Queen To Join Canada's Seal Hunt

It is reported today that Queen Elizabeth may be preparing to join the Canadian seal hunt in an effort to support both her
representative Governor General Michaelle Jean and Canada's sealers.
It may have meant to be a sign of solidarity with Canada's Inuit people or possibly a slap in the face of the European Union after it recently voted to ban seal products.
Whatever her motivation, Governor General Michaelle Jean is certainly being talked about this morning after she gutted a freshly slaughtered seal, cut out the heart, took off a slice and ate it raw. It was it was definitely graphic, even stomach churning, but was it justified? Jean says yes.
On the Governor General's final official visit to the Arctic, she used a traditional blade to repeatedly cut into a freshly slaughtered seal, then turned to the woman beside her and asked her, "Could I try the heart"? And then she did.
When it was over, the Governor General wiped her bloody fingers with a tissue, saying it is difficult to believe anyone would characterize the traditional hunting practices as inhumane.
And apparently the Queen is in agreement.

Whats in my water ?

Its A White Oliphant

If information is power, the ability to distort and control information will be used more often than not to to preserve and perpetuate that power. David Wise in "The Politics of Lying"
I'm not sure which is more disheartening. Watching another fourteen million dollars of taxpayer money flushed down the drain in the Oliphant (White Elephant) Commission debacle or watching Mulroney twist and spin his way though another day.
It got me thinking - Is lying just a way of life in politics ? Is this something we should just come to expect ? You know, just another day at the office, deceived one or two, screwed a few and on we go. I mean we have had enough of it.
Bill Clinton - I did not have sex with that woman
George Bush - Iraq poses imminent danger and weapons of mass destruction
Richard Nixon - I am not a crook
The Liberal Party - cashed stuffed in brown envelopes
Mulroney - its all just a business deal
and even here in Saskatchewan, the NDP expects us to believe that 1100 phony memberships were just the work of one
over zealous volunteer and not the fraud that many believe it to be. No harm, no foul !
Is this the norm ? One only needs to look at the Soviet Union to know the danger of lying in politics. Here was a government so adept at lying that even they seemed to forget what the truth really was. Soviet society was built one fiction upon another until it almost became comical. Can we really be that far behind ?
Does Brian Mulroney think the Canadian public will really think that three hundred thousand dollars in cash and then stashed away in a safe unreported was just a normal way of doing business. Does the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party actually think that Saskatchewan people will accept that this was just the work of one person, who signed up 1100 members, got it all paid for in small cash amounts and was just being over zealous? It makes me think that politicians need to be more honest about their lying. Or do they ? Do we just take everything they say at face value.
Two things bother me about these lies.
1) These lies are completely insulting and
2) Perhaps even more insulting is the belief of the politicians that they can get away with it.
But even worse than that is the sobering and humiliating fact that we indeed are letting them get away with it.
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content copywright 2009.Larry.All rights reserved

Should Spring Ever Arise

Went shopping at the local greenhouses yesterday and Louise picked up her plants for the yard etc. You know should spring or summer ever get here. They are now safely protected in the garage waiting warm weather and of course being hauled outside everyday for some conditioning.
I haven't bought any pond plants yet. Just to messy hauling them back and forth from the pond. My exotic species of goldfish wait at the office in their winter tank waiting for their turn to go to the pond. The tough guys, the goldfish who wintered in the garage are already in the pond and enjoying some sun and the water fall
Took in the Bill Gaither Concert in Saskatoon last night. Does anyone put on a better concert than Bill Gaither? Four hours long and just incredibile music.
Featured the Bill Gaither Vocal Band (five of them) plus Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. They did some songs together featuring three and even four tenors and it was awesome. Signature Sound is coming to Circle Drive Alliance November 6th in Saskatoon so just booked tickets for that.

