This information is a little disconcerting. The US says there will be "consequences" if Canada decriminalizes pot. I don't like this attitude. I don't see why the American government should be "forced to respond" to our policies. We aren't hurting them. Their argument that it would make it easier for Americans to get pot is absurd since so many Americans have it already anyways. There wont be a huge black market across the border or anything.

Also, how would it make Canada look worse in the eyes of the World? Many countries would probably like the decision and respect it. A simple thing such as this shouldn't change a country's status in the global community and it wont. I heard an interesting interview on CBC this morning that said that a large number of Americans want pot to be decriminalized, however, the government doesn't want to face that. The man argued that they want to suppress this in Canada so that Americans don't get any ideas about having decriminalization there instead of suppressing it in Canada so that Americans can't get it.

The Register has posted a strange but funny story about how CNN accidently posted obituaries on it's website of world leaders and figures who are not yet dead including Fidel Castro, Bob Hope, The Pope, Nelson Mandela, Dick Cheney, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford.

One thing I'm beginning to hate is some Americans' attitudes about free speech. First they cut down your opinion calling it stupid and "Liberal" (with a bunch of other stereotypes). Then they will go on to say something about how you should feel lucky not to live in Iraq where you would be killed for expressing your opinion. Then they tell you to shut up.

They are violating their own principles. Are people only allowed to speak out if they agree with you? Speaking out is the American way! Thats how things get done in democracies. If it weren't for people who disagreed, we wouldn't be living in a democracy now. Freedom of speech doesn't mean anything if you are pressured, insulted and told to leave when you say anything against the grain.

If that idea is logical then I'm George Bush.

This is one of the most (if not the most) brilliant Onion article of all time.

Although it is refering to September 11th and is shrouded in humor, I think the message is timeless and true. Everyone in the world should understand this.

Scott Rosenberg of Salon wrote a great essay on the seemingly inevitable upcoming conflict with Iraq. Although nothing is inevitable it seems that the people in power in the states want this war to go ahead unless Saddam and his sons in Iraq flee the country. This doesn't seem likely. Here's a great passage from Scott's essay:

The president's speech tonight, full of the rhetoric of "liberty and peace," was suffused with an almost millenarian triumphalism, an attitude of certainty in U.S. victory that is no doubt borne out by the superiority of American weaponry and power and that, yet, to anyone with a sense of the twists of history, seems fatuously arrogant. War is rarely easy; the speed of the victories in 1991 Kuwait or 2001 Afghanistan was, historically, the exception, and there is no guarantee that every future American campaign will be as fast or as painless to Americans. Overconfidence breeds disaster.

Any leader who predicts certainty of victory is asking for it. War isn't predictable, especially with people like Saddam involved. If he is faced with his own destruction who knows what he'll do.

In the world today you want to be able to trust those who have influence and power. You want to be able to think that they are above petty insults and bad diplomacy, then you read something like this and you realize that the people running the show are complete idiots.

That deserves an honerary award for stupidity. Why does everyone have to agree with the Americans? France can still be an ally and not have the same view-point on everything. Why must they resort to pathetic name calling (or changing) like that. How incredibly stupid can you get.

I dearly hope next election the Americans elect competent representatives.

The BBC wants you! Cool idea.

Here's a great find! To be sung to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It".

If you cannot find Osama, bomb Iraq.
If the markets are a drama, bomb Iraq.
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq.

If we have no allies with us, bomb Iraq.
If we think someone has dissed us, bomb Iraq.
So to hell with the inspections,
Let's look tough for the elections,
Close your mind and take directions,
Bomb Iraq.

It's "pre-emptive non-aggression", bomb Iraq.
Let's prevent this mass destruction, bomb Iraq.
They've got weapons we can't see,
And that's good enough for me
'Cos it's all the proof I need
Bomb Iraq.

If you never were elected, bomb Iraq.
If your mood is quite dejected, bomb Iraq.
If you think Saddam's gone mad,
With the weapons that he had,
(And he tried to kill your dad),
Bomb Iraq.

If your corporate fraud is growin', bomb Iraq.
If your ties to it are showin', bomb Iraq.
If your politics are sleazy,
And hiding that ain't easy,
And your manhood's getting queasy,
Bomb Iraq.

Fall in line and follow orders, bomb Iraq.
For our might knows not our borders, bomb Iraq.
Disagree? We'll call it treason,
Let's make war not love this season,
Even if we have no reason,
Bomb Iraq.