I just signed up to be a Bone Marrow donor. Will you?

You should, you might never have to actually donate your bone marrow stem cells, but then again, you might be the only person in the whole world with the perfect match.

You can join the “OneMatch” program online at Canadian Blood Services. If you agree to sign up and get through the questionnaire (which, if you’ve ever donated blood, is very similar) then all you will need to do is go in to have a swab of your cheek taken at a Hospital or Clinic. Your information will kept on file, anonymously and compared with patients needing a donor. All the information is on the site.

It’s so easy to be a member, and even though actually donating marrow is more involved then just giving blood, it is also that much more rare and precious.

You must be between 18 and 50 (17-50 in Quebec).

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And no good way of saying it.

I have all these ideas for blog posts bouncing around in my head. But until one of them sort of percolates to the surface or something, I just can’t spit one out. Maybe I just need time to get it all sorted out in my head. Or maybe it’s just that I don’t want to rehash the same old thing.

So instead of politics or peak oil or climate change, today I’ll talk about how I’m so proud of my wife for finishing her schooling and becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse. Today is her first “Monday” of her new career. She’ll be working the evening shift until 11PM so I likely won’t see her until Wednesday. But I just wanted to say to her, because I know she’ll read this… hunney, we’re on our way… I’m so proud of you, it was a long journey and there are still hard days ahead, but you’re going to do great and we’re going to be just fine.

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7:39:09 PM: That was one of the greatest periods of hockey I’ve seen for awhile wow

7:46:28 PM: That was 20 minutes of hockey 30 minutes… Incredible flow

7:54:31 PM: Hey how come the CBC iDesk is 3 floors below HNIC.. It’s iDiscrimination!

7:57:12 PM: A NASCAR feel? No. Wouldnt they only be able to skate left?

7:57:48 PM: Oh bieksa!

7:59:10 PM: Go Canucks!!

8:00:55 PM: All the play is in the Blues zone.. Gotta get something by Mason!!

8:01:26 PM: Now I say that and the Canucks take a Penalty

8:02:09 PM: Looooooo

8:04:33 PM: I am in awe these guys jump and fly from end to end with people draped over them and I can hardly skate

8:05:32 PM: Post Edited: Live Blog St. Louis Blues vs. Vancouver Canucks (#url#) http://cli.gs/aDgPtu

8:09:11 PM: We need more from Sundin!

8:11:11 PM: Bernier getting more ice time then Burrows it seems because of the PK

8:12:36 PM: oooo… naughty words boys… no dumb penalties!

8:13:41 PM: Referees doing an excellent job tonight

8:14:09 PM: Except for that penalty to O’Brien… wow.

8:16:53 PM: WHAT A SAVE BY LUONGO!

8:18:27 PM: Wat action by the Canucks!

8:18:42 PM: Go Canucks Go! Go Canucks Go!

8:19:08 PM: Oh my god what a chance

8:19:59 PM: So many chances… something will go in soon! Keep it up boys!

8:21:03 PM: The Ref was waving his arms so fast he almost lifted off the ice!

8:24:07 PM: Oh, too many men for St. Louis, OK. time to take advantage. That one is the coaches fault… bad move Andy.

8:27:36 PM: It’s a Henrik Close-up!

8:28:07 PM: Amazing… almost the 3rd period… incredible action.. incredible goalies!

8:30:58 PM: I wonder if there is a keyboard anymore for that organ stuff or is it just a recording… i remember the organ in the Pacific Colosseum

8:31:18 PM: Ooohh, the Blues hit the Post!

8:32:33 PM: i was at a game with my Dad… Edmonton vs. Vancouver… Wayne Gretzky… and all i remember is the organ and a lady with a Cow Bell

8:33:01 PM: OOOOOhhhhhhh sqqeeeeeaked through the pads!!

8:33:09 PM: YAAAA CANUCKS!

8:33:12 PM: YAAA SUNDIN!

8:35:22 PM: Wow listen to the Crowd… last Canucks game I was at was Game 7 1st Round, St Louis vs. Canucks in 2003…. best game I’ve ever seen

8:35:34 PM: This crowd sounds just as into it if not more.

8:36:32 PM: Again… what a period…

8:38:49 PM: I wonder if you’re still allowed to bring in Cow Bells… god they’re loud when you’re sitting beside them!

8:47:12 PM: @DaArNmCyE I think the Devils will take care of Carolina… lol… I’m still a TwitterNoob… DM’ed you instead of replied…

8:51:17 PM: @DaArNmCyE hahah. Ya I just found an awesome twittering app for the iPhone (Twitterific) it makes way more sense than this website! lol

8:51:46 PM: OMG, the CBC HNIC boys are gettin’ loopy back East

8:52:27 PM: PJ is crowing about his lack of facial hair and Ron is telling everyone to keep their hands above the desk! lol. Love these guys…

8:53:38 PM: @DaArNmCyE Carolina is a good team and could pull it off… but I think Brodeur is just too good and the Carolina too inexperienced

8:54:30 PM: Whoa! I nearly missed that chance like 4 seconds in!

