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Catharine asks: Where you affected by the thawing and freezing as Montreal was?

Catharine asks: If you live in the eastern part of North America/Canada, how did you cope with the cold?

Catharine asks: What is your most memorable winter moments?

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CAN BIG BROWN WIN THE TRIPLE CROWN?

This afternoon about six o’clock a sleek stallion named Big Brown will bolt from the poll position, tear down the track at Belmont and in all likelihood win the Triple Crown, the first time a horse has done so since Affirmed in 1978. It’s all the more likely that Big Brown will triumph and enter the record books becaus e his chief rival in the Belmont, Casino Drive, has been scratched at the last minute due to a hoof injury.

Itonically, Big Brown has also had a hoof problem but his handlers say it has healed and he is sound to go.

There are two horses that might challenge Big Brown at least for part of the mile and a half race. One is Denis of Cork – naturally from Ireland who finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby. The other is Tale of Ekati. And I have to confess Tale of Ekati poses a problem for me. He is a Canadian horse in the sense that he is owned by a wealthy Canadian who made his money in prospecting and mining.

I don’t thin k a Candian-owned horse has ever won the Belmont. (Although Northern Dancer just missed after winning the Derby and the Preakness. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see a Canadian step into the winner’s circle later today?

On the other hand, I also want to pu ll for Big Brown to win the Belmont and make racing history.

So I’m torn.

What about you?

What an incredible upset.

Da’Tara (38 to 1) wins the Belmont.  Big Brown finishes last.

SHOULD YOU BE FORCED TO UNDERGO CHEMO?

An 11-year-old Hamilton boy, who likes singing and dancing and writing stories, was diagnosed with leukemia four year ago. He underwent chemotherapy and this January celebrated one year cancer-free. But the disease came back in February. The boy did one round of chemotherapy, then decided to stop aggressive treatments in favour of natural remedies, including chelation therapy, vitamins, oregano and green tea. His father agreed with his son.

Chemotherapy made him extremely ill and caused effects such as vomiting, bloating, pain in his spine and difficulty walking.

The boy’s father said his son « told us that he didn’t want to undergo any more treatment because he felt that it wasn’t going to give him quality of life, that he felt it would probably take away his life. » Two of Canada’s top pediatric oncologists have said he will die without the aggressive treatment.

Enter the Hamilton Children’s Aid Society. They obtained a court order saying the boy is compelled to undergo chemo. A judge had earlier ruled the boy is not capable of understanding the implications of refusing therapy.

Now his family can only visit him under the watchful eyes of CAS workers and security guards; his father was evicted from the hospital in handcuffs after reacting in anger when his son was seized. The father said: « We may still lose against them, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up: He would rather just go traditional and natural and take it for as long as it would take him so that he could be with his friends, and so that he could be at home with his family and play with his sister and just try to have fun and live as long as he could live. »

The boy’s family has now retained a high-profile Toronto lawyer to represent their interests.  Today the boy will receive his fourth and fifth rounds of aggressive cancer treatment under the constant watch of security guards, nurses and CAS agents.

In its lead editorial this morning The Globe and Mail came out strongly for enforced treatment:  « The 11-year-old in Hamilton may know his own body, and may not wish to suffer any more.  The father may respect his son’s wishes.  But loath as a democratic society should be to intervene in family matters, it is right to assert the value it puts on children’s lives by insisting that children can’t make life-and-death decisions. »

Do you agree the boy should be forced to undergo chemotherapy?

Do you agree with the judge that an 11-year-old boy could not make an informed decision in this matter? The Catholic church teaches that seven is the age of reason.

Who should be able to make the decision about treatment in this case?

SHOULD QUEEN’S PARK DROP THE LORD’S PRAYER?

Thousands of Ontarians have signed petitions and sent on-line submissions urging Premier Dalton McGuinty to retain the Lord’s Prayer at the beginning of each day in the Legislature.

McGuinty says he believes that the Ontario legislative day should begin with a more inclusive opening that reflects the province’s diverse communities. « We continue to change as a province, as a society in terms of our makeup and our cultures and our faiths, and I think we have got a responsibility to ensure that all people feel truly at home here. »

McGuinty, who is a Catholic (his mother opposes any change) pointed out that other legislatures have dealt with this issue by eliminating opening prayers altogether or substituting a moment of silence.

Conservative member Garfield Dunlop said he has personally received hundreds of e-mails with 90-95per cent expressing support for the Lord’s Prayer.

Conservative MPP Peter Shurman said that he does not have a problem with keeping the Lord’s Prayer even though he is Jewish (and a friend and former radio colleague of mine at CJAD in Montreal).

If you were a citizen of Ontario would you be inclined to retain the Lord’s Prayer or drop it?