Want to walk with me to that better place?
SARS is really is starting to get people freaked. I guess it makes sense to try to protect yourself as much as possible but somehow it doesn't seem all that important to me. I mean I'm not going to go purposely put myself at risk but there are people staying away from Chinese malls and avoiding Chinese people who have gone back to HK. It's all a little silly I guess to me. I guess I wash my hands a lot more now and I watch what things I touch but nothing extreme. It's probably just me not realising the severity of the situation (even though I do keep up with the news everyday) or maybe its just because I don't think life is about that. My friends have asked me about whether I believe in some kind of higher power before and I've never really been able to answer clearly. Now, I think that there is a part of me that does believe that what will happen will happen. I mean if I were somehow ordained to be affected by SARS, then I will, no matter how much I try to avoid it. I guess the flaw in the belief is that it can't be applied in the reverse ie. if I'm not destined not to be affected by SARS then I won't be, no matter what I do. That's why I'm so vague about my thoughts on destiny. Well either way, life moves on and I intend to move along with it. REBOOT! <--- I don't know why I did that, but I've always wanted to.
Friday, March 28, 2003
Canadians Don't Count (page A33, The Toronto Star, March 27, 2003)
March 26,
U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci's message to Canadians was clear: Americans set the rules and make the decisions, Canadians have no right to question them. Our duty is simply to follow orders.
Unfortunately, Canadians are in good company. Increasingly, America is turning its back on international co-operation, favouring instead a belligerent, go-it-alone approach. In its bilateral relations with Canada and other countires, the U.S. now demands, "you are either with us, or against us."
In recent years, the U.S. has refused to sign the international treaty to ban landmines, stubbornly resisted expansion of the international court system, unilaterally withdrawn from the treaty on anti-ballistic missiles and spurned the Kyoto accord.
And, as Canadians have witnessed on softwood lumber, the U.S. believes international trade disputes should be settled in the U.S. by American tribunals, under American-made rules, not by international bodies like the World Trade Organization.
In Cellucci's view, not having the U.N. support for the war against Iraq doesn't matter. Nor does it matter that the U.S. failed to provide any credible evidence to support its claims that Iraq has banned weapons, had any connection to the attacks of Sept. 11, or that it poses a threat to America.
No, as far as Cellucci is concerned, the opinions of Canadians don't count. America has decided: "We said jump, and you damn Canadians had better jump."
Well, at least now we can see the implications of more closely integrating our military, harmonizing our immigration policy and participating in a common security perimeter.
- William T. Morris, Toronto
March 26,
U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci's message to Canadians was clear: Americans set the rules and make the decisions, Canadians have no right to question them. Our duty is simply to follow orders.
Unfortunately, Canadians are in good company. Increasingly, America is turning its back on international co-operation, favouring instead a belligerent, go-it-alone approach. In its bilateral relations with Canada and other countires, the U.S. now demands, "you are either with us, or against us."
In recent years, the U.S. has refused to sign the international treaty to ban landmines, stubbornly resisted expansion of the international court system, unilaterally withdrawn from the treaty on anti-ballistic missiles and spurned the Kyoto accord.
And, as Canadians have witnessed on softwood lumber, the U.S. believes international trade disputes should be settled in the U.S. by American tribunals, under American-made rules, not by international bodies like the World Trade Organization.
In Cellucci's view, not having the U.N. support for the war against Iraq doesn't matter. Nor does it matter that the U.S. failed to provide any credible evidence to support its claims that Iraq has banned weapons, had any connection to the attacks of Sept. 11, or that it poses a threat to America.
No, as far as Cellucci is concerned, the opinions of Canadians don't count. America has decided: "We said jump, and you damn Canadians had better jump."
Well, at least now we can see the implications of more closely integrating our military, harmonizing our immigration policy and participating in a common security perimeter.
- William T. Morris, Toronto
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
"I can't find the motivation I need, the motivation I need to succeed..."
