Alleged Journalism

I was happy to see Peter Mansbridge lead with the Haditha investigation story on tonight's CBC news.

I was less happy to hear them dub it "the alleged massacre". The facts of a massacre are right there in the three houses with bloody corpses shot at close range by U.S. Marines in the middle of the night. At least 20 were killed, including five children and a blind septagenarian man. One child was shot up until her head was blown off, according to the mother of a Marine sent in the following day as part of the clean-up team. Child witnesses described these incidents and forensics back it up.

I just don't see the need to qualify that with "alleged". A massacre is a massacre and the word is altogether appropriate. There's no point trying to be nice about it.

- 30 -

Angry Young, man

He may be a little late to the party, but it sure is good to hear the grand-daddy of angry young men finally put his two cents in. As the Gazetteer graciously points out, you can hear the whole streamed version of Neil Young's new very very anti-Dubya diatribe, Living With War by clicking on his website (or here).

And wow, it rocks. It rocks like a brazen, daring, unkempt Neil Young the likes we only got a hint of with 1989's "Rockin' in the Free World". Basically, it's like Bob Mould has been tweaking his guitar sound or something.

Now I was never more than a luke-warm fan of Young's (didn't he usedta hang out with a bunch of freakin hippies?) But then he won me over some with the props he gave to Johnny Rotten in that Hey Hey My My song or whatever it's called... Still, a lot of his material just leaves me yawning instead of fawning.

Not this time out though: this album has pure classic written all over it. It opens with "After the Garden" (of Eden I presume?), which takes Bono to school on how to write an anthemic rock song. The next song is the title track; then you've got "Shock and Awe" and "Flags of Freedom" among other heavy-hitters before you get to (oh my) "Let's Impeach the President".

Feel free to spell it right out there, eh Neil?

Of course he did wait until it became good and safe before taking this stand. And he's certainly not the first to say these things, but I think this album - coming out at this time - might have a wee impact. Having very recently spent two weeks among the fresh-faced youth at Abercrombie & Fitch's head office, I can attest to the fact that Dubya has officially become the anti-cool president among the cool kids who, in their capacity at A&F, pretty much dictate "cool" policy among the cool-kids and their contemporary cool-kid wannabes. Maybe it's because they're in Ohio, I dunno, but I got a definite sense that Bush has precious few folks standing up for him (or proud of him) anymore.

That's not quite the same situation as in 2002, when Steve Earle's brilliant and sage Jerusalem came out.

And apart from that, while others have crafted some truly intelligent protest songs (check out the late Joe Strummer's "Get Down Moses" and Son Volt's "Endless War" off Okemah And The Melody Of Riot) they don't nearly approach Young's ability to strike a chord (pardon the pun) with the American psyche.

The return of the angry Young comes at a time when just about the whole nation is angry with Bushco in varying degrees, and I sure as hell don't blame 'em.

- 30 -

The Revolution Will Not Be Digitized

On a day when massive protests against the Iraq war brought out "tens of thousands" of people according to the Associated Press, why does the online NY Times and Washington Post not have even a mention of it, while CNN has it showcased with a photo at the top of its site? (I have snagged screen captures in gif files that I feel sheepish about posting, but will gladly email to any doubters out there.)

Shame on them - especially on the Times, being right there in NYC and all - for ignoring the voice of the people just like Bushco wants.

For a nice round-up of photos, go check out what CathiefromCanada has compiled on her site.

- 30 -

Original Song #25: You're Canadian

Apologies for the extremely light blogging of late. I was on one long business trip and just got home after 12 days in central Ohio. Oh my. Is it ever good to be back. I won't go into the details here, but it brings to mind this song I wrote a year ago. It's a light-hearted response to that all-American semi-rhetorical question - the one that so many of my fine United States friends have a very hard time getting their heads around: "Why wouldn't any foreigner want to be American?" If you still don't get it after reading below, that's okay. You probably have to be Canadian (perhaps even Quebec-Canadian) to completely understand. Just know that I'm happy being a Canuck, and particularly, a Montrealer, and it's nothing against your fine (but troubled) nation.

BTW: GOHABSGO!

