| Messages to the editor
US anti-Cuban laws now enforced in Canada
Posted 04.24.08
Dear editor,
Like many Canadians, I receive a MasterCard application about twice a month.
These offers come from US bank subsidiaries based in Canada. Some of the applications state, in very fine print, that the card cannot be used in Cuba, North Korea, or Iran. Others don't say so, but a telephone call will confirm the same restriction.
By some estimates, as many as one third of Canadians belong to credit unions. If you are a member of a credit union that issues MasterCard, your card is likely no longer valid in Cuba because the company that clears your transactions was bought out by a Canadian subsidiary of a US firm.
Were you even told this? (Note Bank of Montreal MasterCards are still valid in Cuba as they clear their own transactions).
The MasterCard issue is part of a larger picture. To my knowledge, we now have:
Does anyone reading this have knowledge of other consumer-oriented applications of the US's Helms-Burton law in Canada?
Canada has a law prohibiting this sort of application of US laws in Canada.
When Helms-Burton was enacted in the US in 1996, Canada quickly amended its Foreign Extra-territorial Measures Act to protect its sovereignty and by requiring US subsidiaries operating in Canada to abide by Canadian law and not discriminate against Cuba in economic activities.
To date, no prosecutions have ever been launched in support of this law, despite the growing number of violations.
Last year, Canada voted with most of the world, 184 to 4 in favour of lifting the blockade against Cuba. Despite this very public support for Cuba, we are allowing US companies to use our banking system to destroy the economy of Cuba, a sovereign nation with whom Canada has had uninterrupted, friendly relations for more than sixty years.
Brien Young Emergency Meeting, or The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!
Posted 03.29.08
After arriving in the morning in their Japanese cars, they shared a breakfast of Belgian waffles, Spanish omelettes, Mexican cornbread, and good old Tim HortonÕs coffee.
While eating, someone admired Présidente-Directrice Générale Madame France BoucherÕs outfit, including new Italian shoes and her nice new Hong Kong-made purse, and everyone laughed when she said she bought the purse at Wal-Mart. . . and admitted she got her skirt while on vacation in Florida!
They chatted about Amy WinehouseÕs performance at the GrammyÕs and Monsieur Guy Dumas mentioned that last night he went to see the new "Rambo" movie, version Française of course, at the American-owned AMC Theatre downtown . . . after eating at Boston Pizza. He said he had not slept well because his teenager kept playing her Jay-Z and Kanye West CDs in her bedroom too loud.
With breakfast done they moved to their new boardroom decked out in Ikea furniture and a Honduras Mahogany boardroom table to start their emergency meeting. Madame Marie Gendron fired up the Sony projector and her Toshiba Laptop to present a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on how a handful of English signs at McKibbinÕs Irish Pub in Montreal were destroying the French culture.
On resignations and hypocrisy
Posted 03.13.08
So, Spitzer has now resigned as Governor of New York. It's too bad that folks weren't as demanding in calling for Bush's resignation.
Bush has advocated for torture, abused his own discretionary powers time and time again, and keeps lying to America -- and yet he still sits at the helm of our government. What a jackass. Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzales...don't even get me started on these jokers.
The only folks Spitzer owes an apology too are his wife and kids for the hurt, shame, and public embarrassment he has caused them.
Jeez. Look at the Kennedys. With all their scandals and public humiliations, Ted is still in office.
If the American public wants to call shame on anyone, it should be on that moron sitting in the oval office, and his band of criminal cronies he has surrounded himself with.
The end of Bush's term can't come soon enough for me. Good riddance.
Scott Mahoney
An apology/suggestion from the LCC's Galivanting Gourmand
Posted 01.26.08
I've been so busy that I somehow missed the opportunity to pen a tribute for Robbie Burns Day.
On my Internet travels this frosty morning I came across an interesting link regarding the early Scottish settlers in the Eastern Townships and Quebec. Perhaps you have seen this but I thought it might be of interest to you and others. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/9917/hisqueb1.htm#history
In absence of a proper column for loyal Log Cabin readers, I can provide at least one tribute of sorts by introducing a concept that may allow some union of Quebec's two solitudes. I believe that Haggis presents a perfect opportunity.
