Until Thursday, I was CTV’s Quebec City Bureau Chief, based at the National Assembly, mostly covering politics. It’s a fascinating beat - the most interesting provincial legislature in Canada, and the stories coming out of there lately have been huge. The near-implosion of the Parti Quebecois has kept the press gallery hopping well into summer. If you’re not from Quebec, it’s hard to explain the place the National Assembly holds in the popular im … Read More

via Kai Nagata

Just so you know… I have not blocked out the excesses of the previous Liberal governments. I know what they have and have not done.  I listen to both sides, via CTV news, CBC news, the Montreal Gazette and other political sources that gather such info. Sure, I could rattle off several ethical embarrassing faux-pas the present Conservative government has been caught up in, but what use would that be.  Those who see no evil there, will still see no evil.  Those who want to cast aspersions on the opposition will always have damning ammunition to to fire off in all directions. 

I don’t think I am unique in my level of interest of what is going on in MY country.  I know there are extremists in both ends of the spectrum.  I suppose, for me, it is more about the big picture of how I see MY Canada.  I do not see myself as an extremest.  

I feel any party who is in power too long, tends to take advantage of questionable situations and at times throw ethics to the wind… Politicians are complicated. That is not an excuse for unsavory activities.   Not all the members of any party are guilty and not all are innocent.  What is important is what gets done in the areas people feel are most important to their quality of life. Sure we do not want what gets done to involve patronage, graft or nepotism. Unfortunately, the facts, at times have proved otherwise. I think this sucks!  The only thing I can do about dicey politicians is vote them out, write letters and sulk.

What do I think is important to my quality of life?  First off the economy = jobs and job training. If most of the folks are able to work, then there is money to spend, taxes are paid and all sorts of programs are able to be put into place, infrastructure maintained and so on…  Next is health care… Canadian style, government run with all it’s foibles and glitches, excluding greedy insurance companies who are only interested in bottom line.  Then it is education. To me, this means pay teachers more.  The future of our children depend on these people. Those are my tops.. next come, not in any sort of order: environment, Canadian identity issues, including the arts, telecommunications, Afghanistan, G8 spending! (good lord)

My personal opinion of our present Prime Minister, I think, reflects the thoughts of many Canadians.  He is sorta creepy and he does behave like a despot. He will bear no criticism on any level, so he has built a cone of silence around him.  Reminds me of the story – The Emperor’s New Clothes.

In my opinion, Canadians did not fall so freely into recession the past two years because our banks very clearly did not allowed the same practices here as there were allowed in the U.S. Granted the Harper government did implement a vast plan to infuse the economy with more money because we were affected by what DID happen in the U.S. to some degree.  He was right to do this.  It was a good thing and it worked.  Any government in power would have implemented the same measures. Only the Liberals would have been a tad more, shall I say, Liberal and the N.D.P. more so.

He is also guilty of removing funds from areas that, to me, he should have let be.  The result being, we are losing some ephemeral but necessary ability to BE Canadians.  It is not easy to be who we are living next to …. well you know.  Harper does identify with the far right in the U.S. and that, to me is crazy creepy.

I do not mind that Canadians are in Afghanistan. I do mind that our troops are directly in the line of fire.  Since 2002, 146 members of the Canadian Forces have been killed serving in the Afghanistan mission.  Four Canadian civilians have also been killed, including one diplomat, one journalist and two aid workers.

For decades, since the Pearson years, Canadian forces have been known as peacekeepers, not fighters on the front lines. I would not mind if our troops returned to that sort of mission.

Some folks choose to like or not like a person based on their political stance.  How crazy is that?  I like or not like a  person based on how they treat me, how kind they are, how loving they are.  Again, in my opinion, I think there are loving, kind, compassionate folks in all political camps.  If I agree to disagree, please do not take it personally. We are all headed for the same dirt farm and eventually cosmic dust. 

It is really how we identify/empathize with the daily doo-doo anyone has to contend with at any given moment that verifies to me, we are connected in so many ways, it boggles the mind.

Namaste – and keep dancing!

