tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34584042012-01-29T20:21:22.413-05:00Reporting from Montreal on crazy nonsense in Quebec and beyond.Darrylnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-81826333155794242372012-01-28T17:23:00.001-05:002012-01-29T20:21:22.420-05:00

In November 2005, I wrote about what I considered to be anti-anglophone comments by Julie Snyder, host of the popular Star Académie singing competition show. While interviewing Irish singer Chris de Burgh who speaks some French, Snyder said, "Wow. Finalement un anglophone qui sait comment parler francais comme-il-faut." I argued at the time that implicit in her remarks was the view that most/

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-80177575500470942162010-04-13T17:39:00.000-04:002010-04-13T17:39:58.659-04:00

During the past two morning commutes, I approached a major intersection where traffic was stopped because of a red light. I was about eight cars back from the stop line and slowed my car in an incremental way. Given that there was a driveway to access a McDonald's to my right and given that my lane wasn't going anywhere, I always try to leave space so cars on the opposite side of the street can

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-13611331076804657512010-04-06T10:38:00.001-04:002010-04-06T20:58:54.000-04:00

In what is arguably the best anti-graffiti initiative ever developed, an understandably angry property owner posted a sign at 5512 Louis Hebert Avenue in Montreal with the following bilingual text: Mon ostie de vidange de scribouilleur. Si je te vois encore en train de barbouiller mes mures, je vais te chercher et te trouverai pour t'arracher la tête et te chier dans le corps.You stupid ass-hole.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-43096503202293314272010-03-30T14:06:00.000-04:002010-03-30T14:06:33.229-04:00

It's hard to not to feel bad for DDO and its mayor. A public security agent panicked based on a resident complaint about noise and gave a fine (not a warning) to a father who had organized a street hockey game. More than a week has passed since the incident and the media coverage that ensured. A week is to long for a response, but DDO finally responded. In short, DDO says the bylaw that

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-87554168630694122052010-03-30T13:03:00.002-04:002010-05-15T21:43:48.831-04:00

I received a driver's licence renewal notice this week from the Quebec Société de d'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)--the province's DMV. Included with the invoice was an flyer titled "Quick'n easy!" that included a photo of a woman pointing to the "Q" in "SAAQ", which was shaped like a power icon. I've conveniently included a photo with this post. I question the appropriateness of the

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-71855819979111746862010-03-23T23:15:00.001-04:002010-03-23T23:16:19.674-04:00

Many municipal bylaws are on the books but not enforced, like the one prohibiting street hockey. The fact is that cities are pretty tolerant but get panicky when a neighbour complains. Now Dollard des Ormeaux has got a public relations problem. Quebec street hockey dad fights fine Last Updated: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | 9:06 PM ET Comments115Recommend71 CBC News David Sasson, fined for playing

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-33106787654645179142009-11-12T19:26:00.006-05:002009-11-13T09:37:50.184-05:00

Someone with an airplane and skill drew hearts in the sky over Montreal today. Did you see the skywriter too?UPDATE #1: a. Here is a professional photo from a Gazette photographerb. According to this discussion, the hearts and 25 were written for a college student who is ill.UPDATE #2:c. The info above about the sick student is false. According to The Gazette, it was done by a local pilot to "

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-54066761386436393712009-09-07T15:58:00.004-04:002009-09-07T16:14:40.835-04:00

Maybe the passenger was rude or confrontational and the bus driver feared for her safety.But most likely the bus driver in the article below acted as any Quebecer would when confronted with an English-speaking (strike 1) brown-person from some other part of the world (strike 2) who makes the mistake asking for the time in English in Montreal (yer' out!).STM bus driver refuses to speak English,

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-28665205342119518682009-07-12T15:13:00.023-04:002010-09-28T22:48:02.868-04:00

I am a Canon camera user, having owned the SD230 and the SD1000. I have tried other people's Sony cameras and some lesser brands and have found Canon cameras to be more smartly designed. Better buttons. Better interface. Better connect to computers. My SD1000 had three spots on the lens that I couldn't remove. Then we lost the camera. So I needed a new one. I wanted my next point-and-shoot

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-1207670515164337832009-07-10T11:03:00.007-04:002009-07-15T12:34:15.584-04:00

For the last year, I have waited for Canada Post to clean the graffiti from the grey box in front of my house. I assumed they would eventually clean it as part of their standard operaring procedure. Sadly, all the boxes--red and grey--in the area have been vandalized in the same way.Today, I sent a complaint to Canada Post asking them to clean the grey box in front of my home. I will update this

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-48533492844870610312009-05-31T08:11:00.004-04:002009-05-31T08:57:11.843-04:00

Today's Gazette had a reprint of a May 2, 2009 article from the New York Times about what I'll dub the Obama Effect on Race Relations in America. The problem is that some of the article reads like something from The Onion including one laugh-out-loud quotation from some white guy. (See below.)The New York Times article presents anecdotal evidence to conclude that relations between black people

