textorama

I've decided to start espousing the pithy comment, as fourteen posted in one week are quite a few to get through.


February 9th

Luckily enough for Japan, it seems they are a net importer of beef. Or am I mistaken? (Japan to destroy 45 cows suspected of having mad cow disease.)


I've got a cartoon of god with his finger up his arse. Would anyone like to see it? (Controversial cartoons published in PEI. Now was that really necessary?)


Please, oh please, oh pretty please: these election thingamabobs are so much fun, can't we have another one real soon? (Emerson rejects call for resignation. He crossed the floor to become a minister in the new cabinet.)


Taste requires funds but not vice versa. (Edmonton's beauty under siege. I think it's a human disinterest story.)


February 8th

I'm not for a tax, but how about a paperback edition? I'd snap that one up. As far as the financial woes go, my sympathies. Never to have had millions is one thing, but to have had them and lost is so much more. Sort of similar to Mr. Cohen's attitude towards the ladies. I am glad he has found happiness with Ms. Adjani. All we really need is one good woman, isn't that right Mr. Cohen? (Leonard Cohen: Renaissance man. Someone suggested an unofficial poet laureate tax instead of just buying his new book.)


Perhaps if Mr. Harper had been successful in his attempts to get twenty-five other Liberal, NDP and Bloc MPs to cross the floor to become cabinet ministers he would be close to a majority. As it stands, I sit here asking myself 'What federal government?' (Tory MPs angered by Harper's outsiders.)


I hope that everyone who is recommending Mr. Hinzman's return to America has fully investigated the situation. Yes, he volunteered for the army. Are you also aware that the American army has an agressive recruiting campaign promising amongst other things full funding for college, which is a big deal, and such obligations as one weekend a month for national guard members. President Bush never did a tour of duty in Vietnam as he was serving in the air national guard. Iraq is a different story altogether. National guard units are regularly rotated to what many still consider to be a combat zone. Don't believe all the lies and propaganda for once. Why do you think the last presidential election was so close? Lots of Americans are now facing up to some home truths. President Bush effectively acknowledged in his state of the union address last week that it's all about America being 'addicted to oil.' This from a former alcoholic and alleged drug-abuser from Texas. Expect more American ex-servicemen. Why do you think they want to tighten security at Canadian border crossings? To keep us out? (U.S. deserter bids to remain in Canada.)


McCabe comes back from his groin pull and the Leafs start winning again. Try to say that about any other defenseman and his team. All of you Canadians who hate the Leafs should just pick up and move to Columbus right now. Appreciate a legendary team when you see one, and maybe you'll start to enjoy hockey just that little bit more. (Niedermayer withdraws from Team Canada. Five successive ignoramuses didn't understand the meaning of legendary.)


What a timely allegation coming the week before the Olympics begin, and just after the Superbowl. I guess all the damage to football is in the past and all the damage to hockey, in which Canadians hold both Olympic golds, is yet to come. The Americans once again get full marks for poor sportsmanship. (NHL personalities linked to probe of gambling ring, police say.)


February 7th

This is an incredibly sad story. I can't help wondering, though, why the deceased had any notion her friend on the other end of a cell phone conversation could assist her in escaping from a sinking car. Perhaps the emanating signals do affect the brain. My sympathies go out to her family. ('I'm drowning,' and then phone went dead.)


Wow. Concert promoters they might not be, but to get 70 000 people to actually take the time to see the Rolling Stones in concert is an achievement, even if the Tragically Hip also played. I figure 70 000 times 50 dollars or so per ticket winds up at about three and a half million. Perhaps only half of that went to the talent and their crews. That leaves over two million invested in infrastructure with the city on the hook for less than $700 000. If only other levels of government could act so shrewdly. (Moncton loses a bundle on the Rolling Stones. Two people actually agreed with me!)


How can I describe it? There'll be a lot of people moving around, and a lot of different sounds and things kind of hitting your ears and eyes all at the same time. It will be post-modern with a kind of closure. Why would anyone expect a DJ to have anything interesting to say? (The Canadian who'll bring angst to the Turin Olympics. There are only two posted comments. The other guy actually attended a Plastikman event.)


February 6th

A little background on the Canadian Music Hall of Fame might have been nice, such as it's location (is it in the renovated granaries on Toronto harbour?) and it's history (is this the first ceremony for inductees?) Other than that, kudos to Leonard, Anne, Gordon and Willie, who in my mind should be named an honorary Canadian. As for the others, well, good on them too.

As for Jim Aikens, the Globe is an English-language newspaper if you hadn't noticed. (Emotional Cohen enters hall of fame. Jim complained about no reporting of the Francophone inductees.)