We Will Remember Them

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadians:

Pte Michael Freeman - Afghanistan December 26, 2008
WO Gaetan Roberge - Afghanistan December 27, 2008
Sgt Gregory Kruse - Afghanistan December 27, 2008

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

Still in London

Posted on: Ides of May
I haven’t left London yet, I had planned to depart this morning but heavy fog made me decide to remain an extra day. I really hate travelling when visibility is reduced. My sister tells me she was glad that I was staying another day and it has been fun spending some more time with my great-nephew Apollo. It’s only the second time I’ve seen him and he’s almost 2 years old.

As we were kicked back yesterday enjoying the post Christmas lull word came through my email that the peace of the season had been broken by the death of yet another Canadian soldier in Afghanistan. The young man is from Peterborough which is only about an hour from where I live. Pte Freeman had just returned to Afghanistan after having a home leave which allowed him to celebrate with his family what would turn out to be his final Christmas. -- read more

Merry Christmas To All

Posted on: Ides of May
It’s the pre-dawn of Christmas morning here in London, Ontario and the rest of the house is still slumbering away. Likely most of the city is slumbering except those homes with excited children who are itching to wake up parents and get on to the business of the day — opening presents. It’s all adults in this home. My adult niece and nephew will be arriving later today and my almost 2 year old grand-nephew will be visiting on Boxing Day.

Let me take this opportunity in the peaceful quiet at the beginning of a new day to wish you all a merry Christmas. Christmas Day is the one day of the year when most of us can set aside every day worries and stresses for other worries and stresses like will the present be right? or will the turkey be cooked on time? or … insert whatever. Those are stresses we can live with. -- read more

Busy Busy Days

Posted on: Ides of May
Getting involved in the Legion, at least the Colborne Legion, seems to mean that from October 31st until January 2nd, time seems to fly by in a blur. There is what needs to be done that we expect and then what has to be done that is unexpected but needs to be fit in, you know, things like having a bit of a life.

The Poppy Campaign hadn’t even ended when it was suddenly time to make arrangements for people to start applying for Christmas hampers. Christmas.. jeeeze it seemed like that was a long way off just days ago and it wasn’t even Remembrance Day yet. Interspersed in there was a couple of dinners, branch meetings & Santa Claus parade and before long.. November is over. Officially, so was the hamper applications but that doesn’t stop them coming in. -- read more

Ignatieff Takes the Liberal Helm

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Life must be a bit bittersweet these days for Stephane Dion. As much as I’m sure he would have liked to have left the leadership of the Liberals under different circumstances, he did so with as much grace as could be mustered under the circumstances. Bob Rae also made a class act exit from the leadership race that cleared the way for the party to put Michael Ignatieff in as ‘interim’ leader. He’ll have to be confirmed at the convention which is still scheduled for May. -- read more

They Are Not Just Numbers

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
With this post I’m passing the milestone of 500 posts to this blog. It is almost ironic that today’s post is about the latest deaths in Afghanistan. The media has been making much of the fact that the three Canadians killed Friday in an IED attack crosses the ‘threshold’ of 100 deaths during the Afghanistan mission. For the families of the men killed, their friends and their communities they are not 98, 99 and 100 — they are Mark Mclaren, Demetrios Diplaros and Robert Wilson — men who believed in the mission and died trying to see it succeed.

I’m not a person who is moved to tears often but the deaths of each Canadian in Afghanistan moves me. I’ll be one of the Canadians up on the bridges tomorrow. Standing to the left of the Legion colour party, our Sgt-at-Arms will be standing on the right. As the procession approaches he’ll call out “Branch 187 — to our fallen comrades — salute!” -- read more

Parliament Suspended - Harper Has Reprieve, For Now

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Harper has concluded an over two hour meeting with the Governor General and has had his request to porogue parliament granted. The move is clearly to avoid confidence motions scheduled to take place in the House on Monday. While he’s busy accusing the Liberal-NDP coalition of making a power grab, he’s made it just as clear that he will cling to power at all cost.

Had the GG not consented to his request, which she could have refused since it was clearly an avoidance move, then she would have had to have chosen between an election, barely 2 months after the last one, or asking the Liberal-NDP coalition to take the reigns. -- read more

The Bully Teeters on the Edge

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Well, I must say I’m a tad surprised but intrigued. I have been watching the reports over the last several days about the Liberals, NDP and Bloc in talks about forming a coalition government to bring down Harper and his gang of bullies. I didn’t really expect that the egos in the group would manage to tone themselves down enough to actually work out an agreement. I’m a bit impressed, now to see if it can be sustained.

Seems to me since the Liberals and the NDP have managed to work out an agreement with the pledged support of the Bloc for about a year, that those three have at least got it that compromise is needed to make government work. That is a lot more than Harper has managed to get and actually carry through on — and he has a lot more to loose. -- read more

Ottawa Soap Opera Continues

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
One thing I’ve always found a bit of a pain about soap operas are their rather long drawn out plot (or lack thereof). Someone deciding to create a soap of the latest goings on in Ottawa might just get my attention. So let’s see, the story to this point…..

On October 14th, Canadians granted the Conservatives yet another minority government in the general election. At the same time that was taking place, the world’s economy (including Canada’s) was going to hell in a handbasket at a rate that few even mused about. The Liberals and the NDP both campaigned with promises of economic stimulus while the Conservatives don’t worry, be happy approach until the polls showed them dropping hard over their lack of notice to the economy. All three parties declared that Canada would not run a deficit under their watch. -- read more

Democracy Being Pushed Aside?

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
It appears life has become ‘interesting’ in Harper’s Ottawa. At this point, he could well be hanging on by a fraying thread to his minority government. The current state of affairs has been brought about by his own inability to recognize that Canadians haven’t trusted him with a majority to govern with. Being in a minority position usually means a bit of reaching out and compromise — but not Harper.

