical target for both men is... poor Paulie. He's getting picked on from both sides.
All sides, really...
Even Landslide Screeching Annie is on his case.
Canada's deputy prime minister acknowledged Tuesday that Prime Minister Paul Martin's national campaign has hurt her re-election chances.
The comments from Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan were a further indication of disarray in the ruling Liberal Party which is trailing badly in polls ahead of the Jan. 23 elections.
McLellan said she has spent too much time defending Martin to her constituents in the western Canadian city of Edmonton, Alberta.
"It's the national campaign and they've done something they don't like and we have to respond to that and it takes time," McLellan said. "I wish I could be out there talking more positively about what we have done."
McLellan made the comments in an interview broadcast on the CBC.
I, for one, and I'm sure Candace would agree, that it would be interesting to hear just how one can talk positively about misappropriating billions of dollars, etc.

I'm goin' down

(Sung by Paulie and the Libranos from their forthcoming CD "Rockin' the Jailhouse")

I go to the hall that would always be full
I would feel the heat coming 'round
I go inside and to my surprise
there's hardly a soul inside to be found
and you let out one of your bored sighs
Well lately when I look into your eyes
I'm goin' down, down, down, down
I'm goin' down, down, down, down
I'm goin' down, down, down, down
I'm goin' down, down, down, down

I used to have 'em all in my grasp
I scared them off Stephen, gave 'em all quite a fright
But now, old friends have been setting me up
Setting me up just to knock-a down, down, down, down
I'm goin' down, down, down, down
I'm goin' down, down, down, down
I'm goin' down, down, down, down

I reach out but all you offer's a smirk
It's clear that you think I'm only a jerk
My promises used to turn you inside out
Now, it looks like I ain't got no clout
I don't want to let go of the scene that I've got
The power I had would drive me wild
But lately you get your kicks from just driving me down, down, down, down
I don't wanna go down, down, down, down
But I'm goin' down, down, down, down
Damn, I'm goin' down, down, down, down

(Adapted from Bruce Springsteen)

Well, well, well...

This is very interesting...

Border agents arrested a Canadian truck driver Monday after finding nine illegal immigrants from China hiding in the back of his tractor-trailer.
"It was another one of those cases where the officer got suspicious while asking the driver routine questions," Ronald Smith, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said Monday. "Agents became suspicious because the driver was acting nervous."
The illegal immigrants -- six women and three men -- were in excellent physical condition.
The driver, 39, of Windsor was delivering a load of steel to Gary, Ind., and crossed into Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge. Agents discovered the illegal immigrants hiding in the trailer after the driver was told to open the doors. Border officials did not name the driver.
The driver was detained pending federal criminal charges.
The illegal immigrants were detained, pending debriefing as potential witnesses and deportation to Canada.

China, huh? Paul Martin's favourite country, outside of his own (I think).
Should I be suspicious?

Defining deviancy down, example 3,687,449

And now, a word from our sponsor, Trojans (TM)...

BOGOTA, Colombia - A western Colombian city councilman wants to require everyone in town 14 or older to carry a condom to prevent pregnancy and disease, outraging local priests.
William Pena, a councilman in Tulua, said Wednesday he will present a formal proposal to force all men and women - even those just visiting - to always carry at least one condom. Those caught empty-pocketed could pay a fine of $180 or take a safe sex course, he said.

Read the whole thing here.

Super Bore countdown

Well, we're down to four teams in the running for Super Bore XL (the extra-large boring version), complete with a halftime show by the geriatric Rolling Stones.
I have a history of not paying a lot of attention to the Super Bore (hey, I didn't even see Janet Jackson's famous flash).
What would make me pay attention this time around?
Only one thing: the Pittsburgh Steelers in it.
Why the Steelers?
1. I'm a Pennsylvanian. The Steelers are in Pennsylvania.
2. Bill Cowher is the most enjoyable coach to watch during a game. His emotions are never hidden.
3. Jerome Bettis is a class guy and a class player (Thank God his fumble didn't cost 'em against the Colts).
4. Carolina is coached by a Bill Parcells disciple. That should disqualify them forthwith, even though one of their special teams stars is the guy who got some fame from the late, unlamented XFL for putting "HE HATE ME" as his name on the back of his jersey.
5. Denver has won a couple of Super Bowls in the past decade. Sorry.
6. Seattle foisted grunge, Microsoft and Starbucks on us. Three strikes and they're out. (Besides, Mike Holmgren has a Super Bowl ring from his days coaching in Green Bay.)
So, go Steelers!
Otherwise, I'll be spending Super Bore Sunday XL watching a movie someplace.

The final countdown...

There's less than a week to go now before Canadians elect a new Parliament.
By all accounts, the reigning Liberal Party is in deep trouble.
Where is the January surprise?
Were the new oft-mocked and discredited "we're not making this up" ads supposed to be the hatchet that cut down the Conservatives?
Or will that phrase go down in political history next to "I voted for it before I voted against it" in the list of ill-spoken words by losers?
See me this time next week. Only then will we know for sure.

All I can do from this vantage point is hope. You Canadians know what you have to do.
---
Heard from the mouth of Milwaukee talk show host Mark Felling, who was filling in for Rush Limbaugh today... [as best I can recall it...]
"If the Canadians elect a Conservative prime minister in Stephen Harper and the U.S. elects Hillary president... Hillary will socialize medicine in the U.S., Harper will fix the system in Canada and we'll be going north for health care, instead of the other way around."
Whaddaya thimk?

Conservatives mentally deficient, liberal shrinks' study claims

By S.A. TIRE
MSM News Service

BOSTON -- Conservatives are lacking in certain brain skills, according to a study released today by a pair of noted liberal experts.
"The dysfunction we have noted in our study is remarkable," wrote Dr. Ziggy Moondust, former rock star and George Soros Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry and the Heartbreak of Psoriasis at Kos University, and Dr. Al K. Hall, Edward M. Kennedy Professor of Interpersonal Relationships and Inebriating Liquids at Chappaquiddick State University.
"Conservatives' brains are incapable of understanding certain truths that we hold to be self-evident. These include: that government is the source of all good in our world, and the more the better; that government can do anything better than anyone else; and that people are not really responsible for their own actions, but that society is to blame," the experts claimed.
The study of approximately 26 conservative bloggers' writings also showed a distinct belief that rights were granted by a "creator," rather than the government, Moondust and Hall wrote, and that there are standards which are set for everyone, not just those who are not amongst the elite of the world.
"They cannot accept that we, the besht and brightesht, (hic), desherve to... to... set the shtandardsh for ev(hic)everybody elsh," Hall slurred. "Excush me, I've been doin' shum research."
"Yeah, man, he's right," Moondust chimed in. "Wow, I mean, really. We want to do what we want and not have to feel, like, you know, guilty about it. And those people can't wrap their tiny little brains around that. They're such 'tards, you know?"
The study was funded by grants from the Howard Dean for President in 2008 Committee and the Get Cindy Sheehan Out of Jail Free Organization.
---
This story is as real as the Memogate papers and the Koran-jammed toilets at Club Gitmo.
Film at 11.