1989 - The Exxon Corp. estimated that its cleanup of the Alaskan oil spill would cost $1.28 billion.
Understandably, they said they would have to raise their gas pump prices to cover the costs.
NOT understandably, Shell, Chevron and all the others ALSO raised their prices, even though they had NO costs at all. Is there better evidence that oil companies were gouging us even then?
Monday, July 24, 2006
Thursday, July 20, 2006
WWE - RAW rasslin' at its best
Apparantly TSN is forsaking WWE RAW (rasslin', I can't bring myself to say wrestling) because it got NFL Monday Night Football instead. Good for credibility. Broadcasting RAW, in spite of its ratings, leaves a sports fan wondering what they are thinking?
I watched a RAW event one time a few years ago. (I was innocently flicking past, really) I forget who the actors were, but there were a couple of things of interest. Although probably only to a teenager who just torched his cat for fun. They had this steroid muscle guy come in toward the ring at the end of a huge ramp through smoke and purple lights while his opponent waited. The approaching purple guy joked about going to visit his opponent's father in the hospital who was suffering from cancer! He went on to say that he was glad the man's father had cancer and he even stole the old man's watch while he lay helpless! (NOT kidding) Then when the other man erupts in (fake) rage and runs up the ramp, our purple guy finds a hammer somewhere and slams him in the head with it! (please, this is true) Out cold. All to frenzied cheers and jeers!
Then in another 'match'. One guy is rasslin' for pride? He volunteers to put his 'hos' up for the prize! He parades these slutty dressed women into the ring, about 8 of them if I recall. He lost to the challenger who took possession of the 'hos' and paraded them off to a harem room somewhere. Assuming that some ex-steriod eunuch rassler would be looking after them of course.
All this went on before screaming teenaged boys. (I guess they screened them all to make sure no boy had a father in hospital with cancer) Of course all this stuff wouldn't influence adolescents' attitudes toward women or violence. No.
Well I can't blame the actors/rasslers from taking part in this. Most of these guys would be back at the gas station, stealing cars or raising pit bulls without this employment.
I think it is Mr. McMahon (as he prefers to be called, striving for respectability. No one ever calls Vince 'Vinnie'.) who controls it all. Even to the extent of suppressing film footage showing the rasslers rehearsing their lines. And he makes sure it is delayed one hour to edit out any of the clear misses of forearm smashes and foot stomps to the head. To be fair Mr. McMahon even calls them 'scenes'.
Its Jerry Springer on steroids. ( at least Jerry admits it's all a big joke)
Ah, violence at its best.
But nothing to do with sports.
I watched a RAW event one time a few years ago. (I was innocently flicking past, really) I forget who the actors were, but there were a couple of things of interest. Although probably only to a teenager who just torched his cat for fun. They had this steroid muscle guy come in toward the ring at the end of a huge ramp through smoke and purple lights while his opponent waited. The approaching purple guy joked about going to visit his opponent's father in the hospital who was suffering from cancer! He went on to say that he was glad the man's father had cancer and he even stole the old man's watch while he lay helpless! (NOT kidding) Then when the other man erupts in (fake) rage and runs up the ramp, our purple guy finds a hammer somewhere and slams him in the head with it! (please, this is true) Out cold. All to frenzied cheers and jeers!
Then in another 'match'. One guy is rasslin' for pride? He volunteers to put his 'hos' up for the prize! He parades these slutty dressed women into the ring, about 8 of them if I recall. He lost to the challenger who took possession of the 'hos' and paraded them off to a harem room somewhere. Assuming that some ex-steriod eunuch rassler would be looking after them of course.
All this went on before screaming teenaged boys. (I guess they screened them all to make sure no boy had a father in hospital with cancer) Of course all this stuff wouldn't influence adolescents' attitudes toward women or violence. No.
Well I can't blame the actors/rasslers from taking part in this. Most of these guys would be back at the gas station, stealing cars or raising pit bulls without this employment.
I think it is Mr. McMahon (as he prefers to be called, striving for respectability. No one ever calls Vince 'Vinnie'.) who controls it all. Even to the extent of suppressing film footage showing the rasslers rehearsing their lines. And he makes sure it is delayed one hour to edit out any of the clear misses of forearm smashes and foot stomps to the head. To be fair Mr. McMahon even calls them 'scenes'.
Its Jerry Springer on steroids. ( at least Jerry admits it's all a big joke)
Ah, violence at its best.
But nothing to do with sports.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Rescue - Why?
Is there any real reason that the Canadian government should charter ships to go into a war zone to rescue as many as 20,000 'Canadians'? Since when did we have an obligation to collect people who chose to go there for 'vacations' or other reasons? This is not Dunkirk.
On closer examination would we find that these Canadian citizens are carrying Canadian passports of convenience? Are they Lebanese who have come to Canada, bought their citizenship, and immediately returned to their home country for whatever reason?
In most cases of stress in countries a government warns their citizens to stay away from dangerous areas. In the case of Lebanon, this has been ongoing since 1975! So if they have returned to do business for whatever reasons, the Canadian taxpayer should make no effort to rescue these people. Lebanese Canadians should simply go north, out of the potential danger zone and leave the country at their own expense.
Having them on radio and television criticizing our efforts is ridiculous and insolent. They should stay here at their chosen home or tough out the situation wherever they are. Canada needs to review its process of doling out passports to people who do not embrace Canada as a place to live a privileged life. If it is your new home, come here to contribute, not to have a safe base.
Canada, love it or leave it, but don't use it.
On closer examination would we find that these Canadian citizens are carrying Canadian passports of convenience? Are they Lebanese who have come to Canada, bought their citizenship, and immediately returned to their home country for whatever reason?
In most cases of stress in countries a government warns their citizens to stay away from dangerous areas. In the case of Lebanon, this has been ongoing since 1975! So if they have returned to do business for whatever reasons, the Canadian taxpayer should make no effort to rescue these people. Lebanese Canadians should simply go north, out of the potential danger zone and leave the country at their own expense.
Having them on radio and television criticizing our efforts is ridiculous and insolent. They should stay here at their chosen home or tough out the situation wherever they are. Canada needs to review its process of doling out passports to people who do not embrace Canada as a place to live a privileged life. If it is your new home, come here to contribute, not to have a safe base.
Canada, love it or leave it, but don't use it.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
We told you so ...
David Emerson signed the softwood lumber deal with the US. ONLY Emerson and Harper are supposedly happy with it. It could be because Harper wants it settled when he visits President Bush soon?
The BC Government sent Emerson it's concerns that the deal was NOT in British Columbia's interests. In plently of time for him to be aware. He should have been keyed on BC needs anyway. There were four major items we were unhappy with. Emerson went ahead and signed a bad deal. The American lumber lobby against Canada gets to keep one BILLION dollars of our money.
BC is the largest lumber producer in Canada. Emerson told us how effective he could be for British Columbians when he crossed over from the Liberals in his lust for power. Emerson is from BC. Everyone said how good he would be for BC.
Sure. Some believed it.
We didn't. Check out our previous comments.
David Emerson, like many BC MPs before him, became a traitor to his home province. Sucking up to Harper and the Americans for his illusions of grandeur. David will say, we had to get some kind of deal. No we didn't, we had one called NAFTA.
We told you so ...
UPDATE: Alberta has now joined with British Columbia and Quebec in showing its dissatisfaction with the lumber deal and threatening legal action against it. Makes one wonder just what Emerson was up to or whether he even communicated with anyone?
The BC Government sent Emerson it's concerns that the deal was NOT in British Columbia's interests. In plently of time for him to be aware. He should have been keyed on BC needs anyway. There were four major items we were unhappy with. Emerson went ahead and signed a bad deal. The American lumber lobby against Canada gets to keep one BILLION dollars of our money.
BC is the largest lumber producer in Canada. Emerson told us how effective he could be for British Columbians when he crossed over from the Liberals in his lust for power. Emerson is from BC. Everyone said how good he would be for BC.
Sure. Some believed it.
We didn't. Check out our previous comments.
David Emerson, like many BC MPs before him, became a traitor to his home province. Sucking up to Harper and the Americans for his illusions of grandeur. David will say, we had to get some kind of deal. No we didn't, we had one called NAFTA.
We told you so ...
UPDATE: Alberta has now joined with British Columbia and Quebec in showing its dissatisfaction with the lumber deal and threatening legal action against it. Makes one wonder just what Emerson was up to or whether he even communicated with anyone?
Monday, July 03, 2006
Our peregrine is back
We live in downtown Vancouver. We used to face south looking toward False Creek. One day we noticed a Peregrine Falcon using another highrise building as a hunting vantage point and we began watching him for hours. Almost every day. Sometimes striking off the ledge and disappearing in a flash of wings, at other times returning with a pigeon meal. And he'd stay on the ledge to dine. He wasn't nesting up there but possibly somewhere close by. One time we even saw two of them on the same rooftop ledge, but only that once.
Then a construction of three new highrises at Hamilton and Smythe and our peregrine disappeared.