His little man of confederation — Flaherty brought down an economic update statement on Thursday. The statement was the usual hot air that we get from politicians of all stripes accompanied by no indication that the Conservatives are actually moving to do anything to keep the economy moving. Interestingly enough, Flaherty was flying in the face of what his boss had been touting only a week before in Chile. -- read more

Rae Needs to Grow UP!

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
The Liberal leadership race has barely started to get underway and he’s thrown his first hissy fit. Riding executives were gathered in Toronto yesterday for a question and answer session with the three declared candidates. The meeting was setup by Liberal executives to be a closed door session. Ignatieff agreed to that while Leblanc and Rae wanted it opened to the media. Since all three couldn’t agree the original format was maintained. -- read more

One Brave Young Lady

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
The seventeen year old girl Afghan girl who suffered an acid attack on her way to school last week has vowed to continue her schooling. While no one has claimed responsibility, it appears that the attacker was likely a Taliban operative.

The Taliban, when they were in power, violently suppressed the education of most of the young people but especially young girls. -- read more

Ignatieff to Run For Liberal Leadership

Posted On: Out of the Shadows
Michael Ignatieff has announced his intention to run for the Liberal Leadership. He ran and lost the last time in a contest that was bitterly fought with former NDP Premier of Ontario Bob Rae. In the last race Ignatieff had recently returned to the country after many years away in high profile teaching positions. I objected to his leadership on that basis the last time. -- read more

PickupPal Illegal in Ontario

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
The Toronto Star reports today that the Ontario Highway Transport Board has ruled the activities of PickupPal illegal in Ontario. The site is a ride sharing site operated from Roseneath, Ontario with members from around the world. The idea is to reduce pollution through coordinating car pooling. Some public transit firms like Trentway Wager had asked the board to rule on the site under the Public Vehicles Act. -- read more

Highway of Heroes on NBC Nightly News

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
In a rare moment of notice from our neighbours to the south, a segment on the Highway of Heroes which stretches from Trenton to Toronto along Canada’s busiest highway the 401 was broadcast on NBC on our Remembrance Day. Myself and a contingent from my Legion branch are among those who stand on those bridges in all weather to show our regard and our respect for those who have given their lives in Afghanistan. -- read more

Rotary Club Presentation

Posted on: Ides of May
In my role as Legion President I was asked to be the guest speaker at the Colborne Rotary Club meeting tonight. Here are my remarks: -- read more

Sacrifice Medal Criteria to Be Reviewed

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Back in July the Governor General approved a new medal for our forces. The Sacrifice Medal was meant to replace the often understated ‘wound stripes’ worn be Canadian Forces personnel when they were wounded. The new medal was to cover wounds as the direct result of hostile action and could be earned posthumously. It also includes those who suffer PTSD as a result of hostile action. -- read more

Obama’s Big Shoes

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
To read the papers today one gets the sense that Obama’s victory in the American election has sparked an almost messianic response. Expectations seem to be high that Obama is going to change not only the USA but every other problem in the world. Unless he’s hiding the fact that he’s Christ incarnate, that would be pretty much impossible. -- read more

History is Made — Obama Elected President

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
I just watched a class act take place. Senator John McCain completed one of the classiest concession speeches I’ve ever seen. He conceeded the election to Senator, now President elect, Barack Obama. I don’t normally care about an American election (in case you are new around here, I’m Canadian) and as intrigued as I was by this one, I never truly thought that this would happen. -- read more

Election Dust Settles

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Ok, it is now almost 10 days after the Canadian election and I haven’t yet commented. No, I haven’t been licking my wounds because the boy Harper got back in and with more seats. Life just has been a bit rushed lately. It will be a bit rushed for the next two to three weeks as Remembrance Day approaches. Damn offline life intruding into my blogging time! -- read more

Busy Time Approaching

Posted on: Ides of May
Hard to believe that October is almost over. Sometimes the months just fly by. As October ends, my thoughts and attention shifts to several areas. The first and most important is Remembrance Day. In Canada and many countries throughout the world we pause on November 11th to remember those who came before us, their service and their sacrifice to keep us free during the last century and now Afghanistan. -- read more

VOTE! Vote! vote

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Okay Canada, we’ve had 30+ days of politicians begging, lying, cajoling trying to get our support. Today is the day. We might not like any of those running to run our country but the fact is, they are all we have at this time and ONE of them has to be elected. Pick the one you dislike the least and mark your ballot but for god’s sake, VOTE. -- read more

Vote Day Tomorrow

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
A quiet Thanksgiving weekend is winding down as I write this. Quiet for me, but for politicians in Canada the weekend has been a mad sprint to the finish line. The campaign ends today and tomorrow Canada votes. If the polls are right, Harper will be held to another minority. With a bit of luck, a smaller minority than the last one. -- read more

A Time of Thanksgiving

Posted on: Ides of May
It’s Friday of the long weekend which marks the Canadian Thanksgiving, a traditional time to celebrate the end of harvest. A transition of sorts towards the long cold winter that is to come. Somehow it seems so right that the transition is marked in nature by the changing of the trees, to a blaze of fall colours just before they fall off their trees which are preparing for their winter rest.

I’d like to be preparing for my winter rest, I’m not a winter lover. I do have to admit to admiring the cleansing effect of fresh fallen snow on the landscape. As long as I don’t have to drive in it. I’m fortunate in that I do have the freedom to be able to draw the line in the snow and refuse to drive when snow or sleet is falling. The only time I really get caught in it is if I’m away from home when it gets underway. -- read more

Harper’s Election to Lose

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
You know, two weeks ago, I would have been willing to bet that Harper was going to manage to hoodwink the Canadian people enough to win the majority he has lusted after and that Dion would do well to elect a handful of MPs. How quickly things can change.

