Thursday, August 31, 2006

More on softwood lumber...

This just gets weirder and weirder... apparently one of the provisos of the softwood deal is that $450 million gets redirected to the Bush White House for use in *whatever the fuck he wants* - likely a giant slush fund for the November mid-terms. Think of the entire Republican propaganda machine war chest - this will nearly triple it. The Toronto Star has the article (along with The Tyee - an excellent BC online newspaper).

I hope this news gets to all the major papers on both sides of the border and blows both right-wing administrations right out of the water. None of this is above board. This is not what democracy is supposed to be.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Post to the Globe and Mail today

The Globe and Mail had an article on the softwood issue: Softwood deal to move forward, and I thought I'd contribute my $0.02. Specifically I took issue with Stephen Harper's claim that there was a “clear majority” in the country that now supports the government's softwood lumber agreement with the United States.

I'm honestly wondering who this "clear majority" is. The last time I checked a week ago it looked like this deal was going to fall apart, and without any significant announcement of changes, all of a sudden we're all on board? "Mr. Harper did not say what percentage of Canada's softwood lumber producers signalled their support for the deal" so for all we know, support could be at the very same level. Sounds a lot like perception management, instead of actual results to me.

For what it's worth, I think we should get out of NAFTA entirely, as the US has shown total disregard for its agreements and procedures. As should be totally clear by now, the US is pro Free Trade so long as it only benefits them.

Having a mugger steal from you and return 80% of the haul with conditions like "don't go to the cops" and "I reserve the right to mug you again real soon" isn't a deal in any sense of the word I know - it's capitulation.


The rest of the comments seem to back me up on this one as well.

For those of you who would prefer to watch video - Rick Mercer has a very funny explanation.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Morning Funny.


For a blog posting
Originally uploaded by m.d..

I was walking to get a coffee this morning and saw this shirt, and had to write about it. I'm a sucker for a clever tee.

In the UK they have a version; 'George Bush & Son Family Butchers, by Royal Appointment'

Friday, August 11, 2006

It all makes sense now...

Looks like Air Canada was doing it's best to squeeze very last red cent out of us to look good for its upcoming IPO*.

Oh, it would be fun to short those cheap bastards before the market realizes that they have scared away their best and most profitable customers with ruthless efficiency in the last year.

*Confused by the fact that Air Canada is already listed on the TSX? That company is actually ACE Aviation Holdings which owns Air Canada, Jazz, Aeroplan other related businesses.