Taft Ride Along. Pedal to the Metal!

I had been following them for a good 20 kms, from a party rally on the way to a meet and greet and door knocking at a mall in north east Calgary. I stayed close the whole time, unsure of the exact location. Taft's men understood this, but the driver seemed to have his own agenda, as if he had finally spotted the tail and had to shake it immediately. It's a good thing my resume boasts “evasive driving techniques”. I pulled out and over a curb, cutting off a white van as I made my way – quite literally – back on the campaign trail.

The bastards wouldn't lose me that easily. I caught a glimpse of their right turn down the hill, but by the time I made it to the busy intersection, the lights had changed and traffic was flowing against me. Any number of motorists are probably still angry with me, but I darted out and pulled another sharp turn, catching the van taking another right. I quickly caught up and made the curve. The van was waiting, already turned around in the opposite direction.

The driver and Taft's lead media man were laughing.

“The mall's right there,” the driver said, pointing back across the busy intersection. “We got lost.”

“Yeah,” I replied, “those were some effective driving manouevers.”

Not so much about love

LONDON (Reuters) - Eight million Americans admit they send themselves Valentine's Day gifts -- they may feel lonely and unloved but at least they will get something nice.

British lovers ought to steer clear of Paris as a Valentine destination -- one in three picked the French capital as the city most likely to cause them to argue on a romantic break.

It's the time of year again when love is in the air -- or at least the pressure is on to show you really, really care on February 14.

Surveys abound on what makes the perfect gift -- usually commissioned by a company trying to sell its Valentine wares -- but the way the big day for lovers is celebrated around the world could not be more different.