Ann Coulter visit sets off furor LOND ...

Ann Coulter visit sets off furor

LONDON, Ont. – American conservative firebrand Ann Coulter won’t be in London until Monday but already the dust is flying.

Local activist and one-time NDP candidate Megan Walker says of Coulter, “She’s venomous . . . She crosses the line and promotes hatred and violence.”

Walker’s comments provoked a response from a woman instrumental in bringing Coulter to London, Mary Lou Ambrogio, whose group, the International Free Press Society, is paying $10,000 for the appearance, the balance of Coulter’s fee coming from an American group that promotes conservatism in young women, the Claire Boothe Luce Policy Institute.

read more http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/03/20/13300156.html

[Via http://obennation.com]

Mariners Reach

Ok, it is not Nova Scotia, it is New Brunswick, but Mariners Reach is a great scenic location for building a home.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Nova Scotia

[Via http://yimvmd.wordpress.com]

Canada has more economic freedom than the United States: The Heritage Foundation

The conservative Heritage Foundation, no friend of socialism, has ranked Canada ahead of the United States in economic freedom, at 7th and 8th place, respectively.

From their 2010 Index of Economic Freedom, the top 10 countries with the most economic freedom in descending order are:

• Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Switzerland, Canada, United States, Denmark and Chile.

Ranked by Business Freedom, Trade Freedom, Fiscal Freedom, Government Spending, Monetary Freedom, Investment Freedom, Financial Freedom, Property Rights, Freedom from Corruption, and Labor Freedom, Canada beats the U.S. on 7 out of 10, ties on Investment Freedom, and falls behind only on Government Spending and Labor Freedom.

Particularly embarrassing to the U.S. should be Canada’s ranking of 90% for Property Rights versus 85% for the U.S., given that the U.S. Constitution explicitly provides for just compensation for the taking of property, and the Canadian Constitution does not. Instead, it leaves property rights to the jurisdiction of the provincial legislatures. Even the Chinese Constitution provides for compensation for the taking of property, whereas Canada’s doesn’t.

[Via http://fauxcapitalist.com]

Predator Drones On U.S.-Mexico Border

Predator drones will be employed to track illegal immigrants on the Mexico-California border. The high tech plane, an unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV, typically used in military combat, has become an important tool in the border war. Called the Predator, it’s designed for surveillance and can spot someone carrying a backpack from an altitude of 19,000 feet. Drones are already used on the border of Texas and Arizona. Electronic tracking equipment looks for illegal immigrants crossing into California.

Join Emptysuit On Twitter

Click On Links:

Nigeria Religious Riots Kill More Than 200

Obama Illegal Afghanistan War

Obama Remains Silent As Scores Die In Nigeria

Violence (WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO)

Obama Ignore Nigeria Killings, Like Clinton

Did With Rwanda (WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO)

The Afghanistan War

Military Deaths In Afghanistan

Obama Afghanistan Plan?

Liberal’s Anti-War Hypocrisy.?

Obama’s Keeps Silent About The Afghanistan War

US Soldiers Shoot Bomber, Grenade Explodes In His

Hands (WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO)

[Via http://emptysuit.wordpress.com]

Vintage Baby

I made this card a while back and haven’t had the chance to post it – so here goes!

The base is So Saffron and I layered it on the bottom with More Mustard and on top with So Saffron Designer Paper. I really love the tone-on-tone effect of these colours together. The designer paper has been sponged with a decor stencil from Elegant Trio stencil set (using More Mustard ink) and the edges have also been sponged.

The bottom layer is Sweet Pea designer paper which was again sponged and I also stamped over the pattern with the Very Vintage jumbo wheel and So Saffron ink.

Along the seam where to two designer papers meet, I adhered a More Mustard layer which was punched with the Eyelet Border punch and tied over some 5/8″ Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon. I added a big bow and on it a More Mustard button and a tag from Tiny Tags which I punched out with the Medium Jewelry tag punch.

For the centre image, I stamped the buggy from Puns from the Past in Chocolate Chip craft ink and sponged the edges with So Saffron. I adhered this to a More Mustard layer and distressed the edges.

To finish the vintage look, I took my Chocolate Chip marker and Spritzer tool and spritzed the entire card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Products used on this project – CLICK HERE to buy them NOW!

Cardstock: So Saffron, Whisper White, More Mustard.

Ink: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip craft, More Mustard.

Stamps: Puns from the Past, Tiny Tags, Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel.

Accessories: 5/8″ Chocolate Chip grosgrain, Earth Elements buttons, Medium Jewelry tag punch, Spritzer tool, Eyelet border punch, Elegant Trio decor stencils, Stampin’ Sponges, Sweet Pea DSP, So Saffron DSP, linen thread.

[Via http://artisticavenger.wordpress.com]

Paralympic Winter Games kicks off in Canada

Paralympic Winter Games kicks off in Canada

QĐND – Sunday, March 14, 2010, 21:39 (GMT+7)

The Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games officially opened in the Canadian province of British Columbia on March 12 night (local time).

As many as 35,000 spectators and officials, including Governor General Michaelle Jean and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, attended the opening ceremony, which was organised at BC Place Stadium.

A two-hour show featured a cast of 5,000 people performing music, dance and songs around a theme of “One inspires many”.

A new flame lit the cauldron here just twelve days after the Winter Olympic flame was extinguished. The Paralympic torch relay arrived in Vancouver on March 10 for the final leg of its journey before the start of March 12’s opening ceremony in Vancouver. About 600 torchbearers are participating nationwide.

The Paralympic torch was carried into the stadium jointly by Betty and

Rolly Fox, parents of Terry Fox, a forever-young Canadian hero who died in 1981 at 22 after running — on one leg — 5,300 kilometres in 143 days, to raise funds for cancer research.

Fox’s attempt to run across all of Canada was foiled when his cancer

returned, but today millions of people in 30 countries take part in an annual Terry Fox run.

The Paralympics, which run from March 12-21, features 1,350 athletes, trainers and support staff from 44 countries and regions.

The athletes will compete in five sports and 64 medal events, including wheelchair curling, ice sledge hockey, Alpine skiing and the Nordic skiing encompassing biathlon and cross-country skiing.

Source: VNA

Source: QDND

[Via http://myvietnamnews.com]

Blogtrotting - Welcome to Kingston

I just recently discovered the BlogTrotting site, after I read my friend Jessica’s post about Austin, Texas, and I thought it was a great idea so I signed up. Having said that, I probably should have considered the fact that I don’t necessarily live in the most exciting city in North America, let alone Canada, or even Ontario. But it is my hometown, and I’ve lived here almost my entire life, and it most certainly deserves a visit.

So here are some basics about my hometown: *It is located in South Eastern Ontario, surrounded by beautiful Lake Ontario, and is a major port to the Thousand Islands

*Kingston was the first capital of Canada, and is the home of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A Macdonald (who is also buried here) *The population of Kingston proper is approximately 117,000 and approx. 153,000 when including surrounding townships *It is also known as the “Limestone City” because many of the local, historic buildings are built from the local limestone. * Do you need a little education? Queen’s University, one of the oldest universities in Canada, and most beautiful is also located in Kingston. It’s a gorgeous campus, filled with many smart profs that will be sure to stress you out for as long as you’re there (yes I speak from experience). Along with my alma mater, you will find St. Lawrence College and R.M.C. (the Royal Military College of Canada) – Canada’s only military university. Kingston is also home to the oldest high school in Canada, K.C.V.I., again my alma mater.

Have you been a bad boy (or girl)? If you happen to break the law, then you may end up in one of the 9 institutions located in and around Kingston – yes, we are famous for having the most federal correctional facilities in Canada. Seriously, though, isn’t that a pretty penitentiary?? That definitely deserves at least a banner I think.

* It’s good enough for Bryan Adams to be born here, then it’s good enough for you too dammit! There are many well known individuals who are from Kingston and/or make their home here including several NHLers and musicians. They include: Don Cherry, Doug Gilmour, Kirk Muller, John Kay (Steppenwolf), The Tragically Hip, Zal Yanovsky (The Lovin’ Spoonful), Sarah Harmer, and Dan Akroyd. There are also many notable authors that live or once lived in Kingston, and being a book lover, I can absolutely appreciate this. Some authors you may recognize include: Helen Humphreys, Diane Schoemperlen, Robertson Davies, Merilyn Simonds, and Steven Heighton. * What to do, What to do I will admit that although I am not a fan of winter ANYWHERE, I do really enjoy the warmer months in Kingston, because there is always something going on. There are many festivals that occur every year, that bring in thousands of tourists and we try to attend as many as we can. Our favorite is the Busker’s Festival, but we also enjoy the Blues festival, the Jazz festival, and Febfest. We also enjoy attending theatre, the Kingston Symphony and other musical events at the local Grand Theatre and KROCK Centre. And for the outdoorsy types, there are many beautiful trails to enjoy, as well as fresh water sailing, diving and golf. Well, that’s as much Kingston as I’m willing to share with you over the internet. I hope you enjoyed your short, but filled-with-love tour. If you’re ever in my little city, let me know and I’ll let you buy me a drink. Cheers.

[Via http://mommymaria.wordpress.com]

National Pride Online

Why do so few companies in Canada actively promote a .ca domain name?  Have we no sense of pride?  For the record, I have two websites (including talkinghead.ca) that both use Canadian domain names.

You don’t have to look far to find a big company that promotes its .com domain name over a .ca.  Shame on the likes of Scotiabank and The Bay.  Shame.

Why do they do it?

It is just too easy.  Not only is “dot-com” a major part of pop culture but it is also only two syllables and rolls off the tongue more easily.  Perhaps the extra syllable in a Canadian “dot-C-A” makes it unpalatable to marketers trying to establish an online brand.

Shining Beacons of Canadiana (found in occasionally unusual places)

The once proudly Canadian-owned Future Shop still plugs it’s Canadian roots with a patriotic red colour scheme and it’s FutureShop.ca website.

Chapters and Indigo.  Prior to Indigo’s acquisition of Chapters Bookstores, their online property was Chapters.com.  Now that Indigo has a near monopoly on retail book selling in Canada, their merged website appropriately reflects the Canadian heritage and ownership of both companies.  Chapters.com, Chapters.ca, indigo.ca and even worldsbiggestbookstore.ca all reroute your browser to the unusually cobranded domain chapters.indigo.ca.

