The woes of calling in sick

Being sick is tough, but having to call in sick to work really upsets my stomach.
Why is it that I find it impossible to wallow in illness with a guilt-free conscience?
I woke up on a recent Tuesday morning and felt like sometime in the night, strangers had quietly crept into my home and beaten me severely while I slept. They really went nuts on my head. It was pounding. My body was shaky and weak and my stomach, oh my stomach!
My first thought was, “I can't possibly go to work today!” My second thought was, “That means I have to call in sick!” and that's when things really started to go downhill.
The thought of calling my editor (who is very nice by the way, usually) and telling him I was too sick to come to work took me from feeling extremely unwell, to feeling unwell and a little panicky.
It's been my unfortunate experience in about 98 per cent of the news rooms that I've worked in that calling in sick is what the weak and the deceitful do.
In fact I recall one of my college instructors telling my class that unless we were being planted six feet under, there was never an acceptable time to call in sick.
So, I hauled my butt in to work only to find that three out of our eight staff members who were supposed to be there that day were at home, sick.
What made things really weird though, is that my editor still seemed genuinely concerned about how I was feeling. So much so, that he actually suggested I go home early.
This interchange was strange to me. I was conflicted. So many feelings of guilt were replaced for a nanosecond with feelings of gratitude which were replaced in a millisecond with a mental cocktail of guilt and gratitude fueled by a fever and my stomach! Oh my stomach!
In a whirl of confused emotions I acquiesced and left early, heading home to my nice soft bed. I was excited at the thought of getting a couple of hours of quiet rest before having to pick up my daughter at daycare. Then I thought of calling my mother to ask her to pick my girl up because I was feeling so horrible, and, well, you can imagine where my thinking went from there.
I was, though, feeling so utterly ill that I did, eventually, call my mother and glory of glories, she agreed to pick up my daughter and expressed sympathy that I was unwell!
It was an unprecedented day! And in a confused vortex of fever, pain and, more than anything else, guilt, finally Morpheus stole into my room and I let him take me away. The great thing about Morpheus, he refused to let me take my guilt along for the trip.

Sovereignty should include a committment to protect our environment

It's frightening enough to hear estimates among international scientists that our polar caps could melt away within the next decade, but when you add politics and greed to the mix, it gets even worse.
The Greenhouse Effect on Arctic and Antarctic ice means that natural resources formerly hidden away and protected by the frozen elements will be accessible.
Already countries are getting their ducks, or in this case penguins, in a row on this.
Britain has announced it plans to map its property around the Antarctic and in the Speech from the Throne, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made it clear he wants to beef up Canada's military to, among other things, strengthen our sovereignty in the north.
Of course it wouldn't hurt our government or others if these newly mapped areas were rich in oil.
The fact that we are losing unknown numbers of species of animals and plant life due to climate change is horrific. What makes it worse is that we don't know what these great losses will mean to our planet.
Being human doesn't make us immune to the potentially catastrophic effects of global warming, no matter how arrogantly we try to elevate ourselves above other life forms on this Earth.
So in our haste to claim sovereignty over the North, would it not be prudent to ensure that these wondrous, fragile regions also be protected, nurtured and nursed back to health from the sicknesses we have released upon them?
Oil doesn't perpetuate life on our planet, life does.

Is John Tory wishy-washy, or just listening?

Provincial Conservative leader John Tory is taking it on the chin by some who say he is being wishy-washy and showing weak leadership by changing his position on allowing a free vote in the legislature on funding faith-based schools.
Why?
If anything I think Mr. Tory should be credited with actually listening to voters and allowing that his ideas on this subject may not be what people want.
Who cares if he came to this realization during an election campaign?
I believe true strength is shown in the ability of one to bend. How many trees have fallen because they were too brittle in the face of strong winds?
I realize I am opening the door to too many jokes by talking about politicians and strong winds in the same story, but my point is that whether you like a politician's platform or not, it is comforting to know that he or she is open to hearing what the public has to say and willing to make changes to meet those concerns.

