bilbored
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Not just me, but others too.
Welcome to the visitor’s via the “ The Standard” article on blogging of which I was interviewed for last week, not just me, but others too. That could have been the name of the piece as it was ‘15 Bytes of Fame’ suits as well. If your new to blogging by all means go ahead and root around my archives, looking for the dirt. If you want to learn more about blogging try visiting Blogs Canada they have a large variety of blogs to suit every interest and inclination. For the old hands today’s article was well, so windows 98 in its revelations, as the msm start playing catch up on the world of blogging. Not to be ungrateful to Tiffany Mayer’s piece she does a creditable job of opening the window, for the newbie, about this world of blogging. This will be my second 15 bytes of fame in The Standard this year. Can I go for three?….Bill
Welcome to the visitor’s via the “ The Standard” article on blogging of which I was interviewed for last week, not just me, but others too. That could have been the name of the piece as it was ‘15 Bytes of Fame’ suits as well. If your new to blogging by all means go ahead and root around my archives, looking for the dirt. If you want to learn more about blogging try visiting Blogs Canada they have a large variety of blogs to suit every interest and inclination. For the old hands today’s article was well, so windows 98 in its revelations, as the msm start playing catch up on the world of blogging. Not to be ungrateful to Tiffany Mayer’s piece she does a creditable job of opening the window, for the newbie, about this world of blogging. This will be my second 15 bytes of fame in The Standard this year. Can I go for three?….Bill
Monday, January 30, 2006
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Mr. Scary, just ain’t so no more.
This morning I woke up to a panicked e-mail from Egale Canada, Fight Harper / Defendre nos droits, they went on…
“All the federal government’s resources will be now used against us.”
Egale is an advocacy group that was instrumental in the fight for equal marriage in Canada. And I certainly supported their aims during the discourse that brought same sex marriage to Canada. When I read this, I thought nope, this won’t happen Egale failed to notice that Canada did not swing to the right last night and the people of Canada gave Mr. Harper a very short leash with which to govern. He can not impose a neo con agenda on Canada. He does not have the numbers. In order for him to survive he must continue to move his party towards the centre and build consensus with the leftist elements of parliament. If the neocon dogs are released and make no mistake they are there and they were elected. Mr. Harper and his party will be back on the campaign trail before we have our lawn signs down and safely stored for the next round. Mr. Harper has said he would bring a vote forward to the house on same sex marriage, he has also been quietly and slowly changing his position. “ I will not use the not withstanding clause” I will refer any motion to the courts before passing legislation” It is not one of my priorities, we are in no hurry. In effect he is softening up his own supporters for what I think is an issue that will just fall off the agenda and quietly disappear as he struggles to implement his 5 main promises, none of which will have any sort of negative impact on our country.
Yes we have a different government with a more uncomfortable philosophical outlook then many of us are use to. But is it the end of the world? NO. Are the barbarians at the gate? NO. We are in for a very interesting time in the next session and there is no doubt our government needs a shake up. But we are Canadians, nothing too radical has transpired here. Our rights are safe our values are secure. As long as we continue "to stand on guard for thee" and choose wisely, as I think we have done, Canada will continue to prosper and grow. Mr. Scary, just ain’t so no more. Any bets when the next election will be?....Bill
This morning I woke up to a panicked e-mail from Egale Canada, Fight Harper / Defendre nos droits, they went on…
“All the federal government’s resources will be now used against us.”
Egale is an advocacy group that was instrumental in the fight for equal marriage in Canada. And I certainly supported their aims during the discourse that brought same sex marriage to Canada. When I read this, I thought nope, this won’t happen Egale failed to notice that Canada did not swing to the right last night and the people of Canada gave Mr. Harper a very short leash with which to govern. He can not impose a neo con agenda on Canada. He does not have the numbers. In order for him to survive he must continue to move his party towards the centre and build consensus with the leftist elements of parliament. If the neocon dogs are released and make no mistake they are there and they were elected. Mr. Harper and his party will be back on the campaign trail before we have our lawn signs down and safely stored for the next round. Mr. Harper has said he would bring a vote forward to the house on same sex marriage, he has also been quietly and slowly changing his position. “ I will not use the not withstanding clause” I will refer any motion to the courts before passing legislation” It is not one of my priorities, we are in no hurry. In effect he is softening up his own supporters for what I think is an issue that will just fall off the agenda and quietly disappear as he struggles to implement his 5 main promises, none of which will have any sort of negative impact on our country.
