Remember the other day, maybe a week or two ago, I was telling you about the troubles with my Dell and the Dells of others, and how Windows Vista is ass? And how I was glad I bought Carbonite?

Yeah.

So, have you bought it yet?

Oh how I loathe these death cultists.

Muslims from the Middle East to Britain and Austria condemned Sunday the Mumbai shooting rampage by suspected Islamic militants as senseless terrorism, but also found themselves on the defensive once again about bloodshed linked to their religion.

Intellectuals and community leaders called for greater efforts to combat religious fanaticism.

Here’s a thought: Why not worry more about the people your co-religionists are killing, and less time worrying about how much we hate you. I promise the rest will fall right into place.

Evil, selfish and stupid to boot.

I’ve been out of Kansas and Castle Argghhh! for a little over a week. And today the Castle lost one of the Imperial Guard. Little Girl retired today.

In other feline news, I send hugs to my dear friend Kris, who lost Precious today, too. Precious passed suddenly, in Kris’s arms on the way to the vet.

Perhaps the two furry ladies will meet in another place and befriend each other.

So yeah, I’m back in Toronto.

And I want sushi. Like, NOW. Any takers? I’m free for dinner.

It’s almost shopping day again, America! Even in the weak economy, I know there are thousands of you out there just raring to swipe those credit cards. Let me make it a bit easier to buy for yourself and others this holiday season.

Amazon - the old standby that says “I hate crowds!” I did all of my Christmas shopping on Amazon when I lived in Glasgow, Scotland, because those people are really scary when it comes to shopping. I’m sure it kept me from losing a limb or something! You can get everything from books to cameras at Amazon, and if you shop via these links, you take care of my Christmas too. So thanks in advance. And hey, cameras are on Black Friday Special!

I bought this, and you may want to buy it for yourself or someone else. Carbonite is great if you work on a non-networked computer, like I do, or if you take lots of pics that it would be unbearable to lose. It backs everything up and it’s even cheaper than most external hard drives. More reliable, too.

Larry, Curly & Mo’ shirts, for the funny infidel in any family. Laugh and the world laughs with you. Whine and cry about it, and you might be a Muslim.

In paying it forward these days, I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time giving blogging advice. Hey, I had the same kindness done to me! So in looking for additional advice to give newer bloggers, I found this. The product “Become a Blogger” isn’t released until December 1, but there are 10 free videos that are really informative to the blogging newcomer, as well as the old hack.

Linens ‘n’ Things is going under. Much has already been picked over in the going out of business sale, but you can bet that they’ll pull out a few fresh goodies for tomorrow. Go forth and buy Mom a nice set of towels or something.

That said, prepare for tomorrow. Go early, wear comfortable shoes (especially if you plan on buying uncomfortable ones - you don’t want to try on Jimmy Choo with swollen feet and cankles), take a bottle of water with you and stay hydrated. Resist the urge to hit anyone, either with your fist or your car. Maybe nosh some of that nice, soothing leftover turkey before you leave the house tomorrow. It will keep you docile. Of course, carry pepper spray in case some cow tries to get the last Betsey Johnson off the Saks sales rack. You can get the pepper spray stain out with a little vinegar.

You’re welcome!

Thanksgiving. It’s a much bigger deal here in the States than it is in Canada. I mean, what do Canadians give thanks for? Trudeau?? Socialized medicine? Dan Ackroyd? Ok, maybe Dan Ackroyd.

I am very bitter this year, and having a really hard time giving thanks for much. Leap Years have a way of kicking the shit out of me, and this one has been a humdinger. But just because I can’t yet see past the clouds yet doesn’t mean I won’t at some point soon, and I want to record the things that are important to me for when that moment comes.

My readers. You have pulled me out of many sticky spots this year. You are amazing, and I wouldn’t have made it halfway through this Leap Year without you.

Beth, John, Stacy & Family. Poster people for Christian charity - you will always have a place in my heart. I never had to see the inside of a real homeless shelter because of you. You gave me a place to hide and a place to heal. Thank you.

The assorted Toronto crew, readers and writers alike. Meredith, Kathy, K, etc. Meredith for taking care of me after this happened. It was one of the toughest moments I’ve lived through, and for anyone who knows me at all, you know what that means.

Nina Simone and Blue Rodeo for the soundtrack that brought me through to the other side of it.

God, for giving me these shoulders. Enough already, though, ok pal?

THP, from long ago, for staying in my mind and heart every day since 1996, making sure I keep going. No matter what.

The girl from Oregon. Thanks for your help.

The blog and media world for listening to what I have to say, enjoying it and sticking around. Micheal Coren for having me on the show and giving me exposure, and Mike Williams for giving me Brass Balls Radio (currently nominated for best Canadian podcast - have you voted yet?). Guys named Mike in general, ok?

