Transportation to Newfoundland

This would be so cool:

A St. John's MP persuaded fellow parliamentarians to support consideration of a
fixed link that would connect northern Newfoundland to the Canadian
mainland.
"I think it would be good for national unity as well," St. John's
East MP Norm Doyle told the House of Commons during a Tuesday night debate.

Of course they are thinking of the economic reasons, but I'm thinking of the touristy reasons.

Last summer I traveled to Newfoundland for the first time and it was awesome. Thankfully I slept through the 6-7 hour ferry trip. We camped in Gros Morne National park and it was beautiful. So much wildlife and the scenery was amazing. Would you like to see some pictures? Here ya go:


















And, of course, the requisite moose and beaver:

Friday's Random 10

1. Serious - Gwen Stefani
2. Scram - DJ Jazzy Jeff feat. Freddie Foxxx
3. Addicted - Linkin Park
4. Stoned - Dido
5. Sex is Violent - Jane's Addiction and Diamanda Galas
6. Dear Mr. President - Pink
7. Lump - The Presidents of The United States of America
8. Dos Gardenias - Buena Vista Social Club
9. Dolly Dagger - Jimi Hendrix
10. Anthem - Gabriel Yared (Cold Mountain Soundtrack)
    

The High Cost of Laziness

Here's a post from Echidne that really makes me mad:

Do you remember the big fuss the media made over the 1999 study by Kawachi and others which found that greater gender equality appeared to be correlated with better health for both sexes in the United States? How about the even bigger media fuss caused by the 2005 study by Chen and others which found that gender equality appeared to be correlated with better mental health for women? And surely you remember the excitement in the media last year when we all learned about the Swedish study which showed that both men and women have better health when roles are shared more equally at home?

You don't recall? Neither do I, because there was no such fuss at all. Studies with those findings are not mentioned in the popular media at all or only fleetingly. But when a Swedish study in 2007 suggests that greater gender equality leads to less health for both sexes, what happens? You guessed it. The media is on the study right away:

Warning: feminism is bad for your health

By Roger Dobson Published: 25 March 2007

I am, in fact, quite lazy. I want my information spoon fed to me. Nice succinct headlines are nice. The problem is that when I rely on headlines and news media I am not getting all the information. I am getting whatever they feel like spoon feeding me that day. I am willingly letting them have a major say in any of my decisions and thoughts, because I base my decisions and thoughts on the info available to me.

If we are interested in knowledge and truthiness, we must make an effort to dig for all the relevant information. I know this sounds like hard work. Perhaps, when we make the effort to feed ourselves, we can choose to eat something other than baby-food.

A Quote

From my favourite book ever, The Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee. This is not my favourite part, just kind of a random part that I thought was funny.

"I'm not coming to get you, do you understand? Go down to the taxi-park. Get a cab and come here. If you're not here in ten minutes I'll worry. Jane?"

"Yes?"

"Can you do it?"

"Clovis! Oh, Clovis, black water's coming out of my eyes!"

"Your mascara is running."

"Oh - yes. I forgot I had any on." I laughed.

"Pull yourself together and get a taxi," he said.

Frustration - not dealing with it

Well, I spent all my time last weekend searching for a specific paragraph in a book, because I wanted to post my favourite Tanith Lee excerpt. Unfortunately, I couldn't find that paragraph, which made me so frustrated I haven't posted anything. But I have been thinking about posts.

I have a few things to take care of at home tonight, then I should be back on track. I may settle for an excerpt that is not my favouritist evuh.

Friday Random 10

1. Not Too Late - Norah Jones
2. I Like the Way - Bodyrockers
3. Cold Hard Bitch - JET
4. Army Ants - The Tea Party
5. They Don't Want Music - Black Eyed Peas
6. Stupid Girls - Pink
7. See You When You're 40 - Dido
8. In The Flesh - Pink Floyd
9. Let There Be Love - Chris Botti feat. Michael Buble
10. Simple Kind Of Life - No Doubt
    

Global Warming - do you believe?

A headline from CBC states "Almost 4 out of 5 Canadians believe in global warming: poll".

...
In Alberta, 69 per cent of respondents said they believed in global warming, while in Quebec, the number soared to 83 per cent.
...
The online survey of about 3,600 people found many Canadians — 30 per cent — believed global warming was the top issue for politicians to address, almost as many as the 31 per cent of Canadians who put health care as the top priority.
...
Only 12 per cent of those surveyed viewed global warming as "junk science" and only two per cent believed global warming isn't happening at all.

This headline caught my eye because it makes global warming sound like a religion, 4 out 5 believe in global warming. I don't think global warming is a matter of faith. Either the ozone layer has a hole in it, or it doesn't. Either the ice caps are melting faster, or they're not.

