All perturbed with its cheeks in a chunk, it's...
T H E J U I C E A N D G I N
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Term XLI, Issue 11 (#206)
Weather outlook:
Hot and wet. But not in a good way.
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* Contents *
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- Editor's Blurb
- Ongoing Events
- Greg's DTK
- Humour
- General Info
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* Editor's Blurb *
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Hey all
Some weeks I've got stuff. And other weeks it's just too damn hot to
actually think of anything interesting to write. But here we are during
a pleasant spell (let's call it a humidity sandwich -- and we're the
meat) but I'm still scraping for tidbits to plonk down here. Unless you
consider slipping the word "meat" into polite conversation something
interesting.
In more pressing news, next week's issue of the Juice and Gin will be
delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. I'll give you a minute to
ponder that.
Until next time,
Let all the children boogie!
Michael (mailto:nutsinfo$yahoo.ca)
And now, the rest of the story...
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* Ongoing Events *
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[See the Event Calendar on the web site for full descriptions.
--Ed.]
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Pool League
===========
Mondays
http://nutsevents.topcities.com/events/index.html#Monday
Contact: Dave and Michael (pool$solutionsatsource.com)
View the current players' statistics at:
http://nutsevents.topcities.com/events/pool/index.html
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Indoor Rock Climbing
====================
Thursdays
Contact: Andrew (akpallek$hotmail.com)
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* Greg's Deep Thought Korner *
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I am well aware of the fact the previous federal Liberal government had
huge corruption and entitlement problems. They'd been in power for
twelve years and while they had managed to balance the budget -- even
pay off some of the massive PC deficit from the Mulroney years -- they
were getting a little generous with blowing our tax dollars.
So I fully realize that it was time to slap them down and ship them out,
at least for a little while, so they could clean themselves up.
No question.
But did we have to pick such an illiterate, belligerent jackass as our
new Prime Minister?
Without a doubt, the man has finally proved how ignorant he truly is in
his comments about the current Israel/Palestine/Lebanon situation.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060718.MIDEASTHARPER18/TPStory
First, let us examine some straightforward historical facts. There is a
group of militants in Palestine called Hamas. There is another called
Fatah. Fatah used to be in power in the Palestinian Parliament. Hamas
used to call for the destruction of Israel, but grew up and now only
demands that Palestine be allowed to exist without the Israeli
occupation that has gone on for two generations.
In January 2006, mostly due to the corruption in the Fatah party, the
Palestinian people voted Fatah out and Hamas in. Hamas was considered
an exclusively terrorist group and the major powers of the world
immediately moved to cut aid to the entire country of Palestine based on
the Palestinian people's democratic choice. (Democracy only works when
you choose the leaders we want you to choose.)
Onward.
In January 2006, one Israeli died in a terrorist bombing in a
marketplace. In February, one more died when a guy went nuts and
stabbed several people in a market. Meanwhile in Palestine, at
checkpoints and through bombings, 18 Palestinians were killed. In
February, it was 29. Does this appear somewhat asymmetrical?
In early June, Hamas and Fatah came together and made a statement that
they recognized Israel's right to exist and it appeared that everything
was working toward peace. Regardless, Palestinians -- even civilians --
continued to die in numbers much greater numbers than Israelis. Later
in June, Palestinian militants used a tunnel they had secretly
constructed from Gaza to a place just inside Israel, at a military base.
They raided this base, killed two soldiers and captured a third.
This brings us roughly up to date (July 17, at least). We have about
300 Palestinians having been killed, about 20 Israelis having been
killed, and one soldier being captured. What is the response from
Israel? They bomb and blockade Gaza. The generating plant is knocked
out. Fuel oil for portable generators is blockaded. Jets fly over day
and night creating sonic booms, indistinguishable from actual bombs.
Water is cut. Food is blockaded.
