A bold statement? If you doubt me, then take this short quiz over at Dean’s place.

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The Scotsman has learned that BBC staff in Scotland were yesterday asked to volunteer £5 each to pay for an advertisement showing their support for Mr Dyke, principally because of the backing he gave them in their dispute with Lord Fraser.

But no surprise there, at all. And ‘they’ claim that the Beeb is non-political…Bah!! The rest of the article is also quite damning about things in general at the Beeb, with particular attention to BBC Scotland. Just goes to show how pervasive that extreme tilt is throughout the whole shop.

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Due to some childish whinging and bad tempers, the King of the Blogs has been suspended for this week. Alas, I discovered this after spending a decent amount of time doing my judging duties. I have decided to post my findings below.

I would be erring if I did not link to "”>Nick Queen, the host of the event. Alas, in the last two weeks, the poor sod has had to deal with people who can’t take criticism, but still want to be in a competition. I do not blame him for the suspension, and it would be understandable if he were to bin the whole idea.

NB: If you cannot take my style of criticism, then don’t bother reading. I make no apologies for what I have said about any of the blogs.

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“Let’s not make the mistake of thinking the War on Medical Marijuana patients is OVER. Far from it. This is actually the most critical moment in the ‘war;’ some battles have been won, and we need to help build on that success and raise awareness even further. Only nine states have passed medical marijuana laws and, as noted, even in the states which have, although the tide is turning, the feds are still arresting people for the horrible crime of … taking medicine.” (01/30/04)

From: Rational Review

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He has gotten 8.5 years and will probably be out in 4 with good behaviour. Rather than being charged with 1st degree murder, he has gotten off with the lesser charge of manslaughter. Those of us fascinated by this case will get to read more about it, as he is planning to write a book while in prison. I am sure this case will continue to attract interest for years to come. It certainly caused quite a bit of interest and controversy all over the world…especially in the blogosphere.

Update: The sentence has been appealed, but the results of cooking and then eating another person are still quite beyond understanding, although apparently the killer did follow EU dictats to ensure not to serve the meat rare.

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And it’s supposed to be that way, too.

Iraq is struggling to reach maturity in record time, and doing that rather well, in spite of the doomsayers. Instead of the world despairing over the noise, friction, and raucous outbursts from the citizens, we should rejoice, for it does mean that the Iraqis really are discovering the joys of freedom, the freedom to “fight nicely” about their future without fear of retribution or death. The fanatical elements, particularly those from without, will be subdued and dealt with through proper channels instead of reverting to dictatorial rule. They will take charge of their own lives and make their country flower.

Messy, Noisy, Exuberant…precisely the true definition of Democracy!

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You heard the quote here first!

Wait for Boris to steal the line….. Go on, BJ, I dare you!

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When Holly Marshall wanted to sell a pair of dangling earrings, a popular style these days, she listed them on eBay once, and got no takers. She tried a second time, and still no interest.

Was it the price? The fuzzy picture? Maybe the description: a beautiful pair of chandaleer earrings.

Such is the eBay underworld of misspellers, where the clueless and sometimes just careless sell labtop computers, throwing knifes, Art Deko vases, camras, comferters and saphires.

An amusing look at bargain-hunting on eBay in the NYT via Boing Boing.

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I like animals. No, let us go further. I love animals and the wildlife, fauna and flora that this planet contains. I believe that as humans we should treat our fellow creatures with compassion. So why is it that I feel so angry about an issue that touches upon the issue of scientific research?

The decision by Cambridge University not to go ahead with a research facility is a grave blow to academic freedom. Eco-terrorists are increasingly closing down the frontiers of enquiry. Consider this – those who wish to find a cure to HIV — remember that — may find that their efforts have been stymied by the do-gooders of the environmenalist lobby.

This is a difficult issue. But I am very worried that the scientific enquiry which is essential to the future of our liberal civilisation, is at stake. Courage, gentlemen, is required.

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Greg Dyke has just resigned from the BBC amidst a pathetically shambolic press conference outside of Bush House. He is the second scalp of what we hope is many more. Of course, BBC loyalists are making the rounds attacking the Hutton Report and its author. There seems to be no contrition on their part; just bleating that they are victims and whinging to anyone who will listen.

Sion Simon MP called for BBC to be privitised, nothing new, except for the fact he is a Labour backbencher, not a Tory one.

I suspect that most UK based bloggers have reacted to the report by now. Gabriel over at the new (and controversial) look Samizdata has written a succinct piece on the topic.

Update: Both Unpersons and Iain have interesting pieces on this whole saga. As does Oliver, British Spin and, of course, Harry.

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66.36.249.149 (as well as another IP) seriously spam bombed this blog. I hope whomever is doing it suffers a very long and painful death…very soon. So far it’s 300+ and counting. Not sure whether it was a d.o.s. attack or just loads of spam. I can tell you deleting all of them is a royal bloody nuisance.

