Hmmm ... .... ? Somethings strange here ...

Check it out. What's goin' on here?

Crumbling country characteristics

I hope this doesn't start happening in Canada, but I suspect it will unless we convert Harper and his government to the path of wisdom and logic. Thanks to Glenn Greenwald again:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/08/06/collapse/index.html

A New Hampshire voyage

Bought a new MP3 player, complete with a van to carry it in, last April.



We checked out the new van as a camping implement last week and were pleasantly surprised by its utility, comfort and convenience.



We saw many awesome natural vistas ...


... and some awfully tacky tourist traps like Clark's Trading Post.

Bruce Fein's article in instructive

Consider these ideas, if you will:

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=836

I was struck by how far our governments have gone in repudiating the values and ethics that resulted from WWII and the Nuremberg trials. It seems to make all those deaths back in the thirties and forties a total waste of time. If we are so enamoured of Nazi-like actions now, why didn't we just let them roll over us back then? Surely they would have allowed us to speak english if they had taken over, n'est-çe pas?

Wikileaks is important

Here's why:

http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2010/07/25/bradley-mannings-gift/

See! Now we can know more about what each of us taxpayers is actually sanctioning with our dollars.

Are you proud of what you've paid for?

Don't read this article.

It's too true and depressing. Once again Glenn Greenwald nails it.

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/07/23/intelligence/index.html

Canada is not far behind in its fall into depravity.

Next time you drive the Highway of Heroes ...

Here's some ideas from William J. Astore to think about:

"*By making our military generically heroic, we act to prolong our wars. By seeing war as essentially heroic theater, we esteem it even as we excuse it. Consider, for example, Germany during World War I, a subject I’ve studied and written about. Now, as then, and here, as there, the notion of war as heroic theater became common. And when that happens, war’s worst excesses are conveniently softened on the "home front," which only contributes to more war-making. As the historian Robert Weldon Whalen noted of those German soldiers of nearly a century ago, "The young men in field-grey were, first of all, not just soldiers, but young heroes, Junge Helden. They fought in the heroes’ zone, Heldenzone, and performed heroic deeds, Heldentaten. Wounded, they shed hero’s blood, Heldenblut, and if they died, they suffered a hero’s death, Heldentod, and were buried in a hero’s grave, Heldengrab." The overuse of helden as a modifier to ennoble German militarism during World War I may prove grating to our ears today, but honestly, is it that much different from America’s own celebration of our troops as young heroes (with all the attendant rites)?"

What did the gov't gain by lying?

I bet you didn't read anything like this in a Canadian newspaper:

http://original.antiwar.com/kitson/2010/07/18/treachery-as-public-policy/

Why do politicians always cover each other's ass? Why do they allow their predecessors to, literally, get away with murder? What is the problem with throwing the book at liars, war criminals, thieves, and murderers just because they happened to win an election just prior to their crimes?

My heroes, D'Arcy and Wylie at work

Don't worry, be happy:


See! It's contagious!

It's been a while so I thought you'd be ready for more

This has all the hallmarks of a good movie:

http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2010/07/13/the-shahram-affair/

It's too bad that 'our' side is playing the bad guys. But, that's just the way it is these days.

What the troops think ...

For anyone who still believes that 'our' side is doing good over in Iraq (see previous posts), Afghanistan and the rest of that region, here is a story about two of those who were on the ground during the action:

http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2010/04/16/collateral-murder-veterans-apologize-to-iraqi-families/

I think one can say that their career in the military has been capped by their admissions.

Can anyone explain how this sort of brutality is in Canada's best interests? Why are we not demanding war crimes investigations into all those who do these things, and into the actions of those who attempted to cover them up??

Summing up our moral superiority

Once again, Glenn Greenwald puts things into perspective:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/04/06/iraq/index.html

And furthermore:

"We've shot an amazing number of people and killed a number and, to my knowledge, none has proven to have been a real threat to the force."

