Super Best Friends (the Axis of Stupidity)

I got this cool new program that adds and edits subtext to abstracts of newspaper articles dealing with high profile political issues…check it out.

On Iraq

Bush: The decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power was controversial (and illegal). We did not find the weapons of mass destruction that we all believed were There (the ones that we sold them back in the 1980’s). , and that's raised questions about whether the sacrifice in Iraq has been worth it. Despite setbacks and missteps, I strongly believe we did, and are doing the right thing. Saddam Hussein was a menace to his people; he was a state sponsor of terror; he invaded his neighbors.


Blair: As everyone knows, ….(I have no opinion of my own because I am a puppet on a string).

On the UN

Blair: I think what we need to do is to recognize that there are threats in our world today that require us to act earlier and more effectively. And I think we can debate the institutional structure within which that should happen in the United Nations and elsewhere, but I also think that when we look at this global terrorism that we face, there is - to me, at any rate - a very clear link between the terrorism that is afflicting virtually every country in the western world, either in actuality or potentially, the terrorism that is happening all over different countries
of the Middle East and in Asia and elsewhere, and the terrorism that is there in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's such a huge sacrifice that is being made. Can it be worth it? And I think the answer to that is, it is worth it to those engaged in this violence and terrorism to try to stop us, and we should have the same faith and confidence in our determination to succeed as they have in their determination to make us fail. (This quote needs no alteration, as it is awkward and non-sensical enough on its own)

Bush: I'd like to see a United Nations that's effective, one that joins us in trying to rid the world of tyranny (except our tyranny), one that is willing to advance human rights and human dignity at its core (the way we do when we imprison suspected terrorists without charge or trial, and when we illegally tap peoples phones), one that's an unabashed organization - is unabashed in their desire to spread freedom. That's what I'd like to see, because I believe that freedom will yield to peace. I also believe freedom is universal. I don't believe freedom is just a concept only for America or Great Britain. (and I will bomb the crap out of any country that disagrees) It's a universal concept. And it troubles me to know that there are people locked in tyrannical societies that suffer (except our own, this thought comforts me). And the United Nations ought to be clear about its desire to liberate people from the clutches of tyranny (and not be so concerned about feeding people and stopping genocides). That's what the United Nations ought to be doing, as far as I'm concerned (and that’s what I’m going to tell them to do, or I’ll bomb the crap out of them...I will rain down a mighty flood of friendly fire on those UN terrorist supporting, peace keeping, liberal minded, Canadian types).


On Iran

Bush: We spent a great deal of time talking about the Iranian issue, and one of the goals that Tony and I had was to convince others in the world that Iran, with a nuclear weapon, would be very dangerous, and, therefore, we do have a common goal. And the fundamental question is, how do you achieve that goal, obviously. We want to do it diplomatically (as long as our demands are met and America makes no concessions). To answer your questions, of course, we'll look at all options, but it's their choice right now. They're the folks who walked away from the table. They're the ones who said that, your demands don't mean anything to us (imagine the gall of a country, walking away from, or going against the will of an international body in pursuit of a policy that they feel is the morally correct one in the face of a perceived threat from a heavily armed country with an opposing moral ideology…such a blatant exercise of the desire for freedom sickens me).

Blair: Now, we were just talking about Iran a moment ago. I mean, we want to have this resolved through the process of the multilateral institutions. There's a way we can do this. I mean, after all, we are the ones saying the Atomic Energy Authority, their duties and obligations they lay upon Iran should be adhered to. And we've got absolutely no quarrel with the Iranian people. The Iranian people are a great people; Iran is a great country. But it needs agovernment that is going to recognize that part of being a great country is to be in line with yourinternational obligations, and to (do exactly what George W says…just like I do) cease supporting those people in different parts of the world who want, by terrorism and violence, to disrupt the process of democracy.

