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