My Favourite Summer "Reality TV"

Guess I'll be watching this every day for the next 3 weeks, it's addictive (especially to one who watches/does triathlons - I wish I could ride that well).

NAMI StigmaBusters Alert - Tom Cruise again

As sent to me by my dad, the organization NAMI in part tries to fight stigmatization of mental illness, and sends out e-mail alerts to members/supporters about items in the popular media that are inaccurate and/or even hurtful to those with mental illness. This is the most recent alert :

"Along with the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and National Mental Health Association (NMHA), NAMI condemned Cruise's remarks in a formal statement released to the news media. He is entitled to his personal point of view, but not false facts -- particularly when they perpetuate stigma around the nature of mental illness and treatment."

Why I'm a Star Wars fan, part 1...

USATODAY.com - 'Star Wars' heroes slay stereotypes

girls worldwide say

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has a new tagline, "girls worldwide say":

"The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has a new image. With 10 million members around the world, we are the global voice for girls and young women. We are the leading organization helping millions of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to discover their potential. Our new image is strong, modern and inspirational. Together Girl Guides and Girl Scouts can grow the Movement and build a better world."

No Time - an interesting book

Here is an article from the Edmonton Journal (originally from the Ottawa Citizen) about a book that I recently read, No Time: Stress and the Crisis of Modern Life, by Heather Menzies, a professor at Carleton University. This article focusses mostly on the aspect of how technology has affected our lives. I found this book to be very interesting, because it had relevance both to my work, and also to my volunteer experience in Guiding. I hope that in the next week or so I will be able to post a mini-book-review here of my thoughts about this book (but for now, here's the article).

Another interesting book I've read was Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell - again, there were sections that I found very relevant to Guiding and to medicine, so I hope soon to post some of my observations here.

Updating is completed ...

I just finished going through the blog to update (mainly removing/replacing dead links, also renaming it to reflect the new broader focus - not just Guiding anymore). So, from now on I plan to use this blog more creatively (and regularly), I hope.

Recent Event photos

Both my husband and I were busy lately with a few interesting events - I did the Coronation Triathlon on May 29, and he did the Bell City Chase in both Edmonton and Calgary. You can see some photos here.

War of Words - Brooke Shields vs. Tom Cruise

Thanks to Brooke Shields for speaking out in the New York Times against Cruise's recent comments about depression and psychiatry. What might work for Tom doesn't necessarily work for everyone, and I think it's highly irresponsible (and frankly stupid) for him to use his influence to potentially harm people by discouraging them to get help for their mental health problems.

(saved article when above link becomes outdated)

Young MDs make call (against Family Medicine)

This is a good column from the Ottawa Sun about why medical students aren't choosing Family Medicine:

"In the end, the decision to stay away from family medicine was heavily influenced by this: After eight years of university and a debt load of more than $100,000, students just don't see family practice, and all the problems that come with it, as a good return on their investment."

A New Focus?

So far, I've posted only articles that I've found on the internet that pertain to Guiding. I haven't actually gone to the extent of publicizing this blog, but I may do that - I'm also thinking about posting some reviews of books that I've read, in terms of how they relate to my experience in Guiding. Of course, this all depends on having time to do these things ... but I'm more interested in maintaining a site or blog with ideas rather than simply updating the links on my other sites.

Junior Leader Dies in Rafting Incident in BC

This article, as well as this website, give more information about this sad occurrence.
"Alison, a junior Girl Guides leader and Grade 12 student at Howe Sound Secondary, was one of nine people on a raft that hit a rock and flipped in the Devil's Elbow rapids. She died at the scene." (from Canada.com article)

Article about the history of Girl Scouts

This article is from the Wakefield Observer in New England.

(no longer available in July 2005)

Brownie Waiting Lists, part 2

Another article from the UK about putting newborn girls on waiting lists for Brownies.

"LITTLE Ailisha Ryan was born to join the Girl Guides – like many other new babies in Oldham, no sooner had she arrived in the world than her name was put on a waiting list."

(saved article)

Brownies 'registered at birth'

According to this article from the BBC, Girlguiding UK has become so popular that parents are putting their daughters on waiting lists to join at birth!

(saved article)

Ontario Link Event in Thunder Bay

Here's an article from the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal about the recent provincial Link Event. (no longer available by July 2005)