KEG's Thoughts

News: The DaVinci Blog - Christianity Today Movies

2006-05-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

I share information from a good site on the DaVinci junk. McKellen is a very good actor but it sounds like he is an ass. Enjoy

News: The DaVinci Blog - Christianity Today Movies: "

THE DAVINCI BLOG
McKellen: Bible Is Fiction
Da Vinci star Ian McKellen makes controversial statements about Bible, Catholic Church; Ron Howard tells concerned moviegoers to skip the film. Plus: Protests, boycotts, and hunger strikes ensue worldwide; Muslims, Asian Christians upset.
by Josh Hurst | posted 05/22/06

As if the filmmakers of The Da Vinci Code didn't have enough controversy on their hands already, one of the film's stars, Sir Ian McKellen, brought even more wrath upon the movie last week during an interview on NBC's The Today Show.

Addressing concerns felt by many Christian groups over the film's portrayal of Christ and the church, Today's Matt Lauer noted that 'people wanted this to say 'fiction, fiction, fiction.' How would you all have felt if there was a disclaimer at the beginning of the movie? Would it have been okay with you?'

Replied McKellen: 'Well, I've often thought the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying this is fiction. I mean, walking on water, it takes an act of faith. And I have faith in this movie. Not that it's true, not that it's factual, but that it's a jolly good story. And I think audiences are clever enough and bright enough to separate out fact and fiction, and discuss the thing after they've seen it.'

View the clip here.

McKellen, a gay man who admits to ripping the book of Leviticus (which condemns homosexuality) out of hotel room Bibles, made similarly controversial comments in an interview with MTV, claiming the church 'is always saying very rude and unnecessary things about gay people, so I tend to keep out of their way and not listen to what they say.'

Meanwhile, the film's director, Ron Howard, has taken a more diplomatic approach. When asked about the film's controversy Howard stated, 'My advice … is to not go see the movie if you think you're going to be upset. Wait. Talk to somebody who has seen it. Discuss it. And then arrive at an opinion about the movie itself … Again: This is supposed to be entertainment, it's not theology.'

In other Da Vinci news:

Da Vinci undermines faith in Catholic Church (MSNBC)
Survey shows that book, film are dangerous

India delays film premiere (Associated Press)
Government postpones debut, citing religious concerns

Philippines gives film harsh rating (Reuters)
Da Vinci for 'adults only' in Catholic country

Film banned in Middle East (Pittsburgh Live)
Many Islamic countries reject movie

Muslims angered by Da Vinci (Reuters)
Film causes controversy for claims about Christ

Australian priest okays film (The Age)
Archbishop approves of seeing Da Vinci

Detractors use book, film for evangelism (chron.com)
Critics of story still use it to share faith

Protests escalate worldwide (Associated Press)
Boycotts, hunger strikes, attempts to block screenings

Beijing first to see film; protests throughout Asia (AP)
Christians in many Asian countries angered by movie

� Josh Hurst 2006, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information."

2006-05-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

You Are Root Beer

Ultra sweet and innocent, you have a subtle complexity behind your sugary front.
Children love you, but so do high end snobs... when you're brewed right.

Your best soda compatibility match: Dr. Pepper

Stay away from: Diet Coke

What Kind of Soda Are You?

It is amazing because my wife is:

You Are Dr. Pepper

You're very unique and funky, yet you still have a bit of traditionalism to you.
People who like you think they have great taste... and they usually do.

Your best soda match: Root Beer

Stay away from: 7 Up

What Kind of Soda Are You?

Daily Encounter: A Biblical Answer to the Da Vinci Code for Friday, May 19, 2006

2006-05-20T20:43:00.000-07:00

This makes sense. I share this from Daily Encounter:

Daily Encounter: A Biblical Answer to the Da Vinci Code for Friday, May 19, 2006: "Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by Richard (Dick) Innes of ACTS International

Friday, May 19, 2006

1. A Biblical Answer to the Da Vinci Code

2000 years ago: 'When they [the religious leaders] heard this [Peter and the disciples preaching about Jesus Christ], they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: 'Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God' (Acts 5:33-39, NIV).

In a letter to the editor of the New Zealand Herald newspaper, Barrie McClymont, director of the ACTS International in New Zealand wrote:

'In 1988 I was visiting Universal Studios in Hollywood as a tourist when I witnessed a few hundred people in a nearby section protesting against the film 'The Last Temptation of Christ.' While I understood their purpose I felt that such a public protest was simply drawing attention to the film pointlessly.

'Sure enough the film died a natural death as a piece of nonsense. Most folk today cannot even recall its existence. Over my years I have watched a number of easily forgotten attempts to challenge Christianity with material like the 'Da Vinci Code.' These theories died in short order as will the current material.

'The sub-leader in Monday's New Zealand Herald from the Sunday Telegraph correctly related the material to the G. K. Chesterton quote that 'when a man stops believing in God, he doesn't then believe in nothing, he believes in anything.' The only reason the current Da Vinci Code gets wide attention [in New Zealand] is substantially related to the copyright debate and not to its veracity. These things die on their feet.'"

Rex Murphy is on Target Again

2006-05-18T16:58:00.000-07:00

This is a great piece of work. Of course it is best to watch him "perform" his monologue. He always seems to cut straight to the key ideas of the issues. I personally have a vague idea of what Kyoto is about but on the whole I see an agreement that means nothing. It is the kind of thing that gives politicians a bad name. If you sign an agreement on behalf of me as my representative then you had better keep the agreement. At this point countries who have not signed on have a better record on the envoronment requirements than many countries that have signed on. As for the gun registry it was poorly planned, poorly managed and again it is the kind of thing that makes politicians look bad. If gun registry is the "magic bullet" then why is it that we still have gun crime? It has not done any change for good. Anyway read Rex. He says it better than I ever could.

"Yoking wishfulness to vast expenditure"

May 16 2006

The gun registry and the Kyoto Protocol are, at least in one respect, twins. They both illustrate the uselessness of piety pretending to be policy, of half thought mixed with full-bore emotion substituting for a rational response to a perceived public problem.

Kyoto is a great empty house of wishful thinking. Some countries that have signed on have done less than those that did not. Canada has done less than the U.S., for example, though the U.S. Congress universally voted it down during the Clinton years, while Canada touted its signature on the accord as being in itself a great Boy Scout badge of international and environmental do-good-ism.

And then there's the gun registry. Whatever the gun registry was supposed to do, beyond raising a cloud of vague righteousness that something was being done, what has it specifically done for places like Toronto, say, with its year of the gun?

Where real gun crime exists, it almost always is handguns, stolen, smuggled, and unregistered, that are causing havoc.

Where's the registry in that picture? And today Sheila Fraser pounded a few dozen more 9-inch nails into the coffin of the gun registry. That other response to a problem which over the five years of its life has been an epic catalogue of unimaginable expense, was going to cost $2 million net and cost $1 billion instead.

She told us of computer systems whose costs ballooned, amounts in the tens of millions not recorded, and even more damning, added that the information these wonderful systems so expensively collected can either be (a) incorrect or (b) incomplete, and at a press conference that the data cannot be relied on. So it can't be relied on; its information is incomplete or incorrect, and it costs more than the tar sands.

Well, not the tar sands.

In the early days of this program, it was all so simple. We had then Justice Minister Allan Rock standing to tell the country, 'All that we're asking of firearms owners is to fill out two cards and mail them in.'

A few postcards and a postage stamp. And we get a billion dollars?

Who was the mailman? Wile E. Coyote?

The gun registry accomplished negatives, however, by the bucket load. A cost overrun that yet will make 'Ripley's Believe It or Not', antagonized whole swatches of harmless citizens, from duck hunters to farmers, who found themselves hectored and harassed to fill in its unreliable forms, pay its useless fees, or wind up listed as criminals if they did not.

Now, Kyoto is not a registry, but it has the same impulse at its centre, vagueness of intention surrounding an amorphous good cause. The science is contentious, regardless of what the propagandists of global warning will tell you. It is advocacy-driven and as much a lobby as General Motors.

As Kyoto is globally, the gun registry is for us nationally, a perfect parable of yoking wishfulness to vast expenditure to appease wistful public sentiment. Whatever that sentiment, it urges politicians to just do something. In both cases, they did. Kyoto eight years on is a hollow piety, and the gun registry is a compound of excess, uselessness, annoyance, and the most highly capitalized piece of policy pointlessness since the Newfoundland government 20 years ago spent $27 million to fund a science fiction dream of growing cucumbers out of the East Coast granite.

Keep the gun registry? Only if they open a museum for monumental illustrations of how to waste public money. And in that museum, the registry will occupy the same place in public policy that the private sector has long ago given the Edsel. For 'The National', I'm Rex Murphy.

Rex Murphy

Rex Murphy's
Point of View index

The Da Vinci Rejects - Christianity Today Magazine

2006-05-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

Christians can laugh when faced with the Da Vinci Code ridicule unlike our Muslim brethern. A sample below. Having been a Bloom County fan I especially like the one about the penguin invading the secret society. Anyway, enjoy.

Christianity Today, Week of June 14

PARODY
The Da Vinci Rejects
What other publishers could have done to respond to Dan Brown's bestseller.
By Ted Olsen | posted 06/16/2004 12:01 a.m.

