May 2008? Could have done with a heat wave. There was frost this week and I've been having to kid's softball in the evenings for at least half the month. Did I mention softball parents are the nicest sports parents? I guess because there is no National Softball League it become OK to shout "good try" to kids on the other team. One kid was having such a bad time pitching that everyone was shouting "good catch" when he caught the ball coming back from the catcher.
- SPAM sales are up. Never had it but we did have the Canadian imposter KAM around the house. Dad thought I was a snob or wound up by the skit when I refused to eat it but turns out I was viciously allergic to the stuff. I knew this was coming with their great advertising at the 2004 New York State Fair. The taste of reality, that's what the slogan for SPAM should be.
- Conversely, some think that computer games are changing...something. It's all just fancied up pong. You know it's true.
- Looking around the Star's "Act of Kindness" section, a forum of unusual smarm, I came across a startling bit of Canadiana:
Many many years ago, my great-great-grandfather came to Canada to help construct the railroads. During the violent "anti-Asian" protests in Vancouver, he was forced to seek refuge at a farm house. One evening, a mob showed up at the farm, and told the family that they would be spared if they offered up my great great grandfather. Instead, the farmer and his sons walked out with rifles in hand, and boldy stated that their guest would be protected at all costs. The mob retreated. Our family still maintains contact with the Coventry family in Vancouver. Their sense of righteousness should be congratulated. Melvin Chow, Toronto
Wow. - Sadness with the loss of an 1858 brewery in Utica NY. Sadder when you know that they contract brewed Brooklyn Brewery's beer.
- If I watched CBC TV, I would now be giving up watching CBC TV.
- Usability and virtual experience? I don't need no stinking usability and virtual experience. I need what I want from the web and then I want gone. Are people realizing that the internet is in fact just a toaster and all these nutty ideas of a new reality are just a joke?
- And, finally, pause a moment for our Prime Minister whose world is falling apart largely though his own failings.
Comments
David Janes - May 30, 2008 9:42 AM
Yes, poor Steve. I'm reminded of the situation of the last Alberta election where the (hostile) press assured us that the PCs where just about to get a well deserved shellacking; and the last US election where CBC commentators were talking about what size Kerry's victory was going to be.
sean liddle - May 30, 2008 10:14 AM
Poor Steve..
I am one who DOES list his WoW guild as an association, just not on resumes. Tonight I am spending a Friday evening killing Orcs with my friends, the same friends as in 1982, doing the same thing we did as 1982, except on a computer over distances totaling 1000' of kilometers instead of across the kitchen table, and possibly with beer.
We only ever had spam when camping and it was decent enough cooked on a hot cast iron pan over an open fire with tea made right in the tea pot. When not in the woods and flavoured with muskol and pine needles that mysteriously find their way into everything, it tastes like greasy cat food.
Alan - May 30, 2008 10:17 AM
David in 2009: "Where did that come from? Who could have seen that comeing???"
David Janes - May 30, 2008 10:32 AM
What's your prediction then? Pony up!
Alan - May 30, 2008 10:34 AM
That is a good exercise. But do you mean now? or in 2009?
David Janes - May 30, 2008 10:47 AM
The next election, whenever it may happen.
Alan - May 30, 2008 11:17 AM
That depends on intervening circs but if all things are the same (and its a what 308 house?) I see:
CPC - 110
Lib - 115
NDP - 37
Bloc - 45
Green - 1
That is a 32% Harper popular vote which is reasonable give NL and ON have lost interest and he has no grow room elsewhere.<p>Useful tool for guesstifications.
sean liddle - May 30, 2008 11:38 AM
I don't see the dippers maintaining a prescence in the house above 32. As much as they are good people for the most part, they are stale politically. The green will after next election bind with the NDP and they will rise in popular support matching whoever is the opposition party next go around.
CPC - 112
Lib - 120
NDP - 31
Bloc - 44
Green - 1
David Janes - May 30, 2008 12:52 PM
CPC 158 (NL-2, NS+1, NB+1, QC+26, ON+6, MB+2)
Lib 92 (NL+2, NS-1, NB-1, QC-5, ON-4, MB-2)
NDP 27 (ON-2)
Bloc 31 (QC-20)
Independent 0 (QC-1)
Hopefully I transcribed that correctly from the spreadsheet. Carbon taxes will alienate many rural ridings due to heating costs, though not in the far north. Quebecers turn on BQ and ignore Liberals; give the CPC a change. NL will probably go solid Liberal, though I'm showing this as a two seat shift. Not much change in the reset of the Atlantic Canada.
