I think that this is a very positive development:

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/06/060106bcclass.htm

I think Stephen Harper should marry the Pope.

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/06/060206harper.htm

Here's some great news:

http://www.cbc.ca/sask/story/sk-poet060602.html?ref=rss

I've visited 14 countries in Asia over the years. Cambodia was one of the places that I visited in 2002. Here's an interesting profile of that country from the BBC. Note the link (near the top right corner) to a timeline of modern Cambodian history.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1243892.stm

I hope that the Conservatives won't re-open the same-sex marriage debate.

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/05/053106canada.htm

This is a wonderful poem that I found on Garrison Keillor's "The Writer's Almanac" website.

"The Best Slow Dancer" by David Wagoner
from Traveling Light. © University of Illinois Press.
Reprinted with permission.

The Best Slow Dancer

Under the sagging clotheslines of crepe paper
By the second string of teachers and wallflowers
In the school gym across the key through the glitter
Of mirrored light three-second rule forever
Suspended you danced with her the best slow dancer
Who stood on tiptoe who almost wasn't there
In your arms like music she knew just how to answer
The question mark of your spine your hand in hers
The other touching that place between her shoulders
Trembling your countless feet lightfooted sure
To move as they wished wherever you might stagger
Without her she turned in time she knew where you were
In time she turned her body into yours
As you moved from thigh to secrets to breast yet never
Where you could be for all time never closer
Than your cheek against her temple her ear just under
Your lips that tried all evening long to tell her
You weren't the worst one not the boy whose mother
Had taught him to count to murmur over and over
One slide two slide three slide now no longer
The one in the hallway after class the scuffler
The double clubfoot gawker the mouth breather
With the wrong haircut who would never kiss her
But see her dancing off with someone or other
Older more clever smoother dreamier
Not waving a sister somebody else's partner
Lover while you went floating home through the air
To lie down lighter than air in a moonlit shimmer
Alone to whisper yourself to sleep remember.

Japan recently lost one of its best film directors.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5029780.stm

I think this is a great idea:

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/05/31/holiday-campaign.html?ref=rss

There's more good news for Canadians who don't want to be exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/05/31/smoking-provinces.html?ref=rss

All hail King Stephen!

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/05/052906harper.htm

I hope that the recently resurrected Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Party will have many candidates in the next election because it would take votes away from the Saskatchewan Party.

http://www.cbc.ca/sask/story/sk-conservatives060529.html?ref=rss

I've frequently criticized the current and previous Popes, so it seems only fair that I should give credit when it's due:

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/05/28/pope-auschwitz.html

Indonesia is one of my favourite countries. Here's some information about it and about Yogyakarta, a wonderful city of great cultural and historic importance that was damaged badly by the recent earthquake.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1260544.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5023390.stm

On Friday my ESL students and I sang "Happy Birthday" to Saskatoon in several languages. This weekend I was the chair of a provincial conference for English as a Second Language teachers, where we also celebrated the 100th anniversary of Saskatoon becoming a city.

http://www.cbc.ca/sask/story/sk-saskatoon-100th060526.html?ref=rss

I was especially upset when I heard about this earthquake because I visited this area of Indonesia in 1986 and 1993. Yogyakarta and the nearby ancient sites of Borobudur (Buddhist) and Prambanan (Hindu) were memorable.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/05/28/indonesia-quake.html?ref=rss

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5023874.stm