Hinterland Who’s Who Swift Fox
Hinterland Who’s Who Swift Fox – YouTube.
This is one of many vignettes by the National Film Board of Canada from the early 1970s. This one focused on an animal of particular interest to me, the swift fox.
A Swift Fox napping in a zoo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Music of superheroes
Dragonforce Operation Ground And Pound – YouTube.
Switching things up a bit from current writing (because I can do that, and I’ve hit a brick wall… again) as I think about other stories and things I’d like to write (and even make a comic book about, whether in print or a web comic).
Dragonforce has pretty much had the kind of music that I equate to one set of characters I’ve worked on, and featured here in the past. You might know it, if you’ve read Flag On My Backpack. It’s the series about a young woman from Montreal who becomes a costumed superhero by the name of Canadienne. Basically wraps herself in the flag, inspired by the actions of her father during the October Crisis of 1970. On top of that, she happens to be the lead guitarist of an indie Montreal speed metal band called Blanc Noir. Formed while they were still in junior high school, they stuck together with the intent to make music, have fun and share their experiences together. This lasted for a while, and during that time they added a couple of different band members.
The line up now consists of Yves Manderville (lead vocals, keyboards) and Jacqueline Manderville (second lead guitar, mandoline) both of whom are of Haitian ancestry, Michelle Villineuve (percussion) the happy goth of the group, Dominique Turgeon (first lead guitar, bagpipes) who happens to be the super hero of the group as she is the one who dresses in the flag and stops crime, and now there is Raven Running Cloud (bass, classical guitar, six string) who is originally from the Whitecap Dakota First Nation in Saskatchewan, but moved with her father to Montreal when he accepted a position to teach Native American Studies at McGill. Raven is also the second super hero of the group, calling herself Grey Kestrel.
Dominique (Dom) Turgeon as the electrifying Canadienne.
It’s a story that I’ll definitely come back to again, and while I’d really hope that the idea was picked up in comic form, I actually don’t want either of the big two taking it up. I’ve really be disillusioned with DC Comics and Marvel Comics as of late (more so DC than Marvel). There is a comic company that could do a title like Flag On My Backpack some justice, though.
Archie Comics.
Dom's father, Jean Pierre Turgeon as Canadien during the 1970s.
Can Canada overcome its ‘Katrina moment’?
Can Canada overcome its ‘Katrina moment’? – Inside Story Americas – Al Jazeera English.
Very interesting report from Al Jazeera about the Crow First Nations gathering, where they begged the question if it would actually do any for Aboriginal people or if it was just a great photo op for the Harper Government.
Reliving childhood… again
It’s my favourite kind of Easter Egg!
Kinder suprises!
I got a space ship!
Seriously, though, I loved the old Kinder eggs and the different toys they had. Somewhere in my box oh stuff that I’ve been hauling around with me for the past 22 years from place to place, I might still have the old Kinder Kats. Cats dressed in Egyptian themed garb. I’ll have to look around for them.
I keep all that stuff, which includes the old figurines from boxes of Red Rose Tea (only in Canada).
Eulogy for a friend
Dear friends. Today is a sad, and humbling day. Yet at the same time, we should look not to the past with sorrow, but use it to step boldly into the future. Today, we have lost a true, dear friend.
The Canadian Penny was with us always. He was that little spark that reminded us there are small things in life, and sometimes, there are small prices. Penny, as he was often called, with the proud image of the Queen on one side, a bold and beautiful maple leaf on the other, was a symbol that we never quite forgot. Still, while the penny was always there for us, there times that we weren’t always there for the penny.
We could always see Penny, sitting there in a handful of change. Penny was always easy to differentiate from Dime and Nickle, often which Dime being mistaken for Nickle and vice versa. And sometimes, Nickle was mistaken for Quarter. But not Penny. Penny was bronzed and different, something you could see and know without studying closely. You could spot it from the corner of your eye and say with pride and confidence “That is a Penny!”.
But that day is coming to an end. The Canadian Mint will no longer bring life to these hardy and noble pieces of currency. With the passing of the penny, so too will pass on such memorable things as “Penny for your thoughts” or “A penny or a pound” and “A penny saved is a penny earned” plus “penny pinchers”. One can only think, what does this spell for Penny’s family. What must Dime be thinking, and will the phrase “stop on a dime” follow suit?
Penny, you were the last thing I wanted to see leave this world. I would have much preferred that pocket lint left before you. You, Penny, after all, were something I enjoyed pulling out of my pocket far more than lint.
Though your time with us is short, dear Penny, know that you will be missed. Yet, I believe that while you will no longer be produced, no longer have love and tenderness etched into the two sides you so lovingly display, that you will not be gone forever. For you will continue to gather in places like old peanut butter jars, the tops of bedroom dressers, that spot next to the keys on the fridge and even between the cushions on the couch.
Penny, oh penny, you will be missed.
CBC singled out for vindictive cuts
In today’s Budget, the Harper government has broken itselection promise and cut the CBC’s budget by 10% - this is $115 million!
This will require CBC to cut hundreds of staff, including some of the most famous personalities from flagship TV and Radio shows, thereby incurring heavy separation costs, putting further downward pressure on programming.
We were expecting something like this, but it’s shocking when you consider the impact of these cuts:
- The death of Radio 2
- Reduced depth, quality, diversity and distinctiveness of CBC News
- CBC Radio will be less relevant to Canadians
- Canadian bureaus in major cities around the world will be closed
- Further reductions to cultural programs
- CBC Television will look a lot more like private-sector commercial channels
The Table below (Budget 2012, page 269) shows how CBC has been singled out for cuts in the “Heritage Portfolio”, where other cultural institutions, such as the Canada Council and the National Gallery have been spared:
We are not going to take this lying down!
Now we have to mobilize CBC’s supporters – 8 out of 10 Canadians – to hold Stephen Harper’s government to account in the years leading to the next election, when the impact of what Harper has done today will be painfully obvious.
Thanks for standing with us as we move forward with this fight for Canadian culture and democracy! You will hear from us again soon.
