Surfing the ebb

With over two months of mainly rain, drizzle and fog, plus cold temps, I am not sure what possessed me to gravitate to somewhere where the air was full of ocean spray, which created a fog-like air. I did not miss the rdf, actually who has a chance to miss it, it never leaves. Anyway, on this day I was lucky enough to see our coastline once again, which created its own mystic fog.

Moose Site-ings

There is a new moose sighting site branching off CBC NL's web site, called "Moose Sightings in Newfoundland" (they missed the full province name, Newfoundland and Labrador). It's an interactive site to upload where you have spotted the majestic or notorious beast, depending on your point of view. The map, like many Google maps can be magnified, and dragged, to view closely where moose have been seen, hit, or where a collision resulted in a fatality. Users may also type in a description of where/when they saw the moose.

It can be a useful tool for sure, to give people an idea where they appear to be frequenting. There is one factor to keep in mind when interpreting the map. The Avalon peninsula has a higher density of population because of urban places, and therefore, any individual moose may be spotted and reported more frequently. So it may not necessarily mean that there are a high proportion of moose numbers in this area, as compared to central, west coast or Labrador areas.

Last week as I drove back from Cape Spear, there was a cow grazing about 100 feet from the road, near the community of Blackhead. I quickly, though quietly jumped out of the car with cam in hand, and hoped that the animal would stay and pose. Every second counts since they could run or even attack. I uploaded the first photo below to the CBC moose sighting site.
She looked a little docile, and after a couple of mins of nervously giving me the eye, she galloped into unpressured treed home.
I wondered if she would attack, but we were both thinking there would be no charge for this photo

Stanley Cup: Boston was hot last night, but Vancouver was on fire

Stanley Cup 2011 is one to remember, largely due to Vancouver's hooligan community. They came prepared with masks, hammers and a need to destroy the city, win or lose. CTV carried it live for hours after the Stanley Cup final game, in which Boston convincingly toppled Vancouver 4-0. But while Vancouver and the area is beautiful to see and visit, they are like everywhere else, but with an apparent abundance of vandals, bullies, looters and nuicances.

In the age where tots have at least one communication gadget, a phone, a something-pod/pad, Blackberry, camera, tablet or whatever.. Photos and video can be taken with many of those things, and despite this, 100's of seemingly unconcerned rioters still broke windows, looted, burned vehicles, and openly fought in the streets. One can think of many other words to describe them.

Well, the gadgets are helping to identify rioters with photo proof, and there are many willing to share pics and vids already, on such sites as http://identifyrioters.com, and at least two facebook pages.

Cancer-causing asbestos too dangerous for Parliament, but Canada gladly exports for profit

It is being removed from Canada’s public buildings, was banned by the European Union and caused Transport Minister Chuck Strahl’s lung cancer, but Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is defending asbestos exports. (The Star, Apr. 26, 2011)

So we know it is medically linked to a rare cancer of the lungs called mesothelioma, but Prime Minister Harper has no problem letting those with less knowledge of it, use it - India, for example.

Harper's attitude: Canada "will not put Canadian industry in a position where it is discriminated against in a market where sale is permitted." ("Canada's Shame...", Vancouver Sun, June 15)

What kind of message does this send to anyone, individuals, businesses, groups, society in general?! To this watcher, it is not an optimistic, helpful, healthy or caring message. It's one thing to present a product where people can make an educated decision on whether or not to use a product. In Canada, we are fortunate to a large extent to have access to reams of information about virtually anything, in addition to the warnings and news already circulating about dangerous materials like asbestos. In developing countries, crucial knowledge and life saving awareness is not as developed as here. So how ethical is it to export stuff that even Parliament Hill, and the Prime Minister's residence, has removed from their premises?

Should profit trump ethics? Is making a profit by any means equal to some sort of success or victory here? Is this how developed or "evolved" or civilized we are? In 2006 the Canadian government did not even want asbestos to be on a hazardous materials list under the United Nations treaty called the Rotterdam Convention.

The message could be, what they don't know won't hurt us .. only them. We should be proud, how progressive! This is one clue as to how Canada survived the recession. When it comes to profits of mining companies at least, let's not care about who buys asbestos, just as long as they buy.