That was General Stanley McChrystal, supreme commander of United States forces in Afghanistan, late last month - during one of the virtual "town hall" meetings held with US troops every two weeks, as reported in the New York Times.

McChrystal added, "To my knowledge, in the nine-plus months I've been here, not a single case where we have engaged in an escalation of force incident and hurt someone has it turned out that the vehicle had a suicide bomb or weapons in it and, in many cases, had families in it."




We are despicable

What we should be fighting against ...

... and it doesn't involve using Canadian troops as cannon fodder:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/04/05/afghanistan/index.html

I bet this never gets mentioned in our parliament or our TV and Print news sources.

Here's a follow-up, mentioning the heroic work of Canadian Brig Gen. Eric Tremblay, ISAF Spokesperson in 'reporting' the incident:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2010/04/05/us_forces_afghanistan_killings_open2010/index.html

And finally, for those with the stomach, here's some more of our 'heroic allies' at work:

http://news.antiwar.com/2010/04/05/wikileaks-releases-video-of-us-copters-killing-iraqi-civilians/

How the war is sold

Here is an interesting report on why you support killing people in foreign lands with your tax dollars:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/03/27/wikileaks/index.html


Neat, huh? It's just like selling deodorant.

I Found Him!

This guy is still saxually obsessed! Good thing he's kept locked up on the Delbert cruise ship.

Certified Mexican Chefs!!

Just check out these masterpieces!

Catching up

A view from the couch after a night out with friends down in chilly Florida this January:


... ahhh ... breakfast!

State of Your United States

Here's why Osama bin Laden will be judged as history's most effective user of violence. He managed to destroy the world's mightiest constitutional democracy for less than a million dollars and a handful of his own men.

Read Phil Giraldi's summary of events here;

http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2010/02/12/civis-romanus-sum/

Some light reading ...

Here ya go:

http://www.amconmag.com/blog/losing-the-bill-of-rights/

Sort of re-definition of who the bad guys are, at the end of the first decade of the 21st century.

Who benefits from wars? - Further educational reading

Sorry to intervene in the seasonal gush of niceness, but I wanted to highlight a bit of commentary that seems appropriate as we look forward to our troops ending their mission in Afghanistan ( ... any bets on the actual date?)

Enjoy!

http://c4ss.org/content/1558

What corporation are you fighting for?

And for another historical look at this modus operandi, check out this article from Ray McGovern:

http://original.antiwar.com/mcgovern/2009/12/22/break-the-cia-in-two/

Something to which one can look forward ...

Pianos on the quarterdeck ....



.... and guys for whom one sax ain't enough :



Won't be long now!

Flowerzilla returns!

This thing just popped open in the dining room the other day! Doesn't it know that it's winter outside?

-20C in Ottawa, but not down here ...

... was it really three years ago that we visited this place? ...





It's feeling like the time to have another warm adventure, methinks.

Glenn Greenwald, nails it again

Here's a pretty clear exposition of what really drives our government's anti-human activities:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2009/12/18/corporatism/index.html

With increasing corporate control of all the media to which we are exposed, is it any wonder we never get to hear about the arguments Glenn Greenwald advances?

Whimsy from the past

A friend, Tim Nugent, hand-painted these ties for me about ten years ago. They were too good to wear so Anna framed them.




They should really be seen by more people.

It's coming ...

It started one morning this fall when we saw this:




... and then last week we saw this horror!...




AAGgghhhh... winter!

More cheery reading

Here's where we are today:

http://original.antiwar.com/roberts/2009/11/06/the-evil-empire/

Feeling better?

Grey Jazz at the Aviation Museum

It's now cold and damp and daylight savings time ends this weekend and so it seems like a good time to go back to the heat of summer and reminisce a bit. Here's the Grey Jazz Band on July 1st at the Aviation Museum in full flight, as it were.


And for the truly fanatical fans of this blog's author, here's the trombone section pumping out the sounds.


Have you ever seen a more appropriately named group?

