To bear, or not to bear...

Granted, this is probably a little old in the news department by now, but I wanted it noted here nonetheless.
Canada has had a difficult time of naming a flag bearer at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turino. This is a top honour is it not? Many deserving athletes were approached but most turned it down. The main reason cited was that the opening ceremonies were too close to their competitions and they feared it could interfere with their chances at medalling.

I am torn on the issue. As an athlete myself, I have thought about this a great deal and at the height of the "crisis" there was no shortage of reading from both sides of the fence. On one hand, I know how much of my day to day existence goes into my sport, and I am but a lowly "sport" rider. I can't imagine what it must be like to compete at the level of an Olympic athlete. So I can see the dilemma. I would probably be panicked or at least anxious the entire night standing out in the cold, staying up late for the occasion, the driving in traffic both directions and of course the increased media pressure. All of these things could lead to some sort of barrier between me and my performance: not enough rest, not focussed on my event, catch a cold etc etc. An Olympic dream is an enormous thing to have carried around for the 10 or so years it takes to train the body to this level. Some only get one chance at taking home a medal. And Canadians are hoping for medals too...but from this point of view, you just can't have it both ways. You can't ask your athletes to run around as media darlings and also make herculean efforts in their events.

On the other hand, what is the Olympics? Athletes are there to represent their country first and then themselves. If your country asks you to look after such a great honour as bearing the flag, part of me can see the side of the debate that says: "when they say jump, you ask how high". Afterall, if these are "carded" athletes, then essentially, they are on Canada's payroll. The government has helped them get as far as they have, and all they ask in return is a for a little walk around a stadium? Doesn't seem like such a big deal framed this way.

In the end, Danielle Goyette will bear the flag. I think she's a great choice. She is a hockey player, and was a member of our women's team in Salt Lake. Plus, she is damn happy to do it.

Down Under

My sister moved to Australia a couple weeks ago in order to become a teacher. I spoke with her for the first time since she left this weekend and it sounds just peachy down under. She is hardly travelling alone, having brought along an entire culinary entourage (literally and fortunately) and the three of them look to be having a marvelous time. here are some preliminary photos, but there will be many more, I am sure, at their own blog. I have now linked it on the side bar as well, of course.

My Wild Weekend

I went to Ottawa this weekend. I helped out a candidate I believe in where the race was tight. I went with some colleagues of mine, arriving around midnight on Friday. Then it was off for drinks before starting the day early on Saturday. If you have never done a campaign before, then I invite you to live vicariously through this post. Saturday morning, we awoke in Ottawa only to discover that it had snowed. The night before, footwear ranged from loafers to pumps and we walked home without a problem. the roads and sidewalks were bare and there was hardly a snowbank to speak of. Saturday morning, it was as though I'd been transported to the high arctic in my sleep, I kid you not. and the storm raged on! I took the car we'd rented to the campaign office to meet up with the team and collect our assignments. Visibility was nil and the roads were untouched by maintenance vehicles. I already mentioned it was a rental vehicle so you know there were no snow tires. it was a harrowing journey to say the least and i only lost control one time, thus ruining any chances of befriending a certain Ford Taurus. In case you are wondering, no we did not collide, but I am positive I raised his blood pressure a notch or two.
First things first, we went door to door dropping off an article we'd turned into a "drop piece" from the local paper which offered a ringing endorsement of our boy. The snow was blinding and the banks were knee deep by this time. we finished two or three polls in this way and then decided to call it quits for lunch. Drenched and frozen, we went back to the hotel to regroup. we had some lunch and then miraculously, the sun came out. The afternoon was more of the same in different parts of O-Town. I got lost, so that killed some time unfortunately. We didn't finish walking those two or three polls off until about 7pm. Walking around in the snow like that all day can sure get to a girl. Not to mention the electorate: Canadians are for the most part very polite voters, so I don't have any great stories on this subject for you really. One gentleman took my pamphlet and told me he'd throw it in the garbage. I told him I hope he recycles. that's about as good as it gets folks.
Sunday was "U-vote" day. We go door to door dropping information for voters on where their poll was to be located on Monday (hereafter referred to as "e-day"). Our team was exhausted still from the day before when we set out that morning in the -15C early hours. I am pretty sure we screwed up our poll numbers, thus informing consitutents to vote at the wrong location. luckily, it seems either one of two things happened. 1) We did in fact screw it up, but no one read the pamphlet so no harm was done. 2) We didn't screw it up afterall. I guess I'll never know. We dropped all those we could in about 4 polls in the morning before rewarding ourselves with a lunch from Swiss Chalet and then going out for another three polls (which I know we handed out properly...I finally woke up and checked). got a little turned around on the way back to the campaign office ended up on the road to Montreal, got back on track and took a break at Tim Horton's. A truly canadian moment, discussing politics in the local Timmy's.
That night, we ordered pizza from Ottawa's Pizza Shark, and watched Ghostbusters on Spike TV.
That brings us to E-day. Our team was split up among the Ottawa campaign team to different locations in the riding. I was in charge of two polls. I was given a list of ID'd voters (ie, people we had decided were on our side based on all the canvassing during the campaign) and the mission to make sure that they all made it to the polls that day. I am proud to say that I pulled every single one of my votes. I talked on the phone, I pounded the pavement and at the end of the day, I was there to count the votes. Wouldn't you know it? all our hard work paid off and our candidate got a seat.
Closed the evening with a party, then went home early to watch the news like the political geeks we are.
Made it back to Toronto in under 4.5 hours today. 4pm and I am ready for bed.
Cheers!

