Honouring Vivian Jung: A Hidden Hero of Vancouver’s History

Every May, Asian Heritage Month brings a burst of celebrations across Canada — festivals, talks, performances, and community gatherings that honour the depth and diversity of pan‑Asian histories. I was born in Vancouver, yet it wasn’t until about five years ago that I first learned about the remarkable Vivian Jung.

Tecumseh Elementary School in East Vancouver held a special project celebrating Jung’s legacy. She taught at Tecumseh for 35 years. It was an opportunity not only to honour her achievements as the first Chinese Canadian teacher hired by the Vancouver School Board in 1950, but also to recognize her courageous role in challenging racial segregation at a local public pool — a chapter of our city’s history that far too few people know.

A 1941 Vancouver Sun clipping shows the stark reality of that era: public pool rules that explicitly segregated swimmers by race. While many of us are familiar with Jim Crow laws in the United States, fewer realize that British Columbia had its own mix of formal and informal segregation. It appeared in public pools, movie theatres, restaurants, hospitals, workplaces, and even in attempts to segregate schools. Social change didn’t arrive overnight — it came because ordinary people, including Jung, refused to accept discrimination as the status quo.

Born in Merritt, B.C., Jung faced barrier after barrier in her pursuit of becoming a teacher. In a 2012 interview with educator Bill Barazzuol, she spoke about her father arriving in Canada at just 16 years old to work on the railroad — a reminder of the sacrifices and resilience that shaped so many early Chinese Canadian families. Jung carried that resilience forward, using her voice and her presence to open doors for those who would follow.

Her story is a powerful reminder that history isn’t only made by headline figures. Sometimes it’s shaped by quiet courage — by people who simply insist on fairness, dignity, and the right to belong.

She passed away on March 30, 2014 at the age of 89.

Alaska Then and Now: Reflections From 40 Years on the Inside Passage

 

Two ships docked in Skagway in 1990

When I first sailed to Alaska in 1986, the journey felt like stepping into a private world. The ships were small — real small — and they travelled the true Inside Passage. We slipped north between Vancouver Island and the mainland. All the way up the coast, we saw islands on either side of the ship all the way to Juneau. We were sheltered by the islands, gliding through calm water that felt like a hidden marine highway known only to a lucky few.

Those early voyages were quiet, personal, and deeply connected to the coastline. You didn’t just see Alaska — you felt it. The ship hugged the shore, weaving through narrow channels where you could watch eagles perched on driftwood and fishing boats heading home at dusk. It was the kind of travel that made you slow down and breathe.

The Golden Age of Cruising — At Least, That’s How It Felt

Cruising in the 1980s had its own charm. There were no specialty restaurants charging US $60 per person. The dining room was the heart of the ship, and the food — well, it was genuinely excellent. Every meal felt like an occasion.

And people dressed for dinner. Formal night meant long gowns, sparkling jewellery, and men in tuxedos. The ship would hum with that special kind of excitement that comes from everyone putting in the effort. It wasn’t about being fancy — it was about honouring the moment.

Fast Forward to Today: The Era of the Mega Ship

Now Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world. Mega ships carry thousands of passengers, and the Inside Passage has become a highway of its own. Princess has 50% of their fleet in Alaska, sailing from San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver. Prices this year have jumped sharply — partly because so many sailings are sold out. Alaska isn’t a hidden gem anymore; it’s a global favourite.

Today’s ships are floating resorts: • Dozens of restaurants • Broadway‑style shows • Go‑kart tracks, zip lines, and multi‑storey atriums • Specialty dining that can cost more than a nice dinner out at home

It’s impressive, no question. But it’s different.

What Hasn’t Changed

Alaska still has a way of getting under your skin. The glaciers still crack like thunder. The whales still rise out of the water like they’re greeting you. The air still smells like cedar and salt and something ancient.

Whether you’re on a 200‑passenger ship or a 5,000‑passenger one, Alaska remains Alaska — wild, humbling, and unforgettable.

What I’ve Learned After Four Decades

Travel changes. Ships change. Trends come and go. But the magic of Alaska endures.

If anything, having seen both eras — the quiet, intimate Inside Passage of the 1980s and the bustling, high‑demand Alaska of today — makes me appreciate the journey even more. I’ve watched Alaska cruising grow from a niche adventure to a worldwide phenomenon, and I feel lucky to have experienced it from the beginning.