It goes on and on

There have been more times than I like to think about throughout my life when I've thought that the Universe really doesn't like me.
How could I think such a thing? Read on my friend, read on.
Before I begin this tale of woe, I want to you know that every word of it is true and unembellished.
OK, we have to go back in time, to the beginning, the first time in my life when I experienced this weird, baffling relationship I have with the Universe.
I was at a friends and we were playing "Hide the Bead."
Driven by a sudden wild desire to be perfect, to be the best bead hider ever, I found myself behind a living room easy chair staring at the bead, pondering the perfect hiding place. And then it came to me. And I was absolutely right. No one guessed that I had hidden the tiny orb up my nose.
My bewildered friends sat frustrated in front of me and I gloried in that moment when I could finally reveal my genius to them. That's when it all went horribly wrong. I couldn't get the damn thing out of my nose.
To the sound of children's laughter, my mother led me out of the house and to the doctor's where he conducted an emergency bead-ectomy and removed the object. A little older and no wiser, my friends and I (prepubescent teens) used to like to go to the Lakefield arena to watch boys play hockey. I had one pair of really cool jeans but they were dirty so I dashed downstairs and put them in the washer. When they were done I threw them immediately into the dryer. My friends showed up before the cycle was done, but when I felt the jeans I thought they'd be OK, that I could handle a little dampness to look hot.
We got to the arena, sat on our favourite bench so we could see the boys and they could see us, and my jeans started steaming. Great gusts of steam were rising from my damp, denim-clad thighs.
I left, red-faced, with the sound of teen laughter echoing in my ears.
Fast forward a few years to a time when I was taking a computer course at Fleming College. As I was walking along a path to school, a black cat crossed my path. When I saw it I felt special. I loved black cats and figured maybe it was a sign of really good luck. And then the cat stopped and pooped in my path.
Message received loud and clear!
Then there was the time I went for an interview for a waitress job at the Rockhaven. I wore my best skirt and when I walked in all these people were staring at me and I was feeling pretty fine. I knew I looked great in that skirt.
The interview went really well and the people who had watched me walk in watched me walk out too. I must be looking good.
When I got home I went to my room and did a celebratory twirl in front of the mirror. That's when I noticed my skirt was tucked up into my underwear in the back.
I never heard back from the Rockhaven.
And just the other week, I finished work early on a Friday and went to a local store (I can't bring myself to tell you which one) and was shopping for blouses for work. I was going to be looking pretty sharp in these clothes I tell ya.
Then, for no reason I could fathom, my bowel turned to liquid and I was left frantically dashing around the store, all the while trying to look calm and relaxed, looking for someone to tell me where the heck the bathroom was.
I had to break into a conversation a store employee was having with his boss, but this was an emergency. He pointed toward the back of the store, got on the intercom system to announce that someone had to meet a customer at the door at the back of the store, and I was walked through the back of the store to the employee locker area where the tiny bathroom was and was grateful to find it empty.
The woman who led me in left me which made me even more grateful.
The end came and I got up to leave only to find the toilet wouldn't flush.
I left as quickly and as unobtrusively as possible.
You see what I mean? Now do you understand how I could get the idea that the Universe has it in for me?
I was thinking about all this the other day and then I looked at my daughter who will turn four in January and suddenly I saw everything differently.
The words from a Sound of Music song kept running through my head,
"Somewhere in my wicked, miserable past
I must have done something good."
And that settled it for me, now power that could give me a gift as great as my daughter could hate me. I figure it's more than the Universe has this really weird sense of humour and it is bound and determined to make sure I never take myself too seriously.
And for that I am grateful.

Save me from dead-end debates!

