Gretzky Indicated In Operation 'Slapshot' By New Jersey Police 'Chiefs'

From the Toronto Globe and Mail

Wayne Gretzky denied he ever placed a bet with the gambling ring his assistant coach Rick Tocchet is accused of operating. He also said he never placed any kind of bet on hockey in his life and that he will not resign his position as executive director of the Canadian Olympic men's hockey team.

Mr. Gretzky also brushed aside a report that New Jersey State Police had wiretap evidence of him discussing the gambling operation before it was made public by the authorities. He said he had no knowledge of Tocchet's involvement in gambling prior to this week's news.

"No way," he said emphatically when asked if he planned to resign from the Olympic team. "If I had ever bet so much as a penny on sports I would call Bob Nicholson and resign." Bob Nicholson is president of Hockey Canada, which oversees the Olympic team.

The strain of the past few days showed, as Mr. Gretzky looked tired, but he was unequivocal about keeping his post as head of the Olympic team and as part-owner and head coach of the Coyotes.

"If I did one thing that would embarrass Team Canada or the country or hockey I would resign," he said. "It didn't happen.

"If I bet on sports - I would never embarrass Team Canada or the country or hockey - I would phone Gary Bettman and Bob Nicholson right now and say you know what, I resign, it's over, even if I made a $1 bet," Mr. Gretzky added, referring to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"I wouldn't even go into a sports book in Vegas," Mr. Gretzky said. "Even though it's legal, I would never do that. That's how serious I am."

Mr. Gretzky admitted, "it's been a tough couple of days."

more

I've watched this case unfold and I find the motives of the New Jersey police and the prosecuters more than a little suspicious. I agree with Lawyers involved in the case who said details of the three-month investigation should not be made public.

“I have never been involved in a case where the prosecution has engaged in such inappropriate conduct in terms of making investigators available to the press, appearing on nationally syndicated television,” said Kevin Marino, a lawyer for Tocchet, who was granted an indefinite leave from the NHL Wednesday. “It's improper, it's unwarranted and I will not tolerate it.”

“We are not going to try this case in the press and we're not going to let them either,” he said.

This story is one of conjecture and accusation manufactured to distract and weaken the Great One in time for the Olympics. Maybe it all will die down and blow over once the Olympic torch is lit, I hope so. This kind of unsubstantiated speculative crap is not fair to a man of Gretzky's character. How about adding some conspiracy theory to the action I'm all for more Can/US suspicion. Softwood and Mad Cow as retribution for not helping in Iraq, anyone? Now they are hitting us where it hurts - right in the rink. Devious, yes, but that's not playing fair.

You would expect this type of callous attack from the rag mags not a respected? police department. It's a far cry from throwing down a few bucks on the ponies as Janet Gretzky states, to making bets with a multi million dollar gambling ring. Gimme a break, can I make a suggestion where the Jersey cops would be better off sticking their wire taps?

Tomorrow Canada starts their journey down the road to Olympic Hockey gold and rest assure I will be cheering loudly when the Maple Leaf flies proudly behind Team Canada, led by their general, the great one.

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:Chris & John Tolos

John & Chris Tolos

REAL NAMES: Chris & John Tolos
BORN: In Hamilton, Ontario
ALIASES/NICKNAMES: The Golden Greek(s), The Canadian Wrecking Crew

The Tolos brothers were among Hamilton's greatest wrestling exports. The legit gimmick of inseparable brothers, willing to defend each other to the death, headlined cards across North America. Chris Tolos explained this to Jim Freedman, in his book Drawing Heat: "We didn't need no clips, no pens or robes. We had a natural gimmick. Nobody really needs that stuff, foreign objects and all. The gimmick is to reach the fans. Understand them. Look them in the eye." They were world champions as a tag team, and also successful as singles wrestlers.

Chris continued to wrestle into the 1980s and, as a manager, worked briefly for the WWF as "Coach" in 1991.

Chris Tolos died Friday, August 13, 2005 in Hamilton, Ontario at St. Peter's Hospital. He was 75.

Fred Blassie vs. John Tolos was the blood feud to end all blood feuds in California in 1970.

Later,
Kenaz

Canadian Milestones for Feb. 08

FLEMING PROPOSED STANDARD TIME
1879 Toronto Ontario
Sanford Fleming first proposes adoption of Universal Standard Time, by dividing the world into 24 equal time zones, with standard time within each zone; in lecture at the Canadian Institute in Toronto; idea adopted by North American railways four years later, and by 24 countries at a conference in 1884.



CANADIAN OLYMPIANS AT ST. MORITZ
1948 St Moritz, Switzerland
Fifth Winter Olympic games close at St Moritz. The RCAF Flyers win the Ice Hockey Gold, Ottawa's Barbara Ann Scott takes home the Gold Medal in Figure Skating, and Suzanne Morrow & amp; Wallace Diestalmeyer win the Bronze in Pairs Figure Skating .

