Jean, Shane, me and a couple of our students showed up at Victoria Island for a film shoot....Lee Anne Kusak and the news at noon. Nice bit of filler....no editing! Got about 15 minutes of free publicity in the Ottawa region, so can't complain.
Nice day for it too! Sunny! Ottawa river in full flood behind us. It was great! Full armour, bashing away at Jean...it looked really good. I wore chain mail...and Jean wore his Samurai Suit.
This will likely be the first of many "news spots", as journalists pick up on the story. Could be the summer of "Demo's".
Well, enough of this...time to get out and get to work. Got classes to teach!
http://www.southtower.on.ca/LiveSteel.html
Friday, April 15, 2005
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Separatists and Liberals at the same trough! My My!
Nothing like a great big bucket of money to bring people together! I see the ADSCAM hearings are proceeding just as predicted by the regulars in the "Logroller's Tavern" over on the Quebec side. It also explains why suddenly the Block Quebecquois has not been using ADSCAM as the hammer to beat on the Liberals lately! I wondered about that... One thing we can all agree on...politicians from Quebec are problematic...look at the last half dozen elected Prime Ministers!
Here is a little cut and paste just to give you a taste...grin!
This is from Greg Weston's column...I suggestd you read the whole thing here...
Greg is a helluva good writer....and one of the best in the business.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2005/04/06/984844-sun.html
ANTI-SEPARATISM CASH
The $250 million in sponsorships that the previous Liberal government pumped into Quebec was supposed to help fight the separatists after the near-miss referendum in 1995.
But another former Groupaction executive, Alain Renaud, said that while the firm was getting millions of dollars in federal sponsorship money, it was secretly cutting cheques to the separatist Parti Quebecois.
Renaud said that in one transaction, a total of about $90,000 was given to the PQ as part of Groupaction's getting a $4.5-million advertising contract for the Quebec liquor board, called the SAQ.
Groupaction apparently won the contract in a competition when a bagman for the Parti Quebecois had a meeting with the firm's top executives.
snip....
Renaud said Groupaction president Brault was personally involved in the tollgating deal. "I was there when he (Brault) was negotiating with the people of the PQ," he said.
Here is a little cut and paste just to give you a taste...grin!
This is from Greg Weston's column...I suggestd you read the whole thing here...
Greg is a helluva good writer....and one of the best in the business.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2005/04/06/984844-sun.html
ANTI-SEPARATISM CASH
The $250 million in sponsorships that the previous Liberal government pumped into Quebec was supposed to help fight the separatists after the near-miss referendum in 1995.
But another former Groupaction executive, Alain Renaud, said that while the firm was getting millions of dollars in federal sponsorship money, it was secretly cutting cheques to the separatist Parti Quebecois.
Renaud said that in one transaction, a total of about $90,000 was given to the PQ as part of Groupaction's getting a $4.5-million advertising contract for the Quebec liquor board, called the SAQ.
Groupaction apparently won the contract in a competition when a bagman for the Parti Quebecois had a meeting with the firm's top executives.
snip....
Renaud said Groupaction president Brault was personally involved in the tollgating deal. "I was there when he (Brault) was negotiating with the people of the PQ," he said.
Separatists and Liberals at the same trough! My My!
Nothing like a great big bucket of money to bring people together! I see the ADSCAM hearings are proceeding just as predicted by the regulars in the "Logroller's Tavern" over on the Quebec side. It also explains why suddenly the Block Quebecquois has not been using ADSCAM as the hammer to beat on the Liberals lately! I wondered about that... One thing we can all agree on...politicians from Quebec are problematic...look at the last half dozen elected Prime Ministers!
Here is a little cut and paste just to give you a taste...grin!
This is from Greg Weston's column...I suggestd you read the whole thing here...
Greg is a helluva good writer....and one of the best in the business.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2005/04/06/984844-sun.html
ANTI-SEPARATISM CASH
The $250 million in sponsorships that the previous Liberal government pumped into Quebec was supposed to help fight the separatists after the near-miss referendum in 1995.
But another former Groupaction executive, Alain Renaud, said that while the firm was getting millions of dollars in federal sponsorship money, it was secretly cutting cheques to the separatist Parti Quebecois.
Renaud said that in one transaction, a total of about $90,000 was given to the PQ as part of Groupaction's getting a $4.5-million advertising contract for the Quebec liquor board, called the SAQ.
Groupaction apparently won the contract in a competition when a bagman for the Parti Quebecois had a meeting with the firm's top executives.
snip....
Renaud said Groupaction president Brault was personally involved in the tollgating deal. "I was there when he (Brault) was negotiating with the people of the PQ," he said.
Here is a little cut and paste just to give you a taste...grin!
This is from Greg Weston's column...I suggestd you read the whole thing here...
Greg is a helluva good writer....and one of the best in the business.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2005/04/06/984844-sun.html
ANTI-SEPARATISM CASH
The $250 million in sponsorships that the previous Liberal government pumped into Quebec was supposed to help fight the separatists after the near-miss referendum in 1995.
But another former Groupaction executive, Alain Renaud, said that while the firm was getting millions of dollars in federal sponsorship money, it was secretly cutting cheques to the separatist Parti Quebecois.
Renaud said that in one transaction, a total of about $90,000 was given to the PQ as part of Groupaction's getting a $4.5-million advertising contract for the Quebec liquor board, called the SAQ.
Groupaction apparently won the contract in a competition when a bagman for the Parti Quebecois had a meeting with the firm's top executives.
snip....
Renaud said Groupaction president Brault was personally involved in the tollgating deal. "I was there when he (Brault) was negotiating with the people of the PQ," he said.
Monday, April 04, 2005
So this is baseball hmmmm?
Sports Commentary or Gay Porn?
Real quotes from the Louisville/Illinois game:
Williams is surprised by just how long Garcia is!
I think Pitino has to love what he sees right now by Garcia because he's taking Williams time and time again inside.