We moved within the building and now faced south, looking out toward Burrard Inlet from near
Robson Street. The other day I saw something soaring just over the top of the Vancouver Library building offices. Thinking a young Eagle without the white plumage. No, not large enough. Perhaps a Red-Tailed Hawk. I have seen one passing unhurriedly through the city in overlapping circles. No, the tail was too long and no red. Peregrines don't often soar. I have even seen a couple of black Turkey Vultures visiting from Grouse or Seymour mountain or Simon Fraser, casually checking out the city. And occassionally a Raven braves the ire of crows to get where he's going.
The bird suddenly folded his wings and dropped quickly but quit after a second or two. I knew he was 'our' falcon right away. His prey had taken cover.
I followed his flight with binoculars and he took a high position on the red S of the Scotia bank building. Spent time preening, then peering at whatever far below. Then he was gone.
I was thrilled to see him again. If he's the same one. Or she.
So look upward once in a while and you might catch a glimpse of one of the most magnificent birds to ever grace a sky. Right here in downtown Vancouver. If you do, watch him for a while, even be late getting back to work. Some things are worth it.
Amazing.
Then a construction of three new highrises at Hamilton and Smythe and our peregrine disappeared.
We moved within the building and now faced south, looking out toward Burrard Inlet from near
Robson Street. The other day I saw something soaring just over the top of the Vancouver Library building offices. Thinking a young Eagle without the white plumage. No, not large enough. Perhaps a Red-Tailed Hawk. I have seen one passing unhurriedly through the city in overlapping circles. No, the tail was too long and no red. Peregrines don't often soar. I have even seen a couple of black Turkey Vultures visiting from Grouse or Seymour mountain or Simon Fraser, casually checking out the city. And occassionally a Raven braves the ire of crows to get where he's going.The bird suddenly folded his wings and dropped quickly but quit after a second or two. I knew he was 'our' falcon right away. His prey had taken cover.
I followed his flight with binoculars and he took a high position on the red S of the Scotia bank building. Spent time preening, then peering at whatever far below. Then he was gone.
I was thrilled to see him again. If he's the same one. Or she.
So look upward once in a while and you might catch a glimpse of one of the most magnificent birds to ever grace a sky. Right here in downtown Vancouver. If you do, watch him for a while, even be late getting back to work. Some things are worth it.
Amazing.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Soccer stadium
Any truth to the rumour that the owner of the Whitecaps has large land investments on the downtown east side which are not worth much but would be worth many millions more if a stadium was built down there? Another hmmm.
Couldn't they expand Swanguard Stadium by simply building another seating bleacher OVER the existing parking lot? No more land would be used, the parking lot could still exist, and Swanguard would double it's capacity.
Or, why not play in BC Place? It is already a world class venue.
Or, couldn't they build a great stadium south of Exhibition Park race track right on the waterfront? Bring back that great view that everyone loved from old Empire Stadium? The parking would be already available so it would take no additional land.
Hmmm.
Couldn't they expand Swanguard Stadium by simply building another seating bleacher OVER the existing parking lot? No more land would be used, the parking lot could still exist, and Swanguard would double it's capacity.
Or, why not play in BC Place? It is already a world class venue.
Or, couldn't they build a great stadium south of Exhibition Park race track right on the waterfront? Bring back that great view that everyone loved from old Empire Stadium? The parking would be already available so it would take no additional land.
Hmmm.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Gaza & Israel
Palestinian militants BURROWED under a wall separating Gaza from Israel and kidnapped an Israeli soldier. Israel is pissed about this of course. The Gaza militants have demanded that Israel release all the women and youths held in Israeli jails in exchange for the hostage. Oh, they added, and release all the MINERS too.
Can there be a sense of humour here?
Can there be a sense of humour here?
Monday, June 26, 2006
Canucks hockey
Blockbuster trade?
They're making it sound like we got a bundle for Bertuzzi. Hmm ... maybe not.
Alex Auld - 33w - 26l - 6 otl. GAA 2.94 vs Roberto Luongo - 35w - 30l - 9 otl. GAA 2.97
Neither has playoff experience. Auld has the better stats, he's a lot younger, makes about 6 million a year LESS and played in our MUCH tougher division.
Advantage - Mike Keenan.
Bryan Allan, young, up and coming defenceman in the Chris Pronger style vs Lukas Krajicek. Maybe even up for the trade but why trade him at all?
Advantage - ?
Todd Bertuzzi became a 'throw in' for nothing in return. Dave Nonus was under political fear to get rid of Bertuzzi. Keenan knew that. Nonus should have waited almost until the season began to trade Bertuzzi. We give up Bertuzzi's 5 million to get Luongo's 6.5 million, meaning we'll still have to let Jovanovski go. Where? To Florida of course.
Advantage - Keenan.
The sixth round draft pick we got? Keenan traded someone the next day for another sixth round pick.
So now we'll get the spin. The same as when we had two of the best players to ever lace up for the Canucks, Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilney and they told us we were 'rebuilding'. Remember? We got that slackard Mark Messier about then too.
No wonder so many fans at GM Place cheer for other teams.
Back to Top
They're making it sound like we got a bundle for Bertuzzi. Hmm ... maybe not.
Alex Auld - 33w - 26l - 6 otl. GAA 2.94 vs Roberto Luongo - 35w - 30l - 9 otl. GAA 2.97
Neither has playoff experience. Auld has the better stats, he's a lot younger, makes about 6 million a year LESS and played in our MUCH tougher division.
Advantage - Mike Keenan.
Bryan Allan, young, up and coming defenceman in the Chris Pronger style vs Lukas Krajicek. Maybe even up for the trade but why trade him at all?
Advantage - ?
Todd Bertuzzi became a 'throw in' for nothing in return. Dave Nonus was under political fear to get rid of Bertuzzi. Keenan knew that. Nonus should have waited almost until the season began to trade Bertuzzi. We give up Bertuzzi's 5 million to get Luongo's 6.5 million, meaning we'll still have to let Jovanovski go. Where? To Florida of course.
Advantage - Keenan.
The sixth round draft pick we got? Keenan traded someone the next day for another sixth round pick.
So now we'll get the spin. The same as when we had two of the best players to ever lace up for the Canucks, Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilney and they told us we were 'rebuilding'. Remember? We got that slackard Mark Messier about then too.
No wonder so many fans at GM Place cheer for other teams.
Back to TopFriday, June 23, 2006
CBC hockey
Well, the CBC is pre-empting The National news for an American reality program. It seems they pre-empted Hockey Night in Canada for ... what WERE they doing in that final game between Edmonton and Carolina?
Bob Cole : Oh, there's a penalty!
Harry Neale : Yep. That's a penalty shot!
Bob Cole: Hooking, Harry.
Harry Neale: Elbowing, I think.
(Harry checks his notes on Shakespeare quotes on hockey)
Harry Neale: Shakespeare once said, 'To be or not to be' is it against the Leafs or not to be?
Bob Cole: They had too many men.
(Camera moves in on a player's nostrils, ala film noir ... )
Harry Neale: Is it against Detroit?
Bob Cole: Offside.
Harry Neale: Cross check.
Bob Cole: McGoo has his hand up.
Harry Neale: He's waving to our producer, it's his birthday. Happy Birthday.
Bob Cole: I want to thank our crew for all the hamburgers they bought us over this ... Was that a goal?
(Camera CU on nostril snot)
Checking TSN for coverage.
UPDATE: The Americans cancelled their program.
Bob Cole : Oh, there's a penalty!
Harry Neale : Yep. That's a penalty shot!
Bob Cole: Hooking, Harry.
Harry Neale: Elbowing, I think.
(Harry checks his notes on Shakespeare quotes on hockey)
Harry Neale: Shakespeare once said, 'To be or not to be' is it against the Leafs or not to be?
Bob Cole: They had too many men.
(Camera moves in on a player's nostrils, ala film noir ... )
Harry Neale: Is it against Detroit?
Bob Cole: Offside.
Harry Neale: Cross check.
Bob Cole: McGoo has his hand up.
Harry Neale: He's waving to our producer, it's his birthday. Happy Birthday.
Bob Cole: I want to thank our crew for all the hamburgers they bought us over this ... Was that a goal?
(Camera CU on nostril snot)
Checking TSN for coverage.
UPDATE: The Americans cancelled their program.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Canadian MPs
As we are often considered a political blog, we feel we should be commenting from time to time on individual MPs running our government in Ottawa. So we start by having something to say about our current Environment Minister, Rona Ambrose .......
..... Wooooo.
..... Wooooo.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Nudity vs violence
Tamara Hoover, a Texas school art teacher has topless pictures on the web. Posted there by her partner. She is a skinny blonde who wouldn't have much to show even if you could see it. But in Texas, this is serious. She's about to lose her job. Oh no, not another teach in trouble with nudity?
Better to have little Billy's room plastered with pics of Stallone beating someone to a bloody pulp, or Arnold blasting a hole right through a body, than a photo of a female art teacher.
This kind of explains the growing attitude of disdain towards women down there and the violence among young boys, doesn't it?
None o' that neked stuff here in Texas, folks, we're a whole 'nuther country.
Better to have little Billy's room plastered with pics of Stallone beating someone to a bloody pulp, or Arnold blasting a hole right through a body, than a photo of a female art teacher.
This kind of explains the growing attitude of disdain towards women down there and the violence among young boys, doesn't it?
