This time of year we should recall that on 1 July 1867 there was much unhappiness in the land - or at least the eastern bit of it. All but two seats of the Legislature were held by the Anti-Confederation Party led by the heroic Joseph Howe. My plucky compatriots fought for years for a return to autonomy to no avail. But the Queen said no.

• Annetka Chapmanskova's tale is just hilarious. I love Soviet spies nabs. I love the fact that places like Cyprus release them on bail! Surprise!!! Who could have seen that coming??? That'll be the source of much hilarity back at the dacha.
• Killer Karl Krupp. 'Nuff said.
• I have to admit a very large measure of sympathy with the reading of last weekend's events in the Big Smoke as expressed by the Flea. Most offensive to me was, once the untruths were beginning to unravel, the chief of police wore a mocking grin. Hardly the sort of public official that gives confidence about other sorts of decision making if his plan A on Saturday is display incompetence given available resources and plan B on Saturday is ignore constitutional roles and play out the lyrics of that 10 CC song.
• Thanks, Benny.
• I have a hard time placing my emotional support when it comes to Holland v. Brazil but have to lean a little to the Orange. I have always liked the idea of Total Football even if I have no idea what it really means. I think six year olds play Total Football, just not that well.

That's it. The mid-way point in the North American nationalistic celebrations. We could see fireworks from Gananoque to Sydenham and south, seemingly, into the states - in addition to the Fort Henry blasts right before us - from the balcony perch we found.