8:57:30 PM: OH my goodness what a mess in front of the Blues net… I haven’t seen the Canucks work like this… every line… wow.

8:58:46 PM: @DaArNmCyE ya they need Brodeur to go far, just like the Canucks need Luongo. Though i think maybe the Canucks have a little more offense..

8:59:57 PM: How is that not icing!? So how many bets by the end of this series one of the Sedings get in a fight!?

9:01:05 PM: Man, that’s a nasty shiner on Sundin.

9:02:51 PM: @DaArNmCyE it’s a darn shame, the Western and Eastern Conference teams just don’t see enough of each… I’ve barely seen Parise play.

9:04:24 PM: God, imagine Sundin with 2 goals… the sports shows will be just going nuts and the rabid Canucks fans will be talking Stanley Cup

9:04:35 PM: ooohh… Alex… bad boy bad time!

9:05:28 PM: @DaArNmCyE lol. don’t worry, I just figured out that I have to press the faint little “Follow” button in order to actually follow someone!

9:05:52 PM: @DaArNmCyE now I have a few people to “follow” apparently lol.

9:08:11 PM: Oh the tension on the PK… GREAT SAVE!

9:08:41 PM: @DaArNmCyE lol

9:10:03 PM: come on boys get it out!

9:10:56 PM: YYYAAAAAAAAAA (that’s one for my pool too!)

9:12:30 PM: OH man GM Place is Hopping!

9:14:45 PM: @DaArNmCyE Ha! seeya!

9:15:59 PM: I don’t care if Luongo says he doesn’t believe in Superstitions… I’m not uttering the “S” word!

9:18:05 PM: lol. I just realised I’ve been watching the game in “SD” all night… it’s been such a great game I didn’t notice!!

9:18:52 PM: Oh it looks good in HD. They need to boost that Centre channel audio though! Off the bar again for the Blues!

9:20:31 PM: LOOOOOOOOO

9:21:19 PM: Oh Daniel, tried for the Mark Messier goal scorers goal… done it before… do it again!

9:24:53 PM: You know the crowd is into it when they all sing “Livin’ on a Prayer”… that, or they’re all drunk.

9:26:05 PM: Wow, what a shot by Polak

9:26:19 PM: But what a Save by Loo!! And another!

9:26:52 PM: @SusanJones haha… no problem!

9:30:13 PM: Great PK so far boys, keep it up!

9:31:18 PM: Towel POWEEERRRRR

9:32:27 PM: I love seeing Dads and their boys sitting behind the bench. Lucky Kids!! And Dads!

9:33:54 PM: Empty Netter! Ya Henrik!

9:35:13 PM: darn it… Burrows didn’t get an Assist… call it back! I need more for my Pool!

9:36:10 PM: Uhoh gonna get ugly now!

9:38:28 PM: Andy Murray is hot!

9:39:47 PM: Wow
great end to a great game… and LOooooouongo with the Shutout!

9:40:33 PM: Canucks gotta be careful, one of them came from near the bench into the scrum… if he came off the bench, could be grounds for suspension

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EWG FoodNews just found a very handy document (PDF download here)… it’s a list of the 12 worst, and 15 best, fruits when it comes to pesticides:

What’s the Difference?
EWG research has found that people who eat the 12 most contami-
nated fruits and vegetables consume an average of 10 pesticides a
day. Those who eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally-grown
fruits and vegetables ingest fewer than 2 pesticides daily. The Guide
helps consumers make informed choices to lower their dietary
pesticide load.
Will Washing and Peeling Help?
Nearly all the studies used to create these lists assume that people
rinse or peel fresh produce. Rinsing reduces but does not eliminate

The Worst
Peach
Apple
Bell Pepper
Celery
Nectarine
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Grapes (Imported)
Carrot
Pear

The Best
Onion
Avocado
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli
Tomato
Sweet Potato

So now you know… and now can you find that stuff locally… *and* without pesticides!? Might be a fun challenge

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Back in February there was much consternation and gnashing of teeth that somehow Canada was getting short shrift when Obama only visited Canada for 6 hours. The National Post was practically weeping at the thought of Obama not even leaving the customs area of Ottawa Airport.

Well, rest assured fellow hosers, by the same measure, the US cares about Iraq even less than us. He spent a measly 4 hours in Baghdad, and no, he didn’t even leave the Airport.

This is of course meant all in jest. Obama will do what Obama feels it is right to do and frankly I don’t think it matters one iota how much time he spends in one place vs. another. That said, honestly, if I was the Iraqi President or PM, I would be a *little* miffed at the missed opportunity for a photo-op… but really… they couldn’t get to the Airport within 4 hours?

Given the choice which would you leave, Baghdad or Ottawa International?

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