Well, what have I been up to lately? I've been watching a rather
lot of TV: Laurie hooked me on NCIS several
weeks ago, which is a bit of a cartoon show, but it's very
entertaining anyway. Laurie also showed me clips of Fifth Gear, and then I
started watching Top Gear,
which isn't politically correct or environmentally friendly, but which
is highly entertaining. They have silly challenges, like a Range Rover
Sport vs. a Challenger 2 tank, and a race between a Bugatti Veyron and
a Cessna 182 from Italy to London. They also play soccer with two teams
of Toyota
Aygos (Yaris
in Canada?), all highly silly and highly entertaining.
Jeremy
Clarkson's review of the RX-8 even convinced Tamara that I'm not
completely mad; I think she liked the suicide doors, and the fact that
it feels like it isn't running on anything as coarse and vulgar as
petrol, but that it feels like it's running on double cream!
Realistically though, were we to get a new car, I have a feeling it
would be some kind of family sedan or wagon... probably a used one at
that.
Since I got back from Victoria, I've been bouldering with Ryan
quite a bit. Finally, after two and a half months, my balance is
coming back, and my finger tips are getting calloused. Yay! Maybe I'll
actually be able to climb something outside this spring. Heart Creak
in the spring fellows? Maybe we'll wait until the snow melts this
time?
I have fallen off the cycling wagon though. I got sick and figured
it would be a bad idea to ride in cold weather with bronchitis, so I
started taking the bus, since both the 72/73 and the 20 go right by my
house to Brentwood Station which is very close to work. Now that the
roads are clear, I could ride my bike again, but somehow I haven't
gotten around to it. On other hand, riding the bus gives me time to
read a bit. I've been working though The
Philosophy Gym, which are short philosophical problems that I can
get though in a day, but which are a lot of food for thought. Does God
exit? Should I be eating that (meat)? What is knowledge? The problems
in the book are very short introductions, with references to larger
discussions.
Watching the English "debate" Tamara taped last night. Someone in
Edmonton asked why the Liberals and NDP and Bloc are pursuing a child
care program and wouldn't it be better if Canadians had choice? Paul
Martin's response reminded me of Henry Ford. "You can have any colour
you want, as long as it's black." Martin said something like "sure,
Canadians need choice, and that means making more spaces available in
day care..." Yes, that gives so much more choice. Especially if one
parent stays home with the kids. Or if your a single parent who works
nights. A 8 to 5 daycare is so helpful then. And then he goes and
says, when asked about personal income tax reductions vs. GST
reductions, that the liberals "believe in putting money into your
hands and letting you decide how to spend it is the way to go." Except
they don't actually believe that. Or something.
I've lots to discuss, but until next time, Merry Christmas...
