Re: How do you formally address...
 

Are you suggesting that research funding was unconnected to "innovation" until recently?

Or does "innovation" mean something different to the Harperists?

Something along the lines of "corporatism" perhaps?

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Oh, I totally agree. However, I've used "Ms" in the past only to be told pointedly that it's "Mrs" (in what I can only assume is some anti-feminist reactionaryism). This was in the UK in the 90's, so it's probably still like that here in Canada.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

What about simply "Minister"

Re: How do you formally address...
 

I'm suggesting that reading the tea leaves, the best way of research funding going up rather than down under a Harper government is to make some link to how its going to kick-start the economy. 'Innovation' being one such buzz word.

I'd also say that there will be more focus on looking at return on investment for $ of research spending - if I put X dollars into area Y rather than area Z, what economic benefit is this likely to have. Good news for anyone who is planning on commercialization of research, taking something to market etc.

I think the future is bleak for those in the humanities who want to demonstrate their revisionist take on history using the medium of dance.

Not saying that this has never previously been the case - but I'd expect that focus to intensify.

My two cents.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Don't try to teach your Grandmother (as it were) to suck eggs.

But thanks for the input.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Noted. Thanks Grandad.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Public employee, they work for you, I'd do it like any other employee!

Re: How do you formally address...
 

How is the English version of madame pronounced here? In the UK, when I was prosecuting, police witnesses used to call me "ma'am" ( pronounded "marm"), and that was how I addressed women magistrates. Saying madame, except when speaking French, would sound strange to me.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

I think you just miss that e off the end. Mad'm or something similar.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Come to think of it, I can also remember being addressed as "madam chairwoman" (by a Conservative aged about 93, probably). I think "marm" is a legal system thing.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Not sure where you are but here out west it's pronounced 'maam' (imagine a texan cowboy saying it!)

I've been greeted quite a few times like that and I thought it was lovely - until it was pointed out that it's a Canadian way to refer to an 'older' lady.

:(

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Search on Youtube for "Malcolm Tucker" from "The thick of it" & "In the loop". That will give you a masterclass on addressing politicoes. Think "Yes Minister" updated for a new century and with lots of profanity.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

If she's a looker...sugartits.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

:D:lol: laughed out loud at that!

If she's not a looker -"what's occurring?"

Re: How do you formally address...
 

You could call her Madam Secretary when first introduced and then refer to her as She thereafter!

Re: How do you formally address...
 

and i she's really plug ugly then "Bryn"

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Or if she's a bit on the large size "Smithy"

Re: How do you formally address...
 

I predict Madam Secretary will be totally charmed by Novocastrian, and there's a chance she'll laugh and say, "Oh just call me Jane." Getting money, I don't know about.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

In other words he will be doing some ass kissing then :lol:

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Flat cap in hand and border collie at heel. :-) There's a difference between kissing ass and being charming though and I'd expect Novo to remain dignified.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Like he always is on here :lol: Im sure after his meet and greet and potentially securing funds from a member of the Harper Govt he will no doubt have a change of heart and fill this board with a new found love and respect to other posters;)

Re: How do you formally address...
 

That's it, love and respect, those are the words I was looking for. I had a friend who was an ironworker, (not a rodbuster but a swingin' dick connector) who would tolerate ignorance but could not brook stupidity, and I think many senior academics share this trait. He'll make his pitch on the merits of the program to the best of his ability and if the funding doesn't come it won't be his fault.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Well it went quite well actually. You were right earlier by the way, I started with "Pleased to make your acquaintance Mad'm" to which she replied "{firstname} is fine".

I'd also sent her office a 2-page briefing document on Friday, which she'd clearly read. I'd put the usual bits of bait in, as you do, and she swallowed them whole.

<pat's self on back>

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Well in, the catcher!

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Tu't tu't, Prof.

Well done though.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

It depends, as ever, on the poster.

I will say that this member of the Harper government has a great deal more ability than her immediate boss, who I've also met once (but not one-on-one).

I'd also discovered that one of my graduate students comes from her riding, which helped. :)

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Well congratulation are in order but Im guessing it will be some time until you know if the funds have been secured. I myself am not looking forward to the March budget and in particular Tony Clements input as to which Govt departments are really going to feel the pinch.
Good luck in the future.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Absolutely. These things have to go through channels (which in this case don't include Tony Clement's constituency office). But the neat thing is that my proposal actually saves the government money. (At least it appears that way).:sneaky:

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Well, as that's all anyone in government cares about you'll probably get your dosh.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Very innovative

Re: How do you formally address...
 

:)

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Not to rain on your parade you do realise that Tony Clement is the minister in charge of the Treasury Board Secretariat and basically he is the keeper of the Govt credit card :lol:
Basically he can decide who gets funding or not regardless of not being in his riding thats why a lot of Govt employees and Govt programmes are nervous about the potential cuts in staff, programmes and funding which may come in the March budget.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

You underestimate my subtlety. If Clement et al. hadn't cut back on the civil service science capability last July they could do what I propose in house.

As it is, there's some stuff which is politically necessary for these idiots to carry out, which they no longer have the infrastructure and personnel to accomplish.

Every cloud has a silver lining. Gotta roll with the punches and all that. :)

Re: How do you formally address...
 

*Flat cap in hand and border collie at heel.* don't knock the flatcap-border collie owners.......

Although now i own 2 boxers (can we say nutty insane dogs who NEED long walks???).

My parents were sheep farmers though and they had several collies, and yes my dad wore a flat cap.... My mum wore a trilby though because she thought it suited her better... oh and they dropped their "aitches and slurred their "t"s like most good yorkshire folk...

Re: How do you formally address...
 

I do not possess (nor have ever possessed) a flat cap. I plead guilty to the border collie.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

happen I do, happen I don't ;)

tbh, out of office hours, very much the former:nod:

Re: How do you formally address...
 

The $50M program which I expect to tap into (on behalf of my colleagues, my and their graduate students and of course the general weal) was announced today.

Details remain rather unclear. Wish me luck and steadfast morality, (there are circumstances in which I'd tell them to **** off).

Re: How do you formally address...
 

Your strength is the strength of ten because your heart is pure.
I'm a-making Scotch eggs right now.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

And a-stonishigly, there is a-no a-snow on the a-ground in Richmond Hill.

Re: How do you formally address...
 

That's Italian, can't fool me! What sort of snipe hunt does this grant fund? I hope it isn't another groundhog project - global warming makes their predictions unreliable.