Olympics.... Airshow

There is a lot of Olympic news like Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen or short track speed skating but let me turn to local events. The Rendezvous Weekend in the Yukon includes an airshow at the Whitehorse Airport. This year the numbers of aircraft were less but the cold winds at the airport were as cold as usual. I share some pictures:

Gushue wins Gold

[Update below]

Brad Gushue's team from the Rock[Newfoundland] has won gold in Men's Curling. It is Canada's first Gold in men's curling. The American team from Rebecca's home town won bronze medal, which is the first ever curling medal for the USA at the Olympics.

They did it with some great take outs and wonderful draws and raises.

Canada controlled the game early for a 4-3 lead after five ends. Two stellar takeouts by third Nichols in the sixth gave Canada control of the house.

Uusipaavalniemi [Finnish Skip] ticked a guard in front of the house with his final shot, leaving Gushue an open draw for seven . Gushue was heavy and put last shot through the house, but that mattered little at that point.

The Finns threw in the towel in the eighth end.

Gushue blanked the seventh end before Uusipaavalniemi drew to the button for one in the eighth and then conceded. Olympic matches must last eight ends and the Canadians exchanged hugs as the final stone slid down the ice.

Gushue was very emotional at the end with good reason.

Afterwards, someone handed Gushue a phone with his mother Maureen on the other end of the line. She was supposed to be in the stands but couldn't make it because she's fighting bowel cancer.

Newfoundland closed schools for the day. A good day for Newfoundland and Canada.

ottawasun.com - 2006 Games - School's out for ... curling

Brad Gushue's team wins Canada's first Olympic gold in men's curling

[Update]

CANOE - 2006 GAMES TURIN ITALY - Hockey
Sweden and Finland go for gold in Men's hockey.

It is a win-win situation. I don't care who wins gold but if pushed I would go with the Finns and I hope the Czechs win the bronze with no medal for the Russians.

Quest Ends

[Update below]
Lance Mackey wins his second Yukon Quest in as many tries in a record time. I would write more but my report cards await... read below for more

CBC Sports: Two tries, two wins for Mackey in Quest

Whitehorse Star Online

News-Miner - Local

[Update: ]
HOCKEY
Men: Canada lost 2-0 to Russia in quarter-final game, eliminated.
This is of course another "quest" that has ended but just wait until Vancouver in 2010 when Eric Stahl, Sidney Crosby, Dion Phaneuf and all the other young and up and comers... it will be great.

Yukon Quest changes course

via cbc.ca/north for all images

Due to a lack of snow the Yukon Quest will not finish in Whitehorse,

"The 2006 Yukon Quest will not be finishing in Whitehorse this year, it will be finishing in Dawson," [race marshal Mike McCowan] said in Dawson City. "We will run teams to Pelly as we normally would, [then] we'll turn them around and come back to Dawson to finish here."

CBC News: Scant snow forces route change in sled dog race

It is too bad as the finish can be quite exciting but if one is so inclined they could go up the highway to Dawson City and see the finish. This is a downside of a mild winter.

Suz is a d20

By request of StatGuy, Suz my wife took the quiz and is a d20

You are the large, round, friendly d20! (You probably didn't know this, but the shape of the twenty-sided die is called an Icosahedron.) You are the friendly, outgoing, outspoken, leader of friends. You are often looked up to, even though you don't normally deserve it. Most other types secretly wish they were you, and you'd give them tips on how, if only you had a clue yourself. Your charisma is often all you need, but you have your occasional moments of brilliance as well--just never when it's actually needed. You are the all-around good guy, a
dependable chum, a respectable foe, and an inspiration to those who need one. Who says you can't get by on a smile and good looks alone?

Take the quiz at dicepool.com

I'm a d6

You are a good old-fashioned six-sided cube, otherwise known as a d6. Others know you to be plain, predictable, conservative, average, ordinary, and downright boring. You prefer to describe yourself as dependable, honest, practical and trustworthy. People usually know what to expect from you, since you rarely hold any surprises. You hate to make decisions, and if forced to decide, you'll always fall back on how it was done in the past. You always order the same thing at your favorite restaurant, and your jokes, while funny, are never too offensive. It seems that you are well liked, but maybe that's simply because there's nothing to hate.