Canadian Birthdays for Feb. 08

Headline Birthdays

George Parkin 1846-1922
educator, born at Salisbury, New Brunswick in 1846; died at London, England June 25, 1922. Parkin started his career as a high school teacher; involved in the Imperial Federation Movement, and wrote 3 books on the subject; 1895-1902 principal of Upper Canada College in Toronto; Secretary of the Rhodes Scholarship Trust in London; 1908 wrote first biography of John A. Macdonald.



Air Vice-Marshal William Avery 'Billy' Bishop VC, DSO 1938-1956
fighter ace, father of the RCAF, born on this day at Owen Sound, Ontario in 1894; dies Sept 11, 1956 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Bishop shot down 72 German aircraft during World War I, 25 in one ten-day period in 1918. In August 1918 he joined the British Air Ministry and helped form the Canadian Flying Corps as a separate brigade. After the War, he and another Canadian air VC, George Barker, formed one of Canada's first air charter lines, then served as a VP of the McColl Frontenac Oil Company. During World War II, he was Honorary Air Marshal, head of the Air Advisory Committee, and Director of Recruiting, RCAF.

Thelma Chalifoux 1929-
Metis activist, consultant, born at Calgary, Alberta. Chalifoux studied at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and Lethbridge College; started her career working with the Company of Young Canadians; Chairwoman of the Metis National Council Senate and Vice-President of the Aboriginal Women's Business Development Corporation and the Provincial Association of Friendship Centres; Member, RCMP K Division, Elders Advisory Committee; Nov. 26, 1997 appointed to the Senate by Jean Chrétien, the first Metis to hold a Senate seat.

Your Canadian Quote of the Day...

"The Air Age faces mankind with a sharp choice - the choice between Winged Peace or Winged Death. It's up to you ."

Billy Bishop
Winged Peace
1944

Later,
Kenaz

Polley to get ACTRA Award of Excellence

Sarah Polley in 2003. (CP file photo)

Canada's actors' union has named Sarah Polley the 2006 recipient of its annual Award of Excellence.

Polley, star of The Secret Life of Words and The Sweet Hereafter, also has a reputation as a writer, director and cultural activist.

ACTRA plans to honour Polley and name its best actor and best actress at an annual awards gala Feb. 24.

"Sarah is so much more than an actor," says Karl Pruner, president of ACTRA Toronto. "We admire her fierce commitment to Canadian culture and her strength in speaking her mind."

Polley rose to fame as a young girl, starring in the TV series Road to Avonlea. She won a Gemini for her performance in the film Lantern Hill and another for her performance in the CBC series Straight Up.

She made a successful transition to adult film roles in features like Atom Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter, Dawn of the Dead and The Hanging Garden, earning a Genie and an ACTRA award for her role in My Life Without Me. Spanish director Isabel Coixet wrote a role for Polley into The Secret Life of Words, a film that just won four Goya film awards in Spain.

Polly recently lobbied the Heritage Committee over the health of the film industry and the lack of dramatic film work for Canadian actors.

The Toronto branch of ACTRA, Canada's largest, also honours a best actor or actress from across several genres, including film, TV series, miniseries and movies of the week.

Here are more sites that contain biographies and movie stills of this talented Canadian star.

Memorable Scenes of Sarah Polley
The Sarah Polley Picture Site
Sarah Polley- Northern Stars
Sarah Polley - Yahoo! Movies
Sarah Polley [dot] Org - sarahpolley.org

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:Samuel Lawrence

Sam Lawrence joining a picket line supporting nine hour days for restaurant workers in the 1930s.
Samuel Lawrence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Samuel Lawrence (August 16, 1879 - October 25, 1959) was a Canadian politician and trade unionist.

Lawrence was born in Somerset, England and went to work in a quarry at the age of 12 and became a shop steward in the mason's union at the age of 17. He entered politics running for election in Battersea in London.

He immigrated to Canada settling in Hamilton, Ontario with his family in 1912 and found work as a stone mason. He became involved in the local labour movement and was elected to city council as an Independent Labour Party alderman in 1922. He ran as a Labour candidate in the 1925 federal election but lost his bid for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons, coming in second. He remained on city council and was elected to Hamilton's Board of Control in 1929, retaining his seat until 1934 when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Hamilton East, the first Co-operative Commonwealth Federation MLA ever elected in Ontario. He was also the only CCFer elected in the 1934 election, and was defeated in his bid for re-election in the 1937 election.

Lawrence then served for a time as president of the local Industrial Union Council, and subsequently regained his seat on the Board of Control and kept it for six years. He was elected the first Labour mayor of Hamilton in 1944. He was re-elected mayor annually until his retirement from the office in 1949.

