thirtypoundsofcat

Dear "uh" Dwight "uh" Duncan "uh" ...

2011-10-06T23:15:00.005-04:00

On the Eve of election night, CTV Windsor interviewed Mr. Duncan on his win. Every third word was "uh." Seriously? After all these years that's the best we get? And when questioned on the win of Teresa Perruza and his not having Sandra Pupatello at his side his response on Teresa is "she's a great woman." NOT a wise PERSON, NOT a great choice as a Member of Provincial Parliament... nope she's a "great woman."

Flash back to many years ago when Dwight ran for Leader of the Provincial Party and was eliminated and wandered around in a daze, sobbing, muttering and stumbling. This is a man who's been in charge of your finances Ontario. Aren't you proud? (Google it.)

Ontario election revelations

2011-09-28T08:22:00.002-04:00

A couple of friends pointed this striking similarity out to me. On the bright side, you don't have to schlep down to the polling station to cast your vote for the Conservatives. Just close your eyes and repeat three times... Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!

Back to the blog.

2011-09-23T14:34:00.004-04:00

It's the first full day of Autumn. I couldn't be happier after the summer we had here in Southwestern Ontario! This summer gave us days that had humidex readings of 50 celsius! (122 fahrenheit, 323 Kelvin!) I was not amused. I don't mind the rain we're having today and I adore the temperature.

I don't have much to say today, unless of course that satellite crashes down near me, I shall let you know! Here's a handy link to a real time GPS of the UARS satellite.

http://bleasdale.info/uars.htm

Happy Fall everyone!

The funniest election spoof ever!

2011-05-01T18:08:00.000-04:00

Canada's Criminal Pardons and Sex Offenders

2011-02-11T10:58:00.006-05:00

In 1990, Jim Massen of Amherstburg was convicted of "gross indecency" for acts committed against a 13 and a 16 year old boy.

Judge Kenneth Ouellette called Massen a "disgusting human being" and a "menace to young boys."

Massen also has four convictions for indecent assault from 1965.

"A lot of that was not very true," Massen said Monday, adding Ontario Provincial Police "wanted to make a big show."

He said of his time in jail, "To be honest, it was a big, nice vacation."

Do these sound like the words of a man sorry for his past? Do these sound like the words of a man who realizes the damage done to his victims? Do these sound like the words of a man who should have his record expunged? No? Well guess what?

Massen says he applied for and received a pardon from the National Parole Board in 2004.

These are not run of the mill break and enter charges or even the more serious assault or drug dealing. These charges should have put him on the Sex Offender Registry for life! Shame on our Government for allowing the pardon and shame on Mr. Massen for now threatening to sue. His name on a venue that thousands of young children will be using?

What goes around comes around and I'm sure that Mr. Massen's days in the small town of Amherstburg are not going to be terribly pleasant though I'm sure not as awful as the days suffered by those children.

Where did the last three months go?

2011-02-06T16:02:00.003-05:00

I have been a terrible slacker, blog-wise! There's been so much happening in the world and in my life that I've just not talked about anything!

Becoming a Grandma, (yikes!,) Christmas with so much company, birthdays, firends and well, just day to day life sometimes just swoops over you and leaves you wordless! It's a good, busy and full life for which I am grateful.

I will make a better effort at keeping up the chatter on my end. That is my belated New Year's resolution.

Remember

2010-11-11T13:52:00.003-05:00

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsCVlM1CSPU

An interesting map of the cholera outbreak in Haiti

2010-10-24T15:37:00.007-04:00

Click on the picture for larger view: (healthmap.org)

direct link to the map here

This is based on reports from everywhere; Twitter, Facebook, Google, blogs, Newspapers etc. It shows a different picture than being officially reported so far though some of these cases, apparently, are still to be confirmed by tests.

It's going to be a late night in Copiapo Chile and my house!

2010-10-12T12:52:00.007-04:00

I remember watching the rescue of Jessica McClure and how thrilling, heart wrenching and emotional it was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKfz3jFVLME

I just listened to CBC radio replay the Moose River Mine rescue of 1936. Here's the link. http://archives.cbc.ca/economy_business/natural_resources/clips/3860/
"This was North America's first live 24 hour news event."

They're only an hour ahead of our local time in Copiapo Chile, so that means the lifts won't start until quite late tonight. CNN is covering it live, of course. I cannot wait to see the first man come up after 68 days, 1,630+ hours... and endless number of minutes! How excited they must be, well maybe a little less so for the poor fellow with the wife and mistress both waiting for him? I bet even he will be smiling... for the moment!

http://24timezones.com/current_time/chile_copiapo_clock.php

Billy Lucas, Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, Tyler Clementi & Raymond Chase... 5 lives lost.

2010-10-01T11:54:00.005-04:00

It's time to say enough is enough! Bullying cannot/should not be tolerated anywhere, especially at school! Young people have enough questions, worries and self doubts without their peers belittling them!

It's the end of the world as we know it! Facebook is down around the world!

2010-09-23T16:07:00.003-04:00

It's the talk of the net... Facepalm! Facebook is down across the world! Gasp...

Service Unavailable - DNS failure is all you get!

“Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings.” Heinrich Heine 1821

2010-09-09T10:50:00.011-04:00

Every burned book enlightens the world. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This Saturday, read a book, spark an idea, fire your imagination and fan the flames of knowledge. Only the ignorant and the paranoid burn books.

Here is a link to the City of Gainseville, Mayor's letter: It would be a tough job he has right now. Send him some positive thoughts!
http://www.cityofgainesville.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=d045MZi0PNg%3d&tabid=82&mid=403

Windsor/Essex County Humane Society, Pepsi contest

2010-09-02T22:10:00.004-04:00

For my Windsor readers. Actually, for any reader! Here's an easy and very deserving Pepsi contest. The Windsor Humane Society is in the running for a $100,000.00 grant to build a Vet Clinic at their new location. Vote and vote often! Thanks! :)

http://www.refresheverything.ca/windsorhumanevetclinic

Turtles and Dolphins and Birds... oh my! :(

2010-07-21T11:32:00.003-04:00

Of the 691 turtles verified from April 30 to July 19, a total of 473 stranded turtles were found dead, 58 stranded alive. Four of those subsequently died. Eleven live stranded turtles were released, and 43 live stranded turtles are being cared for at rehabilitation centers.

Sixty-one dolphins were found stranded dead. Visible evidence of external oil was confirmed on four dolphins.

An excellent link to what is happening in the Gulf is:
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/topic_subtopic_entry.php?RECORD_KEY(entry_subtopic_topic)=entry_id,subtopic_id,topic_id&entry_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=809&subtopic_i

Google Street View... look what I found! Sonic Boom?

2010-05-30T12:27:00.002-04:00

View Larger Map

Move it left and right you can see where "it" comes out of and goes back into the sky.

Drill Baby Drill!

2010-05-30T09:29:00.004-04:00

This is a map of the Ocean currents from the Gulf stream. The forecasting of a very active hurricane season, often involving the Gulf, gives great pause.

So lets prohibit undersea drilling within a certain distance of land, forcing them to go to deep water instead of simply just prohibiting drilling into the sea bed altogether. This way it can appear that Government is doing something to protect the shoreline and livelihoods of those who live there. Now... allowing deep water drilling should have set off some questions about what would be a very obvious problem. How do you stop it if it goes wrong under about 5000 feet of water? Obviously not very quickly and not very easily. Sadly, it appears no one thought about this before allowing it. Do failsafe blowout preventers fail... apparently.

So while I'm not in favour of any underwater drilling into the bloodstream of our planet, drilling closer to shore, in shallower water would have allowed more and easier options to stop this despicable violation of our planet.

Here's the live feed of the spewing into the Gulf:

http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream2&hpt=T1

Oh and then there's this little tidbit!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/us/30rig.html

Ah, the irony of adsense!

2010-05-11T19:50:00.002-04:00

I had barely finished posting when this ad appeared! Gosh but Google is quick eh?

Was it you number one...?

2010-05-11T19:44:00.005-04:00

*photo CNN*

Who me? Not me! Was it you number two? Who me? Not couldn't be! Was it you number three?

Who cares who's fault it is? Fix it damn it!

http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/11/news/companies/BP_hearings/index.htm?hpt=T2

Gimme that old time religion...

2010-04-21T18:24:00.006-04:00

So... the link below should pretty much speak for itself! Click it... if you're dressed appropriately of course!

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/04/20/iran.promiscuity.earthquakes/

Is this what 17 looks like? Moscow suicide bomber was a child.

