I wasn’t one of the millions watching the record setting freefall by Felix Baumgartner live today. But even watching the highlights video below took my breath away.
Before you watch that video, here’s some highlights from this guy’s other previous jumps around the world to whet your appetite.
Now watch this one. Humans are truly amazing creatures sometimes…
We’re in Weyburn this weekend visiting Shea’s family and had to make a visit to Creelman today since her uncle has just passed away and his wife has asked me to do the eulogy.
Since I was already halfway there, I decided to carry on to Arcola where, in addition to the Cannington NDP AGM, three of the four NDP Leadership candidates would be appearing. (I sometimes feel like I’ve attended as many political events in Weyburn and area as I have in Regina including this memorable moment – make sure you click that last link!)
There are lots of things I could talk about in this post – from how much I love small towns (especially ones I got to work in as part of my work as Branch Supervisor with Southeast Regional Library) to the impact of the resource boom in southeast Saskatchewan to how, between Shea and I, it often feels like we’re pretty much connected to every small town in this area of the province through our family, friends and our work.
But instead, I want to focus on some of my thoughts about the candidates who were at the Cannington AGM. Unfortunately, Cam Broten wasn’t able to make it but it was nice to hear the other three candidates shared a car pool down to Arcola (oh, to be a fly on the wall in that car!) and then to hear them speak in what was, in many ways, a mini-preview of the upcoming Leadership Forums.
It got me thinking about a couple different things. If I had to summarize the candidates in a single word, which word would I pick? And if I had to compare them to a past NDP Leader, who would it be?
Of course, these are only my thoughts and I’m sure many (including the candidates themselves – and even my preferred candidate) might disagree with my characterization. But this is my take…
Cam Broten – (I’ve written before that he’s the candidate I know least about but maybe the word to describe him is “balanced” and the leader he therefore most resembles is Roy Romanow?)
Ryan Meili – Visionary (Tommy Douglas)
Erin Weir – Intelligent (and I mean, like crackling whip smart intelligent) (Allan Blakeney)
Trent Wotherspoon – Friendly (Comparing him to a past leader is a tough one as I can see elements of different past leaders from Lorne Calvert to Dwain Lingenfelter in Trent. Perhaps he’s like this strange amalgam of the two with a dash of Romanow as well?)
I just sold an NDP membership to this guy!
(The guy on the right. If I could swing a sale to the guy on the left, I’d be running for NDP Leader myself!)
Such a strange dichotomy…
Tonight, I witnessed two young men named Ryan, both Catholic, both firm of their convictions, both political stars on the rise, in two different political events.
One is Paul Ryan, the VP candidate for the Republican ticket in the US who was in a televised debate tonight. This Ryan is an acolyte of Ayn Rand, thinks 30% of the entire US population are “takers” and his only medical qualifications are as a “Dr. No” on budget matters.
The other is Ryan Meili, candidate for the leadership of the Saskatchewan NDP who held a successful meet & greet in Regina tonight. This Ryan is inspired by people like Dr. Paul Farmer, he has has all but dedicated his life to serving the less fortunate and he is an actual practicing medical doctor (as well as a published author, community activist and much more.)
I’m so glad I get to support the better Ryan. You should too!
The only version of Hawksley Workman’s “First Snow of the Year” I could find on YouTube right now is copyright controlled so instead, you get a kids’ choir version (which actually adds to the winter/Christmas feel!)
One question I haven’t resolved – when I do my annual “first snow of the year” post, what defines “first snow”? Is the first snow like last night’s which is melting away today as I type and will be long gone by this weekend if the forecast hits +16 like is projected? Or is it better to post when it’s the first snow that sticks?
Of course, worrying about this, my friends, is pretty much the definition of #firstworldproblems. Cue the kids’ choir…
Just out of curiosity…
I’m not sure if the person who wrote this article about feeling conflicted at Thanksgiving is First Nations (or Aboriginal/Indian/Native depending on who you’re talking to and/or what country – or part of the country – you’re in) but the person who posted it to Facebook definitely is which is part of the reason I enjoyed it so much.
I love the parallels the person draws to atheists celebrating Christmas which is something I’ve addressed many times before on this blog. Essentially, the point is that everybody should take what they want from any holiday – the good stuff like time with family and fond memories and so on and leave what they don’t like – religion or guilt about our colonial past or commercialism or what have you.
Because I think it’s possible to take what you like from these holidays. Lots of people celebrate them, but not all for the same reasons. So, if you don’t like why some people celebrate certain holidays, celebrate it for your own reasons! If you like, you can even celebrate those holidays for the opposite reasons that everybody else does! Or, don’t even celebrate it at all!
A Canadian photographic artist is getting lots of attention for his blended portraits where he combines photos of parents and children into a single image – often with striking results.
