Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Stenoblogging the news can become dismally boring after a while. I'll try to find some other things to blog about before I lose my mind.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:27 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: Despite the easing of the crisis, the Canadian death toll is now 23.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:15 [ link | top | home ]
News item: FTC joins states in Internet auction scam crackdown.
"Operation Bidder Beware" takes action against auction fraud, the number one Internet-related complaint recorded by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission last year. According to the FTC's news release: "The Federal Trade Commission and 29 state Attorneys General have launched a law enforcement crackdown targeting Internet auction scams that bilked thousands of consumers out of their money and merchandise."
First spammers, now eBay assholes. This is putting a smile on my face.
posted by media_dystopia @ 16:58 [ link | top | home ]
News item: Virginia enacts toughest anti-spam law.
According to Governor Mark Warner's April 29 news release: "Hard-core hackers and spammers -- who produce the most offensive and persistent e-mail solicitations, actually aimed at crippling servers -- will now be faced with a class 6 felony in Virginia, which carries a prison term of between one and five years and a fine."
"Half the world's Internet traffic passes through the Commonwealth of Virginia, so it is appropriate that we give our prosecutors tools to go after this costly and annoying crime," said Warner. "Before this law, legal action was almost not worth the trouble for prosecutors -- which is no message to send to our Internet industry in its fight against the spam invasion."
You know you have a governor who made millions investing in high-tech when he sends spammers to jail.
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:33 [ link | top | home ]
Congratulations to the Ottawa 67's for defeating the St. Michael's Majors and advancing to the Ontario Hockey League finals.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:22 [ link | top | home ]
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Further to yesterday's post: "Cabinet solidarity is there. Mistakes are made once in a while and they are corrected. I've been there, we've all been there," said the prime minister regarding the Sheila Copps-Anne McLellan SARS spat.
"Cabinet solidarity" and "corrected" are nice political euphemisms for "everyone has been told to shut up" and "those responsible have been scolded."
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:54 [ link | top | home ]
News item: Prime minister says pot will be decriminalized soon.
Expect a less than positive reaction from Washington on this issue. Last year, John Walters, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy -- the U.S. drug czar -- called relaxing marijuana laws dangerous and outdated, and threatened Canada with increased border security if Ottawa went ahead with the decriminalization.
Might I suggest that the czar spark up and smoke a doob before he makes the Canada-U.S. relationship go to pot over pot?
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:43 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: Now that the World Health Organization is lifting its travel advisory, Ontario and Toronto can focus on counteracting the world's perceptions. Today Premier Ernie Eves announced that the provincial government's SARS recovery strategy will include "a two-year tourism recovery plan...to rebuild global confidence in Toronto and Ontario as world-class travel destinations," as well as other confidence-building and compensatory measures.
Meanwhile, Air Canada and Jetsgo are offering discount -- even free, in the case of the latter -- flights to Toronto, and Mirvish Productions is offering an "It's Time for a Little T.O." package, which includes a ticket to either The Lion King or Mamma Mia!, a ticket to a Blue Jays game, a three-course meal in a top restaurant, and a one-night stay at a luxurious downtown hotel -- all for $125 per person, or $85 without the room. (Regular price: up to $300.)
On the off-chance that anyone reading this is thinking of visiting Toronto, now might be a cheap time to do it. I already e-mailed my American friends to tell them about the deals. (There, I've done my part.)
Also in SARS-related news, Ambassador Paul Cellucci threw out the first pitch at tonight's sold-out $1-per-ticket Blue Jays game and commented on the city's handling of the disease: "Our Center for Disease Control, the CDC, has been here in Toronto. It's been working with the local health officials, the provincial health officials and the federal health officials. They have monitored the situation and they're very satisfied with what's happened here. SARS is contained and they have said it's safe to travel here. We wanted to emphasize that by coming to the game tonight and helping out this great city."
FARK.com's take on the game: "Toronto Blue Jays sell out after lowering prices to $1 dollar to raise tourism. In other news, 40,000 new cases of SARS expected next week in Toronto."
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:29 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: Oh my god! Ottawa won in overtime!
Irrespective of my previous comments, I caught the third and fourth periods of Game 3 -- and I'm glad that I did. I don't have any nails left, mind you.
posted by media_dystopia @ 22:05 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 22 post: My second impression of the NCIS-focused episode of JAG is the same as my first.
posted by media_dystopia @ 20:56 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: I'm not sure whether it was the Flyers coach calling the Senators a "dirty" team after he won the last game, the Philadelphia fans booing the Canadian anthem -- just a little, but enough (at least that's what it sounded like to me) -- or the Flyers scoring within the first five minutes, but I turned off tonight's game. Sorry, Ottawa; I'm a temperamental fan.
posted by media_dystopia @ 19:34 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 23 post: In response to U.S. requests, Canada will make available police, corrections, and legal officers to train police forces and judges in postwar Iraq, and will expand the role of its three C-130 Hercules transport aircraft in the region. The military's Disaster Assistance Response Team is also available as needed.
According to the prime minister's news release: "Canada is pleased to make this further contribution to help meet the immediate needs of the Iraqi people. We will continue working closely with the international community to determine how best Canada can help Iraq build a future that is secure and stable."
In case anyone cares, Ambassador Paul Cellucci is pleased with Canada's offer of assistance. "We're grateful for the help that Canada will provide in the reconstruction of Iraq," he said. (God help him if he had expressed anything but gratitude -- he has spent all of his political capital in this country thanks to the war.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:11 [ link | top | home ]
Quebec election. Jean Charest, leader of the Parti libéral du Québec, has been sworn in as the province's 29th premier. Congratulations!
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:02 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: After meeting with a Canadian delegation and determining that all the necessary criteria have been met, the World Health Organization announced that it is lifting its six-day-old travel advisory for Toronto, effective tomorrow. (Insert collective sigh of relief from Torontonians here.) The WHO's decision today drove the Canadian dollar up to a new three-year high.
However, because the WHO's travel advisories remain in effect for Hong Kong, Beijing and China's Guangdong and Shanxi provinces, it's being suggested that Canada exerted political pressure to get Toronto's lifted -- no matter how warranted the lifting was. (We must have threatened Geneva with a maple syrup and poutine blockade.)
FARK.com's interpretation: "WHO says Farkers are safe to go to Toronto again to see topless boobies walking the streets again." There are also some interesting MetaFilter comments.
posted by media_dystopia @ 17:41 [ link | top | home ]
BBC News Country Profiles: "Full profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background of countries. They also include audio and video clips from the BBC archives." (Refdesk's Site of the Day.)
I usually consult the CIA's latest edition of The World Factbook.
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:07 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: It's not really related to the playoffs, but the Ottawa Senators are likely to have a new owner soon. According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Toronto pharmaceutical billionaire Eugene Melnyk has reached an agreement with the league and is expected to complete the purchase of the bankruptcy-protected team within a few weeks. The commissioner is convinced that Melnyk, Chairman and CEO of Biovail Corporation, can bring financial stability to the franchise and ensure that it remains in Ottawa.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:24 [ link | top | home ]
Monday, April 28, 2003
SARS update: The number of cases is dropping in Ontario. The crisis seems to be easing.
A delegation of federal and provincial officials, including Ontario's public health commissioner and health minister, is on its way to the World Health Organization's headquarters in Geneva to convince it to lift its travel advisory for Toronto.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:07 [ link | top | home ]
No amount of shuffling will help.
"Playing Card Deck Shows Way to U.S. Regime Change." (Via linkfilter.net.)
"Bush Regime Playing Cards." (Via linkfilter.net.)
You knew this was coming the moment the U.S. released its Iraq "Personality Identification Playing Cards" earlier this month.
posted by media_dystopia @ 22:53 [ link | top | home ]
Coronation watch: Or perhaps a SARS update?
