BC Bloggers

Laurie

2008-07-04T04:29:17+00:00

My brother bought our Dad a puppy for his birthday. She’s a Bichon X Shih-tzu, and her name is Abby. She’s cute. She’s a big furball though - she’s the kind of dog that needs grooming and ear plucks. A little high maintenance, but my Dad just adores her. When it was time for her to [...]

Que Pasa Mexican Foods in Richmond

2008-07-04T04:19:18+00:00

The South Arm cooking club for seniors went for a Mexican meal for their last meeting in June. This is not only a dining out experience but it comprises of a tour at the Que Pasa factory. Do you know that Que Pasa in Spanish means “What’s happening?”

Que Pasa was established in 1983 in Vancouver as a small street-front deli specializing in freshly prepared salsas, and home-style tortilla chips. Since 2002, Que Pasa is operating in a larger facility plant at 12031 No. 5 Road in Richmond, BC. The plant includes equipment for cooking and stone grinding the corn and a large kitchen for the salsas and food preparation for the deli.

Que Pasa has made it to the 139 reasons to love Canada which was published on July 1, 2006 by Shelley Fralic in the Vancouver Sun. Que Pasa is well known for their organic corn tortillas, salsas and Mexican-style prepared foods like chicken fajitas, enchiladas, burritos and cheese quesadillas.

Que Pasa also produces several private label products, mainly tortilla chips for brandname like Western food and Kirkland. We were told that the Costco brand of tortilla chips uses organic corn and organic canola oil.

Que Pasa factory tours are held all year round. You can book a tour anytime with at least 2 weeks notice prior to the proposed tour date. The tour is free. There are some very stringent rules to be followed for the tour for safe and sanitary reasons. The rules are:

no chewing gum,
no food or drinks (understandable),
no camera or audio equipment,
no tank tops, shorts and skirts,
no nail polish (we had one member to remove her nail polish before the tour start),
no jewelry and watches must be removed or covered,
no sandals i.e. all participants must wear rubber sole, full toe footwear, (we had one participant who had to go home to change her shoes),
and participants must wear a hair net and a beard net if applicable.

All participants must wash their hands and go through a foot bath before entering the facility.

At the end of the tour, we got a free package of 60g Que Pasa seasoned snack chips. We got to choose from various flavours like spicy cheese, spicy salsa and sun ripened corn. We actually prefer to have a taste test of the different kind of chips instead. We would like to compare the difference between their hand cut tortilla chips and in-line tortilla chips. The hand cut chips are made from round tortilla which is then cut into triangle shape and the in-line chips are cut into triangles from the press. The in-line chips are supposed to have more bubbles and more crispy. When asked which is their best seller, it’s still the original blend tortilla chips. Que Pasa does carry blue (from blue corn) and red (with food coloring) tortilla chips.

After the tour, we headed to the Deli for lunch. Here are some of the food we had.

This is their 25th year anniversary Que Pasa pie. It’s rice top with a round tortilla and loaded with stuff as seen.

Chicken fajitas and enchiladas (the only item in the deli made with corn tortilla, the rest are made with flour tortilla).

Another enchiladas, burritos and quesadillas.

The retail store which is located next to the Deli carries a variety of specialty bottled sauces made from unique blends of chilies, a wide selection of traditional Latino seasonings, canned goods and pinatas.

Stella, thank you for organizing the tour for the seniors. It is certainly a very informative tour. We learned how tortillas chips are made from dried corns from scratch and we enjoyed the meal at the deli.

lifeundefined

2008-07-04T04:10:54+00:00

Conspiracy theory From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For other uses, see Conspiracy theory (disambiguation). A conspiracy theory attributes the ultimate cause of an event or chain of events (usually political, social or historical events), or the concealment of such causes from public knowledge, to a secret, and often deceptive plot by a group of powerful or influential people [...]

Kevin Falcon’s American Idol

2008-07-04T03:56:21+00:00

Vancouver Police got it right; North Vancouver RCMP got it right; Premier Gordon Campbell got it right; but Transportation Minister doesn’t seem to get it at all. Falcon thinks it was “terrible” that the Second Narrows Bridge was closed for six hours on Canada Day, while authorities dealt with a suicidal distraught elderly woman. And Falcon has [...]

No Kidding - Goats in the Castlegar Current

2008-07-04T03:55:36+00:00

"Maybe they just don't like goats?"

This was our first impression following the last council meeting, it seems that some of the elected representatives of the City of Castlegar have a different perspective on food security and sustainability than many people in this City and region. When presented with an opportunity to review the current animal control and zoning bylaws to permit small-scale "urban agriculture", as is permitted in cities such as Seattle, it seems our Council, rather than having a rational discussion, opted instead to poke fun at the suggestion that urban hens and miniature goats may be a step closer to a sustainable Castlegar.

