New U.S envoy plans "to listen"
BETH GORHAM
CANADIAN PRESS
BETH GORHAM
CANADIAN PRESS
_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home
— South Carolina politician David Wilkins, who starts this week as the new U.S. ambassador to Canada, seems determined to avoid the pitfalls of his predecessor.
Where Paul Cellucci fast developed a reputation as a blunt advocate for President George W. Bush, jumping smack in the middle of bilateral rifts like Canada's defence capabilities and its position on the Iraq war, Wilkins is playing it safe.
Where Paul Cellucci fast developed a reputation as a blunt advocate for President George W. Bush, jumping smack in the middle of bilateral rifts like Canada's defence capabilities and its position on the Iraq war, Wilkins is playing it safe.
-gee nice welcome... first words are he 'plans to listen.' I wonder if those are orders? Actually while we are on it, what about Canada's defence capabilities and its position on the Iraq war?
-nice to see a CP story with a name on it too, normally they are cowards and you have no idea who they are.
-oh yeah I forgot to tell ya David, see up here in Kanada, the media runs everything, ya gotta do what dey want see, dey is the boss.
When Matt became Jade
LESLIE SCRIVENER
TORONOT STAR
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1119736210469&call
-nice to see a CP story with a name on it too, normally they are cowards and you have no idea who they are.
-oh yeah I forgot to tell ya David, see up here in Kanada, the media runs everything, ya gotta do what dey want see, dey is the boss.
When Matt became Jade
LESLIE SCRIVENER
TORONOT STAR
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1119736210469&call
_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home
Many at Northern Secondary School were surprised when Matt H. announced last year that he was running for student council president. A somewhat lonely boy, he didn't fit the model of the popular, extroverted student leader. Everyone seemed to know the outgoing president. Matt was more reserved — he liked playing on-line games and writing. He was on the ninth revision of a fantasy novel.
-okay so he wants to branch out right?
Everyone told him he didn't have a hope of winning. But he got the signatures needed for a nomination. For his election campaign that spring, he made a funny video, an instant teenage classic that showed him drinking a smoothie made from everything in his refrigerator.
-uh being cool is more important than offering something...
On stage at an assembly, where he stood tall, at 6 foot, 4 inches, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, he made a short satirical speech that parodied campaign promises: "I'll prevent a gigantic meteor from crashing into the school," he boasted. He won a standing ovation. It was a narrow margin — 16 votes — but he won the election.
-gee he must been running against a buncha losers
In December, just seven months later, students and teachers saw an entirely different school president. The acting principal, Tony Kerins, sent teachers a letter saying that Matt had made a "gender presentation decision" and would soon be dressing as a girl at school. For the rest of the year, Matt would be known as Jade.
-whoaahhh Nelly!!! but the star's gotta push this story right??
The staff wasn't asked to prepare students. The thinking was that Jade should not be seen as an exhibit and exposed to an open forum about her change. "We have this person who is one of us," Kerins said, "and we are not going to have that person hurt or embarrassed."
-but he errr she errr whatever is an exhibit...
Just before the Christmas break, Jade chose her outfit for her first school day as a girl — a ruffled knee-length black skirt, pink T-shirt and black jacket and a dark wig that flipped up at the ends. The next day, she began life as Jade.
-wow is that all it takes? who is she dating? is she a cheerleader yet? I bet she can play on the ladies basketball team though...
She was escorted to her classes by Dale Callender, a counsellor from Delisle Youth Services, a dropout-prevention centre at the school that's expanded into many parts of student life.
-what? I assume that Dale, helped to engineer this too?? what other shyte is Dale up to btw? I'm wondering if Jade would have won the vote without the gay, bisexual, trisexual or whatever support?
Callender, a neat, compact man, in his mid-30s, is a respected figure, immersed in school culture — he's like an icon here, one student said — and there's usually a gaggle of teenagers waiting outside his third-floor office.
-here's the media build-up now... immersed in school culture what does that mean, he's dating the kids?
-hate to be so insensitive but if you want to read more then go to the story at the link above... I wonder if the kids voted for a girl when they cast their vote for Matt? Why didn't this person wait until they left high school and went on their own... I think that Callender is running this show and he is out to make a statement just like the media is doing.
Glittering parade
PAUL CHOI
CANADIAN PRESS
_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home
Decked out in green beads, pink angel wings, bright purple dresses or very little at all, more than 125,000 revellers locked down Toronto's downtown core to celebrate one of the world's largest gay and lesbian festivals today under a blistering sun.
-not that big of a crowd compared to what they have claimed in the past
Partiers laughed, cheered and danced their way through the streets at the 25th annual Pride Parade, which featured dozens of glittering floats and countless writhing bodies.
-nice family entertainment
"It can get pretty hot in this dress," said 54-year-old Terry Cook, also known as Divine, who cross-dressed in a velvet red gown, a thick blonde wig and applied cakes of makeup for the occasion. "But it's not that hot if I don't think about it."
-why don't you just get a sex-change Terry and get it over with?
Cook and those who lined the route got some relief from the heat from the many parade-goers toting water guns — a signature of the event.
-gee I could bring a bucket and throw it on some of them
The nearly three-hour extravaganza showcased flamboyant floats and colourful motorized trams sponsored by various groups, including the Ontario Provincial Police, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and several diverse ethnic groups.
-what about the nude guys waltzing down the street? OPP's what do they have to do with this??
"I absolutely loved it," said Anastacia Scannel, 19, who was part of a train float sponsored by VIA Rail. It was her first parade.
"It was an absolutely great experience and I'll be sure to be here next year."
