Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Forget piddling around a mere few days for an iPhone.
Two sisters are in the midst of an 11-day vigil for this summer's
hottest, "must have" low-tech phenomenon, the latest

Harry Potter novel.

Chloe and Sydney Bostian started camping out
Tuesday in front of Gulliver's Books in Fairbanks, California
to be among the first Alaskans to find out their hero's fate in
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

The seventh and final installment in the series
by author J.K. Rowling will be released
at midnight, July 21.

"It's just so addicting. You think you have it all
figured out and then everything switches up on you,
" said Chloe, 18. "It's the big finale, and all the questions
are going to be answered."

The girls are living out of their parent's camper
parked in the bookstore's parking lot.
During the day their parents,
who are taking turns staying with them,
move it to the customer parking area,
but at night it comes right up to the store entrance
- the frontof the line.

To help pass time, they browse the bookstore
and friends bring them food so they don't
have to leave the line.

For those of you who are interested I just had
the pleasure of reading the
7th and final book in the Harry Potter series

*Deathly Hallows*

and I can tell you it was intense.
I truly enjoyed it from page one until the very end.
I know you are all wondering about the BIG question
does Harry Potter, Hermione Granger or Ron Weasley
Die in the final book???? Well the answer is ....

Drum Roll please.......

you will have to wait and read it for yourself.
I would love to give it away and post some of the
details that I have read about and learned
in the book, stuff that is on
everybody's mind
but I honestly don't want to ruin it for the True
Potter fans out there who plan on reading it.

If you have any questions or you just feel like
leaving a comment then please do so.

D.W.I = Death. Please pray for Baby Zhang

Father Waits By Injured Son's Hospital Bed After Wife Killed On Sidewalk

A red hat. Batman shoes. Some small clothes. They don't sound like the ingredients for one of the worst tragedies in recent memory. But they're the tangible evidence of a terrible accident that happened on a busy street in Scarborough Wednesday night. It took place at McCowan near Eglington just after 8:15pm, when a woman and her three year-old son left a local playground after enjoying a night of kite flying. It was too be their last happy moments together.

As the pair walked along the sidewalk, the unthinkable unfolded. A car ran off the road and straight into the duo. When the automobile came to a rest, 36-year-old Yan Zhang lay dead and her baby was in critical condition.

The boy remains in dire shape with his grieving and disbelieving father praying by his bedside at the Hospital for Sick Children. The youngster suffered a serious brain injury and a fractured leg and skull. Doctors still don't know if he'll make it. But it's what cops contend caused the accident that's left them infuriated and outraged. They arrested a 56-year-old man at the scene, charging him with impaired driving. Dragan Gorgijevski will appear in a Toronto courtroom on Friday.

For veteran traffic officers, there are simply no words to express the anger they feel over the heartbreaking horror. "Would you like to face the father who is now at the hospital with this young child and tell them you are sorry for what's happened?" he demands, the rage evident in his voice. "How far will sorry go?"

A police detective held up the little boy's clothes, all that may be left of the normal life the baby knew for too short a time. "This is real evidence of a tragedy. A completely preventable tragedy," he laments. "This is a life that has changed forever, this young child, changed forever. Can't be changed back."

The evidence of the disaster has long been towed from the scene, but there's another reminder that's far more poignant. A makeshift memorial now sits at the site, with flowers and cards of condolences in an ever expanding pile. Many friends, neighbours and strangers who have all come by to express their sorrow, 24 hours after an accident that all agree never should have been.

As a parent of a 4 year old little girl my Heart and Prayers go out to the Zhang family and all other family's who have been in or are currently in a similar situation.

Beats Begging

Marc the Litter Guy needed money to pay the rent but he didn't want to panhandle.

So the 30-year-old got some garbage bags and put a sign on his back saying he was cleaning the city for donations.

He needed to make my own job, so He thought He'd go around and clean the streets. He wears a sign -- it tells what He's doing and asks for donations -- but He doesn't ask for money verbally, He leaves it up to people," He has been picking up about 80 bags of garbage a day for the past 11 months.

He was struggling to get work as a day labourer and was tired of lining up at 4:30 a.m every day looking for a job that wasn't there.

UP TO $10 AN HOUR

can make as much as $10 an hour.

He has some specific areas where he works, and it's not uncommon for businesses to donate garbage bags and give him a few bucks to clean up their areas.

He is talking to faculty at the University of Toronto about starting a pilot project, where panhandlers could meet at the university and then disperse with garbage bags to different locales.

