Hey everybody! I found this little list on my minister's (Rev. vanPopta) blog and I thought it was pretty good so here it is.

Charismatic: Only one. Hands already in the air.
Pentecostal: Ten. One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against spirit of darkness.
Presbyterians: None. Lights will go on and off at predestined times.
Roman Catholic: None. Candles only.
Baptists: At least 15. One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken.
Episcopalians: Three. One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks, and one to talk about how much better the old one was.
Methodists: Undetermined. Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Church-wide lighting service is planned for Sunday. Bring bulb of your choice and a covered dish.
Nazarene: Six. One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.
Lutherans: None. Lutherans don't believe in change.
Amish: What's a light bulb?

So tonight we were going through old pictures in order to find some for my brothers grad and we came across this one...me and my brother camping back in the day...good times.

Stephen Harper Cooking in Saint Johns, Newfoundland.


Now I know that I am morally and traditionally conservative in my opinions but as of late I don't know if I want to be politically affiliated with the Conservative Party of Canada. I mean...It all started when I was in Trois Pistole, Quebec when I had a huge debate on separatism and politics with a couple from London, a professor of English from the U of Guelph, and and really smart Quebecor bum off the street. The professor expressed his curiousity in how the West hates the Liberals, and shared his concern over the idea that he feels the West has been "hijacked" by the Conservatives. At first I did not think much of the comment, but as I entertained the idea a little bit more in my head, the answer seemed simple: the Conservatives are a regionalist party in the minds of Westerners. Just like the Quebecors have the Bloc de Quebecois, so the West has the Conservative party. And one can see why; it is not like the Liberals listen to us or do anything for Western Canada, as long as they have Ontario and Quebec on their side. The NDP doesn't offer any alternative, except a good environmental policy which Albertans don't want. Thus, left with no other options, it is my newly found idea that the Conservative Party of Canada is actually a regionalist party for Western Canada. Maybe such an idea would explain why the Conservatives have such a hard time gaining support in Ontario, Quebec, and Eastern Canada.

Anyways, since I arrived home in Manitoba a week and a half ago, I have been able to keep up with federal politics a lot easier; mostly due in part that the news is in English, not French. Yet as I have been watching Question Period and other f ederal proceedings in the House of Commons over the past week, I have been disturbed by some of the actions taken by the Conservative Party. Now I appreciate that the Conservatives are all for holding the government accountable (after the sponsorship scandal I think everyone should be cautious), but even within the past week I have seen that the Conservatives are carrying the whole situation too far. I can deal with having to listen to every Conservative MP spew insults at the Liberals over how incompetent they are but when they start lying or the partisan jabs get in the way of the well-being of their own constituents, I think a line is being crossed. For example, this past Tuesday or Wednesday night I watched the emergency debate on the Devils Lake Project in the House. Now for all of you who don't know the situation, the short story is that North Dakota is planning to transfer water from this lake (that is full of pollutants and what not) into a nearby river which flows into the Red River and into Lake Winnipeg and Manitoba. Because no environmental impact study has been completed on such a project, neither sides no what type of an effect that such a transfer of water could have on the safety and quality of water in Manitoba. Now such a project has been attempted many times before, but all previous attempts have been shut down or deemed unruly by the IJC (a bilateral commission set up in the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty) that settles such disputes. Yet this time the project planners have planned the project in a way to avoid an environmental impact study and have almost completed the project which is a couple weeks from opening. Earlier in the day during Question Period, one Conservative MP slammed the Liberals for not solving the problem and for supposedly "refusing the offer to go to the IJC in 2002 when the US invited them". This MP also had a letter which supported her clai that the Liberals actually made the refusal and so she tabled the letter in the House. The Liberals of course fired back that such a claim was a lie and that they had never refused to go to the IJC. Yet the Conservative MP and her party persisted with this claim. Later on that day during the emergency debate, this same Conservative MP (who called the emergency debate) opens the debate saying that "We are in the 11th hour...the North Dakotans are about to flip the switch and so something needed to be done fast." Yet instead of trying to work with the 9 other (mostly Manitoban MP's) in the House (1 from the BQ (part time) , 2-3 from NDP, 2-3 from the Conservatives, 1-2 Independents, 1-3 from the Liberals depending on time) to solve the problem, she starts off her speech by slamming the Liberals, claiming they did nothing for ten years and blah blah blah...She also brought up the same claim of how they refused to settle this in 2002 when they were invited by the US to the IJC. Her fellow Manitoba Conservative MP continued the slamming. Within 10 minutes the entire House was arguing over each others validity and incompetence, calling each others liars, slanderers, and blah blah blah. Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Petigrew came out and made a quick speech concerning what Canada is in the process of doing, and pointed out that the refusal of Canada to go to the IJC in 2002 which this letter claimed was actually for a different plan being discussed in North Dakota by the US Army, which was later thrown out. Minister Petigrew also added that the Liberals did not refuse to go to the IJC, rather they thought it was "premature" to go to it when the projects was only an idea being discussed with no guarantee that it was going to happen...and obviously it didn't. All of a sudden, the Conservative MP's were quiet. They had been caught in their own lie. Thankfully, NDP MP Bill Blakie turned the discussion around reminding that the issue is in the 11th hour and that there was not time for partisan jabs. Within the next two hours debate commenced where all sides decided to work together to bring a solution to the House the next day.

