And the feedback continues ...

On Monday an anonymous visitor left the following comment on my posting of January 21st 2007 where I responded to the hate-filled link that cited my blog and the experience of the Church fire in Minnedosa as "proof" that God hates Goths ... my reply then, as now remains - "I don't think so ..." I doubt God hates anyone ... I will acknowledge that there are no doubt many in the human family who disappoint God greatly ... for now, one of God's beloved ones has offered her opinions:

"Thanks soooooooo much people keep saying god hate goths and I'am a goth and I don't belive it true at all. It just makes me sooooooooo mad."

Recent conversations ...

Recent conversations have left me singing this song as I consider the need for care, compassion and some social action in our world ... then tonight Noahkila put the movie Scrooged with Bill Murray, and a HUGE cast of folks retelling Dickens' A Christma Carol in late 80's New York City ... the movie ends with the cast singing a version of this Annie Lennox and Al Green song that reminds us of many things:

For Katie ...

It's THE Beatles:

Happy Birthday to my favourite Blogger !!!!

Today the New York Blogger

Katie Bowen,

who shares her wisdom, her humour,

and her views on life, the universe and everything,

over "At the Half Note"

turns 46.

Happy Birthday Katie,

have a wonderful day !!!!

A plea to our American Cousins ...

An open appeal to our American COusins:

In the last year you've come such a long way. You've elected an intelligent, articulate and amazing man as your president. The fact he is of African American descent is a bonus, his intelligence and wisdom puts him heads and shoulders above his predecessor.

Yet, there are still those voices among you who keep wanting to nominate Village Idiots for the highest office in the land ... has the Bush Administration taught you folks NOTHING??

For eight years George and his crew made the United States of America the embarassed laughing stock of the world. They completely eroded the global goodwill that came with the events of September 11th, and they pursued policy after policy that was not only questionable, but that frequently crossed over into the realm of the illegal. And now the same people who brought you the Village Idiot from Texas are trying to put forward the Alaskan Village Idiot as a possible candidate for 2012 ... (click here to read the story)

Please my American Cousins, stop this madness before it's too late ... the very thought of Sarah Palin being nominated as Presidential Candidate for the next election makes me want to cry ... you deserve better - like a SECOND term of Obama, followed by a back to back term with the second President Clinton ... if you're gonna make history, go for the gusto - a husband-wife combo is far better than Village Idiot books ends around the fine President that is Obama!!!

... meanwhile back at home ... when is Michael calling that election to get him the PMO's job??

A President, a Cop, a Professor and a Beer ...

It has all the makings of a bad joke:

A president, a cop, and a professor sat down in the back garden for a beer ... yet, in today's headlines, this is the premise for one of the stories making the rounds ...

It would seem that the other day a personal friend of President Obama, a black scholar was involved in a situation with the police - the end result was a misunderstanding, some sort of confrontation and the arrest of the professor.

Along the line the race card was played and the whole incident became a national story with both sides entrenching themselves, and even President Obama weighing in with some less than careful words being offered ...

Now, in an open attempt to bring down the rhetoric and open this incident to the possibility of being a "teachable moment" for ALL people, Obama has acknowledged his poor choice in words, and has offered to have the Professor, and the Police Officer over to the White House for a beer so they can mend the fences ...

What a class act ... Obama's example here is a good one for everyone ...

To read the story click here: "Obama, Gates to meet after scholar's arrest - CTV news"

How Do You Spell OXYMORON ???

Okay, this one is just too funny ... I've been reading George Carlin's book "When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?" and found this little gem:

TRUE FACT: in 2002, in the US Supreme Court, the surviving heirs of the famous film comedy trio were awarded "the intellectual rights to the Three Stooges."

Do the words Intellectual and Three Stooges belong in the same sentence, EVER???

Today's special garden guest ...

... this lovely fellow lingered amongst the blossoms on the peas ...

Garden Update

.

The picture above is my backyard garden today

.

.

this is my backyard Garden on June 15th,

two weeks after planting.

.

.

and the above is MY COMPOST BIN,

which I did NOT plant, but that planted itself with

squash, peas, potatoes, beans and assorted weeds !!!!

First Bath ...

Oboe was not amused ... but at least he wasn't muddy ... until the next morning ...

To boldly go ...

.

40 years ago today,

Neil Armstrong placed his foot on a surface that WASN'T planet earth

for the first time ...

Having grown up watching the last few Apollo launches,

it seems like only yesterday that man walked on the moon,

yet it is almost an entire lifetime away ...

Page Three ...

It's not racy, but it IS informative ... the page three interview in our local Wheat City Journal always highlights some one from the Brandon area and gives us a glimpse into their busy lives ... This week editor Lanny Stewart, chose one of his columnists to be the page three interviewee ...

