Feltham Rambles

"Back-to-back record surpluses, growing tourism and a boom in mineral development and the offshore oil sector have combined to make Newfoundland the Celtic Tiger of Canada".

Any "decent" home is now subject to a bidding war, and even run-down properties are selling quickly, Ms. Brophy said. New homes are selling as soon as the foundations are laid, she added.

"They will also pay a 6.5 percent super royalty -- which kicks in when oil prices are higher than $50 a a barrel -- on top of a 30 percent generic royalty. Crude prices were just under $90 a barrel on Monday".

Good ol' Canada, telling the world how to live their lives and pushing them to clean up their yards when ours is worst shape then the majority of the world.

"I personally find it interesting to hear Canada just a little while ago indicating it would not meet its commitments under the Kyoto protocol and now calling on developing countries to take binding reduction targets...”

Some interesting links on a couple of movements based in Vermont that are aiming to secede from the US, and operate as its own independent Republic. If you look at a map of North America, Vermont shares a large border with Quebec; perhaps it's time for Newfoundland/Labrador, Quebec and Vermont to have a round table and plan our escape!!! P.S. Cape Breton, you're also invited to the party ;)

We got slammed by our first storm of the winter season this past weekend, knocking out power to over 100,000 people on the island; some areas of the Bonavista Peninsula are still without power today. Dani and I made the best of the situation, and curled up under candle light reading tidbits to each other from a book of facts about Newfoundland. Then, yesterday we got another healthy dose of winter, setting the scene for my first snow shoveling experience in about five years.

This morning I stood and gazed out the back window of our house towards the southside hills of St. John’s and watched the sun rise over the snow covered mountains and couldn’t stop smiling. We live around 10km from the eastern most point of the continent, and there’s a subtle joy about being the first to experience the light of day in North America.

As I look outside the window from my office – which is about 300 meters from the ocean – the sun beaming onto the ever melting snow, I can honestly say that I can’t recall a time in my life where I’ve been happier. Sure, there are still the constant ups and downs, but, so many things have finally fallen into place, and the future is so bright… I gotta wear shades (sorry, couldn’t resist) I feel as though I truly know who I am better than ever, and have a commanding sense of what I need to do in the coming years to continue this wave of success – both personally, and professionally.

Lunch break will be coming soon, and I will make the three minute drive to my home and relax for an hour before returning refreshed to the office. It’s only been a little over two months since I left my previous environment; however, I am centuries away mentally. It’s scary when you do the math, that in just two short months, I have been able to enjoy 80 more hours of my life that I would have spent in a car commuting from the United States of Ontario into the United States of America.

I have contractors redoing the entire outside of the house, and am anxious to see how much (or more so, how little) they have done this morning when I return for lunch. I will post some photos of the outside and upstairs once its done, but, here are a couple of photos from the first floor of the new home…

Science is facts; just as houses are made of stones, so is science made of facts; but a pile of stones is not a house and a collection of facts is not necessarily science. - Henri Poincare

During my time in the US, I always wondered what people could possibly be doing for a living to afford the massive homes and McMansions sprawled across the nation, apparently the answer is simple, THEY CAN’T AFFORD THEM!

I'm assuming that she was well aware of the dress code before accepting the job, and, if you didn't agree with the dress code than why take the job. There are plenty of other places of employment out there without dress codes. I‘m all for freedom of expression, but, too many people are pushing the boundaries of what they will and will not adhere to in society under the guise of religion. Speaking of which, if your god exists and if he is so concerned with woman wearing pants, than that god has too much time on his hands…

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPrQLioOKReFvAa0C6mTMCQ_uJkw

It’s Friday and time is winding down before the start of another wonderful weekend. Tonight is going to be awesome, Hey Rosetta! is playing downtown at the old Majestic Theatre and we are having a handful of people over for drinks before we stumble down over the hill to the club. Mudder was here over the past week, but, left early this morning to return to the end of the earth a.k.a. Fort McMurray, as always it was a great time, although they are too far and between. It was a locally star studded week for sure, it started off with Dani and I seeing Alan Doyle walking his baby across a cross walk in front of us, a few days later, Mom and I are eating lunch at the Rooms, and Sean McCann and some lady were eating at the table next to us, and then later that night, we had the unexpected pleasure to watch Ron Hynes play at a tiny bar in downtown. Ron is an incredible song writer and I was in awe of his presence and ability to captivate the small crowd. Speaking of music, I walked around downtown today during my lunch with some demos and spoke with a couple bar owners, and managed to secure at least one gig at Turners Tavern (110 Water Street) for Saturday December 1st. I have been continuing to write a lot and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can find some suitable musicians to back me up in the near future.

by Paul Craig Roberts
November 8, 2007

The US dollar is still officially the world's reserve currency, but it cannot purchase the services of Brazilian super model Gisele Bundchen. Gisele required the $30 million she earned during the first half of this year to be paid in euros.

