NYE Stress

New Year's Eve planning is not going well. We were originally going to go to Barrymore's but weren't able to get tickets. There are now a bunch of us who want a party, but nowhere to host one. Most of our friends have small apartments, and Southie won't do it (boo). I would host, but some of our friends have pansy immune systems and cannot handle dogs & or cats. Going for dinner at 8:30 (late for a Toby). Not sure what will pan out for the night.

Internet withdrawal

For those of you wondering why I've been incommunicado for a while, it
is because I have been without internet. The free wireless wafting in
through my Dad's livingroom window has disappeared. I am now using
Darlene's oldschool iMac (yes, one of the translucent ones) with OS9
and a "lite" internet connection. It is painful.

Ignorance is bliss

I have no idea what is going on in politics or the news!

I am the king of Dad's-neighbour-wireless-theft

Had a rez reunion at the Ship last night. Was tonnes of fun, and lots of people showed up, even though Disco had a competing event(!) Sometimes being a downtowner I forget how much having to drive home sucks. Stupid fun-without-alcohol.

I oh pee

I just watched the Colbert Report and he was cisiting a class at the Institute On Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. What was disturbing for me was (no, not that they all looked 12) that I didn't see one student laugh. Surely Harvard students can't be completely without senses of humour. Even some U of T students can laugh at a joke.

What's in that box?

Yes, JT made me laugh...

Honest Ed. White, rural, Ed

Ed Stelmach has names his first cabinet.

New cabinet team will focus on listening to Albertans and meeting their priorities, says Premier Stelmach

I await Duncan's brief, but I think it's good that he reduced the cabinet size. I'm certainly no expert in Alberta politics but here are some other thoughts:

• Rural white men!
• I assume Duncan is happy. Hancock in Health (and House Leader) must be a good thing
• Only two women? Really?
• Lyle Oberg: Minister of Finance. Oy.
• Ted Morton: Minister of Sustainable Resource Development?

Keith Brownsey has this to say:

"Cabinets are there to represent and this cabinet does little in that regard... I think Mr. Stelmach hasn't read the basic textbooks on how to put a cabinet together."

Ouch

Too Liberal?

Paul Wells prints (types?) a letter from a reader who worries that Dion has gone too hyper-partisan and is not capitalizing enough on his strengths - like his integrity. Two thoughts:

First of all, as Wells points out, Dion's first job is to build up the Liberals internally, and that mean's the Ken Dryden kind of speeches where the Liberals are the only party to truly care about babies and be committed to the non-eating of said babies.

Secondly, and more worrying, is that Dion shares with Harper more than just being really smart. I think he finds it hard to believe that he is wrong or that possibly some other people might be right. He will not hesitate in telling you why you're wrong. That being said, he's not paranoid and mean-spirited like Harper is, so I think it's something he can work on.

Blogger Beta

I actaully had like a 3 page post ready and either Blogger or firefox crashed on me. My money's on Blogger (which is supposed to save drafts). I hate you.

Last night

Pictures from last night's Liberal Christmas Party


With Scott Brison


Dion gets swarmed

Weird

Arrest warrant issued for Myriam Bédard

Conservatives at a whopping 12% in QC

Why is it that, on the very existential questions that cut closest to the distinctive hearts of Quebecers, Quebec's homegrown pundit class is so consistently wildly wrong about the reactions of ordinary Quebecers?

My HTML skillz are not mad

Welcome back mildly offensive holiday template!

You learn something new every day. Generally from Wikipedia.

Christmas Day is not one of the twelve days of Christmas.

From Maggie

grab the book closest to you.
open to page 123, go down to the fifth sentence.
post the text of next 3 sentences, the name of the book, and the author on your blog.
tag three people.

"Oh...yes...yes," he said. "This terrible war. When will it end?"
-Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

I tag Duncan, Jo, Robbie, and anyone else who feels like playing.

MADD Charity

MADD's `exorbitant costs' anger charity's volunteers

MADD rejects critics

Via Toronto Star

I raise you one Power Glove video

Flippity Flop?

This just in: Apparently Giuliano Zaccardelli is now claiming that he did not resign as RCMP Commissioner, but in fact he never held the job in the first place.

Denis Qui?

Favourite headline of the day: Mmm, time for crow, Denis Coderre

James Kim found deceased

James Kim found deceased

Remove rights? Feel free...

