Remembering Ecole Polytechnique and All Women Who Experience Of Gender Based Violence

Pros And Cons of Snow Fall and Apartment Living

Pro:

I don't have to shovel.

Con:

I don't have the authority to tell people to shovel, and how to shovel correctly. Thanks for the ridiculous attention to shoveling, Dad.



Pro:

I don't have to shovel.

Con:

The snow plow person chooses to plow at 11:30pm. I am transitioning to old life. I am in REM sleep usually by 10:37pm.

Pro:

I can openly laugh at people who have to shovel.

Con:

The snow plow sounds as if it's churning metal. Did I mention it's out there at 11:30pm?

Pro:

There's no dread in the morning about having to shovel to get out of the driveway. It's somebody else's problem. It's just a beautiful winter wonderland to me.

Con:

That metal churning noise? Yeah, kind of freaked me out the first time I heard it.

Pro:

No shoveling.

Con:

I don't have winter boots (kind of applies).

Pro:

Snow plow goes fast.

Con:

Snow plow goes too frigging fast near my car. Gives me the heart flutters as I watch it whiz by.

All in all, I think it evens out.

My Snowy Luck

How fair is this?

I come back to my folks place last night so Annie doesn't have to hang out here alone and Dec. 1st is the day the snow starts to fall.

The one good thing about not living in a house is that I don't have to shovel.

And now the first significant snow fall has me outside getting the shovel out.

Damn.

Radio DJs

The past couple of days I've been forced to listen to the descent of morning radio.

Firstly, what is with cars who don't have CD players?

This would have been avoided if I had access to a CD player.

Instead I had to listen to a plethora of radio DJs. I can only assume that they reach out to the most base audience.

Yes, you know this group of people.

They are the socially unaware (in the most irritating of fashion). These are the folks who don't vote, but feel the need to complain. These are the people who can't see the connection between lower their taxes and the lower of standards in hospital wait times. These are the idiots that run red lights. The morons who do mall walks with strollers, and hit the backs of your heels. The people who think that women who want power tools are some strange kind of breed of freak ("You're a woman, get your husband to hang that picture!"). The men think that the worst insult is to be called either: girly, sissy or feminine in some way. Thus they attempt to show their heterosexuality to the nth degree. These are the people who think that calling something "gay" is an insult.

I like to think that these people are in the minority. But since this minority is more vocal these DJs think they must emulate them.

This must stop. Immediately.

I cannot take one more reference to a "chick flick" or a female DJ talking about every single woman's desire for a giant diamond on her left hand.

I will not be held accountable for my road rage.

I have to take this care to Niagara Falls in one week- I can't stand to listen to this shit for that long.

And my passenger doesn't like CBC.

I can literally feel the brain cells evaporating.

He's Such A Din-Wid

Yes, I know a cheap shot.

But his name is Dinwiddie. How sucky is that?

In case you don't know this is the rookie who was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback during this past Grey Cup.

Whatever, I don't dig organized sports.

But I do dig this guy's eyes. They are freaking amazing.

They are this bizarre ice blue.

I don't know why he doesn't just take off his helmet and captivate his opponents on the football field with his gaze.

That probably would have won him the Cup, or at least stopped Johnson from catching 3 interceptions.

Ok, enough football speak. I'm good for the year.

P.S.

What's a Rough Rider? And is it a cowboy reference? Because I thought all the cowboys were in Alberta, not Saskatchewan. And does this have anything to do with the unofficial motto of Regina..."the city that rhymes with fun"? Just a thought.

Global Oh for Peace 2007: The Second Annual Synchronized Global Orgasm for Peace

WORLDWIDE - November 25 - In 2006, the first Global Orgasm for Peace focused on the escalation of tensions between the Govern-Men of the USA and Iran. One year later, some of those in power still want to declare war and Americans are waiting to be given another manufactured excuse to support it. So we are preparing to launch the Second Annual Synchronized GlobalOrgasm for Peace.

WHO? All Men and Women, you and everyone you know.

WHERE? Everywhere in the world, but especially in countries with weapons of mass destruction and places where violence is used in place of mediation.

WHEN? This year we are synchronizing on the actual moment of the Solstice (Winter in the northern hemisphere, Summer in the south) for maximum concentrated effect: Solstice Day - Saturday, December 22nd at 06:08 Universal Coordinated Time (GMT), which is 09:08 Baghdad time; 09:38 Tehran time; 01:08 Washington, DC time; 17:08 Sydney time; 14:08 Hong Kong time; 11:38, New Delhi time; 09:08 Moscow time; Friday, December 21st, at 22:08 San Francisco time.

WHY? To effect positive change in the energy field of the Earth through input of the largest possible instantaneous surge of human biological, mental and spiritual energy.

The Science

The Global Consciousness Project (http://noosphere.princeton.edu) in Princeton, NJ, runs a network of Random Event Generators around the world, which record changes in their randomness during global events. The results show that human consciousness can be measured to have a global effect on matter and energy during widely-watched events such as the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, large antiwar protests, natural catastrophes, acts of war and mass meditations. Concentrated consciousness has measurable effects.