Even Americans playing in the Canadian sandbox tend to keep their Canadian sites separate, using .com for the US property and .ca to distinguish its Canadian site.  Online powerhouses like Amazon and Yahoo use the top level domain to distinguish their sites.  American Electronics retailer Best Buy, owner of Future Shop, also has stores and a website in Canada on a .ca domain.

Are companies that push dot-com being un-Canadian?  Or is it simply better for business?  You tell me.

© 2010 http://talkinghead.ca

[Via http://talkinghead.ca]

happenings..

here’s a photo I took the other day while out shooting a few things for Toronto Life. I’ll have a number of new things to post after the April issue of Toronto Life drops (which i believe happens next week!) but they’ll have to hold off till then. keep an eye out for the April issue and for my photo creds.

[Via http://devinjeffreyblog.wordpress.com]

Iggy blows it again

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement  in 2002 when he was still calling himself an American. In those years he used “we” several times referring to himself ..until the cynical Liberals brought back the saviour and parachuted him to the leadership of the party.Then he backed off what he said in 2002:

When I looked down at the West Bank and the settlement like Crusader forts occupying the high ground at the Israek security cordon along the Jordan river closing off the Palestinian lands from Jordan I knew I was not looking down atb a sate or the beginnings of one but at a Bantustan one of those pseudo-staes created in the dying years of apartheid to keep the African population under control.

Compare this with his motherhood lies last week about Israeli Apartheid week when he sated that those particiapting in the week were ”attemting to demonize and undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state.”

Iggy of course was bitten badly  during the Lebanon war and the Israeli lobby almost decapitated him.Once bitten , twice shy. Read this nonsense. It’s no wonder even with Harper  at the helm the Libs can’’t challenge.

“On university campuses across the country this week, Israeli Apartheid Week will once again attempt to demonize and undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state. It is part of a global campaign of calls for divestment, boycotts and proclamations, and it should be condemned unequivocally and absolutely.

Apartheid is defined, in international law, as a crime against humanity. Israeli Apartheid Week is a deliberate attempt to portray the Jewish state as criminal.

The activities planned for the week will single out Jewish and Israeli students. They will be made to feel ostracized and even physically threatened in the very place where freedom should be paramount — on a university campus.

Let us be clear: criticism of Israeli government policy is legitimate. Wholesale condemnation of the State of Israel and the Jewish people is not legitimate. Not now, not ever.

The very premise of Israeli Apartheid Week runs counter to our shared values of mutual respect and tolerance, regardless of nationality, race or creed. It is an attempt to heighten the tensions in our communities around the tragic conflict in the Middle East.

On behalf of the Liberal party of Canada and the Parliamentary caucus, I urge all Canadians to join with us in condemning Israeli Apartheid Week, and to reject, in principle, all forms of anti-Semitism, racism and intolerance, both within this country and around the world.”

[Via http://theologyinthevineyard.wordpress.com]

Young professionals have the highest probability of immigration to Canada in 2010

In view of the fact that Canada is rated one of the best places to live in the world, it's no wonder that the selection of some 250,000 immigrants living in Canada each year. If you add the cost relatively low standard of living, good health and education and a well-paying jobs – it sounds like the land of your dreams.

If you have decided to move to Canada, there are several ways to do it. For example, the business immigration, immigration class family, the experience and classImmigration. However, persons who qualify under the criteria of the skilled working class, the highest probability of their dream to live, like Canada are the plans concerning the adoption of 101,000 new skilled worker immigrants in 2010 and the province of Quebec is the larger percentage of them.

The important thing is to be done before considering the application for immigration to Quebec to see if you qualify for this program. People who speak French, have work experience, higher education, a job offer fromQuebec, an employer or relatives who live in Quebec have the highest chance of qualification.

Presenting the next step in the process of an official application for immigration. This is where professionals can help. You can ensure that all documents for immigration to fill in for the preparation of candidates for the interview and the status of your application.

After applying immigration is successful, you must decide whereto regulate themselves through the life and work space and improve your skills in French. Once in Quebec, you need an official integration, which will obtain information on the documents needed to rent an apartment and include your children seen in school. If necessary, he go to a course in French. During the first, there are plenty of free information sessions that immigrants new to say how quickly adapt their lives, Quebec,introduce the values of society, Quebec and the details of everyday life.

My Links : mayan 2012 true End of The World 2012 Nostradamus Prediction

[Via http://mayan2012true.wordpress.com]

Garmin nvi 765/765T 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic - $184.99

The nuvi 765T offers full preloaded coverage mapping for the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Featuring a number of handy routing and communication features to an already impressive list of specs, including a 4.3-inch widescreen display, text-to-speech capabilities, media player, and FM transmitter for transmitting audio–including directions and MP3 music and audiobooks–from the device to your car radio. List Price: $499.99 Price: $184.99 You Save: $315.00 (63%) Expires Mar 9, 2010 Date Published: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT Visit Address Link: SB Link Address

Please click on the following link to visit this daily featured deal.

Deal Address Click Here

[Via http://shoppingbagger.wordpress.com]

Hair and There.

Fort Worth Flu & Canada Chemo Update:

The Fort Worth Flu-Man (or as he has been calling himself, after 4 days without a shower, “President of the Clean Hair Club”) is slowly on the mend. He actually managed to stay out of bed for most of the day and while his stomach is still a bit “off”, he is managing actual meals. Well, if a steady diet of soup can be considered meals…

I am so glad that he is feeling better. In all our years of marriage, I don’t think I have ever seen him so ill, and the last time he missed more than a day of work was way back in the early ’90’s, when he hurt his back. This is a man who just never gets sick, so this has been a rather unnerving experience.  I can’t help but feel that this is his body’s way of forcing him to take a break. He has been training for a very long time, what with all the triathlons, marathons, half-marathons, century rides, etc. (not to mention the 70.3 Ironman of last autumn) in which he has competed in the last 14 months. And I don’t think it is a coincidence that this illness comes right on the heels of the Cowtown Marathon, and at the end of a six-week stretch in which his life has been turned sideways by my absence.

But his illness has afforded a few light-hearted moments, at least for his wife. I tend to be the uninhibited partner in this relationship, and it is not at all unusual to find me wandering semi-clad around the house, and yes, I admit, around the yard as well (we do have an 8 foot privacy fence, after all….) But Doug is usually a little more modest than that. So it was with much amusement on Saturday afternoon that I looked up from pulling weeds in the garden to find my sick-as-a-dog husband standing in the middle of the yard, talking on the telephone – clad only in his underwear. In the midst of an animated conversation with the other star of this particular post – my mother – he seemed oblivious to the fact that, while it is seasonably warm, nonetheless it is still only early March, and definitely not underwear weather…. Just another little strange moment in my current life.

As for the the other star of this post, well, she is coping as well as can be expected with the current round of chemo. She, of course, is not well – but to date, she has not experienced the violent sickness of the first round. Each round brings with it a few more lessons and a little more experience with handling the side effects, and though excelling at chemo really isn’t a goal most people want to attain, knowing what to expect if you have to endure it is really is helpful.

I am so happy that my aunt, Carm, is staying with her through this round. My original plan had been to be there for every round of chemo, but when those plans fell through this time,  Aunt Carm stepped up to the plate and made it so much easier for me to leave without worrying. And it is doubly appreciated considering that Doug is sick – the worry on two fronts would have been unbearable.

When I left, Mom had lost a lot of her hair and was considering cutting off the rest. She suggested that I cut it for her, but I was leery, afraid I might hurt her. Aunt Carm, however, was comfortable with the task, and Mom reports that she now has no hair at all. Which is a good thing – it makes wigs and scarves more comfortable. Apparently, it is also a lot more comfortable to be bald than it is to be balding – I hadn’t realized, as I’m sure most people don’t, that losing your hair during chemo makes your scalp very tender.

So, that pretty much sums it up. One man getting ready to wash his hair. One woman now past losing hers. And both of them working on getting better.

[Via http://paythepiper.wordpress.com]

Banality 2010 - Canadian Federal Budget

There’s only way to make a Canadian Federal budget exciting, and that’s to read Andrew Coyne’s inevitable diatribe concerning it’s existential threat to national solvency. After the government became born-again Keynesians with January 2009’s budget, Coyne  himself said his prayers for conservatism. So instead of a shocking betrayal of the ideals he supports, Coyne interprets what happened Thursday as the descent of those ideas into oblivion. For him there aren’t many smiles to be had right now.

Despite this entertaining flogging, what interested me more than the ideological perspective was a note of consensus I recognized along both the left and the right, specifically between Coyne’s writing and Progressive Economist Erin Weir’s take. Both used words such as “empty”, “recycled”, “flippant”, and a “whimper”, and bore less anger than contempt and disappointment. While there were certainly major differences in opinion, both sides agreed that the budget generally lacked direction.

Erin, ever the progressive, ran through his list of social issues the budget in no particular way attempts to tackle, such as poverty and the environment. He goes further to take note of the fact that the rich will be the major beneficiaries of a lowered corporate tax rate, and that environmental erosion will be a probable consequence of policy declarations such as these:

The Government is taking steps in Budget 2010 to further improve the regulatory review process for large energy projects. Responsibility for conducting environmental assessments for energy projects will be delegated from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to the National Energy Board and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for projects falling under their respective areas of expertise.

Coyne’s lengthy rant a year ago disparaged the scattered approach to spending that in his estimation also drived, practically speaking, at nothing in particular.

What if Right-Wingers are wrong in worrying about how much governments are spending as opposed to worrying about on what governments are spending? And what if Left-Wingers are foolish in believing that the state can take on every one social injustice under the sun with one budget? If so, then Stephen Harper back in 2009  could have carved his own path by committing the government to a smaller number of more demanding projects.

Instead of splitting the money up for infrastructure, tourism, EI and the like, the Canadian government could for example focus all it’s energies in finding a source of energy alternative to oil. A move like that would certainly get money out in the hands of people and invite foreign investment, but it might also transform Canada into the global authority on future sources of energy. Lefties will be put on the spot to support the greenness of it all, and Andrew Coyne might be able to keep his rhetoric in check if he knew that Federal spending had a point.

