Community Organizer

Went to a town hall meeting yesterday to learn how not to run a town hall meeting. It was pretty much a high level exercise like what you do at a corporate getaway or in school. Achieve next to nothing and accomplished less.

Defiance

It is hard to ignore the fact that an actor might choose to do a roll such as what Daniel Craig did, when he agreed to do Defiance. My respect goes out to him in so many ways for not only doing it but, doing it that well.

What a great movie! Watch it.

Freedom for all to be stupid

One of the greatest things about democracy is that everybody is free to be as stupid as they want. In Communist countries such as China and whatever it is that Russia wants to be called now, intelligence has a higher price tag. It is both feared and respected. Here, in the land of the free, we are free to dismiss it.

That is how I am reading the latest letter to the editor by some grumpy old guy that resents having to go through security at airports. He takes exception to being treated with suspicion when boarding a plane because, god knows, nothing will ever happen. Nothing has ever happened. After all, this is Canada and who would want to hurt us?

Sure, the Olympics was a mass populous event but, additional security measures there were a grievous waste of money. Who would ever want to harm an Olympian or the millions of people that descended on the area? Let alone the presence of world leaders all in one spot.

In fact, the great thinker went on to say, the only people that Canada is scared of is Israel and the United States.... blah, blah, blah. This part wasn't even worth repeating. This guy was so righteous about Western arrogance in pushing our ideals on others and the rights of all to do as they please while we fund their activities. That is exactly the sort of attitude that has made Canada the hot spot that it is for what some believe to be a terrorist training ground. But hey, at least we're friendly.

On the other hand, this guy is obviously living under a rock. The Harper government is so focused on not ruining international relations, or stepping on political toes, that there is now a long thread of evidence speaking to a complete lack of willingness to help any Canadian that runs into trouble when out of our borders. Women, men, and children go missing and even the squeakiest of wheels is no match for the bureaucracy of the current Canadian political climate.

I would like to be an optimist and say that it is not true. That in the quite rooms of CSIS they are working hard to learn the whereabouts of missing tourists or kidnapped business people. But, it is tough to stick with that idea when in public the message is basically that if you are stupid enough to leave Canada, for any reason, you are on your own and get what you deserve.

On a certain level, there is logic behind this. Canada is not a country that will wage ware on nebulous allies for the sake of one measly citizen. We do not go by the ``no person left behind`` philosophy. In fact, people are one of our greatest renewable resources. We can always make more voters and if birthrates are to slow or too low, we`ll just import some from the East.

That`s the other thing. There are so many non-Western affiliated voters in Canada now, that to do anything overly democratic, humane, or socially responsible might offend the majority of the voting population. If some dumb broad decided to go visit the Middle East three years ago, and vanished. She either wanted to vanish (therein privacy laws fit in very nicely) or got what she deserved (in which case, who are we to care).

It would be very nice to live in that old guy`s dream who believes that it is obvious that he is a peace loving, Mary Jane smoking atheist and should be treated with more trust from airport security. Like, peace ma-ha-n! For the rest, it`s time to worry. Really worry. Democracy is being corroded by a mixture of misguided politicians that have found themselves wedged between a rock and a hard place, and an influx of citizens and landed immigrant who truly to not believe in it.

Just remember that before the Taliban gained rule, women had educations, independence, and rights equal to those we now take for granted. They took them for granted, as well.... until they were forced to throw sheets over their heads, shut up and do what they were told. Now, there is no shortage of women who will tell you it is their choice to do just that. They have been taught to believe that it is the right way to live.

But, truly, if God is the creator, this Spirit would have created all matter (organic and in organic) and it would have been done with love and true understanding. If God is all powerful how much sense that this existence would have been forged out of anger? None! So, if all things were created out of love, then all humanity is loved. None is greater than the other because all is created in the image of that Spirit. All of nature, male and female are equal. None was ever designed to be the subject of the other.

Any subjugation due to Class or Gender is purely a man made concept. It is done under the excuse of being God`s will. It is not God`s will. It is the will of those that wish to conquer and be more powerful than those that share this time and space.

So, be scared, be worried. We are all vulnerable if we do not take measures to jealously guard our beliefs, just as those who disagree with us guard theirs. We must realize that nothing is permanent. I leave you with this. Germany was a Democratic State when they elected Hitler to power. The Taliban also plays with democracy to win power.

While we my cry foul and try to play by the rules, those that will win play by hook or by crook and they will win. Kiss your kids goodnight. You never know when somebody will change your ability to do it.

