Since Conrad Black took over the Vancouver Sun, we have been treated to a regular column written by his wife, Barbara Amiel. If anything, she is even loonier and more rabidly right wing than he is. Today's column was headlined "Considering the alternative, the Russian Mafia is not so bad." You have to read it to believe it. In addition to her insane discussion of the merits of the Mafia, Amiel mentions in passing that "... I am becoming a fan of [Tony] Blair's." I guess that about says it all. Cheers, Sid Shniad