2010-04-02T12:10:00.010-04:00

Regardless of cultural or religious differences, this is not what I picture as a 17 year old girl. The widow of a 30 year old terrorist, killed in Russia last December. Apparently the girl, Dzhennet Abdurakhmanova, also called Jennet Abdurakhmanova in some reports, met Umalat Magomedov on the internet. It is reported that after their first "date" he refused to let her leave and "kept her."

http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/terror/02-04-2010/112817-subway_bombers-0

Janis Ian wrote the sad song, "I learned the truth at 17,"
I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired.

A 17 year old girl wrapped herself in explosives and walked onto a train and blew herself, and others to pieces. What "truth" did she learn to make this happen? No god, supreme being, call it what you will, deserves this "truth." This is a lie, this horribly distorts "truth."

The Border... a fictional line or reality bites?

2010-03-27T19:34:00.005-04:00

Lloydminster Alberta is one thing, half the town in Alberta, half in Saskatchewan. Stanstead Quebec and Debry Line Vermont... quite another! Seriously after all these years of peaceful existance. They share a library for pete sake! In behaving like this we are simply giving in to the terrorists. Move along, nothing to see here... go to where something real is happening. I despair over this attitude and policy. Sometimes, Americans just can't see what's good for all the bad they percieve!

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100327/mtl_borders_100327/20100327/?hub=MontrealHome

So... this is one of our most pressing issues in Canada?

2010-03-03T22:17:00.006-05:00

O Canada lyrics to be reviewed

http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=23570847

Oh... give me a break! I'm a "daughter" and I can live with it! As a person who actually uses words like "whilst" and "whinge," "thou dost in us command" may resonate but why? Really, why?

**Update** So this was a tempest in a tea pot and served to divert attention from the real business of "Parliament." Oh really?

American Idol...

2010-03-03T21:01:00.004-05:00

American Idol? Not so much... it's actually painful to watch! This is the best of the best? I'm thinking it's time to move on. Oh but not to Dancing With the Stars... Kate what's her name? Seriously? It's back to real, as opposed to reality tv for me!

*Buzz Aldrin* on DWTS is one of my life long heroes! From walking on the moon to Dancing With the Stars? He's danced with the REAL stars for heaven's sake... why?
(All puns intended.)

When stereotypes live up to their well... stereotypes!

2010-02-26T22:12:00.003-05:00

*credit CNN US news* February 26, 2010

Ok then. Lets look at the "South." Dogs, cows, bison and a guy shooting his wife. All we're missing is some beer and a truck! Seriously, go to CNN.com but click US instead of home page and look at the stories. It's like this every day! Click the link and go to the bison story... it's a good one! "It's unclear why the animal was being transported or where to."

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/22684679/detail.html

February fretting...

2010-02-25T13:30:00.006-05:00

Killer whales: well lets see, 6 - 9 meters, 3 - 9 tons with a life span of up to 50 years. Highly social and intelligent. Take one from an ocean, stick it in a tank, make it do tricks and surprise... http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/02/25/florida.seaworld.death/index.html?hpt=T2

Trucking along:
This morning I'm behind a transport truck, Deluxe Freight out of Burlington Ontario and this guy couldn't stay in one lane if his life depended on it. (The irony of our lives depending on it is not wasted on me!) He was everywhere, all over the road! I stayed well back, until it was safe to pass him. (About 10 blocks!) When I was beside him I realize the problem. Apparently it's not that easy to dig through your lunch pail, find and peel a banana whilst driving a transport! Ha... go figure!

Olympic women's hockey:
Simple, give Canada automatic gold, USA automatic silver and let the rest of the world play for bronze. It's embarrassing! It's not sportsman like and certainly not the spirit of the games.

Olympic men's hockey:
Could someone explain to me how professional, paid NHL stars qualify in "amateur games?" It's really just all star hockey split into countries.

Olympic Medals:
Yay Canada. Up to 7 gold with a total of 15. Double Yay for the females who've done most of the work!

Bo tribe is extinct.

2010-02-06T18:20:00.004-05:00

This is so sad. Every day we lose a part of ourselves. Part of the world that has made us what we are. I look around and see what we are left with and shudder. The best of us is gone, the lunatic fringe prospers and seriously, we are in so much trouble.

We focus on the negative, we focus on obtaining useless things, we spend time, energy and money on attempting to harm and what should we be doing? We should be focusing on how to make things so much better than they are. Life, is to be lived. Life is to be shared, life to to continue giving, to reproduce and to bring to this earth happiness, love and community.

This woman is the end of her kind. The end of a distinct and important part of who we are. We should be paying attention.

http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/5509

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=598082

Thank goodness CBS' big eye is watching over what we watch!

2010-02-03T13:05:00.005-05:00

*copyright CBS*

Gay dating site, Super Bowl ad - NO
Anti Abortion, Super Bowl ad - YES

So... lets look at their program line up. Victoria's Secret Fashion show, half, correct that, three quarters naked women prancing along the runway.

Two and a Half Men, degrading to women, sexist, tawdry and infantile.

CSI, Criminal Minds, (both of which I love and watch,) full of death and violence;

Undercover Boss, next week... at Hooters.

Can't wait to see the ad... 15 year old cheerleader, 16 year old football player get married and live happily ever after... sigh...(Gotta make it football relevant no?)

I am NOT advocating abortion. I am pro choice and in today's world, with all the birth control measures available I see little excuse for "oopses." Abortion is not birth control. I too, am pro choice when it comes to someone's personal life.

So, lets go to Haiti, grab 33 kids and cross an international border...

2010-02-01T13:51:00.007-05:00

Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images, Telegraph UK

*UPDATE*

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/04/haiti.arrests/index.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/7127824/Mistrust-in-the-eyes-of-rescued-Haitian-orphans.html

http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&date=true&newsitemid=CTVNews/20100201/haiti_r

Gee, what a great idea eh? Seriously, can anyone truly be that stupid? "Misguided" is a ridiculous word for what these "missionaries" tried to do. Besides stupid it is autocratic, presumptuous, arrogant and typical "big brother with a big stick/bible" behaviour. The level of arrogance displayed by these people is criminal!

There are lessons to be learned, most have learned them by reviewing the history of the past hundreds of years of Imperialistic attitudes and behaviours! I say, throw them in jail, make them read the history of the country of Haiti, USA, Canada, England, France... every large and largely European settled country on the face of this earth and see what was done in the name of "God, betterment, civilization and helpfulness!"

"God is the one who called us to come here and we just really believed that this was his purpose," said Carla Thompson, another member of the group, which called itself the New Life Children's Refuge.

"One (9-year-old) girl was crying, and saying, 'I am not an orphan. I still have my parents.' And she thought she was going on a summer camp or a boarding school or something like that," said George Willeit, a spokesman for the SOS Children's Village.

The children were taken to an orphanage run by Austrian-based SOS Children's Villages, where spokesman George Willeit said they arrived "very hungry, very thirsty." A 2- to 3-month-old baby was dehydrated and had to be hospitalized, he said. Workers were searching for their families or close relatives.

"There are many who come here with religious ideas that belong more in the time of the inquisition," said Max Beauvoir, head of Haiti's Voodoo Priest's Association, which represents thousands of priests and priestesses. "These types of people believe they need to save our souls and our bodies from ourselves. We need compassion, not proselytizing now, and we need aid - not just aid going to people of the Christian faith."

"The majority of these children have families. Some of the older ones said their parents are alive, and some gave an address and phone numbers," said Vargas, a Costa Rican who is in charge of SOS Children's operations in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Life and living

2010-02-01T13:12:00.004-05:00

People pay for what they do, and still more, for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it simply: by the lives they lead. ~Edith Wharton~

*by the lonely, isolated, twisted and desolate lives they lead*

Prorogation... the "chads" of Canada

2010-01-23T16:14:00.001-05:00

Prorogation, summation; the nation is patient to a point, but the Haitian situation, the degradation in the Arab nation, demand negotiation not libation during a vacation!

2010, a year in fast forward?

2010-01-19T15:23:00.003-05:00

One second it's New Year's Eve and the next we're 19 days into 2010. How does this happen? I have been so negligent in posting.

I'm not going to talk much about Haiti as there are no words that can truly capture the misery of that tragic story. Do what you can to help, that's all that matters at this point.

A decade into the 2000's I cannot help but to think back to the 1999 New Year's Eve and remember the excitement and massive world wide partying that was going on. It was amazing. Did the decade lived up to that excitement? I'd have to say no. World wide there was so much bad news, so much hate, so much destruction. We can only hope the next 10 years brings more hope. (Though sadly, Haiti's situation is certainly no way to start this decade with hope.)

The Eve of a new decade!

2009-12-31T19:31:00.005-05:00

Again, I've been slacking in the blogging department! So busy in life, friends, family, holidays and so busy at work! The Olympic Torch Relays brought 4 show in 4 cities in three days... including Christmas Eve! The traditional Christmas Eve Open House for family, friends and loved ones was a huge success! The Christmas morning breakfast was another big hit with fun and frivolity!

