Francis Peghamagabow

Ojibway-Canadian sniper in WW1. Credited with 387 (German) kills. Captured 300 Germans. Someone do a movie on this guy. Canadian history. Enough re-creations of Robin Hood etc. Hollywood needs to do movies on guys like this. William the Conqueror is another one.

Movie Review: Law Abiding Citizen

Law Abiding Citizen (2009, Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler) is likely to go down as the "Shawshank Redemption" of the decade. Foxx and Butler form a powerhouse duo in this gripping, action-packed drama-thriller. Gerard Butler, playing Clyde Shelton, is a dedicated family man who witnesses the deaths of his wife and daughter at the hands of two burglars in a violent home invasion. Jamie Foxx, playing seasoned Attorney General Nick Rice, angers Shelton (Butler) when he cuts a deal with one of the offenders to have the other one receive the death penalty. The remainder of the movie sees Shelton and Rice square off against one another in a complex "chess game" where checkmate means death. Each man seeks "justice" according to his own set of beliefs and his own set of rules. Many unfortunate pawns end up caught in the middle and it's a battle of wits to the end. A definite must see with enough drama and suspense to satisfy any movie-goer. Law Abiding Citizen is a definite must see!

new book by Adrienne Shadd

http://www.amazon.ca/Journey-Tollgate-Parkway-Canadians-Hamilton/dp/1554883946/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260569128&sr=8-1

resources

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2145713

also check chatham public library. newspaper archives of local paper too i imagine.

resources for upcoming research paper

black loyalists of nova scotia
phyllis blakeley, google books.
coloured member of the army corps --> on hold
walker, black loyalists.

Leandre Leduc + Julie Pilon

Leandre Leduc had a brother Jules Leduc who married (Mar 10 1904 @ st. clement) Meriza "Marise" Daoust: d/o Toussaint Daoust and Caroline Barrette.

Meanwhile, Leandre a marie Julie Pilon, fille de Isidore Pilon et Adelaide Dubuc. m. sep 25, 1883.

Dubuc, Pilon, Poirier, Lapalme, Leduc, Maurice, Tetreault

Ernest Attfield

b. Richmond, Surrey, England, 1880
son of Joseph Attfield (brick layer)
dwelling: 17 Red Lion St Lodging House

Leandre Leduc

son of Francois Leduc and Euphrosine Poirier
born at St-Clement-de-Beauharnois, QC 17 May 1846

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/IGI/individual_record.asp?recid=500114778232&lds=1®ion=11®ionfriendly=North+America&frompage=99

Euphemie Sinotte Loiselle

Looks like Euphemie Sinotte died at Manchester, New Hampshire.

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/SSDI/individual_record.asp?recid=001409685&lds=3®ion=-1®ionfriendly=&frompage=99

Here it is.

33540 Castelmoron-d'Albret, Gironde, Aquitania, France

The home town of Jean Gabouriau/Gaboriau/Gabouriault/Gaboriault dit Lapalme.
b. c. 1720

J G Lapalme was from Guyenne?

http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/QUEBEC-RESEARCH/2007-09/1189058599

L'as de Nimes

The coat of arms for the city of Nimes appears on a medal that was awarded to French citizens for bravery(?), military service(?) throughout the 18th and perhaps even the 17th centuries. An habitant of New France was likely awarded this medal at some time and earned the nickname "La Palme" because of the palm tree on one side of the medal (also seen in the coat of arms for the city of Nimes). The nickname of the medal was therefore likely "La Palme" and receipients of the medal gave themselves the nickname of La Palme.

Jean Gaboriau dit Lapalme

J G dit Lapalme apparently got this nickname when he saved some people from drowning in a river and was awarded a medal. The name of the medal was "La Palme".
He was the descendant of Marie-Madeleine Couc.

Worst Week Ever

This has been by far the worst week since January 2008 when I was in a fight with a co-worker and had to go to court on an assault charge.

What's been happening over the past week:
Some punks from across the street threw a party the other night. Some of their drunken guests thought it would be fun(ny) to smash up some sideview mirrors of the cars parked across the street. My girlfriend's was one of them.

I was sick with a bad flu from Friday the 13th (i'm not superstitious so don't read more into that date than you need to) until Thursday the 19th. Since then I've been left with a bacterial lung infection.

My blood sugars have been going haywire since the 13th when I was struck by what my doctor is quite sure was swine flu. I can't exercise when I'm sick. With my lungs short of breath as they are I can't go play soccer or go to the gym. I just need to sit this one out and hope that it gets better.

I've missed a lot of school. I missed class Friday through Friday and again this morning. I will likely miss the rest of this week. I had 2 midterms put on hold and I have to write those soon. I have a big paper due on December 2.

A local gym owes me three months worth of payments that they took from my account while I was no longer a member. I'm having a heck of a time getting my money back.

How was your week?

Marie Miteouamigoukoue

http://genealogiequebec.info/testphp/info.php?no=14785

Nicolas Couc - Elisabeth Templair (France)
Pierre Couc/Conque/Couque/Couc dit Lafleur:
-born 1627 at Cognac, Cognac, Charente, Poitou-Charentes, France
OR born 1624, Cognac, Augoumois, France
-soldier in French army under Monsieur de Froment. translator
-August 24, 1651 recorded as being at 3-rivs, Quebec.
-April 16, 1657 marries Marie Miteouamigoukoue (an Algonquin, b. 1631 @ Algonquin Village, Canada), daughter of Barthelemi Miteouamigoukoue (b. 1605) and Carole Pachirini (b. 1609)
-marriage contract signed August 24, 1657 by Severein Ameau dit Saint Severin.
-in 1667 they live at petit Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Mauricie, Quebec where Pierre has 14 arpents de terre
-in 1681 they live at the seigneurie of St. Francois, Quebec. There he is listed as having a fusil and 15 arpents de terre
-he dies in 1690 at St. Francois-Xavier, St. Francois du Lac, Yamaska, Quebec.
OR dies August 6, 1665 at St. Francois du Lac, Yamaska, Quebec
-buried 1690 at St. Francois du Lac by Louis Andre, Jacques Touiel and Crevier, seigneur de St. Francois du Lac
-known children (all by Marie Miteouamigoukoue):
Jeanne Conque b. 1657 Jul 14 at 3-rivs
Louis Couc b. 27 nov 1659 @ 3 rivs
Marie-Angelique Conque b. 1661
Marie Couc b. 1683 @ 3 rivs
Marguerite Couc b. June 1 1664 @ 3 rivs
Elizabeth Couc b. 1667
Madeleine Couc b. 1669
Jean Couc b. 1673

Nicolas Couc and Elisabeth Templair

http://www.saurette.com/retrospect/index.php?m=family&id=I00575

Nicolas Couc who married Elisabeth Templair. Hailed from Cognac, St. Onge, France near Toulouse. (Ottomans in c. 1560?)
Their son, Pierre Couc Lafleur came to Canada and settled at Trois-Rivieres where he married an Algonquin woman named Marie M________. One of their descendants was Gaboriau(lt) dit Lapalme who settled in the Farnham/St. Dominique region.