Apparently, Sheila Copps thinks it's wise to use SARS to score political points. Today the Liberal leadership candidate criticized her own government, blaming Health Minister Anne McLellan -- a Paul Martin supporter -- for the delayed federal response to the outbreak.
"I think the minister of health has some answering to do for the way she has been absent from the file," Copps told CBC Newsworld. "Nobody saw her, and at a time in a period when people were wanting to hear a strong voice from the government of Canada, she was absent."
However accurate her comments may be, they come across as cheap politics.
posted by media_dystopia @ 22:08 [ link | top | home ]
NBC's Third Watch just toasted Amy Carlson's character, Alex Taylor. Another network hottie bites the dust.
posted by media_dystopia @ 21:56 [ link | top | home ]
Happy birthday Saddam! Well, somewhat less than happy. That's too bad. (Warning: sarcasm alert.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 15:57 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: The World Health Organization says that SARS has peaked everywhere except China.
In other words, five days after branding Toronto with a travel advisory, the WHO now says the worst is over -- but the advisory stays. The city thanks you.
posted by media_dystopia @ 07:20 [ link | top | home ]
How big is the "USS Voyager" (Intrepid-class starship, Star Trek: Voyager) compared to the "Agamemnon" (Omega-class destroyer, Babylon 5)? If you've ever asked yourself that question, you're a geek and you need to visit 1 Pixel per meter. (Via Blogdex.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 07:16 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: The Toronto Blue Jays have announced a "strategic strike against SARS" by offering $1 tickets to tomorrow's game.
"This is an opportunity to show that Toronto is a vibrant, healthy and active city that's safe to go to," said Blue Jays President and CEO Paul Godfrey. "We know that there are so many Torontonians that are scratching their heads, wondering how the world can say this is an unsafe place. Nobody's hiding behind a closed door, and the people of Toronto understand that. Now it's their opportunity to demonstrate that. We've tried to make it as easy as possible for them to come out."
posted by media_dystopia @ 06:05 [ link | top | home ]
Look up the word "grotesque" in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of Anna Nicole Smith.
posted by media_dystopia @ 05:49 [ link | top | home ]
Many thanks to dave2002: pitas page for the linkage today. (BlogMatcher, a "program that helps people find weblogs that match their interests and find like-minded blogs," coughed up mine.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:58 [ link | top | home ]
News item: Canadian reporter finds documents linking Osama and Saddam.
The three handwritten pages, discovered by the Toronto Star's Mitch Potter in a bombed-out Iraqi intelligence service headquarters, point to a meeting between bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist organization and Hussein's regime. Osama's name was clumsily concealed with corrective fluid and ink.
Who says Canada didn't contribute to the war?
Then again, according to The Observer, not only did The Telegraph discover the documents, but they aren't the smoking gun the U.S. and Britain are hoping for:
Representatives from the Mukhabarat are known to have travelled to Kandahar in the late Nineties to build links with al-Qaeda. Most analysts believe, however, that the ideological differences between the Iraqis and the terrorists were insurmountable. The talks are thought to have ended disastrously for the Iraqis, as bin Laden rejected any kind of alliance, preferring to pursue his own policy of global jihad, or holy war. (Via MetaFilter.)
What kind of sick world do we live in where a religious zealot can't get along with a secular despot? (Warning: sarcasm alert.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 03:22 [ link | top | home ]
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Coronation watch: It's time to pay attention to the Liberal leadership race, which will determine the next prime minister in November, to take over when the current one retires in February, 2004.
Former Finance Minister Paul Martin and current Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister John Manley are the heir apparent -- hence the post's title -- and alternate heir apparent respectively. Heritage Minister Sheila Copps is also in the running, but she isn't the heir to anything.
Today Martin launched his campaign with a town-hall meeting in Montreal. "In recent times, a kind of complacency, a certain drift, has set in and we've lost some of the great energy and enthusiasm that Canadians are looking for," he told the audience. (Transcript: Paul Martin Times.)
Martin also wants to repair the Canada-U.S. relationship, which includes supporting President Bush's "son of Star Wars" defense shield. Said CTV News' Craig Oliver: "I think that is something that we would see very quickly on in a Martin government if there is one -- a dramatic change in our relationship with the United States, and it sounds to me as if he is ready to talk to the Americans about a perimeter border, which is very controversial in Canada."
We already know that the American government likes Paul Martin, so that will help a lot. (For that matter, anyone other than Jean Chrétien will help a lot.) Besides, I suspect that Bush, an American oil man with a Texan accent, will get along a whole lot better with Martin, a Canadian shipping magnate without a French accent. (No, that isn't a failing on our part.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:35 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: The Canadian death toll is now 21. The government plans to appeal Taiwan's decision to bar visitors from SARS-affected countries, including Canada. The World Health Organization, meanwhile, stands by its travel advisory for Toronto despite Canada's vocal opposition to it.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:23 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: Ottawa lost Game 2. Damn that Roman Cechmanek.
posted by media_dystopia @ 22:05 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: The Canadian death toll is now 20.
posted by media_dystopia @ 16:39 [ link | top | home ]
Kuro5hin on the lack of conclusive evidence of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq: "Weapons, Lies, and the United States."
Was the Bush administration and US intelligence wrong about the whole thing, using the possible existence of illegal weapons as a curtain to shield the real reason for war - (oil, revenge, keeping the American public's worries and fear safely away from the shambles that America's economy, freedom, and environmental policy has become)? (sic)
Actually, yes.
posted by media_dystopia @ 15:43 [ link | top | home ]
Many thanks to Manifesto Multilinko for the linkage. And linkage. And linkage. And linkage.
posted by media_dystopia @ 07:05 [ link | top | home ]
It's not broken -- it's Googlelized. Blogger unreliable? No, really? I'm shocked! (Warning: sarcasm alert.)
(Insert sounds of typing www.typepad.com into address bar here.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 06:38 [ link | top | home ]
ABCNews.com's John Cochran on why Iraq was invaded: "Reason for War? White House Officials Say Privately the Sept. 11 Attacks Changed Everything." (Via Blogdex.)
To build its case for war with Iraq, the Bush administration argued that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, but some officials now privately acknowledge the White House had another reason for war -- a global show of American power and democracy.
I'm not sure what to say. Perhaps "blinding glimpse of the obvious" or "world's worst kept secret" or "understatement of the year" or "no shit, Sherlock" or... Nah, I'll go with a nice, simple "duh."
posted by media_dystopia @ 06:37 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 4 post: Now that cross-border tensions have subsided to a certain degree, I've gone back and re-read Mel Hurtig's response to Ambassador Paul Cellucci -- as posted, with permission, at Vive le Canada -- part of his April 4 speech "The Vanishing Country: Is It Too Late to Save Canada?" at the University of Victoria. (Many thanks to Canada Kicks Ass for reminding me about it.)
To be honest, that part of the speech was quite poignant and sensible. A few weeks ago, all I could see were the negative effects it would have on the already-suffering Canada-U.S. relationship. Now I find myself agreeing with a lot of what he said. Go figure.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:18 [ link | top | home ]
Saturday, April 26, 2003
Further to yesterday's post: Mel Lastman's April 24 interview on CNN's NewsNight with Aaron Brown is raising eyebrows in Toronto. Newspaper articles today included "What the Mel's going on here? Lastman fumbles facts about SARS and city on CNN; Councillor says mayor should have been in quarantine" by the Toronto Star's Paul Maloney, and "Lastman's gaffes hurt Toronto" by The Globe and Mail's Jennifer Lewington.
