New Prime Minister....I hope not!

A new face for the coalition, but is the coalition good for Canadians? I really don't think so. I don't want a new PM right now, the whole no confidence vote in parliament shows me that the people we voted into parliament can only get along when they have an opportunity to steal power away from the Canadian voters.

The Canadian people showed the Liberals that we don't want their kind leading the country by only voting them into one of the lowest ever recorded number of seats in parliament. So why would the rest of the 75% of the country that did not vote for liberals want another Liberal Prime Minister? I still think that this whole coalition is nothing more than a power grab at the expense of the Canadian voting public.

Just because the liberal party has a new leader does not mean that I am more likely to accept a coalition government that has separatists in power. If Quebec decides that it will separate from Canada, we could see a civil war in the near future. If this coalition is not smothered then we would be looking at a nation divided in a time when we need our elected officials to stand together and get things done. These hard economic times are putting even more strain on the unity of the country with threats from other provinces to separate if the coalition government is allowed to take power.

I am trying to find the time to put a letter together for my elected official and a letter to the Governor General. I would much rather the Governor General dissolve parliament and call another election than have to deal with a PM that is willing to steal your vote and take power just because they are acting like sore losers. This whole political crisis that has reared its ugly head in the ashes of our last election is giving other nations a reason to laugh at us and our political system. These power hungry MP's must be stopped; even if it means we have to have a conservative majority government.

In my opinion; changing the leader of the coalition does nothing to change my mind about whether or not it is good for Canada. How many votes would have been stolen by the coalition if the Governor General allows the coalition to take power? How many people feel like they have been betrayed by the liberals and the new democrats? If you are against the coalition, then stand up for your vote and tell these power hungry losers that you are opposed to the coalition. The person that was elected in my riding who I voted for is in on this coalition and I cannot help but feel like he has betrayed my vote. I did not vote for him to have him steal power; I voted for him because his platform was the one that was best for my riding.

Maybe it is time for a drastic change to the Canadian political system. Instead of having a multiparty system, maybe its time we took a page from the Americans and went to a two party system, the right versus the left. I do think that there is much change needed to our electoral system especially if a party can win 50 seats in the house of commons from only one province. One thing that I firmly believe is that if your party does not allow people outside of one province to vote for you; your party should not be allowed to take part in federal elections involving the other 9 provinces and 3 territories. Well that's just my opinion, what's yours?

Image: Wiki Media Commons

More Liberal Gobble-dee-gook

Today was a big day for Jean Charest of the Liberal party winning a majority government. Jean Charest is good for Quebec and as an Ontarian I am glad that Quebec elected a party with out a sovereignty platform. Is this good for the Harper government like some analysts have said?

What is good for country is the leadership race to replace Stephane Dion. Michael Ignatieff appears to be the leader in the race. Dominic Leblanc, an MP from New Brunswick has dropped out of the leadership race and is now backing Michael Ignatieff for the new leader of the opposition. Bob Rae, a former NDP provincial premier is also in the race for leadership of the federal liberal party in Ottawa. Both offer a better alternative to Stephane Dion but support for the coalition is coming more from Bob Rae than Michael Ignatieff.

My opinion is that a new leader of the liberals will help settle the crisis in the house of commons and our elected officials will be able to get back to work on our economy. The economy is a headline maker and right now some of the reviews are very poor; we need our officials back in office to move forward and work together to tackle the economic issues of today. The federal liberals headed by Dion seem to be acting like sore losers and that is a very unprofessional attitude when your country's economic future is hanging in the balance. All Canadians should stand behind our PM and next election send a clear message to the liberals that backdoor politics is bad business for Canada!

What are your thoughts about the liberal leadership race?

Prorogued

Last Wednesday Stephen Harper convinced our Governor General to prorogue parliament. The Liberal and New Democrat coalition are trying to convince the general population that delaying the no confidence vote was running away from the issues. Rallies for both pro and anti coalition have been held across the Nation, Stephane Dion should not be allowed to grab power with a coalition including a party that only one province is allowed to vote for.

The Bloc Quebecois is not a national party, only residents of Quebec are allowed to vote for them. This makes them in my opinion a provincial party in the wrong level of the Canadian government. If I were allowed to vote for the Bloc Quebecois I might have a different opinion of them, but I really can not see the Montreal Canadiens as a team that is not part of Canada. Having the Bloc as part of the coalition makes me believe that the coalition is not good for country, never mind the fact that it is being lead by a party that 75% of the country did not vote for.

I still feel betrayed by the Liberals and NDP; I am standing by my PM and hoping that cooler heads will prevail. The budget which will be the first thing tabled after parliament resumes in January should be interesting. The PM has called for a meeting with all of the provincial leaders to try and put the best budget forward that is in the interest of all Canadians. As for the coalition, I would rather have another election then have Stephane Dion as my PM; my vote counts too. What about you, are you pro or anti-coalition?

Who Did I Vote For?

I just watched PM Stephen Harper address the nation today. After hearing what the PM had to say to the Canadian people I watched and listened to what Stephane Dion, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe had to say in response to the PM's address. I was a little skeptical about what a coalition government would do for Canadians, but mostly I felt betrayed by the officials we elected.

Let me elaborate a little, seven weeks ago Canadians decided that they wanted a conservative minority government with a diverse opposition to represent them in the house of commons. When I first heard rumours of a coalition government consisting of Stephane Dion as the new Prime Minister and supported by Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Quebecois; my first thought was I don't want a Liberal Prime Minister. It seems the people who had told the Canadian people on election night that they would work with the new minority government to make change for the Canadian people are certainly making change. They are flip flopping to gain power. Did we all say back in October that we did not want Stephane Dion as our PM?

I don't know a lot about politics but I do know who I voted for and it was not Mr Dion. I really feel like we need a "do over" on the last election. Should we stand together with our PM even if you didn't vote for him, after all he is the face of Canada; our representative to the world. Or do we let 'backroom deals' set a new precedence in Canadian politics and allow this coalition government headed by some one who is stepping down and allowing its own party to elect a new PM from its own members in May?

My opinion is that this coalition government is bad for Canadians because all of those who voted against Dion and his plan for the economy and the environment; which was a small stimulus check and a new tax that would have everything overpriced; would now have a PM they did not vote for which is about 75% of Canadians. I do not want Dion and some one who is 'yet to be determined' run my country regardless of whether or not the official I elected is taking part in the coalition. Who really wants a PM who encourages inflation; don't we pay enough for our goods and service? I really don't like the idea of a coalition government and talking about the current one leaves a really bad taste in my mouth. What's your opinion about the current Canadian political crisis?