None o' that neked stuff here in Texas, folks, we're a whole 'nuther country.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Humpback whales
Humpback whales are the most commonly known species of whale to many.
We have whale watching tours off Victoria BC. And who has ever gone to Hawaii without at least seeing their spouts on the blue waters. Or been on a catamaran when a humpback 'mugs' the boat, swimming directly beneath it at close range. Or when one 'breaches', taking the observer's breath away with the huge splash. The gentle behemoths are loved by anyone who has ever seen or heard them.
World wide, when commercial whaling was stopped about 20 years ago, their numbers were down to 20% of their world-wide population. Since then, they have only recovered slightly. They are still red listed.
Japan has recently stated their intention to begin slaughtering more than 50 humpbacks a year. Resuming whaling without the International Whaling Commission's permission. They currently slaughter each year over 1000 minke whales and fin whales. The Norwegians about the same. The Japanese are using a loophole in the regulations and say they will take them for 'scientific research'. We all know they will be slaughtering these wonderful creatures to feed the lust for whale meat and oil that oriental people want to consume for whatever reasons. Similar, one suspects, to eating Bengal tigers to improve sexual prowess. (no evidence anywhere to support this silly theory)
The Japanese murder whales with special grenade tipped harpoons. The creatures dies a horrible prolonged death. Liken it to a human being murdered with firecrackers implanted under your skin.
This needs to stop. Whales have no threats to humans on this planet. They are benign beautiful creatures.
Let your voice be heard by at least signing a petition on the following website;
http://wspa.org.uk/index.asp
Other actions you could take would be to let your feelings be known to Japan, Iceland and Norway by urguing them to abandon whale meat and preserve a wonderful part of life on our planet. And tell everyone you know about this misguided Japanese lust for whale meat. You could also picket your local Honda dealer. Cause them to put pressure on their OWN governement.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,5-2006280068,00.html
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article1090214.ece
We have whale watching tours off Victoria BC. And who has ever gone to Hawaii without at least seeing their spouts on the blue waters. Or been on a catamaran when a humpback 'mugs' the boat, swimming directly beneath it at close range. Or when one 'breaches', taking the observer's breath away with the huge splash. The gentle behemoths are loved by anyone who has ever seen or heard them.
World wide, when commercial whaling was stopped about 20 years ago, their numbers were down to 20% of their world-wide population. Since then, they have only recovered slightly. They are still red listed.
Japan has recently stated their intention to begin slaughtering more than 50 humpbacks a year. Resuming whaling without the International Whaling Commission's permission. They currently slaughter each year over 1000 minke whales and fin whales. The Norwegians about the same. The Japanese are using a loophole in the regulations and say they will take them for 'scientific research'. We all know they will be slaughtering these wonderful creatures to feed the lust for whale meat and oil that oriental people want to consume for whatever reasons. Similar, one suspects, to eating Bengal tigers to improve sexual prowess. (no evidence anywhere to support this silly theory)
The Japanese murder whales with special grenade tipped harpoons. The creatures dies a horrible prolonged death. Liken it to a human being murdered with firecrackers implanted under your skin.
This needs to stop. Whales have no threats to humans on this planet. They are benign beautiful creatures.
Let your voice be heard by at least signing a petition on the following website;
http://wspa.org.uk/index.asp
Other actions you could take would be to let your feelings be known to Japan, Iceland and Norway by urguing them to abandon whale meat and preserve a wonderful part of life on our planet. And tell everyone you know about this misguided Japanese lust for whale meat. You could also picket your local Honda dealer. Cause them to put pressure on their OWN governement.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,5-2006280068,00.html
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article1090214.ece
Monday, June 12, 2006
Guardian Angels - why not?
The consensus seems to be about even on the reception to the Guardian Angels coming in to Vancouver. Yes or no. It seems however, that most people are not really familiar with what they actually do.
The Guardian Angels are not trying to be a police force or a vigilante group, beware of the motives of people who tell you they are. They are simply being on our streets to be eyes and ears for our Vancouver police. Their intention is to help people like drug addicts, the homeless and perhaps prevent injustices to those most vulnerable. IF a situation arises that needs police attention, it will be handled by Vancouver Police Department, hopefully responding to what a Guardian Angel sees or hears.
In previous incarnations, a lot of Guardian Angels' activities were put down in many cities. (they were here from 1983 - 1988) This resistance is often from police forces themselves, protecting turf, hesitant of anyone nosing into their business. However, patrolling our streets seems to have no downside when we know there are just not enough police to do the job. Surely anyone who frequents the downtown core often enough can see drug dealers on almost every corner. Transactions go on within sight of community policing offices! There aren't sufficient resources for VPD to be everywhere. Law enforcement should welcome them, we know the criminals won't. We're hoping the Guardian Angels will establish a rapport with VPD.
In some cases organized crime took their own actions against the Guardian Angels. Founder Curtis Sliwa was actually attacked in a locked cab by a hitman and only escaped with his life after being shot several times. The hit was allegedly ordered by Junior Gotti.
Surely having someone out there on the side of law abiding people can only be a good thing. The situation in our town is only becoming worse. Our police need all he help they can get.
Welcome them to Vancouver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Sliwa
http://www.ganglandnews.com/column336.htm
The Guardian Angels are not trying to be a police force or a vigilante group, beware of the motives of people who tell you they are. They are simply being on our streets to be eyes and ears for our Vancouver police. Their intention is to help people like drug addicts, the homeless and perhaps prevent injustices to those most vulnerable. IF a situation arises that needs police attention, it will be handled by Vancouver Police Department, hopefully responding to what a Guardian Angel sees or hears.
In previous incarnations, a lot of Guardian Angels' activities were put down in many cities. (they were here from 1983 - 1988) This resistance is often from police forces themselves, protecting turf, hesitant of anyone nosing into their business. However, patrolling our streets seems to have no downside when we know there are just not enough police to do the job. Surely anyone who frequents the downtown core often enough can see drug dealers on almost every corner. Transactions go on within sight of community policing offices! There aren't sufficient resources for VPD to be everywhere. Law enforcement should welcome them, we know the criminals won't. We're hoping the Guardian Angels will establish a rapport with VPD.
In some cases organized crime took their own actions against the Guardian Angels. Founder Curtis Sliwa was actually attacked in a locked cab by a hitman and only escaped with his life after being shot several times. The hit was allegedly ordered by Junior Gotti.
Surely having someone out there on the side of law abiding people can only be a good thing. The situation in our town is only becoming worse. Our police need all he help they can get.
Welcome them to Vancouver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Sliwa
http://www.ganglandnews.com/column336.htm
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
What WAS that?
The headline screamed :
..... STORM PARLIAMENT
..... TAKE MPs HOSTAGE
..... BEHEAD HARPER
oh, was that about terrorists? I thought it was a Canadian citizen opinion poll.
..... STORM PARLIAMENT
..... TAKE MPs HOSTAGE
..... BEHEAD HARPER
oh, was that about terrorists? I thought it was a Canadian citizen opinion poll.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Aquarium wants more of Stanley Park.
The aquarium wants to expand. Again. They want more of Stanley Park. Again. The park dedicated by Lord Stanley for everyone in Vancouver to enjoy.
Some folks think they should just get out of Stanley Park completely.
The promotors don't want a referendum on their expansion plans because the details are too complicated for us taxpayers to understand. Hmm.
They seem to have enough area to accomodate several hundreds of convention participants for dinners. What has that to do with the display of sea creatures? How did they come to host conventions? Do they want to build a new otter pool so they can expand their convention facilities at the same time? Sneaky if you ask me.
Complicated?
Maybe, but the public has an uncanny knack for knowing a scam when they see one.
Some folks think they should just get out of Stanley Park completely.
The promotors don't want a referendum on their expansion plans because the details are too complicated for us taxpayers to understand. Hmm.
They seem to have enough area to accomodate several hundreds of convention participants for dinners. What has that to do with the display of sea creatures? How did they come to host conventions? Do they want to build a new otter pool so they can expand their convention facilities at the same time? Sneaky if you ask me.
Complicated?
Maybe, but the public has an uncanny knack for knowing a scam when they see one.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The "Noise Rage" defense
Noise pollution is proven to have devastating results on one's health and well being.
In Vancouver that potential could eventually have disasterous results. No one seems to enforce whatever anti-noise bylaws we have. Noise is simply not taken seriously. Vancouver seems to be proud of the fact that people of all ages are moving back into the Vancouver core. However it is almost impossible to have any peace and quiet because of the noise levels.
Construction equipment have no muffling devices on their engines. Bull dozers, pile drivers, hard rock drills, jackhammers, graders and excavators all make maximum noise. Dump trucks blast their horns at anyone in their way to the site. The coffee trucks arrive with a blare. Delivery drivers leave their deisel engines running while delivering or dropping into coffee shops. Buses grind a grating clatter in passing. Brakes squeal. It is accepted that shouting is okay. Recently a local patio bar had a DJ with a loud mic, encouraging the partying patrons to "Let's make some noise out there!"
Another guy was moonlighting from his day job and would turn up at 8:30 PM and start a jackhammer to bust up concrete!
