My heart goes out to all the people of the Central Philippines, my thoughts and prayers to my friends living there and all my friends with family there. You are not alone.
Seeing and reading all the news updates on the situation of the countless victims of Yolanda (Haiyan) is saddening. All the finger pointing going on and still no concrete rescue efforts visible. My prayers and wishes that all our individual efforts of sending food, blankets, clothing and aid begin to amount to something and continue on until we have reached all those in need. Please continue giving.
A map entitled “The Corporate States of America” created by writer and graphic designer Steve Lovelace. Here, he creatively illustrates the most famous brands that represent each state.
Thoughts? Do you agree with his brand selection for your state?
Monday, November 11, 2013, is Remembrance Day in Canada.
Remembrance Day commemorates the sacrifices of people in all armed conflicts. Many people wear commemorative poppies on their clothes in the weeks before Remembrance Day. Red poppies symbolize the memory of those who died.The use of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance comes from a poem written by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor serving in the military. The poem is called In Flanders Fields and describes the poppies growing in the graveyards where soldiers were buried.
“In Flanders Fields”
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae.
Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915, during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium.
A trip to the dinosaur exhibit at the museum has always been a cherished experience. Carefree childhood memories of my dad taking me to see the dinosaurs since I was six years old. I remember that moment as a child, standing there, looking up in awe at Albertosaurus towering over us.
I still visit once a year, alone, sometimes on my birthday. I sit, meditate, contemplate Albertosaurus and the other fossils, connect with my inner child, and escape for a few moments from the stresses of adulthood.
Photos by John Zeus | Taken at the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada
Toronto, mayor Rob Ford was shown on videotape pacing around an unknown living room ranting gibberish and gesticulating wildly.
In Toronto, Canada lately, the news is all about Rob Ford. Another story or video emerges and goes viral. Our city hall has become a zoo with reporters camped out all the time in front of the mayor’s office. City counsellors and staffers alike engulfed in the daily drama that takes them away from important city business and their jobs. This has affected the whole city. Workopolis polls even show 65% of respondents saying they lost productivity at work because “this is all everyone’s talking about.”
Today it’s about another video. The Toronto Star released footage that shows the mayor inebriated and acting foolish in a private home. They purchased the video for 5K, released it, and it went viral. More fodder for American late night talk shows.
Most of us know by now that Ford shouldn’t be our mayor in his current state. He needs to step down and seek help. There is no need for the media to keep piling on every day. Journalists need to stop harassing him at home. This city needs to get back to work. ^
The video sourced, along with the mayor’s response is added below.
WARNING: Graphic content.
Mayor Rob Ford Caught In Video Rant
The Toronto Star, Toronto’s highest-circulation newspaper has obtained video of Mayor Rob Ford where he appears to be in a state of extreme agitation. The context in which it was shot is unclear, but his language and mannerisms clearly indicate he’s angry. – Source: You Tube
Moments after the Star published the video online, Ford emerged from his office and apologized.
Mayor Ford’s Public Reaction To The Video Released Earlier
“The Toronto Star just released a video that I was very, very inebriated….”
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s statement following the release of video that show him yelling wildly, swearing profusely and acting erratically. – Source: You Tube
Dreams play a central role in the spiritual life of the people of the First Nations. The belief is that dreams are given to us by the Creator. Yesterday I acquired my first dreamcatcher. It is made by Alexis, an intuitive and creative woman, married to a Mississaugas* chief and living in Alderville First Nation. I had the best sleep in weeks. The Creator gave me brilliant dreams.
A First Nations legend tells that all dreams are caught in the web. Good dreams find their way through and bad dreams are trapped until the first rays until the sun destroys them.
In some Native American cultures, a dreamcatcher is a handmade object based on a willow hoop, on which is woven a loose net or web. The dreamcatcher is then decorated with sacred items such as feathers and beads. Wikipedia
It is not unusual in First Nation spirituality for a dream to plot the course of a person’s destiny, guiding them along their path to their place in life. ^
Photos/Story: John Zeus
*Alderville First Nation is a band of Mississaugas, a sub-nation of the Ojibwas.
‘Yes I have smoked crack cocaine’ – Rob Ford, Nov 5 2013
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admits to what many of us suspected for months.
My thought of the day
In light of Mayor Ford’s admission today at city hall and the negative media attention focused on our city, I’d like to assure my friends here in Toronto, across the country and abroad that Toronto is still a great city. A clean, green and liveable city, the place I call home. Mayor Ford does not represent who we are as Torontonians and Canadians. By his actions he’s embarrassed us internationally, he’s become our dirty laundry.
Mayor Ford has been lying to Torontonians for months about this issue and it really saddens me. Most of us have made mistakes in life we regret, and when asked about our lives most of us are honest with our responses. More importantly, we truly learn from our mistakes because we want to be better people and be responsible to those we serve and those we love.
Our mayor needs to take responsibility immediately and take a medical leave of absence or resign, and get help for his problem. It’s the right thing to do.
John Zeus
The Twitterverse was bursting with reaction to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s admission today. Many people were in shock, with several asking for him to resign. You can follow the buzz using #TOpoli #RobFord.
I’d like to share a link to a photo I posted on National Geographic’s Your Shot, an online photo community where amateur hobbyist like me can post our best shot. The assignment this month is #Foodscapes – What does the landscape of food look like in your world?
This photo was taken at a street festival in Toronto. Shot with my phone as we walked down the street experiencing the glory of food by smell, sound, sight, touch and taste.
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ABOUT JOHN ZEUS
(Link to his Bio) John Zeus “Zeus” is a highly involved and effective leader, mentor and learning coach.
His hobbies include, urban farming, local food initiatives, boxing, blogging, canoeing and hiking.
In this space he explores personal interests, identifies challenges, shares solutions and takes action with others.
JOHNZEUS.COM 
November 13, 2013
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