"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