Glowing Dogs?

I know that dogs are eaten by humans in Korea, but this is pretty extreme to keep the supply up... Not only cloning dogs, but cloning them to glow red?

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean scientists say they have engineered four beagles that glow red using cloning techniques that could help develop cures for human diseases.

The four dogs, all named "Ruppy" — a combination of the words "ruby" and "puppy" — look like typical beagles by daylight.

But they glow red under ultraviolet light, and the dogs' nails and abdomens, which have thin skins, look red even to the naked eye.

The rest of the craziness here..

Canadians Should Expect Swine Flu to Worsen

Canadians should expect to see more severe cases of swine flu — including some deaths from the virus — as the outbreak spreads, the country's chief public health officer warned Monday. Details here

Canada considering travel advisory to Mexico...here

Dangerous Swine Flu IN BC

There is a dangerous new flu making the rounds in Mexico. World Health Organization officials are very concerned about the possibility of a pandemic worldwide. The disease has passed from animal to human and is now passing human to human in the same way as ordinary flu. However, the consequences are much more serious as our bodies do not know how to fight the virus. If you know anyone that has been to Mexico (especially Mexico city) in the past few weeks and now has flu like symptoms, it may be good to be checked out.

GENEVA — A new flu virus that has killed up to 81 people in Mexico — 13 more than previously reported — could start a global epidemic, the World Health Organization warned Saturday as the disease spread further in the United States and Mexico.

The Mexican government says the flu has probably killed 81 people, raising the likely death toll from 68, and that more than 1,300 people were believed to have been infected with the new strain, which causes severe respiratory illnesses.

Fears of a lethal pandemic lie in the nature of flu germs, which mutate readily and can become virulent by exchanging genes with related influenza viruses. While the H5N1 bird virus that spread across Asia in the last few years, killing millions of fowl and several hundred people, never gained genes to spread easily among humans, the Mexican swine flu already has, said Malik Peiris, a microbiologist from the University of Hong Kong.

“The concern is that this virus has the ability to transmit from humans to humans because a number of the cases who got infection have had no direct exposure to swine,” said Peiris, who has studied the SARS and avian flu viruses. “That is certainly a cause for concern.” More here

UPDATE: 4 cases of swine flu confirmed in Nova Scotia, 2 in B.C.

Electioneering...

If you've been wondering where my political rants have been, please check www.craigmillar.ca or www.comoxvalleyview.blogspot.com

We Want to Die in Each Other's Arms.

The sanctity and value of life is continually under assault. There's a new front opening in Switzerland that we will probably have to engage at some point here in Canada. I really love my wife, but this creeps me out.

The head of a controversial assisted-suicide group in Switzerland says he will seek legal permission to help a Canadian woman and other healthy people like her kill themselves, raising startling new issues in the emotional debate over euthanasia.

Betty Coumbias, an elderly Vancouver resident, has indicated she wants to die alongside her husband, George, who suffers from severe heart disease.

Mrs. Coumbias explains in the documentary, The Suicide Tourist, why she would take her own life despite being generally healthy.

"From the day we got married, [my husband] was all my life," she tells Mr. Minelli. "I love my two daughters, but I love him more, and I don't think I can face life without him, and since we read about Dignitas, we felt what would be better than to die together, you know, to die in each other's arms?"

The article goes on to say:

People sometimes want to die after losing a spouse because of pure loneliness, but the condition is not irreversible, argued Prof. Somerville. She recalled a doctor telling her at a conference in the Netherlands, which has a similar liberal approach to assisted suicide as Switzerland, about how she gave a lethal injection to an elderly woman who had repeatedly asked to die after her husband had passed away. Prof. Somerville said she asked the physician if anyone had suggested simply buying the lonely woman a cat.

"She said, ‘No, but what a remarkable idea. Next time we'll try that.' "

10% drinks 53%

With drinking problems in my extended family, I personally don't have any time for drinking (the cost and social cost is very high) myself, but do realize that many don't have an issue with it.

