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Building fences around the law – Bill 26 (Alberta)

By on December 29th, 2011

While pondering the genius or idiocy behind the passing of  Bill 26: Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2011 (Danyluk) in Alberta, it struck me, the Alberta government could learn something from Jewish law and the origin of gezeirah (גְּזֵרַת), or fence laws.

In order to follow my logic, and understand, a little better, my thought processes on this topic, a crash course on Jewish law is in order.  Jewish law is broken down into categories and sub-categories.  The two most obvious categories are, and I will try to stick to English here, The Written Law, and the Oral Law.  The Written Law, Mitzvot d’Oraita, refers to the laws written down by Moses at the command of YHWH, or the laws contained in the Torah, better known as the Pentatuch, or the first five books of the Old Testament of the Bible or the Tanukh.  The Oral Law, Mitzvot D’Rabbananon, on the other hand, are the laws passed orally, through the generations of Pharisees and their modern day counterparts, the Rabbis.  These laws were finally written down in volumes known today as the Talmud, starting in about the 3rd century C.E. (Common Era).

Since Bill 26: Traffic Safety Amendment Act 2011 adds to the penalties for driving with a blood alcohol level over 0.08% imposed under federal law, and goes so far as to add penalties for the non-criminal act of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.05% to 0.08%, we can draw a similarity to Rabbis expanding laws around G-d’s law.  Hopefully I will show how these fence laws are more of an hindrance than a benefit to society.

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Roast “Drunk” Turkey and “Intoxicated” Dressing

By on December 2nd, 2011

The holidays are soon upon us. Everyone is going to be cooking up a storm. I have been tasked with preparing a Turkey and Dressing for a Chanukah get together. I thought I may just share with the world what I am going to prepare. Don’t worry, this won’t be entirely KOSHER, though it could easily be prepared kosher by using margarine instead of BUTTER.

This recipe consists of traditional turkey and dressing with a twist. A lot of the liquids are going to be replaced with a GOOD Sauvignon Blanc wine, thus the decriptive adjectives, Drunk and Intoxicated.

WARNING: You may be over the .05% BAC limit for driving in Alberta and B.C. After this feast. Don’t eat, drink and drive!

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Alberta Health Lab Results

By on November 15th, 2011

The phone rings and the lady of the house answers.

“Hello?”

“Mrs. Sanders, please.”

“Speaking.”

“Mrs. Sanders, this is Dr. Jones at St. Agnes Laboratory. When your husband’s doctor sent his biopsy to the lab last week, a biopsy from another Mr. Sanders arrived as well. We are now uncertain which one belongs to your husband. Frankly, either way the results are not too good.”

“What do you mean?” Mrs. Sanders asks nervously.

“Well, one of the specimens tested positive for Alzheimer’s and the other one tested positive for HIV. We can’t tell which is which.”

“That’s dreadful! Can you do the test again?” questioned Mrs. Sanders.

“Normally we can, but the new health care system will only pay for one of these expensive tests.”

”Well, what am I supposed to do now?”

“The folks at Alberta Health recommend that you drop your husband off somewhere in the middle of town. If he finds his way home, don’t sleep with him.

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Tears for teen parents

By on October 11th, 2011

I first heard of Terra Centre when I attended the Promising Futures Annual Fundraising Breakfast in 2010 on behalf of my job at Edmonton’s Food Bank.  I was surprised to hear that a fundraising breakfast was free. Little did I realize the experience that I was in for.

The banquet room at the Westin Hotel was packed with people. We were served a very nice breakfast and once the speakers addressed the audience, the room fell silent. I discovered that Terra helped teen parents become success stories and was surprised to find that I was silently crying when I heard how.

We were introduced to these parents first by watching this video. Once the video ended, these parents were brought up on stage and we heard their appreciation for Terra. As the donation cards were handed out at the tables, you couldn’t help but want to give money to this Edmonton non-profit organization.

And little did I know that Amanda Babichuk‘s mom, Wendy, was also a speaker that day. I would later get to know Amanda through Twitter and I’m still amazed and admire her for what she’s accomplished.