Alan - May 30, 2008 12:57 PM
That requires an intervening act of unexpected benefit to Quebec. Right now all we are waiting for is the opposite - the polling showing the CPC popularity drop due to the embarrassment Bernier provides to his nation, given the association with bikers and government all this "don't ask, don't tell" stiff leads to.
Chris Taylor - May 30, 2008 2:04 PM
I don't see much of this sticking to PMSH. Effectively a Hedy Fry faux cross-burners in BC moment. Tremendously embarrassing for M. Bernier, but nothing long-term sticks to the leader who appointed said goofball.
David Janes - May 30, 2008 2:11 PM
I don't think the Bernier thing will have a long term effect in Quebec. You can all have a big larf at me after the next election ... or not ;-) In either case, we should mark the event with Beer.
Alan - May 30, 2008 2:13 PM
<i>In either case, we should mark the event with Beer....</i>
I need an app to add that comment to every thread.
sean liddle - May 30, 2008 2:30 PM
In truth, I think a politico who dates or has a wild and whacky mistress saga in the news, especially with the aforementioned and admired "rack" would do nothing less than gain votes in Quebec for his party. Its very Parisian.
Alan - May 30, 2008 2:43 PM
Note this plus this. Bernier is after these questions. Sad clown is going to be sadder.
Jay Currie - May 30, 2008 3:26 PM
50 Seats!!
Whose?...well somebody is bound to win 50 seats.
Bernier has managed to, simultaneously earn my contempt, sympathy and envy. I don't think it will matter to Steve just so long as he can keep Dion as the head of the Liberal Party. Hell, I suspect Steve himself could be scattering Cabinet documents around an equally well endowed and suspect young lady's apartment and, as long as M. Dion remains Liberal Leader, do just fine in the next election.
Why, I wonder, do we spend a billion dollars a year on a thing which allows us to watch Jeopardy. Ah yes, the Canadian identity, maple leaves, snow and beavers...and the elusive youth audience.
We had one decently warm day in May here in leafy Oak Bay. I blame George Bush.
Pollmaster Central - May 30, 2008 4:06 PM
More in pdf! Check Que stats on page 4 or 5.
David Janes - May 30, 2008 4:13 PM
My post disappeared. Grrrr.<p>[Ed.: <i>What could you be talking about? It's there as plain as my nose.</i>]
David Janes - May 30, 2008 4:36 PM
Hmmm -- it wasn't there for me. Sorry about the images. The links work fine. You've been mostly bad news this year, I think.
Alan - May 30, 2008 4:43 PM
Only on our governance, not our economy. I don't have a handy category for economics other than the ever popular "Stuff and Money Stuff."
Temujin - May 30, 2008 8:52 PM
Uhhh, Isn't Alex Trebek a Canadian?
It's our shared culture that's important. *gag*
Jay Currie - May 31, 2008 1:03 AM
Temujin...Silly me. You are absolutely right. Alex is a Canuck by birth which, no doubt, explains why the bucky beavers there at the Mother Corp found a slot for him.
I stand corrected.
Alan - May 31, 2008 11:02 AM
Why all of a sudden is Harper being presented as a fool rather than a meanie?
sean - June 1, 2008 9:38 AM
"Gen Pepsico"
Because someone who is motivated by misplaced personal ideology in their doings is in truth a fool, and not intentionally an uncaring jackass?
ry - June 3, 2008 7:54 PM
I've got no problem with the ratehr downplayed nature of the softball league, Al. I just wish most parents would figure that out. YOu know. A competitive league and a just for fun league. Instead you've got gung ho parents who ruin leages and namby pamby parents who try to ruin competitive leagues. If'n your kidlet ain't a real tiger you got no reason putting them in certain leagues. YOu're the parent, you should know whether the kid can handle it. This is why I don't coach anymore. It isn't the kids. It's you parents. So few are actually sane.
Alan - June 3, 2008 8:05 PM
That is why I gave up coaching soccer - the parent in the middle of the field telling me that her son should in fact be able to straight arm other kids from behind sending them face first into the turf without any warning. The spouse of said parent held his face in his hands mortified at the spectacle that was playing out before him.
sean liddle - June 4, 2008 9:59 AM
"Bread Avenue"
Sounds like the same tribe of parents that caused me to quit coaching soccer for kids too. That and the parents who seemed to think that one should never keep track of who won and who didn't win. The same parents who seemed to be blind to the fact that the kids kept track. That lack of competition and downplaying of basic human nature to play games and sports to try to win is a prime reason we have such a sucky national team.
David Janes - June 20, 2008 2:18 PM
I'm doubling up.