2012 新年前夕 - 睡醒吧田園 / New Year's Eve - Wakefield, Quebec

懷憶 Wakefield 小埠

冬月映雪靜悄悄

去年經濟嘆蕭條

今晚除夕田園睡

明朝醒後建 Wakefield

攝影图片: Wakefield 是離渥太華不遠,在魁北克省那边的一個小埠。多年前我和K常帶T 和 S來這裏遊玩。現在他們長大了,女朋友也有了,但我对Wakefield 這個小埠,仍是有很深刻的懷念和回憶。

2011年12月31日决心赛跑: 為青年会籌欵 / 2011 Resolution Run: Fund Raising for the Y (YMCA/YWCA)

I was hoping to do the 5 km in 25 minutes but just couldn't fire up my booster rocket. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten so much at noon. But then it was not often that I had a chance to treat S and K at the Pot au Feu restaurant (which used to be the old Wakefield railway station).

Anyway, my resolution is to improve my speed by running at least 3 times a week, do at least 16 km on the weekend, and rejoin the marathon running group end of January 2012.

Photo Credit:

I took this pic at The Y during the post-race lucky-draw. My friend Rose from the Running Room was standing on the left, and on the right, the Y's VP of marketing (?). I even won a head-band out of the deal :O

微豆2011年大事回顧 Haricot's Review of 2011 Events: 奧薩瑪·本·拉登被擊斃 The Death of Osama bin Laden

Years gone by,

Arm Stretching ....,

Feeling Numb!

自由,

神,

像手 .....

麻木！

But then, it happens .....

The arm strikes back !!!
The Death of Osama bin Laden

".... In April 2011, President Obama ordered a covert operation to kill or capture bin Laden. On May 1, 2011, the White House announced that U.S. Navy SEALs had carried it out, killing him in his Abbottabad, Pakistan compound...."

Reactions .....

• 加拿大 – 加拿大總理史蒂芬·哈珀說拉登的死「為被害的24個加拿大人的家人伸張了正義」（他們死於911），並說「加拿大對於這個消息感到冷靜的安慰」。

• 中華人民共和國 - 中華人民共和國外交部發言人姜瑜就本·拉登在巴基斯坦被擊斃事答記者問時稱「這是國際反恐鬥爭的重要事件和積極進展」，她說，恐怖主義是國際社會公敵。中國也是恐怖主義的受害者。中國歷來反對一切形式的恐怖主義，並積極參與國際反恐鬥爭。中方主張，國際社會應進一步加強合作，共同打擊恐怖主義。中方認為，反恐應標本兼治，努力消除恐怖主義滋生的土壤。

(Source / photo credit: Wikipedia 奧薩瑪·本·拉登)

Related lotusandcedar articles:

* 記念九一一襲擊事件: 必治活國家墳場 / Remembering the 911 Terrorist Attack: Beechwood National Cemetery (http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2010/09/911.html)

* Beechwood Cemetery - Remembering the Canadians, and others, who Perished their Lives, on the Ten-year Anniversary of 9/11 (http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2011/09/beechwood-cemetery-remembering.html)

* 9/11 恐怖份子襲擊事件十週年 Tenth anniversary of terrorist attacks: Part 2 (09:03 am) - Mourning a Son's Death (http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2011/09/911-tenth-anniversary-of-terrorist_11.html)

微豆2011年大事回顧 Haricot's Review of 2011 Events: Iraq War's Endgame; US Troops Home for Xmas!!

Wikipedia / Withdrawal of US Troops from Iraq

August 2010 partial withdrawal

On 19 August 2010, the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division was the last US combat brigade to withdraw from Iraq. About 50,000 US troops will remain in the country in an advisory capacity. According to the US, they will help to train Iraqi forces in a new mission dubbed by the US as "Operation New Dawn," which will run until the end of 2011. The mission that ended 19 August 2010 was dubbed by the US as "Operation Iraqi Freedom," at a projected cost of more than $900 billion and 4,415 US troops killed in action. Over 100,000 Iraqi civilians were estimated to be killed, according to the Iraq Body Count website. President Obama announced the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom in his Oval Office address on 31 August 2010.

Full withdrawal

With the collapse of the discussions about extending the stay of any U.S. troops, President Obama announced on 21 October 2011, the full withdrawal of troops from Iraq as scheduled before. The U.S. will retain an embassy in Baghdad and two consulates with around 4,000 to 5,000 State Department employees. President Obama and al-Maliki outlined a broad agenda for post-war cooperation without American troops in Iraq during a joint press conference on 12 December 2011 at the White House. This agenda includes cooperation on energy, trade and education as well as cooperation in security, counter-terrorism, economic development and strengthening Iraq's institutions. Both leaders said their countries will maintain strong security, diplomatic and economic ties after the last U.S. combat forces withdraw at the end of 2011.

