 |
 |
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to SDA Late Nite Radio. Tonight, in honour of Canada Day, and for those of us who celebrate it, Dominion Day, 2008, and for your delectation, here is the 1979 version of the National Film Board’s production of Wade Hemsworth’s classic: The Log Driver’s Waltz (3:04, lyrics, hat tip to Gunney99).
Also, the 2008 Q2 Top 100 SDA Commenters statistics are now available.
Your Reader Tips are, as always, welcome in the comments.
(I would like to invite you to read my paragraphs above and below in the style of Charlie Callas parodying George Jessel as the Tostmaster General in this sketch from the Dean Martin Roast of Don Rickles, but you don’t have to.)
I have included the current Canadian flag in this entry because, whether I like it or not, it is the flag our Canadian Forces fight under and salute, and I have to respect that. I have included the historic Canadian Red Ensign (pick the image) because, vexillogically, I like it and I fly it, and because I do think it is important to reflect on our history, as well as our future, on this day.
Yet it remains the case, and I have argued this here 12 and 24 months ago, that I don’t think this day is appropriate for the sort of normative kvetching about Canada that characterizes Canadian blog comments. There are plenty of days in the year for that; so like I think that Christmas is a day for celebrating peace on earth and goodwill toward man, I think that today is a day for celebrating peace and goodwill toward Canada.
It’s all well and good to argue, campaign, and in self defense even fight for what one wants that one does not have, and I think that’s morally acceptable as long as one doesn’t cross the line from selfishness to greed, yet I remain convinced that it is a spiritual error to not take cognizance of what good one does have. Canada, pace the arguments and campaigns to come, is, by any classic standard, a danm fine place.
Because, remember, after all is said and done: A log driver’s waltz pleases girls completely. No, I’m not being facetious, I’m being metaphorical. Not that I actually expect anyone to change their behaviour, this is, after all, just my comment, which like almost all comments, doesn’t actually matter that much, really.
I just read where Sir Paul McCartney is going to be entertaining the masses on the Plains of Abraham. That should be interesting ………. another Brit taking over as #1 on the Plains Of Abraham. I’ll bet Montcalm is pissed off.
Remember, the beautiful maple leaf flag was pushed on us by a liberal prime minister and one of UN’s glorious and illustrious founders, Pearson, with the comment, it won’t have any blue in it, those are Tory colours.
Hehe,damn brits…Anyways,I am # 45 on the list,45 with a bullet,with a bullet.Great googly moogly.I can only imagine the lofty heights I could reach if I did that double post thing.
Hehe,damn brits…Anyways,I am # 45 on the list,45 with a bullet,with a bullet.Great googly moogly.I can only imagine the lofty heights I could reach if I did that double post thing.
Thank you for posting our traditional and organic flag and not just the Liberal revised Canada version.
Who’s da man wit da car- bon tax con?
Ukulele Orchestra of GB – Shaft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfK-UzQ48JE&feature=related
Ahmadinejad’s wife is hot (understandably in her burka) and an outstanding symbol of the Multiculturalism toward which Canadians of all genders and faiths should strive.
Heh.
Happy Dominion Day!
From the land of Premier Carbon Campbell.
Ahmadinejad’s wife is hot, as you’d expect under that burka, but what a picture of Canada’s Multicultural future for Canada Day!
This just may be over the top. It is so ridicules, it seems somebody just made it up.
Swedish school cites discrimination in seizing birthday party invitations.
http://www.pentictonherald.ca/oddities.php
Tabarnaque!! Dat looks like a dangerous way of earning a living!! Happy Canada day to all!! And by the way, the Maple Leaf (Acer Sacharum) does not grow west of Ontario. What we westerners call a Manitoba Maple is indeed a Box Elder.
I was in school when the Maple leaf was raised. (1965) A lot of us wanted blue bars to acknowledge the Pacific and the Atlantic. But the Pearson Liberals chose what was really the logo of the Liberal Party of Canada.
