Today Housemate bought a new wireless router to replace the old piece of junk which has some issues with connection speed.
When he set up the wireless account for our apartment I enthusiastically stated “Ooh! You’re naming it after the cat!”
I stated this, I didn’t ask it at first because I assumed that he, like every other kind-hearted person in this country, knows that you are you supposed to name your wireless account after any pets in the house.
When I use my laptop at my friend Stephanie’s house, for example, I connect to her kitty Emma. It’s nice, but sadly I’ll never be able to have that wireless link up with my own cat, Khan. Housemate adamantly refused to do the right thing and name our wireless connection.
“You and I won’t live together forever,” he explained. “Eventually you’ll move or I’ll move and it won’t make sense to have his name attached to it.”
He says this despite the fact that he’s changed the wireless account name at least three times in the last three years. Surely if him or I were to move it wouldn’t be so difficult to change the name and even if housemate and Khan part ways, wouldn’t it be nice to have a little reminder of his sweetness?
When I use my laptop I would like to connect to my happy, treat-guzzling kitten not some character in a science-fiction novel on one of housemate’s dusty shelves. In this case the character came from a Roger MacBride Allen novel.
I tried to compromise and suggest that he name the connection “Khan” not in honour of my cat but the character Khan Noonien Singh from that Star Trek movie.
Alas, Housemate refuses to give an inch on this. He may have won this battle but the struggle will live on! One day this apartment will enjoy wireless service through the cat!
The final legal barrier between me and the truth of my heritage was obliterated yesterday. Judge Eugene Reese of the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama signed an Order for the Alabama Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics to unseal my father’s birth and adoption records.
My father was born in Phenix City, Alabama in 1941. At approximately three months of age his mother, an unmarried nightclub singer, put him up for adoption. Shortly thereafter the records associated with his birth mother, background and adoption were sealed.
I never knew my father for he was in prison in the United States my entire life. When I did contact him through letters my recurring question was about the identity of his birth parents. In every response he named a different set of parents. One week his mother was a gypsy princess and the next she was a British heiress, a South Dakota poet laureate or a Nashville singer.
My father was a pathological liar, but I really believed that in this one instance he would muster the heart and brains to tell me what he knew of his birth parents and was bitterly disappointed when he refused. But when he died in 2003 I discovered that it wasn’t just a case of him not wanting to tell me. He was unable to for he didn’t know.
Among his possessions I found several letters in which he pleads for information on his birth mother. Some of these are letters to newspapers or lawyers associated with his adoption case. There are several application forms to agencies in Georgia and Alabama requesting his birth records.
Here’s an example of one of those letters which ran in a 1988 edition of the Phenix Citizen (click for larger view):
Every one of his attempts to find the truth was coldly dismissed and he never had the tools to maintain his search. For my father, this pursuit of truth was an exercise in alienation and disappointment. I almost don’t blame him for retreating to fantasy.
While my desire to know the truth of my family goes back for decades, my formal search only began in 2007.
He was born in Phenix City so I travelled there to petition the Russell County Court to unseal his birth records. It was then that I learned his adoption proceedings took place across the river in Columbus, Georgia so in 2008 I petitioned courts there but they essentially bounced me off to the Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry. In 2009 I sent them $300 and they told me the name and last-known address of my grandmother but they had no medical or background information. It was a total rip-off.
The complete records, which include my father’s birth certificate, medical information and so forth, are in Alabama. So I phoned Reginald Strickland, the Deputy Director for Alabama Center for Health Statistics who is responsible for sealed records and asked him what to do.
Here’s the court order (click for larger view):
He informed me that the information may be released as provided under Section 22-9A-12(c) of the Code of Alabama, 1975 which states that the record may not be viewed except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction which would be the Montgomery County Circuit Court.
I am deeply grateful to Reginald Strickland. I would never have figured this out if I hadn’t called him. I am also thankful to Judge Reese who signed the order and his able staff who patiently answered my questions over the last few months.
Next week I’ll send the Court Order and $25 to Alabama vital statistics who will send me everything in the sealed file.
I have no idea what’s in there. It could be as little as a birth certificate and a copy of the adoption decree but I’m hoping there’s a lot more information. I hope to glean some identifying information about my grandparents.
At the end of the day I might not find out much, but I take comfort in knowing that I will have all the information that’s been withheld for nearly 70 years.