Riders New Farm Team For Eskimos

The Edmonton Eskimos announced today that they have entered into an agreement with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders which will see the Riders serve as a farm or development team for the Eskimos.
At the same time, the Eskimos announced they have sent someone by the name of
Juan Joseph to the Riders for all star defensive end Kitwana Jones. Joseph has just graduated Millsaps (yes that does say saps) College in Jackson, Mississippi.
(Wonder who the saps are in this deal?)
Kitwana Jones
Started all 18 regular season games and West Semi-Final at defensive end…had seven defensive tackles in week 7…had three defensive tackles and a fumble recovery in week 9…had five defensive tackles, a quarterback sack and a forced fumble in week 10…had four defensive tackles, three special teams tackles and a quarterback sack in week 12…had two defensive tackles, a special teams tackle, a quarterback sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in week 14…finished the season with 55 defensive tackles, 11 special teams tackles, three tackles for losses and a team high five quarterback sacks.
Looks like a pretty even trade !
The Riders have been unofficially serving as a development team for the Eskimos having recently traded Fred Perry for Steven Jyles (another quarterback who doesn't play)
Ritchie Hall also left the Riders to take over the head coaching position with the Eskimos and earlier this year the Eskimos called up Scott Gordon and Maurice Lloyd to play with the big team. (free agents)
A league spokesman says although unusual it is not against the rules for a team to have a farm team in the same league. As far as disappointing the fans, the spokesman points to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who haven't won anything in years and yet still fill their building.
Rider officials are confident their young inexperienced quarterbacks can do the job but say negotiations are continuing with Michael Bishop and Kerry Joseph and talks have started with Dave Dickenson, however apparently Dickenson can't remember where Saskatchewan is.
As far as a decimated defence corps goes, Rider coaches say there is no truth to the rumour that Gainer the Gopher is now working out at the middle linebacker position.

How Was Your Summer ?

Every telephone call I received yesterday started the same way. How did you enjoy your summer ?
Well it was very short. Look what we woke up to this morning. I mean its May 15th. You have got to be kidding.
My fish have gone back to bed.

Are you Liberal, NDP, Conservative or Albertan ?

Are you a Liberal, an NDP, a Conservative, or an Albertan ? Here is a little test that will help you decide.

The answer can be found by posing the following question:

You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, an Islamic Terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you, screams ...
obscenities, praises Allah, raises the knife, and charges at you. You are carrying a Glock cal 40, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?

The Liberal response
Well, that's not enough information to answer the question!
Does the man look poor or oppressed?
Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?
Could we run away?
What does my wife think?
What about the kids?
Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand?

The NDP response

What does the law say about this situation?

Does the Glock have appropriate safety built into it?

Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does this send to society and to my children? ...

Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me?

Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me?

If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me?

Should I call 9-1-1 ?

Why is this street so deserted?
We need to raise taxes, have paint and weed day and make this happier, healthier street that would discourage such behaviour.
This is all so confusing. I need to debate this for a few days and try to find a solution.


The Conservative Response

Bang

The Albertan Response
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

Wanted - Conservative Prime Minister With Charisma

As I watched Brian Mulroney unravelling on the stand in the latest Canadian million dollar boon doggle inquiry, I began to think what this country (Canada) really needs is a Conservative Prime Minister with charisma. You know a character, someone who is really charismatic. Unlike Michael Ignatieff, the tourist who wants to be your next Prime Minister, I have lived all my life in Canada and pretty much grown up on a steady diet of Liberal PM's. So I decided to do a little comparison with the concept of charisma as the main factor.
The Liberals of course can offer up Pierre Elliot Trudeau (68 - 79 and 80 - 84) as their charismatic superstar. Trudeau mania swept Pierre to power in a Canadian version of Obama mania. Even Western Canadians liked Pierre until he fingered and fuddled duddled us and basically told our farmers to go to hell.
Then there is Jean Chretien, elected in 1993. The scrappy little guy from Shawinigan, who even if you didn't like him, you just had to admire Jean for getting to the big show. Would there have been anyone in Shawinigan in Jean's growing up days who would have looked at him and said there goes our future Prime Minister?
Now look at the Conservative side. Remember this is in my lifetime. Theres Joe Clarke who had a short visit as Prime Minister in 79 - 80. Described as modest,
straight forward, the youngest Canadian PM at 39, but charisma, no.
Then theres Brian Mulroney. Fiscally responsible, typical Conservative but charismatic? Kim Campbell popped in for a cup of tea as Prime Minister in an even shorter stay so we really didn't get a chance to know her.
And then there is today's Stephen Harper. Again solid, dependable, responsible, all those great Conservative terms but charismatic? Sorry.
You know maybe the problem is in the name. Webster's dictionary defines Conservative as tending or disposed to maintain existing views, marked by moderation or caution, traditional. Thats all good isn't it? In Canada apparently not !
The same dictionary describes Liberal as marked by generosity, generous, openhanded, not bound by tradition. Beginning to sound a little more charismatic isn't it ?
So when you do this comparison and the Liberals can offer Pierre and Jean as their charismatic superstars and the Conservatives can only repsond with well, uh, oh my,
Brian Mulroney. Yikes!