Something very strange and hopeful is happening in Ottawa…
CBC Radio Book Club | Douglas Coupland (Photo credit: RickChung.com)
Rather than a unified government voice to prepare Canadians for deep budget cuts, in recent days we have been hearing mixed messages from the Harper government. One day a government spokesperson declares cutting deeply is the budget goal only to be contradicted the next by a cabinet minister stating that the budget will be moderate. Meanwhile, the government is reporting that revenues are up while the deficit is down.
This is extremely rare, given the Prime Minister’s well known mania for control and message discipline.
Beset by the whiff of a robo-scandal, is it possible the Prime Minister is backing away from budget measures he knows will be controversial?
With all the tens of thousands of calls, letters and email messages from supporters of public broadcasting in the past few months, you can be sure the Prime Minister knows CBC cuts would be unpopular and controversial in the extreme.
Now is the time for one final push to defend our CBC before the March 29th budget.
I am writing to ask for your help to put us over the top.
We have commissioned Nanos Research to conduct a survey of Canadians about CBC funding. Early results are in and they show strong support for the government keeping its promise to maintain or increase support for the CBC. This is a very promising result that will send a strong message to the Harper government.
This public opinion survey and related communications will cost $30,000.
I urge you to join me in making a generous investment to help us raise this amount, because in this dynamic political environment, it could make all the difference.
It’s crunch time. This is the moment to drive home the message that cutting the CBC would be like poking a stick into a hornets’ nest.
Your contribution will help us leave no stone unturned as we fight to make sure the Prime Minister knows that citizens want his government to keep his government’s CBC promise.
Related articles
- CBC downsizing is a key goal for the Conservatives (taholtorf.wordpress.com)
Stop severe cuts to the CBC
From Friends of the CBC:
Image via Wikipedia
We have learned that the Conservatives’ proposed budget targets the CBC for severe cuts. The cuts, which could be the equivalent of most of the cost of producing CBC radio, will damage our news and culture, while cutting local coverage in the countless places where the CBC is the main media presence.
The CBC keeps Canada connected. Like the railroads that knit our country together, the CBC provides a common thread for all Canadians living across our massive and diverse country. We can build on this tradition for a new era.
This budget is a moment of crisis for Canadian public media. Tens of thousands of Canadians, led by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, have already spoken out to support fair treatment in the budget, and now it’s time for us to add our voices to their call. If we work together in one last push, we can show this government that the political cost of targeting the CBC is just too high.
Click here to send a message to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and key Conservative MPs that you want them to keep Canada connected, not make severe cuts to the CBC:
http://www.reimaginecbc.ca/connected
Good public media is important for our democracy and our culture. Last month, we started a campaign to “Reimagine the CBC” for a new era. The ideas are from the heart, distinctly Canadian, and often inspiring.
We can help the CBC become better for everyone, but not if excessive budget cuts destroy this opportunity. We have one last chance before the budget to show this government that there will be major political costs for targeting the CBC.
We will deliver your messages to the constituency offices of key Conservative MPs next week to show them that Canadians in their ridings, and from all around the country, want to keep Canada connected and stop severe cuts to the CBC.
Your voice is needed now. Please click here to send your message.
Thanks for everything you make possible.
With hope and respect,
Matthew, Jamie, Anna, Emma, Adam, Gracen, Ryan on behalf of the Leadnow team and volunteers.
Related articles
- CBC downsizing is a key goal for the Conservatives (taholtorf.wordpress.com)
- Defend the CBC (dennislewycky.ca)
LFL puts Valkyries in a bad light
Over the course of the last week, an interesting topic has circulated in the city of Saskatoon. Saskatoon has had a history of upstart sporting leagues dropping franchises into the city, and some have been successful (for a time) while others have been complete failures. The list is quite long and starts way back in the 1970s when Bill Hunter, hockey aficionado and promoter, bought the St. Louis Blues and tried moving them to Saskatoon. At the time the NHL board of governors voted against the move.
Since then there’s been the Continental Hockey League that never got off the ground. Basketball has come into the city in the form of the Saskatoon Slam, Saskatchewan Storm and the Saskatchewan Hawks. Baseball even made an appearance here, as several semi pro leagues tried starting up, all the while the Saskatoon Yellowjackets kept plugging away.
Now, the city, along with management of the Credit Union Centre which is home to the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, are trying to attract another league into the city. But this league is different than the others. While the others have all been male dominated sports, this is a female “sport”. Though many don’t want it, and others say why do we need it when we already have a proper women’s football team.
This “sport” is the Lingerie Football League. Women’s football where the players wear revealing uniforms and pads along with hockey helmets (not football helmets) with full face shields. Members of the Affiinity Credit Union, which has naming rights of the arena where the LFL team would play, are not happy.
There’s out cry that it’s nothing more than the sexualization and objectification of women. And I tend to agree with that side of things. Canadian University Press has already stated that this is the sexualization of violence, because football is, as Chris Schultz from TSN says, controlled and violent chaos.
Meanwhile, Saskatoon already has a women’s football team, and are champions of the 2011 Women’s Western Canadian Football League. The league consists of 7 teams, and other cities across the west are interested in starting teams. There has even been interest in Eastern Canada for an eastern league, and winners of east and west would play in a national championship game. To date, the teams include the afforementioned Valkyries, the Regina Riot, the Manitoba Fearless, the Winnipeg Wolf Pack, the Calgary Rage, the Lethbridge Steel, and the Edmonton Storm.
The Saskatoon Valkyries are a legitimate football team. They play full contact, observe the rules of the Canadian game (110 yard long fields, 65 yards wide, 12 players per side, three downs) and have a lot of fun doing it too. Maybe in the future development of women’s football programs can be looked at like the development of women’s hockey. Who knows, maybe in a few years there might be a women’s version of Canadian Inter-university Sport’s Vanier Cup.
But right now, any steps forward in progression thanks to groups like the Women’s Western Football League will only get set back thanks to groups like the Lingerie Football League.
