(AP) Reynard Fox, former CEO of FOX communications, has rejected a deal that would have seen the magnate reap a bonus-and-benefits bonanza unparalelled in recent history.

While legal issues and shareholder dissent made the as-offered CEO-package problematic, Fox said he would bide his time and consult with staff.

"These grapes are sour," said Fox. "At this time, they're unacceptable."

So... what's up with the only available bar at O'Hare being the FOX/Skybox theme park?

Flying out on Tuesday, I had an enjoyable chat with a charming couple of folks from Rockford and Minneapolis who felt the same way.  The only screens on view were FOX News and FOX Sports a-go-go, and we wondered whether the channel could be changed... but had little time, and didn't want to bug the besieged and hard-working barkeeps.

While I wasn't there for Yearly Kos, I was wondering whether any others felt the same dismay at supporting the enemy via only wanting a cold Sam Adams.

So... any thoughts on a world airport being effectively occupied by FOX scum?  It gave me pause... especially after the awe and love for America that I felt in Chicago.  That feeling came from going weak before the mighty towers of capitalism... just next to the gorgeous green parks and public facilities given in return... such a short walk from the Hancock observatory to kids splashing in the fountains of Millenium Park, surrounded by art and beauty...

And saying, lo, this is a city built and maintained by Democrats, machine/corrupt or no, this is what it should be.

I just kinda hated the sneering spectre of Bill O'Reilly on the stool next to me. Know what I mean?

Well, I'm rattled.  A good-sized black bear wound up in my quiet city-centre neighbourhood, and climbed a big blue spruce in the front yard of the house on the corner.

Lots of cops arrived... the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources came along with a cage-cart... a crowd gathered.

So they darted him, he fell hard, and ran into the back yard... where he was dispatched with four shotgun blasts from the cops.

It was a sad crowd that dispersed, many in tears.

My point? I dunno. Norman Podhoretz thinks we should bomb Iran.

Any form of killing is an abomination, and those who speak so easily of such things are very sick.

I stole that line from the great TJ Dawe, a Canadian monologist who described a Christmas acid experience where that song freaked him out.

My family's version of "Winter Wonderland" has always been sung "If he asks us we're married we'll say 'fuck you man' and chase his sorry ass right out of town."

"Said the night wind to the wiener dog... do you hear what I hear?"

Any other personal parodies that keep you sane?

"Santa Baby" is just a song about a prostitute who wants stuff.  Jesus would forgive her, but I won't.

OTOH, Bruce Cockburn does a miraculous "Joy to the World" on guitar that belongs in every collection.

This is a Saturday poll from the Saturday news network. (SNN)

Why does "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen resound so long and plangently with so many artists? And who does it best, if anyone, although we really are one big choir?

Question 2: Are we really one big choir?

Question 3: What IS that chord that pleased the Lord?

Because I live in Canada, I just might well vote Green next time around, as long as it won't help a Tory candidate.

Did this diary show up? It did? Then I guess there's no evil Kosfilter.

Hey, Canuckistani handicappers... time to re-ink those racing forms for the NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA.

Belinda Stronach is press conferencing, as I type, that she is out. Bob Rae is probably in, and Michael Ignatieff is very likely. The field likely to emerge tomorrow:

Clifford Blais (Quebec)
Stephane Dion (Quebec)
Hedy Fry (BC)
John Godfrey (ON)
Michael Ignatieff (ON)
Gerard Kennedy (ON)
David McGuinty (ON)
Bob Rae (ON)

I just watched "Fire, Walk With Me" for the umpteenth time.

I'm convinced that David Lynch's whole oeuvre is based on the exposure of sex-and-power memes and structures that should be unacceptable to any conscientious human being.  I'd like to say that he wants to (at first) question the patriarchal clan-rape nature of football towns... and he dares go way deeper.

There is a death-and-pain-eating proclivity among the powerful. They demand garmonbozia, and the parades and displays and consumer-frenzy just feed it.

Bohemian Grove is not just a swell time for the fellas.  Listen carefully, and kick these sick fucks to the curb.

Originally posted at Blackstar's Diary re the Canadian Election

Set your watch back 10 years to '96

As an admittedly sloppy analogy for our American friends, albeit one that must look pretty damn sweet to any American in 2006.
(Apologies are extended for the Xmas rudeness of Dec. 26-28 which occurred when Situationists invaded the Howth of Murph and left offensive comments. Things have returned to moderate-Canadian in the Howth, and a Royal Commission has been enacted to study what went wrong.)

"Let me simply say to anyone who wants to question what I have been saying, beginning with (Conservative Leader) Stephen Harper, that I am the Prime Minister of this country, that our position on climate change will be determined by the government of Canada, that the fact is that we do expect our partners to honour their agreements --and I will defend Canada. Period."

This is Prime Minister Paul Martin's response to US Ambassador David Wilkins' accusation that Canadian pols are using "anti-American rhetoric" to score points in the run-up to the Jan. 23 Election.

More below.

Well, I declare. Nevah has the Bush White House been SO "slighted"... well, not since Gerhard Schroeder anyway.

I hope above all hope that the Big Dawg shows some balls when he speaks this afternoon as a Sierra Club-invited "side-event" in Montreal.

The USA should have a "global conscience"? What a horrible insult. Stomp that cricket, Preznit Pinocchio.

Mark Breslin, founder of Yuk-Yuk's comedy clubs, sums it up:

"Comedy is the cry of the intelligent and powerless."

You guys are great at parades and cheerleaders and quarterbacks and frats/sororities. We're the invisible geeks on the periphery, and we generally find it HIL-arious.