Katamat

Number Lovers

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:31:00 +0000

Now here is a woman after my own heart.

Number Gossip

You just have to love the purity of a site that gives you nothing but trivia about numbers.

Hint: Try zero. :-)

You're Welcome, Brian Williams

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:58:00 +0000

And thank you, Ying, for sending it to me.

Brian Williams, NBC Nightly News

After tonight's broadcast and after looting our hotel mini-bars, we're going to try to brave the blizzard and fly east to home and hearth, and to do laundry well into next week. Before we leave this thoroughly polite country, the polite thing to do is leave behind a thank-you note.

Thank you, Canada:

For being such good hosts.

For your unfailing courtesy.

For your (mostly) beautiful weather.

For scheduling no more than 60 percent of your float plane departures at the exact moment when I was trying to say something on television.

For not seeming to mind the occasional (or constant) good-natured mimicry of your accents.

For your unique TV commercials -- for companies like Tim Horton's -- which made us laugh and cry.

For securing this massive event without choking security, and without publicly displaying a single automatic weapon.

For having the best garment design and logo-wear of the games -- you've made wearing your name a cool thing to do.

For the sportsmanship we saw most of your athletes display.

For not honking your horns. I didn't hear one car horn in 15 days -- which also means none of my fellow New Yorkers rented cars while visiting.

For making us aware of how many of you have been watching NBC all these years.

For having the good taste to have an anchorman named Brian Williams on your CTV network, who turns out to be such a nice guy.

For the body scans at the airport which make pat-downs and cavity searches unnecessary.

For designing those really cool LED Olympic rings in the harbour, which turned to gold when your athletes won one.

For always saying nice things about the United States...when you know we're listening.

For sharing Joannie Rochette with us.

For reminding some of us we used to be a more civil society.

Mostly, for welcoming the world with such ease and making lasting friends with all of us.

Women Over 50

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:34:00 +0000

I think Andy Rooney says it best.

As I grow in age, I value women over 50 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 50 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, 'What are you thinking?' She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 50 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.

Women over 50 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 50.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 50 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest.. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 50 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 50, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?Here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage.Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!

Andy Rooney is a really smart guy!

We Are More

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:33:00 +0000

We Are More

by Shane Koyczan

When defining Canada

you might list some statistics

you might mention our tallest building

or biggest lake

you might shake a tree in the fall

and call a red leaf Canada

you might rattle off some celebrities

might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie

might even mention the fact that we've got a few

Barenaked Ladies

or that we made these crazy things

like zippers

electric cars

and washing machines

when defining Canada

it seems the world's anthem has been

"been there done that"

and maybe that's where we used to be at

it's true

we've done and we've been

we've seen

all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine

and turned into theme parks

but when defining Canada

don't forget to mention that we have set sparks

we are not just fishing stories

about the one that got away

we do more than sit around and say "eh?"

and yes

we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One

who inspired little number nines

and little number ninety-nines

but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines

off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes

and some say what defines us

is something as simple as please and thank you

and as for you're welcome

well we say that too

but we are more

than genteel or civilized

we are an idea in the process

of being realized

we are young

we are cultures strung together

then woven into a tapestry

and the design

is what makes us more

than the sum total of our history

we are an experiment going right for a change

with influences that range from a to zed

and yes we say zed instead of zee

we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy

we dream so big that there are those

who would call our ambition an industry

because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow

we do more than grow wheat and brew beer

we are vineyards of good year after good year

we reforest what we clear

because we believe in generations beyond our own

knowing now that so many of us

have grown past what used to be

we can stand here today

filled with all the hope people have

when they say things like "someday"