And every time I sail north, I’m reminded of that first trip in 1986, when the ship was small, the water was calm, and Alaska felt like a secret whispered just to me.

Azamara Pursuit

Yesterday I received an invitation to tour the Azamara Pursuit.  She was berthed at Canada Place and on it's way to Alaska.  Azamara is a high-end, upscale boutique cruise line.  It bridges the gap between premium lines like Celebrity and ultra-luxury brands like Seabourn or Silversea.  Azamara has four ships that carry no more than 702 passengers.  They are small and elegant.

This is the view from the aft of the ship.  The Disney Wonder was boarding yesterday also was the Oceania Riviera.  Canada Place was handling all the passengers well.  We didn't see any long lines.  They are now doing staggered boarding so everyone doesn't show up at 10:30.

An Oceanview Cabin

A Balcony Cabin

The nicest suite is a Spa Suite!

Bathroom with jacuzzi on the patio

A huge bedroom in a Bordeau Suite with plenty of cupboards, a sliding glass door to the balcony and another gorgeous bathroom.

One of the many bars

Dining Room

The Buffet.  I've never been on a ship with wine and water glasses on the buffet tables!

Your base cruise fare with Azamara includes:

• Beverages: Select spirits, international beers, and wines, plus bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees, and teas throughout the ship.
• Gratuities: Standard onboard gratuities for housekeeping, dining, and bar staff.
• Dining: All meals in the main dining room (Discoveries Restaurant), buffet (Windows Cafe), and daytime casual snacks.
• AzAmazing Evenings: One signature, immersive evening shore event per voyage (excluding Transatlantic/Transpacific sailings).
• Practical Perks: Self-service laundry, and shuttle service to and from port communities (where available). 

I was really impressed with this cruise line.  They were formerly owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.  In 2021 they were aquired by a New York Equity Fund.  They have more time in ports than any other cruise lines.  They also offer many overnight stays in ports.  This is a way to really see cities.  There is no casino but a lot of enrichment talks and a gorgeous library.  

Tipping

 This is an interesting view  I don't agree with it, but he does make his point.

My daughter worked for the IHOP through high school and university.  In those days people left cash on the table.  The waitress picked up the cash tip and they shared the tip with the kitchen staff, hostess and kept the rest.  

Now when you tip from your credit card, you don't know if the waitress is actually receiving the tip or if the employer is using the cash for payroll.  I liked the way it was.  I ordered food on the app, went to the store and picked it up and a tip came up when I checked out.  I wish they would include the tips in the price.  That way people would get a proper wage and wouldn't be reliant on their tips.  

When the service is excellent, I give the waitress a cash tip.  

I've been waiting and watching and it finally happened!

In the 1960's when I bought my first car, my dad told me, "buy new, keep it for 50,000 miles and then get another one".  I did that for many years.  My husband bought a Honda Pilot and I still had my Honda Civic.  Once I drove the Pilot I never wanted to drive the Civic.  The vision in the Pilot was great and it was so comfortable.  The Civic sat in the driveway for a few months and my neighbour asked if I would like to sell it.  A lady he worked with had a Civic and it was giving her problems.  She came to my house in a very old Civic and told me it had 400,000 miles on it!   She bought my Civic.

My friend Donna had a Honda Pilot but one year older than ours.  They sold theirs at 220,000 KMS!  I decided I would keep ours until it started to give us trouble.  We've only replaced the battery, tires and the timing belt.  We always get our servicing done at the Honda dealership.  We know they charge us more, but we also know their mechanics are qualified.

This happened yesterday as I was driving into my garage:

🤞🤞🤞

When a ship has problems.....

I was on a ship that lost power in port.  We returned from a visiting a port and all the people with walkers and wheel chairs were sitting near the entrance.  They told us to use the stairs as the elevators were not working.  It wasn't until we got onto another floor, we saw all power was lost.  We parked ourselves in a lounge and talked to other passengers.  No problem, it happens.  We were only without power for about 20 minutes but they said later the power was off for two hours.  Good thing we enjoyed our port day.  It was before sail away and the rest of the cruise was perfect.