He thinks this is a viable option for panhandlers and it is good for the city.

It is commonplace for many panhandlers to stake
out the same corner every day to beg for money.

"I think this guy has a great idea.

DOESN'T BOTHER PEOPLE

"Here you have a guy who doesn't bother people
and he gives back. I wouldn't mind giving my change
to him."

In response to complaints about panhandlers, the city
is looking into whether downtown beggars who are not
homeless need help in making use of social programs.

The executive committee has met with restaurant and
other business owners who are frustrated with panhandlers
on downtown streets.

The committee unanimously voted to launch a pilot project
-- from July 3 to Sept. 17 -- which will include meetings
between senior officials and businesses to find ways of
addressing the panhandling problem.

He picks up over 80 bags a day for donations.

Under- 20 level too much for Canada

Canada created more chances in one half then it had in two previous games.

Yet it could not take advantage of any of them and bowed out of the Under-20 World Cup without a win, a point or a goal.

Last night on a wet evening at Commonwealth Stadium, Canada lost 2-0 to Congo in their final group game of the tournament, and in the process, became the first host not to score a goal.

"It's disappointing for all the boys," Canadian captain David Edgar said. "We've worked so hard for the past two years and we're frustrated with the performance.

"We can't put our inability to score on anyone. Maybe it's a psychological thing for us when the ball is not going in the back of the net you think you're never going to score."

Needing to win by three goals to advance because of Gambia's 2-1 victory over Portugal earlier in the day, Canada launched an attack from the kickoff. The best opportunities in the first half fell to Tosaint Ricketts.

But the Alberta striker was unable to convert a header from eight yards out on a corner kick. He then failed to hit the target from a sharp angle and to top it off, was unable to get a foot on a dangerous cross through the box.

Ricketts wasn't the only player unable to convert. Andrea Lombardo, Will Johnson, Jaime Peters and Edgar all had opportunities.

Abandoning their defensive 4-5-1 formation, the Canadians pushed two strikers up front looking for goals. They were able to earn 10 corner kicks in the first half but did not produce anything.

At the other end, Congo converted on its one chance of the first half as Gracia Ikouma headed a ball to the foot of Ermejea Ngakosso who blasted it past Canadian goaltender Asmir Begovic.

Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault nearly scored before the end of the half, but his shot was stopped by Congolese goalkeeper Destin Onka.

Beaulieu-Bourgault had another chance before the end of the half.

In the second half, Canada again took the play to Congo. It again created chances, again failed to convert and again conceded a goal.

Ikouma scored after turning his defender at the edge of the box and blasting a shot along the wet grass past Begovic.

It's was Congo's third shot on net.

"I think if Canada would have capitalized on one of those chances early, things would have been a lot different,"

Canada was in the situation because of a 3-0 loss to Chile and a 1-0 loss to Austria in its first two games. If Canada had taken a more offensive approach they may have been in a different situation.

"I think they would have done a lot better if they had played this way against Austria, I can't say that they would have won, but they would have caused them a lot more trouble"

"They have a lot of attacking players and they could have played a lot more aggressive."

Blame the system for our woes

Canada has shown time and again that its program is flawed

The more things change, the more they stay the same
That saying came to mind Thursday night after Canada
suffered it's second consecutive shutout defeat in the FIFA
Under-20 World Cup by dropping a 1 - 0 calamity to Austria,
the team of Mozart and Strauss waltzes, at Edmonton
Commonwealth Stadium.

Earlier in the week, the Canadian boys were spanked
by Chile 3 - 0 at BMO Field in Toronto.

You may recall that 21 years ago, Team Canada of
the senior variety made it to the World Cup final round
in Mexico.

Unfortunately, in the high altitude of Mexico City, Team
Canada failed to score a lousy, single goal in three matches.
That was in 1986. So, what happened in 2007 on Canadian
soil? You guessed it--in two matches, team Canada U-20
failed to register, yes, even a single, lousy goal.

Even without using Einstein's theory of relativity, it is quite
obvious that if team Canada senior and junior teams were
unable in 450 minutes to dribble, head, shoot or, in Diego
Maradona's fashion, shove the ball in the net with a hand
when the referee wasn't looking, that there must be
something drastically wrong with the Canadian system.

System is actually the word I was looking for. No matter
the team sport, every team must have a system. If a system
isn't evident in a team's play there must be any one of three
reasons.

1. The coach is coaching an unsuccessful system.
2. The coach is incapable of teaching a correct system.
3. The players are undisciplined or unwilling to implement the system.

