Weeks after PM Harper decided to postpone Parliament by a month,a legion of Face Book users have organized rallies across the nation to express their anger at Harper. The decision to prorogue parliament by Harper was seen widely as a poor decision and has resulted in Conservative Party support dropping dramatically so that both the Liberal and Conservative Parties are in parity. Even right leaning magazines like The Economist, have expressed their “disappointment” in the Prime Ministers decision.

Source: Facebook Anti-ProRogue Group, Globe & Mail, The Economist

The Man Who Survived Two Atomic Bombs Dies at age 93

Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the man who survived the nuclear bombings of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki passed away on January 6, 2010. Despite suffering from radiation sickness and multiple complications, Yamaguchi managed to life a surprisingly long life.

For years Yamaguchi was an avid activist against nuclear weapons and was only officially recognized as the man who survived two nuclear bombings in March 2009.

Source:  Daily Telegraph

Terrorist Convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Terrorist Acts Against Canada Given 1 Day in Prison

Amin Mohamed Durrani, on of the “Toronto 18″, was given only a single day in prison because of credits he earned while he was in jail during his trial. The Toronto 18 were known for organizing a paramilitary organization which discussed things like blowing up Parliament, killing the prime minister and decapitating anti-Muslims.

Source:  Ottawa Sun

Maher Arar and Others Start Prism Magazine

Maher Arar, best known for being a Canadian who was accused of being a member of Al-Queda and sent off to be tortured in Syria until he was finally released back to Canada, has become a regular contributor to a new human rights magazine- “Prism Magazine”.

Source: Prism Magazine

Earthquake hits Hati. Thousands Dead

A devastating earthquake has hit Haiti, killing thousands and leaving thousands more wounded and homeless. A massive international aid effort is underway. Really, if you are reading about this for the first time you need to head over to the BBC’s Haiti Earthquake Coverage section asap.

Source: BBC Haiti Earthquake Coverage

Related posts:

1. While You Were Watching Anime III
2. While You Were Watching Anime II
3. While You Were Watching Anime

Yet again, Greenpeace has struck out against the Alberta Tar Sands — this time activists from Canada, France, Brazil and Australia have scaled three chimney’s at upgrader sites. The sites are under construction, and Greenpeace’s website says that it’s hoped that the activists presence will “… stop more destruction before it can start.”

It’s doubtful, however, how much the activists have delayed the completion of the “upgrader stations” as construction is paused for the weekend anyways– giving the oil companies plenty of time to clear out the activists for construction to resume on Monday.

For more information:
http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/recent/stopstarsands3_action
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091003/Greenpeace_protest_091003/20091003?hub=Canada

Have You Seen This Cyclist

Edmonton Police are searching for a cyclist who has been attacking people in Edmonton since July. The male cyclist crimes range from verbal abuse to outright physical assault.

The suspect is described as:

• Caucasian
• 20 to 40-years-old
• 5’10″
• Average build
• About 180 lbs
• Shoulder-length brown hair

For more information:
http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091003/EDM_cyclist_100309/20091003/?hub=EdmontonHome

Film Maker Roman Polanski Detained in Switzerland. To be extradited to the U.S.A.

The man behind films like The Pianist, Chinatown, and Rosmary’s Baby, has finally been detained in Switzerland with the intent to extradite him to the United States. Thirty years ago, Roman Polanski was charged with the statutary rape of a 13 year old girl and then fled to France.

Another twist to this story is that Switzerland is actually extraditing someone to the United States. It’s unknown why, after allowing Polanski to go in and out of the country unmolested for decades,  Switzerland has decided to push for Polanski’s extradition now. It would appear that Switzerland is really pushing itself away from it’s reputation as a neutral country and racing towards “were like everyone else” status.

For more information:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8277176.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8282217.stm

Suprise! Brazil Win’s Bid to Host 2016 Olympics

Rio De Janeiro has won the bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games — making it the first time that a South American nation has ever hosted the Olympics. The decision was regarded as a surprise considering Rio De Janeiro managed to defeat Madrid, Tokyo, and Chicago.