I keep my treat bag on the top shelf of one of my bookshelves. I used to keep a little shrine to my best friend Galina there. She adored animals so I thought it fitting to move the base of my Khan treat operations next to her picture. Every time I give him a treat I take a moment to think about Galina.
Another plus to storing his treats up there is that it’s high and out of reach to him. But he knows the treats are there and when he wants them he plops himself next to the shelf, gazes longingly at the treats and meows. Most of the time it works and he gets his treats but sometimes I’m just feeling too darn lazy.
Sensing that I’m not getting his message Khan’s kicked it up a notch. Instead of meowing in front of the shelf he now actually hops onto the darn shelf! It’s only a matter of time before he makes his way to the top…
In Canada gay men can’t donate blood. Actually, the life ban applies to any man who’s had sex with another man since 1977 whether he identifies as gay, bi, straight or whatever.
I believe this is a homophobic policy and was amused to see the rather gay Facebook profile picture for Ron Vezina, the Director for Media Relations and External Communications for Canadian Blood Services:
Here’s a paragraph from an email I sent him:
“I believe the ban on gay blood donation is a policy rooted in homophobia and not sound medical science. Granted, your personal views may differ, but defending CBS’s homophobic policies on a public forum is part of your job and that’s what you do to make a living. Right or wrong, I believe you are irrevocably linked with this policy and find it ironic that you choose to use a Facebook picture that is, in my opinion, very gay.”
Here’s a paragraph from his response:
“Thanks for your note. First the personal part. My facebook pic is a spoof and it’s on my own personal site. It’s a joke between my friends and I after I was accused of having a very boring profile pic. All those who know me also know that my washboard abs are buried under a couple of loads of laundry!”
So yeah, my housemate recently added yet another degree to his “vanity wall”. He got his Master’s in science! w00t! He’s been working on his PhD for the last year or so so I think he actually finished his degree some time ago but got the piece of paper at a ceremony sometime in the last few weeks.
Khan, an aspiring academic, checks out Housemate's new degree.
I didn’t go to the ceremony.
Firstly, the ceremony was in the morning and I am not the biggest fan of mornings. Secondly, too many parents attend these things and I feel incredibly out of place in front of other peoples’ parents.
He got his Master’s degree in some kind of science. I flipped through his thesis and it’s all mumbo-jumbo to me. I wanted to paste some of it in this blog entry but Housemate forbade me. His reason? “It’s not in the library yet.”
Khan relaxing next to the bound copies of Housemate's thesis.
Once a week I like to treat myself to those yummy pizza rollers they sell at Pizza Hut. I don’t care what you say… I think they’re yummy. Mmm!
Usually, with a pop, they cost $7.65 but today I was dinged $8.16. This increase is a result of the new Harmonized Sales Tax which combines the Goods and Services Tax with the Provincial Sales Tax.
Oh well, at least I enjoyed the pizza rollers! Not even the government can eff that up.
I hate chatroulette but my brother Gino thought it’d be fun if I tried to find him on it. I guess somebody hasn’t told him about Skype yet…
Usually it’s just some guy jacking off, spam ads or assholes. But today I happened upon a Photoshop screen with the words “I will draw an animal.” I tell ‘em “Cat!” and bring Khan up to the screen.
And so, this dude from the south of Portugal, produced the following masterpiece in Photoshop:
My photos from North Burnaby's annual Hats Off Day parade and street party. I've lived here for years but this is the first time I've actually checked it out. I encountered an old bus, creepy Scientologists and evil Conservatives.
Hastings and Willingdon, Burnaby, BC
35 photos
Once a year they close off Hastings from Boundary to Gamma for the annual Hats Off Day celebration. It's pretty cool. There's a parade, kiosks, vintage cars and tons of interesting people.
Once a year they close off Hastings from Boundary to Gamma for the annual Hats Off Day celebration. It's pretty cool. There's a parade, kiosks, vintage cars and tons of interesting people.
They had this retro bus on display... here's the description from the Transit Museum Society site (http://www.trams.bc.ca/buses/4612.html) GMC Diesel #4612 model TDH 4519 (VH transmission), built 1964, operated in North Vancouver. It was then renumbered to #5522 and transfered to Kensington (later Burnaby) & Surrey and back several times. Retired in 1996, it was then donated to TRAMS. A new 6V71 engine and VS2 transmission was installed 1997, and the bus was repainted to original BC Hydro livery in 1998.
