Comments on: Sticker shock

By: Suburban Guerrilla » Blog Archive » Sticker Shock

Suburban Guerrilla » Blog Archive » Sticker Shock — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:08:47 +0000

[...] I guess the poor are just supposed to curl up and die. [...]

By: LouisaMayAlcott

LouisaMayAlcott — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:33:34 +0000

Jezebella,

Your only hope would be the west coast, Vancouver area.

By: Jezebella

Jezebella — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 22:32:26 +0000

Canada sounds SO much better than Mississippi, but for the frackin’ cold. Is there ANYWHERE in Canada I will not freeze my tits off six months a year? Because if there is, I’m going. Tomorrow.

By: Lill Hawkins

Lill Hawkins — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:37:26 +0000

Twisty, I found your blog about ten minutes after my brother emailed to tell me that he has cancer and has to have his voicebox removed, after they decide if he can pay for it. Without the op, he’ll be dead within a year. He’s already survived throat cancer and was given a clean bill of health and assurances that they got it all and there was little chance that it would come back. He’s still paying for that and will probably have to sell his house to finish paying. His wife, who survived lung and brain cancer also had huge medical bills that they’re paying. (Starting to sound like one of those TCM movies, isn’t it?) Well, anyhow, I hope you beat this because you’re one hell of a writer and funny to boot. I’ll be sending positive thoughts your way.
Shine on,
Lill

By: TinaH

TinaH — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:17:20 +0000

Blondie said

Ahh, feudalism. By any other name (like maybe, capitalism?) would smell as sweet.

I just snorted tea all over the keyboard and monitor. Ugh. Anyone got a towel?

By: Spinning Liz

Spinning Liz — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:35:49 +0000

Good heavens, people, if there were suddenly free universal health care here, just imagine the gleeful mass exodus from crappy jobs and miserable marriages. All hell would break loose! We can't have that now can we.

By: Bird

Bird — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:07:42 +0000

I love the Banff Centre. The Book Publishers Association of Alberta has its annual general meeting and conference there every fall. The facility and the surroundings are gorgeous, the accommodations are fantastic and the food defies description. I’d love to do one of their writing programs too.

By: Bird

Bird — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:22:40 +0000

Oh, I don’t try to make Alberta out to be some sort of socialist utopia. In other threads and other places, I’ve referred to my beloved home province as Redneckia, Redneck-land, and the people who brought you Stephen Harper (really, fellow Canadians, I am so sorry about that!).

But same-sex marriage is legal in Alberta despite Ralphie’s stormy protests to the contrary. Federal law wins on that one, and our government knows that a challenge on its part would never stand up in the Supreme Court. Lesbian friends of mine held their wedding in Alberta just last year. Even the so-cons’ rumblings about marriage commissioners being able to refuse to solemnize same-sex marriages didn’t bear much fruit.

And in our last provincial Conservative leadership race, people rejected the social conservative candidate who was screaming about “family values” and also dumped the hardline fiscal conservative guy who wanted to ditch medicare for a relatively middle-of-the-road farmer. Now the government is putting money into affordable housing and healthcare programming!

Here in Edmonton, things are actually pretty liberal (and we tend to vote that way, at least provincially). We just got listed as a top-five gay-friendly tourist destination for Canada by OutTraveler, too. Runs a little contrary to the stereotypes held by those out east.

Alberta is a hotbed of Canadian conservatism, especially in the south, but we’re not all redneck assholes here! Plus I’d like to point out that most Canadian Conservative voters are to the left of many American Democrats.

By: Artemis

Artemis — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:39:33 +0000

“However, I have a good friend whoâ€™s looking for someone to live on her acreage out in the country and help do the dishes and plant the garden. Sheâ€™s a research scientist (plant genetics) who works really long hours and would like to have someone else around the place to keep her company and help look after the house and the cats.”

!!!!!!!!!

I just found a job that I want at the Banff Center, too. Home, thy name is Alberta. Kinda catchy. But I have to wait for year. I think. Maybe. Or not.

By: Panic

Panic — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:22:13 +0000

Hi Bird,
Fellow Albertan here, transplanted to Toronto.
Let’s not give everyone else a false impression of the place!
Klein was the only premier to deny same-sex marriage rights in Canada, and the only one who said he’d ignore any federal ruling for it.
Which puts all this lovely lesbian homestead talk a bit into the theoretical.
Have things changed any since he’s been gone? It’s still a Conservative government after all.