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Nov. 12th, 2009
From Yahoo News, that bastion of journalistic relevancy:
OTTAWA (AFP) - "Thatcher has died," read the short text message that kicked off a brief diplomatic flurry among members of Canada's parliament and their advisors at a black tie dinner this week, said local media Thursday.
Upon learning the "news" via mobile or Blackberry at a soiree honoring Canadian military families Tuesday, some 2,000 shocked Conservatives, said to revere the Iron Lady of British politics, and their advisors reportedly huddled to discuss a reaction.
The prime minister's office called Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street to confirm that Margaret Thatcher had indeed passed away -- baffling British officials, CanWest News Service said.
It turned out the message was sent by Canadian Transport Minister John Baird from his home in Toronto to a person at the gala dinner to say his beloved 16-year-old gray tabby cat, named for Margaret Thatcher, 84, had died.
The recipient then forwarded it to others.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office was not immediately available for comment.
Sorry, cat lovers, but I had to giggle at this one.
Also? John Baird is my MP. No, I didn't vote for him, and I loathe a lot of what he's done and wish to hell he'd stop sending me mail telling me all the great things his government has done to fight crime, especially as I disagree with most of them. I do have to respect the man, though, for being one of (iirc) 13 Conservatives who voted to let gay marriage remain legal when it was put to a free vote, helping to finally lay the issue to rest. I called his office beforehand and was told he was going to vote yes "as a matter of individual rights as protected by the Charter." Go him :)
And I'm sorry about his cat.
OTTAWA (AFP) - "Thatcher has died," read the short text message that kicked off a brief diplomatic flurry among members of Canada's parliament and their advisors at a black tie dinner this week, said local media Thursday.
Upon learning the "news" via mobile or Blackberry at a soiree honoring Canadian military families Tuesday, some 2,000 shocked Conservatives, said to revere the Iron Lady of British politics, and their advisors reportedly huddled to discuss a reaction.
The prime minister's office called Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street to confirm that Margaret Thatcher had indeed passed away -- baffling British officials, CanWest News Service said.
It turned out the message was sent by Canadian Transport Minister John Baird from his home in Toronto to a person at the gala dinner to say his beloved 16-year-old gray tabby cat, named for Margaret Thatcher, 84, had died.
The recipient then forwarded it to others.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office was not immediately available for comment.
Sorry, cat lovers, but I had to giggle at this one.
Also? John Baird is my MP. No, I didn't vote for him, and I loathe a lot of what he's done and wish to hell he'd stop sending me mail telling me all the great things his government has done to fight crime, especially as I disagree with most of them. I do have to respect the man, though, for being one of (iirc) 13 Conservatives who voted to let gay marriage remain legal when it was put to a free vote, helping to finally lay the issue to rest. I called his office beforehand and was told he was going to vote yes "as a matter of individual rights as protected by the Charter." Go him :)
And I'm sorry about his cat.