Yellow Sky Morning, Yellow Sky Night, Soulmates in Love
Orange Yellow Sky Love 6:30 am
Soulmate Sky Over Mountain  6:25 pm
Starbucks was nearly empty this morning, when I arrived sometime after 11 o’clock and when I arrived, a few people were just leaving –one was a woman wearing a two-toned pink outfit that stuck out from the bottom of her black jacket. When I got in line, there was a woman in pink by the fire. She got her black leather jacket on and left. And there was a woman in line wearing pink with her toddler boy in stroller. She wore a pink top with a dark green zippered sweater. Her friend with her toddler girl, wore a green sweater too. It was lime green. And my heart longed for Anna Dirksen.Â
Habitat with Dark 6:47 am
The two women with children sat behind me and discussed cashmere sweaters, their labels, and their times of trying them on. Mild jazz piano played in the background. The little boy was making strange funny noises while shaking his head back and forth. His mother said with a smile, “He’s never done that so much before.” The little girl followed suit, shaking her little blonde head and then there was squealing with glee. “I’m very glad I decided to have Ray,” said the woman, “It makes things more interesting.” Just at that moment, a black woman came in wearing a soft pink long sleeved sweater and a furry dark grey vest, along with black slacks.
Darkness and Light 6:47 am
What she got could be a cup of crushed ice, she sipped it with need as she left. The sky was crystal blue and so pure –baby blue, a gorgeous blue with scant cloud, white clouds looked like puffs of clean smoke. Some looked like curly white hair, or wisps of the finest fur, and some looked more like unpolished nuggets of white marble or alabaster chunks. A woman arrived with a pink purse but she didn’t stay very long –she left rather abruptly. A man that I’ve seen here wearing black and white striped clothing arrived, with his girlfriend for a change.
Fog Presence 6:58 am
She wore a red sweater with a pink and white band around the shoulders. The couple sat by the fire. White tufts of clouds moved quickly, and spread out equally in distance, some looking more like creamed Styrofoam. And I remembered my dream –rather upsetting it was. I strolled past what was a chasm, and I dropped my acoustic guitar down there –accidentally of course – I didn’t mean to do it. A terrible accident. And so I ran down to fetch it, and found my guitar smashed to bits, lying in the dirt. My guitar was broken in fragments, and I began to weep for it, because I could no longer play a tune on it.
Betwixt Centered Yellow Morning Light 7:00 am
What a strange and upsetting dream –my guitar is quite fine, actually. A woman walked in wearing pink –a pink cotton sweater with hood. A woman arrived with her child –a baby in stroller dressed in pink. A woman with child watching me. Her little girl wore bright yellow. Many more people arrived. And Bessie Smith sang, “I’ll love you always.” A woman came in with her child –a little girl in a pink skirt. A shiny pink hair band for her ponytail.
Trees by Her River of Love 7:12 am
The woman with her pink baby approached the table next to me for the newspaper. She smiled and said hello. She wore a deep purple cotton fall sweater. Her baby wore a pale pink coat, with little pink running shoes. The trees in love were burgeoning yellow –more yellow than they were green –a beautiful yellow leaf scene. The sunlight was clear, it was bright, casting clear-cut shadows on walls. Two sparrows landed on terrace chairs, puffed up and observing then hopping on the stone terrace floor full of cigarette butts. One bird must have received a call –they sped off instantly, and were gone.
Her Glistening River of Love 10:57 am
It was a beautiful fall morning. I was in love with Anna Dirksen. She gave me a sky gift of yellow. A woman arrived wearing blue –a pale blue cotton coat, with black skirt, black stockings, black shoes. She carried a dark blue shoulder bag. Her stroller was covered in blue –a two-tone blue square patch quilt, with a light blue border around it, to keep her sleeping baby warm. The stroller was black and blue. Beneath her blue coat she wore a pale blue cotton sweater. So much blue fabric concentrated around a single person.
Cyclists, Block of Eight 2:04 am
Just then, another woman came in wearing blue –a blue cotton sweater with hood, along with a black leather jacket, and a vivid pink and black knapsack. A woman came in wearing blue –a long and vivid blue scarf, along with a black leather jacket. A woman came in wearing blue, but she seemed to have disappeared. And a very large tuft of white cloud arrived in the midst of blue sky. My heart was with Anna Dirksen, with her I was feeling secure. I felt strengthened by her Yin force of will. Anna showed me the deep yellow sky, bringing a tear to my eye.
Clock Tower by Her River of Love 4:50 pm
She showed me more deep and dark clouds this morning, over the casino centered, along with the yellow sky. She took me to her river of love. I sat with her there for the morning. Her love river glistened in sunlight. And I was so much in love. Anna showed me eerie grey fog, and two betwixt in the distance, centered –with more yellow sky in the vast distance. Anna showed me the block of eight with the cyclists on their pathway, she showed me the clock tower at a distance, and the soulmates in the sunset.
The Whole Thing by Her River of Love 5:25 pm
Soulmate Centered, Yellow Sky 5:40 pm
Anna showed me the mountain with yellow light, until it was completely dark, and only small white lights speckled and shone. And these scenes were to me scenes of love, and I received her love with much love. The love between us very real –I feel blessed sharing this with her, in bliss, she’d be my wife. I love Anna Dirksen. A woman arrived with her daughter. The woman wore pink slacks with pink jacket, along with a beige trench coat.
Soulmates, Sunset 6:12 pm
A woman arrived dressed with green –green shoes, a green sack and a green scarf. The woman in blue pulled her baby from the stroller –the baby was awake. The baby wore a two-toned blue coat, and she was dressed up in pink. The little girl stood in her mother’s lap –she wore little orange running shoes. Her mother played with her daughter’s hair. People watching the child smiled. The woman wore a pink top under her pale blue sweater. Her daughter was obviously cute. A woman arrived wearing pink –a pink T-shirt that had the word Rock in white printing, she wore a white button sweater that concealed the rest of the words.
Soulmate Silhouettes 6:25 pm
I saw Paralympian Arly Fogarty with her –the two sat out on the terrace. I glanced at her and she smiled. She seemed to be relaxed. A woman came in wearing a purple sweater that had a collar with pink lining. The woman in blue with her pink baby packed up and then they were gone. I wanted a child with Anna. I wanted Anna with child in my life –more than anything else, anything at all. “If you love your baby, just tell the world you do,” sang the jazz artist at that moment. And I love Anna Dirksen, truly.
Meeting of Golden Light 6:32 pm
Mountain Light 6:42 pm
Out on the roof, the air was cool, a wild melange of clouds in the sky. Distant and huge clusters of cloud, and above them streaked furry frosty ones –mottled like scuff marks and creased, almost like ghostly seaweed, or impressionistic forests of spirit trees chaotic and rambling, or uneven layers of ice sheets. Occasional tiny flashes of light –I’m not sure it’s a trick of the eye. Some clouds were like ancient tufts of unkempt hair, like on the shroud of Turin. The blue beyond was so far away, too high to want to imagine.
In Sweet Fire 6:55 pm
With wispy ones like jets of still steam, and odd rows and alignments of clouds, a complex and prodigious happening, and abundance and reams of detailed tufts as deep as the my eyes could picture. The trees near to me nearly still or inwardly resting –no outward searching, but quiet, reflectively in repose. Seven sparrows flew in formation. Amazing combination of pairing and shifting rank placement. Seven unfolding of sparrows working together in flight. The trees around me were silent. It was quite cold on the roof top today, a frosty chill to the air –in the shade at least.
Her Black Potency 7:11 pm
Soulmates with Stars 9:20
In the sun it was slightly warmer. I was at rest within me ever alert and quickened to love for the love of my life, the heightened sense of attention that comes with the minding of my soulmate, Anna Dirksen. I’m quickened for her all the time; anxious for her to read these words that I have written for her feeling so stirred, till I find her in my arms, together with me. And even then, I would not rest. How could I rest, with her close beside me, the one that I love so? I would always be stirred for my love, waiting upon her, loving her, the one that stirs my very soul so completely –how could I simply rest? To trace her perfume, to seek her romance, to embrace her softness and strength, for my one true love, Anna Dirksen, my heart beats for her loving command.
Opposing
Relating
Yellow Sky, Grey Sky, Indigo Sky, Love of My Life
The Birth of Yellow Sky 7:52 am
The Evening’s Repose 6:52 pm
This morning, Anna showed me the underpass by the Palais, with its colourful flooding of streaked light, until I must have fallen asleep. And I awoke to the moment it left being blue, to see the blue of itself –I saw the blue indigo, and I fell out of slumber back to in love. Anna showed me the wide open sky full of rain clouds dark and heavy, and she showed me the Biosphere under the dark sky of clouds again, until they became glowing with luminous light, full of yellow, full of love. The clouds looking like heaven –and I fell in love with her. And then, Anna took me to the river, her river of love with the bridge, the bridge below the sky above, and all manner of rain clouds made their presence known and disappeared. The grey light was very attractive, reminding me of the lovers relating, except of course as sky full of clouds –rain clouds at that. And I love her.
The Kinetic Rain 5:32 am
She Entered My Dream Through The Blue 6:43 am
And then, Anna showed me her green garden of love, with the host of yellow trees at the corner, and the street with glistening rain. And before that Anna showed me the green mandala of her heart as it is portrayed on the pathway in her garden of love –otherwise known as Parc Viger. And then, I went out for my writing, hoping I did not miss a thing. When I returned, Anna showed me relating as buildings with one long black one standing, but the scene was at a new angle, that allowed my hand to rest upon Place Viger, and to see the sky in the back, that at one point grew very dark. And I love her for that. And then, Anna showed me the entire scene of downtown with the large looming formation of cloud that was really dark and exciting –a beautiful dark atmosphere. Yes, I love moody scenes.
Under Cover Operation 7:04 am
The Birth of Yellow Joy 7:29 am
And then, Anna showed me soulmates framed by the Q, but after Q disappeared, and so they were there with their own glowing light, and the black and white looking so Yin, that my Yang yearned for her, as I finished my re-report and got ready to post this thing. It will likely to be very late, because I want to get this thing right. I love Anna Dirksen, from the earliest morning to the latest of night. And her long dark wavy hair was there on the news tonight –and the last segment before signing off I saw the long column like the clock tower, luminous and glowing white, along with the wide shaft of light, looking so much like a wedding veil. And her long black wavy hair was there, throughout, often showing its stars that twinkled with love to my eyes.
