text:
Jason Gregor
September 29 2011 11:08AM
Eleven has been my favourite number since I can remember. I had short affairs with some higher ups like 17, 19 and 23, but 11 has always been the number that made me feel the most confident. It is strange how a lucky number can impact our psyche or our minds, yet today on the 11th anniversary of my father's passing I have an eerie mixture of confidence and yearning.
Eleven years ago today, my father, William Arthur Gregor, passed away at the young age of 56. Dad had a massive heart attack in his car at a red light in Sherwood Park. He had quit smoking a few years earlier, wasn't a heavy drinker or overweight, but sadly it was his time.
The morning of his funeral I found myself anxious and uptight so I sat down and wrote an email to my close friends. I'm not sure what caused me to write down my thoughts that foggy morning, but once I started typing and released my inner feelings I felt better. In that email I asked my friends for their thoughts and prayers, but most importantly I asked them to tell their fathers they loved them. I hoped that through their actions my Dad would know how much I loved him.
Today, after you've taken the time to read this, I ask that you do the same.
On the first anniversary of Wild Willy's (nickname my brother and I gave him) passing, I sat down and wrote another email. I felt a tad nervous that people might think it was corny or self-serving, because that wasn't my intention, but luckily that wasn't the reaction I received. That year and every year since many people have sent me their own stories filled with heartache, fun-loving memories and words of gratitude.
I've kept many of them, and from time-to-time I go back and read them, and for a short time the void in my heart and soul from Dad's death seems smaller. With every passing year I find that I'm closer to being in the majority, rather than the minority, when dealing with the loss of a parent. Every year someone I've met casually or in passing has lost their father, and often after sending out this letter they send a response outlining how they can relate to my feelings.
It sounds strange, but over the years I've realized those responses soothe my soul. I will tear up reading them, often because their pain seems so much worse than mine, but also because they are so genuine and real.
Too often we feel we are the only one struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one, when it is so obvious that isn't the case.
Sharing those emotions is what we long for, but rarely are we able to express them. Even those who are strong enough to share their feelings frequently still don't do it often enough. Many of us simply bottle up our emotions and decide that we can function while they stay locked away.
Sadly, that rarely leads to happiness.
Writing this email creates a mixture of laughter and heartache, but most of all it fills me with a feeling of undying love for and from my father. The wonderful thing about genuine love is that it truly never goes away, and the actions we show today WILL live in the hearts of our loved ones forever. I'm not sure I believed that until I lost my father.
Today crept up on me much quicker than in previous years. Some years I dreaded thinking about it, because I wanted the pain to subside and not think about him. Other years I bordered on excited as the 29th approached, because I wanted to recall all the joy he brought to my life. This year I really just wanted to be able to speak with him and get some advice.
I'm sure all of you who have lost a loved one feel the same way, but during those rare momentous occasions in life we really yearn for their wisdom, love and guidance.
I met the love of my life, Traci, this year and over the summer I knew she was the one and I proposed ten days ago. We've all felt love at some point in our life, but when you feel that "this is the one" love it is both exhilarating and frightening. I wanted to ask him for some fatherly advice, because I knew he'd have a good response. He met my mom in a post office, got engaged three weeks later and then married four months after that. He knew how to embrace the sweaty palms, butterflies and empty pit in your gut and turn them into positives.
He wasn't afraid to take a chance at love, and for the entire 31 years of my parent's marriage their loved never wavered.
I had some serious questions I wanted to ask him.
How do you really know she is the one?
Why do we speak in a quieter tone or cheesy voice and often toss in a pet name when addressing her?
Will I ever have any closet space?
Do they make blankets where one half is eight inches thick to keep her warm and my half a normal thickness?
Will I actually feel better if I talk about my feelings?
Dad would have had an answer for all these questions, whether they were the right answer is debatable, but he would have had some interesting responses.
Seriously though, the hardest part of death is that it is so final. It leaves us longing for more, especially when we lose a loved one earlier than we expected. I am extremely thankful that even though he couldn't tell me the answers himself, his actions left me with a great blueprint.
My father wasn't afraid to show his love. He never said I love you very often, but he didn't have to because his wife, kids, extended family and friends knew how he felt.
Dad was chatty as hell, but he wasn't great with emotional words. He always bought mom a card for her birthday, their anniversary, holidays or special occasions. The cards always had long, meaningful messages in them, but only two words were his; at the top of the card it said, Pearl and at the bottom, Bill. Nothing else.
One day we stopped at the mall to pick up some stuff. As we walked past a stationary/card store he said he needed to get mom a birthday card, and that I should go pick up whatever we were getting. He said to meet him back here when I was done. Twenty minutes later I walked back to the store and he was still looking for a card. I couldn't believe it.
"What's taking so long," I asked. He looked at me and said, "You can't rush these things. I need the perfect card for her." It took him at least another ten minutes before he picked out a card. While driving home I asked him why the card was so important.
"I'm not good at writing out my feelings, so I need to find a card that tells your mom exactly how I feel." "Why can't you just get a blank card and write out what you feel," I blurted out. "I'm just not good at it, but I know it is important so I take my time until I find one that reflects how I feel about her."
I remembered that story while looking at the chicken scratch I'd scribbled on the card I gave Traci before I proposed. I bought a blank card and wrote what probably turned out to be incoherent gibberish, because I was so nervous. I thought that was the romantic thing to do.
A few days later after the shock of her saying yes subsided, I remembered my mom's reaction when she read cards from dad and how she would always have a big smile; look at him and voice, "Thank you."
It didn't matter that it wasn't his writing, but those words were his true feelings. Dad never wrote the mushy, romantic stuff because that wasn't in his nature, but he showed my mom how he felt daily.
He made her coffee, he scraped the frost off her car every morning before leaving for work, if she worked late he always had dinner waiting for her, and he often bought her flowers. The card normally just read, LOVE BILL.
If you can't write how you feel make sure you show the woman how you feel. Ladies don't fret if your man isn't a future Hallmark-writer, cherish that he takes the time to find a card that expresses for him how he feels about you.
Last year I wrote about the ten life lessons I'd learned from my father, and now as I look ahead to marriage, and maybe fatherhood, I re-read them and asked myself if I was living up to them?
I've found that I need to regularly remind myself about what truly is important in life. It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race of life, and how technology has made it very difficult to find quality time with our loved ones.
How often do you talk to your wife, husband, kids or friends while looking at our phone? Often as they talk we are waiting for a text or thinking about sending one? Most of you might say that's not me, but you're likely guilty of it on some level. If you aren't then your teenagers definitely are, and you know you how frustrated an unappreciated you feel when they do that while you try to talk with them.
Try turning your phone off the minute you walk in the door and leave it off for an hour. Then try two hours and so on. You'll find that you actually communicate with your loved ones and listen to what they say.
Traci and I had to agree to shut our phones off, or leave them at home if we went out to dinner or a movie. The crazy thing is we realized we rarely missed anything. None of the texts, tweets or BBM messages was life changing. If you feel naked or freak out without your phone, maybe it's time to try some actual human interactions.
I'm not saying we go phoneless every day, but the times we agree to shut off our phones we seem to connect much better. There are no distractions and that helps.
Dad never had to deal with these issues, so I'm not sure how he would have reacted, but every era has had their share of technological temptations, so try to ensure that you are controlling them and not the other way around.
Ironically one of my proudest moments of this past year was when I received a text from my friend Paul. He never met my father. He sent me a short text that I still have saved in my phone, "I scraped off Leah's (his fiancé) windows this morning. Thought of your dad. He'd be proud."
I hope he was, but I know I sure was. My eyes welled up with pride and nostalgia because I pictured him scrapping mom's windows, and I thought about how much she missed him doing that for her. Never forget to do the little things to show your wife you care, and don't forget to say thank you if your spouse continually does those small special acts of kindness.
Over the years I've had many fathers send me emails stating how they hope they are making an impact in their children's lives like dad did to me. This annual letter has taught me that most men want to know they've positively influenced their kids, but it seems many of us forget to tell our dad's that.