The feds put out a token contest for students across Canada. In the end, MPs from Quebec and Ontario chose the flag.
Pearson got what he wanted. He got rid of Diefenbaker, the only Sask. MP to get elected to the PMO, and the Union Jack. In return, the west got Pearson, Trudeau, (including Margaret,) the Constitution, the Metric System, same sex marriage, Ralph Goodale and Jean Chretien.
What would be appropriate on a western Canadian flag?? A jar of vaseline comes to mind!!
You have a problem with the metric system?
In honour of Dominion Day, please help this poll “go horribly right”.
“I just read where Sir Paul McCartney is going to be entertaining the masses on the Plains of Abraham. That should be interesting ………. another Brit taking over as #1 on the Plains Of Abraham. I’ll bet Montcalm is pissed off.”
Then again, look what happened to General Wolfe at the Plains of Abraham…
Short notice, but anyone in Saskatoon and between S’toon and Vanscoy, prepare for a particularly nasty storm. Winds over 100 km/h likely, and maybe even some hail.
On the eve of Canada Day – the ON Human Rights people have come out with their modification of the way they do human rights.
What exactly is there to be proud about in all of this? Political Correctness has been increased in intensity, libel chill has moved to libel freeze, enforcement is about to be what – tripled, and the minority rule of Canada is going to be entrenched in perpetuity.
Most galling in all of this, is that it will be done “legally”.
It is now rather evident why the feds have been keeping their head in the sand on the HRC issue. They had to have been aware of what was about to come out and no doubt have given their blessing (and probably a whole lot of dollars).
The changes made had to have been in the making for some time and while the huge majority of Ontarians were not even aware of the issue(s) – thanks to under-reporting in the media.
In fact, the feds are probably going to come out with something of their own and it would not surprise if it is on the same model. BC has already gone this route, and the AB gov’t, like sheep, are bound to follow.
Can you imagine what consternation there would have been at high levels if Macleans had been found “guilty” in a hearing and launched a formal appeal all the way up to the SCC. The ON HRC lucked out by simply declaring no hearing, leaving them free to pursue the course we are now seeing.
BC HRT is in an interesting position – they chose to hear the case and now must make a finding one way of the other. We can only hope that it will be in favor of the complainant and Macleans appeals all the way to the SCC.
Canadian and American history poll @ G&M
http://tinyurl.com/63tb74
18/20 Sorry ladies, got the women’s sufferage questions backwards.
I feel shame.
Sorry, should be quiz not poll.
Vit
Good stuff on the log drivers song. Truth be told that song and cheesy NFB vignette inspired a sense of connection in me with the rest of the country because it implied a respect for the grace of the working men who built this country.
That respect and grace are now in disrepute and scorned. We peons are the diggers of coal and the burners of carbon. A class of people apparently so dense that we require intervention at every turn.
IMO this country is a mere shadow of what those hard men meant.
Syncro
http://tinyurl.com/44m5eb from the (shock and awe)BBC
Why, even property prices in Baghdad are rising. According to one estate agent we spoke to, they have doubled in the past four months.
Yes, things are better in Baghdad.
Much of the credit for the improvements is undoubtedly due to the increase in US forces which began in the early months of 2007.
American troops came onto the streets in greater numbers and confronted the insurgents and militia groups.
….But it was not simply American force of arms which made the difference.
The US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, adopted a new approach.
tinyurl.com/44m5eb
Why, even property prices in Baghdad are rising. According to one estate agent we spoke to, they have doubled in the past four months.
Yes, things are better in Baghdad.
Much of the credit for the improvements is undoubtedly due to the increase in US forces which began in the early months of 2007.
American troops came onto the streets in greater numbers and confronted the insurgents and militia groups.
….But it was not simply American force of arms which made the difference.
The US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, adopted a new approach.