On this the Eve of a new decade, I can only wish for; a brighter, happier, lighter, more "good news" filled 10 years than the previous 10. The horror, the tragedy, the sorrow, the financial crashes, the neighbourhood blight and deterioration, the ridiculousness of the past decade cannot be allowed to be repeated. Stand firm, stand united and refuse to allow it to continue! Those who strive to only destroy cannot remain strong against those with love, family and friends in their corner. Those who strive only to propagate hatred, cannot help but to fail against the strength of those of us with hope, support, compassion and the wide spread wealth of friends and like thinking people who are the true axis of this world!

Happy 2010 to those of you who strive to make this a better world!

You know you're Canadian when...

2009-12-17T12:45:00.008-05:00

You read this, shake your head and think... OMG! (click image to enlarge)

You read this and wonder why the Governor General is nodding at Sandra Bullock!

Seriously... Don't worry!

2009-12-16T22:33:00.002-05:00

Crazy isn't contagious... I can prove it! :) Happy Holidays!

Edmond Kenneth Wilson; 65 years later. Gone but certainly not forgotten.

2009-11-20T12:49:00.004-05:00

I have told this story before. My 1993 visit to the Reichswald war cemetery in Germany, taking a picture of this grave stone and finding his Great-nephew in 1997. The story grows and unfolds as more time passes.

Tomorrow, November 21st, 2009 is the 65th anniversary of Ken's death. He was 21 years old.

This week, two days ago, I spoke, for over an hour, to Ken's widow, Dorothy. She too was just a girl when Ken went off to war, a young bride who never saw her husband again. She is 87 years old and holds his memory very dear. She told me heart breaking, interesting and funny stories about Ken, she certainly brought the man to life for me.

Sixteen years after visiting the cemetery, taking a random photo of Ken's grave, I spoke to the woman who after 65 years, loves him still. She has been to visit his grave twice. I plan on going to see her one day soon.

November 21st, 1944 Ken Wilson, 4 other crew members died; 2 others became POW's and survived the war suffering terrible hardships.

I remember, Dorothy remembers, Ken on this anniversary.

the link to Ken's page on the McPhee website. (The whole site is well worth a visit.)
http://www.thewhpfamily.com/mcphee/page10.html

the links to my earlier postings.
http://thirtypoundsofcat.blogspot.com/2009/03/65-years-after-dying-in-service-of-our.html
http://thirtypoundsofcat.blogspot.com/2007/04/vimy.html

We do remember.

2009-11-10T17:32:00.000-05:00

Berlin 33 years ago.

2009-11-09T11:22:00.007-05:00

In August of 1976 my high school graduation gift was a trip to Europe. Now, that's not as extravagant as it sounds as I was born in Germany and had family there. One of the most memorable places I visited was Berlin, East and West. On this the anniversary of the coming down of the Berlin Wall, I thought I'd post a few pics from my trip there 33 years ago... The trip were I was yelled at, had a gun pointed at me, had 10 Marks "stolen" from me by the East German Currency Exchange lady and was warned to "hold your tongue." But hey, other than that... it was a great time! (I really wouldn't have missed it for the world and now, that chance to experience Berlin as it was, is gone.)

Thing that have pissed me off lately! (well some of them)

2009-11-01T14:19:00.005-05:00

H1N1 shots. Priority lists... well, somehow, someone has decided that Police and Fire are NOT priority. What is? Oh, how about the Olympic committee, torch bearers and athletes? Yep... the people who protect us can drop like flies but heaven help us if a curler or a skier gets the flu!

H1N1 shots. Panic... Surprise! Yell fire and then lock the doors, guess what's going to happen? Lets see what happens when healthy 10 & 13 years olds drop dead in 3 days then hold public clinics.

H1N1 shots. Priority lists, again... The very people on this list, at least many of them, are on that list due to a health condition that would fricking impede their ability to stand in a fricking line for 3 or more hours! GAWD what are these "public health officials" thinking? Here in Windsor, it's out of control. Our Medical officer of health, Dr. Allen Heimann, (Bob likes to call him Hilter Heimann,) and his side kick, Deb Bennett are certainly not helping the situation. Google them, listen to them speak, read the words of the articles to do with H1N1 shots and judge for yourself. (Oh and before you go off and say... "sure she's not on the list so that explains her attitude." Yes I am, however, I will not and cannot stand in a line for 3+ hours waiting for it, it would be a physical impossibility for me and I'm not that bad off so I'll wait until my Doctor has it.)

Windsor Ontario and the CUPE strike savings, refund to taxpayers. Ok... so, they saved millions during the strike. Paid out millions in overtime for managers, security etc. There is a 5.6 million surplus. What are they doing with it? They are mailing every rate payer a $72.00 cheque! Seriously, they're spending $70,000.00 of the money to mail us a $72.00 cheque. Now keep in mind all those CUPE workers, be they Windsor, home owning residents will get this cheque too! So will the CUPE office that piled their trash outside their building causing the nearby residents to picket them! Where is the "I object" button when you need one? As Bob so succinctly said it... "give it to the downtown mission, imagine what they could do with 5.6 million!"

Come on people. $72.00? What's that? A tank of gas? Dinner at a mid range restaurant? 5.6 million, split between the Downtown Mission, The Goodfellows, The Homeless Coalition and a couple of other charities would go a long, long way and keep giving! (Note: no Orchestras or Art Galleries need apply!) $72.00 that's costing $70 thousand to mail out! What could these charities do with just the $70 thousand!

My god, what is the matter with people? Can you not see beyond the end of the tunnel?

Vaccines, conspiracies and loonies... Oh My!

2009-10-27T11:14:00.007-04:00

Photograph from Polio Canada/Ontario March of Dimes.

They're flying out of their bat caves, onto the web, hosting seminars, scaring parents and pounding on tables with shoes! Don't get the shot! Don't vaccinate your child! Don't fall for the hysteria and allow yourself to be poisoned!

Well folks, 50 years ago our kids were dying or crippled by polio. It was a common occurrence that swept North America. My husband's Uncle contracted polio and was on crutches for life, he was one of the lucky ones. Here's one paragraph from a very interesting article.

Before smallpox was eradicated with a vaccine, it killed an estimated 500 million people. And just 60 years ago, polio paralyzed 16,000 Americans every year, while rubella caused birth defects and mental retardation in as many as 20,000 newborns. Measles infected 4 million children, killing 3,000 annually, and a bacterium called Haemophilus influenzae type b caused Hib meningitis in more than 15,000 children, leaving many with permanent brain damage. Infant mortality and abbreviated life spans — now regarded as a third world problem — were a first world reality.
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/10/ff_waronscience/3/

So to the Mary Toccos of the world, (I call her the Ann Coulter of the medical field, and I use the word, "medical" loosely,) go talk to the people who's family members have died of H1N1 including the two very young, previously very healthy people here in Ontario in the past three days.

http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=22415064

Link to one of the stories mentioned above.

H1N1 Update and the vaccine.

2009-10-26T15:00:00.003-04:00

*credit WHO* http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
javascript:void(0)
I haven't update the H1N1 situation in my blog for quite some time. I have, however, still been following it. It's rather overwhelming right now with the amount of news, changes in priorities for vaccination and the silly rumours. The important thing is it's just a flu shot, like any flu shot, prepared the same way just targeting one specific flu. The seasonal shots are always a guessing game. Some years they are the right strain, other years... not so much.

I also found out today that I am a priority! Not necessarily a list on which I want to be a priority but heck, I'll take it as I'm important!

A busy weekend!

2009-10-26T14:48:00.004-04:00

http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/

Well,seldom do I have the whirlwind social life I've had this weekend! Friday I was invited by Patty to join her at the Rotary Club of Windsor's annual, Wines of the World event. The food and wines were glorious! The company wonderful and the whole evening just a great time. We came back to my house afterwards and Michelle was there, home from school for the weekend. We stayed up until 1:30am! For me, at my age... that's a late night!

Saturday night Michelle and I went to see Stuart McLean of CBC Radio at the Chrysler theatre. His show, "The Vinyl Cafe," is one of our favourites. It turned out to be a live taping for future use on CBC so it was especially interesting. Mich got the tickets for me some time ago as an early birthday present.

Sunday, Rodney took us shopping in the States! OMG I have discovered a new and wonderful thing called a Payday candy bar! Caramel and peanut butter centre covered with salted peanuts! The sweet/salty combination is amazing! I'm NOT giving any out for Halloween, they are all mine. So that's the Butterfinger and Payday candy I'm hording ... I may have to go back over the border to get some stuff to actually give the kids!

AdSense or nonsence?

2009-10-21T13:03:00.003-04:00

Google AdSense is supposed to crawl your content with a bot and then post ads that somehow apply to the content. Well... "rate hot girls?" I cannot find anything in my last post that would have triggered such an ad. I, therefore, am going with my picture as the impetus for this ad! Ha! :) There will be no rating of this girl, remember, I have the comments set for moderation by the blogger, the blogger being me!