Baker:
The Da Vinci Corrective: Recovering Biblical Equality in the Life of Mary Magdalene
By Catherine Clark Kroeger

Canon Press:
Evil Art: Da Vinci's Last Supper and the Need for a New Iconoclasm
By Douglas Jones

Chick Publications:
Opus Day: Everyone's Favorite Cartoon Penguin Invades the Secretive Catholic Organization
By J.T. Chick and Berkley Breathed, with introduction by former Opus Dei leader Alberto Rivera.

Church House Publishing:
The Da Vinci Code: Imagining Leonardo as an Anglican Isn't Crazier than Dan Brown's Fantasies.
By Rowan Williams

Crossway:
Gneutered Gnostics: Troubling Gender-Inclusive Language in Da Vinci Code Response Books
By Wayne A. Grudem

Eerdmans:
The Rembrandt Code: Understanding the Hidden Calvinist Messages in The Prodigal Son and Other Paintings.
By Hendrik van den Leeuwen

Harvest House:
The Power of a Praying Painter: The True Meaning and Devotion of Leonardo da Vinci's Art.
By Stormie Omartian, with a foreword by Thomas Kincade.

Howard Publishing:
Hugs for Heretics

Moody:
~~Saddam Hussein~~ Leonardo da Vinci the Antichrist?
By Charles H. Dyer (Slightly revised from earlier published edition of similar book)

Relevant:
The DiCaprio Code: Spiritual Messages of Leonardo's Work, From Growing Pains to Catch Me If You Can
By Will Johnson

Also from Relevant:
Fresh Frescoes: The Spiritual Journey of Dan Brown

Spence:
The Da Vinci Threat: How a Painter Blurred the Lines of Gender & Sexual Ethics and Is Still Destroying the Family 500 Years Later
By Joseph Farah

Strang:
The Da Vinci Cure: How Leonardo Painted the Perfect Diet
By Don Colbert, M.D.

Waterbrook:
The Da Vinci Codependent
By Steve Arterburn

Westminster John Knox:
The Gospel According to Dan Brown
By Mark I. Pinsky

W:
Line of ancillary products: The Da Vinci Coat, The Da Vinci Comb, and The Da Vin-Tea Cozy

Zondervan (emergent/ys):
A New Kind of Code: The Church Needs to Read Heretical Fiction Because It's So Modernist, Man
By Brian McLaren

Christianity Today:
Is Gnosticism a Religion of Peace?
By J.I. Packer, Timothy George, and Tom Oden
Copyright � 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information."

Da Vinci Decoded

2006-05-07T08:29:00.000-07:00

Let me begin by saying that fiction is fiction and I well understand that. I have not yet read the Da Vinci Code. I will probably read it via the library at some time. I understand it is a great read. The problem I have is that many will look at this book as factual. If you are a reasonable person with a well developed intellect you will see this story as a story. But there are some out there who don't check historical fact. Many will take all that Dan Brown wrote good history and based on good research. Time will tell but I know some will examine the facts and come know the real historical Christ. Others will turn away. Another group will use it as an excuse not to believe in the first place.

Check out this site for some good factual information:

Christian History - The Da Vinci Code Special Section

Example from above:

Why the 'Lost Gospels' Lost Out - Christianity Today Magazine: "But was there really no such thing as 'orthodoxy' before the fourth century? Is it really the case that Gnosticism was harshly suppressed without being given a fair trial?

First, there is no strong evidence to suggest that gnostic Christians vied with the orthodox from the beginning. Even what is probably the earliest gnostic document, the Gospel of Thomas, seems to have come from a period after the New Testament books were already recognized as authoritative and widely circulated.

The Gospel of Thomas, in fact, draws on most of these documents, adding some new ideas about Jesus and about the faith. All other major gnostic texts—like the Gospel of Truth, the Gospel of Philip, the Gospel of the Hebrews, the Gospel of Mary, and so on—are clearly written in the second and third centuries.

Church Fathers Irenaeus and Tertullian addressed Gnosticism in the second century in works titled Against Heresies and The Prescription Against Heretics. And the Muratorian Canon (a list of New Testament writings from late second century) says this: 'There is current also an epistle to the Laodiceans, and another to the Alexandrians, both forged in Paul's name to further the heresy of Marcion, and several others which cannot be received into the catholic Church. For it is not fitting that gall be mixed with honey.' In other words, it is historically false to say that the councils of the fourth and fifth centuries invented or first defined 'heresy.'

Revisionist historians like Pagels also argue that there was no core belief system, later called 'orthodoxy,' in the first century. This is a strange claim, because anyone who has read the letters of John, for example, knows that discussions about orthodoxy and heresy were heating up in the New Testament period. Paul's letters, too, show distinctions being made between truth and error. By the time we get to the Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus), there is a strong sense of what is and is not sound doctrine, particularly in terms of salvation and the person of Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, the early church viewed the Old Testament as both authoritative and inspired, as 2 Timothy 3:16 shows. This is an important point in regard to Gnosticism. The earliest churches had already recognized the Hebrew Scriptures as canon, a set of authoritative and divinely inspired texts. Notice how much of the Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament books—all written to edify churches across the ancient world. Gnosticism fundamentally rejected Jewish theology about the goodness of creation, and especially the idea that all the nations could be blessed through Abraham and his faith. When the church accepted the Hebrew Scriptures, it implicitly rejected Gnosticism before it had a chance to get started. Thus we are already at a watershed moment in the development of early Christianity, one that could not allow Gnosticism to ever be regarded as a legitimate development of the Christian faith."

Check out more real history. It is usually more interesting than a goofy conspiracy theory!!!

Apple - Get a Mac - Watch The TV Ads

2006-05-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

There are some great new ads for the Mac. I mean the fewer viruses is enough for me.

From Apple:

By the end of 2005, there were 114,000 known viruses for PCs. In March 2006 alone, there were 850 new threats detected against Windows. Zero for Mac. While no computer connected to the Internet will ever be 100% immune from attack, Mac OS X has helped the Mac keep its clean bill of health with a superior UNIX foundation and security features that go above and beyond the norm for PCs. When you get a Mac, only your enthusiasm is contagious. (http://www.apple.com/getamac/viruses.html)

Watch the ads:
Apple - Get a Mac - Watch The TV Ads

THE NEW 940 MONTREAL

2006-05-02T21:36:00.000-07:00

THE NEW 940 MONTREAL:

"Tories more popular than Bloc in Quebec: poll
2006-05-02 08:10:59

It has not taken long for the Harper Conservatives to win the minds of Quebecers. After 100 days in power, a new CROP poll for La Presse suggests the Tories are now more popular than the Bloc Quebecois in this province.
The survey reveals that if elections were held this week, the Tories would get 34 percent of the vote in Quebec, compared to the Bloc's 31 percent. The Liberals would get a mere 15 percent of the vote and the NDP 13 percent.
56 percent of Quebec respondents say they are satisfied or very satisfied with the Harper government, the best approval rating for a federal government in Quebec in years. "

Easter Quiz

2006-04-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

Easter Quiz

My score is 91%.

Try an Easter quiz.

Easter Quiz

OR
Try a word search:

Easter Word Search

Largest Pysanka

2006-04-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

In honour of Easter, here are some links to the world's largest Easter egg or Pysanka, which is found in Vegreville, Alberta. I have seen it myself and would encourage anyone travel highway #16 from Edmonton to Lloydminister to stop in and see it up close. I do have pictures of the non-digital kind some where but for this blog I will use the online digital ones. Some would say why such a large Pysanka (Or why make it at all? ... Nephew Matthew)? Others would say why not? I merely present this as something to blog about.
Here are the facts:
EggFacts

· Egg Width: 25.7 feet
· Egg Height: 18.3 feet
· Total Height: 31.6 feet
· Material: Alumuinum skin
· Turns like weathervane
· Weight: 5,000 pounds
· Star Patterns: 524
· Triangular Pieces: 2,206
· Visible Facets: 3,512
· Nuts and Bolts: 6,978
· Internal Struts: 177
· Man Hours: 12,000
(Facts from:World's Largest Easter Egg - The 'Pysanka' in Vegreville, Canada
)

(Photos fromPhoto album of Vegreville)
Links of Interest:
Vegreville, Alberta
Computer Science Project
Pysanka (Easter Egg) - Vegreville, Alberta
Vegreville, Alberta & its Easter Egg
Easter egg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Today in History!!!!

2006-04-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

1962, I was born.
Facts

Tuesday, April 10, 1962

This was 100th day of the year and 265 days remained in the year.

On This Day... April 10, 1962: "

April 10 in History
1790

The U.S. patent system was formed.
1849

The safety pin was patented by Walter Hunt, in New York.
1866

The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was chartered.
1912

Titanic set sail on its fateful voyage.
1947

Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers announced that Jackie Robinson had signed with the team.
1963

The atomic-powered submarine Thresher sank off Cape Cod, Mass.
1970

Paul McCartney announced the official split of the Beatles.
1974

Israeli prime minister Golda Meir announced her resignation.
1998

The Northern Ireland 'Good Friday Accord' was reached.
2003

The U.S. House passed the 'Amber Alert' bill. It provided a system for alerting the public about missing or abducted children.

