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

""

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

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Comments are open and unmoderated, although obscene or abusive remarks may be deleted. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of segacs's world i know.

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2:32 PM
Finally

The Habs finally woke up. Efforts from such underperformers as Kovalev, Samsonov and Plekanec, not to mention a stellar performance from all-star goalie Huet, led the Habs to a much-needed 4-1 victory over the Thrashers last night.

That sound you're hearing is Guy Carbonneau's giant sigh of relief. Let's hope they can keep it up!

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9:01 PM
"Save the Saidye"

Okay, so it's not closing. But it is scaling way back. One of the Montreal Jewish Community's most beloved institutions, the Saidye Bronfman Centre, is cutting its fine arts classes to focus exclusively on theatre and performance:

The school employed 85 artists and had 1,800 students learning painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, calligraphy, printmaking, design, jewellery, ceramics and more.

[ . . . ]

The facilities are state of the art(s). Fletcher cited the Saidye's printmaking and ceramic studios as among the best in Montreal.

"The school is unique and vital," he said. "It's essential that it keep going."

There's a web petition circulating on the subject, but it's unlikely to do much in itself. As with any issue, the real question will come down to dollars and cents. By raising awareness, we might hope to get the big machers interested in the cause. Perhaps someone will step in at the eleventh hour to save these programs that are so unique and important to the community.

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10:48 AM
Remembering Raoul Wallenberg

Today is Raoul Wallenberg Day in Canada. Not many people know that. I knew but forgot, and had to be reminded by this article in today's paper:

He is one of only two honourary Canadian citizens (along with Nelson Mandela), yet few know of him. One of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century, yet virtually unknown in the country that chose to make him one of us. There's something wrong here.

Why should we still care about Raoul Wallenberg? After all, it has been 62 years since he was arrested by the Russians, on Jan. 17, 1945, and vanished into another totalitarian killing machine, never to reappear.

Here's why.

In the face of the darkest evil during the Second World War, Wallenberg left his quiet neutral country, Sweden, and went to Budapest, one of the bloodiest places of the war, to save people of a different religion, ethnicity and tradition.

Defying the Nazis, he rushed to death-camp deportation sites, using his consular status to hand out coveted papers with the seal of the government of Sweden.

He rescued those bound for death and delivered them to safe houses where they were protected from the Nazi death machine. He saved thousands - 100,000 people would certainly have been murdered if not for his intervention. Acting alone in Budapest, on his own initiative, he saved more lives during the Holocaust than any government in the world. Sounds impossible, but it is true.

I am constantly amazed at his staggering achievement, and the terrible irony of his life story - the hero rescuer who is himself imprisoned and silenced.

Read the rest. And, if you can, pause for a moment to pay tribute to this man who was truly one of the Righteous among the Nations.

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9:37 PM
Off-limits

This was not okay. And neither is this:

Students and staff at one of Montreal’s largest Muslim schools expressed shock today after windows in their building were smashed and the school bus was vandalized overnight.

“Parents are very angry and teachers are afraid,” said Principal Sawaf Layla, at École Les jeunes Musulmans canadiens where shards of glass lay in the school’s entrance.

Rocks and bricks crashed through about 15 windows at the school sometime between 9 p.m. Monday night and 5 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

Nobody knows what motivated this attack; unlike the UTT attack there was no note or message left, so it theoretically could have just been a random act of vandalism. But if it turns out this was a hate crime, then whoever was responsible should be prosecuted under the full extent of the law.

Muslim schools, Jewish schools, Christian schools, public schools, it doesn't matter. All should have one thing in common. No matter your sick, twisted beef with the world, whatever your prejudices or hangups or politics or racist views. No matter what, one message needs to be made perfectly clear:

Kids. Are. Off. Limits.

Period.

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7:30 PM
The ultimate terrorist fashion accessory...

... Coming to an Urban Outfitter's near you!

Leslie has the scoop.

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7:10 PM
Borat wins Golden Globe, vanishes

Sascha Baron Cohen is finally giving interviews as himself after months of only appearing in character as Borat.

The day after Borat: The Movie was awarded a Golden Globe award, Cohen has decided to close the chapter on this character and move on:

Sacha Baron Cohen has killed off his controversial character Borat.

The British-born comic star insists the offensive fictional Kazakhstani reporter is now too famous to fool anyone again, but has revealed he is already working on new ideas.

One might think Cohen would be sad to let go of such a long-running (and cash-generating) character. But if anything, he sounds relieved:

He explained: "It was tiring having to stay in character, usually for about eight hours at a time, so as not to raise suspicion. There is a lot of physical preparation. I never washed the suit - when I come in the room there's this terrible smell. And Borat doesn't wear any deodorant."

Now that's commitment. Or insanity. Or both.

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7:04 PM
Halutz resigns

It was inevitable, I guess, though the timing surprised some: IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz has submitted his resignation.

Olmert expressed his disappointment, but he has other things on his mind.

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6:54 PM
Lame Duck Duck Goose

They just keep flocking to the race to succeed lame-duck Bush. The latest to throw his hat into the ring? Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, rising star in the Democratic party and many people's Great Black Hope.

It's still early for analysis, but this piece in The Independent has an interesting - if perhaps a bit optimistic - perspective on how things might play out.

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6:35 PM
Okay, who has Castro in the Dead Dictator Pool?

If you picked this week, you may want to start mentally planning what you're going to do with all the cash. The secrecy surrounding Castro's condition would seem to indicate that he's going from bad to worse.

Luckily for Fidel, he's already managed to pass his revolutionary torch.

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2:08 PM
Snowstorm

It's about flippin' time, too! It's just not January when you can see the grass.

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1:41 AM
Another random pointless web quiz

But this one's the Muppets, so of course I just had to take it. (Via Red "Swedish Chef" Rabbit):

You Are Scooter

Brainy and knowledgable, you are the perfect sidekick. You're always willing to lend a helping hand. In any big event or party, you're the one who keeps things going. "15 seconds to showtime!"

The Muppet Personality Test

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