On December 27th, 2005, Paula Anne Gallant, 36, a grade 3 teacher from Beechville- Lakeside-Timberlea Elementary School was murdered and left in the trunk of her car outside that very school in which she taught. Today marks the second anniversary of her murder. Although her case remains unsolved to date, the RCMP are actively engaged in this investigation and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
On behalf of our family, and especially our children, Timothy, Connor, Dylan and Emily we are asking anyone that has ANY INFORMATION to contact the RCMP. We need your help…..please think about Tuesday, December 27th, 2005 and try and remember every single detail. We have all suffered such a great loss, but the children, our children and Paula’s many students, have been so painfully affected. They ask the tough questions and are especially tormented with one big question; Why? "Why would someone murder HER?" We have no answers for them. Why is such an important element of this investigation. If we can answer the "why", it may lead to the "who".
If you have heard or know anything about this case, please be a hero and speak for Paula. Even if the information you have may seem insignificant, please report it. If she went for a walk with her dog everyday to get the mail and you saw her on December 27th, 2005 getting her mail, please advise the Integrated Major Crime Unit. You may have that one piece of critical information that could solve this case. At the time of her death Paula resided at 41 Silver Maple Drive in Timberlea, Nova Scotia. She drove two different vehicles prior to her murder. Her body was found in her 1997 Green Chevrolet Cavalier License Plate BMP 504 and she owned a Blue Mazda Tribute License Plate DZR 168.
Did you see Paula anytime on December 27th, 2005? Was she walking? Was she driving either vehicle? Did you see anything unusual or suspicious on Silver Maple Drive or in the community including the school ground? All this information is important. Please talk to your children. They may have seen something while they were playing outside with their friends. Just try and imagine if this happened to someone in your life. You would want people to get involved. Please help if you can.
Please report any information you may have about Paula and her murder. Fact or fiction….let the investigation team determine the importance.
And to Paula’s killer (s)…please know, you have silenced Paula, but you cannot silence the hundreds of people who love her, miss her and will fight for the justice she deserves. Do the right thing, grow a conscience and turn yourself in….you will be caught…and soon.
Contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the Integrated Major Crime Unit at 490-5333. There is a $50,000 Reward being offered as well.
Thank You,
Lynn Gallant-Blackburn and Lana Kenny (Paula’s sisters)
Please visit Paula’s website at www.paulagallant.com
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
'Twas the Day After Christmas
'Twas the week after Christmas and all through the Strait, all the parents and shoppers like me celebrate. "Why so late?" you might ask. "Why the lengthy delay? All the good stuff is over. Why, it's Boxing Day!"
Now don't get me wrong, 'cause I'm far from a Grinch. I have kids, so I have to give more than an inch. My village is out, all my Christmas cards sent, and God knows a truckload of money's been spent. The manger scene sits there, as well as the tree; yes, that 'ol Martha Stewart has nothin' on me. While it sounds picturesque, and while some parts were fun, you're looking at one girl who's glad it's all done.
And so why am I so glad the season is over?
Quite simple.
It's because it starts in October.
Not all "big days" hang there like this Christmas loomed. By the time Halloween came, I knew I was doomed. I went to the mall, and much to my chagrin, there were Santas where all of the costumes had been. And what of the candy? Where'd all of that go? Instead there were aisles full of lights and fake snow. And then, to my horror, the loudspeaker hurled a cheery rendition of "Joy to the World". I just wasn't ready, that's all there was to it. I nearly picked up a glass reindeer and threw it! I wanted to ask them, "what's with all the rush?", as the shelf-stockers stocked shelves with stockings of plush. But it was too late, 'cause the ball was now rolling. The shoppers were thrilled with the aisles they were trolling.
And so it began, the hypnosis of cheer, when smart people are turned into zombies each year. It's just like a movie, to watch it take place. Every single thing changes; it's quite a disgrace. Suddenly shopping turns into a job, costing three times as much, in the midst of the mob. We fill up our carts with a big goofy smile, and the big wigs are laughing at us all the while. It's the flip side where things become really quite sad, when we, young and old, start behaving so bad. Sweet little old ladies, so gentle at heart, become monsters who will run you down with their cart. To get the last Bratz doll (for which he'll overpay), a father will hip-check you out of the way. The workers are short, as they look on the shelf, and may very well tell you to "find it yourself". And just when you think that things couldn't get worse, when you're sure you'll end up in the back of a hearse....with your two kids in tow, maybe even your Grandma - you remember you have to go to Dollarama. With that single thought, down your cheek rolls a tear. Is there anywhere worse to be this time of year? If there is, I can tell you that I haven't found it. Whenever we leave there, one of my kids are grounded.
Long gone are the days where the kids want some blocks, or a new Crazy Carpet, or navy-blue Crocs. Instead, when they make it up on Santa's knee, they ask for a laptop and Playstation 3. We buy mine nice presents, both me and my spouse, but nothing requiring us to mortgage our house.
Then how 'bout the grand event of Christmas dinner? That thing should be outlawed, it makes you no thinner. You all get together, your uncles, your brother, the whole bunch, pretending to all like each other. You've gained 15lbs and when meal time has passed, you're still faced with those dirty dishes, en masse.
