Rogers doubles first-quarter profit to $344M; bringing iPhone to Canada

TORONTO - Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B) more than doubled its first-quarter profits but news that its wireless division will soon carry the Apple iPhone stole the limelight from stronger results across its services.

While it had been widely expected that the high-tech, touch-screen phone would become available on the Rogers network, Tuesday's announcement was the first official confirmation. However, executives declined to reveal exactly when the device would become available, saying only that it would be later this year.

Coupled with strong quarterly earnings, the announcement helped Rogers stock end the session ahead 3.6 per cent, up $1.56 to $44.46, at the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Rogers reported net earnings of $344 million or 54 cents per share on a diluted basis, compared with a profit of $170 million, 26 cents per share in the year-earlier period.

That was well above an average analyst forecast for earnings of 43 cents per share in the period, according to Thomson Financial.

Company president and chief executive Ted Rogers said in a conference call that the quarter reflected "the benefits of how we're increasingly operating as a single company."

But there were also signs the company could be bracing for trouble in the coming quarters, especially as the economy slows.

Ted Rogers told investors that the media giant will continue to focus on strengthening its existing business rather than pursuing large acquisitions in the foreseeable future.

"We must continue to demonstrate constraint on the cost side to protect ourselves from the economic downturn which seems to be spreading outside the U.S.," he told investors.

He added that the company is already experiencing some signs of slowing in Ontario.

That raises the question whether Canadians who are caught up in an economic slowdown will be willing to shell out money for a high-priced vanity phone.

While Rogers declined to reveal its pricing plans, the iPhone hardware sells in two different tiers in the United States - an eight gigabyte model goes for US$399 and a 16 gigabyte model is valued at US$499.

Package deals with carriers tend to reduce the price of phones when customers are signed to a contract agreement.

"It's not a purchase you make if you're watching your budget - it's an object of desire and a hot technology product," said Kaan Yigit, an analyst at Solutions Research Group.

But "the main benefit (for Rogers) is beyond the subscriber signups. It's image and its watercooler talk and all those kinds of things."

The iPhone caused a sensation last summer when U.S. customers lined up outside Apple stores to be one of the first to get their hands on the product.

The phone integrates the concept of Apple's popular iPod MP3 and video player with the capability of a mobile phone, Internet browser and other multimedia features.

While the iPhone has been available in the United States for nearly a year and in Europe for several months but there's been a delay in bringing it to Canada, where Rogers currently has the only GSM networks capable of handling Apple's first phone.

Rogers had been officially noncommittal about the iPhone but there have been reports that a big stumbling block to its entry was the pricing of the data services required to take advantage of the iPhone's music and video features.

In a media conference before the company's annual meeting Ted Rogers denied that data rates were an anchor on striking a deal with Apple.

"We were a little slow in the negotiating is all I can say," he told reporters.

Executives declined to discuss the iPhone plans, pricing or the timeline for its rollout, saying that they had obligations to keep quiet as part of a contract.

However, the confirmation from executives was the first time they'd officially acknowledged that a deal had been stuck with Apple - even though the Canadian mobile phone industry had widely expected Rogers to carry the phone.

Analysts widely greeted the iPhone announcement with a positive response.

"Our analysis shows the iPhone could be an important catalyst for the shares: it could add an extra 150,000 net (subscriber) adds for Rogers, or $100 million in annual EBITDA," wrote Jonathan Allen, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets.

"The market will have to wait to see whether Rogers launches the current model or waits for the 3G (third-generation model) - expected to be released by Apple in July."

Rogers said its revenue grew 14 per cent to $2.6 billion, while the key wireless division saw postpaid net subscriber additions grow to 97,000 for the period.

Operating revenue at the wireless segment for the period ended March 31 was $1.43 billion, up 16 per cent from $1.23 billion in the prior-year period.

The company's cable segment - which includes Internet and home phone services - posted an eight per cent rise in operating revenue to $925 million from $855 million.

In its media division, revenue climbed 15 per cent to $307 million over the same period last year, partly helped by the acquisition of the Citytv assets last October - part of CTV divesting some of the assets acquired in the acquisition of CHUM.

But Citytv could endure some new challenges before the new television season begins in the fall, said Tony Viner, president of Rogers Media Inc.

"Because of the writer's strike there's going to be fewer new programs available in Hollywood," he said in a media conference.

"We are going to be a significant competitor in program acquisition and operations, but compared to CanWest and CTV we're significantly smaller."

A spokeswoman for Rogers said the company plans to keep the Citytv name, and not link Rogers directly to the branding of the stations.

New Zealand scientists thaw 1,000-pound squid corpse

Marine scientists in New Zealand on Tuesday were thawing the corpse of the largest squid ever caught to try to unlock the secrets of one of the ocean's most mysterious beasts.

No one has ever seen a living, grown colossal squid in its natural deep ocean habitat, and scientists hope their examination of the 1,089-pound, 26-foot long colossal squid, set to begin Wednesday, will help determine how the creatures live. The thawing and examination are being broadcast live on the Internet.

The squid, which was caught accidentally by fishermen last year, was removed from its freezer Monday and put into a tank filled with saline solution. Ice was added to the tank Tuesday to slow the thawing process so the outer flesh wouldn't rot, said Carol Diebel, director of natural environment at New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa.

After it is thawed, scientists will examine the squid's anatomical features, remove the stomach, beak and other mouth parts, take tissue samples for DNA analysis and determine its sex, Diebel said.

"If we get ourselves a male it will be the first reported (scientific) description of the male of the species," Steve O'Shea, a squid expert at Auckland's University of Technology, told National Radio. He is one of the scientists conducting the examination.

The squid is believed to be the largest specimen of the rare deep-water species Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, or colossal squid, ever caught, O'Shea has said.

Colossal squid, which have long been one of the most mysterious denizens of the deep ocean, can grow up to 46 feet long, descend to 6,500 feet into the ocean and are considered aggressive hunters.

At the time it was caught, O'Shea said it would make calamari rings the size of tractor tires if cut up — but they would taste like ammonia, a compound found in the animals' flesh.

Fishermen off the coast of Antarctica accidentally netted the squid in February 2007 while catching Patagonian toothfish, which are sold under the name Chilean sea bass.

The squid was eating a hooked toothfish when it was hauled from the deep. Recognizing it as a rare find, the fishermen froze the squid on their vessel to preserve it. The national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, later took possession of it.

The previous largest colossal squid ever found was a 660 pound female squid discovered in 2003, the first ever landed.

Researchers plan to eventually put the squid on display in a 1,800 gallon tank of formaldehyde at the museum in the capital, Wellington.

Colossal squid are found in Antarctic waters and are not related to giant squid found round the coast of New Zealand. Giant squid grow up to 39 feet long, and are not as heavy as colossal squid.

Iran takes new shot at Barbie, calling the U.S. doll 'destructive'

TEHRAN, Iran - A top Iranian judiciary official warned Monday against the "destructive" cultural and social consequences of importing Barbie dolls and other western toys.

In the latest salvo in a more than decade-old government campaign against Barbie, Prosecutor General Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi said in an official letter to Vice-President Parviz Davoudi that the doll and other western toys are a "danger" that need to be stopped.

"The irregular importation of such toys, which unfortunately arrive through unofficial sources and smuggling, is destructive culturally and a social danger," said the letter, a copy of which was made available to The Associated Press.

Iranian markets have been inundated with smuggled western toys in recent years partly due to a dramatic rise in purchasing power as a result of increased oil revenues.

While importing the toys is not necessarily illegal, it is discouraged by a government that seeks to protect Iranians from what it calls the negative effects of western culture.

Najafabadi said the increasing visibility of western dolls has alarmed authorities and they are considering intervening.

"The displays of personalities such as Barbie, Batman, Spiderman and Harry Potter ... as well as the irregular importation of unsanctioned computer games and movies are all warning bells to the officials in the cultural arena," his letter said.

Najafabadi said Iran is the world's third biggest importer of toys and warned that smuggled imports pose a threat to the "identity" of the new generation.

Mattel Inc., the maker of Barbie, had no immediate comment Monday on the Iranian action.

Barbie is sold wearing swimsuits and miniskirts in a society where women must wear headscarves in public and men and women are not allowed to swim together.

In 1996, the head of a government-backed children's agency called Barbie a "Trojan horse" sneaking in western influences such as makeup and revealing clothes.

Authorities launched a campaign of confiscating Barbies from shops in 2002, denouncing the un-Islamic sensibilities of the iconic American doll. But the campaign was eventually dropped.

Also in 2002, Iran introduced its own competing dolls - the twins Dara and Sara - who were designed to promote traditional values with their modest clothing and pro-family stories. But the dolls proved unable to stem the Barbie tide.

Chef Ramsay may open Canadian eatery

TORONTO -- Celebrated British chef Gordon Ramsay, who is as famed for his expletive-laced vocabulary as for his lineup of Michelin stars, may soon be opening a restaurant in Toronto.

The bad boy chef, known never to mince words, is in Canada on a whirlwind tour to promote his cookbook "Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food."

While renowned in culinary circles, Ramsay makes it perfectly clear: Don't call him a celebrity chef.

"I hate that word," he pauses, before spitting it out, "Celebrity."

Instead, "I'm a real chef," he says with emphasis during an interview with CTV.ca.

Indeed, the 41-year-old chef has already opened several restaurants around the world, including Tokyo, New York, Ireland, Dubai and Paris.

And now, he is "heavily considering" marking his culinary stamp on Canada's largest city, he admitted, "especially if it's the right place."

Asked by CTV.ca if he was considering any properties in Toronto, he admitted there were two.

When pressed further about details, he said "I cannot say," but followed, "Trust me by September I will keep you posted, yes?"

Recruiting talent will be no problem, he assured.

"I have about two dozen Canadians working for me in London, so I am drawing on a pool of talent," he said.

Indeed, Ramsay spent seven-and-a-half months last year in the United States, he said.

"It's opened up a completely new market, which is exciting."

While Ramsay has said the property is unlikely to be a hotel, he raved about a certain view in Toronto.

"Toronto is going through that transition that England went through 10 years ago in terms of trying to rejuvenate and position itself," he said.

"It's a vibrant city, and architecture-wise it's amazing -- the condos and the buildings and what is happening, lakeside as well -- I don't know where you can get that view," he said.

Ramsay is as well known for his nine prestigious Michelin stars, the highest accolades of the restaurant world, as his foul language.

And he has won over a new legion of fans for his shows. "Hell's Kitchen" and "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares."

A new show, "The F Word," will premiere in Canada this fall.

As a famed chef, best-selling author, TV personality and father of four, his life is "excitingly busy," he conceded.

"I suppose when you are striving for perfection and you look to be busy and you get busy, you stay busy."

Ramsay admitted he thrives on jeopardy and vulnerability.

"I don't like it when things get slow," he said. It's no accident his latest book teaches how to maximize taste on minimal time.

"I live a bit of a manic, hectic lifestyle and I've got four children so it's important to have fun, remove intimidation and cook stuff that is zappy, quick and something that is not long-winded," he said.

TTC BACK TO WORK

The Red Rocket will be running as usual Monday after the provincial government legislated striking transit employees back to work.

Nearly 9,000 TTC employees represented by Amalgamated Transit Union 113 walked off the job suddenly and without warning Friday night after a tentative agreement reached last week between the union and the transit commission was voted down. The abrupt walkout stranded thousands of people all over the city.

An angry Mayor David Miller announced in the wee hours of Saturday morning that he'd be asking the province to step in as soon as possible to enact back-to-work legislation, and the strike ended Sunday when MPPs met and voted to order TTC employees back to work. TTC Chair Adam Giambrone was also frustrated with the fact that the union didn't give 48 hours' notice of a strike before walking, as they had previously promised to do.

"Even though they promised 48 hours, they were allowed to (strike) whenever they wanted. It was irresponsible. Certainly our ability to act was limited," he noted.

The back-to-work legislation passed unanimously at Queen's Park a half hour after it was introduced. Transit service was back up and running by 8pm on Sunday.

Metropass users will be reimbursed for the two days the TTC was shut down.

At this point an arbitrator will sit down with the two sides and they have 90 days to reach a new deal.

How does arbitration work?

Meanwhile, TTC operators are concerned there will be a backlash against them in the coming days over the weekend disruptions.

"We don't want our families to be jeopardized by one of us not coming home at the end of day," said TTC employee Ken Morgan.

Last week Premier Dalton McGuinty said he'd consider making the TTC an essential service if the city requested it. Mayor Miller is reportedly thinking about it.

"I think it needs to look at calmly through the committee process. Not the middle of the circumstances but in a calm and rational way to make the best consideration," he explained.

A motion on making the TTC an essential service will go before council on Tuesday.

KEMANCHA, the National Armenian Music Instrument

Paskha

Holy fire will appear this year on April 26

Where and when does the miracle occur?

The ceremony, which awes the souls of Christians, takes place in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. The date for Pascha is determined anew for every year. It must be a first Sunday after the spring equinox and Jewish Passover. Therefore, most of the time it differs from the date of Catholic and Protestant Easter, which is determined using different criteria. The Holy Fire is the most renowned miracle in the world of Eastern Orthodoxy. IIt has taken place at the same time, in the same manner, in the same place every single year for centuries. No other miracle is known to occur so regularly and so steadily over time. No other miracle is known to occur so regularly and so steadily over time. It happens in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the holiest place on earth[2], where Christ was crucified, entombed, and where He finally rose from the dead.

Ceremony of Holy Light

In order to be as close to the Sepulchre as possible, pilgrims camp next to it. The Sepulchre is located in the small chapel called Holy Ciborium, which is inside the Church of the Resurrection. Typically they wait from the afternoon of Holy Friday in anticipation of the miracle on Holy Saturday. Beginning at around 11:00 in the morning the Christian Arabs chant traditional hymns in a loud voice. These chants date back to the Turkish occupation of Jerusalem in the 13th century, a period in which the Christians were not allowed to chant anywhere but in the churches. "We are the Christians, we have been Christians for centuries, and we shall be forever and ever. Amen!" - they chant at the top of their voices accompanied by the sound of drums. The drummers sit on the shoulders of others who dance vigorously around the Holy Ciborium. But at 1:00 pm the chants fade out, and then there is a silence. A tense silence, charged from the anticipation of the great demonstration of God's power for all to witness.

Shortly thereafter, a delegation from the local authorities elbows its way through the crowd. At the time of the Turkish occupation of Palestine they were Muslim Turks; today they are Israelis. Their function is to represent the Romans at the time of Jesus. The Gospels speak of the Romans that went to seal the tomb of Jesus, so that his disciples would not steal his body and claim he had risen. In the same way the Israeli authorities on this Holy Saturday come and seal the tomb with wax. Before they seal the door, they follow a custom to enter the tomb, and to check for any hidden source of fire, which would make a fraud of the miracle.[1,2]

How the miracle occurs

"I enter the tomb and kneel in holy fear in front of the place where Christ lay after His death and where He rose again from the dead... (narrates Orthodox Patriarch Diodor - ed.). I find my way through the darkness towards the inner chamber in which I fall on my knees. Here I say certain prayers that have been handed down to us through the centuries and, having said them, I wait. Sometimes I may wait a few minutes, but normally the miracle happens immediately after I have said the prayers. From the core of the very stone on which Jesus lay an indefinable light pours forth. It usually has a blue tint, but the colour may change and take many different hues. It cannot be described in human terms. The light rises out of the stone as mist may rise out of a lake — it almost looks as if the stone is covered by a moist cloud, but it is light. This light each year behaves differently. Sometimes it covers just the stone, while other times it gives light to the whole sepulchre, so that people who stand outside the tomb and look into it will see it filled with light. The light does not burn — I have never had my beard burnt in all the sixteen years I have been Patriarch in Jerusalem and have received the Holy Fire. The light is of a different consistency than normal fire that burns in an oil lamp... At a certain point the light rises and forms a column in which the fire is of a different nature, so that I am able to light my candles from it. When I thus have received the flame on my candles, I go out and give the fire first to the Armenian Patriarch and then to the Coptic. Hereafter I give the flame to all people present in the Church."

