The World According to Us: Hands Off My Flag!

In Los Angeles, a less than angelic security guard at Dodgers Stadium hassled a Canadian waving the Maple Leaf, l'Unifolié. This in a land that has considered constitutional amendments to protect their flag from Timmy Tinder and Aaron Arson. A flag double-standard is clearly being set. We Canadians need to stand up for our flag, just like we regularly do when we celebrate Flag Day (Feb 15), describe it as a 'red rag' (Bernard Landry) or withhold flying it on Provincial buildings as a political protest(Danny Williams). Heh, or when we replace the maple leaf with other foliage.

In response to Bo Derek's international campaign (that involves white shirts, lots of tight white shirts), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CITES has banned the trade of sawfish. OK, maybe ti has nothing to do with Bo Derek. But she's aging well isn't she? Goodferher. Um, and don't by seal penises or rhino-horns. They invented Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra for a reason. (If your erection-inducing med isn't included here, it clearly isn't in my Spam folder)

In Hawaii, it's Kamehameha Day. If anyone out there used to watch the old Dragon Ball anime, no relation. But if you want, yell Kamehameha anyone. Instead this time, do it in honour of the King that united the Kingdom of Hawai'i and carried many heavy things according to Wikipedia...and, er, prophesy.

In other news, Stephen Lewis, who literally wrote a book on how the G-8 lacks a moral compass, has declared that the G-8 lacks moral compass (correction: anchor. Though it would make more sense to have a compass to decide how to go forward than an anchor to hold you down, no?). Lewis is the former UN Special Envoy on HIVAIDS in Africa and fundator of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, he also has twenty-seven moral compasses (anchors) on him at all times.

G-8 Protests: Highlights

Ever since the Battle of Seattle and the Genoa G-8 Summits, the press and the protesters have been flocking to the outskirts of every G-8 host city. The noise gets louder the crowds get bigger, and papiermaché and pantomime is more elaborate. Over the course of it all, some world leaders meet. A communiqué that has been long ago negotiated is finally released - containing words that will offend no one and simultaneously please fewer. So why do the protesters keep coming? I couldn't be bothered to fly to Heilling--Germany, so rather than vaguely trying to probe the profundities that have propelled these picketers I offer The Best of G-8 'o7.

As I've mentioned numerous times, the papiermaché heads. I love 'em. If you haven't seen them here they are playing poker:...and playing doctor. Both times with a stand-in for Africa.
Here are some folks who got some eats from Burger King, Rostock...
...those are the weirdest kid's meal toys I have ever seen. I'm not sure what's going on here, but the corn-on-the-cob-dentata is scary...

This year's the first time I've seen some geniune G-8 supporters showing up to rouse some rabble. I mean you can't dress like that unless you feel great about anything and everything going on in the world.
Of course, some folks weren't so amused.
..hey, Tony! That's a bit of an overreaction.

Le Monde à Notre Avis/The World According to Us

Vladimir Putin declares: "I'm an absolute democrat", absolutely. Coming under criticisms for recent autocratic actions (i.e. silencing critics with his trademark witty mists of radioactive material). As an absolute democrat, Putin has decided that, in retaliation for the US setting up anti-missile bases on neighbouring (however, hardly neighbourly) Poland and Czech Republic, he will aim Russian missiles at European capitals. For one meeelion dollars. Unfortunately the only person Putin seems to be willing to have talk him out of him is the man who he describes as the only person as committed to democracy as him: Gandhi. Gandhi. Mahatma.
In other news, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, after his brief foray into the international affairs with Ahnold, has decided to snub the Pope. It looks like all that Harry Potter he's been reading has finally gotten to him. Just because Dumbledore dies doesn't mean you need to give up on the One True Faith. Sure, the Terminator wants to talk the environment Dalton's floppy ears are all a-wiggle, when His Holiness is game "I have other responsibilities". (Don't tell Benny, but I think what he means is Don't call me, I'll call you.)

Meanwhile, in Germany...the G-8 Summit is about to get under way. It promises to be awkward at least for Georgie and Vlad. It's nice that Tony will be showing up, now that he's basically declared himself politically irrelevant by resigning. Harper is going to try sporting his green tie for the conference. The G-8 most remarkable aspect is definitely the whole protesting aspect. Those altermondialistes love painstakingly making papiermaché world leader heads.