Homicide in Douglas/Fredericton

Some of you will likely see this story in the Canadian papers. Some of you may remember that we're building our house in Douglas. Others might remember that I'm a sociologist. Thus, I thought I'd post that I didn't know John McKendy, though, given his social justice work, it is highly likely that our paths would eventually have crossed. Anyway, I just thought I'd post this since some of you may "connect the dots" and wonder if his department is the one with which I'm affiliated (no, he was at St. Thomas), etc.

I was driving this morning and heard the report of a "suspicious death on Island View in Douglas." That's exactly where 7YO and I were going this evening. When I got to his school for pick-up at 1:30, they had the place in lock down. So, tonight we went to his friend's house, on Island View, and had to drive right by the street - it's actually off Island View - where you could see the police tape across the street. I haven't seen any coverage. What's particularly heartbreaking is that he was, apparently, a Quaker; had done volunteer work in Africa; was a great teacher, etc. He recently presented at an event called the New Brunswick Social Forum. The title of the session at which he spoke? Alternatives To Violence: War From Renous To Afghanistan.

May he rest in peace.

Miscellaneous thoughts...

CNN is talking about how "only" 13 US soldiers died in Iraq in October... and "only" 6 were combat deaths, or some such. WTF? I am so disgusted, offended, by the use of the descriptor "only." I know what they mean, but it still pisses me off. I can guaran-fucking-tee them that the families of those soldiers aren't thinking of them as "onlies."

I haven't been following much of US politics - and I use the term loosely - until recently. So, I just found out that in addition to anti-gay, anti-family initiatives in California and Florida, there's more hatred and stupidity out there. I didn't know that my former home of Arizona is trying again. And, in Arkansas, people will vote on prohibiting adoption by unmarried couples. Guess we know who that is aimed at.

And, in Colorado -
"The approved ballot title reads:
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution defining the term “person” to include any human being from the moment of fertilization as “person” is used in those provisions of the Colorado constitution relating to inalienable rights, equality of justice, and due process of law?

The proposed initiative says:
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. Article II of the constitution of the state of Colorado is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read: Section 31. Person defined. As used in sections 3, 6, and 25 of article II of the state constitution, the terms "person" or "persons" shall include any human being from the moment of fertilization.

Because the amendment defines a fertilized egg as a person, even before being implanted in the uterus (a common definition for the beginning of a pregnancy), opponents suggest that the amendment may outlaw certain methods of birth control that focus on interfering with the egg's implantation."

California and South Dakota are at it, too.

In California, "'[t]he initiative would prohibit abortion for unemancipated minors until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent, legal guardian or, if parental abuse has been reported, an alternative adult family member."

In South Dakota, "If the state's voters approve it, the South Dakota Constitution will henceforward ban all abortions in the state except for those performed because of rape, incest or to protect the woman's health."

Just my opinion, of course, but... WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

Note: If any of these have, for some reason, been kept off the ballot at the last minute, I've not read about it. Feel free to post updates via comments.

Quebec Immigration

Immigrants must sign paper pledging Quebec values

"Quebec has introduced a mandatory declaration for immigrants requiring them to sign their commitment to respect the province's common values.

The immigrant declaration follows on recommendations issued by The Bouchard-Taylor Commission, a provincial public inquiry on the issue of so-called reasonable accommodation of cultural and religious beliefs."

What do you think?

Palin - A bitch, witch, and moron

Now, using such language to describe another woman is something I reserve for the exceptional. For example, people like Michele Bachmann. Add Sarah Palin to the list. The other day she said, while talking about the role of government, "I don't know what to think of having in my family Uncle Barney Frank or others to make decisions for me." I completely agree with this interpretation of that remark: "Barney Frank is a high profile Gay Democratic Congressman. In cases of child molesting, the term funny uncle is a derogatory term for a family member who molests children. Conservatives believes gays are predatory child molesters and what better way to make that point than to make gay Congressman Barney Frank the uncle." Source

For an interesting, imo, exchange on this comment, go here.

She is, or should be, a complete embarrassment to the Republican party. I don't know which is worse, the fact that she is truly stupid or the fact that she's a bigot. I guess in the role of vice president - or, worse, president - I'd have to go with the former. But, I am so tired of the degree to which people running for public office choose to wave the flag of homophobia as a badge of honor - and feel empowered to do so.

In talking with Andy Scott the other day, he echoed a sentiment I've heard from others. In short, politicians in Canada would be fired or run out of town for saying some of the things that in the US garner the bigots more support. Interesting.

Why, given the polls, do I even bother? Will anyone remember Sarah Palin in a year? For extensive discussion of why I think we should be concerned, go here.

BTW, in an earlier post I wrote about not being sure about voting. I do not like Obama because he thinks I'm a second class citizen. But, the thought of Palin in the White House should terrify the world. So, holding my nose, I did submit my vote for Obama/Biden. I'm so glad I'm here...

Harvey Milk

I can't wait to see this movie. I may have to drive to Halifax. I may have to drive to Boston. But, I really want to see it on the big screen.



