Hopes Dashed: Jessica Lloyd

I didn’t really have the energy to write tonight but the news was so shocking that I had to write something. Some of you may have heard about the disappearance of Jessica Lloyd several weeks ago from her home in Tweed near Belleville, Ontario. For those of you who haven’t, you’ll see her photo under “In Memory of:” in my sidebar and you can click the link to the original story. She was a 27 year old woman who vanished suddenly on January 28. Extensive searches of the area over the past few weeks were slow to turn up anything.

Today, however, her body was discovered on a country road near Tweed. The police had already begun to link her disappearance to that of another woman in November (who was also found murdered) and to some previous home invasions and sexual assaults of women in the area.

Now here’s the shocker. As reported here, the man charged with the murders of the disappeared women, and with the home invasions and assaults of the others, was none other than the top commander at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Col. Russell Williams.

As wing commander at CFB Trenton, Williams oversaw operations at the air force base, which according to the Department of National Defence is “the heart of Canada’s air mobility forces.”

Well, isn’t that nice? Bastard. Not such a “shining bright star” now are you? Have fun in prison for the rest of your life.

Rest in Peace, Jessica.

Tracing Our Human Journey

Have you ever wondered where you came from? I don’t mean in your recent past, I mean the route your ancestors walked as they left Africa – if they ever left Africa – tens of thousands of years ago. How thrilling and eyeopening would it be to see an actual map of the footsteps taken by your forefathers – possibly across the expanse of the globe? Well, I’m going to see mine and I’m telling you about it because you might want to do the same thing.

Lead by researcher Spencer Wells, the Genographic Project is a collaboration between National Geographic researchers, renowned international scientists, and IBM technology. By analyzing participants’ DNA, they are able to locate where that DNA has been since the “first human” who lived some 60,000 years ago in Africa. The first human is believed to be “the single Aftrican ancestor” from whom all humans developed. All humans since that time have left genetic markers along their migration routes and these markers enable researchers to produce the maps.

So how do you participate? Well, for $100 you can buy a DNA collecting kit from National Geographic (here) which is specifically for this project. Inside there are two swabbing kits (think CSI), instructions, and a mail-back envelope. You take two swabs, 8 hours apart, of the insides of your cheeks, plop them into the tubes and mail them back to the project. I just did my first swabbing this morning. So I’ll do another tonight…and then off it goes.

If you’re worried about sending off your DNA, don’t be. The test is totally anonymous. You just have to hold on to the ID number they provide you with so that you can check your results online. Also, they are only using the DNA for this specific study and not to look at genetic health problems or anything of the sort. The only draw back is for women…sorry gals…we have only an X chromosome so we can’t do our paternal ancestry. You can ask your brother or your father to do one to complete both sides of the family. Also, please note that this study does not get as specific as names.

So after I send in my DNA, I’ll keep checking for my map. When I get it I’ll post it here for all to see. I’m so curious to see the results. If you try it, let me know how it turns out for you! If you’d like to read further about the project try these links:

My Human Lineage – Pharyngula
Genographic Test Reveals Darwin’s Ancestry – National Geographic
Human Genome Project – U.S. Department of Energy

Chickpea Soup (Revithia)

I’ve made this soup only once before and it didn’t turn out nearly as well as it did today. The trick…enough time to simmer. Don’t try to do this soup on the fly. Make sure you can give it an hour or two to simmer gently. The results…delicious. It is kind of like onion soup (minus the cheese) infused with a nutty flavour. Let me know if you give it a try and what you think!

(adapted from “The Greek Cookery: 300 Traditional Recipes” Athens, 1996)
500g chickpeas (you can use canned or dried)
1 tbsp baking soda
1 cup olive oil
1 large onion, cut into thin slices
Salt, pepper
Cumin
1 tbsp flour
Juice of 1 lemon

If using dried chickpeas, soak them overnight. The next day, drain them (if using canned peas also drain them). Add to a pot and sprinkle them with baking soda. Stir well and let them sit for one hour. Next, wash the chickpeas thoroughly, put them in a pot and cover them with plenty of water. Bring to a boil and skim off the scum that appears. Add the onion, salt, oil, pepper, and cumin and let simmer. When the chickpeas are done, mix the lemon juice and flour together in a separate container. Bit by bit, add a little soup broth to the flour/lemon mixture – in hopes of eliminating clumping. Then pour all into the soup pot and bring to a boil. Serve and enjoy!

Ottawa Tragedy: Constable Czapnik

Constable Czapnik (Ottawa Police)

Everyone in Ottawa was trying to prepare for New Year’s festivities when a hush fell over the city as the reality of a tragic event unfolded before us in the news. On December 29th, Constable Eric Czapnik was brutally stabbed to death. Nobody likes to hear about the death of a police officer any time. An officer’s death usually occurs in the line of duty and often is as a result of going up against armed criminals during a robbery or a similar situation and it is always sad. There are several things, though, that makes Constable Czapniks death particularly tragic and in a way that the incident haunted me, even now.

