A Tale of Two PMs

I saw the video of Stephen Harper that's making the rounds. My wife and I just couldn't help but smile because all politics aside, it just looked like a lot of fun.



This was a nice surprise given how rarely we see our political leaders in this kind of light. Maybe this is still too fresh in their minds.

The height of political sleuthing

Well done, Liberals and NDP. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that this kind of accusation should come up. Obviously, the Tories worked very closely with the parties involved to ensure that we only see and think 'Conservative' on our athletes at the upcoming Winter Olympics and not our country. The Loyal Opposition have truly outdone yourselves. Sheesh.

This does get me thinking, though, that the opposition might want to get in touch with a few more companies with logos that are clearly too 'Conservative' for their own good. This betrayal of Canadian interests must not go unnoticed!

Shame on you Canada Steamship Lines, CanJet, and Colt Canada! Your fawning for the governing Conservatives has been exposed for the world to see and there's nothing you can do about it. How can I, about as regular a guy as they come, see a logo for Canada Steamship Lines and not think anything but Conservative?!

I will be wary of any stylized 'C' I come across from now on. It just can't be trusted.

Note to Iggy: This is Leadership

I don't much care for Ahmadinejad. This is a man who has clearly shown that he is a danger to civilized society. He is very literally a world-class douche.

I just read how the Canadian delegation will be walking out on the Iranian President's speech to the UN and it makes me extremely proud to be a Canadian. For all the Liberals' talk about how Canada's role has diminished on the world stage, this hardly seems to fit the description. I might have my own political bias but I have an extremely hard time seeing Chretien, Martin, or Dion having the stones to do something like this, let alone Ignatieff.

You do us proud as a country, Mr. Harper. Thank you for showing us again what real leadership looks like.

Ignatieff has all the answers

As a teacher, I try to do everything that I can so that I can encourage my students to come up with the answers themselves. As my mentor from my student-teaching days said: "You want to be a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage."

Apparently, the intellectual hasn't figured that out yet. Note the Liberal approach of telling us ignorant Canadians what the answer really is.

"Ignatieff says after four years of Stephen Harper as prime minister, Canadians should ask themselves the question: "Are we better off than we were four years ago?"

He says the answer is no."

I guess if he says so.

What does mom say?

My mom is not an overly political person and generally avoids the topic unless nerdy sons like me bring it up. So when I called her up yesterday for our weekly-ish chat, I was somewhat surprised with her reaction to what appears to be an approaching election.

In her own words: "It's stupid. What a waste."

Speaking up for regular Canadians, huh Iggy?

Just be lucky she didn't give you some of these. Trust me...


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Victory for free speech?

I almost missed this in all the hullabaloo over Iggy's latest round of crying wolf. It would be rewarding to see the efforts of free-speech crusaders like Ezra Levant, Mark Steyn and others start to pay off.

From the National Post: "Hate speech law unconstitutional: rights tribunal"

Is Ignatieff on to something?

I still have a hard time seeing another election happening this fall. There are just too many factors suggesting a negative outcome for the Liberals. That being said, I wonder if this is a move on the part of Mr. Ignatieff to avoid being painted into a corner like previous election bluffs.

Back in January, the NDP and the Bloc quickly let everyone know that they wouldn't support the budget. This left the Liberals with no legitimate option but to allow the budget to pass, and discrediting Ignatieff as an effective leader in the process.

I wonder if this doesn't have something to do with avoiding that this time around. Instead of being painted into a corner by the NDP and the Bloc, the other opposition are now in a position where their decision, and not the Liberals, determines whether or not Canadians go to the polls once again. Iggy doesn't have to take credit for dissolving parliament and therefore saves face. At least somewhat.

While it's nice to see the Liberals actually taking a stand (er... maybe), I can't help but note that it still has little to do with anything but trying to make themselves look good.

Isn't this what conservatism is all about?

More election speculation via CTV:

Ignatieff attacked the government on its economic track record and said that the Tories have done little to rebuild the economy.

"If things are getting better, it's not because of this government, it's because the people of Canada have put their shoulder to the wheel," Ignatieff said.

That right there is the essence of conservatism: the people make the difference and not the government. I don't think that the government should be doing too much to get the ball rolling and to have Iggy say that that's what happening is fine by me.

While I'm not the first to say so, I am really getting tired of the constant threat of yet another election. I don't know who does strategy for the Liberal Party but the tactic really does get old after a while. Offer some options instead and show that you're about principle like you say you are.

Thanks, Captain Obvious

I really don't understand how Jack Layton announcing how he will not support the Prime Minister is news. Layton has made a big deal about always doing that, even if that has meant he doesn't always read the legislation first.

Emphasis from the example...
"Prior to Tuesday's announcement, both Duceppe and Layton indicated that they would oppose the budget, no matter what it contained." ~January 27, 2009

Still, I can't fault the guy and the (New) New Democrats for at least being somewhat consistent unlike some others I know of...

It's Wednesday night and I'm bored...

Ah, to be at that point of time where you know you should go to sleep but you just can't bring yourself to do it. It's during times like these that I tend to come across some of the more interesting things I read online.

I'll go ahead and do a preemptive note that this article doesn't come from the most definitive of sources. That doesn't mean it isn't interesting, though.