In celebration of Robbie Burns Day why not stuff a stomach with poutine in lieu of sheep and pig offal? Serve with neeps and tatties and Pepsi. Jos-Lois for dessert is a reasonable accommodation.
The name I suggest for the poutine-stuffed haggis is Quaggis.
Have a wee dram for me,
Greg, the Duncan Bread-making reader is enthralled
Posted 07.09.07
The old chimney is blocked...PERFECT! and the stones and bricks are still around the place, it'll make a fine bread oven using your descriptions to help me along.
Thank you so very much for the great page, nice writing too
Howard and Kelly Lute And this from a chef
Posted 07.09.07
Cool life you have carved.
The insight is personal and sweet.
Thank You Letter from an angry American
Posted 07.09.07
I am outraged that you chose to commute the sentence of Lewis Libby.
Mr. Libby was tried by a jury of his peers and found guilty. He was sentenced under guidelines passed by Congress and upheld in the federal courts.
By commuting his sentence you have shown that there is not equal protection under the law in the United States, you have demonstrated to the world that in the United States it is nice to have friends in high places.
A bad example set by the leader of the free world.
Sincerely,
Frank Bernheisel
RE: Ross Murray's dreaded peanut butter jar dilemma
Posted 03.14.07
Years ago, in the petit village of Ste. Hermenegilde, QC, I learned from big guy Hank that if you toss your crusty peanut butter jars out into the yard that the squirrels and chipmunks will happily clean them out for you.
Down in the Eastern Townships this worked wonderfully and they actually ate most of the plastic, too, if you did not collect them quickly.
Once in a awhile a big squirrel would get momentarily stuck (bucket head, hee, hee!) and we would watch the antics from our window. The chipmunks always had the advantage as they could easily negotiate the smallest of jars.
Somehow, up here in the suburbs of Montreal, they do not do this. We put the dirty jars out and learned quickly that it is feral cats that perform this task. The squirrels seem to know that having their heads in a sticky jar spells certain death by a local band of night prowlers.
These are some ugly and tough felines, I tell you, and they mark their territory to our great frustration. Nothing like the musky scent during an early morning hot tub session outside after the hot tub has been owned by the marauders.
Try the Squirrel-Klean technique. At the very least you may witness a display of dominance by whatever animals inhabit your yard. A mob of Meerkats vs porcupines in Stanstead, perhaps?
Chunky works better that creamy and they don't like the organic unsweetened stuff. That's for sissies and bad for your heart...
Greg Duncan
Posted 03.03.07
I recently read an article by Barbara Florio Graham on-line in the Log Cabin Chronicles about Whose Junk is This?
Anything that can be done to keep re-usable "stuff" out of landfills is good for us and particularly good for future generations. As has been said many times, "One person's junk is another's gold mine." I'd like to tell you about a "gold mine" that many are not aware of.
At www.freecycle.org people can find a group that recycles things in their area. There are approximately 3,260,193 members in 3975 groups worldwide and it is constantly growing. "The best things in life are free" and Freecycle(TM) helps this by members offering things they no longer need or want (some new, some used) and members can also ask for items needed.
Recently, a manager of the Freecycle(TM) Group in Montreal was interviewed on TQS-TV and our Sherbrooke membership increased by 34 percent in less than a week.
We started our group in January 2005 and we now have 369 members. Many of them are bilingual, while some are unilingual English or French. We have members from as far away as Connecticut because they have a cottage in this area which they visit often.
The more members we can get interested make for more "stuff" to kept out of landfills. Sometimes it is amazing what people ask for and actually get as well as the many items that are offered. Not long ago a person from a western province asked for a house and he did get one, including the property it was on.
Please consider giving our group in Sherbrooke a boost in membership and help to keep useable articles out of our landfills. People can visit our Freecycle(TM) Sherbrooke QC group at:
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/Freecycle_Sherbrooke_QC and sign up right away or they can check www.freecycle.org to see if there is a group closer to their area.
Thank you,
Ric Smithers
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