Sunday, October 14, 2007

Feist is like catnip for girls

Just thought I'd write a bit of an update about the world - or my world.. cause there won't be a very adequate view of anybody else's world here. Last post was April 21st, so I figure I need to add something or let this thing die. Facebook has really been boring lately so I'm back to old internet habits, like "blogging."
I forget what I usually write about, or how I write, and there's really a lot to write about.. new city, new job (temporary new job, hopefully a new new job soon, fingers crossed) but for this post I will focus on what I've learned lately. Don't laugh.

1. Stupid to the Last Drop: How Alberta Is Bringing Environmental Armageddon to Canada (and Doesn't Seem to Care) is an actual book.
I haven't read it, yet, and if this book is about what I think it's about (he may be pulling a Will Ferguson "why I hate Canadians" stunt here) but according to random house, this book is about Alberta
"On It's digging, drilling and blasting its way to oblivion, becoming the ultimate symbol of Canada's-and the world's-pathological will to self-destruct."

This calls for some type of critical review.. Luckily, a fine reporter from the Globe and Mail has beat me to it. Andrew Nikiforuk writes:

" Explore any Appalachian-sized open-pit mine north of Fort McMurray, and you'll find a new national dream writ larger than life as well as scores of Montreal engineers having the time of their lives. You can call tar-sand developers anything you want, but "stupid" is one adjective that would never come to mind. Most are incredibly accomplished and erudite men. So let's be honest and stop blaming Alberta for keeping half the nation tanked up in carbon-emitting fuels. The really big truth is this: Canadians are land abusers, carbon makers and resource exploiters extraordinaire. It's what we do best."

You can read his whole review here.

2. Feist is like catnip for girls. I've finally caved. She's so awesome, and I've only heard a few songs from her new album. one two three four - the video is so fun! Colour coordinated dancers, blue shiny outfit, Catchy tune! what girl doesn't love that?
Also, the Besnard Lakes are worth noting.

3. Back to the topic of Alberta, and how they really have done a good job with the whole privatization of liquor stores. I'm sure when I was still in diapers, there was major problems with the whole privatization process and lots of good people lost money and there were scandals and rude editorials and heated arguments, but now, in comparison to Ontario's liquor disaster, Alberta looks mighty fine .
We can buy alcohol at 1:59am at a store. Small beer producers can sell, and display their beer on shelves. There is a competitive market for liquor, meaning anybody can start a liquor store, meaning lots of people do, meaning there's lots of them, meaning not everybody goes to the same one, meaning you probably won't have to stand in a line. No joke, there's a line up out the door of the Beer Store (A chain, cleverly called the Beer Store, that sells only beer, (not even cider) also the only store that can sell beer in Ontario) most nights. People can't see what they're buying, they roll out your product on conveyor belts from the back room after you make your order. You'd think that this store is government owned and operated and all the money is going towards health-care and better schools, but the Beer Store is privately-owned. A handful of people are making handfuls of money, and people have to wait in line for their beer! What a world?!

LCBO (where you can buy non-beer alcohol) is ok, except the hours suck, there aren't many of them, and they carry way too much shitty Ontario wine. Luckily, Quebec is 5min. away so we can visit the depanneur if necessary. Who am I kidding? I don't even drink that often, cause I'm too busy serving fancy cheese to diplomats and watching Law & Order.

4. People are interesting. Case in point: My international accounting teacher. He is an accountant from the states with a strong Matt Damon north-east US accent who lives in Quebec and works in Ottawa. He calls the canadian dollar "the loon" and calls easy things "a lay-up" (Are lay-ups easy?) He also talks about the euro in Sweden (there is no euro in Sweden) and in Norway (a country not part of the EU) and reminds me of the high-school football coach I never had. Thank you, University of Ottawa.

5. Hi Michele, you better be reading this. And watching Persepolis.