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so this happened.
Jul. 21st, 2021 04:12 pm
The police weren't looking for a suspect when they pounded on my door Tuesday night.
They were looking for someone who knew the man who lived next door to me well enough to identify him. I wasn't that person.
I think I'd seen him once, and had described him as best I could - a little taller than me, brown hair, bit of a beard, skinny. I said he stayed home a lot, and i knew this because he propped his door open to get the air circulating through.
He left that door propped open even in the middle of the night, even when he was likely to be asleep. That may seem crazy to a lot of you, but we're secure in knowing that you can't live here unless you've been carefully screened, interviewed, referred and approved. When I told my psychiatrist about the day when I opened my door and saw that my neighbors on either side and the neighbor across from me were all in the hall, and all men, he understood even before I told him that I went back into my apartment, closed the door, locked it, and hung up my coat for the day.
He asked me, then, to talk about the process I went through to gain approval to live there, and what that meant about my neighbors. He sat there while I reasoned for myself that if they were my neighbors, if they lived there too, that they'd had to go through the same thing I did, and that meant they probably wouldn't be interested in harming me.
I trusted my building a little more.
And by that propped open door at 3 am, so did my neighbor.
I didn't know Mark Deveaux. I never spoke to him, never found out his name until I read it in the paper, two days after it was too late to ask him.
But I knew he was there, and that he was comfortable enough to sleep in his apartment with the door open for comfort. He trusted his neighbors that much, and in spite of the senseless, horrible way he died, I respect his opinion.
They were looking for someone who knew the man who lived next door to me well enough to identify him. I wasn't that person.
I think I'd seen him once, and had described him as best I could - a little taller than me, brown hair, bit of a beard, skinny. I said he stayed home a lot, and i knew this because he propped his door open to get the air circulating through.
He left that door propped open even in the middle of the night, even when he was likely to be asleep. That may seem crazy to a lot of you, but we're secure in knowing that you can't live here unless you've been carefully screened, interviewed, referred and approved. When I told my psychiatrist about the day when I opened my door and saw that my neighbors on either side and the neighbor across from me were all in the hall, and all men, he understood even before I told him that I went back into my apartment, closed the door, locked it, and hung up my coat for the day.
He asked me, then, to talk about the process I went through to gain approval to live there, and what that meant about my neighbors. He sat there while I reasoned for myself that if they were my neighbors, if they lived there too, that they'd had to go through the same thing I did, and that meant they probably wouldn't be interested in harming me.
I trusted my building a little more.
And by that propped open door at 3 am, so did my neighbor.
I didn't know Mark Deveaux. I never spoke to him, never found out his name until I read it in the paper, two days after it was too late to ask him.
But I knew he was there, and that he was comfortable enough to sleep in his apartment with the door open for comfort. He trusted his neighbors that much, and in spite of the senseless, horrible way he died, I respect his opinion.
thronging at the crime scene tape border a scant 12 feet away from the actors?
that's just on TV.
I walk outside to sunshine and warm that made me regret my winter coat, wishing i'd worn a heavy sweater instead, and about a city block worth of street cordoned off with crime scene tape, and I took a good long look.
first of all, it's not one crime scene tape. it's an outer border, where they put the patrol cars, a lot of them. and then about 7 m in, another border of crime scen tape.
being on foot, I walked over to the first patrol car i saw, hailed a greeting, and asked, "Where is it safe for me to walk?" the police officer gave me directions, and they took me along the perimeter to another patrol car, and another police officer, whom I promptly hailed and asked EXACTLY THE SAME QUESTION which seemed the prudent thing. I could assume that he could figure out my purpose since I spoke to the other officer, and they may have even communicated that, but I had no way of knowing so best to be sure.
he gave me much the same directions, and I continued on my way.
when I came back three hours later, the tapes were still up.
A few hours after that, policemen were at my door wanting to know about my next door neighbor. one of them hit my face recognition as the police officer in the second car.
To say that this has made me ANXIOUS is putting it mildly.
that's just on TV.
I walk outside to sunshine and warm that made me regret my winter coat, wishing i'd worn a heavy sweater instead, and about a city block worth of street cordoned off with crime scene tape, and I took a good long look.
first of all, it's not one crime scene tape. it's an outer border, where they put the patrol cars, a lot of them. and then about 7 m in, another border of crime scen tape.
being on foot, I walked over to the first patrol car i saw, hailed a greeting, and asked, "Where is it safe for me to walk?" the police officer gave me directions, and they took me along the perimeter to another patrol car, and another police officer, whom I promptly hailed and asked EXACTLY THE SAME QUESTION which seemed the prudent thing. I could assume that he could figure out my purpose since I spoke to the other officer, and they may have even communicated that, but I had no way of knowing so best to be sure.
he gave me much the same directions, and I continued on my way.
when I came back three hours later, the tapes were still up.
