Top of the afternoon to all...
My medium child received a warning from the police the other day due to a traffic violation. He was riding his bicycle in the crosswalk. It happened here:
His citation was a warning as he was riding his bicycle in the crosswalk.
When his school called me and told me what was going on, I knew exactly where it had happened.
And now for the rest of the story. First of all, the lad is just fine. He has some bumps and bruises. His bicycle...at the absolute least needs two new wheels, new pedals, and a new front gear system. When the light turned green, he pedalled out into the crosswalk, with the idea of riding parallel to the crosswalk. The person taking the left from Wilmington onto Finch either did not see him or thought that he could turn in front of him. It was the wrong set of decisions on the car driver's part. He hit the kid, pretty hard.
I met up with everyone at Humber River Hospital. We hung out there for a few hours while the nice folks there checked him over. He is fine.
There is no long-term damage.
The car, from what I understand, requires a new windshield. Good! It serves the driver right. He should know better than to zip out of an intersection like that, and crossing in front of anyone in the crosswalk is illegal. At least he stayed.
I always knew that the medium child would be the one with a police record.
May the best of the day be yours.
R/SCG
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
Response to Reader on Most Recent Posting...
Top of the day to all...
One of my loyal readers replied to my previous post that she thought cleanliness had something to do with kashrut. Alas, it is not true.
Strictly speaking, the word only has to do with whether or not food is ritually fit. While kosher food producers should adhere to higher standards in areas outside of food preparation, honest books, and proper working conditions, just for example, violating any of those presents no ritual issue in and of itself.
I would like to point to an amusing article on kosher oysters. The oysters are clean, even pure, but they are not kosher.
I agree with the reader though on the basic issue. The quality of chickens has dropped precipitously since Chai Poultry closed. I understand that there will be kosher chickens again in Ontario in the not-too-distant future, but we are not there yet.
In the meantime, we are stuck with what we are getting, which is clearly a fowl foul.
Have a good day everyone.
R/SCG
One of my loyal readers replied to my previous post that she thought cleanliness had something to do with kashrut. Alas, it is not true.
Strictly speaking, the word only has to do with whether or not food is ritually fit. While kosher food producers should adhere to higher standards in areas outside of food preparation, honest books, and proper working conditions, just for example, violating any of those presents no ritual issue in and of itself.
I would like to point to an amusing article on kosher oysters. The oysters are clean, even pure, but they are not kosher.
I agree with the reader though on the basic issue. The quality of chickens has dropped precipitously since Chai Poultry closed. I understand that there will be kosher chickens again in Ontario in the not-too-distant future, but we are not there yet.
In the meantime, we are stuck with what we are getting, which is clearly a fowl foul.
Have a good day everyone.
R/SCG
Sunday, April 3, 2016
The Responsible Administration of Kashrut...
Top of the evening all...
Once upon a time, food production was largely cottage industries. The local dairyman brought milk to town. The local farmer brought chickens. The local gardener brought rutabagas. It was thus very easy to keep a kosher home. People knew the producers personally, and therefore knew the product.
As the techniques for mass production developed after the industrial age, kashrut had to take on new dimensions. Thus developed the concept of the hekhsher, kosher supervision. Rabbis would go out and put their seal on a product. We now see these marks on all manner of food. Some foods have a long history (comparatively). For example, Maxwell House coffee has been certified kosher since the 1920's. Coca Cola has been certified since the 1930's. Other products are more recent, such as M&M's and Oreos.
When we get to the Pesach time of year, the issues of supervision become a little more complex. We have to deal with the extra foods that are otherwise permitted, but forbidden during the holiday of Pesach. Within those foods, there is a category called kitniyot, which Sephardim eat but Ashkenazim do not.
In theory, this should be simple. It gets complicated though, because custom was never monolithic. It was subject to much interpretation depending on location, rabbi, product availability, and a whole bunch of other factors. It is thus impossible to say that Ashkenazim did 'X,' and Sephardim did 'Y.'
Now here is the issue. Some of those other issues have started to appear in ways that demand a new look at how products are supervised. For example, I cannot eat wheat or dairy. Other people are vegetarians. The list of quirks in people's diets is quite astounding.
Kashrut should be administered with those quirks in mind. If kashrut organizations do not wish to put all of the relevant information on the package, or if companies do not want to put all of the relevant information on the package, that is understandable. It gets crowded. It can still be put on the company websites. Oreos are certified as dairy, even though there is not a drop of milk in them. Okay, but for someone who has anaphylactic reactions to dairy, it is nice to know that they should be safe. The certification as dairy alone is not helpful.
Kashrut supervision at present takes only the kosher diet into consideration. It needs to expand its mindset beyond, so that those who keep kosher can do so while also tending to individual dietary needs.
May the best of the evening be yours.
R/SCG
Once upon a time, food production was largely cottage industries. The local dairyman brought milk to town. The local farmer brought chickens. The local gardener brought rutabagas. It was thus very easy to keep a kosher home. People knew the producers personally, and therefore knew the product.
As the techniques for mass production developed after the industrial age, kashrut had to take on new dimensions. Thus developed the concept of the hekhsher, kosher supervision. Rabbis would go out and put their seal on a product. We now see these marks on all manner of food. Some foods have a long history (comparatively). For example, Maxwell House coffee has been certified kosher since the 1920's. Coca Cola has been certified since the 1930's. Other products are more recent, such as M&M's and Oreos.
When we get to the Pesach time of year, the issues of supervision become a little more complex. We have to deal with the extra foods that are otherwise permitted, but forbidden during the holiday of Pesach. Within those foods, there is a category called kitniyot, which Sephardim eat but Ashkenazim do not.
In theory, this should be simple. It gets complicated though, because custom was never monolithic. It was subject to much interpretation depending on location, rabbi, product availability, and a whole bunch of other factors. It is thus impossible to say that Ashkenazim did 'X,' and Sephardim did 'Y.'
Now here is the issue. Some of those other issues have started to appear in ways that demand a new look at how products are supervised. For example, I cannot eat wheat or dairy. Other people are vegetarians. The list of quirks in people's diets is quite astounding.
Kashrut should be administered with those quirks in mind. If kashrut organizations do not wish to put all of the relevant information on the package, or if companies do not want to put all of the relevant information on the package, that is understandable. It gets crowded. It can still be put on the company websites. Oreos are certified as dairy, even though there is not a drop of milk in them. Okay, but for someone who has anaphylactic reactions to dairy, it is nice to know that they should be safe. The certification as dairy alone is not helpful.
Kashrut supervision at present takes only the kosher diet into consideration. It needs to expand its mindset beyond, so that those who keep kosher can do so while also tending to individual dietary needs.
May the best of the evening be yours.
R/SCG
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Poor Hamlet...
Top of the evening to all...
We are all aware of the hemming and hawing that Hamlet commits in Shakespeare's famous play. The Bard, however, did not take note of the physical manifestations of Hamlet's stress. We are, of course, all aware that stress can cause physical concerns.
For Hamlet, it was constant digestive issues. It really drove him crazy.
This of course leads Polonius to say "though this be madness, yet there be methane in't."
I am clearly guilty of Polonius assault.
Good night to all.
R/SCG
We are all aware of the hemming and hawing that Hamlet commits in Shakespeare's famous play. The Bard, however, did not take note of the physical manifestations of Hamlet's stress. We are, of course, all aware that stress can cause physical concerns.
For Hamlet, it was constant digestive issues. It really drove him crazy.
This of course leads Polonius to say "though this be madness, yet there be methane in't."
I am clearly guilty of Polonius assault.
Good night to all.
R/SCG
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Why Do I Do This to Myself?
Top of the evening everyone...
I read the news every day, without fail. In the paper version (yes...I still get the paper version), I thoroughly enjoy not just the news, but also the letters to the editor and the op-ed page. Sometimes, I go there first.
I also read on line. On line, many of the articles will allow any and all readers to make comments on the article. This is distressing, to say the least.
For starters, the grammar is awful. It suggests a low level of either education or concern, neither of which are particularly palatable.
Beyond that, the degree of racism, sexism, and extremism just makes these comments vile. It is remarkably discomforting to read the rhetoric that is on these pages. It makes it easy to see why the American political scene is so polarized and fragmented these days.
It has been very little time since my last post, but I must return to Bloom County. The comments that have gone with the return of the comic strip have been delightful. People have been kind and appreciative not just of the return of the comic, but of each other. As well, the comments on the facebook page have had good spelling and grammar. There is hope.
Welcome back, Bloom County. We missed you in ways that never occurred to us.
R/SCG
Mockingbird...
Top of the evening to all...
Some of you might remember that I wrote a blog entry back in 2012. The title of the entry was Books on a Desert Island. We had been assigned to come back to class with three non-religious books that we would want with us if stranded on a desert island.
Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" was on my list. I mentioned then that it was the only book I have ever read that I did not want to see come to an end.
I have always assumed that Scout is the narrator of the story, and that therefore Harper Lee was writing as Scout. My favourite comic returned over the last few months. Berkley Breathed had a connection with Ms. Lee. His touching tribute to her in his comic last Sunday made me wonder though. He suggests that Ms. Lee is actually Arthur "Boo" Radley.
The story obviously cannot happen without Boo Radley. He maintains a sense of mystery to the story, leaving the children wondering who keeps placing gifts for them in the tree. He would have had a front-row view of Atticus shooting the rabid dog. He saves Scout and Jem's life as they crossed the school yard and past his own yard.
Having thought about it, I believe that Scout was the narrator. It had never dawned on me though to consider Boo Radley as something other than an important but only peripheral character. Considering that Ms. Lee might have been writing from that vantage point changes the story. The next time I read it, I will be asking what Boo Radley sees at each point.
Nelle Harper Lee, rest in peace.
R/SCG
Some of you might remember that I wrote a blog entry back in 2012. The title of the entry was Books on a Desert Island. We had been assigned to come back to class with three non-religious books that we would want with us if stranded on a desert island.
Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" was on my list. I mentioned then that it was the only book I have ever read that I did not want to see come to an end.