While the patriarch is inside the chapel kneeling in front of the stone, there is darkness but far from silence outside. One hears a rather loud mumbling, and the atmosphere is very tense. When the Patriarch comes out with the two candles lit and shining brightly in the darkness, a roar of jubilee resounds in the Church.[2]

The Holy Light is not only distributed by the Archbishop, but operates also by itself. It is emitted from the Holy Sepulchre with a hue completely different from that of natural light. It sparkles, it flashes like lightning, it flies like a dove around the tabernacle of the Holy Sepulchre, and lights up the unlit lamps of olive oil hanging in front of it. It whirls from one side of the church to the other. It enters some of the chapels inside the church, as for instance the chapel of the Calvery (at a higher level than the Holy Sepulchre) and lights up the little lamps. It lights up also the candles of certain pilgrims. In fact there are some very pious pilgrims who, every time they attended this ceremony, noticed that their candles lit up on their own accord!his divine light also presents some peculiarities: As soon as it appears it has a bluish hue and does not burn. At the first moments of its appearance, if it touches the face, or the mouth, or the hands, it does not burn. This is proof of its divine and supernatural origin. We must also take into consideration that the Holy Light appears only by the invocation of an Orthodox Archbishop.[1]

The miracle is not confined to what actually happens inside the little tomb, where the Patriarch prays. What may be even more significant, is that the blue light is reported to appear and be active outside the tomb. Every year many believers claim that this miraculous light ignites candles, which they hold in their hands, of its own initiative. All in the church wait with candles in the hope that they may ignite spontaneously. OOften unlit oil lamps catch light by themselves before the eyes of the pilgrims. The blue flame is seen to move in different places in the Church. A number of signed testimonies by pilgrims, whose candles lit spontaneously, attest to the validity of these ignitions. The person who experiences the miracle from close up by having the fire on the candle or seeing the blue light usually leaves Jerusalem changed, and for everyone having attended the ceremony, there is always a "before and after" the miracle of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem.

How old is the wonder?

The first writtenaccount of the Holy Fire (Holy Light) dates from the fourth century, but authors write about events that occurred in the first century. So Ss. John Damascene and Gregory of Nissa narrate how the Apostle Peter saw the Holy Light in the Holy Sepulchre after Christ's resurrection. "One can trace the miracle throughout the centuries in the many itineraries of the Holy Land." The Russian abbot Daniel, in his itinerary written in the years 1106-07, presents the "Miracle of the Holy Light" and the ceremonies that frame it in a very detailed manner. He recalls how the Patriarch goes into the Sepulchre-chapel (the Anastasis) with two candles. The Patriarch kneels in front of the stone on which Christ was laid after his death and says certain prayers, at which point the miracle occurs. Light proceeds from the core of the stone - a blue, indefinable light which after some time kindles unlit oil lamps as well as the Patriarch's two candles. This light is "The Holy Fire", and it spreads to all people present in the Church. The ceremony surrounding "The Miracle of the Holy Fire" may be the oldest unbroken Christian ceremony in the world. From the fourth century A.D. all the way up to our own time, sources recall this awe-inspiring event. From these sources it becomes clear that the miracle has been celebrated on the same spot, on the same feast day, and in the same liturgical frame throughout all these centuries.[2]

Every time heterodox have tried to obtain the Holy Fire they have failed. Three such attempts are known. Two occured in the twelfth century when priests of the Roman church tried to force out the Orthodox church but by their own confession these ended with God's punishment. [3,4] But the most miraculous event occured in the year 1579, the year when God clearly testified to whom alone may be given His miracle.

"Once the Armenians (monophysites - ed.) paid the Turks, who then occupied the Holy Land, in order to obtain permission for their Patriarch to enter the Holy Sepulchre, the Orthodox Patriarch was standing sorrowfully with his flock at the exit of the church, near the left column, when the Holy Light split this column vertically and flashed near the Orthodox Patriarch.

A Muslim Muezzin, called Tounom, who saw the miraculous event from an adjacent mosque, immediately abandoned the Muslim religion and became an Orthodox Christian. This event took place in 1579 under Sultan Mourad IV, when the Patriarch of Jerusalem was Sophrony IV.(The above mentioned split column still exists. It dates from the twelfth century. The Orthodox pilgrims embrace it at the "place of the split" as they enter the church).[2, date and name are corrected]

Turkish warriors stood on the wall of a building close to the gate and lightning-struck column . When he saw this striking miracle he cried that Christ is truly God and leaped down from a height of about ten meters. But he was not killed-the stones under him became as soft as wax and his footprint was left upon them. The Turks tried to scrape away these prints but they could not destroy them; so they remain as witnesses [5].

He was burned by the Turks near the Church. His remains, gathered by the Greeks, lay in the monastery of Panagia until the 19th century shedding chrism.

Muslims, who deny the Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ, tried to put obstacles in the way of the miracle. Well known Muslim historian Al Biruni wrote: "… a (note: Muslim) governor brought a copper wire instead of a wick (note: for the self lighting oil lamps), in order that it wouldn't ignite and the whole thing would fail to occur. But as the fire descended, the copper burned."[6]

This was not the only attempt. The report written by the English chronicler, Gautier Vinisauf, describes what happened in the year 1192.

"In 1187, the Saracens under the direction of Sultan Salah ad-Din took Jerusalem. In that year, the Sultan desired to be present at the celebration, even though he was not a Christian. Gautier Vinisauf tells us what happened: "On his arrival, the celestial fire descended suddenly, and the assistants were deeply moved...the Saracens... said that the fire which they had seen to come down was produced by fraudulent means. Salah ad-Din, wishing to expose the imposter, caused the lamp, which the fire from Heaven had lighted, to be extinguished, but the lamp relit immediately. He caused it to be extinguished a second time and a third time, but it relit as of itself. Thereupon, the Sultan, confounded, cried out in prophetic transport: 'Yes, soon shall I die, or I shall lose Jerusalem.'"[7]

A miracle that is unknown in the West

One can ask the question of why the miracle of the Holy Fire is almost unknown in Western Europe. In Protestant areas it may, to a certain extent, be explained by the fact that there is no real tradition of miracles; people don't really know in which box to place the miracles, and they rarely feature in newspapers. But in the Catholic tradition there is vast interest in miracles. Thus, why is it not more well known? For this only one explanation suffices: Church politics. Only the Orthodox Churches attend the ceremony which is centered on the miracle. It only occurs on the Orthodox date of Easter and without the presence of any Catholic authorities.[2]

The question of the authenticity of the miracle

As with any other miracle there are people who believe it is a fraud and nothing but a masterpiece of Orthodox propaganda. They believe the Patriarch has a lighter inside of the tomb. These critics, however, are confronted with a number of problems. Matches and other means of ignition are recent inventions. Only a few hundred years ago lighting a fire was an undertaking that lasted much longer than the few minutes during which the Patriarch is inside the tomb. One then could perhaps say, he had an oil lamp burning inside, from which he kindled the candles, but the local authorities confirmed that they had checked the tomb and found no light inside it.

