tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50216382012-01-30T09:07:42.826-05:00Sobering ThoughtsComments on politics, the culture, economics and religion by Paul Tuns -- in short, everything about the human endeavour from a non-hyphenated conservative perspective.
I am Toronto-based writer and editor, whose articles, columns and reviews have appeared in more than 35 publications. I am editor-in-chief of The Interim, Canada's life and family newspaper, author of Jean Chretien: A Legacy of Scandal and a regular contributor to the book pages of the Halifax Herald.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comBlogger137631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-42794820535566663802012-01-29T23:51:00.006-05:002012-01-30T00:37:58.457-05:00Didn't Etta James deserve better?Al Sharpton and Christina Aguilera were both on stage at the funeral.This, Ms. Aguilera, is how you perform "At Last," as Etta James did at her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1993.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-52146269329823405962012-01-26T13:56:00.002-05:002012-01-26T13:59:49.900-05:00Headline I never thought I'd seeFrom the Globe and Mail: "A dissatisfied Mick Jagger quits Davos economic forum event."Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-38631798497243061222012-01-26T09:46:00.003-05:002012-01-26T09:48:47.715-05:00The Indian Act must goSo says the Ottawa Citizen. The paper editorializes:Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apparent reluctance to bid good riddance to the Indian Act is perplexing. It is universally acknowledged to be a racist, paternalistic mess.It, and the federal bureaucracy it created to oversee every aspect of the lives of aboriginal Canadians, is one of the worst examples of big government aPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-64139587423236552072012-01-26T09:37:00.002-05:002012-01-26T09:40:48.550-05:00What America needsJames Heckman and Pedro Carneiro say in their contribution to Inequality in America: What Role for Human Capital Policies? that there is one thing that the U.S. middle class needs (and it's not a government program):After the deep recession of 2008 and 2009, what the country needs more than anything else is a period of robust economic growth. That’s the only remedy that will Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-4894810692681454652012-01-26T09:16:00.004-05:002012-01-26T09:22:57.639-05:00Campaigning vs. governingMichael Barone writes about the difference between campaigning and governing. Barone is looking mostly at the Republican primaries, but also observes that President Barack Obama is very good at campaigning but is not very good at governing:What we see is a president who is in pure campaign mode and cavalier about the rule of law, with policies — higher taxes, Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-16878524087482704712012-01-24T23:33:00.013-05:002012-01-25T00:23:34.519-05:00Three on NewtGeorge F. Will in the Washington Post:Gingrich encourages Republican voters to believe he should be nominated because he would do best in the (at most) three debates with Barack Obama. So, because Gingrich might sparkle during 4 1/2 hours of debates, he should be given four years of control of nuclear weapons? Odd.Bret Stephens in the Wall Street Journal:A primary ballot for Mr. Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-87667464278674708332012-01-23T23:49:00.001-05:002012-01-23T23:49:10.357-05:00Four and down4. What a weekend of football. Great, close contests. No team in either game had a lead bigger than a touchdown, so the outcome was always in doubt. First time since the merger that both Championship games were decided by three or fewer points. I have no dog in either fight so I watched purely as a football fan and while I could find some things to quibble about (the lack of calls byPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-1591272009918607362012-01-22T11:02:00.003-05:002012-01-22T11:05:13.127-05:00Weekend stuff1. Forbes.com has "The True Cost of the 10 Largest CEO Severance Packages of the Past Decade." A recent report recently found that they cost shareholders more than $2.4 billion.2. Science Daily reports that a horse fly has been named after Beyonce because it's golden yellow abdomen makes it the "all time diva of flies."3. A pie pan for those who can't decide what kind of pie to make Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-48996956970277961512012-01-21T22:17:00.012-05:002012-01-21T23:12:57.978-05:00Four and down4. I haven't had the time to comment on last weekend's divisional playoffs, but I had plenty to say. I'm going to restrict my observations to two games. I loved the Houston Texans-Baltimore Ravens game which every pundit said would be a game no one cared about. Perhaps not, but they should have. Houston did well, held the Ravens close after falling far behind in the first (Baltimore Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-55046002571767273602012-01-21T21:46:00.001-05:002012-01-21T21:46:20.627-05:00Nigel Farage welcomes the new president of the European ParliamentPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-48675528664887741352012-01-21T21:39:00.003-05:002012-01-21T21:44:15.615-05:00Sentences to ponder"[T]he Fermi paradox raises the likelihood that we are living in a simulation." That's from Tyler Cowen. Robin Hanson disagrees.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-1635194033729674482012-01-21T20:45:00.005-05:002012-01-21T21:15:03.567-05:00Tarantino on Newman, LiberalsBob Tarantino's review of Peter C. Newman's When the Gods Changed: The Death of Liberal Canada in C2C Journal is masterful, critiquing not just the book but the Liberal Party. Here is the gist of what's wrong with both Newman and his subject:The story of what happened to the Liberals and Michael Ignatieff, their most recent leader (who summarily resigned after his Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-16263870491179522302012-01-19T21:38:00.003-05:002012-01-19T21:42:40.272-05:00What's the difference?This was a serious question posed to Tyler Cowen (and others):What are the significant differences that you think we could actually see come to pass from a Romney Presidency versus an Obama Presidency?I am generally a better-the-devil-you-know kind of guy, but I am pretty open here. So, let me here it.Precisely.Cowen's answers seem right (partial repeal of Obamacare, Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-72314095375655903262012-01-18T14:24:00.004-05:002012-01-18T14:31:47.283-05:00Ezra Levant on sex-selection abortion and choiceExcellent, three-minute commentary by Ezra Levant on sex-selection abortion: gendercide is "violent sexism." He makes several very good observations about the abortion status quo in Canada of allowing abortion for "any reason or no reason."(Via Blazing Cat Fur)Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-51951388002456761852012-01-17T23:32:00.003-05:002012-01-17T23:39:46.303-05:00Ron Paul vs. the counterfeit conservativesGreat, hard-hitting against Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Mitt Romney. It's a bit dishonest about Santorum, but it's still a great ad.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-83628801420339365192012-01-16T08:49:00.002-05:002012-01-16T10:07:41.835-05:00Bilingualism costs taxpayers $2.4 billionAccording to a new Fraser Institute report, "Official Language Policies of the Canadian Provinces: Costs and Benefits in 2006," the federal and provincial governments spends $2.4 billion "above and beyond that of providing education and other services in the majority language." Most of those costs are for French-language training for English-speakers. The Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-41020410027293571002012-01-15T19:02:00.030-05:002012-01-15T19:42:39.321-05:00Weekend Stuff1. The Toronto Star on "Why violins cost more than other instruments."2. Slate's The Explainer's question of the year: "Why are smart people usually ugly?"3. Last June, The Week had a story with statistics related to "America's pizza obsession" and some are astonishing: 17% of American restaurants are pizzerias (and 94% of them are Pizza Hut, Domino's, or Papa John's franchises) and Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-13902015647718005552012-01-14T09:54:00.011-05:002012-01-14T10:00:31.936-05:00Four and down (divisional round predictions)4. Houston Texans (11-6) at Baltimore Ravens (12-4): This contest features two of the top four defenses in the NFL (ranked third and fourth in points allowed) and two iffy offenses. I actually like the Texans offense better, but probably not against the Ravens. RB Arian Foster is unlikely to find holes and break tackles against the Baltimore frontline Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-60564342488834142862012-01-12T23:38:00.004-05:002012-01-13T00:20:18.156-05:00Cut it like ChretienTim Knox of the British Center for Policy Studies writes in Wall Street Journal Europe that Canada in the 1990s under Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien is a good example for the United Kingdom in how to cut spending. Knox says:Ottawa responded with deep cuts in government spending: 10% in nominal terms in just two years. The economy reacted quickly, and within five years Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-49210387463976750772012-01-12T23:29:00.007-05:002012-01-13T00:00:50.883-05:00The 0.00017%Or, Occupy CongressLast month, Investor's Business Daily editorialized about the 0.00017% who have unreal economic power compared to the rest of the country:In 2010, a tiny cabal of 535 individuals — just 0.00017% of the population — spent $3.5 trillion, or about 23% of the $14.5 trillion U.S. economy. That leaves 77% for the other 99.99983% of us.The group is the U.S. Congress — Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-4281970298717064002012-01-12T23:06:00.000-05:002012-01-12T23:07:37.586-05:00Romney scores some points with meAs readers of this blog know, I've been criticizing the notion of income inequality as a legitimate political issue for a very long time, noting that it turns the Deadly Sin of envy into a sainted political motivation that fuels the class warfare of the Left. These envy peddlers are doing a disservice to their country and the poor by de-legitimizing striving to Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-61814182465076274202012-01-11T08:58:00.010-05:002012-01-11T09:49:17.457-05:00After-New Hampshire thoughtsI like but don't like this summary by Grover Norquist, which was part of the NRO symposium on the primary results last night:Mitt Romney now has three decisions to make: One, who is his vice-presidential candidate? Two, who will be his chief of staff? Three, how will he convince Ron Paul to speak from the main stage at the GOP national convention?Three thoughts about Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-83103143248161859902012-01-10T08:54:00.008-05:002012-01-10T09:27:31.491-05:00InequalityThere is no more pernicious issue than inequality. Those who peddle income gap as a significant social or political fact are doing great evil in our society. Cato's Michael Tanner has a column at NRO in which he tackles not only the facts about whether there is economic inequality -- and how much of it there is -- but whether it should even be an issue (with some F.A. Hayek and Gary Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-55255926205628905162012-01-10T06:41:00.005-05:002012-01-10T07:17:57.401-05:00Thoughts on the New Hampshire primaryI find it odd that tonight's top three finishers are likely to be Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Jon Huntsman. In other words, the winner is the candidate with whom few Republicans are happy and two people with no discernible path to the nomination because one (Paul) is unfairly considered a kook while the other (Huntsman) is unfairly considered too Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-52990402707242234312012-01-10T06:38:00.002-05:002012-01-10T06:41:20.013-05:00New Hampshire fact of the dayFrom Gerry Nicholls and his post on winning in the Granite State:[T]he New Hampshire state legislature boasts 424 members making it the fourth-largest English-speaking legislative body in the world, behind only India’s Parliament, the United Kingdom’s Parliament and the US Congress.Not bad for a state with a population of only 1.3 million.