tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-322608932012-01-24T15:27:43.061-08:00Anthony Damonse e-journalist e-journalism journalist journalism videographer Canada Canadian Vancouver New Westminster BC media www.anthonydamonse.com A Boy and His BlogAnthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.comBlogger3551100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-67503106882571158222012-01-24T15:24:00.001-08:002012-01-24T15:27:43.072-08:00

I've said a lot of dumb and even some offensive things because sometimes my brain pops the clutch while my mouth is still in gear. These some of the things I didn't say. [No, I'm not just scraping the bottom of the barrel desperately trying to put together something to throw up on the Internet and have a technically live blog.] Why's that Jewish guy playing a Dick Dale song?     A friend's band

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-32728715118256777312012-01-20T21:44:00.001-08:002012-01-20T22:34:34.930-08:00

I was sorry to hear about Etta James illness and am saddened to hear of her passing because she's been a surprisingly significant part of my life. I didn't know James, of course, but directly and indirectly she's been a part of my life. I was introduced to James when Jaguar used part of her signature song At Last in a commercial for a car so uninteresting I can't even remember what it was. I

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-44363589081792001732012-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:002012-01-20T21:46:46.528-08:00

Elizabeth and Henry are good friends of mine who are looking to adopt a baby. They are great people and I know they would be a very good mummy and daddy. Here's their story: Thank you for looking at us as the possible adoptive parents for your child. We can’t imagine how difficult and heart wrenching this decision has been for you. Having your child become part of our family would be

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-64441866444978212102012-01-15T06:00:00.000-08:002012-01-15T06:00:00.412-08:00

Apparently I can be mistaken. Further, I can be apparently mistaken and someone can point it out without being a dick about it. Reader and fellow blogger Socred is obviously one of those people who can tell you how you're wrong and not be a dick about it. Everybody wins! He was kindly pointed out the errors in the April 26, 2009 post BC Social Credit Party, and I asked then if it was okay to post

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-59722016934573483212012-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:002012-01-21T23:16:05.777-08:00

I wonder what kind of father I will be. Since my daughter was born, it's not just an academic question. Mind you, as the father of a two and half month-old baby, fatherhood mostly involves the ability to hold, fetch and carry. And make faces. I don't have a relationship with my own father, so some aspects of fatherhood are a bit mysterious to me. Do I teach her to pitch overhand or

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-14397100797067540252012-01-07T12:19:00.001-08:002012-01-07T12:25:58.623-08:00

Fiona and Jocelyn wedding July 16, 2011, a set on Flickr.Speaking of weddings finally posted, I shot this earlier this year.Yes, I gave Fiona and Jocelyn their pictures ages ago.It was a beautiful wedding with great people.Via Flickr:Fiona and Jocelyn's wedding was held at the Coal Harbour Community Centre overlooking Coal Harbour (obviously) and the North Shore mountains. The wedding officiant

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-24819666973286912112012-01-06T11:10:00.002-08:002012-01-12T00:37:07.534-08:00

I don’t have to be smart Daddy, I’m pretty.Commodore 64?  Is that some kind of car?I can’t do math, I’m a girl.It’s okay, I’m just a girl.So, I’m not going to go to university/college/vocational school because I’ve decided to move in with [whoever it is she’s in love with]I don’t need to know how to change a tire, they have tow trucks now.I don’t need to know how to read a map, phones have

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-52000896222316883872011-12-24T23:09:00.001-08:002012-01-07T12:26:14.702-08:00

Wedding, a set on Flickr.I finally got the long promised wedding pictures posted. My wedding, September 18, 2010. It was an amazing day, everyone was wonderful. Best of all, I'm married to the best wife in history.Special thanks go to photographer Lyndsay de Jonge for shooting.

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-72158621268688862502011-09-29T23:47:00.000-07:002011-09-29T23:47:09.699-07:00

Technically I am the child of a single parent household, but that discounts my grandmother's role in my upbringing.My mother was the sole breadwinner in our house, and, thanks to union wages, we lived in a nice house in a good neighbourhood.My mother's mother was the home body. She packed my lunches for school, and was there when I got home.For all practical purposes I was raised in a same-sex

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-29806924256146810082010-08-05T20:33:00.001-07:002010-08-06T00:20:26.185-07:00

Published in the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, August 4, 2010. The breach of Enbridge's 6B pipeline from Griffith, Ind., to Sarnia, Ontario has also released a deluge of negative responses related to the Northern Gateway Project. Enbridge Northern Gateway spokesperson Alan Roth estimates 19, 500 barrels of crude oil escaped an Enbridge pipeline in Michigan, July 27. Echoing the press conference

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-22572303372072168262010-08-05T19:54:00.000-07:002010-08-05T19:54:12.672-07:00

Published in the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, August 4, 2010. If you have had the time to read my previous editorials, you, of course, know I'm new to here. Logically, this means I'm not familiar with Kitimat and Kitamaat history. I have read Pixie Meldrum's Kitimat – The First Five Years, I have toured the museum and Curator Louise Avery was generous with her time telling me of Kitimat's acclaimed

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-17165097504887810092010-08-02T19:13:00.000-07:002010-08-02T19:13:05.300-07:00