someday we'll be great

someday we'll be this

or that

someday we'll be at a point

when someday was yesterday

and all of our aspirations will pay the way

for those who on that day

look towards tomorrow

and still they say someday

we will reach the goals we set

and we will get interest on our inspiration

because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks

more than backpacks and hiking trails

we are hammers and nails building bridges

towards those who are willing to walk across

we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss

we are not the see-through gloss or glamour

of those who clamour for the failings of others

we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers

uncles and nephews aunts and nieces

we are cousins

we are found missing puzzle pieces

we are families with room at the table for newcomers

we are more than summers and winters

more than on and off seasons

we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay

because we are more than what we say or do

we live to get past what we go through

and learn who we are

we are students

students who study the studiousness of studying

so we know what as well as why

we don't have all the answers

but we try

and the effort is what makes us more

we don't all know what it is in life we're looking for

so keep exploring

go far and wide

or go inside but go deep

go deep

as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss

and suddenly there was this location scout

trying to figure some way out

to get inside you

because you've been through hell and high water

and you went deep

keep exploring

because we are more

than a laundry list of things to do and places to see

we are more than hills to ski

or countryside ponds to skate

we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait

we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes

a country that is all the ways you choose to live

a land that can give you variety

because we are choices

we are millions upon millions of voices shouting

"keep exploring... we are more"

we are the surprise the world has in store for you

it's true

Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"

so don't say "been there done that"

unless you've sat on the sidewalk

while chalk artists draw still lifes

on the concrete of a kid in the street

beatboxing to Neil Young for fun

don't say you've been there done that

unless you've been here doing it

let this country be your first-aid kit

for all the times you get sick of the same old same old

let us be the story told to your friends

and when that story ends

leave chapters for the next time you'll come back

next time pack for all the things

you didn't pack for the first time

but don't let your luggage define your travels

each life unravels differently

and experiences are what make up

the colours of our tapestry

we are the true north

strong and free

and what's more

is that we didn't just say it

we made it be.

-Shane Koyczan

Take a Stand

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:15:00 +0000

Here is your chance to take a stand. Write to the PMO, your MP, the opposition leaders and let them know how you feel about this. You can do it online at www.bringbackparliament.ca.

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to express my concern about your decision to shut down Parliament.

Some days I don't feel like working. If I decided simply not to show up, I'd lose my job. There's too much work to be done to allow for that kind of irresponsibility.

The same is true for our country. There are too many pressing issues to shut down Parliament for weeks: joblessness, climate change, the war.

MPs have important work to do on these and other issues. It's not right that they should be prevented from doing that work because you don't want to face the House of Commons.

I urge you to bring back Parliament on schedule.

Yours sincerely,

Say NO to Proroguing Parliament

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:31:00 +0000

Come out on January 23 and be heard.

Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament

Constitutional Fairytales

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:11:00 +0000

Debunking the parliamentary myths Mr. Harper would have us believe ... a refreshingly clear and concise article about Canadian parliament.

http://historywire.ca/en/article/19578

Vacation Reading

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:41:00 +0000

One of the best things about vacation and traveling is that you have time to read. I love that moment when you click the seat belt shut, pull out your book and settle in for a 6 hour affair with a book you have been saving for just this moment.

And our recent trip to Scotland was no different. I have just passed my birthday and thanks to some wonderfully thoughtful friends I had a couple of good books to keep me company on my journey.

The first book I picked up was No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod. And how completely appropriate that I should read this on the flight to Scotland. I won't recount the plot here as I don't want to spoil it for anyone who might yet read this book. As a Canadian of Scottish heritage, this book touched something very deep in my past and put me in the perfect frame of mind to embrace Scotland as we toured the Highlands and walked Culloden Moor. Thank you Mr. MacLeod for a wonderful and touching story beautifully executed.

The second book to grace this vacation was Suite Française. How I could have missed this book during the five years since it was first published is a mystery. That I have found it and read it now is a blessing. Reading the book while knowing the fate of the author made it one of the most intimate literary experiences I've ever known. In a gross over-simplification, I categorize fiction as either action or character development. Suite Française has both and Irene Némirovsky is a master. It is our loss that she did not survive to publish many, many more works.

The last of my vacation reading was a little lighter ... A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle and Mr. Mayle had me chuckling pretty much the entire flight home. This book was so delightful that I think I've convinced Roël that we need to visit Provence very soon - and not the tourist hotspots, but the smaller villages and out of the way restaurants that I feel I have already visited.