That is, unless the Tories are planning to use blandness to rocket out of statistical deadlock at the polls.

[Via http://candybaragitator.wordpress.com]

Vancouver 2010

Well the Vancouver Olympics finished a few days ago. I have to say it was a pretty good Olympics this time. Of course I’m biased being Canadian myself. I was really happy to see how well Canada did this time, a total of 26 medals. With 14 gold medals! That’s actually the highest ever in the Winter Olympics. The last record was 13 set by the Russians back in the 1970’s. So well done Canada. We rock!!

My only complaint was the coverage by NHK was kind of poor. They didn’t show many events, and mostly only showed the Japanese athletes (How many times do I need to see a feature on a mogul skier that only came in fourth place! Apparently around 10 times).  At least it was better than the last summer Olympics where they edited the events to only the Japanese athletes competing.

[Via http://insendai.wordpress.com]

Of Note: British Columbia

Contrary to what you may have seen during the closing ceremony for the Olympics (or the ‘lympits as they’re called in our house, as in what Samson is training for what he’s in his jolly jumper), Canadians are not obsessed with mounties, beavers, and/or lumberjacks. Over the next few weeks, Of Note will be featuring Canadian artists, so you can get a taste of what we’re really aboot. Where better to start than British Columbia?! I’ve never been west of Ontario, but I have it on good authority that BC (the interior of it, anyway) is a wonderful place. My goodness, if the scenery isn’t enough to draw you westward, perhaps these craftspeople will.

1. Paperclip Chandelier Tutorial from ReDesign Technologies, Merritt, BC.

2. Turquoise Rain Drops Earrings from Tomo Jewelry, Winfield, BC.

3. Organic Wool Diaper Cover from Wildflower Mama Designs, Kimberley, BC.

4. Corroded Cuff II from C.G. Whitfield, 100 Mile House, BC.

5. Modelling Beeswax from Twinkle of My Eye, Logan Lake, BC.

6. Subway Roll Inspired Sign “Vancouver–the Olympic City 2010″ from Signs of Vintage, Kelowna, BC.

7. Barnwood Earring Frame from Paradise Hill Designs, Northwoods of BC.

8. Retro Floral Dress from Paper Doll Vintage, Vancouver, BC.

9. Aqua Aura Quartz Crystal Ring from My Little Eye by elseetee, Vancouver, BC.

Enjoy.

[Via http://tinypants.wordpress.com]

The Dark Side of Israeli Apartheid Week

Beginning Monday, Canadian university campuses play host to an annual event known as Israeli Apartheid Week, where Israel is assigned the role of Jew among the nations – singled-out, cursed and harassed.

Islamic preachers at University campuses during the anti-Jewish student week.

The whiff of something medieval hangs over this March ritual. One activist group behind Israeli Apartheid Week, the Ottawa Public Interest Research Group, refused in 2008 to promote a lecture on African development because Jewish students at the University of Ottawa happened to be organizing it.

The event had zero connection to Israel, but OPIRG said it wouldn’t partner with the Jewish students’ union due to the latter’s “relationship to apartheid Israel.”

Of all the sponsors of Israeli Apartheid Week, the participation of gay and lesbian groups is most disheartening.

Harvard University’s Alan Dershowitz reminds us that Israel is the one country in the Middle East where they’d be able to hold a gay rights sign in public and not be lynched. Criticizing Israel does not make one an anti-Semite anymore than criticizing the government of France makes one anti-French. But it’s one thing to criticize France and another to declare the French nation illegitimate and to advocate its dismantling.

For that’s what Israeli Apartheid Week is about. It is the fanatical, disproportionate focus on Israel – no other country is subjected to a week-long hatefest at university campuses – that points to something darker going on.

Source: Ottawa Citizen-Canada, Leonard Stern

My comment: Watch this video

[Via http://ivarfjeld.wordpress.com]

The Olympics - A Metaphor for Life

With the 2010 Winter Olympics now history (all over but the whining…), several of the matches were poignant reminders of how fate, kismet, destiny or whatever you believe drives the reality of the moment, regardless of whatever else you done up to this moment in time.

Nowhere (other than perhaps Chile) was it more apparent how important it is to live in the moment, as was demonstrated in the final days of the Olympic competitions. Several events come to mind: the falls taken by a few competitors on the slopes and on the speed tracks, Cheryl Bernard’s loss of the gold medal in Women’s Curling, and the all-out battle for supremacy in the Canada-USA men’s gold medal hockey final.

Cheryl Bernard and her team fought, practiced and drilled their way up the ranks to reach the gold medal match against the Swedish team skipped by Annette Norberg. Norberg, a previous two-time gold medal winner, was no stranger to the Olympic final test. Bernard was tasting her first Olympics, and by all accounts, was seriouly challenging Norberg for the gold.

This was evident right up to the last end of the extended final set with both teams tied, and with Cheryl having both the strength and the tremendous burden of the last rock. Unlucky enough not to have a house that was secure before her throw, Cheryl had to set aside everything that had been achieved before to try and confirm the final, last, defining moment of the past four years of her curling life.

Alas, her final rock was good enough, but not fast enough, to clear the house. There, but for a push of a muscle, or the sweep of a colleague or God knows what lay in its path, the sum total of all of the years gone before was reduced to an infinitesimal amount of energy in an infinitesimal moment of time, and it wasn’t quite enough.

It would easy to dismiss the loss as “she didn’t make it”, but that would be doing a great disservice to her and her team mates that brought her and the country to that “infinitesimal moment in time”. Bernard and her team mates played as the champions they are, bringing the game, and the medals, down to the moment where she had to let the stone go, and hand the outcome to fate.

I’m not so much feeling sorry for Cheryl as to how it turned out, but rather, comiserating with her that it turned out the way it did. There really was no second place in this particular competitiion and it was evident that Cheryl felt it as she made her way down the ice after the rock had ended its journey in the house. Everything was riding on that last rock, and fate did not smile on her. It was a gold medal run, but unfortunately there was only one medal to hand out.

Similarily, the Canada-USA men’s gold medal match came down to the same pair of short straws. This time Canada, via Sidney Crosbie, pulled it out of the bag in overtime at the last moment.

But the Olympics are no different than life. The sum total of all you have done may result no more than a footnote in the history of life, and lucky if it is at least that. The proverbial stepping off the curb to meet the oncoming bus lies in wait for us all. Life happens in the moment, and its in the moment that Canada’s Olympic athletes are obliged to live. That alone, should be the signal metaphor for us all, each and every day.

[Via http://editorialtimes.wordpress.com]

Olympics Medal Standings 2010 Latest Update

With the 2010 Winter games wrapping up in just a few days, several countries are looking to make a push for the overall lead. Team USA has been leading for several days now behind strong performances from a variety of athletes including Lindsey Vonn, Julia Mancuso, Apolo Ohno and Shaun White. The USA Hockey Team has been on a roll as well, after a huge upset win against Canada followed by a dominant performance against Russia.

Here is the latest medal standings…

Olympics Medal Standings 2010

[Via http://theglobalnewstoday.wordpress.com]

Royal Canadian Navy Centennial: Fun Facts

2010 is the Centennial of the Royal Canadian Navy! The Navy has a Centenniel website where you can find all sorts of interesting info as well as Centennial events in your area. One section has some interesting trivia on the RCN, and here are a few tidbits. For the rest, go to the source.

#28   After the destroyer HMCS Mackenzie was paid off in 1993, she was painted in USN colours for an episode of the television series “The X-Files”.

#12   Some of the early Canadian-built corvettes crossed the Atlantic with dummy wooden guns mounted on deck in an effort to fool U-boats.

#37   Canada’s Navy in number is ranked 28th in the world.  Half the size of the Columbian Navy and one third the size of Chile’s Navy and with the US Navy approximately 40 times the size.

#18   When the Second World War broke out, Canada had just 13 vessels: six destroyers (Saguenay, Skeena, Fraser, Ottawa, Restigouche and St-Laurent), four minesweepers (Comox, Fundy, Gaspé and Nootka/Nanoose), and three auxiliaries (Armentières, Skidegate and Venture).

#19   By the end of the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy had grown to become the third largest Allied navy with 434 commissioned vessels including cruisers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes and auxiliaries.

[Via http://girlofthenorth.wordpress.com]

From Coast to Coast

This journey began some time ago when Vancouver was awarded the 2010 Olympics. At the time it wasn’t that big of a deal to me, I was proud that our wonderful nation would have the world watching, however personally it didn’t seem like much of a matter.

That all changed as the games approached. It started with the chance to watch the torch be run on the East coast of Canada (thanks to the generosity of the Vees) and it will now end on the West Coast actually getting to witness the games in all of their glory. At this point, I’m not sure what to expect. From what I have witnessed via the television it appears it will be outstanding. Although there seemed to be some glitches at the outset, our nations support of the Olympics is unprecedented. The red gloves have sold over 3 million pairs, goodies over 2 million and the athletes are truly soaking in the crowds. Our country is doing it’s part in providing a fantastic platform for the athletes to perform, supporting them with their voices every step of the way.

Now it’s my turn to get out there and get behind Canada through my cheers. It all begins tonight with Canada vs Russia!

[Via http://burchy.wordpress.com]

Fear bear

I have never been so scared. Hot chocolate, just before bed, seemed like a cozy idea. One hour later, in the darkness of the Canadian ‘bush’, my bladder started talking to me, “Need do a wee, need do a wee!”. It wouldn’t stop. Ever so gently, I woke up my comatose husband and whispered, “Need to do a wee, need to do a wee.”

Our torch was the size of a whiteboard marker. We had been told that you can hear bears rustling through the undergrowth before you see them. It was a dark but not stormy night. Our hands clasped each other tightly as we wove through the dense but short tree patch. We could see the lights of the toilet block.

Just a few more steps. The light from the torch was feint. We stopped every metre or two to listen out for the hungry grizzly the park rangers had sighted the day before. No noise. Deafening silence. Light. We strode as fast and as silently as we could. Made it!

