Variousicities

[felis_ultharus]

First, some news stuff:

1. Canada will soon have a new Governor General named Michaëlle Jean. Most people in English Canada have never heard of her, though she's well-known enough in French Canada. Most of the comments have been good, but a few of the letters at the CBC and The Globe and Mail show that racism and sexism are alive and well in this country, unfortunately (Madame Jean is Haitian). Apparently, the fact that Canada has had two women of colour in row for GG indicates some kind of pandering political correctness, according to some of these people. The post has been held for 126 out of 138 years by men, and 132 out of 138 years by white people.
   
   
2. And speaking of unloved minorities in high places, the Crown Prince of Qatar -- the man groomed to be the next Emir -- was caught in a barfight in a British gay bar with his boyfriend. Qatar, as I understand it, is an absolute monarchy, except that the monarches are required to follow Sharia law, which prescribes death for homosexuality. No word on whether the 25-year-old prince can return to Qatar and not be afraid for his life :/

And now, for personal stuff, which is a lot more cheerful:

1. First, congratulations are in order to snowdaemon for her permanent residency status. She'll make a great addition to the country.
   
   
2. My writing continues apace. I think I'm coming out of one of my worst slumps, now, and I'm working on far too many pieces at once.
   
   
3. I think everyone's a go for Gravitation tonight. Just so we're on the same page, 8pm tonight, at foi_nefaste's, and I'll be bringing the video (episodes 7, 8, and 9 tonight, I guess...?)

Comments

[em-fish.livejournal.com]

I love Michaëlle Jean! I have been watching her on CBC forevah and I have tremendous respect for her.

The racism/sexism that bugs me the most is that people are cloaking it in this bullshit "Why do we need a GG anyway?" [sorry excuse for an] argument. Yeah, right. Where were all these "concerned Canadians for Independence" when white men were GG? Uh-huh. That's what I thought.

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

Even if we became a republic (and I don't think Canadians care enough about the queen to want to depose her), it'd be a bad idea to get rid of the Governor General.

• She does all the ribbon-cutting and funeral-attending and diplomatic wining-and-dining that in other countries are the tedious jobs foisted on Prime Ministers and Presidents (who thus have less time to do real work).
  
• She's a one-woman diplomatic corps -- her diplomatic mission with Russia is the most successful we've ever had, and brought in a lot of trade.
  
• She gives out our top literary prize -- meaning she has to read an absurd number of books and hand out prizes for them. In a country where literature is probably the key artform -- and where art in general is so important -- this is a really important duty.
  
• Anyone who can read the Speech From the Throne -- announcing the government's policies for the next year -- without laughing or making snide remarks ought to be given a prize for their heroism.

In other countries, those tasks might be handled by a dozen people, using, collectively, more money than she does.

[em-fish.livejournal.com]

I know this, and you know this. Now let's eddicate all of the yellow-bellied jerks who are writing to The Gazette.

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

Or the people who are writing for The Gazette. They announced in a front-page headline that Jean was our new head of state.

Actually our head of state is still Lizzy, Part II. I don't know how many people would have to die for Jean to be in line for the throne.

Far from the worst gaff The Gazette has made -- I've long since stopped thinking of them as a reliable source. But you'd think an editor of a major daily newspaper would have basic high-school civics down as, you know, a part of their job.

[em-fish.livejournal.com]

The funny thing is (I will not use the i-word), when the Big G wrote their Canadiana Trivia contest for Canada Day, one of the questions was: Who is Canada's Head Of State?

Yes, they gave the correct answer in the answer key.

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

So they have no excuse whatever, then ;)

[man-dragora.livejournal.com]

what is Gravitation?

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

'Tis an anime. It's frequently compared to Queer as Folk but probably because it's about an optimistic younger guy who falls for a cynical, bitter older guy, and tries to win his heart.

Beyond that, the resemblance ends. It's a very good series, though, and while a lot of anime features guys in love, this is the first one I've seen that shoots for some kind of realism -- coming out, for instance, is a major issue.

Of course, a lot of it is far from realistic. Like in any anime, the comic relief scenes frequently break the laws of physics :)

[infinitecomplex.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I hope you'll come out for a belated celebration dinner with us when we next see you. :)

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I hope it won't be too long :)