During his tenure as mayor, the city went through the deeply divisive 85-day Stelco strike of 1946. The strike was the union's first, and its victory established the United Steel Workers of America as a major force in Canada. It also helped establish the right of Canadian workers to collective bargaining. Lawrence was publicly supportive of the strike, and led a 10,000-person march from Woodlawns Park to the gates of Stelco. Despite pressure from the federal and provincial governments, he refused to call in police or the military against the illegal strike, and thus helped ensure its victory. When the federal government sent the army in, Lawrence angrily said that "the government was acting as the nation's chief strike breaker."

After stepping down as mayor in 1949, Lawrence continued on the Board of Control for six years until his retirement from politics.

Later,
Kenaz

Rune Reading For The Week Of February 6, 2006-February 12, 2006

Introduction to Rune Readings

Rune readings are arrangements of the 24 runes (letters) of the old Futhark alphabet. The layout of the runes is known as a spread, and determines what each rune refers to. For example, in the Three Norns spread, the first rune represents the past, the second the present, and the third the future.

Sets: In addition to each rune having a meaning, the material in which the runes are carved can color the reading. Most people consistently use runes made of ceramic, stone, or wood. In order to broaden your experience, we offer readings with Gold Runes (for questions about business, career, and property), Jade Runes (for questions about love, friendship, and relationships), Ice Runes (for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement), Spirit Runes (for questions about mysticism, spirituality, and religion), and Stone Runes (for questions about the natural world and things beyond human control).

The question will remain the same: "Will this week be a successful one?"

Rune Alphabet



Spread:Cross(in order of reading)
The Cross spread is used to plot the arc of your life and the forces acting on it. It is the most popular spread, giving a very complete view of the situation. Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement.




Here is the Reading Using the Ice Set.

1.


The left rune represents an important element of the past. Ansuz refers to a god or the spoken word of God. It is the voice of reason, law, prophecy and truth. It is the truth heard in the wind. This rune represents wisdom obtained or knowledge delivered. It is the rune of absolute good advice and true council - the message we all must strive to hear.

2.


The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Algiz can be easily recognized as the antlers of the elk that it represents. The elk can represent victory, but is much more appropriately associated with the thrill of the hunt itself. This rune therefore can portend vigor and success in active endeavors. Also, this rune seems symbolic of a hand with outstretched fingers - a protective hand. This hand may suggest that you will be shielded from things negative - the problems still exist, you are spared the brunt of their force.

3.


The right rune represents the critical element of the future, at the core of the final outcome. Ger is one of the runes that touches on the cycles of the year, in this case the fall harvest. These cycles are eternal, which is represented in the rune by the fact that it is unchanged by reversal. Ger can represent pregnancy or other forms of fruitfulness, and is especially indicative of the cycles of providence and karma - that which has been sown is now being reaped. This rune can also represent the cycles of wealth, for crops were frequently a sign of wealth.

4.


The top rune represents a force that works for you. Raido means to ride. In this rune, the image is not so much the riding of a horse as in riding in a cart or as cargo. As such Raido may suggest a journey, but is much more indicative of communication. Alternate interpretations based on the use of Raido as a cognate in other words give it the meaning of council, judgment, and moral correctness. Therefore, this rune is the rune of wise advice and good leadership.

5.


The bottom Rune represents a force that works against you. Isa is the rune symbolizing Ice - cold, stagnant, frozen, and unchanging. This rune suggests heat removed not just from anger or conflict, but from passion as well. Paradoxically, Isa conveys images of slippery slopes and unsure footing, but also of circumstances that have crystallized and become utterly immutable. Remember that in the cold north, ice is not just THE challenge to be overcome, but the very nature of the environment. Be courageous, for you work against this element every day. Will you fight alone or with others against this, our common foe? Is there much worse than lack of change?

If you are further interested in Rune stones, please check out a script I wrote about three years ago. The story tells of a women's chance encounter with the towns rune reader and physcic. Her reading leads to a terrible discovery about her ex-husband.Click here to read 'Evil Of A Different Kind'

Later,
Kenaz

Enjoy Sons of Butcher

I caught the first episode of “Sons Of Butcher”, the new 100% Canadian cartoon series which debued on TELETOON! on Friday. SOB will air regularly Fridays at 9:30pm (ET/PT).

Sons of Butcher takes you on a wild ride through the quirky minds and adolescent fantasies of three would-be rock gods.

Sol Butcher, Ricky Butcher, and Doug Borski – three rockers with a mission. When they aren’t busy running their successful “Sons of Butcher Quality Meats” shop in the armpit of downtown Steeltown, they rock out with their band called, naturally, “Sons of Butcher”. Meet your new favourite rock group:

SOL BUTCHER
Age: 19
Sol’s personal demons include repressed emotions, anger management issues, and short-term memory problems, and he struggles everyday, often unsuccessfully, to keep them at bay. He has a heart of gold, however, and would do anything to protect Ricky and Doug. Sol is the character who tries hardest to keep SOB a functioning unit. He’s taken a fatherly role for the parentless Ricky and Doug, and his misguided advice and occasional emotionally-charged speeches are the glue that holds the group together. Health-conscious, sensitive, and genuine, Sol is horrible with women. His breakup with high school sweetheart Trulie is still an open wound that is thinly-veiled at the best of times, but he still struggles to be an eternal optimist. Growing up close to his father Arpo, Sol learned to love meat and to respect the family tradition.
Sol values the shop above all else.