Gisele is not alone in her forecast of the dollar's fate. The First Post (UK) reports that Jim Rogers, a former partner of billionaire George Soros, is selling his home and all possessions in order to convert all his wealth into Chinese yuan.

Meanwhile, American economists continue to preach that offshoring is good for the US economy and that Bush's war spending is keeping the economy going. The practitioners of supply and demand have yet to figure out that the dollar's supply is sinking the dollar's price and along with it American power.

The macho super patriots who support the Bush regime still haven't caught on that US superpower status rests on the dollar being the reserve currency, not on a military unable to occupy Baghdad. If the dollar were not the world currency, the US would have to earn enough foreign currencies to pay for its 737 oversees bases, an impossibility considering America's $800 billion trade deficit.

When the dollar ceases to be the reserve currency, foreigners will cease to finance the US trade and budget deficits, and the American Empire along with its wars will disappear overnight. Perhaps Bush will be able to get a World Bank loan, or maybe one from the "Chavez bank," to bring the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Foreign leaders, observing that offshoring and war are accelerating America's relative economic decline, no longer treat the US with the deference to which Washington is accustomed. Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, recently refused Washington's demand to renew the lease on the Manta air base in Ecuador. He told Washington that the US could have a base in Ecuador if Ecuador could have a military base in the US.

When Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez addressed the UN, he crossed himself as he stood at the podium. Referring to President Bush, Chavez said, "Yesterday the devil came here, and it smells of sulfur still today." Bush, said Chavez, was standing "right here, talking as if he owned the world."

In his state of the nation message last year, Russian president Vladimir Putin said that Bush's blathering about democracy was nothing but a cloak for the pursuit of American self-interests at the expense of other peoples. "We are aware what is going on in the world. Comrade wolf knows whom to eat, and he eats without listening, and he's clearly not going to listen to anyone." In May 2007, Putin criticized the neocon regime in Washington for "disrespect for human life" and "claims to global exclusiveness, just as it was in the time of the Third Reich."

Even America's British allies regard President Bush as a threat to world peace and the second most dangerous man alive. Bush is edged out in polls by Osama bin Laden, but is regarded as more dangerous than Iran's demonized president and North Korea's Kim Jong-il.

President Bush has achieved his dismal world standing despite spending $1.6 billion of hard-pressed Americans' tax money on public relations between 2003 and 2006.

Clearly, America's leader and America's currency are poorly regarded. Is there a solution?

Perhaps the answer lies in those 737 overseas bases. If those bases were brought home and shared among the 50 states, each state would gain 15 new military bases.

Imagine what this would mean: The end of the housing slump. A reduction in the trade deficit. And the end of the war on terror.

Who would dare attack a country with 15 new military bases in every state in addition to the existing ones? Wherever a terrorist turned, he would find himself surrounded by soldiers.

All of the dollars currently spent abroad to support 737 overseas bases would be spent at home. Income for foreigners would become income for Americans, and the trade deficit would shrink.

The impact of the 737 military base payrolls on the US economy would end the housing crisis and bring back the 140,000 highly paid financial services jobs, the loss of which this year has cost the US $42 billion in consumer income. Foreclosures and bankruptcies would plummet.

If this isn't enough to turn the dollar around, President Bush's pledge not to appoint an attorney general if Michael Mukasey is not confirmed offers more promise. If the Democrats will defeat Mukasey's nomination, there are other superfluous cabinet departments that can be closed down in addition to the US Department of Torture and Indefinite Detention.

The American empire is being unwound on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. The year is two months from being over, but already in 2007, despite the touted "surge," deaths of US soldiers are the highest of any year of the war.

The Taliban are the ones who are surging. They have taken control of a third district in Western Afghanistan. Turkey and the Kurds are on the verge of turning northern Iraq into a new war zone, another demonstration of American impotence.

Bush's wars have endangered America's puppet regimes. Bush's Pakistani puppet, Musharraf, is fighting for his life. By resorting to "emergency rule" and oppressive measures, Musharraf has intensified his opposition. When Musharraf falls, thanks to Bush, the Islamists will have nukes.

American generals used to say that the wars Bush started in the Middle East would take 10 years to win. On Oct. 31, General John Abizaid, former commander of US forces in the Middle East, put paid to that optimistic forecast. Speaking at Carnegie Mellon University, Gen. Abizaid said it would be 50 years before US troops can leave the Middle East.

