tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45168973877603808482011-09-06T10:09:28.988-04:00Pop culture & politics from a progressive left wing and Canadian perspectiveDavid DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.comBlogger221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-28609048871632567202011-05-02T00:21:00.004-04:002011-05-02T00:31:01.378-04:00

In the spirit of the Andrew Coyne’s somewhat controversial endorsement of the Liberals and criticism of the Harperite Party of Canada-this ain’t your old man’s Tory party-I will now make a rather shocking endorsement of my own: I will be voting NDP! Not for the first time, I hasten to add. Actually in the interest of full disclosure, I’m a dyed in the wool Dipper and have been since 2004 (the

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-45333652978579839812011-01-24T12:22:00.006-05:002011-01-24T12:55:27.872-05:00

As I write this, a new country is in the process of being born. Like the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes of what even President George W. Bush, acknowledged as the world most recent example of genocide. The votes have not been completely counted yet, but the results of the referendum on secession, have never been in doubt. In all likelihood, barring a dramatic collapse in the

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-72416318465813994772010-12-09T12:33:00.004-05:002010-12-09T12:38:44.595-05:00

Have you seen this goal? The goal that made semi-professional footballer toiling in obscurity in one of Britain’s most lacklustre leagues (i.e. Northern Ireland). You haven’t? Alright let me set the scene for you: In game Glentoran and Portadown (no disrespect, but these two backwaters probably weren’t even on the map before this) Burrows receives a well placed cross from a team mate on the edge

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-20999244725705839302010-09-28T14:23:00.003-04:002010-09-28T14:27:14.266-04:00

Liberal leader Michael Igantieff was in town last night to open his series of Town Hall meetings across the country. Despite the notable absence of such provincial lieutenants as Marc Garneau and Justin Trudeau, a hundred mostly Liberal sympathizers turned out for the event.Questions ranged from highly critical to supportive and touched on a number of topic including the recent Gun registry

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-88721732217421979142010-09-01T22:52:00.002-04:002010-09-01T22:55:58.134-04:00

What can we the consumer’s expect from the Bill C-32 the government’s proposed copyright reform? Sadly, though the bill may be a slight improvement on Harper’s last ill-conceived attempt at a new legal frame work for the digital age, it remains hopelessly out of touch with the two stakeholders who arguably should have the most say in this process: artists and the public.While Harper paid lip

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-68521672402955374752010-08-02T13:06:00.009-04:002010-08-03T20:08:46.453-04:00

Last weeks opinion of the International Court of Justice in the Kosovo case, is sure to cause a firestorm of controversy that will provoke debate in this country for as long as the question of Quebec’s place in Canada remains unresolved. Already, much of the legal punditry is wringing it’s hands in anticipation of the inevitable crowing by the separatists over how the international community is

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-15956995490051597632010-07-24T16:09:00.003-04:002010-07-24T16:16:19.994-04:00

With the Grits kicking off yet another cross country tour this summer (dubbed the “Liberal Express” by party flacks) the other day in Ottawa and, given that only 1 in 4 Canadians approves of Count Iggula, this move smacks absolutely of desperation and a lack of originality. Thus, It’s high time to make a long overdue but highly apt comparison between two Canadian institutions that are seemingly

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-36959572555496415472010-07-02T12:47:00.002-04:002010-07-02T12:50:30.886-04:00

The recent coalition formed by Britain’s Nick Clegg and his Liberal Democrats and the Tories under James Cameron, has led to wild speculation by the punditry in this country about the possible coalitions that could come out of the next election. Call it coalition fever! Though, they managed to hammer out an agreement between them, in a remarkably short period of time (6 days!), the newlyweds in

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-30061126739551405902010-06-10T22:59:00.005-04:002010-06-11T12:12:43.137-04:00

There’s been much speculation of late about the prospects of a unite the left movement in Canada which would result in some sort of merger of the “left wing” parties, in much the same way the Conservative Alliance (formerly Reform Party) and the Progressive Conservatives did back in 2003. Legendary Liberal bag man Warren Kinsella and former PM Chretien, seem to be behind this mischief and have

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-14453798001562372832010-06-01T21:06:00.005-04:002010-06-02T13:07:39.372-04:00

I know that, with the World Cup 2010 South Africa, just around the corner, soccer (or football, as it known pretty much every where else) fans the world over are rejoicing. It’s the beautiful game, right? What could possibly go wrong?Yet, international soccer has been the cause of tremendous frictions between countries in the past and has even led to a bona-fide war, in at least once case ( El

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-12921031592687633942010-05-28T21:08:00.003-04:002010-06-14T22:13:32.989-04:00

Why do I love Michael Caine? It’s not strictly about the acting talent. Though that’s a huge part of it. Let’s be honest, the man has dropped more than his fair share of bombs, so to speak, over the years. To hear the critics tell it, his latest movie Harry Brown, which one critic recently called “neo-fascist” in its politics, is one of these. On the other hand, when has Alfie (the name of one