Yes we have a different government with a more uncomfortable philosophical outlook then many of us are use to. But is it the end of the world? NO. Are the barbarians at the gate? NO. We are in for a very interesting time in the next session and there is no doubt our government needs a shake up. But we are Canadians, nothing too radical has transpired here. Our rights are safe our values are secure. As long as we continue "to stand on guard for thee" and choose wisely, as I think we have done, Canada will continue to prosper and grow. Mr. Scary, just ain’t so no more. Any bets when the next election will be?....Bill
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
.mil
As most of you know .mil is the domain of the U.S. military. Recently there has been a lot of poking around in my archives from this domain. The common entry point keywords, has been gay/military. Surely the U.S. army has better things to do than read through the blog of some middle age fag in Canada. Hey .mil dudes we can track you too. Happy reading and why not leave a comment or two….Bill
I wonder if I am on some sort of list now?
As most of you know .mil is the domain of the U.S. military. Recently there has been a lot of poking around in my archives from this domain. The common entry point keywords, has been gay/military. Surely the U.S. army has better things to do than read through the blog of some middle age fag in Canada. Hey .mil dudes we can track you too. Happy reading and why not leave a comment or two….Bill
I wonder if I am on some sort of list now?
Sunday, January 15, 2006
I saw all of theses films last week. They had three things in common. The most important, they are all exception films. The first two films are obviously very well known. The third is probably not widely heard of at all. That is a shame because it might very well be the best of this very fine lot. C.R.A.Z.Y. was the Toronto 2005 Film Festival pick for best Canadian film and will most likely be Canada's Oscar selection in the best foreign film category.
The second common element is, all three films have gay themes as an essential element of the storyline although never overtly mentioned in Capote it is important to the understanding of Capote's obsession with his subject. The third thing these films had in Common? Canada. All that beautiful mountain scenery in Brokeback or the depressing mid America towns in both Capote and Brokeback were all found in Canada. Capote and Brokeback are what the Governator would call runaway, while C.R.A.Z.Y. is 100% Canuck Which means almost nobody will see this very witty coming of age film, set in Montreal in the sixties and seventies. I will be seeing it again when we screen it at work in our new Winter film series at The Shaw.
The three films in different ways all provided a realistic snapshot on what it is like to be Gay in our western world. They are wonderfully free of stereotyping or hetrosexulist parochialism. I would recommend them to anybody. They provide a window of understanding, quietly without a sledgehammer. There are plenty of tears and fears and even quite a few laughs along the way. Just like life. ....Bill
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Cymbidium~ Doris Dawson (?)
I discovered this lovely Cymbidium in bloom in my Green house on Friday. I say discovered because the budding stock had sent itself up into the hanging Lantana and Plumbago above my orchid table. Cleverly hidden from view and nicely shaded from the week winter sun. Both the Lantana and the Plumbago are in a semi winter or I should say cool tropical winter dormancy, that I keep my Green house in at this time of year. Since I have a mixed house I sort of compromise the conditions hoping to hold the many tropicals over in a cool dry season of low light and deliberate low water until early March when the light and temperatures increase naturally. I will finish any undone pruning, pour on the water and fertilizers and return everything to full vigour by the time Spring, sets in outdoors.