There is no possibility of the US remaining in the Middle East for a half century. The dollar and US power are already on their last legs, unbeknownst to Democratic leaders Pelosi and Reid who are preparing yet another blank check for Bush's latest request for $200 billion in supplementary war funding.

There isn't any money with which to fund Bush's lost war. It will have to be borrowed from China.

The Romans brought on their own demise, but it took them centuries. Bush has finished America in a mere seven years.

Even as Gisele throws off the dollar's hegemony, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Columbia are declaring independence from the IMF and World Bank, instruments of US financial hegemony, by creating their own development bank, thus bringing to an end US suzerainty over South America.

An empire that has lost its backyard is finished.

I’ve neglected the personal writing aspect of this blog for sometime now; however, to my defense, I have managed to keep it current with random links and other various bullshit… Even now, with some free time on my hands, I can’t seem to place anything of value together. Life must be going good I guess, I have nothing to complain about and at the same time, where would I even start? Let’s just say it’s been a rollercoaster this past couple of months… Anyway, here’s a random brain dump…

I am the proud new owner of my first home and it is a sexy place, although all the hidden costs (and my new found taste of consumerism) might kill me and my poor defenseless bank account.

I don’t miss my former home(s) of Indiana, Michigan, and Ontario one iota. Speaking of these places, looking back on my six year stint, I defiantly met more people that left a negative impact on me than a positive. We truly live in an ignorant society and for whatever reason; in North America they seem more concentrated throughout central Canada and the heartland of the USA. At the same time, there were a lot of people that left a lasting impact on me and I will never forget them (you know who you are, and I thank you, for being you… Sniffle, sniffle).

The drive here was long… 4460Km long, although it was fucking awesome. There is so much to see in this world, which frustrates me, as I will only get to see and experience a fraction of it. Speaking of the negative impact people in the previous point, perhaps this problem wouldn’t exist if more of these people actually traveled outside their comfort zone and found out that the world does turn outside their respective Zip or Area codes…

Walking to work. This is something that I’ve dreamed of forever, and it has finally become a reality. And, this morning as I walked the delightful 2km into the office (over the oldest streets in North America) passing historical building, smelling the ocean breeze and smiling, I shuddered at the thought of my former commute. The drive from Windsor to Farmington would have eventually been the death of me. It’s funny how we as humans slip into a routine and even though it could be doing mental, physical or emotional damage to ourselves, we find it hard to change what’s normal.

The US dollar vs. the Canadian dollar. This has been an interesting news item to say the least. For anyone that knows me well, I couldn’t give two shits about Canada. I am (and always will be) a Newfoundlander, technically I am a Canadian, but, not by choice. I think of it as more of an arranged marriage, and I am actively looking for any loop hole to get out of it… But, it is my country and I will have to deal with it (for now). Anyway… being a Canadian who lived and/or worked in the USA for six years, I can’t recall how many pot shots I took because of the Canuck currency. Hey, look at the funny monopoly money, blah, blah, blah, its worth nothing, blah, blah, blah… News flash Yankees! The majority of the world uses coloured currency, heaven forbid you adopt a currency that assists the seeing impaired and deters counterfeiting. But, I won’t get lost in the details, the greater story being the freefall of the US currency of course. When I moved to the US six years ago, $1 US gave me $1.67 CAN, today a $1 US would give me $0.92 CAN. And, from what I can see, that variance is not going to slow down anytime soon. Funny how Clinton was impeached for getting some random head while in office (and lets face it, who wouldn’t get getting head 24/7 if they were the President), but, when the next guy Bush ruins the economy, falsely leads the country into a failed war, steals freedoms on a daily basis, he just sits there pretty, with next to no organized opposition… Why are you not doing anything America? My greatest admiration of the American people is their historical ability to overcome the hardest of adversity and to come through on top even in the grimmest of times. But, lately, I feel like the fight has been lost, and, I can only hope that the country will turn around eventually, as it is defiantly not the same place today as it was when I first moved there, or visited for years as a child. Changing gears here… I read somewhere today that the Iraqi/Afghan war has already cost taxpayers nearly 2 trillion dollars… Imagine if even 10% of that was spent on urban renewal, education, health or mass public transit… Scary.

Hmmm… Well… That turned out to be more than I thought… But, it’s time for supper… Mmmm… Fish and Chips… Yummy!

