VANOC Gets Schooled

"Academic community joins the Vancouver 2010 team"

That's the headline of a Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) press release from yesterday. The "Academic community" to which they refer is; "The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Capilano University, Douglas College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Langara College".

These are not the institutions that come to mind when I think of academia. They are the "universities" that I reference when I talk about glorified high schools.

And my instinct is correct because VANOC is not interested in the brains at those schools. This misleading headline actually refers to the Community Contributor Program where "universities and colleges will provide services, including parking spaces that are essential to VANOC’s overall transportation plan and Park and Ride program for spectators using the Olympic Bus Network to travel to venues in Whistler from Vancouver."

Yep. It's about parking spaces. The press release might as well have been titled "Parking lot rental agreement acquired by Vancouver 2010 team". But then I guess I wouldn't have opened the damn thing.

Spage is...

...at the Bob Dylan show...with another useless blurry picture.

Spage is...

...at the Death Cab/Neil Young show.

Spage is...

...watching the West Edmonton Mall's Sea Lion show for the 5th time in
three days - and it's still awesome to see these animals up close!

Spage was...

...firing pistols (Glock, Beretta, and a .45) at the range in the West
Edmonton Mall.

And this too was delicious :)

The range attendant is a competitive combat-style handgun user and he
informed me that I'm a natural shooter. This I knew, from the first time I
fired semi-autos (and rifles and shotguns) as a tween, but it's nice to
know that I've still got it.

In fact, I didn't pay to use the higher caliber pistol (which is why I
don't know what make it was, perhaps the one used in the US Armed Forces?)
- the dude was so impressed with me that he let me fire his own gun that he
had holstered. I just had to promise not to tell anyone he let me do it.
I figure you don't count.

Spage is...

...staying in a Hollywood themed room, that includes a huge fully mirrored
jacuzzi next to the bed, at the Fantasyland Hotel at West Edmonton Mall.

I will enjoy watching election results coverage in this hilarious room!

Spage is...

...watching Wookiee prepare a Thanksgiving feast. Mmmmm...deep fried
turkey, sweet yams, homemade pecan pie, and more - oh my!

Spage is...

...at a Weezer show in Vancouver.

Spage is...

...lying on the grass in the sun and wind on Parliament Hill.

And it's delicious.

Canadian Headline Of The Day #5

Pictou County moose fell from chopper

Department of Natural Resources now reviewing rescue procedures

It turns out the moose that died Thursday was dropped from a helicopter.

The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources initially said the endangered moose likely died of a combination of drugs and stress.

But on Friday,a spokesman for the department admitted the net that held the moose came loose from the cable as the helicopter took off.

"When the moose was first put into a sling for transport, it fell approximately 12 or 15 feet when being lifted by the helicopter," said Dan Davis.

"We wanted to let people know that," he said. "We don't know at this point, but it may have contributed to its death."

Wildlife officers moved in Thursday to relocate the young bull moose after it was spotted roaming near the town of Pictou. They feared the animal might cause a traffic accident.

A spokesman said officers shot the animal with a tranquillizer dart, then hoisted it by helicopter. By the time it was lowered to a waiting trailer, the moose was dead.

Information about the fall wasn't available Thursday afternoon, Davis said, adding the department is now reviewing its procedures.

A veterinarian is examining the moose to determine the cause of death.

The mainland Nova Scotia moose was declared an endangered species in 2003. There are only an estimated 1,000 animals left in isolated areas, a decline of 20 per cent over the past three decades.

By the way, thank you CBC for writing (badly) an article in a style that assumes you read a previous article. Who opens a news piece with, "It turns out the moose that died Thursday was dropped from a helicopter."? It's insane!

There must be a Sarah Palin joke somewhere in all this...

The Election: Loving & Loathing Gilles

I am extremely disappointed that during the Canadian Federal election campaign I am on near constant travel status and have not been able to keep myself saturated in political news - which is my preferred state.

I did manage to watch the Leader's Debate on CBC last night and, politics aside, I was delighted to see five candidates being animated and unruly in the tradition of Canadian politics. It was a beautiful and stunning contrast to the US Presidential "debate" I saw a couple of weeks ago. What's up with the whole two party thing?

I won't get into a breakdown of the debate, or who I think should be supported, but I will say this; I wish Gilles Duceppe was not a Bloc separatist because every time I see him orate, I wish I could vote for him. Gilles, in both official languages, is witty, engaging, charismatic, intelligent, and kind of feisty...but not in that smarmy way that Jack Layton is. If only Gilles believed in a complete and equal Canada and ran candidates in every province!

Just when I've come to terms with having only four candidates to pick from I am reminded again, in an article, the kind of things that Gilles says to remind me of my unattainable desire to vote for him.

"In Toronto, Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe launched an attack against Harper.

"It is very dangerous when a prime minister makes his decisions through an ideological prism instead of a pragmatic one," Duceppe said in a speech to the Toronto Economic Club, a Bay Street audience.

Duceppe accepted the group's invitation despite the fact his separatist party only runs candidates in Quebec."

Elegant, subtle, concise, intelligent, and biting. Plus, I agree with him. I long for a realistic candidate for Prime Minister who speaks like that.