Stephen Colbert is at it again, subverting someone's ill-considered write-in vote contest to the greater cause of his own personal glory.
Next year he should get himself voted into the NHL's All Star Game. There can be, what, 12 Habs? One Colbert should be okay.
Also, a note to all Dog Blog posters: our official tag for anything Stephen Colbert-related is "The Genius That Is Stephen Colbert". Thank you.
(via The Stranger)
3.24.2009
The Second Battle of Ypres, Fox News and the Battle For Canada
(picture courtesy Archives of Ontario)
When the German army made its first use of poison gas on the Western Front in the First World War, they launched it at Ypres, a sector held by two classes of troops they felt were inferior -- Africans in the French colonial forces, and Canadians. When the Germans launched their first attack with chlorine gas at Gravenfastel, Belgium on 22 April 1915, about six thousand French and French colonial troops died within 10 minutes, and a four mile gap opened in the Allied line of battle (Wikipedia), where the 1st Canadian Division were in the middle.It was up to them to restore the line until the British Second Army could come up with more troops and artillery to plug the line.
By the second day, the Canadian troops had come up with an unorthodox way of inventing their own gas masks. They urinated onto their handkerchiefs and tied them around their mouths and noses in order to block the poisonous gas. Crude and ineffective, the Canadians used these improvisational defenses to block the German advance, at a horrendous cost: of the 10,000 strong division, more than six thousand were casualties, and 2,000 were dead. (About.com) How they did this, with inadequate equipment such as the Ross rifle and the Oliver webkit, is beyond my ability to comprehend (Trenches on The Web).
What does this have to do with today? Well, I have a major problem with Canadian involvement in Afghanistan. It's illustrated here (Planet S). The problem is, though, that Canadian soldiers are increasingly asked to do the impossible, and will almost certainly be cast into the dustbin of society by the very same right-wing mushwits who sent them off to war in the first place.
It's no surprise we see gomers such as these clowns (YouTube) -- who couldn't survive the first hour of boot camp be it in the Canadian armed forces or the U.S. -- waxing poetical about our military capabilities. 118 Canadian troops have died in Afghanistan since 2002 -- four are killed in combat the week these guys start telling us how to run our military -- and this is the thanks we get.
Even worse, many Canadian right wing bloggers believe they should show more solidarity to Fox (the propaganda arm of the Republican Party) than to the Canadian armed forces. (Dr. Roy's Thoughts). So much for 'supporting the troops.'
In the end, I call for a decidedly Canadian method of protest. It would be in tribute to the veterans of Ypres, and to our armed forces. Whenever we encounter Fox News gasbags or their right-wing apologists in Canada, we should immediately bring out a cotton handkerchief (Kleenex won't do, it's too light), urinate on it, and hold it over our noses.
If you have better way to tell those idiots to p**s off, I'd like to know about it.
Oh yeah, SaskBoy (Abandoned Stuff by SaskBoy). What he said.
EDITED: a couple of additions. Courtesy Warren Kinsella's commenters, a couple of U.S. military bloggers would like to wipe the walls with those Faux News twits, here (BlackFive) and here (This Ain't Hell).
As well, one of those clowns had a gig at Edmonton's Yuk-Yuk's canceled on him. (Edmonton Journal).
3.23.2009
The Last Picture Show
Seems to me that since Vulcan, Alberta doesn't actually have a movie theatre, the townsfolks' ambitious (and somewhat vainglorious) campaign to host the much-anticipated (TrekMovie) May 9 premiere of Paramount Pictures' new Star Trek flick (MetaCafe) is a tad illogical. (Vancouver Sun)
Digital projection... The jury is out
Last Friday I watched Knowing, a rather mediocre flick (review on next Prairie Dog) that wouldn't have any importance in my life if it wasn't because of the digital quality of the projection.
I was used to the scratches, the holes, the circle in the top right corner when is time to change the roll. Digital projection is impossibly crisp, High-Def perfect. It's like watching a gigantic plasma TV. Then again, is that what I want? Going to the movies is an experience in itself, and to perceive the texture of the film was part of it. Also, can cheaper productions even compete? Digital projection may increase the gap between Hollywood churn and low budget quality films, especially when the audience is likely to fall for the pretty colors.
I was used to the scratches, the holes, the circle in the top right corner when is time to change the roll. Digital projection is impossibly crisp, High-Def perfect. It's like watching a gigantic plasma TV. Then again, is that what I want? Going to the movies is an experience in itself, and to perceive the texture of the film was part of it. Also, can cheaper productions even compete? Digital projection may increase the gap between Hollywood churn and low budget quality films, especially when the audience is likely to fall for the pretty colors.
