Oh Ommm
We’ve seen a lot of Orcas (Killer Whales) and dolphins or our regular travels in the Salish Sea of western Canada, but never something like this. The video was taken right in the harbour of the city of Nanaimo, where the ferry docks on its trip from the Vancouver area.
Click image to view video
I have friends in both Denver and Seattle who are somewhat excited about the Superbowl in a couple weeks. So this is for them. (Personally, I think they should get this guy to announce the game. Might be enough to get me to actually watch part of it. Maybe.)
Neil Young is stirring up quite a fuss in Canada.
Seems he’s got the gall to criticize Canada’s oilsands. And much as we Canadians like to criticize other countries (Hello, America!), we don’t take too kindly to folks calling us out.
Especially if it’s a ‘fellow’ Canadian who happens to be living elsewhere these days. Ah well, growing pains. As in, Canada trying to grow up.
Just as much greed in this country as elsewhere. Maybe more under the Harper regime. And on that note, a video by Jor Jor Well. Lyrics below.
JUST COUNT YOUR COIN
We are the victims of your point of view
You think the world was put here just for you
You deal in cash and you manipulate
The devil helps you navigate
Sell your bombs, put your landmines under children’s feet
Cut the old growth forests down
Pump the oil from the tar sands, poison every creek
Don’t let your conscience rejoin, just count your coin
Find the island we call paradise
Build your house and say it’s mighty nice
Then one year later stand and make your speech
Announcing strip malls on the beach
Buy all the water, make us pay to take a drink
Claim all the seeds from Nature’s womb
Advertise to our children, tell them what to think
Don’t let your conscience rejoin, just count your coin
I remember times of innocence
When our minds were not for sale
Yes, I remember times of innocence
But we’ve let heaven go to hell, yes go to hell
Pump all the oil from the tar sands, poison every creek
Dig your holes deep in Native ground
Tear up the treaties, let your lawyers have a feast
Don’t let your conscience rejoin, just count your coin
Yes, I remember times of innocence
When our souls were not for sale
Yes, I remember times of innocence
But we’ve let heaven go to hell, yes go to hell
Take a pill that says it’s time for sex
Take another ‘cause your life’s a mess
Be a victim of their point of view
Don’t stand up and shout, “Hey, you!”
“Take your bombs and shove them where the sun don’t shine
Leave those goddamn trees alone
You can have your piece but this world’s also mine
Stop acting like you were just born to count your coin”
Dude did a map of the education background of all the world’s leaders.
click to enlarge
Surprise – US likes lawyers. But so does Russia. ‘Economics/Business’ also well represented. Strange though, doesn’t seem to be many from the ‘Art/Film/Music’ category.
Map compiled by ‘Mareyv’ on Reddit for Mapporn http://www.reddit.com/user/mareyv
Here in BC, our provincial ‘Liberal’ government redefined democracy by sitting the legislature just 39 days out of the last 569.
Federally, the Harper government redefined hypocrisy by gagging scientists and gutting environmental protection, and then claiming their approval of the Northern Gateway Spill-line was ‘science-based.’
Internationally, a homophobic Russian dictator became the most powerful man in the world. And Japan introduced a new Secrets Act that says what is secret is a secret, but exposing those secrets can lead to ten years in prison. (George, are you watching this?)
Meanwhile, the president of Uruguay drives a 1987 VW Beetle, uses the official palace as a homeless shelter, and donates about 90% of his salary to local charities.
And the fine folks at Playground Builders reach into war-torn darkness and make the world a better place one joyful child at a time.
It’s a weird and wonderful world. And if you don’t think we can lose what we’ve got, you’re not paying attention. Now, if only our taxes were subsidizing people like Playground Builders instead of Enbridge.
VANCOUVER, Canada from the north shore mountains.
*Photo by Artur Stanisz. More here: http://500px.com/ArturStanisz
*After-story: I originally found this on Google Earth pics with no credit mentioned to Mr. Stanisz. Buggers. I remember thinking, “Google Earth took this?? How the hell … ?” So I looked all over but couldn’t find any other reference until just now, 2 weeks later. So kudos to Mr. Stanisz! And a Bronx cheer to Google.
One of my favorite charities is Playground Builders. They build playgrounds for children in war-torn areas of the Middle East, providing safe places for children to play. They always use local people in the building process, providing much-needed jobs and injecting money into the local economy. And their own administrative costs are bare minimum. (I know the founder and members of the board of this organization.)
If you feel inclined to donate, a benefactor is matching all funds up to $50,000, but only until midnight December 31st. So your $10 would become $20. You can learn more here: http://www.playgroundbuilders.org/what-we-do
Great way to start a new year!
McLaren engineers seem to have developed a device that uses sound waves to prevent snow, rain, dirt, even insects from sticking to car windshields.
Teaser here: http://tinyurl.com/legz582
Source article here: http://tinyurl.com/qhdch8n
In the last year and a half the British Columbia legislature has sat for … 36 days.
By the end of 2013, it will be 36 days out of the last 579 (going back to May 31, 2012.) There was no fall sitting in 2012 or 2013 – both cancelled by Premier Christy Clark.
How’s that for a functioning democracy! (Certainly convenient if you want to announce policies like 28% Hydro increases and massive BC Ferry cuts without a pesky opposition party being able to ask you questions.)
A recent study suggests a link between high sexual drive and intelligence. Basically, if you stay up late, use drugs, have blue eyes, big boobs, and enjoy a lot of slap- and-tickle, you might be a candidate for Mensa. (The ‘the high IQ society’.)