You're Canadian

Big deal
You’re Canadian
Travel anywhere in the world at a whim
They treat you extra nice
You’re not American
They take it on first blush that you’re polite

CHORUS:
But since you asked me
What matters most, I’ll tell ya:
I wanna be
Playing pickup hockey on an outdoor rink in St-Henri
I wanna be
Sipping IPAs on the terrasse at a Brasserie
I wanna be somewhere I’m free

Big deal
You’re multicultural
Too many syllables and what does it get you?
So what if Sikhs
Can wear their turbans
While they’re working on the job in the RCMP?

CHORUS

So I’m glad
I’m Canadian
Even though the winters are truly atrocious
Cause just surviving that
Taught us tolerance
You can't make it alone; pioneering ain't an option

But since you asked me
What matters most, I’m thinking:
I wanna be
Playing pickup hockey on a frozen pond in Randboro, yeah
I wanna be
Swimming in a clear lake at a Gatineau cottage, yeah
I wanna be
Watching the parade in Montreal on St Paddy’s Day
Don’t wanna be
Stuck under the heel of the zealots in the GOP
I wanna be somewhere I’m free

- 30 -

Ottawa has the SSHITs: Toronto Star

You better not squeal
You better tells lies
You better not counter
The government line
Stephen Harper's clamping you down...
(Sung to the tune of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town")

Seems our Super-Secret Harper Imitation Tories are at it again, working for the old clampdown to stifle an Ottawa scientist whose fictional book has them running scared:

Shortly before Tushingham was due to give a luncheon speech in Ottawa about his novel — a futuristic account of Canada and the U.S. at war over water resources in a globally warmed world — he received an email from the environment minister's office, warning him not to attend the event.

Paradoxically, the incident takes place during the same week the Conservatives unveiled new "whistleblower" protection, designed to shield outspoken public servants from intimidation and threats to their livelihood.

Also yesterday, the government said it was axing 15 research programs related to the Kyoto climate-change protocol and aimed at reducing the greenhouse gases thought to cause global warming.

Paradoxically indeed...

Of course Harper is shocked shocked shocked, as is his Communications Director Sandra (who me?) Buckler, telling reporters there was no directive from the top to silence this author. But go read the whole story; this isn't an isolated incident.

- 30 -

Introducing the Super Secret Harper Imitation Tories (or SSHIT)

Rewind to last year. Most people with a brain could see that Stephen Harper's pre-election rhetoric about the coming transparency of a gloriously ethical and humble CPC government would be a pile of manure. Now the smell is unmistakable. Ticking off the press is such a politically stupid and juvenile move. It didn't do anything for Mulroney, that's for sure. This move cuts right to reporters' job security.

I suppose it's part and parcel of Peevey Stevie's unimaginative modus operandi of following the Bushco playbook. You starve the press of their usual gruel and before you know it, they're eating out of your hands, grasping so desperately for the tiniest crumb to get a story - any story - that they'll parrot whatever bullshit mush gets dished out to them in hushed tones by someone insisting on only being identified as a "senior administration official".

Tell me that's not about to happen here.

- 30 -

Canada: Fighting for Afghanis' Rights to Hang Christians

While Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay frets that Canadian troops would be demoralized if the House of Commons were to have a debate about our UN-sponsored NATO commitment to ISAF, I am sure they can all take heart in this news highlighting the kind of freedom Canadian troops are defending in propping up Karzai's government:

An Afghan who has renounced his Islamic faith for Christianity faces the death penalty under Afghan law in a throwback to the brutal Taleban regime.

Abdul Rahman, 41, is being prosecuted for an "attack on Islam", for which the punishment under Afghanistan's draft constitution, is death by hanging.
...

"The Attorney General is emphasising he should be hung. It is a crime to convert to Christianity from Islam. He is teasing and insulating his family by converting," Judge Alhaj Ansarullah Mawlawy Zada, who will be trying his case, told The Times.

"He was a Muslim for 25 years more than he has been a Christian. We will request him to become a Muslim again. In your country two women can marry I think that is very strange. In this country we have the perfect constitution, it is Islamic law and it is illegal to be a Christian and it should be punished," said the judge.
(Emphasis mine)

Hooboy, can't you just hear them in forty years' time, bragging to their grandchildren about their courageous exploits to save the fledgling Afghanistan government that bravely sought the most brutal punishment to stifle basic religious freedom, and promoted poppy growth to feed the world heroin market? Doesn't it make you wish you were young and idealistic and had a chance to better the world by signing up for duty yourself?

