Letter of the day

From Globe and Mail: (H/T Norman's Spectator)

This just in?

I was greatly relieved to unfold The Globe and Mail and see Diana, Princess of Wales on the front page (Conspiracy Theory Deflated In Death Of Faded Idol Diana -- Aug. 26). Clearly, all important problems of world violence, poverty and hunger must have been solved if a report about a 1997 car accident is a leading story in Canada's national newspaper.

I can only hope that in future you will find some way to mention both Diana and Karla Homolka in a news story, thereby combining the ultimate in pointless celebrity obsession and horror.

RICHARD AKERMAN, Ottawa

Why not the Cecilia Zhang murder cover-up? You have been holding it down for too long, I guess.

The (il)logic of Margaret Wente

Cross-posted on Norman's Spectator

Re: Tuesday's THE COLUMN I WISH I'D WRITTEN: The Globe and Mail's Margaret Wente is onto smart Canadians and dumb Americans

I normally enjoy the selection of columns very much. But this one's logic is so twisted that it qualifies neatly as what Professor Harry G. Frankfurt called bullshit.

I'll give you two examples.

At the beginning of the review, Norman quoted her as saying:

Are Canadians more intellectually sophisticated than Americans? We like to think so. And now there's scientific proof. It's called "intelligent design."

In other words, she was either saying that

"Intelligent design" is scientific proof that Canadians are more intellectually sophisticated than Americans.

Or,

"Intelligent design" is scientific proof that [we] Canadians like to think that we are more intellectually sophisticated than Americans.

Neither statement, however, makes much sense scientifically, to say nothing of her illogical attempt to equate part (Canadian or American) with whole.

The real twist came at the end of her column. She concluded:

To me, that [Canadians belief that "U.S. foreign policy" poses the same risk to Canada as "terrorism."] is as weird as believing in intelligent design.

So, the implied conclusion is that Canadians are no more intellectually sophisticated than Americans, according to her previous logic.

The point is that there is no point at all in her column. I guess she does not really care about making any point. And that just qualifies her as a bullshitter.

Summer hibernation

Oops, that's oxymoronic.

Big deal.

Today's bread

HealthWay Sprouted Grain Flax loaf. A little dry.

Home sweet home

Got back home from Ottawa last Wednesday. Can't believe I had lived with alcoholics, drug addicts, and people in and out of jails for more than six months.

Still, I have to marvel that Canada is a great country. While billions of people on this planet living on a dollar a day or less, some of the "clients" of the shelter seemed to have lived there forever, at a cost of approximately C$30 a day, without having to do anything. ( I worked as a private tutor at nearby University of Ottawa in the midest of fasting and blogging, in order to pay my rent in Vancouver.)

That Canada is a great country is further confirmed by the people and land I saw aboard Air Canada flight 189. Besides me sat two older ladies who were very talkative. Looking out the window, one of them correctly pointed out that we were flying over Winnepeg. How did she know? Canada is such a vast country yet the land and people never failed to amaze me. I wish I had not fallen asleep and talked to them a little more.

Finally, I was home. Indeed, there is no other place feels like home.

While I am writing this blog and reflecting on my Ottawa trips, I realize that my homy feeling will forever be discounted if I failed to bring justice to Cecilia Zhang, whose feeling of comfort and security of her home as a 9 year old girl must have been completely shattered when she was grabbed from her bed and taken away from her parents in the middle of the night October 19-20, 2003. I also know that for myself, if I do not find out who brazenly intruded my privacy by putting survellience device in my apartment, I will not feel secure again, even in my current home, even in this great country called Canada.

Cecilia Zhang and I are targeted because we are immigrants, second-class citizens from a "communist country", in the eyes of the establishment, and possibly the government. Therefore, I  will, and must, continue my fight to bring "equality everywhere" so that Canada will be an even greater country for all people.

Cecilia Zhang in the news ... or not

Apparently, there was a court proceeding going on this week for Cecilia Zhang murder case.

What's also apparent was that there's a total media blackout this time.

Based on my crude research, if there is a media competition to cover this case this week, Toronto Star would easily win with a total of about 1,100 words written. That is, for the whole week's development, plus the case history, the descriptions of both the victim and the accused.

