Monthly Archives: February 2009
Australia Bush Fires Kill Record Number
| 2/9/2009 | Posted by Patti under World News |
It’s hard to believe the utter devastation that bush fires in the state of Victoria in Australia has wrought. Almost 800 homes have been destroyed, countless vehicles and other structures, animals and upwards of 160 people and rising have lost their lives. Another 80 are in hospital. Almost 1300 square miles destroyed by raging fires that some describe as sounding like 5 or 6 airliners landing at once.
What is even more mind boggling is that it is believed that some of the estimated 400 fires were deliberately set. According to one report I found, at least two suspects are in custody. Between the drought that Australia has suffered with for months and record hot temperatures, it would take someone with a serious lack of gray matter between the ears to even thinking of striking a flame. (more…)
Palin Finds Bloggers “Pathetic”
| 2/5/2009 | Posted by Patti under American Election |
Sarah Palin, the failed American Vice-Presidential candidate, rails against “anonymous, pathetic bloggers” in an about to be released interview with Esquire magazine. In general she thinks that the media coverage of her was unfair.
From what I saw of the media coverage, I thought they were being as fair as they could to her. When someone is basically dumb and then produces behaviour to prove it, the media could have had a field day, but for the most part, they were pretty respectful.
Yeah some did speculate on who the mother of her son Trig is, there are those who would come up with just about anything to have something to talk about. At least they didn’t decide to try debating the merits of her having had the child…. or did they? I’m not all over the blogosphere as much as I’d like to be. (more…)
Ignatieff Allows Protest Vote
| 2/4/2009 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
In the first test of his leadership, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has allowed a protest vote from six Newfoundland MPs. He’s drawn some criticism for having done so but since some of the sources are hacks like Tom Flanagan, a buddy of Harper, I don’t put a lot of stock in the criticism.
For some, the question is how can this be a one time exception? What happens next time Danny Williams brings pressure to bear?
If Ignatieff wants to set himself out as a reasoned alternative to Harper, he might want to rethink the ‘one time’ concept. He may want to giving some serious consideration to serving notice on Harper that punitive moves on any region of this country will resulting in him allowing protest votes from Liberal MPs in that region. (more…)
Cooler Heads Need to Prevail in Trade Issues
| 2/3/2009 | Posted by Patti under economy |
OK, so US lawmakers have slipped in some “buy American” provisions into the stimulus bill that President Obama is trying to get passed into law. I expect that the people who had those provisions put into the package had the best of intentions towards the thousands (millions?) of Americans currently seeking work or on the verge of losing jobs.
In many ways the policy makes a lot of sense, when the people closest to you are hurting, why wouldn’t you want to move to give them a hand up? In fact, it is a bit hard to believe that any government wouldn’t have that approach as a first line of purchasing, buying from domestic sources if at all possible or even if it might cost the taxpayer a bit more in the long run. After all those firms don’t only pay taxes, they employ people who pay taxes.
I am inclined to think that the bigger problem the Americans might be taking on is determining what is ‘buying American’ in a global economy where American firms have moved production offshore to cheaper locales thus reducing their American workforce. (more…)
Conviction for Aiding Mountie Killer
| 2/2/2009 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
The friday headline refers to ‘harsh’ sentences being meted out to two men convicted of aiding James Roszko in the murder of four RCMP officers in Mayerthorpe, Alberta in 2004. I’d hardly call the sentences harsh.
The two men, related by marriage, provided Roszko a gun and a ride that took him back to his farm and allowed him to murder the four RCMP officers who were guarding it. They knew he was a cop hater, they knew he was violent, they claim he bullied them into helping.
Shawn Hennessey received a 15 year sentence and Dennis Cheeseman received 12 years. With reductions for time spent in custody, they receive a de facto sentence of 10 years and 7 years respectively. Then factor in parole after serving 2/3 of their sentences, that means that the actual time spent in prison will be roughly 6 years and 3 years. The four dead mounties will be dead for eternity. (more…)
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