Crows: rowdy and randy

Off you go, get me some of that black-striped sunflower seed.

Aww, but they're all out at the pier!

Hurry, make it so!

Off it goes.

It glances up above.

Someone catches its attention...

Wanna fly with me?

Sorry, can't you tell I'm pregnant?!

African Violets

I have found such comfort in the blogosphere. I keep in touch with relative strangers with keen interests that are the same as mine: photography, grandkids, teaching, reading, writing, nature, politics, gardening, volunteering, healthcare.

This is the kind of thing that keeps we middle-aged folks healthy, despite the doom and gloom claiming that Baby Boomers (post WW II; 1946 - 1955) are going to drain the healthcare system and all have dementia.

I am of the Generation Jones (1954 - 1964), but read more here about the different generations.

This is what keeps me going on days like today, when I have a cold, and cannot, nor should not, venture out to visit with my hospice clients.

I received an e-mail from a fellow blogger, @ Rusty's Retreat, who offered to help me figure out how I am killing my African Violets (his are incredible!). He has 'coons, birds, and all manner of creative photos.

I was so happy. I think I've boiled it down to the issue with the soil.

Tomorrow hubby will trek out and get me some new African Violet soil.
I DO have a green thumb.

My Dad used to have a ton of these plants all over the house. He watered them every week, nurturing them with love.

I think I have rather neglected them. Ah me, off I go.

R.I.P. Cpl. Scherrer

Another solder has died in Afghanistan.

Scherrer’s death brings the total number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 155. One diplomat and one journalist have also been slain.

Support our troops

Cpl. Yannick Scherrer,

 from Montreal, was killed around noon Sunday by a roadside bomb during a foot patrol in the Panjwaii district southwest of Kandahar City. He was the first Canadian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan 2011.

For a full list: the 155 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan 

Deepest condolences to his family.

But let us not forget those who came back wounded in body or spirit.

Injured and invisible 

According to the Canadian Forces, 1442 soldiers were wounded in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2009.

WW II soldiers - from my late mother's album

PTSD and Older Veterans | Psych Central

12 Dec 2006 ... PTSD and Older Veterans. By National Center for PTSD ... the impact of war trauma for veterans of the Vietnam war and the Persian Gulf war, ... For most World War II veterans, those memories still can be upsetting.

Evolution of Shell Shock to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

What was so unusual was the large numbers of veterans being affected after Vietnam. The pattern of neuropsychiatric disorder for combatants of World War II.

HOMELESS VETERANS ON THE STREETS OF AMERICA
	2 min 40 sec - 25 Mar 2007 -  ( www.vawatchdog.org )From the CBS Evening News, Sunday, March 25, 2007.

Questions for Federal Election Candidates 2011

What are your priorities in the upcoming Canadian Federal election?

Canadians to go to polls on May 2

Anyone who knows me knows that I am interested in senior health issues, children, education, the environment, healthcare; most of us have pet issues.

Famous Five

Peacetower

Like elementary teachers (I was one for 25 years!), our politicians have to be generalists. They must understand that they represent all of their constituents, must balance all issues with ideals, politics with power, reality with meeting the needs of the least of their constituents, as well as large and small business. They must be intelligent, and digest much reading material, good communicators, and aware of the government protocols.

I hear so many complaining about the taxes they pay, yet complain that their government doesn't provide enough in the way of services. Being on septic and well, I can empathise, but that is a municipal matter, not federal. Read my post about politics that explains the different responsibilities of the three levels of government in Canada.

One blogger wrote:
Who is going to provide economic growth, keep taxes low and reduce the deficit? 
Do we need political stability to stop the insanity of constant electioneering in minority parliament?


Here are some questions you might wish to ask of your local candidate.



Personal questions


A good leader balances all stakeholders needs, does your record show that you listen to all in your electorate?

How can you assure us that you are capable of providing the leadership required?

What values would you bring to parliament that you would not compromise?

What is your experience as a politician?
How involved have you been in party platform creation?

What are your priorities for a new government?

Which are the most important decisions in the next four years in this country?

How do you balance environmental issues with the needs of a region to help its citizens to earn a living?

Many in Canada are tired of Federal elections. Do you believe that a minority government matters, and should the government have worked together?

How do you feel about private (for-profit) versus public, non-profit, universal healthcare?

Have you ever used a day care provider? Should the government fund public day care, instead of families relying heavily on for-profit centres?

Do you feel positive about immigration in Canada? Should it be harder and should illegal refugees be able to jump the queue?

What does social responsibility mean to you as an elected official?

Of course, most parties have a party line, and it would be interesting to know if your local candidates understand party platforms.

Defence

How do you feel about Canada remaining in Afghanistan?

How are we doing with military spending? Should it be more or less?

Should we be buying new helicopters and jets?

Economy

Should the federal deficit be reduced at the cost of reducing government services?

Budget 2011: a budget or a party platform, with big corporations taxes reduced, the very rich paying little, disparities between rich and poor increasing. 

Environment
Do you think that environmental sustainability conflicts with economic sustainability in this country?
Should we have a carbon tax? Do carbon credits work?
Should the federal government have more control over the tar sands development.
Government programs and Policy
How does your party feel about relations with the USA, free trade, outsourcing,   marijuana possession, youth offenders, political party funding,
Healthcare in Canada
Should US-based Pharmaceuticals controlling access to generic drugs?
Do you believe the media that the healthcare system is broken, or do you believe we must make physicians, ERs, for-profit (and US-based) long-term care/retirement homes, more accountable?