A study from the University of Victoria's Centre for Addictions found that a few people actually drink the majority of alcohol. I was astonished at the figures.

The study, based on a national telephone survey of 13,909 people, found that 53 per cent of the alcohol consumed across the country goes to a heavy-drinking 10 per cent of Canadians in the 15-and-over age range.

That's a lot of alcohol by a few people. Some individuals and families are paying a high price mentally, emotionally, and financially. It's important that we have grace for and are available to help those that struggle with this issue.

Dumb

Here's why criminals get caught - they're DUMB!

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Authorities say two Port St. Lucie woman tried to steal nearly $200 worth of merchandise from a Wal-Mart but got caught because they left packets of recently developed pictures in their abandoned shopping carts.

Police say a self-checkout cashier noticed two women scan and pay for $70 worth of items Thursday, but the bagged groceries in their carts appeared worth much more. When the cashier asked to see their receipt, the women took off.

Among all the merchandise that hadn't been paid for, store officials found two packets of recently developed pictures. The cashier identified the women in the photos, and the name and phone number on the envelopes turned out to belong to one of the women.

Both women face retail theft charges.

Do You Have to be Told?

With people doing stupid things and many associated lawsuits, companies have to be very specific about what their product can and cannot be used for. But you'd think that there has got to be a limit to people's stupidity...
Apparently not. According to that classic book, Uncle John's Bathroom Reader these are actual warning labels!

On children's cough syrup: "Do not drive car or operate machinery."

On a motorcycle mirror: "Objects in the mirror are actually behind you."

On a box of sleeping pills: "May cause drowsiness"

On a bag of peanuts: "This product contains nuts"

On an iron: "Never iron clothes on the body"

On a hammer: "Do not use to strike any solid object"

They 'should be shot'?

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams hit a new low with his rhetoric, even by his standards. He affixes nasty names to people that disagree with him. I can even understand his frustration in the article below, but saying people should be 'shot' for mistakes they made (and they were serious)???? Holding people accountable, discipline, firing, whatever, but his language is WAY over the top, inflammatory, and irresponsible for someone in his position. He should immediately apologize. I don't think he will though...

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams lashed out Monday at the province's largest health authority, accusing Eastern Health of downplaying revelations that it had missed dozens of breast cancer patients in a massive retesting exercise.

Eastern Health, meanwhile, on Monday disclosed that it had somehow missed 43 patients, up from the 38 patients the authority had revealed late Friday afternoon in a news release.

"It's disgraceful. They should be shot over there," Williams told reporters outside the legislature, attacking how Eastern Health had released information about the cancer patients whose hormone receptor tests now have to be retested

Giant 'Hand' Reaches Across Space

Read about it here.

Coming Soon

I've been trying to work politics in this blog over the past 8 months. I'm finding that I have much I'd like to write about, but also know that many of my readers are not that interested in wall to wall politics. Thus, I will be launching a new blog (in addition to this one) that will be nearly all politics. It's something I'm looking forward too and hope that you'll enjoy as well.

Why politics? I was raised on oatmeal porridge and politics, I think. My grandfather, mom and her brother have all whetted my appetite in this area. It is an area that I feel God would have me use my gifts and talents in. I attended my first real political party event at the age of 15. I listen to talk radio and have been know to mock 'stupid answers' by politicians and callers alike. I've lead political action campaigns (complete with megaphone...). I've been involved behind the scenes (door knocking, telephones, etc.) with municipal and federal campaigns. If you hang around me very long, I'll probably end up talking politics - local, provincial, federal or international. I am intrigued by the political process. I have even been known to watch the CPAC (Canadian parliamentary channel) for fun.

In any case, with a provincial election looming, there will be much to comment on. I'll put up the web address for the 2nd blog soon. It's going to be fun. My first post will be of great interest to Comox Valley residents...30+ million reasons for interest.

Swearing Lesson at School

A British school was blasted Friday after kids as young as 11 were told to shout obscenities during a lesson in swearing.

