Friday, December 29, 2006
Not Entirely Dead Yet
Not Entirely Dead Yet
Monday, December 25, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
A Well Kept Secret Revealed!
I know, I'm shocked too.
I had no idea.
I'm speechless.
Yawn.
I hope Ontario Liberal strategists are smarter than this [Orangeville Citizen, Taunts over Tory’s wealth may not work]:
Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals are indicating they will try to label Progressive Conservative leader John Tory as rich in the 2007 election, hoping this will hurt him. But they should not bank on it.Liberal strategists will revive a campaign they started the day the Conservatives chose Tory leader, when they distributed pamphlets calling him Richie Rich.”
After recently introducing legislation to raise the base pay for Members of the Provincial Parliament, in attempt to ensure that the best and brightest remain at Queen's Park, it would be unconscionable for the Ontario Liberals to revisit this tired strategy - to suggest that because someone was successful while in private life, they are unfit for public office or out of touch with Ontario.
Hopefully, Mr. Dowd is mistaken and way off here, and the Ontario Liberals aren't going anywhere near this.
Tags: canada, john tory, liberal party, ontario, progressive conservative party, politics
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Québécois Who Live in the Québécois Territory, Part le Trois
Perhaps we can draw him a map of the Québécois Territory.
That's after we figure how to explain it to people and politicians in this country, and the international community.
Tags: canada, politics, quebec
Friday, December 15, 2006
Diefenbaker Was Different ...
Call it a hunch, but after reading the reaction to this [CBC, Ottawa won't back Canadian-built Mars rover] ...
The federal government has turned down a request by Canada's space industry to support a contract that would have allowed the companies to build the European Space Agency's Mars surface rover, CBC News has learned.
The decision stunned the companies and has left the ESA scrambling to find a new partner, as no European firm is adequately prepared to match the technical abilities of Canadian firms to build its ExoMars rover.
... I suspect that there will be a "clarification of Canada's New Government's position and a restatement of Canada's committment to technological innovation" issued before the end of today.
Tags: canada, conservative party, politics, science, space
Thursday, December 14, 2006
It's Funny Because It's True
I’ve been involved in a number of job interviews for managers and chefs at my restaurants. I consider myself a reasonably good judge of character with lots of experience interviewing people. But when I compare the actual job performance of a person compared to what I predicted, there’s almost no correlation. Voting is the same way. We’re judging how a candidate will handle a nuclear crisis by how well his staff creates campaign ads. It’s a completely nonsensical process.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Liberal Party Reserves Right to Protect / Appoint Candidates
Under the leadership of Mr. Dion, incumbent MPs will continue to hold secure nominations while talented new candidates will be selected for unheld seats and ridings where the incumbent Liberal candidate does not seek re-election. Mr. Dion has pledged that over one-third of Liberal candidates in the next federal election will be women.
As I said previously, this isn't an affront to democracy. A political party is like a private club - it can set the rules for how it runs anyway it sees fit. The members within the party can choose to belong to a party where the central leadership picks candidates, or not. Ultimately, laying their trust with the people at the top to decide what's best for the local riding.
Admittedly, you can have some problems with local democracy - but, you can have problems with riding protection, too.
What I don't want to hear anymore, from Liberal supporters or Conservative supporters alike, is that somehow the other party lacks democratic processes when some candidate is parachuted in, or when some party leader hand picks the candidates.
Liberals have come clean on it. The Conservative Party should too.
Tags: canada, conservative party, liberal party, political parties, politics
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Burn!
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal leader has a record on the environment that is no different than Alfonso Gagliano on accountability.Come on, that's got to smart a little bit.
[H/T, CTV Politics Blog]
Sunday, December 10, 2006
It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This
Christmas shopping with a 2nd-degree hangover.
Best. ever.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Diana's Freudian Slip
Catch what?
During the CBC News at Six, Toronto edition, host Diana Swain referred to Queen's Park as "Queen's pork" - in the wrap-up to the piece about the financial impropriety and fall-out from the latest Ontario Auditor General's report.
If you go here quick, and click on Latest News at Six Toronto Broadcast, and go to about the 5:53 mark, you'll hear it clearly.
I love Diana. She says what we're all thinking.
Tags: canada, humour, ontario, politics
175 - 123
The matter is closed and equality under the law is preserved.
I am also pleased to see that Dr. Charles McVety may have become disillusioned with the Conservative Party. But, as BCer in Toronto points out, there is a light at the end of Charles' tunnel.
Tags: canada, politics, same sex marriage, social conservatism
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Why Bother Hiding It?
Sure, it's more evidence the Conservative Party should just eliminate the pretense of the local electoral district association structure already, but we all know it's important to keep that structure around to at least maintain the illusion of listening to the hoi polloi.
