Friday, January 27, 2006

On Pots, Kettles and Bushes


"I don't see how you can be a partner in peace if you advocate the destruction of a country as part of your platform. And I know you can't be a partner in peace if your party has got an armed wing."
-- George W. Bush, commenting on Hamas' unanticipated victory in Palestinian election, at White House News Conference, 26 Jan 06

Uh, excuse me, Mr. President, but aren't there a few people around the world who might question the United States' suitability as a partner in peace, using these same criteria?

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

In case you missed this


It's remarkable how the North Korean media all speak with the same voice. Which sounds remarkably like the one that wrote this press release! "Immortal feats"? Sounds like Kim Jong Il needs definitely should try out for the touring company of Cirque de Soleil.


January 21, 2006 Saturday 4:37 AM EST
KIM JONG IL'S CHINA VISIT HAILED

PYONGYANG, North Korea -- The government of the People's Democratic Republic of Korea issued the following news release:

Newspapers here today come out with editorials saying that spectacular successes and immortal feats registered by leader Kim Jong Il during his visit to China will shine long along with the history of the DPRK-China friendship.

Rodong Sinmun says that Kim Jong Il's recent China visit offered a momentous occasion as it provided a new landmark in boosting the unbreakable friendship and solidarity and developing the sincere and comradely cooperation between the parties and peoples of the two countries despite the whirlpool of the turbulent 21st century.

It goes on:

The visit also offered a significant occasion in further deepening the mutual understanding and friendship between the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries and strikingly demonstrated the good tradition and solidity of the bilateral friendship that has been brought into fuller bloom in the new century.

Kim Jong Il's visit bore a good fruit and it marked an important occasion that recorded a brilliant chapter in the history of the bilateral friendship. His visit powerfully encouraged the two peoples in their struggle to build socialism and reunify their countries and made a great contribution to ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and other parts of Asia and giving an impetus to the unity of the anti-imperialist independent forces and to the building of a just new world.

The friendship between the DPRK and China that has grown generation after generation is a common treasure of the two peoples. The Chinese party, government and people have always set great store by the Sino-Korean friendship at a strategic level and rendered disinterested support and aid to the Koreans in their struggle to defend socialism. The Korean people are sincerely thankful for this and will always remember it. Particular and invariable are the feelings of friendship and trust between the peoples of the two countries. The party and the government of the DPRK will as ever make every possible effort to consolidate the ties of fraternal friendship deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples and inject fresh vigor and vitality into this traditional friendship.

This friendship that has stood all tests and tempests of history will come into fuller bloom thanks to the concerted efforts of the parties, governments and peoples of the two countries under the deep care of the top leaders of the two countries.

Minju Joson notes that the servicepersons and people of the DPRK will remain true to the Workers' Party of Korea's Songun revolutionary leadership, with high honor and pride of being led by Kim Jong Il, and make a fresh leap forward in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation with the might of Songun and boost the traditional relations of DPRK-China friendship this year.

Monday, January 16, 2006

Rick Mercer is Very Funny


One of North America's funniest people is hardly known outside of Canada. Here's one of his commentaries on CBC, especially apt for those of us south of the border.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Best Instructions of the Week

Off the Core

Purchased a set of three santoku knives at Costco today. They are made in China for NapaStyle, a U.S. company, and NapaStyle's attorneys receive my award for best instructions of the week.

The instructions include the following:

General Safety

. Always use caution when handling cutlery items. Misuse of cutlery may result in personal injury.
. Ensure that cutlery blades are always sharp. Dull blades ... may cause personal injury. Do not test sharpness with your hand or fingers; test on a food item.
. Do not allow children to play with cutlery.
. Always carry cutlery items with the blade pointing away from your body.
. Always cut or slice away from your body.
. Never try to catch falling cutlery.

To these very insightful tips, I would add (at no charge to NapaStyle, I will point out):

. Do not practice juggling with cutlery.
. Do not wear cutlery.
. Do not shave your neck, legs or other sensitive body parts with cutlery.
. Do not use cutlery as a substitute for your toothbrush.
. Place food items to be cut or sliced on a hard surface, such as a cutting board, rather than on your abdomen (see bullet point 4 above for more detail on this issue).
. If using cutlery as a substitute for lawn darts, do not look up to watch its trajectory.

Thank you NapaStyle. I hope your knives ... excuse me, cutlery ... give me as much pleasure as your instructions.