How does this make any sense?

What is the best way to help heroin-addicts on the streets of downtown Vancouver?

Why, give them more heroin, of course!

This is exactly what some of Canada's top addiction experts want to find out when they begin the first heroin prescription trial in North America.

If heroin addicts are freed of their daily chase for drugs, if it is given to them three times a day like medicine, can they change their lives for the better?

Doubtful, according to some:

"How meaningful will it be to compare the group of 88 elated subjects that win the heroin lottery to the group of 70 who were also desperately trying to get the free heroin, but lost the luck of the draw?" asked Dr. deVlaming, who has treated addicts in the Downtown Eastside for more than a dozen years.

For their next trick, Canadian researchers will seek to end child pornography by allowing Vitaly Levshin a chance to peddle his wares in Montreal, while a Levshin stunt double will sell fake kiddie porn in Toronto. It is hoped that by allowing pedophiles to watch the illegal and disgusting acts in a safe, secure manner, it will prevent other negatives associated with the industry.

(Stanley Cup ring to Neale News)

Live From...

Live from Seoul, it's RED ENSIGN STANDARD!

This post written in Abbotsford BC... a home on Balsam Crescent to be exact.

Destiny

Freedom at long last.

Casting his vote, interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi called it "the first time the Iraqis will determine their destiny."
**********************

Concern over violence was rife as voters entered polling stations under loops of razor wire and the watchful eye of rooftop sharpshooters. About 300,000 Iraqi and American troops were on the streets and on standby to protect voters

When an unexplained boom sounded near one Baghdad voting station, some women put their hands to their mouths and whispered prayers. Others continued walking calmly to the voting stations. Several shouted in unison: "We have no fear."

"Am I scared? Of course I'm not scared. This is my country," said 50-year-old Fathiya Mohammed, wearing a head-to-toe abaya cloak.

Warning: Light Blogging Alert

I'm headed out of town for a week or so on... erhm... personal business :-) I'm not sure if I'll get to post much for the next week or so because of it, but I will try. I've blogged from Smithers, Abbotsford, and even Gnadenthal, Manitoba. So hopefully there will be a few other "Live From..." posts this week, but no guarantees.

If not, I hope you all have a good week, and don't forget to check out the latest edition of the Red Ensign Standard, which should be published over the weekend at Nathan's blog. Thank you in advance, Nate-Dawg!

Oh, before I forget. My sitemeter is nearing 5000. Yippee! Skip! A big thanks to the Asylum, and Julie, who supported my blog even when it wasn't so Chaotic on the West Coast.

To Lucky Number 5000: if you take a screen cap, and email it to me, I can make it worth your while.

Better and Better

From Chase:

If world peace is merely the world status quo, then we're sure as hell endangering it. If world peace is sitting idly by while threats against our nation and all free people grow, then we're going to blow world peace out of the water. If world peace means blindly avoiding the duty to which we are called, the freedom of individual man from tyranny, then world peace is a mortal enemy. So long as freedom is not present in every corner of this globe, in every palace and hut, and in every man's interaction in his fellows, so long as a state can forsake peace and declare the warfare on the individual called tyranny, then there is hardly any true, tangible, and actual "world peace" that can be threatened. I don't know of any peace except that that can be reached in liberty, and any "peace" through means other than freedom is a thing that I seek to endanger.

Uhhhhhh, hmmmmmm, errrr.... yep. I'd say so. (Ed. note: emphasis mine)

Pure Genius

Brand New Blog Template, same Beautiful Atrocities.

Too funny.

Shining Plate indeed

If you aren't reading Sir Banagor, you really ought to be.

He really is that darned good.

Never Forget

Am Yisrael Chai! 


Mal'achim bochim...
May we never forget.

Right Thinking, Wrong Coast

The Coastal Companion weighs in on the upcoming election in Iraq, and asks a very important question regarding the UN's callous disregard for all things democratic:

Again, all that the UN has proven here is how absolutely useless they are in achieving a basic mission that they claim to be experts at. This election has been scheduled for over six months and the UN can’t recruit and train enough indigenous personnel to accomplish what they claim is a vital mission.

Other than bitching and complaining and fund raising, what the heck can the UN actually be counted on to accomplish?

*Temujin Shrugs* Anyone else got any ideas?

Iraqi Election encouragement

Chase has dedicated a poem to the terrorists in Iraq (you know, the ones from Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon who would prefer that Iraq remains a bastion for tyranny, rather than for freedom).

Warning: Extreme Bad Language Alert.

The Crux of the Issue.

Bettman the Ass.  

If there is no NHL season this year, and it seems increasingly unlikely that there will not be, I place 100% of the blame on Gary Bettman. The reason the NHL is in need of "cost certainty" is because he has done nothing to curb the idiotic spending habits of owners over the past decade. He is attempting to legislate a salary cap, because without one, the owners will be unable to restrain themselves from doling out big bucks to half-assed players (I'm looking at you, Bobby Holik and Martin Lapointe). Every hockey fan in North America could see this was coming down the pike, and yet Gary chose to do nothing. He is to blame for the lack of NHL hockey being played right now. The owners have made their own bed. A bed of over-inflated salaries, seemingly lack-lustre marketing and sales, and fan disenfranchisement (and I cannot believe I just used that word...). Now they are sleeping in it. They should be blaming Gary for tucking them in all these years.

