Our Fathers...

This week saw the passing of my very close friend’s father. A kind and principled man, he was a brilliant thinker and never shy to offer his help. There’s never a good time to lose someone close to you, but I feel especially bad to see such a close-knit family go through this now.

It reminds me that some of us are extremely lucky to have the fathers we do. We’re lucky to have dads to pass on their wisdom, knowledge and humour. Dads who sit through snow and rain to watch us play sports, dads who teach us right from wrong and sometimes dads who raise us single handedly.

They’ll carry you around on their shoulders for hours, no matter how sore they get because dads are demigods – all-powerful in the eyes of a child.

They’ll tell you not to smoke or not to drive to fast (all in the name of safety), but will let you sip their beer. Plus there’s the age old question – could my dad really beat up your dad?

Dads are good guys who build tree forts and fix cars and maybe sometimes don’t get the recognition that moms do. Don’t get me wrong, moms are great, but I’m starting to fell like these guys need their own day.

Either way, I’m passing on my condolences to a family whose father was all these things and more.

Et Tu Hubris?

In the classic school-yard bully scenario, the big tough-guy, singles out the weaker kids and picks on them one by one. Sometimes - not always, but sometimes the kids catch on and realize that while individually weak, as a group they're stronger. As a group they're powerful, and the bully doesn't stand a chance. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen often.

So imagine my glee, when I looked at the front page of the newspaper today, and saw a photo of Stephen Harper nearly in tears.

He's spent the last two years pushing the opposition parties - daring them to call his bluff and topple the government in a confidence vote. And almost every time they blinked. Until now.

This time, the Liberals and NDP just needed to say the word coalition loud enough and suddenly Harper and his minions retreat - grumbling like a defeated cartoon villain.

There's something so satisfying about the bully getting slapped back.

Calling your bluffs

I have to first admit that I haven't been following this story closely, but if I had to fall on one side of the debate I'd be for the wind farms off the Scarborough Bluffs.

I've seen the wind farm north of Shelburne on highway 10 and I think it looks fantastic. Even residents who were opposed to the turbines have come around.

But as I don't live in Scarborough (thank God for that) I suppose it's not really up to me. Although when I read statements like this I wish it was:

"I am worried that the bluffs are not rock and stone, and are very much vulnerable. I wonder what the vibrations would do to the bluffs."

Yup...some lady is worried that 60 or so turbines being erected between Ajax and the Leslie Spit will in fact bring the Scarborough Bluffs crashing into Lake Ontario. They've some how survived eons of weather and planetary shifting - but the vibrations of the (near silent) wind turbines will finally do what nature could not - topple the Scarborough Bluffs.

I hope this woman saw her quote in the paper today and suddenly realized how outrageously stupid she sounded and that she'll think twice about opening her mouth in the company of others. In fact - lady, do us all a favour and maybe just stay in doors for a little while.


Photo by Light Collector - Flickr photostream - http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitebeard/

Hard-core Lactivist

I had grown fearful lately that I had nothing to write about in this space. Had I grown so content with my life that I didn’t need this outlet to vent and rant and rave? Was I….happy?

Then - whilst contemplating my more human side, I read this story and it all came back to me. Welcome home.

This woman is claiming her right to breast feed in public was infringed on, and now she’s going after the pool’s owner. Well of course she is.

First – she was politely asked not to feed the baby in the pool. Good Christ, I won’t swim in a public pool let alone drink out of one. And this is a pool for babies – babies who pee themselves on dry land…what do you think they do in a warm pool?

Second – she was offered a number of alternative places for breast feeding, all of which weren’t in the pool. She wasn’t kicked out – just asked not to do it in the water. I’m not allowed to eat a hoagie in the pool, why is this kid? I don’t care how nice the water is, don’t be lazy, walk 10 steps to a chair and feed your kid.

Third – Gross. A public pool? Seriously? What’s next, are you going to let your baby teeth on a subway door handle?

Now I’m amongst those who believe breast feeding in public is fine (great even). Ladies if you choose to feed your baby in public – fair game and more power to you. But shouldn’t the respect you’re afforded go both ways? If someone asks you politely not to breast feed your 20 MONTH OLD baby – that’s actually a 2 year child – in a public swimming pool, then perhaps you should abide.

Plus, your kid is nearly 2 years old and if you keep breast feeding it there are bound to be psychological repercussions down the road. I’m no therapist, but that seems like trouble.

I’m calling for people to put a little perspective around things, because this is really not a big deal. Not everything is a cause to be rallied against. Maybe you just had a difference of opinion and you should move on with your life.

nuff said

Cabinet was bare

There’s something to be said about the American’s Republic style of politics, especially in light of Stephen Harper announcing his cabinet today.

In our parliamentary system, he’s forced to choose a cabinet from the elected officials in his party – as chosen by us – the Canadian people. And in the theory this model holds water. The people we elect are supposed to be the brightest and most qualified for the job…in THEORY.

But when this idea was being hashed out hundreds of years ago, I’m pretty sure they didn’t envision Stockwell Day as the minister of…well of anything, except maybe crayons or safety scissors.


So during an international economic crisis – the worst in 80 years – we’ve appointed the Canadian equivalent of Dan Quayle or Sarah Palin to ensure our country doesn’t slide further into peril. Did I miss something or is being a closet racist and pro-Bush evangelical somehow a prerequisite for sound economic governance?

But wait – there’s more! Tony Clement as the Minister of Industry. And why you might ask? Because after two years as Health Minister, he was bored and wanted a new challenge! Wait - what? Did he already fix the whole wait time thing? Did we get an influx of new doctors so that everyone now has a family practitioner?

After two years on the job, Milhouse from the Simpson’s has decided he wants something a tad more challenging and so is gifted the Industry portfolio, during an economic crisis.

seperated at birth?

The list goes on and on – John Baird the angriest man in parliament, as Transport Minister. Jason Kenney heading up Immigration after claiming Canada should use certain forms of discrimination when screening immigrants. Lisa Raitt as Minister of Natural Resources after a disastrous stint as the head of the Toronto Port Authority, thanks to our good friends in the 905 (like people didn’t already hate Oakville).

But such is the case when you have such a thin crop to choose from. And while this is reason enough to heap scorn on the whole process, there’s also the use of cabinet shuffle as punishment. When one of the above ministers causes some level of controversy or screws up their portfolio (and they will), Harper will fix it all by “shuffling” his cabinet.

It’s nice to know that governing in this country is so arbitrary, that on a moments notice anyone (probably you or I) can pick up where someone else left off with no trouble at all.

Next year either Obama or McCain (but mostly Obama) will sit down to pick his cabinet and isn’t handcuffed by the same restrictions Harper is. When he appoints someone to run the country's finances, he can choose from any of the finest minds in the country.

Meanwhile, we get this enormous douche-bag as Finance Minister – as if he hadn’t already done enough damage.


Who needs a drink?

Man-eating SPIDER!

I have zero interest in ever going to Australia. Sure it's beautiful and warm and I'm told the people are friendly. However I can give you about 10 reasons why I never want to go - all of them are snakes and spiders.

Check out this photograph of a spider eating a bird - a bird the size of a god-damn BABY! There's no reason this hellspawn should be alive other than to torment us in our nightmares! I would like to point out that this was someone's backyard.

It becomes evident to me that whoever chose Australia as a penal colony clearly did their homework.

More on this killing machine here