.... and stop using Canada to sponge off. Harper is trying to say they are a nation WITHIN Canada. What kind of deal is that? Liberal leader hopeful Michael Ignatieff (who has been AWAY from Canada for 30 years) is saying he would recognize Quebec as a nation. Then is BC a nation? Is Yukon a nation? Do we all have equal status? It seems not. It seems that we are always treading lightly so as not to offend Quebec when the offensive idea to all true Canadians is that they are coddled and babied constantly so they don't cry and threaten to leave again!
Leaving is just fine with many Canadians. Quebec should go if that's what they truly want, however some things should be explained to them before they do go. And we as Canadians should ALL back up these points:
- Quebec will no longer send MPs to Ottawa. In the last referendum they believed they would STILL have votes in OUR parliament AFTER leaving.
- Jobs currently held by Quebeckers will be terminated and offered to Canadians. Including RCMP and all government positions.
- All Quebec-Canadian passports will be revoked and relinquished. They also believed they would retain Canadian passports!
- Any current monies paid to Quebec under equalization payments will be immediately terminated. Quebeckers believe Canada will still pay their welfare and family incomes as before.
- French will no longer be an equal language in Canada.
- Canada's military will remove itself from Quebec. In the last referendum, they actually sent out orders to OUR military that they would become Quebec's military and should pledge loyalty to their new country!
- Canada will no longer have any obligation to buy from or support any Quebec industry in competition with Canadian industries.
- All input from Quebec will be considered foreign and viewed as such.
The Liberals' believe in having a French-Canadian leader of Canada, and that has only been undermining our true Canadian identity in that the purpose has been to let Canada pay for the infrastructure to build Quebec's separate nationhood. Jean Chretien purposely did NOT educate Quebeckers on the true nature of them separating in that last referendum as his secret agenda was to ALLOW the separation. He wanted to be considered the Father of his country. It didn't work then but we would be rid of the parasitics now if it had.
Many say, if they need to go, let them but the services and nature of an economic relationship with Canada will be immediately lost.
All things have not been equal in Canada, Quebeckers have enjoyed an exalted position. It's time they should go it alone and let the rest of us forge a new Canada where all are equal and proud of our united country.
http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/index.html
UPDATE: Michael Chong, Cabinet Minister resigns over Harper's actions on Quebec.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=692b134e-c712-44c5-83ae-bff78fc1a071&k=49129
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
British Columbians kick ass
The announcement of Justin Morneau from New Westminster as the American League's Most Valuable Player in baseball brings to mind how well British Columbians are doing on the world stage of sports. And how well we have done in the past. Our athletes from this sometimes obscure corner of the continent rise as the cream in whatever sport they try.
Larry Walker, from Maple Ridge, was an MVP in the National League in '97 . Jason Bay of Trail was an All Star and Rookie of the Year in 2004. Sandy Robertson gave us a taste of bigger things in the fifties when he played pro with the Vancouver Capilanos.
Most are aware of Victorian Steve Nash's double MVP awards in the NBA. Well, after all we did invent basketball.
Racing driver Greg Moore from Maple Ridge was Indy Lights champion and won the US 500 in a Champ Car until his tragic death in 1999.
The list of BC hockey players in the NHL would go on and on, beginning with Vancouver's John Ferguson, the first BC born player to make it to the NHL, and to the Montreal Canadiens no less, and in 1972, as Assistant coach of Team Canada, he helped lead us to that thrilling and historic 4-3-1 victory over the Soviets. And we can credit many more BCers who followed, including perenniel star Steve Yzerman from Cranbrooke and Cam Neely from Maple Ridge for doing us proud.
Gareth Rees, from Duncan played rugby for Canada 55 times including the first four World Rugby Cup finals.
Silken Laumann won Olympic Silver in '96 for rowing and Nancy Greene-Raine skiing out of Rossland won Gold AND Silver in 1968 and was voted Canadian Athlete-of-the-Century!
Who doesn't know Burnaby's Christine Sinclair and her flashing style in making Canada a powerhouse in women's soccer?
Terry Fox and Rick Hansen will endure forever in our hearts and minds as they made their respective marks on the world with their athleticism, undaunted by adversary! Cancer research owes much to the Marathon of Hope and Terry. Rick Hansen won 19 wheelchair marathons before tackling his Man in Motion 25,000 mile world tour.
Brian Walton won a Silver Olympic in 1996 in Cycling's grueling 100 lap point race and multi medals in many other competitions.
Doug Rogers won silver for us in 1964 Olympic Judo and many more medals and championships.
Our Lui Passaglia holds almost ALL records for kicking in professional football. Ted Hunt, another early BC Lion, had not played any competitive football until his first pro game! He was named Rookie of the Year in 1958,
George Athans and George Athans Jr won world championships in diving and water skiing.
My own small experience goes way back to the Western Sports Center gym on Hastings street. Full of old time boxers, Lenny Walters, who won the U.S. Amateur Featherweight Championship in 1951, wrestlers and weight lifters training in that basement weight room, and then there was Doug Hepburn, with his wrapped gimpy leg, breaking world records long before he won World Championship Gold and became known as the Strongest Man in the World!
BC athletes are the best, have been the best and continue to inspire hopeful BC athletes to grand accomplishments.
Larry Walker, from Maple Ridge, was an MVP in the National League in '97 . Jason Bay of Trail was an All Star and Rookie of the Year in 2004. Sandy Robertson gave us a taste of bigger things in the fifties when he played pro with the Vancouver Capilanos.
Most are aware of Victorian Steve Nash's double MVP awards in the NBA. Well, after all we did invent basketball.
Racing driver Greg Moore from Maple Ridge was Indy Lights champion and won the US 500 in a Champ Car until his tragic death in 1999.
The list of BC hockey players in the NHL would go on and on, beginning with Vancouver's John Ferguson, the first BC born player to make it to the NHL, and to the Montreal Canadiens no less, and in 1972, as Assistant coach of Team Canada, he helped lead us to that thrilling and historic 4-3-1 victory over the Soviets. And we can credit many more BCers who followed, including perenniel star Steve Yzerman from Cranbrooke and Cam Neely from Maple Ridge for doing us proud.
Gareth Rees, from Duncan played rugby for Canada 55 times including the first four World Rugby Cup finals.
Silken Laumann won Olympic Silver in '96 for rowing and Nancy Greene-Raine skiing out of Rossland won Gold AND Silver in 1968 and was voted Canadian Athlete-of-the-Century!
Who doesn't know Burnaby's Christine Sinclair and her flashing style in making Canada a powerhouse in women's soccer?
Terry Fox and Rick Hansen will endure forever in our hearts and minds as they made their respective marks on the world with their athleticism, undaunted by adversary! Cancer research owes much to the Marathon of Hope and Terry. Rick Hansen won 19 wheelchair marathons before tackling his Man in Motion 25,000 mile world tour.
Brian Walton won a Silver Olympic in 1996 in Cycling's grueling 100 lap point race and multi medals in many other competitions.
Doug Rogers won silver for us in 1964 Olympic Judo and many more medals and championships.
Our Lui Passaglia holds almost ALL records for kicking in professional football. Ted Hunt, another early BC Lion, had not played any competitive football until his first pro game! He was named Rookie of the Year in 1958,
George Athans and George Athans Jr won world championships in diving and water skiing.
My own small experience goes way back to the Western Sports Center gym on Hastings street. Full of old time boxers, Lenny Walters, who won the U.S. Amateur Featherweight Championship in 1951, wrestlers and weight lifters training in that basement weight room, and then there was Doug Hepburn, with his wrapped gimpy leg, breaking world records long before he won World Championship Gold and became known as the Strongest Man in the World!