Imagine waking up on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean… to find the lights off, the air conditioning silent, and the ship completely drifting in the open sea.

That's exactly what happened to 3,140 guests aboard Caribbean Princess on the early morning of June 5, 2026. The ship lost ALL main power TWICE in the Caribbean heat — and the situation drew immediate comparisons to Carnival's infamous 2013 "Poop Cruise."

Here's exactly what happened:

🔹 Date: Early morning of June 5, 2026

🔹 Location: Caribbean Sea, en route from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Port Canaveral, Florida

🔹 Ship: Caribbean Princess (3,142 max passengers, 23 years old, 112,894 gross tons)

🔹 Power outages: TWO complete blackouts, separated by about 15 minutes

🔹 Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes of disrupted power

🔹 Impact: Loss of propulsion, air conditioning, lighting, and most onboard systems

🔹 Speed: Ship limped along at just 2 knots during the crisis

What the passengers experienced:

🔹 Total darkness in the early morning hours

🔹 No air conditioning in sweltering Caribbean heat

🔹 Sudden silence as engines went dark

🔹 The ship literally drifting in open water for a period

🔹 One passenger sitting on their balcony described the ship suddenly going quiet

🔹 Another said: "Just floating around again and the ship is going to hit some winds on the starboard side"

🔹 Family members on land briefly connected with worried passengers

How the crew handled the situation:

🔹 Captain immediately addressed passengers over the public address system

🔹 Engineers worked around the clock to restore power

🔹 First outage was resolved within about 15 minutes

🔹 A second total blackout occurred shortly after

🔹 Full power was restored after the extended outage

🔹 The captain still made it to a pre-scheduled "Coffee with the Captain" Q&A

🔹 One Reddit commenter praised the captain's communication: "He made it to the scheduled Coffee with the Captain Q&A and answered questions in a way everyone could understand. Well done."

Why this draws comparisons to the 2013 Carnival "Poop Cruise":

🔹 The Carnival Triumph incident in 2013 left 4,200 passengers without working bathrooms for days

🔹 Power outages create the worst possible conditions for cruise ship operations

🔹 No AC + no working systems + tropical heat = a quickly deteriorating situation

🔹 Caribbean Princess passengers were extremely lucky power was restored quickly

🔹 If the outage had lasted longer, sanitation, food preservation, and safety could have all been affected

The good news for Caribbean Princess passengers:

🔹 Power was fully restored after about 1 hour 15 minutes

🔹 The visit to San Juan on June 4 was the final port stop — no further ports to miss

🔹 The ship continued to Port Canaveral with no further issues

🔹 Disembarkation on June 7 happened on schedule

🔹 The next embarkation day (June 7) was NOT impacted

🔹 No one was injured

What this incident reveals about the cruise industry:

🔹 Even 20+ year old cruise ships can experience major system failures

🔹 Modern cruise ships are remarkably complex floating cities

🔹 Power redundancy is built in, but rare cascading failures CAN happen

🔹 Crew training for emergency situations is generally excellent

🔹 Most cruise ship incidents are resolved much faster than headlines suggest

🔹 Communication during incidents is critical — and Caribbean Princess's captain did this well

Lessons for cruisers:

🔹 Bring a small battery-powered fan in your luggage (just in case)

🔹 Have a flashlight or headlamp accessible in your cabin

🔹 Keep cell phones charged in case of an emergency

🔹 Know where the emergency stairwells are

🔹 Pack basic supplies — water bottles, snacks — that could last hours if needed

🔹 Travel insurance with trip interruption coverage is always smart

The reality is that most major cruise lines have outstanding safety records. Caribbean Princess has been sailing for over two decades without major incidents. The June 5 power outage was unusual, scary for those onboard, but resolved without injury or extended disruption.

Still, the incident is a sobering reminder that being out at sea on a giant ship means relying entirely on that ship's systems working. When they don't, even briefly, the consequences can be very real.

Our former Steveston neighbours were on a cruise from Tahiti to Hawaii and lost the air conditioning.  Everyone slept on the deck.  She said the crew were wonderful.  They didn't get air conditioning for most of their cruise.  They got 100% future cruise credit for their inconvenience. 

