This year I send out a few Christmas cards. Actually, about twelve thousand. Two thousand, on real paper, went to constituents in Halton and, because lots of them are not Christians, the holiday greeting was, well, a holiday greeting.
Another six thousand or so went to other people in Halton and across the country whom I know, or who in the last few months had occasion to contact me. They also received a generic have-a-swell-time message. This e-card was a little more formal, with the House coat of arms on it.
Then, today, abut five thousand more people, who unwisely hang around this blog, received a digital blast from me. This list was culled from the 80,000 comments posted here, and reduced to just a fraction of its size after all the jackass fake email addys were removed. Nutty Zorpheous was flown in and commissioned, at great expense, to design the card, and away the sucker went. The clear intent was to poke a little fun at myself and the trolls who constantly patrol these woods.
I can hear all you little elves asking now, gee, what was the response?
Esther tells me she received 95 emails today, and expects hundreds more. Many people were appreciative. Many people asked why the heck I put “PC†after my name when I am a Liberal now (I think we all need one big mother of a civics lesson). Many swore at me because I am not a Conservative anymore (see above), and many more object to getting anything around this time of year that does not contain the word “Christmas.†All fair comment.
Interestingly enough, it took just a few minutes after the Blogmas e-card was dispatched for it to turn up on a leading Conservative warrior’s web site, which is known in the world by having a dead rat on the top of it. I could comment, but I like the prairies. Maybe it’s a gopher. Or an appointee.
That, as usual, opened the floodgates for the rabble to pour through, posting an intoxicating mix of outraged and playfully malicious comments. “That Garth sent it out is a bit creepy, and a lot demeaning to the office he holds,†said the site host. “One would hope that a Member of Parliament would have the good sense to display a little more dignity than the prattle from one of his potty-mouthed blaspheming lackeys,†said Mark. “No wonder the western world is going to rats**t,†opined Warwick. “Why are you lefties so intolerant of Christians you can’t say Christmas, it’s a national holiday. If you don’t like our culture have you ever thought of leaving? I recommend Zimbabwe,†suggested Dinosaur.
Wow. Holidays. Almost as fun as being an MP.
Hey Kids: Compare Garth’s card with other politicians. Here.
152 comments ↓
Thank you for the good wishes Garth – I suspect I clicked “unsubscribed” in error as I had trouble pulling the message/card up.
I see the Blogging Tories are all over this – calling it creepy. Boy, it sure is true that Conservatives have no sense of humour.
They are a grumpy lot – perhaps it’s because of the latest polls.
Thanks for the Card Garth, Merry Xmas to you and your family and to all the posters on this blog.
Christmas Party
I’m happy to invite Garth to our company’s Christmas Party that will take place on December 23, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We’ll have a small band playing traditional carols…feel free to sing along. And don’t be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00pm. Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone’s pockets. This gathering is only for employees! Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Patty
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: December 10, 2007
RE: Holiday Party
In no way was yesterday’s memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on we’re calling it our “Holiday Party.” The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians or those still celebrating Reconciliation Day. There will be no Christmas tree present. No Christmas carols sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment.
Happy now?
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Patty
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: December 13, 2007
RE: Holiday Party
Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table . you didn’t sign your name. I’m happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, “AA Only”; you wouldn’t be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this?
Somebody?
Forget about the gifts exchange, no gifts exchange are allowed since the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and executives believe $10.00 is a little chintzy.
NO GIFTS EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
To: All Employees
DATE: December 15, 2007
RE: Holiday Party
What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20 begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees’ beliefs. Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party- or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy baggy. Will that work? Meanwhile, I’ve arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each will have their own table. Yes, there will be flower arrangement for the Gay men’s table. To the person asking permission to cross dress, no cross-dressing allowed though. We will have booster seats for short people. Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet. We cannot control the salt used in the food we suggest for those people with high blood pressure to taste first. There will be fresh fruits as dessert for Diabetics, the restaurant cannot supply “No Sugar” desserts. Sorry!
Did I miss anything?!?!?
Patty
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All DAMN Employees
DATE: December 17, 2007
RE: The DAMN Holiday Party
Vegetarian losers. I’ve had it with you people!!! We’re going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the grill of death,” as you so quaintly put it, and you’ll get your salad bar, including organic tomatoes. But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I’ve heard them scream. I’m hearing them scream right NOW! I hope you all have a rotten holiday! Drive drunk and die, The Bitch from HELL!!!!!!!!
FROM: Joan Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director
DATE: December 19, 2003
RE: Patty Lewis and Holiday Party
I’m sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery and I’ll continue to forward your cards to her. In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.
Happy Holidays
I must say I was quite impressed to receive your card by the mail, Garth. You have written my name inside, above the message and your signature. And you spelled it correctly, with one ‘r’ so I really appreciate the personal touch.
With my best wishes to you and yours – and to your readers. May 2008 bring out the best in all of us.
Thanks for the card Garth….cute! I just want to know…how you got my picture? Seriously though, I do hope that you and all us Con & Lib trolls have a great Christmas and safe and happy holiday season! XO Leasa
I am glad I was not lumped into the jackass fake email addy group. I can stand tall now that I know I am in the right clique on this blog. I may be a donkey at times but I am no Jackass.
Garth – there’s a boo boo (PC after your name)….
Good wishes for the season to all our Christians, Jews and Muslims. Yes, and to the NDP, Green and CPC supporters too.
Peace and goodwill towards all men – why can’t we think that way all year round.
Garth – all the best to you and your family and your staff.
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=f51d1142-fa50-4274-89bb-a64c0d25a4c7&k=58085
I think Mr.Fortier should at the very least try getting elected before lipping off to the young Trudeau who at least won the nomination.Maybe Fortier should run against him.
I recently received a letter from our Glorious Leader Stephen Harper.
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/286823
We didn’t even know about the card until we read your blog. Not checking ye olde email enough obviously. Cool.
I think it’s priceless! Thank you Garth, Esther and Zorpheous.
Been under the weather so didn’t get a chance to thank you Garth for your warm holiday greeting cards and your email holiday wishes.
Agree with SLG on 12.19.07 6:05 pm.
I hope you, your wife and family and Esther and her family, all your volunteers and all those who believe in an all inclusive Canada a very Merry Christmas. It does not matter what religious belief one holds, Christmas should not be diminished for the sake of other religious beliefs. We should all appreciate and respect others’ high holidays as well.
Our Christmas this year will be a very quiet one.
Garth, thank you for the e-card.
To you and yours I wish a non-denomincational, egalitarian and politically correct “festive season”.
Seriously though, merry X-mas.
Wonderful card Garth. Sincere best wishes to you and yours for the holiday season.
Looking forward to more representation on the Privy Council. Now that there are not many Progressive Conservatives in power anymore.
Let’s hope for more civility in the future.
And, at last… A REAL WHITE CHRISTMAS this year!!! Love that snow!
Ho ho ho
Back to baking my gingerbread men!
Thanks for the card! Nice artwork, Zorpheous.
The following is courtesy of CIBC.
http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2007/12/19/cibcacahedge.html
Happy Festivus to the rest of us!!!
It is with respect and much thanks that I add my name (David Bakody) to the list of thousands who wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.
Garth, a very Merry Christmas to you and Family… and thanks for the email csrd, but nowhere does it say you are a Liberal….. a very good 2008, also.
