Received from a reader:

“Hudak’s director of communications David Tarrant and Marissa Steiner have just quit the OLO. That brings the number of people who have bailed out to 12 since he became leader. This does not include people who were purged when he took over. It includes only people he kept after becoming leader or brought in himself.

• Jen Reid*
• Ari Laskin*
• Claudia Paolini
• Pina Martino
• Debbie Oskie
• Tom Simpson*
• Frank Iusi
• Allan Williams
• Laryssa Wailer
• Greg Medulun*

* Hudak leadership campaign

Add to that Shaun Francis who recently resigned as PC Ontario Fund chair and something is clearly wrong in Hudakland.”

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It was an average week at the cottage: I nearly broke a finger, there was a sensational thunder storm that washed away the pathway, the new puppy drank lake water and got totally sick, we tubed over the speed limit, my sons beat each other senseless with regularity, my daughter read a telephone book-sized vampire novel daily, and so on.  The usual.

And then, one afternoon, this Mutual of Omaha’s Reviled Kingdom moment: two dragonflies in a battle to the death. With an ending that will make you lose your head.  Or your lunch.

This one is going viral on the Interweeb, I predict.  Someone is going to write a thesis about it.

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Got to Chapters/Starbucks with one mother, one daughter, three sons, two Labs, and lots of stuff. Driving rain, Hellish, etc.

Guy at counter, checking through the stack of snowboarding/dirtbiking/punk/vampire magazines/books, and apparently knowing who I am: “You on Iggy’s tour this Summer?”

Me: “I wish.”

Pause.

Me: “Oh. You meant Ignatieff. I meant Iggy Pop.”

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I didn’t know him well, but I know this is a big loss for the federal Liberals. My condolences to his family.

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Sent my way, up in the woods: [Left to right] Rockin’ Al, Ritalin Boy, Nuclear Age, Rayman.  Unseen but unforgotten: Davey Snot.

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Up at the cabin with three sons, one daughter, one Mom, and two labs. Barring any events of significant significance, this space will be off the grid for a while.

Have a safe and happy week.

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It’s at 542 Queen Street West, at tennish, maybe earlier: there’ll be loadsa very interesting people, cold beer and fun!  C’mon by – you might be surprised by who you spot there!

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Statement Date: August 7, 2010

For immediate release

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement regarding former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien who recently underwent brain surgery in Montreal:

“Laureen and I send former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien our best wishes for a speedy and full recovery. Along with his wife Aline, Mr. Chrétien and his family are in our thoughts and prayers.

“Mr. Chrétien, I am sure, will emerge as he always has from every challenge, by winning.”

– 30 –

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Jean Chretien has successful brain surgery in Montreal

Updated: Sat Aug. 07 2010 11:03:38 AM

CTV.ca News Staff

Former prime minister Jean Chretien is recovering in a Montreal hospital after undergoing surgery to relieve a pooling of blood on his brain.

A news release issued by Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital said Chretien had surgery to relieve a spontaneous subdural hematoma, or a collection of blood between the skull and the brain, on Friday.

The hospital said neurosurgeon Dr. Jeff D. Golan successfully evacuated the blood, which had accumulated on the right side of Chretien’s head.

Hospital staff will update the former prime minister’s condition during a news conference at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Chretien is expected to be released from hospital in a few days.

He appeared in good health in May when he attended the unveiling of his official portrait on Parliament Hill.

Chretien, 76, served as an MP for 40 years and led three Liberal-majority governments in a decade as prime minister.

Chretien left public life when he resigned as prime minister in December 2003, and went to work for Heenan Blaikie, mostly at the law firm’s Ottawa office. But he is also active at the Montreal office, according to the firm’s website.

He underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery in 2007 at the Montreal Heart Institute, shortly before his memoirs were published.

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