caroljane

And on the next Judge Judy.... Author GEORGE H. SMITH is suing RICHARD MARTIN and WENDY MCELROY for theft of personal and intellectual property. HE says: "He stole my briefcase and she stole my book." THEY say: "WAAAH!"George is a horrible, terrible, very bad man!"

Assad's all-out assault on his own people shows his arrogant belief that the West will not interfere in his despotism, I hope and pray he will be proved wrong.

Congrats Adam, and all Boston fans. They are a terrific team with a proud history. Thomas is one great goalie. Thanks for the primer on betting..next year I will take you to the cleaners. I have found a Game of Thrones rerun to watch and this time I don't think I will mind the beheadings much at all.

"doom, despair and agony on me, great disappointment, dreadful misery//" Charlie Farquarson

It's awful. I am still mad at Lucic for a similar gratuitous hit which imo put Montreal out of the series. Maybe my ideal of hockey (like some people's ideal of free America) never really existed,yet I can't help seeing it. I was invited to watch the final with my son & co, a sweet gesture. His friends are lovely guys, but my nerves could not stand it, let alone my ears. I will probablu watch it on mute until the first goal, and I cant bear the pregame commentary in any way. shape or form. If Canucks win I will go back and read the liplicking forecasters with relish. If not, there's always next season. That's the secret of sports (Riggenbach take note) - unreasonable, inextinguishable hope.

Another interesting angle to all this is the autobio/memory angle, which ghs discussed briefly with me (maybe on this thread, can't remember). The whole subject of true memory, memoir and so on--- then I thought of the detestable, but understandable James Frey, who turned his own novel into a "memoir" because he couldn't sell it as a novel. McElroy turned George's work into a female-themed tract because that would sell better. The marketplace rules, I guess. But caveat emptor.

Oh really Brant? Not even a great-grandmother somewhere? Not even a yen for bacon and maple syrup? Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much. I am NOT CANADIAN So you're from Canada ...eh! In Canada we have some NICE beaver! Hmmmm Adam Nice ones brother A! The Secret Plan goes from strength to strength. ISS Gord

Oh really Brant? Not even a great-grandmother somewhere? Not even a yen for bacon and maple syrup? Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much.

Didn't all of the above eventually escape Canada? J You are right - didn't Young Lenny P. walk all the way to Los Angeles, or something? I don't know of Konkin but my impression of the Brandens is that they escaped not from, but to-- towards their ideal which happened to be in the US. The Winnipeg of the 50s and 60s had a unique intellectual and social subculture which Barbara (I vaguely remember from PAR) found stifling, but which produced many notable artists, thinkers and writers. Anyway you can escape Canada, but being Canadian you are stuck with unless you escape very, very young. "Choosing to be American" was fine for Ayn Rand and other unique souls who can transcend nationalism. The rest of us are just mired in our tribalism and collectivism.

George, I think your autobio needs a new title. The Sex, Drugs etc is overused. How about "The Freest Man in Bondage?" (I thought of "the Freest man in Kansas"_ first but I don't think you are from Kansas. You're welcome. Carol Staring at ice

Ellen was definitely sui generis. But she could also be vicious, as illustrated by her unprovoked attacks on BB. There was a screw loose somewhere. Btw, was Ellen Moore Canadian? I seem to recall she was. If so, that would explain a lot. Too many years of staring at all that snow? Ghs I think she lived in North Dakota. Same difference. --Brant I'm pretty sure she was Canadian. J Sure, blame Canada again. Less than 9% of the North American population and we are accused of contributing lady wackjobs to the US in disproportionate numbers. I bet these gals were fine until they went down to the States and met up with you guys.

I don't about that. Breasts and a cute ass on a dude wouldn't make his arguments more persuasive to me, and I think most men feel the same way. In fact, I might side against a dude with breasts and a cute ass just to make sure that he didn't think that I wanted to go out with him or whatever. Anyway, does the bitch still make public appearances? If so, I think I'd really enjoy showing up and questioning her in front of one of her audiences about all of the evidence you've presented here. J Yes! Where does she live in Canada? (I've never heard of her here in Toronto, except on OL.) If she does appearances I wouldn't mind asking a few mild questions. Calling herself a feminist! Indignantly, Carol

A slight correction: Canada does not have an outback. It has only a heartland, ie a centre of the universe. Staring at snow is a highly spiritual, and creatively productive experience. This can be empirically proved. For what it's worth, from the evidence I have read, Ms McElroy has behaved in a very UnCanadian manner altogether.

Adam, I just love the little blue skaters. That early hit really threw me. There has been a fair (ie unfair) amount of diving so far, and I kind of hoped that was an example. I detest diving, which is all about showbiz and winning and nothing about sports, but has just become business as usual in soccer. It disfigures the"beautiful game" , but the nature of hockey should discourage its growth. I hope.

