The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

Waethorn — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:15:52 GMT

@mike:

If you didn't already know, the Governor General has the final say in most things. They can call a general election, or clear the House (as can the Speaker). They are chosen by the previous PM to swear in the new one. They are also Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian military and appoint the PM's cabinet under advisement.

It's mostly a cushy job though. Again, a mostly symbolic position retained through tradition.

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

Waethorn — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:10:26 GMT

"Eventually, I had to learn how the Canadian government worked to maintain any sense of sanity when listening to the news."

Well, you've got 2 major parties, and a few minor ones. You don't vote for the party leader - he's just a representative for the party. You vote for the MP (Member of Parliament) that directly impacts you: the local MP from the party that you like, based on the party's platform. Each party can have a representative that runs in a local riding. Some don't in certain areas....Anyways, bottom line is you vote for the party platform, and you hope that, through the chain of command, the party leader gets elected as PM, and doesn't screw up the country as badly as in the US. What's better than the US is that the party is ultimately held responsible for the leader's action, so they won't let the leader mess up so bad and make them look like idiots.

The other nice thing is that there's opposition to the ruling party. If the ruling party doesn't have enough seats in the House of Commons, they become a minority government, and the Official Opposition Party can overrule any bills that they don't agree with. It can be a real catfight sometimes. If both parties agree, it gets passed to the Senate for review. They can disallow a bill from passing, but parties in the Senate get along better than those in the House, so it doesn't happen often.

It makes for a lot more drama in politics. We now have 1 major (Liberals), and 2 minor parties (NDP - New Democratic Party, and Bloq Quebecois) that are now banding together to bring about a confidence vote on the current government, based on their disapproval of the Federal Minister of Finance's new budget proposals. If they can pull a vote of non-confidence, we could be looking at another general election to take place. Now, THAT'S entertainment! ;)

"Canadian politics is a lot like watching a cricket match."

Cricket isn't a Canadian sport, sorry. Basketball, Lacrosse, and Hockey (based on Lacrosse) were invented by Canadians.

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

mikegalos@msn.com — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:41:19 GMT

Wae

That's why I said "officially". The symbolic part is still the "official" rules but de facto they're nothing but ceremonial.

It's like the British Prime Minister officially "makes recommendations to the sovereign" for governmental appointments but, in actuality, the Prime Minister's appointments are never questioned by the palace and are the de facto powers of the PM's office.

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

Waethorn — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:18:15 GMT

"Officially, the Canadian Senate is appointed by Governor General (who is the official embodiment of H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II in Canada) on the advice of the Prime Minister."

Here's the real info:

www.gg.ca/.../index_e.asp

Since we changed from being a British Domain (we were called "Dominion of Canada" until the 1950's or so), we've asserted ourselves as being independent of the British monarchy. We do not answer to them. If you're referring to the use of the term "the Crown", it is meant [now] as a term analogous to "the State". The Governor General's role is "Head of State". The role is appointed by the previous Prime Minister, and the Governor General must be present to appoint the new PM. The appointment by the British monarchy is only a symbolic gesture as part of the tradition.

Although the Senate doesn't often oppose House of Commons bills, they do review them, and have opposed some major bills in the past. They do review bills over a lengthier timeframe, and often come up with agreements more easily because they don't often have partisan arguments like they do in the House. It is mostly a "chamber of review" to give a second opinion on bills before they're passed. It's much better than some mental-midget d*ckhead with executive power being able to control everything.

www.parl.gc.ca/.../AboutParl_Process.asp

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

mikegalos@msn.com — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:42:57 GMT

Tayme

Nope. I've never been a Canadian. I did spend a few summers driving a bus in an arts center in upstate New York and listened to the CBC Toronto station. Eventually, I had to learn how the Canadian government worked to maintain any sense of sanity when listening to the news. (Canadian politics is a lot like watching a cricket match. If you were born in the commonwealth, it's obvious, if not it's totally beyond comprehension.)

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

tayme — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:38:50 GMT

mikegalos knows that because at one time he was a Canadian...along with a programmer, evangelist, farmer, and on and on and on...;-) <--Nudge, Nudge; Wink, Wink; Say no more.

--tayme

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

mikegalos@msn.com — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:32:36 GMT

For those not familiar with the Canadian Senate, it's a bit arcane and a lot like the British House of Lords.

Officially, the Canadian Senate is appointed by Governor General (who is the official embodiment of H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II in Canada) on the advice of the Prime Minister.

In practicality, seats are appointed by the party that's in power as a reward and the Senate rarely does much but rubberstamp what the House of Commons passes.

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

mikegalos@msn.com — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:22:16 GMT

Waethorn

Yes, but we actually elect our Senate.

:-)

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

Waethorn — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:18:15 GMT

@Doc:

This is the real General Romeo Dallaire, and the actor that played him, Roy Dupuis:

ca.youtube.com/watch

Dallaire is now a Canadian Senator (yes, we have a Senate in Canada).

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

Waethorn — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:58:54 GMT

In case you've never heard of those movies, here's a few links:

ca.youtube.com/watch

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

DRWAM — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:58:53 GMT

We will check out those movies. thanks.

The first thing that I uninstalled on my $400 Vista laptop was Google Toolbar. It was preloaded. I use some Live stuff on it. I use it for the kids' camera and at XMAS, they will all have one. And yes, it uses OneCare.

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

tayme — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:49:31 GMT

@Doc - Yeah, but does Google still suck on your $400 laptop? (Hadn't seen it mentioned lately...had to ask)

--tayme

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

Waethorn — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:37:52 GMT

"this is why I tell the young docs to slow down when they read the films!"

Read? I like watching them! ;)

I watched a few war movies recently. One is called Passchendaele, and it was written, directed, and starred Paul Gross, a Canadian actor (used to be on the show called Due South, about a Canadian Mountie and an American cop). Good movie. I also watched another one called "Shake Hands with the Devil", which starred Roy Dupuis. It was a cinematic retelling of the identically named documentary film and book a few years earlier about Romeo Dallaire, and his role during the Rwandan genocide. Very sad.

I saw Australia last night. It was alright. Probably underrated.

"I see one more Google toolbar on another workstation at our Office....I'm going to fly to their HQ and kick someone's butt."

Maybe your IT people should....

Oh, nevermind.

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

DRWAM — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:16:27 GMT

OMG Wae, this is why I tell the young docs to slow down when they read the films! Dang!

Anyway, many had VISA and MC credit cards were involved as well as other Bank cards.

And one more time. Google SUX. I see one more Google toolbar on another workstation at our Office, or at my home, I'm going to fly to their HQ and kick someone's butt.

re: The Windows Live Wave 3 services rollout begins with a whimper

Waethorn — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:09:00 GMT

"IMAP implemented by servers and clients in ways that work to together reliably is much newer."

If I'm not mistaken, it is now called "IMAP4" (or IMAP4rev1 depending on the implementation). Most email client programs usually just refer to it as "IMAP" because it's just another 4-letter word like "POP3".

I still prefer push email myself.