Only one councillor decided to contact us regarding the letter, supporting further discussion, and none of the others have had any questions for us prior to the meeting or since. Which is surprising, considering that a City report from December 2007 states, "little to no planning has been undertaken for the Castlegar area on issues related to the maintenance of a healthy, nutritious and sustainable food supply". Would it be too much to expect the City to entertain a discussion on this simple proposal that may meet this very objective?

Chickens and miniature goats do make great pets and can be productive members of a household, cleaning up scraps, pulling weeds, providing manure for productive vegetable gardens and "mowing" the grass. In addition they can providing eggs and goats milk for the household. Less oil used mowing the lawn, less fertilizer, less herbicide, less waste, and organic produce – this is a key part of sustainable urban agriculture, and is an easy way to teach children about healthy food, farming and caring for animals.

With gas prices increasing weekly it is inevitable that the impact of this will be reflected in the cost and availability of food. Years ago, the Kootenay Region was a net exporter of food, now, by my estimate, we import up to 95% of all the food we consume. Transporting all that food costs money, and it isn't going to get cheaper. Let's see some support for a local Farmer's Market, with truly local produce!

Knowing where your food comes from is important in these days of large scale farming, fertilizers, hormones, battery cages and genetically modified foods. Contact me at UrbanWorkbench.com to show your support, you can also read the original letter with more details about our proposal.

This is just one idea, but let's talk about what makes a City sustainable, and how we can all work together to make Castlegar a healthy, sustainable place to live.

This letter appeared in the July 3rd Edition of the Castlegar Current. You can read all the posts regarding this topic here.

Technorati Tags: chickens, hens, Castlegar City Council, Castlegar Current, council, goats, miniature goats, pygmy goats, urban farming, urban agriculture, city farming, farming, pets

Growing Grains Update

2008-07-04T03:33:16+00:00

This spring, we planted Wheat, Oats and Amaranth. Here’s where we are up to. This is some of our Amaranth…

And here is some of the Oats coming out…

The wheat is growing, but we don’t have any seeds coming out yet. Our Corn is looking good too…

With temperatures in the high thirties over the long weekend (Canada Day), we’re seeing some massive growth spurts! (The lawn needs a mow too!)

Technorati Tags: grains, urban farming, urban agriculture, growing grains, Castlegar, Kootenays, gardening, corn, wheat, amaranth, oats

harpervalley

2008-07-04T03:31:26+00:00

Scout left the festish ball early to transport to the celebrations in Quebec City , marking it’s 300th birthday. What a city that place is….I’d love to spend some more time there one day.

The Samuel Champlaigne was uncorked and everyone pretended what a great guy this injun killer was. People were protesting the protestors there, you know, some First Nation’s supporters who realize it’s really Native land. Of course, Quebec seperatists, the ones who want sovereignty for themselves but would do away with rights for aboriginals were singing their tune. What a day!!!!

All in all it was more interesting then the festish ball where yours truly was one of two artistically done up….drag (pardon the pun). Basic black ruled but I chose the Hawaiian national colours to adorn myself in a shiny red bra with a muscle shirt over top, red boxer shorts with black fish nets and a shiny green bathrobe. What did I wear on my feet? Can’t remember but I did like my bowtie.

Oh we all do love to celebrate in our own way

Ch-ch-changes

2008-07-04T03:18:00+00:00

Overdose protocols must have changed a lot in the past 17 years, since my last overdose.

This time, I was immediately hooked up to a heart monitor, given an IV, had these sticky patches stuck all over my body and then hooked up to another machine that took a scan of my heart. I had a blood gas test (blood taken from an artery in my wrist - fucking painful!), automatic blood pressure cuff, and oxygen saturation thingy on my finger. None of this happened to me last time.

The only thing that was the same was the charcoal milkshake, though this one was considerably smaller than the one I remember choking down so many years ago, and this time I didn't spend the next 24 hours shitting it out. In fact, I don't think it's yet all gone from my system. When I was 17, I was given syrup of ipecac and the charcoal milkshake, a lecture, and was then taken down to the psych ward like a chastised kindergartener.

How times have changed!

Wednesday, I was in ER for about 5 hours, for most of which I slept. At 6:30pm, my GP, who happened to be the ER doc that evening, transferred me to the psych unit (i.e. the spa), sectioned me, and since the nurses on the psych unit don't "do" IVs etc., I was unhooked from everything and taken down by wheelchair. I had a rough night of bad dreams, auditory hallucinations, very dry mouth, night sweats, and some other fun stuff.

I had only reached phase one of my overall suicide plan by the time I panicked and called my family to take me down to the hospital. Now I know what to expect. Next time, if there is a next time, I'll know better.

