Christmas Gift

I might be a little late in getting around to everyone's blog because I am busy reading John Grisham's novel "The Appeal," one of my Christmas gifts.

From the Publisher:

Politics has always been a dirty game.Now justice is, too.
In a crowded courtroom in Mississippi, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste into a small town’s water supply, causing the worst “cancer cluster” in history. The company appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it."

Again, another gripping novel written by John Grisham (his 19th.)
Grisham is one of my favourite authors.

Happy New Year

Courtesy of JeanMac

Happy New Year

And from Daryl.

ABC Wednesday-X

Instead of seeing a typical client, veterinarian Hal Blumenthal was confronted with a very different patient -- an apparently rare teddy bear urgently in need of an X-ray.

Specialists suspected the bear was an original Steiff bear, but needed to know if the roughly 100-year-old toy was made with special rods in order to confirm its authenticity.

All of the testing proved worthwhile. X-ray images confirmed the bear was built with the three rods that mark it as a Steiff. Only Steiff bears have metal rods inside, which act as "joints."
Steiff, which draws its roots back to the late 1800s, is credited with inventing the teddy bear in 1902. The jointed bear was created one year later, according to Steiff's official Web site.

For his part, Blumenthal said he was pleased to be part of the bear's history.
"It's nice trying something new, and proving the bear's origin was interesting," Blumenthal said.



ABC Wednesday is brought to you by Mrs. Nesbitt.


Mr. Linky can be found here.

$1.00 and $2.00 Coins?

Here in Canada, we have the Loonie $1.00 coin and the Toonie $2.00 coin.
They have replaced the $1.00 and $2.00 paper bills that were in circulation.


In the USA, $1.00 coins are minted and circulated but because the paper bills are still printed, the coins are not popularly accepted in circulation.

My question to my American blogger friends is; if your government asked you to decide if the $1.00 and $2.00 paper bills should be eliminated and replaced with coins, what would be your answer?

Workout

Monsieur Bear and I did something yesterday that we haven't done for ages.
We went ice skating!

What a workout!
I have muscles sore that have not been used for ages.
Has anyone else out there done anything like this?

AGAIN--Rest In Peace

Warrant Officer Gaetan Roberge, left, and Sgt. Gregory John Kruse , right.

*

THE CANADIAN PRESS
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan

*

"Another roadside bomb attack in southern Afghanistan killed two more Canadian soldiers Saturday, along with an Afghan police officer and a local interpreter.
Warrant Officer Gaetan Roberge and Sgt. Gregory John Kruse were killed during a security patrol in the Panjway district, in the western part of Kandahar province.
The explosion wounded three other Canadian soldiers and another Afghan interpreter.

*

Roberge was a member of the Royal 22nd Regiment who was serving with the Irish Regiment of Canada in Sudbury, Ont. He was part of the Canadian team mentoring Afghanistan's fledgling national police force.
Kruse was from 24 Field Squadron, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment based in Petawawa, Ont. He was serving as a member of 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment battle group."

*

The latest deaths bring to 106 the number of Canadian soldiers killed in the Afghan mission since 2001.

*

Again, with tears, I say Rest In Peace our brave heroes.

Rest In Peace

from CTV news:

"Private Michael Bruce Freeman, 28, was killed and three others were wounded after an improvised explosive device went off in the Zhari District of Kandahar Province.
Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson, the head of Canadian and NATO forces in Kandahar, said the incident occurred Friday at about 12:45 p.m. local time, about 24 kilometres west of Kandahar City.

Private Freeman was serving with N Company, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment from CFB Petawawa, Ontario.

"This was Private Freeman's first tour in Afghanistan. He had tremendous enthusiasm and was dedicated to the mission and to his fellow section mates," Thompson said.

"It's terrible to lose a soldier at anytime but certainly during the holidays for the family it's unbelievably difficult," military analyst Mercedes Stephenson told CTV Newsnet.

In December alone, seven Canadian soldiers have been killed by roadside bomb attacks -- making it the most deadly month of 2008.
Stephenson said IEDs are the "number one killer" of Canadians in Afghanistan.

The latest death brings the number of Canadian soldiers killed in the mission in Afghanistan to 104 since 2001.
One diplomat and two aid workers have also been killed."

*

*

Rest in peace, our brave hero.

Saturday Funnies

Joyous Kwanzaa

From Wikipedia:

"Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday celebrated throughout the world, honouring African heritage, marked by participants lighting a kinara (candle holder).

It is observed from December 26 to January 1 each year.

It was created by Ron Karenga and was first celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967."

Joyous Kwanzaa to all who celebrate this holiday.

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:1-21

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.