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musings of mark since 2001

   The snow didn’t stop last night, by 9:00pm there was a couple inches on the deck railing and this morning I went out and measured and it’s an easy 6” and still snowing. The electric power faded in and out a few times already this morning, and the cable/internet is out now too, such is island life!
   Still kinda dark at 7:20am here, think I’ll go out anyways and see how deep it is in the open areas like the road. May be a snow day at the pharmacy as the pharmacist lives down a hill on the far side of the island and if we got this much snow here he may not even be able to make it over; the store can’t be open without a pharmacist because of the controlled items.
   It’s deep white out there. Walking down the lane with no sound except me and the snowflakes coming down, then crash! Huge frozen tree branches over loaded with snow crashing to the ground with no warning. When they break, it’s an instant crack! and then a whoomp when it hits earth, instant quiet after the branch lands. Nearly jumped out of my skin when the big island ferry came around the point and blew it’s horn, never was able to actually see it through the fog of snow.
   The hummingbird is still alive, he was at the feeder shortly before nine and still seems to be hanging out in the hollow next to where the landlords ripped out all the trees and bushes that the deer used to use for winter shelter. Still no sign of any cats (they would be buried, the snow on the deck railing is 7” now), one dog track in the snow along the side of the road and one set of tire tracks already filled in with fresh stuff.
   Just talked to the pharmacist, he made it in to Snug Cove and the power is still on there as well, News1130 radio mentioned about 1800 people without electricity this morning, so the trees are starting to hit the power lines now as they come down on some parts of the island. Neighbour upstairs tried to get her car down to the store from some milk and got stuck on bald tires, made an attempt myself and can’t get out of the parking spot nicely so quit right there before getting really stuck and it’s a walk to work today – must remember flashlight batteries for the walk home Just measured the deck railing again, over 8” now…

Hawks tell Bush how to win war on terror
   Boeing Co. has received 9.6-billion-dollar orders from the US navy to make scores of new Super Hornet jet fighters and to develop a new version of the aircraft, the Bloomberg News reported Tuesday.
   The Navy awarded the five-year, 8.6-billion-dollar contract for 210 F/A-18E/Fs with a separate 1-billion-dollar contract to create the EA-18G, a new electronics warfare version of the jet that would be capable of jamming and attacking enemy radar, according to the report. Boeing currently is making 222 Super Hornets under an 8.9-billion-dollar contract, awarded in June 2000.

   That’s 210 more of these killing machines on top of the 222 already in production, not counting the hundreds of them already in use along with their forbearers. More than a little scary knowing you live right next door to a nation that glorifies violence and death and has a long history of bringing it’s grisly ideals in all their gory bloody detail right to your front door is adding yet more to it’s deadly armament.

   Getting a nice little snow fall here just before the new year, little crystals coming down like a fine Scottish mist, but white. More than enough to put a few centimetres on the deck chair outside, enough to keep the small birds huddled in the trees instead of flying around. The big brown hawks have made their soar past, the old cat next door isn’t bothering to come out after them – seen enough of this stuff and knows it’s cold and wet in the long run and it’s a good day to curl up to something warm.
   Off to work at the store soon, lots to keep busy with getting caught up after a nice break for a couple of days. The GLC has seen driving in the snow over the Coquihalla Highway without any problems due to the skinny tires on it, getting down off Dorman Point shouldn’t be too much more trouble although it could be a little steeper! Hopefully my parents make it back from Calgary in time before this weather system makes it to the Rockies, could be some miserable driving time in there for them with all the big trucks that go down that highway.

   Our B.C. Govt. gets itself in the news through the investigation into possible crimes of people appointed to high positions in the Ministry of Transport and the Finance Ministry. The scuttlebutt is the RCMP were on a grow-op or smuggling trail, and that investigation led to some white collar crime unconnected to the original investigation which led to search warrants being serve on two offices of the B.C. Legislature. A lot of the players in the wings seem to be connected to the BC Rail deal, the latest piece what once belonged to the people to be sold by the govt. to private interests and others are connected to the Paul Martin Liberal fund raising machine.
   Closer to home, there was no sign of the hummingbird today, last night was the coldest yet in a while and with clear skies it stayed that way all day.

   Starting to look almost a little bit like it may snow around here. The mountains on the mainland have snow down to just a few hundred feet above sea level and a big old rain cloud is rolling out from the shore. The hummingbird probably sees it coming, it was just shortly after 8:00 when he was at the feeder getting something for a morning feed. Been looking around at the hummingbird web sites, and nothing much one can do for them that don’t migrate except keep your fingers crossed and fresh nectar (doesn’t go sour very fast in the cold weather though) in the feeder. Well, hi-ho, hi-ho it’s off to work I go.