Ottawa

Although it snowed once recently in Ottawa, the snow was melting off immediately. Like in 2004, the first snow of the year is today, on December 1^st.

I wrote the following last Friday on the Ottawa LiveJournal community, but one of the moderators of that community thought it was off-topic, so she deleted it.

I was given a sheet with this title this morning by a woman at the Rideau bus stop. It has the following 10 points and the address to the Web site of the “publisher” at the bottom, www.stepitupontario.ca. (The list is also available on the front page of that site.)

Do you mind if I review them with all of you? (If you do, well I’m sorry, but I’ll still do!)

The 10 Steps to End Violence Against Women
(Copied from the Web site mentioned above.)

1. Understand that violence against women is an equality rights issue.
2. Recognize that male power is upheld by rape and sexual harassment.
3. Stop racism/oppression; make Ontario accessible.
4. End poverty — NOW!
5. Create and maintain housing, non-profit childcare, training — NOW!
6. Provide fair access to justice for women.
7. Hold violent men accountable for their actions.
8. Stop criminalizing and psychiatrizing women.
9. Demand secure funding for women’s organizations.
10. Listen to survivors and women’s advocates — they are the experts!

(I added a missing period at the 9^th statement. You know, just to be consistent.)

I don’t understand the link between many of those points and the topic. Number 3, for example, to stop racism. Racism is bad, true, but are they implying that women are another race now? And number 4: poverty, violence…?

My biggest problem is number 8. If a woman commits a crime, I guess because she’s a woman, she shouldn’t be penalized for it. And what psychiatrizing means? I can’t find a definition for that word anywhere, including Google and Answers.com.

Number 2 is a bit sexist or stereotypical to me. I’m a man, and the only power I feel I have is buying things (not people) with the money I’ve earned. That point seems to assume that all successful men are rapists and beat women! Sometimes I feel that, according to society in general, a man who hates a woman is sexist, but a women who hates a man is a feminist. Oh, and since I’m white, surely, I must be racist! And since I eat meat, it means I’m encouraging the slaughter of animals and the destruction of our planet. (Note the last two sentences were sarcastic.)

This sheet psychiatrized me for ever. I say we find ways to eliminate violence for all!

Any opinions?

From their Web site:

We have moved!

The OJLS will now hold classes at the facilities of CDI College located in the south-west side of the St. Laurent Center shopping mall in Ottawa, adjacent to the Rainbow Cinema (Map).

The Ottawa Japanese Language School (OJLS) was faced with a sudden unforeseen increase in rent at our previous location of almost double historical rates. This rent increase would not have allowed us to continue to operate over the long term at our current tuition charges. As we are a non-profit organization focused on providing quality teaching of the Japanese language in an informal atmosphere at an affordable price, the Board of Directors felt this was not acceptable and as such endeavoured to locate and evaluate several alternative locations over the summer. The Board feels that this search was successful and we are happy to announce that we have found a new home.

In addition to allowing us to continue affordable operation of the school, this new facility offers us modern classrooms, easy and sheltered parking in all weather, a major city bus node, and access to services for busy family members. Registration will take place at CDI on September 9, 2006 between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. To ease the registration process, please download a registration form and fill it out ahead of time.

Help spread the word of our new location and hope to see you there!

Being part of their administration committee, of course I knew it in advance… I just thought I’ll give them a chance to announce it first before I do.

Now I have a busy weekend with a bunch of e-mails to reply concerning my trip to Japan, my search for a language partner and a teacher… And I have people to see too. It’s crazy. I don’t know which will explode first: my hard drive or my hard head!

To the owner of the cat,

What the hell were you thinking? To name your cat “Remi.” Gah! Japanese think I’m a girl because of my name, and now this!

And my friend took the liberty to not only take a picture of that sign and send it to other friends of mine, but to also put one of my worst pictures of me wearing my friend’s hat. I hate hats!

I hope for that cat that it’s not around here! :P

I saw that wheel left from a stolen bike this morning near the bus stop in front of the Rideau Centre. This reminds me of a friend of mine who told me the same happened to him just after he bought a brand-new bicycle. I always wonder why the stealer would just need the frame and one wheel. Perhaps is that person agile enough to ride his new stolen “unicycle”, with the frame raised up?

Here are some thoughts from fellow LiveJournal people.

Surely there must be some public available access points so I don’t always have to steal a connection!

http://community.livejournal.com/ottawa/334958.html

After a long ride on the bus, I finally arrived downtown, back from work. It was hot outside. Sweat was rolling down in the back of my neck as I was crossing streets on my way back home.

I was hungry. I was thirsty. I stoped in some shops. After buying some food, and a large bottle of cold water, I persued my walk. Along the way, I was dreaming about girls, again. Lunatic in my day dream; lost in my perfect politically-incorrect paradise. My quest for love has never been a success so far… However, a man can always hope. Besides, I’m still young.

This rêverie soon came to end after I crossed the last intersection before reaching my wanted air-conditioned apartment. An old woman, standing at the corner of street, was waiting for me. I never liked being asked for money, and since everything looks like she wanted some coins for a coffee, I did my best to ignore her and just go my way.

Past her, she shouts, “Do you want some company?” At that precise moment, when I heard her screechy unpleasing voice, cold chills harshly went down my spine. She destroyed my thought of heaven; bursted by bubble. Her face was enough to ruin my moment; her voice brought scares of armageddon within me.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo!!!” I shouted. I ran to my front door, reached in my pocket for the keys. Where are they? For the love of God, where are they! In panic, I finally pulled them out, but droped them on the stairway. “Aaaahhh!! Quick! Before it’s too late!” I grabbed my keys in desespair, dashed close to the door, inserted the key in the knob, unlocked the door, and finally… Finally, made it inside.

I felt safe again. But only God knows what nightmares I’ll have tonight…

A bit more than a week ago, it was Canada Day, celebrating the country’s 139^th anniversary. My face got red from the sun and I enjoyed seeing the fireworks.

But now I need to fight with new video editing software so I can post a video of the fireworks… You’ll have to wait, but they’re worth it.

That’s what I wondered an hour ago. In our house, we usually feel vibrations when a big truck goes nearby.

At around 8:30 PM EST, just before I was going to chat with an online friend, a friend of mine, with who I had diner, gave me a ride home. He was giving me his old office chair that he no longer needed.

When he was about to leave, we got those vibrations again.

But… It felt like if a truck was heading for our home! We all wondered if it was an earthquake. It just lasted a few seconds.

Just minutes ago, it was confirmed. Yes, it was indeed an earthquake, which makes the first earthquake I’ve ever experienced. Even LiveJournal users wondered the same thing! And it lasted for around 30 seconds in some areas.

• Post on Ottawa LiveJournal community
• Post on 613crew LiveJournal community
• Post on CarletonU LiveJournal community
• Information at ncran.gc.ca
• Information at usgs.gov
• Article at CFRA
• Article at Ottawa Citizen

It’s not the first time in Ottawa. In fact, I guess it happens every year!

• March 06, 2005
• March 18, 2004

Here’s the reason why my bus had to take the Queensway and why I’m late for work:

Accident Claims One Life in West End

Norman Jack
Thursday, February 16, 2006 8:39 AM

A woman in her mid-40’s is dead after a two-car crash on Carling west of Moodie this morning.

The mishap occurred shortly after 6:30 a.m.

A man has been taken to hospital. He’s described as in stable condition.

Carling remains closed in both directions from Moodie to Herzberg.

And here’s what’s happening to the Alexander Keith’s commercials’ actor of the character we love to hate:

Robert Norman Smith

Beer ad actor faces porn charges

A 40-year-old Toronto comic better known as the obnoxious Scot who berates the bartender and pub patrons in television commercials for Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale has been charged with possessing child pornography and making it available over the Internet.