Robert Bateman

Cec and I went to Victoria in May 2013 to see the new Robert Bateman Gallery.  To our surprise, he was there.  We purchased his book, which he autographed and let us take a picture with him.  We've always loved his art work.  He's a very talented Canadian.

Robert Bateman is one of Canada’s most extraordinary wildlife painters. He also happens to live in Saanich-Gulf Islands!  He recently celebrated his 96th birthday and still paints daily.

Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich Gulf Islands presented a petition calling on the government to speak with the National Gallery and encourage them to showcase the lifetime work of Robert Bateman.

The mandate of the National Gallery is to showcase artists who contribute significantly to Canadian culture and identity. Mr. Bateman’s work meets this standard in every way, yet it has never been exhibited at the National Gallery.

If you want to see his work in the National Gallery, please sign this petition:

https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-7456

Robert Bateman Honours and awards

• Life Member, Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
• Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, 1977
• Officer of the Order of Canada, 1984
• Member of Honour Award, World Wildlife Fund, 1985 (presented by the Prince Philip)
• Society of Animal Artists Award of Excellence 1979, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1990, 2008; Lifetime Achievement 2010
• Lescarbot Award presented by the Canadian Government, 1992
• Rachel Carson Award presented by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Washington D.C., 1996
• Order of British Columbia, 2001
• Rungius Medal presented by the National Museum of Wildlife Art, 2001
• Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, 2002
• Roland Michener Conservation Award presented by the Canadian Wildlife Federation, 2003
• Ideas for Life Award, Canadian Environment Awards, 2006
• Human Rights Defender Award presented by Amnesty International, 2007
• Niagara Escarpment Lifetime Achievement Award, 2009
• Royal Canadian Geographical Society Gold Medal, 2013

Legends

 

I rarely watch thriller movies or series. They’re usually too dark, too frantic, or simply not my style. But every now and then, something keeps popping up in reviews, in conversations, in those little corners of the internet where people whisper, “You have to watch this.” That’s exactly how I ended up pressing play on Legends — and I’m so glad I did.

Legends is a British crime‑thriller series written and created by Neil Forsyth and produced by his Tannadice Pictures company. What sets it apart is that it isn’t just another fictional drama about undercover agents. It’s a dramatization of a true story — one that unfolded quietly behind the scenes in the early 1990s, when Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise was losing its battle against drug smuggling across Britain’s borders.

Faced with a crisis, a small, hand‑picked team of customs employees was given new identities and sent deep undercover to infiltrate some of the most dangerous drug gangs operating in the country. No glamour. No Hollywood gloss. Just ordinary people stepping into extraordinary danger because someone had to.

The cast is exceptional: Steve Coogan, Tom Burke, Hayley Squires, and Aml Ameen bring a grounded, human realism to the story. Their performances make you feel the tension, the fear, the moral weight, and the strange loneliness of living a life that isn’t yours.

And here’s the part that surprised me most: It was one of the best series I’ve seen in a long time.

The writing is sharp, the pacing is tight, and the story never drifts into sensationalism. Instead, it honours the real people who took enormous risks to protect their country — people most of us have never heard of.

For someone like me, who rarely dips into thrillers, Legends was a reminder that sometimes stepping outside your usual viewing habits leads you straight to something remarkable. If you’re looking for a series that’s gripping, intelligent, and rooted in true events, this one is absolutely worth your time.

A wonderful lunch with high school friends

Yesterday was one of those simple, good-for-the-soul days. Cec and I headed over to Victoria with my friend Donna for a long‑overdue visit with Janice and Jim. The four of us—Donna, Janice, Jim, and I—went to school together many years ago, and no matter how much time passes, there’s something comforting about slipping back into those old friendships. Seeing them again felt like opening a window to a familiar breeze.

Our day started at Tsawwassen, boarding the ferry for the beautiful crossing to Swartz Bay. No matter how many times I take that route, the scenery never gets old—the islands, the light on the water, the quiet hum of the ship. From Swartz Bay, we hopped onto the 72 Double Decker bus, riding like tourists and enjoying the view all the way into Sidney.

It was just a day trip, but it carried that lovely feeling of reconnecting—with friends, with memories, and with the easy rhythm of Vancouver Island life. Sometimes the best days are the ones that unfold simply: a ferry ride, a bus ride, and a table shared with people who knew you when you were young.