Chicago’s defeat was an unexpected turn of events, considering that President Barak Obama personally went to argue for Chicago’s bid in 2016. Despite the President’s renowned oratory skills, Chicago was eliminated early in the voting rounds. Commentators have speculated that this has given the Republican’s more ammunition to use against the President.

For more information:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/8282518.stm
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/03/martin.olympics.defeat/index.html

Related posts:

1. While You Were Watching Anime IV
2. While You Were Watching Anime II
3. While You Were Watching Anime

At the UN summit, one leader stood out amongst the rest. While Obama gave a nice speech and Ahmadinejad denied the Holocaust, Gaddafi gave the performance of a life time.

Col Muammar Gaddafi
- Turned his 15 minute speech into an hour and a half long talk.
- Instead of staying at a residence, he made a deal to set up a tent on Donald Trump’s land. However his plan was  thwarted.
- Called the UN Security Council a Terror Council.
- Was introduced by his country men as the “king of kings”.

Jumping on to the Gaddafi insanity train is Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Having learned that Gaddafi’s plane will be briefly stopping at St.John Newfoundland  after the UN summit, Harper has asked Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon to intercept Gaddafi and express concern about the treatment of the Lockerbie Bomber.

The Harper Government has already expressed what they plan to tell Gaddafi when he comes and how they will bring him to task… assuming Gaddafi actually talks to minister Cannon, maybe.

On a more serious note in regards to Gaddafi, Time Magazine has a very good interview with him here.

Let Pandas Go With Dignity

BBC Wildlife Expert and Zoologist Chris Packman has expressed that he doesn’t think that the resources being spent on trying to save the Giant Panda’s are worth it.

In an interview with the Radio Times he is quoted saying

“Here is a species that, of its own accord, has gone down an evolutionary cul-de-sac. It’s not a strong species,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it’s big and cute and a symbol of the World Wide Fund for Nature and we pour millions of pounds into into panda conservation

“I reckon we should pull the plug. Let them go, with a degree of dignity.”

Packman later  apologized to the public in an interview with the Mirror.

But on that note, Packman has made a good point. The estimated population of panda’s in the wild sits at 1,590, and millions are being spent into trying to save them along with every idea our scientists can muster

Just some of the solutions scientists have come up with over the years to try and save the Giant Panda:

• Pornography
• Viagra
• Cloning

Also, Packman isn’t the first to point out the futility of trying to save the Giant Panda. These websites have also expressed the desire to let the Giant Panda die.

Blog “Adam Meets the World” has argued in favor of letting the  Panda’s die in 2006
And in 2008, Cranked.com listed Panda’s as #1 of endangered species that should be allowed to die.

Russia’s Sex Tape

Almost a week after President Obama cut the missile defense program for Czechoslovakia and Poland, a move widely consider as America extending another olive branch to the Soviet Uni Russia, a mysterious sex tape has emerged about American diplomat Brendan Kyle Hatcher. The tape, which American officials believe is an attempt to either discredit or recruit Hatcher. When Hatcher refused the blackmail attempt, the sex tape was released.

However, having viewed the sex tape first hand, it barely qualifies as a sex tape. In fact, if Russian Intelligence is responsible for it, Putin should have them all shot for incompetence. The tape is so benign and ridiculous that it is available on ABC.com. In fact, calling it a sex tape is a bit misleading as it features very little in the way of sex. Aside from some pictures of naked women briefly flashed across the screen, it shows a man in a dark room with a woman doing… something… that might be a sexual act… and it is sort of indicated in poor flashes that the man might be Hatcher.

For more on this bizarre story, check out ABC’s coverage here.

War Declared on Charles Darwin

It’s been a dark time for Charles Darwin. Not only has the film, Creation, failed to find a distributor in the United States because it was deemed too controversial for religious America, but now Kirk Cameron & Ray Comfort plan to celebrate the 150 year anniversary of the “Origin of Species” in their own way.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_dWnZnNcJ4

To summarize the video: Ray Comfort has written a forward for the Origin of Species that argues in favor of creationism and makes interesting facts about Darwin known (such as Darwin’s Racism and disdain for women). Copies of the Origin of Species with this special forward will be distributed throughout 50 American Universities (and growing) for the anniversary of “The Origin of Species” on November 21st. Cameron argues in the video that he only wants to present the other side of the evolutionary debate (which apparently includes Hitler’s fascination with Darwin’s theories).

