Cemetery full, mayor tells locals not to die

Published by Darren on March 13, 2008 in Talk. 0 Comments

If you’re a strong opponent of governments attempting to legislate and control what citizens can and can’t do, you may not want to continue reading …

The mayor of a village in southwest France has threatened residents with severe punishment if they die, because there is no room left in the overcrowded cemetery to bury them.

In an ordinance posted in the council offices, Mayor Gerard Lalanne told the 260 residents of the village of Sarpourenx that "all persons not having a plot in the cemetery and wishing to be buried in Sarpourenx are forbidden from dying in the parish." It added: "Offenders will be severely punished." (Source: Reuters)

Of course such attempts to regulate death are ridiculous. Everyone, from the richest and most powerful in the world to the poorest and powerless, will die someday. Since this is a door that eventually we all must pass through, wouldn’t it be reasonable (despite the somewhat grim subject) to spend some time thinking about this before we are "at death’s door" so to speak? What do you expect to find on the other side of death’s door?

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Bully: Dangerous, or just a game?

Published by Darren on March 11, 2008 in Talk. 1 Comment

Canadian teachers are … [trying] to stop stores from selling an updated teen video game … Bully: Scholarship Edition, produced by Vancouver-based Rockstar Games, pits a 15-year-old student against other students and teachers. "The concern is that it is glorifying violence, [that] it is glorifying bullying," Emily Noble, president of the Canadian Teachers Federation, said yesterday.

At the University of B.C., curriculum studies associate professor Don Krug said trying to get stores to stop selling the video is just a quick fix … Instead, suggested Krug, caregivers, educators and others should use the game-playing experience to talk about the behaviour. "It is not going to go away," he said. (Source: The Providence)

Lost in the article is a description of what the Bully video game is all about. The main character is not a bully himself, but rather trying to defend himself against bullies at his new school. The game does give players freedom to choose their actions (ie to attempt to stop bullying or to become a bully themselves), although it punishes players harshly for immoral actions in the game, such as picking on females or children.

What is your opinion of this game, and the teachers’ protest? Is it appropriate for teens to play (the game is rated "T" for teen, meaning suitable for ages 13 and up)? And is this the best way for the teacher’s federation to spend their time?

New Sins: The Vatican adds to the list

Published by Claire Colvin on March 10, 2008 in Talk. 2 Comments

They say there’s nothing new under the sun, but just yesterday the Vatican added several new sins to the list.  You’re probably familiar with the seven deadly sins — lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride.  In addition to being taught in catechism classes around the world you’ll find them in movies, comic books, on TV and most famously in Dante’s view of the circles of Hell in his Divine Comedy.

These seven were never intended to be an exhaustive list.  The Catholic Church differentiates between these deadly sins and a much longer list of venial sins – sins for which a person can be forgiven through confession and penitence.  This past weekend that list got a little longer. 

According to a report on CNN, the new sins include “drugs, which weaken the mind and obscure intelligence; pollution; as well as the widening social and economic differences between the rich and the poor that ‘cause an unbearable social injustice.’”  The article goes on to say:

Father Antonio Pelayo, a Spanish priest and Vatican expert noted that it is time for both sinners and confessors to get over their obsession with sex and think about other ways humans hurt each other in the world in which they live.

"There are many other sins that are perhaps much more grave that don’t have anything to do with sex - that have to do with life, that have to do with the environment, that have to do with justice," he told AP Television.

I don’t think anyone would argue that pollution, for example is a good thing, but is it a sin?

Photo of the stairs at the Vatican Museums courtesy of Robert Catalano.  Used with permission.

Less than half of eligible voters cast ballots in Alberta election

Published by Darren on March 8, 2008 in Talk. 0 Comments

Only 41 per cent of the province’s 2,252,104 eligible voters cast ballots in Monday’s election, a record low. "It’s rather exceptional," Peter Loewen, an associate at the University of Montreal’s Canada Research Chair of Electoral Studies told CBC News on Wednesday. He said the figure is the lowest turnout for a Canadian provincial election in the last 50 years. (Source: CBC News)

The expert quoted in the article notes that the problem of low voter turnout is likely to continue to get worse. Why do you think voter turnout is continually decreasing, especially among young people? Is it laziness? Apathy? Distrust of the political system? Voters not feeling like their votes make a difference? Lack of a candidate that represents voter’s values? Or something else?

Oprah and A Course in Miracles

Published by Darren on March 7, 2008 in From Today On, Talk and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

What is "A Course in Miracles", and why is Oprah Winfrey offering these daily courses via her satellite radio program and promoting the courses on her show? Is it a new age philosophy, a religion, or something entirely different?

Whatever it is, it would be a mistake to ignore what Oprah promotes. Her TV show, magazine, website, and other media ventures that are part of her massive Harpo Productions corporation have huge readership, so anything she promotes (especially as frequently as she has promoted A Course in Miracles) will result in huge sales.

An article on TheLife.com explores what A Course in Miracles is all about: Oprah and A Course in Miracles. We encourage you to read it, and invite you to post your responses in the comments on this blog.