Oh yeah, and the arsehole doing this is Canadian.

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Iranian-Americans should take particular note of the following when considering for whom to vote in the primaries.

Iranian American supporters of the effort to bring democracy to Iran are raising concerns about the resurgence of Senator Kerrys campaign for the Democratic Partys presidential nomination, questioning the role of a Kerry fund-raiser who wants to normalize ties with Tehran.

Hassan Nemazee is the individual in question. His connections with certain groups in this country and his position with that campaign give rise to questions about his influence on Kerry’s political stances and opinions in regard to relations between the U.S. and Iran.

Unfortunately Mr. Nemazee is still advising Mr. Kerry, a spokesman for the Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran,Aryo Pirooznia, told The New York Sun yesterday. Everyone remembers in the last of year of the Clinton administration when Mr. Nemazee gave a speech at the AIC calling for the removal of all sanctions against the Islamic Republic. We will be asking any Iranian-American of principle to vote for President Bush knowing that Mr. Kerry has recently said that Iran is moving toward democracy.

Many questions must be asked about this.

Via: Iran va Jahan

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The Toronto Star 01/28/04:

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON (CP) – Any doubts about Tony Blair’s integrity in joining the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq were dismissed today by the findings of a public inquiry, which concluded the BBC inaccurately reported that Britain’s prime minister exaggerated the case for war.

Blair’s government was also cleared of behaving in an underhanded manner towards weapons expert David Kelly, the source for the BBC report whose suicide last summer led to the inquiry by Lord Hutton, a senior appeals court judge. The chairman of the British Broadcasting Corp.’s board of governers resigned hours after the report was issued.

I watched CBC’s The National last night, completely baffled as to why they’d devote 15 minutes to a “documentary” (the scare quotes are entirely appropriate) about the upcoming release of the Hutton report that went on and on about the perfidous Blair Government and its duplicitous Defence and Intelligence agencies and the poor henpecked BBC, yadda yadda yadda.

I haven’t been following the story but superficially since last year, but even I could have told the CBC that this was going to blow up in its face, as it indeed did when Hutton more-or-less completely exonerated Blair and Co. and put the blame squarely on the BBC..

It says something — I’m not sure what, but something — that I care more for the integrity of the CBC than the CBC apparently does.

The next time you’re not sure about something, CBC, give me a call.

Or maybe you should make that call when you are sure about something.

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Watching what is happening following the outcome of the Hutton Report into the affair of David Kelly’s death and the issues surrounding it, it would, of course, be tempting to gloat over the fate of the BBC (which according to taste, stands for British Balderdash Corp). My initial take is this – the sooner that this country loses its insane notion that we need to have a monopolistic news organisation funded out of a tax, the better. Privatisation has to be the outcome. We now live in the age of cable and satellite, not to mention the Internet. There is no need for a state-funded broadcaster today, although I would argue that there was no need for such a statist broadcast operation in the first place.

More generally, there is no doubt in my mind that Prime Minister Tony Blair exaggerated the WMD threat to Britain and the West as his cause of war. But — and it is a very big but — there is also no doubt in my mind that Saddam, in his constant refusal to properly co-operate with weapons inspectors, gave no reason for Blair or indeed US President Bush to suppose that Iraq was not a danger to the West.

That, as they say, is my ha’pennyworth.

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“As the months roll by without any discovery of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the Bush administration has increasingly emphasized Saddam Hussein’s brutality and human rights violations as an important justification for the preemptive war it launched to overthrow his regime. ... But a leading advocacy group, Human Rights Watch, released a report Monday challenging the administration’s other main justification. The report said that the war in Iraq should not be justified as a defense of human rights. In its annual report, the independent, nongovernmental organization
argues that, because there was no ongoing or imminent mass killing when the conflict began, the war was not necessary to stop such atrocities.” (01/28/04)

This bit of random idioting (TM Paul) comes from Rational Review. One only has to wonder if they were be so moved if it were a Democrat in the Presidency instead of Republican. I wonder how Iraqis would react to this report. I would suggest that a representative of the organisation go to the Kurdish North of Iraq and explain their findings in person.

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“There’s a happy ending in the saga of Microsoft vs. Mike Rowe
Soft. ... [T]he software behemoth was about to come down hard on the Victoria, B.C., 17-year-old who had had the gall to name his Web-design firm after himself … http://www.mikerowesoft.com. But the media attention given to the story … may have led Microsoft to ponder the negative aspects of looking like Goliath about to smite a fresh-faced David. So Microsoft made Mike an offer: all expenses reimbursed, a subscription to the company’s software-development Web site, an Xbox gaming console and a free trip to Microsoft’s Redmond, WA, headquarters, about 100 miles from Mike’s house.” (01/27/04)

Via: Rational Review

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Although Canada did not join with the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq, they are still doing their part [with next to nothing] in the battle against those who would destroy all hope and freedom. A loving tribute to a man down in Afghanistan from a tiny corner of Canada where he is known by friends and family as a brave individual who gave his all in our defence. Thanks to Damian for penning this brief remembrance.