Fortunately, we can measure these things. We don't have to just pick a random opinion to believe in.

Update:
Also found this at the CBC [bolds mine]:

While former U.S. vice-president Al Gore was in Washington on Wednesday, speaking about the need for action on world climate change, one of his disciples was in Saint John spreading the same message to high school students.

Peter Corbyn, a Fredericton-based professional engineer who was the only Atlantic Canadian out of 500 people trained by Gore as a "Global Warming Messenger," told students at St. Malachy's High School "we dump about 25 million tonnes a day of carbon dioxide into the oceans."

Disciples!?!

Congrats to Peter Corbyn for "spreading the word" in our corner of the world.

What do fashion ads tell us?

Some designer has chosen 12 year old Dakota Fanning to model his latest women's line. A few people have blogged about it, some here, here and here. They have done a god job of covering the whole 'sexualization of a child thing' so I'll just excerpt Reverse Paranoia:

...while society doesn’t condone pedophilia in practice, media mavens the world around would nevertheless like the idea of fucking a child to get the Masturbation Pedestal Treatment. Specifically, a girl child, since I haven’t seen anyone try to sell women on the idea of rubbing one out to the vapid image of a pre-pubescent boy in tailor-made Versace pants.
...
But conflating the womanly ideal of beauty with actual childhood is something else. Ads are meant to evoke desire: desire to be, or to be with, depending on the viewer. The object of desire, in this case, is a little girl.
...
Thumbsucking, after all, is only 4,764 steps removed from cocksucking. Which is what us women girls do best.

Strong words. I wanted to see the pic's for myself before forming an opinion, and found them here. Yeah, they're bit weird. What I can't figure out is why I would want to buy some clothes that I see on a 12-year-old.

In the bigger picture, what is the purpose of models? Cat Lady from Reverse Paranoia says "to evoke the desire to be". I agree, but in my mind I phrase it as "I will look like and be like that person if I buy this product." So models should be people we want to look like or be like. I like Dakota. I think she's a good actress. But I do not want to look like a 12-year-old, or be like a 12-year-old. I am a bit upset about being 31, but I would settle for 27 :)

When I look in fashion magazines lately (it doesn't happen too often), I see creepy starving girls, with sunken eyes. What the hell is with heroin chic? I understand goth, but I don't want to be starving, or drug addicted. I'm not sure how these ads are supposed to inspire me to buy the clothes they are selling.

Maybe if I'm skinny with a drug addiction I won't need to worry about paying the bills, or going to work, or what to feed the kids for supper, or how to lose 30 pounds. I guess that sounds attractive. If I'm hopeless and helpless and skinny, I can find some man to take care of me (and own me and use me up and throw me out.)

No, I'm pretty sure I want to buy clothes that will look good on my 31-year-old body.

Funny!

This open letter at McSweeney's is hilarious! Here's an excerpt:

I have been a loyal user of your Always maxi pads for over 20 years, and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core™ or Dri-Weave™ absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.
....
Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: "Have a Happy Period."

Are you fucking kidding me?

tee hee hee. Go read it all.

We Still Have Work To Do

Just in case there is anyone out there who thinks we shouldn't be working for change for the equality of women:

In Canada, "women represent almost half the labour force, own 800,000 companies that contribute more than $18 billion to the economy. Women are responsible for 80% of all household consumption decisions, they contribute more than 50% of tax revenues, retirement savings plans and a variety of mutual funds, they make up half of all the graduates in law, administration, and accounting. More than twice as many women as men are in university. We have the most women entrepreneurs per capita in the industrialized world
(Financial Women's Association of Quebec)."

What proportion of women sit in the House of Commons where important decisions are made directly impacting the quality of life for women and their families? The answer is 20.8%.

Is this what equality looks like?

The above was taken from Equal Voice, a website "devoted to the still-bold idea that more women must be elected to every level of government in Canada." I would also recommend reading their talking points.

I'm not suggesting we all need to run out and sign up to run for office, although I do believe more women should be thinking about it. I would like it if we could all agree (men and women) that gender inequality exists, and that we should all (men and women) be working to change it.

When I talk about change, I think everyone can do something. It doesn't have to be a large change. For me, I'll be starting by calling people on it when they say something sexist. Sexism is so ingrained in our society, and so taken for granted, that we often don't recognise it. We all need to be on our toes about our personal comments and actions. And when someone says something that is obviously sexist, even when it's the status quo, I'll be questioning them. "Do you really feel that way?" I don't intend to be bitchy about it. It's possible they haven't really thought about the implications of what they are saying. It's very easy to just let these comments pass, because I don't like arguing with people, but from now on, nobody gets a free pass.