More about the Canadian political crisis: Dion coalition would 'weaken' Canada: Harper

Changes

As most of you have noticed, I have not been updating my blog recently. This is not due to abandonment, it is due to a problem with my operating system on my home computer and a few changes that I have been dealing with. The biggest change is that I now have a roommate and lets just say that not much gets done around the house unless I do it.

I haven't given up on blogging I just have not found much time to blog now that I have double the amount of daily chores. Working for 8 hours a day and then coming home to about 2 to 3 hours worth of chores does not leave much room for blogging. I haven't quite worked out whether or not I will have some kind of posting schedule; so my posts will be more sporadic. I have decided that I will not turn this blog into a political blog, but I will keep looking for current events that strike a chord with me.

For every one who has faithfully been reading my blog, THANK YOU! For those who are just discovering my blog, take a look around and thanks for visiting. Until next time, later y'all!

Canada Speaks/Le Canada Parle

Yesterday October 14^th Canada went to the election booth and voted for another Conservative minority government. Stephen Harper will lead another slightly stronger minority cabinet into the coming year and will put Canada's economy at the forefront of this new government. Some gains were made by both the Conservative party and the New Democrat Party. The New Democrats broke ground in Quebec with their first ever seat in a Quebec riding.

Hier le 14 octobre Canada est allé aux cabines d'élection et a voté pour un autre gouvernement de conservateur minorité. Stephen Harper mènera un autre coffret légèrement plus fort de minorité dans l'année à venir et mettra l'économie du Canada au rang de ce nouveau gouvernement. Quelques gains ont été faits par la partie conservatrice et Les Neveaux Democrats. Plus de gains ont été faits par la partie conservatrice dans Ontario mais pas au Québec. Les nouveaux Democrats ont cassé la terre au Québec avec leur premier siège dans une équitation du Québec.

In Quebec the majority was for the bloc de Quebecois. The Bloc held onto their 50 seats in Parliament. There were really no big surprises which disappointed many voters. Although there was not much change in the political landscape of the House of Commons, a larger contingent of New Democrats will put more focus on Canadian Industry. For full election results please visit CBC's webpage.

Au Québec la majorité était pour le bloc de Quebecois. Le bloc s'est tenu sur leurs 50 sièges au parlement. Il n'y avait vraiment aucune grande surprise qui a déçu beaucoup d'électeurs. Bien qu'il n'y ait pas eu beaucoup de changement du paysage politique de la Chambre des communes, un plus grand contingent de nouveaux Democrats mettra plus d'accent sur l'industrie Canadienne. Pour de pleins résultats d'élection veuillez visitent le site Web du Canada d'élections.

Thursday Thought: U.S. & Canadian Elections

With both Canadian and American elections right around the corner I could not help myself from drawing the conclusion that the North American Union (N.A.U.) is clearly on the horizon. I have no idea as to what the flag of the N.A.U. might look like but what you see here is my opinion on what it should look like if political leaders were to push for it.

The current elections in Canada were called not that long ago and we will be going to the polls before the U.S.; but if we elect a majority government we will again be going to the polls a month before the next U.S. election four years from now. Right now the polls seem to be fluctuating quite a bit and the last few days of attack ads will be running. Liberals, New Democrats and Greens do not want a Conservative majority or minority saying that the changes that Stephen Harper has made with a minority government are bad for the economy and that we should all panic over the economic mess south of the border and assume the worst for our own economy.

I hear a lot of talk about change coming from the U.S. media and a lot of talk about how Stephen Harper is killing the economy from Canadian media. U.S. politics are more partisan than Canadian considering the left and the right have more than one party running. It can be difficult to decide which party to support when you have to choose the lesser of four evils (I say four because there are four major parties I can vote for, Bloc Quebecois only runs for seats in Quebec).

Anyway, with both elections relatively close in terms of dates within the election year one could draw the conclusion that the Canadian electoral system is being reformed. The possibility of a Harper majority government does not seem likely from the polls I saw today but there still are a few days before the election where that could change. With a majority government Canadians would not be going to the polls again for another four years; coinciding with the 2012 U.S. election...makes me think that the N.A.U. would do more than reform the currency across the three nations.

I can only speculate about the N.A.U. but there are treaties in place that are precursors to the N.A.U. right now. The Security & Prosperity Partnership (S.P.P.) is just one of the precursors that I am aware of. I am sure there are more, and more will come to light in the coming years ahead. Only the coming days and months ahead will be able to reveal what will happen.

What's your take on the North American Union?
Are you for uniting the three separate currencies into the Amero?
What's your say?

What Poor Workmanship Looks like

Okay, this is what happened...three years ago I called in a roofing company to strip all of the shingles off the roof and fix the leak that I had that was minor. The roofing company came in shingled over the existing shingles and did not put any flashing where water might pool. I noticed the leak earlier in the year as the drywall on the ceiling was bulging down. May I remind you that I am only one person and trying to get a hold of friends for longer than half an hour has been difficult for the past four years.

One of my really good friends moved back from British Columbia this year and when he came by to visit and catch up on what has been happening since he left pointed out a musty smell. Well the smell was coming from the mold that was growing on the ceiling behind the drywall and insulation. We pulled the moldy ceiling down about a week ago and found a hole about the size of a tennis ball in the roof decking. The picture above was taken after we had started to replace the damaged roof decking and found that there was nothing to attach it to.

I called the number from my paperwork for the roof to see if they would come in to fix it. You'll never guess what comes next... They went bankrupt! With such poor workmanship it really was not much of a surprise. At least the bankruptcy trustee said they would send me some paperwork to file a claim against the defunct company. Now what am I going to do? So I have been trying to get some quotes to get the wall fixed so I can fix the roof as soon as possible. It is getting cold and I certainly do not want to get the problem fixed in January.

Have you ever had a similar problem?

Thursday Thought

When I woke up today, I had completely forgot about the English debates tonight; but I did get a chance to watch some of the French debate last night. My French is not the greatest but I was glad that the network airing the debate translated for me. Anyway, I just remembered about the debate just in time to catch a few questions from reports after the debate.

Maybe I needed a break from politics for today. I was watching some television earlier today; specifically on the History channel and I just was engrossed by a program that was uncovering buildings from the time of Henry VIII. It was quite interesting and took my mind off of politics for the time being.

I will have to get back to the political folly that is the up coming election on October 14^th. I am definitely going to vote that day. I haven't seen any good commercials encouraging voting this time around, maybe we'll get a better turn out this time...who knows? Anyway, I'll catch up with campaigns and have some more in the coming days.

Seeking Change: Jack Layton and the New Democrats

One thing that is very important to many Canadians are home grown jobs. Recent times have seen our manufacturing jobs shipped overseas as well as across the border. One thing I like about Jack Layton's approach to the economy is to invest in Canadian manufacturing. I think that's a pretty good angle to go on considering there are rumors being generated that our Canadian banks could follow suit with many financial institutions in the US.

