Dog Blog's shyest member, Carle Steel, sent me a link to this story about North America's first succesful face transplant. (Thanks Carl). The article is interesting mostly as a portrait of the amazing recipient, a woman who lost most of her face after her husband blasted her with a shotgun.
Read the Associated Press story for the feel-good (well, as good as possible) humanity, but maybe do me a favour and remember it the next time you hear some libertarian asshole say there shouldn't be any restrictions on the purchase or ownership of firearms. I'm not opposed to collectors and hobbyists keeping guns, I don't want to take rifles away from farmers and hunters, and I recognize that some of the gun laws in this country might need tweaking. But Jebus Cripes, there are just flat out too many guns out there, and everytime a gun-owning family goes into crisis (a polite way of saying another man goes mental) there's a danger someone will get shot in the face.
And at the risk of sounding like a looney radical, I'm opposed to people being shot in the face.
For people living in cities and suburbs, guns should not be regarded as "household items". They should NEVER be sold in malls, department stores and grocery shops.
Ninety-nine per cent of people have no business owning guns. End of story. Don't shoot the messenger.
5.06.2009
Six in the Morning
1. RABBLE JOURNALIST ASSAULTED AT LIBERAL CONVENTION: Derrick O'Keefe, an accredited Rabble.ca journalist, had his video camera ripped from his hand and was then knocked to the ground by Mario Cuconato, Paul Martin's former Director of Operations. The reason for the assault? O'Keefe dared to ask Paul Martin questions about his governments involvement in the overthrow of Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. O'Keefe managed to retrieve his camera with its footage of the assault intact. (rabble.ca)
2. NANNY CONTROVERSY UNDERMINES LIBERAL MP: Ruby Dhalla, Liberal critic for youth and multiculturalism, steps down amid allegations she mistreated foreign caregivers and paid them under the table. If true, well then, shame on you Ms Dhalla. Of course, there is the larger issue here of maybe MPs who are parents wouldn't have to hire live-in nannies at all if we had that national childcare program the Conservatives kiboshed. I'm just saying.... (Globe and Mail)
3. POLICE DROP CHARGES AGAINST BULLIED TEEN: Some background: a Korean/Canadian grade nine student in Keswick Ontario was confronted by a bully who insulted him using racial slurs and then punched him in the mouth. The Korean teen, who happened to be a black belt in karate, defended himself. The Korean teen had been trained (by his father) to never fight except in self defence and even then to only use his left hand. He did so: one left-handed punch which succeeded in breaking the bully's nose. (Bravo!) School officials and the police, however, suspended Karate Teen and charged him with assault, respectively. He was threatened with expulsion. The bully who started all this got off scot free. Anyway, after weeks of criticism directed at the police and school board, both have finally backed down and Karate Teen can now go back to school and not worry about going to jail. (Globe and Mail)
4. SEARCH ENGINE MOVING TO TVO: One of my favourite podcasts -- CBC's Search Engine with Jesse Brown -- is moving to TVO. In case you don't know the story of Search Engine, it's a fantastic internet culture and politics show that CBC took off Radio One last year as part of cost cutting measures. The show lived on as a podcast and became CBC's most popular podcast and one of the most popular podcasts on iTunes. TVO is now snapping it up. Hope that doesn't mean I won't be able to download it anymore. (InsidetheCBC.com)
5. CALLS FOR LINGENFELTER TO DROP OUT OF RACE: After some hinky business involving membership sales, Yens Pedersen is calling for Dwain Lingenfelter to drop out of the NDP leadership race. (Leader Post)
6. HARPER TO PENALIZE CZECHS TO KEEP ROMA OUT OF CANADA: To stem the number of Roma seeking asylum in Canada, Harper is threatening to reimpose visa requirements on Czechs coming to Canada. The government is claiming Roma refugees aren't actually oppressed people but rather economic migrants taking advantage of Canada's soft refugee determination system. Hang on a second.... Is it just me or does this sound a little like our Conservative government is saying something along the lines of "we don't want any sneaky gypsies sneaking into our country"? I don't know man, I lived a year in the Czech Republic back in the mid-90s -- so granted my info is a little out of date -- but as I recall the Roma there faced very serious racism. The government at the time was even threatening to revoke their Czech citizenships then force them to relocate to Slovakia. (A clear violation of international law.) I can't think of a more consistently oppressed people for Harper to be picking on, frankly. Way to stick a thumb in the eye of the downtrodden, Stephen. You prick. (Leader Post)
2. NANNY CONTROVERSY UNDERMINES LIBERAL MP: Ruby Dhalla, Liberal critic for youth and multiculturalism, steps down amid allegations she mistreated foreign caregivers and paid them under the table. If true, well then, shame on you Ms Dhalla. Of course, there is the larger issue here of maybe MPs who are parents wouldn't have to hire live-in nannies at all if we had that national childcare program the Conservatives kiboshed. I'm just saying.... (Globe and Mail)
3. POLICE DROP CHARGES AGAINST BULLIED TEEN: Some background: a Korean/Canadian grade nine student in Keswick Ontario was confronted by a bully who insulted him using racial slurs and then punched him in the mouth. The Korean teen, who happened to be a black belt in karate, defended himself. The Korean teen had been trained (by his father) to never fight except in self defence and even then to only use his left hand. He did so: one left-handed punch which succeeded in breaking the bully's nose. (Bravo!) School officials and the police, however, suspended Karate Teen and charged him with assault, respectively. He was threatened with expulsion. The bully who started all this got off scot free. Anyway, after weeks of criticism directed at the police and school board, both have finally backed down and Karate Teen can now go back to school and not worry about going to jail. (Globe and Mail)
4. SEARCH ENGINE MOVING TO TVO: One of my favourite podcasts -- CBC's Search Engine with Jesse Brown -- is moving to TVO. In case you don't know the story of Search Engine, it's a fantastic internet culture and politics show that CBC took off Radio One last year as part of cost cutting measures. The show lived on as a podcast and became CBC's most popular podcast and one of the most popular podcasts on iTunes. TVO is now snapping it up. Hope that doesn't mean I won't be able to download it anymore. (InsidetheCBC.com)
5. CALLS FOR LINGENFELTER TO DROP OUT OF RACE: After some hinky business involving membership sales, Yens Pedersen is calling for Dwain Lingenfelter to drop out of the NDP leadership race. (Leader Post)
6. HARPER TO PENALIZE CZECHS TO KEEP ROMA OUT OF CANADA: To stem the number of Roma seeking asylum in Canada, Harper is threatening to reimpose visa requirements on Czechs coming to Canada. The government is claiming Roma refugees aren't actually oppressed people but rather economic migrants taking advantage of Canada's soft refugee determination system. Hang on a second.... Is it just me or does this sound a little like our Conservative government is saying something along the lines of "we don't want any sneaky gypsies sneaking into our country"? I don't know man, I lived a year in the Czech Republic back in the mid-90s -- so granted my info is a little out of date -- but as I recall the Roma there faced very serious racism. The government at the time was even threatening to revoke their Czech citizenships then force them to relocate to Slovakia. (A clear violation of international law.) I can't think of a more consistently oppressed people for Harper to be picking on, frankly. Way to stick a thumb in the eye of the downtrodden, Stephen. You prick. (Leader Post)
Trek Of The Day
Of course there's more to Star Trekkery than William Shatner overheating under stage lights. There's Spock singing. What's weird to me is how much cooler Leonard Nimoy is than the Shat, even when he's performing material that's every bit as idiotic. And this song--blown right out of a 60s bong--is righteously idiotic.
Tomorrow: the shocking truth beind all those long, smouldering glances between Kirk and Spock.
Tomorrow: the shocking truth beind all those long, smouldering glances between Kirk and Spock.
5.05.2009
R.I.P. Phoenix Coyotes?
They're bankrupt, their market sucks and now Blackberry billionaire Jim Balsillie has made an offer to buy the team--on the condition he be allowed to move it to southern Ontario.
(Too bad Winnipeg's richest families don't make their money in sunrise industries, eh? Losing the Jets was an astounding failure of a business class that seems to have be having a lot of those lately. But I digress bitterly.)
It'll be interesting to watch this unfold.
Here's the story in the Toronto Star. Telling quote: "The league remains worried that Balsillie could purchase the team and move it to Ontario."
Here's the link to Balsillie's website.
And here's the video on TSN. Is it just me, or does Balsillie look twitchy?
(Too bad Winnipeg's richest families don't make their money in sunrise industries, eh? Losing the Jets was an astounding failure of a business class that seems to have be having a lot of those lately. But I digress bitterly.)
It'll be interesting to watch this unfold.
Here's the story in the Toronto Star. Telling quote: "The league remains worried that Balsillie could purchase the team and move it to Ontario."
Here's the link to Balsillie's website.
And here's the video on TSN. Is it just me, or does Balsillie look twitchy?
R.I.P. Dom DeLuise
He made us laugh, he made Burt Reynolds look good and most importantly he was the greatest superhero of all time.
Actor, celebrity, sidkick and chef Dom DeLuise passed away today. (Associated Press).
You will be missed, sir.
Actor, celebrity, sidkick and chef Dom DeLuise passed away today. (Associated Press).
You will be missed, sir.
Stephen Harper flip flop, again ....
Stephen Harper then ...
Ordinary folks don't care about arts: Harper (TorStar, October 2008)
Stephen Harper now ...
Gala may signal thaw between Tories, artists (Canadian Press, 5 May 2009)
Next time you see Winston Smith in the Ministry of Truth, tell him to get right on to it.
Ordinary folks don't care about arts: Harper (TorStar, October 2008)
Stephen Harper now ...
Gala may signal thaw between Tories, artists (Canadian Press, 5 May 2009)
Next time you see Winston Smith in the Ministry of Truth, tell him to get right on to it.
