April 19, 2002
I didn't do too bad a job this time [on my haircut]. The
only thing is that I didn't cut any of the hair on the top, so it is still
too long. Now that I'm biking it would be better to have it short
for the helmet wearing.
I went to a documentary film about the American
movie industry, with Denis tonight. It was pretty funny, and informative.
I haven't decided if I'll go to the IMAXes tomorrow. I might watch
a movie at home or just go shopping at Walmart. I have to stock up
on video tape for all the new Star Trek comming up. I have a friend
who is counting on me to tape those, as they are not blessed with cable
channels that rock.
April 20, 2002
Well I woke up and looked at the eBay message board
I've been posting to, and found a post about a man who survived the September
11th attacks by mere minutes. He has let the event stir up a hatred
for like-minded terrorists, but unfortunately also for innocent people
only associated with the terrorists by proximity, and not by thought or
action.
Americans can be ignorant and cold to world issues
and foreign suffering at the best of times, but grief only seems to magnify
the problem. I do believe that a war was required due to those tragic
events, but advocating the death of innocents who get in the way, whether
American or not is still wrong. We are fortunate that our super-power
to the south is well intentioned, but they move with the grace of a drunken
elephant trying to help a mouse-sized-democracy safely across the street.
9 times out of 10 they will accidentally crush the mouse before they make
it, and then try and cover up the damage with a puppet-mouse (or they simply
rUN), before they stumble away back to their peanuts and beer.
The only consolation I take from Sept. 11 is that
it has led to the destruction of the Taliban, and accelerated the freedom
of the innocents in Afghanistan. I do not hold high hopes for the
oppressed in Israel, however. The American people (and the world
in general) stand by while Palestinian refugees make charges of genocide
against Israeli soldiers. Although I doubt most of the killings went
unprovoked, it is still tragic that the area was allowed to deteriorate
as it has. The latest crop of suicide bombers are about my age, and
have grown up in the most politically confusing area in the world to me.
It is no wonder that only 13% of Canadians have taken a side, while the
rest choose not to. No one understands who is the instigator in the
fight, and that is the problem. The fight is so old and senseless
that it doesn't matter who started it. They act like red-necked Europeans
who hate the people from the town down the road because their grand-pappy
hated the town down the road. The Yugoslavian war criminal on the
run, R. Karadicz (spelling?) came from a town where most people are his
relatives. They are so inbred that they would make a Confederate
town of the old South, queasy. Why don't people "get out more"? Sheesh!
Americans (and even many Canadians) are guilty of
"pot calling the kettle black". This is the story of the smoked hash
teasing a kettle left in the fire. The burnt hash was just as black,
but it didn't see that it was just the same colour. [Actually that isn't
the story, but what is a good political story these days without mentioning
the debate on marijuana?] Anyway, some Americans including the hateful
one that incited this essay, don't notice that they blame civilians who
sit on their butt while their leaders allow atrocities. "What is
the difference if some Afghans wind up dead? They didn't try to stop
the Taliban or Bin Laden!" The problem with this thinking is that
Americans (and even Canadians) sit on their behinds while their leaders
make big mistakes too. We don't even punish our bad leaders at the
polls, so why should Afghans risk their death or torture to overthrow their
tyrants? The person holding the upper hand has to make sacrifices
and call a situation even. The person without the upper hand has
nothing left to sacrifice, but their pride or life. Suicide bombers
have lost their pride, and take their life in a futile gesture to get their
pride back. If developed nations helped war torn countries gain the
stability they need, then those bombers would have a reason to have pride
in their nation, and have absolutely no twisted-excuse left to kill others.
Then terrorism would be more clear cut.
Well that is all I really have to say on that for
now. It may be obvious that I'm not a fan of the death penalty either.
Maybe that should be my next rant...
Hmm, it is after 12:00. I guess I should go
have lunch now. Then I have a whole afternoon to figure out what to do
with my evening.
April 23, 2002
It's a Tuesday, so it was Denis' sports night.