The Five Ways Environmental Friendliness is Screwing Up the Planet.

Denmark and burkas

I don't think I'm alone when I say that I don't see this being too well received by some. Nonetheless, it brings up a good question: at what point, if any, does Western society, in all of its welcoming embrace, draw the line and say enough is enough?

Read the article.

Lazy days of summer

Posting has been sparse lately, as I've been caught in enjoying what's left of my summer break. I've also been heavily engaged in reading 'Shakedown.' I'm finding it fascinating but at the same time, it makes me angry. Really angry in fact.

I haven't had to deal with these problems anywhere near the extent that people like Ezra Levant, Mark Steyn, and others have. I have, however, started to feel the pressure a bit more in my life and more especially in my profession. The recent passing of Bill 44 can, admittedly, be viewed as a tool to empower parents in shielding their children from harmful subject matter. However, at the same time it feels like yet another restriction on speech all in the name of human rights. It makes me feel a bit uncomfortable and there are many times that I wonder what kinds of battles I might face in the future as the shroud of political correctness and 'the right to not be offended' expands.

I certainly don't mean to fear-monger but I'm finding that the more I learn about the issue, the more concerned about it that I am growing. We live in a free society and that certainly doesn't mean that we can do whatever we want. But it does not mean that we need to renege on some of our most cherished rights just because of heightened, overly-developed senstivities

Where are the new ideas?

One of the biggest problems I see with the current version of the LPC is its continuing failure to highlight what it would do differently than the Conservatives. I've often heard it said that those in opposition have a duty to oppose the government's agenda. That isn't enough, though; they should be articulating their vision to the public and providing suggestions to make improvements. It makes me wonder what they're waiting for, which is very likely just the opportunity to implement their own agenda on their own terms.

Take this recent press release from their website in regards to unemployment.

Failed Conservative infrastructure plan to blame for job losses: Liberals

OTTAWA - The bad fruits of an overly partisan and ineffective approach to infrastructure stimulus spending by the Harper Conservatives are clear in the latest unemployment numbers from Statistics Canada, Liberal Infrastructure Critic Gerard Kennedy said today.

Job losses in construction would be much less severe if Conservatives were handling infrastructure spending properly, Kennedy charged. Construction sector employment decreased by 18,000 in July, bringing total construction job losses since October to 120,000. Over 80,000 construction jobs have been lost since the budget promised help.

“Sadly, the Conservatives are making the recession much worse than it needs to be,” said Mr. Kennedy. "Mr. Harper has the gall to tell unemployed workers and their families that new jobs are ’underway’, knowing full well they aren't."

Parliament authorized $11 billion in new infrastructure spending to create 100,000 jobs but the Conservatives have failed to produce anything but negative numbers. The Conservatives rejected the direction of Parliament and the consensus of municipalities and the construction industry alike and instead chose a delay ridden, partisan approach.

As a result, only 55 percent of the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund has been pledged to date, and a very small amount has created jobs. The construction season has been lost in many parts of the country with no funds flowing in Quebec, 63 percent of Nova Scotia’s funding has yet to be announced and 75 percent of the funding isn’t even promised yet in BC.

In the Township of North Glengarry, Ontario the Alexandria Water System Upgrade won’t be able to go to tender until January with construction starting next spring. A similar situation exists for the Archives expansion in the County of Simcoe, Ontario where no tenders have been released and construction isn’t expected to start until spring 2010. For the Fire Hall Construction project in Gander, Newfoundland, the municipality has released a tender which has not yet closed and construction isn’t expected to begin until September.

"Families are feeling pain and hardship simply because Mr. Harper and his government are in a bubble and just don't get it,” Mr. Kennedy added. "People need jobs and a government that cares, not photo ops."

Naturally, there is to be expected a certain degree of partisan rhetoric this being politics and all. The trouble for the LPC, especially coming from someone that I would think they are trying to convince to vote for them, is that they propose no solutions. When I look at these kinds of press releases I don't see anything but whining and complaining. You know what, Liberals? I get that you don't like these policies, I really do. So why the hell aren't you telling me what you'd do differently? Why do your keen minds at party HQ think that you need to wait for an election writ to start letting Canadians know how you would run the country? Isn't this about how best to serve Canadians in general?

To be fair, all politicians do this far too much and therein lies the problem with so much of our current political discourse. We don't talk about ideas, we only tear the other side down. And as in the case with most arguments, each side generally become further entrenched in their own perspective. Is it any wonder why increasing numbers of Canadians are simply tuning out of the political process?

I won't pretend to have all the answers because I know that I don't. What I can do is try to make a meaningful contribution to the health of the democracy that I believe in. I, for example, try to teach my students how to look at multiple sides of an issue so that they can make an informed decision about what they believe. I try to foster discussion and debate that doesn't simply result in name-calling and slander, which admittedly is tough to do. I try to highlight how the rising generation can actually contribute to the form of government and make it work for them. All lofty goals but very worthwhile.

I think that all of our politicians would do well to tone down the rhetoric just a tad. I'll be the first to admit that I don't like enough of the policies of the LPC, let alone the NDP or Greens, to justify my voting for them. However, if they want to earn my vote, they need to start talking about real ideas and how they would take advantage of them instead of just pointing fingers and saying how wrong the other side is.

