And on an unrelated note...

With all the attention transit seems to be getting lately in Edmonton, you have to be thankful we aren't quite at this level yet.

Wow.

Oh, its on like Diddy Kong!

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced a new election campaign and already my wife is making fun of me for geeking out and reading/watching every scrap of news I can find on it.  I happen to enjoy election campaigns in this country, especially if they turn out the way I like.

I will admit that I was a bit disappointed that the Conservatives are initiating the call.  I really liked the idea behind fixed election dates and knowing that we would be able to avoid frequent bouts of political opportunism.  That being said, I do think that the PM has a point when he says that this parliament has reached its useful end.

I have no idea what the party leaders talked about during their meetings at 24 Sussex Drive.  But at least they were able to meet and say whether or not they could support a Tory agenda.  Recent months have shown that the opposition, and particularly the Liberals, were gearing up for a vote anyways, so I don't really see how this comes as a surprise.  I personally think that what Dion and company are really peeved about is that they got blindsided by Harper and couldn't pick the date for themselves.  Tough noogies.

I honestly have no idea what to expect for this campaign.  At this point, there don't seem to be too many key issues that have captivated the public.  People in my neck of the woods seem to be pretty content with life in general... the only political chat I hear, which is very rarely, has to do with a proposed Liberal carbon tax which no one I've met wants.  Apart from that life moves along.  For that reason I'll place my bet on yet another minority.

I'm eager to follow this campaign and see what the parties have in store.  I'll be volunteering extensively with Rahim Jaffer's campaign here in Edmonton Strathcona when I'm not catching up on my news.  Here's hoping that this campaign can ignite people's imaginations once again.

Cinema in the Summer: 2008

While the bulk of my time is consumed by work, I have managed to take in a few theatrical treats.  Here's a brief summary so far:

Prince Caspian:  Better than the first.  Not so soft and mushy (thank you, Disney) although it could do with a bit less of the pouty pre-teen rage.

Iron Man:  Very pleasant surprise.  Robert Downey Jr. performed role perfectly.  Villain was a bit over-the-top but still very enjoyable.  Already anxious for the sequel and possible tie-ins to other franchises (Avengers?)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull:  Its Indy.  Entertaining set piece for the fifties incorporating good ol' archaeology and an interesting blend of sci-fi.  Impressed that Harrison Ford held up so well.  Liked it enough to see this one twice.

Wall-E:  Enjoyable but not one of Pixar's best.  Not a huge fan of the 'green spin' but didn't find it too preachy.  Amazing animation and couldn't help but love the interaction between the two main characters.

Still on the list...

The Dark Knight... seeing later today!!!

Get Smart

Kung-Fu Panda

Mark Steyn

I can' really add much to what is being said so much better by other more capable minds.  I will say that the more attention these issues receive, the more Canadians will recognize just how ridiculous Human Rights Commissions have become.

Enjoy this video of Mark Steyn on Mike Duffy Live.

h/t Small Dead Animals and the efforts of others to post this on YouTube.

And this matters because...

I am, admittedly, quite far from proclaiming myself to be any sort of expert when it comes to climatology. I am, however, somewhat perplexed that this manages to get the kind of attention it still does.

For starters, this is a forecast. I'll start putting greater stock in these things when people actually figure out how to predict the weather accurately beyond the next couple of days.

The other thing that bothers me is how eager the MSM seem to make this a huge issue. A research team has made a revised prediction regarding the upcoming hurricane season. Among the mind-blowing changes are a staggering increase of 7 hurricanes (made Dec. 2007) to a whopping 8!

I have never lived in a hurricane zone and I can understand the need to plan for the inevitabilities of inclement weather. I just can't stand the sensationalism that often accompanies it. Has anyone really stopped to think why we're making news about weather events that haven't even happened yet? Have enough people really considered the corners we might be trapping ourselves in by getting too caught up in our own rhetoric?

I'll tell you what... when all the proverbial poop hits the fan and calamity ensues, I'll be among the first to eat my words and admit I was wrong. In the meantime though, keep your excitement to yourselves because I have plenty of more important things to worry about.

A humble proposal

If we have morons who are going to spout garbage like this, then maybe they should take the lead on the issue and get started with themselves. If anything, they can not only meet their ridiculous goals but rid us of their stupidity. Win-win.

Whither thee, Newspapers?

Every morning, I wake up around 4:30 so that I can pack up my kids and deliver newspapers with my wife. While not the most glamorous job by any means, it brings in some welcome cash and will allow us to meet some financial goals a heck of a lot sooner than if we didn't. I have to wonder, though, about the longevity of the newspaper in an increasingly digital and 'green' world.

Think about it for a second. I and many of my early-morning comrades deliver a thick, folded stacks of newsprint and advertisements every morning. Most of the ads are likely ignored by a majority of readers, and the news is from the day before and has usually been reported on on TV and 'teh interwebs.' What then drives the need to receive a new edition of the local paper each and every morning? Sudoku puzzles? The comics? The infamous Sunshine Girl?

While I take a copy for myself every morning, I find that I spend more and more of my news-gathering time on the internet. I find it far more informative to consult a variety of online sources, including a growing number of blogs, to get my daily dose of info... and I can do it right at my desk and with very little effort on my part.

In an age where I constantly hear about how horrible I am for not doing enough for the environment, combined with the continued dominance of digital media, how is it that the traditional newspaper can survive? I don't doubt that others have pondered the very same conundrum, but instead of seeing a revitalization of the paper all I see is a realization that we might as well keep on doing what we're doing. For now.