Live Tonight: Women
Tuesday, May 5
Women, Meat Draw
The Club (The Exchange)
Regina's been pretty lucky when it comes to Women. Tonight will be the third time they've toured through our town since the release of their self-titled debut, and they've been great every time. They've been compared to hip bands galore, but it's a futile task: they're mutating, strange indie rock defies description, both live and on their amazing record. Not only that, but they've got cred points galore: 1) Their album was recorded by Chad VanGaalen and released on his label, Flemish Eye. 2) In the States, it's being put out by Jagjaguwar. If you aren't familiar with that label, they're clearly the coolest of the American indies. If Sub Pop is Anthony Michael Hall, Merge is Emilio Estevez, and Matador is the moody kleptomaniac from The Breakfast Club, then Jagjaguwar is Judd Nelson, all complicated and flawed but clearly the coolest of them all and leaving at the end of the day with Molly Ringwald. (For the sake of our argument, Ringwald is Secretly Canadian.) 3) This means less and less these days, but Pitchfork loved the album.
Women, Meat Draw
The Club (The Exchange)
Regina's been pretty lucky when it comes to Women. Tonight will be the third time they've toured through our town since the release of their self-titled debut, and they've been great every time. They've been compared to hip bands galore, but it's a futile task: they're mutating, strange indie rock defies description, both live and on their amazing record. Not only that, but they've got cred points galore: 1) Their album was recorded by Chad VanGaalen and released on his label, Flemish Eye. 2) In the States, it's being put out by Jagjaguwar. If you aren't familiar with that label, they're clearly the coolest of the American indies. If Sub Pop is Anthony Michael Hall, Merge is Emilio Estevez, and Matador is the moody kleptomaniac from The Breakfast Club, then Jagjaguwar is Judd Nelson, all complicated and flawed but clearly the coolest of them all and leaving at the end of the day with Molly Ringwald. (For the sake of our argument, Ringwald is Secretly Canadian.) 3) This means less and less these days, but Pitchfork loved the album.
Six In The Afternoon
1. What a joke (CBC Saskatchewan.) What (Mitchell Blair) a freaking (Rod Pedersen) joke. Daddy lets number-one son run the team, the team goes nowhere for the best part of a decade and a half, he hires a new coach, gives Derkatch a three-year contract on the strength of being little more than a ex-Pat, then fires him after one year. And number one son says it's all the coach's fault. Not the guy who hired him. And the coach before that, and before that ... spare me.
2. Fiacco will work up more of a sweat doing his personal income taxes this year than he will running for re-election. The CCFR is pretty much dead, and even the NDP are trying to court His Worship. (CJME)
3. Mountie Tasering inquiry in Vancouver ground to a halt again just after one officer who was scheduled to testify instead produced a whole bunch of notes and emails he didn't submit to either the original investigation into the Polish immigrant's death or the current inquiry. (CBC British Columbia) I don't know if you can call it a cover-up any more -- that implies an organized campaign and the current crop of BC Mounties can't organize an orgasm at a Roman orgy, from this vantage point.
4. While Her Majesty double-checked to see that it wasn't Princess Anne, four Mounties Tasered her. (Canada.com)
5. A good way to prepare for an NHL career as an enforcer -- a bouncer on Jerry Springer. (Faceoff.com via Vancouver Sun)
6. The most pressing issue of British Columbia's provincial election? Soccer. Of course. (The 24th Minute)
2. Fiacco will work up more of a sweat doing his personal income taxes this year than he will running for re-election. The CCFR is pretty much dead, and even the NDP are trying to court His Worship. (CJME)
3. Mountie Tasering inquiry in Vancouver ground to a halt again just after one officer who was scheduled to testify instead produced a whole bunch of notes and emails he didn't submit to either the original investigation into the Polish immigrant's death or the current inquiry. (CBC British Columbia) I don't know if you can call it a cover-up any more -- that implies an organized campaign and the current crop of BC Mounties can't organize an orgasm at a Roman orgy, from this vantage point.
4. While Her Majesty double-checked to see that it wasn't Princess Anne, four Mounties Tasered her. (Canada.com)
5. A good way to prepare for an NHL career as an enforcer -- a bouncer on Jerry Springer. (Faceoff.com via Vancouver Sun)
6. The most pressing issue of British Columbia's provincial election? Soccer. Of course. (The 24th Minute)
Trek Of The Day
All right, here's a classic. Maybe you've seen the excellent Family Guy parody where Stewie does it, but this is the original, featuring the Shat in all his terrible-toupeed glory. Plus, he's smoking!!! On stage! Holy crap!
Okay, I'm just not sure that's enough Shat. We need more Shat. More Shat!!!
Ahhhh, that's the good stuff.
(Courtesy YooToob and copyright violation.)
Okay, I'm just not sure that's enough Shat. We need more Shat. More Shat!!!
Ahhhh, that's the good stuff.
(Courtesy YooToob and copyright violation.)
5.04.2009
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