BC athletes are the best, have been the best and continue to inspire hopeful BC athletes to grand accomplishments.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Julian Lennon - Saltwater
Two musicians share a universal thought about the state of the world today with their beautiful music - Listen to Julian's warning through his eloquent lyrics ... "What will I think of me, the day that I die?"
Saltwater lyrics here -
http://www.julianlennon.com/Fire/discography/helpyourself.htm
copyright Julian Lennon
Saltwater lyrics here -
http://www.julianlennon.com/Fire/discography/helpyourself.htm
copyright Julian Lennon
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Ozzy Osbourne - Dreamer
Ozzy cares about the world too. Dreamer, written and performed by Ozzy, is a tender plea for us to care. Meaningful words, apropos to the times. Ozzy at his very best, "A better place for those who will come after us, this time"
Thursday, October 26, 2006
EXXON
Oil industry giant Exxon Mobil Corporation exceeded their own expectations today by announcing that its third-quarter earnings shot up to $10.5 billion - the second-largest quarterly profit ever recorded by a publicly traded U.S. company.
Did you read that right? TEN AND A HALF BILLION! Dollars. US.
And they said all summer that they weren't price gouging at the pump!
ps: Exxon already holds the first largest profit record.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/26/AR2006102600328.html
pps: Hope our greedy Canadian banks don't see this.
Did you read that right? TEN AND A HALF BILLION! Dollars. US.
And they said all summer that they weren't price gouging at the pump!
ps: Exxon already holds the first largest profit record.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/26/AR2006102600328.html
pps: Hope our greedy Canadian banks don't see this.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Political dogs?
Someone called Liberal Belinda Stronach a dog? Conservative Peter MacKay says it wasn't him. Someone taped a voice in parliament talking about a dog. Or was it a talking dog? Belinda says Peter should apologize. Peter barked, "No, it's over." Hockey Pit Bull Tie Domie wasn't commenting. Mrs. Domie said she knew where there was a bitch in heat.
The Canadian Kennel Club wants clarification on the breed.
Arf!
The Canadian Kennel Club wants clarification on the breed.
Arf!
BC Ferries - Queen of the North
Check out our blog entry of May 26, 2006, 'BC Ferries Scenario'. Seems we weren't that far off.
Use Technorati search on this page.
Use Technorati search on this page.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
The Garth Turner lesson
There is a lesson in Garth Turner being thrown out of the caucus of the Conservatives. Something you need to consider as a voter come the next federal election in Canada: The fact that no matter what a member of ANY political party promises his individual constituants, he won't be able to deliver anything but what his bosses have planned.
He can say, "I will do this for you. I will do that for you." But we should know that he has absolutely NO say in what he can deliver for your vote.
It seems that Turner is gone simply because he blogs things about his own party and what he thinks they are doing. Honesty and public information seems to be a no no. Has been for a long time.
Chretien controlled everything in the Liberal party from his office, down to what a Liberal answered when someone said hello. The Conservatives are simply more of the same.
Ever felt more powerless?
Me either.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061018/turner_suspended_061018/20061018?hub=CTVNewsAt11
Garth Turner's blog;
http://www.garth.ca/weblog/
He can say, "I will do this for you. I will do that for you." But we should know that he has absolutely NO say in what he can deliver for your vote.
It seems that Turner is gone simply because he blogs things about his own party and what he thinks they are doing. Honesty and public information seems to be a no no. Has been for a long time.
Chretien controlled everything in the Liberal party from his office, down to what a Liberal answered when someone said hello. The Conservatives are simply more of the same.
Ever felt more powerless?
Me either.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061018/turner_suspended_061018/20061018?hub=CTVNewsAt11
Garth Turner's blog;
http://www.garth.ca/weblog/
Friday, October 13, 2006
Reporters killed in Iraq
So far in the Iraq war, 118 journalists and reporters have been killed.
Most recently British journalist Terry Lloyd, a reporter for the ITN network, as well as Lebanese interpreter Hussein Osman and French cameraman Fred Nerac who were unlawfully killed by US army in Iraq on March 22 2003, a British coroner has ruled. Their clearly marked news vehicle fired on by US tanks. After being caught in a cross fire between the US Army and Iraqi forces. Wait a minute, aren't the Iraqis supposed to be on the US side anyway?
One could almost see something going on here. Like how many of these dead reporters were 'embedded' with US troops? We all know that embedded reporters don't really report what is happening in recent wars, they only report what they see when they are allowed to see anything at all. And even then, would an embedded reporter tell the world what was going on if it went against those he was travelling with?
Reporters Without Borders releases reports periodically about such things, it would be interesting to see who was embedded and who was not.
The coroner told the inquest: “In my view I have no doubt that the minibus presented no threat to the American forces as, firstly, it was a civilian vehicle, and secondly it stopped and turned around to pick up survivors and was facing away from the American forces. It was obvious that wounded persons were getting into the vehicle. If the vehicle was perceived as a threat then it would have been fired on before it did a U-turn. This would have resulted in damage to the front. There is no such damage.
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/78362/
http://www.torontodailynews.com/index.php/WorldNews/2006101307journalist-army
Most recently British journalist Terry Lloyd, a reporter for the ITN network, as well as Lebanese interpreter Hussein Osman and French cameraman Fred Nerac who were unlawfully killed by US army in Iraq on March 22 2003, a British coroner has ruled. Their clearly marked news vehicle fired on by US tanks. After being caught in a cross fire between the US Army and Iraqi forces. Wait a minute, aren't the Iraqis supposed to be on the US side anyway?
One could almost see something going on here. Like how many of these dead reporters were 'embedded' with US troops? We all know that embedded reporters don't really report what is happening in recent wars, they only report what they see when they are allowed to see anything at all. And even then, would an embedded reporter tell the world what was going on if it went against those he was travelling with?
Reporters Without Borders releases reports periodically about such things, it would be interesting to see who was embedded and who was not.
The coroner told the inquest: “In my view I have no doubt that the minibus presented no threat to the American forces as, firstly, it was a civilian vehicle, and secondly it stopped and turned around to pick up survivors and was facing away from the American forces. It was obvious that wounded persons were getting into the vehicle. If the vehicle was perceived as a threat then it would have been fired on before it did a U-turn. This would have resulted in damage to the front. There is no such damage.
The IFJ, the world's largest journalists' group, has organised a global campaign over the mystery surrounding a number of media deaths, starting with the United States military attack on the Palestine Hotel, a media centre, in Baghdad on April 8th 2003 in which two journalists died. On the same day the US attacked the Baghdad office of Al Jazeera, killing a reporter. Last year a court in Spain which had issued an arrest warrant for three American soldiers over the killing of cameraman Jose Couso in the Palestine Hotel had to abandon the case because of non-co-operation by the United States authorities. The IFJ has accused the United States of "callous indifference" over media killings, criticising its failure to produce credible reports, always exonerating its own personnel whenever they are involved and refusing to respond to appeals for independent and inclusive investigations.
"So long as the United States remains indifferent and refuses to explain the actions of its soldiers in these killings there will be speculation about deliberate targeting of media staff," said White.
ITN's editor in chief David Mannion said: "I would also like to say something that I know Terry would have wished me to say. "Independent, unilateral reporting, free from official strictures, is crucial; not simply to us as journalists but to the role we play in a free and democratic society."
Yep, there's something going on here.
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/78362/
http://www.torontodailynews.com/index.php/WorldNews/2006101307journalist-army
Monday, October 09, 2006
Marijuana combats Alzheimer's - cool
There's new evidence that marijuana smoking prevents Alzheimer's disease. THC, the main ingredient in pot, blocked the formation of Alzheimer's plaque in sufferers' brains better than current Alzheimer's drugs in a study in California.
