Who Left This Baby To Die?

Who is this baby? Who left her to die?

Someone tossed this baby girl into a stairwell in -20 weather yesterday. She was within hours of dying if a passerby hadn't heard her wimper. No one has come forward to identify this about 8 month old baby. Every time I see her picture on television I get tears in my eyes. I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone can throw this beautiful baby away.

I hope they find whoever did this and prosecute to the fullest extent of our wimpy laws...

Still Under The Weather

I'm still feeling like poop, but this gave me a smile today. It's an amaryllis I got for Christmas from my friends and it's finally blooming. After my last disaster with top heavy plants I'm glad this one is less than a foot tall.



On the other hand, I have been doing some knitting and have come up with an idea for my leftover wool...

Leaving Afghanistan?

Maybe the rest of the NATO countries will sit up and take notice that Canada has every intention of leaving Afghanistan unless other countries start pulling their weight. Germany in particular is one of the countries that has taken notice. Yesterday Prime Minister Stephen Harper made it very clear, there can be no misunderstanding. Unless other countries contribute, we are out of there.

This fight against the Taliban is not our fight alone yet Canadians, Brits and Americans are doing most of it and Canada has lost the most soldiers. So many Canadian soldiers come home in caskets that they have named the stretch of highway that the hearse drives along, the "Highway of Heroes".

The latest Canadian to die in Afghanistan was repatriated on Sunday and the total now stands at 78. Canadians are fighting in the toughest part of the country and cannot and should not be shouldering the burden alone.

I'm sure on some level it's a worthwhile fight if only to make life for women and children easier but, and here is the big but...when we all finally leave will things revert back to the old ways, will the Taliban come back? It is a tribal nation and I have my doubts that lasting change is possible.

Where Have I Been?

I've been having a social life and now I'm paying for it. That's the problem when you have a chronic health issue and you go out socializing two days in a row. I really ought to know better but it was fun anyway.

On Saturday we went to our friends home for a bridge night. First we had a wonderful dinner provided by the hosts for the evening and then we played and laughed and played some more. There were 12 of us and we made up three tables. I can report that I was at the winning table and my best hand of the night was 26 points. That almost started my arrhythmia again...

On Sunday we drove out of town a little to visit with Bennie the wonder dog and his parents for a great dinner and then some more bridge. We were teaching them the game and had lots of laughs. Today though I am paying, big time. I think the next couple of days will be spent in bed just resting. See you when I feel better...

A Sign Of Global Warming?

Maybe it's a sign or maybe the plant is just as crazy as I am. This is of course a Christmas Cactus that didn't bloom for Christmas. It was in full bloom when we returned from Greece at the end of October of last year and it's blooming again now, in January... It will be in full bloom in another week, it is full of buds.


This is a new Orchid that I rescued from a grocery store last week for just under five bucks. It looked really sad, was incredibly droopy so I really had no choice but to bring it home. This week after a little trimming, watering and a few kind words it looks really great. Yup, I talk to my plants, like I said, I'm crazy.

Now back to my knitting...

Monopoly - The All Time Favourite Board Game

I love that game although I haven't played it for a long time. It was and still is our favourite cottage game but you really need more than two people to play which is why we haven't played for a while. Seems that in the last few years we haven't had that many visitors to the cottage and certainly no kids.

I still have the old game stashed and it's about as old as my offspring. Now Parker Brothers is coming out with a new game, a World Edition and all of us, you and me get to vote for cities that we'd like to see in the new game. Of course I cast my vote for Toronto, what the heck gotta support the old town, but feel free to go over to their site and vote for your favourite city. More than one vote is allowed. It will be interesting to see which world cities make the final cut.

Happy Birthday To The Offspring - January 22nd

Tomorrow the "Offspring" turns 42 years old, Happy Birthday Teddy.



This is him now with his latest offspring. To see what he's up to these days visit him at here.

I was just seventeen when he was born and I remember halfway through my 2o hours of labour asking the doctor if I could change my mind. I'm glad I couldn't, I can't imagine my life without him in it. I sometimes have a hard time believing I have a son that old though, somehow it seems like it was just yesterday...

Since I can't be with you on your birthday, here is your piece of cake...enjoy!

I've Been Tagged - The Random Meme

Braveheart has tagged me for this Meme

Here are the rules: Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog. Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a notification on their blog.