I guess the point I'm trying to say here is that it is one thing to be always reminding the Liberals of their unaccountability, scandal, corruption, untransparency, and greed, but trying to cry "scandal" over every little thing that the Liberals do, even to the extent of lying - that's not right. Even the fact that the two Conservative MP's who called the emergency debate decided to used it only to politically slam the Liberals, rather than work together to solve such an important issue (especially to their constituents), pisses me off. And these lies and refusal to work with the Liberals have caused the Liberals to express utter hatred towards the Conservatives. And in a minority government where the Conservatives have the opportunity to have their say in the way things are done, I don't think they should completely sever all relations with the Liberals...no matter how rotten they are. And now, we see the Liberals allying themselves with the NDP, and even the Bloc; refusing to work with the Conservatives, leaving the Conservative Party basically ineffective to have any say in what this minority government does. A pure example of this can be seen in regards to the budget bill of the NDP's and the Liberals. This past Thursday evening, the Liberals, NDP's and the Bloc colluded to force a vote on the budget bill (using a rarely used procedure) when enough Conservative MP's were missing in order to pass it. All three parties ganged up on the Conservatives, and I don't expect this to be the only time in the coming six months. The reality is, there is going to be no election until winter and so the Conservatives should quit trying to stall and crash the government and try to do something useful and work with the Liberals to have some sort of input in what is going on.

So I don't know what to do with the situation. Obviously, Stephen Harper and his team have chosen this strategy and I think that if they continue such lying and losing track of the needs of their constituents, the Conservative Party should think about getting a new leader. I mean, it's not like I ever really cared for the guy...I have always been deeply suspicious of him. I mean, I am hard-core Conservative and I don't even trust him! At best, I would only allow him to have a minority government, keeping him on a leash from doing some insane thing. Plus, it seems that Paul Martin is either willingly or reluctantly trying to do things with his government, realizing that he can't afford to do nothing after the sponsorship scandal. So right now I feel lost and not supporting any party. This brings me to the question of why I am aligned politically with the Conservatives. Is it because I grew up in a place neglected by the government for ages and that I just wanted a leader or government who cared about us? I dunno...all this congnitive dissonance is leaving me dazed and confused.