Published in the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, July 28, 2010. Kitimat Councillor Randy Halyk has published correspondence implicating the provincial government worked to both reopen and maintain the Eurocan closure. The provincial government worked with the Viability Group to reopen the Eurocan paper mill, but letters from Kitamaat Village Council indicate the Haisla have requested the government to

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-27689137424223290382010-08-02T19:01:00.000-07:002010-08-02T19:01:47.021-07:00

Published in the Kitimat Northern Sentinel Editorial, July 28, 2010. In the coming month Enbridge will be coming to town.  No, a decision has not been made about the pipeline, the Joint Review Panel will be in town to solicit local opinion as part of the review process.  The decision is a simple "yes" or "no", but the outcome is complex.  "Yes" to the pipeline may simply mean jobs in Kitimat. 

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-53865003318476719342010-08-02T18:46:00.002-07:002010-08-02T19:00:33.250-07:00

Published in the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, July 21, 2010. The July 15 deadline has passed for a non-refundable deposit to be made to West Fraser Timber for the sale of the Eurocan pulp mill in Kitimat. Though neither the Viability Group or West Fraser Timber would reveal the amount required for deposit, Mary Murphy, member of the Viability Group and president of CEP local 298, confirmed no

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-38313055373644784502010-08-02T17:56:00.001-07:002010-08-02T19:00:20.309-07:00

Published in the Kitimat Northern Sentinel Editorial, July 21, 2010. This spring has been like a dinner guest who just didn't know when to go home. The dinner dishes were washed and put away, you were yawning, your partner went to bed and yet spring didn't know enough to take the hint and go back where it came from. Finally, the long anticipated summer is here. At least, on an intermittent basis

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-2350980012084458292010-08-02T17:31:00.001-07:002010-08-02T18:59:56.114-07:00

Published in the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, July 14, 2010. A standing room crowd learned how the Eurocan paper mill could be reopened at the community hall at Riverlodge Recreation Centre in Kitimat July 6. The CEP, Viability Group and BC Co-operative Association informed the gathering they had a viable economic case based on a March 2010 consulting report from Pöyry Forest Industry Consulting.

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-88247839285951819112010-08-02T17:02:00.000-07:002010-08-02T17:02:49.911-07:00

Published in the Kitimat Northern Sentinel Editorial, July 14, 2010. In the short time I've been here one thing is obvious. Kitimat is on the cusp of change. Enbridge may or may not build a pipeline, with its rewards of jobs and taxes, and risk of catastrophic environmental damage. West Fraser may or may not sell Eurocan to the proposed cooperative, with its reward of jobs and risk of financial

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-10672307768307396902010-08-02T15:40:00.003-07:002010-08-02T16:16:09.276-07:00

Well, is my first editorial if you don't count this blog. It was published in the Kitimat Northern Sentinel July 7, 2010. Thank you.It’s an unusual way to start a relationship, let alone an editorial perhaps.I wanted to say thank you to the residents of Kitimat who have welcomed me so graciously and warmly in the short time I’ve been here.I also say “thank you” because I have two very large shoes

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-86719419540976269862010-08-01T21:12:00.001-07:002010-08-01T21:20:25.776-07:00

Just to get you up to speed: I no longer work at Dueck GM (So long and thanks for all the fish!) I no longer live in New Westminster I live in Kitimat Yes, I'm still getting married. I received a six month contract job offer from Black Press July 23 to become the acting editor of the Kitimat Northern Sentinel which I accepted. So, now I live in Kitimat and I work for Black Press. This is the

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-84011991996206004332010-07-29T07:40:00.000-07:002010-07-29T07:40:14.270-07:00

After literally weeks of waiting for Telus to reply, send a modem, resend the modem and connect the service, I finally have an Internet connection. New posts all this weekend! I missed you Internet. Related Video

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-51219674031788739102010-04-01T12:20:00.003-07:002010-04-01T12:28:43.971-07:00

Previously on A Boy and His Blog: People who annoy you ...[Don "Moose"] Lewis wants to start a new basketball league of all white players. Lewis says the race requirement is "just a hook", he just wants to present a fun product, after all, no one is going to pay attention to him or his league unless there is some sort of hook. He claims he is not a racist, and does not want to promote hate. He

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-58797000337850074552010-03-28T23:41:00.001-07:002010-03-28T23:45:54.787-07:00

Actually, Sandra Bullock and I are through. I put up with her not replying to my letters, phone calls or emails, not dedicating films to me and marrying Jesse James. It's like she has no idea who I am! I've been a patient man. But no more. Ms. Bullock has competition, I've found the woman I love. I am no longer willing to put up with Bullock's shenanigans or even her tomfoolery. I am

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-34034724921369163492010-03-19T11:54:00.001-07:002010-03-19T15:04:45.202-07:00

In my recent, mostly belated Christmas letter I included an article about getting a second opinion of medical diagnosis. In the last year, though, people I know personally and peripherally have had serious health concerns which were only properly diagnosed after consulting a second physician. One of the people I was referring to was Craig McLachlan. I was surprised one day to find out from a