Rain Cloud with Pink 7:59 am
Pink on it All 8:40 am
At Starbucks, there was much pleasant talking, a relaxing babbling brook, that was enjoyable to hear en mass, as a group. A woman I’ve seen here before dressed in green from head to toe, was wearing much pink today. She wore a pink T-shirt over a black long sleeved sweater. Her pink notebook had an orange starfish on it. Her umbrella was a luminous orange. Her running shoes were a ruddy pink, along with her blue jeans and black leather jacket –a full complement of colour. She once spoke to me about yoga class, and so she said hello. And a woman walked in wearing pink –under a black sweater and black slacks –her pink T-shirt sticking out, as is the fashion these days.
Bridge Through it with Love 8:47 am
Bridge Through it with Love 9:55 am
Clock Tower, Bridges, Her River of Love 9:59 am
A young couple sat together across from me, sitting on the same side and closely nuzzling. They were smiling and talking quietly –very affectionate and sweet. It was lovely to see. I don’t think they got much work done, there wasn’t any pink, but they were communing so tenderly. Yes, I longed for that closeness with Anna. Two women sat in the corner, both wearing white long sleeved tops with blue jeans –a pink umbrella resting on the spare chair. Two women sat by the fire –one wore a green knitted top and her friend wore a white jacket full of peachy pink floral patterns. The music was turned down, very quiet.
Green Mandala, Yellow Leaves 10:06 am
Her Green Garden of Love 10:34 am
Outside it was raining lightly, the road was black and glossy. The trees in love were slowly thinning out –the yellow quite vivid with damp. The green leaves were turning paler yet. The breeze made the leaves bouncy and shake in every direction at once. They were quite heavy and wet. This morning, Anna showed me a beautiful series of rain clouds, framed so nicely above the bridge. Before that, I woke up to blue –Indigo, and that was so touching. It hit the right spot, drawing me close to her in love, this gloomy morning. Her blue got under my skin, just before the unfolding of the grey clouds with the Biosphere, that became so luminously yellow, glowing with new life –and I loved her for good, I loved her for that blessed yellow love light.
Relating with One Long Black One 3:27 pm
Relating in Darkness 5:57 pm
I awoke early enough and she showed me the traffic glowing in red –and that was very special. I watched Newsworld. But I must have gone unconscious for a moment or two after that, and so when my eyes focused, from out of nowhere it seemed, Anna’s blue flooded my screen, and that was the most special way to begin my morning seeing with her. I don’t want to miss anything –I saw there was a blue traffic scene that I missed. But never mind that at all, because I love Anna Dirksen.
When I was Five
The interestingly synchronistic thing was that I received in the mail a blue card the very same shade, from my aunt –my father’s sister, that was full of sea creatures on it. She had enclosed several small photographs of me as a child, some of them with my father and sister, and most of them in black and white –with the very same shade and contrast as the impressive grey rain clouds that Anna showed me. One that I haven’t seen before was a profile of me at 5 years old, wearing my Barnabas Collins coat. You know, the centuries old vampire, from the TV show called Dark Shadows? As a child I watched that avidly, and ran around in my long grey tweed coat pretending I was he.
The Whole Thing 6:11 pm
Out on the roof it was cool, breezy and with a soft drizzle –the faintest and tiniest raindrops. Surprisingly there was the sound of birds –one or two in the distance quietly chirping, and apparently happy for showers. The sky above was so creamy and foggy –more like a white powdery mist than anything else –a full and white luminous mist that enveloped me with its presence. The entire sky solid with it. Many birds in flight, it seemed –a flock of pigeons and one or two sparrows. A dog barked and then more birds were calling. The trees rustled as if in a languor –branches of leaves heavy and serious –a strong sense of they were waiting so patiently.
And then, a large flock of geese appeared overhead, with their impressive V formation –so orderly. Their honking incessant and clear, as they headed towards the west. And another formation appeared -rather two separate ones it seemed, flying closely together. Their V structure stretching out and then reconvening. The two groups trailed behind the first group already far up ahead. It was very cool and almost icy. Three crows flew away as a team. Through the grey light I was in love, despite my rather glum mood that I couldn’t quite shake off for most of the day worried about my survival.
I felt like I was dying inside, fearing destruction but at the same time, but Anna Dirksen has brought me to life, so clearly in love, and I held securely to that, I was in love with her, I was between two worlds. l loved her for good, not matter what mood or outward condition. She was so close and so far away, but I didn’t care, I was with her. My very frame strained for her loving. My heart chimed loudly inside, because Anna Dirksen, my love is my life. And after the CBC News at Six, and incredible peace came over me.
The Whole Thing 6:20 pm
My inner guide turned only for her. It was continuous and sweetly sustained, with a longing ache wanting her badly. She’s all that I have on my mind, my heart knows no other command, except of course for my son, but hardly more for myself. There is no one else I craved to be hand in hand with, arms entwined and so closely warm. My heart flooded with emotion, as I wrote these words just for her. My soul is full of her presence, and I craved her so close to me. And so I wrote her name on my page, Anna. I wrote her name on my page, Anna once again. I wrote her name on my page, Anna. I wrote down her name, Anna Dirksen.
The Whole Thing in Indigo Blue 6:30 pm
On April 28th, dreamcard Saving, I wrote of my love…
“Dream you dream alone is only a dream; dream we dream together is reality.”
(Yoko Ono)
Late last night, I watched Margaret’s Museum, set in Nova Scotia, with Helena Bonham Carter, on the CBC. When I arrived at Starbucks this morning, it was already crowded and full of talking people. Many women’s voices, quite sociable and animated. It was sunny and bright, with blue sky, no cloud to be found. It was a bright, friendly blue. Peaceful, serene. I was feeling quite solid and full –full of chi energy. Tributaries were set free, I could feel the energy. Contemplated on Anna’s significance for me, in this life, making me feel infinitely better.
On my way up the street, a man at Willingdon school was washing the windows with a giant power hose. Outside the window at Starbucks, a work crew was doing the same for the high-rise across the street. There was a lot of black, green, and grey and today, in the clothing people were wearing at Starbucks. A lot of fine black. The energy flow became suddenly fierce, momentarily at least. I had no idea what was going to happen next, but I was feeling tremendously dynamic.
There was a great deal of high-energy, positive feminine talking. One of the most talkative rooms I have ever heard since being here. A woman sitting beside me was reading a pamphlet on pregnancy yoga. She had more than one book. She was quite seriously studying about her upcoming pregnancy. The tree across the street was sprightly and supple, as Joni Mitchell sang Free Man in Paris. I could hardly contain the state of mirth I was feeling.
Shine On in the Dark 6:34 pm
The tree seemed quite fleshy, firm, solid and delicious. The taller trees in the distance were showing their juicy new burgeoning leaves quite light green. People and traffic were quite brisk. But there was still much talking in the café, people were leaving, others arriving. The sunlight brought goodly contrast to the scene. The silence of darkness and light. Every side is equal in the scheme of the whole. The two inter-merge and penetrate and mingle with each other, without losing their identity, when each enhances the other.
Another woman was studying a book on gardening, with page upon page of greenery. She was studying seriously, meditatively, about plant maintenance. A woman arrived with her toddler child, a little boy in orange and grey. I was feeling quite comfortable, the energy making me move with careful deliberation –fluidly. There’s a certain logic to bodily movement. All movement traces a pattern before it begins.
The energy comes first, and the movement goes with the flow. To respect that brings accuracy in movement. You’ve got to allow the pauses, because it all seems to work as a secret dance. We may not always understand it at first. We are subliminally responding to each other’s intent, and the pauses are a form of respect. The tree across the street was still. There was barely a movement at all.
It looked so much like wooden sculpted electricity –the forked movement, and angles. There was a great deal of stillness, the blue sky completely still. But the feminine musical voices carried on with a sensual, languid style. I had to sit for a very long time, letting the energy flow through. On my way back home, there was a woman with her black dog, and then there was a crow. And Anna waited for me, all through my re-report of the show.
And in the afternoon, the bridge was there too, which really moved me, it floored me, it made me feel so good. And then the miraculous four-pointed star grid work, highlighting so precisely, the church with three doors, in the distance. And then the ruddy rectangle, evoking the feminine savior, my precious love. I knew it was her, and that told me so much. And then a long shot of the grid-work, with three long tubular bars. And gazing off into the blue freedom of the sky, I longed to kiss and caress as my bride, my queen named Anna Dirksen. She is my secret soulmate, my redeeming treasure. There is no other.
My Red Savior                                                 April 28th
Take everything else away, and what you’ve got left is you’re alive with the one that you love, and that’s deeper than philosophy, it is the breath of life, it is true religion. You’re plugged in, by grace, by mystery, by true basis, by irreducible fraction, and that’s where the true riches are. That love is what counts, what matters for courageous healing. And I love Anna Dirksen, and she loves me. Like the two red hearts that beat as one.
As Black as Her Yin in The Light 8:30 pm
I watched The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz on the CBC again. Funny thing, I am in the sequel –Joshua Then and Now –I was a soldier on the street as part of the background scene. And between the CBC afternoon cartoons, David spoke about game shows, and congratulated all possible contestants who have yet to participate. He mentioned shows in Japan, that Joy believes he’s making up from thin air, as they stand on the backrest of a park bench. David says, you get to see people happy when they win a car, or others poorly losing, giving away awesome prizes but you wouldn’t win one.
On Chilly Beach, the episode was called ‘Chilly Beach, we have a problem.’ There is a blizzard outside, and American ambassador to Canada, Katherine Hildebrandt was taking a hairy fit. No gunshots, groans of people unable to afford medical treatment, no problems, “This place is unnatural” she exclaimed. “Gotta get out of here.” Katherine phoned the American president for help. “You gotta get me out of this frozen hell-hole. She wanted to flee the remote and sleepy snowy town. President Bush wanted to know –is there a problem? “The food, the locals?” He said, “Prove there is a problem, and I might help.”
Katherine goes outside to speak to her daughter Abby, but not for fresh air. She mistakenly called Chilly Beach, ‘Frigid Shoreline’. Katherine feigns interest in the place. She tells Abby she never had a chance to be a tourist. She asks her daughter to show her around. Not the best sites, but the worst. So Abby takes her to the Beer Store. Katherine is astonished –just beer sold there, but guns or ammo. She takes a snapshot. Katherine checks out the Puck-Stop. Abby shows her a plate of poutine. “Freedom Fries” corrects her mother. Katherine takes another snapshot.
