Entourage is Fatigue. (and no, I don't mean PHatigue).

I just caught the latest episode of HBO's smash hit "Entourage". Admittedly, during the early seasons, I enjoyed the program - though I had to put my own feminist inclinations aside to swallow some of the horrendous verbal slander agaisnt women (and visual, plenty of visual). I appreciated the fact that the show, like many of HBO's programs, was edgy and clever and perhaps was even highlighting the hegemonic social paradigms that women face, especially in "Hollywood". I reasoned that one of HBO's other hits, Sex and the City, didn't do men any favours - indeed, it perpetuated stereotypes of men as either sex hungry, unfaithful goons or overtly sensitive deebs.

And here we are, smack in the middle of the latest season of Entourage. Aside from little to no plot line, it seems every female character in the program is either a jealous shrew or a fame whoring one night stand. It used to be somewhat laughable that Vincent Chase so confidently bedded ladies but he used to form some meaningful relationships (didn't he?) in there somewhere, making the obligatory T&A shot obsolete.

With the exception of Perry Reeves' character, Mrs. Ari Gold, it seems all the current female characters (who last more than the Vincent Chase lay) are representations of needless misogyny. They are jealous, possessive and conniving. All the while, the boys come off looking like superstars with the ultimate dreamlife.

Entourage o Entourage, where has the cleverness gone? Me thinks it is time HBO put this senseless sexist show out to pasture.

Where have all the good people gone?

You take the high road and I'll take the low road...

Liberal campaign ads were released this past weekend. As I have Michael Ignatieff on my Facebook (woooheewwwww) I was privy to be the first to know about said ads and, as such, I promptly viewed them upon learning of their posting.

I must say - despite having made my dissatisfaction with the Liberal party known in the last year - the ads are good. Finally a party (not surprisingly but thankfully it is the Libs!) are moving away from the negative slander ads that have come to define Canadian electoral campaigning. Despite the useless and offensive ads the Tories released earlier this year which criticized Ignatieff for having too "France French" an accent, among other things, the Liberals latest batch of ads actually do what a campaign ad is MEANT to...Ignatieff explains why the Liberals SHOULD be elected, not why another party SHOULD NOT be elected.

Conservaties, NDP and even Greens...take note. Canadians are tired of listening to and watching the cheesy and dramatic slander ads that typify negative campaigning in Canada. This move on the Liberals part is wise and well worth a watch.

Catch a few on Ignatieff's facebook page here or on youtube here.

You gotta fight for your right (to vote for a political) party

I started off this blog with an election rant and no less than five months later I find myself taking to the web, yet again, over the issue of a Canadian election.

Michael Ignatieff has announced that his party will not support Harper's conservatives for the fall session of parliament. This could lead, potentially, to an election. If the NDP decides to support to governement, there is a chance that there would not be an election and while Layton claims to seriously consider this option - as no one believes another election is good for our economically reeling country - it seems that the reality of another election is staring us Canucks in the face. The NDP will support the conservative government so long as Harper and co agree to work with the NDP to accomplish certain goals and stipulations as outlined by the NDP. Unfortunately, as both parties sit on near opposite sides of the Canadian political spectrum, the NDP would likely find themselves later disappointed if they did indeed support Harper in a confidence vote now. If they don't fool themselves or if Harper gives himself away, they will vote against Harper and we are off to the polls!

What to say? What to do? Well firstly, I will stress the most important thing about an upcoming election. YOU NEED TO VOTE. Our last election was shameful, having the lowest voter turnout at less than 60% of eligible Canadian voters. Enthusiasm has been consistently low since Harper won his minority government back in 2005, but what we must understand is that without the support of voters, we will be subject to a vicious cycle of minority governements who hold little to no power, who are constantly being toppled and hence, we are constantly subject to money burnin' federal elections.

I understand, it hurts. What seems like constant campaigning, a plethora of signage cluttering up the country and the childish mudslinging which ALL our recent party leaders and members have succumbed to. But this is democracy. If you would rather not care about what was happening and have decisions made for you - perhaps you are better suited living under a dictatorship? Democracy only works when the people with the power make use of this power - and in the case of elections? The power is in the hand of the voter!

Let us end this cycle of minority governments by rallying together and finding support for the best party. Let us open our ears and listen to the arguments, let us read the various platforms and policies and come to our own informed decisions about who we want to run this country, to make decisions for Canada and Canadians. Voting makes the greatest statement, by forfeiting this right you are forfeiting the greatest privilege of a free democratic citizen. Believe that your vote will make a difference and understand that change can come!

The no confidence vote can (and will) be introduced at any time when parliament returns for the fall session on September 14th. Canadians will wait with baited breath to see what the outcome of such a vote is.