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-15520586393319328812010-03-02T01:45:00.005-08:002010-03-02T02:05:29.083-08:00

I suppose I should have put that in quotes, because I'm not the one who said or thinks that. If you've read this blog at all you may realize my politics are left of centre. Okay, fine, I'm a dirty, dirty socialist.  Are you happy now? As a dirty, dirty socialist, I get a perverse thrill from reading extreme right-wing websites. No, not Stormfront, that's just creepy, and I doubt I'll link to

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-66482094943223156972010-02-04T16:58:00.000-08:002010-02-04T16:58:39.037-08:00

My very good friend Rod is the maintenance supervisor for Beulah Garden Homes, which provides rental housing for low-income senior citizens in Vancouver. Housing for low-income seniors is crucially important in one of the most expensive places to live in the world and probably an important enough topic for its own blog post. Recently he had to refurbish a property just purchased by Beulah

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-31035777308079496122010-01-22T15:12:00.003-08:002010-01-22T15:18:18.598-08:00

He just doesn't get it. I spoke with Don "Moose" Lewis, a boxing promoter regarding his announcement January 18th about a new basketball league, the All-American Basketball Alliance. Normally this is no big deal. Normally I wouldn't cover it, after all organized sports "is not my thing". Ask anybody. Lewis is starting a basketball league which focusses on the fundamentals. Normally this is

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-46220781211405725482010-01-15T01:04:00.001-08:002010-01-15T01:08:22.272-08:00

One of many ways to make a donation for Haitian relief in Canada is by cell phone. In Canada, on any Rogers Wireless or Bell Mobility phone you can donate by texting ‘Haiti’ to 45678. Your donation will go to The Salvation Army Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief. Salvation Army Canadian Red Cross World Vision Canada Doctors Without Borders

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-9846925629219996682009-12-03T01:02:00.003-08:002009-12-03T01:08:05.608-08:00

We're through. The Examiner and I, that is. Everyone else is fine.  I'm not through with anybody else.  At all.  Even a little bit.  You know who you are. That last bit was a bit creepy, wasn't it? Well, moving on, I've decided to end my relationship with The Examiner. In my email explaining my concerns to Channel Manager Grant Davis, I wrote: "I am unsatisfied with the reluctance of The

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-76395499408937854472009-11-27T01:25:00.001-08:002009-11-27T01:31:36.452-08:00

In our previous episode I announced I had a new job with the Examiner.com. Well, more like an additional job.  I still have the day job at Dueck. My additional job is to write three to four stories a week to be posted at the Examiner.com. I received an invitation to apply for the Examiner.com job from the Vancouver-based citizen journalism site NowPublic where I had published stories.

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-78102726872496310412009-11-25T02:29:00.003-08:002009-11-25T02:34:40.538-08:00

Recently I received an invitation from NowPublic to apply for a paid position at the Examiner.com. NowPublic is a Vancouver-based citizen journalism site which was recently purchased by Examiner.com. "As mentioned last week, because you've posted articles, photos or video to NowPublic, our sister site, Examiner.com, is now inviting you to also become an Examiner if you live in one of the 160 US

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-34467953632595683502009-07-18T10:54:00.002-07:002009-07-18T11:11:33.657-07:00

From LIFE magazine:Cronkite in his own words, in LIFE: "The anchor man has a tremendous load. Memory to be called on. Knowledge to be called on. A set of events to be kept in perspective. The job of taking instructions, throwing cues, watching the monitors. And in my case I do not go on the air without making editorial judgments and do not stay on the air without editing the story in my head as I

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-43313843699765020622009-05-20T19:34:00.008-07:002009-05-20T22:17:48.041-07:00

I read the Huffington Post for the articles.Really.I've been reading for several years, they have great articles on US and international politics.Really.HuffPo, as the kids call it, was a People's Voice winner of the 2008 Webby awards in the political category.And then I found the best non-porn article on the Internet.Miss California Carrie Prejean's breast implants made news the past few weeks,

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-85469448186442705032009-05-19T06:00:00.002-07:002009-05-19T06:00:01.372-07:00

Today would be the Malcolm X's 84th birthday.X, assassinated in New York in 1965, was, and still is, a polarizing figure in America's civil rights struggle.When X became a prominent figure in the struggle, he advocated a segregationist solution to America's race relations.After leaving the Nation of Islam and performing the Hajj, he came to understand people of different races could live together

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-63004097641876147582009-05-11T23:01:00.004-07:002009-05-12T09:30:14.213-07:00

I believe politics can be a noble profession.When you read that last sentence please try not to imagine it said by Larry the Cable Guy at the end of an episode of Blue Collar TV, it takes away some of the gravitas.After all, I'm all about the gravitas.Continuing with the point of this blog post, and since they're so infrequent, you think I'd just get to the point, but I'm over 40 and my mind

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-88118472352064676462009-04-30T08:41:00.011-07:002009-04-30T15:41:51.685-07:00

And it's the last day to file your income taxes in Canada.And it's the day Adolf Hitler kill himself.And it's the day Eva Braun killed herself.And it's the day the Americans left Viet Nam.And it's Prime Minster Stephen Harper's birthday.And it's Michael Waltrip's birthday.And it's the day George Washington took office.And it's the day Emily Stowe died.And it's the day Dickens' A Tale of Two