One cannot listen to music during the day if you live in a downtown apartment. Movie companies must now consider carefully if they can shoot in the core because the noise levels don't allow them to pick up clean dialogue. Offices must sweat with their windows closed. Overly sensitive car alarms are always shrill and annoying. And they are often set off by those Harleys with their drilled baffles. We hear every gear change and echo of the pipes for miles. And if you've got a Starbucks near your area you'll never sleep in again. The garbage trucks collect at 6 am, banging and clanging, every day including weekends and compress in a cacophony of irritating sound.
The business oriented city controllers accept this constant barrage of noise during the day and retreat to their suburbs in the evenings. 'Business' has precedence.
The World Health Organization suggests that noise can affect human health and well-being in a number of ways, including annoyance reaction, sleep disturbance, interference with communication, performance effects, effects on social behaviour and hearing loss. Noise can cause annoyance and frustration as a result of interference, interruption and distraction. Activity disturbance is regarded as an important indicator of the community impact of noise.
Vancouver is encouraging families to move into the downtown core, yet children are affected by noise too with increased blood pressure levels and attention deficits!
Continued exposure to noise is also associated with a range of possible physical effects including: damaging your hearing, colds, changes in blood pressure, other cardiovascular changes, increased general medical practice attendance, problems with the digestive system and general fatigue. Research into the effects of noise on human health indicates a variety of health effects. People experiencing high noise levels differ from those with less noise exposure in terms of increased number of headaches, greater susceptibility to minor accidents, increased reliance on sedatives and sleeping pills, and increased mental hospital admission rates.
Ah .... there's the thing.
Road rage is now understood by commuters everywhere. And even has its own label now from psychologists, (because that's what they DO) Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
William Kunstler introduced the 'black rage' defense into law courts.
Soon we'll have people losing it totally and committing serious crimes of harm. Actress Demi Moore, responding to an ongoing car alarm outside her house in the dead of night, went out and SHOT the car!
The 'noise rage' defense will be here soon, and I for one, will understand it.
Case dismissed, Miss Moore.
What can YOU do? Complain complain complain ..... you've had enough and won't take it anymore!
sam.sullivan@vancouver.ca
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/councillors/sullivan/
http://www.quiet.org/faq.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0835810.html
http://www.designshare.com/Research/LMaxwell/NoiseChildren.htm
In Vancouver that potential could eventually have disasterous results. No one seems to enforce whatever anti-noise bylaws we have. Noise is simply not taken seriously. Vancouver seems to be proud of the fact that people of all ages are moving back into the Vancouver core. However it is almost impossible to have any peace and quiet because of the noise levels.
Construction equipment have no muffling devices on their engines. Bull dozers, pile drivers, hard rock drills, jackhammers, graders and excavators all make maximum noise. Dump trucks blast their horns at anyone in their way to the site. The coffee trucks arrive with a blare. Delivery drivers leave their deisel engines running while delivering or dropping into coffee shops. Buses grind a grating clatter in passing. Brakes squeal. It is accepted that shouting is okay. Recently a local patio bar had a DJ with a loud mic, encouraging the partying patrons to "Let's make some noise out there!"
Another guy was moonlighting from his day job and would turn up at 8:30 PM and start a jackhammer to bust up concrete!
One cannot listen to music during the day if you live in a downtown apartment. Movie companies must now consider carefully if they can shoot in the core because the noise levels don't allow them to pick up clean dialogue. Offices must sweat with their windows closed. Overly sensitive car alarms are always shrill and annoying. And they are often set off by those Harleys with their drilled baffles. We hear every gear change and echo of the pipes for miles. And if you've got a Starbucks near your area you'll never sleep in again. The garbage trucks collect at 6 am, banging and clanging, every day including weekends and compress in a cacophony of irritating sound.
The business oriented city controllers accept this constant barrage of noise during the day and retreat to their suburbs in the evenings. 'Business' has precedence.The World Health Organization suggests that noise can affect human health and well-being in a number of ways, including annoyance reaction, sleep disturbance, interference with communication, performance effects, effects on social behaviour and hearing loss. Noise can cause annoyance and frustration as a result of interference, interruption and distraction. Activity disturbance is regarded as an important indicator of the community impact of noise.
Vancouver is encouraging families to move into the downtown core, yet children are affected by noise too with increased blood pressure levels and attention deficits!
Continued exposure to noise is also associated with a range of possible physical effects including: damaging your hearing, colds, changes in blood pressure, other cardiovascular changes, increased general medical practice attendance, problems with the digestive system and general fatigue. Research into the effects of noise on human health indicates a variety of health effects. People experiencing high noise levels differ from those with less noise exposure in terms of increased number of headaches, greater susceptibility to minor accidents, increased reliance on sedatives and sleeping pills, and increased mental hospital admission rates.
Ah .... there's the thing.
Road rage is now understood by commuters everywhere. And even has its own label now from psychologists, (because that's what they DO) Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
William Kunstler introduced the 'black rage' defense into law courts.
Soon we'll have people losing it totally and committing serious crimes of harm. Actress Demi Moore, responding to an ongoing car alarm outside her house in the dead of night, went out and SHOT the car!
The 'noise rage' defense will be here soon, and I for one, will understand it.
Case dismissed, Miss Moore.
What can YOU do? Complain complain complain ..... you've had enough and won't take it anymore!
sam.sullivan@vancouver.ca
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/councillors/sullivan/
http://www.quiet.org/faq.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0835810.html
http://www.designshare.com/Research/LMaxwell/NoiseChildren.htm
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Eagleridge Bluffs - more sneaky Campbell?
Do we actually LOOK for stuff to confirm the Campbell government's deception and sneakiness? You bet we do.
Consider this little speculation:
Aside from the protesters up there on Eagleridge Bluffs in West Van. Will there be bumper-to -bumper cars travelling to Whistler in 2010? Will folks from Kansas tackle that precarious road in the dead of winter? Why do we even need a NEW road through there for a two week event? Well, let us tell you why.
There are billions of dollars in development land up there. Already owned by someone. We don't know who. But when you want to develop a land area and fill it with houses, the developer must pay to have the roads built to ACCESS his property. To go in and do that at the top of Eagle Ridge would cost millions of dollars! Not to mention that it would have massive resistance by a lot of people to such a PRIVATE development. BUT, if the government (read Gordon Campbell) builds a road through the area at TAXPAYER's cost, the developer then has only to throw in a few access roads and viola! Cool BILLIONS in profits that cost little to achieve.
The Olympics? One of the events you'll be paying for into the 22 century. What a great cover to fill someone's pockets!
Do we think this is sneakiness and deception to aid Gordon's buddies? Do we think there might be something else entirely going on up at Eagleridge Bluffs? You bet we do. Wouldn't you like to see Kevin Falcon answer a few pointed questions on this?
One would almost think that SOMEONE in the present government has a secret bank account somewhere. Maybe we'll check out who went to the Bahamas.
Too bad we don't have any investigative reporters in BC.
UPDATE:
Evidently some reporters are beginning to puzzle over Kevin Falcon's motives for the Eagleridge Bluffs route. Some are asking why the cheaper, easier and logical third lane past Horseshoe Bay proposal wasn't considered? Others are finding information and questioning Kevin Falcon's associations. He was involved in real estate. His political contributions come from real estate developers. The community consultant for British Pacific Properties is the husband of West Vancouver Liberal MLA Joan McIntyre. Etc etc.
Do we see a sneakiness here? Is he a Liberal?
You KNOW that eventually, when the road goes through, that Mr Falcon will be saying that we got off easy and only had to compensate British Pacific Properties by giving them free access roads for going through their territory. Then he'll probably tell us what a great job he did.
We'll be watching to see if he flies off to the Bahamas for a holiday.
UPDATE 2:
Some are even looking into the new Gateway project of adding a twin bridge at Port Mann. After a study showed that real estate prices will skyrocket in Abbotsford, Langley, North Surrey and Fort Langley. Most experts including David Suzuki have agreed that adding more roads only fills up the pipeline again, ala Los Angeles, and transit is the only way. Skytrain could easily be built right into the median all the way to Chilliwack but that wouldn't help property values, would it.
One would sort of want to know who has bought what land in that corridor, wouldn't one?
Methinks we might have to start putting BC Government actions under our heading for "Conspiracy Theories" soon.
Consider this little speculation:
Aside from the protesters up there on Eagleridge Bluffs in West Van. Will there be bumper-to -bumper cars travelling to Whistler in 2010? Will folks from Kansas tackle that precarious road in the dead of winter? Why do we even need a NEW road through there for a two week event? Well, let us tell you why.
There are billions of dollars in development land up there. Already owned by someone. We don't know who. But when you want to develop a land area and fill it with houses, the developer must pay to have the roads built to ACCESS his property. To go in and do that at the top of Eagle Ridge would cost millions of dollars! Not to mention that it would have massive resistance by a lot of people to such a PRIVATE development. BUT, if the government (read Gordon Campbell) builds a road through the area at TAXPAYER's cost, the developer then has only to throw in a few access roads and viola! Cool BILLIONS in profits that cost little to achieve.
The Olympics? One of the events you'll be paying for into the 22 century. What a great cover to fill someone's pockets!
Do we think this is sneakiness and deception to aid Gordon's buddies? Do we think there might be something else entirely going on up at Eagleridge Bluffs? You bet we do. Wouldn't you like to see Kevin Falcon answer a few pointed questions on this?
One would almost think that SOMEONE in the present government has a secret bank account somewhere. Maybe we'll check out who went to the Bahamas.
Too bad we don't have any investigative reporters in BC.
UPDATE:
Evidently some reporters are beginning to puzzle over Kevin Falcon's motives for the Eagleridge Bluffs route. Some are asking why the cheaper, easier and logical third lane past Horseshoe Bay proposal wasn't considered? Others are finding information and questioning Kevin Falcon's associations. He was involved in real estate. His political contributions come from real estate developers. The community consultant for British Pacific Properties is the husband of West Vancouver Liberal MLA Joan McIntyre. Etc etc.
Do we see a sneakiness here? Is he a Liberal?
You KNOW that eventually, when the road goes through, that Mr Falcon will be saying that we got off easy and only had to compensate British Pacific Properties by giving them free access roads for going through their territory. Then he'll probably tell us what a great job he did.
We'll be watching to see if he flies off to the Bahamas for a holiday.
UPDATE 2:
Some are even looking into the new Gateway project of adding a twin bridge at Port Mann. After a study showed that real estate prices will skyrocket in Abbotsford, Langley, North Surrey and Fort Langley. Most experts including David Suzuki have agreed that adding more roads only fills up the pipeline again, ala Los Angeles, and transit is the only way. Skytrain could easily be built right into the median all the way to Chilliwack but that wouldn't help property values, would it.
One would sort of want to know who has bought what land in that corridor, wouldn't one?
Methinks we might have to start putting BC Government actions under our heading for "Conspiracy Theories" soon.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Sunday, May 21, 2006
UFO sightings ...
Sure some of those UFO people are Trekkies, wishing to get beamed up. Others are google-eyed and so desperate to see anything up there that they DO see something up there. Others are wearing tin hats and tuning in the universe. Then there are the rest of us, open to anything and just observing whatever might be there.
In March, 1997, I was at a summer home, watching the skies at about 11:00 pm. There are hundreds of satelites going by on any given night and anyone can see them twinkling up there. I was looking southwest, toward the constellation Cassiopeia. There are 5 main stars, but as I looked at it, 3 'stars' that seemed to be part of it began moving east. These lights were in a triangular formation and moved fairly slowly across the sky, eventually disappearing in the constellation Ursa Major, the Big Dipper. These were not satellites as they don't glide by in formation. I even called a NASA office in Seattle and they had no explanation, but confirming that no 3 satellites would move in unison. I learned later that many people around the world had seen this formation of lights and believed it to be a huge craft, including many in Belgium and Moscow.
Then in 2002, summer, I was driving into Vancouver on the #1 highway through Burnaby at
about 2:00 in the afternoon and near Central park, we observed a black oval shaped object in the sky ahead, not so much of an object as a shape in the sky. It was slightly east of Central Park and it appeared to be several thousand feet up.
I can only describe it as though it was a pipe in the sky with a black hole in it and yet one couldn't see the 'pipe', only the dark entrance. This did not move or vary as we drove along the highway. At Willingdon Ave, we pulled off the highway and looked up. There were other cars doing the same thing, I'd say about 25 of them, including an RCMP cruiser and the two constables were also out of their car looking up. It was definitely NOT a balloon or kite or aircraft. It stayed perfectly still the whole time we watched it. About a month later I met a woman who had also seen it from another area, she was going the opposite way with her teenaged son.
If you do see something, there is now a place to report it. The owner of the website, Brian Vike, is simply a regular guy who wants to be alerted when people observe strange objects in our skies, and he is providing the space to do it.
http://www.hbccufo.org/index.php
Check it out, you might be amazed at how much activity is going on around BC. And you might be interested if something has been sighted in your area. This IS the greatest place in our world to live, perhaps other beings are realizing it too.
In March, 1997, I was at a summer home, watching the skies at about 11:00 pm. There are hundreds of satelites going by on any given night and anyone can see them twinkling up there. I was looking southwest, toward the constellation Cassiopeia. There are 5 main stars, but as I looked at it, 3 'stars' that seemed to be part of it began moving east. These lights were in a triangular formation and moved fairly slowly across the sky, eventually disappearing in the constellation Ursa Major, the Big Dipper. These were not satellites as they don't glide by in formation. I even called a NASA office in Seattle and they had no explanation, but confirming that no 3 satellites would move in unison. I learned later that many people around the world had seen this formation of lights and believed it to be a huge craft, including many in Belgium and Moscow.
Then in 2002, summer, I was driving into Vancouver on the #1 highway through Burnaby at
about 2:00 in the afternoon and near Central park, we observed a black oval shaped object in the sky ahead, not so much of an object as a shape in the sky. It was slightly east of Central Park and it appeared to be several thousand feet up.I can only describe it as though it was a pipe in the sky with a black hole in it and yet one couldn't see the 'pipe', only the dark entrance. This did not move or vary as we drove along the highway. At Willingdon Ave, we pulled off the highway and looked up. There were other cars doing the same thing, I'd say about 25 of them, including an RCMP cruiser and the two constables were also out of their car looking up. It was definitely NOT a balloon or kite or aircraft. It stayed perfectly still the whole time we watched it. About a month later I met a woman who had also seen it from another area, she was going the opposite way with her teenaged son.
If you do see something, there is now a place to report it. The owner of the website, Brian Vike, is simply a regular guy who wants to be alerted when people observe strange objects in our skies, and he is providing the space to do it.
http://www.hbccufo.org/index.php
Check it out, you might be amazed at how much activity is going on around BC. And you might be interested if something has been sighted in your area. This IS the greatest place in our world to live, perhaps other beings are realizing it too.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
How the Bank of Montreal aids identity theft ...
The BMO refuses to be called the Bank of Montreal because, like RBC Group, (Royal Bank of Canada) they don't want to be associated with 'banks' that post obscene profits each quarter.
But anyway, this is how they are aiding fraud and identity theft, at least here in BC;
. . . Say you sell something you didn't want anymore ... the guy you sold it to gives you a cheque, so quite naturally you go down to his bank to cash it. Besides taking 5 bucks off the top like those shysters cash services down on Hastings street, this is what they do:
They demand your credit card and driver's licence for ID ... THEN, THEY ACTUALLY WRITE THIS INFORMATION ON THE BACK OF THE CHEQUE!
The guy eventually will get that cheque back in his possession and voila! he'll have YOUR credit card number and driver's licence number! At a time when identity theft is rampant throughout North America!
Is this the stupidest policy that could ever happen or what? The women teller who wanted to do this said they ALWAYS do it that way! She also asked for the Social Insurance number!
Is this the kind of bank YOU want to deal with?
Not me either.
Back to Top
But anyway, this is how they are aiding fraud and identity theft, at least here in BC;
. . . Say you sell something you didn't want anymore ... the guy you sold it to gives you a cheque, so quite naturally you go down to his bank to cash it. Besides taking 5 bucks off the top like those shysters cash services down on Hastings street, this is what they do:
They demand your credit card and driver's licence for ID ... THEN, THEY ACTUALLY WRITE THIS INFORMATION ON THE BACK OF THE CHEQUE!
The guy eventually will get that cheque back in his possession and voila! he'll have YOUR credit card number and driver's licence number! At a time when identity theft is rampant throughout North America!
Is this the stupidest policy that could ever happen or what? The women teller who wanted to do this said they ALWAYS do it that way! She also asked for the Social Insurance number!
Is this the kind of bank YOU want to deal with?
Not me either.
Back to TopSunday, May 14, 2006
Today in History . . . May 14
1643 - King Louis XIV, who would become known as the Sun King, became ruler of France.
King Louis
King Louis
Conspiracy theory 5 ... Google
Funny how Microsoft was twice threatened by the US government and then it all disappeared. (do a search on this blog for 'conspiracy' and read the earlier post.) And now some are wondering what secret software might be installed in Windows XP.
Now if you'll notice, Google has grown at a phenominal rate, to the point of being a competitor to Microsoft. Their search engines find everything and they are two thirds ahead of Microsoft in that regard. So wouldn't the US government start to twitch and want to know what all those searches the citizens do are about? What are they searching for?
Hmmm.
Now if you'll notice, the US government has issued federal subpoenas for those search enquiries.
I don't wonder why ... do you?
http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/05/14/news/local/doc4466ab20deb5e513973435.txt
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/must-read/50485.html
use Technorati to search this blog for 'Conspiracy theory 3 ... Microsoft'
Now if you'll notice, Google has grown at a phenominal rate, to the point of being a competitor to Microsoft. Their search engines find everything and they are two thirds ahead of Microsoft in that regard. So wouldn't the US government start to twitch and want to know what all those searches the citizens do are about? What are they searching for?
Hmmm.
Now if you'll notice, the US government has issued federal subpoenas for those search enquiries.
I don't wonder why ... do you?
http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/05/14/news/local/doc4466ab20deb5e513973435.txt
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/must-read/50485.html
use Technorati to search this blog for 'Conspiracy theory 3 ... Microsoft'
Thursday, May 11, 2006
NSA and your phone calls.
NSA, the National Security Agency in the United States, is apparantly monitoring the phone calls of Americans throughout the country. AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth have been turning over their phone records to the government, showing ALL citizens' phone calls to each other.
I don't mean the earlier actions of listening in to calls without proper legal warrants that they started recently, (approved by George Bush) of people who they deem potential terrorists, I mean just building a database of EVERYONE for whatever reasons they want to use.
As you know, the Homeland Security Act allows the government to do this without even telling you. What does it mean to Canadians? US Bell is the parent company of Bell Canada. They also fall under the catagory of control by NSA. Draw your own conclusions.
I'm sticking with Telus.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060512.PHONE12/TPStory/TPInternational/America/
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/11/nsa.phonerecords.ap/
I don't mean the earlier actions of listening in to calls without proper legal warrants that they started recently, (approved by George Bush) of people who they deem potential terrorists, I mean just building a database of EVERYONE for whatever reasons they want to use.
As you know, the Homeland Security Act allows the government to do this without even telling you. What does it mean to Canadians? US Bell is the parent company of Bell Canada. They also fall under the catagory of control by NSA. Draw your own conclusions.
I'm sticking with Telus.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060512.PHONE12/TPStory/TPInternational/America/
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/11/nsa.phonerecords.ap/
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Barry Bonds 714
no dialogue required ...
Use Technorati and search this blog for more on Bonds and baseball.
BC Ferries scenario
BC Ferries, because they are calling themselves a PRIVATE corporation now, say they don't have to adhere to the Freedom of Information Act, and are refusing to release information about the recent Queen of the North ferry crash. They also won't allow reporters to see safety check information on other BC ferries.
We all know that suppressing information only results in speculations and guesses as to what happened.
Some scenarios can be very wild;
... whispering ...
"Okay, Captain's gone to his cabin to sleep."
"Mmm, c'mere you big hunk officer you."
"Set the autopilot, Babe."
"'Okay ... hey, don't tear my blouse like last time."
"Sorry. Sheez, you're so sexy when you take off your uniform."
"Remove your glasses, Sweetie, there's nothing to see in this dark."
"Mmblnnmff."
"Oh yes, like that."
"Mmm. Is that ship's engines or my pulse pounding?"
"Gawd yes! YES!"
"Yes!"
"I'm coming! I'm cominggggggggggg!"
Clang! CLANG! Buzzz! BUZZZZZZ! RrrrRRRRRrrRRRRRrrrrr! CLANG!
"Wow! That felt like an earthquake! Even on water!"
"Oh my gawd, that was the best yet!"
"Hey, what's that?"
"An island?"
"Didn't you set the ..."
ABANDON SHIP! ABANDON SHIP!
Some seem to be thumbing their noses at the very people who are supposed to OWN these ferries.
Tell us the truth, BC Ferries, and we won't have to make stuff up.
update: Feb 2007 - BC Ferries says there was sex going on when the Queen of the North crashed and sunk.
We all know that suppressing information only results in speculations and guesses as to what happened.
Some scenarios can be very wild;
... whispering ...
"Okay, Captain's gone to his cabin to sleep."
"Mmm, c'mere you big hunk officer you."
"Set the autopilot, Babe."
"'Okay ... hey, don't tear my blouse like last time."
"Sorry. Sheez, you're so sexy when you take off your uniform."
"Remove your glasses, Sweetie, there's nothing to see in this dark."
"Mmblnnmff."
"Oh yes, like that."
"Mmm. Is that ship's engines or my pulse pounding?"
"Gawd yes! YES!"
"Yes!"
"I'm coming! I'm cominggggggggggg!"
Clang! CLANG! Buzzz! BUZZZZZZ! RrrrRRRRRrrRRRRRrrrrr! CLANG!
"Wow! That felt like an earthquake! Even on water!"
"Oh my gawd, that was the best yet!"
"Hey, what's that?"
"An island?"
"Didn't you set the ..."
ABANDON SHIP! ABANDON SHIP!
Some seem to be thumbing their noses at the very people who are supposed to OWN these ferries.
Tell us the truth, BC Ferries, and we won't have to make stuff up.
update: Feb 2007 - BC Ferries says there was sex going on when the Queen of the North crashed and sunk.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Rolling Stoned?
Keith Richards is going to get his skull drilled into to relieve a potential blood clot in his brain. He recently fell out of a coconut tree. He also fell off a ladder once at his home while reaching for a book in his library! One might think he fell out of his baby carriage too.We can only wonder what would have happened if Keith had had his brain drilled 30 years ago?
Would he be a ukelele playing Salvation Army Major today? A Clockwork Orange transformation?
Would he?
.... Nah ....
In a later follow up report, responding to newspaper speculations, it was said that Keith did NOT need a second operation and that no brain damage had been done.
Would we know?
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/news/article362885.ece
Friday, May 05, 2006
Canada Census
If you do your census on line, you'll be giving your private information to Lougheed Martin.
As a result of NAFTA, the creation of the hardware and software for the Canadian census is contracted out to the Canadian subsidiary of the US armament corporation Lockheed Martin.
As a result of the USA Patriot Act and the USA Homeland Security Act, all US companies and their subsidiaries wherever they are located are required on demand (on pain of heavy penalty for refusal), to release to the US Homeland Security all data held. No foreign law (i.e., Canadian) overrides the application of the USA statutes in the USA. Further, the US Patriot Act forbids any company from even telling you that your most private information has been compromised.
Even if you fill out the form properly and mail it in, the scanning software has also been developed by Lougheed Martin.
Therefore, we do not recommend that you ignore the census, only that you do NOT do it online, or when you fill in the form, you write in answers instead of checking the little boxes, and make notations on the form. This will prevent it from being scanned and a real person, a Canadian, will access the information about you.
Lougheed Martin is a huge weapons manufacturer and technology company in America that works for the US Department of Defense, and others, with many divisions including Intelligence, surveillance and reconaisance. Systems integration is one of their strong suits. Their motto is - We never forget who we're working for.
You can be sure it isn't Canadians.
Back to Top
As a result of NAFTA, the creation of the hardware and software for the Canadian census is contracted out to the Canadian subsidiary of the US armament corporation Lockheed Martin.
As a result of the USA Patriot Act and the USA Homeland Security Act, all US companies and their subsidiaries wherever they are located are required on demand (on pain of heavy penalty for refusal), to release to the US Homeland Security all data held. No foreign law (i.e., Canadian) overrides the application of the USA statutes in the USA. Further, the US Patriot Act forbids any company from even telling you that your most private information has been compromised.
Even if you fill out the form properly and mail it in, the scanning software has also been developed by Lougheed Martin.
Therefore, we do not recommend that you ignore the census, only that you do NOT do it online, or when you fill in the form, you write in answers instead of checking the little boxes, and make notations on the form. This will prevent it from being scanned and a real person, a Canadian, will access the information about you.
Lougheed Martin is a huge weapons manufacturer and technology company in America that works for the US Department of Defense, and others, with many divisions including Intelligence, surveillance and reconaisance. Systems integration is one of their strong suits. Their motto is - We never forget who we're working for.
You can be sure it isn't Canadians.
Back to TopThursday, May 04, 2006
Olympic King
John Furlong, the chief executive officer of Vanoc, has signed a cooperative agreement with Quebec, premier John Charest announced.
What? Whyever for? asks the Humble Observer.
The agreement pledges collaboration on sport. Sure okay, so what's the problem? Wait. It also pledges collaboration on culture, the French language, economic developement, volunteers and employment, and here's the shocker, training for Quebec government employees! Do you believe it?
Yes I do, says the Humble Observer, because Furlong has declared himself King.
And the Olympic committee has already been accused of hiding the true costs of the Olympics. Vanoc will also open a Quebec office in Montreal. Furlong didn't even tell the Federal government what he was doing. Well whatever for? He is King of the Olympics, why would he?
So, Furlong has created an inukshuk as the emblem for the Olympics. You know what an inukshuk is, of course, it is now the icon of the territory of Nunavut, in Canada's far north, and is used as a marker in the Arctic. Nunavut 2010, be there! Bring your longjohns.
Furlong was also criticized for his Olympic closing ceremony, when he had the chance to show off Canada and BC to millions. Alas, he showed us as ice fishers to the world. Perhaps he'll make it an Olympic event.
Perhaps Mr. Furlong has been reading too much Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Would Be King, ...... "and there the matter rests".
search this blog - "Olympic costs " - for more on this subject
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=fceb7a63-aa66-4e8d-b433-bfff8c9123f5
What? Whyever for? asks the Humble Observer.
The agreement pledges collaboration on sport. Sure okay, so what's the problem? Wait. It also pledges collaboration on culture, the French language, economic developement, volunteers and employment, and here's the shocker, training for Quebec government employees! Do you believe it?
Yes I do, says the Humble Observer, because Furlong has declared himself King.
And the Olympic committee has already been accused of hiding the true costs of the Olympics. Vanoc will also open a Quebec office in Montreal. Furlong didn't even tell the Federal government what he was doing. Well whatever for? He is King of the Olympics, why would he?
So, Furlong has created an inukshuk as the emblem for the Olympics. You know what an inukshuk is, of course, it is now the icon of the territory of Nunavut, in Canada's far north, and is used as a marker in the Arctic. Nunavut 2010, be there! Bring your longjohns.
Furlong was also criticized for his Olympic closing ceremony, when he had the chance to show off Canada and BC to millions. Alas, he showed us as ice fishers to the world. Perhaps he'll make it an Olympic event.
Perhaps Mr. Furlong has been reading too much Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Would Be King, ...... "and there the matter rests".
search this blog - "Olympic costs " - for more on this subject
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=fceb7a63-aa66-4e8d-b433-bfff8c9123f5
ICBC rates going up again?
ICBC just announced an 157 million dollar profit for the first quarter. But they just put the rates up? Yes, and they'll go up more too. In spite of large profits. Want to know the real reason why?
Because private insurance companies cannot compete with ICBC. They only get the scraps of peripheral insurance right now. The add-ons. They NEED to have higher rates from ICBC to allow them to compete for basic insurance too.
Gordon Campbell, (oh no, he's not going to blame Campbel again) has too many friends in the private sector, he needs to get the rates up to where the private insurers can get in on those profits too.
Once we all start complaining about ICBC rates he'll allow his private company buddies in to compete against ICBC, and they'll cherry pick all the best accident free drivers and leave us taxpayers with the bad ones.
Back to Top
Because private insurance companies cannot compete with ICBC. They only get the scraps of peripheral insurance right now. The add-ons. They NEED to have higher rates from ICBC to allow them to compete for basic insurance too.
Gordon Campbell, (oh no, he's not going to blame Campbel again) has too many friends in the private sector, he needs to get the rates up to where the private insurers can get in on those profits too.
Once we all start complaining about ICBC rates he'll allow his private company buddies in to compete against ICBC, and they'll cherry pick all the best accident free drivers and leave us taxpayers with the bad ones.
Back to TopMonday, May 01, 2006
Expo '86 anniversary
Something's Happening Here!What a time that was! The party of a lifetime. 172 sunny days of fun. 20 years ago. We had a different attitude then. We were so rightly proud of ourselves. We could be the best.
We had Premier Bennett at the helm, who believed British Columbians could do anything. He would never have considered selling BC Rail, that was OURS, there to develop the whole vast province! BC Hydro would never have been bypassed for foreign power projects. BC Ferries was our navy, run proudly by British Columbians, Bill Bennett would never have considered building ships anywhere but BC. He would never have allowed gambling in our BC Pavillion.
How things have changed. 'Something's happening here' has a whole new meaning now, doesn't it?
Try not to cry.
http://www.greatervancouverparks.com/EXPO86_theSite.html
Thursday, April 27, 2006
The Bay US Casino
How long now has the Hudson's Bay Company been owned by American Jerry Zuckerman? Two weeks? Maybe three?
Was in there today. You can still buy clothing, furniture, blankets etc.
But now you can also play roulette and blackjack!
Didn't take long to casinoize it, did it?
Bring money.
Will this be on your Bay card, Ma'am?
Was in there today. You can still buy clothing, furniture, blankets etc.
But now you can also play roulette and blackjack!
Didn't take long to casinoize it, did it?
Bring money.
Will this be on your Bay card, Ma'am?
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
BC Ferries vs the people of the north
They want to build a new ferry for the Prince Rupert service.
British Columbia shipbuilders have bowed out of the bidding to construct a new ship because they've been told they need to do it by 2008. Far too little time for the job.
Is it political? Gordon Campbell sees BC shipbuilders as a union problem. He's proven time after time that he favours foreigners over British Columbians.
The Fast Cats are sitting in the dock waiting for use. It would be instant and easy to press them into service for the upcoming tourist season's walk-on traffic. Indeed, they might be seen as a tourist attraction themselves.
Is it political? You bet it is.
British Columbia shipbuilders have bowed out of the bidding to construct a new ship because they've been told they need to do it by 2008. Far too little time for the job.
Is it political? Gordon Campbell sees BC shipbuilders as a union problem. He's proven time after time that he favours foreigners over British Columbians.
The Fast Cats are sitting in the dock waiting for use. It would be instant and easy to press them into service for the upcoming tourist season's walk-on traffic. Indeed, they might be seen as a tourist attraction themselves.
Is it political? You bet it is.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Flight 93
The movie is out. The fix is in.
The first plane hit the World Trade tower.
The second plane hit the second World Trade tower.
Then a Global Hawk missile hit the Pentagon in a section under reconstruction.
The fourth plane went a long way around before turning back toward the White House.
Giving lots of time to scramble F16s.
The intent became clear as to where the fourth plane was going.
An F16 fired a missile at Flight 93.
The tail section of Flight 93 fell in a field 3 MILES away from the fusilage. Papers were found 8 miles away.
How could that happen?
No real time video is available to dispute any speculations. The FBI removed everything. No one is allowed near the sight. It is guarded 24/7. Early viewers on the day say there was no evidence of aircraft parts from a plane. Only a blackened hole. The cockpit voice recording stopped at 10:03. Siesmologists say the impact was at 10:06. What could have been recorded in that 3 minutes?
The movie is out. Believe it if you like.
http://www.geocities.com/killtown/911.html
http://www.pentagonstrike.co.uk/
The first plane hit the World Trade tower.
The second plane hit the second World Trade tower.
Then a Global Hawk missile hit the Pentagon in a section under reconstruction.
The fourth plane went a long way around before turning back toward the White House.
Giving lots of time to scramble F16s.
The intent became clear as to where the fourth plane was going.
An F16 fired a missile at Flight 93.
The tail section of Flight 93 fell in a field 3 MILES away from the fusilage. Papers were found 8 miles away.
How could that happen?
No real time video is available to dispute any speculations. The FBI removed everything. No one is allowed near the sight. It is guarded 24/7. Early viewers on the day say there was no evidence of aircraft parts from a plane. Only a blackened hole. The cockpit voice recording stopped at 10:03. Siesmologists say the impact was at 10:06. What could have been recorded in that 3 minutes?
The movie is out. Believe it if you like.
http://www.geocities.com/killtown/911.html
http://www.pentagonstrike.co.uk/
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Let's play doctor
A 76 year old man in Florida, was charged with sexual assault after going door to door, posing as a doctor giving free breast examinations. He examined at least two women's breasts after they allowed him into their homes to accept the offer. Phillip Winikoff even carried a black doctor's bag and was found out when one woman allowed a genital inspection, but Phillip, in his excitement, forgot to don rubber gloves. His real occupation is a shuttle driver for a car dealership.
One can almost see the upcoming trial ...
Mr. Winikoff is on the stand.
Prosecutor: Judge, and Jury. This white haired old man perpetrated a heinous criminal act of fraud on women in their early 30s; sexual assault, false pretenses, impersonation, performing a free service without qualifications, and everyone in America knows we don't do doctor stuff for free, furthermore and wheretoever, he caused embarrassment to other women who will not come forward. And lastly, he caused many policemen to sideline their other cases while they assessed the victims themselves for first hand evidence, um ... so to speak. I rest my case.
Defense Councel: Doctor Winikoff, would you have ...
Prosecutor: Objection your Honor, he is not a real doctor!
Defense Councel: Sir, did you offer free breast examinations door to door?
Prosecutor: Objection to Defense Council's giggling, your Honor.
Winikoff: Yes sir, I did.
Defense Councel: And some ladies allowed you into their homes for this ... ah, service?
Prosecutor: Objection on service! This terrible criminal only wanted to "service" the women. And they were FAKE breast exams.
Defense Councel: Doctor Win ... er Mr. Winikoff, and then you actually DID do a breast examination, correct?
Prosecutor: Objection ...
Winikoff: Correct Sir. I did a thorough examination, nothing fake about it.
Prosecutor: ... counsel is laughing again!
Defense Councel: Thank you, Doctor Winikoff, and can you tell us how you did it?
Winikoff: I caressed ... er ... fondled ... um, examined them all with gentle care, Sir. I even listened to the heartbeat with my nice warm ear.
Defense Councel: And why did you choose this community service for young women?
Winikoff: When was the last time you tried to get a doctor to actually come to your home? And those mammary gram machine things hurt like hell.
Prosecutor: Objection. Community service? His intent was strictly sexual, your Honor!
Defense Councel: That is speculation and conjecture, my learned friend ... Winikoff, sir, were any Viagra pills found in your little doctor's bag?
Winikoff: There was nothing in my bag except my lunch. When you're 76 years old it gets kinda heavy to carry around.
Prosecutor: It was the rubber gloves did him in, your Honor, he didn't have any.
Defense Councel: Sir, did these women invite you into their homes voluntarily and remove their clothing of their own accord?
Prosecutor: Objection! They thought he was a doctor.
Defense Councel: He kind of looks like a nice old doctor, though, doesn't he?
Prosecutor: He's a dirty old man!
Defense Councel: Doctor Winikoff, had you found a lump or anything would you have recommended the woman see another doctor for more tests?
Winikoff: I always believe in second opinions, Sir, as a matter of fact my friend Harry, the wash guy down at the car dealership ...
Prosecutor: Oh my gawd!
Defense Councel: We rest too, your Honor. No harm no foul.
Prosecutor: Objection to your Honor's giggling, your Honor.
http://www.local10.com/news/8830685/detail.html
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Eagle Eye Cam
Last winter, a man living on Hornby Island, BC, decided, after watching two eagles nesting in a tree on his property for several years, to share it with the world. He secreted a camera close above the nest and fed the output into his home, and subsequently onto the web.
The Eagle cam was born. The nesting pair returned, and laid two eggs. Now it seems the world is watching Doug Carrick's eagles.
Schools are broadcasting the LIVE stream. Banks have it above waiting lines. Office computers have it running behind work stuff. And the website is getting upwards of two MILLION hits a day. People from everywhere in the world are now enthralled with the vicarious daily show of the parents tending their aerie and awaiting the birth of two new eaglets!
An accompanying forum allows visitors to leave messages and information. Some are capturing the stream and posting pictures. There have been tender moments when the male returned with a fish for his mate. Another when he gently nudged her off the nest for his turn. (they switch about every two hours) Another when he lay his head on her shoulder in a wonderful moment of tenderness.
The world has adopted these great birds, and in spite of their strength and world reputation as fierce preditors, we are seeing live, what the creatures that we share this planet with have to do to survive. And as always, their fate is in our hands.
If you too, want to become an addicted eagle watcher, go to the link. It will be a humbling experience. Doug Carrick and the folks at Infotec have used the wonder of the latest technology to bring us this glimpse into the lives of two very special eagles. And when it is too dark to see, they replay the day for you!
Thank you, Doug, for enriching our lives.
UPDATE: Eagle Eye cam is now getting 3.3 million hits a DAY and over 73 million views in the last month!
UPDATE 2: After getting upwards of 10 million people a day looking to see eaglets, sadly the eggs didn't hatch. It was still an exciting experience to observe these beautiful eagles nesting. And the lesson for the future is an awareness of our environment and how fragile the lives of wild creatures are. We all have an obligation to make sure we share the planet as it is theirs too. Hopefully we'll have an eagle cam next year too.
http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/default.asp
For a fabulous insight into the life and personality of an eagle, please read Conversations With An Eagle by Brenda Cox, available at your local bookstore through distributor HarperCollins - ISBN # 15550548115. (also at Amazon.ca) It is an entertaining, humourous and informative book about an intimate relationship between Brenda and an eagle.
The Eagle cam was born. The nesting pair returned, and laid two eggs. Now it seems the world is watching Doug Carrick's eagles.
Schools are broadcasting the LIVE stream. Banks have it above waiting lines. Office computers have it running behind work stuff. And the website is getting upwards of two MILLION hits a day. People from everywhere in the world are now enthralled with the vicarious daily show of the parents tending their aerie and awaiting the birth of two new eaglets!
An accompanying forum allows visitors to leave messages and information. Some are capturing the stream and posting pictures. There have been tender moments when the male returned with a fish for his mate. Another when he gently nudged her off the nest for his turn. (they switch about every two hours) Another when he lay his head on her shoulder in a wonderful moment of tenderness.
The world has adopted these great birds, and in spite of their strength and world reputation as fierce preditors, we are seeing live, what the creatures that we share this planet with have to do to survive. And as always, their fate is in our hands.
If you too, want to become an addicted eagle watcher, go to the link. It will be a humbling experience. Doug Carrick and the folks at Infotec have used the wonder of the latest technology to bring us this glimpse into the lives of two very special eagles. And when it is too dark to see, they replay the day for you!
Thank you, Doug, for enriching our lives.
UPDATE: Eagle Eye cam is now getting 3.3 million hits a DAY and over 73 million views in the last month!
UPDATE 2: After getting upwards of 10 million people a day looking to see eaglets, sadly the eggs didn't hatch. It was still an exciting experience to observe these beautiful eagles nesting. And the lesson for the future is an awareness of our environment and how fragile the lives of wild creatures are. We all have an obligation to make sure we share the planet as it is theirs too. Hopefully we'll have an eagle cam next year too.
http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/default.asp
For a fabulous insight into the life and personality of an eagle, please read Conversations With An Eagle by Brenda Cox, available at your local bookstore through distributor HarperCollins - ISBN # 15550548115. (also at Amazon.ca) It is an entertaining, humourous and informative book about an intimate relationship between Brenda and an eagle.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Living Longer - Choices
There are many things you can do to increase your life expectancy: exercise, eat well, take your medication etc. It is known that regular physical exercise can add 3.0-to-5.1 years.
However two new studies seemed to add making a serious decision to the process.
Study #1 - Church
The role of religion can be important to your longevity. Regular weekly religious church attendance could add 1.8-to-3.1 years to your life.
"Religious attendance is not a mode of medical therapy," said study leader Daniel Hall, a resident in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "While this study was not intended for use in clinical decision making, these findings tell us that there is something to examine further."
The findings are detailed in the March-April issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Study #2 - Breasts
This from the New England Journal of Medicine:
Ogling over women's breasts is good for a man's health and can add years to his life, medical experts have discovered. "Just 10 minutes of staring at the charms of a well-endowed female is roughly equivalent to a 30-minute aerobics work-out," declared gerontologist Dr. Karen Weatherby. The study revealed that after five years, the breast-watchers had lower blood pressure, slower resting pulse rates and fewer instances of coronary artery disease. "Sexual excitement gets the heart pumping and improves blood circulation," explains Weatherby. "There is no question: Gazing at breasts makes men healthier. Our study indicates that engaging in this activity a few minutes daily cuts the risk of stroke and heart attack in half. We believe that by doing so consistently, the average man can extend his life four to five years."
So ... um ... er ... decide, go to church, live 3.1 years longer. Stare at breasts, live 4 to 5 years longer.
There were no comments on whether jogging with a well endowed woman or staring at the preacher's wife would have any effect.
Enjoy your lives, guys, focus on living a long life ... just don't get caught focussing.
However two new studies seemed to add making a serious decision to the process.
Study #1 - Church
The role of religion can be important to your longevity. Regular weekly religious church attendance could add 1.8-to-3.1 years to your life.
"Religious attendance is not a mode of medical therapy," said study leader Daniel Hall, a resident in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "While this study was not intended for use in clinical decision making, these findings tell us that there is something to examine further."
The findings are detailed in the March-April issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Study #2 - Breasts
This from the New England Journal of Medicine:
Ogling over women's breasts is good for a man's health and can add years to his life, medical experts have discovered. "Just 10 minutes of staring at the charms of a well-endowed female is roughly equivalent to a 30-minute aerobics work-out," declared gerontologist Dr. Karen Weatherby. The study revealed that after five years, the breast-watchers had lower blood pressure, slower resting pulse rates and fewer instances of coronary artery disease. "Sexual excitement gets the heart pumping and improves blood circulation," explains Weatherby. "There is no question: Gazing at breasts makes men healthier. Our study indicates that engaging in this activity a few minutes daily cuts the risk of stroke and heart attack in half. We believe that by doing so consistently, the average man can extend his life four to five years."
So ... um ... er ... decide, go to church, live 3.1 years longer. Stare at breasts, live 4 to 5 years longer.
There were no comments on whether jogging with a well endowed woman or staring at the preacher's wife would have any effect.
Enjoy your lives, guys, focus on living a long life ... just don't get caught focussing.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Barry Bonds vs Babe Ruth
Barry Bonds is nearing Babe Ruth's home run record. But the comparison should be put in perspective. All things must be equal to have a realistic comparison -
presently - - - Bonds = 700+ - - - Ruth = 714
Equalized comparison = Bonds drug enhancement record = 700+
Ruth = if he didn't smoke = add 15 runs ... if he didn't drink hard = add 25 runs ... if he didn't carouse around all night = add 30 runs ... if he also took steriods for strength enhancement = add 100 runs. Therefore the equalized comparison totals should be = Bonds = 700+ home runs, Ruth = 884 home runs.
Not taken into account =
Bonds - detested by fans
Ruth - endeared by fans.
The Sultan of Swat eyeing another homer.
UPDATE: The US government has now launched a lawsuit against Bonds for perjury in a previous testimony regarding his denied use of steroids. In a related issue, four junior league baseball players have been suspended for using banned drugs. It's working its way down. We'll be seeing muscular, bald ten year olds in Little League soon.
presently - - - Bonds = 700+ - - - Ruth = 714
Equalized comparison = Bonds drug enhancement record = 700+
Ruth = if he didn't smoke = add 15 runs ... if he didn't drink hard = add 25 runs ... if he didn't carouse around all night = add 30 runs ... if he also took steriods for strength enhancement = add 100 runs. Therefore the equalized comparison totals should be = Bonds = 700+ home runs, Ruth = 884 home runs.
Not taken into account =
Bonds - detested by fans
Ruth - endeared by fans.
The Sultan of Swat eyeing another homer.
UPDATE: The US government has now launched a lawsuit against Bonds for perjury in a previous testimony regarding his denied use of steroids. In a related issue, four junior league baseball players have been suspended for using banned drugs. It's working its way down. We'll be seeing muscular, bald ten year olds in Little League soon.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
HELP!
Paul Martin, please come back, we're sorry, we didn't know what we were doing, we lost our heads for a minute there, we didn't know THIS would happen!
Come home, Paul.
Come home, Paul.
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