Blind Governor?

2008-07-04T02:01:42+00:00

A glimpse into the world of the legally blind . . .

He gives hope to a lot of folks at home, waiting.

Book Review: Identical Strangers

2008-07-04T01:42:00+00:00

Oh, we all know how I adore George. If you don't, read this post and follow some of the links.

Not too long ago, George interviewed Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein, who have written a book called Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited. Paula and Elyse are identical twins who were adopted out to different families back in the late 1960s and were never told they had a twin until they were 35 years old, when a series of cosmic events brought them together. And when George interviews an author, the coyote's ears perk up, and she usually acquires the author's book. That's exactly what happened with this gem of a memoir.

This is a fascinating, highly engaging read. The story is incredible: separated at birth by a well-known Jewish adoption agency, Elyse and Paula were originally meant to be part of a twins study conducted by a bunch of sketchy doctors. Due to an early health issue, they were dropped from the study, but the damage had already been done: they'd been separated after spending not only nine months in the womb but several months in a foster home before they were finally adopted.

At thirty-five, Elyse, on a whim requests information about her birth parents from the adoption agency. Paula never did any searching and never wanted to be found, but one day after Elyse's application for information is submitted, the adoption agency calls her out of the blue to tell she has an identical twin sister.

The journey for these two women is simultaneously marvelous and heart-wrenching, and there is more than one level of journey going on in this book. First, the sisters reunite and begin meticulous investigative research into the adoption agency and the twin study they were meant to take unwilling part in, with the ultimate goal of finding out who their birth mother is. Second, on a deeper, emotional level, the reader is drawn into the narrative exploring the conception of a relationship, a very intimate relationship that began in the womb, but never had the chance to develop until after their reunion. There are a lot of complicated feelings and it's a rough time for both sisters as they struggle with a hypothetical past and an uncertain future together, not to mention the meshing of different personalities. Finally, there is the journey to closure, the result of their intense research and the tireless leaping over of enormous obstacles.

This is also a journey of genes and all their nuances and intricacies. While genetics are a complicated subject - both scientifically and ethically - Paula and Elyse manage to provide a lot of information about DNA and its study in layman's terms, something I appreciated and something I know would take a lot of skill for a writer. Both of these women have made their livings as writers, interestingly enough, so the book was, perhaps unsurprisingly, very well-written, very well-organized, and the voices of the authors are both captivating and infectious, while maintaining clarity and individuality.

This book will be remaining on my shelves. Thank you, George!

Temujin Openly Weeps

2008-07-04T01:12:00+00:00

Has anyone else seen the weekly poll on the Canucks.com website? I took a screen-cap and cropped it, in case they take it down. They really should take it down. If you are a Vancouver Canucks fan, this will probably make your heart sink even further.

I think this is the part where I sigh. Who the hell at Canucks.com comes up with this stuff? If it wasn't so sad, I'd be laughing my ass off. Like the fans of other teams in the NW division are laughing. At us.

Sorry to bump your post down, bud, but I couldn't just let this one go.

INSTANT UPDATE: So yeah, uhhh, 1400 of the Canucks faithful have actually voted in this poll. Who is in the lead, you ask?

It's all so wonderful. Really.

Markus Naslund was thinking Rangers since July 1

2008-07-04T00:43:00+00:00

Thanks to GZ Expat for the link.

This from Swedish newspaper Sports Bladet:

"It's been my plan since July 1," says Näslund to newsday.com.

Henrik Lundqvist and the other Swedes may be joined by Markus Näslund. The Swedish veteran, who was free agent from last Tuesday, has written on a tvåårskontrakt with the Rangers.

-- "From July 1, I have had a focus on Rangers. It took a little longer than I had expected," says Näslund to newsday.com.

Näslund, who turns 35 on July 30, made four goals in twelve finals for the Vancouver Canucks. He has been lagkapten in eight years, but will now leave the club.

-- "I wanted to play for a team that has a chance at Stanley Cup," says Näslund.

Rangers also enlist the former Buffalo-hill Dmitri Kalinin.

-- "It seems that everyone who played for Rangers says that you only get a chance in life and that we must take it," says Markus Näslund to nhl.com.