One of my biggest regrets was I never told him. He knew I loved him, but I'm not sure he knew how much I learned from him. Unfortunately I'll never get that chance, but hopefully you do.
It seems society focuses more on ensuring we tell our moms we love them, because they like to hear it. Of course they do, but rarely, if ever, do sons tell our fathers. I'm not sure why that is. We did it as kids. Your young kids do it now, and when they look at you and say, "I love you daddy." it melts your heart. Regardless of you age your father, while he might not show it or say, still yearns to hear those words.
So why do we assume that as we get older our fathers don't need or want to hear that anymore. Few guys would ever ask their kids to say it, so even though your father probably knows you love him, why not tell him? More importantly why not tell him how much he has taught you and how much you appreciate him.
I think you'll be surprised at his reaction. He might not tell you directly, but he'll tell his wife and your mom will likely tell you how much it meant to him. The next time you tell him, he'll likely be able to tell you himself how much it means to him. Dads if you are reading this don't be afraid to thank your kids. They all know you're a softie at heart even if you pretend you're the tough, rugged guy all the time.
I write this email with the hope you can help my father know how much he meant to me, and how much I truly miss him. I hope through your actions of love towards your father today, and in the future, that he will somehow see that eleven years later I still miss him dearly.
This year I ask you to take the time to tell your father how much he means to you. Thank him for taking you to hockey, football, soccer, swimming etc. Tell him his work ethic is inspiring. Thank him for showing you how to treat a lady properly.
If you and your father don't have a great relationship right now, ask yourself if what ever you are arguing over is truly worth it? Don't wait until he is gone to mend the fence. The first step might be awkward, scary or downright gut wrenching, but you'll feel better for it.
Keep in mind he comes from an older generation, and likely one that taught men they were weak if they expressed any emotion, so you'll probably have to make the first move. He likely wants to mend the fence, but is to scared to say or do anything.
If you are lucky enough to be able to see you father today, or this week, give him a hug or just spend some time together. At the very least call him and ask how he's doing. Dads might never say it, but they love hearing from their kids. If you are in a different city, give him a call and tell him you love him.
Many of you are now fathers, and I encourage you to always show an interest in your children's lives. I think the true measure of a man is showing those he loves that they have his support and love, no matter the situation. While your kids might not say it to you, we all loved looking in the crowd and seeing the face of our father or mother at our games, concerts, recitals or at the dinner table when they asked how school was.
It is comforting and the best gift you can give your kids is YOU. Don't forget that when you are busy "providing" for them.
Thank you for reading this, and for taking the time to follow through on my request.
For those who have suffered the loss of your father, recently or at any time, accept my deepest sympathies. If your father is not with us anymore, make sure you call your mom instead, because I guarantee the void in her heart is much deeper.
Dad, I love you dearly. I miss your smile, zest for life, laugh, your undying love and your life lessons. If you could let me know about those magic blankets with two different thicknesses I'd be grateful.
Please watch over all of my friends and family and especially your true love, Mom.
Love your son, Jason
I leave you with a song from Phil Collins with a message most fathers would want their kids to know. "Look over your shoulder and I'll be there."
After a long day of work and life stresses it is nice to sit down and read your article. Makes us all remember what is truly important in life. Thank you Jason, thank you for sharing, meant a lot to me today.
Our thoughts are with you, Gregor.
Oddly, I've always been drawn to the number 11 as well. I think it has some major significance in numerology. I don't know the specifics and I don't want to set off anyones Mystic Fibrosis so I'll leave that alone.
I am so fortunate to have an amazing relationship with my parents. They've been perfect examples of how to be a proper parent.
September 29 2011, 11:18AM
As usual, thanks so much for sharing this with us.
September 29 2011, 11:21AM
Great article JG. I'm lucky enough to have a great relationship with my Pops. Still tell each other we love each other quite regularly (although not in front of my friends...lol) and I tell my boy I love him many times a day. I will certainly spend some time with him today and think about you guys.
Edit: Kind of funny but 11 is my absolute unluckiest number.
Tears in my eyes. Thanks for the reminder. Congrats on the engagement!
Nice article Jason. Lost mine 6 years ago. Told him before he died I would see him again soon enough. He told me not to soon. His wife and my wife have never had to scrape windows or worry about how much they are loved. Unfortunately mom never got over it and died 3 years ago. Great message to all. Thanks
September 29 2011, 11:43AM
Very touching, heartfelt article Jason. I lost my dad 15 years ago when I was 26. I can't begin to say how much I wish I could talk to him just one more time. Thanks for a great read this morning.
*wipes eyes, blows nose*
Thank you, Jason.
I've been contemplating a major life change that would allow me to see my Dad on a daily basis. Because of this, I thought of your past articles just last week, and today, I'm not sure there's anything left to contemplate...
Thanks for the article Gregor, great reminder. We often get too busy with phones, work and yes maybe hockey and let these things slip without realizing it. Sounds like your father left you with all the lessons to live life the right way. I am sure he would be made proud by your article and his impact on you.
I will call my dad this weekend. No tonight.
Wow, i dont like tearing up but this choked me. I lost my dad when i was 18 , and now Mom is in stage 4 of lung cancer. Still at home being cared for by my sister the angel. Kellie. There is only us 3 left and...well you know.. i cant type anymore Sorry for that and Sorry for all us tough guys and not so tough that lost someone. The pain is relentless. Thats my story in short.
Wow Gregor... 2 heart tuggers in one week. Good on ya!
My father gave me 3 special life lessons ...
1. Look at your mother in law. Thats what your wife will look like in 20 yrs. His words stand true today. My M.i.l is a hotty and the apple dont fall far.
2. No TV in your bedroom, the bedroom is for 2 things.
3. Son...do you want to know what electricity is? Stick your finger in the end of this here spark plug cap and I'll show you.
Not every life lesson went well... and he's far from a perfect man, but I love my Dad dearly. Thanks for the reminder.
September 29 2011, 11:51AM
Thanks Jason. Thanks for the reminder. "You don't know what you got till it's gone". All the best with the Wedding Plans, and if you find that blanket with different thinknesses, please pass on, better yet, you might be on to something there!!
September 29 2011, 11:52AM
Too full of emotions after reading this, with tears in my eyes all I can say Gregor is.. Thank you
Wow - thank you for this post.
I am a girl who cherishes her dad. He is 64 and so far in good health, but it has hit me that I have less years ahead of me with him than I do behind me.
I am going to call him tonight.
Awesome, heartfelt post.
Best of luck on your upcoming marriage.
I listen to you every day...its nice to see the "non-working" side of you.
September 29 2011, 12:02PM
Once again you have brought me to tears. You are a remarkable man! I am sure as our dads look upon us, your dad is smiling and telling everyone how proud he is of you!
Thank you Jason!
It is has been about 10 1/2 years since I had to watch my father pass away due to cancer. There was some comfort in being there to hold his hand as he took his last breath, but it took a lot out of me too in other ways. I don't think that a day has passed where I haven't wanted to talk to him about things, seek his advice, share a joke . . . I would give up my very life to have the chance to talk to him again for another 10 minutes. Thanks for sharing.
And just as an aside a song that I just can not listen to anymore with tearing up is A Love Without End, Amen by George Strait http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrTidoW2Erc
Great read Jason. I have been a reader for a few years now but never felt compelled to comment, until now. I lost my dad this past January and everyday I'm reminded of two things. The first being how much I loved him and miss him daily. The second being how much my mom misses him and seems completely lost without him. Just wondering on how long it took your mom to recover(if she did) and if she ever met anyone else?
September 29 2011, 12:15PM
couldn't read it all and am barley struggling thru this.
i haven't been able to talk to mine since '89. i was 13 and he was 42. the good die young.
well written Jason.
Thanks for these articles every year, Jason. I read them every time, and they always bring out strong emotions in me.
I became a Dad for the first time on July 30th this year when my son was born. During the short time he has been a part of our family so far, I reflect often on the fact that I so desperately want to be there for him whenever he needs me. I can't wait to teach him all that I can about girls, sports, school, and life in general.
