Pro-Life Parliamentary Caucus... did you know there was one?

Jeff Watson, the invisible M.P. for Essex speaks yet again. He was on AM 800 CKLW's afternoon show. Turns out we have a Pro-Life Parliamentary Caucus! Who knew... not me anyway. Now, Jeff was pretty much himself in his "knowledgeable, decisive and factual answers...

How long has this Caucus existed? Jeff's answer... well I don't know, but it's been in existence since before I was elected in 2004.

How many members are there? Jeff's answer... well, I don't really know but it's non Partisan and consists of all parties.

Are all parties represented in this Caucus then? Well, I don't know right now but historically I think they've all had members.

How many late term abortions are there preformed in Canada? Well... I'm not sure but I know there are some.

So... thanks for the details Jeff! Keep up the good work! Next time, how about you count the number of bodies around the table when you meet;come on Jeffy, you can do it... use both hands if you have to! Plus, I'm sure there's some kind of guide or list that you can use to match up the names to the party and then... ta da... you'll know how many of the parties, besides your own, have members in this oh, so out in the open Caucus!

Oh and may I suggest you do some homework BEFORE you go on air? Just a thought Jeffy!

Rod Marinelli fired! 0 - 16 record... Do you think?

So, what do you call 72 millionares sitting around a tv watching the Super Bowl?
The Detroit Lions! hahahahaha...


(Photo, Detroit Free Press)

Happy Birthday Eve Michie!

Due to work and numerous seasonal fetes, we held Michie's 22nd birthday today! We had a glorious dinner and then pie and ice cream at our house. Friends, family and lots of love... that's what these special days are all about. My baby is going to be 22 tomorrow! (gasp!)
I just love this picture, three very happy girls!

Grateful

It's 2:am, I've just blown out the last candle, tidied up the last of the dishes and have to be up before 8am. My sewer backed up last week, my furnace died last Sunday when the wind chill was -36 degrees, (they're coming Christmas morning to fix it, unlucky fellow,) but I am one lucky person. Tonight my house was filled with friends, family and loved ones. Little children, their parents and my dear friends. Nothing else matters than the fact that my steps are worn by the footsteps of people who wish to share my life. A life lived alone is so very sad, and I cannot help but at this time of year to reflect on how blessed I am to have such a full and loving house!

That my reader, is what life is all about. Merry Christmas to you and the loved ones who are gathered around you.

Ah the irony!

(Time Magazine)

Michelle said it best... He threw his shoes at the very man who made it possible for him to throw his shoes.

I am no fan of GW. I consider him a virtually complete failure in his job. However, the post he holds, the Office itself, deserves more respect than this incident shows. Had Saddam been behind that podium, the tosser would have been dead on the spot and his family tossed in jail.

The man; say what you will; the Office show some respect.

Vancouver Christmas party shooting suspect's online comments about stress and the work place.

You've likely read about the shooting at the company Christmas party in Vancouver a couple of days ago. A fired employee, Erik Kirkpatrick, who was invited to the party, brought a gun and killed the company CEO, Benjamin Banky.

I found a story in the Globe & Mail from 2007 entitled, "Stressful jobs can be fatal." In the comments section, there are only 9 of them, I found one from Kirkpatrick. I'm sure it's the same man as the news is reporting that his wife had died of cancer a few years ago. Actually, he was a rather regular poster of comments on many topics. If you google his name and city you'll find them.

He speaks of a prior firing from a stressful job, being hospitalized for stress and being put on meds for the rest of his life. It would seem that this man was a bomb just waiting to go off.

Kudos to the City of Windsor, Public Works Department

On Monday morning I noticed my tub wasn't draining as quickly as usual, then, forgot about it. On Tuesday morning I noticed it wasn't draining at all! I opened the door and saw the mat on the floor was a little wet around the grate covering the hole that would hold a sump pump, (if we had one.) I should mention I use the basement bathroom, cement floor not a "finished" basement. So, I lift the rug, lift the grate and the whole hole is full of icky stuff! Yep... sewer backup.

