caroljane

This seems to be a good CanAm day on OL, so I'll add this comment on the American electorate's demands that modern presidential candidates must demonstrate the nuclear family, hetero monogamous form of sexuality as a "character" qualification. Formerly there were probably good reasons for this. The potential for blackmail of a Commander-in-Chief who had ever strayed from the straight and narrow would render him incapable of being trusted. Yet political leadership skills themselves have almost nothing to do with sexual fidelity, nor even with fidelity itself, except to ideals or objectives which are commendable and achievable. The correlation between domestic family skills and national leadership skills in individual politicians seems to be pretty low. Lincoln was a good husband and father, who may have had gay episodes in his single years; JFK and LBJ were hypocritcal hounds, and so on. Jimmy Carter may have lusted in his heart but you know he never betrayed Rosalynn. One-term president. Here in Canada we were led through the twentieth century by, among others, Trudeau, a bachelor gay (sometimes, so they say) and discriminating hedonist who became a Dirty Old Man on marrying a 22-year-old at age 50, helping to drive her crazy, then going on to father another child with a staffer after the divorce. He was one of the best PMs we had. Then there is the one voted best, #1 by Canadian historians according to Wiki.the longest-serving (22 years). W.L. Mackenzie King, a lifelong bachelor rumoured to be in love with Lord Tweedsmuir whom he appointed Governor-General. King got his political advice not from aides or polls but from his dead mother via seance. If attack ads had existed in the 30s and 40s the way they do now, the voters would just not have believed them. You probably don't believe it now.

Are you saying that gladiator schools still exist? I did not say I don't care about what happens to people in jail. Quite the reverse. My comment was on capital punishment. I don't support it. However heinous a crime, life in prison is the most I expect the state to impose. As a member of society I must make the choice of what I want the state to do on my behalf, and I do not want the state to execute anybody. My comment was specific to the Shafias, who should get life in prison, hence die there. The manner of their eventual deaths, whether natural or at the hands of other inmates or through suicide, is not my choice to make and I do not feel obliged to speculate on it, and I don't want to. The case makes me soul-sick. I care passionately that they be punished to the maximum standards of a civilized society..

Huh? I have channeled my inner Caligula and my inner Cicero to see if they are fighting, and they aren't. Cicero has enough trouble with the would-be despots and Caligula ancestors besetting him, and Cal isn't interested in the ideas of some ancient windbag that his tutor made him study, but he got even with that tutor, oh yes he did. BTW Peter, have you read Robert Harris's wonderful Cicero books? I gobbled up the first one, Imperium, and have recently started Lustrum. He's such a good historical writer, his Cicero is vivid and riveting.

George, incessant involuntary listening is the curse of our times. Being on hold with "soothing" music while you wait to negotiate your hydro payments deserves a place in Dante's limbo. (or was there one?) I used to pick up my groceries weekly at a supermarket with a wine store at the exit. In selecting my choice of PinotCheapo each week I exchanged friendly chat with the wine clerk, as one does. One Christmas the novelty point-of-sale item (located directly behind the flimsy partition separating Wine Rack from grocery area) was one of those singing Santas. This one was dressed in a Leafs Jersey and sang the Connors classic "The Good Old Hockey Game" (not admittedly his best effort as folk poet). It was irresistible (I bought two myself) and I mentioned to the wine guy how cute it was. He blenched and pointed feebly behind him, where two of the Stompin' Santas were performing, not in sync. The good old hockey game rang in his ears from morn till eve, all day every day, in spite of his pleas to the staff not to change their batteries. After New Year's the wine guy was gone, and he did not reappear for over a month, when he seemed very changed. I think he had had some sort of breakdown.

How else are we supposed to harvest the potatoes, b'y? -Bud the Spud Now that is gay! Adam, you want gay Maritimer, it is Ashley MacIsaac, kilted, roaring with talent, sometimes brawling, drunken and irate (and still yet a beautiful, inspiring musician). See also this item from the Cape Breton Post -- they got to talk to his mom! Gay as a boot and all man, baby, here givin' 'er at the Olympic opener in Vancouver in 2010. Carol's reference to Bud the Spud is to Stompin' Tom Connor, another Maritimer who is definitely macho A-one straight, but no less odd than dear Ashley, and certainly not gay. We love these kinds of people, nevertheless, Adam, our KDs and our Not-A-Lesbian Anne, and Ashley and Tom and on and on. We even love Ginette Reno. Stompin' Tom may not be gay, indeed he may be the only person in North America who has never heard of gay what with spending his whole life pounding down the 401 to deliver the taters, stranded in the Tillsonurg tobacco fields, and destroying the national lumber reserves one 2X4 at a time. But he has gay fans, you bet. The Maritime music scene is not all Cousin Ashley upping his gorgeous Shetland kilt you know.

I adore Rita. Who can forget the classic Trailer Park episode in which the boys hijacked her tour bus and forced her and her band to get out and harvest their weed plants. I think this was posted somewhere on Cdn Boring last year.

