All Hail The Iron Lady

Goddess knows, I was never a fan of Margaret Thatcher when she was in power as British Prime Minister in the 1980s. But about a month ago, a small news item caught my eye which now makes me like her just a teensy bit. The Canadian Press reported:

[Sarah Palin] told a British newspaper over the weekend that she hopes to meet this summer with her longtime idol, former prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

That isn't going to happen.

"Lady Thatcher will not be seeing Sarah Palin," an unnamed Thatcher aide told The Guardian. "That would be belittling for Margaret. Sarah Palin is nuts."

Hahahahaha! Boy, if that doesn't say it all!

Incidentally, the incomparable Meryl Streep is going to portray Mrs. Thatcher in an upcoming biopic, I learned recently from Dezmond's blog Hollywood Spy. Should be a challenging role! Here's the "sneak peek" trailer:

My Favourite Jet

While we're on the topic of the Winnipeg Jets, just thought I'd mention that Teemu Selänne was always my favourite Jet. The Finnish Flash was an outstanding player, winning the Calder Trophy for best rookie of 1992. And he's gone on to achieve all kinds of records in his almost 20-year career since then. Plus he won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. No player has deserved it more, in my opinion.

But the reason he was my favourite Jet is that he was (and, I'm sure, still is) a Class Act of the absolute first order. He did an awful lot of charity work in Winnipeg and always looked genuinely pleased to do it. He was especially great interacting with kids, friendly and involved.

Teemu Selänne is one of the players featured in this great clip about what it feels like to win the Stanley Cup. Hockey players tend not to be terribly articulate at the best of times, but winning the Stanley Cup is so overwhelming that there are "no words" to describe it. That's Teemu at 0:19 of the clip, manfully holding back the tears and tugging at his hat. That says it all.

Welcome Back, Winnipeg Jets!

Now that the month of June and Translesbigayapalooza are over, I finally have the time and space to comment on the Big News that Winnipeg is Jetless no more! And Big News it is, indeed.

I was living in Winnipeg in 1996 when the NHL moved the Jets to Phoenix. That was a grim, grim day in The Peg. After the loss, the city was like a whipped hangdog cur.

But now, 15 years later, economic factors have changed. The Canadian dollar is strong against U.S. currency, the NHL has a salary cap and Winnipeg has a new downtown arena. Now the boys are back, woo hoo!

And I'm glad to see that management made the right decision to call the team by its old moniker too. After all, hockey clubs are steeped in history here in Canada and continuity is important. Besides, what the hell else could the team be named?

[Top cartoon by Patrick LaMontagne. Bottom cartoon by Anthony Jenkins of the Globe and Mail.]

This is an Irresistibly Sweet Blog . . .

. . . because Magaly Guerrero over at Pagan Culture says so! She gave me this blog award last week and I thank her so much for it! She is a Wicked Darling indeed.

Personally, I have always had a sweet tooth. It has been my downfall in so many, many ways. Drug of choice, etc. My struggle to curb this dark passion continues. But, oh! Those sweet, delicious carbs call to me seductively.

But Magaly has shown me a new way -- now I will substitute irresistibly sweet blogs and get my delicious sugar high that way! Every time I get a craving for something yummy and fun, I'll go and read some tasty, uplifting blogs instead of stuffing my face with desserts!

But hmmmm, where to start? Here's just a few sweeties to whom I pass along this blog award. It's always a treat to read their posts:

1. Grimalkin the Witch's Cat at Diary of a Familiar-in-Training.

2. PTL at Plowing Through Life.

3. Mary at Remember When . . . .

4. LaelShine at Soular Sister.

5. Cinner at Things About Who, What, When, Where and Why.

6. Tricky Nag at Tricky Nag's Blog.

The First World Problems Rap

So, we just finished celebrating the national holidays of two leading First World countries. Those of us who live in Canada and the United States are, quite simply, the most fortunate people in the world. Our countries are not war-torn battle zones. We live in peace, with a standard of living that most of the world cannot even imagine, let alone match. Compared to Third World countries, most of our citizens lead lives of unparalleled ease and comfort.

We would do well to be grateful for all the blessings which we enjoy. But are we? Just how ungrateful and insular can we be? Let the self-centred moaning, whining, bitching and complaining begin!

Obviously this video is meant to be an over-the-top satire, but sometimes my laugh is the uneasy laugh of self-recognition.

Marie-Antoinette, c'est nous.

[Rap written and performed by 17-year-old Zach Katz (funnyz) -- what a talent!]

The Glorious Fourth

Happy Independence Day to you, all my Murrican blog buddies! Oh, say, can you see . . . .

Happy Canada Day!

Today is the day we celebrate all things Canuckian. For example, we go the extra mile and pan fry our back bacon in the shape of the CBC logo . . .

. . . or, for the traditionalists among us, we fry it outside on the BBQ while wearing our best plaid lumberjack shirt.

We like to get together and chillax with old friends . . .

. . . all while maintaining our legendary Canadian politeness, of course.*

* not applicable in Vancouver.