Day Hikes are Dangerous Affairs from My Experience

After a busy running around day yesterday, (a funeral for Kira, and a trip to Home Depot for flooring, visting a four year old to drop off a birthday gift, etc), we decided to go out into nature to have a relaxing day. We decided to check out the Clayqout trail that starts at the Kennedy River and loops around some lakes. A peaceful enough suggestion, but given Kira's history with walking in the woods it was bound to be a disaster...and we weren't disapointed.
The first thing I should point out is that an 1986 Toyota Tercel hatchback is not really a rugged four wheel drive vehicle...so accessing the trailhead was a bit tricky, and walking trough an aldered in roadfor 45 minutes was a little reminiscant of work for the both of us, but eventually we made it to the trail, and started off on what used to be a boardwalk in the late 1980's/ early 1990's...back when people were still taking tothese woods in protest (and for the record, they won).
Time has not been kind to the makeshift boardwalk trail, but we plodded along for a little while, to Spire Lake, a lake recently created by a massive rockslide into the upper Kennedy River.
The spires of this lake are of course, the remaing snags from when the river valley flooded, not great for boating, but pretty enough to gaze at.
After the viewpoint, the boardwalk became more off camber, and a great deal slicker. Footing not secure in any fashion, it was easier to walk beside the boardwalk than on it. Now would be a good time to remind me dear readers of Kira's history with hiking injuries..there have been countless. Last year it was a sprained ankle on a trip to Brigade Lake...come to think of it, its usually ankle damage, our first real camping trip together she sprained her ankle...it's almost a tradition.
But today we broke ranks with the tradition of ankleinjuries...today we aimed a little higher...to the knee to be precise. walking ahead I heard the inevitable cry of pain and anguish, and turned to find Kira on the ground (boardwalk actually) howling in agony. She had some blood on her leg, but from a distance it didn't look to bad. Closer up it was the most frightening thing I've ever scene (slasher movie type gore here folks) but not life threating. She had slipped and fallen on her knee, which got dragged across the exposed head of a nail, which subsequently tore a 3/4 inch wide gash across her leg. It was deep enough to expose what a persons leg looks like under the skin...judging from what I saw, it may not be whats inside that counts. I actually found a hunk of subcutaneous flesh on the head of the nail. Kira...tropper that she is...resited the urge to pass out, and we patched her up with my shirt and some snow, and turned back towards the car.
We trooped out, discussing wether or not we would take her to the hospital. We actually decided not to bother, but when we got home, neither one of had a stomach strong enough to clean this gapping wound, so she went to emergency and came back with 15 sitches and a tetenous shot. The doctor said that if she hadn't gone in, it never would have healed. Oh, and for the record...thats going to leave a mark. Ouch!!!

No one ever told me that blogging would be a chore...honestly I haven't posted in a week and I feel like a neglectful parent or something. Anyway...my content may be weak this week, but at least I'm posting...the albatross is temporarily staved off. File this entry under random musings, and remember this is my seventh straight day of work in what promises to be an eleven day work week.

I took these photos last night as I was walking the dog…she needed to pee and all the good TV shows have been pre-empted by the hockey playoffs. So with a couple of cervezas in my belly and my trusty friend on the leash we ventured forth from the motel. This is what we saw.

ITEM 1

I realize that many people are keen on the weeping or cascading forms of the maple species (I even have a few myself) but this one honestly reminds me of "The Trash Heap" from Fraggle Rock...Well let the music play, work is for an other day...the trash heap has spoken and it recommends some landscaping classes.

ITEM 2

This is the culmination point of the walk. I'm staying at a place called the Seaside Villa, but I actually can't see the sea...so I really wanted to get down to the beach. Nothing too remarkable about this little breakwater marina, except that when I arrived I couldn't help shaking the most profound sense of deja veux.... This little mystery was cleared up by Item 3, which (and do remember my living situation, is a mural found on my bedroom/living room wall.