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-83219763921811526372009-04-26T14:04:00.004-07:002009-04-26T15:19:35.515-07:00

Social Credit Party president Carrol Woolsey says her party will not be contesting the current provincial election."The BC Social Credit Party will not be fielding candidates in the current election, but will field candidates any upcoming byelections."Growing up in BC, there were only two viable parties running in provincial elections, the dirty, socialist NDP and the ruthless, capitalist Social

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-6258541583697464172009-04-25T11:29:00.004-07:002009-04-25T14:15:02.099-07:00

Every once in a while my very good friend Julie sends me a link to something nauseatingly cute on I Can Has Cheezburger?.It always surprises me how much she enjoys cuteness on a scale that makes me dizzy.I Can Has Cheezburger? is a website where people post insufferably cute pictures of cats with funny captions.The insidious part is the language used for the captions, known as "lolspeak".Lolspeak

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-30566200609061327072009-04-20T23:53:00.004-07:002009-04-21T00:23:23.055-07:00

I spend a lot of time watching American news.Probably too much time, but every once in a while they mention Canada.Recently, watching the April 17 podcast of the Rachel Maddow Show, they showed the video below.The Canadian Citizenship act automatically restores citizenship to people who lost their citizenship under certain circumstances.Please see the Citizenship and Immigration website below for

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-52038144548868737552009-03-24T20:55:00.004-07:002009-03-25T08:45:48.605-07:00

I have recently revived my domain anthonydamonse.com, and also my related email address anthony at that domain dot com.Because that email address is on my website, I now get unsolicited mail from complete strangers.These strangers are not friends I just haven't met.Mostly they're strangers who are not friends because they're not offering me candy.They're offering lots and lots of money, but no

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-59400278342754128072009-03-23T21:10:00.003-07:002009-03-23T21:15:30.146-07:00

I'm thinking of buying a second camera body.I'm thinking of either buying a used Nikon D200, like the one I already have, or a new Nikon D300.I'd love a D700, but it's a little out of my price range right now.Anyhoo, I was doing a little online reseach about the expected lifetime of my D200's shutter since it already has about 40,000 cycles on it.Then I came across this video.Parts of it are a

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-8349971684601240392009-03-01T17:32:00.004-08:002009-03-01T17:47:13.213-08:00

Reuters:Iran "not close" to nuclear weapon: GatesBy Deborah Zabarenko Deborah Zabarenko – Sun Mar 1, 1:39 pm ETWASHINGTON (Reuters) – Iran is not close to having a nuclear weapon, which gives the United States and others time to try to persuade Tehran to abandon its suspected atomic arms program, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday."They're not close to a stockpile, they're not

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-70424981409306494632009-02-12T21:52:00.004-08:002009-02-12T22:08:06.811-08:00

This is the first line in most of my communication for the past two months.My last blog post was December 17, 2008, which makes this the longest period I've gone without a blog post.As well, I didn't get my Christmas letter done.Or the calendar.So, no, it wasn't that I don't love you and didn't want to send you one.It just never got done.No, I wasn't sick.No, I didn't forget my Blogger

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-65881387713448525622008-12-17T21:39:00.007-08:002008-12-17T23:10:09.299-08:00

At the risk of beating a dead horse into a bloody, unrecognizable pulp, here's one more (possibly the last, but probably not) thing about the US ongoing saga of US Senate kills auto industry bail out.Disclaimer: I am an employee of a General Motors' dealershipThe American MSNBC program Countdown acquired an internal, confidential (presumably) memo entitled Action Alert - Auto Bailout circulated

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-87044514631825235662008-12-17T00:03:00.005-08:002008-12-17T21:46:25.711-08:00

In school we were taught the "totally objective" journalist was a myth.Whoever you are, you will bring your biases to your work, which may make one critical of perspectives different than your own, while sympathetic to causes which reflect your background.What is important is to be clear on your perspectives, and be up front about them with your readership.(I'm born and raised in BC, 41, a Taurus

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-26289673033366478452008-12-15T20:53:00.004-08:002008-12-17T21:47:09.400-08:00

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-60511319540628368692008-12-14T16:22:00.009-08:002008-12-14T23:58:04.413-08:00

In a previous post I said, "The US Senate refused to provide loans to the auto industry without the United Auto Workers making wage concessions".Just to be clear, the UAW had already made concessions to the big three auto makers.The union has agreed to self-fund some of it's previously negotiated benefits, as well as eliminating the Job Bank, which pays workers their full wages to not

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-31695105885641341452008-12-11T23:57:00.001-08:002008-12-12T00:03:36.604-08:00

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-55232094399708298882008-12-11T21:46:00.004-08:002008-12-11T22:35:10.723-08:00

The US Senate refused to provide loans to the auto industry without the United Auto Workers making wage concessions.The vote in the US Senate was split on party lines, with the Republican senators voting against the bail out, and Democratic senators supporting the bail out.It is still possible for the White House to intervene, but markets have already reacted.In Asia markets dropped 7% on the

