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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.

Photo source: Google images

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

‘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.

Video Source: You Tube

Source: Earth Hour Timelapse – Toronto, Canada by Dave Dunville

Toronto Ontario, Riverdale Neighbourhood | 10:30am – Thursday January 31, 2012 | Shot using a Samsung Galaxy SIII

January 21-25, 2013 is Red Tape Awareness Week in Canada.

Watch the video below: 

SIGN THE RED TAPE PETITION! Click on the link to access the CFIB website for more information on Red Tape Awareness Week: CFIB – Red Tape Awareness Week, 2013

“If the government employees would react a little quicker instead of leaving issues for a later time (create work project) business wouldn’t have to wait for a response so long. There are too many departments that overlap. ”  Canadian Small Business Owner

Source: The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)

Personally, I support many aspects of the #idlenomore movement. For my friends abroad, “The Vision of IDLE NO MORE (in Canada) revolves around Indigenous Ways of Knowing rooted in Indigenous Sovereignty to protect water, air, land and all creation for future generations.” http://idlenomore.ca/

#idlenomore

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Toronto – Condo Construction Boom / Boom de construction de logement | photo source: John Zeus

Canada’s fastest growing economies / Les économies les plus à croissance rapide du Canada

Toronto – 20.6 (index points / points d’index)

Calgary – 19.5

Regina – 18.4

Winnipeg – 18.4

Saskatoon – 18.2

Edmonton – 17.8

Ottawa – 16.8

Vancouver – 14

Halifax – 13.8

Saguenay – 12.2

Source: CIBC / Source : CIBC