They had this retro bus on display... here's the description from the Transit Museum Society site (http://www.trams.bc.ca/buses/4612.html) GMC Diesel #4612 model TDH 4519 (VH transmission), built 1964, operated in North Vancouver. It was then renumbered to #5522 and transfered to Kensington (later Burnaby) & Surrey and back several times. Retired in 1996, it was then donated to TRAMS. A new 6V71 engine and VS2 transmission was installed 1997, and the bus was repainted to original BC Hydro livery in 1998.
Ah! Remember the days when bus seats were comfortable? I have many memories of sitting on those seats growing up, leaning into that metal strip that gave off heat in the winter, struggling to open those stupid windows in the summer and banging my head against those hard metal rails. I'm not sure if it's a figment of my imagination but I have vague memories of these buses having ashtrays.
Ah! Remember the days when bus seats were comfortable? I have many memories of sitting on those seats growing up, leaning into that metal strip that gave off heat in the winter, struggling to open those stupid windows in the summer and banging my head against those hard metal rails. I'm not sure if it's a figment of my imagination but I have vague memories of these buses having ashtrays.
The old fare box. In those days the machines didn't count how much you put in... so if you were short on cash you could just replace the $1.25 fare with a handful of pennies!
The old fare box. In those days the machines didn't count how much you put in... so if you were short on cash you could just replace the $1.25 fare with a handful of pennies!
An old fare card circa 1988. Too bad they can't tie fare increases with the rate of inflation.
An old fare card circa 1988. Too bad they can't tie fare increases with the rate of inflation.
Not too bad of an increase from the 1988 fares.
Not too bad of an increase from the 1988 fares.
Ah! The Fast Trax stickers! Before the Upass they had these stickers that you'd put on your one zone bus pass that turned it into a three zone pass. w00t! I love the old school computer art.
Ah! The Fast Trax stickers! Before the Upass they had these stickers that you'd put on your one zone bus pass that turned it into a three zone pass. w00t! I love the old school computer art.
w00t! It's neat to see the Panamanian and Mexican flags fly over Burnaby. I think these guys are Shriners of some sort.
w00t! It's neat to see the Panamanian and Mexican flags fly over Burnaby. I think these guys are Shriners of some sort.
They were bbqing chicken outside the Legion!
They were bbqing chicken outside the Legion!
These people were with the Full Gospel Assembly just up the road. I loved all the flags but their canned Christian music was a bit much. They were blasting these very loud Christian pop songs about "Jesus this" and "saved that". It was hard to hear the other parade marchers' music over this canned shit.
These people were with the Full Gospel Assembly just up the road. I loved all the flags but their canned Christian music was a bit much. They were blasting these very loud Christian pop songs about "Jesus this" and "saved that". It was hard to hear the other parade marchers' music over this canned shit.
w00t! FUNERAL COOKIES! Bell & Burnaby Funeral Chapel was offering free coffee and cookies. I didn't try the coffee but the cookies appeared to be of the no-name variety. :(
w00t! FUNERAL COOKIES! Bell & Burnaby Funeral Chapel was offering free coffee and cookies. I didn't try the coffee but the cookies appeared to be of the no-name variety. :(
A lot of cops were out. The guy on the right bears a resemblence to Stephen Harper... hmm...
A lot of cops were out. The guy on the right bears a resemblence to Stephen Harper... hmm...
OMG! Honest-to-goodness mini-discs! They contained back up music for some guy singing in what sounded like Italian. I wish I'd brought my video camera. He was quite good!
OMG! Honest-to-goodness mini-discs! They contained back up music for some guy singing in what sounded like Italian. I wish I'd brought my video camera. He was quite good!
The Iconic "Heights" sign that used to read "Helen's" for the store that was there for like 50 years.
The Iconic "Heights" sign that used to read "Helen's" for the store that was there for like 50 years.
They were selling pizza outside Fresh Slice. Their pizza effin' sucks. The guys workin' there, however, were very nice. I was taking a picture of the pizza under the display case (with the above caption in mind) when the manager said "Pull it out and put it on top so he can get a good picture to capture how good it is!"
They were selling pizza outside Fresh Slice. Their pizza effin' sucks. The guys workin' there, however, were very nice. I was taking a picture of the pizza under the display case (with the above caption in mind) when the manager said "Pull it out and put it on top so he can get a good picture to capture how good it is!"
OMG! Elvis!!
OMG! Elvis!!