This was translated by the Google translator, but you get the main drift. My question is: Has Naslund earned the right to leave Vancouver to play for a contender? No, in my opinion. He sure as hell couldn't lead US there.
What does this mean for the Canucks and Gillis is going to do next? Is he going to dump the team? Word had it that Gillis and Naslund had several discussions leading up to July 1 and after. Maybe this is an indication that Gillis is not going to substancially improve the team this summer. Roberto Luongo, who came here to be a part of a contending team, must be scratching his head, punching walls, or hearing it from his wife right now.
But who knows exactly what Gillis will do from this point. He still has options. I don't think there is a point to go into "sell" mode. Just sign a bunch of 2nd or 3rd liners and hope they click. It could be like the Buffalo team on 1999: a bunch of gritty guys, no superstar forward, but a superstar goalie.
Oooo, so everybody needs the chance to play for the Rangers, huh Nazzy? That really touches me deep inside.
But I'm not angry at Naslund. In a sense I don't blame him for leaving. Sure, our captain didn't go down with the potentially sinking Canucks ship and do the honorable thing. So he plays his last couple of years out in a "better" city on a better team. I just don't think he's earned the right to say that. Ray Bourque, yes. Markus Naslund, NO.
Nah, I'm ticked at Gillis. But who isn't.
I'd say "thanks for the memories, Markus," but I won't. Just haven't been a big fan of his since Bertuzzi left. I will say that he had some great hands and made some insane plays over his years here. This is probably the best Naslund tribute out there.

WHAT RANGERS FANS ARE SAYING

Blueshirt Bulletin:

The former 48-goal, 104-point scorer has been in the 25-goal, 55-60 point neighborhood the past two seasons. He stands to benefit from playing with Scott Gomez, thriving in the presence of a playmaking center -- as a left winger, one can now envision a top line of Gomez centering Naslund and Nikolai Zherdev. He has hardly ever missed games in his career despite a 5'11-195 pound frame. He captained the Vancouver Canucks over the past eight years. He listed the presence of countryman Henrik Lundqvist as a selling point for placing New York at the top of his free agent list.

A commenter at Blueshirt Bulletin:

...what really concerns me is that we are even softer than last year if that is at all possible. Big problem.

Haha! Yes you are!

Rangers fan at the HF Boards:

Guys, please tell me I shouldn't be upset about the fact that we just signed Naslund, a soft, perimeter player who is way past his prime...and to a 2 year deal no less.

Another more positive NYR fan replied:

I think Naslund will be better than last years numbers, especially with a legit playmaker and maybe some young wheels to keep up with him (Zherdev).

I agree. Naslund playing in a place that he wants to be in, surrounded by that talent should improve his numbers. Then again, was he just disinterested in Van? He had plenty of chances to play with the skilled Sedins and didn't thrive with them. Whatever.

T Tags: Markus+Naslund+signed+by+Rangers interview

jessicadoyle

2008-07-03T23:55:51+00:00

So after unsuccessfully contacting the first name drawn I did get through to the second name I drew.

Congratulations to Range of Canada from Memoirs on a Rainy Day. He won the Mother Goose is Loose Print. I’ll be mailing it off to you tomorrow. Hope you like it. Thank you everyone for entering.

In other news another contest on another blog. RavenX of Dirty Pretty Things to Ponder asked if I would do an interview with her. I said yes. As part of the interview I am giving away a print of Sexy Red Toes.

You can enter here to win.

Cheers!

Are we in crisis mode yet?

2008-07-03T23:52:38+00:00

Fan-fucking-tastic.

Every time I check my phone or e-mail, it's more ANGER.

The latest? Markus Naslund signs a 2-year, 8-million-dollar deal with NYR.

Before that?

Baumgartner signs.

Curtis Sanford signs.

Ryan Johnson signs.

Kyle Wellwood picked up from waivers.

Great depth signings—but we're not at the stage right now where we have the luxury of signing for depth.

You know what would be nice? How about a winger for the twins? But wait, Hossa's now signed with the Wings. How about a legit top 6 centre? Except that Sundin's not in and Demitra, widely tipped to be pretty much a sure thing to sign in Vancouver, still isn't signed to anywhere.

I'm trying to breathe here, but the Canucks aren't giving me anything.

I'm starting to be reminded of the "glory" "days" of Keenan and Messier and trainwrecks. When your captain, the one person I thought would be a sure signing, cuts and runs for greener pastures, you know there are troubles ahead. He knew Gillis very well, so this isn't a vote of confidence for the way the man is steering the ship.

Like a friend said to me today, maybe Naslund knew that Gillis would make a terrible GM. BECAUSE HE'S AN AGENT WITHOUT A BACKGROUND IN LAW.

Of course, it's too early to declare doom. I'm just saying—Gillis is slowly starting to run out of options. But then again, maybe this is the "successful" team that Aquilini had in mind. Except you're alone on that one, Francesco.

DaBomb101 wrote:
Gillis has 1 day to be stupid and he chooses julyl 1st

Freeways Jam up Climate Plan - Tyee

2008-07-03T23:30:33+00:00

http://thetyee.ca/News/2008/07/03/FreewayJam/

Freeways Jam up Climate Plan
'Gateway' will wipe out Libs' green goals: expert.