Should we allow privatisation of healthcare, and a two or three-tier system?

Do you believe in concierge medial clinics that treat those who can afford it, limit patient loads, charge patients $3500/year for immediate access? 

Or should we institute Family Health Teams, as is done in Ontario, with more Nurse Practitioners, especially in remote locations?

Should e-Health be a priority for Canada?

Immigration/Multiculturalism/Canadian Values

Are religious minorities given too many rights in Canada? 
Do you agree with the concept of the *'unbearable lightness of being a Canadian?', e.g., ensuring that Canadian values are upheld, limiting ethnic, religious interference in matter of state?
Law and Order
Should the long gun registry be scrapped or retained?
Are sentences for violent offenders tough enough? Do you believe in punishment or rehabilitation?
Should young offenders be given adult sentences in the case of murder and extreme violence?
Do you believe in discharge of sentences for released sexual/violent offenders?
Does Canada have to change early release and have a minimum of time served?
Parliamentary Reform

Do you believe in Senate reform?

Do you believe that politicians need to be more respectful in parliament?

How would you improve integrity in our government?

Do you believe we need proportional representation? 

Poverty in Canada
How would you ensure that our deficit is reduced, and economic spending is controlled by the federal government, -i.e., cutting spending or services? 
How important are the less fortunate in this riding?

Should Employment Insurance be as restrictive as it is?

Quebec

What do you feel about declaring Quebec a nation, as differentiated from Aboriginal Nations?

Your Tax Dollars
What do you think is the most important issue of concern to your constituents; the disabled, seniors, the poor, aboriginal peoples, jobs, tourism; business owners? Whose needs should come first?

Wiki graphic showing seats

Current Standings (Dec.2010)

More info: Current Standing of Parties in the House of Commons

Elections Canada Online 

Choose a general election:

• 40th General Election, October 14, 2008
• 39th General Election, January 23, 2006
• 38th General Election, June 28, 2004
• 37th General Election, November 27, 2000
• 36th General Election, June 2, 1997

*Challenges of Multiculturalism: Nationalism Without Walls

The multiculturalism policy is being debated by two recent critiques: Neil Bissoondath's Selling Illusions: The Cult of Multiculturalism in Canada (Penguin 1994), and Richard Gwyn's Nationalism Without Walls: The Unbearable Lightness of Being Canadian (McClelland and Stewart, 1995).

Election Twitter, coalition, #cdnpoli

Today's AWAD: taradiddle
noun: 1. A petty lie. 2. Pretentious nonsense. 


Canada’s first social media election is on, but will people vote?
40,000 tweets and we're just getting started!
This is a Globe and Mail article,

Tony Clement urges senators to block generic-drug legislation

highlighting Tony Clement's choice to block the drug legislation that would ensure that underdeveloped countries would have access to generics. Seems criminal to me.

He used to own a 25% interest in a pharmaceutical. While he divested himself of it, do you think he has some bias?

This will be an interesting election, especially with many politicians on Twitter. 

@MPRubyDhalla @RalphGoodale @MinJK all have accounts. The hashtag for the election is #elxn41, or #canadavotes, while Canadian Politics is #cdnpoli 


Then there is ...

Ted Chartrand

@TedChartrand view full profile →

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Founder, Canadians Rallying to Unseat Stephen Harper (CRUSH)-Privacy/risk assessment consultant, political junkie, wicked choral conductor/interpreter baroque. 

You really have to visit the website to read some of the Tweets, they are quite funny. 

Here's one:

'Harper claims sky is actually not blue. It is a #coalition of colors pretending to be blue'

[Of course, a coalition is the obligation of the parties to consider. It is up to the elected officials to form a government that will represent this country and its electorate, says wise political hubby of mine. Another  blogger wrote: "Here we are, two and a half years later, and heading to the polls once again. As we know, Stephen Harper is using the coalition issue to garner support for the Conservatives, while Michal Ignatieff disavows himself of trying to form a coalition government.  

As we saw in the U.K., coalitions are a legitimate form of government in a parliamentary democracy."]

Then there is the inimitable Rick Mercer who tweets:

rickmercer Rick Mercer 

Red door or blue door? Its not the doors I dislike it's the knobs out front. #cdnpoli

Tony Clement is one who constantly sends out his own tweets. Others have their people do it, you can tell! 

He's quite the politician, always dropping off money to his constituents. The G8 was quite a coup for him.

TonyClement_MP Tony Clement 

My Deputy Minister had some fun facts for me today. I've been Minister for 876 days (some longer than others) & gave 127 speeches (ditto).

Clement Kicks Off Campaign in Bracebridge: CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF!  Parry Sound-Muskoka MP Tony Clement launched his ...http://bit.ly/fjfIJh


Dear #CPC. You can't say coalition anymore without looking like an ass. Your ads probably cost you 100 voters each time they run.


Tory handler tells Harper & Laureen to kiss while cameras rolling in Burnaby. They did


How symbolic @M_Ignatieff first campaign flight is from Trudeau (YUL) and Pearson (YYZ)


Keeping with campaign tradition, reporters have dubbed Harper's plane ScaremongerAir


LET IT BE KNOWN THAT WE WILL *NOT* SUPPORT ANY ATTEMPT TO NAME THE #CPC CAMPAIGN PLANE "CON AIR".