The best arguments against a fraud, however, are not the testimonies of the shifting Patriarchs. The biggest challenges confronting the critics are the thousands of independent testimonies by pilgrims whose candles were lit spontaneously in front of their eyes without any possible explanation. According to our investigations, it has never been possible to film any of the candles or oil lamps igniting by themselves. However, I am in the possession of a video filmed by a young engineer from Bethlehem, Souhel Nabdiel. Mr. Nabdiel has been present at the ceremony of the Holy Fire since his early childhood. In 1996 he was asked to film the ceremony from the balcony of the dome of the Church. Present with him on the balcony were a nun and four other believers. The nun stood at the right hand of Nabdiel. On the video one can see how he films down on the crowds. At a certain point all lights are turned off - it is time for the Patriarch to enter the tomb and receive the Holy Fire. While he is still inside the tomb one suddenly hears a scream of surprise and wonder originating from the nun standing next to Nabdiel. The camera begins to shake, as one hears the excited voices of the other people present on the balcony. The camera now turns to the right, whereby it is possible to contemplate the cause of the commotion. A big candle, held in the hand of the Russian nun, takes fire in front of all the people present before the patriarch comes out of the tomb. She holds the candle with shaking hands while making the sign of the Cross over and over again in awe of the miracle she has witnessed. This video appears to be the closest one gets to an actual filming of the miracle.

Orthodox Easter

It’s that time of year, when the toll of bells for the celebration of Easter can be heard all over Russia. Easter is the most important holiday of the Orthodox Church, because it marks the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Novoiyerusalemskiy Monastery.

In 2008 Easter falls on Sunday, April, 27. The date of Orthodox Easter, however, is not fixed on the same day every year, but is calculated according to a table that dates back to Julius Caesar in 45 BC (hence the Julian Calendar). According to the Julian Calendar, Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon following the spring equinox (March 21st). The changes in the dates for Easter are the origins of the phrase ‘a moveable feast.’

The Catholic and Protestant churches use the later 16th Century Gregorian Calendar, which sometimes coincides with the older Julian Calendar; in 2007 both Orthodox and Catholic Easter had celebrated on the same day.

The origin of the Russian name for Easter, Пасха (Paskha), can be traced back to two possible sources; an ancient Judaic holiday called ‘Pasah’ which was celebrated every year during one week in spring, to mark the date when the Jews were released from Egyptian slavery; and to the Greek word ‘pasho’ which means “to suffer.”

The 40 days before Orthodox Easter is called Great Lent, and is a period of preparation. The last week before Easter is called Holy Week. During these days church services remind worshippers about the last moments of Christ’s life on Earth.

Maundy Thursday during Holy Week has a special significance; this is the day when Jesus shared the Last Supper with his followers and was betrayed by one of them. The Twelve Gospels telling the history of all Christ’s Passions are read in the church; during the service people stand with burning candles in their hands. In olden days, people brought the candles home and made a sign of the Cross on the door jambs with the ‘holy fire.’

The common name of this day is Pure Thursday. People clean their houses, crockery and all utensils. This is a time to prepare dishes for the holiday: painted eggs, kulich, and paskha. The reason for this is that during the last three days of Holy Week it is forbidden to work or to do anything around the house.

A few ceremonies before Easter have a clearly pagan character (though not all are still observed today): silver and gold are submerged into water in the hope that their owner will be rich and strong in future; women will cut tips from their braids so that the hair will grow thick and long.

Holy Friday is a day of mourning, and people are not supposed to eat anything. On the eve of Holy Saturday, devout Christians do not leave the church after the liturgy, but remain there until nightfall, and consume only bread and wine.

The night of Sunday is the culmination of the Easter celebration, with the midnight service, the procession around the church with burning candles, and the joyous Morning Prayer and Communion service bringing people together in a spiritual joy. Priests change their black vestments to white ones; eggs, pashka and kulich are blessed, and Great Lent is over.

Orthodox Christians greet each other with the words: “Христос Воскрес!” (“Christ has risen!”), and reply, “Воистину воскрес!” (Truly He has risen!).

Easter Traditions

Each day of the Easter Week had a name and certain traditions are observed. Many of these traditions are a mixture of pagan and Christian beliefs.

• Triple kissing and the giving of eggs as presents are the distinctive features of celebrating Easter in Russia.
• On the first day of Easter people marvel at sunrise early in the morning and predict weather for all of the summer.
• People put on new clothes as a symbol of new life, a tradition that goes back to the early Christians who were baptized at sunrise on the first Easter day.
• After the end of Lent, it is allowed to wear bright and colourful clothes. The most popular colour is red.
• It is believed that the gates to heaven are open during Easter week and everybody who dies during this time goes straight to heaven.

Monday and Tuesday: ‘Bathing’; Water is poured over those who overslept the morning service.

Wednesday: ‘Hailing’; It is believed that nobody should work on the Wednesday of this week, so that crops won’t be beaten with hail.
Thursday: The Dead are remembered in prayers.

Friday: ‘Forgiveness Day’; relatives and friends ask forgiveness from each other.

Saturday: ‘Round-Dancing’ takes place (images of this dancing are often used on lacquer boxes)

Sunday: ‘Red Hill’ is the day for meeting spring. A straw dummy is placed at the top of a hill, and here men and women meet to sit in a circle, and sing and dance. The day is thought of as a holiday for virgins, because it is now that matchmaking starts again, and weddings can take place (weddings are not allowed during Lent).

Easter Eggs

The egg occupies a central place in the Orthodox Easter holiday. The egg that has been blessed in the church is the first thing to be eaten after the Easter service. People exchanged eggs, presented them to relatives, friends and neighbours, and families brought eggs to the graves of descendents, and shared eggs with poor people.

The tradition of colouring eggs goes back to the history of Mary Magdalene, who came to Rome to meet Emperor Tiberius, and presented him with a red egg saying: “Христос Воскрес!” (“Christ has risen!”), and then started to preach about the Resurrection of Christ.

But in pre-Christian times painted eggs had been used by Slavs in their pagan rituals to celebrate the coming of spring. Some of the later Easter rituals concerning eggs go back to those times: an egg was put in a bucket with seeds of wheat grains and these were preserved for sowing.

The painted egg is the most popular Easter gift. Artists decorated natural eggs, such as chicken, duck, swan, goose. Craftsmen carved eggs from wood and bone, or fashioned them from papier-mache and glass. Thousands of small eggs were made by small commercial workshops across Russia.

Imperial Eggs

Since the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in the early 17th Century it was traditional for the Tsar to give out eggs as presents (Tsar Alexei gave out some thirty-seven thousand). The Imperial Porcelain Factory began to make Easter eggs in 1748, and they became so popular that the number produced annually reached 15,365 pieces in 1916. These eggs were the most expensive: it took forty days to paint one egg, and cost 75 roubles, which was a large sum of money.

Russian Tsars and Emperors all zealously observed this Easter tradition. In 1885 Alexander III asked the fashionable jeweller Karl Faberge to produce an Easter egg as a present for his wife, Empress Maria Fyodorovna. Alexander was so impressed with the quality and beauty of Faberge’s work that he appointed him the chief supplier to the Court. In total fifty Easter egg masterpieces were created by Faberge for the imperial family, the last of them for Nicholas II.

Paint Your Own
The easiest and most common way to paint eggs is to boil them together with onion husks. Just put the husks in cold water, clean the eggs and boil for 10 minutes. When the eggs are ready, wipe them dry and then rub until they shine with a cloth soaked in vegetable oil. You can then paint them as you wish.

Easter Food

Ritual food is a significant part of the Orthodox Easter celebrations. Kulich, paskha (made from cottage cheese), and painted eggs are all blessed in the church before eating.