So i was reading the Winnipeg Free Press today and I found this article by Lindor Reynolds on the Six Types of Dads. They Are:

1. BBQ Dad - Does your dad spend his summer fiddling with propane tanks, scorching meat, sliding shrimp onto skewers and inviting the gang over for brews and burgers? Thats great, because he is a man of many needs, all of them involving fire and sharp, point objects. BBQ dad, at minimum, should own an apron inviting people to Kiss the CHef; a marinade that promises to burn the esophagus; a coobook that featuers lots of things "on the barbie"; a fire extinguisher; and many, many toothpicks. Note to adult children: Toothpicks are a cheapo gift.
2. Dissolute Dad - He's the reason stores are selling $159 poker sets this year. He likes to think he's kind of a swinger, enjoys the occasional cocktail (Shot glasses! Martini glasses! X-ray vision glasses!); and collects Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin CDs. You can make this dad happy wihtout even trying, which is what many of you are after. THink about a bottle of good Scotch, a cocktail shaker, a set of dice from Vegas, those playing cards with rude pictures or a slection of fancy swizzle sticks. Note to adult children: If you steal the swizzle sticks from Rae & Jerry's, its a cheapo gift.
3. Nature Dad - He hunts, he fishes, he camps, he white-water rafts! Well, maybe he doesn't, but you like to see him get off the couch every once in a while. Your first step is to choose him a hobby. FIshing is good because there is not end to the weird and cheap stuff you can buy. Think fishing lures, rods, reels, funny hats, vests with lots of pockets, bug repellent, beer-can holders and worms. If he camps (or you'd like him to) you can pick up a Coleman stove, freeze-dried food, a tent, matches, bear repellent and the plastic to put under his sleeping bag. Note to adult children: Worms, matches and plastic? Cheapo gifts.
4. Handy Dad - Never met a power tool he did't like. Thinks Tim (Tool Time) Taylor is a truly great man. He's the reason Black & Decker say in business. Never ind that he has a hard time hanging a picture straight; get him something that plugs in and makes big noise. Is there a man alive who doesn't want a reciprocating saw? Well, OK, maybe a few. But you want him to discover his inner repair man. You want him to feel confident when he sets out to build a fence, rewire the house or put on an addition. You want him armed and dangerous! Nails, hammers, insulation, giant plastic pipes, tiny screws, the entire Home Depot selection! Just make sure he's got enought money to hire a professional after he's done destroying the family home. Note to adult children: Nails and screws? Cheap, cheap, cheap.
5. Male Model Dad - Your dad might like to spend his weekends bumming around in overling long shorts, faded T-shirts and a 36-hour beard. You'd like him not to embarass you at the mall. There's only one answer: Kid's eye for the straight guy. Many Father's Day ads feature handsome men wearing great clothes and posing with dogs, children and other handsome men. They exude style, if not heterosexuality. They sport bold colours, striped shirts and the kind of underwear that makes grown women blush. This is your chance to deck dad out in something trendy. GO for a pastel shirt, if not a pink one. Try a tie that isn't blue. Buy him socks with a pattern, a wallet that isn't curved to the shape of his butt or a pocket hankie in a bold colour. Note to adult children: It's cheap to use this as a chance to get even for the brushcut he gave you when you were 13.
6. Jokestar Dad - Plastic dog poo was invented for this man. He threw a rubber chicken on the ice when you played PeeWee hockey. He'd blow a tune off your belly as you squirmed and shrieked. There was a whopee cushion in every room. This is a man who can play his armpit. Jokestar dad is the exception to the cheap rule. Head to the appropriate store and invest in fake rotten teeth, itching powder and that perennial favourite, an inflatable sheep. He'll laugh. You'll laugh. You haven't had this much fun since he took the whoopee cushion to church. Then go and buy him a bottle of good Scotch, you cheapo.

See my dad, well i would think he is a mixture of numbers 1, 3, and 4 - leaning closest to number four. anyways, happy fathers day...have a gooder.