I actually like this. But then I've always been a sucker for sing-alongs with coal miners. My earlier comment about Anne Murray was a bit misleading. I like some of her music, such as "Snow Bird," but the posted tune did not appeal to me. I listen to my share of schmaltzy tunes on occasions, depending on my mood. In fact, I will sometime use music to elicit certain emotions. I will also use music to gauge what kind of mood I am in. Ghs I actually like this. But then I've always been a sucker for sing-alongs with coal miners. My earlier comment about Anne Murray was a bit misleading. I like some of her music, such as "Snow Bird," but the posted tune did not appeal to me. I listen to my share of schmaltzy tunes on occasions, depending on my mood. In fact, I will sometime use music to elicit certain emotions. I will also use music to gauge what kind of mood I am in. Ghs Anne Murray was "discovered" by my dad, a quietly passionate but pessimistic patriot. He was watching the Black and White Review, the talent show of the University of New Brunswick, which was being broadcast on our local TV channel. He called me and Ma into the den, saying "Listen to this." It was Anne, then I guess 19 or 20 and a phys ed major (she planned on being a teacher). We had never heard a voice quite like that before. Dad shook his head and said, "What a voice on that girl. She ought to be a big star. Too bad she'll never get anywhere because she's Canadian." I actually like this. But then I've always been a sucker for sing-alongs with coal miners. My earlier comment about Anne Murray was a bit misleading. I like some of her music, such as "Snow Bird," but the posted tune did not appeal to me. I listen to my share of schmaltzy tunes on occasions, depending on my mood. In fact, I will sometime use music to elicit certain emotions. I will also use music to gauge what kind of mood I am in. Ghs I actually like this. But then I've always been a sucker for sing-alongs with coal miners. My earlier comment about Anne Murray was a bit misleading. I like some of her music, such as "Snow Bird," but the posted tune did not appeal to me. I listen to my share of schmaltzy tunes on occasions, depending on my mood. In fact, I will sometime use music to elicit certain emotions. I will also use music to gauge what kind of mood I am in. Ghs Anne Murray was "discovered" by my dad, a quietly passionate but pessimistic patriot. He was watching the Black and White Review, the talent show of the University of New Brunswick, which was being broadcast on our local TV channel. He called me and Ma into the den, saying "Listen to this." It was Anne, then I guess 19 or 20 and a phys ed major (she planned on being a teacher). We had never heard a voice quite like that before. Dad shook his head and said, "What a voice on that girl. She ought to be a big star. Too bad she'll never get anywhere because she's Canadian." Of her biggest hits I like Snowbird the least. It is just not bearable after the first million listenings. I like my schmaltz a little less whimsical, so my fave is "May I have this Dance"I and "You Needed Me" is OK too.

I actually like this. But then I've always been a sucker for sing-alongs with coal miners. My earlier comment about Anne Murray was a bit misleading. I like some of her music, such as "Snow Bird," but the posted tune did not appeal to me. I listen to my share of schmaltzy tunes on occasions, depending on my mood. In fact, I will sometime use music to elicit certain emotions. I will also use music to gauge what kind of mood I am in. Ghs I actually like this. But then I've always been a sucker for sing-alongs with coal miners. My earlier comment about Anne Murray was a bit misleading. I like some of her music, such as "Snow Bird," but the posted tune did not appeal to me. I listen to my share of schmaltzy tunes on occasions, depending on my mood. In fact, I will sometime use music to elicit certain emotions. I will also use music to gauge what kind of mood I am in. Ghs Anne Murray was "discovered" by my dad, a quietly passionate but pessimistic patriot. He was watching the Black and White Review, the talent show of the University of New Brunswick, which was being broadcast on our local TV channel. He called me and Ma into the den, saying "Listen to this." It was Anne, then I guess 19 or 20 and a phys ed major (she planned on being a teacher). We had never heard a voice quite like that before. Dad shook his head and said, "What a voice on that girl. She ought to be a big star. Too bad she'll never get anywhere because she's Canadian."

Sure does. I wonder how the Maine screenwriter got around it. I have never been to Carolina but I know Maine very well. Tell me, as an American, if one of them tried to secede, which state could you best do without? Vermont, Massachusetts [we would have to be able to keep their sports teams and all of the Revolutionary War sections], R.I. and Washington DC would work for me. And really, do you need two Dakotas? What is the point?

Sure does. I wonder how the Maine screenwriter got around it. I have never been to Carolina but I know Maine very well. Tell me, as an American, if one of them tried to secede, which state could you best do without?