HEY .. I like peppermint canes !!!!
And a Very Merry XXXmas to you too ..!!!
I got your ecard this afternoon and had plannned to send in a thank you. I actually got two cause I got one at the generic email address I use for public emails and another at my personal email you must have had on file when we exchanged emails directly. Thank you Ester and all at the Halton Liberal (er PC) or whatever office. I didn’t notice the PC thing till you pointed it out here. IF you want to further cull the list feel free to add me to your MERRY CHRISTMAS version if you ever decide to produce religious specific targets ecards (like the CONS did recently for those of Jewish background, hehehe).
I would just like to end by saying
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, and a Happyyyyyyy New Year.
“I recently received a letter from our Glorious Leader Stephen Harper.
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/286823
By Ted Browne on 12.19.07 6:48 pm ”
WHERE can I get one? I need a new dart board!!!
Then again maybe they want to keep the mailing list for the Harper calender somewhat limited. You never know, someone might want to use it for target practice using something other than darts. Whipped cream pie anyone?
got your ecard today, thank-you, dion is here today at a meet and greet at our local Grind and Brew,great guy, can’t wait for him to PM, once again we will be treated with respect on the world stage. all the best to everyong during this festive season.
Whipped cream pie anyone?
By DJ on 12.19.07 8:12 pm
Chicken Cannon fodder, I would say!
Happy Christmas, Hannukah, Eid or however you celebrate the holidays.
As soon as I saw the contents of the e-mail I knew that image had to have been put together by Zorpheous.
Thanks for the happy laugh!
A most Merry Christmas to you and Dorothy, and especially to Esther whose work behind the scenes is much appreciated and seldom noted.
oh, almost forgot.
Do you think we could start up a little area for donations? To buy Kate McMillan and her gang of flying monkeys a sense of humour, I mean.
Merry Xmas to you and your family and to all the posters on this blog.
By KPK on 12.19.07 6:28 pm
What’s an Xmas?
Ever wonder, when people are begging for money this time of year (be it merchants or others), we hear of “Christmas Exchange” “Mission’s Christmas Dinner for homeless” “Santa Claus Parade” “Christmas gifts” etc. Yet when it is to say “Merry Christmas” or “Christmas day” or “Christmas Tree”, we try to dimish “Christmas” to “Xmas” or “Holiday”.
Anyway – I want to wish Garth and his trolls of all stripes, a very Merry Christmas and a more civil New Year!
Glad to see you took my last year’s criticism about NOT saying ‘Merry Christmas’ to heart this year ! ‘Merry Blogmas’ isn’t quite there, but I’ll accept it in the spirit of the season. Merry Christmas, Garth, and all those who remember what this celebration is all about. Happy New Year, too !
Ron. H
I also received your card today – and would like to say thank you!
It’s nice that to see that at least 1 MP has a sense of humour…
It took me a while to get the card. I had to enlarge the name tag on the “troll” and it is Halton John………. too much ….HA HA HA
Merry Xmas everyone
Hi Garth,
The neo-Con machine tends to try to create controversy over everything, doesn’t it.
Thanks for the card.
A Merry Christmas to you Garth, and to all fellow travellers on this, your site. Alas the only gift I can give you is but a hint and recommendation for some of the finest Christmas music available, and a Canadian MAPL at that. Should you follow up on this counsel, you won’t be disappointed.
Pacem in Terris
PS - Oh, and one more hint. Much as I enjoy irreverence, and find your site in itself a generous gift from you to all, with no disrespect, please talk to James Rajotte or Elizabeth May next year.
The temper tantrums of tiny Tories truly are terrible.
Gee, Garth, it really must add to neo-Con credentials to claim to have posted here, not to mention having been banned. Of all the Winged Monkeys who claimed to have done so on SDA to-day I only recognized one, Syncrodox, and I don’t recall you banning him.
Anyway, thanks for the cards. I assume that we will get around to an all-around exchange of good wishes closer to the event, so I’ll hold off for now.
Merry Holidays to Garth and all
Missed that one. Oh man, that fine detail is the ribbon on the wrapping! Good work!
Garth, I just looked at the other ‘greeting cards’. Bah humbug! Some of them you couldn’t even tell what season it is! Mr. Dion’s and Layton’s were the worst! Not even a hint of winter. Political correctness gone crazy?
Pfffffffffft! Leasa
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Garth…thank you for the greeting!
Garth,
Thanks for the card. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
And I see that in the G&M there is an extra Xmas gift, especially in the comments.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071219.wtopes1219/BNStory/National/home
This would appear to be above and beyond the ratings announced previously today.
Thank you for the card. It’s priceless. Wishing you & your family a Very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. The same for Esther, your volunteers & all you fellow bloggers. BTW Zorph, great card. I love your humor.
Have a great weekend everybody.
Cheers
Thanks Garth!!! Merry Holiday Tradition culture time everyone!!!!!
Too many people get wrapped up in celebrating this holiday in the “correct” mannor. Christmas has become far too commercial, it is a massive consume and buy and give more than you can afford to those who don’t need more.
This year, in the Zorpheous household, there are no Christmas decorations, there will be no christmas presents exchanged between my wife and I. We will not be running all over Ontario visiting our relations. My brother and his wife are in BC, my sister and her husband and kids will be in Quebec. So this year will be celebrated in true peace and quiet and with only person and gift I truly love and want. My wife,… and our crazy parrots.
Instead of spending on gifts for ourselves we will be donating to various charities and worth causes that need help.
My wife and I have good jobs, food on the table, a roof over our heads. We have love and laugher, what more could I possibly need or want?
Try to have a Merry Christmas people and have a safe and happy Holiday Season.
Man who of thought a Christmas photoshop would raise such a stink? LOL
Jesus is the REASON for the SEASON!
Joy to the world!
OH MY GOD!!!
My photoshop made the National Post!!!!
wow, no wonder Kate is all pissy about it, LOL.
Thanks Garth, best Christmas Card Ever!!!
Merry Christmas and all the best for a healthy and prosperious New Year to all…
Remember, don’t walk by the Salvation Army
bowl…..reach in your pockets and give what you can…Cheers!
It took me a while to get the card. I had to enlarge the name tag on the “troll†and it is Halton John………. too much ….HA HA HA
By conan on 12.19.07 9:34 pm
………………………………..
Is that Halton John stomping on Santa Garth’s gonads .. Ouch .. how can he still smile ….??!!!
thank you Garth for the card and I hope an environmentally friendly Christmas/Holiday Season to you and your very supportive family and staff.
I wished my card had the entire Liberal caucus in it, so I could pinpoint ALL THE CONS now sitting in the party. Yeah, Happy Father Xmas. Father? Oh lord so pathetic.
If we’re providing civics lessons, I don’t think the PC thing is anywhere near the start of the curriculum. And really, I doubt many people whose life goals don’t include serving in cabinet do, or even should, care about it. Not exactly a critical part of our democratic system.
Also, for the record, I’ve never found Zorpheus particularly funny, and I do like to think I have some sort of sense of humour. I’d suggest a different artist for next year.
Ok, Chuck Strahl’s card is just creepy.
