Once again, I apologize for my lengthy abscence. Rest assured, it was well spent — assume that such time away from this place is used in pursuit of otherworldly treasures, or in the heat of battle with beasts that would but utter death and it would come to pass.
Summer seems far away now, even though Winter has loosened its bony grip on my fair city. I have no doubt it will strike again, when weatherpeople least expect it. Regardless, plans for that time have already begun to coalesce. Talk of “gaming groups” and “bands” is whispered in hushed tones among those who know, the words quickly floating into ether.
I recently indulged in a splurge of such proportions that it might well be called a spree. I purchased two board games — Kill Doctor Lucky and Apples to Apples. The former I have played before, albeit not in this newer, improved incarnation. I am told the latter involves comparisons of Helen Keller and amusing adjectives. This pleases me. The results of this spree are lingering guilt and diminished monetary reserves. We shall see if it was worth it soon enough.
You may have noticed that the “Daily Doggerel” has not been updated in some time, a very long time to say the least. I have extracted what merit I could from the exercise, and moved on. Perhaps it will return, perhaps not. But forcing oneself to write poetry about the inane events regarded as news by our culture, often involving manatees and the men they love, is not something that I care to continue at this point.
Filed under: Daily Doggerel
Source – CBC: Quebec cemetary firm warns it can dig up bodies if fee not paid
A Gatineau man has been told his family must pay $1,700
or risk having his grandfather, grandmother
and other buried relatives dug up
and their headstones removed.
“There was no compassion shown towards anybody.”
“The Corporation may repossess any lot
whether or not
it is occupied by bodies, monuments, cinerary urns, flat markers,
slant markers, crypts, columbaria or other distinctive signs”
Blake visited the snow-covered graves of his father, his grandmother,
and other members of his family — as he described the letter,
his voice constricted and he blinked back tears.
a spokesman for the company told the Ottawa Citizen
that once the lease on a plot has expired,
the cemetery may dig up the bones and urns buried there
so they can be re-buried deeper
and someone else’s grave can be put on top.
neither Blake nor any other individual in Quebec owns a cemetery plot.
Filed under: Daily Doggerel
Source – CBC: Homeless program in upscale Toronto neighbourhood to go ahead
in one of Toronto’s toniest neighbourhoods
the time for talk is over
a weekly winter homeless shelter program
beginning next Monday.
Rev. Stephen Kirkegaard will open the doors of St. Aidan’s Church
to provide food and shelter
despite the objections of some residents
who worry about increased crime,
lower property values
and what they say
is a lack of communication.
“We know people are busy. But
at some point now we have to say,
‘it’s cold and now is the time to offer shelter.’”
Some local residents say they were never properly informed.
“I only found out in December.
So the whole process is where I’m a little concerned.”
Most of the questions revolved around safety,
especially in terms of homeless people
from other areas.
“It would be unfair to say
that there couldn’t be crime
as a result of someone coming to this community
for this program” said Staff Sgt. Steve Tracy of Toronto Police Service.
Our experience is
simply that it isn’t the case.”
Bussin disputed reports that large parts of the neighbourhood
are up in arms about the project
Filed under: Daily Doggerel
Source – CBC: Police shoot 2 men in downtown Toronto
Two men in hospital
with bullet wounds
shot by police early Tuesday
in Toronto’s downtown
The shooting happened –
after the driver
of a red Dodge Neon
refused to stop for police
The car can be seen with its door open
near the unmarked police cruiser
“The two officers got out of their car
and were involved in a confrontation”
“As a result, both officers
discharged their firearms.”
“both have some serious gunshot injuries”
One of the men was shot in the head
and torso
while the other man
was shot in the abdomen
Five SIU investigators
and four forensic specialists
have been assigned to the case.
Filed under: Daily Doggerel
Source – CBC: 59 per cent of Quebecers admit they’re racist: poll
Fifty-nine per cent of Quebecers admit to being racist
to some degree
The findings stunned Jean Dorion
of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
“I do not perceive the Quebec society as being racist”
36 per cent of Quebecers have a bad opinion of Jewish people
27 per cent have a poor opinion of blacks
Fifty per cent have a bad opinion of Muslims
“The Arab community carries the weight of September 11
and religious extremists”
“Whatever people read in the newspapers,
they form their opinion from”
it’s dangerous to have a survey that shows such a high level of racism –
“It will lead people to say, ‘Let’s face it,’”
“everyone’s racist.”
Filed under: Daily Doggerel
Source: CBC – ‘Creativity’ needed for Mideast peace: Rice
Condoleezza Rice arrived in Jerusalem
Saturday
said any plan for peace must involve Arab states
“I think no plan can be made in America”
“a very important and challenging time in the Middle East,
but –
a time that I believe does have promise
if we exercise our responsibilities
with creativity and with resolve.”
United States wants to move more swiftly
to shore up Abbas, who is locked in a power struggle
with rival faction Hamas
Bush administration soon will ask Congress to approve $85 million US
to train and equip Abbas’s forces
“Part of our responsibility
is to give the moderate Palestinians
a political horizon
while providing the Israelis security”
leaders calling for unity after weeks
of clashes and feuding
between the rival factions.
Filed under: Daily Doggerel
Source – CBC News: Tories earmark millions for high-tech border
$396 million over five years
on a computerized risk-assessment system
amid fears of crime and terrorism.
part of a $431.6 million border security package — a major choke point
when crossings are snarled
100 per cent automated risk assessment
to keep trade moving in the event of an “incident”
private industry to fight terrorism, organized crime and smuggling
only in a matter of several hours
production lines
would begin to stop
that begins to create problems
Filed under: Daily Doggerel
Everyday we are bombarded by the news. It hits us with unadulterated force, pushing the violence of around the world into our eyes. “If it bleeds, it leads.” Here I want to look at a story from another perspective. By re-arranging the words I want to create something new.
P.S. If this is illegal somebody let me know. Bests.
Source – CBC: Hotel room robbed while teen was dying in hospital: friend
a 19-year-old man killed in Mexico
was on vacation
dying beside an Acapulco highway
of severe head injuries
devastated and desperate
“We can’t fully grieve
unless-
we know what happened to Adam.”
a “strong-willed kid”
“always smiled”
“Adam was alone
and he was unarmed
and he was by himself”
“and I don’t want people to remember him that way”