Here we are two weeks later, two debates and world markets in a tailspin, it looks like Harper will not get his majority and if the current trend continues, he may even end up where he belongs — in the Official Opposition. The last part is a bit of a longshot but then so was Harper being held to a minority two weeks ago.-- read more

One Week Left in Election Campaign

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Today is the last day of the advanced polls in our election and then next Tuesday is vote day. I’ve not been posting much on the election but have been watching very closely. I tuned into and listened closely to the English language debate last Thursday. I was glad that I did, as it is likely one of the very few times that Harper has been forced out of his ‘bubble’ in this election and it was long overdue.

Until now, Harper has managed to appear only at well staged events with only pre-registered attendees. When the press started to blow the whistle on the fact that Harper was keeping a bubble around him, and avoiding any unexpected outbursts by the electorate who have the right to answers from him, his campaign claimed that it was necessary due to security issues. Yeah right. -- read more

Busy week ends -- ouch!!

Posted on: Ides of May
I’m really glad that I stole last Sunday for a day for myself, this last week has been a pretty busy one. A good part of the non-work part of the week was getting ready for a roast beef dinner at the Legion on Friday night. What a meal that was, we served 142 people in just less than an hour and then had to cut the sales off as we had almost run out of meat. We were tired but really pleased. Attendance at these meals is always a guessing game.

Yesterday wasn’t such a good day for me. My stomach decided it was as good a time as any to go into spasms. I had to bail from the preparations and serving of our monthly brunch and retreat to my bed. It’s still hurting today but at least I can sit up and get some writing done.-- read more

I’m Stealing Today

Posted on: Ides of May
Yes, I wrote that correctly, I’m stealing today for myself. Since the first of the month it seems I spend more time doing things for other people than for myself. So, today is for ME!

I’m actually supposed to be elsewhere but I decided that where I was supposed to be is not the end of the world if I don’t show up. So, I’m home, doing some reading and some writing that I’ve been wanting to get done for ages. -- read more

Harper Needs to Go

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Well, we’re two weeks into an election campaign here in Canada and so far I’ve not commented. I have some concerns about Dion as a potential Prime Minister, but I have ZERO doubts about the fact that Harper needs to go. As much as I don’t like Layton and his politics, I could live with him as the Official Opposition and Harper reduced to ‘also ran’ but that isn’t going to happen. At this point, it appears that we’ll do good if Harper manages to be kept to a minority government.

Ironically enough, some of my doubts about Dion have been quelled by Harper. See, first and foremost, Harper is a bully. Bullies often instinctively see value in their opponent that they want to flatten, quickly. -- read more

On Turning 50 Years Young

Posted on: Ides of May
Okay, so today I turn 50 years young, or old. At 50 it is midway into the century so who really cares if it is old or young? Now, that sounds presumptious, that I might live to 100. It’s not impossible actually, my grandparents for the most part lived long lives, my paternal grandmother to 101, my paternal grandfather 96, maternal grandmother 99 and grandfather 88. My parents didn’t fare quite as well, mother died at 74 from breast cancer and dad at 84 also from cancer. So, my odds might be a tad shorter with that.

One legacy my parents left me is that we don’t need to dwell on the various stages of life. They are going to happen, there is not a lot of sense in trying to put them off or fight them, just accept them as the normal cycle of life. I’ve known friends who almost obsess over them, some people become almost immobilized, that just doesn’t make sense. I don’t have to either like them or welcome them, I just have to accept that life change is inevitable. -- read more

Harper Determined to Have Election

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Well, the boy Harper seems to be determined to have an election this fall. The writ could be dropped as early as Friday, according to (of course) unnamed source. Both Duceppe and Layton have had the meeting that Harper requested, supposedly in a last ditch attempt to arrive at some consensus about the fall session of Parliament and to end the ‘dysfunction crisis’ that Harper has manufactured. -- read more

End of Hiatus - Happy Labour Day

Posted on: It's All About Money
As you may have noticed, posting on It’s All About Money has been rather sporadic the last few months. That is about to change, but not today. Today is a holiday in Canada and the US - Labour Day. Today is also my birthday, how appropriate for 50 years ago today, my mother was in labour. I know, not the kind being celebrated today. -- read more

Obama Effect

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
I generally give only a cursory look at American politics. Other than general knowledge of who is who and what the Americans are up to, they are not exactly a centre of influence for me. Having said that, I have to admit to having picked up some curiousity in their current election, particularly about Obama.

I’m just barely old enough to have started to have become aware of current events about the time of the race riots in the 60s, the assassination of President Kennedy and of course the Vietnam war. One of the first books about social justice I read was "Black Like Me". It was a white author who had black pigment put onto his skin in order to explore what it was like to live as a Negro (they used that word then). -- read more

Will the Diefenbreaker Really Exist?

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Hot on the heels of the cancellation of the procurement process for two naval supply ships and 12 mid-size Coast Guard ships being cancelled last week, Harper has announced that a new Coast Guard icebreaker to be named the John G Diefenbaker will replace the Louis St. Laurent by 2017. Believe it only when I see it actually launch. Other than some ground equipment that was badly needed by our troops in combat in Afghanistan, what exactly has the Harper government delivered on? -- read more

Manufactured Dysfunction

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
The only thing left for Canadians to know now, is exactly when Harper will go to the Governor-General and ask her to dissolve the 39th Parliament of Canada and when we’ll vote. He claims that parliament has become dysfunctional and unworkable.

