In a 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court struct down the District of Columbia's anti-handgun legislation. Although the ruling clearly stated that the US Constitution protects the rights of individuals to bear guns apart from membership in militias, that does not mean efforts to control handgun usage are dead -- anti-gun advocates just have to be more creative.
I have a suggestion to make to the District of Columbia. Since their anti-handgun legisilation cannot stand, I suggest that it be replaced with a $5000 annual handgun registration fee.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
On the Greasy Grass
On this day in 1876, several hundred American soldiers and civilians lost their lives at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The commanding officer, George Armstrong Custer, died in the battle along with two brothers, a nephew, and a brother-in-law.
"Custer's Last Stand" was not the biggest American loss in the Indian Wars, nor did it result in the highest number of native casualties. It was not even a lasting victory for the natives: the coalition of Lakota, Cheyenne, and other tribes soon scattered. Within months, most were on reserves or living as refugees in Canada.
For some reason, the battle has seared itself in the popular imagination. People who know nothing else about the history of the American West have heard of Custer, the Little Bighorn, Sitting Bull, or Crazy Horse. I even once had an in-depth and entertaining discussion about the battle with a local Glaswegian while on a business trip to Scotland.
I have to admit that I have a strange fascination with the battle. When I was 9 or 10 I received a 12-inch tall General Custer action figure for Christmas. (My sister called it a doll, which was far more perceptive but far less masculine.) The battle also dominates my bookshelves, with close to two dozen books on the battle or the participants.
Still, I have no idea why it exerts such a hold on me. Perhaps it is the tragedy of so many men making a last stand in the wilderness of Montana that sings to me. Perhaps it is the tragedy that the Indian alliance did not capitalize on their victory. Perhaps it is just the fact that the battle seemed so inevitable.
"Custer's Last Stand" was not the biggest American loss in the Indian Wars, nor did it result in the highest number of native casualties. It was not even a lasting victory for the natives: the coalition of Lakota, Cheyenne, and other tribes soon scattered. Within months, most were on reserves or living as refugees in Canada.
For some reason, the battle has seared itself in the popular imagination. People who know nothing else about the history of the American West have heard of Custer, the Little Bighorn, Sitting Bull, or Crazy Horse. I even once had an in-depth and entertaining discussion about the battle with a local Glaswegian while on a business trip to Scotland.
I have to admit that I have a strange fascination with the battle. When I was 9 or 10 I received a 12-inch tall General Custer action figure for Christmas. (My sister called it a doll, which was far more perceptive but far less masculine.) The battle also dominates my bookshelves, with close to two dozen books on the battle or the participants.
Still, I have no idea why it exerts such a hold on me. Perhaps it is the tragedy of so many men making a last stand in the wilderness of Montana that sings to me. Perhaps it is the tragedy that the Indian alliance did not capitalize on their victory. Perhaps it is just the fact that the battle seemed so inevitable.
Deutschland Über DieTürkei
In Euro 2008 action, my two favourite teams of the tournament met on the pitch today. Germany went into the match as the favourite but the Turkish side was definitely not a walk over. The Turks are a pretty tenancious group, so I wasn't surprised at how tight the game was.
(Germany won, by the way, by a score of 3 to 2.)
(Germany won, by the way, by a score of 3 to 2.)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Cool Nature News
www.nationalgeographic.com reports that a number of African frogs have an extreme defence mechanism: they pierce the skin of their feet with toe bones and create instant claws. Because the claws cause serious damage to the skin, they are only used when the frogs are threatened. I wonder what else remains to be discovered.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Truth in Advertising
I went for a walk at lunch today. Amongst the myriad of posters covering the light posts was one of the most succinct and, in its own way, elegant ads I have ever seen: Two Guys Moving.
That was it. Two guys moving. There were no adverbs, no adjectives, no attempts to appeal to a particular sub-set of the market. Just a simple declaration of what you would be hiring.
That was it. Two guys moving. There were no adverbs, no adjectives, no attempts to appeal to a particular sub-set of the market. Just a simple declaration of what you would be hiring.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Down But Not Out
The Taliban scored a major victory when they pulled off a successful rescue raid on the government's prison in Kandahar. Reports say that hundreds of prisoners were freed, including over 400 Taliban fighters. Canadian troops and US Marines are now going door-to-door to hunt the escapees.
I fear that this may be just the start of another bloody summer for our troops, our allies, and the people of Afghanistan. I also fear that people will use these losses to argue that we should not be in Afghanistan.
I dread the next few weeks and months.