I hate you, Gary Bettman. You are an ass.

*Ed note: I reserve the right to change or alter this post pending the outcome of what seems to be the final round of season-saving talks this week. Who knows, the league may prove me wrong.

Hello? Helllllloooooo?

I've been having some trouble posting a picture with Hello. Every other time Ive used it, it has been super easy, but now I'm having difficulties.


Curse you, Bloggerbot!!!!!

It really is worth it though... so funny.

Thought of the night

A string has two ends, but no beginning.

Meditate on this, and be well.

More members, more hazing...

Welcome to the Brigade, Chris!

You took to the words right outta my mouth:

The past can never be recreated, for the time moves ever forwards. However, gazing into history one can see its lessons and use it as a guideline to the future. Canada was once unsullied by Liberal social engineering. The ensign seems to harken back to nobler times or at least times when mouths occasionally left the government teat, and before special interest groups had declared dominion over the country. A time when Canada was more like..Canada and less like Sweden.

Yes, sir.

First round is on you. And the second. And probably the third.

Did anyone else get this?

Update 3:10pm Saturday January 22- My initial concerns about this email have been alleviated. He responded to my rather narsty reply, and didn't seem too offended, so that's good. In his respone, he better explained his desire and vision for his blog. I satisfied.
Regretfully, I'm not able to lend him any assistance at this time. Heck, I can barely keep this thing updated! But he did take the time to email back, and even said this:

"I only sent this to about 10 people and I visited many many other
blogs to find those 10 that seemed like their time and effort as well
as content were even worth approaching."

As anyone who knows me can tell you, I love have the ol' ego stroked. so here's to you, creator of Leave a Mark, eh? You may take your rightful place on the blogroll, right between IMAO and NPI.


I received the following email today, and was wondering if anyone else had gotten it?
My reply is bold and blockquoted, the original email is not.

From: Name Witheld XXXXXXX@gmail.com

Reply-To: BLANK
Subject: Canadian bloggers: Leave a mark
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 23:39:50 -0600

>Hey there,


>I've been surfing around for good Canadian blogs and you are one of the contributers to a blog >that looks solid and entertaining.

I bet you say that to every blogger you email.

>The reason I'm writing you is that I have started a site at http://www.leaveamark.net which >links to odd, interesting, funny, whatever stories from all over the web, but I'm hoping to build >a slight Canadian slant to it as well.

A noble venture indeed!

>Seeing as your blog is either about Canada or your life in Canada, who better to contribute fitting stories.

Well, I could think of many who would be "better" at it than I. On the other hand, my blog has been called "nirvana" by some, and "the best" by others, so perhaps I am the most qualified candidate for the job.

My blog is about much more than "Canada or your life in Canada". But thanks for trying.

>These links can be to basically anything, but my goal is to have at least a handful of good >Canadian content links per day. Right now I'm adding most of the links myself as you'll see (I >use "heavy" on the site), but I really need to find some other people who are active on the >web and can contribute to the site, or if nothing else, at least let others know about it.

Is it your intention to create an Instapundit.com style blog? Will your blog be primarily a linking one, or will there be room for commentary and feedback? At this point it seems as though the focus of your blog is to be a one-stop linkfest. As you know, there are no shortage of those types of blogs out there. Do you forsee the "slight Canadian slant" as your novelty that drives traffic to your site? I might suggest that you don't hold your breath on that one!

As you know (if you read anything beyond the title of my blog), I'm quite vocal about my political beliefs. I noticed that two of your posts have a distinct anti-George W. Bush theme. I would find it personally difficult to support anyone who would promote a notion as dysfuntional as boycotting Bush's inauguration by refusing to spend money on inauguration day. Not only do you promote such an idea, but you post it on your blog under the category of "news"(!!!).

Conversely, are you really willing to allow me a free voice on your blog to post links to stuff you disagree with? I would be careful with that, if I were you.

>If you send in a contribution I will post a link to your blog (please include your address in a reply >email so I can be sure to do that properly) in a blogroll in the menu. If you are interested, >check out the site, if not, ignore me and I apologize for the unsolicited email. :). Just a poor >webmaster trying to drum up some traffic.


>Name Withheld
XXXXXXX@gmail.com

Hey, no apologies necessary. You must be a decent Mennonite with a name like that. I understand :-) If you'd really like to drum up traffic, I recommend that you join The Truth Laid Bear's ecosystem. You can join here: http://www.truthlaidbear.com/ecosystem.php Also, you can try submitting a post to the New Blog Showcase: http://showcase.mu.nu/ However, they are going through some changes right now, so you may have to wait a bit for that one.

