Beam me up

Look who responded to one of my tweets. Look.

I can now die. As per Star Fleet protocol, I request a space burial.

My God, this is so awesome.


“We now consider the matter closed.” Victory!

For us, the result was never really in doubt. Still, it’s wonderful to receive such a clear statement in writing.

And rest assured, we are never going to stop fighting racism and anti-Semitism and homophobia and misogyny. Never.

Thank you, to all of you, for your support in recent months. It won’t be forgotten.

(Here is the Globe story and here is the CBC story.)

 

 


Were 63 Canadians murdered by Iranian armed forces?

That is what the New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof is asking this terrible morning:

If that turns out to be the case, Iran has committed an act of war against Canada. The League of Nations, among others, define an act of war as an attack by a state’s land, naval or air forces, with or without a declaration of war, on the territory, vessels or aircraft of another state. So this would appear to qualify, if true.

This morning, the government advised Canadians to “avoid non-essential travel” to Iran. That seems to lack the requisite emphasis, but maybe that is the way Global Affairs expresses itself.

In any event, in the case of the burgeoning Iran-U.S. undeclared war, Canada’s desire to render itself very small hasn’t worked. The families of those murdered Canadians are going to demand answers and action.

We’re involved now, whether we like it or not.


This is the best email ever. Grateful.

I REALLY LOVE YOUR BOOKS

Dear Mr. Kinsella

I’m sorry to waste your time on this, but your books (specifically the X Gang series) have helped me through so much. I’m a thirteen-year-old girl, and I have loved punk rock for as long as I can remember. my favorite bands are Bad Religion and Bikini Kill. I have always felt so ignored and cast out by everybody. Recently, I told somebody I thought I could trust that I had feelings towards other girls, and that person told everybody. Even though getting called “fag” and “dyke” is the highlight of my day, dressing like the unborn child of Sid and Nancy didn’t help that case at all. Your books and your characters are like my family. It is so amazing to see how close the punks were back then. I wish I knew people like X, Kurt, and Patti in real life. I can’t even imagine all of the things they had to go through. And to think it was based on a true story. I also love the constant Clash and Pistols references. Your books (along with a lot of great music) helped me realize that it’s okay to dress how I dress and believe in what I want to believe. If you ever happened to see this, thank you so much. punk’s not dead (I hope). I recently figured out that the Hot Nasties were a real band. I don’t know if you played in it, but they rock. My favorite song by them is secret of immortality.

Sincerely, 

one of your readers

p.s. 

In my head X kinda looks like teenage David bowie, and I tried to change that image cause I don’t really love the image of bowie kissing teenage girls but now that image is forever in my brain. Also, Kurt is my favorite character cause I guess I can relate to him the most and he was like a make-shift best friend to me for a long time. sorry for wasting those few seconds of your life you’ll never get back.”


Don’t speak ill of the dead, Bruce Livesey

…that’s what I was taught, growing up.  You evidently weren’t.

Back story: sadly, Diane Ford died.  I tweeted this about her passing.


That elicited this simply extraordinary reaction from Bruce Livesey, an actual journalist who has worked for the CBC, PBS and others.


I responded.


Anyway, it’d be bad enough for a nameless troll to write what he wrote. But for an actual journalist? Pretty awful.

If you agree, feel free to him know what you think. I did.