Most areas of government funding are being trimmed, so why not arts grants too? A probable reason why the arts program escapes the Finance Minister's knife is because any cuts to the artsy set, results in a nation-wide howl that the Philistines are taking over. But to some, that's seen as public money funding someone's hobby.

The law that says a person shouldn't use excessive force when battling an intruder or making a citizen's arrest is pretty good in theory, but ludicrous in practice. What's outrageous is that Moses Mahilal, the guy who recently thwarted a burglar, has been charged with aggravated assault. Yes, that he used excessive physical force rather than ask (or listen to) explanations from the burglar as to how he'd lost his way or was sleep walking , or something.

The only puzzling thing about Canada cutting diplomatic relations with Iran is why now? When has Iran ever responded sensibly to a Canadian gesture? Three Canadians are on death row in Iran, and Canada's efforts on their behalf have been fruitless. What good has diplomacy achieved?

The 13-minute trailer of the controversial Innocence of Muslims film that provoked the violence, was rough on the Prophet Mohammed -- but so what? That's a hazard of freedom, democracy and tolerance. And yet Hillary seems to blame this low-budget movie for barbarism in Benghazi and Cairo -- a movie that is clearly more political than religious. What is it about the Islamic faith that invokes intolerance and violence? Peaceful religion indeed! Only, it seems, if you ignore its excesses or subscribe to its ideology.

What is it about these female Royals that they can't keep their tops on? Princess Diana was photographed topless on a yacht; Sarah, Duchess of York has been snapped topless and sucking a toe; Prince Edward's wife, Sophie (Duchess of Wessex) has been immortalized topless. And now Kate. Diana topless wasn't much of a deal, as she was something of a loose cannon. Kate is different. She and Prince William are a fairy tale couple.

The fuss over Blue Jays player Yunel Escobar's eye black bearing the words "Tu ere maricon," which translates into "You are a faggot," is mindful of Northcote Parkinson's dictum -- easy to understand and convenient for getting mindlessly indignant about, as if this was an unforgivable outrage to human dignity.

Anyone is wrong who may think the book by former Capt. Rob Semrau -- The Taliban Don't Wave -- is his justification for what happened in Afghanistan in 2008. Although Semrau is the first Canadian soldier ever to be court martialed for allegedly killing a wounded enemy on the battlefield, his 291-page book devotes barely a page to the incident that led to his court marital and dismissal from the army.

Virtually unknown in Canada, and certainly unheralded, Dr. Norman Bethune was magnified and glorified by Mao and Chinese communists who declared him a national hero. Bethune was not in China to help humanity. It was not sick people he tended, but wounded communist soldiers. So Canadians became conditioned to the idea that by publicly revering Bethune, it gave them an advantage with the Chinese. The irony is that were Bethune alive, he'd be outraged and horrified at how he is manipulated.

Big surprise -- the OSPCA wants more money. Some people think it gets too much money right now for how it handles the job of caring for animals. One of the many aggravating things about the OSPCA, is its view that the salaries it pays should be kept secret from the public. The books of a registered charity should be open, especially one with a controversial history.