"All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Do Canadians realize we are at war? It doesn't seem like they do. Recently the discussion here at Hack House has turned to the topic of fallen soldiers and the way our government handles the deaths. First I would like to say that I support our troops in every way and when they are KIA I realize that they are killed because they fight for me and the freedoms I have. I mean them no disrespect.

In recent months the death toll in Afganistan has risen and our PM is taking heat for not lowering the flag to half staff and holding press conferences and having huge public memorials.
About 4 years ago we set a precendence in the way we handle the death of soldiers. 4 Canadians were killed in a friendly fire accident and we had a huge elaborate funeral for them and I thought...uh oh, this war just started and this is how we react when 4 soldiers are killed? What happens, I thought, if hundreds more are killed in Afganistan?
And now I can see that there is fallout from that. Canadians need to brace themselves for worse and we need to remember the reason that this war was started and we must finish our job there. We cannot back down and the media needs to stop wondering *if* Canadians think we should be there or not. We *are* there and will be for some time to come and I think it is a disservice to the memories of those who have fallen to ponder why the PM treats these deaths differently than in the recent past.
Does the Military have a protocol they follow for fallen soldiers? Why was that protocol not followed after the friendly fire incident? Public outcry? Short-sightedness on behalf of the liberals?
Although I try to understand the grief of families who lost their sons and daughters I know I cannot know their pain, but on top of must we subject the families to this pissing match over which soldiers get a fancy funeral and which don't? We've lost sight of the big picture here and I just wonder if we haven't set ourselves up for a huge problem as this war we are embroiled in escalates.

I think I have been watching too much West Wing (crack)....I wonder how much time the White House spends on having President Bush call the families of soldiers KIA.

"I thought you had it...."

During the season the old Telus University Cup was replaced by a bright and shiny new Telus University Cup. Apparently, it was just too tempting for a young man who managed to tuck it under his arm and waltz out of the Armoury with it last Saturday night. Nobody noticed.

The team got together and realized that everybody thought somebody else on the team had it. Can you imagine that conversation? "Hey Stanley you took the cup home with you didn't you?"
No?
"Thompson, did you take it?"
No?
uhhh..
Holy crap.

So if you've seen it...please return it to a very embarrassed Bears team.
Now, I have seen many a trophy abused; I have been at a bar and drank out of the Grey Cup, the Panda's have managed to maim the national trophy many times (don't tell the coach) but losing it? This is a new one.

According to the Journal today they have reviewed the surveillance tapes and a 20-25 year old man carried the cup out the door and got in a cab. I wonder if they saved the old cup?

Song Du Jour: Sorry ~ Madonna

UPDATE: Apparently at about 12:30 am Friday morning the police got a call reporting the cup was spotted in a garbage can in the West End (shocker). They investigated and the cup was returned to the team. Good Times.

UPDATE: So Global reports it was found in a garbage can in the West End and now A-Channel says it was found near a school on the southside. That's impressive. Whatever...they found it and I can't be bothered to find out who's more retarded.

"C'mon down! You're the next contestant..."

If you could be on any game show which one would you choose?

I would probably choose Jeopardy because I love that there is some strategy involved in final Jeopardy. I might have a chance at some sweet cash because I have managed to cram all manner of (somewhat) useless trivia into my wee brain and I might not make a total ass of myself. It's also the one game show that has the potential to pay out oodles of cold hard cash. The Price Is Right holds some serious nostalgia for me but I don't want to go on and win some ugly ass brass bed or a catamaran. I'd love to spin that wheel though. One day I hope to go watch that spectacle in person.

Family feud *would* have been my first pick because I think I would rock at that, unfortunately I just have one problem...I'd need 4 other people related to me and well, I don't have a traditional family so I'd never be able to get on.
So Jeopardy it is, I guess.

Song Du Jour:In a Big Country ~ Big Country
ahhh the 80's! They played the first few bars of this song at the Oil game last night and now it is stuck in my head. Good keyboards.

"Fatherhood is pretending the present you love the most is soap-on-a-rope." Bill Cosby

The miracle of life is amazing in itself but when your drinking buddies become fathers it is something to behold. GT and The Duke are now the proud fathers of healthy baby girls...Apparently The Karma Gods have a sick sense of humour.
Here are some photos of the wee bairns...




above is Kai's beautiful little sister Mika in pink, born last week. The sleeping beauty is sweet, little Kishina born last month. It is official we are now completely out numbered by offspring in my group of friends.

"What's wrong with a little destruction...."

Last night I did something I never thought I would ever do. With fourteen minutes left in the third period of the Oil game I got up and had to walk away. I snapped and had to get up and leave the bleeds and get away from the spectacle. I just couldn't take it any more.

It was completely irrational. I know it. I lost it shortly after yet another bad call put us on the penalty kill, and with a goal called back and screaming Flamers fans surrounding me, I thought I might assault the guy behind me so I got up and walked away. And I am one of those people that shakes my head at people who leave the game early to "beat the traffic" or what have you. I have no idea what I will do if we have play Calgary in the first round of the playoffs. I used to enjoy the rivalry and now I find it unbearable. Is it just me or is The Battle of Alberta turning into some sort of horror movie I must watch huddled in fear under a blanket, my left arm tingling, just hoping to God we don't coil one up and hand the flamers another win?
I hate being a poor loser and that, in sum, is exactly what I am.

Song Du Jour: The Fallen ~ Franz Ferdinand