News from the North is back! As always, we have a great selection of diaries: Canadian sextuplets! Canadian spy coins! George Bush's latest plummet in world popularity! We're broadcasting this week from lovely Inuvik, home of the Igloo Church and the Top of the World Ski Loppet (now you really have to read on, don't you?) Come in from the cold for snark, analysis, news of the weird, and more--pooties, puppies, and our weekly caption contest.
Cross-posted at The Next Agenda
Canadian-American Relations
This is the reality: Bush's "Surge" Will Kill Canadians in Afghanistan
This diary from tribe34 points out that Afghanistan is officially a lower priority than Iraq for the U.S., and that in order to add more troops to the latter, Bush will force Canadians and other NATO forces in Afghanistan to take up the slack.Is it any wonder thatCanada Hearts the Democratic Party? TheManWithNoPoint explores some revealing polls.
Personal Perspectives
And How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love George W. by CanadianBill is more than just another dose of CanadianBill's delicious snark. It's one of those reminders that whatever other people say about Dubya, it's never quite as head-scratchingly bizarre as what the man says about himself.
Pistol Pete and Me is one of paul2port's thoughtful essays that combines Canadiana, sport, and a bit of sobering personal reflection. It's a great read.
Caption Contest
In honor of George Bush's ever-falling popularity in Canada and the world, let's see what we can make of this:
Humor, Culture, and News of the Weird
In an offering sure to make Americans green with envy, paul2port discusses the upcoming debut of Little Mosque on the Prairie a new CBC "gentle comedy told from the perspective of a small rural Canadian Muslim community." Looks good...really good, in fact. snark So, any chance of that airing on Fox? /*snark*
Apparently, someone in the NSA finally got the memo: Austin Powers (or at least Mike Myers) is Canadian. Better start worrying about the super-spies and the fancy hardware! US "Spooked" By Canadian Coins...spy coins, that is. You have to read it to believe it, but Wreck Smurfy tells us all about American fears of the loonie, the toonie, and other nefarious spy-friendly coinage. You cannot make this stuff up, I tell ya!
Science and Politics
Junk Science: It's not just for Republicans anymore! InHarper follows Bush Play Book DrWolfy lays out the rather suspicious bios of Harper's new panel for assisted reprosduction policy. It looks an awful lot like many of them were chosen for their religious and political–rather than scientific–credentials. Baby Dub wouldn't play games with us now, would he?
In With Six You Get Eggroll palecold introduces us to Canada's first sextuplets, and provides some thoughtful commentary on the ethical debates that attend such a birth.
Pointless Puppy Pic
Our pic comes from Bella Canine and its great advice column for dog owners. Got a problem pet? Check it out!
Featured Canadian Community: Inuvik
The most northerly Canadian Community to which one can drive in the summer months (via the Dempster Highway), Inuvik has a population 3450, as recorded in the 2004 census. Of that, 60% is non-native, 25% Inuit (Inuvialuit), and 15% Dene/Métis, 15%.
From Wikipedia
Inuvik was conceived in 1953 as a replacement administrative centre for the hamlet of Aklavik on the west of the Mackenzie Delta, as the latter was prone to flooding and had no room for expansion. Initially called "New Aklavik", it was renamed to Inuvik (meaning "Place of Man" in Inuvialuktun) in 1958 because of the confusion surrounding the Aklavik/New Aklavik split.Inuvik achieved village status in 1967 and became a full town in 1970 with an elected mayor and council.
Check out CBC radio One Inuvik for the latest doings.
You might hear announcements relating to Our Lady of Victory chrch, built in the style of an igloo. Or about driving conditions over the ice bridge to Tuktoyaktuk.Another interesting community feature is the community greenhouse, which allows gardening residents to enjoy fresh produce in this cold clime without paying an arm and a leg.
Visitors may want to visit Tuktut Nogait National Park of Canada to enjoy. And summertime visitors in the summer may also enjoy the Great Northern Arts Festival
The Great Northern Arts Festival has been held annually for 10 days in the middle of July since 1989. The Festival hosts artists from across the Circumpolar World with additional artists occasionally coming from as far away as the Orkney Islands, the Yucatan, and Australia. Local visitors and world travellers alike attend this annual event each year; many returning as repeat guests and volunteers
Visitors might enjoy the B&B comforts of the Arctic Chalet, where guests can use the dog teams. (Picture from their website.)
Prefer a hotel? How about the Mackenzie Delta? Their website lists a lot to do in Inuvik, year-round. Perhaps January isn't when you planned to visit the Far North, but the prospect of a Sunrise Festival and the Northern Winter Games might just change your mind:
January Inuvik Sunrise Festival
Northern Winter Games
February Oil & Gas Bonspiel
March International Curling Bonspiel
Figure Skating Carnival
Top of the World Ski Loppet
April Muskrat JamboreeMidnight Sun Biathlon
May Firefighter's Ball
June Spring Trap Shoot
Ride For Sight
Inuvik Petroleum Show
Midnight Madness & Fun Run (1/2 Marathon)
July Great Northern Arts Festival
August Midnight Sun Slo-pitch Tournament
September Demolition Derby
Terry Fox Run
Inuvik Open Dart Tournament
Top of the World Turkey Shoot
October Delta Daze
November Ducks Unlimited Dinner
SAMS Christmas Craft Sale
December Christmas Light Up & Decorating Contest
If you do go, be sure to see the Inuksuk outside the hotel. Built in traditional Inuit style, it reflects the importance of Inusuit in traditional art and life.
This has been News From the North–look for it next week! Stop by and add in any Canadiana diaries that might have been missed, caption the photos, or just say hello! And if you're looking for more Canadian politics, stop by The Next Agenda for progressive Canadian politics!