SaggyBalls

Got a little tickle?

"Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world, despite its mineral wealth, according to the British charity Plan UK. The country hosts large refugee populations from neighboring Liberia and Ivory Coast." I think military coup is the least of their worries. I don't mind the snow here...even when it is wet and crappy.

I think it's pretty hilarious how Harper's finally throwing his lumbering weight around before the end of the year but it's unfortunate that he feels the need to overexplain himself and make excuses for his motions. It's pretty ridiculous to have to apease people by telling them things are going terribly. Hey SS - you sure are in a beautiful part of the country to be snowed in on your own at Christmas. I have a snow tube. I kinda wish I had some super hills around my house. Got onto any cardboard boxes and into any whiskey this winter?

I'm playing through my Yamaha BBT500 110. At it's a 250W 1x10 rig (which drives that little speaker around like it was Miss Daisy on a bender) but I'm finding the driver hisses like crazy so it's almost always off. I think the trip COULD be in the works...I'll def. be in touch about that ASAP. Anybody coming from East of Toronto?

you gotta play WITH PEOPLE.

You guys are fantastic. It's definitely a white christmas this year.

Thanks, Gateaux. I'm glad someone finally said it. I won! I'm stuck in the country and my amp FINALLY got here from the West Coast, so I definitely need something to make my synth bubble. I have no phaser. Happy Holidays!!

Sweeeet! Thanks for the well wishes. There's only about a half a day left. Fingers crossed that the other people watching it are gonna be busy with holiday obligations. Oh so much tweeker fun.

"Questioning his sanity for creating Celine Dion" Is the personification of God not one of the highest forms of blasphemy? Does God have sanity? This would presume that God has a mind or a conscience. I think this is more like a thread about people than God. Don't let the title distract you like the word God distracts most people. Seems to me that this is a thread about making sense of how entirely baffled we are and how we notice how others are both baffled and how we feel they're misunderstanding so much existence as we see it from an outsider's view. What the hell is this thread about? I don't know if i know anymore.

This fuckwad likes kitties and acts as a foster parent for the Ottawa Humane Society. If you want to adopt Tigger, an 11 year old neutered male - call the Humane Society. Name: Tigger Species: cat Breed: domestic shorthair Colour: gray tabby Gender: male (neutered) Age: 11 years City: Ottawa, Ontario URL: www.ottawahumane.ca E-mail: adoptions@ottawahumane.ca Contact: (613) 725-3166 ext. 258 aww...kitties.