Not sure why he chose me, other than I was available and willing ... but there you go !!

So, inspite of a couple of inaccuracies the article is not a bad piece of writing ... hopefully it serves as another step on my journey as a writer ... the print version begins with the comment: "Over the past few months the Journal has recieved numerous positive responses in regards to Shawn Ankenmann's monthly column. Considering he's becoming quite popular, the Journal decided that it was time to sit down with the man who writes about poverty issues here in Westman."

For the moment check it out yourself by clicking here - and it's not a bad picture of me either!!

And that's the way it is ...

.

Broadcast legend

Walter Cronkite

dead at

92

40 Years ago today ...

Forty years ago today, Neil, Buzz and Michael were in space and getting ready for a historic rendevouz with the Moon ...

It's surprising how little conversation there is about the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 that put a human footprint on a celestial body beyond Earth for the first time ... then again, there are those out there who said "It didn't happen ... it was faked in a soundstage ..." I like the interpretation on cbc radio earlier this week when someone noted that the if the Apollo programme was faked it's the GREATEST conspiracy of ALL time because there were tens of thousands of people involved in the creation of the rockets and equipment and one of them would have let the cat out of the bag by now ...

Ah, the wonders of technology and the human spirit set free ...

125 ...

Pte. Sébastien Courcy

from 2nd battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, based in Quebec City,

was killed in an incident that occurred approximately

17 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City at around 6 a.m.

thoughts and prayers for Courcy's family,

his friends, and his comrades,

Lest We Forget

Choices are made everyday ...

I enjoy the process of writing ... the contributions I have made, and continue to make to the Westman Parent magazine are a delight. The ongoing column that I write for the Wheat City Journal remains an enjoyable experience.

This past week, my latest contribution to the Journal made its appearance. To check it out - click here: Poverty Issues: 'choices' are made everyday.

Raise a Double-Double !!

This one is for Katie, friend and fellow blogger over at "At the Half Note" ...

In today's headlines, it is reported OVER and OVER and OVER, that the Canadian Institution Tim Hortons - a ubiquitous presence throughout Canada, including FOUR locations here in Brandon - is opening 12 locations in New York City ... 10 in Manhattan, and 2 in Brooklyn.

The CTV story is here - "Timmie's Takes Manhattan"

Come on Katie - track down one of the locales and hoist a Double-double and a maple dipped for us, and let us know if our Canadian Institution is up to snuff for the New York crowds ...

Prime Ministerial Files ... entry 2,749

Gee, Stephen Harper is caught ROLLING his eyes during the Memorial Service for former Governor General Romeo LeBlanc, then for some INEXPLICABLE reason Mr Harper not only goes forward during the Mass when communion is being served - HE TAKES THE WAFER and apparently DOESN'T consume it ...

The first question is WHY ??? Why did you take the wafer Mr Harper ??? Do your aides NOT comprehend nor understand Catholic Theology?? Were you NOT briefed on proper etiquette in a Catholic Church when Mass is Celebrated??

The second question is - WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO WITH THE HOST Mr Harper???? You shouldn't have taken it in the first place, and if you did where did it go??? Did you pocket it like various media outlets are maintaining??? (A huge NO NO), or did you eat it out of camera range - again a no no on two front - one is as a non-Catholic, you shouldn't be partaking of the MASS (all theological debates aside for the moment) and if you walked away from the altar, and ate it later that's NOT OKAY either ...

Mr Harper - you really need to get better staff, and you really, really, really need to work on your sensitivity to others ... You put yourself in a no win situation here Mr Harper, and right now your excuses offered via your staff sound pretty lame ...

What happened to the Wafer Mr Harper ????

Watch the video, and read the debate below:

Huffington Post

CBC

CTV

and NOW the video ...

And now we return to our regular programming ...

I LOVED the video for Thriller.

I know the words to most of his songs.

I will admit that I like some of his songs ...

.

BUT ... his music was NOT part of the SOUNDTRACK to my life ... I am NOT a fan ... and I found the last twenty years of his life and his bizarre behaviour troubling ...

.

I was saddened by his death, but it didn't really affect me personally ... he was and is simply another dead celebrity.

.

I WILL however admit that I was and remain DISGUSTED by the circus that surrounds his death ... he was not a "great humanitarian", he was not responsible for the election of Barak Obama, he was not the most original and impressive musician of all time, and he is NOT on par with the likes of Jesus, Gandhi or Martin Luther King ... Michael Jackson was nothing more than a singer and entertainer who was obviously deeply troubled ...

.

Today, I fear for his children being under the "control" of his parents ... Joe and Katherine did such a good job raising their own kids, I'm sure they'll do a fabulous job NOW raising thier grandkids ...

.

My one prayer is that Michael may finally be able to find the peace in death that eluded him so completely in life ...