[shudder]
I saw a sign in front of a Catholic school today that said ‘Keep the Christ in Christmas’, and it got me thinking. Christmas has become, thanks to Santa Claus, a largely secular holiday enjoyed (if not technically celebrated) by children of many ethnic and religious backgrounds around the world. My husband and I are not Christian, but we have a tree and exchange presents and we used to take our son to see Santa when he was little.
No biggie.
However, if people who say things like ‘Keep the Christ in Christmas’ had their way, it would be all about the Baby Jesus and the Virgin Birth and all that very specifically Christian stuff, which would effectively ban the rest of us from the party.
Do these people really want to keep Christmas all to themselves, or do they want this to be a universal day of Love and Peace? Because you can’t have it both ways, unless you’re actually serious about converting the other two thirds of the planet.
Personally, I’d be happy to take back the tree and the decorations and the turkey dinner and all the other not-so-Christian Christmas stuff, but somehow I don’t think it would be as much fun.
Pick your battles, folks.
(BTW, I never got my e-Card, but I did get my paper one in the post. Hand signed, too. Thanks!)
Thanks so much for the e-card. Much appreciated.
Merry Christmas to all and the best to everyone.
Today…I wish you a day of ordinary miracles,
A fresh pot of coffee you didn’t have to make yourself.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.
I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in…
The fastest line at the grocery store.
A good sing along song on the radio.
Your keys right where you look.
I wish you a day of happiness and perfect-little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on you, holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.
I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
Wishing you all the very best for 2008
Great card!!!
Merry Christmas/ Joyeux Noel
To you and yours along with the rest of your talented helpers.
I could not help but quote the following comment I read on CTV’s website concerning the recent precipitous drop in CON support across Canada.
“An Albertan
This is the REAL story:
In Alberta, Tory support plummeted almost 20 points to 45 per cent.
The majority of Albertans FOR the First Time, are AGAINST the Conservatives, both federaly and provincialy. Harper CANNOT win a minority, let alone a majority, without sweeping Alberta.
Even Albertans cannot stomach the Conservative party of Canada anymore.”
2008 is shaping up to be an interesting year.
Addendum to an Electronic Christmas Greeting…..A Very Merry Christmas to all who take the time tap away in construction of perhpas the highest mountian of words every know to mankind in the history of the world called a “Blog”. sooooh Merry Christmas Boggers and may your new years wishes come true.
I have now had the chance to look at other cards from politicians (your link) – Chuck Strahl’s nativity scene, Dion with wife, daughter and Kyoto, etc. My vote for the weirdest card goes to Stephen Harper – looking at a serene winter scene but mostly admiring pictures of himself?!*?!? WTF?
Thanks for the card, Garth…..and thanks to Conan for calling my attention to “Halton John”. What a lovely sentiment.
And Happy Festivus to all Garth’s bloggers. How will we manage to survive the holiday without our daily political “fix”?
Good wishes to Dorothy, Esther and everyone at your end, Garth. Stay safe on those nasty winter roads.
Happy Christmas as the family in Britain says! You sure have a lot of Canadians checking in with you daily! Those of our friends who miss get a little e-mail forwarding great posts from time to time. We thank you for your work on this blog and for the humour,too! 2008 is looking real good as a time for a change from Canada’s direction south. You are on the cutting edge, Garth!
Thank you for the card’s', as I received 2. The one from your office was tasteful, the blogmas card hilarious. I know I received the blogmas card as I participate in your blog. What concerns me is the implication by the National Post that you sent the blogmas card to all Canadians everywhere, as the Post has just seen to. This openly viscious and malicious smear is an obvious attempt to damage your reputation by a CONtrolled ‘newspaper?’! Call Brian and borrow one of his Canadian based ‘killer’ lawyers and sue like a Mulroney.
Jeffrey Simpson on the year in federal politics
Globe and Mail Update
December 19, 2007 at 12:15 PM EST
Emile Scheffel, Ottawa: Hello, Mr. Simpson. My personal perception of this Conservative government is an intense focus on optics at the expense of high-quality achievements.
The most recent instance of this, in my opinion, is the tax reductions in the mini-budget, where an equivalent income tax cut would have saved the average Canadian more money than the GST cut did. But the GST reduction is easier to explain to voters in a heated election situation.
To what extent to do you agree or disagree with this perspective, and how do you think the Conservatives will be able to revert from this pattern in order to create tangible improvements in Canada?
Thank you.
Jeffrey Simpson: Emile, I sat at lunch yesterday with a Harper minister — one of the few he listens to — and the minister admitted without the slightest hesitation or qualification that the GST cut had been completely political and that every bureaucrat in the finance department had opposed it. (He could have added almost every economist in the country)
From a policy perspective, it was an awful decision: $34-billion that will do nothing to improve the competitive position of the Canadian economy in comparison to every other policy choice on option.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071217.wlivesimpson1219/BNStory/specialComment/home
Didn’t get an Xmas Card from my local CPC MP.
Harper’s card is disgusting – not the propery wishes for the citizens of Canada – all about him. Gee, thanks Harper for caring (not).
Catherine – negative again at this time of year – referring Christmas and Xmas and Holiday Season is not new. I have a Christmas card sent from France by my grandfather to my mother in WWI – believe the references aren’t new at all.
Lighten up.
Personally I thought the card was cool, and as for the ramblings on other blogs…. well, it’s proof positive (as if proof was needed) that dead animals, small or otherwise, have no sense of humour.
It seems this is the time of year for intolerance. If you’re Christian and someone wishes you a ‘happy holiday’ say thanks and wish them a ‘merry Christmas’. If you’re Jewish and you are wished a merry Christmas politely say Happy Chanukah…etc, etc, etc.
So many people jump down the throats of a well wisher if the greeting happens not to be specific to their religion.
In an effort not to offend the growing hoard militant idiots out there more and more people are simply wishing people a happy holiday. Yet now it is fairly common to get a mini-rant about keeping Christ in Chritmas in return.
Here is a holiday tip…spend more time enjoying yourself this holiday season and less time searching for reasons to be offended and you’ll be much, much more content.
Happy Holidays. No matter what belief system you subcribe to I hope you’re able to spend some quality time with your loved ones.
Garth,
Personally, I LOVED IT, and HJ certainly earned the Troll of the Season Award, why we can even see he has a hairy arse, just as we all suspected.
Now, when it comes to slick schmoozing, I would still say our dear MP, Two-Tier Tony Clement, is a leader of schmooz.
His defense of the goobernment’s actions pertaining to Chalk River are worthy of entry for the Denier of the Year award.
Nuclear Safety Commission Got it Wrong and concludes Here
Unfortunately for he and Steve, the local folks have more sense than they would like, especially the Editor of the local papers.
No excuse
There is no excuse for the disconnect between the nuclear regulator and Clement’s ministry. That sorry lack of communication and awareness led to what many physcians were calling a ‘potentially catastrophic’ situation.
Thank you for the Christmass card. Best
wishes to you, your family, pet and helpers.
2008 is looking very encouraging.
Merci beaucoup pour la carte Garth.It is much appreciated.Even though I’m not of the same political persuasion as you,I’m very thankful to have an opportunity to take part on your blog.I’m also very happy to have made your good list.Have a very happy and relaxing holiday season.
A honest thank you for the holiday e-card. Best wishes to you and your family and staff.
Glad to see you still have your sense of humour.
Mr. Harper’s card is interesting – where is the rest of the family? Once again – it’s all about him.
