It’s the 2nd last day of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Today when I was at my favourite restaurant for breakfast – The Wild Garlic on Denman Street, I watched the Olympics on the big screen that was brought in specially for the games. There were only two other diners sitting side by side and facing the tv. It’s an open kitchen so the tv was as much for the staff as for the customers. We were lucky to be watching as a Canadian won the gold medal in the downhill snowboarding event. I don’t watch sports, but I do enjoy the Olympics. Once in a while I ventured to the downtown and the excitement was palpable. There is no denying that an event like this can bring people together. It will be interesting to see the finale to the Olympics – the opening was so amazing, I can’t possibly imagine what the closing ceremonies will be like. There will be a couple weeks break and then it will be time for the Paralympics in March. Go Canada Go!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Lucky Generation (part 15) The Caribbean
Over the next seven weeks we did two Caribbean cruises. We had so many new experiences and visited most of the islands plus a visit to Caracas (Venezuela).
The Bergensfjord
Each of the islands had its own unique flavour, but on all of them we found friendly cheerful people who made us very welcome. Most reflected their various colonial histories. Curacao was very clean and tidy, reflecting their Dutch heritage. Martinique was sultry and Nassau in the Bahamas had a very very post British colonial air with its fine houses and country clubs!
We tried many new tastes, flying fish, swordfish steaks, exotic fruits with strange sounding names. Many of these are now freely available in the UK , but then we felt very adventurous!
We had a lifetime of new experiences. We sat on a hotel terrace in Antigua overlooking Nelson’s boatyard, drinking coffee and feeding sugar to the beautiful little humming birds. We went out in a glass bottom boat, in Jamaica, marvelling at the sealife beneath us. We watched little boys diving like fish for coins in the harbour at Nassau. We dined out in a beachside restaurant in Barbados, watching the magnificent sunset, and dancing on the beach to a steel band. We had seen the contrast between the rich houses and clubs with their private beaches and bars and the small public beaches in Haiti, now a scene of such devastation. We had admired the beautiful children with their big eyes and wide smiles, the little girls in their pretty starched dresses. We had added to our array of souvenirs. Straw bags, sandals, hats and fans, brilliantly decorated shirts for my dad and my brother 
dolls in national costume and yet more jewellery!
I had had another “first ” to add to my list, my first flight.
I had decided to take the opportunity between cruises to visit my cousin in Toronto, who I had never met before. My dad’s brother had emigrated many years before and at that time not many ordinary people crossed the ocean so they were just names on letters and the kind people who sent us food parcels after the war.
I flew up from Kennedy airport, minimal formalities in those pre-terrorist days, and was met in Toronto by my cousin and aunt and uncle who had driven up from their home in Windsor. There was a quite amusing episode at the airport as a plane from the UK arrived at almost the same time as mine, so when I answered “Two days” in answer to his query about my prospective length of stay, the customs officer gave me a very suspicious look. It is strange to think of that now when some people fly very long distances for a couple of days!
I had a lovely time catching up on my relationship and meeting my cousin’s husband and daughter. We have kept in touch ever since. I little thought that, within a few years, my parents would be flying over to Canada and my aunt and uncle would be visiting us in the UK .
After the Caribbean cruises it was time to travel back over the Atlantic to our home port of Oslo. After much deliberation and with some reluctance we decided not to sign on for the next season of cruising. It was very tempting, a world cruise via the East, Mediterranean cruise and Northern capitals, but we thought that the longer we left it, the harder it would become to give up the wandering life. There would always be just one more cruise and we thought we should go back to the “day jobs” for which we had been trained. We had seen how jaded some of the older stewardesses had become. Where we took delight in exploring new places, they only went ashore at duty free ports and we still judged the passengers by their friendliness, but they judged them by the size of tips they gave.
Me on a tropical Island. (probably Moorea!)
We stayed in Oslo for a few days and then it was back to the UK. We had a holiday at home and then set off for six months in Edinburgh where I was going to do midwifery and S. was going back to Electrical engineering!
We had an unforgettable experience and we were so lucky to do it then while there was an innocence about those tropical islands and before so many cruise ships turned into floating villages. I think we had an easier time and more opportunities to go ashore than cruise crews have now when the ratio of crew to passengers has been decreased.
P.S. I wrote this late last night and this morning learned of the enormous earthquake in Chile which has not only affected many of the cities I visited, but caused a tsunami which is threatening many of those beautiful islands. It is so sad to imagine the devastation this could cause.
Post-Johnny Weir interest in the Olympics
My interest in the Olympics has significantly dropped mostly because I am just ready to watch Gossip Girl and 30 Rock again, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still watching these bizarre winter sports. While there may not be as many sequins and tassels involved anymore, I have uncovered some more intriguing aspects of these winter games. Here is a list of my post-Weir Olympic interests:
1)Carrot Top: I had been so focused on all things shiny and glittery, that I failed to acknowledge another intriguing Olympian… actually I missed the boat all together on this one because I think his glory was within the first few days of the games: Shaun White (Carrot Top). When I think of snowboarding I think a) pain b)winter skater boys and c)lots of drugs. I did not know that the modern snowboarder is not even a “skater boy” but HARK! A HIPSTER! I cannot believe how tight Mr. White’s pants are! Although, his hipster abilities are questionable, since I find it doubtful that he drinks 60s of Vodka and snorts white powder. That makes him even better! He’s a hipster role model! His hipster ways say: “You can be on the fringes of society and tell the mainstream to f-off by winning a gold medal, instead of depilating Russia of its potatoes and columbia of its coca plants”.
2) Team USA: Listen you can hate me all you want for cheering USA! USA! USA! But seriously it is the best thing ever to chant, it’s so obnoxious and everyone gets really offended. I probably won’t cheer it on Sunday night because I want to live, but it’s fun! You should try it, I guarantee you’ll love it! It’s the same reason why I sometimes miss George Bush. Infinitely entertaining.
3) Curling: This sport is confusing. Maybe in four years I will understand it, but as of tonight I don’t. However, it’s pretty hilarious. I really love Team Ikea. Actually, what I really love is how incredibly sexual the game is, you have to yell such naughty things to get that rock in that button (wait are those the terms?)………….
That’s all that has piqued my interest from Vancouver lately. Tonight I was briefly amused by Stephen Harper in the curling audience, he is so socially awkward. Why can’t we have a smooth and charming leader, one that would totally flirt with the Queen of Sweden instead of bore her to death.
