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
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
Just as he was about to leave a penitentiary, reputed Montreal Mob leader Paolo Renda had last-minute conditions slapped onto his release.
full storyAccording 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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
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.
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.
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_povertyBurt 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?
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 bilhõesAs seguintes empresas divulgarão resultados:
Empresas Horário de Brasília Tyson Foods Antes do mercadoCenário 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
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
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.
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.
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
©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.