Abby shows her mother the hockey rink. Frank and Dale are embroiled in fisticuffs on the ice. Katherine is shown the huge Chilly Beach wilderness, with its expansive canyon of ice. Abby states that it looks like the icy planet Pluto. Katherine snaps another picture. Back at home, Katherine phones President Bush, “Get me out of this place. I have pictures!” But Bush thinks she’s talking about some unflattering photographs of him, that have been posted on the internet. It has caused quite a dent in his public image.
Katherine realizes and suggests an alternative story. “What about a space mission?” He wonders what she’s talking about. But she has a sneaky idea. She suggests a staged mission to Pluto just might take all the media attention off the president and his foibles. Meantime, Frank and Dale are in the Puck-Stop. Suddenly two strangely suspicious men in black arrive –CIA agents -Frank and Dale to show them around town.
So they take the men in black to the Hockey rink. And try to engage the men in a friendly game of Hockey. Just then, one of the men in black assembles his high powered rifle, and shoots Dale’s Hockey stick in two. The other man tries to chloroform Frank. A black helicopter arrives with more men in black, and there’s some kind of confrontation. Suddenly the men in black are making Frank and Dale walk deep into the remote area of Chilly Beach. They order them to camp out in the wilderness. It is some kind of ploy to distract them.
But Dale suggests a Hockey game at midnight, in order to follow these instructions. Waiting at the rink, Dale tries to impress Frank with his team of three little girls that play Hockey with a vengeance. That will show those men in black. Meanwhile, the men in black arrive at Katherine’s home, to inform her that “the place is set up by remote control.” Suddenly, there is a news broadcast of a space rover on the surface of what is being called Pluto. Katherine thinks this media ploy will gain President Bush’s favor, and get her out of Canada.
Frank somehow manages to wander straight into the fake Pluto landscape, namely the ice of Chilly Beach. And walks in front of the camera, during the live television broadcast. The robot land explorer attacks him. Frank remarks, “Weird camping gear.” Watching Frank’s impromptu appearance on Pluto, Katherine thinks her career is ruined. The men in black suggest she obtain a new identity. Her daughter runs down to exclaim, “They’ve landed on Pluto” She’s convinced there was contact with a live Plutonian. But the creature looks strangely familiar.
President Bush calls Katherine, who blames the whole thing on the men in black. But Bush praises her for the alien contact scene, and gives her a promotion. Katherine suddenly wants to find the alien, to ensure more coverage. Katherine with her men in black go to their fake Pluto landing site, and retrieve Frank’s Hockey crotch cup. Katherine exclaims, “Who ever fits this piece of equipment is our man.” Katherine and the men in black arrive at the Puck-Stop with it and have all the patrons try it on. It fits Frank like a glove.
Katherine takes Frank aside, “What do you do?” He sells beer. Katherine offers him a job in the U.S. space program. But she explains that it is a dangerous mission. Frank is to be separated from family and friends for a long time. She jokes that he might not be coming back. Later on, Dale arrives at the Beer Store to find Frank packed and ready to go. He closes up shop. He tells Dale that he will be gone for a few days –on business. But then Frank admits that he’s going into space, but can’t tell anybody.
At the fake Pluto landing site, Frank arrives donning his homemade space suit. Men in black take him into the trailer and force him to wear a proper one. Katherine manning the camera tells him that he is to undergo special training, in weightlessness. Frank walks around as if weightless, as Katherine is surreptitiously recording his every move. They dangle him from a crane, in front of the camera, explaining that this is more necessary training for his space mission.
Katherine wants Frank to make a mean ugly face to scare off any space alien, and she records it. Frank is rather confused by this seemingly meaningless series of maneuvers. While he’s taking time off from training, Frank sits in the site trailer, and turns on the TV. The only thing on, is a No News Channel. Frank goes to read the paper, but major stories seem to be snipped out of it. He turns on the radio, only to hear a voice ordering him to turn the radio off. Frank becomes suspicious. He disassembles the TV antenna, and ventures outside.
On the big television monitor screen outside, Frank manages to get better channel reception out there. He is shocked to watch what is being called a direct feed from Pluto, with remote cameras. Frank sees himself on television, making a monster face into the camera. At the Puck-Stop, Abby is watching what seems to be the alien broadcast on television. Dale cringes, saying, “He’s hideous.” But then Dale thinks the face looks exactly like Frank’s hockey mask, and mocks the creature’s feeble attempt at face saving.
Abby suddenly realizes that it is actually Frank, as the alien looks directly into the screen. Dale doesn’t believe her. Meantime, it’s Frank’s second space training session. Katherine directs him to move a certain way. But Frank refuses outright. But the men in black shoot at him, making Frank run to and fro. Katherine gleefully exclaims that lying and distorting the truth means something. Afterward, Abby returns home to tell her mother that the space alien is Frank. But Katherine pretends she doesn’t know what she’s talking about, and flees.
Back at the Pluto site, Frank confronts Katherine, telling her that she’s merely trying to stage a fake landing on Pluto. He wants her to admit the truth. Katherine tells him that actually, it’s the President’s birthday, and he likes this sort of thing. But Frank knows that she’s really lying. He complains that she’s tampering with scientific research, that it’s disgusting and unethical. The men in black take him, and lock him in his trailer. Frank shouts, “The truth is out there!”
Realizing that her ploy has come undone, Katherine phones the President, and they both conclude that they have no other choice but to stage a tragic ending to the Pluto mission. Ending it “with extreme prejudice”. But then the men in black hear a noise, and go to take a look. Abby appears and sneaks into Frank’s trailer. She implores him to leave immediately. They are going to eliminate him, she tells him. Abby will cause a distraction in order for Frank to escape. She yells, “The space alien is after me!” The men in black run around.
Frank makes his escape, “Dale will help me.” He says. Frank runs to ask Dale for help. They go to the Hockey rink. The men in black arrive, menacingly. Frank hides behind Dale. Dale challenges them, “Bring it on.” He knocks them both down, with his Hockey stick. The black helicopter that arrives with more men has a mishap. Frank and Dale pummel the men in black to submission. Katherine arrives and shouts, “Stop!” But Frank demands she tell the truth. He complains that she has tampered with science, and that a crane suspended him.
Katherine phones President Bush, informing him that the alien plans to expose the whole sham. But the president says that’s not a problem. The ratings are so low now, that it really doesn’t matter. And besides, he’s been working on his new media image –he’s donning a cattle rustler costume. Men in black are all wrapped up. Katherine tells Dale and Frank, “Fine, you win.” But Dale slapshots a puck straight into the nets and says, “Now we won.”
On The Simpsons, Homer watches an infomercial on TV while Bart busies himself with power tools in the garage. Marge’s sisters drop over and discuss a new hairdo. Marge tells her husband she’s going out with her sisters and suggests that he do something with the kids. He takes Lisa to the video store and takes out Football’s Worst Injuries for himself. Meanwhile at the hairdresser’s Marge finds a national questionnaire about fatherhood. She reads a quote by Henry Winkler about his fatherhood with his kids. When Marge returns home she asks Homer to do the questionnaire where he learns he gets only a zero –He had no idea about Bart’s hobby making a soap box derby cart in the garage. So Homer phones the National Fatherhood Institute –two men in white coats take him away.
At the institute he’s handed a copy of Bill Cosby’s book about fatherhood. The man suggests that he simply spend more time with his son, and to find something he likes to do and share it with him. Homer approaches Bart and offers to help build his soap box derby go-cart. At first Bart is reluctant but then Homer uses reverse psychology, and so Homer and Bart make a team. They work on the go-cart together, and in the evening in bed, Homer gleams about his son to his wife Marge. On the day of the soapbox derby race, Bart is impressed with Martin’s space age racer, and Nelson arrives very mean. The race begins and Martin wins, but his rocket go-cart crashes and burns. Bart’s go-cart simply stalls inches away from the finish line.
Bart visits Martin in the hospital, he complement’s Martin’s machine. Martin is injured and so he can’t participate in the next round of the race. He suggests that Bart take his place, riding his go-cart in the race. Bart feels torn about giving up the go-cart he made with his dad, but he agrees just the same. Bart tells his father about that, and Homer mopes and is rather upset. He refuses to attend the race. Meanwhile Bart is depressed in the go-cart while Martin instructs him before the race. He can’t help thinking about his father depressed, drinking beer on the couch. Homer thinks he’s a failure as a dad, but he reviews the National test, and quickly changes his mind after asking Flanders for father’s advice. And so Homer shows up for the race, thinking he’s a perfect father now. The race begins and Bart wins, he wins a trophy for keeps. Bart hands it to his father, the two of them gloat over their win and they hug as father and son.
On Frasier, Frasier and Niles sit at the café, and Niles asks his brother if he and Maris were meant to be together. Meanwhile at home, Daphne gives Martin a gift for no reason. She knitted him a dark blue sweater. Frasier’s been standing outside for a long time, waiting for Niles to arrive, but he’s late. But Niles is on the cell phone with Maris, saying that he’d miss her more. He’s in love with her all over again.
Frasier calls him up in the room, and tells him to get off the phone for their squash court appointment. Frasier is quite upset that they lost their squash court. He reminds Niles that it was only last week that they signed the divorce papers. Niles asks Frasier again, if he and Maris were meant to be together. He’s interested in his brother’s opinion.
The next day, Frasier ends his radio show, Niles called to say the wine club was cancelled. Frasier still doesn’t know what to say, about Niles’ loaded question. Frasier decides to say yes, to his brother’s question. Frasier says hello to his date. Meanwhile, at the apartment, Martin gives Daphne a gift, all sorts of healthy self-maintenance products. But they start to have an argument, over who deserves a gift more. They take them back and then they return them.
Frasier tells his father about Niles question, about whether he and Maris are meant to be together. Frasier tells Martin he’ll say yes. Martin reminds him that he always comes for advice. Perhaps the single most important factor for making his decision. Frasier really thinks the answer is no. He rationalizes it to himself. He calls Maris’s maid, to learn the truth about how Maris feels herself, and meets her in the café.
Frasier explains to the maid that Niles and Maris are having couple therapy. She agrees that it’s doing her good. Frasier asks her if the two should get back together, if Maris would treat Niles much better. The maid says, please send Niles back home. Then Daphne arrives and notices the maid. Daphne tells him that the maid has an ulterior motive, because she’s over worked. Frasier thinks perhaps the maid is lying, but he realizes what he thinks himself is more important.
Frasier and his date get in the car, but Frasier obsesses to himself. They’re going to an Italian restaurant. But Frasier is distracted. He asks her, “Do you think it’s possible for two people are meant for each other?” She agrees, she’s been wondering about this too. His date thinks he’s talking about her. He wonders what is that special something for you to say, “Yes, we’re meant to be together.” Frasier thinks his date is joking, and he explains he was talking about Niles and Maris. His date suddenly gets a headache and leaves.