So I turned on the leaders' debate on TV Thursday night looking forward to hearing the ideas of what should have been four party representatives on how they would run the province if they are elected.
The Green Party is running candidates in all ridings but for some reason beyond my comprehension, party leader Frank de Jong wasn't included.
So I was stuck watching the same old three suits (the faces are different but I swear, the suits are the same) and listening to the same old tired election tactic of trying to pick away at the current in-power politico as opposed to talking about what plans your own party has to make things better.
I could only take about two minutes of it before turning it off.
Honestly, The NDP's Howard Hampton and the Conservative's John Tory surely have some ideas on how they want to improve things in the province, ideas on issues like healthcare and seniors and education. Isn't it more important to get those ideas out there than simply bitching at the guy in power?
Recent radio ads I've been hearing from the Conservatives run along the same line – bitch, bitch, bitch.
Tell me your ideas!
I don't need you to tell me about Dalton McGuinty and what he's done as Premier. I've been conscious throughout most of his term, I know this stuff.
And frankly when I hear opposition campaigners spending all their time slamming the current in-power party it makes me wonder what it is about their own platform that they don't want to talk about.
So the next time there's a leaders debate, please include all the leaders who have candidates in all ridings and please let me know beforehand whether those taking part will be actually presenting new ideas or just gnawing that same old blame-game election bone.
'Cause frankly, I'd rather be watching re-runs of extended video footage of grass growing!

It only takes a second

Have you ever taken the time to watch fog?
I don't mean just notice it as you're driving or walking through it, but really staying still and quiet to watch this misty, mysterious entity.
It can billow as it moves, or creep slowly along, led by tiny tendrils of ghostly gossamer.
It floats like a weightless presence, carefully assessing all it passes over, leaving behind a tingling reminder of its having been there, in traces of glistening beads of water dangling delicately on spiders' webs, blades of grass, leaves on the trees.
I like to walk into fog, the thicker the better, and let it wrap around me. I close my eyes and let myself be enfolded in this chill blanket, my imagination picking up the whispers of elves, or hobbits lost on their long and weary road.
There's something absolutely magical about fog and something deeply profound happens to every soul that takes the time to watch it, become a part of it, breath it in.
This time of year the morning's are often swathed in bands of this cool gauze.
Treat yourself. Take some time. Give yourself a few seconds, or minutes, to slow down on the way to work and really watch this magnificent manifestation of nature.

They grow up so fast...

My daughter Mary recently told our neighbour that she is starting school this year.
The neighbour asked what grade she is going into and my daughter replied she heading into high school.
Mary is three and a half years old.
The effect her words had on me was immediate and profound. I literally froze.
My eyes locked on my girl, chatting happily with our neighbour, my body suddenly feeling like it was made of cement, my mouth hanging open like a gaping, well, mouth, and I was, for perhaps the first time in my life, stuck for words.
You know that saying that just before you die your life flashes before your eyes?
Well, after my daughter uttered those words, her whole life flashed before my eyes.
I was in Vancouver, 42 and single when I discovered I was pregnant. I've just remembered the real first time I was stuck for words.
It was strange timing. I'd recently come to peace with the idea of never having children. I'd never been married but thought it was something I could consider if I decided to have a child. Having grown up without a father at home, it was very important to provide my future child with a mother and a father.
Well you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men and women!
I'd never met a man I thought I could put up with 'til death do us part, and vice versa.
But this guy came close. So, there I was a few days later, telling the man I loved that I was carrying his child.
It was an extremely difficult pregnancy. The occasional migraines I suffered from since I was a child became chronic, making it impossible to work. I had to go on short-term disability and spent many, many painful days in bed.
I developed gestational diabetes and for the last two months of my pregnancy was unable to sit or stand for more than one or two hours before becoming violently ill.
It didn't make things any easier that as the pregnancy progressed the maturity level of my man exponentially diminished. It was bizarre watching this life growing within me and this mentality draining away in front of me.
To give him credit, he was in the delivery room when Mary was born. And he obviously adored her as did I. The second I saw that child I was smitten in a way I'd never known. She had taken immediate possession of my heart and soul.
Her father, unfortunately, wasn't able to overcome his demons and be the father she deserved or the partner I needed so I brought her back to Ontario to raise her in Lakefield where I grew up and where she now is surrounded with family.
Over the last three and a half years I have begged her not to grow up too fast. She's not even old enough for junior kindergarten and she's already planning on going to high school.
Oh my heart!
I never knew, until I had a child, just how fast time could pass. Last night, while she slept, I found myself staring at her chubby little hand, lying on top of the bedclothes, tracing with my eyes the soft curve of her pink cheeks, marvelling at her long eyelashes and beautiful golden hair. And it occurred to me that no matter how old this child gets, no matter what grade she goes into in the autumns to come, she will always and forever be my baby.