1) I hate flying. I have nightmares weeks before scheduled flights even if they are to a nice warm destination. I especially hate flights to Greece with are 12 plus hours and sometimes more and I hate snotty cabin staff even more.

2) I absolutely detest raisins yet I love grapes. There is something about that little shrivelled up brown thingy that just can't pass my lips.

3) I love my bed which consists of a very very expensive mattress, plus a memory foam mattress, plus a feather bed and last but not least a heated mattress pad. Steve says I'm like a princess in that bed, me I just feel like I'm sleeping on a cloud.

4) I love to read crime novels, mystery novels and espionage where people usually die in the most gruesome ways but don't ask me to watch a movie that shows even the tiniest bit of blood, ugh..I faint.

5) I am a collector which drives my spouse nuts. Lately I'm onto a milk glass binge but I still love my orange lustre-ware to bits. I also collect yarns, all kinds but mostly for socks.

6) I'm a clutter bug and desperately need help. Lately I've been going around the house with garbage bags ruthlessly trying to get rid of some but no avail. It just springs up somewhere else in the house. The kitchen on the other hand, has to be completely cleaned and tidy before I can sit down for the evening.

7) I'm a control freak...If I don't know exactly what is happening and when it's happening I suffer from anxiety. I also expect people to be on time for appointments and get pissed when they are late. Me, I'm always on time, of course that doesn't count if I have a migraine. I'm liable not to even phone in that case.

Now here comes the hard part, finding seven random blogs...but I'm working on it.

Okay, here is my list, oh never mind. I decided that I am really not good at tagging people, what if they don't want to it or get mad at me so anyone who wants to can do this one.

Blue Monday!

Have you heard that expression before? I hadn't heard that until just now on the noon news. As I was getting ready to head out into the -12C weather to get some groceries and perusing which of my long johns were the warmest I had one ear to the news. Seems that the last Monday of January is the most depressing day of the year, the coldest day of the year and now I believe it.

As I watch the Toronto stock market drop over five hundred points today I am definitely depressed. I can see my Cuba vacation evaporating before my eyes, sigh...

They say that when the American economy sneezes we catch a cold here in Canada but this time I think we are getting pneumonia. At least I hope we send them our current cold weather..

An Amazing Young Singer - From The Philippines

I found this video through one of my regular bloggers, The Canadian Swiss Blog and knew I had to share it. There are 8 minutes of pure joy if you watch it. I don't recall ever hearing such an amazing voice from someone so young. Watch it, you won't be disappointed.

I Finally Caught A Break

Most regular readers and lurkers know that I have been having some health issues recently. The gallbladder was taken care of before Christmas and the only other issue left to deal with was the heart arrhythmia that had been plaguing me since about mid May of last year.

Various drugs were tried and tossed out mostly due to side effects that I was not prepared to live with. Both Metoprolol and Norasc left me incredibly tired, with severe leg and foot pain and worst of all severe depression. Those are common side effects I discovered.

I stopped the drugs and made some dietary changes the biggest of which was to almost totally cut salt from our diets. That seems to have had the desire effect since my blood pressure is now normal, my legs don't hurt and other than the normal winter blues I am not depressed.

My Cardiologist decided that heart ablation was the best therapy for me and I mentally prepared myself for that ordeal. Today I had my long awaited appointment with the Heart Clinic and surgery was discussed. He pretty much agreed with me that the stress of caring for my Mom and the stress of her hospitalization prior to her death could have caused most of my problems. We reached a mutual decision that since I had been good since before Christmas I wouldn't need this surgery at this time. That made me really happy. Of course it may still happen in future but as long as I don't have arrhythmia on a daily basis I'm good to go.

To celebrate I had lunch out with a good friend in beautiful downtown Unionville and bought some wool for socks. My friend also bought me some beautiful silk yarn as a present and it will also be used for socks, yup silk socks. I'll post the pictures on my knitting blog later this weekend.

Oh, I almost forgot...I got tagged from Braveheart for a Meme. I'm going to have to think about this one over the weekend.

Toronto The Good - Gone Bad

For the second time in a week an innocent person has been caught in the crossfire of a shootout and died. It was confirmed on the late news tonight that this man was indeed just going about his business during the supper hour on a busy east end Toronto Street.

The area of Broadview Ave. and Gerrard Street is an area filled with renovated and restored homes close to the downtown and an area I know well. I sold real estate in that part of town for 25 years. It has always been a safe neighbourhood and one I would not hesitate to walk in.

