| The paradox of our time is we spend more, but have less, We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers, We have more degrees, but less sense, We have more healthcare, but worse health, We spend recklessly, drive too fast and rise quickly to anger, We've been to the moon and back, We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've done bigger things, but not better things. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We communicate faster but connect less. These are times of fast foods, disposable diapers and more divorce We hear from tall men about mean character, | live in bigger houses, with smaller families. wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. more knowledge, and less judgment. more experts, yet more problems. yet we rarely laugh, smile less and forget to pray. but can’t cross the street to meet a new neighbour. We have higher incomes, but lower morals. We've added years to life, not life to years. We've become long on quantity, but short on quality. We talk too much and listen too little. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space. but less nutrition, slow indigestion and throw away morality. and read of steep profits from shallow relationships. |
 | NASA animation of Black Hole star Apologies to George CARLIN |
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Paradoxes of Our Time (redux)
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
"O Canada" banned in NB School - outrage at Principal
This item on CBC TV caught my attention on Thursday January 29 and I decided to email a call for sensibility on the issue. From how it was presented, the Principal - Mr. Eric MILLET of Bellisle Elementary in Springfield NB, decided to drop singing O Canada - our national* anthem because it's religious overtones made a few students "feel uncomfortable".
This rampant kind of mendicant "knee-jerk, zero-tolerant PC" response as soon as anyone voices a concern has become a huge problem in this country. And ironically, even those who we entrust to teach our children math, science, arts, history, geography and foreign languages - appear to completely lack the critical reasoning skills and social modeling behaviours needed to deal with relatively simple issues.
1) No one can compel anyone to sing our national anthem. That would be insane! We do not (yet) live in a Police State where where citizens are jailed for sedition. One just hopes they feel a sense of pride and attachment to our country to occasionally reflect on our duty and responsibility to keep it going instead of moving elsewhere in disgust.
2) It is possible that anyone could be offended by our national anthem - atheists, Muslims, pacifists, environmentalists, even non-Canadians yet is being offended for frivolous reasons sufficient to ban the national anthem for all, especially if they are the majority?
3) Another point for atheists, Muslims, pacifist, environmentalists and other new-Canadians to remember is that they are only perched on the shoulders of many others that came before them.
Here was the content of my email to Mr. MILLET, his (PC) MLA Bev HARRISON, the NB Education Minister, (Lib) Kelly LAMROCK, (Lib) Premier Shawn GRAHAM and (PC) MP for region, Greg Thompson. (It took quite a bit of effort to find these addresses.)
Principal Eric Millet and
Vice-Principal Heather Wilson
Belleisle Elementary School
1775 Route 124 Springfield
Kings County, New Brunswick E5T 2J91
T: (506) 485- 3025
F: (506) 485-3036
E: eric.millett@nbed.nb.ca
Re: CBC news item on your decision to ban singing the National Anthem.
I am absolutely APPALLED that you supposedly banned singing our National Anthem because 2 children felt “uncomfortable”. For heaven sakes, what about the rest of the school. And I suppose if they felt uncomfortable learning math you would grant them an exemption as well? (But it is probably not in your authority to flout the curriculum so obviously.) You model leadership by example and Civics is a duty you must teach just as much as any other subject.
As it was - this issue seems to have been resolved satisfactorily - in large part due to many Canadians across our country who were aghast at this incident. That is a wonderful endorsement of many things. 1) School Principals are accorded a large degree of authority within their their communities so they can respond quickly to local issues. 2) Despite such "decentralized" decision making, School Boards have final say and do listen and act on concerns of parents especially when it comes to policy matters. 3) Canadian's across the country can be very engaged on issues that they feel are central to their beliefs about Canadian identity - notwithstanding being physically far removed from the issue. This speaks well of our nation's dedication above and beyond partisan politics, but it may not serve the ends of some political ideologues. These are all good outcomes.