In fact, the latter's front page featured the headline "Lastman's on-air gaffes add to Toronto's woes" below a large still of Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, taken from a segment called "SARS Attacks!" in which the comedian lampooned the mayor. After running a clip of the CNN interview, Stewart said: "You know, I was thinking of going to Toronto, but I've heard the mayor is kind of a dick. By the way, for more information on Toronto, pick up a copy of the mayor's new city guide, Toronto: What the Hell?"
(Jon Stewart is no stranger to Mel Lastman: at the Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, he made fun of the mayor's infamous "I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me" remark made in June, 2001, prior to a trip to Africa to promote Toronto's Olympic bid.)
I would have thought that the first sentences out of the mayor's mouth in the Aaron Brown interview -- "They don't know what they're talking about. I don't know who this group is. I've never heard of them before." -- would have been a hint that he was off on one of his verbal flights of fancy. Let's face it, it can only go downhill after the guy in charge of Canada's largest city announces that he doesn't know who the World Health Organization is.
Mel Lastman sticking his foot in his mouth? No, really? I'm shocked! (Warning: sarcasm alert.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:28 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: The Canadian death toll is now 19.
posted by media_dystopia @ 03:27 [ link | top | home ]
Friday, April 25, 2003
Stanley Cup update: The first game of the second-round series started poorly for the Ottawa Senators, but they came back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on home ice. Woohoo! Go Sens go!
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:22 [ link | top | home ]
invisiblog.com: "invisiblog.com lets you publish a weblog using GPG and the Mixmaster anonymous remailer network. You don't ever have to reveal your identity -- not even to us. You don't have to trust us, because we'll never know who you are." (Via MetaFilter.)
Welcome to blogging for the truly paranoid.
However much I appreciate my own online privacy and security, I do think that having Blogger and my ISP know who I am creates a degree of accountability. Being anonymous shouldn't give someone carte blanche to harass people or to break the law -- libel, threats, hate speech, spam, hacking, whatever.
That being said, if anything were to happen to me as a result of my blog, I would jump on the complete anonymity bandwagon immediately.
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:19 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the March 15 post: The Dixie Chicks are fighting back!
The trio posed nude for the cover of Entertainment Weekly, their bodies painted with the contradictory slogans and epithets -- "Saddam's Angels" and "Dixie Sluts" to name a few -- stemming from lead singer Natalie Maines' anti-Bush quip at a concert. The cover, and interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC's Primetime Thursday, are part of their defiant response to the backlash over their antiwar stance.
I'm glad they have the balls (pardon the expression) to stand up for their beliefs in the face of a McCarthyistic chill on free speech.
posted by media_dystopia @ 05:22 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 23 post: Is TypePad the Blogger slayer?
Guardian Unlimited's Ben Hammersley on TypePad: "Battle of the blog builders." (Via evhead.)
Guardian Unlimited's Ben Hammersley on TypePad (again): "Bloggers tool up." (Via Six Log.)
Hopefully the new upstart will scare the old upstart into action.
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:30 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: It's sadly ironic that the farther away you are from the SARS epicenter, the more anxiety and fear there is.
posted by media_dystopia @ 03:45 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: Health Canada has challenged the World Health Organization's travel advisory for Toronto by sending a formal letter of protest to the UN health agency.
"Yesterday, I was very angry to learn the WHO had issued a travel advisory warning people not to visit Toronto. I was angry because, based on the medical advice of our health officials as well as the advice of the Centers For Disease Control, the actions of the WHO are wrong and irresponsible," said Ontario Premier Ernie Eves. "I am demanding the WHO immediately rescind this advisory because there was no scientific basis for it to be issued."
Interviewed on CNN's NewsNight with Aaron Brown, Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman denounced the WHO and its advisory in no uncertain terms. "They don't know what they're talking about. I don't know who this group is. I've never heard of them before. I had never seen them before. Who did they talk to? They haven't even been to Toronto. They're located somewhere in Geneva. And they haven't talked to us all. They read the papers and sometimes the papers exaggerate. And that's what's happened right here," he said. (Transcript: CNN.)
Previously Lastman had told the media: "I am shocked. The medical evidence before us does not support this advisory. I think they are doing this city and this country a disservice."
Wow. I'm impressed by the WHO's ability to piss off all three levels of government simultaneously.
posted by media_dystopia @ 03:33 [ link | top | home ]
Editor & Publisher's Carl Sullivan on a reporter Denis Horgan ordered to stop blogging: "Hartford Paper Tells Employee to Kill Blog; Should Journalists Give Up Personal Web Sites?" (Via Blogroots: Blognews.)
That is to say, another reporter; last month it was Kevin Sites and Joshua Kucera. The controversy surrounding the former has been tracked by Kevin Sites Mentions. Meanwhile, Online Journalism Review's Susan Mernit -- among many others -- addressed the issue: "Kevin Sites and the Blogging Controversy; CNN war correspondent was told to shut down his popular site, touching off an ongoing debate on blogging as a legitimate form of journalism."
However much I understand the rationale behind it, I think it's hypocritical to order journalists to stop blogging when their well-known colleagues are allowed to accept speaking engagements and interviews where they can seemingly speak their minds -- just ask Bill O'Reilly. It's unsettling when media employment negates personal free speech.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:02 [ link | top | home ]
Thursday, April 24, 2003
News item: BBC chief attacks U.S. war coverage.
"Personally, I was shocked while in the United States by how unquestioning the broadcast news media was during this war," said BBC Director General Greg Dyke at the University of London Goldsmiths College Journalism Symposium.
"If Iraq proved anything, it was that the BBC cannot afford to mix patriotism and journalism. This is happening in the United States and if it continues, will undermine the credibility of the U.S. electronic news media," he added.
The worst offenders, according to Dyke: Fox News Channel and Clear Channel Communications. (Transcript: BBC.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:38 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: According to a member survey conducted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the province's businesses are hurting because of SARS.
Approximately one-third (32%) of respondents indicated that they have experienced a negative impact from SARS. The top three impacts felt by businesses are: 1) Less business activity 2) Cancelled events and 3) Lost customers. The size of the company did not seem to matter.
SARS is a versatile disease: if it doesn't get you in the lungs, it gets you in the wallet.
posted by media_dystopia @ 16:23 [ link | top | home ]
News item: North Korea admits having nuclear weapons.
A source said Gen. Li Gun, North Korea's representative to the talks in Beijing, China, told U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly "blatantly and boldly" that the country has nuclear weapons and then asked, "Now what are you going to do about it?"
It's a whole lot easier to be ballsy when you have nukes. It also helps when your point man is a guy called General Gun.
posted by media_dystopia @ 16:18 [ link | top | home ]
Toronto Star's Linda McQuaig on President Bush wanting closer energy ties with Canada: "U.S. wants to liberate our energy." (Via Straight Goods.)
The good news is that the Canada-U.S. relationship has found sanctuary in the southward flow of energy. The bad news is that sanctuary feels like being stabbed in the back with a spigot.
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:52 [ link | top | home ]
I love Don Cherry and I'm not afraid to admit it! The bombastic, unabashedly Canadian co-host of Coach's Corner on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada is a much-appreciated sports -- and dare I say, cultural -- icon. Sadly, I get the same reaction to him in Canada that I get to syndicated shock jock Howard Stern in the U.S.: people either admire him or revile him. Opinions about Cherry are so polarized that there never seems to be any middle ground. However, I know where I stand: this Canuck says "Go Grapes go!"
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:05 [ link | top | home ]
Many thanks to Path of the Paddle -- home of the cool tagline "As Canadian as possible, given the circumstances." -- for the linkage in its "Worthwhile Blogs" list.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:59 [ link | top | home ]
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Blogger beware! Six Apart, the company behind Movable Type, is introducing TypePad, "a hosted service providing a simple to use, yet full-featured turnkey solution for creating weblogs." (Via Blogroots: Blognews.)