Kim Janda, director of the Worm Institute of Research and Medicine, said the findings offer 'evidence that THC possesses remarkable inhibitory qualities.'
Janda said the study found that THC blocks the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which hastens the formation of plaque in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
Not to mention the costs, about $200. for a pharmacuetical pill, about $5. a joint for the 'natural' cure. Alzheimer's affects over 4.5 million people in the US.
So now there is hope for old aunt Mary Jane to enjoy her remaining years playing canasta in a roach induced bliss instead of the frightening fog of dementia. Besides, her friends might think she's cool.
And there is no truth to the rumour that the Worm Institute is in Janda's Mom's basement.
So the head-to-head is this:
Pharmacueticals = Doctors knowing your business - Pharmacists condescendingly counting out your pills - Personal information going to USA through American companies handling your medical records - remembering where your pills are - huge costs - hoping no one will know - having to write your name on your bathroom mirror.
Marijuana = Available on any street corner - no records - who needs to look for pills? - great THC content in BC Bud - cheap - who cares who knows? - fun to watch Merry-Go-Rounds.
Advantage - Mary Jane.
Cue up the Stones new CD for Grandma.
Kim Janda, director of the Worm Institute of Research and Medicine, said the findings offer 'evidence that THC possesses remarkable inhibitory qualities.'
Janda said the study found that THC blocks the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which hastens the formation of plaque in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
Not to mention the costs, about $200. for a pharmacuetical pill, about $5. a joint for the 'natural' cure. Alzheimer's affects over 4.5 million people in the US.
So now there is hope for old aunt Mary Jane to enjoy her remaining years playing canasta in a roach induced bliss instead of the frightening fog of dementia. Besides, her friends might think she's cool.
And there is no truth to the rumour that the Worm Institute is in Janda's Mom's basement.
So the head-to-head is this:
Pharmacueticals = Doctors knowing your business - Pharmacists condescendingly counting out your pills - Personal information going to USA through American companies handling your medical records - remembering where your pills are - huge costs - hoping no one will know - having to write your name on your bathroom mirror.
Marijuana = Available on any street corner - no records - who needs to look for pills? - great THC content in BC Bud - cheap - who cares who knows? - fun to watch Merry-Go-Rounds.
Advantage - Mary Jane.
Cue up the Stones new CD for Grandma.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
CBC construction, your trees or theirs?
There is always a huge uproar when someone cuts down old trees in Vancouver. I think there's even a bylaw now to stop you from doing it. Even on your own property.However, it seems CBC can do it with impunity. A few weeks ago they chopped down several old pines, on the very edge of their property. They are building two new high rise condo buildings where the parking lot was.
Now they are planning to build a new studio facing Hamilton street, where the plaza is now.
Today crews arrived and demolished several more beautiful old trees bordering their site. They went into a chipper and were gone in less than an hour.
These trees looked like they were on CITY property. Check out the pics.
Did those trees belong to CBC or YOU?Judging by the construcion plan of their new studio, they would have been well off the area of construction. Why couldn't they have
worked around them or why couldn't the architect plan for them in the design? Maybe he's somewhere in Toronto and like the previous blog item about Sears building, has no idea what Vancouver looks like.Our lives are a little poorer because of lazy designers.
Architectural bitch
Sears building on Robson and Granville streets. (formerly Eatons)
Architectural design - West Coast Washroom.
Back to TopMonday, September 25, 2006
Border Guards? Oh Canada.
So if someone wants to attack Canada, all they have to do is tell us they are coming? And our "border guards" will rush off somewhere and hide? Seems like it.
When they shut down the border with Washington State yesterday, it was because they were told that a murder suspect was on his way to Canada on his motorcycle and might try to slip into the lineup with other bikers returning from the yearly Oyster Run. This event attracts about 15,000 riders. Not all from here.
So ... er, if this bad guy was trying to slip into the Canada, why weren't the RCMP stationed there too? Wouldn't someone just ask for ID from the bikers and if they knew the guy beside them? Wouldn't the 'guards' be alerted by California plates on the bike? Even if this bad man had a gun and our customs officials didn't, would he be likely to shoot someone with RCMP there and rush off into the Great White North? Hmmm, logic is unexpected.
Evidently, earlier in the day a car with California plates ran the border. No one said anyone went after that guy. No one even said they got a plate number. Why wasn't the US Border Patrol at their side watching? They know how hard it would be to extradite they guy once he got here.
And if this here bad guy was trying to 'slip' into Canada, wouldn't he try to be meek and mild, and deceptive? Did they think he'd come through with guns blazing ala Arnold Schartznegger?
Seems very smelly to me.
Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee .... well, unless you are a bad guy, then we run for cover.
Published by Netscape Anchors on www.netscape.com
When they shut down the border with Washington State yesterday, it was because they were told that a murder suspect was on his way to Canada on his motorcycle and might try to slip into the lineup with other bikers returning from the yearly Oyster Run. This event attracts about 15,000 riders. Not all from here.
So ... er, if this bad guy was trying to slip into the Canada, why weren't the RCMP stationed there too? Wouldn't someone just ask for ID from the bikers and if they knew the guy beside them? Wouldn't the 'guards' be alerted by California plates on the bike? Even if this bad man had a gun and our customs officials didn't, would he be likely to shoot someone with RCMP there and rush off into the Great White North? Hmmm, logic is unexpected.
Evidently, earlier in the day a car with California plates ran the border. No one said anyone went after that guy. No one even said they got a plate number. Why wasn't the US Border Patrol at their side watching? They know how hard it would be to extradite they guy once he got here.
And if this here bad guy was trying to 'slip' into Canada, wouldn't he try to be meek and mild, and deceptive? Did they think he'd come through with guns blazing ala Arnold Schartznegger?
Seems very smelly to me.
Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee .... well, unless you are a bad guy, then we run for cover.
Published by Netscape Anchors on www.netscape.com
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Maher Arar - weird case or what?
So Maher Arar was returning to Canada from Tunisia. Maher Arar is a Syrian-Canadian. He changed planes in America. The RCMP had Maher, his wife and children on a watch list. His children at the time were 6 months and six years old. The Americans stopped him, decided from the Canadian information that Arar had some kind of terrorist leanings. So they sent Arar, on a PRIVATE jet, to SYRIA. Where Arar was tortured for information.
A couple of odd things here. Who owned this private jet? Hmmm, probably the CIA? Who else?
Can CIA planes just go to Syria to deposit prisoners illegally arrested? What did the Americans expect from Syria? Put aside whether you think Maher Arar is guilty of something or a terrorist or not and consider this.
So he gets to Syria, they extract 'information' under torture from Arar, and then they SEND this info back to America and Canada!
What?
Is Syria America's Middle East Guantanamo? Does Syria do the torturing for America? The two countries call each other names daily. Is that a ruse? Is Syria an American partner? What does CSIS and the RCMP do in all this? What exactly IS Syria's relationship with the West?
I can see some American officials sending Arar to Syria just for some weird sadistic pleasure. But they did it and expected to get information from Syria.
Weird or what?
A couple of odd things here. Who owned this private jet? Hmmm, probably the CIA? Who else?
Can CIA planes just go to Syria to deposit prisoners illegally arrested? What did the Americans expect from Syria? Put aside whether you think Maher Arar is guilty of something or a terrorist or not and consider this.
So he gets to Syria, they extract 'information' under torture from Arar, and then they SEND this info back to America and Canada!
What?
Is Syria America's Middle East Guantanamo? Does Syria do the torturing for America? The two countries call each other names daily. Is that a ruse? Is Syria an American partner? What does CSIS and the RCMP do in all this? What exactly IS Syria's relationship with the West?
