Would you be If I told you I’m enjoying spending most of the day flat on my back with my leg up? If so, you would believe a lie. I got so bored yesterday that I got up and cleaned up hundreds of excess tags. Administrators and Authors, please add new tags if and only if you intend to use them over and over again. Use existing tags whenever possible. Thanks. At least today is a holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, and my Broncos service with the Steelers will be televised here. Hugs to all!
It has been a quiet day fortunately. A hair cut and nap and reading. The weather was very wet this afternoon and will likely continue that way tomorrow. I won't even go near a mall . . . total insanity!
Puzzle — Today’s took me 3:29 (average 5:48). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes
Huffington Post — Canada’s refugee policy is world class, and the big secret behind its success is its private sponsorship program, according to a former Toronto mayor.
“I think at the end of the day the absolute brilliance of the Canadian refugee program is that it relies on private groups to support the refugees and integrate them into Canadian society,” John Sewell, who helped resettle tens of thousands of people in the city decades ago, told The Huffington Post Canada in an interview.
“No other country has this kind of program,” he said. “It’s absolutely brilliant.”
In the late 1970s, the federal government began to feel pressure to increase its intake of Indochinese refugees uprooted by the Vietnam War.
It was around this time, in 1978, when Canada’s private sponsorships program launched. Since then, citizen groups have fundraised millions to support refugee families both financially and emotionally for upwards to a year.
The program has helped resettle over 200,000 refugees across the country.
I was involved in my church's sponsorship committee in the late '70s when we supported a Vietnamese family. It was a lot of work but so worthwhile. My ESL student is a refugee from South Sudan via Uganda and I know I am making a difference. People helping people is what life should be about. Here is a Care2 petition urging the US Congress to legalise private sponsorship which I hope you'll sign. Just click on the link and it will open a new page with the petition.
Alternet — Can you imagine him? Here is, in other words, a dark-skinned, bearded, unkempt Middle Eastern Jew, acting all kinds of suspicious, ranting on street corners and hanging around with prostitutes and fanatics, rejecting money, violence and the ruling class, seen by Muslims as the divine precursor to their prophet as he lures the innocent and the seditious into his lawless cult of pacifism and peace.
Jesus in America, today? Almost certainly to be shunned, feared, derided. Depending where he wandered, also likely harassed, spit upon, even beaten – that is, if he was allowed into the country at all.
Looks quite like a Muslim, you see. Might be an ISIS sympathizer. Definitely radicalized. Got a Facebook feed full of strange proclamations, rapturous interventions, cryptic references to how you’re to seek the divine within, silly. Who knows what he might be up to?
Do you doubt it? Of course you can’t. I mean, just look at him.
Many years ago, I was introduced to liberation theology which Wikipedia describes as
…"an interpretation of Christian faith out of the experience of the poor…an attempt to read the Bible and key Christian doctrines with the eyes of the poor",[1] or "the message of the gospels", restored from "the first three centuries [of Christianity in which] it was … a pacifist … religion of the poor".[2] Detractors have called it Christianized Marxism.[3]
We don't hear the term liberation theology very often any more but nonetheless, I certainly see Jesus in that light, not as the right wing evangelical supply-side Jesus, the complete antithesis of the authentic Jesus. The author concludes:
But the sad truth is, the real, dark-skinned, pacifist prophet, the hippie mystic Jesus of yore, preaching peace, loving thy enemy, inner divine wisdom? He wouldn’t come anywhere near America today.
Too many guns, you see. He wouldn’t have a prayer.
I am not proselytising, but rather trying to demonstrate the difference between the authentic Jesus and the right wing evangelical supply-side Jesus that is seen in Republican politics.
Mother Jones — "The end of JONAH signals that conversion therapy, however packaged, is fraudulent—plain and simple," David Dinielli, deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, said in a statement. The center filed the lawsuit on behalf of the plaintiffs. …
In a pretrial decision in February, Judge Bariso wrote, "The theory that homosexuality is a disorder is not novel—but like the notion that the earth is flat and the sun revolves around it—instead is outdated and refuted."
How long will it take to ban all conversion therapy? Being gay or lesbian or transgendered is not a learned behaviour or chosen lifestyle. Who in their right mind would choose to be discriminated against, denied opportunities etc? Good judgement!
My Universe —
A couple of years ago, Dandelion on Care2 shared this humourous video with me and I have been singing it ever since.
Because my stump is swollen, I’m under orders to keep a shrink wrap on it and spend as much time as I can in bed with my stump elevated as I can, until my doctor returns on Thursday, or the swelling abates. So I’ll be mostly offline for a few days. On Monday I do have to get my power chair measured, so I can go to the doctor Thursday. Hugs to all, and thank you for your patience.
