Favourite Autumn Photos--II

Here are a few more of my favourite autumn photos. They're from the same location in northern Ontario as the ones below. [The photos were taken in 1996.]

Favourite Autumn Photos

These are a couple of my favourite fall photos. They're from northern Ontario. [Duchesnay Falls, near North Bay. 1996.]

Needing a Crack in Homophobic Armour!

Have been writing in the original blog today about a university professor and her work with hate crimes, especially against sexual orientation issues. Could homophobia be more prevalent than we've thought? I believe so!

Maybe some people haven't realized they were acting on homophobia when they wanted to direct and shut down the police project??? We don't all have to like homosexuality but we shouldn't let our dislike blind our reason, as I also wrote in the other blog.

If homophobia means an extreme fear or irrational aversion to homosexuality or homosexual people, what's rational? Some people might want to ask themselves that question!? [And they're welcome to read the other blog.]

The End of the "Police Project?"

Have gotten the impression that some Christians expect me to close down the "police project?" Is it too much nonsense, and immoral? Maybe the good work has already been done, which can be? Well, I agree that some parts should close. But on the other hand, if some people have acted with true charity and concern about homosexual issues in the past it may be their efforts will remain!? There may yet be greater publicity, also? Am not sure what all the parties are thinking--there have been so many, with conflicting interests. Would like to air out the issues, as far as possible; and have been writing about this matter in the first blog, also.

If some parties were, or still are, exploiting me it's a concern. [The ones who do that don't seem to see it that way!?] They've been said to use my writing without any acknowledgement or compensation, when they've known I expected something in return.

"The truth comes out," is what I always used to say! And I believe all the real truth will come out, sooner or later. [Hopefully, sooner.]

Another New Link

Have added a new Link today about "Bible answers." In the past I purposely left it out because I didn't want things to get too confusing! But maybe some people want to see what I believe in? Maybe they can relate also, more or less? And myself, I'm able to reconcile my beliefs with my politicking.

An Expert on Families

Dr. Laura Schlessinger, known as "Dr. Laura," has given a lot of advice on family life and how to draw boundaries while showing some respect even for abusive parents. She has been unique in my opinion--you don't often hear others speaking of the same kinds of ideas! [She has been on the radio and has written books, I believe.]

Celebrating Birth and Children, in the past

From about 1934 to 1943, the Province of Ontario basically took over the lives of quintuplet girls who were born in northern Ontario; and they were on display at an amusement park built for them, "Quintland." People came from all over the world and the business generated a lot of income. These girls were the first surviving quintuplets, as far as I understand. If there was exploitation involved on the part of the Province, the parents of the girls seemed to be worse.--There were allegations of abuse later on; and maybe the family was somewhat overwhelmed by the publicity and the forced separation. It's sad that things didn't go as well for the family, although they profited financially also, but the public seemed to be delighted by the babies who grew into identical siblings. [The public had something to be happy about during the Depression--and about life in general.]

A fictionalized novel and TV movie have been made about the above family, so far. [From the point of view of society, it remains that the girls were a bright spot in a dark period, in my opinion. Apparently, the girls had also left home around the age of 18 years and didn't maintain connections with their parents any longer.]

The Work of Secret Police

Does the average person know or understand what secret police/secret agents do??? Of course the public isn't meant to know everything that goes on or the work would be hindered! But can we imagine? We can only speculate from what has been revealed of past work and agents.

In Great Britain, like in the USA, there are numerous organizations which work together to provide intelligence to the government. Have found it interesting to be reminded of MI5 and MI6. The first refers to "Military Intelligence, Section 5;" and the second to "Secret Intelligence Service" [England]. They're separate agencies but work together directly or indirectly, as far as I understand. In the police project, the numbers 5 and 6 are emphasized at times--maybe it's a nod to these two agencies? Have wondered about it before!?

The government in England didn't even acknowledge until the 1990s that some of their intelligence work--was it MI6--existed? [MI6 provides foreign intelligence.] Was it in the 1980s when our CSIS--Canadian Security Intelligence Service was created?

Secret Connections--V / A Real-Life Hero!

Camp X was founded by a Canadian from Winnipeg who was living in England, at the time. He was also the head of the British intelligence during World War II. His name was Sir William Stephenson. One of his code names during wartime was "Intrepid;" and there's evidence the "James Bond: Secret Agent 007" stories were inspired by him--even if the stories were romanticized for entertainment purposes, to be sure.

