Shakespeare

One day, I will say this to someone.

"O pardon me thou bleeding piece of earth, that I am meek and gentle with these butchers"

Bwahahahahaha! Great Story.

Ferry Crash at Horseshoe Bay

A BC Ferry has crashed at Sewell's Marina, at the Horseshoe Bay terminal (North Shore) in West Vancouver.

By the looks of the video, shot by a nearby homeowner, the Queen of Oak Bay missed its docking port, and proceeded at a slow speed into a group of docked sailboats. Apparently, there is talk of getting in a lunber truck to build a temporary ramp to offload passengers. I'm not quite sure how plausible that is, since there is wreckage and half-capsized boats all over the place.

Then again, if the boat was beached, it may be a little easier to build a make-shift ramp.

Nonetheless, those passengers are going to have to get off that ferry somehow.
And on Canada Day weekend, too. Sheesh, the Tsawwassen terminal is going to be jammed.

Yet another proud moment in the history of the BC Ferries.

I'd support this revolution

With all due respect to Che (which is to say, no respect at all), here's a real revolution I can get behind.

M'heh.

Wonder what my church friends would think if I wore that on Sunday...

Something has caught it's gaze, Master Frodo...

Awesome.

Great find, VW.

No Title Needed

Just finished watching the end of George W. Bush's speech to the troops at Fort Bragg (and the entire world). His words were inspiring. That's the kind of leader I could be proud of.

At the same time, on the Canadian Parlimentary Access Channel, the third reading of Bill C-38 just ended, and we are ooooh... three minutes from a vote.

What a contrast.

Clumsy Oaf

So, I hurt myself at work today. I was fortunate, it could have been much worse... hey, I can still type, sorta.

But what really irks me. What really, really, really irks me, is that it took nearly three hours for the staff to attend to me. All told, they spent 15 minutes with me, spread out over two hours. The rest was waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

And I came out with a bandage around my leg, some advice on how to keep down the swelling in my wrist, and a doctor's note giving me a few days off work.

I am more than willing to shell out fifty or a hundred bucks to get immediate attention from a private clinic. I could have been in and out of there in fifteen minutes, X-rays, bandage, advice, note and all.

My time is important. So is the time of the obviously over-worked staff at Bulkley Valley District Hospital. So is the time of the other patients, two of which were in a whole HECK of a lot more discomfort than I was in, and two of which left the hospital and said they would come back later.

I am not a heartless bastard. I am not adverse to letting emergency patients ahead of me (especially when it is a life or death thing). I am certainly not adverse to waiting my turn, either.

But why, oh why is it a capital crime to want something different? Why can't Canadians have their say over their own health. It doesnt make sense.

We aren't talking about the scary "dark days", Ujjal! We are talking about choice.

''I don't see a great rush to set up private health care, because we have a very recent experience," he said of the Canadian public. "Forty-five years is not a long time in the life of a nation. There are people who still remember the dark days of private health care, where people had to sell their farms and sell their homes to care for their loved ones.''

Well, my priorities must be wrong. I should enjoy the prospect of wasting my time (or for some, risking their lives) on a waiting list, rather than the doubleplusungood option of paying for immediate attention.

Silly me. And silly CMA for even suggesting such a thing. I mean, what do they know, really?

Ohhhhh, but now I can rely on Compo to pull through for me! And Medical Employment Insurace! Fan-freaking-tastic.

This Utopian Paradise isn't so bad after all. I don't care what Darcey is linking to. He obviously doesn't know any better.

Uber Spiritual

Psalm 103:12

As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

I've been in Whitehorse, and travelled to Los Angeles. Been in Prince Rupert and as far east as Winnipeg in Canada, and Terre Haute in the USA. Despite the many places I have been on this continent, I still cannot know how far the east is from the west.

But Someone knows.

And He knows me, too.

Thanks G.

My good ol' days, too

Debby E is reminiscing about the Good Ol' Days.

I'd like to add a personal one of my own: We drove snowmobiles down the middle of the street, with or without a helmet, and as long as we weren't acting like asses, the police didn't care. In fact, we did it with the local policemen and their sons.

That's life in the Great White North.

Money for Blood

Not much more to add to this, except to say that Kateland says it best.

Enchilada's all around

Checking the referral logs...

someone actually took the trouble to translate me into Spanish.

Maybe my thoughts are more coherent in another language.

Sunday highlights.

I attended the service at the Christian Reformed Church in Smithers today. I find the content of the sermons quite academic and thought-provoking, and I often think about what I heard three, four, or five days later during my week. Today, I had the pleasure of shaking hands with Dan Hamhuis, defenceman for the Nashville Predators. He had no idea who I was, but it was rather cool to shake hands with a bona fide NHLer. My brother played hockey with him a few times in the mid-90's. He is a couple years older than Dan, and one of his favorite stories is of a time they went into the boards together to fight for the puck. In my brothers own words, "I knocked him on his ass!". It wasn't too long after that Mr Hamhuis began skating circles around the competition. He was quickly picked up by the Prince George Cougars, and the rest is history.

While I was attending school in the lower mainland, Dan had a record-setting night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. I remember checking the box score on tsn.ca and nearly falling over. Quite an accomplishment for a local kid.

As tired as I am about all this NHL lockout/meetings scheduled/possible deal business, I am looking forward to seeing Dan Hamhuis on the ice again. Keep an eye on this kid, and if you need a sleeper-pick defenceman for your hockey pool, take a chance on The Hammer.

Or is it Hamster? I can never remember.

I would give my left testi....

What I wouldn't give to see this:

PINK FLOYD SET TO RE-UNITE

I've waited a long time to read those words.

For one-night only, the classic Pink Floyd lineup of Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright will reunite for the 1st time since 1982 to play Live 8.

What a great show it is bound to be. Wish I was there.

David Gilmour made the following statement:

“Like most people I want to do everything I can to persuade the G8 leaders to make huge commitments to the relief of poverty and increased aid to the third world. It’s crazy that America gives such a paltry percentage of its GNP to the starving nations.

