Bus stabbing
A man travelling on a Greyhound bus in Manitoba was decapitated by the guy sitting next to him. The victim – who was only around 20 years old and didn’t know his killer – was stabbed several times as well. It’s sickening. The reports say the attacker was extremely calm about the whole thing, which makes it even more disturbing.
One of my first thoughts was that soon bus security will be as tough as at the airport, but safety minister Stockwell Day said that won’t happen, since the incident was extremely rare. Still, maybe bus transportation companies should have at least a short list of prohibited items … like knives, maybe?
Fritzl family drama
The story of Josef Fritzl and his family is not over yet. Today allegations arose that the 73-year-old Austrian who imprisoned and raped his daughter also attacked his sister-in-law. I’m not sure what would shock me about him anymore. It’s all such a sad story …
Apparently Elisabeth Fritzl, who was locked in her dad’s basement for 24 years, recently asked her mother, Rosemarie, to leave the apartment they were staying in with her six children. Elisabeth’s reason is not just that her children are confused as to who their mother is, but she’s also wondering if Rosemarie knew about the abuse and didn’t step in to help.
With all the stress and chaos they have endured, I’m a little surprised that something hasn’t blown up sooner. I can’t imagine what all those kids are going through, trying to figure out how life is supposed to be. It’s going to take years, if not decades, for all of those involved to work through all the atrocities they have seen and experienced.
Oh, and Rosemarie is reportedly divorcing her husband. You think?
Life in space
A former astronaut, Edgar Mitchell, recently announced in a radio interview that he is completely convinced there is life on other planets. Not only does he think aliens exist, he also believes they have been to earth (Roswell!) and the government has been covering it up.
You can listen to the interview here (bottom of the page), where he sounds pretty convincing, especially since he was in space as part of Apollo 14.
However, I also found this column, which mentions a few other things Mitchell has said and done that makes him a little less credible. For instance, he said he tried to communicate telepathically with people on earth while he was in space. Hmm …
Another astronaut, Mark Kelly, also said that he believes in life elsewhere in the universe, though he does not agree that they have visited earth. The comments are interesting – especially from Mitchell – and I am curious to see people’s reactions if this story gets out more.
Spain’s good year
The Spanish cycling team’s co-leader, Carlos Sastre, won the 2008 Tour de France on Sunday. It marks the third huge sports win for the country this year.
Spain’s soccer team took home gold in this year’s Euro Cup, after 44 years without a title. Plus, the 2008 upset winner of the longest ever final Wimbledon match – Rafael Nadal – was from Spain.
They’re on a roll!
Obama’s prayer
When presidential candidate Barack Obama was in Jerusalem, he left a prayer on the Western Wall. A group of students stole it (and later apologized) and the note was published.
I was pretty impressed when I saw it. Check it out -
“Lord – Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will.”
Tour de France
During the 2008 Tour de France, the route went through some steep hilly areas, with some switchback roads. One rider didn’t quite make the turn … and fell about 20 feet down the embankment – ouch! Here’s the video:
The coolest kid
My nephew, Kellon, is two and a half years old now. He’s super awesome and incredibly musical already – he definitely inherited those genes from his parents.
He loves the drums. Here’s a video of him playing – he’s got some real rhythm going on!
Scrumming Stephane Dion
Yesterday I had the opportunity to cover Liberal leader Stephane Dion’s visit to Kanata, where he promoted his Green Shift plan and took questions from local politicians and residents. It was my first time doing a story on a federal party leader … and though I didn’t ask any of my own questions during the media scrum, it was still a fun experience.
His Green Shift proposal is essentially this: taxing polluters and giving the money to regular citizens. He claims it will be revenue neutral, as any profits from the carbon taxes will go back into credits and cuts on income tax.
It really does make sense … which is saying a lot since it’s coming from Dion (uh oh, my Conservative side is coming out). But I am wondering how much it will do to truly change public opinion about climate change. Though it is the trendy thing to be environmentally friendly, there are still plenty of people who just don’t care enough to radically change their lifestyle or speak out.
Sure, they might buy into a program when it means more dollars in their bank account - who wouldn’t? I’m not sure it’s enough to win the Liberals the next election, but it could give them some more votes. Though it could help their cause and get people thinking, a tax cut is just not enough to change the mindset of the population as a whole. People need to care about the environment because they care about the environment, our effects on it and our future. Not because there is a tax cut attached.
And this is coming from someone who is not much of an environmentalist.
Doctor Radovan Karadzic?
The former president of Bosnia, Radovan Karadzic, was arrested yesterday on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity during the war from 1992 to 1995. He has been on the run for the last 11 years and apparently working as a doctor.
A doctor!
Can you believe that? After being accused of absolutely atrocious crimes against his own people, he suddenly grew a conscience and decided to help people as a psychiatrist? He needs one himself! Now, I realize the former leader was trained in that profession, which I suppose made it a good cover because not too many would expect to find him in an alternative health care clinic.
Skydiving proof
I’m finally getting some photos of skydiving at Mile High last week up here … just to prove that I didn’t make the whole story up. Enjoy!
With my tandem instructor, Jeff Dean, just before jumping … aren’t the hat and goggles so stylish?
And here I am, rocking out above the clouds :)
More hanging out in the sky …
And the landing … I immediately wanted to go back up and do it all over!
Cheryl