Layton is approaching the economy by making a push to keep Canadian jobs...Canadian. It is important to note that other candidates have opposed the idea of helping Canadian companies to stay Canadian and keep pace with what should be a growing economy. Foreign companies have been either buying up companies or luring companies to out source their production in a sometimes dangerous work environment rather than producing the goods on our own shores.

Another thing the New Democrats are pushing for are greener jobs. In other words they are pushing to invest in renewable energy production with a goal of replacing 35% of Canada's current energy needs with renewable green sources of energy. A tall task indeed; but with emphasis on creating jobs that could fill the void of the recent closures and US companies moving back to the US as the dollar is too high for them to do business here. A push towards a greener and cleaner Canada to finally get close to reaching targets from the Kyoto agreement.

Our political system has been run by either Liberals or Conservatives throughout most of our history as a sovereign nation and it is time for a change. Polls have shown the Conservatives gaining ground moving forward and the New Democrats are gaining ground on the Liberal party. Although the polls may have changed since the last time I saw any numbers, it was good to see another option gaining popularity. Who do you think would be best to lead our country?

Image: Official Party Photograph
New Democrats platform: Take a look for yourself

One Year of Blogging

Yesterday this blog turned One. I was busy watching a hockey game instead of posting about blogging for one year. Since I am a huge hockey fan I just had to watch the first preseason game last night, my team won the game which made watching the game seem a little sweeter. Anyway, I spent a few minutes reflecting on the past year.

Some of my previous posts have been coming to mind recently. The current elections in both Canada and the US remind me of a post I wrote back when I had first started blogging...A Brave New North America. The recent changes to the electoral system in Canada which now has a set date for Federal elections reminds me of the US electoral system where you have a federal election every four years. The possibility of a Majority Government getting in this election seems imminent and would set our next federal election to be held in four years mimicking the US. If one was looking to create a North American Union similar to the European Union, one could speculate that this would be the first step.

Last November I wrote a post about some technology that is changing the face of travel in the US. Big Brother is Watching! is my reflection on the eerie similarities between George Orwell's 1984 and our current society where there is a camera almost every where you turn. One of my favorite books in school was the Orwellian classic.

I did not just write about grim subjects either. I wrote a post about the Birth of a Nation an informative piece about Canada written on July 1^st. I really enjoyed writing that piece and was thankful for all of the comments I received on that post.

Another thing I started was a photography corner, although recently I have not been able to find the time to get some pictures. I'll have some soon I think. My favorite one was #2, one of the best photo's I have taken with an aging camera. But I think that is enough reflection for now...elections are right around the corner and there are a few things I would like to call attention to before they take place. I'll mostly be delving into Canadian politics which I have a better understanding of than US politics. I hope you have enjoyed reading some of my blasts from the past and hope you will comeback to see what the future brings here at "Majik's Thoughts."

Before I finish this post and run go to bed I have to ask; how old is your blog?

Green Shift or Money Shift?

The Green Shift plan...is it a comparable plan to meet our commitment to the Kyoto Protocols or just another tax grab? With fuel prices soaring regardless of the actual trading price of a barrel of crude would imposing a tax on polluters to force them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions actually be beneficial to the average Canadian? I spent a few moments looking over the "Green Shift Plan" and how it will put money back in your pocket to pay the higher prices it will create. The theory behind the plan is to force industry to reduce their emissions by taxing them for the amount of pollution they spew into the environment; I'm glad politicians are keeping the environment in mind but at what cost to the Canadian economy?

Stephane Dion's "Green Shift Plan" on the surface sounds and looks a lot like a tax grab. Something I'm sure a lot of Canadians are familiar with...Goods & Services Tax (GST/HST) for example. But after I saw one of the Liberal ads promoting the "Green Shift Plan" and not attacking other candidates I started thinking about what that would do to our manufacturing sector. Increasing the cost to run a manufacturing plant in Canada could be disastrous. How many jobs have gone south of the border thanks to the stronger dollar increasing operational costs to businesses?

I've been watching a lot of Canadian politics this past week and I have had a chance to delve into what the candidates are proposing. In terms of the environment I am still looking for the best proposal. I have seen very little information on the New Democrats plan to reduce pollution and even less from the Conservative Party. As for the Green Party's take on pollution I am still in the dark on that one; the media coverage of the Green party has been overshadowed by the larger party's plans.

As for my opinion, the "Green Shift Plan" that Dion is proposing is a big thumbs down. The cost of manufacturing in Canada is already too high; why would big business go for a plan that costs the organization more money just to reduce pollution and put more money in the pockets of Canadians to offset their price increases? I do not think this plan would be beneficial to Canadians because cutting income taxes to offset the immediate price increases across the board caused by taxing major polluters; who will just in turn force the cost on to you. What do you think Canada?

Image Source: Official Liberal Party Photo

Elizabeth May and the Green Party to Join the Next Debate

Earlier today I was watching the news and learned that Elizabeth May and the Green party would be present for the debates that some of the other party leaders have been calling for. In the past Conservatives and New Democrats opposed the inclusion of the Green party's leader because of support for the Liberal party and said it would be unfair to have two people represent the Liberal view point in a federal election. So far the debate over whether or not Elizabeth May would be present for party leaders' debate has become so much of a distraction that it is important to include them in the debate so the issues at hand do not get lost in controversy.

This is a small victory for the Green party and a victory for the people. Now the people will now get five different view points on the issues during this years election debates. The political mud slinging contest is still just getting started, I have not seen very many attack ads yet but there still is a whole month before the election. Plenty of time left for ever more creative political attack ads. But what will the inclusion of the Green party into the party leaders' debate do to the face of Canadian politics?

The addition of the Green party to the debates will give Canadians a larger view of the issues from more than one point of view. The role of our military in Afghanistan will certainly be on the hearts and minds of many eligible voters; the economy going south and our environment are also on the priority list. I am sure that like a large majority of Canadians I am not alone in saying that I really don't know where the Green party intends to go with respect to the economy slowly being moved south as American companies find it too expensive to do business in Canada while our dollar trades well on the foreign exchange markets.

The coming weeks ahead will give us all a clearer view on where the parties stand; I just hope that the American election does not over shadow our own election. I watched coverage of the nominee's campaign for the white house before any coverage of our own elections and I was a little disappointed. I hope all Canadians can take a few minutes out of their day to see where the parties stand on the issues and make an educated vote. This has been my opinion, care to share yours with me?

