Oh Dear..

Well, there goes the basketball season. The Raptors limped out of the post season, being nailed 1-4 by the Magic in Orlando. They just weren't ready for the play-offs and blew the first two games by going up to 20 points down in the 1st quarter of each. Then they won the first ACC game but fell apart in the 4th in the second game. And tonight, they collapsed in the second half. A sad way to go out.

And talking of which...

This really should do it for Obama. And you can't really say that this is all about this stupid, arrogant, egotistical preacher man. Clearly Rev. Wright has fallen in love with his own image as the 'righteous firebrand', but Obama has not dealt with it. He just won't disown this idiot. This presents two questions - does he, deep down, kind of agree with this nonsense, or is he just lacking the ruthlessness to lay into Wright. And, if it's the second then he's applying for the wrong job, frankly. Because if you can't dump a twit like this, what the hell are you going to do when the sh*t really hits the fan? And if it's the first answer, then, hey, that's not we what all signed up to when we first got excited by this guy.

So, I guess the issue now is Hillary or McCain. And how depressing is that as a choice. I guess you gotta go for Clinton, if only because of McCain's total blind spot on the economy (a bit of a major blind spot right now). But, jeez, the Clintons back - really, is that what anyone wants?

Oh, and after two weeks of glorious, 20+ sunshine, the winter coats are out again this week. Good times...

Politics and Religion

Anyone wanting to know just how different America is from the UK should be watching CNN right now. We have 'The Compassion Forum' - a debate of sorts where Obama and Clinton are questioned, separately, about their religious views and how those views would affect their policies and decision making. To UK viewers who haven't really been exposed to much US politics or media, this must seem an odd and slightly embarrassing concept. Can you imagine Brown and Cameron putting themselves through this? Or that snake-oil salesman, Blair? It would be cringe-worthy for them and horrific to see for the viewers. But this is actually one of the most insightful election programmes I've seen.

You see, Americans really do believe. And they really want their leaders to believe. And even a hard-nose like Hillary does take the God thing seriously. The questions are intelligent - on a range of subjects - abortion, obviously, Darfur, Iraq, relations between faiths, human rights in China, and the division between faith and government. And rather than hectoring and accusing, Hillary, at least - Obama hasn't been on yet - is giving apparently honest and thoughtful answers to some extremely difficult questions.

It's another example of how much more open and transparent US politics can be, despite the attack ads and the spinning. There is so much probing into what matters and what the candidates really think, that the American people can never truthfully say that they didn't know what it was they were voting for. And I don't think you can say that in the UK, certainly not in the age of New Labour.

That was all a bit serious, wasn't it. Sorry.

Mountie action!

Now, Canadian politics has always struck me as a little dull. There's the slightly terrifying Stephen Harper, of course, the last man to jump on the neo-con bandwagon just before it plowed into a ditch. And Stephane Dion, a man who makes Gordon Brown look like one of the world's most decisive politicians. Oh, and Dion's deputy, Michael Ignatieff, a weird cross between Daniel Day Lewis and Lloyd Grossman.

But today, Canadian politics came close to being exciting. Or at least funny. First up, Gen. Rick Hillier, head of the Canadian armed services, announced his retirement, claiming to have accomplished all the goals he set himself three years ago. You've got to think he set the bar a bit on the low side, given that Canada is up to its waist in the quagmire that is Afghanistan. Hillier, however, leaves a catalogue of exceptional quotes (see side panel). He got in terrible trouble for describing Bin Laden and is chums as 'detestable murderers and scumbags'. I'm not quite sure what the problem was, seems fairly accurate, but liberals thought it might cause problems in the Islamic community. Well, tough shit, frankly. However this description of the military is my personal favourite: 'We are the Canadian Forces and our job is to be able to kill people'. Which is just a little bit Borg, isn't it?

Anyway, after that - and I can assure you that was what passes for a major political story over here - we got this. Yes, the RCMP raided the ruling party's headquarters in an election fraud investigation. This was a proper political story. But let's not get distracted. The RCMP are The Mounties and The Mounties are, inherently, funny. And, by the look of the picture above, just a tiny bit gay?

So, a day of great excitement, then. And it was sunny. 

Avoiding the sweep

I know, I know, same picture again. Until I take another one (and given my record, that will be next season), this will be my baseball picture. Sorry.