Yes living in a post-Johnny Weir world is not very fun.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Canada Military Death Toll In Afghanistan 140
Date Name Rank Age Unit Branch State City Cause Place of Death Died In
2-12-2010 Baker, Joshua Caleb Corporal 24 The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry) Canadian Army Alberta Edmonton Non Hostile – explosion (claymore mine) Kandahar (4 km northeast of) Afghanistan
1-16-2010 Faught, John Sergeant 44 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Ontario Sault Ste. Marie Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Nakhoney (Panjwaii district) Afghanistan
12-30-2009 Miok, George Sergeant 28 41 Combat Engineer Regiment Canadian Army Alberta Edmonton Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar city Afghanistan
12-30-2009 Taylor, Kirk Sergeant 28 Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery Canadian Army Nova Scotia Yarmouth Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar city Afghanistan
12-30-2009 McCormack, Zachery Corporal 21 Loyal Edmonton Regiment, 4th Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Alberta Edmonton Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar city Afghanistan
12-30-2009 Chidley, Garrett William Private 21 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Ontario Cambridge Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar city Afghanistan
12-24-2009 Nuttall, Andrew Lieutenant 30 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army British Columbia Prince Rupert Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Nakhoney, Panjwaii district Afghanistan
10-30-2009 Marshall, Steven Sapper 24 11th Field Squadron, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment Canadian Army Alberta Calgary Hostile – hostile fire Panjwayi district (10 km southest of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
10-28-2009 Boyes, Justin Garrett Lieutenant 26 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Saskatchewan Saskatoon Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwayi district (20 km southwest of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
9-17-2009 Couturier, Jonathan Private 23 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Regimen Canadian Army Québec Loretteville Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
9-13-2009 Lormand, Patrick Private 21 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Canadian Army Not Yet Reported Not Yet Reported Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar (South-West of) Afghanistan
9-06-2009 Drouin, Jean-François Corporal 23 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group Canadian Army Québec Beauport Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Dand District (14 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
9-06-2009 Pépin, Yannick Major 36 5e Régiment du génie de combat Canadian Army Québec WarwickArthabaska Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Dand District (14 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
8-01-2009 Allard, Matthieu Sapper 21 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment Canadian Army Québec Val d’Or Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari district (5 km west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
8-01-2009 Bobbitt, Christian Corporal 23 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment Canadian Army Québec Sept-Îles Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari district (5 km west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
7-16-2009 Courcy, Sébastien Private 26 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Canadian Army Québec St-Hyacinthe Hostile – hostile fire Panjwayi District Afghanistan
7-06-2009 Joannette, Martin Corporal 25 2e Batallion, Royal 22e Régiment Canadian Army Not reported yet Not reported yet Non-Hostile – Helicopter crash Zabul Province Afghanistan
7-06-2009 Audet, Patrice Master Corporal 38 2e Batallion, Royal 22e Régiment Canadian Army Not reported yet Not reported yet Non-Hostile – Helicopter crash Zabul Province Afghanistan
7-04-2009 Michaud, Charles-Philippe Master Corporal 28 2e Batallion, Royal 22e Régiment British Army New Brunswick Edmundston Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zabul Province Afghanistan
7-03-2009 Bulger, Nicholas Corporal 30 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Ontario Peterborough Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari district (south-west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
6-14-2009 Dubé, Martin Caporal 35 5 Combat Engineer Regiment Canadian Army Quebec Quebec City Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
6-08-2009 Péloquin, Alexandre Private 20 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment Canadian Army Quebec Brownsburg-Chatham Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Nakhoney (15 km southwest of Kandahar city) Afghanistan
4-24-2009 Mendes, Michelle Major 30 Chief of Defence Intelligence Canadian Army Ontario Wicklow Non-hostile Kandahar Afghanistan
4-13-2009 Blais, Karine Trooper 21 B Squadron, 12th Armoured Regiment Canadian Army Quebec Les Méchins Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Shah Wali Kowt District Afghanistan
3-19-2009 Hayes, Corey Joseph Trooper 22 The Royal Canadian Dragoons Canadian Army New Brunswick Ripples Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Shah Wali Khot district (north-east of Kandahar city) Afghanistan
3-19-2009 Bouthillier, Jack Trooper 20 The Royal Canadian Dragoons Canadian Army Ontario Hearst Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Shah Wali Khot district (north-east of Kandahar city) Afghanistan
3-19-2009 Vernelli, Scott Francis Master Corporal 28 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Sault Ste. Marie Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari District (west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
3-19-2009 Crooks, Tyler Corporal 24 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Port Colborne Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari District (west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
3-08-2009 Diab, Marc Trooper 22 3rd BM, The Royal Canadian Reg Battle Group, The Royal Canadian Dragoons Canadian Army Ontario Mississauga Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Shah Wali Kot District Afghanistan
3-03-2009 Brown, Denis Raymond Warrant Officer 38 The Lincoln and Welland Regiment Canadian Army Ontario St. Catharines Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Arghandab District (northwest of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
3-03-2009 O’Quinn, Kenneth Chad Corporal 25 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron Canadian Army Newfoundland Happy Valley-Goose Bay Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Arghandab District (northwest of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
3-03-2009 Fortin, Dany Olivier Corporal 29 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron at 3 Wing Bagotville Canadian Army Québec Baie-Comeau Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Arghandab District (northwest of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
1-31-2009 Greenfield, Sean David Sapper 25 24 Field Engineer Sq., 2 Combat Engineer Reg, 3rd BN of the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group Canadian Army Manitoba Pinawa Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
1-07-2009 Good, Brian Richard Trooper 42 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group Canadian Army Ontario Ottawa Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Shah Wali Kowt District Afghanistan
12-27-2008 Kruse, Gregory John Sergeant 40 24 Field Squadron, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Campbelltown Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwayi District (Kandahar Province) Afghanistan
12-27-2008 Roberge, Gaétan Warrant Officer 45 2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada Canadian Army Ontario Hanmer Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwayi District (Kandahar Province) Afghanistan
12-26-2008 Freeman, Michael Private 28 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Peterborough Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari district (west of Kandahar) Afghanistan
12-13-2008 Jones, Justin Peter Private 21 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Newfoundland Baie Verte Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Arghandab District (aprox 14 km west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
12-13-2008 Curwin, John Michael Roy Private 26 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Nova Scotia Mount Uniacke Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Arghandab District (aprox 14 km west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
12-13-2008 Hamilton, Thomas James Corporal 26 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Nova Scotia Truro (or Upper Musquodoboit) Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Arghandab District (aprox 14 km west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
12-05-2008 Wilson, Robert John Warrant Officer 27 First Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Keswick Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Arghandab District (15 kilometres west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
12-05-2008 McLaren, Robert Mark Corporal 23 First Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Peterborough Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Arghandab District (15 kilometres west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
12-05-2008 Diplaros, Demetrios Private 25 First Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Scarborough Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Arghandab District (15 kilometres west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
9-07-2008 Shipway, Scott Sergeant 36 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Not reported yet Saskatoon Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
9-03-2008 Grenon, Andrew Paul Corporal 23 Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Ontario Windsor Hostile – hostile fire – Rocket fire Zhari district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
9-03-2008 Horn, Chadwick James Private 21 Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Not reported yet Not reported yet Hostile – hostile fire – Rocket fire Zhari district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
9-03-2008 Seggie, Michael James Alexander Corporal 21 Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Manitoba Winnipeg Hostile – hostile fire – Rocket fire Zhari district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
8-20-2008 Eades, Shawn Sergeant 33 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Hamilton Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari District Afghanistan
8-20-2008 Wasden, Dustin Roy Robert Joseph Corporal 25 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment Canadian Army Saskatchewan Leoville Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari District Afghanistan
8-20-2008 Stock, Stephan John Sapper 25 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment Canadian Army British Columbia Campbell River Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari District Afghanistan
8-11-2008 Doyle, Erin Master Corporal 32 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Alberta Legal Hostile – hostile fire Panjwaii district Afghanistan