News Brief: Green leader allowed into debates, networks confirm
Image source: Wiki Media Commons

Should I Go In a Different Direction

I noticed today that in 14 days my blog will One year old. Wow, I never thought I would still be blogging after one year, I did not think that blogging would ever bring such enjoyment when I first started. I am a little weathered now that I have been blogging for almost a year but I am not the brilliant blogger who lives off of his blog that I would like to be. Reflecting back I did not even think I was going to make 100 posts on this blog, now I am aiming much higher.

I have been doing some thinking and surfing through other blogs recently and I am amazed at the staggering number of political blogs that are out there. I have been spending some time looking through them and I have seen a lot about Barack Obama and a lot about John McCain and I've even seen a blog devoted to McCain's pick for Vice President, Sarah Palin. But what I haven't seen is any Canadian politics, there certainly is quite a bit of entertainment with Canadian politicians, just look at our last four Prime Ministers.

I've been enjoying giving the few readers that I have my opinion on current events but the lack of Canadian politics in the world of blogging is bothering me. Even if I do not dedicate my blog to Canadian politics I certainly will be focusing on them as the election trail wears on. It certainly will not be one soon forgotten by many Canadians, Jack Layton has already applied for Harper's now vacant position. Elizabeth May is fighting the Canadian media to get air time to promote the Green Parties take on the issues, and Stephan Dion is trying to sell his Carbon Tax to the people while discrediting the steps that the former Harper government made towards building a better Canada.

It is true that Canadians like the Americans are thirsty for change but this fall election is only a surprise to those that have not been following the news in this country. For months now Stephen Harper has been warning Canadians that liberals blocking the changes he is making to better our country will result in an election. Well from the outside looking in; it does seem like the Liberals thirst for power has been in the way of necessary changes in our country.

Right now a lot of jobs are going south because it is too expensive to do business in Canada. If that doesn't tell you that our economy needs to be the focus of this election and not stabbing the other candidates in the back. Although listening to the attacks and watching the advertising can be entertaining. Jack Layton is paying attention to the economy and the environment; the Green party appears to be focusing on both as well.

Now I have to go and catch up on some EC drops and some more searching through political party pages so I will leave things open for discussion. There definitely needs to be a Canadian voice bringing "Canadian Politics" to the world of blogging but who will it be?

No Way, It Can't Be Wednesday....

I've had a busy week and it feels like it should be Friday and its only Wednesday. Has anybody else felt the same way on a Wednesday? This past weekend I've had a room mate move in and I just have not had the time to just stop for a minute or two. At work the new contract between the union and my company was voted on and we decided not to strike (although there were a few that wanted to). Working for an American company just has its ups and downs. The United States seems to be falling into a recession and Canada's economy is not.

I found out this week like many other Canadians that we will be going to vote in another federal election. I'm pretty sure every body already knew about that with the number of commercials running supporting Harper to be re-elected. I have not heard anything from the Liberal party yet but if your plan to get elected into a majority government by introducing a carbon tax at a time when a lot of people are screaming for lower prices; I would not want to be in that party. I no vote for you!

I'm waiting to see what the other parties are saying before I decide in October. The political machines are only warming up; there are bound to be some more commercials on their way. At least the battle for PM in Ottawa will help keep our minds off of the American election the following month. At least our elections will be over before the American election. If you are old enough to vote go out and make your voice heard when it counts.

That has been my opinion, what is yours?

About

Majik's Thoughts is a blog written by me offering my opinions on current events. Every day I am looking for something new and current to share my Canadian point of view with you.

I started this blog in September of 2007 to alleviate some boredom. I originally was going for a personal blog, but my muse continued to be the events that shape our world so it evolved into a news and media blog. Sponsored posts have been taken and will be separated by more posts as there really are few opportunities that I can be creative with the post instead of writing a generic text ad.

Now in my second year of blogging I am looking forward to spend more time delving into Canadian politics and other news worthy topics. I hope that you will join me and offer your opinion on "A Canadian View"

Honored Once Again

Even in my absence while dealing with a problem with Vista I find out that people enjoy reading my blog. Finding out about receiving a blogging award is somewhat of a humbling experience. Chilly has honored me twice already and as much as I appreciate it when I am recognized for my writing (even though it is only on a blog) I always feel humbled.

Thank you Chilly for picking "Majik's Thoughts" as one of the seven blogs you enjoy. The company I have in that list almost makes me feel out of place as the other six on the list are also really good blog websites. Although I will not be passing the award on, I do feel it necessary to thank Chilly for awarding my blog. If it were not for the friends I have met while blogging I would have given it up a long time ago. Thanks for all of your comments and all of your visits even if you don't leave me a little token of your visit.

Happy Blogging Everyone!

A Quick Thought About Web Hosting Reviews

I found an interesting website hosting page today. I was actually looking into to getting my own domain hosted so I can get a different layout for my blog. I'm happy with the layout I have right now but I would like to at least move to my own domain. Anyway, I wanted to take an opportunity to point you towards it as most of the other bloggers that visit here use free hosted domains.

For those that are trying to make some money from blogging it is much easier for some one to remember how to find your page if you have your own hosted domain. Another thing that is also important if you are looking for your own domain is securing multiple domains. If you can secure a few domains that will redirect those who misspell your domain name you will not be loosing any traffic from typos.

One reason why I like to visit pages like "Web hosting rating" is because it offers reviews of different hosting companies allowing me to compare prices and packages. It is important to get the right hosting package for your needs especially if you are online to make money. I am going to be doing some more exploring through the ratings and reviews found on the page. If you have a few minutes and you would like to move to your own hosted domain, take the time and visit the page. It's worth the time to shop around and find the right offer for your needs, especially if you can save a few dollars in the process.

An Update

Well the Olympics are over but my problems with Vista are far from over. I think I may be a little closer to fixing the problem but I still have one more update to try and install. I cannot figure out why these updates end up corrupting a vital file for loading windows, I think I may have to do a little more digging to figure out if I can get this fixed without spending a lot of money. I'm still frustrated by this whole situation I cannot wait until it is fixed so I can continue dropping a whole bunch of cards and begin building my community once again.

Windows Vista: the Latest Source of Frustration!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, all I have to say about Windows Vista is: wear a hat while using this product to prevent pulling your own hair out! Up until last week I had no problems with Vista; but now that has all changed. Unfortunately I cannot permanently fix the problem I am having with it at least until I have had a few more paychecks in the bank. Until then you will have to forgive me for posting very sporadically. It took me an hour to boot up my computer today and I fear that as soon as I shut down my computer I will have another hour to reboot it next time I use my computer. Please forgive me for not keeping my blog up to date, but as soon as I can remedy the problem with Vista I will be back posting regularly.

My Disclosure Policy

It has come to my attention that I should include a disclosure policy for my blog. So without further adieu; here it is:

This policy is valid from 17 August 2008


This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.


To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Money, Money, Money, Money, MOOONEY!