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-4045190801455803552008-12-10T23:20:00.005-08:002008-12-11T00:42:33.076-08:00

Yeah, that's two words. Whatever.One of the greatest documents of human history was written within the lifetime of many of us, our parents, or grandparents.In the wake of World War II, the world community said "never again".This was also said after World War I, but there was no commitment, only retribution.In the waning days of World War II, plans were laid for some of the international

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-32923979015084205552008-12-10T00:58:00.004-08:002008-12-10T01:19:10.879-08:00

There is a bit more information related to this previous post.Besides being, um, "special", Vernon Ward goes by more than one name:VERNON WARDVERNON RAYMOND WARDRAYMOND WOODSRAYMOND D WOODSRAYMOND DOUGLAS WOODSWOODS RAYMONDAnd he has a record.And he's a sexual offender.Yeesh.

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-45801790918357850892008-12-09T19:19:00.005-08:002008-12-10T00:57:56.733-08:00

Bless you.(Re-read the title, then the above sentence. Trust me, it'll be hilarious.)In researching (yeah, I do do research for my blog posts) Michael Ignatieff for this post, I have to admit I started from the assumption that he is simply Stephen Harper (or George Bush Jr.) in Liberal red.After all, he supports the Iraq war, torture and the Afghan war.It turns out only two of those three things

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-51951935220768389892008-12-09T00:25:00.002-08:002008-12-09T00:28:43.912-08:00

Watch the video all the way to the end, trust me on this one.

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-3047304621624292672008-12-08T23:47:00.006-08:002008-12-09T00:24:46.062-08:00

The brilliant documentary The Corporation uses the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to assess the personality of corporations as entities.In the end the determination is that corporations have the personality profiles of psychopathy.Now a corporation is apologizing, what is one to make of that?(Disclosure: I am employed by a General Motors' dealership)We deeply appreciate the

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-78236756016221941752008-12-06T13:22:00.007-08:002008-12-06T16:17:11.674-08:00

In a previous post I had mentioned the left seemed to be message challenged.The left seems unable to communicate a coherent message, not because of the vast right-wing cabal arrayed against them, but because they're incapable of forming a message they can competently broadcast.EXHIBIT AThis doesn't look like a "Youtube" video because it's hosted on Youtube, but because the focus is wrong, it's

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-10924880747161063122008-12-05T00:11:00.006-08:002008-12-05T00:42:55.696-08:00

In cities across Canada today supporters of the Liberal, NDP, Bloc coalition gathered to show their support in rallies organized by the Canadian Labour Congress.In Vancouver, supporters rallied at the convention centre at the Pan Pacific Hotel.Well, the supporters and DJ Lawrence.DJ Lawrence is a non-partisan PSAC member who does not support the coalition, and he has the balls to say so in the

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-89880629633399516912008-12-04T00:23:00.005-08:002008-12-04T00:44:50.109-08:00

New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton also made a televised address.But why?Why did he feel the need to make an address independent of his coalition partner or supporter?This does not bode well."My fellow Canadians, tonight we are at a crossroads in our collective history.An economic storm unlike anything seen in a generation is upon us.And Canada must have a strong and effective government

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-65398958855647466572008-12-04T00:08:00.006-08:002008-12-04T00:36:39.420-08:00

"Canada is facing the impacts of the global economic crisis. Our economy is on the verge of a recession. Canadians are worried about losing their jobs, their homes, their savings. Every economist in the country is predicting increased job losses and deficits for the next few years. The federal government has a duty to act and help Canadians weather this storm. Stephen Harper still

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-52947731563496745342008-12-04T00:03:00.002-08:002008-12-04T00:08:39.539-08:00

"Good evening.Canadians take pride in our history as one of the world's oldest continuous democracies. During the past 141 years, political parties have emerged and disappeared, leaders have come and gone, and governments have changed.Constant in every case, however, is the principle that Canada's government has always been chosen by the people. And following the light of this democratic

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-35435059747459142702008-12-03T22:57:00.009-08:002008-12-03T23:31:34.630-08:00

Below is a copy of a Nov 2000 letter to the Governor General proposing a coalition government with the Canadian Alliance (remember them?), the Bloc Québécois and the Progressive Conservative Party (remember them?).This letter was released to the public from the Bloc Québécois today.Everything old is new again!Please note: the blanks are part of the original letter, also the PDF copy this comes

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-10474261060332958752008-12-03T01:12:00.007-08:002008-12-03T02:31:05.342-08:00

An alternate title for this post is: A tale of two letters.To hear Stephen Harper tell it, the Liberal, NDP and Bloc request, in the letter below, to the Governor General is tantamount to treason.Today we respectfully inform the Governor General that, as soon as the appropriate opportunity arises, she should call on the Leader of the Official Opposition to form a new government, supported as set

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-82019742953846729212008-12-02T22:56:00.010-08:002008-12-03T00:20:14.469-08:00

I'm only 5'11", but I'm a big man.In a recent blog post I implied left of centre political actors had no understanding of how to effectively communicate their message.I may have further implied they may not even have a coherent plan to get their message out.Um, I may have mis-blog posted.A small man would have simply deleted a post which would have made him look silly, but not me!I hope I can get

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-54023121241889259112008-12-02T22:31:00.003-08:002008-12-02T22:55:41.589-08:00

Conservatives, whether small "c" or large "c", are very good at getting their messages out.Right-wing movements are very effective at getting their message out, and staying on message.The left-wing, small "l" liberal and "progressive" movements have not been, in recent history, skilled at getting their message out in a cohesive way.An examination of why the left can't create a unified message,

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-33099583663812514042008-12-01T22:14:00.007-08:002008-12-01T23:30:38.172-08:00

Okay, they've agreed to form government, if the Governor General will let them, now what?This is what the Liberal, NDP and Bloc Québécois propose to do.It would be nice to hear what the Conservatives proposed, other than maintaining a balanced budget.A Policy Accord to Address the Present Economic Crisis Preamble The new Government is supported by parties that share a commitment to fiscal

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-68030261156525787502008-12-01T22:04:00.005-08:002008-12-01T22:32:47.241-08:00

This is the full text of the Liberal, NDP, Bloc Québécois coalition agreement.December 1, 2008An Accord on a Cooperative Government to Address the PresentEconomic CrisisThis document outlines the key understandings between the Liberal Party ofCanada and the New Democratic Party of Canada regarding a new cooperativegovernment.1. Role of caucusesThe Liberal and NDP caucuses will continue to meet

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-32356881403646750892008-12-01T20:57:00.009-08:002008-12-01T22:14:07.424-08:00

The Conservative arguments about the Liberal, NDP and Bloc Québécois coalition ignore the fact the Prime Minister serves at the pleasure of the Queen, via the Governor General.The job of the Queen's Loyal Opposition is not to enable the governing party's proposals, but to provide alternatives so the best possible options are available for discussion.Canada is not a republic, whether we should

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-7192828400930227482008-11-30T22:18:00.003-08:002008-12-01T00:59:50.054-08:00

So, we are in the middle of a political crisis, which is taking precedence over the financial crisis we are in the middle of.Depending on who you choose to believe, the political crisis is the creation of the Conservatives or the opposition.If you choose to believe the Conservatives, the opposition invented this political crisis because they didn't want to loose taxpayer funded election

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-45353465490838548312008-11-30T13:51:00.005-08:002008-11-30T16:33:29.267-08:00

My friend, and former Loyalist e-journalism classmate, Louise Livingstone runs the website Sustaining Hastings.Sustaining Hastings brings farmers from Hastings County Ontario together with local consumers.Sustaining Hastings also has an environmental agenda, bringing farmers and consumers together isn't just about marketing, it's about environmental sustainability.Louise's website has sections

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-89951968636831728812008-11-28T19:10:00.017-08:002008-11-29T15:07:29.988-08:00

Besides being my Mother's birthday, today is also Buy Nothing Day in North America, in other parts of the world, tomorrow (Sat, Nov 29) is Buy Noting Day.The point of Buy Nothing Day is not to bring down capitalism, because, apparently, the capitalists are taking care of that themselves.Oh, it's also Black Friday in America.Black Friday is the shopping extravaganza which kicks of the holiday

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-7452742348842313982008-11-28T18:42:00.004-08:002008-11-29T11:27:18.578-08:00

Yeah, I'm a slacker.I had stuff to do!The videos for my friend Jaimie (Yes, I'm spelling his name correctly, it really does that many i's), must have helped, because he was voted in to New Westminster council.I'm back now, and will post regularly no matter how many hostages I have take. (No, that wasn't a reference to anything that might have happened in Mumbai.)

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-61546173241999439092008-11-12T18:04:00.002-08:002008-11-12T18:13:04.720-08:00

My friend Jaimie McEvoy is running for New Westminster Council in the upcoming election.While I endorse him for Council, what is more important is that you vote for the person who can support the issues which are important to you.Finding information on municipal candidates is more challenging than candidates for more senior levels of government, but do the work and find out who to vote for.The

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-10363458067010311312008-11-06T20:17:00.006-08:002008-11-06T21:11:43.741-08:00

Sign number one: A black man elected president of the United States.Sign number two: Toyota reduces its forecast profit by halfSign number three: Gas is less than $1.00 per litre.

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-44243052421601608282008-11-04T20:04:00.004-08:002008-11-04T20:25:58.276-08:00

Dr. King's death was not in vain.CNN is projecting an Obama victory in the 2008 American election, as of 8pm, Pacific time.Margaret Thatcher was quoted in 1974 predicting she would not see a female British prime minister in her lifetime.At the risk of comparing myself to Thatcher, I would not have believed the Americans would have elected a black man to their highest office in my lifetime.Martin

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-53350361714696092792008-11-04T16:12:00.005-08:002008-11-04T16:27:34.235-08:00

This is supposed to be a live feed from The Real News, a Canadian online news outlet.Related LinksThe Real News [American election coverage]

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-89845182356594969472008-11-04T02:34:00.004-08:002008-11-04T08:38:59.405-08:00

My friend Elizabeth is an American citizen living in Canada.When she described the ballot she received for the American election, I had to see it for myself.We went out for coffee, and she ran me through the process of voting in America.Fortunately for you, gentle reader, I brought my video camera and microphone with me.What, don't you carry a video camera and mic with you?

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-64821391120853444422008-10-27T23:33:00.002-07:002008-10-27T23:43:02.418-07:00

Uh, we're just not getting to this guy.VIENNA (Reuters) - An Austrian man, charged with drink driving, drove to a police station to complain about the charge whilst drunk, officials said on Monday.The 65-year-old had his driving license and car keys first taken away from him on Sunday after driving while over the alcohol limit in the northern city of Linz.He then went home, picked up his spare

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-66338814925931385342008-10-24T07:59:00.002-07:002008-10-24T08:03:46.905-07:00

It's not a sign of the end of the world, but, just... wow.

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-62602661773159686172008-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:002008-10-15T06:00:01.825-07:00

So let's watch bunnies."Tell me about the bunnies, George."

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-24951701532471320922008-10-14T22:16:00.006-07:002008-10-14T23:52:40.029-07:00

Just for the record, a majority government would need at least 154 seats.Just for the record, this election was called because the minority parliament was "disfunctional".Just for the record, a Canadian election costs about $300 million.Just for the record, the Conservatives bill themselves as fiscally responsible.

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-8450541362310564342008-10-14T06:00:00.003-07:002008-10-14T19:46:58.216-07:00

Shhh, don't tell anybody, but I stole this from CP.That's the Canadian Press, not Canadian Pacific.UPDATE!Curses, that thing above, which is supposed to provide realtime updates of tonight's election, doesn't work!For actual results, go here.Curse you CP!!! (Canadian Press, not Canadian Pacific. The people at Canadian Pacific are very nice, I'm told)Related LinksCP (Canadian Press, not Canadian

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-87261515858074111342008-10-10T21:38:00.008-07:002008-10-10T22:56:10.053-07:00

Recently in the Canadian federal election, several NDP candidates had to step down because when questionable behaviour came to light which made them unelectable.Two had to resign because of drug use (Who thinks driving while on acid is a GOOD idea?), and one went skinny dipping in front of teenagers (In parts of Europe this probably wouldn't have been an issue).Okay, some people used some poor

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-33377273271437101222008-10-08T00:24:00.004-07:002008-10-08T02:30:22.209-07:00

A summary of the recent vice-presidential debate.Yeah, okay, we get it McCain is a "maverick".Well, apparently, Biden wasn't buying it.

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-36893693996627622792008-10-07T23:20:00.002-07:002008-10-08T02:29:53.447-07:00

So, I'm British Columbian, but will I get to vote?Watch and find out!

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-18490893045696534832008-10-01T21:28:00.006-07:002008-10-02T00:18:56.098-07:00

If the point of my previous blog post was unclear, here it is set to music.Thanks to Judy for the link.Related LinksJe ne se pas [Previous post]

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-69705625097187729682008-09-29T06:00:00.004-07:002008-09-29T08:32:32.432-07:00

In one of the high school French classes I failed, I learned one key phrase I could trot out to speed my way to the inevitable "F"."Je ne se pas", or, in English (another high school class I failed), "I don't know."After all, it's not that you fail the class, but how efficiently you fail the class.At dinner the other night, my very good friend Julie was telling me some of her online friends were

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-47226127396532622842008-09-28T18:54:00.004-07:002008-09-29T08:32:01.104-07:00

Today would be my late Grandmother's birthday.My Grandmother helped my mother raise me.She came to Canada in 1969 to visit my mother who came in 1965 and then had me two years later.The "visit" became permanent, eventually my grandmother became a Canadian citizen and lived in Canada until her death in 1996.I am only one of my Grandmother's 21 grandchildren, but I was privileged to have her to

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-52229149693418300782008-09-24T23:55:00.005-07:002008-09-25T00:25:08.864-07:00

In a previous post I admitted I had no idea what riding I was going to be voting in.As the title suggests, no, wait: implies.No, no: says!Wait, what were we talking about?Oh, right, I'm a British Columbian.Actually, I'm a British Columbian from New Westminster.It turns out, you pretty much get to vote wherever you call home.So, I'm calling New Westminster home, and voting here.I Am British

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-69933221840202371402008-09-20T06:00:00.000-07:002008-09-20T06:00:00.636-07:00

As I blog about being excited the federal election, something just occurred to me.I have no idea what riding I'm supposed to vote in.I haven't moved my offical address from Ontario to BC. No, I'm not trying to stay one step ahead of my creditors, that's just a side benefit.Actually, I didn't move my address from BC to Ontario for certain organizations, because I wasn't sure how many times I might

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-34741981463161608792008-09-19T06:38:00.005-07:002008-09-19T23:44:11.420-07:00

Hey! First Nations' issues made it into the federal election discourse (see the previous post for the meaning of the word "discourse").Uh, but not in a helpful way.Yeah, politics.Whether listening to the Greens, Conservatives, Liberals or NDP, there has been a dearth of First Nations' issue discussion.It's not like there's nothing to discuss, under the constitution (That's the Canadian

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-49521491106954612012008-09-16T08:18:00.002-07:002008-09-16T08:22:40.583-07:00

Today's Electoral Word of the Day (or, EWD, if you're hip) is "disclosure".The traditional, modern presumed role of journalists is as a mere conveyor of information, similar to a telephone.The telephone has no political, religious, class, economic, ethnic or gender bias, it simply transmits what came in at a mouthpiece out to a speaker at some other location.Journalism without bias was marketing

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-36783636478973079112008-09-14T00:15:00.006-07:002008-09-14T00:48:26.327-07:00

My good friend Julie and some of her co-workers participated in this year's Great Canadian Head Shave.The Great Canadian Head Shave is part of the Terry Fox at Work program, a fund raising initiative for the Terry Fox Foundation.Of the over $3000 raised at the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue (Vancouver Branch), over $2000 of it was for Julie's golden shoulder (length)[inside joke]

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-59841573791917360982008-09-12T09:43:00.006-07:002008-09-12T10:15:50.833-07:00

Yeah, the "Electoral Word of the Day" is a rip off of Colbert's "Word" segment, but my title has more words in, so it's way better.Or, imitation is the best form of flattery.I just hope Viacom doesn't sue me for a billion dollars.Anyhoo, on to "Discourse".Politics is about how we will live together without having to resort to violence to settle our differences.Mind you, Lester Pearson claimed "

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-64986744051313433642008-09-11T06:00:00.006-07:002008-09-11T06:00:01.030-07:00

No, I didn't add a picture of Rodney King to a blog post about a Canadian election by accident.I've probably misspelled words, dropped mixed metaphors and added random punct. Uation?But I've never added a picture to a blog post by accident.In the midst of the Los Angeles riots after the surprising(?) verdict of his trial, King asked:"People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-70779057009496503552008-09-10T00:21:00.004-07:002008-09-10T01:02:58.874-07:00

Okay, okay, I was a little excited in the last post.After all, three Canadian elections and an American election in one year would get any political junkie excited.And then I started wondering why we were having an election.The federal Liberals never grew the genitalia (See how I'm not using gutter language!) to bring down the government.Because, of course, legislation that is "an affront to

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-32322298841306954512008-09-09T06:00:00.003-07:002008-09-09T06:00:00.846-07:00

This coming year is going to be the coolest thing ever.Well, it will be for me, at least.Besides the American election, which is always entertaining, there are three elections happening in BC!There is the federal election on October 14, the BC provincial election May 12 2009, and municipal elections on November 15.Who cares about reality TV when you've got elections coming out wazoo?(No, I have

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-78754374698324311152008-09-05T06:00:00.002-07:002008-09-05T06:00:00.977-07:00

Okay, yes, you're right, that is MGM's motto.(What's a "motto"?I don't know, what a motto you?[Um, I guess that wasn't really a print joke. Sorry.])Returning to your regularly scheduled blog post, ars gratia artis is Latin for "art for art's sake".Why mottos are written in Latin is the subject of another blog post.Uh, it's the subject of another blog post because I'm too lazy to plagiarize

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-17455411254303878522008-09-04T06:00:00.006-07:002008-09-04T14:20:29.526-07:00

You can thank me for all the time I just saved you by sending me money.And this year is the 40th anniversary of the release of the song and video originally shown on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (ask your parents).The song was created by Mason Williams, the head writer on Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (ask your parents).The video, 3000 Years of Art, was created by UCLA film student Dan

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-37730960541302531982008-09-03T06:00:00.000-07:002008-09-03T06:00:00.888-07:00

Uh, this is going to sound a little weird, but the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit was highly influential for me.I was 10 when it came out, so stop looking at me that way.It was the first movie I was allowed to go to without adult supervision.Stop being so shocked, it was the seventies, children weren't that precious way back then.I own well used copies of Smokey in both DVD and VHS (ask your

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-44175142486314573042008-09-02T06:00:00.004-07:002008-09-02T23:16:51.782-07:00

When I first saw the destruction wrought on New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina I was shocked that a major American city in an area prone to hurricanes could be so devastated.And then, in the days that followed, it wasn't the devastation that was shocking.Slowly, more and more stories came out of a people abandoned by their government.The levees were not the only thing that failed in Louisiana.The

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-4904713571703483552008-09-01T06:00:00.000-07:002008-09-01T06:00:01.450-07:00

At the risk of sounding like Abe Simpson, um, there are too many songs called "Gloria".Well, there are.It's really confusing.I was singing in a choir when we were learning a song called "Gloria" not listed here, when I asked when the "G-L-O-R-I-A" part started, I was told to "never ever ask that question again".Laura Branigan - GloriaU2 - GloriaVivaldi - GloriaMineral - GloriaEnchantment -

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32260893.post-82209167861489886032008-08-31T06:00:00.005-07:002008-08-31T09:12:29.084-07:00

Although this speech and the Democratic National Convention in Denver were merely formalities, this speech is history.At the most basic level, it is the first nomination acceptance speech of an American of African descent to a major party.This was the next step of Dr. King's dream for all of us.What will hopefully be more historic is the beginning of politics without acrimony.We can disagree

Anthony Damonsehttps://profiles.google.com/100585342732985885034noreply@blogger.com0