More on 1962; "

	`Today's Canadian Headline...`
1990	`GST TO BECOME LAW` Ottawa Ontario - Commons passes the Goods and Services Tax bill 144 to 114, ending nine months of bitter wrangling; the 7% tax will replace the 13.5% Manufacturers Sales Tax as of Jan 1; Alex Kindy and David Kilgour ejected from Tory Caucus for voting against the GST; the bill now goes to the Senate.
1790	`Also On This Day...` Nootka BC - Spanish start building forts in Nootka Sound to exploit sea otter harvest; try to head off English traders after the recent visit by Captain Cook.
1865	`And in Today's Canadian Birthdays...` Jack Miner 1865-1944 bird conservationist, was born on this day at Westlake (Dover Center) Ohio in 1865; dies in Kingsville, Ontario Nov 3, 1944. Miner came to Canada at age 13 with his family to set up a brick and tile business in Gosfield South Township, near Kingsville. Not suited for school, he became an avid hunter and then naturalist, setting up one of the first wild bird refuges as early as 1908. He helped save the Canada Goose, banding over 40,000 in his lifetime, as well as 50,000 wild ducks to study migratory habits. His Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary at Kingsville on Lake Erie was declared an official Crown reserve in 1917. His bird sanctuary work is carried on today by the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation, incorporated in the US and Canada. [See below, 1947, for National Wildlife Week]. Also Milton Fowler Gregg VC 1892-1978 politician, soldier, educator, was born on this day at Snider Mountain New Brunswick in 1892; died in Fredericton Mar 13, 1978. After attending teachers college and Acadia University, Gregg went to war, serving as a stretcher bearer in France, then after being wounded, a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Regiment. On Sept 27 near Cambrai, he was wounded twice, but led his men against enemy trenches in which he personally killed or wounded 11 Germans, took 25 prisoners and captured 12 machine guns. In spite of his wounds he stayed with his company and on Oct 1 1918 again led his men in attack until he was severely wounded for a third time. Gregg was awarded the CBE, Military Cross & Bar and on Jan 6, 1919, the Victoria Cross. After the war he worked for the Solider Settlement Board and was Sergeant at Arms of the House of Commons 1934-39. He served overseas with the RCR in World War II, and was commandant of officer training at Sussex. He was President of UNB 1944-47, and was elected to the Commons in 1947. He served variously as Minister of Fisheries, Veterans Affairs and Labour until 1957, at which point he rounded out his career with the United Nations in Iraq, Indonesia and in New York.
In Other Events...
1996	Winnipeg Manitoba - Scotty Bowman's Detroit Red Wings defeat Winnipeg Jets 5-2 becoming the second team in NHL history to win 60 regular-season games; the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens were the first; the Wings will end the season with 62 wins.
1992	North America - NHL strike ends after 10 days.
1990	Toronto Ontario - Brian Mulroney 1939- meets US President George Bush for talks on Acid Rain and East-West relations; US Acid Rain Act cleared Senate April 3; cuts emissions 50% by year 2000.
1990	Washington DC -International Joint Commission says Canada and the US must stop dumping toxic substances into Great Lakes; disease and birth defects a serious threat.
1984	BC - BC pulp and paper workers go back to work after two-month lockout and strike.
1982	Edmonton Alberta - Los Angeles Kings beat the Oilers 6-5 in overtime, after trailing 5-0 in the third period.
1970	Ottawa Ontario - Ottawa creates two new national parks; one at Artillery Lake northeast of Yellowknife; the other on the Trent Canal, Ontario.
1965	London Ontario - Opening of $1,000,000 air terminal at London.
1965	Trois-Rivières Quebec - German freighter Transatlantic sinks after colliding with Dutch ship Hermes; 3 sailors killed.
1963	Ottawa Ontario - Parliament passes Food and Drugs Act, getting more control over sale of drugs.
1959	Hamilton Ontario - Canada's first privately-owned nuclear research reactor goes into operation, at McMaster University.
1956	Montreal Quebec -Montreal Canadiens beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 to win the first of a record five consecutive Stanley Cups; they win the series 4 games to 1.
1952	Detroit Michigan -Detroit Red Wings beat the Montreal Canadiens in four straight games to win the Stanley Cup.
1947	Montreal Quebec -Montreal Royals of the International League sell their star player Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers; appears in uniform for the Dodgers the next day, the first black player to break the colour barrier in major league baseball.
1947	Ottawa Ontario -Founding of National Wildlife Week to honour conservationist Jack Miner, born on this day in 1865.
1942	Ottawa Ontario -William Lyon Mackenzie King 1874-1950 agrees with Roosevelt to approve resolutions of Joint Economic Committees; to balance US-Canadian agricultural trade.
1937	Ottawa Ontario -Act of Parliament creates Trans-Canada Airlines, now Air Canada; company will have two passenger planes and a biplane by September launch.
1934	Detroit Michigan - Chicago Black Hawks beat Detroit Red Wings 1-0, winning the Stanley Cup 3 games to 1.
1912	Ottawa - Government appoints Board of Grain Commissioners, to inspect and regulate the grain trade.
1900	Capetown South Africa - Samuel Benfield Steele 1849-1919 arrives in South Africa commanding Lord Strathcona's Horse.
1889	Welland Ontario - Opening of the enlarged Welland Canal.
1875	Regina Saskatchewan - Northwest Mounted Police ordered to build a post on the site of the city of Calgary.
1866	Campobello New Brunswick - Irish American Fenians attack Campobello Island from Eastport, Maine; persuaded to leave by British warships, US agents.
1841	Halifax Nova Scotia - Halifax incorporated as a city.
1812	Washington DC - United States calls out the militia in preparation for a war against Britain that will begin June 18; attack on Upper Canada imminent.
1684	Quebec City - Royal ordinance prohibits emigration from New France to the English colonies to the south.
1682	Louisiana USA - René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle 1643-1687 starts return trip up the Mississippi with Tonty, after claiming Louisiana for France.
1645	Saint John New Brunswick - Charles Menou d'Aulnay 1604-1650 attacks Charles de La Tour's fur stronghold of Fort Sainte-Marie with 200 men; Françoise-Marie Jacquelin 1602-1645 La Tour's wife holds fort against d'Aulnay with 45 men against 200; La Tour in Boston seeking English help.

Which Extremity of the World Are You?

2006-04-08T00:47:00.000-07:00

YOU ARE CHALLENGER DEEP

You hold the distinction - you lucky thing, you! - of being the deepest point in the Earth's oceans. The extreme depth of the Marianas trench, near the Philippines, you reach 10,924 m (35,838 ft), enough to drown Everest with five Empire State Buildings on top. And whereas the number of people to have climbed Everest is now comfortably in three figures, only two people have ever made it to your lowest point. That was back in 1960.

You're known contents are some silt, one flatfish (probably now deceased) and a considerable quantity of water.

Which Extremity of the World Are You?
From the towering colossi at Rum and Monkey.

Gospel of Judas casts doubt on traditional beliefs

2006-04-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

This is pretty simple. In history the document closest to the event it is describing is considered the most accurate. This is true of the real gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. There are many copies of these original manuscripts and they were written closer to the events than any copy of this Judas book. This Judas book is written at least 200 years after the events it describes. It does not appear to be accurate. Much like the gnostic gospels, it appears the content is a compromise on what was written right after the events happened. This makes me think of the current popular fiction novel "The Da Vinci Code", which although it is listed as fiction, many take it as "good" history, which it is not. I am not an historian, I will leave that to my brother but as a Christian but history like this makes me angry, because of the stupidity of people.

Gospel of Judas casts doubt on traditional beliefs

Happy Birthday Apple Computers

2006-04-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

What ever happened to Wang computers? Apple is still here after 30 years. Try the quiz below from the BBC.
How much do you know about Apple?
A brief brief history of computer failures:

Wang: Information From Answers.com

PC-9801: Information From Answers.com

What other computer companies other than IBM have been around for thirty years?

Grphics at top from:

30 years in Apple products: the good, the bad, and the ugly - Engadget

Vintage Rex Murphy- 1976- Seal Hunt

2006-03-25T11:32:00.000-08:00

[Update: CTV.ca | Some sealers park boats after slow opening day]
Seal Hunt update:
Really vintage Rex Murphy from 1976 is available here. I find it to be a rich and poor issue. The rich, Paul McCartney's and Bridget Bardot's against the poor Newfoundland Fisherman.

Presumably these same activists have never been inside a slaughterhouse, or gone into the woods with a deer hunter. They must never have visited a farm where veal is raised, or a facility where geese and ducks are forcefed to produce pate de foie gras.
Because if they had, we'd have to assume these same animal rights groups would be demonstrating in front of abattoirs and cuddling up with baby cows and baby geese. (From:ottawasun.com - Editorial - Who gives a flipper?)

Much of the commentary at Canada.com ( Forums | Share It) is the same as above:

Its plain silliness. If you don't like the seal hunt, mark your protest by not killing seals. People don't go on a hayday when its partridge season and my dad always bags like 60 of them. Could it be because partridge aren't as (GASP) cute as little seals? Furthermore, its funny how some lefties (like myself but not in this case) are pro choice when it comes to abortions, but OH NO WE CAN'T TOUCH THOSE SEALS... just plain stupid.

POSTED BY MARTY3700 At 10:57AM ET on March 19, 2006

Or another view is done well by a Canadian Senator at CBC News - Viewpoint: Your Space

Oh wait, the original sea hunt protest (1970's) was against the killing of white coat babies, then it was the numbers killed and now it is because ... the hunt is now regulated with a quota (limited numbers) and the kiling methods are better than most abattoirs. So why are they protesting? They should take all the money collected to protest the seal hunt and give it to the Newfoundland Fishermen in some kind of trust. That would be useful. It is rich against poor. Goliath versus Daivid. How many homes does Sir Paul own? He could sell one or two of them and give the money to the fishermen in a trust of some kind. Stupid, stupid bug!!!