Wee done, now back to the ’safety’ of our tent. Reverse the description above and that was our trip back to the tent. This process was repeated the following night. I, then, realised the wisdom of rejecting the offer of hot chocolate before bed.

When our camping trip was done, I felt like an adventurer. I felt like I had conquered my fear of ‘wild’ things! I bought a bear statue. He is lying on his back, happy as bear in a berry patch. He looks harmless. When I am afraid of anything in life, I look to fear bear and remember, I conquered the wilds of Canada, I can do anything!

Note: When we returned home, I watched a documentary called ‘When Animals Attack’. You know the type. There was a story of a bear that went around Lake Louise campground and ripped open the tents of sleeping campers and attacked them! This was the same campground we ventured through on our trip to the toilet. Impressive no? I felt like a superhero, taking on wild animals at every turn. Call me Tarzem.

[Via http://worddancing.wordpress.com]

Late Nights

[Via http://wrennoble.wordpress.com]

Pakistan makes history - Winter Olympics

History being made as Pakistan will compete in the Winter Olympics for the first time.

24 year old Muhammad Abbas from Gilgit will participate in Men’s Giant Slalom (Alpine Skiing). Event scheduled for Feb 23, 2010.

Player profile from Vancouver Olympics Site. Click on Giant Slalom link to right of profile for event schedule.

Muhammad Abbas – Alpine Skiing Athletes : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Facebook Pakistan @ Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics | Facebook

Includes videos. The 0:30 vid is when he carried Pakistan’s flag in opening ceremony. The 1:58 one is National Anthem at another ceremony.

DAWN.COM | Sport | Ski coach recalls Abbas’ uphill journey

What is Men’s Giant Slalom?

Wikipedia

[Via http://mtrtmk.wordpress.com]

Aussies win at the Vancouver Games

Torah Bright

I woke up this morning to some exciting news. Australia has won its first gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Torah Bright has won gold in the women’s snowboard halfpipe final. Not bad for a country that is more well known for its surf and sun than its snow.

It’s the second medal for Australia -Dale Begg-Smith won silver in the men’s moguls, even though he was tipped to win the competition. He lost to Canadian skier Alexandre Bilodeau, who became the first athlete to win a gold medal on home soil. It was a shame Begg-Smith didn’t win gold, but I was quite happy for the Canadian, because in the past two winter Olympics Canada has hosted, no Canadian won a gold medal.

Not many people know that it snows in Australia, but it does and in both Victoria and New South Wales there are ski slopes. The mountains may be more like hills compared to the ranges of Canada and France but it is still worth skiing in the winter time.

My dad used to take me over to Falls Creek in Victoria every year, from the age of seven. My mum doesn’t like to come because she’s not that keen on skiing (although she keeps saying it is because she has a sore knee but we know the real reason) and so it is a good chance to spend some quality time with my dad.

The United Kingdom has yet to win a medal at the games, but perhaps this will change soon. It doesn’t surprise me that the Brits aren’t doing as well at the games. Most English people like to holiday to hot places and escape their miserable weather, rather than visit a snow field. After living in a freezing climate for the past five months I’m starting to understand this logic.

America is at the top of the medal table with 18 and Germany is second with 11. Australia is coming 15th but for a nation that’s not known for its snow, I think this is a good effort. It’ll be interesting to see where we poll at the end of the games. And whether the United Kingdom manages to poll at all.

[Via http://carmentheaussie.wordpress.com]

Hollywood goodfella: Montreal Mafia: Mob boss on shorter leash

Just as he was about to leave a penitentiary, reputed Montreal Mob leader Paolo Renda had last-minute conditions slapped onto his release.   

full story

According to a written summary of a decision recently released by the National Parole Board, the conditions were added because of the Dec. 28 slaying of Renda’s nephew and godson, Nicolo (Nick) Rizzuto.

[Via http://af11.wordpress.com]

I discover that Canadians know how to party.

Earlier, Canada won its first ever Olympic gold medal on home soil, thanks to Alexandre Bilodeau and his amazing mogul skills, and people are happy. We go downtown to celebrate (‘we’ being me, my two housemates and their German friend who is about to leave Canada after several months), having seen on the telly that all the action is happening near Robson Square. This is indeed true, and there are a vast number of Canadians, who regularly chant ‘CA-NA-DA! CA-NA-DA!’ During a quiet period, the German and I try to start a chant of ‘GER-MA-NY! GER-MA-NY!’ It doesn’t catch on.

We arrive just in time to see a well cool light/smoke/fireworks/laser show (which actually happens every night at the moment, but feels more special because of the whole medal thing), an excerpt of which is presented here for your entertainment:

Following that, there is a band playing on the other side of the open air ice rink that’s there; who they are I have no idea, but they sound fun. And are. We spend much time jumping up and down to the music, until they finish. We decide that we need more music, and so we must head to a club. Then, I remember the big party I mentioned a while back, but wasn’t at. Turned out that it too was a regular event, despite being in a big tent, and so we go there. It seems to be one of the cheapest places, and the music sounds like run-of-the-mill school disco stuff – a recipe for an all-round good time.

Most of you are probably vaguely aware of the rule that after any American family sitcom has been going a while, it must eventually have the bloke-meets-girl-and-everything-that-can-go-wrong-does-go-wrong-but-in-a-humorous-manner episode. Turns out: actual basis in truth. It is actually possible to guess someone’s age at 27 then adjust it to 30 based on a look of derision, before being informed it’s actually 23.

Following the inevitable “I’m going to the washroom, wait here, I’ll be right back”-except-there’s-not-a-chance-in-hell-I-will-be-but-I-want-to-see-how-long-you’re-pathetic-enough-to-wait-for-me (not that I blame her in the slightest), we decide the music’s not good enough. We request a better song, and (very surprisingly, based on his previous choices) the DJ seems to become incredibly offended that we might even think to bring up the teeniest possibility of there being a chance that he could play one of the best songs of forever. A housemate says something rather rude, I apologise on his behalf, and we leave in disgust.

On the way home, the German (by far the drunkenest of us all) gets up to much mischief, largely involving a video camera on his phone. He videos an arrest, interviews some homeless people, interviews a policeman about horseriding, and then decides he wants a sandwich. Reluctantly, we go to Subway, and yet that turns into one of the best decisions ever made, and I actually cheer with joy as I hear what is playing on Sandwich Radio.

[Via http://timgoestocanada.wordpress.com]

Canada beats Norway 8-0 behind hat trick from Iginla

After a disappointing first period the Canadians opened up their games just about as expected, with a very lop-sided win in a tune-up effort against Norway. Jarome Iginla scored three of the teams eight goals and Roberto Luongo stopped what little rubber was thrown his way in Team Canada’s 8-0 drubbing of poor little Norway.

Canada strong, Norway weak.

Over the summer I saw my cat torturing a baby rabbit by pawing at it like a toy, letting it try to run away before snatching it again and nibbling on it but not killing it, basically my cat is a sadistic little devil. This, in a nutshell, was Canada vs Norway, a cat torturing a baby rabbit, honing its killing techniques without actually killing it immediately.

The US women’s curling ran late on CNBC and US viewers missed most of the first period of the Canada vs Norway game, so when I turned it on with less than two minutes left I was astonished that Canada and Norway were tied at zero. I thought that Canada would have at least three goals by the first periods end, but they didn’t much to the dismay of Canadians everywhere.

It took Canada 22:30 to get on the board, and a power-play goal nonetheless. Canada, clearly the better team, just couldn’t beat Norway’s goalie until Jarome Iginla blasted a shot from the slot on the power-play.

With the monkey of their first Olympic goal off of their back, Canada quickly notched another goal when Dany Heatley scored just a few minutes later. After the second goal Norway was reduced to scrambling in their own zone while the far superior Canadian team threw an onslaught on the Norwegian goaltender as evidenced by their 22-5 shot advantage 27 minutes into the game.

Norway got a 5-on-3 for :48 seconds with a huge opportunity to cut the Canadian lead in half but couldn’t score on the two-man advantage. What impressed me about the Canadians during the 5-on-3 was how in control they were even two men down. They kept a tight box and denied passing lanes beautifully, they didn’t scramble like you’d expect a brand new team to do.

As their second penalty was expiring Mike Richards poked home his own rebound on the left post for the 3-0 lead as it appeared that the Canadians were getting better with every ensuing shift.

The game came down to goaltenders. If Norway had a Jonas Hiller in net the game could have been in reach in the third period and if Canada didn’t have Roberto Luongo in net Norway might have scored a goal or two.

Ryan Getzlaf added Canada’s fourth goal off a rebound on a power-play. Getzlaf, a big body out front, wheeled a backhander past Norway’s goalie prompting Norway to make a change between the pipes. Dany Heatley would go on to rifle home a power-play goal and then Canada would weave a pretty 3-on-3 goal that went Iginla to Crosby to Nash to Iginla for the sixth goal of the game. The only aspect of the game in question now was the shutout, which wasn’t really being threatened.

Corey Perry scored on a rebound goal for the seventh of the game after having a night full of good chances. At this point the third period began to look like an all-star game with the foghorn blaring every few minutes on one end, but never on the other. So I guess it was more like an All-star team against an AHL team.

Jarome Iginla notched the hat trick in the fleeting moments as he parked his big body in front of the goal and tipped the puck through the Norwegian goalie. Imagine if he had a center skating with him on the Flames?

Canada will go on to play Switzerland Thursday and Norway will face off against USA later that day.

[Via http://brucrew.wordpress.com]

Interesting facts about the Great Lakes

Great Lakes, known around the world, form the largest reserves of fresh water worldwide. The volume of fresh water, which is “stored” in the Great Lakes, is one-fifth of the total volume of fresh water of the planet. The origins of the beautiful Great Lakes beginning in the mid-continent, over 3 800 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, the river Seen Lawrence. Ecological system of the Great Lakes region supports one of the richest and most exclusive areas of the world. However, the man got here and, therefore, a change in the environment affected and this unique ecological system. That’s why – because of the fact that the Great Lakes – is the largest repository of fresh water on the planet, but also because of the Great Lakes greatest threat looming on the governmental level between 2 countries – the United States and Canada, it was decided to adopt measures to reduce human impact on this segment of the environment. One of the paragraphs of the decision was the fact that you must change the way in which we live, and also consider other ways to trade, rather, delivery of goods for further trade.