This morning I had some time before I had to go in to work and I was checking out a few stories on my favorite news network's website. I found yet another reason not to give my vote to the Canadian Liberal party. The leader of the Liberals, Stephane Dion is trying to push a "Green Shift" bill through Parliament and included in the bill is yet another tax. It is a carbon emissions tax that will most likely affect every Canadian not just the industry leaders in carbon emissions.

Now I really do not need another tax. We are already paying Income tax, Provincial Sales tax, Goods and Services tax (GST) and many other taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and gasoline. If the Liberals plan to force an election is to put forth a bill that is going to put more strains on the pockets of the people they are leading, they should think about it one more time. The Liberal party lost my vote a long time ago after raising taxes and flat out squandering government funds. Why would I want to vote for a party that is just going to do the same thing again.

Personally I think the Liberals have had their chance to make this country better but under their government our dollar was worth just 63 cents American. Hmmm...let me think about this for a minute. Prime Minister Harper's minority government has increased the value of the Canadian Dollar on the Foreign Exchange markets, reduced the GST and put bills in place to beef up our military so they are not as laughable as they used to. The Liberal party has squandered money, raised taxes and refused to increase our military budget. Sounds like the Conservatives have actually done some good.

Stephen Harper had said that "The purpose of Mr. Dion's carbon tax is to raise money for the federal government so that he can spend it," he said this to reporters after wrapping up a caucus planning session in Quebec. Imposing a Carbon tax would certainly raise money for the federal government but at what cost to the average Canadian. Politics are not my strong suit but introducing another tax while Canadians are still fighting for lower prices to improve our standard of living is not the best of ideas.

This Carbon tax that is in question is part of the Liberals green shift proposal to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. Taxing an already over taxed commercial sector is only going to incite protest, as if $1.28/litre ($4.81/gallon) wasn't high enough. I am a little enraged that the Liberals are wanting to impose another tax to grab some more money to squander but I am ever so thankful that I did not vote for them in our last election.

To wrap things up, imposing regulations on polluters would be much better for the average Canadian opposed to yet another tax. Canadians are over taxed as it is right now and imposing a new Carbon tax is not the best idea to force an impromptu fall election. This green shift proposal is the Liberals answer to not being in power and the whole Liberal versus Conservative power struggle is getting tiresome. The people did not want them in power and I am sure that if all Canadians knew that the Liberals plan to get back into power was imposing another tax, some people who are loyal to the Liberals may start rethinking their vote. I don't like this tax the people to reduce dependency on fossil fuels way of thinking, do you?

Image: Wiki Media Commons
News Story: Money only purpose of Dion's carbon tax: PM

Business Cards and Return Address Labels

I know that business cards and return address labels seem miles a part but not that long ago I was pointed to VistaPrint.ca which is a Canadian printing company. At the time I was just looking for some business cards to hand out with the URL of my blog on them. The photo is of my card and is one of their designs and I chose one of the three shipping options to have it delivered and I have been really happy with my business card. Today I had a chance to take a look at a few other items they are offering. I'm not sure just how many letters I usually send in a year through the postal system, but if you send a lot would it not be easier for you if you had some return address labels?

I spent a little time just checking out the different options they have for printed return address labels and I was amazed at the wide variety of selections. My last experience with the website, I found it easy to incorporate your address into their designs for which ever product you choose, they have a lot of different products; not just address labels and business cards. Ordering your labels is easier than choosing the design you want to have on them. Once you have decided which design you want the next step in the ordering process is to add your address, followed by your shipping address and method of shipping. If I remember correctly, they have three different options for shipping your purchase to you. They even accept payment through PayPal which I have to admit is very convenient for making online purchases.

I have been meaning to spend a little more time on their website and I'm glad I took the time to do a quick review. I have purchased my business cards from this website and I did not have any problems tracking my purchase. I have been quite satisfied with my purchase and ordering it was just as easy as writing ones name. I hope you will at least stop by their website and have a look for yourself.

Dreams of Space Tourism Just Got Closer to Reality

For those select few wealthy who have dreams of going to space, their dreams just got a little closer to reality. The roll out of "The White Knight 2" a twin fuselage heavy lift plane designed to carry the vehicle to take space tourist into sub-orbit marks an achievement in aerospace fuel efficiency and design. The craft is made entirely out of carbon composites and will carry "Spaceship 2" to its 50,000 ft launch zone.

Apparently the spaceship that is to take tourists into orbit is about 70% complete. Virgin Galatic's president Will Whitehorn said that the first flights will happen in either late 2009 or early 2010. This is good news for those that can afford the $200,000 ticket they have to pay to reserve their seat in the spaceship. A deposit for your ticket will cost you $20,000 which is not entirely affordable. But the company has up to seven of the launch vehicle and five of the spaceships on order which may reduce the price after they become fully operational.

If I could afford the price tag I would certainly already have purchased my ticket. As for Canadians, the wealthy among us may want to take a flight but the whole space tourism ideal is becoming a reality. How about you, would you want to cough up $200,000 to go into space?

Image: Wiki Media Commons
Source: Virgin Galactic unveils spaceship launch aircraft

Honored and Humbled

Chilly from On the Bricks has honored me twice by first awarding my blog with the "Arte y Pico" award and now the "Brilliante Weblog Award." Both awards are what one refers to as a meme and I share the same view as William from deadrooster.com about these awards. I will not be passing on these awards. I am grateful for Chilly thinking that my blog is deserving of these awards, but I am too humble to accept them.

To me blogging itself is rewarding and no award can compare to how you feel after you finish another post that satisfies your creative genius. In fact each time some one takes the time to comment on your post it can be received as an award for catching the interest of another soul. Thanks for all of the comments everybody has been leaving lately and I hope that you will keep coming back even if I don't pass on these awards.

And Chilly, thank you for considering my blog worthy of both of these awards!

Majik's Photography Corner # 2

Years ago I was really into racing and took a few laps around the track in this picture. Go Karting was a lot of fun and if I could find the time to take a few laps around the track I would. Maybe on my next day off from work.

How About a Nice New Pair of "Specs"

I have been looking for a new pair of eyeglasses lately. I still have to go and get a new prescription but that has not stopped me from looking around. I found an interesting website while I was looking for a new pair of "specs." I had no idea that I could order my new pair of glasses online. I heard about Zenni Optical with the help of the Clark Howard Show a nationally syndicated consumer advocate.

I do not normally shop online, not to say that I haven't just that I don't normally; but with the amount of choices available on the Zenni Optical home page, one word: Wow. The prices of the eyeglasses are absolutely the best I have seen yet! Who wouldn't want to get a pair of glasses for $8? I did some reading on the website and they can offer such a low price because they manufacture the eye wear and sell it directly to you the consumer. No middlemen keeping the cost to you down.