The Easter breakfast was, and still is, an important ritual, and brings together all family members to sit around a beautifully–decorated table for a sumptuous feast. The Lenten fast is broken by first eating the eggs blessed in church. Tradition said that the head of the family should take one egg and cut it in pieces, according to the number of family members sitting around the table; each part that was given out was believed to contain happiness for the entire year ahead. Kulich and paskha are next divided up in the same way. Only then was it allowed to proceed to other dishes of the feast.

The substantial Easter breakfast was then followed by a no less substantial dinner. But, despite all this feasting, it was not allowed to eat after sunset. The first day of Easter was spent with the family, and guests were not supposed to come; after that, everybody was welcome. Leftovers from the feast could not be thrown away, or given to animals, but had to be burnt or buried in the ground.

Kulich
It is better to prepare a large amount of dough for kulich, so that it can ferment better. A lot of eggs, butter and sugar should be used so that the kulich will stay fresh for a long time. A special 1-1,5 cubic litre, tall cylindrical form, made from aluminium, is used for baking kulich. Forms are washed over with butter and half-filled with dough. Kulich is decorated with sugar frosting, candied peels, nuts and sugar powder.

Imperial Kulich

Yeast — 50 g, single cream — 3 glasses, wheat flour — 1,2 kg, butter — 200 g, sugar — 200 g, 15 egg yolks, grounded cardamom (10 seeds), 1 ground nutmeg, chopped almond — 50 g, candied peels — 100 g, raisins — 100 g, ground breadcrumbs —1 full tablespoon.

Dissolve the yeast in a glass of cream, add half of the flour and put the mixture aside in a warm place. When the brew rises, add egg yolks grated with butter and sugar, the rest of the flour, cream, cardamom, nutmeg, almonds, finely-cut candied peels and washed and dried raisins. Beat the dough well and put it aside in a warm place for 1.5 to 2 hours. Mix the dough again and put it in a tall form washed over with butter and sprinkled with grounded bread crusts. Fill the form to half it’s volume and let the dough rise again until it reaches half of the form’s length, then put in the oven on a medium fire.

Paskha
Paskha is another essential dish of the holiday feast. It is prepared using fresh cottage cheese with various ingredients. All is carefully mixed and laid in a special form (from wood or plastic) which is then set under press for a few hours to separate the whey. The form is carefully opened and the paskha is laid on the plate.

"Christos voskres" XB!

The Easter celebration is by far the most important in the Russian Orthodox Church. Many of the symbols of this festival are already familiar like the gorgeous folk-art Easter eggs, easily identified by their intricate patterns and colors of red, black and golden-yellow. Equally impressive are the images of the bejeweled and bedazzling enameled eggs created by court jeweler and artist Karl Fabergé.

The traditional Easter foods are a nut and fruit filled yeast cake called kulich and an accompanying sweet cheese spread called paskha. The recipes for these delicacies are involved and time-consuming. The classic kulich was begun several days before Easter. It contained candied fruit, almonds, and raisins. It was always baked in a special kind of pan - tall and cylindrical, sort of like a coffee can. When the cake was done, it was decorated with white frosting drizzled down the sides. On the side, spelled out in pieces of candied fruit, were the letters XB, representing the Cyrillic letters for "Christos voskres" -- "Christ is risen."

Often the kulich were carried to church and set out on long tables to be blessed by the priest. (In the old days, the priest would often make a "house call" to his wealthier parishioners to bless the food at home.)

Next to the cake was the paskha, presented carefully molded in a pyramid shape. The letters "XB" were also inscribed on this creation. Creating this delight took hours - it requires weighing down "pot cheese" with a heavy board to drain the moisture and then pressing it though a sieve before the other ingredients were added. A Russian princess told a 19th century reporter a version where she added no nuts or currants, but the zest of one lemon. Depending on the household, it is decorated with almonds and candied fruit, or served with a slice of almond bread (in the Baltic states) or with walnut and raisin bread.

Russia celebrates Easter

MOSCOW, April 27 - The main Orthodox religious holiday -- Easter -- has come to Russia.

Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia has congratulated Christians on the holiday.

A religious procession went around the cathedral before the main service. Participants in the procession lit candles from the Holy Fire brought on a special flight from Jerusalem to Russia on Saturday.

Putin and Medvedev are present at the Easter service in the cathedral.

According to polls, most people in the country celebrate the holiday this year. Easter services are held in all the Russian Orthodox churches numbering 28,000 all over the world

TTC strike survival guide: How to get to work if it's still on Monday

So the TTC is on strike and you'll have to get to work (or anywhere else for that matter). The Post’s Matthew Liebenberg has some suggestions to help you get prepared for the battle ahead.

Walk

If your destination is close enough, just walk. Make sure you wear comfortable clothes and shoes and leave earlier. For some motivation on the benefits of walking and hints about good posture, check out the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Web site.

Car Pool

The roads will be packed, so everyone will benefit from carpooling. If you can't organize your own car pool with co-workers or friends, try to find a carpool online:

Carpool.ca
Smartcommute.ca
Carpooltool.com
Erideshare.com

Staff and students that need to get to York University can look for a shared ride at the York University Carpool Zone.

Keep in mind that these online carpool sites are not really aimed at one-time or occasional users, so don't delay in trying to find a match.

Carpoolers using Highways 403 and 404 will be able to use the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. Only passenger vehicles with two or more occupants can use HOV lanes. They are the inside (leftmost) lane and clearly marked by signs and diamond symbol pavement markings. Don't get tempted to use the HOV lane – police warn they will be out in force to ensure lane rules are followed.

To make it easier to connect with your carpool partners, the Ministry of Transportation provides free carpool parking near highway interchanges across the GTA. The full list is here (PDF)

As part of the City of Toronto contingency plans, bus lanes on Eglinton Avenue, Bay Street, Fleet Street, King Street. and Pape Avenue will become car pool lanes during the strike. Across the city free parking will also be available in the parking lots of 14 community centres and arenas, with preference given to multi-occupant vehicles. See here for the location of the 14 designated parking lots.

If you want to know more about road conditions before you leave home:
Ministry of Transportation road info
City of Toronto road info

Parking

With more people looking for parking, you want to be prepared. Check out the location of municipal parking facilities.

The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) operates 150 parking facilities, including 19 parking garages, that provide 20,000 off-street spaces. There are also 17,500 pay-and-display on-street parking spaces.

In addition, the TPA operates 12,500 spaces on behalf of the TTC at their park and ride facilities. According to TPA president Gwyn Thomas these facilities will be available for free parking during the duration of the strike.

To find information about the location of private parking lots:
Impark Toronto
ParkingHunter

Emergency traffic routes

For the duration of the transit strike, no parking will be allowed between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday to Friday on the following emergency routes in the city:

• Avenue Rd./University Ave. between Lawrence Ave. and Front St.
• Bloor St./Danforth Ave. between Jane St. and Victoria Park Ave.
• Yonge St. between Front St. and Steeles Ave.
• Eglinton Ave. between Allen Rd. and Brentcliffe Rd.
• Bayview Ave. from Eglinton Ave. to Lawrence Ave.
• Finch Ave. from Highway 400 to Jane St.
• McCowan Rd. from Eglinton Ave. to Ellesmere Rd.
• Lawrence Ave. from Markham Rd. to Brimley Rd.
• The Queensway from Roncesvalles Ave. to Parkside Dr.

Use a bike

If you're planning to buy a bike or get your bike repaired, you may want to get to a bike shop soon. Cycling stores have been very busy selling bikes and accessories and doing tune-ups. You can find a bike dealer here.

You can also rent a bike for $10 a day from the Community Bicycle Network and get discount if you rent for longer, or even buy a recycled bike from them.

To assist you in planning a route along the various bicycle lanes and paths, use this map.

There will probably be many cyclists around during the strike that are not frequent users and not so skillful on their bikes and in sharing the road. To keep safe while you're cycling, look here and here.

