Recess! Yaaa..ummm booo?

Well, shocker...GG Jean granted the PM his early recess to prolong the inevitable. I am disappointed, I think if the government loses the confidence of the house it's done. There should be no time out, no time to get their fear machine fired up and scare us all to death with a lie about this being a unity issue. On the other hand I don't agree with bailing out the car manufacturers so on that issue I don't support the proposed coalition either. Hm, what to do?

I will be writing the leaders of the Liberals and NDP and requesting they call an election and not shoot themselves in the foot (or the leg ala Plaxico Burress) with this coalition. Am I the only one who thinks the coalition partners (save Gilles Duceppe who wins either way) will end up worse off in the end? As far as I can tell Harper might be done but this will only help the Conservatives in the long run, especially given the reaction from the Canadian people. I am not sure that most Canadians realize that Harps really brought this on himself. You have until January 26th to get your letters in to tell them what you think should happen. And only those of you who got off your lazy asses and went and voted should bother to spout forth your opinion.
Next time go vote and maybe this kind of shit would not happen. Lesson learned?

Please keep in mind:

"The coalition sprang up after the Tories released an economic statement that was lambasted by the opposition parties. They accused Harper of doing nothing to address the current economic crisis and slammed what they saw as ideologically driven measures such as the proposed elimination of subsidies for political parties, a three-year ban on the right of civil servants to strike and limits on the ability of women to sue for pay equity.
Yes, Harper has since backed down on those contentious issues, but the opposition has pushed forward with the coalition.
The coalition — which would have a 24-member cabinet composed of six NDP and 18 Liberal MPs (all legally elected members) — has vowed to make an economic stimulus package a priority, proposing a multibillion-dollar plan that would include help for the auto and forestry sectors.
With 77 Liberal MPs and 37 New Democrats, plus the support of 49 Bloc members, the three parties have more seats than the 143 held by the Tories." This is being touted as a 62% majority in the press.

Song Du Jour: Use Somebody by Kings of Leon (best song of 2007 IMHO)

Am I the only one loving the spectacle?

There is no precident for what is happening up in the bubble, ummm I mean Ottawa.

And yes I worry about the "crisis" and it's impact, I'm not oblivious to that bit...but personally it is like watching one of those disaster movies like Deep Impact or Twister...you just know disaster is coming and you can't look away when the deadly effects finally come crashing through!

The amount of misinformation is amazing, holy rhetoric batman...and the blame game is hilarious...Harps did it! It's Dion, he's to blame! No it's Gilles he's the antichrist! Puh-lease. Pull your heads out of your asses dudes and get it together. I love the reaction of the uber conservatives here in the blue province, they are equal to none in pure entertainment value! Stop freaking out and making it seem like Conservatives had a majority in the first place. This might be a minority governments worse nightmare but for a nerd like me...I love just watching it unfold, what jackhole manoeuvre will our political parties pull next? I have to admit I have been watching CPAC every night; with popcorn.

I have to say the best "blurb" I have read so far (that kinda matches my opinion)comes from Todd Babiak:

He notes in the Edmonton Journal that the Alberta capital has been largely ignored by the Harper Tories and finds no reason to fear the coalition. “Attempting to cripple the opposition [by proposing to revoke campaign subsidies], and therefore debate and criticism, is a much more profound assault against democracy. As the national portrait gallery debacle demonstrated so fluently, conditions have not improved for Edmonton since 2006, when the Conservatives swept Alberta and took control of Ottawa. Why would they? According to the Conservative war room, we’re a strategic void.”

This one just made me giggle:

"The Calgary Sun’s Rick Bell says it’s one thing to hate the idea of a crippled téphane Dion and inexperienced Jack Layton teaming up to govern the country while relying on the Bloc Québécois to act as a crutch. It’s just not all that useful right now: “We know everything is spinning out of control. Premier Ed yesterday urges all parties to ‘put Canada first and stop the nonsense’ and deal with a financial meltdown he calls ‘the biggest elephant in the room.’ Unfortunately, it’s tough to hunt an elephant when you’ve got the guns squarely pointed at each other.”"

What will the GG do? Oh how I would love to be in her shoes! What a cool time to be in her position! There is no reason (I can think of, no precedence anyhoo) why she would say "no" to the Prime Minister if he asks for recess so I imagine they will get an early Christmas, but I don't think Harps will survive this. Stick a fork in him peeps.

Sad way for him to end it all...I really do mean that. I imagine the Conservatives 3 weeks ago sitting about, like villans rubbing their hands and grinning, evily, and saying, "I know lets revoke campaign subsidies just to fuck them!" and then they all laughed and laughed...

I wonder if any Conservative could have imagined that little jab at the other political parties would have had such an detrimental effect. I bet the wish they had a "takeback".

Song Du Jour: I'm a Pretty Lady by Pinback

"...If the letter is found, please set it on fire, It will ease this pain, end this thing..."