“Philemon Wright (September 3, 1760 – June 3, 1839) was a farmer and entrepreneur who founded Wrightville, the first settlement in the National Capital Region of Canada. Wrightville later became Hull, Quebec.
Wright used his natural leadership abilities to convince a group of Massachusetts settlers to come north with him. The first community of a few dozen settled on the north side of the Ottawa River in 1800, on the site of what would become the city of Gatineau (Hull), Quebec. The group began to clear land, but the process was long and difficult and by 1806 they had nearly exhausted their capital. In an effort to earn money, Wright attempted what was then thought impossible, to build a raft of timber and float it to Quebec City to be sold for export to Britain. Despite taking two months and encountering many hurdles he reached Quebec and sold his 700 logs and 6000 barrel staves.”
And an industry was born. The second last timber crib went down the Ottawa River a hundred years ago. The last one arrived in Ottawa this week, pictures here:
http://www.ottawasun.com/PhotoGalleries/Timber/2008/06/24/5969866.html
WHY would any Canadian vote in a pole for Obama over their own leaders? It’s brainless. What does anyone really know about Obama’s abilities as a leader when hasn’t been a leader? Further he will never be our Leader and may never be US President.
It’s quite apparent there are many people who vote for what meets their eyes and latch onto the bandwagon led by MSM twits.
HAPPY DOMINION DAY, from sea to shining sea.
I think the poll Gen. Lee Wright means is about six items down in the middle of the Sympatico page, “Question of the Day” about which politician Canadians most admire.
Obama: 38%; Stephen Harper: 33%.
Stephane Dion, at 7%, is one less than John McCain (8%).
And I thought we were supposed to anti-American! Though if pro-American means a vote for Obamarama, as someone calls him, count me out.
It’s hard to say what is likely to be more disappointing to many Obama supporters: his defeat or his victory.
The real story of the red maple leaf flag for Dominion Day.
Some time, long ago, in 1963, Lester was racing down the hall at 24 Sussex as his supper was somewhat under cooked.
Due to his haste he hadn’t seen the wastebasket sitting in the middle of the doorway of the bathroom.
Tripping over it, he spilled all of its contents.
Luckily, Lester didn’t have any more accidents and was able to get settled on the throne.
As he was finshing up the job and getting ready to clean up the mess he made of the wastebasket, Lester spotted a white rectangular cottony looking object with a large red stain in the middle.
Staring at it he thought, “some red on the ends would be something.”
And, thus, in 1964 we began flying “used feminine protection” as our national symbol from sea to sea (“a Mari usque ad Mare”) and everywhere else in the former Dominion.
Now it is time we again stand up and insist that the Canadian Red Ensign be adopted as the official flag, as we should have done back in 1963.
Isn’t it ironic how the Media in this country is so bloody excited about US politics, in a positive way of course, since it’s all about the Democrats choosing a leader and they’re pinning their hopes on Obama.
It will be interesting what the Liberal Left will do for pass time if Obama eventually becomes president. They’ll have to change their rant against the Conservatives here from too friendly/cozy to ‘not friendly enough’ with the US administration.
When you think about it, it is the anti-Americans, socialist and some other assorted ‘ists that would vote for the man that could do no wrong.
Those you might call conservatives would of course vote for a Canadian.
Avid green shift proponent Cherniak finds out that cycling in to the wind is more difficult, and finds it surprising.
http://jasoncherniak.blogspot.com/2008/06/unbelievable.html
These are the guys who don’t want you to use carbon. I wonder how much harder it is to pull a horse trailer? And, wait until he finds out about this white ‘snow’ stuff that has a tendency to fall in the winter months. It really makes biking difficult.
Hats off to the UK surveillance cameras — by order.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2085192/Hats-banned-from-Yorkshire-pubs-over-CCTV-fears.html
Sheesh Mike T, of all days to choose to post something so idiotic.
People seem to forget the bitter resentment over the maple leaf in the West at the time, it was seen as an eastern flag in liberal colours and to this day I hate the sight of the thing. When I go out in my boat today I will be flying the navies white ensign.
