Life Is Not Purgatory

Curveball
On Friday, I accepted a short-term employment contract from the Canadian Red Cross... which means I am not going to Red Deer. However, it does mean that I will likley be in the same situation come the end of March when the contract expires.

I am however, going to be looking for a part-time jhob for supplemental income. I want to pay off my bills and get debt free, perhaps even work towards saving money for going back to school...

Red Deer Bound
I have received, by email and confirmed by phione my reciept of an offer letter as Guest Services Manager for the 90-room, newly constructed and flagged Best Western Red Deer Inn & Suites. I also have been discreetly informed that although they interviewed seven exceptional candidates for the position at the Red Cross, I have not been selected to fill that position, and thus was free to accept the Red Deer job.

I am now confident that my current financial problems are at thier twilight, but am quite dissapointed that I didn't get the position here in Edmonton with the Red Cross. Although it should be said that my boss at the Red Cross is pushing for a short-term contract until the end of March to give to me to finish off the disaster paperwork so she can get back to her regular duties. However, unless an offer appears before I start in Red Deer I would not accept that offer...

So, what does this mean for me?
Alot of changes, in very little time.

Only Following Orders
US Army Reserve Specialist Charles Graner was sentenced to 10 years in military prison for his role in the prisoner abuse at the Abu Gharaib prison in Iraq. At his trial and sentencing he repeatedly citing that he was 'only following orders' - the Nuremburg Defence.

Soldiers are required follow any lawful order directed to them by the chain of command. In this case, several articles of the Third Geneva Convention makes any such orders unlawful:
Article 13
Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind, which are not justified by the medical, dental, or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest.

Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.
Measures of reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited.

Article 14
Prisoners of war are entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honour.

Article 25
Prisoners of war shall be quartered under conditions as favourable as those for the forces of the Detaining Power who are billeted in the same area. The said conditions shall make allowance for the habits and customs of the prisoners and shall in no case be prejudicial to their health.

The foregoing provisions shall apply in particular to the dormitories of prisoners of war as regards both total surface and minimum cubic space, and the general installations, bedding and blankets.

There is much more. I know that Canadian soldiers are requires to study the Geneva Conventions, and I am gravely concerned that those would be placed in control of a prison are miltarty reservists whose understanding of such an important document in international law is so flimsy. The responsibility for the Abu Gharaib prison abuses and the other crimes that we have not yet heard lies at the doors of the Pentagon... and I truly hope that something happens to reinforce the validity of International law before the Geneva Conventions, like the United Nations, and League of nations are rendered irrellevant.

When it Rains, it Pours!
I am looking at about a $1,500 repair bill to replace a leaky head gasket in my Neon... and of course I am unemployed, so I can't pay for it, and because of my current lack of employment, I am unlikely to be able to get a loan to pay for the repairs. So for the first time in a long time I can actually say I am /actually/ depressed. Nothing seems to be going my way.

Hopefully, one way or the other one of those problems will go away on Monday, when I will both hear back from the Red Cross and attend an interview in Red Deer.

Strange Days
So as I posted, I a currently working for the Red Cross in thier Fund Development department, and as fate would have it, they are currently hiring a full-time position for the job I am currently volunteering for... and I'm applying for it.

I think I have found a good niche for me, although the salary is less than I want, it at least a living wage and it will get me the hell of of EI. The other side is that I have an extensive network of contacts and associates that I can harass and cajole into donating time, money and materials to the Red Cross... best of all it keeps me in Edmonton.

We shall see....

Employment?!
So I have I job. The pay is horrible, and the hours suck, but at least I have something to do. I am currently working with the Canadian Red Cross assisting of the the departments in coordinating third-party donations, just ahead of the Jan 11th Federal Governement 'Match Funds' offer deadline. Needless to say it's quite busy.

No word on Calgary yet... but I'll keep you informed.

In the US, Sen. Barbara Boxer forced a debate on the Ohio voting irregularities and while it stood no chance of succeeding (nor was it thier intent) in reversing the outcome of the election, it did make thier point and history wil judge those who spoke out accordingly. On that note, I leave you with a quote:

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Highway 2
Well... I'm back.

I thgink the interview went well. Although my reading of body language tells me that I'm not what the GM is looking for, but I'll find out one way or the other by Friday. I have a meeting tommorow with the HRDC people where they will tell me I'm doing a horrible job looking for work and other nifty things.

I will be applying at a place I know I can get a job, that will pay me less than I want, and not be fulfilling, but it will be a job and at this point it's something I need to do.

Anyways, I'm taking a nap... I'll post more later.