11:18 p.m. - 2004-03-16
Excuses
Interesting news day today. I was still thinking about the newly discovered planet (oid) Sedna. The founding Inuit legend about her goes like this : Sedna lived with her father in an igloo near the seashore. She was very beautiful and many men wanted to marry her, but she refused. One day a handsome young hunter appeared in his kayak and promised her many riches if she would be his wife. She left with the stranger, but then he changed into a bird and took her to a cold, barren place where she was miserable. Next year, when her father came to visit, she begged him to take her away in his boat. But the sea gods were angry and caused a great storm. The father was frightened, so he threw Sedna overboard into the swirling waters. The first time she clutched the boat he cut off her fingers. They became seals. The second time she clutched the boat he cut off her hands. They became walruses. The third time she clutched the boat he cut off her arms. They became whales. Sedna sank to the bottom of the ocean, and the newly created sea animals followed her. She is bitter and full of vengeance. She will only let hunters catch her animals when it suits her. She may choose to send them home hungry or sweep them out to sea instead. I found this link to the CBC Radio North station which has audio versions of Inuit legends Inuksuk. Click on the Inuksuks (stone cairns somewhat similar to Stupas) and choices appear from which to choose.
The other story that was astronomically interesting was about the activity taking place on the sun. More fiery clouds and explosions sunactivity. It had some great photos taken by the European Space Agency.
A curious contrast in reporting and assessing social issues with respect to housing and public buildings such as hospitals and schools. Jointventures references the Canadian Center of Alternate Public Policy in it's remarks prior to the new Federal budget due to be handed down nest week. They explain their position on why government should control and fund baseline public services without allowing market forces to be involved. In contrast was this story from Seattle where council has just passed a bylaw that will create tax breaks for developers who dedicate some of the units in each of their multi-family developments for housing the poor. More information and research required for both these stories, I think. homeless.
One disturbing story in the organized crime category identity_theft just breaking out of British Columbia. Apparently one of the major personal credit reporting agencies' computer network was hacked and 1400 records of individuals they have documentation for was stolen. The consensus seemed to be that it was a very sophisticated operation to be able to breach their security. There is a book, just featured in our local newpaper, detailing how the Hells Angels are infiltrating Canada through the corporate sector, but it looks like they or one of their compatriots still used old fashioned methods as backup.
An oh no! story about how hockey may actually have been played in the US before it came to Canada as evidenced in artwork from the US pre-dating any recorded games in Canada. Holy identity crisis Batman. hockey. I don't really care, but I liked the artwork. Other issues of identity were featured with respect to environmentally focussed stories. One is about the hearings in the Northwest Territories (arctic) with respect to the impact building a gas pipeline will have on aboriginal cultures and the very rare flora and fauna found only in the Arctic. pipeline The second identity story was from the West coast in Washington state where native tribes were examining the artefacts brought to light in the wake of some road construction. archaeology Sedna speaking already maybe?
Last two articles are focused on the way public servants like doctors and peace corps are mistreated. Often people who serve our communities the most in terms of quality of life - such as teachers, medical staff, police and firefighters are told that their reward is the satisfaction they receive from doing good. Often that dedication is exploited by both government and corporations both of whom profit greatly at the expense of those who are the bedrock of our communities - isn't it time the public demanded that be reversed? It's an election year both sides of the border - maybe it could be an international movement. Just a thought. tired_doctors and financial_abuse.
Work today - of course there was that too. The emails I fired off about Elections Canada paying my staff "tout suite s'il vous plait!" got unusually quick response. I guess documenting and keeping everything from years back is helpful. It's hard to deny that someone has the paperwork when it can be reproduced at the click of a mouse. I was assured that both people would be paid this week. Uh huh. More boxes delivered from Elections Canada too. Videos and CDs for training for different tasks as well as manuals and workbooks for both the trainees and the instructors. My youngest and I previewed them tonight - they were actually pretty well done although my son gagged a few times at some of the dialogue. Still not bad for a government agency - I liked the clown. Time for exercise - I've run out of excuses, so excuse me please dear diary.
�
�
