Not on the Money

The Bank of Canada has generated some controversy at the release of their new $20 note.   The new polymer bank note features a maple leaf which is not native to Canada.

(L) Norway Maple, (R) Sugar Maple

Botanists believe that the outline of the leaf on the right hand side of the $20 bill is a Norway Maple Leaf rather than Sugar Maple, which is the leaf depicted on our neighbor to the north’s flag.  Since the Norway Maple is an invasive species displacing native flora, it is a dubious choice to be on the national currency. The Bank of Canada claims that the leaf featured on the bank note was a stylized blend of Maple Leaf, but botanists scoff at such a suggestion as an after the fact fig leaf.

It is tempting to dismiss this as being par for the course in the Land of the Loonies (sic).  But due to sound economic policy, at least Canadian currency will still be worth something after the next Quantitative Easing.  

Civic Inversion?

Who is John Galt?

George Carlin on Thinking

Crackdown on Handguns?

After the Newton, Connecticut school shooting, NBC Meet the Press host David Gregory, wanted to score visual points for gun control advocates by brandishing a 30 round ammunition clip as he dressed down National Rife Association President Wayne LaPierre.  

Gregory checked with DC Metropolitan Police, who unequivocally informed him beforehand that this was a clear violation of law. Yet Gregory arrogated to do so anyways. Nevertheless, the DC Office of Attorney General exercised prosecutorial discretion in not seeking any punishment on the NBC News star host.  In a letter to NBC Attorney Lee Levine, the government proclaimed:

OAG has made this determination, despite the clarity of the violation of this important law, because under all of the circumstances here a prosecution would not promote public safety in the District of Columbia nor serve the best interests of the people of the District to whom this office owes its trust.

Yet in nearby Talbot County Maryland, the full force of the law was readied to be exercise to excise "hand guns".



Two six year old boys playing Cops and Robbers on a playground at White Marsh Elementary School were slated to be suspended as they dared to use finger gestures which mimicked guns.  Parents were incensed at pulling the disciplinary trigger on kids who were just playing.  Although there was probably a zero tolerance policy which mandated the suspensions, the penalty was quickly forgotten when the parents lawyered up and there was an outraged public.

It is likely that the kids would not have gotten into any trouble if they attended Sidwell Friends school, like David Gregory's scion does, as well as the First Daughters as did US Attorney General Eric Holder.


Progressives ignore the actual law because a prominent Lamestream Media type who is well connected can flagrantly violate real gun laws with impunity.  Yet little boys would have been suspended for playing cops and robbers with finger guns. As would be noted in George Orwell's Animal Farm, some of us are more equal than others.

If liberal leaders really want to deal with gun violence and the problem with handguns, maybe politicians from Chicago ought to consider the epidemic of violence with handguns in the Windy City, which has strict gun laws instead of fanning politically correct fears about guns without really solving the problem or respecting Americans' Second Amendment rights.

Constitutional Chalk Lines

In case the powers that be want to take anymore pot shots, perhaps it would be instructive to check out the target range--

h/t: Michael Ramirez