Well, as hoped (by Canadians), the Canadian team of junior players won the World Junior Championships of Hockey.   But it was a surprise that the score was 5-0 against the team from Russia.  Actually, it should have been 5-1.  But nobody, including the Russians realized the puck had entered the net.  It wasn't until someone at one of the TV stations thought to take a look and low and behold, the puck had briefly crossed the goal line. 

 

In Canada, we have an election going on.  The vote takes place January 23.  As a democratic society, it is the responsibility of each citizen to exercise their right to learn as much as possible about the issues and go vote for a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them before the federal government.  My good friend, Danny from Montreal was in town this week and we had a good discussion regarding the issues.  We agreed on many things and probably had a few different points of view on other issues.  However, one thing that came to light, we agreed that we were both concerned (discussed would be a more blunt term) with the state of politics in Canada in general.   For one, we are constantly asked which leader would we vote for.  The truth of the matter is, we vote for none of the above.   We vote for an MP.  The party with the most MPs voted in, forms the government.  The other parties, form the opposition, who's job is to CONSTRUCTIVELY criticize policies put forward by the governing party.  So during the election campaign, the job of the people running for office is to put forward the issues and reveal where they stand with each issue.  We the electorate should then vote for the person who will best represent the view we want to take.  However, this no longer happens in Canada.  We see a bunch of grown adults take personal pot shots at each other.  They sometimes act like a bunch of five year olds in a rumble.  At least they don't physically beat each other up.   One survey asked  what we would rather have in government.  Good ethics or a good economy.   My reply (and Danny's too), would be why can't we have both?  Why is ethics, morality, economy etc all mutually exclusive?  I want it all.  I want a government which is ethical, moral, and develops good policies to create a good economy, education system and healthand medical system that is affordable for its citizens that need it.  The "that need it" part is rather important because there are those that take advantage of the system also. 

 

Here's my blunt statement regarding the state of politics in Canada.   I am discussed by some of the policies of our current government.  That does not mean they haven't done any good.  The economy is pretty good.  I have a job and pay my bills and taxes.  However, the government has let other issues slip.  Our justice system is a joke.  I find it ludicrous that an MP can "lose it" and go steal from a jewellry store.  But since he did other great things for the country, he gets a suspended sentence.  A few year later, he runs for government.  There is such a thing as tolerance, and a forgiving society.  However, there is also something called accountablity and responsibility.  As a victim of a crime, I find it a sham that somebody who steals my car and uses it to commit robberies gets no jail time and is put on 6 months probation.  In the meantime, nothing taken from me is returned.  The fixing of the car comes out of MY insurance policy and our justice system sent a myriad of "Victim impact" surveys.  Seems, the victim is treated as the criminal.  Why doesn't government do anything about that????

 

In Canada, there is an issue regarding government corruption.  That is the excuse the opposition used to bring down the government and have this early election called.  I have an issue with that.  For one, the facts have not all been revealed in the inquiry yet.  Also, I do not believe the other parties would be less corrupt.  The election is one week away.   I have yet to meet or receive any information on the people running for government in MY riding.  Who are they?  Who is Nancy Clegg?  Where does she come from?  What is her background?  If I were to apply for a consulting job, I am required to submit for a criminal record check.  Have any of those running in my riding done so? I have the same questions for Suk Dahliwal, and whoever the Conservative person is. 

 

Incidently, my previous MP was Gurmant Grewal.  The guy who went into a Liberal MP's office to covertly tape a conversation and make it look like the Liberal government was corrupt.  For one, I did not vote for Mr. Grewal.  As I recall, the boundaries were redrawn AFTER the election.  He got parachuted in.  My issue with Mr. Grewal was his response to my inquiry regarding why I was charged customs duties on a cell phone that I owned by being sent back from outside of the country.   I had also made the inquiry to the courier company that arbitrarily "performed the service".  The courier company called me back after they found out I had called my MP.  The courier company directed me to a form I should fill out to get refunded.  On the form, there is a condition that says the refund had to be applied for within 90 days.  I received a letter from Mr. Grewal's office ONE YEAR after my inquiry directing me to go look for the form on the government website somewhere. 

 

That is the state of government in Canada.  The government no longer represent the people.  The people just throw money at the government and the people run and hide.  Who should I vote for?   It is my democratic responsibility to vote.  

 

I told the surveyor that if there was a Parti Quebecois candidate in my riding (I do NOT live in Quebec), I might just vote for that candidate.