I have always assumed that Scout is the narrator of the story, and that therefore Harper Lee was writing as Scout. My favourite comic returned over the last few months. Berkley Breathed had a connection with Ms. Lee. His touching tribute to her in his comic last Sunday made me wonder though. He suggests that Ms. Lee is actually Arthur "Boo" Radley.
The story obviously cannot happen without Boo Radley. He maintains a sense of mystery to the story, leaving the children wondering who keeps placing gifts for them in the tree. He would have had a front-row view of Atticus shooting the rabid dog. He saves Scout and Jem's life as they crossed the school yard and past his own yard.
Having thought about it, I believe that Scout was the narrator. It had never dawned on me though to consider Boo Radley as something other than an important but only peripheral character. Considering that Ms. Lee might have been writing from that vantage point changes the story. The next time I read it, I will be asking what Boo Radley sees at each point.
Nelle Harper Lee, rest in peace.
R/SCG
Sunday, February 14, 2016
That's His Job...
Top of the afternoon to all.
It has been a while since I have written. I hope you have not forgotten about me.
You are all likely aware by now that US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has died. He was a legal giant who sat on the Supreme Court for three decades. For those of you who are to the more liberal side in your politics, I hope this is not how you would have wanted him to depart the bench. That being said, he was the scion of conservative jurisprudence. The US legal system will feel his absence. Like him or dislike him, his influence on the Court will be felt for decades.
According to the US Constitution, the nomination of justices to the Supreme Court is the responsibility of the President, pending approval by the Senate. Over the last 30 years, this has become an increasingly partisan issue, much to my chagrin. With the partisan nature of Washington politics, a Democratic President will not be able to get a nomination past a Republican Senate, especially during a presidential election year.
As such, those on the political right are saying that the President should not nominate a justice, but rather let it wait until after January 20th, 2017, when there is a new POTUS. Those on the left are saying he should nominate now, as the Supreme Court should not be without its full complement of justices for what will be over a year.
Those arguing both sides are doing a lousy job concealing the political rancour that has been the hallmark of US politics over the last several years.
My politics are somewhat right of centre, but not by much. With the right candidate, perhaps Mayor Bloomberg, they are somewhat left of centre, but not by much.
My politics are irrelevant here. I hold with those who are pushing for nomination now. It is not because the President should be concerned about a full complement of justices. It is not because of the elections in any way.
It is really very simple. The Constitution also says that the President is elected for a term of four years. By tradition, presidents held the office for two terms, until President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was elected four times. After his death, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, formally limiting presidents to two terms. The Constitution does not say that s/he is elected for four years, except on certain matters. Like him or not, President Obama's job continues until noon, January 20th, 2017. Failure to nominate a justice for the Supreme Court is an abdication of the responsibility that the American people have emphatically placed in his hands.
Whether he picks a liberal or a conservative, I hope that he picks someone whose intellect matches that of Justice Scalia.
May Justice Antonin Scalia rest in peace, and may all people on both sides of the political spectrum recognize his life of service to the country as well as his devotion to the foundation of its legal system.
R/SCG
It has been a while since I have written. I hope you have not forgotten about me.
You are all likely aware by now that US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has died. He was a legal giant who sat on the Supreme Court for three decades. For those of you who are to the more liberal side in your politics, I hope this is not how you would have wanted him to depart the bench. That being said, he was the scion of conservative jurisprudence. The US legal system will feel his absence. Like him or dislike him, his influence on the Court will be felt for decades.
According to the US Constitution, the nomination of justices to the Supreme Court is the responsibility of the President, pending approval by the Senate. Over the last 30 years, this has become an increasingly partisan issue, much to my chagrin. With the partisan nature of Washington politics, a Democratic President will not be able to get a nomination past a Republican Senate, especially during a presidential election year.
As such, those on the political right are saying that the President should not nominate a justice, but rather let it wait until after January 20th, 2017, when there is a new POTUS. Those on the left are saying he should nominate now, as the Supreme Court should not be without its full complement of justices for what will be over a year.
Those arguing both sides are doing a lousy job concealing the political rancour that has been the hallmark of US politics over the last several years.
My politics are somewhat right of centre, but not by much. With the right candidate, perhaps Mayor Bloomberg, they are somewhat left of centre, but not by much.
My politics are irrelevant here. I hold with those who are pushing for nomination now. It is not because the President should be concerned about a full complement of justices. It is not because of the elections in any way.
It is really very simple. The Constitution also says that the President is elected for a term of four years. By tradition, presidents held the office for two terms, until President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was elected four times. After his death, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, formally limiting presidents to two terms. The Constitution does not say that s/he is elected for four years, except on certain matters. Like him or not, President Obama's job continues until noon, January 20th, 2017. Failure to nominate a justice for the Supreme Court is an abdication of the responsibility that the American people have emphatically placed in his hands.
Whether he picks a liberal or a conservative, I hope that he picks someone whose intellect matches that of Justice Scalia.
May Justice Antonin Scalia rest in peace, and may all people on both sides of the political spectrum recognize his life of service to the country as well as his devotion to the foundation of its legal system.
R/SCG
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