Ah, what stories they will tell...

- 30 -

A Scrotum Try

Ivan of Creative Writing found a nifty site that makes instant anagrams out of anything you throw in.

So he tagged me with this meme: find anagrams for your name (hence the title of this post), plus the name of your blogsite. Some other notables from my name:

A crust, my rot
A curt Ms. Tory
A cut Mrs. Tory
Scar my tutor
Trusty Marco
Scram, Trouty!
YMCA or trust
Carroty smut
Car smut Tory
Racy smut rot

...and far too many more variations with "scary", "smut" and "Tory". This is not all I had hoped it could be. As for anagramming "Tattered Sleeve", I don't think I have the stomach for it, but you can go ahead and put anything interesting you find in the comments thread. Go ahead and give it the 'ol scrotum try!

- 30 -

The Afghanistan Mission is Bullshit

Canada is supporting a new government in Afghanistan that is encouraging opium production to supply the world's misguided kids with the heroin that will ultimately destroy them. Canadian kids too. Just lovely. This is not in keeping with the values of most Canadians, and I don't need to wait for a poll to figure that one out.

Peevey Stevie can spew all the Bushco lines he can memorize to shore up support, but at the end of the day, I'm sorry to say, it's all a load of shit. Karzai, the ex-CIA hack, is not a guy we want to prop up. And he's proving it with this policy. I don't want to hear about how we have NATO commitments. Let's put leaving NATO on the table. I don't want to hear about how the UN has sanctioned the mission. There are other places in the world (and at home) where our armed forces could be more useful. The empty threat of attack here from jihadis will not be stemmed from us killing "bad guys" over there. If anything, it makes us a higher-profile target. And our presence has facilitated the United States to draw down their troop-level in Afghanistan,

In the face of Afghanistan's deepening troubles, the US government is now slashing its funding for reconstruction from a peak of $1 billion in 2004 to a mere $615 million this year. And thanks to the military's recruitment problems, the United States is drawing down its troops from 19,000 to 16,000. In short, despite Bush's feel-good rhetoric, the United States is giving every impression that it is slowly abandoning sideshow Afghanistan.

...while reports say more U.S. troops are headed to Iraq.

If I was a Canadian soldier in Afghanistan, I'd be wondering why the hell I'm putting my life on the line for this.

The fact the Conservatives are pulling out all the rhetorical stops to stifle debate of this mission speaks volumes. Do not take it at face value.

Tip of the hat to Robert at MyBlahg for bringing this to the fore.

- 30 -

Original Song #24: Brendan's Song

Brendan Nolan used to play the Old Dublin;
Seemed like every week
We were the drunks in the back
And we'd always give him cheek
We only knew the Pogues' sound
So we'd call out for Dirty Old Town
He’d come back with a Sally MacLennane to put Shane to shame
(And us in our place, man)

St. Patty’s Day is coming, I’ve booked the time off
Would you meet me at the Dublin, we’ll fight the crowds off
There’s a pint or twenty waiting and Spring’s not far off
I’ll bet my last shamrock it’s Brendan who’s on
Brendan, you're on

Now he’s gone playing around the world
And only back once in a long song’s while
And I’ll only make my way down to the Dub
If I see his name in the listings
Then I see we’re both a little older now
But none the tired -- some the wiser
Now it’s the old drunks who are giving him hell
And I sing and I smile and I’m under his spell

St. Patty’s Day is coming, I’ve booked the time off
Would you meet me at the Dublin, we’ll fight the crowds off
There’s a pint or twenty waiting and Spring’s not far off
I’ll bet my last shamrock it’s Brendan who’s on
Brendan, you're on

Good old Brendan used to play the Old Dublin
Every week

- 30 -

Original Song #23: "Sentimental Institution"

Hey, Mrs. Stinson,
Can Tim come out to play today?
She said she was Pleased to Meet Me
“But Don’t Tell a Soul, just Let It Be”