Wow, I've been slacking in the blogging deparment!

2009-10-20T16:03:00.004-04:00

To be perfectly fair, I have been busy! So here's the synopsis of the past month. I have been to London to visit Michelle at her new apartment. She's settling into Grad School and teaching Biology labs. She hasn't poisoned herself yet with her own cooking, which is a good thing! Michelle has also been home, for Thanksgiving. We hosted a dinner for 23 on Saturday and a breakfast for the same folks on Sunday morning! (Luckily Debbie & Robin did most of the breakfast work!) A great time was had by all. Ann, Joe & Tyler came all the way from Toronto for this.

I've had a very lucky couple of weeks. I won tickets to The Wiggles. I'm giving them to a couple of cutie pie kiddies and they will love it I'm sure.

Bob was called back to work after 10 months of being laid off! That was a nice surprise and beats the heck out of seeing your old job posted in the newspaper with the line "previous employees need not apply!"

Thanks to Patty, prior to the public event, I got to sit and chat with Judy Collins for 1/2 and hour or so. (Yes THAT Judy Collins of "Both Sides Now" and "Send In The Clowns" fame. She is a lovely and gracious lady and very, very tiny! She's happy Obama won the Nobel, she despairs over the state of US health care, or lack thereof and she speaks very highly of Canada and Canadians. She is also a friend of Leonard Cohen, whom I love and that is likely as close as I'll ever get to Leonard! Then I got to listen to her interesting and inspirational talk. What a special night that was for me! (I can't believe I forgot to ask to have a picture taken with her.)

Bob and I went to another antique shop where I bought some stamps for $5.00 and found that the minimum just a few of them are worth is over $78.00. (Not too shabby eh?) I bought quite a few but haven't checked them out yet.

I've had neighbourhood meetings, City Hall meetings and well... meetings!

So, that's why I haven't blogged. I don't like to leave it dormant for this long though and will make a concerted effort to be more prolific.

Methadone poisoning deaths rise 7 fold in the USA.

2009-09-30T15:40:00.009-04:00

Click on the chart and graph below to read:

The Center for Disease Control in the USA has released shocking new stats regarding drug overdose deaths. We, in Canada/Ontario, apparently do not have access to this kind of data. One can only assume that the stats would apply here also as Methadone use in both countries has exploded, especially with the proliferation of private, for profit clinics. Interestingly, it hasn't seemed to reduce deaths from other drugs. I hope someone in our Province is trying to keep track of this!

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db22.htm

Click the link above to read the full report.

Olympics and "embarrassing" stragglers

2009-09-21T19:45:00.009-04:00

While this->
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/force+homeless+into+shelters+during+2010+Olympics+group+says/2016628/story.html

Is better than this ->
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-528694/Olympics-clean-Chinese-style-Inside-Beijings-shocking-death-camp-cats.html

I'm not sure it's all that different? Same theory, different methods... thank goodness!

Happy Anniversary?

2009-09-14T10:11:00.002-04:00

Just a year ago our economy self imploded. We're being told that it's on the rebound. We're being told that Canada is in better shape than much of the world. We're being told that the worst is behind us. I just hope the worst doesn't sneak up and bite us in the ass!

My post a year ago.
http://thirtypoundsofcat.blogspot.com/2008/09/shades-of-1929.html

Mirrors are wonderful things!

2009-09-05T21:12:00.006-04:00

Today was warm, sunny and well, just too much. I wonder what happened to mirrors in a home? I was all over the city today, store after store and to my dismay I see women with upper arms the size of watermelons wearing sleeveless shirts. Overweight, pathetic 55+ year olds with mini skirts, or short shorts and tank tops. Men with bellies worthy of an urgent OB call, walking around topless. I do realize that this is the first long weekend of real summer weather. I do realize it's warm out... but for the love of all that is tasteful...

Get a mirror, stand in front of it and take a good look! Spare us the indignity of your ignoring that time and gravity have repercussions.

Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres - now coming to a neighbourhood near you!

2009-08-12T11:12:00.009-04:00

The Hippocratic Oath

Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres has slunk into my neighbourhood. The building permit applied for by the construction company who claimed it was for a "Business Office." At this location, as described last night at a meeting, by the staff of the clinic, they are a "medical facility," they do "blood draws" and "urine testing." There is an on site Pharmacy, a Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technicians and they dispense methadone. This does not sound like a "business office." There is no Doctor, however, one comes to Windsor "as needed." The clients are see via video-conference for a minute or two and then a prescription is "written" read: sent via email, for the methadone. (They get to bill OHIP for this!)

I have no problem with Methadone programs that have a goal to have you live drug free, be it the illegal opiates or the substitute methadone. I think that a private VERY for profit company may not be such a program? Seems to me getting you off methadone would be cutting into their own bottom line. Our tax dollars fund this incestuous set up. Incestuous you say? Yep... From the Treatment Centres, to the Pharmacies, to the software, to the labs ad infinitum... these two Docs own the giant circle.

The following are links to information on Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres that should be eye opening. Way too many for me to do synopses on, so just click away and make your own conclusions.

http://www.oatc.ca/ OATC home page

http://www.oha.com/KnowledgeCentre/Library/CoronersReports/Documents/Wade%20Lamont%20Hatt%20Inquest.pdf Coroners report

http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/144334 Toronto Star article

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/144358 Toronto Star article

http://www.ocpinfo.com/client/ocp/ocphome.nsf/ab26815c7d6d78e58525732b00626f24/41e5380551b6108d8525734d005aee85?OpenDocument

Ontario College of Pharmacists discipline committee report #1 Wong

http://www.ocpinfo.com/client/ocp/ocphome.nsf/ab26815c7d6d78e58525732b00626f24/da8c55204b81a9a9852572a7004b5a47?OpenDocument

Pharmacist #2 Reich

http://www.ocpinfo.com/client/ocp/ocphome.nsf/ab26815c7d6d78e58525732b00626f24/10ede63710ad2d5c8525718f00463188?OpenDocument

Pharmacist #3 Hopkin

http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/CDN/News.asp?id=33038&bSearch=True
The software developed for Dr. Jeff Daiter that his remote Pharmacists must purchase

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/185329

Toronto Star article, Comquest Systems Inc. owned by Dr. Jeff Daiter, plead no contest to OHIP improprieties

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/228242

Toronto Star article regarding College of Physicians and Surgeons probe of clinics

There's more but my fingers are getting almost as tired as my brain from sorting all of this out! If you Google, you can find reams of stuff on your own.

...and yet again...

2009-07-27T18:31:00.005-04:00

My original post...

http://thirtypoundsofcat.blogspot.com/2008/03/best-behaviour-while-awaiting-court.html

and today's news, again... some people never learn!

Cadillac, seen speeding in excess of 200 km/h, crashes in ditch

By Dalson Chen, The Windsor StarJuly 27, 2009

CHATHAM, Ont. -- A 29-year-old Windsor man faces an array of charges including dangerous driving after he allegedly drove a white Cadillac at a speed of 205 km/h on Highway 401 Sunday.

Chatham-Kent OPP said they were called about a vehicle speeding in the 401’s eastbound lanes around 7 a.m. Police said the Cadillac’s movements were described as “erratic” and “dangerous.”

A short while later, police learned of a single vehicle crash involving the Cadillac near Merlin Town Line east of Tilbury.

Officers found the car in a ditch on the north side highway. Investigators determined that the vehicle went out of control and crossed the median, entering the westbound lanes before ending up in the ditch.

The driver was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

Police later learned the vehicle had no insurance, and that the driver had been previously stopped for speeding on the 401 in March of this year. His recorded speed in that incident was also 205 km/h.

Dusan Arlov of Windsor was taken into custody by Chatham-Kent OPP. Police said he was awaiting a court appearance on Monday.

Arlov has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, street racing, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, using a false or invalid insurance card, making a false statement to police, and failing to properly wear a seat belt while driving.
© Copyright (c) The Windsor Star

It should be noted that hours before I posted this there were many, many searches for Dusan Arlov from the USA and Canada... news does travel very quickly in these circles apparently.

Apollo 11, 40 years and my memories 15 years ago.

2009-07-16T22:21:00.003-04:00

My opinion is still the same. Reach high, explore and extraordinary things can happen!

Valley Swim Club Huntingdon Valley Pennsylvana

2009-07-09T16:49:00.012-04:00

The kids:

The CNN story - link to page
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/09/philly.pool/index.html

*Click the two home page pics for detail*
Valley Swim Club 2007 home page courtesy of "the way back machine."

Holy white bread Batman!

