A holiday by any other name...

There has been a lot of noise made lately about the word Christmas. No longer do government institutions put up 'Christmas Trees' they put up 'Holiday Trees,' and this trend goes with more than just trees. This has been circling around in my head this week because in my office we seem to be of very different minds. One person wants it to be all Christmas all the time and has wanted it that way since Halloween. Another who is all for getting rid of any religious affiliations with anything, including Christmas. I figure if you want to celebrate Christmas, call it a Christmas Tree, if you don't don't.
In my opinion, many of the people making a big fuss about 'Holiday Trees' or 'Holiday cards/cookies/parties,' are most likely not all that religious and use Christmas as the materialistic occasion that it has become. These people forget the other holidays celebrated during the same time frame, Kwanza, Chanukah etc, and I would bet that many of them don't go to church, to think about the 'real significance' of Christmas.
Christmas is the name of a holiday, yes it is a name with a religious reference in it, but for most people, Christmas has very little to do with Christ anymore. Christian holidays have taken over society enough, so why not let people have the all encompassing 'holidays?' I figure call it whatever you want, it's just a name and doesn't change any meaning or significance to the occasion, whatever specific holiday you're celebratig.
As for Rideau Hall's 'Holiday Tree,' my take on that is that governments need to piss off as few people as possible with this kind of stuff because they use them as brownie points when they screw up the big stuff.
The real issue is, why am I even writing about Christmas before December?

People celebrate the darndest things

This made my day. The local phone book here in Picton is the 20th annual. I can't decide which is funnier, the fact that they marked the fact that it's the 20th anniversary of their phone book, or the fact that I live in a place that has only had a phone book for 20 years.

What's wrong with this headline?

Once again, dear readers, I ask for a quick bit of help. I'm pretty sure I'm right on this one, but if you could back me up, or tell me I'm wrong, on this one.
This is the front page headline, that I didn't write, for my paper this week:

More tax woe

Shouldn't it be more tax woes? Or another tax woe?

Thanks for your help, unless I'm wrong - then I say 'damnit'

Why I love the green party

They always come so close to no longer being a fringe party, but then they send out press releases like this.
"After getting almost 600,000 votes in June, 2004, we now have twice that in the recent Ipsos-Reid polls, and we are the second choice of at least another 3 million voters."

They seem to forget that when the election comes around, we're only allowed to vote for our first choice.

My Star Wars Equivalent

I'm not normally one who gets excited about the release of a movie. I rarely rush out and see a movie on opening day or weekend, and I've never waited a line to get into see a movie. There has yet to be a movie that gave me such a sense of anticipation. Until now. This week a movie comes out that I can't wait to see. Laugh and judge if you will but I am out of my skin with excitement to see Rent.
I don't quite fall into the category of Rentheads, I've only seen the musical twice, but I love it. I have the soundtrack memorized -- if you've never heard my version while drunk or dying my hair count yourself lucky -- and considering how depressing it is, it makes me happy.
The first time I saw Rent, was on my first trip to Toronto in my last year of high school. From that moment on, my group of friends and I became obsessed with the show. I remember that somehow this group of nerdy, middle-class white kids in Fort McMurray related to this group of multi-ethnic, AIDS affected, gay, and dead-ass broke misfits in the show. The lyrics seemed to be so relevant to our teen angst, and our feeling of not fitting in anywhere. I remember that everyone cried, even the guys, even me. That year we even sang a song from the play in choir.
Eight years later, it seems silly how much we related to the script and its songs, but I still feel wierdly connected with it. And now when I listen to the soundtrack and start singing along I remember that group who I saw it with the first time, and how much we thought that play was speaking to us.
My second time seeing the show has nowhere near as much meaning, I saw it in Edmonton with a guy I had a crush on and the girl he had a crush on, he cried.
So as the movie of Rent finally hits the big screen, thankfully with the majority of the orignal broadway cast. I hope they don't screw it up, and I hope that Rosario Dawson doesn't fuck up as Mimi. I hope all the fantastic songs remain in one piece, basically I don't want it to suck. Is that too much to ask?
I won't be waiting in line, I doubt I'll get to see it opening night, but I'll see it the first weekend, and probably listen to the soundtrack for the next week.
Some people had Star Wars, the Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter, I have Rent.

A mixed bag of blogging

Just a few quickies to keep this site slightly relevant.

I received my first phone call from the House of Commons today, well the lobby of the House of Commons. A returned call from a politician within 3 hours, I'm somewhat impressed. I almost feel like a real journalist again.

I have a job interview tomorrow. As we say in Calgary, yaa-hoo.

To keep with my recent theme, Go Flames.

If I were a hockey player

If I were a hockey player I'd want to be Jerome Iginla. Sure, it helps that he plays for my hometown team, but he's also so damn good. His two assists and a goal in the third period helped the Flames win their seventh game in a row.
Seriously, he's awesome, he takes his role as captain seriously and will do whatever he can to get the team to win, I wouldn't be surprised if he turned into a goalie next. In all this Jerome greatness, we can't forget that he's also willing to drop the gloves.
Wow, two hockey posts in a row -- when did I become James?
Go Flames.

They're baaack

Just a quick sports note, I leave the rest to James, but my hometown team, the Calgary Flames is on a five game winning streak. Woo.
Go Flames.

If only the stars were right

I don't often read my horoscope, mostly because they're bullshit. But I do find it funny when I read one and I want to believe it, or it is almost accurate. I read my horoscope today and this is what it said.

Nothing stays the same for long. Not the good stuff, nor the bad stuff with which you have been struggling. Coming as we are to the end of this lunation, you have a chance to put it all in proper perspective. The result will be pleasing.

First of all, I'd like to know what the 'stars' definition of long is.
It's no secret I'd like this to be true, mind you, my horoscope often says I have/will have lots of money and be in love/a relationship. And we all know that's not true. If only...

Help me!

My office is currently being decorated for Christmas. There is a wreath on the door by my desk, Santa and his reindeer in the hallway and Christmas lights. I thought this was all a threat, but no, it's here.
No wonder I'm so tense.

Leave it to Mercer

With the return of Rick Mercer last night, Mercer put his comedic spin on everything. I thoroughly enjoyed his summary of the Gomery report.
Chretien = bad, Martin = clueless, Money = gone.
Saved me reading 1500 pages.

Porn to go

I love this. Online porn companies are developing videos to be downloaded to a video Ipod or similar device. Now, not only can people download porn in the comfort of their home, now they can take it with them. Yay, porn on the subway, porn at the gym, porn at the office, porn in line at Tim Hortons.
My only question is, if you're want to watch porn so badly that you want to take it with you and watch it on a tiny screen it may be time for some help. It still makes me laugh.

Location, Location, Location

Why do people bitch so much about living near something when they chose to live there? People who live near the airport bitch about the sound of planes, people who live on/near golf courses bitch about golf courses in their yards, and people who live near universities bitch about the students. The answer is simple, if you don't want to deal with these things don't leave by them.
Communities that are based largely on a student population, ie. London and Kingston, have been in the news recently complaining about the behavior of the students in the areas surrounding the Queens and Western. Understandably, people don't want their property damaged or their peace completely disturbed, but my thought is if you don't want to deal with the antics of university students don't live within walking distance to the university because that's where the students are.
It's not that I think students should have the right to do whatever they want in these areas but when you buy a house aren't you supposed to think about the location first?

Best advice ever

In order to prevent the spreading of the flu virus here is a very helpful hint.
"During flu season, never let anyone lick your keyboard."
I don't know about the rest of you, but I typically don't let anyone lick my keyboard ever --regardless of whether or not it's flu season.
Why would you want to lick a keyboard?