Well it rained today but not as hard as it has been raining. We are promised a snow/rain mix on Monday and very probable snow for Christmas day. We'll see! I was able to get to the doctor's today and thankfully I do not have pneumonia, but I do have a respiratory infection so it is anti biotics for 5 days.
Puzzle — Today’s took me 2:57 (average 5:08). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes
Alternet—But as it turns out, the music-less music television station is working to educate their audience on the racist origins of some commonly used phrases.
It is interesting to note where expressions come from and how their meaning changes. I remember a rhyme for childhood — Eenie, meenie, miney, mo — in which the second line was "catch a n…r by the toe". I had no idea what a n…r was but when I found out, that rhyme was never spoken again.
Huffington Post — The United States holds a presidential election — and many of its citizens claim they will move to Canada if one of the contenders is elected.
This year, with the advent of people like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz on the right (and Democrats Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton on the left), these mutterings have become increasingly louder.
As one who travels frequently across the border, both for business and personal reasons, one can get the impression that entire Blue (Democratic) states will be depopulated the moment President Trump puts his hand on the inaugural bible. And a President Sanders, if you believe the cocktail-fueled rhetoric at certain conservative functions, would have a similar effect on Red (Republican) states.
When Democrats take the White House and the senate in 2016, red state populations best not think about coming north. No Republicans or Teabaggers allowed. We like our democratic socialism, warts and all. But seriously, any time I mention Trump in discussions, there are loud sighs! Dump Trump!!!
CBC — Canada's welcoming reception of the first planeloads of Syrian refugees has prompted an overwhelmingly positive response in the Arab media, with one Jordanian news site going so far as to call Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "Superman" for his acceptance of refugees.
Online interest in Canada has seen a huge upswing among Arabic speakers in recent weeks. The number of people searching for the word "Canada" in Arabic doubled in the past month, according to Google Trends. The primary source countries of the queries were Jordan and Lebanon, but internet users in Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Libya also generated some of the searches.
CBC News found tens of thousands of Arabic searches within the past week (Dec.8-15) for "Canada + Syrian refugees."
With the current refugee crisis and Canada's actions so far under Justin Trudeau, I feel like my Canada is coming back to its values, the ones that made me proud to be a Canadian. And it feels good.
The trains are fast approaching the end of their journeys, which will conclude in Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, B.C. on Dec. 19.
A sunset sky over the Elk River Valley as we steamed toward Fernie, BC.
The trains will finish their journeys in Port Moody about 5 blocks from my house. There is always a celebration in the older part of town by the trackside.
Today is a mess. My stump swelled, and I can't wear George. That means I’m mostly helpless, and have to set up the new chair. This may take a couple days, Hugs!
Yesterday, I had pictures of bright sunny skies and snowcapped mountains from around my house. Today there was only a shroud of fog and gloom. While I was enjoying a lunch with some lady friends, I looked up and it was snowing. Later, the snow turned to rain. Tonight, we are likely to get freezing rain again and perhaps some snow. When I came home, it was time for a cat nap. Lona, I certainly enjoy your cat naps!
Puzzle — Today’s took me 3:02 (average 5:05). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes
The Nation— “There is stunning potential here,” said Gen. David Petraeus, then the head of US Central Command, speaking to The New York Times. US officials said that the deposits could sustain the Afghan economy and generate thousands of jobs, reducing corruption and reliance on foreign aid. Currently, with 60 percent of the country’s budget provided by foreign donors, outside investment is crucial. Acknowledging the inability of the Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum to handle a burgeoning resource industry, the US government pledged to help implement accountability mechanisms. However, regulations like the mining law—revised in 2014 to bring greater transparency—have had little effect on illegal mining and the non-payment of royalties.
The warning signs were there. “This is a country that has no mining culture,” Jack Medlin, a geologist in the US Geological Survey’s international-affairs program, told the Times. During my visit to Afghanistan in May, I often heard from locals that the resource industry was never going to provide enough money to support the economy once foreign aid dried up. Afghan mining expert Javed Noorani told The Nation that President Ashraf Ghani is “more constrained in his actions against the criminal networks operating in the mining sector than President [Hamid] Karzai was. Today there is open plunder of gemstones by the partners in his government …
Sitting atop a vast store of minerals and gemstones, Afghanistan is unable, and perhaps unwilling, to effectively manage its resources. When foreign aid comes to a halt and there is insufficient to support the country, what will happen to Afghanistan? Will it descend into civil war, with countries like China coming in to pick up the pieces?
Daily Beast— A small European nation has stepped up where the Republican establishment, Beltway pundits and more than a dozen presidential candidates have failed.
Last week Scotland’s leader, Nicola Sturgeon, stripped Trump of his long-held ambassadorial role for the country of his ancestors. Today, her predecessor publicly denounced him as a “loser.”
Trump is a perfect example of how not to win friends and influence enemies! Go Scotland!