Take the quiz at dicepool.com

An interesting conversation.

via CaNN :: We started it.

I had an interesting conversation with my sister concerning the Muslims cartoons and it made me think of how we want things like freedom of the press unless we are ourselves are infringed upon. I like the Voltaire quote. What it means is "yes" to publishing cartoons but also "yes" to protesting the publication of same cartoons, but protest should not be in the form of death or destroying property. In the case of the current cartoon controversy, every time destruction occurs some of the cartoons are validated.

Trash TV at its finest

I will begin by saying I do not regularly watch Vision TV, the multi-faith channel or should the watered-your-faith channel very often but the other night caught a few minutes of 360 Vision
and the guest was a retired American Anglican Bishop Spong. Wow what a piece of work

"John Shelby Spong ... the former Episcopal (Anglican) Bishop of Newark, N.J....does not believe in Original Sin or the Virgin Birth. He doesn't believe that Jesus performed miracles or was resurrected after his death on the cross."

I never really get it when a so called minister of Christianity denies all the tenets of Christianity and then declares himself a Christian. At least Vision TV got one thing right he is featured on a show about heretics.

"Some would call him a heretic. He calls himself a Christian."

What is left of faith after virgin birth, miracles and no ressurection? The web provides many critics such as that of the Christian Courier.

It points to his lack of real knowledge and that,

Though Spong claims to have studied the Bible with great intensity, his writings reveal an abysmal lack of knowledge of the sacred text. His ignorance is exceeded only by his arrogant disrespect for the time-tested volume.

From watching the show I thought of Matthew 13 where he talks about the sower and the weeds and he says,

41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everyone who does wrong or causes others to sin. 42Then he will throw them into a flaming furnace, where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain. 43But everyone who has done right will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. If you have ears, pay attention! (Matthew 13:41-43) CEV

If you have ears, pay attention. He really is not paying attention. I think of my brother's blog from Sunday and how as, he turns fifty, he reflects and looks back on God's hand being there throughout his life. This Spong guy does not get it and he has been around for 74 years! This kind of guy is scary. People believe him at face value. Look deeper people... he provides bad history and bad scholarship. Think and pay attention. A modern false prophet.

Rebecca Writes: It Really Is The Toughest Dog Sled Race

The latest from the Quest via Rebecca Writes:

Rebecca Writes: It Really Is The Toughest Dog Sled Race

Yukon Quest 2006

The hardest dog sled race in the world began yesterday in Fairbanks, Alaska. Some think of the Iditarod as the hardest but those who have run both say the Yukon Quest is by far the hardest.

"The race route runs on frozen rivers, climbs four mountain ranges, and passes through isolated, northern villages. With temperatures hitting 40 below, 100 mile-an-hour winds, open water and bad ice all working against the teams, the Yukon Quest is a true test of the capacity of humans and canines, and a tribute to the strength of the ancient bond that unites them."

The starting and finishing place alternate between Fairbanks and Whitehorse. When the race starts in Whitehorse we usually go downtown and watch the start. It is very exciting and loud. It loud because 20 dog teams with about 10 dogs each is very loud.

The dogs are treated like star athletes by their handlers.

"The Yukon Quest is dedicated to excellence in canine care. Quest mushers are coaches, cooks, cheerleaders, and companions to their dogs. Quest dogs are elite, marathon athletes. Bred from stock that survived and thrived during the Klondike Gold Rush, no animal on earth can match them for endurance, dedication and their ability to perform in the extreme conditions of the North."

So in about ten days the dog teams will arrive in Whitehorse. Last year the race was won by a mere eight minutes, which is amazing after 1,000 miles of racing! Check out the Quest site as I have only scratched the surface or should that be "pawed" the surface.


Yukon Quest - Home Page

This is really good

My friend statsguy points to the real problem with the current problem with the cartoons about the prophet Muhammad and how as Christians we are designed for mocking. Check it out. John Piper makes perfect sense.