Best wishes.
By Zorpheous on 12.19.07 11:35 pm
CONGRATS! You made the BIG TIME! (Pssst: have they sent you a cheque yet? Copyright has its little privledges you know!) Front Page too!
Garth
Thanks for the cool e-card. Even though I check your website ata least once a day, needing my daily dose of “chuckle at the trolls”, I’ve only posted a comment once and still I get the e-card. I’m just so impressed and feel pretty darned special,lol. Here’s hoping you have a good Christmas and all the best for the new year. Keep plugging away for us little guys and hopefully we can get rid of Steve and his odious bunch of nutjobs some time in 08. Unfortunately, it will never happen here in the Okanagan, as the wingnuts always get a plurality of the votes.
Merry Chrismas (I may be an old heathen athiest, but, I’ll be damned if I’ll ever be politically correct!) and a Happy New Year!!
regards from
Kelowna
Thanks for the e-card Garth, I had a good laugh when I saw it.
As for the worst card I would have to say it is Mr. Harper’s. That is just plain creepy – it kind of reminded me of the tv show 24.
Oh, I meant to mention Clement’s totally absurd statement that the reactor could safely operate for ’50,000 years’, instead of ’500,000′. This is a depth of brainless incompetence that is beyond the pale.
If he and Harper cannot grasp the simplicity of what a ‘backup’ pump does, then they should immediately be removed from office.
The ‘backup’ pump, and associated emergency power system is there to assure the proper cooling of the reactor should ANYTHING go wrong.
Anyone know if Clement actually took Secondary School Science? Does the term ‘chain reaction’ mean anything to this political moron?
How about ‘runaway’? He should grasp that term real soon because when the election comes that is his last, best hope.
Oh, and he will, obviously, have to fight Baird for the ‘Denier of The Year Award!’
Zorph,
you got the National Post Online an undeserved “hit” – mine, to check if the Canadian neo-Republican universe really could be that stupid. Lord have mercy, it is.
It did confirm my reason for not reading that rag. Not in any way indicating that Garth’s Blogmas card had a specific blogging intent and distribution and was not the official Christmas card sent by the Hon. Garth Turner, MP, is the standard of journalism I had come to expect from that paper years ago.
Hi Garth,
Thank you for the e-card. It was the chuckle of the day! Wishing you, your family, staff and all bloggers a very Merry Christmas and everything nice you could wish for in 2008. Pat
PC, Privy Councillor. What do I win?
Merry Christmas Garth
And a VERY HAPPY story of true bravery and dedication!
Whale freed in daring N.B. rescue
It seems this is the time of year for intolerance. If you’re Christian and someone wishes you a ‘happy holiday’ say thanks and wish them a ‘merry Christmas’. If you’re Jewish and you are wished a merry Christmas politely say Happy Chanukah…etc, etc, etc.
By Adam on 12.20.07 9:11 am
Funnilly enough I rec’d a call about an hour ago from a local co. wanting to sell me Mutual Funds. He commenced by wishing me Happy Holidays. I told him I already owned those MF’s and that his co. had already called me last spring. Before hanging up, I wished him a Merry Christmas. His voice indicated he was surprised, but thanked me and wished me a Merry Christmas too.
I have never encountered anyone who has been offended by wishing someone a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
I have only posted a few time, but thank you for the card, Garth. Merry Christmas to you and yours. And, please keep going with your efforts to promote true participatory democracy, an idea whose time has come. Just think, there’s a whole country that can benefit from what you are doing!
Emilie, I liked those sentiments. As time gets shorter, each new daybreak becomes more precious and we are more disposed to lift our minds from the daily drudgery and give thanks.
George Carlin has a good thought regarding gift giving that can apply to this festive season.
“Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn’t gift giving, it’s the white people version of looting.”
Hi Garth,
Thank you for the e-card. It was the chuckle of the day! Wishing you, your family, staff and all bloggers a very Merry Christmas and everything nice you could wish for in 2008. Pat
By Pat Banton on 12.20.07 10:48 am
Darn – My DH has our system so secure that I could not open up the email card to which everyone is referring. I’ll have to send Esther my other email addy.
Do not forget the Winter Solstice, which is the real source of the holiday. The longest day of the year, December 21st.
The Sun starts rising earlier and setting later, day by day until the Summer Solstice when the Sun starts decreasing the day’s length in the Northern Hemisphere. Just the opposite happens in the Southern Hemisphere.
For Christians it came into being as Christ’s Mass in the 4th Century AD in Rome, and the 11th Century in England.
It dates back to ancient Egypt’s Isis and her Son Horus, posthumously conceived from Osiris, the Egyptian God of the Dead and Underworld.
Note, the Winter Solstice is one of the holidays celebrated around the world by almost all cultures and faiths, but by different names.
So Happy Winter Solstice to ALL!
By Marc on 12.20.07 11:25 am
Or the results of buying Lotto tickets! LOL
Garth, Dorothy, Esther, et. al.:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New year! Thanks for the wonderful card!
Zorpheus:
Nice card design!
Everyone complaining about the PC designation:
The PC after Garth’s name has absolutely nothing to do with Progressive Conservative. It stands for the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, which Garth was named to on June 25, 1993.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to all the bloggers and a special wish to Garth, his family,his associates and all their pets.
Garth, thanks for the e-card! Humour makes us healthier!
As for the mentions of dropping the word ‘Christmas’, we should certainly remember that those who do are themselves Christians who do not want to offend others. This is of course ridiculous because having Muslim friends observe Ramadan (and then have a big feast at the end!) is the last thing that would offend me, and I bet the converse would apply when it comes to Christmas. And as for those Christmas trees, let’s remember that such a tradition, as far as I can tell, comes from our Pagan roots, and therefore I say let’s never hide it!
I, for one, will be most enjoying the holidays to celebrate Christmas with my family and then toast in the new year!
The longest day of the year, December 21st.
By Bill-Muskoka on 12.20.07 12:02 pm
I know that was just a brain fart and you really meant “shortest.” Unless of course you’re talking about Australia.
Plus, not to be overly finicky, but every day is 24 hours long so there is no such thing as a “shortest” or “longest” day. We’re actually talking about daylight hours.
Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad to all.
Do not forget the Winter Solstice, which is the real source of the holiday. The longest day of the year, December 21st.
I think you ment shortest.
Election in March/April guaranteed ??
Just imagine if Dion and his Liberals abstain again! It would be cowardly !!
He would have to resign as Liberal leader, because a leader doesn’t capitulate to the enemy and miss opportunities to defeat them.
Dion and the Liberals must strike asap after January 28th and declare to Canadians that the Harper Conservative govt must be replaced by another Liberal government with another prime minister from Quebec ..!!
The only problem will be whether the NDP and BQ will accomodate Dion and join him in a vote of non-confidence before a Spring Budget is tabled in March. Both or either of the NDP and BQ could support the government, leaving Dion twisting in the wind as his opportunity dissolves away. Neither the NDP or BQ want a Dion government, the BQ because they hate the Liberals and the NDP because they want to replace the Liberals as Official Opposition Party.
But rather than speculate, let us anticipate the coming holiday season and a happy new year with it’s unfolding political gifts ..!!
(Happy Trollmas)
I think you ment shortest.
