I can't believe it's not a democracy!

Oh dear, this doesn't sound good at all:

Mystery illness leaves one dead, 290 quarantined on train. Reuters reports: One person died and several others were taken to hospital after a mystery illness hit passengers on a Canadian long-distance train, local media said on Friday.

* * *

The train was in quarantine in the small northern Ontario community of Foleyet, and nobody except emergency personnel were being allowed aboard.

A repeat of SARS? Canada did have a problem with SARS a while back. I assume it's not the first North American case of humans coming down with the avian virus, since Europe hasn't had a case so far despite having to cull poultry in response to the virus attacking turkey farms. In any event, I guess I'll have to book plane tickets and skip the train when I got to the midwest to visit my sisters. I thought an opportunity to watch the country pass by my window would be nice, but, um, well, a plane will be faster.

Dollar at 30-Year Low Vs. Canada Dollar:

Dollar Tumbles to Another Low Against the Euro and to 1-To-1 Parity With the Canadian Dollar. That's right folks, a Canadian dollar is equal to a U.S. dollar for the first time in over 30 years. That means we have to use more U.S. dollars to buy stuff that is imported--which, unless I am mistaken, would be almost everything since our biggest export is manufacturing jobs. What does this mean? Well, Canadians won't have to put up with ugly Americans who point to various Canadian products and loudly proclaim how much they cost in "real money." There's that. But it looks like I may have to rethink that European vacation.

I was thinking recently about how good I have been about saving my pennies over the last few years. I don't have enough to buy a fabulous apartment or start my own business, but it's a start. Now, I can't help but want to kick myself for not opening up a savings account denominated in Canadian dollars like I was thinking about doing that a few years back. Instead, I put most of my savings in a Vanguard treasuries account. The interest isn't much, but it's tax free at the state level and treasuries are supposed to be one of the safest investments around. Yes, the account statement slowly grows, but when I think about how much each individual dollar has slipped in value over the last six years.....ouch. Oh well, live and learn. If, as I hope and assume, the dollar begins to rebound after the chimp and the other miscreants slither out of office, well, maybe in a few years my savings might actually be able to do something. Yes, I am feeling a bit glass half-full today.

O, Canada! More Americans Heading North

The Number of Americans Moving to Canada in 2006 Hit a 30-Year High. And why the hell not. Yes, the new Canadian Prime Minister is an asshole, but Canada has universal health care and gay marriage, to name two signs of a more enlightened electorate. Have I mentioned that my father born in Canada? If Canada weren't so damn cold, I would consider it. Ok, family and friends keep me here, but there are days when I wonder if I could pick up and move somewhere were people think it is wrong to bomb the shit out of a country that poses no one any true harm when you should be spending the money to improve services to all citizens. God this country is going to shit. What have we become?

Thanks to Mr. Slice for the link.

Canada 4th Nation to

Legalize Gay Marriage. Canada joins The Netherlands, Belgium and Spain in granting gay marriage nationwide. Note that these four countries are all fine places to visit and live. Something to consider if the fundamentalists continue to press their filthy, vicious, "moral" agenda.

Canada is poised to

to pass a bill that will extend marriage equality to all Canadians. MAJeff, a diarist at Booman Tribune writes: As I write this, I'm watching the Canadian House of Commons' final debate on bill C-38: The Civil Marriage Act, a law to extend marriage equality to all Canadians (currently, eight of ten provinces and one of three territories have established equal marriage rights). This bill's path to tonight's final reading has been a bumpy one, from the Liberal's surviving a no-confidence vote, to a bold strategy that caught the Tories off guard and passed the budget (keeping the Government from falling), to cutting off debate last night. Cabinet member Joe Camuzzo resigned his cabinet position rather than follow Prime Minister Martin's order for all members of the Cabinet to vote for C-38.

The passage of C-38 is not in doubt tonight, nor is passage in the Senate. The votes exist for marriage equality.

Imagine living in a country that has a government that is compassionate, decent and respectful. I guess imagination is almost all we have now (although somehow--and I don't know why--I still have hope).

Update: The bill passed the house. On to the senate.

A big wet kiss from our friends in

Canada.