Monthly Archives: August 2005
What is Going on?
| 8/30/2005 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
It is now 2 days after Katrina slammed into the Gulf states leaving New Orleans and other areas practically submerged. Where the hell is any real response from American authorities? It’s painful to watch those people struggling to even find the most basic of life’s needs and no one seeming to even be trying to get there.
When the tsunami hit at Christmas time rescue workers from around the globe started pouring in almost immediately. Read the rest of this entry »
Party Time.. well sort of
| 8/28/2005 | Posted by Patti under General |
Spent this afternoon up at my father’s today. Was sort of a double header birthday gathering. His lady friend will be celebrating her birthday on Tuesday and mine is on Thursday. Wasn’t a big deal, just a gathering of friends for a pleasant afternoon. I inadvertently provided some of the entertainment, the chair I was sitting on suddenly snapped and I dropped from sitting on a comfortable chair to sitting on the ground. I don’t think I hurt anything, spilled most of a glass of scotch in the process, terrible waste.
Was interesting watching this gathering. Dad seems to be enjoying these times, gathering friends around to share food and friendship. My late mother wasn’t a person who was comfortable doing that, she would have to have tight control over the whole gathering while dad is good with ‘whatever’.
Course, there is always some of his baking to be had. He’s become quite a baker. His pecan pies are ‘to die for’, cherry cakes, cocounut tarts… they are dangerous to have around… you will eat them because they are soooo yummy!
This Should be a no-Brainer
| 8/27/2005 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
A dangerous offender hearing currently before the courts in Ontario really should be a no brainer. Cory Newton spent at least 12 years under the nose of police and parole officials selecting, grooming and assaulting young, fatherless boys. At the time he was on parole for other sex crimes.
I’ve been watching this case for a while. A report, recently filed with the court, written by Dr. Philip Klassen of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health says this guy could be released under the right bail conditions. These include: Never be in the presence of a child; check in or meet with police or parole on a daily basis, as required and do not associate with an adult whose child he knows by name. He also suggested that Newton’s history be shared with all of his associates.
Hey doc… wake up and give your head a shake. This guy’s history demonstrated that short of a parole office being assigned to bird dog this guy 24/7 those restrictions mean nothing to him. For 12 years he operated right under the nose of police and parole officers. How many young children need to suffer because this bleeding heart thinks a proven danger like this can be released under the right conditions?
The only release this guy should be experiencing is into the general population of the toughest prison in the country for the rest of his life.
New Page for Colborne/Cramahe links
| 8/22/2005 | Posted by Patti under Site News |
I’ve put up a static page with a list of websites and blogs I come across based in Cramahe Township / Colborne, Ontario. That is my home base so just a neighbourly gesture to provide a link to fellow area members.
Here’s to Rose
| 8/21/2005 | Posted by Patti under General |
A good friend to a lot of Colborne people has entered into rest. Rose Nelson, way too young to be leaving us. Rose was born and raised in Colborne, living her whole life in the area. Coming from a large close-knit family she had a close-knit family who will sorely miss her. We’ll all miss her.
Quiet wisdom was what I often appreciated the most from Rose, she rarely took sides.. always willing to look at both sides of the coin before quietly expressing how she felt on an issue. It was pretty rare for her not to be pretty pragmatic and down to earth on what she had to say.
A member of the Legion Ladies Auxiliary before becoming a branch member, her Legion tribute was led by the Ladies and supported by the branch members. It has been a long time since I saw a turn out like the one today that jammed the local funeral home. When the Legion finished our tribute and filed out, some to join the line to go back through to pay their respects to the family, they found a line of other community members out to the street waiting patiently to enter the funeral home.
I wont be able to attend the funeral mass tomorrow but I suspect it will be huge. As it should be for a lady with a huge heart. Here’s to you Rose.
We will remember them….. and you.
Struggling With Faith
| 8/18/2005 | Posted by Patti under General |
Been a little light on posting the last couple of weeks or so. The parish I attend has been going through a bit of a rough patch. The priest we’ve had for the last 15 months resigned and then two wardens have resigned in quick succession. The scuttlebutt is that the Bishop is planning on closing the parish in about a year largely based on the pessimism of the three who are leaving their positions.
I’ve been told that one of the three has carried out a character assassination on me. That is pretty upseting when you’re a person who’s nature is not to hurt others. Even in the report that I compiled after the wardens of the three parishes met I was very careful not to attack the priest personally. The report was about bringing the behaviour of the person to the Bishop’s attention… making it clear to him this arrangement with this person just wasn’t working.
Anyways, I’m not sitting back and letting whatever happen just happen. So a lot of energy has been going out on that situation while trying to stay on top of the rest of my life.
Canada’s Traditional Role?
| 8/9/2005 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
The union representing civilian employees in the military is expressing concerns about where they stand when Canada deploys the military into a war zone that could be ongoing. Their President, John MacLennan, wants the civilians to have the same rights and benefits in the war zones as the military has. He’s likely correct to a degree as the danger of their non-combatant work does rise with their proximity to the combat area.
During the same speech MacLennan rips into General Hillier, head of the Canadian Forces, for what he calls the Americanization of our forces. He claims our traditional role to be that of peacekeepers and accuses Hillier of making our forces more aggressive.
MacLennan needs to give his head a shake and see what falls out. Yes, for the last 40 years Canada has served in primarily peacekeeping roles. Although anyone who thinks that peacekeeping is non-combatant needs to wake up and smell the roses. For the first 55 years of the last century when the Canadian military was called into action, it was into war and we usually arrived well ahead of our American neighbours.
In this the Year of the Veteran and as the world observes the 60th anniversary of the end of world war 2, MacLennan’s comments are a slap in the face to our remaining veterans. Does he think as we lay to rest Smokey Smith, the last of the Victoria Cross holders from that war that Smokey was out doing a peacekeeping mission the day he earned it?
If Canada is to live up to their commitment to support the war on terror in Afghanistan then we need to be the warriors our military was trained to be. Yes we have a proud history of peacemaking, we also have a history of getting in and getting our part of the job done without a lot of bitching in war or peace.
It would be wonderful if Canada continued to be peacekeepers in this century, but that world doesn’t currently exist. There are places in the world that are far more dangerous than they were and war will have to be made before peace can be kept.
Our Canadian generals are right to project that this may be a long drawn out mission in Afghanistan, take a look at their history. No military force has been able to bring stability to that region in over 200 years. Their people have a long tradition of fighting drawn out battles. Why do you think it became such a perfect place for Bin Laden to set up his training camps?
Heat is Returning
| 8/8/2005 | Posted by Patti under General |
Looks like my quest to get my steps a day up is going to be dodging around the return of heat, smog and humidity. I’ve made progress though… I’m currently averaging about 3,769 steps a day. My first target is to bring that average up to 5,000. It is supposed to be hot and humid for at least three days this week. Read the rest of this entry »
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