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-18021454718759153542012-01-09T09:36:00.000-05:002012-01-09T09:37:13.404-05:00Quote of the day"Network TV blows b/c, in the face of channels like HBO & Showtime, it has to convince you shows like 2½ Men and House are subversive & edgy." -- Brian S. Wise, on TwitterPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-12764792233644518412012-01-09T08:43:00.006-05:002012-01-09T09:01:10.442-05:00This is why no one is going to reduce the size of governmentThe CBC's Neil Macdonald has a typically (for Macdonald and the MSM) grumpy column about American democracy, specifically that they have too much of it. One of his complaints is that it turns the public into beastly and unappreciative voters hellbent on punishing elected representatives and is thus unfair to politicians. It is a silly Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-21961280253666973402012-01-07T18:48:00.004-05:002012-01-07T19:07:18.666-05:00Perhaps government could redistribute preferencesGreg Mankiw notes:In other words, one reason that people differ in their incomes is that some people care more about having a high income than others. To put it in geekspeak, preferences over pecuniary goods (say, consumption) and nonpecuniary goods (say, leisure) are heterogeneous. Bryan [Caplan] goes on to suggest that to the extent this is true,Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-88922890060331069602012-01-07T18:27:00.001-05:002012-01-07T18:28:44.179-05:00Quote of the dayDon Boudreaux:Middle-class Americans today would suffer a great deal of noticeable material hardship were they forced to live as America’s richest man of a century ago lived.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-87477916270212568552012-01-07T18:06:00.003-05:002012-01-07T18:14:35.974-05:00Frum Forum closes, Frum heads to NewsweekDoes anyone read the Frum Forum anymore? Does anyone read Newsweek?Kathy Shaidle collects her Frum-related blog posts. She also notes David Frum takes credit for some imaginary achievements: Sarah Palin not being a GOP presidential candidate, Glenn Beck not being on cable TV anymore. Get real.David Frum in inevitably identified as a conservative Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-76199557849938622972012-01-07T12:27:00.006-05:002012-01-07T12:37:03.501-05:00Four and down (wild card weekend predictions)4. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at Houston Texans (10-6): Some interesting facts. This is the first time two rookie QBs will face start a game in the playoffs. The Texans are making the playoffs for the first time as an organization and the previous Houston Team (the Oilers) last won in 1991; the Bengals last won in the post-season in 1990. And what kind Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-67988441564645466392012-01-06T09:44:00.004-05:002012-01-06T11:42:50.556-05:00'Why the Arabic World Turned Away from Science'I'm pretty sure I've linked to this New Atlantic article by Hillel Ofek before, but in case you missed it, here it is again. The long essay looks at the growth of Arab and Islamic science and it's decline. Key portion on the decline:As the Middle Ages progressed, Arabic civilization began to run out of steam. After the twelfth century, Europe had Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-29127220337602337922012-01-05T22:55:00.027-05:002012-01-05T23:06:55.662-05:00Week 17 Power Rankings(Last week's power ranking, season record, and this week's result in parenthesis)1. New Orleans Saints (2, 13-3, W, Carolina Panthers 45-17): Undefeated in November and December.2. Green Bay Packers (1, 15-1, W, Detroit Lions 45-41): Packers finish with 560 points on the season, second most in NFL history (behind the 589 the New England Patriots scored in 2007).3. New Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-14006408779558121142012-01-05T22:17:00.003-05:002012-01-05T22:22:37.190-05:00The hypocrisy of protectionismDon Boudreaux's open letter to a pair of Republicans from Alabama, Senator Jeff Sessions and Rep. Robert Aderholt on their support for tariffs on Bangladeshi sleeping bags:Dear Sen. Sessions and Rep. Aderholt:Due chiefly to your efforts, Congress will raise Americans’ cost of buying sleeping bags made in Bangladesh. The rationale for this tariff is explained by Rep. Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-65066523348120576482012-01-04T21:59:00.005-05:002012-01-04T22:08:30.489-05:00Two points about the Republican primariesLots I could say, but I won't. Lots I could link to, but I have better things to do. There are two points I want to highlight.From Jonah Goldberg:The simple fact is that none of these candidates are ideal and nearly everyone not writing-in Calvin Coolidge is compromising. The problem is people don’t want to admit they’re compromising. And so they create Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-71654270038376320592012-01-04T21:27:00.005-05:002012-01-04T21:41:02.637-05:00Kathy Shaidle and Brian Lilley talk Canadian conservatismYou can watch the ten-minute segment from Sun News at Five Feet of Fury. The first half is Brian Lilley talking about conservatism (including Russell Kirk's Ten Conservative Principles) and the second half is Lilley and Kathy Shaidle discussing the state of Canadian conservatism. Best line from Kathy: "Social liberalism costs money." She Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-88116789487747477142012-01-03T13:34:00.002-05:002012-01-03T13:36:19.625-05:00I hate it when I agree with Matt TaibbiLefty Rolling Stone (but I repeat myself) politics writer Matt Taibbi on the Iowa caucus:The Iowa caucus, let’s face it, marks the beginning of a