Photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre have published a photo exposé of the ruins of a once great city. Is it Baghdad? Is it Kabul? Find out here. What do you think caused this destruction?
Suicide Bomber at Moscow Airport
At least 35 people are feared dead and many more injured.
h/t ‘TheRedSuit’
Report from DEBKAfile
Realtime Updates Here
Update #1:
Pamela Geller has much more (graphic images warning). h/t Marc in Calgary
Update #2:
Here’s the top rated comment on this tragedy at CBC News:
This is what passes for intelligent thought amongst some Canadians. 🙁
Uh Oh, Another Scandal in BC Politics?
From Douglas Coupland’s Twitter page a few days ago:
h/t Amy Alkon
Example #52,349 of Why Intelligent People No Longer Trust “Statistics”
A new “study” by the “Centre for Addictions Research of B.C.” at the University of Victoria claims that private liquor stores are directly responsible for increased deaths associated with alcohol. Here’s the official press release on the “study” and here’s the actual document (h/t & thanks to langmann).
The lead “researcher” on the “study”, Tim Stockwell, was interviewed on CKNW this afternoon. You can listen to the interview here, beginning at 6:00.
I was most curious why he kept on interjecting “private” before “liquor stores” so I sent him this e-mail:
On your recent appearance on CKNW, you appeared to state unequivocally that the increase in deaths due to alcohol was directly related to the fact that the increase in liquor stores in the province were private, as opposed to public.
I am most curious to find out how you proved that the same number of deaths wouldn’t have occurred if all of the private liquor stores had instead been public ones. Could you direct me to the section in your study that proves this?
No response as of yet but I will post it if & when he writes back.
Incidentally, a month ago Mr. Stockwell was advocating for higher booze prices for the general public but free alcohol for homeless drunks.
Update: . . .
Cognitive Dissonance of Aussie Greens
If you followed the Australian federal election last year then you’re aware that the Greens elected one person to the House of Representatives (though admittedly have a significant percentage of the popular vote). But because of the makeup of the current Parliament, they hold much more power than their numbers would suggest.
In a new damning article, Miranda Devine explains how the policies pushed by the Greens are very much at the heart of the recent flooding.
Here’s some recent video. Incidentally, one lie being pushed by the Leftist media in Australia is that these floods are unprecedented. Historical facts tell a very different story.
h/t Australian Climate Madness
Is the Sun Soon to Join CO2 on the Outlawed List?
Just when you thought the messages coming out of the non-trans fat pie holes mouths of Lefties couldn’t get any more ridiculous, comes this story from Reuters.
“A U.S. conversation group has sued the federal government over its approval of a major solar power plant in the California desert, the latest in a string of challenges to the nation’s renewable energy goals from the environmental community.”
I Hate The Media shares their thoughts.
Andrew Lawton is Alive & Well!
If what he wrote on his blog is any indication, his sense of humour is still intact:
As many of you know, in early December I went into a coma and was being treated for a number of related issues at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario . . . There was no brain damage. In other words, I’m still a conservative.
The Land of King George, Six Decades Later
I wonder what Queen Elizabeth’s father would think of this?
Beyond the fact that he’d of course be deemed a racist for daring to even raise the issue!
Snapshot of America: The Welfare State vs. Black Families
In an interview with Walter Williams, he describes what must change in order for Black Americans to move forward. Here’s a snippet:
During Reconstruction and up until the 1940s, 75% to 85% of black children lived in two-parent families. Today, more than 70% of black children are born to single women. “The welfare state has done to black Americans what slavery couldn’t do, what Jim Crow couldn’t do, what the harshest racism couldn’t do,” Mr. Williams says. “And that is to destroy the black family.”
Pleasing your enemies does not turn them into friends
When George W. Bush left office we were assured by everyone on the Left that the Dawn of a New Day was near. We were promised that a conciliatory approach to international relations carried out by intelligent people (ie. not Republicans) was sure to resolve every diplomatic problem in the world.
Now, 2 years later, how has that worked out? Not very darn well it appears. The problem, of course, is that Barack Obama followed closely to what the Leftist ideologues were urging him to do. This course of action failed. Miserably. He refused to show any real sign of support for the brave, freedom loving citizens in Iran. Now many of them are dead or imprisoned.
More recently, he abandoned the democracy loving citizens in Lebanon and the government there fell, in no small part to the forces of Hezbollah, a proxy of the thugocracy in Iran. No one is sure what will happen next but there are great fears that things will be bleak. One thing all* Lebanese are in agreement about is that Barack Obama and America have abandoned them.
Fouad Ajami has a comprehensive new article about all of this. Definitely well worth a read.