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-40501199529715165092009-05-02T12:18:00.007-04:002009-05-02T13:00:29.449-04:00

An article in The Gazette (Students push communist agenda, May 1, 2009) about young communists in Quebec has two delicious passages that made me chuckle. Eric and Étienne (no last names are reported) offer up the follow nuggets of wisdom that reveal (1) their powers of exaggeration and (2) insight into how they came to travel with fellows of that type."It's hard to be a communist in North America

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-3859440697431069252009-03-08T09:41:00.009-04:002009-03-08T11:07:16.456-04:00

Compare and contrast the following two stories from February 2009: (1) Re-enactment of the Plains of Abraham battle in Quebec City is canceled, and (2) an anti-Semitic ice sculpture at Quebec City winter carnival is protected.Exhibit AIn the first case, secessionist groups hinted there might be violence if the National Battlefield Commission did not cancel a re-enactment of the 1759 battle in

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-10274038876149437692009-02-07T14:22:00.004-05:002009-03-10T10:53:20.498-04:00

The UNESCO Convention/Recommendation against Discrimination in Education, of which Canada (federal government and provincial governments) are bound, states that in the absence of choice, the establishment or maintenance, for linguistic reasons, of separate educational systems or institutions is discriminatory by definition.In Quebec, children of French-speaking parents are prohibited from

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-79035023837698016832009-01-13T10:01:00.014-05:002009-01-13T15:54:32.115-05:00

Dear Mayor Gendron,As your new writing coach, I'd like to help you with all your correspondence to the prime minister of Canada from now on. I think it will help you avoid looking daft and the antonym of erudite.My dear and loving wife has warned me against this, as she believes the amount of work needed to fix your letters will sap all my strength at a time when it is needed to finish

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-46783329180988562122008-10-25T09:44:00.008-04:002008-10-25T16:57:42.866-04:00

Last week it was reported that Quebec milk farmers were going with pitchforks and torches to Quebec City to complain about the margarine industry.This time, their complaint was the new Becel Buttery Taste margarine. They don't like the name.This being Quebec where the government over-regulates stuff (be it free expression or the colour of margarine), I considered it my civic duty to support the

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-40402381583940900412008-10-07T10:39:00.004-04:002008-10-07T10:48:09.250-04:00

The West Island Chronicle newspaper published on its front page on October 1, 2008 a photograph of cheerleaders throwing into the air one of their colleagues (see below).The unfortunate spread eagle position of the airborne lady with the headline "Dream come true" makes this the most jaw-dropping newspaper front page in Montreal in 2008. Congratulations West Island Chronicle!

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-13438895186010081592008-10-02T13:56:00.003-04:002008-10-02T13:59:28.090-04:00

West island road, October 2008.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-23509049989599614502008-09-28T09:13:00.000-04:002008-09-28T10:33:04.287-04:00

moar funny pictures

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-19340519983475238142008-09-27T15:33:00.003-04:002008-09-27T15:37:39.249-04:00

Umm... ass pomme!

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-68893478470671471362008-09-18T23:10:00.003-04:002008-09-18T23:15:31.115-04:00

The Blog Quebecois has a nice reply to Barbra Steisand's memo to Senator John McCain.barbrastreisand.com: John McCain has served this country. No one in this election is denying him that. But his selection of Governor Palin has demonstrated that he is willing to put his desperation to win this election above the welfare of the American people. As someone who has spent over 40 years advocating on

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-56301106576206573732008-09-15T20:30:00.009-04:002008-09-15T21:05:32.445-04:00

Wal-Mart is still the worst big-store weekend shopping experience yet devised. But Reno-Depot took a giant leap forward (or backward) in my book of stores that piss me off.I had to buy a door. Thinking of the details make will make me shake with anger, so I'll summarize: I bounced around the store from one person to another to order a pick a door, pay for a door and cut a door.I experienced lost

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-6058508968281733472008-09-07T17:10:00.007-04:002008-09-07T17:42:03.899-04:00

At IGA supermarket last week, I was forced to wait for several minutes in the six items or fewer line because Patron 1 at the front decided to contest the price of her five items. Patron 1 saw the lineup but wasn't dissuaded. After all hope was lost, she left. But the damage was done. People were fuming.Next up: Patron 2, who asked for four kinds of cigarettes and rolling paper (!), which is

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-25244925866899984162008-09-02T17:24:00.002-04:002008-09-02T17:28:17.487-04:00

At long last, Alan Alda is getting into retail.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-23807836529820903092008-09-01T17:02:00.011-04:002008-09-01T22:22:36.115-04:00

Il y a en effet une passion mâle et légitime pour l’égalité qui excite les hommes à vouloir être forts et estimés. Cette passion tend à élever les petits au rang des grands ; mais il se rencontre aussi dans le cœur humain un goût dépravé pour l’égalité, qui porte les faibles à vouloir attirer les forts à leur niveau et qui réduit les hommes à préférer l’égalité dans la servitude à l’inégalité