As far as vacation reading goes, this past vacation has been a major success. All three books that I took with me were excellent reads ... each in it's own way. Very different books, very different (and talented) authors and all of them well worth the time to read and enjoy.

Scotland: Stonehaven

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

As we headed to the east coast we lost most of our sunny weather and were treated to a storm, compliments of the North Sea. There is nothing quite so inviting in a stormy little fishing village as a warm and welcoming pub. We were heading to Stonehaven to have a look at Dunnottar Castle. The town of Stonehaven was so inviting and the Marine Hotel had such great food we ended up staying two nights.

Here are our first glimpses of Stonehaven.

And after a very long walk, much of it uphill, here is Dunnottar Castle and the surrounding area.

How can any collection of photographs of Scotland be complete without a Scottish thistle?

I loved the look of the rolling fields with the bales of hay and straw. When the sun struck them just right, they positively glowed.

And finally, a parting shot of the Marine Hotel as we left with the storm still raging. This is taken from the inside of a dry car. If you are ever on the east coast of Scotland I highly recommend the Marine Hotel for lunch, dinner, a pint or an overnight stay.

Scotland: Skye to Inverness

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The next leg of our journey took us from Lochalsh toward Inverness. The countryside between Skye and Inverness is stunning. The weather was starting to turn rainy and the skies were overcast, still the sun managed to make a couple of appearances.

This is the cairn on Culloden Moor. Appropriately, the day turned completely grey while we were here. The Moor is pretty much as it was 260+ years ago.

Scotland: The Isle of Skye

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I've been looking forward to visiting Skye for quite some time. And it was even more beautiful than I expected. One of the branches of my family emigrated to Canada from Skye a long, long time ago and it is amazing that I still feel a connection to this place.
We were fortunate enough to have a clear and sunny day for our tour of the island - something the locals assured us was quite rare in October.

The north side of the island is sparsely populated and once outside the towns near the bridge (Broadford and Portree, the capital) we found ourselves on a single track road pulling off to the side infrequently to left a car pass by and more often slowing down to admire the local sheep. But more on the sheep of Skye later.

This picture was taken in Trotternish and shows off the Old Man of Storr.

And now back to those sheep. At first they looked friendly enough. Willing to pose for a picture or two while trotting down the highway.

I'll leave the sheep alone for a while and return to the natural beauty of Skye.

Somewhere about now, we had made our way to the south of the island and felt it appropriate that we take a short break and tour the Talisker Distillery in Carbost. It was a fine tour, with a wee dram offered as a sample and then we were back on our way.

Ahhh, the return of the Sheep of Skye. There is a bit of an inside joke about the sheep. I wanted a picture of me with the sheep on the road and I wanted that picture very badly. I had Roël stop several times so I could get out and mingle with the sheep while he got the picture. Every time I stepped out of the car, the sheep made for the hills. So one more close-up of my friend, the sheep the way they look when you are in your car. And then the view we had most often. The sheep, actually airborne, and from the rear.

A couple more shots of the incredible scenery on Skye.

And then back to the bridge at Kyleakin.

A Few Days in Scotland, cont'd ...

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:07:00 +0000

It seems amazing now to think that in one fell swoop we caught an afternoon flight from Toronto to Glasgow then drove for five hours to Kyle of Lochalsh, stopping to take in the beautiful scenery, booked into our hotel and still when the afternoon sun showed up we had the energy to grab the cameras and set out in the car to see what we could find.

Scotland and the Highlands, in particular, are indescribably beautiful. And when that perfect afternoon sun shines on this part of the world, sleep seems to be less important.

This little fellow was very friendly and agreed to pose right in the sunlight for me. He seemed to like us and hung around for a while letting Roël get quite a few great shots of him.

These red berries seemed to be everywhere. I couldn't resist the colours against that blue sky.

A last, brave sprig of heather in bloom. One thing still on my list of sights to see - the Highlands when the heather is in bloom.

