Bouquet of Appreciation

Amy received a nice bouquet from one of her students, a gesture of thanks for being an excellent teacher.

James in Malaysia

Is this safe?

This hole in the sidewalk is three feet by three feet wide. We walk along this sidewalk night and day. It's been like this for at least a month now. Four adults could fall into this hole, no problem. This is how the local city officials decided to make it safe. The drop is about seven feet deep. There's nothing like a few solid twigs to secure a dangerous hole.

Kirsti and Melinda

Kirsti and Melinda at Melinda's grade eight graduation.

I won an Osacr...REALLY!

I was both honored and humbled, by my period four students, on the last day of the July-December 2010 semester with an Oscar. The category: World's Greatest Teacher. I was so moved. I will treasure that Oscar to the end of time. Thank you all very much.

Halloween..NOT!

Is she not the cutest squaw you ever did see?

Native names are given by the Chief of the tribe. They're usually related to what the Chief sees in nature or how he feels at the time of birth. My native name is 'gone with the wind', as a buffalo farted and knocked a squirrell out cold.

Amy's native name is 'smokin all over', as the Chief watched his Teepee burn to the ground.

Terry Fox 2010 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Three teachers accompanied 50+ students to the annual Terry Fox Run here in KL. Our students earn community volunteer hours as clean up crews, route marshals, and t-shirt sales people. They are studying the grade 12 Ontario Curriculum and are required to complete 10 community service hours. It's always an honorable moment, for me as a Canadian Terry Fox enthusiast, to hear the Malaysian organizer, promote the heart and spirit of our great Canadian hero. I'm always so proud of him. The t-shirts this year are awesome. A huge # 30 on the back with Terry's picture neatly located inside the numbers. A sea of blue left the starting line. It was very moving and quite amazing. I love being part of that event. Our CPU students always represent us so well. They do a great job volunteering their time to the cause of cancer here in Malaysia. All funds collected here are donated to the SIME DARBY CANCER CENTRE, located minutes from my home.

Terry Fox is such a humble and well spoken young man.

I'm always so impressed with his spirit and humility.

 Proudly representing Taylor's CPU and 
the cancer research effort.

It's simply elating.

 A line dance for Terry Fox.

 We are looking up at Terry who is looking down at us, 

hence the smiles. He gave us the 2 thumbs up.

Tim directing traffic.

 Let the race begin!

 Now these are the rules folks...no pushing, 

or sleeping on the route. Ok lah?

 

I see a sea of blue...cheers!

 A collective workout before the run. Everybody dance now!

 Our Canadian High Commissioner's representative to Malaysia.

 Our CPU team of excellent student volunteers.

 Don't worry, we found the run.

Beautiful Wisdom

Talent is God-given, be thankful,

Praise is man-given, be humble,

Conceit is self-given, be careful.

Tony Dungy

2010 Leader Cast Broadcast

Taylor's College, Malaysia

My sister Kimchel

OK...OK, I'm out with it already. I have a ninja twin sister...
THERE! Ahhhh what a relief.

The Highland Towers Disaster - Malaysia

I just watched the History Channel's documentary about the The Highland Towers Disaster. On December 11, 1993, the apartment complex came crashing down, killing 48 unsuspecting people. I offer my sincere condolences to all the families who lost precious loved ones. 

As I watched, I was once again reminded of how quickly our lives can be erased, the when and how always unknown. It's important to live for the moment. If you love someone, tell them today.  If you miss someone, tell them today. If you forgive someone, tell them today. If you like something about someone, tell them today. There's nothing worse than standing graveside, wishing you had said this, or wishing you had done that.

My beautiful mother Brenda, left this world in a flash at the age of 47. I stood graveside, filled with unsaid words and feelings. 

My awesome brother Johnny, aged 19, was taken from our family in moment. I stood graveside, filled with unexpressed words and feelings.

Tell them today because graveside is too late.

Keepsakes & Mementos

In grade eight, Melinda won the French award. Proud moment.

There is nothing more powerful than a keepsake or a memento, to remind us of past events, moments, actions, or words that have blessed our lives. A photo, a hand made card/gift, a letter,  a concert ticket stub, a note, a gift, or a piece of clothing. Anything that represents an event, a moment, or a person, is worth saving, permanently. I have a big green bin in which I store such mementos. Some are 20 years old, some are as recent as yesterday. When I look at these mementos, I remember the person(s) involved and I'm reminded that I matter to someone. I always feel good when I have a sit down and review my mementos. Start building your bin today.
Kirsti made this bookmark for me some 16 years ago. 

