CBC: Keystone pipeline clears major hurdle ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

Sooo, BC'ers, it seems like you're leading the way for the HST getting dropped. Fingers crossed. BC votes 55% to scrap HST

You're welcome, Juliet. Regardless of people's political affiliations, many have expressed that Layton left behind something sorely missing from the partisanship of today's leaders - a legacy, particularly that of championing social justice, the roots of which were put down years ago when he was spearheading attention for causes that are now well known and far better supported as a result. That kind of dedication and advocacy deserves respect. p.s. funeral is tomorrow at 1pm, I think

... and in other, sadder news, NDP head and Leader of the Official Opposition, Jack Layton, has lost his battle with cancer: CBC: Jack Layton to have state funeral Saturday in Toronto Goddamnit. Here's a letter he wrote just this past Saturday: Jack Layton's last letter to Canadians August 20, 2011 Toronto, Ontario Dear Friends, Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination. Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue. I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected. I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election. A few additional thoughts: To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer. To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government. To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election. To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all. To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future. And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done. My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world. All my very best, Jack Layton http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/08/22/pol-layton-last-letter.html

Well we'll see how things develop now that even his political supporters are distancing themselves from his proposed policies...

Not sure what to think of this, but FYI: Scott ready to direct new version of Blade Runner

Very sorry about your friend and your loss, beetleron.

I watched "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" recently and thought it was pretty good. The leading lady's POV was a bit wooden but I guess there has to be that opposing 'just because you can doesn't mean you should' voice of reason to contrast with the great advances made by the scientist. Set up nicely for a sequel... CG effects, particularly in showing heightened intelligence/awareness in the apes, was phenomenal. Also watched "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer". Disturbing how far passion can drive a person. Beautiful to watch. Sort of a synaesthetic experience because the visuals have to convey how exquisite the perfume really must be. Ben Whishaw (plays the main character Jean-Baptiste Grenouille) is great in this movie.

Ok. I'm pissed off. Toronto's Mayor Ford is considering closing libraries (among other things) as part of an effort to trim budget costs. It would be one thing had he presented this with some evidence that they're 'little used'. Trouble is, the one he used as an example in his own ward, Northern Elm, has actually increased in checkouts by 15% compared to last year. TORONTO STAR: Constituents to Ford - Lose our library and lose our votes Northern Elms is one of the libraries singled out because it has the sixth lowest borrowing rate. But stats alone of course don't accurately present its value to the community. It's a small library so the numbers are proportionate to its size, but it is vital to the community's immigrants, parents and children, and the elderly. You know, PEOPLE who make a place a COMMUNITY by participating in programs that help others, and keep citizens engaged and intelligent. G & M: Library cuts will happen "in a heartbeat," Ford says wherein Ford further endears himself by insulting national literary treasure Margaret Atwood. Clearly doing his due diligence before speaking, Ford claimed that there are more libraries than Tim Hortons in his ward. The horror. FACT CHECK: Tim Hortons franchises outnumber public libraries in Etobicoke (where Doug Ford lives) by a margin of three to one. There are 13 public libraries in Etobicoke, and 39 Tim Hortons franchises. So, to sum up bike lanes (rant for another day) and books: bad. Timbits: good. Here he is paying attention during today's depositions. Timbit crash. This guy needs a Timbit like a drowning man needs a glass of water. Keep your greasy hands off our libraries, Fatty.

Yeah really consistent quality throughout, but now that it's all said and done, I'm glad that they split the 7th novel into two movies. Given the inherent challenges of adaptations, they really did the story justice, let alone one of this magnitude. 7 Part II is my favourite one! Anyway, I saw it again . I can't get over Snape's heartache. The success of the whole enterprise has rested on his devotion all along. Who knew he had it in him?? Tonight I'm watching Sense and Sensibility (the brilliant Emma Thompson version).

Completely biased, but I loved the final HP movie! It really does rely heavily on audiences having prior knowledge of the story to understand the significance of many plot points, but those ten people will just have to put in the time to fill in the gaps

Really want to see that, too. Saw "X-Men: First Class" - pretty good. Conflicting bad guys kind of took away some of the impact. Wolverine has a brief cameo and kills it!

^ ^ I love Beastie Boys. Even back when I knew everything about everything and spouted Gregg Allman's line about rap (something about spelling rap with a capital C) I secretly really dug their music. I was thinking about this today:

Sooo, a bit of a dust up to post this: NPR: Robert Johnson At 100, Still Dispelling Myths Some interesting comments below the article, too. Enjoy.

Some photos have been released, apparently taken about an hour after the raid. OBL is obviously not pictured, though based on these, you can imagine that the Seals were not leaving doubts about having to watch their sixes. Just a head's up, a bit graphic. Photos from bin Laden's Compound

Well, kind of surreal, but... finally! Much will be made of where he was found in terms of international relations with some US friends (loosely termed), and how he was killed, but it's great that this chapter, at least, is closed.

Happy Easter fellow Zepheads! :D To answer the question - a lovely church service followed by a great lunch .

We'll see, Silver, we will see... Thanks And you should post some pics!

Shhhhhh...I'm not saying anything about anything...hope springs eternal...

oh. YEAH.

Bring it, man. BRING IT!

Gertrude and Claudius by John Updike

Just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and started Pirandello's Naked Masks.