This happened at a school in Britain. It makes me wonder if things like this happen in Canada?

Expletives were written on a blackboard before a teacher explained their meaning to 30 seventh graders.

S.t Laurence School in Bradford on Avon, Wilts, claims it was part of a sex and relationship education program to "dispel" the myths of swear words.

But parents say they were not consulted by head James Colquhoun about the class and say kids were left "deeply upset."

One parent said: "This is a total disgrace. Our children go to school to gain an education, not qualifications in swear words. Most kids had no idea what the words meant and were forced to grow up faster than their parents want. Heads should roll for this."

Some pupils claim the teacher told them not to tell parents about the lesson.

"Mr. President, That's Not True"

From a blog I read recently:

In the continuing debate over human caused global warming, this is an interesting perspective towards Mr. Obama's 'settled science' on climate change...

We, the undersigned scientists, maintain that the case for alarm regarding climate change is grossly overstated. Surface temperature changes over the past century have been episodic and modest and there has been no net global warming for over a decade now. After controlling for population growth and property values, there has been no increase in damages from severe weather-related events. The computer models forecasting rapid temperature change abjectly fail to explain recent climate behavior. Mr. President, your characterization of the scientific facts regarding climate change and the degree of certainty informing the scientific debate is simply incorrect.

Here's who the scientists are.

Be Careful Little Feet Where You Go

When was a kid in Sunday School, we used to sing this song about 'be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear, and be careful little feet where you go, because the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little feet where you go..." I can't say that it always made me more relaxed knowing God was watching over me...'cause sometimes I was going where my feet shouldn't have!

I guess in the 21st century, there's another level of 'watching where your feet' go as as a man in Britain discovered recently...and this is coming to Canada too.

A furious British wife has called in divorce lawyers after spotting her husband's car parked outside another woman's house — on Google.

She saw the Range Rover while using the Internet giant's new Street View service to snoop on a female friend's home.

The hubby had claimed he was away on business, but his missus recognized his SUV immediately because of its blinged-up hubcaps.

The love cheat is not the only husband trapped by Google's controversial new 360-degree photo search, which covers 25 cities and towns throughout Britain.

Top media lawyer Mark Stephens said: "I was talking about the Range Rover case when another divorce lawyer came up to say his firm was dealing with the same sort of thing. People are getting caught out on Google. I suspect the husband's lawyers will claim it was an invasion of privacy that will cost him his marriage and Range Rover."

Favour Update #2

The latest news is that the man that is accused of abducting Jordan was impersonating a police officer. He had a gun, a flashing light and 'police clothes'. When a 16 year old can't go to the store after dark in little Alberta town, we have problems. If we weren't sure if our nation needs a revival, these things should shake us out of our apathy. For the rest of the story go here.

Hopefully Never in Canada...

Is a bathroom an optional extra when you're at 30,000 feet? Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary seems to think so - as his no-frills airline contemplates charging customers to use its aircrafts' toilets.

O'Leary whipped up a frenzy of indignation and potty humor Friday as he suggested that future Ryanair passengers might be obliged to insert a British pound coin before they gain access to in-flight relief.

As always, O'Leary suggested a separate toilet fee would lower ticket costs and make flying, somehow, easier for all. Nobody, even his own aides, seemed to be sure if he was serious or pursuing his well-documented penchant for making brazen declarations to win free advertising.

Open Gang Warfare

As you can read below, there is a great need for something to be done to stop the gang-related shooting and killing in the Lower Mainland. There have been 12 shootings in 17 days in February!

The provincial government is working on a response. Even the federal government is calling the area the 'center of gang activity' in Canada. Regardless of what they do, this is also a call to prayer for the church. In Romans 13, the Bible talks about one of the roles of government as being, "They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong" We need to pray for wisdom for these servants of God. What do you think the government should be doing? Vote on our poll at the top of the page!

VANCOUVER -- A four-year-old boy who witnessed his mother's shooting death was taken into provincial custody for his own safety Tuesday, as B.C.'s bloody February continued with the fatal shooting of a home invader, apparently shot by one of his victims.