-what does VIA Rail have to do with this? why taxpayer's dollars on this?
The celebration of sexuality featured plenty of skin, with many parade-goers skimping around in nothing but shorts — or less. One man wore only the barest of red buttons over his nether-regions.
Spectators clambered onto rooftops, light stands, and newspaper stands in order to get a better view of the floats and dancing performers. Some even balanced dangerously on window ledges, blowing bubbles and throwing condoms into the crowd.
-why is the taxpayer supporting a fest celebrating often perverse sexuality? and in the open no less?
Among the many officials who took part in the parade was Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, who donned his uniform to become the city's first top cop to participate.
-hopefully the last if I had my way
Several politicians were also on hand, but Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, who is visiting the Toronto area, did not attend the festivities.
-bravo Stephen. Nice to see all the other brown-nosers out there.
Ryan Johnson dressed up in army fatigues to protest war with the War Resistor Support Campaign. His group received one of the loudest responses from the crowd today as they walked the route.
"It was great, we got a really great response from people," Johnson said. "There was a lot of cheering, people blowing horns and clapping."
-what the hell does this have to do with gay pride?
Another of the standout showcases featured a man dressed in an elaborate peacock-shaped costume painted in hues of red, yellow and purple.
-standout showcases... wow you had to reach for that one didn't you?
Organizers estimate the city's Pride Week festivities, which began in 1981, attracted about one million people to Toronto this week.
Police reported no major incidents.
-really? then why were they not at the parade then?
Tom Riley, 58, a spectator who has attended the parade every year since it began, said he was disappointed Harper did not make an appearance.
-gee are you gay Tom? or is it biased to ask that now?
"I heard he was supposed to be with his son," Riley said. ``It's disappointing he's not here, but that's his choice I guess."
-of course it is, it still is a free country last time I checked. I have lived in Toronto for 26 years and I am proud to say that I have never attended the gay pride parade.
Today, Harper spoke against same-sex marriages while attending a religious convention in Mississauga, just east of Toronto.
-good timing too
The House of Commons begins debate this week on same-sex marriage legislation.
-more like a show down I would say
"It looks like it's going to go through and hopefully it will," Riley said.
-yeah I was right... Riley is gay. Why can't the RED STAR say so??
-not that big of a crowd compared to what they have claimed in the past
Partiers laughed, cheered and danced their way through the streets at the 25th annual Pride Parade, which featured dozens of glittering floats and countless writhing bodies.
-nice family entertainment
"It can get pretty hot in this dress," said 54-year-old Terry Cook, also known as Divine, who cross-dressed in a velvet red gown, a thick blonde wig and applied cakes of makeup for the occasion. "But it's not that hot if I don't think about it."
-why don't you just get a sex-change Terry and get it over with?
Cook and those who lined the route got some relief from the heat from the many parade-goers toting water guns — a signature of the event.
-gee I could bring a bucket and throw it on some of them
The nearly three-hour extravaganza showcased flamboyant floats and colourful motorized trams sponsored by various groups, including the Ontario Provincial Police, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and several diverse ethnic groups.
-what about the nude guys waltzing down the street? OPP's what do they have to do with this??
"I absolutely loved it," said Anastacia Scannel, 19, who was part of a train float sponsored by VIA Rail. It was her first parade.
"It was an absolutely great experience and I'll be sure to be here next year."
-what does VIA Rail have to do with this? why taxpayer's dollars on this?
The celebration of sexuality featured plenty of skin, with many parade-goers skimping around in nothing but shorts — or less. One man wore only the barest of red buttons over his nether-regions.
Spectators clambered onto rooftops, light stands, and newspaper stands in order to get a better view of the floats and dancing performers. Some even balanced dangerously on window ledges, blowing bubbles and throwing condoms into the crowd.
-why is the taxpayer supporting a fest celebrating often perverse sexuality? and in the open no less?
Among the many officials who took part in the parade was Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, who donned his uniform to become the city's first top cop to participate.
-hopefully the last if I had my way
Several politicians were also on hand, but Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, who is visiting the Toronto area, did not attend the festivities.
-bravo Stephen. Nice to see all the other brown-nosers out there.
Ryan Johnson dressed up in army fatigues to protest war with the War Resistor Support Campaign. His group received one of the loudest responses from the crowd today as they walked the route.
"It was great, we got a really great response from people," Johnson said. "There was a lot of cheering, people blowing horns and clapping."
-what the hell does this have to do with gay pride?
Another of the standout showcases featured a man dressed in an elaborate peacock-shaped costume painted in hues of red, yellow and purple.
-standout showcases... wow you had to reach for that one didn't you?
Organizers estimate the city's Pride Week festivities, which began in 1981, attracted about one million people to Toronto this week.
Police reported no major incidents.
-really? then why were they not at the parade then?
Tom Riley, 58, a spectator who has attended the parade every year since it began, said he was disappointed Harper did not make an appearance.
-gee are you gay Tom? or is it biased to ask that now?
"I heard he was supposed to be with his son," Riley said. ``It's disappointing he's not here, but that's his choice I guess."
-of course it is, it still is a free country last time I checked. I have lived in Toronto for 26 years and I am proud to say that I have never attended the gay pride parade.
Today, Harper spoke against same-sex marriages while attending a religious convention in Mississauga, just east of Toronto.
-good timing too
The House of Commons begins debate this week on same-sex marriage legislation.
-more like a show down I would say
"It looks like it's going to go through and hopefully it will," Riley said.
-yeah I was right... Riley is gay. Why can't the RED STAR say so??