long, rigidly-controlled, carefully choreographed process that is really designed to do two things: weed out dangerous minority opinions, and award power to the candidate who least offends the public while he goes Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-59440460251620971822012-01-03T13:04:00.004-05:002012-01-03T13:11:58.971-05:00What it costs to run in IowaNBC reports:[T]he campaigns and various Super PACs spent more than $16 million in advertising in Iowa. The breakdown for the major players: Perry $4.3 million, Paul $2.8 million, Restore Our Future (pro-Romney) $2.8 million, Make Us Great Again (pro-Perry) $1.6 million, Romney $1.5 million, Gingrich $980,000, Red White and Blue Fund (pro-Santorum) $530,000, Winning OurPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-49188149632218986652012-01-03T08:59:00.014-05:002012-01-03T11:15:17.058-05:00The Iowa caucusThe stakesI care less and less about American politics, perhaps because I care less all the time about the stakes of the Democrat-Goldman Sachs vs. Republican-Goldman Sachs bullshit battle for the White House and Congress. Democrats are thieves (rob the rich to buy the votes of the poor) and Republicans are liars (they never do anything to reduce to the size of government). If you Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-75799207314498151262011-12-31T23:23:00.005-05:002011-12-31T23:29:33.971-05:00Ron Paul's portfolioA few days ago the Wall Street Journal's personal finance blog reported that while most Congressmen have a portfolio along the lines of "10% in cash, 10% in bonds or bond funds, 20% in real estate, and 60% in stocks or stock funds," Ron Paul's portfolio is 14% cash, 21% real estate, 0.1% in stock funds (all shorted), and 64% in gold and silver mining stocks. The WSJ reports:AtPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-31262503520325503592011-12-31T22:54:00.014-05:002011-12-31T23:11:09.399-05:00Four and down (four to watch on the final Sunday of the year)4. Baltimore Ravens (11-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Cincy is back in the playoffs with a victory and the Ravens will guarantee themselves a bye in the first round with a win, so there is still plenty to play for. The Bengals have struggled lately, going 3-4 after starting 6-3 -- and two of those three wins came against the ClevelandPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-38658082116028108482011-12-31T22:33:00.001-05:002011-12-31T22:34:49.640-05:00David Warren's final column of 2011It is one part mocking of prediction columns and one part defense against calendar reform. You have to read it for yourself.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-3945122500404265962011-12-29T08:49:00.002-05:002011-12-29T08:50:37.006-05:00Week 16 Power Rankings(Last week's power ranking, season record, and this week's result in parenthesis)1. Green Bay Packers (1, 14-1, W, Chicago Bears 35-21): Clinched first overall. They should be collecting individual hardware (Aaron Rodgers the MVP, Mike McCarthy Coach of the Year) on their way to winning the Super Bowl.2. New Orleans Saints (2, 12-3, W, Atlanta Falcons): Have scored in 55 of Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-66917280958576768862011-12-28T22:53:00.005-05:002011-12-28T22:58:02.422-05:00The GerrysGerry Nicholls has handed out his political awards. Most recipients do not want the (dis)honour. Two of note:The General Custer Strategy PrizeWinner: The political geniuses in the Opposition who thought toppling the minority federal Conservative government and running an election on the “ethics” issue was a winning game plan.And:The Boston Red Sox Award for blowing a big lead in Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-51727904698409938872011-12-26T20:34:00.007-05:002011-12-26T20:43:09.504-05:00Have yourself a bullshitty little holiday -- it's KwanzaA few days ago, Michael Taube wrote in the Ottawa Citizen noting that he, as a secular Jew, celebrates Christmas. Fine enough, but I didn't like the column. My biggest problem is Taube's suggestion that Kwanza be among the celebrations we mark this season. The problem is that Kwanza is BS. As Kathy Shaidle has noted, it is a made-up Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-4666817966230420562011-12-25T12:44:00.001-05:002011-12-25T12:44:17.937-05:00Merry ChristmasIt has been a tradition of mine here at Sobering Thoughts to post a YouTube video of J.S. Bach's "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" each Christmas.I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-88365314715210342662011-12-24T08:36:00.002-05:002011-12-24T08:40:22.507-05:00The First NoelThe Birth of ChristIn those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-37133604212521082602011-12-23T17:25:00.004-05:002011-12-23T17:33:46.090-05:00Friday FlashbackMy childhood Christmases featured a lot of Nana Mouskouri playing in the background. I think it was the official music of the Tuns family putting up the Christmas tree. Here's her version of "Old Toy Trains" which I prefer (just barely) to Roger Miller's original. (I always thought it was a shame that Roger Whittaker do this song despite the fact he recorded two Christmas albums.)Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-26827607579943665852011-12-22T23:50:00.002-05:002011-12-22T23:56:46.611-05:00Probably my favourite moment in Canadian TV historyBrian Lilley orders guest Warren Kinsella's mic to be turned off. Beautiful. Blazing Cat Fur has video and comment (showing that Kinsella's excited cries that Lilley is lying is, ahem, not quite honest).Also, Kinsella complains that Lilley is being hypocritical because the host is a free speech supporter and yet turns off his mic. Advocates of Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-73934632551513946312011-12-22T09:04:00.003-05:002011-12-22T09:40:22.882-05:00Four and down (Week 16 games to watch)4 Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at New Orleans Saints (11-3): The Falcons are finally looking like the smooth offensive operation they were in 2010 when they were the top NFC seed. The Saints are the second most dangerous offense in the NFL. Expect lots of scoring with the Saints battling for a first-round bye and the Falcons fighting for a wild card spot. With a Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-1614181657468002102011-12-22T07:17:00.002-05:002011-12-22T07:19:56.068-05:00Me in the Edmonton JournalMy Ottawa Citizen column, "Learn to cut like Chretien," has been picked up by the Edmonton Journal and published under the headline, "Chretien set prudent fiscal example."Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-44246341638314983832011-12-21T21:02:00.028-05:002011-12-22T23:35:57.224-05:00Week 15 Power Rankings(Last week's power ranking, season record, and this week's result in parenthesis)1. Green Bay Packers (1, 13-1, L, Kansas City Chiefs 19-14): The 13-game winning streak -- and 19 meaningful consecutive wins going back to the playoffs and last season -- ended, as did their 19-game streak of never being behind in the fourth quarter. Indeed, prior to this game, the Packers werePaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-11325533867186477952011-12-21T07:18:00.004-05:002011-12-21T07:24:45.850-05:00'Learn to cut like Chretien'I'm in the Ottawa Citizen today writing about Jean Chretien as a model for budget cutting. My main point is that it is not enough to slow the rate of growth and hope for revenues to grow the government out of deficit. Programs need to be eliminated, cut, and changed. That's what Jean Chretien did:Chrétien had named intergovernmental affairs minister Marcel Massé, a Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-28105593026469172242011-12-19T08:57:00.003-05:002011-12-19T09:10:55.520-05:00Red Toryism is still alive ... in the minds of punditsPost Media columnist Michael Den Tandt says the slide into irrelevance of the Liberal Party of Canada means there is room for Red Toryism again. He says Jim Prentice, the banker and former Harper cabinet minister, is the perfect standard-bearer for the Red Tories, a wing of the party that barely exists outside the halls of corporate power Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-28566184052657191862011-12-18T22:59:00.004-05:002011-12-18T23:08:41.241-05:00Anti-communist hero diesVaclav Havel, playwright and former Czech president, has passed away. The Daily Telegraph has an obit and the New York Sun has an editorial.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-34339289690999355462011-12-16T20:39:00.003-05:002011-12-16T22:01:21.397-05:00Wehner on HitchensI liked Peter Wehner's remembrances of the late Christopher Hitchens. I found this anecdote both insightful and touching:The first [memory] is when I served in the George W. Bush White House and, in the first term, invited Christopher to speak to the White House staff. He spoke very well, of course, but what I most recall are a couple of things that occurred before the speech. Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-51490668619201806142011-12-16T12:20:00.003-05:002011-12-16T12:26:08.964-05:00I don't care if he is the "hot-yet-crazy chick every guy wants to f**k at least once of American politics"*Ron Paul's Moneybomb promo video.* The description is from Five Feet of Fury.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-13303409106436373782011-12-15T08:58:00.004-05:002011-12-15T09:40:23.851-05:00ElectabilityNational Review Online says Republican voters should eschew Newt Gingrich as their party's presidential standard-bearer in 2012 because he is not electable. I would urge primary voters to not put too much stock into electability. The Democrats threw Howard Dean under the bus in favour of John Kerry because the former was not electable. Kerry lost. Here in Ontario, twice Jim Flaherty Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-88950293284796025642011-12-15T08:54:00.014-05:002011-12-15T09:30:42.936-05:00Four and down (games to watch Week 15)4. Detroit Lions (8-5) at Oakland Raiders (7-6): The Lions currently hold a wild card ticket but with a 2-5 slide, they are suddenly facing stiff competition from a number of up-and-coming teams including the Cardinals and Seahawks and whoever doesn't win the NFC East (Giants or Cowboys). The Raiders have lost two in a row and have dropped from the top spot Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-62628426571655439822011-12-14T19:19:00.002-05:002011-12-14T19:20:51.964-05:00Week 14 Power Rankings(Last week's power ranking, season record, and this week's result in parenthesis)1. Green Bay Packers (1, 13-0, W, Oakland Raiders 46-16): In the 13th game of the season, the Packers have broken the team record for most points scored in team history. Their 35.8 ppg is 4.1 ppg higher than last year's highest scoring team, the Patriots.2. Baltimore Ravens (2, 10-3, W, Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-24541709695494433042011-12-14T08:37:00.003-05:002011-12-14T10:22:08.448-05:00Hudak, like most on the Right, can't admit the truthOntario Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak said in an email to supporters: Ontario voters sent a clear message that they want their elected representatives to focus on reducing the size and cost of government.I got the message, but clearly Dalton McGuinty just doesn’t get it.Actually, Dalton McGuinty was re-elected and the socialist NDP Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-87767668714650988142011-12-13T08:51:00.004-05:002011-12-13T09:35:01.466-05:00Chretien returns as scaremongerFrom a Liberal fundraising letter signed by former prime minister Jean Chretien:The Conservatives have already ended gun control and Kyoto. Next may be a woman’s right to choose, or gay marriage. Then might come capital punishment. And one by one, the values we cherish as Canadians will be gone.Well, one can hope.Three other points.1) It is notable that the LiberalsPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-55808316820513256982011-12-13T08:48:00.003-05:002011-12-14T12:07:37.085-05:00Four and down4. The Kansas City Chiefs were a surprising 10-6 AFC West winner last year on a soft schedule. This year, they had a tough schedule and struggled to a 5-8 record so far this year. Coach Todd Haley was scape-goated and fired Monday. I don't think Haley is a very good coach: too much anger, too many theatrics, not enough leveraging his best players. I would have fired him after last Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-35008272121660193712011-12-12T08:54:00.006-05:002011-12-12T09:13:31.821-05:00Education is bad for creativityAlex Tabarrok has an excellent post (with excellent links) that explore the topic based on a study that shows teachers don't like creative kids. The reason is simple, as Tabarrok notes:Creative people, for better and worse, ignore social conventions. Thus, it can be hard for teachers to deal with creative students in a classroom setting where they must guide 20-30 Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-30028685940616247852011-12-07T07:10:00.004-05:002011-12-07T08:51:53.698-05:00Week 13 Power Rankings(Last week's power ranking, season record, and this week's result in parenthesis)1. Green Bay Packers (1, 12-0, W, New York Giants 38-35): Three-quarters of the season they are perfect.2. Baltimore Ravens (2, 9-3, W, Cleveland Browns 24-10): Their +8.7 scoring margin (6th overall) is a full three points more than they had last year.3. San Francisco 49ers (3, 10-2, W, St. Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-16007716030817020442011-12-07T06:39:00.001-05:002011-12-07T06:39:34.615-05:00Four and down (Week 14 games to watch)4. Houston Texans (9-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-5): Cincy is 1-5 against Quality Opponents, but the Texans are playing their third-string QB and although Houston won with T.J. Yates under center last week, he'll face a stronger defense and an offense capable of putting up more than 10 points. I like the Bengals at home for this one, but with Houston still inPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-43422564857784964532011-12-06T20:28:00.003-05:002011-12-06T20:37:11.784-05:00Haunted theatreThis article from The Observer on haunted theatre is worth reading but I wanted to highlight two facts: there are an estimated 3000 haunted houses in the United States and the industry is worth approximately $500 million.You shouldn't read the article if you are easily offended, but it is fascinating what people will pay to put themselves through for a thrill:[A] lady in a nightie Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-92210096500640037312011-12-06T17:07:00.001-05:002011-12-06T17:07:49.422-05:00Madonna in IndyMadonna will be the half-time show at the Super Bowl in Indianapolis in February. Lousy choice. To the extent that there is an appeal to potential viewers who are not traditional football fans, this move seems 20 years too late.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-1786643029706889222011-12-06T08:55:00.004-05:002011-12-06T10:17:18.824-05:00Peter Goldring and the (alleged) impaired driving MPOr, Drinking and driving laws are inherently unjustMost reports on Conservative MP Peter Goldring, who was stopped by police and booked for refusing to blow into a breathalyser, pointed to some hypocrisy on the part of a law-and-order Tory getting caught committing a crime. Never mind that he has not been convicted. Never mind that there is a Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-19028755122371209722011-12-06T08:45:00.003-05:002011-12-06T08:57:15.863-05:00A cheeseburger would have been impossible two centuries agoWaldo Jaquith considers the process of creating a cheeseburger from scratch and concludes it "cannot exist outside of a highly developed, post-agrarian society." He thinks about what it would take to produce one himself:In fact, to make the buns, I’d need to grind my own wheat, collect my own eggs, and make my own butter. And I’d really Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-74276806449829458712011-12-06T08:40:00.022-05:002011-12-06T08:55:56.183-05:00Four and down (looking at the playoffs)4. With three quarters of the games played, here is how I see the season ending. Of course, fours weeks ago I was predicting all the wild card teams coming from the North divisions of both leagues and now both the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions look like 50-50 propositions and the Cincinnati Bengals have lost three of four, so a lot can change in a few Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-3165683460653259742011-12-05T20:22:00.004-05:002011-12-05T20:28:17.822-05:00Just say no to TrumpAny candidate who takes part in the Donald Trump-moderated publicity gimmick should be disqualified from being the Republican standard-bearer. NRO editorializes against participation in the debate and while Rush Limbaugh said today that the mainstream media shouldn't have a monopoly on moderating the panels, there are reason the GOP should not be associated with this joker. I Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-89187574403431239032011-12-05T19:01:00.000-05:002011-12-05T19:02:27.736-05:00Lowering CainThe Washington Post commits an error that is common in U.S. political reporting this weekend, saying (in an article about Ron Paul) about Herman Cain that he "announced Saturday that he was suspending his campaign in the wake of a series of allegations that he sexually harassed several women and conducted a 13-year extramarital affair." Technically that is all true, but the idea thatPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-7223958745409095362011-12-05T18:36:00.001-05:002011-12-05T18:36:33.945-05:00Sportsman of the YearSports Illustrated picked a Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year -- both college hoops coaches. Nice cop-out. Anyway, here's every Sportsman of the Year going back to 1954. I think Joe Posnanski might be on to something when he says that St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa should have won Sportsman of the Year.