Granted, David Gilmour's statement makes him look like a complete asshelmet. No outrage directed towards African despotic and dictatorial leaders, naturally. Nope, all America's fault.

Despite Gilmour's obvious perception deficit when it comes just how effective handouts are, I'm still ecstatic about the prospects of the reunion. I guess agree with Michele when she said,

Let me say this in a way so you can understand it, clearly and without questions: I. DO. NOT. CARE.

I hate, hate, hate when people expect me to boycott/ignore/protest against an artist I like because of their political leanings. I like to be entertained. Trent Reznor entertains me. He could be a card carrying commie for all I care, I like his music, just like I like Johnn Depp's movies, just like I prefer Heinz ketchup to any other kind, just like I still bought all the LotR movies even though Viggo is my political opposite.

Ever since I was a young boy, I've been a fan of PF. Often I wish that musicians would just shutup with the political commentary, but then again I'm really no more qualified than they are to speak.

If anyone wants to send me to Hyde Park in London to watch the show, I'll gladly go. And I'll sport one of these as well.
Just have to update my Amazon Wish List...

Update 4:31pm- Yeah, the King's Perspective seems bang-on to me.

A good dilemna

You know the Jays are making positive gains when TSN is reporting:

Unless Hill falls off drastically, unlikely considering his excellent plate discipline and compact swing, the Jays will have six infielders for four positions and the DH spot once Koskie comes back.

Italics mine, and happily so. Currently, the Jays are five back of the Wild Card, and 5.5 back of the AL East Lead (although they lost to the Nats tonight, so that could change). Sadly, they have been just about the most inconsistent team to watch this year, but I am still optimistic. any GM would love to have the dilemna JP Ricciardi has right now: an abundance of good quality, young infielders. Nothing wrong with that.

I heard something about the NHL and NHLPA having more meetings or something. Does anybody still pay attention to that? There are plenty of other sports to keep a brother interested, including the MLB.

Ye gads, did I just type that? Why, yes I did.

Watch the Jays for a couple of weeks after the All-Star Break. We'll know then if they are in the hunt, or in the tank.

Standing up for Something.

Seth has been spending time over at Loyal Achates' place. And the results are, well, quite something indeed (check the comment thread here as well).

Achates is about as uber left-wing kook fringe as you can possibly get. I mean, the guy makes Kos look like Zell Miller, for cryin' out loud. The rebuttals in his comment thread completely squash his arguments (ed. note: in Sethian fashion, no less), so there is really nothing much more to say. Although this statement by Achates made me pause:

Most of Bush's positions are very unpopular with the majority of Americans, but he won because he concentrated on issues that his supporters felt passionately about, such as abortion and gay marriage.

This statement is logically, factually, and common sensically false. If most of his positions truly are very unpopular with the majority of Americans, how in the blue hades did he win the election by such a large margin? The guy had 51% of the popular vote! Are people in the USA truly that stupid, that they would vote en masse for a guy they almost completely disagree with? I think not. If most of his positions were "very unpopular with the majority of Americans", they would have voted for the other guy.
If he is going to say something like that, he must confess the same is true of every president. I mean, no candidate can be all things to all people, it just aint possible.
As well, the abortion and gay marriage issues were not emphasized as much as Achates would like to think. Perhaps my memory is bad, but I seem to recall that the GOP strategy was to emphasize the importance of the war on terror and show how namby-pamby/flip-floppy Kerry was (is). Social Security was also at the forefront, as was the growth of the economy since 9/11. Remember- the gay marriage referendum was also held in oh-so-conservative states like Michigan (Kerry by 3%), Ohio (Bush by 2%), and Oregon (Kerry by 4%). Fact is, a lot of people who voted against SSM voted for Kerry. It's a shame the democratic party doesn't pick up on this stuff.
As for abortion, it is the way it is in the US. Bush did not run on a platform of "I'm going to ban all abortions". All he ever said was that he wanted to promote a culture of life. I read that to mean a culture of responsibility, which is what people in Canada and the USA desperately need a shot of. That is why is he can be pro-death penalty, and pro-life at the same time. It's all about responsibility. People taking responsibility for their actions.

That's my two cents. But go read the whole post and the comments. See for yourself.

Standard 24

The Newest Edition of the Red Ensign Standard is up at Marzi's place. Go check it out!

Wednesday Afternoon Inside Joke

Dutch Girls, Dutch Girls, Dutch Girls

Gotta Catch 'em all.

Holy Land

I want to go to Israel. Even more, now that I've had a peak into what it is like there.

Most Israelis live somewhere between Baer Sheeba and Haifa. The strip of land is less then 15 miles wide at some points and a drive between the two spots could take just over 2 hours. What's so striking about the countryside is that within that 2 hour drive you can go from a harsh desert environment in the Negev to the lush Green mountains of Carmel and The Galilee. It is a stunning contrast in such a small country.

Fascinating stuff. Go check out the whole thing, it's well worth your time.

SSM

There's a great debate going on in the comments at this Blue Maple Leaf post.

No matter which side of the same sex marriage issue you are on, you'll appreciate it.

Flood Central

Huck has a round-up of the flooding in Alberta as well. He's right near Elbow River, so he has a front row seat for all the action.

You stay dry too, man!

Gone but not Forgotten

At 8:30pm, on Sunday June 19th, Father's Day, my grandfather passed away.

He will be missed. But he will not be forgotten. A Father's Day to remember, to be sure.

Rest In Peace, Gramps. I am certain that St. Peter can do something about that slice of yours.

Dumbass

LYKENS, Pa. Jun 19, 2005 — A man and a teenager face criminal charges for allegedly staging a fake kidnapping that recreated a scene from a movie that celebrated stunts and gross-out gags.

Ahh yes, Jackass the Movie. Something we should all hope to emulate.

A store clerk reported the apparent kidnapping Wednesday, saying that while a customer was paying for gasoline a teenager jumped from the trunk of the man's car with his hands bound and his eyes blindfolded, according to Dauphin County authorities.

