To Do List

I am a list-y person. I make lists. I get this from my mother, and my pal Laura constantly makes fun of my lists, but then goes and makes them herself. A good list makes life so much easier.

Today's To-Do List:

1. Deal with Global Warming.
I am enjoying the warmer winter as much as the next guy who's not a fan of the season, but seriously - there is something really wrong. I would call myself a practical environmentalist*. So when I arrived this morning, I was given a task that could have implications for how we deal with climate change. I was having a garbage morning, and so after seeing some super cute photos of an adorable one year old, changing the course of our response to climate change was just the ticket. The letter that was part of the package said, "Debate Over. It's Time to Save the Planet". I wonder if Mr. Harper and Ms. Ambrose are listening...

2. Go to a meeting about some kind of partridge.
The possibilities for fun are ENDLESS. I'm sure it will be about saving the bird and thus item #2 goes hand in hand with item #1.

3. Complete House Question.
This HAS to be done! I've been procrastinating too long.

4. Phone Laura for lunch.
It's Wednesday! *ties string around finger so as not to forget*

5. Michael Wilson
Today I'm going to try to not freak out too hard about Michael Wilson possibly being the next Ambassador to the US. It's ironic that Harper would choose a guy who brought IN the GST to be the most high profile appointee of this Administration. I mean, considering that Harper wants to CUT the GST...this shows a lack of commitment to me. Harper is obviously willing to throw out his ideals for patronage, and this culture of entitlement has obviously permeated ALL parties. I have no faith. I think I need to spend some time in the depths of federal political despair before figuring out what should be done next. I don't think I even have any solid ideas right now. Sigh.

6. Try not to swear as much.
My mum complimented me on my blog with the caveat that I swear too much. Therefore, I will try to not cuss. Let's see how long it lasts...ready, set, GO!

*Practical environmentalism = being protective of and concerned about the environment to a large extent personally but also realizing that the majority of the population doesn't want to relieve their dependence on fossil fuels. Understanding that this is an uphill battle, it means being supportive of solutions that are long-term and practical in nature so as to achieve larger goals.

In Other News...
My kid didn't make me a valentine yesterday and I was crushed. I got offered some chocolate kisses yesterday not the dirty kind. Phooey! and didn't accept because my pants were too big and that was nice. However, I arrived at the office this morning to find a lovely wee giftie, of the e-mail sort, from a dear man who made me feel better. Oh, and did you know that Valentine's Day isn't a made-up holiday? It's history actually goes back thousands of years. I learned that on Gilmore Girls last night and we all know that Rory doesn't lie.

The Olympics have really geared up. Our Hockey Chix are really going at it YAY! and I have to give a slap on the back to Beckie Scott. The girl really came through with her partner in yesterday's cross-country and got a silver. Atta girl!

In men's figure staking (not finger painting!), Canadian men are lost in the wilderness. Although I think this new cat, Shawn Sawyer, could really be something one day, I'm terribly disappointed in Jeffrey Buttle (choker) and Emmanuel Sandhu. The latter is such a head case and is so ridiculously inconsistent I don't know how e gets on the team anymore. Where are our Kurt Brownings and Elvis Stojkos?

In skiing, my pal Bode was DQ'd and thus some other American won the combined. I'm so diappointed for Bode. He was doing so well. I just love him because he's such a nice combination of country and rock 'n roll. He's not one of those frozen Norwegians who dno't smile. He's got character!

Re: The Western Standard Cartoon Debacle:

I'm getting very tired of having to walk on eggshells around fundamentalists. I don't care if you're Muslim, Christian or MARTIAN, I cannot abide fundamentalism. Reactivity does not promote being taken seriously, people. In this particular case - If you want to change how people view your religion and the people who practice it, then do it peacefully, STOP KILLING OTHER PEOPLE and freaking out like you've just spent a month on meth. Don't burn flags - it's disrespectful and two wrongs don't make a right. Don't cause others to worry about their security - you know how much YOU don't like being insecure. Don't shout and wave guns in the street - that's how people get killed and those images on TV just make you seem C. R. A. Z. Y. And no one pays attention to crazy people.

What are the other ways of protesting, you ask? Write pointed letters to the editor of papers who published the cartoons. They'll get published. Demand the firing of the artist. Don't complain to your government, rather meet with the Ambassador in your country and express your disappointment. There's a system in place for this sort of thing - use it. But remember that we have freedom of the press here and we value it.

While on the topic of fundamentalism, I should say a few words about other kinds. Fundamentalism of all kinds seeks to do one thing - change the system to their advantage without the consent of the citizenry. Look at the US - Evangelicals are 70 million down there - hardly a majority. Yet these fundamentalists have had huge influence on everything from foreign policy and judicial appointees to marriage to death support to what age kids can start having sex with each other.

Forcing opinions on others is BAD. Progress is GOOD.

Tralalalala, that's it.