Uninhabited Spaces

The Democrats are wrong to write-off Alaska's governor, Sarah Palin. I am likely a voice in the wilderness and just might be the only liberal who thinks that John McCain may have made a smart decision in choosing his running mate. Everything being equal the overarching priority is on winning the election, and a general election is about winning the votes that count in the so-called swing states. Indeed, general elections are not about what the Beltway pundits and east-coast intelligentsia want or expect. Of course they predicted Romney or even Lieberman but the electorate doesn't need or want either one of those names on the McCain ticket. Palin is the perfect choice of gender, politic, age, and profile to put in front of those who are still smarting over Hilary's defeat and those who like their politicians on the right-hand side of the issues. The United States has an enormous and well-mobilized evangelical movement and Governor Palin might just be the ticket for their asp...

Here is my list of the top-10 U2 songs you've likely never heard. Here are 10 essential U2 songs that you would have never heard unless I pointed them out. In no particular order they are: Mercy (2004) Bono referred to this as "a six-and-a-half-minute outpouring of U2 at its most uninhibitedly U2-ish" in an interview with Blender magazine. A beauty, with some of Bono's finest lyrics. The Ground Beneath Her Feet (2000) A wicked collaboration. Lyrics by Salman Rushdie and music by U2. This song haunts me. My, oh my... Electrical Storm (2002) A song for a hot summer night. Love and hate collide in an electrical storm. A little gem. Lady with the Spinning Head (1991) From the "Achtung Baby" outtakes, no one can quite fugure how this didn't make final cut. From 4:36 onward I just want to fly forever. Scarlet (1981) This song reaches deep inside your heart and makes you want to believe again. Original of the Species (2004) A song for their daught...

Finally, U2's iconic 1983 performance at Red Rocks, Colorado is being released on DVD in September. This is a must-have for fans, and is a nostalgic look back to the era of political preening and one of the best mullets to grace the stage...You can enjoy a preview of this classic concert here .

I stumbled across a hilarious video of a bunch of geeks....er...folks that re-enact a pivotal scene from "Star Wars: A New Hope" at their office. I just love this video because, dear readers, I spent most of my childhood acting out various "Star Wars" scenes, sometimes alone and other time with friends. Now I haven't pretended to be Han Solo since I was about 14 (no, really) so watching this video made me think that perhaps I've been missing out on alot of fun...Check out these wonderful geeks here .

[from the Queen's University NewsWire] New research by a Queen's University musicologist examines why Canadians are so attached to their music video station, MuchMusic, and why Canada is the only country in the world that has withstood the American MTV invasion. In a new book, Coming to You Wherever you are: MuchMusic, MTV, and Youth Identities , music expert Kip Pegley compares content on MuchMusic and MTV, where she looks at the national, gendered, and racial constructs of the two stations. “When scholars – especially American scholars – talk about music television, the assumption is that they mean MTV,” says Dr. Pegley. “But after watching endless hours of MTV and MuchMusic, I realized that they were quite different and wanted to explore why MuchMusic was unique.” Dr. Pegley documents evidence to support why the MuchMusic audience feels more connected to their station than their MTV-watching counterparts: MuchMusic viewers feel like they’re taken in as a collective, rather t...

This is an actual store sign in Salem, MA. We drove by and did a double-take and we just had to go back and take a picture. We laughed for a good half hour. The average age inside car dropped to 11. I nearly crashed the car. Ah, good times...

Great, great poster. Rock on Canadian filmmakers!

I've recently discovered MGMT , a New York duo that produces sonic magic. Here's music to live by; to cry, dream, hope, and fall into oblivion with. Climb into the tub, shut yourself in your room, or get in the car and never stop driving...

For those Queen's University friends who live far away you might enjoy taking a peek at campus as it continues to undergo a massive multi-million dollar revitalization. University Avenue: peek here (gone is the double boulevard) Tindall Field: peek here (swapping the original Tindall behind Vic Hall with a parking lot and replacing the Mac-Corry parking lot with an artificial field) Queen's Centre: peek here (Jock Harty Arena is gone)and here (this used to be a whole block of houses just behind JDUC)

I started my first course of my Master of Education program last week. It's called "Comparative, International, and Development Education" and there are only 10 students in the class, including myself. Talk about intimate learning! I have to present a paper written my another author and lead a seminar, and then I have to present my own paper toward the end of the course. I have really enjoyed the class discussions so far--they are very intellectually demanding, quite intense and each class lasts 3 hours. I must confess I was anxious to begin graduate studies after being out of school for 12 years but it's been great so far.