Our minds influence Matter and Quantum Energy fields , so by concentrating our thoughts during and after The Big O on peace and partnership, the combination of high orgasmic energy combined with mindful intention for peace could reduce global levels of violence, hatred and fear.

The world is full of men with axes to grind and weapons to fire in displays of their superiority over others. It is time to spare the planet from Alpha Male concepts of 'progress', 'growth' and Manifest Destiny, which are endangering all of us. True partnership between the Masculine and Feminine that is within all women and men may enable our species to survive in relative harmony. The GlobalOrgasm for Peace is one attempt to begin that process.

See www.GlobalOrgasm.org

This Week's Apartment Smell.

Pot.

Tacky Christmas Tree Decorating Party!!

Alright...

Dec. 15th.

6PM-1AM

My pad...

RSVP if you can make it!

Bring a tacky, cheap and ugly ornament.

It is going to be 'off the hook'.

GAH!

Check. It. Out.

I met her.

However briefly, I met her.

Naomi Klein.

No dinner, no meet and greet. Just me and my plethora of Naomi Klein books.

She was even impressed I had her book on American business in Iraq.

I IMPRESSED NAOMI KLEIN.

But what was even more interesting was the fact that she had rider (like a rock star).

Above is a picture of her half eaten dinner.

As well is a picture of me eating one of Naomi Klein's cookies.

They were oatmeal raisin.

Sigh.

Odds and Ends

Things I've noticed.

Apartment smells. I never know what my nose will be assaulted with when I walk in the building. Sometimes it's really good, sometimes it's really bad. Really bad. And, for those of you who know me, I have an incredibly strong sense of smell. It's uncanny. Last week was cinnamon. Today? Paint.

Woodstock is not an easy town to negotiate. And besides that, can someone tell me when it became a thriving metropolis with Boston Pizza and Staples?

When did Naomi Klein become a diva? Isn't this kind of counter productive from her work as an anti-globalization specialist?

Don't drive around Ottawa on Remembrance Day. Trust me, it's a pain.

Academics are big babies.

The Imodium Quick Dissolve pills are brilliant.

That's all for now.

Saving Darfur

A whole week of talking about children in the sex trade.

Follow that up by a weekend of discussions on Darfur.

Sounds depressing, but it was rather uplifting to see everyone come together to talk about the genocide.

Don't know what's going on in Darfur? Don't be confused.

There are some myths about the genocide, allow me to enlighten you.

1. This is not a genocide of Arabs killing Christians. Everyone, both perpetrators and victims are Muslim.

2. The number of people killed is not 200,000 as most journalists report. As of August of 2007 over 400,000 people have been killed by the Janjaweed.

3. "This is a tribal issue." Despite what Brian Mulroney wants you to believe. This is a government assisted and supported genocide. Khartoum is in on it, completely.

4. "The genocide is ending." Not the case, it's picking up steam like you couldn't believe. Some of the leading experts this weekend also predict that Southern Sudan is on the path to genocide there, as well.

5. "It was unpreventable." Bullshit. This, like Rwanda, was totally preventable.

Want to do something about this?

Two things you can do:

A. Call 1-800-GENOCIDE

How the system works:
When callers in Canada dial in to 1-800-436-6243 (GENOCID) they will be connected to our direct advocacy phone system. They will be given the choice of the 6 MPs and will be offered the option of listening to select talking points for each MP. Following the talking points they will be connected directly to the MP's office. They will leave a message with a staffer or a voicemail expressing their concerns about the crisis in Darfur and what they think the Canadian Government's response should be. After they leave a message they will have the choice to re-enter the system to leave another message for another MP is they choose.

B. Divestment

I've got an appointment next week with my bank to examine which companies my RSP is investing with. There are some pretty heinous companies profiting off of genocide in Darfur. This companies shouldn't be supported with our investment. Check it out at www.sudandivestment.org. Needless to say the majority of the offending companies (and you have to be really horrible to get onto this list) are oil corporations.

Satisfied?

Hello There

Hello-

Yes, it's me. And yes, it has been a while.

Where have I been?

I don't have to justify myself to you people.

I'm a busy woman. Or just lazy.

Yes, it has been quite some time since I've ragged on anyone, but what can you do? It's not that I haven't had people annoy me.

No, no.

I've just been busy.

Sooooooooo....

Work's been crazy...between next week and the first week in February I will be speaking with over 2,400 kids in grade 6, 7 and 8. Yeah, I've been a little crazy lately.

What else?

Annie and I went to go see Dane Cook at the ACC. Interesting evening, lots of fun. Lots of popped collars, backwards baseball caps and smug reflections.

The videos are popping up on YouTube.com, so I'll upload a few.

What else?

I went to the Royal Winter Fair last week with my Dad and my grandparents. Fun times, that mostly had me in the middle. Literally. Most of the day had my dad going in one direction with his camera positioned at any thing that moo'ed, nay'ed or clucked. And then Papa went off in another direction. And grandma would follow Papa, so she wouldn't lose him.