8-09-2008 Roberts, Joshua Brian Master Corporal 29 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Saskatchewan Saskatoon Hostile – hostile fire Zhari District Afghanistan
7-18-2008 Arnal, James Hayward Corporal 25 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Saskatchewan Kelvington Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwayi District (Kandahar Province) Afghanistan
7-07-2008 Wilmot, Colin William Private 24 1 Field Ambulance Canadian Army Not reported yet Not reported yet Hostile – hostile fire – Explosion Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
7-04-2008 Downey, Brendan Anthony Corporal 37 Military Police Detachment in Dundurn Canadian Army Quebec Montreal Non-hostile Camp Mirage (Theatre Support Element) Gulf Region
6-08-2008 Snyder, Jonathan (Jon) Sutherland Captain 26 1st Battalion, Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army British Columbia Penticton Non-hostile – accident Zhari District Afghanistan
6-03-2008 Leary, Richard Steven Captain 32 Second Battalion, Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Ontario Brantford Hostile – hostile fire – small arms fire Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
5-06-2008 Starker, Michael Corporal 36 15 Field Ambulance Regiment Canadian Army Alberta Calgary Hostile – hostile fire Pashmul region, Zhari district (25 kg west of Kandahar) Afghanistan
4-04-2008 Street, Terry John Private 24 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Quebec Gatineau Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
3-16-2008 Boyes, Jason Sergeant 32 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI) Canadian Army Manitoba Lake Lynn Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjawayi Afghanistan
3-11-2008 Ouellet, Jérémie Bombardier 22 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Canadian Army Quebec Matane Non-hostile Kandahar Airbase Afghanistan
3-02-2008 Hayakaze, Michael Yuki Trooper 25 Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Canadian Army Not reported yet Not reported yet Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjawayi Afghanistan
1-23-2008 Gonthier, Étienne Corporal 21 5th Combat Engineer Regiment Canadian Army Quebec St-George-de-Beauce Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwayi District (Kandahar Province) Afghanistan
1-15-2008 Renaud, Richard Trooper 26 12th Regiment of Blinde du Canada Canadian Army Quebec Alma Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Arghandab district (10 kilometres north of Kandahar city) Afghanistan
1-06-2008 Massouh, Hani Warrant Officer 41 2e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment Canadian Army NA Alexandria, Egypt Non-hostile – vehicle accident Nangalam (Nuristan province) Afghanistan
1-06-2008 Labbé, Éric Corporal 31 2e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment Canadian Army Québec Rimouski Non-hostile – vehicle accident Nangalam (Nuristan province) Afghanistan
12-30-2007 Dion, Jonathan Gunner 27 Régiment d’artillerie légère du Canada Canadian Army Not reported yet Not reported yet Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari district (20 kilometres west of Kandahar City) Afghanistan
11-17-2007 Levesque, Michel Private 25 3rd battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment Canadian Army Quebec Riviere-Rouge Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar (45 km NE of) Afghanistan
11-17-2007 Beauchamp, Nicolas Raymond Corporal 28 5th Field Ambulance Canadian Army Quebec Pont-Rouge Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar (45 km west of) Afghanistan
9-24-2007 Hornburg, Nathan Corporal 24 The King’s Own Calgary Regiment Canadian Army Reserve Not reported yet Calgary Hostile – hostile fire – Mortar attack Panjwayi District (Kandahar Province) Afghanistan
8-29-2007 Ruckpaul, Raymond Mark Major 42 Armoured Corps, The Royal Canadian Dragoons Canadian Army Ontario Hamilton Non-hostile – suicide – gunshot wound Kabul Afghanistan
8-22-2007 Duchesne, Christian Master Corporal 34 5e Ambulance de campagne Canadian Army Québec Montreal Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari District Afghanistan
8-22-2007 Mercier, Mario Master Warrant Officer 43 2e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment Canadian Army Québec Weedon Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Zhari District Afghanistan
8-19-2007 Longtin, Simon Private 23 3e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment Canadian Army Quebec Longueuil Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Afghanistan
7-04-2007 Dawe, Matthew Johnathan Captain 27 3rd Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Ontario Kingston Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
7-04-2007 Anderson, Jordan Corporal 25 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Nunavut Iqaluit Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
7-04-2007 Bason, Colin Stuart Francis Master Corporal 28 The Royal Westminster Regiment Canadian Army Reserve British Columbia Abbotsford Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
7-04-2007 Bartsch, Cole D. Corporal 23 3rd Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Alberta Not reported yet Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
7-04-2007 Watkins, Lane William Thomas Private 20 3rd Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Manitoba Clearwater Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
7-04-2007 Francis, Jefferson Clifford Captain 36 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Canadian Army Not reported yet Not reported yet Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
6-20-2007 Karigiannis, Christos Sergeant 31 3rd Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Quebec Montreal Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
6-20-2007 Bouzane, Stephen Frederick Corporal 26 3rd Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Newfoundland Springdale Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
6-20-2007 Wiebe, Joel Vincent Private 22 3rd Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Alberta Edmonton Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
6-11-2007 Caswell, Darryl Trooper 25 Royal Canadian Dragoons Canadian Army Not reported yet Bowmanville Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kahkrez Afghanistan
5-30-2007 Priede, Darrell Jason Master Corporal 30 3 Area Support Group Canadian Air Force Ontario Burlington Hostile – helicopter crash (RPG attack) Upper Sangin Valley Afghanistan
5-25-2007 McCully, Matthew Corporal 25 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron Canadian Army Not reported yet Orangeville Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar (35 kilometres southeast of) Afghanistan
4-18-2007 Klumpenhower, Anthony Master-Corporal 25 Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Canadian Army Ontario Listowel Non-hostile Afghanistan Afghanistan
4-11-2007 Pentland, Patrick James Trooper 23 Royal Canadian Dragoons Canadian Army New Brunswick Geary Hostile – hostile fire Afghanistan Afghanistan
4-11-2007 Stewart, Allan Master Corporal 31 Royal Canadian Dragoons Canadian Army New Brunswick Newcastle Hostile – hostile fire Afghanistan Afghanistan
4-08-2007 Poland, Brent Donald Corporal 37 2nd Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Brampton Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
4-08-2007 Greenslade, David Robert Private 20 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army New Brunswick Saint John Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
4-08-2007 Kennedy, Kevin Vincent Private 20 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Newfoundland St-John’s Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
4-08-2007 Williams, Aaron Edward Corporal 23 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army New Brunswick Perth-Andover Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
4-08-2007 Stannix, Christopher Paul Corporal 24 Princess Louise Fusiliers Canadian Army Reserve Nova Scotia Dartmouth Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
4-08-2007 Lucas, Donald Sergeant 31 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army New Brunswick St-John’s Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
3-06-2007 Megeney, Kevin Corporal 25 1st Battalion North Nova Scotia Highlanders Canadian Army Reserve Nova Scotia New Glascow Non-hostile – gunshot wound (man slaughter) Kandahar Afghanistan
11-27-2006 Storm, Albert, CD Corporal 36 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Not reported yet Niagara Falls, Ontario Hostile – hostile fire – suicide car bomb Kandahar Afghanistan
11-27-2006 Girouard, Robert Chief Warrant Officer 46 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Not reported yet Bouctouche, New Brunswick Hostile – hostile fire – suicide car bomb Kandahar Afghanistan
10-14-2006 Williamson, Blake Neil Private 23 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Ottawa Hostile – hostile fire – RPG attack Panjwayi District of Kandahar Province Afghanistan
10-14-2006 Tedford, Darcy Scott, CD Sergeant 32 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Nova Scotia Calgary Hostile – hostile fire – RPG attack Panjwayi District of Kandahar Province Afghanistan
10-07-2006 Wilson, Mark Andrew Private (Trooper) 39 Royal Canadian Dragoons Canadian Army Ontario London Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar Afghanistan
10-03-2006 Mitchell, Robert Thomas James Corporal 32 Royal Canadian Dragoons Canadian Army Ontario Owen Sound Hostile – hostile fire – RPG, small arms fire Kandahar Afghanistan
10-03-2006 Gillam, Craig Paul, CD Sergeant 40 Royal Canadian Dragoons Canadian Army Newfoundland South Branch Hostile – hostile fire – RPG, small arms fire Kandahar Afghanistan
9-29-2006 Klukie, Josh Private 23 1st Battalion, Bravo Company, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Shuniah Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Panjwayi District of Kandahar Province Afghanistan
9-18-2006 Morley, Keith, CD Corporal 30 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Manitoba Winnipeg Hostile – hostile fire – suicide bomber Kandahar Afghanistan
9-18-2006 Keating, Shane Corporal 30 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Saskatchewan Dalmeny Hostile – hostile fire – suicide bomber Kandahar Afghanistan
9-18-2006 Byers, David Private 22 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Ontario Espanola Hostile – hostile fire – suicide bomber Kandahar Afghanistan
9-18-2006 Arnold, Glen, CD Corporal 32 2 Field Ambulance Canadian Army Ontario McKerrow Hostile – hostile fire – suicide bomber Kandahar Afghanistan
9-04-2006 Graham, Mark Anthony Private 33 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Hamilton Hostile – Friendly fire Panjwayi District (Kandahar Province) Afghanistan
9-03-2006 Mellish, Frank Robert, CD Warrant Officer 38 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Nova Scotia Truro Hostile – hostile fire Panjwaii district Afghanistan
9-03-2006 Stachnik, Shane Sergeant 30 2 Combat Engineer Regiment Canadian Army Alberta Waskatenau Hostile – hostile fire Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
9-03-2006 Cushley, William Jonathan James Private 21 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Ontario Port Lambton Hostile – hostile fire Southern Afghanistan Afghanistan
9-03-2006 Nolan, Richard Francis, CD Warrant Officer 39 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Newfoundland Mount Pearl Hostile – hostile fire Panjwaii district Afghanistan