President Barack Obama paid tribute to the troops who served in Iraq on 14 December 2011, at the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina. As the last of the American troops prepared to exit Iraq, he said the United States was leaving behind a "sovereign, stable and self-reliant" Iraq. On 15 December, an American military ceremony was held in Baghdad putting a formal end to the U.S mission in Iraq. Only 4,000 U.S troops remain in Iraq and they are scheduled to leave by the end of the year. The latest 500 soldiers left Iraq to Kuwait under cover of darkness and under strict secrecy. All American troops would be home for Christmas, but at least 4,000 soldiers will remain in Kuwait for some months. The US troop withdrawal from Iraq was completed on December 18, 2011 on a early Sunday morning.

維基百科 / 伊拉克戰爭結束:

"...... 2010年8月18日，最後一批駐伊美軍戰鬥部隊已跨越伊拉克與科威特的邊境，伊拉克戰爭正式結束。 美國在單方面宣布戰爭正式結束後，截至2011年10月仍然在伊拉克保留3.4萬人以上的軍隊，負責保護美軍基地和訓練親美伊拉克政府的安全部隊。襲擊美軍也不斷發生，截至2011年8月伊拉克什葉派回教軍事組織宣布暫停攻擊、以幫助美軍完全撤離之前，仍有每月仍有至少一名美軍在襲擊中喪生。美軍與伊政府談判2012年延長駐軍合約時，希望保留3000人以上駐軍並希望未來美國駐軍不受伊拉克法律管轄，未獲伊政府同意。因此美國時任總統奧巴馬於10月22日宣布，美在伊拉克駐軍將於2011年底前全部從伊拉克撤除。此時美軍在伊拉克喪生人數已達4476人，並且在宣布完全撤軍後，又增加1人。

2011年12月13日，美國總統奧巴馬在接見來訪伊拉克總理馬利基時宣布，「在近9年後，我們在伊拉克戰事本月落幕」，並宣稱美國是伊拉克「強大和永久的夥伴」。12月15日，駐伊美軍部隊在巴格達舉行降旗儀式，美國國防部長帕內塔出席儀式，這標誌着歷時九年的伊拉克戰爭正式全面結束，剩餘的數千名美軍士兵將在未來幾天內陸續撤離回國。在2011年12月18日週日清晨，美國從伊拉克撤軍完成。...."

Canadian Blood Services (IMG00531)

Greetings from CBS (www.Blood.ca or 1-888-2-donate) !!

Well, I don't actually work here but am waiting for S to finish his donation. Blood is often in short-supply during the holiday seasons and the recent call from CBS sounds urgent.

Giving is a way of paying forward.

2011 Xmas Day - My Contribution to the Canadian Economy (IMG00528)

Snow's falling
My heart's pounding
Where is my morning coffee
My poor brain's faltering

Starbucks' becking
Barista's smiling
A venti Chai Latte
See my mind reviving

We so love serenading
Occupy this & that for nothing
But nothing doesn't come without a price
To commercialization we're addicting

While I am here ranting
I forget to find money for paying
Here sir take my credit card
And keep our economy jingling

Merry Xmas everyone !!!

Photo credit: This is the only coffee shop open in the neighbourhood on Xmas day !!!

《 繼承大丈夫 》The Descendants: 堪嘆古今情不盡，可憐風月債難償

佐治•古尼（George Timothy Clooney，1961年5月6日）是一位頗受女性覌众欢迎的第一流荷理活明星,他領銜主演的賣座電影包括:《盜海豪情》Ocean's Eleven, 《盜海豪情十二瞞徒》Ocean's Twelve, 《盜海豪情十三王牌》Ocean's Thirteen, 《寡佬飛行日記》Up in the Air,《密探睥死羊》MenWho Stare at Goats,《完美狙擊》The American 等。

在 《 繼承大丈夫 》The Descendants 故事中,佐治•古尼演活了一個事業心重男人中年喪偶的惡夢,但妻子臨終不就是代表他和她感情的完結,反之,那只是一個開始;妻子的新欢舊愛秘密無意中被翻了出來,大丈夫的過往丶現在丶將來都突然和想像中的現實脱節!! 他应該怎么辦呢?