Frasier goes home and gets drunk over the anxiety. He runs through Niles’ question over and over again. He explains it all quite carefully to Eddie the dog. He goes through the pros and cons, and then he decides to take a walk. Frasier walks down the late night street wondering to himself. He scans a music poster on Edward Elgar, ‘The Unanswered Question’. He passes by posted signs Proposition 11, Yes or No? He watches the walk-don’t walk sign changing over and over. He sees the theatre arcade read, To Be or Not to Be.
He hears the voices of everyone he knows running through his mind. Frasier shows up at Niles’ apartment in the middle of the night. He apologizes for the late hour. He’s been thinking about Niles’ question, and he tells Niles that he’s given it much thought. Frasier says, “No, I don’t think you and Maris are meant to be together,” Niles is shocked and quite surprised, and asks Frasier to leave. Suddenly the bell sounds –its Maris in the bedroom calling out for him.
On CBC News at Six, Michel Godbout wore a black jacket a light blue shirt with medium blue pinstripes, and a light yellow tie that had dark dots, and he begins, “Canada Post makes a late delivery. I’m Michel Godbout. This is CBC News at Six. Tonight: Scrap yard surprise. “We found two mailbags on the back seat,’ Hundreds of letters turn up in an abandoned car. And: He shoots, he signs. I’ll go one-on-one with Guillaume Latendresse.”
The first story, “Good evening. Well, I guess you could say, better late than never. And I tell you, some Montrealers have every right to use that line tonight. They’ve got, in fact, well, they received some mail this week, and to tell you the truth, the mail was posted last winter. In fact, hundreds of pieces of mail turned up in a scrap yard of all places, and tonight, police are deciding whether to lay charges against an ex-Canada Post employee. Lysanne Louter has that story.”
Lysanne Louter begins, “When Valerie LaBlanc checked her mailbox this week, she found a surprise –a tax return from last year.”
Valerie LaBlanc explains, “Yesterday I came to take my mail, and I saw the letter which explained the mail was returned a lot of time after they found it in a car.”
Lysanne Louter reports, “Canada Post sent out the letter this week, along with hundred of pieces of missing mail –they date it back to last winter. And they ended up here, at this Montreal scrap yard –inside a car.”
‘Well, I was surprised,’
Lysanne Louter reports, “Rhéal Landry’s owned this lot for 40 years. He made the discovery in May.”
Rhéal Landry, Owner Méteor Scrap Yard, explains, “And that’s when we had the biggest surprise, because the trunk was full up of those bags. So we were just amazed to see all that quantity of things like that… I was just thinking to myself that probably that mailing, I presume, that somebody went through that mail before me, and probably there was cheques, or credit cards, or stuff like that.”
Lysanne Louter informs, “He called 911 right away, and the police came to pick up the mail. Then they found out who owned the car.”
Catherine Lortie, Canada Post, explains, “We discovered that that car was belonging to a former Canada Post employee who had been dismissed end of May.”
Lysanne Louter adds, “Police only returned the mail to Canada Post last week. It’s not the first time they’ve been called in to investigate one of the corporation’s employees. Last November, another letter carrier was fired and charged after it was discovered he’d hoarded 75,000 letters over 5 years.”
Catherine Lortie, Canada Post, explains, “There’s 70,000 employees of Canada Post, and at one point we do reflect our society. So once in a while, yes, we have some people that shouldn’t be wearing the Canada Post uniform. Letter carriers, you know, the vast majority of them –they’re proud of what they’re doing, they like their job, they like their customers. And for them, you mail, my mail, is something that is almost sacred.”
Lysanne Louter closes, “As for the mail carrier, police are considering charges of mail theft –a criminal offense that could mean up to 10 years in jail. Lysanne Louter, CBC News, Montreal.”
The second story, “In other news tonight: Quebec is fixing up 3 of its detention centers, at a cost of $55 million. Most of the money will be spent to update Bordeaux prison, in Montreal. The changes are to give prison workers a modern, secure workspace. Among other things, jail cells will be updated, and a new wing built to reduce traffic at the main entrance. Part of the money will also be spent on the Rivière-des-Prairies and Tanguay jails.”
The third story, “Well, three schools in Quebec will soon offer a course for Internet crime files. The certificate will be offered to police officers and other groups who fight cyber-crime. Now, those crimes range from juvenile pornography to bank fraud. Right now, the SQ has only 6 investigators dedicated to fighting cyber-crime. So, it stands to reason they can’t catch everything. For example, Kimveer Gill’s threatening postings on the Internet were not noticed –shortly afterwards, as we know, he carried out the shootings at Dawson College. So the new course aims to train more police officers to be on the lookout for computer threats. The 30-credit course will be offered at École Polytechnique, UPTR, and École Nationale de Police. The first students start in January.”
The fourth story, “Well, a small religious group known as La Mission d l’Esprit-Saint might soon have to change its ways. Members are home schooling almost 150 children instead of sending them to public school –but the kid’s grades are not up to par. Rosemary Barton reports, there are now calls from the government to step in.”
Rosemary Barton begins, “This is what the mission’s school looked like 10 years ago –it was an illegal school without a permit. And so, in 2004 the Education Ministry finally shut it down. But at the same time, the government made a deal with the community, to allow 144 children to stay in the mission and be home schooled. ‘We felt it was better to negotiate with parents,’ says Yves Marcotte, of the local school board.”
Rosemary Barton reports, “But the system in place now does not appear to be getting the best results. Documents show that by high school, almost all the children are failing Math and French. The Mission de l’Esprit-Saint has been around for 30 years. Members believe their founder, Eugène Richer, was the Holy Spirit, and that they are of an elite race. For this reason, former members of the group say it would be impossible to send the children to public schools. ‘The foundations of this mission are to hate society,’ says Eugène Beurbe, a former member. The opposition says, the situation is alarming, and they are demanding the Education Minister act.”
Camil Bouchard, Education Critic, explains, “There is a responsibility of the minister to apply the laws which are available to him right now. And the law is pretty clear about the right of the child to be educated fully.”
Rosemary Barton informs, “The Education Minister agrees, but he says, he must tread lightly. ‘We don’t want to lose these children,’ he says, ‘and lose all contact with how they’re doing,’
Rosemary Barton, holding a blue umbrella in the rain, and wearing a black coat, a black turtleneck sweater, along with a red segment, closes, “The minister says, he can’t legally force these children to go to school, but he is hoping the situation will be resolved, when the ministry and le Mission de l’Esprit-Saint meet in front of a judge this coming Tuesday. Rosemary Barton, CBC News, Quebec City.”
The fifth story, “The students of the alternative school FACE are angry tonight. And they showed it today at noontime. They’re upset that their principal has been suspended. Many consider Nick Primiano a hero. They say, no one is telling them why he’s gone. So they demonstrated twice today to show their support. As for school officials, all they will say is Primiano is under investigation by the School Board.”
The sixth story, “Well, Montreal’s public schools are hoping a marketing campaign can reverse their dropping enrolment numbers. The school boards are betting a little PR will help them compete with private schools, and help them keep the public ones open. Peter Johnson reports.”
Peter Johnson begins, “It’s Grandparent’s Day at Honoré-Mercier School in St-Leonard. It’s the first time the event’s been held, and it’s already a success. But today’s not just about fun at this school. This is the day it officially counts how many students it has, to figure out how much money it will get next year. Honoré-Mercier, like most public schools in Montreal, has fewer students than last year.”
Michael Cohen, English Montreal School Board, explains, “Our enrollment unfortunately, has been dropping the last couple of years, due to many factors. We are looking at an enrollment of a new sector of just under 25,000 –which could be as much as 800 students less than last year.”
Peter Johnson reports, “They’re losing students to private schools. So the public boards will try a little PR to compete. They’re planning a public school week for this winter, and enlisting the help of some former students.”
Michael Cohen, English Montreal School Board, explains, We’re looking at bringing into the school, people who have gone on to successful careers, who got their education in the public system –and these would be the best ambassadors.”
Peter Johnson informs, “Honoré Mercier is doing well. It has just a slight drop in enrollment from last year. But even the lucky ones have to stay competitive.”
Connie Primiano, Honoré-Mercier Principal, explains, “There are a lot of people that, even though they are entitled to come to the school, sometimes they’d be going to the French schools, or maybe going to the private systems.”
Peter Johnson, wearing a black jacket, a grey shirt and a grey-green tie, closes, “The English Montreal Board might have to close 4 schools this year –there’re just aren’t enough students to keep them open. -Declining birth rate, tighter rules on access to English education, and competition from the private system. That means fewer and fewer students are going to public school. That’s why boards like the EMSB are hoping some marketing magic might help them keep the schools they have. Peter Johnson, CBC News, Montreal.”
Michel continues, “Still ahead tonight: A preview of Montreal Matters. We’re focusing on School all next month. Our reporter, Amanda Pfeffer goes inside Westmount High. Plus, we’ll have plenty of other features throughout October. More details later, on CBC News at Six.”
And then, the CBC News Weather Centre bells start to ring. Michel begins, “This cheerful bunch wasn’t about to let gloomy Friday conditions keep them from walking. This is the 17th annual Shuffle at Concordia University. Staff, alumni, students and friends walked 6.5 km from the downtown campus all the way to Loyola. The shuffle-ists take pledges and raise money for scholarships and bursaries. So really, who cares if the skies are grey? Well, maybe some people are hoping for a chance to go see the fall colours this weekend, and they would like a little bit of sunshine. The only person who really can tell us if that will happen is the one, the only, Natasha Ramsahai, of the CBC News Weather Centre. And Natasha, take it away my dear.”