A Weapon of Last Resort: Endless Mockery
When a person goes so far beyond any semblance of reasonable discourse, often the only thing you can do is . . . well, mock them:
Here’s a sampling from the brilliantly devious mind of Iowahawk:
Mr. Hector Gutierrez
Gutierrez Bros. Landscaping
Arlington, VA
Dear Mr. Gutierrez:
Nothing could have prepared me for the shock that awaited as I exited the front door of my home early Wednesday morning, where I discovered that your lawn crew had cut a swath of environmental destruction across my yard so horrifying that it only can be compared to the Rape of Nanking. I can scarcely bring myself to describe the killing fields that are my North azalea beds and the brutal degradation and torture suffered by the bluegrass around the locust tree by the rear patio.
Defunding NPR: A Good Example for Canada
In this piece, Byron York writes about a plan this year to stop all federal public funding of National Partisan Public Radio (NPR). Hopefully Conservatives in Ottawa are following this very closely with respect to the CBC.
If you’ve ever wondered how on earth the CBC wasted consumed $1,017,587,000.00 last year in taxpayer dollars, take a look at the number of producers for The Current, a little radio show on CBC 1.
Are You a Liberal?
In this video Dennis Prager echoes what I’ve thought for a long time, namely that many people who call themselves “liberal” are actually not. I’ve taken the time to discuss individual issues with close friends of mine who consistently vote Liberal/NDP/Democrat and lo & behold it quickly becomes apparent that they have mostly conservative views. Unfortunately the MSM has been so successful at brainwashing folks into voting far afield from where their views actually reside. This, by the way, is why I think so many on the Far Left are incredibly scared of the emergence of Sun TV News onto Canadian televisions in a few months.
A Thorough Primer on the Current Politics of BC
David Berner was a talk show radio host in Vancouver for many years but about half a decade ago he left the airwaves for what he thought would be for good. But he is returning now with a half hour TV show in the format of Charlie Rose, which will be broadcast on Shaw TV Vancouver (Cable 4).
I had the great privilege yesterday of photographing the first episode of Berner’s show. He is a personal friend of mine and though politically we appear to be on opposite sides of the political spectrum, on some issues we are very much aligned. For example, there is no greater critic of the misguided, destructive, failed drug addiction policies of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside than him. Plus, we (and millions of other British Columbians) share a very legitimate, and wholly logical, cynicism towards the current political class in our province!
You, the fine members of SDA, get a sneak preview of the premiere episode of the David Berner Show, as it won’t appear on TV in Vancouver until next Tuesday. This first episode, entitled “Candidate Soup”, features Berner talking with the Globe & Mail’s political columnist for BC, Gary Mason. They carefully examine every leadership candidate for both the NDP and the Liberals. Depending on who gets elected, there is every possibility of a polarized battle later this year. If you need a visual, just think of two simultaneous cage matches and then the two winners/survivors going after one another . . . all while the citizens of the province shake their collective heads in disbelief, and frequently disgust.
Without any further adieu, you can now view Parts 1 and 2, plus a behind the scenes vignette by yours truly. If you’re a member of Facebook, feel free to join the show’s page.
Can ‘None of the Above’ Be Added to a Ballot?
The past decade of relative stability in BC Politics appears to be returning to old form: corruption & never ending scandals.
The Liberals: Former solicitor general Kash Heed is alleged to have improperly used $6,000 in public funds to pay campaign workers. More here from Kim Bolan.
The NDP: Leadership candidate Adrian Dix is accused of violating party membership rules, with application forms entering in one box and money coming in another.
CKNW’s Gord MacDonald & Sean Leslie discuss the latest.
Now is the Time at SDA When We Juxtapose
Jan 12, 2011: President Obama issues a call for civility
Jan 19, 2011: Democrat Congressman Steve Cohen compares Republicans to Nazis
Disgraced Democrat ex-Congressman Alan Grayson insists that Sarah Palin instigated the Arizona Shootings
Chief Clarence Louie: An Inspirational Canadian!
Charles Adler had a great segment today, featuring the Chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band. Referenced is an article in the Winnipeg Sun written by Tom Brodbeck. And last but not least is this video of Chief Louie talking in Brandon, MB in 2009.
Why the Left Hate Sarah Palin – Part 2
This earlier post generated a lot of interesting discussion about the venomous hatred so many on the Left feel towards Sarah Palin. To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with not liking her or not supporting her running for POTUS one day, but what’s occurring in the hearts & minds of many Leftists is much, much more than mere dislike.
In the earlier piece, Evan Sayet explained his theory about the hatred. Now “Robin of Berkeley”, a self-proclaimed recovered liberal, gives her take, very much from a female perspective. It’s a fascinating read.
h/t ‘lookout’
Update: Victor Davis Hanson shares his thoughts. h/t ‘ET’
Nick DiPaolo and Dennis Miller Discuss Current Events
A few laughs to start your day on the right note!
Great Moments in Socialism
The Taiwanese Take on Hu Jintao’s DC Visit