I can see some American officials sending Arar to Syria just for some weird sadistic pleasure. But they did it and expected to get information from Syria.
Weird or what?
Friday, September 15, 2006
Islam vs Everybody
Muslims are upset over Pope Benedict XVI's remarks when he quoted from a conversation that took place in Ankara in the year 1391 between Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated Persian on Christianity and Islam.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached," the pope quoted Manuel as saying.
Now Muslims are being furiously stirred up over the quote. They want him to retract his remarks. Is another aspect of Islam to deny the fact of history?
They say that western clerics and politicians are "hostile to Islam." Like duhhh. Does anyone need to know WHY this hostility to Islam is growing worldwide? They say the pope's remarks hurt the feelings of Muslims worldwide and is creating a gulf between religions.
Who IS creating that gulf? Muslim extremists who are killing innocents worldwide? Or people who are faithful to Islam but never utter a condemnation of the extremists savage actions? Doesn't executing someone who sponsored a school for little girls in Afghanistan serve to create a gulf between Islam and the rest of the world?
Will they put out a 'hit' on the Pope for this? Someone has already started bombing Christian symbols in Gaza City. Maybe ask Salman Rushdie where his safe house is. Muslims don't seem to like fiction either.
Many are beginning to believe that WW III has started and it is Muslims against the world.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=112932
UPDATE: Sept 18 - MOGADISHU, Somalia -- An Italian nun who devoted her life to helping the sick in Africa was shot dead by two gunmen at a hospital Sunday in an attack possibly linked to worldwide Muslim anger toward Pope Benedict XVI. Sister Leonella, 65, was shot in the back four times by pistol-wielding attackers as she left the Austrian-run S.O.S. hospital at lunchtime. Sister Leonella had lived in Africa for 38 years. Her bodyguard was also slain.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached," the pope quoted Manuel as saying.
Now Muslims are being furiously stirred up over the quote. They want him to retract his remarks. Is another aspect of Islam to deny the fact of history?
They say that western clerics and politicians are "hostile to Islam." Like duhhh. Does anyone need to know WHY this hostility to Islam is growing worldwide? They say the pope's remarks hurt the feelings of Muslims worldwide and is creating a gulf between religions.
Who IS creating that gulf? Muslim extremists who are killing innocents worldwide? Or people who are faithful to Islam but never utter a condemnation of the extremists savage actions? Doesn't executing someone who sponsored a school for little girls in Afghanistan serve to create a gulf between Islam and the rest of the world?
Will they put out a 'hit' on the Pope for this? Someone has already started bombing Christian symbols in Gaza City. Maybe ask Salman Rushdie where his safe house is. Muslims don't seem to like fiction either.
Many are beginning to believe that WW III has started and it is Muslims against the world.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=112932
UPDATE: Sept 18 - MOGADISHU, Somalia -- An Italian nun who devoted her life to helping the sick in Africa was shot dead by two gunmen at a hospital Sunday in an attack possibly linked to worldwide Muslim anger toward Pope Benedict XVI. Sister Leonella, 65, was shot in the back four times by pistol-wielding attackers as she left the Austrian-run S.O.S. hospital at lunchtime. Sister Leonella had lived in Africa for 38 years. Her bodyguard was also slain.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
Prediction - Aquarium - Done Deal
The Vancouver aquarium wants to expand. Again. The last expansion was opposed by many. It went ahead anyway. This time they aren't even going to ask for public input. They say it'll give bigger pools for seals and sea lions. Like we need to capture them when we can simply walk 100 yards to see them in Burrard Inlet. The Aquarium now hosts convention dinners. What's that got to do with fish? I guess they served fish-farmed salmon. Ugh.
This time they'll cut down another 32 more trees for their expansion. Want to bet it'll go ahead no matter what the public or Lord Stanley wants?
Done deal.
Back to Top
This time they'll cut down another 32 more trees for their expansion. Want to bet it'll go ahead no matter what the public or Lord Stanley wants?
Done deal.
Back to TopWednesday, September 06, 2006
News items of the day
Some current headlines;
- President Bush announced that terrorist 'detainees' will be given Geneva Convention status.
Isn't this great? And of course the terrorists will now adhere to the same rules on their side.
- Katherine Harris won the Republican vote to run for the Senate in Florida. You remember Katherine, she counted the votes when Bush stole the presidency from Al Gore.
- Fast food restaurants being planned for prisons. Oh boy, McDonalds' fatty salads for prisoners. It's not cruel and unusual punishment, is it? Is it?
- Jewish man tossed off Air Canada Jazz flight for praying. After a pilot got locked out of his cockpit on a recent Jazz flight, oi vey, we should all be praying?
- Motorist jailed for blowing up speed camera. Shouldn't we chip in for his bail and defence?
- August death total in Bagdad morgue triples. Sheeez, what are those people in the morgue dying of?
Ah, the universe is unfolding as it should ...
unravelling?
- President Bush announced that terrorist 'detainees' will be given Geneva Convention status.
Isn't this great? And of course the terrorists will now adhere to the same rules on their side.
- Katherine Harris won the Republican vote to run for the Senate in Florida. You remember Katherine, she counted the votes when Bush stole the presidency from Al Gore.
- Fast food restaurants being planned for prisons. Oh boy, McDonalds' fatty salads for prisoners. It's not cruel and unusual punishment, is it? Is it?
- Jewish man tossed off Air Canada Jazz flight for praying. After a pilot got locked out of his cockpit on a recent Jazz flight, oi vey, we should all be praying?
- Motorist jailed for blowing up speed camera. Shouldn't we chip in for his bail and defence?
- August death total in Bagdad morgue triples. Sheeez, what are those people in the morgue dying of?
Ah, the universe is unfolding as it should ...
unravelling?
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Drugs - the correct sentencing
JAKARTA, Indonesia. An Indonesian appeals court sentenced four Australian drug smugglers to death, even though prosecutors who filed the petition were only seeking life behind bars, a court official said Wednesday. Scott Rush, Tan Duc Than Nguyen, Si Yi Chen and Matthew Norman were originally sentenced to life in prison for trying to take heroin from Indonesia's resort island of Bali to Australia last year. Those sentences were reduced to 20 years after their lawyers appealed.In response to an appeal from the prosecution, the Supreme Court ruled that the men would face a firing squad, said Mulyadi, a Supreme Court official who attended the Aug. 16 and Aug. 31 appeals hearings. "The Supreme Court sentenced them to death," he told The Associated Press. The results of final appeals by Martin Stephens and Michael Cjugaj also increase to the death penalty. Three more drug smugglers have since been convicted, and sentenced to death by firing squad.
When are we going to get with the program and stop coddling the scourge of our sons and daughters in Canada? Cruel and unusual? Drug dealers destroying the lives of Canadian youth is as cruel and unusual as it gets. The death sentence seems like a great deterent to me. Actually even humane, firing squad is quick and easy. And the Indonesians make no exceptions, beauty queen Schapelle Corby, the jail's only other Australian resident, and a convicted marijuana smuggler, is serving 20 years for marijuana smuggling, described by her lawyer Mr Ilham said: "She gets more beautiful every day." Too bad.
Do we get the message? Probably not.
When are we going to get with the program and stop coddling the scourge of our sons and daughters in Canada? Cruel and unusual? Drug dealers destroying the lives of Canadian youth is as cruel and unusual as it gets. The death sentence seems like a great deterent to me. Actually even humane, firing squad is quick and easy. And the Indonesians make no exceptions, beauty queen Schapelle Corby, the jail's only other Australian resident, and a convicted marijuana smuggler, is serving 20 years for marijuana smuggling, described by her lawyer Mr Ilham said: "She gets more beautiful every day." Too bad.
