6am in Brooklyn, NYC

A new sound to help Brooklyn residents wake up early...



or is it Baghdad?

It may seem more like the latter, but the sound that Barack Obama thinks is one of the most-beautiful sounds in the World has already made its <i>public</i> debut in the Big Apple...

Linking - the new hate speech?

Hate speech showtrials are nothing new - just ask Geert Wilders or Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff.

But now, it seems that on the other side of the Atlantic, in the liberal, tolerant bastion of Canada, where quotes from the Bible have in the past been deemed hate speech, merely linking to a "far-right website" can form part of a $500,000 lawsuit ...

From  BlazingCatFur-

About 18 months ago everybody's favourite Ex-Canadian Human Rights Commission employee Richard Warman launched one of his many, as in very many, SLAPP suits against yours truly for, among other dastardly deeds, linking to the "far-right web site http://www.steynonline.com/". Sheesh everybody knows Mark Steyn is controversial.

This referring to a post on a newsletter from the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The offending part?

Fifty-nine years ago, on this day, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, creating a foundation of equality, fairness, compassion and respect for all. (But not for the law and only so long as their our kind of people, Lucy Warman tells us who we should hate. Pie anyone?).

Apparently what caused the offence was that the words "our kind of people" led to an article by Canadian commentator Mark Steyn, in the words of the lawsuit a "far-right website".

Note that Richard Warman, the CHRC plaintiff in the case, has not sued Mark Steyn for the article... yet goes after a lone blogger linking to it. But this is not his first "hate speech" case -

In Warman v. Lemire, 2009 CHRT 26, Athanasios D. Hadjis held that the respondent's right to freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression should not be infringed by s. 13(1). Accordingly, the adjudicator did not penalize the respondent for his controversial postings to the Internet.


In Warman v. Northern Alliance, 2009 CHRT 10, Edward Peter Lustig held that the respondent's website was in violation of s. 13(1) because the website carried controversial remarks about Roma, Jews, Muslims, homosexuals, blacks, Arabs, and others. The adjudicator made an order pursuant to s. 54(1)(a) to ensure that the impugned website, which is defunct, remained inactive.

In Warman v. Winnicki, 2006 CHRT 20, Karen A. Jensen found the respondent had posted messages to the Internet which were "vicious and dehumanizing". The adjudicator ordered the respondent to cease and desist his discriminatory practices and to pay a penalty of $6,000.

He has also sued Kathy Shaidle of FiveFeetofFury.com, Kate McMillan of SmallDeadAnimals.com, FreeDominion.com, Walker Morrow, Michael Veck, Jonathan Kay and the National Post. So why bother going through the courts with so many cases? In Warman's own words, he implements a "maximum disruption" approach...

I’ve come to the conclusion that I can be most effective by using what I like to describe as a “maximum Disruption” approach … I’ll look at all the potential targets and file complaints against them starting on a “worst offender” basis, although sometimes if I just find people to be particularly annoying this may move them up the list a bit. The “maximum disruption” part comes in because wherever I think it will be most helpful, or even if I just feel it will be the most fun, I strongly believe in hitting on as many of these fronts as possible either at the same time or one after the other. I say this because it keeps them off-balance and forces them to respond to things that focus their energies on defending themselves.

In other words - go after bloggers he thinks have too little funding to defend themselves, and make them spend all their resources on doing so - even if the case is unsuccessful. As part of his "maximum disruption" approach, he has allegedly also himself made racist comments on posts, while including the same posts in his lawsuits. So much for these posts being "offensive", or containing anything which a comission interested in real human rights could find of interest. Such is the great service to human rights made by laws such as section 13 of Canada's human rights act.

BlazingCatFur should win this lawsuit, but needs funding to fight it - a donation can be made by "feeding the kitty" on the right here.

An Islamic leader tells it straight

And speaks some basic facts about his faith... in calm, logical and rational terms. Can it be that a Muslim leader matching all these descriptions is someone most-commonly known as a fanatic extremist?

From CBN News, via Pamela...

