Frenglish Quebec

It sometimes feel like I've spent a large part of my online life of these past eight (oops. Nine now) trying to explain to various American, English-Canadians and various others the realities of Quebec life.

Since I had a blogspot account doing nothing useful, I've decided to create a central repository for all those stray thoughts (and, perhaps, articles) on Quebec I've logged at various discussion board, and in various forums over time.

In the interest of full disclosure, because sometime bias may come though, I will disclose that I am a white male and a "Québécois" (that is, a person who identify as part of the French Quebec culture). I am also (and this is probably the last time you hear me refering to myself as such, because I wholeheartedly hate the concept) what some people refer to as "Pure-wool", that is, a Quebecer of near-exclusively French ancestry. I am bilingual (French-English), which is to say I am equally inept in two languages. I live in the outer suburbs of Montreal.

Politically, I trend toward center-to-moderate-left in canadian terms, which is to say I favor some social programs (universal healthcare and making higher education more accessible, for two), but generally think the market is a good thing, so long as proper safeguard exists, and that money doesn't grow in trees. Morally, I'm very much the live and let live type - so long as no one is getting hurt (without consenting to it), do as you will - but don't expect me to do as you do. Religiously, I'm probably best described these days as an independent (and therefore not a church goer) Christian with some agnostic leanings.

I hope to make some use of this, but I make no promises!