So, it's 10.30 at night and, as usual on a cloudy cold evening, I'm watching the Jays again. 11th innings, one run each and the Jays trying to avoid being swept by Oakland. Now 1-1 after three and a half hours might seem dull but it just so isn't. Pitcher battles are sort of what it's all about. Baseball fans point out that baseball is the only game where the defense has the ball. Obviously, they've never heard of rounders or cricket or possibly croquet. Not sure about croquet - not sure if croquet has either defense or offense. Not sure anyone knows the answer to that one. Anyway, defense is what makes baseball so much better than rounders. Pitching is what makes baseball a bit like chess. I have a feeling no-one is buying this...

So, a quick update - the Jays have two on base - one at second, one at third - and two out. They had this last innings and blew it. All they need is a long fly ball. It's two balls, two strikes. Come on, just one hit...oh. Another terrible ground ball out. This game will run and run and I'm staying up until it's over. However, I don't think anyone needs my running commentary so, non-baseball fans, you'll just have to look up the score tomorrow.

For some reason the Jays have decided that they will randomly wear their old sky blue uniform at certain home games. They are using exactly the same design as the original. Imagine Man City in the eighties, onlt without the disturbingly tight shorts. Nice look...

And another thing...

..it's Lake Ontario! Note Toronto's wonderful waterfront developments. Oh.

Ladies and gentlemen...

...Toronto from the roof. Nice, isn't it?

Opening day and an amazing show

So, this is the view from the box at the Rogers Center on opening day. Blue Jays pitching to the Red Sox, packed house and the Jays winning. And win they did. An amazing atmosphere, almost like October baseball for game four. The Jays did well against the Yankees but lost the series 2-1 but went on to sweep the World Champions. Could we have a contender team this season? Maybe. The pitching staff is strong and the offense is hitting the ball out of the park. Oh, those heady dreams of spring...

After recovering from Ed Rogers' generosity (well it's not like he doesn't get enough of our money the rest of the year), we all woke up on Saturday to warm sunshine and a cloudless sky and...the rooftop has opened! This may not seem so big a deal but after the winter we've had this was like rebirthing. Finally, the snow has gone and we can change from red to white. At least for now. The snow may come back.

Last night i saw what was possibly the greatest show I've ever seen. British Sea Power and Yo Le Tengo. It was a free live TV shoot, so I was thinking, you know, six songs each? Oh no, two complete sets in front of a hundred or so people in a converted church. British Sea Power - one of my all time favourite bands - were astounding. Yo Le Tengo did a two hour acoustic(ish) set that included questions and requests from the audiences and covers of Shakin' All Over, Sonic Youth and Dylan. Amazing. It was a weird night - we kept expecting someone to tell us it was all a big joke, but no, it was real. Three and a half hours of stunning, stunning music. Sometimes something happens that restores your faith. Last night was it.

Wedded bliss?

Someone bought a print of this picture from work today. As a wedding present. Isn't that a weird message to give to a couple on their wedding day? Isn't that more the kind of thing you'd get from a guidance councillor? 

Anyway, moving on. Sorry for the silence. I'd assumed that no-one was reading, so was becoming a bit slack about the whole bloggery thing. But then I got a complaint from my reader - hello Soph - and felt slightly guilty. So, here we are,  New Entry.

It's now spring. Another reason for the lack of writing. You can go outside after dark without your toes falling off! It's sunny and quite warm! The parka has gone back in the cupboard. There's baseball on the telly every night.

Spring is officially good.

This is actually the one time of year where it would be possible to employ a sense of style. In winter you wear as much as possible and normal rules don't really apply. In a couple of months it will be 35 and humid, at which point you resort to shorts and t-shirts. But now and in fall the temperature is just right. Sadly, this potential for stylistic flamboyance is lost on your average Torontonian. Unless you count the punk 'look' of course - black tee for a band with 'F*ck' in the name, grotty jeans (boys) or ripped goth tights (girls) and tattoos. Always tattoos. They love a good tattoo or in Canada. All a bit grim. Not true of everyone - I have some very stylish friends - but really, New York seems a long way away.

It is also Juno weekend. Oh calm my fluttering heart. Yes, the most boring awards ceremony of the year and, this year, held in Calgary, the most boring city in the world. Celine Dion is nominated in nearly every category. Apparently she had two albums out last year - who knew? Celine is the Canadian equivalent of Annie Lennox. She could retire and still be up for best new album every year.

Changing the subject for the final paragraph, we've been having a little debate at work. Who would do a good Clash cover and what song should they do? There have been some totally ridiculous suggestions and a possible winner. But who do you think it should be? And yes, this is a blatant attempt to solicit a comment. Just one will do. It will reassure me that there really is someone out there...