Considering that his government has outlived the usual 18 month life expectancy of a minority government and about 40 government bills have been passed into law, just what does he consider to be workable? -- read more

Ottawa Bails on New Supply Ships

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
The federal government has bailed from the bidding process to replace to supply ships for the navy and procure 12 patrol ships for the Coast Guard. They claim that the suppliers are unable to bring in quotes within the cost limitations the government has set. Did the government consider that their expectations might be unrealistic? -- read more

The French Need A Spine

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Lest someone thinking I’m talking about French-Canadians, I’m not, I’m talking about the French as in France. Tragically, the French lost 10 soldiers last week, Canada lost 3. That brings the French total losses since 2001 to 14 and Canada’s to 93. The loss of so many at once has the French public wringing their hands and calling for their soldiers to come home. The French have a military of about 225,000 while Canada has 62,000. France currently has 2,800 soldiers based in Afghanistan and Canada has 2,600. -- read more

Fall Election Looms

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Once again, the election drums are beating. Such is life when there is a minority government in power. What makes this time rather interesting is that Harper is the one that adding fuel to the fire. So much for his oft repeated declaration that he intends to govern until October 2009 which is when the law, that he brought in, sets for the next federal election.

Harper is claiming that the opposition parties are obstructing the function of parliament and that unless he has some indication that he has a functioning parliament, he will bring about the dissolution of parliament. He really can’t get himself off the opposition benches can he? Maybe an election will put him back in his more natural location, on the opposition benches -- he appears to be more comfortable there. -- read more

We Will Remember Them

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadians:

Sgt Shawn Eades – Afghanistan August 20, 2008
Spr Stephan Stock - Afghanistan August 20, 2008
Cpl Dustin Wasden - Afghanistan August 20, 2008

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

90th Anniversary of Rutherford’s VC

Posted on: Ides of May
The following are my remarks made at the service to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Captain Charles S. Rutherford earning his Victoria Cross:

Today, we gather to honour a great man and his actions -- Capt Charles S. Rutherford and the actions for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1918 -- 90 years ago. We are not gathered on the exact anniversary of him earning the VC but we are gathered mid way between his actions of August 9th, which earned him a Military Medal and those of August 26, 1918 for which he received the Victoria Cross.-- read more

Pulling No Punches

Posted on: Out of the Shadows Someone emailed me this link of a commentator in England and his take on Muslims. In particular that in the rush to multicultural accommodation, that our rights are being walked on. I like it when someone can pull no punches and make a lot of sense. Here is a transcript of what he says:.-- read more

Taliban Tries to Intimidate Canada

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
So, the mighty Taliban have written a letter threatening to murder more Canadian civilians in Afghanistan. Man that sends me just a running for the nearest fox hole. NOT!

A person could almost have some respect for the Taliban if they focused on military struggle, poking and jabbing at our forces as they work to try to establish a secure country in Afghanistan, secure of attacks by the Taliban. I have zero respect for so called insurgents who willfully murder fellow Afghans while claiming to be fighting for the freedom of Afghanistan and aid workers working to help Afghanis.-- read more

No ‘Purple Heart’, Yes Better Long Term Care

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
When it comes to the military, Liberal Senator Colin Kenny is usually a lot more in tune with the Conservatives than with his fellow Liberals. Occasionally, he seems to miss the boat. His suggestion that an award similar to the purple heart that the Americans issue to wounded soldiers be created for Canada is a miss.-- read more

Pulling No Punches

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Someone emailed me this link of a commentator in England and his take on Muslims. In particular that in the rush to multicultural accommodation, that our rights are being walked on. I like it when someone can pull no punches and make a lot of sense.

Here is a transcript of what he says:.-- read more

Omar Khadr — Bring Him Home

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
I have been watching this situation with Omar Khadr for some time now, not really sure where I land on what should happen with him. The more information that comes out about him, the more I find myself troubled on several levels with his case. If you don’t know who Omar Khadr is, he is a Canadian born Muslim captured in a firefight in Afghanistan in 2002 and held at Quantamano Bay. He is the only westerner still in captivity there and the youngest, being just 15 at the time he was captured. To read more detail about Khadr, have a look here. -- read more

Ontarians to Experience Recycling Fees

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Waste Diversion Ontario has come up with a plan that should see electronic waste diverted from landfills and into recycling programs. The plan comes with an estimated cost of about $62million which is expected to be financed through fees consumers would pay at the time of purchasing their electronics. -- read more

Welcome to FAT! Be Gone!

Posted on: FAT! Be Gone!
If you are one of the countless thousands who need to lose weight, any amount of weight and have struggled for what seems forever to even have a slight success, then you'll want to be reading this blog. I'm one of those people and man does it get frustrating!

I've recently obtained a new ebook called "Top Secret Fat Loss Secrets" (gee, wonder where I got my blog name!) and I am really intrigued by what the author, Dr Suzanne Gudakunst, has to say about weight loss. Her theories are not completely new, they are definitely not mainstream but she writes about them in a manner that really allows you to understand them better than anywhere else I've read about these ideas.-- read more

New Blog in Network

I have just added a new blog to the Patti Network family. This one is going to follow my efforts to change my diet. I am going to make an effort to not only eat healthier but to get the toxins out of my system that help to keep me overweight and not as healthy as I should be. Least that is what some expert advice tells me. So -- FAT! Be Gone! -- will chronicle that effort. I hope others will join in with their helpful hints to make it a group effort.

Liberals Need to "Show Discipline"?

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Liberal leader Stephane Dion Thursday declared that Liberals, particularly the Quebec Liberals, need to show discipline. "I'm the leader and I want discipline" is what he is quoted as saying. UMMM Stephane, you are the leader and you NEED to impose discipline, it's one of the areas you really are lacking.

It will take you setting firm boundaries on what is acceptable and sanctioning those who defy you to start garnering some respect within your party, hell within the rest of the world. You know, that is pretty basic stuff.-- read more

Battling the Bugs, Changing Diet

Posted on: Ides of May
Well, winter is almost over and true to form, I have been battling a cold that went into bronchitis. It has been a miserable 2 weeks or so. I think I’m slowly starting to see the tail end of it as my voice comes back to normal and I try to regain my energy so I can actually accomplish something.