 

Oh....I've added a new link.  Cheesecakes Etc has been around for almost 30 years.  It has been one of my favorite dessert places in Vancouver since I went to school.  Mike, the owner still find joy sitting at the piano and playing jazz and singing for his customers.  If you're visiting Vancouver and like cheesecake, the light fluffy variety, I recommend you pay a visit to Cheesecakes Etc.

 

 

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay...it's 2006.  We got through Christmas and New Years and everybody's back to work.  2006 looks to be as uncertain as the beginning of 2005.  But hey, that's how life is.  We just need to be thankful for each day we have enough food on the table, a good roof over our heads and friends and family whom we love.  Special prayers to a few of my friends who find themselves dealing with some health issues (like cancer).  I'll probably have some thoughts on that in a future entry.

 

We had an open house on New Years Day.  Almost every Christmas card we sent out had an invite to it.  Actually, we have an open house annually during the Christmas season except last year, where I became a bachelor as my family went overseas to the Philippines to attend a wedding.   But this year, we invited a lot of people.   It was good to see some friends we haven't seen in years.  There are a lot of people who have influenced my life since childhood and as we get older, have families of our own and have mortgages to pay, we just don't have the time to devote to friends.  So that's why we have an open house.  One way to just keep in touch.  Those who came, I'm glad you came.  If we didn't get to talk to you much, I hope you enjoyed the food and met new friends or reconnected with others.  Hope to see you sometime again during 2006...maybe drop by and we can throw a steak on the barbeque or something.

 

The World Junior Hockey Championships was in Vancouver this year too.   I saw two games.  Both involving team USA.  I must say, the games certainly were exciting and entertaining.  By the time you read this, you will have noted that Team USA failed in their quest to win the bronze metal.  That's a shame as this year's edition certainly had the talent.  I feel they just didn't have the maturity as a team to finish the game and not lose composure even when behind.  I hope the player learn from this and carry the lessons learned into their NHL careers.  In the 1/4 final game against Czechoslovakia, the Czech team certainly had the better skaters and they were a joy to watch.  But team USA had the better shooters and you have to shoot to score.  Against Russia and Finland, I felt team USA lost their composure when they fell behind.  Even against Canada, when the final goal was scored, there was no need for the late hits.  Maybe in the NHL where playoffs are 7-game series, you need to make a statement when you lose.  But the World Junior Championships is not the NHL. 

 

Having said that, I have gained utmost respect for Jack Johnson of team USA.  Jack was the guy who may have lost some composure in his game against Canada and caused the locals to go a bit nuts over a late hit on a Team Canada player.   Actually, I feel it was the media that caused the frenzy.   It was fun joining in with the boo birds in the 1/4 final game against the Czech team everytime Jack touched the puck.  But enough is enough.  Jack proved he has the skills to be a great player one day.  Great speed, a good shot and rarely got beat in his defense zone coverage as a defenseman.  He also took a few hits for his team.  At the end, he saluted the crowd, a class act.  I couldn't help but think what poetic justice it would have been if the Vancouver Canucks had drafted him or if Vancouver trades for him in the future.   Alas, he will be playing for Carolina. At the time of this writing the gold metal game of Canada vs Russia had just started so no comments on that game just yet.

 

I have no major goals this year except maybe find time to fix old things that are broken.  Over Christmas, our refridgerator started singing in baratone every time the blower fan under the freezer came on.  Actually, it did it in the summer too and also in the summer 2004.  Having taken the fridge apart, I decided I really was not going to spend $1000+ on a new refridgerator when all the problem is is the fan motor bearing wearing out.  The motor probably couldn't cost more than $20 for the part.  I called Lorenzo, who service my washer and dryer timer a couple of years ago and he suggested I start by defrosting the "frost free" fridge.  I said I did that already.  Even lubricated the motor with lithium grease.  But it only keeps the motor quiet for 2 days.  So Lorenzo is coming over this weekend to put in a new motor.  Oh, Lorenzo and Eddy have pretty reasonable rates for servicing appliances.  Until the compressor actually goes, I don't see any reason why I need to buy a new refridgerator.   For the record, two years ago, the pump on our washer broke and lorenzo put a new one in and checked over the rest of the washer.   Total cost, about $110 (CDN).  Sure beats spending $600 for a new washer with complicated electronics in it but doesn't do anything different.

 

Til next time.