Canadian Seal hunt. FACTS ..........

Made a short walk along the seashore this morning and shot a few dozen photos of the seal pups along the way. No sign of ice in the gulf near our community and it appears that the seals have pupped on the marshs here. They are gradually loosing their white coats and staying near the water. I doubt very much if there will be a hunt in our area this year. The mortality rate of seal pups will surely be higher then normal this year. A Helicopter swooped down to check me out then sped along the coastline probably counting seals. Some photos of this mornings walk.

Ya sneaky Bastard !



According to popular belief, a leprechaun possesses a treasure (usually a pot of gold) which a human may obtain if he succeeds in capturing one, which is extremely difficult. Even after capture, a person may not take his eyes off of him for an instant, for then he will vanish. Leprechauns are mainly found in Irish folklore or Canadian Parliament where their cheery smiles can deceive up to 500,000 people at any given time.

Andy Visiting Taiwan
March 18, 2007

St. John's Mayor Andy Wells arrives in Taiwan today as part of a delegation of big city Canadian mayors. They've been invited for a series of meetings with municipal and government officials to discuss urban issues. Wells says he's planning to promote the capital city and the province whenever he gets the opportunity. Wells says he's also prepared to talking about urban planning, ocean technology and environmental issues, which are a big concern in that country.

Big city Canadian mayors? Population wise or physical size of the mayors? Just kidding today. I remember Premier Zhu from China a few years back inviting Andy to China at the time because he protested China's occupation of Tibet since the 1950's. Andy tried to fly the Tibetan flag over city hall at the time. Premier Tobin at the time accused him of showboating but quite a few of us here in NL actually respected him for the act. Maybe the government of Taiwan might actually thank him for that during his visit.

On March 13/2007 we'll find out just what out migration and a declining birthrate have done to NL population. Population and dwelling counts statistics will be released from the 2006 census.
Will the information released show we have gone below the 500,000 mark? In the small community i live we'll stay just above the 300 plus mark. I'm sure since the 2006 count we have fallen below it. A few days ago on our community forum someone congratulated an expectant birth mother and it was something to be proud of community wise.We rarely see many and by the time they're of school age the family usually leaves. Our first Come Home Year event is scheduled for July and crowds are expected. Somehow i suspect this will be the first and last of its kind here. Declining population in the community causes removal of street lights because no one wants to pay higher fees for services. Services such as fire protection here may someday stop when the volunteers reach retirement age.Today if you want a position on the local council you just show up and tell them your interested. No need to get elected.We just can't see to find enough to have an election. Thankfully we still have a few volunteers here.

I noticed a new seal hunt forum has started. Some person comes in claiming to be a sealer from Bonavista and wants newfoundlanders to talk about the annual hunt. one visitor claiming to be a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Defense League has already endorsed it. The whole setup looks fishy to me. Anyone else run across this forum or see any links to it?

Posted March 6th, 2007 01:58 PM IP -New post- Hi all, I''m glad to see you have started a forum for this discussion. Hopefully it won't get bombarded by the anti-sealing crowd. I am with the Newfoundland and Labrador Defense League, (nldl.org) a member organization fighting for the future of our province. The seal hunt is a major concern for us and we congradulate you on your efforts in getting the truth out. I thought I'd make you aware that there is currently an online poll being conducted that asks the question, "Should the seal hunt be banned?" The Newfoundland and Labrador Defense League has been asking its members to go to the web site and vote NO on the issue. So far it's been working and the poll is swinging in our favour. I thought you and your members might also like to vote on the issue. Here is the link to the site:

oh drat ! Townies upset

Lunar Eclipse Difficult to See for Many
March 5, 2007

The lunar eclipse on the weekend was a mixed occasion for the island. In the St.John's area, skies were overcast Saturday night until just after the opportunity for viewing expired. Chris Stevenson of the Astronomical Society says it was frustrating, not being able to watch the eclipse and then see the skies clear up just after it was over. However, on other parts of the island residents were able to watch the first total eclipse in two-and-a-half years. Stevenson says the next lunar eclipse friendly for viewing in Newfoundland takes place February 21st next year.

Relax townies, you still have your very own moon man.

It's Sunday,the start of another week. First of all i would like to thank Mr. Lono for the nice award he gave me yesterday. Thank you! To the Nazi who put the filth in the blog, thank you, great post, really shows the true side of you. If you visit the province be sure to visit your friend in St. Johns.