Check out Battle for Britain….
As an ex-Quebois, blue is also the colour of the fleur de lys of Quebec and the PQists.
I will therefore agree with you that the flag is all about the Liberals.
Hey, maybe, just maybe, Lester didn’t like the Toronto Maple leafs!
As a western Canadian, let me wish all a less-than-enthusiastic Happy Canada Day. Sadly, I was once a very proud citizen who always displayed my big flag every 1 July. I served my country in uniform for almost 30 years and, despite the disdain we experienced from the Canadian public, we did our duty proudly.
Canada has changed dramatically and quickly and, certainly, not for the good. Our country and government is broken and I must wonder if it can be repaired. Unfortunately, I have my doubts.
Let me give an example of what has brought on my dismay. We are capable of doing great things and there are people in our society who have the talent to effectively lead us in these great endeavours but there are also many cynical and warped individuals who seem to want to do little but criticize and whine whenever a leader emerges. Today we are losing what many believe to be one of the greatest generals our country has produced. General Hillier took a dispirited and decimated military and in three short years he transformed it into a vibrant and effective organization which is a great pride to almost all Canadians. The military has shucked the poorly led, less-than-effective UN peacekeeping nonsense to recapture the pride and wonderful history won by previous Canadian armies.
Yesterday I listened to a talk show with Norman Spector as a “guest pundit”. At one time I was an ardent admirer of Mr. Spector and my day wasn’t properly started without first reading his blog of news items. Something has happened to Mr. Spector that I think is infecting many Canadians. Cynicism and negativism dominates almost all that he writes and says. Yesterday he took the opportunity to slam and disparage General Hillier one last time before his retirement. I have no idea as to why Mr Spector has developed his often-expressed hatred of the general but I can assure him that it serves him very poorly.
This article in today’s Ottawa Citizen properly reflects the attitude of Canadians toward General Hillier and expresses the international respect with which he is held. More than anything negative Mr Spector can write or say, the article reflects the true picture of what we think of our departing CDS. Mr Spector should be ashamed.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=88c206c6-da65-4162-8758-6d30146dcfb3
Despite my own somewhat negative view of what is happening to my country, I can only hope some event or dramatic mechanism can turn things around and allow us to pursue freedom, life and liberty.
Syncrodox @ 2:21am – EXACTLY !!
I also remember watching those clips of Les Quebecois risking their lives so others could have a roof over their heads. The music and words were delightful and catchy.
But now, useless academics like Dion are trying to dupe us into throwing it all away. Why ? Because they can’t compete in the real world ?
Isn’t it ironic how the Media in this country is so bloody excited about US politics, in a positive way of course, since it’s all about the [quote]Democrats choosing a leader and they’re pinning their hopes on Obama.
It will be interesting what the Liberal Left will do for pass time if Obama eventually becomes president. They’ll have to change their rant against the Conservatives here from too friendly/cozy to ‘not friendly enough’ with the US administration.[/quote]
Liz J,
We do have a case study…GOV Davis bet the State on GORE in 2000.. although his problems with ENron began with Clinton/Gore they put him off with wait.. wait.. don’t make waves. He trusted the Machine and was flat-lined when Bush Won & wouldn’t help… (some believe it was the Dem’s Machine that actually got ENRon). I don’t suggest that Enron was/is the only problem in the State.. only that it was the political issue of the day.
Canada’s Socialists seem willing to bet the Country to that same Machine that RUNS (more everyday) Obama.
What is that Machine? …
BTW: Why would Canada Spend 200M (R&D) on a Nuclear Reactor (Oil Drum Size) and then write it off…Without a FULL & Complete INDEPENDANT evaluation (true scientists are easy to fool) “WAKE THE F*** UP” Canada
‘Haven’t seen this clip in a long time. The Log Driver’s Waltz is sung by the inimitable McGarrigle Sisters, Kate and Anna.
