Oh, Snap! It's a Word-Fight over at Maclean's

Maclean's columnist Mark Steyn has spent the last few months vigorously defending the honour of Lord Black of CrossHarbour, and suggested on almost a daily basis that quite possibly the Worst Canadian Ever (TM) would be declared innocent of the mountain of charges against him.

Of course, Steyn was wrong, and has been licking his wounds online ever since the 4 guilty verdicts were announced.

Now, rival Maclean's blogger Paul Wells has rubbed a little salt on Steyn's wounds. In his blog, Wells soothes all those who fret about Canada's high dollar by reminding them of one of Steyn's earlier predictions:

True, 96 cents is a little salty, but have no fear. By December the loonie will be down to 60 cents US, or maybe 55. Also, rampant environmentalism will send unemployment skyrocketing. All by December! Five months hence!Trust me. I have it on the highest authority.

Oh, Mark Steyn, you may be a decent writer, but your fortune-telling instincts are about as sound as the girl on the late night Quebec infomercials.
And of the old National Post alumni, Wells has you easily beat. He's sort of a Bruce Hutchinson or Dalton Camp to your Warren Kinsella.

Let's All Head Off to Maine

With a strong Canadian dollar, the old New Brunswick tradition of cross-border shopping is being rekindled, after almost a decade-long slumber.

The new $400 personal exemption on duties certainly helps make a weekend trip very attractive - not to mention a pretty good summer concert series at L.L. Bean.

But NBers now have a new reason to reward Maine business with their consumer spending. In the face of an increasingly out-of-touch President, Maine's two Republican Senators have now begun to openly side with Democrats on the question of ending the Iraq War.

Good neighbours, indeed.

NB Dept of Poverty Reduction

Title from an actual NB Government News Release:

PAUPERS TO BE SOLD AT KINGS LANDING

Glad to see that Family and Community Services has finally come up with a way to reduce poverty. This is way more innovative than a $100 rebate on heating bills...

Kudos to Fred...

As in Fredericton, who is now attempting to jump onto the band-wagon of post-Kyoto environmentalism.

Their mayor Brad Woodside is still a bit of a loser, but at least City Hall has put together a decent environmental website. Now, if only they could come to the realization that their summer air-conditioning load is largely supported by NB Power's use of dirty fossil fuels.

Of course, the city of stately elms largely imports its power from dirty-fuel generators that are safely beyond the view of local residents, so Frederictonians can certainly be proud of their nice website, if nothing else.

Not to be picking on the capital city. At least they weren't Quispamsis, which tried to get a government grant in order to send out Christmas LED lights. Quispamsis also happens to have the richest household incomes in New Brunswick, so they can afford to cough up the cash needed to buy Canadian Tire's latest holiday trim.