I wish you all the best with your new project. I know how frustrating it can be to discover after a hard day of blogging, a grand total of four people have visited your site! At this time, I am unable to contribute anything more than a hearty "good luck". Take care,

Temujin
www.drizwald.blogspot.com (West Coast Chaos)

Real Eyes Realize Real Lies

Did you think I was too snooty with him?

Martinus Maximus Stinkius

A number of bloggers out there have been tracking the whereabouts of Canada's Most Glorious Leader, Paul Martin. There is must to say on the subject, but I think it's pretty much all been said, and in fine fashion too, I might add.

The Monger weighs in, with his usual style and sophistication.

Paul at All Agitprop all the time, takes Paul Martin's phony concern, pretend leadership, and laughable pathetic attempt at compassion, and shoves it back down his Right Honourable Asphyncter.

And just because he can, Dana says it best:

Indeed. Our Prime Minister is a disgrace... what else can I say.

And for everyone's information, in case you have forgotten why so many of us the Liberal Party of Canada and its benevolent leader, Joel reminds us, with a little help from Kate.

So much quality blogging out there, so little time to read it all.

Funny Referral o' the Day

Tee hee, tee hee.

West Coast Beef

Update 7:08pm- What the heck? Geez, what was this guy looking for?

Ready for Fatherhood?

Lately I've noticed a distinct increase in personal posts on this blog. This is due in large part to the fact that I've been through the physical wringer and back. I promise, I'll get back my smarmy ways again soon, but for now you'll all just have to live with it.

The title of this post is "Ready for Fatherhood". For the longest time, I thought that being a father was incredibly hard work. Loss of sleep, endless diaper changes, erratic feeding times, crazy mood swings... and that's just the wife!
I'm in a bit of a unique position. Most of the people I consider to be friends are married. Many of them have young children. I've been able to observe they way these people deal with the various situations that arise in their lives.
It has been eight months since I returned to Smithers from Abbotsford. In that time I've been able to experience (either first, or second-hand) what my friends go through to make their relationships work. It really is quite fascinating... for me anyways, because I am completely oblivious to the kinds of things that they must go through. I can stay up until whatever hour I like. I can play video games, read books, post to my blog, or drive aimlessly around town until my gas guage is on empty. Not to mention, when I purchase a bag of cheetos, I can eat the whole darned thing by myself. I am not in the position where I need to take into account the feelings (or hunger pains) of my spouse, let alone a little one! It is freedom at it's finest.
But it does get a little on the dull side. Which is why I observe with such interest the lives of my married friends. The ones with kids have chosen to live in such a way as to raise their kids right. They want to provide an opportunity for their offspring to do well in life. As Ann Coulter puts it, it is that dreaded "upward spiral known as acheivement". Kudos to them for making such a sacrifice! But is such a tremendous sacrifice really necessary?

Today, for the first time, I was able to babysit my nephew. When my brother and his better half are in need of a sitter, it is usually my mom or the mother-in-law to the rescue. Temujin isn't exactly on the short list of call-backs ;-) But today the circumstances were a little different, and I found myself babysitting my brothers' 11-month old little grommet. For an hour and a half, no less!

It was a rather uneventful hour and a half. He watched excitedly as I played games on my brothers P2. Anytime he seemed bored or restless, it wasn't much trouble to get him interesting in something else (a toy, a remote control, a cup... he is easily amused!). After about an hour, he seemed to desire my attention to a greater degree. I picked him up, placed a bottle in his mouth, and watched as he gulped down the nutritional goodness of said bottle. Within moments, his eyes began to sag, then droop, until he was off chasing toys in baby dreamland. I laid him down, put a blanket on him, and waited until my "relief" (aka mother) came to babysit for the rest of the night. And that's all there was to it. It was a piece of cake.

So I dunno what everyone complains about when it comes to parenthood, especially fatherhood. I mean, it was the easiest thing ever for me, and I'd never even done it before! No barking, no biting, no crying... I think a cat is harder to take care of. Why is it that all my married-with-children friends never have any free time? Come on guys, get with it!

So I'm officially ready for fatherhood. Bring it on, I say! It's no sweat, and at the end of the day, I'll still eat my Cheetos.

Question?

Answer: I think they were exercising their right not to think.

Oh, that Instapundit

For a first hand look at what an Instalanche looks like, click here.

And that is a comparatively small one. Fortunately for me, I am directly affected by Jay's 'lanche, since the link was directed at the Standard. My site traffic is approximately three times higher than normal today, and has consistently been so on the day in which the Standard has been Instalanched. I wonder if this is the case with everyone else in the Brigade? I suspect it is probably less for sites that have higher traffic than mine, and more for sites with less traffic (that poor soul!). I also suspect that since the title of my blog fall last alphabetically, it helps my traffic. This is because a lot of people who view the Standard via the Instalink probably do not have the patience to wade through the forty or so bloggers ahead of my name in the post. They click the highlighted words like good Pavlovian dogs, browse around a bit to see what the Most Honorable Glenn found interesting, then they move on.