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-37868367561702451552008-08-30T12:36:00.005-04:002008-08-30T12:53:35.854-04:00

A few years ago, my parents were screwed out of a few hundred bucks because of long-distance charges to Tavulu or some miserable place like that. Lots of people were screwed because of a virus that took over people's old-fashioned dial-up modems and made the long distance calls.Bell said it wasn't there problem, even though newspaper reports say they knew about it but did nothing to, say, block

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-5659722857854381082008-08-17T09:42:00.011-04:002008-08-17T11:56:27.993-04:00

The frozen Myer's Bagels: A Taste of Old Montreal caught my eye at the Price Chopper in Burlington, Vermont. Unlike the white-bread-style bagel rolls sold in the United States, these bagels looked like Montreal bagels. The product packaging played up that fact with its name and one of its features: Wood fired bagel.But how would it compare to a Montreal-made bagel?The competitorsMyer's Bagel

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-29140568746077935042008-06-07T18:49:00.005-04:002008-06-07T21:51:02.971-04:00

Many (not all) dog owners are disgusting humans who bring their excrement-machines outdoors and soil my neighbourhood sidewalks. But it gets worse. Well, not worse exactly, just equally assholish.A lady in Westmount Park today (see below) groomed her dog and let the (probably smelly) dog hair fall on the grass beside her and blow in the wind. The light coloured areas in the grass around her is

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-59819375523630938032008-06-07T18:18:00.007-04:002008-06-07T18:38:27.184-04:00

There seems to be some car race this weekend in Montreal. I went to the street fair downtown to investigate and saw lots of red cars and women in bikinis (see below). In fairness to the ladies--who seemed to be selling something--it was 30 degrees Celsius today so the bikini was a wise clothing choice.The only time I've ever felt more icky from walking through a crowd is when I happened to walk

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-52169361968659436392008-06-07T18:05:00.004-04:002008-06-07T18:11:12.826-04:00

This cardboard cutout of Rocky Balboa appeared on Sherbrooke St. W. in Westmount. Not sure who put it there of for what end. But it's cool and I wish I had one on my street.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-46809006663123913512008-05-08T23:12:00.003-04:002008-05-08T23:15:56.232-04:00

Can you think of any way to make an awesome cool Dodge Caravan even cooler than with a weird mix of bumper stickers?

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-80292196899063481992008-05-04T18:52:00.004-04:002008-05-04T19:40:29.649-04:00

The two yellow danger signs on Décarie Blvd. (northbound, and just south of de Maisonneuve) always reminds me of that Price is Right game where the contestant has to find both halves of a pictogram of a car.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-71942379684268767302008-05-02T08:22:00.004-04:002008-05-02T18:30:25.324-04:00

The Gazette reported today that a private members bill in the federal parliament tabled by the secessionist Bloc Québécois party would transfer jurisdiction over the airwaves to the Quebec government. This would give provincial authorities the power to, say, block foreign television stations that threatened the predominance of the French language in Quebec.Translation: Say adieu to ABC, NBC, CBS

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-85686738692887573862008-05-01T07:59:00.004-04:002008-05-01T08:05:21.644-04:00

There is a special place is hell for vandals who paint FLQ on the buildings of the Royal Canadian Legion as happened, again, this week.This is the second time in a week vandals have spray-painted a prominent site with nationalist slogans. On Sunday, FLQ slogans were found spray-painted on the mausoleum where the late prime minister Pierre Trudeau is buried in St. Rémi de Napierville, south of

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-11489239281766672412008-04-30T22:48:00.000-04:002008-04-30T22:49:59.653-04:00

Another sad and joyful commercial...

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-65876097441964610072008-04-30T14:27:00.008-04:002008-09-01T22:12:32.901-04:00

In October 2001, the New York tourism agency ran a television commercial showing everyday people and celebrities saying the phrase "I love New York". The ad ran only for a short time, but it was very touching. The goal was to remind people that New York was a great city where life was returning to normal after the attacks.We would always stop whatever we were doing to watch the commercial. Years

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-91341846667712641562008-04-30T08:19:00.004-04:002008-04-30T08:28:19.536-04:00

On your next day-tip to the United States of America, make room in your car for Orville Redenbacher's Kettle Korn popcorn. Sadly, this product is not yet available in Canada, which is too bad because it is the best home popcorn I've ever eaten.There's a touch of sweetness that makes it delicious. The taste is similar to adding honey to popcorn. This is like popcorn 2.0. Delicious. Go forth and

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-70500558069419020412008-04-30T08:08:00.003-04:002008-04-30T08:15:37.406-04:00