A few rays of sunlight catching the ferns in the shade.

Roël hard at work. I am never quite sure what he is seeing and I am almost always speechless when I see it on the back of the camera afterward. He will be posting some of his images on his blog. You can watch for them at www.roelphoto.com/blog.

The afternoon sun can make anything, even a cemetery, beautiful.

A Few Days in Scotland

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:28:00 +0000

October may not seem like the perfect time to visit Scotland ...

Roël and I were very fortunate with the weather on our most recent trip, and Scotland generously offered up some beautiful scenery, a spectacular history and many friendly and helpful people.

We spent our time touring by car and, as we prefer to do, wandered where the winds blew us.

After landing very early in Glasgow, we decided to make our way north toward the Isle of Skye - which was definitely on our list of must-see destinations. Little did we know we would make the entire drive to Skye that first day.

Here are a few of my favourite images from that drive north.

The sun rising over Loch Lomond:

A hint of the fall colours that were all around us as we drove:

We stumbled across the incredibly beautiful Loch Awe. First the castle,

then the trees in the morning mists.

Roël saw this out of the corner of his eye as we were driving.

And this too. I'm not sure the name of this loch, though the absolute stillness of the surface gave us some amazing reflections.

More mists rising out of the trees.

Everywhere we looked we found views like this

and this.

This was a little bizarre and interesting scene. We had a chat with some locals about what this represented. It is a recent change. A funeral cairn seems to have been dismantled and turned into hundreds of mini-cairns.

Sun over a lake. The key point here is that I managed to produce a starburst with my camera. A first for me and something I've been trying to accomplish since we were in Portugal last year. :-)

And finally, two views of the bridge connecting the Isle of Skye to the mainland. On the right (mainland) is the town of Kyle of Lochalsh and on the left (Skye) is Kyleakin.

Five Things I Love About Being a Mom

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Wed, 06 May 2009 03:45:00 +0000

4:00 am feedings. The only people awake on the planet are the two of you in the still of the night.
Year after year, the pictures on the front porch as they set out on their first day of school and the way the spruce tree in the picture gets bigger and bigger as the years go by.
Visiting the 6'++ son in first year residence and having a big swinging hug right there in the lobby in front of his friends.
Having the world-traveling daughter return home after two years and need some good old-fashioned Mommy-love.
Waking up each morning knowing you have given two wonderful new people to the universe.

Afghan Women's Rights

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:32:00 +0000

The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) calls on the
Government of Canada to continue efforts to eliminate proposed legislation in
Afghanistan that threatens women’s basic human rights. The legislation contains
articles that would prevent women from leaving the house without their
husband’s permission, awards custody of children to male relatives only, and
that legalizes rape within marriage.

Of the law, CFUW President Patricia DuVal echoed the concerns of UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay: “This law is an affront to Afghan
women, and risks seriously undermining the small steps Afghanistan has made
towards compliance with international human rights norms.” Mindful of Canada’s
continued role in Afghanistan, she called on the Canadian government to
“involve Afghan women as leaders in peacebuilding efforts and increase support
for Afghan women’s groups who are working to improve gender equity.”

CFUW is committed to continuing its advocacy work at home to ensure that
Canadian actions in Afghanistan support women’s human rights in a culturally
sensitive manner.

CFUW urges members and supporters to sign a petition protesting the law
developed by our partner organization CARE Canada at www.care.ca.

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Comic credits to: wonderfactory.org.

International Women's Day

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:15:00 +0000

It is the 98th anniversary of International Women's Day.

During International Women's Year in 1975, IWD was given official recognition by the United Nations and was taken up by many governments. International Women's Day is marked by a national holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. But not in Canada ... yet.

Valentine's Day in Vegas

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:43:00 +0000

Okay, so it wasn't ever my idea of paradise, but if you have to be in Vegas on Valentine's Day (and at a WPPI convention, to boot) it's nice to be there with your husband.

And even nicer if he gets tickets to a Billy Joel concert.

