Category Archives: Canada

vid: aurora borealis over BC

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Welcome to my world. Well, actually the mountains get in the way most of the time, but I’ve seen the Northern Lights two or three times here in Vancouver, and they can be seen throughout most of BC when the sunspots align just right and all the polar bears are facing north north-west, so the light reflects off their silvery backs.

This video is timelapse photography from Fugly.com, and it’s kind of a shame, as one of the things I adore about the Aurora Borealis is the magnificently unhurried way the curtains of light wave in the sky. Also, this is all-green, and the purples and reds and indigos I know and love are sadly missed. My parents used to wake me up when I was little (and lived in Winnipeg) to watch the Northern Lights, and the self-evident magic of it, the middle of the nightishness of it, and the fact that it was considered important enough to wake us up for always associated it in my mind with Christmas. I didn’t even read The Father Christmas Letters till much later, but they explain plenty.

aussie fondles snake in the dark

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Crikey!“Nothing new there,” you’re thinking, rightly enough. Too right, mate.

But he was fondling it because he thought it was a lizard.

Oh, that’s different then.

A Sydney holidaymaker has received two doses of antivenom following five bites from the world’s second-most deadliest [sic] snake, an NRMA CareFlight spokesman says.

As Fark has the “Florida” tag, I’m thinking of starting an “Aussies playing with deadly wildlife” tag, for lo, we find we are making reference to such events with great regularity.

Now, it’s possible as Metro claims that the continent has been set up, PR-wise, and that people all around the world handle deadly creatures with just as much frequency, intimacy, and cluelessness, but the evidence is against it.

No, my theory is that we interact with wildlife in ways which eloquently, if inadvertently, express our national characters.

In Australia, they make a grab for it and try to become pals; any woman who’s met an Aussie in a bar will understand the scenario. 

In Germany, they issue execution orders. Any Jew…nah, I’ll leave that joke alone.

Here in Canada when we see wildlife we don’t mess around; we call the government. Anyone…seriously, anyone who’s been to Canada should recognize this as the default procedure, regardless of the circumstances.

Dudley, can we talk? Even Horse is embarassed.

Canadian Content vid: Lorne Michaels terrific with beaver

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That’ll teach him. Everybody knows to stay away from those shrill, self-centred beavers; they’re nothing but trouble. Even if they allow you to bill yourself as “the tall, good-looking one.”

With bonus coverage of Canada’s national tragedy: Dutch Puck Disease.

hApPi woRLd mEntAl HeALth dAy

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wut? WUT??? 

tHat;S aLl i WanTeD TO sAy#

  1.  ;
  2. ooo
  3. }}}

PSA: Pivot Foundation Christmas Auction

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Please join Pivot in the celebration of

our most exciting and successful year to date at the …

Pivot Foundation Christmas Auction

Thursday, November 9, 2006 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Law Courts Inn Restaurant

5th Floor, 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver

We are pleased to announce the theme of the 2006 Pivot Foundation Annual Christmas Auction is the Busker’s Ball and will feature some of Vancouver’s best live street performers for your enjoyment. Performers will be “busking” with all proceeds to benefit Pivot. 

Please join us for an evening of fascinating updates, terrific entertainment, exciting live and silent auctions, door prizes, refreshments and much, much more!  Items include vacation getaways, body treatments, photography sessions, original artwork, fine dining, a mountain bike, family adventures, a Smart Car for a weekend and much more!

Proceeds from the Pivot Foundation’s fourth annual live Christmas auction will support Pivot’s projects on behalf of the residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.   

Admission is by donation. 

Please RSVP by October 30, 2006 to auctionatpivotfoundationdotorg or call Lisa Werring at 604-255-9700.

Thank you for your continued support!

 

Pivot Foundation

 

Light hors d’oeurvres will be provided. 

Cash bar