Sore Point

2006-03-21T22:14:00.000-08:00

Christians are extremely limited in the ways they can practice their faith in some Islamic countries, notably Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. This has become an increasingly sore point in Europe, where Muslim communities are growing rapidly and demanding rights and respect. From Scotsman.com News - Latest News - U.S. and allies press Afghanistan on Christian convert:

If you are not aware there is an Afghan man who is facing death because he became a Christian.

An Afghan judge said on Sunday a man named Abdur Rahman had been jailed for converting from Islam to Christianity and could face the death penalty if he refused to become a Muslim again. Sharia, or Islamic law, stipulates death for apostasy.

My friend, Statsguy has complete coverage. I just want to make the point that we in our western society are willing to live along side others. We love all inspite of their beliefs. I leave you with my six year old son's memory verse for this week:

"... let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18"

" 18 أَيُّهَا الأَوْلاَدُ الصِّغَارُ، لاَ يَجِبُ أَنْ تَكُونَ مَحَبَّتُنَا مُجَرَّدَ ادِّعَاءٍ بِالْكَلاَمِ وَاللِّسَانِ، بَلْ تَكُونَ مَحَبَّةً عَمَلِيَّةً حَقّ

ﻝﻭﻻﺍ ﺎﻨﺣﻮﻳ 3:18 "

Grace Greater than Our Sin

2006-03-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

Grace Greater than Our Sin:

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

Words by Julia Harriette Johnston
Music by Daniel Brink Towner

Our Recreation Centre

2006-03-19T08:07:00.000-08:00

In other Yukon news our new recreation centre will be featured on CBC radio's Inside Track with Robin Brown.

This Week

March 19, 2006

The enormous Canada Games Centre in Whitehorse is a March Break dream-come-true. An Olympic sized ice rink, water slide, swimming pool, gymnasium, soccer field, the latest in fitness equipment and more are all under one roof. The Multiplex has engaged Yukoners of all ages and it has even become the cool place to hang out for Whitehorse teenagers.

Click here for the audio file.

Tourists

2006-03-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

Yukon gets lots of tourists. My friend Statguy has a good link and some good information to all Yukon travelers. Take a look with you plan on coming up the highway. Click here for information on the Yukon.

While you are at Statguy's blog make sure you check the government sponsored soccer match in the Netherlands at Let's get together and have a friendly game of soccer.

A Poem for St. Patrick's Day

2006-03-17T18:52:00.000-08:00

I share a poem my mother wrote about a year before she passed away. She was born in Northern Ireland and would have been more likely to wear orange than green but here is the poem:

When St. Patrick came to Ireland
To set the people free
He used the little Shamrock
To teach them of the love of God
Who was the "One in Three"

by May Greenshields
May 2003

She always wrote wee poems. My birthday parties were always fun because she would write rhyming clues as a treasure hunt to the "big" birthday gift. I miss her. I myself avoided green and wore a tie with alot of orange in it!

How Cold was it!!!!

2006-03-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

Rebecca Writes about the current colder than usual weather for March we are having here in Whitehorse. It reminds of selling pizza as a soccer team fundraiser in Old Crow. We sold large pizzas for $25.00 and for $30.00 we would deliver. We actually made quite a tidy profit which provided air fare to the soccer tournament for all eight players and the coach (me). Did I mention that it was -55ºC !!! The deliveries were done by snowmobile. People phoned the school to place the orders. We made the pizzas in the school kitchen and then delivered them to peoples' homes. Here is a map of the Yukon in which you can see Old Crow at the top. It is Yukon's only fly-in community. It was very cold. I worked the phones and helped make pizza. The delivery snowmobiles used winter sleeping bags to keep the pizzas warm for home deliveries. We had no complaints about cold pizza!!!!!

(photo from http://www.oldcrow.ca/index2.htm)
(map from http://www.yukoncommunities.yk.ca/communities)

Very very bad call sinks Japan

2006-03-13T21:09:00.000-08:00

The USA beats Japan 4 to 3 at the World Baseball Classic and you say so what?!!! It must have been a close game... well yes.

Alex Rodriguez hit a bases-loaded, two-out single in the ninth to give Team USA a 4-3 victory yesterday in the opener of Round 2 of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in Anaheim, Calif.

And yes it was a close game but in the eighth inning...

Japan appeared to take a 4-3 lead off Joe Nathan in the eighth when Akinori Iwamura flied to left with one out and the bases loaded. Tsuyoshi Nishioka beat Randy Winn's throw home, and second base umpire Brian Knight ruled safe when Team USA appealed the play. But plate umpire Bob Davidson overruled the call after consulting with the other umpires.

I watched in disbelief when even the TV commentators on ESPN2 said it was the wrong call. They replayed it four or five times and every time the Japanese player, Tsuyoshi Nishioka was tagged up at third the American outfielder caught the ball and then Tsuyoshi Nishioka ran home. It must be nice to have the adavantage home grown officials who make calls your way.
Japan may protest reversed call,as they should.

It really looks ugly.

Technically, this was true. Politically, it was a powder keg.
In asserting his right to overrule a colleague's decision yesterday, Davidson left Japan feeling terribly wronged. And with justification. {San Diego-newspaper}

SI.com - Japanese fans cry foul over Classic call: "Several Japanese baseball commentators pointed out that Nishioka was shifting his weight to his front foot before the ball reached Winn's glove but that his back foot was still on the bag and Davidson might have been fooled by this.

Former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine, who manages Nishioka on the Japan Series champion Chiba Lotte Marines, was quoted in the Nikkansports newspaper as saying 'It was a bad call.''"

Good call or bad call Team USA will need to play better to get any respect from me.

Ump should be man without a country

TheStar.com - A-Rod, bad call sink Japan

Borrow a Page

2006-03-10T14:20:00.000-08:00

I often read a blog done by my niece { Only a dramatization... }. It is very interesting. So today I will borrow from her format.

Current music: Soundtrack from Robots Movie
music includes
Shine------Ricky Fanté
Get Up Offa That Thing -----James Brown (Ali Dee Remix)
Love's Dance-----Earth Wind & Fire
Robot City-----Blue Man Group & John Powell Robots
(There's Gotta Be) More to Life------Stacie Orrico

Of course I would never have been remotely interested in the soundtrack if my kids did not love the movie. The boys especially like the James Brown song. I persoanlly like the song "Shine". The singer, Ricky Fanté sings in the soul singer tradition of the "Motown/Atlantic Records" style of 60's soul music. Anyway, I have to Get Up Offa [This] Thing and go and do my things...

Ricky Fante [Rewind] [Virgin Records]

Rewind definitely captures the raw and gritty soul music from the sixties and seventies. An excellent singer and songwriter, Fante brings a revival.
Ricky Fante has brought back an almost forgotten era of soul music. He’s yet another soulful offering in the company of Anthony Hamilton, Calvin Richardson, Jaheim and Van Hunt. He’s pure soul, back in the day he would have been probably been signed to the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, once the label home for some of our most revered soul singers, such as, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Sam and Dave and others.

This Washington D.C. soul singer’s sound is reminiscent of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Sam Cooke. Rewind offers pure soul with a country feel, think Bobby Womack and Johnny Taylor, music that captures the soul and simply won’t let go.

Ricky Fante’s making his brand of popular soul music and it’s so refreshing. The hot single hitting the airwaves is "It Ain’t Easy" with a D.C. Go-Go feel. Ricky Fante’s a fabulous artist; he possesses great vocals and not to mention his killer good looks, think a young Marvin Gaye, yeah, he’s fine! He fluently translates soul sessions to listeners and provides "feel good" music throughout the entire CD. The kind of music that made Bill Withers and Wyclef masters. As you listen, it’s easy to drift off to quiet places in your mind with "If it’s all." Rewind is an intimate CD, it’s full of passion and warmth, definitely one for a road trip! Fante grew up doing Elvis impressions and you feel it on "Are You Lonely"…a really cool head bobbing retro song. Other musical influences were Frank Sinatra and most of all Stevie Wonder. This wonderful vibe continues throughout the CD. Rewind is one full of soulful storytelling, a main ingredient for soul music, no hook singing with "Love Doesn’t Live Here" and "It’s Over Now," addresses relationship breakups. Then he delivers "He Don’t Love You Like I Do" in a country/bluesy fashion. Rewind is really cool and co-written with Jesse Harris (Norah Jones fame, "I Don’t Know Why" Grammy Winner) and together they create throwback music with a fresh styling.

You’ll like Rewind because it’s real and penetrates and crosses barriers to reach you where you live…the soul! Alicia Sanders from 2004 R&B Reviews:

I think I will have to buy this album. Hey, my birthday is coming up.

Canada 8, United States 6 (Baseball!!!!!)

2006-03-08T19:18:00.000-08:00

The headline says it all. Wow. I just saw the highlights on TSN and I had the sound down because I was on the phone with my wife. I was not sure of the outcome as I watched the highlights. I knew we had pretty good baseball players but I had know idea we could beat the Americans. From what I saw it looks like we fielded well and were ahead 8-0 before the Americans rallied back. Wow.

SI.com - Canada 8, United States 6

SLAM! Sports - Baseball - Field of Dreams

I truly am a Great Uncle

2006-03-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

As of sometime yesterday in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan I became a great uncle. My nephew and his wife Marie gave birth to a boy. So cool. Wow!!

Go Danny Go!!!!