Do we get the message? Probably not.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Youth Wrestling - creepy or what?
A company called Go Sports Entertainment has been turned down by Langley Township council in BC, on an application to use a warehouse in the district as a studio to film youth wrestling for television. Turned down because of the lack of parking spaces.
Hmm, get this: They film 'youth' wrestlers from 13 to 21, according to an article in the Langley Times, a BC community newspaper. And they BUS in children from all over North America to watch the performances! Up to 350 of them.
Now this is not that wrestling as you see in the Olympics, which builds magnificent character and where the hard training may reward the contestants with a medal. This is called, by CEO Graham Owen himself as "Cirque du Soleil meets WWE and the matches are 100 percent predetermined." Choreographed violence?
What?
I love Cirque du Soleil. But see my post on this blog about WWE on July 6 titled, WWE - rasslin' at its best to read what I think about WWE.
WWE is all about fakery, disrespect, total violence and demeaning women. In my opinion, the guy who watches it is a 63 year old pipe smoking guy who still lives in his mother's basement and the only hard thing in his pants is his gun.
So why do we want children to learn ANYTHING about this form of (ugh) entertainment? Don't you find something ominously creepy about this? Children wrestling, children watching, sold to PPV TV for what purpose? What type of person would PAY to watch this childrens' violence? Who knows. And what parents would allow their children to be bussed there to attend this malevolence? What are we teaching these youth wrestlers? To emulate WWE RAW? Is MatRats really KidVid?
Let's hope the parking stall issue was only a convenient reason for Langley to disallow Go Sports Entertainment the facility. Creepiness as a reason probably wouldn't have done it.
Shudder.
http://overthetoprope.com/index.html
Hmm, get this: They film 'youth' wrestlers from 13 to 21, according to an article in the Langley Times, a BC community newspaper. And they BUS in children from all over North America to watch the performances! Up to 350 of them.
Now this is not that wrestling as you see in the Olympics, which builds magnificent character and where the hard training may reward the contestants with a medal. This is called, by CEO Graham Owen himself as "Cirque du Soleil meets WWE and the matches are 100 percent predetermined." Choreographed violence?
What?
I love Cirque du Soleil. But see my post on this blog about WWE on July 6 titled, WWE - rasslin' at its best to read what I think about WWE.
WWE is all about fakery, disrespect, total violence and demeaning women. In my opinion, the guy who watches it is a 63 year old pipe smoking guy who still lives in his mother's basement and the only hard thing in his pants is his gun.
So why do we want children to learn ANYTHING about this form of (ugh) entertainment? Don't you find something ominously creepy about this? Children wrestling, children watching, sold to PPV TV for what purpose? What type of person would PAY to watch this childrens' violence? Who knows. And what parents would allow their children to be bussed there to attend this malevolence? What are we teaching these youth wrestlers? To emulate WWE RAW? Is MatRats really KidVid?
Let's hope the parking stall issue was only a convenient reason for Langley to disallow Go Sports Entertainment the facility. Creepiness as a reason probably wouldn't have done it.
Shudder.
http://overthetoprope.com/index.html
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Air Canada - Brokeback Airlines?
The crew of an Air Canada passenger jet was forced to break down the cockpit door in mid-air after the pilot locked himself out when he popped out for a minute to use the toilet at the back of the Air Canada Jazz aeroplane. The bizarre incident occured with 30 minutes to go of an internal flight from Ottawa to Winnipeg.
Hmmm. And it seems, aside from being funny, a little troubling. Apparantly this pilot was talking on an internal microphone to the First Officer IN the cockpit during the incident.
Hmmm again. Couldn't the First Officer have simply unlocked the door? Were they angry at each other? Was the First Officer afraid of the pilot? Why wouldn't he open the door? Was the First Officer having too much fun steering?
Pilot - "Let me in, Bruce!"
First - "No, you never let me steer."
Pilot - "Just open the door."
First - "Sure sure, you're always nice when we're alone, but in public, oh no, you ignore me then."
Pilot - "I won't ignore you anymore, just OPEN THE FRIGGIN' DOOR."
First - "If you're going to swear at me like that ...."
Pilot - "Bruce, this is embarrassing, the passengers who aren't terrified are laughing."
First - "So I'm a laughing stock am I?"
Pilot - "Sheeeez .... Anybody got a screwdriver?"
First - "You won't find one, they're not allowed. Terrorists could use them."
Pilot - "Bruce. please open the door."
First - "No, you could be a terrorist."
Pilot - "Just undo the lock, I promise I won't be mad."
First - "I can't reach it, I'm busy steering."
Pilot - "We'll say the lock got stuck. I'll let you land. "
First - "Promise?"
The troubling thing is that Manon Stuart, spokeswoman for Air Canada, when explaining the 'event' said, "We investigated the incident and the crew followed standard operational procedure."
What? They have a procedure for when the pilot locks himself out of the cockpit? Is it in a manual somewhere? Rule 5A? Just under Parachuting?
I'm not sure if it's funny or not?
Hmmm. And it seems, aside from being funny, a little troubling. Apparantly this pilot was talking on an internal microphone to the First Officer IN the cockpit during the incident.
Hmmm again. Couldn't the First Officer have simply unlocked the door? Were they angry at each other? Was the First Officer afraid of the pilot? Why wouldn't he open the door? Was the First Officer having too much fun steering?
Pilot - "Let me in, Bruce!"
First - "No, you never let me steer."
Pilot - "Just open the door."
First - "Sure sure, you're always nice when we're alone, but in public, oh no, you ignore me then."
Pilot - "I won't ignore you anymore, just OPEN THE FRIGGIN' DOOR."
First - "If you're going to swear at me like that ...."
Pilot - "Bruce, this is embarrassing, the passengers who aren't terrified are laughing."
First - "So I'm a laughing stock am I?"
Pilot - "Sheeeez .... Anybody got a screwdriver?"
First - "You won't find one, they're not allowed. Terrorists could use them."
Pilot - "Bruce. please open the door."
First - "No, you could be a terrorist."
Pilot - "Just undo the lock, I promise I won't be mad."
First - "I can't reach it, I'm busy steering."
Pilot - "We'll say the lock got stuck. I'll let you land. "
First - "Promise?"
The troubling thing is that Manon Stuart, spokeswoman for Air Canada, when explaining the 'event' said, "We investigated the incident and the crew followed standard operational procedure."
What? They have a procedure for when the pilot locks himself out of the cockpit? Is it in a manual somewhere? Rule 5A? Just under Parachuting?
I'm not sure if it's funny or not?
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Hushmail - Hooray for integrity!
During the pursuit, enticement and capture of John Mark Karr in Thialand to bring him to Colorado to answer for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, the US investigators asked a Canadian company, Hush Communications to reveal private emails from a Hushmail client that could have implications in the case. Hushmail refused to give out any information without a Canadian court order.
As we now know, the Boulder DA's office had nothing at all to even charge the delusionary Karr with the crime, they were fishing for info.
In America, the US goverment can go into your email, your ISP company, collect information about you and the Homeland Security Act prevents your ISP company from even telling you that they have given out information about you.
In Ottawa, there are talks going on within our own government to further mimic American sneakiness. Prey it doesn't happen.
Kudos to Hush Communications for resisting the pressure.
Hushmail offers secure and private email accounts. Some are free. Check it out here ...
http://www.hushmail.com/
As we now know, the Boulder DA's office had nothing at all to even charge the delusionary Karr with the crime, they were fishing for info.
In America, the US goverment can go into your email, your ISP company, collect information about you and the Homeland Security Act prevents your ISP company from even telling you that they have given out information about you.
In Ottawa, there are talks going on within our own government to further mimic American sneakiness. Prey it doesn't happen.
