Jack Layton the new Barack Obama?

Maybe in his dreams.

But seriously, many in the NDP want to fashion themselves after the American Democrats.

The idea is to drop the New, and just be known as The Democratic Party. Perhaps to bask in the reflective glow of the party of Obama. Hmmm...

I think the dipper's problems run a little deeper than a name change.

Many of the NDP's policies are rooted in a different time. Most of their really good ideas were stolen by the Liberals. The party has shown no growth for years.

I doubt a name change would do much.

But it's better than the name the Conservatives were about to call themselves a few years back.

The Canadian Reform Alliance Party. The C.R.A.P.

Then again some people might think it totally appropriate given the state of Canadian politics.

Gabrielle Dionne

I feel terrible for the family of Gabrielle Dionne.

The teenager died this week after falling off a car in Drummondville.

Car surfing is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen, but sometimes teenagers don't show much in the way of common sense.

These stunts get posted on YouTube and then it becomes a game and we all know about peer pressure at that age.

So what can you do? Perhaps the drivers should lose their licences for a very, very long time. That's one idea that might work. Education? Not sure. At 17, most kids are invincible. So they think.

There are no victims in stupid stunts like car surfing.

Just loved ones left behind.

No victims indeed: just kids who make dumb choices.

Hugh Haugland

Its been a rough week here.

We lost a good buddy in the line of duty.

Hugh Haugland was doing what he loved. And boy was he good at it.

Without cameramen, we wouldn't be in business.

They often put themselves in harm's way so we can tell you the story with the best images we can.

There were no shortcuts for Hugh. He would do just about anything to get the right shot. A tireless worker, he was his father's son: a good, kind and decent man.

We have been touched this week by the tremendous number of messages of condolence. The outpouring of sympathy to the CTV family has touched us.

So thank you very much. Every word you sent matters. And they will all be passed along to the Haugland family.

Someone said in the end it's not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years. And Hugh certainly had life. We will miss him a lot.

I'm Barry Wilson and that is CTV Postscript for this week. I will see you next month.