In what other small ways can we combat gender inequality? or medium or large :)

Gun Registry

A CBC article about the Dawson College shootings last year has some of the victims calling to keep the federal gun registry:

On Sept. 13, Kimveer Gill, a death-obsessed gun club member, burst into the college with three firearms, including a Beretta Cx4 Storm semi-automatic carbine, and opened fire.

An 18-year-old business student, Anastasia De Sousa, was killed and 19 others were wounded before Gill, whose weapons were legally registered, shot himself.

(bolds mine)

One of the victims (Hayder Kadhim) is quoted:

"Back in the spring, they [the Conservative party] argued that the gun registry was useless because criminals don't buy their guns legally. Now the Harper government argues that the registry is ineffective because the shooter's firearms were totally legal. There's an obvious contradiction in their arguments.

"I don't understand why the Conservative government wants to dismantle the gun registry, which costs next to nothing to maintain.

Umm, the shooter's firearms were registered and he shot people. Some other murders are committed with unregistered guns. Either way, the registry does not help solve the problem.

And it "costs next to nothing to maintain"? Come on, this is the government we're talking about. In my opinion, the registry is a huge waste of money already. Let's not keep pouring money into it.

I do feel for the victims and their families, who have to recover from this horrific incident. How about calling for more police services and more mental health services, so we can actually prevent some crime?

It's not guns who kill people, it's people who kill people.

Friday Random 10 - a bit early

Posting this a day early because I'm going to Halifax to watch the CIS basketball tourney. For live updates of the games see the CIS website.

1. Superstar - Sheryl Crow
2. Super Sex Swirl ?
3. Life - Artists for War Child
4. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
5. I Don't Love You - My Chemical Romance
6. Another Brick In The Wall - Pink Floyd
7. Nobody Knows - Pink
8. Psychopomp - The Tea Party
9. Walk Idiot Walk - The Hives
10. New - No Doubt
    

My New Library

Just when I thought we were done with the library, I discover I have more books then bookshelves. So I was back at Canadian Tire tonight to pick up another bookcase. This should be it! Here's my before and after pics.

The before pic on the left shows the white stripe where the chair rail used to be, the white stripe near the ceiling where it used to have a baby Mickey border, but it doesn't quite portray the blinding brightness of the yellow.


The after pic on the right shows the new "creamy orange" colour, the new lamps and the new bookcases. I'm a happy camper right now.

More Cellphone Service Rant

Looks like when the CBC says "most Canadians", they really mean people who live in the big provinces with money (from the CRTC, bolds mine ):

By March 14, 2007 Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless and the mobility division of TELUS Communications Inc. will be required to provide WNP to their customers in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Québec. This means that customers in any of these provinces will be able to switch to any service provider in that province (wireline or wireless) and keep their phone number.

Throughout Canada, all wireless carriers will, by the same date, be required to release a phone number to another carrier (port-out customers) and by no later than September 12, 2007, to accept a phone number from another carrier (port-in customers).

Looks like us poor folk in Atlantic Canada are just chopped liver.

Cellphone Service Providers

Over at CBC we learn that we can now keep our cell phone number when switching carriers.

When most Canadians wake up on March 14, they'll be able to do something that at least some of them have been longing for: give their cellphone service provider the boot — without changing their phone numbers.

On that day, major wireless telecommunications carriers across the country will flip the switch on wireless number portability (WNP), which will allow cellphone users to do something that has been possible with traditional land lines for years.

What's more, number portability will extend across the wired-wireless divide. It will be possible to move a cellphone number to a fixed-line phone, or vice versa.

Wow. This actually is something I've been longing for. But I think there is also another problem and it's something that makes me really angry. In order to get a new cellphone for free (or discounted), you have to be a new customer. This means that the company you have been paying for 3 years (because of your contract) does not really value your business anymore. They had you hooked because most people don't want to change their phone number. New customers get a free phone, but loyal customers do not. Oh, Aliant (Bell) will let you have an "upgrade" credit, but it does not cover the price of a phone.

For the last 10 years, I have been switching service providers whenever my contract is up, meaning that my number changed every 2-3 years. This is a real pain in the ass. I wonder what the phone companies will be doing now to screw us over... Oh the article also mentions this:

"That's why you're starting to see Bell-to-Bell and Rogers-to-Rogers calling packages," Wong said.

There ya go.

Awesome Used-Book Store

Just want to give a shout-out to the Seaside Book and Stamp used bookstore that I visited while in Halifax (actually the store is in Dartmouth). This store carries only science-fiction/fantasy second-hand books, so it's the best place for me to shop. I don't have to wade through the romance novels and other fluff to get to the ones I'm interested in. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Visit them online if you are not in the area.

They also have a huge stamp selection. ( Not the kind for scrapbooking, the postage stamp collecting kind ). Whenever I go in there are 3 or 4 people sitting at the tables looking at stamps, or cataloging them, or something. I'm just not sure what you do with stamps all day long.