Turn off your car!

I'm the first one to admit it can be very easy to stymie me. There are things I just cannot wrap my mind around. Like trying to ban drive-thrus. The idea is to cut down on air pollution created by idling. It's a noble cause but I just don't see it happening anytime soon.
However! I do not like to see a car idling especially when there's no large double-double with a cream-filled donut for a payoff.
Today I went into my local donut shop to pick up the morning java and there was a big line up of idling cars and right beside the door to the joint, sitting in a parking space, was an empty car, idling. What's up with that? Who chooses not to get in the drive-thru, parks, goes inside and leaves their car running? I am stymied!
And I can't count the number of times I've picked my daughter off at daycare and seen the cars of parental units sitting in the parking lot, empty and running! These moms and/or dads are inside, chit chatting with the marvelous daycare people and reuniting with their child and outside their car is chug-chugging, spewing crap into the air that their child has to breathe! Again, stymied.
I remember when I was a kid there was a commercial on television and the punch line (if you will) was "Don't mess with Mother Nature". I've never forgotten those words. The commercial was supposed to be funny but I've never taken those words lightly.
I'm nowhere near as environmentally responsible as I should be, but there are some things we just shouldn't do and how tough is it to turn the car key and take it out of the little key hole?
Stymied.

Things to keep in mind...

It's time once again for provincial politicians to dust off their shoes, put on some fancy clothes and smile smile smile! Yes, it's time for the pre-election two step, or waltz, or whatever you want to call it, when politicians of every stripe hit the proverbial dance floor looking to spin and dip voters before they twirl them toward the ballot box.
It's quite a show. Forget about So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars; this tops them all!
The only thing is, those two reality TV shows don't try to pretend to be something they're not. Whereas when politicians get fired up on the hustings, well, needless to say, that's an entirely different story.
I understand the need to get out there and talk to the people about policy and plans and hopes for the future while trying at every possible opportunity to debase the competition. But please, politicians, for the love of all us poor voting slobs, don't insult our intelligence by trying to disguise what you're doing as regular business which has nothing to do with the upcoming election.
Case in point - it was mentioned by myself and one other reporter at a recent visit to the City by Premier Dalton McGuinty, that his visits and recent promises to our local populace might just be seen as political pandering in the face of the looming vote.
According to our Premier nothing could be further from the truth. "I started campaigning for this election the day after I was elected," he told us.
Well, there you go.
Local provincial candidates of all political stripe are filling my e-mail box at work with notices of what their plans would be should they be elected and why what all the other parties have done or may do could lead to the downfall of civilization as we know it.
Perhaps I'm being overly dramatic, but you get my drift.
It baffles me that this happens every time an election comes up and politicians still try to present promises of big new funding as nothing more than a genuine concern for whatever subject they are talking about. It's like they really believe people don't understand what they're doing and act absolutely put out if the media calls them on it.
It's as if so long as they don't say it out loud, no one will pick up on the fact that all this financial support will come to nothing if their party isn't elected. It's a simple as that.