In the “magnificent five” five most important lakes are lakes such as Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Michigan, Huron and Lake Ontario.

We are accustomed with the fact that most shipwrecks occur in the ocean. The causes of the catastrophe are as a rule, storms, icebergs and coral reefs. However, those who live near the Great Lakes region, not hearsay and are familiar with storms, and with the mysterious waves, and even … with its own “version of” Flying Dutchman.

Storms on the Great Lakes -is a phenomenon of the same order as the storms in small seas. But they are much less frequently reported in the newspapers, and only some of the most famous disaster in the fall with breaking news, major newspapers. According to latest figures provided by American divers at the bottom of the Great Lakes region lies between six and ten thousand shipwrecked vessels. Every year this list is replenished found a dozen ships. It is possible to identify about one in 5 – water and time are not spared logbooks or buildings.

In September 18, 1679 in Niagara Falls (New York) had to come the ship “Griffon“, belonging to the French traveler Rene Robert, the Chevalier de La Salle. This ship was built here, and it was well aware of the local residents. When it became clear that the “Griffon” is delayed, at first no one gave it special attention – the ships often got out of the schedule for several hours. But because the ship hasn’t appeared either in a day or a week later, it became clear that there was another shipwreck. Witness the tragedy on the “Griffon” is not found, he simply disappeared. Its wreckage was found and identified only in 1955. But this is not the strangest thing. Many unfamiliar with each other people say that in foggy night “Griffon” is often seen quietly sailing on Lake Huron. At night it is impossible to discern all the details of its equipment, but the outlines of the vessel is easily recognizable.

With similar ghost ship on the Great Lakes have become accustomed. References to them can be found in the chronicles relating to the middle of XVII century. For example, in New Haven (Conn.) in 1648, many people at once saw ghost ship. And it is not just sailed past, and showed the astonished spectators shipwreck scene. This outstanding event has been interpreted as a sign sent down by God, throws light on the mystery of the death of one of the missing ships. However, those who faced the ghost ship, noted that they often depict scenes of his collapse, repeating them at each meeting with the observers.

Jay Gouli, who wrote a book about the mysteries of the Great Lakes region, described the disaster that has occurred with the cargo vessel «Sames E. Davidson» displacement of six thousand tons. If the disappearance of ships plied the waters of the Great Lakes region in the XVII century. Can be explained by their technical deficiencies and lack of meteorological stations, the loss of a modern cargo ship seems inexplicable. Wave effortlessly destroyed vessel capable of withstanding an ocean storm. Its power must be enormous!

Even more puzzling is that over the Great Lakes are missing aircrafts. Above the lake are more crashes than tabove he rest of the surrounding area. This area is gradually becoming the glory of the anomalous zone, no less famous than the Bermuda Triangle.

[Via http://northamericatravel.wordpress.com]

"Although he could afford any house, he now lives in a rented condo overlooking the ocean north of Victoria. His strategy is simple: Wait a year or two and buy a lot more house for a lot less money in a post-bubble world."

This from Garth Turner, on his own blog, greaterfool.ca, 14 Feb 2010 -

“Sunday afternoon [14 Feb 2010] I sat on a leather couch in the Empress Hotel speaking with a millionaire exile from the US. The guy now lives in a rented condo overlooking the ocean north of Victoria because – although he could afford any house – “I’ve seen this movie before.” He laughed as he said, “I would never have imagined before I came here that Canadians could be stupid enough to make exactly the same mistakes Americans did five years ago. I tell ya, this is like watching an old, familiar train wreck.” His strategy is simple: Wait a year or two and buy a lot more house for a lot less money in a post-bubble world.”

[Via http://vreaa.wordpress.com]

Immigration Canada

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The whole process seems scary at first. Where did you say? When we started our process of emigration to Canada, of course, we hit our website and "Google" to "emigrate to Canada" and similar expressions, as most people. We found the CIC or Citizenship and Immigration Canada web site and the site of lawyers and consultants in various immigration migration. We went to the government websites for the first. Of course, you need informationThey say the horses mouth, if we can get and get free. Government sites are great if you want more specific details, or part of the puzzle in immigration – for a description of the class path of the family, or what the current points in scoring skills, for example. We saw a lot of information on the area and was a little 'to get exactly what we should do, confused to start at point A (where we were) and landing at point B (eg), The Canada and in possession of visas and work permits.

Obviously all the circumstances are different. But we have a page that has been said okay, you're a (say) an expert in this category, and you need a license to practice in a country like this task are used in a time scale – follow these instructions. Sometimes we are running in circles for what I do without the expense of time and money. Then we ended up in exileConsultants websites and reached the track test of the ability to 'home. However, we completed the jump points and then – we found it would have the right to immigrate to Canada! Have passed an aptitude test or failing that, that does not mean that it will or will not be allowed to live and work in Canada. Then we read into things a little 'more, and I began to feel that our application should take approximately three to four years to get treated. We were really into what could be the consultantdo for us. We also did some shows immigration to find out what was the system. These events were very well presented and friendly, however, and guided by our staff here from 3 to 4 years appeared to wait until spring. The consultant then explained in a section to find work and support for research and so on, and that can help to produce the documents for visas and arrange our products marketed in Italy, we saw a time and work permits . Theyoffered an operation of "turnkey". It's good, if you have handled everything for you and do not have time, desire or resources to the search system to be fully themselves. We left things for a week or two, then by chance I was on a business trip to London and spoke to someone from Canada via Canada. I told him that we decided to emigrate to Canada and that person said that his country is a friendly, stable place to live, and can make interestingan exploratory visit there.

A fact-finding trip-week mission was done to meet people in a local hall, the local employers and real estate agents and so on, and it was decided that was where we were going. We got in touch with the people in state government and the federal government and started working, the modules themselves, it was necessary for us to migrate to it. We started fast and then were able to sell our house in a reasonable timeTime. We bought a house online in Canada, before we moved out of it, but had not visited the region in which the hand first home. On the issue of houses and land were also involved in this sector in the United Kingdom in recent years. Despite the credit crunch and housing market to rent, we believe that he was capable of things independently, against the United Kingdom at home. We handle all the paperwork our emigration and maintain the necessary visas, work permits, etc.on. If you are in Canada, a great place, the possibility of stability and freedom of emigration promises, we recommend Canada. We did and wants to help.

Friends Link : Tourist-thailand

[Via http://informationthailand.wordpress.com]

Oras

Pwede bang ‘wag ka nang magtampo dahil malapit nang magunaw ang mundo?

Hinog na kasi ‘tong maliit na mundong ginagalawan natin, pero hindi parang isang atis na siniksik lang sa sako ng bigas — hinog sa pilit. Itong sa’tin, maganda ang balat, mabango, matamis. Mahigit isang taon lang ang kailangan natin para pahinugin ‘tong prutas ng ating mundo — at ngayon, handa na syang magunaw.

Naaalala mo pa ba?

Yung mga polo kong itim na kupas? Hindi ko na yun sinusuot ngayon.

Yung sapatos kong “pang-lolo?” Iniiwasan ko na yun ngayon.

E yung mga tigyawat kong nagagalit? Nauubos na sila ngayon.

At yung gitara kong si Shirley? Niligpit ko na’t inaalikabok na ngayon.

Lahat sila, nauna nang itiniklop, itinago, binura at niligpit. Pag tatak ng mga papeles mo sa susunod na linggo, ang kabanata naman ng mundo natin ang isasara.

Hindi pa naman tayo matatapos dahil hindi ako papayag. Pero kapag naaalala ko kung pa’no tayo maglakad sa kalsada ng hawak-kamay o akbay-balikat pitong araw sa isang linggo, may bitbit mang mabigat na bag o wala, parang mababaliw ako ‘pag iniisip kong maaaring taon ang aabutin bago kita makurot sa pisngi man lang muli. Taon — mahahaba at nakakapagod na taon.

Naaalala mo pa ba?

Muntik akong magwala nung sabihin mong pupunta kayong Canada? Leche, bakit di mo sinabi? Kakasimula ko pa lang mag-astang prinsipe o si Robin Padilla at ikaw si Sharon Cuneta tapos bigla kang magaanunsyo na may taning ka na pala? Para ka palang bomba sa MRT na matagal ko nang inaabangang dadale sa’kin? Para ka palang si Dolphy na — paumanhin nguni’t — tila hinihintay nalang ng mga taong matigok? Para ka palang si Aga Muhlach sa Dubai?

Nung araw na ‘yun, uminom tayo ng kape sa tabi ng swimming pool sa opisina. Ang init. Naka-polong kupas kasi ako at sapatos na pang-lolo. Ang sabi mo wala kang magagawa dahil gano’n talaga at ‘di ka naman umaasa na matutuloy kayo. Dahil palpak nga kayo dati na pumuntang Texas. Nung mainit na araw na yun, sa harap ng mainit kong kape, naisip ko, kayo nga itong sinwerte ngayon — ako naman ang minalas. Leche.

Pero tinanggap ko na lang kahit ga’no kahirap isantabi yung alaalang malapit ka nang lumipad palayo. Pakiramdam ko parang merong inaamag na hopya sa bulsa ko, pero ayokong itapon dahil hindi ko mahawakan at masyadong mabantot. Kaya hinayaan ko nalang lumagi don yung inaamag na hopya habang ginagawa ko ang lahat para sulitin ang nalalabing oras kasama ka.

At sinulit naman natin, hindi ba?

Lahat ng mga kaibigan mong ipinangamba nating ipapako ako sa krus, tinagayan ko lahat ng San Mig Light, Red Horse at Gin Blue. Mula sa isang lalakeng bulagta na sa tatlong bote ng Lights, nagsanay ako hanggang umabot ako ng pito. At lahat sila, hinanap natin mula sa mga kasuluk-sulukan Pilipinas: sa Baguio, sa Pasig, sa Maynila, sa Mandaluyong, at sa kung saan-saan pa. Lahat sila nilabanan ko sa ibabaw ng mga bote ng alkohol at sari-saring pulutan para ipakita sa kanila na karapat-dapat ako para sa iyo, at karapat-dapat ‘tong namamagitan sa’tin. Marami sa kanila, naging tunay ko nang kaibigan. May illan din naman na hindi ako na-gets at ‘di ko rin naman sila na-gets. Pero ang mahalaga, napatunayan natin na maligaya tayo at kuntento sa piling ng isa’t isa.

