Some International Olympic Committee officials cut a deal to let China block sensitive websites despite promises of unrestricted access, a senior IOC official admitted on Wednesday.
Persistent pollution fears and China's concerns about security in Tibet also remained problems for organizers nine days before the Games begin.
China had committed to providing media with the same freedom to report on the Games as they enjoyed at previous Olympics, but journalists have this week complained of finding access to sites deemed sensitive to its communist leadership blocked.
"I regret that it now appears BOCOG has announced that there will be limitations on website access during Games time," IOC press chief Kevan Gosper said, referring to Beijing's Olympic organizers.
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Environment . Human Rights . Condominiums . Politics . Atheism . Food . Toronto . Ontario . Canada
7.25.2008
7.24.2008
330 CYCLISTS BEGIN TORONTO TO MONTREAL JOURNEY
Toronto – On July 27, 2008 , hundreds of cyclists will stream through the streets of Toronto , beginning their annual six-day trek to Montreal . This year, the Friends For Life Bike Rally honours its tenth anniversary of supporting the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA) and expects to raise $1 million.
“As long as there’s a reason, there’s a ride,” said Todd Ross, co-chair of the event. “Ten years after the rally was born, people living with HIV/AIDS in our community still need support. As long as they do, we will keep riding.”
Sunday, July 27, 2008 - Queen’s Park, Toronto
8:00 a.m. Group Photographs
8:30 a.m. Speeches - Minister of Health Promotion Margaret Best and Toronto City Councillor Adrian Heaps
8:45 a.m. Group Stretching
9:00 a.m. Departure
The ride departs north to Wellesley Street, south on Yonge Street and east on Front Street . Detailed route maps are available.
“There’s an undeniable energy that comes from hundreds of cyclists and volunteers working towards a common cause,” said Stefanie McQuaid, event rally co-chair. “Their collective efforts have allowed PWA to strengthen and expand its services to the men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS in Toronto .”
“As long as there’s a reason, there’s a ride,” said Todd Ross, co-chair of the event. “Ten years after the rally was born, people living with HIV/AIDS in our community still need support. As long as they do, we will keep riding.”
Sunday, July 27, 2008 - Queen’s Park, Toronto
8:00 a.m. Group Photographs
8:30 a.m. Speeches - Minister of Health Promotion Margaret Best and Toronto City Councillor Adrian Heaps
8:45 a.m. Group Stretching
9:00 a.m. Departure
The ride departs north to Wellesley Street, south on Yonge Street and east on Front Street . Detailed route maps are available.
“There’s an undeniable energy that comes from hundreds of cyclists and volunteers working towards a common cause,” said Stefanie McQuaid, event rally co-chair. “Their collective efforts have allowed PWA to strengthen and expand its services to the men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS in Toronto .”
Visit http://www.bikerally.org/ for backgrounders and more information. Spokespeople are available to talk about the event, as well as broader HIV/AIDS issues in Ontario .
About the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation
The Toronto People With AIDS Foundation exists to promote the health and well-being of all people living with HIV/AIDS by providing accessible, direct, and pr act ical support services. It is Canada ’s largest direct support service agency for people living with HIV/AIDS. For more information, please visit: http://www.pwatoronto.org/
7.18.2008
George Michael 25 Live Tour
Toronto Star review here. I have to say the reviewer shouldn't blame George for taking the stage 50 minutes late. The place was half empty at the 8 pm showtime as everyone was delayed by the bag checks outside. Should he have started singing to empty seats? I don't think so.
Toronto Sun review here. This guy seems to have been at the show.
Toronto Sun review here. This guy seems to have been at the show.
7.14.2008
Ex-serviceman risks eviction by flying Canadian flag on balcony
OTTAWA (CBC) - An ex-serviceman refuses to take down the Canadian flag on his balcony in a subsidized housing unit in Cardinal, Ont., even though the local housing authority is threatening to evict him.
Mark Murray, 53, served with the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Canadian Airborne Regiment in the 1970s and 1980s.
He lives in the Seaway Apartments, which are operated by the community housing authority in United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
He said Friday he was given the flag by his local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion last year, and he has flown it ever since.
Now he has received more encouragement not to take down the flag.
"I got a phone call here from Sean Wilson. He's the brother of Mark Wilson who was killed in action in Kandahar on Oct. 7, 2006, and he sent me a message here asking me not to take down my flag - to leave it up.
"I don't have the heart to take it down ... I can't do it now," he said.
Last Thursday, an official from the community housing department told him the flag had to come down or he would be sent an "N-5" letter, the first step in the process leading to eviction.
He was told the flag violates a rule requiring all subsidized properties to have a uniform appearance.
"I was going to negotiate with them, and ask for a flagpole in the back. But this has taken on a new meaning now, to the families, and to the troops," Murray said.
The director of community and social services, Dorothy Theobald, told CBC News Monday that her department is trying to work with Murray, but, she said, the flag can't stay.
Mark Murray, 53, served with the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Canadian Airborne Regiment in the 1970s and 1980s.
He lives in the Seaway Apartments, which are operated by the community housing authority in United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
He said Friday he was given the flag by his local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion last year, and he has flown it ever since.
Now he has received more encouragement not to take down the flag.
"I got a phone call here from Sean Wilson. He's the brother of Mark Wilson who was killed in action in Kandahar on Oct. 7, 2006, and he sent me a message here asking me not to take down my flag - to leave it up.
"I don't have the heart to take it down ... I can't do it now," he said.
Last Thursday, an official from the community housing department told him the flag had to come down or he would be sent an "N-5" letter, the first step in the process leading to eviction.
He was told the flag violates a rule requiring all subsidized properties to have a uniform appearance.