Looks like Lapalme was originally Gaboriault

http://www.leveillee.net/ancestry/nicolas.htm

St. Dominique family branches: Lapalme and Sinotte

Sinotte family of St. Dominique:
http://sinotteloisellegenealogy.wordpress.com/



Pierre Leduc and the Soleil d'Afrique:
http://blogue_a_andre.monblogue.branchez-vous.com/2008/07/06
Regiment of Carignan-Salieres.

Here we are:
Euphemie Sinotte Loiselle b. unknown d. unknown m. Joseph Lapalme, July 30 1877 (he hailed from Ste. Rosalie Bagot, Quebec.
Their daughter was Antoinette Lapalme. She would have been born c. 1900.
Euphemie's father: Louis Sinotte Loiselle b. January 20, 1852 at St. Dominique
Euphemie's mother: Marie Maurice b. Jan 20, 1852 at St. Dominique, Bagot, Quebec.
Euphemie's maternal grandparents: Marie Tetreault m. July 27 1830 to Joseph Maurice (St. Jean Baptiste, Rouville, Quebec)
Marie Tetreault's parents: Marie and Francois Tetreault.
Joseph Maurice's parents: Paul Maurice and Marie Appolline Prevost.
Euphemie's paternal grandparents:

Pierre Leduc et "le soleil d'afrique"

Pierre Leduc est venu au Canada en 1691 a bord "Le Soleil d'Afrique", un fregate navale de l'armee Francaise. It departed from La Rochelle on April 27, 1688 with fifty soldiers and 25 recruits. (Pierre Leduc was one of these? I've read that he was a <> - a cauldron maker, metal worker with the French army. We know that he was born in the little parish of St. Laurent(?), just outside Rouen, Haute-Normandie in 1645, to Pierre Leduc Sr. and Anne Martin. In 1688 when the soleil d'afrique set sail, he would have been 43. They reached Quebec on June 3, 1688. The commanding officer was one, Denonville. Bonaventure fits in there somewhere. He was another senior officer or the captain. I have also read somewhere that these soldiers were in the <>. I'm assuming this was the name of their regiment. I had read elsewhere that Pierre arrived in 1691, and that the soleil d'afrique first stopped at Louisbourg. So I'm not sure how this all fits together. But here you have the facts. Pierre Leduc married Catherine Fortin, daughter of Louis Fortin from Evreux (also in Haute Normandie), and they settled on a small farm on Ile-Perot (near Montreal). The freeway there apparently runs through where there farm used to be. Seven or eight generations later my great grandfather, Godfrey Leduc was born (c. 1901) at St. Timothee, near Salaberry de Valleyfield, in the Beauharnois region. He moved to Alberta in 1920 and became a farmer. His wife, Antoinette LaPalme, was from St. Dominique, Quebec (near St. Hyacinthe), and they married in c. 1929. They met while Antoinette was out visiting her LaPalme relatives in Wainwright, Alberta. Her parents were Josephe Lapalme and Euphemie Sinotte Loiselle of St. Dominique, Bagot, Quebec. I would like to find out more about the LaPalme and Sinotte family lines one day. How did they come to New France? Which part of France were they from? Etc.
I've recorded this so that I don't forget it. Hopefully you find some of it useful.

Of Diabetic Ethiopians and Wheelchair Users: Organizing Society into groups based on health condition

I think the world was a better place when all the nations, creeds, races, and relgions lived separate lives. It seems that in Canada today there is simply too much diversity. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that I feel immigrants, etc. don't belong in Canada. No, no, no. What I'm saying is that I don't believe in the concept of diversity. That we can all just get along. No. It doesn't work. The white man and the Aborginal didn't get along. The French and the English didn't get along. (Alot of them still don't get along. And why? Because there are few commonalities between them. There are few "points of reference" between different groups of people. For example: A new Canadian from Ethiopia drives a taxi cab. He picks up a white, fourth-generation Canadian passenger. They're the same age. Okay, so they have that going for them. Maybe they both have kids and they can talk about that. But what does that Ethiopian man know about hockey? What does that Canadian man know about the swahili language? What does the Ethiopian man know about local property taxes? What does the Canadian know about Ethiopian cuisine?

My point is that we don't all mix. We can't all get along. The reason this is important is because this relates to disease and chronic illness.

I myself suffer from Type 1 diabetes. If I lived in a "city" where everyone was a type 1 diabetic I wouldn't fear going blind, losing my legs, dying young. That would be the norm! It would be like everyday stuff. As it stands now though, living in a world of healthier, non-diabetic people, I'm scared. I'm scared that I'll one day lose my sight, my leg - my independence. If I had people all around me that knew all about my condition because they suffered from it too - everything in that "city" would be organized to work around the disease. There would be more break times at work. There would be juice and cookies stationed throughout the city in little booths for when our sugar goes low and we're out and about. Things like that. Is that not worth something? Forget what I said about the race/creed/religion stuff. I actually know an Ethopian diabetic. How about we divide ourselves health? Wheelchair people all together (everything would be wheelchair accessible), the blind all together (could be challenging), the diabetics together, the MS sufferers together, and so on. Life then in those "cities" would be geared toward whatever was wrong with the populace. As it stands now, any MS sufferer, disabled person, or diabetic feels different, left out, socially outcasted.

Slammer Two-Step

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAjItY7X0Yc&feature=fvst

Dancing lessons have been organized for prisoners of Cebu prisoners in the Philippines. Amazing.

Life in a Thai Prison

Just when you thought your life sucked...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSiGyGS6u8M&NR=1

Drug addiction should not be treated as an offense in the eyes of the law. Drug addiction is an illness. Perpetrators should be REHABILITATED and TREATED not punished and imprisoned.

MLS All Star Game 2009

A great game by the boys in blue last night. Hats off to Keller, Donovan, and Montero for strong performances. My question: Where were Kenny Cooper, Johnny Bornstein, and Robbie Rogers? Had those three been on the field we may very well have seen a different outcome.

Blanco, it's sad to say, is officially past his prime. I figure he's got 1 - 2 years left in him tops. His cheeky little lobs were no match for Tim Howard - and it showed. His deft footwork was still good but not quite as good as it once was.

Dominic Kinnear did a good job with the lineup although he subbed Montero out way too early. Had the young Colombian stayed on and played with Donovan, we may very well have seen the two connect for a goal or two. They are both speedy and accurate strikers. Conor Casey on the other hand added some good muscle up front but his physical play was simply not what was needed to score on Howard.

Beckerman was subbed off too early as well. He's got an excellent shot from outside the 18. Arnaud could be considered a good replacement - his shot is just as deadly - but he failed to find the space he needed to take that shot.

Everton, for their part, played a quality game. Three youngsters, 22 year old Jo "the Brazilian", 17 year old Baxter, and 18 year old ________, demonstrated good pace and skill. Saha was a force to be reckoned with and made sure to capitalize on a poor pass from Stuart Holden to Keller in the 8th minute.

Moyes is a great tactician and runs a tight ship. His players played their positions well, rarely leaving holes on the field and only once leaving an open man.

It's sad that our record had to be broken (the MLS All Stars now fall to 6 - 1?), but we'll move past it. Next year, if MLS schedules the game a little better, we might see both De Ro and Gerba on the squad. Watch out _______ ! (hopefully a La Liga or Ligue 1 team next year as we've had plenty of EPL competition).

The Fugees

GREAT BOOK:

Outcasts United. Spiegel & Grau. New York: 2009.