Ikaw rin hindi ba?

Hinarap mo lahat ng mga kaibigan ko mula sa ibang daigdig. Tumindig ka at nilabanan punto por punto sina Marx, Nietzsche, Foucault, at kung sinu-sino pang tigok na manunulat. Nakipagdebate ka sa mga kaibigan ko gamit ang sarili mong talino at praktikal na karanasan sa buhay. At walang duda, nanalo ka. Dahil alam ko ang pinagdaanan mo, at alam kong hindi kayang higitan ng kahit anong makapal at maalikabok na aklat ang mga paghihirap at tagumpay mo sa buhay. Naging kaibigan mo rin sila at nagdikit ang mga mundo natin, kahit sobrang magkaiba.

Pati mga kamag-anak natin ay hindi natin pinalampas. Meron tayong checklist sa mga ulo natin ng mga tito’t tita, lolo’t lola, ate’t kuya na kailangan pang binyagan sa reyalidad na tayo na ngang dalawa at wala na silang magagawa. Kailangan na lang nila tayong panoorin at tiisin habang nagbubulungan tayo, magkatabing magkaupo, lumakad at tumayo, nagpapalitan ng makatindig-balahibong status messages sa Facebook, Friendster o Multiply. Wala na silang nagawa dahil nakapagdesisyon na tayo na tayo na nga hanggang lumipad ang iyong eroplano.

Nais ko lang sabihin na ngayong magugunaw na ang mundo, ikaw lang ang nasa isip ko. At ang buhay ko, naramdaman ko lang noong dumating ka at nagyosi sa aking harapan.

Pag naglalakad ka na sa mga malilinis at maluluwag na kalsada ng Vancouver, kapag tinitingnan mo ang iyong sapatos, sana maalala mo rin yung gutay-gutay kong Chucks. At ‘pag giniginaw ka na sa puting puting nyebeng umuulan galing sa kalawakan, nakatitig sa snowman na may karot sa ilong, sana magbalik ka do’n sa panahong halos bumula na ang bibig ko sa lamig ng Baguio. Sa Cordi Coffee. Up Dharma Down. Si Len.

Kung mapadpad ka man sa kahit anong shop doon, pinapahirapan ka ng boss mong maputi, blonde, at gahigante ang ilong, sana maalala mo kung paano natin tinayp ang ‘di matapus-tapos na mga artikulo manatili ka lamang sa Pag-Asa, Quezon City at ‘wag bumalik sa Ilocos upang maging titser. Dahil kailangan kita higit pa sa inaakala mo.

Pag nasa Canada ka na, Chemae, sana maalala mo ako bawat segundo.

At ngayon, ang tanging kahilingan ko na lamang sa iyo at sa tadhana, ay ang ‘wag na tayong magpalitan pa ng maaanghang na mensahe sa YM o magparinig sa Twitter at WordPress. Ipagpaliban na muna natin ang pagiging mga batang paslit kahit alam kong batang paslit talaga tayo sa puso. Lalo na ako.

Yakapin na lang natin ang oras dahil malapit na tayong magkahiwalay.

Maligayang araw ng mga puso sa’yo. Alam mong mahal na mahal kita.

——————————–

“Oras”

Ely Buendia, Wanted Bedspacer,

Pwede bang wag ka nang

magtampo dahil malapit nang magunaw ang mundo?

Halika na, halika na.

Takasan natin ang umaga

Chorus

Wala nang dapat sabihin. Yakapin mo na lang.

Oras ay wag intindihin. Yakapin mo na lang

Ibulong sa dibdib ang tanong

at lahat ng panaginip.

Paubaya mo na sa Maykapal

lahat ng ‘di maipaliwanag.

[Via http://moonwalkerwiz.wordpress.com]

Cutting the Stainless Steel Ribbon.

After about 10 years of planning, three years of construction, and a campaign to raise $88 million, the newly remodeled Art Gallery of Alberta has finally opened in Edmonton, Canada. You’ll have to make a visit during the warmer months of Summer to see the 625 foot long and 103 foot high continuous ribbon of stainless steel exterior architecture inspired by the forms of the North Saskatchewan River and Aurora Borealis and designed by architect Randall Stout. The museum’s interior totals 85,000-square-foot of gallery space on three floors. The interior finishes include an updated palette of patinaed zinc, energy-efficient glass and stainless steel reflecting the area’s dramatic weather patterns, long summer days and early winter nights. New exhibits include works by Edgar Degas, Francisco Goya, Janet Cardiff, George Bures Miller, Yousuf Karsh and Edward Burtynsky.

Exterior Architecture of the Art Gallery of Alberta.

Interior energy efficient glass windows allow in lots of natural light.

Stainless steel ribbon flows inside out.

[Via http://dcdesigncoop.com]

Much of Even the money earmarked for tsunami relief never made its way to victims

 

Many persons have expressed to me that they do not know who to trust who to give to now to help the poor and needy, etc., Major and minor Relief, non profitable  religious organizations as well, rather corporations tend to provide very little actual verifiable details to the donors  on how the donations are being spend, and actual spending are covered up, hidden, diverted  as well..

Following the Asian tsunami of 2004, many donors were surprised to learn some larger aid groups couldn’t spend all the money it had raised, while smaller ones struggled to fund their projects. Much of the money earmarked for tsunami relief never made its way to victims of the disaster and was used for other projects instead.  http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100207/national/cda_haiti_aid Poverty activists say homelessness in Vancouver has increased 373 percent since 2002 when the city bid for the Games. Robert Bonner is not impressed that Vancouver is hosting the Winter Olympics and thinks the millions of dollars spent on the event would have better gone on alleviating problems like poverty and homelessness. “Spending C$178 million ($166 million) for a skating oval isn’t really impressive when you’re sleeping in a doorway,” Bonner told the “Poverty Olympics,” a colorful protest on Sunday to highlight Vancouver’s social problems. Vancouver, on Canada’s Pacific coast, has been ranked in surveys as one of the world’s most “livable” cities but it is also home to one of Canada’s poorest and most drug-infested neighborhoods — the Downtown Eastside. Sign-holding marchers chanted “Homes not Games” and other slogans as they made their way through the neighborhood to the rhythm of a small ragtag marching band and costumed mascots such as “Itchy the Bedbug” and “Chewy the Rat.” http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/100208/canada/canada_us_olympics_poverty  

[Via http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com]

Burt's Bee Tells You The Truth

Burt Bee’s Canada has unleashed a thought-provoking campaign in Canada.

These educational installations demonstrate how synthetic beauty products are absorbed into the body.  In lament terms, Burt’s Bee is suggesting to shoppers “buy my 95% natural products. Forget everyone else. I’m the real deal.”

Will this make you think twice about the beauty products you put into your body?



[Via http://2fruits1elephant.wordpress.com]

Confira os indicadores e eventos corporativos previstos para sexta-feira

Na agenda desta sexta-feira (8), o destaque é a divulgação do Employment Report, aguardado pelos investidores por ser um importante termômetro da situação da economia norte-americana. No Brasil, atenção para o início da oferta da Multiplus e da PDG Realty na BM&F Bovespa e dados da produção industrial regional.

Nos EUA

Aguardado com grande expectativa, o Employment Report de janeiro é composto pelos seguintes indicadores: Nonfarm Payrolls, com o número de empregos gerados na economia, excluindo agricultura e pecuária; Taxa de Desemprego; Average Workweek, com as horas trabalhadas semanais; e Hourly Earnings, com a remuneração por hora trabalhada.

Já o Consumer Credit, divulgado pelo Fed, tem o objetivo de medir o volume de crédito oferecido ao consumidor. Na agenda de discursos, o secretário do Tesouro norte-americano, Tim Geithner, comparecerá à reunião de ministros das Finanças do G7 em Iqaluit, no Canadá. O presidente regional do Fed de St. Louis, James Bullard, fará discurso sobre política monetária na Universidade de Wahington.

Indicadores Horário de Brasília Referência Anterior Expectativa Nonfarm Payrolls (EUA) 11h30 Janeiro - 85 mil - 15 mil Taxa de desemprego (EUA) 11h30 Janeiro 10% 10% Average Workweek (EUA) 11h30 Janeiro 33,2h 33,2h Hourly Earnings (EUA) 11h30 Janeiro 0,2% 0,2% Consumer Credit (EUA) 18h00 Janeiro - US$ 17,5 bilhões - US$ 10 bilhões

As seguintes empresas divulgarão resultados:

Empresas Horário de Brasília Tyson Foods Antes do mercado

Cenário interno

A FGV (Fundação Getúlio Vargas) divulga o IGP – DI (Índice Geral de Preços – DI) de janeiro . O IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) divula a Pesquisa Industrial Mensal: Produção Física, que acompanha a evolução do mercado de trabalho e da produção na indústria, só que agora em versão regional.

O IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) divulga o INPC (Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor), que mede inflação em todo o Brasil. O IPCA (Índice de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo), também divulgado pelo IBGE, é utilizado pelo Banco Central para acompanhamento dos objetivos estabelecidos no sistema de metas de inflação.

Por último, o IBGE divulga a Pesquisa de Custos e Índices da Construção Civil, que avalia os preços e custos dos materiais utilizados na construção civil.

Indicadores brasileiros Horário de Brasília Referência Anterior Expectativa Pesquisa da Construção Civil 9h30 Janeiro - - INPC 9h00 Janeiro 0,24% - IPCA 8h00 Janeiro 0,37% - IGP-DI 8h00 Janeiro - 0,11% - 0,20% Pesquisa Industrial Mensal – Regional 9h00 Dezembro - -

No cronograma de oferta de ações, teremos o seguinte evento:

Empresa Tipo da Oferta Evento Multiplus Primária Início das negociações PDG Realty Secundária Início das negociações Fonte: InfoMoney

[Via http://naaltaounabaixa.wordpress.com]

poseur

On a mountain road in Banff, Alberta. This is a young male bighorn sheep, probably just over a year old. He was mid-graze when I started to shoot, then struck and held this pose for a few minutes before apparently deciding he’d done enough modelling for one day and wandering off.