以下是節錄自香港電影指南 http://wmoov.com/movie/details/17066:

".... 在風光明媚的渡假天堂夏威夷裡，一宗賽艇意外，令金牌律師麥京治（佐治古尼）黯然起來。與他相愛多年的妻子長期昏迷，醫生無藥可施，阿麥遂找來其最愛親朋，向他們宣佈妻子病情，同時又一改家事少理的形象，決心肩負起照顧兩名女兒重任。大女雅歷珊達（莎蓮活德麗）反叛不羈，細女史歌迪（艾美娜米娜）腰心腰肺，阿麥生活得不到安寧而大為苦惱之際，同時更在雅歷珊達口中得悉一個被蒙蔽多年天大秘密──夜夜枕邊的老婆，竟然收埋了一個要好情夫，更想過離婚跟外遇遠走高飛！阿麥頓時晴天霹靂，「綠帽」被笠到落頸顏面全無，卻怎也無能為力；好一個大丈夫是時候向前望，繼承自己的親情與生活，以無窮勇氣，面對場場驚與喜交集的家庭大告解。....."

我從戲院出來,心中在感情和理智的平衡中,仍是有點忐忑不安。大丈夫对這單舊賬处理得妥当嗎? 他对地產方面的决定是基於環保,還是特意向親戚發炮還擊呢?他对那男人的報復是為自己丶為女兒丶還是為妻子呢? 但無何否認,雖然他帶了「綠帽」,但卻仍隱藏不了他心中对那紅杏出牆妻子充滿的愛意。

正如【紅楼夢】第五回太虛幻境中孽海情天的對聯有云:「厚地高天，堪嘆古今情不盡。 痴男怨女，可憐風月債難償。」

【Bésame Mucho此吻之後】: In Memory of Cesária Évora

【Bésame Mucho此吻之後】中文歌詞 (微豆意譯)


Bésame, Bésame mucho,
吻我，不要停止吻我 / Embrasse-moi, embrasse-moi beaucoup,
Como si fuera esta noche la ùltima vez,
彷彿今晚是最後一次 / Comme si cette nuit était la dernière fois,
Bésame, Bésame mucho,
吻我，不要停止吻我 / Embrasse-moi, embrasse-moi beaucoup,
Que tengo miedo perderte,
哪,我真害怕失去你 / Car j'ai peur de te perdre,
Que perderte otra vez.
我再次失去你 / De te perdre une nouvelle fois.

Bésame, Bésame mucho,
吻我，不要停止吻我 / Embrasse-moi, embrasse-moi beaucoup,
Como si fuera esta noche la ùltima vez,
彷彿今晚是最後一次 / Comme si cette nuit était la dernière fois,
Bésame, Bésame mucho,
吻我，不要停止吻我 / Embrasse-moi, embrasse-moi beaucoup,
Que tengo miedo perderte,
哪,我真害怕失去你 / Car j'ai peur de te perdre,
Que perderte otra vez.
我再次失去你 / De te perdre une nouvelle fois.

Quiero tenerte muy cerca,
我願擁抱你 / Je veux t'avoir
Mirarme en tus ojos,
我在你的瞳孔中 / Me voir dans tes yeux
Verte junto a mì,
看到我們相依一对 / Te voir à côté de moi,
Piensa que tal vez mañana
但想到或許明早 / Pense que peut-être demain
Yo ya estaré lejos,
我已會離開/ Je serai déjà loin,
Muy lejos de ti.
遠遠地離開你 / Très loin de toi.

Bésame, Bésame mucho,
吻我，不要停止吻我 / Embrasse-moi, embrasse-moi beaucoup,
Como si fuera esta noche la ùltima vez,
彷彿今晚是最後一次 / Comme si cette nuit était la dernière fois,
Bésame, Bésame mucho,
吻我，不要停止吻我 / Embrasse-moi, embrasse-moi beaucoup,
Que tengo miedo perderte,
哪,我真害怕失去你 / Car j'ai peur de te perdre,
Que perderte otra vez.
我再次失去你 / De te perdre une nouvelle fois.

(... instrument ...)

Quiero tenerte muy cerca,
我願擁抱你 / Je veux t'avoir
Mirarme en tus ojos,
我在你的瞳孔中 / Me voir dans tes yeux
Verte junto a mì,
看到我們相依一对 / Te voir à côté de moi,
Piensa que tal vez mañana
但想到或許明早 / Pense que peut-être demain
Yo ya estaré lejos,
我已會離開 / Je serai déjà loin,
Muy lejos de ti.
遠遠地離開你 / Très loin de toi.

Bésame, Bésame mucho,
吻我，不要停止吻我 / Embrasse-moi, embrasse-moi beaucoup,
Como si fuera esta noche la ùltima vez,
彷彿今晚是最後一次 / Comme si cette nuit était la dernière fois,
Bésame, Bésame mucho,
吻我，不要停止吻我 / Embrasse-moi, embrasse-moi beaucoup,
Que tengo miedo perderte,
哪,我真害怕失去你 / Car j'ai peur de te perdre,
Que perderte otra vez.
此吻之後再次失去你 / De te perdre une nouvelle fois.