We walked the waterfront to Jack's on the Water.

Lunch with old friends always feels like slipping into a favourite sweater—comfortable, familiar, and full of good memories. The five of us settled in and ordered a mix of dishes that turned out to be as delightful as the company. Janice, Jim, and Cec all chose the halibut fish and chips, perfectly golden and crisp. Donna went for the fish tacos, and I had the salmon, which was cooked beautifully. Every entrée was excellent, and the service matched it—friendly, attentive, and relaxed, just the way a long lunch with friends should be.

After we finished catching up over our plates, Jim kindly drove us back to the ferry terminal. The sailing home was wonderfully calm, the kind of smooth crossing that lets you just sit back and enjoy the view. We didn’t spot any whales this time, but I did see a fish leap out of the water—a tiny moment, but it made me smile. Two elegant sailboats glided past as well, their white sails bright against the blue. It was the perfect quiet ending to a day filled with connection and nostalgia.

Some days don’t need anything extraordinary to make them special. Good friends, good food, and a peaceful trip home can be more than enough.

Prince Edward Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Edward turned down a dukedom on his wedding day — and then waited twenty-four years to receive the one he actually wanted.  When he married in 1999, the convention was clear: sons of the monarch become dukes upon marriage.  His brothers had become Duke of York and (later) Duke of Cambridge would follow for William.  Edward instead took the lesser rank of earl, choosing a territorial name reportedly inspired by a character in the film "Shakespeare in Love."

Behind the modest choice sat a remarkable promise.  Buckingham Palace announced that he would eventually be granted the Duke of Edinburgh title — his father's — but only after Prince Philip's death and only when the title reverted to the Crown. It was, in effect, an inheritance announced decades in advance, dependent on the decisions of a future monarch who was not yet on the throne.

Philip died in 2021.  The title passed first, by law, to Charles as his eldest son.  When Charles became King in 2022, the question became live: would he honour a promise made by his mother a quarter of a century earlier?

On March 10, 2023 — Edward's 59th birthday — the answer came.  The King conferred the dukedom on his youngest brother, for Edward's lifetime only. Sophie became Duchess of Edinburgh.

The man who took the smallest title in 1999 now carries the one most closely associated with his father, awarded as a birthday present by his brother.  Patience, in this family, is occasionally rewarded — it just takes a generation.

From Liquid Paper to MTV!

A divorced single mom got fired from her bank secretary job in 1958.  Twenty-one years later she sold her side hustle for $47.5 million — and her teenage helper went on to invent MTV.

Her name was Bette Nesmith Graham.

Born in Dallas in 1924, Bette was a high school dropout. She married a soldier named Warren Nesmith at 19, gave birth to a son named Michael in 1942, and watched her marriage collapse when her husband came back from World War II.  By 1946 she was a 22-year-old single mother with no diploma, no career, and no plan.

She earned her GED in night school.  She took a typing job.  By 1951, she was the executive secretary to the chairman of the board of the Texas Bank and Trust in Dallas, earning about $300 a month.  She was good at her job.  She was also a terrible typist.

The Texas Bank had just installed brand new IBM electric typewriters.  The keys were sensitive.  Carbon-film ribbons left ink that could not be erased cleanly. A single typo could mean retyping an entire page from scratch.  Her son Michael later remembered watching his mother sit at the kitchen table in the evenings, trying to fix mistakes, sometimes bursting into "tears of panic" over the fear of being fired.

Bette had one side hustle that saved her: she earned extra money painting holiday window displays at the bank.

One day, watching herself paint over a mistake on a window — calmly, with a little brush, no eraser needed — she had a thought.

"An artist never corrects by erasing," she said later.  "They paint over the error."

That night she went to the public library, looked up a recipe for tempera paint, and went home to her kitchen blender.  She mixed up a thin white liquid. She poured it into an empty nail polish bottle.  She tinted it to match her bank's stationery.  She brought it to work the next morning with a small watercolor brush.

When she made a typo, she dabbed a little white paint over it, let it dry, and typed right over the spot.

Her boss never noticed.  For five years.