8-22-2006 Braun, David Corporal 27 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Raymore Hostile – hostile fire – suicide bomber Kandahar Afghanistan
8-11-2006 Eykelenboom, Andrew James Corporal 23 1st Field Ambulance Canadian Army British Columbia Comox Hostile – hostile fire – suicide car bomb Kandahar Airfield Afghanistan
8-09-2006 Walsh, Scott Jeffrey Master Corporal 33 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Not reported yet Regina Non-hostile – gunshot wound Kandahar Afghanistan
8-05-2006 Arndt, Raymond Master Corporal 31 Loyal Edmonton Regiment Canadian Army Alberta Edson, Alta Non-hostile – accident Kandahar (35 kilometres southeast of) Afghanistan
8-03-2006 Reid, Christopher Jonathan, CD Corporal 34 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Nova Scotia Truro Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar (near) Afghanistan
8-03-2006 Keller, James Bryce Corporal 27 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Saskatchewan Regina Hostile – hostile fire – RPG attack Pashmul (near Kandahar) Afghanistan
8-03-2006 Ingram, Vaughn Sergeant 35 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Newfoundland Burgeo Hostile – hostile fire – RPG attack Pashmul (near Kandahar) Afghanistan
8-03-2006 Dallaire, Kevin Private 22 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Ontario Calgary Hostile – hostile fire – RPG attack Pashmul (near Kandahar) Afghanistan
7-22-2006 Warren, Jason Patrick Corporal 29 Black Watch, the Royal Highland Regiment of Canada Canadian Army Reserve Quebec Quebec City Hostile – hostile fire – suicide car bomb Kandahar Afghanistan
7-22-2006 Gomez, Francisco, CD Corporal 44 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Alberta Edmonton Hostile – hostile fire – suicide car bomb Kandahar Afghanistan
7-09-2006 Boneca, Anthony Joseph Corporal 21 Lake Superior Scottish Regiment Canadian Army Reserve Ontario Thunder Bay Hostile – hostile fire – small arms fire Panjwai district (Kandahar province) Afghanistan
5-17-2006 Goddard, Nichola Kathleen Sarah, MSM Captain 26 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Canadian Army Nova Scotia Calgary Hostile – hostile fire Not reported yet Afghanistan
4-22-2006 Payne, Randy Corporal 32 Garrison Military Police, Detachment Wainwright Canadian Army Ontario Gananoque Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kandahar (military hospital) Afghanistan
4-22-2006 Mansell, Myles Stanley John Bombardier 25 5th (British Columbia) Field Regiment Canadian Army Reserve British Columbia Victoria Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Shah Wali Kot Dist. [nr. Kandahar] Afghanistan
4-22-2006 Dinning, Matthew James Corporal 23 2 Military Police Platoon Canadian Army Ontario Richmond Hill Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Shah Wali Kot Dist. [nr. Kandahar] Afghanistan
4-22-2006 Turner, William Lieutenant 45 20th Field Artillery Regiment, Land Force Western Area Headquarters Canadian Army Reserve Ontario Toronto Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Shah Wali Kot Dist. [nr. Kandahar] Afghanistan
3-29-2006 Costall, Robert Private 22 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Ontario Thunder Bay Hostile – hostile fire Helmand Province Afghanistan
3-05-2006 Wilson, Timothy Master Corporal 30 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Alberta Grande Prairie Non-hostile – vehicle accident Landstuhl Reg. Med. Center Germany
3-02-2006 Davis, Paul Corporal 28 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Canadian Army Nova Scotia Bridgewater Non-hostile – vehicle accident Kandahar Afghanistan
11-24-2005 Woodfield, Braun Scott Private 24 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Canadian Army Nova Scotia Eastern Passage Non-hostile – vehicle accident Kandahar (45 km NE of) Afghanistan
1-27-2004 Murphy, Jamie Brendan Corporal 26 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battalion Group Newfoundland Conception Harbour Hostile – hostile fire – suicide bomber Kabul (near) Afghanistan
10-02-2003 Beerenfenger, Robbie Christopher Corporal 29 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Ontario Ottawa Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kabul Afghanistan
10-02-2003 Short, Robert Alan Sergeant 42 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment New Brunswick Fredericton Hostile – hostile fire – IED attack Kabul Afghanistan
4-18-2002 Leger, Marc D. Sergeant 29 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group Ontario Lancaster, Ottawa Hostile – friendly fire – bomb Kandahar Afghanistan
4-18-2002 Dyer, Ainsworth Corporal 24 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group Quebec Montreal Hostile – friendly fire – bomb Kandahar (near) Afghanistan
4-18-2002 Smith, Nathan Private 26 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group Nova Scotia Tatamagouche Hostile – friendly fire – bomb Kandahar (near) Afghanistan
4-18-2002 Green, Richard A. Private 21 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group
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The Afghanistan War
Women's Wednesday at the Olympics
First it was wonderful Wednesday and tonight in Vancouver it’s woman’s Wednesday. The ladies owned the podium today, tying the Canadian record for most medals won in one day with four.
Clara Hughes, the incredible Canadian athlete who has meddled in both Winter and Summer Olympic games competed in her final race on Wednesday. Bronze would be the lucky colour she would later add to her collection of accomplishments. The ladies 3000m short track relay team finished in third before Korea was disqualified for an illegal move, advancing Canada into the silver spot. Finally, the ladies on the bobsled took home Gold and Silver. Without a doubt, it was an incredibly exciting day for our ladies of the Olympics.
While our ladies hockey team will go for gold on Thursday, the men faced Russia in another must win game to advance to the semi-finals and they did it! Canada took home the win with a final score of 7-3. Next up, Canada vs. Slovakia on Friday in the final match up before the gold medal game.
What do we have to look forward to tomorrow? Ladies gold medal game against the USA and Joannie Rochette will perform another emotional skate in the final round of womans figure skating. Go Canada Go, we are so proud!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Traveling, it's in my blood
Is traveling a virus, a disease? Once you get exposed to it it seems to nestle itself in your body and there seems to be no cure. Never tried it? Not infected yet? Maybe you should never do it, as to not get “sick”?
Nah! All I can say is, you’d be nuts not to get out there and do what people have done for millions of years; explore your surroundings, i.e. your planet (and beyond if you can afford it, like Guy Laliberte from Cirque de Soleil, exploring space for a lot of cash.) There’s simply nothing like it. It develops your personality, it creates a bigger and better understanding of other people and their backgrounds and could eventually lead to world peace… Ok, that may be stretching it a little, but hey, it could happen.
In any case, I can highly recommend you get up and go. I traveled the globe quite a bit, and did so in sustainable, green ways and less green ways. Unfortunately it is not always possible to travel green, since the bright minds of technology are obstructed by (less bright) minds of the oil industry. But I have seen my share of our wonderful planet, and I am far from done seeing it.
To give you an idea of my travels in random order:
- extensive rock climbing and mountaineering (Alpinism) in the Swiss and Austrian Alps over the years,
- One year sabbatical by bicycle (7 months) and other means of transportation around the Globe, visiting Netherland (no -s please), Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, the USA, New Zealand (N&S), Thailand and Laos,
- A three week visit to the tropical island of Aruba,
- Separate trips to Thailand and Laos of at least a month each,
- Six month of cycling in France, Switzerland , Germany, Greece and Netherland, studying cycle tourism’s best practices (Report available at request,
- Train ride from Denver Colorado to San Francisco, camper vanning ( is that even a verb) to Los Angeles and back,
- Mountaineering expedition to Nepal for 8 weeks, climbing Yalong Ri and Parchamo, two unknown mountains in the Everest Region of 5900 and 6300 meters none the less. (That is 19,357 and 20.670 feet for the non-metrics),
- Exploring Death Valley and winter camping at altitude over night,
- Ice climbing frozen water falls in Austria with my good friend, exploring not just the terrain but myself in the process,
- Wild camping in the south of Portugal and Spain while exploring the inner most secrets (oh, and don’t forget about the tapas) of these two amazing European countries,
- After having been invited by the Colombian government I spent 10 days (way too short!) in beautiful Colombia, visiting Carthagena, Bogota, San Andres and Providencia Islands,
- Skiing Switzerland, but I can’t wait to skip the crowded pistes and start tour skiing,
- West Canada (British Colombia, yes, where the Olympic Winter Games are happening right now) and USA by old school bus, connecting with locals and professional travelers,
- and the list goes on and on, cheez, I must be getting old…;-
If this list did not inspire you, don’t worry, I am a very outdoorsy kind of person who doesn’t mind breaking a sweat. But there is something for everybody out there. Don’t just watch it from your sofa on Discovery Channel, Animal Planet or YouTube. Participate! Go out there and evoke change by asking questions, meeting people, having fun, sharing parts of your life with others who do the same. And make sure to let me know what you did and how you liked it. But remember, don’t say I did not warn you about that travel bug! Happy travels.
Go Canada Go !!! Be the best that you can be! (In spite of and ignoring the Canadian Olympic Committee)
The Canadian Olympic Committee has things that it should apologize for. But I am shocked to see COC apologizing for Canada’s performance in the middle of the Olympics and when there are still Canadian athletes ready to compete for Canada.
My message to Canadian Olympic athletes:
Go Canada Go !!! Be the best that you can be!
My message to Canadian Olympic Committee:
You suck! You shouldn’t have started a post-mortum now. It is just bad form to pour cold water onto our hardworking athletes. COC, shut up and let the athletes be the best they can be, and some of these best may be good for a medal or even gold.
News from
Calgary Sun, “Blown the podium“
CNC News, “Own the Podium dream over: Canadian official“
Sunday, February 21, 2010
"Super Sunday"...
The greatest thing about being a TV fantatic (obsessive) during the Olympics, is that each day gets MORE and MORE exciting and worth spending the entire day infront of. Like today for example…they are billing it as “Super Sunday” (which to me sounds more like a dessert at Pizza Hut or something…) because it is literally…cant-miss TV every hour of the day and night. Here’s what I’m talking about…
What I’m watching today:
12- Womens Curling
3- Ski Cross (finals)
4:30- Bobsled (finals)
5- Mens Curling
6- Speedskating and Figure skating (dance)
7:30- (EPIC!) Mens Hockey CAN v USA
10- W Curling
If that doesnt speak for itself, I dont know what will. Cancel plans, skip the shower and general ‘rat race’ for the day… it’s “Super Sunday” (with sprinkles…!) and you NEED to be watching it!