I haven't used Movable Type, but I suspect that the upcoming service will attract a lot of customers unless Dano, the new version of Blogger, is able to fix its ongoing "issues."
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:59 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: By the way, the Canadian death toll is now 16.
posted by media_dystopia @ 15:24 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman was "shocked" at the World Health Organization's travel advisory for the city. "I've never been so angry in my life," said the apoplectic Lastman. "If it's safe to live in Toronto, it's safe to come to Toronto," he declared.
"The facts of the matter do not warrant this decision at this time," said Dr. Sheela Basrur, the city's medical officer of health. She added that it was a "gross misrepresentation of the facts" to link China and Toronto given that the disease isn't spreading through the community. Meanwhile, Dr. Donald Low, chief microbiologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, called the WHO advisory "a bunch of bullshit."
Health Canada also rejected the advisory. "The only way to prevent export is to prevent air travel," said Dr. Paul Gully, the Population and Public Health Branch's senior director general. "We challenge the WHO's assertion that Toronto is an unsafe place to visit."
Also in SARS news, Major League Baseball is recommending that players visiting Toronto not mingle with fans or sign autographs. The British Department of Health has also issued travel advice for people traveling to and from Canada's largest city: "Defer travel to areas where there is, or is thought to be, ongoing transmission of infection."
I think Toronto is going to need a good public relations firm.
posted by media_dystopia @ 15:06 [ link | top | home ]
ProBush.com: "President of the United States of America, George Walker Bush."
Its motto, courtesy of the president's speech writers: "I had made it clear to the world that either you're with us or you're with the enemy, and that doctrine still stands." Its current poll: "Let's scrap the United Nations and work on building a new institution based on OUR VALUES!" Its reminder: "If you do not support our president's decisions you are a traitor to our country!"
Some things are just too scary to put into words.
posted by media_dystopia @ 14:10 [ link | top | home ]
You can't go wrong with a beaver and a guy in a bear suit. Kudos to the Canadian Magazine Publishers Association for its "Genuine Canadian Magazine" ad campaign, part of this year's National Circulation and Promotion Program. The television commercial for it was excellent. I just about pissed myself laughing when the guy in the bear suit -- the mascot -- was kicked in the crotch. That and the mumbling beaver chewing a Maple Leaf into a magazine. Hilarious!
posted by media_dystopia @ 13:55 [ link | top | home ]
It's 1 C -- -5 C with wind chill -- and snowing in Ottawa. No comment.
posted by media_dystopia @ 13:41 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 18 post: The U.S. has asked Canada to send police or military ground forces to Iraq within 30 days. The government is discussing the diplomatic request; it's considering sending a contingent of RCMP and perhaps the military's Disaster Assistance Response Team. However, Canada's commitments to Afghanistan and to UN peacekeeping missions are likely to preclude sending other ground forces.
posted by media_dystopia @ 08:57 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: The World Health Organization has extended its SARS-related travel advice to Toronto.
As a result of ongoing assessments as to the nature of outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Beijing and Shanxi Province, China, and in Toronto, Canada, WHO is now recommending, as a measure of precaution, that persons planning to travel to these destinations consider postponing all but essential travel. This temporary advice, which is an extension of travel advice previously issued for Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China will be reassessed in three weeks time.
To say that Canada's largest city is facing image problems is an understatement.
posted by media_dystopia @ 08:41 [ link | top | home ]
Montreal Gazette freelancer Lisa Fitterman on when nursing your baby becomes an act of terror: "Breast-feeding in a time of war." (Via Blogdex.)
Deborah Wolfe, a Canadian citizen who was just breast-feeding her son and changing his diaper while en route between Houston and Vancouver, says her "subversive" actions led to her being threatened with detainment, RCMP involvement and legal charges for terrorist action against a U.S. citizen in international airspace while on an American flight during a time of war.
Holy shit. Remind me never to fly Continental Airlines. (Is anyone else getting an Anger Management vibe from this?)
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:48 [ link | top | home ]
American Crusade 2001+ Trading Cards: "President Bush tried his bestest to simplify the picture as Good vs. Evil, but it's still a jumble! Who knew all those crazy Dorkistan countries even existed?! Now The Infinite Jest rides to the rescue with a set of educational trading cards. Fun to collect! Fun to trade! Fun to drain a box of inkjet cartridges!" (Via The Presurfer.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:13 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 14 post: Visit TheInformationMinister.com and create your own propaganda featuring the former Iraqi mouthpiece. (Via The Presurfer.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:02 [ link | top | home ]
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
SARS update: The Canadian death toll is now 15. There are 324 cases across the country, including 136 probable and 125 suspect in Ontario, most in the Greater Toronto Area.
Sadly, Toronto is becoming a pariah and its economy is suffering. Today, Crystal Cruises banned residents from its ships, and although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention went there to help fight the disease, it has issued an Interim Travel Alert for the city, scaring even more American travelers away.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:10 [ link | top | home ]
Draft Clark: "A netroots petition asking Wesley Clark to run for President in 2004." (Via linkfilter.net.)
Yes, but where's his blog? You can't be a Democratic candidate unless you have a blog.
posted by media_dystopia @ 22:51 [ link | top | home ]
Ozzy's back! Tonight is the season premiere of The Osbournes on CTV. The Canadian network is well behind MTV in airing the second season, but the trade-off is that the vast majority of the foul language is left un-bleeped. Woohoo!
posted by media_dystopia @ 22:01 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: The Philadelphia Flyers eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (Series D). Sadly, it wasn't even close: Toronto got trounced 6-1. As Don Cherry of Coach's Corner put it: "That was a disgrace."
The bad news: no "401 series." The good news: no "401 series" -- a team other than Toronto gets to eliminate Ottawa in the second round this year (pardon my pessimism).
posted by media_dystopia @ 21:30 [ link | top | home ]
JAG II? CBS may be creating a spin off of JAG, this time about the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Judging from the NCIS Web site, the "worldwide federal law enforcement organization whose mission is to protect and serve the Navy and Marine Corps and their families" likes the two-part episode of JAG, called "Ice Queen" (tonight) and "Meltdown" (next week):
On April 22 and April 29, JAG will introduce NCIS to millions of viewers. The two episodes of JAG will star Mark Harmon as a veteran NCIS Special Agent who is handpicked by the Director of NCIS to investigate a high-profile murder case while also participating in the arrest and interrogation of a terrorist. Harmon will be teaming with actress Robyn Lively, who plays the role of a former FBI agent who joined NCIS after her brother was killed in the attack on the USS Cole. Actor Michael Weatherly is also featured as a former Baltimore cop turned NCIS agent.
My first impression of tonight's pilot -- if indeed that's what it was -- is that the new show is JAG meets CSI, but with lousy characters.
Follow-up: Navy NCIS premiered September 23.
posted by media_dystopia @ 20:33 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: Tonight's Toronto-Philadelphia game will decide who Ottawa faces in the next round. Problem is, I don't know who to root for.
On the one hand: Another "401 series" -- named for the highway connecting Toronto and Ottawa -- would be really exciting and beneficial to both cities. And let's face it, as a Canadian and Ontarian, it's hard not to root for Toronto.
On the other hand: Toronto eliminating Ottawa from the playoffs has almost become a yearly event -- and a depressing one at that. If Philadelphia wins tonight, the Senators won't have the suffer the indignity of choking and fueling the Maple Leafs' superiority complex for another year. They can't succumb to the "401 jinx" if they don't play Toronto.