I wake Bob up with "Houston, we have a problem", (he was working afternoons,) and we go downstairs to look at the ick. I call 311 and report the problem, they call me back in 5 minutes and tell me the City guys will be here in 10 minutes! They took 15 but I shan't quibble. They eel, I stand in the basement over the hole and keep watching for the water to go down. Bob keeps sticking his head in the side door and asking if it was going down... neither of us wanted to have to dig up the basement 2 weeks before Christmas when we have our giant open house and well... drinking... eating... much toilet using! I tell him I'll let him know the instant it drains and to quit popping in and out! (Tensions were rising!)

Suddenly... it was gone, a little slurpy noise and the hole was empty! I went outside to deliver the good news and to see what the problem was. There were some tree roots and gunk. I ran hot, hot water from my tub into it and that night cleaned out the ick... dirty job but someone had to do it!

The City guys were great, oh I should mention that of course, it was freezing rain at the time. They told us we can get the system eeled 3 times in 24 months, no charge to keep the roots at bay.

WFCU Centre, Windsor Ontario

From this...


To this... in a week, what a change between my visits.

Though still not a fan of the name, awkward, and open to variations such as the FU Centre which I heard several times last week, the venue is great!

Snowball the dancing cockatoo, will make you smile!

He's a famous little guy. He's been on Animal Planet, on TV shows and has been studied by scientists. Not to mention his great taste in music!

Illinois governor taken into custody; Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Well well, it is alleged he was raffling off Obama's now vacant Senate seat! This is on top of the alleged kick backs being investigated. US Governors seem to have a hard time lately. If it isn't $800 an hour call girls, air borne wolf hunts, tax evasion, unreported gifts and now outright corruption charges... Those Gov's are a pretty busy bunch!

Oops!

I was coming in to write a new post and I think I accidentally flagged my own blog for objectionable content! So... if you do stumble in and see a warning, let me know ok so I can try to undo it! Good thing I don't have the nuclear code suitcase eh?

(I can easily see the time of flagging and what computer was here at this time and prove I did it myself if I have to! sigh...)

Stephen Harper, the man who tore apart Canada.

Are you proud Mr. Prime Minister? Are you happy you've managed to tear your country apart? Are you relishing the mass protests from both ends of the spectrum? Only you Sir, have managed to do this to our Country. Over 60% of this country voted against you... there is no mandate, there is no "right" to govern.

You have barricaded the doors of Parliament, inflamed the voters and what are you doing Sir? Where are you? Hiding, that's where you are.

Shame on you, shame on your Party and shame on us for letting it happen! We may as well be some banana republic with an army of gun wielding soldiers slamming the doors of democracy! Never did I think I'd see this in my country.

Prorogued : Harper gets the ultimate "do over."

The giant eraser came out and voila! In 7 weeks, it's a new session. New Throne Speech, budget, bills, laws... If the same old stone throwing, country splitting, Quebec alienating, arrogant, bully is at the helm we'll just start all over again.

I am not sure why Her Excellency chose to save the current PM's job, leave the country adrift at this incredibly tenuous time but she did. I cannot wait to hear the reasoning.

A letter from Stephen Harper to Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General in 2004

September 9, 2004

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson,
C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
Governor General
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A1

Excellency,

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program.

We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority.

Your attention to this matter is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

Gilles Duceppe, M.P.
Leader of the Bloc Quebecois

Jack Layton, M.P.
Leader of the New Democratic Party


This letter paints a pretty clear picture, I don't think I need any graphic details in this post. I guess it must be dependent upon on from what side of the aisle you are sending the letter?

*EDIT* Then there is this priceless interview with the CBC from the same time period!

When petitioning the Governor General...

... one should spell her name and title correctly. One should understand Canadian Constitutional law and quit tossing around terms like "coup" when speaking of a perfectly legal option under Canadian law. The persons in Parliament, proposing the Coalition Government, are duly elected, they are not an invading army seizing control!

