Sure the sun, the surf and the beach are important. The great scenery and the immersion in a different culture, they're equally important. But at the end of the day what makes a trip special are the people you meet. The same holds true for a campground. Hot showers, clean washrooms and, as you have learned, for me a good internet connection, these are prerequisites. But if there are not interesting and friendly people at your park, then it's moving day.
No matter how good a time you are having or how happy you are to be away from the ice and snow, it's important to phone home and check on loved ones left behind. It is so important to keep that intimate connection. There is a certain peace of mind that comes from hearing familiar voices.
Tonight, March 8th at 7 pm, Reel Alternatives are showing film The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, Heath Ledger’s last film before he died. It was directed by Terry Gillian (Monty Python) and stars Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Christopher Plummer. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards for best art direction and costume design. Soul Sistas will be sponsoring the movie.
Future Reel Alternative Films are :
A Single Man starring Colin Firth March 22nd
Me and Orson Welles April 5th
The Last Station starring Christopher Plummer April 19th
Editor's Notes:David Harris Oh, Oh, - O Canada
Good news for today. Here's a kiss and a hug for Tim and Melissa all the way from Mexico. On the weekend, at Sir Sam's Inn in Haliburton, blessed nuptials were exchanged between Tim Cantelon of Sandhill Nursery and Melissa Key of FITT Gym. Even though it was quite private and total surprise to their friends we would like to publicly add our congratulations.
On another note the O Canada lyric non-event has not gone unnoticed by Ross Carlin. The following is an email I received from him:
In 1992 I received a medal from Queen Elizabeth for Outstanding Service to Canada. It was for professionally recording O Canada for the first time in over 20 years. We sent a free copy to every school in Canada. Three songs were recorded, one with 244 Canadian stars, one with a 72 piece orchestra and 40 voice choir and the other was the politically correct version.
All three are posted on youtube.com. The politically correct version seems timely, since apparently a Huntsville woman has sparked discussion about changing the lyrics. The absurdity of opening this Pandora’s box is clearly shown when you try to please everyone, and please no-one in the process! Check it out by typing Politically Correct O Canada Ross Carlin in your browser, and I hope you appreciate what a glorious waste of time the current debate is.
Sincerely Ross Carlin O Canada Foundation
This is the version Ross did for the schools and for which he received such praise. It is very inspiring.
The Featured Article today is a take from Dale Peacock on the same subject . . . and then I think we have pretty much covered the O Canada flap.
Oh Canada!
by: Dale Peacock
The trouble in messing with tradition is that you can’t possibly get it right. Case in point is the brouhaha surrounding the tentative plan to ‘tweak’ the national anthem to make it more inclusive.
In my self indulgent quest for the perfect golf swing I have been neglectful of my photography. Today someone pointed out a unique spider I should look at and photograph . . . and now I suggest you take a look, as it is currently hanging out in the Art Gallery.
By the way, I am a long way from the perfect swing but very happy with the journey.
Friday / March 5 2010
Thursday - Thor's Day, God Of Thunder
by: David Harris
Thursday didn't start off too well and only got worse. Nancy heard from her best friend Anne in Oakville that the friend's brother has just been diagnosed with a rare blood disease that is incurable and they give him two to five years. This had her in tears as they all go back to birth.
A fundamental issue vis a vis affordable housing is the connection between affordable housing and low-income employment. Discussing affordable housing without looking at the underlying issue can only result in temporary solutions.
A cursory drive around town and the surrounding area provides a good snapshot of where the jobs are throughout the district. We abound in fast-food outlets, charming boutiques , big box stores and resorts large and small. Manufacturing plants and professional commerce courts are in short supply. The result is a plethora of low-income retail and service jobs that speaks to a serious imbalance in the local economy. Large numbers of low-wage jobs creates a higher number of low-income individuals, which creates a need for more affordable housing and social supports.
Editor's Notes:David Harris Note to Claude and Kelly, as in Pender:
When you fire someone you have to come up with a better line than 'has taken a leave of absence'.
Karin Terziano was escorted out of Town Hall, kicked out on the street after 23 years of service screwing up her pension. We the rate-payers are not stupid. If there was a good reason for this then have the balls to let us know why and don't hide behind euphemisms. It only makes you look like ogres.
I've lived long enough to know there are two sides to every story but having had considerable dealings with Karin as manager of the Algonquin Theatre - all of it good by the way, I find it very disturbing news. Unprompted, Nancy, when learning of the news, let out an, "Oh, no. That's terrible." I'm sure there are thousands who feel the same way. Let's hope we are right.
Report On The Symposium
by: Karen Cassian
On Monday I attended the Town of Huntsville’s first ever Affordable Housing Symposium. The event took place at the Algonquin Theatre from 11 am until 4 pm with only half an hour for a quick sandwich lunch in the foyer. The Town set the bar low expecting only 50 people. They were right. Only 60 people showed up. It would have been great to see the theatre packed. That’s a disappointment, but hey, it’s a start.
As the days grow longer and it starts to warm up, even though it is just March, I can't believe a lot of you aren't thinking about spring and the Master's golf tournament. For many that includes fantasies of a much better golf game. I'm here to tell you it's not a better score you need, it's how do you have more fun at the game. In the summer I am so busy with teaching golf and running our golf camp that I don't make time for my own game. Here in Mexico at the little nine hole course called 'Campo de Esuenos', or in English, 'Field of Dreams', this is where I rekindle my love for golf. Sure I work on my game but I work harder at just having fun.
I apologize to everyone who has tried to reach me. I've had nothing but trouble with the internet here at the La Penita Park, essentially being out of a connection for the last four days. I'll have more on that when I get caught up.
Housing Symposium
by: Steve Lehman
Those of you who watch Dragon's Den on CBC will be familiar with the disdain that the Dragons have for entrepreneurs who try to get them to invest in any business proposal that hopes to partner with 'The Government'. For these multi-millionaires, any scheme that has even a whiff of government involvement about it, at any level, is to be avoided like a bad stench. Perhaps that's because the Dragons have been to Huntsville to see where some of their investment dollars could end up.
At last year's President's Ball, while you were finding room for dessert and enjoying a cup of coffee, one of the waitresses was foraging through your table scraps trying to put together a doggie bag to take home to feed her hungry children.
I was there at the May Marche watching you and your friends trying to decide on which items to bid. That night, not more than a fews blocks away, in Hidden Valley one of your fellow residents was trying to decide whether to pay the heating bill or the rent or whether he could afford to pay either.
International Women’s Day is today, March 8th. The first National Women’s Day was held in 1909 in honour of the 1908 garment worker’s strike in New York. Women took to the streets as a protest against working conditions.
The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in 1975. The present Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon is quoted as saying “Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all of our goals- peace, security sustainable development stand in jeopardy. The UN’s theme for 2010 is: Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for all.
International Women’s Day is on March 8th. The first National Women’s Day was held in 1909 in honour of the 1908 garment worker’s strike in New York. Women took to the streets as a protest against working conditions.
The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in 1975. The present Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon is quoted as saying “Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all of our goals- peace, security sustainable development stand in jeopardy. The UN’s theme for 2010 is: Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for all.
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If you click on an advertiser's name you will be taken to some of Justine Brown's creative work. This form of advertising is a totally unique method of advertising on the web. We don't want to hit you over the head with annoying flashing banners. This way we keep a company's name in front of the public while respecting both the viewer and the design of the site