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-17667802396881275972011-12-05T17:21:00.001-05:002011-12-05T17:21:55.489-05:00This is not an endorsementYet.Ron Paul's latest YouTube ad.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-30210394481867291992011-12-05T08:57:00.003-05:002011-12-05T09:47:00.994-05:00UCC sucksMichael Coren had a speaking engagement at Upper Canada College cancelled. Don't these groups that later rescind speaking offers know who they are inviting when they ask them to speak? If they do, why don't they have the guts to stand by their decisions? Anyway, the super wealthy (and increasingly the wealthy) generally hate conservatives. As Denyse O'Leary explains in the comments Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-52801536817443952272011-12-05T08:54:00.004-05:002011-12-05T09:16:15.716-05:00Cowen on euro crisisRuss Roberts talks to Tyler Cowen for nearly an hour about the euro. Definitely worth listening to if you enjoy Cowen or are interested in the euro.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-33924324075524106342011-12-05T08:51:00.002-05:002011-12-05T09:11:01.222-05:00Samuelson on the welfare stateEvery paragraph of this Robert J. Samuelson column is fantastic. Key points:1) The welfare state requires economic growth and the right demographics and the West doesn't have either one of those things going in the right direction.2) America is more like Europe than Americans want to admit.3) The main difference between the U.S. and Europe is that American hasn't Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-72264151898644784102011-12-05T08:47:00.018-05:002011-12-05T09:10:29.965-05:00Four and down4. In the Oakland Raiders-Miami Dolphins, the leading rusher for each team was a Bush. Oakland's RB Michael Bush had 11 carries for 20 yards; Miami's RB Reggie Bush had 22 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown. Fins won.3. That game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals was incredible if you are a Steelers fan. It might be the best complete game they've played in thePaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-60663666925227526502011-12-04T13:28:00.002-05:002011-12-04T13:29:31.000-05:00Weekend stuff1. Cool high rise condos and parking garage designed by Porsche.2. From Discover magazine: "Helpful Mouse Fetuses Naturally Send Stem Cells to Mom to Fix Her Damaged Heart."3. A 3,503.94 foot-long Yule log in Shanghai enters the Guinness Book of World Records. It took 80 chefs and broke the old record by more than 600 feet.4. Best. Cup. Ever.5. Larry Granillo at the Baseball Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-88437553942077502712011-12-04T09:56:00.005-05:002011-12-04T10:16:05.777-05:00Why the Liberals aren't as good as the Conservatives at fundraisingIt is the same reason they aren't as good winning votes. Their policies don't appeal to Canadians. I'll explain more below after commenting on the Liberals' latest fundraising email that included this:Politics isn’t rocket science. It’s about people talking to people about the issues they care about, and offering real solutions Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-11001967516397505202011-12-04T09:30:00.008-05:002011-12-04T09:33:35.749-05:00Four and down4. Today the New England Patriots play the Indianapolis Colts and a sure sign that Peyton Manning is not playing this year is that the game has been flexed out of its original prime time spot and replaced by the Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints game (no slouch of a game). Erik Frenz explains at Cold Hard Football Facts why it is a shame that we won't have the annual Peyton Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-84927121601361064372011-12-03T13:59:00.005-05:002011-12-03T14:05:21.620-05:00Gingrich's successSometime in the Summer after Newt Gingrich was declared dead, a journalist friend of mine said that the race would come down to what he deemed the only "serious candidates" then in the race or likely to enter it: Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. I thought he was nuts for 1) considering Gingrich a serious candidate and 2) thinking Gingrich could come back from a series of seeminglyPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-46386044874265741332011-12-02T20:36:00.002-05:002011-12-02T20:38:05.302-05:00'80s Flashback Friday"Sowing the Seeds of Love" by Tears for Fears.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-53203557101963540562011-12-02T20:18:00.007-05:002011-12-02T20:30:55.098-05:00Four and down4. Last night's Seattle Seahawks victory over the Philadelphia Eagles was not terribly shocking -- the 'Hawks have the second best home record over the past six seasons despite not being a 500-club overall -- but their 17-point margin of victory was very surprising. Seattle won 31-14 and all four touchdowns came off interceptions. Twice the 'Hawks returned a pick-six and twice they Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-85906039462838820652011-12-02T00:58:00.003-05:002011-12-02T01:05:29.719-05:00'Doing the Right Thing'Excellent if long (45 minutes) exploration of the lack of morality and ethics in our culture from The Colson Center and the Witherspoon Institute. I love Chuck Colson's line: "Truth has got to be knowable for there to be ethics." It is also notable that moral relativists complain about the behaviour of capitalists -- but on what basis?Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-5384492771369887692011-12-01T22:29:00.002-05:002011-12-01T22:36:55.614-05:00'The Incandescent Light Bulb Song'Comedian Remy Munasifi on the government-mandated loss of the incandescent light bulb. The state has no business in the sockets of the nation.