TO THE LOW FORM OF LIFE THAT MADE THOSE THREATS. I HAVE IP #'S FROM MY SITE METER. YOU MAY BE BIG SHOT LAWYERS BUT THAT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHTS TO SAY WHAT YOU SAID. YOUR SLIME AND I WILL REMEMBER IT!

Just ranting today.......

Surfing through the news today i saw that well-known theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking will take a weightless flight on April 26 aboard a modified Boeing 727. They call it the Vomit comet and i hope the man does not get sick. Hawkings April flight will be in preparation for a berth on Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic space tourist service when it launches in 2009. I have always admired the man and his work and here's one of my favorite Hawking's quote. Actually it's my only one. "I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image." The more you think about it,the more you agree.

Back on earth here in NL our government is taking a look at the banning of incandescent light bulbs. Our government will be reviewing all the info before they proceed. which brings me to the question, how many politicians does it take to change a light bulb? Please submit your answers in the comment section. I actually don't know the answer but figure a few of them would double bill the electrical bill to us.

Roger Grimes has been served for comments he made to Transportation minister John Hickey. Roger has requested Judge Larry Seidlin to officiate the trial and strangely enough, so has John Hickey! May they both decompose during the trail !

Sue Kelland Dyer's blog seems to be off limits lately to local yokels like myself. If your reading Sue,"how do i get to peep in again?" Of course i still have Ed hollett and his sauciness but i do need a balance in my life.

Still waiting for a reply from Carol Furlong and Chris Henley from NAPE to respond to my previous blog. Might even offer a prize to the first one with the most guts to do so! How about a 8 by 10 portrait of former NAPE president Fraser March taking a pee along the side of the TCH after driving over 1,000 kilometres in a day?

Looks like Carol's job could be up for grabs.

NAPE Presidential Battle Heating Up
February 22, 2007

The battle for the top job at NAPE will soon be heating up. Carol Furlong currently holds the president's seat at the province's largest union. Furlong is being challenged by Chris Henley, who told VOCM Back Talk with Bill Rowe the nomination process will begin next week. Hhenley says Monday is the call for nominations, mail-in ballots will be delivered March 26th, and returned by April 26th, and the winner will be announced April 30th.

What will it mean to the hundreds if not thousands of Home Support workers in NL who are still not represented by NAPE? I remember getting a call during the last few days of the last great NAPE presidential battle asking me to vote for LEO ! Leo's the guy to vote for. The caller went on telling me if Carol Furlong got in we would never see the Home Support workers unionized. Carol Furlong did not want us unionized. In my case, the caller was right. So far we have not been unionized, nor have we been informed of any progress. Maybe Carol and Chris can comment here on my blog informing home support workers such as myself their intentions. You both are getting emails with my blog link today. Looking forward to hearing from you both.

Safety First, Service Always

Safety First, Service Always says the motto of our Canadian Coast Guard. I don't know the level of service all the employees put out but apparently the top executives perform very well. The Coast Guard gave 43 of its 44 top executives performance bonuses worth a total of $296,232. I wonder who the unlucky one was? It must be great in a line of work to know your being evaluated and based upon your performance, rewarded. I certainly wish we all had that option in our line of work. I wonder how much a home support worker in NL would receive in bonuses if that was the case? how would you place a monetary value on the performance of some of us? How much would we receive for a slap in the face from a client who has a mental disability? How much for a head butt that knocks you to the floor? How much for the worker who is accused of stealing by a senior with Alzheimer’s disease. How much for waiting year after year hoping each new provincial budget will give you a bit of hope in the form of a pay raise or a benefit such as a sick day? In March the provincial budget will once again be released and the home support workers will see how they are evaluated. Hopefully it won't be another slap in the face,we have received enough to last us a lifetime. This coming October we'll get to evaluate our employees and we might not be handing out bonuses.

Wood smoke gently rises gently from the wood stoves in my community this morning. From our lighthouse you can view the ice flowing through the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Peaceful little scene, great place to live! In about a month or so we'll get our Stars on Ice show when the seals appear. I wonder who will come this year? Lady Heather and Sir Paul will not be attending and send their regrets. We can always count on Capt. Paul and and a few of his ALF friends. Maybe Sneaky Crosland and her kids might appear for a fun and dance musical. Hopefully we won't be disappointed and let down.