An argument with the Left: Extreme Close-up

Yesterday, perhaps mainly out of boredom, I decided to post what some might call a rather controversial status update on facebook. In all likelihood, my comments were inspired largely by recent events in Montreal, as well as other previous conversations I've recently had. Any bolded emphasis that follows is mine.

Here's what I posted:

Jason Thompson wonders why we don't see any straight-pride parades and/or festivals? How is that fair?

In response, one of my 'friends' kick-started the debate with this:

Because straights have not been persecuted the way gays have. There no white history month either. Or Hitler rememberance like the holocaust...

A reasonable point and yet I wanted to see what else he could offer. The discussion continued:

Are you suggesting [name removed] that just because something bad happened in the past that we, as a society, have to shun it entirely? Do I have be some sort of victim before I can comfortably express myself, or do I have to live my life feeling sorry for the way that my ancestors may or may not have victimized others? Am I naturally excluded from liking who I am just because I happen to be a white, straight, male?

I've never been a fan of political correctness in any way, shape or form. All it really seems to accomplish is to enable the continuation of the divisions that it alleges to combat. Despite what some in society might like to believe, not all of the actions of the past were done with sinister intent. We do not have to demonize the totality of our history just because people were hurt along the way.

I thought that it was pretty clear at this point that the main point of this conversation would revolve around the futility of political correctness and whether or not it actually achieves what it sets out to do. However, I very quickly found that the conversation took a rather different turn for the worse.

In response to my question whether or not I should be rightfully excluded because of my demographic (white, straight, male), I was told that I needed to be sensitive because it is likely that "[I] have never ... experienced persecution or segregation."

Here's where things start to get really interesting. He continues:

I'm not a fan of political correctness either. Let's face it though. ... There are just things that should not be brought up because of sensitivity. Should I bring up to you how I feel Mormonism is the retarded cousin of Christianity? No. I should ACCEPT certain things about people, and be sensitive about it. Just because I feel that way, doesn't mean I have the RIGHT to voice said opinion.

That this individual preaches the value of keeping his mouth shut while at the same time putting in that not-so-subtle jab at my personal faith was surprising but, unfortunately, not all that unexpected. So I did what I do with my students in the classroom and called him on it.

But you just did voice your opinion (retarded cousin? come on...) and THAT kind of commentary demonstrates the new kind of so-called tolerance that degrades more than it would like to let on. Yours, unfortunately, are the only overtly negative comments in this whole thread. And mandating that I HAVE to be sensitive because of the assumption that I have never suffered to the same degree as other marginalized groups is the whole problem with political correctness in the first place.

. . .

Is that what you think tolerance is all about and that you can pick and choose who to extend your favour to? I think that its you who has the uphill battle through life.

I stand by my comments that our modern sense of equality and tolerance is more of a sham designed to make people feel better about themselves rather than enact any real change. When I can have a reasoned discussion with someone who can convince me otherwise, without resorting to a more critical track, I might be persuaded.

What followed, which I will gladly spare those who have taken the time to read this so far, was a lengthy tirade mainly questioning the sincerity of my faith and those who choose to follow it. How it even became the issue in the first place still evades me. Here, though, are a two remaining highlights that stood out to me.

1. My original post belittled the "hardships and efforts" of homosexuals. I fail to see how at any time during the entire exchange I belittled anyone. The mere claim that I have done so is not enough to establish said belittling. That western society is full of so many thin-skinned ninnies and tattle-tales who can't settle their own differences is a rather unfortunate byproduct of this day and age.

2. Ethnic and lifestyle celebrations are there because they have been earned through tribulation. Recognition is deserved because something has been overcome. How exactly does one quantify hardship? And at what point does it earn widespread acceptance within a society? What about all the other groups who have not yet garnered the attention and justice that they are looking for? Why does even have to be earned in the first place?

And in a final, grandiose gesture, he promptly 'un-friended' me. I guess he showed me.

I thought a lot about the exchange while at work today and I'm still a little upset about it. I can honestly say, though, that his comments about my religion don't bother me. Frankly, I've heard worse and I'm not naive enough to expect everyone to like anything about my faith if they don't want to.

What bothered me most was how quickly the discussion degenerated into an infantile screaming match. What started off as a discussion about political correctness and our modern concept of fairness, became an attack on one aspect of my identity. Not anywhere did I make unreasonable attacks or ever seriously advocate for a 'straight-parade.' This individual resorted to the tactics of too-many in all parts of the political spectrum, but more especially on the left. Instead of staying on task, another issue was used as a scapegoat of sorts, and any reasonable discourse came to an end.

I consider myself a pretty open-minded individual. Frankly, I don't care what people decide to do with their lives. As long as people leave one another alone and use a little common courtesy life is pretty good for most of us. However, I do not like being largely demonized because I choose to be more conservative or traditionalist. That's my decision to make and no one has any right to question that. If you on the left are as tolerant and accepting as you like to say you are, then you might not revert so often to using the 'bigot' and 'knuckle-dragger' labels. And in all fairness, it works both ways.