Enjoy!
Watch Oscar nominated Madame Tutli-Putli online
The 2008 (or 2009?) Oscar nominated Madame Tutli-Putli is finally available to watch online at NFB! I highly recommend readers check out the film.
After you watch Madame Tutli-Putli, you can have a read and listen to my “Chat with Laurie Maher – Soul of Madame Tutli-Putli“. Laurie’s eyes and mannerism were used by filmmakers Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski to make Madame Tutli-Putli so beautiful and soulful.
By the way, I’ve finished watching Chris & Maciek’s new short animation “Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There must be more to life” (featuring the voices of Meryl Streep & Forest Whitaker) and I will be reviewing the film soon.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Sounds of the Soul - An Evening of Multi-Faith Music
UofT Multi-Faith Centre & the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office present
Sounds of the Soul – An Evening of Multi-Faith Music
February 24 WEDNESDAY 7:15pm
Participants include
Bhakti Yoga Club
First Nations House
Mutamba Rainos
Ismaili Youth Choir
Varsity Jews
UofT Gospel Choir
http://www.uofttix.ca/view.php?id=602
Special Message from CBC Comedian Rick Mercer!
Earlier related
Ignatieff's Abortion Push Hurting Liberals'
OTTAWA, Ontario, February 19, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Catholic leaders are warning that the Liberal Party could be in danger of losing Catholic votes in light of Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff’s push for abortion in the Third World.
Ignatieff has called on the Conservative government and Prime Minister Stephen Harper to include abortion and contraception in Harper’s new initiative to promote maternal and child health care as president of this year’s G8 summit.
But the Liberal proposal has sparked strong reprimands from prominent Canadian Catholic leaders.
Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto, Canada’s largest diocese, rebuked Ignatieff in a February 4th statement, saying his advocacy for abortion and contraception as “fundamental elements” in maternal and child health care is “astonishing.”
“When there are so many obvious practical steps that can be taken to promote maternal and child health throughout the world,” he wrote, “it is sad to see Mr. Ignatieff introduce into the discussion this negative proposal, which in no way serves to improve the health of mothers or children, but which rather imperils the most vulnerable among us.”
“Even those who think that abortion should be allowed do not, however, propose it as a positive contribution to the good of society,” he wrote.
At the same time, criticism of Ignatieff from Canada’s largest Catholic newspaper, the Catholic Register, was so potent that it even drew the attention of the CBC, which published an article yesterday entitled “Catholic Register takes on Ignatieff.” The Catholic national weekly paper’s February 5th edition ran with a cover page featuring a large picture of Ignatieff backdropped by poor African children, with the large headline “Ignatieff urges abortion for world’s poor.”
“As headlines go, most political leaders would probably prefer to avoid one like this,” writes CBC reporter Neil Morrison.
Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary also strongly denounced Ignatieff’s proposal in an interview earlier this month with the National Post. “I thought it was pathetic for a political leader to suggest that abortion is somehow tied to the health of women and children,” he said. “It was a particularly crass remark in light of all the orphaned children we now see in Haiti.”
“It was absolutely incredible that he would say that and he is alienating religious people with these comments,” he continued. “This will not win him votes.”
There is evidence that the Catholic vote is key to the Liberal Party’s election success; there is also evidence that Ignatieff’s radical abortion advocacy could endanger the party’s Catholic vote.
In a May 2009 paper, a group of Canadian political scientists analyzed the Liberals fall from power over the course of the 2000 to 2008 federal elections. They found that the two “critical ingredient[s]” of their 2000 majority win were the support from Catholics and visible minorities. But the number of Catholics supporting the Liberal Party dropped from 54% in 2000 to 30% in 2008, while support for the Conservatives grew to 40% in 2008. Additionally, the authors found that in 2006 “views about abortion” had “a significant effect on the probability that a Catholic vote would vote Liberal.”
“Catholics and minority voters have been the twin pillars of Liberal dominance, but their support is clearly crumbling,” the report stated. “[The Liberals] have to go back to basics and rebuild their partisan base.”
Fr. Alphonse de Valk, editor of Canada’s Catholic Insight magazine, pointed out that this is the second time Ignatieff has “called for the killing of unborn children.” He said that the first time was in May 2009, when Ignatieff said “it is the longstanding view of the Liberal Party of Canada that women must have the right to choose.”
Fr. de Valk also warned that Ignatieff could be costing the Liberal Party Catholic votes. He called on Liberal MPs to reject Ignatieff’s claim to speak for the party, stating, “If his claim stands, many Catholics and other pro-life Canadians will not vote Liberal in a coming election.”
Contact Information:
The Hon. Michael Ignatieff
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 995-9364
Fax: (613) 992-5880
E-mail: IgnatM@parl.gc.ca
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10021910.html
Brother André becomes Quebec’s first saint Globe and Mail Vatican City – Globe and Mail Update Published on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 7:34AM EST Last updated on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 7:35 AM EST On Friday Pope Benedict XVI approved sainthood for Alfred Bessette, commonly known as Brother André, …
Brother André to become saint CBC.caFrom simple porter to saint Ottawa Citizen
The Canadian Press - Toronto Star - CTV.ca - Toronto SunThursday, February 18, 2010
Local Medical services fall drastically short of what it should be
http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/great-example-of-a-two-tier-health-system-in-canada/
http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/death-in-hospitals/
http://stayinhealth.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/how-to-get-better-medical-services/
http://postedat.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/the-still-unrepentant-wicked-persons/
http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/even-many-doctors-are-mainly-selfish-self-centered-want-to-get-rich-fast-too/
http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/cure-for-stress-high-blood-pressure-heart-attack/
Oh Canada
Walking down Granville Street in Vancouver tonight I saw something I’ve never seen in the United States. Twenty something girls playfully singing and strutting to the Canadian anthem. They were on the crosswalk and at the top of their lungs they were singing “Oh, Canada, our home and native land…” Of course patriotism and spirit are running high at the Olympics but the Canadians also have a very singable anthem with an extremely catchy melody. So catchy in fact, that John Furlong, the head of the Vancouver Olympic Committee chose the English lyrics “With Glowing Hearts” and the French ”Des plus brillants exploits” from the French version as trademarked slogans for the 2010 Olympics. On the other hand, our Star Spangled Banner, composed when Francis Scott Key was watching the Battle of Port McHenry during the War of 1812, is set to the tune of a British drinking song and at one and a half octaves it is more difficult to get right. We sing it solemnly at sporting events and always wonder if the vocalist will actually get through it without becoming pitchy or butchering it with some bizarre rendition. The Canadian anthem on the other hand rolls off the tongue especially if you’re 20 something and maybe have had a couple of drinks. So when Americans aren’t on the podium and Canadians are you might be tempted to sing so here are the words:
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Untold Stories from Winter Olympics 2010
With all the hype surrounding the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, with the commercialism and nationalism abound, I thought I would play the role of Debbie Downer and highlight some stories not being covered by the mainstream media.
We are not hearing the stories of Olympic Resistance where they are pointing out that the Vancouver Olympics are happening on stolen Native land and the homeless are being displaced in the name of a good showing. That’s what usually happens at these events, even in yearly parades: the plight of the poor is swept under the rug.
It is not a coincidence, then, that Stephen Harper, currently the Prime Minister of Canada and head of its Conservative offered a full apology on behalf of Canadians for the Indian Residential Schools system. He says that
“Today, we recognize this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country. The Government of Canada sincerely apologizes and asks the forgiveness of the Aboriginal peoples of this country for failing them so profoundly.”
I have come to admire Harper, his politics and his humble way of approaching policy. Perhaps another country’s conservatives and libertarians can learn from him.
Lastly, JK Gayle tells us why women cannot ski jump.
Truth and Peace,
Rod
Intimacy With Christ- Getting to know Jesus
Matthew 4:17
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Intimacy With Jesus Christ means ultimately getting with His program. And- getting with His program was ultimately getting with God’s program-
1 Peter 1:21
Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.
(Here Peter wants his Jewish friends to know that by putting their faith in Jesus Christ they had not strayed from a faith in God. Putting their faith in Jesus Christ was God’s program.)
