News from the Earth

Port-au-Prince- Canada's head of state, Governor General, Michele Jean, visited Haiti, her homeland, and called on Haitians to break with their strife-ridden past. Jean attended president Rene Preval's inauguration ceremony, who was elected in February in a turbulent round of elections. Jean, who was born in Port-au-Prince in 1957, said it was a dream come true to return to Haiti as Canada's Governor General. Her family was forced into exile by dictator Papa Doc Duvalier's regime, arriving in Montreal in 1968. The new president who has formed a minority government is planning to bring democracy to the poverty/war stricken country.

Comment- It's best to form a minority government when there is a budget surplus not poverty! Just look how well Prime Minister Harper is doing! Unfortunately, my personal experience, from my birth country, tells me that democracy is not welcome, where there is poverty. So, President Preval, as much as I admire your sentiments, all I can say is "good luck!".

Belfast- Northern Ireland's legislature, shut down for more than three years, sprang back to life Monday as a first step toward forming a Roman Catholic-Protestant administration, the elusive goal of the Good Friday peace accord eight years ago. Assembly members took their seats inside the Stormont Parliamentary Building for barely an hour, however, before adjourning for the day.

Comment- Two years ago that I visited Northern Ireland, I was informed that Stormont building is mainly used a banquette hall, in which we were invited for a reception as International visiting students. I have pictures from every corner of that beautiful building as well as a book that described its architectural sophistications. Once again, "good luck". Hopefully from now on the building could start serving the people rather than entertaining guests!

London- The BBC has admitted it was taken for a ride by a cabbie. The network has apologized to its viewers for a studio mix-up that resulted in a cab driver's appearing on live television as an expert on Internet music downloads.The case of mistaken identity occurred May 8 – the day Britain's High Court awarded Apple Computer a victory in a lawsuit against Apple Corps, the Beatles' commercial arm.In a reaction story to the verdict that is now circulating widely on the Internet, consumer affairs correspondent Karen Bowerman welcomed a man who the BBC thought was computer expert Guy Kewney. As Ms. Bowerman introduced him, there is a moment when the still unidentified driver realizes the mistake. He scrunches his face into a grimace, and in panic tries to open his mouth as if to explain. "Were you surprised by this verdict today?" Ms. Bowerman asked. "I'm very surprised to see the verdict come on me, because I was not expecting that, " he said in a heavy French accent, blinking in the studio lights. "When I came, they told me something else." Growing more confident, he gamely went on to deliver his opinion on the future of music downloads following the landmark verdict. Meanwhile, the real Guy Kewney, who was waiting to be taken up to the studio, looked at a monitor and found another man ensconced in the interviewee's chair.

Comment- Dude! That's just funny! I call that real entertainment!