3258...Much Music VJ Joins Fox News

That would be J. D. Roberts, now known as John Roberts.

CNN anchor John Roberts is leaving the network to join Fox News Channel. He recently left his post on CNN's American Morning to move to Atlanta to be closer to his fiancee, CNN anchor Kyra Phillips, who is expecting twins.

The Torontonian announced his departure from CNN today. He has been with CNN since 2007 where he served as a senior national correspondent and anchor of This Week At War. He joined the network after 14 years at CBS.


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3257...Paul Simon Shed A Tear This Morning

When he read the Ottawa Citizen's editorial about the end of an era. The end of the Kodachrome era.

The era ended when 2010 ended at Dwayne's Photo Service in Wichita, Kansas, the last place extant that was developing the film.

Kodak's Kodachrome, widely viewed as the world's first color film, was created in 1935. If you were in my world back in the day it was the film of record for your First Communion, Bat Mitzvah, Weddings et. al.

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3256...Back At It

The New Year starts for true in a few hours.

I know I am supposed to wish you all the best but, frankly, there are a lot of you out there that I hope trip and fall.

At least the WFDS is honest.

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3255...New York Meet Canada

Man, they sure love their smokes in the Empire State.

And, as the Vancouver Sun reports, Canuck style ads, you know, the ones we have on cig boxes in Canada as I write this, were shut down by the judiciary in that state.

New York City anti-smoking signs depicting a decaying tooth, diseased lungs and a damaged brain would violate cigarette vendors' free speech if displayed according to city rules, a U.S. judge said on Wednesday, handing a court victory to tobacco companies.

Philip Morris USA, Lorillard Tobacco Co, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co, plus two major retail trade groups and two convenience stores, said in a Manhattan federal court lawsuit that the signs violate the sellers' rights.

By placing the gruesome posters at the point of sale, the city overstepped its mandate, the judge said, as only the federal government has the right to impose such conditions on the promotion of cigarettes.

"Even merchants of morbidity are entitled to the full protection of the law, for our sake as well as theirs," U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff said in his ruling.

The three different signs, developed by the city's Health Department and required as of last December, graphically depict the harmful effects smoking can have on the body. They bear messages such as "smoking causes tooth decay" and list the number of a city helpline for assistance on how to quit.

Following the June lawsuit, the city agreed to temporarily halt enforcement of the signs.

"We are disappointed that this important health initiative was rejected by the court," Nicholas Ciappetta, the city attorney who handled the case, said in a statement. "We are studying the decision and considering our legal options."

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has made fighting smoking a personal crusade. In 2003, he pushed a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants that was met with howls of protests but has since become widely accepted. In September, he announced plans -- which have yet to be approved -- to ban smoking in parks, beaches, boardwalks, pedestrian plazas and other outdoor public spaces.

The U.S. government requires tobacco companies print the "Surgeon General's Warnings" about potential health problems on all cigarette packages, ads and billboards. Last month federal drug regulators revealed 36 images for possible warning labels that featured dead smokers, a man blowing smoke through a tracheotomy hole in his throat and a mother blowing smoke in a baby's face.

Hey, it is coming Phillip Morris, it is coming.

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3254...And Warren Kinsella Says

If Ezra Levant is right and there is going to be a federal election Warren Kinsella predicts that it will be in the springtime.

The great seer also predicts that "...the winner will be...: Nobody, actually. For years, now, polls have reflected a simple reality: They don’t like the Tories enough to give them a majority — and they don’t trust the Grits, yet, to form even a minority government."

Great.

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3253...Ezra Levant Says

There will be an election this year.

That takes care of that.

The soon to be Sun TV star says in the paper called the Sun that the Stephen Harpers have had a lead ranging from 3 to 10 points for awhile and are on the verge of a majority.

And if they get that majority Mr. Levant presumes that they will "...reintroduce Bill C-12. That bill would grant 30 new seats to the regions of Canada that have had the most population growth in the past decade — 18 to Ontario, seven to B.C. and five to Alberta. The opposition parties have opposed it, for fear of offending Quebec, whose population is stagnant."

That, at least in the long run, would be great for Canada.

Rep by pop, eh?

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3252...Ottawa Is Number One In The Country

May be the world but it is a category that your capital does not want to lead in.

CFRA, the radio station of record in Ottawa, reports that Ottawa Police remain at the scene of a probable murder, presumably the first in Our Home And Native Land, after the body of a man was found next to a New Edinburgh house Saturday afternoon.

The victim has now been identified as 43-year old Simon Hubbard of Ottawa.

Prayers.

WFDS