This is Ronald Leung the Conservative candidate for Burnaby North in the 2008 Federal election. "Ah! Are you a reporter," he asked while I took this photo. "Yes, I am! And in 2008 you left placer text on your campaign signs!' I say with my arm on his shoulder. "Ah! Well next time I'll be sure to fix that!" he says. "Well, next time you run you'll probably just lose again!" I say with a shit-eating grin on my face. The people behind the counter shot stunned, dirty looks in my direction. I wrote this blog entry about his effed up sign some years back: http://www.nathaniel.ca/blog/?p=539
This is Ronald Leung the Conservative candidate for Burnaby North in the 2008 Federal election. "Ah! Are you a reporter," he asked while I took this photo. "Yes, I am! And in 2008 you left placer text on your campaign signs!' I say with my arm on his shoulder. "Ah! Well next time I'll be sure to fix that!" he says. "Well, next time you run you'll probably just lose again!" I say with a shit-eating grin on my face. The people behind the counter shot stunned, dirty looks in my direction. I wrote this blog entry about his effed up sign some years back: http://www.nathaniel.ca/blog/?p=539
The Scientologists had this first aid tent. They also had a bunch of these strange security guards or traffic wardens all over the neighbourhood.
The Scientologists had this first aid tent. They also had a bunch of these strange security guards or traffic wardens all over the neighbourhood.
There was this big tent split between this group called "The Way to Happiness" and "International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance". These are non-profit organisations connected to the Church of Scientology.
There was this big tent split between this group called "The Way to Happiness" and "International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance". These are non-profit organisations connected to the Church of Scientology.
I spoke at length with Peter Paulus, the representative for the Vancouver chapter of The Way To Happiness. He was a very friendly and interesting guy. A quick Google search on his name reveals that he was once a member of a '70s rock band here in Vancouver. W00t! He went through a pamphlet with me that outlines some pretty broad and well-established guidelines for living well. It read like a revised 10 Commandments with stuff like don't steal, don't murder, honour your parents, obey the law and so forth. Paulus claimed that when this booklet is distributed in a neighbourhood the crime level drops. He also said it's been so effective in Buenos Aires, Argentina that the police there carry it around with them now. Hmm! The booklet he handed me had a photo of Vancouver on the cover but was all in American spelling. That's kind of sloppy if you ask me. Although Paulus was very nice I couldn't help but shake the feeling that this organisation was set up to be a socially acceptable, palatabl
I spoke at length with Peter Paulus, the representative for the Vancouver chapter of The Way To Happiness. He was a very friendly and interesting guy. A quick Google search on his name reveals that he was once a member of a '70s rock band here in Vancouver. W00t! He went through a pamphlet with me that outlines some pretty broad and well-established guidelines for living well. It read like a revised 10 Commandments with stuff like don't steal, don't murder, honour your parents, obey the law and so forth. Paulus claimed that when this booklet is distributed in a neighbourhood the crime level drops. He also said it's been so effective in Buenos Aires, Argentina that the police there carry it around with them now. Hmm! The booklet he handed me had a photo of Vancouver on the cover but was all in American spelling. That's kind of sloppy if you ask me. Although Paulus was very nice I couldn't help but shake the feeling that this organisation was set up to be a socially acceptable, palatabl
Looking into Vancouver. The police guard the border to prevent those nasty East Vancouverites! ;) Just kidding.
Looking into Vancouver. The police guard the border to prevent those nasty East Vancouverites! ;) Just kidding.
Here's the other half of the tent which is occupied by the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance. An organisation promotes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Like "The Way to Happines" they are another "acceptable" front for the Church of Scientology. I asked the guy there, Ian I think his name was, if they promote the human rights of LGBT people. "What's LGBT?" he asked. They were getting people to sign their petition... Oy!
Here's the other half of the tent which is occupied by the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance. An organisation promotes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Like "The Way to Happines" they are another "acceptable" front for the Church of Scientology. I asked the guy there, Ian I think his name was, if they promote the human rights of LGBT people. "What's LGBT?" he asked. They were getting people to sign their petition... Oy!
Although they downplayed their connection to the Church of Scientology this woman, in the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance tent was creepily filming people. Not the bands, clowns, stands or balloons or whatever but random passersby. When she saw me snapping photos she immediately panned the camera onto me. This was fucking creepy.