One of the greatest things about this country is that people can agree to disagree. I think we've been pretty fortunate in Canada to not see so many of the horrors that have plagued other parts of the world. When was the last time we saw a civil war here, or a military coup to overthrow a government among other things? Tempers can flare up from time to time but most of continue going about our daily lives because that matters more. I think everyone could benefit from being able to communicate and be really honest with one another, sometimes brutally at times. The frustration and lingering resentment are not worth the price of taking it so personally so frequently.

Actions speak louder than words

It's been my experience in life and as a teacher that when people go out of their way to explain that their actions aren't something, I usually end up finding out that they are.

It only takes two paragraphs in this article to make the point that the actions in question aren't about money. In my mind, though, if the good doctor was really worried about losing sleep, he would have kept his mouth shut and not volunteered to help in the first place.

This could set a rather interesting, though very unlikely, precedent where I, the humble teacher, can linger around people in order to take advantage of what we call 'teachable moments.' Whenever I sense that I can bestow my knowledge upon those who might benefit from it, I can (humbly, once again) do my duty to society and promptly send them a bill for my troubles.

Thank you, doctor, for sticking to principle and showing us the way.

Political correctness at its finest

I'll let the video speak for itself. Absolutely brilliant!



h/t Blazing Cat Fur

Does this still count and hope and change?

All is not well in Obama land it seems. Even I was surprised by this... I had expected the honeymoon to last a little bit longer. I just can't help thinking, though, that more and more people are (finally) figuring out that the guy just isn't what he was cracked up to be.



I don't think anyone expected him to have solutions for every problem right off the bat. However, it would be really nice to see someone actually do something to fix the problems instead of just talking about how he would like to fix said problems. I, for one, hope that he figures it out soon.

Because I care...

A selection of images just for PETA in their time of need. May you find peace.

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Belated and conflicted (beflicted?) position on Bill 44

I originally started writing this post a few weeks ago as it became apparent that the Alberta Tories would succeed in passing Bill 44. For those who don't already know, Bill 44 gives parents the right to withdraw their children from classes where potentially sensitive material is going to be discussed. This particularly pertains to issues involving sexuality, and some religious matters.

On the one hand, it is rewarding to see more recognition for my role as a parent in deciding what my kids are exposed to. The world can be a pretty crazy place and naturally, I wish to avoid exposing my kids to things that aren't going to help them. However, I find that this usually relates to more tangible risks such as substance abuse and other social matters.

On the other hand, I'm somewhat wary of the government limiting my role as a teacher. The passage of Bill 44 leaves me feeling like I almost need to be watching over my shoulder to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong. This is not the kind of feeling that one should have in a school. I shouldn't have to feel like I have to adhere to certain talking points so that I can avoid offending anyone, or even losing my job.

Education plays a fundamental role in the development of our society. It is not only in our schools but as we interact with those around us that we can better appreciate the world around us. The closed-mindedness that continues to infect healthy dialogue does not in any way help people to resolve differences, or at least accept that people are different.

I'm not about to argue that people hold hands and delude themselves into accepting some false sense of society-imposed harmony. There is generally no harm, however, in being able to learn about what we don't already know. As we are challenged we are made to think for ourselves and form our own opinions. I fear that Bill 44 will lead some individuals to neglect these opportunities for growth and development. That is the real controversy, not necessarily the topics in question.

Am I a racist?

I have been working on a move from a 2-bedroom apartment into a much bigger townhouse. As fun as that is, I've also spent a fair amount of time on the phone with various companies updating contact information, etc.

Is it really wrong of me, though, to wish that I could speak to people who actually speak English? I'm all for inclusion and acceptance... I teach it on a daily basis. However, I am tired of asking people to repeat their questions. I am tired of having to repeat my questions at least three or four times. Is it really such a crime to want to be able to speak to someone that I can actually communicate with?

Let me be clear that I am not trying to characterize the entire industry of telephone customer-service representatives. I'm sure that most of them, if not all, are wonderful people doing wonderful things with their lives and families. I just want to know that after waiting on hold for 10 or 15 minutes will eventually lead to a real person that I can actually talk to.

Is this really so wrong?

Up yours, Mr. Gore!

The view from our window earlier this afternoon. 'Nuff said.

As an aside, and not simply for the purposes of this post, I honestly cannot remember ever having seen snow in May during my many years in Canada. It's been a long and dreary winter up in Slave Lake and still it refuses to give it up for the year.

Update: Still snowing at 8:41 pm.

If at first you don't succeed...

Just call it something else.

h/t Glenn Beck

George Carlin on Environment

This video definitely made my lunch hour and will drift in the vastness of my mind for some time to come.

Enjoy! Be warned that the language might affect some overly sensitive ears.



h/t Climbing out of the Dark

"Look at me! I'm Iggy!"

In what isn't a terribly surprising move, a Liberal insider is giddily trumpeting an upcoming gathering of so-called 'smart people' including none other than our own beloved Michael Ignatieff. Reading about the event would be more comical if it wasn't so sad.

I have no problem with people meeting together to discuss whatever issue they want to talk about. What's embarrassing about this whole article is that this is coming from a party that has spent the better part of the last 8 years talking about how we shouldn't be getting too cozy with the American President or the United States in general. Now it seems that all opposition has been dropped solely due to a changing of the guard. Pathetic only begins to describe the approach. Iggy is behaving exactly like a toddler desperately trying to get attention and show that he can play, too.

