I was going to take a break and go talk to the 'butterflies', but I did the mis-step of reading the news, you know, so as to see if I might miss something, so that when I go out in my rambling walkabouts, and talking to the 'butterflies', I will not be out of the 'loop', where-ever that 'loop' may be.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper be on an 'economic' visit to China, trying to convince the 2 sides of his Party at the same time, that all is well.

That is, bring up with the Chinese leadership about the human rights abuses in China, at the same time of the 'economic' talks.

At about the same time come about news of a new book about Prime Minister Stephen Harper, titled --Party of One: Stephen Harper and Canada’s Radical Makeover ---by author Michael Harris. It be 534 pages.

Some have the review analysis of this book, like that from the Globe and Mail, Party of One: A take down of Stephen Harper that lands wide of the mark,----and from the Toronto Star—TheStar.com Party of One by Michael Harris: Review

Quoting a description of the book contents from AMAZON.CA

”In Party of One, investigative journalist Michael Harris closely examines the majority government of a prime minister essentially unchecked by the opposition and empowered by the general election victory of May 2011. Harris looks at Harper’s policies, instincts, and the often breathtaking gap between his stated political principles and his practices.

Harris argues that Harper is more than a master of controlling information: he is a profoundly anti-democratic figure. In the F-35 debacle, the government’s sin wasn’t only keeping the facts from Canadians, it was in inventing them. Harper himself provided the key confabulations, and they are irrefutably (and unapologetically) on the public record from the last election. This is no longer a matter of partisan debate, but a fact Canadians must interpret for what it may signify.

Harris illustrates how Harper has made war on every independent source of information in Canada since coming to power. Party of One is about a man with a well-defined and growing enemies list of those not wanted on the voyage: union members, scientists, diplomats, environmentalists, First Nations peoples, and journalists.

Against the backdrop of a Conservative commitment to transparency and accountability, Harris exposes the ultra-secrecy, non-compliance, and dismissiveness of this prime minister. And with the Conservative majority in Parliament, the law is simple: what one man, the PM, says, goes.”

Then also some news from Ontario government about a new non-smoking law.

I think that they have the priorities mixed up.

“Smokers will no longer be allowed to light up on bar or restaurant patios, playgrounds, and sports fields beginning next year. Associate Health Minister Dipika Dameria said she’s confident the new restrictions won’t hurt businesses in Ontario.”

Province moves to ban smoking on patios, sale of cigarettes on college campuses

“The government says the bill will replace a patchwork of municipal regulations governing smoking on patios and around playgrounds.”

There was already a non-smoking ban with these places within Sarnia city. So, that will happen, also, when they legalize marijuana.

Then, from Russia, I read about President Vladimir Putin, speaking about something that is different from the politics being discussed. He offered an opinion of the philiosophical kind, “that “multifaceted” love is the basis of all actions and the essence of being”.

http://youtu.be/2eydH5VYwx0

"The meaning of our whole life and existence is love. It is love to the family, to the children, to the homeland. It's a multifaceted notion but it is what drives all of our actions. It is exactly the top priority which all of us should go after, and I am absolutely sure that we will succeed."

From Russia With Love.

Can you not feel the love? Okay, I'm going to go talk to the 'butterflies' now. I wonder what they have to say?

Robert

Sarnia, Ontario

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