2006-03-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

Update[link to a real Newfoundlander with pictures of the real thing]
Table Mountains
Or check out the numbers of seals: NL-Outsidethebox [confederation]: Contrary to popular belief this is a seal

Danny Williams took on Paul McCartney and his wife over their mis-information about the seal hunt last night on CNN and it was great. Williams made them look very foolish. They made assertion after assertion and he knocked them all down. Ninety percent of the seals are killed with a bullet. The seals that the McCartneys are seen with are no longer killed.

Williams said if you go into any slaughterhouse and put white sheets on the floor, "then you're going to see blood. And that's not nice and that's not pleasant."

The truth is painful Paul but 5,000 fishermen are easier to take on than the beef industry or the poultry industry.

"There's a point where people who don't respect Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and who don't treat us with respect, will get it back in spades from me," he said. "I certainly wasn't going to allow the McCartneys to dominate that interview.

"They target us because we're a smaller province and it's a smaller industry," the premier said after he emerged from a TV studio in St. John's. "They're not going to take on the beef industry. A seal pup makes a great photo op."

The thing that has always bothered me is that when the protest first began it was all about how the seals are killed. The practice has changed since the 1960's and 70's, as it had to be changed. Now the culling is done only for a short period and it is restricted to certain seals. The method has changed as they probably needed to but now McCartney asserts all the old lines from 30 -40 years ago and he has no basis in reality. The numbers of seals is high and the hunt is regulated. When they had success in stopping the method in the 1970's then it was all about the numbers. Now we have an increase in numbers and a restricted cull. So why are the McCartneys protesting?

Williams went on to say that the couple is being used by organizations like the IFAW, Greenpeace and PETA who raise hundreds of millions of dollars. He added that the FBI has terrorist files on these groups.

So really Paul McCartney supports Eco-terrorism! I suppose when you are a millionaire with too much time on your hands then you can protest whatever you want. Let me say I like the Beatles' music and Wings music but what right does he have to take money out of the pockets of Newfoundlanders. These guys and their families do not deserve this. I mean the cull is sterwardship!

CBC News: N.L. premier takes on ex-Beatle over seal hunt

Seal hunt supporters worry Beatle star power will have impact

Scotsman.com News - Latest News - McCartneys see red over seal culls

WWF Canada - Advocacy with Excellence

UglySeals-BeatlesParody.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

Olympics.... Airshow

2006-02-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

[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

2006-02-22T19:17:00.000-08:00

[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

2006-02-20T18:13:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-20T17:59:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-19T21:54:00.000-08:00

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.

2006-02-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-15T20:43:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-14T17:28:00.000-08:00

The latest from the Quest via Rebecca Writes:

Rebecca Writes: It Really Is The Toughest Dog Sled Race

Yukon Quest 2006

2006-02-12T17:23:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

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???

2006-02-11T23:44:00.000-08:00

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?

2006-02-11T09:34:00.000-08:00

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....

2006-02-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-08T18:14:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-08T18:09:00.000-08:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Daily Encounter: Service for Monday, February 6, 2006

2006-02-06T00:06:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-04T11:48:00.000-08:00

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...

2006-02-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

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

Canadas Universal Daycare Plan Negative Consequences

2006-02-03T07:17:00.000-08:00

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

2006-02-02T07:06:00.000-08:00

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?

2006-02-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

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.

What Sports car are you?

2006-01-31T07:13:00.000-08:00

I'm a Mazda RX-8!

You're sporty, yet practical, and you have a style of your own. You like to have fun, and you like to bring friends along for the ride, but when it comes time for everyday chores, you're willing to do your part.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

My Brother, the author

2006-01-31T06:30:00.000-08:00

My brother Malcom and a colleague have published Six Hundred Years of Reform: Bishops and the French Church, 1190-1789 (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2005). Way to Mal!!

Click here to buy the book at Amazon.ca.

4x4+4

2006-01-30T07:30:00.000-08:00

4x4+4
I was tagged by Rebecca. These are my answers.

Four Jobs You've Had

These are my first four jobs:

1. Garden laborer
2. Security Guard
3. Bricklayer's helper
4. Nursing Aide in a Nursing Home

Four Places You've Lived

Okay, so these are the first four places I lived:

1. Ottawa, Ontario
2. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
3. Christchurch, New Zealand
4. Edmonton, Alberta

Four Vacations You've Taken

1. Hawaii
2. Yarker, Ontario
3. Vancouver, British Columbia
4. Arlington Beach, Saskatchewan

Four Vehicles You've Owned

1. 1973 Mercury Comet
2. 1963 Belair
3. 1971 Impala
4. 1990 Golf

Four Blogs I Want to Tag

1. Mark
2. Jill
3. Sue
4. Rebecca tagged the other bloggers I know !

The Impact of God's Word

2006-01-29T09:19:00.000-08:00

Daily Encounter: The Impact of God's Word for Friday, January 27, 2006

It is amazing how synergy happens. Some would say there is no such thing. Things do not happen for a purpose. Random things happen with no purpose... Big Bang and such. But I believe there is a God in charge of everything. And he is making an impact every day. This is not to say you and I do not have many choices. But God has allowed you and everyone to have those choices. As a Gideon member, I know that people are often given a choice alone in a hotel room or in their own room or in a hospital bed or some other place where a Gideon member has placed a bible. Often the Gideon member has made a choice to place such a scripture but they may never know the impact. Sometimes we hear about or are contacted with stories of how the bible was in the right place at the right time and that a suicide was prevented or lost hope was restored or a new hope was presented. I know personally of such a story. A young person about nine years old received a New Testement in Grade 5. In this child's life the idea personal faith in Christ was not taught in her church or at home. This child sat down and began reading the new bible and on about January 13, 1977 the young student made a commitment to Christ using the information in the back of the New Testement. This happened thirty years ago and as I said I know this personally because the young student is my wife. So if you have opportunity to help provide bibles through Gideons or the Canadian Bible Society do not resist. The impact could be life changing.

Trust: When In Is the Way Out

2006-01-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

I share from Daily Encounter an on line devotional writtten by Dick Innes.

Daily Encounter: When In Is the Way Out for Monday, January 16, 2006

When In Is the Way Out

"So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lion's den. The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!'" (Daniel 6:16, NIV).

Most of us will be familiar with the story how Daniel, supposedly because of his religious beliefs, was thrown into a den of hungry lions. No question, Daniel got a dirty deal. He was set up by jealous lesser men who wanted him out of the way. It seemed as if they were about to succeed except for one thing: They overlooked Daniel's trust in God.

The interesting thing, however, about Daniel being thrown into the den of lions is that God didn't deliver him out of the den before Daniel first found deliverance in it.

Imagine if Daniel had fought against being thrown into the den (which he would have been justified in doing) and gone into the den fighting against it every inch of the way, chances are the lions would have torn him to shreds before he hit the bottom. But Daniel didn't. He accepted his lot and trusted his life to God who shut the lion's mouths.

On more than one occasion I have asked God that if I am not going to be delivered out of my "lion's den" (naming the frustrating situation I'm in), would he please help me to find deliverance in it.

Sometimes, like Daniel, God has a lesson for us to learn in our present difficult situations and before he delivers us out of it, like Daniel we need to find deliverance in it. The good news is that once we learn the lesson we don't have to go through the same experience again.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, regardless of my feelings and my circumstances, I choose to trust my life to you in the situation I am in right now with which I am really struggling. And like Thomas said, 'Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief.' Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

<:))))<><

My mother

2006-01-14T10:17:00.000-08:00

1921-2004
It has been two years since she has been gone. It is amazing how they are still part of my life.
When my mother passed away I was reminded of the day my father passed away. I came home with my mom from the hospital and I remember her saying, “What will I do now?...What will I do now?” In some ways this is the way I felt when my mother passed way. At twenty-one I lost my dad and then at forty-one my mother was gone. What should I do now?
I know what I will not do I will not lament the loss of my mother for my sons. I could focus on the fact that they will not have meals, visits or sleep overs with Granny. I could think on other experiences the other grandchildren had that my boys will not have with their Granny. I will talk to my boys about their Granny much like I have their Grandpa Ross. I will share stories with them and tell them of the spiritual and life lessons my mother and father taught me. Nathaniel said, “Granny is in heaven, now. Right?” He is right. I rejoice that at the end she knew who her Lord and Savior was and that He was there to guide her home.

How do I know she is heaven? Well,

If anyone has a doubt about the incarnation or Christ being a saviour then all you have to do is look to the example of my mother’s life. Jesus Christ was her Lord and saviour and that is why she was who she was. She was a humble person who learned of God’s love as a child when she walked hand in hand with her own father through the Northern Irish country side. She can now walk hand in hand with both her earthly father and her heavenly Father. She can also have “discussions” with her husband Ross again. She did not just talk the talk of Christian faith. She walked the walk! Her faith was real. Don’t remember her as a quaint old lady. That would be a disservice and a disrespect to her memory. She was a prayer warrior. Using the term “warrior” to describe my mother may sound strange but that is what she did on behalf of many people, especially her children and grandchildren. I remember coming up to bed before I was married and looking in on my mother and she was on her knees by the side of the bed praying.
As it says in Ephesians 6 verse 12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” That is what prayer can be about. Real prayer is a spiritual battle. My mother was a warrior.

Step-By-Step Grace -- Devotions.org: Streams in the Desert

2006-01-08T09:17:00.000-08:00

I share again from Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. She compiled this in 1925 but it is still fresh alive and real today.

