December 29th.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!...All the best in 2006! and drive carefully

December 27th.

Okay ... I had a great holiday .. a few days away from the hassles of work and the world .. and we come back to this .. 1 dead and 6 shot on Yonge st. Stories from around the world looking at our city/province/country, picking apart what is wrong with our nation and how we are becoming more Americanized in our cities. I can't find the stats for 2005, we are at around 70 violent deaths with 50 or so related to gun deaths, but the 1998-2003 stats by the Toronto Police .. sure as hell show that the rate of violent crime is holding steady, but that the rate of gun related deaths have been increasing.

We are entering into an election where everyone is promising everything, the liberals are promising to ban guns (a joke), conservatives are promising harsher laws (are we going to become like the US with over crowded prisons and no way to fix the problem), and as far a I have heard the NDP is keeping its mouth shut but attacking the other parties for not fixing this issue. I don't want a quick fix, I don't want a bandaid, I want people to figure out how to stop this senseless violence, I now have to worry about my wife going shopping, my son riding the subway to school, my girls playing in the play ground at school.. Something has to be done and none of the candidates that we have seem to be looking for the answer

December 23rd.

Merry Christmas Everyone! All the best in 2006

December 22 nd.

John Mellor aka Joe Stummer died 4 years ago today.

What can you say about a musician/activist who did what he believed in.

If you have a few minutes take a look at the peice that Alan Cross, at CFNY did on the "On Going History of New Music" as a tribute to Joe.

---

Part #1 Segment #1, Segment #2, Segment #3, Segment #4, Part #2, Segment #1, Segment #2, Segment #3.

---

White Riot

White riot - I wanna riot
White riot - a riot of my own
White riot - I wanna riot
White riot - a riot of my own

Black people gotta lot a problems
But they don't mind throwing a brick
White people go to school
Where they teach you how to be thick

An' everybody's doing
Just what they're told to
An' nobody wants
To go to jail!

All the power's in the hands
Of people rich enough to buy it
While we walk the street
Too chicken to even try it

Everybody's doing
Just what they're told to
Nobody wants
To go to jail!

Are you taking over
Or are you taking orders?
Are you going backwards
Or are you going forwards?
(Strummer/Jones)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oh by the way I swore that I wouldn't mention the election until after Christmas .. waiting, just waiting so I can spout off my uninformed opinions. !!!!!Frikin Fraken, Fricken politicians !!!!!!

December 19 th.

Eldest and I went for our belt tests. He got his Green belt and I got my Orange. Feels pretty good to see an accomplishment from all these nights of hard work. I had to do {phonetic spelling} ge si di ch, fight off an attack. Master let me beat up on Eldest. Had to break a pine board with a kick, my first kick was a round house, I must have caught the board with my toe nail.. hurt like hell (the board rang off key, but didn't even split). This got me pissed off, I go back into fighting stance and I give the board a front kick. I barely felt it but the board blew apart into pieces. Felt damn good.

Though I don't really understand how the Master does his tests .. it seems that he believes in the Karate belt tests but prefers to teach us Taekwondo. When we were practicing the only way I was able to do the movements properly was once he explained what the hold or motion would do if you were in a fight. eg. Left arm raised block (keep the knife from your body) right arm punch and grab, bring back and break the arm with a downward swing of the left arm .. etc .. As long as I'm learning its okay with me.

December 14 th.

It's just before midnight of the 13th, and I just spent a few wonderful hours with my family (Minus Eldest, but we aren't talking about or to him right now).

Wife was invited by her rep at Astral Media to "Snow White and the Group of Seven"

Ross Petty's traditional (he's been doing it for 10 years at the Elgin Theatre and I think for 11 more at other venues) gift to the city of Toronto of a hysterical Christmas Pantomime

The show stars Canadian talent such as Sean Cullen (of Corky and the Juice Pigs fame) as Guy Endermeer (get it.. Guy In d' Mirror) one of the first jokes of the show and it sets the tone of the night, jeers, laughs and cheers. Ross Petty in drag as Queen Celine Poutine, Alan Frew (of Glass Tiger) as Pops, a plethora of male Canadian Idol Stars making up the Group of Seven. (no not them, a family of singers like the Jackson Five) Elena Juatco (another Canadian Idol Star, great to see them all working) as the innocent and strong voiced Snow White.

