Mr. Dithers finally gets a backbone
It seems Paul Martin has finally decided to stand up to somebody; namely,
other world leaders who've been shamed into making empty promises about eradicating third world hunger. As you probably know, Bono and Bob Geldof have been meeting with political leaders and trying to browbeat them into increasing their spending on debt relief and on feeding starving people in the third world, calling for commitments from the G7 countries to spend 0.7% of their GDP on third world aid.
Good for Martin; he's the only major leader so far who's had the balls to call a spade a spade. Germany, France and England are bending over backwards to appease these rock stars who feel they have the right to tell countries how to behave through some sense of moral superiority. The United States is doing some dithering of its own, saying it might commit to the 0.7% promise if other major countries do. Only Martin has stood up and said that the promise is hollow and meaningless without some major planning on how the funding and the spending would take place.
Besides, who is Bob Geldof to make such demands on countries of which he's not even a citizen? Some would argue that he's got a distinguished track record, having run Live Aid in 1985 and now organizing the Live 8 concerts, but the usefulness of both of these is questionable.
Slate today has a
great discussion of this approach and how it has failed in the past and is likely to be equally ineffectual today.
Good on Martin for not blindly succumbing to peer pressure and the idiotic preaching of pseudo-intellectuals like Geldof and Bono. Let's find a better way to help the third world.
Spread the word
ESPN.com - NHL - Roenick: Think players are greedy? Stay home
Somebody needs to remind this guy that the fans pay his salary. If we all stay home, he makes NOTHING; not even the pathetic $5.7M US he'll be making after the unthinkable 24% salary rollback the players so selflessly gave up. Bastard.
Individual rights being curtailed in the US
The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that cities have the right to seize people's homes and property if they feel it's for the good of the city (
read more on CNN). This means that if the city feels your property would generate more revenue by being a hotel or a strip-mall, they can force you from your home and hand the property over to a wealthy developer. I find this absolutely unbelievable, coming from a country that has always prided itself on putting the rights of the individual ahead of the rights of the state and society.
What's next? Does the state have the right to step in and tell you that you're not making as much money as you could be and therefore force you to change jobs? Are they going to give themselves the power to force individuals to spend more money on consumer goods in order to help the economy? Where does it end?
Grand Prix of Canada
A couple of weekends ago, the Grand Prix du Canada was held in Montreal, and I made the trip up for the weekend to watch the race with a good friend. Of the 200 or so photos I took over the course of the weekend, I think about 3 are worthy of being blown up and framed. One of my favourites is the one below. That's Michael Schumacher going around turn 6; he eventually went on to place second behind Kimi Raikonnen.
Other than the stinking hot weather (about 36-39 degrees celsius every bloody day), it was an absolutely amazing weekend. And I am so glad that Michelin didn't screw up the way they did a
week later at Indianapolis.
If you're interested,
this page has a description of the camera equipment I use.
And if you're feeling generous,
this page has a description of the Nikon D70S that I would love to get - hint hint.
CANOE -- JAM! Music: Pink Floyd to reunite for Live 8
Pink Floyd have announced that they will
get together to play at the Live 8 concert in London on July 22. And that
includes Roger Waters, for the first time since 1981. All I can say is Woo Hoo! That, and, damn, I need to find a way to get to London and get a ticket.
A lighter look at splicegate
From ScissorsMedia:
The Globe and Mail: Tory Grewal in airport package mystery
As if Grewal isn't under enough scrutiny for alleged misdeeds already, now he's trying to get airline passengers to carry a mysterious package on a flight from Vancouver to Ottawa? What is wrong with this guy? Has he lost all sense of reason?
The Globe and Mail: Grewal tapes altered, expert asserts
Is there really still any doubt? The tapes were deliberately altered, either with or without the knowledge of the Conservative Party brass. If Grewal is solely responsible, he needs to be booted immediately. If the Conservative Party brass was in the know, then Harper should step down immediately.
It's one thing to lay a trap for the Liberals, as Grewal claims he was doing; it's entirely another to forge a tape that suggests the Liberals were making an illegal offer. The altering of the tapes for this purpose is illegal and slanderous, and Grewal and possibly the Conservative brass need to be held accountable.
The Conservatives just keep showing over and over again through their immature, childish and stupid actions that they are simply not ready to form a government and are not a viable alternative to the Liberals.
Alphonso of Goa
A couple of my friends were in town from Boston this past weekend, and despite the wife's protestations that indeed, they were here to visit me and other friends, the reality of the situation was blurted out in a moment of truth by the husband: "I came here for the mangoes".
It turns out there's this mango called an Alphonso that I'd never heard of - at least, not before my friend's drunken ravings over the past 5 years, as he lamented that he hadn't had any in almost 10 years. Apparently, they're only available in the month of May, in a part of Goa, India. And since May is a horrible time of year to visit India, he hadn't been back at the right time since he immigrated to the US. Unfortunately for him, you can't get Alphonsos in Boston. So here he was, on Memorial Day weekend, downing Alphonso's by the crate.
I'd been hearing about these things for so long, so of course I had to try them. Wow. What a mango. Not only is it sweet, but it has this flavour that no other mango I've ever tried has. If you ever get a chance, give them a try. They're not available everywhere - you won't find them at Loblaws or Sobey's. But next May, go to an Indian grocery store and ask for them; you won't be disappointed. Assuming you can get them during the 2 days that they're ripe.
As for my two friends - I guess I'll see you back here next May. I'll be sure to have a few crates here when your plane lands. I'm already looking forward to it.
Monkey Business: Swinging Through the Wall Street Jungle