September 17, 2004 - I am so depressed.
My daughter was holding my hand as I was walking her to school this morning. When we got nearer to the schoolyard, she shook my hand lose - and she wouldn't take it back.
Some of you had warned me this moment was coming, but I am still totally, completely devastated.
The only way to cheer myself up is by going to the Ontario PC convention tonight and driving them all crazy.
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Original URL at http://www.warrenkinsella.com/musings_sept04.htm
Saturday, April 30, 2005
From Radwanski's blog, August 17, 2004
I've been holding this in for days...
I hate the Olympics. There, I said it.
I hate the way I'm supposed to care about a bunch of sports I would never care about otherwise, just because they're all lumped together into one giant orgy of sports I don't care about.
I hate the way our national pride is supposed to take a hit every time we fail to perform adequately at water polo or long-jumping or synchronized swimming.
I hate the self-importance of the IOC (sorry, "Olympic Movement"), whose website informs us that "Olympism is a state of mind."
I hate the way anyone who's ever played amateur sports takes great umbrage whenever one dares turn a blind eye to the herculian achievements of our Olympic athletes.
I hate that, even though I don't know anyone who's even remotely fanatical about this thing, it'll dominate the front pages, lead off broadcasts, and pre-empt other sports coverage for another week.
But I'm very, very glad Toronto didn't get the 2008 Games. And quietly, I think a lot of other Torontonians are too.
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Original URL at http://www.adamradwanski.com/blog190804.html
I hate the Olympics. There, I said it.
I hate the way I'm supposed to care about a bunch of sports I would never care about otherwise, just because they're all lumped together into one giant orgy of sports I don't care about.
I hate the way our national pride is supposed to take a hit every time we fail to perform adequately at water polo or long-jumping or synchronized swimming.
I hate the self-importance of the IOC (sorry, "Olympic Movement"), whose website informs us that "Olympism is a state of mind."
I hate the way anyone who's ever played amateur sports takes great umbrage whenever one dares turn a blind eye to the herculian achievements of our Olympic athletes.
I hate that, even though I don't know anyone who's even remotely fanatical about this thing, it'll dominate the front pages, lead off broadcasts, and pre-empt other sports coverage for another week.
But I'm very, very glad Toronto didn't get the 2008 Games. And quietly, I think a lot of other Torontonians are too.
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Original URL at http://www.adamradwanski.com/blog190804.html
From Radwanski's blog, June 1, 2004
What a Dick
While I was sitting around a local establishment after a ball hockey game last night, Paul Martin's campaign ad - the one where he's showing his common touch by hanging around an exclusive cottage - came on, minus the sound. First thing I noticed was that they did something weird to his hair. First thing my friend sitting next to me noticed was that he looked a bit like Richard Nixon.
That can't be a good sign.
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Original URL at http://www.adamradwanski.com/blog030604.html
While I was sitting around a local establishment after a ball hockey game last night, Paul Martin's campaign ad - the one where he's showing his common touch by hanging around an exclusive cottage - came on, minus the sound. First thing I noticed was that they did something weird to his hair. First thing my friend sitting next to me noticed was that he looked a bit like Richard Nixon.
That can't be a good sign.
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Original URL at http://www.adamradwanski.com/blog030604.html
From the column of Carol Goar, August 18, 2004
Shoddy welcome for newcomers
There were 20 students in Anna Opanasyuk's English-as-a-second- language class. Five were doctors, four were scientists, the rest had university degrees in everything from economics to electrical engineering. She had two doctorates; one in education and one in public administration. She was also a certified mediator, a trained cellist and an accomplished dressmaker.
Between classes, the immigrants would exchange stories. Two themes always dominated. The first was the near-impossibility of getting professional accreditation in their fields. The second was how much it hurt to be treated like simpletons because of their lack of proficiency in English.
Last spring, when the Ontario government launched a public review of adult education, the students asked Opanasyuk, who is from Ukraine, to speak on their behalf.
They wanted her to explain that highly educated immigrants don't need courses on resume writing or family life. They need intensive, high-quality English instruction so they can compete for jobs in their professions. And they need to know how to get their credentials recognized in Canada.
Opanasyuk tried to convey these messages to Kathleen Wynne, parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. "I don't think she got it."
[For the complete column, see Page A22, Toronto Star, August 18, 2004.]