Use your motorcycle

Maybe it's time to dust of your motorcycle after its winter hibernation. In gridlock you may not get there much faster, but at least you will use less fuel. If you have a valid motorcycle license but no bike, consider renting one.

Use a taxi

Be prepared to pay more for your trip, because your ride is probably going to take longer on the busier roads. To get an estimate of the taxi fare to your destination, look here.

You're also going to wait longer for your cab, as more people are going to make that call.

• 416-Taxicab 416-8294222
• Able Atlantic Taxi 416-298-1111
• Beck Taxi 416-751-5555
• Co-op Cabs 416-504-2667
• Crown Taxi 416-240-0000
• Diamond Taxicab 416-366-6868
• Royal Taxi 416-777-9222

A trip to the airport

GO Transit will still operate from York Mills and Yorkdale subway stations to Pearson's Terminal 1. For details about schedules and fares, see the GO Transit Web site.

Pacific Western’s Airport Express bus service from downtown Toronto to Pearson will continue to run every 20 minutes during peak periods and every 30 minutes during off-peak periods.

Aerofleet Services provides a 24 hour, 120 vehicle service to Pearson. See here for details.

A 24 hour car rental service is available at Pearson. For information about the five car rental agencies operating at the airport and other off-airport car rental agencies, visit the Pearson Web site.

Other transit operations

GO Transit will continue to operate regular services, but expects higher ridership and some delays at stations, especially Union Station. GO suggests that customers arrive earlier to get parking and buy tickets. To prevent lineups at ticket offices, one can buy multi-ride tickets in advance. The City of Mississauga will relax parking enforcement around GO stations for the duration of the strike. For updates on service and schedules, visit the GO website.

While the 14 contracted TTC routes in York Region will be out of service during the strike, York Region Transit (YRT) will continue to operate all other services according to normal schedules. In addition there will be extra buses on GO shuttle routes during morning and afternoon rush hour and all express services will be diverted to the nearest GO station. Existing YRT services to TTC locations will continue, but pick-up and drop-off of passengers will happen on-street. For more detail about service and schedules, visit the YRT website.

The weather

Whatever your mode of transport, don't forget to keep an eye on the weather forecast. For Monday the forecast includes showers and wet clothes will not help to lower your stress levels.

Surprise transit strike hits Toronto

TORONTO - A sudden transit strike idled the city's fleet of subways, streetcars and buses Saturday as pressure mounted on Premier Dalton McGuinty to legislate the workers back to the job.

Thousands of people headed to work or planning other trips were forced to walk, call cabs or scramble to find other ways to get around after the 9,000 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union walked out at midnight, just hours after rejecting a tentative contract proposal Friday night.

"I had no idea there was a strike," said George Sukhu, who had to walk Saturday instead of riding the subway.

"I don't know what they're asking for because the deal that was worked out gives them better pay than the rest of the transit industry."

Union leader Bob Kinnear said he had no choice but to set aside a promise to give 48 hours notice of a walkout out of concern for the safety of his members given some "irrational members of the public."

Sukhu said he was "at a loss" to understand Kinnear's explanation.

"Maybe they can be a little more user-friendly to the public. The prices are skyrocketing and I can hardly afford $100 a month for a (transit) pass."

Kinnear was meeting with his union executive Saturday morning and planned a news conference afterward.

In the interim, an Ontario Ministry of Labour mediator called the two sides back to the bargaining table for Saturday afternoon.

Toronto Transit Commission chairman Adam Giambrone said he was disappointed a tentative deal the union executive had recommended its members ratify had nevertheless been turned down.

"A lot of this has to do with how the contract was portrayed and not the actual details," Giambrone told CP24.

"It's going to be very difficult for us to negotiate when we had a contract that was recommended by the union."

Waits for taxis, which were not accepting advance bookings, were higher than normal and even motorists found themselves affected by the strike.

Ben Bumanlag, who cuts hair downtown, was dismayed to find his usual $5-a-day parking lot was suddenly charging $15.

"It's too much," Bumanlag complained. "They're taking advantage."

Mayor David Miller called the surprise turn of events "unacceptable" and called on McGuinty to intervene. Opposition Leader John Tory made a similar call for an emergency session of the legislature.

McGuinty said he would recall the legislature to deal with the strike as soon as possible.

"I informed the mayor that we will be proceeding with back-to-work legislation at the first available opportunity," McGuinty said in a release early Saturday.

It was not immediately clear when that might happen.

While the walkout left thousands of people stranded as buses and streetcars changed their signs to "not in service," police reported no incidents related to the job action overnight.

Despite the tentative agreement that provided wage increases of three per cent a year over three years, it appeared that the transit commission's three-thousand maintenance workers felt let down by the deal.

Their major concern is that contracting out of their work will lead to job losses.

The TTC, however, said warranty work on new vehicles is being done by the manufacturer but even much of that is being done in-house.

Tory called the strike "outrageous."

"It jeopardizes public safety and is irresponsible at best," he fumed. "The process to bring the strike to a swift end must begin immediately."

ELLE SHOW APRIL 24-26, 2008

Elle Show

Canada's premier consumer fashion and beauty event

Price: Adult: $15 (general admission), Student: $12 (id required)

Elle Canada magazine hosts The Elle Show happening this spring at The Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.

The three-day fashion and beauty event invites the public to attend fashion shows and meet the designers, test the latest beauty products, pick up expert tips on nutrition, wellness and living, attend seminars and demonstrations -- and shop!

Elle's main stage hosts a series of seminars and demonstrations to help you make the most of your look. Learn how to dress for success, enhance your beauty regimen and be stylish and sexy no matter what your age.

The Beauty Grand Prix Live gives you an up-close look and the chance to try the winning beauty products as tested by Elle's consumer panel.

For peace of mind, sign up for a personal reading with Susan King, a leading intuitive counsellor who has many clients from the world of film, fashion and sport. Visit www.elleshow.ca to reserve a reading and receive a special rate. Limited reservations available.

Opening Night Gala:
An Opening night gala features Canada’s next top design talent with the Toronto Fashion Incubator’s (TFI) New Labels fashion show and competition. The evening starts with cocktails, followed by a VIP sit-down dinner before the show. The winning designer will receive a prize package valued at $25,000.

You’ll also have an opportunity to buy some of the most unique items in the fashion world at a silent auction. Proceeds from the evening are in support of the Toronto Fashion Incubator, a not-for-profit group dedicated to nurturing, supporting and promoting young and emerging Canadian fashion designers.

Tickets:
Adult (general admission) - $15
Student (id required) - $12
TFI Opening Night Cocktails & Show - $50
VIP Opening Night Cocktail Dinner & Show - $250
VIP Opening Night Cocktail Dinner & Show (table of 10) - $2000

To purchase tickets click here

For more information, schedules and exhibitors visit www.elleshow.ca

Event Schedule

Direct Energy Centre

Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Annual Chef Festival at Cheese Boutique

The Annual May Festival of Chefs at CheeseB is now in preparation for a milestone 5th year with a ramped up agenda.

For starters, there is going to be an extra day added to the roster. 10 Chefs and their representative restaurants will highlight some established favourites as well as introducing some destinations that Toronto has embraced.

For those that haven't experienced the Festival before--here's a quick rundown:

Every Saturday and Sunday in May, Cheese Boutique will host some of the finest establishments in Toronto and the Chefs behind them. The invitation is a chance for patrons to experience what Cheese Boutique offers through the hands of masters.

Cooking Demonstrations: Patrons can interact with the chefs, and receive complimentary samples of their cuisine.