Thursday I ventured out to do some much needed errands (cats thought that running out of their food was not funny) and tired myself out pretty good. So, today I spent mostly trying to rest and doing some light chores around the house.

I have been reading a very interesting ebook while I’ve been taking it easy. It is written by a lady doctor who talks in pretty simple and straightforward way about how the toxins which build up in our systems can actually be causing some of the struggles with weight that people like myself have. -- read more

Harper Moves to Reconcile, Tory Blats From the Sidelines

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
In a move by Harper that appears to be a step toward actually forming a working relationship with the province of Ontario, money previously promised was released to the province by Harper. The $709million is to be used to boost public transit, hire more police and help workers in industries hit by the high dollar. The timing and the language used in the move seems to indicate that maybe Flaherty has been, at least for now, reigned in from his pugnacious attacks on the province and its elected government. -- read more

Dion May Need to Take a Walk in the Snow

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Stephane Dion, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, may need to follow in the steps of one of his former leaders and take a long thoughtful walk in the snow to ponder his future in politics.

Harper and his Conservative attack dogs maintain a sustained assault on him to the point that their website looks more like a site for the Liberals when it first loads than one about Harper. It has made me wonder what Harper finds so threatening about Dion that he needs to sustain the attack on him? Apparently this hasn't occurred to members of the Liberal party, particularly those in Quebec, who are also working up an assault on his leadership. -- read more

Made in Ontario Budget

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Provincial Finance Minister Dwight Duncan delivered his provincial budget yesterday. He ignored Flaherty's unprecedented attempts to control the financial direction of this province from Ottawa and set a budget made in Ontario. If that budget serves Ontario well as the economy slows will be another matter. -- read more

What is an Immigration Bill Doing in a Budget Bill?

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Slipped inside a budget implementation bill is changes to the immigration system which some claim could lead to the Minister of Immigration having unprecedented authority to interfere in the system's operation without oversight from any other source. It would allow the minister to do things like fast tracking certain applicants or denying others that have already been approved. -- read more

Flaherty Needs to Shut Up

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
I certainly hope that when the time comes that voters in Flaherty's riding keep in mind his dumping on Ontario as the federal finance minister. I hope they remember his remarks, made nationally and internationally, that told businesses to stay away from Ontario. I know, in his little partisan mind he thinks he was telling Ontario their only good way to operate. Hate to break it to you Flaherty ol' boy, just because your buddy Stephen appointed you to the post of finance minister doesn't make you right. -- read more

We Will Remember Bombardier Ouellet

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadian:

Bombardier Jérémie Ouellet– Afghanistan March 11, 2008

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

Harper Could Put Bullying to Good Use Here.

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
In February 2006 a Canadian, Brenda Martin, was arrested in Mexico and charged with money laundering and being part of a criminal conspiracy. What did she do? She worked as a cook in Puerto Vallarta for former Edmontonian Alyn Waage who is currently serving time in an American prison for a worldwide fraud. He ran an internet investment scam.

Waage has provided a sworn statement that as his cook, Brenda Martin knew nothing about his activities. It appears that and nothing else has made any impression on Mexican authorities who have held the woman without trial now for two years. Our government has finally sent a diplomatic note to the Mexicans but at this point it appears to be to no avail. -- read more

Dion Needs to Find a Posture

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
You know, I've often been of the opinion that if you don't really have the courage of your convictions, or for that matter, any convictions -- you keep a low profile and keep your mouth shut. That likely came about from my late father often commenting about keeping ones mouth shut rather than opening it and proving yourself the fool.

These days, Dion and some other Liberals are doing a real good job of proving the wisdom of that advice. This behaviour of mouthing to the media and anyone who will listen that the Harper Conservatives are the 'worse' government ever for whatever soapbox of the day topic and then either walking out or failing to even show up to defeat them is utter spineless crap. -- read more

We Will Remember Him

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadian:

Trp Michael Yuki Hayakaze – Afghanistan March 2, 2008

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

Treatment of Sub Crew Review Ordered

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Minister of Veterans Affairs Greg Thompson has ordered a review of the treatment the crew of the ill-fated HMCS Chicoutimi has received since the fire on board the submarine in 2004. Since the incident of the 56 crew on board roughly half are either about to or have left the military due to medical reasons. Most of those are struggling to get pension entitlements.

It appears that so called experts are arguing over what could have been present to have caused a cluster of illness amongst the crew. I don't know, 5 days in a partially burned out sub would be bound to harbour potential medical time bombs. That should be a bit of a no brainer. When our service men and women get placed in hazardous conditions the benefit of the doubt should go to them and the last thing they should have to do is battle for benefits. -- read more

Shadows Has A New Look

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
You may have noticed that Out of the Shadows has taken on a new look. This is the first of my sites to receive this update. I'll be working on my other sites as I have time. Please feel free to leave your comments on how you like (or not) the new look.

Also, I've added a subscription feature so you can sign up to receive my postings via email.-- have a look

Yet Another Storm

Posted on: Ides of May
I’m writing the original version of this post by hand today. You know, using the old fashion stuff — pen and paper. I managed to leave the power cord for my laptop at work last night and while I have a desktop system, it likes to shut itself off on a regular basis. If I write and then transcribe I make better use of computer time.

Normally, doing something like leaving the power cord behind would have prompted me to turn round and go back for it. That may have proved foolhardy last night knowing that another winter storm was bearing down on us in southern Ontario. Actually, I should say, bearing UP on us as it is coming out of the US. And you Americans think we send you the cold weather! -- read more

Latimer on Parole -- Finally

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Robert Latimer was convicted in 1994 of killing his daughter who was born with severe cerebral palsy. Latimer claimed that his actions were a mercy killing, that he was sparing his daughter any more pain. The case sparked a debate about mercy killing across the country.

