How dare they! -- a school, a student, and the Toronto Sun

Yesterday I posted on what I heard via CFRB NewsTalk 1010 with Bill Carroll -- that the Toronto Sun is disallowed as a research source for a history assignment in a private school. The Sun has a tabloid style and apparently, its appeal is greatest amongst blue-collar workers, as opposed to the outlets approved of by the bafflegab and blunderbuss elites -- the type who, at the Gomery Inquiry can parse the meaning of "evident" in whether the sponsorship program delivered "evident" value for money -- the type who can differentiate between "decriminalizing" what is an illegal product with, therefore, no legal source of supply, and "legalizing" said product.


The story -- Fan of Sun penalized by teacher -- 22% slashed off teen's grade Brodie Fenelon, Toronto Sun, Mar. 10, 05

The result -- ... but we're 100% behind her

IT MAY not be good enough for her private school, but Jessica Bolzicco has just earned herself a free six-month home subscription to the Sunday Sun. [. . . . ]

The latest on this from the Toronto Sun site: Teen's last straw Mar. 11, 05



I checked the Toronto Sun the evening of Mar. 10 and early on Mar. 11 to see whether I would forbid it as a source, particularly, if I wanted students to get a picture of what was happening in the Toronto area. Actually, the Sun includes much more -- and perhaps that is the problem. Just scroll down.




The problem with "blue collar" newspapers is that they attract exactly the kind of reader who sees through bafflegab and who will call a spade a spade.

These readers may not have learned the finer points of huffing and puffing, publicly proclaiming one value or belief while effectively acting to assure the opposite in private, in their power positions. No wonder those who have learned to "parse" ordinary words for nuance or to confuse and confound reason are afraid of the blue-collars amongst them. Bring on the blue-collar voter and, to the Toronto Sun, keep appealing to those who want straightforward news.



What follows, since I had so short a time, omits some of my favourite columnists but anyone who checks this site will be able to tell. These indicate a few of the news items that any school should find perfectly acceptable.



"Canada's Liberals have proved to be far from liberal when it comes to allowing their members and MPs to publicly express personal opinions."

The honourable thing to do Bob MacDonald, Toronto Sun, Mar. 10, 05

[. . . . ] That's right. Despite their name, Canada's Conservatives have long been known as the party of free speech. Individual members and MPs have a natural, stubborn individualism in their make-up that insists on having their say -- on anything. It's called free speech. [. . . . ]

Of course, the Honourable Stephen Harper actually listened and responded to members' concerns. Vive la difference! We are not Liberals.




RCMP memorial draws 15,000 police, dignitaries and mourners March 10, 2005, John Cotter, CP

EDMONTON -- Led by Mounties on black horses, their lances gleaming in the morning sun, a parade of officers marched solemnly Thursday to a cavernous pavilion to honour four slain colleagues in an unprecedented memorial. [. . . . ]

McGuinty blames it all on feds Mar. 10, 05

THE GAP between what Ontario contributes to federal coffers and the cash Ottawa plows into the province is big and getting bigger, Premier Dalton McGuinty said last night. Seizing on an increasingly familiar theme, McGuinty said the difference soared from just $2 billion in 1995 to $23 billion now. [. . . . ]

Keep your enemies close but your friends and federal political brethren closer.




RCMP charge 12, including suspected bikers, in alleged drug conspiracy March 10, 2005, CP

SUDBURY, Ont. (CP) - Twelve people, including several alleged members of the Hells Angels, have been charged following a 14-month cocaine trafficking investigation, the RCMP said Wednesday. [. . . . ]

Search: prison, ecstasy, New Brunswick




Ad man's son places blame for sponsorship irregularities in dad's lap Brian Daly, March 10, 2005, CP

MONTREAL (CP) - An ex-Liberal campaign worker who became rich from federal sponsorship contracts placed responsibility for apparent billing irregularities at the feet of his father and sister. [. . . . ]

Search: Michel Octeau, Julie, $150, windfalls, federally branded paraphernalia, Guite, Canada Post. commemorative stamp




$245-an-hour shipping clerk

TAXPAYERS FORKED out $245 per hour for a Montreal ad exec to package 5,000 Christmas tree ornaments purchased through the controversial sponsorship program. Eric Lafleur told the AdScam commission yesterday that he worked hard at managing sponsorships but did agree he shouldn't have been paid so much to package promo items like ornaments. [. . . . ]

Canuck 'tortilla' T-shirts

THE LIBERAL government is under fire for doling out T-shirts with made-in-Mexico tags while promoting Canada on a recent trade trip to Washington. More than 1,700 of the cotton T-shirts were distributed during the "advocacy day" on Capitol Hill last week. The shirts were supplied by Gildan Activewear, a Quebec-based company that has faced past accusations of unfair labour practices in Third World countries. [. . . . ]

AdScam lawyer seeks press silence

A MONTREAL AD exec, charged by the RCMP for allegedly defrauding taxpayers of $2 million through the sponsorship program, will ask the AdScam inquiry for a publication ban on his testimony. Jean Brault, the former owner of Groupaction Marketing, will ask Justice John Gomery March 21 to shield his testimony for fear it will hurt his chances of a fair criminal trial beginning May 2 in Montreal. [. . . . ]

Air it all.




Liberals stack committee to help push along gay marriage bill March 10, 2005, Alexander Panetta. CP

OTTAWA (CP) - The Liberal government has stacked the parliamentary deck in favour of its same-sex marriage bill by naming only supportive Liberals to a key committee.

The makeup of a new same-sex committee should ensure Bill C-38 doesn't suffer any major changes before it arrives for a final vote in the House of Commons in the coming months. Although the controversial marriage issue has divided the ranks of the governing party, it will be a powerful block of six Liberals sitting on the committee scrutinizing the bill. [. . . . ]

Search: MP Don Boudria, 13-member committee, marriagevote.ca




Hong Kong's leader resigns Helen Luk, CP

HONG KONG (AP) [. . . . ] Tung's position would be temporarily filled by the No. 2 ranking official, Donald Tsang -- a popular, bow tie-wearing career civil servant who was educated at Harvard and received a knighthood for his service during British colonial rule.

Tsang might be Beijing's idea of a complete package: a man known to follow orders without wavering and a battle-hardened civil servant who can run a bureaucracy.
"He has the mentality of a loyal servant. He just follows his boss. ... It's just that his bosses keep changing," said Ma Ngok, a political scientist at Hong Kong's University of Science and Technology. [. . . . ]

Search: speculation, one country, two systems, 800-member



Well, there is a selection. What do you think of this tabloid and its appeal?