Mission Concluded

   The Canadian Flag was ceremoniously lowered today in Kabul, Afghanistan marking the end of our military operation in the war torn nation. It was a low-key event held under heavy security, marking the end of more than 12 years of military involvement there.
   Commando's hunting for Osama bin-Laden were the first troops on the ground, arriving in late 2001. After that, 40 thousand military personnel rotated through different campaigns. That included our 5 year combat mission in Kandahar.
   The mission came with a cost. 158 members of the Canadian military were killed there, as was a diplomat, one journalist and 2 civilian contractors.
   The end of the military mission doesn't mean the end of Canada's involvement. Our ambassador there says the country will remain engaged in Afghanistan and the focus will be on helping build the ruined nation's economy, particularly in the resource sector.

TTFN

I Knew It!

   The time change was this past Sunday, where most of the world "sprang forward" to daylight saving time. Except here in Saskatchewan, along with Arizona and a few other places.
   As I posted last Friday, I've always had a problem with the time change in places we've lived where it happens. I don't like losing that hour of sleep (even though we supposedly "make it up" in the fall). So, imagine my "surprise" when I saw an article on-line this morning saying the move ahead can be 'disastrous' to our health.
   Some studies have linked the time change to things like heart attacks, depression and a higher risk of suicide, not to mention sleep deprivation. It can take weeks for the body to get used to the new rhythm forced on it by the time change, meaning we're tired a lot of the time. And while it might be nice to have that extra hour of daylight in the evening, some studies suggest it can lead to more traffic accidents. Although I have a bit of a tough time believing that.
   The whole idea of the change was to save energy. And apparently, it does. One U.S study found there was an energy saving, but it was minuscule. Something on the order of half of one percent per day. That equates to a 0.03 per cent savings over the year, roughly 122 thousand households worth.
   So, the bottom line is this. Is it worth changing clocks twice a year?
   I can't answer that, but I'll say again: I'm glad I live in Saskatchewan, where we don't have to change our clocks.

TTFN

Time For A Change

   And, officially, most people will move their clocks ahead by an hour at 2:00 a.m Sunday, heralding the return of Daylight Saving Time.
   Except in Saskatchewan, Arizona and a few other parts of the world. We don't touch our clocks. But it's not all negative. all our favourite shows will be on an hour earlier starting Sunday. And we in Saskatchewan don't lose an hour of sleep. Then again, we don't get the extra hour of sleep in the fall, when clock are set back an hour.
   Which suits me just fine. I know all about the benefits of having an extra hour of daylight in the evening for everyone else. But since I'm up at 4:00 a.m (and need to go to bed early in the evening) that extra hour is not only a waste, but a nuisance since it sometimes prevents me from nodding off. Nothing a blackout drape won't cure.
   But then again, I've never been a fan of DST since it was brought in in Alberta way back in 1971, if memory serves.
   And in Saskatchewan, there's the debate on which time zone we would go. Mountain or Central? And since the natural dividing line of the 105th meridian basically bisects the province, I don't think we're going to be in for the "change" any "time" soon.

TTFN

Well Done, Harry

   Britain's oft maligned Prince Harry is at it again. This time, it's not for some goofy thing he did in Vegas, but something exactly the opposite. Harry, as you well know, served in Afghanistan on an Apache helicopter gunship. What you may not know about him is his apparent passion for helping wounded veterans.
   Last year, he and a group of wounded vets skied and walked to the South Pole for the Walking With The Wounded charity.
   Now, he's "stealing" (to use his own words) the American "Warrior Games", a Paralympic style event for wounded vets, and launching the "Invictus Games" after seeing how "the power of sport can positively impact the lives of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women".
   In an era where veterans seem to be forgotten about by some governments, it's gratifying to see someone like Harry step up to the plate.

TTFN

Winter Has Gone On Long Enough

   Especially when I look out of my office window and have seen snow falling for the past 5 or so hours. And coming on top of the extremely bitter cold we've been shivering through across most of Canada, and even North America, is it any wonder social media sites are rife with posts and pictures on winter?
   Thanks to my facebook friends for the following:

   A lot of people I know are cheering for the wolf.
   Then there's this one:

   Which is sad, but true.
   The last one generated an awful lot of responses, which isn't surprising when you look at it:

   I just hope the Weather Network's prediction of actual spring like weather not arriving in most of the country until mid-April is wrong.

TTFN

This Is A Little Worrying

   That's a microscopic image of a virus, and what's worrying is the fact that a 30 thousand year old one was not only found in permafrost in Siberia, but has been revived by scientists. Not the one pictured, by the way.
   The one they found, and revived, is, in terms of virus size, gigantic, and completely harmless to humans. But it does point out a rather dire scenario for the future. If global warming is a fact (something an awful lot of people in North America need convincing of after this winter), what's to stop some other nasty little beast from thawing out, reviving and infecting us? Possibly from mining and other mineral exploration as well?
   Already, there are some fears about a re-animated smallpox virus, or another bug thought long gone and defeated. The chances of this actually happening? Well, some scientists say the risk that it could happen has to be viewed realistically.
   Time to get ready for the Zombie Apocalypse?

TTFN

The Crisis In Ukraine

   There is, without any shadow of doubt, a crisis in the eastern European nation. We know already that quite a few lives have been lost in the capital of Kyiv, following weeks of protests. It's over whether Ukraine should develop closer ties with the European Union or Russia. Ousted president Viktor Yanukovych favors closer ties with Moscow, while opposition leaders, and a lot of protesters, would prefer going to the E.U.
   Yanukovych fled the country, and is now in Russia, a country that sent troops into the Crimean region, and seized a ferry terminal, with the explanation of protecting Russian citizens in the Crimean region.
   Russia's president still believes Yanukovych is the rightful leader. Vladimir Putin is also accusing the West of encouraging an anti-constitutional coup in Ukraine, and warns any sanctions the West imposes on Russia for its military flex in Crimea will backfire.
   The West, including the United Nations, is considering sanctions, but not military intervention, in a crisis that (to me) hasn't been as big, nor as dangerous yet, as the October crisis in 1962. Or the Cold War itself for that matter.
   The big question now is: Who will 'blink' first? Russia or the West?

TTFN