I fear that this may be just the start of another bloody summer for our troops, our allies, and the people of Afghanistan. I also fear that people will use these losses to argue that we should not be in Afghanistan.
I dread the next few weeks and months.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
It Ain't MY Second Anthem
Much has been made of the recent acquisition of "The Hockey Song" by the CTV network. The song had been used as the theme music for CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, but that network was unwilling to pay the $3 million that the owner was seeking. CTV, on the other hand, was willing to pay for a song that has been associated with its rival for some four decades.
Personally, I couldn't care less about who owns the rights to the song. I was, however, somewhat surprised to discover that many Canadians consider it to be "Canada's second anthem". Of all the songs that could fit that billing, I would never have picked "The Hockey Song". Stan Rogers' "Northwest Passage", maybe. Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds", perhaps. But "The Hockey Song"? NEVER!
Personally, I couldn't care less about who owns the rights to the song. I was, however, somewhat surprised to discover that many Canadians consider it to be "Canada's second anthem". Of all the songs that could fit that billing, I would never have picked "The Hockey Song". Stan Rogers' "Northwest Passage", maybe. Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds", perhaps. But "The Hockey Song"? NEVER!
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Deutschland Uber Alles?
Not quite, but Germany did beat Poland by a score of 2-0 today at the Euro 2008 tournament.
As for my sentimental favourite -- Austria -- well, the less said the better. (Croatia beat them 1-0.)
As for my sentimental favourite -- Austria -- well, the less said the better. (Croatia beat them 1-0.)
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Football 4 - Hockey 0
I can't exactly explain it, but I love watching football. Not the athletic equivalent of the Somme that North Americans call football, but the elegant ebbing and flowing game which we refer to as "soccer". In fact, I love watching the game so much that I have already watched more football games this season (4) than I watched hockey games (0).
Like most North Americans, I grew up thinking that soccer is a bit of silly sport because of the lack of scoring. Over the past few years, however, I have grown to appreciate the game. It has the tidal rhythm of baseball, but the players stay on the field for 90 minutes or more. There is a constant flow between the ends that basketball enjoys, but none of the profligate, almost promiscuous scoring of basketball. Best of all, there is none of the senseless violence of rugby, North American football, or hockey.
I have to confess that I am one of those Canadians who hates it when people defend fighting and violent physical contact as "part of the game". It may be the fact that I never played the game and have thus never developed a sense of blood lust, but I really don't understand why it is necessary to stop the game so that goons with the ability to throw punches whilst balancing on ice skates duke it out while the crowd goes wild.
I got to watch the first game of the Euro 2008 tournament today, an exciting and hard-fought match between Portugal and Turkey. There was plenty of physical contact without anyone finding the need to throw punches. Then again, these fellows are running up and down the field for 90 minutes, so they don't have time to waste on things like brawling.
Like most North Americans, I grew up thinking that soccer is a bit of silly sport because of the lack of scoring. Over the past few years, however, I have grown to appreciate the game. It has the tidal rhythm of baseball, but the players stay on the field for 90 minutes or more. There is a constant flow between the ends that basketball enjoys, but none of the profligate, almost promiscuous scoring of basketball. Best of all, there is none of the senseless violence of rugby, North American football, or hockey.
I have to confess that I am one of those Canadians who hates it when people defend fighting and violent physical contact as "part of the game". It may be the fact that I never played the game and have thus never developed a sense of blood lust, but I really don't understand why it is necessary to stop the game so that goons with the ability to throw punches whilst balancing on ice skates duke it out while the crowd goes wild.
I got to watch the first game of the Euro 2008 tournament today, an exciting and hard-fought match between Portugal and Turkey. There was plenty of physical contact without anyone finding the need to throw punches. Then again, these fellows are running up and down the field for 90 minutes, so they don't have time to waste on things like brawling.
Score One for the Monkeys
In what has to be a first for any business school, Lucknow's Sardar Bhagat Singh College of Technology and Management has selected the Hindu monkey god as its chairman.
Hanuman is extremely popular in India, where he is known for his strength and valour. He is known for his ability to lift mountains and leap oceans, but perhaps his greatest feat as a manager was in leading an army of monkeys to rescue a kidnapped princess from the demon king Ravana.
According to the Associate Press, Hanuman's new position comes complete with an office, desk, and laptop. Visitors to the office will be required to enter the office barefoot, which makes Hanuman a refreshing change from the corporate dress policies that most institutions seem to have these days.