Ah... the slacker bug is here again and it looks like it really wants to stay. I planned today to be SO much more productive than it was. Gah! Now I have much more to do for tomorrow! The Arts program really is an excessive amount of reading... I don't do readings for a couple of my courses and its STILL a lot. Gah.
In other news I realised that I really have been going to Taco Bell a lot recently. Tonight was the 7th time in the past 2 weeks; ah, all those bean burritos and soft tacos (with bean instead of beef). And don't forget the 7-layer burritoes! Ah... wish I had one right now; unfortunately they close at midnight on weekdays (as I've learned after getting there JUST after they closed 3 times) Ugh, and I have a meal plan too! I hope I'm not gaining too much weight...
Mmmmm beef.... good vegetarian beef... that they don't serve at Taco Bell. *sigh*
Ah... the slacker bug is here again and it looks like it really wants to stay. I planned today to be SO much more productive than it was. Gah! Now I have much more to do for tomorrow! The Arts program really is an excessive amount of reading... I don't do readings for a couple of my courses and its STILL a lot. Gah.
In other news I realised that I really have been going to Taco Bell a lot recently. Tonight was the 7th time in the past 2 weeks; ah, all those bean burritos and soft tacos (with bean instead of beef). And don't forget the 7-layer burritoes! Ah... wish I had one right now; unfortunately they close at midnight on weekdays (as I've learned after getting there JUST after they closed 3 times) Ugh, and I have a meal plan too! I hope I'm not gaining too much weight...
Mmmmm beef.... good vegetarian beef... that they don't serve at Taco Bell. *sigh*
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
"It takes one tree to make 1000 matches; only takes one match to burn 1000 trees"
Well last night, my friend Chris was over (as often is the case these days) and we stayed up until the wee-wee hours of the night (don't ask, it was so stupid but at least I got some school reading done in between rounds of gaming), As a result I woke up waaaay past any reasonable hour for a school day. Yup, missing both breakfast and lunch I was finally awoken by the music of Hung (read: rap music) at 1:50 p.m. Fortunately I found 2 chocolate chip muffins on our kitchen counter, unknowingly provided by myannoying crazy wonderful dormmate Courtney, and ate one. Along with water and a vitamin C tablet, this was able to stave off the hunger pains until dinner time. Continuing with my ghetto tradition here at RJ420, I returned from the dining hall with a large Rubbermaid container filled with pasta salad. As well I had some chicken tetrazzini in a styrofoam cup for my "wonderful" roommate, who had asked for a little something to compensate for her unsatisfying dinner (apparantly Ned's Cafe now gives out smaller dinner portions). It was a fitting favour for someone who had provided me with my "breakfast" after all.
I went off to Dragonboat practice shortly following dinner (bad idea, I almost threw up and had a cramp throughout circuit training) and when I returned I found that the tetrazzini was gone yes, but so was two-thirds of my pasta salad, my post-workout snack! Of course the culprit wasn''t that hard to find seeing as there are only 3 other people in your suite and sure enough Courtney was looking very self-satisfied using my computer for homework as I entered my room. *sigh* Some people...
While peacefully eating the remaining pasta salad though I was horribly attacked again by my arch-nemesis. Ah first it was just something that wouldn't quite swallow right and it continued to remain somewhere in the confines of my throat. Much gagging and drinking of Pepsi only made it worse as I now had something stuck jabbing at the walls of my throat. As I stumbled around my room with my hands at my throat I eventually coughed something out and it was with much eagerness that I tossed a piece of parsley into the garbage bin. Damn you, you strong-tasting vile plant of foulness! Ha, a good attempt but not good enough as I remain alive to see you to your demise! You can have all the parsley Mr. But-not-too-much-parsley.