Oh, Jeez. At least we were not totally trompled on or shut out this time. I can only echo Marc, I haven't seen a series like this. wow. I feel like Mrs Bennet, nobody has any consideration for my poor nerves.

Fear not, like better ex-pols before him he can just write a book. "There's nothing like losing a good government job to bring out a man's literary talent"- Will Rogers

Adam, wholeheartedly with you about the injuries. Hockey has always been tough, but the ideal of skill and speed and honour of Beliveau, Orr and yes even Gretzky is the real game to me. I tuned into WBZ Boston this pm. They obviously had an unaccustomed half hour to fill with hockey preview and barely knew what to say. The local sportsguy complained about the long haul back and forth from Vancouver, he was so tired! There was a cute vid of 3-year-olds learning to skate though, reminded me of my boys. We well might go to a game 7, just don't know. I hope, hope we'll see something a little, tiny bit transcendent of what we've seen so far this final. (goaltenders excepted, they have both been heroic). See you between the buzzers! Carol

Anyone who has observed the impact of PARC will recognize it too.

I can't comprehend how it must feel, to relive such a betrayal by someone you trusted. You have said it is making you sick, that I can understand. I hope there will be an easement. Injustice is too strong to nurture.

The "Turn of the Screw" film (I forget the title) with Marlon Brando and Stephanie Beacham was really good as I recall-- sort of a Last Tango in Paris feel to it.

Of course. It was a crime for the Chi-Coms to invade and forcibly suppress Tibet. But your comment would equally apply in a number of other historical events. Instead of "Tibet," and "China," substitute Incan Empire and Spain; or the Aztecs and Spain. How about the North American Indian cultures ravaged by colonial powers England, France,and the United States? Or Ancient Egypt conquered by Rome? The Hapsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire dismantled by the Allied powers after WW I? And look what the allies did to the Ottoman Empire, carving it up into such never-previously existing states as Iraq and Trans-Jordan, not to mention a really wonderful solution for the Jews and Arab populations in "Palestine." That worked out really well for all concerned. You get my point. All these examples, and many more, "were rich, autonomous, irreplaceable" cultures destroyed by their conquerors. But consider this, the underlying premise in this view of history requires that the destroyed culture be viewed as a collective. This also assumes that all of those residing there (let's say, Tibet) are in agreement with having their native culture (and political system) imposed on the rest of the populace. But surely, this is not likely the case. The interests of the individual are completely ignored in this view. What if some wish to live lives not in agreement with that "rich, irreplaceable culture?" Would they be allowed to, or would they be forced to comply? Obviously, this does not excuse the actions of the Chi-Coms in Tibet. But it also does not absolve the pre-communist leaders of Tibet (or any other culture) for forcibly suppressing dissent to their rule. To cite a more graphic example, I doubt that the peoples conquered by the Aztecs, forced into slavery and sacrificed (literally) on their religious alters, would have had much positive to say about Moctezuma's reign, or about the richness of Aztec culture. As I said, the Dalai Lama may serve as a symbol for a "free" Tibet, but based on his own statements and actions, he is not an advocate for the freedom of the individual. Any more than the deposed Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie was. I was not thinking of the relative advantages for the individual, when the culture in which he lives is destroyed and another is imposed. I was thinking of the individual Tibetans I know, actually. But in your examples you have apples and oranges. The Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires were not indigenous, unique cultures. They were empires, full of diverse sullen subjugated cultures, rotten-ripe for falling. Rome did not conquer ancient Egypt, it had long ceased to be ancient and had been already conquered by Macedon. As to what the Allies did, and are still doing, the story is still being told.

"Ransomed, saved, restored, forgiven...halleluia" one game at a time. Loved Luongo throwing his winning goalie stick into the crowd after he hallowed it on the ice. He brings the high Renaissance to the rink, if you ask me. Suppose you won the bet again but I dont care.

Carol: Yes. Excellent series. Lucci is amazing - remember I dd not follow hockey this year, so this has been a real treat. Why is Vancouver so tentative on their power plays? They keep trying to make the perfect feeding pass from the points. Several times they have had a large body in the crease and have not attacked with hard shots from the points and follow on the rebounds. Has this been their MO all year? Adam I haven't followed them all year - but I have a feeling they are a little spooked, the uncanny ESP of the Sedin twins and Burrows is not gelling-- Boston are good no question. 3rd period here we go!

Argh, nailbiting time again. Thomas is amazing, damn him. Although despite his declarations that he would not alter his game a bit, he is staying way more in his net, to good effect. Hardhitting but not a slugfest. Keep it up guys.

Certainly Tibet was a theocracy but it was also a rich, autonomous, irreplaceable culture, whose deliberate destruction is a crime by the Chinese, as it would have been by any other invader.