(his mom) Nicole Marie Alemy, 23, who was gunned down behind the wheel of a Cadillac in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey on Monday, was going home after picking up a birthday present, her uncle said a day later.

The car coasted through an intersection before a passerby steered it across a sidewalk and up onto the driveway.

Police arrived on the scene to find the woman dead and the little boy crying but unhurt. The boy was in the back seat of the car when his mother was shot.

In another incident on Tuesday's -- the 12th such shooting in February -- a south Vancouver mother watched in horror as two gunmen forced their way into her home and pointed a gun at her son.

Mabel Mohammed said the gunmen were asking for someone named Azim, whom Ms. Mohammed said the family does not know.

They then shot and wounded her son Aleem, 19, in the shoulder, she said.

His brother, Amir, then wrestled the gun away and shot one of the assailants dead, Ms. Mohammed said, adding that the other assailant fled.

"We are in danger. They came to the wrong house," she said.

What Have They Been Smoking?

I'm not a drinker and I've never smoked a joint. I can safely say that I don't have a preference for either. :-) However, I do find being forced to accomodate someone toking up in your pub is a strange thing - even for Canada. But that is exactly what a restaurant owner is being asked to do by the Human Rights Commission. Were they smoking too??

Ted Kindos faces two choices: Continue to be called a bigot or break the law. Either way, he risks going bankrupt.
Kindos owns Gator Ted’s Tap & Grill in Burlington. Four years ago, he asked a marijuana smoker to step away from his front door. The medically licensed toker complained to the Ontario Human Rights Commission of discrimination against a disabled person. He won.
Kindos was about to pay the fine and post obligatory signs saying, “We
accommodate medicinal marijuana smokers,” when a different government agency
told him he could lose his liquor licence. Serving anybody possessing a
controlled substance - prescribed or not - is against the law.

Read the rest here

Political Scuttlebutt.

On January 20, our local MLA, Stan Hagen, died suddenly. It was a tragedy, and he will be sorely missed. He was an honourable man who served well.

The jockeying and process to replace him has been underway since he passed. On Sunday afternoon, I went to the local constituency association AGM of the BC Liberal party to see what was happening.. While there, I was intrigued to find out the three that have already formally filed 'letters of intent' to become the candidate in the upcoming election. Those that have done this are: Jon Toogood who started Habitat for Humanity in Courtenay; Don McRae, curren Courtenay City Councillor and Roberta Stevenson, Executive Director of the BC Shellfish Growers Association.

Scuttlebutt at the meeting was that there are up to 5 more potentials...Paul Ives, Mayor of Comox; Ken Dawson recently defeated school trustee, Shawn Wilson of the Salvation Army, and a couple of others that I haven't heard about yet.

I've also heard that a certain network of Courtenay is going to get solidly behind Don McRae to get him elected. If that happens, a by-election would be necessary in Courtenay. Then, recently defeated Courtenay mayor, Starr Winchester, will run goes the story. Himmmm....it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Canuck Jokes

The Canucks have won their last 2 games in a row after 8 losses. They have some good things going finally. Let's hope it lasts. However, as a Canuck fan, you tend to get a bit pessimistic over time. Here's a few Canuck jokes that I found on-line that reflect that...

The RCMP are cracking down on speeders heading into Vancouver. For the first offence, they give you two Vancouver Canucks tickets. If you are stopped a second time, they make you use them.

Q. What do you call 30 millionaires around a TV watching the Stanley Cup playoffs? A. The Vancouver Canucks

Q. How do you keep the Vancouver Canucks out of your yard? A. Put up a goal net.

Q. What do you call a Vancouver Canuck with a Stanley Cup ring? A. A thief.

Q. How many Vancouver Canucks does it take to win a Stanley Cup? A. Nobody knows and we may never find out.

Q. What do the Vancouver Canucks and possums have in common? A. Both play dead at home and are killed on the road.