New Media

There. I said it.

I’d be standing with the people throwing condoms. And you can put away your crucifixes, “March for Life” dudes. We’re not fucking vampires.

Something that came up last night. Don’t want to lose access to the Internet? Learn more about Bill C-11, my fellow Canucks.

It warms my heart to see more of the raw, edgy and highly entertaining political satire from earnest Canuck Lyle Neff in The Propagandist. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the latest pieces.

• The Tin Ear. Less-Noted Poetry of Gunter Grass
• Gross National Happiness and Other Economic Indicators
• Interview with NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair’s Beard
• A Nearly Invisible Minority and Extremely Special Pleading

Funny stuff.

If you’re a political observer who cares about Canada’s mission in Afghanistan and the role of China in Central Asia – and if you happen to be in Vancouver next week – this is a presentation not to be missed. Be there. I will be.

Canadian sacrifices and Beijing’s looming shadow

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

Fraser Institute Boardroom
4th Floor-1770 Burrard St
Vancouver

A conversation with Terry Glavin, author of Come from the Shadows: The Long and Lonely Struggle for Peace in Afghanistan and co-founder of the Canada-Afghanistan Solidarity Committee

There can be little argument that Canadian troops have played a critical role in Afghanistan, whether driving the Taliban out of Kandahar or providing training to Afghan security forces and helping rebuild needed infrastructure.

But despite Canada’s ongoing commitment to helping the Afghan people find liberty and self-determination, policy vacillation in Washington is creating an opening the Chinese government is all too willing to exploit, says journalist Terry Glavin, author of the book, Come from the Shadows: The Long and Lonely Struggle for Peace in Afghanistan, and co-founder of the Canada-Afghanistan Solidarity Committee.

After having failed to lift a finger in support on the United Nations action in Afghanistan, Beijing is now rushing in and acquiring vast copper and other mineral leases as well as forming ties with the Pakistani ISI while the United States is prepared to abandon the Afghan people to recurring threats of Islamic violence and oppression. Meanwhile, Canada and other Western nations have failed to stand up to Washington.

I believe this is the moment when the present Conservative governmental stewards of the economy get to walk up to the opposition parties – ranting about Canada’s supposed falling standing in the world – and tell them to get stuffed. Via the Toronto Star:

“It’s quite popular with Icelanders,” said David Gunnlaugsson, chairman of the opposition Progressive Party, noting a recent poll found 70 per cent support for the idea of adopting the loonie.