Baaaaa Baaaaa, Media are a Bunch of Sheep

Boston Bruins defenceman Aaron Ward can't believe Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker was not suspended for his punch in Game 5 of their Eastern_Conference semifinal on Sunday. Ward's arms were at his side and was defenceless when Walker took him down with one punch.
Most people who follow hockey can't believe it either. A sucker punch and a league that doesn't follow its own rules.
The NHL rescinded Walker's one-game suspension for instigating the fight in the last five minutes of the game after a hearing on Monday. Walker said he was coming in to defend teammate Matt Cullen, who was engaged in a verbal confrontation with Ward.

"If you, the media, accept that you're a bunch of sheep," Ward told the Raleigh News & Observer. ". . . It just allows people to get off scot-free."

Responded NHL Vice President Colin Campbell and I quote, "Baaaaa,

Baaaaaa, Baaaaaaaa

Putting a Face On The Homeless

Took in the movie "The Soloist" on Saturday night. This is an excellent movie based on a true story about Nathaniel Ayers, a gifted musician who suffers from schizonprenia and becomes homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. He is befriended by a Los Angeles Times reporter who discovers him playing his cello on the streets and begins writing in his column about him.
We went to this movie at the Roxy, a stately theatre in Saskatoon and as an added touch the theatre had a young lady playing the cello for about a half hour before the movie began. Very nice.
The movie, at least for me, really gets you thinking about the plight of homeless people. In the credits at the end of The Soloist, it is stated that there are approximately 90,000 homeless people on the streets of Los Angeles. Mind boggling when you consider the city of Kamloops population is about 90,000 and also that is more people than live in Red Deer and many other Canadian cities. I always a little skeptical about those numbers so I did some checking and it appears 90,000 homeless in
Los Angeles sadly is a pretty accurate number. Some reports said 75,000 homeless, some went even higher than 90,000.
Sad when you think about it. I mean I know there are all kinds of reasons for homelessness but in this day and age people living in countries like Canada and the United States and being poor and homeless really is a sad commentary.
The plight of the homeless has received a bit of a boost lately with this movie and also with the actions last week of Winnipeg's homeless hero Faran Hall. He is the homeless man who dove into the river to pull a child to safety. For that and rightly so
he has been recognized as a hero and honored and gifted. He's been rather modest about it all but perhaps the attention received may result in improvements for the homeless.
The real question is "What can be done about homeless people? We have some of the best social programs in the world and they do not seem to be solving the problem. One article I read the writer glibly quoted Jesus in Matthew 26:11 where he said
"the poor you will always have with you" as if that were some reason for not offering assistance to the down and out.
I could go on here about what Jesus was really saying and how that writer has taken the quote out of context but most people with an intelligent mind would get it.
I would remind that writer of Mark 10:25 where Jesus also said "It is easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of God" Now hows that for balancing the scales.

Canucks Sign New Goaltender

The Vancouver Canucks immediately signed a new goaltender following their humiliating 7 - 5 playoff loss to the Chicago BlackHawks and elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Cono Pylon is expected to challenge Roberto Luongo for the top spot on the Canucks and is expected to at least make the backup position replacing Jason Labarbera who never gets to play no matter how bad Roberto is.

Stanley Cup Parade in Toronto Last Night

Win starved Maple Leaf fans lined the Toronto Expressway last night in what they thought was a Stanley Cup parade. And no, the Tamil Tigers are not the new expansion team that Gary Bettman is allowing Basillie to bring to Southern Ontario.

A Solution For The NHL's Economic Woes

The time has come for the National Hockey League to take a page from society in order to solve its economic problem.
Psychiatrists and psychologists have been telling us for years its not about winning, its about participating. Educators have stopped giving passing and failing marks and have gone so far as to no longer mark papers in red pen because red is a sign of failure. How is it that the Toronto Maple Leafs wear blue? But thats another story.
So here is my solution for the National Hockey League.

1) All 30 teams make the playoffs every year. Its about participating and making money remember. Each participating team will get a miniature Stanley Cup. As part of the new 30 team playoff format and in the interest of fairness and everyone making money the 30th place finisher opens against the 29th, the 28th against the 27th and so on right down to 2 vs 1.
This will give the sad sack Phoenix Coyotes and opportunity to make the playoffs and really generate some excitement out there in the desert, a real hotbed for hockey.
Imagine first round the Coyotes facing off against the equally inept New York Islanders.
Then say Phoenix gets a win in that series, they would face the winner of 28th vs 27th. Likely Nashville or Atlanta.
Can you see the excitement pounding as Gary Bettman's National American Hockey League rolls on through the playoffs.

