Sunday musings

Not too sure how your weather forecasters rate in your part of the world, but ours here in the Prairies were spot on this week. They said the first two days would be hot and sunny with little wind, then the next two cloudy,cool and windy and the balance of the week rainy, and chilly, and that it was.

I am sooooooo tired of the high winds we have had this Spring and after spending February in Buenos Aires where a high wind was 10 kph, well, enough is surely enough isn't it?

I read where the ex dictator of Liberia, Charles Taylor has been found guilty of war crimes this week. A fair judgement in this case, one wonders as to the sentence that will be passed in a couple of weeks. Apparently he will serve the time in England, wonder what the victims think of that?

If you want to read some really interesting history, check out the story of the founding of the modern state of Liberia, with all its drama and hopes - fascinating reading indeed.

In a twist of fate, cases of the mad cow disease have been discovered in the United States. Officials say there is no cause for international concern or sanctions against importation of their beef products. Hmmm, this sure is different talk from the Americans compared to their drastic reaction to the same situation that occurred in Canada years ago. In fact their knee jerk reaction closed the border for years to Canadian beef imports and destroyed the livelihood of many Canadian ranchers with no compensation whatsoever.

Sometimes the greatest nation is the world is also the most selfish and cruel. It seems that it is always what is best for America and to heck with the rest of the world and the international trade agreements, no matter whatsoever.

Here in Canada, in Quebec, students are past the 10 week mark in their “strike” against the government wanting to increase tuition over 5 years to remain the lowest priced education in the country. The government wilted and said the spread in period would be now 7 years. Again this was rejected as an insult by the students.

Amazing.

What world do they live in? They sip their lattes, use their Iphones and complain how they are in the grips of a “Quebec Spring”. As if to say that this compares to the cruelty and hardship and atrocities against humanity that happened in uprisings in the Middle East.

Arseholes.

Spoiled, pampered ignorant arseholes.

Wait until they have to apply for a job with their bullshit degrees and have to pay taxes – watch how fast they become really, really conservative!!!

Speaking of the American CIA, this whole episode with the call girls and the oh so scary possible horrible consequences on national security nonsense, does anyone really care except Republican opponents of President, the Fox TV network and Rush Limbaugh?

I doubt it.

The North Koreans had a massive military parade the other day and trundled out a supposedly new super missile that should be able to strike North America. Sadly the missiles were lumpy in construction and experts agree that they were poorly made mock ups and not the real thing.

Must be for domestic consumption one must assume.

Did you know that it was 20 years ago that the video of Los Angeles policemen beating a black man, Rodney King was aired and the riots that followed happened?

Has much changed since then?

Levon Helm, member of the super group called The Band, died this week. Listen to his singing “the night they drove old Dixie down” or “the weight” and you will realize the sad passing of another great voice and talent of my generation.

Germany is going to republish copies of Adolph Hitlers manifesto book, Mein Kampf soon. People might protest but this version will be annotated to point out the ravings of the mad man because it appears that copyright laws will expire soon on the book and the government is concerned that fanatical elements will reprint the book and distribute it as a tool of propaganda. A form of preemptive strike.

One hopes this succeeds. The last thing the world needs is renewed followers of the mad man.

The summer Olympics are being held in London this year. Not sure what you think, but really, what a tremendous waste of money to host events where people throw sticks - javelins - or stones - shot put - or run like buggers against each other. Like this is something we should celebrate? How about spending the money on cancer research or some other real cause? Nope, too many selfish interests - hello IOC and TV networks- are involved.

Sad.

Now to the mundane.

You think you have a clean, neat and uncluttered residence, and then when you start to clear out old unused, unwanted items – some could qualify as trash – you realize that you are a bloody pack rat!

I have been cleaning all week as part of the long process of down sizing the place prior to our move west later this year.

Hmmm, maybe I should have started 2 years ago!

And it is truly humbling to realize how worthless certain items you put up for sale are to the rest of the world.

Jeez Louise, don't people value them as much as you?

And do they know what they cost 10 years ago?

Maybe one should just load up a utility trailer and haul everything out to the landfill – better not say that in front of my better half – she might look at me and think the same thing!

