Canada's Uzoma Asagwara heads to the bench with a scratch above the eye while playing the United States during their Pan American Games basketball Monday, July 23, 2007. Semi - final game in Rio of Janeiro, Tuesday July 24, 01:53 AM

Uzoma is from the Prairie City of Winnipeg, Canada's jewel in the heart of the country.

The Afro-Caribbean, African and Multicultural communities are all rooting for this dynamo. We are all proud of her achievements

The Manitoba Metis Foundation held a great fundraising event recently at Hotel the York. It was like a buds and spud event. The food was good and the entertainment by various Metis and Aboriginal entertainers were great. Sierra Noble was there playing the instrument she knows so well. Everytime I hear her she sound better and better as well as Percy Tuesday, an old hand at Country.

The Immigrant Women's Association of Manitoba Inc. held a successful picnic at the Assiniboine Park to encourage immigrant and refugee women and their supporters to take a break and have fun with their children and grandchildren. IWAM provided free hotdog, chips and dips, fruits and provided games for the children. It was a beautiful day and everyone had a fabulous time. Here are some pictures from the event

Milt Stegall has made Manitoba by blasting away the records the CFL Touchdown. Winnipeggers routed for this player and gentleman. Here is the cutest picture of a little Chase Stegall, two year old son of Milt playing in his father's big shoes that made the front page of the Winnipeg Free Press.

Happenings in Winnipeg

Shout out to the women who were honoured at the recent Provincial Council of Women Fundraising Event. The honoured women were: Donna Blight, Beverley Goodwin, Elisabeth Fleming, Barbara Kendel, Monica Singh and Shirley Walker. These women come from all background from professional careers to professional volunteer. It was nice to see Babs Friesen there for this event which was held at the Assinboine Parks Conservatory's within the luscious tropical garden.
The evening was fun and upbeat and was refreshingly light - no heavy speeches just snacks, a little talk and more mingling. There were lots of door prizes and rainbow
auction items as well.

Wally Larson and Maiko Watson at the Assiniboine Park
Warren Hill at Assiniboine Park
Portage Place
The Forks Hot Dog Stand
Sea monster created out of sand on display at the Forksmarket
Susan volunteer Goodwill Ambassador
Come to Winnipeg

The talk of the town is the heatwave. People are feeling the heat but they are quick to say it's better than the alternative - old man winter. Yesterday was humid beyond belief. I stepped out of my office and it was like Whoa I've just stepped into an oven. Yesterday evening was beautiful. There was a nice breeze if you were under the shade of a nice tree. It's also a business bonanza for the airconditioning people are there were oodles of call to repair ac units that are being worked to the max. Those of us who do not have ac have to just put up with the heat. Here is a tip to create your own ac unit. Wet your body including your hair and lie or sit in front of a fan. It cools you down quickly. You can also wet a towel and lie on it and let the fan bathe you with a nice cool air. In Sudan and the desert of Africa I hear people would wet the sand and lie on it to sleep. These do not leave a bad footprint on our enviroment and they are quite nifty. Take a walk to the Forks and have a snooze under one of those trees by the river. Check out the Forks Railway car where people like Susan (in the picture) are glad to welcome and show you around. That's pretty cool too.
Have a hot one.

Leafletter

Game show 'Price' is right for Carey - USATODAY.com

Leafletter

Canada’s Black Heart - New York Times

Quebec and Vermont Towns Bond Over a Sleepy Border - New York Times

Maiko Watson is performing tonight July 15 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lyrics Theatre at Assiniboine Park. This performance is part of the commitment for winning the $25,000 from Cool Jazz Winnipeg. Watson will be joined by the two other winners and each will sing two songs. Watson said that her songs will be her original creations.
See you there folks

Grand Designs
By: Melissa Martin
The Folk Festival is over, but this weekend offers another chance to get your summer music jam on. And it comes courtesy of one of Winnipeg’s best known musicians.

Rhymester and actor Odario Williams (better known as one-third of hip-hop trio Mood Ruff) is gearing up to release the debut album from his new project, Grand Analog, at the Pyramid on Friday.

Though the Grand Analog project started as an experiment, big buzz (including the single Around This Town being named the download of the week on MySpace) has convinced Williams to push it into the foreground.