There was a touching story in The Gazette today about how Maurice Richard visited the hospital bed of a kid at St. Mary's Hospital in 1995. He did so without fanfare or publicity. He promised he'd score his next goal for him.Richard returned to the hospital the next week with his own son and the puck.Inspired by the RocketHospital visit created Habs fan for lifeAlan HustakThe GazetteTuesday,

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-5443533249540900922008-04-28T22:44:00.006-04:002008-04-28T22:54:46.166-04:00

Spring tree, giant HabDe la Gauchtière / De la CathèdraleSpringtime at Place du Canada

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-55396837740834338532008-04-28T17:56:00.005-04:002008-04-28T18:10:33.409-04:00

I enjoy President's Choice products. I like their light blue menu. I like their cola. And now I think I just may love their General Tao Chicken potato chips.I haven't bought a bag of fried-in-oil potato chips in several years. I either get the Baked Lays or the Olestra Ruffles from the United States of America. So, my excitement over General Tao Chicken chips was genuine.The packaging suggests

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-80004255723384104332008-04-25T16:18:00.002-04:002008-04-25T16:29:55.079-04:00

Students at a high school outside Chicago were suspended for five days what I think is a funny gag. Ten students in larger-than-life banana costumes ran the halls of the high school with an eleventh student dressed as a gorilla giving chase.The school should lighten up.>> Read the article>> See the video

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-15493426725763757152008-04-25T13:13:00.006-04:002008-04-25T13:35:44.765-04:00

I'm not one who likes to take cheap shots at the Montreal police. Whatever the occasional failing of some of their members, police officers are there 24/7 to protect you if someone is trying to hurt you. For that the police deserve our praise and respect.Two stories this week annoyed me, however.Item #1: A university student got a $628 fine for sitting on a granite ledge of some sort at Émilie

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-41063970568748303012008-04-21T18:23:00.004-04:002008-04-21T18:32:57.615-04:00

Just how many people were denied their right to have their votes counted in the referendum in 1995 on Quebec secession?We'll never know because (a) the Quebec Liberal Party made a decision to not make a fuss about stolen votes once their side won, (b) the Parti Québécois didn't want to be dragged down by the actions of some of its election officials who instructed underlings how to disallow votes

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-58900784765743709792008-04-19T10:37:00.007-04:002008-04-21T18:52:36.332-04:00

Another day, another example of crazy nonsense trying to maim reasonableness and moderation in Quebec.The Quebec government is being criticized for having English-language text on its business-related government websites. Parti Quebecois language critic Pierre Curzi is shocked and wants these words removed (read: censored, redacted, erased) from Quebec government websites.The government minister

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-36012857593619681142008-04-13T12:31:00.004-04:002008-04-13T12:39:07.176-04:00

Uh oh. The Gazette published the following headline today: Merci France, Bernier says.I hope the publisher is prepared for a tongue lashing from PQ education critic Marie Malavoy who, by the way, is an immigrant from France who voted illegally in Canadian elections before becoming a citizen of Canada.Malavoy doesn't like it when one mixes the two languages. It is "very disrespectful" says she.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-39716413540997496892008-04-12T11:34:00.002-04:002008-04-12T12:07:49.727-04:00

Quebec law prohibits free choice in public education, in violatation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The provincial government, which has jurisdiction over education, limits access to publicly-funded English-language schools. Only kids whose parents went to English-language school (in Canada) can attend. Everyone else (new Canadians, French-speakers, etc.) are prohibited.One

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-39372140160049227632008-04-12T11:21:00.003-04:002008-04-12T11:29:46.955-04:00

What happens when a municipality in western Quebec decides to translate some of its bylaws into English for the benefit of its residents? They are threatened anonymously by terrorist wannabees.It is 2008, by the way.A few days after asking the City of Gatineau to translate its bylaws into English, the Regional Association of West Quebecers began receiving e-mail messages telling the group it must

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-48043253220424724552008-02-14T17:57:00.004-05:002008-02-14T18:16:55.875-05:00

The Quebec language police are threatening to fine McKibbin's Irish Pub $1,500 for each in a series of language-related offenses. Offense 1: Too much English is being spoken by staff. Offense 2, 3, 4, etc.: Antique posters lining the walls advertising hundred-year old Irish beer (in English) no longer sold.Please remember how this story made you feel when one of the three big political parties in

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-28128309113225788342008-01-21T23:47:00.000-05:002008-01-22T00:40:48.371-05:00

Last week, Quebecor-owned tabloid newspaper the Journal de Montréal ran a cover story about an undercover reporter who applied for retail sales jobs in downtown Montreal while pretending to speak only English.The supposed English-speaking job applicant was rejected by 75 percent of employers. But you wouldn't know that from the sensational front cover or the outrage this caused on French-language

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-81636147331202178682008-01-07T16:53:00.000-05:002008-01-08T14:56:07.999-05:00