The story of the Fugee soccer team, founded by Luma Mufleh (American-educated, Jordanian born and raised) circa 2004. The setting is Clarkston, Georgia, home to tens of thousands of newly arrived refugees from all over Africa and the Middle East. Mufleh's and her players' perserverance in creating an "international", multi-ethnic soccer team as a project for personal growth and responsibility of all those involved, is heartwarming. Against great odds, from war to disgruntled mayors steeped in prejudice, Warren St. John's documentary tells the tale of the little team that could.

There is a movie in the works as well:

http://www.strangecultureblog.com/2007/06/luma-muflehs-life-story-creates.html

Note To Self

Always be a moderate. Never sway to the extreme. There is always a middle road.


For some this is seen as cowardly - -- - - --

The long haired hippies offering up Amnesty International donation forms to passersby on downtown street corners. Why do they always have to be long haired, with dread locks and organic, hemp wool pants? Dressed in suits and business attire, downtown office workers would see someone resembling themselves (=able to IDENTIFY with these people and whatever they are offering). More likely to get donations/subscriptions etc. in this manner.

essai/composition: sociology

2010 Election Issues

-citizens oversight/advisory/discipinary panel for police services. there have been too many instances of Canadian police service members overstepping their boundaries

-canadian jobs for canadian grads.

-less red tape + more tax incentives for small, mid-size Canadian, businesses who hire Canadian employees

Pagliacci's: Victoria, British Columbia

We ate at Pagliacci's tonight. This classy, Italian, pasta house serves up amazing platters with names like "Dish With No Name" and "Play By George Bernard Shaw".\

The waiting line wound outside the door and onto the sidewalk outside. The waitresses served up complimentary wine while we waited. All in all it was a fine culinary experience,

Stop by Pagliacci's when you visit Victoria!

Daddy's Girl Doesn't Quite Get It: Enter Judge Judy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJvwLr0dXrE&feature=related

Princess. Daddy's Girl. Didn't quite get what she wanted - for once. The agony! Quick, alert the army, bring in the national guard. People! We have a CRISIS! A crisis of epic proportions. Daddy's little girl has been caught speeding! A police officer put his hand in her face when she tried to pass him her cell phone so that her DADDY (a former police officer) could have a chat with the evil, mean man in blue. Darling, check out what the LAPD does to blacks and hispanics in the other parts of Los Angeles - those other parts where you don't even take your drycleaning to. And a cop put his hand in your face when you tried to influence him....wha wha wha....have a tissue.

Democracy in the Middle East

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/04/200942217162264694.html

This is such a simple concept and yet they still don't get it. By "they" I am of course referring to Western governments who continually try to impose their beliefs and value systems on the Middle East.

DISCLAIMER: I am not from the Middle East. I am a Westerner.

Why do: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Gordon Brown, Stephen Harper, ya da ya da ya da, continually feel that they can impose our Western values on the Middle East? Did they miss Grade 10 History? For thousands of years it's been a clash of civilizations between "us" and "them". What makes them think that it can change now, today, because we want it?

Western leaders fail to understand the complexities of governing in the Middle East. They don't realize that Hamid Karzai's very life and honour (more important than life in the Middle East) depend on his support for tribal traditions (women covered up and at home, etc.). He can't suddenly do an about face and say okay, ladies, take off those head scarves and burkas, shorten your skirts and get a neck-line in that blouse. It doesn't work like that. His bodyguard would be duty-bound to kill him in his sleep. Mr. Karzai and the people of Afghanistan would expect nothing less.

The West is a sapling compared to the thousand year old olive tree that is the Middle East. They don't understand the culture of family, religion, and honour in the Middle East. The decades and centuries of various opinions on things ranging from the Jews to female circumcision to the right way to cook an eggplant. Mrs. Clinton, all dolled up, wearing her pearl necklace, her hair nicely coiffed and streaked, can't just waltz into Kabul and begin demanding equal rights for women!!!!! It doesn't work like that???? Why must we endure this farce! Day in and day out, being made to read the bleeding heart news stories on women's rights and democracy! You can't change this stuff! It's like a wife trying to get her lazy husband to put his dirty socks and underwear in the laundry hamper, or tabloids to stop publishing stories on Britney Spears and the little Alien man. It ain't gonna happen! So kick back, watch TV, read a book, and just enjoy the country you live in. We can't change people. Period. Let the West be the West and the East be the East.

Cycles: Money Makes Money and The Rich Get Richer

I feel somehow that I've been short-changed in life. Although I wouldn't necessarily put it that way either because perhaps I'm being melodramatic, or my expectations are too high. Moreover looking from the outside in, we (the low-income, blue collar crowd of society) can only ASSUME what the lives of the wealthy/privileged are like.

I look to my former high school classmates. A lot of them went on to accept $5,000 scholarships at McGill and UBC. They get internships with the government and other organizations. The one thing that they have in common? They are propped up by, and have the loving support of, their parents.

In high school they were confident and took part in after school programs. They became the presidents and treasurers of x association and x group. They attended conferences in distant cities. They didn't have to work outside of school. Their parents gave them everything they needed. They bought them nice clothes (so that they could attend social/political/community functions and not feel out of place - my first dress shirts came from Value Village). Their parents furnished them with all the latest stationary and school supplies - they never had garage sale specials, they always had enough paper.

They didn't have diabetes either. Which wreaks havoc on a teenager's already fragile state of being. I suffered from a great deal of anxiety in high school and thus sometimes avoided including myself in certain activities. It didn't help that I went to three different high schools either - I hardly got to know anyone for any proper length of time.

In the end, I graduated with little fanfare: a 50 dollar banquet and a certificate. No scholarship offers, no upcoming internships, no plans to attend a prestigious university.

Four years later I'm entering my third year of university and hoping to graduate shortly with a BA Honours degree in History. But it hasn't been easy. There is very little in the way of scholarships and bursaries. And the irony? A lot of them are for students who:

-have participated in after school programs/clubs;
-have been role models in their communities;
-have solid marks;

and so on. PLEASE, tell me, pray, how are we supposed to satisfy all that criteria when:
-We need to work after school jobs to pay for the little things (clothes, movie money, etc.) that the other kids have handed to them by their parents. We can't spend the same time on our school work as those other kids! When we don't get help on our math homework because our parents are too tired when they get home from work and they can't afford a tutor - how are we supposed to stay on par with those other students? When we have a low self-esteem, and so don't run for president or chair member of clubs and organizations - how do we keep on par with them? And then, when we finally get into university/college and are trying to better ourselves, we find that the majority of scholarships/bursaries are only being offered to students who have excelled in school and the community. And so the cycle continues. We're left out, disenfranchised, excluded.

Now am I just complaining or is there something to all of this? Granted, working hard will get you places and perhaps I have not worked hard enough at some things. But when your attention is diverted elsewhere (job outside of school to pay for extracurricular activities, diabetes) it's hard to focus on Mr. Robson's essay or the Human Rights Club. Sure I joined a few clubs at school and attended a few meetings. I made an effort. But I never had the confidence to run for student rep or club president. I never had a strong parental support like a lot of these other kids from privileged backgrounds.

The poorer/less advantaged kids in my school ended up pretty much like me. A lot of them are working, have kids already, or are studying at trade and technical schools = more affordable than university, less book work.