His teammate is pure energy when he comes in. He's so active!
Oh, he comes up short! That's got to be disappointing!
It's man to man now.
Garcia has to penetrate to make things happen. He's being much too passive.
He's wide open...oh, he gives it away way too easily.
He got a lot of good looks, but is just too passive for these boys.
Williams dominates now!
The final score is Illinois 72 to Louisville 57. I guess this isn't Kentucky's year. Well, at least the KY State Highway Patrol should be happy. I have to say, Illinois played a good game. I'll be rooting for them in the Championship. This is apparently a first in their history, so I hope they get it.
Real quotes from the Louisville/Illinois game:
Williams is surprised by just how long Garcia is!
I think Pitino has to love what he sees right now by Garcia because he's taking Williams time and time again inside.
His teammate is pure energy when he comes in. He's so active!
Oh, he comes up short! That's got to be disappointing!
It's man to man now.
Garcia has to penetrate to make things happen. He's being much too passive.
He's wide open...oh, he gives it away way too easily.
He got a lot of good looks, but is just too passive for these boys.
Williams dominates now!
The final score is Illinois 72 to Louisville 57. I guess this isn't Kentucky's year. Well, at least the KY State Highway Patrol should be happy. I have to say, Illinois played a good game. I'll be rooting for them in the Championship. This is apparently a first in their history, so I hope they get it.
Hmmmm...things are worse than I suspected...
Well, the great Canadian Corruption scandal has hit the high point of interest...easily shifting the Pope and Terry whatsername off the front page. I wonder why...its not as if Liberal government corruption is particularly newsworthy! In fact....we are finally getting to the point where we have paid more for the investigation than the buggers stole from us in the first place!
Oh well...be that as it may...I think I will put a proper rant on my Rant blog....http://yusefsjournal2.blogspot.com/ .... right now, I am pretty mellow. Have not turned on Lowell Greene yet...[local Ottawa right wing radio personality]... he usually causes me to work harder and faster. Since my business is pretty much hammering metal this isn't such a bad thing.
Interesting phenomonon........(love that word...never know when to stop spelling it...grin!)...just when I was thinking I would get a week off...another armour order rolled in! As I said, interesting...these "just in time" orders play hell with my bank, but suit my personal life style just fine. My father used to say "God will provide", and lived his life pay checque to pay checque, I seem to be hiring my staff on the not unwarranted assumption that orders will arrive in time to give them work!
I built a power planishing hammer out of an old air chisel.....now I am doing huge panels, planishing them all over just because I can! Much easier on the old shoulder ball! There may be a deposit of calcium up there....or there may be a couple dozen micro tears...might put paid to my profession in a few years at this rate. I have pretty much decided to drop the money on an English Wheel. I was vaccilating between an english wheel and a planishing hammer...but any planishing I need doing, I think I can do with this hand held air hammer. Lots of vibration though...I may have to buy some shot gloves. (Now arn't we getting profesh--I--on--all!!!)
Regards from the Great White North. Well, not so white...it has been raining the last couple of days....the snow banks are all sort of sootty, and dingy. And they have all melted down to make solid ice speed bumps...kind of neat watching the cars pulling in for the church service next door, they go up and over the ice thinking it is snow, and "crunch", I get another rusty old muffler in my front yard! Har Har! I expect the last of the snow will be gone by next week. There are some big piles of snow at the edge of parking lots however which sometimes hang in there until June!
Oh well...be that as it may...I think I will put a proper rant on my Rant blog....http://yusefsjournal2.blogspot.com/ .... right now, I am pretty mellow. Have not turned on Lowell Greene yet...[local Ottawa right wing radio personality]... he usually causes me to work harder and faster. Since my business is pretty much hammering metal this isn't such a bad thing.
Interesting phenomonon........(love that word...never know when to stop spelling it...grin!)...just when I was thinking I would get a week off...another armour order rolled in! As I said, interesting...these "just in time" orders play hell with my bank, but suit my personal life style just fine. My father used to say "God will provide", and lived his life pay checque to pay checque, I seem to be hiring my staff on the not unwarranted assumption that orders will arrive in time to give them work!
I built a power planishing hammer out of an old air chisel.....now I am doing huge panels, planishing them all over just because I can! Much easier on the old shoulder ball! There may be a deposit of calcium up there....or there may be a couple dozen micro tears...might put paid to my profession in a few years at this rate. I have pretty much decided to drop the money on an English Wheel. I was vaccilating between an english wheel and a planishing hammer...but any planishing I need doing, I think I can do with this hand held air hammer. Lots of vibration though...I may have to buy some shot gloves. (Now arn't we getting profesh--I--on--all!!!)
Regards from the Great White North. Well, not so white...it has been raining the last couple of days....the snow banks are all sort of sootty, and dingy. And they have all melted down to make solid ice speed bumps...kind of neat watching the cars pulling in for the church service next door, they go up and over the ice thinking it is snow, and "crunch", I get another rusty old muffler in my front yard! Har Har! I expect the last of the snow will be gone by next week. There are some big piles of snow at the edge of parking lots however which sometimes hang in there until June!
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Hookers and Casinos...these are a few of my favorite things...
I see that the female newspaper columnists have turned their sites on Casino Gambling and prostitution....the one wants legislation against casinos, the other has decided that legislation against prostitution doesn't work.
Now it seems to me that if laws against prostitution merely drive it into the shadows....causing crime and marginalization of both the men and women who participate in it, then what do you suppose laws against gambling would do?
Ah well, read it yourself....thank goodness the problems in this great nation are no greater than this!
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Edmonton/Mindelle_Jacobs/2005/04/03/980826.html..........Mindell Jacobs take on laws based on morality. She feels that any law which cannot be clearly defined cannot be clearly and reasonably enforced...for instance...the "community standards" test. Makes sense...commit a robbery in a back alley or commit a robbery in a restaurant...still a robbery. Turn a trick in my village...heaven help you, but turn a trick in your home... fine. A snippet here, just to whet your appetite....
"Given the difficulties in defining obscenity - the so-called community standards test - I think the provision is more troubling than it's worth. We could scrap the obscenity law tomorrow and still bring the full weight of the law down on those who inflict harm on others.
Another law we could do without is the one that bans "immoral, indecent or obscene" performances. If people want to watch sexual theatrics in adults-only venues, who cares? Where's the harm?
It's also illegal to mail anything "obscene, indecent, immoral or scurrilous." You can get two years in jail for that kind of mischief. But how is it determined what's illegal? The tricky community standard of tolerance test.
As long as no children are involved in any of these aforementioned activities and no coercion or concrete harm result, why should they be illegal?
And on the prostitution issue, there's overwhelming evidence that prohibition has caused - not prevented - tremendous harm."
(There is much more....worth the read!)
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Toronto/Christina_Blizzard/2005/04/03/980964.html Christina Blizzard's article on gambling. Here is a snippet.... "Anne Murray is entertainment," says New Democrat Peter Kormos. "Gambling is gambling."
Kormos is right. There's is nothing wrong with a bit of a flutter for those who can afford it. But for those who cannot, it is a tax on the stupid. Gambling punishes people who can't do math or figure out that the odds are stacked against them.
Fifteen years ago, there was no legalized gambling in this province. Ironically, it was the NDP government, of which Kormos was a part, that built the Windsor casino, a move he now regrets. And the Tories just expanded the program. "
Now it seems to me that if laws against prostitution merely drive it into the shadows....causing crime and marginalization of both the men and women who participate in it, then what do you suppose laws against gambling would do?
Ah well, read it yourself....thank goodness the problems in this great nation are no greater than this!
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Edmonton/Mindelle_Jacobs/2005/04/03/980826.html..........Mindell Jacobs take on laws based on morality. She feels that any law which cannot be clearly defined cannot be clearly and reasonably enforced...for instance...the "community standards" test. Makes sense...commit a robbery in a back alley or commit a robbery in a restaurant...still a robbery. Turn a trick in my village...heaven help you, but turn a trick in your home... fine. A snippet here, just to whet your appetite....
"Given the difficulties in defining obscenity - the so-called community standards test - I think the provision is more troubling than it's worth. We could scrap the obscenity law tomorrow and still bring the full weight of the law down on those who inflict harm on others.
Another law we could do without is the one that bans "immoral, indecent or obscene" performances. If people want to watch sexual theatrics in adults-only venues, who cares? Where's the harm?
It's also illegal to mail anything "obscene, indecent, immoral or scurrilous." You can get two years in jail for that kind of mischief. But how is it determined what's illegal? The tricky community standard of tolerance test.
As long as no children are involved in any of these aforementioned activities and no coercion or concrete harm result, why should they be illegal?
And on the prostitution issue, there's overwhelming evidence that prohibition has caused - not prevented - tremendous harm."
(There is much more....worth the read!)
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Toronto/Christina_Blizzard/2005/04/03/980964.html Christina Blizzard's article on gambling. Here is a snippet.... "Anne Murray is entertainment," says New Democrat Peter Kormos. "Gambling is gambling."
Kormos is right. There's is nothing wrong with a bit of a flutter for those who can afford it. But for those who cannot, it is a tax on the stupid. Gambling punishes people who can't do math or figure out that the odds are stacked against them.
Fifteen years ago, there was no legalized gambling in this province. Ironically, it was the NDP government, of which Kormos was a part, that built the Windsor casino, a move he now regrets. And the Tories just expanded the program. "
Mark Twain, Again!
With the death of the Pope, and announcement that there is NO WAY my beloved Ren Faire will open on the same site this summer as in times past, and the lack of orders in my "IN" box...I decided some light reading was in order. I glossed over Robert Service (fun, but not quite what I was after) and as I commonly do, pick up some Mark Twain. I don't know why, but his War Prayer seemed to suit my mood. (its not a comedy...be warned...) You might want to read the lead up to this "prayer"....it won't hit you so hard that way....
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/twain1.html
quote....
"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle – be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it – for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/twain1.html
quote....
"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle – be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it – for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Yeah, $43,000.00 dollars will get you laid all right....
Well, its good to see our elected officials are creative in their junkets. $200,000.00 is being requested so that Canadian MP's can travel to some of the worlds's brothels and bordellos, with 43,000.00 alone going to "fees and interpreters". Jerks! Just hire "Ed the Sock"! Bet you can get his un-dee-vi-dedd attention for a whole week with 200 G's!! Certainly you have mine!
here is the link....read it and weep as you fill out your tax form this month!
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/OttawaSun/News/2005/03/27/973276-sun.html
And a little snippet to whet your appetite....
MPs seek cash for study of European prostitutes
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, Parliamentary Bureau (you can email her here....kathleen.harris@tor.sunpub.com)
MPs would benefit from visiting these areas and meeting with law enforcement agencies, counsellors and brothel owners, the budget request document states.
The $143,678 travel budget request for Liverpool, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Stockholm includes $62,840 for transportation, $25,328 for accommodation, $12,000 for food and $43,500 for miscellaneous items like interpretation, official gifts and fees.
The trip by Davies, Tory MP Art Hangar, Bloc Quebecois MP Paule Brunelle and Liberals John Maloney and Hedy Fry was approved by the justice committee Thursday, but must still clear another Commons budgetary committee.
Justice committee chairman Paul DeVillers said the trip has merit.
"I think it will be of value for the subcommittee to go and speak to people in those countries that have different regimes and get a sense of which is the best way to go," he said.
here is the link....read it and weep as you fill out your tax form this month!
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/OttawaSun/News/2005/03/27/973276-sun.html
And a little snippet to whet your appetite....
MPs seek cash for study of European prostitutes
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, Parliamentary Bureau (you can email her here....kathleen.harris@tor.sunpub.com)
MPs would benefit from visiting these areas and meeting with law enforcement agencies, counsellors and brothel owners, the budget request document states.
The $143,678 travel budget request for Liverpool, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Stockholm includes $62,840 for transportation, $25,328 for accommodation, $12,000 for food and $43,500 for miscellaneous items like interpretation, official gifts and fees.
The trip by Davies, Tory MP Art Hangar, Bloc Quebecois MP Paule Brunelle and Liberals John Maloney and Hedy Fry was approved by the justice committee Thursday, but must still clear another Commons budgetary committee.
Justice committee chairman Paul DeVillers said the trip has merit.
"I think it will be of value for the subcommittee to go and speak to people in those countries that have different regimes and get a sense of which is the best way to go," he said.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Banned words.
http://www.lssu.edu/banished/current.php
Lake Superior State University 2005 List of Banished Words
good ole LSSU again! An excellent list of banished words and phrases. My favorites are "wardrobe malfunction", "Blog", "Webinar" (whats up with that????) and "All New" (as opposed to Partly New I guess!)
Lake Superior State University 2005 List of Banished Words
good ole LSSU again! An excellent list of banished words and phrases. My favorites are "wardrobe malfunction", "Blog", "Webinar" (whats up with that????) and "All New" (as opposed to Partly New I guess!)
Monday, March 14, 2005
Toronto Drivers are good. Yup, I actually said that!
Spent the weekend in Toronto. Not so bad going in...the 401 was its usual crowded, cut you off in the fast lane type of driving, and attended a good meeting. This is the meeting where we are going to figure out how to run the ren faire for another year. Interesting dynamics, but beyond the scope of this blog. On Saturday, they got an inch of snow. Yup...it brought the city to a standstill. But now that I am in the middle of it, I can see why! The snow almost immediatly became glare black, and the automobiles merely curling rocks on a rather dirty sheet of ice. Busses sideways on Eglington, salt trucks sliding off the roads into lamp posts. Remarkable! The salt trucks could not get up the hill at Bathurst and Eglington, so they went around. Would that the rest of the traffic could have thought ahead enough to do the same! Such as myself! "Put it in low people, and gently go up the road. That spinning tire has NO traction!"
Ah well...as usual Toronto had almost no snow. Ottawa on the other hand is sitting under a nice yard thick blanket of the stuff! My back yard is very pretty....the snow covers the derelict cars. Mind you, I have not seen the dog in a couple of months...he is no doubt under the snow somewhere feasting of the squirrels.
Ah well...as usual Toronto had almost no snow. Ottawa on the other hand is sitting under a nice yard thick blanket of the stuff! My back yard is very pretty....the snow covers the derelict cars. Mind you, I have not seen the dog in a couple of months...he is no doubt under the snow somewhere feasting of the squirrels.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Baby, its COLD outside. Yes it is, yes it is......
Now this just goes to show how your life experience may NOT prepare you for your future actions. This numbskull grew up in California, and lived most of his life in the sunny south. Got into an internet chat with a babe in Quebec. Trouble is, he is a convict, and we won't let him in. So, he snuck across the border. Not just ANY border, but the North Dakota, Manitoba border. In February. By himself. Wearing gloves instead of mitts.
The whole story can be found here....http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/2005/03/07/953038-cp.html
U.S. man who snuck into Canada to visit Internet sweetheart won't go to jail
By STEVE LAMBERT
WINNIPEG (CP) - After sneaking across the border in bone-chilling weather to meet his Internet sweetheart, Charles Gonsoulin has learned that love can sometimes hurt.
The Los Angeles-born maintenance man pleaded guilty Monday to illegally entering Canada. He will be deported, but not before having all of his fingers and half of his toes amputated because of severe frostbite.
"He didn't really know that there could be any place on earth this cold, this inhospitable," defence lawyer Mike Cook said at Gonsoulin's sentencing hearing.
"This is a love story with a very, very sad ending."
There's more to the story. As far as I know, he never does get the girl. But maybe that is all to the good. Watching Darwin in action is always entertaining. Too bad he didn't freeze off his central member instead of just his fingers! Hey, I wonder how he will do the chat rooms without fingers for a keyboard! Women around the world may now rejoice.
Sheeiiit honey...you gotta find one with brains! I grew up around there...you know how hard it is to act cool, and not wear a hat when it is like, minus 30 degrees and WINDY. Where do you think Chicago gets its wind FROM? We send those clippers down from Winnipeg!
The whole story can be found here....http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/2005/03/07/953038-cp.html
U.S. man who snuck into Canada to visit Internet sweetheart won't go to jail
By STEVE LAMBERT
WINNIPEG (CP) - After sneaking across the border in bone-chilling weather to meet his Internet sweetheart, Charles Gonsoulin has learned that love can sometimes hurt.
The Los Angeles-born maintenance man pleaded guilty Monday to illegally entering Canada. He will be deported, but not before having all of his fingers and half of his toes amputated because of severe frostbite.
"He didn't really know that there could be any place on earth this cold, this inhospitable," defence lawyer Mike Cook said at Gonsoulin's sentencing hearing.
"This is a love story with a very, very sad ending."
There's more to the story. As far as I know, he never does get the girl. But maybe that is all to the good. Watching Darwin in action is always entertaining. Too bad he didn't freeze off his central member instead of just his fingers! Hey, I wonder how he will do the chat rooms without fingers for a keyboard! Women around the world may now rejoice.
Sheeiiit honey...you gotta find one with brains! I grew up around there...you know how hard it is to act cool, and not wear a hat when it is like, minus 30 degrees and WINDY. Where do you think Chicago gets its wind FROM? We send those clippers down from Winnipeg!
Saint Frances...The Patron Saint of Cars and Drivers
Oh bother, now I know who to pray for while test driving those new cars! Maybe I can get the priest next door to bless the poor old Aerostar. Or give it last rites!
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintf10.htm
Also known as
Franziske
Memorial
9 March
Profile
An aristocrat by birth, her parents were Paul Bussa and Jacobella de' Roffredeschi. Married at age 12 to Lorenzo de' Ponziani, her marriage lasted 40 years. Mother of three in 1400, 1404, and 1407. Widow.
Benedictine. Foundress of the Oblates of the Tor de' Specchi (Collatines). Said to have been guided by an archangel only she could see. Spent her life and fortune, both as laywoman and religious, in the service of the sick and the poor, including the founding of the first home in Rome for abandoned children. Dictated 97 Visions, in which she saw many of the pains of Hell.
On her feast day priests bless cars due to her patronage of cars and drivers. Frances certainly never drove, but legend says that when she went abroad at night, her guardian angel went before her lighting the road with a headlight-like lantern, keeping her safe in her travels.
Born
1384 in Rome, Italy
Died
1440 in Rome, Italy; relics at Saint Frances of Rome, Rome, Italy; entombed beneath the pavement of the Ponziani sacristy of the Church of Saint Cecilia, Rome
Canonized
1608 by Pope Paul V
Patronage
automobile drivers, automobilists, cab drivers, death of children, lay people, motorists, people ridiculed for their piety, Roman housewives, taxi drivers, widows
Representation
woman habited in black with a white veil, accompanied by her guardian angel, and sometimes carrying a basket of food; nun with her guardian angel dressed as a deacon; nun with a monstrance and arrow; nun with a book; nun with an angel with a branch of oranges near her; receiving the veil from the Christ Child in the arms of the Blessed Virgin
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintf10.htm
Also known as
Franziske
Memorial
9 March
Profile
An aristocrat by birth, her parents were Paul Bussa and Jacobella de' Roffredeschi. Married at age 12 to Lorenzo de' Ponziani, her marriage lasted 40 years. Mother of three in 1400, 1404, and 1407. Widow.
Benedictine. Foundress of the Oblates of the Tor de' Specchi (Collatines). Said to have been guided by an archangel only she could see. Spent her life and fortune, both as laywoman and religious, in the service of the sick and the poor, including the founding of the first home in Rome for abandoned children. Dictated 97 Visions, in which she saw many of the pains of Hell.
On her feast day priests bless cars due to her patronage of cars and drivers. Frances certainly never drove, but legend says that when she went abroad at night, her guardian angel went before her lighting the road with a headlight-like lantern, keeping her safe in her travels.
Born
1384 in Rome, Italy
Died
1440 in Rome, Italy; relics at Saint Frances of Rome, Rome, Italy; entombed beneath the pavement of the Ponziani sacristy of the Church of Saint Cecilia, Rome
Canonized
1608 by Pope Paul V
Patronage
automobile drivers, automobilists, cab drivers, death of children, lay people, motorists, people ridiculed for their piety, Roman housewives, taxi drivers, widows
Representation
woman habited in black with a white veil, accompanied by her guardian angel, and sometimes carrying a basket of food; nun with her guardian angel dressed as a deacon; nun with a monstrance and arrow; nun with a book; nun with an angel with a branch of oranges near her; receiving the veil from the Christ Child in the arms of the Blessed Virgin
Monday, March 07, 2005
Canadian Gold Medals! And Bronze is nothing to sneeze at!
Way to go Matt!
CHUNCHEON, South Korea (CP) - Mathieu Turcotte led the Canadian men to the gold medal at the short-track speed skating world team championship Sunday with victories in two races.
The Canadian women took the bronze.
In the team event, there are heats in the 500, 1,000 and 3,000 metres and a relay. A skater from each country races in each heat and the top three finishers in each earn points for their country. Relay points are doubled.
The Canadian men finished first in the four-country final with 43 points, beating defending champion South Korea with 36. China was third with 22.
CHUNCHEON, South Korea (CP) - Mathieu Turcotte led the Canadian men to the gold medal at the short-track speed skating world team championship Sunday with victories in two races.
The Canadian women took the bronze.
In the team event, there are heats in the 500, 1,000 and 3,000 metres and a relay. A skater from each country races in each heat and the top three finishers in each earn points for their country. Relay points are doubled.
The Canadian men finished first in the four-country final with 43 points, beating defending champion South Korea with 36. China was third with 22.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Mark Twain's comments...
Mark Twain, from "An Innocent Abroad". He was much moved by the "statuary" made by pouring plaster into the voids created by the bodies dissolving away in the hot packed ash....
"But perhaps the most poetical thing Pompeii has yielded to modern research, was that grand figure of a Roman soldier, clad in complete armor; who, true to his duty, true to his proud name of a soldier of Rome, and full of the stern courage which had given to that name its glory, stood to his post by the city gate, erect and unflinching, till the hell that raged around him burned out the dauntless spirit it could not conquer. We never read of Pompeii but we think of that soldier; we cannot write of Pompeii without the natural impulse to grant to him the mention he so well deserves. Let us remember that he was a soldier -- not a policeman -- and so, praise him. Being a soldier, he stayed, -- because the warrior instinct forbade him to fly. Had he been a policeman he would have stayed, also --because he would have been asleep."
"But perhaps the most poetical thing Pompeii has yielded to modern research, was that grand figure of a Roman soldier, clad in complete armor; who, true to his duty, true to his proud name of a soldier of Rome, and full of the stern courage which had given to that name its glory, stood to his post by the city gate, erect and unflinching, till the hell that raged around him burned out the dauntless spirit it could not conquer. We never read of Pompeii but we think of that soldier; we cannot write of Pompeii without the natural impulse to grant to him the mention he so well deserves. Let us remember that he was a soldier -- not a policeman -- and so, praise him. Being a soldier, he stayed, -- because the warrior instinct forbade him to fly. Had he been a policeman he would have stayed, also --because he would have been asleep."
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Auctions and Armours
Took a thousand bucks worth of customers orders across the border Friday morning. The more I do this, the more I think I should just move my operation South of the Border, in around the Thousand Islands. Looks like more than 90% of my product moves to the US. And I see a couple of nice factories lying empty in the Rust Belt along the St. Lawrence. Well, that is just speculation. A couple of lads from the University of Potsdam asked me if I would do demos, and possibly even teach a class like I do here in Ottawa on sword fighting and/or armour and sword making. A few minutes at the border chatting with the immigration officials showed clearly that I have a huge amount of paperwork involved if I was foolish enough to want to work in the US without planning to become a citizen, and even more if I was planning to become a citizen. The guy told me if I want to do a demo at a college in the US, it would be no problem providing that I am invited (show the invite....) and that I don't work for money. Expenses are okay...but salary is right out. So out of curiosity, I just asked what would be the difficulties involved in moving my sales booth from Toronto (where the festival has been shut down) to Stirling (which has an excellent festival). The list of paperwork involved started growing again! He as much as told me that I need a US citizen as the "front man" to "own" the business and that I would have to operate it by remote control. I could be there to look over the investment just like any tourist, but I can't actually work there. Right! We all know that businesses run themselves...grin! And what about running a factory in Ogdensburg? Clearly he was torn between the idea of foreign investment employing his neighbours and the letter of the law, but the up shot was "do the paperwork". If it is a good business, the paperwork will be just a minor "cost of doing business". At least is wasn't shady like so many border businesses!
Ah well...food for thought. I think I shall simply build shops here in Metcalfe until the neighbours start to complain....I bought the adjacent lot, the back lot, and I see that the church property next door has just come up for sale....Hmmmmmmmmm. Brenda says "don't buy it". I say, hmmmmmm. its land...they arn't making it any more.... Besides, it goes UP in value, not like our tech stocks...grin! Hey, maybe they are going to make it into a parking lot. If so, it would be about time.
So, hit the auction on the way home last night. Lots and lots of stuff. I left after 5 hours and 75 dollars. There were several pieces of furniture which I liked the looks of, but could not justify hanging about until after midnight. I notice that cleverly, he has put some of the fine items like Hummel figurines into display cases. Guess he was getting tired of them walking out under their own steam. Well, enough of this...Perhaps I can convince Zanth to pick up the priests' house next door....we need a hard drinking deamon to dispell the odor of sanctity which wafts over the back yard from time to time.
Ah well...food for thought. I think I shall simply build shops here in Metcalfe until the neighbours start to complain....I bought the adjacent lot, the back lot, and I see that the church property next door has just come up for sale....Hmmmmmmmmm. Brenda says "don't buy it". I say, hmmmmmm. its land...they arn't making it any more.... Besides, it goes UP in value, not like our tech stocks...grin! Hey, maybe they are going to make it into a parking lot. If so, it would be about time.
So, hit the auction on the way home last night. Lots and lots of stuff. I left after 5 hours and 75 dollars. There were several pieces of furniture which I liked the looks of, but could not justify hanging about until after midnight. I notice that cleverly, he has put some of the fine items like Hummel figurines into display cases. Guess he was getting tired of them walking out under their own steam. Well, enough of this...Perhaps I can convince Zanth to pick up the priests' house next door....we need a hard drinking deamon to dispell the odor of sanctity which wafts over the back yard from time to time.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Buying a car!
Forgot how much I detest the average gold bracelet wearing used car dealer. Not personally, you understand, but as a trade....they make me feel like a turkey being measured up by the farmer just before Thanksgiving. Though supposedly in the same business, I am sure I project the same vibes.
The old Aerostar is getting long in the tooth (shiny in the treads?) and Brenda and I have been checking out new and used cars. Now that the Ren Faire has become deceased, we may not need a bigger van. Perhaps a truck to tow a trailer would be better? Perhaps a station wagon with a trailer hitch? Perhaps suck back and look at the actual usage a car will get in the next couple of years? (Like how can you know?)
Anyway, looks like it is keeping Brenda happily buried away in Lemon-aid and other publications. Here is what a vehicle buying site had to say about the role the sound of a horn plays in the buying process....
Ford Mondeo: "Strong and assertive"
Honda S200: "Penetrating and aggressive"
Mercedes CLK: "Tense and rough"
Renault Clio: "Very loud and quite aggressive"
Vauxhall Corsa: "Strong and piercing"
Audi TT Quatro: "Perhaps just a shade too quiet"
Citroën Xsara Picasso: "A fairly thin and weak sound"
Fiat Multipla: "Low loudness and pitch levels"
Renault Scenic: "Assertive without being shrill"
Renault Laguna: "A somewhat thin and weak sound"
Maybe pretty blue rubber tires is next......grin!
The old Aerostar is getting long in the tooth (shiny in the treads?) and Brenda and I have been checking out new and used cars. Now that the Ren Faire has become deceased, we may not need a bigger van. Perhaps a truck to tow a trailer would be better? Perhaps a station wagon with a trailer hitch? Perhaps suck back and look at the actual usage a car will get in the next couple of years? (Like how can you know?)
Anyway, looks like it is keeping Brenda happily buried away in Lemon-aid and other publications. Here is what a vehicle buying site had to say about the role the sound of a horn plays in the buying process....
Ford Mondeo: "Strong and assertive"
Honda S200: "Penetrating and aggressive"
Mercedes CLK: "Tense and rough"
Renault Clio: "Very loud and quite aggressive"
Vauxhall Corsa: "Strong and piercing"
Audi TT Quatro: "Perhaps just a shade too quiet"
Citroën Xsara Picasso: "A fairly thin and weak sound"
Fiat Multipla: "Low loudness and pitch levels"
Renault Scenic: "Assertive without being shrill"
Renault Laguna: "A somewhat thin and weak sound"
Maybe pretty blue rubber tires is next......grin!