As for the CanWest chain of newspapers and The Globe and Mail? Apparently, nobody was assigned to cover this story this week from either of these two newspapers. We thus do not even know how the publication ban came about.

And for CBC? I heard CBC Radio run a brief item at its 5:00AM broadcast this morning. Then it was dropped. -- Actually, it did so at least on two days of this week.

Is this story not news worthy any more?

Remember the intensity of media coverage when she was first found missing?

Remember the intensity of media coverage when her body was found later?

Remember the intensity of media coverage when a suspect was charged last summer?

Oh well, I guess somebody, or somebodies, does not want the public to remember her any more.

Why?

Because she had served her purpose, which was, tragically ironically, to generate news headlines on October 20, 2003. Or, to borrow a professional parlance, "to change the channel".

Is there anything more sickening than this?????

My mantra

My mantra these days is: Don't lose your capability to feel angry, don't lose your capability to feel angry, don't lose your capability to feel angry ...

Today's bread

I had a few bad days.

While having my first slice of bagel this morning, I thought about her.

I thought about the night she was grabbed from her bed and cruelly taken away from her parents.

What went through her mind? Was she scared? Was she helpless? Did she fight back? Did she suffer? How long did she live? And how did she die?

I don't know any of the answers.

But one thing I do know is this: She must have gone through a hell lot more than what I am going through now.

With that realization, back to work!

Today's bread

Country Harvest Flax begals.

I bought it last Friday for 99 c. It's still fresh.

Martin vs. me

Congrats, you won!

"Prime Minister Paul Martin has bought himself what he hopes will be a $4.6-billion political lifeline. (MARTIN O’HANLON, CP, 04/26/2005)

But hey, everyone knows you've got unfair advantage. -- While I am staying at a homeless shelter and ranting about my bread, you are enjoying good sleep and diet. To say nothing of all the free infomecials you run on our nation's airwaves during the past a few days.

Today's bread

Country Harvest Flax bagels. On sale at Loblaws for 99c.

Change of name (II)

Effective immediately, the name of this blog has been changed for the second time.

+++

The original name was "A JOBLESS IMMIGRANT WITHOUT PRIVACY", with the following description:

"On May 21, 2004, I stumbled on this blogosphere and immediately grabbed a spot. Intuitively, blogging seemed to be a helpful tool for what I was about to do.

However, I was still "in a daze" from years of being stalked, harassed, intruded and threatened. And Internet has been a huge part of that dreadful experience. That's why I haven't blogged a single word so far.

Anyway, I used to call myself Internet-challenged. Now, I want to change that, and everything in between, come hell or high water.

Just read me. 07/25/2004"

+++

The second name was "Feeding our comatose pundits", adopted on January 5, with one-line description:

"Indifference is the epitome of evil."

+++

The new name is "Justice for Cecilia Zhang", with one-line description:

"Fasting since October 20, 2004."

Tomorrow's bread

Country Harvest Twelve Grain loaf. On sale at Loblaws again for the same price.

This Monday's bread

Country Harvest Twelve Grain loaf. On sale at Loblaws.

"Equality everywhere", everyone

A nurse gave me the idea of fasting one day a week. I think I am gonna do that starting next Monday. (Why fasting on Mondays? -- Go 'n figure it out yourself, Okay?)

Oh, why was it so hard for me to stop fasting? Here was the answer, folks.

"My other wish is that there are no more wars in the world and equality is everywhere, " wrote she.

Amen.


Update 09/15/2005: Broken-link: I found that Cecilia Zhang's website (www.ceciliazhang.org) was not available a few days ago. Updated link here.

I have stopped fasting

It was not easy, folks.

Saturday in March

A good day. For me, anyways.

CXR came back and my lungs are clear.

That's a sign of relief, isn't it?

Damn, this is worse than the colds

With virtually no symptoms, I skin-tested positive for TB (tuberculosis) last week. Now I am waiting for chest X-ray result.

I can tell you all about the context and "the story behind it". But hell, do you really care?

It's a nasty cold

Nastier than the previous two since I came to Ottawa. Maybe I need to add some juice or Vitamin supplement to my diet.

Sick like a dog

Looks like I have missed some fun this week. Have I?