By Tom Barrett
Published: July 3, 2008

TheTyee.ca

The Gateway Program is at odds with the B.C. government's new Climate Action Plan -- and one or the other will have to give . . .

[snip]

Doherty said he thinks the government will eventually shift the Gateway budget to greener projects but will continue to call it Gateway.

For example, the movement of goods could be shifted from trucks to rail and barge, Doherty said.

"Business would have complained about that two years ago. But with the high price of diesel fuel, I think they would be happy to see some high-efficiency goods movement in the region."

Similarly, the government could put money into building transit rather than roads, especially in the outer suburbs.

Transit is a motherhood issue, he said.

"If they were to say 'The new green Gateway program is the transit Gateway,'" I wouldn't complain and I don't think anybody would complain."

How Washington State cut vehicle miles

Doherty said B.C. should follow the lead of Washington State, which recently passed a law that calls upon the government to make substantial cuts in vehicle miles travelled.

Bill 2815 sets the following goals for per capita vehicle miles travelled:

* an 18 per cent reduction by 2020;
* a 30 per cent reduction by 2035; and
* a 50 per cent reduction by 2050.

[snip]

Full story at http://thetyee.ca/News/2008/07/03/FreewayJam/

Cut It

2008-07-03T22:38:00+00:00

Via Archie.

You are a Knife

You are precise, determined, and detail oriented.

You mean what you say, and you say what you mean.

You enjoy taking risks and living on the edge.

You are a controversial person. You opinions tend to be divisive.

What Utensil Are You?

Naslund acquired by Rangers

2008-07-03T21:13:00+00:00

Vancouver will have a new captain next season, as Markus Naslund has signed a 3-year deal worth $18 million with the New York Rangers. Or is it a 2-year deal worth $8 million? Dear god. Reports state that Jaromir Jagr will not be back with NYR and so the Naslund deal was done.

"I think for anyone who dreams of playing in the NHL, playing for one of the Original Six teams with the history and tradition, it's special," Naslund said on a conference call.

"It was very appealing to me and my family to live in New York and be part of what's going on there. The overall picture was very appealing to me."

Yeah yeah. Fuck off already.

Does anyone else get the notion that Gillis could make a wild stab at Jagr now?
Everyone knows my negative opinions of Naslund, so I won't rehash that trash talk. All I can say is goodbye and good riddance. Like a friend of mine just mentioned though, Naslund could gel pretty damned well with Gomez and Drury. At least he's far away on the east coast. He can go floating over there.
Thanks Gill for the tip.
Apparently the Rangers have also signed former Sabre Dimitri Kalinin to a 1-year deal. Finally, the Rangers are adding good offensive defencemen to their roster. Redden was added yesterday.

T Tags: Rangers+sign+Markus+Naslund Jagr+out

Update

2008-07-03T20:53:00+00:00

I just spent 48 hours in the hospital, or as I like to call it, the "spa." Long story, and not a particularly relevant one, either. I'm home now but am taking a blog break for an unspecified amount of time.

I've also removed my email address from my blog profile due to ongoing troll issues. If you want to get in touch, please leave a comment on the blog and we'll sort out how to contact each other from there. I'm sick of being shat on by judgmental twats, so my email is going underground.

Update

2008-07-03T20:49:00+00:00

I had to spend a couple of days in the "spa" again - long story I won't bore you with here, but that's where I've been since Tuesday morning.

I've removed my email address from my profile due to ongoing troll issues. If you need to get in touch with me, please leave a comment with your email address in it and I'll contact you (if I feel like it). But I'm sick of this shit so my email is now going underground for a while.

I myself might be going underground for a while, too. If I'm not visiting and commenting on your blogs over the next little while, that's why. Thanks for understanding.

parents and eating disorders

2008-07-03T20:04:19+00:00

today we have a guest post by laura collins, mother to a daughter who struggled with anorexia, and an activist in the movement to help people with eating disorders. you have probably met her already – she’s contributed some posts to our carnival of eating disorders, from her blog eating with your anorexic.

isabella was kind enough to ask me to write a bit about a new project: F.E.A.S.T. (parents empowered and supporting treatment for eating disorders).

