Terror Free Oil

Look closely…

A sign on the pump of the Terror-Free Oil gas station in Omaha, Neb.

© Copyright 2007 CTVglobemedia publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

From The Globe and Mail, January 23, 2007

France proposed U.K. union, papers show

January 15, 2007
Associated Press

LONDON – Would France have been better off under the Queen?

The revelation that the French government proposed a union of Britain and France in 1956, even offering to accept the sovereignty of the British Queen, has left scholars on both sides of the Channel puzzled.

Polish archbishop quits over spy scandal

January 08, 2007
Ryan Lucas
Associated Press

WARSAW–Worshippers filled the pews inside the red-brick walls of St. John’s Cathedral. Outside, faithful sheltered from the rain under umbrellas while huddling around portable radios, waiting expectantly for the formal installation of Warsaw’s new archbishop.

Then, in a blink yesterday, the festive mood transformed into disbelief. Cries of “No, no!” and “Stay with us!” rose from the crowds both inside and out.

Britain to pay final World War Two loan instalment

Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:30 PM GMT15

LONDON (Reuters) - The government said it will on Friday pay back the final instalments of loans taken out at the end of World War Two to finance vital reconstruction.

The payments of $83.25 million (42.4 million pounds) to the United States and $22.7 million to Canada will close the final chapter of the war and mean that in total the country has paid close to twice what it borrowed in 1945 and 1946.

Where mince pies break the law…

If you fancy eating a mince pie in England this Christmas Day, you could find yourself in legal hot water.

But nip across the border into Wales or Scotland, and you can tuck into this festive treat to your heart’s content.

It is one of the odd old laws on the statute book, although rarely enforced by even the keenest police officer.

Canadian oceans: the world’s toilet?

B.C. waters a free toilet for U.S. cruise ships

Nicholas Read
Vancouver Sun
Thursday, December 21, 2006

A U.S. cruise line fined $100,000 US for discharging untreated effluent into waters off the coast of Washington state would have got off scot-free had the effluent been discharged into Canadian waters, a company official said Wednesday.

Islam & the West

Globe and Mail Update

Can Muslims be true to their faith and loyal citizens in a Western country such as Canada?

Tariq Ramadan says yes. This public intellectual’s struggle to integrate Muslim thought with modern life has made him one of the most controversial and influential Islamic scholars in Europe.

Entire Halifax school board fired

December 19, 2006
Canadian Press

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s education minister fired every member of the Halifax Regional School Board today, saying constant infighting had rendered the board ineffective.

Karen Casey said the 13-member board – the province’s largest – would be dissolved and replaced by one man: former bureaucrat Howard Windsor.

End Violence Against Sex Workers Day (Dec.16or17)

Going Dutch (a link to bbc article)

welcome, my little monkeys!

We’re all good to go now, so let’s start with some amazing news out of the Lone Star state:

New bill for blind Texas hunters

Blind hunters would be able to use laser-sighted rifles to hunt animals in Texas, if a bill introduced in the state’s legislature is successful.

Republican Edmund Kuempel proposed an amendment to existing law that would permit “legally blind” people to use a laser-sighting device when hunting.

Current Texas law prohibits the use of laser sights, spotlights and headlights for hunting purposes.

A sighted person would be legally required to accompany the blind hunter.

“This opens up the fun of hunting to additional people, and I think that’s great,” said Mr Kuempel.