The man chased the teen, caught him, threw him back into the trunk and drove off, police said.

Granted, it must have looked dang funny. I was a convenience store clerk, and I saw a lot of crazy things. But never anything like that.

Reedinger, 31, was charged with creating a false alarm, corruption of minors and disorderly conduct. The 15-year-old, whose name was not released because of his age, was charged with creating a false alarm and disorderly conduct. His case will be handled by juvenile authorities.

It's too bad they didn't choose the recreate the "toy car in the butt" prank.

Post of the Year

Alan at Occam's Carbuncle says it best, Post of the Year.

I agree. That McCormick fellow is an honourable man.

Total Depravity

I'm exceedingly leary about linking to such an article, but it needs to be done. Absolutely Revolting.

Kansas City clinic closed as grisly house of horrors

WARNING: Extreme Bad Taste Alert. There is no foul language involved, but the whole story is utterly revolting. If true, this guy needs to meet punishment in the worst (and I mean worst) way.

More here.

Gitmo = Gulag

The comparisons of the detention center on Guatanamo Bay to the Gulags in Siberia has been both fast and furious. An absolutely sick and serpentine comparison if you ask me.

But don't ask me, ask eye-witness Kent Svendsen. Bambenek has his testimony here.

The detainees have their food prepared according to Islamic guidelines. The call to prayer is broadcast for them to go to prayer. Each detainee has the direction to Meccah (sic) painted in their cell. They are allowed to practice their religion wihtout interference and are given the religious items they need to do so. They are allowed to observe Ramadan.

I doubt Daniel Pearl's captors showed the same respect for his religious beliefs.

Gulags, my ass.

Water Damage?

Darcey at Dust My Broom has some crazy photos of the flooding taking place near his home in Alberta.

Stay dry, man!

In My Life

Rock 101 is celebrating Paul McCartney's birthday by playing a whole pile of Beatles songs. Here's one of my favourites:


"In My Life" - The Beatles

There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

In my life I love you more

Why do people even bother?

The article is behind the subscriber wall, but the headline is enough.

See? I think everyone should just not bother with it. Too much stress, anger, and meaningless banter in this country is put into "who can" and "who cannot". No one ever says you should not.

I bet they thought it would last forever.

Marriage delenda est!

Update 12:52pm - Despite my bitterness, I know that some marriages do work out, after all. Sadly, Percy Arrowsmith died today. He and his wife were married for 80 years. Eighty Years.

I guess I can believe that

Well, my CRC friends will be happy:

You scored as John Calvin. Much of what is now called Calvinism had more to do with his followers than Calvin himself, and so you may or may not be committed to TULIP, though God's sovereignty is all important. John Calvin 67% Martin Luther 60% Karl Barth 60% Anselm 53% Jürgen Moltmann 40% Charles Finney 33% Paul Tillich 27% Friedrich Schleiermacher 27% Jonathan Edwards 20% Augustine 13% Which theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com

I'm not entirely surprised by this. Although I am not a member of the Christian Reformed Church, some of my best friends are (or come out of) that denomination. They have influenced my thinking, and there are many things abou tthe Reformed Church that I appreciate. I have a definite disagreement with the "T" in TULIP (for you non-church type people out there, this will mean nothing to you), as well as the "L" for that matter. But I'm all about the Perservearance of the Saints.

Some of my favourite authors have a Reformed viewpoint: John Piper and James White both come to mind.

I always have to find disagreement with these quizzes, because I never quite know how to answer some of the questions. But, I guess God foreknew the result and set it up to be this way. Who am I to argue?

Stanley Cup Ring to Laura's Writings

Linkers vs. Thinkers.

Uhhh, yup. Definitely a linker.

And a darned good one too!

Belated Birthday

And Happy belated Blogiversary to me! One year old, as of June 11th.

Huzzah!

Red Ensign Addendum

Two bits of housekeeping with regards to the Standard. I noticed that my title is wrong! Oops, it should be "Be Yours to Hold It High" rather than "Be it Yours to Hold High". Slight difference, but important nonetheless. However, I have not changed the title of the post, since that would wreck the permalink. But I noticed it, and am a little worried that no one else in the Brigade noticed/said anything...

They'll be a lot of us peeling potatos this week, I suspect.

As well, I mentioned my Grandfather in the Standard. Things have taken a turn for the worse. My dad went to visit him this past week. He said that for a couple of days, he was doing well, but the last two days his eyes were glazed right over and he was quite unaware of his surroundings. In my dad's words, "I don't think I'll ever see him alive again." Not much fun, not much fun at all.

Before my Grandfather's health got to this point, he asked my dad if I would be willing to take over the payments on his car. A year and a half ago he purchased a brand-new Chrysler to take the place of his older Intrepid. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. I made the choice to sell my old clunker, and not replace it, in an attempt to save money this past year. It hasn't been too bad so far, and fortunately I have parents willing to lend me their car pretty much whenever I have asked. Of course, it would be nice to have my own set of wheels. So I have decided to take him up on his offer. There really wasn't much choosing to do, as it is one of his *last* requests. My Grandfather's exact words were, "I know he's the only one in the family who can afford it!" And it's true.

I guess being an eeeevil capitalist has paid off after all.

So, I will be taking a bit of time off towards the end of the month, and travelling to Victoria to pick up my new car.

A 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Yeah, you read that right. Chick Magnet Deluxe. Errr... 65 year old chicks.
I've always liked older women.

I wish he would have kept the Intrepid!

No GST

*Warning: extreme foul language alert*

On Thursday, I was working in Hazelton, B.C. One of my jobs took place on a reserve, and when I went to write out their bill, I was promptly reminded that they do not pay GST (the Goods and Services Tax, for you Yankee folk out there). I am so used to just calculating it and including it on the bill, and the thought did not even occur to me that I was on reserve land.

As I left that house, there were two thoughts at the forefront of my mind.

First, the whole reserve-land-for-indians system is a National and Historical Fucking Tragedy. We should be ashamed that our forebearers came up with such an idea, and then allowed it to continue. We should not allow this to continue, yet we do. It remains a National Tragedy to this day, and I hate it.