But her fellow secretaries did.  They asked her for some.  Then their friends asked.  Then strangers from other offices started showing up.  By 1956 she was making batches in her kitchen and selling them out of nail polish bottles.  She called it Mistake Out.  Her son Michael — by then 14 years old — and his friends filled the bottles in the garage for a dollar an hour.

In 1958, she got fired.

She had absent-mindedly typed her own company's name — Mistake Out Co. — onto a letter for her boss.  He sent her packing.

It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to her.

She renamed the product Liquid Paper, patented it, and devoted herself to it full time.  A 1958 mention in a trade magazine called The Office brought in 500 inquiries from across the country.  General Electric placed an order for 400 bottles in three colors — four times her entire monthly production.  By 1968 she was selling a million bottles a year. By the mid-1970s, 25 million bottles a year.

She built her headquarters in Dallas and ran it the way she wished her old bosses had run things.  The Liquid Paper Corporation had an on-site library.  An on-site child care center for her employees' kids.  She filled management with women.  She integrated her staff. She hired employees with disabilities, including blind workers and wheelchair users.  She drew her org chart as a circle, not a pyramid.  She paid for 75% of any employee's continuing education.  She let employee committees vote on company decisions.

It was the late 1970s. Most of corporate America was decades behind her.

Then in 1975, her second husband, Robert Graham — whom she had married in 1962 and brought into the business — divorced her and tried to push her out of her own company.  He changed her formula.  He cut off her royalties.  Bette, sick and exhausted, fought back and held onto a 49% stake.

In 1979, with her health failing, Bette sold Liquid Paper to Gillette for $47.5 million in stock — about $173 million in today's money — plus a royalty on every single bottle sold for the next twenty years.

Six months later, on May 12, 1980, she had a stroke and died.  She was 56 years old.

Half of her fortune went to two foundations she had built to support women in business and women in the arts.  The other half went to her son.

That son had spent his teenage years filling Liquid Paper bottles in her garage.  By the time of his mother's death, he was already famous — but for something else entirely. His name was Michael Nesmith.  He was the wool-cap-wearing guitarist of The Monkees, one of the biggest pop groups of the 1960s.

What happened next is the part nobody tells.

Michael took his Liquid Paper royalties and used them to fund a small experimental TV show he had dreamed up — a show that played short promotional films set to popular songs.  He called it PopClips.  It aired in 1980 and 1981 on a cable network called Nickelodeon.

PopClips was the direct prototype for MTV, which launched in August 1981.  Industry historians credit Michael Nesmith's work with helping invent the modern music video format that would transform pop music for the next thirty years.

So the next time you see an old Liquid Paper bottle in a desk drawer, remember:

A divorced single mother who got fired from her secretary job for being a bad typist invented a kitchen-blender solution, built one of the most progressive workplaces in 1970s America, sold her company for nearly fifty million dollars — and her son used the money to help invent MTV.

Bette Graham proved something her old boss had failed to notice for five years.

The mistakes weren't the problem. They were the opportunity.

.

FIFA Vancouver 2026

 

The 2026 FIFA games in Vancouver have started.  The first game was last night.  We heard downtown was very busy but we never went near it.  I loved seeing all the Australians who flew to Vancouver to watch their team they call the Socceroos!  There are also a lot of Turkiye fans.

Let's hope there is no problems and all the fans have a great time.  

There are watch parties for those who didn't get tickets in many areas around Vancouver.  We went to a pub for dinner and it was busy!  It's great for all the restaurants and bars!

The Dollar Store

I know three Dollar Stores near me have been closed because of a rat infestations!  Someone put on Facebook, "when you go to the Dollar Store, look at the bread, if it has been chewed on, don't buy it!"  That kept me away for months!  I've never bought any food at the Dollar Store!   I knew about electronics and safety concerns but the other items are interesting.  I usually just purchase stationery and greeting cards.

Dollar stores in Canada can be convenient for inexpensive items, but it's not worth the risk or repeated replacement.  By avoiding these items, you can prevent safety hazards, reduce repeated spending, and ensure better quality for essential products.  For safer alternatives, consider reputable brands or specialty stores for electronics, health products, and durable household items.

Here are 13 items to avoid:

1. Batteries – Off-brand batteries often wear out quickly, leak, and can damage electronics, especially in cold Canadian winter.  
2. Phone chargers and cables – Low-quality wiring and insulation can overheat, fail, or even pose fire hazards.
   
