h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I don't know if anyone else is following the EnCana bombings in Northeastern B.C., but here's a name I didn't think we'd be hearing in the news again:

'No charges have been laid yet against Wiebo Ludwig, an Alberta activist convicted of bombing oil and gas wells in the 1990s, who was arrested Friday in connection with recent bombings at EnCana pipelines in northeastern B.C., an RCMP spokesperson said.'

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/01/08/bc-pipeline-bombings-arrest.html



and, Iggy seems to be paying attention to Facebook:

'Ignatieff said all of his party's MPs and senators plan to return to work in Ottawa on Jan. 25, the date Parliament was set to resume before Harper shut it down until March.'

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/01/08/ignatieff-prorogue.html

please cf.:

'On December 30th, 2009, for the second time in as many years, Stephen Harper has asked the Governor General to prorogue parliament. Like last time, he will certainly get what he's asking for, forsaking his responsibility to be accountable to his employers, us Canadians citizens.

What can we do? Ask your MP to attend parliament anyways. Think it can't be done? Check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Parliament

First, find your MP:
http://canada.gc.ca/directories-repertoires/direct-eng.html#mp

Our Members of Parliament are our employees, and they should show up to do what we pay them for. If you need help getting started, here's a sample letter:


Dear [MPs name]:

I am writing to you to ask that you ignore Stephen Harper's request to prorogue parliament and attend anyway. This is not unprecedented in a parliamentary democracy, having occurred in England in 1640. It is important to me that you attend and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]'

http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?v=info&ref=mf&gid=260348091419

So, is this the beginning of the Long Canadian Parliament?

Uhm... that 1640 thing involved a civil war and regicide.


~jwf~

Some guy named Oliver Cromwell seems to have been in charge that time, but fortunately someone wrote a snazzy song about him.

This one y'mean?


"Who will buy this wonderful morning..."



~jwf~

No, it was "Small boy for sale."
Harry Secombe's great great great great grandfather became famous for singing it, even though singing was against the law....

'that 1640 thing involved a civil war and regicide'

Well, yeah. But we Canadians don't do civil war and regicide.

We just do round tables and public consultations.


What I find interesting, however, is that this kid at the U of A started this Facebook group with the manifesto being 'tell your MP to stay in Ottawa and work' and within about a week he had over 100,000 people signed up -- and then, in no time, the Leader of the Opposition announces that his party is going to stay in Ottawa and work.

I find it interesting.

But I don't want civil war. Or regicide.


And I certainly don't want a bunch or Roundheads.

I just received from my MP('s office) a reply to my email requesting that she keep working through the prorogation:

'Thank you for the e-mail. I just want to let you know that Linda will be holding an informal open house to discuss the prorogation of Parliament on Tuesday, January 12 from 7 to 9:00pm at her constituency office, 10049 – 81st Avenue (entrance on 101st Street). If you are able to, please feel free to attend.'

They *do* listen!!!












Well, she listens to me since I call her once a month to see whether the swedish ivy I gave her after she knocked on my door during the campaign is still alive.

Gotta love Stevie's response-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eNESzuM78k

Actually anhaga*sips Bombay Sapphire & tonic, on the issue of Harper proroguing parliament this current issue of See magazine has an editorial comment which it seems, speaks for a fair number of those Facemembers -

http://www.seemagazine.com/article/news/comment/harper-0107

oh and I believe I feel the warming rays of the *bows-like, Rising Sun, at least somewhat subliminally(if that's politically correct) -

http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=14020

zoomer:





Jaz'd #1:


over one hundred thousand don't seem to be yawning.

not that joining a Facebook group is much of a step above replenishing the body's supply of oxygen.


Jaz'd #2:

While this is exciting in its way, I'd really love to see some sort of orgasmic Albertan embrace of locally brewed barley products.

I must try to move there, then. Around here, the locally brewexd barley products don't have organsms. I feel deprived.

I think there was a misunderstanding anhaga, in my reference to the See magazine editorial comment. My point was that there are obviously a number who are not merely yawning, regardless of the Facebook issue. True thoughnot simply yawning(whether Facebook or whatever is involved) & actually taking affirmative action are very different things.

I merely brought the up as a point of interest.

sorry, Jaz'd, I was getting sleepy or something.

I agree with the See piece that it is disgraceful that there isn't a greater uproar. As for affirmative action available to us, apart from insurrection, which I don't think is an appropriate course (yet) I don't see that there's much available other than calling our MPs and telling pollsters we want an election and we won't vote Conservative. The latter is the only thing that will scare Harper and get the Opposition to get their act together.

Changing the subject(getting back onto the beverage/libation theme), I spotted a writeup on The Bothy during my online news skimming -

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/life/food/dining-out/drink+like+Scots/2423040/story.html

(I've already made a list of s I intend to sample on my first visit)

Go for it!

show us the list!

My list? It's just 4 wines from various regions listed on The Bothy's website http://www.thebothy.ca/winesbyglass.ami . Well, actually an Argentinian(Terrazes Des Andes Malbec), 2 Australians(Mr. Riggs The Gaffer Shiraz '07 & Kaesler Stonehorse G.S.M. '06) & a Spanish(Fuego Garnacha '08). Needless to say, just the very tip of the iceberg!

No single-malts on your list?

I forgot to mention that it's nice to see a bunch of Canadian wines on the list. A lot of people in this country still pooh-pooh Canadian table wines . . .

http://www.phespirit.info/montypython/australian_table_wines.htm

Laddy, the visits 'ave nae begun yet!