Related articles
- LFL comes to Credit Union Centre (cucsk.wordpress.com)
Avaaz.org: Elections Fraud
News reports have just revealed that callers supporting Harper likely misled thousands of voters in the last election. But we can undo this fraud, if investigators now work to find the truth of what really happened.
Last election, voters in as many as 45 ridings received misleading and fraudulent phone calls telling us to go to fake polling stations. New media reports show that this orchestrated attack on our democracy might have worked — flipping seats to benefit the Conservative party and giving them a majority in Parliament. Elections Canada and the RCMP are, thus far, limiting their investigation to one riding and the members of one political party — if we raise a massive public outcry they will be forced to expand their investigation to third parties and to dig into fraud across the country.
At minimum, our public officials should review all robocall contracts for election day, and we can make them dig deep in every implicated riding. Click below to demand Elections Canada and the RCMP act now to protect our democracy, then forward to everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/election_fraud//?vl
On election day – May 2, 2011 – Canadians were inundated with dishonest phone calls saying that voting stations had been moved, then directing voters to a wrong location. Some of these callers even posed as Elections Canada officials. We need get to the truth and to do that we need Elections Canada and the RCMP to expand their investigation and ask the courts to reveal all calling companies’ orders for election day calls. These calls were likely so widespread that they could have actually changed the outcome of many close races!
We already know that Guelph was targeted by misleading calls and that this was part of a complex and pre-meditated plan. Some of the calls used a number tied to a disposable “burner” phone paid for in cash and registered to a Mr. Pierre Poutine on Separatist St., Quebec. A conservative staffer working on the campaign in Guelph has already resigned and if Elections Canada and the RCMP expand their investigation we can get to the truth and confirm full responsibility for all the election day fraud, in all 45 implicated ridings and beyond.
Our government was elected under suspect circumstances rife with reports of voter fraud — but we can get to the truth. Click below to tell Elections Canada and the RCMP to expand their investigation:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/election_fraud//?vl
Millions of Avaaz members rallied together to win anti-corruption laws in Brazil and in India and now Canadian citizens can come together to rescue our democracy. We can’t let governments steal elections and if we take action today we can win back our democracy.
With hope,
Emma, Ari, Ricken, Laryn, Melanie and the rest of the Avaaz team
Related articles
- Does Elections Canada have the clout to enforce laws? (thestar.com)
- Elections Canada probes suspect election calls in second riding: report (news.nationalpost.com)
- Independent watchdog says Canada’s 2011 elections may have been corrupt (boingboing.net)
- Conservatives had ‘absolutely’ no role in robocall affair: Harper (vancouversun.com)
- Robo-call probe may expand to Thunder Bay call centre (thestar.com)
- Robocalls probe centres on disposable ‘burner’ cellphone linked to black ops in Guelph riding (news.nationalpost.com)
- ‘We’ll have to call Gomery’: Opposition turns up heat on Harper as robocalls scandal intensifies (news.nationalpost.com)
- “Pierre Poutine” fingered in Elections Canada robo-call probe (thestar.com)
- Meet the prime suspect in the robocalls scandal – ‘Pierre Poutine’ (calgaryherald.com)
- Young Tory staffer who resigned amid robocalls scandal denies involvement (news.nationalpost.com)
Overt racism in rant
Go to the above link to view the conversation. It starts off with really uniformed, racist garbage.
It got me thinking about a conversation I had last night. All the news we (meaning, here in this part of Canada) hear about are the drug cartels and the killings and things like that. There is another side to the story. Mexico isn’t a haven of blood thirsty cutthroats, anymore than the United States is. I know people who live in Canada who think that way about the United States, and for a time, thanks to stereotyping, so did I.
The people I talked to about this last night, however, pointed to the fact that sometimes people who get into trouble in Mexico do so because they did something dumb. They flipped somebody off, got drunk and started a fight, walked into the wrong section of town. Which, when you think about it, is no different than anything in the area we (meaning those who live in West Central Saskatchewan) happen to live in. Would you go down a dark alleyway at midnight on 20th Street in Saskatoon? Probably not, because certain sections of 20th are pretty rough. And while they aren’t necessarily tourist areas, if someone out of country happened to do such a thing, get attacked, and then return home, would have a negative story to tell. Have this happen enough, and the negativity grows.
Same thing with Mexico. While I have never been to Mexico, I’m sure there are very nice areas of the country, just as there are more than likely very bad areas of the country. Probably no different than down in the States or up here in Canada. Or any country, for that matter.
Part of that is a problem with the media, where we are only given one kind of view of a country. For instance, a massive stereotype about the Middle East is it’s filled with camels, nomads, sand and oil. The latter being often cited as the only good thing in the Middle East. Obvious, Dubai must be this mythical place that really doesn’t exist in the Middle East (/sarcasm). Most likely, a lot of those countries look at us in the same manner.
As far as ESL, I’ve known several people who have come to Canada who have taken English as a Second Language. It is not, as the original rant in the link states, English “is” a Second Language. It’s teach people English as “their” second language so they can communicate with people much easier. Because, a lot of times those individuals who emigrate from other countries to Canada (or the States) will end up running a business, which means they will be creating jobs.
Now, I know there’s a lot more information that needs to be explored, but it’s something we have to actively do. Bottom line, don’t spout off on a rant without knowing some important facts first.
We can’t have nice things
According to Environment Canada, the temperature is going to drop.
Like a stone.
Yesterday, as the past few days have been, we’ve had relatively warm days. But expect that to change now! Especially after yesterday’s sudden squall which dumped snow all over the place. What was once a sullen brown is now an off white, as the sidewalks, streets and front lawns are all covered in white stuff.
And here I thought we’d get away from all of that for a while. A look at the coming week tells a different story.
There’s a -31 in there. As a high! AS A HIGH! That’s lower than the normals for the period, which as can be seen is -21.
Just two months now, two months and the worry of the foreboding doom that is winter will finally be behind us. Though, the pessimist in me keeps saying “don’t hold your breath, we’ve had snow in June”. Thanks inner voice, thanks.
Speaking of Snow In June, here’s the Northern Pikes with the song that was the album title.
