Population of punks and other news-of-the-day
The first census results from 2006 have been released and Halifax has shown a slow and steady rate of growth of about 3.8%. We now number 372,679 Haligonians. I was more surprised to see that Miramichi only dropped by a few hundred people and are still about 18,000. I was expecting a much lower number with the degree of outmigration from the area.
The bad news is that a brief perusal of the nightly news indicates that the population growth that Canada is experiencing lies mostly in the "dumbass psycho punk" category. In Morrisburg, Ontario, a decorated army veteran, back from Afghanistan, was jumped in a bar by some sociopath trying prove himself against a "hero", by jumping him from behind and hitting him with an object. Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, two sixteen-year-olds and a thirteen-year-old have developed a sport whereby they steal cars and sideswipe joggers for fun and kicks. Police caught them, but predicatably, the youngest has already been released to await a court date in the future.
...and to think, when I woke up this morning, the biggest news in the nation was the invention of an Ottawa man, to make "rolling up the rim" at Tim Hortons easier. The tool was displayed in Dartmouth yesterday and made local news last night, but this morning the story had gone national. The best part was that it confirms Canada still has an innovative manufacturing industry. Sure, we've gone from designing Avro Arrows to coffee cup implements in less than a half-century but I, for one, welcome this opportunity to more efficently "play again" (which is about all I ever seem to get from the contest cups.)
On the silver screen
I've yet to see 300, which I am dying to do on the local IMAX screen, but it's also big in the news now. Not only did it make oodles of cash on its opening weekend, but it's attracted some criticism for being historically inaccurate and being veiled Iranian bashing. Please, don't spoil the movie for me. I hate historical inaccuracy.
Really though. How much accuracy do you want? It's based on a comic book, not Encyclopedia Britannica. It's art, not history. Furthermore, if the bleeding hearts out there think that it's insensitive or something, why not spare Hollywood the grief and instead petition the Greek government to make a formal apology for the battle of Thermoplylae itself. Try holding your breath and stamping your feet while you do. I've played at least three different versions of Sid Meier's Civilization -- which makes me an expert in such matters -- and I have nothing good to say about Xerxes and the Persians.
Xerxes, "your head would look good on a pole."
Labels: Afghanistan, crime, demographics, games, Halifax, movies, Ontario, Tim Hortons, Winnipeg