So I'm torn. Is it okay if I wait until the end of the game to decide who to cheer for? No? Okay, let me think about it. Sigh.
posted by media_dystopia @ 17:49 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the previous post: I created a temporary blog to play around with Dano. My first impression of the "Blogger platform of the future": same features, new interface. In other words: same house, new paint job. I'm thrilled. (Warning: sarcasm alert.)
I'm afraid that I'll only be sold on Dano if it delivers the promised fixes, starting with the archives -- which, in my case, have been broken close to five months.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:13 [ link | top | home ]
Oh Dano boy, the blogs, the blogs are calling... Dano, the new version of Blogger, is coming soon. (Yes, I know I'm lagging behind the Blogosphere on this.)
Pyra Labs/Google has decided to skip fixing the old Blogger and go straight to creating something with "completely re-designed code." According to the Dano FAQ, the new Blogger will fix, among other things, the missing/mislabeled archives: "Archiving in particular was a troublesome area that's been redone and expanded, so no more misposted archives."
This is great news. However, I'm a little miffed that I had to find out about it via Scripting News (and other blogs) instead of the company itself. What's wrong with letting people know via Blogger, Blogger Pro, Status.Blogger.Com, BloggerControl, or even Google? Pyra's greatest expertise seems to lie with its inability to communicate with its customers, including those who pay for its services -- like me.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:29 [ link | top | home ]
Monday, April 21, 2003
Stanley Cup update: Toronto won. Game 7 will decide the series.
posted by media_dystopia @ 22:52 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: What do you call a Toronto doctor listed as a probable SARS case who breaks quarantine to go to a funeral and church service?
"Obnoxious, threatening and belligerent," said Dr. Hanif Kassam, acting medical officer of health for the York region (just north of Toronto), describing the physician's reaction to the quarantine order. The man, who works in the "upper levels" of the health-care system, was symptomatic when he went out into the community over the weekend. He joins a Toronto nurse, who rode two commuter trains while symptomatic, in exposing hundreds of people to the disease.
Personally, I would add the words "fired" and "unemployed" to both of these so-called "professional" health-care workers. No wonder we're having such a hard time getting a handle on SARS: even those who should know better are breaking quarantine. (Insert much eye-rolling, head-shaking, and sighing here.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:02 [ link | top | home ]
Lloyd Robertson, chief anchor and senior news editor of CTV News, on the war's effect on the Canada-U.S. relationship: "Reflections on neighbourly relations." (Via Canada Kicks Ass.)
The fog of war is now lifting and we have a chance to pause and reflect on our contacts with our best friend, closest neighbour and largest trading partner. It is a complex relationship but one that should always allow us to exercise our sovereign and democratic rights while respecting the other side for the same reasons.
A nice overview of everything that's been going on.
posted by media_dystopia @ 10:17 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 16 post: It's hard to blog when one's spare time is comprised of either coughing fits or sleep.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:24 [ link | top | home ]
Kuro5hin on the Alberta tar sands: "World's largest oil reserve."
So, American consumers want to boycott Canadian products because of our antiwar stance? Good thing they just got their hands on a new source of crude oil, eh?
Sorry, I couldn't resist some jovial cynicism.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:44 [ link | top | home ]
Sunday, April 20, 2003
Why kiss babies when you can blog? Between the Howard Dean 2004 Call to Action Weblog -- plus fan blog Howard Dean 2004 -- and Gary Hart: Restoring the American Republic, it appears as though the Democrats have jumped on the blogging bandwagon.
Then again, wasn't it former vice president Al Gore who said, "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet"? Perhaps a corollary of that is that he, a Democrat, is responsible for the Blogosphere. In that case, it makes sense that the two presidential candidates have made blogs part of their campaigns.
posted by media_dystopia @ 03:33 [ link | top | home ]
Howard Dean on undoing what the president has done: "Bush: It's Not Just His Doctrine That's Wrong"; published by Common Dreams. (Via Blogdex.)
Theirs is a radical view of our role in the world. The President who campaigned on a platform of a humble foreign policy has instead begun implementing a foreign policy characterized by dominance, arrogance and intimidation. The tidal wave of support and goodwill that engulfed us after the tragedy of 9/11 has dried up and been replaced by undercurrents of distrust, skepticism and hostility by many who had been among our closest allies.
I think this helps to add some context to the strained Canada-U.S. relationship.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:33 [ link | top | home ]
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Stanley Cup update: Toronto lost. No comment.
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:16 [ link | top | home ]
Just a representative sampling...
BBC - Doctor Who Homepage
| The Classic Series
Outpost Gallifrey
| Outpost Gallifrey Recommended Links
Doctor Who Reference Guide
| Doctor Who Links
Gallifrey5
| Recommended Web Links
The Doctor Who Appreciation Society
| Paul Harman's Web Guide
The Doctor Who Home Page
| The Doctor Who WWW Pages
Planet Who
I miss the show. There was nothing quite like it. (By the way, Tom Baker was my favorite Doctor.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 05:06 [ link | top | home ]
Revoke the Oscar: "Revoke the Oscar for Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine which by Academy rules is not a documentary." (Via MetaFilter.)
Not having seen the film/documentary, I can't comment. Then again, I would revoke his Oscar on the basis of his insulting acceptance speech alone. (I don't like the current president and even I hated Moore's anti-Bush rant.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:53 [ link | top | home ]
Friday, April 18, 2003
News item: U.S. asks Canada to help in post-war Iraq.
The government is considering how to respond to the request for participation in the "relief, reconstruction and stabilization of Iraq." The prime minister has previously said that this could include sending RCMP officers.
Ambassador Paul Cellucci said that he understands why Canada won't be able to send troops in response to the request. "On the military, we're aware of the commitment to Afghanistan this summer, so we understand that that's a big commitment for the Canadian Forces," he said.
Participation in post-war Iraq -- in addition to the $100 million in humanitarian aid already pledged -- could help repair the damaged Canada-U.S. relationship.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:47 [ link | top | home ]
The Globe and Mail's Shawn McCarthy on Ambassador Paul Cellucci not staying mad at Canada for very long: "Forgive, forget; it's good for business. Canada's resources help soothe U.S. anger." (Via Manifesto Multilinko.)
It looks like the Canada-U.S. relationship can find sanctuary in the southward flow of Canadian oil, natural gas, and other energy. Perhaps the ambassador should tour his own country and explain the phrase "key source of secure oil supplies" to American consumers who want to boycott Canadian products because of our antiwar stance.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:38 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the March 26 post: Fleishman-Hillard has released a follow-up to its March 31 survey: "American Consumers Split Over Substitutions and Boycotts of French, German, and Canadian Products; Second "Trade Winds" Survey Finds Some Attitudes Harden While Many Consumers Express Concern U.S. Boycotts Will Backfire; Knowledge of French and German Brands Strong; Americans Say Stock Selections Are Affected."
I'm not sure which is more disturbing: American consumers boycotting Canadian products -- they do realize that Canada is the third largest exporter of crude oil to the U.S., right? -- or 25 percent of them thinking that Molson is German and 37 percent thinking that Labatt's is French. (Isn't the apostrophe a giveaway?)
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:27 [ link | top | home ]
Many thanks to J-Log for the linkage in its "Recommended Sites" list.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:56 [ link | top | home ]
How exactly does "hilarity ensue"?
1) CNN accidentally exposes obituary mock-ups to the Internet.
2) FARK.com and The Smoking Gun are lying in wait.
3) FARKers expose their own obituary mock-ups to the Internet.
4) CNN blames human error.
Et voilà!
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:28 [ link | top | home ]
Firecrasher: "Dedicated to Melissa auf der Maur."
Because seeing her in the video for Indochine's latest single, "Le Grand Secret," reminded me how beautiful she is.
