One less thing to worry about

Robert Fulford on Naomi Klein:

If you can manage to read Klein, you need read no more. Learn her way of thinking and you’ll not be required to think again. She delivers a packaged one-size-fits-all theory of history that shares just one attribute with Marxism: When you have absorbed Klein you will in future always know the answer before you know the question.

That’s good. I was getting tired of thinking for myself.

Life on the campaign trail

Working for Sandy is getting kind of hairy, and we are trying to recruit volunteers so that I can focus on strategy, rather than the details.

Until then, blogging will be light.

Check out our website to see the happenings to date, and Vote Sandy!

Council scores a Big D

While the incumbent mayor basks in his `victory` in gaining money from the provincial government — wherein he scored infrastructure money with no ties to include affordable housing — some city hall watchers prove to be more observant than others:

“In every practical way, council has fumbled the ball on the homelessness issue,” said Naheed Nenshi of the Better Calgary Campaign, which advocates for improved municipal government. “This city is completely different than it was three years ago.

“They waited until the situation was untenable.”`

Affordable housing also emerged as a key issue as the cost to buy a home went through the roof, though city hall watchers said council has also failed to address low-cost housing.

“We’ve seen a little bit of housing,” said Nenshi, noting council is still turning in circles over a change that would immediately ease the situation: legalizing secondary suites.

Absolutely. One of the main pillars of the Sandy Jenkins campaign is to provide amnesty for those operating secondary suites outside the present code, in addition to simplifying the codes which will allow for the development of even more housing options for students and young people.

“For this term — I’m a teacher, so I can grade them — I give them a solid D,” said Nenshi. “They get a B for effort, but a D for execution.”

That`s awfully generous of you, Ben.

And by ‘gay’ I mean ‘gay’

During my tenure at the Students’ Union, my collegues and I enjoyed a refreshingly frank and open dialogue with each other. There were no taboos during our closed Executive Council meetings, no bars on language, and a hearty respect developed between the five of us as a result.

Our VP Academic was a gay anthropology student from Prince Albert (God help him) and a long-time leader with the Gay and Lesbians of the U of S. Scotty was one of the boys and did nothing to discourage the white-trash sentimentality we so lovingly fostered in our workplace, and that included not calling us out on the use of the word ‘gay’ as a perjorative. In our part, we expressed our respect to him during our Exec meetings by catching ourselves whenever we used the word in that way by inserting a qualifier.

For example, when discussing a particular policy initiative undertaken by the university which could adversely affect undergrad students, we would say, “that report is so gay, and by gay I mean it is awful.” Or, “That is the gayest idea I’ve ever heard, and by gay I mean it is ridiulous.” Sometimes, ‘gay’ just meant ‘gay’, as in, “Scotty, that shirt you’re wearing is so gay, and by gay I mean it’s gay.” Oh, did we have laughs, har-de-har.

(Surpsingly, I cannot recall a qualifier in which the word ‘gay’ was intended as a synonym for ‘happy’. Such is life.)

This reflection came to me this morning when I read this headline:

Calgary gets gayest city in Alberta title

EDMONTON — Calgary has Edmonton beat when it comes to being Alberta’s gayest city, new census numbers suggest.

Of course, headline writers are notorious for slipping in double entendres in order to enliven their otherwise miserable careers as headline writers, but I wouldn’t go far as to accuse whoever wrote this of having a mischeivous streak. To be sure, this article is in reference to the fact that Calgary is home to more gay couples than Edmonton (and by ‘gay’ I mean ‘homosexual’), and any reasonable observer would concude this immediately.

However, even though PC culture has yet failed to shuffle off our mortal backs when it comes to ‘progressive’ thought and speech, I can’t help but think that this headline would have remined more true to its original intent had I or one of my fellow SU execs written a proper qualifier behind it.

Left as is, the headline is simply gay, and by ‘gay’ I mean, well, you get the point …

Calgary mayor says ‘no’ to supporting the troops

CALGARY/AM770CHQR -
  A bid to have "support our troops" decals allowed on city vehicles has been shot down again. 

Alderman Ric McIver introduced the motion, but Mayor Dave Bronconnier told council it was a matter of reconsidering the issue. 

McIver took exception to that and challenged the Mayor’s ruling which resulted in a vote.

Council voted down the challenge and the motion was turfed.

It was reported that Mayor Bronconnier called the troop decal issue "the flavour of the month" and brushed aside any further reference to it.

Alderman McIver suggested that this ought to be a political issue, as indeed it is.

I am working for mayoral candidate Sandy Jenkins, a local businessman and community leader, who is to announce this evening that if elected he will support city workers who wish to place "Support our troops" decals on their vehicles. Further to this, Jenkins will also advocate for those who sport veteran designs on their plates to be able to park on the city streets for up to two hours for no charge whatsoever.

Any Calgarian who supports these two initiatives are encouraged to attend Sandy Jenkins’ campaign launch tonight at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 264, located at 1910 Kensinton Road NW, at 7:00 pm.

Join up with Sandy’s team and show the mayor that our troops are far from being "the flavour of the month".

F-f-f-far out

Update your blogroll. Kathy Shaidle has moved to Five Feet of Fury.