Kendall, Heather's been watching Pierre Elliot Trudeau's funeral today, and being younger and Scottish, wasn't that aware of his affect on Canada. The outpouring of affection has been amazing (considering how controversial he was in his day).

Funny, I think the thing that I appreciate most was his honesty in the face of convention. He showed up in Parliament often dressed like Quentin Crisp with sandals, and the sombre gray politicos almost passed out. He said the Press were Vampires and often told them to "fuddle-duddle". Those that thought he was a Communist ('cause of his life-long friendship with Fidel C...who was at the funeral today) were shocked when he clamped down on the violent separatist movement. He dated Barbra Streisand and Liona Boyd (not a bad duo) but loved the company of intelectuals AND outdoor sportsmen alike. After looking at clips from the 70s, I remembered just how GORGEOUS Margaret T. was (she was 21, he 53!)

All in all, a remarkable guy. The problem these days (in my country and yours) is that he'd be considered too weird to even get financing to run for office. Like Nader and Buchannan he'd be left out in the cold.

Rick