Napoleon

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Saturday, August 26, 2006Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday, August 26, 2006

Pluto’s demotion

Leave it to the nerds at the International Astronomical Union to ruin a kid’s day.

For half of their young lives, the sixth-graders in the Young Scientists program at Barrington Elementary School in North Austin have been told that there are nine planets in the solar system. So when their teacher, Paige Baker, told them that union scientists on Thursday had decided to delete Pluto from that list, it was understandable that some students had difficultly handling the gravity of the decision.

“It’s been with us so long. Why would they do this?” asked Nikki Chupa, 11, who always used the mnemonic “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas” to remember the order of the planets.

“Why do they have to go mess stuff up?” 11-year-old Angelique Price asked.

Baker told them she felt their pain.

“Imagine what it’s like for me, and I’ve been told this for years — double digits even,” she said. “But you’ve got remember, these are scientists. It’s not a popularity contest.” (Source: The Statesman)

Tuesday December 11, 2007

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 11, 2007

Conrad Black sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison

A Chicago judge sentenced disgraced media tycoon Conrad Black to six and one-half years — or 78 months — in prison and handed him a $125,000 fine, which must be paid within 90 days. 

Conrad Black Cartoon Gallery

Black made his way through a throng of reporters outside the courthouse, offering little comment other than to say an appeal “would speak for itself.” 

He was told to report to the Florida penitentiary at Eglin Air Force Base before March 3, although it was soon discovered that Eglin has been closed for a year. The government is now asking that Black serve his time at another low-security prison in the same state: Federal Correctional Institution Coleman. 

Judge Amy St. Eve told Black she felt he was not a “future threat” because of everything he had lost. 

Black spoke for only a few minutes in court, despite reports that he had prepared a 5,000-word statement. 

He complimented the judge on her handling of the trial, and said he regretted the loss suffered by Hollinger International shareholders. 

Black was also ordered to forfeit $6.1 million for fraud and obstruction of justice — with no right to restitution. (Source: CTV News) 

 

Tuesday January 20, 2004

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 20, 2004

Black: Sacked, sued and selling

Conrad Black’s days as a newspaper baron are over.

Capping months of turbulence and accusations of self-dealing and diverting company money, Black agreed yesterday to sell his controlling stake in Hollinger Inc. to British billionaire twin brothers David and Frederick Barclay as part of a takeover offer valued at $605.5 million.

Conrad Black Cartoon Gallery

The Barclay brothers’ Press Holdings International Ltd., which already owns several British newspapers including the Scotsman, as well as London’s Ritz Hotel, would pay $423.8 million in cash and assume debt of $181.7 million.

The Barclays said they have an irrevocable agreement with Ravelston Corp., Black’s investment vehicle, to buy its 78 per cent stake in Hollinger Inc. The brothers will then offer to buy out minority shareholders.

“I am delighted that we have been able to enter into this agreement and I have no doubt that the financial strength and direction that we can bring will allow the group to flourish, ” said David Barclay, whose company is based in the Channel Islands between Britain and France.

Based in Toronto, Hollinger Inc. controls U.S. subsidiary Hollinger International Inc., the publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Jerusalem Post and flagship London Daily Telegraph.

Hollinger Inc., which as recently as 1999 controlled 60 per cent of Canada’s daily newspapers, still owns 13 Canadian dailies, including the Kamloops Daily News in British Columbia, and Quebec’s Sherbrooke Record.

In a statement yesterday, Black said it would be “distressing” to part with the newspapers, “but these fine titles must not be hobbled any longer by the current controversies and financial uncertainty.”

Black’s agreement to sell his interest in the media empire came a day after Hollinger International announced it had fired Black as chairman and filed a $200 million (U.S.) lawsuit against Black, his investment firms, and David Radler, Black’s former top director. The company alleged Black, a member of Britain’s House of Lords, siphoned company money away from investors and altered financial statements. (Toronto Star, 1/19/2004, A1)