Step-By-Step Grace -- Devotions.org: Streams in the Desert

Election

2006-01-05T20:46:00.000-08:00

I know my Calvinist friends were thinking of another kind of election but I am referring to the Canadian election on January 23. I have been observing the Canadian election and I really like what the NDP did with the Liberal Ads. The "average Canadians" in the Liberal Ads are all Liberal insiders. Well done. You can see the "average Canadian" voters exposed at:

NDP | More "Average Canadian or Liberal Insider?"

Mr. Martin has a problem with a friend in Quebec. I am amazed it took the RCMP this long to uncover this new scandal. It seems a friend of Paul Martin gained some money via the 1995 Quebec referendum:

"A source told The Globe that there are questions about the
distribution of some of the grant money, believed to be $300,000. ...
Still, the news isn't good for Liberal Leader Paul Martin. The man who ran
Option Canada at the time of the grant was Claude Dauphin, a close friend
of the Prime Minister who worked for him in the mid-1990s, when Martin was
finance minister. He's also one of Martin's closest advisers from Quebec."

Read the whole story below:
CTV.ca | RCMP looking into 1995 grant to pro-Canada group
OR
The Globe and Mail: Mounties eye another referendum handout

Well I guess we will see what happens next!

Psalm 23- The Safety of Obeying and Trusting

2006-01-04T21:17:00.000-08:00

My theme this month is Trust and Obey. As I read Psalm 23 tonight to one of my son's from his children's bible it struck me that this Psalm, is all about trusting and obeying. I have always found that the view of us humans as acting like sheep in God's eyes as being such a wonderful illustration. They are not the brightest of the barnyard animals. I think we are so often like sheep that have gone astray and followed our own way. We often need the shepherd's rod as a guide. Psalm 23 offers us many reasons for trusting and obeying, especially safety and guidance.

Psalm 23
(Contemporary English Version)

(A psalm by David.)
The Good Shepherd
1You, LORD, are my shepherd.

I will never be in need.

2You let me rest in fields

of green grass.

You lead me to streams

of peaceful water,

3and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name,

and you lead me

along the right paths.

4I may walk through valleys

as dark as death,

but I won't be afraid.

You are with me,

and your shepherd's rod [a] makes me feel safe.

5You treat me to a feast,

while my enemies watch.

You honor me as your guest,

and you fill my cup

until it overflows.

6Your kindness and love

will always be with me

each day of my life,

and I will live forever

in your house, LORD.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 23:4 shepherd's rod: The Hebrew text mentions two objects carried by the shepherd: a club to defend against wild animals and a long pole to guide and control the sheep.

Copyright Â© 1995 by American Bible Society
American Bible Society Source: BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 35 languages and 50 versions.

Trust and Obey

2006-01-03T17:58:00.000-08:00

When I think of trusting God, I think of the hymn, Trust and Obey. Hymn book theology is not always the best but I believe this is a very good theology. It is one to live by.

Trust and Obey
1. When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
(Refrain)

3. But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
(Refrain)

4. Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
(Refrain)
Pasted from: HymnSite.com--Christian Online Music

Reggae version:
Praise And Worship Music, Reggae Midi Songs (Higher Praise)

Some other versions:
HymnSite.com--Christian Online Music

Praise And Worship Music, Midi Songs (Higher Praise)

Praise And Worship Music, Midi Songs Organ (Higher Praise)

A Sermon and story which makes use of the Hymn:
Freedom from Fear

Bible Society of South Africa - Good news for all for ever

New Year

2006-01-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

A picture of my dad from the mid-1970's

11But the hills and valleys in the promised land are watered by rain from heaven, [a] 12because the LORD your God keeps his eye on this land and takes care of it all year long.

Deuteronomy 11:11-12
Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright Â© 1995 by American Bible Society
American Bible Society

As the New Year begins, let us remember that trusting God is the most important action we can take at all times. My father, Ross Greenshields passed way over twenty years ago in 1983. He always talked about, "Life, how sweet it is.." He was a man who enjoyed being alive. This sounds very simple but if you knew him you would understand that he loved his wife, his children, his grandchildren and meeting knowing and helping people. Ross saw a stranger as a friend he was meeting for the first time. He loved learning and teaching. He loved life and trusting the Lord. In today's world loving life mostly means a love of drinking, partying or getting...or having or experiencing but that is not really living. My dad also saw life as a gift from God and used it appropriately in sharing Christ in everything he did or said. I look at a new year as Mrs. Charles Coleman says in "Streams in the Desert",
"We cannot tell what loss and sorrow and trial are doing. Trust only. The
Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It shall
be a good, a blessed new year!"
So in this new year trust the Lord Jesus and live life to the full.

Below is a link to Mrs. Coleman's January 1 devotional. Read, enjoy and be of good cheer.
New Year -- Devotions Streams in the Desert Jan 1

Gun control

2006-01-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

In a very interesting column, Rondi Adamson talks about how tougher gun control is not the answer. Her line lies somewhere between the Liberal and Conservative policies. she says banning guns is not a bad idea but that the deterrent on the street just is not there. I would tend to agree. Many young people in large urban areas do these crime more for a thrill factor or because they feel they have been done wrong in some way. Yet as she points out many people feel wronged in some way and they do not reach for a gun. I say ban the guns(although this does not work), provide programs to prevent problems in large urban ghettos, and come down very hard on the those who use the guns. it needs to be a justice package.

BBC World news quiz 2005 - part two

2005-12-31T11:50:00.000-08:00

Here is part two of BBC Quiz. I "Strewth" it. I had 3 out of 12.

BBC NEWS World news quiz 2005 - part two

What party stands up for the family at Christmas?

2005-12-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

What is wrong with saying Merry Christmas? Is that not what December 25 and the "holy-days" are all about?

World news quiz of 2005 - part one

2005-12-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

Here is a great end of year quiz from the BBC. I scored 4 out 12. I am finished. Try your luck.

World news quiz of 2005 - part one

November is a special...

2005-11-08T19:06:00.000-08:00

I know we as Canadians are focused on November 11 with Remembrance Day and all that that entails. I teach my grade 4's about it and of course as a teacher-librarian I talk to all the students I come in contact with. My father was veteran so I value and am aware of and honor Remembrance Day. But in the last eight years my thoughts and activities around November have turned to another important event. It is called Operation Christmas Child. It is a fascinating project which is organized by Samaritan's Purse, a Christian relief organization. Take a shoe box ... any shoe box. Fill it with gifts. Send it children who have nothing. Pretty simple!!! Samaritan's Purse does relief work all year round in the countries the boxes go to, so this is an additional way for them to help out people in need. The boxes come from schools, churches and businesses. As a teacher I contribute to a teacher box in the staff room. The individual boxes are mostly put together by children. It is a practical way to reach out and help your fellow man. In some ways having Remembrance Day and Operation Christmas Child collection day so close together makes a lot of sense. Both deal with how we need to treat each other. It is important to remember and it is important to do something. I hope to post some pictures about Operation Christmas Child over the next few days.

Background info:

"Concerned about starving and the poor? This is the most worthwhile effort that I have known on a personal level. Samaritan's Purse was recognized for having the highest percentage of donations go directly to helping people. They are the real deal- so put your money where your mouth is and support them."
Michael Habersack, Sr.

Operation Christmas Child Newsroom - Canada

Collection photos:

New Governor General's Coke Joke

2005-11-06T19:52:00.000-08:00

There were better choices for GG but here we are. Coke jokes about a cocaine addict who has kicked the habit. The PM picked her (Jean) and now he is defending her mistake. Good one Paul!!!

"In her remarks at the dinner, the Governor General joked about holding a lunch for Boisclair, who recently admitted to using cocaine while he was a Quebec cabinet minister.
"We can have sandwiches and coke. Well, should André Boisclair, decide to attend, it will be coke for sure."
Boisclair always follows the "party line," she said."
{CBC News: Governor General criticized by sister over Boisclair jokes}

"Ms. Jean's sister, Nadeje, and her husband Jean-Manuel Weisz delivered a fresh controversy to Ms. Jean on Saturday when several Montreal newspapers published their letter attacking Jean's sarcastic references to Parti Quebecois leadership candidate Andre Boisclair.
But the prime minister said the annual dinners in Ottawa for members of the media where speakers traditionally mock themselves and others was not meant to be taken seriously.
“I'm not going to comment on what the Governor General's sister has said. I think everybody understands what happens at those dinners,” Mr. Martin told reporters just before leaving the Summit of the Americas.He said he believed there was an “understanding (of) the context in which those comments are made.” "
(The Globe and Mail: PM defends Jean from sister's attack)

The frontrunner in the Parti Quebecois leadership race says he's shocked the new Governor General publicly joked about his admitted cocaine use...

The frontrunner in the Parti Quebecois leadership race says he's shocked the new Governor General publicly joked about his admitted cocaine use. Speaking on Wednesday prior to a leadership debate, Andre Boisclair said he was surprised by Michaëlle Jean's speech at the Oct. 22 Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner. Andre Boisclair, Wednesday. Jean made several references to Boisclair, including one that played on the meaning of the word "coke" and another that said he always followed the party "line."
{LaSalute.net - PQ leadership hopeful irked by Governor General's cocaine jokes}

Thank you for a great choice Paul!!!!!!-

Rex hits a homerun

2005-10-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

www.cbc.ca - The National

Mr. Murphy hits another one out of the ballpark. With Dingwall or Adscam it is all about political entitlement .

