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In a clear counterpoint to demonstrate how different these children of a common heritage can be, CBC today carried live coverage of the memorial service for the Canadian servicepeople killed in a tragic "friendly fire" incident near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

My inner sense of black humour keeps trying to make jokes about this, but i can't commit them to any written form, feeling that in some way it'd be disrespectful of the dead to do so.

Regardless, this is yet another incident which forces people to ask the hard questions. Why didn't the pilot who dropped the bomb which killed the Canadian forces have any clear indication that he was flying over allied forces who were on a training mission? Why are pilots in general given such a green light to release weapons on their own authority without confirming that a threat exists before doing so? What are forces still doing in Afghanistan, and why isn't their role more clearly defined and constrained?

Anyway, enough of my concerns about international affairs- it's the time of the year when there are more entertaining things about which to rant- like the NHL playoffs. Watched most of the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0 victory over the New York Islanders, heard that Colorado has won 4-3 over Los Angeles to take a 2-0 lead in that series, and that Phoenix won 2-1 over San Jose to tie that series at 1-1.

If you couldn't tell by the shift in conversation, after the memorial, CBC returned to their excellent coverage of the Canadian national religion- hockey. The Ottawa Senators will try to muster some offense in the second game of their series against Philadelphia- they lost the first 1-0 in overtime.

In completely unrelated notes: i have a new hat. Think Theodore Seuss Geisel, but in dark purple and forest green rather than red and white. Maus, you'll like this one too, but the general rule stands- you're strongly encouraged to find willing female companionship with which to mate rather than asking if you can do so with my headgear.

Thinking about finding a tape and taping the Sens-Flyers game and taking a nap, then watching the game later if it sounds as if it were a good one.

Some People's Kids!

Alexander is in such big trouble.
Took him for a walk earlier today, and half of the time we were out, he was being a whining, petulant brat; and every time he didn't get his way, he'd throw himself on the ground. On the way back to the house, he said he wanted a sandwich, but before we got home, he saw the neighborhood kids playing outside, and decided he wanted to play with them instead. Since running around outside is a pretty good thing for him, i let him. Around 3:30, he started running in and out every few minutes, and i decided it was probably time for him to have his sandwich and take a nap. After he finshed eating, i sent him in for his nap, put on his music and went in to watch the Sens game and doze a bit myself.
Fifteen minutes or so later, i hear him shouting in his room- he's standing on the bed, carrying on a conversation through the closed window with one of the twins who live next door. Reminded him that it's nap time, that he can maybe go out and play some more after his nap.
Head back in, doze off a bit myself. Wake to the sound of the sliding glass door opening and closing. Get up, find that the little sneak has decided that he doesn't need to take a nap, and has crept outside to play anyway. I'm so incredibly pissed at him now! Think Child Protection Services would come and take him away if i were to tie his ankles together and hang him from the clothing bar in his closet until he's 18?