Magic Statistics: John Piper: Being mocked the essence of Christ's work

Got to be me???

You Should Get a MD (Doctor of Medicine)

You're both compassionate and brilliant - a rare combination. You were born to be a doctor.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

I don't see myself wanting that much responsibility.

Was Katrina as bad as the mudslide in Qaziabad?

The Qaziabad mudslide of October 8, 2005 has left 2.5 million homeless and about 80,000 people dead. Katrina's homeless are about 500,000... and as of January 13, 1,323 died. In looking at the natural disasters side by side, one can see that the mudslide is the biggest disaster of 2005 in terms of human tragedy. I was thinking a group like NASA or the European Space Agency should be involved in creating housing for the mudslide region. NASA? Well they probably have the technology to build a portable self-contained shelter for in a inhospitable environment with self-contained power source. Think too of all the good will it would provide in a Muslim country. They would have to give the help with no strings attached.
Of course the easier way could be sending Qaziabad some Fort Macpherson Tents as a quick fix. I used these kinds of tents when I did winter camping in Old Crow, Yukon in very cold weather. In looking at all these tradegies, I just think that we have technologies which could help if people think beyond traditional lines.
This is not to say the efforts are not working:

"The region has also avoided any major
epidemics so far. An outbreak of cholera was quickly scotched in a camp in Muzaffarabad in November, said Sacha Bootsmaspokeswoman for the World Health Organization in Islamabad."

Those on the ground are working very hard.


After quake, the nightmare lingers - Asia - Pacific - International Herald Tribune

Star-Telegram | 01/29/2006 | Evacuee relief effort puts strain on Texas

Picayune Item: Mississippi News Near the Gulf: News

radiation protecion in space

one man's treasure....

One interesting site. This guy, Kyle Macdonald traded one red paper clip for a fish pen and after a few more trades he is now up to a cube van ( a real van, you can drive) . It is very interesting what some find to be a treasure
one red paperclip

Canada condemns violence over Muhammad cartoon

Canada condemns violence over Muhammad cartoon

At this point with all the apologies that have been issued. I think forgiveness and understanding are the order of the day. What will the violence accomplish? The Danish newspaper maybe should not have published the cartoons back in September but at this point what will any more violence do? Cause more fear? Shed more innocent blood?


For more on this check out:

Magic Statistics: Point made: Islamist violence provokes fear and self-censorship

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Daily Encounter: Service for Monday, February 6, 2006

I share with you a devotional I subscribe to called Daily Encounter because it is directed at me as much as anyone else. I often think about service and I catch myself saying I don't know how to do that or there is probably someone else better suited. The truth is that if God wants it done, and you have the oportunity ... children's church... sunday school... preaching .... helping a sick friend.... or helping a sick stranger... whatever then get to it. Remember Matthew 25:24 "... 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' " Anyway, I can hear my father, Ross... telling me to get off my butt...

Daily Encounter: Service for Monday, February 6, 2006

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we


[Christians] who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us" (Romans 12:4-6, NIV).

Sir Michael Costa, the celebrated conductor, was holding a rehearsal. As the mighty chorus rang out, accompanied by scores of instruments, the piccolo player—a little pint-sized flute—thinking perhaps that his contribution would not be missed amid so much music, stopped playing. Suddenly, the great leader stopped and cried out, "Where is the piccolo?"

The sound of that one small instrument was necessary to the harmony, and the conductor missed it when it dropped out. The point? To the conductor there are no insignificant instruments in an orchestra. Sometimes the smallest and seemingly least important one can make the greatest contribution and even if it doesn't seem to make that big a difference to the audience at large, the conductor knows it right away!1

In God's kingdom there is a place for everyone. There are no exceptions to this rule. Thus it is important that everyone is in his or her place if God's work on earth is going to be done harmoniously.

At times I may feel insignificant and that I can't do much for God, but as Edward Everett Hales said, "I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will."