By AD on 12.20.07 12:44 pm
Thank you. You are correct. Longest night, shortest day, like my memory nowadays. LOL
By Reid on 12.20.07 12:32 pm
Thanks to you as well. Yeppers, Brain farts happen (but why to me in a public forum? LOL).
George Carlin has a good thought regarding gift giving that can apply to this festive season.
“Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn’t gift giving, it’s the white people version of looting.â€
By Marc on 12.20.07 11:25 am
As much as I enjoyed GC, what does one do when you’re ‘better half’ doesn’t know what to buy for you. My DH, God love him, cannot buy me a piece of clothes. He has tried. I’ve had my own style since a teenager. Like classic and would rather buy 1 good piece than 4. So, I asked for Lee Valley garden tools & perfumes/colognes that I have always loved. A funny story – years ago DH was at the Bay (2 days before Christmas –
asking if they carried 3 different scents that I love. A guy next to him was asking for the same colognes. My DH and the other guy connnected. DH wondered if I was having an affair 
as they both asked for the same colognes in the same order. Unfortunately, only one was available, but they both had a great laugh. BTW, after checking in Paris & Frankfurt for one of them, my SIL in Mtl. finally found some in Mtl last year and sent me 2 bottles – Je Reviens – Worth, Paris which, IIRC is now produced/available in London. I buy DH clothes. He hates shopping for clothes and I know what he likes. I’d never attempt to purchase tech toys as he is the ‘spert’ on the latest gadgets.
Anywho, its snowing here, and we’re supposed to purchase our tree later this afternoon. Beginning to think it’ll be tomorrow.
Coming from a family of 6 children and not having a family car, but bicycles, our Christmas’s were special events. My stay at home Mom, saved all year so we each had our stocking stuffed, and we each had a few things under the tree. My Aunt & Uncle in Denmark sent each of us a very unique, sometimes home-made gift, from Denmark and my darling Grandmother from Nova Scotia would send a huge box via CN to Quebec. I shall never forget one Christmas when I was about 8 that she sent me a shoulder bag, filled with all kinds of Christmas chocolate bars (they owned a tiny ‘everything store’ and $1.00. Imagine that we could buy $.01 candy in those days. My Nanny’s gift to my Father was a 1/4 wheel of cheese. And she would sent us a large canner jar of preserved lobster tails and claws. We couldn’t wait until Nanny’s parcel arrived. Her wrappings were falling apart when they arrived, but we didn’t care, because we knew what care she put into them at her age. Those were the days that my Mom sent small gifts to all the children of her 5 brothers’ children. How she managed I’ll never know. Those were the days when it cost a lot of money to make an annual phone call to your loved ones.
Ah, I’m getting nostalgic. How much we take for granted today & how much today’s youth expect.
“Plus, not to be overly finicky, but every day is 24 hours long”
By Reid on 12.20.07 12:32 pm
Being finicky 1 day is 25 hours long and 1 day is 23 hours long in the year the rest are 24 hours long.
Let me add my good wishes for the season.
I have contributed very little but learned so much from this blog.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and may Peace reign from the Hill to the vale.
rms
Well thanks everyone, after being called so many names for designing Garth’s card and being told hold inappropriate it was (I’m being polite and paraphrasing the comments), it nice to hear that many Canadians still have a sense of humor and appreciate a good chuckle.
Thanks for the ecard Garth!
Wishing you and yours all the best.
Cheers
Many thanks for the greetings. Best wishes for a happy holiday to you and your intrepid helpers.
(Note on Stephen Harper’s card – I know it’s probably supposed to mean he’s looking back on his happy, happy year, but it comes over as him gazing endlessly at himself. Hmmmm….a touch of narcissism, anyone?)
Nobody is minding the store…
Federal annual water reports are 5 years overdue as Ottawa breaks its own law
Just to say it before someone else does BAH! HUMBUG! LOL
Gee, Garth, I guess you must think I’m some kind of a troll or have given you fake something or other or maybe you just don’t appreciate my philosophies or maybe it was an error ’cause I didn’t get an e-mail card.
Anyway, Garth, I do appreciate being allowed on the blog and wish you and all the others who post here and put in a lot of time and effort to read and consider the various opinions posted here a very joyous Christmas/holiday season and best wishes for good health, happiness and good government in the new year.
Well thanks everyone, after being called so many names for designing Garth’s card and being told hold inappropriate it was (I’m being polite and paraphrasing the comments), it nice to hear that many Canadians still have a sense of humor and appreciate a good chuckle.
By Zorpheous on 12.20.07 1:35 pm
Thanks for you awesome work Zorpheous and thank you Garth for sending it to me…I wish you both a Merry Christmas and Bonne Noel!
Just ran out and picked up a copy of the National Post. Yup, Garth’s Christmas E-Card is there and hogs the most print space of the five they included.
From the article;
There is one common element among cards from all parties this year: after a session of bickering and fighting, humour is in short supply. The exception is Garth Turner, the Tory-turned-Liberal MP, whose colourful card depicts him as a cartoon Santa holding what appears to be a troll on his lap.
Poor Kate and all her mad flying monkeys, even the National Post finds the humour in Garth’s E-Card.
Hey Halton John, you owe my buddy, I got your name in print in a Major Newspaper, Merry Christmas
WOOT!!!
PS – page A3 of the National Post
…Or maybe my son made my e-mail address too secure? Anyway, Garth,do have a happy holiday. Hopefully, you can take some time to relax with your family and take the pressure off for a while.
Sincerely,
Pat
Yesterday 300 Mmmmillion grains of rice were donated at Free Rice for the Hungry
Being finicky 1 day is 25 hours long and 1 day is 23 hours long in the year the rest are 24 hours long.
By Marc on 12.20.07 1:08 pm
Being anal retentive now it depends whether or not where you live practises “springing ahead” and “falling behind.”
Dear Garth, Esther and the rest of the Digital Democracy Commoners,
First, thanks for the Chanukah greetings Garth! I appreciate them very much.
Second, the Halton John troll is too funny and I’m glad that s/he was given a place of prominence because Halton John has given me, and I am sure others, the gift of a strengthened resolve to make Canada a far better place than it is today.
Finally, Merry Christmas to all, and a Safe and Happy New Year!!!
Sincerely,
MB
P.S. I would like to pay a special tribute to Norval Morriseau, a truly great Canadian, who died recently. My sincere condolences go out to all of his friends and loved ones in the hope that they might find strength in the rememberance of the details of his tormented yet brilliant life, and in the fellowship of one another, during this Christmas season.
Was that really Halton John’s name on the card? I couldn’t make it out. Cute!
And thanks, Patti Lewis, for the laugh! Very funny!
Looks like the sun is rising in the sky and the cold, distant, north star is just a shooting star, headed for oblivion!
Just my two cents: greetings and good tidings all, you’ve been great to associate with in this blog. I have learned many things and have had my s-detector challenged many a time, but in a positive way.
To Garth and his, a special greeting and best wishes in the coming year. I reckon in some ways it can only get better. Thanks for listening to us little folk, we nobodies, we of little distinction – ’tis a comfort.
I got two
…. Merry Christmas to you and your WONDERFUL STAFF!
Thank you for the cards and from my family to all at this blog, have a very Merry Christmas.