Being like Jesus means that in some sense the believer is “on the move”– in this verse Jesus– after having been baptized and having gone into the wilderness– he went immediately into motion regarding His calling in Life. Jesus didn’t find a nice big chair to sit on with servants fanning him because of the “great things/teaching” coming out of His mouth with multitudes coming just to hear His wisdom. No. He didn’t immediately come out of the wilderness to seek the top leaders in town to find some kind of position with their organization because He was so smart, knew the scriptures so well, and could string them together like a pearl necklace- giving the sense of “great authority.” He sought not his own comforts– rather God’s path.
Jesus– basically headed on the move into the towns and villages as a servant-man. A preacher. Not a castle builder. A preacher. Not a- take advantage of the land deals. A preacher. Not an arm-chair theologian just picking people to pieces. No– a preacher for the people. You see– for us being on the move involves the left of us and the right of us– to be disciples, intimate with Jesus, and his true followers– we latch onto the plow of “faith working through love” and simply use what measure of light or talents God has given to us to move straight forward– just like Jesus. Elisha—after being told not to follow Elijah several times- had gotten rid of his farm equipment just to “follow.” He moved like Jesus– straight forward in God’s Kingdom work.
It’s interesting– the Lord Jesus didn’t walk into town with politically correct words, with a smooth and easy way to be “spiritual” or having a “beautiful” religion that didn’t cut across anyone’s character. He used the word “Repent.” The same word John the Baptist had lost his head over on the chopping block. Jesus was not afraid. As He went straight forward in His mission to preach He didn’t seek to please or tickle his audience’s ears. To be Intimate With Jesus Christ we can’t find ourselves getting caught on a nail on the fence post. Rather, we too must be resolute in whatever we do to the glory of God if that’s what God has called us to or if that’s what “faith working through love” means to Him. We’re just not hear to please everybody and the minute we become “friends” with that kind of thinking we’re out of Sync with the Father, Son, and the Spirit of God. Jesus was ultimately- by starting his “negative” message of letting go of what God hates- letting them know that that comes prior to turning to God. To consciously sin and then to remain in that and “come to God” in some sense is not to have come to Him at all since God is light and in Him is no darkness. Jesus preaching was getting the folk in a “heart” attitude of cleaning things up and as part of that– turning their lives over to or back to God. You see— it had been some 400 or more years of Israel not having any prophetic book written since the last book– “Malachi.” So, things needed to be mopped up a bit and God had Jesus and before him John the Baptist do the mopping through the preaching. Here we see to be Intimate With Jesus Christ we must be willing to hold a mop.
These days I hear the word “kingdom” off and on and off and on. To a lesser degree than a greater. But, here- Jesus was preaching sermons on the Kingdom of God which was now after several hundred years of kinda not hearing from God through prophets (God took that long to perfectly set the stage of the nations for Jesus Christ to come and be crucified and rise again.) You see folk—- it’s about a Kingdom– God’s. He’s not at this moment just snuffing out all things that have nothing to do with that Kingdom– rather—He’s using the foolishness of preaching to establish the Kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth. Though we may see pockets of His Kingdom here and there– it is actually universal– but, not brought to a head as it will be at what’s called the “Great Judgment.” So, finding out what it is to have Jesus over us as King, to be in Sync with God’s very own Kingdom coming down to earth— means that we must stay close to the Lord Jesus so that we can be about Kingdom work with and by Him in all we do whether it’s welding to God’s glory or as a blind person writing poems or songs to His glory- doing Kingdom work.
When Jesus is speaking about the Kingdom being near me thinx He has in mind several events that kinda really “kick-off” the Kingdom like His cross, resurrection, the Holy Spirit coming with Power onto His church/people, and His appearances to many as alive from the dead, and finally His ascension into Heaven so that once again there’s a relationship as it was between Heaven and earth and that is “Heaven coming down.” In the verse below it kinda summarizes something that the people Jesus was preaching to may have already known as many of them had scripture memorized. So, the concept of God being “near” meant moving into a place of humbly bowing- finding Him while He’s offering to be found. Intimacy With Jesus means that our life in some way emanates the urgency of the need for those around us to “draw near to Him” – even now.
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
Father God, I pray that we’d be more like Jesus in that we look not to the left nor to the right and take up whatever it is You have set before us whether in our eyes small or great. The Lord Jesus took up preaching and we have been given gifts, talents and abilities to take up the cause of “faith working through love.” So, Lord– help us to continue seeking “The Kingdom of God”/”Intimacy With Jesus” as Jesus sought You Father and taught You. Help us to show discernment of what our audience needs to see or hear as they needed to hear the words “Repent” in this passage (Change your heart about the direction it is going away from God perhaps in many ways.). They needed to hear that You had put Yourself in their path or way just as Jesus Christ has been put in our path or way that we might turn to Him. Father, help us every day to turn to You. Lord God, with You as King over man again through Jesus Christ– help us to understand what kind of King you are. You are a King of Mercy, Love, Compassion, Grace, Forgiveness, Hating anything that violates Love- for You- and Love for our fellowman, Beautiful, All everything in the sense of knowing, power, seeing, and being. Let us through reading this verse become a little more like Jesus and so, more Intimate With Christ. AMEN.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Animondos Comic #1 - America´s Friends -
america friends
The adventures of the Animondos have just begun.
Meet some of the characters who will share their life with the adventures of America.
To follow this comic, visit:
http://www.raptware.com/page-animondos-num-1.html
Olympic coverage!
So I’ve been keeping up with the Olympics and been getting in the spirit for cheering on my country. But on Friday, a tragic accident happened just hours before the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics. A Georgian Luger lost control with his speed turning in corner 16 where he was quickly thrown from the track. He was pronounce dead shortly after. I was deeply saddened to hear such news but I was happy to see the country of Georgia walk in the Opening Ceremony where they got a standing ovation. It was a heart warming moment and showed the world did care and did mourn the loss of the Georgian Luger. It was his first Olympic appearance and was only 21 years of age.
On a happier note and keeping with my country of Canada, Ladies’ Ice Hockey had a blow out win over Slovakia with a record win of 18 – 0. Canada also won their first medal which happens to be Silver. It was won my Jenn Heil who competed in Ladies’ Moguls. She was in first but was short lived as American born ,Hannah Kearnney, beat out Jenn for Gold. But our country is still so proud! Jenn Heil even made Trending Topic on Twitter. That’s major! Amazing job Hannah and Jenn!
There was another thing I loved about the Olympics and it had to do with the Opening Ceremony. Seeing that I am part Aboriginal as well as Swedish (but this is about my Aboriginal background), I was proud to see the multiple tribal dancers performing as the athletes walked to the main stage. And to have their moment as Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams were performing, I was amazed and proud. Proud and Pride are my most used words when the Olympics roll around ever 2 years. Simply because I’m proud of all the Canadians competing in suh events.
Good luck and congratulations to all the athletes of all countries in the Olympics.
Much love, B.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Snow in 49 of 50 U.S states
Almost all U.S states have snow this weekend. Only in tropical Hawaii there is none. It is so rare that all states have snow that experts can’t see this ever happened before. Even in Florida there was enough snow to make a snowball and that was enough to make it the 49th white state. Weirdly enough the northern parts of the U.S actually have less snow than normal(Canada as well) It is possible that there will be snow in all states, on the top of Hawaii’s highest volcano there has been snow in the past. That would be something!
Canada: BRIDGES THAT UNITE Calendar of Events
From January 28 to February 28, BRIDGESTHATUNITE will be presented at Canada Science and Technology Museum, and at Concordia University (J.W. McConnell Library Building atrium) from March 7 to 26.
As part of the exhibition, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) presents a series of free special events including lectures, panel discussions, film screenings and performances. Event details, location, start time and registration details are posted below.
Read more at:
http://www.bridgesthatunite.ca/en_events/
For the slide show visit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mstcweb/show/with/4344017860/
->>>>><<<<<-
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Exploring the Roles Corporate and Securities Law Can Play in Encouraging Corporations to Respect Human Rights
by John Ruggie, for The Harvard Law School Forum at Harvard Law School, Febraury 10, 2010.
Recently York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto convened an expert meeting in support of the Corporate Law Tools Project of my UN mandate, titled “Corporate Law and Human Rights: Opportunities and Challenges of Using Corporate Law to Encourage Corporations to Respect Human Rights.” The consultation was also supported by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and further assistance was provided by Export Development Canada and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
I was appointed in 2005 by then UN Secretary‐General Kofi Annan, pursuant to a broad mandate adopted by the then UN Commission on Human Rights, to identify and clarify standards of corporate responsibility and accountability regarding human rights, including the role of states. In June 2008, after extensive global consultation with business, governments and civil society, I proposed a policy framework to the UN Human Rights Council (Council) for better managing business and human rights challenges. The Council was unanimous in welcoming the framework.
