I heart Jon Stewart.

Watch him chew up and spit out Mike Huckabee.

YAY Obama, Boo Prop 8!

Lets start this post on a happy note, shall we?
So first of all, I am so over the moon that Obama won. And how great that it was California that sent him over the top and totally crushed McCain?
Last night we were at a friend's and we all crowded around her TV to watch McCain concede and to watch Obama's speech. It was pretty amazing, and I may have gotten a little teary eyed. I am so happy that I can look forward to the next for years rather than dread what might happen next.
On Jan. 20 I predict that Obama and family will rent a really strong steam cleaner to get the Bush stink out of the White House!

And the not so happy note.
Prop 8 passed, and I am not happy. More than not happy. I am devastated. I would like to be naive and say that I don't understand how a blue state could let this happen. But I guess, blue or red, hate is hate and there is hate, and this proposition was peddlin' the hate.
We were in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago and I saw a Yes on Prop 8 sign in a church window, which upset me. It bothers me that people use religion to perpetuate hate, and really, wouldn't a true Christian be tolerant? I think, too, that fear played a part, but I don't understand it. The Yesers talk about preserving marriage and whatnot, and I think that gay marriage does it's part to preserve it. Marriage is about love and commitment, not about penises and vaginas and the "proper" distribution of them. So for the religious folk who claim that marriage is only for a man and a woman, what about hetero people on their 4th or 5th marriages? I think that those people have destroyed the sanctity of marriage more then a lesbian couple who love each other and have been committed to each other for a long time. Furthermore just because the gay guys in the apartment next to you are married doesn't negate your hetero marriage, only you can negate your own marriage. So why the fear? Why the hate?
Also to add insult to injury one of the provisions of prop 8 is that only a marriage between a man and a woman is "valid or recognized" in California. Therefore anyone who was married is no longer; how horrible is that?
A friend commented yesterday that if you were to read the proposition and replace "gay" with "black" (or Chinese, Indian, white, blue eyed, brown eyed....) that it would be a horribly bigoted proposition. And yet, it passed.

I am sad.

Obama Wins!

And the Nos take prop 8!
Those are my predictions. I hope they come true, because I can't imagine a world where they don't.
I really hate that Adam and I couldn't vote in this election. We did donate though, hopefully that will help. Every little bit, right?

I only have time for bullets.

I have a bunch of posts floating around my head, but I can rarely find the time to sit and compose a post so I don't, and then most of it leaves my head.
Here's what's left.

1. My friend ran a marathon yesterday. She rocks. It was really interesting to watch the marathon, oddly. The vibe was really supportive and upbeat. There were a lot of people cheering the runners on, many of whom were excited themselves, even when we saw them the first time at mile 16. A lot of the runners were running for Team In Training, and I think that they come with a large cheering section of their own. But still it was amazing the amount of support that was there. I may have been moved to tears a couple of times. (shh don't tell anyone that I'm a total wuss)
Watching the marathon made me feel bad about the time when I tried to train for one and quit. (my shin splints, ohhhhh the PAIN) anyhow I wondered why some people run and put themselves through the pain. Running isn't good for the body really, it's horribly jarring and mangles you, and yet there were 20000 runners yesterday. Perhaps they do it for bragging rights, perhaps just for self satisfaction, perhaps to raise money for charities like TNT. It's interesting, I think the last 2 reasons are totally admirable, the first isn't. Boo on braggars.

2. Trixie is always on my mind, I am always composing posts to talk about how amazing she is and how much I love her. I would write one everyday, but then I wouldn't have much to write in her monthly newsletter. But golly I love that baby, I knew I would, but I didn't know that it would be this amazing. A few weeks ago I was trying to figure out the amount of time I've spent with her since she was born. I would guess between 95-97% of her life she's been within arms reach of me. How amazing is that? My percent is so high because I wear her all of the time, I take her everywhere with me, I sleep next to her and I really love being with her. We're working on potty training with her, and I'll tell you more later in her newsletter, but she rocks! She had a watery tummy a couple of days ago, and even then she had only 2 poo misses, she made it to her potty every time. Yay for less poopy diaper laundry!