Regards,
Christopher R. JONES
Edmonton AB
cc: Hon. Greg Thompson, PC, MP | Hon Shawn GRAHAM – Premier New Brunswick | Hon. Kelly LAMROCK – Minister of Education Place 2000 P. O. Box 6000 Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1 T: (506) 453-2523 F: (506) 457-4960 E: kelly.lamrock@gnb.ca |
| Mr. Bev Harrison MLA | |
*Incidentally, here is the current version. The French lyrics have never been altered but the English lyrics (different) have been changed twice since adopted in 1908.
| English – Current O Canada! | French – Official Ô Canada! | French – Translated O Canada! |
Footnotes: 1) In 1914 Weir changed second stanza from “thou dost in us command” to "in all thy sons command". 2) In 1980, "From far and wide, O Canada" was changed from repetitive "We stand on guard."
Monday, 2 February 2009
Population Control is Green
COUPLES who have more than two children are being “irresponsible” by creating an unbearable burden on the environment, the government’s green adviser has warned.This reminds me of David SUZUKI's rabid suggestion that Canadian Political Leaders should be accused and charged with crimes against humanity for refusing to support environmental policies such as the Kyoto Protocol - in the same way as genocidal murders like Pol Pot.
Ok, at least he did issue a clarification saying he was misquoted out of context (a common crime of the left and one which he is often guilty, but no matter). At least Elizabeth MAY did not endorse the position.
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Edmonton Plan to End Homelessness is due soon
Edmonton - East MP Peter GOLDRING was quick to pour cold water on the article reminding readers of exaggerations in this "study". This is not to say I have no compassion for such people - just that by misrepresenting the problem we are not doing them any favours. More affordable housing - and not just inner-city ghettos - would go a long way to reducing the scope of this problem. He mentioned his experience on the city's plan "To End Homelessness" committee and told me it is expected soon.
Then today the CBC had a piece on the high suicide rate of homeless people, mentioning 47 people who died last year and were memorialized.
Here are my recollections of experiences at the Old Strathcona "Out of the Cold Shelter" which ran for 3 years.
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Can Israel negotiate with Hamas?
If I may summarize:
1) Andrew Higgins in the Jan. 24 issue of The Wall Street Journal describes Hamas as Israel’s creation and that just because they have a mission statement that calls for the eradication of Israel, it should not be taken as a political problem to peace.
2) Efraim Halevy, a former head of the Mossad, doubts that Al-Fatah the Palestinian Authority's leaders who “sat back and did nothing at all, silently applauding Israel’s campaign against their bitter Palestinian political and ideological foes" can hope to gain power in Gaza again.
3) Halevy also says “... the prospect of weaning Hamas from the hands of President Ahmadinejad is worth a try.” What else would Israel, the United States and Egypt have to lose by examining the a peace accord.
So all of these positions make a Peace Accord the most likely outcome?
I don't buy it -at least not in my lifetime.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
John MORTIMER + Patrick MCGOUHAN
Patrick MCGOOGHAN, author/actor died last week (Jan 14, 2009) at age 80. I remember him from his TV show "The Prisoner" - one of the most cryptic and puzzling TV dramas of the late 1960's in the genre of James Bond spy/thrillers of my childhood like "Danger Man", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E", "The Avengers", "The Fugitive" and "Get Smart". It exploited the political climate of extreme distrust in the post-cold war era that existed between the West and Soviets Union after the JFK assassination. (Image Courtesy: BBC News Online, Patrick MCGOOHAN in character on set of "The Prisoner" c 1963 in Portmerion, N. Wales UK)
John MORTIMER also passed away today (Jan 20, 2009) and also achieved fame as author of popular TV show "Rumpole of The Bailey" based on his life as a Barrister, later spun off into a series of books. It was a remarkable hit for BBC starring actor Leo MCKERN - who also coincidentally had a starring role in MCGOUGH's "The Prisoner" but died on July 23, 2002. (Image Courtesy: The Guardian Online, Sir John MORTIMER left, Sir Leo MCKERN right)6 million reasons
I believe this is Holocaust Awareness Week. This upsetting clip is from "Diary of Anne Frank" film.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Israel/Gaza - Operation Cast Lead
Without any precise targeting intelligence, Hamas's rockets they fall where they may. Such indiscriminate tactics allows Hamas to disingenuously claim they are not targeting civilians! Luckily for Israelis, their sophisticated military defenses/counter-measures are able to intercept most of the incoming ordinance - rendering it harmless. Nonetheless, these missile/mortar attacks have continued unabated since the June 2008 truce was abandoned by Hamas and have created a queasy climate of fear in the Israeli City of Sderot, situated on the boarder with Gaza. Not all counter-measures have been successful and some rockets have caused causalities but they only amount to a handful - compared to what they could be.
