Some quick notes

[dewline]

Looks like I'm going to be on unpaid leave for a week longer than I expected. Means more time for the illustration, writing and house chores, though.

I saw tonight's FlashForward. Good installment, the night before the season-ending Cliffhanger. From what I'm hearing on Facebook, next week's installment could be another one of those cliffhangers ordered to remain unresolved by network decree. I hope that rumour's wrong, partly because I'd love to see more episodes like last week's "Course Correction" written by franchise founder Robert J. Sawyer his own self. Yes, having said "Hello" to Rob's face yet again this past Monday at the Clocktower Pub, I am bloody well biased on this point.

Bat-stuff of note: I am liking Damian Wayne more and more as time goes on. Last week, in the pages of Batman and Robin # 12 and Red Robin # 12, he had two very good moments. No, I will not spoil them for you here. Go forth, buy and read the stories in question yourselves.

Out in our world for a moment: I suggest that you keep an eye out for one book in particular over the next little while: The Armageddon Factor The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada by Marci McDonald. It builds on an article for The Walrus under her byline a couple of years back, "Stephen Harper and the Theo-Cons". I intend to lay hands on it via the library soon for a closer look-see.

Comments

[radargrrl.livejournal.com]

I heard the Current interview this evening (podcast), and it pretty much confirms everything I've been saying since he got in. Harper has ties to fundamentalist christianists and these are the people he's catering to. Anyone who thinks he WON'T shitcan same-sex marriage and equal rights for women is deluding themself. These people are dangerous, but we won't see their true nature unless they get a majority.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

With Stockwell Day, Brad Trost and the like in that camp, I see Grounds for Serious Concern. I don't think the majority of voters is deluding themselves on this point, but we've got a seriously divided Opposition Loyal to Canada to get into shape.

[radargrrl.livejournal.com]

I know. What exactly is that going to take? I think there's going to have to be a 'Unite the Left' sort of thing, just as the Nazis Canadian Alliance and the betrayed Regressive Convertibles had just a few short years ago. It's reached the point where nothing else is going to really work.

I also think that Ignatieff has become an albatross, but I haven't the slightest idea who could replace him. Bob Rae has too much baggage left over from his stint as Ontario premier, even though he's a superb politician. Justin Trudeau comes to mind, but not yet. Who else is there?

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

I thought we had a "Unite the Left" sort of thing when the "Coalition" came into being a few years ago. [The aims of the Coalition were tiresomely self-serving, but I digress. :-/]

As for a new leader for the Liberals, how about "None of the Above"? Said person would make a great PM, too. :-)

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Would it be ridiculous to suggest Marc Garneau?

[radargrrl.livejournal.com]

I think it might be. I know he's been an astronaut and all, which requires some pretty intensive qualifications, as does his track record as a decorated Naval officer, but I have a feeling most people would see this as sort of a novelty thing. It's unfair, because if you compare this with Ken Dryden, who has had a distinguished career as a lawyer, is mostly remembered for a certain sporting event, yet he's doing quite nicely. Maybe he could be the one. TBH, I think Capt(N)(ret) Garneau is capable of doing a great job.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...a Garneau/Dryden partnership...

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

With regard to Marci McDonald's book, you may also like British philosopher John Gray's book Black Mass (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Black-Mass-How-Religion-Led-John-Gray/9780385662666-item.html), which talks about Christian stuporstition in the U.S. and in Britain. I have an earlier version of the same book, but the version here seems to be a revised one.

While copies of that book are available at OPL, Ms. McDonald's book doesn't seem to appear in the OPL catalogue (http://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/main/overview), though Chapters has it on sale. [There *still* are bugs in that system, as it kept reporting a System Error when I tried to renew a couple of books today.]

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Their recordkeeping on what's in the collection may still need to catch up with what's actually either there or on order, maybe.

I'll keep an eye out for that particular edition of Black Mass you mentioned in the meantime.

[liabrown]

And now a mayoral candidate in Toronto is talking about "God's Law" and closing things on Sundays. What is happening to this country?

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Which candidate specifically? This guy needs to be reminded that while we all need at least two days of rest a week, we're not all going to find Sunday appropriate for either of them.

[liabrown]

Giorgio Mammoliti. Frankly, most of the candidates are idiots, so it's not like there are a lot of good choices this time around. I just get agitated when a religious one starts talking about God's laws and whatnot, because that's never a good sign.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Him, I'd heard of, but not in that particular light. Been more worried for Toronto's sake re: Rob Ford, Rocco Rossi and the like since the campaign started. And we've got our own civic elections here in Ottawa set for the same date for me to try to make sense of as well.

[liabrown]

Rob Ford is the worst of the lot, another Mel Lastman in the making. Only more conservative.