Click this online card that I made up intended for cyber Garth, and all the Turner Report participants for the Holiday season:
http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/sylley2000/cardinals2_globecopy.jpg
Kindest regards,
Canuck
P.S. I would like to pay a special tribute to Norval Morriseau, a truly great Canadian, who died recently. My sincere condolences go out to all of his friends and loved ones in the hope that they might find strength in the rememberance of the details of his tormented yet brilliant life, and in the fellowship of one another, during this Christmas season.
By MB on 12.20.07 3:20 pm
MB – My niece, who just returned from a months stay in Europe learned that her piece was published. A week or so ago she sent this to her family and friends.
Hello All!!!!
This is a very special day for me – I finally got published in the Concordia Undergraduate Journal of Art History!!!!!!!!!!! I will post the links below – the first is to the front page, and the second is the direct link to my article. Unfortunately I was never granted image permission rights from the artist’s team, but that seems petty to think about now as he just passed away. It’s therefore all the more poignant for me to have this achievement arise under such circumstances…
Any how, I hope I managed to portray his work honestly and respectfully.
Here’s to Norval.
http://art-history.concordia.ca/cujah/
http://art-history.concordia.ca/cujah/issue03/5-norval-morrisseau-the-gift-where-two-worlds-collide.htm
Just to say it before someone else does BAH! HUMBUG! LOL
By Bill-Muskoka on 12.20.07 2:17 pm
Watch out, Ebeneezer, for the three ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future…
This year that would be Mulroney, Harper and Dion!
Merry Christmas.
BTW. Did you know that Dec 21, for most of the world is mid-winters day, and not the first day of winter?
Oh, and Bill-Muskoka, I’ll see your Bah Humbug and raise you a Pogues tune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltiY-BqvOIU&feature=related
Cheers.
BTW. Did you know that Dec 21, for most of the world is mid-winters day, and not the first day of winter?
By James- Chatham on 12.20.07 4:05 pm
Why yes I did actually! LOL
You’ve got those ghosts right too! LOL
Who’s going to hold the bag? Hint, it’s not Santa. It looks more like YOU, the taxpayer, will end up holding the bag.
Tories May Have To ‘ Step In’
John Greenwood, Financial Post
As a taxpayer, do you want to own the collataral that nobody else wanted to own? Do you want the leftovers that everyone has picked over? Do you want 30 Billion worth of bones for Christmas?
And while you are helping the corporations and trusts – Hep me government, hep me too. I’ve been a baaaaad boy and shorted the market thinking that they had made imprudent investments. I mistakenly thought that we had free market system and the stocks would go down. But, during this financial crisis we experienced more government market intervention than 9/11. The stocks did not go down. In fact, they are near record highs. Now my broker is after me and wants me to pay my debts. How silly of him. Hep me, hep me Flaherty. Please bail me out. As you are doing it, give emphatic rhetoric that it is not a bailout.
Oh, and did I mention my credit card bill? You know that flat screen that you were admiring yourself on…I bought one of those so that I could catch your every nuance in QP. Now I can’t pay for it. Hep me, hep me and pay my credit card and make it toute de suite cause I wants a Wii too before Christmas… and maybe a house…and…
By Elias on 12.20.07 5:45 am
The tide has turned — begin the countdown to CRAP oblivion in Spring ’08!
By Bill-Muskoka on 12.20.07 12:02 pm
Do not forget the Winter Solstice, which is the real source of the holiday. The longest day of the year, December 21st.
The Sun starts rising earlier and setting later,…
Well, to really quibble and split hairs, (might win you a few bar bets)..
Bill, your statement is technically not correct. Sunrise continues to be later in the day for about a week after the winter solstice. Check the times on the weather channel or someplace.
Sunset is later every day, and the difference is greater than that of the sunrise so the period of daylight does increase. However, if you try to catch some extra daylight in the morning you’ll be out of luck for a while.
I never could understand the explanation of why this happens. Something to do with the fact the earth moves in it’s orbital path at the same time it rotates. Or was it because the orbit isn’t perfectly circular?
Anyway, of far more importance, Merry Christmas everyone and all the best in ’08. Hope you’re keeping warm. (Throw another blog on the fire if you have to)
Regards
EhBC
Merry Christmas and a Happy (belated) Chanukah (Dec 4th thru 12th this year) and a Happy Merry New Years & Solstice To All, Blogging Buds, you know who you are, and Trolls, you know who you are, alike…lurkers too.
Patti, that was great. I’m going to send it to my daughter in law, she gets stuck organizing everything at work:)
Looked at all the Pols Xmas pics and I agree with the general consensus re: Steve. Why is he looking at himself and why should we care? I’d also add, What’s with the bowed window? I thought he was under water at first glance. Or at an aquarium. Weird. Read somewhere that Laureen designed the card. Time for her to get back to work, she’s losing her edge.
The Dion family. Nice warm colours at least, Harper’s were cold by comparison. First off you think, The Madam Dion is very attractive. Daughter is good looking too.(oh, I forget their names too…brain fart, and I hugely admire her, Mrs D. I mean.) Stephane looks like a man who hates to have his picture taken. To be brutally honest, Stephane should have had his arm around his wife rather than his dog.
The Reagan family out in Halifax West sure are TALL!
I didn’t know the Strahl’s were Jewish, Oy Vey!
For Monte Solberg to have sons that age is just spooky. Weird spooky. Did he and his wife have the kids in their teens…in their mid teens? All purpose/all year round/everything card. Even gramma gets one and she hasn’t spoken to him in years.
Green Party Card. Pretty, traditional, subtle. I like it. I got one in the mail too:)
Jack and Olivia. I like this one too. Not the NDP. Just the two of them sending greetings. Families come in all sizes. They happen to be a two people TO sort of family. A nice shot of the two of them with the Peace Tower behind.
Pete MacKay’s soccer ball photo op. OK. Line the kids up here, put the cute one up front, not that one, that cute one, the other cute one. Taller girl…move back, back, that’s right.
Everyone just hold still. You’ll get your bloody balls in a bloody minute.
whisper: they don’t really understand english do they? Make sure you crop the guys with the guns out of that one ok. I think it might make a good christmas card mailout.
And the bestest of the bunch of course, the only one with a sense of humour and fun and more red colour than you can shake your PS cs pallet at. And I got one!! Me!! Actually I got two! I got the nice polite one with the seal on it too. Thank you Esther and Garth and all:)
Zorph, I have to ask tho. What’s going on behind Halton John’s toxic smoke bubble. There are a man and a woman sitting side by side, a waiter? with “santa” on his apron, is skewering? the man with what looks like a samurai sword. I need new glasses I know.
Even when I looked at the huge enlarged image at the Wingnutterer it helped a bit. The man sitting seems to be smoking? The waiter is lighting his cigarette? Letters on his face?? I’m confused.
I love my Christmas Card. You did an excellent job of it Zorph and people will be talking about it for many Christmases to come.
Happy happy days everyone, to you and yours. May you all be safe and warm and loved and may the New Year be good and kind to us all.
Geo
Sorry to break up your Black Panther Party. (Forrest Gump) I know I am such a stick in the mud.
Remembrance Day is every day, for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP4GaprkAJg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEABsKGOCCI&feature=related
Everything you could ever want to know, is in a History book. Somewhere.
Me Grandpa told me the story of the British and German Soldiers coming out of their trenches to have a game of European Football on Christmas Day. Only to return to killing each other the next day. Me Grandpa was a Veteran of Galipoli.