But, for the real thing, check these out, too:

Andy Scott

For the past 15 years, Andy Scott has been a Liberal MP from Fredericton. He chose not to run in this last election. Rather, he is now heading up the Social Policy Research Network at UNB. His office is around the corner from mine. We met for the first time this morning. I had known that he once did graduate work here. I knew he was retiring from Parliament. I knew he was a Liberal. What I didn't know was his role in the issue of same-sex marriage. Read on.

While casually chatting about what brought me/us here, etc. I discovered that he, in fact, had at one time been the chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. It was to this committee that, in 2002, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada directed the question of same-sex marriage. It was as chair of this committee that he broke a tie in a vote on the issue:

"The first signs of movement in Ottawa came on June 12 when the Standing Committee for Justice and Human Rights barely voted to recommend that Parliament accept the Ontario decision. The tie-breaking vote for equal marriage came from the chair of the committee, Liberal MP Andy Scott, in a process that included the replacement of opponents to same-sex marriage with more agreeable M.P.s.

While we watched Mr. Scott on live television, we applauded the New Brunswick Member of Parliament as he spoke about being "informed" by the recent court decisions and the testimony about marriage heard by the committee. Mr. Scott's public support was an important and significant step forward. Since Mr. Scott's lead, other M.P.s have been listening and learning, building consensus for the final approval of same-sex marriage in Parliament." Source

So, we're chatting away - talking about immigration, same-sex marriage, the fact that he was once attacked in his F'ton office over the issue, religion, the Charter, Section 2, Section 15... and he goes over to a stack of framed materials. He is just getting settled in his office and they were not yet hanging. Then, he pulls out a framed copy of the Charter and gives it to me. To keep. I had a copy on my chalkboard in Saint Paul. It's in a box somewhere. But, it isn't framed and it wasn't from Andy Scott. I am so tickled.

Then, I told him that I'd like to talk with him about the war resisters sometime. He responded by telling me that for a while he was sending one post card a day on the issue. He said there was a time that he thought, "Why should I keep doing this?" And, he realized that if, as a member of Parliament, he wasn't willing, why should someone not in Parliament do so.

This has been a very cool morning!

Need a reminder?

SAN FRANCISCO - A girl in pigtails bounds into the kitchen after school and asks her mother to guess what she learned that day. "I learned how a prince married a prince, and I can marry a princess," she exclaims to her mortified mom.

This television advertisement for a ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in California urges voters to "protect children" by approving the measure.

There's not a word about education in Proposition 8, but what public schools will be required to teach about same-sex marriage has emerged as the central issue in the campaign...

Go here for more, if you can stand it.

I knew there was a reason I, as a rule, avoided US "news." And again I ask, what is wrong with these people? I mean, I have the academic take. E.g., It's really about gender; people aren't worried about same-sex relationships per se. They're worried about how it disrupts the gender binary. But, that just doesn't help when I try to imagine why people spend so much time and money hating/fearing/discriminating against people whose lives don't really affect them at all. Maybe these people - and those like the woman in the video over at Moved to Vancouver - just have to focus on something besides their lives. Maybe they're so freaked out about health care, the economy, mortgages, and so on that it gives them something to keep them distracted. All I know is that they piss me off.

Still here!

Well, we arrived just over four months ago. And what a four months it's been. Just to recap - we spent 16 June-30 September living in a sub-let in the heart of downtown Fredericton. Of course, the "we" varies as my mother was with us from our arrival until we went to Boston on 30 July. Then, quite unexpectedly, on 20 August P left for Saint Paul to attend school. So, 7YO - a real trooper if I do say so - and I have been hanging in, just the two of us. Well, three with our pup! On 1 October we moved to what we thought would be a short stay in a fellow expat's place in historic Marysville. It was a great unit, but getting up off the frameless futon and out of the camp chair was really grueling on my legs. I was getting more and more furious over the delays with the build.

Peppered throughout this time are the various dates that we were told we'd be able to move into our house - 15 August, 1 September, 15 September, 1 October, 17 October... If you're sensing a trend there, you're right. I've tried to keep most of the build info on the other blog, but I thought - given that I actually have some time to breathe - I'd post an update here.

So, on the 10th of October I had a major meltdown on PR, the builder's "project manager," though he hadn't been managing our project. I had been told that the septic was going in that afternoon and that the kitchen cabinets would be delivered. When I stopped by on a beautiful, sunny Friday afternoon... not a soul in sight. Nothing. Zero. Nada. And they were still saying 17 October. Yeah, right.

Well, PR and D, the builder's brother and business partner, were furious. Not at me. They had no idea that there had been so many errors, nor that I had been given the timeline(s) that I had. They were furious that things had been going so badly and they didn't know. On Monday morning I was told that they had rented an "executive suite" in downtown Fredericton for as long as we need it. The upside is that we have a completely furnished unit, including kitchen, cable, and Internet. The downside is that it's not dog friendly. So, our pup is spending a couple of weeks - and I hope that's all - at Foster's, the great dog hotel in Durham Bridge. Since we've also no yard here and I haven't been able to walk more than 10-15 minutes, I know he's better off. I swear when he comes back after being there he's depressed! The other night I received an e-mail that he was spending the evening in the owners' house watching movies with them and their pets. So, mostly "upside," with one major "downside."