And let's not forget the big night at the school. Part of me wants it cancelled, there should be a rule, or at least a good system to get us all through it. I really don't know how all those teachers do it. The kids are so cute, as they're singing their song - too bad the whole concert is nine hours long. It might sound quite scroogy, but between you and me, there isn't a parent who doesn't agree.
So here we are now, at the end of the season. If I seem a bit chipper, you now know the reason. I so don't hate Christmas, don't get that impression, I just understand why it leads to depression. As soon as the novelty wears off, we're fine, but while we're in the zone, we're all losing our minds. Once the garland and glitter is out of the stores, once the grandiose visions seep out of our pores, once the great expectations have all came and went, we'll be back to ourselves and preparing for Lent. Please take this short story and try to remember - here's hoping next year it won't start in September.
Now don't get me wrong, 'cause I'm far from a Grinch. I have kids, so I have to give more than an inch. My village is out, all my Christmas cards sent, and God knows a truckload of money's been spent. The manger scene sits there, as well as the tree; yes, that 'ol Martha Stewart has nothin' on me. While it sounds picturesque, and while some parts were fun, you're looking at one girl who's glad it's all done.
And so why am I so glad the season is over?
Quite simple.
It's because it starts in October.
Not all "big days" hang there like this Christmas loomed. By the time Halloween came, I knew I was doomed. I went to the mall, and much to my chagrin, there were Santas where all of the costumes had been. And what of the candy? Where'd all of that go? Instead there were aisles full of lights and fake snow. And then, to my horror, the loudspeaker hurled a cheery rendition of "Joy to the World". I just wasn't ready, that's all there was to it. I nearly picked up a glass reindeer and threw it! I wanted to ask them, "what's with all the rush?", as the shelf-stockers stocked shelves with stockings of plush. But it was too late, 'cause the ball was now rolling. The shoppers were thrilled with the aisles they were trolling.
And so it began, the hypnosis of cheer, when smart people are turned into zombies each year. It's just like a movie, to watch it take place. Every single thing changes; it's quite a disgrace. Suddenly shopping turns into a job, costing three times as much, in the midst of the mob. We fill up our carts with a big goofy smile, and the big wigs are laughing at us all the while. It's the flip side where things become really quite sad, when we, young and old, start behaving so bad. Sweet little old ladies, so gentle at heart, become monsters who will run you down with their cart. To get the last Bratz doll (for which he'll overpay), a father will hip-check you out of the way. The workers are short, as they look on the shelf, and may very well tell you to "find it yourself". And just when you think that things couldn't get worse, when you're sure you'll end up in the back of a hearse....with your two kids in tow, maybe even your Grandma - you remember you have to go to Dollarama. With that single thought, down your cheek rolls a tear. Is there anywhere worse to be this time of year? If there is, I can tell you that I haven't found it. Whenever we leave there, one of my kids are grounded.
Long gone are the days where the kids want some blocks, or a new Crazy Carpet, or navy-blue Crocs. Instead, when they make it up on Santa's knee, they ask for a laptop and Playstation 3. We buy mine nice presents, both me and my spouse, but nothing requiring us to mortgage our house.
Then how 'bout the grand event of Christmas dinner? That thing should be outlawed, it makes you no thinner. You all get together, your uncles, your brother, the whole bunch, pretending to all like each other. You've gained 15lbs and when meal time has passed, you're still faced with those dirty dishes, en masse.
And let's not forget the big night at the school. Part of me wants it cancelled, there should be a rule, or at least a good system to get us all through it. I really don't know how all those teachers do it. The kids are so cute, as they're singing their song - too bad the whole concert is nine hours long. It might sound quite scroogy, but between you and me, there isn't a parent who doesn't agree.
So here we are now, at the end of the season. If I seem a bit chipper, you now know the reason. I so don't hate Christmas, don't get that impression, I just understand why it leads to depression. As soon as the novelty wears off, we're fine, but while we're in the zone, we're all losing our minds. Once the garland and glitter is out of the stores, once the grandiose visions seep out of our pores, once the great expectations have all came and went, we'll be back to ourselves and preparing for Lent. Please take this short story and try to remember - here's hoping next year it won't start in September.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
NEW BLOGS
Merry X-mas everyone! With all the X-mas chaos, I won't be posting another blog until Boxing Day (though it's a good one, in my opinion...).
And also, please log on December 27th for a very important letter from Paula Gallant's family.
Have a fun & safe holiday everyone!
And also, please log on December 27th for a very important letter from Paula Gallant's family.
Have a fun & safe holiday everyone!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
No-brainer
Two things high on the list of Cape Breton economic necessities, are jobs and tourists. Something that would provide both would be a godsend, wouldn't it?
This is why I can't understand how people haven't jumped on the Cape Breton-PEI Ferry bandwagon.
I accept that a project of this magnitude has it's obstacles and carries a bit of the "pipe dream" stigma. After all, even though the infrastructure is already in place in PEI, there isn't even a hint of that same infrastructure in Port Hood, the proposed location for the terminal. Cape Bretoners are so used to seeing the short end of government spending, that an opportunity like this seems unattainable to many folks here. To build a ferry terminal in western Cape Breton would require a substantial amount of funding (around $4 million dollars, according to my interpretation of the figures), and the attitude of the majority seems to be supportive but doubtful at the same time.
