Iceland Nod in Superbowl Spot Subtly Subversive

The Tim Tebow T-Mobile Superbowl Commercial may not just be a great commercial, but subtly subversive as well.

At approximately 48 seconds into the 1 minute version of the commercial, Mr. Tebow's last words are, "Bottom line...contracts hold you back! Am I right Iceland? You know what I'm talkin' about."

I ask myself, "What are you talking about Tim? And what does Iceland have to do with American football?" But if you ask what Iceland has to do with contracts holding them back, that is an entirely different matter.

After the Global financial crisis in 2007-2008, Iceland experienced its own financial crisis due to an overexposure of three of their banks to debt. Though similar to the U.S. sub-prime mortgage crisis, where many private U.S. banks were bailed out by legislation imposed on taxpayers, Iceland's solution was quite different.

Though privatized in 2003, Landsbanki served as Iceland's de facto central bank. Attracted by higher interest rates, a wave of foreign investors (primarily English and Dutch) transferred millions into Landsbanki's Icesave online savings accounts. However, on October 7, 2008, being unable to refinance debt, Landsbanki collapsed.

On two separate occasions, backing vetos by their President, Iceland's citizens voted to reject their government's bailout proposals for Landsbanki and its foreign creditors. Commenting on this in an address on Iceland's National Day, Prime Minister Mr Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson remarked, "Icelanders, as descendants of the Vikings, are highly individualistic and have difficulty putting up with authorities, let alone oppression. This was clearly demonstrated in the Icesave dispute, in which the people rejected an agreement it considered unfair. This position was later upheld by an international court, which showed that the people's sense of justice was a reliable indicator to follow."

In light of this, Tim Tebow's nod to Iceland is brilliant, if not a little subversive. And thanks to T-Mobile USA, he was provided with a huge Superbowl soapbox.

Are government microwave mind-control tests causing TV presenters' brains to melt down?

Yes, I know yesterday was April Fools day. But I am not sure there isn't something to this very unusual article from the Daily Mail.

Ghandi on truth.

"An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it. Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self sustained."
- Mahatma Ghandi, Young India 1924-1926 (1927), p. 1285

Churchill Quote

"Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened."

Sticky quote

I found this sticker on a light standard next to a bus stop. It is a quote on truth by the journalist H.L. Mencken, so I felt it appropriate to post it here. In case you can't read it clearly, it says:

"The truth, indeed, is something that mankind, for some mysterious reason, instinctively dislikes. Every man who tries to tell it is unpopular, and even when, by the sheer strength of his case, he prevails, he is put down as a scoundrel."

Further research on his writing located this other quote on truth:

"Truth would quickly cease to be stranger than fiction, once we got as used to it."

This scoundrel said some interesting stuff.

Paul Craig Roberts on Truth and Liberty

"Truth Has Fallen and Has Taken Liberty With It"
The most recent column from Paul Craig Roberts is germane to the theme of my blog so I have linked to it for your benefit. This is not the first time I've linked to one of his columns. (See "A New Dark Age?")
However, the appearance of the word "Good-bye" after the article's title did not escape my notice. The following video offers a explanation:

Wiebo Ludwig's Arrest

Today the news media reported that environmental activist (some say eco-terrorist) Wiebo Ludwig, was arrested by the RCMP but has not yet been criminally charged related to the EnCana pipeline bombings near Dawson Creek, BC. Paul Moreau, a lawyer who has represent Wiebo in the past, expected him to be charged with extortion. While Wiebo is in custody, Bloomberg reports that 30 RCMP have been granted an unprecedented 5 day search warrant of his farm near Hythe, AB.

The suggestion of his lawyer that Wiebo will be charged with extortion, rather than a charge more directly related to the destruction of EnCana's property sounds like the RCMP are on a five day fishing expedition. Watch for the RCMP to find "bomb making materials" on the Trickle Creek farm (e.g. fertilizer, bleach, kerosene.) Also, don't be surprised if the police find a firearm on the property, which they will attempt to connect to his alleged extortion in order to guarantee a minimum 5 years sentence.

The charge of extortion in the Criminal Code states:

346. (1) Every one commits extortion who, without reasonable justification or excuse and with intent to obtain anything, by threats, accusations, menaces or violence induces or attempts to induce any person, whether or not he is the person threatened, accused or menaced or to whom violence is shown, to do anything or cause anything to be done.

If charged with extortion, the Crown will attempt to prove that the EnCana bomber was induced by Wiebo to commit his crime. Watch for the Crown to produce threatening letters from an unknown person, (perhaps with intimate details of the crime) that they will claim directly or indirectly implicates Wiebo as being the inspiration for the bombings. The nature of the charge of extortion may allow for blunt offhanded accusations of Wiebo (whom I know does not mince words), along the hypothetical lines of "oil companies like EnCana have been hurting people and our environment for years," and "it might take more bombings to wake up this industry," to be considered the incitement necessary to convict him of this offense.

Speaking from my acquaintance with Mr. Ludwig, I have no reservation about assuming his innocence prior to a trial. Wiebo has become far more sophisticated in his activism, choosing the pen and tongue over the sword since his previous criminal conviction. I just hope the criminal justice system won't interpret his occasional lack of tact and diplomacy as an incitement to violence worthy of an extortion conviction.