1.) The Report on Business section of the Globe and Mail the other day has an interview with noted economist... Margaret Atwood??? Things are even more mixed up in the financial world than we thought.
2.) Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse for Stephane Dion. (Advisory: link features graphic depiction of a Liberal man kiss. Don't click if you just ate.)
3.) You know who would absolutely, never ever let Bob Rae kiss him? (I mean, other than 99% of the population.) Paul Newman. Anybody want to rent The Hustler (one of my favourite movies) and play pool? I don't know about you, but I'm going to need to do alot of manly things to recover from #2.
P.S. - Thanks to the Baffinblog research team for uncovering some of those important, if disturbing, links.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Silence.
I was really enjoying getting back on top of blog posts, but you’ll notice that’s died down all of a sudden. I’ve had a bunch of things I wanted to put up on ye olde blog, but I’ve been sort of dissuaded from writing anything. Despite my best intentions, I’ve stumbled into a few pitfalls in stuff I’ve put out into the internet universe lately.
Some of you may have noticed that I took down a blog post from last weekend (and I know people noticed, because my site traffic tripled that particular day). I wrote a bunch of stuff about how I was feeling about my life in Iqaluit lately. I meant what I wrote in that post, but combined with small town gossiping, unrelated third parties were hurt who really didn’t deserve it. Gossips, please keep it to a dull roar.
Secondly, well, you can read this and come to your own conclusions. I hope it’s not controversial to say that it’s no fun to be bullied and have your job threatened for expressing an opinion (or for doing Google searches). Please keep the flame wars to a dull roar.
So in conclusion, if you’re visiting this particular corner of the internet, please refrain from bullying, threats, and mean gossip. I’m really doing my best not to hurt anybody, so please return the favour. Thank you. If anyone needs me, I’ll be curled up in my bed trying to deal with this damned insomnia I’ve had for the past week.
(Hopefully this post doesn't upset anyone, or else I may have to give this blog a break for a while.)
Some of you may have noticed that I took down a blog post from last weekend (and I know people noticed, because my site traffic tripled that particular day). I wrote a bunch of stuff about how I was feeling about my life in Iqaluit lately. I meant what I wrote in that post, but combined with small town gossiping, unrelated third parties were hurt who really didn’t deserve it. Gossips, please keep it to a dull roar.
Secondly, well, you can read this and come to your own conclusions. I hope it’s not controversial to say that it’s no fun to be bullied and have your job threatened for expressing an opinion (or for doing Google searches). Please keep the flame wars to a dull roar.
So in conclusion, if you’re visiting this particular corner of the internet, please refrain from bullying, threats, and mean gossip. I’m really doing my best not to hurt anybody, so please return the favour. Thank you. If anyone needs me, I’ll be curled up in my bed trying to deal with this damned insomnia I’ve had for the past week.
(Hopefully this post doesn't upset anyone, or else I may have to give this blog a break for a while.)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Apocalyptic weekend
Yesterday it was snowing and the wind was blowing like it wanted to rip your head off. Something was clearly not right with the universe. Then, when I walked out of my apartment, I saw this:
Perhaps the weather meant that God was angry (the good god who wants us to take care of poor people and stuff, that is, not the one that hates gays), because Stephen Harper had arrived. So, two out of four horsemen of the apocalypse so far this weekend, and it's not over yet.
As I walked by the cadet hall where the Conservateurs were doing whatever it is Conservateurs do, I imagined that inside, everyone was singing this song, and it made me feel better:
Check out more videos here.
Perhaps the weather meant that God was angry (the good god who wants us to take care of poor people and stuff, that is, not the one that hates gays), because Stephen Harper had arrived. So, two out of four horsemen of the apocalypse so far this weekend, and it's not over yet.
As I walked by the cadet hall where the Conservateurs were doing whatever it is Conservateurs do, I imagined that inside, everyone was singing this song, and it made me feel better:
Check out more videos here.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Blame it on the moon
I just realized that it was a full moon on Monday, which partially explains why my week has been so messed up. The last full moon, there were a couple of days when I just felt totally weird and couldn't accomplish anything... then I realized it was a full moon, and it all made sense somehow. I never really noticed the cycles of the moon before I moved up here... working with young children last year, I definitely noticed something going on around full moons. Maybe it's the very high tides in Iqaluit (second highest in Canada, I'm told).
