Consolation Champs» News

Iran: Deja Vu All Over Again

James McNally — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:56:44 +0000

So President Bush remains adamant that Iran is a threat? Even after his own intelligence services have told him otherwise? Why am I not surprised? I’m reading Frank Rich’s book The Greatest Story Ever Sold right now, and it’s all sounding very familiar. I just hope that the presidential election campaign can steamroll any “ambitions” that Dubya has for adding to his collection of wars.

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Iran: Deja Vu All Over Again

Should I Move Back?

James McNally — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 04:52:50 +0000

The Economist conducted its yearly survey and the green land of my birth, Ireland, comes out first for quality of life. Now, the UN usually does its own polls and Canada usually comes out on top. So the question is, do I move back? Lucky me. I guess I could escape the frigid Canadian winters in drizzly Ireland and come back to Canada for the summers.

P.S. Gentle American friends, the U.S. placed 13th. When are you coming up?

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Should I Move Back?

Secret Millionaire

James McNally — Fri, 02 Apr 2004 19:00:44 +0000

The big story around here this morning is the $30-million lottery winner who waited almost a year before claiming his prize, saying he “didn’t want to do anything rash.” Now while most of the media seem baffled by this guy, I can totally understand. Wouldn’t it be cool to be a secret millionaire? Just to know and keep it to yourself, and see how people treated you, before the big news got out and everyone wanted to be your friend?

I think Raymond Sobeski is a smart man. He’s had almost a year to figure out who his true friends are, so that when people around him start cozying up to the millionaire, he can just smile to himself. Enjoy your winnings, Raymond!

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Secret Millionaire

National Post: All Rebecca, All The Time

James McNally — Wed, 03 Mar 2004 20:03:59 +0000

Front page of the National Post today: The Politics of Pregnancy, from Queen Victoria to Rebecca Eckler.

How does she do it?

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National Post: All Rebecca, All The Time

Were You, Like, Scared?

James McNally — Tue, 09 Dec 2003 19:45:55 +0000

I’ve never liked Anderson Cooper (sorry, Brad). The squinty CNN anchor thinks he’s hip and oh-so-clever. But this interview with 13-year old surfer Bethany Hamilton, who survived a shark attack, is just inane. I can’t figure out who says “like” more.

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Were You, Like, Scared?

Govanuh Ahnuld?

James McNally — Thu, 25 Sep 2003 21:25:01 +0000

I surfed around this morning looking for reactions from some of my California friends to last night’s debate among gubernatorial candidates, but found none. I have to wonder if they’ll even vote. Even though I’m far from the action, I had to tune in to watch, since it’s Arnold’s only scheduled faceoff with his opponents. For the most part, it wasn’t much of a real debate.

The only fireworks were between Arianna Huffington and Arnold. She rightly went after him from the beginning, sensing that he’s really just an empty suit. He was unimpressive. He carped on and on about the current government, and spouted a few generic platitudes (“we need to fix the economy”, “we need to attract more business”, “we need to take care of kids”) but had absolutely no solutions. I hope I’m not the only one who can see that.

I was most impressed with Green Party candidate Peter Camejo, who never even got to talk about environmental issues. Far from being a one-issue, “hippy” party, the Greens actually had some sensible positions on most issues. Only his lack of government experience would really hold him back. And although I disagree with almost all of his positions, Republican Tom McClintock was equally impressive. He held clear positions and articulated them carefully, without attacking anyone. I think he’s in the race because he’s annoyed that Arnold isn’t a “real” candidate. I respect his integrity.

So, although Gary Coleman wasn’t there, I found the debate interesting, though a real debate format would have been better (ie. no foreknowledge of the questions, letting each candidate state his/her position and then face rebuttals from the other candidates). Good luck, Californians!

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Govanuh Ahnuld?

FlashMobs Go Mainstream

James McNally — Tue, 05 Aug 2003 17:16:01 +0000

The phenomenon of “flash mobs” has gone mainstream, a mere 48 days after appearing on Consolation Champs (after first appearing on BoingBoing). There are even some web sites dedicated to it.

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FlashMobs Go Mainstream

Canada Needs A Break

James McNally — Mon, 26 May 2003 08:52:01 +0000

We’ve got SARS breaking out again in Toronto, mad-cow disease out west, West Nile virus threatening this summer, and to top it off, two American teams called the Ducks and the Devils are battling it out in the Stanley Cup finals. Haven’t we been through enough already? from Consolation ChampsCanada Needs A Break

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Canada Needs A Break

Pathological Liars Make The Best Journalists

James McNally — Mon, 12 May 2003 23:31:22 +0000

The timing might be the most remarkable thing in this remarkable tale of New York Times reporter Jayson Blair, who fabricated many details of his stories. Strangely enough, I watched a profile on 60 Minutes last night of Stephen Glass, the reporter for the New Republic who also fabricated most of his stories. Glass has a new “novel” out called The Fabulist, and after five years of therapy, seems to be trying to make amends. Of course, none of his colleagues trust him…

UPDATE: I’ve also become aware of the story of Janet Cooke, a Washington Post reporter who actually won a Pulitzer Prize in 1981 for “Jimmy’s World,” a story about an 8-year old heroin addict. Two days after winning the prize, she admitted that Jimmy was fictional, a “composite” of other child addicts. She returned the prize, resigned, and faded into obscurity.