The UN “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework rests on three differentiated yet complementary pillars: the state duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business, through appropriate policies, regulation, and adjudication; the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, which in essence means to act with due diligence to avoid infringing on the rights of others; and greater access for victims to effective remedy, judicial and non-judicial…(continue reading)
To fly or not to fly?
From Canwest “Federal government may hike air-security tax: Airlines“,
“Canadian airline passengers should brace for the possibility of pricier travel after next month’s federal budget, a roundtable on air security was told Wednesday.
Michael Skrobica, a spokesman for the commercial aviation industry, said he fears the Conservative government will feel “huge pressure” to hike the air travellers security tax in a bid to offset the cost of expensive full-body scanners and other new security measures without adding to the already massive deficit.”
As if all the harassment in the airport is NOT enough, the fed was us to pay for the harassment.
To fly or not to fly? is the question.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
TOEFL INDIA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME-BIOMEDICAL
(For Students Planning to study in UK, US & Canada)
ETS has developed a scholarship programme to recognise outstanding students in India who will begin their postgraduate studies in the U.K., U.S. or Canada in 2010. The programme will recognise students with high academic achievement who have demonstrated leadership skills, innovative ideas and an outstanding ability to communicate in English.
Seven scholarships are available. Awards will be issued to the attending institutions in order to assist students with their educational expenses. There will be three $10,000 scholarships and four (4) $5,000 scholarships awarded to selected test takers who have already been accepted at an institution in the U.K., U.S. or Canada.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
i.)Be an undergraduate or graduate student currently living in India who will begin postgraduate study in the U.K., U.S. or Canada in 2010
ii.) Have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale
iii.)Demonstrate English proficiency with your TOEFL scores
Before filling out the TOEFL Scholarship application:
1) Take the TOEFL test and receive your scores. On your scholarship application, you will need to provide your total score and section scores, test date, test centre number, registration number and the ETS ID number from your registration confirmation.
2) Complete an intent form that indicates you wish to apply for the TOEFL Scholar Programme. Please include your TOEFL registration number and ETS ID number on your intent form.
After ETS receives your intent form, it will create a file for you and place all your scholarship documents in the file. Since only complete application files will be considered, ETS will contact you if any documentation is missing.
3) Download and print the application form. List all universities in the U.K., U.S. and Canada to which you have applied. Please note that if you are selected as a scholarship winner, you will be required to provide an acceptance letter from an accredited university.
4) Collect all academic and examination transcripts from all the higher education institutions you have attended.
5) Collect two letters of recommendation.
i.)One from a professor or university official who is familiar with your academic contribution and accomplishments (must be on university letterhead)
ii.)One from an employer or from a personal contact (not a friend, classmate or family member) who has knowledge of your activities outside the classroom such as extracurricular activities, community service, work experience, etc. (must be on letterhead of the organisation)
6) Start to compose your written response to the essay question listed on the TOEFL Scholarship Application.
7) Write your TOEFL registration number on all documents, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, in order for your application file to be considered complete.
Send your entire application file, including all the items listed above, to ETS by 31 March 2010.
TOEFL Scholar Programme – India
ETS
Rosedale Road, MS 61-L
Princeton, NJ, 08541 USA
You can also write to us at indiascholarships@ets.org or call at +91 9930 243 795 (9 AM – 6 PM IST).
Selection Process
Only application files that are complete and received by the 31 March 2010 deadline will be considered.
i.)All documentation will be authenticated by ETS.
ii.)Applications will be evaluated by 2 independent raters who are professors within the Indian higher education sector and who have been trained by ETS to evaluate your scholarship application.
iii.)All scholarship applicants will be notified of their standing by 15 April 2010.
iv.)If you are one of the finalists, you will be required to participate in a phone interview and submit your letter of acceptance from the university you plan to attend in 2010 by 15 May 2010 to the address above, referencing your TOEFL registration number.
Winners will be notified by 22 May 2010.
TOEFL Scholarship funds will be dispersed to your attending institution. Winners will need to fill out a tax declaration form with the Indian government for the amount of your award.
Click here to apply for TOEFL scholarship program.
Flame Ignites Whistler
On Friday, February 5, the town of Whistler (and thousands of new friends) gathered to welcome the flame that that has spent three months travelling across our vast nation.
Patriotism was rampant throughout the village. I’ve never seen so many Canadian flags, toques, shirts, mitts and scarves. Even the random German flag and old dude chanting “USA, USA!” were welcomed.
Folk music kicked off celebrations in Village Square in the early afternoon. This stage will see the likes of the Barenaked Ladies, Matisyahu and plenty more Canadian artists who are playing throughout the Games.
Later in the evening, an estimated 15,000 people crowded into Skiers’ Plaza to watch the torch travel on snowmobile withCanadian skicross athlete, Julia Murray, on skis with Crazy Canuck ski racer, Steve Podborski, and finally by foot with local mountain biking star, Tyler Allison. Tyler was selected to light Whistler’s community cauldron.
I was in Montreal when I first heard that Vancouver/Whistler had won the Olympic bid. Even so far away, my heart skipped a beat at the thought of the world’s largest party coming to my backyard. After all, I had arrived in Sydney, Australia just one month after the 2000 Summer Games ended and the atmosphere was still electric.
Now, after years of anticipation for some – and opposition for others – we are just 4 days away from the kick off of the 2010 Winter Games. I can’t believe it!
As someone who has grown up in this incredible province of British Columbia, I’m truly humbled by the fact that the world is descending upon our communities to watch the best athletes on the globe compete. I can’t wait to see the Whistler Village come alive with music, art and people from all over the world. The Olympics are what we as individuals make of them. As we all know, this opportunity comes around but once in lifetime. Let the Games begin!
For a full list of Whistler Live! bands and DJs, check out Whistler2010 website.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Mama's Boys
You get runs of things when you work at Triage. Some days it seems everyone has eaten a monster panzerotti and is presenting with bilary colic; last week there was a streak of people returning from Cancun or Montego Bay with clots along with their duty-free rum and calves looking like sausages.
Last night it was men coming in with chest pain, lacerations, Colles fractures, epistaxis, what-have-you. This is not, in fact, unusual. What was strange was they were all being chaperoned by their middle-aged mothers, who appeared to be sharing the same address. I’m not talking about university students living at home or anything like that. I’m talking about thirty-something guys with respectable jobs and hair on their backs.
Frankly, it was weird. One mother insisted on giving her son’s history, as if he were twelve or deaf or cognitively impaired (“Do you have any allergies?” “He’s allergic to kiwi fruit and nutmeg.”) Another helped her not obviously incapacitated son undress for an ECG, which to my mind crosses that invisible, yet definite, line between Mildly Amusing and Dude, This is Really Creeping Me Out.
I understand about boomerang children and guys living at home to save up money for a house and so on. Even so, a male friend of mine has a theory that guys — straight or gay — really want to leave home as soon as possible because they want to Get Some, and your mama’s presence in the room next door tends to cramp, even obstruct, the whole attendant process. As for the contrary, he says, the guys living with their moms into their thirties (and beyond) — well, draw your own conclusions. Like everything, it all comes down to sex, and the acquisition thereof.
I repeated this theory to a colleague of mine in an ill-advised moment of familiarity.
“Well,” she said, “Rupert was thirty-eight and lived with his mother till we got married.”
“Oh look,” I said, “that patient has fallen down.” And ran away, quickly.
This is why I blog. I just cant keep my mouth shut.
Immigration Canada Guide - Updates in Live-In Caregiver Program!
Image : http://www.flickr.com
Canada has recently declared some proposed regulations, the rights of live-in caregivers Save and make the immigration process easier for them.
Immigration Minister of Canada has worked in favor of the "Juana Tejada Law" and said the first phase of the proposed change to the requirement for live-in caregivers, a medical examination for the next time, when they set up on an application PR eliminate in Canada.
Another proposed amendment specifiedDuring the live-in caregivers have been given the authorization valid for a PR, as overtime. Now, the new measures are approved, the live-in caregivers the right to request a public relations and, after 3900 hours. In addition, a fraction of their overtime in addition to the requirements of regular work would be to make a qualified caregiver to apply for PR status.
The immigration minister of Canada said the changes would serve to supportWho cares for the young, the disabled and the elderly in Germany. Some administrative changes would require that employers pay by the live-in caregivers for the following aspects:
1. Travel costs to come to Canada
2. Protection at work compensation
3. Recruitment fees payable to third parties (if any)
4. Health insurance, until such time as live-in caregivers to consider measures for their personal health insurance.
It 'absolutely necessary that the contractClothing must use all terms in a simple manner. So, to keep away from any inconvenience.