(French lyrics to Bésame Mucho / Paroles et traduction de Bésame Mucho (Embrasse-moi Beaucoup): http://www.lacoccinelle.net/257340.html )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Bésame Mucho"


According to Wikipedia / Bésame Mucho:

"Bésame Mucho" is a Spanish language song written in 1940 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez. According to Velázquez herself, she wrote this song even though she had never been kissed yet at the time, and kissing as she heard was considered a sin. She was inspired by the piano piece "Quejas, o la Maja y el Ruiseñor" from the 1911 suite Goyescas by Spanish composer Enrique Granados, which he later also included as Aria of the Nightingale in his 1916 opera of the same name.

There are slight differences in the wording at the end of the chorus, regarding the words perderte después meaning "to lose you afterwards". Considering that Velázquez may have been fifteen years old when she wrote the song, this sentence reflects inexperience and innocence. Many interpretations use perderte otra vez ("lose you once again") instead of the original perderte despues ("lose you afterwards"). This may have been modified to touch a more grown-up, experienced audience.

"Bésame Mucho" is also known by translated names such as "Kiss Me Much", "Kiss Me a Lot", "Kiss Me Again and Again", "Embrasse-Moi", "Stale Ma Bozkavaj", "Suutele minua" and "Szeretlek én".
---------------------------------

In Memory of Cesária Évora (27 August 1941 – 17 December 2011)

CBC / R.I.P. Cesária Évora: 'Barefoot Diva' Was The Queen of Cape Verdean Blues
December 17, 2011:

Like Billie Holiday, with whom she was most often compared, Cesária Évora rose from poverty, sang in bars as a teenager and was possessed of a languid, honeyed voice that moved millions. Évora, who won a Grammy in 2003 after taking the music of the African islands of Cape Verde to stages around the world, died Saturday in the Baptista de Sousa Hospital in Mindelo, on her native island of Sao Vicente in Cape Verde. She was 70.

Known as the 'Barefoot Diva' because she performed without shoes (in solidarity with the poverty-stricken children of her homeland), Évora was the cigarette-puffing queen of the traditional music of Cape Verde, a former Portuguese colony off the west coast of Africa. Her songs, which she sang mostly in Portuguese creole, focused on hardship and heartbreak and hitched West African rhythms to Brazilian samba and British sea shanties. She began singing at 16 in sailors' bars and recorded her first album in 1988, when she was 47.

Her voice was unique: feather-light, yet weighed down with emotion - turning the lives of the downtrodden into songs of hope. Even audiences who couldn't understand the lyrics were moved by her stirring renditions, her unpretentious manner and the music's infectious beat.  Her singing style brought comparisons to American jazz singer Billie Holiday. "She belongs to the aristocracy of bar singers," French newspaper Le Monde said in 1991, adding that Evora had "a voice to melt the soul."

(Her official website: cesaria-evora.com).

阿岡昆建設卓越中心 / Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence

".... Algonquin College. Exam week can be stressful on students. Inspired by the Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus, the Television Broadcasting students at Algonquin College wanted to showcase the new Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence 阿岡昆建設卓越中心 by lightening the mood with the help of the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir and Darth Vader. .... Please note: Lord Vader is not enrolled or on faculty at Algonquin ...." (source: Algonquin TV)

"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day"

"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day"
Poem written in 1864 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
Sung by Karen Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Story:
(wikipedia / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Heard_the_Bells_on_Christmas_Day)


"..... During the American Civil War, Longfellow's oldest son Charles Appleton Longfellow joined the Union cause as a soldier without his father's blessing. Longfellow was informed by a letter dated March 14, 1863, after Charles had left. "I have tried hard to resist the temptation of going without your leave but I cannot any longer," he wrote. "I feel it to be my first duty to do what I can for my country and I would willingly lay down my life for it if it would be of any good".


Charles soon got an appointment as a lieutenant but, in November, he was severely wounded in the Battle of New Hope Church (in Virginia) during the Mine Run Campaign. Coupled with the recent loss of his wife Frances, who died as a result of an accidental fire, Longfellow was inspired to write "Christmas Bells".


He wrote the poem on Christmas Day in 1864. "Christmas Bells" was first published in February 1865 in Our Young Folks, a juvenile magazine published by Ticknor and Fields. It was not until 1872 that the poem is known to have been set to music. The English organist, John Baptiste Calkin, used the poem in a processional accompanied with a melody he previously used as early as 1848....."

加納 / Ghana

With the relatively strong Canadian dollars and discounts on travelling packages, K and I have been looking at vacation deals that would otherwise exceed our budget. But the supply-demand equation may also work against our favour. Such is the case with our planned Ghana trip when the travel organization informed us that there were not enough participants to make the trip viable. Obviously, we are disappointed.

Africa is a big continent with many beautiful countries but not all of them are politically stable or friendly to western visitors. While crime may occur everywhere, we sure don't want to have to worry abt being kidnapped while on vacation. Ghana would have been a great destination and their local economy would have been boasted by tourists spending money there.