It’s a shame about Bob
Feels like he taught me and Dando half our chops
Paul and Chris can still turn a phrase
And I’m praying Tommy’s laying off the lampshades

Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take out the Trash
I know you thinks it Stinks
But I’m All Shook Down
Still recovering from the Hootenanny

Even ten years later it still sounds fresh
At least I haven’t gotten sick of it yet
It’s a dedication from a fan
And I’m praying they’ll be laying out the welcome ‘Mats

At the sentimental institution
The sentimental institution
The sentimental institution to you
From me to you and A Boy Named Goo

- 30 -

Peevey Stevie

The Prime Minister who creates controversy with every move can't even manage to fire the help without it blowing up in his face (and the papers):

A quarter-million dollar lawsuit claiming wrongful dismissal...was filed late yesterday on behalf of Henrik Lundsgaard, who was chef to Stockwell Day, John Reynolds and Harper while they lived at Stornoway, the official residence for the leader of the Opposition.

Lundsgaard alleges he was unceremoniously terminated after being tantalized with a juicy offer to head to the kitchen at 24 Sussex.

...on Jan. 23, Lundsgaard received a short termination letter, which offered no explanation from either of the Harpers, the claim alleges.

Then, in late February, Harper poached Rideau Hall chef Oliver Bartsch to man the kitchen at 24 Sussex for a reported salary of $73,000 to $79,000.

...Under the Harpers, Lundsgaard's role expanded to include odd jobs such as washing their car, driving their kids to school, supervising the kids in a backyard pool, cleaning their cat's litter box and even "attending to the burial of one of the cats after its demise," the claim alleges. Playing video games with the kids, cleaning up after guests, moving furniture at Stornoway and serving drinks were also allegedly on the expanded menu for Lundsgaard.
[Emphasis mine]

Yes, well, Lundsgaard has obviously decided to show his face as a "Liberal hack" with this lawsuit. (They're everywhere, you know). What must Harper be thinking? That all that time Lundsgaard spent being his family's personal slave (paid on the taxpayer's dime, of course) must've been simply a ruse used to lull Harper into a false sense of security. Yes, yes. Oh that's genious. Oh, how could I ever have trusted him?! Then, as soon as he deftly connives me into firing him, he inserts the knife and viciously twists it in - just to give me more bad press. Liberal hack!

Hmm, let's step back a sec. Harper wouldn't meet with the Ethics Commisioner (Oh gosh, terribly busy. Look at the time) to discuss the Grewal investigation.* He continues to refuse to cooperate with the Commish on the Emerson investigation,** and now we see he is unable to handle something as unexceptional as hiring a new chef without ticking-off the old one to the degree he causes an embarrassing stink.

Is there no doo-doo in Ottawa that Harper's toe cannot find its way in?

And how does his office react to media inquiries? In what appears to be a concerted effort to keep one and all "on message", we turn back to the above link for the grand finale:

When asked to comment about a quarter-million dollar lawsuit against Prime Minster Stephen Harper, his wife and the federal government, Harper's communications director Sandra Buckler would say only that "it's a staffing issue.

"I mean, that's all I would have to say about it."

Sun: Are you aware that a lawsuit was filed? Has he been served yet?

Buckler: "I don't know any of that. I've just seen the media reports and as any other staffing issue that's what I would say. It's a staffing issue."

Sun: Obviously he'll be filing a statement of defence?

Buckler: "All I know is that this is a staffing issue."

Sun: So that's all you have to say about that?

Buckler: "Well they're staffing issues and we generally don't go into staffing issues 'cause they're staffing issues."

Sun: So, basically, you guys don't talk about staffing issues is what you're saying?

Buckler: "They're staffing issues."

So, the Sun went to Harper's press secretary, Carolyn Stewart Olsen.

Sun: I just wanted to give you guys an opportunity to comment on it.

Olsen: "Yeah, no, it's a staffing issue."

Sun: Can you elaborate any more or you guys just don't comment on staffing issues?

Olsen: "Yeah, yeah, it's a staffing issue."

Remarkably, when Harper came under fire last month for luring chef Oliver Bartsch away from Rideau Hall, a spokeswoman told the National Post she couldn't offer any details on the selection because ... (wait for it) .... it's a staffing issue.