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Original URL at http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1092782106175&
call_pageid=970599109774&col=Columnist969907622164
There were 20 students in Anna Opanasyuk's English-as-a-second- language class. Five were doctors, four were scientists, the rest had university degrees in everything from economics to electrical engineering. She had two doctorates; one in education and one in public administration. She was also a certified mediator, a trained cellist and an accomplished dressmaker.
Between classes, the immigrants would exchange stories. Two themes always dominated. The first was the near-impossibility of getting professional accreditation in their fields. The second was how much it hurt to be treated like simpletons because of their lack of proficiency in English.
Last spring, when the Ontario government launched a public review of adult education, the students asked Opanasyuk, who is from Ukraine, to speak on their behalf.
They wanted her to explain that highly educated immigrants don't need courses on resume writing or family life. They need intensive, high-quality English instruction so they can compete for jobs in their professions. And they need to know how to get their credentials recognized in Canada.
Opanasyuk tried to convey these messages to Kathleen Wynne, parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. "I don't think she got it."
[For the complete column, see Page A22, Toronto Star, August 18, 2004.]
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Original URL at http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1092782106175&
call_pageid=970599109774&col=Columnist969907622164
From the column of James Travers, August 17, 2004
Liberals ape the Olympian follies
Along with being odious, comparisons are usually misleading and sometimes simply mischievous. Nevertheless, the parallels between the spectacle unfolding in Athens and our very own ruling party are too delicious to resist.
Just for starters, try saying either "Olympic" or "Liberal" without adding the suffix "scandal." Sure, it's just a reflex that may better reflect the past than the present or future. But it is undeniably an integral part of two premium brands that often seem to prosper despite themselves.
What's most similar and remarkable about the five-ring circus and what Jean Chretien liked to call the Western world's most successful political party is that neither has been brought down by what in most other organizations would be a fatal flaw.
The Olympics and Liberals alike are almost always behind the public opinion curve and must be dragged, usually kicking and screaming, to the point where truth, common sense and reality intersect.
[For the complete column, see page A19, Toronto Star, August 17, 2004.]
Along with being odious, comparisons are usually misleading and sometimes simply mischievous. Nevertheless, the parallels between the spectacle unfolding in Athens and our very own ruling party are too delicious to resist.
Just for starters, try saying either "Olympic" or "Liberal" without adding the suffix "scandal." Sure, it's just a reflex that may better reflect the past than the present or future. But it is undeniably an integral part of two premium brands that often seem to prosper despite themselves.
What's most similar and remarkable about the five-ring circus and what Jean Chretien liked to call the Western world's most successful political party is that neither has been brought down by what in most other organizations would be a fatal flaw.
The Olympics and Liberals alike are almost always behind the public opinion curve and must be dragged, usually kicking and screaming, to the point where truth, common sense and reality intersect.
[For the complete column, see page A19, Toronto Star, August 17, 2004.]
Thursday, April 28, 2005
From Kinsella's blog, July 20, 2004
July 20, 2004 - Not a bad cabinet, overall. A lot of us wanted change, and we got some. Cabinet highlights:
· Stephane Dion, Jean Chrétien's former intergovernmental affairs minister, is back as Canada's new environment minister. That's terrific news.
· Former Canfor executive David Emerson from British Columbia as industry minister? Good pick. Smart guy.
· Toronto-area MP John Godfrey is smart, and he'll need all his wits for the cities file. I think he'll do well.
· Scott Brison, who - as we all know - ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party in the spring of 2003, then switched to the Grits in December, is taking over Public Works. I like Scott a lot, and I think he is going to have to be as tough as I know he can be - first, because he's Target Number One for the Tories, because (a) he switched sides and (b) he won election as a Liberal. Second, because Public Works is going to be hot, hot, hot for the next Parliamentary session. Hot.
· Tony Ianno, after clobbering NDP star Olivia Chow in Toronto Spadina, is now minister of state for families and caregivers. Good for Tony. Good on his campaign team, too - Gordon, Tenio et al.
· Andy Mitchell is a great guy and is moving from Indian and Northern Affairs to Agriculture and Agrifood. Another impressive Andy is Andy Scott of New Brunswick, now at Indian and Northern Development. Good pick. Good Liberal. Good stuff.
· Former labour minister Claudette Bradshaw is staying, now as minister of state for human resources development. Right on.
· Raymond Chan is the new minister of state for multiculturalism. Good to see him back in Parliament, and in a ministry.
I was asked by Newsworld to discuss all of this on-air last night, but I declined because we had kid stuff to attend to - and also because I didn't know what the cabinet would look like. Now that I do, I'd say it ain't bad.