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Jellyfish, and sea urchins, oh my!
Well, we all got into the water just off the breakwater for the Malta to Gozo ferry boat. Bubbles catching the sunlight, breathing under water...little blue and yellow curious anchovies checking us out! Our wet suits were incredibly hard to get in and out of...but I am told that is the way it is. Once they were on, you didn't know they were there, except of course that they are very warm! Good to get under the water before I roasted! They were comfortable even in the wind and spray of a 15 degree Celsius day! (50 degrees F.) Once I was in the water though, they were very welcome. Every once in a while a trickle of water (same temp as the air!) would find its way in and slide down my back, feeling like an ice cube being drawn down it!
Is it ever salty! Even saltier than the North Atlantic!
All the things you have to think about kept my mind off the weather. Its hard to get that tank to stay on tight! Weights are so heavy until you are under the water, then we are scrouging rocks from the bottom to help you stay down! The suit is made from what looks like mouse pad material, and it crushes as you go down, so you float a lot less when you are at depth. I used a LOT of weight.
Somewhere along the line, I started to have fun! Anton, our Dive Master was very patient. The nice thing about diving in Malta in the winter time is that there are not very many tourists, and we had him all to ourselves! The extra attention made what could have been a miserable experience into a superb experience, worth every penny!
The second dive after lunch was a little rougher....my first breath from the regulator that morning had dislodged a lot of very fine salt dust, which got taken right down to the bottom of my lungs. Yup, you CAN cough under water... The Jelly Fish were really thich though...it looked like a scene from Finding Nemo.... Most of them were just tiny little things maybe an inch across, light yellow. Very pretty. The bigger white ones were much more scary....I got a couple of lines of venom across my hand as I pushed through the crowd. Not so bad...and no worse than hot drill shavings off my drill press in the shop. We went home that evening, went to bed at 7 and slept for 12 hours!
Then the storm blew in, which put paid to our diving. Still two dives to go to get certified. I figure I could get into the water all right, play around under it for as long as I would like, but getting out would be tricky. Maybe bang my head, or possibly damage those nice wet suits. If it was on sand, or off a boat, maybe...but those rocky reefs were a little scary.
Is it ever salty! Even saltier than the North Atlantic!
All the things you have to think about kept my mind off the weather. Its hard to get that tank to stay on tight! Weights are so heavy until you are under the water, then we are scrouging rocks from the bottom to help you stay down! The suit is made from what looks like mouse pad material, and it crushes as you go down, so you float a lot less when you are at depth. I used a LOT of weight.
Somewhere along the line, I started to have fun! Anton, our Dive Master was very patient. The nice thing about diving in Malta in the winter time is that there are not very many tourists, and we had him all to ourselves! The extra attention made what could have been a miserable experience into a superb experience, worth every penny!
The second dive after lunch was a little rougher....my first breath from the regulator that morning had dislodged a lot of very fine salt dust, which got taken right down to the bottom of my lungs. Yup, you CAN cough under water... The Jelly Fish were really thich though...it looked like a scene from Finding Nemo.... Most of them were just tiny little things maybe an inch across, light yellow. Very pretty. The bigger white ones were much more scary....I got a couple of lines of venom across my hand as I pushed through the crowd. Not so bad...and no worse than hot drill shavings off my drill press in the shop. We went home that evening, went to bed at 7 and slept for 12 hours!
Then the storm blew in, which put paid to our diving. Still two dives to go to get certified. I figure I could get into the water all right, play around under it for as long as I would like, but getting out would be tricky. Maybe bang my head, or possibly damage those nice wet suits. If it was on sand, or off a boat, maybe...but those rocky reefs were a little scary.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Big Guns!
Today I got to fire a 8 inch black powder howitzer. Admittedly, I had to pay for the priviledge, but hey, it was cheap at twice the price. I was up at the Rinella Gun Battery where the 100 ton cannon is, and they have a howitzer all set up. They have to keep pointing it in different directions because the blast scares the horses stabled in the area. Oh well. Shot by shot, the dollars will roll in, and they will be able to afford some more repairs.
A nice day, roughly 50 degrees Farenheight all day. Clear and sunny. I do believe I picked up a sunburn!
My friend Mila and I poked around fort St. Angelo this morning. It is a stunning fort...much in demand by many different groups. You can see pictures of all these places, and the big gun on my web site....www.southtower.on.ca, in the Library.
Had a lovely dinner in Mosta, at the Tal Koppola. The best desserts in Malta, in my opinion. And now I can say that I have found Maltese food I actually like...the rabbit in Spagetti was superb. The pizza (three cheese...mozzarella, blue and goat cheese) was well spiced, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. A pleasant change from the usual North American napalm on a crust. The water at 4 bucks a litre came from Scotland, and was a good choice...normally of course I would have had a "Kinnie" (as soft drink that tastes like a cross between a coke and a jar of marmalade...no, don't think too long about it...the result actually is great) or a cisk beer (good and cold Martyr!) but water was best.
Mila is enjoying herself, and is finally un-jet lagged. We moved to a larger room with a spare bedroom for her, and she seems happy. I think her back is still aching from one of the Layland busses which dropped into a hole whilst we were traveling through the "three cities".
Carnival is still on...kind of cute seeing all the kids in costume. Sort of like Halloween back home, but for the whole weekend.
Regards from Malta.
A nice day, roughly 50 degrees Farenheight all day. Clear and sunny. I do believe I picked up a sunburn!
My friend Mila and I poked around fort St. Angelo this morning. It is a stunning fort...much in demand by many different groups. You can see pictures of all these places, and the big gun on my web site....www.southtower.on.ca, in the Library.