Well that's it; I'm going to go right ahead and anoint Prime Minister Stephen Harper with the nickname Peevey Stevie. You heard it here first, folks.

- 30 -

*Tip 'o' the hat to Scotian for the link - every Canadian should read this post).

**Nice work there by Mark[Section15]

Nixon would be in awe...

Gotta hand it to this Bush administration and the Republican congress. When have you ever seen a government as corrupt as this and in so many exciting new ways?

Claude A. Allen, who resigned last month as President Bush's top domestic policy adviser, was arrested this week in Montgomery County for allegedly swindling Target and Hecht's stores out of more than $5,000 in a refund scheme, police said.

Allen, 45, of Gaithersburg, has been released on his own recognizance and is awaiting trial on two charges, felony theft scheme and theft over $500, said Lt. Eric Burnett, a police spokesman. Each charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

...

He came to the attention of Montgomery police after a manager at a Gaithersburg Target store called the department about an incident Jan. 2. Montgomery detectives were able to document other alleged crimes from Oct. 29 to Jan. 2, some of which were captured on camera, Burnett said.

Allen resigned from the White House on Feb. 9, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Ah, nothing like family. They always understand.

- 30 -

Pics from the Randboro set last Friday at Barfly

Randboro (left to right): Jean-Marc Barsalou, Jose-Luis Duque, me

We had a wicked fun time playing in front of the Barfly faithful last Friday for John's & Kim's birthdays. Randboro blasted through a set of nine originals that was only marred by a broken string on Spitsbergen (and, ahem, more than a couple of flubbed lines). But no matter - the crowd was there for a good time, and so were we. L'il Buck played like their usual fabulous selves.

One thing I learned back in my days as an editor at the Concordian was to never forget to give photo credit. Especially when they're as arty as this one on the right. I love the effect from the cigarette smoke. You won't get to see that again after the new total indoor public ban comes into effect May 31st. So a big thanks to Ms. Jen Peterson for these. (Her comments on the show: "Paul Westerberg would have loved it, as did I.") Glad you liked it, Jen, and a big thanks to all who came out. Hopefully we'll get our lazy butts out for another gig this Spring.

Cheers

So long Theo, and good luck

Surprising news: the Habs traded Jose Theodore. It's a good move on Bob Gainey's part and I just can't believe they were able to spring David Aebischer from Colorado for a guy who's totally lost his game, has a broken heel that won't give him any time to find his game before the playoffs, and will cost them somthing like $11 million over the next two years of his contract. That's a gamble and a half on Colorado GM Pierre Lacroix's part if you ask me.

As for les glorieux, they recoup a whack of salary room under the cap, so look for the other shoe to drop tomorrow. If I were Bob I'd pick up Turner Stevenson off waivers and move Mike Ribeiro to Pittsburgh for Mark Recchi (I always want the good 'ol boys back home).

And as for Theo, let me just say that even les Cowboys Fringants have given up on him, taking time out from their set to dis Theo, and getting a round of rousing cheers down at the Spectrum earlier this year. He has had a hot and cold career here, culminating in a perfectly dismal season this year before breaking his heel in a home mishap. And the baggage factor was getting overwhelming. The first kink in his armor came when local newspapers splashed photos of Theo partying with local criminal biker gang a couple of years ago. He failed a drug test this year for a substance known to mask a certain steroid (although his doctor vouched that it was being taken for hair-loss prevention), and for all his hype and salary, he never could prove himself in the playoffs beyond the first round.

As Pierre Lacroix is tragically bound to find out, Jose Theodore is no Patrick Roy and is showing no signs that he ever will be. I think les Canadiens will be just fine without him, and are a better team with the Aebischer / Cristobal Huet tandem in nets.

- 30 -

U.S. to bomb Iran in two weeks?

A couple of weeks ago, I was very disturbed to read Gwynne Dyer's article, Iran, Oil and Euros: the War Scenario.

Here's the scenario. On 20 March Iran opens a new "bourse" (exchange) on which countries all over the world can buy and sell oil and gas not only for dollars but also for euros. It also establishes a new oil "marker" (oil pricing standard) based on Iranian crude and denominated in euros, in open rivalry to the existing West Texas Intermediate, Norway Brent and UAE Dubai markers, all of which are calculated in US dollars.