A new face in politics
This is kind of amazing. This young woman is one of the hopefuls to claim the job as leader of the Federal New Democratic Party of Canada, and, as stated in her about page, the next Prime Minister of Canada.
Here’s the low down from her about page (and a link to her site, either click the picture or click here).
First elected MP for the riding of Churchill in 2008 and re-elected in 2011, Niki Ashton has been a strong voice for equality in Parliament.
Niki has spoken out on poverty, including calling for action to end the third-world conditions facing Northern and Aboriginal people. She has been fighting to maintain Canadian jobs and control over our economy. She has been a strong voice for gender equality and human rights, including fighting for same-sex marriage rights. She has been a leading voice in fighting against the destruction of the Canadian Wheat Board.
The youngest woman in the 40th Parliament, Niki served as the NDP Post-Secondary and Youth critic and as Rural and Community Development critic. Niki was elected as the Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women in the current Parliament.
Niki has been active in the NDP all her life. She has served as the Chair of the NDP Status of Women Committee and on the Provincial Executive in Manitoba. She has been on the NDP Federal Council since 2006.
A former instructor with University College of the North, she has an MA in International Affairs (Carleton University) and a BA in Global Political Economy (University of Manitoba). She is completing her PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the Art Mauro Centre at the University of Manitoba. She is fluent in four languages: English, French, Spanish and Greek, her mother-tongue, and she has studied four others.
Niki lives with her partner, Ryan Barker, in the city of Thompson, Manitoba, where she was born and raised.
Niki believes that it is vital for the New Democratic Party to put forward a vision of new politics that seeks to bring Canadians together.
And here is a video with Niki speaking on her ten point plan at last year’s NDP Leadership debate.
Related articles
- Niki Ashton joins NDP leadership race (thestar.com)
- Manitoba MP Niki Ashton joins NDP leadership race (news.nationalpost.com)
- NDP leadership: Ashton’s campaign focuses on equality (vancouversun.com)
- NDP leadership: Ashton’s campaign focuses on equality (canada.com)
- Niki Ashton to make NDP leadership announcement (cbc.ca)
- Niki Ashton enters NDP leadership race (cbc.ca)
- NDP leadership: Mulcair ponders pension plan; Nash talks gun registry (vancouversun.com)
- Niki Ashton: Youngest Candidate to Race as NDP Leader (ibtimes.com)
- NDP leadership: Mulcair ponders pension plan; Nash talks gun registry (canada.com)
Money, that’s all I want
Aside from the title of this post stating the obvious (but instead of want, it should be more like need, though even not that, but such is a rant for another post), Canada has released new cash. Or at least a new look to their cash.
Yesterday here at the shop, I received one of these crisp, new bills. A 100 dollar bill, in fact. Though, crisp isn’t exactly a way to describe it. More like… shiny, with a possible waxy texture.
The new cash was actually issued back in June of 2011, and while it still has the familiar look of Canadian money, that being all colourful and very Canadian looking complete with, as Gord Downie says in the song Wheat Kings, graced with the pictures of “Dead Prime Ministers”. But this new cash is a polymer blend. Part of it is transparent, with areas where a holographic image sits. It felt like I was going to rip it apart, or that it would melt on contact with heat (such as the heat from my wallet sitting in my back pocket and me sitting in a chair).
The new bills have been through the wringer (both figuratively and literally) to ensure that they come up to good standards for folding money. They are even much more difficult to counterfeit. I suppose so, as you’d have to go to Australia to get the polymer mix where it’s made.
Here is a video from the Bank of Canada detailing more on the new bank notes.
Related articles
- Canada Now Offering Plastic $100 Bills (inquisitr.com)
- Canada’s New Plastic Money Has “Poorly Groomed Mustache” (neatorama.com)
- Can the new polymer $100 be crumpled? (ctv.ca)
- $100 polymer bank note goes into circulation (thestar.com)
- Canada’s New $100 Bill Made of Plastic (newser.com)
- Canada Introduces Plastic Money to Complement Its Loonie Currency (gizmodo.com)
- New $100 bill not thief-proof, say store owners (ctv.ca)
- Transition to new polymer bills to cost $100 million (thestar.com)
- Carney announces plastic bill’s entry into circulation (ctv.ca)
Let’s get something straight…
An interesting video came up on my tumblr dash. It’s from Jian Ghomeshi of QTV, and he’s making an appeal to Canadians about bagged milk. Here’s the video.
For those that can’t see the video, if it is not available outside of Canada, here is a transcript.
Well hi there, happy Friday.
Imagine a country where people drink milk, not out of a bottle or a carton, or a jug, but out of a bag.
A bag.
Milk bags.
Well, that country as you may well know is our own.
Canada, home of the milk bag.
In many parts of our fair land, including where I sit right now people are used to drinking their moo juice out of a 1.3 litre plastic sac.
Held by a special holder, with a little snip out of the top corner for pouring.
Actually, we’re not totally alone…
Also into the milk bags; Israel, Nicaragua, Columbia, Poland, Wisconsin;
But go ahead, go ahead and Google “Canadian milk bags” and it, it is a source of great recreation.
It seems our pouches of cow juice, are a bit of a web sensation.
Maybe not quite as big as the prorogation, but there is an authentic threat of non-Canadians who think it odd that our milk comes in bags.
And there’s some good old Canuck pride on display too.
Bagged milk, a true north strong and free way to consume.
There’s even a nice homemade video out there for the un-milk bag initiated. Now that is citizenship;
But reading through some of those postings, a worrisome subtext comes to light, the milk in bags issue is not merely an international curiosity, underneath there is deep internal debate, pitting our region against region.
To paraphrase, it must an Ontario/[slash] Eastern Canada thing; or “I live in Saskatchewan and have never seen anything like this.”; or “Milk out of a bag, looks stupid. Not all Canadians do that.”; or “My boyfriend refuses to drink anything BUT milk in the bag.”
Really, it’s enough to send cold, nutritious, creamy shivers down your spine. Come on people, keep the milk however you need to in the fridge, I’ve got bags of milk in mine.