I watched part of the Republican and Democrat debates from New Hampshire on Saturday evening. Charlie Gibson did something I've never seen before: he was interviewing a group of people at the same time. That is, he would challenge an answer in the way he might do in a one-on-one interview.Gibson also did something else interesting by getting the Democrats to come on stage at the end of the

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-417287592659232582007-12-17T10:15:00.000-05:002007-12-17T10:36:08.273-05:00

Another foot (33 cm) of snow fell on Montreal yesterday, helping me get my cardio exercise without having to go to the gym.I got up earlier today to give myself enough time to dig the car out, shower and go to work. I always assume it will take 30 minutes. It always takes 60 minutes or more. They don't mention the digging-out-your-car thing in the tourist brochures for Quebec.Anyway, here are

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-39401017084609191892007-12-14T23:25:00.001-05:002007-12-14T23:58:08.191-05:00

I watched a few minutes the Commons ethics committee hearing into the Airbus settlement on Thursday. The committee called former prime minister Brian Mulroney to answer questions about the cash he received.I'm trying to find video from the hearing of questions by Bloc MP Serge Ménard, who was a former cabinet minister in Quebec and a successful criminal lawyer before that.The exchanges were

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-80751519368435186212007-12-03T10:17:00.000-05:002007-12-03T10:33:47.673-05:00

It snowed a week or so ago in Montreal, but we woke up today to the first major dump of snow of the season. I was without a shovel or winter tires, so it was difficult to plow through. It's days like today that make one question the wisdom of a major city on this island in north eastern North America.The weatherman forecasts a cold winter with lots of snow. The first major storm of 2005-06 was

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-66512708685666829552007-10-22T22:23:00.000-04:002007-10-22T23:21:10.712-04:00

I don't understand people who are shocked by the offensive nature of the proposed "Quebec Identity Act" of the Parti Québécois (PQ).Are you really and truly surprised?This is, upon reflection, the political party that censored non-French words on store signs and violated international treaties by barring kids from certain public schools based on their lineage.Is limiting one's ability to run for

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-87220462982421296442007-10-21T21:37:00.001-04:002007-10-21T21:44:57.744-04:00

I estimate there are two ways to pronounce the name Elizabeth Fokoefs, who is running for a commissioner's position on the English Montreal School Board at the November 4, 2007 election.Is it '...koffs' or a '...queefs'? And which is funnier to you, my immature readers? Leave your comments below.Subliminal message or political message on Girouard Ave. in NDG?

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-68169653770899584132007-09-16T23:16:00.000-04:002007-09-16T23:51:32.288-04:00

Whatever else we are, Quebec is the world leader in pained phrases and awkward acronyms. This is , after all, the place that named the organization that represents the greater Montreal area, CUM.(There wasn't one English-speaking person sitting around that table who thought of raising his hand?)In matters of constitutional reform, the phrases get even more, well, unique. The proposed Meech Lake

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-16482229688203031562007-08-01T22:57:00.000-04:002007-08-01T23:37:25.587-04:00

If you listen to English-language radio in Montreal, you have likely heard that ad for the Desjardins Ford car dealership. Their jingle, sung in English by French-accented singers, states: "We make the price... and everything nice. Des-jar-din Ford!"The statement always seemed to me a poor translation of something in French. I might accept someone writing "we make the price lower through

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-25915345651827011062007-07-24T20:54:00.000-04:002007-07-24T21:26:07.240-04:00

Seeing the monuments, museums and buildings in Washington, DC make one depressingly aware how relatively small is ones own city.I don't think I'm sticking my neck out when I say that there is no city with more classically beautiful architecture than Washington, DC.Even more impressive is that beyond the central hub of white stone are very nice, 20-story or so buildings in the style of something

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-41318599109098562332007-07-05T23:05:00.001-04:002007-07-05T23:15:39.244-04:00

Of course companies market in different ways to different demographics, regions, income earners and so on.But this Future Shop language selection splash page exposes these crass marketing decisions in plain view.No mention of Canada on the French side of the page. Only a reference to the July 1 moving day in Quebec. I expect more from a national retailer.Perhaps on my next visit to Future Shop,

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-70499740525283437202007-07-02T12:41:00.000-04:002007-07-04T23:01:08.432-04:00

United States Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia defended Jack Bauer last week at a conference in Ottawa where senior judges discussed torture and terrorism law.A Canadian judge used Jack Bauer as an illustration of the wrong way to deal with terrorists. Justice Scalia defended Bauer: "Jack Bauer saved Los Angeles. ... He saved hundreds of thousands of lives." He added: "Is any jury going to

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-22457729557554406752007-06-30T10:15:00.000-04:002007-06-30T10:28:35.093-04:00

The Quebec government is going to spend $1.5 billion to remove Montreal's biggest set of overlapping, concrete roads -- the Turcot interchange. It will be replace by street level roads.It's a lot of money. And I expect the real price will be triple as is always the case. But given the overpass collapse in Laval and the tests being done on the elevated Ville Marie Expressway, perhaps we should