2) All series will be best of nine, This is about making money remember. As it stands now the National Hockey League wraps up sometime in early June. This will extend the season into mid July thus earning even more revenue for the NHL.

3) Salaries could be slashed drastically. Remember nobody wins, Its participating so now salaries could be cut back substantially. Say salaries could be somewhere in the range of what the President of the United States makes. If you didn't know thats $400,000 per year. If the most powerful man in the world only makes $400,000 per year why are these guys getting five or six million per year to shoot a puck. Ok lets be fair though. Mr. Obama lives in a nice big white house and has all his expenses paid for. So lets triple the NHL salaries. Each player would make 1.2 million per year. Everyone gets the same so no one has an advantage. Small markets like Edmonton can compete, draft good players and then hang on to them.

4) In the new affordable National Hockey League, ticket prices could be dramatically lowered so that a family of four could actually go to a game and not have to take out a second mortgage on their house. Another plus more Canadian teams could be added even in places like Winnipeg, Quebec City, Hamilton, Halifax and Saskatoon. I know that will have NHL President Gary Bettman running for the Pepto Bismal at the thought of Canadian teams competing but remember Gary, this is now a participation league. And anyhow Bettman could have what he's always wanted. An all American cities division competing against an all Canadian division. That way Bettman's "Americanization" could really show us Canadians.

So there are some new ideas for the NHL Board of Governors to kick around for the June meetings. And in keeping with the all participation theme, I won't even charge for these exciting, bold, dramatic and revolutionary ideas.
These ideas won't catch on with other professional league though. A spokesman for the National Football League and major league baseball says fans in their cities actually care about the game unlike hockey with Phoenix, Tampa Bay, and Nashville where to them ice is something you put in a drink.

An Open Letter to NHL President Gary Bettman

Dear Mr. Bettman:
Its difficult to miss the open disdain and contempt that you show towards Canadian NHL teams and Canadian Hockey fans. That you would proudly announce that you will fight any move of the Phoenix Coyotes to Canada and block an opportunity to give Hamilton a team shows your complete arrogance.
Your league, Mr. Bettman, does pretty well by the six current Canadian teams. Statistics show the six Canadian teams make up 31% of the league's 1.1 billion dollars of ticket revenue. That is six out of 30 teams Mr. Bettman.
Other numbers show that at least eleven of the USA based teams either just made it or lost money on ticket revenue.
And yet you continue to shun Canada. Local sports announcer, Drew Remenda, who also does color for the San Jose Sharks, sounds more like your publicist than an announcer when he says you love Canada and you were instrumental in keeping the Oilers in Edmonton. Well why wouldn't you keep the Oilers in Edmonton?
In terms of ticket revenue generated they are number 18 on the list ahead of New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Washington among others. Calgary sits at number 14, Ottawa at number 12. Toronto, as you know is #1 in ticket revenue while Montreal sits at number 3 and Vancouver at 8. Pretty good numbers for six Canadian teams.
From a business standpoint a franchise in Hamilton or Winnipeg only makes sound economic sense.
Some of the USA markets that you vigoursly defend including Phoenix are way at the bottom. For example, Mr. Bettman, the Coyotes bring in about $450,000 in revenue per game while Toronto brings in about 1.9 million dollars per game.
In fact in 1996, Mr. Bettman, the Winnipeg Jets, averaged about $330,000 per game so have you really done much better in a non hockey market like Phoenix?
And in case you haven't checked Phoenix isn't your only problem team. Have you checked the numbers for Columbus, Atlanta, Nashville, the Islanders and even the Buffalo Sabres?
Unless somehow you can turn these teams into winners, Mr Bettman it won't be long before they will be looking for somewhere to move as well. And true to form I am sure you will try Kansas City or Orlando and fail again there before you try good Canadian cities.
Its an unfortunate reality Mr. Bettman that not every team can win the Stanley Cup and winning does make a difference. Remember the Washington Capitals? They were about ready to die in the mid seventies. They finished last six out of eight seasons and missed the playoffs every year of their first eight seasons. Then came the trade that brought Rod Langway to the Capitals. They made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and then never missed the playoffs in the eleven seasons that Langway played there. But even today Washington lags behind the six Canadian franchises in terms of ticket revenue.
You see Mr Bettman just being large in population doesn't guarantee success.
The Saskatchewan Rough Riders play in the smallest market in the Canadian Football League and yet they lead the league in numerous categories. There's a little thing you keep forgetting about Mr. Bettman. Its called passion. Canadian hockey fans have it. It is our game you know. So move out of the way, let Mr. Bassillie have his franchise and let Hamilton have the Coyoteees. By the way we'll call them the Coyotes up here. When that works out and it will, lets bring the Jets back to Winnipeg.