When out walking the dog yesterday with my family in tow, I looked over at my son as he slept against my wife's chest all wrapped up and I thought out loud, "Do you think we will ever get to be grand parents or great grandparents?" Gosh, I sure hope so. It was a strange thought, and I can't explain why it came to me, but it made me realize then that my time with him is limited and I need to make the most of it every day. I just hope I can positively impact his life the way my Dad has mine, and your dad has yours.
September 29 2011, 12:25PM
Wow.. That was amazing to read Jason. Thank you so much for sharing that.
I am still fortunate to have my father around and he lives close to me as well. My parents are very much involved in our lives as well as the lives of my children.
Nothing in this world makes me feel as good as when either of my children say, "I love you Daddy".
Truly an emotional read.. and in the comments as well. For all of you that have experienced loss, I give to you my heartfelt thoughts.
I am glad you keep this going every year. It is nice to hear your fond memories of your Dad and how much you loved him. Although he has been gone 11 years now, he never really left you, but this is something you already know.
I have been estranged from my Father for over 6 years now. It is not something that I care to get into, but reading about your Dad every year reminds me about the importance of my role as a Father to my 3 kids. I hope that I can have a positive impact on my kids the way your Dad had on you. When it is my time to leave this place, I want them to know who much I love and cherish them.
Congrats on your engagement. I pray for a lifetime of happy moments for you both!
Thanks Jason! Again, another great read/remider, it's funny how life/time goes by so quickly. We get so caught up in the rat race, the small gestures and the little thing that are so important get left behind. No doubt you will be a great husband and god willing an amazing father.
September 29 2011, 12:32PM
Great read Jason.
And I agree with the article 100%. Spend as much time as you can with your father, ask questions, phone him and ask how his day was. It's almost been a year since my dad has past away, and sticking with your number 11 Gregor, my dad had past away on november 11th. My sister, my mom and I had rushed to the hospital early that morning to visit him as my sister had just gotten home from teaching out of town. We sat with him the entire morning until he took his last breathe and left us at around 11am. There are so many things I still want to ask him, so many situations I would still turn to him to talk about. Reading everyone elses comments on here makes me tear up cause I know how they felt and still feel. Life is precious and can be gone in a blink of an eye.
Give your dad a shout today, don't wait till fathers day.
September 29 2011, 12:39PM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings Jason :)
I lost my dad when I was 12 years old. I am 31 today and the pain is still so raw. The void is unexplainable unless you have experienced it.
I have some of the same types of questions for my dad and there are so many times that I want to ask him for advice.
Thank you for reminding those that still have dads to ask those questions even though it may be uncomfortable. They really will miss it when he is gone :(
Big hugs to you.
Jason, thanks again for sharing your heart and your memories of your Dad with us. I remember reading about your Dad in your post last year and I was awestruck and overwhelmed with emotion towards you and your family, and my own family and especially my own Dad.
A month or two ago, the wife and I went on a date night and we had a nice dinner at Von's and we followed it up with a movie at the Princess Theatre. Showing that night was "The Tree of Life", starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and some lesser known actors. The movie was really touching and I bet there wasn't a dry eye in the place, including mine. It was an incredibly moving experience as the movie was an emotional journey that touched on birth, growing up, death and relationships.
For those interested here is the trailer. Note: It is not your typical hollywood movie and is not for everyone but if you are looking for something deep and emotional to share with someone you love, then I recommend it. The wife and I talked about the movie for days and weeks afterwards and I get goosebumps just looking at the trailer again.
Thanks again for sharing Jason.
September 29 2011, 12:43PM
Hey Jason. I've been listening to you since you did the late night show after John Short. I've been reading your articles for a while as well. Last year reading this article I called my dad after and we did what we always do, talk about the Oilers. My dad passed away July 25th this year and right up to the end we did what we always do, talk about the Oilers.
You always hear "you don't realize what you have until it's gone" but I didn't really know that feeling until now. We spend a lot of our lives celebrating firsts: first kiss, first apartment, first car. It's the same for athletes: first goal, first shutout, first homerun. This year I get the other side of firsts: first Christmas without him, first Oilers season without him etc. I'm sure it was the same for you as it is for me. You stumble on this seemingly insignificant things that remind you of him and they don't care if you're at work or out with the guys and it's all you can do to hold yourself together.
Until you've gone through it you never know how to handle it when it happens to someone you know. Everyone resorts to asking you "how are you doing?" and until this summer I never realized how terrible that question can be. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself how you'd be doing?
Now I've gone through all the different emotions from anger that he's gone, pity for myself to have lost him to jealousy for all the people that can't relate. Every day presents a different struggle but I also remember the kind of man he was and how much he'd make fun of me for carrying on about this the way I am. In spite of his faults (and who doesn't have faults?) he was a good man. I miss him every day. Thank you for sharing your story with us, especially now that I can relate to it on a more personal level.
September 29 2011, 12:48PM
I have been a loyal reader of this site for Three years now and this is the third letter to your dad you have shared with the nation. I just want to say thank you! I know it must be tough for you to write this letter every year but it truly has become my favorite post on the nation website! What a great read JG! Thanks again for letting us into your heart!
September 29 2011, 12:50PM
Something my father always taught me was to be true to myself no matter what, and to be proud of that.
I have always tried to stay true that advice, though at times I have wavered. Never sat well with me.
My father's opinion means everything to me. I would much rather have someone not like me for who I am, than for my father to be disappointed that I have become someone that I am truly not.
Love you Pop!
Once again, great read Jason. My wife and I both lost our Fathers at the young age of 50. My stepfather, who has been with me since I was like 7, lost his a month ago. He was 95 years old, people think that that should make it easier, but I realized this year, that no matter the age, it always hurts. Death, the finallity of it all, no matter young or old, we grieve. The best thing I have ever learned is to allow yourselve to grieve and talk and cry. These things I think help us, comfort us, and hopefully everyone has 1 or 2 people that will be there to help carry them trough these tough times in our lives.
Thanks Jason for taking the time to write this and share with us. Thanks for the stroll down my memory lane of my father who has passed as well.
Ok i feel like a wreck after reading all these.
For one quick second during the great reads.
LETS GO OILERS LETS GO !! Canucks ! we are pissed and we are coming
after you , be checking over your shoulder always
Just needed to change the mood for a split second. Our dads would love it.
Jason, Thank you so much for sharing this, and once again you have me in tears. I love the passion you put into these letters to your dad year after year...you can tell how deeply you loved him, how much you miss him, and how much he influenced the life you live today. Congratulations on your engagement...so so happy for you!!
September 29 2011, 01:14PM
Damn it Jason you did it to me again. I debated opening this blog because I remembered the affect the one you wrote a year ago had on me and I didn't want to well-up in the office. Then you went and wrote this line which matches my father perfectly (except for the names):
My father wasn't afraid to show his love. He never said I love you very often, but he didn't have to because his wife, kids, extended family and friends knew how he felt.
Dad was chatty as hell, but he wasn't great with emotional words. He always bought mom a card for her birthday, their anniversary, holidays or special occasions. The cards always had long, meaningful messages in them, but only two words were his; at the top of the card it said, Pearl and at the bottom, Bill. Nothing else.
Does it count a crying if the tears just well up but don't drop from your eyes?
This article hits home at a strange time in my life. My wife is now finishing up her nursing degree and for the 1st time since the my kids were born, returning home to Edmonton is an option. Suddenly the urge to get out of Edmonton and travel the world isn't so important. All I can think of is my aging parents and how I don't want to deprive my kids (or myself) from the quality time with my family. It would be a huge financial sacrifice to move everything and I would be leaving a professional position to take up whatever I could find in Edmonton, but the more I think about it, and the more I read articles like yours, the more I think that moving home is something I need to do.
September 29 2011, 01:18PM
Argh! Why did you have to do this to me Jason???This is always a great article to read and enjoy reading it very much. This was a tough one to get through this year because my father was diagnosed with brain cancer last November. Doctors have given him 12-14 months to live. The news did not break him down and he looked at us and said "lets get past the tears and have a great year". All the treatments have been tough on him and the last 8 months we have really watched him become very frail and tired. You've inspired me to write him a letter about how important he's been in my life. Thanks for that.