Stephen Harper, taking the hard right line that is so popular in the
world these days, refers to Israel's response to the capture of its
soldier as "measured and justified." He says that Israel "has a right
to defend itself."
Really? So if you occupy a foreign country and members of that foreign
country attack your military, then you, the occupying power, have the
right to starve the entire occupied country? You have the right to
collectively punish the entire civilian population because of one
captured soldier?
If this is true, Mr. Harper, then what is the "measured and justified"
response of the Palestinians? They've been occupied for 40 years.
Their orchards -- their livelihood -- are bulldozed every day. A giant
wall prevents many of them from going to their own farms from their
houses. Their houses are knocked down for the production of settlements
for the exclusive use of their foreign occupiers. Their dead children
are considered "collateral damage" when an apartment complex is bombed
in an attempt to assassinate their leaders. Their parliamentary
represented are kidnapped. If it's justifiable to starve, bomb and
blockade almost a million and a half people because of one captured
soldier, what is then justifiable for the Palestinians?
The rest of us agree that killing civilians is unjustified, whether
Israel or Palestine is doing it.
Mr. Harper supports violence against civilians, but only when our allies
do it. If we are to believe that these are "measured and justified"
reactions, then how can wars ever end?
I won't pretend I didn't expect this. There is, everyone must realize,
a serious danger in putting religious conservatives in government. In
Saudi Arabia, they lock little girls inside a burning school because
they aren't wearing clothing appropriate for being outside. In Israel,
the right wing wants to turn all of Palestine in to Israel. In
Palestine, the right wing wants to "push the Jews in to the sea." In
North America, the right wing Christians (that being Bush, Harper,
Stockwell Day and God only knows who else) want Israel to succeed so
that the second coming of Christ can occur. (Again, I kid you not.
This is a view held by far, far too many people in our own country.)
And that doesn't even begin to address the power brokers who want to
manipulate the price and control of oil.
But we let this buffoon in to our government, and pretty soon we're
going to have to kick him out. If, as the right wing is gleefully
shouting all over U.S. television, there is going to be a "World War
Three", it's pretty damned important that we not have Stephen Harper in
charge when it comes down.
Greg.
[Send responses to DTKs or new Editorials to nutsinfo$yahoo.ca]
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* Humour *
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[Forward any good jokes or interesting web sites you see to
nutsinfo$yahoo.ca]
[Disclaimer: The Humour Section may contain content that includes dirty
words, adult situations and jokes that make fun of politicians. Viewer
discretion is advised. --Ed.]
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Real News
=========
Thanks to Greg G. @ Alcatel
If you are gonna break the law, you might as well go for an exotic
headline in the news.
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=107685&ran=115699
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An Elephant Story
=================
While on holiday in Kenya and walking through the bush a man comes
across an elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The
elephant seems distressed so the man approaches very carefully. He gets
down on one knee and inspects the bottom of the elephant's foot only to
find a large thorn deeply embedded. As carefully and as gently as he
can he removes the thorn and the elephant gingerly puts its foot down.
The elephant turns to face the man and with a rather stern look on its
face, stares at him. For a good ten minutes the man stands frozen --
thinking of nothing else but being trampled.
Eventually the elephant turns and walks away.
For years after, the man often remembers and ponders the events of that
day. Years later the man is walking through the zoo with his son. As
they approach the elephant enclosure, one of the elephants turns and
walks over to where they are standing at the rail. It stares at him and
the man can't help wondering if this is the same elephant. The man
climbs tentatively over the railing and makes his way into the
enclosure. He walks right up to the elephant and stares back in wonder.
Suddenly the elephant wraps its trunk around one of the man's legs and
swings him wildly back and forth along the railing, instantly killing him.
Probably not the same elephant then.
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* General Info *
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Contact the NUTS Committee:
nutsinfo$yahoo.ca
The NUTS Website is:
http://nutsevents.topcities.com/
http://torpedo.ca.newbridge.com/mirror/ (for people within Alcatel)
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