Hanuman is extremely popular in India, where he is known for his strength and valour. He is known for his ability to lift mountains and leap oceans, but perhaps his greatest feat as a manager was in leading an army of monkeys to rescue a kidnapped princess from the demon king Ravana.
According to the Associate Press, Hanuman's new position comes complete with an office, desk, and laptop. Visitors to the office will be required to enter the office barefoot, which makes Hanuman a refreshing change from the corporate dress policies that most institutions seem to have these days.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Perspective
I suppose I could comment on a lot of things: Obama becoming the first black American presidential candidate, the GM plant closure in Oshawa, the big huff caused when Rachel Ray wore a scarf in a Dunkin' Donuts commercial, but I really couldn't care less. I am just waiting for Friday, when the temperature is supposed to break the 30 degree mark for the first time this year.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
The Hard Side of Equality
Much has been made of the fact that Hillary Clinton is the first woman to mount a serious campaign for the presidency of the United States of America. Some might say that too much has been made of it. Some would just say that it's about time.
As Clinton's campaign began to lose traction against Obama, many of her supporters have begun to take opposition to her historic mission as a manifestation of sexism. If you don't support Hillary, the thinking goes, you oppose equal rights for women in America.
Now, I can understand the passion that people feel about the campaign but I think Clinton's loyalists are missing the point: true equality means that voters have the option to vote against Clinton. But somehow I think this campaign is less about equality and more about power.
As Clinton's campaign began to lose traction against Obama, many of her supporters have begun to take opposition to her historic mission as a manifestation of sexism. If you don't support Hillary, the thinking goes, you oppose equal rights for women in America.
Now, I can understand the passion that people feel about the campaign but I think Clinton's loyalists are missing the point: true equality means that voters have the option to vote against Clinton. But somehow I think this campaign is less about equality and more about power.
Downward, Ho!
A standard, if historically inaccurate, scene in many western movies is the Indian attack on a wagon train. The brave, God-fearin' agents of civilization and progress would circle the wagons to form a temporary fort. The blood-thirsty heathens would then proceed to ride in circles around the laager in order to provide the settlers with as many opportunities to kill them as could be fit into a ten-minute scene.
It was largely bunk, of course, but "circling the wagons" is a handy metaphor for what is happening with the Democratic Party in the United States. The only difference is that the settlers tended to shoot out towards the menacing horsemen, whereas the Democrats seem to be intend on shooting into the laager.
Yesterday, the Party's rules committee issued a decision to resolve the contentious issue of delegates from Florida and Michigan. Both states moved their primaries to January earlier in the year in defiance of the Democratic National Committee, which in turn banned delegates from those states from sitting at the upcoming national convention. When this all happened, both Clinton and Obama agreed not to campaign in those states. Obama even went so far as to remove his name from the Michigan ballot.
In yesterday's decision, the rules committee decided to give each delegate from Florida and Michigan half a vote at the national convention, which seems like a generous concession considering that the states had been clearly informed that their delegates would have no votes. Obama's camp is content with the decision, but Clinton's team are furious and threaten to keep on fighting to the bitter end. Some Clinton partisans have even declared that if she does not win, they will leave the Democratic Party and will become Independents.
After 8 years of one of the most inept (Republican) administrations in history, John McCain will have to work hard to get elected. But if the Democrats keep circling the wagons and shooting in, his job will be a little bit easier.
It was largely bunk, of course, but "circling the wagons" is a handy metaphor for what is happening with the Democratic Party in the United States. The only difference is that the settlers tended to shoot out towards the menacing horsemen, whereas the Democrats seem to be intend on shooting into the laager.
Yesterday, the Party's rules committee issued a decision to resolve the contentious issue of delegates from Florida and Michigan. Both states moved their primaries to January earlier in the year in defiance of the Democratic National Committee, which in turn banned delegates from those states from sitting at the upcoming national convention. When this all happened, both Clinton and Obama agreed not to campaign in those states. Obama even went so far as to remove his name from the Michigan ballot.
In yesterday's decision, the rules committee decided to give each delegate from Florida and Michigan half a vote at the national convention, which seems like a generous concession considering that the states had been clearly informed that their delegates would have no votes. Obama's camp is content with the decision, but Clinton's team are furious and threaten to keep on fighting to the bitter end. Some Clinton partisans have even declared that if she does not win, they will leave the Democratic Party and will become Independents.
After 8 years of one of the most inept (Republican) administrations in history, John McCain will have to work hard to get elected. But if the Democrats keep circling the wagons and shooting in, his job will be a little bit easier.
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