A song for the Conservatives

Livre Du Jour: Holidays on Ice - David Sedaris

There are now 33 million people living with HIV worldwide

World Aids Day is December 1st ~ Click here for Information

(RED)Wire is (RED)'s latest initiative: a digital music magazine that allows you to discover new music while providing medicine to those in Africa who need it. For $5 a month, every Wednesday you will get two DRM-free songs (one will be "exclusive" from a major artist), an extra (video, slideshow, or something similar) that is "inspiring," and updates about those receiving the medicine you're paying for. Subscribers will receive their new music via the (RED)WIRE player, which also puts each song into the iTunes media player. $2.50 goes directly to The Global Fund, an organization that buys and administers medicine to women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Song Du Jour: U2 - If God Will Send His Angels

Intelligence is relative

So I went to see the movie Burn After Reading and God love the Coen Brothers. At least you can rely on them to throw you a curve ball. Totally unpredictable....you never know what will happen next...horrific and hilarious. I was laughing so hard...the only thing is that I don't think other people in the theatre thought it was as fricking funny as I did. I love that they gave Margie a big shout out from Fargo and in the end I wish William H Macy had played the role that was so William H. Macy.

It is hard for me to believe that they wrote the screenplay for this whilst writing the screenplay for No Country For Old Balls. They say they alternated every other day between scripts. I can't even imagine that.

All of the previews before the movie looked abysmal and the lights kept coming on during the show...which was pretty funny...thanks the volunteers who got up and went and told the 70 year old lady taking tickets to figure out the light situation.
I can't wait to see what the Coen Bros. come up with next:

Suburbicon (2009) (in production) (writer)
Gambit (2009) (announced) (screenplay)
Hail Caesar (2009) (pre-production) (writer)
A Serious Man (2009) (filming) (writer)

Song Du Jour: Sometime Around Midnight by The Airborne Toxic Event

"Decision to decisions are made and not bought...."

Why do American politics seems so much more compelling? There is an election going on here in Canada. Yeah, there is. No really...it's on October 14th. I will be voting NDP...but because my vote doesn't count it won't make any difference. The leaders of the 2 largest parties know my vote doesn't count either which is why they haven't come west of Guelph this whole time.

I've grown tired of our defunct electoral process. And I love elections! I'm tired of hearing what a jackass Dion is and what a jackass Harps is (and his Agriculture Minister who made a joke and lost his job, say it with me...what a jackhole...Note to politicians; yes, still too early to make cold cuts jokes....) ..blah, blah, blah...can they start talking about the issues that actual effect us? Fuel prices, affordable housing, the growing global economy issues?
No. The media and the party "spokespeople" and ministers want to sling mud. Awesome.


So to the people of Canada I ask you to please vote. Take an interest. Call the freaking media and tell them you want to hear about the issues instead of the politics. Call your local candidate and volunteer. Engage, in the words of Jean Luc Picard....Engage!
ay, ay Captain.

Song Du jour - Kids - MGMT
Update: Okay so one of the federal leaders is coming west!

Rally 4 Change: Edmonton
Jack Layton and the New Democrats
Start Time: Saturday, September 20 at 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Where: Winspear Center

UPDATE: Harps is coming
Ramada Inn - Harper is supposed to be there between 5:30 and 6:00 but show up early. Thursday, September 25th
11834 Kingsway
Edmonton, Alberta

"At the end of the line I will be there for you while you take the time, in the burning of uncertainty I will be your solid ground..."

Life is so unfair. My friend Ashish passed away.
The memorial service is Friday, August 8th.

The service will be held at the following location:
McInnis & HollowayPark Memorial Chapel
5008 Elbow Drive SW
Calgary, Alberta


Song Du Jour: Rise Above This - Seether

"We're facing the worst financial and economic crisis since the end of World War II and nobody in Belgium seems to care'' ~ Mark Eyskens

Anybody else enjoy watching states fail as much as me? God, I am such a nerd! I know I could get on here and blather on about music (which I do already) or my boring life or my horrible work day...but no.

First the Zimbabwe government takes corruption to a whole new level with *seemingly* complete international impunity and now in Brussels --the shit has hit the fan! It is always a gamble to make change, which is what the coalition government tried to do, but now it is incredible to watch the different interests battle it out. What are they fighting about you ask? Language (not a new fight) and self rule. The home of the EU and NATO might just go kaput. It's hard to wrap my head around.

The hardliners in the national party are advocating the breakup of the country to solve their differences and yesterday the Premier offered his resignation to the King.

In a statement, the royal palace said its decision had been suspended. Meanwhile, the king began consultations that included, for the first time, the most senior regional politicians from the different language communities. That raised the prospect that they, rather than national political leaders, may be asked to help find a way out of the impasse.

Can a country divided by language keep it together or should they split her down the middle and call it quits? (a very Canadian question too...hm.) Further proving that regionalism can be a real beotch. Can a constitution designed around separating people based on language and location result in a harmonious state? I'm afraid of the Belgian answer and even more interested in the Canadian answer to that question.