In this mock tropical highland winter my orchids seem to thrive and, when, I am able to induce bloom, it is usually this time of year. An additional boost to the moral during these dreary winter months. I would like to say I am an orchid grower but that would be dishonest for I struggle with all of them even the ones laughingly called “easy” to grow. I am just not able to run my green house, as the Victorians would call “a stove house” Anyone with a furnace, will appreciate why. This is the sole reason for the semi dormancy. It makes for a not so attractive display just now. I still get some bloom from the hibiscus and bougainvillaea amongst the brown leaves that hang on much of the vines and creepers and other wintering plants . So it was with absolute delight to find amongst the very crowded benches this delicate spray of pale pea green and faded yellow flowers, just exactly at the right time to move into the house. With luck this should give me six to eight weeks bloom, which might seem long except, it has been five years since I last saw it in flower. I am if anything patient….Bill
I discovered this lovely Cymbidium in bloom in my Green house on Friday. I say discovered because the budding stock had sent itself up into the hanging Lantana and Plumbago above my orchid table. Cleverly hidden from view and nicely shaded from the week winter sun. Both the Lantana and the Plumbago are in a semi winter or I should say cool tropical winter dormancy, that I keep my Green house in at this time of year. Since I have a mixed house I sort of compromise the conditions hoping to hold the many tropicals over in a cool dry season of low light and deliberate low water until early March when the light and temperatures increase naturally. I will finish any undone pruning, pour on the water and fertilizers and return everything to full vigour by the time Spring, sets in outdoors.
In this mock tropical highland winter my orchids seem to thrive and, when, I am able to induce bloom, it is usually this time of year. An additional boost to the moral during these dreary winter months. I would like to say I am an orchid grower but that would be dishonest for I struggle with all of them even the ones laughingly called “easy” to grow. I am just not able to run my green house, as the Victorians would call “a stove house” Anyone with a furnace, will appreciate why. This is the sole reason for the semi dormancy. It makes for a not so attractive display just now. I still get some bloom from the hibiscus and bougainvillaea amongst the brown leaves that hang on much of the vines and creepers and other wintering plants . So it was with absolute delight to find amongst the very crowded benches this delicate spray of pale pea green and faded yellow flowers, just exactly at the right time to move into the house. With luck this should give me six to eight weeks bloom, which might seem long except, it has been five years since I last saw it in flower. I am if anything patient….Bill
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Fighting for a fair vote
That is me in that photo underneath the “Fighting for a fair vote” headline. I am used as the launching off point in a very well written article in our largest regional daily newspaper, The Standard. The story is about the need for voter reform and the inherent unfairness of our electoral system. Unfortunately Matthew Van Dongen’s article is not available on the stunningly craptacular online version of the paper. It is too long for me to plagiarise it here.
However Fair Vote Canada has an excellent web site that I urge you to visit, comment and to sign their online petition. If your interested in voter reform. If your not.. Why?
How did Mr. Van Dongen find me? On line that’s how. Blogging can be a vehicle for more then just vainglorious self indulgent opinion by geeks with too much spare time… As if….Bill
That is me in that photo underneath the “Fighting for a fair vote” headline. I am used as the launching off point in a very well written article in our largest regional daily newspaper, The Standard. The story is about the need for voter reform and the inherent unfairness of our electoral system. Unfortunately Matthew Van Dongen’s article is not available on the stunningly craptacular online version of the paper. It is too long for me to plagiarise it here.
However Fair Vote Canada has an excellent web site that I urge you to visit, comment and to sign their online petition. If your interested in voter reform. If your not.. Why?
How did Mr. Van Dongen find me? On line that’s how. Blogging can be a vehicle for more then just vainglorious self indulgent opinion by geeks with too much spare time… As if….Bill
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Clearing up the trash after Christmas
That’s me ole Dad there in the background and a few days early my garbage bag was a sign on his front lawn. Much to the horror of us all. My mother in deep distress and embarrassment removed the offensive item which my Dad quickly forgot about. Being the good and dutiful son that I am, I volunteer to clean up the holiday debris and with the three R’s in mind, I finally find a use for something Conservative. With the Liberal campaign on the skids, be careful what you ask for. Do you really want a Conservative government propped up by a bunch of separatists? I wonder if the Zapatistas would consider including Canada on their current tour.
Oh Yeah, Happy New Year....Bill
That’s me ole Dad there in the background and a few days early my garbage bag was a sign on his front lawn. Much to the horror of us all. My mother in deep distress and embarrassment removed the offensive item which my Dad quickly forgot about. Being the good and dutiful son that I am, I volunteer to clean up the holiday debris and with the three R’s in mind, I finally find a use for something Conservative. With the Liberal campaign on the skids, be careful what you ask for. Do you really want a Conservative government propped up by a bunch of separatists? I wonder if the Zapatistas would consider including Canada on their current tour.
Oh Yeah, Happy New Year....Bill