Valley Swim Club July 9th, 2009 home page:

Thank you for all of your comments and interest. I too think that this club is in for a heck of an awakening. Shame, especially public shame is hard to bare but maybe will make them stand up and take a look at themselves!

John Duesler, club president as quoted by an NBC affiliate, "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion . . . and the atmosphere of the club." I bet his complexion has changed now, a burning, blushing red perhaps?

My site meter is off the grid, thanks to being on CNN.

I think we should all look at the facility offering their swimming facilities to these kids. http://www.girardcollege.com/girard/site/default.asp A premier school for those suffering from financial hardship. If you have a few spare dollars, click here: http://www.girardcollege.com/4398_92621112938/site/default.asp

CUPE Windsor and the new temporary garbage dump

2009-07-07T10:21:00.012-04:00

*credit* The Windsor Star

*credit* The Windsor Star

So, CUPE is now in my neighbourhood. I drive past them every day, twice a day at the new temporary garbage dump. (You know the City Centre Anchor site where the Casino SHOULD be?) I see them, in their lawn chairs, sitting around chatting and a very few standing, with signs, blocking the tax paying citizen from entering or exiting, just long enough to be a annoying. So, is sunbathing on City sidewalks legal?

Below is the Criminal Code of Canada... the relevant sections in bold.

hmmmmmmmm...

Causing disturbance, indecent exhibition, loitering , etc.

175. (1) Every one who
(a) not being in a dwelling-house, causes a disturbance in or near a public place,
(i) by fighting, screaming, shouting, swearing, singing or using insulting or obscene language,
(ii) by being drunk, or
(iii) by impeding or molesting other persons,
(b) openly exposes or exhibits an indecent exhibition in a public place,
(c) loiters in a public place and in any way obstructs persons who are in that place, or
(d) disturbs the peace and quiet of the occupants of a dwelling-house by discharging firearms or by other disorderly conduct in a public place or who, not being an occupant of a dwelling-house comprised in a particular building or structure, disturbs the peace and quiet of the occupants of a dwelling-house comprised in the building or structure by discharging firearms or by other disorderly conduct in any part of a building or structure to which, at the time of such conduct, the occupants of two or more dwelling-houses comprised in the building or structure have access as of right or by invitation, express or implied, is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

h1n1 Update, since it's not in the news much here.

2009-07-05T21:21:00.002-04:00

*Credit, WHO*

As of July 3rd, 125 countries, 89,221 cases, (many areas only testing those hospitalized,) and 382 deaths. It's unstoppable now folks. We can only hope that the fall/winter season in the Western Hemisphere is as mild as it is currently in the Southern Hemisphere.

http://www.who.int/en/

Sarah's not waving goodbye!

2009-07-05T16:45:00.003-04:00

I think I see the logic in the timing of this sudden resignation. The next gubernatorial race in Alaska is 2010. If she announced her intentions to run for a Federal office, she'd be a lame duck Governor. If she simply walked close to the election date, it would leave the chair open for a ... gasp... Liberal big name Democrat to sit down.

By leaving now, she give the State time to get to know the Lieutenant Governor, Sean Parnell. See, you all said "who?" Sitting for a year as Governor will give him the time to get out there and cement his hold. A sitting Governor is always harder to unseat.

I bet this is some kind of deal made with the Republican Party to try to hold on to Alaska and at the same time move Sarah to the Federal stage!

I can't wait! It's gonna be interesting... you betcha!

CUPE in Windsor and their "priorities."

2009-06-26T22:45:00.010-04:00

From AM 800 CKLW
CUPE CLEANS VIETNAM MEMORIAL
2009-06-26 21:33:58

One area of Windsor's Riverfront is being cleaned up by striking CUPE members. They're mowing and picking up garbage around the Vietnam Memorial. Local 82 President Jim Wood says it's the least they can do for veterans. There's a commemoration at the site Sunday.

For those of you from a distance, Windsor's inside and outside workers have been on strike now for about 9 weeks. No grass cutting in parks, no planting, no garbage pick up. Yep... since April meaning the parks haven't been touched since last Fall! Our city is a shambles but... it's still operating. We managed to hold a world class, international event, The Red Bull Air Races, downtown in Dieppe Park. We held Art in the Park, Carousel of Nations but of course our kids can't swim, play baseball or soccer. Now... CUPE did cut the grass around the Cenotaph for the anniversary of the Dieppe raid, saying the Veterans deserved it.

Windsor hosts the Dragon Boat Races, has for years. It's a well attended, well supported event that raises large amounts of money for the Breast Cancer cause. The participants are all survivors. Guess what? CUPE wouldn't allow them to cut the grass at the usual City waterfront park where this event is usually held. They also refused to cut it for them!

Today they cut the grass around the Vietnam Memorial as there is an event coming up. So... the veterans deserve special treatment, and as an Army brat, I couldn't agree more. BUT... what about the women who suckled those Vets, their wives, their daughters, their grandchildren? They deserve nothing apparently.

Shame on CUPE as a union and their "leaders" as human beings! Get your well paid, well protected, as Union leaders drawing full salary and the last ones out the door, Municipal feedbag asses back to work and then send us thank you cards for paying your very healthy salaries.

So my dear CUPE Union leaders...I'm done with you. Most of the city is done with you. I take care of my own garbage, I cut my city owned boulevard and I pick up trash off public sidewalks. For this my taxes support you and your families! You have managed to dig yourself into a hole so deep the entire public works department couldn't get you out!

shhhh... apparently it's a secret... don't tell the Americans!

2009-06-24T20:34:00.008-04:00

These are pics from my very simple, old, digital camera taken about 20 minutes ago. There were beautiful effects, falling leave, strobing stars that went on and on; the barges alight in strobes...

The choreographer of tonight's big Target fireworks show is a Canadian! My friend, Patrick Brault from Sirius Pyrotechnics in Quebec. It promises to finally be a different show. Maybe no more identical shells fired from all three barges? No more red/green/gold... red/green/gold! I anticipate some imagination, varied levels and effects I've not seen at this show for the past 30 years I've been watching it!

No one wanted to watch this show with me or anyone who works with me, (did I mention I work at a fireworks company and we do shows?) I think we kind of spoiled their view with our talk! If you see the show tonight, one of the largest, choreographed to music displays in North America, please leave a comment and let me know how you liked it! I'll chime in with my opinion tomorrow.

Oh, and Patrick, he's doing the Philadelphia show for July 4th. That's a biggie... the birth place of the USA!

Changing Mid Eastern landscape?

2009-06-20T14:17:00.002-04:00

This could be the signal, this could mean a whole new Iran and subsequently a new Mid Eastern landscape. Who would have thought you'd see this in one of the most despotic Muslim countries in the world!

Power to the people!

Michelle's convocation day!

2009-06-19T19:52:00.003-04:00

Bachelor of Science with thesis. Off to Grad School in London at Western next September! Where does the time go?

A tale of two districts and H1N1 testing. Scotland vs Ontario

2009-06-10T16:45:00.003-04:00

I had to read this line over and over again... Yep it says what it says. "Since we're asking that only hospitalized and high risk patients be tested, we expect future reports will show that the provincial case count is growing at a slower rate." Well I feel better with Dr. David Williams, acting chief medical officer of health for Ontario in charge! We can all rest assured now that Ontario's growth rate of H1N1 is bound to go down! whew...

H1N1 Flu, WHO

2009-06-09T13:00:00.003-04:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL968732._CH_.2400

WHO getting close to declaring H1N1 pandemic

11:51am EDT
GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Tuesday it was getting close to declaring a full-blown pandemic caused by the H1N1 virus, which has infected more than 26,500 people in 73 countries.

Keiji Fukuda, acting WHO assistant director-general, voiced concern at the sustained spread of the new strain in countries including Australia following major outbreaks in North America. Confirmed community spread in a second region would trigger moving to phase 6 from phase 5 on its 6-level pandemic alert scale.

Fukuda, asked whether there was any doubt that a pandemic was under way, told a weekly teleconference: "We are really getting very close to that."

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay, editing by Andrew Dobbie)

Due to the post below...

2009-06-07T17:46:00.001-04:00

This is how I'm cooking dinner! Kinda like camping, but without the tents!

Guess what we're doing today?

2009-06-07T14:48:00.003-04:00

H1N1 Flu update

2009-06-05T13:00:00.004-04:00

Credit: www.chinaview.cn

Credit: WHO

My poor Sister Sandra in Sturgeon Falls!

2009-05-31T10:57:00.001-04:00

Credit: Bayview Camp & Cottages webcam

May 31st and look at the white stuff on the ground! Sandra is less than impressed!

H1N1 flu, world cases as per the WHO.

2009-05-23T12:15:00.004-04:00

*Credit WHO*

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/history_map/InfluenzaAH1N1_maps.html

I posted the earlier map on May 19th, 4 days ago. Since then 2 more countries have cases and the total world number has risen by 2,192. This is far from over.