Politicususa — It was bound to happen sooner rather than later, but although everyone knew it was coming it was still a little disconcerting to hear an official Nazi call for idol worship and victory at a political rally for the Republican frontrunner for the party’s presidential nomination. Even though the candidate is running a campaign founded on hate, fear, and anger that America is not an Aryan Christian nation, or a fascist dictatorship, it is now clear that Donald Trump’s supporters know his plan for America mirrors Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler’s rule; and they are wild for its implementation. …
It is disgusting that all of this racial animus and fond memories of Adolf Hitler and Nazi’s Aryan dream cannot be laid solely at the feet of Donald Trump. He owns the recent incitement to violence against people of color and the wrong religion, and the blatant embrace of Hitler’s Nazi tactics, but it is years of Republican indoctrination and hate-mongering about Hispanics, African Americans, and now Muslims destroying “white” America at the heart of the violence.
"…Donald Trump’s supporters know his plan for America mirrors Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler’s rule; and they are wild for its implementation." Do they not know that Hitler lost his war? Seventy-three years ago, a matter of 3 or 4 generations, Americans were engaged in a war to defeat Hitler and fascism. To use a paraphrase of George Santayana, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
My Universe —
My oldest boy, Primo, who thinks he is lord of the manor.
My youngest boy by 4 minutes only, Winnie, who I also call "my son, the doctor"!
My little girl, Annie, who is 4.5 months younger than the boys.
Things are a little crazy around here, because my power chair is scheduled to arrive today. Because I arranged my schedule for it to come a week from now, I’m going to have to do some appointment juggling.
During the course, Rushing was using a training gun, a rubber fake with no firing mechanism, said Heather Graves, Modesto Police Department spokeswoman. But as the class was ending, she said, he removed that prop from his holster and replaced it with his real handgun.
About that time, Graves said, a student asked Rushing to demonstrate what to do if attacked by someone armed with a knife. Smith volunteered to portray the attacker in a role-playing exercise.
“During the scenario, the instructor drew the firearm and it accidentally discharged,” she said. She did not know whether Rushing forgot he replaced the training gun or whether he knew he was drawing the real gun.
Oh those Republican Ammosexuals! If republicans were serious about addressing mental health issues, they’d disarm themselves.
From Upworthy: An amazing new trove of fossil fuel industry documents was released in summer 2015.
Check out this Russia Today segment, featuring Aaron Huertas from the Union of Concerned Scientists. It’s surprisingly zinger-filled for a discussion of corporate memos.
Pro tip: Listen for this phrase “cannot be denied." The part about employees leaking some of these documents starts at 1:48.
That’s 34 years of lies and destruction of our planet. Take them down, make them pay, and lock them up!!
From Alternet: I know, I know. You probably haven’t tuned in to MTV recently—unless you’re a big fan of teenage reality shows. But as it turns out, the music-less music television station is working to educate their audience on the racist origins of some commonly used phrases.
We’d better not let Republicans find out about these. They’ll use them more.
After physio, I indulged in a drive about the area to take in some of the beauty that is too often wrapped in cloud and fog. A few pictures are below. I have a luncheon date tomorrow and after that a visit to the chiropractor to help the lungs to deal with this damn cold. If it is not one thing, it is another.
Puzzle — Today’s took me 2:53 (average 4:48). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes
Alternet — … they are doing what they can, right now, to transition away from fossil fuels and work toward an environmentally sustainable future.
We know that climate change and global warming are not hoaxes as many conservatives would have people believe. As cities and countries transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, we need to learn from each other and celebrate successes.
Politico — The field feels narrower all the time, with only Trump, Rubio and Cruz driving the race’s conversation. Chris Christie was at his best in Vegas, capping off a great month. But it wasn’t enough to siphon attention away from his better-polling rivals. And Jeb Bush had a moment, but not a lasting one.
I did not watch last night's Republican debate, but from what I have read in multiple articles, the winner was the Democrats while the clear loser was the American people. Certainly the latter sounds "as usual".
The Nation — The bottom line from the Kentuckian: “As commander-in-chief, I will do whatever it takes to defend America. But in defending America, we cannot lose what America stands for. Today is the Bill of Rights’ anniversary. I hope we will remember that and cherish that in the fight on terrorism.” …
When it comes to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the basic liberties that define America, the truth is still as Benjamin Franklin described it: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
For being a party that rails against Obama for not respecting the Constitution, there sure are a number of Republican candidates that would change its very life blood. Are they taking their cue from Baby Bush, Cheney and their neocon cabal?
My Universe —
You have heard me talk about the rain, and more rain . . . well this is what today looked like here — sunshine, clear skies, crisp temperatures . . . did I mention the sunshine? It rained last night which turned into freezing rain, but snow on the mountains. Tomorrow is scheduled for more rain and wind.
Fountain in Lafarge Lake
Local mountains that I view daily
Local mountains from the main road.
Coquitlam River running high and fast as it descends from the mountains.
