Busy, busy, busy

July 17, 2008 at 10:32 PM (gardening, heirloom tomatoes, random stuff)
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So far this summer is flying by. My sister and her hubs are here now from Vienna, and we’ve been having a great visit. Played a few board games, the kids are behaving, went to the beach, downtown Ottawa (the market and of course I indulged in some fabulous deals at the International Cheese shop – Wow!) Emma bought herself a little dream catcher (she has always coveted mine!), and we indulged in poutine, shwarmas and beaver tails! What can I say!

Today we drove up to Gatineau Park and spent the day at Lac Phillippe. It was fantastic! The water was great for swimming, there were very few other people, we had a delicious picnic (I did not eat a whole wheel of Camembert –only almost!) and the kids made a few friends beachside, so they were occupied and not bugging us for attention. Went for a swim at the pool tonight after we got home cause I didn’t get in enough swimming today and I skipped it yesterday. I have to do penance for the poutine and camembert, obviously!!

We are also in the midst of an Ikea do it yourself type of kitchen reno. The house looks like a cyclone hit (what else is new? It actually always looks like that!). I’ll try to take some before and after pics, and post (if we survive the reno!)

We will be heading off to North Bay in a bit, to visit Todd’s mom, and then soon after my parents will be coming to visit again. Then off to Silent Lake.

The garden is growing like crazy, tomatoes all over the place, although none appear to be even close to starting to color up yet, except for my old Galina-that’s-not-really-Galina-but-some-kind-of-cross, which is still putting out tomatoes. So far, the leader in tomato production and plant growth is a Cannabec Rose, that Kathy, from the fabulous blog Iwetmyplants, gave me. Looks like it might be a real winner in my garden this year!

Lots of lettuce, and a few accidental-out-of-the-compost zucchinis that I didn’t have the heart to pull, because we actually love bbq’d Zukes, but I forgot to plant any this year so why look a gift Zuke in the mouth? Quite a few raspberries now to, according to my little taste tester! The black and the reds, which are apparently very tasty, both.

Well, hopefully things will slow down when we come back from Silent Lake, and I’ll have some pics of some gorgeous tomatoes ripening up.

2 Comments

In the name of security…

July 8, 2008 at 10:35 AM (Random Political Thoughts, random stuff)

KissMyRobot

A thought provoking, well written blog that touches on various issues surrounding our use of technology.  Some times we are too acquiescent and accepting, as a society, to the restrictions on our freedom and rights, and to the prying eyes who want to classify and document our movements, all in the name of security.  I have to say we need to do some serious thinking about where we are headed.

Driving back from Hamilton, Todd and I briefly touched on it.  It’s hard for me to put into words what I think.  But I’ll try.

We have never been more free, (most of this applies to the First World, such as we are).  In the past centuries, humanity was always under the yoke of someone or something.  The Roman Empire, the Church, the Noblemen, the Royalty, you get the picture.  It’s only in the last few centuries that society has somewhat liberated itself, and now everyone is free to be who they are, supposedly.  Which is why I find it so disturbing when we give up our freedom, like good little sheep, in the name of security.  Security from what?  For what?  All the politicians have to do, whenever someone questions these restrictrions, is shout ‘9-11′, or ‘Al-Quaida’,  ‘Osama Bin Laden’, ‘Terrorists’ and the questionner will look foolish in everyones’ eyes.

Now how many spy-bots do you think will pick up those words I just used?  Especially cause they’re all in the same sentence.  Think the RCMP or Homeland Security will check it out?  Wait, isn’t one outfit Canadian and one American?  Not really anymore.  It’s called ‘collaboration’.  It is  becoming more dangerous to even question the government’s actions, and believe it, you are being watched.  Sounds paranoid, doesn’t it?  That’s the unfortunate part.  I don’t think it is anymore.  I think it is true.  And I did a Google search on the spelling of Osama Bin Laden.   Bet that was picked up too.

Look how easy it was for the Canadian government to put people under security certificates.  Quote:

“Amnesty International believes that the security certificate process falls far short of international standards for fair trials and may result in arbitrary detention and violation of the right to liberty. Detainees are effectively denied their right to prepare a defence and mount a meaningful challenge to the lawfulness of their detention. The right to appeal is also denied. This lack of due process has further grave consequences given that security certificates are frequently applied in cases where the likely outcome is deportation to a country where the person is at serious risk of torture and other human rights violations.”

But it doesn’t apply to Canadian citizens so many people are not concerned.  That is the slippery slope.  It’s only a matter of time.

Anyway, back to KissMyRobot, I’d like to quote one quick little sentence, in reference to Orwell’s book, 1984, that kind of sums things up:

“we, humans, have read the book and thought “Cool, let’s do that!” rather than “Crap, that’s some scary stuff. Let’s steer clear.”

Need I say more?

KissMyRobot Go read it.

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