The Iranian bourse is an instant success with countries and companies that are unhappy about having to hold huge amounts of overvalued US dollars to finance their oil transactions, all of which must presently be conducted in that currency. Very large sums start to shift from the dollar to the euro, although exactly how much is unknown because the US Federal Reserve System (by pure coincidence, of course) has chosen late March as the time to stop publishing the data that would make it easy to know how fast the haemorrhage was.

But the US government knows, and is deeply alarmed by the danger that the dollar may be losing its status as the world's only reserve currency. Given the huge deficits that plague the US economy, the US dollar's value would collapse if other countries began to see it as just another currency, so the euro must be prevented from emerging as an alternative reserve currency. In practice, that means the Iranian experiment with a euro-denominated oil bourse must be stopped -- and the only way to do that is to attack Iran.

Dyer goes on to say that such complex reasoning is far too cunning for the likes of the Bush administration, and concludes that if Iran is to be attacked, it will be for "other motives". Nevertheless, I have been trying to pay close attention to news reports about the ongoing standoff with Iran over their nuclear intentions (and this new bourse), but it has been such an eventful two weeks, little news has surfaced recently. And then I noticed this article from the Guardian:

The US ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, has told British MPs that military action could bring Iran's nuclear programme to a halt if all diplomatic efforts fail. The warning came ahead of a meeting today of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which will forward a report on Iran's nuclear activities to the UN security council.

...According to Eric Illsley, a Labour committee member, (Bolton) told the MPs: "They must know everything is on the table and they must understand what that means. We can hit different points along the line. You only have to take out one part of their nuclear operation to take the whole thing down."

...The Pentagon position was described, by the committee chairman, Mike Gapes, as throwing a demand for a militarily enforced embargo into the security council "like a hand grenade - and see what happens".

(On March 5th) Mr Bolton reiterated his hardline stance. In a speech to the annual convention of the American-Israel public affairs committee, the leading pro-Israel US lobbyists, he said: "The longer we wait to confront the threat Iran poses, the harder and more intractable it will become to solve ... we must be prepared to rely on comprehensive solutions and use all the tools at our disposal to stop the threat that the Iranian regime poses."

...According to Time magazine, the US plans to present the security council with evidence that Iran is designing a crude nuclear bomb, like the one dropped on Nagasaki in 1945. The evidence will be in the form of blueprints that the US said were found on a laptop belonging to an Iranian nuclear engineer, and obtained by the CIA in 2004.

Well, here we go again. It seems it's Bolton's job this time to stir up the Security Council. And now Cheney has heightened his war-drum beating rhetoric in lock-step:

...Vice President Cheney had already issued a blunt threat that Iran will face "meaningful consequences" if it fails to cooperate with international efforts to curb its nuclear program. Cheney told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee yesterday that the United States "is keeping all options on the table in addressing the irresponsible conduct of the regime" and is sending "a clear message: We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon."

Note the almost identical terminology between Bolton's "Everything is on the table" and Cheney's "keeping all options on the table" sound-bites. In Rove's White House, that's a clear sign there is a major selling game afoot with the American people. And if you really want to stay up late, browse through some of the articles cobbled together by NewsGateway on "the War on Iran". Most commentary I've seen agrees that an iInvasion seems unlikely as long as the U.S. military remains overstretched and bogged-down in Iraq; but major airstrikes are a piece of cake, and by at least one account (from three weeks ago), the order of the day:

Strategists at the Pentagon are drawing up plans for devastating bombing raids backed by submarine-launched ballistic missile attacks against Iran's nuclear sites as a "last resort" to block Teheran's efforts to develop an atomic bomb.

"This is more than just the standard military contingency assessment," said a senior Pentagon adviser. "This has taken on much greater urgency in recent months."

I'm not liking this one bit.

- 30 -

My condolences to the Women of South Dakota

I am profoundly sorry to hear that your Republican state legislature and governor don't feel you deserve rights over your own bodies. To these bozos and all anti-abortionists out there, it's refresher time:

1. Abortion is a medical procedure. By criminalizing abortion, the government of South Dakota presumes to know more than the American Medical Association about how doctors should treat their patients.