Another option they have is to get some stylish clip on polarized sun shades. An extra $4 is worth it. You could just clip on your sun glasses before you drive and not have to deal with any glare.

The multitude of selections for different frames seems to be never ending. I spent a good 45 minutes just looking through their selections. I am going to have to tell my Mom and Sister-in-law about this website (of course after I've got my new pair of glasses). I am sure that they would love the prices and selection Zenni Optical has. Do you know anyone who could benefit from stopping here to pick up a pair of eyeglasses?

Good Ol' Barack Takes a Tour

I certainly am no authority on American politics, but as a Canadian seeing Barack Obama visiting Afghanistan; I can think of a few questions. Now I read from one of my favorite news sources that Barack Obama would be meeting with the Prime Minister of Afghanistan as well as the Prime Minister of Iraq. Both Canada and the US have troops stationed in Afghanistan so I read on. Here's the part where I raised an eyebrow. Obama wants to redeploy some troops that are stationed in Iraq to Afghanistan. What does this mean for the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan?

Well more troops to support the efforts in Afghanistan would be in Canada's interest. I remember not that long ago that we Canada were calling for some support from the nations allied in this war on terrorism. What is Obama doing? Now unfortunately all Canadians lost a soldier recently and as our thoughts are also with the fallen soldiers family I can't help but wonder why Obama would want to redeploy to Afghanistan. Is there a chance that Canada may be pulling out of Afghanistan? I don't know about that one but what do Canadians think about it?

My guess about whether or not Obama gets elected into office and is able to redeploy troops to Afghanistan is that it could happen. Shifting the spotlight from Iraq to Afghanistan is definitely a good political move so this just might be a good move for his campaign. There was a big buzz about his foreign trip coming so long after his opposition Senator McCain. Senator McCain made his way over to the same areas but I do not remember much being covered on that. Everything is up in the air and the mudslinging and finally the Democratic Primaries have been wrapped up. Can Obama be the next president?

This little snapshot of his foreign policy can give us some insight into where he plans on taking the US. Clearly there has been much unrest about the war in Iraq and while the economic state of the US slowly dwindles it is possible that great change is coming. Now as for what Obama's visit to Afghanistan means to the average Canadian, well its just more campaigning except this time we don't hear about the Clintons. I remember some of the commercials running during our last elections, I posted a couple of videos of commercials that ran during our last election not that long ago, I'm wondering if anything similar will be running up until November 4th? Anyway as for the US election, chose wisely America one vote can make a difference even if you don't think its possible.

What do you think of Barack's Tour to Afghanistan and Iraq?

Image: Wiki Media Commons

Advantage In Worldwide Rental Cars

There are quite a few places I would like to travel to and one of the most important aspects of traveling for me is finding a good car rental. Now if I am going to visit family on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean I would not have to worry about it; but if I was to say go visit a friend in another country I would want to rent a car. I was looking to travel to Europe a little while ago and did a little searching to see if I could book a rental for a vacation and I found "Advantage Rent a Car" recently and thought the company deserved a little attention.

I spent some time on their website just checking to see how easy it was to navigate through; it was easy enough for me to find what I was looking for quickly. I checked out their featured specials as well. They have some good deals on right now, if you are looking to travel through the US; hop on over to their website and take a look at their rates. I also wanted to check out their extra coverage options for those situations that you cannot plan for. Their insurance coverage is up to par with other competitors. The rates for Supplemental Insurance are competitive.

There are quite a few good points that I could go into more detail with; but as I was only planning to do a quick review I'll have to let you decide for yourself. I do think that their rates are very competitive; they have good quality specials and great coverage for those unexpected perils of the road. Over all I would give this car rental company a good rating; I'm even going to choose them over one of their competitors. Would you be willing to give them a chance to earn your business?

Majik's Photography Corner

Last Week I went to a beach on Lake Huron and snapped off a few photographs.

I went there with my brother and his growing family. My niece had more fun throwing sand on me than she did in the water. This last picture was taken by my sister in-law after I came out from washing all the sand that my niece threw on me. I didn't think she was going to snap off a picture of me coming out of the water though.

I Finally Signed up

I finally did it, good bye Google PR and hello payperpost. I've been thinking about joining payperpost for months now, not to make a fortune from blogging but just for the fact that coming up with interesting topics can sometimes be difficult. I do like the idea of a sponsored post; I doubt I'll get rich from it but using the blogging medium to help spread the word about worthy products and get paid as a bonus. Two thumbs up!

I have not spent much time on the website yet, but from a quick look through; there are plenty of different opportunities for a blogger. The possibilities seem endless. There are many different ways to earn some cash and the opportunity to make more per post increase as you qualify for more offers. Now the thought of earning cash for posting was not what attracted me to payperpost in the first place. It was the opportunity to network with other bloggers.

So far I haven't met any new blogger friends from payperpost but that is mostly because I have stayed away from the website in the past. As of today I have only spent about two hours on the website, and will be spending more on the site every day. Now I am looking forward to meeting a few different bloggers and explore the possibilities on the payperpost website. I am sure that I can find a way to gain more traffic and make some new friends on payperpost. Not to mention they have their own page ranking system, which I am still waiting to see what mine will be; but only time will tell.

Are Fuel Efficient Jets Possible?

According to Bombardier, a Canadian company the produces trains and plains it is possible. The regional C series jet is designed to be more fuel efficient. They claim that it will use 20% less fuel than any other aircraft in its class. A remarkable claim; it is also said that the jet is quieter then most which is another benefit to this new aircraft.

Bombardier has been a manufacturer of planes and trains for years and this new jet will open about 2500 new manufacturing jobs in Canada. The majority of the assembly will be done in Mirabel Quebec which is good for the Canadian economy. Bombardier has up to five potential customers seeking a total of 200 of these aircraft.

This is very good for Canadians, now we don't have to head west for better paying jobs, some of those better paying jobs will be closer than they were before. The rivalry between central Canada and western Canada will continue, but at least it will bolster support for our economy to keep our dollar strong on foreign exchange markets. Now if only our government would consider replacing our aging F-18's. Preferably with a Canadian build fighter. Hmm....

Image Source: Wiki Media Commons
News Source: Bombardier announces new fuel-efficient regional jet

Attention: Looking for Guest Bloggers Anyone Interested?

Yes that's right I have decided that I want to have a Guest Blogger. As for how often, I'm thinking at the bare minimum, once a month. Any guest spot here on Majik's Thoughts will have to keep a Canadian perspective in mind. As my blog is about bringing a Canadian View to the masses, a Canadian blogger would be preferred but any nationality will be accepted. If you are interested in writing a guest post about anything that can reflect a Canadian view or a current event that affects Canada as a whole please leave a comment with your Entrecard User Link or your Blog Catalog user link so I can reach you with more information.

