Don’s Blog

The past month has been really good for quotes from politicians…my two favourites are below:

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney:

"I don’t know what conspiracy," Mr. Kenney said yesterday on CTV’s Question Period.

"Would this be between the Conservative party, the NDP, three Filipino nannies and the Toronto Star [the newspaper that first reported the story]," I mean I can hear the black helicopters hovering overhead. I think it’s unfortunate and undermines credibility when people start talking about conspiracy theories."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/article1140133.ece

Gov. General Michelle Jean:

Jean said the seal hunt is a vital part of the Inuit economy that is done in a sustainable and respectful way.

She said people are probably too conditioned by modern life and forget where food comes from.

"When I eat beef, I am totally aware that eating beef is also … a once-living thing.

"Vegetarians make a choice in their life. I haven’t made this choice. When I eat lamb, I know that I am eating a lamb. When I eat veal, I know that I am eating a veal. Those, too, are very cute animals."
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/05/27/jean-hunt.html

Yes…I know my sense of humour probably isn’t quite mainstream—but I’m not the only one.

Some of you will appreciate the cartoons at: xkcd.com

Most of my blog reading is with specific goals in mind (IT subjects, travel, economics, etc.)

However there is one blog that I subscribe to purely for entertainment purposes:  http://thisisindexed.com/

A sample of the humour can be found below (and yes there’s a new index card drawing posted everyday.)

I’ve always told the exchange students to/from Finland that the easiest way to drive a Finn crazy was to sit in the middle of a park bench or bus seat

However, the Helsinki city government has caught on to this and is looking at implementing a solution:

 

Two-seater benches for Helsinki’s parks for those who cannot sit next to a stranger

Faced with the situation that Finns are pathologically reluctant to sit next to strangers, the City of Helsinki has come up with a curious solution – it has decided to place narrower benches in its parks. The idea of two-seater benches was proposed by City Councellor Sture Gadd (Swedish People’s Party). The Public Works Committee will handle the proposal today, Thursday.
According to the proposal there is a shortage of benches, as the present three-seater benches are often occupied by just one person. As on the buses and trains, Finns are not naturally predisposed to sit next to anyone they do not know, if there is a free seat available anywhere else. Many seem to prefer standing.
      “If the number of twin benches were higher than that of the present three-seaters, more people could be seated in parks”, notes Gadd.
The need for more benches will increase when the number of senior citizens and tourists grows, the proposal states.
      A few fixed single seats can be found in Helsinki, for example at the eastern end of Katajanokka and in the environs of the Parliament annex building.
      This spring, similar single seats will be placed in Kulosaari, reports Arja Saaristo-Wahlberg from the Street and Park Division of the City’s Public Works Department.
      In addition to single seats, a total of 27 two-seated benches will also be brought to Kulosaari. The Public Works Department is looking forward to receiving feedback about people’s reactions to the new benches, to be used as a basis for acquisitions for other parts of the city.
Part of the City’s park benches are movable, while more and more benches are fixed to the ground, staying in place all the year round. The movable benches are kept in the storage of the Public Works Department over the winter, while they are being repaired and repainted.
      Around this time of the year, the Public Works Department will have the benches placed in the parks and along the streets of the city.

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Helsingin Sanomat

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Two-seater+benches+for+Helsinki%E2%80%99s+parks+for+those+who+cannot+sit+next+to+a+stranger+/1135225842808

two hours that I’ll never get back

However, I really enjoyed one short dialog:

American Kid:  “Our mom told us that Mexico is really dangerous.”

Mexican Guy:  “Sí, es llenado de Mexicanos.”