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Actually, to me, all that was missing was that song.  Oh… what am I commenting on?  LOST, of course.  Yes, I was among the zillions of folks watching this 6 year long epic about a bunch of folks who ALL DIED. Where was Melinda? Isn’t she the character(Ghost Whisperer) who tells LOST ghosts to go into the LIGHT. She did that already.  I forget what season she has to wander around a field finding LOST ghosts and telling them, “Look for the light and just GO”.  Her writers must have already figured LOST out and were giving us a BIG hint.

I remember watching the first few shows and actually postulating to Frank that no one could have survived that horrific crash. They MUST be all dead, but for some wacky TV reason were trapped in a zone not unlike the biblical spots referred to as Limbo and or Purgatory. Dante would have SO approved.

So for 6 years the ghosts/souls had to connect OR not, find love, give love, forgive and be forgiven.  They were all issue driven, carrying a huge amount of baggage which would be indicative of every single human being living now.

Granted, there were many questions left unanswered.  It was a modern day Odyssey, made for the masses, filled with defining choices we all connected with from time to time.  We saw good and bad consequences, much joy, sadness, anger, bewilderment, and love.  We lived the choices, felt the emotional roller-coaster of each character. We rejoiced at redemption and nodded in agreement when justice (to us) was dealt in agonizing brutality.

The things left hanging are there for us to ponder soulfully.  Ben must forgive HIMSELF before he can enter the light.

It was an interesting ride.  I was not very surprised to see them all come together to feel the communal love that is necessary for all of us to experience.  We are all connected.  That may sound trite, but our lives here and now are a reflection of the journey the LOST souls took.

Do not forget to dance, dude!

Posted via web from Epistles From My Nutopia

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Sometime this year, we  taxpayers may again receive an Economic Stimulus payment.  

This is a very exciting new program.  I will  explain it using the Q and A format:

Q.  What  is an Economic Stimulus payment?
A.  It is money  that the federal gov ernment will send to  taxpayers.

Q.  Where will the government get  this money?
A.  From taxpayers.

Q..  So  the government is giving me back my own money?
A.   Only a smidgen.

Q.  What is the purpose of this  payment?
A.  The plan is that you will use the  money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus  stimulating the economy.

Q.  But isn’t that  stimulating the economy of China ?
A.  Shut  up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help  the US economy by spending your stimulus check  wisely:

  *      If you  spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go  to   China
  *      If you  spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the  Arabs.
  *      If you  purchase a computer, it will go to India
   *      If you purchase fruit and vegetables,  it will go to Mexico , Honduras and Guatemala .
   *      If you buy a car, it will go to   Japan .
  *      If you  purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan .
   *      If you pay your credit cards  off, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and  they will hide it offshore.

Instead, keep the money  in America by:

  1     ;   spending it at yard sales, or
  2       going to ball games, or
  3      spending it on prostitutes,  or
  4      beer or
  5      tattoos.

(These are the  only American businesses still operating in the US .)

***
I’m going to go to a ball game with a  tattooed prostitute that I met at a yard sale, and drink  beer!   Yay!

Posted via web from Epistles From My Nutopia

I don’t have a lot of balls in the air at the moment.  Just letting the sun shinny days meld into one another.  There is an important football game starting now and that is why, I am still at my computer after dinner.  I was told there was nothing on BUT football so my presence was not required.  I sure hope Tom Brady doesn’t injure another important body part.

I cut my own hair yesterday.  I use 3 mirrors strategically placed in the bathroom to see what I am doing.  It usually happens in  stages.  I make the main cut one day and live with it a little.  Then based on how I think it is wearing, I make adjustments.  I am good at the layers style but I still tend to chop too much from the sides.  Oh well, guess the back will be getting more attention in a few days.  Jaime wants me to just go to the darn hairdresser.  I am frugal, so putting out $25. + tip is painful for me.

We bought new electric convection base board heaters and Frank installed them yesterday.  First he had to take out the old ones, paint the wall, prime first and make sure all the wiring was in good condition.  During the last several decades, we have heated primarily with the wood stove.  I am so done with that.  The dust, the bugs and the coughing are just parts of the reasons I begged to let the stove take a break and only use it if the power goes off.

