I’m generally not a supporter of big protests - I think you’ve got a right to make your point heard, but when you take over a street to do it, you stop other people from using space that they deserve to use.

Tactics like this, though, make me wonder when I hear about crowds that get “out of hand” (check out 6:20 onward, especially):

Yeah… they used a barking dog (that BIT some old woman) to herd the protesters. Yes, that’s what we need in a chaotic situation - a dog freaking out.

Let’s face it…. that police officer loses his grip, or the collar or leash breaks, some poor guy’s getting mauled.

Well, The directors of “the uncouchaboule journey” are going to be doing a new, ninja-themed project.

I’m hoping to be a part of it; so I’m studying up:

Yeah; I know it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference in the grand scheme of things - but it’s a pretty psychologically satisfying thing.

There hasn’t been parity between the Canadian and US dollar since before we were born.

Article from CBC

… the schools without maps should DEFINITELY help people in Iraq and South Africa learn where Americans map unlabled… nope, lost it.

Let me know if you can figure out what the fuck she’s saying:

Miss South Carolina, at the Miss Teen USA 2007 pageant.

I found a transcript!

Q: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can’t locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?

During the pageant: “I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, um, some people out there in our nation don’t have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq and everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future.”

Still don’t know what she’s TRYING to say…

USA Today has a bit of a story on her though; giving her a second chance to answer. Myself, I think her second chance answer is as bad as the first one (though it’s a bit more cohesive…). You don’t have to think real hard to come up with something about “the new global economy”, America’s role in the world and how today’s students are stewards of the great legacy that is their country, etc. etc. etc.

I’m sure you were stressed that first time through, but you’ve had time to think of something better - but what do we get instead?

On Today: “Personally, my friends and I, we know exactly where the United States is on a map. I don’t know anyone else who doesn’t. If the statistics are correct, I believe there should be more emphasis on geography in our education so people will learn how to read maps better.”

Stirring and relevant, it was not… :(

“What’s a diorama?” “I dress myself!” “What’s a website?”

Oh… damn… screwed up. That last one isn’t a quote from Ralph Wiggam of The Simpsons; it’s a quote from a UK judge; during a terrorism trial.

I like the coverage of the story here; but there’s a straight-news version of it at this site.

You know; we would probably save a lot of time and money if we made sure that judges were basically informed and competent about the topic under discussion.

Let’s face it - a judge is one person, and he can’t be an expert in everything (granted, a basic knowledge of what a website is should be a prerequisite for breathing, but I digress). A judge shouldn’t be getting a basic grounding in a subject from a $200/hour lawyer; he should be getting it from a $20/hour tutor. The state should ensure a basically competent judge; the defense shouldn’t be required to pay money to sit and wait while the judge learns what he really ought to have already known.