A New Home!

Yesterday, I signed on for a new apartment in a great neighbourhood with all the amenities a girl could ask for and a price tag that fits perfectly. Here is what the surfaces will look like when it is finished. I will be the first occupant as it is currently only a floor plan. So excited!

Bad Spellers: Take Heart

Reading through my regular message boards, I came across this post. It is officially the "thing I learned today". And its neat.

The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, syas it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

Are you a genius?

Take a Mensa Test! You have to work out what the letters mean. For example, "24 H in a D" = 24 Hours in a Day. According to MENSA, if you get 23 of these, you are a "genius". Only 2 MENSA members achieved full marks. See how well you can do.

24 H in a D
26 L of the A
7 D of the W
7 W of the W
12 S of the Z
66 B of the B
52 C in a P (WJs)
13 S in the USF
18 H on a G C
39 B of the O T
5 T on a F
90 D in a R A
3 B M (S H T R)
32 is the T in D F at which W F
15 P in a R T
3 W on a T
100 C in a R
11 P in a F (S) T
12 M in a Y
13=UFS
8 T on a O
29 D in F in a L Y
27 B in the N T
365 D in a Y
13 L in a B D
52 W in a Y
9 L of a C
60 M in a H
23 P of C in the H B
64 S on a C B
9 P in S A
6 B to an O in C
1000 Y in a M
15 M on a D M C

Ontario Athletes: Good News

They say the lottery is a tax on people who are mathematically challenged. I am happy to report that in Ontario, you now have options! A new lottery was announced today that will help amateur athletes with funding needed to compete at the national and international level. I hope Ontarians see this as I do: a win-win. Even if you lose, someone gets the chance to win--and I am not talking about a jackpot.

Ministry of Health Promotion News Release

Sign Me Up!!

Through my travels today in the land of internet, I came across this. Basically, it details everything you need to know about their upcoming flights--and its not what you think; its Out of this world!

Adam in the News II

This from the local Oshawa paper....

Adam Jobse

Oshawa Green Party candidate


Issue: Auto industry


Green Party candidate Adam Jobse said the biggest local issue is the recent announcement of job cuts at GM, and praised the Beacon Project as one of the factors that could help mitigate damage.

"The auto industry is like any other industry -- every individual company needs to remain competitive or it won't survive. The leadership at GM has failed to keep the company competitive and unfortunately it's the labourers here who will take the fall for them," he said.

"Jack Layton and the NDP have sided with management in attempting to use Japan and South Korea as scapegoats. Their argument sounds good until you consider that GM builds the Chevy Optra in South Korea, and then sells them in Japan."

Mr. Jobse said it is key to address unfair trade practices that allow foreign cars to be sold in Canada, but limit the number of locally manufactured vehicles that can be sold in some overseas markets.

He said the Green Party will ensure that when Canada trades with other countries, this country's vision of a just and sustainable society is shared.

"This is known as fair trade," Mr. Jobse explained. "During this election campaign you'll also hear Jack and Sid spit out this term. The difference is, I understand it."


Issue: Government accountability


Mr. Jobse said lack of trust in politicians is a problem that affects voters in Oshawa and across the country, noting that the Green Party plans to fix the system by introducing proportional representation.

"Of all the developed countries there are only three that are not using proportional representation -- the United States, Britain and Canada," he said. "It's a global movement that we're not a part of and we should be."

Adam in the News

Although not invited to "official" all-candidates debates, Adam did get a seat at this one held at the CAW in Oshawa. The first article shows a picture of Adam with the other candidates and the second comes from the Star.

