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| Family Day and Stephens Birthday 2011 |
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Claire and Jonty at Stephen's Birthday Party
Last Sunday we had the whole family around to celebrate Stephen's birthday. As usual the kids stole the show. Here is an album with the pics.
Monday, 21 February 2011
Addressing the root causes of crime in Canada.
In an article titled Tough on poverty, tough on crime, the Conservative senator for Kingston-Frontenac-Leeds, Hugh Segal, provided the following statistics in Toronto's Sunday Star yesterday:
• More than 70 per cent of those who enter prisons have not completed high school.
• Seventy per cent of offenders entering prisons have unstable job histories.
• Four of every five arrive with serious substance-abuse problems.
• A Toronto study of 300 homeless adults found 73 per cent of men had been arrested and 49 per cent of them incarcerated at least once. Twelve per cent of women had served time.
Hmmm. It is clearly obvious to our leaders in government that, to address these root causes, we need to build more and bigger prisons and lengthen prison terms so that these people can finish high school, learn job skills and get help with their substance abuse problems. This should have the added benefit of reducing the homeless population.
• More than 70 per cent of those who enter prisons have not completed high school.
• Seventy per cent of offenders entering prisons have unstable job histories.
• Four of every five arrive with serious substance-abuse problems.
• A Toronto study of 300 homeless adults found 73 per cent of men had been arrested and 49 per cent of them incarcerated at least once. Twelve per cent of women had served time.
Hmmm. It is clearly obvious to our leaders in government that, to address these root causes, we need to build more and bigger prisons and lengthen prison terms so that these people can finish high school, learn job skills and get help with their substance abuse problems. This should have the added benefit of reducing the homeless population.
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Quote from Aunty Bessie (94)
Skype call from Canada to South Africa.
Terry: So, on Wednesday we celebrated 37 years of marriage.
AB: Congratulations.
Terry: I'm looking forward to another 37 years.
AB: Why would you want to wish that on Ingrid?
Terry: So, on Wednesday we celebrated 37 years of marriage.
AB: Congratulations.
Terry: I'm looking forward to another 37 years.
AB: Why would you want to wish that on Ingrid?
Monday, 14 February 2011
Jonathan's first toboggan ride!
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| North Pole just over the horizon. |
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| Jonathan's first toboggan ride! |
Hello family! We hope you are well :) its a beautiful and sunny day in Peterborough. once jonty awakes, we will be going for a walk. well, after the little man eats of course :)
The night after the 20cm of snow we got a couple of weeks ago, we decided to go walking on the path behind our house. jonathan had his first toboggan ride, and we're pretty sure he loved it, as he didn't cry once, and actually fell asleep! He is great, feeding well, letting mommy get lots of sleep, and so alert. his smiles are heartwarming, its amazing :) he also loves bath time with us, and doesn't mind hanging out on his tummy when the mood strikes.
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| It's cold outside. |
Cheers!
Monday, 7 February 2011
Canadian news broadcasters to get a license to lie?
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is considering changing the rules that prevent TV and radio broadcasters from saying things they know to be untrue. The proposed amendment to the rules says broadcasters may not present “any news that the licensee knows is false or misleading and that endangers or is likely to endanger the lives, health or safety of the public.” That gives news broadcasters a license to lie. By arguing that a false or misleading news report does not endanger lives, health or safety, a broadcaster could get away with saying things they know are false. (See http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-14.htm)
Until February 9, 2011, the CRTC is accepting comments from the public on this amendment. Write to the CRTC right now and tell them you don’t want our news broadcasters to get a license to lie.
Take Action
Comment online on the CRTC web site. ( https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/Intervention/Submission-Soumission.aspx?lang=e&EventNo=2011-14&EventType=Notice#Step1 )
You can use the following sample text below as a template.
The Hon. Konrad W. von Finckenstein
General Secretary of the CRTC
Dear Mr. Finckenstein,
As a Canadian citizen, I am very concerned about the proposed amendments to: Paragraph 3(d) of the Radio Regulations, 1986;
Paragraph 5(1)(d) of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987;
Paragraph 3(2)(c) of the Pay Television Regulations, 1990; Paragraph (3)(d) of the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990.
I believe the proposed wording in these paragraphs that prohibits broadcasters from presenting “…any news that the licensee knows is false or misleading and that endangers or is likely to endanger the lives, health or safety of the public” gives broadcasters a license to lie, permitting them to present false or misleading news by allowing them to argue it does not endanger the lives, health or safety of the public.
The current wording of these regulations is completely clear and has worked perfectly well for years. I do not believe any amendment is necessary. I believe it is unacceptable to present false or misleading news under any circumstances, whether or not it presents a danger to lives, health or safety. Presenting lies as fact is damaging to our society and to our democratic institutions. Falsehoods are wrong. Period. That is what we teach our children. That is what we expect from our friends. That is what we should expect from our news broadcasters.
I would also like to express my deep concern about the way the CRTC has attempted to make such a major change to our broadcasting system with virtually no publicized public consultation, and with such a short period of time available for Canadians to become aware of and comment on the issue.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
(The above advice is taken from the web site of the Green Party of Canada
http://greenparty.ca/en/node/16746 )
Until February 9, 2011, the CRTC is accepting comments from the public on this amendment. Write to the CRTC right now and tell them you don’t want our news broadcasters to get a license to lie.
Take Action
Comment online on the CRTC web site. ( https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/Intervention/Submission-Soumission.aspx?lang=e&EventNo=2011-14&EventType=Notice#Step1 )
You can use the following sample text below as a template.
The Hon. Konrad W. von Finckenstein
General Secretary of the CRTC
Dear Mr. Finckenstein,
As a Canadian citizen, I am very concerned about the proposed amendments to: Paragraph 3(d) of the Radio Regulations, 1986;
Paragraph 5(1)(d) of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987;
Paragraph 3(2)(c) of the Pay Television Regulations, 1990; Paragraph (3)(d) of the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990.
I believe the proposed wording in these paragraphs that prohibits broadcasters from presenting “…any news that the licensee knows is false or misleading and that endangers or is likely to endanger the lives, health or safety of the public” gives broadcasters a license to lie, permitting them to present false or misleading news by allowing them to argue it does not endanger the lives, health or safety of the public.
The current wording of these regulations is completely clear and has worked perfectly well for years. I do not believe any amendment is necessary. I believe it is unacceptable to present false or misleading news under any circumstances, whether or not it presents a danger to lives, health or safety. Presenting lies as fact is damaging to our society and to our democratic institutions. Falsehoods are wrong. Period. That is what we teach our children. That is what we expect from our friends. That is what we should expect from our news broadcasters.
I would also like to express my deep concern about the way the CRTC has attempted to make such a major change to our broadcasting system with virtually no publicized public consultation, and with such a short period of time available for Canadians to become aware of and comment on the issue.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
(The above advice is taken from the web site of the Green Party of Canada
http://greenparty.ca/en/node/16746 )
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