Poem for a Rainy Day

The sky threatens to please me
negotiating clouds,
swollen with black pride
test their waters

raining isn't for everyone
but when I see that cool cleansing ambition
fit to wash the stickiness out of the air
fill holes with puddles
give ducks glee
and let us marvel from safe windowsills
I cannot resist goading it on.

You may laugh at my counterintuitive hopes
Paint me a backdrop like Golgotha
you can resurrect the sun some other day
today must be soaked through

For I have been saving up for this.

Poetry

Are We Too Soft on Babies?

The beloved "journalists" of theonion.com decided to make fun of our Johnson's® Baby Shampoo, namely, our NO MORE TEARS® shampoo formula, here at Johnson & Johnson's. Click here to read article

Fortunately, no one has called us to ask what kind of company goes out of their way to give babies a "healthy dose of reality"; to break them down and prepare them for this harsh world...not yet anyway.

Silly

Musharraf is History!

With Musharraf's resignation as President of Pakistan (which he did to avoid impeachment) it effectively leaves one of the most politically instable, volatile countries without a leader.

He took power in a coup, ousting previous leader Sharif from power in 1999. Since then he has been a key ally of the US in its War on Terror, but considering he's a tyrant himself, his actions haven't done much to speak against militant extremism. Taliban soldiers crossing over the Pakistani Afghan border have been US' biggest threat in that war.

Although his resignation has so far been the best thing for the Pakistan economy (the rupee has shot up in value), it's anyone's guess as to how this will affect the country in general and who the next president will be. Under Musarraf, democracy has been stalled, assassinations have blocked the possibilities of elected leaders like Bhutto from ever taking power. Now that Musarraf is gone, people celebrate in the streets...but no one knows what will come next.

Politics

What We Have Here, is a Failure to Communicate

So, it may be a little annoying to have to divert your attention from the cheerleaders, the lip-synched performances and fuzzy mascots of the Beijing Olympics. It would be so much more convenient if world events took a pause and a traditional, Olympic ceasefire were actually plausible. Apparently, many still haven't caught on to the fact that there's a "conflict" raging on, not in America, but in (or near) Russia. Jason highlighted (on Facebook) the fact that this can be a little confusing for some.

Here's a little (horrible) map I drew to try to "get" the geography of it all:

I'm not an expert, but I'm skeptical of our media considering that it hardly explains how this "conflict" started, just that the US condemns Russia and that we should support Georgia, even if that means supporting their attacks against Ossetia, a part of Russia, who, as far as I can tell, doesn't want to separate.

Of course, there are opponents on either side, arguing that Georgia is liberating Ossetia, that Russia is full of propaganda or that the Georgian attack originated via US pressure. It seems pretty sketchy that there are reports of Auswitz-like round-ups of residents, reports of 1000-2000 Ossetian residents being killed etc. Perhaps the US might be eyeing their oil and hoping for a reason to get soldiers on the ground?

I appreciate the following comment from John Doe in response to Mary Whitt and Free Market and the Globe and Mail article Russia: Forget Georgian territorial integrity

It helps me to "get" the situation a little better by relating it to the Quebec referendum that occured in the nineties. It also highlights important differences as well. (Sorry about it being a quote of a quote of a quote):

john doe from toronto, Canada writes:

Free Markets from Canada writes:
"Georgia if it were a freedom loving country, it would let Ossetia and Abkhazia have their own independence? Just like Canada let Quebec have their independence? Right...."

Free Markets, you're obviously not Canadian, you're American. You're talking through your hat: Quebec has not even had a successful referendum in favour of separation, despite two
tries.

Martyn Whitt from toronto, Canada writes: "John Doe your analogy is wrong Kuwait was an indepedent nation, Ossetia has never been. Here's a slightly closer hypothetical analogy for you; the 6 Nations near Brantford don't let Canadians in to a section of territory for 16 years after being sponsored by and given U.S. passports."

Why don't we stick to the Quebec analogy? Picture this:

Quebec separates, but anglophones and francophones in the eastern townships and Ottawa valley decide, by a strong majority, to separate from Quebec. Quebec invades, Canada sends in troops massed at border.

Remember that Georgia was a part of the Soviet Union until just a few years ago.

Thoughts on this?
Politics

Is Canada Doomed at the Beijing Olympics?

For the 2008 Olympics, which are popularly deemed as China's "coming out" party, it seems Canada may just stay behind. Somehow the Olympics managed to get underway this week, despite the poor air, the algae clogged waters, the human rights abuses etc. but now that they have, can Canada compete athletically??

If we don't win in rowing, it's going to be really pathetic.

Some Partnerships Were Made to Die

Hélas! The Bell Beavers are dead. Their long-running ad campaign was laid to rest on Friday.

Personally, having worked for Rogers Communications (Canada's clearest wireless network), I was biased to hate them, and won't lose any sleep knowing that I won't have to endure another annoying ad ever again. I cringed when I heard Norm MacDonald's voice (aka Frank) on the radio, busy overlooking some important detail whilst running some scam to get cheaper internet or phone service, only to be saved by the smarter, savvier Gordon, with his better Bell deal. On the other hand, I realize they were a Canadian cultural trinket, an era gone by.

Sigh...As a Canadian, I'm damned if I liked them, damned if I didn't. But, there will always be more beavers in the creek.