Manute Bol - basketball player and human rights activist, dies

One of the NBA's tallest players - Manute Bol, a Sudanese from the Dinka tribe - passed away today. He was a record-breaking shot-blocker and a player who spent millions of dollars of his own money helping his war-ravaged country. So much so that he ended-up broke, only affording treatment after a car crash following a fundraising game by his former colleagues

Yet a player who most had never heard of. Indeed, this is someone who I did not know about until today. But, as it turns out, a legend on and off the basketball court. It is typical of the times today that his death, or life, is not front-page news, with the media instead preferring to send the story of someone fighting for an unfashionable cause to the small print on the back pages...

May he rest in peace

Suffering and oppression in Gaza

The terrible poverty of occupied Gaza in graphics -

(h/t Gates of Vienna)



With the impoverished surroundings and just a 16-page menu, time for another round of aid money?

Pray for Rifqa

In a shocking new development, Rifqa Bary, the apostate from Islam who ran away from her parents to try to live a free life as a Christian, has developed an aggressive form of uterine cancer. This in the culmination of a year during which she:

• escaped from her parents, after allegedly being threatened with death for apostasy
• stayed with a Florida family for what she called the "best three weeks of her life"
• was taken into care by the State of Florida
• transferred to Ohio by a judge's ruling
• kept in solitary confinement, with no access to internet, telephone or visits from friends
  had motions filed to bar her from receiving Christmas cards
• came to an agreement to be in the custody of the State of Ohio, with her immigration status still uncertain.

All this may be more than most 17 year-olds would imagine to suffer, yet now Rifqa is faced with a new and even more terrifying struggle within her own body.

Tomorrow (May 27th) is the day of her third operation, due for 10am US Eastern time. The level of spread of the cancer should be known afterwards, and if the operation is successful, chemotherapy will begin soon. Please pray for Rifqa's recovery, wherever you are...

Farage survives plane crash

On the day of the UK general election, UKIP former leader Nigel Farage survives a plane crash with only minor injuries. In his own words he was "lucky to be alive".

From the BBC

The former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage said he was "lucky to be alive" after his plane crashed in Northamptonshire.

The aircraft came down at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield near Brackley.
Mr Farage is being treated at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for broken ribs and other minor injuries. Pilot, Justin Adams, is also in hospital.

It is thought the aircraft came down when a trailing campaign banner became entangled.
'Trapped in wreckage'

Party leader Lord Pearson said Mr Farage had been visited by his wife in hospital.

He said: "Despite being in considerable pain, we deduce that Nigel is back to something like his normal form.
"We also understand that the injuries to the pilot, Justin Adams, may be less serious than previously feared though we have been unable to speak to his family.

"It is clear that both men had a remarkably lucky escape." 

This incident prompting one of his political opponents to write this tribute:

Nigel Farage always hated flying

He especially loathed having to take the tiny propellor-powered plane that was the only direct route to Strasbourg before the fast train link. But he bore those journeys with good-humoured stoicism, as he did most of the disagreeable aspects of our job.

Nigel is, I suppose, my chief rival in the South East. But he has always acted as a gentleman towards political opponents, and I like to think we have become friends. Nigel is in politics for the best possible reason: patriotism. He gave up a lucrative career to stand for the European Parliament, and there are plenty of other, more rewarding, things he could be doing.

It is typical of the man that, as he came round, his first words were to ask after the pilot. I hope all of us, whatever our parties, will join in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.

Not long ago, he made this daring speech against the EU's new president:



And here, a recent interview with Jeremy Paxman:




This is a very lucky escape for someone who, in his stand against political correctness, could be described as the closest thing to a British Allen West or Geert Wilders. And an equally lucky escape for Britain, close to losing one of its only politicians willing to tell the truth as they see it.

Prayer needs vs climategate

Religious needs - ever so carefully considered for a certain Peaceful religion, in ever more offices and institutions. But somehow not so big a deal when it comes to Native Americans' prayer needs, versus an offshore wind farm and a small amount of carbon offset...

From the BBC:

US government approves first offshore wind farm

US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has approved controversial plans for the country's first offshore wind farm to operate off Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

"This project fits with the tradition of sustainable development in the area," he told reporters in Boston.

State Governor Deval Patrick has argued the farm is key to local efforts to increase the use of renewable energy.

But the late Senator Edward Kennedy strongly opposed the idea, which some fear would spoil the seascape.

The plan would see 130 wind-powered turbines erected in the shallow waters of the sound, visible from the Kennedy family compound in Hyannisport and other Cape Cod estates.

