Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, and without prejudice or consideration, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the secular practices or religious persuasion of your choice, with respect for the secular/religious persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice secular or religious traditions at all; and also my wishes for a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2017 CE (Common Era), but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make Canada a great cultural mosaic, (not to imply that Canada is necessarily a greater cultural mosaic than any other country or is the only nation with a cultural mosaic), and without regard to the gender, nationality, race, creed, colour, age, height, weight, intelligence, voting preference, physical ability, food preference, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
By accepting this greeting, you also accept and agree to these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher. The wisher accepts no responsibility for any unintended emotional and/or physical discomfort, disruption, or stress these greetings may bring to those not subject to societally sanctioned or unsanctioned seasonal emotions, beliefs or traditions.
Saw the movie Lone Survivor tonight. I can only describe it in one word – Intense.
The movie is based on a true story, and the SEAL team in this movie took a hell of a beating and the ending paid a nice tribute to the actual members of the team. Classy.
Having done 11 years of military service, most of it in the Military police, but also including some infantry time and some reserve artillery time, and having worked in some nasty places, I have the utmost respect for the guys who do the combat missions – anywhere.
I can honestly say I am glad I never went to Afghanistan, and particularly happy not in a combat role. It made me extremely happy to have spent most of my career as a REMF.
Rating? 3 1/2 stars out of 4. Action scenes were intense, the score was very good and relevant, the day-to-day issues faced by troops in the field were very real. Definitely worth spending the money to see on the big screen.
Whatever you think about Che, his story is an interesting one! To quote the FilmPix site:
The name still resonates forty years after his death. Perhaps more than any other individual, Che Guevara personifies an era: the sixties, a time when revolution was in the air. His hold over the collective imagination is arguably as powerful as it was when he was alive.
November 26, 1956; led by Fidel Castro (Demian Bichir), a band of 80 rebels sails to Cuba. Among these young rebels is Argentine physician, Marxist, soldier, Ernesto “Che” Guevara (Benicio Del Toro). Nation-less, strapped for resources and fueled only by determination, the group engages in swift, bloody battle to free the Cuban people from the corrupt dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Che and his soldiers wrestle the nation’s resources and affection from Batista’s grasp. Though considered a hero by some, Che becomes a hugely controversial figure. At the height of his fame and power, he disappears. Entering South America incognito, Che recruits another band of guerilla fighters in the harsh Bolivian jungles.
So, seeing as how by becoming 42, I will become the answer to the question of the meaning of life, the universe, and everything, Nadine colluded with Chris and Karen to organize a small Douglas Adams birthday dinner for me!
Just like Arthur Dent, I was in my robe, given a towel, and told “Don’t Panic”! 😉
There in my hand is an example of an Earth-bound Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster!
The menu from the Restaurant at the End of the Universe!
The menu and spread of food served at Milliway’s, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe!
Here I am, working on my second Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster… 😉
Zaphod Beeblebrox, Galactic president and inventor of the drink, was the only known person who could drink 3 of them in one sitting, so I consider myself of sturdy stock! 😉
Good thing, since many potential employers already look online for dirt
Of course, this part:
“The days of getting drunk and getting all your pictures posted online,
that’s gone,” he said.
obviously hasn’t resonated with some of my students who still seem to think that the picture with them holding two beers, a cigarette, and three members of the opposite sex is the best profile shot for them! 🙂
So, my last few posts have shown the difference between the North and the South of the province over the Easter weekend, which also happened to correspond with the first few days of Spring this year. I just thought I would show a direct comparison of the North and the South, at the exact same time, with a difference of less than 300 kilometres distance between each place (about 200 miles for the metrically challenged out there)
Bathurst (North)
Now, we have Saint John (South). Only ~250 – 300 kilometres away.
Here is the map, showing Bathurst at the North and Saint John at the South. I very crudely highlited the two locations and the route we took to get there and back.
Players on the winning teams of the NHL’s Stanley Cup are each permitted to take the cup for one day wherever they want. The Niedermayer brothers are a couple of good old Canadian boys who both play for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, last year’s champions. Here are a couple of videos showing what they did during their days with the cup.
OK, if I were asked what I wanted to do if I had the Stanley Cup for a day, this would rank right up there! The last couple of minutes is the best!