For my new clients - they’re all new - for taking a chance on this ahem “unknown” freelancer. That includes all the great bloggers I work with over on LadyBlog.

I am especially thankful that this year is nearly over, and that Leap Years only come every four years. That’s more than enough.

Indonesian Muslim clerics who claim to be protecting vulnerable women by backing a new anti-pornography law have come out in defence of a fellow preacher who has married a 12-year-old village girl.

The issue of child brides for religious men in the mainly Muslim country has became a subject of national debate since little-known cleric Pujianto Cahyo Widiyanto, 43, married junior high school student Lutfiana Ulfa in August.

If you want to fuck children, do what Michael Jackson did and convert to Islam. It’s your one-stop get out of jail free excuse for everything.

Let them niggras die, right?

Oh wait, maybe not.

In fact it’s the white guys they hate, but they set a very dangerous precedent. Anyone can now challenge this precedent to say that fundraising for anything - from tsunamis to sikle-cell - is too divisive and should be scrapped. Disgusting.

During the looooong year that Maclean’s and Steyn were being witch-hunted by the thought police and their assorted sock drawer, we normal people kept saying that if you want editorial control over a magazine, get your own damn magazine!

Mohammed El-Dirtbag has finally cottoned onto that idea. Too little too late. But a nice gesture just the same.

Download MP3

Tune in to hear our very informative interview with the risk management specialist who writes for Maxed Out Mama.

I had no idea we were in the running!

Yup, it’s time for the Canadian Blog Awards again. First round voting is open now.

It wasn’t so very long ago that I was asking medium and large bloggers for tips and advice on how to make this most of this moment in history. How to get my name known and get invited to the cool kids’ parties. It came to be that the cool kids eventually celebrated holidays at my dinner table - how awesome is that?

And now over the past few days I’ve come to realize that it’s my turn to be the giver. It’s kinda surreal. I’m getting emails asking for advice, phone calls from readers and listeners wanting to hear my suggestions, and plenty of new opportunities.

So for those just starting out, I wrote a post for you last night, here. I’ve been “used and abused” on these cyber streets in the past, and I want to make sure you don’t get exploited, too.

There will be other bloggy-goodness there from time to time, so I’ll keep you posted. And yes, I’ll keep answering your emails - no worries there!

Not nobody, not nohow!

I have stood in rooms with the loved and the loathed of Canada, gone for drinks with everyone from lowly lawyers (sorry, Ez) to diplomats and congressman. Went through the security required to sit five feet away from Ayaan Hirsi Ali, 15 feet away from Dick Cheney, and 20 feet away from George Bush. I’ve walked the hallowed (though not halal) halls of the Ike Building in Washington DC.

But if I wanted to see the Wizards of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, I would be shit-outta-luck.

Fire. Them. All.

You tried to throw me one last line
To throw me one last time
But now I guess I’m wise to you
And vows spoken in the night
Are broken in the light
What you recite I have heard before
So say no more

No more words tonight, no more words
I don’t ever want to hear you say you love me one more time
No more words tonight, no more words
I’ll forever keep the silence, you can keep your lies

Does anyone other than me even remember this wonderful tune?

Before we can take back Jerusalem, we gotta take back Dearborn.

Vlad Tepes Blog contributor Grace has an essay on the Aqsa Parvez/Toronto Life honor killing story. Bottom line:

If it looks like an honour killing, walks like an honour killing and talks like an honour killing, it is an honour killing. Honour in Islam depends upon the dishonouring of women and to claim otherwise is a lie.

15. Hey doll, wanna be one of my 72?

14. Hajjyoudoin’?

13. I’m new in town, can you give me directions to your cave?

12. Girl, you fine. I see praying five times a day has paid off.

11. That’s a nice burka, can I talk you out of it?

10.I know Halal meat does a body good, but day-um, how much you been eatin’?

Go. Read. Laugh.

The bad news? The sky is falling. The good news? The sky can bounce.

We recorded an excellent Brass Balls radio yesterday with Maxed Out Mama, a pseudonymous risk management specialist with an unidentified chain of community banks in America.

She touches on the housing crises as we talk about how we got into this mess, opines on this week’s hot topic of the corporate welfare requested by the Detroit car companies, and tells us a bit about how we can hang on to ride this through. Yes, the news is bad. But like everything else, we’ll come through it hopefully a little wiser.

Tune in Monday to hear our interview with Maxed Out Mama.

On the birth of his daughter, Autumn.

She is 7 pounds 2 ounces and healthy.

All the best to Mike, Sarah and baby Autumn. They’ve had a long day, but it’s been well worth it!

It’s best to use your religion as a defense.

Michael Jackson officially converts to Islam.

Now he can have all the boys he wants. It’s not “teh ghey” if your books of religious dogma say you can use boys for pleasure and women for procreation. He has done both. He was a Muslim all along, wasn’t he?