F.E.A.S.T. is really the culmination of six years of networking and information-gathering since my daughter recovered from anorexia nervosa. when my daughter became ill i was as clueless and lost and frightened as any parent. i found the treatment world unimpressed with my willingness, and eagerness, to help my daughter recover. my husband and i felt - because we were - blamed and marginalized.

but we were lucky: our daughter’s illness coincided with a change coming about in the ED world: a growing realization that eating disorders are biologically based brain disease. this knowledge has caused a treatment world that had been focused elsewhere to reconsider the role of parents and carers in the treatment process. instead of seeing parents as either pathological or unnecessary, parents were beginning to be trusted as appropriate caregivers and resources. our family was lucky to have ridden that wave - but i quickly realized that change is very slow and that most parents even today are not being told that their child’s eating disorder is not a choice - and is not something they have caused or erred in not preventing. the blaming of patients and families is still going on - and this is damaging patients and families.

my work as an activist - giving talks, writing articles, offering online resources and years of an online forum - have taught me the power of parents to support a loved one toward recovery. i’ve also learned the collective power of parents, and the damage of the collective silence of ED parents. we’ve stayed quiet out of fear and guilt. when we let go of fear, and reject the blame, we can do great things.

F.E.A.S.T. is a way to empower parents with information, mutual support, and activism. i am so excited to be part of this.

supporting the family is one way to support patients - our loved ones. no parent should feel helpless or alone!

i think it’s important to take into consideration all the many points of view on mental health issues such as eating disorders. while my theoretical perspective on anorexia is a bit different from laura’s, i have great respect for her work, and am honoured that she allowed me to present her new oragnization here on change therapy.

Use GPS to locate toilets in Beijing

2008-07-03T20:03:13+00:00

Oh boy, this is a very good idea. Better to include reviews of these toilets... hee hee

People's Daily - Beijing will create an electronic guidance system for public lavatories. Before the Olympic Games, guides will be set up at 210 major downtown streets and street corners. By then, those seeking out public lavatories can do so with the help of a GPS locator. This is information was released at a press conference held by the Beijing Municipal Administration Commission.

Before the Olympic Games, Beijing will provide the location of public lavatories through a website, tourist and transportation maps, and posted guides on the road. Beijing has issued the style and setting requirements for posted public lavatory guides and the locations of posted guides on a main street. Guides will be posted every 50 meters to 150 meters apart from each other.

Kwan, Farnworth pay Yang Baoying's visa fees

2008-07-03T18:45:11+00:00

CIV - Two NDP MLAs are paying for the visa application for Yang Baoying, mother of Chinese student Amanda Zhao murdered in BC 6 years ago, in a very low key way, Ming Pao reports.

Yang has written a few times to the Canadian minister of justice, asking for action on bringing the suspected killer of Amanda to justice. She has been hoping to come to Canada in person and meet with the justice minister (Amanda Zhao's series on CIV).

Yang has not received any official response from the feds. However, BC MLAs Jenny Kwan and Mike Farnworth are sponsoring visa applications for Yang and her husband and niece - not only sending invitations to them (Chinese subjects must have overseas invitations to make visa and passport applications in China), but also paying for application fees amounting to 5000 yuan (about C$900), Kwan confirms yesterday.

Kwan says she deosn't think what she and Farnworth are doing is special enough to worth making it public proactively. She stresses that Yang and her family are not only suffering from mental torture of not seeing justice done for Amanda, they are impoverished, living from one place to another.

Yang was speechless when she learnt what Kwan and Farnworth were doing. She confirms she has received the signed letter of ivitatin from Kwan and Farnworth and her visa application process has been started.

Easy Ways to Use Web 2.0 for Busines

2008-07-03T17:13:05+00:00

The evolution of the Internet brings new ways to reach your target audience, build brand awareness and develop business. Here are some simple ways the you can take advantage of Web 2.0 technology to grow your market on line.

1. Add a blog to your site - you can start blogging today using WordPress or Typepad. Blog to establish your expertise and increase traffic. Be sure to include a comments section for readers to give feedback.

2. Use a photo site like Flickr to show case your talents - especially if your focus is visual arts. Link these back to your web site and include in other forums - the more people who see your work the more interest you will get.

3. Add a Skype link so that people can contact you by phone and over the Internet making it easier for them to do business with you.

4. Use widgets to get your audience interacting. Participation increases return visits and makes your site more sticky. Examples include easy to use poll widgets (PollDaddy) and traffic counters (Alexa).

5. Use video clips to enhance customer service and post them via YouTube to reach more people.

6. Consider Podcasting your expertise but read our New Experiences in Podcasting blog posts first to learn from our mistakes.

7. Use wiki technology like PBWiki to facilitate collaboration both within and out with the organisation.

8. Sign up and start using a professional or social network like LinkedIn or Naymz but choose wisely by considering where your prospects are most likely to hang out on-line.

9. Consider using a book marking site like Ma.gnolia to share your web discoveries and favorites, to further establish your niche and to network with like minded counterparts.