A few hours after that, policemen were at my door wanting to know about my next door neighbor. one of them hit my face recognition as the police officer in the second car.
To say that this has made me ANXIOUS is putting it mildly.
wow, mail day
Feb. 20th, 2007 10:43 pmi got my pen. it's a very fine nib compared to the other pen. and yes, the mont blanc ink is kind of crappy. I'll get some decent ink in that thing and then see how nicely it writes.
I also got my cheque from Baen. Which I will put in the bank, and by the time it clears it should be there in order to keep me fed while I'm in Toronto. I hope so. I rashly asked Peter if I could take him to dinner. And actually I owe him *two* dinners.
Sorry, you guys. this shift I'm working - it sucks up my whole day, basically. I am simply not clever. I just go to work and be perky on the phone and come home and sort of make acknowledging grunts at people because I just do not have it in me to talk any more than that. Today it was all I could do to make an omelette to eat - I didn't even get on WoW.
and I officially hates my scratchy black sweater. I will be on sleeve island forever. I want to go buy yarn and knit a new scarf to go with my new coat, that's what I want to do.
I also got my cheque from Baen. Which I will put in the bank, and by the time it clears it should be there in order to keep me fed while I'm in Toronto. I hope so. I rashly asked Peter if I could take him to dinner. And actually I owe him *two* dinners.
Sorry, you guys. this shift I'm working - it sucks up my whole day, basically. I am simply not clever. I just go to work and be perky on the phone and come home and sort of make acknowledging grunts at people because I just do not have it in me to talk any more than that. Today it was all I could do to make an omelette to eat - I didn't even get on WoW.
and I officially hates my scratchy black sweater. I will be on sleeve island forever. I want to go buy yarn and knit a new scarf to go with my new coat, that's what I want to do.
Homunculus hath risen from the dead, thanks to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
drakkenfyre, who helped me back up the data I hadn't backed up, and then tested the memory based on a suggestion by svartomr.
and that was actually the problem - my 128meg memory stick was corrrupt. So now the wee beastie is on a cute amount of ram, but beh, it works.
and I've got all the important stuff backed up, so now I can wipe the whole damned thing and become a Linuxbabe. woo!
really though I truly need a new computer. but this one will continue to limp along, for the time being.
drakkenfyre, who helped me back up the data I hadn't backed up, and then tested the memory based on a suggestion by svartomr.and that was actually the problem - my 128meg memory stick was corrrupt. So now the wee beastie is on a cute amount of ram, but beh, it works.
and I've got all the important stuff backed up, so now I can wipe the whole damned thing and become a Linuxbabe. woo!
really though I truly need a new computer. but this one will continue to limp along, for the time being.
Dear Madam,
On behalf of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), we wish (to) thank you for your email of November 16, 2006, regarding the transportation of knitting needles in carry-on baggage.
When traveling from a Canadian airport, permitted and non permitted items are regulated by Transport Canada and are enforced by screening officers. According to Transport Canada regulations, all knitting needles (wood, plastic and metal) are permitted in your carry-on and checked baggage without restrictions.
Once again, thank you for your inquiry.
CATSA Client Relations
On behalf of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), we wish (to) thank you for your email of November 16, 2006, regarding the transportation of knitting needles in carry-on baggage.
When traveling from a Canadian airport, permitted and non permitted items are regulated by Transport Canada and are enforced by screening officers. According to Transport Canada regulations, all knitting needles (wood, plastic and metal) are permitted in your carry-on and checked baggage without restrictions.
Once again, thank you for your inquiry.
CATSA Client Relations
you! calgarian. yeah, you.
Jul. 14th, 2006 12:02 amIt's no surprise that the economy in cowtown is booming just now. but:
are you, or do you know...
someone who is at a mcJob or has no job or just hates their damn job?
someone who is comfortable with technology?
someone who scored as "geek translator" on one of those silly lj quizzes that floats through every six months?
someone who has crappy/no extended health benefits?
then for ghu's sake, take a gander at the career listings at Star Choice television. they're hiring CSRs, TSRs, Field Support, and Admin, plus more than that. You get extensive training, a gonzo stupid tv discount (zomg CSI Eight TIMES a DAY,) the people I chat with on my breaks are really good folks, and the benefits are just wild. there's no reason for anyone I know on lj who is local to calgary to not have a job at this level or better.
and yeah, between still - fried hard drive and working the 3-11 shift, I have not been on LJ in over a week. honestly? more like two weeks.
so tell me. what's new?