2. A foetus is not a viable living entity. It has no rights if it resides in the womb. It is a part of the woman who is its host. If it is living outside the womb, its umbilical cord severed, then it is a human baby.

3. It's a pretty strong indication that you're not ready for motherhood - which is an incredibly huge undertaking, let's not forget - if you're seeking an abortion. A lot of mothers get uncerimoniously ditched by Daddy and then are left on their own with the children. Where's the law forcing men to take the responsibiliy of sticking with fatherhood for the long haul? We don't need any more unwanted children in this world.

4. You can't legislate against abortion. You only drive it underground and create more pain and misery in the world by doing so. And some of your daughters will be victims of this policy who will die bleeding out from using a coathanger in a state of panic because they're ashamed to even talk about it to their doctor or their friend or you because they know society has deemed it immoral.

5. Something to think about: Lot's more women die in child-birth - or of complications from pregnancy - than men. I'd say, ballpark, 100% or so.

6. Read this at firedoglake to understand how bizarre anti-abortionists become defending their illogic:

I brought up one of my favorite forced birth conundrums the other day, guaranteed to make wingnut "life begins at conception" heads explode. If a fire breaks out in a fertility clinic and you can only save a petri dish with five blastulae or a two-year old child, which do you save?

We just love Mike Stark, who takes this stuff to the streets. He called Andrew Wilkow's radio talk show and put the question to him, and Wilkow's head did, in fact, explode. He was reduced to a sputtering rage, screaming that he would not, in fact, save the two year-old child.

7. I'm getting sick of this. Just read the Cider House Rules and A Handmaid's Tale. Then rent the DVDs. Then almost die in childbirth carrying a rapist's last sick laugh. Then raise some rapist's child as a single-parent. Then you can come back here and tell me why abortion should not be a woman's choice.

- 30 -

PEI potato warning: halucinogens may be present

CTV ran the story. They were a little more delicate than I was with this headline. Anyway, I see a face too.

And it's Miss Piggy. Go have a look and tell me I'm wrong.

- 30 -

Question for Prime Minister Stephan Harper

If the Ethics Commissioner is someone you are "loath" to work with, someone you're insinuating is a partisan hack, then wasn't it highly irresponible of you not to replace this dubious individual (as only the PM can do) in your first week in office? I thought you said we were going to have a more accountable government with you guys in power. I guess if you replace him now it'll kind of look like you're doing it to avoid answering some sticky questions. Hmm. Tough spot for you, eh?

- 30 -

Scout Prime in New Orleans

Last week Mardi Gras returned to New Orleans. It was hard to imagine they still haven't cleaned up very much yet. That houses are still littering the middles of some roads. That bodies remain decomposing in some homes. That electricity hasn't been restored for much of the city. That they are so unbelievably slow about putting the city back in order.

Well, it bothered Scout Prime enough to take a trip to NOLA and do some compellingly good on-the-spot blogging:

Destruction in the poor black 9th Ward is horrible. But go to white working class St. Bernard's Parish. It's devastated. Go to the white upper middle class area of Lakeview. Those folks are wiped out too. They have more means to come back??? Think about how you would pay the mortgage on your $450,000 home that is nothing more than a pile of debris and also pay rent on an apartment that you now must rent...if you can find one and with no job. (BTW $350 apartments are now going for $1500 where I'm staying here). That's just your own personal hell.... there's more outside your door.

The infrastructure is devastated. And it hits Everyone. It's great to see stop lights...they are few and far between in many areas. Wonder when someone will pick up that pile of garbage outside your home much of which was the inside of your home? No one can tell you. Want a phone? Sorry for many it will be months like 6. Trying to get electricity turned on? Perhaps soon and then perhaps not. You may get mail service.... sometimes. You need to get groceries? Be prepared to drive far and wait in long lines. You have children? It's best to find an out of state relative for them to live with for this school year at least. And whatever you do don't get hurt or sick. A small injury could be a Major problem. Ambulance drivers tell of sitting outside the few "hospitals" caring for people in their rigs cause it's better than what's available inside.

The streaming video of her tour of the 9th ward that accompanies this post is a must-see. You would think the disaster happened only last week - not six months ago.

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