Now I believe in freedom of speech and I strongly believe that both creationists and evolutionists should be allowed to express their views. However, this act amounts effectively to trolling and something I’d expect out of 4chan. It’s like Cameron & Comfort don’t realize that not only will they look like bastards for doing this, but someone is going to run a similar scheme with the bible. After all, there is nothing stopping someone from writing a foreword for the bible that shed light on facts about Jesus Christ and reveal Hitler’s fascination with the Christian faith. And then distribute this special bible throughout 50 megachurches in the United States… after all, who’d reject a free bible on Christmas?

Have something to say about this article? Comment about it on our forums here.

Related posts:

1. While You Were Watching Anime IV
2. While You Were Watching Anime III
3. While You Were Watching Anime

This week Yukio Hatoyama, Japan’s new Prime Minister, finally took office finally ending the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) control of the country for the last 50 years. But what has really been turning heads lately has been the nation’s new first lady.

In interviews she’s given, Miyuki Hatoyama has claimed that she has done incredible things like travel to Venus (It’s quite green apparently). She also says that she knew Tom Cruise in a previous life and that Cruise would recognize her if he saw her again.

All I can say is that I hope all the best for Japan’s new leadership.

For more information:

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5812DV20090902

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-japan-venus5-2009sep05,0,7486259.story

The Man Who Saved Over 200 million People Died this Week

Norman Borlaug, the man who fed the world, has died at the age of 95. You likely have no idea who he is, but he is possibly the most important man that has ever lived in human history.  He was the father of the green revolution, where he used his knowledge of plants to create  high-yield disease resistant crops that greatly increased food production world wide.

What was truly astounding was that Borlaug promoted his research world wide allowing third world nations like Mexico, India, and Pakistan access to his research. His willingness to promote the technology allowed an estimated 245 million people to live while saving billions from famine worldwide.

To some he is a villain for pushing forward ideas like genetically modified crops. I however, consider him my hero.

For more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug

World Agrees that Kanye West is a Jerk… everyone seems to win

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that during the Much Music Video Awards Kanye West DESTROYED Taylor Swifts moment on stage with a rude outburst that echoed throughout the internet.

Throughout the week, the world leaders have come to Taylor Swifts defense and derided West including

• Barack Obama in an unofficial comment where he called West a “Jackass”
• Former President Jimmy Carter
• Internet Hitler

The incident has also sparked a slew of internet memes that have even spun off it’s own site, http://kanyegate.tumblr.com/.

West has apologized to Swift for the outburst, however it is doubtful he will ever be able to live this down.

The NDP and Conservatives continue to deny unholy alliance.

In our own country of Canada, faced with the threat of an election, the Conservatives leader Stephen Harper is forced to consider an alliance with the NDP. Actually, I will illustrate the current situation this way.

Michael Ignatieff (Liberal Leader): I’ve lost faith in the government and we’ll do our best to vote it down. Election in October baby.

Stephen Harper (Conservatives): Dammit! We just went through this a year ago. Do we really have to have another election?!

Jack Layton (NDP): Well Harper, you could avoid the election if well… shall we say you scratch my back and I scratch yours.

Stephen Harper: And work with a socialist! I’d rather face the election!

Rahim Jaffer (Former Conservative MP, husband to Conservative Minister): Hey Harper! I need some help man! I got busted for driving under the influence of my sweet sweet cocaine! They are tightning the screws on me man!

Stephen Harper: So Layton, you said something about EI reform last week?

For more information:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090918/ei_bill_090918/20090918?hub=TopStories

http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/canada/2009/09/16/10941746.html

Related posts:

1. While You Were Watching Anime IV
2. While You Were Watching Anime III
3. While You Were Watching Anime II