According to my neighbour who knew him well, Czapnik had always wanted to be a police officer like his father had been back in Poland. Czapnik immigrated to Canada but never pursued his dream until several years ago and at the age of 48 he was recruited to the Ottawa Police. He was the oldest recruit in the history of the force and he was a very proud member and really well liked by his fellow officers. He would have probably only served for about 10 more years at most before retiring.

Then, suddenly, Czapnik was murdered because, and only because, he was a police officer. And to rub more salt in that wound…he was killed by another officer…a suspended RCMP officer, Kevin Gregson. Apparently Gregson had a psychotic grudge, presumably for his suspension, and decided to take it out against anyone he could find who was wearing a uniform. Czapnik really had no chance against him. He was stabbed while in his cruiser and Gregson knew exactly where to cut him to cause death.

Paramedics (Ottawa Paramedics)

Here’s another kicker. Czapnik was sitting in his cruiser just outside the Emergency Department of the Ottawa Hospital. Four paramedics rushed out when they saw what was happening and three of them managed to subdue the attacker. But the fourth, who tried to save Czapnik, was unsuccessful. Regardless, it was a very brave and superior show of professionalism on their parts.

Czapnik’s death affected so many people. Of course there was devastation of his family…he had four children, the youngest, a three year old son. But the city practically shut down for his public funeral. A procession of nearly 2000 police officers from Canada and the US marched solemnly along the streets lined with hundreds of civilians who had come to show their respect.

I think what really upsets me about this murder is the randomness but I’m not really sure if that’s all. I haven’t been able to reconcile it and probably one can’t except to say that Gregson was obviously crazy. But that doesn’t really help. All I can say now, and anyone can say, is rest in peace Constable Czapnik. And then we can hope that Gregson is brought to justice or, at least, confined so he can’t hurt anyone else.

Funeral Procession (Pawel Dwulit/The Canadian Press)

Magical Places

Happy New Year everyone! I know, I’m a few weeks late but this is how it is these days with my ongoing renos at home. Not that I’m complaining…but I miss blogging! The other problem was that the year didn’t start too well. I mean, it was fine for me, but there were several events local, and worldwide, that were upsetting. That is to say, upsetting to me, devastating for those involved. The latest of which, being the earthquake in Haiti. Not that I’m in any way ignoring the importance of these events, but I wanted my first post of the year to be positive. So I will delay posting on more critical events by one post, if you’ll forgive my frivolity.

*****

My four year old daughter came to me today and asked me if I knew about fossils. She didn’t want to know what I knew though…she wanted to tell me what she knew. According to her, they are old footprints from a long, long time ago in the ground. Sure. Good start. I tried to expand on that, but her mind was already on something else.

“Are there Unicorn fossils? How long ago were they on the earth?”

I respond slowly and carefully. “I don’t think anyone has found any. They weren’t really on the earth.”

Silence.

“Well…where were they?”

This is where being a consistent atheist becomes difficult. When you think about it, the argument against the existence of God is just as applicable to magic, Santa, and all other imaginary things. But in the end I’m more fearful about curbing imagination than I am about being inconsistent. After all, many of the greatest fantasies were born of wild imaginations intrigued with magic. Think J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, or Gene Roddenbury to name a few. Sure you can claim that Star Trek is based on science…but when one thinks simply of being able to go from one place to another far away at the push of a button or by closing one’s eyes…is it not a fantasy, a little wish for magic – a wish that inspires invention and innovation? So I think, what’s the harm in allowing her to continue to believe in unicorns?

I turn on my kid-brain. “They’re magical creatures. They live in magical places.”

Her eyes light up. “At the end of rainbows?!”

“Uh huh.”

“Can we go sometime?”

“Well, they are very hard to find. Usually you need elves to show you the way. But if you can find an elf…”

She grabbed her backpack full of supplies and took off. Not too much later I heard her having a great discussion with an elf. I smiled to myself. Nope…no harm…just an afternoon of imagination and adventure.

Pure logic can easily dismiss magic, but it would be a boring, and I might dare to say unprogressive, world without it in our dreams and fantasy don’t you think?

Christmastime

Wishing everyone a happy Christmas full of love and laughter.

Let it Snow!

(A little music from one of my favourite Christmas albums! Enjoy!)

Let it Snow – Ella Fitzgerald

Yuletide

Happy Winter Solstice!

All the best of the season to you!

Remembering

I just realized that it’s been an entire month since I last wrote on my blog. It hasn’t been that I haven’t had anything to say – that’s never really been a problem for me – but with home renos on the go, I haven’t had the time. I’m very sure you don’t want to hear about my cupboard cleaning extravaganza and twice daily moppings of my floor. Anyway, it struck me when I realized that my last post was October the 11th, that tomorrow is Remembrance Day. What better time, though, to come back and say something than on Remembrance Day?

