Davey Boy 2.0

"A California appeals court struck down a mall's rules banning strangers from talking about subjects other than the mall while inside the facility," United Press International reports. The court issued a 43-page opinion describing the rules, which ban the unacquainted for discussing anything other than Roseville's Westfield Galleria mall and its stores while in the mall, as "unconstitutional on their face," according to The Sacramento Bee. The mall's rules allow for conversations between two strangers on non-mall related topics only if an application is submitted four days in advance and approved by officials.

G&M LAWRENCE MARTIN lmartin@globeandmail.com Last year, as revealed by The Canadian Press, Prime Minister Stephen Harper lunched in New York with Roger Ailes, president of Fox News, and Rupert Murdoch, who owns it. Kory Teneycke, Mr. Harper's former spokesman, was also present at the unannounced event. Mr. Teneycke later became the point man for Quebecor's Pierre Karl Peladeau in his effort to create a right-wing television network modelled along the lines of Fox News. The new network is a high priority for Mr. Harper, for whom controlling the message has always been - witness his government vetting program - of paramount importance. In this regard, he scored a fantastic coup when Mr. Teneycke became head, courtesy of Mr. Peladeau, of Sun Media's political coverage. It's not every day that a prime minister sees his one-time spokesperson taking control of a giant media chain's coverage of his government. What, one wonders, will our journalism schools be telling their students about that? As remarkable as it was, it received scant attention because the focus was on the TV bid. That bid hit a roadblock last month when the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission declared that the top-category type of broadcasting licence being sought by Quebecor would not be available - if at all - until Oct. 1, 2011, at the earliest. Observers of Mr. Harper have long noted that he doesn't take kindly to commissions or agencies or anyone else who tends to get in the way of his wishes. It's only necessary to look at what happened at, among others, Rights and Democracy, Elections Canada, the Nuclear Safety Commission and Parliament. So the question naturally arises: Do the CRTC board members actually think they can get away with delaying or denying Mr. Harper's wishes on Fox News North? Do they really believe they have some kind of independent power? The CRTC chair is Konrad von Finckenstein, and his term doesn't end until 2012. But insiders report that Mr. Harper now wants him out well before that date and replaced by a rubber stamper. The independently minded Mr. von Finckenstein, who did not respond to queries on the matter, is reportedly being offered judgeships and ambassadorships, one post being Chile. So far, he's not biting. But the bait might get bigger. In addition, CRTC vice-chair Michel Arpin is being ushered out the door. His term expires at the end of the month; he'd like to stay on, but his request is not being granted. Names being floated as a replacement for either the chair or vice-chair include none other than Mr. Peladeau's long-time right-hand man, Luc Lavoie. Mr. Lavoie is a competent fellow but, given his Peladeau ties, the idea sounds far-fetched, positively galling. But, then again, when has galling ever stopped Stephen Harper? Replacing the CRTC's chair and vice-chair would pretty well seal the deal for Mr. Harper and Mr. Peladeau. Mr. Teneycke has said all along that the new station would be up and running by the start of 2011 with a Category 1 licence, meaning cable companies would be required to offer it as part of a package. Mr. Harper is benefiting very nicely from the Peladeau connection. When Mr. Teneycke took over Sun Media's political coverage, one of his first moves was to unload columnist Greg Weston. Mr. Weston, one of the most straight-shooting and incisive columnists around, broke the fake-lake story before the G20 summit. His reward? The noose. Mr. Harper must have been pleasantly surprised that the developments at the Sun chain caused barely a ripple of opposition from other Canadian media. It may embolden him to crush any CRTC opposition to Sun TV's licence. The CRTC is supposed to have some independence. It is supposed be at arm's length. But, in this government, arm's length has a different meaning, as in knuckles' length. Among those hearing about the pending CRTC shakeup is Ian Morrison of the advocacy group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. As he correctly points out, the integrity of the CRTC has to be defended. "You can't have the Prime Minister handing out radio and TV licences."

Police raiding a marijuana farm in western Canada were astonished to find black bears apparently guarding it. However initial alarm wore off when officers realised the 10 or so bears did not behave aggressively and were in fact docile and tame. Police believe dog food was used to attract the animals onto the farm in British Columbia. But they say the bears may have to be put down if they have become accustomed to living around humans. Two people were arrested in the raid. The five police who went to the farm near Christina Lake, close to the US border, to dismantle the marijuana plantation were amazed when the bears loped into view. "They were tame, they just sat around watching, eating from what looked like a bag of Doritos. At one point one of the bears climbed onto the hood of a police car, sat there for a bit and then jumped off," said Royal Canadian Mounted Police sergeant Fred Mansveld. In Canada, feeding bears is illegal as it leads to bears associating food with humans and increases the likelihood of bears coming into towns and cities to look for food. Conservation officers are deciding the fate of the bears. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11020965

Chatham-Kent police remind citizens that drinking in a public place is against the law. Booze can only legally be consumed on private property or at licensed establishments, police said. Police were called to Bear Line Road and McNaughton Avenue Monday night when a caller reported seeing 20-30 baseball players drinking along the side of the road. Police said when the officer arrived, no alcohol was seen. The officer told the players about the complaint, police said

it's as dark, rich and velvety as an Ella Fitzgerald lullaby with hazelnut bits lightly sprinkled throughout like pixie dust upon the wings of a soaring faerie

yeah at least he's not a Chelsea FC trialist

can't imagine Anelka doing anything other than retiring from the nat'l team + slagging off a few people in the announcement

you know... last night I thought I'd take a stab at explaining how this thread came to be but then I realised that nothing I say is really going to be all that illuminating so perhaps I'll let this one fade away I guess the short short version would be: That Baci chocolate bar is one of the best higher end chocolate bars I've ever tried, just awesome

whoops, this one :chug:

...is awesome when yer wastred. However this thread is about how this bar is on sale at Luciano's for $2.49 and is unbelievably worth it As you were3

tell him to put the peach schnapps away

...not the first time etc...

maybe not in this example but i'm tellin ya the simi/hi-larity is there

glad to hear you're feeling better mon ami hope it keeps up

Oh and I'm guessing that flasher was our own Mr. Backbacon

great times, thanks guys

Jebas how huge is going to be when he finally retires?!?!?

Down in the Tremé Just me and my baby We're all goin crazy But jumpin and havin fun

PIGS HOSED DOWN ON 401 Police, fire fighters and representatives with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals all responded to a broken down truck filled with pigs on Hwy. 401 near Napanee. The truck was not blocking traffic but, due to the excessive heat, crews were concerned for the well-being of the approximately 100 animals on board. Napanee firefighters were on scene to spray the pigs down in hopes of keeping them cool. Two-and-a-half hours later the load was en route to its original destination.

CANADIAN TIRE THEFT A woman who stole an eclectic assortment of items from the Cataraqui Canadian Tire Store has been sentenced to 21 days in jail. That's in addition to the 15 days Liane Kalenborn, 43, spent in custody before she was convicted of stealing $172.47 worth of merchandise from the store, simultaneously violating probation by failing to keep the peace. Court heard that Kalenborn has multiple prior theft convictions and was placed on probation in another community in 2008, following conviction for a list of offences, including fraudulent personation. Her lawyer, Mike Woogh, told the judge she'd fled an abusive partner and was living in a Kingston motel when she committed the Canadian Tire thefts. The judge was also told that the loot included fireworks, an electronic fixture for a trailer and some bacon.

You're going to be a genius anyway, YATS

TEENS ARRESTED, CHARGED Two teenagers were arrested after police responded to a report of windows being broken at a portable classroom behind Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Amherstview Friday night. The two, both 14, also tried unsuccessfully to get into the main school. They fled when officers arrived but were apprehended. Loyalist OPP say one of the boys apparently defecated in the drawer of a teacher's desk. Both youths were charged with break and enter with intent. The incontinent boy was also charged with mischief.