But just think about it. Places on the mainland with aggressive politicians have no shortage of government dollars to play with, and often for trivial pursuits. Why shouldn't Cape Breton be granted a piece of the pie, too? The Provincial Government just announced a $30 million dollar investment for renovations to an old government building in the Halifax Regional Municipality (that must be some awfully pretty siding). And Halifax is asking for $14 million to fund another ferry for the Eastern Passage area, an expansion of their public transit system. And what do those projects really contribute to the majority of Nova Scotians? Not much that I can see. Enjoying the beautiful landscape of the expensively renovated Joseph Howe building, and knowing that folks in Eastern Passage cut a few minutes off their commute time, doesn't do anything for the livelihood of people from Port Hastings or Inverness. Hundreds of much-needed jobs would be created with a ferry connecting Cape Breton and PEI, both from the construction and subsequent operation of a ferry terminal. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars on advertising initiatives that discourage workers from moving out West, why not sink some money into a project that allows them to stay and thrive at home?
And we can't underestimate the extra tourism that would be generated by this ferry link. Visitors to PEI would be much more likely to scoot over to Cape Breton if it meant a short ferry ride between them and the Cabot Trail, than they are now, having to double back on the Pictou ferry and then face a long drive to our Island.
Granted, this is an idealistic projection of the ferry link enterprise, but even the hard facts are encouraging. The Federal Government recently announced over $60 million dollars in planned rural building and infrastructure funding for communities across Canada with a population of less than one-hundred thousand, which Port Hood would surely qualify for. In addition, a 2000 feasibility study done to examine the viability of the ferry link idea produced a positive endorsement.
Unfortunately, then-Premier John Hamm didn't provide much support for the project. Many speculated that the proposal was met with heavy opposition largely because Premier Hamm was from Pictou, the site that boasts the only Nova Scotian ferry link to PEI, and that a Cape Breton alternative would pose a threat to their economy, as direct competition. Fair enough, the opposition might have been justified in it's concern (though an increase in tourism in that area is also a likely possibility).
To that, I say tit for tat. Rodney MacDonald is Premier now, which is all the more reason for this project to receive further serious consideration. Why shouldn't we reap the benefits of having a home-grown Premier who, hopefully, understands, appreciates, and relates to the problems and needs of the people he directly represents as MLA in his riding? Other Premiers have had no trouble looking out for number one, so I say it's about time Rodney MacDonald does the same. Halifax has all the help it needs; bring your clout back home, Rodney.
My bottom line is this: a ferry service to PEI, located in western Cape Breton, has many more obvious pros than it does cons. The funding for large projects like this is available to those who are willing to fight for it, and Cape Breton has politely fallen by the wayside for far too long, in my opinion. This is an opportunity for everyone to get together and get behind something that would be a great step forward for all Islanders. Because, as the saying goes, "if you build it, they will come."
This is why I can't understand how people haven't jumped on the Cape Breton-PEI Ferry bandwagon.
I accept that a project of this magnitude has it's obstacles and carries a bit of the "pipe dream" stigma. After all, even though the infrastructure is already in place in PEI, there isn't even a hint of that same infrastructure in Port Hood, the proposed location for the terminal. Cape Bretoners are so used to seeing the short end of government spending, that an opportunity like this seems unattainable to many folks here. To build a ferry terminal in western Cape Breton would require a substantial amount of funding (around $4 million dollars, according to my interpretation of the figures), and the attitude of the majority seems to be supportive but doubtful at the same time.
But just think about it. Places on the mainland with aggressive politicians have no shortage of government dollars to play with, and often for trivial pursuits. Why shouldn't Cape Breton be granted a piece of the pie, too? The Provincial Government just announced a $30 million dollar investment for renovations to an old government building in the Halifax Regional Municipality (that must be some awfully pretty siding). And Halifax is asking for $14 million to fund another ferry for the Eastern Passage area, an expansion of their public transit system. And what do those projects really contribute to the majority of Nova Scotians? Not much that I can see. Enjoying the beautiful landscape of the expensively renovated Joseph Howe building, and knowing that folks in Eastern Passage cut a few minutes off their commute time, doesn't do anything for the livelihood of people from Port Hastings or Inverness. Hundreds of much-needed jobs would be created with a ferry connecting Cape Breton and PEI, both from the construction and subsequent operation of a ferry terminal. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars on advertising initiatives that discourage workers from moving out West, why not sink some money into a project that allows them to stay and thrive at home?
And we can't underestimate the extra tourism that would be generated by this ferry link. Visitors to PEI would be much more likely to scoot over to Cape Breton if it meant a short ferry ride between them and the Cabot Trail, than they are now, having to double back on the Pictou ferry and then face a long drive to our Island.
Granted, this is an idealistic projection of the ferry link enterprise, but even the hard facts are encouraging. The Federal Government recently announced over $60 million dollars in planned rural building and infrastructure funding for communities across Canada with a population of less than one-hundred thousand, which Port Hood would surely qualify for. In addition, a 2000 feasibility study done to examine the viability of the ferry link idea produced a positive endorsement.