As Mr. Murphy says,

" A test moment for this culture of political entitlement is just about upon us. The Gomery Report will determine whether the astonishment and outrage that first greeted the sponsorship scandal was just a flare in the public mood or whether instead the sponsorship mess represented some sort of summit or boundary, a point of exhaustion for the Canadian public with this whole self-regarding world of arrogance, hothouse cronyism, patronage, and reward exercised as a right, as an entitlement of power by those in power. The culture of entitlement, if it persists, will choke our electoral system, it will suffocate on the cynicism it breeds, and obscure and overshadow the example of politicians who do work with honour and integrity."

No matter who is in power in Ottawa these will always be the issues: entitlement, cronyism and making sure a true respect for the ones who flip the bill is present. The bottom line is that tax payers are paying for all of this Dingwall stuff, Gomery commission, Chretien's lawyers, and other lawyers. As a friend has said recently these are jobs (lawyers, politicians, teachers...) which in themselves do not generate wealth. They are not farmers or manufacturers...
Anyway in the end there is no smoking gun and no one really takes responsibility. No one will say.. " I did" and "I am sorry!" "Please forgive me for taking too much money and / or over charging". "I feel and know that I am guilty... " At least the former President Carter admitted he had thought bad thoughts. I still feel Mr. Martin is somewhat responsible as he financed Adscam as Finance Minister and I beleive he hired Dingwall. Anything Mr. Martin does now is really only going be a cover up and a way to ensure that he does enough to get elected as PM again. I agree with Rex this kind of garbage takes away from politicians who do their work with honour. Those who work with honour and integrity unlike Dingwall they do not say I am entitled. The fact that Martin and compnay get the first look at Gomery's report the night before anyone else just shows that entitlement is alive and well in Ottawa will live long and prosper!!!!!

Other references:
Wave of scandal allegations about to come to head with Gomery report

Opposition cries foul over Martin's advance look at Gomery report

The Globe and Mail: How the parties will make use of Gomery report

CTV.ca | First of two Gomery reports set to shake up Ottawa

Macleans.ca | Columnists PETER MANSBRIDGE | D-Day approaches

The Globe and Mail: Did nothing legally wrong, defiant Dingwall asserts

National Post

The Globe and Mail: Tories grab lead in poll

Rice wants to negotiate deal

2005-10-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

Rice wants to negotiate deal

I don't get it. We have won every arbitration of NAFTA. There is nothing to negotiate. My suggestion is to turn off the gas pump. They give back the fees and accept our softwood lumber according to NAFTA. The Americans understand hardball. They don't understand any other approach. This is what they do to others. Look at Iraq or Afghanistan. They always approach a problem with a big stick. He is the second Prime Minister to deal with this problem. The last one did nothing and this one is also doing little or nothing. Let's remember FT in NAFTA means "Fair Trade". The dispute mechanisms in NAFTA say our softwood lumber is being traded fairly so Ms. Rice should go home and we will sell our gas and oil to China. I also suggest we should take care of our own domestic gas and oil use and then sell the excess. As it stands now we export a large part of what we produce and then buy what we need. I am not economist but this makes no sense. We should fill our own needs first and then export the extra.

Personal Note for today:
On a more personal note I am glad to say our household has survived chicken pox. Both boys have now had it. It is another milestone in our house. I look at my youngest and he makes me feel itchy. In fact as I sit here I feel itchy. Have a good day!!

Here are some links about Chicken Pox:
Steroids And Chicken Pox Not A Good Mix
Chickenpox

MedlinePlus: Chickenpox

Chicken Pox/Shingles

Information about chickenpox

Chickenpox - MayoClinic.com

Library Science Jeopardy

2005-09-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

How well do you know Dewey? Have fun with great game of
Library Science Jeopardy I found this at work while I was searching for web games for my Grade Seven library skills students.

Out of touch

2005-09-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

Macleans.ca | Top Stories | Politics | Out of touch

I find this to be strange because I didn't know a chauffeur would be that valuable on a trip. Especially when he never drove on either of the trips in question. He must be a very valuable asset to Mr. Pettigrew.

Related:

CTV.ca | Tories maintain criticism of Pettigrew trips: "Pierre Pettigrew, slamming the minister's defence that he was justified in taking his chauffeur on taxpayer-financed international trips."

edmontonsun.com - Canada - Travelling chauffeur doesn't upset PM

The Globe and Mail: McLellan contradicts CSIS on torture policy

2005-09-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Why does Anne McLellan have so much power? She is always saying the dumbest things and yet there she is, Deputy Minister of Canada. I believe the Arar inquiry should give us full disclosure.

The Globe and Mail: McLellan contradicts CSIS on torture policy

Related:

TheStar.com - Editorial: Arar case exposes inept security web

The Globe and Mail: Gomery sets sights on key Liberals

2005-09-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

The Globe and Mail: Gomery sets sights on key Liberals

It looks like Gomery is going in the right direction. I mean if people did things that were illegal then they should be ready to face the music. I watched a documentary on CBC Newsworld about the the 1995 Referendum in Quebec and boy it really refreshes one's memory about why the Sponsorship program was started in the first place. The Liberals of 1995 almost lost the country as we know it. I still find it amazing that Paul Martin's right hand man in Quebec today (2005), , Jean Lapierre was a seperatist supporter in 1995 and Bloc Quebecois MP who at that time campaigned for the yes side. It is kind of like having a fox in with the chickens. I doubt that Mr. Gomery's report will mean much as it will not affect those who had the power, it will only nail the ones who carried out orders. The liberals could lose a confidence vote before Gomery even reports. See National Post

God Uses F-A-T People

2005-08-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

I reprint the Daily Encounter for today.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005

1. God Uses F-A-T People

"I [God] sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one" (Ezekiel 22:30, NKJV).

Whenever God has a job to do and a gap to be filled, he always starts by choosing and calling an individual. While men use methods, God's methods are men and women.1

To start a nation to use as his special witness on earth, God chose and called Abraham to be the father of ancient Israel. When God wanted to lead this young nation out of slavery in Egypt, he chose and called Moses. And so it was with Joseph, Samuel, Esther, David, John the Baptist, Mary, Peter, Paul and scores of other lesser know individuals.

God today is still urgently looking for people who are willing to stand in the gap to help save lost souls from a lost and hopeless eternity and to do his work here on earth. The kind of people God is looking for, chooses and calls are F–A–T people. That is: Faithful ... Available ... Teachable.

F – Faithful. You don't have to be a Peter, Paul or a John the Baptist for God to use. Think of the twelve disciples. What a motley crew of rugged fishermen, a despised tax gatherer and the like they were. God uses other ordinary people like them too, people who daily trust their life and way to God and with his help seek to serve and obey him faithfully in all the circumstances of life.

A – Available. Years ago I told God that I was scared to death to be a witness for him and that I was quitting. "However, God," I prayed, "if you want to use me to share the gospel with others, I'm available, but you'll have to do it through me because I'm too scared." The result? Today God is using our small organizations to reach thousands around the world with the gospel and Christian message every day. This is because I made—and make myself available every day—for God to use. He will in some way do the same for you if you make yourself available to him to use.

T – Teachable. One reason God used the disciples was, not only because they were faithful and available, but also because they were teachable. Naturally they spent three years with the Master Teacher par Excellence and had a lot to learn about the Christian way, especially because it was brand new to them and everyone else in their day. We also need to be teachable and learn God's ways more clearly by studying and knowing what his Word, the Bible, teaches and applying the principles found therein to our everyday living.

So, if you want God to use you to be a part of what he is doing in your world today, I urge you to pray and tell God you are available—and renew that prayer and commitment every day. To be an "Andrew" by quietly helping to bring others to Jesus click on: http://www.actsweb.org/announce.php to see how you can do this in a simple, non-threatening way.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I'm available again today. Help me to be faithful and teachable to learn your ways more clearly, and please use me to be as Jesus in some way to every life I touch today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. E.M. Bounds.

<:))))<><
From:

Daily Encounter Devotional :: God Uses F-A-T People :: Wednesday, August 24, 2005

The Globe and Mail: Challenger took PM to fundraiser

2005-08-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

The Globe and Mail: Challenger took PM to fundraiser

Here we go again. Do we need a Gomery commision? We need politicians who appear and are legal in their dealings.

edmontonsun.com - Commentary - EDITORIAL: Vive la difference!

2005-08-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

edmontonsun.com - Commentary - EDITORIAL: Vive la difference!

On the Governor General note this article is very good and I agree that Ottawa in general is rather complacent about separatists. Any party allies with the separatists if it is in their interest. The Conservatives, Liberals and NDP have all done this in the last session on the hill. As for Mr. Martin's choice for Governor General. He could have done better but I suppose that could be said of many Governor General choices in the past but this choice does seem much worse. I don't know that any others had so little knowledge of the whole country or that they were ever aligned with a separatist group. It is just not the best choice. What about Roméo Dallaire or Lewis Mackenzie? With Dallaire you have a Quebecer who is respected across the country. I mean there are many choices.