While I'm not sure just how much I can trust the word of the Liberal insider apparently on the verge of wetting himself with anticipation for a chance meeting of Iggy and Obama, I would sincerely hope that the Americans know better than to cozy up to the Leader of the Opposition. If he actually becomes Prime Minister (knock on wood) sure, go nuts. But until then, you work with what you have. This elitism isn't serving anybody but yourselves. I used to think that politics was about serving the people and not your own ambition. It happens on all sides of the spectrum, but I see far too much personal ambition from liberals than I would like and that really p#sses me off.

The President of Iran is a Douche; Durban II is a failure

For those who said that Durban II wouldn't follow the abysmal record of its predecessor, how would you like your crow?

Sporadic Posting

Been on Easter break for the past little while and my precious computer was taken in for a repair. It goes without saying that posting has been scant for the past few weeks. With schedules returning to normalcy in the next few days, you should (un)fortunately hear from me more regularly.

Three cheers for this principal

This headline grabbed my attention today as our school went through the exact same scenario a few months ago. A number of staff at my school had purchased the devices as a means to eliminate the excessive cell phone use in the class. While the jammers worked like a charm, it was only a matter of time before someone called the division and complained. Hence, no more jammers.

I'd like to ask an open question: what would be an effective means to eliminating cell phone use in the classroom? We can't search students and can only take them away temporarily when we observe students using them. Students know we can't do anything, too, so long-term threats are an already-called bluff rather than a deterrent. How else should a teacher and school community approach the problem?

Earth Hour Feel-Good Warm Fuzzy Group Hug

While many have already commented on the futility of this exercise, all I'll add is that I was one of many who observed little if any change in energy consumption. Before anyone tries to correct me, I am fully aware that the purpose of the event is not necessarily to solve the problems. I have heard (ad nauseam) the continued defense of this activity as a means to show solidarity and increase awareness of the plight humanity finds itself in. I still call "Bull sh#t!".

A quick overview of the comments at CTV about half an hour ago revealed the continued assertion that the air we breath is a very poison to the planet. So called 'Earth Hour-keteers' need to quit referring to carbon dioxide as a pollutant, period. Have people really (in)conveniently forgotten/overlooked that people exhale a lung full of carbon dioxide every few seconds? That some of you are still arguing that a natural biological process is part of problem is absurd and does nothing to lend credibility to your cause. It's not too unlike me saying that you can't drink water because I'm concerned about the overall supply. Get yourself some credibility and start using real evidence to convince me that the problem is real. Don't bother with the Gore's and Suzuki's of the world, either. Limit your citation to actual climate scientists and not Sham-Wow type salespeople.

I started showing two documentaries in my social classes to paint a significantly less one-sided argument about so-called climate change: 'An Inconvenient Truth' and 'The Great Global Warming Swindle.' Discussions with my students, and without prompting from me I might add, reveal that more of my students are less inclined to buy the greener alternative. When asked why, most of my students say that they simply don't trust the message of fear pandered by environmentalists.

I note one example from my childhood. When I was in the third grade, my teachers told our classes that the 'hole' in the Ozone was so bad that by the year 2000 we'd only be able to go outside by wearing spacesuits and fur coats. Yet another in a long line of scare tactics designed to frighten us into action. Climate Change is no different. We are presented with the alternative of living in a peaceful and healthy planet but ONLY if we act in the next 100 months, or next few hours depending on who you talk to.

Can we be more responsible? Sure. Is it absolutely necessary to avert disaster? I don't believe so, no. You have to do more than scare me in order to get me on board. You want people like me joining your cause, not laughing at it.

Look what the boredom turned up...

Those who have known me for a long time might recall the fact that I faithfully used my Big Wheel until somewhere around the age of 5 or 6. For whatever reason I figured that there was no rush to enter the dimension of two-wheeled transportation.

While counting down the days until the return of my wife and children (they've been away this week) I came across this little nugget that spurred the memories of days long since past. I appreciate this clip more having spent a couple of years in San Francisco (absolutely phenomenal city but way too loopy for permanent exposure).

Enjoy!

Ambiguity, thy name is Iggy...

Great video.

h/t Crux of the Matter

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Things have been busy for the past couple of nights which leaves little time for posting. I enjoy meeting and visiting with those parents who clearly care about what their kids are up to. I wish more parents would come and talk to me, though instead of just getting mad at me when it's their kids who are lazy and/or stupid. Signs of the times, I guess...

The Mrs: 311... Me: 14

It's finally happened. Despite months of opposition and denial, my wife has 'convinced' me to indulge in a little Twilight, sparkly vampires and all. If there are any husbands/boyfriends with any survival tips, please let me know.

Hope touches the Iranians

How's that smile and handshake working for ya? What? They're not buying it?

Another glorious victory for 'shiny-happy-people holding hands' diplomacy.

With sincerest apologies to REM.

My ongoing journey through Alberta Labour Law

Last summer, and similar to many before it, I did landscape construction while in Edmonton. In many ways, it's an ideal job for a student: I wanted to focus on my studies during the school year and therefore needed to make pretty good money during the break. And what started as a summer job in 2004 eventually became a viable career option. Or so I thought.