I’ve been horribly remiss this year. I haven’t even bought a poppy. So I’m hoping I can redeem myself through a few words. Since the weather will be nice tomorrow, I may even take the kids to the ceremonies here in Ottawa which are always beautiful and heartbreakingly solemn at the same time. I think the thing that strikes me the most at the ceremonies are the dwindling numbers of veterans. Those who fought in WWII and are still alive are now in their late 80’s, most of them. It becomes increasingly difficult for them to attend. To see them marching slowly toward the cenotaph, the pain of memories from long ago in their eyes, brings so many emotions to the surface. Without them there it will be…different.

I think it is a day that is going to become more and more difficult to mark as time passes. My parents’ generation lived through the war. Some of their parents fought in it. To them it was real. My generation had the advantage of hearing the tales of war first hand, from survivors. We could see their emotion, feel their fear, and rejoice in their victory. To us it was history, but recent history. But for my children, it will be wars of last century, fought by people who are gone or almost all gone. I wonder then, how we can instill in the next generation the same sense of respect that was and is felt by their parents and grandparents and great-grandparents on Nov. 11th?

I suppose we can if we continue to tell the stories and sing the songs. Please take a moment and have a listen – for Remembrance Day.

The Green Fields of France – John McDermitt

New Ring on Saturn!

Have you heard the latest? Its true! NASA has discovered a new ring around Saturn and “its the largest planetary ring seen yet in the solar system” (Reuters). Apparently the ring’s particles are barely visible but shine with thermal radiation and were picked up by the infra-red Spitzer Space Telescope. The amazing thing is that the ring starts at about 6 million kilometres (3.7 million miles) from the planet – FAR from the original rings we have come to know and love – and “partly marks the orbit of Saturn’s distant moon Phoebe”. The ring extends about 13 million kilometres (8 million miles) and, as is put into perspective in this video, “is so huge it would take 1 billion earths to fill it”. WOW!

It goes to show you that what we’ve discovered about space in our own solar system is only a small fraction of what’s really out there.

(Associated Press)

Wolverine: Stirring My Inner Teenager

Oh come on!! We all have a weakness for something that is probably not considered age-appropriate. Mine is for superheros and superhero movies. As a kid my favourite cartoon on TV was “Superfriends“. Then came the Superman movies with the late Christopher Reeve in the cinemas. And the list of lovable superheros grew, especially as Marvel and DC comics started pushing more and more movies onto the big screen. Although I never read comic books as a kid, I was fascinated by many of the characters they produced. I mean, what kid didn’t want some superpower to overcome kid problems? Actually, come to think of it, as an adult, there’s some superpowers I still covet (not to mention a transporter and a food replicator from Star Trek…but that’s another story).

More recently Marvel, in particular, has put out quite a few top grossing movies full of special effects and amazingly realistic computer animation. Off the top of my head I can think of Spiderman with Tobey McGuire as Peter Parker, Ironman with Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, and the Incredible Hulk with the incredible Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. All which fully captured my imagination and left me looking forward to the next one – because you always know where there’s one there are sequels. My only disappointment is that the superwomen, of which there are many to choose from, seem to be evading the silver-screen as lead characters. I’m hoping their time will come soon.

We did get to see a few women strutting their stuff – in a superhero way – when Marvel came out with the X-men movie several years ago…well, in 2000 to be precise.  It was a big hit among the comic fans and, I think – given the fact that it spawned three more movies in the last nine years – it easily generated a fan base of non-comic readers as well. The first three movies (X-men, X2, and X-men: The Last Stand) although I thought lacking in plot, were action packed and thrilling to watch. I was particularly fond of Patrick Stewart’s Professor Charles Xavier (probably due to my undying loyalty to Capt. Jean-Luc Picard – again with the Star Trek) and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.

As luck would have it, at least as far as I was concerned, this past spring X-Men Origins: Wolverine hit the cinemas. I desperately wanted to see it but with small kids, the cinema is not a place I see very often. So imagine my excitement when I spotted it to rent at the movie store yesterday! And let me tell you, I was not disappointed. In fact, it far exceeded my expectations. Not only was Hugh Jackman exceptional, but I found Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth very…compelling. It was fast-paced, the story line was intriguing, and the special effects…well…WOW! If you like this kind of thing and haven’t seen it yet…go get it. I can not say enough good about it. There were a few instances when I squealed with delight – kinda like I was 14 – which doesn’t happen very often during a movie! (a good thing in a public cinema!)

I’ll leave you with the trailer even though it really doesn’t do the film justice. If you’ve seen Wolverine or like superheroes, I’d love to hear your comments!