The humanity...

With PM Stephen Harper's recent trashing of Jumpin' Jack Flash...



...the insanity of world politics and the built-in escalation of mutually assured destruction guarantees that some uber-competitive alpha dog type will up the ante until the world careens on greased rails into a post-modern wasteland completely lacking decent enforcement of U.S. copyright laws. And who might fill that role?

Vladimir Putin, of course. With an, ummm, impromptu rendition of the inimitable Fats Domino's Blueberry Hill:



The humanity! Oh, the humanity! My heart and large sensitive ears bleed... at least until the inevitable Digital Millenium Copyright Act takedown notices are issued. Soon! Please...

Arms Free

There is driving hands-free, and then there is...

Warning: Cool people will be thrown from building

Credit: my keen-eyed nephew

Feet, however, are permitted

Alexandria, Ont., Nov. 21

The principal principle principle

Lately, I have noticed a disturbing trend in the language of the prime minister and his henchthingies. You know, the new-but-rapidly-aging trick with which, faced with any old screwup of their own making, they contrive to still appear (heh...) right, because their stand is based on "Principles".

This phrase is uttered in tones of finality. The kind that suggest that all things the PM labels as "Principles" cannot, must not, be questioned. By anybody. Because it's, you know, a Principle. Therefore Unassailable.

To the PM's fans, the term also implies pleasing undertones of moral discourse. Therefore even more Unassailable. One never negotiates Morality.

In a short time, the trick has become a trope, the new lazy-ass-all-purpose spin management tool over at the PMO. Splop a few random "Principles" into the speaking points on everything very arguably sketchy and/or dumb and, hey, presto, all butts are completely wallpapered clear up to the ethical ceiling. Which at this juncture, is, ummm, low.

My Oxford Big Word Thingy, Canine Ed.©®™, is an admirably clear (and massive) reference, but with two-odd dense pages of alternative definitions for "principle" ya know there's plenty of room for creative (and handy) misinterpretation.

Avowed principles - especially in politics, and especially among recent ruling parties, are not necessarily fundamental or immutable, or even true. They are ideas upon which policies are based. Sometimes pretty bad ideas. Even rotten ones. If you have a minute, you could look up "rotten" in the Oxford Big Word Thingy, Canine Ed.©®™.

I could, of course, have gotten all of this deplorably wrong. I am semimythically canine and fallible.

The prime minister could - and maybe would - logically argue that his principles can't be wrong. Because he has none left.