Alas, we now have to dream abt the jungles and hills of Africa instead.

Sent from BlackBerry

~~~~~~~~~ Updated ~~~~~~~~~~~

Reference / Photo credit: Wikipedia / Ghana

".... Tourism is a rapidly growing sector particularly among Europeans, Americans, and other internationals connected to the Ghanaian Diaspora abroad. Ghana's political and economic stability, low crime rate, and wide use of English make the country an attractive entrypoint to West Africa for foreigners. UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle, national parks such as Kakum National Park and Mole National Park, as well as cultural celebrations such as Panafest are major centres of tourist activity...."

".... 加納於1957年，由原英國殖民地「黃金海岸」和「英屬多哥」合并建國，成為英國在非洲殖民地中首個獨立的國家，被視為非洲民族主義領袖。它的開國總統恩克魯瑪是新殖民主義理論權威之一，曾經備受毛澤東推崇，對推動泛非獨立和整合起過歷史作用。名字為紀念以前的加納帝國選定為加納。這個名字只是借光，真正歷史上的加納帝國離今日的加納很遠。..."

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*******  UPDATED 20121229 ******* 
We ended up visiting Senegal in May-June 2012.

Please see my blog article entitled:
旅遊西非洲塞內加爾共和國 Travel to la République du Sénégal West Africa

月老說的故事 / One Lost Red String

心懷鴻鵠志
難捨魚水情
魚雁隔千里
落葉捲殘雲
月老斷紅繩
失足墮浮塵

Wikipedia: 月老; 紅線

加拿大皇家女騎警 ∕ Royal Canadian Mounted Police Women

" ..… Please be grateful for the positive positions you were in but don't minimize what some other women have experienced. Life can change on a dime …. " a comment posted on CBC's Fifth Estate "Behind the Line"

I don't always blindly accept reports from investigative journalism. Too often, the main goal of the producer or editor in charge is to daze viewers with sensationalism as opposed to ethical, quality, journalistic reporting on facts and figures to support certain messages or conclusions. However, after watching the CBC Fifth Estate's "Behind the Line", I cannot help but feel that a great injustice has been done to the women RCMP officers who had come forward to expose sexual harassment in their workplace. It is not a case of he said vs they said. Despite earlier denial, the male officer did admit sexual misconduct. But, the price he is paying is pale compared to the price paid by the victims.

Please don't get me wrong. I have the utmost respect for the RCMP which to me, remains a Canadian institution and icon, up there along with Parliament Hill and the maple leaf. I had a chance to know several RCMP friends when I was living in Flin Flon, and some of my close friends and relatives are affiliated with the Mounties. So, one bad apple in the Calgary detachment should not reflect badly on the reputation of the whole. But here is where investigative journalism succeeds (or fails as critics may say). By reporting on the injustice of this sexual harassment case, in addition to the string of negative events that have already put the Mounties in the defensive, the media is forcing the federal government and the new RCMP commissioner to make substantial corporate, cultural, policy and process changes.

With the appointment of the new Commissioner Bob Paulson, the RCMP is at a cross-road. In my opinion, the number one preoccupation of legal councils and senior executives is to win back public support, as opposed to trying to protect in a defensive mood the reputation and liability of the "company". The national police force must be seen as capable of administering justice not just in court cases, but also within its own rank and files. If the RCMP fails to make substantial changes, it will not be the media that will be inflicting more injuries to the Canadian institution, but the decreasing morale and discontent of the men and women who have chosen to proudly wear the Mounties uniforms.

Related links:
* CBC Fifth Estate "Behind the Line"

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Update: 20130113

Since the airing of "Behind the Line" by CBC/Fifth Estate in 2011, the Government and the RCMP have taken actions to address sexual harassment allegations brought forward by several female RCMP officers. I just want to emphasize that the issue at hand is abt work relationships btwn male and female RCMP officers. This article does not pass judgement on personal relations btwn consenting adults outside of the workplace (see Note 1 below). Similar to the military, the appropriateness, or the lack thereof, of such relations/behaviours is usually governed by an institution's internal codes, guidelines and/or policies.