Native Americans in Massachusetts have argued the turbine blades would desecrate the view of the sunrise that is essential to their prayer ceremonies.

Cape Wind says it can generate power by 2012 and aims to eventually supply three-quarters of the power on Cape Cod, which has about 225,000 residents.

Remembering Smolensk

In April 1940, after seven months of occupying Poland together with the Nazis, Soviet Russia, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, carried out a massacre of Polish intellectuals, clergy, officers and leaders, to destroy any potential leadership of an independent Poland. In total, an estimated 22,000 of the most-influential Polish citizens were murdered in the forests at Katyn, creating a heavy loss for the years after the war and severely denting hopes for Poland's independence. Until the fall of Communism in 1989, the massacre was denied by the authorities, and discussion of the topic punishable with arrest.

During the commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the massacre, a plane carrying an official delegation to the site of the killings crashed on approach to nearby Smolensk military airbase, killing all on board.

The 96 dead included Poland's president Lech Kaczynski, first lady Maria Kaczynska, the chief of staff of the Polish armed forces, the commanders of the Polish army, air force and navy, Orthodox and Catholic clergy, a founding member of Solidarity, families of those murdered at Katyn, as well as senior politicians from all of Poland's major political parties. Proud patriots on their journey to remember the murder of their fellow countrymen.

After the crash, periods of mourning were announced in Russia, the EU, Brazil and many other countries, while in Poland a week of national mourning commenced, with a daily flood of tributes in the Polish capital Warsaw and other cities. The funeral of President Lech Kaczynski is scheduled for this Sunday at Wawel castle in Krakow, resting place of many Polish kings and heroes.

This post is in memory of all the victims...
We will not forget!


Lech Kaczyński (b.1949), President of Poland
Maria Kaczyńska, (b.1942), First Lady of Poland and wife of the President
Ryszard Kaczorowski (b.1919), the Former President of the Polish government-in-exile

Mariusz Handzlik (b.1965), Undersecretary of State in the Office of the President of the Republic of Poland
Andrzej Kremer (b.1961), Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tomasz Merta (b.1965), Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
Sławomir Skrzypek (b.1963), President of the National Bank of Poland
Władysław Stasiak (b.1966), Chief of the Office of the President of the Republic of Poland
Aleksander Szczygło (b.1963), Head of the National Security Bureau
Paweł Wypych (b.1968), Secretary of State in the Office of the President of the Republic of Poland
Mariusz Kazana (b.1960), Director of Diplomatic Protocol in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

General Franciszek Gągor, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces
Lieutenant General Andrzej Błasik, Commander of Air Forces - Polish Air Force
Major General Tadeusz Buk, Commander of Land Forces - Polish Land Forces
Vice Admiral Andrzej Karweta, Commander of Navy - Polish Navy

Brigadier General Kazimierz Gilarski, Commander of the Warsaw Garrison
Brigadier General Stanisław Komornicki, Chancellor of the Order Virtuti Militari
Lieutenant General Bronisław Kwiatkowski, Commander of the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command
Major General Włodzimierz Potasiński, Commander of the Polish Special Forces
Lieutenant Colonel Czesław Cywiński (b.1926), President of the Association of Armia Krajowa Soldiers

Stanisław Komorowski, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of National Defence
Krystyna Bochenek, Deputy Speaker of the Senate
Janina Fetlińska
Stanisław Zając
Leszek Deptuła
Grzegorz Dolniak
Grażyna Gęsicka
Przemysław Gosiewski
Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka
Sebastian Karpiniuk
Aleksandra Natalli-Świat
Krzysztof Putra, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm
Arkadiusz Rybicki
Jerzy Szmajdziński, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm
Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz
Zbigniew Wassermann
Wiesław Woda
Edward Wojtas

Maciej Płażyński, President of the Association "Polish Community", former Speaker of the Sejm, Sejm member
Archbishop Brigadier General Miron Chodakowski (b.1957), Orthodox Ordinary of the Polish Army
Tadeusz Płoski (b.1956), Roman Catholic Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of the Polish Army
Ryszard Rumianek (b.1947), Rector of the Roman Catholic Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University
Adam Pilch (b.1965), Evangelical Lutheran Church minister
Bronisław Gostomski (b.1948), Reverend Canon of the Roman Catholic Church of St Andrew Bobola in Shepherd’s Bush, West London, England^[5]
Roman Indrzejczyk (b.1931), Presidential Roman Catholic Chaplain
Zdzisław Król (b.1935), Roman Catholic Chaplain of the Warsaw Katyń Families movement
Józef Joniec (b.1959), Roman Catholic Priest, President of the Parafiada association