I'd be willing to place a wager that my blog, as well as Abisinthe and Cookies receive slighty higher numbers than the rest of the Brigade, simply because of our place on the list.

At any rate, thanks again Jay, and thanks Glenn! Your shoes will be shined as soon as I finish disinfecting your toilet, waxing your car, and cleaning your digital camera.

Fiddling away

I'm fiddling with Haloscan. I've wanted to have trackbacks for a while now, and finally decided to take the plunge based on some solid advice I've received from the Edwonk.

Right now it looks like pooh on my site. Maybe shuffling the code around on the template with make it look more normal. I think I have to erase the old blogger code too, but I'm leary about losing all my old comments.

Lets see here....

Update 5:22pm- Dammit! All my comments have disappeared, as I feared! Grrrrrr! After 24 hours, Haloscan assures me that they will return (I have upgraded to the Premium Account).

All in all, I guess it is worth it to now have trackbacks. I've got my old template backed up in case I want to switch back.

Update 5:33pm- Actually, I think what I'll do is wait for the twenty-four hours to kick in, and try again. Currently, all my old comments are still intact. I'll try again tomorrow.

The Raising of the Standard

The Standard has been raised again, this time by Jay Jardine.

Each the Standard gets raised, it seems to get better and better. There is a real effort put into the various comments of the blogger whose posts our round-up. Jay's words are exactly what I would have said, if I was a better writer :-) For instance, after quoting Martin Masse, Jay writes:

"Wow. File in the huge cabinet along with the rest of the "things you will not learn in the public school system."

Best line I've heard in a long time. So get over there and see what my fellow Brigade members are up to.

DOH!

Well, I almost had a place secured to live in Vancouver - this really nice apartment, already furnished, already equipped with satellite tv - the seemingly perfect home, situated right near my school. But wouldn't you know it - the place had already been spoken for weeks before I even saw the notice (a notice which had been accidentally left up on my school's bulletin board, despite having expired long ago). So, I'm back to square one, mentally joisting with the tedium of these constant three-to-four-hour-a-day driving marathons. I make this drive four days a week, which is enough to put hair on my back. The monotany is such that I'm almost ready to go looking for another place, even though I tend to get lazy and sit back, hoping something perfect will fall in my lap (that's how this last one [almost] happened).

By the way, if you happened to read my New Year's post, in which I stated a resolution to post more often on this blog - keep in mind that if I keep up a one-post-a-week quota, I'll still be posting more than I was last year. Therefore, I haven't yet broken my New Year's resolution, so there!

Fifth of Fifteen

Hey, not bad! I place fifth out of fifteen blogs in the Best New Blog of 2004 category. I can live with that.

Go congratulate all the winners.

Thief!

Plagiarism, or coincidence? I report, you decide!

All systems functioning within established parameters.

I'm about nine hours removed from the hospital, and feeling good.

Aw, who am I kidding? I feel like a big slab of rotting beef. There isn't as much pain as I thought there would be, which is nice. I've been precribed some Tylenol 3 for pain relief, and they seem to be doing the trick.

All in all, it wasn't a horrible experience. The worst part was waking up at 6:30, being at the hospital at 7, and waiting two hours before anything of any significance took place. They tell me 7, so I am there are seven. Why didn't they just tell me to show up at 9:00???

Anyways, I cracked a few jokes before going under, which was nice. The doctors and nurses were laughing quite heartily. It was about 10:00 when I fell asleep, and shortly after noon when I awoke. Fortunately, my kind-hearted mother picked me up and drove me home from the hospital. I think I was a little goofy on whatever drug they put me down with. But she was patient and loving with me, like any good mother is.

Thanks to all who wished me well. It has been noted, and it will not be forgotten.

Livin' in the land down under.

I need seven or so more links in order to become a Marauding Marsupial on the TTLB Ecosystem.

Just saying, s'all.

The Big Day

Tomorrow is the big day. Big because Temujin is going under the knife. If I'm not to sacked out, there should be a full report tomorrow night. But no guarantees.

After all, having ol' Inguinal taken care of isn't the kind of thing a guy just recovers from overnight. The recovery time could be less than two weeks, but thanks to the Idyllic Medical Practices of Canada's Utopian Society, I get option No. 1, rather than 2 or 3. Hooray for me.

Note: Of the four listed things that cause pressure on the Inguinal Canal, I'm guilty of only one of them. And it ain't numbers one, two, or four... in case you were wondering.

Job Hunting

Looking for a new job? Having trouble staying at one place for more than three months? Beautiful Atrocities has some great advice on job security.

If only I could get a job like they have.

Brennifer?

Awww, poor Brennifer. Golly, no one saw that coming.

Don't look Down

How cool is this pic? Very cool, if you ask me.

Leave that poor Ent alone!

Just when you thought the Lord of the Rings phenomena was over, the Ents have made an appearance near Seth's home.

Silly little hobbit.

Five Days Left (or: Let the Shameless Begging Continue)

Well, there are still five days left to vote.


It is still a really close race for Best New Blog. At last glance, there was one blog with 80 votes, two with 70, and three or four others within twenty of the lead.
Even if I am not in the lead pack, a solid, concentrated effort made by ten people to vote for me over the next five days could hand me the victory.

Even though I have not done much in the way of blogging recently to earn any votes, there is still a chance that West Coast Chaos could pull this thing out. Now get over there and pull the lever for WCC.

Together, we can guilt Pei Yusei into posting more.

Update 6:30pm January 12- Some is now in the lead by twenty votes. Unless something spectacular happens in the next two days, this contest is over.

You gotta know when to hold 'em

Not much blogging tonight. There's a pretty intense poker game going on. Temujin has to teach his friends a lesson, Texas Hold 'Em style.

Good night all.

Update 10:40pm- Don't go all-in when you're holding a pair of fours. Lesson Learned.

I'll take half a pound of Costa Rican blend, please

Well glory be, Joe's Diner has finally re-opened. After an agonizing month-and-a-half hiatus, we can finally get back to solving the world's problems over a nice cup of dark roast.

Welcome back, Joe.

Ah, there's no real difference anyways

I've recently come across a group blog called Adeimantus. The folks that post there do a tremendous job. Case in point, the most recent post by Bathus. He recently received a letter from a student asking him what the difference between a liberal and a conservative is. He went pillar to post, wildly tackling the subject matter with a ferociousness I have seldom seen.
Alright, they may be a slight exaggeration, but his post uber-amazing.
Here is a sample of what he wrote in response:

Love is no evil, but universal love for all is within the capacity of only the diety. Neither is human anger evil. Justified righteous anger is a truly noble thing, rousing us to stand our ground in the face of otherwise horrifying evil, rousing the strong to defend the weak when there is no profit to be gained by the battle. And (this is where a liberal mind will be shocked), just as love is not evil, and anger is not evil, neither is hatred evil--so long as you hate what deserves to be hated. I hate injustice. I hate those who knowingly, selfishly, perpetrate injustice. I want them punished. I'm a hater. All good conservatives know how to hate well. (Liberals are afraid to hate, and they all say they despise it, but that does not seem to prevent them from being quite good at it themselves, not if there's a "smirking chimp" from Texas in the White House.)
*****************************
Yet in a democratic society like ours, the blind love of equality can overturn even our other great political love, which is the love of freedom. Given the choice between freedom and equality, our instinct as citizens of democracy inclines us to choose equality. Whether we are conservative or liberal, we are all (small d) democrats these days, which means that-- whether or not we admit it to ourselves--we all get just a little irked when we see somebody who has more nice stuff than we do. (This is an example of unjustified righteous anger.) When we see somebody with more stuff than we have, we all tend to say to ourselves, "Well he doesn't deserve it because his daddy was rich," or "he just got lucky," or "he got his money in a not-so-nice way." That's because superior wealth offends our love equality, and it's good to have these rationalizations handy when we want to take other people's property away from them because we think they are too rich. But rather than satisfying the love of equality in this way, wouldn't it be better for everybody if we'd all just put more effort into striving to get the particular stuff we want for ourselves and leave other people's property alone? You might think it is trivial, but isn't there something intrinsically enobling when a person can say to himself, "These things I own--this house, this car, even this cell phone--modest they are, but these were got by my own labor!" Don't you yourself feel better about the things you earn through your own effort than about the things that are just handed to you?

(emphasis mine)

Go read the whole thing, it's amazing.

A Not-So-Subtle Reminder.

We aren't forgetting to vote, are we?



It's a tight race for Best New Blog. Two blogs currently sit at 52 votes each, and there are six other blogs within easy striking distance. Could our beloved West Coast Chaos be in the hunt? Indeed, I think it is!
So continue to vote.
VOTE VOTE VOTE!
And while you're at it, vote for the Tiger under Best Liberal Blog. To see him win in that category would be almost as sweet as seeing myself win B.N.B. Almost.

Boundalanched?

I wonder what a guy has to do in order to get boundalanched. Maybe if I link to him enough, he'll realize my puny existence in the blogosphere and drop a brutha a link in return.

Oh, wait, he doesn't even have his sitemeter up and running yet. Get to it man! Or you'll be back to merely tracking weather patterns before you know it!

For more info on my recent fascination with the bounder, read this by the Babbler.

The Dutch really do love their wood

On New Year's eve, I had a fascinating conversation with a UNBC student Ben Heemskerk. At first, he said he was leary about discussing his field of study, because he fears that it bores people! Well let me tell you something buddy, no one is more boring than me!

After much poking, proding, and question-asking on my behalf, Ben shared some rather fascinting information with me about forest management and ecology. Now lest you all think that Temujin has gone envio-nutty on you, let me make this clear: neither Ben Heemskerk nor myself are envioweenies.

