Thursday, August 28, 2008

A evening upon the river

This is the boat landing below the church, the view is of the Dempster road from Fort MacPherson approaching the ferry crossing.
Albert my friend and guide for this trip up the MacKenzie to his future homesite.Just try taking pictures's between waves on a windy night. Ain't as easy as Paris Hilton, let me tell you.
This fish goes by many names, a alligator fish, jack fish, pike, lunker, boney piece of s>*t that fights like a mother,
etc...
Most of these picture's need to be clicked on to really show the fall colors.
Take Care
CG
PS. Palin...Palin... Man, that's one guy who doesn't want to be assassinated (Hopefully America forgets about the heart attacks and age. Reagan taking a nap seems like a pleasant alternative). Talk about insurance.
PPS. Happy Anniversary to me.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

The Olympics

Hello Everyone,

I`m watching the Olympics. For years people have been discussing why the support for the Olympics has been waining in the last twenty years. Speculation has been that endorsements and steroids have tarnished the reputation of the Olympics, resulting in the drop in interest. As for myself, I don`t care who name is on anyone`s equipment, not one single little bit, they can all get Nike tattooed upon their foreheads and it would`t change a thing. Secondly, steroids, OK lets just set up two events for all categories, juiced and un-juiced. Really, I can see where people feel its unfair if someone else is on the juice and they are not, but what is the difference between that and a Nigerian runner who runs between towns in his home country versus the incredibly detailed training and support given by other countries, should that also not be equalized if everything in the world is to be fair? For me the disillusionment with the event lies strictly within the IOC's hands, its the events. Here's my short list of events I will never consider Olympic sports, I realize some of them are competitive, however their merits may be more artistic rather than athletic, leading to interpretive scoring, which is what really disgusts me within the Olympics; Synchronized swimming, Water Polo, Archery, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball (there is no way anyone can justify people making 16 million a year being considered a amateur), Canoeing, Kayaking, Equestrian (shouldn't the horse be on the podium, not the spoilt rich kids on their backs?), Football (soccer to you Americans), Handball, Field hockey (OK and I'll admit, as much as I love it, ice hockey in the winter Olympics), Sailing, Shooting, Softball, Table Tennis, Rhythmic gymnastics, Trampoline, ANY and ALL card games, all Dancing of any type, surfing, roller skating, beach volleyball and golf. While many of these events are legitimate sports most of them already have their own international venue's. Most of these "sports" have been added during the same period that interest has dropped, coincidence? I know that for the next Olympics they are just hanging on the edge of their seats watching the ratings of Poker thinking "Cha-Ching" that's what we need. Just because a event is popular doesn't make it worthy of the Olympics.
One of these days I'm going to have to quit ranting and get back to life in the north, sorry.
Take Care,
CG
P.S.OK, the list keeps on growing as I watch, I can now add; wind surfing, speed walking, bmx racing...

Sunday, August 03, 2008

America the Beautiful and the next 170 days

Hello Everyone,
This morning while doing my usual news surfing I encountered a little story that piqued my interest. I know I should be talking about some freak on a bus but why bother, he doesn't deserve the time we give him. The story that interested me was that the US courts have upheld their unrestricted power to seize any computer at the border they want to without any warrants or just cause under the homeland security act. What really struck me about the article in question was a very literate reply from someone who identified themselves as Johhny Craptree:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I understand that there is a "border exception" but that was not in the original intent. No exceptions to man's natural rights exist, nor can they be taken away, or shortened, or given "exceptions" by any form of legitimate government.

They found "extremist Jihadist literature"? so if they randomly start searching our homes and find the Qur'an in your home is that extremist jihad literature? and does it matter?

We have a fundamental right to publish, and own documents of any nature, whether the government would like for us to own them or not.

Any society who gives up liberty in exchange for security, will lose both and deserve neither."

I don't want to get into the evils of George W Bush, OK I lie, I do want to discuss this raving lunatic. It is 170 days until this man must be replaced, Man, feels like a long time coming doesn't it? I realize he lead his country through one of the most difficult times of American history but at what cost to American "Freedom". That which he attempted to preserve he has desecrated and destroyed. The government may without warrant or proving suspicion; read your email, seize your property, detain you, forbid you entry to the country, forbid your exiting the country, forbid your riding on airlines, whisk you away to be tortured by some foreign power, lock you in prison with no legal recourse indefinitely and basically any damn thing they want. These laws were institute to deal with a very complex problem the likes of which America had never seen before on their shores, but the reaction to this has denied everyone the very rights they are trying to protect. In some small way, I feel for George W, but not for long. I can still remember when his behaviours were a embarrassment to his fathers office and yet somehow he was able to be spun into a leader. I mean seriously, Americans wanted to impeach Slick Willy for his antics in the White house and yet they give this yahoo a second term, I mean come on, did anyone believe this was a good idea? I know he certainly didn't receive the popular vote during his first election, but who can explain the second when he actually won the election fairly? I just hope for the future of Americans, that his successor might be able to undo some of the damage this embarrassment has done both at home and abroad. I feel for you America, I really do, your constitution has certainly taken one hell of a beating in the last 8 years, lets hope the liquid paper is still as handy as it has been the last few years.
Goodnight America, wherever you are.
CG