MacGrit's Blog

Right wing radio

2006-05-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posting, C-Bone has been busy finishing his Master's degree and seeking employment.

So I'm in Capital City this week for a job interview, and I turn on Ottawa's best talk radio station (even if it is right wing), 580 AM. Apparently, Steve-o and friends are going to introduce a bill concerning the following: when a pregnant woman is killed, the murderer will also be liable for murdering the unborn child. Obivously, this make perfect sense. I have zero sympathy for such cowards.

However, upon further thinking, is this leading us down the road toward another abortion debate? Killing an unborn child? Since the law now states that a fetus isnt a human being until birth (ed.), will this new law be a step toward classifying an unborn baby as a person? I really don't want to see this debate opened up again. Scary to think where the CPC may be leading us....

My hero

2006-05-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

Damn those duties and customs!

Hockey

2006-05-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I went 5-3 in the first round...4-0 in the East and 1-3 in the West. You can tell which region of the country I live in. And at 5-3 I did better than TSN "experts" Darren Pang and Bill Berg...and Maggie the Macaque from the Bowmanville Zoo! I also tied Pierre the Weasel McGuire and Bob Big Head MacKenzie.

Round 2:

East:

Ottawa - Buffalo: This is going to be a hard-fought series which will test the Sens' and Emery's resolve.
Sens in 7

Carolina - New Jersey: Two of my most hated teams going head to head. Maybe the rink will collapse. That would be funny.
Devils in 6

West:

San Jose - Edmonton: This will be the best series from a hockey fan's standpoint. Fast and wide-open hockey with raucous fans in both arenas.
Sharks in 7

Anaheim - Colorado: Too bad it's not played with each team's '01 roster...it would be a 4 game sweep for the Avs no problem. The Avs will still win, but it'll be a tougher go.
Avs in 6

Josee Verner

2006-05-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Oh Josee, what a lovely lady. She sent me a letter today, congratulating me for taking French classes. I think she secretly wants me. That letter's going right next to my Pierre Pettigrew certificate.

Check out the photo of Steve-o on her website. I think she dug that up from his NCC days.

Le Budget

2006-05-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

Je voudrais feliciter Harper's government on a half-decent budget. Reducing the corporate tax (Liberal idea) and federal capital tax was a nice idea, as well as boosting defence spending. The help for SMEs was great too, moving up the minimum taxable income. Also, I quite enjoyed the easier access to post-secondary loans, tax-free bursaries/scholarships and tax-credits for textbooks. Damn, if only I was born a few years later.

Why did Rona Ambrose look so subdued during the speech? Because Flaherty wasn't announcing cuts to Kyoto? Yeeesh.

And then of course there's the child care and GST change. Ugh, especially the GST change. Makes no economic sense. Higher commodity taxes + lower income taxes = increased rate of savings = increased investment = better economic future. Don't tell that to a minority government hungry for power though. Can't we have Tom Courchene as permanent Finance Minsiter? Oh well, it is a vote getter with political viability...at least that's what Lester Salamon would tell you. And Harper should know better, he's got an MA in Economics from Calgary. Oh wait, University of Calgary, yea, that should make sense. Check out those MacLean's University Rankings.

It's too bad I won't enjoy many of the carrots of this budget - since I am child-less (as far as I know....I always wonder about that Amber in Las Vegas though, I was feeling particularly virile that night) and making less than $75k. Oh well, atleast the next time I go out to buy a $50 pair of jeans, I'll have to pay 50 cents less! Thanks Steve-o, I'll be thinking of you.

More Chronna

2006-04-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Super-friendly Doctor Carolyn Bennett has announced her candidacy - how can anyone not like her? What a mom.
Bob Rae's going to announce this afternoon.
Ken Dryden on Friday.

Looks like the Libs will continue their trend of only ever electing leaders from Ontario or Quebec, sigh.......I'm saying this because Brison won't win.