So last night i finally arrived home at Manitoba. The trip was relatively uneventful but im going to tell you about it anyways. Tuesday afternoon I went to Walmart and bought a pair of the biggest and ugliest sunglasses i could find, some baby crackers, and some heating pads for sore muscles. Being ready for the trip, I met up with Nan and Nick and we went out for pizza and beer, coffee, and then went to the shopping mall. After the guys left I began my 21 hour treck home. The border was awesome. The guard didn't even look at my i.d. He just was like okay, have a nice day. So it pretty much has been my best border experience ever (as some of you know that i always have problems with the border). After 2 hours in the states i was already feeling tired. being worried about feeling exhausted already i decided to pull over in a michigan rest area and i slept for an hour in the back of my car. at 2:20 a.m. i left the rest station and continued my journey. i decided in indiana that i wanted to brush my teeth. and so i did. at around 5 am i hit chicago...i found it quite busy for the time....there were less tolls than last time i went through, but the increased toll rates definately made up for the missing ones. i began to get tired again in wisconsin and so i pulled over and slept in a best buy parking lot for an hour. i than departed there from around 8:30 and commenced a series of pit stops to fill up with gas, eat, brush my teeth. unexpected diarhea also set in in wisconsin and so many more pit stops were made. minnesota was relatively boring. by that time the sun had come out and so i tanned my left arm in the window. my mom also phoned me and talked to me for a bit. one of the suvs that sped past me had three gunholes in the back door. i also made a turtle friend on the road...i named him ferdy. though our friendship was short, it was a sad one as i realized that he was trying to cross the merging lane onto the interstate and had a 20% chance of surviving. so wherever you are ferdy...cheers. north dakota was boring...they had these random billboards along the road that had wierd slogans like "be polite", "be Nice" and the "Do your best" one pictured above. crazy americans. anyways, i was just anxious to get to the border and the 130km speed limit helped out nicely with that. the border was nice and soon i was in ol' manitoba. i arrived in carman and at my brother soccer game at 8:30 pm. and so im home. nothing much has changed...my room has been taken over by this gigantic bowflex machine. i tried it out today...yah so lost. theres is a billion handles and bars and things...i don't know whats going on. so im sleeping in my little brothers room for the summer. my dog is like 10 times bigger than last time i saw him in christmas. he now comes up to my nose when he stands on his hind legs. i thought he was going to kill me as he was running for me as i just got home. i also find out that he pretty much is a king at our house. he refuses to drink water out of a pail so my parents will turn on one of the taps in the kitchen or bathroom and he will get up on his two hind legs and drink out of the tap. he also eats alot of the food we eat. my parents think dog food is inhumane for dogs or something like that. i dunno. crazy people. but really that is about it. anyways, im going to bed. out.

Being a connoiseur in informercials and all...here are my top five favourite infomercials in hamilton:

5. Memories Direct Scrapbooking Kit (Over 3,000 Pieces!)
4. The Ionic Pro Air Filter
3. Dr. Herzig's Lazer Eye Surgery
2. Dr. Ho's Massage Therapy System (Who can resist the little Chinese man)
1. The Magic Bullet

So here is the crew at Quebec City one weekend ago (in the Delta) before going out to the Degabart - supposedly one of the best clubs in Canada. It was awesome...the dj was insane.  

So it is now sunday, and i just finished my five week french immersion program at trois pistole. the trip to hamilton was relatively uneventful...im looking forward to going home. i went to church today which was nice considering i haven't really been to church for like 5 weeks (well i went to an erq service last week in quebec city with jake vandorp but the minister didn't show up so we just sang some songs and stuff) so it was nice to go to church. so at the moment i am trying to fix my laptop which pretty much has been my biggest enemy for the last 3 months. so after about 10 hours of work and much of my sanity i have finally fixed it so i should be good in an hour or two. the weather is really hot here in hamilton...according to the internet the temperature is 41 degrees (with the humidity). yah. and i am in the top floor of our house with no air conditioning surrounded by 3 lights, 2 computers and the like...sweat is literally dripping off of my head. but anyways...so monday i am doing some work for the crown to finish off stuff there...tuesday im going to rest up and go to london to meet up with nick, nan and mark and after that i hope to depart for manitoba...so until then....out.

p.s. maybe i might post a picture from quebec when i get them tonight...