So an NHL player is accused of racism by calling a Quebec referee a f____g French. Huh? Since when were Quebecers classified as a unique human racial group? Did I miss something in high school social studies? Are the Liberals really that desparate to beguile Quebec?

Damn, we Canadians can get real pathetic.

Today's Local Weather Was: Mixed bag.

From the Guardian:

While Charles has won kudos from environmentalists for his calls to action on global warming, British environmentalists have said the prince should have abstained from flying to the United States. In response, Charles' office said it would cancel a skiing trip to Switzerland, a gesture that would reduce his carbon footprint - the carbon dioxide created by his travels.

Are these environmentalist saying that we should not go anywhere anymore? Sounds isolationistic. Whatever happened to encouraging people to visit and experience other cultures around the world? What if I wanted to visit family and friends?

The internet is just not that satisfying, you know?

Is it still okay to wear manufactured clothing? How about living in a home with its own kitchen and bathrooms? Can I still commute to a factory 25km away from home or should I move right next to this factory?

Today's Local Weather Was: Foggy.

From Reuters:

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese company that had sought to build a highway through the Great Wall paid a fine for damaging the structure Sunday, days after new penalties were enacted to protect China's most famous tourist attraction, state media reported.

Hongji Landbridge Investment Development Inc. paid 500,000 yuan ($63,800) in penalties for deliberately damaging a section of the Great Wall in Inner Mongolia as part of an unauthorized road project, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The company ignored warnings from officials and suggestions on how it could complete the project without damaging the wall, including digging tunnels and building overpasses, Xinhua cited unnamed cultural heritage officials as saying.

US$63,800 fine, eh? I would how much Hongji LID paid the local authorities to look the other way, at the beginning of the project?

Its really disappointing to see corruption go as far as destroying international historical sites. Makes me wonder is it really worth it for western companies to do business in China.

Today's Local Weather Was: Clouds come. Followed by rain.

I'm back.

From Reuters:

MADRID (Reuters) - A Spanish town council has vowed to banish sexism from street signage by demanding half of all road signs and traffic lights show female figures with skirts and ponytails.

Ummm. Is it not sexist to assume/state/depict women wearing skirts and ponytails? Where's the black minidress? The long hair? The high heels?

Today's Local Weather Was: Awashed.

At 7:00AM on 21 October 2006, my Valentine died in her sleep. We adopted her in February of 1994 and has been the grumpiest cat I've ever had. She's never socialized with the neighbour's cats and was indifferent to human visitors. She ate too much and she knew it. She knew she wasn't supposed to go outside after dinner and revelled in driveway whenever she did sneek out.

I am proud to say that she was my girl.

I'll miss you Val.

God damn I'll miss you.

Today's Local Weather Was: Painful.

Reading the BBC's visitor comments regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons test I can't help but have this thought:

More nuclear weapons is a good thing!!

Today's Local Weather Was: Sunny.

A primer on the issue of stopping the violence in Darfur:

Breaking the Darfur Impasse
Diplomats placing fragile hope in plans for extended African Union mission, with logistical and financial support from UN.
By Ayesha Kajee in Johannesburg (AR No.78, 02-Oct-06)

The Darfur Peace Agreement, DPA, is “nearly dead” and is on a life support system that “does not function”, just five months after its ratification, according to Jan Pronk, the Special Representative of the United Nations’ Secretary-General in Sudan.

The African Union-brokered deal was mortally wounded from the outset, according to a wide range of experts, given that it was rejected by two of the three major rebel forces in Darfur. The brightest thing that Pronk, a former Dutch government minister who took up his Sudan role in June 2004, could say about the DPA was that it is “in a coma”.

Today's Local Weather Was: Sunny chilly.