ITEM 3

I think everyone should find a landscape hanging on a wall, and journey forth to discover it...its oddly satisfying

A Perfectly Normal Weekend

Yep...a perfectly normal weekend. Back at home for a change...tackled some of the yard, and bought ourselves a new barbeque. Kira had the distinguished privilege of assembling the some assembly required. Apparently the drawers of schematic diagrams and writers of instruction manuals get paid bonuses to create misleading diagrams and non-sensical instructions. Some assembly means two hours of frustration and outbursts of foul language...minimum.
By some strange coincidence, when we visited our friends at their house, they had also just bought this same gas grill...same problems with assembly...so it's not just us.

We also tracked down some rings to use as wedding rings...strangely not by going to a jewellery store, but by stopping at a coffee shop. It was a last ditch effort at finding a wedding ring, but sometimes you have to be creative. The coffee, according to Kira, was also good. Actually, we did go to a bonafide jeweller, but their selection of boring and expensive bands of yellow metal didn't strike a chord (apparently the price of gold has shot through the roof in the last few months). So we took the road less travelled and headed over to the curiously named BatStar coffee shop and art gallery across the park from our house. They had some native carvings on the wall, but no jewellery on display. But we mentioned that we were looking for carved silver, and the lady behind the till said “like this you mean?” flashing a beautifully carved silver ring. So we ended up ordering a couple of custom carved silver rings at prices far lower than boring old gold bands. Not a bad twist of fate.

I also managed to get some work in on the yard. I put some edging around my new garden. Originally I was going to build a low wall around the thing…I of course got all the supplies to build said wall before realizing that building such a wall would obliterate any level viewing of my pond. So I have a pretty good surplus of concrete bricks. I’m sure I’ll find some use for them, maybe a random wall somewhere, dive the yard like cold war Germany or present day Israel. Or maybe I could chuck them through peoples windows with cryptic messages tied to them. For now, they are yet another pile of stuff, in amongst the growing numbers of piles of stuff that dot my yard. I may have to invest in a commercial property or vacant lot to store this stuff at some point.

So, all in all, a good old fashioned weekend….probably the last for the next little while as I’m back in motel land this Tuesday.

Operation What the What???

Was anyone else listening to the news this morning? My foggy morning brain recalls a story about the US military scrambling planes out of the Comox air force base and Victoria International, to shoot down drone planes with live ballistic missiles...It had one of those catchy Operation such and such names, although I forget exactly what, and any information on this operation seems to be suppressed on the internet. CBC radio reported the story, but no results on their website….or anywhere else. Other than the implications of an obvious media cover up or at least a "hush" my noe burning questio is: Why is it necessary ( and I do mean everytime) that the US tests its missles in (or in this case off the coast of and from) Canada? The USA is a big country with lots of wide open spaces. Have you ever driven through the mid-west? It might even spice those poor whitebread eating, Camel smoking, Budweiser drinking folks' lives up a bit. Honey...I think terrorists are after the laying hens again!!!
The day before yesterday I learned that the Canadian minister of defence made a deal with the US to extend NORAD on a permanent basis, instead of reviewing Canada's commitment to the pact every five years. The issue is to be debated in parliament, but the deal is already cut (and apparently binding). Experts assure no loss of sovereignty. This is a shinning example of US plans to slowly integrate the Canadian armed forces into a unified US lead coalition, meaning that Canadian troops would ultimately be lead by US policies. So no shortage of work for Canadian soldiers, eh?
And what about making all illegal immigrants criminals? Would you rather be known as a criminal or as an alien? For the record, there are more illegal Mexican "aliens" in the US than there are Canadians in Canada. Now there's a group we should unite with. Canadians may not speak Spanish, but we've all had NAFTA rammed up us. A point of solidarity… Que No?
On the bright side experts tell us that in a few short months we will be able to buy a 99 cent Whopper in any US Burger King for a single Canadian dollar. Happy times are here again.

PS: sorry for the profane nature of the cover photo: substitute "Buggered" or "Hooped" if you have little ones around.

PPS: the name of the game is operation "Trident Fury"...sounds like a new type of power gum.

PPS: I suspect that there are mutherF@#$%&^ snakes on those drone planes.