Part of Ben's work is the rather daunting task of putting together a working model that will help researchers see the correlation between wildlife, habitat, and forest management. He isn't asking questions about whether a tree falling in the forest makes a sound if no one is around, but he most certainly is interested in how long it takes for that fallen tree to decay.

Ben has an essay up on the web right now, in Adobe .pdf format. It is a little more than a year old, and can be found here. It is entitled "Relating Functional Wildlife Tree Types to Tree Species and Diameter Across Different Forest Ecosystems", but don't be scared off by that! It really is a fascinating read, and anyone who has taken any post-secondary education will see that Ben put a whole lotta work into this sucker.
Here is a sample (click there if you want to d/l the adobe file):

In British Columbia and throughout the world, forests are actively managed. The
management strategies used alter the natural ‘make-up’ of forested ecosystems changing the natural composition and structure of the forest. Forest management may alter tree species composition and size, and the amount of dead standing and fallen trees. These changes can affect the abundance of wildlife trees, ultimately affecting the species richness of terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates (Steeger et. al. 1993; Lofroth 1998; Fridman 2000; Johnson and Freedman 2002).

These changes in species richness are prevalent in European forests that have been under active management for multiple harvesting rotations. It has been suggested that the systematic removal of old trees and deadwood from European forests has significantly contributed to the forty percent of forest dwelling species that are threatened or in danger of extinction (Bretz Guby and Dobbertin 1996; Fridman 2000).

Here in North America we are in the ‘early stages’ of realizing the implications of our management practices in the resulting ‘second growth forests’. In order to avoid experiencing the same results as seen in European forests, managers are altering their strategies, and in some cases trying to artificially reproduce
trees with ‘critical features’ in order to provide appropriate habitat. One study, (Lewis 1998) completed in the Pacific Northwest, that summarises the artificial re-creation of wildlife trees indicates costs from $20 to $50 per tree, using techniques that included explosives, girdling, and modification using a chainsaw. We may be able to avoid this loss of forest habitat and subsequent costs incurred to re-create it by increasing our knowledge of the habitat value of specific wildlife trees and how our management actions affect these trees.

Fascinating stuff. It may be a monster of an essay, but it really is worth your time. Go check it out, your mind will be expanded.

Take care Ben, hope to see you again someday.

Maybe they aren't so Socialist after all

After reading Colby's most recent *spit* National Post *spit* column, I was reminded of a recent letter-to-the-editor in my local paper, the Interior News. The letter was written by the honourable Nathan Cullen. As his website proudly proclaims, Mr Cullen is the Member of Parliament for Skeena-Bulkley Valley.

His letter was actually more of a response to a previous letter written to the I.N. In that letter, a Mr Nipper Kettle (hyuk, hyuk) accused the Honourable Member of endorsing gun registry in Canada, which has cost taxpayers a staggering 2 billion dollars. Mr. Cullen's response:

Sadly, the gun registry has not been a positive solution for Canadians. It was first pitched as a $2-million net-cost program, but its heavy bureaucracy has already consumed millions of tax dollars. Even so, it has faltered as a tool to stop the use of guns for criminal ends. Meanwhile, it has unfairly targeted people who use firearms lawfully. Very often, that has meant rural people, including farmers and hunters.
Parliament did not heed our call this month to rein in the registry. But rest assured: I will be watching this file closely and will not hesitate to voice our concerns over its mismanagement in Parliament.
Nathan Cullen
MP, Skeena-Bulkley Valley

Will wonders never cease? At first glance, it would seem that MR Cullen has seen the light! I don't ever recall a time that I've heard a member of the NDP in favor of gun rights. Of course, one wonders about the first word in that quote above, "sadly". It prompts in my head an interesting sentance-association game:

Sadly, the proposed 2 million dollar registry went over budget.
Sadly, it failed to reduce crimes involving guns.
Sadly, a few back-water hicks and rural rednecks were inconvinienced.
Sadly, the New Democratic Party wasn't put in charge of this program, because we would've made it work, darnit!

Mr Cullen, your attempts at appearing libertarian are successful only insofar as people forget the history of the political party to which you belong. Thanks for trying, though.

*Sigh* whatever.

Errrr... huh? Can someone please explain this to me? Anyone? Anyone at all???

Stanley Cup Ring to Beautiful Atrocities

Tsunami Thailand: a first hand account

The Asylum has posted her experiences in Thailand over the holidays.

Rushing water chases me down a main strip in Karon Beach in Phuket Thailand. Abruptly I leave an internet connection with my parents up in the air. I was never prepared for this...I have no idea what to do. A Swedish girl named Marre, organizes a truck to take us up the mountain to safety. Not knowing if there was another wave on the way or even if it was safe to be on the roads, we jump in the back of a pickup and leave disaster in our wake. Boats on the roads, trees down, shops overturned...people, people bleeding and in shock. Traffic jam...the driver lets us out and we grab our bags and hike up a hill, luckily Marre had noticed a hotel sign here the other day. As we approach the hotel at the top of the hill the owner comes out and graciously calls us in, " Please come stay here...it is okay..you are safe".
*****************************
Ill never forget the terror of seeing water rushing toward me up that road in Phuket, nor the shock of people running for their lives...myself included. It was like a scene out of a bad movie...water gushing, people running...I took my sandles off and ran...not knowing whether the water was capable of flooding right to the end of the street or not.

