The World of 2050

HT: Hypnocrites.blogspot.com and whaddya know, you can get it on a t-shirt! 

War Criminals?

The ACLU is trying to pressure US AG Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor. 

Last night, George Washington University constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley delivered some refreshing straight-talk on the Rachel Maddow Show. Noting that conducting a criminal investigation into the authorization of torture and abuse of detainees by Bush administration officials is not only about values but is about enforcing the law, the good professor called for the appointment of a special prosecutor — just like we did

I wonder aloud what Canada might do, in light of Spanish and British investigations into the matter. Apparently, little enough. 

I cannot begin to stress, though, the problems caused for all members of the global community - and particularly for the United States - caused by such willful and flagrant refusal to adhere to the most basic standards of the rule of law. Should this stand, it will inevitably lead to a far more general perception that laws are merely for the "little people." 

When such viewpoints become particularly flagrant, the "little people" have been known to renegotiate the social contract. Not always for the better - but certainly for the worse in regard to the elites of the previous era. 

Missing Links

Having lost my linkrolls in the changeover, I've determined that this time, I'm going to do this thing properly. Right now I'm putting everything I want on my site into Google Feed Reader, sorting and assessing it. Then I'll put it into various widgets when I've got it more or less where I want it.

So, this would be the time to tell me if you want to be on my list. I'm particularly short of rational conservative perspectives and I have not even yet begun to look for canadian political blogs. A few pointers might help. :)

A Long Overdue Template Upgrade

I'm finally getting around to fixing my template. I may lose some stuff along the way, please bear with me, and please let me know if it's something you miss - like, say, your link.

Worst of all, they are SMOKING afterwards!

West coast culture has some strange aspects, and Vancouver can be as strange as San Francisco with it's own twist of weird on top, as the CBC's telling of an obvious tale shows.

During a series of visits by police in uniform in 2008, Jarvie says officers witnessed sex acts, an overwhelming unpleasant pungent odour, puddles of body fluids and excrement, and even patrons smoking.

It's not the open prostitution, the casual sex, the piles of excrement or the "body fluids." No. It's the smoking! That's a serious matter!

Our dear CBC, always on the forefront of the matters critical to the evolution of our culture and consciousness. We adore you, even when you are silly.

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We Are Not Amused

Greg Gutfield, is host of Fox's "Red-Eye," an allegedly funny show. He's managed to get a lot of attention for his show by pissing off Canada. As a nation. On an official level. That takes some world-class offensiveness, folks. From CTV news:

In an interview with CTV Newsnet earlier on Monday, [Defense Minister Peter] MacKay expressed his anger over the comments and demanded an apology.

"It's crass, it's insensitive, it's in fact disgusting given the timing where Canada is just receiving back four fallen heroes here at CFB Trenton," MacKay said.

On Friday, Master Cpl. Scott Vernelli, 28, Cpl. Tyler Crooks, 24, Trooper Jack Bouthillier, 20, and Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes, 22, were killed in two separate IED blasts that injured another five soldiers.

The deaths bring the total number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 116.

MacKay said the Canadian government will be demanding an apology from the panel and from Fox.

The matter started with a segment that was perhaps born out of ennui regarding "Octomom" jokes or possibly a visible lack of persons with developmentally disabilities. It seized upon the fact that Canadian forces have been materially over-extended in their Afghanistan mission.

"Once their Afghan mission winds down sometime in 2011, certain members of the Canadian military are looking to take a much-deserved break. And by certain members I mean all of them," Gutfeld said.

"Meaning, the Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants."

It must be said that an apology was made. But there are apologies and there are "apologies." Greg's was of the latter sort.

Gutfeld issued an apology Monday afternoon saying, "I realize that my words may have been misunderstood. It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize."

I have two questions. The first, is "How exactly could anyone possibly misunderstand your intent?"

The second is more fundamental. "How could you have ever thought that was funny?" I fail to see what's humorous about mocking soldiers for having fought hard and needing a rest, much less anyone on the single most bellicose American network suggesting that invading Canada - that "ridiculous nation" - would be a good idea.

In the four-minute segment, Gutfeld asked the other three members of his panel: "Isn't this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country? They have no army!"

Panelist Doug Benson, a comedian, replied: "I didn't even know they were in the war. I thought that's where you go when you don't want to fight. Go chill in Canada."

Doug, I suggest you cancel any Canadian engagements for the foreseeable future. Unless you really want to try and be funny with a front row filled with uniformed veterans of Afganistan, Cyprus, Korea and WWII. I'd enjoy watching that. Your genitailia might vary.

But while the insults of a fool say more about the fool than those they are trying to offend, those words say a great deal more about those who would put such a fool on the air. Greg Gutfield could be suffering from some sort of untreated personality disorder - a sort of moral Tourette's syndrome. Perhaps he does not really know that there is a line that is labeled "funny ends here." Fox COULD be seen as exploiting a man with an unfortunate disablity for whatever ratings it brings.

When the comedy fails and feelings are hurt to the point that you make yourself and your employer object of intense diplomatic disgust, it is at best clueless to respond with a legalistic variant of "what, can't you take a joke?"

"I realize that my words may have been misunderstood. It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize."

Greg, I'm sorry that you are incapable of understanding how you fucked up and embarrassed your network and your nation. You should pray someone cares enough about you to explain to you, personally and in small words, exactly where you crossed the line.

But frankly, I doubt that Fox gives a scintilla of a damn. Not when there are "male enhancement supplements" and 900 number chatline subscriptions to sell and you serve that sad, pathetic demographic so very well.