Friday Random 10 - a little late

Hi guys. Sorry for not posting for a few days, but I've been working on my new library!!! Also, went to Halifax to watch my brother play in the AUS Basketball Championships. They placed second and will be playing in the nationals next weekend!!!

1. I Looked At You - The Doors
2. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - The Beatles
3. Damned For All Time-Blood Money - Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack
4. Walk Right In - Rooftop Singers - Forrest Gump soundtrack
5. Waiting For The Sun - The Doors
6. On The Road Again - Willie Nelson - Forrest Gump soundtrack
7. Smashing Young Man - Collective Soul
8. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill - The Beatles
9. Stupify - Disturbed
10. Hey Baby - No Doubt

I'll be posting pics of the new library soon, but right now I need to go buy another bookcase!

My First Love

I love books. I love reading. I have as far back as I can remember. I always had a bedtime story read to me. After that, my mom starting me on the Nancy Drew books. We read the first 2 together, but after that there was no stopping me. Mom bought me every single Nancy Drew book (Thanks Mom). My babysitters now joke I was an angel to sit because I was really quiet after going to bed, until they discovered I had a flashlight under the covers, reading a book.

I went to a very small school in elementary. We had one stand of books we could borrow from. After I had read them all, the teacher asked for funding for more books.

Books were always sacred for me. I never, ever bent the corners to mark my place. I didn't get them wet, or dirty. I didn't lose them. Each book held a story, an alternate universe, and characters, people with feelings and fears. They deserved to be treated with care.

It's just now that I'm starting to understand. When I'm reading about another time, another place, I can forget my life for a moment. I can slip into the fantasy world, and my problems and hurt feelings and frustration and anger and disappointments are put aside, at least for awhile.

Sometime in junior high I stumbled onto my first Tanith Lee book, I think it was "East of Midnight". It had sheep with fangs on the back cover. I haven't read it since, but I remember it as melancholy and meandering. I totally loved it. I think that's what started me on fantasy and science fiction books. The normal rules don't apply. Sheep can have fangs.

Tanith Lee has been my favourite author ever since. My absolute favourite book is "The Silver Metal Lover." It is the saddest story, and that is why I love it. Life does not always have happy endings, so why should the stories and characters I read about have happy endings?

Well, I am going to go read my bedtime story and go to sleep now...

Friday Random 10

1. Hello May Lou - Credence Clearwater Revival
2. Time to Build - The Beastie Boys
3. Children of the Revolution - Moulin Rouge soundtrack
4. Born Bad - Natural Born Killers soundtrack
5. Pagan Baby - Credence Clearwater Revival
6. Anxiety - Black Eyed Peas
7. All You Need is Love - The Beatles
8. Lumina - Joan Osborne
9. Proud Mary - Credence Clearwater Revival (again!?!)
10. The End. - My Chemical Romance
    

International Polar Year

It's International Polar Year! A year for conducting scientific research at both poles. Did you know this happens every 50 years?

This pic is of the Elephant Foot Glacier. Is that a cool name or what? Check out the IPY website for more very cool pics.

Ultra-violence in Halifax

Halifax is "the big city" in Atlantic Canada, and I have a brother who lives there. He personally knows people who have been "swarmed", very nice people who've had to spend time in the hospital recovering. It's just too reminiscent of "A Clockwork Orange" for a region that is supposed to have the friendliest people.

The CBC is doing an indepth series on crime in the Halifax region. It could be interesting. Here's an excerpt from the comments:

Halifax is a violent city and it is simply not safe to be in certain areas of downtown at night. I lived in Montreal for 12 years and visit there frequently and never felt the fear you sense here at night. The disturbing thing here is the random nature of the violence; this is not gangs attacking gangs but rather groups of hooligans attacking innocent people randomly because they may happen to walk in front of the City Library after 10:00 PM.

Passports

I've been hearing people complaining about having to get a passport to travel to the US. Even the government seems to think it will be bad for trade:

Canadian officials continue to press for a reprieve from the original January 2008 implementation date, but U.S. Homeland Security and State Department officials want to bring the rule into effect sooner rather than later.

I think people should stop whining and get a friggin' passport. The US is a different country with different laws. It has become increasingly dangerous for Canadians to travel there, risking imprisonment (even for Canadian children) and deportation and torture. Yes it is good to have a good relationship with your neighbours but "good fences make good neighbours".

Canada is an amazing country and I would rather vacation (and spend my money) here.

Congrats to NB Power!

NB Power has announced a plan to buy power from an Alberta company that has promised to build New Brunswick's first wind farm on the Kent Hills in Albert County.

It may be a small, slow step but at least it's a start.