Soxy

Patriotism over price. Cost Trumps Patriotism in Flag Pin Flap OTTAWA (Reuters) - The next time a Canadian official hands you a lapel pin bearing an image of the country's maple leaf flag, take a closer look. That symbol of patriotism was likely made in China. Opposition legislator Charlie Angus attacked the Liberal government on Wednesday for ordering millions of "inferior quality" pins from a Chinese supplier rather than the Canadian factory that has been making them for 35 years. "They are selling off our cultural heritage like a bunch of roadside hucksters selling off hubcaps and velvet Elvis paintings," Angus told Parliament. Public Works Minister Scott Brison, whose department buys the pins, said the Chinese pins were cheaper. But this did not satisfy Angus, a member of the left-leaning New Democrats. "We're outsourcing the fundamental symbol of what Canada is to a foreign country. I think that's a scandal," he told reporters. Canadian officials and members of Parliament traditionally hand out the pins as presents. Transport Minister Jean Lapierre said that to demand maple leaf pins be made by Canadian suppliers was bad policy for a country so dependent on international trade. "I think we need to follow our procurement rules rather than falling into an existential crisis on this subject," he told reporters.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Feb 2, 2005 -> 09:36 PM) Just my personal opinion.... even if it is not, it is still crap that will fill up email inboxes needlessly and can just cause problems, as mentioned in the examples from the snopes.com link. Sorry if I sound like a sour ass, but it seems to me they could find better things to do for 3rd graders than clutter email servers. Meh, if he's dumb enough to give out his e-mail to potentially thousands of people, he's got it coming. Plus, I bet the kids really like this project. Especially when they get e-mails from really exciting places...

It does look like it's bonafide. The teacher (Mr Brown) has done this before previous projects. So, it looks like it's not a hoax. I do think, though, that this would be an amazing way to get back at someone--or a mean prank. An old "friend" is an elementary school teacher, and man, that would be hilarious to send out one of these e-mails like they were from him. But mean. Very mean.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Feb 2, 2005 -> 08:23 PM) Its not legit. There is no such thing as an email tracking program and emails such as these have been circulating for several years now. Somebody just changes the words or the story and recirculates it. There is a web site that lists all of these, but I cannot recall the address off the top of my head. I don't think they mean that it is a tracking system that they're saying. It sounds to me like they're going to get e-mails back from people with where they're from and a fun thing to do there--and then plot all of this stuff on a map. Maybe I'm super naive, but I don't think it's like one of those Microsoft is tracking your e-mail things...

QUOTE(KipWellsFan @ Feb 2, 2005 -> 07:24 PM) How will they know how many people get their email? I'm assuming they're just going to judge it by the number of e-mails they get back. I'm sure 3rd graders can't conceive of someonte not e-mailing them back...

I got this e-mail a few days ago--it seems legit, my e-mail went through and everything. Usually I don't pass on mass e-mails, but this seemed like a cute thing for the little kids. Dear friends, We are the third grade students from East Buchanan Elementary in Winthrop, Iowa. We are learning how e-mail works in our computer class. We are sending a message to see how many people it will reach in our 30 day experiment. We will end our email project on Friday, February 18th.&nbs! p; Could you help us out? Share with us where you live and a neat place to visit from where you live. Then pass this message on to as many people that you know. We are excited to map all of the different places our E-mail will travel to. Thank you for helping us out with our project. You can email us at [email protected]. Your friends, The third grade class of East Buchanan Elementary Winthrop, Iowa

QUOTE(DonkeyKongerko @ Feb 2, 2005 -> 05:53 PM) I have to force myself not to laugh whenever I see a college kid wearing a Royals hat. No, those kids deserve to be laughed at.

We're having a super bowl party. I do like football, but really don't care a lot about the teams this year (except for my inordinate dislike of New England teams)--but if the football sucks there's always the commercials to enjoy...

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Feb 2, 2005 -> 11:49 AM) "Nobody... and I mean NOBODY can eat 50 eggs." What we have here is a... FAILURE... TO COMMUNICATE! Heeheehee.

QUOTE(winodj @ Feb 1, 2005 -> 06:59 PM) Have I mentioned that I once licked a coffee table? I can eat 50 eggs.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Feb 1, 2005 -> 12:49 PM) I've never understood the infatuation some people have for White Castle. I haven't had one in YEARS. They just built one not too far from me, maybe I should give it another chance? The only thing I remember about White Castle was when I was younger my dad would take my sister and I there--and we would get fries and a chocolate shake and dip the fries in the shake. Yummmmm....

I don't know if this counts, but when I'm back home--my family and I will go to this little Mexican resturant that's a few blocks from my house. Timewise, it's very fast. And sooooo tasty. I always have the bean tostadas meal. Yum...

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Jan 31, 2005 -> 10:41 PM) It took me a week to learn all those damn lyrics. Now it's something I play out almost every time I get a chance - which is not odten enough sadly. She was married when we first met - soon to be divorced. Helped her out of a jam I guess, but I used a little too much force... Freakin' brilliant. I could seriously listen to it over and over and over. And yes, I know ever word to that darn song. Some people may laugh about people nominating Bob Dylan for the Nobel Lit prize--but I think he deserves it.

Tangled Up in Blue--either the Dylan version or the Indigo Girls one. I just love that song....

Can anyone make me happier than this man? No, no I think not. *sigh* Thanks guys.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Jan 31, 2005 -> 08:46 PM) Somebody needs a hug... Or for people to just be mean to me all the time.

I had a way s***ty day. And then someone said something (it was actually really nice) and I cried. I friggin cried at work. Most awkward/embarressing moment of my life....

Just watched the documentary, The Weather Underground. It's about the revolutionary movements of the 60s and 70s (SDS, the Weathermen and the Black Panthers). It was really interesting and had a lot of footage I'd never seen of Vietnam, police riots, etc. Definitely a good documentary and very thought-provoking especially if you're into political/social history....

Sorry to bump such a sad thread, but I thought I would add to its list of thoughts/prayers/concerns. My best friend from highschool just found out the tumor on her heart, previously diagnosed as benign is actually a form of stage 3 or 4 lymphoma. It came as a huge shock to all of use, she's only 22. So, if you could please keep in your thoughts and/or prayers and send her some healthy vibes that would be much appreciated...

Alma Mater!!!

QUOTE(The Critic @ Jan 31, 2005 -> 11:31 AM) ...somebody wants to get hiiiiiiiigh....... Man, there's lots of other things to do in Amsterdam: hookers, shrooms, uh, canals, ummm, people on bikes...

Don't tell, but sometimes I use our lab's professional grade headphones (we use in conjuction with our soundproof booth and sound software) to listen to my music... Otherwise cheap ones that I won't cry about if they break...

Just watched The Triplets of Belleview. A very quirky, odd, but fun little film. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but what I got definitely was not anything I could have expected. Anyway, I recommend it, but be ready for a very different film than you've probably ever seen before.

QUOTE(Beastly @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 07:59 PM) Godsmack is my favorite, followed by Green Day. I don't mean this rudely at all, but Beastly, how old were you the first time Greenday was popular?

Best part of article: The government had considered making brothels an exception on moral grounds, but decided that it would be too difficult to distinguish them from bars.