Examples of User ID's I'm looking for to get in touch with anyone interesting in being a guest blogger here:

http://entrecard.com/details/40312 - Entrecard User ID
http://www.blogcatalog.com/user/Majik - Blog Catalog User ID

Wordless Wednesday: Pictures From the Passengers Side of the Car

I took another trip out to my brother's place yesturday, and this was one of the views I got to drive through. Although it was taken on my last trip out this way, it was taken from the passenger seat as you can tell but the glare from the dash on the windshield is a good example of why that is not the best place to make a picture from. At least from the passenger side of the car. The last one I've already included in a previous post, just wanted to share it with all of you again.

Another Update: A Visit to My Brother In Another City

I just wanted to leave a short note that I will be away for a day. I am going to visit my brother in a city that is about a three hour drive from my house. But before I go, I took part in a discussion on Blog Catalog about a 4th of July post. My post really was not all that American, Of course its not going to be American, I am Canadian but I did not bash any Americans, just curious about what they do while enjoying national holidays.

I was asked about a couple commercials that were running during our last election here in Canada and I wanted to share them with you here because the message is important. I found both commercials on YouTube and if they don't work I will leave a a direct link to the videos for you. The first one is a clip of a young man not speaking while he has the chance. In the up coming Presidential elections for the US it is important to keep some of these in mind while you decide if you are going to vote or not.

Elections Canada: Vote

The second video is was aired before movies at the Cineplex. Both are important because of the message: "You have a chance to make your voice heard on the national stage by casting a vote. Don't miss your chance to speak." I hope you all enjoy both videos and seriously consider who you want to be your next president on November 4th, 2008.

Apathy is Boring Go Vote PSA

What Does July 4th Mean to Me?

As a Canadian I don't generally celebrate Independence Day with my neighbors to the south. In past years the 4th has fallen on a Thursday and most people in the US will get a four day long weekend which has made a lot of Canadians that I have spoken with envious. When one of our Statutory Holidays land on any day during the work week other than a Monday or a Friday we either end up with an odd work schedule or off on the Monday or Friday and working the day of the holiday at straight time.

Every nation has the right to set their own National Holidays and I do wish all of my American readers and friends a Happy 4th of July weekend. I hope you all celebrate your Independence Day responsibly and remember your forefathers who forged your nation. This has been a week of National Birthdays, Canada celebrated our birthday on Tuesday the 1st of July and now today the United States will celebrating their Independence Day.

To me July 4th is just another day. I am interested in some of the activities that Americans take part in on their Nations birthday. I already know that you'll be watching many different fireworks displays across your nation. Its the smaller details I don't know about. How important is it to be with family on a national holiday in the US? I don't know that's why I ask. In years gone by I've heard about people will be having a BBQ to celebrate, drinking of course usually takes place. But up here in Canada, it is just another day.

In closing, I wish all Americans a safe and Happy 4th of July weekend. Enjoy yourselves this weekend and we will no doubt catch a glimpse of your fireworks via Television feeds from the US. Peace out!

Image Source: Bill Hicks via Wiki Media Commons

My Trip Out: Wordless Wednesday

I took a trip out to the beach today and discovered a few interesting views that I wanted to share with you

I found some Canadian geese while I was down there, they were one of the best views I got to see.

And no trip to the beach is complete with out seeing a flock of seagulls. Thanks for stopping by and taking a brief look at my trip to the beach.

The Birth of A Nation

One hundred and forty one years ago today a new nation was born. That new nation has grown over the years, fought in two world wars and has made a name for itself over the course of those one hundred and forty one years. That nation is of course Canada. We have come a long way since our forefathers forged this nation of ours.

Now our neighbours to the south will be celebrating their "Independence Day" this coming Friday. One thing will be common between both nations, fire works. We all seem to love watching fire works. But I digress, the reason why it is important for us to remember the birth of our nation is not to get a day off from work, but to remember how the nation was forged. Back in 1867 Canada became a sovereign nation after trying to break away from the British rule. Unfortunately our rebellion was short lived because of poor planning and fear of the crown. But with diplomacy we earned our sovereignty.

But that was just the beginning of our nation. When our Nation was first formed I believe Toronto was still going by the name of York. Some time during that period I'm not sure of the exact dates York became Toronto. In any case Colonial America was now split into two separate Sovereign nations; the United States of America and Canada. Here in Canada we still are subjects of Queen Elizabeth II but we are a nation that is governed by ourselves. We elect our government differently than the Americans but every democratic system differs from country to country.

We have had many differences from other nations and we currently have one of the strongest dollars on the Foreign exchange markets. We all don't know how long that will last, but we will enjoy it while it does. Our nation's military have been laughed at by both our citizens and our neighbours. At one time back in the late 1950's we had the most advanced interceptor in the world, unfortunately politicians railroaded that program. Our current government has been bolstering support for our well trained troops, some of our pilots are considered the best in the world. In one hundred and forty one years we have come a long way.

Our beer is still considered one of the best in the world. Of course not all Canadians are drinkers but for those who are; try telling them that our beer sucks. Our favourite past time is hockey. If we're not playing hockey we are watching it, and a lot of us Toronto Maple Leaf fans are wondering when management will finally put together a Stanley Cup Team. Speaking of the Stanley Cup, many years ago when Lord Stanley was Governor General for Canada, he donated the Cup to the then small National Hockey League. For all of you Ottawa Senators fans out there who laugh at the 41 year drought of the Maple Leafs, the last time Ottawa won the cup was well over Eighty years ago.

Canada is becoming a well respected nation throughout the world. Not only is our National Hockey team feared on the national circuits, as well as THE team to beat. We have been working hard to better the name of our nation on the world stage. Our troops are helping to rebuild Afghanistan and unfortunately we lose a few soldiers now and then. Thankfully we haven't heard of any loses lately but we are doing our part on the national stage. We also made history when our troops were successful at capturing Vimy Ridge. Not that long ago at the anniversary of the turning point in the war, the Queen gave speech exonerating those who perished during the battle at the memorial that was erected for those valiant soldiers who lost their lives in the battle. The capture of Vimy Ridge was considered the turning point in the war because other allied troops had made attempts to capture it, but the Canadians came in and captured it in six days. We also lost over 6000 troops but we were successful and had gained international recognition.

The recent rise of our dollar has seen many manufacturing plants move back down to the states, with our dollar trading at par or better with the US greenback it is more expensive for US corporations to manufacture goods in Canada. Of course this means that Canadians now have to step up and rebuild the manufacturing sectors but this nation was forged on the backs of hard working citizens. We have seen many different governments throughout the years as well as a province attempt to separate. In my opinion it's because the make themselves so hard to please. But we will move forward. Our National Space Agency is in the middle of a recruitment drive to help our Nation stay at the forefront of robotics in the endeavours of space exploration.