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-39147908343065621102007-06-25T23:00:00.000-04:002007-06-25T23:15:41.729-04:00

David Foote is a Canadian demographer who has written about how demographics affects everything and how societies should plan around this foreseeable phenomenon.For instance, it should not be surprising that Quebec's aging population will strain the healthcare system while Alberta's younger population will be using less healthcare services and paying more in taxes. The result: Alberta has not

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-75174447569510267912007-06-25T15:03:00.000-04:002007-06-25T15:30:13.855-04:00

I was among those who thought an in-car GPS map and voice prompts were gimmicky. But I used one while visiting Toronto two years ago and changed my mind.Part of the fun of exploring a new city is looking at the buildings, watching people and noticing things that make that city different from your own. But when you are not totally expert in the other city, it can make your driving experience tense

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-48169724323712295372007-06-24T17:45:00.000-04:002007-06-26T15:13:24.617-04:00

The management of the Ikea store in Montreal (Cavendish/Hwy 40) has been flying the flags of Canada and the United States in an embarrassing state of disrepair for at least three weeks. I cannot believe no one in management at the store has not noticed the state of their flags.There is no excuse for this. Ikea worldwide sales in 2006 was 17.3 billion euros. It owns and operates 225 stores in 24

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-75453842139291316822007-06-22T16:36:00.000-04:002007-06-22T17:29:05.647-04:00

Bad news from Toronto. The Globe and Mail reports its transit authority has reversed its policy of posting 'Stand Right, Walk Left' signs on the escalators because of some bureaucrats at the Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA) complained walking is unsafe.The TSSA... recommended the signs' removal because they appeared to condone people walking on the escalators. The signs are there to

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-62603986858443482182007-06-21T23:06:00.000-04:002007-06-21T23:17:02.203-04:00

It is shocking how some people in Quebec have chosen to protest the Nato mission in Afghanistan, which seeks stabilize that country to prevent it from again becoming a haven to train radical Islamists.Instead of protesting on Parliament Hill or some federal building, these useful idiots decided to protest in front of the Quebec-based troops who were invited to the Montreal Alouettes football game

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-52849869185305693152007-06-21T22:14:00.000-04:002007-06-21T22:22:29.619-04:00

The Quebec government tabled today a bill to reform the grotesquely-named Montreal agglomeration council -- the regional decision-making body comprised of the (very large) central city and the (relatively less populous) suburbs.The proposed bill has to be approved by the Quebec legislature this fall. Given the minority status of the government, the bill is by no means certain to pass as-is. The

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-26767130308595521452007-06-18T16:20:00.001-04:002007-06-18T17:58:21.418-04:00

Editorial cartoons appeared in three Quebec newspapers last week in reaction to a story in La Presse about a meeting between ADQ leader Mario Dumont and major Quebec Liberal Party fundraisers. The fundraisers are Jewish and include some prominent business leaders and at least one former Canadian senator.Some backgroundThis was a big story because the Jewish community has long supported the Quebec

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-31476212910469984362007-06-03T10:53:00.000-04:002007-06-03T11:39:08.327-04:00

There is a scene in Knocked Up (2007) where Ben (chubby, pot-smoking slacker guy with curly hair) is discussing over dinner with Allison (pretty tv host he knocked up) and her sister (pretty, older stay-at-home mom) and her husband (successful, handsome, unhappy) that part of him would get into the DeLorean if Doc Brown showed up to take him to the past to undo the unplanned pregnancy.The sisters

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-61809695536532635052007-05-02T22:44:00.000-04:002007-05-02T22:45:27.866-04:00

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-12708764435394823732007-04-26T21:01:00.000-04:002007-04-26T21:05:56.220-04:00

Another positively Orwellian caption from a Reuters photo.Palestinians attend a demonstration against violence in Gaza April 23, 2007. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA)Source

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-59806074674330243112007-04-22T22:05:00.000-04:002007-04-22T22:41:49.422-04:00

I've identified five distinct types of City of Montreal street signs that are still in active use. Most people are familiar with the old black on white signs (all caps) and the new black on white signs (mixed case and city logo). (See the photo below.)First a word about English on street signs in Montreal. As late as 1867, the population of Montreal was majority English-speaking. This explains

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-64143716010468098352007-04-07T22:37:00.000-04:002007-04-07T22:45:18.331-04:00

I've read about people in North America who turn the tables on those Nigerian email scammers by getting the scammers to hold up funny sign and do stupid things. The goal is to waste as much of their time as possible. And it's funny. The anti-scammers have upped the ante. Making them hold photos of David Hasslehoff is no longer enough. Now they are getting the scammers to act out Monty Python

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-33784079835681289862007-04-07T18:35:00.000-04:002007-04-07T18:38:36.333-04:00

Neat behind-the-scenes look at voice actors in Family Guy.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-13176916482999278912007-04-06T14:37:00.000-04:002007-04-06T14:39:22.843-04:00

