Sometimes people are suprised that I celebrate Christmas, given that I'm a Buddhist (or, as I usually say, "trying to be a Buddhist"). I celebrate the cultural aspect of it, as a time to appreciate and enjoy the company of friends and family. Many of my English as a Second Language students aren't Christian, so I always point out to them that you can enjoy Christmas without being Christian. By the way, I do believe that there was someone named Jesus Christ and that he was a great teacher. The other details aren't as important, as far as I'm concerned. Instead of focussing on the "hereafter", the Buddha and Jesus talked mostly about how to treat people better in THIS life. Sounds like a reason to celebrate to me!

It's a time of change in Canada! Our retirement-aged, white, male, heterosexual, rich Prime Minister has been replaced...by a retirement-aged, white, male, heterosexual, RICHER Prime Minister.

"Be patient toward all that is unresolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves. Do not seek answers that cannot be given, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now." - Rainer Maria Rilke

"The most precious thing in life is its uncertainty. In everything, no matter what it may be, uniformity is undesirable. Leaving something incomplete makes it interesting and gives one the feeling there is room for growth."

- Kenko (Urabe no Kaneyoshi), a Buddhist priest who wrote between 1330 and 1332

Things that impressed me when I attended the special City Council meeting last night, which dealt with the Gathercole Building and lasted over five hours:

- There were many creative ideas by articulate citizens who made presentations to council. Of the 34 people who spoke, all but a few expressed a strong desire to not tear down the Gathercole Building.

- Most city councillors listened more to city bureaucrats than to citizens.

- Owen Fortosky is the only truly progressive voice on City Council, although some of the others weren't as bad as I expected.

- Tiffany Paulsen is very clever and asks excellent questions.

- Myles Heidt pronounces the word "theatre" as "the- ATE- er".

- Mayor Don Atchison has a sense of humour.

As you may have already heard, council voted to tear down the smaller west wing of the Gathercole Building to allow for an extension of 2nd Ave. to the river, thereby connecting it with Spadina Cres. They say this will provide needed access for servicing (sewer and power) and then public attendance at the site. They also voted to offer the remaining east wing (which will have one wall covered temporarily with wood after the west wing is removed, and which will not have heat because the boiler is in the wing that will be demolished) for sale or lease (the buyer would own the building but lease the land if that's approved).

If a suitable buyer is not found in a rather short time, the rest of the building would be demolished. It seems like council is taking this "compromise" position in the knowledge that many buyers wouldn't want the three-walled smaller building, which means the city would go ahead and finish the demolition job. They also voted to look into saving any historical artifacts, including the facade of the building. This is fitting because most city council members' concern about preserving Saskatoon's history seems to be only a facade.

It was a long and often infuriating evening!

The Roman poet Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) was born on this day in 65 B.C.

"Think to yourself that every day is your last; the hour to which you do not look forward will come as a welcome surprise."

"Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans: it's lovely to be silly at the right moment."

More than 2000 years later, his advice is still good.

Today I went to hear a Tibetan Buddhist monk speak about meditation. He included a very timely reminder (during the Christmas shopping season) that buying lots of things that you or others don't need doesn't produce true happiness.

By voting to merge with the extremely right-wing Canadian Alliance Party, the Progressive Conservative Party has--in my humble opinion--sold its soul to the devil.