This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Canada, which closed in 2021.

The Week That Was: Going Out on a Limb...

I know I should be more high-minded when looking at the week in hindsight. Of course you want to hear about the very worthy and important events that have happened, and how HuffPost has rocked in every way in covering them. And yet..."Package for you. Just sign here..." is really what we're all talking about, isn't it?Too soon? (I heard you snickering.)
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I know I should be more high-minded when looking at the week in hindsight. Of course you want to hear about the very worthy and important events that have happened, and how HuffPost has rocked in every way in covering them. And yet... Ding dong! "Package for you. Just sign here..." is really what we're all talking about, isn't it?

Too soon? (I heard you snickering.)

Fine. Let me go through my notes here. Ah yes, you were all paying attention to the ongoing Quebec protests of course. On blog side, we've been running competing opinions on What This All Means. According to the weekend Globe, the demonstrations have entered a kind of post-modern Foucault stage:

A growing list of philosophers, political scientists and activists who have seen upheaval come and go over the years argues that a sort of "grand awakening" is under way, bringing with it the level of public discourse that Quebeckers call a débat de société.

As well as protesting against the tuition rise and the legal measures imposed to tighten the rules on protests, Quebeckers are marching against dwindling economic opportunity, corruption, and a widespread view that their Liberal rulers are tired and disconnected.

This is a moment when we all wish Bernard-Henri Lévy were Quebecois, and he could enlighten us in ways we would not fully understand and yet would make us feel smart. At HuffPost, we are less in the philosophical realm and more in the down and dirty. Our blog by Dave Kaufman about "I'm Not a Quebec Protester, But Police Assaulted Me Anyway," went viral, while contributor Toula Foscolos explained, "Why the Media Have the Quebec Protests All Wrong."

On news side, we offered our Anglo readers translation from our sister site, Le Huffington Post Quebec; Francophone readers' explanations about what was actually going on, as well as those from 15 Quebec bloggers. Why the protestors have brought pots and pans into it, I don't know (a display of French culinary dominance?) but apparently that has produced a viral video, which you can watch here.

I have to admit, however, that I'm siding with HuffPost media critic J.J. McCullough on this, who suggests we -- and the media -- may be all suffering from a bit of Quebec protest fatigue:

We're now in what, week 87 of the Quebec student strike? I may be over-estimating slightly, but judging from the latest round of editorials on the matter, it definitely appears that we in the opinion-telling business are starting to run a little low on indignation fuel.

A bit of a spoiler alert here. Tomorrow we have two bloggers -- one of working-class/military background, and another an academic -- who will give a shellacking to the protesters over the inconvenience and general anarchy they have created for everyone else trying to live, work and study in Montreal. Let the backlash begin.

Meanwhile on blog side, Elia Saikaly wrote a fascinating post about "Why People Die on Everest (And How I Didn't)" for those following the tragic story of climber, Shriya Shah-Klorfine:

When it comes to Everest, It is easy for all of us to judge and make conclusions at sea level, but without substantial evidence and a true understanding of the environment above the death zone, it's extremely difficult to make a fair analysis of the situation. The story of the Canadian climber who died -- Shriya Shah-Klorfine -- has evolved. It now appears as though she was advised to turn around several times by the local sherpas and that she went against their advice and carried on going beyond her limit.

We also welcomed aboard high profile mommy blogger Erica Ehm, whose wrote about posing topless for a bike organization (don't worry children, I won't be doing same, tempting as it is), and Jason Tetro, a.k.a. "The Germ Guy," who explained that popular cocktail party topic: how flesh-eating disease affects the body and loses you body parts. (Wait -- could Magnotta... never mind.)

Meanwhile, the Queen continues to sip tea and champagne, celebrating her well-earned jubilee. Contributor Tim Knight has written a fascinating and exhaustive six-part series on "Who Does the Queen Think She is Anyway?" -- explaining in full. You can start with part one here. And should you ever find yourself having tea with the Queen, and are a bit uncertain as to how to hold your cup, you'll be grateful you read our "Sticky Situations" etiquette columnist, Julie Blais Comeau, on everything you need to know, including what to do with that rogue pinkie.

(Note to Luka Rocco Magnotta: Please don't send it. We won't sign for it.)

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