Why, CBC? Why?

I think this game was made for me.

How am I ever going to finish the semester now?

Quote of the day

No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.

— W. H. Auden

Karl. Has. A BLOG!!??!

Well, colour me surprised. I'm not sure what the title means - I think it has something to do with being overeducated. Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes.

It's a sad day for this Junkie.

I have a new favorite blog. That is, I had a new favorite blog - until today.

You see, through some interesting linkage (that I won't bother to go into detail about), I discovered Monte Solberg's blog. Solberg is the Conservative MP from Medicine Hat, and was named Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in Harper's new cabinet.

This guy is really funny. No, he's seriously funny - like the kind of funny where if you invited him over for dinner your eyes would water and your stomach muscles would hurt for days because you laughed so hard the entire time as he regaled you with his stories. Yeah, that kind of funny.

Unfortunately, he feels that keeping his blog would interfere with his new duties as a Cabinet Minister. While I agree that's true, I think his decision goes a little deeper than that - as a new Cabinet Minister all of his actions will be under media scrutiny, and that includes online journals. As an opposition member, probably the only people who read his blog were his constituents and maybe his children. But now, lots of people will be interested in the private thoughts of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and these people will probably not take too kindly to his love of naps and Tim Hortons.

So, now we must say goodbye to Monte Solberg, friend and confidante, and say hello to the Honorable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and Minister Responsible for lots of stuff.

Here's hoping they keep his archives up for a while.

First Tag Ever

Wow, I feel so honoured - This is the first time I've ever been tagged by someone. This is very exciting. Thanks Janny!

Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so:
Pink Cupcake
Queen of West Procrastination
Bronwyn's Space
Janny's Blog
Le marriage de la fille Lipskey

Next select five people to tag:
Ariann, Trisha, Derek, Becca, Julia.

What were you doing 10 years ago? I was 15 years old, and I had just found out I was moving to "the BIG city" a.k.a Regina (hey, I grew up in the boonies).

What were you doing 1 year ago? I was starting to think about what I was going to do for a summer job, as well as think of who I would live with once Maryanne got married.

Five snacks you enjoy:
Popcorn
Popcorn (it deserves two mentions)
Skor bar
Sour cherry blasters
Tostitos with salsa and sour cream.

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics. Of course there are more than five, but here are a few:
"Black Velvet" - Alannah Myles
"I'll Fly Away" - Traditional/Alison Krauss
"Flake" - Jack Johnson
"Don't Drink the Water" - Dave Matthews Band
"New Orleans is Sinking" - The Hip

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
Pay off all debts
Travel
Buy a car (I know there are smarter things to do, but I love new cars!)
Give to charity
Invest

Five bad habits:
Procrastinating on the Internet
Being really naggy and nit-picky (sorry Karl)
Lateness
Touching my hair as I talk (nervous habit)
Not getting enough sleep

Five things you like doing:
Watching movies
Talking with Karl, even if it's not about important stuff
Singing
Getting so into a book that I stay up super late because I can't put it down
Harmless flirting with cute Ramseys

Five things you would never wear again:
In grade 5 I showed up at school wearing jean boots, a jean skirt, a blue top, a jean jacket, and jean earrings; I kid you not. The kids nicknamed me "the jean lady".
My black capris from Jacob Annexe
Scruchies
Bicycle shorts
The skanky backless red sparkle dress I wore for Clue Night.

Five favourite toys:
My iBook
Simcha and the nameless white bear
Jake, the 'Really Wooly' stuffed sheep Carolyn bought me for roommate Christmas
My stuffed Odie
Penguin

QP Interview worth watching.

Although this video is further confirmation of my disdain for most CTV reporters & hosts, here is a good interview with Peter MacKay. Catch it before it gets bumped off the video list.

Did you hear a splash?

'Cause I think iPod just jumped the shark.

Politics make strange bedfellows

I'm watching Stephen Harper on CBC right now, and I'm thinking about what a strange campaign this has been. Even more strange are the results, and stranger still are their effect on me. I've found it really hard to pray for this campaign, and until now I didn't really understand why. I knew what I wanted wasn't good for Canada, but I also knew that what a great many of my Christian friends wanted could have equally as devastating results. Whenever I tried to pray, I had no words to say to the Father regarding this. The only words I could seem to pray were, "Your will be done Father; pour out your Spirit on those elected, bless them, and lead them."

Yet tonight, I feel peaceful. Surprised? I'm actually hopeful for the first time in a while, and a few times tonight I've been close to tears. A reason for this is that in my mind and in my discussions I have often vilified Stephen Harper. Yet, most of my information on him came from secondary sources. I have never researched the man himself, nor been willing to truly listen to those who supported him. I guess I have been blinded by my prejudices. In this campaign I have been impressed with his willingness to adapt (something I have doubted in his character during my brief observances), and his willigness to be Prime Minister-like. His slam ads have been fact-based (not scare-tactics), he has made a lot of grandiose promises, but also some really practical ones, and he seems like he's actually willing to listen to Canadians (at least more than his Prime Ministerial predecessors). However, my changed opinion of him was solidified when I saw Preston Manning in the crowd, cheering him on. Manning is a politician and person that I respect a great deal, and there has never been any love lost between Manning and Harper. To see him up there cheering Stephen on shows me that Manning has given him his blessing, and that is very heartening to me.

But I entitled this post "Politics Make Strange Bedfellows" for a reason, so let's recap the situation as of this moment. I realize that not all ridings are official, especially some key ones (Pierre Pettigrew, I'm looking at you), but given the way things are right now, let's have a look at what's in store. Let's put it in a simple mathematical formula, purely for entertainment's sake:

Conservatives + NDP = 153. Two seats shy of a majority.
Liberals + Bloc = 154. A majority, since the Conservatives have to nominate the Speaker of the House from their party (giving them 123 seats, not 124).
Conservatives + Bloc = 175. Laughable. But conceivable.
Conservatives + NDP + Independant = 154. Still not enough for a majority.
Liberals + NDP = 132. Not enough to defeat a Bloc-Conservative alliance, but still formidable. Able to defeat the Conservatives alone.

Yes folks, it will be a very strange upcoming year, and as a Poli Sci major and avowed political junkie, I'm really looking forward to it. Please remember to pray for our government, regardless of your political affiliations. Our national leaders need all of us praying for God's Spirit to guide them.

In parting, here are some random thoughts:

Martin will not stay on as the Liberal leader. This is probably for the best. Too bad Peter MacKay won't ever jump ship.

Conservatives sweep Alberta. "The West Wants In," indeed.

Tina Keeper is a Liberal opposition member? Who's next? Michael J. Fox?

John Manly got chubby. If the Fugly girls were Canadian political pundits (which is a wonderful thought), they would be all over this celebrity bloat watch like a soup sandwich. John - you're a handsome man, and you have great diplomat potential. Don't waste your potential on cheetoes.