I live in Quebec. My teenage son says 'ferme ta guelle all the time...My French Canadian mother said it too... guelle pronounced yeulle.

The Ambassador's remarks reflect on the way the US administration seems to ignore history...There is only one thing after hockey that defines Canadian - and that is not being American. So if they want to see Harper elected, just put him down as a pseudo liberal. (He's promising all kinds of money for social programs right now.) Don't praise him as a conservative or attack Martin. (I was quite pleased to hear the Ambassador's remarks, actually).

Many a Canadian election has been won on this premise. I have spent two years researching the 1910 era in Canada and I've posted a website which is popular in Canadian universities (sociology and history) because it has letters relating to politics of the era. If you want to understand Canada a bit better, and why we differ from Americans, do read the letters. (Non commercial site.)

PS Aislin's cartoon yesterday had King Kong holding a sheepish beaver in his giant fist.

I'm no Austenite, just a fan of 1995 miniseries and I must admit, I went to this film quite in the mood, having read the good reviews = and I hated it.

Lizzie of the film (Knightly) behaves like a modern teen, (she was rude to her parents in much the way my teen is rude to me) giggles all the time (she should be Lydia); The Bennetts live in a pig sty..literally. And the dumbed down dialogue, ugh. All I could think: This Lizzie and Darcy would marry, Pemberly would fall apart, she'd end up dancing naked in the rain and he would have to lock her up on a room in the East Wing for the rest of her life. Elizabeth is supposed to be a perfect balance of animal energy and civility like Darcy and like Derbyshire; s tolerable-looking girl whose intelligence makes her shine. Darcy is supposed to grow, learn about himself and therefore be ready for mature love. All missing in this movie that is designed to appeal to modern teens who have not read P and P. Plus Knightly utters many of her lines exactly as Jennifer Ehle did in the mini series. If she wins any award, Ehle should sue for copyright infringement.