Before you reach for that remedy...

CBC News: Chest doctors discourage use of most cough syrups

Interesting article. Basically says that most over the counter cough syrups are too low a strength to do any good -- many are no better than a placebo.

Plenty of Choices!

According to Elections Canada On-Line, there are no less than fifteen registered Political Parties eligible to field candidates in the January 23 federal election.

Unfortunately, it appears the Natural Law Party (a.k.a the the yogic flyers party) has voluntarily withdrawn. Good thing too since their Canadian website now redirects to an online dating directory.

Sadly, it appears that the Absolutely Absurd Party lost their ability to become registered.

Around here, the fringiest party is the Western Block Party (WBP) headed by controversial lawyer Doug Christie. Mr. Christie and his compatriots would like to see Western Canada (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) form an independent country. Suuuuure.

Currently, six parties are represented, and one independent is running in my riding (Victoria); there is no incumbent candidate:

ANDERSEN, Saul (Independent)
BAIRD, Robin (Conservative)
BURNETT, Bruce (WBP)
LADE, Ariel (Green Party)
MALLACH, Fred (Marijuana Party)
MULRONEY, David (Liberal)
SAVOIE, Denise (N.D.P.)

Next door, in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, there are six parties and no idependent candidates; Keith Martin is the incumbent:

CHRISTIE, Douglas (WBP)
DeSOUZA, Troy (Conservative)
GARRISON, Randall (N.D.P.)
MARTIN, Keith (Liberal)
PINEY, David (Canadian Action)
ROBINSON, Mike (Green Party)

Across town, the choice is even slimmer at 5 parties in Saanich-Gulf Islands; Gary Lunn is the incumbent:

BURGIS, Jennifer (N.D.P.)
LEWIS, Andrew (Green Party)
LUNN, Gary Vincent (Conservative)
O’BRIEN, Patricia (WBP)
ORR, Sheila (Liberal)

Tags: tyeeelectioncentral

digital kid

So hubby and I are doing post-production on our "pilot" podcast -- it's got a political theme so it may or may not interest anyone... but expect to see it up this week anyway. Yesterday, though, kiddo told my mom that she was doing a podcast (which prompted mom to ask "a what?"). She confirmed wanting to do a podcast of her own today -- and she picked out a domain name! Hah! (It's a hillarious name, and we may just indulge her.) Later, I let her use the digital camera (because she is going to need content for that domain) and she took some interesting photos... so I may have to set her up a Flickr account too. Hee Hee.

Scarf Done!

Woo! I finished off the snuffleuppagus scarf last night; here's an action shot:

The finished scarf is 8 inches wide and 45 inches long. If I made another, I would aim for no more than 6 inches wide.

As I mentioned last night, I finished it while watching Jaws, which I really rather enjoyed! I was surprised by the amount of suspense given that I knew what the "surprising" scenes were -- thanks to 30 years of pop culture references, not to mention shows like Mythbusters' Jaws Special. As I sat there watching, I was trying to figure out why I had never seen the film before. I think a large part was that I was too young when it premiered in the theatre (I was six) -- for the most part I was still watching Disney movies. Since then, though, I have had many opportunities... so I think it comes down to the fact that I have always thought Richard Dreyfuss was a goof and I always thought of Jaws as a Dreyfuss film.

Out and About *

This morning, my mom picked up me and kiddo and we went out to a fabric store to buy the remaining fabric she needed to make kiddo's quilt, and some curtains to coordinate with the coming redecoration.

Yep. We have promised to let kiddo paint one wall and the trim around the windows and doors purple. She has been asking for over a year... so I'm guessing she is not going to change her mind any time soon. I expect we will do the work in March, close to her birthday.

Now, if I ever utter the words "I ought to take up quilting," please ask me how I plan to finance that particular habit. You see, I had no idea that a yard of fabric (ONE yard) could cost $12.99 on sale. That, to me, seems ridiculous. Mind you, when I think of quilting my thoughts turn to pioneer crazy-quilts which believe were made with scraps from worn clothing or leftovers from making clothing. So if I ever take up quilting, rest assured, I will be using scraps and recycled fabric.

After lunch, mom went off to see a movie and kiddo and I were left to our own devices. We chose to go on a "bus adventure" -- she really wanted to take a double decker bus, so I told her we would get on one and see where it went. This amused her no end. We ended up going from downtown out to Admirals Walk then doing some shopping (groceries plus a wander through the dollar store) and taking another bus from there home. This little self-portrait with kiddo (below, left) was taken at Admiral's Walk; kiddo also noticed a needle stuck into two leaves of one of the bushes (below, right):

When we got home, we were a bit cold from the rain, so I turned up the heat and we curled up to watch some cartoons. Once we were warm, it was craft time! We had bought some nice bright-coloured ink-pads at the dollar store so kiddo could do some "thumbprinting." Here's one of her creations:

In case you were wondering, hubby was out doing "good friend" duty helping someone move. Now we are watching Jaws which, oddly, I have never seen. Scratch one off my film-gap list!



*(No, I do not pronounce that "ooot and aboooot." I am Canadian, not stupid.)