Well last night, my friend Chris was over (as often is the case these days) and we stayed up until the wee-wee hours of the night (don't ask, it was so stupid but at least I got some school reading done in between rounds of gaming), As a result I woke up waaaay past any reasonable hour for a school day. Yup, missing both breakfast and lunch I was finally awoken by the music of Hung (read: rap music) at 1:50 p.m. Fortunately I found 2 chocolate chip muffins on our kitchen counter, unknowingly provided by my
I went off to Dragonboat practice shortly following dinner (bad idea, I almost threw up and had a cramp throughout circuit training) and when I returned I found that the tetrazzini was gone yes, but so was two-thirds of my pasta salad, my post-workout snack! Of course the culprit wasn''t that hard to find seeing as there are only 3 other people in your suite and sure enough Courtney was looking very self-satisfied using my computer for homework as I entered my room. *sigh* Some people...
While peacefully eating the remaining pasta salad though I was horribly attacked again by my arch-nemesis. Ah first it was just something that wouldn't quite swallow right and it continued to remain somewhere in the confines of my throat. Much gagging and drinking of Pepsi only made it worse as I now had something stuck jabbing at the walls of my throat. As I stumbled around my room with my hands at my throat I eventually coughed something out and it was with much eagerness that I tossed a piece of parsley into the garbage bin. Damn you, you strong-tasting vile plant of foulness! Ha, a good attempt but not good enough as I remain alive to see you to your demise! You can have all the parsley Mr. But-not-too-much-parsley.
Towards a Fortress Canada (page A35, The Toronto Star, March 20, 2003)
March 19,
I recognize an increase in Canadians' fear of American retribution for Jean Chrétien's decision to skip the war in Iraq. This conversation is revived every time Ottawa publically disagrees with Washington on a major issue.
I am surprised that many Canadians actually believe this war is about disarmament and security and that George W. Bush is going to war to protect America. This invasion is about economics. It is about oil, currency and securing American economic dominance by controlling the Persian Gulf.
Those who believe that Bush is going this for liberty, baseball and apple pie are buying the propaganda portrayed on CNN. America is about money. Canada buys 25 per cent of American exports with $2 billion in trade crossing the 49th parallel every day. Do Canadians really think the Americans will sabotage that lucrative relationship because a backbencher calls them bastards and we don't send our six troops to Iraq to watch?
What kind of neighbour is the U.S.? Every time our government makes a sovereign decision against the American position, we get spooked about American economic retribution. Is this Canadian sovereignty? America is a great ally as long as we don't disagree with it. I have long held that we need to diversify our export destinations and raise our military strength so we are less reliant on the Americans. Genuine sovereignty comes at a cost. If America were truly our friend, we would not hold our collective breath every time we disagree with it.
Bravo to the Canadian government for staying out of this Iraq charade. Don't look now, but maybe we are taking a first step toward reaffirming the true sovereignty that we have let slip away in the last 30 years. Let's not stop there.
- Scott Clark, Toronto
March 19,
I recognize an increase in Canadians' fear of American retribution for Jean Chrétien's decision to skip the war in Iraq. This conversation is revived every time Ottawa publically disagrees with Washington on a major issue.
I am surprised that many Canadians actually believe this war is about disarmament and security and that George W. Bush is going to war to protect America. This invasion is about economics. It is about oil, currency and securing American economic dominance by controlling the Persian Gulf.
Those who believe that Bush is going this for liberty, baseball and apple pie are buying the propaganda portrayed on CNN. America is about money. Canada buys 25 per cent of American exports with $2 billion in trade crossing the 49th parallel every day. Do Canadians really think the Americans will sabotage that lucrative relationship because a backbencher calls them bastards and we don't send our six troops to Iraq to watch?
What kind of neighbour is the U.S.? Every time our government makes a sovereign decision against the American position, we get spooked about American economic retribution. Is this Canadian sovereignty? America is a great ally as long as we don't disagree with it. I have long held that we need to diversify our export destinations and raise our military strength so we are less reliant on the Americans. Genuine sovereignty comes at a cost. If America were truly our friend, we would not hold our collective breath every time we disagree with it.
Bravo to the Canadian government for staying out of this Iraq charade. Don't look now, but maybe we are taking a first step toward reaffirming the true sovereignty that we have let slip away in the last 30 years. Let's not stop there.
- Scott Clark, Toronto