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Monday, January 23, 2006
CBC projects Tory minority
Tory minority, ending 12 years of Liberal government -- if this is correct & it is indeed a minority, Paul's comments on this blog may prove accurate; i.e., forcing the Tories to work with the Bloc and the NDP.
On a sad note, the CBC website seems to be inundated with hits right now; I've been trying to get access to the online radio since 10 p.m. exactly & still haven't managed to get it loaded (usually, even despite my dialup, the radio is faster).
Update 10.15pm -- Liberals & Tories seem even...
10.36 pm -- nevermind.
jane 10:14 PM [+]
Not blogging about election results, no sir, not me!
Interesting issue, here, this bloglaw -- well, I promise not to blog about any results until 10pm EST. I will be listening to the CBC online though.
Another comment from my father; I'll include his little emailed note as well:Hi folks,
How patronizing can the Grope-a-male get?
Best regards, Alex Dryden
The G&M reporter -- sorry! -- The G&M Journalist writes: "The Conservative candidate in this race this year is John Carmichael whose resume is topped by the fact that he owns a car dealership. But that didn't stop Mr. Harper from predicting a win."
How patronizing. Would Carmichael stand a better chance if he had spent his life at the public trough? Would he stand a better chance if he had spent his life in academe, teaching young Canadians that Canada's best friend and trading partner -- the USA, in case the G&M has forgotten -- is an evil empire bent on destruction of the world, the universe and everything, whereas China (which Martin would have succeed in its occupation of the Canadian economy, and perhaps of Canada itself) is the source of all that is loving, gentle, democratic and benign in the world, including Tibet and every country in which it now encourages and subsidizes terrorism?
Would he stand a better chance if he had spent the last 20 years in Canadian media, telling lies to influence an agenda of social-engineering?
COMMENT re: Harper predicts breakthrough in Toronto By GLORIA GALLOWAY
Saturday, January 21, 2006 Latest comment on Jan. 21, 2006 at 3:08 PM EST
Globe and Mail Update
Toronto — It an act of political chutzpah, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper held his final Toronto campaign event in the riding of federal cabinet minister John Godfrey, telling the faithful that there is no constituency beyond their reach.
link to story
Ah yes, my father, in all his glory. He's also been posting about Paul Martin as "Captain Canada." I think my dad thinks the cold war is back on, with China as the new Russia. This explains his views that e.g. the Kyoto Treaty is a conspiracy by the communists to increase the power of big government. (This is from another comment of my dad; CC = "Captain Canada" - "How come and for what financial reasons CC's done nothing on Kyoto except spend money on the promotion of its unproven -- in fact, disproven -- so-called "science"?" -- Obviously there is a lot to be said about the nature of Martin's commitment to Kyoto, but my dad, of course, goes for the classic "global warming doesn't exist" line...)
Also note my dad's high regard of lefties in academe. Yay me!
Minutes later....
OK, wait. My dad sent a rewrite of this comment. It now begins: Rewrite: The G&M reporter -- sorry! -- The G&M Journalist writes: "The Conservative candidate in this race this year is John Carmichael whose resume is topped by the fact that he owns a car dealership. But that didn't stop Mr. Harper from predicting a win."
How patronizing.
What do they teach at journo skools these days? Don't they ever suggest reading the biography of Roy Thomson, who -- when he was about 40 and could be described as a Willy Loman of adspace in cheap local newspapers -- started to build the foundations of the multi-billion-dollar empire that's now majority-owner of the Globe and Mail (and once was sole owner not only of the G&M, but also The Scotsman and The Times, not to mention one of the world's largest chains of local newspapers)?
Does his son, Ken Thomson, ever read the G&M now? Perhaps he should, with more care.
What odds would this G&M Journalist have given Roy Thomson, travelling ad-space salesman, for success? (And then of course goes into the career bureaucrats, academics, & media folks are trying to ruin Canada bit.)
But this actually raises a question that might be worth discussing -- which is, what kinds of qualifications do we expect/desire from people running for MP? Certainly at the party leadership level we like to see some high faluting accomplishments -- but what about run of the mill MPs? Isn't it a good thing to have some folks who are genuinely thoughtful about Canada & politics, but who are also everyday Joes? I know a kind of 'worship' of the Common People is cliched as all hell (cue Jennifer & Sarah dancing to "I wanna sleep with common people"), but really, why shouldn't a car dealer have something to say? (No "used car salesman" jokes, please). It might actually be kind of snobby to disdain that, if the candidate really seems to be thinking carefully through the issues & caring genuinely for a better future?
Do academics really know better?
jane 10:57 AM [+]
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Five?!?!
Well, with Richard's engagement to Bijonka (however it's spelled), that makes five ex-boyfriends who've married/proposed to the person they dated right after me. Is there something wrong with me?
In other news, what's with the Canadian election?
In still other news -- busy over here with the beginning of the semester. Doug the Jesuit visited, which was fun, and I met Josh's sister Leah, who was lovely. The deadline for fellowship applications for financial aid for next year is tomorrow, so I've been polishing up my CV and putting together a statement of teaching philosophy and a 300-word description of my dissertation and its ultimate worldwide importance. Yee-haw. If I don't get aid for next year, I'll move back to Canada-land and work for the government. Or something. Who knows. I'm trying not to think about it.
How are you all?
jane 3:09 PM [+]
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Happy New Year!
This is just a quick post to say that I'm alive and well and still in Canada; I fly out on Saturday the 7th. I've been in Ottawa for the past few days but am returning to Toronto this evening; you can call me at my mom's.
It's been really lovely, actually, not really checking my email and totally not thinking about philosophy. Totally lovely. Soon I will post photos (taken by the lovely Dawn) of playing road hockey on a snowy suburban Ottawa (Nepean) street. Good times. (I'm only a little bit very very sore).
It's been lovely to see everyone!
jane 12:58 PM [+]
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