Dosanjh defends public health system

2005-08-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

from the The Globe and Mail

I don't understand this denial from Dosanjh. Private health care is already here. Look at British Columbia, Dosanjh's home province or at Quebec. If you can't get in for a medical service then all you do is pay for it. This sounds like, " We will scrap the GST!!!"(Liberals 1993 election or -"We will not raise gas taxes"(Trudeau before election in 1980. He raised taxes after the election.) ( I wish I had a quote on Brian Mulroney, the Liberal lies are very apparent). The Liberals have been on the watch for the greatest increase in private health care over the last ten years. By the time this done we will have private health care and the Liberals will probably blame somebody else for having prevented them from acting sooner oh and they will still be in power under Justin Trudeau or Sasha Trudeau. I guess I am a little cynical of government talk. I want a better health care system for all Canadians. I personally am in the best of places. I live in a small territory that provides great medical service and if they don't have here I am flown to where they do have it. But I know the rest of the country is not so fortunate. We need a real fix in the health care system. i don't have answers but I wish Tommy Douglas was here to straighten this lot out.

Other references:

CMA : "Report Card Finds Health Debate Needs a Good Dose of Fact"

Getting a leg up on hip surgery

Fort St. John - canada.com network: "Canadians' perceptions of health-care system skewed
poll"

'This was not such a hot idea.'

2005-08-14T22:25:00.000-07:00

A recent article by Andrew Duffy says it all. It talks of the controversy over Mr. Martin's choice for governor general. I for one think she is a poor choice. But I am struck by the fact it could be that Ms. Jean has given up her separatist past and is a "convert" to federalism. I could live with this but what I need is something tangible like a statement from Ms. Jean, "I was mistaken. I voted the wrong way. Federalist are now number one in my books", OR "Those separatists are wrong. I see federalism as the only way"

I like what Professor Barry Cooper says at the end of the article:
"It's a matter of prudence: you have to use your common sense. And I don't know why any prime minister in their right
mind would appoint someone like that (with a separatist past) to governor general. But once he's done it, then it's pretty
much up to the rest of the country to say: 'This was not such a hot idea.' "

I agree that not much can be done now but then I guess that is the way Mr. Martin has been governing all along someone tells him or suggests an idea, he says sure and then ... boom he has regular Canadians saying why are you doing that?

Ottawa Citizen - canada.com network

Some other articles on this subject from various sources:
Globe and Mail

Edmonton Sun

Life Site

Soup Kitchen

2005-08-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of serving food at the soup kitchen in the basement of a downtown church today. I say privilege because all I did was serve the soup with a bun and cheese. I did not make the soup. The people of all ages who use the soup kitchen thank you as they receive their soup and as they leave. I say, "You're welcome" and we all go about our lives. I am not alone as there were six other people helping. I guess I look at this serve as something the church is supposed to do. We are commanded as Christian. Christ said the people in need will always be around us (Matthew 26:11). In other there is no chance for the Star Trek society with all being fed and an ideal society set up by technology. Others have said that churches should lose their charitable status. I say go ahead. The church will in some way still do what it is suppose to do with or without charitable status. Here a borrow from my friend Ron's sermon as I say that the church has done this kind of work even before charitable status came along. Again it is because we are commanded by Christ. If you call yourself a Christian you need to make soup, buns, cookies, juice, coffee, prepare the food and be someone serves the food. I have only served at the soup kitchen about four times but every time I am struck by how it makes me feel as if I have so much and I am I doing enough to serve my Lord better each day of my life.

Media gives the message.

2005-08-05T20:37:00.001-07:00

I have to say my background is not conservative. I grew up in Saskatchewan and my roots are CCF/ NDP. My grandfather, Henry broke land in Saskatchewan in the early 1900's. He was a card carrying CCFer. I believe in universal health and that Tommy Douglas is the best Prime minister we never had. I believe in Tommy's Social Gospel which to me was an application of the original gospel ( Matthew, Mark, Like and John) to the Social woes of the country. Universal Health care fits that picture well as the early Christian (first century) church worked communally to meet the needs of all, especially widows. I also grew up with Allan Blakney as Premier. A likeable guy. I have had trouble following anything NDP since Ed Broadbent retired as leader federally. They were guaranteed my vote, in the past. The current NDP has lost its way. They are social with no gospel. The conservatives were the enemy in my little world, other than Diefenbaker. I did not like Mr. Mulroney. He was the worst aspects of being Irish ( Too much kissing the balarney) . I can say this because my mother was Irish. I also remember watching the 1968 Liberal convention that elected Pierre Trudeau as elected leader. I was six years old at the time and was caught up in the frenzy of Trudeau mania. I was playing on the floor while my mother was ironing. It was ambient visuals but very fascinating and exciting. I wanted to vote for Mr. Trudeau. I used to only vote NDP or Liberal, never PC. I have watched other conventions as I grew up such Joe Clarke's leadership win, John Turner's leadership win and others, including the recent Conservative Convention from Montreal. I don't come into this as a neophyte. I watched with amazement as they choose a moderate line on everything and yet it was different than the LIberal line. I have looked for a party that holds policies that represents traditional family values. I as a voter therefore have two chioces. I either have to find an MP that does not tow the party-line or I have to vote consevative. My question is what is wrong with Steven Harper? The media is giving the message. If there was an honest debate, Mr. Martin would be seen to blow with wind and therefore hold no principled view. ( such as "The courts made me change my view on marriage" ) He only wants to stay in power. He will sling mud at anyone. Anyway, the article below says the rest.

This article from the Brandon Sun Online says it all and I include it below.
Tory woes fault of fickle liberal media

'Do You Desire to be Told of Your Faults?'

2005-07-31T00:02:00.000-07:00

An interesting and thought provoking article Christianity Today.

Mushrooms on my lawn

2005-07-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was looking at the mushrooms on my lawn today and it made me think of my mother. She grew up in Northern Ireland in 1920's and 30's. She passed away last January and I often think of her. Back to my lawn. Let me start by saying I don't really like to eat mushrooms but as I looked at the ones on my lawn it made me think of my mother and her father, my gradfather. I only know him from my mother's stories. She told me of how she and my grandfather would go for walks in the Northern Irish countryside. He would pick and eat wild mushrooms. My mother, as a little girl was sure he would eat the wrong kind of mushroom and die or at least get sick. He did not get sick or die from his wild mushroom picking. He really knew what he was doing. So as I looked at the mushrooms on my lawn I think of my wee Irish mother and my grandfather. They are probably again picking and eating the right mushrooms in heaven. ( Don't look to deep at the theology.)

Wrestling

2005-07-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

"Let's go down stairs and wrestle Daddy." With those words from my five year old, we go downstairs move some furniture and begin to wrestle. This consists of daddy being attacked by my five year old and the two and half year old. In fact, I protect the 2 1/2 year old from the "cannonball" of the five year old as he hurls himself through the air in my direction. In a sense I am not really wrestling but protecting the boys from each other and from themselves. Oh yes and of course I am protecting myself. Life is good.

Everyone is doing it

2005-07-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Everyone is blogging. All I wanted to do was to respond to my brother's blog and I had to set up my own. I have nothing to say today.

KEG's Thoughts

News: The DaVinci Blog - Christianity Today Movies

Daily Encounter: A Biblical Answer to the Da Vinci Code for Friday, May 19, 2006

Rex Murphy is on Target Again

The Da Vinci Rejects - Christianity Today Magazine

Da Vinci Decoded

Apple - Get a Mac - Watch The TV Ads

THE NEW 940 MONTREAL

Easter Quiz

Easter Quiz

My score is 91%.

Largest Pysanka

Today in History!!!!

Tuesday, April 10, 1962

Also On This Day...

And in Today's Canadian Birthdays...

Which Extremity of the World Are You?

Gospel of Judas casts doubt on traditional beliefs

Happy Birthday Apple Computers

Vintage Rex Murphy- 1976- Seal Hunt

Sore Point

ﻝﻭﻻﺍ ﺎﻨﺣﻮﻳ 3:18 "

Grace Greater than Our Sin

Our Recreation Centre

Tourists

A Poem for St. Patrick's Day

How Cold was it!!!!

Very very bad call sinks Japan

Borrow a Page

Canada 8, United States 6 (Baseball!!!!!)

I truly am a Great Uncle

Go Danny Go!!!!

Olympics.... Airshow

Gushue wins Gold

Quest Ends

Yukon Quest changes course

Suz is a d20

I'm a d6

An interesting conversation.

Trash TV at its finest

Rebecca Writes: It Really Is The Toughest Dog Sled Race

Yukon Quest 2006

This is really good

Got to be me???

Was Katrina as bad as the mudslide in Qaziabad?

one man's treasure....

Canada condemns violence over Muhammad cartoon

Daily Encounter: Service for Monday, February 6, 2006

Personality Profile

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

Canadas Universal Daycare Plan Negative Consequences

More books by my brother

Why vote for Anyone?

What Sports car are you?

I'm a Mazda RX-8!

My Brother, the author

4x4+4

The Impact of God's Word

Trust: When In Is the Way Out

My mother

Step-By-Step Grace -- Devotions.org: Streams in the Desert

Election

Psalm 23- The Safety of Obeying and Trusting

Trust and Obey

New Year

Gun control

BBC World news quiz 2005 - part two

What party stands up for the family at Christmas?

World news quiz of 2005 - part one

November is a special...

New Governor General's Coke Joke

Rex hits a homerun

Rice wants to negotiate deal

Library Science Jeopardy

Out of touch

The Globe and Mail: McLellan contradicts CSIS on torture policy

The Globe and Mail: Gomery sets sights on key Liberals

God Uses F-A-T People

The Globe and Mail: Challenger took PM to fundraiser

edmontonsun.com - Commentary - EDITORIAL: Vive la difference!

`Also On This Day...`

`And in Today's Canadian Birthdays...`

Canadas Universal Daycare Plan Negative Consequences