Remember the Tank Man. Remember his courage. There is much work left to do.
Afghanistan for Afghani’s. Respect for the integrity of Sovereign Nations.
Only the dead have seen the end of War.
Plato
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev2dEqrN4i0&NR=1
Ugly, isn’t it? Napalm smells really bad, even in the morning.
May there one day, be Peace on Earth.
Power to the People.
Comrade Okie
Catherine – negative again at this time of year – referring Christmas and Xmas and Holiday Season is not new. I have a Christmas card sent from France by my grandfather to my mother in WWI – believe the references aren’t new at all.
Lighten up.
By slg on 12.20.07 8:37 am
Slug, you haven’t explained this Xmas thing of yours? What is it?
Surely, you don’t want to cheapen the Christmas celebrations for us? Or make us or our children feel inferior?
Slug – have you ever read “The Night before Xmas” to your children? or “The Grinch that stole Xmas”?
Surely, Slug, you are big enough to understand what you are trying to do here.
Harper is ‘concerned’ about the economy. Bush said yesterday that there are ‘storm clouds’ on the economic horizon.
Does anyone see a familiar pattern developing here? If one spends until there’s nothing left in the kitty, how will the bills be paid?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071220/pm_interview_071220/20071220?hub=Canada&s_name=
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are: Christmas trees.
It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, ‘Merry Christmas’ to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crèche, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians.
If you are a Jew in Malibu, why are you in Manitoba? — Garth
“Do not forget the Winter Solstice, which is the real source of the holiday. The longest day of the year, December 21st.
“For Christians it came into being as Christ’s Mass in the 4th Century AD in Rome, and the 11th Century in England.
“It dates back to ancient Egypt’s Isis and her Son Horus, posthumously conceived from Osiris, the Egyptian God of the Dead and Underworld.
“Note, the Winter Solstice is one of the holidays celebrated around the world by almost all cultures and faiths, but by different names.” –Bill Muskoka.
Bill, it would be true to say that the Winter Solstice (the longest NIGHT of the year in the northern hemisphere) is recognized as sacred in most PAGAN cultures and faiths, but not in the monotheistic cultures and faiths.
Since when does the SOURCE of Christmas goes back to Egypt’s Isis and her Son Horus???
This is the ancient Madonna image of ancient paganism, but not of Christianity or of Judaism.
Christianity goes back to one’s roots in creationism, not to the pagan religions.
In the beginning, male and female were created in God’s image as equals.
With the Madonna image of the sacred feminine, and of pagan thought, the male-female image is seen, as in the Isis-Horus image in Egypt, it is always a Mother-Son image, or Mother-Child image, never a relationship of EQUALS between the masculine and the feminine.
Think it over, Bill. This is not Christian thought, and has nothing to do with Christmas. The Madonna image in Romanism goes back to a form of syncretism between Christianity and paganism that was adopted by a corrupted church, not the historic church which is rooted in creationism, and believes in the equality and complementarity of the masculine and the feminine.
Come now, Bill, let us reason together. Bring forth your true sources before you pretend to be representing historic Christian thought.
By kpn on 12.20.07 1:07 pm
As my mom would say: you came from good stock. Many blessings, Leasa
Thanks for the e-card, Garth, and all the best to all your crew!
Inside Dion’s card were the signatures of himself, his wife and daughter, and a sweet paw print from Kyoto
General concensus at work was that Harper’s card was freaky and egocentric, and his calendar even moreso.
Or the results of buying Lotto tickets! LOL
By Bill-Muskoka on 12.20.07 12:03 pm
I don’t buy lotto tickets for presents. Not that I would not want to but if it won how could I possibly explain that it was the wrong ticket I gave for a present and the loser in my wallet was the intended gift? It is the thought that counts isn’t it? With that I would only think of giving losing lotto tickets as gifts and not jackpot winners.
Catherine, use ‘teh google’
Hint – ‘X’ = ‘Christ’. It dates back to the first days of Xtianity.
By Ike on 12.20.07 7:38 pm
Read the links I posted. We are not going to enter into a other long debate to support your beliefs.
Happy Holidays!
Cheers and Thank you Garth and Staff for the 2 e-cards I recieved from you. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Hint – ‘X’ = ‘Christ’. It dates back to the first days of Xtianity.
By Frank Frink on 12.20.07 8:24 pm
Actually, it refers to the ancient form of the cross, which predates Christ…a long history that one is.
Hi Garth,
I am not a member of your riding nor am I a supporter of the Liberal party but I enjoyed your e card as well as the greeting from your staff.
Thank and merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and your family as well as your staff members.
Cheers
The Oscar-Nominated French/English(Scottish)/German movie about that event, entitled “Joyeux Noël”, was released just prior to Christmas last year. A decent picture, where in the end, the soldiers involved were incapable of continuing to fight each other – even helping each other survive artillery fire from the “other side” by inviting them into their own trenches – and ultimately had to be dispatched to different fronts to separate them. I believe the real life event set such a precedent of reluctance to resume fighting that fraternization of the sort was no longer permitted for the remainder of the war.
A picture that illustrates the best of humanity, particularly within the rank-and-file soldier – if only their political leaders could demonstrate the same.
By Ike on 12.20.07 7:38 pm
“Read the links I posted.” –Bill Muskoka.
Bill, with all due respect, the only links that I could find from you 12:02 p.m. post today were with Wikipedia.
Hardly a scholarly or reliable source!
Nor does anything on your links have anything to do with my question.
Have a Happy Holiday!
Hint – ‘X’ = ‘Christ’. It dates back to the first days of Xtianity.
By Frank Frink on 12.20.07 8:24 pm
So FF, question for you, why is that “Christmas” must be distorted by the likes of Slug or any one else? But, thanks FF and Slug and your types for showing us that you are inclusive, tolerant, and accepting. Thanks for making “Christmas” sound like some sort of disease, so that our children don’t feel comfortable saying or singing Christmas carols.
Best wishes, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to everyone.
Hey, Santa Garth…that’s not fair. Some people got two cards and I only got one. (The sounds of Christmas morning).
Seriously, I enjoyed the card very much..very creative and funny.
Have a Happy Xmas and a Merry Next Year (just to be different).
Hardly a scholarly or reliable source!
Nor does anything on your links have anything to do with my question.
Have a Happy Holiday!
By Ike on 12.20.07 10:31 pm
Then I suggest you check the Vatican Library where I am sure you will find support for the opinions you already hold. Have a pleasant holidays Ike.
Afterall, Wikipedia is just an eEnquirer source to you, so do not bother reading any of the content. It is probably pagean and wrong because it is not ‘authorized’ by some person you think is worthy.
BTW, your question had nothing to do with my comment.
I suggest doing your own research from the links.
Sorry Ike, but this time I choose not to play! See you in a week or so when we return.
May you have a Joyful Winter Solstice!
Thank you Bill. A joyful season to you as well. Have a good week away.
When you return, however, remember that you did raise the issue of ancient Egypt’s Isi and Horus right on this thread, and my question to you was, “Where is the equaliy of the masculine and the feminine image in that relationship, or in any other masculine-feminine union in pagan thought?”
The question is very germane to the issue that you raised in your post, and needs an answer.