When I was a child, a neighbour friend pointed out James Bond to me on TV and I recall watching a TV show or a movie. Bond must have been one of the original action heroes--and maybe others were inspired by him!?

So far, am not sure William Stephenson has really been celebrated enough, although he's of course recognized in his home town!?

[If there has been controversy about whether or not the original author of the James Bond stories attended Camp X, I don't think it matters much!? The point was he learned about the activities and about William Stephenson.--He didn't necessarily have to go to Camp X for information! (Although I wouldn't want to say he didn't attend either.--Some other authors were rumoured to be former students from there.)]

Secret Connections--IV

Camp X was run by the military and not by police, as far as I understand, but there were American police who came for training--and I'm guessing some Canadian police were involved somewhere along the way!? We didn't have our CSIS--Canadian Security Intelligence Service--yet but there was the RCMP Secret Service, if I'm not mistaken. Have added the Canadian Police label to the entries on Camp X.

[NOTE, added June 21: Have been reading further on the Internet and there seems to be reliable information that some RCMP officers did take training at Camp X. The Americans included agents from the FBI and from the OSS--Office of Strategic Studies--which was the forerunner of the CIA--Central Intelligence Agency.]

Secret Connections--III

My blog seems to have a malfunction in an entry below.--It's similar to something that happened in the original blog recently. I deleted that problem but this time I'm not willing to do that. [Have also written in the original blog about the nicknamed "Mr. Big" undercover program by police!]

By the way, the entry immediately below shows a current-day monument which sits on the site of the previous Camp X. There are flags for Canada, the USA, and Britain--plus a fourth flag which I don't recognize.

Secret Connections--II

Here are a few more scenes from the mural by Tony Johnson. The pictures are showing some of the work at Camp X and related subjects.

Secret Connections in Local Area!

Here are some photos of a mural in downtown Oshawa. The mural is a panorama of scenes about the former "Camp X" which used to be in the area. Camp X was a spy training school which began around the time of World War II.

Have read a book about Camp X and attended a lecture by the author at the library earlier. But from reading on the Internet now, there's still more I didn't know! [Won't explain too much for fear of making a mistake but people can look it up for themselves.]

Camp X was apparently a link between Britain, Canada, and the USA--is that correct? [Sometimes the Internet notes aren't even accurate!?] They continued operations for a few decades following World War II before they closed down completely. The public and even most of the government officials didn't know what was going on! The property began with a farm; and some radio antennas were said to belong to our Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for their signals!--Meanwhile, the use of radio was important to the work at Camp X, if I recall reading in the book?

It has also been debated that some trainees at Camp X went on to write fiction books--like the author of the "James Bond" movies? But the spy work itself was very serious, for sure!

[The location of Camp X was approximately on the border between Oshawa and Whitby, for the record.]

NOTE: The mural was painted by artist, Tony Johnson.

Flowers and More Flowers!

Wanted to post these photos after the entry with leaves below. Spring really does follow winter!

These pictures were taken in late spring last year, just before the Peony Festival at a park in the city of Oshawa.

A Story of Leaves

When summer leaves change colour in the fall, they can be very beautiful. But the leaves soon fall off and die afterwards. Have read it can be like that with sin--it's enjoyable for the moment but the effect doesn't last.

If there's no harm to others, we should be able to make our personal choices in life. And it's the only real way to grow--there isn't a lot of point in living a life that's forced on us by others or society. God wants us to CHOOSE to live a good life, according to my understanding. [According to the Bible, He also helps us with our choices, if we want Him to. The Bible helps us understand more about God.]

Where gay issues go, it has been my position that people need to have the freedom to move forward.--To live their lives as they see fit--whether or not we agree with them. In making their choices, there will be a live-and-learn process, as there is with most of us. In Canada and some other countries, there has already been a lot of freedom for gays; but issues are still being debated in places like the USA.

If some Canadians think they've reached the limit for gay rights, they're mistaken. There's still more to be done; and I've seen that many Canadians, with their usual generous spirit, have been willing to reach upward to give gays their fullest possible benefits. On the other hand, Christians don't need to be afraid. Enlightened Christians know that Christianity helps to give us freedom while setting healthy boundaries. [It's by accepting the realistic limits of homosexuality--like of gay couples not being able to bear children together--that freedom is more likely to be found, in my opinion.]