September 29 2011, 01:22PM
Thanks Jason.
I got engaged about 1 year ago and my wife and I already have a 3 month old son. Things have progressed rapidly for us over the past year, and I've certainly learned a lot and have had to change in a lot of ways - all for the better.
What a wonderful article. It isn't easy for guys to open up and tell your loved ones how important they are in your life, but it's amazing what suppressing your testosterone can do to help you communicate better, learn to be more patient, and come to appreciate life and those around you on a day to day basis.
Thanks for offering the window into your soul.
September 29 2011, 01:39PM
Like many others on here, thanks for posting this. Been reading on here for a couple of years, but never posted until now. I just lost my dad on July 7th from a heart attack while he slept, and this letter really hits home for me. I think about him every day and wish me and my wife and daughter could have had the chance to tell him we love him one more time. He was a great man, as it sounds like your dad was, and I hope I can be half the man he was.
September 29 2011, 01:43PM
Thanks again Jason.
It's funny that last year, I forwarded your ode to your dad to my dad, only to find that there was the same thing waiting for me in my inbox from my dad. We had always had a good relationship, but the conversation that came from that article definitely forced us to talk about some stuff that we were always to 'macho' to talk about. I am truly grateful for that as earlier this year he passed away after some surgery.
Though it would be great to still have him around for a while longer, I feel very lucky to have had the time we did.
Thoughts are with you and your mom today and congrats on the engagement.
September 29 2011, 01:51PM
Thanks Jason,
I lost my day in the summer of 2002. It was one week after I asked my now wife to marry me. When I look at my two daughters I wish so bad that he was here to see them.
Your letter is a great reminder to cherish all of those that are important to us. Life is short!
Take care and congratulations on the engagement.
Thanks for sharing Jason. Very well done!
September 29 2011, 02:02PM
Gregor, thanks for sharing and congrats on the engagement. A inspirational letter and great reminder to all of us. I am a long time listener, first time caller that was inspired and moved by your letter.
Gregor, look forward to this article every year.
This year it takes on a whole new meaning for me. Last December I moved away from Edmonton for the first time, relocating to the Silicon Valley in Norcal, which needless to say means I rarely get a chance to spend time with old friends and family anymore.
I used to see the old man every week for Sunday dinner with the fam, but now I haven't seen him in months. I miss him.
Luckily, (and strangely enough), he's coming to town tomorrow for his first visit since I moved. We're going to take in some football - Saturday we head just down the street from the new digs in Palo Alto to catch Stanford/UCLA, then Sunday we head across the Bay to check out the Raiders/Pats. Should be a great weekend of football, but to be honest, I'm more excited just to be able to hang out with him. Your annual article always makes me thankful that I can still do that. And after reading this year's, I'm gonna make sure I tell him.
As always, thanks for sharing.
September 29 2011, 02:07PM
My father is an amazing person, and if I can manage to be half the man he is I'll count myself as extremely lucky.
Gregor, I really look forward to reading this later tonight. I'm at work right now and - given the heart and thought you put into this post every year - I won't be much use in the office this afternoon if I decide to tackle it now.
Thanks for providing this perspective. It serves as a great reminder for those of us that might forget.
September 29 2011, 02:11PM
My dad will have been gone 9 years as of Oct 20th. I think about him often and sometimes wish it was him when my phone rings (he used to call me every week or so ever since I went away to university 20 years ago). I wish he was here to see his first granddaughter. He would have been so tickled with her.
When I see my brother with his daughter I always think about how much I loved spending time with my dad, even when I was really little. She has that same joy when she sees her dad I had when I saw mine.
Even though my dad is gone, I still feel him around me. Mystic Fibrosis indeed! (good one!) I think our loved ones get to watch over us.
Double digits are lucky in numerology. All my license plates I've ever had, have had the numbers add up to 11.
September 29 2011, 02:20PM
Wow. On a lighter note JG, looks like you've made a pretty big impression with your letters to your father with Rosscreek and Petr's Jofa! If nothing else you should be pretty satisfied about that.
September 29 2011, 02:52PM
Wonderful post JG. My Dad is still going strong at 82. Since he moved to BC he has developed a disgusting soft spot for the Nucks. I'll dig deep and forgive him next time we talk. Fortunately, I have done a proper job of parenting my three kids (20, 18 & 16), all rabid Oil fans. Your words are so true. I know that if/when you have kids, you will be a great influence on them.
Thanks Jason God bless you and your father.
September 29 2011, 03:06PM
Hey Jason,
Yes, thanks for sharing your thoughts about your father. And you are correct that there are many who have lost a loved one way too early.
I was 17 when my father died unexpectedly. He too dying from a massive heart attack. Of course, like many 17 year olds, my relationship with my father was strained and our last conversation wasn't a pleasant one. Therefore, my one biggest regret was that I couldn't be there with him when he passed. He died alone without me being able to tell him I loved him. It will be 29 years this November since we lost him.
That event shaped my life, and taught me the wrong way to deal with these (or any) emotional issues. For example: I was recently informed by an old girlfriend that after my father passed away, I never said another word to her. I had no idea. It sure messed me up.
So I applaud you for asking those who can, to call or go see their fathers. Tell them how you feel. You may not get the chance.
Myself, I will go call my Mom.
Thanks Jason.
September 29 2011, 04:12PM
Absolutely loving the feedback stories guys.
September 29 2011, 04:36PM
Sympathies on this difficult day.
What a difference a 26 a day makes. Wish my dad was half the father yours was.
September 29 2011, 04:49PM
Like a few other people I've been reading for a while but never posted, but after reading this I'm feeling kinda selfish. When my dad gets brought up in conversation I usually think of all the fights and arguments over nothing. Stupid. This reminded me of him driving from Fort McMurray to Lloydminster, with only one day off work, to watch me play in a tournament. The game ended, and back to work he went. It's never been said between us, but I love you dad, I hope you know it.


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|Posted by gary on March 02, 2004 at 10:56:35:
|In response to Re: Slow hot water
: : Hello,
: : My name is gary. One of my tile customers has a problem with her shower in which the cold water works fine but put it on hot and the water barely comes out. I put in a new cartridge for her thinking maybe it was just old, but the same thing is still happening. Does she need to have a plumber come and change the pipes or could there be another explanation?
: : Thanks for your help.
: Did you flush the lines? Is this a pressure balance with a balance spool?
Yes, did flush the lines and the shower valve is an old one with one of those skinny little cartridges. Not very complicated.
|Replies to this post

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Data Dashboards: Bringing More Market Information to Life
It has been said that the most successful person in life (and in business) is often the one who has the best information. For almost a century USDA Market News has been providing farmers, ranchers and businesses with the best market and pricing information. Our real-time commodity reports, produced by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), provide quick and easy access to volume and price information for boxed beef, cattle, hogs, and sheep.
Over the years, our reports have evolved to better meet the changing demands of the farmers and ranchers who rely on our data to remain competitive. In the summer of 2010, we launched the first of our livestock data dashboards, providing a highly customized experience for our data consumers.
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Like all of our dashboards, it also offers a range of options to download and export custom datasets, giving you only the datapoints that are most meaningful to you. The users' guide provides a feature-by-feature overview of the dashboard and is a great place to start if you're new to the datasets.
USDA Market News has been providing market information on cotton, dairy, livestock and grains, poultry and eggs, and fruits and vegetables for over 90 years. By visiting USDA Market News you can view hundreds of pre-made commodity reports—including the livestock dashboards—or create a custom report to see only the information you need.
Get the same insight as other industry insiders—visit the livestock dashboards.


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(BPT) - Fall fashion magazines can easily top 500 pages of skirts, tops, pants, coats and accessories; all deemed "must-haves" for the chilly weather ahead. The choices and trends can be staggering, but just because temperatures are falling doesn't mean you need to drop a small fortune on a new wardrobe.
Fashion experts from two of the Art Institutes schools share six of the top trends for fall and how you can use them to make the most of the pieces already in your closet.
