odds and ends

Out the front window

We have a snow base of about 22 cm. My poor yard stick fell over, as the snow is quite powdery. 

Inside the front window
My tulips and paperwhites are growing nicely. I must look for some fertilizer.

The Two Michaels
Canada is still fighting with China over the incarceration of our two Michaels. It's a long story, but when the US demanded we hold Meng Wanzhou for extradition in Vancouver, and we set up a court hearing for this, and said we had to follow the rule of law, China threw two Canadian men in jail in China. The two men are both named Michael, and protestors have been trying to secure their release. They are in awful conditions. This woman, Weng, is living in a Vancouver mansion, with an ankle bracelet, which she show off to the press. The two michaels are being denied their human rights, living in inhuman conditions.

There was a court hearing about this extradition this week, we have a treaty with the US, of course, and there were people with red signs there as the hearings began.

The strange tale of the paid protesters supporting Meng Wanzhou at her extradition hearing

It turns out that a casting agent put out a call for actors, to pay them $150 for a film shoot. They lied. They hired them to protest. The actors had no idea what it was all about until reporters began interviewing them. Then they realized their mistake. They were not up-to-date on the issues. Sadly. 

“After two or three questions, I obviously noticed that she was a professional journalist with professional equipment, asking real questions. That’s when I totally freaked out.”

Pro-Meng protester says she was duped:https://t.co/t2ixleXpJu

— Andrea Woo | 鄔瑞楓 (@AndreaWoo) January 22, 2020

Prince Harry and Meghan's arrival could mean 'new grounds' for Canada's privacy laws

Then, there are the poor Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They have landed in Victoria, B.C. The paparazzi have followed them to Canada. They hope that privacy laws will protect them. Many, on Facebook, have been vitriolic about Canada paying for security. They are still sorting out details. In the meantime, their neighbours realize that this will have an impact on their lives, but they are standing up for the couple. 

They are on Vancouver island, in an $11 million mansion, and paparazzi have tried to pay boat owners to take them for shoreline photographs. The Media interviewed one boatman who refused to do so. In the age of drones, I hope they can get rid of the paparazzi. There are professional photographers trying to earn a living off the backs of this couple
I saw a confrontation on the news. I hope Victoria residents continue to stick together, as they did in the clip. Canadians are nice people, for the most part.

privacy laws

There's also what's known as "intrusion upon seclusion" in which the defendant's conduct must be intentional or reckless and have invaded the plaintiff's private affairs "without lawful reason." Also, a "reasonable person would regard the invasion as highly offensive causing distress, humiliation or anguish," MacKinnon said.

Meanwhile, my foot is healing nicely, where the log fell on it.  JB is still coughing. That's been since Nov. 15th. IT comes and goes. I wish it would go. He's so frustrated. JB's worked hard on getting fit after his cancer surgery and during his treatments.

Finally, a WHO decision on nCoV emergency delayed as the cases spike: This is where you can see a map of nCoV cases thus far.