I am neither in favour nor against this issue, (yet,) I simply want my Government to be operating in a manner that is best for my Country. A minority Government cannot and may not operate as though it held a majority. It must reach across the aisle and work with the other members. It must deal with the very real and frightening situation facing our economic well-being in a manner acceptable to all. A minority Government, in actuality, is a coalition, if it is working properly.

Canada's proposed coalition Government; undemocratic?

I still don't think the Bloc is a true Federal party, but they currently hold the status. So do the math... actually a much large percentage of the Canadian voters will be represented by their votes!

O' Ottawa... I am ashamed of you, true self serving acts, cause shame to all thy sons! From far & wide, we are ashamed of thee!

I am ashamed of the government of my country. I am angry that we spent $300 million to change nothing, contrary to the new law passed fixing election dates. I am mortified that the reigning party taped and released to the media, a private NDP meeting. tape1 tape2

I am angry, so very angry that The Bloc get $1.95 from MY tax dollars for each vote it gets. It only gets votes in Quebec, it only fields candidates in Quebec, it only represents interest in Quebec. It does not deserve my financial support. It is NOT a national party, therefore has no business in Federal politics.

If this government falls and they dare to call another election, I am going to do something. I haven't quite figured out what yet but something. We, the tax payers of Canada, cannot afford to just sit by and allow them to lead us around by the nose. We have the right and the obligation to let them know we will not stand for another $300 million of our money being tossed away.

In this economic climate it is shameful. So be it a Conservative minority, a coalition or whatever they come up with, grow up, take off your party uniforms and put on your Canada t'shirts and do the job you were sent to Ottawa to do.

Represent me!

pssssst... Annie... it's baaaaack! (Yes you Ann R.)

I know you've been waiting for it! Your favourite thing I blog about... the bird feeder is back up. Now you can wait anxiously for this year's pics! (This is from last year to remind you of what you've been missing.) xoxo

My rude family and friends!

So... what are the odds that twice in two days someone would ask you "are you smelling burnt toast?" Well if you are me, those odds are apparently very good! Both times it was explained by "well, sometimes we do all look at you and wonder if maybe you've just had a stroke or something!"

Rude, rude, rude! They claim that would be the only logical explanation of my behaviour or topic of conversation.

I'm gonna smack someone with a piece of burnt toast soon! :þ

MRSA

Photo/Graph: Google Trends

In March of this year, I did a posting on MRSA and what I've seen in hospitals, especially in Geriatric Wards. I am amazed at the number of people who've ended up here as the result of a google search for MRSA. It is from everywhere, all over the world, from Sweden to Indonesia to the USA, all kinds of institutions. Universities, High Schools, Hospitals, Military Installations, Governments... the list goes on and on. I would say that in my little, non-famous blog I get at least two hits a day based on that search.

Obviously, these people are looking for answers, looking for information... I would suggest that a much stronger, more organized effort on the part of Heath experts is called for.

Here's a great link to some info on MRSA.

*EDIT* from midnight to 7:30pm today, there were 9 hits from searching MRSA, one Brazil, one Netherlands and seven USA.

What could have been.

You can't help but wonder what difference it would have made to the world had he had his full time on earth.

I am so far behind the calendar!

One minute, here in the far south of Canada, it was warm and sunny; flowers still blooming and me not having the heart to rip them up. The next minute, every leaf is off the trees and there's been a bit of snow!

The sun umbrella is still on the patio table, the hammock is still outside and all the leaves are on my lawn! We do have some excuses in that in the past couple of weeks, which is when this seasonal turn about has happened, I've been one weekend in London, 4 days in Ottawa and Bob had a week of afternoons!

I'm hoping for a non seasonal, mini tornado to come and pick those dang leaves up! The umbrella and hammock I will take care of this weekend!

Anyone walking down my street with a rake, feel free to jump in!

Ottawa getting ready for the GG

The Parliament Building getting ready for the arrival of the Governor General for the opening of the new session. How lucky for us to see this!

Michelle is famous!

Mich just went to the Madonna concert in Detroit. Yes she just saw NKOTB and The Backstreet Boys... While at Madonna she spotted Trent of "Pink Is The New Blog" fame. They posed for a pic and he posted it in his famous blog!