He was convicted of second degree murder with the jury recommending that her serve only one year instead of the minimum of ten called for under law. The judge granted a constitutional exemption and sentenced him to two year, a decision overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada, which applied the minimum ten year term. He was denied parole in December on the basis that he had not show 'sufficient remorse' for his actions. -- read more

Obama's Life Expectancy

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Yeah, I really did write that title. As I've watched with some curiosity as Obama gained steam in his bid to become US President, actually the first black President, the thought has crossed my mind to wonder how long he'd be allowed to live during the quest. Face it, our American neighbours to the south do have a bit of a history in that regard.

It's a question I have been loath to ask. It has been a generation or two since someone assassinated a prominent political leader in the US. It is possible that attitudes down there have changed and even the hard core revolutionary types can figure ways to fight other than through political murder. After all, Bush managed to get through his two terms without anyone taking a shot at him. -- read more

Tory Staying as Provincial PC Leader -- Damn!

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
At the provincial Conservatives convention in London this week their leader, John Tory, received 66.9% support of the voting delegates. It is the same amount of support that Joe Clark received almost 20 years ago. Clark was decisive enough to decide that 2/3 wasn't a clear vote of support and immediately triggered a leadership race that eventually saw him depart as leader of the federal Conservatives.

Not Tory, who couldn't even manage to win his own seat in the last election, he announced first he'd have to think about it and then that he was staying. That says a lot about his style of leadership, he has displayed a dithering style so often that for him to be decisive and actually mean it would likely shock people. -- read more

Hillier Calls for Clarity ASAP

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Apparently I wasn't really making a broad leap earlier this week when I speculated that the three suicide bombings in Kandahar province, one clearly targeting Canadians, may be as much about the Taliban terrorizing and killing as it was about them trying to influence politics back here in Canada:

I suspect that the timing is not coincidental. In addition to unnerving the Afghans and generating questions in their mind if they are better under the Taliban or the Afghan and international forces the Taliban is not unaware of the debate here in Canada on the future of Canada's role in Afghanistan.

Making a similar connection yesterday Canada's top soldier, -- read more

Finally, Some Non-Partisan Action

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Looks as though Harper is determined enough to have the mission in Afghanistan continue that he was willing to meet Dion more than half-way in order to come up with a motion that would pass the House.

The government yesterday revised the motion on the mission to include most of the language that the Liberal counter-motion the week before included. There is one main which is, instead of the mission in Afghanistan ending February 2011 it would end in July 2011 with a full redeployment by the end of December. The motion doesn't specify that the troops will be completely out of Afghanistan, just that they will be moved out of Kandahar province. It also doesn't rule out combat action after February 2009 which the Liberals had originally demanded. -- read more

American Politics

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
I don't normally pay much attention to American politics. I get a bit tired of it being spread all over Canadian media while our politics rarely grace the papers or airwaves in the US. I guess you could say I have a bit of a tit for tat attitude toward their politics. I have to admit though, this race between Clinton and Obama has caught my attention to a degree. -- read more

Canadians Need to Speak Up!

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Charles Roach's ongoing objection to swearing an oath to the Crown aka Her Majesty to be a Canadian citizen lands in the Ontario Court of Appeal today. Roach, a lawyer, is trying to move a class action suit forward to have the swearing of the oath to the Queen declared unconstitutional.

The Trinidad born Roach has waged this battle for many years. Back in 1987 he fought against the oath when the Law Society of Upper Canada required all lawyers to be Canadian citizens and that is part of the swearing in of a new Canadian. He likens asking blacks to swear an oath to the Queen to asking Jews to swear an oath to Hitler. -- read more

Computers, Love ‘Em or Hate ‘Em!

Posted on: Ides of May
Well, it does appear that once again there has been a gap in postings. In the interim, I have been rebuilding the hard drive on my laptop as I had to replace it. What a bloody pain installing the software all over again! Remembering all those must have pieces of software that were on the original drive is damn hard.

Then, when it appeared that I had almost reached the end of the job, my internet satellite connection decided that it wanted to mess up. See, around the time that I was busy rebuilding the drive we had some nasty winter weather which involved some very high winds. My house is rather heavily insulated so, it takes a lot to actually cause me to hear the wind in the house. This time, the wind was heavy enough that Dawn, my cheeky young cat, was spooked by it. -- read more

Time Marches On For Castro

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
In a surprising nod to the march of time, Fidel Castro resigned as President of Cuba yesterday. Castro and Cuba have just always been in my life. I was just four months old when he wrested power and became dictator of the island.

Aligning his country with the Soviet bloc, Castro stood up to anything the US, and in particular the American CIA, threw at him. Of course, that was in the days before the fall of the Soviets and the era of making up excuses to invade countries to topple their leaders. Castro might not have fared well in today's world climate. -- read more

Violent Surge in Kandahar

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
On Sunday a suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of a dog fight event just outside Kandahar city killing about 100 people, including the anti-Taliban police chief of Kandahar province. The Taliban denied any responsibility for the attack, yeah right. The governor of Kandahar claims he warned the police chief several times that he was in danger but he was ignored.

On Monday, a suicide bomber apparently targeted a Canadian military convoy in Spin Boldak a busy town near the Afghan / Pakistan border. Four Canadian soldiers were slightly injured and about 38 Afghan civilians were killed. The Taliban claimed responsibility and at the same time claimed that no civilians were killed, just security forces. -- read more

Earn What You Want on 5 Bucks a Day

Posted on: Hubpages
Some have said that “5 Bucks A Day Jr” is more a motivational book than a strategy. I’d say it is both. The motivation is that Dennis Becker not only has made the strategy work but he shares the good and the bad within the strategy. The pitfalls as well as the ‘ah ha’ moments.