There's clearly only one solution: Blow up the moon.
There's clearly only one solution: Blow up the moon.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Wheels fall off
I may never write anything positive on this blog again... after yesterday's post, everything's gone pear-shaped. I slept about 2 hours last night and can't eat - I think I'm getting sick, I'm totally stressed out all of a sudden, and I'm just generally feeling pretty gloomy.
To top it off, but I've been drinking out of this exact yellow Nalgene water bottle for a while. Next stop, heart disease.
To top it off, but I've been drinking out of this exact yellow Nalgene water bottle for a while. Next stop, heart disease.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Crispy carpets, fancy handouts, and bums.
I managed to cram about as many people as possible into my apartment on Saturday. Thanks to all that made it a good time. I still don't have a vacuum cleaner, however, so my carpet's a little crusty, because sweeping it with a broom doesn't quite cut it.
Today threatened to go off the rails in class, since my fancy handout I spent a couple of hours on last night wouldn't print. My students, however, continue to be suspiciously awesome, and all went well. I'm certain they're plotting something.
I'm off for a beer in a bit. If you're hanging out at home, why not virtually moon Stephen Harper? C'mon... you know you want to!
Today threatened to go off the rails in class, since my fancy handout I spent a couple of hours on last night wouldn't print. My students, however, continue to be suspiciously awesome, and all went well. I'm certain they're plotting something.
I'm off for a beer in a bit. If you're hanging out at home, why not virtually moon Stephen Harper? C'mon... you know you want to!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Too much election, in only one week.
I got slightly immersed in election junkie mode since the write was dropped, but had to take a break mid-week... the negativity of politics got to me. Heck, I can't even avoid it by just reading the usual northern blogs.
Anyway, because I will spend an inordinate and unhealthy amount of time at news websites (eg: www.globeandmail.com/politics, http://election.rabble.ca/, democraticspace.com/blog/ to name a few), you may run into some political commentary on this one as well.
The problem with following election news closely is that engaging discussions of issues quickly turns into lazy hacks hurling cheap insults at the national leaders and their parties, jumping all over campaign "gaffes," and hyping meaningless polls that swing wildly beyond their supposed 3% margin of error.
It sure can be depressing, but remember, depending on where you live in Canada, you have at least 100% more choice than Americans do in their upcoming elections. And if that's not enough for you, I'd recommend running a Ficus tree as a write-in candidate.
So, in the interest of positive political discourse, I've decided to try to say some positive things about all the party leaders and their parties.... (that way later on I can hurl cheap insults, complain about my possible choices, and be a lazy hack for the rest of the election.)
Liberals/Stephane Dion: He's probably my favourite Liberal leader since I've been old enough to vote. I mean, sure, that's compared to a man who was senile for at least his last 2 terms, and a mean spirited, wealthy industrialist, but still. Good for Dion for making the environment an issue in this campaign, and if nerdiness was the only criterea for being prime minister, he would totally win a majority!
NDP/Jack Layton: Well, so far I like most of the NDP campaign; they've called for a moratorium on the oil sands, really focusing on the environment, and they've come out swinging against Harper. Also, as a trivia note, I just found out that the NDP is the only party committed candidates in all 308 ridings. And I think if you vote for Layton, you get a free moustache ride... hey, why are you going?
Green Party/Elizabeth May: Well, she managed to get in the debate without having ever elected a member of parliament... mostly because she's less of a jerk than the other party leaders. The Green party platform is mostly pretty good... and I just found out that it includes a minimum 3 weeks of vacation, and a 35 hour work week, which are great ideas. Also, they really like trains. And margaritas.
Conservatives/Stephen Harper: Um, er, something positive? Let me think about this for a second... uh... errr.... blue is an okay colour. And the Conservatives haven't yet come up with a budget any more stupidly right wing as most of the Liberal budgets before them.
Wow, I even managed to say 2 nice things about the conservatives! See how easy that was?
Anyway, because I will spend an inordinate and unhealthy amount of time at news websites (eg: www.globeandmail.com/politics, http://election.rabble.ca/, democraticspace.com/blog/ to name a few), you may run into some political commentary on this one as well.
The problem with following election news closely is that engaging discussions of issues quickly turns into lazy hacks hurling cheap insults at the national leaders and their parties, jumping all over campaign "gaffes," and hyping meaningless polls that swing wildly beyond their supposed 3% margin of error.
It sure can be depressing, but remember, depending on where you live in Canada, you have at least 100% more choice than Americans do in their upcoming elections. And if that's not enough for you, I'd recommend running a Ficus tree as a write-in candidate.
So, in the interest of positive political discourse, I've decided to try to say some positive things about all the party leaders and their parties.... (that way later on I can hurl cheap insults, complain about my possible choices, and be a lazy hack for the rest of the election.)
Liberals/Stephane Dion: He's probably my favourite Liberal leader since I've been old enough to vote. I mean, sure, that's compared to a man who was senile for at least his last 2 terms, and a mean spirited, wealthy industrialist, but still. Good for Dion for making the environment an issue in this campaign, and if nerdiness was the only criterea for being prime minister, he would totally win a majority!
NDP/Jack Layton: Well, so far I like most of the NDP campaign; they've called for a moratorium on the oil sands, really focusing on the environment, and they've come out swinging against Harper. Also, as a trivia note, I just found out that the NDP is the only party committed candidates in all 308 ridings. And I think if you vote for Layton, you get a free moustache ride... hey, why are you going?
Green Party/Elizabeth May: Well, she managed to get in the debate without having ever elected a member of parliament... mostly because she's less of a jerk than the other party leaders. The Green party platform is mostly pretty good... and I just found out that it includes a minimum 3 weeks of vacation, and a 35 hour work week, which are great ideas. Also, they really like trains. And margaritas.
Conservatives/Stephen Harper: Um, er, something positive? Let me think about this for a second... uh... errr.... blue is an okay colour. And the Conservatives haven't yet come up with a budget any more stupidly right wing as most of the Liberal budgets before them.
Wow, I even managed to say 2 nice things about the conservatives! See how easy that was?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Reconnecting with the land
Since I've been back, I've hiked around Sylvia Grinnell Park a couple of times, getting reacquainted with this crazy treeless landscape I'm surrounded by. Here are a few things that caught my eye:
Rocks!
Rocks forming an Inukshuk!
Bones!
Fall Colours! Who needs maple trees, when you have tundra?
Waterfalls!
Rocks!
Rocks forming an Inukshuk!
Bones!
Fall Colours! Who needs maple trees, when you have tundra?
Waterfalls!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Work Life/Home Life
Northwestel came through, finally, with my internet service, so I can get this blog rolling again.
First off: survived my first week of art teaching. It went, I have to say, remarkably well. My students are working ahead of where I thought they'd be after 4 days (well, the ones who have shown up semi-regularly), and I suspect they may actually be learning something. And I haven't had to freak out yet, either by yelling at kids or sobbing quietly to myself after classes are over. Not even close! Let's hope this keeps up.
I've also spent alot of time in my new apartment, which feels incredibly opulent, not because it's anything other than an average 1-bedroom apartment, but because it's all mine. It makes me extra-happy to come home to. Here, let me show you around. Don't mind the mess. This is the living room:
If you have GN supplied furniture, you may have the same couch and chair.
Now we go towards the kitchen...
If you come over, this is where we can sit and have a tea.
While we're sitting, we can look out at the planes at the airport, and see the sun going down, which might look a little like this:
First off: survived my first week of art teaching. It went, I have to say, remarkably well. My students are working ahead of where I thought they'd be after 4 days (well, the ones who have shown up semi-regularly), and I suspect they may actually be learning something. And I haven't had to freak out yet, either by yelling at kids or sobbing quietly to myself after classes are over. Not even close! Let's hope this keeps up.
I've also spent alot of time in my new apartment, which feels incredibly opulent, not because it's anything other than an average 1-bedroom apartment, but because it's all mine. It makes me extra-happy to come home to. Here, let me show you around. Don't mind the mess. This is the living room:
If you have GN supplied furniture, you may have the same couch and chair.Now we go towards the kitchen...
If you come over, this is where we can sit and have a tea.
While we're sitting, we can look out at the planes at the airport, and see the sun going down, which might look a little like this:
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