You would do well to read the entire thing, as well as her brief experience as a "missing person.

So glad she's alright.

Update 1:20pm- Then go read the Babbler's poignant words, and ask yourself "Does this guy not deserve the award for Best Conservative Canadian Blog?" The answer, is yes, he most certainly does deserve the award (but not the award for best new blog.... sorry :-)

Moping or Coping?

Of the two options presented in the title to this post, which is the most common human reaction to the sky falling on one's head? Doubtless the first, because when life sucks, we usually can't help but recollect how much better it was before this one thing (or these many things) happened. The most common (and tragic) attitude is that of regret, underneath which any attempt at moving on is suffocated like a fat asthmatic upon reaching the top of Mount Everest. Regret flows from the wellsprings of pessimism, cynicism, envy, lust, and mindless ambition - the most likely people to be drowned in it are those who don't know which dreams are worth holding on to, and which are best left to pasture. To the many that assume a disappointment or loss marks the end of life, any notion of redirecting what passions they have towards another of its manifestations is often not even considered.

Consider the most inspiring stories of our time . . . consider one like Terry Fox (Canadian hero), who had every reason (upon losing his leg to bone cancer) to buckle under the oppressive weight of regret and despair, except he held on to something high above the transience of his own plight - a kind of joy routed in love and compassion that led him to sacrifice his body for the sake of others. Whatever passion he once had for basketball (and apparently he was quite good) was redirected towards a seemingly impossible athletic pursuit (in light of his disability) that led to his being immortalized in the minds and hearts of every Canadian alive . . . even to the extent of being voted second-greatest Canadian of all time.

Terry Fox's story shames me every time I reflect on it, because I've flirted with despair on a number of occasions in my as-of-yet short existence. When tendinitis first began threatening some aspects of my musical vocation (making long, sustained sessions on the guitar and piano almost unmanageable), I immediately began considering dropping off completely, looking to what other talents I might develop in order to forge for myself a career. Without a doubt, these temptations would have been met by Terry Fox with a sharp rebuke. Considering what abilities I do have in music, it would be unforgiveable for me to throw it all away because of one measily little struggle with R.S.I. The point isn't that I should paint for myself one unalterable picture of what I will become (musically or otherwise) in five or ten years, but that life is going to throw me a wrench here and there, and that this assailer can still be used as a tool if I have the guts to approach life with any degree of creativity.

I'm not trying to sit here on some high horse and teach all of you how to live. As I've already admitted (latently), I have not even come close to achieving the kind of resourceful optimism that characterized Terry Fox's life. However, I think it's well worth pointing out that, first of all, things can always get worse, no matter how badly you might think you've got it. Secondly, life isn't going to get any easier if you sit around brooding and moping like an abused dog craving a long-withheld meal. Thirdly, the passions that you might feel are being stripped from your person by the callous hands of fate, or Satan, or God (or whatever) might still be exercised effectively - you just may have to be creative in discovering how. Finally (and know that this is coming from one of the most self-obsessive, internally-focussed people you can imagine), you constitute only about .0000000000000000000000000001% of the world's population*, so consider what other causes might exist out there besides those of personal glory and deification.

And with that, I sign off once again, feeling content that I have fulfilled my Christian duty as a blogger at the greatest site in existence, West Coast Chaos, baby!

*this has not been mathematically researched, and is likely waaaaaaaaaaaay of the mark, but you get the point, I'm sure.

Well, it's next time

I'm happy to say that Santa Clause didn't disappoint this year. Anybody who knows me can vouch for my shameless, die-hard worship of the band U2. Well, this Christmas I was given their latest cd, How to Dismantle an Automic Bomb, to add to my already formidable U2 collection. Even more gratifying is the fact that I spent most of my Christmas money in completing this collection. After adding Achtung Baby, Rattle and Hum and October, I am now as close as I ever hope to be in becoming one with the legend that is U2. By the way, to those who dislike them because of their politics - keep in mind that Bono had every opportunity of hopping on the pop music band wagon in the moveon.org "revolution", but he chose to take the road of maturity - wisely preserving what relationship he may have with George W. Bush (with whom he has met in the past, I might add) in order to continue working towards the benefit of the globe in it's current state. So please don't lump U2 in with acts like the Dixie Chicks, whose only reason for disliking right wing America is that it seems the hip thing to do.

We're the Kings of the World!