Let people of other nations sneer and jeer, but don’t let them tear us apart you hear. If the west wants into the bag, then fine. If not, that’s okay too. Maybe these bags of milk can be like health care or the CBC. Consider them Canadian unity glue,
I’m Jian Ghomeshi and this is Q.
I’m down with Canadian nationalism based on oddities and such. But I’ve often had reservations about stuff like bagged milk. It’s like a joke waiting to happen. So, in the spirit of national unity, I concede to bagged milk.
On one condition.
That is all.
Let it snow, let it snow
Image via Wikipedia
For a while, it was looking like a brown Christmas. We had snow a while back, but thanks to the constant up and down temperatures, that went away quite fast. This past Sunday, however, that changed.
I woke up, went to get my coffee started and have an orange (because I spent Saturday feeling deathly ill and couldn’t stomach anything) and stopped to look out the window. It was hard not to. The sight of white covering everything was really quite odd. Not in the “what the hell is that” kind of way (I save that for May if it snows), but more like the “wow, is it ever bright out” kind of way.
Having the snow before Christmas is sort of the thing to have. I grew up always seeing snow, always having snow on the ground in December. But going away in March (as it should, because by then most of us are sick of it, except for those crazy snow mobile enthusiasts). It just wouldn’t be Christmas if the ground was bare. Which I’ve seen in the past.
Rosetown, looking down main street. In summer, not winter. Prairie Centre Credit Union building in the foreground. Image via Wikipedia
I think one of the strangest times was a little over ten years ago, when I lived in Rosetown. We had a good deal of snow and some odd weather patterns. We already had a white out early December, which made for an exciting time at work and a little harrowing. Christmas came and went, and then along came New Year with some incredibly warm weather. So warm, in fact, that the city of Swift Current and the town of Leader had a New Year’s Eve Golf tournament. I never heard about the results, but I did hear a lot of people went, mostly to say they went golfing in Saskatchewan on January 1st. The lead up to the New Year had been really warm, so the organization was fast, and grounds cleaning took a couple of days so things were ready. And, naturally, most everyone hoping that the temperature wouldn’t just plummet by the time of the tee off.
I’m not holding out much hope that this snow we have now will stick around. According to Environment Canada, we’re supposed to have a high of 5 Degrees Celsius (41 F). A temperature that warm, snow will melt. Won’t completely go away, but the rest of the week looks to be in the same range. Which is kind of odd for December.
Just hope January and February is kind.
Winter, how I hate thee
Yes, it has some wonderful, picturesque images of crisp snow and beautiful sunsets and sunrises, but it’s the temperature about winter that makes me hate it so. I went to the Environment Canada website to check the weather, and was greeted with a very dismal forecast.
It’s that weekend that I’m not looking forward to very much. And I had plans on heading into the city. Now I’ll have to make sure I keep my car plugged in. To anyone who finds the phrase “plugging the car in” completely foreign, cars up here in Saskatchewan have block heaters (most of Canada has them, really). Keep the car plugged in, keeps the car warm and helps it to start on cold winter mornings. Granted, if the temperature falls below -30 Degrees Celsius, it becomes a crap shoot whether or not your car starts at all.
For those unfamiliar with Celsius, or who don’t know the conversion method, here is the same forecast in Fahrenheit.
Before anyone says “but it’s officially not winter yet”. I understand this. The temperature doesn’t help, though
Canada blocks global progress on Climate Change
From the Green Party of Canada
The next round of negotiations for global action to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) are just around the corner. On November 28, representatives from governments around the world will gather in Durban, South Africa for the 17th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
On the table are agreements designed to control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the earth, leading to an increase in extreme weather, droughts, floods, and rising sea levels that threaten people, habitat, and economies around the world. One of the key issues is an agreement to negotiate a second commitment period under Kyoto, which legally binds developed countries to reduce their carbon emissions to an agreed upon target.
Shamefully, Canada is the only nation that has signed and ratified Kyoto t have repudiated our targets. Now Environment Minister Kent says we will have nothing to do with a second commitment period. We have essentially sabotaged the process.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May (probably Canada’s most knowledgeable MP on climate change) will be at the talks to make sure that your views are put forward. At last year’s UN climate talks, several hopeful agreements were made, as many developing nations declared their willingness to make changes that foster low-carbon development. Now it’s time for Canada to show some willingness to be part of the solution!
P.S. Keep an eye out for our next newsletter, which focuses on the Climate Change conference and the actions that you can take.
Related articles
- Canada’s climate change plans to fall short, new study says (thestar.com)
- Vulnerable countries are defying inaction (guardian.co.uk)
- Canada is big and cold, but it can also meet its Kyoto commitments (canadianyouthdelegation.wordpress.com)
- The Bahá’í Community of Canada joins Interfaith Call for Leadership and Action on Climate Change (nainblog.wordpress.com)
Avaaz.org: Stop Harper’s cruel crime bill
Dear friends across Canada,
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In days, Harper will try to push through a crime law that could drastically raise our taxes or result in social program cuts -- but we can call on all provinces to join Quebec and Ontario in refusing to pay for a useless law and denounce this backwards legislation.
In days, Harper will try to push through a crime law that could drastically raise our taxes and dole out harsher punishments for pot smokers than pedophiles – but Quebec and Ontario have refused to pay for the bad law. Together, we can stand with them and call on every province to ditch the crime bill and protect Canadians from useless expenses.
Crime rates in Canada have been falling steadily for over a decade yet Harper insists on spending our money to lock up our most vulnerable citizens like youth and aboriginals. Spending billions on bad crime laws means that our taxes will rise or valuable social programs like Employment Insurance will be cut. Quebec and Ontario have already said they won’t pay and now we can sign this petition telling our Premiers to join them in protecting us from this bill.