“I’ve put everything else on hold,” he says. “I’ve been doing some voiceover and DJ work to pay the bills, I’ve been working various kids’ programs to pay the bills. But when a kid comes up to me and says, ‘hey, are you that Mood Ruff guy?’ I say,. ‘no kid, take this Grand Analog sticker.’”

Williams is joking about that last bit… he’s happy to say his Ruff cohorts are supportive of his new venture… but his passion for Grand Analog is perfectly serious.

Though the project features his return to the mic, this isn’t a retread of the same hip-hop territory Ruff farmed for years. Envisioned as a Williams-led artist collective, the group stacks sizzling guitar riffs and dusty, dirty samples over sauntering dub and reggae beats.

Add Williams’ hooky vocals to the mix, and you’ve got a sexy summer album that’s still rich with substance: tunes like the bouncy Touch Your Toes and Around This Town score equally with patio partiers and music critics.

“They say the new generation is going to change careers several times in their life,” Williams says. “Well, I’m just going to change sounds every few years.”

Though the sound is a big departure, Williams says it just felt like the right time to take a chance. “Mood Ruff just became this staple in Winnipeg,” Williams says from Toronto. “That was a good thing, and I wanted to force my way into a new direction. I’m not afraid of putting everything away.”

You can almost put your wallet away to check out the gig: the Friday night CD release, which features Ruff’s buddies in Shadez and the retro-heavy spins of DJ Co-op, is only five bucks.

Donald Trump is the talk of the town. Everyone has an opinion. I have not come across one person that is sympathetic to the man. It's as if they blame him for being born rich and privileged. I am however sympathetic to Mr. Black. He can only be whom he was raised to be. He was raised with a silver or gold spoon in his mouth and have accustomed himself to an even higher standard of living. Then he has gone and received the honourable title of Lordships which then exacts more of his finances in order to keep up with the Joneses and a lifestyle befitting a Lord. with the downward swing of the print media, he had to begin cutting corners to live in the way he is accustomed to. He probably saw the company as his and did not actually believe he was stealing anything from anybody. An honest mistake, isn't it?

AlterNet: An Interview with the Wizard of Wikipedia

Live Earth on MSN: The Concerts For A Climate In Crisis

July 11, 2007
WINNIPEG WINS COMMUTER CHALLENGE

Winnipeg, Manitoba has won the 2007 Commuter challenge. There were 21 communities in Manitoba that participated totally close to 5,000 participants. Provincial government employees also upped their numbers from last year and got moving.
Now let's see if we can keep up the good word. This challenge should not end with the end of the competition but it is hoped that people will do whatever they can to leave fewer carbon footprints on our home, this planet. The challenge is actually to raise awareness of the importance of creating a safe, convenient, friendly and healthy environment that makes alternative forms of transportation an option for everyone.
Congratulations fellow Manitobans, we have done it again. We are just fabulous and we care about our environment. As for me I continue to walk and ride and use my car less.

Gala Reception to Celebrate Women's Contribution

On July 11, 2007, The Provincial Council of Women of Winnipeg held a fashionable, casual event to honour six women: Donna Blight, Elizabeth Flemming, Beverley godwin, Barbara Kendel, Monica Singh and Shirley walker - who have contributed over and above to the work of the Council. The women were given statuettes of a golden women similar to the Oscar. Some federate members were also honoured. These were Manitoba Childcare Association, and the Manitoba Dental Hygienists Association. It was a fun event held at the Assiniboine Parks's Conservatory surrounded by lush tropical plants and flowers. The interior was decorated with beautiful paintings.
At the beginning the women were ushered to their seats at the front to the sound of the bagpipe played by a young woman. There were door prizes and yours truly won one of them - a beautiful handbag with the the logo of - a beaded footlong keyring and a gift certificate for a turkey worth $25.00 - not bad eh.
The Provincial Council of Women was founded in 1949 to advocate for the betterment of Manitobans, especially for women and their families. They have done a splendid job over the years and is one of the more respected organizations in Manitoba.
Picturs will be forthcoming.

AlterNet: Blogs: Video: Are You "Without Prejudice"? [VIDEO]