Second morning of senior exercise today.  At this point, it is just enough. I feel the stretching and pulling is exactly what I need.  I will, in time, get my mo-jo moving and take my own stuff to a different level.  Not only in aerobics, but in contemplation as well.  Dancing starts Wednesday evening.  The location has been moved to a rec center way over yonder through a lot of narrow twisting roads that are apt to have deer and moose leaping into view at every turn. I hope Frank doesn’t decide it’s not too annoying to drive there.  He likes the twisty roads fine, but not in the pitch dark.

I’m still knitting dishcloths but I am thinking that it would be fun to tackle something a bit more adventurous. I want to make a big cozy baby blanket for the new wee one.  I am going to have to ask around to find someone who can explain the pattern directions in a way that I can understand.  Plus a hands on demonstration would be useful to get me started in the right direction. I think there should be at least one woman at exercise class who would be willing to teach me….if i ask nicely.

No big drama, no outrageous point of view, just the daily hoo-humm from moi. Life is unfolding as it should, for this 60 yr old woman who still feels a LOT younger.

Keep dancing

Posted via web from Epistles From My Nutopia

Healthcare in Canada

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Introduction                                                                                           

Canada is the second largest country in the world, with a population nearing 32 million. The country has a government-funded, national healthcare system based on the Canadian Health Act. The principles of this law are to provide a health service that is universally available to permanent residents, is without income barriers, has comprehensive coverage, is portable within Canada and elsewhere, and is administered publicly.

The Federal Government, through the taxpayer, subsidizes the health system, though each province is responsible for its own healthcare system.

Overview of healthcare in Canada                                                       

Canadian provinces and territories are responsible for administering their own healthcare plans. Each must provide their residents with prepaid cover for all necessary medical services. These include financing, planning, providing medical care, hospital care, public healthcare, and dispensing prescriptions. Cover for dental treatment, optometric services, prescription drugs, hearing aids, and home care vary per province and territory.
Health policies, under the Canadian Health Act, are portable primarily within Canada, while a partial reimbursement is available for treatment outside the country. This system is made possible by funds from the federal government as well as the provincial and territorial governments. Personal and corporate income taxes are the main source of revenue, while some provinces charge residents an annual healthcare premium based on their yearly income.

Access to the healthcare system

Canada, as a whole, provides a free, basic, healthcare system for its citizens and all legal residents. This usually includes access to a family doctor and emergency care or basic hospital treatment. Some provinces like Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario charge their residents healthcare tax for this very purpose. The Canadian Health Act of 1984 states that prescription drugs and supplies are provided free in hospitals, most of the time. This is dependant on you staying in the hospital as an in-patient.  
Costs begin to accumulate when you are no longer staying in the hospital and begin purchasing your own prescription drugs and medical supplies. Specialist drugs can be very expensive for one course of treatment, while other medical services such as physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic treatments and dental treatment are not covered.

  If you work in the country, your employer may offer you a package that includes cover for prescription drugs, up to 80% of the cost, and services like physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment. Again, qualifications for free services vary in each province. If you are not satisfied with your benefits package, or would like to improve it, you can purchase your own insurance policy.

Challenges with Canadian healthcare

The quality of healthcare varies from province to province. In the rural communities and those further up north, healthcare is a step behind its southern counterparts. As such, there are concerns about discrepancies in the level of government funding and the overall quality of the healthcare being offered.

The Canadian Healthcare Association has pointed out several areas in the healthcare system that need to be improved. These include overall healthcare funding, patient waiting times, the improvement of medical technology, shortages in personnel, home and long-term care. The major issue in all of these is the level of waiting times among patients to see specialists, undergo elective surgery, or get diagnostic tests. According to the Fraser Institute, waiting times have increased from 13.1 weeks in 1999 to 17.9 weeks in 2004. Crowded emergency rooms are an indication of the severity of this problem.

  There has also been the occurrence of a “brain drain” in the healthcare profession. This is where nurses leave the country to seek greener pastures in the United States, which can result in a shortage of personnel. Incidents of negligence, or errors in treatment, have also raised concerns about Canada’s healthcare system.