My rant for today

Every time I hear a city councillor say "I'll be brief" or "I won't repeat what's already been said," I cringe because that's exactly what they're not going to do!
Tuesday night's (Aug. 7) was a perfect example of how these people can get out of control and then drag out a meeting.
I've already written about this council somehow charming me, and I still enjoy covering their work, but there are nights, like Tuesday, when I want to scream at them to just call the question already!
These are reasonably intelligent people who are in the positions they're in, hopefully, because they want to improve their community. That should be the sole motive for sitting in council chambers. There should be no:
• talking for the sake of talking so it looks like you're doing your job,
• allowing emotions to overrule your common sense because you want to look good to people sitting in the audience or the television cameras,
• asking inane questions of delegations because you weren't listening properly to the information they had already quite clearly laid out.
The Tuesday meeting went to 11 p.m. and a little beyond and as Mayor Paul Ayotte pointed out, little was accomplished.
Trying to make the County EMS purchase look like a bad deal was simply a waste of time that seemed prompted by some councillors feeling snubbed when the deal was made. Getting that building and having Signum renovate it is a huge financial saving for the County and City.
And Jack Doris is absolutely right in his objection to the larger than inflation rate raises submitted for some city employees. At a time when this city should be leading the way on fighting for those less fortunate now that we have a Task Force on Poverty, how can that kind of spending be justified?
That kind of stalling tactic I can appreciate because it is a genuine attempt to force council to play fair.
Some of these council meetings need a referee, not a mayor, leading them.
Cut the dramatics, councillors, and get the job done.

My rant for today

Every time I hear a city councillor say "I'll be brief" or "I won't repeat what's already been said," I cringe because that's exactly what they're not going to do!
Tuesday night's (Aug. 7) was a perfect example of how these people can get out of control and then drag out a meeting.
I've already written about this council somehow charming me, and I still enjoy covering their work, but there are nights, like Tuesday, when I want to scream at them to just call the question already!
These are reasonably intelligent people who are in the positions they're in, hopefully, because they want to improve their community. That should be the sole motive for sitting in council chambers. There should be no:
• talking for the sake of talking so it looks like you're doing your job,
• allowing emotions to overrule your common sense because you want to look good to people sitting in the audience or the television cameras,
• asking inane questions of delegations because you weren't listening properly to the information they had already quite clearly laid out.
The Tuesday meeting went to 11 p.m. and a little beyond and as Mayor Paul Ayotte pointed out, little was accomplished.
Trying to make the County EMS purchase look like a bad deal was simply a waste of time that seemed prompted by some councillors feeling snubbed when the deal was made. Getting that building and having Signum renovate it is a huge financial saving for the County and City.
And Jack Doris is absolutely right in his objection to the larger than inflation rate raises submitted for some city employees. At a time when this city should be leading the way on fighting for those less fortunate now that we have a Task Force on Poverty, how can that kind of spending be justified?
That kind of stalling tactic I can appreciate because it is a genuine attempt to force council to play fair.
Some of these council meetings need a referee, not a mayor, leading them.
Cut the dramatics, councillors, and get the job done.

Everyone wants to be missed

The next time you're feeling really down, consider the life of a carp.
These fish are dying by the dozens every day. We've got tons of their poor dead bodies building up in our landfill sites, and yet the ecosystem they are a part of doesn't seem to miss them at all.
I've spoken to two marine biologists who tell me the loss of the carp really won't make a difference to their habitat. Let's face it, they lift right out.
They have no natural predators and they don't eat enough of anything imporant enough to matter. They're not even native to our waters.
The ecosystem was fine before they got here, and if they all left, apparently it would still be fine.
Imagine facing your ultimate demise and learning that your leaving won't even cause a ripple in the surrounding water.
Pity the poor carp, scaly swimmer of the deep, big-mouthed, mushy-meated drifter in the tides, our aquatic immigrant from the East. I may not represent much of your ecosystems my finned friend, but I would miss you if you were gone.
I'd missing seeing you and your buddies splashing around in the river water under the Lakefield bridge at mating time. I'd miss you swimming close to me at the Riverview Zoo while I lob tiny pelleted morsels at you.
Never fear dear carp! There is at least one soul on this Earth who would mourn your passing.

Say it ain't so Joe!

