The Dog Days of Summer

The end of August is approaching, summer holidays are ending but the hot sultry days continue.

Since my last entry I had a sense, until looking back, that little happened in the last couple of weeks to chip away the writer's block. The dog days of summer however have been a good cover and distraction from the happenings around us.

Sadly the topic of the MMS has returned to the criminal law and I do not mean Multimedia Messaging Service. MMS in the context of criminal law is the dreaded Mandatory Minimum Sentence. Traditionally judges have been given wide latitude when sentencing offenders in Canada as the Criminal Code sets out parameters rather than mandatory terms. Currently the  Criminal Code does call for minimum sentences for a limited number of offences(i.e. repeat DUI and weapons related offences). The Federal government however, is poised to amend the Criminal Code and introduce more MMS penalties.

This plan has been criticized by many both inside and outside of the legal community. To my surprise even one of the daily newspaper editorials in my city commented negatively on the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code. It is not likely the opponents the MMS amendments will cause for a change in course. Unfortunately Canada will jail more of its less fortunate, focus less on rehabilitation and increase the tax burden to support costs associated with both more and lengthier periods of incarceration.

My newspaper friend DSK returned to the news following the long awaited announcement by New York Prosecutors that a recommendation for dismissal of charges was filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court. In Canadian terminology, the prosecution is of the opinion there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. Small comfort for DSK who was arrested and hauled off an Air France flight on the allegations and effectively forced to resign as the head of the IMF. It is unfortunate the investigation into the allegations took place after the arrest, the embarrassment and costs incurred by DSK.

Regarding matters culinary, I visited Winnipeg's latest arrival to the pizza scene - Carbone Coal Fired Pizza -  http://www.carbonecoalfiredpizza.com/ . The pizza's are baked in an anthracite coal burning oven. The menu is simple, the atmosphere upbeat and the service attentive. Lactose intolerant and gluten free diners are happily accommodated. Pizzas are served on wooden pizza peels. We shared a salad and a 16 inch Peppino pizza - more than enough for two. With 2 glasses of wine the meal was slightly more than $50.00. The pizza was so good we ate half before taking a photo,

Lastly, a thought for the day passed along to me by a colleague,

"When asked “What thing about humanity surprises you the most?”, the Dalai Lama answered: 

“Man…. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived." 

Enjoy the dog days!!!

Enjoy each and every day !!!