Animal print – "Look at any magazine and you're going to see animal print," says Stefani Bay, fashion instructor at The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago. She says everything is in animal print. Whether black and white or a crazy color, this trend can be found on garments, shoes, bags and scarves. According to Bay, adding an animal print piece to any outfit in your closet will make you look "of the moment."
Tweed - "Tweeds are a very important fashion story this fall," says Emil DeJohn, fashion instructor at The Art Institute of Philadelphia. Each year a variety of tweeds grace the runways of Fashion Week, but this year they are stealing the spotlight, especially in black and white versions of houndstooth, Donegal tweed, and herringbone.
"A tweed jacket is the perfect thing over something old," says Bay, especially when it's a colorful tweed over a colorful outfit. Other options include tweed scarves and even handbags.
Leather – "When isn't leather right?" asks Bay. DeJohn agrees adding whether it's trim, collar and cuff, or the entire jacket, leather is something every woman should have in her closet this fall. You can find this incredibly versatile textile in jeans, blouses and accents, but according to Bay, the big story for leather is the motorcycle jacket. You can find motorcycle jackets in all price points, made from leather, faux leather, vinyl or patent leather. Added to your closet it will make anything look more current.
Black and white – A perennial favorite of chic women the world over, black and white is a big trend for fall, especially when paired with a bright shocking color, says DeJohn. The perfect way to jazz up black and white is with a punch of the season's soft orange, citrus green, bright royal blue, gold or royal purple. "You can put anything black and white over a white shirt to look crisp and professional," says Bay. You can also do the same with a black T-shirt or add a punch of black and white with a handbag.
Dresses – "Dresses made a major comeback. Every designer had a number of dresses in their collection," says DeJohn. Dresses are easy, convenient and versatile. "They take you from day to evening," says Bay. She recommends wearing a favorite dress with a motorcycle jacket and boots for day, and chandelier earrings and heels for evening. She cautions that the most important thing with dresses is fit. And if you have an old dress with a great pattern or color, just add a motorcycle jacket to give it new life.
Hats and scarves – According to DeJohn, hats are also making a comeback. He says they are an easy and practical update to any outfit, with a variety to suit all face shapes. Bay says scarves are another trend in fall accessories. For daytime, she recommends wearing a long woven scarf wrapped around multiple times, and for evening add a beaded scarf to a black dress.


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General Information About Hotels in Phoenix, Arizona
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EAST CARBON- William Robert Bass, age 75, passed away Dec. 20, 2012 at his home in East Carbon.
He was born April 26, 1937 in Cortez, Colo. to Henry Jackson and Delta Schrum Bass.
Married Virginia Pearl Bass on Aug. 3, 1964 in New Mexico.
Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, 10 a.m., Mitchell Funeral Home, Price. Family was at Mitchell's Sunday afternoon from 2-4 p.m. and Monday one hour prior to service. Interment, Cliffiview Cemetery, Price. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home where friends are welcome daily and may share memories of Bob at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.


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Lulu Townsend Daphnie Platform Pump
Sorry, this item is sold out!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
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Item # dsw12prod3870203
From the Lulu Townsend White Box Collection come the Daphnie. Pump up any evening look with this sparkling pump, sure to make you stand out on the dance floor!
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Try these easy, cheesy ground-beef enchiladas, complete with sassy sauce and mild chiles.
You can use Cheddar, colby or Monterey Jack cheese instead of the blend. If you want to add extra spice, use hot pepper Monterey Jack cheese in place of some of the blend.
© 2015 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved


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The Economics of Network Neutrality
Nicholas Economides
New York University - Leonard N. Stern School of Business - Department of Economics
Benjamin E. Hermalin
University of California, Berkeley
January 27, 2012
RAND Journal of Economics, 2012
NET Institute Working Paper No. 10-25
NYU Law and Economics Research Paper No. 10-57
Pricing of Internet access has been characterized by two properties: Parties are directly billed only by the Internet service provider (ISP) through which they connect to the Internet. Pricing, moreover, is not contingent on the type of content being transmitted. These properties define a regime known as "network neutrality." In 2005, some large ISPs proposed that application and content providers directly pay them additional fees for accessing the isps' residential clients, as well as differential fees for prioritizing certain content. We analyze the private and social incentives to introduce such fees when the network is congested and more traffic implies greater delays. We derive conditions under which network neutrality would be welfare superior to any feasible scheme for prioritizing service. Extending our analysis to encompass ISPs' incentives to invest in more bandwidth, we show that the ability to price discriminate increases their incentives to invest. In terms of overall welfare, we show the additional investment may or may not offset any static inefficiency associated with discrimination.
Number of Pages in PDF File: 39
Keywords: Network Neutrality, Two-Sided Markets, Internet, Monopoly, Price Discrimination, Regulation, Congestion
JEL Classification: L1, D4, L12, L13, C63, D42, D43
Date posted: December 12, 2010 ; Last revised: December 24, 2013
Suggested Citation
Contact Information


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Chapter 47
The Israelites settle in Goshen—Jacob blesses Pharaoh—Joseph sells grain to the Egyptians—Pharaoh receives the Egyptians' cattle and lands—Jacob desires to be buried with his fathers in Canaan.
1 Then Joseph came and told
2 And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto
3 And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your
4 They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to
5 And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:
6 The land of
7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?
9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my
10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.
11 ¶And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of
12 And Joseph
13 ¶And there was no bread in all the land; for the
14 And Joseph gathered up all the
15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us
16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.
17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:
19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.
20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's.
21 And as for the people,
22 Only the land of the
23 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.
24 And it shall come to pass
25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.
26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the
27 ¶And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.
28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of
29 And the
30 But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and
31 And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel


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Debates of Sept. 26th, 2011
House of Commons Hansard #20 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was libyan.
- Question Period
- Libya
- Jacynthe Geschke
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Mississauga Chinese Business Association
- Seniors
- Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day
- Food Banks
- Natural Disaster
- The Economy
- Ian MacDonald and Maurice Snook
- Poland
- Burnaby—Douglas
- International Trade
- International Day for Democracy
- Libya
- Keystone Pipeline
- The Economy
- G8 Summit
- The Economy
- The Environment
- The Economy
- Pensions
- Champlain Bridge
- The Environment
- National Defence
- Foreign Affairs
- Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
- Public Safety
- Service Canada
- Health
- G8 Summit
- Aboriginal Affairs
- International Trade
- Search and Rescue
- Afghanistan
- Libya
- Tunisia
- Natural Resources
- Points of Order
- Safe Streets and Communities Act
- Points of Order
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Privilege
- Libya
Jacynthe Geschke
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Randy Kamp Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to recognize the achievements of one of my constituents, Jacynthe Geschke.
Jacynthe was recognized last night for her volunteer efforts with a community achievement award at the Naturally Autistic People Awards and Convention. This was one of only 11 awards given out worldwide this year.
What makes Jacynthe's achievement special is that she, herself, is a young adult with autism. Jacynthe participates in Naturally Autistic training workshops and provides insight as a speaker and role model. She enjoys gymnastics and working with horses and she shares this love by working with young autistic children in various programs.
By giving of her time, she is showing how those with disabilities can use their talents to help build our society.
October is Autism Awareness Month in Canada. I ask all members to please join me in congratulating Jacynthe who, in spite of her challenges with autism, is contributing to the lives of others. She is setting a good example for us all to follow.
Aboriginal Affairs
Statements By Members
September 26th, 2011 / 2 p.m.
Charlie Angus Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, the recent coroner's report on the suicides in Pikanjikum shows the systemic negligence being faced by first nation children on reserves across Canada.
Children are losing hope and killing themselves because they do not even have access to a proper school. However, first nation children are not giving up.
In her short life, Shannen Koostachin became the voice of a forgotten generation of first nations children. Shannen had never seen a real school, but her fight for equal rights for children in Attawapiskat First Nation launched the largest youth-driven child rights movement in Canadian history, and that fight has gone all the way to the United Nations.
Shannen did not live long enough to see her dream of a proper school realized because she died in a tragic car accident, but her dream lives on.