In May of 2007, my employer contacted me and offered me a permanent full-time position that would be available at the end of the year. I spent a lot of time thinking about my options. Sure I liked teaching, but I was a little deflated after a less-than-stellar student teaching practicum a month before. I had also really come to enjoy the work. There's an immense satisfaction that I got from being involved with some of these projects. It was rewarding to see the changes from empty lot to something quite the opposite. After a few weeks, I informed my employer that I was interested in the position.

Skip ahead to the end of 2007. I was finishing my second practicum and my days as a student were quickly coming to an end. My boss was trying to contact me to figure out the plan and I swung by the office one day. He told me that money was a bit sparse, which was understandable as it was the winter (not the most ideal time to landscape). It was explained to me that he would be unable to pay me my full salary but that once the spring had arrived my pay would be pro-rated and I would get all my money. I'd worked for the man for three summers and figured that shouldn't be a problem. When asked about a contract, I was told that he'd put it together in good time and run it by his legal counsel.

Jump to May 2008. I was working between 70 and 80 hours a week, hardly saw my wife and kids, and had become very disenchanted with the job in general. When I told my boss that I needed to leave, he understood my reasons and I figured we were on the same page. When I brought up the unresolved pay which was then about $10,000 dollars, his demeanor changed entirely. He told me that he would pay significantly less that I was asking for because he "felt he was being robbed." Needless to say, I was pretty crushed.

While I was sending out teaching applications, I worked at another landscaping job to pay the bills. My former employer frequently contacted my new boss to check up on me and see what I was up to. We were accused of trying to poach some of my former co-workers, and I distinctly remember being on site at my new job and seeing my old boss drive by for no apparent reason. I was also threatened with a lawsuit for breach of contact, although my old boss had never quite gotten around to finalizing said document.

I filed a complaint with Alberta Employment Standards back in June with the hopes that I would be able to get what I worked for. That initially being denied due to lack of evidence, I am currently awaiting the outcome of an appeal which went through this past December. Conversations with Alberta Employment's officers have revealed that they lack the capacity to do too much digging and can only work with that documentation provided by employers and employees. Should the appeal fail to turn up anything concrete, I'll take him to court and see if we can't resolve the matter there.

Why I wrote this little history in a blog posting is primarily to be a bit therapeutic. Every now and then I have occasion to come across something directly involved with my former employer, even here in Slave Lake. Every time I look at credit card bills and student loan balances I'm reminded of how much more I could have done with the money I worked for. All these reasons make me really appreciate my current position as a teacher. Sure there are frustrations and challenges, as is the case with any job. But aside from the immense value I place in education and the merits of the profession in my life and in the lives of my students, my employer treats me with respect.

Right it isn't even so much about the money. It's about letting the guy know that you can't keep screwing with people as a way to get ahead.

Obama: Fun with numbers

Even someone in the special olympics could figure out where this is going.



I somehow find the above graph very soothing. It's almost like millions of people are collectively smacking their own heads in disbelief over what they've done.

The man cold

While my wife would never let me get away with this, there were many times today when I felt a lot like this.

Visit from Brian Jean, MP... RECAP

Last month I sent a letter to my MP, Brian Jean asking about the possibility of having him come and visit students at my school. I was pleasantly surprised to get a response the next day informing me that he was be very happy to stop on by the school. His visit is scheduled for tomorrow and I, for one, am looking forward to it.

The principal liked my idea so much that he has asked for all high school classes to attend the hour-long assembly. The only real challenge for Mr. Jean is that he has to compete with the recent visit by a fire-dance just last week. Guess we'll see what happens...

I'll see about taking and posting some pictures tomorrow, along with a brief report on how well his visit was received.

UPDATE:

The visit went well. Most of the high school students were able to turn up and there were some really good questions asked. The only dark mark was a not-so-serious question about Marijuana, which I felt Mr. Jean handled more than gracefully. Thank you very much, Mr. Jean.





I'm not a huge fan of how I look in the bottom photo. Truthfully, it's one of the reasons I've been going to the gym lately. Like many in my age group, I miss the days when I didn't have to worry about that kind of thing.

Cue the sympathy

So Chrysler is looking at leaving Canada. Maybe I'm cold and heartless but I don't think that this is that difficult of a choice here: potentially keep my job albeit at a lower wage, or likely lose the job.

When times get tough, most reasonable people make sacrifices. Why does the auto industry, or more particularly the unionized employees think that they're above that? Have they somehow deluded themselves to think that they can escape these economic challenges completely unscathed? Sure seems that way...

The dirty work of education

This semester I teach about 70 students across three different classes with one spare,usually reserved for recovery meaning I lock my door, play some music, and down a diet Dr. Pepper. Report cards are due out at the end of the week . This is an extremely busy time for all staff as all marking needs to be completed, and other documents like IPPs (Individualized Program Plans) are meticulously filled out and completed.

Back in January I revised my late policy. Last semester I would take any assignment that came in no matter how late. This time around I expect work in by the assigned deadline but offer a maximum of three additional days, with a minor late penalty, until I refuse to accept the material. Last night, I plugged in a lot of zeros and watched my class averages drop like a rock. It is extremely frustrating for me.