.

In the meantime, I found an article on line this morning that summarizes many of my thoughts about the last couple of weeks ... from CTV.ca, Josh Visser notes:

.

But here's the rub: Three weeks ago, Jackson was seen by most people as a joke at best; or another rich celebrity who got away with horrible crimes, at worst. ... There was only one Michael Jackson -- there wasn't a brilliant entertainer who existed until 1987 and then his freakish clone who dabbled in plastic surgery, and spent some his time showing, at best, incredibly poor judgment around children. ... You can choose to only remember his music -- in fact, you're probably best off for it. But let's not misremember his legacy, like we have for a dozen other artists. In life, Jackson won more accolades than any other artist in history, in death, he doesn't deserve any new ones created in our collective minds.

.

To read the complete article click here: Michael Jackson and the False Narrative Phenomenon

123 ... 124 ...

Cpl. Martin Joannette, 25, and Master Cpl. Patrice Audet, 38.

Audet served with the 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron,

and Joannette was with the 3e Bataillon, Royal 22e Regiment.

They died in a helicopter crash which injured three other

Canadians and one other coalition soldier was killed.

Thoughts and prayer for the families and comrades

of all involved.

Lest We Forget.

122...

Master Cpl. Charles-Philippe Michaud,

age 28,

from the 2nd Battalion,

Royal 22nd Regiment

based at

Canadian Forces Base Valcartier

died of his injuries

received when he stepped on a mine

on June 23rd while serving in Afghanistan.

Thoughts and prayers for his

comrades, his family,

and for those who gave him care

since his wounding ...

Lest We Forget !!

Lunch time observations ...

Today at lunch we stopped at a popular fast food outlet and ordered our meals ... Ms H ordered a chicken caesar salad, while Noahkila and I ordered various burgers, fries and beverages. During the meal, Ms H picked up the package of croutons that came with her salad and looked at the best before date on the back.

It read: "DEC2209"

Ms. H asked - "does DEC2209 mean December 22nd 2009? or December in the year 2209?"

Looking at Noahkila and back to her, I answered, "I honestly don't know, but given what we've heard about the food at McD's either one is a possibility ..."

Happy Fourth of July !!!

To my American Friends and readers,
I offer a

Happy 4th of July Greeting to all of you,

This year with 'Prez Obama in da house'

seems remarkably hopeful

compared to the last 8

4th of July's we've marked ...

ENJOY!!!

Garden Update ...

As Canada Day drew to a close my garden looked lush and green,

we've already enjoyed a bounty of lettuce,

the radishes are almost ready to pick,

the rhubarb (planted this spring) has enough for a PIE,

and the potatoes are about to open their lovely white blossoms ...

All in all, the garden is doing very very well.

Below is the "annex" of potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and squash,

planted next to the main garden patch - it too is doing very very well !!

This morning ...

I awoke suddenly from a restless sleep ...

My first conscious thought was - "what a dream ..."

Then I wondered what genius came up with the thought of putting the kids' camp "Camp Wannakumbac" on an old ferry. There was LOTS and LOTS of room, comfie accomodations, and no worries about the weather ...

Then I thought - "how the hell did they get that old BC Ferry from Vancouver to Clear Lake Manitoba in the first place??"

121 ...

Cpl Nick Bulger,

age 30,

father of two,

died in Afghanistan

when an

IED

Improvised Explosive Device,

denonated under the armoured vehicle

he was travelling in.

Also in the convoy was the Canadian Commander

of the NATO Task Force in Kandhar,

he was uninjured but rightly called IEDs

"the refuge of the cowardly"

For Cpl Bulger, his family, and his comrades

in the 3rd Battalion,

Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry,

based out of CFB Edmonton,

particularly the 5 injured in this attack,

we offer our thoughts and prayers.

Lest we Forget.

Two From Shatner ...

.
These two are HILARIOUS ... Shatner doesn't even take himself seriously ... the first, a late contribution to the Canada Day celebration ... the second has Shatner "honouring" George Lucas.
Enjoy.

And this ends our Broadcasting Day ...

As a fabulous Canada Day draws to a close ... a day spent gardening, biking, b-b-q-ing, and watching fireworks from the street in front of my house ... I can think of no better way to say - HAPPY CANADA DAY, then to sign off at 11:59 CST with the old CBC O Canada video that ended the Broadcast day on the venerable old mother corp ... hope everyone had a happy and wonderful day ... I DID !!!!

The curtain falls on another legend ...

.

Cue the theme music to

Streets of San Francisco ...

... actor Karl Malden has died at the age of 97.

His cv is nothing short of impressive,

he was recongizable, distinctive,

and very very talented.

Rest in Peace Mr. Malden,

you had quite a career.

(cbc.ca - Karl Malden dies at 97)