Students who come from good homes (supportive parents, brothers and sisters for role models) succeed in school. They succeed in school and they succeed in life. I wish we all had this reality - but we don't. And those people certainly don't ever want to give up their positions of privilege to reach out to the rest of us at the bottom of the ladder.

I've been researching youth gangs/poverty/housing projects in Ontario and have come to the conclusion that lacking the above mentioned privileges (strong parental support, positive role models) is the ONLY factor that sets these young men and women apart from the rest of us. When you have a low self-esteem (because you never had parents telling you you were special or good at something) how are you supposed to stand up and run for class president? When you aren't fed a proper breakfast in the morning - how are you supposed to concentrate on your school work?

When disadvantaged student x attends a school where the majority of his classmates are well-off, confident, and avid learners, how is he/she expected to follow suit? When your clothes come from a second hand store and your binders come from a garage sale and you sit beside a student who has three 5-star zip-up binders, wears the latest fashions, and has good parents at home who support him/her, would you not feel like you're in the shadow? When it becomes too uncomfortable to be the minority like that (add skin colour to the equation if the student is coloured and attends a mostly white school) - and you drop out because you are so uncomfortable - is it any wonder?

I've always felt more comfortable amongst my own kind: low-income/lower middle class working people. People who wear their shoes in the house, have a mean dog out back, whose parents smoke and drink. Granted, it's far from idyllic, but it's hard to be poor/low-income and fit in with friends/class mates who come from homes where the parents are both dentists/doctors, who have plush leather couches, a nanny/maid, and art work on the walls.

You see the clash of two worlds here? How are we on the lower rung of society supposed to ever catch up with those on top? When those on top constantly put us down for being too lazy or not driven-enough. We're not all born with a rock-solid will. A lot of us are easily influenced and we let outside factors shape who we are and how we view ourselves. If we're constantly told that we're poor and lazy - or if we constantly feel that way about ourselves because others around us are well off and driven, then we let ourselves become that.

IF we're told we mean something. If we're given proper guidance and attention. If people listen to us and show that they value our opinions, then we start to see a new "us". All the kids in Regent Park and Ottawa South and poor, working class areas need is some good guidance and support.

-Tutoring takes nothing from you but your time: you can help kids with their math, English, etc.;

-helping run or finance a local community sports league (soccer, basketball) does not take a whole lot and it gives so much;

-financing a scholarship or donating school supplies is another way to help out.

Please, especially these days where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, be thankful for what you have and share a little bit with others.

Ways to Succeed in Life

There are roughly four options available to people like me to succeed in life:

1 - Winning the Lottery
While highly unlikely, winning the lottery can provide a low-income, working student like myself a bit of capital to put a down payment on a house or start a small business.

2 - Being CrEaTiVe
Making a name for myself on YouTube (with interesting amateur documentaries), penning a novel (I'm working on a couple), or entering essay and movie contests to win cash prizes, internships, and trips to work alongside professionals in various fields. Being creative includes sports. Honing my soccer skills and potentially trying out for a semi-pro club (about as good as I'll ever get) in the Canadian Soccer League or USL where I can depend on a half-decent salary. Using our creative talents can make us rich. Painting, acting, becoming a travelling busker, etc. There are all sorts of ways.

3 - Education
I can put my nose to the grindstone and work really hard to get a law degree or a master's in my field. With a master's in hand I'd be almost guaranteed a lifetime of employment in the civil service (or so I've heard). Getting a law degree or psychology degree would allow me to open up my own practice. The pay is quite good.

4 - Joining Organized Crime
While often glamorized by Hollywood, I somehow get the feeling that "The LIFE" ain't all it's cracked up to be. Lengthy prison terms, the chance of getting "whacked", and the drugs make this lifestyle quite unattractive. The pay is good but it's a fast and windy road.

5 - Creating a Commune
It would be nice to have a few million bucks in my pocket. I would buy up an uptown block of dilapitaed buildings, have them bulldozed and torn down, and then put up some shiny, new, state-of-the art communal condo complexes. Equipped with solar panels, they'd have rooftop balconies, communal sun/sitting rooms, and would surround a communal courtyard where residents could mix and mingle. I would set the rents at an affordable price. Gradually the members of the commune (working professionals, single mothers, people from all walks of life) could create pottery cooperatives, car sharing arrangments, and stuff like that to generate income for the commune. We could pool our resources together and buy up nearby stores and turn them into artisanal cooperatives, health food stores, daycares, and martial arts studios.

A Class System

Despite what people may say, we have a class system. When I walk downtown, applying for restaurant jobs, I pass a lot of people in suits and ties. They are the upper echelon of society. In passing I catch snippets of their conversations:

"...first you need to pay off all your credit cards..."
"...and have Linda fax me that form this afternoon..."
"...I want it by Monday..."

They get nice offices in shiny, glass, 20-storey buildings. They get to have power-coffee breaks at the World Exchange Plaza, glancing at their PDAs while deep in conversation on this quarter's results.

When do I get to join in all this? I feel so disenfranchised. I'm out of the loop. I wish I'd grown up with a strong, father-figure who had pushed me into finance. I'm doing an arts degree. Fat chance I'll ever be sipping a Latte while discussing the markets and getting paid for it...

You're either in or your out. I'm out. It seems I'd better get some financial accreditation under my belt.

Canadian Hip Hop Scene

Yo yo yo, these Canukkas be workin' it north of the border. Big scene in T dot. Lots of Canadian talent. Check it:

hiphopcanada.com

Gangis Khan aka Camoflauge
Point Blank
Team Offense

This is the stuff we should be listening to. Good, raw, Canadian rap/hip hop talent. Support Canadian music artists. We got some good stuff goin' on up here.

The Axe Has Fallen

From Madoff to Drabinsky and Gottlieb to AGI bonuses, Canadians and Americans alike are outraged by wealthy Wall Street and Bay Street "crooks". Suddenly the lustre of the North American aristocracy has worn off. Madoff investors cry foul. Op-ed writers demand justice. Lawmakers demand payback.

What people forget is that it is our uber capitalist, make-as-much-as-you-can-and-run mentality that has caused all this trouble in the first place. When becoming wealthy is our main objective we'll go to any lengths to amass a fortune. These men (and women) who have connived and cheated have merely done what society has encouraged them to do. When you, oh wealthy American/Canadian, decided to invest your money with Madoff, to see large returns, you were playing the same game. These people aren't crooks if they are making you money now are they? Even if that means investing in weapons manufacturing companies, tobacco companies, and third world dictatorships. As long as you see x % of a return you don't really care. Suddenly however the rug was pulled from under you. Your trusted and faithful investor broke rank and stabbed you in the back.

Seeing the millions/billions of dollars of money in front of him/her, he/she dipped his/her hand into the cookie jar. Goodness gracious!

All these teary-eyed, banner waving, victims standing outside Manhattan courtrooms, crying for blood. You knew what game you were playing. Why is their greed wrong and yours isn't? You chose to do business with these people. Promised outrageous returns you invested in brokerages with absolutely no ethics. You didn't care how your money was made so long as you go it. Well, someone else go to it first I guess. You'll see no tears from me, nor from the people in countries where missiles financed by your investments destroy their homes, and multi-nationals enslave them with their pathetic wages.