Now begins the real work, eh?
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Original URL at http://www.warrenkinsella.com/musings_july04.htm
· Stephane Dion, Jean Chrétien's former intergovernmental affairs minister, is back as Canada's new environment minister. That's terrific news.
· Former Canfor executive David Emerson from British Columbia as industry minister? Good pick. Smart guy.
· Toronto-area MP John Godfrey is smart, and he'll need all his wits for the cities file. I think he'll do well.
· Scott Brison, who - as we all know - ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party in the spring of 2003, then switched to the Grits in December, is taking over Public Works. I like Scott a lot, and I think he is going to have to be as tough as I know he can be - first, because he's Target Number One for the Tories, because (a) he switched sides and (b) he won election as a Liberal. Second, because Public Works is going to be hot, hot, hot for the next Parliamentary session. Hot.
· Tony Ianno, after clobbering NDP star Olivia Chow in Toronto Spadina, is now minister of state for families and caregivers. Good for Tony. Good on his campaign team, too - Gordon, Tenio et al.
· Andy Mitchell is a great guy and is moving from Indian and Northern Affairs to Agriculture and Agrifood. Another impressive Andy is Andy Scott of New Brunswick, now at Indian and Northern Development. Good pick. Good Liberal. Good stuff.
· Former labour minister Claudette Bradshaw is staying, now as minister of state for human resources development. Right on.
· Raymond Chan is the new minister of state for multiculturalism. Good to see him back in Parliament, and in a ministry.
I was asked by Newsworld to discuss all of this on-air last night, but I declined because we had kid stuff to attend to - and also because I didn't know what the cabinet would look like. Now that I do, I'd say it ain't bad.
Now begins the real work, eh?
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Original URL at http://www.warrenkinsella.com/musings_july04.htm
From Kinsella's blog, July 19, 2004
July 19, 2004 - Boy, is that Matt Drudge guy ever an asshole. What a moron.
July 19, 2004 - Newsy bits:
· This bit of welcome (and overdue) news from Angelo Persichilli's piece in today's Hill Times: "Lately, however, the relationship between Mr. Martin and Mr. Chrétien has been upgraded from no-relationship whatsoever, to at least a formal relationship. Scott Reid, director of communications to the Prime Minister, told The Hill Times that former prime minister Chrétien called Prime Minister Martin shortly after the election to congratulate him on the Liberals' election results and to update him on his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. "Prime Minister Martin appreciated the call and the briefing on his meeting with President Putin," Mr. Reid. "The conversation was relatively brief, but very pleasant."
· Sad news from the culture wars: Arthur Killer Kane, the bassist for the New York Dolls, died in L.A. last week. For many of us formerly suburban punks, Kane - and the Dolls - were the very personification of what a rock'n'roll band should be: loud, snotty, outrageous, barely competent. Hard to imagine 'Personality Crisis' playing in or near the Pearly Gates, but most of the Dolls are now Up There as opposed to Down Here, aren't they?
· Boring news - really, really boring news. I mean, who cares? Why does anyone pay attention anymore? It is to despair.
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Original URL at http://www.warrenkinsella.com/musings_july04.htm
July 19, 2004 - Newsy bits:
· This bit of welcome (and overdue) news from Angelo Persichilli's piece in today's Hill Times: "Lately, however, the relationship between Mr. Martin and Mr. Chrétien has been upgraded from no-relationship whatsoever, to at least a formal relationship. Scott Reid, director of communications to the Prime Minister, told The Hill Times that former prime minister Chrétien called Prime Minister Martin shortly after the election to congratulate him on the Liberals' election results and to update him on his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. "Prime Minister Martin appreciated the call and the briefing on his meeting with President Putin," Mr. Reid. "The conversation was relatively brief, but very pleasant."
· Sad news from the culture wars: Arthur Killer Kane, the bassist for the New York Dolls, died in L.A. last week. For many of us formerly suburban punks, Kane - and the Dolls - were the very personification of what a rock'n'roll band should be: loud, snotty, outrageous, barely competent. Hard to imagine 'Personality Crisis' playing in or near the Pearly Gates, but most of the Dolls are now Up There as opposed to Down Here, aren't they?
· Boring news - really, really boring news. I mean, who cares? Why does anyone pay attention anymore? It is to despair.
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Original URL at http://www.warrenkinsella.com/musings_july04.htm