Look, I know this is starting to sound like a advertisement for the show, its not, it's just that I really enjoyed it. I had a great time watching my 11 year old, my 6 year old and her friend laugh and join in a great holiday tradition. I had a great time joining in also. Egging my daughters to boo when QCP (Queen Celine Poutine) comes on the stage, and getting them to cheer when Snow White enters the scene. Sharing this with your kids so out weighs going to the movies (you spend about the same amount of money) or renting a bunch of DVD's that your all going to watch at differnet times anyway. Theatre and especially the Christmas Pantomime is a wonderful tradition. If you have the time and the money, (yea I know I got in free) take your family for a wonderful evening of pure and simple laughter. I know we really enjoyed ourselves.

The Globe and Mail theatre critic has a interesting review. (I'm not sure if he liked it or not but he does say some positive things.)

For those of you outside of the GTA or Southern/Central Ontario (I know you hate the selfish arrogance of Southern Ontarians, the world revolves around us, etc etc...),
It seems that Ross Petty will be taking last years show on the road in the fall of 2006. Keep an eye open for it, it worth it.

December 12 th.

I couldn't handle the Christmas colours that I picked. I might change it again. It made someones "Eyes Burn".

Only 14 days till Christmas morning.

December 8 th.

Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isn’t hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possessions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I’m a dreamer,
but I’m not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.


Written by: John Lennon
© Bag productions inc.

On the morning of December 9th, 25 years ago I awoke to Q107, on my clock radio, announcing that John Lennon was dead. He had been shot down in front of the Dakota Hotel in New York City. At that time in my life (I had lived all of 17 years) it was the most traumatic thing that had ever happened to me (lucky aren’t I). No one important in my life had died before and John Lennon ((or at least at that time I believed) was apart of my life.

I listened to his music, I heard the poetry of his words, and I tried to understand and live his message of fellowship and openness. (I was never very successful). I idolized John Lennon, that day I promised myself that I would never mention or name the person who killed him. In my mind I might think the name, but it will never flow out past my lips. The killer will get no remembrance from me.

I know some very important anniversaries have occurred over the last two days. Pearl Harbour Dec. 7th 1942, the Montreal Massacre Dec. 6th 1989, and I know these two horrible tragedies should rank higher in my opinion then the death of a musician, but John’s assassination affected me directly. It was like a punch in the face for me. It was the end of my childhood. In believing in the complete good of the world. In believing that everyone had a core of goodness and you just had to dig for it to find it. I learned that day that there are truly evil people (like I said I was innocent) in the world.

John Lennon and the Beatles not only defined a “generation” but they defined how people could and should behave towards each other. I’m not saying that they are saints, they were human and made very human mistakes. For the most part they tried to show us the good in people.

This was my little piece in tribute to a life. Thanks John and I miss you.

Instant Karma

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin' to do
It's up to you, yeah you

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna look you right in the face
Better get yourself together darlin'
Join the human race
How in the world you gonna see
Laughin' at fools like me
Who in the hell d'you think you are
A super star
Well, right you are

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Ev'ryone come on

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you off your feet
Better recognize your brothers
Ev'ryone you meet
Why in the world are we here
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Why on earth are you there
When you're ev'rywhere
Come and get your share

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
Come on and on and on on on
Yeah yeah, alright, uh huh, ah

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
On and on and on on and on

Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Well we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun

Written by: John Lennon

December 5 th.

The Stella Awards are named after 81-year old
Stella Liebeck... who spilled coffee on herself
and successfully sued McDonald's for millions.

This years runners up are:
Jerry Williams of Little Rock, Arkansas. Won
$14,500 after being bitten on the arse by his
neighbour's beagle. Mr Williams was shooting it
repeatedly with a pellet gun at the time.