The Premier has given us all a Valentines gift today. Looks like we won't get the shaft and foot the bill for for John Hickey's lawsuit against Roger Grimes. This may be even a bigger gift then what we expected. The way things have been going in NL the pass few years we might of gotten double shafted during the whole experience.


On another note it looks like a few Bloggers could really get screwed today or crucified by Easter.

Hickey Goes It Alone
February 14, 2007

Premier Danny Williams says taxpayers will not be footing the bill for John Hickey's lawsuit against Roger Grimes. Williams told VOCM Open Line with Randy Simms even though the Internal Economies Commission is willing to pay Hickey's legal bills, the Transportation Minister has decided to go it alone. The Premier says a line has to be drawn where public comments defame a person's character. Meantime, Roger Grimes remains adamant, saying there will be no apology. He says in fact, the Premier owes him an apology for using words on VOCM Open Line that color the situation.

Opposition Leader Gerry Reid, meantime, says it's unacceptable that the premier is threatening lawsuits, trying to intimidate the general public. Reid is also looking at trying to get the policy changed, that allows MHA's to hire lawyers for such matters. He's willing to go to the IEC to say enough is enough.

The report by Chief Justice Derek Green on MHA Constituency Allowances and other matters is in the final stages, but there's still no date given for its release. Last month, Green said he notified the premier that there would be delay and that he expected to have the report finished around mid-February, but his office says it won't be submitted this week. The chief justice has been examining MHA compensation, allowances, and pensions as well as financial management and controls in the House of Assembly.

R I P
Anna Nicole Smith
1967 - 2007

That's all i have to say about her.

James P. Banfield,Ocularist specializes in the fabricating and fitting of custom-made ocular prosthetics commonly known as artificial eyes. The one he's holding in the photo was custom made for me over a two day period in St. Johns,NL. I'll be wearing the prosthetic for at least six years if i care for it properly.
Artificial eyes have been made for thousands of years with some made of glass or gold. later they were replaced by plastic or silicone spheres. Lack of movement was a major obstacle to restoring a natural appearance, which made the adjustment to wearing an artificial eye much more difficult. Today with a skilled surgeon and an Ocularist such as James Banfield things have changed. Most people will not actually know the eye is artificial because it moves and the color matches perfectly. Todays artificial eyes can be left in the eye socket for many months and only has to be removed when the person visits the Ocularist for regular cleaning. The Ocularist gave me great advice over the two day fabricating and dispelled myths that i heard on the topic over the years. Thank you James Banfield!!!

Reading through some of the NL Blogs today and a thought crossed my mind. I have been told sometimes that i see the world in Black & White. After reading NL blogs i notice that a lot see the world in colors. Some see it as Red,Blue,Orange and a small percentage in Green.

"The Ambassador."
Another great movie release recently. A new action movie called the ambassador is about to hit the screen. Loyola Sullivan plays the Ambassador, an ordinary bayman who drinks a magic elixir called Screech which turns him into a crusading mariner. I don't want to spoil the plot for you all but here's a little spoiler for you. A sexy sea Siren who accompanies the super hero is played by Kathy Goudie who seduces sea pirates with her cries.The movie was just released in Ottawa and it'll be a while before it reaches NL.

I have not blogged much lately but have been spending sometime checking out other bloggers. The pass two months since my enucleation surgery i have been wearing a small plastic conformer in my eye. The only time i realize it's there is when i apply eye drops or go outside for a walk on a cold day. Monday im off to St. Johns to receive a custom fitted artificial eye. That will probably make my eye saga come full circle. I remember as a kid back in the 60's boarding the old passenger train bound to St. Johns and looking at it all as an adventure. My parents did not share my enthusiasm and worried far to much for me at times. The trips to the Janeway Hospital seemed to be in vain for them because the results of the eye operations did not turn out as they hoped. Over the years i made many trips, mostly for check-ups knowing that it was only a minor disability and it never really bothered me living with the loss of an eye. About a year ago things changed,headaches, nose bleeds but i still hoped it would change, go away. One morning on an ATV ride with my four year old granddaughter accompanying me i became a bit disoriented to a point that she asked me was i ok. I knew at that moment my past had caught up with me. A few days later the Opthamologist was telling me what i already knew.The eye should be removed and he scheduled the surgery. Tuesday i'll see the Ocularist and have the custom prosthetic eye made. Hopefully he'll let me take a few pics of the occasion.