Wine Pairing: Conducted by Sommeliers

The Roster:
May 3: Anthony Walsh, Canoe
May 4: Bruce Woods, Centro
May 10: Jamie Kennedy, JK Kitchens
May 11: Patrick McMurray, Starfish
May 17: Massimo Capra, Mistura
May 18: Mike Steh, reds bistro
May 24: Ted Corrado, ROM c5
May 25: Jonathan Gushue, Langdon Hall
May 31: Keith Froggett, Scaramouche
June 1: Lino Collevecchio, Via Allegro

This year Cheese Boutique is in conjunction with American Express. American Express will offer a charitable donation of 5% of your total purchase using your AMEX card to benefit the Canadian Association of Food Banks. All participating restaurants in the festival and including its host, Cheese Boutique, are part of this campaign for a donation up to $50,000. Please visit AMEX for more info.

This year, CheeseB has planned a Media Launch to kick off the festival in grand style. A celebrity chef's who's who hosting this year's lineup as well as alumni chefs from past year's for a cocktail celebration... The kick-off party goes down on April 21st, 6-8 pm at Cheese Boutique!

Evidently the store is going to be open that Monday night--should be an entertaining shopping experience if you can make it out :-)

A little reminder of festival's gone by--click to go back to 2007.

Cheese Boutique

45 Ripley Avenue
Toronto, ON M6S 3P2
416 762-6292

The Tudors Officially Renewed

The Tudors has officially been renewed for a third season!
Production is slated to begin on June 16th in Dublin.
The third season will include two of Henry's other wives - Jane Seymour and Anne Cleves.

Bravo to the cast and crew on another upcoming season!

Hard to believe that this little show - which was slated to be just a ten-episode mini-series - has been transformed into a three season series!

Here's to many more seasons to come!

How Green Are You Anyway?

Earth Day always inspires a slew of pledges to better one’s relationship with the environment. As we’ve heard so many times, small changes make a big difference. But even so, being perfectly, flawlessly eco-friendly is as impossible as looking like Tanya D. Oh, green guilt! Thou art so hard to shed. Chic Report asked fashion insiders to share their own triumphs (and tribulations) with a green lifestyle.

Alexander Wang:
“Recycling! It’s the easiest thing, but every time I want to recycle something in the city there are only trash cans available on the street! I think the City of New York should do something about that!”

Bette Midler:
“For every green guilt that I have, I plant a tree as part of my charity!”

Amy Sacco:
“I drink out of plastic water bottles. To cure my guilt, I got a Brita water filter system and I also carry a sports bottle.”

Sasha Pivovarova:
“I think I’m causing the use of too much airplane fuel! Also, sometimes I’m so exhausted that I go to bed with the lights on. I do nothing to fix it.”

Charlotte Ronson:
“My fish swims in Fiji water!”

Kate White:
“I really try to be good but my one sin is that if I’m home alone, I leave the lights on so roving serial killers think I’m giving an all-night party.”

Annelise Peterson:
“I recycle my plastic, may be the only person who is willing to walk 20 minutes instead of drive in Los Angeles, feel guilty being even a passenger in an SUV, and use eco friendly paper products. But one thing I always forget to do is unplug my cell phone charger from the electric source when I run out the door. Apparently, that is one of the biggest faux-vertes one can make!”

Tatianna Sorokko:
“For over a decade I’ve driven a series of Range Rovers, which have sometimes doubled as my mobile office. I think the efficiency in which I use my Rover should be taken into consideration - from the driver’s seat I can complete more in an afternoon of running errands and moving between appointments than most people sitting at their computer in an air-conditioned office. Beside, I think my letter writing campaign to Land Rover has paid off - they introduced an eco-friendly Rover at January’s Detroit auto show - so my days of excess fuel consumption are nearly over!”

Hana Soukupova:
“I got a Range Rover as I just learned to drive and it’s big and safe and great for driving around NYC. I am very eco-conscious and must admit I have been considering a different car for the summer. I’m thinking of swapping it for a Mini Cooper…better for the environment and gets better gas mileage. Maybe a red one with a white racing stripe to zip through cross town traffic (just like Charlize Theron in The Italian Job.)”

Yvonne Force Villareal:
“I’m actually a tap water drinkin’ vegetarian eatin’ kinda gal!”

Amanda Brooks:
“I bought some of those wax Whole Foods shopping bags. Also, my daughter Coco goes to a very environmentally friendly school that’s turned her into an Earth Nazi! She’s always saying to do things ‘because it’s good for the environment.’”

Linda Fargo:
“I was in Gracious Home yesterday and I bought all green cleaning supplies and paper products.”

Karen Erickson, designer of Erickson Beamon:
“I only use Seventh Generation products at home and in the offices but sometimes, we use Bounty paper towels, because it’s the quicker picker upper…but not as eco-friendly.”

Elettra Wiedemann Rossellini:
“I’m giving a lecture at Parsons today about sustainability and then hosting a little party afterward.”

Susan Cianciolo:
“I drink iced bubble teas from Chinatown that come in plastic drink cups with giant straws.”

Rebecca Minkoff:
“I try to be as Earth conscious as possible – 5 percent of the proceeds from my Eco Bag are being donated to the Earth Organization – but there are some old habits that really die hard. I can’t bear the thought of not getting my daily Starbucks brew in that comforting cardboard cup.”

Roopal Patel:
1. Recycle, recycle. Separate glass, plastic, paper, magazine etc on a daily basis. Re use plastic bags for trash bags, etc.
2. Bring purse or tote to the farmers market and whole foods in Union Square. LL Bean canvas totes make it easy to transport your groceries around. Saves on plastic bags.
3. Use energy saving light bulbs at home.
4. Unplug electrical gear in the house when I travel for long periods of time.
5. Don’t waste water while brushing your teeth

EARTH DAY on the FASHION WEEK DAILY

Chicaholic is all about supporting Mother Earth so on this most momentous occasion, the folks at 360 Vodka shared a recipe for one of their mean green cocktails: the Ecotini. So gather your other tree-hugging hippie friends and enjoy!

Ecotini

2 oz. 360 Vodka

2 oz. Green Tea

Sweetened with Green Tea Liqueur

Shake with cracked ice and strain into martini glass and garnish with a mint sprig.

TTC strike averted but debate over essential service continues

Transit users in Toronto heaved a collective sigh of relief as buses, streetcars and subways rolled out in time for Monday morning's rush hour, after a last-minute deal was struck between the city and its main transit union.

But although most people are relieved a strike didn't create chaos, some are already looking ahead and asking, "What about next time?"

An agreement was reached at about 6 p.m. ET Sunday — two hours past the deadline set by the union for a deal to be in place — and ended days of concern for commuters.

About 1.5 million riders use the TTC every workday.

Bob Kinnear, the Amalgamated Transit Union's Local 113 president, said Sunday he's happy with the tentative three-year agreement, which contains no concessions and would make TTC employees the best-paid transit workers in the Greater Toronto Area.

"This is an agreement that all parties can live with and therefore our executive board will be recommending ratification of this agreement," Kinnear said.

The agreement includes a three per cent wage increase in each year, plus an improved benefits package.

Had a strike been called, 8,900 drivers and maintenance workers would have hit the picket lines on Monday morning.

Essential service or not?

Although the TTC contract was settled before the all-out strike was to take effect at 4 a.m., several city councillors are saying they want the TTC designated an essential service.

Such a move would take away the union's right to strike.

But it would also pave the way for binding arbitration, and Toronto City Hall does not necessarily welcome that idea, with Mayor David Miller and TTC chair Adam Giambrone appearing lukewarm about it.

Giambrone points out that Toronto hasn't been hit by a legal transit strike since 1999, and essential service legislation wouldn't necessarily stop labour disruptions. In May 2006, TTC workers staged a one-day illegal walkout.

"It doesn't always work the way you plan out. I'm pretty happy with the system we have now," he said in an interview on Monday.

If the union loses its right to strike, it gains the right to binding arbitration, and Giambrone says those settlements are often more expensive.