Guaranteed by tomorrow morning our Mayor Miller will be calling for a gun ban again. Maybe it's time for judges to get tougher?

How Not To Impress Your Neighbours

I was reminded of this story today by reading another blog about an Amaryllis plant and thought I'd share this story.

I used to love forcing plants to give me a little lift during the winter months and the particular plants I had chosen that winter were Paperwhites. Now a little imagination is needed here since I don't have photos. Imagine a tripod style metal stand about 12 inches tall on top of which rests a shallow ceramic bowl. Said bowl was filled with river stone and on top of that sat my pot of Paperwhites which was also a glass bowl filled with marbles instead of dirt. The Paperwhites had grown to about 18 inches tall and I did have them supported tied to a stick. This entire contraption sat on top of a glass coffee table and looked gorgeous.

One night after setting our house alarm and retiring for the night Steve was sound asleep and I was still hovering on the edge when I heard a big crash which sounded like broken glass. Assuming someone had smashed a window to get into the house, I called 911. Steve of course wanted to go downstairs to investigate but the 911 operator forbid it. She said the police and canine unit were on the way. She asked a series of questions, did the alarm go off, negative...did we hear any noises...negative, was my neighbour home, again negative since I didn't see her car in the driveway from our window...did I see footprints in the snow, yup lots of them in my neighbours backyard. Looking out the window, we saw the house and neighbouring side street surrounded by police cars.

After a few minutes of just waiting on the line and being comforted by the operator I watched in horror as Steve broke the rules and sneaked downstairs carrying a shoe. Ya right, what was that going to do. He opened the front door only to be confronted by a police officer who told him in uncertain terms to close the door and just wait. Meanwhile upstairs, still on the phone I was told that a perimeter search of the house showed that we had not been broken into and I could now go downstairs. You all know where this is going don't you?

Yes of course, just as the police rang on our doorbell to tell us they found nothing, I found the entire pot of Paperwhites, river stones and all had toppled onto the table and then on the floor. I hung my head in shame when I pointed this out to the police officer, who was really very nice about it. He said it was good practice for the dogs.

Here's what I didn't find out until later. Our neighbour was indeed home but because she has two driveways on a corner lot one of which is attached to a garage, her car was out of sight and the driveway that I could see from our window was empty. Bad assumption and I haven't done it since.

She also has a dog who was sick that night and taking some drug that made her want to go out to piddle constantly. My neighbour having let the dog out and being half asleep herself forgot to close her back sliding glass door by a couple of inches and went back to bed. The police, finding the back door open assumed (there's that word again) that the burglar was in the house and went in with guns drawn. Of course the dog barked, woke up my neighbour who had a few terrifying moments until the police realized she was indeed the homeowner.

This could have turned out very badly, we could have alienated her forever or worse and it is certainly a lesson well learned.

Innocent Man Shot To Death - Let's Ban Criminals

Early Saturday morning a man walking on busy Yonge Street in downtown T-Dot was shot to death. He just happened to be in the wrong spot at the wrong moment.

The shooter was aiming for the doorman of a club that had turfed him and his buddy out for allegedly behaving badly. The two young men left the club but returned moments later and accidentally shot a man walking home. It is alleged that he was aiming for the doorman. This is very similar to the Jane Creba shooting of two years ago. In that case a young girl shopping with her family on Boxing Day was caught in the crossfire between rival gangs. She died.

Predictably, Mayor Miller is calling for a total ban of guns in the city of Toronto. Since the first murder in Toronto was committed with a gun, I suggest that we ban all criminals instead...

This is a big city, shit happens and it is not the only city in the world where people get murdered. I wish it didn't happen, I wish there were no gangs, no abusive husbands who kill, but wishes won't put an end murder and neither will banning guns. Those who intend to do harm will just find another way.

Has My Flickr Account Been Hijacked?

I'm in a bit of a hurry this morning since I have to run off to the dentist and then to the cemetery. I is my late Mother's birthday today so I want to visit even though it is a cold, dreary and rainy day here in T-Dot. But I do have an update on the Flickr and Ravelry issue and I'm glad to report that I got an email from a volunteer at Ravelry to helped me put things right. I haven't heard from Flickr yet but I have reported the site as objectionable. Hopefully they do something about it. I'm also taking the laptop in for some maintenance this week so I'll have my computer geek check it out a little further...ciao


I had the most bizarre experience today. I belong to an on line knitting group called Ravelry. This is a place where I interact with other knitters and show my work in progress and finished projects.