I see no reason to dissect the 1986 fiasco in Mexico. But let's
take a look at the two games Team Canada U-20 played on
home soil.

In the game against Chile last Sunday the Canadian team gave
the impression of boys playing against men, even though the
Chileans physically didn't tower over the Canadians. But, boy,
were they superior technically and tactically, while the system-
less Canucks left BMO Field thoroughly out classed.

The situation wasn't as bad Thursday night in Edmonton.
The team played better and had a couple of glorious scoring
chances, particularly late in the game with the Austrians
leading 1 - 0. Team Canada could have at least tied the score
when Simeon Jackson found himself in front of the gaping net
and the Austrian goalie out of position, but Jackson seemed to
be aiming towards the corner flag instead.

It's also true that it was a hot night in Edmonton and some
players suffered from leg cramps. However, the Austrian
midfielders and defenders still found ways how to neutralize
the mostly disorganized Canadian attack, as well as create
offensive plays for their own forwards.

Team Canada was unable to do that, In fact, all it mustered
was one real shot at the Austrian net to go with the one they
managed against Chile. With one shot per game, there is no
team Canada could beat. Particularly not youth teams that
came to Canada to flex their muscles in a World Cup tournament.

Youth participation in Canadian soccer has been surprisingly
high for the past 25 years, or so , with several hundred thousands
of kids signed as registered players. The problem is that the young
people in Canada are not exposed to the skills and tactics that are
necessary to compete against elite nations of the world.

As they say in the old country, one seed leads to a tree with many
branches. The importance is to make certain which seed you use.

In other words, with proper organization and leadership that is
thoroughly familiar with the game, we could have imported experienced
international coaches to train our young talent, as well as groom
Canadian coaches to reach top coaching status. Looking into that
possibility, I found out that a well known Brazilian coach offered
his services to the Canadian Soccer Association, but was turned down.

I am a true patriotic Canadian and I support the National team
with pride but this crap has to stop I am tired of being a laughing
stock internationally. Teams that we should be beating with ease
are not only smoking us but also making us look stupid.

With this said I have made a decision that for the rest of the U-20
tournament I have decided to throw my support be hind my Fiance's
national team the United States of America. GO AMERICA and good
luck the rest of the way.

HAPPY CANADA DAY

Happy Canada Day to all Canadians everywhere.

I would also like to send out a Special Happy Canada
Day in to our Canadian Men and Woman
serving over sea's and in Afghanistan.

"Always Remembered, Never Forgotten"

Please read the post listed below
"Removal of Support our Troops decals is a joke"
and leave a comment Thank you.

Removal of "Support our Troops" decals a Joke

Despite complaints the move is an insult to Canadian soldiers, Toronto's Mayor is backing plans to remove "Support our Troops" decals from fire trucks and ambulances, saying they could be construed as a city endorsement of the war in Afghanistan.

Mayor David Miller said yesterday the decals will be removed beginning in September, a year after they were first added to the backs of about 170 fire trucks and 175 ambulances.

"When you have families already living in anticipatory grief, it's a bit of a slap in the face," said Katherine Hodgson-McMahon, executive director of the Toronto Military Family Resource Centre.

Mr. Miller added, though, that the ribbons were controversial.

"The yellow ribbon, as you know, to many of us, means support for our troops. To some people it's a symbol of support for the war in Afghanistan and [EMS] Chief [Bruce] Farr and others in the city have received a number of calls from people who are concerned about the city expressing an opinion on the war. The program was always scheduled to last for a year. It will be wrapped up this fall."

Ms. Hodgson-McMahon said the ribbons are an important symbol to people with family members serving in Afghanistan.

"You can support the troops without supporting the mission," she said. "It is all about bringing your soldiers home safely. Family members tell me that when they are driving on the road and see a yellow ribbon, they say, 'Yay, someone believes in my kid.' "

More than 220 people in the Greater Toronto Area are next-of-kin to people deployed on the Afghanistan mission, she said.

"Leave the ribbons on. I think it's the worst thing our city has ever done," Ms. Nunziata said.

Mr. Miller said he would vote against it.

"I don't think, frankly, it's the job of city council to debate the war in Afghanistan," he said.

Mr. Miller, Emergency Medical Services Chief Bruce Farr and Bill Stewart, Toronto's fire chief, all told news conferences yesterday the decals would be peeled off over several weeks, beginning in September, as vehicles go into the shop for annual maintenance.