Anyway, have a great week,

take care out there,

flatlander52

Sunday musings

Well. where to start?
First off, Google has decided  (as is their right as they own the Blogger site rights) to change the layout of my home set up page. That took me a while to figure out. Sometimes change is good and sometimes change is made just for the sake of change and to justify peoples jobs. I will reserve judgement for a while until I get used to this new format.
I was e mailing to my friend the author in Kansas this week (shameless plug for her book - Google "All Things Impossible - Crown of the Realms - well worth purchasing and indeed the whole series is worth purchasing!) complaining about the cool, wet weather we have had this week and she quite matter of factly commented on the day they had 122 tornado warnings! Yikes - that is scary for a flatlander like me. Happily today is turning out to be a gorgeous Spring day - perfect to start the oft delayed yard work.
We had coffee yesterday with an old friend that had moved East over 30 years ago and had time to rekindle the friendship. Once again as with our friends in Calgary, he has difficulties in life to cope with. His partner is suffering  from memory loss and vocalization problems. He is coping with grace and dignity.
It is frustrating and a little scary to see the circle of life we live slowly closing down around us as we age and realize that our own time is growing shorter. No longer is the future our friend and ally, sadly he is turning into our enemy. It only serves to heighten the urgency of some long delayed projects and dreams and the need to do them NOW.
Elections, elections!
In France the President Sarkozy seems in danger of losing his bid for re-election. a rising tide of economic fear, anti Muslim and general fear is sweeping that nation.
In Alberta, Canada, the ruling Conservative party faces defeat at the hands of an even more right leaning fiscal conservative WildRose party who want sto emulate Quebec in creating its own pension plan and police force -scaring eastern media types, the some nobs that accepted the same in Quebec as their special right!
In The United States the gloves are off in the seemingly eternal Presidential race that pundits blame for gutting the political will of the government. Something is really wrong with the American system these days because the role of the politicians has changed from running the affairs of the country for the common good to being in perpetual re-election campaign mode and refusing to pass any legislation that may cast them , their party, their cushy job and perks in jeopardy - can someone  not tell them that they are destroying this once marvelous country please?
American farmers seem to be facing a shortage of corn seed for planting this year - how does this happen?
I see where debris from the tsunami in Japan last year has reached the coast of Alaska, amazing how far it is traveled and how it was able to stay afloat that long at all.
Remember the cruise ship Costa Concordia that ran aground of the coast of Italy with a number of lives lost? Well a couple of things about it, first, somehow underwater thieves eluded a supposedly secure security screen to steal the ships bell for some "property vulture" and now there are reports that an American salvage (always the Yanks - no one else has the skill or the courage it seems!) company plans to re-float and tow the hulk to a salvage yard. As well they will oversee the restoration of the reef and flora and fauna of the waters around the  wreck site.
Good for them.
On the bizarre side some woman in New Zealand died after being on a lifestyle of drinking over 10 litres of Coke a day.One wonders what else was on her diet and how she could afford 10 litres of Coke - it sure as heck is not cheap to buy!
Speaking of birthdays of the greatest villain of all time - Adolph Hitler would have turned 123 this week, thankfully no one cares except for some deluded neo Nazi idiots. That was one life that should never have happened.
In Syria ceasefire observers are spanning through the country. Waste of time. Regime change seems inevitable, but as to when and with what repercussions is the big set of questions. It surely will be long and bloody sadly. And the world will sit by, as usual.
Speaking of useless crap - how about the United Nations?It seems that there is a movement afoot to penalize wealthier nations via excessive impose taxation from without in order to fund governments in poorer regions - mainly those that are run by tin pot despots who do not give a damn about the people but are intent on looting the economy and enriching themselves and a close circle of confidants.
Wonderful.
As if  we really need, another program dreamed up by fat, sleek, overpaid lazy do nothing parasitical political hacks to further punish hard working middle class citizens,while they are safely protected in their opulent lifestyles.
Assholes!
Here in Canada our Charter of Rights and Freedoms celebrate its 30th anniversary. A bill designed to protect the citizen from "big brother" type of governments. Yet this is the same bill that allow a province - Quebec- to officially and legally discriminate against a linguistic group - indeed one of the 2 OFFICIAL languages of Canada, that being English. How twisted is that?
Yet Quebec feels slighted by the rest of Canada and their students are in the tenth week or so of a "strike" against proposed increase in tuition fees that will gasp, continue to ensure that they pay the lowest rates in the whole bloody country - is everyone in that province out of touch with the real world?
Anyway, enough of that, time to get ready to head outside for the earlier mentioned yardwork. Will enjoy this I think - or least I hope so!
Take care out there,
flatlander52

Sunday musings

So here in Canada someone who some people call an Eco - terrorist has resigned from the foundation that bears his name – David Suzuki. In what he perceives as attempts by the Federal government to restrict or deny free funding to this organization in response to its continuing virulent criticism of all levels of government in terms of environment management.