Watch for my ranking and playoff prediction style Liberal race to Stornaway soon!

Playoff Predictions - East

2006-04-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Due to time constraints, these ones may have to be a bit shorter.

(1) Ottawa vs. (8) Tampa Bay
A real run and gun series. Both teams are weak in net and love to play an offensive game. I'd love to see the lines on the over/under on this series. Even though T-Bay are the defending champs, they're not the team they were 2 years ago. Look for the Sens to fill the net, but questioning Emery will never stop until the season is over - win or lose.

Prediction: Senators 4-1

(2) Carolina vs. (7) Montreal
As all of you know, this is the series that I'll be watching voraciously. I'd love to see the Habs get revenge for the Miracle at Molson in 2002. Unfortunately, I think Carolina is too big and too strong for the Tricolore to upset. Les glorieux will be haunted by former player Mark Recchi who knows this could be his last shot to sip from Stanley. But, if there were to be an upset in the East, this would be the series. After all, the St-Flanelle did it to the Bruins in their last 2 matchups and Gerber is an unproven netminder. Chris Higgins will play a big role in a possible victory. Look for Huet to steal the first game 2-1 and I'm also guessing on 3 overtime games.

Prediction: Canes 4-3

(3) New Jersey vs. (6) New York
This will be an exciting series due to the geography of the teams. Hopefully Seinfeld will return and incorporate this series into their show like they did in 1994. Classic - Putty as the devil. Never the less, the Devils are way too hot right now and Brodeur will be his old playoff self. Watching the rowdy New York fans will be fun though.

Prediction: Devils 4-1

(4) Buffalo vs (5) Philly
If either team wins, it won't really be considered an upset. Buffalo has been fantastic this year and have always been a feisty team. The Flyers are still a little slow and immobile, which could hurt them against the peskyness of the Sabres. Starting Esche is a little risky, considering how well Nittymaaki has played this year, but I've never been one to make sense of an organization run by Bob Clarke.

Prediction: Sabres in 7

Ottawa vs Buffalo => Sens in 7
Carolina vs Jersey => Devils in 6

Ottawa vs Jersey => Devils in 6

Oh Halifax...

2006-04-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

This is why I am often a drunken buffoon while out drinking in Kingston. Blame it on the nature and nurture debate.

Halifax’s beautiful women – and spoiled men

By Rachel Dodds
The Daily News

Halifax is a great city. It is almost impossible to have a night on the town and not make new friends, whether they are male or female, romantic, sexual, or platonic. It’s a vibrant city brimming with an array of energies.

When I have girlfriends from Toronto come visit our fun and welcoming city, they cannot help but notice how “friendly” the boys are. It is true. The men are very friendly, or horny, however you wish to describe it. Being a native of Toronto, I can attest to the fact that the city of Halifax is far more outgoing than most.

I doubt I am the only one who has noticed that this city is crawling with beautiful creatures of the female gender. Everywhere you look, there are pretty women. Furthermore, the majority of Maritime beauties is also far more down-to-earth and fun loving than most women in larger cities.

Yes, indeed — the men of Halifax have it pretty darn good.

The men are friendly, the women are beautiful and plentiful, and the beer is free flowing in the city Halifax.

As a result, I feel we have ended up with a city full with spoiled men. I feel men in this city do not exert the same level of effort they may have to in another city, because they don’t have to. There are far more women then men in Halifax.

Last night, I was at Tribeca. In typical Halifax fashion, the ratio to the naked eye appeared to be about five beautiful women to every man. At one point, I was standing next to a man that I have to say was probably the sexiest man in the bar.

Hooray for me that he took my card and said he would e-mail me, but that is not where I was going with this. I just thought I would throw that in there to demonstrate that I am not a bitter woman, because I can hold my own in the arena. I am an observant woman.

As I was saying, I was standing next to the sexiest man in the bar. I noticed as every woman walked by she touched him. All he had to do was stand in one place and they were slightly touching him casually brushing past him.