Personality Profile

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You're generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have medium agreeableness. You're generally a friendly and trusting person. But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism. You get along well with others, as long as they play fair. Neuroticism: You have high neuroticism. It's easy for you to feel shaken, worried, or depressed. You often worry, and your worries prevent you from living life fully. You tend to be emotionally reactive and moody. Your either flying very high or feeling very low. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is medium. You are generally broad minded when it come to new things. But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it. You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

The Five Factor Personality Test

An Average Canadian like Mr. Harper is pretty Scary...

An interesting article in the Toronto Star points out that Stephen Harper is really quite average in his views.
For example he would probably want some abortion restrictions:

"As an evangelical Harper probably supports some restrictions on abortion (I

say probably, because he has never said so himself).

But again, this doesn't set him against most Canadians, it aligns him with
them. A 2004 Environics poll showed that more than two-thirds of the
population wants greater restrictions on abortion. In fact, some experts feel
that percentage would increase if more Canadians knew that we have no abortion
legislation and as such a pregnancy can be terminated up to its final month."

So he is as scary as the average Canadian when it comes to abortion.


"Interestingly, a 2005 Environics poll shows a similar percentage of "average Canadians" are of the same mind as "hard-line" evangelicals believing that "life should be protected from conception." "

He has always been a moderate conservative on social issues... why do you think he left the Reform Party.

"Read any of the policy or position papers written by Harper from the time he was a grad student at the University of Calgary, to his days as a Reform Party MP, to his stint as head of the National Citizens' Coalition and you will be surprised to find that the only time he talks at length about values is when he is discussing the value of the dollar and how to maximize its potential. ... Harper quit as a Reform MP because his party colleagues often made social issues, and not economic and political reform, their primary focus. "

Mr. Harper is basically an average Canadian on most of the social issues of the day, which of course is scary to those who only look at the headlines or campaign slogans.

Quoted areas are from:
TheStar.com - Stephen Harper just can't quit his inner-Evangelical

Canada’s Universal Daycare Plan Negative Consequences

Let me first say I have nothing against a well run daycare in which provide children with well trained and caring adult supervisors, who teach children to get along. From my experience daycare does not work most of the time. I will only say that maternal parents are probably the best choice for young children and if not parents then close relatives. To me this is one of the key times when children really need their parents' support as they grow and learn about how to behave for the first time. The study about universal daycare confirms this. Of course another study will come out or some will say this or that about the current study being wrong. But what is wrong with biological parents? My friend StatsGuy gives a more analytical view at Magic Statistics. I just wonder how this might have affected our recent federal election if this study had been released say, three weeks ago?

Other links about the same study:
Study Shows Canada’s Universal Daycare Plan Has “Strikingly Negative” Consequences

CBC News: Quebec day-care program hurting kids: economists

The Globe and Mail: Study on behaviour targets Quebec's child-care system

Quebec daycare bad for children

Battle shaping up over federal daycare deal

More books by my brother

Having stumbled across a book my brother had author, co-authored or edited, I was interested to do a search of Amazon.ca to find what other gems he has had published. Click below or above to find out. Good stuff!
Search Results Books

Why vote for Anyone?

I was reading our local paper, The Whitehorse Daily Star and I came across a letter to the editor entitled "How Could Anyone Vote Conversative?". It was an intriguing piece of work. It pointed out the faults of every "Conversative" Prime Minister Canada has had in since Diefenbaker. All the faults were pointed out. I can agree with this guy that nobody is perfect and some of his points are valid but I take issue with this idea that Canada is doomed and Canadians are un-Canadian because they vote Consevative. I have voted every which way and I can not guarantee which way I will vote in the future. I guess I could live with his critique if only he realized that all Prime Ministers no matter the party make mistakes such as the energy plan that Trudeau produced which in turn lead to Western Alienation... or in light of the election in Palestine and the victory of Hamas and all the pontential problems it causes in the Middle East I think a Conservative win in Canada is pretty tame. Stephen Harper might end up being the best or worst Prime Minister we have ever had. But keep in mind we have not elected Hamas and we know sooner or later we will have another election and civil war will not erupt. Although, I must say my five year old had it right when after watching some election coverage, he turned to me and said, "Vote for God!" He's got my vote.