Kudos to Hush Communications for resisting the pressure.
Hushmail offers secure and private email accounts. Some are free. Check it out here ...
http://www.hushmail.com/
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Quotes apropos to the times
Vegetius - c. 375
.... Let him who desires peace prepare for war.
De Rei Militari
Adolf Hitler - 1889 - 1944
.... The great masses of the people ... will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one.
Mein Kampf (1933)
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill - 1874 - 1963
.... The British Empire and the United States will have to be somewhat mixed up together in some of their affairs for mutual and general advantage.
House of Commons (1940)
Christopher Dawson - 1889 - 1970
.... As soon as men decide that all means are permitted to fight an evil, then their good becomes indistinguishable from the evil that they set out to destroy.
The Judgment of the Nations (1943)
Osama bin Laden - 1957 - 2004?
.... We are seeking to incite the Islamic nation to rise up to liberate its land and to conduct jihad (holy war) for the sake of God.
al-Jazeera, (1999)
Pope John Paul II - 1920 - 2005
.... Social justice cannot be obtained by violence.Violence kills what it intends to create.
Address to workers (1980)
Senator Robert M. La Follette
.... Before the war is ended, the war party assumes the divine right to denounce and silence all opposition to war as unpatriotic and cowardly.
Theodore Roosevelt
.... Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official...
Voltaire
.... It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
Dick Cheney
.... There comes a time when deceit and defiance must be seen for what they are. At that point, a gathering danger must be directly confronted.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
.... The next war ... may well bury Western civilization forever.
George W. Bush
.... Our enemies ... never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.
.... Let him who desires peace prepare for war.
De Rei Militari
Adolf Hitler - 1889 - 1944
.... The great masses of the people ... will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one.
Mein Kampf (1933)
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill - 1874 - 1963
.... The British Empire and the United States will have to be somewhat mixed up together in some of their affairs for mutual and general advantage.
House of Commons (1940)
Christopher Dawson - 1889 - 1970
.... As soon as men decide that all means are permitted to fight an evil, then their good becomes indistinguishable from the evil that they set out to destroy.
The Judgment of the Nations (1943)
Osama bin Laden - 1957 - 2004?
.... We are seeking to incite the Islamic nation to rise up to liberate its land and to conduct jihad (holy war) for the sake of God.
al-Jazeera, (1999)
Pope John Paul II - 1920 - 2005
.... Social justice cannot be obtained by violence.Violence kills what it intends to create.
Address to workers (1980)
Senator Robert M. La Follette
.... Before the war is ended, the war party assumes the divine right to denounce and silence all opposition to war as unpatriotic and cowardly.
Theodore Roosevelt
.... Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official...
Voltaire
.... It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
Dick Cheney
.... There comes a time when deceit and defiance must be seen for what they are. At that point, a gathering danger must be directly confronted.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
.... The next war ... may well bury Western civilization forever.
George W. Bush
.... Our enemies ... never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Some things make ya just wanna throw up
Well the Bank of Montreal, trying to disguise itself as BMO, announced their THIRD QUARTER profits - 704 million dollars.
TD, not mentioning that they are the Toronto Dominion Bank, with a straight face mimicked BMO closely with a 790 million dollar third quarter profit.
RBC, which some of us old timers used to know as Royal Bank of Canada, before they got so embarrassed by their profits, grinned in the finest greed tradition as they rose to 1.18 BILLION dollars in profit. Also for only ONE quarter of the year.
I'm not waiting for Scotia Bank or any others. (Excuse me a moment, I have to run back into the bathroom)
One wonders how Canadian banks still fend off American banks coming into Canada for a competitive share, perhaps because the government gets paid off somewhere?
Sickening, isn't it? And this is only one quarter of the year!
Who's got their hand in YOUR wallet?
Back to Top
TD, not mentioning that they are the Toronto Dominion Bank, with a straight face mimicked BMO closely with a 790 million dollar third quarter profit.
RBC, which some of us old timers used to know as Royal Bank of Canada, before they got so embarrassed by their profits, grinned in the finest greed tradition as they rose to 1.18 BILLION dollars in profit. Also for only ONE quarter of the year.
I'm not waiting for Scotia Bank or any others. (Excuse me a moment, I have to run back into the bathroom)
One wonders how Canadian banks still fend off American banks coming into Canada for a competitive share, perhaps because the government gets paid off somewhere?
Sickening, isn't it? And this is only one quarter of the year!
Who's got their hand in YOUR wallet?
Back to TopThursday, August 24, 2006
Survivor - playing the race cards
The 13th season of the reality tv series "Survivor", filmed on the island of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands - will start with teams split according to race. The host of the CBS show, Jeff Probst, said that being on the show was a social experiment and this will "add another layer" to the experiment. They will be Black, White, Hispanic and Asians. Against each other.
Another layer! Are you serious?
Anthropologically speaking, there are three races, the Caucasoids, the Negroids and the Mongoloids. Hispanics would usually be classified as Caucasians. Well whatever.
So does this mean if I am black, I can now cheer for my team, the Blacks, to murder dem bums the Whites? Can Asians yell at the ineptitudes of the Hispanics with glee as gai jin dumbells? What will those good ol' boys from Texas be calling the black people? "Come on Caucasoids, win the game against the Negroids! Jolly goood shot there White man, right between the eyes."
I think not. This is going to go way past the Marquis of Queensbury rules.
The slang dictionaries don't even start to list the terms available, and now, with this TV show of race against race, those who watch can legitimately cheer the 'sport' on while innocently shrugging at their own terminology. Or terminological inexactitudes, as Richard Nixon might have put it. I decline to ponder the possibilities for team names.
So we're having a segregation of races now. No token blacks on the white team. No whites in Harlem. Hispanics stay out of the Forbidden City.
The potential for race war is endless.
But wait, it's only a TV show. Set up, written and choreographed for sure. Why else would people pick the 65 year old school marm over the Navy Seal to kill the alligator? And they have 300 people on set location for the shoot. And rehearsals. And alligator wranglers. And Kraft services just out of camera range ... oops, you're not supposed to know any of this.
"CUT! Now Billy-Bob, you can't call him a F%@#$ N*&$%!, and Chang, NO Machettes on set, you've been told that. Alejandro, what are you smoking now? Can we roll again? No that's not what I meant!"
A social experiment.
Sure.
Hmmmm.
Another layer! Are you serious?
Anthropologically speaking, there are three races, the Caucasoids, the Negroids and the Mongoloids. Hispanics would usually be classified as Caucasians. Well whatever.
So does this mean if I am black, I can now cheer for my team, the Blacks, to murder dem bums the Whites? Can Asians yell at the ineptitudes of the Hispanics with glee as gai jin dumbells? What will those good ol' boys from Texas be calling the black people? "Come on Caucasoids, win the game against the Negroids! Jolly goood shot there White man, right between the eyes."
I think not. This is going to go way past the Marquis of Queensbury rules.
The slang dictionaries don't even start to list the terms available, and now, with this TV show of race against race, those who watch can legitimately cheer the 'sport' on while innocently shrugging at their own terminology. Or terminological inexactitudes, as Richard Nixon might have put it. I decline to ponder the possibilities for team names.
So we're having a segregation of races now. No token blacks on the white team. No whites in Harlem. Hispanics stay out of the Forbidden City.
The potential for race war is endless.
But wait, it's only a TV show. Set up, written and choreographed for sure. Why else would people pick the 65 year old school marm over the Navy Seal to kill the alligator? And they have 300 people on set location for the shoot. And rehearsals. And alligator wranglers. And Kraft services just out of camera range ... oops, you're not supposed to know any of this.