***A final point I'd like to make here is that even though winter follows fall, spring also follows winter! We don't want to be reckless or presumptuous but there is often forgiveness even when we've failed very badly! Some Christians believe in a final Judgment Day at an unknown point in the future; and our personal fate could be closed without warning--we never know. But in the meantime, there's forgiveness and renewal--we have chances to start over again. And we need to be able to experience life on an individual basis--not to have others' unreasonable values placed on us, in my opinion. [Most of us already have a right to full freedom but many gays haven't been in that position, it seems. The subject doesn't apply to me personally but am attempting to speak for those who need help!]

Northern Photo--III

Here's a final photo from the river. It's always nice to think of summer and to go out to scenic locations when you can, in my opinion!

Northern Photos--II

Here are a couple more photos from the Mattawa River, from my previous boating days!

Northern Photo

Here's a photo from the Mattawa River, in northern Ontario, more than 15 years ago when my son and I went boating there! We had a small, inflatable boat which we used a lot.

This photo was taken with a cheaper camera I had at the time and the sun was unfortunately in the direction where I wanted to take the shot. There's a rock wall, approximately 100 feet high [I'm guessing now] below the trees. The first time my son and I went to this location, I felt somewhat proud of my discovery because I didn't know a location like this existed and it's not visible from the road. [We actually went to a small lake and then found the river passing through it. We proceeded to follow the river.]

The "Adam" Signs

Have recently posted one of these "Adam" signs. Here are two more pictures I took; and there were 3 other signs along the highway which I didn't photograph.--There were 6 signs in all! They were located along a relatively short stretch of highway and it was a lot of emphasis!

Not a Typical Environmental Movie!

A charming movie I've seen recently was "The Californians," 2005. It's about some environmental activists who oppose housing developers. One of the developers played the piano and he fell in love with a young woman who sang at events for the activists! It's not a typical kind of love story, however; and it has sort of a surprise ending.--Am not sure I want to give it away here? Just thought it was nice to mention, along with the recent "Earth Day," etc.!

Communication

This is a photo of a new footbridge in a local park.

They say communication is like a bridge; and it has to go completely from one side to the other to be effective. Myself, I'm working on communication.

Holiday Weekend

In this area [Canada], we're celebrating Victoria Day--Queen Victoria's birthday--this weekend. It's the first long weekend of the summer, although summer isn't officially here for a few weeks.

An Early Banker--II

It seems John Simpson was also a respected politician. The bank he worked for, Ontario Bank, was eventually closed because of some kind of incompetent, if not shady, dealings [not by Simpson]; and it was bought out by another bank--Bank of Montreal.

It's interesting to study about past history, in my opinion! There always seem to be helpful things to learn.

Earlier Days in Bowmanville

This is another photo of a mural by artist Todd Tremeer. It was painted in Bowmanville in 1999; and it shows some volunteers who were on their way to World War I.

An Early Banker

This is a photo of an outdoor wall mural by artist Todd Tremeer in the town of Bowmanville, 1998. The picture shows some buildings in about 1910 in downtown Bowmanville. The prominent building on the left is a bank which was apparently opened by a man named John Simpson. The building on the right was the post office, at the time.

John Simpson was the adopted son of Charles Bowman who was the founder of Bowmanville. [See "Another Street Sign" below.]

A Little More Colour!

Just wanted to add a few more tulip photos!

Another Street Sign

When I was growing up, our mailing address was a rural route of the farming town of Bowmanville. [We actually lived closer to a city but were on the outskirts.] It was only last summer that I noticed they had a street named Simpson. According to a downtown mural in Bowmanville, a man named John Simpson was the first--or one of the first--bankers there. [Have a photo of the mural but haven't been able to locate the artist's name, so far. Will have to work on it.]

So, what about "The Simpsons" show??? [It seems banks and bankers have been connected to the United States Secret Service and the police project.--Have written more in the original Waterlily Story blog.] The program content may not be relevant but the name may be!? [Have also written about The Simpsons--quite a bit--in the original blog.]

It would be my guess that the U.S.S.S. were the ones who asked the RCMP to get involved--unless maybe it was police in Great Britain who involved the Canadians? The Americans and Canadians have worked together a lot anyway, it seems.

[NOTE: The "STOP" sign isn't necessarily relevant--although in some ways it could be!--As long as we deal with the real issues and stop the nonsense!--And what counts as nonsense may be open to interpretation....]