If you need a little lift while I'm away.

I'm off to Ottawa on business for a few days so there may not be any posts for a bit. I thought I'd leave you with this cute little gimmik! Enjoy. Go ahead, click the link... it'll make you smile!

Sarah Palin at home

My sister Sandra has accused me of having a "girl crush!" Sheesh how silly is that? Just because every other post, or even every post in a row is about Sarah doesn't' mean that I am enamoured of her does it? Really... does it? OMG! I love her, I can't help it and it makes no sense whatsoever! Politically, we couldn't be further apart but I can't get enough of her.

This video is another great one for her. I really do think the pundits on the Republican side should have just let her out and be Sarah at her best!

I'm thinking of nominating her for leadership of the Liberal party. We're gonna haf ta work on her platform and maybe the dropping of the endings of every word but other than that... (wink)

Oh and I wanna send a shout out to my sister Sandra way up there in Sturgeon Falls, not as far north as Wasilla Alaska but compared to where I am, it might as well be!

The Edmund Fitzgerald, Nov. 10, 1975

I share my birthday with this event. (Same date, different year by 18 years.Though the ship was just about the same year as me, launched in June 1958.) Every year I hear this song on my birthday. This year, I didn't hear the song even once, so here it is; in their memory. (This video is very, very well done.)

Remembrance Day, try to remember to remember.

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








90 years since the end of "The War To End All Wars." How little we've learned. Remember

Sarah Palin... leave her alone!

YOU picked her! YOU vetted her! YOU enjoyed the hundreds of thousands that attended her rallies! YOU were her aids who passed her the phone when the "President of France" called! YOU are the ultimate responsibility!

I don't care that she answered the door in a towel... for the love of terry cloth, you were supposedly her allies, supporters and advisers! You should be ashamed and go crawl back into that poli-sci hole from whence you came!

Again, I don't agree with her in any way, shape or form but I love that woman.

Sarah, if you ever come to Windsor Ontario Canada, look me up!

And in the morning after, some things are still the same!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/world/europe/06russia.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink


It's a good thing Sarah's going home, she can keep an eye out for us!

Obama is the President of the United States of America

There is really nothing I can add to this headline. The world has turned a corner, the future is unlimited. We are Baracking in this house!

USA, is there any hope?

I'm watching CNN. I realize I am a measly Canadian, but were I an American right now, I would hang my head in shame at the way this election is being analysed by the "pundints."

Until YOU Americans stop analyzing by race nothing is going to change! Until YOU Americans, tell your news outlets, (read CNN,) to stop talking about how "interesting" the colour vote split is how can you possibly hope to actually invoke a real change?

I am saddened and dismayed by this type of reporting. Am I shocked? Nope. Do I not think that race/religion/guns/gender effect voting... of course, but to promote the carrying of a State by simple race numbers is asking for trouble and demeaning to the Candidates.

History in the making; today's the day for the USA!

Well, polls are open, lines are long and I cannot wait to see what happens! It's been a very long time since I've been this excited over an election.

Dwight Duncan invades my kitchen on CBC radio! ummm... ah.... well

So, I'm in my kitchen, cleaning up after cooking listening to "As it Happens" one of my favourite CBC radio shows when... OMG... "Double D" is suddenly on air! Yep... a Provincial

"Politician" on our national radio! Is nothing sacred? I had just eaten! It was about Ontario receiving equalization payments for the first time in history which is embarrassing in itself as Newfoundland is now a contributor for the love of the economy!

Allow me to quote him. "um... ah.... 4 million... ah.... um... well.. .ah.... ah... blah... ah.... ah... ah.... seriously? Has he every listened to himself? I would recommend he do so and head for a public speaking tutor quickly! Ah... ah.... um... and ah... Have I made myself clear?

That interview could have been done in 1/2 the time, sparing us his "eloquence" had he simply spit out the words and not hummed, ahhhed and umed throughout!

Go ahead all you Mavericks... click everywhere!

http://www.palinaspresident.us/


There's a Maverick in da' house! (Some you can click more that once.) Sorry, click the link, not the pic!