Taken in August of 2008

[Via http://excamera.wordpress.com]

Inconspicuous Shield

by Alex Chornyj

If it’s integrity we’re after

Then keeping to the high road

Adhering to principles

Must be first and foremost.

Secrets that abounded in the past

Will be left at the curb

There is no place for whispers

But a refreshing frankness.

To be told where we are

Not where we thought we were

So lead to believe

By some surreptitious propaganda.

I will not live a lie

The silence will be broken

The days of turning the other cheek

Have vanished with the lost apathy.

The ones who were powerless

Now see the impenetrable wall

Was only there by the force of suggestion

Almost like a placebo if you will.

Once one summoned the courage

To just walk over a line

That was only imaginary

One saw a true reflection,

In an unaltered mirror

The difference was like night and day

The actual from the inferred

Would be like an oasis,

Being posited as a barren waste

One could not have been further

Like thinking there were no trees

Then finding an entire forest.

Which would not only be shocking

But rather disturbing

From feeling rather naive

To then inquiring as to the motive,

Behind such an inconspicuous shield

To keep most from realizing

What truly existed

Only for their own selfish consumption.

Alex Chornyj is a reiki master teacher. Alex has been published in White Mountain Publications, Articulations, The Tower Journal, The Canadian Federation Of Poetry, online at www.artistsforabetterworld.org and in many Blog Talk Radio spoken word programs such as “Shaman’s Hand” and “Poetry Super Highway.”  Alex currently resides in Canada.

[Via http://readacm.com]

Harper's new low: prorogation redux

Just Say No to Stephen Harper

It was a bone-headed idea the first time he did it; and it’s still a bone-headed idea now.  Our Great Poobah, Steven Harper, has prorogued parliament again.  Maybe he’s just a masochist.  Whatever he is, I’m sick of his childishness and wish he would just prorogue himself.

In case there’s anyone left who doesn’t know about this: Harper shut down parliament on 30 Dec, for a couple of months, because he wasn’t getting his way.  The act of shutting the government down like this is called prorogation.

Lots of people are mightily pissed off about this.  For example, there are several facebook groups dedicated to complaining about prorogation.  The one I joined, Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament, has over 220,000 members, and it has a regular website too.  Typically demure Canadians are atypically miffed at ol’ helmet-hair’s brazenness.  We’re unaccustomed to being taken advantage of quite so obviously.  Harper’s astounding arrogance is not something Canadians suffer gladly, but this isn’t really what burns my toast.

It has become quite clear that this move was one of political convenience alone.  Like a spoilt brat at a playground, Harper has taken his ball and gone home, thus avoiding a lot of embarrassment about things like mistreatment of Afghan detainees.  Even the most cursory review of the news – including from non-mainstream sources – makes it clear that we really need an operating parliament these days.  But that’s not keeping me up at night either.

It’s rather bizarre that Harper would just call up Governor General Michaëlle Jean and arrange the matter over the phone – a sure sign of disrespect for the GG’s office, if not for Ms. Jean herself.  I mean if I was going to stop a whole government, I’d at least make an appointment and have a chat.  Perhaps even more bizarre is the lack of reporting (as near as I can tell) on why Ms. Jean granted Harper’s request.  (I’ve only found one fairly shrill rant about it, which really wasn’t worth reading.) Sure, Ms. Jean seems like a really nice person, but that shouldn’t stop the people of Canada from understanding what happened here.  But that’s not a big bother either.

What really pickles my cabbage is the notion that Harper keeps trying to sell this prorogation as if it were the right thing to do.  No matter how staggeringly irrational it is, Harper just can’t bring himself to tell the truth.  Of course, this isn’t surprising; he is, after all, a politician.  And all politicians really do is make whatever thing they’re doing seem like the right thing.  Although he’s living down to everyone’s expectations of him, I just can’t get over the inanity of it.  His steadfast dedication to repeating the same tripe over and over again makes me wonder he isn’t some kind of nut.  They say that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result.  Harper keeps saying and doing things that denigrate Canadians, and Canadian Institutions, over and over again.  And yet he expects us to just accept it?  He keeps denying the most obvious facts, and expects us to think he’s rational?  He keeps refusing to show any leadership in key international issues like climate change, foreign aid, and women’s rights, and expects us to think he’s progressive?  He continually supports big business at the expense of the middle and lower classes, and calls himself a leader of the people?  He cuts funding to science and engineering, yet expects innovation to thrive.

It wouldn’t bother me so much if it weren’t for the sheer magnitude of his folly.  He’s shut down the government! This is big.  Really, really big.  Short of declaring himself Emperor of Canada, this is just about as big a thing as he can do.  And yet he’s treating it as if it were a Sunday afternoon game of pickup baseball.

Sorry, folks, but this just isn’t how the leader of our country should act.  He’s a putz.  And the sooner we get him out of office, the better.

[Via http://filsalustri.wordpress.com]

2010 Worldwide Frozen Food Manufacturing Industry Report-Aarkstore Enterprise

The Frozen Food Manufacturing Industry report, published annually by Barnes Reports, contains timely and accurate industry statistics, forecasts and demographics. The report features 2010 current and 2011 forecast estimates on the size of the industry (sales, establishments, employment) for the 47 largest world countries, such as Japan, China, India, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, UK, France, Germany, Italy and U.S.. The report also includes industry definition, 5-year historical trends on industry sales, establishments and employment and estimates on up to 10 sub-industries, including frozen bread and desserts

For more information please visit:http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/2010-Worldwide-Frozen-Food-Manufacturing-Industry-Report-37254.html

PH.NO. 919272852585

[Via http://aarkstore.wordpress.com]

The Canadian Landscape Contest - Wayne Simpson

Wayne Simpson

©Wayne Simpson

Many people are familiar with Lake Minnewanka because of it’s boat tours and scuba diving. Since I already have images of Lake Minnewanka in a familiar light, I thought it would be more interesting to show it in a less familiar way. This particular morning was extremely cold (about -30 C) so the water was much warmer than the air. The result of the huge difference in temperatures was lots of mist which created a very surreal atmosphere. On this morning I produced several of the images in my portfolio, one which includes the boat house (which is out of frame to the left here), and another of a herd of elk (just down the road)… all utilizing this amazing light. I still dream of another chance to make images in these type of conditions.

[Via http://darwinwiggett.wordpress.com]

Harper to reveal G8, G20 agendas at Davos forum

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has travelled to Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum, where world leaders will brainstorm the best way to combat the current financial challenges facing the global economy.

Harper will spend the next day and a half in Davos, where he will mingle with business executives, other world leaders and academics at the annual agenda-setting conference.

While the forum will see leaders debate a number of topics — including disaster aid in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti — the focus clearly remains on the global economy, at a time when employment remains high and governments are becoming less inclined to bail out troubled banks and industries.

In a statement released Tuesday, Harper said his government will stick to its stimulus plan and will continue to fight forms of trade protectionism, as it previously committed to doing.

On Thursday, the prime minister will address the forum and reveal his agendas for the upcoming G8 conference in Huntsville, Ont., and the G20 conference in Toronto.

In his Tuesday statement, Harper said he will push to improve the health of women and children at the G8 summit — a cause he believes is of increased importance in the aftermath of the global recession.

Citing statistics that suggest a half-million women die during pregnancy or childbirth each year, Harper said there is a “pressing need” for action, especially when such mortality can be avoided through better nutrition and medical treatment.

“This is simply not acceptable. The United Nations had hoped to reduce the number of deaths related to pregnancy by 75 per cent by 2015 as part of its Millennium Development Goals. It now appears this target will go unfulfilled,” Harper said.

“What makes it worse is that the bulk of the deaths during pregnancy — experts claim as many as 80 per cent — are easily preventable. There is a pressing need for global action on maternal and child health.”

As for the G20 summit, Harper plans to highlight the need for member countries to reform their banking systems in harmony and to continue with stimulus until worldwide labour markets have fully recovered from the global financial crisis.

Take our FREE Online Assessment Today!

FREE ASSESSEMENT

Socialize with Abrams & Krochak

• AKCanada
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Twitter

[Via http://akcanada.wordpress.com]

Lu's Pharmacy update

In July 2009 I wrote here and here about Lu’s Pharmacy in Vancouver and their denial of access to transsexual women to their services on the grounds that we aren’t “women who were born women” (Via Vancouver Women’s Health Collective’s Our Political Agreements statement – direct link to PDF here).

However, it seems from the transcanada LJ comm (via Google blog search) that, as from 21 January 2010, Lu’s Pharmacy will offer its services to transsexual women.

A further post (via Google blog search), suggests that at least three trans women have been to Lu’s Pharmacy without being thrown out. It’s to be hoped that the women were able, without hindrance or harassment, to access the resources offering a “full-service pharmacy” as well as “advice on your medication and your healthcare”. (Via VWHC website – Lu’s Services)

Additionally:

Vancouver Womens’ Health Collective changed their policy, and Transphobe Caryn Duncan resigned the same week.

Of course it’s heartening to hear of cis women not only recognising their cissexism but also taking positive steps to begin putting right some of the wrongs they have committed in the name of a toxic and elitist feminism, and for that alone, this news is to be welcomed. However, there is no excuse for complacency on the part of any of the staff at Lu’s Pharmacy and it’s to be hoped that all concerned will now work with trans women to ensure that the transphobia so shamefully enshrined in the former regime under the directorship of Caryn Duncan is comprehensively and permanently rooted out.

—————

Previous related posts:

• Lu’s Pharmacy refuses to fill trans woman’s prescription (July 16, 2009)
• Lu’s: a pharmacy for cis women? (July 8, 2009)

[Via http://birdofparadox.wordpress.com]

Tony Wilson Does Viola

I’ve just gotten done listening to the first section of The People Look Like Flowers at Last, the new one from the Tony Wilson Sextet (Drip Audio, 2009). I’d been meaning to pick this up anyway, but absolutely couldn’t resist after seeing that the album opens with “Lachrymae,” by Benjamin Britten. Wilson has really jazzed it up, and it works.

