Angel >> Marc Perron, former Canadian Ambassador to Mexico Diplomatic language is the enemy of reality. Often, the art of diplomacy entails soft-pedaling the atrocities of despots or wrapping graft in a cloak of double-speak, simply to maintain "good relations." It appears that Perron, after 34 years in the Canadian foreign service, got tired of the nonsense and said to himself, "fuck it." Then he went to a Mexican magazine and said that Mexican politics were rife with corruption and that--get this--the Americans' pressure on Mexico to clamp down on drug trafficking was nothing more than a ploy to hide their own drug consumption problem. Perron is now awaiting reassignment; we suggest putting him in charge of the national unity file.

Insect >> Less-than-extraordinary outdoor adventurer Bernard Voyer Voyer, a celebrity in Quebec sporting circles, for becoming the first North American to reach the South Pole on skis in 1996, is also known for his somewhat boorish personality--he likes to boast of the superhuman goals he sets for himself. But this week Voyer swallowed his pride and gave up on his attempt to reach the peak of Mount Everest. It was the latest in a series of setbacks for Voyer, who had originally made the foolish, bravado promise that he would scale Everest alone--this despite the fact that Everest claimed the lives of half a dozen far more level-headed people than Voyer this year alone. The question remains as to whether Voyer has been at all humbled by nature's inhospitality.