Thanks again Patty!

My very obedient house!

Saturday morning, Bob's in the living room reading the paper, I'm in the computer room reading papers on line. The tv is going on and on about changing the clocks tonight and changing the batteries in your smoke detectors... well... suddenly we hear a "chirp." Yep, we follow the rules in this house!

Bob gets up, and pulls the battery out of the smoke detector in the kitchen. A few seconds later... "chirp." Wrong detector. For years, we only had one, the new law is one on every floor and we've got a couple extra besides. I head to the basement, Bob heads upstairs and we wait for the next "chirp." It was the one in the upstairs hall.

Now if only the 37 clocks in this house would re-set themselves... all would be wonderful!

One vote can make a difference!

My friend Patty sent me this!

Barack Obama's 30 minutes on prime time.

Wow! It's been a lot of years since I have seen anything like that! Wow... I actually feel enabled. I wish I could vote! (I can see the US of A from my porch, that should count don't you think?)

Things about which I've been thinking...

I've truly had way too many things on my mind to blog in any clear fashion; so, I've decided to do it in point form:

Why would a baby, age 1 year have e. coli from Harvey's? Who would feed a 1 year old fast food? Can you spell CAS?

Why would someone name their daughter "Sensuous?" Sensuous Balfour? Guess what she's gonna grow up to be? Yep, a brain surgeon! (*EDIT* I in no way mean to take away from the horror and terrible events of the murders of a 7 year old boy and his Grand Mother... there are no words, no explaination for such an awful tragedy. I simply cannot accept someone naming their child "Sensuous" and not realizing the effect it could have.)

Why is everyone selling their stocks in this panic market? Hello... until you sell, the loss is only on paper, sell and it's real green! Panic feeds panic. I haven't lost a dime in real life yet... sigh... I'm trying to convince myself here!

Leap Frog commercials: Oh right the frog asks the kid which book is better? The one you do all by yourself where you pass the electronic wand over and it reads itself to you... or the boring book you have to read yourself because it doesn't talk... or better yet; and what an earth shattering concept this is... READ TO YOUR KID! OMG... seriously, let the machine do it and you can chat away on your cell phone and the kid's occupied!

Can you tell I'm cranky? Can you tell that I'm getting just a bit weary of what's going on here? I'm 50, I admit it. I also admit that I love the electronic age and embrace all it has to offer. What it does not offer is the bonding that happens between you and your child when you teach them something!

I despair over the cheapening of our youth, the denigration of self respect and self image and the acceptance of cheapness and tawdriness for "coolness."

Ok, fine, I sound old. If you don't like it, don't read it and move on to a more hip and less judgemental blog! :)

Why?

I just haven't felt like it... that's why! Too much to chose from should the truth be told! You never know what you'll find on the great, wide interwebs do ya? (Everybody has a camera or a camera phone... everybody... everywhere!)

Justin Trudeau; M.P.

That's Justin, on the left side of the photo above, from a Christmas card I got from his Dad, Pierre. Justin just won his first seat in Parliament, representing Papineau. You can see his teeth came back in nicely too eh?

Bonne chance Justin!

Live from NY... it's Sarah Palin! (In case you missed it.)

*Apparently SNL pulled the video? sorry*
Like I've said before, I'm against just about everything she's for... but ya gotta love the gal.

I almost forgot to mention...

Yes, Canada threw a little event on October 14th. Each of us about 33 million folks in the country tossed 10 dollars into the pot; (about $8.50 US each for you Americans.) Sadly less than half the invitees showed up.

When it was all over, the attendees all went home, the hosts all settled back into their regular routines... we ended up right where we started.

See? I'm NOT talking about the economy...

Too much, too volitile and just too, too scary. This is my new stance on the markets!

Voting online... Malarkey!

cartoon: Ben Sargent

Voting online... what a joke! Voting should NOT be that easy. Quote, courtesy of Michelle. Voting should take effort, thought, a bit of sacrifice and some basic human input beyond clicking a mouse.