Yes, I am unashamed to STILL be a Billy Joel fan. Yes, I'm proud to say that when he finally played Piano Man at the very end of the evening, I was one of the many thousands who sang it back to him. And yes, I do admit to loving Piano Man from the first time I heard it in my first year of university and, yes, that was a long, long time ago. If only the good die young, what does that say about us - the long-standing Joel fans still thrilled to hear the piano man do his thing?

Happy Valentine's Day to you. I hope you got to spend it with someone special.

Best Complaint Letter Ever

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:19:00 +0000

I just came across this and couldn't resist posting it. What a way to start a new year.

Complaint Letter to Richard Branson

Merry Christmas

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:31:00 +0000

and all the best of health and happiness in 2009.

Cheers,
Anne

Firefox not IE, Please!

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:27:00 +0000

This article says it all. Down with IE and up with Firefox.

I apologize in advance for the article ... it is a little more technical than the usual posts on this blog AND it is well worth reading.

Get Firefox. Do it now. Please. It is free!

Firefox for Mac
Firefox for Windows
Firefox for Linux

Oh Canada

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:15:00 +0000

This comment from a Globe & Mail reader in response to this article about the machinations of our Conservative government pretty much captures the feelings of many voters.

Read the article here. High Risk Mortgages Crept North.

The Angry Left from Canada writes: The Harper Conservatives aren't 'the best of a bad bunch', as they would like you to believe. The Conservatives, like the Republicans down south, like the Harris PCs in Ontario from which Harper draws much of his cabinet 'talent' thrives by sowing dysfunction, breeding cynicism and spreading lies. Their main strategy consists of discrediting government by governing irresponsibly.

When Harris was in power here (in Ontario), his strategy to 'fix' education was to engineer a crisis in order to come in as saviour and force their own agenda down everyone's throats. The strategy is simple. Antagonize your opposition, when they react, belittle them, infantalize them, paint them as 'irresponsible' and 'greedy'. Negotiate in bad faith. Paint anyone who takes sides with the opposition as crazy and unreasonable. Push the entire system past the tipping point and break it, presenting your own agenda as the only 'reasonable' solution. This is their approach to healthcare, education, nuclear safety, the civil service, Parliament. Why should it come as any surprise that this is their approach to the economy?

The Conservatives aren't the best of a bad bunch, they are the bad apple that spoils the entire bushel. If Canadians are stupid enough to mistake them as the best of a bad bunch and hand them a majority, Canadians will pay dearly. I still believe the coalition will go ahead sooner or later. I think the three opposition parties will be able to govern more effectively than this gang of buffoons. The Conservatives are buffoons. They govern by sowing division, stoking crisis, breeding cynisism and destroying trust. That's all they know and they will never change. They are hard-wired this way.

Arrecife, Canary Islands

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:02:00 +0000

Our day in Arrecife was very relaxed. It was bit overcast, but the weather was great for just wandering around and enjoying this beautiful little town.

We wandered a bit, stopped to have our picture (out of focus) taken by a friendly tourist then enjoyed a drink in a sidewalk cafe and watched the world go by.

One bit of interesting trivia, the Canary Islands are not named after little yellow birds. "Canary" derives from the Latin word canis, "dog", and the name Canaria was given to one of these islands because of its population of fearsomely huge canines.

One more bit of interesting trivia ... the Greeks believed that the gods sent virtuous souls and particularly blessed mortals to these Isles as a sort of super retirement home.

After Casablanca? Agadir, Of Course.

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:57:00 +0000

The original city of Agadir was destroyed by earthquake in 1960 killing an estimated 15,000 people. The new city has been built 2 km south of the destroyed Kasbah. The market here was the high point for me. To see the spices and olives in such abundance was amazing.

We were treated to a visit to a tourist centre and offered camel rides and an opportunity to play with ... of all things ... snakes. Thanks, but no thanks.

Casablanca, Morocco

adixonmahatoo@gmail.com (Anne Dixon-Mahatoo) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:31:00 +0000

For me, the most memorable part of our short visit to Casablanca is the Hassan II Mosque. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.