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-12509681036313972062010-05-22T23:02:00.006-04:002010-05-23T23:13:00.583-04:00

Grits lie. They lie for any number of reasons. But mostly they lie when they are guilty of having committed the very same sins they claim to be without.I am alluding to something that many of you, especially those in the federal riding of Outremont, may or may not of heard yet: the slanderous campaign of misinformation and half-truths being waged by the Young Liberals of Canada (YLC) that MP

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-2681304724726939842010-05-22T18:57:00.002-04:002010-06-10T23:08:37.342-04:00

I know that strictly speaking this is not a political issue, and I am ostensibly a political correspondent. But this is such an important issue to anyone who values the kind of multicultural society that we have aspired to create in this country, that I feel it must be seriously addressed by thinking people of all political stripes.For those who think blatantly racist displays are a thing of the

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-17142805438349000582010-05-22T18:52:00.003-04:002010-05-22T18:56:11.804-04:00

International jurist Philippe addressed a small crowd at the University of Quebec in Montreal, on Wednesday. The topic was one that was close to his heart, the future of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Specifically, what is the purpose of the upcoming conference on reforming the court in Kampala, Uganda? Kirsch has been a judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and is regarded

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-58462414322065415772010-05-22T14:36:00.002-04:002010-05-22T19:27:07.093-04:00

Official BLFC Chant (sung to the tune of Altogether Now by The Beatles) One two three four We’ll have a beer and come back for more Five six seven eight nine ten BLFC is back again! A B C D Can I bring my friend around to see E F G H I J We’ll do it the Burgundy Lion way Bom bom bompa bom Play the game Bompa bom Chop down the defense bompa bom Skip the practice bompa bom Look

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-36663476560923297932010-05-22T14:34:00.001-04:002010-05-22T14:34:57.478-04:00

British food. I merely have to mention the words, and images of fish & chips and marmite sandwiches probably appear in your head. Or perhaps a little bit of vomit appears in your mouth as you think about the utterly disgusting concept of breading a boiled egg, wrapping it in bacon and then deep fat frying it! Yet these are just a few of the so called “delicacies” of that you’ll find in Blighty.

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-16510003340609746592010-05-22T14:33:00.006-04:002010-06-12T01:00:09.415-04:00

Now, as promised, I shall tackle a subject of the utmost importance to music nerds everywhere: the Clash. Firstly (so I’m guaranteed to get published), I’ll mention a little known anecdote about the boys passion for footy, which I came across while reading the hilarious and essential biography of the band: A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with the Clash, by Johnny Green. In it Green recounts, in

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-24836078896545398322010-05-22T14:33:00.004-04:002010-05-22T19:24:38.812-04:00

When was the last time you wrote to your elected representative to lobby them on behalf of some worthy cause? I remember the last time I did. But it wasn’t for the sake of the Burmese monks being oppressed by the military junta in that country (If you haven’t already, please join their Facebook page immediately). It was actually to save BBC 6 from extinction! For those of you who aren’t in the

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-23228541120837047552010-05-22T14:32:00.002-04:002010-05-22T14:33:05.854-04:00

The world loves David Beckham. Anyone who doubts me should book a flight to Ulan Bator Mongolia and travel to the Gobi desert to ask the local Yak herders where Beckham plays football. They will answer correctly, no doubt, A.C. Milan. The reasons for this, however, are complex. Yes, he has the god given ability to cross the ball on a corner or set piece better than most. And, of course,

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-15883494631644158892010-05-22T14:32:00.001-04:002010-05-22T14:32:36.718-04:00

I’m about to deal with a phenomenon that is rather close to my heart and that may be close to yours, but that most likely leaves you indifferent or baffled. I am referring to the longest running soap opera (or kitchen sink drama, as they say on the other side of the pond) on British TV (and soon the whole world), Coronation Street. What is it about the show that inspires such devotion in fans

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-6277267624492658062010-05-22T14:31:00.000-04:002010-05-22T14:32:02.961-04:00

With World Cup 2010 just around the corner ( if you’re an international footy fan, 6 months is nothing) it’s time to draw attention to an oft-neglected aspect of the tournament: the official anthems of the World Cup. Many have been written over the years, but the vast majority of these are crap and were quickly forgotten. The reason being, in my humble musical opinion, is that they were far

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516897387760380848.post-54252176589194936052010-05-22T14:29:00.001-04:002010-05-22T14:31:07.404-04:00

Anglophilia: [ang-gluh-fil-ee-uh ] –noun a strong admiration or enthusiasm for England, its people, and things English. I thought it appropriate to begin this editorial with a dictionary definition of the word anglophilia. After all, isn’t this word at the very heart of the whole bleeding business! By that I mean, the Burgundy Lion and its over the top obsession with all things English,

David DesBailletshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15005417042178656670noreply@blogger.com0