Natasha Ramsahai, wearing a black skirt, a medium grey tweed jacket, a grey and white turtleneck woolen sweater, and a vivid orange belt, begins, “Ah, thank you very much, thank you very much. We will talk about rain actually –right off. Because we do have a rainfall warning for far eastern Quebec –including Sept-Isles and Mingan –these are the areas that overnight tonight and into Saturday morning, we’re talking about 50 to 60 mm of rain. Now, we didn’t get near that much in Montreal, about 12 mm fell in Montreal –closer to 15 in Quebec City. But by the time tomorrow morning rolls around, Quebec City might have closer to 20, 22 mm or so. But again, hey, if you look at Roberval, which is near Lac-St-Jean, we got 44 mm of rain –so, lots and lots of rain up around Saguenay. Okay, let’s get a closer up look. Is the rain done? Not quite yet. Now, the main band has pushed through –but do you see these little bits and spits and spots? I love calling the radar spits and spots. These are little, tiny little showers that still have yet to come through the Montreal area, through the next few hours. And then, we’re done with the rain until Saturday. Today’s high, 11 degrees –we told you it was gonna be a cool one. And it’s also going to be a cool night, approaching the 0-degree mark. North of Montreal, this dark blue though –that is sort of a cool pocket stuck in the centre of the province –Montreal going down to about 6-degrees tonight. Here’s the forecast then: So that low-pressure system moves off in to Atlantic Canada. Cool air remains in place tonight and even through the early morning hours of tomorrow. We will get the sun, you can see –that’s the forecast cloud cover here, that’s this white stuff. Now, things will start to cloud over though, in the afternoon, and we are looking at rain, but not beginning till after 8 pm tomorrow. So, most of the day I think will be okay –but again, there’s that 60% chance of showers after 8 pm tomorrow, with the southeast wind at 20 km/h. Sunday’s a washout. Yeah, looks like on and off showers for most of the day, and not a lot of sunshine –high of 16. Monday –the reason why we’re not going to continue to rise in temperature is because there’s gonna be a fog issue to deal with, early Monday morning –that could affect your drive in as well, and that will help to keep temperatures down to 15. Finally, we warm back up on Tuesday, with 19. But of course, Michel, I bring back the showers for you. That’s the latest my friend.” Michel closes, “Always a pleasure, thanks.” Natasha replies, “Thank you.”
Michel continues, “And coming up next: The Canadiens sign the prospect everyone’s talking about. Guillaume Latendresse is just 19-years-old, and now signed to a 3-year deal. You’ll see my interview with the rookie –that’s next, on CBC News at Six.” And then, the first commercial break.
Upon returning, Gloria Macarenko appears, wearing a peachy orange jacket, and she begins, “Coming up tonight on Canada Now: 12 year old Jonathan Madden’s identity is revealed as his teenage killers –one his brother, are sentenced as adults. And another Canadian solider is killed on patrol in Afghanistan. That’s at 6:30, 7:00 in Newfoundland.”
Michel returns, “Well, what a difference a year makes for The Canadiens’ Guillaume Latendresse. Last year he came close, but he didn’t make the team and was sent back down to play in junior hockey. This year though, the 19-year-old right-winger has been one of the best players in training camp. And late last night, he got the phone call from coach Guy Carbonneau telling him he made the team. The Canadiens crew awarded him with a new 3-year contract worth $850,000 per season, plus bonuses. Latendresse becomes not only one of the few Quebecers on the team, but also an instant fan favorite. I caught up with him, after practice today.”
Michel Godbout begins, “Guillaume Latendresse, the first question a lot of people are asking themselves is, how’s it to be you on a day like this?”
Guillaume Latendresse, Canadiens Forward, replies, “Ah, special. I think it’s like winning the lottery or something like that, it’s a dream coming true. And I’m just trying to live everything I can, and keep everything too.”
Michel adds, “In focus,” Guillaume replies, “Yeah.”
Michel asks, “Now, there’s a lot made about The Canadiens signing a Quebecer. As you probably heard, you know, a lot made earlier, during the training camp about the whole issue. How about yourself? I mean, how important was it for you as a Quebecer to play the NHL first, and to play for The Canadiens? How to those priorities rack up?”
Guillaume Latendresse, Canadiens Forward, replies, “Ah, it’s your first priority was to get a stab in the NHL, and when I get a job in Montreal, it was a second dream coming true. So, it’s just positive, it’s just dreams. So, there’s no words to say –it’s just amazing right now.”
Michel asks, “What about goals for this year? I mean, you’ve made the team –that’s a huge goal. Some people say, once you’ve reached the goal, that’s sort of a plateau, and you can level off. I mean, where do you take it from here?”
Guillaume Latendresse, Canadiens Forward, replies, “I just want to continue pushing, just keep trying to… I just wanna do the work that the coach is gonna ask me to do. If he wants me to play 5 minutes, I’m gonna play 5 minutes hard. If he asks me 20, I’m gonna play 20 hard. So, I’m gonna see, in the next game, I’m gonna see how this season that that has to, the season’s gonna go, and I’m gonna know what happened –and try to get my spot in that team.”
Michel asks, “A lot has been made also about pressure on players like yourself, Mike Ribeiro, Francophone players, with a lot of expectations from fans. How do you manage that?”
Guillaume Latendresse, Canadiens Forward, replies, “I think I manage that real good. I just don’t think about that. I’m just playing, keep working hard –and when you work hard, things get better for you.”
Michel asks, “You use that as motivation, say for example?”
Guillaume Latendresse, Canadiens Forward, replies, “Yeah, for sure. It’s motivation, adrenaline’s got people behind you. It’s just a push to help yourself, that’s for sure.”
Michel closes, “Guillaume Latendresse, congratulations, and thank you.” Guillaume replies, “Thanks.”
Guillaume Latendresse
Born: May 24 1987 Saint Catherine
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 1.88 m (6’2’’)
Weight 104 kg (229 lbs)
Michel continues, “Anna Asimakopulos is up next with The Scene. And tonight: On the hunt for a host. Montrealers come out in droves to audition to be the next host of Fashion File. See the tryouts, after the break.” And then, the second commercial break.
Upon returning, “Wanted: One host for the CBC show, Fashion File. You know, it’s more than just a job offer –in fact it is a career. Yes, to have that job. And Anna Asimakopulos is with us. Anna, you’ve been keeping an eye on finding a host for that show, and it’s quite a deal, huh?”
Anna Asimakopulos, wearing a thick and plush deep blue jacket over a black long sleeved top, and seated in front of the large bridge image, replies, “Not because I’m auditioning –I’ll put that right over the top, I’m not leaving you. But because they’re turning it into a reality show, and it’s also big steps to fill. Tim Blanks has been the host of Fashion File for 17 years, and he’s leaving. So Fashion File decided, ‘Well, why don’t we turn finding a replacement into a show?’ So, they’re holding auditions from coast to coast, open to anyone who’s interested. And the first of the Montreal tryouts were this morning.” Michel comments, “Alright.”
Anna Asimakopulos begins, “Replacing Tim Blanks is a tall order. He defined the tone of Fashion File –reveling in colourful descriptions of fashion. Still, there’s no shortage of people who believe they have what it takes to step in to his shoes.”
Anna Asimakopulos asks, “What are you looking for?”
Michelle Mama, Field Producer, Fashion File Host Hunt, replies, “We’re looking for the full package. We’re looking for somebody who’s telegenic, somebody who’s got fashion knowledge, somebody who can handle writing –‘cause there’s a journalism component as well.”
Anna Asimakopulos asks, “Why look for a new host of Fashion File this way?”
Michelle Mama, Field Producer, Fashion File Host Hunt, replies, “High hopes for, you know, the hidden talent –the gems that you could find across country, people who may be geographically challenged, and won’t be able to get to Toronto for interviews.”
Sameena Qureshi, Fashion File Host hopeful, explains, “I work for the Department of Foreign Affairs International Trade.”
A Fashion File Host hopeful explains, “I’m an actor -which means I work at a bar and restaurant.”
Sameena Qureshi, Fashion File Host hopeful, explains, “I was kind of, you know, I was kind of piqued, when I found out that they were going to do something like this. Because it throws it open to everybody, you know –including the likes of me, who has absolutely no background in this.”
Anna Asimakopulos asks, “How much of this is about making an interesting reality show, verses finding the best host?”
Michelle Mama, Field Producer, Fashion File Host Hunt, replies, “I think that we’re looking for the next host. I think there’s no question that we’re looking for the next host –and hopefully making a good show on the way.”
Anna Asimakopulos asks, “What about the people who are really qualified, who would say, ‘Oh, I’m not gonna apply, because this is a reality show’?”
Michelle Mama, Field Producer, Fashion File Host Hunt, replies, “It would be an unfortunate loss. I think that it’s a really incredible opportunity. CBC is looking for a host. They’re looking to sign someone up, to be the next host of Fashion File –it’s a full-time job. It could be the beginning of a career, as long a Tim Blank’s 17-year career. I mean, it’s a serious, serious thing. This is not gonna be a series that continues every year. It ‘s a one-shot deal.”
Back in studio, Anna Asimakopulos continues, “Now, Michel, the auditions are continuing tomorrow, and they’re happening in this building, the Radio-Canada, Maison Radio-Canada, which is 1400 Rene-Levesques east –anyone who’s interested. It’s open to everyone. You should show up between 9 am and noon and register. And the auditions will go as long as there are people.”
Michel asks, “Right, and there’ll be 10 finalists chosen…?”
Anna Asimakopulos replies, “There’re gonna be 10 finalists chosen, and then they’re going to be eliminated one by one, week by week, and finally, the last one standing will be the host. And all of that is going to be part of a TV series.”
Michel comments, “Oh, it will?” Anna replies, “Yeah.”
Michel continues, “So, those things aren’t over, it’s the same shows, okay. Well, okay, so let’s go from that to the weekend, right. There are a lot of things going on in the city, and you’ve been keeping an eye on that.”
Anna Asimakopulos replies, “The Journées de la Culture –where to begin with this? We’re talking 1,800 different artistic and cultural events happening at 300 cities across the province. And you’ve got everything happening. You’ve got… culture will find you whether riding a bus, or eating breakfast –and also, everything is free. And there’s something for everyone: You’ve got theatre, you’ve got dance, you’ve got music, you’ve got art. And the best thing to do, because there’s so much to choose from, is to go to the website www.journeesdelaculture.qc.ca.
Michel adds, “And it’s all free.” Anna Asimakopulos replies, “It is all free –every single part of it.”
Michel adds, “Good thing. What about anything else on the weekend, you wanna highlight?
Anna Asimakopulos replies, “Well, the ADISQ awards –Quebec’s music awards, that’s Sunday evening. Keep an eye out for that. You know, Ariane Moffatt or Pierre Lapointe –two young Quebec artists who have a good chance of winning.”
Michel closes, “Excellent. Well, Anna Asimakopulos –tons of stuff, thanks again. Chock ‘o Block, as we say.” Anna replies, “You’re welcome.”
Michel continues, “Alright, now, there’s also… you know, of course, those are some of the suggestions that Anna has for the weekend, but what about next week? Well, to find out about that, let’s bring in CBC Radio’s Kelly Rice –I think he’s got an idea about that. Hey Kelly, are you there?”