P came to visit last weekend and, with minor chaos - again, see the other blog - we got all of our stuff out of storage and into the basement of the house. She had to leave before the crack of dawn on Monday and will be back five weeks from yesterday. That time she'll be here for two weeks, going back only for ten days of finals.

What else?

I bought my first set of winter tires today. Nobody I knew in Minnesota bothered, but with the kind of snow/ice here - and that fact that we'll be in the "country" up a couple of hills - everyone said it was a must.

Turns out that one of 7YO's classmates just moved here from Hudson, Wisconsin, a town within reasonable commuting distance of Saint Paul. Her father grew up here, went to the same school that his daughter and 7YO are attending, but, after spending about a dozen years in the US, has returned because of the downturn in the economy. 7YO also has a new classmate from the Netherlands. One of the parents I often chat with is from West Yorkshire, England. All in all, a nice mix of folks and nobody - yet - bats an eye when I explain why we came to Canada.

I've been spending a lot of time shopping for furniture as we didn't bring much with us. While this isn't my idea of fun, it's been even less fun because we have an awkward living room space. We're hoping that the sofa we've chosen fits okay, but if not, we'll probably swap it for the love seat. We're getting the ottoman - in the same red - too, with the idea that we can put a nice tray on it and have it triple as a coffee table, foot rest, and extra seat. And, we decided to go - in my view - a bit suburban and get a cushy, double reclining sofa for the basement/tv space. But, hey, it's all about the comfort. We're doing it in a chocolate brown microfibre. I'm so glad to be done with that! Now I'm on the hunt for a harvest table. I'd like to get one made from reclaimed wood, but I don't know if I can do so without going to Maine... Anyway, we're buying furnishings with the understanding that we will eventually have a house!

Tomorrow I'm having an engine block heater put in the car. It was 10 years old in August and it did fine in the Minnesota winters, but it was in a garage. Last year you could tell it had to make the extra effort on those below freezing days. Since our garage won't be ready before the snow flies - oh, yeah, 'cause that was today - I decided to keep it "warm" - and not think about the extra burden on my carbon footprint.

I am really glad we're here. I confess that, since my income still comes from the US, I'm thrilled with the exchange rate. I wish I had time to do more with the stuff happening locally re sustainability, peace, etc., but I'm just not inclined to get a sitter so that I can go off without 7YO. He's loving his swimming at the Fredericton Indoor Pool. I love listening to the CBC as I drive. It's been a hard move, but most of that has to do with the house and P's departure. I realized the other day that none of this would be easier if I had moved out of Minnesota, but within the US. And, had I moved to a less hospitable community it would be much harder.

I am trying to get some work done, but mostly I am shopping, chauffering, dealing with the build, and trying to keep up with the more mundane requirements of life - e.g., laundry, groceries, etc. I am now off to read to 7YO before he goes to bed. I will be so glad when we are in our own home, school is just down the road, and I can focus on things besides "the move."

More as it happens!

Hello, hello!

I've been without regular and reliable Internet access for two weeks... but, I am here in Fredericton - thought it was touch and go there for a bit... Right now I'm at a cafe downtown having my second bowl of the most amazing Spicy Pumpkin Soup and an Internet connection. Please check the building blog for a bit about what has been consuming my life.

I did want to post a few quick things. First, I received word just this morning that my proposal for teaching on-line during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 academic years has been approved. That is huge! Second, the Gregg Centre at UNB has worked things out and I will officially be a "Visiting Fellow" for the year. Third, P arrives tonight for the weekend. Things are looking up all around.

I look forward to having regular Internet access again and getting back in touch. Hope all is well with everyone!

October?

How did that happen? Not much news. We're still waiting to move. One building nightmare after another. We're taking a couple of nights at a hotel so that I can get caught up on email and do some work while 7YO watches tv. And, we've had the good fortune to be invited to someone's home for Thanksgiving and then some apple picking. Sounds delightful. P arrives on Thursday. If it hadn't been so ridiculously expensive to have her change her ticket ($1000) she would have been arriving tonight. Earlier in the week I was in meltdown mode. Time marches on. I wish I had the energy to write more.

In all the driving I'm doing - to school, back, on errands, to school, back - I'm listening to the radio a lot and enjoying learning more about politics, etc. Just to give you an idea - our car was purchased in August 1998. Before leaving MN in June of this year, just shy of 10 years old, we had right around 97,000 miles on the car, or an average of less than 10K a year. We put 2,000 miles on moving out here and, since the odometer turned 100,000 on 1 July, we've logged another 7,000 miles. Whoa! Glad to see that gas dropped 8 cents a litre this week!

Hopefully once we get settled I can get back to more regular - and interesting - posting. I'm also missing keeping up with others' blogs. Fingers crossed that within a couple of weeks I'll be writing from our new digs in beautiful Douglas, NB...