Kim & Brian sent us a package and included among many other awesome gifts, this bottle of sand. They went to our home land, Wasaga Beach, scooped up sand from the beach, bottled it, and sent it to use in Malaysia. Isn't that a beautiful gesture. We will keep that bottle forever because it reminds us of how much we matter to Kim and Brian.
 
July 2010, dancing with my niece Morgan. 
She has the spirit of ten Queens. 

 
Anchoring up to go para-sailing. 
It was a moment I'll never forget. 
Bungee jumping is next!

Moments in time!

My Toronto Star Article

What a stunning story. That our Charter of Rights – which draws a clear line in the sand between what is acceptable by police and what is not in the course of performing their duties – has been ignored is frightening. That two judges actually defied the very law that they pledged to uphold is appalling.
At a time when our justice system is justifiably under scrutiny (most recently, charges against six Toronto police officers were stayed due to the length of the process), these Ontario Court of Appeal judges decided to condone illegal police activity. When the majority concluded that the public was willing, in this case, to accept Charter violations committed by the officer, they made a huge error in judgment.
At no time is the public willing to accept Charter violations.
Michel De Lottinville,
Wasaga Beach, Ont.
Published February 14, 2008
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/303369

My Reader's Digest Article

The RD question was: What do you think? Do people give up too easily on marriage today?Not at all. People simply get to that point in their marriage and in their personal lives where they realize that life is short and they should be in a happy relationship, then they go for it. There are enough troubles in the world today, people don't want to live any longer in a troubled marriage. It's not about giving up too easily, it's a reality check.
August 09, 2007
Michel De Lottinville
http://www.readersdigest.ca/debate.html?a=v&di=336

My Amazon Movie Review

This movie is awesome. The opening scene dialogue between Carlos, Fletcher, Boomer in the car and later with the dealers is an excellent piece of script; powerful, exciting and packs a wicked punch. The rest of the movie is action packed throughout. The story line is great and unravels with many unexpected twists. Boomer plays his role extremely well while the other cast members bring the exact acting touch necessary for each character to fit perfectly into this script. This movie is underrated and should have been a box office hit. The writer succesfully managed to entwine action, romance, humour and suspense in one movie script. I have viewed this movie many times. A great movie to be added to a home collection.
Posted on Amazon February 16, 2006
http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B000053VAH

My Fifth Estate Article

My condolences to Mr. & Mrs. Grozelle and their family. No words can heal the pain of loss, not to mention the unanswered questions surrounding Joe's death. This case is plagued with too many unanswered questions. Foul Play or murder, obviously. Mr. & Mrs. Grozelle must press like David Milgaard's mother. Press the PM, press DND and any minister attached to DND. Press NIS, press the media to keep it alive. Demand to be allowed to ask the right questions during any inquiry. Demand that national security allow you full access to each and every document related to the death of your son. Demand that every one of your questions be answered. If this were the son or daughter of some high ranking military or political family, it is guaranteed that RMC would have been sealed tight until a full investigation was completed, The Grozelle family deserves the same commitment, period. If everything was done correctly and there is no murder or no foul play, then all the questions will be answered openly and honestly...

Michel De Lottinville  — Posted on November 14, 2008 10:26 AM

http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/discussion/2008/10/shadows_of_doubt.html

My Voter Psyche Article

Voter Psyche

Dear Editor,

Though unable to write conclusively on the issue of voter insight -I haven’t polled them - I offer the following opinion.

The psyche of the voter is often omitted and somewhat underestimated in media coverage of election progress. But, in the end, it is the determining factor of the check mark position on the voting ballot. Sure, we are polled and surveyed, but the focus is usually on generalities such as, strongest leader, public speaking abilities and appearances. Unfortunately, those are not concluding factors for the electorate.

Voters absorb the whole picture. They assess the recovery from the gaffe, rather than the gaffe itself. Voters consider the ability to deliver a promise and the reason behind a broken promise. They also gage confidence by the candidate’s overall knowledge and understanding of issues. Narrow minded parties; usually receive narrow minded consideration from voters, case in point, the Bloc ever fielding a candidate outside of Quebec.

Language used by candidates, control of emotions, maturity and perceived honesty when facing hard questions, if they criticize issues rather than opponents, national agendas as a whole when compared to the competition and voter perception of a candidate’s ability to represent Canada in the international arena, these are all taken into account when voters place the check mark on the ballot. If surveys and polls are successful in predicting the outcome of an election, it is because voters have assessed the above criteria and have based their decision on sound assessment rather than superficial media guidance. So never underestimate the psyche of the voter, the 1958 General Election (Conservative 208, Liberal 48, Commonwealth 8, Labour 1) can attest to that.


