Toronto Shooting

The media have been in hysterics the last few days about the tragic death of Jane Creba, the 15-year-old girl caught in the crossfire of a Boxing Day shootout in downtown Toronto. There has been much hand-wringing about gang violence, the illegal cross-border trade in guns, etc., etc. And so there should be - these are extremely serious problems.

But why is it that such issues are only brought to widespread attention when the victims are like Jane Creba - young, attractive, middle-class and white? Would there have been anywhere near as much attention paid if the person killed was not a pretty innocent teenager out shopping with her parents? Of course not. Only when the violence strays out of the enclaves inhabited by the have-nots do the haves sit up and take notice. Sad.

The Va Dinci Cod

Christmas should always have an element of wacky fun. So I've started reading a little book J. gave me called The Va Dinci Cod. I probably don't have to tell you that it's a parody (in the venerable tradition of similar works such as Bored of the Rings by the Harvard Lampoon) of an ersatz "intellectual thriller" that has sold by the shedload from airport departure lounges everywhere.

"An eminent, renowned museum curator lies dead in his own gallery, with a three-foot cod stuffed down his throat...."

I'm already enjoying it quite a bit.
*snicker*

On the Feast of Stephen

Well, it's been quite a relaxed day. A. and I dashed home earlier to gather up some stuff to take up to Cape Breton with us tomorrow. Opened some more presents as well, which was very good.

I didn't ask for anything in particular, but got lots of nice things anyway. Multiple bottles of booze, books, pieces of jewellery, choccies and candies; a crystal vase; a velvet shoe bag; tree ornaments; a glass bowl...et cie. A.'s family also gave us a very nice fireplace set (poker, tongs, shovel, etc.) which we really needed as we use our fireplace quite a lot now. My parents gave me my present early - I got a box of over a hundred vintage postcards, which they got a few months ago at auction. Nearly all of them date from the 1900s to the 1920s and they are absolutely wonderful...now I just need to figure out a nice way to display them.

Tonight it's another groaning dinner, before we battle the continuing torrential rain (which is melting all the snow, happily) en route to CB in the morning. In the meantime, over at the McWetlog, my friend Jonathan has presented a selection of holiday tunes for your consideration...heh heh.

Happy Christmas

With the in-laws today, and it's been quite nice. Present-opening was of epic proportions; it began at 8 am and didn't end till 2.30! Mind you, there was tea and breakfast and sherry in between, as well as breaks to get showered and dressed, and the taking of various phone calls from well-wishers. My in-laws are also freakishly patient people, who open gifts carefully with scissors and knives so as to re-use wrapping paper next year, etc. No joke! So that, coupled with the fact that gifts were opened one at a time and universally admired before proceeding to the next, meant that presents have taken up much of the day. Which - one must admit - is certainly not an unpleasant way to spend Christmas Day.

Dinner preparations now in full swing. A. and I have just finished our job, which is the first course - we made shrimp bisque. We're having duck for mains. Yummy!

Snowy

We've had a little light, fluffy snow these last few hours. It's making everything look very Christmassy. Not so nice for the people who still have to go shopping today, though!

A Christmas Carol

Just finished my annual viewing of A Christmas Carol. And not one of those rubbish modern versions either - it was the 1951 black-and-white version starring Alastair Sim as Scrooge:

This movie always used to freak me out a little when I was a kid - even now, I find some of the special effects (or lack thereof) unintentionally weird. Ah well, British film wasn't exactly at the cutting edge of technology back then. And it's still a great nostalgia trip.

"Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?"

Fromage 2005

I just finished watching Fromage 2005 on MuchMusic. As usual, it's one of the funniest programmes of the year. Ed the Sock is scathingly brilliant. Don't worry if you didn't see it though, as it will likely be shown over and over and over again in the coming weeks....

O Christmas Tree

I know it is odd to love inanimate objects. But I really, really love our Christmas tree. It's just so beautiful. And it smells so good. Every time I walk into the living room, that sweet, woody scent overtakes me. I even find myself feeling sorry that no one will be here in this house on Christmas day, to turn on its lights and admire it. OK, now that really is weird.

I'm not working tomorrow, so I plan on spending at least some of my day lying on the sofa, communing with my tree, eating the shortbreads I made at the weekend, and reading something inspiring.

Happy Winter Solstice

Feuer Zunge Bowle

A ha! Courtesy of my FIL, I now give you the famed 'fire tongue bowl'!