The Israeli Air Force highly targeted retaliation against Hamas rocket launchers - most of which are rapidly moved about by pickup trucks - has been devastatingly effective. (see youtube video below) Hundreds of deadly accurate strikes have been carried out against Hamas operatives. Scores of sites have been demolished. Hamas claims (as of Jan 18, the beginning of the Israeli ceasefire) thousands1 of causalities, many of them civilians.
However, in order to gain a propaganda advantage Hamas diabolically sets-up its rocket-launchers close to civilian schools, mosques, hospitals and parks in Gaza. They fire with impunity and when Israel Defense Forces (IDF) retaliate against such sites, the gruesome "collateral damage" is paraded about for the TV cameras. It is no longer debatable that many of these "photo opportunities" are actually situations faked or orchestrated by Hamas for the benefit of the captive Press Corps (who are only allowed to go where Hamas permits them to go - always accompanied). Hamas is funded by Iran.
On January 10, after significant air operations destroyed much of the public infrastructure of Gaza, the IDF moved-in with tanks and ground troops to "mop-up". They engage in house-to-house search missions to eliminate any lingering Hamas insurgents.
On Jan 18, Israel declares a truce brokered with the assistance of France and agreement of Egypt and the U.S. Hamas continues to fire at least 30 rockets but suffers instant retaliation before agreeing to cease hostilities 6hrs later for one week to allow IDF troops to withdraw.
Footnote:
1. Hamas claims 5,000 casualties (including civilians?) in Gaza. IDF places 1,300 Hamas casualties in Gaza and 13 IDF soldiers during the operation - half of which were "friendly fire" incidents. I have read that estimated civilian casualties in Israel are under 100, but I can not be sure of the time frame and so may be overstated. Clearly though, Hamas was pummeled. I understand Gaza population is 1.5 million.
2. "Why Israel Feels Threatened" by Benny MORRIS, 2008DEC08 NY Times. Hezbollah has re-armed since the 2006 war with Israel. The PA has an estimated arsenal of 30,000 to 40,000 Russian-made rockets from Syria and Iran. Inside Israel 1.3 million Israelis of Arab disent live and are growing rapidly (15% of population) - in fact projections have these Israeli Arabs constituting a majority by 2040-2050. This is also a reason why jewish immigration is highly encouraged.
[Update: 2008JAN20 Jerusalem Post "Palestinians are being rounded up and eyewitnesses said the detainees were being held in school buildings and hospitals that had been turned into make-shift interrogation centers". Oh my, call the UN! Oh - it's ok it's just Hamas having "fun" with Fatah.]
Saturday, 10 January 2009
blogspot code tricks & tips
1) CSS. This is an area I knew about but have not had time to study. I have started taking baby steps in customizing my blogger templates and I recommend HTML Dog as a good start.
2) *Templates. There are many free ones available but once you get the hang of the (simple) ones, you don't have to buy them as it is as simple as copying CSS code, although it is considered polite to acknowledge this and provide a link/reference to the creator/inventor.
3) *Inspector "Gadget". These "add-ons" for blogger have changed significantly over the past 2-3 years. No longer do you have to know python/php, C# or Java or even HTML (but it helps) as many of the tools are now wrapped as standardized API's. Blog Doctor is a cheesy example of one of these sites which is really just an amateur trying to make a few bucks, but it does have some good examples.
*This will save alot of grief later. Blogger has a some "backup" features - which is good in case something goes wrong (as I found out last year). But there are a few thing details "gloss'd over" that everyone should known about: 1) You must "export" the posts + comments and save as an xml data file. This will keep all of your and commenter "content" as well as encoded links and linked images (those you upload and store in Picasa may not be safe.) 2) Saving your "template" provides a copy of the basic CSS styles, including "some, but not all" gadgets and their content. For example my profile was intact because it was linked to my Google identity, but all links to blogs/websites I entered in the "links gadget" were lost! Other HTML/Javascript codes were obliterated as well. I suggest saving any unique HTML code a text file as backup.