Today when I tried to upload some photos I was told I couldn't and when I checked my profile settings to make sure they were correct the weirdest thing happened. When I clicked on my Flickr user name I was brought to a page of the most disgusting Nazi images.

I tried changing my on screen name in both Flickr and Ravelry but neither worked. Now I've sent email to both services asking for advice. Since I'm a bit of a computer dummy I'm really not sure what to do next. Any advice out there, I really hate the idea that I'm somehow linked to this other photo site?

Postcards From Home

In 1956 my parents left Germany to emigrate to Canada. My fathers parents and siblings were in Wiesbaden and my Mothers family were left behind in Greifswald on the Baltic coast. Reunification was unheard of in those days and my parents were not the only immigrants to leave family behind.

My Mother never saw her parents again. They both died before there was either money or opportunity to go back. For my Father it was easier to go home but for my Mother, the Berlin Wall interfered. I have also never been to my Mothers birthplace and thus far have only met one cousin from her side of the family and that only happened because he came to visit us.

Yesterday I made a stab of clearing out a little more stuff from my Mom's room which has been incredibly difficult for me. Since her death in May of last year I attempt this from time to time but mostly I just walk into the room, look around and walk out again. Yesterday I found the postcards.

These are some of the postcards that my parents received from home. Cards from mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters and sad to say I can't read them. I read and write German passably but these are written in something called Suetterlin Script which hasn't been taught in schools since 1941 just a little before my time.


There are postcards from all the places any of us ever visited and some that I wrote to my parents from both Germany (where I spent 3 months when I was 16) and from my time in Montreal. They were all kept in neat little packaged with elastic bands around them.

For both my offspring and me it was almost a joke, "don't bring souvenirs, just bring postcards" was what she always said. The postcards that hold the most importance to me though, are the old ones. There are postcards from war time when my father wrote to his parents from the hospital where he (fortunately) sat out the war, and there are postcards from him to my Mom when they were courting. Fascinating stuff, now I just have to find the time to decipher them.

This is what else I found...
My Mom had three great grandsons plus the new granddaughter who was born one month before her death and sadly she never got to meet. The three great grandsons though, when they were young made all their own greeting cards. Birthdays, valentines, get well cards, you name it and they made them. My Mom kept every single card those boys ever made for her. Finding that stash took my breath away and brought tears. In fact I'm still crying. I'm going to pack these up and send them to the boys so they will know how much they meant to her, not that they ever doubted it. And Mom, she would have said to me, "weine nicht mein kind", don't cry my child...I'm trying not to, Mom.

Getting Rid Of A Husband!

There have to be easier ways than this...what about just divorcing... A woman in Germany is alleged to have murdered her husband and flushed him down the toilet.

One of the more bizarre murders I've read about.

The Great Ice Storm Of 1998

Tomorrow is the 10Th anniversary of the worst ice storm in recent memory. It encompassed parts of eastern Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Canada and parts of Maine and New York State.



We watched in horror from the safety of our home the television reports showing hydro towers collapsing like matchsticks. There were around 30 deaths attributed to the storm and some areas were without power for weeks.

I am thinking about this storm today because conditions are right for another one. Unusually mild temperatures across most of Canada, lots of rain and a cold front moving in. Could it happen again, sure, but I sure hope it won't...

A Bit Of A Dry Patch

I've either run out of topics or I'm ignoring all the bad news out there. It's a gray, rainy and depressing day out there today, at least here in T-Dot. It's gray day on the stock market too where what little I own is evaporating by the minute.

I decided to go out for a bit to the local mall, get a few groceries and maybe a little yarn for a scarf for Elliotte. I'm standing in the checkout line at the local Zellers store and noticed the sign; January 7th - 10% discount for seniors over 55. I'm thinking about that for a minute as I'm standing there with some yarn, sewing machine needles and a lip liner to redraw my lips that seem to shrink faster than the piles of snow outside. It dawns on me in horror that yup, I qualify and have qualified for a number of years. Funny how that kind of creeps up on you isn't it...