Kelly Rice, wearing a black zipper sweater over a blue CBC T-shirt with the round petal-filled CBC logo, like a mandala in orange, red and yellow, replies, “Hey, Michel, hi. We’re launching the 28th CBC-McGill series this week on Wednesday, so –lots of great concerts this year. Everything from folksongs to children’s choirs.”
Michel adds, “Okay, and it all starts on Wednesday night, is that right?”
Kelly Rice, CBC Radio, replies, “Yeah, 7:30 pm at Pollack Hall. We’re going to do a tribute to Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich. It’s gonna feature cellists Yuli Turovsky, and Yegor Dyachkov. Shostakovich is still debated, I think in classical music circles, you know –what were his politics? Was he forced to join the Communist Party? And we’re gonna have music all through the concert, from different periods of his life. So, it should be really interesting.”
Michel adds, “Okay, and the best thing about this also is that you have some tickets to give away.”
Kelly Rice, CBC Radio, replies, “Yeah, of course. Absolutely, you could say that, well like, you know, we have 5 pairs maybe -the first 5 people who email us at mtlcomm@cbc.ca“
Michel closes, “Kelly Rice from CBC Radio, thanks so much for stopping in.” Kelly replies, “Okay, see you next week.”
Michel continues, “Sure thing. Alright, stay with us, we’re back in a moment with a look ahead to a big week next week. You’re watching CBC News at Six.” And then, the third commercial break.
Upon returning, “Now I know we’re heading into the weekend, but we’d like to talk about Monday. We’ve got a lot of things for you, right here on CBC News at Six. And it’s top secret stuff. So you’ll have to wait to see these changes. One thing I can tell you though is that we’ll be on the air for one hour on Monday –not only to show off our new show, but to launch the 2006 edition of Montreal Matters. This year, we’re looking at school –and there’s a lot to cover. Here’s a preview.”
Amanda Pfeffer begins, “I’m Amanda Pfeffer. Westmount High School has a new student, and I’ll be sharing everything I’ve learned about a high school that went from worst to best in public school rankings. Join me, as we explore the triumphs and challenges all this month, on Montreal Matters. That’s Montreal Matters, beginning Monday, on CBC News at Six.”
Michel continues, “And for more info on Montreal Matters, you can go to our website. The address is www.cbc.ca/montreal. Then you can click on the link marked Montreal Matters 2006 on the left, to find out all you need to know.”
“Well, that’s our show for tonight. Gloria Macarenko is up next. I’m Michel Godbout. Have a wonderful weekend, and we’ll see you on Monday.”
Dome Centered  11:05 pm
And this is Frank Remus in Montreal for this Krimson News diary-blog of loving and dreaming, and CBC News at Six re-reportage of absence, anger, annihilation, the awful, blasting, breaking, the catabolic, cleaning, cracking, crashing, crushing, the deadly, decomposing, demolishing, despair, destiny, devastation, dismantling, disposing, doom, embarrassment, eradicating, exploding, extinguishing, fate, fighting, grieving, incineration, the indiscriminate, inevitability, judging, killing, the lethal, the malignant, misfortune, operating, the overturning the overwhelming, pounding, power, pulling apart, pulverizing, ruining, self-destruction, the senseless, smashing, superiority, the terrible, war, the will and wrecking.
Destroying
Relating
The Soulmates, The Mountain, Two Betwixt, and Her River of Love
Betwixt with Her Love Plasma 10:10 pm
Two Betwixt with Her Love Plasma 10:20 pmÂ
This morning, Anna showed me the soulmates, and then down to buildings nearby where she was, and then back up to the soulmates, and then down to her river flowing with love. I loved her for showing me that first thing. Anna showed me the mountain and the other side is where I now live –Anna showed me that such a good long time, that I melted for her on the other side. And of course, I went out for my writing, and when I returned, Anna showed me the mountain was with me, with my love on the other side.
And then, Anna showed me downtown with soulmates under the afternoon sky that became dark and heavy laden with rain –soulmates under dark grey skies, soulmates no matter what the weather, soulmates when it became dark. Anna showed me downtown centered by Q, and much later on, she showed me two betwixt -and I loved that, along with the others –and then it began to rain, and what a beautiful spectrum and plasma the scene then became, with the two bright glowing lights. And I love her; I love Anna, my soulmate. I felt so solid with her all day long.Â
On the speaker at Starbucks, early jazz played, with its horns. The place was full but it was quiet –except for the small group of workers from yesterday, engaged in their training or testing of a new manager. They were a loud bunch of talkers. One of them announced, belting that she was a professional baker –she was quite heavyset. Energy was dense in me –I felt immovable, like 2,800 pounds or something –not that I felt overweight, far from it. I’m talking about something else. I was feeling solid with her in my heart.Â
Soulmates from the Green Beginning 6:57 am
Crystal Clear Soulmates in Love 7:43 am
And then, their meeting adjourned, with a swift tucking in of the chairs –four briskly and neatly reset. There was no pink in the room, except for the pink bauble necklace a woman wore with the blue top and the black leather jacket, but I didn’t notice that until later. There was nearly nothing happening, until a woman walked in wearing a white T-shirt with a pink logo on it, and small black writing that mentioned killing something. She moved too quickly for me to read it. People’s heads were bowed down, thoughtful, engaged in their work, or with an inward repose.
Look Down There 7:55 am
A woman wearing a pink sweater nearly walked in. She paused outside with her cell phone, but then she decided to go. I woke up early, on time –ready to start my morning. I listened to Bowie’s Heathen -one of my favorite albums. Then Anna showed me soulmates, and she took me to her river of love flowing, and to the side of the mountain, where I live not far beyond, with buildings at the base of it, from her heart to mine –I was feeling blessed. That conjured my morning, established my space for the day, my center betwixt with her center, her heart in my heart and my mind –a beautiful feeling.
Mood Indigo by Duke Ellington played on the speakers. I have grown a great love for jazz horns, despite many years of them blasting night and day when I was a child. That’s all that my father, a waiter, listened to every chance that he could –to the point of no return. At the time it was part of the hindrance of my relationship with him. He gave no time for much else, except to zone out with his jazz. Now I am discovering why –but we never shared that much of it then. There was a great divide. And so, now I love Duke Ellington, and I feel my late father’s presence imbued.
There was a rather intense unwinding inside me today, which surprised me. Current and aching unblocking, removing and realigning. It’s strange how I could feel it. The trees in love outside the window were now quite nearly yellow –with beautiful green highlights interspersed. The trees looked full of bananas, that waved slowly in the soft breeze. A gentleness in the air –the sunlight was muted but managed to send some shadows worth casting, and bring some warmth that felt right. The sky was a creamy white, soft and liquid and glowing –a tender overcast morning, with her in my heart, I so craved.
Her Good Flowing River of Love 8:07 am
A woman wearing a pale yellow tan suit sat with her daughter who wore a grey top with tiny black shapes scattered on it, along with her blue jeans, and her very pink and orange sneakers. Roy Harper played on the speakers –an entire album, I think. There was no clear pattern in clothing. And I was so hungry for her. She’s my achiever, my healer; she’s my hero, my leader. She’s my one true love laden anchor I want in this life. She’s my secure soulmate granting my imagination asylum, Anna Dirksen’s my dream breath of life. She’s my redeeming dream-worker, my saviour. Â
She’s my love doctor feeding me clear water laced with her mandala medicine. From her river of love, my soul first aid, when I feel most alone. Anna Dirksen’s my green healer of love, providing my dreams with ladders for my love of ecology and she pictures for me lamps for my imagination and art with her lifeboat to carry it on. I’ve got no reason to flee flying saucers or other spacecraft I have seen or have dreamed. She preserves me with her love remedy so I can survive all of my life-given therapy, with her media spirit pool washing me down by her river of love. Rescuing me with her river love, nursing me down by her river of true love. I love Anna Dirksen, that one special woman that makes me feel warm and in love.
Her Good Flowing River of Love 8:25 amÂ
Love on the Other Side 10:25 am
On August 28th, I wrote of my love…I was feeling a certain seriousness that I was not afraid of. It was a good kind of serious. Good energy was flowing through me, as if I was unfolding all my compacted force. It was coming smoother now, back into shape, as I wrote Anna Dirksen’s name, and my worries faded away. A line of women walked in, most of them wearing black, white and grey. And the Motown pop music with its reverberation-laced backing vocals, and subtle flanged electric guitar, was putting me into a trance. And I craved Anna right there and then.
Love on the Other Side 1:15 pm
I craved her presence so much, like a waterfall of love, in the midst of my seriousness, and the mystery above us that wove us into the dream of synchronicity and loving and believing, of blindness and of seeing, of loss and of redeeming. I was missing and wanting her so much. The trees in love across the street had no shine by way of sunlight, but they were still full of sheen and luster from the rainy daylight. It was a sleepy morning. It really was, quite. And the authentic blues music came on –in the dark the spark lights the way without shame. Outside everything moved in slow motion, as if in a silent movie.
Soulmates Amid the Grey 2:00 pm
Soulmate Centered in Peachy Grey 4:00 pm
And Anna is my green healer, my soulmate anchor, and my loving heart leader. Let me be more open to her, may we do deep dreamwork together. May we take in the breath of life. And the singer sang, “Take me to the river.” May we nurse ecology through every emergency, may we kiss deeply and freely through falling water, may we free fleeting flying saucers. May we stop greed from grabbing all green, and encourage healing homeopathy. And the singer sang, “You are the sunshine of my life,” May we provide relief for the last hospital, may we become the ladder lamp knights. May our love flow as safe as our lifeboat, protect us as our lifeguard, our life jacket, our true love lighthouse.
Soulmates in Deep Grey, Q Centered 6:38 pm
And the singer sang, “I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day –I’m talking about my girl.” May our love sooth us like mandala medicine, nurse better money for our love patient operations. May we bathe each other with beautiful flowing Red River in the preserving pool remedy, by the sacred waterfall. May we treasure the teachings of true spiritual figures arriving from spaceships imbued with spirit. May we be as two open to love, together with open hearts beating with ardor. May we salvage the treasure of deep flowing water –our only resource to rescue is love. Anna Dirksen’s my true heroine. I value the strength of her good working within, her reliable world achievements, her risk-taking and her leadership. Her irrefutable healing energy, surging to the depths of my recovering heart. Let me embrace her Yin dynamism, her Yin courage, and her Yin experience that I need and I love.