Unfortunately, then-Premier John Hamm didn't provide much support for the project. Many speculated that the proposal was met with heavy opposition largely because Premier Hamm was from Pictou, the site that boasts the only Nova Scotian ferry link to PEI, and that a Cape Breton alternative would pose a threat to their economy, as direct competition. Fair enough, the opposition might have been justified in it's concern (though an increase in tourism in that area is also a likely possibility).
To that, I say tit for tat. Rodney MacDonald is Premier now, which is all the more reason for this project to receive further serious consideration. Why shouldn't we reap the benefits of having a home-grown Premier who, hopefully, understands, appreciates, and relates to the problems and needs of the people he directly represents as MLA in his riding? Other Premiers have had no trouble looking out for number one, so I say it's about time Rodney MacDonald does the same. Halifax has all the help it needs; bring your clout back home, Rodney.
My bottom line is this: a ferry service to PEI, located in western Cape Breton, has many more obvious pros than it does cons. The funding for large projects like this is available to those who are willing to fight for it, and Cape Breton has politely fallen by the wayside for far too long, in my opinion. This is an opportunity for everyone to get together and get behind something that would be a great step forward for all Islanders. Because, as the saying goes, "if you build it, they will come."
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Merry Effing Christmas
I have a love-hate relationship with Wal-Mart. I love it so much, and at the same time, I have fantasies about it burning to the ground half the time. (Call off the dogs, paranoid people....I'm not about to burn Wal-Mart down)
Last night is a prime example.
A few days ago, I had to put a few things on layaway. GREAT idea.
Another great idea, thanks to the brilliant minds at Walmart, is that all Christmas layaways have to be picked up by December 15th, regardless of when you actually put it on layaway (for example, I didn't have enough money on me the other day to get something, so I wanted to lay it away so that no one else would swipe it up. Even though I only put it on layaway on the 10th, it still had to picked up by the 15th, or it would be put back on the sales floor). Which means that there is sure to be 15 million people in the layaway department in and around December 15th.
I suppose I should give a short preamble so that those of you reading will understand my passion about this particular layaway I'll be talking about.
I don't have to explain to my friends about the "Cars" oddesey. It consumes the lives in the MacDonald household. Rory LOVES that movie, and I'm not talking regular love, I'm talking obsession love. We started buying him all the little die-cast dinkies with the characters from the movie, and it became a collection. Problem is, some of them are really hard to find, and they always go really fast. So when there is new "Cars" inventory, I have tried to buy it right away, since I know that the new "Sherrif" or "Luigi" will be gone next time I'm there. That was the case with these two layaways. One day I went it and there were 2 new ones there, and a few days later there are 8 new ones there. If they were cheap, I would have just picked them up, but the little suckers are like $5 apiece. So I had 10 "Cars" on layaway at Walmart, and they had to be picked up by the 15th. I couldn't just leave them there and re-buy them, which is why it was so important.
Aaaaanyway....I dropped on on Wednesday to pick them up. BIG mistake, since it was family allowance day. I would have had to park in Tamarac.
When I went on Thursday, it was just as busy, so I left.
So last night I had an hour or so on my hands, we were bored, and I decided to brave the lineup and get it overwith.
Well what a huge mistake.
The lineup for the layaway department was all the way over to the freezers (for those of you who don't know the layout of the Port Hawkesbury Walmart, let's just say it was insanely long, put it that way). Luckily there was a woman in front of me that I knew, so that helped pass the time. Her kids were going to and from the toy section go get things to occupy Rory (who was with me.....what a great idea THAT was.). I couldn't understand what the hold up was, but I found out when I finally got to the counter (A FULL TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER).
The layaway department only had ONE PERSON working. ONE PERSON FOR THOSE 5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO THEY SHOULD HAVE COMPLETELY EXPECTED SINCE IT WAS ONE OF THE LAST DAYS TO PICK UP CHRISTMAS LAYAWAYS. I was furious. The guy behind the counter was understandably frazzled.
Then it occured to me that, not only was the linup for layaways, but it was the "Tax Exemption" line. So basically every friggin Indian from here to Eskasoni to Chapel Island was in that same lineup buying cartloads of stuff and picking up THEIR layaways too, since the front cash registers didn't do their tax exemption. Now it's not their fault, I'm sure they all would have went to a regular cash if they could, but they couldn't.
Now don't you think, knowing that the natives get their cheques on a certain day and that they'll all be doing their x-mas shopping on that day, that Walmart would have made arrangements to do the tax examptions at the front cash to ease the congestion at the layaway department, especially knowing how busy it was going to be on December 14th?
PISS ME OFF.
Many of you are probably saying "I would have just left", but someone on staff had already told us that the lineup would be much worse today, and I HAD to get those cars for Rory. HAD to.
Just picture me. In a lineup. With a cranky Rory in my cart. With a million people around me, all with screaming kids and cartloads of x-mas crap. It's hot. It smells. There are people bumping into you with their carts and people trying to get by. For two and a half hours. Me. Of all people.