400 years ago today Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City. Bonne fete!!

Well, I am on day 2 of my new job. Please forgive the image duplication. This is the nicest photo I have of the building where I now work, Summerhill. Built in 1839 this is the oldest building on the Queen's campus. However, although Queen's had opened in March 1842 it did not purchase Summerhill until 1853, having moved around various rented spaces in Kingston. Prior to Queen's purchase Summerhill was used as a residence, school, and even rented accommodations known as "Sydenham Inn" for members of Canada's first parliament, who met across the street in June 1841 in the original Kingston General Hospital building (circa 1831). For those first 5 years (1853-1858) in the new permanent building Summerhill housed the entire university, being home to Arts & Theology, Law, Medicine, and the young college's professors and administration. Since 1867 the east wing has been the official residence of the Principal of Queen's, although it has not been occu...

Mark and I have begrudgingly returned from our week at our cottage in Provincetown, on the northern tip of Cape Cod. The town's motto is "Like Nowhere Else" and this was so very true. For decades, P-Town has attracted LGBT travellers because of its unique ambience and friendly atmosphere. It was amazing to see gay and lesbian couples everywhere walking hand-in-hand without a worry. It was a magic place, full of laughter, quaint beauty, and the vitality of the sea air. I am homesick for P-Town, a bubble of acceptance and creativity. More pictures from Cape Cod to come...

We are saddened to report that due to his increased level of violence and apparent thirst for murder we had no choice but to destroy patient "Gummie".

As of 10:45 Mark is attempting emergency surgery on one of the victims of the barbaric rampage of our patient, Gummie. We managed to capture and detain him for the time being. We are not sure what to do with him.

At 10:0 PM we went to collect the patient from the morgue but his body was missing. Luckily, our security camera took this photo of him in our central research laboratory. He has apparently risen from the dead and slaughtered our remaining gummy bear patients. It's a horrible scene, with gummy parts everywhere. We think we have unwittingly created a monster.

Despite our best efforts the patient expired from post-surgical complications. Time of death was 7:26 PM. We will arrange transfer from our facility to a nearby funeral home for a traditional gummy bear wake. Details to follow.

At 6:50 PM our gummy bear patient took a turn for the worse, as he started to reject his red ear and yellow foot. While of the same gummy species there are subtle genetic variances amongst the gummy races. To offset the rejection and associated pain, we are administering accupenture needles to try and stabilize him.

At 4:20 PM today Mark performed the world's first ear and foot transplant on a gummy bear. The parts were donated from bears who had been in tragic accidents. The patient is doing well and we expect a full recovery.

Well today is a banner day for corporate malfeasance. Here in Canada three former top Nortel executives were charged with fraud by the RCMP, and then the Mounties charged the founder of Royal Group Technologies and other executives with fraud. Meanwhile, in the U.S., two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers surrendered to the FBI on charges of misleading investors, and nearly 300 have been arrested for mortgage fraud. Here come the movie rights!

Coldplay's new album "Viva La Vida" will be released tomorrow. The title track is such a tremendously gorgeous noise. I have listened to it so much I am glad that it's digital, lest I wear it out (remember those days?). I used to rule the world/Seas would rise when I gave the word/Now in the morning I sweep alone/Sweep the streets I used to own/I used to roll the dice/Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes/Listen as the crowd would sing:"Now the old king is dead! /Long live the king!/"One minute I held the key/Next the walls were closed on me/And I discovered that my castles stand/Upon pillars of sand, pillars of sand/I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing/Roman Cavalry choirs are singing/Be my mirror my sword and shield/My missionaries in a foreign field/For some reason I can not explain/Once you know there was never, never an honest word/That was when I ruled the world(Ohhh)/It was the wicked and wild wind/Blew down the doors to let me in./Shattered windows and...

At 5:01 PM today it became legal for same-sex couples to marry in California. Among the very first to be married were the lovely couple in the accompanying photo Del Martin, 87, and Phyllis Lyon, 84, who have been together over 50 years. My friends, this is what it is all about.

Five years ago today marriage between same-sex couples became legal in Ontario . Still waiting for the collapse of our society. In the meantime, what a wonderful celebration of civil rights and genuine equality! My partner and I will be exercising our rights next summer, with family and friends gathered to witness and bless our marriage.