A Post For Now

Some quick thoughts...



Alles Gute zum  Geburtstag and Felix Dies Natale, your Holiness.

"Yay, it's my birthday!"

Not willing to let yet another failed rocket spoil his totalitarian mood, Kim Jong-Eun vows death to us all:

North Korea's new leader addressed his nation and the world for the first time Sunday, vowing to place top priority on his impoverished country's military, which promptly unveiled a new long-range missile.

The speech was the culmination of two weeks of celebrations marking the centenary of the birth of his grandfather, national founder Kim Il Sung — festivities that were marred by a failed launch Friday of a rocket that generated international condemnation and cost North Korea a food aid-for-nuclear-freeze deal with Washington.

Kim Jong Un's speech took North Koreans gathered at Kim Il Sung Square and around televisions across the country by surprise. His father, late leader Kim Jong Il, addressed the public only once in his lifetime.

Appearing calm and measured as he read the 20-minute speech, Kim Jong Un covered a wide range of topics, from foreign policy to the economy. His speech, and a military parade that followed, capped the carefully choreographed festivities commemorating Kim Il Sung's birthday, which included a massive fireworks display....

Punctuating Kim's message that the North will continue to pour funds into its military, the parade culminated with the unveiling of a new long-range missile, though it's not clear how powerful or significant the addition to the North Korean arsenal is. Some analysts suggested it might have been a dummy designed to dupe outside observers.

Although the rocket launch Friday was a huge, costly embarrassment for the new leadership, Kim's address was seen by analysts as an expression of confidence by the young leader and meant to show that he is firmly in control.

"Superiority in military technology is no longer monopolized by imperialists, and the era of enemies using atomic bombs to threaten and blackmail us is forever over," Kim said.

His message suggested no significant changes in national policy — the "Military First" strategy has long been at the centre of North Korea's decision-making process.

When not accusing Republicans of imaginary involvement on a war against women and possessing an insufferable occupational snobbery, one of the Democrats' darlings, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geitner declares that the job losses of American women are "a meaningless way to look at the economy":







It's probably because they're women and have no idea what it's like to have a government job or not look after kids or stuff like that.



(with thanks)



Chances are these pleas will fall on deaf ears:

Item number nine in the letter to members of the Cat Lake reserve from the children in Grade Six is as blunt as it is painful.

"It hurts us and shoomis and kokum (grandpa and grandma) when you're doing drugs and you're not at home."

Cat Lake is the epicentre of prescription drug addiction in Canada. Community leaders figure that between 70 and 80 per cent of the adults are hooked on narcotic pain killers OxyContin or Percocets.

Governments and local health authorities are slowly gearing up to deal with the runaway addiction that has slammed communities across the country, but especially First Nations.

But the help can't come quickly enough for the children of Cat Lake.

"We feel that we don't know what to do to help you stop doing Drug," the children wrote as "Point Number Five."

Well, when you all you have to do is blame others for your problems and let your lives be decided by corrupt band chiefs, why get better? Just let harm reduction and white guilt do all the work.



Just as sad as the Japanese dog who stayed by his friend:

A dog may be man's best friend, but one black Labrador is also extremely loyal to her canine companion.

A good Samaritan saw two dogs in traffic in La Puenta, California, just outside of Los Angeles. One had just been fatally hit by a motorist and the other dog, now named Grace, wouldn't leave the downed dog's side. As seen in the online video, Grace braved oncoming traffic to stand by her pal.

And now, cinnamon bun waffles. Enjoy.