Why I Don't Like Politics

As a young, burgeoning university student, I dreamed of one day climbing the political ladder to lay claim to various, prestigious public offices across the country. However, three years (and massive amounts of cynicism) later, I find myself disgusted by the whole profession.

Backroom deals, Machiavellian tactics, cut throats, backstabbers, floor crossers, hypocrites, thieves, scoundrels. Seriously, outside of prison I don't know where you get a higher concentration of bad apples.

Yet, year in and year out, decade after decade, we continue to vote and pay tribute to those in public office. We forget the scams and the scandals, we blow off the double talk and dishonesty, and we say, "Maybe this time will be different. Maybe this guy/girl will do a good job." Sound like you?

Anyways, here is yet another story of political shenanigans:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/03/24/cp-torystaffer.html

PC Party (Ontario) staffer hacks into Liberal Party website. So what. Do I really care? The short answer is no.

What does bother me however is the comments that people make on the comment boards. Canadians who turn the blinders on to defend their own, political ideologies.

It doesn't seem to matter how many facts, figures you show someone - they will rarely change their minds.

If you're right, you're right:
"Those crazy lefties, bleeding heart liberals, socialists. They don't understand the issues."

If you're left, you're left: "Friggin' right-wingers. Damn Bush-loving, war-mongering, welfare-hating cold hearted bastards."

As long as we have politics we will have two opposing sides. We need a new model of governance in this country: a model that encourages throwing politics aside to work to find a solution in a fair and constructive manner. We, joe public, need to be involved in that process. Decision-making can't merely be left up to a handful of rich lawyers turned politicians. Will we ever see such a day?

"On Mistaken For Being White": One Man's Story

This is a very good little read. Alludes to the interesting dynamic of race relations in Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/citizenbytes/2009/02/a_ride_to_remember_a_man_share.html

Major League Soccer: Worthy of the Hype?

There remains many a critic in Canada and the United States as to the vailidity of Major League Soccer (MLS) as a quality football (soccer) league. Indeed, many friends of mine (primarily friends from countries overseas where football is king), contend that the MLS is nothing more than a trumped up varsity league.

Now when you consider the fact that European football clubs have hundreds of years of history, millions of supporters, and 60,000 seat stadiums, our MLS clubs do look somewhat pale by comparison. It would appear that we are yet infants in the global soccer world.

However, little by little, year by year, through supporters' groups (e.g.: Red Patch Boys), big name stars (e.g.: David Beckham), the word is spreading: MLS clubs are now in their teenage years. Folks, we are gaining credibility.

Let me explain how:

1) International Club Friendlies / MLS All-Star Games

From Celtic FC to West Ham United to FC Barcelona, MLS clubs have played host to numerous international soccer super powers and won. Barring the FC Barcelona match (that team is in a league of its own - it is not only a global soccer superpower but a European soccer superpower, meaning it demolishes even that continent's competition) the MLS has come a long way since 1996. Now entering its 14th season, the MLS has survived nearly as long as its predecessor, the North American Soccer League (think New York Cosmos and Pele), is in excellent financial shape, and is growing steadily in terms of fan support and capital.

Have a look at these matches -->

Celtic FC v. Chicago Fire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyHqPwpLeXw&feature=related

West Ham United v. MLS All-Stars (2008):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnMw4Te2-B8&feature=channel

FC Barcelona v. New York Red Bulls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUIXaLOYFI4&feature=channel

Canadian Stadiums (Stadia)

An excellent resource for stadium buffs.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/north_america/countries/canada.shtml

Includes stadium dimensions, seating numbers, pictures, and everything else you need to know about canada's (and the rest of the world's) stadiums.

This topic is of particular interest to soccer fans such as myself who often posit as to what Canadian cities could support USL or CSL franchises and what stadia they would use. For example, Stade Saputo in Montreal is excellent for the Impact. But what about the City of Hamilton? With rumours circulating that their city is in the midst of procuring a USL-1, USL-2 team it is interesting to speculate where the team could play. Would they get enough attendance? Questions like these.

This website is a great resource of sports enthusiasts and sports writers alike.

New Strategy for Afghanistan

March 4, 2009 - Given the fact that we have just lost 3 more soldiers to IEDs (and 2 were injured) in Afghanistan, I think it's time we re-think our military strategy.
Our current system is failing our soldiers. The outlook is bleak. Pakistan continues to train and harbour Taliban/muslim radicals who then pass freely into Afghanistan through the mountains. They plant IEDs on roads that the NATO force frequent. They watch them for a couple of days, take some calculations, dig a hole beside the road, plant a bomb with a remote detonator, go 2 miles away, hide on a hill with a pair of binoculars, watch for a Canadian convoy, wait for the last tank/truck in line and then kaboom. That's all it takes. We lose soldiers to death and injury and we lose military equipment. It's a neverending rat race.

What we need to do is concentrate all of our operations into a single, relatively peaceful, province. NOT Kandahar. Until Pakistan keeps Taliban militants from crossing into Afghanistan with men and arms there is absolutely no point to patrolling Kandahar. The battle would be never ending.

What we need to do instead is take a province or two, far removed from the terrorist hotspots, and lock them down. Create like an East/West Germany sort of situation. In these two peaceful provinces we would:

-educate the masses;
-establish a secular society;
-create a highly trained army and police force;
-build schools, hospitals, roads and establish other important infrastructure;
-get running water and electricity to everyone.

In essence we would create a new standard by which Afghanis can live. With time this new "society" can open its borders and invite one or two new provinces at a time. When Afghanis see how it's possible to live, they will want the same. Right now however NATO forces are spread out all over the country. A pocket here a pocket there. There's absolutely no way we can break down the walls of muslim fundamentalism and backwardness that way. Especially not in certain provinces. Why waste our time there?

Rather, as I propose, NATO forces must concentrate their efforts on a single, more peaceful area/province. Get the populace well established. Let the Afghanis outside that area/province see what they are missing and what is possible.

Otherwise we are just sitting ducks and there is no point in our being there.

Hollywood Divas

Check out the demands of LA's starlets:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstagetour/index.html

Woo-hoo! A little cuckoo?

Rihanna and Chris Brown

Man oh man. I can't believe it's come to this - I'm actually writing/reading about Hollywood celebs! Why oh why? I strongly dislike them. Arrogant, egotistical divas that they are.

That aside, why is Rihanna getting back together with Chris Brown? It's all to do with the female psyche I guess - the twisted part of it anyways. The one that feels that to be loved is to be abused. Chris Brown slapped her, said he was "going to kill her" and choked her until she lost consciousness. I don't know about you but this guy sounds like the next poster child for the White Ribbon Campaign - in a bad way.

So really, I don't know what's worse - Chris Brown beatin' on Rihanna like she was a bad guy in a Jackie Chan movie or her going back to him.

Reports say that a member of the Jay-Z entourage (Jay-Z helped kickstart Rihanna's career) called Chris Brown "a walking dead man."

Threats on his life, the cancellation of highly lucrative sponsorships and shows (Wrigley, the NBA All Star Game). Chris, Chris, Chris. What were you thinking man!?

And Rihanna, give your head a shake girl - your boy ain't gonna change. Walk away while you still can!

Quebec separatists shut down!