At one time what he spoke of had value but as time went by and money flowed into the coffers of the foundation, many have rightly questioned many of the reports and actions that were issued. It is so easy to mock those that live for example in the prairies with no access to mass transit and hydro power for their reliance of fossil fuels. Maybe he and his supporters should realize the positive economic impact that the West supplies to the rest of Canada from its natural resources. Or at least the next time he comes to a city to spout off, that he shut his massive polluting tour bus off instead of letting it run around the clock!

North Korea ignored the advice of the rest of the world ( is this a surprise to anyone?) and launched a rocket this week to insert a satellite into orbit. The flight lasted under a minute and then exploded. Hmmm. So for this the result is that food aid (bribes actually) promised by the Americans (when will they learn that this does not work and the North considers this a sign of weakness?) is now stopped. Sadly only the people will suffer from lack of food, not the leaders and the military that keeps them in power.

Rick Santorum has dropped out from the race to become the nominee for the Republican party in the upcoming American Presidential elections later this year. Not having less than half the delegates as Mitt Romney did not seem to matter to him. And Mr. Romney continues to change his opinion apparently on what type of audience he is talking to. The other day he was addressing the National Rifle Association and embraced the concept of allowing Americans to have seemingly as many and as deadly as possible weaponry as they wanted. Previously he was opposed to this. Who knows where he will be position wise on Tuesday?

A photography student at a Canadian university issued a poster of a shot of a woman in what seems to be Muslim like cover up garb holding a bra. So here in the land of freedom and democracy, a university worker tore the poster down because he/she did not like it. A government official from Saudi Arabia issues veiled threats and requests for censorship of the students work. Makes you wonder where the outcry against this intrusion of another set of morals and values from without Canada into Canadian society is. Many people are starting to say that people and the media in this country bend over backwards to accommodate and apologize for and accept any excesses done by people claiming to be Muslims.

In fact people are starting to say – what about the values that have made this country what it is?

Are they to be discarded?

What about respecting our rights?

The turmoil that is starting to grip Europe is not too far away from here.

Are you as sick of the endless crap being broadcast about the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic?

I really am starting to question to integrity and value system of the news media in the West these days.

In fact this complete 24/7 news cycle endlessly repeating ad naseum the same stories and slanted personal viewpoints disguised as impartial reporting is of concern. Look at the hysteria generated in the killing of the black youth in Florida. First off the black spokespeople spoke harshly about the actions of the white man and how he murdered and got away with his actions. This ignores that the man is Hispanic and that due process of law should and must be followed. At the end of this week the Hispanic man was indeed charged in the death. One wonders if he will ever get a fair trial or as is being noted – is already a dead man walking?

I see where the political big wigs are meeting in Cartagena, Columbia to discuss improved trade and export/import opportunities. Hugo Chavez could not make it – another sign of the effect of the cancer he is fighting with. In one of those wacky asides, it appears some American Secret Service agents have been sent back to the States from their duty there because they apparently spent an evening with some hookers and did not pay them for services provided – lot of joke material there I think!

In elections in Egypt, officials tossed 10 candidates, one being a former top security chief and 2 being extreme Islamic fundamentalists. That will probably cause problems, time will tell.

Another icon from the past has died this week.

Raymond Aubrac, one of the last major figures of the French Resistance, who got away from the Nazis' grasp in a legendary escape led by his equally renowned wife, has died. He was 97. Take a moment and look him up and read his story.

We have no such heroes anymore it seems.

So, you buy coffee at the local shop?

Cost a premium doesn't it?

I stopped at a local convenience store the other day – a 7-11 to be exact, and purchased a humungous

big container of hot chocolate for $2.00 plus a few pennies for the tax man! What a deal and it tasted great as well!

Gonna do that again.

For sure.

Maybe Spring is finally here and perhaps warm weather is coming. I sure hope so. Both the cat and I keep casting longing looks out back and we each want to do our own business there. Of course mine is constructive and his is, shall we say, more of a recreational type. No matter how you look at it, we will both be “relieved” to get this process under way!

That is it for this week, time to get the bike out of storage – maybe this year I will actually use it.

Take care out there,

flatlander52

Sunday musings

So a fishing trawler was cast adrift and empty after the tsunami in Japan last year. Against all odds it managed to float across the Pacific before heading up the Canadian coastline towards Alaska. Say what you want about the Americans, but they just do not mess around when it comes to possible bad consequences to people or property or the country from without - they act quickly and decisively. They sank the boat with gun fire from a coast guard boat. Here in Canada we would have struck a commission to review the facts, see if it upset special interest groups and then delayed a decision for a decade and to heck with what would happen when the ship ran aground and spilled its fuel on the shoreline.