What's Making News Today

Well lets see, there are the results of the Iowa caucuses (what is that anyway) where the candidates test their support for the upcoming American election later this year. I personally see no reason why a black man (Obama) can't be president but at least he should know that his closest neighbour and trading partner (Canada) has a Prime Minister not a President...you'd think! As for the other candidate (Huckabee), the first time I heard him speak was on Leno the other night and I found him quite humorous...

Facebook that ever popular site where people connect with others is in the news again. It is alleged that one of the accused in the murder of a young Toronto girl on New Year's day wrote hate messages on Facebook and instigated the murder. This comes on the heels of a case in the U.S. where a grown woman taunted a teen into suicide. Posting hate messages on the Internet is against the law, why do some people think they are immune?

The one that surprised me the most is this one; here in Ontario we have a new law called the street racing law - if you are caught speeding more than 50 km over the speed limit you will be charged under that law instead of just speeding. The police will immediately impound your vehicle and your drivers licence for one week with a minimum fine of $2,000.

The surprise is not the law, I knew that but that the latest person to be charged under this law was an 85 year old man who was driving 161 km on a 100 km highway. Something tells me he probably shouldn't get his licence back...

In rural Langdon, Alberta two men broke into a house while the two occupants were sleeping. After a struggle with the homeowner, one of the burglars ended up dead and the second in hospital with stab wounds. Now the police are considering whether to charge the homeowner with murder! Seems maybe the homeowner used unreasonable force...

And the biggest news of the day, my poor husband just came back from the dentist and instead of just one tooth being pulled out the dentist also took out two wisdom teeth and did some bone grafting in preparation for the actual implant, he's not really happy right now...

My First Meme - Maybe My Last

Borrowed with permission from Ellas Devil. Feel free to do it as well since I'm not tagging anyone. I don't believe in tagging and luckily for me I have never been tagged either.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Nothing I can think of, and that's a problem...time to change

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make any for 2008?
I don't bother any more, at my age I'll do whatever I please

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My Son's girl presented us with a beautiful baby girl in April

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my Mom

5. What countries did you visit in 2007?
Greece, Turkey, Germany

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
An automatic car starter so I can start my car from inside my house and wait for it to warm up before going out would be an absolute treat.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
May 12 and Mother's Day. My Mom died the day before Mother's day last year.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Wow, that's scary...the only thing I achieved was to finish old craft projects and knitting projects and keep the blog going.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not achieving anything!

10. Did you suffer injury or illness?
Yup, sadly It wasn't a great health year.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Nothing, this was my year of refraining from purchasing unnecessary items, my little bit for global warming.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
All my friends who rallied around me in time of need all deserve to be celebrated.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Not anyone I know personally but I am depressed at the state of our world.

14. Where did most of your money go?
The trip to Europe

15. What did you get really really really excited about?
Our trip to Europe

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Annie Lennox, Pavement Cracks

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
(a) happier or sadder? Sadder

(b) thinner or fatter? Thinner, the gallbladder didn't let me eat a lot

(c) richer or poorer? No difference, it's a state of mind

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Tell my Mom I loved her more often

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Whine about my health

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With good friends and their large family

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I'm always in love with my sweetie of 24 years

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Survivor China, just can't get enough of that program

23. Do you hate anyone now who you didn't hate last year?
I don't hate, I just intensely dislike and it was the doctors who treated my Mom

24. What was the best book you read?
15 Days, Christie Blatchford

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Feist

26. What was your favorite movie of this year?
Didn't see a single movie, isn't that bad

27. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I turned 59 and spent it at home with my sweetie and my Mom

28. What one thing would have made 2007 more satisfying?
None that I care to share right now

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Boooooring...

30. What kept you sane? My sweetie

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Well maybe Johnny Depp

32. What political issue stirred you the most? Canada's continued presence in Afghanistan

33. Who do you miss? My Mom

34. Who was the best new person you met? A new friend in Athens

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
With my memory, you've gottta be kidding, can't remember one...

There you go, boring...that's why I don't do memes

A Dental Horror Story - With A Happy Ending

Steve hates dentists with a capital Hate, but last spring was finally defeated by pain. We had to searched out a new one because our very wonderful dentist got married and moved so far out of town that visiting her new practice became unreasonable. New new Dentist, Dr. A took one look at his tooth and said "root canal" and immediately proceeded to do it. A week later when he went back for the filling Steve complained of some pain in said tooth and was told it would settle down.

