Hezbollah-ed over

(image credit: joshualandis.com)

Okay, so let me get this straight. Our Muslim Babe Of The Day is demonstrating (back in 2006) for Hezbollah. Now, having done a little homework, I discover Hezbollah is a Shi'a-based organization.

Isn't this the branch of Islam that goes for the traditional look, female-wise? So how come my girl is in a T-shirt?

We will remember

"A date which will live in infamy."

(Via Instapundit)

Santa Claus goes undercover

A lot of people are very happy.

Scat, baby

Time for some good news, for a change

Blankets for cold Iraqis --

Animals saved from the cooking pot --

And an Italian chef bravely steps into a life-threatining situation in Mumbai to save a child.

Black is white, in Tracee-land

Andrew Bolt of Australia's Herald Sun keeps close tabs on one Tracee Hutchinson, columnist for The Age. Sadly, The Age is mainstream Australian must-read.

My girl "Tracee" is, to say the least, a bit ... uh ... well ...

Take this well informed commentary on the global economic crisis: (which I shall gratuitously Fisk)

"ISN'T it ironic that when the Government wants us to spend more money to keep the economy from stalling completely, somehow — miraculously — petrol prices come down? It will tell you it has no control over petrol prices, but to me they always seem to be a litmus of the times, working in mysterious ways like a teller of our fortunes."

Yes. Well, there is the small matter of multiple influences on how oil is priced, but hey, what do experts know? I can safely assure you it's not based on the lines on your palm.

"When it's important to keep the people convinced that fighting in Iraq is a legitimate cause lest the price of oil escalate out of control, local petrol prices hurtle ever-skyward like some kind of reminder of the conflict every time we fill up."

Uh ... just WHEN, exactly, did anyone say that continuing to support democratic government in Iraq is all about keeping oil prices down?

If you have the stomach for it, read er, Tracee's, whole irrational diatribe.

While I'm at it:

//totally freely admitted snark alert

Anyone named "Tracee" ought seriously to consider going with her middle name -- "Marie," perhaps -- instead of some pop-inspired, credibility reducing moniker guaranteed to turn off a sizeable portion of readership from the get-go.

Just sayin'.

Pleasant and Unpleasant Quebecois

This is an add-on to my previous post.

Okay.

Here's my experience with pleasant Quebecois:

As a function of my job, I encounter Quebecois who need things done and, thus far, have experienced very few problems. We interact, we appreciate each other, we solve problems.

Here's my experience with unpleasant Quebecois: (sadly, the majority) --

1) I am treated with suspicion, scorn, and derision. (I'm American, and it has been made abundantly clear to me that THAT is my sin. I do NOT know what I am talking about, and if I do NOT solve the immediate problem, it's because I am an Uncouth American.)

2) The assumption is that it is MY responsibility that the Quebecois with whom I deal cannot achieve resolution of their problems.

(Regardless of the fact that I, personally, CANNOT solve their problem. Problem-solving tends to encompass other people.)

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Okay. Is this a French thing?

(versus a logic thing .... alas, Aristotle ....)

I do NOT!!! .... WANT!!! ... to have to accommodate someone else's way of thinking. What I want to do is GET THE JOB DONE.

So, why do I have to accommodate "touchy" "French" feelings about how I can get someone's website to resolve? (my immediate job)

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Just asking.