Second, how much do I hate the Goods and Services Tax? More than words can adequately express. I am not an economist, but I remember hating it nearly fifteen years ago when it was introduced, and I still hate it now. But what really, really irks me, is that there are certain parts of this country where you do not have to pay GST. It all depends on where you live. Oh, and did I mention, it also pretty much depends on the colour of your skin, too. I did not charge GST on the bill for those fine folks (and let me make myself perfectly clear- they were fine folks who I enjoyed serving), yet their neighbours down the road (I shit you not: five minutes away) were charged 7% on top of their bill. I had to do it, too. I had no choice.

Aren't both of these thoughts special? Aren't they wonderful? Aren't they precious?

No. They are not.

It's racism under disguise, and it is creating waves upon waves of state-dependant people. This is not equality.

And I hate it.

But I do not know if it will ever change.

Parrish the Thought

It seems Carolyn Parrish is running her mouth again. Her latest round of idiocy? An email to CBC's the Hour, hosted by George sackofcrapopolous Stroumboulopoulos, in which she states the following:

"I have been to Israel, I have seen the wall, it is a wall of apartheid..."*

Well I've got news for the unhonourable Mrs. Parrish: That wall of apartheid is designed to prevent this kind of thing from happening (warning: very graffic). Perhaps you don't realize it, but it happens with startling regularity in that part of the world.

Where is the outrage at such an act? Why is building a fence equated with the unforgiveable sin, yet straping on a nail-laden semtex belt and exploding yourself in a marketplace or coffee shop is merely considered an act of civil disobedience?

Would someone please hit the voters of Mississauga-Erindale with a Clue-Bazooka? She cannot be elected again.

*Note: paraphrased as best I could remember. I just watched the show a few minutes ago.

Just putting it out there, ya know. I'm just saying, that's all.

I have the best friends in the world.

You know who are, I do not even need to name you.

Thatisallfornow.

Something more substantive is forthcoming.

Fifteen minutes, indeed. Heh. Read the whole thing.

More shameless ego-boosting. 


As far as the whole 15-minutes-of-fame thing goes, this is the last I'll say on the matter. Honestly. I promise.

Click the photo to enlarge, while I bask in immature egotism.

(Note: I'm about thirty links away from Large Mammal Status...)

Spike!

Spike! 

Oh, the glory of an Instalanche. Up to this point, I have only heard stories of his awesome, mighty power. Now that I have experienced it, I must say, it is more addictive than crack*. It is one natural disaster I gladly welcome more of.

For the record though, raising the Standard was its own reward. The 'lanche is merely icing on the cake. My biggest regret is that I don't have enough time to read Red Ensign blogs this thoroughly all the time. What a great group.

Now is that time at WCC when we... sleep.

*Ed. note: Temujin has never tried crack.

Be it Yours to Hold High

Remember.

Over the last couple of weeks, North Americans have had a number of times to reflect on our history. Memorial Day, designated as a day for Americans to remember the sacrifice of those who died in war. Victoria Day, when Canadians from coast to coast are invited to remember our shared history with the British. And today, June 6, the anniversary of the allied landings on the beaches at Normandy in France. Why do we remember such things? What is the sense in bringing up the past? Shouldn't we step in the 21st century and just move on?

There are many in this country who have short memories. There are many who give not a fig for the past. To them our history is simply that, history. They would much prefer to carry about their lives without regard for anything that is so obviously removed from present reality. But there are many who would not. Over the last few days of organizing the Standard, I have realized that this group will not forget. We will not bury our heads in the sand. We will remember.

It is customary for the host to provide a short autobiography, as well as an introduction for the Standard. We will get back to my opening thoughts to be sure, but at this point, please allow me to share a part of me with you.

I was born in Victoria in 1978. When I was two years old, my father got a job working at the asbestos mine in Cassiar, B.C. We lived there until 1992, when the government pulled the plug on the mine (apparently asbestos isn't such a hot commodity anymore... who knew?). At the time, I was 12 years old. I was ignorant of the political and economic realities of the time. Nonetheless, I was angry. As far as I was concerned, my home was taken away from me, and I could do nothing to stop it. Despite messianic expectations of socialist salvation at the hands of the New Democratic Party's finance minister, Cassiar's fate was sealed. A lesson was learned on that day. People lie. Politicians lie. Life is uncertain. It is best not to rely solely on the promises and benevolence others, they will let you down. I have not forgotten what took place in those final months of life in Cassiar.

Since then, my family and I have lived in Smithers, BC. I spent two years in Abbotsford, and I hope to return to the lower mainland soon. Currently, I am experiencing a unique time in my life. I am fully aware that my 30th birthday is creeping up on me. As I look around at my family, a great deal of changes are taking place. My brother has a son... a son... what the heck? That makes me an Uncle... how crazy. As well, my elderly grandparents are experiencing the final moments of their existence. As Alzheimer's disease ravages my maternal grandmother like it did her husband in the 1990's, it has become more important to me to remember the things she told me as a boy. My grandmother was fully aware of history. She told me stories of her life as a young girl in Saskatchewan, and recalled the times that her husband played band for the troops that were set to depart. It is the ultimate irony that such a woman would have her mind taken from her in this way. And people in this country choose to forget.

My paternal Grandfather was moved into a hospice last week. Cancer is destroying his body in much the same way as it did his wife several years ago. He was too young to serve in WW2 (born in 1929), but he was a part of a paratroop unit that helped liberate South Korea. I do not know if I will see him alive again, but I will remember his courage. I will also remember the joy he got out of playing golf. This man would golf while sucking back oxygen from a bottle he kept in a knapsack on his back. If you are not a golfer, I cannot explain any further. If you are a golfer, you can understand his passion.

It is difficult to think that soon I will have no grandparents alive on earth. But this does not mean that they are gone forever. I will remember them both.

I have been a proud member of the Red Ensign Brigade since November 23, 2004. As I said back then, I repeat now:

It is an honour and a privilege to fly the Red Ensign Standard.