"CUT! Now Billy-Bob, you can't call him a F%@#$ N*&$%!, and Chang, NO Machettes on set, you've been told that. Alejandro, what are you smoking now? Can we roll again? No that's not what I meant!"
A social experiment.
Sure.
Hmmmm.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Mattresses
All those who will never buy a Sleep Country Canada mattress no matter how much they advertise, put up your hands .....
Friday, August 18, 2006
Astronomers - be fair, be fun
As International Astronomers meet to redefine our planets this week, some are worried about the status of our tenth planet.Officially designated 2003 UB313, it was originally discovered in October, 2003 by Caltech's Michael Brown, Chad Trujillo from the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii, and David Rabinowitz from Yale University.
They are also deciding if Pluto is to remain classified as a planet. Recent addition 2003ub313, now more affectionately named Xena, is slightly larger than Pluto. Xena's sidekick moon has been dubbed Gabrielle.
If Pluto stays in, then Xena must be included. The scientists are thinking that Pluto's satellite moon, Charon, might also be classified as a planet, even though it is small enough to be a 'Pluton'.
Well we need fairness in your decision, Messrs Astronomers, and a little lightness and fun in our immediate galaxy. If Pluto stays in, and Charon adds in, then Xena and Gabrielle MUST stay in.
There are thousands of amateur skywatchers here on Earth, peering into the glinting blackness above, who couldn't bear to have Xena and Gabrielle parted again. A single orbit takes those two worlds 560 earth-years! It's not about mimicking a tv show, it's about imagination and putting a little fantasy into science to make it more interesting and perhaps enticing to casual observers.
I, for one, would feel better if the names become official and knowing that Xena, the Warrior Princess and Gabrielle, her loyal companion are out there together .... forever.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Safe Injection Site
Isn't keeping our Safe Injection Site open a no brainer?
Why is the Conservative government waiting to see if they can get away with closing it without losing politically?
There are now fewer people going to detox, fewer people likely to acquire AIDS, fewer people likely to die of overdoses, fewer people likely to be shooting up in your lanes, fewer people will drop needles for children to walk on.
The test of this idea is overwhelmingly successful. There have been over 4,000 referals for counseling. It has been watched with interest all across North America. It is NOT funded by the federals. That happens locally and it is endorsed by the Vancouver Police.
So what's the problem?
Keep it going.
Why is the Conservative government waiting to see if they can get away with closing it without losing politically?
There are now fewer people going to detox, fewer people likely to acquire AIDS, fewer people likely to die of overdoses, fewer people likely to be shooting up in your lanes, fewer people will drop needles for children to walk on.
The test of this idea is overwhelmingly successful. There have been over 4,000 referals for counseling. It has been watched with interest all across North America. It is NOT funded by the federals. That happens locally and it is endorsed by the Vancouver Police.
So what's the problem?
Keep it going.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Picton trial
Isn't this what we thought?
The Willie Picton trial is about to commence by year end. They've dropped 20 murders from the list, choosing to prosecute only 6 at first. One can understand this tactic from the prosecution because if something goes awry in the first trial, they'd have backup charges. And they say the trial of 26 murders would be much too complicated for jurors to keep track of. Not to mention that the charges are first degree murder, which means the prosecution must prove Willie Picton, by himself, murdered those poor girls and had that intention when he lured them there. No one else is charged as an accomplice yet no one believes Willie carried out these horrific crimes on his own.
However, they are now discussing reasons for keeping the trial procedings away from the public. Secret. They SAY because the publicity could influence those future trials.
WE say it is a good way to keep it closed forever. The secrecy COULD be because someone may be desperately afraid of the consequences of the testimony of witnesses. Witnesses who COULD reveal names and information that COULD implicate certain prominent people who should never be mentioned in connection with the Picton party house and the tragic deaths of so many women.
It has been said that many visitors to that party house, which is allegedly said to have been full of drugs and prostitution were prominent members of greater Vancouver society; doctors, lawyers, executives, even policemen, judges and perhaps mayors? Speculation and rumours? Sure.
We hope media lawyers are strong on this one and argue for complete public access to the whole trial.
If it is conducted in secret it will be bad for truth in justice and can only lead to more speculations, rumours and suspicions.
Hell, we suspect already!
The Willie Picton trial is about to commence by year end. They've dropped 20 murders from the list, choosing to prosecute only 6 at first. One can understand this tactic from the prosecution because if something goes awry in the first trial, they'd have backup charges. And they say the trial of 26 murders would be much too complicated for jurors to keep track of. Not to mention that the charges are first degree murder, which means the prosecution must prove Willie Picton, by himself, murdered those poor girls and had that intention when he lured them there. No one else is charged as an accomplice yet no one believes Willie carried out these horrific crimes on his own.
However, they are now discussing reasons for keeping the trial procedings away from the public. Secret. They SAY because the publicity could influence those future trials.
WE say it is a good way to keep it closed forever. The secrecy COULD be because someone may be desperately afraid of the consequences of the testimony of witnesses. Witnesses who COULD reveal names and information that COULD implicate certain prominent people who should never be mentioned in connection with the Picton party house and the tragic deaths of so many women.
It has been said that many visitors to that party house, which is allegedly said to have been full of drugs and prostitution were prominent members of greater Vancouver society; doctors, lawyers, executives, even policemen, judges and perhaps mayors? Speculation and rumours? Sure.
We hope media lawyers are strong on this one and argue for complete public access to the whole trial.
If it is conducted in secret it will be bad for truth in justice and can only lead to more speculations, rumours and suspicions.
Hell, we suspect already!
Monday, August 07, 2006
Thursday, August 03, 2006
WW III
Some powerful and knowledgeable people have said we are in the opening stages of World War 3. There is turmoil and underground wars throughout the world. We are living in dangerous times.
Iraq is at the heart of the present problems. And all because George Bush wanted to avenge his father's humiliation at the hands of Saddam Hussein. The best thing that could happen today would be to reinstate Saddam and depose George. Not so silly. At least Saddam was able to control his own population. Perhaps he understood them.
We have the military might of the USA being defeated as we speak. Their generals are all of the same breed. Fighting an open war, tank against tank, soldier against soldier. Battlefield strategy, Patton style. The hierarchy clearly defined.
But that is not the kind of war that goes on today. These generals attend Senate committee meetings daily and their message/realization/outlook plunges into gloom. They can't figure out the enemy. The can't even identify the enemy! But these enemies of democracy have got it figured out. They learned the lessons well when the communist Viet Cong drove America from Viet Nam. America, in spite of the spin, seems to be losing in Iraq. With a far more dangerous Iran waiting to join in.
The American military has already been driven out of Lebanon. Yet they expect the Israelis to progress against Hezbollah. This kind of fighting is abnormal too, Hezbollah has no country, what ever they do in Lebanon they are winners in the minds of the people, most of whom hate America. And in general the consensus in the Middle East in that Israel must be obliterated.
In Afghanistan it is the same situation. A fight against a mysterious enemy who is slowly taking back their country in spite of the free world's efforts. The Russians were driven out of there.
Indonesia, Pakistan, India, the Phillipines, Africa, all face a similar plight.
It seems to many that the coming war is about Muslims against the rest of the world. WW III may be beginning, and the outlook for a world democracy is dim and bleak. The World Trade attack. The London subway attack. And who knows what lies in wait from insidious people already resident in the free democracies. Invisible people waiting for their call to arms. How do you fight against a citizen who walks up to you with a grenade in their belly and has just pulled the pin?
We cannot understand their thinking and motives. Because we live in a better world.
But we need to figure them out, and soon. Our better world is vulnerable right now.
UPDATE: Aug 7 - It seems that the Lebanese government has a major decision to make; that being whether they accept Hezbollah as their military arm or not.
If they do not, it is time that they made their intentions clear. They must condemn Hezbollah as a foreign organization making war within their borders. If it is not their intention to be part of that war they should join with the Israeli Defence Force in ejecting these foreigners from their homeland.
If they do back Hezbollah, as they seem to be tacitly doing, then it is time they accepted that they are at war with Israel and suffer the consequences without crying innocence. Those results might be the same as America inflicted on Iraq in the 1991 war, the complete destruction of their infrastructure.
Lebanon cannot play the fence sitter here. Either ask the UN for help in recovering their country or let it go completely to terrorists.
The option seems clear.
Iraq is at the heart of the present problems. And all because George Bush wanted to avenge his father's humiliation at the hands of Saddam Hussein. The best thing that could happen today would be to reinstate Saddam and depose George. Not so silly. At least Saddam was able to control his own population. Perhaps he understood them.
We have the military might of the USA being defeated as we speak. Their generals are all of the same breed. Fighting an open war, tank against tank, soldier against soldier. Battlefield strategy, Patton style. The hierarchy clearly defined.
But that is not the kind of war that goes on today. These generals attend Senate committee meetings daily and their message/realization/outlook plunges into gloom. They can't figure out the enemy. The can't even identify the enemy! But these enemies of democracy have got it figured out. They learned the lessons well when the communist Viet Cong drove America from Viet Nam. America, in spite of the spin, seems to be losing in Iraq. With a far more dangerous Iran waiting to join in.
The American military has already been driven out of Lebanon. Yet they expect the Israelis to progress against Hezbollah. This kind of fighting is abnormal too, Hezbollah has no country, what ever they do in Lebanon they are winners in the minds of the people, most of whom hate America. And in general the consensus in the Middle East in that Israel must be obliterated.
In Afghanistan it is the same situation. A fight against a mysterious enemy who is slowly taking back their country in spite of the free world's efforts. The Russians were driven out of there.
Indonesia, Pakistan, India, the Phillipines, Africa, all face a similar plight.
It seems to many that the coming war is about Muslims against the rest of the world. WW III may be beginning, and the outlook for a world democracy is dim and bleak. The World Trade attack. The London subway attack. And who knows what lies in wait from insidious people already resident in the free democracies. Invisible people waiting for their call to arms. How do you fight against a citizen who walks up to you with a grenade in their belly and has just pulled the pin?
We cannot understand their thinking and motives. Because we live in a better world.
But we need to figure them out, and soon. Our better world is vulnerable right now.
UPDATE: Aug 7 - It seems that the Lebanese government has a major decision to make; that being whether they accept Hezbollah as their military arm or not.
If they do not, it is time that they made their intentions clear. They must condemn Hezbollah as a foreign organization making war within their borders. If it is not their intention to be part of that war they should join with the Israeli Defence Force in ejecting these foreigners from their homeland.
If they do back Hezbollah, as they seem to be tacitly doing, then it is time they accepted that they are at war with Israel and suffer the consequences without crying innocence. Those results might be the same as America inflicted on Iraq in the 1991 war, the complete destruction of their infrastructure.
Lebanon cannot play the fence sitter here. Either ask the UN for help in recovering their country or let it go completely to terrorists.
The option seems clear.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Today in history - - - July 28
1945 - An Army B-25 bomber lost in the fog crashed into the side of the Empire State Building in New York City, killing 13 people.
The Empire State building did NOT fall down.
The Empire State building did NOT fall down.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Vigilante justice
All across Canada it is well known that the law abiding citizens are fed up with judicial justice. Having the worst criminals walking through courtrooms like McDonalds' Drive-thrus is about to be unacceptible. Our children and our future are at stake.
Drug dealers now frequent the corners of every major city in Canada as well as most of the small towns. The people know who they are. The police know who they are. Vancouver was even written up recently in a British tourist magazine as being infested with homeless beggars and drug dealers everywhere. People cautioned about coming here. Not a good thing for 2010.
Yet it goes on and on. People have been calling for tougher sentences for years, to a deaf ear of the justice system. To a deaf ear of the judges who seem to care more for the perpetrators than the victims.
Finally in one small community in New Brinswick it went too far and the people took action against these insidious criminals who were addicting their children to crack cocaine, among other lethal drugs. They burned down a crack house and prevented the fire department from putting it out. And they beat the bad guys badly enough to force them to leave their island.
It was vigilante justice well done. Applauded across the country by frustrated parents everywhere. Something they surely have wanted to do.
It had to start somewhere. Those New Brunswickers say the purge of drug dealers in their community isn't over yet.
Maybe the purge of drug dealers in Canada is just beginning.
Back to Top
Drug dealers now frequent the corners of every major city in Canada as well as most of the small towns. The people know who they are. The police know who they are. Vancouver was even written up recently in a British tourist magazine as being infested with homeless beggars and drug dealers everywhere. People cautioned about coming here. Not a good thing for 2010.
Yet it goes on and on. People have been calling for tougher sentences for years, to a deaf ear of the justice system. To a deaf ear of the judges who seem to care more for the perpetrators than the victims.
Finally in one small community in New Brinswick it went too far and the people took action against these insidious criminals who were addicting their children to crack cocaine, among other lethal drugs. They burned down a crack house and prevented the fire department from putting it out. And they beat the bad guys badly enough to force them to leave their island.
It was vigilante justice well done. Applauded across the country by frustrated parents everywhere. Something they surely have wanted to do.
It had to start somewhere. Those New Brunswickers say the purge of drug dealers in their community isn't over yet.
Maybe the purge of drug dealers in Canada is just beginning.
Back to TopJamie Graham - in context?
It seems like a lot of the media is now selling a better story than the real story. The 'target' story is growing by the hour and now Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham is supposedly 'under investigation' for a threat. This is great stuff for the media. Or is it?
Chief Jamie Graham admits he left a shooting range target sheet on the desk of a city manager with a note saying "a bad day at the range is better than the best day at work." Now it is being reported that the target had hits in the head and heart.
But when that target sheet was shown on TV, the only two hits on the sheet were WAY off the center, and at the very outside edge. Showing clearly that it was a bad day at the shooting range.
If it had been a picture of Chief Graham falling off water skis, with that same comment, it would have simply said that the water skiing pastime, even while falling in, is still better than a sweaty day at the office.
One wonders if the media likes their manufactured controversial story with a political bent much better than the facts. Isn't it an obligation of the news media to get it EXACTLY right?
Take another look at that target before buying into media stuff.
UPDATE: Now CKNW's Bill Good is reporting that target as "bullet riddled", nice going Bill, has a way better media pull than what it really was. Damn, you used to be able to trust 'NW. The next thing they'll tell us is that the desk was shot up too!
Chief Jamie Graham admits he left a shooting range target sheet on the desk of a city manager with a note saying "a bad day at the range is better than the best day at work." Now it is being reported that the target had hits in the head and heart.
But when that target sheet was shown on TV, the only two hits on the sheet were WAY off the center, and at the very outside edge. Showing clearly that it was a bad day at the shooting range.
If it had been a picture of Chief Graham falling off water skis, with that same comment, it would have simply said that the water skiing pastime, even while falling in, is still better than a sweaty day at the office.
One wonders if the media likes their manufactured controversial story with a political bent much better than the facts. Isn't it an obligation of the news media to get it EXACTLY right?
Take another look at that target before buying into media stuff.
UPDATE: Now CKNW's Bill Good is reporting that target as "bullet riddled", nice going Bill, has a way better media pull than what it really was. Damn, you used to be able to trust 'NW. The next thing they'll tell us is that the desk was shot up too!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Today in history - - - July 24
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?
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?
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)