Joe Republican versus the Volcano
When U.S. President Barack Obama made his not-quite State Of The Union address to Congress last month, he outlined what he wanted to spend in the upcoming fiscal year. As is custom, the Republican Party had a chance to respond, and that job fell to Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, who mocked government spending for, amongst other things, a volcano monitoring service.
Well, there's a Republican state having issues with a volcano. If Jindal was president, they would have little other option but to throw a virgin down the volcano, which eliminates this person ...
h/t to Americablog 2.0
Well, there's a Republican state having issues with a volcano. If Jindal was president, they would have little other option but to throw a virgin down the volcano, which eliminates this person ...
h/t to Americablog 2.0
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Seven And Eight In The Morning
More news!
SASKATCHEWAN'S AIDS CRISIS There were 174 new cases of HIV diagnosed in the province last year, compared to 124 the year before. The new infections are apparently concentrated among injectible drug users. The CBC has details. Apparently this will be a top story on the CBC's morning news show, The Current this a.m.; you can listen to that program here. (CBC)
MEGA-MERGER Suncor takes over Petro-Canada despite legislated ownership restrictions that would seem to prohibit the sale. Full details, including repeated use of the phrase "new champion in the oil patch", are available here. (Globe And Mail).
SASKATCHEWAN'S AIDS CRISIS There were 174 new cases of HIV diagnosed in the province last year, compared to 124 the year before. The new infections are apparently concentrated among injectible drug users. The CBC has details. Apparently this will be a top story on the CBC's morning news show, The Current this a.m.; you can listen to that program here. (CBC)
MEGA-MERGER Suncor takes over Petro-Canada despite legislated ownership restrictions that would seem to prohibit the sale. Full details, including repeated use of the phrase "new champion in the oil patch", are available here. (Globe And Mail).
This Week at City Hall
Even though I'm sitting in a cafe in Ottawa, thanks to the miracle of the electro-interweb, I can still post a preview of this week's thrills and chills at Regina City Hall. Buckle up, kiddo....
Monday, March 23
Regina Crime Prevention Commission Meeting (12:25 pm): Considering plans for Crime Prevention Week (May 25 to 30), the commission's 2008 Annual Report and the 2009-2010 Work Plan. Also looking at crime statistics for January 2009. (Crimes against people are up by 34 reported instances or 15.5 per cent compared to Jan '08. There were, however, 267 fewer crimes against property which is a 27.4 per cent reduction.)
City Council (5:30 pm): Considering the concept plan for a development north of the Lakewood subdivision, requests for financial support and tax relief for three affordable housing projects (yay!), and a discretionary use application so that the Grasslands commercial development can go ahead and the parking-lot-ification of the Harbour Landing area can begin. (For more info on Grasslands, read this post here.) Also of interest are an update on the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant Upgrade project, a request to purchase vehicles for the city's fleet, an update on the city's Infill Housing Strategy and a report detailing a new system for monitoring environmental indicators for residential development.
Wednesday, March 25
Board of Police Commissioners Meeting (9 am)
Regina Planning Commission (4 pm): Considering an application to rezone a lot in the Gardiner Heights Addition area so that an apartment building can be built there. The address for this is 510 University Ave. If approved and built, the development will yield 150 units. Can't tell if they'll be rental or condo. Either way, it's hard to see a downside to more high density housing. Another nifty tidbit buried in this report is that the city is currently improving the pedestrian infrastructure in and around Quance Street.
As always, full reports and agendas can be download on the city's website.
Monday, March 23
Regina Crime Prevention Commission Meeting (12:25 pm): Considering plans for Crime Prevention Week (May 25 to 30), the commission's 2008 Annual Report and the 2009-2010 Work Plan. Also looking at crime statistics for January 2009. (Crimes against people are up by 34 reported instances or 15.5 per cent compared to Jan '08. There were, however, 267 fewer crimes against property which is a 27.4 per cent reduction.)
City Council (5:30 pm): Considering the concept plan for a development north of the Lakewood subdivision, requests for financial support and tax relief for three affordable housing projects (yay!), and a discretionary use application so that the Grasslands commercial development can go ahead and the parking-lot-ification of the Harbour Landing area can begin. (For more info on Grasslands, read this post here.) Also of interest are an update on the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant Upgrade project, a request to purchase vehicles for the city's fleet, an update on the city's Infill Housing Strategy and a report detailing a new system for monitoring environmental indicators for residential development.