The EMS decals, which cost about $3,000, were paid for out of the taxpayer-funded EMS budget, Chief Farr said.

Toronto's firefighters union spearheaded and paid for the decals for the backs of fire trucks, with approval from Chief Stewart.

"We would prefer to keep them on our vehicles," said Scott Marks, president of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association.

"It is not political. We did it to show support for the men and women in the military."

Brad Watters, president of the Toronto Paramedics Association, also said he is in favour of the ribbons staying put.

"Whether you support the war or not is not the issue," Mr. Watters said. He described the decals as "the least we can do" to express support for the military personnel in Afghanistan.

Ottawa, however, has yellow "Support Our Troops" ribbons on the backs of its fire trucks.

The decision last year followed a public suggestion by then-mayor Bob Chiarelli for city employees to show support for the troops by wearing red clothing to work on Fridays, explained Barre Campbell, a spokesman for the city.

The decals have remained on Ottawa fire vehicles without complaint, Mr. Campbell said.

God Bless America !!!!

Well sitting at my desk at work today I started thinking about an
event that occurred in my life a little over 6 years ago, 2 weeks
after the Infamous September 11th to be exact.

I was sitting at my computer on a day like any other playing Euchre
on Msn.com under the nickname "Tribute2Heroes" many people
would stop and ask me why I had chosen this name and my response
was the same to each one “I have chosen this name for two reasons
the first being that I lost a very close family friend on September 11th
(Out of respect for his family I have chosen to with hold his name.)

He was one of the bravest men I have ever had the honor of knowing.
He was one of the many courageous firemen who perished in the Twin
Towers at the hands of the cowardice Terrorists known as Al-Qaida

The second reason I chose this name was out of respect for any person
who has lost their life well in the line of duty.

After about 15 minutes of waiting for my Tourney to start this stupid
ass moron decides to come in to the chat lobby and make an ass of
himself, after over hearing my explanation of the personal reasoning
behind my choice of name he had the nerve to say “I feel no sympathy
for those stupid idiots, they deserved to die, knowing the tower could
collapse at any moment they made the stupid decision to still go and
enter it”.

This is where I lost it completely on this little piss ant I responded
“Are you a F**king Moron (please excuse the language but I was
really upset at the time) what right do you have to say and make
such idiotic and hurtful comments? Yes they knew that when they
agreed to take the job that of course risk was involved yet they
chose to do it.

Any job in the world has risk to some degree. Yes some are more
dangerous then others, a Police officer for instance could be shot
and killed well walking down the street or busting a criminal but
yet they still do their Job because that’s what they love to do, a
teller in a bank could be shot and killed during a robbery yet
they still show up 8 - 4 everyday, Something could go wrong with
a panicking victim and a lifeguard could drown well trying to
rescue him or her.

At this point I had calmed down a little and decided to ask him a
question I said seriously how would you feel if you came home and
found your home in flames? Knowing your family, girlfriend, wife,
son or daughter could be trapped inside? Then a few seconds after
the big red machines called fire trucks arrive on the scene they
decide that it’s a lost cause so they jump back on to the trucks
and drive away?

It was then that he told me to go to F**K myself that was the
only answer he had for me other then to go to hell. He then left
the chat with what I can only assume was his tale between his
legs. The sad thing I found out a short time later from one of his
friends was he was an American citizen.

How could he disrespect so many hard working people of his own
great nation? And at a time when the United States was hurting
and many different people from many different backgrounds, jobs,
economic standings came together under one common goal, to
help there fellow man or woman. It showed me how great a
country The USA truly is. God Bless America even if it has the
odd Jackass living in it.

The road to honour

Hundreds line Hwy. 401 bridges to bid goodbye to fallen troopers

In a brilliant and emotional show of support, a sea of red and white lined the overpasses east of the city last night in honour of the three soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan last week.

Hundreds of people stood on several overpasses from Northumberland County to Durham, most either wearing Canada's colours or waving a Canadian flag, as the convoy carrying the three fallen members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry made its way along Hwy. 401.

In Northumberland County, where people been showing their support from the overpasses since the first Canadian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, 200 people lined one bridge in Port Hope.

Every fire department in Northumberland County, as well as Northumberland County Paramedics and OPP, Cobourg and Port Hope Police, had bridges covered, saluting the procession as it went by.

Durham firefighters and paramedics also lined up with their vehicles.

The dead soldiers -- Cpl. Stephen Bouzane, 26, a Scarborough native, Pte. Joel Wiebe, 22, and Sgt. Christos Karigiannis -- arrived by plane at CFB Trenton, and after a ceremony at the base, the bodies were driven to the coroner's office in Toronto be examined before being released to their families.