Texas blew billions on a crime fighting system that didn’t work and now Harper wants to do the same in Canada — but we can still stop him. Let’s ditch the crime bill by signing this petition calling on our Premiers to stand with Quebec, Ontario and Canadian taxpayers. Click below to be heard and forward to everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_harpers_cruel_crime_bill/?vl
The total crime rate for serious offences fell by 19% between 2000 and 2010. The crime severity rate has fallen 6% since 1998, which means that Canadians commit fewer violent crimes like murders, attempted murders and serious assaults. There are also fewer brake-ins, car thefts, robberies and drunk driving charges – still Harper wants to spend massive amounts of our money locking up more Canadians. Creating mandatory minimum sentences for marijuana smokers and putting kids who make mistakes behind bars is not the way to make Canada a better place. Join the call to show Harper that we’d rather invest in social programs that really help Canadians.
Virtually all major authorities have questioned this approach to stopping crime: Texas, Ontario and Quebec, the Canadian Bar Association, Academics, think tanks, even a Conservative Senator. We’ve seen this approach fail in multiple US states but Harper remains dead-set on wasting our money on a law that will create more criminals.
By signing this petition we can, together, tell Harper that we don’t want a tax hike for a bad law. Click here to call on our Premiers to ditch the crime bill:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_harpers_cruel_crime_bill/?vl
Let’s make our voices heard and ensure our government doesn’t waste our money on laws that we don’t need and that don’t work.
With hope,
Emma, Ari, Ricken, Laryn and the rest of the Avaaz team
Sources
Texas conservatives reject Harper’s crime plan
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/10/17/pol-vp-milewski-texas-crime.html
Quebec balks at Ottawa’s law-and-order agenda
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/quebec-refuses-to-pay-costs-of-federal-crime-bill/article2221192/
Quebec will refuse to pay for omnibus crime bill
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/11/01/pol-omnibus-crime-bill.html
The true costs of ‘truth in sentencing’
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/the-true-costs-of-truth-in-sentencing/article1621898/
Crime bill penalizes logic
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/1450689>http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/1450689
Kevin Libin: Provinces will pay dearly for Tory crime bill
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/11/04/kevin-libin-provinces-will-pay-dearly-for-tory-crime-bill/
NDP blasts dismal response rate as Tories cut EI call centres
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ndp-blasts-dismal-response-rate-as-tories-cut-ei-call-centres/article2214647/
Crime bill unfairly targets women, aboriginals, critics say
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crime-bill-unfairly-targets-women-aboriginals-critics-say-132223703.html
“Bill C-10 will guarantee that aboriginal women remain in prison for longer”
http://www.firstperspective.ca/news/3254-bill-c-10-will-guarantee-that-aboriginal-women-remain-in-prison-for-longerq.html
Police-reported crime statistics
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/110721/dq110721b-eng.htm
Fact Sheet for Police-Reported Crime Statistics In Canada
http://www.justice.gov.sk.ca/Crime-Stats-FACTSHEET2010.pdf
Related articles
- Canadians expect provinces to help fight crime: Harper (news.nationalpost.com)
- Provinces have ‘constitutional responsibilities’ to act on crime: Harper (calgaryherald.com)
- Tory crime bill launches latest federalism fight (fullcomment.nationalpost.com)
- B.C. Liberals weigh benefits over costs in Harpers anti-crime bill (theglobeandmail.com)
- It’s Stephen Harper’s world now (macleans.ca)
- There is no crime epidemic (theglobeandmail.com)
- Harper’s approach to federalism will cause tension, conference hears (canada.com)
- N.L. joins Ontario, Quebec in criticism of crime bill (ctv.ca)
- Quebec balks at Ottawa’s law-and-order agenda (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
- Quebec won’t pay costs of federal crime bill (ctv.ca)
Take me out to the ball game!
Members of Team Canada celebrate as a run is scored in Canada's gold medal winning victory over the United States at the Pan Am Games in Mexico on Wednesday.
When one thinks of baseball heroics, they often look to names like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson or Hank Aaron. Even the stories, whether true or fictitious, are from far off places. The closest baseball stories come to Saskatchewan would be the Toronto Blue Jays of the early 1990’s, winning back to back World Series titles and taking the trophy north of the border for the first time in it’s history.
Sure, there is Terry Puhl, an outfielder who played with the Houston Astros, was born and raised in Melville, Saskatchewan. But most often when Saskatchewan is thought of, it’s usually how flat the country is. How cold it is in winter. How many hockey players we have and don’t have an NHL team. We also happen to rabid football fans, as our only professional team in any sports happens to be a member of the Canadian Football League. But baseball usually isn’t thought of by people outside of Saskatchewan when they think about this province.
That should put Andrew Albers in pretty decent company, then. Albers was on the mound for the gold medal game as Canada took on the United States at the Pan Am Games in Mexico. The North Battleford native pitched six and two third innings, striking out eight, and letting only six hits, as he helped lead Team Canada to it’s first ever gold medal at any baseball event.
It makes sense, really, that people from Saskatchewan should have a passion for baseball. Look at every small town in this province. You’ll find four things. A hockey arena, curling rink, a golf course not far away. And baseball diamonds. Most often, those diamonds aren’t far from the hockey arena. Every July 1st, in the area I live and work now, there’s the small village of Conquest that has a slow pitch tournament. Conquest also still has a baseball team for junior high and high school aged kids. Even though the village no longer has a school.
There are kids that dream of playing on those perfect grass fields that grow up in Saskatchewan. We aren’t known for baseball, but Team Canada’s 2-1 victory over the United States for Pan Am Games gold, just made that dream a little more achievable.
Related articles
- Pan Am gold caps comeback season for Canadian pitcher (canada.com)
- Canadians realize dream with Pan Am baseball gold (cbc.ca)
- Canada’s baseball win over U.S. at Pan Ams doesn’t surprise Ernie Whitt (thestar.com)
- Canada upends USA for first Pan Am gold (mlb.mlb.com)
- Canada stuns U.S. to claim baseball gold (canada.com)
- Canada wins Pan Am baseball gold (thestar.com)
- Canada beats US to win gold at Pan American Games (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Canada enjoys unlikely glory (canada.com)
Next year’s NaNoWriMo
This is how early I start working on an idea for next year’s NaNoWriMo. Using the costume editor in Champions Online, I came up with a group picture and individual pictures of an idea that has been just sitting there for a while. The characters have had different incarnations over the years, the newest being CanadARM-D.