An interesting post from the people at UrbanPhoto about street signs in Montreal, including types of signs, typeface and language rules.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-24313249263745373622007-04-05T21:21:00.000-04:002007-04-05T21:27:22.734-04:00

Montreal-based urban planning blog UrbanPhoto has a great map of Montreal from 1894. Today Crescent St. was turns into Lucien-L'Allier. Back then Lucien L'Allier was called Aqueduct Street. And Bleury St. went as far north as Pine Ave. before changing to Park Ave. Today Bleury ends at Sherbrooke St.>> http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/04/01/finding-your-way-in-1894/

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-34623307496022102222007-04-05T20:47:00.000-04:002007-04-05T20:50:00.674-04:00

This will be good.Canadian content, Sopranos styleMATTHEW HAYSGlobe and MailMontreal — When the first episode of the final season of The Sopranos is broadcast on Sunday, Quebec fans will be especially titillated: Two new characters are French-speaking Québécois smugglers who do business with the show's rough-and-tumble protagonist, Tony Soprano.Denis and Normand are petty thugs who irritate Tony

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-53550122749661315472007-04-05T00:07:00.000-04:002007-04-05T00:09:19.798-04:00

Decarie Hotdog steamie and fries

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-43248346775995774822007-04-03T18:18:00.000-04:002007-04-03T18:25:37.207-04:00

Insane, but not surprising.Teachers drop the Holocaust to avoid offending MuslimsBy LAURA CLARKSchools are dropping the Holocaust from history lessons to avoid offending Muslim pupils, a government backed study has revealed. It found some teachers are reluctant to cover the atrocity for fear of upsetting students whose beliefs include Holocaust denial. [...]The study, funded by the Department for

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-76043738405395775522007-04-01T14:31:00.000-04:002007-04-01T15:16:00.314-04:00

More April Fool's Day fun from Google. This one is from Gmail: Introducing Gmail PaperNew! Introducing Gmail Paper Everyone loves Gmail. But not everyone loves email, or the digital era. What ever happened to stamps, filing cabinets, and the mailman? Well, you asked for it, and it’s here. We’re bringing it back.A New ButtonNow in Gmail, you can request a physical copy of any message with the

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-18038523674993623852007-04-01T10:39:00.000-04:002007-04-01T10:48:39.280-04:00

Ha. Fun April Fool's Day product launch from Google today.Google TiSP (BETA) is a fully functional, end-to-end system that provides in-home wireless access by connecting your commode-based TiSP wireless router to one of thousands of TiSP Access Nodes via fiber-optic cable strung through your local municipal sewage lines.Too many funny images to choose from. Click the screenshots below to see some

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-64946960848691594392007-03-31T17:20:00.000-04:002007-03-31T17:38:40.628-04:00

I didn't realize how close we all were to getting cars that drive themselves, until I read this a while ago. The car industry is slowly nudging us to that goal with features automatic parallel parking (see Lexus ad) and radar assisted cruise control (which slows down your cruise control if the guy in front of you gets too close).The latest development takes it one step further by regulating not

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-76851474452497051852007-03-30T23:15:00.000-04:002007-03-31T00:05:41.124-04:00

We've known that Rosie O'Donnell has suffered for years from BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome). But she how now taken the leap to full-fledged '9/11-was-an-inside-job' nutbar with her latest rant this week on The View.At times like this, I always like to quote from Carl Sagan, mostly because it makes me look smart. But also, he writes better than me and helps make my posts more good. Here goes:Too

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-63053554855740372212007-03-26T22:19:00.000-04:002007-03-26T22:29:50.343-04:00

Have a look at this video of UN Watch director Hillel Neuer speaking to the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva about how said commission is firmly in control of tyrants--a complete reversal of the goal of the commission as established by Eleanor Roosevelt.Then watch as the president of the commission reacts to the criticism by removing the statement from the record and warning others not to say

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-7387464274681765472007-03-24T22:35:00.000-04:002007-03-24T22:37:21.967-04:00

It has been viewed 4.3 million times at YouTube, so you've likely already seen this video about the effects on drugs on spiders. If not, enjoy.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-16084685947297142282007-03-24T11:04:00.000-04:002007-03-24T11:06:46.554-04:00

Use unbl0ck.com to get around blocked website restrictions at work. These services tend not to last forever, so use it while you can.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-24229220512630249912007-03-15T23:31:00.000-04:002007-03-16T00:36:45.489-04:00

André Boisclair, the leader of the secessionist Parti Québécois, said the following to reporters this week about his time at Harvard: "When I was in Boston I was surprised to see that on campus about one-third of the students doing their bachelor's degrees had slanting eyes."And because he doesn't think he said anything wrong, he won't apologize."I don't understand," he said in Quebec City on

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-89025562085748830902007-03-14T19:45:00.000-04:002007-03-14T19:49:01.239-04:00