The Progress of Spring--III

Here are some more tulips from this spring. The top two photos are from the same park as some previous photos.

In Canada's capital city of Ottawa, they have a Tulip Festival every year. A large quantity of tulip bulbs had been given to Canada by Holland in the past because of appreciation for help during a war. I used to enjoy seeing the tulips in Ottawa, whenever I had a chance. [Haven't had as much opportunity now as when I was younger.] Isn't it great to see so much colour in all the tulips?

A Funny Sign!?

In the process of asking about publication rights for some photos below, I remembered a somewhat strange sign which I saw in another city not too many years ago. It was a small sign along a recreational trail--it said "Hollywood Boulevard." Except for the trail, a garbage can, and a parking lot nearby, there was nothing else there! There was a small river behind some trees, however; and there used to be filming done in that city many decades earlier. Rivers have been a symbol of life; and references to them have been used in some films in the police project. [A River Runs Through It, 1992, was one film; and the above city actually had a river running through the middle of it.]

The Progress of Spring--II

As of today, these photos show how spring is progressing here! [They're taken from the same location as some scenes on April 14, 2011 in this blog.]

We've had a slow, cool spring, it seems, but maybe the nicer weather is on its way, finally!?

"Let's Remember Adam"

Here's another photo I'll take my chances on [with publication rights]!* I took a few other shots of the same sign and they were better but they had different sponsors--I'll stick with this one!
It seems a little boy had been killed while crossing the road for a school bus. [I didn't know him but would like to offer my sympathy to the family and friends.] There were several signs on both sides of the road in this northern Ontario location. The "Adam" name also applies to another situation--to the police project, in my opinion! And there's still work which can be done, as I've been saying, for the benefit of homosexual people. [See the original Waterlily Story blog.]

Some conservative Canadians had a slogan a while ago--"God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." Myself, I changed it to, "God created Adam and Eve, and Steve." (But people can decide for themselves about how they wish to see things.--And I believe most people are reasonable when they understand all the facts.)

[NOTE: The above sign was actually on the northern part of the TransCanada highway! Maybe many people saw it in their travels!?--This photo was taken in April 2010, as far as I recall.]


*Will find out if permission is necessary or not; and if so, will seek permission.--Note added May 16, 2011: Have received advice from a professional source that, to the best of my understanding, photos like this don't require permission for publication.

Thinking of Spring and Summer!

Here's a photo from the "cottage country" area of northern Ontario last spring. [After all, life is about more than flowers, right? Wanted to show some other scenery.]

Street Signs

Here's a photo from an Ontario city. [Haven't had time to check on publication rights but will take my chances!* Sorry, my time is so limited on the Internet!--And I think the photo is quite relevant!] Won't say which city--and won't identify any particular "Premier" of the Province!!!

*Will work on it. I don't expect too many problems. Note added May 16, 2011--Have heard a response from a professional source that, to the best of my understanding, this type of photo doesn't require permission for publication.

Spring Tulips

Here are some tulips from last year's spring.

Lilacs--II

Here's another photo of some lilacs.

Country Lilacs

Last year, when I was driving in the countryside nearby, I happened to hit lilac time! It seemed that every road was lined with flowering lilac bushes; and I was thinking they should almost plan a road tour around them! In this area, the lilacs are fairly common although they only bloom for a short time each year.

The lilacs were located northeast of the city of Oshawa, if anyone is interested. They'll be blooming in about a month from now.

[NOTE: Some of these flowers were actually located in the city.--The wild ones are a little harder to pick because it seems many of the lower branches have already been cut off! (Of course, it goes without saying that people pick from their own bushes in the city; but you can't pick from others' yards! It's sometimes possible to pick from the country roadsides.)]

Re-Take

Wanted to try uploading another of the red trillium photos because I wasn't sure the first one showed up well enough!? Here it is.

The Environment

These photos were taken at a spot that's not normally polluted, although they're near a small

marina. It was late in the summer season when I took them and I guess that's why the plants don't seem to be as healthy!? There were hardly any blooms left, actually; and when I saw the box in the water, I decided to make a statement about pollution! [Have told people companies can't be responsible for what happens to their packaging after it leaves their hands, by the way. In this case, am sure the box must've accidentally blown into the water.]

The moral of the story, of course, is to put garbage where it belongs--and not in the water!

Some parties in the police project in western Canada have supported environmental causes.