She even died (perhaps by her own hand) on a day honouring female singers of which she was one.  At one time or another she had been part of a dysfunctional marriage, was addicted to crack cocaine and was a chronic alocholic.  She spent the morning of her death drinking alcohol at the pool of her hotel.

Now we have just had a week of tributes to this diva who could not manage her own life.  The Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, ordered the flags of his state lowered to half mast  in her honour.  Most Americans who give their lives for their country don’t get such a tribute.

Is Houston the sort of woman who should be help up as an example for younger people?  Example of what?

Would you consider Houston an icon for your daguthers?

Should the flags have been lowered for Houston?

What do you think?

The pros are obvious -  wonderful warm weather, tons of good food,  dozens of friendly passengers to mingle with.

There are also some cons –

the huge boat (4000)  lends of confusion and complexity -

too hard to find your way around the ship — far far too much walking – not a single newspaper on the whole trip -  outrageous charges for the internet – can believe 75 cents a minute

Have you been on a cruise?

Did you enjoy it?

Is therey anyone who has never taken a cruise.

Would you go on another cruise?

Let us  know.

Does this seems like censorship to you?

Should God be cut from song?

What do you think?

It happened his way.  Thousands of non-Catholics work for Catholic institutions like hospitals and colleges.  The Obama administration says those non-Catholics  should have access in their healh care packages to free contraception.  Note that in this system no Catholic woman who does not want to practise birth control is forced to do so.   So where is the assault on conscience and  on religious liberty?

Further, wider access to birth control will reduce the number of abortions.  That should make the bishops happy.

Should birth control be a private matter or a public matter to be argued on the hustings?

Should Obama cave in to the Catholic bishops?

Should contraception be a political issue?

Apparently not.  A new poll, just out, reveals that 61 per cent of Canadians support reinstating capital punishment.  Thirty-four per cent are opposed.  The poll found opponents of the death penalty were mostly in Quebec (45 per cent),  another sign of the enlightenment of this province.

That a solid majority of Canadians would want to bring back the rope after an absence of nearly 35 years is mind-boggling.  Are we that savage a nation?  Capital punishment is an act of barbarity perpetrated in cold blood by the civil arm.

I would consider bringing capital punishment back with one condition.  All executions must be open to the public in large venues like the Roger Stadium in Toronto or the Olympic stadium in Montreal.

Then we could see with our own eyes what our savagery had wrought.

Can you see any reason why a majority of Canadians would want to bring back the rope?

Should Canada restore capital punishment?

What do you think?

Oh some little things. The United States closed its embassy in Damascus.  Britian also recalled its envoy to Syria.  Canada?  Canada is standing pat amid the bloodshed.  Our ambassador is staying put.

The NDP says its time to recall our ambassador from Syria.

The Liberals say we should keep our embassy open because it plays a role in protecting Canadian lives.

Should the world, including Canada, stand idly by while Syria goes up in death and smoke?

Should the West consider military intervention to stop the slaughter?

Should Canada break diplomatic relations with Syria?

What do you think?

In Africa and Latin America up to 97 per cent of abortions are unsafe.  In 2008, 47,000 women died as a result of unsafe abortions and another 8.5 million had serious medical complications.

Th e Harper government chooses to ignore this reality.

Instead of refusing to fund projects that would allow abortion, should not Canada refuse to fund projects that don’t allow it?

Outlawing of abortions does not stop the practise, it just makes it more dangerous.

Should Canada support abortions in the developng world?

What do you think?

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Just back from a great cruise.  Neil

And it is starting to make a profit! Facebook makes more money than Google did back when the search engine company listed on the stock market.

Lots of people love Facebook – to keep track of friends and improve communication in society – and it is considered to be one of the catalysts for the ‘Arab Spring’.

But some worry about  a company that sells advertising using personal information -photographs, facts, connections that the users themselves upload!

And Google is fighting back with its own social network, Google+, the fast growth of which, 90 million users and counting, is part of the reason that Facebook usage is slightly down in the US. Is this beginning of the end of stratospheric growth for Zuckerberg’s baby?

Will Facebook be the next Google, Apple or Microsoft? Or will it go the way of Bebo, Yahoo and Myspace?

Do you use Facebook?

Is it worth $100 billion?