People have died for this right! People have fought wars for this right! People have packed up and moved across the world for this right! Employers, (in Canada,) are mandated to give you 3 full hours of time in which to exercise this right!

How dare you sit on your ass and bitch that you have to go out in the cold... for this right!

A mouse click is what you use to pick a favourite video, a favourite movie star NOT the future of your country. While people are willing to put their lives on the line to represent what our country stands for, you can at least get into your Mini Van or SUV and drive the 2 minutes to the polling station.

I don't care if you are American or Canadian, we both have elections coming up. Go there, mark your X, pull the lever whatever... but if you don't, I don't want to hear from you!

The best thing I found on the net today! Rednecks for Obama!

“We Hunt, Fish, Drink Beer and Support Barack Obama” Gotta love it! Sarah must be spinnin' on her red high heels.








http://rednecks4obama.com/ nothing I do makes the link work!

Just type it into your browser. sorry :)

Iceland in meltdown! The world is changing quickly.

The largest bank has been seized by the Government, the stock market is closed until Monday and they are on the verge of bankruptcy!

AIG now holds a $111 Billion loan from the Fed. The $700 Billion "rescue package" money is yet to be spent or details of how it's to be spent released and well... they had to make a new US debt clock for Time's Square as there weren't enough decimal places available.

The interest rate in Canada was cut .5% but the banks are only giving us lowly consumers .25%. They are holding on to their cash showing they don't have too much faith in these measures being made to shore up the economy.

I figure at this rate, China will end up my next door neighbour. China's holding of US Treasury securities combined with Taiwan & Hong Kong's portion total $607.7 Billion as of April, 2008!
I'm going to look at the bright side. Living 5 minutes from Detroit, I'd be able to drive to China which is way better than a 23 hour flight!

Taking stock... don't bother!

Yahoo
Reuters, New York Times






A friend called me this afternoon, about 3 o'clock. His first words were, "what the hell is happening with the stock market?" I told him to turn off his computer and walk away. He told me he was getting the info on his cell phone. I repeated the same instructions... walk away, close your eyes... don't look! Neither of us have our "entire fortunes" at risk. Just our futures! hehe (Pardon the pun.)

We agreed there was nothing to be done right now, unless you have a few extra thousand laying around then there were some bargains to buy. We agreed there was no point in selling. We also agreed that we were glad it was a few years before we were looking to retire. Unless of course, Buffett can save us all? (And I don't mean Jimmy! Though a Cheeseburger & a margarita in Paradise would be good right now too!)

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Last night I watched this movie for the first time in at least 30 years. I had forgotten how powerful it was. How Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton portray a train wreck, waiting to happen and you just can't take your eyes off of it.


I had forgotten how disturbing this movie is. Then, sadly, I realized I actually know people like this!

Palin - Biden debate... SNL style.

Not too far off from the actual debate! hehe

It's a tie... in my humble Canadian opinion

photo: CNN

She did it, she did her way. He was kind, respectful and made his points. Biden's emotions getting away from him was touching. She tried hard to speak right to "the people." Still don't like her politics, but like I said, McCain should have let her out of the box long ago.

1/2 way through... Dang she's good!

Ok, she's stammering a bit right now over Iraq, but up to now! Holy pit bull. She just keeps going back to that plain spoken, smiling, slightly self depreciating Sarah and she's doing ok. I still don't agree with her politics but dang, she can talk a circle back to something she actually understands like nobody else! She's holding her own and Joe's trying hard to "talk plain" so not to turn off "Joe 6 pack!"

Oh oh... name tossing of foreign leaders going on... showing she can pronounce them I think?

T minus 2 hours and counting!

I can hardly contain myself! I'm so excited... you know what? Sarah may just surprise us all. I've been saying for weeks they should just let her out of the box, let her go at it! Let her be the hockey-Mom, small town, moose huntin' gal that she is! Lets see what happens. (Again I have NOTHING in common with her political views, I just am excited about the excitment she's created.) This should be the most watched VP debate of all time! Crack open the 6 pack, it's time to party!