10. Provide links to all of the above on your site to make your company even more accessible in these forums.

2008 Ballet and Dance Tours to Cuba

2008-07-03T17:07:00+00:00

Cuba Education Tours warmly invites you to join them in Havana for two epic dance programs this fall. The National Ballet of Cuba celebrates its 60th anniversary from October 28 to November 7, 2008. Cuba Education Tours is hosting the official website for this historic event. Participants will experience a ballet extravaganza on an unprecedented scale including the opening and closing ceremonies,

2008-07-03T17:06:00+00:00

I M AMERICAN - mini kit

download

GOD BLESS AMERICA, my friends and neighbors to the south! May God keep you safe, and you enjoy and celebrate your country's special day!

I just have to include this little bit about Estrogen, sent to me by my friend Janice, to give you a chuckle!

10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE 'ESTROGEN ISSUES'

1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.

2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.

3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.

4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.

5. You 're using your mobile phone to dial up every bumper sticker

that says: 'How's my driving-call 0- 800-'.

6. Everyone's head looks like an invitation to batting practice.

7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from 'outer space.'

9. You're sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.

10. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday.

Raz the Rapacious Rat Killer

2008-07-03T16:55:23+00:00

Well I haven't posted anything about my fluffy Razooli cat for a very long time. At 16 years old he's slowed down quite a bit, although you wouldn't know it to look at him. He's still as shiny and...

Wild bald eagle photography, North American lumber market prices and info, illuminated manuscripts, celtic ornamental knotwork, stories & drawings

THE FUGITIVE (1993)

2008-07-03T16:47:38+00:00

ONE ARM MAN
KILLED MY WIFE, NOT ME
GREAT MAN HUNT

Directed by: Andrew Davis
Written by: Jeb Stuart, David Twohy
Starring: Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones,
Andreas Katsulas, Jeroen Krabbe, Joe Pantoliano
Rating: 7 out of 10 stars
IMDB
ROTTEN TOMATOES
JOHN’S MOVIE BLOG

What do you think ~ Please leave a comment

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Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Action, Crime, Drama.

The Pose

2008-07-03T17:00:28+00:00

She held the pose pretending not to notice the camera.

ian in hamburg

2008-07-03T14:58:27+00:00

Damn, this is good news.

A new age musician and sect leader going by the name of Oliver Shanti has been arrested in Lisbon, Portugal and is now in custody awaiting deportation to Germany. Born in Hamburg the 59-year-old is wanted in connection with more than 300 acts of molestation against six children - a girl and four boys from Germany, as well as another girl from Portugal. All of the children were between 10 and 14 years of age at the time.

Shanti, the object several months ago of my first and only Wikipedia edit, had been among Germany’s most-wanted list for several years. According to media reports, Shanti molested the children in one of the communes he founded in the Bavarian forest, another in Munich and again in Portugal. He was arrested outside the German Embassy in Lisbon last Friday after an embassy employee recognised him and alerted police. He had gone to the embassy to renew his passport, apparently on his way to Brazil to receive treatment for Leukemia.

I first came to hear about Shanti when I stumbled upon his Wikipedia entry while doing research for work. Stunned to see that the entry made absolutely no mention of the horrendous charges against him and the €3000 reward the Munich police were offering for any tip leading to his arrest and conviction, I signed up for Wikipedia and added that information. Not the most earth-moving of gestures, but maybe it helped somewhat in the hunt for him. Who knows?

In the meantime, there’s no shortage of drivel and slop passing for music by Oliver Shanti available on YouRube. On this one, notice the Viva music channel logo in the top-right corner. If they haven’t done so already, will someone please tell those people to stop putting this guy’s crap on the air?

BTW, if you didn’t click on his fan site, at least check out the guest page. Brutal stuff.

The Needs of the Many

2008-07-03T13:03:23+00:00

[Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge]

I mean we all want to believe we care, and for the most part we do but what is one life worth?

I am thinking now of the scene from Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (yes I'm a nerd) where Spock decides to go into the chamber, he saves the ship, the lives of all his crew mates, and he dies for it.

Spock: It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh...
Kirk: ...the needs of the few.
Spock: ...Or the one.

Of course in the 3rd movie Kirk goes and brings Spock back to life, but whatever, can't have a franchise without Spock, I thought it was a pretty weak reverse of the line at the end too. No Kirk, the needs of the many always outweigh the needs of the one. Unless "the one" is Neo (from the Matrix). Okay I'm just being silly.

But the line rings so true, the needs of the many do outweigh the needs of the few or the one.

Click to view CTV news video

Now as sad as it is that a mentally "distraught woman" found her only recourse to gain attention and help was by threatening to jump off the Second Narrows Bridge Tuesday on our Canadian National Holiday... this isn't a post about mental health, or suicidal people. We all agree that we should do what we can to help those who need help, but the question begs at what cost?

I have to ask:
Was it the right move on the part of the police to close the bridge for 6 hours?

Vancouver Police say they are really sorry for the inconvenience, but say they absolutely had to close the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge yesterday.