Thanks and all credit to Richard Lawrence (R_M_Lawrence@hotmail.com) for his photographic skills.

Squirrel-proof bird feeders

Say What??!!

Anna just installed the latest in technology to ensure that the birds got fed this winter,

Regardez le film!

Since it's 9/11 ...

and everything changed on that day, here's a good summation of the progress achieved since then.

We probably should insist that our government(s) provide some evidence to support their actions over the last ten years. There is an election coming, n'est-ce pas? Might be a good time to ask some questions.

Here's a starter: Exactly why are Canadian troops in NATO and thus in Afghanistan? For the money and lives that have been spent, what do we get out of it? Why is that more important than unemployment insurance, arctic sovereignty, fisheries research, pension guarantees, good public transport and clean fresh water in all our houses? If we must fight NATO's adventures in Nowhereistan (far from the North Atlantic), why aren't our allies coughing up the cannon fodder and equipment at the same rate that we are?

Something I had not considered ...

Lifted without explicit permission from Bartcop.com:

"Is God an atheist?

Does God believe in a higher power? Of course not, he's God.

Think about God, using his Heavenly computer to, say, investigate the origin of the universe.
He can find evidence of the Big Bang because that exists, but he certainly won't find any evidence of
God being involved, so wouldn't He, by definition, be an atheist? Certainly God's too smart to lie to Himself.

If God doesn't believe in a higher power, why should you?

When God is facing a big problem, do you think he prays?
Of course not, he's God. Who in the hell is he going to pray to?

All God could do is what you and I should do:
Look at the available facts and study the evidence and come to a logical conclusion.

Seriously, do you really need angels and prayers to make good decisions?
Be like God, and forget that higher-power crappola.

..."

Logic in a dangerous world

Our tax dollars at work. Here's a lovely discussion of the modern way of fighting that Canada's government thinks is just great.

But the real problem is why this is all happening. Who is funding these adventures in nation-building, and more importantly, who benefits from these activities. Here is a reasoned opinion that makes sense to me, and starts to illuminate the answers to the foregoing simple questions.

I think we have been eliminated from having any say in how out taxes are spent. In the late 1700s, a group of people objected to this sort of thing with some success, for a few years. Now it's the same-old same-old running things again.

SERFDOM - the natural order of your life!

A prediction I can accept

Here's a Philip Giraldi prediction that I want to place here so that all you closet warriors can respond in six months time and discuss:

Six More Months

Let the debate begin!

Welcome to (Canada + US) = (Austria + Nazi Germany)

Here's a little item about how our government interprets their mission in life.

We really seem to be sinking into the slime along with our southern neighbours.

Ottawa Folkfest

We checked out the Folk Festival this year as Anna had provided a floral box that was to be in a silent auction to raise funds for the event.

Ray Bonneville was on hand and found himself involved in a 'workshop' with some performers from Cameroon.


The Arrogant Worms from Kingston were back wowing the crowd ...


... and Bruce Cockburn gave a great show to round off the days events.

Too much fun ..

Anna threw a birthday party for me yesterday, and around 80+ folks showed up to schlurp and burp and slide and glide and toot and hoot and holler.

Trouble is, I forgot to digitally document the occasion and don't have a single picture or video to show you the extent of the frivolity. Ah well, maybe next year.

Fortunately, Anna got some evidence and you can check things out at her blog here.

Trend spotting: Check this out!

I thought this was what was happening; somebody else finally got the numbers to prove it.

A new direction for our civilization

Feel better yet?

More to consider ...

Here's some reading for those who might wonder what's going on ...

Societal Trend?

I think I detect a large phalanx of police state sympathizers oozing up from the slime of 9/11. We are really no safer now than we were on 9/10, but the bully boys are back to brutalize those who won't be adequately obeisant to the thugs in OUR governments who claim to be protecting us from THEM.

Oh well, ... nothing to worry about ... .... really ... ... or is there ... ?