Black as Her Yin of my Dreams 6:43 pm
And in between the CBC afternoon cartoons, David spoke about a mixture of things, vacations, and personalities. David spoke to 7 women who are on vacation. Where do you go? What do you do? Mexico? France? Brazil? And how much is a flight to the happy kingdom? David also spoke about, personalities, that’s what makes us who we are. What’s yours like? What’s mine like? Personality theory –different types. Joy’s a structured, go-getter, works well with deadlines. David is spontaneous, lazy perhaps, carefree, Morgan Waters is somebody completely different.
David thinks the worst personality trait is jealousy, and then he fumes about the know-it-all type. “Which type you would marry?” David ask Joy. Joy says, “Prince Charming”. David says, Joy may be catty, but David claims he has a quick temper. David mentions passive-aggressive types –those who complement you with a notable tinge of insult. Crabby personalities can change temporarily with an ice cream, David says. The slacker types –Frank and Dale from Chilly Beach.
On Chilly Beach, the episode is called The Souse that Roared. Dale is watching the news at the Puck-Stop. The report is that the Russian space station is falling to earth. But the anchorman explains that the debris should land safely, in the middle of nowhere. Suddenly, all of the lights start flashing in the restaurant. Dale and Frank go to the crash site, to check out the wreckage. Amid the debris, Frank discovers the nuclear power plant. He inspects the cylinder and announces that there’s enough plutonium in it to make an atomic bomb -a bomb that can wipe out an entire city.
Frank says he’s going to hide it, and asks Dale to promise not to tell anyone. But Dale easily tells Jacques, at the Puck-Stop, while showing off the borsht packages he retrieved from the crash site. Dale tells Jacques there’s enough plutonium for an atomic bomb. Just then, the American ambassador to Canada, Katherine Hildebrandt receives a call from the Secretary of Defense. She’s told that a canister of plutonium is in the wreckage. She goes to the crash site, donning a toxic waste protection suit, where she meets Dale. Dale exaggerates or simply lies, telling her that Frank has got the plutonium, and he’s at home in the middle of building a bomb.
She heads for Frank’s shack. Frank is immediately alarmed that Katherine has arrived, wearing the toxic waste suit. He knows that Dale didn’t keep his secret. Katherine orders Frank to hand over the bomb, and no charges will be laid. But Frank says he doesn’t have an atomic bomb, questions her authority, and refuses. Katherine leaves miffed. Meanwhile at the Pentagon, an assistant informs the Secretary of Defense that there are weapons of mass destruction in Chilly Beach. He goes to take snapshots of the place, to gather his evidence. But most of the photographs are merely normal Chilly Beach activity. Satellite images are simply notated in pen with such titles as ‘secret missile silo’ but the photo is merely an outhouse. The Secretary announces that he’ll bomb Canada in retaliation. And then a spy submarine arrives to take more photos.
Back at the Puck-Stop, Dale is watching television. The American newscaster announces that the UN has discovered that Canada has weapons of mass destruction. At the Defense meeting, the Secretary presents the bogus slides as clear evidence that Chilly Beach has these weapons, for example, the outhouse slide notated as a high tech missile silo, proof that Chilly Beach is stockpiling a nuclear arsenal.
The UN delegates get quite upset, as the Secretary announces that there is clearly enough evidence to warrant the total obliteration of Chilly Beach. One of the delegates suggest that more independent proof is required before measures are taken. And so two UN delegates arrive at Chilly Beach by military helicopter, and are greeted by the American ambassador to Canada, Katherine Hildebrandt. They want to clearly determine nuclear weapons are on site.
She arrives at the Puck-Stop with the delegates, informing the patrons that a thorough search will be conducted in Chilly Beach for these weapons. They will be looking absolutely everywhere, for evidence of weapons of mass destruction. The weapons inspector team enter people’s houses, look in bedroom drawers, locker rooms, frisk Chilly Beach citizens, locate stockpiles of bottles of beer, but for some reason, they always manage skip going over to Frank’s place. A polar bear eats one of the delegates, in an attempt to frisk it. The surviving UN delegate returns to the Pentagon to inform the Secretary that no weapons of mass destruction were actually found. The Secretary dismisses the findings, saying that Chilly Beach is hiding them expertly well.
Back at the Puck-Stop, Dale and Frank are watching a special TV news bulletin. A grainy black and white photograph of Frank is broadcast, with an ultimatum. He’s described as an evil warlord, and Frank must hand over his weapons of mass destruction, or face the full force of American military might. The news program calls the operation ‘Countdown to Oblivion’ Frank is given 48 hours to deliver his nuclear weapons. At Frank’s place, Dale tells Frank to simply hand over the bomb, like they asked. But Frank explains that he doesn’t actually have any bomb. Dale then suggests that he build one then, then give it to Jacques, so he can turn the plutonium device into a bomb.
But Frank tells Dale that he’s the only one qualified to build an atomic bomb, thanks to his knowledge of physics. Just then, the American ambassador Katherine arrives at the Puck-Stop to appraise the value of the land, once the Americans have taken it over. She estimates the value to be $1 Million. The restaurant patrons start chanting U.SA! in glee. They all want to become Americanized.
Back at Frank’s place, he is building the bomb’s particle accelerator from scratch. Dale suggests he doesn’t have to build an actual bomb exactly. But Frank says all his colleagues at his Physics club wouldn’t expect anything less than that. Just then, Frank receives a singing telegram. The singer’s message: Join our evil axis, be part of our terror, if you don’t join us, then ‘that’s your error.’
Frank becomes totally stressed out. His hair starts falling out, mostly from the plutonium he’s storing. At the Pentagon, the Secretary of Defense runs down his list of ordinances and weapons he’s ready to use against Chilly Beach. The newscast reports that Chilly Beach now has only three hours before the American war machine is unleashed. The news correspondent informs the anchorman live, that citizens seem euphoric, spending all of their money on credit. Meanwhile, Frank is nearly finished building his homemade atomic bomb.
Dale takes one look at it, and suggests Frank paint something cool and defiant on there to impress the Americans. But Frank says there isn’t enough time, the deadline is less than an hour away. Frank gets ready, and goes to see the American ambassador Katherine, to surrender the weapon. She arrives at his place, but the bomb is gone. She accuses Frank of attempting to take her hostage, and she quickly gulps down a mint, thinking it was a cyanide pill. Katherine then leaves, continuing her warning.
At Dale’s place, he’s got Frank’s atomic weapon on his couch, and he’s ready to give it a nifty paintjob. Fifteen minutes are left before the Americans blow Chilly Beach sky high. Frank runs over to Dale’s place, and interrupts his paintjob. Katherine tells a helicopter pilot that Chilly Beach had their chance and get ready to fly her out of the vicinity. The news broadcast announces there are no more than 15 seconds before a spectacular show of military might is unleashed.
Frank and Dale walk through the streets with his atomic bomb, looking for the American ambassador. American war jets fly in formation, military submarines appear off the coast of Chilly Beach, and hone in on their targets. The anchorman gets ready to make his report. Frank and Dale catch up to Katherine, just about to escape on the military helicopter. They say they’ve got the bomb, and want to hand it over. She shouts, “Hold your fire.”
Back at the Pentagon, the assistant informs the Secretary of Defense, that the Canadians have surrendered. The Secretary is disappointed and still eager to start the war, and fondles the war-starting button. He wants to blow up a few things anyway. On the news, the American broadcaster is disappointed by the anticlimax, and tries to make a story about how well the countdown numbers were read in proper sequence. Frank runs into the Puck-Stop to inform everyone that the American Defense Department have sent him rebuilding money for making the bomb. They sent him a cheque for $86.27 -not much money. But Dale reminds Frank the amount would cover three cases of beer. All of the restaurant patrons enthusiastically chant “U.S.A.!”
On The Simpsons, Homer dreams he’s in the first scene of 2001 A Space Odyssey. But instead of gaining intelligence from touching the monolith, he takes a nap leaning on it. He wakes up at work from a phone call from Lisa to ask him to pick up a saxophone reed for her. She’s about to go on stage at her school talent show, and her reed broke. Homer goes to Moe’s first, and so he finds the music store closed. He begs the owner sitting beside him to open the store for him. He’s lucky he could remember the gauge of reed and the fact it’s for a saxophone. Unfortunately, Homer arrives late, and Lisa has to go on stage, and plays Stormy Weather rather badly –because her reed broke. She plays the tune in tears. Afterwards, Homer treats her to an $80 supply of ice cream –but Lisa has no appetite. She says she forgives him but even Homer can tell that she doesn’t mean it.
He watches home videos of Lisa as a baby and sees that in every scene, that he ignores his little girl. Now Homer is worried he lost his daughter’s love. Marge suggests he spend time with her. He makes a big effort, but he tells Marge he’s afraid he’ll go queer spending so much time with his daughter. He decides to buy her a pony –the most favorite thing that she’s wanted. But Homer has to take a $5,000 loan and he learns that he must pay for the stable, maintenance and Lisa’s riding lessons. Lisa screams in terror at first when she wakes up in the morning with the pony right next to her in bed –like the scene from The Godfather, but of course Lisa loves her pony.
She tells her father that she loves him too. In order to keep up with expenses, Homer takes the night shift at the Kwik-E-Mart while working the plant in the day. But Homer has no time for sleep. And so Homer keeps falling asleep at both jobs and his performance goes down the tubes. Marge tells her daughter that her father must work two jobs for her to keep her dear pony, and that she must decide what to do –keeping a pony is costly. Lisa decides to give her pony up for her father, sadly with tears but she means it. She tells him that she understands, and that he’s her favorite animal of all. And so Homer quits his Kwik-E-Mart job, and gives Lisa a pony ride on his back.
On Frasier, Frasier meets Martin and Niles at the café, he’s so excited to tell them he’s putting on a mystery radio play. He’s going to direct the show. Niles says he can’t direct, and would likely want the lead. The show must be 30 minutes long. At the radio station, Frasier advertises his Nightmare Inn program. Ros asks if there is a leading man yet. Frasier say’s there’s not. She suggests that he should take it, and Gill walks in for a part. There are still a lot of supporting roles to cast. Bulldog offers his friend to take a female part. “Look out, he’s got a gun.”
Frasier agrees, and offers it. Frasier still can’t find a lead, and so he takes it himself. Bulldog, Gill and a professional actor, are at Frasier’s apartment for rehearsal. They’re going to run through the script. Gill is upset about a missing line that Frasier cut out for time. Daphne keeps time, as they read their lines. Bulldog laughs at his name. Frasier keeps stopping the flow, to criticize various things. 32 minutes 40 second. They’re a few minutes overtime.
