Tuesday 31 January 2012

Ice fishing - a whole new style

Many of my readers have made comments on the winters we face. I like snowshoeing, walks in the woods.
 It was Friday afternoon, and the snow had begun. On a walk on the bog, I encountered some water!


My snowshoe sunk into the water!



I have posted about the world of ice fishing.
We went for a drive. 
One little hut out there! 

You can barely see it, the hut,
but look at the melt around the bridge supports!


At the boat launch, many wet tracks!


Can you read 'thin ice'?



 First you dig a hole. 
An auger does this well! Apparently, concurrently, you build a fire.

The auger
Is the canoe on fire?! NO!
 Then you drive your truck over. Get the kids and the dog out of the truck, having driven them up and down the lake several times!


On family day, in Muskoka, you have to dig one hole per child to avoid debates! 
 

We checked out the beach –closed.

Modern times, you have a nice hut. Not this hut.

But look more closely.


Trucks, huts... dog, cars, 

Motor homes and trailers on the lake!

A cold day to walk the dog!

Monday 30 January 2012

How easy it is to be Canadian!

Dual citizenship, working and travelling in two more more countries, paying taxes? Maybe.
Upholding the culture, values, traditions and beliefs in which country? Which one?

UPDATE: Now that they have been convicted, the testimony held back has been revealed.

 
The Shafia honour-killings trial heard from plenty of Afghan witnesses prepared to vouch for the parents and son accused of murdering four female members of their family.

The Shafia case is a supreme one. There are cultures, traditions, religions and races where polygamy, lying, are permissible. Canada is not one of them.
I have followed the case closely, the inconsistencies, the inadmissible evidence revealed after the jury ws sequestered.

This reporter has been a good read:
I became keen on understanding Islam when I had classrooms graced with the presence of some 80% multicultural rainbows. I learned what I could, e.g., had some delightful Lebanese students explain which dishes to order on a dinner date!

We shared mutual practices, faith-based notions. We practiced equality, and treated one another with dignity and respect.

They were a broad mix of kids and we had some interesting discussions. One time, during a discussion when a student's friend had lost an ill sibling, we were talking about the chronic ill health of the young brother. The pregrieving was hard on the family. The discussion continued about death and dying.
One student chimed in with, "Suicide is OK if you are defending your peoples! My uncle was a suicide bomber." I declared that this was not acceptable in Canada. It was shocking.

In some cultures, in some parts of the world, you tell 'permissible lies'. In Islam it is called Al-taqiyya, and it means that the "concealing or disguising of one's beliefs, feelings or opinions to save oneself from injury." I faced this when dealing with some of my students. I would catch them in an act and they would tell me "I swear I didn't do it, Miss!"

As long as dual citizenship is allowed, those holding beliefs contrary to Canada's laws, will be torn. Perhaps not torn, but making a cultural choice. Those with assets have been welcomed into Canada, like the Sharia family. Perhaps, while there was a financial means test, perhaps there should have been a values test. Women are equal in Canada.

I am so shocked when I read about this Shafia case.

I am further shocked when I read that an NDP candidate for leadership has dual citizenship.
Andrew Coyne reported,


Mulcair's citizenship only matters if Canada matters


At bottom, the question of Thomas Mulcairs dual citizenship has nothing to do with him, and everything to do with us. The NDP leadership candidate was within his rights to take out French citizenship some years ago. He did nothing shameful...
Again, the unbearable lightness of being Canadian.
According to Coyne, to become a citizen of another country you will lose your citizenship in Denmark, Japan, Norway. You cannot acquire citizenship in another country outside of Germany.
The US doesn't do it formally, but their oath says that new citizens must "renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity." In Australia, you may not be a member of parliament if you are a citizen of a foreign power.

Either this is your home, or it is not.
Either you uphold the beliefs of Canada or you do not belong here.

Icy times in Lanark, S.E. Ontario

Can't keep up with the icey rain.
Just when it's cleaned off,
the rain comes again!

My mailbox, it seems
was hit terribly hard
with thick layer of ice
its efficiency marred

The winter it seems
was more icy than snow
sunset revealed:
ice on pine needles
a beauteous glow!

Rewarded with a lovely sunset, but more snow to come!

From Cottage Country Reflections

Saturday 28 January 2012

Bird watching

woodpecker
Sadie!

Lil' Red
So wee

And the blue jay
Buster watches
ferocious
I love the sounds birds make at different times of the year and in different places. You can hear Buster doing his maa-aa-aa, as he watched the blue jay.


Visit more critters here, #199!

Friday 27 January 2012

Pink Ribbons, Inc. - the pink machine

I've thought long and hard about this issue. The pink ribbon machine. Hi-jacked by many business owners, cancer fundraising is big business. I wrote about it last fall: The Pink Machine.