Note 1:  While I am not a journalist, I am aware of the Ethics Guidelines published by the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) and am glad that generally speaking Canada is not like the UK.

 RIGHT TO PRIVACY

•      The public has a right to know about its institutions and the people who are elected or hired to serve its interests. People also have a right to privacy, and those accused of crimes have a right to a fair trial.
•      However, there are inevitable conflicts between the right to privacy, and the rights of all citizens to be informed about matters of public interest. Each situation should be judged in light of common sense, humanity and relevance.
•      We do not manipulate people who are thrust into the spotlight because they are victims of crime or are associated with a tragedy. Nor to we do voyeuristic stories about them. When we contact them, we are sensitive to their situations, and report only information in which the public has a legitimate interest.
•      Journalists are increasingly using social networking sites to access information about people and organizations. When individuals post and publish information about themselves on these sites, this information generally becomes public, and can be used. However, journalists should not use subterfuge to gain access to information intended to be private. In addition, even when such information is public, we must rigorously apply ethical considerations including independent confirmation and transparency in identifying the source of information. (See DIGITAL MEDIA, below.)

Source:  http://www.caj.ca/?p=1776

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空有鴻鵠志，卻在鵪鶉窩 / The Future of the Chinese Public Service: Let them spread their wings!!

Here is an interesting article from an official Chinese government magazine on the hiring of public service employees. The authour suggests that many applicants seeking government positions do so for personal gains. They hope to land golden rice-bowl jobs 金飯碗 and obtain their life-long tickets to money, benefits, housing, power, and other goodies. Hiring these fools 蠢才will turn the public service into a mediocre, if not a corruption-prone organization.

To assure the integrity and indeed the future of the Chinese public service, the government must put in place a system/process that will focus on the proper hiring, training, development and deployment of new employees. "We must maximize the potential of the geese and swans who want to spread their wings and go far, as opposed to wasting their talents in a coop full of quails!! 空有鴻鵠志，卻在鵪鶉窩" said the authour.

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全囯人大常委会机關刊物【中國人大】半月刊 / 2011年10月25日:

人才選拔之“公務員”熱的背後

中國人崇官，元代有“一官、二吏、三僧、四道、五醫、六工、七獵、八民、九儒、十丐”之說，近有清代小說《儒林外史》中范進因中舉喜極而瘋，頗能反映官在中國社會中的尊貴地位。到了今天，到政府機關去，做國家公務員的“國考”熱也不遑多讓。 2011年國家公務員考試報名人數逾140萬，繼2009 年以來連續三次超過百萬，而據推測2012 年“國考”報名人數將突破150 萬。那為什麼這麼多人要當官呢？

媒體告訴我們：在居民幸福感調查顯示中，國家機關黨群組織、企事業單位負責人回答“非常幸福”。有人告訴我，考上公務員便意味著“穩定、高福利、有保障、安全感”與你結緣，房子大小都會有一套，福利多少都會高一點，看病花多花少國家管，哪怕是在混日子，踢出這個“隊伍”的機率也很小。而相比在社會打拼的白領，加班是常態，企業不知哪天會倒掉，看病不敢請假，十年工資買不起一套小房子，前途一片渺茫。

人都是理性的，在生存或者是活得更舒服的面前，不能不計算個人的投入產出比，又有誰不希望用最小的付出、最小的風險獲得最大的收益。若是還不想早日進入體制內，那腦子一定是進了水。因此，那些想進入體制內享福之人，尚在“國考”報名階段，就開始打起了房子、票子、位子的如意算盤，更有甚者在還不知道“紀委是做什麼的”就問出了“權力大嗎，是不是清水衙門”的問題。對於這樣的一些人，早已將“國家公務員”手中的公權力看作是一己私利，如果真是進入其中，不過是某某貪官第二而已。

但我們不該否定“國考”，因其選拔機制相對公平，選拔出來的也多是精英人才，詬病“國考”中偶然發生的那幾出鬧劇，實屬短見。我們要問的是，那麼多的精英個體願意進入“體制內”，為什麼？這些抱著大學本科、碩士學歷的人哪個沒有理想抱負，進入公務員隊伍，無外乎看重的是其個人的發展前途，也就是平台。體制之內，個人發展路徑眾多。想進修了，單位掏錢供你留學國外，想做事了，哪個部委沒有自己的研究中心讓你一試身手。但體制之外，即便你有蘋果幫主喬布斯的驚人之才，沒有文憑，想進科研院所就是癡人說夢，想搞公司，連下頓飯都不知道在哪兒吃了，你還想玩高科技。

“將欲取之，必先予之。”在感嘆人才不易得的時代，政府想要選用合格的人才，就必須先有一個科學完善持續的人才教育、培養、利用的機制和體制，否則選進去的只能是唯利是圖的蠢才。而更為重要的是,政府要為社會人才創造發展的路徑，而不是讓人才空有鴻鵠志，卻在鵪鶉窩。

"Enoncé de Valeurs - Des clés pour mon intégration à Gatineau", Ville de Gatineau, Québec

在十一月廿九日，渥太華河對岸的加蒂諾市City of Gatineau政府官員,公佈了一份叫做“價值聲明”的文件,表面似乎是用來幫助定居魁北克的新移民融入主流社會​​，但批評者說，“價值聲明”真正目的是讓社会当权派迫使新來定居人士放棄自己的身份和信仰。在以法裔文化為主的魁北克省,“Reasonable Accommodation合理容納遷就”是一個非常敏感丶被受激烈爭論的問題，前幾年的保衛法語丶魁省獨立等鬥爭言論又可能会因“價值聲明”這文件而復甦了。

入國問禁,入境問俗,我個人認為移民是有責任溶入主流社會,更不可將醜惡的陋俗和暴力的種子帶入加拿大。但是,楓叶國是多元文化社会, 佔大多數的主流居民應該怎樣告訴移民,哪些行為是可以接受?而哪些是不可以接受?而加蒂諾市政府官員公佈的“價值聲明”文件,又是基於什麼法律權力?基於什麼標準呢？”

以下附貼: (1) 新聞報導; (2) 蒂諾市政府公佈; 供大家考。

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(1) 新聞報導

Publié le 29 novembre 2011 à 05h30 | Mis à jour le 29 novembre 2011 à 05h30

Petit guide à l'intention des nouveaux arrivants

Énoncé de valeurs à la sauce gatinoise

