What's That You Say?

We've all experienced them - those overheard conversations where your one thought is HUH?

Eavesdrop Western and, the original: Overheard at Western

Kind of makes you despair for the future of intelligent life.

Freedom of the Hills

Just got back from a week skiing at Kokanee Glacier. Since we live near this area, I suppose it's not much different from where we usually ski, just higher, more skiable terrain and all surrounding a pretty fancy cabin - a cabin with electricity, hot water, Internet access.... As my daughter said: "Is nothing sacred?"

Generally, this area is only accessed in winter by helicopter from Nelson. We had a brief delay on the 16th, waiting for the fog to lift, but once above the fog bank, skies were clear and blue. Snowy peaks were laid out before us as we arrived.

For the first few days, being a bit concerned with snow stability, we opted for safer tree skiing, but conditions improved as the week progressed and gradually we moved out to more open terrain. Every day we would tour over to a promising area and gradually litter the whole slope with ski tracks. The only downer was a fall I had which badly strained a hamstring in one leg. A day of rest and I was pleased to discover that skiing was easier than walking.

Our final day was stellar: cool, clear and sunny. We toured up to the ridge leading to Outlook Peak, made the long run back down, traversed over into Glory Basin and Sapphire Lakes and eventually out Griffin Creek, being treated to deep, fluffy snow for the final runs back to Kaslo Lake and the Kokanee Cabin.

Saturday morning was fine and the helicopter arrived to take us back to reality, over stunning ridges and valleys. Just another week in Paradise.

Pictures are at: http://picasaweb.google.ca/dave.mcc51/KokaneeGlacierJan2010#

Transport Canada is on the Job - Feel Safer Now?

The cynics among us might question how effective the flurry of recent airport "security" activity has really been. Time will tell. Rick Mercer, however, has his own, unique view of what it means to go through airport security.

Transport Canada Does it Again

Good 'ole Transport Canada. Faced with a looming energy crisis, climate change and useful alternatives, these twits can't seem to manage the wherewithal to approve a low-speed electric vehicle made in Canada. But they did allow one made in the USA to be imported and sold here.

It can't be possible that even a government department can be that incompetent so maybe it's just possible that nobody works there any more. Is there a better explanation?

Transparency in Government you say?

Most reasonable people will know that nothing gets solved without a full and frank discussion of various points of view. So how do we take the Harper Conservative's cancellation of Parliament until sometime in March? Jay Hill, the Government house leader, tells the Nation that they need the time to "recalibrate". Huh?

This is simply an abuse of power so the nation's elected representatives can't be held accountable, can't discuss important issues like Afghanistan, the economy......the list is nearly endless.

It's time for concerned Canadians to demand better of this government.

And while I'm standing on my soapbox, it's worthwhile to note a disturbing trend. If a person doesn't agree with something like, say, Canada's involvement in Afghanistan, there is a risk of being labeled as unpatriotic and unsupportive of our troops. Seems to me this is a slice of the kind of nonsensical polarization that's been going between our neighbours to the south. Is this because the more vocal partisans can't handle a civilized discussion and the recognition that not everyone will share their points of view?

Borrowing Your Way to Prosperity?

I've been wading my way through Empire of Debt. Not that the authors have much really new to say that hasn't been said before by many others. Warren Buffet calls America "Squanderville", and the book has many examples. The authors also use quite a bit of rhetoric to eventually come to a few quite simple conclusions:

"America's empire of debt rests on some widely-held delusions:

• that one generation can consume and stick the next with the bill
• that you can get something for nothing
• that the rest of the world will take American IOUs forever
• that house prices will go up forever
• that American labour is inherently more valuable than foreign labour [er... labor].
• that the American capitalist system is freer, more dynamic and more productive than other systems
• that other countries want to be more like America, even if it's forced on them
• that the virtues that made America rich and powerful are no longer required to keep it rich and powerful
• that domestic savings and capital investment are no longer necessary
• that the USA no longer needs to make things for export"

Unfortunately, like all previous empires, probably nothing will change this sorry state of affairs to arrest the demise of this current empire. It's probably just a matter of time. Also unfortunately, those who hoped Obama would set the USA on a different track, seem to be headed for more disappointment. Happy New Year!