**************************************

Why do I care about the history of my country? It is because my nation has a proud past. Why will I take a moment of silence today to remember D-Day? Because something extraordinary happened on that day. The numbers I read state that that were 1074 fatal and non-fatal casualties in the Canadian Army on that day. Those men served honourably under the banner of the Red Ensign. They did so to free Western Europe from a tyrant, and prevent said tyrant from undermining the freedoms they held dear. Their efforts, and the efforts of the entire force of British, American, and Canadian soldiers on that day, secured a third front against Hitler. It effectively assured victory in Europe for the Allies. I will take a moment of silence today. And then, I will carry on with my day. I can do so because of what they did. I will not forget.

For those of us on the Brigade, we are living in interesting times. Anywhere from 30 to 40 per cent of Canadians would vote for a corrupt and amoral government to continue governing. This bothers each of us a great deal. Not because we are all right-wing nutjobs (though some of us certainly are!). Not because we simply hate the Liberal Party (I suspect many of us would even vote for them if they were, ya know... classical liberal). It bothers us so much because we remember. We have seen what they have done, and we have seen how they act, and we want nothing more to do with them.

We are a diverse group. As you will see, we come from all over this country, and have all sorts of opinions and ideas. But is there something we all agree on? As I was thinking of how to answer such a thing, I came across this post by Tipper. It sums up nicely what I think too:

On a related theme, I’ve been musing a bit about what it is that unites the Red Ensign Brigade. Some of our blogs are quite political, many less so. Most, but not all of us, are to the “right” portion of the
political spectrum, many moderately and many somewhat immoderately. Some are very vocal, with “no holds barred,” others looking more for dialogue and discourse. Most live in Canada, some live outside. Most are Canadian citizens, others have a strong attachment to Canada. I really do relish the diversity I find on the blogroll.
But my sense of what unites us all is just simply support for Canada and for Canadian interests.

I believe the Canadians among us would all be called patriots – “a person who loves his country and defends and promotes its interests” [per Merriam-Webster]. We may not have complete consensus on what those interests are and even if we were to agree completely on the interests there would be less consensus about how to promote them. But we support. And support encompasses criticism, preferably constructive criticism, and preferably working to change what it is we criticize and not just to complain about it.

There is not complete consensus on what our interests are, and I wouldn't want there to be in a group this size. But the thing I noticed as I read through fifty-four fellow Brigade Members is that we have good memories. We will not forget.

There may come a day when Canadians everywhere simply give up. A day when we allow our government to determine our future without our consent. A day when we blindly go about our business, ignoring the deeds of a corrupt administration, because they are doing it 'for the good of the country'. A day when we bury our heads in the sand while immoral people distribute our hard-earned wealth how they see fit, and we gladly and greedily accept whatever handout is given to us in return with no concern for anyone else. A day when we remember nothing of our proud past, when exploration, technology, trade, and freedom are regarded as trivial. A day when June 6th means nothing more than August 4th or November 25th. A day when talking becomes more important than doing, and we promote freedom by scowling at bad guys and telling then not to be so mean. There may come a day when all these things take place.

But it is not this day. Not June 6th, 2005.

The following men and women live with eyes wide open. They record what they see, and they remember. With such men and women to remind all Canadians, that day will not come anytime soon. With that, I am proud to present the Twenty-Third Edition of the Red Ensign Standard. Let the Linkfest commence.



Atlantic Provinces

At this point there seems to be only one Brigade member posting from the far east. Bob, at Canadian Comment questions the sanity of having Zimbabwe on the United Nations Human Rights Watch, despite a plethora of human rights violations. He then posits whether a nation could actually violate enough human rights to not qualify for the Human Rights Commission. Well Bob, they aren't as bad as Syria, so let's just cut them some slack.
Along the same lines, he questions why Canada would provide financial aid to communist China, recalling some of the less noble qualities of said communist regime.
And be sure to check out his suggestion for changing the nickname of the New Jersey Devils, as well as his thoughts on electoral reform in Prince Edward Island.


Quebec

Paul at All Agitprop, all the Time experiences a wave of emotion. First, he is pleased that the French rejected the EU Constitution, but that joy turns to frustration when he reads of Dominique de Villepin's appointment to the position of French Prime Minister. Paul also comments on the Gurmant Grewal scandal, and at the same time gives outsiders a glimpse into the secret world of being a Red Ensigner. And he wonders aloud why anyone, especially a foreign dignitary, would travel unarmed in Haiti.


Ontario

A Chick Named Marzi shares her thoughts on the government's response to the murder of Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi. She's got thoughts on Gurmant Grewal here, and her post on Karla Homolka has brought her some pretty messed up traffic from google.

Angry in the Great White North wants the water in the Toronto area tested for oxytocin. He also wonders what will happen with the same-sex marriage bill. Angry has some choice words for his MP, Mark Holland, and a poses a question that supporters of the Liberal Party want an answer to. Plus, he offers up his thoughts on Bernard Landry resigning from the Parti Quebecois. And Angry, you may not be on Monte Solberg's list of favourite blogs, but for what it is worth, you are definitely one of mine.

Damian at Babbling Brooks points the finger at the New York Times for trying to tell the greatest military machine the world has ever known how to recruit soldiers. He also reminds us of how Jean Chretien and the Liberal Party systematically deconstructed Canada's armed forces. Yeah, the very same armed forces that took Vimy Ridge, stormed Juno Beach, liberated Holland, and helped free the southern half of Korea. Our servicemen and women deserve better, as Damian so wonderfully points out. One other thing, man, what's your handicap?

Ryan at Blue Perspective discusses the EU constitution, specifically the Dutch rejection of it. He also provides links to the transcripts of the Grewal tapes. Thanks, Ryan!

Andrew at Bound by Gravity shows us that the Conservative Party of Canada is not the anti-environment zealot group they are made out to be. He also comments on... errr Dippergate in Manitoba. Here are his comments on the Sikh man who lied to police about a racially motivated beating. He also points out why each of us in the Brigade do what we do. Admittedly, that's a bad choice of words on my part...