RICKY BUTCHER
Age: 17
Ricky does everything in excess. He is the Epicurean without motherly influence. Uncouth, quick-tempered, hot-blooded, inadvertently arrogant, and rebellious, Ricky operates on his own agenda, which is generally based on his desire to be the center of attention at all times. Add a distorted self-image and limitless ambition, and you have a cocky 17 year old that, despite his grandiose claims of sexual prowess, is still a child who is forever trying to replace his mother by dating much older women. From the brief time he spent with his mom, Ricky learned to dream big, and to expect more out of life than rib roasts and pinkelwurst.
Ricky values the band above all else.

DOUG BORSKI
Age: 18
After arriving in Steeltown, Doug was raised on hip-hop videos and daytime talk-shows. Always the outsider, Doug was hired by Arpo to clean the shop, and found his niche mopping blood and guts. When Doug’s traditional tribal rhythm training led him to rock the bass guitar, his place within this holy rock trinity was solidified. Lacking self-confidence, Doug is only really comfortable on stage. The rest of the time his shyness and raging libido lead him to spend a lot of time alone.
Doug values acceptance above all else.

Sons of Butcher is the creation of brothers Trevor and Jay Ziebarth and their longtime buddy Dave Dunham. On the show, Trevor is the voice of rock-god wannabe Ricky Butcher, Dave is his alcoholic older brother Sol Butcher and Jay is their bladder control-challenged pal Doug Borski. Each voice actor provides the facial expressions of their characters, as the show features live-action heads pasted on animated bodies. The series is produded by Max Smith son of Red Green Show star Steve Smith.

According to Smith not everyone is a fan of the shows racy content and lowbrow laughs. He himself admits in an interview with Calgary entertainment magazine "Fast Forward Weekly" he foresees hate mail as Sons of Butcher episodes hit the airwaves. Like the long-running animated hit South Park, Smith believes this series is "not the kind of show parents want kids watching, and that’s what makes it the type of show a kid wants to watch."

The humour is all in good fun and the show should do well for the Teletoon, finally giving them a show that you can waist time watching.



As mentioned S.O.B producer Max Smith is the son of Steve Smith, star and creator of the cult favourite "The Red Green Show". Saddly, Possum Lodge will close it's doors after fifteen years of making Canadian's laugh.

The show created a host of memorable characters, including the straight-man nephew Harold, played by Patrick McKenna, and the light fingured Mike Hamar, layed by Wayne Robson. The show attracted about one million viewers a week in Canada and many more world wide.

The show will air it's last episode April 7, 2006 on the CBC. For the last time, please stand and recite the lodge moto "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (When all else fails play dead).

Later,
Kenaz

Movie Review:The Boys from County Clare (2003)

I caught this little gem of a movie on the Movie Network last week and I thought I'd share my views on it. The Boys from County Clare is an enchantic musical comedy from Ireland with great acting and wonderful athentic Celtic music.

The movie stars Andrea Corr from the musical family The Corrs, and Colm Meaney the stable of the Irish film community. The tagline of a the movie is listen to your heart and by the end of this ninety minute introduction to Irish traditional music you will be listening to the tapping of your feet.

The All-Ireland Traditional Music Competition attracts the best musicians from all over the country -- and a few from beyond the shores of the Emerald Isle as well. As John Joe and his band prepare to capture the band trophy with their County Clare jigs and reels, Irishman Jimmy bends his Liverpudlians away from jazz toward the time-honored strains of Celtic music. As the musicians make their way towards the competition, trouble rears its head for both sets of challengers: the Liverpool Shamrock Ceilidh(pronounced Kay-li) Band and the defending champions from Clare, and at the heart of this adversity lie the vengeful interventions of two estranged brothers, Jimmy and John Joe.

Even though I question casting Bernard Hill and Meaney as brothers. They really don't look a bit alike, and their accents are completely opposite (Hill is fron Manchester while Meaney is from Dublin) the chemistry between Corr and Shaun Evans playing a young couple from opposite families brought together by the their love of music, more than make up for this oversight. Charlotte Bradley turns in a wonderful performance as Maisie the mother of Anne(Corr) who fights to keep her love after her infidelity is discovered.

If your not familiar with many of the stars work I suggest picking up the following works.

Andrea Corr-The Commitments (1991)
Bernard Hill-The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)-Theoden and the "The Grid" (2004) (mini) TV Series.
Colm Meaney-The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (1995)

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:Lincoln MacCauley Alexander

The Honourable Lincoln MacCauley Alexander, PC , CC , O.Ont , CD , QC , BA , LL.B (born January 21, 1922, in Toronto, Ontario), served as the 24th Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario from 1985 to 1991.

Born to West Indian immigrants to Canada, Lincoln Alexander first distinguished himself by serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the second World War. He then became Canada's first black Member of Parliament when he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1968 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, representing the riding of Hamilton West.

Lincoln Alexander held the seat for the next four successive elections. In 1976 and 1978 he served as an observer to the United Nations. Under the brief government of Joe Clark in 1979-1980, Alexander served as Minister of Labour. He resigned his seat in 1980 to serve as the head of the Worker's Compensation Board.

Lincoln Alexander was selected by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, in 1985, the first black person to serve in a vice-regal position in Canada. During his term in office he concentrated on bringing attention to education and youth issues.

After his departure from office in 1991, Alexander was awarded the Order of Ontario, and made a Companion of the Order of Canada. He remains an active spokesman on race relations and veterans' issues, and is the Chancellor of the University of Guelph.

The Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway, a freeway through Hamilton, was named in his honour, though Lincoln Alexander has never held a driver's license of his own. There are three schools called Lincoln Alexander Public School, as well as Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School, all named after him.

Later,
Kenaz

My Oscar Predictions

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
The nominees are: Judi Dench (Mrs. Henderson Presents), Felicity Huffman (Transamerica), Keira Knightley (Pride & Prejudice), Charlize Theron (North Country) and Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line)

Prediction: My heart goes with Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line) but it would be damn nice to see Judi Dench beat the 'kids' again.

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
The nominees are: Amy Adams (Junebug), Catherine Keener (Capote), Francis McDormand (North Country), Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener) and Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain)

Prediction:This is one tough category to prediction, every nomination is a contender but I have to go with Catherine Keener (Capote) after making The 40 Year Old Virgin and Death to Smoochy she should be rewarded for perseverence.

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
The nominees are: Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote), Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain), Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line) and David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck)

This looks to be the year for Brokeback Mountain, but I'm putting my money on the underdog Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote).

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
The nominees are: George Clooney (Syriana), Matt Dillon (Crash), Paul Giamatti (Cinderella Man), Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain) and William Hurt (A History of Violence)

My Pick:Paul Giamatti deserves the win after two consecutive snubs for American Splendor and Sideways.

Achievement in Directing
The nominees are: Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain), Bennett Miller (Capote), Paul Haggis (Crash), George Clooney (Good Night, and Good Luck) and Steven Spielberg (Munich)

Prediction:Ang Lee should take this one but Clooney could be the dark horse. How does Lee go from directing crap like Incredible Hulk to this gem?

Best Motion Picture of the Year
The nominees are: Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Crash, Good Night, and Good Luck and Munich.

Prediction:I'm a sucker for a good historical biopic so I love this years crop of films. Again money is on Brokeback Mountain but I'm going to go with Munich, Steven Spielberg shows why he is the best director today Geoffrey Rush is incredible.

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
The nominees are: Don’t Tell, Joyeux Noël, Paradise Now, Sophie Scholl — The Final Days and Tsotsi.

Prediction:I haven't seen any of these films so I have to go with the story that has the strongest impact on me and Paradise Now's portrayal of the Israel-Palestine conflict does that.

Best Documentary Feature
The nominees are: Darwin’s Nightmare, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, March of the Penguins, Murderball and Street Fight.

Prediction:After reading each of the plot outlines for each film, Murderball's portrayal of quadriplegics who play full-contact rugby in Mad Max-style wheelchairs,overcoming unimaginable obstacles to compete in the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, seems the most intriguing. But, the envirourment is still a hot issue so both Darwin's Nightmare, dealing with the complete anilation of Tanzania's fishing industry by preditory fish introduced by European vessels and Enron both have strong chances.

Canadian an American Officials In Dispute Over Details

Canadians are disputing the U.S. version of an incident in Iraq that saw American soldiers fire shots at a car carrying four Canadian diplomats in Baghdad.

No one was injured, but the two sides differ on what prompted the volley of shots.

A U.S. military spokesperson in Iraq claims American soldiers "felt threatened" that the car might represent a potential suicide-bomb attack after the vehicle came too close and ignored hand and arm signals to keep a safe distance away.

"They felt they had to use warning shots," said U.S. Lt.-Col. Barry Johnson, spokesman for the multinational force in Baghdad.

"Clearly, these warning shots weren't aimed at the occupants."

A statement from the country’s military said the shots were aimed "at the front of the vehicle, away from the passenger area."

But Canadian officials argue that one shot did enter the passenger compartment and others struck the vehicle.

They also claim that the car did keep a safe distance away from the convoy and that they didn’t see any warning signals.

"Our officials are clear that they were operating within the rules," prime minister-designate Stephen Harper said in Ottawa.

"Obviously, we'd like to make sure we deal with this and avoid such a situation in the future. We're obviously very glad no one was hurt."

Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada’s chief of defence staff, has contacted U.S. authorities with concerns over the chain of events.

The vehicle was carrying the charge d'affaires to Iraq, Stewart Henderson, consular offical Michelle Cameron, an unidentified agent with Canada's spy service and another official, plus the driver.

They were on a routine trip through the Green Zone, a highly militarized part of Baghdad that includes the headquarters of the U.S. military and houses the Iraqi government and diplomats, when the bullets began to fly.

No apology has come from the U.S. yet, as it continues to investigate what happened.

"Nobody, our soldiers and our security personnel, certainly don't want to fire on innocent people, certainly not close friends and allies, said U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

Canada has a small diplomatic presence in Iraq at this point, but plans to establish an embassy there by the summer.

It will be interesting to see how the Americans will try to get out of this one without an adequate explanation or even an apology. Maybe the Canadians should be required to belt out "I am Canadian!" as they pass through the blocquade. Just my oppinion.

Later,
Kenaz

Wiarton Willie Predicts Early Spring

CREDIT: Frank Gunn, Canadian Press The current Wiarton Willie, albino weather-prognosticating groundhog in Wiarton, Ont.

Wiarton Willie, Canada's best-known four-legged forecaster, is predicting an early end to a winter many Canadians are still waiting to see. The pudgy white woodchuck failed to see his shadow on Groundhog Day in the central Ontario town.

Shubenacadie Sam, Nova Scotia's most famous weather-forecasting rodent, also predicted an early spring. But a unanimous groundhog verdict was prevented when Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania saw his shadow.

Folklore has it that if a groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, he'll flee to his burrow, heralding six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't, it means an early spring.

The origins of the tradition aren't clear, but it's likely related to the fact that Groundhog Day falls midway between the start of winter and the beginning of spring. Some say it started with Candlemas, a Christian custom named for the lighting candles during the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary. According to an old Scottish couplet: "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year."

In Europe, the custom was to watch for hedgehogs emerging to catch insects. But when Europeans settled in North America, the lack of hedgehogs forced them to find a substitute. In 1887, German settlers in Punxsutawney, Penn., headed to Gobbler's Knob on Feb. 2 for their first, official Groundhog Day at that site.

Dozens of communities across North America have since come up with their own weather-predicting critters. It should come as small surprise that the prognosticating woodchucks didn't arrive at the same prediction -- they rarely do.

But in a year when Canada's traditionally fierce winter season has provided more whimper than bang, conflicting forecasts seem especially prescient. While most of Canada basks in unseasonably warmth, a blast of frigid weather has been ravaging Atlantic Canada.

The region was forced to battle rising sea levels, heavy snowfalls, and howling winds just days after reports of balmy temperatures forcing thousands of pregnant grey seals ashore on islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Normally, the seals would give birth on ice floes, but there's been a shortage of ice in the Gulf this year, forcing the seals to take to the islands.

Environment Canada has noted several weather anomalies across the country, with ice roads not forming in northern Saskatchewan, Winnipeg getting rain in January, ski hills being idled by a lack of snow and more rain than usual drenching Vancouver.

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian Landmarks:Hillfield Strathallan College

Hillfield Strathallan College
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Jump to: navigation, search

Hillfield Strathallan College is a Canadian private school which teaches grades from Junior Kindergarten to twelve in Hamilton, Ontario.
Contents

History

Started in 1901, was then Highfield School for Boys, was the first private residential and day school for boys in the city. It was a prep school for boys planning to enter the Royal Military College of Canada. Many graduates played key roles in the Canadian military. A series of name changes, reconstructions, new construction, and amalgamations with other institutions have since occurred, resulting in a single modern co-educational facility. Alumni from all founding organizations attended the centential anniversary in 2001.

Timeline

* 1901 - Highfield School for Boys founded
* 1920 - Hillcrest School was founded, as replacement to a previous school burnded two years prior.
* 1923 - Strathallan School founded
* 1929 - Hillcrest School and Highfield School were merged into Hillfield School, with new premises.
* 1959 - The Highfield School program was upgraded and renamed to Hillfield College to reflect this (note: the word college is used as it is England, and doesn't include education past high school in this case)
* 1961 - Strathallan School was renamed to Strathallan College
* 1962 - The two colleges, now named Hillfield-Strathallan Colleges, were put under a single Board of Governors, which ran the colleges in co-ordinated but separate manner during a transition period.
* 1963 - The amalgamation was completed and for the first time, it operated completely as a single entity for the first time
* 1995 - The current site of the college was acquired
* 1999 - Major additions to the campus, included a new Montessori school
* 2004 - The plural in the organization's name was dropped, and it came to just be Hillfield Strathallan College

Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

The Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (HPYO) is the "Orchestra in Residence" at the school. About 55 young people aged 9 to 22 are a part of it. They have performed in various places, such as:

* Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, New York City
* Banff, Alberta,
* Moosonee, Ontario
* Huntsville, Alabama
* Northampton, England

Notable alumni

The following includes notable alumni from before mergers, reorganization, and renaming:

* Henry Duncan Graham Crerar (b. 1888 d. 1965) - Canadian General Officer Commanding the Canadian First Army on D-Day in World War II. He had also served as a lieutenant-colonel in World War I.
* Henry Myles Carscallen - RCAF Air Vice-Marshall.

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:Ellen Fairclough

Ellen Fairclough, who in 1957 became the first woman to serve as a federal Cabinet Minister.

National Archives of Canada (PA 148646)

Ellen Fairclough became the first Canadian woman federal cabinet minister when she was appointed Secretary of State by Prime Minister Diefenbaker in 1957. Vivacious, intelligent and competent, Ellen Fairclough had a mixed record in cabinet. Her attempt to restrict family immigration sponsorships to immediate family members caused an uproar in the Italian community, but she was successful in introducing regulations that largely removed racial discrimination from Canadian immigration policy.

Birth:

January 28, 1905 in Hamilton, Ontario

Death:

November 13, 2004 in Hamilton, Ontario

Profession:

* Before entering politics, Ellen Fairclough was a Chartered Accountant and owner of a Hamilton accounting firm.

* Ellen Fairclough was active in the Consumers Association of Canada, the Girl Guides, the I.O.D.E., the United Empire Loyalist Association, and the Zonta Club of Hamilton and Zonta International.

* After leaving politics, Ellen Fairclough worked in a trust company and was then chairman of Ontario Hydro.

* Ellen Fairclough published her memoirs "Saturday's Child" in 1995.

Political Party:

Progressive Conservative

Federal Riding:

Hamilton West

Political Career of Ellen Fairclough:

* Ellen Fairclough was elected to Hamilton City Council in 1946. She served on the Hamilton City Council for five years until 1949.

* Ellen Fairclough was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in 1950. She was the only woman in the House of Commons until three others were elected in the 1953 general election.

* As Progressive Conservative labour critic, Ellen Fairclough introduced a private member's bill requiring equal pay for equal work and advocated the creation of a Department of Labour Women's Bureau.

* With the election of a Conservative minority government in 1957, John Diefenbaker grudgingly appointed Ellen Fairclough to cabinet as Secretary of State. As Secretary of State, Ellen Fairclough initiated Dominion Day celebrations on Parliament Hill.

* The Conservatives won a majority government in 1958, and Ellen Fairclough was appointed Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. At the beginning of her time at Citizenship and Immigration, Ellen Fairclough ran into political problems, especially from the Italian community, when she tried to limit immigration family sponsorships to immediate family members, and was forced to back down. In 1962 however, Ellen Fairclough successfully brought in regulations which went a long way towards the elimination of racial discrimination in Canadian immigration policy.

* She was moved to the Postmaster General portfolio in 1962.

* Ellen Fairclough was defeated in the 1963 election.

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:Victor K. Copps

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.


Victor Kennedy (Vic) Copps (March 21, 1919 - October 15, 1988) was a Canadian politician and Mayor of Hamilton.

Born in Haileybury, Ontario, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, following which, he worked in Timmins, Ontario for a local newspaper. In 1945 he moved to Hamilton to become a sports broadcaster on CHML. He entered local politics in 1960, winning a seat on the Board of Control and becoming deputy Mayor. He ran for Mayor in 1962 defeating the incumbent. He sparked outrage among Hamilton's Protestant community, as one of his first official acts was to abolish the annual Orange Order Parade, a staple of Hamilton for many years. In 1964 he was an unsuccessful candidate at the Ontario Liberal Party's leadership convention. Copps continued as mayor until 1976 when he was forced to retire following a heart attack. He was the city's first Roman Catholic mayor and its second-longest serving holder of that office. Under his leadership, the city engaged in a major project of urban renewal. The city's Copps Coliseum is named after him.

Vic Copps is the father of Sheila Copps, a former Canadian cabinet minister.

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:John Sopinka

The Honourable Mr. Justice John Sopinka

John Sopinka was born in Broderick, Saskatchewan, on March 19, 1933. He was the son of Metro Sopinka and Nancy Kikcio. In 1941 his family moved to Hamilton, Ontario. He studied at the University of Toronto, earning a B.A. in 1955 and an LL.B. three years later. From 1955 to 1958, while working on his law degree, he played professional football with the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was called to the bar of Ontario in 1960, and was later called to the bars of four other provinces and two territories. He practised law in Toronto for 28 years, first with Fasken & Calvin and then with Stikeman, Elliott. During that time, he also lectured on law at both Osgoode Hall Law School and the University of Toronto. He is the author of several legal works, including The Trial of an Action, and co-author of The Law of Evidence in Canada. Appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on May 24, 1988, he served on the Court for nine years. Justice Sopinka died on November 24, 1997, at the age of 64.

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:Lloyd Douglas Jackson

Lloyd Douglas Jackson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lloyd Douglas Jackson (April 22, 1888 - September 11, 1973) was Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada from 1950 to 1962.

