So yesterday, Phoenixians rallied to "Save the Coyotes" in the hockey hotbed of Phoenix, Arizona. Well, a couple of 'em, anyway. Five-hundred people turned out to support their lame, bankrupt team, reports TSN. Well whoopee-doo dinglefuck. For perspective, I attended a couple "Save The Jets" rallies in Winnipeg back in the day. One of them, during a working weekday lunch hour, had a turnout (my estimate) of around 500 people, matching the Phoenix Saturday turn-out. I also went to a weekend rally at the Forks (sort of Winnipeg's equivalent to Wascana Park, but with lots less park and lots of shopping) that thousands showed up for. The newspapers at the time said 50,000 if I recall correctly, but that's kind of cheating because the Forks always has thousands of visitors on weekends. But 20,000 is plausible.
Screw Phoenix. Move the team to Canada. And move Nashville too, while you're at it. I like the Preds--with no resources they're consistently one of the best-run teams in the league. But seriously, screw Nashville.
And, just because I'm all worked up and I freaking hate that Phoenix has an NHL team, here's a (Finnish) flash from the past...
Stupid NHL!
UPDATE: Well, NHL commish Gary Bettman sure knows how to take the vinegar out of critics. He's apparently saying that if the team moves, it should go back to Winnipeg. Does he mean it? Who knows. But it's a good way to undermine support for Balsillie here in Canada. (CBC)
5.17.2009
Six On Sunday
1 CIVIL WAR OVER Sri Lankan's 30-year war is ending as the rebel Tamil Tigers surrender (and in some cases kill themselves). As usual with civil wars, civilians paid the price, with tens of thousands trapped inside the battle zone in the war's last hours. God knows how many Sri Lankens were killed in the last three decades, if I can Google-up a number I'll update this this afternoon. (Guardian)
UPDATE: In this Q & A, the Telegraph says 80 thousand people are believed to have died in Sri Lanka's civil war. And over here at the BBC the estimate is "well in excess of 70,00 [sic] people", but I think they mean 70,000.
2 HOORAY FOR THE NORTH AND FOR TOM TOO Well here's some good news--the CBC will keep its LaRonge bureau open, after all. And it sounds like Tom Roberts, who, if you didn't know, is awesome, won't be taking an early retirement. Phew! Now if we can just get a massive injection of cash into our beseiged public broadcaster, maybe our country can move forward on this file. (CBC)
3 SMELLS FISHY TO ME The AWOL Saskatoon cancer doctor beloved by his patients has officially resigned. In a Saturday story, the StarPhoenix interviewed the chair of a stem cell advocacy group, who was apparently "fighting back tears" over the resignation. What the hell? Is the program under political attack because it uses stem cells? Was this doctor a closet serial killer? What goes on here?
4 IT'S NOT THE MONEY, IT'S THE MESSAGE Yesterday the Leader-Post reported that the tab for fired civil service employees has hit $11 million. But really people, this isn't about the money, the "cost to taxpayers". When you let people go without cause you have to pony-up the cash. Simple as that. No, if there's a problem here it's that qualified, non-political public servants have been getting canned in droves. That's just not good. Government needs non-partisan civil servants to provide a little thing called "facts" to politicians who often (usually) aren't experts in the areas they're legislating on (which is okay, by the way--I don't expect my politicians to know everything about everything). When you get rid of, or intimidate into silence, informed independent opinions, you move away from reality and into ideology. Are the Sask. Party's firings going beyond the merely political and into the reckless? That is the real question. The money is a distraction.
5 REAL-LIFE TERMINATORS The New York Times has an editorial condemming American use of unarmed combat drones. It's worth a read, so go read it. What? Lazy? You don't wanna? Fine, be that way. But here's the article's eye-popping factoid: it's reported that drones have killed 14 terrorist leaders. And 700 civilians. Yikes. (New York Times)
6 "OH BABY [THUMP] OH BABY [THUMP]" Here's one for Dog Blog's libertarian readers: a British woman has been arrested for having loud sex. There's to be no moaning in the New World order! The article's in the Toronto Star--yay Canadian content!
UPDATE: In this Q & A, the Telegraph says 80 thousand people are believed to have died in Sri Lanka's civil war. And over here at the BBC the estimate is "well in excess of 70,00 [sic] people", but I think they mean 70,000.
2 HOORAY FOR THE NORTH AND FOR TOM TOO Well here's some good news--the CBC will keep its LaRonge bureau open, after all. And it sounds like Tom Roberts, who, if you didn't know, is awesome, won't be taking an early retirement. Phew! Now if we can just get a massive injection of cash into our beseiged public broadcaster, maybe our country can move forward on this file. (CBC)
3 SMELLS FISHY TO ME The AWOL Saskatoon cancer doctor beloved by his patients has officially resigned. In a Saturday story, the StarPhoenix interviewed the chair of a stem cell advocacy group, who was apparently "fighting back tears" over the resignation. What the hell? Is the program under political attack because it uses stem cells? Was this doctor a closet serial killer? What goes on here?