Although they downplayed their connection to the Church of Scientology this woman, in the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance tent was creepily filming people. Not the bands, clowns, stands or balloons or whatever but random passersby. When she saw me snapping photos she immediately panned the camera onto me. This was fucking creepy.
I think some of their beliefs are homophobic, racist and fucked up but I'll be damned, the Falun Dafa people had a wonderful brass marching band. I look forward to seeing them again at the next parade!
I think some of their beliefs are homophobic, racist and fucked up but I'll be damned, the Falun Dafa people had a wonderful brass marching band. I look forward to seeing them again at the next parade!
OMG! That's me posing with the bestest Member of Pariament in Canada! Bill Siksay is currently pushing a private member's bill, C-389, that would add gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination to the Canadian Human Rights Act. It would also amend the hate crime and sentencing provisions of the Criminal Code.
OMG! That's me posing with the bestest Member of Pariament in Canada! Bill Siksay is currently pushing a private member's bill, C-389, that would add gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination to the Canadian Human Rights Act. It would also amend the hate crime and sentencing provisions of the Criminal Code.
My buddy Kaitlin Burnett sharing a private joke with Burnaby North MP Bill Siksay.
My buddy Kaitlin Burnett sharing a private joke with Burnaby North MP Bill Siksay.
OMG! These people are drinking Conservative water while in the presence of our lovely NDP MP. Fortunately we elected a man with a wonderful sense of humour.
OMG! These people are drinking Conservative water while in the presence of our lovely NDP MP. Fortunately we elected a man with a wonderful sense of humour.
Here's a close up of the water bottle.
Here's a close up of the water bottle.
I think this fireman is sexually attractive.
I think this fireman is sexually attractive.
I saw at least four of these anti-HST petition tables. Have you signed it yet?
I saw at least four of these anti-HST petition tables. Have you signed it yet?
w00t! The good BC Nurses' Union was out giving people free blood pressure tests. God bless 'em and the good work they do.
w00t! The good BC Nurses' Union was out giving people free blood pressure tests. God bless 'em and the good work they do.
At first I wasn't sure if this was a composting thing or an initiative to fight hunger.
At first I wasn't sure if this was a composting thing or an initiative to fight hunger.
My buddy Jess drove all the way from Salem, Oregon to hang out with me. We had fun all week… cooking bacon, drinking tea, cracking dirty jokes, stuffing our faces with sweets and yelling at teenagers. She’s awesome! The highlight of her trip, at least for me, was watching her interact with my cat Khan. He absolutely adores her. Here’s a cute video of her giving Khan kitty-spa treatment.
I’m hanging out with my friends Jess, Paul and Michael. We’re walking their dog Buster when I am overcome with an insatiable craving for cupcakes!
There are a few chain stores in Vancouver that are dedicated to selling just that, but they are located several blocks away from where we are.
“I’m not sure where to get cupcakes around here,” says Michael.
“They sell ‘em at Starbucks!” I declare.
“Well then why don’t we go check out Starbucks and then if they don’t have them there we’ll go to Choices [a grocery store] and get a whole bunch of really good ones!” I’m not sure that Michael or Jess want to inhale a plate of carbs and sugar but they are incredibly supportive of my demand/desire to do so.
We arrive at the Yaletown Starbucks and as soon as I open the door my gaze zeroes in on a platter of seven cupcakes. My gaze drags my body right to the curved glass pastry display.
“How much for all of them?” I ask the young barista. “I want all of the cupcakes!”
Before he can answer I start to haggle. “If I buy all of ‘em can you give me some kind of deal?”
He gives me a knowing smile and offers to throw one in for free and waive the GST.
“Kick ass!” I say feeling quite proud of myself. “I got us a better deal for cupcakes!”
I pay for the cupcakes, which came to something like $13, and wait for a while. I thought for a moment that they simply forgot my request but when I crane my head behind the counter I notice three staff people carefully gift wrapping the cupcakes like the treasures they are.
They placed the three vanilla cupcakes in individual gift boxes and the four chocolate cupcakes in a four-pack container thing. They then placed them in two lovely gift bags.
Starbucks cupcakes
The three of us decide to eat one of the cupcakes on the Starbucks patio and then bring the other four back to Michael and Paul’s house and pretend that we had only bought four, thus scoring an additional cupcake. Paul had gone back to his house with the dog earlier, so he would never know.
Michael and Jess
The cupcakes were a bit stale but still extremely yummy. Someone compared it to an explosion of sex in their mouth.
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