I have read the book, and hope to see this movie. The book is an excellent commentary on pink washing, whereby a company connects with the breast cancer bandwagon, but doesn't truly respect the notion that we must watch for chemicals that cause cancer.
Many make-up products contain chemicals we know nothing about. Some are tested on animals, but that is another story.

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is upset with the film. CCS tells us that 65% of funds raised go towards breast cancer research. This is not the case for many businesses that use the pink ribbon to raise their profile and their SEO.

Breast cancer has become the poster child of cause-related marketing campaigns. Countless people walk, run and shop for the cure. Each year, millions of dollars are raised in the name of breast cancer, but where does this money go and what does it actually achieve?


Directed by Léa Pool and produced by Ravida Din, Pink Ribbons, Inc. is a feature documentary from the National Film Board of Canada that shows how the devastating reality of breast cancer, which marketing experts have labeled a “dream cause,” has become obfuscated by a shiny, pink story of success.

Watch a clip from Pink Ribbons, Inc. (Clip)online at NFB.ca

www.onf-nfb.gc.ca › ... › Press Room › Press Releases & Media Kits
The National Film Board of Canada presents Pink RibbonsIncDirected by Léa PoolProduced by Ravida Din. Written by Patricia Kearns & Nancy Guerin...


"Highly revelatory—at times shocking—Pink Ribbons, Inc. challenges the commercialization of the breast cancer movement, its place in U.S. culture, and its influence on ideas of good citizenship, responsible consumption, and generosity. "

The author, Samantha King, is an associate professor of physical and health education and women’s studies at Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario. It is well-written, and an interesting read. It is, indeed, shocking, the amount of money sunk into 'research', with no promises of support or delivery of programs. If you donate, you must be sure to check out the background of the sponsors.

I would caution you in entering the 'race for the cure'. There are questions as to how much money goes to research, and how much should go to supporting those with cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society provides a range of services, for example: a lodge in which to stay, peer support, volunteer drivers, etc.). They are transparent in their financial statements.

Helping those with cancer – watch the video

Our information and support services help cancer patients and their caregivers by reducing anxiety and increasing hope. In this video healthcare professionals speak about the benefits of the services and former clients share how these services helped them through their cancer journey.
The Susan B. Komen foundation has raised more than a billion dollars. They charge big bucks to participate in their machine. The disease is being used for profit. Every marketing strategist in North America has at least thought about tying their product up in a pink ribbon.

Breast cancer has become the poster child of cause-related marketing campaigns - people walk, run and shop for 'the cure'. Each year, millions of dollars are raised in the name of breast cancer, but where does this money go and what does it actually achieve?

The recent Ottawa Run For The Cure raised $1.5 million dollars. How is it that this kind of money cannot find a cure? I believe we must put more money into prevention, treatment and services. We know how to reduce the risk of cancer, if not prevent it:

  • eat a balanced diet (mostly plants), reduce fats and alcohol, exercise, get enough sleep, manage stress. 
Yet marathon runners contract cancer, as well as those who do all of the above.

These sisters know that cancer is genetically heritable. How, then, could they have prevented it? Perhaps we need more genetic counselling. Perhaps those taking expensive, extreme in vitro fertilization should have the same counselling, rather than spending thousands of dollars to make a body get pregnant unnaturally.

Pink Ribbons, Inc. is a feature documentary that shows how the devastating reality of breast cancer, which marketing experts have labeled a "dream cause," has become obfuscated by a shiny, pink story of success.

For more information on this film, please visit Pink Ribbons, Inc. page or send an email to PinkRibbonsInc@nfb.ca.
12 Sep 2011

Quilting, not a lost art

While I was volunteering at Perth Community Care Centre, some of our Lanark County Quilters Guild came to visit!
Carole led the group through this beautiful piece of artistic endeavour.
All handled with gloves!
 
    


To view all of the photos:


Carole explained the origins of the quilts. They were beautiful to see!

My tattoo photo collection

Long car rides and a love for Canada: The story behind the tattoo

Posted on Nov 27th, 2013

We recently came across Bree Rody-Mantha's Tumblr on which she shared a picture of her newly-inked CBC tattoo. We admit that we're a little biased, but come on — it's amazing! We reached out and asked Bree to fill us in on the "back story" behind her decision to permanently inscribe our logo into her skin. Here's what she told us.


Connor, Benjamin, Gracie-Lynn



"perfer et obduradolor hic tibi proderit olim"
Be patient and tough; some day this pain will be useful to you.



"Intelligence: Always use your head
but trust your heart."













People are people and sometimes we change our minds