For more information, visit the Immigration Canada Guide.
My Links : travel thailand
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Meet The Dancers Of Kinetic Elements: Ashley
Ashley Desson-Demetriadis
Ashley has been studying, creating and performing in dance for over 15 years. She received her professional dance training at York University where she had the experience of performing with diverse choreographers from the Canadian dance community.
Ashley spent several years traveling and competing in dance across Canada and the United States with great success, receiving numerous awards and scholarships. She has taught locally as a youth and teen dance instructor, and has choreographed several high school student theatre productions.
Ashley has performed across the GTA in festivals and events, including the Fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists (fFIDA). Her involvement with renowned artists, including the Peggy Baker Dance Projects and the National Ballet School of Canada continues to influence her growth as a performer, teacher and choreographer.
Q&A What’s Your Favourite Movie?Any of the classic ’50’s musicals – High Society, Singin’ in the Rain….
What keeps you dancing?Martha Graham expressed it best in a letter to Agnes DeMille:
“No artist is pleased.
There is no satisfaction whatever at any time.
There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction;
a blessed unrest that keeps us marching
and makes us more alive than the others.”
Becoming a Mum
What is your favorite word?Melliflous
What would your perfect day consist of?Sleeping in, Starbucks, sunshine, a little solitude, a lot of laughter, a great meal, good friends. An adventure, a surprise, a challenge. Cupcakes. An amazing technique class, an inspiring rehearsal, a moment on stage, or a slow dance in my kitchen… as long as I’m dancing!
Ashley will be performing a sizzling hot tango and modern dance fusion with Daniel at The Bazaar Latin Fever! Tuesday, February 23rdThursday, February 4, 2010
"I know a couple who bought a house for $3 million plus. Put about $800k down from their previous house which was mostly paid off, but that's still a huge freaking whack of new debt."
People who have apparently taken profits, but then simply used them to leverage up, are now in positions that are even more vulnerable to price drops. In the following example, a 25% pull-back in prices will wipe out 100% of the owners’ $800K equity. -vreaa
This from betamax at RE Talks 4 Feb 2010 12:10 am -
“I know a couple who bought a house for $3 million plus. Put about $800k down from their previous house which was mostly paid off, but that’s still a huge freaking whack of new debt. They thought they’d only be able to get a mortgage for $1 million based on earnings and were thrilled when the bank let them go into hock for more than twice that.”
Hindsight (revision)
I don’t know why we thought it would be safe up here.
We fled to Canada around the same time that Shania Twain and Tom Cruise were said to have flown up here. The celebrities mixed with T.V. programs and word-of-mouth all encouraged people to start heading north. Pretty soon, the Canadian government had to close off their borders. We heard they shot anyone who tried to come across, but that didn’t stop people from coming in after the folk had it in their heads that Canada was the place to be. Zombies started cropping up everywhere after that, even the animals. In hindsight, I suppose we should have tried to drive someplace else, but it’s hard to fill up a tank of gas when you ain’t got no money.
Yeah, not just us. A lot of folk who came up didn’t have a penny to their name. And even if they did, there’s not a lot of housing to go around. Some folk tried to build their own houses, buying materials from the city and cutting up the forests. BC residents have had a huge escalation in break-ins, robberies, and murders. A lot of people have died just for some squatters to have some food and shelter. Of course, the military has been cracking down on this, too, but there’s only enough of them to protect the richer burbs. For our own protection, I suggested to Sarah that we live in the truck. She agreed.
We came up in my ‘04 Silverado. Bought her brand new. Now, she’s all dented up from stray deer and moose attacks. So far we’ve been lucky with ‘em, but you never want a run-in with a moose. Run into one going to fast and your car’s totaled. Unless you’re driving a tank, it’s done. And if you’re stranded out in the wilderness with no car, well, you’re a dead man.
One day, driving down the rode, I saw one just standing there, its ribs all exposed and its face torn away. You see something like that, it’s hard to believe at first. Your reaction times slow a bit. I swerved out of the way, lost traction and almost hit a tree. After that, it was hard to get back on the road, what with the snow and ice. Lucky for us, the moose was so eaten up, one leg barely had any muscle holding it together. It was pretty much limping at us but fast enough. When you start looking at the skeleton of a creature, all the parts underneath that make an animal tick, then it starts looking less like a living being and more like a monster: eyes filmed, teeth rotten, ribs scraping at the passenger window. We almost didn’t make it that day. I know my wife still has nightmares about it most days, though she won’t admit it to me.
Sarah keeps me sane. She keeps the night watch because she says she has better eyes ‘n me. She says she likes to go to sleep watching the sun rise, which I’mm sure is a relief, but I think she’s simply too afraid to sleep at night. I can’t blame her. I have trouble sleeping sometimes, too, knowing that those creatures are out there. But if I wake up dead, I wake up dead. Man’s gotta sleep. And I trust her to keep me safe, wake me up if anything goes south.
It’s weird we didn’t think about the animals. It’s Hollywood, I guess. We always think of zombies as being people, you know? Then again, who thought zombies would be walking around at all! At least people would never stand the cold, but all the deer and wildlife out here have coats that just shed the snow like it was nothing. I hear people farther up north have to deal zombie polar bears. I don’t envy them, though they’re becoming more frequent down here. Depending on the amount of decay, those sonsabitches can rush you up to 40 clicks. And I’ve only heard rumors about the mosquitoes in the Bayou. They say on the T.V. that it’s just one big dead zone down there. I guess it could be worse, but it definitely could have been better.
Sometimes I think to myself that we’re being hunted here, that everyone sitting still is just waiting to die. At least we got this truck, though it doesn’t do us much good with no gas. If only we’d been smarter with our money a bit… ah, what’s the use of worryin’ about the past? You know what they say. Hindsight’s a bitch.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Maybe he’s just coming to the U.S. for health care in order to show how much better they’ve got things in Canada.
Has anybody thought of that yet? The story:
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams is set to undergo heart surgery this week in the United States.
CBC News confirmed Monday that Williams, 60, left the province earlier in the day and will have surgery later in the week.
The premier’s office provided few details, beyond confirming that he would have heart surgery and saying that it was not necessarily a routine procedure.
See, this just proves that Canada is not – repeat: not – a socialist society. In an actual socialist society, the elite have resources set aside for them and them only. Clearly, therefore, Canada is not a socialist society. Even their political elites have to leave the country to access top-notch health care.
More: Ed Morrissey writes:
If an American governor had to go outside the US to seek the kind of immediate care he needed, that would be considered scandalous.
Just to be clear: the fact that no U.S. governor or other high-ranking official would ever leave the country for a medical procedure does not – repeat: not – prove that the U.S. is a socialist society.
Via Memeorandum.
Gavazzi riots, Montreal, 1853
Montreal Pilot, 11 June 1853, page 2
It was our painful duty yesterday to announce a few particulars of the lamentable events that occurred in this city on the occasion of Father Gavazzi’s lecture on Thursday evening. In doing so we confined ourselves almost entirely to the facts that had fallen under our observation; facts which need only be stated to convince every mind of the necessity of a searching investigation as to the causes that led to them. We regret to learn that rumor, instead of, as usual, exaggerating the importance and enormity of the evil, fell short of the reality. The loss of life, which at the time we penned our observations was we believed confined to two or three individuals, has swelled up to a much larger number, besides which many individuals have sustained serious injury, several of whom will be maimed for life. Altogether this is the most deplorable of the many unfortunate events connected with our civil dissensions which it has been our lot to record.
We have not hesitated to express our concern, that M. Gavazzi should have appeared amongst us. Lectures, such as he is in the habit of delivering, can only lead to inflame the passions, and excite religious rancour. We have already too many sources of dissension amongst us for us to wish this element added to our strife. But, whilst we thus decidedly reprobate religious controversies, conducted in the manner in which, those of Gavazzi are, we should be recreated to our principles, were we to hesitate to uphold the right of freedom of discussion, by every sect and persuasion alike; and to visit with our severest censure, any attempts at every infringement of that right, from whatever source it may emanate. We believe that the events of Thursday, where both parties have alike suffered, read a lesson to both—to the one, to respect the religious feelings or prejudices of his neighbor, and to the other to refrain from violently resenting every fancied affront or injury. It is our wish to draw the veil over further discussion; and we trust, that when the first feelings of resentment have died away, the harmony which has at most times- and of late- especially- existed amongst members of the various religious persuasions into which Canada is divided, may be again restored.