Anil Verma, a labour relations expert at the University of Toronto, agrees.

"Generally workers get more than they would under bargaining and it is for this reason that many employers in the private sector are reluctant to go to arbitration," said Verma.

Designating the TTC essential would be up to the Ontario government.

Premier Dalton McGuinty said on Friday he'd be willing to look at that option, but only if a request comes from City Hall.

Two councillors have introduced a motion to make that request, which could be debated at the next council meeting.

Starbucks: Bring Your Own Mug, Get a Free Cup of Coffee on Earth Day (April 22)

Celebrating Earth Day Everyday at Starbucks

Here's a tasty, green freebie in honour of Earth Day. As in years past, Starbucks will offer a free cup of coffee to anyone who brings in a reusable mug of their own on April 22, 2008 (that's Earth Day and it's tomorrow, for those of you who haven't been paying attention). The link goes to last year's press release, but we've called a few Starbucks locations and have been assured that the promotion is on again this year. If you want to confirm that your local Starbucks is going to be serving up free coffee, you can use their store locator and give them a call. Enjoy your coffee!

Don't forget, Starbucks also has an ongoing green initiative where you will receive 10 cents off your beverage when you bring your own mug. This offer is good every day, all year round.

Potential TTC Strike 4am Monday April 21st

In the event of a TTC strike, IADT students and employees are encouraged to make alternate transportation plans. All courses and services will continue as scheduled. We regret any inconvenience the interruption of TTC services presents to everyone. Students who have questions or concerns should contact the Program Coordinator or instructor for a specific course.

For those who live close by, cycling may be an option. For others you may wish to consider carpooling or contact GO Transit at (416) 869-3200 www.gotransit.com; Mississauga Transit (905) 615-4636 www.mississaugatransit.com; Brampton Transit (905) 874-2750 www.city.brampton.on.ca or York Region Transit (905) 762-2100 www.yrt.ca

Viktoria having lots of fun celebrating her 2nd Anniversary in Canada, APRIL, 17 2008

Orthodox Christians celebrate Palm Sunday

Russia’s Orthodox Christians are celebrating Palm Sunday. The day is the sixth and last Sunday of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week. The feast commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in the days before his crucifixion and resurrection.

Two thousand years ago it was not uncommon in the Middle East for people to use palm branches in triumphal processions.

In Russia, pussy-willow replaces palm as it's the first tree to blossom in Spring.

Patriarch Alexy II, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, will lead the liturgy at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.

Pope Benedict XVI visits New York

April 20, 2008

NEW YORK
— Pope Benedict XVI focused on the future of his American church Saturday as he marked the third anniversary of his election as pontiff, rallying young people, priests and seminarians and assuring them of his support as they dealt with the damage from the clergy sex abuse scandal.

On a highly personal day, he spoke of his own "spiritual poverty" and said he hoped to be a worthy successor to St. Peter, considered by Catholics to have been the first pope.

Benedict began the day with a Mass at St. Patrick's cathedral, the landmark Roman Catholic church on Fifth Avenue. The building was packed with cardinals ands bishops, priests and nuns, who cheered him to mark the day he succeeded Pope John Paul II on April 19, 2005.

The German-born pope lamented that what he called "the joy of faith" was often choked by cynicism, greed and violence. Yet he drew an analogy to show how faith can overcome distractions and trials.

"The spires of St. Patrick's Cathedral are dwarfed by the skyscrapers of the Manhattan skyline, yet in the heart of this busy metropolis they are a vivid reminder of the constant yearning of the human spirit to rise to God," he said.

In America in particular, he has said repeatedly, religious intensity stands out in marked contrast to what he considers the tepid spirituality of Europe. That makes the U.S. a testing ground for him in his bid to counter secular trends in the world.

He also returned Saturday to the sex abuse scandal that he said has caused "so much suffering" for the American church, assuring his audience "of my spiritual closeness as you strive to respond with Christian hope to the continuing challenges that this situation presents."

It was the fourth time he has spoken of the scandal since beginning his pilgrimage Tuesday. While in Washington, he met with a small group of victims from the Boston Archdiocese, where the scandal boiled over in 2002. It was believed to be the first time a pope had met with victims of clerical sex abuse.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi, meeting with reporters Saturday, was asked if the scandal had dominated the agenda of the trip. He denied that, saying it was part of the central theme of the entire visit, "to give hope to the church in the United States."

At the end of the St. Patrick's service, Benedict was clearly moved when his top assistant, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, read a tribute for the third anniversary.

Benedict told the crowd of 3,000 that "I am deeply thankful" for the support they showed him, and for "your love, your prayers."

He later was driven to St. Joseph's Seminary in nearby Yonkers for a rally with young Catholics. Upon arriving he blessed about 50 disabled youngsters in the seminary chapel. Two small girls gave him a painting and a hug.

The Rev. Michael Morris, a professor of church history at St. Joseph's, was among those cheering "Viva il Papa!" as Benedict passed by.

Morris, 47, credits John Paul's 1979 trip to the United States with drawing him toward the priesthood. He hoped Benedict's visit would inspire young men today to do the same.

"I think it was a wonderful boost for priests and religious," said Morris, speaking about the clergy, nuns and brothers in religious communities.

"We're encountering a whole new generation that is very fervent and in many ways more heroic," he said. "They've been through the scandal and they still want to serve."

Benedict himself, on the flight from Rome on Tuesday, said as he addressed the scandal that it was more important to have "good priests than to have many priests."

Putin to lead Russia's ruling party as premier

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday agreed to become leader of Russia's ruling party in a significant shift of the political landscape three weeks before he hands power to successor Dmitry Medvedev.

Putin, who leaves the Kremlin after two terms on May 7, also confirmed he would become prime minister under Medvedev.

"With gratitude I accept the proposal of the party members and their leadership.... I am ready to take on the additional responsibility and head United Russia," he told a party congress in Moscow.

The 55-year-old ex-KGB officer's announcement, which was carried live on state-run television, signalled a reordering of Russia's political mix just before Medvedev takes over.

During his eight years in the Kremlin, Putin steadily centralised power, with United Russia his tool for ensuring loyalty of the parliament.

Becoming head of the party, which won a constitutional majority with 63 percent of the vote in December elections, will now hugely strengthen Putin's status as prime minister.

The development was likely to add to questions raised in Moscow and foreign capitals over who will really be in charge from next month -- the untested Medvedev or a powerful ex-president, turned prime minister and parliament leader Putin.

"Analysts and those in the media are still trying to figure out whose portrait will end up hanging in government offices across the country," commentator Konstantin Sonin wrote in Tuesday's Moscow Times daily.

Observers say that at minimum Putin is searching for ways to slow down his impending loss of authority to Medvedev.

"Putin will not start dealing with the trifles of party business... but the position in United Russia will give him one more anchor to hold on to power," the Vedomosti business daily commented Tuesday.

The party late Monday voted changes to its charter that would allow Putin to become chairman without actually holding membership. Delegates also decided to split the leadership, with Putin taking the chairmanship and Gryzlov the more technical ruling council.

Recruiting Putin appeared to be the logical next step for a party that has always been seen as a Kremlin creation tasked with turning the once combative parliament of the 1990s into a rubber stamp.

Gryzlov, whose pleading that Putin take his job is only the latest expression of loyalty, explained Monday just how close the outgoing president and dominant party were to each other.

"The eight presidential annual addresses delivered by Vladimir Putin are what define the 'Putin course' -- the course toward becoming a great power, a great Russia. And this is the programme of our party," he said.

A Deutsche Bank analysis for investors pointed to a Putin leadership of United Russia strengthening the future role of parliament.

"At the same time, being the head of United Russia would further strengthen Putin's role in post-2008 Russia, with the post of the head of the government being complemented by greater sway over the legislature," the bank said in the note for investors.