He writes clearly on how to approach setting up and following this strategy involves both work and perseverance. He doesn’t try to suggest, do this and it will always work. He notes that there are, and in fact should be, times that efforts will fail. He emphasizes that the failures can be good and the faster they take place the quicker the reader can move on to what works. -- read more

Baby Steps -- Hopefully Forwarded

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
CanWest is reporting today that Poland is prepared to let Canada share two of their helicopters that they have in Afghanistan. In a speech in Ottawa this morning, their foreign minister declared that Poland is unequivocal in their support for the NATO mission. Poland has 1,200 troops in southeastern Afghanistan and eight helicopters. They serve without caveats limiting where they are deployed. The foreign minister also indicated as the Polish troops are withdrawn from Iraq more contributions may be made in Afghanistan.

I read some where else on the web today that France has over 700,000 men and women in uniform. Now I'm beginning to understand why much of the spotlight is on both them and Germany to provide troops to actually take part in establishing security instead of taking up residence in less volatile areas of the country. France needs to remember that the very countries they are leaving to struggle getting the job done were the ones who liberated them 60+ years ago. -- read more

Finally, No Memorials at the Top!

Posted on: Ides of May
Finally! For the first time since December 30th this blog doesn’t carry a memorial post at the top of the listings. That means that for the last 10 days no Canadian soldier has given his/her life in service to us. Our 2500 troops in Afghanistan have stayed safe and most importantly, we along the Highway of Heroes have not made anymore trips to the bridges. Continue to be safe guys and gals, you’re service is appreciated.

I spent yesterday at the Legion. We had our monthly brunch on which moved from brunch into an afternoon of an informal jam session in the clubroom. We had an unadvertised special featuring a hot roast beef plate for $5. The plate gave you a full dinner. Since we had to cancel the roast beef dinner on Friday evening, the meat was all cooked and we did up some potatoes and veggie to complete the plate and of coursed topped with beef gravy.-- read more

We Will Remember Him

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadian:

Corporal Etienne Gonthier – Afghanistan January 23, 2008

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

Groundhog Day Already

Posted on: Ides of May
Man, I’m not doing very good on my goal of 300 more posts on this blog by the end of the year. A month has gone by already and all that I’ve posted has been memorial posts for Canadians killed in Afghanistan. We’ve lost five Canadians since Christmas, there have been four trips to the bridge made for them.

I’m praying we get past today and tomorrow so I can finally release the last one memorial from the top of the page and not have to replace it with a new one. Like the flag at the Branch, the memorial posts stay at the top of my blog until ten days has passed since the soldier died. -- read more

Taliban Jack Wants to Bolt From Kandahar

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Jack Layton the leader of the federal NDP party has long advocated that Canadian troops should be completely withdrawn from Afghanistan and brought home. Now he's stated his willingness to have Canada raise the white flag for the first time in our history. Great warrior and military analyst that Taliban Jack is, he's decreed that no international troops can win against the Taliban in that region, it is pointless to be there and our troops need to be brought home now.

His remarks were part of a speech he recently gave at the University of Ottawa. Geeze, that is the best the university can find to speak to our young people? The text of the speech is rift with lies and misrepresentations of the mission in Afghanistan which twisted his way to the conclusion that Canada should run while the running is good. -- read more

Black Focused Schools? Let's Have Canada Focused Instead.

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
You know, I usually make it a practice to sort of note what is going on in the city of Toronto and then put it promptly out of my mind. I don't live there, I do live within 90 minutes of the city and I do avoid heading to the place. My usually reason for crossing into the boundaries of the city is to cross them on my way to my sister's place in London.

I paid scant attention to the black focus school debate. My first thought on them was that it would segregate kids, particularly immigrant kids, who should be integrating and mixing with other races and those born here in this country. It would tend to strengthen young black's view of being apart, isolated in Canadian society. Most kids, and I don't care what colour or race they are, want to belong, to be included -- yet at the same time, kids tend to cluster according to where they attend school. -- read more

Strange Harper Clone Appears Before National Media

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Some guy looking like, sounding like and claiming to be Stephen Harper appeared before the media yesterday to talk about Manley's report. What made the media, and others question, who this guy was is that what came out of this guy's mouth was a bit of humble speak which included sounding like someone who would compromise and work with at least one other party to make the mission work. -- read more

Canadians Increasingly non-Partisan

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
A recent Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey indicates that Canadians are becoming increasingly non-partisan just as it seems that there is nothing in Ottawa that is not defined by partisan bickering. Maybe it is Canadians desire to see leadership shaped by what is good for the country more than the stroking of egos that comes with partisan politics. -- read more

AFGHAN PRESS Launches

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
An independent media outlet in Afghanistan has launched, Afghan Press. The site's objective is to be a free and independent source of otherwise unreported news of what is happening in Afghanistan. The success of projects like this are part of what goes into building a democracy. -- read more

Flocke Learns to Crawl

American Aid Worker Kidnapped

Where are the Detainees?

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
After months of controversy over the status of detainees, prisoners taken by Canadian soldiers during their operations in Afghanistan, federal lawyers revealed in court on Wednesday that Canada halted transfers of detainees to the Afghans last November. The halt immediately followed the uncovering of credible evidence that a detainee had been beaten in Afghan custody. The weapons used on him were found in his cell by a Canadian officer on an inspection visit to a detainee. -- read more

We Will Remember Him

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadian:

Trooper Richard Renaud – Afghanistan January 15, 2008

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

Leadership Approach Laid Bare

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Further to my closing comments yesterday on Harper's need to demonstrate the leadership he claims he has in order to build consensus on the mission in Afghanistan, Chantal Hebert writes an excellent column today on this very subject. Harper's management of this issue leaves a lot to be desired and if he's the leader he likes to lay claim to, he needs to learn from his mistakes, quietly eat some crow and change his communication style. -- read more

Mixed Reaction to Manley Report

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Exploring around the mainstream media sites for response to the Manley report has been interesting. They range from an interpretation of the report as just being more of the same dictated to a Liberal from the Conservative Prime Minister to claiming the report calls for an end to the mission. It seems that it depends on the bias of the reader as to the analysis. -- read more

Manley Report - No End Date Makes Sense

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
I spent some time today reading carefully through the report from the "Independent Panel on Canada's Future Role in Afghanistan" chaired by John Manley, the former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister. The report on the whole seems to be in depth and well thought out. It doesn't sugar coat the mission in Afghanistan nor is it doom and gloom. It raises some tough issues and makes some tough recommendations.