"I was going to negotiate with them, and ask for a flagpole in the back. But this has taken on a new meaning now, to the families, and to the troops," Murray said.
The director of community and social services, Dorothy Theobald, told CBC News Monday that her department is trying to work with Murray, but, she said, the flag can't stay.
7.11.2008
7.09.2008
Blackout Chess
Last night the power went out in our building and some of the neighboring buildings, so David and I played chess by the light of his oh so useful, yet nerdy headlight.
...the Daye... Photo Blog
After a couple of years of trying various things with this space, I have decided to focus on my photography, pun intended.
Originally this blog was to be a space where I could practice writing and work on my great novel. As that hasn't happened, I have decided that rather than posting news bits that are of interest to me, and the odd original bit of material, I will now put the emphasis on my photography.
...thedaye.blogspot.com is now officially a photo blog where I can post some of my favorite photos that I have taken. I hope you will continue to check in and look at my photos. From time to time post articles, but now I won't have any pressure to create writing that I'm not necessarily ready to do. If you haven't signed up for our mailing list please do and as always, relevant comments are always welcomed.
Mark
Originally this blog was to be a space where I could practice writing and work on my great novel. As that hasn't happened, I have decided that rather than posting news bits that are of interest to me, and the odd original bit of material, I will now put the emphasis on my photography.
...thedaye.blogspot.com is now officially a photo blog where I can post some of my favorite photos that I have taken. I hope you will continue to check in and look at my photos. From time to time post articles, but now I won't have any pressure to create writing that I'm not necessarily ready to do. If you haven't signed up for our mailing list please do and as always, relevant comments are always welcomed.
Mark
7.07.2008
Truscott Awarded 6.5 Million in Damages
Truscott is describing the $6.5 million in compensation for his wrongful murder conviction as the "final" step in recognizing his innocence, nearly five decades after being sentenced to hang for the rape and murder of schoolmate Lynne Harper.
Last August, Ontario's top court declared Truscott a victim of a miscarriage of justice and acquitted him but stopped short of declaring him innocent due to a lack of physical evidence.
In a statement Monday, the Truscotts called the announcement "bittersweet."
"This is the final and long-awaited step in recognizing Steve's innocence," the Truscotts said.
"We are also painfully aware that no amount of money could ever truly compensate Steven for the terror of being sentenced to hang at the age of 14, the loss of his youth, or the stigma of living for almost 50 years as a convicted murderer."
The Truscotts added that they now hope to live the rest of their lives in "peace and tranquility."
Ontario Attorney General Chris Bentley, who made the announcement, said Truscott's wife Marlene will receive $100,000.
In 1959, Truscott was convicted of 12-year-old Harper's rape and murder. He became the youngest person in Canada ever sentenced to death.
Truscott steadfastly professed his innocence and served a decade in prison before being released on parole in 1969, after which he married and lived quietly in Guelph, Ont., with his wife and children.
Truscott's legal saga was an "unprecedented" and "extraordinary" journey, Bentley said.
"We are doing what we can to conclude this journey," he said.
"It is my hope that Mr. Truscott and his family will now be able to spend all of their time on the rest of life's journey."
The financial award, to be split equally between Ontario and Ottawa, comes nearly a year after the province's top court declared Truscott a victim of a miscarriage of justice.
The same day the Ontario Court of Appeal cleared Truscott, the provincial government asked former Appeal Court Justice Sydney Robins to review the issue of compensation. Bentley has been sitting on the report's recommendations for weeks.
In his 57-page report, Robins recommended that Truscott receive $6.5 million - $250,000 for every year he spent in jail and $100,000 for each year he spent on parole.
"It will provide him with financial security for the remainder of his life. It will enable him to provide a substantial legacy to his children," Robins wrote.
"It is proportional to awards of compensation made in other relevant cases and it will serve as a public acknowledgment of the magnitude of the harm caused by this miscarriage of justice."
The former judge also recommended that the Ontario and federal governments split the cost of the nearly $1 million in Legal Aid fees incurred by Truscott.
Now 63, Truscott was the youngest person in Canada to be sentenced to death at age 14 after being convicted in 1959 of raping and strangling Harper near Clinton, Ont.
His death sentence was later commuted to life in prison and Truscott served nearly a decade in prison before being released on parole in 1969.
All the physical evidence from the case was destroyed in 1967. Harper's body was exhumed in 2006, but a forensic examination failed to yield any DNA evidence.
Monday sees Sundays birth
Nicole Kidman gave birth Monday to a baby girl named Sunday.
In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, Paul Freundlich, a publicist for husband Keith Urban, said: "Nicole and Keith Urban are delighted to announce that Nicole Kidman gave birth to a baby girl on Monday morning, July 7, 2008, in the United States. Sunday Rose Kidman Urban weighed 6 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces. Husband Keith was by Nicole's side and mother and baby are very well."
Urban posted a message on his website that said: "Earlier this morning Nic gave birth to our beautiful baby girl, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban. We want to thank everybody that has kept us in their thoughts and prayers. We feel very blessed and grateful that we can share this joy with all of you today."
The baby is the first for Kidman and Urban. She has two adopted children, Isabella and Connor, from her marriage to Tom Cruise. Kidman recently told Vanity Fair that she had a miscarriage early on in her relationship with Cruise, leading them to adopt.
Cruise filed for divorce in February 2001 after 10 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized later that year.
Kidman, 41, won an Oscar for her role in the 2002 film "The Hours."
During a concert Saturday in Nashville, Urban, a singer and guitarist raised in Australia, said, "I'm going to dedicate a song to my very, very, very, very, very pregnant wife" before singing his hit, "Better Half."
Urban, 40, won a Grammy in 2006 for best male country vocal.
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