In a small town in Austria, local authorities had to remove a family headstone in the local cemetery because over the years neo-Nazi thugs had left trash and momentoes there on dates of significance to the brutal regime of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. The gravesite was that of Alois Hitler, the father of Adolph Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party. A man who wanted nothing to do with the son and yet is forever linked to him.

In Mali there is hope for the future now. A military coup a few weeks ago has been resolved through diplomatic efforts and the result will be that civilian rule will be brought back in to run the country. A 15 nation block of countries named ECOWAS is responsible for these results. And as one who has been critical of African diplomatic efforts or lack of in the past, I must say that I am impressed.

Here in Canada we have an election being contested in the province of Alberta. Two parties are running to form government. The irony of this is the one labelled Conservative, more closely resembles in thought and actions that of a very Liberal type of party. The other is much more right wing, less government more free enterprise of bent. Yet both are doing the usual bull crap of thinking voters are idiots by promising “free” cash rebates – who but the same taxpayer pays for this anyway? Why do politicians wonder why the voting public is so sick and tired of them and their tired old games?

In British Columbia, there is an election to be called for in 2013 and all signs point to the incumbent party losing. There is time to turn things around but from all actions to date, that seems to be next to impossible.

The leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez is scheduled to return to Cuba for more cancer treatments – yet he insists that he is in perfect health and will retain the Presidency for another 6 years in the upcoming elections.

I wonder about this.

Hey, you have heard of PETA? The group dedicated to humane treatment of animals and against things like the fur industry, sealing, meat consumption and the like? Do me a favour and look up what they do in their animal shelters to orphaned animals.

Euthanasia is the word here, and what is done to the animals in the name of efficiency is wrong, doubly wrong based on what PETA supposedly stands for.

In Greece a pensioner killed himself by pistol in protest to rollbacks on pension money from the government as part of its austerity program. Riots have followed but sadly, nothing can come of this. The decades of people getting many benefits from the government financed by borrowing against phantom growth projections has hit a fiscal “brick wall”. There is no money left and the government, as it seems all governments in democratic countries, will never tax the wealthy fairly as much as they extract fiscal revenge on the poor and the middle class. Even if the wealthy paid higher taxes, the amount would never be near enough to stop the fiscal bleeding. As a friend said the other day to me,” I hate growing older but thank God I am not 20 in this day and age and trying to plan for the fiscal future.”

I see in America the dept. of Justice is pursuing a case of price fixing against a number of electronic book publishers/sellers including the mighty Apple corp. Many people have wondered why electronic books based on a master digital file can cost as much or even more than an actually printed copy. As a former print industry member, this has been a question I have wondered about as well. Now news reports indicate that some of the group is planning to drop the price fixing model and revert to a free enterprise pricing system – will wonders never cease? Also I wonder if any other world government would have had the courage to do the same? I cannot see the spineless Canadian government doing this unfortunately.

On to Spring on the Prairies – it snowed Friday night for crying out loud!

Ah well, not to worry, most of it melted Saturday and the rest will be gone by Monday we are assured.

I have already started to purchase yard supplies for the yearly refresh and upgrade that must be done. And yes even though we will be moving out West, maintenance must be done for a house and yard are almost organic things and must be kept in good repair or can and do deteriorate slowly but surely if ignored. Time to dust off tools, rakes, charge up the eco-mower and connect the underground sprinkler lines, and cheerfully put the snow blower into storage until next winter.

And for you trivia history buffs – here are 2 little known facts for you on this day in history-

1868 - Thomas D'Arcy McGee, one of the Canadian Fathers of Confederation is assassinated by the Irish, in one of the few Canadian political assassinations, and the only one of a federal politician.
1888 - Start of Sherlock Holmes adventure "Yellow Face" (BG)

Who knew eh?

Take care out there,

flatlander52

Sunday musings

What a difference a wonderful day can make to a stressful week. This past Saturday was a picture perfect Spring day. Nice clear skies, temperature in the low teens and unbelievably there was little to no wind! This in Saskatchewan, the windiest part of North America historically.

We did a pile of outside yard work and trimmed the grape vines of the left over bunches of grapes from last fall. All the birds were ticked off over this but in the same instance, all the black flies that were also feasting on the grapes had to leave and find a new source of food.

Even our old cat managed to drag his butt outside a couple of times to check out the yard.