Which photo of Jean Chrétien wearing sunglasses is more awesome? Leave your thoughts in the comments box.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-79416469464788447432007-03-14T19:22:00.000-04:002007-03-14T19:33:53.266-04:00

If you fancy yourself smart because you know how to use quotation marks and the + and - to refine your search in Google, you'll feel pretty inadequate after seeing the search string created to find free music on websites.Enter this into the Google search box to find lots of, say, Coldplay music:-inurl:(htm|html|php) intitle:"index of" +"last modified" +"parent directory" +description +size +(wma|

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-11943798984271269362007-03-11T10:43:00.000-04:002007-03-11T10:50:59.271-04:00

I was never a Star Wars fan, so I could care less about this story. But I know that three of the five people who read this blog will think this is almost as cool as when Picard walked around the bridge of the old Enterprise.>> R2D2 mailboxes from the United States Postal Service"*&^#* #*#(@ #(#(#H(#(S(#(#@$!I"

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-35703911845206262632007-03-06T00:15:00.000-05:002007-03-06T00:16:47.166-05:00

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-41294900362975646152007-03-02T23:20:00.000-05:002007-03-02T23:59:48.612-05:00

The website dnScoop calculates the number of page links, visits and other key data associated with your website. Then it assigns a monatary value to your website.For fun, let's compare the City of Toronto website (toronto.ca) with the City of Montreal website (ville.montreal.qc.ca): toronto.ca $1,408,440 ville.montreal.qc.ca $227,330 municipalite.herouxville.qc.ca $784These

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-49356681414932084302007-02-25T22:44:00.000-05:002007-02-25T23:03:05.280-05:00

Now that Montreal has banned illegal retards from the metro, many have moved to France and become contestants (or audience members) on the Millionare game show.How else to explain what happens when the contestant is asked "What orbits around the Earth"? His choices: (a) the Moon, (b) the Sun, (c) Mars, (d) Venus.I was waiting for a punch line. I thought at first this might be a parody of the game

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-26398945422953644452007-02-22T18:35:00.000-05:002007-02-22T18:39:53.173-05:00

Finally, the Montreal transit authority is taking a stand against illegal retards. And nothing says retarded like a mohawk, goatee and tank top.Way to go, STM.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-65696318882489531912007-01-17T22:59:00.000-05:002007-01-17T23:17:44.364-05:00

Got lots of pennies in the cup holder of your car and are too embarassed to use them at the Harvey's drive-through?No problem. Dump those useless one-cent pieces in Montreal parking meters (the ones without the dial). I ran out of real coins and tried the neglected penny. It worked!Sure, it will take 100 times longer than slipping in a loonie. But what else are you going to do with those useless

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-52116179227790832612007-01-04T23:21:00.000-05:002007-01-05T00:09:36.029-05:00

Esso is re-naming all their gaz station convenience stores in Quebec using the name "On the Run". The first store to get the English name is on Rockland Rd. in TMR.According to CTV News, the taxpayer-funded Quebec language office (OQLF) has received a dozen complaints about the name of the store, which opened only a few weeks ago.According to Quebec's restrictive language laws, French must be

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-51380778756572146242007-01-01T12:09:00.000-05:002007-01-04T23:52:42.427-05:00

On February 8, 1998, the CBS news program 60 Minutes reported on Quebec language laws. It did a fine job of ridiculing the ridiculous parts of the law.The report is described this way on the 60 Minutes website:As the Canadian [p]rovince of Quebec moves toward a French-language-only policy, critics charge the provincial government with "genteel ethnic cleansing" because the policy seems to be

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-7328074308078980802007-01-01T11:27:00.000-05:002007-01-01T12:07:43.074-05:00

Happy 2007, everyone. For a healthy and happy new year, eat lots of fish, take your vitamins, drink Metamucil and visit this blog every few days.Here are some links to bring in 2007:MSNBC 2006 year in picturesHow to make and keep New Year's resolutions2006 Year-End Google ZeitgeistHow to fix/clean your computer

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-9544353514589446962006-12-31T16:10:00.000-05:002006-12-31T16:26:04.325-05:00

If you want to stop recorded telephone ads and junk snail mail, you can add your name to the Do Not Contact list of the Canadian Marketing Association.The feds are supposed to be implementing their own list. But I'm not sure if that list has been launched yet.

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458404.post-66250236688211688732006-12-31T12:30:00.000-05:002006-12-31T17:24:18.310-05:00

When Rocky V was released in 1990, Sylvester Stallone said it was the natural end of the story arch,which goes like this:After late career success (Rocky, Rocky II), Rocky Balboa becomes super rich (Rocky III), fights Russians (Rocky IV), then loses all his money and ends up back in his old neighbourhood, where he becomes the trainer for a new up-and-coming boxer (Rocky V).If that was the natural

Darrylnoreply@blogger.com0