I thought I might kill someone.
But I somehow managed to control my homicidal urges, and no one got hurt.
So Walmart, listen up! Number one, let people pick up their layaway within 30 days, just like any other month. That way, you won't have a million cranky people like me arriving on your doorstep over 2 or 3 days, you'd have them spread out more.
Number two, when you ARE expecting these million people, have more than one person working in the layaway department, instead of having 5 employees gathered in electronics talking about who won the Leafs game. We know you're great at standing around and being useless, but Christmas is not the time for you to practice that.
Number three, look at the effing calendar. If I know to avoid Walmart on the 13-15 of December b/c it's family allowance day and Indian cheque day and layaway pickup day, then YOU should know that too, and prepare for it.
Number four, ring in the tax exemptions at every cash. Use your head. Not in the layaway department during one of the busiest days of the year.
Number five, go to hell. All of you. Whoever comes up with these policies should be allowed to have a job. Or a wife. Or a life. Or anything. They should be shot with a ball of their own shot and sent home to ponder how stupid they are.
Anyway, that's my daily dose of bitching and complaining. I was not impressed.
Last night is a prime example.
A few days ago, I had to put a few things on layaway. GREAT idea.
Another great idea, thanks to the brilliant minds at Walmart, is that all Christmas layaways have to be picked up by December 15th, regardless of when you actually put it on layaway (for example, I didn't have enough money on me the other day to get something, so I wanted to lay it away so that no one else would swipe it up. Even though I only put it on layaway on the 10th, it still had to picked up by the 15th, or it would be put back on the sales floor). Which means that there is sure to be 15 million people in the layaway department in and around December 15th.
I suppose I should give a short preamble so that those of you reading will understand my passion about this particular layaway I'll be talking about.
I don't have to explain to my friends about the "Cars" oddesey. It consumes the lives in the MacDonald household. Rory LOVES that movie, and I'm not talking regular love, I'm talking obsession love. We started buying him all the little die-cast dinkies with the characters from the movie, and it became a collection. Problem is, some of them are really hard to find, and they always go really fast. So when there is new "Cars" inventory, I have tried to buy it right away, since I know that the new "Sherrif" or "Luigi" will be gone next time I'm there. That was the case with these two layaways. One day I went it and there were 2 new ones there, and a few days later there are 8 new ones there. If they were cheap, I would have just picked them up, but the little suckers are like $5 apiece. So I had 10 "Cars" on layaway at Walmart, and they had to be picked up by the 15th. I couldn't just leave them there and re-buy them, which is why it was so important.
Aaaaanyway....I dropped on on Wednesday to pick them up. BIG mistake, since it was family allowance day. I would have had to park in Tamarac.
When I went on Thursday, it was just as busy, so I left.
So last night I had an hour or so on my hands, we were bored, and I decided to brave the lineup and get it overwith.
Well what a huge mistake.
The lineup for the layaway department was all the way over to the freezers (for those of you who don't know the layout of the Port Hawkesbury Walmart, let's just say it was insanely long, put it that way). Luckily there was a woman in front of me that I knew, so that helped pass the time. Her kids were going to and from the toy section go get things to occupy Rory (who was with me.....what a great idea THAT was.). I couldn't understand what the hold up was, but I found out when I finally got to the counter (A FULL TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER).
The layaway department only had ONE PERSON working. ONE PERSON FOR THOSE 5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO THEY SHOULD HAVE COMPLETELY EXPECTED SINCE IT WAS ONE OF THE LAST DAYS TO PICK UP CHRISTMAS LAYAWAYS. I was furious. The guy behind the counter was understandably frazzled.
Then it occured to me that, not only was the linup for layaways, but it was the "Tax Exemption" line. So basically every friggin Indian from here to Eskasoni to Chapel Island was in that same lineup buying cartloads of stuff and picking up THEIR layaways too, since the front cash registers didn't do their tax exemption. Now it's not their fault, I'm sure they all would have went to a regular cash if they could, but they couldn't.
Now don't you think, knowing that the natives get their cheques on a certain day and that they'll all be doing their x-mas shopping on that day, that Walmart would have made arrangements to do the tax examptions at the front cash to ease the congestion at the layaway department, especially knowing how busy it was going to be on December 14th?
PISS ME OFF.
Many of you are probably saying "I would have just left", but someone on staff had already told us that the lineup would be much worse today, and I HAD to get those cars for Rory. HAD to.
Just picture me. In a lineup. With a cranky Rory in my cart. With a million people around me, all with screaming kids and cartloads of x-mas crap. It's hot. It smells. There are people bumping into you with their carts and people trying to get by. For two and a half hours. Me. Of all people.
I thought I might kill someone.
But I somehow managed to control my homicidal urges, and no one got hurt.
So Walmart, listen up! Number one, let people pick up their layaway within 30 days, just like any other month. That way, you won't have a million cranky people like me arriving on your doorstep over 2 or 3 days, you'd have them spread out more.
Number two, when you ARE expecting these million people, have more than one person working in the layaway department, instead of having 5 employees gathered in electronics talking about who won the Leafs game. We know you're great at standing around and being useless, but Christmas is not the time for you to practice that.