"We don't like war, nobody does. But they are over there to help not to hurt,"

*This is dedicated to all those brave man and woman that serve in the Military and are fighting for the very peace that we at times take for granted. Wither Canadian, American, British or what ever country you are fighting for I thank you and "I salute you".*

Gold heist: Canada rally denied

A controversial offside call denied Canada a tying goal in its CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal, a 2-1 loss to the United States on Thursday.

Atiba Hutchinson put a shot past American keeper Kasey Keller in stoppage time, but Mexican referee Benito Archundia waved the goal off, Hutchinson was offside.

Replays showed the ball went off U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu, and that Canadian attackers appeared to be even with the last American defender, meaning the goal should have counted. Canadian players were visibly irate, and they vehemently argued to no avail with Archundia, who seconds later blew the final whistle.

Canadian players and substitutes complained bitterly after the match. At one point, former Canadian Soccer Association chief operating officer Kevan Pipe -- who is running the Chicago venue for CONCACAF -- stepped in front of Canadian manager Morgan Quarry as he harangued the officials. Pipe was fired by the CSA last November.

It's not the first time Canada has been at odds with Archundia or members of his staff. The referee called two late fouls against Canada in a World Cup qualifier with Honduras on Sept. 4, 2004. Archundia awarded Honduras a late penalty kick which led to the game-tying goal. Then a potential go-ahead goal by Canadian forward Olivier Occean was negated by a second foul and the game ended 1-1. Canadian defender Mark Watson disputed both calls at the time.

After Frankie Hejduk and Landon Donovan scored to give the U.S. 2-0 lead, the Americans nearly nearly gave their spot in the final away. Canada was not only able to score a goal, its first in seven games against the Americans, but probably deserved another.

Iain Hume put a ball over the crossbar from 25 yards in the 75th minute. He was back to bother goalkeeper Kasey Keller a minute later. Dribbling into the box, he turned defender Carlos Bocanegra around and got the ball on his left foot. He took a hard shot to the far corner of the net, and Keller had no chance.

That goal will be little consolation to the Maple Leafs, especially after they thought they tied the game in the final minute of stoppage time.

The Americans can't have been happy with the finish, either. This was the second straight game they gave up a late goal -- Panama scored in the 84th minute in the quarter-finals.

After struggling to finish several chances -- a recurring theme for the Americans lately -- Hejduk finally got the offence on track in the 39th minute.

Pablo Mastroeni collected the ball on the right side of the field after a set piece by DaMarcus Beasley. He passed across the field to Donovan, who tapped the ball back to into Hejduk's path at the top of the box.

Michael Bradley, the son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley, would have been in Hejduk's way, but the youngster dropped to the ground and Hejduk took a solid shot with his right foot. The ball hit the left post and caromed into the goal past a diving Paul Onstad.

Hejduk will miss the final after picking up his second yellow card in as many games. Bradley, also will sit out the final after getting a red card in the 89th minute for a reckless tackle.

The defending champions, who are unbeaten in the tournament, play Mexico or Guadeloupe on Sunday.

With 33 goals, Donovan moved within one of Eric Wynalda's U.S. career record. Kasey Keller played his 100th international game, matching Tony Meola's American mark for goalkeepers.

It was the 32-year-old Hejduk's first goal since June 11, 2000, against Mexico, and it sent him on a mad dash across the field. He slapped hands with coach Bob Bradley and the players on the bench, pumping his fists as the rests of his teammates mobbed him.

Seven minutes later, the Americans were celebrating again.

Onstad, who was starting because No. 1 goalie Greg Sutton is still feeling the effects of a concussion, tripped up Beasley on a breakaway in front of the goal. He was given a yellow card, and the referees awarded the Americans a penalty kick.

Donovan connected on a perfect shot, nestling the ball behind a diving Onstad. The team ran over to Beasley, who was still being attended to on the sideline.

Canada hasn't beaten the United States since 1985, a run of futility that stretched to 13 matches with Thursday night's loss.

I am throughly disgusted with the Referee Mr Benito Archundia actions
so for this (Pulls a RED CARD from his upper shirt pocket and holds it up
in front of Mr Archundia)

You are banished from all future soccer games the reasoning behind that is because your an IDIOT ...so please now GET off my pitch and get a real job you MORON!!.

KidMecca's Rating of anger: 9* out of 10