A good little rant from craigslist.org, Montreal:

"The NO side won by a hair, and that's after the federalist side illegally spent millions in propaganda. "

Are you going to be whining about the referendums forever? I thought you guys didn't like to talk about DEFEATS, even the ones that happened 300 years ago.

What about the millions (of taxpayer dollars) spent on sovereignty since 1970? Funny, when it's the YES side it a "campaign", when it's the no side it's "propaganda". Are you saying that because of this "propaganda", some of your separatist brethren were swayed or tricked into voting NO? Are you sure you want to admit to that?

What about the cheating on the YES side? The record number of rejected ballots, the investigation that never got off the ground because it was quietly quashed by the PQ? What about the misleading and unclear question on the ballot?

You lost the referendum. TWICE. It's time to get over it. Let focus our energies into building Quebec into a world-class player instead of a quaint but backward french hick-town.

[sigh] but I suppose you'd rather keep fighting (while living in poverty) for "la cause".

reference: http://montreal.en.craigslist.ca/rnr/1047445409.html

Montreal Impact 2 : 0 Santos Laguna

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/02/impact_winning_hearts_in_hocke.html

Excellent op-ed piece. It's really too bad that our media outlets still take such caution when reporting on soccer. I hope that the game made the front page this morning in Montreal papers. 55,571 fans is no mediocre turnout - that's more than double the number who pack the Bell Centre for Habs games.

John Limniatis deserves a lot of credit. He is an excellent coach and deserves a shot at coaching our national team. (It would be a tremendous loss for the Impact, but maybe by the time 2014 WC qualifiers have rolled around he'll be ready for a change anyways).

I am so lucky to be growing up in Canada in 2009 with all this soccer action happening. The late 80s (when I was born) to the late 90s was an absolute drought for soccer in Canada - that's an entire decade of being forced to watch EPL games weekend after weekend, wondering when we'll finally get our own teams to support. But it's finally happening.

The Vancouver Whitecaps' MLS bid is solid. Kerfoot and Nash. Money and star power. A new state of the art stadium on Vancouver's waterfront. Joining the MLS would elevate Vancouver's game by giving them the chance to acquire players from other MLS teams in the expansion draft. Seattle is so far making an excellent transition: they nabbed 10 fine players from teams around the MLS and most recently beat Vancouver 4-0 in an exhibition match.

The Montreal Impact however should remain in the USL for the following reasons:

1 - They have a brand new stadium that seats 13,000. I've been to State Saputo and must say that I'm impressed. It's got quality seating, press boxes, executive suites, a supporters' section, and it sits a mere stone's throw from the Big O. The MLS wants new franchises to have 20,000 seat stadiums - even though many of those seats continue to remain empty!

2- The 40 million dollar franchise fee is a joke. Is Garber trying to grow soccer in North America or become filthy rich!? The MLS should be paying the Impact to join! Look at their performance in the Champions League thus far - it far outshines the performances of any "superior" MLS team.

3 - The Impact have an excellent squad and joining the MLS would cause such a shake up to the team (trades, transfers, loans) that they would probably drop right to the bottom of the table. Let them remain kings of the USL!

Allez les bleues!

Quebec Separation

I've jumped head first into a raging debate with Quebec sovereigntists. They call me a "federal agent" and accuse me of "spreading propoganda". I must be getting to them. The feds SHOULD be paying me for this! Where's my cheque dammit! I'm trying to keep this country together!

Anyways, check it out for yourselves. Come help me out if you get a chance!

http://lequebecois.actifforum.com/ici-on-parle-d-actualite-f1

Now on to related matters. French in America. Check this interesting article out!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_in_the_United_States

There are communities in Maine where French is spoken by more than 75% of the population! Go figure. What else won't Quebec sovereigntists tell us?

Now might I add that there is an amazing collection of French outside of Quebec:

http://www.maillardville.com/ (BC)
http://www.willowbunch.ca/ (SK) (Also home of the Giant Edouard Beaupre!)
http://www.acfa.ab.ca/default.asp (AB)
http://www.fransaskois.sk.ca/ (SK)
http://www.franco-manitobain.org/ (MB)
http://www.fcfa.ca/ (CAN)

So, what do you have to say to all that my Quebec separatist friends?

1759 or 2009?

Due to the firestorm of controversy surrounding the historical re-enactment of the 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham, I feel I must wade into this issue.

While thumbing through the National Post yesterday at Pearson airport I came across the story and was yet again confronted with the neverending separatist agenda of some Quebecers.

Look Quebec. You had a chance to make some money here! In a related NP article, it was reported that only 36% of Quebecers feel that their province gives more to Canada than it takes. (economically, socially, etc.) Meanwhile 78% of Albertans feel that Alberta gives more to this country than it takes. I'm surprised it's not 100% quite frankly.

What Ottawa should do for this fiscal year, is DEDUCT from your transfer payments, the amount of money that Quebec City would have made from thousands of tourists that would have flocked to your "capitale nationale" for the historical re-enactment. You had a chance to finally make some money for yourselves, finally contribute to the Canadian economy during an economic recession, and you blow it off.

Be advised my ill informed Quebec cousins: 221 billion dollars left Alberta between 1971 - 2001 in the form of transfer payments. 221 billion dollars taken from their province! And during that same period, 221 BILLION dollars was given to...GUESS WHO! Quebec!

We, in the rest of Canada, are growing very tired of your separatist antics. Patrick Bourgeois, Pauline Marois. All of you. We're tired of it. Quite frankly I feel that our government, as soon as possible, should introduce a motion to have separatist parties/organizations in Canada outlawed. It is an absolute disgrace that we still allow such childish politics.

Separatist Quebecers, do you not realize that we in the ROC give you hundreds of billions of dollars! You bite the hand that feeds you! Why? When will this stop?

Two years ago I would have said, "they want to leave, let them leave!" That statement in fact echoes what many western canadians have said since the very first referendum. However. I must now retract this statement and disagree whole heartedly. Because:

1 - New France lost the war in 1759 and was subsequently conquered by the English, becoming a colony and later a province, in the Dominion of Canada; (quite frankly the English should have been harsher with them following the war. No other western democracy would accept such treason from a portion of its citizenry.)

2 - Millions of Canadians, myself included, have French ancestors who colonized and settled New France/Quebec. My own ancestors came in the late 17th century. We've all moved on. Why can't they?

3 - Quebec does not belong to the French. Quebec is a Canadian province, inhabited by hundreds of thousands of English, Irish, Scottish, Arabs, Italians, Haitians and so on. My French ancestors had been there nearly 300 years before they moved West! All Canadians have a stake in that province.

4 - In 1995 the vote was 50-50. Of the 50 percent that voted yes, I don't believe they understand the potential economic implications separating from Canada would have. Again, I will repeat, Quebec receives hundreds of billions of dollars from the federal government. Quebec is a "have-not" province. Idyllic, separatist youth cannot run a province! Sure they voted OUI, but are they aware of the potential economic consequences of such an action? How would Quebec support itself?

Pauline Marois in the article was quoted as saying that the historical re-enactment was "federalist propoganda" and a "manipulation of public opinion". Madame Marois, kindly pull your head from the sand. Had your party, the Parti Quebecois, not been rabidly pushing a separatist movement for the past 25 years, our taxpayer dollars wouldn't need to be funding "federalist propoganda" and "manipulating public opinion" in Quebec. Our government is merely acting in a responsible manner, simply working to counter the dangerous separatist sentiment/propoganda that the PQ and BQ spew throughout La Belle Province.

What gives these separatists the right to take a province away from a country? A province that was inhabited by Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the French. If anyone has a claim to indepedence it's the Aboriginals. Oh I forgot, the game only works one way. The French can colonize les Autochtones, but the British can't colonize the French. Damn squareheads!

Fifty percent! Half of your province! Voted NO. There are many French Quebecers who wish to remain a part of Canada. Paul Desmarais, the brain behind Hydro Quebec, is one such man. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has even told you all to smarten up. What gives you the right to take away a part of our country?

The government must step in and outlaw separatism in this country. Separatist political leaders should be heavily fined and imprisoned. No other Western democracy, indeed, no country in the world! would accept such discent. Separatism is akin to treason and must be treated as such.

The show must go on. I support my taxpayer dollars going to fund security at this historical re-enactment. We cannot concede to a group of separatists and their bullyboy tactics.

End to Transit Strike

One man who commented on a message board re: the strike is over, summed it up perfectly:

"I feel sorry for the people who will still have to rely on OC Transpo. I feel sorry that they will have to put up with the ever so smug smiles from the drivers. I feel sorry for the people that will still have to put up with inadequate service, merely a continuation of what existed before the strike. I feel sorry for those in the suburbs who will be forced to wait weeks before they see any buses.

I don't feel sorry for the drivers who will be getting laid off for a few weeks. Don't try to tell me they didn't see it coming. This is exactly what they get fro trying to supoort union leadership that were in turn only catering to senior drivers under the guise of "you will inherit this someday". What a laugh. Most of the citizens of this city could see through Cornellier, why couldn't the junior drivers. Blind dedication to belief in the propoganda being spouted by ATU.

I swore during the last strike that I would never ever be held hostage again. I am happy to say it hasn't happened since.

OC Transpo should be legislated into a special category so that for the next strike, people can sumot reciepts for gas, taxi, claims for inconveneice such as per hour billing of extra time spend in rush hour. Should a person loose their job, they should be able to claim full wages until they find employment again. The union itself and the sriking members should be hideously fined to cover those costs. It should happen now, but sadly, it never will. One can only hope that the passengers who do have to ride the bus, tell the drivers (politely if possible) how the strike affected them. The drivers need to hear first hand about the tears, the turmoil, the lost wages, the lost jobs, and most of all, the pain that they caused. The effects of the strike needs to be embedded in the individual and collective memories of the ATU members.

Actions bear consequences. We all know what ATU's actions caused. Are they able to take full responsibility for those actions, for what their striked inflicted on innocent people. Tell me ATU, are you up to the challenge?

Sigh ... probably not"

source: CBC news
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/02/02/ot-090202-otrain.html

Michael Phelps Fiasco

I feel sorry for Michael Phelps. He's a young man, in his 20s people! He went to a house party in November, and this week a picture surfaced of him using a bong. Really, I have to say so what. I seriously can't believe some people. One lady on the news was saying that she "expected better of him" and that "he should know how to conduct himself in public better", etc.

People, first of all, he's in his 20s. Secondly, it wasn't as though he was sitting in Times Square with that bong! That's "public life". He was at a PRIVATE house party, having a good time with his friends. It's none of our business!

Somehow joe public always thinks that star athletes and celebrities, etc. should be these upstanding, flawless people. They are PEOPLE! They engage in certain activities that aren't always becoming to a "hero" because they are HUMAN! Let them be!

Moreover, simply because we are unaware of the activities that some stars/celebrities/sports heroes engage in does not mean that they aren't doing "bad" things too! We don't know how many mistresses married public figures have! We don't know how many lines of cocaine various public figures may do! Simply because we don't see if doesn't mean it doesn't happen! They're people too!

And, let me get this point across, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ACHIEVED THOSE THINGS! Not you. They worked hard, they made sacrifices. They were the ones at the gym or on set at 6 am. They were the ones working non stop for 6 months straight with no time for a night out. They made sacrifices and so they are fully entitled to some time to themselves. He was at a private house party people. It wasn't as though he put those pictures up on his Facebook account or something.

It's the general public that needs to get a life, that engages in "bad" behaviour. The general public who is constantly haranguing and harassing stars/celebrities/etc.

AND FINALLY. The most important point of all. Did Mike ask you all to make him a public figurehead? Do you think that's why he went to swimming? What if some of our sports heroes/stars/celebrities DON'T WANT the admiration (and subsequent EXPECTATIONS!) we place on them????? Has anyone ever thought of that???? Did Michael Phelps ASK for that fame or was it OUR magazine editors, OUR newspapers, OUR youth, etc that raised him up on a pedestal?

Stars/sports heroes/celebrities are people too! Don't be surprised if they sometimes let us down.

UPDATE:
While waiting for my girlfriend at her doctor's yesterday I came across an older issue of Sports Illustrated (presumably published right after the 2008 Olympics) that had dedicated nearly half of its pages to Phelps. In summation here is what it had to report:

1 - Michael Phelps is an avid volunteer with the local chapter of the Boys and Girls club where he resides;

2- Michael Phelps gave hope to, and was inspired by, a young protege who was dying of cancer (and who did eventually pass away as a result of his cancer). He stayed up with the kid when he was in hospital, speaking to him for 2 HOURS!!! while he was in a coma (the child's mother reported);
When the boy passed away he was at his funeral bearing purple flowers, the boy's favourite colour;

3- Michael Phelps would get up at 6 am EVERY SINGLE day and head to the pool to train! Do you have that kind of dedication?

4 - Michael Phelps feels it is "an obligation" to promote the sport of swimming - since winning his 8 gold medals he has managed to draw with Barack Obama! in terms of "most searched query" on Google.

5 - Michael Phelps is 23 years old. What were YOU doing at 23?

News Talk Radio

I love news talk radio. Business, current affairs, and politics. Pretty much day long op-ed pieces. Check out:

http://radiostationworld.com

Thousands of radio stations listed from around the world.

Skateistan: A Look at Skateboarding in Afghanistan

Leave it to an Aussie to bring skating to Afghanistan. A young man by the name of ___ has done just that, and by the looks of it, the sport is catching on quickly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/sports/othersports/26skate.html

Ray Bradbury's Fears Coming True

It is sad that the police/city/society are starting to crack down on people. So much to the point that "indifference" as so many decry as the worst sin of all, is one's last remaining option for how to conduct him or herself in society.

New rules that prohibit people verbally insulting police officers:
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/577637

New rules re: sit-ins are illegal:
a friend of mine just got a call from a police officer this morning saying that a sit-in at city hall (to protest an ongoing strike) would be illegal.

And the list goes on. Seriously folks, one's gotta wonder what society is coming to. Freedom of Expression is gone. Perhaps we'll all have to migrate south one day to Obama land, where the Freedom of Expression and openness and accountability are real and not simply perceived. Harper may be a danger to our nation. I have word from a very reliable source that the federal government is moving on making biometrics (fingerprint scans, iris scans, etc.) MANDATORY for flying, entering government buildings, etc. Are we still individuals? Or will we simply become numbers and statistics in the next 10 years?

Ray Bradbury, if you can hear me, I'm scared.