The sexy man then went to the bar to get a couple of drinks. I was also at the bar practically putting my cash in my cleavage in an attempt to get a couple of beer in a relatively timely fashion. He received service first and then walked away.

Here is the thing; if I was a man and I saw a woman at the bar, prepared to pay for her own drinks, I would at least offer to place her order with mine while I had the bartender’s attention. That would be a nice thing to do and it would make the man look truly considerate.

However, that will rarely happen in Halifax.

I’ve pointed out that men don’t need to try very hard in this city, so the question becomes, why should they bother? Because when you do bother, it is highly noticeable because most of your comrades are not trying very hard. I’m giving you a card to play! Act like you like us, and you will get much further than the next guy. Trust me on that.

Rachel Dodds is owner and creator of Sexy Girl, a Halifax-based, home-party service for women. Check out Sexy Girl at www.sexygirlonline.ca Submit your topic suggestion or questions for Sexy Girl Sez info@sexygirlonline.ca

Let's have a slam Alberta day

2006-04-18T17:18:00.000-07:00

Ugh, those Albertans....this little story on CBC really made me chuckle today.

So they don't think we give them enough credit eh? Geeez, they only get a mass influx of Canadian migrants each year, sit on top of a goldmine of oil, we elect an Albertan as Prime Minister, the country lauds their success and wishes to have that kind of prosperity. When Canadians think of jobs and money, they think of Alberta. You have an $8billion dollar surplus....in a provincial budget! Plus, you guys even had Gretz for 9 years. And now 60% of you are bitching and moaning that you don't get enough respect. Yea, Ralph Klein's musings never get any play in the rest of Canada. He's only the most influential premier in the country. Grow up guys. Why can't there be more people like CalgaryGrit in that province?

And number 2 on the Alberta slam list: Steve-o.
So Stevie's willing to risk going to the polls over child care. And those tory bloggers and party mouthpieces think that's brave and heroic, sticking their necks out on the line, bypassing the so-called elites (elites include single moms who want to get back into the workforce but can't find a daycare spot?), especially when we're in a minority parliament. Yea, real brave guys. Putting through policy, calling yourselves brave when the opposition doesn't even have a leader. Smart, tactical and timely, yes, I'll give you props....but brave, heroic and filled with integrity.....not.

Playoff Predictions

2006-04-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

Now that the West is all set up...MacGrit is able to give his predictions for the stronger conference.

(1) Detroit vs. (8) Edmonton
This is going to be one great series. The class of the league in the Wings against the youthful grit and tenacity of the Oilers. Seeing the 2 teams go at it on the ice at Rexall Place is going to be a delight and a welcome break from the Oilers-Stars matchups. The season series is even up at 2-2. The Oil will play their heart out, but will be overcome by the amazing talent and leadership that are the Detroit Red Wings.

Prediction: Detroit in 6

Key players needed to win- Edm:
Dwayne Roloson - has to stand on his head
Ethan Moreau - needs to provide secondary scoring
Ryan Smyth - needs to score

Det:
Henrik Zetterberg - shut down the Oil's top line
Nicklas Lidstrom - best Dman in the league
Thomas Holmstrom - most underrated player in the league

(2) Dallas vs (7) Colorado
Should be an interesting series as 2 of the stalwarts of the Western division over the last 10 years battle it out. Colorado going with Theo is brave, but you can never count out a team with Burnaby Joe as captain. If Turco plays well, the Stars shouldn't have much trouble.

Prediction: Dallas in 5.

Key Players - Dal
Turco: needs to show he can be a playoff performer
Modano: has to translate great regular season into the playoffs...does he have enough gas left in the tank after the Olympics?
Zubov: always killer in the playoffs

Key Players - Col
Brunette: Needs to fill the void left by Svatos and provide leadership
Tanguay: another playoff like run circa 2000-2001 would be nice
Theodore: need I say more? Which Jose will show up?

(3) Calgary vs. (6) Anaheim
Quite nice to finally write Calgary as the home-team and the favourite - even though I'm not a Flames fan, per se. Calgary's a rough and tumble team modeled after their city's image and loves to hit. This will definitely put those fragile little Ducks at a disadvantage. I can't wait to see Phaneuf nail Lupul...maybe it'll force him to get a haircut or something. Kipper is unbelievable and Iggy will come to life.

Prediction: Calgary in five

Key Players - Cgy
Kipper: keeps the Flames in a lot of games and allows em to win by scoring 2 goals
Phaneuf: big time rookie needs to keep his poise in the playoffs
Huselius: Secondary scoring if Iggy gets shut down
Amonte: veteran leadership with Gelinas gone

Kep Players - Ana
Teemu: Where did this season come from? Can he be a player when it counts?
Marchant: always huge in the playoffs, needs to shut down Iggy
Giguere: can he have a big year like 3 years ago?

(4) Nashville vs. (5) San Jose
If this series was played in November, it would look a lot different. However, it's mid-April, the Sharks stole Joe Thornton and Vokoun has blood clots in his pelvis, yum! San Jose has been huge in the last few months and Nashville is still quite untested in playoff action and without their star goalie. If San Jose wins, it would technically be an upset but no one would be surprised. Count me as one of them.

Prediction: Sharks in five

Key Players - Nsh:
Mason: has to fill the Vokoun void and has never played a playoff game
Kariya: has to make up for the Olympic snub
Hordichuk: any dumb penalties will result in the lethal Shark powerplay

Key Players - SJ:
Cheechoo: If he fills the net like in the regular season, Sharks will sweep.
Thornton: has to make up for poor playoff performance last year
Toskala: unproven, has to play strong with Nabokov also shitty

2nd round:
Det - SJ => Det in 7
Dal - Cgy => Cgy in 7

Western Finals
Det - Cgy => Cgy in 7

Apologies, apologies

2006-04-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

To all my loyal readers - I think it numbers somewhere in the teens - I apologise. Not having blogged for 10 days has done damage to my reputation. However, when you're ready to cough up a lung whilst writing risk management papers and studying for finals, that doesn't leave much time. In keeping with the Easter theme of compassion and forgiveness, please don't hate me. I'll promise to update y'all much more regularly now.

Bookworms Unite!

2006-04-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

What were the two worst-kept secrets in the Liberal camp were revealed to all those living under a rock today. The most book-ish intellectual candidates threw their hats into the proverbial ring. Iggy and Dion both announced their campaigns to lead the natural governing party.

Hopefully Dion brings along his fellow-Chretienite-appointed-to-cabinet-without-being-elected-colleague, Pierre Pettigrew. With Pettigrew out of the House, the Hill Times are going to have to turn to someone else for Best Hair award. And I've always gotta show love for fellow UQTR grads like Pierre. Dion was perhaps the smartest federal Grit until Iggy came along. Fierce nationalist, environmentalist, popular in Quebec and designer of the Clarity Act. But for common folk in English Muffin Canada, he's not well-known, comes across as meek and doesn't have the greatest public speaking skills. I'll be giving him a long look though....8 months for him to grow on people.

Iggy, I don't know where I stand on him. Supported war on Iraq, supports soft torture, hasn't lived in Canada for 30 years, took Jean Augustine's seat, no political experience and he's just another Toronto candidate. But he's fluently trilingual, an engaging speaker, removed from the Martin-Chretien wars, supremely intelligent, no political baggage and has Andre Bachand working for him. The Liberal party needs a visionary who's not Paul Martin and he could be the guy. That fantastic speech he gave at Concrete Building University could be the start of something huge.

Back to respectability

2006-04-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

Well, a good source told me Belinda's sharade could finally be over. Hopefully, over the next decade she develops some substance, experience and French language skills. Some members of the Young Liberals actually endorsed her before her statement today. Great pick and great foresight people - glad I'm not part of that association any more.

Now if Joe Volpe drops out, we may get to have a leadership race free of embarrassment.

National spit on a farmer day

2006-04-05T16:18:00.001-07:00

Well, that title is more for the kids in our MPA program...inside joke really, you commoners wouldn't understand.

So Stats Canada gives out a report today with this wonderful stat:

The report released on Wednesday says 54 per cent of children aged six months to five years were in some form of day care in 2002-03, up from 42 per cent in 1994-95.

A twelve percent increase...lovely. I'm sure that $100 cheque each month will help that...after all, if one works 24 days a month, that's $4 a day to pay your babysitter! Wowsers, that's definitely a big help! And you know, it does soooo much for the supply of child care services. Geez, 80% of Canadians live in cities now and 50% of marriages end up in divorce. That certainly spells the need for child care facilities, but ole Steve-o and his prairie boys don't really think Moms should want to work. Everyone's a lovely nuclear family living in Buttfucknowhere, Saskatchewan.

And geez, it's not like we need people to go back to work or anything. Not like our productivity's a problem ----->

Hopefully the opposition votes this one down, and leaves Harper to complete only 4 of his 5 big plans.

United States of Canada

2006-04-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

So, I dialed up the internet this afternoon and came across a real juicy website. Appears that our new government is seeking ways to show those Yanks that we really want to be friends. Certainly a nice twist from the past anti-American garbage we'd been hearing over the last 3-4 years. Apparently, there are ads all around DC for this website. I think it's a great idea, increasing our profile in Washington and competing with other lobbyists.
Certainly is a crucial time in DC and hopefully it will help lawmakers and general Yanks realize that:
1. The 9/11 attackers didn't come through Canada
2. The passport rule is only going to hurt...Europe is integrating, while W wants to build fences
3. We support and help the USA in a large variety of military missions
4. The trade relationship between us is crucial to both nations' economies

I love the myth buster section....maybe someday we'll register on the consciousness of our friends to the south.

My love/hate relationship with April

2006-04-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

By April I mean the fourth month of the Gregorian calendar...not April O'Neill from Channel 6 news.

Love:
NHL playoffs
NCAA final four
MLB season
Master's
World Hockey Championships
Daylight Savings Time

Hate:
Rain
Exams

Springing ahead into spring session

2006-04-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

You know, there's really no better time for a grad student to start a blog than during the first week of April, right after a time change and mere days from the onslaught of final exams and papers. But hey, if King Ryan or Jason Cherniak can do it, well, then, maybe so can I.

Once again this afternoon, I was denied of any real representation in the House of Commons when my MP, Peter Milliken was elected speaker. Oh well, I suppose that's better than having him seated up in Garth Turner (the "rebel" MP from Canada's richest riding who just happens to have a penchant for leather blazers and wrinkled Canadian flags and once chastised any Canadian who didn't own Nortel stock) territory, out of camera sightlines. Don't get me wrong, Milliken's a great guy and likes what he does, heck, I even visited his office in Parliament....on a class trip, so don't start speculating. I wonder if he'll be able to take control during question period this time. The way Bill Graham was pulling him up into the chair, it seems he may like to be on the receiving end.

But, it was a bad blow for the Libs, now that another vote is sitting up in the speaker's chair. If it had to be a Liberal, couldn't Ruby Dhalla have thrown her name out there? The more air time she gets, the better. Atleast someone smart has her seated behind Bill Graham for the cameras...much the way Steve-o had Guergis and Ambrose seated near him.

And on a not so related note....84 years ago today, old Joe Stalin became the General Secretary of the USSR...aah the good ole days. And think...Lukashenko is somehow still living them

2006-04-03T13:26:00.001-07:00

Test

2006-04-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

Test, test, this is a test