The professional actor starts to fume at Frasier’s criticism and he quits. Frasier has a new plan, and suddenly thinks about Niles. At the studio, Niles arrives, he hasn’t yet seen the script, and the show is on that night. The sound effect guy shows his wares. Bulldog and his girlfriend arrive. She wants to work on her part, but she only has one line, she’s actually dyslexic. Bulldog is nervous about acting. Ros arrives, back from the dentist, her mouth is completely frozen.
The show is on in 60 seconds. At home, Daphne and Martin listen in. The mystery show begins. Ros ruins lines, with her frozen mouth. She could hardly speak. Bulldog freezes with fear, and so Frasier has to improvise, with the sound effects. Gill begins his lines without flaw, and Niles takes 3 character’s voices at once. But the fourth one he needs to take helium, to create just one more voice. But suddenly the studio 5 telephone rings. Martin finds the plot goofy. Frasier wants to cut Gill’s dying speech, just to save time.
Act 2, Frasier begins. Ros still can’t quite speak. The sound effects man presses the wrong sound. Bulldog’s girlfriend shouts, “Look out! He’s got a nug!.” Gill doesn’t cut his lines. So Frasier pretends he’s shot again, announcing that his head was blown clean off. Gill improvises another character, just so he could continue. But Frasier has him shot too. Gill becomes an ice cream man, and so Frasier shoots him again. By the end of the show Nile’s character is not even German. And his character explains the mystery, while Frasier tries to direct. Niles gets fed up being directed, and pretends to shoot all of the characters. “Hans was a mass murderer. Case is closed.” Frasier says. But they still have 9 minutes left. But nobody wants a post-play discussion.
Soulmates and Q Centered 6:00 pm
On CBC News at Six, Michel Godbout wore a black jacket a grey shirt (that seemed to have a blue or purple tinge to it) and a black tie with diagonal bands of grey, and he begins, “Security at Trudeau Airport –how worried should you be? I’m Michel Godbout. This is CBC News at Six. Tonight: Trudeau Airport. Infiltration by organized crime, security breaches. Airport officials respond. And: Daycare at school. Education officials think midday monitors and after school supervisors need more training.”
The first story, “Good evening. Security at Trudeau Airport has been grabbing the headlines for a few week now –enough to cause some fear and loathing for many travelers. Well, it sure got the attention of the folks in charge of the airport security. They have just held a news conference, and our Dan Halton is there. And Dan, what came out of it?”
Dan Halton, wearing a black jacket, a white shirt with bold black pinstripes, and a pale yellow tie, replies, “Michel, Jacques Duchesneau, the president of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, along with James Cherry, the president of Montreal Airport, essentially explained today what security measures are in place throughout Canada’s airports. They wanted to reassure the public, in the wake of media reports in the last couple of weeks that have exposed some serious gaps in security. You’ll recall, one reporter was able to walk around freely through restricted access areas. And custom agents themselves here said that they worry that the background checks just aren’t thorough, and these flaws could be exploited by organized crime. Now, Jacques Duchesneau said today, ‘Look, is the system perfect? No, but we’re very confident we do a very good job protecting the traveling public. We check 39 million passengers each year, 60 million bags, airport employees,’ And here’s what James Cherry, of the Montreal Airport had to say as well.”
James Cherry, Montreal Airport, explains, “There’s no such thing as a perfect system, and I’ve said this time and time again. People have asked me, am I satisfied with security here? You know, it’s actually a silly question –because you’re never satisfied. You can’t be satisfied because you always gotta be doing more. But are we satisfied that we’re doing everything that’s possible under the circumstances, to minimize the risks that we’re aware of? Yes, I think we are. And I think we’ll continue to do that –we’re gonna continue to improve. And we’re gonna continue to evolve.”
Michel asks, “So Dan, what makes them so confident they sealed up the breaches at the airport?”
Dan Halton replies, “Well, they recognize those mistakes, and they say they’re evaluating the security throughout Canada’s airports. But they’re confident in their system. They went through the entire system, all the organizations at work in assuring public safety. And one of the things they really highlighted was their employee I.D. cards. These are new access cards that are already are in place, that will be fully operational by the end of this year –that essentially have two features: One is a digital imprint scan. Therefore every employee will have his imprint on his card, to access these restricted areas, as well as a digital iris scan -their eye. This enables, according to Jacques Duchesneau and James Cherry, them to assure and monitor at all times, who, which employee is where at the airport –thus assuring safety in protecting the public throughout Canada’s airports. Michel?”
Michel closes, “Yeah, I know, it’ll surely put some travelers at ease. Dan Halton at Trudeau Airport tonight, thanks.” Dan replies, “Thank you.”
The second story, “Well, daycare programs at Quebec’s elementary schools are getting a failing grade. Quebec’s Conseil Supérieur de l’Éducation took a close look at lunch and afterschool programs, and they’ve come away with a strong recommendation: The programs need a major overhaul. Lysanne Louter has that story.”
Lysanne Louter begins, “It’s lunchtime at École la Mosaique in St-Hubert. This elementary school daycare program has 140 kids. Director Dominique Jouval launched the program 20 years ago. She’s seen it grow first hand. Across the province, 200,000 kids are enrolled in similar programs. And since the 1970’s school daycare services have grown considerably. That’s that the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation is really concerned about. They say, the quality of the services has a lot of catching up to do. “
Jean-Pierre Proulx, President, Conseil Supérieur de l’Éducation, explains, “One of the problems we have in the school daycare services is that the educators at work in this institution are not very well formed at school.”
Lysanne Louter reports, “The Council interviewed 8,000 school daycare workers across the province. Their report says that 47% of daycare workers have no high school diploma, 59% have no related training, and 1 out of 3 with diplomas, have ones that aren’t related to their jobs. That has Jouval concerned.”
Dominique Jouval explains, “We are in a school environment. It’s important that the people who work in a school environment can be trained and can complete their training. We are trained to help children to grow up and to get an education. We are not simply there to watch them play.”
Lysanne Louter informs, “The Council makes 25 recommendations. Among them, making a college diploma or university degree mandatory for new hires –and making the overall access to training easier. They also want daycares to play a larger role in educating students. Dominique Jouval says, her daycare is an example of how integration can work.”
Dominique Jouval explains, “We work closely with the teachers, with the teaching staff, with all kinds of trades people. Even the janitor is part of the daycare staff. We are really involved and that’s how it’s all about.”
Lysanne Louter, wearing a black jacket with a wide collard white shirt, closes, “CSN, the union that represents school daycare workers, is happy with the report. They say, they’ve always believed qualification should be higher. Lysanne Louter, CBC News, Montreal.”
The third story, “Well, police are stepping up the hunt for a home invader tonight. Officers from 3 police forces will work on a special task force to look for one man –the one they believe is responsible for 8 home invasions since May. Our Andrew Chang has more on that.”
Andrew Chang begins, “It’s become an obsession. Every morning, Robert Chalabi pours over the day’s headlines.”
Robert Chalabi, Home Invasion Victim, explains, “Because I want to see him arrested. And I will only be more calm when I know he is behind bars.”
Andrew Chang reports, “May 5th, Chalabi woke up to find a man in his bedroom waving a flashlight and a gun. It was the first of a string of 8 home invasion –all committed by the same man. Montreal police have since combined forces with the Surete du Quebec and the Laval police.”
André Durocher, Task Force Spokesperson, “What it allows us to do is to pull our resources together, and share the cost, share the expertise, share the manpower and the resources, in order to try to solve the crime.”
Andrew Chang informs, “It’s a task force dedicated entirely to catching this man. After months of failed leads, police decided only yesterday to release this surveillance footage of the suspect at an ATM machine –a black, stocky male who speaks English. They hope somebody will recognize the man –but the situation has become increasingly desperate.”
André Durocher, Task Force Spokesperson, continues, “And then as it went on, from the 3rd one we realized this person that was doing the home invasions was bound sooner or later to get more violent –and this is what effectively happened.”
Andrew Chang reports, “June 18th, the suspect’s first home invasion, was the first time he resorted to physical violence –he hit the victim over the head with his gun. July 17th, his 7th home invasion, he shot the victim twice –once in the arm, and the second time in the back. Then just 3 days later, the suspect broke into another house in Laval. There, he shot and killed the homeowner.”
André Durocher, Task Force Spokesperson adds, “So for sure, he’s probably gonna be active somewhere. I would doubt very much that he becomes an honest citizen tomorrow morning.”
Robert Chalabi, Home Invasion Victim, comments, “I think he’s letting things cool down, let time go, and then… this is an addiction –I don’t know he’s addicted to what.”
Andrew Chang reports, “Since Robert Chalabi’s home was broken into, he says his life will never be the same. When the doorbell rings, he arms the security system, he checks the peephole. And even then, an alarm panic button is always close by -and it will stay that way until the police catch their man. Andrew Chang, CBC News, Montreal.”
Michel adds, “And by the way, Sun Youth says, money from anonymous donors has been pouring in. The reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect for those home invasions started at $5,000 a few months ago, but now it shot up to $25,000.”
The fourth story, “Well, an update now on the Dawson shooting victims. One more has been released from hospital. Another victim remains in critical condition at The Montreal General, but this patient is stable. In all, 11 people were treated at The General. They have, well, 10 have now gone home –one is left in hospital.”
The fifth story, “Well, Quebec’s fight to get more money from Ottawa is stuck in a rut. Prime Minister Harper seems to be backing away from commitments over the fiscal imbalance –and that’s generating more talk about elections. Here’s Rosemary Barton.”
Rosemary Barton begins, “Very quickly, these two became fast friends –Jean Charest and Stephen Harper together. They said they could solve the so-called fiscal imbalance, and so, there were promises, and handshakes, and lots of smiles -until a possible change in plans. ‘I hope to have an agreement by this spring,’ says the Prime Minister. ‘But,’ he adds, ‘I’m ready to keep working past then too,’”
Rosemary Barton reports, “Wait a minute, that’s not the schedule Harper has long promised. In fact, he has always said fiscal imbalance will be dealt with this spring –in the next budget. So, a change in timetable, not a big deal –unless of course, you’re the Premier. Mr. Harper has always said there will be results in the 2007 budget, insists Charest. But asked if he has a guarantee to that effect, Charest says simply, no. Enter the opposition: André Boisclair says the Premier is vague, on how much money he wants and when he wants it.”
André Boisclair, Opposition Leader, comments, “I feel that Mr. Charest is not following a right strategy. Mr. Charest is opening himself some doors for