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Pathological Liars Make The Best Journalists

Only In The National Post

James McNally — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 21:20:12 +0000

Front page of the National Post today: Rebecca Eckler Is Pregnant

Now, for those not in the know, Rebecca Eckler is someone who has built her entire journalistic career around the type of writing that should have been confined to a weblog. I have nothing against her personally. In fact, I’m a little envious that I can’t get a column for a national newspaper talking about my feelings about relationships, what clothes and shoes I find jaunty, and where I had drinks last weekend. The cynical me wonders if the whole pregnancy thing is just a way for her to get material for another nine months plus worth of columns.

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Only In The National Post

Coalition Of The Willing

James McNally — Wed, 19 Mar 2003 15:56:56 +0000

Facing criticism that its “coalition of the willing” was made up of only itself, Britain, and Australia, the US declares that more than 30 nations are involved.

Glad to know that Uzbekistan, Slovakia, Azerbaijan, Eritrea and Albania are on side.

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Coalition Of The Willing

Shift Is Dead (Again)

James McNally — Thu, 20 Feb 2003 16:02:08 +0000

Shift was Canada’s version of Wired, though much more narrowly focussed on the “digital lifestyle.” Despite its general excellence, it never really found much of a reader base. It looks like it may be dead for good this time. It will be missed.

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Shift Is Dead (Again)

War’s On?

James McNally — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 15:17:29 +0000

I saw my first war commercial last night. General Motors was crowing about how they built lots of stuff for WW2. Does this mean that the war with Iraq is now on? What’s next? General Electric using their prowess at building weapons to sell you a toaster?

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War’s On?

Man of Peace

James McNally — Tue, 10 Dec 2002 19:19:56 +0000

America’s best-ever ex-President accepts the Nobel Peace Prize.

Well done, Jimmy! You’ve always been one of my heroes.

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Man of Peace

Call Me Blue

James McNally — Thu, 03 Oct 2002 20:27:55 +0000

Libertarian candidate Star Jones is seeking to be the first “blue guy” to be elected to the Senate.

His opponents include someone from the Green Party.

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Call Me Blue

“The Guy Who Tried To Kill My Dad”

James McNally — Fri, 27 Sep 2002 19:05:21 +0000

Dubya reveals his real motivation for wanting to attack Iraq.

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“The Guy Who Tried To Kill My Dad”

Reading is Fundamental, President Bush

James McNally — Sat, 14 Sep 2002 04:46:11 +0000

I know he don’t read good, but I think President Bush should read James Fallows’ article in the upcoming November issue of The Atlantic before he goes off invading. You should read it, too.

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Reading is Fundamental, President Bush

Sentenced To Freedom

James McNally — Sat, 13 Jul 2002 00:23:49 +0000

92-year old Coval Russell pleaded not to be let out of jail.

Days after he was released, he was found dead. What a strange and sad case. It shows us how elderly people need to feel a part of the community, no matter what sort of community. (NYT, free registration required)

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Sentenced To Freedom

CNN Goof

James McNally — Wed, 12 Dec 2001 00:33:00 +0000

Yup, I searched, and Salt Lake City’s mayor is Rocky Anderson. Strange that CNN would goof so badly… from Consolation ChampsCNN Goof

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CNN Goof

CNN Goof?

James McNally — Wed, 12 Dec 2001 00:31:42 +0000

Salt Lake City Airport workers arrested: The interesting thing about this article is it names Salt Lake City’s mayor as Mel Lastman, who is Toronto’s mayor. Coincidence? Or the work of a stupid person? Hmmm…

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CNN Goof?

Lunacy

James McNally — Fri, 16 Nov 2001 20:46:30 +0000

“In one cross-country flight, he said, passengers reported two men “plotting” earnestly in Arabic. They turned out to be Jews praying in Hebrew for a safe flight.”

Passengers are being removed from aircraft based solely on other passengers’ suspicions. This does nothing but reward racist assumptions. (via BoingBoing)

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Lunacy

Tamim Ansary

James McNally — Mon, 17 Sep 2001 05:45:37 +0000

Read this letter from Afghani-American writer Tamim Ansary, and then forward the link to everyone you know. Thanks, Caterina, for posting it.