4 IT'S NOT THE MONEY, IT'S THE MESSAGE Yesterday the Leader-Post reported that the tab for fired civil service employees has hit $11 million. But really people, this isn't about the money, the "cost to taxpayers". When you let people go without cause you have to pony-up the cash. Simple as that. No, if there's a problem here it's that qualified, non-political public servants have been getting canned in droves. That's just not good. Government needs non-partisan civil servants to provide a little thing called "facts" to politicians who often (usually) aren't experts in the areas they're legislating on (which is okay, by the way--I don't expect my politicians to know everything about everything). When you get rid of, or intimidate into silence, informed independent opinions, you move away from reality and into ideology. Are the Sask. Party's firings going beyond the merely political and into the reckless? That is the real question. The money is a distraction.
5 REAL-LIFE TERMINATORS The New York Times has an editorial condemming American use of unarmed combat drones. It's worth a read, so go read it. What? Lazy? You don't wanna? Fine, be that way. But here's the article's eye-popping factoid: it's reported that drones have killed 14 terrorist leaders. And 700 civilians. Yikes. (New York Times)
6 "OH BABY [THUMP] OH BABY [THUMP]" Here's one for Dog Blog's libertarian readers: a British woman has been arrested for having loud sex. There's to be no moaning in the New World order! The article's in the Toronto Star--yay Canadian content!
5.16.2009
Neanderthal Man: Delicious And Nutritious!
I guess I'm not surprised. Recently discovered Neanderthal fossil remains suggest the species--which vanished 30 thousand years ago--might have been eaten to extinction. By the ancestors of modern humans. Hooray for us, we won. Go team homo sapien. Yay.
You can read the full story here, in the Guardian.
(Photo is from Quest for Fire, 1981)
Saturday Morning Cartoon
Fun little cartoon, really popular a few years back. It's all girl-powery and shit, and the villains (especially the creepy lobster-clawed devil drag queen) are neato.
If you want to see something really weird and awesome, google-up the PPG series finale, "See Me Feel Me Gnomey", which was apparently never shown in the States because Americans are a buncha weenies afraid of bizarre yet fascinating animated rock opera.
Or alternately I guess I could just give you a link...
5.14.2009
Remarkable Statistic
After losing to the Carolina Hurricanes tonight in overtime the Boston Bruins are now a woeful 0-21 when trailing three games to one in a playoff series. (CBC) Not once, apparently, have they ever staged a comeback. Only twice, in fact, have they ever managed to force a game seven.
Running On Air
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So today's Guardian has a story about a made-in-France, production-ready car that's powered by compressed air. It's perfect for city driving. It's inexpensive. Air France KLM and Indian car maker Tatu are investing. Read it all here. Wow.
Questions (rhetorical):
1.) Why was this developed in Europe and not North America? (Answer: because we suck.)
2.) Does our oil-loving prime minister realize that the age of fossil fuel is coming to an end? What's he doing to prepare Canada for this changing world economy? (Answers: nope and nothing)
3.) Are Saskatchewan politicians aware that apparently saner nations want to get over their destructive addiction to oil and they're moving in that direction regardless of the impact on Saskatchewan's petroleum-powered economy? Are we ready for this resource export-weak future? (Answers: dunno but probably not, and no, we're totally screwed.)
Well, good for France, Europe and India. As for Canada, to invoke teh Internet parlance:
Epic.
Fail.
5.13.2009
Six in the Morning
1. RIOT POLICE CALLED IN TO ONTARIO TAMIL PROTESTS: Riot police stand guard around noon protests by Tamil protesters in Toronto. Rabble.ca reporter catches signs of police agression on his flip camera. (Globe and Mail, rabble.ca)
2. ENVIRONMENTALISTS CHEER BC LIBERAL WIN: Last night, Carbon Tax Campbell won his third mandate. (DeSmog Blog)
3. TORY ATTACK ADS ATTACK ATTACK ADS: The Tories' first wave of anti-Ignatieff ads have been launched on YouTube. They take aim at Iggy's years out of the country and his party's deployment of internet-based, anti-Tory ads. (Globe and Mail)
4. WASN'T EXPECTING THAT: Pope goes to Bethlehem and calls for a Palestinian homeland. (Guardian)
5. PALIN WRITES: In an effort to keep Tina Fey's impersonation relevant, erstwhile VP candidate, Sarah Palin, is planning to put her "journalism degree" to good use and publish her memoirs. (Guardian)
6. DOWNTOWN PLAN POSTPONED, P-DOG WRITER HAS FREE WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Occasional Prairie Dog writer, Paul Dechene, complained about the city's decision to postpone its Downtown Plan discussion to a later date. (As previously reported on the DogBlog.)
