Some different stuff, starting this weekend.(a) I just gave blog contributor status to my better half, Ruth. This could end very badly. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. A partial explanation appears in (b) below…(b) We’re off to New York to take in Personal Democracy Forum, an annual conference about government, politics and social media. It starts on Monday, and if everything goes to plan we’re going to try to live blog it with a couple of friends, or at least provide some occasional insights and commentary. You can also follow the conference and participants via Twitter at #pdf11.(c) I have been absolutely swamped at work, but there is some reprieve in sight… meaning a backlog of stuff about Jack Layton’s ridiculous stand on Bill 101, Danny Williams’ latest hockey adventure, the folly of faking Senate Reform, and a few other items might finally see the light of day here on the ol’ blog.(d) Also, later this week, on June 10th – CBA hosts the 2011 National Constitutional and Human Rights Conference: The Unwritten Constitution. Some of the topics – prorogation, serial minority governments, contempt of Parliament, etc. may have been a little more timely, say a few weeks ago, but nevertheless the constitutional law geek in me is happy to finally see a conference on the constitution and out system of government. Overdue, methinks. If you’re going, drop me a line. If time permits, I’ll try to tweet that one, too.(e) Finally, you may have noticed a line in today’s Speech From the Throne, in which the Harper Government said it “…will take steps to phase out direct taxpayer subsidies to federal political parties over the next three years.” We’re going to have some fun with that. More info on what we’re doing, and how you can help, in the days ahead. Stay tuned.(f) and for the Newfoundland & Labrador political junkies who visit regularly… if my math is right, CRA should have quarterly polling numbers out any day now.