They’re still around, doing the smaller venue circuit, like Hugh’s Room in Toronto. What talent! What whimsy! The McGarrigles are Canadian treasures.
Let’s see. Who else?
Ted Byfield
Gwen Landolt
Leonard Cohen
Mark Steyn
I can’t think of any other Canadian treasures but know there must be more–but definitely NOT of the official Canadian treasure/Order of Canada variety…
Who else is there?
Poll at Yahoo Finance
http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/
Do you agree with the Liberal proposal for a carbon tax?
Yes – So long as it’s revenue neutral
No – It’s just a massive tax grab
[quote]We are capable of doing great things and there are people in our society who have the talent to effectively lead us in these great endeavours but there are also many cynical and warped individuals who seem to want to do little but criticize and whine whenever a leader emerges
[/quote]
BC’r
I agree. Its not enough to kinda know your talents.. You MUST have confidence in that Talent (heart of hearts) Canada is far “better” than you/they think! Just need a kick in the butt!
Without Confidence.. You have no talent!
Drink lots of Blue!… Tomorrow is a new Day
July 1st will be known as ALSASK day in the not too distant future if the boneheads in the east elect Dion.
Happy Dominion Day all.
As Mark Styen said
‘ future is in hand of Muslim’
while i said less comments but so many value for candain directed to understand value of Muslim and respect Candian Muslim
Since my arrival in SDA I change you a bit i change the world of Islam more and I change view of politic turn around and view Muslim differnet by fact not only fale media
i said less comment but I said too much but still lots more to say i am not profeesonal speak person too Muslim are there
but you can not talk to them sicne you are not readcy how to talk to Muslim
they scare to communite with nonMuslim
this is only project for me to knwo you and let you know Muslim a bit in good shape
take care every body
happy Canada day
future is in hand of Islam
because Islam is the best or Muslim Canadian are better than best.
Do not drink alcohol or beer please.
you can be call yourslef Canadian without drinking Blue trust me for that.
thank you kate and good luck with your blog
yahoo poll
Yes – So long as it’s revenue neutral 23%
No – It’s just a massive tax grab 77%
5799 Votes to date
23% are already sucked in. Be afraid, be very afraid!
You have a problem with the metric system?
Vit – the metric system was just another part of Trudoh! eliminating all english influence in Canada. It didn’t make sense then, and still doesn’t since 80% of our trade is with the US.
Technically, particularly for temperature, it’s less accurate, for example: Celcius: Freeze-Boil 100 degrees
Farenheit: Freeze-Boil 180 degrees
Smaller graduations, greater accuracy.
Our speed in MPH relates to the clock. Metric speeds won’t have any real meaning(other than a conversion from MPH) until we move to the Metric 100 Centiminute clock.
I must say that I agree with mister broken english for once. Forget the blue, let’s pound back a few bottles of Canadian!
And don’t forget the slab of back bacon on the burger.
And finally, watching all of the sexy ladies in their bikini’s……man, it sure is good to be Canadian!
HAPPY CANADA DAY!
BCer – thanks for your very astute comments.
What has and is happening in Canada is a devolution of power from all of Canada to a small isolate ‘set’ in the Ottawa-Montreal corridor. That began with Trudeau’s Charter and is firmly in place now. Harper is trying to return power to Canadians. The Liberals are rejecting this; they want that oligarchic elitist power in their centralist hands.
Norman Spector, by the way, belongs in that same mindset; he sees himself as a superior WiseMan and is quite angry to be, now, isolated and ignored.
As for the Canadian flag, I’m one who also dislikes the sight of the thing. Not only because it was foisted on us without our agreement; not only because it doesn’t represent our real environment or our history. But because its design is so childish; something a grade schooler would come up with.
Flags are symbols. In this case, of nations. That means that their design must be symbolic. Compare the ‘stars and stripes’ where those stars,stripes are symbols of historical entities. Same with the Union Jack with its crosses. etc etc.
