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.

Think I'm the greatest thing since chocolate-covered strawberries? Think I'm certifiably insane? E-mail me at segacs2.at.yahoo.ca.

Buy me a present! Visit my Amazon Wish List.

Frequently asked questions about me and this blog.

Atom site feed

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.

---

<< List
Jewish Bloggers
Join >>

 
10:01 PM
15 reasons to like G.W. Bush

Since the most fun way to procrastinate is to start an argument...

1. He was elected democratically... twice... the people had a choice, which is more than we can say about people in most of the world.
   
2. Every time he says "nucular", you just gotta figure he has no intention of actually *using* weapons he can't pronounce (or at least we hope so).
   
3. He believes in tax cuts for the wealthy... which is good, especially if you're wealthy, or if you're trying to become wealthy. It also helps to create a positive influx of rich people into the country, who are fleeing less-friendly tax environments (like Quebec). Mind you, it's still not as good as Monaco, but then, what is?
   
4. Think of all those stem cells he saved from evil research! They'd say thank you, if they could.
   
5. His unwavering support for Israel. Even if it's because he believes that Jesus will return and convert all the Jews to Christinanity. But hey, nobody said it had to be rational.
   
6. He got rid of Saddam Hussein. Sure, Iraq is a total mess right now. But it's no joke that Saddam's regime was a tyrannical nightmare.
   
7. Thanks to the freefall of the US dollar, cross-border shopping is as cheap as it's been in a quarter-century for us Canadians!
   
8. Gays and lesbians won't be burdened with the trials and tribulations of marriage anytime soon.
   
9. He makes politics accessible to anyone and everyone, by not using words with more than two syllables... like "accessible".
   
10. He's a source of inspiration to all of us vertically-challenged people on what is possible to achieve despite height limitations.
    
11. He's not Michael Moore.
    
12. He understands that the U.N. has become an irrelevant joke, incapable of accomplishing anything of value, and saves a lot of time and frustration by simply ignoring it.
    
13. He never had sex with Monica Lewinsky.
    
14. You're either with Bush or you're with the terrorists.
    
    And, last but not least...
    
    
15. Hours upon hours of hilarious entertainment by the likes of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

|

 
9:19 PM
A sovereign Quebec would be a failed state

And here's why, in a nutshell:

A whopping 70 per cent of Quebecers are opposed to the $950 million in tax cuts announced in last week's provincial budget.

"One to look at it is that we're the only people in North America not to want a tax cut," he said in a follow-up interview.

[ . . . ]

A significant part of the explanation for opposition to the tax cut is the fact that 42 per cent of Quebecers of taxpaying age already don't pay any income tax and stand to benefit from increased public-service spending at zero cost to themselves.

The standard answer in Quebec to any economic woes goes something like "tax the rich, the anglos and the corporations more". And when that doesn't work? The standard fall-back, right out of a South Park movie: Blame Canada.

But with more people living off the system than paying into it, Quebec's economy is on the brink of collapse unless something is done. And when Canada can no longer be blamed, what then?

|

 
2:54 PM
Markov signed

The Habs signed top defenseman Andrei Markov to a 4-year contract today, cementing his long-term future with the club.

Markov was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but he'd made it plain that he wants to stay in Montreal. This deal should make Markov, the club, and the fans very happy.

However, it does raise big questions about Sheldon Souray's future with the Habs. With the Markov deal reported to be worth about $5 million a season, it's highly unlikely that there will be room in the Habs' payroll for Souray, despite his being a key player on the team and having expressed a desire to stay. Souray becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, and it's now more likely than ever that he'll chase a big offer elsewhere.

Overall, I'd have to say the Habs made the right move, even if it means losing Souray. While Souray tallied up the points on the powerplay, he isn't as strong an all-around player or a defenseman as Markov. But there's no doubt that finding a way to keep both players would be the ideal situation. I just doubt that it's in the cards.

|