Number three, look at the effing calendar. If I know to avoid Walmart on the 13-15 of December b/c it's family allowance day and Indian cheque day and layaway pickup day, then YOU should know that too, and prepare for it.
Number four, ring in the tax exemptions at every cash. Use your head. Not in the layaway department during one of the busiest days of the year.
Number five, go to hell. All of you. Whoever comes up with these policies should be allowed to have a job. Or a wife. Or a life. Or anything. They should be shot with a ball of their own shot and sent home to ponder how stupid they are.
Anyway, that's my daily dose of bitching and complaining. I was not impressed.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Play Nice
All kids fight, and mine are hardly an exception. I often have to moderate their arguments and deliver a stern "smarten up" when things get out of hand. My kids are 9 and 2.
How sad that the Minister of Education, Karen Casey, had to lay down the law with her children, the Strait Regional School Board. Those kids are much older than mine, and they should know better.
I would be remiss not to add that, while the majority of instigators have been School Board members for awhile, there are a few new faces who should, perhaps, be excluded from a tongue-lashing like this. I am left to wonder why these folks would jump into such a snakepit, but I am assuming they will act as professionals during their tenure, and I am hopeful that fresh eyes, minds, and attitudes will be beneficial to the students in our area.
Members of the SRSB are elected representatives, which means they are obligated to serve the people. They are also paid representatives, which means they are paid by those same people. I'm sure the taxpayers who furnish those salaries - working mothers, cell center toilers, labourers who work 16-hour days - would all agree that School Board members are compensated handsomely for the work they do. One would think they could behave themselves for long enough to complete the tasks at hand, collect their cheque, and go home in peace.
Apparently not.
It's embarrassing that a group of grown men and women had to be publicly reprimanded by their governing body for bad behavior.
Over the years, there have been quiet (and not-so-quiet) rumblings about discord within the SRSB, especially at their monthly meetings. Catty remarks, finger-pointing, all-out verbal brawling, hasty departures, name-calling - all in the name of personal agendas, reputations, and egos. Sounds like an episode of Jerry Springer, yet these are the people making decisions about our kids' education, on our behalf. Scary.
And then, to be given "directives" to wise-up, and requesting an extension for time to agree on a promise to behave themselves? Are you kidding me? Too bad if the deadline falls before your scheduled meeting, call another one! If you're given a time frame to make changes and resolve a matter (that shouldn't even have had to be addressed in the first place), can't you make a special effort to gather for an hour and get it resolved in the time given? Shameful.
Finally, in "last straw" news, the motion to adopt the new house rules was passed by a vote of 9-3, meaning three people didn't want to grow up and agree to some level of maturity at all. Add to this the planned motion to abolish the whole code of ethics entirely, and you've got perhaps the most childish, unprofessional School Board in the province. Congratulations.
Time to get a firm grip, SRSB. Years of dissent, bickering, and other assorted bad behavior were bound to backfire on your illustrious gaggle of "professionals" eventually. A public "tsk" probably stings, but at least the Education Department's resident pitbull has given you a chance to redeem yourselves, instead of sending you the way of the Halifax Regional School Board. Consider yourselves lucky, warned, and in need of some serious repair.
Fear not, commoners; I am very aware of the backlash I'm sure I'll receive from those I have called out. To those people, I'll respond in a manor which is in keeping with the maturity level shown by you and your colleagues: "I'm rubber, you're glue......"
How sad that the Minister of Education, Karen Casey, had to lay down the law with her children, the Strait Regional School Board. Those kids are much older than mine, and they should know better.
I would be remiss not to add that, while the majority of instigators have been School Board members for awhile, there are a few new faces who should, perhaps, be excluded from a tongue-lashing like this. I am left to wonder why these folks would jump into such a snakepit, but I am assuming they will act as professionals during their tenure, and I am hopeful that fresh eyes, minds, and attitudes will be beneficial to the students in our area.
Members of the SRSB are elected representatives, which means they are obligated to serve the people. They are also paid representatives, which means they are paid by those same people. I'm sure the taxpayers who furnish those salaries - working mothers, cell center toilers, labourers who work 16-hour days - would all agree that School Board members are compensated handsomely for the work they do. One would think they could behave themselves for long enough to complete the tasks at hand, collect their cheque, and go home in peace.
Apparently not.
It's embarrassing that a group of grown men and women had to be publicly reprimanded by their governing body for bad behavior.
Over the years, there have been quiet (and not-so-quiet) rumblings about discord within the SRSB, especially at their monthly meetings. Catty remarks, finger-pointing, all-out verbal brawling, hasty departures, name-calling - all in the name of personal agendas, reputations, and egos. Sounds like an episode of Jerry Springer, yet these are the people making decisions about our kids' education, on our behalf. Scary.
And then, to be given "directives" to wise-up, and requesting an extension for time to agree on a promise to behave themselves? Are you kidding me? Too bad if the deadline falls before your scheduled meeting, call another one! If you're given a time frame to make changes and resolve a matter (that shouldn't even have had to be addressed in the first place), can't you make a special effort to gather for an hour and get it resolved in the time given? Shameful.