Amber Carson was paid $113,500 by a Philadelphia
restaurant after she broke her back from slipping
on a soft drink... which she had just thrown at
her boyfriend.

Kara Walton of Delaware sued a nightclub and
won $12,000 after falling from a bathroom window
and knocking out her two front teeth. This
occurred while Ms Walton was trying to sneak
through the window in the ladies room to avoid
paying the $3.50 cover charge.

But the winner is:
Mrs Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma who purchased a
brand new 32-foot Winnebago. On her first trip,
she drove on the freeway, set the cruise control
at 70 mph and went out back to make a sandwich.
She crashed. Then sued for the manual not
advising her not to do this.

The jury awarded her $1,750,000 plus a new motor
home. The company then changed their manuals
on the basis of this suit.

-----------------
Should you ever believe what is online? Nah!!! but its always fun to get juicy stories.
-----------------
By the way, I've promised myself I will not watch, participate or mention the election until after the Christmas Season.

December 2nd.

Hey .. it's only 23 days till Christmas .. playing with code to get the right colours .. enjoy.

November 28th.

Have to share this one. Reading NealeNews just now, came across this story on under water hockey. I had to do a google search, WoW. Check out the links to Canadian under water hockey teams at Underwater hockey Tourist. Wikipedia has a good article on it. Here are the rules. There has to be some where in Toronto that I can try this.

It's been two weeks since I last got a chance to post, time does fly when your busy. Trying to settle into my new position, help the guy leaving bring in as much as he can before he goes (even though it's going to leave me pretty dry on sales for December).

On Wednesday November 30th, Youngest turns 6 years old. She can't stop asking how many days till I'm 6, or how many sleeps till my birthday party. As opposed to the other two, the world seems to revolve around daily issues for her. Nothing can happen fast enough or soon enough for her. She is a ball of energy that Wife and I are trying to keep up with.

Middle has had incredible hockey games over the last few weeks, 2 wins/1 loss/1 tie, everything seems to have clicked (crossing my fingers and knocking on wood, I don't want to jinx her). Her team lost on Saturday but she kept it to only 4 points, even though she had to have taken at least 30 shots on net. All the goals were off rebounds, her defense just could not clear the puck or she didn't have time to freeze it. It's interesting to watch the coaches at practice, its gone from her being the goalie they feel sorry for to the goalie they all want to work. We told her that she could get a toy because her grades have been very good and she has been really trying at hockey (we are trying to give rewards for doing well, along with punishing when they do something wrong) so she asked for a Build a Bear, all her cousins have one. I've never been in the store, never even seen one out of the box and I always thought it a silly waste of money. Well, I've never had so much fun shopping as I did when we went and got it with her. You choose the body you want, voice box, stuff it, clean it and shop for cloths for it. They even have a Lacrosse Bear. If you want to spend a fun hour or so with your kids, though pricey (no worse than taking a family of 5 to the movies)it was fun.

Eldest is doing well, finally doing his homework, handing in assignments, trying not to lie, adjusting to puberty. He has such a thin skin, teenage boys are mean and nasty, but the smallest thing to him is a personal slight. Two weeks ago he had a select hockey game (only the third hockey game he has played this season), the guys on his line were pretty hard on him and he came out of the rink angry and sad. He wants certain guys to like him and takes whatever they say to heart. Words hurt him, I try to support him and let him know that people aren't worth knowing if that is the way the treat people.. But teenage boys treat each other this way. (Sucks growing up) He has meet a girl that he thinks he likes, (an older women, she is in grade 9) and is not sure what to do, swore me to secrecy when we talked about it. What do you tell a 13 year old? I told him to show interest in her, ask questions about her as a person and what's happening in her life, and not to rush anything. I've offered to let him take her with us to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (I've got to take him and his sister anyway). Not sure if he wants to have his old man on his first date though, we will see what happens.

Life if going ok with Wife and I, other then we are tired all the time (from running around) and both sick with colds. We have to settle on some type of get away for march break.