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To put it mildly, brrr.

It was -40° Celsius last night, -50 with wind chill, and tonight is shaping up similarly grim. Not a night to be out and about.

There is something that these temperatures are good for, though. Some years ago we (well, mainly my brother-in-law — I provided emotional support by drinking beer and commenting on the football game) replaced the lino in my mother’s bathroom.

The old linoleum that we hauled out was a bit of a problem. It was too bulky to put out with the trash and it was hardly worth the time and expense to truck it out to the city dump. So it sat in the garage for a few months.

Then one dark January day we had a cold snap similar to this. I was poking around the garage for something or other when inspiration struck.

Actually, it was my boot that struck the edge of the linoleum, and it shattered like glass. (I mean the linoleum, not my boot.)

A couple of minutes of enthusiastic stomping and I wound up with a tidy little box of Aztec Gold fragments ready for the garbageman.

Sure, I lost three fingers, two toes and an ear to frostbite — but it was still worth it. This is Canada, after all, where men are men and the sheep are all frozen to death in the meadow.

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Andrew’s and Jeannie Fiona’s friend MommaBear has captured the essence of ‘Why Things Go Awry’! This world-wide phenomenon has no limit, more’s the pity, for it dashes great hopes into dust, which then turns into mud from the tears of frustration.

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Y’know, I really sympathise with those who oppose America’s growing influence in world affairs.

It’s shocking the way America fascistically imposes freedom and liberty on countries… how American economic power enslaves peoples around the world by creating jobs, higher wages and increases in standard of living… and how minorities are subjugated with special rights and recognition…

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“With a provision that is in direct violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is on the verge of prohibiting ads supporting marijuana policy reform from being displayed on public transportation systems across the nation. ... The provision would prohibit all local transit agencies from displaying marijuana policy reform advertising if they receive funding from the federal
government — which is most transit agencies.” (01/27/04)

Via: Rational Review

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Well look no further than Dolphin Foundry!

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Thanks to pile-ups of garbage in the streets, Israeli soldiers patrolling Hebron are having to contend with a growing rat problem. Two soldiers have been bitten recently, both in the head. The rodents are reportedly getting so large — the size of cats — the soldiers are now calling them “crats”. One soldier says that lately, the crats “have been more frightening then the terrorists.” (AP)...Huh: President Bush has recently said much the same thing — that lately the ‘crats are a bigger problem than the terrorists.

This news comes from This is True. One wonders if the Islamo-kazis are attempting to figure out how to strap a bomb to these rats. They seem to be keen to strap bombs to everything else including, of course, donkeys and women.

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The new Bonfire is up over at Southern Musings.

The Carnival is up

This week’s King of the Blogs results are up in all their glory.

Oh and on another subject… Paul informs us that P Diddly has offended the Serbs! I wonder if there is any point when Poland will tell the EU to get knotted.

Bertie (Ahern) is a bully according to Terrance.

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Show Your Solidarity With World Jewry!

On July 18, 2004, the people of Argentina will commemorate the tenth
anniversary of the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos
Aires. This tragedy took the lives of 85 people and injured over 300 others. TEN YEARS have passed and no one has been convicted of this crime — the largest anti-Semitic catastrophe since World War II. Recently declassified documents indicate that members within Argentina’s own government and police force may have collaborated with the terrorists in this heinous act.

Please read and sign this petition to President Nestor Kirchner requesting that JUSTICE be served. This petition will be presented to President Kirchner at the 10th anniversary commemoration ceremony this summer. President Kirchner, as well as the Argentine government, is very conscious of world opinion and your signature will contribute significantly to the wave of support for action on this matter. After signing, it is very important you forward this to your family, friends and colleagues.

The petition can be found here.

IT TAKES ONE MINUTE. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Please note that after signing you will be sent a confirmation e-mail for verification purposes. Only after clicking on the link will your online signature be authenticated as a new entry.

Thank you for your time and consideration!

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New England Temperature Conversion Chart

60 degrees F: Southern Californians shiver uncontrollably. People in New England sunbathe.

50 F: New Yorkers try to turn on the heat. People in New England plant gardens.

40 F: Italian & English cars won’t start. People in New England drive with the windows down.

32 F: Distilled water freezes. The water at Moosehead Lake in Maine starts getting cooler.

20 F: Floridians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats. People in New England throw on a flannel shirt, buttons open.

