Stelmach spokesman Tom Olsen:

The reason the dramatic plunge is "believable," according to Olsen, is that "hundreds of thousands of new Albertans don't know the history of Progressive Conservative governments in this province and are spending their time assessing what they see." (Edmonton Sun)

... as opposed to the regular Albertans who spend no time assessing what they see.

Wow. Tories tank in the polls:

CTV Calgary reported that a Cameron Strategies poll showed support for Alberta Tories has fallen to 32% across the province from 54% seven months ago.
...

Across the province, the percentage of undecided voters doubled, from 18% in January to 36% in August.

Liberal support hasn't changed from 16% in January, while the NDP gained two points to make up 11% of the vote.

Chavez sends humanitarian aid to Peru...

The label then criticizes the Peruvian government for its lack of efficiency and speed, stating that "our brother Hugo Chavez" will help because Peru's government does not care about the victims pain and has left them hungry, thirsty and among pillage.


And back in Caracas, while not posing for tuna-can labels, Chavez gets parliament to vote in favor of making him president forever and ever.
(From the BBC)

Coming to a summit near you: Protest TV

The government said the decision to stream footage of the protests in view of the three world leaders is consistent with the protesters' human rights and assertions in courts that protesters have a right to be seen and heard.


I suppose it's heart-warming for the protesters to know that during the commercial breaks of Heroes re-runs last night, the three leaders might have tuned in to watch the protesters getting pepper sprayed by the SQ.

(But honestly, what court would make a decision like that?)

In any event, our mighty PM laughed down from the fortifications and said, "Is that all??"

Protests leave PM unfazed


He's still no Australian though...


Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was asked what he thought about the handful of protesters outside the annual National Party conference at the Langham Hotel in Auckland: “Well they are from the Socialist Alliance. These people are losers, you know. They lost the Soviet Union and they lost the Cold war. Yes I thought about them. It was raining and I thought the harder it rains the wetter they’ll get.”


(link)

Feel-good video of yesterday (what can I say, I forgot to post it.)

"By his own standard, Giuliani was one of the Yankees more than he was one of the [September 11] rescue workers."

How is it, again, that he gets away with using that horrible day for political gain?

But there is a reason for the possibility of opting-out, AD. Four days shouldn't justify denying that. We're not talking about insurance here; you don't need me to overpay to subsidize your costs.

I don't think it's a bad idea. I liked the idea. And I think that my colleagues who are in the city are knocking it unfairly. $75 for 8 months of potential use is a pretty good deal even if you don't take transit every day. $75 for a week of transit use is nothing more than the narrow-mindedness of bureaucracy.

I emailed the Dean of Students and was told they'd have a decision after their meeting on Thursday morning. Perhaps they'll seem more sensible after that.

well Par, look on the bright side, in the four months I'm getting from the pass, I will be saving $211. At the very least, you can take some small modicum of solace from the fact that everyone else but you is better off from the deal. There's a reason why 85% of the people who voted, voted for the pass.

Damn straight.

That said, I was motivated by the growing discussion on the class mailing list, where people have resorted to "you should have voted, then" and "voting is lame and we wouldn't have accomplished anything and we weren't around anyway" arguments.

And these are people who will be in the city and able to actually make use of the thing.

whiner