So imagine the impact of 65,000 diapers could have on teen parents, who are struggling to balance raising a baby, finishing high school and overcoming puberty to blossom into adults, could have. I’ve never been in their position before but I have been a teen, gone through school and bore two children – all of which can be a roller coaster ride on their own.

That’s why I want to help Terra and our team, Diapers on Wheels, achieve our goal of raising 65,000 diapers during this year’s Baby Heroes campaign. Whether you decide to give 20, 500 or 1,000 diapers, it will help smooth the bumps on the roller coaster that these teens are riding. And then they can soar like Amanda did.

 

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Diapers on Wheels Diaper Drive

By on October 6th, 2011

 MEDIA RELEASE

October 6, 2011

 Setting aside politics to help secure teen parents’ futures

Politicians and community leaders to raise 65,000 diapers in two weeks for Terra Centre

 Edmonton, AB – Covering expenses such as food, shelter and clothing is essential for any family but when you’re a teen parent, it’s a burden – especially when you add diapers to the mix.

 Terra Centre for Pregnant and Parenting Teens is launching the BE A BABY HERO Corporate, Community and School Team Diaper Challenge in advance of the October 12 – 29, 2011
public diaper drive. Leading up to the 3rd Annual Baby Heroes Diaper Drive, teams are encouraged to collect diapers in a team-to-team face-off in support of teen parents in Edmonton and surrounding communities.

 The Diapers on Wheels team, led by Edmonton-Calder MLA Doug Elniski, is planning to raise 65,000 diapers for Terra’s Baby Heroes Diaper Drive. Elniski has challenged politicians from all provincial parties to step up to the table so they can help teens who are struggling to balance raising babies and going to school.

 So far, Edmonton-Castledowns MLA Thomas Lukaszuk, minister of employment and immigration, Battle River-Wainwright MLA Doug Griffiths, Edmonton-Riverview Wildrose Party candidate John Corie, Edmonton-Rutherford Wildrose Party candidate Kyle McLeod, Edmonton-Manning Wildrose Party candidate Daryl Bonar, and Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood Wildrose Party candidate Wayde Lever have joined Elniski’s team.  This team is being supported by John Winslow, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood  Wildrose Party constituency association president, public relations professional Tamara Stecyk, NAIT graduate Kat Versteegt and Fusedlogic’s Walter Schwabe.

 ”We’re setting our political differences aside to help those who really can make a difference
in children’s lives – teen parents. They are balancing school while raising a family and our goal of 65,000 diapers will make an impact for them and Terra Association,” says Elniski.

 By taking on the BE A BABY HERO TEAM DIAPER CHALLENGE, the Diapers on Wheels team agrees to collect a minimum of 3,000 diapers. Using the $1 = five diapers formula, donations may include both diapers and cash towards reaching the goal.  More information about the two-week long diaper drive can be found at www.sirthinks.com or www.terracentre.ca. Join the conversation on Twitter, hashtag #yegdiapers.

** Update: To Donate on behalf of the Diapers on Wheels Challenge, Click the Terra Cetnre logo below.  Enter the amount you wish to donate.  From the DROPDOWN menu in Additional Information section, Select Diapers on Wheels Team Challenge.  You will receive a tax receipt before tax season.

Media Contact for Diapers on Wheels:
John Winslow

C: 780.964.9095 | E: sirthinks@gmail.com

Diapers on Wheels thanks Digital Tea for donating the design of its team logo.

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Politicos are Baby Heroes – Diapers on Wheels Campaign

By on August 18th, 2011

An open letter to All MLA’s, M.P.’s, All Candidates, and Supporters in Edmonton area.

Imagine the budgeting that goes into maintaining a household when you earn upwards of $60,000 per year, have one or two children and a working spouse earning another $30,000 per year.  Consider the stress of paying a mortgage, putting food on the table, making car payments, and paying all the other incidentals that come with supporting a middle class to upper-middle class lifestyle.  Now add a baby to the equation.  This is not just another mouth to feed, but another body to clothe and another bottom to cover.  This scenario has its strains.

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