The brighter side of Canadian healthcare                                     

In 2004, the federal government and the provinces came up with a C$41-billion (US$34.2-billion), 10-year agreement aimed at improving Canada’s healthcare system. A major part of this agreement is an attempt to reduce waiting times; a “Wait Times Reduction Fund” has been drafted in order to allow provinces to hire more healthcare professionals, increase their capacity, clear backlogs, and increase ambulatory and community care programs. The provinces are ready to set targets for acceptable wait times and will establish a common set of criteria to gauge wait times across Canada.

The bottom line with Canadian healthcare                                              

Overall, Canadians are generally satisfied with the standards of living in the country; this includes the state of their healthcare. A Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health, carried out in 2002-2003 by Statistics Canada and the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that 87% of Canadians are “somewhat” to “very satisfied” with their healthcare services. The evaluation criterion on health was based on personal safety, quality and availability of hospitals, medical care and medical supplies. Despite the difficulties, the healthcare system bodes well for Canadian residents and expatriates.

Posted via web from Epistles From My Nutopia

Taking a few to have my tomato samich.  A lot of talk about Woodstock this weekend.  People are waxing nostalgic about the best rock concert evah.

I did not attend, although I know at least one person, Dave Galfand, who did. I was 20 and had not even smoked a joint.  There was plenty of press about the concert saying that it may well be a big riot due to all the drugs that were expected. The thought did not impress me at all. Huge crowds of hopped up hippies all bent on having a mind blowing time just scared the crap outta me. I was happy to go down to the local watering hole and dance the night away after sipping a few beers or maybe a Harvey-Wall-Banger.  I was kinda prissy in my attitude to those who smoked up. Concerts I had attended up to that point were Harry Belafonte and Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot.

Things changed for me a lot the next two years. I don’t remember seeing the movie about Woodstock, but I must have at some point. I started to identify with the generation I was part of instead of some bogus generation my parents had invented. I wore my skirts very short, much to the chagrin of my knee hating mother. Pot and a few other substances were experimented with.  Nothing I ever got hooked on.  It was entertainment similar to having a few drinks.   I embroidered all over my jeans.  Wearing a bra was optional. After leaving home, a one room apartment became my new refuge.  There was a boy who stayed with me more often than not. When my mother found out, I was disowned.  My banishment lasted till the boy and I broke up.  It was about that time I experienced a form of sexual harassment, although I had no clue what it was.  My supervisor, who was a married man with a child, wanted to take me out.  I knew what he had in mind.  No way I was going to be another notch on his slimy belt.  Shortly after that, he fired me.   

Had to move and so shared another very small apartment with a good girl friend.  We were both living on unemployment insurance but had enough to buy beer and have a good time. It was about that time in 70 that I met Frank.  He was lead guitar in a 5 man band called Euphoria.  I moved in with him and the band. By this time he had proposed and given me a ring.  He talked to my dad and all was on the up and up although my mother was pissed at me for living with a man without the benefit of clergy. Oh well!

In August of ’69, Frank and his other band mates were playing a gig in southern Quebec.  It was just a small jaunt over to Woodstock.  He told me, the guys suggested they smuggle him across the border to see the concert.  Being a draft dodger, he would have none of it.

He would stay in Canada till he was a Canadian citizen and Jimmy Carter pardoned all the dodgers.

Do I feel like I missed out on a special moment in time by not attending Woodstock? Nah, not really. I have been to many great concerts in the years since.  One regret was not ever seeing Hendrix. Oh well!

Keep Dancing!

 

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Yesterday was beautiful. Sunny and hot.  The way the weather has been lately, getting one good day in five is a bonus.  Luckily for the Flea Market, it was also the beginning of the  construction holiday.  This means all construction, province wide, is halted for two weeks.  It is also a time when other folks take their two weeks vacation.  The flea market was buzzing with activity. Lots and lots of people on a Staycation.

I had to pay $2 to park.  Bonus was, it was a shady spot.  I had no money to spend but my daughter came with a pocket full of cash.  She was looking for little glass knobs for the dresser she bought for Hannah’s big girl room.  She looks at all the quilts and collects little jugs.  Old wood boxes are another fascination.

I just wanted to take a bunch of photos.   As I went through the shots I took, I noticed a few interesting rear ends and a pair of very cellulited legs.  A table filled with very primitive folk art sculpture got 2 views.  Hope you enjoy the day’s results.

See and download the full gallery on posterous