When it comes to this question, you seem to lose interest in pursuing the discussion. That is why I say, “Come, Bill, let us reason together.”
Let us reason about whether the Winter Solstice Day (in its sacred significance) is both pagan and Christian.
Have a good week!
The Xmas before the Perfect Storm
The Conservatives mired in controversy and failures.
The Liberals riding high in the polls.
The belief by Canadians that only Dion can save Kyoto for Canada.
The looming crash in the US economy dragging down Canada.
The growing perception that only the Liberals can save Canada.
The pressure building for an election asap .. in March/April.
Garth … do Liberals anticipate a minority or majority government after the next election ??
308 seats. Got a prob with that? — Garth
By Harry S on 12.21.07 12:38 pm
308 seats. Got a prob with that? — Garth
……………………………….
Slightly optimistic, wouldn’t you say?!
But if you do honestly believe that, could you give us your analysis how and why the Liberals will win all the seats in the next election this March/April ??
Thanks ….
http://www.got-baby.com/graphics/nick_angel2.png
Here is a picture for all of you, Merry Christmas too all of you….
Garth, if the Liberals win 308 seats in the next federal election, can we count on at least your voice being some kind of an official opposition to this government monopoly?
Would a government monopoly be good for Canada?
If you are not made the Minister of Finance, you should kick up a fuss with the new Prime Minister. Don’t settle for some lowly parliamentary position.
Hi Garth,
Many thanks for the cards I recieved enjoyed Zorph’s card
Just want to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year bring on an election soon!
Garth, I meant to say, “Don’t settle for some lowly parliamentary secretary position.”
A man of your stature belongs in the Cabinet, and your previous experience in the Cabinet will stand you in good stead if a new government is elected, and the new Prime Minister will have to look to people with some experience, such as you have.
This is the time to get your leader to guarantee a top Cabinet post for you. You should insist on becoming the Minister of Finances, as we will need your expertise and steady hand to guide the economy throughout troublous times in 2008.
Garth, it is especially important to bring on the election NOW while the polls are up, before they change again, and before the by-elections on March 17.
The Liberals stand everything to lose and nothing to gain by these by-elections, because they already held all four of them after the last federal election. They will need all four of them just to maintain the status quo, let alone gain any new seats.
I am especially worried about the seat in Saskatchewan, where the Liberal won by only 67 votes last time, and with the swing to the right in that province with the election of the Saskatchewan Party (whose organizers tended to be Reform federally), it could make Saskatchewan a real challenge for the Liberals. I don’t think that the Liberals elected even one candidate there in the recent provincial election.
So Dion must insist on a federal ection NOW! So that we have a federal election
1. before the present favourable polls change.
2. before the by-election date of March 17 where the Liberals will have an uphill battle in Saskatchewan, especially if Don Orchard is nominated.
The Official OPPOSition is, by its very nature, supposed to OPPOSE the government’s agenda.
In this light, I just heard one political commentator say recently that the low point politically of this past year was to see the Official OPPOSition party sit on their hands during crucial votes to allow the government carry on its agenda as if it were a majority government.
“Any how, I hope I managed to portray his work honestly and respectfully.
Here’s to Norval.”
http://art-history.concordia.ca/cujah/
http://art-history.concordia.ca/cujah/issue03/5-norval-morrisseau-the-gift-where-two-worlds-collide.htm
By kpn on 12.20.07 3:57 pm
Dear KPN,
My sincere congratulations to your niece on being published in the Concrdia Universtiy Art History journal, and her scintillating explanation of the life circumstances that brought Norval Morriseau to the moment of creating the work The Gift.
The reading of your niece’s article was most certainly a gift to me.
Thank you for sharing it KPN.
Sincerely,
MB
P.S. Is the painting in the background of this snapshot a painting by Norval Morriseau Garth? (not the painting of you Garth, but the other one behind Mr. Goodale’s LEFT ear)
It certainly is in the same style as Morriseau’s works of art.
You have a fine eye. Yes, it is – one of my favourites. I have acquired several Morisseau works over the past decade, largely through public art auctions. — Garth
Garth have you forgotten that this Country is called Canada and at it’s foundation are people like yourself who grew-up in country who get highly insulted when someone seeks to become an M.P. they should at least try to keep the Canadian tradition and wish them a Merry Christmas, in case by becoming a Liberal you have forgotten a true Canadian does not know which holiday you mean when you say happy Holiday; could it be a wish for the 1st of July? But being a born Canadian and acting on the meaning of Christmas I want to Wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and the wish for Peace on Earth and good will to all. Including the House of Commons.
Merry Christmas to all you trolls and trollettes.
Great job Zorph on the card and I look forward to more hilarity and outrage in 08
All the best
Dear Garth,
You are a true Canadian!
I’m glad to hear that you acquired Mr. Morrisseau’s works because of you own passion for his art.
I do not have any of Mr. Morrisseau’s works of art, but I do have a few treasured pieces of art that speak to me. When I come across art like that I purchase it… Food for the soul.
I like the other painting behind Mr. Goodale’s RIGHT ear too, but please tell me it was a gift to you!?!
Best regards Garth.
Sincerely,
MB
I commissioned that to remember a political event my wife and I enjoyed. — Garth
Dear Garth,
Yes… a remeberance… that makes perfect sense!
All the best.
Sincerely,
MB
Thanks for the humorous card you look like the kind of guy it would be fun to seat down with over a couple of drinks.
Not surprisingly Stevie didn’t bother to send me a card, I can’t say I blame him after all the things I have called him this year.
When I saw the card I thought it was another one of the prank cards but no its the real thing, Harper staring at 24 pictures of himself.
Scary it doesn’t exactly leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
A picture is worth a thousand words and that says it all about Harper
“I recently received a letter from our Glorious Leader Stephen Harper.
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/286823
By Ted Browne on 12.19.07 6:48 pm â€
Very strange, I recently received a letter from our Glorious Opposition Leader, Stephane Dion
.http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/2007/12/18/4730018-sun.html
After two (2) years, Dion has not improved his stature as a possible leader of Canada. He said that it is difficult to gauge one’s potential as future PM if there is no election campaign but he may well be reminded that as soon as PM Kevin Rudd of Australia was elected by the Labour Party, he carries the surge of popularity of his party at the polls; whereas, Dion has dragged down the popularity of the Liberal Party as soon as he was elected as Leader.
I was waiting for him to develop his communication skills and political acumen after two (2) years serving as Leader of the Liberal Party but his performance ranges from dismal to mediocre. The Liberal Party may have the best platform but if Dion cannot communicate well the platform, what is the use of the message if it cannot be understood?
Can you mention any name of leader of his party or country who has difficulty in communicating in the language spoken by his people? Lincoln, Cromwell, Jefferson, Pearson, Trudeau, Chretien (at least his funny if not erroneous), Hitler too? But Dion? A big question mark. He cannot convince the francophones to vote for the Liberals in Outremont in Quebec, how can he convince the anglopohones in other provinces to vote for Liberals if he cannot even speak a good English. Besides, even if he is stuttering, at least there must be some wisdom in his message but there is none.
Is there anyone better in the Liberal party? Two (2) years wasted waiting for Dion to improve, a waiting all for nothing. Dion belongs in the academe where he can discuss academic theories not in the government where a lot of prudence and practicality is called for, also common sense.