In short we do things a lot better than some nations and a lot worse than other nations. We have our faults just like every other nation but the coming months I would hope to hear more about Canada on the world stage, not just as a Nation of peace keepers but as a technologically advanced Nation. Together we stand and divided we fall. Tonight we will be out watching fireworks to celebrate the birth of our Nation. To me it will have a new meaning after learning so much about our heritage as a Nation this year. I have learned more this past year about Canada this year than I did during history classes in High School. If you are Canadian and you have made it this far into my post, please post your thoughts on why Canada is such a great nation in the comments section. Let's all stand up and tell the world that Canada is here to stay! Oh yeah, and please enjoy the fireworks safely, they are dangerous and spectacular at the same time. Happy Canada Day Everyone!

Image 1: Canadian Flag - Wiki Media Commons
Image 2: Writing Prompt #3 - Morgue File

A Quick Update

I have been doing some relaxing trying to relieve some of the stress that kept building between January of this year and about a week ago. I have been busy working on content for my creative writing blog as well as working on my third blog. Writing has become soothing for me, although the tranquilizers my doctor has me on have also been a huge help.

I don't enjoy being on medication so I hope that I will be able to get some sleep with out having to take the tranquilizers. I haven't forgot about this blog. After I get some house work done tomorrow I am planning on taking my aging camera out to the beach near by and hopefully find a few shots that will be good for another Wordless Wednesday here. There have been a lot of interesting stories in the news lately that I would like to try and write something on, but I have to finish work on what will be my first guest post.

If anybody would like me to write a guest post for them please contact me through a comment here on my blog. But in other news I'm getting a kick out of the stories surrounding Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton. American politics always tends to amuse me. Another announcement for you is that I will be working on an updating schedule for all three of my blogs. I have already decided that every Wednesday and Saturday there will be a new part of my web-novel for any of you that are interested; added to my creative writing blog.

The time away from work has given me an opportunity to focus more on my writing and getting better. I would much rather prefer to write full time as it is far less stressful then working for someone else. I will be adding a donate button for anyone who is generous enough to purchase a coffee for me. That is all I have for now, thank you all for you comments and please take the time to check out all of my blogs.

Majik signing off ... for now.

Thursday Thought

For some of you who have been visiting my blog frequently it would seem as if I have been absent without leave, well the simple truth of the matter is that I have been off work on stress leave. Things have been far too hectic at work and the lack of team work from those who I work with have driven my stress levels through the roof. Thankfully I have seen my doctor and he has put me on some tranquilizers to help me cope with the stress and relax my nerves. The time off has given me the opportunity to give my brother a hand moving to another city that is at least a 3 hour drive from my front door. Since the drive was so long I couldn't leave my little dog in the house all day long so I brought him with me. The first picture is of him actually behaving around other people. Believe me, getting him to that point was a challenge but he is becoming more and more behaved as the days go by.

The second picture was taken on the drive out there. I had another picture from the drive but the reflection of the dashboard on the windshield made it less appealing. My Sister-in-law was doing the driving on the way out there. All in all we took three vehicles, my Mom's car, my Dad's van and of course the moving company brought their own truck. The drive out there was not too bad, the drive back was a different story. I had to drive my Mom back to town because she's not used to driving long distances and I am.

This last picture is a long distance shot of the Canadian Snowbirds. There was an air show in the area where my brother was moving to and we got to catch a glimpse of the Snowbirds in action. If I had a better camera the picture would have turned out a little clearer, I guess I just have to save up to get a new camera. I'll worry about that after I take care of my nasty sunburn. I'm never going out with no sun screen on again! I hope you all enjoy these few pictures, I will be going out to get some more pictures for another Wordless Wednesday later on this week.

An Awesome View!

I'm not sure what the blurry thing in the foreground is...maybe its a ghost? My buddy has this view from his living room, what a spectacular view?

Afganistan is Getting Brave

Has the effort to rebuild Afghanistan given Prime Minister Hamid Karzai too much confidence in his troops? I read a report today stating that Karzai is threatening to send Afghan troops into Pakistan to search and destroy Taliban insurgents. There still are over ten thousand international troops in Afghanistan making an effort to stabilize the nation, Canada has 2500 troops doing their part in the region. Granted every nation has the right to defend itself, is this the right course to pursue?

Is threatening a nation with nuclear capabilities a good idea? Not even if you have nuclear capabilities. Especially if your nation is not yet stable. Afghanistan does not have nuclear capabilities as well there still are International contingents of troops within the country dedicated to stabilizing the nation. This really is a bold move by the Afghan Prime Minister.

Granted this seems like an act of desperation. Karzai has pleaded with International forces to deal with the cross-border attacks but this was the first threat he's made. One could argue that if a plea for help defending oneself they have to defend themselves in which ever way they see fit. But what does Pakistan say about all of this?

Pakistan can understand why Karzai would want to stop cross-border attacks but says that the border is too long to post troops on it. It is in Pakistan's interest to have stable neighbors but will not tolerate those who interfere with their territorial limits. What does all of this have to do with Canadians? Other than affecting our troops serving in Afghanistan, it gives us more of a reason to want them home. If this threat goes any further I really think we should withdraw our support. If Karzai wants to begin a war with a more powerful nation before his country is stable than Canada should pull out of Afghanistan.

Pakistan has not always been cooperative when dealing with terrorists. If they want to prevent a war with Afghanistan they should work with Karzai to get the Taliban out of Pakistan. But are they harboring the Taliban? We won't really know for sure until the history books have been recorded on this scuffle in the middle east.

News source: Karzai threatens to send Afghan forces into Pakistan

Looking Up!

This is a tree in my back yard that I just looked up and realized what a cool picture it would make. I may not be a photographer but now that I have a flash card reader it is much easier to get pictures on my computer so I got a little snap happy!

And the Winner is...

The day has finally come for me to give away 500ec to my top dropper for the past 30 days. There were quite a few that were tied but there can only be one winner so the first person to drop from my top droppers was chosen. And the winner is Drum roll please... Chilly from On The Bricks. Congratulations I hope you will enjoy the 500ec which will be on its way in a matter of minutes. For the runners up, since you took the time to comeback and drop your card 30 times in the past 30 days, I have decided that you will each receive 50ec. The runners up in no particular order are:

Stir the Cauldron
Personal Finance Management
CK Marketing
Devils View~~Study
The Success Blog

So now that I am 750ec lighter I hope you all will keep coming back and keep dropping your cards. Thanks for making this contest a little interesting and keep those comments coming, I haven't given up on my Random Comment Contest yet!