Expecting the most on the environment from the Conservatives

Andrew Potter reprints this gem from an MP's Earth Day media release:

MP Cheryl Gallant Celebrates Earth Day

LAURENTIAN VALLEY, April 22 2008 – MP Cheryl Gallant, MP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke celebrated Earth Day by taking a drink of water from the tap instead of a plastic bottle.

Ho Ho Ho

From the Taser International website. This has to be the most appalling use of Christmas imagery I have seen yet. You've got your cut-and-dried dualism (you're good and the rest of the world is bad), and you have Santa as a guy who will Taser you.

So-called

I don't understand why propaganda efforts rely on the phrase "so-called" so often. Do they think that denying that something is called by its real name makes it less effective? Don't they realize it tips off anyone paying attention to the fact that they are engaging in propaganda?

China is upset about the Dalai Lama being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The Associated Press reports that

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said that "China resolutely opposes the U.S. Congress awarding the Dalai its so-called Congressional Gold Medal, and firmly opposes any country or any person using the Dalai issue to interfere in China's internal affairs."

I think it's probably safe to say that the name of the Congressional Gold Medal is factual. It is, in fact, called the Congressional Medal of Honor. I am at a loss to understand how anyone would think that trying to cast doubt on its legitimacy by using "so-called" weakens it.

World's first!

My thanks to Andy Riga for sending me the ridiculous press release below.

1) How many screenwriters send out a release that their script is "almost complete?" Now there's a news peg for you.

2) The film is "the world's first Russian-Canadian co-production." Excuse me, "the world's first?" How about "The first Russian-Canadian co-production." Can there be any Russian-Canadian co-productions in other countries? If not, we don't need the word "world" (unless we want to sound much more impressive than we really are).

3) "...an intriguing story." Intriguing! My favourite word! Perhaps it will be "fascinating" too.

4) I have only gotten through the first paragraph and I am tired already.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TROJAN. Ruse de Sioux KGB
Russian screenwriter Aleksandr Borodyanskiy announces his latest script, and the beginning of the world’s first Russian-Canadian co-production

Toronto – May 16, 2007 Professor Aleksandr Borodyanskiy, a well-known Russian screenwriter, film director and actor, has announced he is working on his latest feature film script. When complete, the screenplay will tell an intriguing story about the arrest of a suspected Kremlin spy in Canada. The script has already been registered with the copyright societies of Russia and Canada under the name Canadian Spy Kremlin. The working title for the film is Trojan, and Borodyanskiy has announced that his script is almost complete. When the finished screenplay is ready to enter production, it will mark the beginning of the world’s first co-production between Russia and Canada. Borodyanskiy is excited to announce his work on this script, as he has been fascinated with espionage themes since his early years. “For me, a spy is a person whose life is interesting and extraordinary,” said Borodyanskiy. Despite the theme’s serious nature, Borodyanskiy’s screenplay will be a lyric drama and tragic comedy. The film will be filled with both humor and irony, with a plot loosely based on the story of Paul William Hampel. “The prototype of my film’s hero is a man named Paul Hampel, who was arrested in Canada last November, and deported to Russia in December,” said Borodyanskiy the to Russian information agency Interfax. Hampel was a fictitious name used by a man who was arrested at a Montreal airport in November 2006, after the Canadian government accused him of being a Russian spy. Hampel later admitted through his lawyer that he was indeed a Russian citizen, with no legal status in Canada, but he did not admit to being involved in espionage. During Hampel’s trial, a Federal Court judge agreed to withhold the man’s real name over concerns for the safety of his family. In exchange, Hampel did not contest deportation to Russia. The man living as Hampel had managed to obtain a valid Canadian passport, and had made frequent trips to Europe during his time in Canada. Interfax picked up on a possible connection between the story of Paul William Hampel and that of another famous Russian dissident named Aleksandr Litvinenko. When asked whether the film will touch on the famous story of the poisoning of ex-KGB agent Litvinenko, Borodyanskiy withheld details, and replied “as far as Litvinenko is concerned I can only say that my hero has also been visiting Europe on numerous occasions as well.”

Aleksandr Borodyanskiy Upon resignation from KGB, the Soviet Union Intelligence Service, Aleksandr Litvinenko made public accusations against his leaders saying they gave an order to kill Russian billionaire Boris Berezovskiy. After being arrested by Russian authorities, Litvinenko was released and fled to Europe. In November 2006, Litvinenko died of lethal radiation poisoning under highly suspicious circumstances. Two years after his death, Russian authorities began looking into Litvinenko’s accusations of the alleged KGB misdeeds. This led to public accusations that the Russian government was behind Litvinenko’s poisoning, and resulted in worldwide media coverage. A few years ago, Aleksandr Borodyanskiy wrote the script for a popular Russian film called Tycoon, which was released in 2002. Tycoon’s main character closely resembled billionaire Boris Berezovskiy. Borodyanskiy has written several espionage-themed scripts in his career, and is considered to be a master of spy films in Russia. His previous work includes writing a Russian-Chilean film called KGB Agents Also Fall in Love. Films based on his scripts have won numerous awards at film festivals around the world. Aleksandr Borodyanskiy is a well known screen writer in Russia. He has penned the scripts of numerous feature-length films, many of which have received recognition both in and outside of Russia. Borodyanskiy’s award-winning scripts include Afonya We Are From Jazz, Ground Zero, and American Daughter, among others. In total, Aleksandr Borodyanskiy has written over 50 scripts in various genres including drama, comedy, adventure, romance, and history. -30- Available for interviews: Aleksandr Borodyanskiy

Best writer site I've seen in a long time

Writer Miranda July plugs her new book with a website she made using dry erase marker, kitchen appliances, and a camera.

She tells us about her book, too



The site is brilliant, and it is here.

Public support? What dat?

Memo to the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, and to its head, Joan Jessome: No matter how righteous you think your cause may be, having healthcare workers at a children's hospital -- and the IWK is the most apple-pie charity in the province, with every school and community group apparently putting on funding drives for it -- walking off the job is not a good strategy if you want to gain any public support.

The Halifax Chronicle-Herald reports:

Ms. Jessome said she regretted the impact a strike would have on children like those being discharged Friday and their families, but that the workers were fed up.

We're talking about families with sick kids, and the workers are fed up? Are the workers, getting a raw deal? I have no idea, but I wouldn't be surprised. But striking at a children's hospital? And trying to get public support?

I would hate to be a union communications officer in this case. It's the PR assignment from hell.