10-4
Feltham

The commies in China have been going off their heads these past couple days due to our joke of a Prime Minister, Stevie Harper publicly meeting with the Dalia Lama. Visit the following link for more info --> Canada's behaviour disgusting, says Beijing

Speaking of disgusting behaviour, China has one of the worst human rights records on the planet. Tens of thousands of their citizens are imprisoned in violation of their fundamental human rights and opened tortured before being sentenced to death after unfair trials. Freedom of expression and religion is several restricted, and those involved, such as the Dalia Lama, are labeled terrorists or extremists. Serious violations against women continue to be reported as a result of the enforcement of the family planning policy, including forced abortions and sterilizations. Across the country, torture and ill-treatment continued to be reported in a wide variety of state institutions despite the introduction of several new regulations aimed at curbing the practice. Common methods included kicking, beating, electric shocks, suspension by the arms, shackling in painful positions, and sleep and food deprivation.

I'm not saying that Canada doesn't have its own problems in regards to basic human rights, but, when compared to China, I would like think that we are doing pretty damn good.

An old co-worker of mine went to India last month and brought me back a replica version of the venna, which is a traditional Indian instrument, very interesting looking instrument…

10. Farting

This bodily function occurs during romantic, familiar sex. Let’s face it – you usually aren’t relaxed enough during sex with someone new to let one rip. If you fart audibly during intercourse, try masking your blunder with loud dirty talk. Ladies, if you squeeze one out while he’s going down on you, just grin and bear it. A quick “sorry” might be in order if it’s a stinker. Men, farting is slightly more socially acceptable for you. Just remember that Brodie got dumped for it in “Mallrats.” Then again, he was dating scary Shannen Doherty, so maybe letting one loose can work in a guy’s favor.

9. Nether-fros

You weren’t planning on having sex tonight and Cabo isn’t ’til next month. Scrimping on waxing or trimming during winter? We all do. But if your bush obscures your partner’s head when he or she gives you head, forgo the oral sex or you’ll risk swallowing your own pubes during that post-coital kiss. Yummy.

8. Botched deep-throats

Girls: Remember that chick in the cafeteria who used to shove an entire banana down her throat to impress dudes? You’re not her. Handle your man’s schlong like a tropical fruit and the only release of bodily fluid is going to be you vomiting on his penis. Remember, you have a gag reflex for a reason! Guys: It feels unreal to be deep-throated, but have you ever maintained an erection after being puked on? Listen for choking noises and respond accordingly.

7. Anal explosions

Some asshole I know got pooped on during anal and he told his entire fraternity. The offender was thus deprived of sex, anal and otherwise, for the remainder of her college career. The lesson here? Always prepare for butt sex. Taking a poo and then aggressively wiping yourself beforehand is a must for women. Guys: don’t act all scandalized if your dick comes out of her ass looking like a Jello Pudding Pop. Yes, your girlfriend is pretty, but she doesn’t shit strawberries and glitter.

6. “Breaking” the penis

The girl’s on top and she comes down on the guy in a passionate, long thrust. The guy groans loudly. Did he come already? she wonders. Suddenly, he throws her off of him, curls into a fetal position and whimpers. She’s “broken” his penis. Rule of thumb: the guy should always hold the girl’s waist if she’s on top to help control the angle of thrusting.

5. UTIs

After a night of nookie, you fall blissfully asleep in each other’s arms, not caring to brush your teeth, wash your face or pee. You’re planning on spending the following day together, when she wakes up at 5 a.m. with a strong urge to urinate. She then flees the apartment. Guys: Stop pretending to like cuddling. Get up after sex and do something in the bathroom so she doesn’t feel like if she gets up to pee, she’ll be missing out on a spoon-fest. Girls: Respect your poon – pish after sex.

4. Spitting ungracefully

Fellatio should end neatly. Ladies, either swallow the love juice or slurp all of it into your mouth before swooping into the bathroom to spit. Do not drool his come all over his penis. Only men are allowed to drool when giving oral sex, and that’s because they don’t know any better.

3. Sex with Aunt Flo

She’s not supposed to visit for two more days, you’re in the middle of foreplay, and suddenly his hands are a little bloody. Fuck! If you’ve been dating awhile, this isn’t a deal breaker. If you haven’t been dating awhile, you sure as hell aren’t going to start now. Girls, know your schedule. Guys, it’s Mother Nature – deal with it.

2. The queef

This unpleasantry is defined as the act of farting through the vagina. Queefing usually occurs during hard thrusting, when air gets caught in the coochie. Girls can pass off the noise as a compliment: “You were doing me so hard, I couldn’t contain myself.” Guys, if this happens, best not to say anything. Make fun of her and it’ll guarantee you won’t be coming – or coming back for more.

1. Why is my eye swollen?

Some men prefer to come on women as opposed to in women. But sometimes he doesn’t just want to come on her tits or ass. Sometimes he likes to ejaculate on her face. Sometimes he misses. And sometimes her eye is swollen for the next 48 hours.