What bothers me most is that for too long, too many of these students have refused to take real initiative when it comes to their learning. Most of them are good kids who are not much different than I was at that age. The common problems, though, remain extreme laziness and a general lack of concern for their own academic welfare. I am hoping that the report cards sent home at the end of the week serve as a wake-up call to the nearly 20 students that I have that are now failing their respective courses.

I was venting with a colleague last night and we both came to the conclusion that our education systems have been too quick to give passing marks to those who don't deserve them. We have become unwilling to 'hurt the feelings' of students who fail so we avoid giving them the crushing news that they're lazy, clearly don't understand the material, and shouldn't be in the course. Too many teachers feel sorry and rather than do what needs to be done, they pass these kids through the system and on to future teachers who rightfully demand more than what their new students know how to offer. And so on.

I love my job and I hate being the bearer of bad news. But I have to ask myself if I don't do it, who will?

100 Things aka Mini-Bucket List

Got this from a friend. Might as well fill it out while readership is low.

Bold the things you've done:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait drawn
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie - a tiny little Wetaskiwin made movie that played at the Reynolds museum. I was the piano player in the background.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a cheque
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Been in a commercial or other ad
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Auditioned for a reality T.V. show (like American Idol...)

h/t The Laytons

Raising awareness... one step at a time

With Earth Hour approaching once again, I openly ask supporters of this exercise in feel-goodery just what it is you are hoping to do? Try as I might (and I really don't, admittedly) I fail to understand the whole movement to 'raise awareness' about a particular issue. What exactly does this achieve? How do you know when said awareness has actually been raised? Why settle with mere awareness when it would be far better to advocate for real, lasting change?

The logic appears the follow this general trend:

-note an important or so-called global issue
-claim we have too much (or too little) of something
-do without that something for a designated period of time
-move on with life feeling better about yourself and the belief in your cause

Using this same logic, I am proposing the following international campaigns.

White Hour. Canadians have too much winter in this country. On February 15th, simply close your blinds, throw on your Hawaiian duds, and refuse to acknowledge the very idea of the season in general.

Calorie Hour. Yet another in a long line of diet fads. I can raise awareness about excessive calorie intake by not eating anything for the space of 60 minutes. The goal is not too necessarily lose weight, but to let people know that there's a problem.

OxyHour. One could argue that more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be depleting the overall oxygen in the atmosphere. People around the world can choose a designated hour and collectively hold their breath for about a minute. Alternatively, we could breathe helium mixtures instead which would be way more fun.

Any takers?

Reason #14 that I don't really like Obama...

Most politicians know that any sense of private life is sacrificed when elected to office. When it comes to being the President of the United States, you are going to be followed and chronicled wherever you go, period. However, when was that last time you remember seeing the current president in the tabloids so often? And no... Bill Clinton doesn't count.

The fact that more people look to the man as more of a celebrity instead of an actual leader doesn't exactly inspire.

A new Rennaisance?

You'd be surprised how often I see reactions like this in my classroom. Funny at times, but sad.



h/t Penny Arcade

Hope returns for one potential home-buyer.

I lived in Edmonton for about 5 years while I completed my studies at the University of Alberta. At no point were my wife and I ever able to seriously consider to possibility of purchasing a home: it was just too expensive. And overpriced to a tee.

I'm not trying to be unsympathetic here but reports like this don't really bother me. I knew far too many people who jumped head-first into the real estate market without really having the means to pay for it. When asked why, the main reason was simply so that they wouldn't have to pay more later. I could maybe-sort of get the point, but it was perhaps a bit impractical.

Now prices are returning to more normal levels and I, for one, couldn't be happier. This increases the likelihood that I'll be able to purchase a home in the not-too-distant future. And I know I'm not the only one.

Home ownership shouldn't be some unachievable luxury item. That being said, the principle shouldn't be cheapened by rewarding and/or making it easier for those who are seemingly unable to make responsible financial decisions.

Another brave victim comes forward...

As if the global economic uncertainty weren't enough, a poor university student lost his X-Box on a recent flight. Clearly, it doesn't matter whether the console was taken from his luggage or not. What matters most is doing everything possible to make Mr. Maiman whole again.

It would be a weak and feeble gesture, indeed, to simply replace the console. The most expensive model retails for a mere $400 dollars US. It would only be proper for the airline to award Mr. Maiman the $1,700 dollars for the console with the 'specialized hard-drive' PLUS the $1,000,000 in additional damages, likely caused by the anxiety of the separation from a noble, electronic companion.

Pathetic.

Martin and Obama, sitting in a tree...

While this point has likely been made by some more eloquent that myself, I can't help but dwell on the similarities between two would-be saviours in North American politics. While the tale of St. Obama has yet to be told in its fulness, it has been remarkably similar to another former messianic figure from this side of the border: Paul Martin.

I loathed Jean Chretien. It was his so-called leadership that guided me in my quest towards the political right. When he announced that he was (finally) stepping aside, there were many Liberals who espoused the god-like virtues of their leader-in-waiting. Heck, there were times when I even thought that he might not be so bad. He was certainly no Chretien, and he did so some decent work with the federal budgets as Finance Minister.