Dans un nouveau guide destiné aux immigrants, la Ville de Gatineau prône l'égalité homme-femme et la liberté religieuse. Et elle prévient les nouveaux arrivants que des lois sanctionnent les crimes d'honneur, les abus de pouvoir et les punitions excessives à l'endroit des enfants.

Premier du genre dans le monde municipal au Québec, le petit guide lancé hier à Gatineau est loin du « code de vie » d'Hérouxville qui interdisait la lapidation des femmes et qui a lancé le débat sur les accommodements raisonnables au Québec. Malgré le ton consensuel du document, certains passages sautent aux yeux à la lumière du procès pour crimes d'honneur de la famille Shafia qui bouleverse le pays tout entier. On peut y lire que la violence ne peut être excusée pour des « motifs dits d'us et coutumes, de droits ancestraux, de sauvegarde de l'honneur » et que « nul citoyen n'est autorisé à se faire justice soi-même ». Un autre chapitre rappelle que les femmes ont « obtenu chèrement » le droit à l'égalité entre les sexes et que cette valeur est maintenant défendue par l'État. Les enfants y sont décrits comme « le bien le plus précieux » qui soit, et le guide rappelle que des lois les protègent contre les abus de toutes sortes.

Plus de détails dans l'édition du 29 novembre ou sur ledroitsurmonordi.ca

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(2) 蒂諾市政府公佈的開場白和文件目錄 (原文是法語,我加上英丶中翻譯)

開場白

Lancement et présentation d’un nouvel outil visant l’accueil et l’intégration à Gatineau des personnes issues de l’immigration: C’est dans le cadre de la Semaine québécoise des rencontres interculturelles que nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter au lancement (et dévoilement) officiel de notre nouveau document intitulé « Gatineau, c’est dans mon objectif! » qui se veut un guide facilitant la compréhension du milieu de vie municipal dans lequel s’installe le nouvel arrivant. Un énoncé de valeurs : « Des clés pour mon intégration à Gatineau » sera également relié à ce guide.

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文件目錄

Table des matières / Table of Contents:

Bienvenue à Gatineau! En quoi l’apprentissage des valeurs peut-il m’aider? Des valeurs à partager …..

1. Un contrat social commun / A common social contract / 共同的社会契約

2. Des droits, mais aussi des responsabilités / Rights but also responsibilities / 權利与責任

3. Le français, langue commune / French, a common language / 共同的語言-法文

4. L’intolérance face à la violence (verbale, psychologique, physique ou sexuelle) / Intolerance of violence (verbal, emotional, physical or sexual) / 不容許言語丶精神丶人身丶或性慾式暴力虐待行為

5. L’autonomie financière / Financial autonomy / 財政自主獨立

6. Des rapports égalitaires entre les femmes et les hommes / Egalitarian relationships between women and men / 男女平等

7. Les enfants constituent notre bien le plus précieux / Children are our most valuable / 保護我們珍愛的孩童

8. L’accès à l’éducation pour tous / Access to education for everyone / 全民教育

9. Le respect de la propriété privée et des biens d’autrui / Respect private property and the property of others / 不可壇入私家重地,携取或損毀他/她人財物

10. La liberté d’expression, de choix et d’idéologie / Freedom of expression, choice and ideology / 言論丶選擇丶和意識形態的思想自由

11. La religion, une affaire privée / Religion, a private matter / 宗教自由

12. L’hygiène, la salubrité et la qualité de vie / Hygiene, safety and quality of life / 衛生丶安全丶和生活質量

13. Le respect des conventions et des engagements / Compliance with agreements and commitments / 遵守協議和承諾

14. La ponctualité / Punctuality / 守時

15. Le respect et l’assistance aux plus démunis / Respect and assistance to the poor / 尊重和援助貧苦大众

16. L’inclusion et la lutte contre le racisme et autres formes de discrimination / Inclusiveness and the fight against racism and other forms of discrimination / 有涵量包容異己人仕,反对種族主义和其它形式的歧視

Reference: City of Gatineau website

http://www.gatineau.ca/docs/guichet_municipal/immigration_diversite_culturelle/livret_enonce_valeurs.pdf

滿地可(蒙特婁理工學院)大屠殺 / École Polytechnique Massacre: Marc Lépine murdered 14 women on Dec 6, 1989

It was 22 years ago when a self-proclaimed anti-feminists man called Marc Lépine gunned down 14 innocent women. injured another 13, and then killed himself at l'École Polytechnique in Montreal. Every year, families of the victims, survivors of the tragedy, and many Canadians across the country hold memorial services to remember not just the 14 student engineers who perished, but also other women who are victims of violence.