The assembled team.
Here’s the premise: As more and more pressures are put on the world, a billionaire industrialist decides it’s time to form a team that can handle certain situations. Donelda Stewart, who used to be a costumed vigilante during the 1970’s and 1980’s, brings together several people, while at the same time fulfilling a contract to the Canadian Government to develop a robot that would be able to enter hostile situations with the primary goal of rescuing those injured and in need of medical attention. Thus, CanadARM-D (last picture) was created. Canada Armoured Reconnaissance-Rescue ‘Droid is the full name of the development and the name taken by the prototype, who acts as a member of the team Stewart brought together.
The android CanadARM-D
Stewart knew that most situations that would require immediate attention involving injured civilians would need to have a doctor on site. She contacted Doctor Facra Englen (second from the right), a trauma surgeon and an expert in DNA sequencing. Englen was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Palestinian immigrants. She was born with a rare genetic mutation, which is what spurred her interest in genetic science. She wanted to learn why these genetic mutations happen, and learn why they happened to her. Fadra Englen was gifted with an odd mutation. While possessing all of the human abilities every single person on the planet has, she also has traits of panthera tigris; The Common Tiger. Her skin has markings of a tiger, ranging from orange to black to white, her fingernails grow like claws, her sight and hearing is improved well past normal human abilities, her musculature is far greater than most Olympic level athletes, and she is much more agile than a very athletic human. Fadra is a practicing Muslim, taking the tenants of the Qur’an very seriously with regard to the sanctity of life. She receives no payment from Stewart, on her own request, as she believes that this team must act as role models for others to live by.
Doctor Fadra Englen
The third and fourth team members are actually members of something else. Dominique Turgeon, or Canadienne (third from the right), is the lead guitarist of the Montreal indie rock band, Blanc Noir. Together with Yves and Jacqueline Manderville, Michelle Villenueve, and Raven Running Cloud (fourth from the right), they are one of the most popular rock bands on the indie circuit. Dom has even gone public with her dual identity, which she inherited from her father. Jean Pierre Turgeon fought against FLQ Terrorists during the October Crisis of 1970, dressed in a similar red and white uniform of Canadien. Dom has something a little extra, however, aside from her training with Tae Kwon Do. She has a mutant ability to achieve the speed of sound. Dom has been clocked running at speeds of 1237 kilometers per, which is faster than the top speed of Canada’s CF18 fighter jets. Dom has been crime fighting, and rockin’ out as a guitarist, since she was in her mid teens. Dom was born in Laval, Quebec, and is Metis, as part of her ancestry is European French and Mohawk First Nation.
Dominique Turgeon, a.k.a. Canadienne.
The other member of Blanc Noir to be a crime fighter is Raven Running Cloud. Raven, like Dom, comes by her crime fighting from family members. Her father, Maxwell Running Cloud, was known as Hawk’s Scream, a moniker he took up when his wife was murdered and Raven kidnapped. Raven, as it turned out, was taken to a secret facility and had several experiments conducted on her. She was 8 at the time, and spent two years in the facility before Max, along with Dr. Englen, his sister Naomi Running Cloud (who was the first Grey Kestrel), and the Mannekin (the son of Donelda Stewart), could rescue her. The experiments had two very serious effects. First, Raven was completely blind, only able to see certain light spectrums which would allow her to “see” a person’s aura. The other was an increased strength and physical mass. She appears to weigh about 150 pounds, but in reality she weighs upwards of 500 or 600 pounds. She took up her Aunt Naomi’s namesake, and began fighting crime as a sidekick of Dom’s, as her father had retired a few years earlier. Raven was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and is a member of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation.
Raven Running Cloud, a.k.a. Grey Kestrel
So this is what I’ll try and work on for next year’s NaNoWriMo.
Related articles
- NaNoWriMo is Right Around the Corner! (soulishexhortations.wordpress.com)
- NaNoWriMo + No Shave November = Hairy Novel (jsimson.wordpress.com)
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in Canada
This is John Cabot, not Christopher Columbus. Image via Wikipedia
Yes, that’s right we don’t celebrate Columbus day, because John Cabot found Canada and more specifically Newfoundland, in 1497, where the city of St. John’s is now located. Later, Jacques Cartier sailed to the new world and navigated the region around today’s Maritime Provinces; Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. You could argue that Leif Erickson was the first to find and settle in Canada, as he settled in what archaeologists called L’Anse aux Meadows somewhere around 1003 AD. However, it is stated that St. John’s, Newfoundland is the oldest continuous city in North America that was settled by European explorers.
So instead of celebrating an explorer, who I can only remember from the little rhyme…
“In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…”
…we in Canada celebrate Thanksgiving. So the question is, why in October. Well, Thanksgiving Day, or as we are a bilingual nation, Jour de l’Action de grâce, came into being in 1957 as an act of Parliament to celebrate the harvest. On January 31, 1957, it was declared in Parliament:
A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.
It is celebrated in most regions of Canada, save for the Atlantic provinces of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I guess there it’s just a day. Because it is a federally observed holiday, after all.
The historical idea does come from First Nation People, however, as many of the different Native American Nations celebrated the harvest. I still find it rather convenient that we in Canada have exactly one day each month (save for Easter which rotates between March and April and just wish that someone would pick a date and not wait to figure out what the moon phases are).
Thanksgiving Day lands on the second Monday of the month of October, and traditionally, Canadians will have the celebratory meal any of the three days of the long weekend. Sometimes Friday evening. And not every family celebrates by having a turkey dinner. Trust me, my parents are vegetarian, I know this to be true. Among other festivities, Canadians also may participate in the celebration of watching football on television. Granted this year, many in Winnipeg probably waited until the puck dropped at the MTS Centre for the opening season of the Winnipeg Jets. That was their turkey day sports type celebration. For those unsure, that is hockey.
Tomorrow, I’ll share an interesting Thanksgiving Day story with you. Really, it’s quite good, just happened today and I’m still digesting it.
Related articles
- Happy Thanksgiving!