You had to know it would take a hockey-related activity to get the ol' Pei-man posting again. Unfortunately, I was away from my computer all Christmas holidays, and had absolutely no means of accomplishing anything beyond a quick perusal of my email account from time to time. Anyway . . . consider this: Canada wins hockey gold in the Olympics in Winter, 2002. They win the world ice hockey championship in 2003 and 2004. They win the world cup in 2004. And now, they finally get the world junior championship gold, after failing seven years straight (although I must add that Canada has been the most productive team in this tournament in terms of getting medals). Is there anything left for us to prove in order for the world to recognize us as the kings of puck?! Holy crap! Anyway, there's my patriotic rant for the day (and very possibly the year, seeing as hockey's about all we can be proud of, and it may be a long time coming before we see any more of it).

Well, the Pei would like to voice his New Year's resolution: from this day forth, I plan on being a more faithful blogger. And while you politely stifle your chuckles, let me assure you that I'm generally pretty good with this whole resolution-thing (although I'm still not off coffee, and that one has recurred several years in a row now). Well, adios - until next time!

Oh yeah baby

How Sweet It Is.

Great work boys.

End of the Second Period

Wow. 6-1.

I'm witnessing a complete ass-thumping. There will be no comeback tonight, folks.

Russia's Ovechkin has shown us all something. What happens when you showboat, hot dog, and rub it in to your opponents? Sweet, sweet justice, that's what.

If I were the Washington Capitals GM, I'd be a little worried right now. They've just recently drafted a 19 year old Jaromir Jagr. But with less talent. And a bigger ego.

Third period coming up. I wonder if the crowd will start to sing the anthem with a minute remaining on the clock?

Mid 2nd Period Update

5-1??? Are you kidding me???

Russia pulled their goalie after the third goal, which I though was a good idea (you need to spark your team somehow). Poor Kuznetsov though, he got slaughtered like a Passover lamb. As I type this Ovechkin is just making his return.

Too little too late, I'd say.

But I've seen Canada blow leads before.

Canada-Russia Gold Medal Game

Initial thoughts after the first period:

Canada 2, Russia 1
I was really impressed with the way Canada came out of the gates (but who wasn't?). They took way too many penalties, and Russia finally burned them for it. Jeff Glass looks good, and I'm not quite willing to fault him on that first goal. Judging by his reaction, he didn't see it until it was six inches past him. Lots of body checks, a few good scoring chances, and all lines seem to be clicking. I like what I see so far.

Regarding Russia: Can anyone tell me what the heck Ovechkin is doing out there? Look buddy, you ain't Cam Neely. If I was the Russian coach, I'd remind him of what his job is out there: SCORE SOME GOALS! Their goalie has done a pretty good job too. The first goal was an absolute rocket (the net is probably still stinging from it), while the second one, scored by Gretz... errr Syvret, was pure genius.

I'm extremely interested in seeing if Canada comes out as hard in the second as they did in the first.

Stroking my already inflated ego

Hey, thanks Seth!

Anyway, one of my blogger friends is this cool Canadian named Temujin. He got nominated for "Best New Blog" on the Canadian Blog Awards. I'm rooting for him all the way! So, Temujin needs votes and he needs more traffic. Thus, he also needs links. You should check out some of the posts he's written. They can be clever, intriguing, and political. Check him out.

I couldn't have put it better myself :-) Everyone should listen to Seth.
Seth = Smart.

Eye witness account

From the Comment thread to this post:

Thing were just settling down and then Toronto posted me as missing...so Im still trying to wrap my mind around things...am I really here...do I exist? Blogs would be great right now, my thoughts are scattered though...and it doesnt help that I dont have a computer or time. Soon though, very soon. Anywhoo...I also strongly encourage people to help, financially, spiritually, and who knows, even physically. Peace friends.
The Asylum

I'm extremely glad, and thankful to the big "G", that you aren't missing. I also echo the sentiments about giving in any way possible. Take care of yo'self, Asylum

And as soon as humanly possible: GET BLOGGING!

Be it yours to hold high once again.

Mr. Hayes has raised the Standard (and the bar, once again). Note: You may need to scroll down a bit to read it.

Jason has done a fantastic job, and raising the Standard is no small task. So go check it out, and give a look at what conservative/libertarian bloggers in Canada are up to. It is worth your time.

An article by Bernard Chapin:

In summation, what is communism? It appears to possibly be a man-made acid bath, a moat of asps, or a pathological suicide cult, but the one thing it definitely is not is a reasonable means with which to govern.

Heh. I rather like the way he put that.

Strike the Root is more libertarian than libertarian. In fact, they refer to themselves as market anarchists, and are even against that nasty little voting thing most of us seem to like.

Nonetheless, with regards to Communism, Bernard Chapin says it better than I ever could.

Don't forget to vote!

Don't forget to vote in the Canadian Blogawards. *A-hem*

I wouldn't want to sway anyone's vote, but there is great nominee for "Best New Blog" that I know quite well. He's articulate, funny, intelligent, and darned good-looking too. He's also trailing the in the polls right now, and needs YOUR support.

So don't forget to cast your vote. You can do so once every day until the 16th.

And remember my campaign slogan- "West Coast Chaos: We Take Sympathy Links"

Thank you, and good night.