Thief steals rings off elderly woman’s fingers in hospital

Published by Darren on March 6, 2008 in Talk. 1 Comment

Vancouver Police are looking for a brazen thief who stole three rings off the hand of a 91-year-old recovering from surgery in hospital.

On Tuesday, speaking through tears, Ulmer [the victim] said one of the stolen rings was her "mother’s, mother’s ring." The man also stole the wedding band Ulmer has worn for nearly seven decades. (Source: CTV)

British Columbia’s health minister George Abbott called the thief a jerk "akin to the lowest form of human life." Everyone involved in the incident, or who hears about it, seems to agree that the thief’s actions are morally reprehensible. But while many in western society would object vigorously to such actions, they would at the same time say that morality is a personal matter, that there are no absolute moral laws. These two beliefs seem to be in conflict: On one hand, a person objects to what seems to be a clear example of a moral wrong, but on the other they dismiss the possibility of moral absolutes as "intolerant".

Let’s hope that this poor lady gets her rings returned. In the meantime, what do you say about "moral absolutes"? Are there really absolutely right and wrong actions, or is claiming things are really right and wrong "intolerant" of others’ opinions?

Fake Babies

Published by sarah on March 3, 2008 in Talk. 0 Comments

Call them art. Call them collectibles. Whatever you call them, "fake babies", actually called reborns, are gaining popularity. They can cost hundreds of dollars and take countless hours to create.

The process of reborning a doll is being able to create as realistic baby as possible… begin colouring the dolls head, body and limbs through a variety of different techniques… to create mottled effects such as that of a newborn baby… our babies arrive to customers weighted and stuffed to feel very cuddly and similar to that of a baby… our prefered option is to root the head and eyelashes with high quality coloured mohair… strand by strand and can take days… the baby dolls hands and feet are also coloured, their tiny nails have been manicured and varnished to give a nice gloss finish…the nostrels are also opened so the baby can breath and also gives a lifelike finish… to finalize the creation the new lovely baby is dressed in quality baby clothes and boxed in a nice package ready for a new home. (Reborn-Baby.com)

Channel 4 in the UK aired a documentary about this phenomenon, focusing on the lives of the women who care for these dolls like their own children - strapping them into carseats, changing their diapers and showering them with gifts and supplies.

Why do you think someone would become attached to a fake baby? Do you know someone who has replaced human relationship in this way? Would you ever consider "adopting" a reborn?

Image of reborn, "Baby Sophia", courtesy of Reborn-Baby.com

The $3,000 first birthday party

Published by Darren on March 1, 2008 in Talk. 2 Comments

Eyes wide, "Prince" Clayburn Reed looked around astonished at the nearly 60 faces as they sang happy birthday in unison. To celebrate his first birthday, his mother, Sheila Chapman, rented the Palms Room at the Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club and invited friends and family for his special day. [The party included] pony rides and a magician. Kids whacked a pinata as their parents sipped mimosas and partook of the Mexican buffet.

And what did these priceless memories cost: $3,000, including expense of flying in [the mother’s] parents from Memphis. [Source: St Petersburg Times]

What do you think about spending so much money, and lavishing so much attention, on a one-year old child’s birthday? Is this a worthwhile expression of a mother’s love for her child, or an example of parental over-indulgence intended for the parents more than the child?

How to know if you’ll be fired soon

Published by Darren on February 28, 2008 in Talk. 0 Comments

An article on CNN titled "Warning signs you could soon get a pink slip" explains some of the ways that you can investigate your job security. These include:

  • Investigate how other companies are faring in your industry. Are there lay-offs at similar companies?
  • Look for warning signs like not being invited to meetings that your peers are, not getting copied on e-mails, or getting passed up for good assignments.
  • Pay special attention to the relationship you have with your boss; if they don’t like you, your job may be in trouble.

They also give some advice for keeping your job safe. With the recent economic downturn, how do you feel about the security of your job? Or if you’re not currently employed, how do you feel about your chances of finding a new, fulfilling job in the future? Talk back in the comments.

If you are feeling depressed about your job (or lack of a job) feel free to contact us. Our volunteers are always ready to listen with a kind ear!

The Barbara Walters Special: Miley Cyrus

Published by sarah on February 25, 2008 in Movies, TV, Talk and multimedia. 0 Comments

As part of the 27th edition of The Barbara Walters Special, which aired following the Oscars on Sunday, Walters sat down with Disney star Miley Cyrus.

Cyrus is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and star of the hit Disney show, Hannah Montana. This year along she had a No.1 movie, a top-selling tour and a hit album (abc.com).

When Walters asked the young starlet what makes her think she won’t go down the same destructive road as so many former Disney stars that came before, Miley’s answer was simple: her family and her faith.

"I think a lot of these people, you know, do have Christian families and they’re just not seeing that they’re so much greater than the materialistic things that are there right now," said Cyrus, "the people that are the ones you wanna hold onto are the people that tell you the truth."

Miley Cyrus believes she has something different in her life that will keep her away from the lifestyle that has claimed so many young people in that fast-paced world of fame and fortune. Do you think she’ll end up like the others before her? Is the "Christian faith" she’s talking about different than what many famous people leave behind on their rise to fame? 

Image from Flicker used under Creative Commons License.

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