Bob's co-blogger at Canadian Comment, Dana, asks how useless the Canadian media is. Question Asked, Question Answered, I'd say. His thoughts on Grewal can be found here, and I think we can all guess what his favourite fast food restaurant is.

Canadianna thinks the Conservatives have really dropped the ball on the Grewal issue, but isn't very pleased with the media's handling of it either. She also tears into the Globe & Mail's Gloria Galloway for the anti-Christian remarks she has made. To top it all off, she fisks Don Martin and Greg Weston... at the same time! A girl after my own heart.

Alan at GenX at 40 has the low-down on the Tantrama tapes! He also posts on the National shame that is the Arar Case. And when he isn't waxing nostalgic about the Internet, Alan manages to poke his nose outside just in time to see a raging fire and blog about it.

Over at Hammer into Anvil, James links to two unfortunate stories that you gotta read to believe. On top of that, he experiences nausea about the Canadian media uber-fawning over Justin Trudeau's marriage. He also makes a great argument for small government.

John the Mad has thoughts on Grewal, and after determining what the "real" problem in this country is, he offers a solution on how to deal with those pesky Catholics and Evangelicals. The whole thing is hilarious, and I can't help but post my favourite snippet:

We could force Christians to get permits and make them store their bibles in steel cupboards with thick chains wrapped around them for extra security. Rumours have it that Catholics already do that. Think how much more comfortable police will feel if they have to respond to a domestic recitation of the rosary if they know in advance that the scripture is locked away beyond the reach of proselytising laymen. Mind you this will be of limited utility in the case of Evangelicals, because they have memorized the key passages and will be able to preach without scriptural texts at hand. But, to quote the motto of the Liberal gun registry, "No regulatory system is completely perfect."

Priceless, John. And be sure to check out how many times the term "hidden agenda" is used in this post.

Eden at Just Between Us Girls is having trouble with permalinks. But I guess that just means you'll have to click the link, and read the whole darn blog, eh? Don't miss her thoughts on hijacking a riding association in the post titled "Me? An Idealist?"

The most brilliant author of Minority of One, Keith, wonders aloud if we could clone George W. Bush, leaving one copy in Canada, and sending one to the EU. With this kind of thinking, Keith is bound to get arrested. And if you keep slamming out Nanny, you're really going to be in trouble. Nonetheless, I'll post bail for ya, pal.

Meanwhile, Nicholas at Quotulatiousness has been political shopping, with rather funny results. He also points us to a unique case between the US Library of Congress and the ACLU. As well, Nicholas shows us which restaurant he'll be dining at when he vacations in Taiwan! Be sure to check out his pics of the 2005 Brooklin Spring Fair.

At Ravishing Light, Paul hopes the Grewal tapes are not faked. He also fisks a meme from the always-entertaining folks at Democratic Underground, and provides a review of the cartoon Madagascar. For those of you living in the Ottawa area, you may find this traffic info widget quite useful. And to answer your question, Paul, both Testaments contain hellfire. The New Testament is just a little more... final, about it.

Over at Rhetoricking with Myself, Rhetoric has recently released the unedited version of the Grewal tapes. He is also keeping tabs on all the latest polls, and posts his feelings on Stephen Harper's leadership.

At Skeet Skeet Skeet, Ben is pretty pleased with some of the soundbites coming out of a couple of Conservative MP's. He also promotes capitalism in a most eeeevil and un-Che-like manner. As well, he tries to tell us that he knew and dated Miss Universe 2005 before she became famous. Yeah, right Ben. Nice try!

Stephen Taylor has an interesting idea for Stephen Harper to consider. He also plainly states that in order to win the next election, the Conservatives need to get down to the nitty gritty. Finally, he shows how Democracy Watch dropped the ball with regards to the disclosure of political campaign contributions.

The most excellent Taylor and Company has returned to blogging, and to the Brigade! He's been busy keeping track of which military aircraft each of us are. On a bit of a different note, he recalls the concert he took in last month headlined by Itzhak Perlman.

Kateland at The Last Amazon is shocked, shocked by the news that Mahmoud Abbas is postponing the Palestinian elections scheduled in July. Still with the middle east, she comments on two interesting articles found in the Jerusalem Post. And then shares this interesting musical moment she had with her daughter.

Mapmaster at The London Fog is reading the London News so we don't have to. Must be nice to have a million bucks to kick around. They are just doing it to improve your city, eh Mapmaster? But at least they are making... errr... progress. He also admits that he is nothing but a big meanie. Meanwhile, Lisa is more than a little fed up with the nanny state shenanigans going on in Ontario, and don't get her started on how junior hockey adversely affects the environment. And Mike has discovered a rare copy of Universal Child Care Comix.

The Monarchist is looking for new recruits! To have your work posted there would be a true honour indeed, so if you are an aspiring blogger who fits the criteria, apply today! The fine folks there have recently been granted Large Mammal status, which comes as no surprise to those of us in the Brigade. A round-up of the always thought-provoking Walsingham can be found here, and you would do well to read them all. And the Monarchist takes Adrienne Clarkson to task for shaming and dishonouring the position of Governor-General.

Over at the Phantom Observer, VW offers good advice for politicians (as well as the rest of us too, I suppose!). You can read his thoughts on Justin Trudeau's wedding, and be sure to read this post on Wile E. Harper (sooooper geeeeenius). His artwork doesn't end there either, as he puts pen to paper for a cartoon regarding the increase in religious MP candidates. And if you are interested in buying a submarine, VW has all the info you need.

The Tiger in Winter, Ben, tells us why he likes the Bush Doctrine (apparently lots of folks like freedom, imagine that). He thinks that Canada's new Ambassador to the US might actually have a head for the job. I always had a funny feeling he was a closet socialist, but in the end his heartlessness shines through. Things are really happening for Ben, but he still finds time to comment on the EU Constitution.