About the Royal Winter Fair. I have some suggestions.

1. Lower prices. Come on. It was way too expensive, and when my dad pays my ticket I feel a slight indignity is being done to him. Slight.

2. Get rid of the stupid booths. Do you need a rhinestone pantsuit? Perhaps a crappy oil painting of a sheep dog? Or maybe you want the newest booklet on a Ford truck? No? Then maybe some figurines? No? Ok, some coupons? No? Just take the coupon. Seriously, it's good for a year. I DON'T WANT YOUR DAMN COUPONS I JUST WANT TO SEE A FREAKING HORSE.

3. Ban strollers, except if there's a child in it. And if you have a kid put them in the damn stroller. That's why you have a stroller. To confine your kid. Not walk slowly in front of me. That makes me want to punch you in the back of the head.

4. Maps. Could you make those available? Please. It was ridiculous.

5. Stop selling food by the piles of cow dung. The only thing that was more disgusting than that is the thought of eating fast food next to a pile of crap. Although I did chuckle when I saw the little girl petting the pig with one hand and eating the hotdog with the other. Hahahaha.

6. Move to damn butter sculptures to an easier location to find and put up signs. You people know that one of the only reasons I go. So I can see a dairy creation. When we asked 'Information' where there were they said we were '...like the 19th customer to ask'. Well, if there are so many people who don't know where it is...MAYBE THAT'S A CLUE, DUMB ASS.

All in all lots of fun.

Yea Royal!

What's My Name?

Meet the newest addition to the Foubister family.

It's a girl!

And she has no name.

Any suggestions?

I think Che is a good one, but Tracy doesn't like it.

18 DAYS TO GO!

When I was a kid, my mom gave me a code word.

She would say, "If someone tells you that mommy and daddy are in trouble, and they ask you to come with them, if they don't have the code you do not go with them! No code, no go!" And she would make up a little song, "No code, no go! No coooooode no go-o-o-o-o!"

Did any of you have a code word? (someone in the audience raises their hand) You really did? What was your code? (audience member says, "Apple Bottom") Apple bottom?

God forbid something should happen to your parents! Some guy would come up to you and say, "I'm sorry, you have to come with me. Your parents are dead. APPLE BOTTOM. I AM A GOOD MAN." My mom wasn't as smart her's was "Hey kid want some candy?"

Count down: 19 DAYS

EXCITING!!!

Friday, November 2nd, 2007.

7 PM.

The Air Canada Centre.

Section 107, Row 23, Seats 5 & 6.

Annie.

Me.

DANE COOK.

Pyramid of Hate

Something to think about...

:-)

I Would Have Killed This Baking Competition

At the Brigden Fair they have all sorts of baking competitions.

Including the carrot cake competition.

Look at this crap, though.

They judged the carrot cakes by taking a teeny tiny sliver.

Gah!

What's going on, people?

You can't try carrot cake with a tiny notch.

Whatev.

Grandma's would've kicked ass.

I'm Melting

Well, I usually don't like talking about my elders behind their backs, but today it seems that the man is giving me no choice.

Now that you know it's a man, people would assume that it's one of two people.

My father or Andrew Johnson. They generally are the two guys who drive me crazy most of the time.

They are bugging me, but for separate reasons (Dad for being irritating last night with the damn wooden wind chime, and Andrew for disregarding the sanctity of Turkey weekend).

But that's not my main annoyance.

No, no. That goes to the patriarch of the Rodgers, Tim Rodger.

The man is trying to smoke me out of his bungalow.

It started yesterday with my grandmother's wise, wise decision not to roast the turkey in the house seeing as how we are experiencing global warming at it's best with record temperatures.

So hot.

But temperatures inside rival those outside. Now my grandparents do have air conditioning. It's installed and it does work. I sensed my grandfather's resistance immediately when I politely suggested that he may think about turning the air up a touch seeing as we were about to be 11 in the house.

He didn't change it.

After several attempts to convince him that 75 degrees is unacceptable I found that I was losing. Badly.

Even my grandma was on my side, but the stubborn man refused to touch the thermostat.

And living with my father has only taught me that touching the thermostat is like committing murder.

In short, last night was hell.

Worst sleep ever.

Then I find out this morning that my grandfather closed the vent in the guest room I was staying in.

CLOSED THE VENT.

GAH!

He's lucky I love him, or else we'd have a really big problem.

Juno (Possibly the next Little Miss Sunshine?)

Well, I stumbled across this movie trailer and feel compelled to share it.

It's the story of a young girl who finds herself pregnant.

And the father?

Michael "Arrested Development/Superbad" Cera.

Sooo freaking hilarious.

Besides, Juno is played by the young woman who was in the last X-Men movies, whom I believe my sister, Maggie has a connection to.

Even more reason to check it out December 14th.

I'll even overlook that Jennifer "crappy films" Garner is in it.

Another Way To Explain It...

Ok,

So I don't think that the 12 reasons I posted about MMP grabbed everyone's attention...so check out this fun video explaining why ALL OF YOU SHOULD VOTE YES FOR MIXED MEMBER PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.