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:57 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the November 26 post: Another possible sighting of the Home Depot tiling woman, this time in a Milky Way commercial. Woohoo!
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:31 [ link | top | home ]
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Further to the earlier post: Suffice it to say, I'm a tad more worried about SARS spreading to Ottawa now that 450 people have been quarantined in Montreal, a two-hour drive away.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:43 [ link | top | home ]
Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan on blogging versus journalism: "Sites are blogged down in controversy." (Via Blogdex.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 22:29 [ link | top | home ]
Further to yesterday's post: Even if "Comical Ali," the "Iraqi Disinformation Minister," did commit suicide, he will live on in the form of a talking action figure made by Herobuilders.com. (Via FARK.com.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 21:59 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: The Ottawa Senators eliminated the New York Islanders in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (Series A). Go Sens go!
posted by media_dystopia @ 21:39 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the January 1 post: "Hurry! Don't miss your last chance to own Toy Story and Toy Story 2. Disney/Pixar will stop selling these titles on May 1, 2003." Screw Disney's marketing techniques. It should hang its corporate head in shame for beleaguering parents and spreading consumer panic to children -- again!
posted by media_dystopia @ 16:54 [ link | top | home ]
News item: U.S. plans border exemption for Canada.
Ambassador Paul Cellucci told the The Globe and Mail that Washington plans to exempt Americans and Canadians from a law requiring the tracking of all entries to and exits from the U.S. by 2005 -- something the Chrétien government has been lobbying for to avoid impeding trade and tourism. "We still have some more legal work to do, but it looks like U.S. and Canadian citizens would not be subject to the entry-exit," he said.
First Powell; now Cellucci. Did someone spike the water or something? Don't get me wrong -- I like what I'm hearing. In fact, it's a welcome relief (albeit an eerie one).
posted by media_dystopia @ 13:19 [ link | top | home ]
Regarding SARS... I haven't said very much about SARS; just a few updates here and there. I think it's because it's so unusual for Canadians to be experiencing a health emergency involving a communicable disease. In a way, it's kind of surreal -- bizarre even. I think we're all experiencing a degree of incredulity as we adjust to this new reality, which some people are referring to as the 9-11 of viruses.
All I can really say for sure is that I hope that SARS and its economic consequences -- to both the affected communities and to the health-care system -- are contained as soon as possible, that it's scary and unfortunate that Toronto is the North American epicenter of the disease, and that I'm worried that Ottawa's relative proximity to Toronto -- a five-hour drive away -- and the frequency of business- and government-related travel between the two cities means that the capital region is destined to be hit by an outbreak of its own.
posted by media_dystopia @ 12:33 [ link | top | home ]
SARS update: Ontario is reporting 123 probable and 128 suspect cases of SARS, all centered in the Greater Toronto Area. Thirteen people have died. Over 10,000 residents have been ordered into voluntary quarantine since the start of the outbreak, with 1,500 currently isolated. After the incident with the HP employee and other exasperating behavior, health officials are considering using electronic tracking bracelets to ensure that people stay in isolation. Toronto's economy, particularly tourism, is suffering because of the outbreak. With CNN airing CTV reports from the city, even more Americans are likely to avoid it.
Say, aren't the words "ordered" and "voluntary" mutually exclusive? Just wondering.
posted by media_dystopia @ 12:09 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 15 post: CNN has changed the theme of its war coverage to "The New Iraq." That's a pretty good indication that Gulf War II is over.
posted by media_dystopia @ 12:06 [ link | top | home ]
Not so happy anniversary. One year ago today, four Canadian soldiers were killed and eight wounded in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan. The two American pilots responsible for bombing the Canadians are not likely to face court martial.
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:20 [ link | top | home ]
Happy anniversary! On this day in 1982, the Consitution Act, 1982, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, came into force.
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:15 [ link | top | home ]
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Stanley Cup update: Toronto lost. No comment.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:50 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 12 post: It's amazing how being under the weather saps one's garrulousness. (Insert cough here.) At least I'm being succinct. (Insert coughing fit here.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:41 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: Ottawa won. Yay!
posted by media_dystopia @ 21:42 [ link | top | home ]
Stephanie Matteis, host of Ottawa Citizen City Desk on Rogers Television, is hot. Real hot.
Oops, I slipped into "typical male pig" mode there. My apologies.
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:24 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 14 post: Say it isn't so! Our favorite spin man may have committed suicide. (Via The Presurfer.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 17:50 [ link | top | home ]
The Homeland Security Advisory has been lowered to Elevated/Yellow: "Significant Risk of Terrorist Attacks." The Department of Homeland Security reminds you to remain wary of Canadians, particularly golfers -- Darth Ridge wants the green jacket back where it belongs -- curlers, and hockey players. Thank you for your attention loyal citizens. (Warning: sarcasm alert.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 15:32 [ link | top | home ]
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Powell plays good cop. Is Secretary of State Colin Powell signaling a thaw in Canada-U.S. relations? Today in his Foreign Press Center Briefing he said:
I think where we're going is to a postponement of the visit and we'll schedule the visit a little bit later on in the year. So, we had to cancel this date. We haven't canceled the visit. It's been put off. I hope it will be rescheduled in the early fall period.
Obviously, we were disappointed in the initial Canadian response to the conflict, but I am confident that now that we are in the reconstruction and humanitarian phase, that Canada is in a unique position to provide assistance, financial or other forms of assistance, and I look forward to working with my colleague, Foreign Minister Bill Graham, and I know that the President looks forward to working with Mr. Chrétien as we move into the future.
Canada and the United States are, frankly, inseparable. We occupy this one huge land along with our neighbors to the south in Mexico. And differences will come along, disagreements will come along, but our two nations are bound strongly by common values, by common history and a common lineage, so we will get over whatever disappointments have existed in recent weeks.
Powell's comments were welcomed by Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham, who quoted the "inseparable" line in one of his own speeches. He also said that Canada-U.S. relations are solid and that the president's cancelled trip should not be seen as a snub.
Wow! Has there been a reprieve for the Canada-U.S. relationship? Is Powell playing the governor calling moments before the executioner throws the switch?
posted by media_dystopia @ 20:32 [ link | top | home ]
Saddam gay porn shocker! (Via Blogdex.)
Yeah, right. If this had been true, Washington conservatives would have been all over it: "He's one of "those"! We have to save those poor heterosexual Iraqis!"
Then again, it would have put that Gulf War I-era video of him patting the head of the young "human shield" into context. "Come here, little boy. Come to Uncle Saddam." (No, I'm not associating homosexuality with pedophilia; I'm just doing my best to make fun of the former Iraqi leader.)
Whatever would the Internet do without the Weekly World News?
posted by media_dystopia @ 13:30 [ link | top | home ]
Gulf War II has ended. Mostly. The war part, at least -- and what a whimper it was. In fact, it was so anti-climactic that I missed it yesterday -- day 25 of "Operation Iraqi Freedom" -- when the Pentagon announced the end of "major combat" in Iraq, following the defenders' less-than-impressive last stand in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit. "The regime is at its end, and its leaders are either dead, surrendered, or on the run," said Pentagon Spokeswoman Victoria Clarke; all that's left is "rooting out remnants of the Iraqi regime."
Now the focus is the "new Iraq" and its reconstruction. Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites are meeting to discuss, among other things, the establishment of an interim Iraqi authority. "Gradually, the indications of every-day life are returning in Iraq, and the Iraqis are adjusting to the freedom from the tyranny of the regime," said CENTCOM's Brigadier-General Vince Brooks. (Their first adjustment: looting and lawlessness, including the destruction and theft of priceless antiquities. Lovely.)