Finally, in "last straw" news, the motion to adopt the new house rules was passed by a vote of 9-3, meaning three people didn't want to grow up and agree to some level of maturity at all. Add to this the planned motion to abolish the whole code of ethics entirely, and you've got perhaps the most childish, unprofessional School Board in the province. Congratulations.
Time to get a firm grip, SRSB. Years of dissent, bickering, and other assorted bad behavior were bound to backfire on your illustrious gaggle of "professionals" eventually. A public "tsk" probably stings, but at least the Education Department's resident pitbull has given you a chance to redeem yourselves, instead of sending you the way of the Halifax Regional School Board. Consider yourselves lucky, warned, and in need of some serious repair.
Fear not, commoners; I am very aware of the backlash I'm sure I'll receive from those I have called out. To those people, I'll respond in a manor which is in keeping with the maturity level shown by you and your colleagues: "I'm rubber, you're glue......"
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE HERE FOR PAULA
As I'm sure many have noticed, many comments about the Paula Gallant blog are no longer visible.
I apologize to everyone who comes on a regular basis to read the comments, as I know it serves as a source of comfort for many people. I would love to be able to provide a place for honest dialogue about this case, and I didn't want to have to discontinue such a passionate discussion, but unfortunately there are legal issues surrounding some of the comments that I have to be weary of. I understand that people are very frustrated at the lack of progress, but speculation has quickly turned into accusations, and this is where the legality of some of the comments gets hazy, especially when it comes to calling people by name. Whether or not I agree with the comments is irrelevant; it's a question of whether I am willing to be held legally responsible for the opinions of others. And as much as I feel passionately about finding the person responsible for Paula's murderer, and helping her family in any way that I can, I have to consider the legal ramifications that are on the horizon.
Up to now, I have approved every single comment, regardless of content. But for the legal reasons stated above, all comments that were accusatory or defamatory in nature have been removed, and I will no longer be able to approve comments of this kind. Comments can still be left, and I hope they are, but I have to ask that people refrain from calling people by name, or by association to the victim, in reference to their possible involvement in the case.
I hope everyone understands my decision, as it was a difficult one to make. Though I have no relation to the Gallant family, I feel a sense of responsibility when it comes to this case, in terms of giving people a place to congregate in Paula's name. I appreciate so many people giving a part of themselves to this website, and I will continue to read every comment that is received, whether I am able to post it or not.
Very sincerely,
Gina
I apologize to everyone who comes on a regular basis to read the comments, as I know it serves as a source of comfort for many people. I would love to be able to provide a place for honest dialogue about this case, and I didn't want to have to discontinue such a passionate discussion, but unfortunately there are legal issues surrounding some of the comments that I have to be weary of. I understand that people are very frustrated at the lack of progress, but speculation has quickly turned into accusations, and this is where the legality of some of the comments gets hazy, especially when it comes to calling people by name. Whether or not I agree with the comments is irrelevant; it's a question of whether I am willing to be held legally responsible for the opinions of others. And as much as I feel passionately about finding the person responsible for Paula's murderer, and helping her family in any way that I can, I have to consider the legal ramifications that are on the horizon.
Up to now, I have approved every single comment, regardless of content. But for the legal reasons stated above, all comments that were accusatory or defamatory in nature have been removed, and I will no longer be able to approve comments of this kind. Comments can still be left, and I hope they are, but I have to ask that people refrain from calling people by name, or by association to the victim, in reference to their possible involvement in the case.
I hope everyone understands my decision, as it was a difficult one to make. Though I have no relation to the Gallant family, I feel a sense of responsibility when it comes to this case, in terms of giving people a place to congregate in Paula's name. I appreciate so many people giving a part of themselves to this website, and I will continue to read every comment that is received, whether I am able to post it or not.
Very sincerely,
Gina
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Americ-Ann
I received an infuriating email a few weeks ago. It was a YouTube clip of Ann Coulter (and other prominent political commentators) bashing Canada. Not teasing us in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, but really letting us have it. An average American, rambling anti-Canadian sentiment, wouldn't aggravate me to this extent, but Ann Coulter is a different story.
If you're not familiar with Ann Coulter, she's a controversial American media figure, famous for her confrontational debating techniques and staunch, unapologetic Republican views. She prides herself on being an obnoxious bigot, and doesn't pretend to be impartial in any way. Sounds like a delicate little flower, doesn't she? I can't imagine why she's single.
Despite her abrasive nature, this is an educated, intelligent woman. She has plenty of impressive credentials, and she has made many arguments for which she should be positively recognized. At a young age, she aspired to be an influential force in U.S law making and politics. She seemed well on her way, until she started shooting her mouth off.
You see, one day she must have realized that intelligent women are a dime a dozen, and exceptional women are just as plentiful. The subsequent realization that her blonde hair didn't automatically make her attractive, must have led her to formulate this new career strategy: to not bother letting her work speak for itself, and instead opting to create headlines and notoriety by being the rudest, loudest, most inappropriate, unprofessional, big-mouthed know-it-all in recent media history.
Mission accomplished.