A month or so later, the tooth still hadn't settled down and Steve went back. Dr. A suggested a crown and gave him some antibiotic. Two weeks later the crown was put in place and he was sent on his merry way. Fast forward a couple of months and I was in the same dental office for a cleaning and ran into Dr. A who inquired about Steve. I mentioned that the tooth was still sensitive and Steve had absolutely no intention of ever coming back to see him (I knew that). He convinced me to send Steve to see him again and when he finally went Dr. A said, "no no it's not the tooth I fixed that hurts it's the one beside it and it needs a root canal, we'll do it right now". "Hold on a minutes" said Steve, "let me think about it".

Meanwhile I checked with some friends who recommended a new dentist who is known as Dr. G. Dr. G concurred that yes, a root canal was necessary and an appointment was made. This one turned out perfectly and gives Steve no trouble at all. Steve actually raved about Dr. G for days and arrangements were made to have a compete checkup on our return from Greece. The other tooth still hurt from time to time but not enough to warrant another trip to the dentist.

By the time we returned to Canada that tooth was really painful. We made a new appointment with Dr. G and got Steve some antibiotics. Dr. G took x-rays of the tooth and gave Steve the bad news. The tooth had to come out, the root canal was done badly, wasn't filled properly and was not salvageable. That tooth cost $2,400 and had to come out. Dr. G wanted to know who did it and Steve told him. Steve says Dr. G exploded in rage, actually swore and said he was the second person he had seen recently whose tooth had been ruined by Dr. A. "Leave it with me" he said, and just before Christmas he phoned and told Steve he would be getting an implant free of charge, compliments of Dr. A.

It would have been practically impossible to sue Dr. A for his mistake, all he would say is I did my best. Kind of hard to prove that he's incompetent so if it hadn't been for the diligence of Dr. G it would have cost Steve another $3,500 for an implant. There are some good people out there and Dr. G qualifies...tomorrow he gets to yank that tooth out.

First Murder of 2008 - In My Neighbourhood

A 17 year old boy and a 15 year old girl stabbed a 14 year old girl to death and left her to die in a snow bank.

It is time for parents to take responsibility for their children and teach them well and it is time for the Young Offender act to disappear and anyone who murders must be held accountable.

Can You Imagine?

Stephen Harper our current Conservative Prime Minister looses the next election to the Liberals, or in the U.S. the Republicans lose to the Democrats and the population starts rioting. They burn buildings, loot shops and burn people alive who have sought sanctuary in churches. Imagine a city like Toronto where many different ethnic groups live in relative harmony, turning on each other and hacking people to death over an election outcome?

Welcome to Nairobi, Kenya where thus far 50 helpless souls died as a mob torched a church and where the total post-election death toll reaches 300. It is to cry for, it is so sad that this is permitted to happen.

In 2001, then Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman made the following comments jokingly;

• In June 2001, shortly before leaving for Mombasa, Kenya to support Toronto's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games, he jokingly said to a reporter "What the hell do I want to go to a place like Mombasa?... I'm sort of scared about going out there, but the wife is really nervous. I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me." The remarks sparked a firestorm of controversy

(copied from Wikipedia)

It is a country where tourists love to visit for it's wonderful white beaches and chances to see elephants or giraffes. I remember watching all the wildlife shows on the Discovery Channel and thinking that it would be wonderful to go there. I have a friend who visited there a few years ago and raved about it. I wonder if she would go there now? It's been crossed off my list of must see places...

Imam Speaks To Teens "Hijab" Death

This past weekend at the Reviving the Islamic Spirit conference in Toronto, Imam Zaid Shakir made a few interesting statements regarding a 16 year old girl's death at the hands of her father last month, for allegedly not wanting to wear the hijab;

"If you want your children to be a Pakistani, to be an Egyptian, to be a Syrian, to be a Turk, to be a Sudanese, a Somali, then you should've stayed in Pakistan or Egypt or Sudan or Somalia"

He went on to say that it wasn't the childrens' choice to immigrate but the parents;

"Parents, your children didn't ask to come here, to Canada, or America or Britain. They didn't ask to come here. You chose to come here...there are consequences that come with that choice"

This was not something I saw widely reported in the many papers I read daily, just one. It is also the first time an Imam speaks so clearly and I wonder if he will be accused of being racist or even ostracized in his community. I know if I said those words I would be...