Therefore, short of some "pockets of resistance," there won't be any more live videophone feeds from embedded reporters in the middle of firefights. Oh well...
posted by media_dystopia @ 10:13 [ link | top | home ]
Canuck go home! Malaysia has joined Libya in banning Canadian tourists because of SARS.
For additional information about the disease, visit www.sars.gc.ca (courtesy of Health Canada).
posted by media_dystopia @ 06:51 [ link | top | home ]
Well Known Canadians: "Well Known People Who Happen to be Canadian." (Via linkfilter.net.)
We're an insidious bunch, aren't we? Don't worry, we're not a threat. Except Céline Dion. She's a threat to your senses. Our apologies. Please don't send her back.
posted by media_dystopia @ 03:57 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the February 15 post: Some more Genesis lyrics that seem apropos these days, this time from Trespass' "The Knife":
Some of you are going to die,
martyrs of course to the freedom that I shall provide.
No, I'm not obsessed with the band. I'm just on a bit of a classic Genesis kick at the moment.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:18 [ link | top | home ]
Monday, April 14, 2003
Further to yesterday's post: President Bush will not go to Ottawa on May 5, but will go to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, to meet Prime Minister Howard of Australia on May 2-3. Canada: against the war. Australia: coalition member. Could it be any more obvious? Hello, Mr. Snub!
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:13 [ link | top | home ]
Quebec election. And the winner is...
party (leader): # seats / % of popular vote (rounded)
(with 63 seats out of the 125 needed for a majority)
PLQ (Jean Charest): 76 / 46%
PQ (Bernard Landry): 45 / 33%
ADQ (Mario Dumont): 4 / 18%
Other: 0 / 3%
Finally, my opinion: Yeah, baby! Woohoo! Let me put that in some hockey lingo for soon-to-be-ex-Premier Bernard Landry: Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye!
I couldn't be happier. First of all, in addition to being an eloquent and erudite politician who has the makings of a great premier, Jean Charest is an honest-to-goodness nice guy. More importantly to those of us in the rest of Canada who care about this sort of thing, the Liberal leader a staunch federalist. That means that the vote will stave off the destruction of Canada for a little while longer. Whatever specific reasons residents had for voting the way they did, the election results are ultimately a big "fuck you" to the separatist Péquistes and their dreams of Quebec sovereignty.
Thank you, Mr. Charest! And congratulations!
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:02 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: Both Toronto and Ottawa won in double-overtime and now lead their series 2-1. Whew!
posted by media_dystopia @ 22:57 [ link | top | home ]
Quebec election. It's looking very good for Jean Charest: both CTV and CBC are declaring a Liberal majority. There's a ticker at the bottom of the screen -- yes, I'm enjoying my regular Monday-night fare, Third Watch -- and all I'm seeing are the words "Liberal: Elected" and "Liberal: Leading" next to the names of ridings.
posted by media_dystopia @ 21:25 [ link | top | home ]
I stumbled upon Medical Intelligence, a health and medicine talk show on Rogers Television. I kept staring at the screen, asking myself why Jill Hennessy of NBC's Crossing Jordan was hosting a cable access show back home in Canada -- and then I figured out that it was her twin sister, Jacqueline. It threw me off because it's rare that identical twins are both in the media like that.
posted by media_dystopia @ 15:40 [ link | top | home ]
Pentagon Spokeswoman Victoria Clarke has got to learn to dress appropriately. She is speaking to the international press about somber subjects wearing clothing that is anything but. I'm sorry, but a bright pink outfit just doesn't go well with announcing the deaths of soldiers. It's also an eyesore next to a general in a dress uniform.
Then again, I'm no fashion expert; I can barely dress myself.
posted by media_dystopia @ 13:41 [ link | top | home ]
Oh my god. Syria is next? (Even more shocking: Helen Thomas may have been right.)
Allegedly harboring Iraqi leaders. Apparently aiding and abetting terrorists. Supposedly conducting chemical weapons programs. Throw in some American spite towards Syria's opposition to the war in Iraq and you've got the blueprint for another UN-less "liberation."
Pardon my tone, but unless you live in the U.S., you have to have some degree of concern about being the next country in line for "liberation" by the hawkish Republican administration and its dreams of "Pax Americana" or whatever else the folks at The Project for the New American Century are whispering in its ears.
By the way, the "liberation" of Iraq will go back to being the "disarmament" of Iraq as soon as the U.S. gets around to confirming the presence of weapons of mass destruction. (Eleven mobile bio-chem labs have been found buried south of Baghdad, but it will take time to inspect and test them.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 13:29 [ link | top | home ]
Further to yesterday's post: Matthew Fisher has taped some audio reports from Tikrit, Iraq, for CNN. Like yesterday's live interviews, they were quite excellent. I liked the part about Saddam's own soldiers "pre-looting" the palaces before Iraqi civilians could. Among the items taken: "Saddam Hussein stationary, and the collected works of Saddam Hussein -- all ten volumes." I can see why CNN likes his reports.
posted by media_dystopia @ 13:17 [ link | top | home ]
Iraqi Information Ministry: "Welcome to the official English language site of the esteemed Iraqi Information Ministry. Through these difficult times my ministry strives to bring fair and balanced information about our homeland and the events taking place within it. In a world polluted by the propaganda of the pig-dog Bush administration in the USA, we thank you for visiting us today to seek the true picture of events in Iraq." (Via The Presurfer.)
Another site in praise of Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, the Ayatollah of Propaganda (pardon the Shiite Muslim in-joke), who has gone "from Iraqi mouthpiece to Internet icon," as CBS News put it. Or perhaps the "wacky" Iraqi information minister, wherever he may be, would prefer the title of "Web star" conferred on him by Wired News. (Via Blogdex.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 11:14 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 7 post: Blogsworth has updated her site and included an e-mail address.
Follow-up: No updates in a year means a long-overdue removal from my blogroll.
posted by media_dystopia @ 10:22 [ link | top | home ]
Quebec election. Yes, it's that time again in La Belle Province. As voters head to the polls this morning, Jean Charest of the Parti libéral du Québec (PLQ) is in the lead (barely) over Premier Bernard Landry of the Parti Québécois (PQ), with Mario Dumont of the Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ) in a distant third.
Although I haven't been following the election campaign, I do have some very strong opinions about the outcome. However, seeing as though the polls are opening soon, I will keep my thoughts to myself so as to not influence any readers across the river. All two of you. If that. As if I had any chance of influencing anyone in the first place. Nevertheless, I'll wait until the results come in after the polls close to express my opinions.
posted by media_dystopia @ 07:41 [ link | top | home ]
LG Electronics is flogging an "internet refrigerator." Because the fridge door is the most convenient place in the world to surf the Web. "Let go! You can get your damn milk after I've checked my e-mail! Shut up and eat your cereal without it!"
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:50 [ link | top | home ]
Sunday, April 13, 2003
Further to yesterday's post: Yes, the snub is a go. The prime minister has confirmed it. However, as expected, Jean Chrétien remains hopeful that the president will make it to Ottawa before he leaves 24 Sussex Drive next February, and is putting a "Bush is busy with the war" spin on it. White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer added to the PM's sugar-coating with his "Postponement of the President's Trip to Canada" statement:
After consultations, the U.S. and Canadian governments have decided to postpone President Bush's May 5 State Visit to Ottawa. The postponement is due to the President's ongoing obligations to help the people of Iraq build a nation that is whole, free and at peace. President Bush and Prime Minister Chrétien look forward to accomplishing these goals that both share.
Does anyone seriously believe that the Canadian government was in on the decision and that this wasn't related to Canada's antiwar stance and the anti-Americanism of Liberal MPs? If so, I've got some swampland in Florida for you.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:50 [ link | top | home ]
World Curling Championships update: For the second year in a row, and the third time in four years, Canada's Randy Ferbey has won the men's gold medal. His rink defeated Switzerland's Ralph Stöckli 10-6.