Backgrounder - List of new Senators 22 December 2008 Ottawa, Ontario Newfoundland and Labrador Fabian Manning has dedicated his career to serving Newfoundlanders and Labradorians at all three levels of government. A three term councilor in the town of St. Brides, Mr. Manning served as coordinator for the Cape Shore Area Development Association for three years. Mr. Manning would go on to win three elections to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly as the representative for Placentia – St. Mary’s. Mr. Manning was subsequently elected as Member of Parliament in the federal constituency of Avalon in the 2006 Federal Election campaign. Mr. Manning would go on to chair both the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans as well as the Conservative Government’s Atlantic caucus. Nova Scotia Fred Dickson, QC is both one of Nova Scotia’s most respected lawyers and one of Canada’s top legal experts on offshore resource development. Mr. Dickson is counsel with the law firm of McInnes Cooper. Mr. Dickson has advised the federal and provincial government’s on numerous resource and infrastructure projects, including serving as an advisor to the Government of Nova Scotia during the singing of the 1982 and 1985 Canada / Nova Scotia Offshore Oil and Gas Agreements. Mr. Dickson remains active in these files as a Director of the Offshore / Onshore Technologies Association of Nova Scotia and Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships. Stephen Greene has political and policy experience at both the federal and provincial levels. Mr. Greene served as Chief of Staff in the Leader’s Office of the Reform Party of Canada from 1993 and 1996 during which he helped manage the opposition response to the national unity and fiscal issues of the day. He went on to work as the Executive Director of the Insurance Brokers Association of Nova Scotia. For the past two years he has served as Principal Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff to Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald with wide responsibilities to help the Premier administer an effective government for all Nova Scotians. Michael L. MacDonald is a Nova Scotia businessman who since 1988 has been the owner and President of Fleur de Lis Motel Ltd. Mr. MacDonald had previously served terms as executive assistant to two federal cabinet ministers and the premier of Nova Scotia. A graduate of the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University, Mr. MacDonald has been an activist and volunteer with the federal and provincial Conservative parties since university, and is presently Vice-President of the Conservative Party of Canada and a two-term representative for Nova Scotia on the party’s national executive. A native of Louisbourg, Mr. MacDonald is a long-time resident of Dartmouth where he resides with his wife and two teenaged sons. Prince Edward Island Michael Duffy is one of Canada's most well known and respected news personalities and the current host of CTV's daily program, Mike Duffy Live. Mr. Duffy joined CBC Radio News in 1974, switched to CBC TV’s “The National†in 1978, and joined CTV in 1988. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Mr. Duffy is involved in a number of charitable activities both in Ottawa and in his home province, including the UPEI Building fund, and the current Holland College Foundation Fundraising campaign. He has been a visiting fellow at Duke University; and has been twice nominated for the “Best in the Business†award by the Washington Journalism Review. Mr. Duffy has received many other awards and citations, and honourary degrees from the University of PEI; from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, NY; and from Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford. New Brunswick Percy Mockler has been a long-time MLA in the New Brunswick legislature since he was first elected in 1982. During his time in the provincial legislature, Mr. Mockler served in a number of portfolio's including Minister of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Solicitor General and Minister of Human Resources Development and Housing. Mr. Mockler is a former advisory member for trade opportunities strategy with the federal Department of External Affairs. He has also been active in community affairs as treasurer of local fish and wildlife associations, a director of the caisse populaire, and as a member and chair of his local school board. John D. Wallace was born in Rothesay, NB and had a distinguished law career in Saint John. Most recently, he served for 7 years as Partner/Counsel at the law firm of Stewart McKelvey. Previously he had been Corporate Counsel for Irving Oil Limited and a Partner at Palmer, O’Connell, Leger, Turnbull and Turnbull. Mr. Wallace continued his community service after retiring from law. He is a Member of the University of New Brunswick Board of Governors, the St. John Imperial Theatre Capital Campaign Cabinet and the New Brunswick Symphony Steering Committee. Mr. Wallace was the Telegraph-Journal Male Newsmaker of the Year in 2002 and became a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003. Quebec Patrick Brazeau is a member of the Algonquin Nation and a citizen of the Indian reserve of Kitigan Zibi, near Maniwaki, Quebec. A champion of the rights of Aboriginals, in 2006, he was chosen as the National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. He used this forum to promote the economic and social development of Aboriginals, especially those who live off-reserve. Mr. Brazeau has a black belt in karate and was a member of the Naval Reserve on HMCS Carleton, in Ottawa. Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis was born in Chicoutimi and studied at the École des Beaux-arts de Québec and at Laval University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in visual arts and a certificate in college education. She was a teacher at the regional school board Louis-Fréchette. In 1981, she became the first woman to be elected to the Municipal Council of the City of Sainte-Foy. She became active in federal politics and was elected as the MP for the riding of Louis-Hébert from 1984 to 1993. Ms. Fortin-Duplessis has always been involved in the community. During her career, she was a member of the board of the Alzheimer Society and the Fondation de l’Opéra de Québec, and she is a member of the Laval hospital and the Saint-Sacrement hospital foundations. More recently, she was a volunteer for the International Eucharistic Congress. Leo Housakos was born in Montreal and studied at Cégep Vanier and at McGill University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in arts, with a major in political science and history. In 1993, he co-founded the Montreal Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and is currently a Director of Via Rail Canada.Throughout his business career he has held important management positions in several companies, including Quadvision Consultants and Terrau. Mr. Housakos is married and is the father of two children. Michel Rivard studied in Quebec City and spent the most part of his professional life in public administration. He was President of the Corporation des maîtres entrepreneurs en réfrigération du Québec, then Mayor of Beauport from 1980 to 1984. Mr. Rivard was director of a number of organizations, and was President of the Executive Committee of the Communauté Urbaine de Québec. In 1994, he was elected at the Assemblée nationale as the MNA for Limoilou. He was Regional Delegate for the region of Quebec and parliamentary Assistant of the Minister responsible for the region of Quebec. Ontario Nicole Eaton has devoted much of her life to serving her community in varying degrees through her participation and leadership in a number of charitable organizations, foundations and the arts. Presently she is Director and Vice-Chair of St. Michael's Hospital Foundation, Director and Vice-Chair the National Ballet of Canada and Chair of the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. Previously, Ms Eaton has served in varying capacities on a number of other organizations, including the Royal Ontario Museum, the George R. Gardiner Museum, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the Stratford Festival of Canada. Ms Eaton is also a columnist for the newspaper the National Post and is co-author of two publications. Irving Gerstein, C.M., O. Ont is a businessman and corporate director. A Member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, Mr. Gerstein has been involved in politics for over 40 years, including service as Chair of the Conservative Fund Canada. He is an Honourary Director of Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto), having previously served as Chairman of the Board, Chairman Emeritus, and a director over a period of twenty-five years. He is a director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and a former Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization. Mr. Gerstein graduated from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University of Pennsylvania, and attended The London School of Economics. Saskatchewan Pamela Wallin, O.C., S.O.M is an award winning journalist whose career stretches back more than three decades. Ms. Wallin is most recognized from her time at CTV where she co-hosted Canada AM and later served as CTV’s Ottawa Bureau chief. Ms. Wallin would subsequently form her own production company Pamela Wallin Productions Inc. Ms. Wallin has remained active in public life as Chancellor of the University of Guelph and Senior Advisor on Canada-US relations to the President of the Americas Society and the Council of the Americas. In 2007, Prime Minister Harper appointed Ms. Wallin to the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan. Ms. Wallin has agreed to step down as Senator and submit her name as a candidate when Saskatchewan holds its first legislated Senate election. British Columbia Nancy Greene Raine, O.C., OBC was Canada’s female athlete of the last century by the Canadian Press and Broadcast News. She won gold and silver medals in alpine skiing at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics and overall World Cup titles in 1967 and 1968. Her total of 14 World Cup victories (including the Olympics) is still a Canadian record. During her nine-year career Nancy won a total of 17 Canadian Championship titles. Since retiring from active competition, she has worked to promote the sport and was instrumental in the early development of the Whistler-Blackcomb Resort. Since 1994 she has been Director of Skiing at Sun Peaks Resort and since 2005 she has been Chancellor of Thompson Rivers University. Ms. Green Raine is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of both Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame. Yonah Martin has deep roots in both Korean and Canadian heritage and has spent her life building bridges between different cultural communities in BC. Born in Seoul, South Korea, before immigrating to Canada 1972, Ms. Martin is the co-founder of the Corean Canadian Coactive (C3) society and has served on the Multicultural Advisory Council of BC, the Vancouver Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation, the Kateslem After School Club and the Coquitlam Festival Planners Network. Ms. Martin has also been active in political life as a candidate in the constituency of New Westminster-Coquitlam. In 2004 Ms. Martin received ‘Spirit of Community’ award for her service in the Tri-Cities Area. Richard Neufeld has spent close to two decades in public service to the people of British Columbia. First elected to represent the riding of Peace River North in 1991, Mr. Neufeld has been re-elected on three separate occasions. Since 2001 Mr. Neufeld has served as British Columbia’s Minister of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources. Mr. Neufeld has also served as the on the council of Fort Nelson, including five years as mayor. Prior to his involvement in public life, Mr. Neufeld owned and operated his own business. Yukon Hector Daniel Lang has made the Yukon his home for more than 50 years. Born in 1948 in Dawson Creek, BC, he moved with his family to Whitehorse where he completed high school, and later attended the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. First elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly in 1974, Mr Lang served 5 consecutive terms, retiring from the legislature in 1992. Over the course of his 18 years in elected office he was responsible for numerous Ministerial portfolios and later served in the opposition. Since 1992, Mr. Lang has worked as a Sales Associate in the Yukon Real Estate industry. Active in community affairs, he is currently the Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors for Yukon College. He has four children and three grandchildren, who reside in Whitehorse. Mr Lang presently lives in Whitehorse with his partner Valerie Hodgson, a local artist.

I'm bidding on a toy on eBay and i was hoping to get some Holiday Vibes so that 'Santa' will help me out by helping me win this on eBay Think of me when toasting good cheer?

"The pope said humanity needed to "listen to the language of creation" to understand the intended roles of man and woman. He compared behavior beyond traditional heterosexual relations as "a destruction of God's work." He also defended the Church's right to "speak of human nature as man and woman, and ask that this order of creation be respected." " Respecting and Obeying are two entirely different concepts. Poor old man. I feel kinda sorry for the guy.

"Only fable I've heard which kind of makes sense... " that story makes that fable make sense. I like it.

Should I get myself an early birthday present? something to ponder.

"I also hope The Phish play Bluesfest and that they do an after-show that I find out about, which I will post about knowing on here but I wont post any of the needed details just so I can watch all you hippies bitch and moan how you arent invited. " I'll probably get back from my crazy vacation somewhere and have an even better understanding of why I had such a great time when I thought about all the people I used to hang our with from time to time - but knowing they always make the most for themselves anyway. Phish is something that I always felt apart from but so very close to. Phish don't have to be anything but themselves. Ambient jams, deep grooves, anthemic release. I've heard some of the most amazing musical moments but been the most let down by Phish in the same show. Had I been there I wouldn't be able to fast forward or rewind. Everything's gonna be just fine. Maybe they'll tour with other bands. That'd be a better new approach than playing Bonnaroo. An acoustic phish tour, headlining grass roots festivals Phish Plus Guests tour Free concerts Concerts for significant causes. More ways to recreate the Vibrations of Life sonic therapies, treatment etc... They could affect a significant part of the populace with their sound and lights if they brought everyone together again. I know I'd check it out.

come on...eat the apple.

Not if it feels forced.

i'm not always the most effective communicator... I am happy that you are looking to discuss rather than just say how messed up prople are cause of their blind faith. Just cause you commit to a position doesn't mean you can't divorce it. but discussion's probably a lot safer than debate.

" It is situations like this that make me wish StoneMtn still played on the board more frequently." I think if he were online as much as he was he'd probably be neglecting his family. I don't think he's a faith healer...well I know i felt healed whenever I visited him in Whistler...slightly faith-related, but it doesn't really apply here.

AWESOME! I think you're one of the very few people that would even consider that approach - which although entirely unfortunate and disengaging - is probably better in the long run. After all, what the fuck is there to [color:red]debate Well, what is there that is entirely pressing and important? Entirely unfortunate situation though and any want for 'discussion' stems from the fact that I'd hate for it to all snowball on us. So I suppose it might be useful to look at the bigger picture to really get any significant answers and insights in a discussion like this. Wish I could have all the answers but I'm also glad that I don't...blissful ignorance? well almost. I suppose that recognizing that there could be pitfalls isn't really ignorant... ...but blindly brushing aside the issue of a dead child ...or blindly thinking it's entirely neglect The news clip wasn't much of a story to really be able to make a solid decision on. So what do we have? the issue of a family's right to tend to itself and bring itself up freely the issue of neglect and abuse the issue of religious freedoms the issue of societal norms and how people feel the need to homogenize, especially in times of great sadness knee jerk reactions highly publicized cases and how politicians so quickly latch onto these causes (has it happened yet on this one?) I'm sure there are far more...that could work themselves out of each one of THESE issues.

I'm not walking anywhere, D. To be fair, nobody has asserted that this is an issue of 'ownership' of a person, merely parenting.

My mom makes the best beef liver. She soaks it in milk (which i found out later, reacts with the liver and takes a lot of edge off of it...she was a bit suprised to find out...) then dusts it in flour then fries it in butter (with a bit of oil to prevent burning) then bakes it in the oven to keep it crisp. It's awesome...but i doubt i'll ever cook it. I think that many people have had terrible liver experiences cause it takes a special knack to cook properly, and the fact that many people eat pork liver...which is grody (sp?) It's an amazing thing to find a way to like...but horrible to realize that I know the difference. ew.

That's part of the 'slippery slope' How can the state correctly assess a family's beliefs? It's one thing to have an understanding of their rules and practices, but to find 'abuse' in situations like this could potentially demand rigorous assessment of a family's entire lifestyles. If there's separation of Church and State, how does this get properly assessed? Sad that this kind of thing needs to happen, but it probably needs to happen. While the reason vs. religion argument would get waged over and over, the people that would learn of the situation and shape their lives from it may have far more potential impact than saving a few kids. And if it's about saving kids, where does abortion come into this - or is that not as important in this since it's a decisive action rather than a passive one? Is this a pro-life issue or an anti-religious one, because if it's anti-religious rather than being about protecting the rights of life then it's just as petty as one may think faith-healing is in the eyes of a child that would otherwise want to live.