Candidates keep it clean at CAW debate
durhamregion.com - Jan 4, 2006


The Toronto Star: Auto Plans on Centre Stage

Remember the Berenstein Bears?

I am a child of the 80s and some of my first experiences reading were with the Berenstein Bears. They had all kinds of helpful life lessons such as "get along with your siblings", "share the good things in life (like candy, if I remember correctly)", "always tell the truth", "what to do when you find someone's wallet" and so on.
Honestly, and sadly, I think childhood is over--and not just for me--if this is any indication.

"When an increase in rudeness and aggressive behavior is noticed at Bear Country School, teachers and parents decide that something must be done."

Today, in Toronto, Premier McGuinty made an announcement to help with progress on a very dark chapter of Ontario's history. The province has promised more police officers immediately for Toronto; more OPP officers to be assigned immediately to special weapons taskforces for the province; 31 new gun-smart prosecutors to devote themselves to putting those apprehended behind bars; and the Premier has appealed to the 4 political party leaders to implement higher minimum sentencing, reverse onus bail legislation, and tougher laws on guns.

The Premier stresses that this announcement is in no way a solution.

The problem is so tangled that there is no one solution available. Just thinking about it is overwhelming.

There are other cities in the world who think little of Toronto's decline. The shootings here are still a fraction of what they are in infamous American cities for example. Or what about what someone in Iraq live through each day? Just yesterday, the Toronto Star reported a school master beheaded in front of his wife and children by Taliban extremists.

But you know what? This is Toronto. This is Canada. And people just don't shoot people here. I often think back to Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. I remember the Canadian scenes where he visits Windsor and Toronto and folks didn't even lock their doors. He claimed that of the single digit gun crimes in Canada each year, most happened with American guns in the hands of visiting Americans. I think back to those scenes and I am embarrassed. Last year, 52 were killed in Toronto with guns alone. That doesn't even cover other seemingly random acts of violence, nor those injured.

So what has changed since Bowling for Columbine? Why are Torontonians (and Canadians) shooting each other?

Drugs? Gang warfare? Social status? Someone should ask those apprehended perhaps. Maybe with the right questions, the answers could start to appear.

I long for the days when I could look at a person on the street and not wonder where their gun is hiding.

More News from the Oshawa Green Campaign

Jobse speaks his mind on the exclusion of the Green Party from national and local debates.
FYI, if you feel the Green Party should be included in the debates, they have a petition on their website.

A black week for the Greens
durhamregion.com - Dec 20, 2005

Happy New Year

I hope everyone enjoyed safe and happy holidays. Some weren't so fortunate in this fair city, and we mustn't forget them. More on that later.
Personally, my holidays were enjoyable, however not very restful. There was much eating and visiting to be done. And of course, I had to keep up with my training. Even so, it appears I have added an extra 5 pounds but I am calling that muscle.
Highlights included some family time augmented by far too much wine at christmas dinner. The next christmas dinner with family in St. Catharines also featured too many beverages but we were much better behaved than at home. The third and final christmas dinner in Pickering stuck with tradition and all 22 in attendance left satisfied.
New Year's passed without too much excitement. I foolishly agreed to help a friend move out of her 4th floor apartment in a house with narrow stairways and no elevator on a snowy day. There was a box spring involved as well as an irate and totally unreasonable landlord hovering about. Not the best of times, but despite my complaining, I was happy to help. We were rewarded with pizza, and let me tell you, after all that work, it never tasted so good. Since I wore myself out that afternoon, the evening ended up being a little bit of a non-event. I had confirmed mine and Jerome's attendance at a friend's house party but was determined to nap for a bit before we went. I woke up from my nap and thought maybe I should just go back to sleep--but then felt obligated to show up since it is New Year's and all that jazz. I made it until 11:30 and then I just had to leave. The New Year came in while Jerome and I were de-boarding the subway. Not very glamourous. Not even any champagne involved.
The next day, I slept in for the first time in what feels like ages. That was better than any party or champagne. Then all I did was play x-box in my pajamas.
Later that evening, we dined with Jerome's folks and brother. A very nice meal notably "spicey" free, for my benefit. I am a big suck when it comes to the hot stuff. They are the opposite.
On our last day of holidays, we took Marco, of Maastricht fame, to see the great Niagara Falls. It was cold, wet and miserable, but somehow still a good time. I was surprised at how many tourists were there even at this time of year with no maid of the mist, no journey behind the falls etc etc. We certainly were not alone.
And now, back to the grind!