Stéphane Dion is not forcing Liberals to vote against the Conservative motion to re-open the debate on same-sex marriage. The consensus from Liberals, and even pro-same-sex marriage Conservatives seems to be that an un-whipped vote will put this issue to rest . Umm, hasn't this issue already been put to rest like three times?

How can you be a member of a party with "liberal" in its name and support taking away Canadians' rights? Why is it that any vote on a spending measure is considered a confidence vote and can bring down the government but MPs can vote on a whim to remove Canadians' rights without any consequences?

A Fool and His Ring Tone Are Soon Pitied

You wouldn't believe how often this happens with me and my SMB ringtone.

Fun at the E.R.

How does 20 hours at the E.R, no food, 2 CT scans, and a spinal tap sound? It wasn't me, but spent the day with a friend at the hospital. All that to find out that everything was a-o.k. Wonder how many tests you need to actually be admitted to a hospital?

Missing

I haven't been reading my gadget-nerd sites because I was busy being a politico-nerd. On November 30 CNET Editor James Kim and his family went missing:

As we understand it, last weekend James, his wife Kati (above right), and his very young girls Penelope (left) and Sabine (baby), drove from their home in the SF Bay Area to Seattle. They were expected back some time Sunday, but were last seen by a hotel clerk at 5:45 PM on Saturday in or between Gold Beach or Portland, Oregon. We sincerely do hope they are all safe, and our hearts go out to the Kim family.

James' wife and kids have been found. They were lost in the wilderness in southwest Oregon while taking a scenic route and stayed warm running their car periodically. James went looking for help and did not return to the car as planned. Searchers have found James' tracks which inexplicably lead into a ravine. They have found heat signatures and believe they are close.

Here is the latest: Searchers think they are nearing missing CNET editor

Crazy Japan

Wii fun

Non-politics!

One big happy family

Hedy Fry in the front benches? That's taking this unity thing a little far.
Seating Chart (pdf)

Pictures

Some pics from the convention:

Escape

I think we might finally be getting out of Montreal. Are there people that don't get continually lost in this city? I haven't met them.
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The 'other' vote

Stelmach? Wow!
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The end

End of the night. There has been a fire alarm at our hotel. Fairmont guests apparently don't take the stairs.
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Victory!

Hooray for skinny nerds!
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Waiting game

Let's play hungry hungry hippos instead.

Mambo No. 5?
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Chretien

Down to 2

I just thanked Mr. Rae, felt a little sad.

I have no idea how Rae delegates are going to go. I'm optimistic of course.

Iggy people are working hard, but sounding desperate.
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Excitement

Rumours abound that Rae will release his delegates.

Kennedy delegates seem fiercely loyal and Dion friendly. I am excited!
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Dion!

I had a chance to say hi to Stephane, which was great. Consensus seems to be that his speech wasn't good (I disagree). Energy is pretty high for the Dionistas now though. Iggy delegates seem desparate and their suite has run out of beer.

Just heard that Poulin is the new LPC President. People seem to think this is a good thing.
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Rumoured results

Iggy 1412
Rae 977
Dion 856
Kennedy 854
Dryden 238
Brison 192
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ZOMFG

I just hung out with The Speaker and drank scotch in the nicest hotel room ever. Then something even cooler... Won't tell yet.
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Iggy montage

Trendy young people!

Bulletin: Iggy first Liberal leader to believe in PSE access

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Rae

Bob's montage was the most rockin'. Metal!
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Kennedy

Tambourines!
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Dion

Dion's speech was great, should have timed it so he didn't get cut off though.

Can someone tell me why J.Trudeau is a big deal?
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Dion

Dion

Hmm, hypocrisy. Dion thundersticks...

I am in the front with the cheerleaders.
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Dryden Speech

Come on Ken, this isn't a great speech.
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Iggy

Iggy's people have thundersticks. Need I say more?

Dryden Speech

Rumours are that Dryden will go to Dion.
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Redman

Karen is currently on a Global panel with Baird. That's gotta be fun.

Volpe's starting. Joy...
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Voting

Brison Speech

My friend Mike must be loving this green Brison.
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Brison Speech

I (heart) Scott
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Dion Rally

Lost in montreal

Where are we?
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Rallies

I keep getting caught in Iggy rallies - wandering bands of effete U of T students - quite annoying. Am now with Dion and the good guys.
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YLC

Young Liberals party was fun. Bedtime now.
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