3. Medications and supplements – Storage conditions may degrade potency, and labels may lack clear dosage or allergy information.
4. Electronics – Earbuds, radios, clocks, and Bluetooth devices often break quickly due to poor soldering and fragile components. 
5. Knives and cutting tools – Cheap steel loses sharpness fast, increasing the risk of injury.
6. Toys for young children – Small parts, poor construction, and choking hazards make some dollar store toys unsafe.
   
   
7. School supplies like pencils, scissors, and markers – Low durability means they may not last the school yea 
   .
8. Canned or packaged food – Items may be near expiration or improperly stored, affecting quality and safety.
9. Chocolate and temperature-sensitive snacks – Heat exposure can cause spoilage or staleness .
10. Holiday lights and electrical decorations – Poor insulation and low-quality wiring increase fire risk 
11. Cheap kitchen utensils – Rubber spatulas, plastic tools, and other utensils may break quickly, making them a false economy 
12. Cosmetics and nail polish – Low-quality ingredients can cause skin irritation or degrade quickly 
13. Party favors and small plastic toys – Often break easily and may contain unsafe materials, especially for children 

FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremonies

Vancouver, BC 

I didn't see on television yesterday but I found it on You Tube.  If you want to see a spectacular colourful event held in Mexico yesterday, here it is:

 This makes me proud to be Canadian:

Cruising to Alaska

We haven't booked a cruise to Alaska this year.  We usually go every year, sometimes more than once.  If someone asks me about what to do in Alaska, my favorite shore excursion in Ketchikan is a Crab Feast.  You can book it through the ship or on your own.  The ship's excursion usually charters a boat to get to a lodge.

We always go to George Inlet Lodge and book directly through them.  They pick you up by the rock statue right at the pier in a van.  The people who work there are all students and very friendly.  To get a spot in the van you need to book very early.  It's about a 30 minute drive and the scenery is wonderful.  We've done this on our the last four trips to Alaska and it is delicious.  The meal starts with a nice green salad, it includes a drink, blueberry cheesecake and you get a lot of crab.  I have to tell them to stop as they give you so much!  Two years ago we paid US $75.00 a person.  This year it's increased to $109.95.  I realize prices have increased.  

https://catchcrabs.com/

A cruiser posted a picture of the menu at Ketchikan Crab & Go.  That makes the $109.95 crab feast at George Inlet Lodge a real deal!

We will not walk away

Every so often, a journalist comes along who doesn’t just report the news — they help you understand the world. For me, Ali Velshi has always been one of those rare voices.

Though he’s now a well‑known Canadian journalist working with MSNBC (now rebranded as MS Now), his story began far from our borders. Born in Kenya to a family with deep roots in East Africa and South Asia, Velshi eventually made his way to Canada, where he built the foundation of a remarkable career. That global perspective has always shaped the way he tells a story — with context, clarity, and a deep respect for the truth.

I’ve watched his Sunday show for years and genuinely enjoyed it. There was something steadying about the way he approached complicated issues: no theatrics, no shortcuts, just thoughtful journalism that treated viewers like adults capable of understanding nuance.

Recently, he stepped down from his weekend program and will now be hosting a nightly show on MS Now. For many of us who appreciated his weekend presence, it feels like a shift — but also an opportunity. A nightly platform means more space for the kind of reporting he does best: connecting the dots, challenging misinformation, and reminding us why journalism still matters.

What I’ve always found most compelling about Velshi is his insistence on explaining why the news matters. He talks openly about the erosion of rights, the fragility of democratic norms, and the importance of protecting a free press. Not in a sensational way — but in a way that makes you stop and think about the world we’re building for the next generation.

In a time when trust in institutions is shaky and misinformation spreads faster than facts, voices like his feel essential. Journalism isn’t just about headlines; it’s about accountability, transparency, and the courage to speak plainly when it counts.

Ali Velshi has never shied away from that responsibility. And as he moves into this new chapter on MS Now, I’m looking forward to seeing how he continues to shape the conversation — one thoughtful, steady broadcast at a time.

Here is the last report he did on Sunday:

Happy Anniversary

 

Some moments arrive softly, almost shyly, yet change the course of a lifetime.