Born near Sarnia, Ontario, Jackson attended McMaster University while it was still in Toronto, earning a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry. He began his political career in Hamilton's Board of Education, whereupon he served as Mayor for 13 years. As Mayor, he focused on the development of Hamilton's downtown area, including the construction of the new City Hall.

In 1970, a shopping and commercial centre, Lloyd D. Jackson Square (known as Jackson Square), was named in his honour.

Later,
Kenaz

Rune Reading For The Week Of January 30, 2006-February 5, 2006

The question will remain the same: "Will this week be a successful one?"

Rune Alphabet



Spread:Cross(in order of reading)
The Cross spread is used to plot the arc of your life and the forces acting on it. It is the most popular spread, giving a very complete view of the situation. Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement.




Here is the Reading Using the Ice Set.

1.


The left rune represents an important element of the past. Isa is the rune symbolizing Ice - cold, stagnant, frozen, and unchanging. This rune suggests heat removed not just from anger or conflict, but from passion as well. Paradoxically, Isa conveys images of slippery slopes and unsure footing, but also of circumstances that have crystallized and become utterly immutable. Remember that in the cold north, ice is not just THE challenge to be overcome, but the very nature of the environment. Be courageous, for you work against this element every day. Will you fight alone or with others against this, our common foe? Is there much worse than lack of change?

2.


The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Wunjo is the rune of Joy. Since joy is least frequently a solitary emotion, this rune often represents mutual or communal bliss. Wunjo is also seen as a rune of the gods and a rune of perfection, carrying with it the elation that blazes from the creation of a perfect work - perhaps this is the true joy of the gods, that they can create perfection. That aside, this rune does not focus on the struggle for perfection or on our inevitable imperfections, but rather on a job well done and the satisfaction that comes from it.

3.


The right rune represents the critical element of the future, at the core of the final outcome. Sowelu is a strong symbol, for it represents the sun. Unlike equatorial cultures who may see the sun as a harsh and imperial force capable of causing droughts, in the cold north the sun is a purely feminine force that gives life and allows crops to grow. In dark times, this rune represents clarity of sight and the victory of good over evil. Sowelu is irreversible, as the cycles of the sun and seasons are perpetual.

4.


The top rune represents a force that works for you. Ehwaz is representative of the eight-legged horse ridden by the god Odin. As such, this is the rune of controlled movement and travel, including the pursuit of an objective or station in life. Since some older sources show Odin not as a man riding a horse but as a centaur-like being, this rune can also represent the union of man and nature, or the fusion of two entities in perfect harmony. As this rune is reversed, this could bode poorly for travel or for the vehicle involved. In the more spiritual sense, this rune could represent difficulties in self-improvement or other attempts at advancement. Finally, it may represent a splitting of two or the inability of two to act as one.

5.


The bottom Rune represents a force that works against you. Othila is the homeland. Land was the purest form of immovable wealth in Norse civilization, distinct from the movable wealth represented by Fehu. This rune speaks of stability and safety stemming from inheritance, both material and genetic. With respect to the question asked, consider the background of the people and families involved...

If you are further interested in Rune stones, please check out a script I wrote about three years ago. The story tells of a women's chance encounter with the towns rune reader and physcic. Her reading leads to a terrible discovery about her ex-husband.Click here to read 'Evil Of A Different Kind'

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:John Strathearn Hendrie

John Strathearn Hendrie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Honourable Sir John Strathearn Hendrie, KCMG, CVO (August 15, 1857-July 17, 1923) was Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1914 to 1919.

John Hendrie was born in 1857 in Hamilton and was educated at Upper Canada College. He became a railway contractor and promoted the Hamilton Bridge Works. In 1885 he married Lena Henderson. A Member of Provincial Parliament from 1902 to 1914, he held the positions of Minister without Portfolio and Hydro-Electric Commissioner. He also commanded the 2nd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. Hendrie was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in 1914 and served until 1919. Much of his time in Office was spent helping the War Effort and hosting soldiers, seamen and dignitaries at Government House. He was knighted in 1915, and died in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1923.

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:George Hamilton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

George Hamilton (October 1788-February 20, 1836) was a businessman and politician in Upper Canada, who founded the city of Hamilton, Ontario.

He was born at Queenston Heights in 1788 (1787 in some sources), the son of Robert Hamilton, and educated in Scotland. Hamilton served at the Battle of Queenston Heights and the Battle of Lundy's Lane during the War of 1812.

In 1815, he purchased 257 acres in Barton Township from James Durand, who represented the region in the House of Assembly. Together with a neighbouring landowner, he set up a town site. The new town was to become the capital of the new Gore District. Hamilton provided land for a court house and jail. The police village of Hamilton was incorporated in 1833.

Hamilton represented the riding of Wentworth in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1821 to 1830, where he tended to support moderate reformers and encourage immigration to Canada. He helped set up a canal to link Hamilton harbour to Lake Ontario and worked to secure funding for the court house and jail.

He died in Hamilton in 1836.

Later,
Kenaz