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-70322423816067801672011-12-01T21:51:00.011-05:002011-12-01T22:01:34.285-05:00Broadcasting not having sexThe National Post reports on a foursome of British Columbia virgins who blogged about saving themselves (sexually) for marriage and now they are featured on a TV show, The Virgin Diaries, to air on TLC. They are, they insist, not pushing their views on others, just presenting a different point of view. That's fair enough, but I have mixed feelings about this project:1) Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-81140712216584588942011-12-01T21:14:00.003-05:002011-12-01T21:18:34.813-05:00Why France is in bad shapeAs Business Insider notes France's fiscal problems and sluggish growth are not the result of laziness but rather poor management; there isn't really an entrepreneurial class in the country:Many French executives come from civil service. According to HBR, "Many of the chief executives of France’s largest and most admired companies started their careers in public service Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-4051231259082491322011-11-30T21:42:00.002-05:002011-12-01T21:30:57.976-05:00Week 12 Power Rankings(Last week's power ranking, season record, and this week's result in parenthesis)1. Green Bay Packers (1, 11-0, W, Detroit Lions 27-15): Simply the best team in the NFL by scoring a league-leading 34.7 ppg, 14.1 points per game more than their opponents.2. Baltimore Ravens (3, 8-3, W, San Francisco 49ers 16-6): The Niners have a slightly better scoring margin (+9.2 compared Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-43796911624181577342011-11-30T20:30:00.002-05:002011-11-30T21:31:22.033-05:00Bye, bye BarneyI was a little surprised by the dearth of good columns -- fair, but sober-minded criticism -- about Rep. Barney Frank packing it in. Some might be tempted to say better late than never regarding the Massachusetts Congressman's exit from politics, but Frank's retirement is too little, too late. One excellent point made by R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr.:Barney Frank has cost the taxpaying Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-66739080815478971562011-11-30T20:16:00.007-05:002011-11-30T20:22:49.155-05:00Four and down (Week 13 games to watch)4. Green Bay Packers (11-0) at New York Giants (6-5): A few weeks back the Giants beat the Patriots on the road and people were talking about how this year the G-Men are for real. And then November set in. On Sunday they looked real bad against the Saints when they scored 24 and were still double-upped by New Orleans. Giants don't have a lot of room for errorPaul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-11467739616594532132011-11-29T23:53:00.016-05:002011-11-30T00:15:43.999-05:00Four and down4. The Jacksonville Jaguars have fired coach Jack Del Rio. I wasn't a fan of Del Rio's but I don't see why he should have been fired. Their defense is one of the best in football -- they are the only team allowing fewer than five yards per snap and less than 20 ppg that does not have a winning record. They don't have a winning record because they score fewer than the equivalent of Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-57863620869437594662011-11-29T23:23:00.008-05:002011-11-29T23:38:54.294-05:00Days like this I'm embarrassed that Canada has a Conservative governmentTories have increased spending 22% during their first five years in power, much higher than population growth and inflation would have required. As Gods of the Copybook Headings says, "With Conservatives like these ... we might just go broke." Conservative Kool-Aid drinkers will tell you that it would have been worst under Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-32305237025262803912011-11-29T11:37:00.002-05:002011-11-29T14:21:05.253-05:00If you can't get enough Mark SteynThis is your week. See Five Feet of Fury for details.UPDATE: More media appearances:Wed 6 pm ET Hugh HewittThursday 3:45 pm ET Michael Graham Show (Boston)Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-76568032275494325812011-11-29T11:19:00.002-05:002011-11-29T11:36:40.131-05:00Size mattersTyler Cowen has an excellent post on the danger of drawing conclusions from small sample sizes and why we do.Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-68580865210682968862011-11-29T11:15:00.003-05:002011-11-29T11:19:16.660-05:00Politics is BSLately I've been smitten with the phrase that politics is bullshit. Here's another example why, from Gregg Easterbrook's Reuters column a few weeks ago:Among the most important public policy books of the last decade is Reform at Risk: What Happens After Major Policy Changes Are Enacted, by Eric Patashnik of the University of Virginia. This 2006 book details how Congress enacts what Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-26130137975207521182011-11-28T19:54:00.015-05:002011-11-28T20:05:37.112-05:00Four and down (looking back at Sunday edition)4. The Buffalo Bills lost a close game against the New York Jets, 28-24 and WR Stevie Johnson's antics might have been the difference. He is being criticized for the tasteless mocking of Plaxico Burress' self-inflicted gun-shot wound, but it was his falling to the ground mocking the Jets' victory celebration, arms out-stretched, that was flagged and Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-72578853354092639802011-11-28T08:57:00.003-05:002011-11-28T09:46:33.571-05:00On days like this I'm happy the Tories are in powerToo often they don't do enough to lower spending, cut regulation, or decrease our taxes, so it's very nice to see Finance Minister Jim Flaherty eliminating 70 tariffs which as he and the Ottawa Citizen report, is "expected to save Canadian businesses $32 million annually." The Citizen notes that the affected manufacturing sectors include food Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021638.post-58897848881161924302011-11-28T08:55:00.008-05:002011-11-28T09:29:47.439-05:00Is this news?The Toronto Star headline: "Hudak tweets send Twitterverse abuzz." Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak's 4-year-old daughter Miller got a hold of daddy's blackberry and pushed some buttons and voila a Tweet of gibberish. The Star quotes Twitter replies and has a page one news story. Journalism has never been so easy or irrelevant.And for the record, I would bet that Hudak knew what was Paul Tunsnoreply@blogger.com