Had a lovely dinner in Mosta, at the Tal Koppola. The best desserts in Malta, in my opinion. And now I can say that I have found Maltese food I actually like...the rabbit in Spagetti was superb. The pizza (three cheese...mozzarella, blue and goat cheese) was well spiced, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. A pleasant change from the usual North American napalm on a crust. The water at 4 bucks a litre came from Scotland, and was a good choice...normally of course I would have had a "Kinnie" (as soft drink that tastes like a cross between a coke and a jar of marmalade...no, don't think too long about it...the result actually is great) or a cisk beer (good and cold Martyr!) but water was best.
Mila is enjoying herself, and is finally un-jet lagged. We moved to a larger room with a spare bedroom for her, and she seems happy. I think her back is still aching from one of the Layland busses which dropped into a hole whilst we were traveling through the "three cities".
Carnival is still on...kind of cute seeing all the kids in costume. Sort of like Halloween back home, but for the whole weekend.
Regards from Malta.
Friday, February 04, 2005
Sunny and warm
Well, finally the weather broke. Guess I shouldn't complain, they had snow in Rome! Malta got off lucky. Visited the Wigancourt Tower and the Red Tower today....worth blowing off a morning! The view from the Red Tower is priceless! Gozo over there...the bay with its sandy beach down there...pity the water is too cold to swim in. I am such a wimp, when I was a kid I used to swim in Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, and the water was 60 degrees...and I would play in it all day. Thats about 15 C, which of course, is the temp of the water in St Paul's Bay. I do remember my mother mentioning that my fingernails would turn blue though. But then, I was a kid then. I didn't know everything until I was a teen ager, at which time of course I left home. Now that I am a crotchety old phart, again, I know everything, and of course, again, I have left home. There seems to be a pattern here...this hotel is FILLED with crotchety old pharts, all of whom know everything...just ask them.
Tonight is Carnival in Valetta! Sort of a Mardi Gras. Lots of kids in costumes...it was great fun! Music was, well, LOUD and eclectic. Eclectic...a fancy word meaning they didn't know what was coming next. But dancing in the streets is not such a bad thing.
Regards from a slightly drunk Yusef.
Tonight is Carnival in Valetta! Sort of a Mardi Gras. Lots of kids in costumes...it was great fun! Music was, well, LOUD and eclectic. Eclectic...a fancy word meaning they didn't know what was coming next. But dancing in the streets is not such a bad thing.
Regards from a slightly drunk Yusef.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
The Sunny Mediterranian.....NOT!
Well, rain cancelled the big St Paul's Shipwreck day parade! Though of course it cannot compare with the 10 below in Ottawa, there is no doubt that 7 above with a whipping wind is pretty miserable!
You should see this place...geriatric central! This place is worse than Fort Lauderdale for blue haired old hags running out the clock with their leathery dates. They all look like they should be making "carry on" movies. Here I was expecting Italian cooking, English speaking and cold beer, instead I get warm beer, semetic speaking and English cooking! I am getting mightily tired of egg and chips butty! (A butty is a sandwich... but one that drips a lot.) As usual, we made the long trip all the way out to Fort St. Elmo, and just as usual, it wasn't open! Closed due to rain this time. You dopes, you only open it once in two weeks for a Police parade, and when you cancel the parade, you don't even put up a sign to say so!
Oh well...we had lots of company. Lots of grumbling people at the gates of Fort St. Elmo. If any body from Malta is reading this...you lost a LOT of money today you fools! When I was there, it was lovely, sunny and nice, though of course, the streets were flooded with over 6 inches of water at times. Its not like they make provision to drain off rain water...I think I saw the year's supply of rain this morning! There is not a lot of rain here...lots of cactus though.
Yesterday dropped into the Takali airfield. It isn't an airfield any more, of course, though it saw LOTS of action in WWII. Now the local craftspeople are trying to eke a living in the old nissan huts. Seems like an idea of the 1960's, with the tie dyed shirts and embroidered jeans, but these are just plain taudry, and well past their "sell by" dates. There is a plan to change it all...probably by putting up hotels...that seems to be the usual answer to urban renewal around here.
Well, more later, as you can see, my usual ascerbic comments are just going to have to wait until I get much more pissed off...so far though, this warm beer is not too bad. Maybe if I drink enough of it, I'll learn to play cribbage. (the hot game around here....)
From Malta, this is your intrepid reporter signing off.
You should see this place...geriatric central! This place is worse than Fort Lauderdale for blue haired old hags running out the clock with their leathery dates. They all look like they should be making "carry on" movies. Here I was expecting Italian cooking, English speaking and cold beer, instead I get warm beer, semetic speaking and English cooking! I am getting mightily tired of egg and chips butty! (A butty is a sandwich... but one that drips a lot.) As usual, we made the long trip all the way out to Fort St. Elmo, and just as usual, it wasn't open! Closed due to rain this time. You dopes, you only open it once in two weeks for a Police parade, and when you cancel the parade, you don't even put up a sign to say so!
Oh well...we had lots of company. Lots of grumbling people at the gates of Fort St. Elmo. If any body from Malta is reading this...you lost a LOT of money today you fools! When I was there, it was lovely, sunny and nice, though of course, the streets were flooded with over 6 inches of water at times. Its not like they make provision to drain off rain water...I think I saw the year's supply of rain this morning! There is not a lot of rain here...lots of cactus though.
Yesterday dropped into the Takali airfield. It isn't an airfield any more, of course, though it saw LOTS of action in WWII. Now the local craftspeople are trying to eke a living in the old nissan huts. Seems like an idea of the 1960's, with the tie dyed shirts and embroidered jeans, but these are just plain taudry, and well past their "sell by" dates. There is a plan to change it all...probably by putting up hotels...that seems to be the usual answer to urban renewal around here.
Well, more later, as you can see, my usual ascerbic comments are just going to have to wait until I get much more pissed off...so far though, this warm beer is not too bad. Maybe if I drink enough of it, I'll learn to play cribbage. (the hot game around here....)
From Malta, this is your intrepid reporter signing off.
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