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Tamim Ansary

9/11

James McNally — Wed, 12 Sep 2001 04:16:42 +0000

I don’t have the words, but today will never be forgotten… from Consolation Champs9/11

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9/11

Charles Templeton

James McNally — Fri, 08 Jun 2001 06:58:47 +0000

Charles Templeton died today. You might not know who he is, but in the 1940s, he was a very well-known evangelist and a close friend of Billy Graham. Eventually he went on to become a respected journalist and writer here in Canada. What happened to the evangelist? Well, he lost his faith. He even wrote a book a few years back called “Farewell to God.” I picked it up and found his reasons for rejecting Christianity a little bit silly, to be honest, but the man certainly must have gone through a lot of personal turmoil to come to his decision of unbelief. Ironically, if Charles Templeton still exists somewhere, he knows more than he ever did about God.

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Charles Templeton

Dumb Politicians

James McNally — Thu, 07 Jun 2001 22:32:50 +0000

Alas, we here in Canada also have dumb politicians. (via textism)

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Dumb Politicians

So Long, Joey Ramone…

James McNally — Tue, 17 Apr 2001 06:24:54 +0000

So long Joey Ramone

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So Long, Joey Ramone…

Scared Straight?

James McNally — Thu, 14 Dec 2000 17:43:36 +0000

Scared Straight? (via Neale)

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Scared Straight?

Another Liberal Majority?

James McNally — Tue, 28 Nov 2000 06:48:49 +0000

The CBC and CTV networks are projecting a third consecutive Liberal majority government here in Canada. I’m pleased. We don’t seem to have as much trouble voting decisively here (!). Maybe the five party system works better than the two party system… from Consolation ChampsAnother Liberal Majority?

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Another Liberal Majority?

Murder In A Small Town

James McNally — Thu, 23 Nov 2000 17:38:31 +0000

The Globe and Mail reports on this strange tale of murder in small town Ontario. Creepy.

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Murder In A Small Town

Doris Day for PM!

James McNally — Fri, 17 Nov 2000 22:06:09 +0000

Canadian politician Stockwell Day, leader of the Canadian Alliance Party, has said that, if elected Prime Minister, he will call a referendum on any subject as long as 3% of the electorate sign a petition demanding one. Those crazy Newfies at This Hour Has 22 Minutes have taken him up, and over half a million Canadians have signed it online. Will he change his name to Doris?

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Doris Day for PM!

Canadian Election Goes To Pot?

James McNally — Wed, 08 Nov 2000 18:23:31 +0000

We’re having our own election here in Canada on November 27, and our company is even doing some work for one of the parties. Happily, it’s the party that I support. Most interesting about this election is the emergence of the Marijuana Party, who are fielding candidates in 70 of the 301 national ridings (electoral districts). One candidate stated that if Canada decriminalized possession of marijuana, that we would experience a huge influx of American tourists to “buy bud.” The whole thing makes me laugh, though. It’s as if someone had this great idea one weekend, but instead of waking up Monday morning and forgetting about it, they actually organized and followed through. It is funny to read some of the interviews with the candidates, though. One guy says he’ll be campaigning on marijuana, “in more ways than one.”

My favourite quote from the New Yorker article: “[Ev] has a beetling brow and a Tintin coif.” (Note: My own coif has often been compared to Tintin’s.)

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Canadian Election Goes To Pot?

Warning: Bad Joke

James McNally — Tue, 07 Nov 2000 16:58:21 +0000

So let me get this straight. Politicians have been telling us for years that there is too much sex and violence on television, in music, and in video games. Then they nominate two guys for President called Bush and Gore? Seriously, folks, please choose wisely today. Your vote affects the whole world. from Consolation ChampsWarning: [...]

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Warning: Bad Joke

PET, RIP

James McNally — Fri, 29 Sep 2000 20:54:12 +0000

Although I found out last night, I haven’t yet posted about it. Former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau died yesterday. The greatest politician that Canada has yet produced was 80, but still vibrant and working until his recent illness. I admired his intelligence, his integrity and his honesty. He was one of a kind. More tributes here.

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PET, RIP

Bad Apple?

James McNally — Fri, 29 Sep 2000 19:06:36 +0000

I’m always shocked by the fickle nature of the stock market, but I have to say I’m doubly shocked by Apple’s stunning overnight meltdown. I mean, the company is very profitable, just less profitable this quarter than they expected, and the market shaves 50% off the value of the company’s stock? That just seems insane. I hope some smart people call their brokers today and snap up all this cheap Apple stock and send it higher again soon. It seems unfair.

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Bad Apple?