I went to the basketball court with him and two of his buddies, and we
played 4 on 4 with another group that was already on "our" court.
By the end of the Summer it will be our court, anyway. I'll have
to get better shoes and socks for it though, since my feet now have small
blisters on the bottom. Ouch!
I am playing with my new digital camera. I'll
have pictures up soon, so stay in touch. I don't worry about saying
I have a new camera on the Internet where anyone can read it, since I have
a guard dog in the house all day. Disney is his name, and barking at strangers
and friends alike is his game.
Now I have to do some bus route planning for tomorrow...
[April 24, 2002 inserted at a later date]
Saw the Senators kick the Flyers around to a 3-0
win. My camera got some much needed exercise.
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| 5 Salo tries to break up the fight, while 77 Adam Oates circles. | My new job party at the Lonestar restaurant. |
[May 4, 2002 inserted at a later date]
Got back from Regina today. Have a booligazilion
pictures to put up, but that is for another day. Saw Spiderman yesterday
and it was quite good, 'cept for the 5 minutes of girly sappy stuff.
Looking North West from the bus on Elgin.
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From Hull, by the Museum of Civilization. |
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Nice shot of the rear end of Parliament, huh? |
May 10, 2002
I've been on eBay for a month now and I guess updating
this page has kind of slipped to the back burner. This is a post
on the eBay board, in response to a gun lover who takes "right to bare
arms" to the extreme:
Hi, here goes my rant,
Canada was a country born being concerned with the
expansionist States pushing west quickly just south of our easily culturally
divided areas. While American citizens codified a right to beat the
British away, Canadians were only worried about beating away the Americans.
A civil war (no doubt prolonged by rampant civilian gun ownership) had
just divided Americans, and hence the Canadian government was created with
a different federal structure to try and avoid this. People here
are allowed to own guns, and for your point to make sense that citizens
with guns can defend themselves from authorities, then what does it matter
if the government "knows" who has them? Are guns going to be able
to stop the government from encroaching on your property, or not?!
Trust me, if the government wanted to take your guns, there is nothing
short of a prolonged hostage situation that would delay them.
The government has always in any society been ultimately
for protection from alien governments. When the government turns
bad, and elections fail, guns may be the first answer, but people-power
not fire-power is the only solution. If France's civilians had been
better armed would Hitler have been able to last in France for years?
Of course. The Nazis would have been wounded, but they would only
come away with those weapons, after those trained soldiers dispatched the
untrained French rebellion. The occupation of Europe might not have
happened if North Americans had stood up to racist people on the other
side of the world BEFORE millions started to die. Today, Canadians
have the RIGHT to Peace, Order, and GOOD government. You have the
right to bear arms. Well it is cold here in Canada, and trust me,
bare arms get cold in the Winter, but peace never gets unpleasant ;-)
I know it is baffling to know that some people don't
want a gun in every home, and a wild west feel on the streets, but the
NRA attitude isn't for everyone. Heck, don't you think you could
be a little more concerned with the REALLY messed up people in the world
that feel they should kill hundreds of people and themselves to make the
world a better place?
Here's an idea. Lets give the civilians of
Afghanistan guns, so that if their government turns corrupt after the US
pulls out (Never trust the "pull-out method" to be effective.) then they
can take care of themselves. Hmmm. Think it will work? Has it EVER
worked? Stability and security doesn't come from guns alone, it comes
from stable and secure people, of whom North Americans are blessed with
some of the best.
*************************************
Well what do you think? Have some fun at http://forums.ebay.ca/ and
check it out.
Ah, night has fallen, and tomorrow is a Saturday.
What to do what to do?
May 12, 2002
I spent yesterday out on the town(s). I went
to Hull to see the IMAX movie "The Human Body". It was good, but
not great. I'll see it again sometime just because my IMAX pass is
still good for many months. I have high hopes that the next movie
batch released after June will contain one about the International Space
Station.
I got another memory card for my camera, so I took
tons of pictures yesterday. Now I just need to sort out the best
ones, decrease the file sizes and post them on my web site for others to
admire.
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