Today, I will reintroduce Motion No. 201, Shannen's Dream, which lays out the steps needed to close the funding gap and give first nations children the opportunity for equal education.
This is what Shannen wrote before she died:
But I want to also tell you about the determination in our community to build a better world. School should be a time for hopes and dreams of the future. Every kid deserves this.
I thank Shannen.
Mississauga Chinese Business Association
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Wladyslaw Lizon Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON
Mr. Speaker, last Friday, I had the honour of attending the 20th anniversary celebration of the Mississauga Chinese Business Association.
Over the last 20 years, the MCBA has made significant contributions to our local economy and cultural diversity by increasing engagement and communication between members of the Chinese community, local organizations and all levels of government. The MCBA's activities aid in community integration and touch all aspects of community life in Mississauga.
During the anniversary celebration, the MCBA paid tribute to the Chief of Police, Mike Metcalfe, for his 40 years of service to the Peel Regional Police Force.
The dedication and selflessness of police officers are integral to our government's mandate to make Canadian streets safer.
I would like to take this opportunity to speak on behalf of residents of Mississauga and thank Chief Metcalfe for his 40 yeas of dedicated service to protecting our community and for making Mississauga the safe and prospering city it is known to be.
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Judy Foote Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a group of seniors in my riding of Random—Burin—St. George's who are proof learning is indeed a lifelong process.
The Random Age-Friendly Communities Office in Clarenville has been offering a program for the past three years, computers for seniors. The program has become so popular that currently there is a waiting list of over 40 seniors who are anxious to learn how to be computer savvy: how to use email, online banking, download government forms and a host of other tasks previously unavailable to them.
The volunteers who run the program are to be commended for their commitment, as are the seniors who, instead of refusing this modern technology, are now using it to make their lives richer.
I ask all members of the House to join me in congratulating this fine group of seniors who are confirming it is never too late to embrace new ideas.
Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Ryan Leef Yukon, YT
Mr. Speaker, yesterday thousands gathered for the 34th National Police and Peace Officer Memorial on Parliament Hill to honour the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep Canadians safe.
Peace officers from hundreds of agencies across Canada and the United States attended to witness and pay tribute to officers who had fallen in the line of duty this past year.
One of those officers, Constable Michael Potvin, served as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the small community of Mayo in the Yukon Territory.
For Michael's wife Allison, brother Sean, mother Patricia, father Mark and, most of all, his little boy Jack who, sadly, he will never know, Mayo, the Yukon and indeed the country mourn with them.
For the family, friends and colleagues of Constable Garrett Styles, Sergeant Ryan J. Russell, Constable Sébastien Coghlan-Goyette and Constable Michael Potvin, the four officers who died in the line of duty this past year, we are so very sorry.
We thank those fine young officers on behalf of Canadians for their service. Rest in peace. We salute them.
Food Banks
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Carol Hughes Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Mr. Speaker, on October 1, Moose FM in Elliot Lake will be holding its radiothon to drum up donations for the Elliot Lake emergency food bank. This annual event highlights the spirit of volunteerism and showcases the generosity of the people of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing.
It is a sad fact that too many Canadians are turning to food banks as belts get tighter and budgets get squeezed. Many Canadians might think of hunger as an urban problem, but Food Banks Canada tells us that about half of Canada's food banks are located in rural communities.
While the government dishes out $90,000 a day to high-priced consultants, volunteers and organizations are soliciting donations to fight hunger in their communities.
Whether it is organizations such as Moose FM in Elliot Lake and Kapuskasing, Jane's Pantry in Iron Bridge, Iris House in Wawa, Le Samaritain du Nord in Hearst, Manitoulin Help Centre, or all those who donate, these people deserve recognition for their dedication to fighting hunger.
I ask the House to join me in thanking them for their advocacy.
Natural Disaster
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Ben Lobb Huron—Bruce, ON
Mr. Speaker, on August 21, an F3 tornado with winds estimated to have reached 280 kilometres per hour tore through the town of Goderich, Benmiller and surrounding areas, causing severe damage. The downtown business community was devastated and residential homes were torn to shreds.
Over the last month citizens of Goderich, businesses, municipalities and NGOs have worked selflessly to cut down trees, remove rubble and help neighbours in need.
I would like to commend all of the police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel from Huron County and across the province who responded quickly and worked around the clock to clean up the destruction left by the tornado.
I would also like to recognize the leadership of the mayor, Deb Shewfelt, council and staff for their hard work and perseverance in uniting this community and rebuilding the town of Goderich after its worst natural disaster.
Together we will rebuild the "Prettiest Town in Canada".
The Economy
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Andrew Saxton North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Speaker, our government's top priority remains completing the economy recovery. Canadians and the voters of North Vancouver gave our Conservative government a strong mandate to stay focused on what matters: creating jobs and economic growth.
Canada has now created nearly 600,000 net new jobs since July 2009. That is why our Conservative government is staying the course with our low tax plan to create jobs and growth. The last thing the Canadian economy needs is a massive NDP tax hike that would kill jobs, stall our recovery and set Canadian families back.
Our fragile recovery must not be put at risk by opposition politicians who want higher deficits, more debt and an end to Canada's historic status as a trading nation.
Instead, we must implement the next phase of Canada's economic action plan, a program that calls for low taxes, enhanced training opportunities and expanded trade, which will preserve this country's advantage in the global economy.
Ian MacDonald and Maurice Snook
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Joe Comartin Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Speaker, this August, shortly after the 69th anniversary of the raid on Dieppe, our community lost two veterans of that raid, Sergeant Major Maurice Snook and Lieutenant-Colonel Ian MacDonald, who died within days of one another.
Veterans Snook and MacDonald were two of the 553 soldiers of the Essex Scottish Regiment who fought at Dieppe. With their deaths, only five regimental veterans of the raid remain. While the raid proved to be a military disaster, with the death of 970 Canadians and 1,946 prisoners, it provided valuable lessons that were used for D-Day. The Essex Scottish Regiment alone lost 121 men with only 52 managing to escape. The remaining, including MacDonald and Snook, were taken prisoner.
Despite the hardships they endured in German prison camps, both men survived. They returned home, had families and built our community. They continued to be engaged with the militia, with Ian becoming the commanding officer, and both visiting Dieppe on the 60th anniversary of the Dieppe raid.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ian MacDonald and Sergeant Major Maurice Snook, as well as being active within the community, were living links to an important part of our history. They will be missed. I hope that while they have passed away we will never forget their sacrifices and contributions.
Our condolences go out to their family, friends and the regiment.
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Ted Opitz Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I was troubled to see that in last Friday's print edition of The Globe and Mail an article on the new war museum in Dresden used the erroneous phrase "Polish concentration camps" in reference to the Nazi German concentration and extermination camps in occupied Poland.
Polish citizens were victims of the brutal Nazi occupiers during the Second World War. This phrase is offensive to the Polish people, who formed the largest home army resisting Nazi tyranny and fought shoulder to shoulder with Canadians on the western front. It insults the thousands of Polish righteous among the nations, who risked their lives to save Jewish neighbours from certain death in Hitler's death camps.
This is not the first time this erroneous phrase has been used. Canada has been clear in our support for the UNESCO designation of Auschwitz as Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi German concentration and extermination camp.
It is important for Canadians to be aware of this distinction, and I hope journalists will take this matter seriously and never again refer falsely to Polish concentration camps.
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Kennedy Stewart Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, on May 2 the voters of Burnaby—Douglas elected me to represent them in the House. I am honoured to serve as their MP and to have been appointed by the late Jack Layton as critic for western economic diversification.
My main goal as MP is to make Burnaby an even better place to live within a more prosperous Canada.
To begin this work, I am meeting with local residents, elected representatives, businesses, unions and NGOs. I am also consulting the public to help set policy directions on two critical local issues.
The first consultation concerns TransLink's proposal to add a gondola to our local public transit network and includes phoning and surveying every affected household.
The second concerns Kinder Morgan's proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline and includes surveying local residents and voters across the province.
I am pleased to announce that the results will be reported to residents as well as the House.
