It’s been a couple of weeks since the election of Stephen Harper, and both the Canadian blogosphere in general and the Red Ensign Brigade in particular are starting to settle back into their “normal” routines.

By way of a preamble, I’d like to refer to a couple of quotes. The first is from the commentator David Warren on the value of the blogosphere during the election:

An entirely new generation of Canadians, most much younger than I, is thinking aloud about the realities we face, and about how to deal with them, with a broad outlook. They feel empowered by Harper’s win — even many of the disgruntled Liberals — and they not only feel, but are, involved. The several hundred websites inter-linked through the Red Ensign network, and Blogging Tories, are also the means by which the new government can remain intimately in touch with events “on the ground” — by-passing the “heritage media”.

It’s always nice to be complimented. It’s also somewhat misleading. Though the great majority of the Brigadiers were politically active, it was not all to the same degree — and not even to the same party. For example, Alan McLeod of GenX@40, one of the more centre-left Brigadiers, attained a national prominence of sorts by participating in the CBC’s Elections Roundtable. Our political diversity, I think, can be considered one of the Brigade’s strengths.

The other quote is from commentary on a blogpost in Antonia Zerbias’ Toronto Star blog. It’s made by that notorious nekulturnik, My Blahg’s Robert McClelland:

… what many of these self congratulatory bloggers don’t realize, is that they are nobodies with huge egos. They think just because they have an internet connection it means people will care what they have to say and that their opining should be on the national stage, side by side with people who have actually earned that right by putting in the long hours and hard work.

Bob’s tone seems to suggest that this is a bad thing. On the contrary: I say that this is one of the blogosphere’s greatest strengths. If we value the right of free speech, then the ignorant and the stupid *do* have the right to a public stand and to be heard in the same venue as the learned and wise. Because only then can people tell the one from the other.

And with that cheerful thought in mind, onwards to the Red Ensign Standard.

… because a beaver’s tooth is just as necessary as an eagle’s talon.

This edition of the Standard covers the period from 23 January – 3 February 2006. Brigadiers who have nothing posted during this period are listed in the last section, along with the date of their last post.

Active Members:

