I’ve defied the odds and have been accepted as student to the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. I’m terrified and excited, but mostly humbled. This calling will require that I leave my ego at home, something that is difficult for me. I can’t wait to get blood on my shoes and amniotic fluid in my eyes. Push!
2009, A Labour of Love.
July 26, 2009 by bettyvodine2008 In Review
January 22, 2009 by bettyvodineSometimes, at the end of the year, all we can do is uncork all things alcohol-related, hug one another, sob, gnash teeth, and ask “what the hell happened”? Sometimes all you can do is scan the sky, and then grab your ankles in submission. 2008 was such a year. Seismic shifts shook global markets and confidence in capitalism plummeted; conflicts arose in some places and were forgotten about in others, and our government ground to a halt. In order to gain some footing, here’s a review of eight key events from 2008.
8. Russia Invades Georgia
Hundreds of civilians were killed as Russia and Georgia battled over the breakaway territory of South Ossetia. South Ossetian separatists with ties to Russia indicated that they were responding to attacks which violated a ceasefire. Resulting ground and air attacks destroyed lives, homes, and sparked controversy. Eduard Kokoity, head of South Ossetia’s government, pointed to Georgia’s aggressive tactics as the reason for their defensive attacks, while Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili planned to impose martial law. The attacks increased tensions between Moscow and Washington, escalating existing hostilities. Cold War II looms.
7. Attack on Mumbai
10 planned attacks were carried out in Mumbai between November 26th and 29th. A reported 173 people were killed in violence said to be planned carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant group out of Pakistan. As in many modern violent events, these attacks on innocent civilians were framed by the international media as acts of terrorism. The disaster in Mumbai may serve as a representation of how reporting shapes our view of conflict, as well as a reminder that religious and political animosity can bring disastrous consequences.
6. Oil Reaches $100 a Barrel
A failing US dollar, geopolitical struggles in Kenya, Algeria, and Pakistan, and simple profit-mongering caused oil to reach $100 a barrel in early 2008. By June, it had reached almost $140 a barrel. This dramatic increase shocked fuel-hungry Americans who now looked on their penis-extension SUV’s and Hummers as liabilities. It seemed there would be no end to the rising prices, but a global recession has brought prices down (whew?). With prices falling quicker than the TSX, some (though too few) asked how it got so damn high in the first place. New light was shone on the seemingly insatiable greed of OPEC leaders and oil executives, and the unstable Petro Dollar. Electric cars seem more and more feasible, and delightfully futuristic!
5. WalMart Employee Killed
More than 2000 shoppers lined up in the early hours of the morning on November 28th, looking to take advantage of a `Blitz` sale. When the doors shattered under the weight of the throng, the mob raced through, resulting in the death of 34-year-old temporary employee Jdimytai Damour. Damour`s death, while tragic, heart-breaking, and ultimately avoidable, serves as a metaphor for desperate consumers, the US recession, and the soulless commercialization of holiday giving.
6. Wall Street Melts Down
Fingers flew as stock prices plunged in September. Political parties and corporations ducked to avoid the blame-flinging. Unfortunately, the real victims aren’t the wealthy day-traders and hedge fund managers who now have to fly commercial, but the home owners and families who lost everything to sub-prime mortgages and crippling interest rates. The collapse is as vast and complex, but unabashed leveraging and deregulation preceded the tumble. While there’s no accounting for simple greed on the part of money-managers, Bush`s fiscal policies aided the Wall Street Bunch in gathering impossible profits, while a proposed $700 million bailout seemed to laugh in the face of American taxpayers. The affects rippled globally, and international markets succumbed to the decline. On the upside, EVERYTHING is on sale.
5. Reporter Hurls Shoes at George W. Bush
In what can only be described as karmic justice, an Iraqi reporter hurled his shoes at George W. Bush in a press conference in Iraq on December 15th, 2008. The Al-Baghdadia correspondent reportedly cried “This is a farewell kiss, you dog!” whilst flinging his size 10 loafers at Bush’s head. Across the world, cries of “why didn’t I think of that” could be heard. As George’s presidency comes to a close, his bungled war of “liberation” continues to claim Iraqi and American lives. Billions of dollars spent, mass deception, crippling corruption, and countless crimes against humanity characterized Bush’s time in the White House, but shoes might be a fitting catalyst of justice. If you haven’t already done so, check out the viral youtube.com clip.
