“Never will an election have posed to Canadians so starking choice.”
— S. Dion, in North Bay tonight
“Never will an election have posed to Canadians so starking choice.”
— S. Dion, in North Bay tonight
This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.
Contrary to popular belief, the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic flame at the Opening Ceremonies is, in fact, a decidedly modern affair. The culmination of the torch relay in a grandiose display at the Opening Ceremonies is a relic of the 1936 Berlin Games—just one of many attempts by the Nazi regime to lend a mythical air to the Games. Still, despite its dubious history, the lighting of the cauldron has evolved into one of the most spectacular and ostentatious displays at the Games. And the secretiveness that surrounds the lead-up to the ceremony only lends to the hype.
When it comes to the 2010 Games, the speculation about who will be selected to light the cauldron has coalesced around whether VANOC will go the traditional route and opt for a former Olympian or take the road less-travelled and pick someone from outside the sports world. Facebook groups have popped up promoting everyone from Terry Fox’s mother, Betty, to former Vancouver Canucks captain Trevor Linden. So far, Vancouver’s Olympic organizers have kept a tight lid on who the potential candidates might be. We’ve assembled a list of the names making the rounds, but feel free to add your own in the poll or in the comments below.

A pathogen found in cattle may lead to a cure for Crohn’s disease

A Bay Street legend, a whiz kid manager and the angry investors

In all sorts of ways, it’s difficult to imagine him ever stopping

Eight and a half hours in front of the TV and, finally, kickoff

Colby Cosh on the current state of the Super Bowl halftime show—and how to fix it

In a wealthy suburb, a writer discovers people who take celebrating to a whole new level

Newsmakers of the week
Maclean's is Canada's only national weekly current affairs magazine. Maclean's enlightens, engages, and entertains 2.8 million readers with strong investigative reporting and exclusive stories from leading journalists in the fields of international affairs, social issues, national politics, business and culture.
I’m starking my future on the Greens.
“I remember correctly, Paul Martin made it his campaign theme “mark my words, we are really, really, really, really, really, different”.”
You would be really, really different too if you noticed that every issue is very, very, very important.
Honestly, I’m a horrible, devoted ideologue, but I’d switch my vote to the party whose leader just ONCE said “Eehh, you know, this election isn’t even close to being the most important in the history of the country. It’s like 17th. Middling importance.”
That’s all I ask.
Does anybody see the Tory trend reminiscent of the Peterson flame out in 1990 in Ontario?
I could happily live with Manley vs Prentice. Either would be fine with me.
Unfortunately our choice is Harper or Dion. The sociologist still has not convinced me he’s up to the job. Harper is beginning to leave doubts in my mind regarding his ability as a campaigner, but his record as PM is much better.
Now that voters may actually believe we have a choice perhaps they will look at Dion with a more discerning eye. If they do, Harper wins.
Mr. Wells,
You have dropped below your usual standards with this comment. As a fan, I expect more from you. But the campaign trail can be exhausting and even the best people can slip up sometimes….
Which is weird because it’s easily the boringest province of the ten.
Have you ever been to Saskatchaplace?
(Awakens, heart racing and sweating +++ from the paranoid conspiracy dream): I get it now, you clever evil Liberal plant, Paul.
The population was not sufficiently outraged at the Tory “not a leader” hit and the puffin poop. The Libs are desperate for an exaggerated and unfair smear, à la distorted Chretien face. Play up the minor second-language tongue slip, in the hopes of attracting voting-public sympathy back to the natural governing party. It’s really pretty clever, until Con-bot 2008-MYL exposed your evil plans.
What’s that, Paul? Well… do you think you really need a lawyer? Why would that be? If you simply plead out I’ll put in a good word for you with the Crown…
“Have you ever been to Saskatchaplace?”
SK isn’t boring at all. It’s full of the nicest starking people in the country. And there’s a lot happening in Regina and Saskatoon. Dude, get your boring provinces straight why dontcha.
Dion for Star king!
Stark(ing) choice indeed.
Talking to my Liberal friends, they have to chose between NPD and Green. Stark indeed.
Rona Ambrose and Julie Cuillard MUD-WRESTLING!!
Theres a political contest I could get exited over! Oui?Non?
[...] discussion on the survival of our mutual economies where every word and nuance is vital, and the need to be clearly understood is paramount. Posted in Federal Election, MSM bias [...]
“Have you ever been to Saskatchaplace?”
Saskatchewan? Boring?! Are you kidding me?! I’m from Montreal and I live near Toronto but the best year of my life was in Saskatoon! Nobody knows a good time like Prairie boys (and girls)!
By the way, can someone remind me how we got to the “boring provinces talk”? Sorry MYL I really do want to talk about policy too but I can’t let slags against my favourite province go unanswered!
He’s right. This is a starking choice. You can vote Conservative and keep the country together or you can vote for one of the others and watch it go down the drain.
I’ve long wondered what guidelines do journos follow when editing pols, and maybe others, words to make them sound coherent before they appear in print. Pols always sound fluent when they are quoted in msm but in real life they are far from it. It’s like the journos are quoting what the pol meant to say, not what was actually said.
[...] ht and ht [...]