Michel De Lottinville
Posted 2 years ago in the Barrie Examiner
http://thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=1221356

Candy, Anna & Amy

Candy and Anna have arrived in Subang Jaya. We took them to the Luna Bar in KL, we had a nice night. They did some shopping at the Pyramid. The three Musketeerettes left this morning. They are headed to Cambodia and then Thailand, 10 days on the travel...YEAH! Have fun girls.

Annual Staff Party

We are a collective giant!

John F. Kennedy once said "United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do - for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder". Those words reflected a realistic approach to the challenges of his time and they are very realistic today, in the face of capitalism. We are the collective working consumers. We work and consume every day, without question. We earn millions, even billions of dollars in profit for companies, agencies, corporations, firms and businesses. Yet, we live our lives dreaming and hoping for a ‘break’ at some point, during our thirty-five plus years of dedicated service to those owners of capital. We yearn for our limited pension, while capitalists live excellent lifestyles, thanks to our dedicated creativity and obedience to the system.

We can have better wages, debt free lives, and education funds for our children. We can have the personal freedom to pursue our passions and interests. Capitalism is at our beck and call, but we haven’t collectively internalised that concept yet. Our sense of social justice cries out because we know that the system is skewed. But, we do nothing. Instead, we busy ourselves chasing new gadgets, experiences, career promotions, travel opportunities, and the constant demands and expectations of consumerism. We willingly act the way capitalists want us to act; we work and consume.

Desegregation was once a dream, a dream that blacks and whites once mocked. The concept of minimum wages was once a dream, a dream that capitalist and common folk once mocked. The right to vote for women was once a dream, a dream that both men and women once mocked. Today, those dreams are realities because men and women like us decided that those dreams would come to pass, and they never surrendered their cause; because the cause was the right thing. The cause was fair to all.

The stronghold that capitalism exercises on our collective energy can be tamed, balanced, and kept in check. Our motto must be ‘Today, we have had enough’.

We can reduce the cost of all basic life necessities. We can reduce the fees we dish out to banks to access our own money. We can have government accountability from all levels of political and social leaders. We can have social programs that favour financial restraint while promoting self-respect. We can have an education system that prepares our youth for relationship issues, peer pressure issues, global issues, economic wisdom, and critical thinking. We can have an educational and legal system that places accountability and moral values, above the pursuit of gouging profits and the protection of the wealthy. We can wake up every morning, feeling excited about our future and the future of our children and grand-children. We can ask for a fair piece of the capitalist feast. After all, we cooked and served the meal.

There are millionaires and billionaires, around the world, storing enough collective wealth to lessen our burden. We are the men, women and children who earn their billions. We are the workforce, who willingly surrenders our very best; to a system that treats us like paupers.

We need to stop lying prostrate over the capitalist barrel. We need to team up today, and collectively effect acceptable change, in our favour. The capitalist balance has been tilted in their favour for generations, and they have no intentions of bringing the balance marker back to the centre; that’s our mandate.

My Palm Pilot

I've had this palm pilot for years. I refuse to buy to the newer version, this one is all I need. It fits in my pocket, and it's always within hands reach..so why change it eh?

To be 20 again!

My Sistas'

Lise, Celine & Chanty. July 2010.

My upcoming book!

Your career, your money, your life
How to set yourself free from capitalism.
My book just completed the editing stage. Once I approve the changes, the cover design will begin, after that, the final preparations before it goes to press. I'm quite excited! I would like to thank friends and family members who have, over the years, conversed, even argued with me on the topic of capitalism and it's impact on us, the working consumers. 

Canada lah!

A colorful day!

The event was "Wacky outfit day" I believe, and we saw a few.

Amy's flute debut.

As we all know, Amy's not just a pretty face. Witty, intelligent, and humorous, she also plays the flute. Amy joined The Taylor's orchestra and played the flute for a performance called All That Music. Four nights on a musical journey. After a nine plus year hiatus, her performance was very impressive.

Vietnam

These shots from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Cat Ba speak for themselves.

The job interview for this company is quick and simple,

one question.

Imagine our Canadian infrastructure electrical safety techniciens, touring this area. Ouch! 

 That ladder is made of bamboo poles.
                                       
Those little rolled up packages were an awesome snack. Sticky rice I think it was called. And this lady was so nice.

 That's talent. After taking this shot, I yelled 'HUGE SNAKE', he looked down and all the beggars ate for free.

 Our hotel view.

Below are remanents of the American war at the Cu Chi tunnels located approximately 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City centre in Cu Chi Rural District.  The Americans ate their karma in those tunnels for waging illicit war against women, children, senior citizens, food supplies, agriculture and the very fabric of the Vietnamese culture.
                               
 Traffic...and this was light.