A burning sensation

So, I finally got on the bandwagon. A data phone! I love it. I can check ALL my email and find anything I want and be in touch with anybody, even update my blog and tweet, all from my phone. It's fantastic.

There is even this great application (WordMole). Completely addictive, let me tell you... and only available on Blackberry. Things seemed pretty cool. Even the camera is amazing. I can shoot videos and take better pics than on my actual camera.

Now, the bad part. A little while into getting the thing I started noticing headaches. A pressure on my upper sinus area. Now, my face feels like it is burning and I look like I've spent too much time out in the sun.

Not good. Can't be good. I go to the store and call Bell, Bell, Bell. I love calling Bell. They don't value anything other than their bottom line and the front line staff don't care about anything at all. So, they pass the buck and Best Buy doesn't want to or can't do anything either. They're just nicer about it.

Next stop? Let's call RIM and see what they say. I'll let you know....

The Truest Sadness

Words cannot express the sadness of losing a child. Jacquie McGregor-Einboden must now endure the worst moments of her life, and still the happiest. Ken Einboden made the ultimate sacrifice, though for him it was not a big one.

How would a father be able to live with himself knowing he did not at least try to save both his children. He died a hero and a human in the most honest definition of the word.

(image: NationalPost.com, click to read full story)



Jacquie, on the other hand, is left with nothing and everything. Her baby girl is a gift and all that remains of a once complete and beautiful family. In Kendra, she will continue to see the warmth, love and life of Britney and Ken.

I do not know these people, and do not need to, for my heart to break at the thought of this terrible tragedy. So, for purely selfish reasons I will go there today and give what I can.

The only comfort is knowing that she will not be alone in any of this. From a very brief visit it was obvious that her life is filled with family and friends who will give what they can and help how they must.

(image: CTVNews.com, click to read the full story)


Still, nothing and nobody will ever replace the two shattered pieces of her heart. This is the ultimate loss. We live for our children and they are not meant to die before we do. Especially, not like this.

The only comfort remains that in Spirit we are never parted.

Creme Brule

Well, we all know that Disney and McDonald's, Barney and Dora, and so on, all have a way of taking the well known and putting it through the soft chew machine. The latest offering is McD's Creme Brule. It's a caramel drink. Slurpable dessert. I haven't tried it. Looks like cavities and hard to rid calories in a disposable cup.

That's not the funny thing. Creme Brule. Just imagine it. Of course this is the half baked version but, were they to do it right close your eyes and imaging the average McDonald's employee with a customer in front of them. "Just a second sir/madam". They whip out the blow torch (a mini one, white with the golden arches on the handle) and proceed to braze the surface of this delectable treat....

That's really what this country needs. Arming the masses with golden arched mini blow torches. Perhaps it is a good thing that it is the half baked version. Still, the mental imagery has the capacity to spawn many a lazy Sunday meandering. All I need now is a bit of cognac and a cigar to really mull this one over fully.

So Exciting!

It is 3:32 am and I've been up for two hours.... doing mostly nothing except trying to do a lot more than that. My computer is about as fast as driftwood on a calm and peaceful day. Does what it wants when it wants. I can't say enough good things about Norton and whatever other useful software I may have loaded on over the years. The fresh one is waiting for me to set up but all my stuff is still over on this guy.

Anyway, it has been a pretty treacherous week. Did you know that gold is at an all time high? Probably not the best time to have sent something out for gold plating that didn't even need to go out for gold plating in the first place. Teaches me to trust that somebody else did their job right. Note to self: always read the job specs before making commitments. Thank good for stripping solutions.

Then there is the slow dripping from the ceiling, landing on perfectly good product and nobody thinking they should maybe move the skid. What a funny world. People just put in their time until they get to go home at the end of the day. I guess that's what you get when you pay what you do. Still, money only goes so far. You can't teach pride.

Now it's the weekend and I get home to find .... guess what? No, no, you'll never guess. Okay, I'll tell you. A purchase order for two books from Coutts Information Services. I guess I should acknowledge the PO before letting you know about it but, first I have to order some books. So, here we are again: An explanation of why I've been up for two and a half hours and gotten next to nothing done, hoping to avoid the long delay that it takes to actually receive a print on DEMAND order. Seriously folks, nothing is instant. Life may be short but, nobody told the postal service or border control about that.

Okay, enough gut spillage. I should save some of it for Helium or Bright Hub or something. I had a few ideas of things to write about and no chance to sit down and write, so off I go to spend some dough and hopefully make a little, too.

Laters.