International Trade
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Ed Holder London West, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians know our government's top priority remains completing the economic recovery. That is why Canadians gave our Conservative government a strong mandate to stay focused on what matters, creating jobs and economic growth.
We know that one in five Canadian jobs is dependent on trade. As the Minister of International Trade has repeatedly said, Canadians understand that free trade is a jobs issue, because trade is good for the Canadian economy, trade is good for Canadian workers and trade is good for Canadian families.
Today, the Prime Minister and the prime minister of the state of Kuwait witnessed the signing of the Canada-Kuwait foreign investment promotion and protection agreement. This agreement will help increase two-way investment, open new markets and support Canadian efforts to explore the growing investment opportunities in Kuwait.
This is a strong demonstration of our Conservative government's commitment to create the right conditions for Canadian businesses to compete internationally.
We know when Canadian companies succeed abroad, workers and their families benefit in my city of London and throughout Canada.
International Day for Democracy
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Irwin Cotler Mount Royal, QC
Mr. Speaker, on the International Day for Democracy, I participated in the official founding of the Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies, a diverse coalition of parliamentarians who have come together to promote and protect democratic principles, and in particular: to stand in solidarity with people struggling for freedom and democracy around the world, as in Syria and Libya; to strengthen democratic parliaments, particularly in new and emerging democracies; to advocate for greater and more effective democracy and governance assistance; to promote international norms that protect the rights of people to advance the cause of freedom and democracy.
I am pleased that the first decision made by this forum was to establish a task force to promote and protect democracy during the Arab spring and to stand in solidarity with the courageous people of Syria who are fighting for freedom and dignity.
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Shelly Glover Saint Boniface, MB
Mr. Speaker, today our government is asking Parliament for authorization to extend Canada's mission in Libya by three and a half months in order to continue protecting innocent Libyan civilians.
The mission was launched in the wake of a UN resolution in March. Our government is proud of the contribution that the Canadian Armed Forces have made to the mission, which aims to protect the Libyan people from their leaders. Canada and its international partners must continue to show their willingness to see this through and help Libyans secure their future.
There is still plenty of work to be done, but each effort made by Libyans to help their country reach its full potential and continue its progress is important. Thus, Canada will stay in Libya as long as it takes.
Our government remains firmly committed to supporting the Libyan people in their next steps, so as to help them in their determined effort to rebuild their country and make the transition to a peaceful, prosperous and democratic society.
Keystone Pipeline
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Laurin Liu Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, last year the Transportation Safety Board recorded over 100 leaks in Canadian pipelines, including 23 leaks in the first section of the Keystone project, which is supposed to link Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico. The Keystone pipeline will prove detrimental to ecosystems, the rights of aboriginal peoples and the interests of workers.
By promoting the Keystone project, the government is placing the interests of big oil companies before the interests of Quebeckers and Canadians who are calling for more balanced economic development and better environmental protection for future generations. The government should put an end to this project, which is what the people want.


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(V) To let one silently rip, while an unsuspecting candidate walks right into the invisble wall of stench, thus producing a reaction as if he/she walked into a glass door.
Wayne ran ahead and Glass Doored us. The stench was God-Aweful and smacked me in the face. I may have lost vision in my right eye.
by Luster Duster December 14, 2010
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AMD Catalyst Drivers XP 64  9.12 XP 64
# New Features
* ATI Catalystâ"¢ support for DirectCompute 10.1
This release of ATI Catalystâ"¢ provides full support for DirectCompute 10.1 for the ATI Radeonâ"¢ HD 4800 Series, ATI Radeonâ"¢ HD 4700 Series for both single card and ATI CrossFireXâ"¢ supported configurations.
* OpenGL 3.2 extension support
- Support for OpenGL Shading Language 1.50
- BGRA vertex component ordering (GL_ARB_vertex_array_bgra)
- Drawing commands allowing modification of the base vertex index (GL_ARB_draw_elements_base_vertex)
- Shader fragment coordinate convention control (GL_ARB_fragment_coord_conventions)
- Provoking vertex control (GL_ARB_provoking_vertex)
- Seamless cube map filtering (GL_ARB_seamless_cube_map)
- Multisampled textures and texture samplers for specific sample locations (GL_ARB_texture_multisample)
- Fragment depth clamping (GL_ARB_depth_clamp)
- Geometry shaders (GL_ARB_geometry_shader4)
- Fence sync objects (GL_ARB_sync)
- transform_feedback2
- texture_cubemap_array
# Performance Improvements
* The following performance gains are noticed with this release of Catalystâ"¢ 9.12:
- 3DMark Vantage – overall performance improves as much as 9% on ATI Radeon HD 5800 and ATI Radeon HD 5700 series products. GT1 – Jane Nash performance improves as much as 15% and FT4 – GPU Cloth improves up to 15%
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. – Call of Pripyat – Performance improves as much as 6% on single card configurations
# All Systems
* Confirmation dialog box is now displayed when extending the display through Catalyst Control Center
* Catalyst Control Center: all supported resolutions are now displayed in the Desktop Properties panel
* A confirmation dialog is now displayed when setting up an Eyefinity group
# Windows XP
* Tom Clancy's HAWX: VPU recover no longer occurs in some CrossFire configurations
* In some Clone Mode configuration with Windows XP, stretched desktop is now functional


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Megastrike Mega Tube Craw 8pk
Unlike other tube baits with no lifelike definition, the Megastrike MegaTube Craw has the life like body of a real crawfish with the tentacles of a tube bait. It looks very realistic, and in clearer waters, it can make the difference between getting bit or getting snubbed. Available in several proven colors and loaded with MegaStrike fish attractant, the Megastrike MegaTube craw can be rigged many different ways to accommodate many different fishing conditions.
8 Colors
More From Megastrike Soft Plastics
Customer Reviews
Comments: I try not to use these guys, fishing gets too easy. But when nothing else works, these guys will never let me down.
From: Anthony: CA
Comments: These baits are awesome! they need a 3inch tube for sure though. throw some scent on them and slip a jig head in and your money!
From: Daniel: Orcutt
Comments: no other tubes come close the best action the best scent can rig many ways get some !!!!!!
From: Jim: Lake Tomahawk, WI
Comments: These are the best and only tubes I fish !
From: Brian: CA, USA


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This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely young daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Franklin residents, beware! Soon you may be asked to sign a petition. Don't!
The information contained in this blog is incredibly important to all Franklin residents. I would submit it's more important than the current stadium debate because it pertains to potentially numerous plans/proposals. The problem is there is no simple, easy, concise way to impart that information. It needs to be explained and that will take some doing.
So please, take the time to read, digest, and consider thoughtfully and carefully. Let's go.
In many states, including Wisconsin, laws allow a process called Direct Legislation. The State Bar of Wisconsin offers an excellent description:
Do you ever feel that your local city council or village board is tone deaf on an issue or so hopelessly divided that it can't or won't do what needs to be done, or that the city council or village board just does not want to take on an important matter? Nothing much can be done except wait for the next election, right? To the contrary, the statutes provide a potential avenue for relief: direct legislation by the electorate.
For almost a century, Wis. Stat. section 9.20 and its predecessors have provided Wisconsin voters direct democracy at the local level. The statute provides a procedure by which voters may compel a city common council or a village board to pass a proposed ordinance or resolution or put the proposed ordinance or resolution before the public for a popular vote.
In substantive part, Wis. Stat. section 9.20 provides that:
• A number of electors in a city or village equal to at least 15 percent of the votes cast for governor at the last general election in the city or village may sign and file a petition with the city or village clerk requesting that an attached proposed ordinance or resolution, without alteration, either be adopted by the common council or village board or be referred to a vote of the electors.
• The common council or village board shall, without altering the ordinance or resolution, either pass it within 30 days following the date of the clerk's final certificate, or submit it to the electors at the next spring or general election, "if the election is more than six weeks after the date of the council's or board's action on the petition or the expiration of the 30-day period, whichever first occurs." If there are six weeks or less before the election, the ordinance or resolution shall be voted on at the next election thereafter. The council or board may, by a three-fourths vote, order a special election to vote on the ordinance or resolution at any time before the next election, but not more than one special election for direct legislation may be ordered in any six-month period.