Wash your hands!

Where I've been...

2009-05-22T15:33:00.005-04:00

This is where I've been! Non stop for about 6 weeks! 'Tis the season. My gardens aren't done, though it was only 1 degree the other night so well, that's kind of an excuse! I plan on at least weeding soon. I could likely knit a cat or two from what's wafting around the house! I plan to fix that up this weekend!

http://www.khfireworks.ca/

So click above and see what my work is all about.

H1N1 flu

2009-05-19T10:21:00.004-04:00

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

The World Health Organization site: excellent info.

Happy Mother's day, but this is a weird one for me!

2009-05-10T17:52:00.004-04:00

Ok, so this photo is about 21 years old but it's a great one! Matthew is in Saskatchewan/Alberta and Michelle on Portland Island in British Columbia! It's been a lot of years since I didn't have a kid around on Mother's Day. Sigh... Well I guess it's good practice for what's to come. There were still great gifts, perfectly suited to me, and cards and Bob is at Tunnel BBQ to pick up my favourite meal in Windsor and of course, there is wine involved!

Happy Mother's Day to my friends and family who are Mother's! xo

Snowball the dancing cockatoo

2009-05-01T07:37:00.008-04:00

http://thirtypoundsofcat.blogspot.com/search?q=snowball

Since the little Backstreet Boys loving, dancing, head banging bird is suddenly in the news, I thought I'd post a link to my blog post on him from last year... enjoy!

Well interestingly, the video has been removed for terms of use violation? hmmm then why put up an embed code? sorry, go to you tube to see it and well, I hope you don't violate anything!

Swine flu. It's 1976 all over again!

2009-04-29T06:46:00.004-04:00

This is the last thing the world's fragile economic state needed. Should this reach pandemic proportions with people not leaving their houses we'll be stepping out into a whole new world once we unlock our doors.

Since last September when the false, easily affordable, high living fable fell apart it's been one major blow after another. I suppose it a smack of reality hitting hard and fast. We cannot live on promises, we cannot destroy the very place that sustains us, we cannot shove thousands of animals into a building, beef them up on man made drugs never allowing them to move more than a few inches and expect all to be well. Consumers, consume. We seem to be ravenous.

I suppose it's more than just a coincidence that "consumption" has the meanings it has?

Now as an aside here's a BBC link. Do you think this is an issue that really needs to be made at this time in human history? Is this how "politically correct" we must be? I say worry less about the name and more about the cause and effects!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8021301.stm

Chrysler and the C.A.W.

2009-04-17T12:00:00.005-04:00

Kenny says: No concessions, pattern bargaining just like always. well Kenny...

The Letter from Chrysler to their employees: The letter warned that the “clock is ticking. The letter outlined the company’s proposals to offset costs, “without affecting base wages and pensions.” They include:

• Prescription drug dispensing fees, by eliminating the cap results in estimated savings of $2.16 per hour.

• Elimination of out-of-province health care coverage (snowbirds), with employees and retirees assuming responsibility for any coverage results in a cost savings of $1.00 per hour.

• The change from semi-private hospital room coverage to “ward” coverage saves an estimated $0.97 per hour.

• Elimination of life insurance for current and future employees results in a cost savings of $1.54 per hour.

• The reduction of shift premiums to 2.5 per cent results in a cost savings of $.80 per hour.

• The elimination of non-traditional benefits such as child care, legal services, tuition reimbursement, dependent scholarships and extended health care coverage (chiropractic services, massage therapy, naturopath, orthotics, etc.) results in a cost savings of $0.73 per hour.

Well... it's a new world, new expectations, the unions no longer carry the weight and power they've brandished for so long. Jobs are not for life, the company is not responsible nor can they carry us from cradle to grave. We're back to a time where you earn your keep, you merit the raise or the promotion. There are plenty of places in the world willing to do these jobs for much, much less. I'm not going to comment on the benefits these folks have enjoyed for so many years, I really had no idea how good they've had it!

Susan Boyle, Britain's Got Talent!

2009-04-13T18:27:00.014-04:00

Yep, Simon smiling... you know something's up!

Here's who's up... a 47 year old Villager named Susan Boyle! I'm jumping on her bandwagon.

Here's the You Tube link... click it, it's well worth watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related

Not something you see everyday!

2009-04-13T10:17:00.006-04:00

(Not the actual bird seen, photo from Google images.)

Driving to work this morning, I was watching for my hawk that's usually sitting on the airport fence; (we've bonded, I'm pretty sure he nods his head to me as I drive by.) Well, no hawk, just a squished opossum.

I approach the intersection of Lauzon Parkway and County Rd. #42, it should be noted that there are farm lands, ponds and woods in the area, along with 3,456,789 transport trucks and just about as many cars! I see something huge and brown at the side of the road! Yep... a female wild turkey! She stood there staring at me, I tried to take a picture with my cell phone but cars pulled up between us. I've see many birds, including large birds like eagles, hawks and falcons, but not a turkey and certainly never had one stand still and stare at me!

I looked up animal omens... turkey means abundance, the promise of things to come!

Happy Easter.

2009-04-12T14:22:00.005-04:00

So, I haven't blogged in quite a while, and yes I got the messages! I've been lazy and busy.

Last weekend Bob and I went for a day trip to London to visit my family. It was a nice day for a drive and great to see them. I didn't see everyone but we were only there for a couple of hours visiting. We stopped to pick up some camping supplies for Mich for her trip to BC in early May.

She's off to help conduct research (for her Grad lab at UWO,) on the Gulf Islands for 3 weeks then comes home for a couple of weeks, then off to New York City to help conduct research, (for her current Lab at Windsor,) at ... The Museum Of Natural History! Then she's home for a bit before she moves to London to start officially at UWO. (I don't want to talk about it!)

It's getting busy at work for the Victoria Day fireworks season and shows. I will be at the office 7 days a week soon and likely 10 hours a day, I will try to sneak in the odd blog.

Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday weekend with friends and family! Oh and a big thank you to Patty who picked up the huge stash of Easter candy for me! (Bob and Mich say thanks too!) xoxo

Windsor Canal Project - doable!

2009-04-03T14:09:00.005-04:00

The report on feasibility is in and it says it can be done! Details will be released to Council soon and then we'll all know!

Here's a link to my original posting on this project!

http://thirtypoundsofcat.blogspot.com/search?q=canal

Stephen Harper/Rod Blagojevich ?

2009-04-02T20:39:00.003-04:00

Hmmmm, just hmmmm.

2009-03-30T18:52:00.006-04:00

Ouellette Avenue overpass... AGAIN!

2009-03-27T12:30:00.005-04:00

I took this picture, with my phone, driving home from work yesterday. Yep, they're working on the Jackson Park/ Ouellette Avenue overpass; AGAIN! ON what part? The expansion joints; AGAIN! (You know, those connector thingys between the sections, not all that important I'm sure!) I'm thinking that if they have to do this every single year, sometimes more than once a year there may be a bigger job coming. It'll be ugly if they have to close it down. It's one of the two main incoming roads from the 401!

You can click here for last May's post on this piece of Windsor roadway.

Spring has sprung!

2009-03-24T07:37:00.005-04:00

Birds do it... bees do it... even educated fleas do it.

I love the part at the end when she sees looks at the window and sees me taping them!
Sorry it's not a closer shot.

McGuinty conducting business as usual?

2009-03-17T19:59:00.006-04:00

These are not normal times. I live in a city that is gasping for breath, struggling to keep pumping and in reality, they're lining up in the US and Mexico for all the left over usable parts!

My city is Windsor, Ontario. A one trick pony, auto industry and all it's associated offshoots. My city is in the Province of Ontario, lead by a man, I once considered reasonably intelligent, Dalton McGuinty.

Here's the last couple of genius ideas that have seeped out of The Palace in Toronto. Lets start with the right hand of our conductor. Before you can sell you home in this province you have to have an energy audit... oh and it'll cost about $300.00.

Vladan Veljovic is president of Greensaver, one of Ontario's oldest energy auditing firms. "Home inspectors currently do between 25,000 and 30,000 energy audits a year across Ontario, Veljovic says. Under the new rules, that could to increase to about 200,000, with a corresponding jump in demand for inspectors." (thestar.com) 200,000 times $300.00, that's $60,000,000.00. (That's 60 million for those of you large number impaired, though there are far less of us now than there were prior to the numbers floating around since September 2008's financial meltdown.) Now they will need to " hire" or "certify new inspectors but there's not any detailed legislation covering the job description, so maybe those guys who keep knocking at my door trying to convince me that they are from my local power company while trying to get hold of my actual bill can get real jobs!