George, behind this door, Death. Maybe Elvis and Anne singing Christmas Bells (just like a shot to the head, a guillotine, you are down and over it and done in a snap) or maybe something more awful and compelling, the slow torture of death by Ginette Reno (if she does not kill you, perhaps some Rita McNeil. Now that we know your weak spot. But we want you alive, so do not look). Earth hath not anything to show more fair! It's true, George, we love these performers, all of us from all walks of livelihood love them. We don't mind cringing once in a while. My idea of heaven is the National Anthem opening the Stanley Cup sung by the quartet of Measha Bruegergossman, Stompin Tom, KD Lang and of course the late, great Roger Doucet.

There is no procedure in the Constitution for secession. Ba'al Chatzaf As I said, I do not know the legalities/ But is there anything in the Constitution that explicitly forbids the united states from disuniting?"

How else are we supposed to harvest the potatoes, b'y? -Bud the Spud

I stand corrected. Don't know the legal history. I was thinking of the agelong rise and fall of empires, coalition, conquest, territorial aggregation - then internal and external pressure, regional dissension, rebellions and realignments. Always it is about blood and treasure. Why did I think modern times would make a difference? As cummings wrote, All ignorance toboggans into Know then trudges up to Ignorance again

Yes. And William T. Sherman repaid the favor vigorously in 1865. He did a worse number on South Carolina than he did on Georgia. Ba'al Chatzaf But a 21st century secession would be piecemeal and consensual, nonviolent. A legal process by the Constitution.

If it matters, I have changed my opinion of you. I once thought you were sloppy and lazy in reaction, but that was just amour propre over at SOLOP when I was ranting on about Bush/Guantanamo/yadda yadda with Michael Moeller. And of course, you took the side of Moeller because, as it turns out, he was mostly right -- Obama did fuck all to repair or revise the awful things I blamed Bush for needlessly introducing, in the end, though I hope he takes on the responsibility of living up to his promises in a second term. I thought you were playing Yeah WSS Is Longwinded And Wrong, Moeller Wins for pets and strokes from LInz and the zoo, but that was uncharitable. You just did not care for my reasoning and fair enough. A couple of other times I have twitted you for getting ahead of the data and you have pulled in horns, and at least half the time I get the sense you know what I am talking about, so all in all, you add lustre to OL, very much. It is not just that you have been around and sat in various founders laps and so on, that you took therapy from the partially-deranged and partially-gifted. It's not that. It's that you are an individual, a (seemingly crusty) gun-toting AZ citizen who tells it like it is, from his front porch, with not a word of bitch or whine in it, not a one. A man who killed in war and hates war and adds caution to the bestial wing of Objective-ish, and who generally would make a Righteous Neighbour in any neighbourhood, so, give yourself a pat, do a little happy dance and celebrate the Holiday Birth with everbody. Holy Cow, Bat Man! --Brant Holy Cattle. Don't Tread on Them, Carol Partial Hindu

This is an intersting topic title. The idea of defederation has been discussed here before, and thinking of the trends of nistory and the seemingly insurmountable philosophical divides in your Republic, a dissolution into regions is thinkable about.

Alchemical forces are at work without a doubt. And the moon is in the seventh house, and small herd animals are roaming the streets. I intend to lie low.

What have you done with the real Phil? We can tell an imposter a mile off. And if you think we're going to pay a ransom to get him back, you've got another thing coming. By my troth Ninth, dost thou verily put thy faith in a real Phil or indeed a real mile, th'art not the Doctor I took ye for!

We know, we know. It's been a long time since we had a Best of the Week, but then guys, you haven't been all that good have you? We will be back. Here is a teaser from the "Best Moderator" category "But sexuality is not about preferring one sex or the other. That's the simple way to look at it."-- um, Unspellable from Oonline, it kind of is, and sometimes simple is best.

Phil: "Oh, no, Br'er Bear! Don't throw me into that Briar Patch! Please, please, please! That's the horriblus thing you can do to me!" --Brant (apocryphal) And whatever you do, don't go into Mr McGregor's Garden -Beatrix Potter

Mr. Scherk I believe...William Scott Scherk <<<<yep that be he! WSS is indeed a very multifaceted, creative thinker. And you are a highly focused, creative thinker. You are essentially a scholar I think and WSS is essentially a -psychologicl investigator, you are both scrupulously wedded to fact. Not surprising you would admire each other.

I like the "Valliant and his demented wife" line too. Ou sont les bedsheets d'antan? Magister Scherk does have a corner, it is his splendidly furnished blog here where he sits at his ease and gives audience to favoured courtiers. I shall check it out. The world has been passing me by, it seems. Mais non, you have been passing it by, on your way to work like the rest of us. Stopping to smell les fleurs d umal et vertu is what we do here in Mike's Diner, with its intriguing corners and alcoves.

Exactly right. I do not need a blog since I do not think much anyway, but I sure enjoy watching other people do it. WSS thinks real great.

I don't know It wasn/t part of the official proceedings - Beech just happened by and asked to speak to the judge ..so I don't think the court reporter would have transcribed it. Sorry I can't give a link to the story, it was in the TO star yesterday or the day before, and also in both the free dailies here/