are you, or do you know...
someone who is at a mcJob or has no job or just hates their damn job?
someone who is comfortable with technology?
someone who scored as "geek translator" on one of those silly lj quizzes that floats through every six months?
someone who has crappy/no extended health benefits?
then for ghu's sake, take a gander at the career listings at Star Choice television. they're hiring CSRs, TSRs, Field Support, and Admin, plus more than that. You get extensive training, a gonzo stupid tv discount (zomg CSI Eight TIMES a DAY,) the people I chat with on my breaks are really good folks, and the benefits are just wild. there's no reason for anyone I know on lj who is local to calgary to not have a job at this level or better.
and yeah, between still - fried hard drive and working the 3-11 shift, I have not been on LJ in over a week. honestly? more like two weeks.
so tell me. what's new?
Have you guys heard of a dude named Mark Tushingham?
okay, it's not a quiz. He's a scientist working for Environment Canada, and he has written an SF novel, published by a Canadian small press, called Hotter than Hell. (the publisher is DreamCatcher publishing, Inc., available at their website and at Amazon.com, but it's a 4-6 week wait at Amazon, for anyone made curious.)
Anyway, the book seems to be about the precarious position Canada would be in once global warming advances a little further, speculating that the US would invade Canada because it has the world's largest supply of fresh water.
Tushingham was invited to go talk at the National Press Club in Ottawa1 about the science behind his book. it's the sort of talk that many of my friends here on LJ are familiar with, either attending one or giving one.
Well. the Minister For the Environment, Rona Ambrose - ordered him to cancel this talk. oh yes, comrades, is pravda. "Because he didn't follow the proper process," apparently. He's also cancelled some TV and radio interviews.
Obviously, my friends, all of you SF writers who are giving a panel discussion at any SF convention in Canada had better write Ms. Ambrose, and ask her for permission. Oceania has never believed in global warming.
drakkenfyre turned me on to the story. I'm just spreading the word.
related articles:
Climate Change Expert Muzzled - Toronto Star
Scientist author muzzled as Tories weaken Kyoto - London Free Press
please also readcristalia's post about this, which gets deeper, further, and more satisfyingly into The Real Issue, here.
1Newsmaker Luncheon National Press Club Dining Room, 165 Sparks St. (rsvp 613-233-5641; www.pressclub.on.ca). Noon. $25; $20 members. Dr. Mark Tushingham, an Ottawa-based environmental scientist, will speak about the effects and issues surrounding global warming.
okay, it's not a quiz. He's a scientist working for Environment Canada, and he has written an SF novel, published by a Canadian small press, called Hotter than Hell. (the publisher is DreamCatcher publishing, Inc., available at their website and at Amazon.com, but it's a 4-6 week wait at Amazon, for anyone made curious.)
Anyway, the book seems to be about the precarious position Canada would be in once global warming advances a little further, speculating that the US would invade Canada because it has the world's largest supply of fresh water.
Tushingham was invited to go talk at the National Press Club in Ottawa1 about the science behind his book. it's the sort of talk that many of my friends here on LJ are familiar with, either attending one or giving one.
Well. the Minister For the Environment, Rona Ambrose - ordered him to cancel this talk. oh yes, comrades, is pravda. "Because he didn't follow the proper process," apparently. He's also cancelled some TV and radio interviews.
Obviously, my friends, all of you SF writers who are giving a panel discussion at any SF convention in Canada had better write Ms. Ambrose, and ask her for permission. Oceania has never believed in global warming.
drakkenfyre turned me on to the story. I'm just spreading the word. related articles:
Climate Change Expert Muzzled - Toronto Star
Paradoxically, the incident takes place during the same week the Conservatives unveiled new "whistleblower" protection, designed to shield outspoken public servants from intimidation and threats to their livelihood....Tushingham was also warned not to speak to reporters and spent much of yesterday in hiding..
Scientist author muzzled as Tories weaken Kyoto - London Free Press
The scientific, or literary, muzzle was put on Tushingham just as the Tory government was preparing to quietly confirm it's killing off more than a dozen research programs related to the Kyoto protocol.
Late yesterday, on the eve of a long weekend when governments traditionally dump bad news for the least possible public exposure, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn issued a news release saying 15 programs were being eliminated.
Lunn said the programs had run their course.
please also read
cristalia's post about this, which gets deeper, further, and more satisfyingly into The Real Issue, here.1Newsmaker Luncheon National Press Club Dining Room, 165 Sparks St. (rsvp 613-233-5641; www.pressclub.on.ca). Noon. $25; $20 members. Dr. Mark Tushingham, an Ottawa-based environmental scientist, will speak about the effects and issues surrounding global warming.
