Monday, August 01, 2005

US law in Canada

Marc Emory, head of the Canadian Marijuana Party has been arrested and detained by the RCMP at the request of the American D.E.A. because he sells seeds of bad plants, some of which, (it is alleged) find their way into America. Extradition procedings will commence soon.
Really.
One wonders, of course, why the US D.E.A. doesn't do the same thing with the drug lords in Colombia. The fraud schemers in Nigeria. The child molester tourists in Thialand. There are all kinds of America laws being broken in many countries acround the globe.
We Canadians violate them daily, we are all dangerous criminals in the eyes of white-hat America.
- Perhaps the RCMP could arrest the Purdy's chocolate company because in Idaho, the law states all boxes of candy given as romantic gifts must weigh more than 50 pounds.
Egads, Valentine's day terror for cheap husbands!
- At last, a reason to arrest all those register-resisting gun hawks in Alberta because
in Connorsville, Wisconsin a man is legally prohibited from shooting a gun while his female partner is having an orgasm. It doesn't say anything about who she's having the orgasm with!
- No matter what you thought of your old miserable uncle, you must remain civil in his death, because
in Texas, it is illegal to curse in front of, or indecently expose oneself to a corpse. I guess old Harold Ballard will face the courts of America for pissing on Lenin's tomb in Moscow and calling him a bastard. Wait a minute, speak only good of Harold and keep your pisser in your pants, Ballard is dead now too!
- Maybe the RCMP will arrest all Canadians because in Minnesota it is illegal to have sex in any other position other than missionary. Perverts all of you. Go to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect lawyers fees. For shame.

Will we extradite all same-sex marriage couples to the USA for persecution too?
Is Paul Martin still considering decriminalizing the possession of marijuana?

UPDATE: Recently on the TV show, To Serve and Protect, the RCMP had to intermediate a squabble between a man and wife. As the cop discussed the situation, he asked about drinking or marijuana use and the 'person of interest' showed the police constable his small stash of pot in a baggie, the Mountie checked it, and GAVE IT BACK TO THE MAN! Then told them to behave and went about his business! This is an example of the de facto unagitated attitude of our Canadian police.
I love our Mounties!

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

today in history - - - July 20, 1969

- U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became the first men to set foot on the moon.
.
..
... or not.

Friday, July 15, 2005

Advertising silliness ... #7 ... Alarm Force

Alarm Force. You've heard their ads on radio. "Hey! This is alarm force central control, identitfy yourself!" The commanding voice shouts at you from a speaker somewhere.
So what does the burglar say? "Oh, it's ok, Sir, I'm the brother-in-law." Does the disjointed voice come back with, "Hmm, I guess it's ok then."
'The authorities have been notified' is their catch-phrase. Authorities? Who ARE the authorities? We naturally assume the police. It turns out that the 'authorities' are some guy they hire to give you a call or come knock at your door, and THEN maybe call the cops. And where IS Central Control? Winnipeg? Toronto? Halifax? Chicoutimi? How do you yell, "Help, the burglar is stealing the silver!" in french? Merde.
The latest is they are saying if they HEAR you being threatened they'll call the police. Hear? So they plant a bug in your house? Are they listening all day every day? All night? Do eager ears hear you pleading with your wife for Tuesday night sex? Do they hear your bank account number? Do they hear you saying that under the sofa is the best place to hide the jewels? Will they hear you saying that their $25. monthly cheque might bounce this time? And cut you off? The little mic must be powerful to hear everything in every room. Wondering what the government would give to have that ear into your private life?

Could it go like this;
Alarm force - "Identify yourself, this is Alarm Force central control!"
Unknown voice - "It's ok, man, I'm jus' waterin' the plants."
Alarm force - "Identify the plants then."
Unknown voice - "Uhm ... little jagged leafy plants. Green ones, man, what'd you expect?"
Alarm force - "How many? And don't lie. We know everything, you know."
Unknown voice - "Forty-one."
Alarm force - "Aha, should be 43, we hear everything too!"
Unknown voice - "One died and one got smoked."
Alarm force - "I'm calling the authorities."
Unknown voice - "Hey, give a guy a break, I'm only doing a little agriculture while these folks 're away."
Alarm force - "Well, I'm calling as soon as our guy in your town gets off his coffee break. Where are you anyway?"
Unknown voice - "I'm outa here."
(sound of phone dialing)
Alarm force - "Is this 9 1 1?"
911 operator - "Bonjour, où est en France Québec vous?"
Alarm force - "Oh no. I got Chicoutimi 9 1 1."
911 operator - "Département du feu? Fire department? Ambulance, Police or Wine abuse please, what do you like? We no longer take complaints against the Montreal Canadienne."
Alarm force - "Get me the cops."
911 operator - "Which city please?"
Alarm force - "Um ... er ... he didn't say ... but I think it's in BC, I heard him say 'Bud' and no one else was there, we hear everything you know."
911 operator - "Désolé, neuf un un Chicoutimi ne reconnaît pas Colombie britannique."
Alarm force - "Sheeez, you don't recognize BC? It's OUT there, get real."
Unknown voice - "Hey, man, you still there?"
Alarm force - "Uhm ... shit ... er, Identify yourself, the authorities have been notified!"
Unknown voice - "Okay okay, I'll send you another pair of ... uh ... socks."
Alarm force - "Better .... Never mind the call, 9 1 1."
911 operator - "quelle ville, which city, s'il te plaît?"

Monday, July 11, 2005

Hockey wars

Owners - We won!
Players - We won!
Fans - We lost!

Saturday, July 09, 2005

Canadian beer tricks

Lowenbrau is back. The German beer is back in our BC liquor stores after several years of absence. This quality beer imported from Munich is truly an international beer, they even label it as bier, beer, biere, birra cerveza, cerveja, imported beer, biere importee. Nice to have it back after the Canadian brewers did their sneaky trick on the Germans.


the beer, out there ...

You see, what they do when an imported beer begins to sell real well is this; They propose to the importer to make it for them here under licence, this saves the huge shipping costs and supplies their market for them. What the importer doesn't know is this; they purposely make crappy beer with the importer's label on it, thus guaranteeing that the product they're making under licence will steadily decrease in sales, become known as poor beer, destroying the reputation of the product entirely and phasing it out of the market because they usually have a long term agreement. Effectively eliminating their competition. They did it with Miller High Life when it too became very popular.
Our Canadian beer companies stop at nothing to protect their market. One beer company executive once admitted that they made seven labels of beer with only four vats. North American brewers purposely ignore the fact that in Germany the purity laws prevail in the making of beer and a company cannot dump huge amounts of artificial ingredients or chemicals into the brewing. Apparantly Budweiser has been spending millions lobbying the German government to relax these laws, because 'Bud' drinkers apparantly LIKE chemicals in their beer. And it is CHEAPER to brew that way. So far the Germans will have none of it. They're aghast at the thought! They've been making Lowenbrau in Bavaria since 1353, they know what they're doing. Danke schoen.
Welcome back, Lowenbrau, read the small print. Bitte.

Friday, July 08, 2005

Canada's Olympic team

Once again, Canada's Olympic hopes are dominated by the NHL. Wayne Gretsky is STILL unwilling to use Todd Bertuzzi on OUR team. His loyalties are clearly with the money and the NHL. One can understand that he made his millions playing in the NHL, he was actually hugely responsible for the expansion into the US market when they really needed the image. But Gretsky's ideas are misplaced. He has not the Canadian Olympic team in his mind, using the best Canadian players whoever they are, he is sticking with his American masters. He says he might place Bertuzzi on the team if his suspension is ended by the NHL.
We ask what the NHL has to do with OUR olympic team? He got away with it with the World Cup because everyone accepts that it is an NHL tournament. But the Olympics are supposed to be independent of a professional organization.
Of course the American Olympic team is thrilled that a supserstar of Bertuzzi's caliber won't be playing for Canada.
Gretsky is betraying us by his misplaced ideology. He OWES Canada, NOT the USA.
Meanwhile Sidney Crosby has a 10 million dollar offer from Lugano to play in Switzerland. SEVEN millions higher than his entry level salary would be in the NHL. What could Todd Bertuzzi get in Europe as a proven quality player?
Todd Bertuzzi should go looking, he has nothing to prove in the NHL. He should tell 'em to go to hell and enjoy his life.


Lugano, Italian Switzerland

Aide to African leaders?

Bob Geldoff has done a great thing ... drawing attention to the plight of poverty stricken Africans, and wanting to get the G8 nations to dedicate a percentage of their riches to help these desperate people. However, one must view the past to evaluate the future.
There is widespread curruption among the leaders of these impoverished nations, and while some have tried to help them, many have become resistant to outside help, blaming the West for much of their woes, yet accepting their money.
There are many documented instances of abuse of aid and where the money went, two leaders of two countries, when receiving dollars in the amounts over 100 million, bought themselves private jets. (cost-30 million) It is well known that many country's warlords SELL the medical help that arrives. Some leaders have swollen Swiss bank accounts. One leader is suspected to have stolen up to 750 MILLION from international aid! Civil wars break out daily. Aids is rampant. Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan etc etc ad nauseum, resist any Western influence, no matter how well meaning. In Swaziland the King has built 8 palaces and has a fleet of Ferraris while having the highest HIV+ rate in Africa!
In contrast, when Ian Smith was in charge in Rhodesia, it was the blooming flower of Africa, moving forward with ideas and modernization to guarantee its successful future. Some would say the same of South Africa twenty years ago.
Today Robert Mugabe destroys Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) systematically in his hatred of whites and the West. Once productive farms lie dormant or destroyed. The equipment supplied by the West to perpetuate their forest industry rusts. It can be said also that South Africa continues to decline.
My friend worked in Africa for many years for the United Nations, he believed it was his career triumph to have implemented systems and methods to help some nations become successes on their own. Today his efforts lie in scattered ruins because of corruption and waste of materials and equipment. The last time he was there he saw truck after truck passing with soldiers and military equipment on board, ALL the trucks with UN markings as supplied by the West to carry food to the needy.
If the rich West is to help these poor of Africa, throwing money their way will not do it. There needs to be systems implemented to make sure the aid efforts reach those who need it. The UN is simply not doing it. We cannot trust that money will filter down to food and medical aid for the starving and sick.

Perhaps the West needs to listen to an unlikely source, Moamar Khadafi, who recently commented that African nations should stop begging and start working together. The trick of course, is how to help them do that. As Libya is one of the few rich nations in Africa, the UN should have pressed him to start it himself! There's a HUGE opportunity to help Africa and allow Khadafi to redeem himself in the eyes of the world.
The Live8 Concerts continue to draw attention but it's only a start, it's not as easy as rock n roll, the politicians knew that going in.
Money isn't necessarily the answer, creative thinking is.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

NO to Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart has become recognized as a leading destructive economic power in the US and abroad. Where it establishes stores, other retail stores are forced to close, wage and benefit rates for workers are lowered in the area, the rights of workers to organize are abused, and local communities have to pick up the costs of these abuses in many different ways. In the face of these revelations, Wal-Mart has launched an aggressive public relations campaign to create the illusion that the company is a source of good jobs and benefits for workers and communities and a good corporate citizen.

This is from a Chicago based website fighting to make Wal-Mart become proper corporate citizens. Check out Wal-Mart on the web, you'll get endless sites where people are struggling to stop the aggressive and destructive march of the uncaring giant retailer from the Dark Side.
Just a few links;

Chicago wants realistic rules -
http://www.walmart.clcr.org/

A Class action lawsuit against sexual descrimination of employees -
http://www.walmartclass.com/public_home.html

Another unionized store shuts down abruptly in Quebec -
http://www.walmartworkerscanada.com/news.php?articleID=00111


... in YOUR neighborhood?

Vancouver voted out the Wal-Mart application. Campbell River just turned down a Wal-Mart too. New York city has declared itself Wal-Mart free. Everywhere people are fighting the juggernaut. Perhaps we should be proud of declining the spurious advances of the retail Darth Vader instead of being upset about it.

Now where did I put my light-saber?

Monday, July 04, 2005

Campbell and the ferry accident ...

When asked about that frightening ferry crash in Horseshoe Bay by Bill Good today, Liberal leader Gordon Campbell ignored the fact that the Queen of Oak Bay just had a 35 million dollar refit, and harped on about the fault being that the government didn't build more ships in the 90s. (Whoa, is he saying the NDP is to blame? Again?) Hmm, why of course he is. He went further by saying that the present American managers of the BC ferry system, are out looking for more investment money to build more ships and that they have his full confidence in running the system. (We assume in building ships in foreign countries)
He then also ignored the fact that the government spent something like 14 million dollars over their advertising budget on telling us what we already know, BC is the greatest, just before an election of course. He also declared that the advertising was NOT a political message. When asked about not telling anyone about this budget fiasco, he was of course unapologetic, saying that lots of people had asked him to tell us how great we were. He never gave that money to the tourist industry to tell tourists the message OUTSIDE of BC. And ignored the fact that the overspending would have paid for 200 hip operations for British Columbians. Hmm, is the NDP to blame here too? Carol Taylor, the star candidate and shiny new Finance Minister, during a recent press conference, had no answers about these lost millions, budget money gone that was known as being overspent BEFORE the election but was hidden from public scrutiny until now.
Then when it was suggested that when former Premiers Dave Barratt and Bill Bennett agreed on a political idea during the last election, STVs, (probably the first time ever) Gordon Campbell declared that these two multi-time provincial leaders were not the political elite and their ideas were of the past, not the present.
The callers were so obviously set up that it was pathetic. All asking Campbell nice little questions about his policy. Bill Good of course, true to his wishy-washy form, accepts whatever his guest says without pressing for details. Campbell also dismissed political columnist Bill Tielman as not having anything to say. Will he try to have the newspaper 24hours shut down too? As he did the Georgia Straight?
Well it's sort of like he's campaigning right now isn't it? But then he knows gullible voters will forget in time for the next round. Matter of fact, that's what all liberals count on, President Martin included.
Same old same old.

UPDATE: Since this post, there have been two more engine failures on BC Ferries, The Queen of Saanich and the Queen of Cumberland both had problems. The Saanich an exhaust valve and the Cumberland THREE OUT OF FOUR engines! Although our media reporters don't ask why, it almost begs the question of the American management about WHO is doing the maintenance on our BC fleet? Doesn't it?

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Today in history - - - June 25

1951 - CBS aired the first color television broadcast. At the time, no color TV sets were owned by the public.
2005 - CBS continues to air David Letterman featuring Rupert. At this time, no one thinks he is funny.

Friday, June 24, 2005

The new Volkwagen Corolla

Being the further adventures of Hans und Helmet, formerly of the BMW design section of the BMW factory, demoted because of the BMW 7 Series trunk bulge fiasco. (See the Feb 25, 2005 report on this blog) Hans und Helmet are now working for the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, having been run out of Munich, and are now in charge of the introduction of the all new, improved, bigger, better, longer, lower, higher, wider, more powerful, faster Volkswagen Jetta autocar ...
Helmet: Where ist dat car? Our superiors are comink to view the new design.
Hans: Don't panik, Helmet, it ist comink.
Helmet: The Jetta has been der grosser success for Volkswagen, the new one must be better in efery way. Our new bosses are countink on it.
Hans: Ja, dis autocar vill be great, Aki ist drivink it here right now.
Helmet: Aki?
Hans: Ja, Aki. You know Aki.
Helmet: (Face beginning to flush) Nein, Hans, who ist Aki?
Hans: Aki Yamamoto, the new employee from ... er ... Berlin.
Helmet: He ist drivink it from where?
Hans: Er ... from da parkink lot, where we keep all our newest, secret autocars.
Helmet: (swallows hard, sweat beads on his forehead) What did you tell him, Hans?
Hans: (proudly) I ask him to bring up the best lookink new car in production. He ist comink now.
(Helmet stares at Hans with suspicion and apprehension. Aki arrives with a flourish, a screech and a wide grin, piloting a brand new Toyota Corolla sedan. Helmet is aghast. Aki steps out and bows to the two Germans, his inch thick glasses fall off. )
Aki: Boss, I bling best new cah for velly nice bossmen.
Helmet: (staggering backward) Oh my God, might as well be Tojo screaming kamikaze!
(A knock is heard on the door.)
Hans: (beginning to cry) He does not understand much German, Helmet.
(The bangs on the door become louder. Aki is still blindly groping for his glasses, Helmet looks with painful dread at the new Toyota, the car seems to be grinning back at him.)
Helmet: Hans! DO somethink quick! They are here to see the new Jetta!
(Hans begins to wail in fear, frozen to the wall, pulling his white lab coat over his head.
Hans: We'll be working at Messerschmitt next!
Helmet: What's wrong mit you? Messerschmitt is no longer in business.
Hans: Vhat you t'ink I am tellink you?
Helmet grabs Aki and smashes his face into the Toyota front grill, he twists the Japanese into pretzel shapes, turning and pulling and pushing until the grill is opened more and the bumper falls off and the Toyota emblem has become the Volkswagen double V.
As the door is finally opened and the top brass from Volkswagen file in to view the newest Jetta, Aki, still clutching the grill while being pulled away by Helmet, distorts it into a deeper opening. The bosses all smile and compliment Helmet. He tosses Aki into a corner. Hans breaths a sigh of relief.)
Aki: Arigato.
(The bosses look quizzically at Helmet.)
Helmet: Secret project, boss.
The Bosses: (in unison) Ah, so.
(Hans puts on Aki's glasses and admires the car in the wrong direction.)

Toyowagen Coretta

Volksota Jerolla

Friday, June 17, 2005

Wally Opal as Attorney General

Wally Opal says the system is NOT soft. He is the ex judge who is now in power over all our courts in BC as Attorney General. Mr. Opal says the system is working just fine when compared to others around the world, he says our PERCEPTIONS are wrong about the system. The trouble is, when you've had your car ripped off you don't care about the rest of the world. The trouble is the drug dealer standing in front of your business is from somewhere else in the world and he stays there day after day after day. Even while being arrested day after day after day. The police continually voice their frustration at the courts.
Well, some believe that a judge is about the last person who should be in charge of our court system. Many citizens believe that judges are actually responsible for much of the ongoing crime in our immediate world by being totally sympathetic to the perpetrator and UNsympathetic to the victims!. One car thief was still being released after his 105th conviction for thieving! We KNOW that the drug dealers walk back to their corners within hours of being arrested. These are those heroin and crystal meth dealers who are destroying young girls and children. One had 35 convictions for hard core drugs and STILL got a suspended sentence. Does THAT judge have a grip on reality?
Some believe judges are about as far removed from real society as they can be when it comes to the crime wave in our province. Our perceptions are not wrong about the criminals that affect every one of us and who are spoiling the lives of the law abiding people.
I believe Mr. Opal will initiate endless studies of why these poor bad guys do their crimes without any real action to stop them. It's time we became cruel to criminals and fair to the victims of their crimes.
We need someone who is tuned in to do that.
Ex judges don't qualify.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Microsoft, piracy and freedom of speech

Wasn't Micosoft the first corporation to complain about software piracy in China? We're losing millions they said? China doesn't comply with international copyright law they complained, everyone's copying our software, etc etc ad nauseum.
Are they fueling millions of new web users to continue violating Microsoft copyrights by limiting free speech on their China based web portal? Making these new users angry? CENSORING language such as 'democracy' and 'freedom' because the Chinese mandarines in power consider these words as profanity? Why does anyone from a free and democratic country WANT to do business with these oppressive people? Money.
My god, what passion for money to abandon all the freedoms that the United States has given Microsoft to become the world's leading software company! Talk about deserting your own beliefs.
Blogs are emerging as the very essence of world freedom to say what we want, when we want, about what we want. It was the web users who told the world what was really happening during Tianamin Square. Before the Chinese rulers shut them down and realised what the power of the web was. Microsoft, by allowing censorship and bending to the ridiculous demands of a backward Communism government, is bending the very precepts of Democracy.
They deserve all the software piracy they get.

http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=93794

http://www.koin.com/news.asp?RECORD_KEY%5Bnews%5D=ID&ID%5Bnews%5D=3008

http://www.bittorrent.com/

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Today in history - - - June 2

1924 - Congress granted US citizenship to all American Indians.

Big of 'em.
er ... shouldn't it have been the other way around?

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Viagra causes blindness

A new medical report points suspicion on the drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra as causing blindness in users. About 40 cases are presently being investigated.
Meanwhile the men are happily feeling their way around using their 'magic wands' to search out prey.

http://www.eitb24.com/noticia_en.php?id=64222

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Willie Picton trial coming someday

Currently, the Robert William Picton trial is at the stage where they are having preliminary meetings of prosecution and defence and judge to decide what will be allowed for discussion and evidence at the trial itself. The rules of engagement, so to speak. Evidently someone is seeking a complete publication ban of what can be reported DURING the trial. This is our 'open' court system. Reporters may be allowed into the courtroom, but would not be unable to say what went on! Even the family members will not be allowed to tell US what went on. These people have been living in a state of suspended animation for several years now.
(There is currently a case in the courts where a lawyer representing CBC, is not even allowed to tell the CBC what is happening in their own case!)
They are going to charge Willie Picton with several more deaths in the Missing Women Pig Farm case. (27 so far) We ALL know that Willie Picton could NOT have completed these grusome murders all by himself. Others HAD to be involved. Someone, somewhere is covering up something. A LOT. The police want to end this action as soon as possible, without exposing anyone else during the trial. They want to clear their case load of these unsolved murders. What one wonders is if they all want to hush up something far more sinister? Evidently many influencial and public servants attended parties at that location. Many unsavory characters were regulars. How bad would that knowledge be if who they were was exposed? Keeping it all quiet and away from public scrutiny seems to fit everyone's secret agenda.
If the judge goes along with a full publication ban it will be a miscarriage of justice before the trial even begins. And it will stink of coverup and protection.
Hiding the facts from the public is NOT an open court system, and will only add suspicion that something is rotten with the pig farm case. The fact that they were horrible crimes perpetrated on vulnerable women doesn't mean we should not know exactly what went on. Having DNA from many of these poor women does NOT say that Picton acted alone. A recent poll showed 81% believe he did not act alone.
Willie Picton is not going to get a fair trial anyway and it is not because the media would report on the daily evidence; it is because evidence will be omitted or hidden from public knowledge in order to clear these murders from the books.
In truth, all the Crown has in this case is evidence that these women met their end at the pig farm, there seems to be no evidence pointing directly to Robert William Picton except he lived there. Is that enough to convict? And even of more importance, is that enough for the families of the victims? Or are they being flim fammed to protect someone else?



http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_pickton20050524

http://www.missingpeople.net/robert_pickton.htm

Friday, May 20, 2005

Ethics in politics. Har de har

Wow, all the fuss about Belinda Stronach. It seems that everyone thought she had brains because she has money. That's common. You see it all the time. Some rich guy marries a blonde bimbo and suddenly everyone is respecting the bimbo as brainy. It's not misogynistic to say it, some things just 'are'. And it's gender neutral.
Just because Frank Stronach left Belinda the Magna International Inc. doesn't mean she has any smarts. Or ethics. After all she is former CEO of the corporation. She didn't beat Harper in the Conservatives for leadership so went elsewhere for her power trip. Threw away her Tory convictions and ran to the Liberals for power. Did Ujjal Dosanj pay her a visit too?
He seems to be visiting all the other Conservatives, trying to influence them into betraying their party. Well, send a dog to do a dog's job? You remember Ujjal, he was leader of the NDP in BC, but needed a power trip himself so tossed out those ethics and morals to become a Liberal part of the most corrupt government in decades! He visited Chuck Cadman too, trying for his vote. (UPDATE: guess he got it) And now Gurmant Grewal has a public visible arguement over Dosanj's visit to him too! Dosanj's office secretary denies it all. Dosanj says Grewal came to him, Grewal has this tape recording of a meeting with Tim Murphy of the Prime Minister's office. The PMO is denying everything too. The political adage - Deny deny deny. But the question is evident: If Grewal was up to no good, approaching the Liberals, then why would he tape record his own meeting? Hmmm.
Did you notice that it was Dosanj's secretary who denied? Did you notice it was Murphy in the meeting? Did you notice how they keep the PM away from it all. Well it seems to be working with the Gomery Commission; Mr Dithers was only in charge of the money, he didn't know anything about where it went. Isn't the REAL point here that he SHOULD have known EVERYTHING? If it comes out that Martin is not implicated directly in the Sponsorship Scandal, would people believe he is squeaky clean? Denyability is everything isn't it? That's why you have 'people' to do the dog work.
Ethics? Not %$#@ likely. Sigh, I guess things could be worse; in China, over 870,000 government officials were indicted for corruption in 2004!
Belinda has nice shoes though, have to agree with the Liberal spokeswoman on that one.

These Boots Are Made For Walkin'
You keep saying you've got something for me.
something you call love, but confess.
You've been messin' where you shouldn't have been a messin'
and now someone else is gettin' all your best.

These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk right over to you.

You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin'
and you keep losin' when you oughta not bet.
You keep samin' when you oughta be changin'.
Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet.

These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk right over to you.

You keep playin' where you shouldn't be playin
and you keep thinkin' that you´ll never get burnt.
I just found me a brand new box of matches yeah
and what we know you ain't had time to learn.

These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk right over to you.

Nancy Sinatra hit of the sixties - ©Nancy Sinatra

(with apologies to Nancy for small changes)

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Hockey anyone? er ...... anyone?

I didn't even watch one game in the so-called Hockey World Championships. Tuned in a couple of times to see snatches of skating and every time just glimpsed some European player skating around Jovanovski like he was a wet cardboard cut-out thrown on the ice by a disgusted fan. Fan? Are there any left?
The NHL missed an opportunity. They should have pressured the networks to broadcast Junior hockey games. It would have been interesting and kept the fans seeing a high level of the speed game that hockey is meant to be. But like most, I went on to other sports. Watching NBA is way up in Canada. Sure, it is our game and Steve Nash has made us proud. And I'm watching more soccer and getting excited about the World Cup, a true world tournament. Steriod baseball is a joke and they've never recovered from THEIR work stoppage. Steriod NFL too. Canadian football IS exciting and watchable. Tennis is a great spectator sport for TV. But soccer after motorsport is the largest drawing sport in the world! Given a choice between the clutch-and-grab NHL (if it ever returns) and world ranked soccer, I'll be picking excitement and finesse, soccer.

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Your reason to vote

Everyone has their own reason to vote. Liberal, NDP, Green Party, Marijuana Party, Sex Party, Social Credit (if they're running) or for whoever.
Health care seems to be at the top of the list along with the economy. As I get older, health care becomes very important to me and I am worried about the future for my family. What was particularly heart wrenching for me, was that split up of two married old people in care homes in the interior, where they sent the aged husband to one place, and his wife to another because the government closed their facility. As a person who married his childhood sweetheart, and she valiantly stuck with me all these years, (45) we know we could not tolerate that kind of treatment from our government. We would probably die of separation. So yes, health care is high on my list of what I want a government to do, but with compassion for people. That is a phrase that comes to mind and seems to be presently misunderstood.
The economy is important, of course, but to what extent? Does profit become the lone priority? Can we say we have a booming economy if companies outside British Columbia are benefitting from simply being here? From being given plum contracts that may not be offered to BC companies? If a German company benefits at the expense of a British Columbia family, is that a good economy? Are we creating minimum wage jobs while allowing the cream of employment to go to Europe and America? If American corporations make millions because of friends in government and they're located here, do we count that as OUR booming economy? Can we accept that rationale?
One thing sticks in my craw, and it's probably an innate mindset from a childhood where not having much was the norm and looking to the future and building one's assets was the way. That thing that sticks is the 'disposal' of assets belonging to all of us.
Selling off BC Rail bugs me. Because I considered that asset part of MY British Columbia. I thought old WAC Bennett wasn't so wacky after he took over the PGE and made it OURS. It was used to benefit communities in BC. It wasn't intended to be 'global' or profitable even. It was intended as an asset for everyone here to build BC in a positive way.
Same for BC Hydro. Sure they SAY they aren't going to sell it off. Stealth semantics. They don't NEED to sell off BC Hydro, but to simply allow other corporations to do hydro projects at the expense of BC Hydro is bypassing it. Saying they won't touch it while making it useless is still a lie to me. Someone seems to think that having the lowest cost of electrical power in the world is NOT a good thing. We need to be global they say. Do we? Hasn't BC Hydro power been a company in good stead with BCers for years? I trust the BCers who have run BC Hydro. I Don't trust Gordon Campbell.
Our wild salmon fishery SHOULD be developed to help feed the world. There is no limit to the potential. However, the fish farms are taking over at the expense of a historic industry. Foreign owned usually. And unconcerned about devastating the wild fishery belonging to BC.
Shipping raw logs to US mills doesn't maximize the employment of our hard working families, it lessens it for the sake of US families. Have there been any attempts to set this right? None that I know of. Are we competing 'globally', against that weak balsa wood crap that they grow in Brazil in 3 years? Houses would blow down with that 'wood'. BC Timber is second to none for strength and endurance, we should be getting a premium price for it, let Brazil try to grow Douglas Fir.
British Columbians seem to be losing ground with every new action of this government. It seems to me, my humble opinion, that someone in the present government simply doesn't trust BC people to do the jobs. Others are always chosen first. Why?
I believe the government has no right to sell off our assets. They should have jealously guarded the Province. With every action like selling OUR goods, we lose a little of our sovereignty. We lose the ability to determine our own future. We relinquish our decision making to others who do not have the same concerns for our future.
It's like we rented the government our house, and they sold off our fridge, stove and porch without even asking us. I feel that the Liberals are a group of sly guys finding ways to wheedle us poor taxpayers out of our assets.
We should be concerned about health care, the economy, and everything else the politicians have been shouting about in the last month or so, but as an inborn British Columbian, I need to have confidence that the decisions made about our futures are made for the benefit of us, our families, our grandchildren, NOT outsiders. The government should have been the caretaker of our assets, holding them firmly for us, expanding their value. Not getting rid of our accomplishments with such arrogance and disdain.
I have the confidence that British Columbians have the ability to manage our province and our assets to continue to make us a world player if need be, but I feel dejected that our present government seems to be our enemy. And whatever these new parachute Liberals say to get elected, we all know that they'll have no say in matters afterwards, they'll only be told to explain the government TO us. I need to know that the MLAs in Victoria care deeply for British Columbians.
I can't vote for a continuation of the Liberal Government, I think Gordon Campbell has betrayed what we have built and has no idea what the hearts of British Columbians want. We should not lose our way of life here, it is second to none in the world. We don't need to copy others, they need to copy us.
Enthusiasm for our wonderful province is what I want to see.
I didn't see anything but enthusiasm for money in the last few years.

- disheartened BCer



[reprinted from an earlier post]
- permission to all to repost on your own blogs -

BC Ferries menu - 1968



Remember taking the ferry to the Island?

Remember having a relaxed breakfast or dinner on board? Remember the prices! Look. Grilled BC salmon steak for $3.00 and you didn't have to ask if it was that toxic fish farm stuff either. A burger deluxe was 80 cents. Top sirlion steak was British Columbia beef too. Remember those days when we were all so proud that OUR BC Ferries had more ships than the Canadian Navy?
Whatever happened to that BC pride?
Now you've made me cry ...


Dinner anyone?


20 ships! In those halcyon days when we were building British Columbia.

[reposted courtesy of http://rescuemystuff.blogspot.com]

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Today in history - - -

1992 - CIA Director Robert Gates said he had begun declassifying all relevant information on the President Kennedy assassination to end the insidious, perverse notion that the CIA was involved.

Ah yes, but the keyword is 'relevant' isn't it? And who decides?

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

RAV line again ...

The RAV line. The project that was 300 million dollars over budget before it hardly began! They now seem to have stumbled onto the discovery that it will take some blasting.
Hmm. Like the engineers didn't realize that and they think WE didn't know it already? What does this say about all the learned people who argued that the Cambie route was perfect, no, there wouldn't be any volcanic rock in there, denying the fact that Queen Elizabeth Park IS volcanic in origin. They lied SOME into believing this would be an easy project. THEN they told you it was cut and cover, NOT drilling underground. NOW they say they'll need blasting. Like do YOU believe they didn't know this already? Like LONG long ago? What engineering company would NOT know that? There were hundreds telling them what they faced. And this blasting won't be like getting one big boulder out of the way, it will be hard rock mining! Inch by inch by dynamite. Wait a minute, the reason the engineers didn't bother to find this out before was that the taxpayers will be on the hook for overruns anyway ... who needed to know stuff like that?
Perhaps the taxpayer.
So the Arbutus connection would have been cut and cover. Dig out the soft dirt on the already established route, unravel the tracks in the ditch, let the Skytrain fly. Easy. Cheap.
Nope, this is going to be Gordon Campbell's 'Fast Ferries' project, one he could have easily avoided if he hadn't been looking after his friends in Kerrisdale. What else can we say?
We TOLD you sooooooooooooo!

(see 'RAV line already over cost' - November 2004 - on this blog)

Sunday, May 08, 2005

Confirmed again - Gordon against women

At a candidate's debate meeting last night, sponsored by the BC Status of Women, no Liberal showed up, again. The fourth time. The NDP, Green Party, Marijuana Party and the Work Less Party all participated alongside a paper maché mock up of a liberal.
Wouldn't this confirm to you that Gordon Campbell has told his people to avoid these meetings?
Did he think adding the pretty parachute liberal Carol Taylor to his roster would dispell the belief that he's against women? Did you notice Carol, who is generally an articulate, intelligent woman, has had nothing to say yet? Because Gordon Campbell hasn't TOLD her what to say yet.
The NDP, Green Party, Marijuana Party and Work Less Party all had important points to make about the condition of women in BC.
The Paper Maché candidate was in usual Liberal form about his platform too, keeping his mouth papered over lest a word get out.

Friday, May 06, 2005

Great animations ...

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Our Fair Political Debate

Moderator - In the spirit of fair BC politics, unlike the television media coverage, we have invited candidates from all the running parties to participate in debate tonight about the issues most concerning British Columbians in the upchucking ... er, upcoming Provincial Election on May 17th ... or 18th. Nice to have you all here, certain parties did not send candidates, for whatever reasons. Just one note, our Marijuana Party member is on a day pass from his prison cell. So, we’ll get right to ...
Liberal - We did not sell BC Rail, it’ll be ours again in 990 years. We still own the rocks under the tracks, you know. The economy is great. People are all feeling wonderful!
Marijuana Party - Yeah, sssswwwwwwwwttt, I’m feelin’ pretty good.
NDP - My old Aunt Martha isn’t feeling that great, we haven’t seen her for 8 months since you Liberals closed her hospital, we think she’s still in there!
Green Party - We stand for more trees, more fishies and moosies and lakes and ...
NDP - There’s another leaked document, the Liberals are draining the lakes.
Marijuana Party - Cotton candy, Man, there’s the thing. Sssswwwwwwwwwtt.
Green Party - Please, don’t blow that smoke at me.
Liberal - Me either, I’ve had enough trouble with impairment.
NDP - You were mentally impaired BEFORE you took office.
Marijuana Party - Hey, Man, ever smoke any of that pakalolo in Maui?
Liberal - Shhhh.
Green Party - We’re for clean air.
Unknown Party - So am I. Who let one?
Liberal - Sorry.
Green Party - We’re for bears.
Sex Party - We’re for bare naked!
Marijuana Party - Coo-ol.
Moderator - Can we talk about the issues?
NDP - The Liberals ARE the issues.
Work Less Party - Some people don't know what the issues are .... because they're working too much.
Marijuana Party - Some people don't know a Hoochie Mama from Ho Chi Minh either. Sssswwwtttt.
Democratic Reform - We should discuss STVs.
Unknown Party - I don’t get that channel.
Sex Party - Play safe, no STDs. We’re for public nudity and sex in the workplace. It would make for a much nicer day and a release of tension.
Liberal - And plenty of sunburn, what about Health Care costs?
Green Party - ST V, the Several Transferable Vote.
Moderator - Do we want to transfer our votes or not?
Marijuana Party - Whhhhhhhhheeeeooooooooooo. Transferred mine to Sparky last weekend. Look what I got for it.
Liberal - Psst! MaryJane Guy, got any papers?
Work Less Party - We need to skip right to the 22 hour workweak, it would make more jobs. Excuse me a moment, I have to phone in sick for tomorrow.
Sex Party - Make more time for sex. By the way, Green Party, you should show a bit of cleavage. Maybe hike up that skirt a little.
Marijuana Party - Sssswwwwwwwwwwwwttttttt.
NDP - Whew, it’s hot in here.
Unknown Party - Anyone got any spare change?
Liberal - Moderator, make them be serious. Let’s talk about what’s important to British Columbians.
Moderator - We hope to define that tonight.
Green Party - I’m for a greener BC. Quit exhaling on us!
Marijuana Party - Dave’s not here, sssswwwwwwwwwttttt, want a hit, Man?
NDP - We are supposed to be here for BC voters. So they can decide.
Marijuana Party - I’m for BC, Bud.
Green Party - Mr. Moderator, The Liberal is moving next to the Marijuana Guy, I think they’re making a deal.
NDP - He’s breathing deeper too.
Unknown Party - Any spare change?
Liberal - We’re gonna change the world, tee hee hee.
Democratic Reform - What about ICBC?
Liberal - You won’t see it for longggggg. Giggle. We’re selling it to the Americans.
Work Less Party - ICBC or BC?
NDP - Was that part of your plea bargain, Liberal? Ha ha.
Marijuana Party - Ssssswwwwwwwwwwtttt. Yo, Green Party, cut the trees, grow hemp.
Green Party - We gotta stop sending raw logs out of the province.
Liberal - Okay, we’ll cook ‘em first! Har har har.
Marijuana Party - Funny, Man. Ssssswwwwwwwwwwtttt.
Moderator - Please, we need to pay attention. What about BC Hydro power dams?
Liberal - Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! Haw haw haw.
Democratic Reform - Hey Liberal, is your Federal branch still gonna let Americans shoot torpedoes in Georgia Straight?
Unknown Party - I’m hungry, anyone got potato chips?
NDP - Let’s try and concentrate here. Tee hee. Did you know you’re ears were crooked? Ha ha ha. Oops! Argh.
Green Party - Did you hurt yourself, NDP? I’ll fix your chair.
Liberal - Ssswwwwwwwwwwwtttt. Leave her down there.
Green Party - Sex Party, stop it! I’m not like that.
Democratic Reform - Gimme some of that ...... Sssswwwwwwwwwwwttttt.
NDP - Sssswwwwwwwwwtttt. Takes the pain away.
Marijuana Party - Sssswwwwwwwwtttt. Wwwwoooohhhhhhhhoooooooooooo. The joint is jumpin'.
Unknown Party - Pass it then.
Democratic Reform - What was I for again? Haha ha ha ha.
NDP - Delicious. Aar Aar Aar.
Sex Party - Green, it’s ok, we’re only on radio.
Moderator - Oh my.
Liberal - Where did they go?
Green Party - Oh, Sex Party, it’s been so long ....... oohhhh.
Sex Party - Green, You're a Babe!
Democratic Reform - What are you two doing down there?
Unknown Party - Reforming democracy. Sssswwwwwwttt.
NDP - Chips anyone? This room is nice the way it revolves.
Democratic Reform - Anyone got dip?
Work Less Party - Lotta dipshits in the government.
Marijuana Party - Ssssswwwwwwwwwwtttt. I read where there’s an erection comin’ up soon.
Sex Party - Hey, erections are in OUR platform.
Green Party - Come back down here, I'll show you a platform.
Sex Party - Woo.
Moderator- Excuse me .... I think he meant the election. We're supposed to be talking about that.
Liberal - Or not. Haw haw haw haw. Swwwtttttt.
NDP - Who brought the munchies? Sssswwwwwwwtttt.
Unknown Party - Any spare change? Sssswwwwwwwwwtttt.
NDP - I think some coins fell out of Sex Party’s pocket. He he he.
Work Less Party - Forget it, the Liberal got it already. Sssswwwwwwwtttt. Ha ha ha ha.
Liberal - Burp. Haw haw haw. Mumble.
Marijuana Party - Wheeez.
Moderator - Marijuana Party guy, you are a candidate running from within prison and here tonight on a day pass, what time do you have to be back?
Marijuana Party - Who's goin' back, Man?
...
..
.
Moderator - Is that it then? No one going to even speak anymore? Are all of you content to just sit there with silly grins and float? ........ You’re all darned lucky this is radio .........
Ah, what the hell, gimme a hit .... Ssssswwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwtttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!


note; the Unknown Party member was an apolitical dumpster diver who was only passing by hoping for a meal. All other party members were authentically suppositional. Remember to vote on May 17th ..... or 18th.


Back to Top

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

California bans internet hunting.

California decided that those great white hunters who are flocking to a Texas based hunting website, shouldn't go there anymore. I don't mean those brave courageous hunters who frequent the chain-link fenced hunting sites in Texas for the thrill of killing some grazing Bambi while safely outside the fence in their pick-ups, I mean 'hunters' sitting at home on their computers and with a computer mouse click, actually causing a gun to shoot a deer or whatever animal! Did you know this was happening?


Bambi beware

Can you believe it? Can you believe that there are people in the world who would do this? You sit there at your computer, click your mouse, watch the monitor, 'stalk' a deer, get it in your cyber sights, CLICK, BAM! ... death. Wow. I mean REAL death. Brave. A real hairy chest beater, isn't it? They even send you the animal remains! Is there any limit to the masculinity? The bravado? The idiocy?
Fourteen other states are about to ban computer hunting too. I am worried that the technology might be turned to more sinister directions. Like hunting random people! Is it a matter of time until Homeland Security or the Minutemen set up this stuff on the Mexican border? Or someone suggests that frying all those deathrow inmates is just boring. (Texas executed 33 people in 2002.)
You know who these guys are don't you? They're those men who go down to their basements after dinner, (served precisely at 5 pm) while their wife or mother cleans up the dishes, washes the floor and prepares their pipe and slippers. They tuck in under the stairs, fire up the computer, check out the porno sites, feel the reassurance of something hard between their legs, which is their Daddy's Smith & Wesson, and go hunting. The hunter websites actually say computer hunting aids the handicapped hunter. (isn't that the inherent quality of ALL hunters?) Some of these closed hunting ranches even have specials; One mature turkey, plus one hog, and unlimited coyotes, all for just $500.! What? No cows? Almost like a Safeway grocery special isn't it? Others are importing exotic animals from around the world, Barbary Sheep from North Africa, Blackbuck Antelope, from India, etc. "What the hell," Bubba says, "there jist ain't anuff critters ta kill out here in Texas." Spit
The web-sights are from the same ranches who breed domestic deer in confinement for killing, these ranchers have brought themselves into the 21st century.
Too bad their brains didn't make the trip.
Scary though, isn't it?
Texas, a whole nuther country.

http://live-shot.com/species.shtml

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/05/04/internet.hunting.ap/index.html

Cloning - the future ...

So quit badmouthing cloning and look on the bright side. Do you really believe it’s going to stop anyway? Those laboratorys were doing it secretly in the first place, and they’re not about to curtail their erotic excitement because of world opinion or morality. They get off on it. Expect a public relations onslaught on the same scale as Why War is Good For You.
So what’s good about cloning? Lots. Everyone can have wool sweaters instead of that sticky polyester. Dolly’s legacy. Maybe your dog is getting old, can’t control himself, you take him down to Clones-R-Us and get a brand new puppy, and he IS your dog all over again!
But it’s human cloning you’re thinking about, right? Okay, imagine this if you will; two hockey teams made up of only Wayne Gretskys. What a game! How about George Foreman against George Foreman in the ring? Imagine his kids at ringside! And the Jolly Giant will smile and cook you a steak between rounds on his grill. The downside to human cloning of course is how many Britney Spears can we stand?
Hollywood will embrace cloning, they’d be able to remake all those old movies with original clones. ‘It Happened One Night’ with Clark Gable 2 and ‘High Noon’ with Gary Cooper 'A version', except someone wouldn’t be able to resist making all the bad guys Cooper too. One can only fantasize Russ Meyer movies! And they’ll have the technology to go back for the REAL Ben-Hur’s DNA and have the chariot race against Charlton Heston 'B'. And imagine listening to the Barbara Streisand Choir.
And you know how your kids’ll do everything for you as six-year-olds but won’t do anything at seven? You’d be able to have perpetual six-year-olds forever getting you things, the remote, a beer. The excitement never ends! Never ends ...... never ends

But wait ... it’s inevitable that we’ll clone AND genetically engineer what we need. One of them new Aardvark vacuum cleaners. Perhaps a brand new Jaguar with leather seats. I mean a brand new JAGUAR! Genetically adapted to be docile of course. Perhaps a running dog fetching a perpetual bouncing ball. Maybe a tap dancing pink elephant? Or a green blob thingy that was once a frog?
And ... er, other things we don’t really NEED but what we’ll think are fun to have. Right? It isn’t too unimaginable that we’ll own creatures like these ...







Clone your kids now before they're too old - only $2995.00


RunningDog #359a - This week only - $49.50


TapDancing pink elephant - Model #123x - Sold out, rain checks available.

GreenBouncing Blob C6 - Our most popular seller, volume discount.

Little genetic clones who will run their hearts out for you ... until they die ... but they have no brains, only a program, no thoughts, only an impulse to run, or to dance for our amusement, or to plop endlessly on the floor. They have no idea what they are doing. It's all right, we'll be told .... because they have no idea. They're only 'manufactured beings'. They have no feelings. They don't know anything at all.
Do we?
Look at them. Trying so hard. Are you sad too?

[reprinted by permission of - http://peregrine1.blogspot.com]

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Stanley Cup time - who gets it?

The Stanley Cup does NOT belong to the NHL or any other professional sports team. It was given by Lord Stanley, Governor of Canada, in 1892 to the top amateur sports hockey team. They were several provisos, which should be honored today, in spite of the NHL's claims, some of which are these;
  • The Cup acted as the league championship of the league that the champion belonged in.
  • The Cup was not the property of any given team at any given time.
  • Challengers for the Cup must have won their league championship. (This effectively eliminates the present World Championship winner if Canada wins, as it is not a league)
  • The Cup trustees have the final say on disputes should there be any on who the Cup holder should be.
The Cup was originally presented in 1893 to the Montreal AAA, the champion of the Amateur Hockey Association, the top hockey league of Canada at the time. (Vancouver Millionaires won it in 1915)
So, shouldn't the winners be an amateur team, CURRENTLY playing for a league championship? Perhaps a Junior team? Maybe another league? The NHL and their spoiled millionaires should have NO permanent claim on the Stanley Cup, it should be awarded this year as in any other year, to the best team playing in a league in Canada today.
Maybe the trustees will step forward, have some guts and award it this year. Wouldn't it be great to see the Memorial Cup champions with their names on the silver trophy? I'll bet even NHL players would love that.
Go KELOWNA!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Cup

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Olympic logo

Is it true? The new logo, modelled after an inukshuk, is an Inuit directional marker meaning 'Stay away, danger' ?

Take a look - - -


Ilanaaq

The guy seems to be shouting, "Look out!" Well, they are saying it means 'friend' too. Maybe it means, "Stay away friend, you'll get ripped off here."? They say it represents all of Canada. Seems to look like that clunky stone guy in Sinbad the Sailor. Not too athletic.
There are no Inuit tribes in BC.


Here is the old logo - - -


Bid logo

Do you see a Maple Leaf? Canada. Do you see the sea? Do you see white capped mountains? Sea to Sky. Do you see flowing motion? Do you see British Columbia vibrancy?

Which do you like better?

Hmmmm .... Well doesn't this Inuit logo once again PROVE that Gordon Campbell and his cronies are totally AGAINST British Columbians? He awarded Mexicans the winning design logo representing the Arctic Territories. Why doesn't he just ban BCers from competing in everything?
Wait a minute .... I think he has ...

Friday, April 22, 2005

More dole for friends of friends?

Did anyone know this? BC Hydro has this contract for collections with a company called CBV Collection Services. This company's contract runs for 35 YEARS! Done in 2002. Recently revealed by BC Hydro spokesperson, Elisha Moreno. Wouldn't you like to know more about that kind of deal?
Who would solicit or sign such a long term deal? Why?
(Are the Campbell Liberals using the 990 year deal giving away BC Rail to foreigners as the gauge for acceptance?)
Already the CBV collections people are insulting the public and causing problems. As in the collector guy on the phone calling the straight guy on the other end a 'queer' while trying to get a bill paid.
So what if this company needs to be fired? Are we going to have to pay them off for 32 years of NON work? Is this a Paul Martin/Jean Chretien sponsorship scandal shaping up in our own BC Liberals?
Does Gordon Campbell have more 'friends' with this company?
What gives? 35 years is WAY too long to grant ANY contracts for ANY company.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Lebanon has a vial of deadly flu virus!

A deadly flu virus, the H2N2 pathogen, shipped from the USA to labs around the world, is being held in Beirut, Lebanon. Apparantly this virus was MISTAKENLY sent out by the College of American Pathologists, says the World Health Organization. Other samples of the virus which killed about 4 million people in 1957, have been 'reported' to have been destroyed.
Wha?
BEIRUT? Why in hell was it sent there? Where else did they decide to send a deadly virus? Iran? North Korea? Iraq? Sheeeez, they can't blame Saddam for this one. Did anyone get fired? I sure hope so but nothing has been said, so far.
In a time when ANY virus is a potential terroist aquisition, where was security? Forget the borders, Homeland Security, Mexicans are just looking for jobs, you've got stupid people sending death stuff from within your country? Many labs across the US also received this flu virus. And they haven't all reported destruction.
Don't pathologists study dead people?
Aren't we dying quick enough for them?

http://www.healthcentral.com/news/NewsFullText.cfm?id=1506135

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

World Championship & Todd Bertuzzi

Last time we had this World Championship, wimpy Wayne Gretsky wouldn't allow Todd Bertuzzi to play because he said, "He is under suspension by the NHL." At that time, many wondered if the NHL was controlling these so-called World Championships. Gretsky showed his loyalty to a professional organization instead of his country, Canada.
(Could it have had anything to do with Marc Crawford NOT putting Gretsky into that shoot-out scenario a few years ago?)
Now we have it again, and Steve Tambellini also would not choose Todd Bertuzzi for that team. Again because of a suspension by a league that is not, in effect, even there. Now we hear that Gary Bettman, the head of the non existant NHL, said that the tournament has nothing to do with the NHL. And they will have a hearing regarding Bertuzzi later. So Steve Tambellini must be able to allow Bertuzzi to play for his country if it has nothing to do with the non existant NHL.
Todd Bertuzzi should tell the NHL to take a hike, go and play in Europe where someone wants him. He could make a lot of money there, enough for anyone's needs. Everyone is positioning for the civil lawsuit that Moore and his lawyer parents will surely bring, but why wait? Everyone else is sucking up to the NHL, doesn't mean Bertuzzi has to.
Get on with your life, Todd, and leave the toadies of the NHL in your ice shavings. They chose Scott Walker over you.

Monday, April 18, 2005

Advertising silliness ... 6 - Shaw Cable

So they have this ad on TV right now, characters dressed up as Pop-up Guy, Spy Guy and Virus Guy, all trying to get into your computer system ... they are repelled by Shaw Cable's firewalls etc. At the end they show a house plugged into cable.
A little text over says, 24/7/365, denoting twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year protection for your puter with Shaw.
"Zo, " Oiving says, "Vhat is dat? On lip year on febuary tventy-nine, efry four yeahs, ve ain't gonna get no soivice?"

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Flag count

I live in a highrise apartment building right downtown. We can see at least a thousand buildings from our 25th floor. Last year I tried to count Canada flags flying from buildings. There was 1 (one) from the firehall below, and one other on a highrise. This year I recounted, although from a slightly different angle. It was 13 Canada flags and 2 British Columbia flags. I'm not sure if that is encouraging or not. Seems pathetic to me.
Is it the management of the buildings who don't want to buy a flag and fly it? Too expensive? Too much trouble? Too many foreign owned buildings? Is it a comment on our patriotism? Are we, here in our own country, following that silly line about not offending others? Are we proud of our Red Maple Leaf or not? It is a beacon of our sovereignty, and a statement that Canada is the greatest, a symbol of a free people, and an inspiration to artists, writers, poets, old soldiers, immigrants and perhaps a few lost souls treading our soil from sea to sea to sea.

Oh Canada!

Get with it people, get a Canada flag and fly it with pride that Canada is still going it's own way regardless of the so-called 'global' community pressures.
Be proud that the rest of the world looks up to us, because they do. And let the world know you are standing on guard for Canada.

Ex-conversation ...

Reporter - "Mr. Chretien, some people are saying you might be involved in this so-called Sponsorship Scandal, have you anything to say about it?"
Chretien - "I am glad you ask me about dat scandal t'ing. I am hopin' Mr. Martin will get to bottom of dat Brian Mulroney scandal."
Reporter - "Excuse me, Mr. Ex-Prime Minister, but I was talking about the Liberal scandal, not the Conservative one."
Chretien - "If you notice, Mr. smart guy Reporter, dat Mr. Ex-Prime Minister Joe Who, endorse the Liberal party one time before. Even he was ashamed of Mr. Ex-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's behaviour."
Reporter - "I think you mean Mr. Joe Clark."
Chretien - "Who?"
Reporter - (pause of perplexion) "But Sir, you are ignoring the current Liberal problems, with the testimony of Mr. Brault and all his allegations of corruption using taxpayer’s money.”
Chretien - "We don't had no alligators in Canada."
Reporter - "Pulease."
Chretien - "First t'ings first. People are also wondering where Mr. Ex-Prime Minister Mulroney has been getting all dat money for high living."
Reporter - "But Mr. Chretien, I wanted to ...."
Chretien - "Call me Mr. Ex-Prime Minister .... and everyone wondering if Mila goin' to return dat furniture."
Reporter - "Mr. Ex-Prime Minister, are you denying you have any involvement in this latest scandal?"
Chretien - "I did not say fuddy-duddy, like Mr. Ex-Prime Minister Trudeau. I did not grab Iona Campagnolo's ass like Mr. Ex-Prime Minister John Turner, who did fall into a hole when Mr. Ex-Prime Minister Mulroney appear on da scene. And no one follow Mr. Ex-Prime Minister John anymore. And Mr. Ex-Prime Minister Bordon get all dat war time scandal."
Reporter - “That was in 1917!”
Chretien - “See? I tol’ you so.”
Reporter - “And John Diefenbaker is dead.”
Chretien - “Oui. He die every day on da floor of Parliament.” (chuckle)
Reporter - (sigh) "Sir, er, Mr Ex-Prime Minister, they say that Prime Minister Martin will sacrifice you to hang onto power for the Liberals and ...."
Chretien - "You might as well start calling him Mr. Ex-Prime Minister Martin."
Reporter - "So do you think he'll last as long as Ex-Prime Minister Campbell?"
Chretien - "He was Prime Minister?"
Reporter - "KIM Campbell. SHE lasted almost 6 full months. She had no time to get into a scandal."
Chretien - "Merde. Damn Westerners."
Reporter - "She might have been honest."
Chretien - "You know, I am proud I send Mr. Ex-Prime Minister Campbell to work wit’ dem morons sout' of da border."
Reporter - (bigger sigh) You aren't going to answer anything about the current scandal, are you Sir?"
Chretien - "Montreal Canadienne not doing too good dis year."
Reporter - "Yes, I hear Serge Savard is even implicated. And there IS no hockey this year.”
Chretien - “Dat is not hockey. Dem new guy still got all dere teet’.”
Reporter - "One last question, Sir ...."
Chretien - "Mr. Ex-Prime Minister."
Reporter - "Mr. Ex-Prime Minister, when Mr. Martin falls in disgrace, who will be the next leader of Canada?"
Chretien - "Gilles Duceppe."
Reporter - “Thank you Mr. Ex-Prime Minister.”
Chretien - "Mercy."

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

9 out of 10 prefer Liberals

In a recent study undertaken by ourselves, we discovered 9 out of 10 groups prefer the liberal government of Gordon Campbell for many reasons.
The question: Who can say they'll fare better with another liberal government in British Columbia?
The answers:
1 - Maximus. This American corporation will continue to do well with more Gordon Campbell. Through a Canadian subsidiary, they have access to all our MSP and Pharmacare records, including medical reports, psychological reports, family status and history, date of birth, income, financial history and employment income, etc ad naseum. This will keep them in good stead with Homeland Security in the USA.
2 - Accenture Ltd, an American company operating in Hamilton, Bermuda (to avoid American taxes) will also do better with Gordon Campbell because they stand a good chance of getting Gordon to privatize more of BC Hydro, and they'll be running it and be able to put prices up to 'global levels' ignoring the fact that British Columbians, who once owned BC Hydro should benefit from having the lowest cost hydro power in North America.
3 - Flensburger Shipbuilding, the German company which has the contract to build 3 new ships for BC Ferries will continue to do well from BC Liberals, who are spending 500 million dollars on those ferries, of which, not one penny will go to British Columbia ship workers and their families to spend in BC. Premier Campbell of course ignoring the fact that the former ferries, fast or not, were built by local BC shipbuilders.
4 - Mystery company in Poland, which evidently has the contract to build another ship for BC Ferries. It will of course, be announced AFTER an election because, as even a liberal said, "It just don't look so good." They will do better with Gordon Campbell.
5 - Out of Province owners of BC Rail, (the name probably soon to be changed so that BC people won't think they still own it, as what happened to BC Gas = Terasen Gas, also involved with Accenture) They will continue to do well under Gordon Campbell because they'll be able to discontinue services for small BC towns while hooking up with America at Alaska, consequently giving the Americans what they've wanted for years; the ability to ship "goods" from Alaska to America without allowing inspection of freight travelling through British Columbia.
6 - Unethical large employers who can now use a training wage of $6.00 per hour with a minimum 2 hour day, instead of the minimum wage of $8.75 and a 4 hour minimum to 'test and train' employees for suitability for employment. Except of course that it seems none of them ever work out when the deadline arrives to pay them higher amounts and they have to be let go. Those companies are thanking Gordon Campbell.
7 - US Homeland Security and the Patriot Act will continue to do well under Gordon Campbell as he sends more private data about British Columbians to American companies. And there's more privatization in the works. Under the US Patriot Act, no company can withhold information about you, nor does this clandestine branch of the US Government have to reveal they even recorded your information.
8 - Foreign Fish Farm owners will do very well with another Liberal government and Gordon Campbell. They'll be able to continue ignoring any reasonable scientific reports on the dangers of fish farm salmon or the devastation of BC wild salmon stocks and get on with growing pen-fed Atlantic salmon which is advised not to be eaten by children or pregnant women. Did you know it was coloured? Sort of an "Agent Orange" colour.
9 - The Federal Liberals will be happy with Gordon Campbell's provincial liberals remaining in power. They'll be able to continue to send more "organizers" to BC from the Federal ranks, including any new suspected crooks that may be part of Paul Martin's secret cadre right now.


10 - And the group who will NOT fare better with another Liberal government; These remaining poor souls were part of the remainder of people who are unlikely to do well under continued management of Gordon Campbell and his "Anybody but BCers" policy =
- Senior citizens that may need long term care and would like to spend their remaining time together
- students and poorer people who need to have hope for better lives
- women in general who are on Mr Campbell's hit lists
- anyone who dares to believe the people of BC have the intelligence, skills, enthusiam and work ethic to make BC the greatest place on earth for PEOPLE and not political friends and foreign corporations.

- unscientific study but feel free to copy and post anyway -

Monday, April 04, 2005

Wondrous accomplishment!

I made a green light at Main and Terminal today.

Saturday, April 02, 2005

Pope John Paul II

I am not a Roman Catholic, but I liked the Pope anyway.
Almost as soon as he took the power of his religeon, he began changing the world, Karol Wojtyla who knew peril as a young man at the hands of the Nazis, went right back into Poland and courageously stuck religeon into the face of the communists. And confronted with such a resolute adversary as this single Holy man, they never recovered. Yet he was shot for his efforts by a Turk, supposedly put up to it by the Soviet KGB, who could see that he was a dangerous man challenging their future.


Solidarnosc (Solidarity) was born because John Paul II provided daring leadership and gave his people hope and power, and consequently, oppressed people everywhere shared in that new power. It was not only about religeous freedom, but liberty for all humanity.
In the ensuing years the momentum from that historic and gutsy visit caught hold. He started the chink in the wall that brought down the Iron Curtain and freed most of Eastern Europe from the oppression of a generation of forced communism.
Pope John Paul II gave the people of Poland a new respect while using his religeon for the highest purpose. He gave hope to people of every country. We all owe him big time.
And no one tells Polack jokes anymore either.