Prairies

Huck the Bumf comments on the Grewal tapes, utilizing the term "slimy punk" in a most interesting manner. And when Huck isn't waxing eloquent about the purported Duceppe/Harper, Bloc/Conservative alliance, he is enjoying Lyle Lovett, and putting on a concert of his own. That's worth a trip to Cow-town right there! But all is not rosey for Huck, as his sister is dealing with the loss of a friend.

Darcey at Dust my Broom is house-hunting. He also mentions the diversion of water from Devil's Lake to the Red River (Perhaps they should change the name of that lake too, eh Bob?).
Darcey also mentions the same-sex bill, and does heterosexual males everywhere a great service by posting a picture of Miss Universe herself. I love summer too, Darcey.

Over at Grandinite, Aaron posts some great pictures from in and around Edmonton (more here). He also compares the subtle slants apparent in Bourque and Neale News, and notices the increase in the spending of the Alberta government (including the padding of their wallets). And if you have always wondered what Cold Spring Lager is like, look no further.

Jason of Musing is in the middle of a move from Alberta to Arizona. In the meantime, he posts a fitting tribute to those who serve. Good luck with the move, Jason. Alberta's loss is certainly Arizona's gain.

The Raging Ranter provides us with a transcript of the Liberal-altered tapes. He does some altering of his own as well, here and here, with quite fascinating results.

Peter at Rempelia Prime offers up the five smarmy liberal defenses on the Grewal matter. He then blasts every single one of them down to the depths. He has also been the unfortunate recepient of a dastardly piece of hatemail by a complete and utter maroon. Peter, if that cowardly sack of filth ever has the courage to show his face, you know you'll have a host of Red Ensigners to back you up. Bear in mind though, you'll be in no shape to fight if you stay up all night watching Cannabal Girls! As well, don't miss the letter he wrote to Judy Rebick.


British Columbia

Rue at Abraca-Pocus! was taking it easy this week (that is to say, she wasn't blogging a ton), but she managed to find time to post on the latest craze in cosmetics (how does that post title grab you?). And don't forget to Vote For Rue!

Rebecca at Doxology has an interesting rant about what she saw at a recent confirmation ceremony at her church. She's also quite busy with work and life and all that kind of stuff (apparently that sort of thing is important to some). But there is nothing like a good dog picture to ease the tension.

Curt at Northwestern Winds is taking a blogging hiatus. Pah! I laugh at the very thought! Rather than take an actual break, he posts his thoughts on a recent interview with Matthew Lickona, and then analyzes the thoughts of noted atheist Andrew Kenny. I'm glad your hiatus will be blogged, Curt.

The Raging Kraut is kind enough to bring us quite possibly the silliest headline of 2005. And his thoughts on the Single Transferable Vote referendum in B.C. are quite interesting as well.

Jay at Freeway to Serfdom serves up his thoughts on Starbucks, and voices his opinion of the idiotic folks at Burnaby City Hall. I hope the next few months are good for ya, Jay. Don't work too hard, and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.

Sue at Turning Thirty and a Half has a touching post about her sister-in-law's grandmother, and another family photo-op here. She also comments on the case of the Sikh man whose claims of a racially-motivated beating were found to be false. Here's hoping that Sue's June ends a lot better than her May did. One more thing, Sue, you've got a real fine catch there. I do not know the man, but I am extremely grateful for his willingness to serve. He may be serving with the US Navy, but there are plenty of other Canadians who appreciate his efforts as well. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be so far away from the one you love, but you can hold your head up high today. And tomorrow. And everyday. He is a Hero.

Foreign Flavour

Ith at Absinthe & Cookies points out a great website where you can send a message any service member. What with it being Memorial Day last week, and the anniversary of the D-Day landings today... what better time to drop our heroes a line? She also claims to have worked in a haunted hotel, but I think she is just bragging. And if you aren't hungry right now, go read this and this. I guarantee it is enough to make you drool.

Anthroblogogy posts just in the nick of time to be included in the Standard. I for one can't wait until he gets back to regular posting.

John of ARGGHHH (let's see here... one R... two G's... three H's... yep, got it) reminds us of a few cool things that happened in history on June 1st. He also reviews the book The New American Militarism, and has a pile of fantastic Memorial days posts here, here and here. I hope you told your dad you love him, John. I think I'll do something similar as well.

ChrisCam shares some thoughts on proper enunciation and China as a Superpower. How you tie those two together is a bit of a mystery, but he pulls it off. He also gets himself worked up over the latest UN report, and shares his thoughts on the rather unearth-shattering discovery of the identity of Deep Throat.

As always, MyRick has interesting perspective from Asia. He gives us the scoop on Pyongyang's willingness to dump millions into an unfinished hotel. He also shows us the two worst Star Wars costumes ever. And if you are ever in need of a haircut in China, he recommends this, errr... fine establishment.

At the Home of the Green Baron, Thomas is taking wages on how long Cruise and Holmes will be dating. He is back in New Orleans where he hopes to find work until resuming school in the fall.

Tipperography has been watching Yes, Minister, and opines on the Coerced Society. I'm afraid of posting a link to her Pig-Catapulting, because I don't want PETA or the SPCA to get on her case. And if you have a libertarian streak in you, but sure to read why Tipper loves the chaos of the blogosphere so much.

Locations Yet To Be Determined!

At Occam's Carbuncle, A number of terms have been added to Carbuncle's Lexicon. Be sure to check out Alienation, Western Separatist, and Corruption. In fact, you can now enjoy the whole works, here. Alan has also been busy finding the humour in the whole Grewal tapes incident. He also analogizes about my home and native land. Sad but true, I suppose.

Jay Random is both shiny and happy at Shiny Happy Gulag. The reason is Justice Teitlebaum's decision to keep Gomery as the head of the sponsorship inquiry. And if this isn't an entirely appropriate quote for Canadian politics, I don't know what is.

The Meatriarchy is surprising himself. He also gets mad props from MP Monte Solberg, and lays the beats down on rabble.ca for obvious hypocrisy. Of course, what would the Meatriarchy be without gratuitous meat pr0n? Mmmmmmm!