Certification requires taking a five-day course, according to Natural Resources Canada, followed by an exam and the supervised inspection of seven houses. The entire process takes about two months, depending on how quickly the home inspections can be scheduled.
http://oee.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/residential/business/participants-networks/r-2000/plan-evaluators.cfm?attr=12

Now for the left hand... Harmonized sales tax. Wow, what a great idea! Apparently business will find the paper work easier. One report, maybe 4 times a year instead of GST 4 times a year and PST anywhere from monthly to once or twice a year, depending on the nature of your business. (Never mind that computer accounting software does it for you, that's non elemental to this discussion apparently.) Well bully for business! You who's trying to feed and clothe your kids. Now you can pay one convenient 13% tax on everything! Yep even the stuff that was PST exempt. Lucky you. Hey maybe it'll be as spectacular as the Quebec and PEI systems where they charge the PST on the GST in their great tax of harmony!
Can't see our conductor passing up that opportunity.

Mr. McGuinty, with all respect I cannot help but ask, have you lost your mind? Is this the time to saddle us with extra payments? Maybe you need to come on down to Windsor, lose a few filling driving over our rutted roads, oh, avoid Howard where the inside lane is often blocked by out of work factory folks staging a blockade to get what's rightfully theirs while Chrysler tries to get it's machinery out and ship it to the US! Oh, avoid the area around the Downtown Mission that's seeing a rise in numbers as the line up might delay your progress. Don't try to go down College because the bridge at Wellington is closed and well, our fight with the Feds over border crossings is holding it hostage no matter that those of us who live near or go to the University it find it a daily hardship. (I plan on doing something about this in the near future!)

All in all, I'm furious and frustrated. Why at this time would anyone, never mind one of the people we actually trusted to look out for our best interests, even consider such untimely and obviously ivory tower ideas. Come back to the real work Sir and open your eyes. I failed to mention previously we have two, yep two, Provincial Cabinet Ministers from our beleaguered town, haven't heard a peep out of either one of them about these issues?

Happy me day!

2009-03-17T12:16:00.002-04:00

'Tis the annual honouring of St. Patty day and well, being a Patty/Patti/Pat... I claim all the benefits. My family on my Dad's side does live in Belfast; my name, in it's older form would have been Patty O'Toole and you can't get any more Irish than that! So, I'm waiting for all my presents! hint, hint... :)

Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!

Coincidences, Karma and 6 degrees of separation!

2009-03-15T18:31:00.010-04:00

So a bit of background. My name is Pat, and my favourite radio station is CBC Radio, AM, (as I have blogged so many times previously.) I grew up in London, Ontario, I live in Windsor. My daughter's name is Michelle. Michelle is in her last year of Honours Biology, environmental sustainability, at the University of Windsor. She works part time as a Pharmacy Technician at a Shopper's Drug Mart... so...

As I blogged last weekend I left for Ottawa on business. I took the train there. From Windsor to London, I sat alone. At London a gentleman was my seat mate. He introduced himself. His name was Peter Leo, a senior producer at CBC Radio in Toronto! Now... that's not all. He grew up in London. He then mentioned the "Inter-City Student's Council of which he was a member." Well, it was one year and I was the rep for my high school! We met monthly at the Board offices on Elmwood. Peter and I had to be there, at the same time, for these meetings! We talked all the way to Toronto and are now facebook friends.

From Toronto to Ottawa was a woman, just a bit younger than me. Her name? Michelle! Her job? She works for an Global Company specializing in Environmental assessments and reporting! Her daughter's part time job? Shopper's Drug Mart, Pharmacy Technician. Michelle, (my daughter, not my seat mate,) was on her way to London to interview for Grad School at Western for her Masters in a program that Michelle, my seat mate, was very interested in! (Oh, by the way, Mich was accepted into the Grad program and accepted in return!)*EDIT* I forgot to mention that the woman's niece is a pyrotechnician! Being a Federally licensed pyrotechnician and Fireworks Supervisor myself it's strange to run into someone who knows someone who's licensed for this, along with all the other intersections in our lives it was even weirder!*

There are far too many coincidences for it to be mere coincidence! It seems my train rides were "engineered" by Karma!

Off to Ottawa... again... in the winter... again!

2009-03-07T15:29:00.003-05:00

The last time was in November for crying out loud! Too bad it wasn't a couple of weeks ago when President Obama was there. This week the weather is somewhat better but really, I want Ottawa in the spring. Though since we are all fireworks folks, we really are too busy to travel to meetings other than off season.

What you can buy today...

2009-03-07T15:18:00.005-05:00

(photo AP)

Using companies that were in the forefront of the news this week...

As of close of markets Friday you could buy one share of each of: AIG, Ford, GM, Citi Group and GE for a grand total of $13.04 (USD)! Prior to the global melt down, using their 52 week highs it would have cost you $148.40! (That's less than 10% of the previous total worth!) I'm just saying... wow! There are deals to be had if you're brave and have some extra coinage, and I mean coinage.

65 years after dying in the service of our country, questions are answered.

2009-03-01T13:37:00.040-05:00

This is how the story starts, well, my part in it. In 1993 while visiting the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Germany I took this picture. When I got them developed and saw it, I wondered why I took it?

In 1997 I decided to try to find his family. It wasn't so easy back then I did not get my first computer until 1998 and not very many people were even on the net then. So I wrote a column for the Star, I was writing about 1 a month back then.

After finding out E.K. Wilson was from Oshawa, I contacted the Oshawa paper who did this story. I then got a phone call telling me his Great Nephew wanted to talk to me! I sent him the photo of his Uncle's grave.

Shane, the Nephew sent me these copies of the newspaper articles from the time and a lovely letter. They had no idea where he was buried and had never seen his grave.

A few months ago, I blogged, in brief, this story. I tagged the post with E.K. Wilson's name. Enter the story, Susan Campbell. She left me a comment asking me to contact her. She and her partner, Joan Baron, (her father Walter Henry Powell was at No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School with Susan's father in law, Cameron Clare Campbell and Dr. James McPhee;) were building a web site and she gave me the link. Kenneth Wilson was a handsome young man as you can see by this photo from the site. He has such kind eyes. It brings a lump to my throat to look at this picture.

On the site is this picture of the graves in Reichwald Cemetery. I did not realize that on either side of Ken's grave were the rest of the crew who did not survive that night in 1944.

http://www.thewhpfamily.com/mcphee/page1.html

*EDIT* the link is fixed, please take a look!

This is the link to Dr. McPhee's story and the website created by Joan Baron. The amazing story of Dr. Jim McPhee who survived, was taken prisoner and made it home at the war's end. The site is a wonderful tribute to these men and will stand as a remarkable testament to their service and sacrifices. It also gives Shane, the Great-Nephew, the opportunity to talk to survivors who knew and served with his Uncle.

Shane, Ken's Great-Nephew, proudly keeps his memory alive.

When I try to tell people this story and how amazing it is, all of us, finding each other, I cannot help but have to fight off tears. I am proud to be a small part of this story. Just the story of Kenneth Wilson alone is enough to make me cry but the whole thing, well, I'm tearing up now!

Apparently, there's no way to go but ... down!

2009-02-23T17:27:00.006-05:00

(a collage of a few of the recent financial healines.)

The markets tanked again today. Globally. AIG is said poised to report a $60 BILLION dollar loss. So... well I don't really know what to say? Oil, in the $30's per barrel, gold; down a tad. Financials... don't even ask.

I never blogged about this back when it happened but I will now. On September 30th, 2008, I was invited to participate in a conference call with AIG executives including, Rob Schimek, John Doyle, Kristian P. Moor, Mark Willis and John Q. Doyle from the USA. I don't know how many others were on the call with me, but I do know I was the only Canadian. (I was also the only one not from a bank, huge company or Insurance brokerage.) It was very interesting, it was like being a part of history and I left that call feeling positive about AIG. I'm sure that call is on-line somewhere if you take the time to look. I'm not terribly worried about the insurance side of AIG though they could get pulled down with the financial side. Their assets though, are protected and it is very unusual for an Insurance Company to go bankrupt.

AIG aside though, what this entire melt down is doing to people's life savings, their pensions and their hopes and dreams is criminal. The problem... it was actually our own greed that brought us here.

When I see the commercials that "financial firms" are running now, the ones about..."hey we have a new product that guarantees your initial investment, come talk to us," I want to reach through the tv screen and choke them! Funny how they've changed their whole propaganda now isn't it?

The internet... a wonderful thing!

2009-02-21T18:04:00.010-05:00

You can be just surfing the web... clicking through photos and videos of friends, of friends of friends of friends... on Facebook, (after all, all it takes is your friend to comment on a pic/video of one of their friend's pic/videos and you can see them,) and voila... it's someone you know, out on a Saturday night!

I love the interweb!