• If a majority of electors vote in favor of adoption, the proposed ordinance or resolution shall take effect on publication, which must be made within 10 days after the election.
In a nutshell, Wis. Stat. section 9.20 "permits local electors to submit a petition requesting that an attached proposed ordinance either be adopted by the municipality's governing body without alteration or be referred to a vote in the next election."
The direct legislative powers of the people "are often exercised when the electorate believes that their elected representatives are not acting in response to the public's will." Indeed, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has noted that direct legislation is an important and powerful right reserved to the people:
"Direct legislation is a potentially powerful limitation on governmental authority, a remedy available to the people when their representative government has become unresponsive or misrepresentative."
I agree with the court. Direct Legislation provides a powerful tool to the people. The concept here is not in question. What the petitioners are asking/seeking in each individual case is in question and open for debate/discussion.
This week, Franklin resident Bob Swendrowski officially filed a Petition for Direct Legislation at Franklin City Hall. Here is the exact wording of the petition Swendrowski and supporters are asking Franklin residents to sign. The wording is typical government-ese:
Prior to the start of any City of Franklin municipal project including any Tax Incremental Finance District financed (in whole or part) any said project or Tax Incremental Finance District requiring a capital expenditure by the City of Franklin, or any entity created by the City of Franklin, i.e. any form of Tax Incremental Finance Board, Committee or Commission of two million dollars or more, the City of Franklin Common Council shall submit to the electorate a binding referendum for approval of any municipal project including any Tax Incremental Finance District. As part of the charter ordinance, any City of Franklin municipal project including any Tax Incremental Finance District financed with a lesser amount of two million dollars shall require approval by a super majority vote of the City of Franklin Common Council. Failure of the binding referendum shall preclude the City of Franklin or City of Franklin created entity, i.e. any form of Tax Incremental Finance Board, Committee or Commission from proceeding with said municipal project including a Tax Incremental Finance District. The wording of any referendum shall provide the specific purpose, location and cost of the municipal project including the Tax Incremental Finance District and an estimate of operating costs which will be provided by the City of Franklin or City of Franklin created entity, i.e. any form of Tax Incremental Finance Board, Committee, or Commission. Nothing in this provision shall be construed to preclude the City of Franklin from exercising its role in the planning or design of such publicly financed projects.
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon passage and publication as provided by law.
What does that mean?
Any proposed economic development (building) project in Franklin that would involve the formation of a TIF district that totals $2 million or more must be approved by voters in a binding referendum.
Any proposed economic development (building) project in Franklin that would involve the formation of a TIF district that costs less than $2 million would require 5 of 6 Franklin Common Council members (aldermen) to vote yes, a super majority.
On the surface, the proposed ordinance might sound appealing. In reality it is flawed for many reasons.
1) Do you agree Northwestern Mutual Life has been good for Franklin? Do you agree that Wheaton Franciscan has been good for Franklin? Both projects might have been in jeopardy or rejected by this direct legislation.
2) The same could be said for our Business Park with an assessed value of $160 million.
3) There's a consensus that Franklin needs commercial development in the Franklin school district. The new development potential is in the area of 76th and Ryan with no sewer. Putting sewer into that area would surely cost more than $2 million. Want to risk a referendum shooting down that development?
4) Visible from I-94, up on a hill is a spot that would be ideal say for a corporate headquarters near Wheaton Franciscan. No sewer. No water. The cost would far exceed $2 million. Think about it. Would a corporation wait for a referendum or just go across the street and leave Franklin behind?
5) Most would agree the fire station in the business park on 60th St. is important to the south side of Franklin. This petition would probably have killed it.
6) Ditto the fire station on Drexel and 49th Street. Anyone want to argue why we don't need paramedics and firefighters on that side of town?
7) The radio system for the Police and Fire Departments is being changed by Milwaukee County (new standards, etc.) and will cost a few million dollars. We should put that up to a referendum? I'd think communication with other jurisdictions and mutual aid partners is kind of important.
8) No one is suggesting that elected officials are more important or smarter than the folks who put them in office. However, we have a representative democracy because each decision is and should be based on has a lot of information wrapped around it that the average citizen either doesn't have or doesn't care about. Ideally it's the responsibility of the elected official to know the information before making a decision (the Rock financing) or subject themselves to the wrath of their constituents. The overwhelming majority of voters will not read a large document about a radio system, police station, or minor league stadium.
9) Franklin has a horrible reputation when it comes to economic development and progress in general. Just read social media these days. This direct legislation will only make matters worse, hampering and delaying the process even further, and essentially shutting down a good portion of city operations. Think economic development is slow now? Wait till less than nothing gets done under this idea.
10) It will cost $$$ to conduct additional elections with binding referenda.
11) I'm not a fan of government by petition. We elect folks to make tough decisions. If we don't like what they do, we vote them out. Want city government dictated by petitions? Might as well replace the bodies at City Hall with robots or interns.
Bottom line:
In the next 60 days, Bob Swendrowski and others will be circulating throughout Franklin, asking for signatures on their petition. Their spin will sound democratic. What they are proposing is dangerous and would send Franklin backwards.
They need 2,269 signatures. My sincere advice if you are approached:
1) Be respectful.
2) Don't sign.
It's for the good of Franklin you don't.
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When a man hides behind a bush and waits for a girl wearing a skirt to walk by, he jumps out and rapes her while she's still wearing her skirt.
-Hey what are you doing hiding behind this bush?
-SHHH! I'm waiting for a girl that I can Chi-town shuffle.
-SHHH! I'm waiting for a girl that I can Chi-town shuffle.
by Wild Side March 26, 2007
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Canucks Army Podast Episode 4
Thomas Drance
July 19 2011 01:53PM
Here's the fourth episode of the CanucksArmy Podcast!
As usual, I just want to thank all of our listeners! I'm really overwhelmed by the interest level and the support for these, so I'll keep doing them!
In this weeks episode, Cam Davie joins me to talk some Hansen arbitration, some MacTavish and some evolution of the fan experience on twitter... It's a shorter pod this time, only about 20 minutes long!
As usual you can stream the podcast here:
Or download an Mp3 of the podcast here, and listen to it in the car on the way home!
We'll be back with episode five on Thursday!
cam said that the leafs don't need anymore need to promote their players on twitter because they don't need anymore exposure, money, etc. but then says the canucks need to tweet more... doesn't make any sense because they don't need expose, money, etc. either...
Mantastic - it's all about PR.
What I said was that the Leafs don't HAVE to do, but they do it because it's good for PR. What the Canucks are doing is bad for PR.
That was my point.
That said - many thanks for listening!


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On Sept. 21-22, the Sinbad Desert Amateur Radio Club held their Fall Campout at the Wedge Campground. At that campground the members participated in setting up HAM radios with long and/or tall antennas to make contact with other HAM radio operators around the world.
The fun of these campouts is all about getting out in nature away from the city noise and traffic. Some of the activities were, find the hidden radio transmitter, making radio contacts, hikes, 4-wheeling and just relaxing in the shade.
There was good food, comradeship, swapping of war stories about the radio contacts made, stories of how you have improved your HAM radio shack with new equipment or the latest antenna configuration you have made and tested. These are all part of the fun of the campout.
This campout saw two members attempt to pass off stiff tests about Federal Communication Commission rules, electronics, radio frequencies and proper radio usage. Passing each of three tests gives the radio operator the authorization to use an increased number of radio frequencies. There are three tests available to be given by volunteer examiners approved by the FCC.
The first test to be passed is the FCC Technician Class Test. The Technician Class Test is the first for the person that wants to become a HAM radio operator.
The second test is the FCC General Class Test. The third is the FCC Extra Class Test.
After passing a test the radio operator is given a license to use certain radio frequencies. Each test carries with it a list of frequencies available for that particular class of radio license. It is no longer required for a HAM radio operator to learn Morse Code.
As the HAM radio operator gains skills, learns and passes each of the three tests he is given the privilege of using a greater number of radio frequencies to make contacts with a greater number of radio operators around the world.