15 F: New York City landlords finally turn up the heat. People in New England have the last cookout before it gets cold.

0 F: All the people in Miami die. New Englanders close the windows.

10 below zero: Californians escape en masse toMexico. Girl Scouts in New England sell cookies door to door.

25 below zero: Las Vegas disintegrates. People in New England rummage around the attic to find some winter coats.

40 below zero: Washington DC runs out of hot air. People in New England let the dogs sleep indoors.

100 below zero: Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Some New Englanders are frustrated when they can’t start their “kahs”.

460 below zero (absolute zero on the Kelvin Scale): All atomic motion stops. People in New England start saying . .. . “Cold ‘nuff for ya?”

500 below zero: Hell freezes over. Red Sox win World Series.

Via: Mater

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The Best of Me Symphony is about to begin......the conductor steps to the podium…turns to the audience…a hush settles over the hall… announces that the program will consist of the following numbers which will all be Oldies But Goodies...and then lifts his baton for the downbeat:

= = = = = = = = = =Kathy Kinsley
A slight digression on language+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =John Ray [ Dissecting Leftism ] 4935268044"”>Some Immigration Realism

Under the title “Some Immigration Realism”, John Ray argues that the illegal immigration horse has escaped and that it is time to make the best of it

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =Dan K. O’LearyThings that …..

Best of me action: My post is entitled “Things that pissed me off last year” and includes American Idol, MTV, the RIAA, and Michael Moore.

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =Venomous KateIt’s a tirade …

It’s a tirade about the dangers of screwing up my morning coffee.

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =Simon[ submitted by Jim ]A Day In The Life Of A Blogger

A very humorous autobiography style post on what a day is like for Simon the Blogger.

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =ShelbyKevin is a Hero!

This is a short post wherein I describe how my husband
Kevin, an Eagle Scout and constant do-gooder, puts out a fire in someone else’s car with an extinguisher he’s carried around for years. I think it’s funny and charming at the same time.

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =Feste…a foolsblogThe Cardinal, the Statesman and the Senator

A parody on Edward Lear’s “The Owl and The Pussycat” inspired by juxtaposed news headlines in my daily newspaper…it sort of wrote itself.

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =Gleeful ExtremistThe Civil War really WAS …

The Gleeful Extremist puts forth the novel idea that the Civil War really WAS about slavery. Gee!

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =Gary CruseIntellectual Poverty

It describes what the left does to make sure it has a pool of poverty and people who think they cannot succeed, in order to win elections. This theme of stretching out the available negatives has re-emerged in the press during the Democrat debates.

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =A Medley from Jen- – - – -PaulDating Tips for Men # 7

An entry from Paul’s dating tips series.

- – - – -Frank [IMAO]Jennifer Answers: Plastic Explosives and He-Man; Frank Answers: The Breast Way to Get Ahead

My favorite “Frank Answers”...coincidentally, the Eiffel Tower caught fire that day

- – - – -Bob WhaleyOde to a Dog

A look at times with the aging family pet.

- – - – -JenFrankly, My Dear…

Do you give a damn about phrase origins?

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = +SimonHere’s what I remember

A bit too much, as it turns out.

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =Jim PeacockThe Medical Industry Sucks: A Case Study

Some bad experiences spurred me to look for the causes of the decreasing quality of medical care.

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =SimonParents’ Prayer+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =Trudy W. Schuett... text of a novel …

This is an experimental blog. I’m posting the full text of a novel, written by me and originally published in 1999. Sweethearts and Monsters is a story of ‘puter geeks in love. To make it interesting, they are stalked by terrorists. ;>) This is being posted a couple of pages at a time, so the link should go back to the first installment.

+ = + = + = + = += + = += += + = + = + = += = = = = = = = = =

Dodgeblogium has been proud to host The Best Of Me Symphony for this week. Next week the Symphony is hosted by the ubiquitous TBP, esq. at Unbillable Hours. If you would like to see some older post of your own that you still think is a really good one appear, then click here for all the scoop about how to do it. Just because something has rolled off the front page doesn’t mean it should be forgotten !!

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Maybe someone with more programming skills than me should combine this

(via The Poison Kitchen) and this (via Colby Cosh).

To be or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ‘tis nobler — oooh! Stackable chairs!

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David reports that Stormhaven is being seen by Scientists as the cradle of life as we know it.

He has been there on occasion. I wonder if he noticed if the inhabitants have large frog-like eyes or like to gather on the water on certain nights during the year. Is the name Marsh common in the town? I think we ought to know!

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And to most of us, it’s most pleasing. And all thanks to the Dissident Froggy.

Oh yeah, and Command Post is shilling for hits for their coverage of the NH primaries. As a contributor to the site, a war news arm-chair correspondent, I have a soft spot for Michele and crew. I have to say I didn’t think that CP had a future after the war was over. I was wrong, and it continues apace.

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