When a dog's gotta go, well a dog's gotta go

Went grocery shopping tonight at the local Extra Foods and was surprised to see that they are now charging five cents for their plastic bags in an effort to as they say, Save the Planet, Protect the environment. Isn't that what they all say?
Now I get all the environmnent stuff, I get it, I mean I'm not fanatical about it but really how is charging me five cents for a plastic bag going to have a real significant impact on the environment.
I asked a couple of employees where this nickel ends up. Does the company donate back to say environmental causes or is it just another five cents into the profit bag. And don't get me wrong, I'm not against profits.
I understand all the hype about plastic bags. Apparently we use over 500 billion of these things every year. And thats what leaves me a little skeptical. Do the math on five billion multiplied by five cents and its starts to look like a money grab to me. Tell me my nickel is going back to planetary improvement and not to the companies bottom line.
Also its not like the plastic bag industry isn't aware of the concerns.They had to get concerned after the city of San Francisco became the first city in North America to ban plastic bags. The industry says they will be using 40% recycled content by the year 2015 and expect to reduce waste by 300 million pounds per year.
My concern, What about poor Fido? Signs all over parks tell us to "Scoop the Poop" or get fined. Scoop it where if I can't carry a plastic bag? Will I have to start carrying a little plastic pail on all my walks? What about these parks that sell little plastic bags? Will they have to stop? You know I'm trying to convince myself that this nickel a bag thing is all about the environment. But something else is telling me its just another executive thought out money grab.

Sign of the Times

In these tough economic times, not everyone has lost their sense of humour.
Outside of Unity, Saskatchewan today, the sign on the house says it all.
And further down the road, this "dummy" is looking for fish in a dugout

What the Heck Happened Here

Carolina 3 Boston Bruins 0

How did that prayer go again? God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change.

Serenity by the Pond - My Quiet Place

Have my pond up and running again. Its work but I really enjoy it. Nothing like a coffee in the morning with the sound of the waterfall in the background and fish jumping for their food. They really have become quite tame.
In the one picture, my four year old Shabunka jumps to grab his morning breakfast

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

The Boulin Wall

Lets see now, it only took eleven years but the Boulin Wall is now standing in
Vancouver.
Black Hawks 6 Canucks 3

Unable to Ward off the Bruins

BEWARE STORM CHASERS
Bruins 4 Hurricanes 1

Pigs Get A Bad Rap

You have to feel sorry for pigs these days. I mean they always have gotten a bad rap right back to Biblical times when they were viewed as being unclean. And how many times have you driven in the country and seen pigs rolling in a big mud hole while their bovine farm mates graze contently in the grass and chew their cud. We even speak of pigs in derogatory terms.
When someone eats too much, he is referred to as pigging out. Or if he has bad table manners, he's a pig. Dresses like a pig, looks like a pig, acts like a pig. I mean the poor pig. Whatever did he do to deserve this?
And the pig and his product are being slammed even harder because of swine flu. People are worried, they're not buying pork so consequently, "this little piggie isn't going to market".
Melissa Weast who raises hogs for the Wild Weast Hog Show says pigs do get a bad rap. She says, "People think of pigs as dirty, stinky animals. The only time they are actually stinky is if their owners allow them to be". "They love baths, she says, and actually prefer to be clean".
I've always liked pigs and they have played an important role in history and in child development. Remember the three little pigs and how closely they mirror society. The first little pig was an underachiever. He foolishly built his house out of straw and it was blown away. The second little pig was average, probably like most of us. He built his house out of wood and unfortunately tragedy struck and it was all blown away. Hasn't tragedy hit us all at one time or another.
And then the third little pig. Well he was an overachiever. Probably a Type A personality. He rose to the top, built his house out of bricks, foiled the big bad wolf and saved the day. Aren't the three little pigs just like life? Some lose, some exist and some win.
And then there is my personal favorite, Porky Pig. How many Saturday mornings did we get up early to watch Porky and his pals
perform? To see Porky Pig all dressed up in his little outfits and overcoming whatever obstacles were placed in front of him.
Hours and hours of entertainment value and life lessons all rolled into one because of this little Porky Pig.
So lets lighten up on this Swine Flu thing. Call it something else and leave the pigs alone.
And as Porky Pig would say, th-th-th-th-th-th-thats all folks