This is great news, and certainly helps swallow Colleen Jones' silver medal win. However, I won't get into the round robin stats because, like yesterday, they probably won't make any sense to me.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:35 [ link | top | home ]
News item: Mike Weir wins at Augusta.
He becomes the first Canadian golfer ever to win the prestigious Masters Tournament.
Congratulations, Mr. Weir! I'll leave it at that because I have the same reaction to golf which a lot of people have to curling: don't play, don't watch, don't care. (The folks are FARK.com do, though.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:26 [ link | top | home ]
It's not broken -- it's Googlelized. The last three posts were written in EditPad and posted after the fact because of an extended Blogger/Blog*Spot outage. (Status.Blogger.Com addressed the "serious problem" once it was resolved.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 12:09 [ link | top | home ]
Now that TNT is the only U.S. channel carrying syndicated Law & Order episodes, other AOL Time Warner networks have been airing commercials advertising that fact. I've been a Law & Order fan for many years and was upset when A&E replaced it with Third Watch (although I've since grown fond of that show as well). Problem is, TNT isn't available in Ottawa, a fact I'm reminded of -- quite cruelly I might add -- every time I see one of those commercials.
posted by media_dystopia @ 10:35 [ link | top | home ]
There are EverQuest ringtones. That's just sad.
posted by media_dystopia @ 10:35 [ link | top | home ]
Seven ecstatic families. I've been watching CNN's -- no, I haven't sworn it off since its reporter-bashing -- "breaking news" of the release of the seven U.S. army PoWs in Iraq. First of all, let me say that I honestly thought that the Iraqi military would execute them as a final gesture of defiance. This is one instance where I'm very happy to be wrong. I hope that they're are reunited with their loved ones as soon as possible, and that the remaining six MIAs are found safe and sound.
Anchors Heidi Collins and Leon Harris have been talking to Bob Franken and other network correspondents. Franken had taped the seven with a videophone -- although wasn't allowed to air it live -- as they were being loaded into a plane to fly to Kuwait.
Also interviewed several times by satellite phone was Canadian reporter Matthew Fisher of The National Post (and other CanWest Global newspapers). He just happened to be embedded with a company of U.S. Marines securing an area south of Tikrit when an Iraqi police officer approached the Americans and ushered them to the PoWs -- "a wonderful accident" and "most fortuitous" as he put it.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well Fisher did on CNN; most of the on-air interviews with print journalists I've watched so far have been lackluster. (I suppose that's to be expected given that most of them are fish out of water in the world of broadcast journalism.) I really appreciated his detailed accounts; they were eloquent and poignant -- and a credit to Canadian journalism. Kudos, Mr. Fisher.
posted by media_dystopia @ 10:34 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 10 post: Apparently, officials are considering laying charges against the moron who broke quarantine and exposed his co-workers to SARS. That would certainly help curb people's stupidity.
The disease has now claimed 13 victims in Canada, all in the Greater Toronto Area. Please, as always, do not panic. (He says while hacking up a lung.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:35 [ link | top | home ]
Saturday, April 12, 2003
World Curling Championships update: Canada's Colleen Jones lost the women's gold medal to U.S.A.'s Debbie McCormick. Final score: 5-3.
Have I got this straight? The first-place rink -- with a 9 win 0 loss record in the round robin -- loses one game the entire championships and gets silver, but the third-place rink -- with a 5 win 4 loss record in the round robin -- wins 60 percent of its games and gets gold? Huh? I think it's time for curling to adopt a hockey-style best-of-seven system for its finals.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:53 [ link | top | home ]
Snub is a go? It's being reported that President Bush has indeed postponed his state visit to Canada in May because of the country's antiwar stance and anti-American comments made by Liberal MPs.
The prime minister insisted that there hasn't been any word from Washington about the cancellation. The White House won't comment, although some officials have confirmed the reports, saying that although the president's pre-occupation with Iraq is the primary reason, the recent cross-border tensions were a big factor. There is also speculation that the visit will only be rescheduled after Jean Chrétien leaves office next February.
Deputy Prime Minister John Manley could not confirm the reports, either. Instead, he said that it's time for the two countries to put their disagreements behind them. "I think we need to move on," he said. "We've got a series of things that we need to be doing now. That includes the work on humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Iraq."
That's today's update on the bovine scatology of the Canada-U.S. relationship.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:24 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: Ottawa won. Yay!
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:09 [ link | top | home ]
Remind me to thank whoever it was who knocked me off my feet with that cold or flu bug. (No, not SARS.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:07 [ link | top | home ]
It's not broken -- it's Googlelized. The ripple effect of Blogger's errors: Agonist Watch, existential dishwasher, and Blogsworth are just three of the sites I've linked to recently whose permalinks are broken. Referencing their posts has resulted in broken links, the previous post being a perfect example. Sigh.
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:41 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the April 7 post: I have been linked and quoted by Agonist Watch. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? (Either way, many thanks for the linkage.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:21 [ link | top | home ]
On M*A*S*H, how come Corporal Klinger's tent is private, but The Swamp -- home to two captains and a major -- has see-through walls? Just wondering.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:59 [ link | top | home ]
Friday, April 11, 2003
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien: "We have big problems in Zimbabwe. Should Mr. Blair and I go and change the leader there? I don't think so. To go there and change the regime -- it's not my option."
Deputy Prime Minister John Manley: "I think we probably could have done a better job at preparing the U.S. administration for the position that we would take on the war and communicating it more carefully. I think now the issue is how we move on."
That's as close as I'll get to an update on the state of the Canada-U.S. relationship.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:33 [ link | top | home ]
Stanley Cup update: Toronto lost. No comment.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:15 [ link | top | home ]
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister: "This site is a coalition effort of bloodthirsty hawks and ineffectual doves united in admiration for Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, Iraqi Minister of Information (currently on administrative leave)." (Via Blogdex.)
"There are no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!" Propaganda just won't be the same without you. I salute you, sir! (Insert Benny Hill salute here.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 19:53 [ link | top | home ]
The Globe and Mail's Michael Posner on an American network's criticism of a Canadian reporter: "CNN fires shots at CBC's war coverage." (Via existential dishwasher.)
It isn't often that David Halton, CBC television's senior political correspondent, turns up on CNN. But there he was this week, the subject of a derisive prime-time item about how foreign broadcasters -- the CBC notable among them -- were insufficiently on-side about the Iraq war.
On-side? Are you kidding me? Since when do journalists have to be on-side with anything they're covering? Since when do Canadian news organizations have to be cheerleaders for the "liberation" (formerly "disarmament") of Iraq or anything else the Bush administration does? Since when is anyone in the U.S. forced to watch CBC?
What Halton had failed to mention, CNN complained, was the very real possibility that it wasn't Saddam at all -- laughing and joking while the smoke from oil fires burned in the background -- but one of his alleged body doubles.
On the other hand, what CNN failed to mention was that the same CBC newscast carried a reality-check segment by correspondent Neil Macdonald that pointedly raised the issue of the Iraqi tape's veracity.
Do yourself a favor, CNN: go read The Elements of Journalism. Maybe then you'll gain back some of the respect you've lost with your hypocrisy. (Said with an eyebrow raised at Eason Jordon's "The News We Kept to Ourselves" op-ed piece in The New York Times, found via linkfilter.net. As Scripting News' Dave Winer put it: "Technically there's no doubt that Eason Jordan has admitted a major breach of editorial integrity at CNN.")
Oh, and thanks to existential dishwasher for the linkage.
posted by media_dystopia @ 16:26 [ link | top | home ]