Partisan politics aside, the report lays out some obvious truths that don't fit well in sound bites for partisan politicians. -- read more

We Will Remember Them

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadians:

Cpl Eric Labbe – Afghanistan January 6, 2008
WO Hani Massouh – Afghanistan January 6, 2008

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

Dion in Afghanistan, Liberal Position Remains the Same

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
So, Stephane Dion hopped over to Afghanistan this weekend. He was accompanied by his deputy, Micheal Ignatieff (keep your friends close and your enemies closer, wise move). Of course, I just know that he went over there with an open mind, just itching to get a clear picture of what Canada is doing over there and if we are even needed or wanted there.

That would be why he and his party released their position on our future mission in Afghanistan last week and why even after being on the ground there, he’s still mouthing the same stupidity. -- read more

Search Provides Small Business Lessons

Posted on: It's All About Money
Matt over at Small Business SEM has an interesting article about how the search industry can teach small business owners about marketing their business online. If you’re into online marketing, or trying to be, you are a small business person. That is something I tend to forget now and again because I don’t see my visitors like I would if I was meeting with clients at my offline work. -- read more

Thinking About Joining an Ad Network?

Posted on: It's All About Money
Wendy Piersall over at eMoms at Home has posted an excellent article on the ups and downs of joining ad networks. If you are looking to monetize your website or blog with an advertising, don’t do so until you have read her piece. -- read more

We Will Remember Him

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadian:

Gunner Jonathan Dion -- Afghanistan December 30, 2007

Always Caring -- Always Canadian -- Never Defeated

Support Our Troops -- Wear Red on Fridays

Those Who Think They Failed

Posted on: It's About Motivation
Failure, the falling short of what is wanted or expected, is all too often seen as a final ending. In reality, failure is a collection of mistakes to first identify and then to learn from. Failure can be either what marks and defines your future or it can become a stepping stone to future success. What decides the direction failure will take?

The power of thought will determine the direction. People are made, or broken, according to the use they make of the power of thought. -- read more

Welcome to Chaos

Posted on: It's All About Money
For over a year I’ve been wanting to create an online business that would allow me the freedom and security to work from home. I’ve read and researched until my eyeballs were ready to fall out of my head, I’ve made notes and took runs at applying processes until I’m confused which is which and it seems I don’t make any head way towards my goal. Sound familiar?

There is a lot to distract a person in life, especially online. Add to that an offline life… do we have them?… and distraction and chaos grows exponentially. I’ve been spending a bit more time looking at what I do and how. The results is downright scary. My lack of forward movement has less to do with finding the SECRET to great income online and more to do with managing time a whole lot better. -- read more

Turning Bitching Into Winning

Posted on: Its All About Money
I was exploring the press releases over at PR Web the other day and followed a link to the site for This is True, a weekly newsletter of weird but true news items that has been publishing since 1994. I subscribed and then spent a bit of time exploring the site.

"Get Out of Hell Free" caught my eye in a graphic on the page. Curious, I took a look. It seems when you are writing about the weird, you tend to attract the weird. One of his stories prompted a reader to write to Randy Casselman, the owner and writer, that he was going to hell. He responded that the newsletter’s consulting minister liked the story to which she promptly replied that he was going to hell too. -- read more

Musharraf Blames the Victim

Post on: Out of the Shadows
In a valiant effort to divert blame from himself or his cronies, Pakistan President Musharraf has come up with a theory for who to blame for the death of Benazir Bhutto…. it was her fault.

In an interview on the American TV show 60 Minutes Musharraf blamed Bhutto for her death because she choose to see and be seen amongst the people she was asking to support her run for Prime Minister. -- read more

Military Needs to Support the Soldiers and Families

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
More than ever in the last 50 years the government, by way of the military, needs to support not only our soldiers deployed overseas but the needs of the family here at home. Our soldiers, especially in Afghanistan, are being deployed in dangerous situations. They need to go knowing that the support at home will make sure that their families receive the access to support and help that they need. -- read more

Pages of Lists

Posted on: It's About Motivation
One of the authors I spend time studying is Napoleon Hill. He was born into a dirt poor mountain family in the American south. Illiteracy and complacency compelled several generations of his family to poverty. Hill likely would have lived his life the same way had it not been for the arrival in his life of a step-mother who had no patience with poverty or illiteracy and had the will to speak up. -- read more

Salute to the Fallen

Posted on: Ides of May
Inspite of bitterly cold weather yesterday afternoon myself and a surprisingly good number of people were out on the Herley St. bridge a Colborne to pay our respects to Gunner Dion and his family as they made the sad trip with his remains from CFB Trenton to Toronto.

One of the local snowplows joined the fire service and EMS vehicles with their lights flashing on the bridge. The plow had cleared the snow from the walkway over the bridge allowing those of us who turned out to stand on the walkway instead of climbing over snowbanks. -- read more

Happy New Year

Posted on: Ides of May
I know, it is traditional to write a New Years entry on New Years Day. However, when you’re involved in the Legion, New Years Eve and New Years Day merge into one long day with a nap between 2am and 7am, if you’re lucky. So, for all my readers — Happy New Year!! — just a day late and a dollar short.

Hard to believe a whole year has passed again. So what do I resolve for 2008? Well, for this blog I want to resolve there will be at least 300 more entries by the end of the year. My prayer is that none of them will be remembrance postings for soldiers killed in Afghanistan serving my country. -- read more