Blog about politics (mideast and pro-Israel, Canadian and local Montreal), world events, and random thoughts.

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The World I Know is updated on a semi-regular basis by segacs.

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10:51 PM
The cure for cynicism and depression

HappyNews.com: all good news, all the time.

Eye-rolling optional.

(Hat tip: Mark).

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10:23 PM
Canada wins Junior gold

For the second year running, Canada won the gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Championship, beating Russia 5-0 in the final match.

Still our game, baby.

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9:25 AM
Reactions to Sharon's illness

The news on Ariel Sharon this morning is very, very bad.

Reactions, of course, run the gamut, from shock and prayer to political speculation to the expected villification from Israel's enemies to praise from unexpected sources.

But Allison, in one post, neatly sums up the Israeli reaction from her perspective:

Whether he lives or dies, we are all already in mourning. All of us — those who always like Sharon, those who never liked him, and the vast number of Israelis who once vilified him, but over the past several years have looked in wonderment as he embodied the definition of the word — leader.

Yes, he had flaws, yes, there was scandal, he was far from perfect. But he was a leader. We had a leader. And we no longer do.

I've repeatedly said that Ariel Sharon is like a cat with nine political lives. Unfortunately he's also a human being with only one physical life. And, agree or disagree with his policies, Sharon's loss is a real loss of a leader for all of Israel.

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5:24 PM
Sharon in critical condition

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke and cerebral hemorrhage and is in surgery in critical condition. Unlike his last recent health scare last month, this time it's serious:

According to a medical expert, the procedure is life threatening. Asked what are the chances of surviving this type of surgery, the doctor replied, "Let's be optimistic, some people survive it."

According to Justice Ministry spokesman Ya'acov Galant, a prime minister legally remains in his post only as long as he is capable of making decisions. Since Sharon is not conscious after suffering from what doctors termed "a serious stroke," his powers and prerogatives were transferred to his deputy, Finance Minister Ehud Olmert.

All of Israel and the entire world is hanging on for news. Beyond the implications of what this might mean for Sharon personally and for his family, Israel is in the midst of a critical election and the political implications are staggering.

In the meantime, besides directing some prayers Ariel Sharon's way for a refuah sheleimah, there's nothing anyone can do but wait for news.

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8:50 PM
Onion scoops AP

The Onion headline, Dec 7 2005: Rest of U2 perfectly fine with Africans starving:

Rock band U2, currently on tour in North America, is well-known for its human-rights advocacy, particularly its ongoing campaign to eradicate poverty in Africa. Less known to fans of the Irish supergroup, however, is that the lion's share of these efforts are made by lead singer Bono. The three other U2 members are perfectly okay with the dismal plight of Africa's poor.

AP Entertainment headline, Jan 1 2006: Campaign irks Bono's bandmates:

Rock star Bono said yesterday that his commitment to campaigning against poverty caused tensions within U2.

The musician said that at one point he feared his commitment to the anti-poverty cause might force him out of the band.

"They are hugely supportive spiritually and financially of the work I do, but they are in a rock 'n' roll band, and the first job of a rock 'n' roll band is not to be dull," Bono told British Broadcasting Corp. radio.

"So we have to be very careful about just letting me go too far."

The line between news and parody has perhaps never been fuzzier.

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7:54 PM
Three words I never thought I'd hear together:

Sir Tom Jones.

Shudder.

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7:46 PM
Giving Robert Fisk a run for the idiocy title

It's only January 1st and we already have our solid candidate for Idiotarian of the Year: Italian "peace activist" Alessandro Bernardini, who was kidnapped by Fatah gunmen but still thinks the Palestinian terrorists are a bunch of nice guys:

"I am fine, I am fine ... They gave me cigarettes and tea," Bernardini told reporters, looking shaken but unhurt.

"I will never change my idea about the occupation," he said, referring to Israel's occupation of land that Palestinians seek for a state. "I am with the Palestinian people."

An armed offshoot of Abbas's own ruling Fatah movement said it carried out the kidnapping.

Fatah. Not Hamas. Not Islamic Jihad. But Fatah's "armed wing". Did any of the people relentlessly promoting Mahmoud Abbas as a "moderate" ever stop to think about why Fatah has an armed wing in the first place?

Oh, and there's more:

Hours earlier, gunmen stormed a United Nations club in Gaza City and blew up the bar -- the only place where alcohol is served openly in the conservative Muslim territory. Nobody was hurt, but the attack added to security fears.

The United Nations is generally seen favorably in Gaza, where it is the second biggest employer after the Palestinian Authority.

Wow, talk about shooting yourself in the foot! The Israelis leave Gaza and suddenly the Palestinians are attacking their best friends, the United Nations?

My predicted U.N. response: "We will never change our idea about the occupation. We are with the Palestinian people".

S.S.D.Y.

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7:44 PM
Happy New Year

It's 2006. Which means, well, not a whole lot of difference from 2005. Except I will have to remember to date my cheques with 2006. Not that anyone writes many cheques anymore.

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