City council has asked staff to look into drive-thrus. Why? Because councillors like Shirley Eggleton and Dean Pappas say they're bad for the environment.
I get miffed when I see people heading into buildings for whatever reason while their vehicles sits outside with the engine running. What's up with that? Definitely bad for the environment. (are you listening Bill Juby?)
And early in the mornings, when you see those long, long line ups at coffee shops of people getting their wake-up java, all their engines idling - fans of our air get positively put out by that.
At lunch time the exhaust belching line-ups are outside the fast food joints.
Still, I admit, I've been in some of those lines. Not nearly every day, as I think it's faster to go inside and get my iced cappucino.
I love our environment. It means the world to me. But there are times when my human-ness takes over all reason and says I'm too tired to get my lazy butt out of my car but I need by caffeine and I need it now!!!!
And then there's the fan of the fast food drive-thru. People need their fries!
And who's going to be the one to tell them the party's over?
Who knows what kind of damage a long line up of grease and caffeine deprived lazy bums could do if they drive to the window only to find it closed!
Good luck Dean and Shirley!

And so we meet again...

It's July 23 and Peterborough City councillors will be sitting tonight after a two week break. I admit, it's been nice having to last two Monday nights off, but heck I'm looking forward to seeing that kooky gang of go-getters again.
And Mayor Paul Ayotte will be back. You might remember our Mayor has had some time off to get over surgery he had a few weeks ago. I talked to him the other day and he seems genuinely happy to be back on his feet.
Now I'm sure a lot of you reading this are wondering why a man would choose to get off his sick bed to go back to work at City Hall and why I, a reasonably sane, journalist would be looking forward to another Monday night with these people. I have to say, though, that through all their wrangling and verbal grappling, through their grandstanding and postulating and vicious ripping apart of the English language, and all their merciless dragging out of even the most simple, basic item on the agenda, there is something really loveable about this specific group of councillors.
There's Patti Peeters and her rolling eyes and frustrated sighs.
Dean Pappas and his goofy laugh and horrible but heartfelt rendering of the national anthem.
Bob Hall who loves to stand up in front of the TVCogeco cameras but runs a heck of a well-paced meeting when he is chair.
And Len Vass, whom I watch closely and listen to every meeting for the new new word to be born from his lips. It will be hard to improve on "silo-ized", but I have faith that he will do it.
Ann Farquharson is a very smart lady who loves her smoke breaks and because of that when she chairs people at least get a few minutes to stretch before heading back into the fray.
Doug Peacock is a pleasure to watch when he talks about his work on the Mayor's Anti-Poverty Taskforce; the man really wants to help.
Shirley Eggleton, aside from criticizing stories before she's read them, has a demeanour you find yourself wishing would rub off on others in council. Shirley doesn't talk much.
'Nuff said.
Jack Doris, our council elder. We need this man not just because he is so passionate about his city, but because he speaks for seniors in our community, who are part of a constantly growing population.
And then there's Eric Martin, with his sweet smile and his desire to do good. He's a regular Joe and he never tries to be anything else.
Last but not least, Mr. Henry Clarke! The man with the military history. He loves this city and the people in it and he always shoots from the hip.
All in all, a likeable bunch. I don't know exactly why or how, but they have charmed me.
Unless it's 10:30 at night and the same people are asking the same question for the 50th time and I'm ready to scream at them and tell them for God's sake to grow up and get the friggin' job done!
Yep, overall, a likeable bunch.

When Two Become One

I was hit with a creative epiphany this morning!
In the spirit of joining two Hollywood names to create one, (Bennifer, Brangelina) I found myself pondering Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie and their history together and their lives apart.
Then out of the blue it came to me Paris and Nicole = Parole.
Coincidence?

