Happy Christmas and Merry New Year

May all of my readers have a peaceful, safe, and warm holiday filled with love, with life, and with joy. May we all remember those less fortunate, may we not covet those more fortunate, and may we be content and happy with all that we have.

May we also remember that life is an adventure and the world is a beautiful place. Live every day with the recognition of the wonders of life. Hold the living in your arms and the dead in your heart.

And finally, may we have peace on earth and love between all.

Gate House, RIP

A story from the Toronto Star.

It seems the infamous Gate House male residence is being made coed after a storied history of pranks and problems. The residence is said to have inspired the movie Animal House from Donald Sutherland's memories of the toga parties there.

These things are about a certain time and place, and it is a pity to see institutions go, even the ones not entirely upstanding. At the University of Kansas, we had Stephenson Hall. I know other universities have their dens of infamy (oddly, normally male residences). Still, a 2.5 meter penis out of snow is a work of art, and griefing someone with a boiled pig's head is hardly the worst thing one could do. Heck, my high school class did worse.

So here's to you, Gate House.

Back to the UK

So I'm off to the British Isles, fair Britannia, where Neolithic mounds rise in the mists and fairies fill the forests. Well, I guess not that. I think forests are pretty rare and there are more roundabouts than stone circles, especially in Manchester, and the fairies were put in pies long ago.

Regardless, I'm there for two weeks, so there will be no Canada-bashing available here. However, I may have a "UK Edition" prepared when I return, depending on how silly I find it.

We already know Camelot is a silly place.

Rampage in Milton

So, I shouldn't mock the, clearly, emotionally unbalanced, but I will anyway. In truth, I am really mocking the reporting of said incident, but the incident itself is pretty crazy. Ah, Canadians in the winter...

Here is a news item from today's Star:

Two Hurt in Samurai sword rampage

Dec 03, 2007 08:33 AM

Tamsyn Burgmann
STAFF REPORTER

Police arrested a woman in Milton last night after two people were slashed with a samurai sword.

Halton police said the incident began in a man’s apartment across the street from the Petro Canada Service Centre at Steeles Ave. E. and Martin St. They said the victim was having an argument with his girlfriend when she grabbed a sword that was on display in the apartment and struck him on the shoulder, arm and head. When the victim’s brother heard the commotion, police say he told the woman to leave. That’s when investigators say she headed across the street to the gas station and began smashing windows.

“Anytime someone’s running around with a sword, you can imagine (they’ve) taken (the dispute) to another level,” said Staff Sgt. Larry Masson. A window and two glass doors in the gas station had been shattered, as were the windows of a car parked outside. An off-duty firefighter who was pumping gas was cut on the arm when he tried to intervene, and was rushed to Hamilton General Hospital.

As police arrived at 8:45 p.m., gas station employees overpowered the woman. She was taken to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital to be treated for injuries. Her boyfriend was treated at Milton District Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Charges are pending.

Let's take a closer look at my favorite part of this story: “Anytime someone’s running around with a sword, you can imagine (they’ve) taken (the dispute) to another level,” said Staff Sgt. Larry Masson. really, Sgt. Masson? I didn't know that. That explains a lot about the mysteries of the ages. Henry V was just taking the dispute to another level. Clears things up, for me anyway. Honestly, I think going across the street, smashing up a gas station, and attacking an off-duty fireman is 'taking it to another level,' but I'm not in law enforcement, so what do I know?