4. Sarah Palin
On August 29, 2008, John McCain announced that Sarah Palin would join him as Republican vice Presidential candidate. It first seemed that McCain was attempting to capture the votes that would have gone to Hillary Clinton, but he made a fatal error, countless American women have brains. Palin seemed to embody all that is dark and scary about Red States. A callous, ignorant, ill-prepared, out-of-touch, rifle-shooting, whack-job who could spit out talking points faster than a semi-automatic weapon, made her way into the American psyche and defined all that was wrong with 2008. Her anti-woman, pro book burning, dirty politics were difficult to swallow, but what was most damaging was that Palin made McCain look even more like a caricature, and less like a sane candidate for presidency. The shit show of the 2008 Republican campaign made even the faultiest Democratic offerings palatable. The upside? That saucy Tina Fey.
3. Global Recession Ensues
While we in Canada seem cushioned against the undeniable global economic downturn, it’s become harder to ignore the cold facts. Anyone who has an RRSP can tell you things are bad. Panicked lenders have frozen credit, seemingly safe investments in mortgages evaporated, leveraging reached crippling levels, deregulation muddied investment banks, hedge funds imploded, and Iceland went bankrupt. These are but a few of the dominoes in this collapse. In September, the slide looked more and more catastrophic, and by October lay-offs, bailouts and failing car companies created a somber mood. While proponents of the free-market demand that “everything will be okay”, prospects look grim. I suggest you learn to speak Chinese.
2. Barack Hussein Obama Elected President
It’s all well and good to believe that “All [white] men are created equal” but it’s quite another for the American people to elect a black President. A remarkable, eloquent, charming, and authentic candidate, Barack Obama won the 2008 Democratic primaries in a decisive victory. He continued on with a campaign that was well-organized, thoughtful, and spoke to the issues, and was ultimately successful in winning the highest seat in US office. Obama inspired hope in an American public that had lost much of its faith in government. While Obama had the issues on his side, and it is likely true that the catastrophic failures of George W. Bush helped Obama get elected, it is undeniable that he was the right candidate at the right time, with the right message. His wildly successful efforts garnered support from both Democrats and Republicans. An outstanding public speaker fluent in policy-speak, Barack Obama created a movement not seen in recent American history. It might have also helped him that he’s dreamy and his wife is a fox.
1. Canadian Coalition Government
Stephen Harper’s budget proposal set off a series of events unprecedented in Canadian history. The Liberal Party of Canada planned to create a coalition government with the NDP, supported by the Bloc Quebecois. Many feel that the Conservatives winning 37% of the vote in the last election does not support a strong government, while others feel that the move is undemocratic. The attempt to create a coalition resulted in the Conservative minority suspending Parliament in order to stave off the action and garner further supports. While this drama plays out into the New Year, I think everyone can agree that we need a government that is representative of the Canadian people, and that works. Viva democracy!
First impressions are Overrated
January 17, 2009 by bettyvodineI think that people who misspell are probably inbred, but misusing grammar is a sign of intelligence.
I think spitting is foul and negativity is disgusting but I judge and scowl and gossip too. People seem to like me but I scratch my knees too much and say the wrong things. I make too many social mistakes and I tell everyone too much about my bodily functions. I get frazzled really easily and I (too) think no one will ever understand me. I get choked up with emotion when I make speeches in my head, thanking everyone for their kindness and creativity and spirit and patience. I am the biggest egomaniac with the lowest self-esteem. Sometimes I ask people to be my friend and they look at me like I broke their…concentration.
I was walking home one day from the 7th grade and a woman called to me from her porch. She seemed nice and her house was not scary. I approached and she told me she needed help writing things down. She wanted to write her life but didn’t know English well. I went inside and sat with a pencil and paper and some tea she made. She started telling me about being a young girl in a Nazi concentration camp. She was a nice Jewish grandma. She got separated from her family and they died, she found out later, in the ovens. The second time I went she talked about her sister and I cried so much I could not write anymore. I got up and left and never went back.
Hi.