“Lachrymae” is a 20th-century classical-music piece for viola and piano. When I first started my irrational viola obsession, I found that the piece was everywhere. I ended up buying two versions, by violists Kim Kashkashian (on ECM and recorded pristinely, of course) and Yuri Bashmet (in a version rescripted for string orchestra rather than piano).  I’ve since seen it performed live. And now, here it is, in jazz version.

Now, my musical memory is far from perfect or even good, especially when it comes to classical. There are only three parts of “Lachrymae” that I can identify by ear or “sing” out loud. There’s the very beginning — which I don’t recall note-for-note, but I know it when I hear it. There’s the first variation that comes immediately after that: It’s where the tempo picks up and a recognizably repeated line kicks in. And late in the piece — the climax, I suppose, there’s some aggressive viola sawing — conjuring up dark, looming ghosts.

Wilson’s “Lachrymae” starts with the prelude, done up with harmonica and cello for a buzzy sound, heavier than the original. And then the first variation kicks in (“Movement #1″), with a surprisingly jazzy bassline and a kicking 7/8 rhythm (at least the first bar is 7/8; I lose track of the time after that) propelled by Dylan van der Schyf on drums and a light guitar line.  (The original is in 3/4, as you can see here.)

The quivering, sawing viola part (“Movement #10″)  is replaced by a stream of guitar notes played under dissonant chords formed by the sax and trumpet.  It seems calmer at first, with less abandon, but it goes on and on (as does the original), building tension and power not through overt means, but through the cumulative effect of all the notes. Wilson has also evened out the tempo — moving all (almost all?) the notes into eighth-note form to create a kind of robot babble, which helps push that cumulative effect forward.

Many of the movements include jazzy riffs that become ostinato backing for what I think are the viola parts: Wilson plays the viola part on guitar, and I think he wrote the riffs himself, or at least derived them himself from the original piano parts.  It’s going to be fun dissecting the original piece having heard this fresh interpretation.

To audiences that don’t know the original, “Lachrymae” probably comes across as a nice avant-jazz suite, with melody that’s nearly accesible but still angular and exploratory, and some nice moments for the cello, sax, and trumpet.

Because it’s got solos and improv segments, Wilson’s “Lachrymae” clocks in at about 30 minutes, compared with 13 or 16 minutes for the readings I’ve got.

I like Wilson’s music a lot.  I first picked up on him during a trip to his home base of Vancouver, where I picked up his album Lowest Note on a recommendation in an ad for the awesome Zulu Records store.  (Great indie store where the clerk also turned me on to Dan Bejar’s Destroyer.)  And his often rocking Pearls Before Swine (Drip Audio, 2007) includes a kick-ass version of “I Am the Walrus.”

[Via http://wedgeradio.wordpress.com]

SOS Hillary Clinton: Monday Schedule

Not a lot of info. and subject to change:

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2010

8:15 a.m. Secretary Clinton meets with His Excellency Franco Frattini, Foreign Minister of Italy, at the Department of State.

ON FOREIGN TRAVEL Secretary Clinton attends Meetings Regarding the Haiti Earthquake hosted by the Government of Canada, in Montreal, Canada

[Via http://secretaryclinton.wordpress.com]

How To Use Address Reverse Look Up Canada | ArticlesBase.com

How To Use Address Reverse Look Up Canada | ArticlesBase.com

When you desire more quality data such as address history, house records on that individual, you can get it on this website. Now that you acknowledge what this kind of reverse number lookup is, you could be needing to know if they are as useful as they appear.

Read Full Article Here: http://www.articlesbase.com/networks-articles/how-to-use-address-reverse-look-up-canada-1777427.html

click here to read more

[Via http://dumpnewsspot.wordpress.com]

A Wake for Duthie Books: our Shebeen Club Meeting for February

The Patient Succumbed to Amazonitis

Help us wake the soon-to-be-late but always-great Duthie Books, one of the world’s great independent booksellers. Sadly, after more than a half a century of informed and impassioned involvement in the literary world, Duthie’s last location will be shutting its doors at the end of February.

We see no reason to wait till its dead to have a wake, so come out and reminisce and help us celebrate a great bookstore and an intellectual institution. This is a chain invitation, so pass it along to all who may be interested, either by copying it into an email, pointing out this blog post, or by inviting people by using the link in the sidebar on Facebook. Half of the Vancouver literati used to work there, buy there, or just try to chat up people in the Cellar (not as filthy as it sounds, outsiders!).

We won’t have a presenter, but we MAY have a coffin; if you can help us borrow one, we’d be very grateful. Unused is preferable. If we can get our hands on one, we’ll see if we can use it for a photobooth!

Come out and share your reminiscences of the deceased, and toast the memory of a fine, upstanding bookstore who never turned away an intellectual in need of brain food or met an esoteric literary magazine it didn’t like. God, I’m getting weepy just thinking about it!

Details:

7pm till late

Monday, February 15th, 2010

The Shebeen, behind the Irish Heather pub, 212 Carrall Street, Maple Tree Square, Gastown, Vancouver

$20 includes a drink and dinner, with a choice of:

• entree salad
• vegetarian pasta
• bangers and mash
• fish and chips
• sleeve of domestic draft or glass of white or red wine

Dress code: funereal. Black beret and tame yet ominous raven optional.

Related Wailings and the Rending of Garments from around the interwebs:

• Steven Beattie
• The Vancouver Sun
• The Globe and Mail
• Sean Cranbury on Books on the Radio
• Megaphone Magazine
• The Georgia Straight
• Quill and Quire (though I only include them to ridicule their paywall)
• Xtra West
• Raincoast Books (no affiliation with raincoaster, by the way)
• Arsenalia (Arsenal Pulp Press)
• Novel Readings (Rohan Maitzen)
• The National Post
• please put any more links you find in the comments and I’ll include them on this list.

[Via http://theshebeenclub.com]

Travels to Ottawa

I worked in Ottawa this past week. Almost didn’t get into the country. I was pulled aside at immigration and required to explain why someone in Canada couldn’t do the job I was flown in to do. After hanging out with the young immigration official (they were ALL really really young…I wanted to ask if there was an adult in charge anywhere, but thought it would do my case no good) for over an hour, I was finally given the opportunity to purchase a 2-week work permit for $150. Others on the team have flown back and forth to Canada and not had this rich experience. I might have to beef up my traveling appearance. There might have been a visual reason why they couldn’t figure out what skill I could possibly offer that a Canadian couldn’t perform much better!

On the other hand, it is interesting that I never gave a thought in advance to any problem there might be in my working in Canada. Working in a foreign country without a visa? Why would I worry about that? I’m an American. If I had heard about a Latin American trying this same stunt, I would have thought they were completely out of touch with the reality of border crossings these days.

pictures from my journey:

[Via http://sarahcurtiss.wordpress.com]

IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, Montréal, Canada, 19–24 September 2010

Organised by: International Water Asscoiation (IWA), Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) and Canadian Association on Water Quality (CAWQ)

Principal sponsors: ITT Corporation, Suez Environnement, Veolia Water

IWA is expecting 3,000 delegates and 1,500 trade visitors to attend their biennial event.

Key topics:

• Science and application of water management
• Water, climate and energy
• Cities of the future
• Managing utilities and their assets
• Securing new and traditional water resources for the future
• Water, ecosystems and catchments
• Water and health
• Water and wastewater in developing countries.

For more information go to Congress website

[Via http://washcalendar.wordpress.com]

Prorogies

Today Maureen came back from the wandering the aisles of the IGA trying to run down something for supper, slack-jawed (something she does pretty often, by her own admission) with a plastic bag which contained a pack of 3 large Mennonite sausages, a can of niblets and two bags of perogies. There was a special on, 2 for 1.

I can only surmise that Hansens are sending a subversive message to Ted Menzies our MP, by keeping the issue alive as a laughing stock in some of the kitchens anyway for 20 or so miles around.

I was immediately amused but trepidated — I got a stomach flu on Saturday morning that has had me doing nothing more for sustenance than nibbling crackers and politely spooning bits of canned peaches gingerly onto my tongue. This flu’s been to our house twice now, the first visit occurring Xmas Day. How I stepped into its path the second time I’m not sure… so it goes I guess.

But I digress — those sad, behind-the-times acolytes of the failed New American Century!  Those sorry sons of nickel-a-throw mattress backs! I don’t think of myself as particularly political when it comes right down to it. It’s a big World and there is a huge lot of other neat-o things to explore without focusing solely on what is constantly couched as the only game in town, so dolts like our not-so-esteemed leader and his scheming clutch of spelling bee rejects can bask in the glow of our collective attention, at a safe distance with the microphones switched off, again.

But, roused I am.  Even me.

I hope the people of this land rise up and swallow our currently not-sitting PM whole like poor unfortunate Port-O-Prince. They got the wrong guys, those behemoth stone gods of Hubris, when they started stumbling around looking for the fool that’s been disturbing their slumber. And Michaelle Jean — complicit whore that she seems — I can’t help but wonder if she experienced just a momentary, fleeting twinge when she heard about the earthquake. Did she have to gulp back a split-second long realization that it was she who had brought ruin not only onto her country of choice but to her own birthlands and people?   That it was a message from Papa Legba, from the Vodou Loa, pointing out that she had made the mistake not once but twice; “Why did you say yes again to the usurper Stephen Harper?”

From the wan look he held for the camera that the CBC used to bejewel the news item about the cabinet shuffle today, I’d say Harpdog knows big time he blew it. Last thing the guy wanted to do was have to hug the tears away from our surrogate queen who has the gaunt, grey and haunted faces of 100,000 freshly dead people steadily gnawing their way into his conscience, once they’ve finished with hers. Then, to actually have to send aid money into what I’m sure he considers a bottomless Third-World pit, one without even the prisons they built with our tax money now, meant to hold the people crushed by their very walls, at a time when it was a gentle coast down to the Vanc. Games and then on to a humble majority.  Now that’s gotta hurt.

Well, it’s not a clean downhill run anymore. And Christ it’s so ironic, how could anybody miss it?

[Via http://dogstar23.wordpress.com]