Tremblantbleu

There's a place in the mountains of Quebec that used to reverberate to the sounds of Can-Am and Trans-Am V8s roaring through the hills. Now, a different sound shakes you and forces your feet to move. Click to play the little movie ...



Yep, there's a Blues Festival in the new Mont Tremblant! And it's free!! And you can stumble around with your beverage from stage to stage without being hassled!!! And the bands are great, with half of them Americans touring to or from the Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto etc., etc., festivals and the others being the best of the regional blues guys!!!! Like here's Rick L. Blues on stage for the final day!!!!!! These guys are so great I even bought the CD!!!!!!
(If you know me, you will understand the significance of that act of commerce.)

Look again ...

I've always found that this photo induces a conceptual cramp for some reason. Take a close look.

The musician's nightmare ...

Check out this youTube video detailing why you should never trust your instrument to any airline's baggage handlers

Thanks to Jonathan Turley for covering this sad saga in the Sons of Maxwell's life on the road.

UPDATE

The Sons of Maxwell are from the Maritimes!! Good on them!.

Apparently there has actually been some response involving a charity from United, so the video and YouTube seem to have achieved some result.

Some interesting thoughts from Joe Conason re priorities ....

"Yes, a trillion dollars is a significant amount of money, even on a scale as large as the American economy. Had we avoided the stupid waste of $2 trillion or $3 trillion on the war, we could have paid for a long list of social goods that would have improved the lives of the American people, enhanced their productivity and secured their future. To name only a few of many better choices, we could have moved rapidly toward alternative energy sources and reduced our dependence on foreign sources of oil for about $500 billion, achieved universal literacy in the United States for about $5 billion, rebuilt the Gulf Coast damaged by Hurricane Katrina for about $200 billion, ended hunger and all the diseases caused by poverty for another $200 billion—and still have a substantial sum remaining to build new schools, roads, bridges, railways and other badly needed infrastructure.

The senators who now claim that we cannot afford to spend a trillion dollars to make long overdue changes in health care know exactly what that amount can buy. They know because they have spent it, year after year, on military misadventures and subsidies to big banks and corporations, without stinting or whining. Why can we always afford those trillion-dollar boondoggles, but never decent health care for all Americans?"

Joe Conason writes for The New York Observer.

The sad fact is that the same sort of BS permeates Canadian political activity, with similar non-results and missed opportunities.

Catalpa knowledge

Previously, I pointed out the remarkable summer flowering of the Catalpa tree. Did I mention that even this marvel ends up really messy?


However, take a close peek at the amazing little flowers, and once again, all is forgiven.

For those with bumper stickers ...

Here's a good article on why i don't do bumper stickers:

http://mises.org/story/3509

Again, those disturbed by the non-status quo should probably not read this sort of thing.

Now what?!!! ...

Paikwa and Keegan don't seem to appreciate my disturbing their solarium time by asking them to pose. Ooops!

They said it couldn't be done ...

Lynn & Bill Richards discovered the wonders of Jenga during their recent visit. What started out competitive became cooperative when we started to get close to the maximum possible number of levels. Check out Anna's blog to see who ran up against the inevitable laws of physics and gravity in this particular game.

Darcy's B'day, June 25

Look at the wild celebration that ensued when Darcy was told it was his 1st birthday!

Wowzee, wowzee!! Hold him back, folks, the place'll be wrecked!

One Week Wonder ...

Catalpa trees are late to wake up in the spring and drop huges leaves and seed pods in the fall which are truly messy to clean up, but for the one week in early summer when they suddenly break out in their flowers, they are amazing! Catalpas almost look like popcorn trees at this time, but up close the little flowers resemble small tropical orchids and give off a great odour for all to enjoy. Anna heard a little boy exclaim excitedly to his parents as they walked by, "Look! Look! Look at the beeeaaauuutiful tree!". Indeed!

Hot Club Of New Orleans

We discovered The Hot Club for the first time during this trip to the French Quarter, very impressive!
The band includes the guitar player and leader of the Jazz Vipers , and stresses the use of acoustic instruments rather than electronic effects.

