Sorry to hear that, Jess. I know that happens to me as well. For some reason, I make it through cold weather without a problem, but when it warms up, I get sick.

The great thing about the internet is there's always someone out there who can write far better than you can: Don't Cry for Canada

The claim that Canada has lurched far to the right is anything but accurate.

Of course, that has not stopped conservative spin doctors in Washington, and their echo chamber in the U.S. media, from announcing that last Monday's election results from Canada represent a seismic shift to the right for the North American continent.

...

The bottom line is this: Canadians have chosen to remove a scandal-plagued government that went by the name of "Liberal." But they only did so because the "Conservatives" promised not to be too conservative. And they voted in a team of left-wing watchdogs to assure that those promises are kept. If that gives U.S. conservatives some small measure of comfort, so be it. But U.S. progressives need not be traumatized by these results. Indeed, they can look forward to the day when voters in their country might choose to throw out a scandal-plagued government that goes by the name "conservative."

ugh - sick. It's like 7 degrees out there and I still catch a cold. : (

But Rosie is gonna come give us some good ol' American regime change.

big up to all my friends that voted in the election. it's good to know that at least in our group people still give a shit.

This is unexpected and somewhat interesting: BlogShares

man, thank my lucky fuckin' stars I have the new version of Cubase. It'd be a bitch to mix this shit without the channel freezing feature.

and again, on another, albeit more related, topic:

"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country." - Edward Bernays (1928)

lovely, eh? I picked up a copy of the magazine LIP: Informed Revolt and am loving it. it's the "relentlessly persuasive" propaganda issue. and it's eye-opening. I recommend it to anyone with an extra $6.95 plus tax "because you can't take it with you." Really interesting stuff. Though it doesn't help me to fit in at work! haha, like I care.

just for a break in political discussion, Jason Lee has the chicken pox.

"Jason Lee has an excuse for missing work better suited for a fifth grader. He has the chicken pox.

Production on NBC's My Name Is Earl is being shut down for a couple of weeks "until he's feeling better and presentable to be on TV again," said Greg Garcia, the show's creator and executive producer."

i dunno, i always liked him... funny, though, that the caveat for returning to production is likely moreso the fact that Jason Lee currently has a ton of itchy red spots all over, and not that he's unwell... presentability, folks, that's the key!

I know that wasn't the only campaign platform issue.

It's funny how Harper argues that people will be able to notice if politicians take money in the form of taxes. Aren't there plenty of 'hidden' taxes that suppliers transfer to consumers with the price of the item? The GST is simply one tax that everyone happens to be aware of. It's quite a step to suggest that the GST is the only tax operating on each and every good you happen to come across while shopping. Also, a few points off the GST will most likely do nothing. We may live in 'just GST' Alberta, but the rest of the country enjoys a pleasant PST as well. If you travel to other parts of the country and figure you don't have to pay PST? Bah. You save nothing. What a freakin' meaningless gesture. I can't believe it's so easy to woo the public like that, taking over the world isn't worth the trouble.