So many thoughts swirling around my head these days, and yes, there are a lot of open spaces for them to swirl within. First topic is the Canadian military. Have you noticed the jokes about Canada's Armed Forces have diminished significantly? The Canadian record in Afghanistan is one we can all point to with pride So no more talk about rented bullets and sharing a rifle. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and women have done remarkably well with limited resources and have been counted on by our allied partners. That's the true test of a military force if others call on you, you must be good. We can argue another day about whether or not our troops should be there and the manner in which they have been deployed, but nobody will doubt their courage and willingness to serve in the most difficult regions. Of course the one nagging question I still have though, is what happened to those three leaky submarines the British pawned off on us about a dozen years ago? Did those suckers ever get repaired to the point where they were actually usable? The last I heard about them, two were going into dry docks for about the fourth time to fix up "minor" electrical flaws. Topic 2. I noted that our prime minister, Stevie Wonder, the Harper boy, went on his annual foray to the north this summer to make the usual announcements that will result in nothing. At least it wasn't a G20 summit. They cost a whole lot more, for the same results. Topic 3. Our summer helpmate Tonaya Marr came up with an interesting observation in her Trader column last week regarding her United States college roommate from Texas who was convinced that Mount Everest could be found in North Dakota. Silly goose. Everyone knows it's in South Dakota, not far from Jellystone National Park. I suppose this roommate also knew that the Great Wall of China is just outside of Toledo. Topic 4. I think it's just me, but maybe you think so too. I'm finding that with this new era of recording technology available to all and sundry, that the number of independent singers and musicians is multiplying faster than we can listen to them. I also find my public airwaves filled to overflowing with a lot of "new" voices who are, quite frankly, pretty average sounding with some not-too-exciting lyrics. Can't we get someone in the industry to do a little adjudicating or weeding out of the "not so talented" stuff we're currently being subjected to? At the other end of the scale, there have been a few truly talented voices and musicians uncovered through these independent Internet channels, so we don't want to discourage new talent. We just want the talent to be there, before it emerges. Topic 5. I don't like the spellcheck on my 'puter. Some words it changes automatically and I don't know how to make it quit doing that, because I'm not smart enough (see above statement about swirling thoughts in wide open heads). I write two lls in traveller, and our American-centric 'puter makes it traveler. Canadian centre becomes American center and colour and neighbour get squished into color and neighbor and so on and we have to back up and correct the incorrect correction. Someone needs to make the U.S.-ification of our spelling go away soon B4 wi reele get mssd up. Topic 6. Speaking of talent on the computers or lack thereof, what's this about a guy crying on YouTube because he saw a double rainbow? Who has time to do this sorta stuff anyway giver or receiver? Is this what we're reduced to online? Is this dude gonna have a panic attack if he sees a Saskatchewan sunset, or go into shock with a viewing of an aurora borealis? Topic 7. I just picked this up when I was surfing Tiger Woods is hooking up with Lindsay Lohan and he's putting her into that $55 million Florida mansion he's building just down the road from that other $40 million mansion he can no longer live in you know the one with the broken fire hydrant in front!OK, I didn't read or hear that anywhere, but you can keep the rumour going if you want because it's the "social media" and apparently no rules apply in that domain. Last week I made an error in my reference to BHP Billiton. I called them Billington, and I received a quick note from them asking that I revert to the correct spelling of the corporate name in future references. Done and therefore we know this column is being read by our corporate giants, if for no other reason than to see what insane comments and spellings we can come up with each week. At least I got the spelling of those other corporate giants correct, you know, the Pen East, Evianratz, Viteeria, and SakPower.Darn, there goes that American spell check again!
