"There's an old Cold War saying commonly attributed to Winston Churchill…that goes, 'Democracy means that when there's a knock on the door at 3 a.m., it's probably the milkman.' The idea is that free societies don't send armed government agents dressed in black to raid the private homes of citizens for political crimes."

Score one for democracy, and one for winnie :)

An Opinion on the Space Shuttle Program and its Untimely Demise

Firstly, why hasn't the shuttle gone to the moon... say what you will about cost benefits and blah blah, but in truth, how could we retire these vessels without the accomplishment of a solitary extra-planetary voyage. If it were upto me, I would attach one to the ISS as an ampitheater and land another on the moon and leave it there to inspire future generations, or to be donated to a future museum (it would not age, corrode or deteriorate as quickly on the moon. But then I am oft considered a little extreme about these sorts of issues. Secondly, I would like to advocate that NASA TV be added to all digital cable services like CPAC or galaxy radio... how much did these companies make last year ? Whats the cost ? Okay then piss off and do it up, global. :)

I find the present state of the American space program to be a banal attempt to incite innovation through the provision of a lack of any other options. I worry that this may ultimately be less safe or efficient than our existing systems of super-bureaucratic-management, but I am somewhat encouraged that so much is again being entrusted to 'back yard engineers'. Goddard and Von Braun didn't have these sorts of super massive infrastructures when they were working out the scaled design models and technical details at the start. We should not forget that these fantastic manifestations of the ultimate human potential on the planet lead us towards getting off it :)

Youth Rally for the NDP Orange Crush to Save Canada

Why are the youth gonna swing an NDP govt ?

Because the bright orange blazes bold against a red and blue background of broken promises, cut programs, changed directions and unfamiliar leaders. The NDP rush represents our chance to show what we can do together. Green is a wasted vote, if ANYONE is unproven its the greens... but it just feels like it might be the NDPs time to shine... Rae NDPs won in similar times of distress, the NDP is the traditional choice of the dissilusioned.

The liberals, while the obvious choice for opposition to the Harper Gov't are more unfamiliar to us than ever before... there is no enduring figure, no alan rock, no cretien, martin jr... the old guard of our nation is gone, only 1 other MP (Trudeau) is even remotely visible in the public eye... its all Iggy and many people are not on his level.

Jack is back baby. The NDP have long represented the voice of the poor, the exhausted, the economically vulnerable... now there are many more people in that position and we can see plainly the sense of safeguarding the least of us more than the trickle down we are always promised from the good old boys on both sides of the aisle. The NDP are unproven... exactly. If the youth swing them in, they will be beholden to us, they will thank us and they will represent our concerns.... or they will loose our future support.

Either way, we are likely to face another election soon without the intervention of the GG.... many things seem on the brink of change. Perhaps this can be a step towards a change we can welcome, support, look back on fondly and remember with some small measure of Canadian pride as we, quiet and moderate as we are, began a real popular change toward positivity in our beleagured western world. The death of Osama today will change very little in our world... but an NDP win would be the beginning of somethin new, something vocal... I votin' orange because Jack aint wack and Harper needsta get sacked :D

Still, I do hope Iggy sticks around.