For our daughter Cheryl, that moment came at 12:01 AM on January 1, 2000 — the very first minute of a brand‑new century. As fireworks lit the sky and the world celebrated a new beginning, Dave chose that perfect, symbolic instant to ask her the most important question of his life. She said yes, and with that, their new century truly began.

What followed was a year filled with planning, dreaming, and building a future together. On June 9, 2001, surrounded by family and friends, Cheryl and Dave were married. It was a day full of joy, hope, and the unmistakable feeling that these two were meant to walk through life side by side.

For their honeymoon, they received a wedding gift — a cruise to Alaska. The glaciers, the quiet majesty of the Inside Passage, the sense of adventure… it all suited them perfectly. That trip became one of their most cherished memories, a beginning that set the tone for the years to come.

Now, 25 years later, they are returning to Alaska once again — this time to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.  And in true Cheryl-and-Dave fashion, they’re doing it with intention.  They are sailing on the brand‑new Star Princess, a ship that represents fresh beginnings and new chapters — just like that first minute of the year 2000.  

We are so proud of both of you and wish you many more years of your life together.

Project Jetsetter

If you missed the news, read the post below from Ontario:  

Today, Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) announced the results of Project Jetsetter – a coordinated enforcement and investigative response focused on criminal tourism.

Project Jetsetter is the culmination of multiple major investigations into organized criminal activity in Durham Region and across the Greater Toronto Area. This initiative targeted organized groups travelling to Canada for the purpose of executing high-profit crimes, often connected to international criminal networks. These activities are deliberate, coordinated, and profit-driven; not random or opportunistic. Through more than nine separate investigations and over 5,000 investigative hours, the DRPS Financial Crimes Unit has tracked more than 200 incidents tied to criminal tourism, resulting in over $2.61 million in confirmed financial losses in Durham Region alone.

I feel Canada has always prided itself on being welcoming — a country built on immigration, diversity, and compassion. But there is a growing crisis that Canadians are talking about more openly: people entering the country, committing crimes, and then slipping back out before facing justice. It’s a problem that doesn’t target any nationality or community — it targets the loopholes that allow bad actors to take advantage of our openness.

And Canadians are right to demand better. Surrey's problems are definately the result of a weak and inconsistent border strategy. We hear young men are offered $1,000 to fly to Vancouver, carry out an extortion shooting and fly right back to India. I don't know if that is true, but Durham catches them and Surrey and Vancouver don't.

Canada’s border system is designed around the assumption that most visitors are honest, law‑abiding people. And the truth is, the overwhelming majority are. But a small number have learned how to exploit the gaps:

• Enter Canada legally as visitors

• Commit crimes — often theft, fraud, organized retail crime, or coordinated property offences

• Leave the country before charges are laid or before police can identify them

Police departments across the country have raised alarms about transnational crime groups who fly in, carry out targeted operations, and fly out again. These aren’t refugees or immigrants building a life here — these are individuals using Canada as a temporary playground for criminal activity.

The problem isn’t that Canada welcomes newcomers. The problem is that our systems haven’t kept up with modern criminal networks.

1. Slow identification

By the time police gather evidence, the offenders are often already gone.

2. Weak exit controls

Canada does not have the same strict exit‑tracking systems that countries like the U.S. or U.K. use.

3. Visa‑free travel loopholes

Some visitors don’t require visas — only an eTA — making it easier to enter quickly and anonymously.

4. Cross‑border crime rings

Organized groups know exactly how long they can stay before raising suspicion.

This isn’t about ordinary travellers. It’s about organized, intentional exploitation.

Communities across Canada — including right here in B.C. — are feeling the effects:

• Retailers losing millions to coordinated theft

• Seniors targeted by fraud schemes

• Police stretched thin trying to track offenders who are already back overseas

• Residents feeling less safe in their own neighbourhoods

Canadians are generous, but we are not naïve. We know when something isn’t working.

We need:

Stronger exit controls so offenders can’t simply fly home

Faster information‑sharing between police and border agencies

Mandatory biometric checks for high‑risk travellers

Harsher penalties for organized crime groups operating across borders

Better tracking of repeat visitors connected to criminal networks

Enough police officers and Border Service Agents to make this happen