November 14th.

How FU**ING stupid are the opposition parties.

I know, I know, your all saying yes get rid of the Liberals, down with the Liberals, down with cronyism, down with criminal politicians.

Cr*p .. a december election. If you think American voter turnout is bad, wait to see what happens if they force a pre Christmas election.

You conservatives may just end up with a Liberal government again because of apathy. NDP, you might end up with a conservative gov't because of apathy. I'm sorry, but I don't think the general public gives two sh*ts about who is in power, as long as its not costing more money than the last party in power.

Yes I know the Liberal party has taken advantage of their postion in power, but have you forgotton Brian Mulroney and tunagate or any of the other political scandels in Canadian History.

Use the brains god gave you, give us a spring election. Then you can vote out the Liberals and maybe get a few years of resposible government before they turn into crooks also.

November 11th.

Kind of an important date today. November 11th 2005. It's been 87 years since the end of World War I, and only 60 years since the end of World War II.

I don't know to many people who still have a direct relative who fought in the wars, my great uncles have all died and my father in-law has passed away (he served in the Italian army). One uncle was with the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment another was with the Grey & Simcoe Foresters and a second cousin served in the Canadian Merchant Marine.

My wife’s boss, who is in from New York, was surprised by the people here in Toronto wearing Poppies, she was impressed and embarrassed. She had never given November 11th a thought until the other day. She told Wife that you just don't see this in New York.

We can't let that happen here, we can never forget or become complacent. Those years can never happen again. My Father never had to go to war, I never had to and I pray my son doesn't. We can't forget what these men did. They gave up their lives (they either died, or came back very scared by what they saw and did) and then they guided our countries, cities, and families to what we have now. Without them and what they sacrificed where would we be now (that's for the Alternate History buffs to play with).

I just want to say thank you to all the veterans still alive, and pray for all those who have passed away. Thank you for the life that you have given us.

In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- John McCrae

November 7th.

Okay, I don't want to crow .. Um .. yes I do. Do you remember a few posts ago where I was talking about how Middle was treated by our house league hockey club. (if you don't, click here and read away)

Middle has not been having the best of a season, the average shots on her per game have been 30 to 35 shots on net (not including the ones that miss the net) and the final scores have been in the double digit (10 - 14 points for the other team, not more then 3-5 for her team), not so hot right .. well she doesn't have much of a defense and she can stop the difficult shots, but she just couldn't seem to stop the easy ones. I was beginning to feel really bad for Middle and her team .. it's not her fault but maybe she just wasn't cut out to be a goalie, (I never told her any of this, I've been really good and kept my mouth shut) She's the one who wanted to be a goalie, so we are doing our best to help her. We take her for goalie classes once a week, house league practice on sunday etc..

Well on Saturday morning she proved that she is a goalie and one to beat at that. Her team went up against the best team in house league, (1st place so far in the season, 5 games 5 wins) The goalie is the son of the assistant coach to the team (the parent is really good goalie himself) .. Middle was incredible .. low, high, middle, 5 hole .. she couldn't be beat .. only one goal against her in the dying minutes of the 1st period. She kept it up all the way through the game, Wife and I were screaming yelling and cheering constantly .. Middle shut down one of the best shots on the other team (a real puck hog, who never passes), the kid was slamming her stick on the ice. Damn it was fun. By the end of the game .. Middle had taken 37 shots and only let 4 in. It was a tie game, 4/4 but it felt like Middle had won the Stanley Cup. A lot of parents and coaches came up to her after the game and congratulated her. She was so proud, she was smiling ear to ear. I was smiling like a Cheshire Cat, I was so proud and I hadn't done anything except sit on my ass and yell.

Not to forget Eldest and Youngest .. Eldest sprained the same ankle that he fractured and can't play for two more weeks (he only got the cast ofF two weeks ago). He tripped on a railing at the subway and stumbled down two steps. The kid is just not having a good year. Youngest had a good game on Saturday, but her best friend wasn't there and she just wasn't into it.