Just a few of her most talked-about rants include: accusing a presidential candidate of using the death of his child as a sympathy card to gain votes; blaming a handicapped Vietnam veteran for losing the war; calling 9/11 widows "gold-diggers who are basking in the glory and financial windfall of their husbands' deaths"; describing Jews as "unperfected Christians"; and justifying the discrimination of all Muslims after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Isn't she just the type of girl you'd want at your dinner party?
And all this is saying nothing of the spanking she gave Canada on CNN's "Crossfire". According to Ms. Coulter, Canada should be thankful that we are "allowed to exist on the same continent as the United States", and that we're lucky the U.S. hasn't "rolled over and crushed us", since all we do is use American power as a shield to hide our military inadequacies.
While I have to admit that our union with the U.S. serves us well in a "younger-brother-of-the-school-bully" kind of way, to say that it is a mutually beneficial relationship is an understatement.I won't even begin to list the important resources (such as power, oil, and lumber....oops, I guess that's considered listing) that Canada provides to their fair country. Instead of preaching to the choir, I'll let the Americans chow down on their Freedom Fries and tease us about igloos and dogsleds, while laughing to myself when one of them can't point to Nova Scotia on a map. Ignorance truly is bliss, and I'm content in knowing that, while Canada is happy, the good ol' United States is absolutely euphoric, if you know what I mean.
So, were it an average New Yorker or Floridian, comments about Canada's perceived uselessness wouldn't bother me. But Ann Coulter, who I had beef with already? Living in a great big glass house, she should be the last one throwing boulders. It wouldn't be an injustice, should she ever cross the border, to see her be handed a strong dose of Canadiana, NHL-bench-brawl style.
I wish I didn't have to loathe her so much, because she has, however seldom, made points I agree with. And there is something to be said of a person with enough courage to defend, to an international audience, their unpopular opinions (at least when that person does so with tact and respect). But a person, whose opinions aren't valuable enough to stand on their own, who resorts to personal attacks, sensationalism, and provocation, in order to steal some airtime on CNN, before their inevitable drift into obscurity? That's pathetic.
Ann can kiss my Maple Leaf, for starters.
If you're not familiar with Ann Coulter, she's a controversial American media figure, famous for her confrontational debating techniques and staunch, unapologetic Republican views. She prides herself on being an obnoxious bigot, and doesn't pretend to be impartial in any way. Sounds like a delicate little flower, doesn't she? I can't imagine why she's single.
Despite her abrasive nature, this is an educated, intelligent woman. She has plenty of impressive credentials, and she has made many arguments for which she should be positively recognized. At a young age, she aspired to be an influential force in U.S law making and politics. She seemed well on her way, until she started shooting her mouth off.
You see, one day she must have realized that intelligent women are a dime a dozen, and exceptional women are just as plentiful. The subsequent realization that her blonde hair didn't automatically make her attractive, must have led her to formulate this new career strategy: to not bother letting her work speak for itself, and instead opting to create headlines and notoriety by being the rudest, loudest, most inappropriate, unprofessional, big-mouthed know-it-all in recent media history.
Mission accomplished.
Just a few of her most talked-about rants include: accusing a presidential candidate of using the death of his child as a sympathy card to gain votes; blaming a handicapped Vietnam veteran for losing the war; calling 9/11 widows "gold-diggers who are basking in the glory and financial windfall of their husbands' deaths"; describing Jews as "unperfected Christians"; and justifying the discrimination of all Muslims after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Isn't she just the type of girl you'd want at your dinner party?
And all this is saying nothing of the spanking she gave Canada on CNN's "Crossfire". According to Ms. Coulter, Canada should be thankful that we are "allowed to exist on the same continent as the United States", and that we're lucky the U.S. hasn't "rolled over and crushed us", since all we do is use American power as a shield to hide our military inadequacies.
While I have to admit that our union with the U.S. serves us well in a "younger-brother-of-the-school-bully" kind of way, to say that it is a mutually beneficial relationship is an understatement.I won't even begin to list the important resources (such as power, oil, and lumber....oops, I guess that's considered listing) that Canada provides to their fair country. Instead of preaching to the choir, I'll let the Americans chow down on their Freedom Fries and tease us about igloos and dogsleds, while laughing to myself when one of them can't point to Nova Scotia on a map. Ignorance truly is bliss, and I'm content in knowing that, while Canada is happy, the good ol' United States is absolutely euphoric, if you know what I mean.
So, were it an average New Yorker or Floridian, comments about Canada's perceived uselessness wouldn't bother me. But Ann Coulter, who I had beef with already? Living in a great big glass house, she should be the last one throwing boulders. It wouldn't be an injustice, should she ever cross the border, to see her be handed a strong dose of Canadiana, NHL-bench-brawl style.
I wish I didn't have to loathe her so much, because she has, however seldom, made points I agree with. And there is something to be said of a person with enough courage to defend, to an international audience, their unpopular opinions (at least when that person does so with tact and respect). But a person, whose opinions aren't valuable enough to stand on their own, who resorts to personal attacks, sensationalism, and provocation, in order to steal some airtime on CNN, before their inevitable drift into obscurity? That's pathetic.
Ann can kiss my Maple Leaf, for starters.
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