VPD say it all boils down to one fact: a life was in the balance.

Second Narrows Memorial Bridge is apart of the main highway (Highway 1), it connects the city to the North Shore, and it is a main connecting route to the BC Ferries in Horseshoe Bay. It is a 6 lane bridge. 6 lanes of traffic, not flowing from 1pm to 7pm on such a busy holiday, in the heat no less.

How many people were inconvenienced for 6 hours? (Or longer really once the flow starts again there is still the mess of back log to clear).

How many people missed ferries, or airline flights? How many people missed work? How many employers were left short staffed on a busy holiday?

How much of our tax dollars were wasted to accommodate this one woman?

Extra seabuses, police blocking roads, people wasting gas, time and their money waiting in the delay... what did she, or more to the point HOW THE POLICE HANDLED HER, cost the city and the citizens?

I am not unsympathetic.

I respect she clearly had mental issues, and the police decided they needed it quiet to talk her out of jumping, but why did it take 6 hours?

What if this had happened during the 2010 Olympics?

What if person didn't come off the bridge after 12 hours, 24 hours?

We need a better method of deterrent to stop people from getting out on these bridges, and a better method of getting them off and into proper care quickly.

Read the story on News1130 here.

Did you even know about this? What do you think?

4:56 PM 08/11/06, originally uploaded by Barbara Doduk.

In the Province News:

Transport Minister Kevin Falcon has slammed the Vancouver police for shutting the Second Narrows bridge for six hours while they helped a suicidal woman.

"I think this is a good example of how not to do things," said Falcon. "I want answers.

"It was a terrible situation. I was very unhappy with how the Vancouver Police Department handled it.

"I am utterly perplexed how it can take six hours to deal with an elderly female.

I think that is what it comes down to, not that there was a distraught woman under the bridge deck, but how the situation was handled by police.

Historic relics at the Shaanxi History Museum

2008-07-03T09:12:14+00:00

At long last, I'm able to finish sorting out the photos I took from my recent Xi'an trip. One of the most fascinating places I've visited was the Shaanxi History Museum (陜西歷史博物館), whose ancient artefacts tell the visitors how old China REALLY is. In there, I could feel the pride of being Chinese.

According to the Museum's official website:

The time span of historical relics is over 1,000,000 years, from Lantian Apeman of 1,000,000 years ago to the Opium War of 1840.

The relics of Shaanxi History Museum are best characterized and representative in Shang & Zhou bronze wares, pottery warriors of past dynasties, Tang gold & silver wares, mural paintings in Tang tombs, which reflected the prosperity and development of Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang dynasties and are well-known all over the world.

And the museum displays:

stoneware, bone ware, bronze ware, pottery warrior, pottery ware, Tang tri-colored pottery, jade article, copper mirror, brick tile, other building material, gold & silver ware, mural painting, royal seal, calligraphy & painting, paper money

I'm no historian, and I didn't have much time going through the details of each artefact. Therefore, I couldn't give descriptive captions to the photos that I took inside the museum, please enjoy them as pieces of historical art. :)

Tang dynasty and Japan

2008-07-03T09:11:29+00:00

The next batch of photos that I'd like to share here were taken from the Huaqing Palace (華清池). It was once the gigantic bathtub of the Imperial Concubine Yang Guifei (楊貴妃) of Tang Dynasty. Like many women characters in history who were famous of being pretty, Yang was ususally blamed as the root of the An Shi Incident (安史之亂), during which the two Tang captials - Changan and Luoyang - were invaded and taken over by a foreign king An Lushan (安祿山).

You can find more background info about the Huaqing Palace, An Lushan, and Yang Guifei. (Please note that the Yang Guifei statue in Huaqing Palace was sculpted by modern art students. She was more a fantasy of these students than true depiction of history... because she was not fat enough. :)

During the Tang dynasty, being fat was deemed pretty whereas skinny people were seen as second class citizens. There was a saying that "women with a 23" waist would never find a husband; and women with a 32" waist would have lots of men to choose from." Not only fat women were seen as pretty (thus Yang Guifei was very fat), soldiers without a big tummy would never be promoted. Men who were too skinny would not even be qualified to fight for their country.

The following pictures show Tang figurines that can tell how the Tang people defined beauty. Also, though I've learnt from history books that Tang exported a lot of Chinese culture and civilization to Japan, I was still shocked when I saw Tang constructions.... they were so similar to historic constructions I've seen in Kyoto, Japan. The long time link between the two countries is indisputable. And I could see why the Japanese were so excited and so much national pride was generated when they were able to defeat China during WWII.

For a comparison, I'm also attaching a picture of a historic temple in Kyoto, Japan:

Leggy

2008-07-03T08:21:00+00:00

Half-grown crow:

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