Joanna Agacka-Indecka (b.1964), President of the Polish Bar Council
Janusz Kochanowski (b.1940), Polish Ombudsman for Citizen Rights
Janusz Kurtyka (b.1960), historian and President of the Institute of National Remembrance
Andrzej Przewoźnik (b.1963), Secretary-General of the Council for the Protection of Struggle and Martyrdom Sites
Anna Walentynowicz (b.1929), activist and co-founder of the Solidarity Trade Union, in the late 1970s and early 1980s
Janusz Zakrzeński (b.1936), Award-winning actor
Wojciech Seweryn (b.1939), Polish-born American-based artist^[6]
Piotr Nurowski (b.1945), tennis player and President of the Polish Olympic Committee
Teresa Walewska-Przyjałkowska (b.1939), Member of the East Golgotha Foundation
Katarzyna Doraczyńska (b.1978), Press representative of Presidential Office
Wojciech Lubiński (b.1969), Colonel, Scientist, Presidential Doctor
Izabela Tomaszewska (b.1955), President's Office staff
Zbigniew Dębski (b.1922), Presidential staff
Janina Natusiewicz-Mirer, social activist
Ewa Bąkowska (b.1962), Granddaughter of Brigadier General Mieczysław Smorawiński
Leszek Solski (b.1935), Member of the Families of Katyń organization
Tadeusz Lutoborski (b.1926), Member of the Families of Katyń organization
Anna Maria Borowska (b.1928), Representative of Families of Katyń and other organizations
Bartosz Borowski (b.1978), grandson of Anna Maria Borowska, representative of Families of Katyń and other organization
Gabriela Zych (b.1941), Representative of Families of Katyń and other organizations
Zenona Mamontowicz-Łojek, Representative of Families of Katyń and other organizations
Katarzyna Piskorska (b.1937), Representative of Families of Katyń and other organizations
Aleksandr Fedorowicz (b.1970), Russian interpreter
Janusz Krupski (b.1951), Head of the Office of the Civil War Veterans and the Oppressed
Barbara Mamińska (b.1957), Director of the Presidential Chancellery
Stefan Melak (b.1946), President of the Katyn Committee
Stanisław Mikke (b.1947), Vice-president of the Council for the Protection of Struggle and Martyrdom Sites
Andrzej Sariusz-Skąpski (b.1937), President of the Federation of Katyń Families


Lieutenant-Colonel Jarosław Florczak (Posthumously promoted to the rank of Colonel and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Captain Dariusz Michalowski (Posthumously promoted to rank of Major and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
First Lieutenant Pawel Janeczek (Posthumously promoted to rank of Captain and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Warrant Officer Agnieszka Pogródka-Węcławek (Posthumously promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Warrant Officer Jacek Surowka (Posthumously promoted to rank of Second Lieutenant and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Second Lieutenant Piotr Nosek (Posthumously promoted to rank of First Lieutenant and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Warrant Officer Pawel Krajewski (Posthumously promoted to rank of Second Lieutenant and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Warrant Officer Artur Francuz (Posthumously promoted to rank of Second Lieutenant and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Warrant Officer Marek Uleryk (Posthumously promoted to rank of Second Lieutenant and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)

Captain Arkadiusz Protasiuk (b.1974), Pilot (Posthumously promoted to rank of Major and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Major Robert Grzywna (b.1974), Co-Pilot (Posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Lieutenant Artur Karol Ziętek (b.1978),^[7] Navigator (Posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Warrant Officer Andrzej Michalak (b.1973),^[7] Flight Engineer (Posthumously promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant and decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Barbara M. Maciejczyk (b.1981),^[7] Flight Attendant (Posthumously decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Natalia Maria Januszko (b.1987),^[7] Flight Attendant (Posthumously decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)
Justyna Moniuszko (b.1985),^[7] Flight Attendant (Posthumously decorated with Order of Polonia Restituta)