Song du jour: The Stakes Were Raised by Slow Runner

"All of my hoping just turned into lying
Kidding myself without even trying
I should have noticed the whole thing was dying
But the stakes were raised
And so I looked the other way..."

Happy Birsday Dani!! I love ya!

Mark Eyskens is a member of Leterme's Christian Democratic Party who served in Belgian governments from 1976 to 1992 and was prime minister in 1981-82.

Happy 141st Canada Day!

"Whether we live together in confidence and cohesion; with more faith and pride in ourselves and less self-doubt and hesitation; strong in the conviction that the destiny of Canada is to unite, not divide; sharing in cooperation, not in separation or in conflict; respecting our past and welcoming our future" ~ Lester B. Pearson

Working on Canada has become the norm in the last few years so no funtimes for this lady today...just the crack of the whip. Happy Canada Day to the rest of you lucky bums who are off today!

Song Du Jour: If You Could Read My Mind by Johnny Cash (written by Gordon Lightfoot)

"We turn away to face the cold, enduring chill, As the day begs the night for mercy love...."

2008 marks the 35th anniversary of the death of Victor Jara. They just re-opened his murder case and the courts appear to be willing to listen to new evidence.

I'm not sure when I first learned about Jara but his story stirs emotions in me I am unable to find words for. He was a popular folk singer who poltically supported Allende in Chile. After Pinochet took control in 1973 Jara was captured, his hands were injured (cut, crushed, broken, burned, even severed...the reports are not clear) and then he was forced to play his guitar by the military. He sang. He played with broken hands and sang to his captors. He sang his popular songs of freedom through his torture and was killed for it.

Bono wrote about Jara on a song called One Tree Hill....arguably my favorite song off of Joshua Tree. The song itself is dedicated to another man, Gregg Carroll, a close friend of the band, who was killed running an errand for Bono. Bono wrote the lyrics at at One Tree Hill in New Zealand where Carroll was later buried. I am often amazed at the source or meaning of the lyrics Bono writes and how they carry such emotion; love, loss, grief and the power of song.

Bono sings:

"And in the world a heart of darkness

A fire zone

Where poets speak their heart

Then bleed for it

Jara sang, his song a weapon

In the hands of love

You know his blood still cries

From the ground

It runs like a river runs to the sea

It runs like a river to the sea"

I understand why Bono was so moved by his story. I hope Jara's family finds justice.

"The cultural invasion is like a leafy tree which prevents us from seeing our own sun, sky and stars. Therefore in order to be able to see the sky above our heads, our task is to cut this tree off at the roots. US imperialism understands very well the magic of communication through music and persists in filling our young people with all sorts of commercial tripe.

With professional expertise they have taken certain measures: first, the commercialization of the so-called ‘protest music’; second, the creation of ‘idols’ of protest music who obey the same rules and suffer from the same constraints as the other idols of the consumer music industry – they last a little while and then disappear. Meanwhile they are useful in neutralizing the innate spirit of rebellion of young people. The term ‘protest song’ is no longer valid because it is ambiguous and has been misused. I prefer the term ‘revolutionary song’" ~Victor Jara

Song Du Jour: One Tree Hill by U2

"We will never allow an event like an election reverse our independence, our sovereignty, our sweat and all that we fought for ..." ~Robert Mugabe

A world away "democracy" is taking a beating friends.

"Democracy" in Zimbabwe is like Apollo Creed in Rocky 4 and I wonder... has Mugabe just landed that last fatal blow. What comes next?

PHOTO1: Main opposition Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai (C) is greeted by supporters during a visit to a Harare suburb June 21, 2008. Despite signs of growing African discontent over bloodshed that has escalated since Zimbabwe's March 29 general election, President Robert Mugabe vowed never to hand over power to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, whose leader Tsvangirai is his rival in the run-off. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo (ZIMBABWE)

"The MDC (opposition) plans to meet on Sunday to consider whether to contest the June 27 vote, with the party claiming that about 70 of its supporters have been killed since the first round of voting in March."

70 people dead. Many more injured and jailed. Should the MDC give up? I've been a part of elections first hand and I have marvelled at how difficult they are for candidates and how much work goes into running for office. And that's here in Alberta...so the very thought of the position the MDC find themselves in today is hard to wrap my brain around. What kind of person stands up to the violence and intimidation to take Mugabe down?

I am riveted by these events. What will Mugabe do next? It seems like western nations have no idea how to offer assistance.

At least Zimbabwe made it on to the agenda of the UN's Security Council meeting thanks to Condi Rice. Will anything come of it?

Today I am not taking my democracy for granted.

Song du Jour: Lost by Coldplay

PHOTO 2: A supporter of President Robert Mugabe holds an election poster as she cheers during a rally at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo June 20, 2008. Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is considering whether to pull out of the June 27 presidential run-off election, fearing it will be a charade, a spokesman said on Friday. REUTERS/Emmanuel Chitate (ZIMBABWE)