But Canada’s flag shows, not a ‘symbol’ but what’s called an ‘iconic image’; a picture of a real object, a leaf. Is the leaf a symbol of Canada? No, for it’s not universal to the environment. It’s only found in that ‘centralist domain’. Is it a symbol of our history? No. Unless you want to show that Canada has been ruled by that centralist Ottawa-Montreal oligarchy for centuries.
Are the colours a symbol of our history? No. White and red have, to my knowledge, no historical significance in the land. So?
I’m rejecting it on its design as a symbol of both an environmental reality and an historical reality. Our flag symbolizes neither. That’s why I think it’s one of the ugliest flags in the world. Because it doesn’t fulfil its role as a symbol.
Notice that last sentence by our resident fraud, haye, who is a fake Muslim and a fake English illiterate – heh, that last sentence is perfect English.
Admittedly, I don’t read his blather, which lacks any grammatical structure. His error in trying to present himself to us as a non-speaker of English is to reject any grammatical structure at all.
But all languages are based in grammatical structure. If you want to pretend that you don’t speak English, you don’t just post random, non-grammatical sentences, dripping in unrelated words. You use the grammatical structure of your original language!
Our pet haye doesn’t do this. That’s one way he shows himself as a fake. Other ways, of course, are his correct spelling of difficult words. And his ignorance of Islam; he has just a superifical ‘pop culture’ idea of it. Ah well, it takes all types, including the juveniles pretending to be what they aren’t.
Speaking of beer and symbols: The Canadian flag reminds me of a beer label. I’ve never liked it, still don’t, and never will. It has LIBRANO$’ CANADA written all over it. (Except for the fact that our Canadian troops fight under this flag, I have no use for it…)
Happy Dominion Day, everyone!…from Canada’s motto, “May He [that would be the God of ‘God keep our land glorious and free’] have dominion from sea to sea”… Now, that’s historical.
…I can only hope some event or dramatic mechanism can turn things around and allow us to pursue freedom, life and liberty. Posted by: BCer at July 1, 2008 10:57 AM
That would be Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia joining together and declaring a Republic.
Nothing that is within this federation is for or by Westerners. Not the Human Rights machines. Not the gun registry. Not the Wheat Board. Not differential tariffs of rail shipping. Not the NEP, nor NEP II – the Green Shaft. Not the $20 billion per year in corporate welfare handouts – disproportionately skewed to central Canadia and Kay-beck. Not the deeply politicized RCMP. Not Adscam. Not equilization. Not a 300,000 person bureaucracy. Not a 5,000 page Income Tax Act. Not bicycle helmet laws. Not statist deference to politicians. Not political parties attached by law, suckling from the treasury.
As to those looking to the old ensign, might I suggest if you so deeply enjoy bending your knee to a foreign monarch, maybe slavery is a good career option for you. You can bow before your betters constantly then…and beg forgiveness as much as you like. And suckle from the teat of their kindness.
good idea ET
we even can add
‘Allah Akbar’ in flag of Canada
it means ‘allah is the greatest’ by Quran word add , allah means god and Akbar is greatest or biggest
because majority of people are belive god
ohhh….I forgot ET not belive god at at all, forget him then he is what? some name means not belive god he said before in his comment
since in Canada constituaiton Candian belive god
and god is means Allah
one think can made us united and send
all people not bleive god to live with some first nation who are not blieve god too
in North pole
I like idea to change flag
maple because Canada has too many maple trees
red and white is symbol of RCMP colur dress
I met one RCMP woman and man in middle east and they were burning in hot weather I told them why you wear big boot here tehy told taht is our dress I told them yes if you are in Canada in middle east you need lighter dress it was so joke
put
‘ALLah Akbar’
add in falg of Canada I must wite to member of parlement may agree with me
before people need to work let people first really understand meaning of god and belive god before we do or vote for majority or relgion are belive god means allah to get united in one thing