How to get to be the number one story in the land? If you are a world leader, mention Canada and hopefully flatter Canada:
In a rare speech to an audience of Canadians, British Prime Minister Tony Blair Monday sketched out a transatlantic relationship that has been reduced to little more than a single basic element: The struggle against terrorism, especially in Afghanistan. Using that increasingly controversial war as a rallying point, Mr. Blair outlined the possibility of a new special relationship between Britain and Canada built on that struggle and a common bond with the United States.If Gzowsky were still on a panel of west central Saskatchewan beat poets - the North Battleford school - would spend the hour from 10:00 am to 11:00 am this morning dissecting what was said about Canada, criticize it, complain about the war on terror and geopolitics generally - but still end up giggling about how nice it is to be noticed.
Comments
Ben (The Tiger) - October 17, 2006 9:11 am
If Blair were more historically minded -- if he, in other words, were not Tony Blair -- he might have mentioned actual <i>historical events</i> when Canadians and Britons fought side by side under the same flag.
Like, oh, I don't know, Korea, the European Theatre of the Second World War, the Battle of the Atlantic, the Western Front of the First World War. (Not the Boer War -- don't mention the imperialism!)
David Janes - October 17, 2006 9:36 am
"Just mention Canada" I think would be sufficient to get headlines. They noticed us, they really noticed us!
Mike - October 17, 2006 9:38 am
We have urges, in our areas!
2 points to name the reference! (I bet Tony Blair couldn't)
David Janes - October 17, 2006 10:02 am
Boot to the head!
Flea - October 17, 2006 10:03 am
I have not assimilated the "number one story in the land" bit. Note to self: Send Alan links to news sources other than the Globe and Mail and the BBC. Small sidebar to Alan: Before I do that, check out the BBC Radio Documentary Archive. Neat stuff!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/
Alan - October 17, 2006 10:05 am
I'll have you know that have been known to steal from <i>The Star</i> as well.
Gordo - October 17, 2006 10:16 am
Boot to Head is the album, but that Bill from Bala having urges. :-D
David Janes - October 17, 2006 10:59 am
We were big 4-on the floor fans in Uni. "Boot to the head" was our shooter slogan.
portland - October 18, 2006 12:09 am
frigging sad isn't it? did i ever tell you that on 9/11 a pal of mine called me to commiserate. "boy," he said "i'll bet there were a lot of canadians in those buildings." fucking hell i've never seen a race of people that acted so much like an 11 year old girl in my life, always thinking of their fucking selves. the canadarm, the amazing fucking canadarm, has anything ever had a stupider name except for the clapper and super slider snow skakes? that fucking thing would picking apples in the okanagon valley if it wasn't for this country.
canada is a great country. we do great stuff in the world. it's time to quit shoving glen gould and northup frye down people's throats. it's time to quit saying "well jane jacobs left new york to live in toronto you know? it's time to quit claiming neil young as one of our own (he lives in california and has for nearly forever you idiots) because he has this propensity to write the occasional song with the word winnipeg in it!
it's enough to just be canadian. quit hating yourself canada. at the very least lose the obnoxious maple leaf patches on the backpacks you all shuck around when you go to greece.
and, oh yeah, fucking cardinals.
cm - October 18, 2006 8:37 am
Morning, portland. Lovely day, isn't it?
portland - October 18, 2006 9:18 am
ahhhhhhhhhh.........................sorry.
Ben (The Tiger) - October 18, 2006 9:29 am
Portland --
Now you're sounding like Tucker Carlson. (Mind you, Carlson was right...)
Alan - October 18, 2006 9:46 am
Yowch - and Carlson was wrong and eaten alive.
portland - October 18, 2006 1:05 pm
carlson has been eated alive? gosh, that's good news.
Alan - October 18, 2006 1:11 pm
It was like the end of the Wizard of Oz except alien bugs were involved. Nutty.
portland - October 18, 2006 6:36 pm
you know i meant to say eaten but since it was tucker carlson i'm just as glad he got eated. i bet he tasted awful.
Alan - October 18, 2006 6:44 pm
"Eated" is a way better word.
Paul - October 19, 2006 5:34 am
Beware, if Tony mentions you he wants something. Don't trust him !