French Quarter Festival 2009

We're back from New Orleans and will be sharing some pix and vids of the proceedings for the next little while. So let's start with the beginning; our home away from home, the Villa Convento, where we managed to get a room after much whining and begging


At Fritzel's on Bourbon St., we ran across Toronto's Happy Pals blowing up a storm for the masses. Do you suppose they wipe down the tables after a cornet player stomps across your dining area?


And here's a short clip of how they sounded as they passed the Tip Jar;




After that it's time to totally totalize the total tips.

Then the real musicians' magic happens as the filthy lucre is transformed miraculously into liquor, or donated to worthy charities, whichever seems most appropriate at the time.

Mick Collins 1938-2009

Here's a link to the Hot Five Jazzmakers' tribute to our friend Mick Collins:

http://hotfivejazz.tripod.com/mickcollins/

Mick also shared these pix with us of his younger days. He was blessed with many interests and a wicked sense of humour.


We will all miss this man.

The nature of governments ...

I just thought I'd save the link to this rather persuasive article on the nature of those who would govern us peasants. Don't bother reading this, the knowledge accrued might be upsetting.

http://c4ss.org/content/329

... and furthermore, here's a look at the nature of banks that explains a lot of the recent tremors in our financial landscape:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/04/13

Anticipation ...

Where else can you get all this for FREE!!!!

http://www.fqfi.org/frenchquarterfest/itinerary/

From our last visit in 2005, Leroy Jones and Craig Klein on Bourbon St., playing for the fun-seekers.

The state of our universe, 21st century update

WARNING!! Thinkiness again.

Those who find such activity painful & difficult should not click on this link:

http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2009/04/06/goodbye-bill-of-rights/

For those of you basking in Obama's magnificence, you can see that he has a few trivial items to work on in his spare time.

And here's the latest trick for your enslavement:

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/136610

Here'a an answer to the previous post: ... BECAUSE (!!?)

At least the American gov't is discussing the dope issue. See http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/03/because-americas-new-justification-for-prohibition/

And distinguished pseudo-curmudgeon Jack Cafferty has some thoughts on it as well. Check out http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/31/cafferty.legal.drugs/index.html

Another analysis for your consideration: http://original.antiwar.com/henderson/2009/03/30/reduce-violence-end-the-drug-war/

I guess I should stop trying to impose thoughtiness on you Dear Readers, so I'll shut up about real stuff for a while.

Something serious to think about

Maybe I'm shouting in the dark, but I think that the recent shootings in BC indicate it's time to seriously consider a solution like that found in Portugal, as outlined here:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/03/14/portugal/index.html

The new King of St. Patrick's Day - D'Arcy!

Waiting patiently for the partying to start.

PLANTZILLA!!!!

Monster plant just keeps getting bigger and bigger every morning. Soon, it'll want steak for breakfast.

Edmundston NB, Blues & Jazz Festival 2006

Derek Robertson's Jazz Band blasting away in a supermarket to promote the Edmundston Blues & Jazz Fest. Pik re-discovered while pouring thru the archives.

Remember that little bird from San Diego?

He showed up again in DisneyWorld! Still nagging about the Delbert cruise next January.


It's a good thing he's persistent since www.delbert.com claims that the cruise is already sold out! At least we got our name in before the cutoff.

Look what we found in the dining room!

Carol gave Anna a bulb last November, and look what finally appeared. Wow!!

Disneyworld

Here's the Canadian Section at Epcot, being checked out by a concerned citizen:



... and here's Canada's own Off Kilter entertaining the masses


.... les oreilles d'élégance sported by Anna for most of the trip


... and the world famous DaVine had Bob entranced (look closely at the tall plant).


... and, of course, the star of the show was everywhere, Mr. M. Mouse

... and here's a clip of the finale of the nightly fireworks show at Epcot, including the "big one" that somebody asked for, ...