Heroes - Battle of the Atlantic

2009-02-21T14:49:00.006-05:00

I also found this autographed picture in my Mother-in-law's papers. I cannot make out the signatures properly which is a shame! The sailor on the left signed "Black __ Jack" I think it may be an Mc? The other is Rufus Playfair maybe? The stamp on the back of the picture is K-491 which turns out to be HMCS Orangeville. (Previously HMRS Hedingham Castle (I). I assume that means these sailors served on the Orangeville If anyone reading this knows, please leave a comment or email me.

Colin Cahill; The Titanic and the Halifax Explosion

2009-02-21T14:43:00.006-05:00

This is my husband's Great Uncle on his Maternal Grandmother's side. I found this clipping in some papers of my Mother-in-law. What an interesting story I thought it was and I think you will too. If you click on the picture and the article you can read them easily so I shan't needlessly repeat his story here.

Beaver in the Detroit River... first in 75 - 100 years!

2009-02-16T17:40:00.010-05:00

(Detroit Free Press)

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009902160355

Click the direct link above so you can watch the video of the cute critter and read the whole story! Google Detroit Free Press, search "beaver" and you'll find it! (Unless you're using Chrome as a browser... not supported!)

Well our river is cleaner and this proves it. It is actually very, very exciting in ecological terms! Next who knows? The Ivory Billed Woodpecker? The Carolina Parakeet?
Yes, there used to be a "parrot/parakeet" native to our area! Who knew? I didn't until Mich told me.

All in all, the bad environmental news till outweighs the good, but the good is still great!

(here's a wiki link to extinct birds http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinct_birds

Ladybug in February... in my house.

2009-02-14T22:23:00.005-05:00

Apparently, after Googling this, it is not uncommon. Who knew? Mich said it looked dusty, I didn't notice. My house, has a big, light coloured, Western exposure wall, that in summer attracts bugs as it is very warm. I guess, when it got cold, they found nooks and crannies in which to hibernate. Sometimes, they wake up and find a way inside. (Explaining the dusty appearance from living in the walls!) They do no harm. Folk lore says: "If you find a ladybug in your house in the winter you will have good luck and fortune will come you way."

Well, today I bought 3 lottery tickets, in 2 different countries! (Maybe I should have googled BEFORE I flushed the poor thing down the toilet?)

I could have put it in a container, in the fridge and released it in the spring once the weather is such that milk outside would neither spoil nor freeze.

So, now that I've posted this, and you've read it, remember, don't flush your lucky ladybug down the toilet the day you buy lottery tickets! :)

Valentine's Eve, and my full and happy life!

2009-02-13T19:52:00.003-05:00

I was thinking today that were I to buy a rose for everyone in my life, whom I love and who loves me... I'd be broke!

I truly am blessed with a loving family, dear, close friends and work mates. I don't know what I've done to deserve these blessings but I am very grateful for them!

For all of you in my life, thank you. I hope I give even just a portion of what I receive! xo

Darwin Day; Happy 200 Charlie!

2009-02-12T08:14:00.005-05:00

Darwin showed that by paying attention to nature, we can learn where we came from and how we got here.

Now, we must pay attention to nature to see where we will end up.

At the moment, it's not looking terribly positive.

Australia in flames.

2009-02-10T16:02:00.006-05:00

I know there are thousands of pictures on the web of the horrific fires in Australia, these four, however, particularly effected me.

Welcome visitor # 14,999!

2009-02-06T12:29:00.004-05:00

Actually, I'm over 15,000 now but this visitor, being from Wales, is just a tad more interesting than my darling daughter Michelle being visitor #15,000 from second story of my own house! NOT that Mich isn't important of course! (Even though I specifically told her NOT to go into the blog this morning as I didn't want visitor #15,000 to be her!) :)

Today's News!

2009-02-05T22:04:00.007-05:00

From 60 year old women, going to India for in vitro, giving birth to twins... currently in a hospital in Calgary, for which the tax payers are shelling out; and likely to end up in someone else's care in the not so distant future; to a huge Child pornography ring bust in Ontario... in which there are three persons arrested, too young to name, protected under the Young Offenders Act. Does anyone else see the pitiful irony of that? Protected under the Young Offenders Act?

I sometimes truly just despair.

Green Link vs Parkway Proposal; Windsor Ontario's border crossing and ifrastruture battle!

2009-02-04T14:38:00.014-05:00

I found this interesting article, dated yesterday, February 3rd, explaining where the financing for the new highway connecting the 401 to the new border crossing is coming from... tendering and not to mention the expected time table! Good news though, local companies will likely get some work according to the story.

From Daily Commercial News, (Reed Construction Data)

Actual Article can be read HERE.

February 3, 2009

Infrastructure Ontario

IO chooses alternative financing and procurement model for Windsor highway

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Construction of the 10-kilometre highway connecting Highway 401 to a new border crossing in west Windsor will be undertaken as an alternative financing and procurement (AFP) project, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) has confirmed.

Paulette den Elzen, project communications manager at the provincial Crown corporation, said requests for qualifications are expected to be issued this spring or summer for the Windsor-Essex Parkway.

Construction could get under way by the end of this year on the below-grade, six-lane highway with 11 tunnels and a four-lane service road, the first major highway project undertaken by IO.

Cost estimates have not been released by IO. But the parkway is usually referred to as a $1.6 billion project.

“We’re all for it,” said Rob Bradford, executive director of the Ontario Road Builders’ Association.

“It’s a lot of new work. It is going to increase the pie significantly.”

He said some of the larger companies that are members of his association are taking a close look at the project.

“Whether or not they would decide to bid it, or be able to wrap up the required financing, remains to be seen,” he said. “But they are certainly looking at it seriously.”

In Windsor, the Heavy Construction Association initially had taken “a strong position” that the highway should be traditionally tendered to maximize the potential for local content.

However, executive director Jim Lyons said Infrastructure Ontario has since become “sensitized” to the association’s concerns.

“I am now comfortable that there will be contracting-out to local firms,” he said. “It is just a matter of how much.”

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Transportation are targeting completion of the project in 2013.

Bradford said that while international consortia are expected to take an interest in the project, ORBA believes “the wherewithal and capacity” exists in the province to undertake the project.

Windsor Ontario, hosting Red Bull Air Races!

2009-02-03T15:14:00.004-05:00

In a city that could use some good news, this is pretty exciting. No Detroit, just us, little Windsor! Thanks to our Mayor who took it upon himself to go to them and offer our little city on it's own. Last year, Detroit hosted with Windsor as a second party to the event. Detroit has some major problems, it's ex-Mayor just got out of jail, it's almost bankrupt and well... has a lot of other things on it's mind besides the Air Races. Our Mayor, well good for him for going for it and getting it!

The schedule... 2009

Abu Dhabi, UAE 17/18 April
San Diego, USA 9/10 May
Windsor - Ontario, Canada 13/14 June
Budapest, Hungary 19/20 August
Porto, Portugal 12/13 September
Barcelona, Spain 3/4 October

Aren't we in some fine company?

The flu shot, 2008/2009... not so good?

2009-02-01T18:45:00.003-05:00

Credit: Science & Health News

No kidding! I know of three people, the poor Mich included, who've had their shot and have full blown flu! Vomiting, dizziness, coughing, 102 fever and assorted ills. I do realize that there are many, many strains of flu... but surely, there's got to be a better way than tossing a dart at a board? Talking to my friends, everyone, knows someone with the flu. Apparently it's going through the schools, like wild fire

Acorn shortage and squirrely behaviour!

2009-01-31T08:33:00.004-05:00

I'd read about the shortage, actually, the dearth, of acorns, thought it strange and really didn't think about the consequences. Every winter I feed the birds and the squirrels just hang out under the feeder with the birds and eat the castoffs. Often mingling with the ground feeding birds like Morning Doves and Juncos. I put out apples and peanuts for the squirrels several times a week figuring they might not have enough stored to survive. Now I'm worried that I'm creating a kill zone!

My friend's daughter, (Rachel,) saw a squirrel on the window ledge eating a bird! There's video, but I cannot figure out a way to get it out of facebook and into here so it's just the screen shot above. (Watching all the action was a cat who really wanted to eat both of them!)

Now I Googled squirrels eating birds and it does happen. As per Wikipedia "Squirrels' diet consists primarily of a wide variety of plant food, including nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi and green vegetation. However some squirrels also consume meat, especially when faced with hunger. [2] Squirrels have been known to eat insect, eggs, small birds, snakes and rodents." The squirrel most often carnivorous is the thirteen-lined ground squirrel.

In some urban areas of the states, deer are invading towns and the experts are blaming the acorn shortage. More and more deer are coming into towns, looking for food. The normally shy creatures are hungry.

Scientists say that these things are cyclical and hopefully next year will be normal or a bumper crop. One can only hope that acorns and therefore oak trees, aren't going the way of the honey bee!