What many Canadians soon found was someone who, and I can't remember for the life of me where I first heard this, worked so hard to become Prime Minister that he didn't figure out what he would do when he actually got there. He soared into power on the wings of his glorious promises. He wanted to be everything to every possible Canadian. Surely he would lead the country into a new era of prosperity. Instead, he fell flat in a matter of 2 years; his opportunity squandered by his own selfish ambition.

It wasn't that long ago when a euphoric citizenry propelled The One into power on promises that were not all that dissimilar from our very own Prime Minister. And while his support remains high, the questions appear to be coming more frequently. Instead of the glowing reviews I got so tired of seeing on a daily basis, I read more and more questions about the ability of Mr. Obama to actually lead the United States through this economic crisis. It would appear that the power of his promises is beginning to lose steam as reality has slowly returned to the masses.

It's still early in his term but I am not expecting miracles from this man. I never did, to be honest. While I don't necessarily want him to fail per se, I am hoping that his ability, or lack thereof, to actually enact the change he promises will wake people up to the very nature of the philosophy he and his admirers cleave to. Society cannot thrive on the mere peddling of easy answers to the public.

Warm fuzzies all around?

Am I the only one who's just a little uncomfortable with this?

Of course it's nice to think that we can all sit down over your beverage of choice by the campfire and hug it out and POOF!!... the problem has been solved! I'm not naive enough to think that combat alone is going to save Afghanistan but this doesn't seem all that unlike the Sudetanland.

The article goes on to talk about reaching out to those who leave the Taliban and renounce their former violent tendencies. What about those who still don't want to leave? What's the plan for them? Uninvite them to your birthday parties?

In Like a Lion...

A reluctant and hurried peak out our balcony revealed this pleasant scene yesterday. Needless to say, we kept the kids inside to play.

Education Review: Who's to Blame?

The high school where I teach recently went through a comprehensive review this past week. The review team would identify where improvements could be made and provide direction to assist us in our quest to improve the education that we provide to our community. As a first-year teacher, I've become accustomed to a near-continual state of assessment that surrounds me so I didn't really concern myself too much with the whole process.

The findings were nothing surprising: students 'appear' to demonstrate some disrespect towards teachers, academic performance could be improved, etc. The recommendation, though? In addition to the general 'do a better job' schtick, it seems as if the school will be adding an additional four instructional days to the upcoming school year. Wow. It's not really too unlike simply throwing more money at a problem to make it go away.

The big problem I have with this is that it reflects the continued knee-jerk response of society to look for the problem in 'the system.' What about the economy? Oh, the government should do more to fix it. And education? Well, obviously the teachers should be doing more to reach out to our students. In very few circles is it okay for me as a teacher to say that the big problem is that too many of my students are too lazy to actually be bothered to care about their own learning.

I've been eagerly reading America Alone by Mark Steyn (very interesting albeit a bit pragmatically bleak) and a frequent theme addressed in his work is the inability for too many in our 'modern' societies to wean themselves from the collective trough and hindering collectivist mentalities. It's one thing to identify with certain groups, whether it be your Canadian nationality, church, or bowling club. This constant big-picture denial of individual responsibility is going to get us into more trouble if we can't even admit that we screw up as people from time to time.

New Blogging Commitment

I've lived up in Slave Lake for the past 5 months. It is a beautiful corner of our magnificent province. But, I'm not gonna lie... things can get a bit lonely here. This is even more true during the slightly longer, colder, and darker winter that I've experienced thus far.

I teach social studies, by far the BEST subject in my opinion. This gives me ample opprtunity to read about the issues that I care about, and more importantly, that more of us should be caring about. I try to teach my students a little bit more about how they can find out about the world around them, and how they need to actually do something about it. Simply put, I need to do something a bit more for myself and that means that I need to take this blogging thing a bit more seriously.

This is not a ploy merely to increase readership, which for all intents and purposes is non-existent. If nothing else, I can outline my opinions a bit more than I normally can in the classroom.

When I started this second blog, I reluctantly avoided joing the BloggingTories blogroll because I hoped to have the potential for a wider audience. However, this has achieved the opposite effect and left this space alone in the corner for too long.

So, here's to regular posting, and a proper reemergence into the blogosphere.

Glenn Beck: An Inconvenient Debt

I am a bit of fan of new Fox commentator, Glenn Beck. I thoroughly enjoyed "An Inconvenient Book" and I appreciate his energetic straight-talk on a variety of issues.

For all our concern about the economy here in Canada, we do not have anywhere near the troubles to be had down in the States. We may be a smaller country but I think that the Harper Conservatives have done a fairly solid job managing the economy, and providing a somewhat measured, albeit politically motivated, budget.

This Glenn Beck video is a sombre reminder about how sketchy this whole economic situation is becoming for the United States. It makes me think that St. Obama and his followers will be in for a bit of a rude awakening sooner or later, and hopefully sooner. Throwing huge gobs of money has never been a solution to troubles like this before and that's not about to change.

Unfortunately, everyone is tied to the American economy and Canada's unique position means we probably have the most to lose besides the Americans of course. I'm hoping cooler heads prevail.