This year, the ppl holding the memorial services are delivering an urgent message to Ottawa. They are expressing their concern with the Conservative government's plan to abolish the long-gun registry that has been put in place as a result of the École Polytechnique Massacre.

Below is an article from the Montreal Gazette:

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MONTREAL - The imminent abolition of the long-gun registry will cast a shadow over commemoration of the École Polytechnique massacre on Tuesday.

“There are going to be less controls on guns than on borrowing a library book,” warned Heidi Rathjen, a gun-control advocate and survivor of the massacre at the engineering school where gunman Marc Lépine murdered 14 women on Dec. 6, 1989. Rathjen will mark the 22nd anniversary of the killings by holding a press conference at the Quebec National Assembly to ask the provincial government to launch a legal challenge to Bill C-19. Quebec opposes the federal bill to abolish the long-gun registry, which has passed second reading in the House of Commons.

“It’s a very, very difficult time,” Rathjen said.

She pointed out that under the proposed legislation, the Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic weapon used by Lépine will be an unrestricted weapon. Known as a “poor man’s assault rife,” the Mini-14 was also the weapon used by Norway shooter Anders Behring Breivik to massacre 69 people in July.

“That gun will become invisible,” Rathjen said.

She will be joined by Nathalie Provost, a graduate of the École Polytechnique who was injured in the shooting, and Jean-François Larrivée, also a Polytechnique graduate whose wife, Maryse Laganière, was killed.

“Twenty-two years after the massacre at the École Polytechnique, it is inconceivable that its victims and witnesses still have to defend gun control,” Larrivée said.

Opponents of the gun bill, including family members of massacre victims, will also converge on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. In Montreal, groups opposing violence against women will demonstrate at noon in front of the Montreal courthouse. The events are among dozens across the country organized by churches, schools and community groups across the country to mark the sombre anniversary. Members of the Anglican Church Women will take part in an anniversary service at noon at Christ Church Cathedral on Ste. Catherine St. W. at Union Ave. and l’Écho des femmes de la Petite Patrie, a local women’s group, will distribute white ribbons and candles at Beaubien métro station at rush hour in solidarity with women who are victims of violence.

Louise De Sousa, the mother of Anastasia De Sousa, the 18-year-old student killed in a shooting at Dawson College five years ago, will attend a memorial at Chambly Academy in St. Lambert. “Why do we have this event? So that it never happens again,” said teacher Richard Bunnett.

(Source: Montreal Gazette)

My other blog articles:

* 滿地可(蒙特婁理工學院)大屠殺 / Tuerie de l'école polytechnique de Montréal / Montreal Massacre at Ecole Polytechnique
(http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2007/12/tuerie-de-lcole-polytechnique-de.html)

Photo Credit: Wikipedia / École Polytechnique Massacre

Christmas Decoration at Simply Biscotti on Preston St. Ottawa

K and I went for our Sunday brunch at Simply Biscotti on Preston Street earlier today. I looked at the decoration and suddenly realized I have not yet started my Christmas shopping !! As much as I am rebellious, I am not a hermit living off the grid. I feel obliged to conform to the tradition of giving gifts.

So, here is a question to the OWS crowd: Having invented Occupy Black Friday, will there be an Occupy Christmas? I hope not, because I sure want SMEs such as Simply Biscotti to stay in business !! As much as the OWS movement says they are targeting mega-corporations, I can't help but feel SMEs will be negatively affected too.

As Marco Rabinowitz once said: "..... nonproductivity in society over time eventually evolves into counterproductivity ....." So, while there are social-economic-environmental issues that need to be resolved, let's not stall the economy with an "Occupying Christmas" and kill the chance of an economic recovery.

Related links:

* "Ghost of Christmas Future: Half of Americans Fear Not Being Able to Afford Holiday Shopping" By Marco Rabinowitz, Benzinga Staff Writer, November 30, 2011