Learning Mandarin

I have fallen in love with the Mandarin (chinese) language.
It is EASY too. Seriously. It's not so tough as people think. After just one 2 hour lesson (my first class) I can already pick out words from mandarin comments on message boards and from songs.

Of course, that is with pinyin. With pinyin, the Latin conversion of chinese characters, it is really quite simple. It's like when Turkish scholars translated (and simplified) Turkish from the Arabic script to a Latin script. It makes a languages SOOOOO easy to learn.

Mandarin has no tenses! Past, present, future. It's all the same. You just have to add a noun like "tomorrow" to differentiate.
Example: wo shi = I am
wo shi _____ = I was, or I will be. depending whether you add tomorrow, or yesterday. although I think it would be ______ wo shi in this case. noun before the verb in this sense.

To make a question a question it's the same as Turkish. You just add "ma" at the end.

To negate a sentence simply add a "bu". Either before or after the noun depending on the context.

Not too hard folks. There are probably close to 30 pinyin characters and then there are a few accents to add on. The direction of the accent indicates to the reader the tone of the letter.

example: in French, you could say, Je vais a Paris. That "a" would have an "accent grave" on it. Like a downward slope. In pinyin that character would be said: "ahh" with a downward tone. Like in the word: "Fall". easy eh?

some chinese music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQvy4yXjH4c

and a great chinese-english dictionary with pinyin:

http://www.mandarintools.com/worddict.html

Parkour

I remember, back in the summer of 2007, a classmate making a presentation on PARKOUR. In Europe, and throughout California, this is a new craze among youth. And minus a few injuries (broken limbs, cracked ribs) what better way to get a good workout?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW3aCiWHSak&feature=related

Check out this video clip and more to see what Parkour has to offer. Most of those things I would not even begin to attempt and I know many of you reading this would not "try this at home" either. Which brings me to my next point.

Are there "special people" among us that can do such things and are they unique? For example, think of: Jackie Chan, Tony Jaa, Jet Li, and the guys in these videos. Perhaps they all carry a similar gene pattern that allows there body to work in such a Tarzan like fashion. How else can you explain some of the sheer strength it must take to perform such stunts? It really is extraordinary and I don't believe, that even with years of practice, I could attempt such things.

some good videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEeqHj3Nj2c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjQxIRWZu0c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qhgIdP3l3I&feature=related = AWESOME

Amazing "Urban Ninja"!

Give credit where credit is due as they say. Check out this self-styled "urban ninja". Not bad for a kid who looks about 18.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2kJZOfq7zk&feature=related

Coyotes to Winnipeg?

Well the future looks bright for Canada's place in the NHL. The faltering economy, which I'm continuing to look away from, shutting my eyes and ears to the daily bombardment of doomsday news Canada's media outlets subject us to, has finally taken its toll on the NHL. And the first team to go? With any luck Phoenix. Sorry Phoenix fans but hockey is played on ice, not in a desert.

For too long we Canadians have been forced to endure the (forced) migration of our teams to south of the 49. Please, can someone enlighten me: why are there hockey teams in Tampa, Florida, and Phoenix? These cities have an average yearly temperature of 22 degrees! They have palm trees and sand dunes! Why, why, why do Winnipeg (Canada's coldest major city!) and Quebec City not have teams? Why! I'm pulling my hair out here.

How is it good business sense Mr. Bettman do have a team in Phoenix! Please. Does this make sense to anyone? I know that I am reviving an old debate here, one that was played out in 1996 when the Jets were given the boot. But seriously. The NHL is financially supporting the Coyotes! If the team was still in Winnipeg it wouldn't need that financial support. The MTS Centre would be packed to the roof every game! So what? It's too small? It only fits 15,000? Well dear critics, even though Jobing.com can fit 20,000 specatators, how many do they actually get per game? No more than 14,000. I've heard figures as low as 12,000 in fact.

What is wrong with this picture!? Why do (American) NHL governors insist on wrenching our beloved, historical! teams from us and stamping them into the US desert? We are Canadian! We love our hockey!

Buttman, sorry, Bettman, in trying to remap the National Hockey League by spreading the game to the far corners of the United States, has left Canadian hockey fans in the cold. Winnipeg fans only have the Moose to cheer for. Quebec fans only have the Laval Rouge et Or football team to cheer for.

In times of economic uncertainty award franchises to those cities that can support their own teams. If the NHL has to babysit a team then that city no longer deserves to have a team. Winnipeg and Quebec City always held their own. Give us back our teams!

Diabetes and Depression

Just cleaning up the apartment today (after calling in to work "sick" as I am so tired after a crazy day yesterday...absolutely insanely busy day yesterday) and came across this newspaper article.

Many people don't give diabetics enough of a break. Us diabetics have a lot of mood swings and down times you know? There's a definite corelation between blood sugars/insulin levels and a diabetic person's mood.

(see newspaper article (image) at bottom)

Bazi Turk Muzigi

Bazen zor bir zamanim var bazi turk sarkilari bulmak icin. Kendi kendime icin vurarim iste adresleri:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rny3BcGpLI0

Turkiye, herzaman sarki soylesin.

The Islamic Republic of Iran

I am thankful for the freedom of expression in Canada. I mean, we endure our own censorship in Canada (lack of funding / cuts to various projects, groups), but it is nothing like what it is in Iran.

I have never been there (nor do I wish to go quite frankly, until there is a change in government) but I have several friends and acquaintances from that once beautiful country.

Persia was once a place of wonder for us westerners. Of course, you'd have to go back three hundred years. But back then, Europeans raved about Persian rugs, marble/mosaic art (likely leftover from when the Ottoman Turks) and their gardens. Esfahan/Isfahan is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The country has seen the rise and fall of the Phrygian, the Persian, the Greek, and many other empires over the course of its long and ancient history.

However today, under the current Islamic regime, there are some despicable occurances happening there.

The execution of teenagers, the stoning of women, and the oppression of anyone who dares stand in the way of this government. I don't even want to write the names of those men in power. The president, in combination with the country's shah and religious authorities, have an iron grip on Iranian citizens. Crazily, some Iranian friends/acquaintances of mine still go back to visit. I could never step foot in that country after seeing a video like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVuclWLjwe8

Notice the brave soul at 0:40 and 4:12. I pray that there is a second revolution in this country. It will happen. The younger generation outnumbers the older one. The younger generation is progressive and forward thinking. Let 25 years pass, let these religious dictators die off, and then please, please, can Iran return to its once former glory and shake off the shackles of fundamentalist Islam.

rai nb fever

One of the greatest rai groups to come out of the middle east, rai nb fever is some pumpin' good s@%*.

http://tinyurl.com/96wxxy

http://tinyurl.com/a42t3x

http://tinyurl.com/9tgbsj

Castle Wallpapers

Some nice castle wallpapers for all of you armchair travellers stuck in the office.

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wallpaperplanet.net/wallpapers/castle_8/Saumur%2520Castle,%2520Saumur,%2520France.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wallpaperplanet.net/wallpapers/castle8-wallpapers.shtml&usg=__qbMP8rNu4w_rnEs5OV_fYfbrHI0=&h=1200&w=1600&sz=355&hl=en&start=66&um=1&tbnid=k7ssgKR_8HDqNM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfrance%2Bcastle%26start%3D63%26ndsp%3D21%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN