Have you ever found yourself wishing (even if only to yourself, in your thoughts), "Gee, I wish they hadn't done that "

Sometimes, this wish is a somewhat vague annoyance, like when a series ends its season with a cliffhanger, and you don't even know if the series has been renewed for the next season or not.

This is the kind of annoyance that's fairly minor; it's not like a major affront or something deeply offensive, right? (Unless you're really fanatically dedicated to a particular show, I suppose.)

Here's an example of where I might groan a little louder, or vocally express my displeasure: CBC has begun a contest for people to come up with an anthem for "Hockey Night in Canada."

This is annoying on many levels; one, CBC showed themselves to be utter idiots when they let go the theme song that I (and millions others) have grown up with, all because they were stupidly stubborn in not paying the composer the rights she was due; the second annoyance is now they'll pay $100,000 to the winner of the contest, a contest which was absolutely and completely unnecessary. (In my mind, they shouldn't be allowed to call it "Hockey Night in Canada" anymore either )

Now, this is a hard sell as an issue in a house filled with non-hockey fans, and I the lone defender of Canada's national winter sport. (Sniffle, sniffle )

More recently an issue came up where I really, really wished they hadn't done that; here I speak of naming Dr. Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada. To name this man, responsible for legalizing the killing of unborn babies in Canada, is so ludicrous, it's almost beyond words to express it adequately.

The Order of Canada, first of all, like the office of Governor General, ought to be above politics and above divisive issues. Secondly, it ought to be honouring Canadians who have made this country better, who have made a tremendous contribution to our society and to our country; I don't care which side of the issue you're on, legalizing abortions is not a positive contribution to the welfare of our country. (Ask the over one million lives lost if they might like to have had a chance to live and contribute to our society and our lives! Oh, wait, that's right - you can't.)

Not to put too fine a point on it, but this honour is simply wrong, grossly, incredibly wrong.

The last example is perhaps a little less controversial, but I still had that feeling of "I really wish they hadn't done that!" Here, I refer to the vandalism done to the fountain at the Court House. The fountain itself originated from the Souris Valley grounds, and had been a part of the Therapeutic Animal Park; when the health district moved out of Souris Valley into Tatagwa View, and the Animal Park gained a new home as well, the fountain was donated to the Court House, and was a nice addition to that stately historic structure.

Thus the stupidity of vandalism reached a new low when some dumb-bum (you can substitute the real word if you wish) apparently lacking in intellectual power (or was willfully refusing to use said intellect) came and pushed it over, wrecking it. What was the possible purpose of that?

Well, thankfully, the broken statue has been replaced with a new one, and the water has been turned on for the fountain in the past week, so couples and grads and families can once more have their photos done on the court house lawn and include the fountain. Please, let's allow this version of the fountain to remain, and grace us with its beauty!