Blog Title	Brigadier	In This Edition …
A Chick Named Marzi	Marzi	Marzi decides, shortly after the election, that she’d prefer a conversation with Monte Solberg over one with either Michael Moore or Al Gore.
Abraca-Pocus!	Rue	Rue asks: what kind of mother sends pictures of her kids’ birthday party … to kids who weren’t invited?
Absinthe & Cookies	Ithildin	The generally broad-minded Ith would rather watch General Hospital than the Super Bowl.
Albion’s Seedlings	Lexington Green, James C. Bennett	James examines the “Calgary School” of political thought that helped to form Stephen Harper’s political philosophy, while Lexington looks back at British-American naval cooperation in World War II’s Pacific theater.
Angry in the Great White North	Steve Janke	Steve declares he’s not running for the Liberal leadership, and has some thoughts about what the Mohammedan cartoon riots reveal about Muslim notions about church/state relationships.
Anthroblogogy	Dirtcrashr	Dirtcrasher has an impressive guardian watching him as he spins his wheels.
Argghhh!	John the Armorer	John features an impressive photo of the Canadian army in action in Afghanistan.
Asiapundit	Chris Myrick	Chris has some thoughts about the launch of Google in China, and the problems this search engine has encountered with the Great Firewall.
Babbling Brooks	Damian Brooks	Damian takes a closer look at the latest reorganization of the Canadian Forces, and praises the training program that enabled a helicopter crew from HMCS Athabaskan to survive a Sea King crash.
Blue Perspective	King	King takes a closer look at some prominent names who haven’t announced they’re not running for the Liberal leadership, and predicts the demise of the Bloc Québécois.
Bound by Gravity	Andrew Anderson	Andrew has a couple of thoughtful posts on those who would shun personal responsiblity by launching frivolous lawsuits, as well as a critique of the mindset that things government-run child care is a good idea.
Bumf Online	Robert Huck	Robert chooses his 10 best for 2005: records, concerts (though there’s only 8 of them), books, and movies.
Canadianna’s Place	Canadianna	Canadianna thinks the mainstream media have missed a few points in their coverage of political bloggers during this campaign. She’s also not impressed with Toronto’s plans for attracting tourists.
ChrisCam	Chris Tiberius	Chris waxes drunkenly on basketball and the Seahawks, and finds that Pinot Noir inspires poetry.
Conservative Canadienne	Scott A.	Scott rolls his eyes watching the CBC cover Stephen Harper’s kids. He attends the University of Alberta’s model parliament and gathers blogger intelligence on the future of “Landslide Annie” McLellan.
The Conservative Hipster	B-Double	Besides his own election thoughts, the Hipster indulges himself in blasting the latest in reality TV and sizing Paul Martin up for a future commercial.
Dust My Broom	Darcey Jerrom, Raskolnikov	While Raskolnikov keeps an eye on media coverage of Aboriginal candidates and takes Phil Fontaine to task, Darcey photoblogs on beer and the blues and keeps on a steady trail for the Mohommedan cartoonists.
ESR’s Musings	Steve Martinovich	Steve breaks his own rules about the kind of movies he goes to, and finds one that’s even worse than the ones he’s seen. He also respects Islam. Really.
The Freeway to Serfdom	Jay Jardine	Jay has a problem with applying marketplace analogies to democratic behaviour, and believes that when it comes to political issues, ideas matter.
Gen X @ 40	Alan McLeod	Alan visits North Country Public Radio, expresses his biases against the ninth planet and extols the virtures of sleeping in on Saturdays. (Hey, given how busy he was during the campaign, he’s entitled to highlight a few non-political blogposts.)
Grandinite	Aaron Braaten	Aaron analyzes the 2006 voting results, finding some interesting implications for the NDP. He also finds some economic arguments against current tactics in the War on Drugs.
The High Places	Shane	Shane celebrates moving to a new URL by coming down with writer’s block. He recovers just in time, though, to create a thoughtful piece on group blogging.
Italics Mine	Blair Hansen	Blair looks at a beautiful shot of Algonquin Park in the morning, while he recovers from post-election depression.
John Murney’s Blog	John Murney	John considers the needed qualities of the next Liberal Leader, examines the Saskatchewan cabinet shuffle and mourns the end of the undefended border.
John the Mad	John the Mad	John celebrates the Conservative victory, attends the Toronto Blogstravaganza, and he’d have a third entry except that Blogspot managed to lose it.
Just Between Us Girls	Glenda	Glenda chants a post-election mantra while she trains her pup with a clicker.
The London Fog	Lisa, Basil, Mike, Mapmaster	You can always rely on the Foggers to keep an eye on the civic misadventures of London, Ontario — be it sewage policy or anti-hate funding. But that doesn’t mean they don’t pay attention to fiscal funnies at Queen’s Park.
The Meatriarchy	The Meatriarch	The Meatriarch studies camping in the olden days, learns to eat sushi, and reports on his adventures at the Blogstravaganza.
A Minority of One	Keith	Keith finds that Israel and Spain have something in common. He also has a thoughtful post on Muslim reaction to the Mohammedan cartoons.
MKBraaten	M.K. Braaten	M.K. wonders what he can do with his Ralphbucks. He makes the argument for a government role in health insurance and blames Jack Layton for Ontario firms moving out of the province.
The Monarchist	Beaverbrook	Beaverbrook celebrates the Tory victory, remembers it’s Mozart’s birthday and finds an apt quotation on the virtues of loyalty.
Musing	Jason Hayes	Jason finds that anti-war protestor Cindy Sheehan has some competition in the egoism department, and scolds Congressional Democrats for sulking during the State of the Union address.
The Phantom Observer	Victor Wong	I successfully test my equipment for Road Warrior mode, create a T-shirt logo for non-runners in the Liberal campaign, and provide a guide for Monday’s swearing-in of Stephen Harper as PM.
Quotulatiousness	Nicholas Russon	Nicholas attempts to create a dovetail joint, and fondly remembers the Browning Hi-Power.
Raging Ranter	The Raging Ranter	Some “secret Liberals” attempt to recruit The Ranter for the leadership, threatening him with a dithering alternative should he refuse.
Ravishing Light	Paul Denton	Paul finds that the final election results weren’t what he wanted, but he’s happy nonetheless.
RightJab	RightJab	RightJab has lived in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, and thinks he knows why metros don’t go for Tories.
Robot Guy	Ed Minchau	Ed commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Challenger explosion, salutes a fan-produced continuation of Star Trek (the original series), and can’t help but notice how the space around Earth seems awfully crowded.
RootleWeb	Ruth	Ruth wonders how we should deal with the new Hamas regime in Palestine, and takes a closer look at the Criminal Code.
Stephen Taylor	Stephen Taylor	The co-founder of the Blogging Tories identifies a source for many of the leaks in the Liberal campaign, plugs the debut of Blogging Tories Television and believes the mainstream media is still obsessed with the Liberals.
Taylor & Company	Chris Taylor	Chris eavesdrops on a discussion of Groundhog Day. No, Bill Murray isn’t mentioned.
Toronto Tory	Toronto Tory	TT congratulates Stephen Harper, but wonders why Paul Martin resigned from the Liberal leadership so quickly.
West Coast Chaos	Temujin	Temujin says goodbye to Google AdSense, predicts a “missed it by that much” for the Carolina Hurricanes and decides to take some time off.

Supplementary Reserves:

Blog Title	Brigadier	Date of Last Post
All AgitProp, All the Time	Paul Jané	11 November 2005
Blue Tory	Chris	15 December 2005
CanadianComment	Dana, Bob	12 December 2005
The Green Baron	Thomas Forsyth	20 November 2005
Hammer Into Anvil	James	13 January 2006
Musings of a Canadian Slacker	Dr. Funk	30 November 2005
Myrick	Chris Myrick	27 November 2005 (see Asiapundit)
Rhetoricking With Myself	Rhetoric	07 December 2005
Shiny Happy Gulag	Jay Random	03 November 2005
Skeet Skeet Skeet	Benjamin Bach	28 November 2005
Striving Against Opposition	Chris	16 January 2006

Previous Red Ensign Standards:

1. Argghhh
2. Raging Kraut
3. The Last Amazon
4. Bumfonline
5. Tiger in Winter (now blogging at Tiger in Exile)
6. Taylor and Company (no longer online)
7. Myrick
8. Bound By Gravity
9. Dust My Broom
10. Ravishing Light
11. Babbling Brooks
12. Musing
13. Freeway to Serfdom
14. Nathan’s Updates From Seoul
15. Striving Against Opposition
16. The Phantom Observer
17. Abraca-Pocus!
18. Tipperography
19. Turning 30 and a half
20. Canadian Comment
21. London Fog
22. The Monarchist
23. West Coast Chaos
24. A Chick Named Marzi
25. Raging Kraut
26. Robot Guy
27. The High Places
28. The Last Amazon
29. Robot Guy
30. Quotulatiousness
31. RootleWeb
32. Gen X at 40
33. Quotulatiousness
34. The High Places
35. RootleWeb

The 37th edition of the Standard is tentatively scheduled to be hosted by Temujin of West Coast Chaos, around 19-20 February.

UPDATE (20h15 6 Feb 2006): Welcome, Pyjamas Media readers! Please, have a look at all our members’ posts.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 5th, 2006 at 18:45 and is filed under Blogging. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.