3. Politics. Oh this is a big one. I really hate that I can't vote. It's not fair, my husband pays taxes here, we own property here and I have an American baby, I should be able to vote! I actually care to vote as well! Anyhow I'm sure you would have figured that I would vote for Obama, (duh) but what's really frosting me right now is Proposition 8. It kills me to see ads on TV prompting people to vote yes on prop 8. Seriously, vote yes? As in deny a human basic rights? And this is supposed to be the best country on earth?
I'm so glad I'm Canadian.

So to summarize, Regan is a running goddess, Trixie is adorable and all people deserve basic civil rights, because what will be next? Taking the vote from women? Ugh!

Tweedle Dea the (unpaid) Pundit

The other day the California Supreme court overturned the ban on same sex marriage. And for the record I am 100% in support allowing same sex marriage. (doesn't same sex marriage sound so much better than gay marriage?) I have always felt that same sex marriages should be allowed because it's a basic right, and everyone should have the right to marry their soul mate, life partner, childhood sweetheart or whatever it may be. To reiterate, it's a right, everyone should have this right, not just some of us.
As I proclaim this I am sure that I am going to irritate some people and I am donning my fire protecting suit for the flaming I might get for saying this. However what if random people like me don't support these decisions and the rabid right gets their way and dictates what is allowed and what isn't, then what kind of a world will my daughter grow up in? What if she finds out her soul mate is a woman but she can't be free to have the same life I do for the simple fact of genitalia? I would be devastated! But without looking to the future, I think of the daughters and sons of now, who are by omission, being classed as second rate citizens. It's just not right, and it's really not fair.
I've had this argument several times with my father, brother and even my mother (among other people) about the rights of same sex couples. They all think that homosexuality is wrong and heterosexuality is right. The argument I use against them is to ask them why they care. What does it matter to them if their neighbour is gay? Are they scared it will rub off on them? Are they scared that they will turn gay by association? Are they not secure in their own sexuality? Often I am met with scowls and remarks about the bible with these comments, which kinda amuses me since we're not at all a religious family, and really if we were to abide by everything in the bible I should have been sold into slavery a long time ago. My argument boils down to why care if it's not hurting or affecting you? No one is forcing anyone to be gay, and you can't turn gay by associating or knowing someone who is.
Another argument that the nay sayers use is that same sex marriage devalues their own traditional marriage. However, I feel that only people that can devalue the marriage are the two people in the marriage. So if you feel that your marriage is strong how can it be weakened or devalued if your gay neighbours make the same commitments you have. Shouldn't we applaud them instead? In a society where there is a 50% divorce rate shouldn't we applaud other people who are willing to work on a relationship and make a commitment. Some of the couples on the news who were applying for marriage licences had been together for many years, having already made a lifelong commitment to their partner and now just wanted it to be legal. Their relationships had already outlasted many traditional marriages; clearly they have proven that they are marriage material!
And finally another reason for me to be a proud Canadian. Canada has allowed same sex marriages since 2003. In fact Vancouver has been a mecca for same sex marriages since then, becoming quite the destination. I hope that the USA will follow in the footsteps of Canada and become far more progressive. I hope this for the sake of my daughter's generation.

Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day or Veterans Day for my American pals who are confused when I call it Remembrance Day. As you know I an a little passionate about the importance of today. You know a lot of it can be attributed to my Grampa.
I thought that this year I would discuss another aspect of today that haunts me a little. When I was younger today was so important, almost holy to my family. At a young age I had a full understanding what November 11th meant and it's importance. However my understanding was really based around the veterans from World War 1 and especially World War 2 (where my Grampa was in the army as a medic in the trenches in France). I understand now, especially with the current war, that the focus has been shifted to another generation. While I comprehend this and understand that the current young men need all the support they can get, I implore all of my readers, friends and family to still save a little piece of space in your heart and remember the vets of WW1 and WW2.
Without being overly political I truly believe that the importance of those 2 wars really shaped our countries (Canada and USA) more than any other war. Men like my Grampa fought hard and long to protect us, and I feel that we need to honour them properly.
To be fair we should still remember the other veterans from the other wars, but those vets still number among us and can remind us, but the numbers of them from WW1 and 2 are so small that we have to take it upon ourselves to remember for them, and to teach our children about them too.
So I hope you all took a moment at 11am to remember them, if not, take that moment now.
thank you.