The Mounties New Man

So there are some poo-pooers out there saying that putting former government security advisor William Elliot at the helm of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is a power grab by the feds, that Ottawa wants more power over the Mounties.
There are also those who say Elliot, having had no prior police experience, has no right to head the RCMP.
Well, nobody likes change right?
The Mounties have always promoted from within. And look how well that's been working for them lately!
Sure change is scary, but hey, what's been going on within the RCMP over the last few years reads like a Stephen King novel.
I say, give Mr. Elliot the same chance to screw up that some members of the RCMP have been given.
And so what if the government wants to take over running the Mounties? It's not like we've seen a ruling federal party ever do anything like misappropriate funds for things like, say, sponsorship programs.
Yes, there's a slight chance we could be flipping our mounted men and women from the proverbial frying pan into the proverbial fire, but like I say, let's give Mr. Elliot the same chance as his predecessors in the RCMP and in Ottawa to show what he can do with the public trust.

Prime Minister Potter?

In keeping with the Harry Potter mania that is being fueled to near hysteria by the opening of the fifth movie in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and the release of the seventh and last book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", I find myself pondering what it would be like if Harry Potter ruled the world. Or at least was Prime Minister of Canada.
On a national level, would he be a Progressive Conservative, a Liberal or an NDPer?
Personally, I think he'd probably lean toward the Green Party. Think about it, he's got to use all those natural herbs and things for potions, any magical student worth his or her salt has an animal and has to care for it, he flies around on a broomstick so air pollution would definitely be an issue, not to mention air quality when those Dementors start breeding and kick all that foggy stuff into the air.
Then there's Lord Voldemort and his gangs of marauders who have been rambling around, strafing chunks of land, generally laying waste to anything and anyone that gets in their way (law enforcement would obviously be high on the Potter platform as well). And there's no electricity use at all in the world of magic so he'd score big environmentally on that issue.
Of course it might be tough, a wizard trying to fit into a muggle (non-magic person) world. In fact, with all that power at his command, he could realize one day that he's got such an advantage over his constituents that maybe he doesn't need to ask their opinions about anything anymore, just flash that wand of his and everybody shuts up and quits complaining.
He could do whatever he wants. He could rule through fear and manipulation. He could use his powers to force people to accept his way whether they want to or not. Now that's a scary thought.
Good thing Harry Potter is just an imaginary character.

Pains of Politics

There's a provincial election coming in October and all our elected and unelected politicos are buzzing around like busy bees trying to push all the right buttons so all the right boxes will be marked come ballot time.
Not too long ago Premier Dalton McGuinty was in Peterborough to announce a bunch of new money that would be made available to municipalities wanting to green up their operations. It wasn't all that much money when you broke it down. It wasn't that big a deal for Peterborough since the City has already done a lot of work to green itself up.
It was a fairly ho hum Hi-dee Ho from the Premier, although I must say he got my blood up when he refused to answer a question I asked about what, if any, Provincial plans are in the works to help our battered emergency shelter system, that has left the Brock Mission teetering on the edge of extinction.
But what really got my goat was after the formal news conference was over.
Our Peterborough This Week photographer for the event, Lauren Gilchrist came over to tell me the Premier was looking for me. I obliged and went over to talk to the man.
He told me he'd just learned of the plight of local veterans trying to get a wall of honour put up in Confederation Square across from City Hall.
"We will make it happen," he declared.
"Even if it means changing provincial law?" I asked.
"We will make it happen," he said again.
Now with an election on the way political stumping and promissory posturing are natural and indeed expected. But let's take a moment to reflect on political history.
Has there ever been a time when a politician has made a campaign promise that he or she can't keep?
Has there ever been a period on our planet when a politician has offered promises to some of the most vulnerable and fragile members of our society and then not followed through?
Did I mention there's an election coming in the fall?
The hardest thing to swallow about Premier McGuinty's statement is that it was a promise made to our veterans. These people have stared into the eyes of death and seen horrors most of us can't even imagine. They've laid their lives on the line for each and every one of us. I think that makes them worthy of every respect we can show them.
So for the sake of these women and men, many of whom have died while the wall debate dragged on and on and on and on, I hope the Premier was doing more than simply making another political promise that may or may not be kept.
But did I mention there's an election in October?