Round-up

Odds and ends on many topics we have covered here before:

FIRST ITEM: RAPTORS

The Raptors are .500. Cup half full, Jermaine O'Neal is coming into form nicely and if Bargnani keeps it up he could end up playing in a Three Big Line-up with Bosh and O'Neal, as the only 7ft small forward in the league.

Cup half empty, the three spot is either a guy who won't play his role (Moon), or a slow guy who can't defend (Kapono). The difference is, Moon doesn't know he can't shoot, Kapono knows he can't defend. Trade Moon and some of the bench to get a legit three. Plus, Calderon got hurt last night. Here's hoping four days is enough to help him recover.

I've seen parts of all of the first eight games. My goal is to watch all 82 this year, but life gets in the way of that sometimes. Thanks God for "Raptors Game in an Hour" on Raptors TV. They cut out the timeouts and some of the free throws and squeeze the game into a one hour block.

I've also managed to turn my partner into a basketball fan. The best way to do this is to watch the same team over and over again, until the person you are trying to hook gets to know what to expect from the players.

She also thinks Sam is cute when he makes his "I can't believe Moon took another three" face. To each their own.

NEXT ITEM: POLITICS

Go read these articles from Newsweek. They had reporters behind the scenes on both US Presidential campaigns. The deal was, no reporting until after the election. Fascinating stuff. I learned that Obama slid in a Jay-Z reference that the crowd got and the national press missed, and that he curses in private. Makes me like him more.

FINAL ITEM: THE FUNNY

The Boy made a video for YouTube. He usually just watches mash-ups of Kriby and Mario, but he wanted to put up something himself. So enjoy "The Ian Funny I", with many more to follow, as he has a limitless supply of those moves:

Letters, oh, they get letters

Sometimse I get nostalgic for working on PEI, and meeting interesting characters that are unique to the Island. To fix that, I usually read Letters to the Editor.

Much credit to the Graphic newspapers. They gave me my first job, and will publish the most batshit crazy Letters to the Editor.

Check out this gem, from this weeks Graphics (support indy media, go buy a Graphic, except in West Prince, where you should take one home from your mailbox and shop at the stores who advertise there).

I had just finished trapping my fifth raccoon and was preparing to trap a sixth one when I read in the newspaper that a permit is needed before one is permitted to trap raccoons. Understanding, now, that this regulation comes from a country that bestous its highest honour on a man who aborts babies for a living. A country that allows monsterous and ugly windmills to be erected within “spittin” distance of ones front door and one that allows taxpayer’s money to be used to prop up the liberal, left wing CBC. Something seems to be wrong with this picture. (May I suggest that Fox News Channel is an interesting alternative to the CBC). By the way, I think that I should offer an apology to those cuddly creatures who were destroying my garden. I hope that they can find it in their raccoon hearts to forgive me for trapping them without a permit- no Order of Canada for me. Sincerely Donnie Doyle Campbellton

Abortion, raccoons, Order of Canada, CBC vs Fox News.... this letter has it all.

On the subject of Fox News, I was watching their election coverage last night during commercials on CNN. They say "givin'" instead of giving, and the anchor had too much makeup.

They also called Georgia for McCain a half an hour before CNN, which is based in Atlanta.... funny, they called at the same time they gave Pennsylvania to Obama... softening the blow I suppose.

Ego management

So, of course I did a vanity Google today. I'm good for one a month, usually I search my name minus the term "crappie". because my internet doppleganger is a professional Crappie Fisherman.

I found this:

A link to just my CTV story, not the entire cast.

They have it up with their Canadian Press story about cabinet rookies.

Enjoy, I sure as hell did.

A final note

... on the power of the internet.

If you search the words "jesus vs nazis" on google, I am the number one response.

What a great comic. It is usually the high point of my Friday.

Blood of The Lamb, Mother fuckers.

Hooray for Google.

Like Dr. Dre

Lloyd Robertson just said my name... I kinda feel like Dr. Dre.

Don't believe me: Look Here

If you really like to analyse the difference in media, have a look at the twice as long version we ran.

WATCH IT HERE

Someone smart once told me, "You didn't have the time to tell the shorter story."

I like the CTV version better, although the 3:50 plus version on APTN (plus an additional 4 minutes of me talking with Todd through a camera) is full of much more Nunavut Political Inside Baseball.

Want to hear a newspaper editor talk about dead bodies? Is one quote of The Premier not enough for you, do you need three? Nunavummiut, click link two

If you just want to see what people in the south saw, click link ONE.

Following rising stars

Well, Leona Aglukkaq's meteoric rise to the top of Canada's political food chain is pulling a few people along in it's wake.

Namely, me.

If everything goes as planned, tune in tonight to CTV National News to see a shorter version of my "Local Reaction" story about Ms Aglukkaq.