AWOL

The following Red Ensigners are on hiatus:

Candepundit, ESR/Musings, Hypothesis.ca, Musings of a Canadian Slacker, RightJab,

Striving Against Opposition,

Trudeaupia,

The Unwinding Road

This nearly ends another edition of the Red Ensign Standard. Occasionally, the host has the opportunity to dedicate the Standard to someone, and I would like to do so as well. One year ago, I hummed and hawwed about starting a blog. I had wanted to start one, but there are plenty of bloggers out there who write better than me, plenty of linkers who get the scoop before I do, and plenty of people who live more interesting lives than me. When a friend of mine moved to Taiwan to teach english, she began a blog in order to keep in touch everyone. Upon seeing her blog, I finally bit the bullet and got one of my own. It is difficult to consider the Asylum my... errr Blog-Mother, since I am several years older than her. Nonetheless, if it was not for her, this blog may not exist, and it certainly wouldn't be a year old. I dedicate this edition of the Standard to the Asylum. She doesn't post nearly enough, but she's got some great pictures of Taiwan. Be sure to check out her motorbike, PinkE, and tell her Temujin sent ya.

Gratuitous Avril Post

Miss Canada 

"Fall To Pieces" - Avril Lavigne

I looked away
Then I look back at you
You try to say
The things that you can't undo
If I had my way
I'd never get over you
Today's the day
I pray that we make it through

Make it through the fall
Make it through it all

And I don't wanna fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
And I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
Cuz I'm in Love With you

You're the only one,
I'd be with till the end
When I come undone
You bring me back again
Back under the stars
Back into your arms

Wanna know who you are
Wanna know where to start
I wanna know what this means

Wanna know how you feel
Wanna know what is real
I wanna know everything, everything

And I don't wanna fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
And I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
Cuz I'm in Love With you

I'm in love with you
Cuz i'm in love with you
I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you


I just want to sit and stare at you. 

Yeah. That's what I'm talking about.

Distractions!

Kateland at the Last Amazon has tagged me in the book blog game. I think I am going to scare off a lot of readers by doing this, but here goes:

Number of Books I own: Geez. It's gotta be one hundred, give or take. Not nearly as much as most taking part in this game, but quite a few.

Last Book I bought: It has been a while, actually. I think it was Reckless Disregard by "Buzz" Patterson. I needed something to read on my flight home from Vancouver a couple of months ago. It was a good read. Reminds me that I need to buy some more books!

Last Book I Read: I guess the last books I actually finished reading were Treason and How to Talk to a Liberal by Ann Coulter. I am currently making my way through City of God by Augustine, and Searching for Truth by Joe Boot. At the same time, I am reading Anabaptist History and Theology for the third time, and occasionally I pick up The Holy Spirit and Mission Dynamics, edited by C. Douglas McConnell. It is the fifth in a series of books that came out of the Evangelical Missiological Society, and contains a number of essays written by missiologists (I love that word) of all stripe: Baptists, Anglicans, Reformers, and Charismatics.

Books that mean a lot to me: The Bible, of course (score divine brownie points for Temujin). Preferably the New American Standard Version, but I've got New International, King James, the New Living Translation, and even a New World Translation (the primary function of this edition is collecting dust). I'm not the kind of person to say which translation is best, but my preference has always been the NASB.

The Healing Promise by Richard Mayhue is the very best book out there on healing. He does the Christian community a great service by ripping to shreds the fraudulent claims of Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland. It is healers cash-grabbing swindlers like these who give Christianity a bad name, and ruin it for the rest of us who are just trying to share a good thing with others. Too many of my friends have been duped by their ilk, and I'm exceedingly glad to recommend this book. As an added bonus, Mayhue provides a excellent exegesis of those passages in the Bible that these fake faith healers use to dupe their devotees.

For about five years now, I have desperately wanted to travel to Mongolia. I've always been fascinated by Mongolian history and cutural (hence my nick), but in recent years my desire to go has turned into a downright craving. One of the reasons this is so is because of Steppe by Step by Hugh Kemp. Kemp was a missionary to Mongolia in the 1990's who experienced difficulty when trying to make Christianity relevent to the Mongols. He finally found success after pouring over Mongol history. His research shows that Christianity has ties to the Mongols that go further back than even Buddhism. Upon discovering this, he was able to show those around him that Christianity was not just a "white man's religion", but in fact was accepted, and even practiced, by a Mongol Kings, Queens, magistrates, and advisors. Woven throughout his historical data are personal stories of his time in Mongolia. This book has revolutionized the way I think about missions. To say it means a lot to me is a vast understatement.

I read a lot of religious stuff. But an example of a non-Christian books that has impacted me is Years of Glory 1942-1967, edited by Dan Diamond. It is the official NHL book of the six-team era (the years when the NHL had only six teams: Toronto, Montreal, New York, Detroit, Chigaco, and Boston). It's a great read, with plenty of sweet photos from a bygone era.

And I would be remiss if I didn't include Garfield at Large, the first Garfield paperback. It cracks me up everytime I read it.

So there you have it. Now it is my turn to have some fun... who to tag... who to tag...
I know!

Dipnut, consider yourself tagged! You were one of the first of these new fangled "blog" things I discovered, and you were the first I read regularily.

Julie, the MJM Drill Wife. I wanna find out what you like to read. I'm sure to get some great ideas for my next book purchase. You've been tagged.

Asylum, I've only known you for a year, but I think you rock. I wish you could have stayed in B.C. for a little while longer. You've got a great personality and sense of humour. Plus, you're hot (tee hee). You don't post nearly enough at your blog. Tell me what you like to read, you've been tagged.

And Seth... ohhh Seth! I've got a pretty good idea what you're responses will be. Nonetheless, TAG!

Update, 6:35pm- I'm also tagging Colby Cosh. Go big or go home, I always say.

Update 6:45pm - Someone has already tagged Colby. GRRRR! But that's alright, I didn't wanna tag him anyways. Popilop, you've been tagged!