(naughtyney.wordpress.com) - Most popular cities for celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving (gadling.com)
It’s October!
It's a cat! On a pumpkin! Dressed like a pilgrim! ...or a witch, your pick.
It’s October which means two things.
Well technically more than two things, but still, two things in the immediate future. And one of those things does not involve cats. Not exactly anyway.
October, for Canadians, is the month when Thanksgiving Day rolls around. It’s Canada’s time to be thankful.
It’s also Halloween! That time of year when spooky stories, ghosts and goblins, and all manner of frighteningly freaky things happen. Plus candy, from what I remember.
Image via Wikipedia
Two years ago, I, along with Zodi, did 31 days of Ghosts. Seeing how day one of October has passed, that won’t be happening this year. But, I will share a ghost story from time to time. Also, as I’ve posted already, there is a story in the works with a completely new world. I’m working on the world building, and writing it up at the same time. Eventually, I’ll also do a few character designs. It’ll be different because it’s science fiction, and all the characters are anthropomorphous creations. Actually, they are aliens on different planets whereby if foxes, wolves, jackals, lions, panthers, tigers and even dinosaurs had evolved and become the primary dominant species like humans on Earth. Each of those species has their own name, which is derived from the genus and species of the creature, such as Vulpine or Lupine. It will be serialized and there will be a pdf download of each part of the serial. Below you can find handy links which lead to the world building so far.
Alright, so that was technically three things to tell you about. Thanksgiving, Halloween, and writing. With no mention of cats save for the picture at the top of the blog post.
Related articles
- World building: Slang terms of the Lupine System (taholtorf.wordpress.com)
- World Building: The Barrow’s Revenge (taholtorf.wordpress.com)
Canadian Serial Killers: Trigger Warning for mention of rape, murder
The announcement of Clifford Olson‘s death got me thinking about serial killers in Canada, and how they affect our lives and in many ways our culture.
When Olson was captured, it changed the way Canadians raise their children. Before Olson, kids went to school on their own, a couple blocks to walk and no big deal. After Olson, parents would take their children to school. And thanks to Olson’s ego, Canadians were continuously reminded of him over the course of the last thirty years, whether by his “Faint Hope Clause” at a 1997 parole hearing, or through his letter writing to the parents of his victims.
Olson’s memory hadn’t even faded yet, when another very serious killer came into the spot light.
In 1991, nine years after Olson was sentenced to 11 concurrent life sentences, Paul Bernardo and his wife Karla Homolka, kidnapped, raped and killed 14 year old Leslie Mahaffey. Shortly after, Bernardo and Mahaffey were married. The pair, dubbed the “Ken and Barbie Killers” would go onto to kill two more before being caught. The trial was a circus, and one that a judge put a media ban on, but many American news outlets ignored the ban, and broadcast the results of each day of the trial. Bernardo is still in prison in Kingston while Karla was released on parole in 2005. She was only sentenced with manslaughter, and many called her testimony and conviction a “Deal with the Devil” as the results of the video tapes shown during trial (Homolka and Bernardo would video tape the three rapes and killings) proved that Homolka was just as involved as Bernardo.
Michael Wayne McGray was convicted of killing at least four people, but claims to have killed many more. His spree spans over 20 years, and according to him, includes murders in Halifax, St. John, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Newfoundland and Seattle, Washington. There is a large number of unanswered questions as to whether or not McGray did indeed murder the number he has suggested, and even points to having accomplices. McGray himself has stated he killed a prostitute and a gay man in Seattle, two or three gay men in Montreal (the number changes based on reports). He would go onto continuously be in and out of court, and even stated that whether he was imprisoned or not, the killings would continue. On May 30, 2011, McGray was charged with the murder of fellow convict Jeremy Phillips.
Robert William Pickton was a pig farmer in British Columbia, who was known to police for the wild parties he sometimes hosted on his property under the name of a registered charity. Pickton was convicted with second degree murder of six women, all prostitutes, but according to some, his death toll was closer to 50. One undercover police officer stated Pickton informed him that he was one woman short of an even 50. Pickton’s trial, which began in 2007, had a heavy publication ban. As of April of 2010, very little information from the trial has been released. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with no parole for 25 years.
The list of Canadian serial killers isn’t long, but does include these five and Wayne Boden, John Martin Crawford, Léopold Dion, William Patrick Fyfe, Gilbert Paul Jordan, Agnus McVee, Russell Williams, Peter Woodcock and the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders. (The last, while the murders took place in California in 1928, Gordon Stewart Northcott was from Saskatchewan) The main issue at hand, when actions like this happen in Canada, we hear about it. We’re horrified by it. It changes our lives.
Because of Clifford Olson, Canada now has Victim Impact Statements. Entire bureaus are dedicated to the listing and searching of missing women (though, sadly, a small percentage of those women are ever found). James Roszko could be classed as a serial killer, as he gunned down three RCMP Constables in Mayerthorpe, Alberta, but it was an action that was heat of the moment. It is still classed as the worst loss of life in the RCMP in 100 years. Canadians still had that memory fresh in their minds when two years later, Curtis Dagenais shot and killed two RCMP officers.
These actions resonate with Canadians, and we remember them. These are things that don’t happen a lot in this country, so when we hear about it, it’s a shock to the system, and it changes us a little bit.
Related articles
- Clifford Olson, serial killer, dead at 71 (canada.com)
- Clifford Olson reportedly dead at 71 – News – MSN CA (taholtorf.wordpress.com)
- Clifford Olson dies in Quebec hospital (macleans.ca)
- Notorious serial killer Clifford Olson dies (ctv.ca)
- Serial killer Clifford Olson dead, victim’s family says (thestar.com)
- Clifford Olson has died. Is it OK to say bad things about him now that he’s dead? (pakos.me)
- Clifford Olson dead (news.nationalpost.com)
- Serial killer Clifford Olson dies (cbc.ca)
- Clifford Olson: a timeline (thestar.com)
- Serial killer Clifford Olson has died from cancer (theprovince.com)
- Auction website still offering killers’ items (cbc.ca)