See all our Nunavut regulars (Jim Bell, Premier Okalik, Hunter Tootoo) on the big news.

If it doesn't work out tonight, it will air sometime on the weekend.

Also, a scoop for you. Aglukkaq's first major interview, Question Period this Sunday. I hope she comes ready, Craig Oliver sharpens his teeth on federal rookies.

It will be very nice to hear "For CTV News, I'm Kent Driscoll of APTN National News, in Iqaluit".

Mike Duffy isn't their only former Islander now.

Of 10 point plans and politics

Everybody knows that Tagak Curley wants to be the Premier, and under Nunavut's consensus system of government, he has a chance to be. The MLA's meet in a few weeks, to elect a Premier, a Speaker and a cabinet.

The Premiership (soccer reference ;) ) battle is going to be interesting, especially since it looks like Mr Curley from Rankin Inlet is running publically. He released a 10 point plan which outlines what his administration would do.

I like 10 point plans, they are long enough to contain policy but short enough to be digestable. Here is his, with my comments in ITALICS AND CAPS


In the next Legislative Assembly, Tagak confirmed his priorities, among others, will include to:

1. examine the feasibility of establishing a breakfast program for all schools in Nunavut;

NUMBER ONE FOR A REASON. SOME SCHOOLS HAVE TRIED THIS ALREADY, WITH GREAT RESULTS

2. improve health care including better and more reliable air travel for the ill and their families;

NO SURPRISE, IF I HAD A NICKEL FOR EVERYTIME I HAVE HEARD MR CURLEY OR ONE OF THE REGULAR MEMBERS BRING UP MEDICAL TRAVEL, I WOULD HAVE A SHIT LOAD OF NICKELS

3. double the number of new housing units to be built;

EASIER SAID THAN DONE

4. encourage more local Inuit training and employment opportunities;

WHY FLY PEOPLE OUT TO TRAIN, WHEN YOU CAN FLY PEOPLE IN TO TRAIN THEM

5. improve government contracting practices allowing more local business to benefit from government business;

KEEPING BUSINESS LOCAL IS A GOOD IDEA, BUT THERE ARE ALREADY BONUSES AND QUOTAS IN PLACE, EITHER THEY AREN'T WORKING AND NEED TO BE RE-EXAMINED, OR ARE WORKING AND THIS STATEMENT IS JUST POLITICS... GOOD POLITICS BUT POLITICS

6. more roads, and a harbour or a wharf for all communities;

A+ FOR THE IDEA, PROBLEM IS THAT WHARVES ARE A FEDERAL RESPONSABILITY. EITHER THAT TAKES A LOT OF TERRITORIAL MONEY BEING SPENT OF A FEDERAL RESPONSABILITY, OR IT TAKES CRACKING SKULLS WITH THE FEDS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

7. improve cargo handling at community airports and improved food mail for more affordable healthy food choices;

MORE FEDERAL AREAS, ALTHOUGH EVERYONE CAN AGREE THAT THEY NEED TO BE REVISITED

8. increase capacity for the local administration of justice, including more local court houses;

LOCAL OFFICIALS, SURE. LOCAL COURTHOUSES, I DON'T KNOW, DO WE NEED A BUILDING JUST FOR THAT? WHY NOT BUILD MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY HALLS, THAT COULD BE OF USE MORE THAN JUST ON COURT DAYS. WHY BUILD TWO BUILDINGS, WHEN ONE COULD DO TWO THINGS?

9. increase in number of local police; and

NO ONE IS GOING TO DISAGREE WITH THAT ONE

10. more reliance on elders and traditional knowledge for regulating local hunting.

AGAIN, IF YOU LISTEN TO MR CURLEY IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, USING MORE ELDERS IN WILDLIFE STUDIES IS A PET ISSUE OF HIS. SMART SCIENTISTS WILL TELL YOU, EYEWITNESSES TO LONG TERM CHANGE ARE INVALUABLE.

So, this sounds like the stuff he has been talking about all along. Gives it a ring of truth, don't you think, that consistant message.

I think Mr Curley's biggest challenge is going to be outrunning his reputation, as he has been known to speak his mind to his own detriment. That is a trait I know all too well, being one of those "talk first, think later" types myself.

I don't think that is always such a bad thing, but people here seem to prefer the strong silent type over leading with your chin. If people see this as a time where there needs to be a louder voice in Iqaluit, that could help as much as hurt.... we'll have to wait and see like everyone else.

His region kicked out all their cabinet ministers, the thirst for change is being fueled by the Kivalliq. Could be an interesting forum on leadership, and Mr Curley can't be discounted.

No matter who wins, please steal the breakfast plan idea from him, if it is not him who wins.

Me, I'm still wondering who will be the Speaker... I'll worry about Premier after a few days of post election non-political thinking.

For example, Friday's story.... SEAL SKINS!!! NO politics of any type, I feel like it is Christmas.