Oh MAN I wish I could vote here.

I heart Stephen Colbert.
I think it will be intresting to see what really happens. Adam says if he does run he can't have his show, which would be horrible....

Deadra for President!

And I'll wear a bright and shiny pin! Just to distract everyone so that they don't have to listen to what I say. They'll all be mesmerized by my shiney that I will be able to go ahead and make the United States America the 11th province. (or really, it should be a territory....)
Okay all kidding aside, I can't believe that there is still a debate over Barack Obama's choice to not wear an American Flag lapel pin.
I'm sure you've all heard the story, he stopped wearing the pin after 9/11 claiming that he'd show is patriotism through acts not jewelry. He said this over a week ago. And yet there is still an uproar about it. I saw something with Ann Coulter blabbing about how he's wrong, but I can't find that link right now. But in any case, I don't like that woman, and disagree with her vehemently on so many issues.
I really don't understand why it's an issue. I wonder if it is because I am so liberal, or because I am Canadian and this wouldn't be an issue at home. (perhaps it's because I'm a liberal Canadian) Anyhow there are much more important things to be debated rather than the jewelry choices of a candidate.

Loonie Trumps the Greenback

November 25, 1976 was a historical day in Canada, it was when the Canadian dollar closed higher than the American dollar. Nearly 31 years later, September 20, 2007 the Canadian dollar again is higher than the American dollar. At one point during the day the Canadian dollar was $1.0002 American dollars. However by the end of trading the Canadian dollar did drop to $0.9981 American dollars.
The article quotes Canadian strengths from our exports to promote the jump in the dollar, but I honestly think that it's from the drop in the American dollar. As the war wages it's sucking America dry and weakening it's dollar, which makes the Canadian dollar appear stronger.
(This article backs my theory. Interestingly it is a Canadian source whereas the first is from an American source.)
Now while I would LOVE to gloat, it's really not that great for Canada's economy. Canada does best when it's around $0.80ish to the American dollar because then exporting from Canada is cheaper and a lot of our economy is export. I understand that I am no economist but I did grow up in BC in an area who's main industry was lumber, and growing up I could see the effects of the rising and falling dollar on the local economy. It was really apparent as I was bussed to school passing the local lumber mill, or waiting at the bus stop watching the logging trucks lug on by. When the economy was strong there was a neverending line of logging trucks and the mill had lots full of fresh lumber and the whole area around the mill smelled of woodchips. (Which to this day still reminds me of home.) However when the economy was struggling there were less trucks to entice to blow their horns; the mill lot was full of old lumber and the sweet chippy smell was less intense.
So while yesterday was a great day for Canadian Pride, and really nails home to Adam and I that this is the best time for us to buy a house as large amounts of money will be crossing the border down to us, it does worry me a little. It's best for Canada's economy for our Loonie to be slightly under the Greenback, because that is when we're strongest.

Jesus Camp.