If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions? ~ Scott Adams

Sometimes these "heartwarming" stories are a bit too sappy for me but this one is truly interesting...

In 1986, Mikele Mebembe was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Mikele approached it very carefully.

He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Mikele worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Mikele stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted lou dly, turned, and walked away.. Mikele never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Mikele was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenaged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Mikele and his son Tapu were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Mikele, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Mikele couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant. Mikele summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Mikele's legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

It’s been a long time since I’ve sat down with my thoughts and actually put the almighty pen to paper, or, is it putting fingers to keys? Well, that’s not entirely true, I have been writing, just not updating this weblog. Actually, I have been writing a couple of songs since I returned from my annual pilgrimage to Newfoundland (more to come on that). An old friend of the family made a remark when I was home, that sparked an idea of a composing a more traditional feeling song on the trials and tribulations of leaving your home and how things change when you have been away, and I must say, it’s been coming along pretty well. With that in mind, I wish I could get myself to sit down and write music more often than I do, whether the end product is great or not can be debatable, but, I can generally whip something out pretty fast, just lacking in the collaboration department. I can hear in my head where and how the other instruments sound with the song, problem is finding the other instruments, people I mean… yes, people.

Speaking of returning to Newfoundland, the trip was a success on a couple different fronts. I can honestly say that it was the best vacation that I have been on, and as always I discovered another pile of awesome places around the island, while shedding about 1,000,000 pounds of stress in the process. I haven’t been known to proclaim much about my relationships, but, Dani and I are very much in love and this trip was another seal in the deal to me that she is exactly the type of person I need in my life, let me rephrase that, we are the people that each of us need in our lives; lots to look forward too kiddies… We got an abundance of beautiful shots from around the secret nation and I hope to get the patience the post some here soon. While I was home, I also looked into a job with a local Newfoundland company, and have been entertaining the thought of switching careers and industries. I won’t get ahead of myself, as there is a lot to be ironed out, but, the thought of living and working in downtown in St. John’s is enough to make one shit his pants.

My birthday was last Friday, yaaaaa for me! It was a goodtime, but, the night before was the best part of the weekend. Dani made a last minute decision to drive to London and catch Hey Rosetta! We have both been listening to them a lot over the last while, me to the point of becoming a fanatic I think. They are without a doubt making the best new music out there in my humble opinion. We actually met and spoke with the brainchild of the group Tim Baker before the show, he was really a nice down to earth guy. The show was deadly, although I think the band was a little different than what the locales are used to listening to at the particular venue. Then after the show we stuck around for a drink and spoke with most of the members. So… good-mother-fucking-times all around. That’s it for now I guess… Check out this video below of Hey Rosetta! Live from Club One in downtown St. John’s

I posted earlier this week about my upcoming trip to Newfoundland and provided a nice photo tour of Gros Morne --> http://jfeltham.blogspot.com/2007/08/10-days-10-days-10-days.html

Another major portion of the trip will be spent in St. John’s, the provinces capital city and oldest city in North America. This port city of about 200,000 people is drenched in history and breathtaking natural beauty. It has been very interesting to watch the transformation of St. John’s over the years, as rural Newfoundland has been dying a fast and painful death; the city’s economy has been exploding and is not expected to slow down anytime soon. The city is already a world leader in ocean technology and has one the highest number (per capita) of engineers and scientists in the world. The ever increasing offshore oil industry has been pumping a much needed economic revival into the area, employing roughly 7000 people and contributing one billion yearly to the local economy.

During our five days there, we plan to get in some awesome coastal hikes, along with whale and sea bird watching and general exploring around the 400 plus year old settlements scattered around the Avalon Peninsula area. St. John’s also has one of the best live music scenes in Canada, with the overall night life leaving you with the feeling that you are in a city ten times its size. George Street is the heart of the entertainment district and has nearly 50 bars, clubs and pubs on one small cobble stone street. In addition, there are at least 25 other unique places to enjoy a cold one within a five minute walking distance of the center of George. Needless to say, there will be a string of wild nights to be had in downtown; loving the fact that most people there are just “getting on the go” when the majority of nightlife spots in North America are winding down or already closed.

The areas overwhelming abundance of local art, literature and music is proudly displayed in the endless amount of novelty shops located across the city. It’s always inspiring to have a puff and stroll around downtown, popping in and out of these shops in between coffee breaks, along with the occasional engaging conversation with total strangers. Hopefully I will call this city my hometown again in the near future, until then I will soak up as much as I can in a couple of weeks to hold me over until that time…