Wednesday, March 25
Board of Police Commissioners Meeting (9 am)
Regina Planning Commission (4 pm): Considering an application to rezone a lot in the Gardiner Heights Addition area so that an apartment building can be built there. The address for this is 510 University Ave. If approved and built, the development will yield 150 units. Can't tell if they'll be rental or condo. Either way, it's hard to see a downside to more high density housing. Another nifty tidbit buried in this report is that the city is currently improving the pedestrian infrastructure in and around Quance Street.
As always, full reports and agendas can be download on the city's website.
Six In The Morning
Happy Monday, here's the what's-up.
1 SHOCK TESTIMONY The inquiry into Robert Dziekanski's fatal tasering resumes today as the RCMP officer in charge of police who, "excited delirium" notwithstanding, appear to have caused Dziekanski's death, testifies. Meanwhile, RCMP commissioner William Elliott asks for public sympathy for officers who face incredible pressure in their jobs. (CBC, Globe And Mail)
2 MORE CAR TROUBLE Sweden is standing firm: government is not getting into the automobile business. But supporters of struggling SAAB are surly. (New York Times).
3 Last week's Provincial budget makes Sask. environmentalists nervous. (Yes, I know this is from Friday but it's a decent article) (Leader-Post)
4 GALLOWAY ALL THE WAY Supporters of the (to put it mildly) outspoken British MP say they will challenge Citizenship And Immigration Canada's decision to bar him from entering this county. (CP/Toronto Star)
5 PAYING THE BILLS In the U.S., apparently bad economy = more strippers. (AP/Toronto Star)
6. BC LIBERAL LEADER A GRANNY-KILLING, BABY-EATING CANNIBAL? Election spending restrictions spark wacky ads in British Columbia. (Globe And Mail)
1 SHOCK TESTIMONY The inquiry into Robert Dziekanski's fatal tasering resumes today as the RCMP officer in charge of police who, "excited delirium" notwithstanding, appear to have caused Dziekanski's death, testifies. Meanwhile, RCMP commissioner William Elliott asks for public sympathy for officers who face incredible pressure in their jobs. (CBC, Globe And Mail)
2 MORE CAR TROUBLE Sweden is standing firm: government is not getting into the automobile business. But supporters of struggling SAAB are surly. (New York Times).
3 Last week's Provincial budget makes Sask. environmentalists nervous. (Yes, I know this is from Friday but it's a decent article) (Leader-Post)
4 GALLOWAY ALL THE WAY Supporters of the (to put it mildly) outspoken British MP say they will challenge Citizenship And Immigration Canada's decision to bar him from entering this county. (CP/Toronto Star)
5 PAYING THE BILLS In the U.S., apparently bad economy = more strippers. (AP/Toronto Star)
6. BC LIBERAL LEADER A GRANNY-KILLING, BABY-EATING CANNIBAL? Election spending restrictions spark wacky ads in British Columbia. (Globe And Mail)
3.22.2009
The Alternative To Limbaugh Is...Canadian?
Former George W. Bush speechwriter and noted Conservative David Frum (whom you might remember from this post yesterday) wants to save the Republican Party by steering it away from social conservatism and Rush Limbaugh-style belligerence.
Well isn't that Canadian of him.
I've got a better idea: let it die, then reinvent conservatism so it's not synonymous with bloodthirsty warmongering, racist, homophobic and classist bigotry, raping the environment for profit, apocalyptic Christian mysticism and free-market fetishism.
Make it cautious, compassionate and focused on values. But real values, like making sure everyone in this society has opportunities and ensuring that we leave this planet in something resembling good condition for our (well your children anyway).
I'd like to see a better brand of conservatism too. Frum's not the guy. He had his chance, and he backed the bad guys.
Get a real job, buddy.
(Globe And Mail)
Well isn't that Canadian of him.
I've got a better idea: let it die, then reinvent conservatism so it's not synonymous with bloodthirsty warmongering, racist, homophobic and classist bigotry, raping the environment for profit, apocalyptic Christian mysticism and free-market fetishism.
Make it cautious, compassionate and focused on values. But real values, like making sure everyone in this society has opportunities and ensuring that we leave this planet in something resembling good condition for our (well your children anyway).
I'd like to see a better brand of conservatism too. Frum's not the guy. He had his chance, and he backed the bad guys.
Get a real job, buddy.
(Globe And Mail)
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