The Burning Bush
thoughts from a cunning linguist

May 12, 2004

Off to the Distinct Society

Today I head off for fair Canadian climes--the city of Montreal in la belle province. Too bad it's only until Sunday. Montreal is one of the cities I love most in Canada, perhaps my favourite next to Halifax. I remember years ago when there was all the debate about the Meech Lake Accord in Canada over the "distinct society clause." I couldn't quite understand the resistance to the clause--or better, I was never convinced by said resistance-- since it was so obvious to me that Quebec is indeed so distinct. It's that distinctness that I love about the province and about Montreal in particular. It's the architecture, the language. the joie de vivre, the bagels--just a smattering of the mundane features of the city that bring it to life.

Yes, sure, I'm going for the conference--and the conference looks like it wil be much fun, having been organized by the unparalleled Queen of Catachresis. One good thing is that I'm finally putting that _Turn of the Screw_ paper to rest. But the conference, as all good conferences should be, is really an excuse to do other things: see people, see places, and, when one is not attached to a sexy girlfriend, do one's best to have conference sex. Since I am so attached, I guess I'll just have to content myself with bagels, architecture, and distinct society. Now who could complain about that?

Posted by Bush Whacker at May 12, 2004 10:51 AM
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