I see where the government in Syria has proclaimed that the rebellion there is over. Sure glad they implemented the cease fire they have twice agreed to – who am I kidding? They never had any intention of doing so and the world stood by and let them get away with this travesty. Iran is kindly giving the Syrian government an oil tanker to take crude oil to China, thereby earning about 84 million US for the regime. Great humanitarians the Iranian and Chinese, their leaders day of reckoning will one day come.

Here in Canada the Federal government delivered an operating budget and it really on close inspection was a middle of the road balanced approach. Forget the ignorant bleating of the opposition New Democratic Party, they who say the usual crap about destroying the lives of the young , the old and all in between. Yes, changes will be coming to a program called the Old Age Supplement,( a cash grant to provide additional income) raising the age of eligibility to 67 from 65 – this starts in 2023! It does not affect those 55 or older, so this gives younger workers time to budget more for their retirement. Indeed, one of the basic rules we followed is that one should not expect a penny (now discontinued by the way) from the government when you retire. Indeed if there is any money, that should be considered as a bonus.

A large number of government employees will lose their jobs, but the reality is that most of this will be done by retirement and generous payout packages – much better than any one would get in the private sector. In fact these days, only government employees get that kind of a retirement deal. Also government employees' will eventually be required to fund their pension plans 50/50 with the employer – something that is common in the normal world where one can get a pension plan and that is not a given or a supposed right of employment. Of course the generous indexing of their pensions to inflation will continue. Sigh, something the rest of us wish we could have. Oh yes, at some point in time the Members of Parliament and senators may also one day follow the same path – do not hold your breath on that happening in the near future – bunch of hypocrites!

Of course most eastern based media are starting the process of promoting articles attacking the resource based wealth of the western provinces because apparently -ask the premier of Ontario about this whopper of a fib, the better the west does via the petro dollar, the more it harms the east.

Horse manure!

About as realistic as students in Quebec expecting free tuition in university and that is to be paid for by money flowing into the province in the pattern of equalization payments.

I remember when Saskatchewan was on the receiving end of equalization payments for many years, we were constantly reminded by the eastern media of this and how we sod busting farmers should be eternally grateful for the largesse being bestowed on us by big brother Ontario. Well, confederation supposedly is about wealthier regions assisting less well off ones in the name of Canadianism, and I support that. However a bit of appreciation directed out west by the eastern media would be appreciated.

I see where President Obama figures the west has enough oil supplies to enforce a tougher ban on Syria – remember the so called quelled revolt there that no one helped the people with? If that is the case, and actually it is correct, how come gas prices continue to go up?

Speaking of pensions – forgot to mention this earlier but I received notification this past week that I will be getting my Canada Pension this winter after my birthday in later this year.

Great isn't it?

Getting older and getting paid for it?

Not that it is much but what the heck, it will be appreciated.

In the United States the furor over the death of a young black man at the hands of a white – whoops, media got this wrong – Hispanic man continues. Here, so far away the facts seem confused. Also the reaction, at times it has seemed almost being done without reason, is virulent and racist against the white population of the States. There appears to be a lynch mob mindset with some people and a desire to ignore due legal review and process.

Strange indeed.

The Pope has visited Cuba and as a result this year Good Friday will be a holiday on the Island. How wonderful – all that money and pomp and nonsense and this is the result of pressure on the Communist government? Perhaps the Catholic Church could try to become relevant again by electing a Black or Asian person as Pope rather than a tired, old mean spirited white man from Europe?

Ah, never happen.

Don't look now, but the American economy is picking up steam and the stock market is at all time highs. Too many pundits who should have know better, but of course didn't are going to look foolish for dismissing the American people and economy as third rate. The worlds' number one economy still has a lot of energy left in it.

Apparently in China, the demands of workers for better wages is causing manufacturers to look at relocating factories out of country to lower paying regions in the world. The old saying of what goes around comes around seems to be bearing fruit in this case. The China haters in the American Republican Party will soon have to find a new whipping boy to rail against.

And lastly, in Denmark, a rally against Islam by a right wing fringe group drew about 150 supporters who had to be bussed to safety after about 2,000 counter demonstrators showed up to attack them.

Interesting.

A pilot for an American airline,Jetblue, had a mental breakdown this week while the plane was en route to Las Vegas. Quick action by passengers help avert a tragedy. With the incredible amount of flights around the world on a daily basis, such incidents are a true rarity and speak highly of the training and dedication of these people that safely transport masses of humanity without incident.

Have a good week,

and take care out there,

flatlander52