"Planning Commission was going to spend their monthly meeting on this thing," said Dechene. "It's huge. Over 200 pages. I'd booked off my entire Wednesday night."
"I can't say I was 'looking forward' to another night of endless planning deliberations. But I'd resigned myself to it, you know?" continued Dechene. "But now... I've got nothing to do. Want to see a movie?"
When asked what this "Downtown Plan" is all about, Dechene said, "The Prairie Dog's been covering it for a year and half now, but they don't have a website so you're SOL on that front. Couture at the Leader Post has a pretty good summary on their site today. Try that. Because good luck finding the effing thing on the city's website. The Plan's been out for six days now and it hasn't made their front page. They've got it buried under housing or some [expletive]." (Leader Post, City of Regina)
2. ENVIRONMENTALISTS CHEER BC LIBERAL WIN: Last night, Carbon Tax Campbell won his third mandate. (DeSmog Blog)
3. TORY ATTACK ADS ATTACK ATTACK ADS: The Tories' first wave of anti-Ignatieff ads have been launched on YouTube. They take aim at Iggy's years out of the country and his party's deployment of internet-based, anti-Tory ads. (Globe and Mail)
4. WASN'T EXPECTING THAT: Pope goes to Bethlehem and calls for a Palestinian homeland. (Guardian)
5. PALIN WRITES: In an effort to keep Tina Fey's impersonation relevant, erstwhile VP candidate, Sarah Palin, is planning to put her "journalism degree" to good use and publish her memoirs. (Guardian)
6. DOWNTOWN PLAN POSTPONED, P-DOG WRITER HAS FREE WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Occasional Prairie Dog writer, Paul Dechene, complained about the city's decision to postpone its Downtown Plan discussion to a later date. (As previously reported on the DogBlog.)
"Planning Commission was going to spend their monthly meeting on this thing," said Dechene. "It's huge. Over 200 pages. I'd booked off my entire Wednesday night."
"I can't say I was 'looking forward' to another night of endless planning deliberations. But I'd resigned myself to it, you know?" continued Dechene. "But now... I've got nothing to do. Want to see a movie?"
When asked what this "Downtown Plan" is all about, Dechene said, "The Prairie Dog's been covering it for a year and half now, but they don't have a website so you're SOL on that front. Couture at the Leader Post has a pretty good summary on their site today. Try that. Because good luck finding the effing thing on the city's website. The Plan's been out for six days now and it hasn't made their front page. They've got it buried under housing or some [expletive]." (Leader Post, City of Regina)
Rosebud Burlesque Acadamy comes to town
Headmistress Cheripop Purr* of the Saskatoon-based Rosebud Burlesque Academy is coming to Regina on June 13, to teach an intensive burlesque workshop. If you've ever wanted to give the art of classy, retro striptease a try, you should totally sign up. Headmistress Purr is an amazing teacher; even if you've never thought of yourself as a "dancer" she'll make you feel confident and you'll have a blast.
You can register online for the workshop at www.ascherarose.com (Home of local belly dancing classes) and check out the Rosebud Academy's other shows and classes at their homepage.
* Otherwise known as the awesome choreographer and dance teacher Jackie Latendresse.
Posted While Waiting For Dechene
I'm sitting at my desk not working and waiting for one of two things--either a call from prairie dog City Hall and video game reporter Paul Dechene to get together for a late breakfast "meeting" (i.e. thinly-justified excuse to skip out of work and eat food) or at least the Six In The Morning news post he's supposed to do today.
(tap, tap, tap, tap...)
Breakfast is probably out because freelance writers don't like leaving their homes in the middle of winter (why was it snowing this morning?). And I guess this procrastinating editor will just have to be patient and take that 6ITM post when it's ready.
So in the meantime I'll just be sitting here reading this horrible, horrible column by Salon columnist Glenn Greenwald on the Obama (not Bush!) administration's suppression of evidence of the extreme torture inflicted on former Guantanamo prisoner Binyam Mohammed. Yeah, just when you think it's bad some jerk working in the news media has to go and type the phrase "genital slicing".
(tap, tap, tap, tap...)
Breakfast is probably out because freelance writers don't like leaving their homes in the middle of winter (why was it snowing this morning?). And I guess this procrastinating editor will just have to be patient and take that 6ITM post when it's ready.
So in the meantime I'll just be sitting here reading this horrible, horrible column by Salon columnist Glenn Greenwald on the Obama (not Bush!) administration's suppression of evidence of the extreme torture inflicted on former Guantanamo prisoner Binyam Mohammed. Yeah, just when you think it's bad some jerk working in the news media has to go and type the phrase "genital slicing".
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