Tags: canada, conservative party, politics
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Blogs Helping Animals
News crews and other media are seldom on hand to spread the word of efforts to save endangered animals in remote tropical regions often ravaged by war, poverty, and disease.I recommend reading the full National Geographic article and to have a read through of Congo Rangers - it's disheartening.
Now conservationists are taking matters into their own hands, via their keyboards, in harnessing the power of the blog to attract headlines and much needed support.
One such blog, from central Africa, made the news last month.
In a posting on Congo Rangers—a blog for wildlife workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—rangers alerted the world to the massacre of hundreds of hippos by armed militiamen in Virunga National Park.
Tags: animals, blogs, conservation
National Day of Mourning : December 6th
YWCA Toronto will be holding a December 6th vigil to remember the victims of the Montreal Massacre.
Details from YWCA Toronto [PDF]:
On December 6, YWCA Toronto, will host an afternoon vigil with speakers Hayder Kadhim, Dawson College student, survivor of the September 2006 shooting spree in Montreal and recent activist for gun control, Paulette Senior, CEO, YWCA Canada, the nation’s largest single provider of shelter for women and Wendy Cukier, YWCA Woman of Distinction and Co Founder/President of the Coalition for Gun Control.
On the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, three months after the shooting spree at Dawson College and in the shadow of the end of national gun registry the speakers will share their unique and personal perspective on the impact of guns on women’s lives.
What: December 6th Daytime Vigil
Where: Woodlawn Lounge, YWCA Toronto, 80 Woodlawn Ave. East (Yonge, south of St. Clair)
When: Wednesday December 6, 2006 2:00pm
- 1:00 Press Interviews with the speakers
- 2:00 Heather McGregor
- 2:05 Paulette Senior
- 2:13 Wendy Cukier
- 2:20 IANSA Clip on Gun Violence
- 2:22 Hayder Kadhim
- 2:36 Reading of the Names & Candle lighting
Why: YWCA will honour the 14 women murdered in Montreal on December 6th, 1989, as well as all women experiencing violence in their personal and public lives.
The call to action will be followed by a traditional candle light vigil and reading of the names on this national day of remembrance.
Map here.
Consider attending if you can. If you cannot, consider a donation to the YWCA Toronto when you're planning your next charitable donation.
Tags: women, white ribbon
National Day of Mourning : December 6th
Details from YWCA Toronto [PDF]:
On December 6, YWCA Toronto, will host an afternoon vigil with speakers Hayder Kadhim, Dawson College student, survivor of the September 2006 shooting spree in Montreal and recent activist for gun control, Paulette Senior, CEO, YWCA Canada, the nation’s largest single provider of shelter for women and Wendy Cukier, YWCA Woman of Distinction and Co Founder/President of the Coalition for Gun Control.
On the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, three months after the shooting spree at Dawson College and in the shadow of the end of national gun registry the speakers will share their unique and personal perspective on the impact of guns on women’s lives.
What: December 6th Daytime Vigil
Where: Woodlawn Lounge, YWCA Toronto, 80 Woodlawn Ave. East (Yonge, south of St. Clair)
When: Wednesday December 6, 2006 2:00pm
- 1:00 Press Interviews with the speakers
- 2:00 Heather McGregor
- 2:05 Paulette Senior
- 2:13 Wendy Cukier
- 2:20 IANSA Clip on Gun Violence
- 2:22 Hayder Kadhim
- 2:36 Reading of the Names & Candle lighting
Why: YWCA will honour the 14 women murdered in Montreal on December 6th, 1989, as well as all women experiencing violence in their personal and public lives.
The call to action will be followed by a traditional candle light vigil and reading of the names on this national day of remembrance.
Map here.
Consider attending if you can. If you cannot, consider a donation to the YWCA Toronto when you're planning your next charitable donation.
Tags: women, white ribbon
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Good Question
You have to admit, it's a good question [via Google].
Updated: Including the "via Google" link to the original question. Apologies for the subscription sign-in.
Tags: canada, democratic reform, politics
Monday, December 04, 2006
Do You Want the Terrorists to Win?
Your 'Do You Want the Terrorists to Win' Score: 98% Do You Want the Terrorists to Win?You are a terrorist-loving, Bush-bashing, "blame America first"-crowd traitor. You are in league with evil-doers who hate our freedoms. By all counts you are a liberal, and as such cleary desire the terrorists to succeed and impose their harsh theocratic restrictions on us all. You are fit to be hung for treason! Luckily George Bush is tapping your internet connection and is now aware of your thought-crime. Have a nice day.... in Guantanamo!
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz
Updated:
I can't tell for sure, but I think this post is screwing up my blog in Firefox. Just checking if that's true.Super Fast Updated: Yep. I've updated to make this a text-version of the results.
[H/T, Pharyngula]
Tags: humour, terrorism