Adam and I watched Jesus Camp last night. I'm not sure why I like to torture myself with documentaries that I KNOW will send me into a tizzy. And yet, I do, it's like I'm some sort of sadist/ masochist freak (because I also made Adam watch it.) Throughout the movie we'd look at each other wide eyed and shocked that people think like the people on the show did.
So to recap, the movie followed a couple of kids and their families who are Evangelical Christians as they prepared to go to a summer bible camp. The camp claims to prepare the children to be "dedicated Christian soldiers in God's army", and to teach them how to take America back for Christ.
I know WTF! Soldiers? Soldiers! These were children, pre teen children at the oldest, talking politics, bashing other (christian) religions and praising George W. Bush. The pastor, Becky Fischer explained that there are Muslim camps that teach children how to use guns and hand grenades, to justify brainwashing the children in her church and ultimately the camp. I'm not sure if there are Muslim camps that teach children this, in addition to being prepared to lay down their lives like Becky says, but to use that as a basis for her camps is wrong, in my opinion. Granted she doesn't have the kids using guns and other weapons, but to try to model a camp after something so grotesque is scary, even if it is just in name.
During one scene, one of the leaders at the camp brings out a life sized cutout of Bushy-Busherkins and they have the children pray to him, begging him to choose a good superior judge. They prayed for him to continue to lead the country as well as he already has. I sighed out loud at this scene. (I only sighed because I was getting numb and it wasn't the worst of them all.) Children shouldn't get involved in politics, they should be worried about child things. It was a scene that really evidenced how these children were having their childhoods robbed from them. It was sad.
There was another scene where a particularly brainwashed child was commenting how there are dead churches. The ones where the worshippers sit quietly and pray quietly. She mimicked them making her voice drone and robotic chanting something like 'We worship you God...'. I was disturbed by this scene because she's 9, and yet she has this hatred for other Christian sects, hatred for other people. When I was 9, I had no idea that there were other religions, nor did I care, because I thought everyone was the same, and I was happy with that thought.
That same girl would preach to other random strangers, and there was a scene where she gave a book to a random girl in a bowling ally, telling the stranger that God told her to do it. Her parents were proud, the stranger was befuddled. I worry that someday that little girl will approach someone and the stranger won't politely thank her, that stranger may get offended, perhaps hurting her. And yet her parents encourage her to do this. I wondered to myself what I would have done. After my initial shock, I think I would just tell her I wasn't interested and to have a nice day. Then I would stare daggers at her parents for allowing their daughter to be so brash.
There was another girl in the movie. She was 10 and liked to dance. She commented that she will only dance to Christian Rock, and that she sometimes danced for the flesh, but it was wrong and she shouldn't. She should only dance to proclaim her faith. She's 10. 10! So wrong. During the movie there were several close ups of this little girl crying during a lively prayer. She seemed to really get involved and always ended up crying. I wonder, if God loved her so much, and her him, why does she cry so much? Why is she encouraged to cry? There was one scene where she spilled 3-4 big tears and she looked right into the camera, then quickly away. Aware that she was being filmed, like she was making sure that her tears weren't wasted. Again, a freaky loss of innocence.
The last boy I need to mention was about 9 or 10; he had a bad haircut, but that isn't the issue, although it did bare mentioning, it was that bad. He liked to preach and was often given the opportunity. He told Ted Haggard that he particularly liked to preach about faith. Ted asked him if people liked to listen to him and the kid said yes. To which Ted asked if it was because he was a cute kid, or because he has good content? Then Ted told him to keep it up and rely on his cuteness and that by the time he was 30 his content will come. The kid was a little taken aback, and Ted was smug. This exchange solidified my dislike for Ted, I thought it was mean spirited. I don't think a child should preach, but who was Ted to tell him he wasn't good. Anyhow this is neither here nor there. This child was almost militant in his beliefs. A conversation was filmed of him and his mom during one of their home school lessons regarding evolution. The boy said it was stupid, and doesn't understand how people could believe it and not creationism. (The whole movie seemed to really lack in the whole science department, clearly no engineers are being turned into soldiers.) The mother also asked him about global warming and he explained (I'm sure he was just regurgitating) that it's not true, that the mean global temperature has only gone up 0.6 degrees in 10 years, and that isn't anything to worry about. (To which I commented that 0.6 degrees in 10 years, when it's been stable for millions is a lot, anyhow I digress.) I was saddened by the whole scene. Science is important, and yet, he is missing out. The movie said that 70 or 75% of the home schooled kids in America are Evangelical Christians. That's a lot of science not being taught.
Finally there was a lot of anti abortion talk. What I found interesting is that the leader was showing the kids what a 7 week embryo looks like, it was about 5X too big. Clearly someone missed a science lesson, or 400. Anyhow the kids were all given plastic embryos, there was much crying and loud praying. I rolled my eyes. I have strong convictions about abortion, and they seem to be the exact opposite of what these kids are being taught. I had to look away. Children should not be involved in politics. But this abortion talk is for another entry, on another day.
Anyhow the movie was interesting. If you're as liberal as I am, it's scary. Becky even commented that really liberal liberals should be scared. I'm not so much scared by her, I'm disgusted, and I pity these children. Ted commented that the Evangelicals make up so much of the population that they can sway a vote, that scares me a little.
Little liberal me, with a blog and a argumentative nature.