You never get nervous anymore

Tokyo Police Club, popster popstar pride of Teedot.  Every time they come on the car hi-fi, my daughter stops me.  “I know, Dad, I know,” she says, eyes rolling.  “They’re from Toronto.  I know.”

(And if you look carefully, you can see a portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier in the corner, above drummer Greg Alsop.  How Canadian is that?)


Tim Hudak’s staff search for “typical” Ontario family

…whilst typical Ontario families aren’t searching, particularly, for Tim.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From:
Date: Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Subject: Fwd: Party Needs a Hand

———- Forwarded message ———-
From:
Date: Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Subject: Party Needs a Hand
To:

Hi all – on October 6, from 11:30 AM till noon, the leader wants to visit a
typical Toronto family in their home with media in tow.  The idea is either to
find a young couple with preschool children or a senior couple.  Whether they
talk about all day kindergarten or a seniors issue or whatever will depend on
who they are.

Do you have anyone that you can recommend.  We obviously want them to be
supporters, but not title holders.  (i.e.  we don’t want a past candidate,
riding president).

We don’t have a lot of time, so I would appreciate any ideas that you may have
as soon as possible.

I also appreciate your confidence in this matter.

Cheers,
DR


Media blah blah blah

Blah and blah and blah.

Shorter version: “We may be subsidiaries of very powerful, unelected, super-rich corporations, but we like to propagate the mythology that we are the vox populi, the grubby and populist voice of the lumpen, without whom democracy would fail.  And we are unadulterated hypocrites, naturally, because we pillory politicians all the time for being prejudiced and/or non-factual, but when we are prejudiced and/or non-factual, well, that’s okay, because we are The Media, and the rules that everybody else has to observe, most days, don’t apply to us.  Because we are the media.”

And so they do expensive and silly redesigns, thinking it’s about form, when the problem is – and always has been – content. And, you know, honesty.

Blah Blah blah.  They’ll never change.


“Sincere regret”: Maclean’s parent company apologizes for Quebec smear

Rogers Publishing comments on the recent issue of Maclean’s Magazine

MONTREAL, Sept. 30 /CNW/ – Rogers Publishing today commented on the most recent issue of Maclean’s Magazine. “The cover of this issue and the feature story clearly offended some readers, and this has been the subject of much debate,” said Brian Segal, President, Rogers Publishing. “As a company we own a broad range of media properties across the country and editorial independence is an important cornerstone of our management philosophy. While challenging at times, this means we do not interfere with the editorial direction or content of our media properties in any way.”

“On behalf of the company, we sincerely regret any offence that the cover may have caused. We value all of our customers and their perspective. Quebec is an important market for the company and we look forward to participating in the dynamic growth of the province and its citizens.”

– 30 –

Now, will the magazine and its writers finally admit that they made a mistake, and apologize, too? (En francais, ici.)


Thursday morning bits and pieces: blowback

Lotsa stuff going on.  Here goes: