Our new heroines

First it was Jessica Simpson, leading the way into Bimboland with her confusion in thinking that Chicken-of-the-Sea was a some kind of farm foul chicken that lived underwater, and now it is her cerebral pal Paris (skank) Hilton unaware that London is in the UK and believing everyone in Europe speaks French! (We bet she knows what 'menage a trois' means though.)
In a country that is totally screwed up from worshipping Britney Spears' writhings instead of anyone's writings (Lindsey Lowen's diary excepted of course) we begin to understand why Bimboland is the high point and Paris is the freaky High Goddess.
I hear MENSA is being disbanded. Who knew London was in the Ukraine?

Willie Picton trial

The voir dire part of the Willie Picton trial begins today. Already infamously known as Canada's worst ever serial killer, Willie's trial itself might begin within six months. The families are waiting for closure of the constant nagging grief since their loved ones went missing. Picton is charged with 27 counts of first degree murder of sex trade workers and other women.
This part of the legal action cannot be reported to the public, but some people believe they already know what will happen - Willie will be found guilty and be sentenced to life.

However there are others who believe something else ...
Did this odious character Willie actually lure those girls to his pig farm to murder them?
Did he really drive all the way downtown and pick them up from the street to take them back there? Or did someone else do that for him? For another reason? Was it Willie's intention to murder these women? Or was he simply given the task of destroying their remains after the fact? If these girls came to a drug and sex party for dollars at the Picton party house , how did they come to be murdered after attending? And why? Prostitutes are famous for zipped mouths. How DID they meet their violent end? Was anyone else involved? If so who? Will the true evidence ever be heard? Will the true story ever come out?
Will we ever know WHO attended those parties? Were there high profile people there who might know something? Who are they? Why would women be taken there to perform their 'duties' and then be tragically murdered? One woman got away, where is she? What does she know? Will she testify or is she long gone or even dead now?
Websites in North America are already speculating on what went on at the Picton farm, including the idea that someone was making 'snuff films' there. That biker gangs might have been involved. That Dave Picton was involved. That drug dealing was free running. That prostitution was part of the parties. That policemen, lawyers, city counselors, even mayors, politicians and high flying movers and shakers were there and might have explicit knowledge of these women and possibly what happened to them, and why.

What to expect?
Expect Willie to be found guilty and get a long sentence. Without all that damning truth to be exposed. Too much at stake for too many of those secret high flyers. Better for the police to pile on the unsolved cases and sweep them away. The families deserve more but even they seem intent on just getting Willie convicted for this. The disappearances and murders of women go way back to 1971. Close everything you can.
But - have a look at Willie Picton in some of the few pictures and ask yourself if he did this all alone? Is he bright? Persuasive? Man about town? Attractive?
Expect the trial to be much swifter than they are telling us. It won't be about learning the truth, there are just too many implications in the truth, better for all to have it go away quietly.

But, once again, you could also expect the unexpected. There will be a publication ban for Canadian reporters on this case. The American media might respect it, depending on what sensations are revealed early. However, the bloggers of the world have become increasingly irritable when someone tries to get away with something. Blogs may prove to find more truth in this case than the law courts.
Over 60 young women have died. It took the police over a decade to even see the pattern, it's now time the legal system did the right thing, no matter who goes down in the process. We owe truth and justice to these girls.


http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/predators/robert_pickton/1.html

Olympic costs over run us!

Torino has hundreds of millions in Olympic cost over-runs and they're not even ready for their games. Now John Furlong, the BC Irishman who is in charge of VANNOC in a bit of sweat-on-the-brow nervous evasion tells us that we too are over budget but won't say how much.
We figured it all out in 2002 dollars, he says, obviously unaware that the games were going to be held in 2010, then says he'll go to the new federal government and ask for even more money, as if those Conservatives are some saviour for himself and Liberal Gordon Campbell's mental errors. Obviously these guys are far more dumb than we knew, not understanding that the feds are still using TAXPAYER's money regardless.
I have an idea, why doesn't he grab Gordon and approach some MORE Liberal "private partners" to sponsor the cost over-runs? Gordon is consumed with this private/public relationship and maybe it is time he and Mr. Furlong put up or shut up for their 14 day ego stint and leave the poor damn taxpayers alone?
They seem to have the incentive to waste their dollars chasing down the small business Olympia Pizza guy and the Olympic Health Care girl.
Is there anyone out there who DIDN'T think this would happen?
It's a long way to Tipperary, John, but begorrah lad, why not go back there? And can we add another airfare to your trip?

The Bay is gone ...

So much for patriotism over money. The board of directors of the Hudsons Bay Company have accepted a bid from US businessman Jerry Zuckerman to take over Canada's oldest company (founded in 1670) defeating the bid by the Canadian owned Onex Corporation. So Target will probably occupy some of the locations, others will be closed, most of the assets will be sold off.
Ho hum, why bother to be Canadian?
I guess the upside is all those old lady employees who are so good at ignoring you while shopping for themselves on their shift will be gone too.
The board members will take their American money and head for the WalMart sale.

Stupidity scale = 10

I saw the stupidest thing this evening. Crossing eastbound on the Georgia Street viaduct, at dusk, in the rain. The viaduct is 3 traffic lanes and near the end the right side lane becomes an off ramp to Main street, leaving the two remaining lanes to continue with a slight shift right before they too go off the bridge at Prior Street.
Parked RIGHT ON THE BRIDGE IN THE RIGHT SIDE TRAFFIC LANE, was a grey police van vehicle, with a policeman hiding behind it aiming radar at the oncoming traffic!
He had two cars pulled over, still in the traffic lane on the bridge! Creating a totally dangerous situation for drivers in bad weather! People were aghast at the stupidity of this policeman! He could have caused a serious accident!
Forget the old scenario of traffic safety and speeders. This policeman, whoever he was, needs to go back to the academy for some intensive police training on public safety! I think the job is not to ENDANGER the public but to protect them.
I hope the people who got tickets tonight dispute them and use the fact in their defence that it MUST be illegal to set up radar IN A TRAFFIC lane.
Something is sadly lacking in the mentality of that over zealous police officer.

(also search for - Police radar - traffic safety? on this blog)

Things I learn as I get older

• - you don't want to have your laundry hamper and your toilet in the same room.
• - intestinal gas is not a propellant.
• - I must have only dreamt I peed a hole through cardboard.
• - all those people weren't actually talking to ME.
• - prunes aren't funny anymore.
• - if you wear dentures, you don't want to spit while flushing the toilet.
• - hair moves around under your skin to a different place.
• - snoring is like a reverse alarm system.
• - on the pleasure scale scratching a rash and bowel movements are now tied for first.
• - UNtieing your shoelaces is way harder than tieing them.
• - The best way to keep your slippers on is to put your socks on OVER them.
• - cover your mouth when you cough; it's embarrassing to spew germs all over. It's even more embarrassing to spew your teeth over the checkout counter.
• -
  

Questions I'd like answered before Jan 23rd

Health Care - If 'private for profit' health clinics expand, will they siphon off funds from the public health care? For instance, the new Copeman Private Health care in Vancouver, which you pay $2300. to join and $200. per month fees, advertises that they have 50 surgeons available. Are those surgeons also working public hospital operating rooms? Will any of these 50 surgeons be available to you and me? Do those surgeons get paid more for operations by Copeman? Do these private clinics expect to start getting CARE card members into their clinics? And if so will they charge the same price as the public care for the same operation?

Crime Rate - When our criminal trial judges sentence our bad guys with guns to wimpy sentences, and our politicians say they will legislate mandatory minimum sentences, will our politicians have the fortitude to change the Canadian Constitution to OVER RULE judges who are now controlling parliament instead of the other way around? Will they have the balls to set rules so that a criminal who uses a gun in the commission of a crime will abrogate his Canadian rights?

NAFTA - Will anyone in government have the jam to consider Canadian sovereignty as an issue when dealing with other countries and their unilateral interpretation of what free trade is? Will anyone DARE say, "This isn't working, we're getting out and selling our lumber, wheat, gas and water to China."

Environment - Will anyone consider the welfare of animals over the interests of money? As the Grizzley bear in Alberta is being considered for endangered species status, will anyone intervene to stop rich foreign hunters from entering our country for trophy hunting?

Buying Government stuff - Will anyone handle government purchases like they do in good private management? Like when we are going to order military helicopters, why can't we order TWO of them to test them? Why do we always have to order 200 of anything? Because someone is lining their pockets? Are we going to get something back on those broken subs?

Western Alienation - Will any party address the issue of Quebec getting 3 times as much of Canada's largess as any other province? (for example - Culteral - British Columbia = $43 per capita - Quebec = $149. per c) Will anyone even ADMIT that Quebec gets huge amounts of taxpayer money compared to the rest of us?

Candidate promises - Will any politician EVER admit that whatever he tells his constituants he will do will have no effect whatsoever because the party will decide what he says when he gets to Ottawa?

Government - Will any politician EVER get fired and properly humiliated or jailed for corruption, treason, mismanagement or just plain stupidy? [sorry, I slipped, this is such a hypothetical fantasy question that no reasonable voting person could expect an answer to]

The Military in our cities

The latest attack ad by the sleazy people who write the Liberal Party's campaign ads threatens that if we elect a Conservative government, we'll have Canadian army troops in our cities ... with guns, they ad with a sinister suggestion.
Are they trying to send a message that there could be a coupe? In BC we lost the presence of Canadian troops in Chilliwack due to cutbacks. Those troops would have been available in any emergency affecting the Lower Mainland. Earthquake, flood, terrorism. The nearest Canadian army help to British Columbians now is Edmonton.
But the point of the advertising by these twist-the-truth back-room hack-attackers is that our Canadian miliary is like some third world country army or a dangerous military force that is scary and secretly guided.
I for one, TRUST our Canadian army. Our troops are well trained, well managed and well intentioned. I am proud of the roll they play around the world where they command respect and admiration because of the job they do with the resources they get.
Having the Canadian army in or near Vancouver wouldn't twig once with me a bit, I would welcome them in our midst and feel safer with them there. In fact I would say the Liberal hack-attack writers and producers have seen too many thriller fiction movies. They need to get back to their XBox shoot-em-ups and get out of the political arena.
My view of our Canadian military isn't scary at all.

Ongoing election scores ....

From our own close scrutiny of the sayings, bleatings, piglatin, announcements, proclamations, whining, rhetoric and name calling from the political hopefuls now treading across a cold Canada, we offer our very own careful assessment and scores, as usual, completely fair and objective - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Not.

Paul Martin: Liberal Party of Canada
- Dec 1 - for pretending there WAS no sponsorship scandal = -1
- Dec 2 - for doing it with a straight face = +1
- Dec 4 - for wearing a black leather sports jacket to soften his image = +0 (didn't work)
- Dec 6 - for being known as Mr. Dithers and giving us all fun for his bumbling = +1
- Dec 8 - for banning handguns in Canada = +2
- Dec 8 - for thinking the bad guys will turn them in = - 3
- Dec 9 - for meeting with Bill Clinton and properly speaking out about the Kyoto Treaty and chastising the Americans for not signing on = +1
- Dec 9 - for that Liberal TV ad where supposedly 'real' people back the Liberals but they are actually Liberal party workers = -1
- Dec 10 - for saying that Harper's Day-Care dollars only buy popcorn and beer for those getting them. No one eats popcorn with beer = -1
- Dec 13 - for not backing down after criticism by the meddling US Ambassador about Martin's softwood lumber comments = +2
- Dec 15 - for participating in the canned "debate" = -1
- Dec 29 - for providing a shining example to Ralph Goodale in not stepping down amid potential scandal when you're in charge of the money too = -1
- Dec 29 - for just being associated with Mike Klander, executive vice-president of the federal Liberal party's Ontario wing who posted on his blog rude remarks about Layton's wife = -2
- Jan 4 - for being afraid (or ashamed) to mention former leader Jean Chretien during the campaign = -1
- Jan 9 - for his (somewhat) heated exchange with Duceppe during the debate about Canadian unity = +1
- Jan 11 - for the hack-attack ads against the Canadian military = -2
- Jan 15 - for implying that Harper has missing money in his budget as if HE was the crook who stole from taxpayers = -1
- Jan 16 - for setting up the reporters' questions in Vancouver and refusing to take all but one local question = -3
- Jan 16 - for the woman controlling those questions to refuse to identify herself = -1
- Jan 16 - for even coming to Vancouver to campaign and treating us like outsiders = -2
Martin Total = Minus 12

Stephen Harper: Conservative Party of Canada
- Dec 1 - Reducing the GST to 5% where it can count for everyone instead of lowering income tax which only helps rich people more = +1
- Dec 2 - Mandatory sentences for drug traffickers= +2, (but making it only two years which is 'soft' time -1) so it equals +1
- Dec 6 - for being endorsed by a major right wing American newspaper as the potential best friend of George Bush = -2
- Dec 6 - for thinking that's cool = minus 1 more
- Dec 8 - for Harper not getting his eyeline correct and obviously reading off a prompter in his TV ad = -1
- Dec 9 - for not being Peter McKay = -2
- Dec 12 for the $500 tax credit for kids in sport = +1
- Dec 15 - for participating in the canned "debate" = -1
- Dec 19 - for promising Quebec a voice on the world stage = -2
- Jan 4 - for being afraid (or ashamed) to mention former leader Brian Mulroney during the campaign = -1
- Jan 9 - for the 'programmed' smile during the debate = -1
- Jan 11 - for even hinting that he would join the American Star Wars system = -1
- Jan 17 - for using this phrase in his speech - ... "for Quebeckers AND Canadians" ... are we already separated? = -2
- Jan 18 - for hedging and evading on abortion and same sex marriage issues = -2
Harper Total = minus 13

Jack Layton:: New Democratic Party
- Dec 1 - for pretending he's a player when he's not = -1
- Dec 2 - for doing it convincingly = +1
- Dec 3 - for saying Canada should consider taxing energy exports (oil and gas) to the United States if Washington doesn't lift its tariffs on softwood lumber imports = +2
- Dec 5 - Will not allow public health care dollars to go into private facilities = +1
- Dec 15 - for participating in the canned "debate" = -1
- Jan 4 - for being UNafraid to mention former leader Ed Broadbent during the campaign = +1
- Jan 9 - for too much 'send-us-to-parliament' and not enough 'why' during the last debate = -1
Layton Total = Plus 2

Jim Harris:: Green Party of Canada
Dec 5 - for the others trying to exclude a party which has candidates in ALL ridings in Canada = +2
Dec 6 - for calling on the Canada Pension Plan to sell off Wal-Mart shares = +1
- Dec 15 - for NOT participating in the canned "debate" = +1
- Jan 9 - for being honest about NAFTA and admitting that it is actually costing Canadians more because of America's unilateral actions = +1
Harris Total = Plus 5

Gilles Duceppe: Parti Québécois
- Dec 1 - for denying there will be a separation referendum = -1
- Dec 2 - for suggesting Quebec have their own international hockey team as an election platform = -1
- Dec 5 - for having NO candidates outside of Quebec = -2
- Dec 12 - for criticizing Martin for speaking out against the Americans = -1
- Dec 12 - for sucking up to the US because once he takes Quebec out of Canada he knows he'll never sell us anything again = -1
- Dec 15 - for participating in the canned "debate" = -1
- Jan 4 - for being afraid (or ashamed) to mention former leader of the Bloc Québécois, [same thing as PQ] Jacques Parizeau = -1
- Jan 9 - for his answer during the debate to moderator Paikin about this question: "If Canada is divisible now, will Quebec be divisible if they attain nationhood?" The answer was NO! (the aboriginals may have something to say about that) = -3
Duceppe Total = minus 11

Ron Gray: Christian Heritage Party of Canada
- Jan 7 - for having Joe Pal running in Vancouver, who gave us a lovely talking to about morality which ended with the invitation to join a new, vile Canada. If it was a misspeak for VITAL = +1, if it was a Freudian slip = -1
- Jan 9 - for having the easiest to negotiate web site = +1
Gray total = plus 1

Blair Longley: Marijuana Party of Canada
- Jan 7 - for having Heathcliff Dionysus Campbell running in Vancouver Center, who said, "Insanity is voting for the same people over and over again and expecting change." = +3
- Jan - for not being available for 10 days because he "stepped out for a smoke" = -2
Longley Total = plus 1

Stay tuned, at least here in BC we can look forward to Spring arriving on February 1st as usual.

The ecomony and you

A recent survey of Canadians discovered that 73 percent of us believe the economy is strong. Just like Paul Martin and Gordon Campbell keep telling us. That's good, right?
But wait, the same survey revealed that only 10 percent of those same Canadians think that that same booming economy will benefit them in any way.
So who is cashing in on this largess? You already know, don't you. Of course, all those foreign companys that moved into Canada under the Free Trade Agreement. The main benefit of our wonderful economy is judged on the balance of trade, meaning it REALLY doesn't help you or me one iota.
It helps 'business', and you can filter that idea down to the 'shareholders' , those few elite that are able to use their dollars partaking in the economic boom.
The real effect of our so-called booming economy isn't making Canadians' wallets any fatter, no matter what spin Martin, Campbell and the rest of the smooth talkers put on it, the real effect is indifference to the message.

Movie Review - Brokeback Mountain

Two sheep herder guys are on the range. Clean cut sorta sheep herder guys. They like each other. No lariats though. Only sheep. Great sideburns, eyebrows and plaid shirts. Stereotyped wardrobe and makeup? Brokeback Mountain is set against the sweeping vistas of Wyoming and Texas, wasn't John Wayne a Texan? Wasn't his real name Marion?
No sheep were harmed in the filming of this epic.
A few might have been charmed though.

Illegality in the music recording industry

The recording industry in America jumped on all the peer to peer networks because of what they deemed as 'illegal' sharing of music files over the web. They shut down many portals, including Napster and WinMX. These bad guys were taking money right out of their pockets. And the poor artists were losing millions.
Except a lot of those artists were accusing the record industry of ripping THEM off, never mind the consumers! So now it turns out the recording industry is being investigated because of their own illegalities, including giving radio station people expensive gifts to influence playlists and price fixing of wholesale digital music files!
Hmmm, so they jumped on the others so they could get right back to their own 'illegal' activities?
Crooks don't like to share, do they.

http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=cbc/arts_home&articleID=2130518

Gun control

So now after another tragic shooting in Toronto of innocent victims, and ongoing gunfire in Vancouver, there are organizations coming out of the woodwork looking for government money for 'education' of youth. Most of the recent shootings are credited to youth gangs, for whatever reason. It seems it used to be about violent drug dealers vying for territory, but lately, it has filtered down to teenagers. Carrying lethal weapons for 'prestige' and the envy of their friends. The police and politicians' answers are usually the same - we have to control these weapons and educate our youth.
A recent poll on the web gave several alternatives to how to control illegal handguns, asking normal people what to do ... the number one answer was overwhelming - long hard sentences.
If someone walks into a store to rob it with a handgun, or shoots at someone in the street, or drives by a home spraying it with bullets, the sentence needs to be taken OUT of the hands of our wimpy sympathetic judges, who just made a decision to continue to allow criminals in jail to still vote. There should be a mandatory ten years in jail. No parol, no good behavior time off, no soft core holiday resort sentencing, no alternative cop-outs by judges who need to begin answering to the people of Canada instead of their own agenda.
And going around giving money to youth organizations to tell youth that is it wrong to shoot someone is just plain stupid and silly.
Telling youth or anyone else, that they'll go to jail for TEN YEARS for shooting at someone, and then backing it up with a minimum sentence, will send a loud and clear message to the ones who need it.
All we need to do is pass the law, advise the people that that's what it now is, tell the judges that they MUST enforce the minimum sentence, and then DO IT! That's all we need. If it requires changing our constitution, do it. You must lose your rights when you become a criminal.
The first young gang member who gets his ten year sentence, will do the job for thousands of others. No billion dollar gun control program needed.
Now all we need are politicians with the guts to protect the law abiding citizens of Canada. Are they out there?
Who knows.

Canada bashing?

Seems like a war of words is heating up across the border. Perhaps since Paul Martin criticised the US for their failure to join Kyoto. Shouldn't have told them that.
We know that signing on to the Kyoto agreement means you'll take certain actions to limit greenhouse emissions over the next 100 years. Everyone knows that Earth is becoming in pretty bad shape. Global warming is no longer a theory, it is a fact. Check out the island sized ice cubes floating out of the arctic regions. The US won't sign on because of money. They'd have to enforce clean air from all their factories etc. That would cost. They are, in fact, bringing 19 more coal fired poluting energy plants on line. Good enough for everyone else to clean up but not America. But don't tell them that.
Paul Celucci, and now David Wilkins, the US ambassadors, are doing their usual act of interfering in Canada's business by trying to pressure us into submission on softwood lumber. They refuse to live up to the NAFTA rules time after time. Why? Because lobbyists are working hard to keep their own lumber companies in profit, and that is causing a few thousand dollars to be added to every house built in the states. What they want is for Canada to agree to a lesser tarrif when there should be none at all.
Tucker Carlson of NBC is calling us a 'retarded cousin'. You remember bow-tied Tucker, he's the one that our Carolyn Parrish demolished in that TV interview when he told her that Norway could conquer us. (search Carolyn Parrish, this blog) Carolyn shot back that Norway doesn't WANT to conquer us, it is America that is going around the world pissing everyone off. John Stewart followed that up with an appearance where he pleaded with Carlson to be relevant and quit being a simple oaf!
The American media constantly brainwashes the American public on American policy, however, they refuse to acknowledge that any other country can have a policy. They are completely misinformed about other countries, Canada no exception. Right wing bone rack and media commentator, Ann Coulter, in a recent interview with a Canadian journalist, argued that Canada was in the Vietnam War. Because she wanted to be right, regardless of the truth. But don't tell her that.
We all know that people like Rush Limbaugh and Bill OReilly lambaste anyone and everyone who questions American policy, especially Canada. Now we even have senators espousing the 'fence across the border of America' idea, saying WE are the ones who let the 9 eleven terrorists into their country. I believe that nine of those terroists were on American VISAs at the time, and there is not one shred of evidence to show any one of them came through Canada. It's a long way from 'hands across the border' isn't it? And there is not a flying school in Canada that wouldn't call the RCMP if bearded wild-eyed men wanted to learn to fly a plane but not land one!
The fence wouldn't be enough, why not make it a concrete barrier like the Isrealis use to keep the Palestinians out? The beneficial side effect would be to keep Americans IN. Pat Buchanan once suggested it too, implying that Canadians all have leprosy and moderate views! Both catchy.
The right wing is of course in control of America and it is becoming a sinister situation. When one of their own ambassadors in Africa, implied that Bush was lying about Saddam looking for weapons there, they 'outed' a CIA agent themselves to get back at him! Using White House media puppet Robert Novak to do it! Why isn't HE charged with treasonous behavior? We all know now that Iraq was a lie, just don't tell those young men trying out real XBox weaponry. And recently, we have learned that America is secretly spying on their own people! Wire taps, email intercepts etc. All approved by George Bush.
Don't tell America anything, they just don't listen. Don't tell Canada anything either, we don't want to hear. So why is there a war of words? Damn you Canada, we're the most powerful nation on earth and you're still better than us!
Here's my dollar for the first concrete block.

McDonald's boycott

I forgot to boycott McDonalds on December 3rd. I feel like I let down the two 10 year old boys who started the idea. So I'm boycotting McDonalds now, for the rest of the month actually ... no, maybe until March, 2006. Better. I never went there on Dec. 3rd anyway. In fact I never go there at all. Well maybe once in a while when I am far out of town on my motorcycle and I need something to fill the hole. Some of those nice 'meat sprayed' french fries. I like that they spray them with that secret meat spray by-product because then I don't have to buy their burgers. Who knows what those might be made of?
As a matter of fact, the idea of the boycott was started as a retaliation against the American handling of the softwood lumber deal, where we Canadians are being penalized so US lumber companies can improve their profits. I think I'll even take it further and boycott McDonalds until America gives us our 5 billion dollars back.
Say, for 10 year olds, these boys are pretty smart. And more gutsy than our federal politicians.
How old do you have to be to get elected to parliament?

Damaged US relationship?

US Ambasador to Canada, David Wilkins, (the Paul Celucci reincarnate) meddling as usual in Canadian affairs, has criticised Paul Martin for his comments about the ongoing softwood lumber dispute, and the Kyoto treaty, saying that Martin will damage the relationship with America.
Are the Americans afraid that their people building houses or REbuilding houses will find out that they are paying over a THOUSAND dollars more because of the American lobby to protect their own profits and keep Canadian lumber out?
Hmmm, considering that the US is ignoring every single ruling against them by NAFTA on softwood, and that they are starting 19 more coal fired energy plants in the largest poluting country in the world and refuse to join Kyoto to cut global warming emissions, and are getting prickly sensitive about it, couldn't we say that it is already damaged?

Conspiracy theory ... 4 - Quebec

So the Canadian military decided to 'store' some armoured personel carriers. They were moving them from Ontario to Montreal. Hmmmmmmm. Montreal, Quebec that is.
The only reason this was discovered by police was the truck driver was confused and driving the wrong way. The trailer was carrying two M113 armoured personnel carriers bearing Department of National Defence licence plates and loaded with ground-to-ground missile launchers. "They're used against tanks and other armoured personnel carriers," said Canadian Forces spokesman Major Daryl Morrell.
Now, if we look at this incident with a suspicious mind, what do we see? The separatists in Quebec beginning to steal whatever they can from Canada, before their referendum. Quebeckers being in charge of most things like this in Canada, they can set about doing it in stealth.
Why don't I trust them? Because, on the evening of the LAST separation referendum, they sent out messages to all Canadian forces stations in Quebec, ordering that the forces on those bases, would have alegience to Quebec the following morning, NOT Canada!
I think we Canadians should watch this situation. This could be the start of the biggest theft ever of Canadian assets. Quebec wants to have everything it can when they start their new country, and the French Canadians now in charge of Canada, including Paul Martin etc etc et al, will aid and abet as secretly as they can.
Why would they want armoured personal carriers in the first place? Because once they separate, and lay claim to their territory, they are going to get one hell of a fight from the aboriginals who want NO part of a Quebec nation. Quebeckers are anticipating violence from their own indians. Amoured personel carriers with ground to ground missile launchers are EXACTLY what they'll need.
Worth watching for more 'incidents'? I believe so.

http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=cp_oddities_home&articleID=2109019

Election. Now the fun starts.

So we have an election. And there will be lots of things to make fun of coming from the candidates.
The first one out of the slot is Marc Garneau, Quebec's favourite space cadet. He is telling us to get over it, the sponsorship scandal is in the past, he says to forgive the bad Liberals and move on.
Hmm, I wonder if he'd go back into space if the mechanics on the shuttle had been caught cheating on the bolts and valves and those same mechanics were still working on the rockets?
Well Mr. Garneau, the same cheaters are still there within the corrupt Liberal party, some voters can't move on until they do. Mr Dithers was IN CHARGE of all that money that disappeared, telling us he knew nothing about it only points to his own stupidity and poor management.
And did you notice how quickly Mr Martin jumped on Mr Harpers comments on same sex marriage? It seems that it is not an issue, yet Harper brought it up. And Martin, clever as he is, jumped on it. You know the Liberals are going to try the same tactics they did last time, to put Harper on the defensive on these kinds of non issues and deflect a Conservative attack on their record of corruption.
Mr Harper made the mistake last time, of allowing the Liberals to set the tone of the campaign. Let's hope he makes a better fight of it this time.
Jack Layton nips and yelps at the others like a jackal following the lions, yet they have no interest because he wouldn't even make a decent meal. He simply is not a player.
Gilles Duceppe is preparing to become the leader of a new country. He has no interest in the rest of Canada, but we should be asking the other three leaders about Plan B when he leads Quebec out of confederation.
If this election run is going to be like others in the recent past, we'll just comfy down on our sofas and watch the Liberal media destroy Harper again.
Same old same old.

Larry Campbell on ice?

Keep your friends near but your enemies closer?
(Colour coded for clarity)
I think we have just seen a clever gambit by sneaky Gordon Campbell and sneakier Paul Martin. This is what happened; Gordon Campbell, head of the BC Liberals, who insists the BC Liberals have no connection with the federal Liberals, called up his pal, and mentor, Paul Martin and asked for a favour - get Larry Campbell out of the picture!
Larry Campbell was perceived to be too dangerous. He had a whopping 70 percent popularity rating when he gave up the Vancouver Mayor's chair. That position of Mayor of BC's largest city has often been a jumping off point for greater ambitions of Premier. Hence a huge threat to Gordon Campbell if Larry decided to run for the NDP party. He could have been the next premier.
Gordon said he needed to put Larry on ice, sort of like someone did to the NDP's Tom Berger a few years ago, make him a judge and get him out of the political loop. So Paul comes up with the idea of making Larry a senator. No better way to make anyone forgettable than a senator. Presto, threat removed.
Larry disappears into dusty senatorship, and Gordon continues selling off British Columbia.
We're not sure if even that will shut up Larry Campbell.
Can a senator still run for anything?

Christmas coming soon ...

Yes, just about one month away and I am drawing up my Christmas shopping list.
No, not the one where I list my choice of colour for the Maserati Quatroporte, or the wish for that new faster than lightning Toshiba laptop, not even the endless list of gifts under $100. that I would gracefully receive. I am drawing up the list of STORES that I might shop at.
You might have noticed last year, it kind of started, no more Merry Christmas in the display windows, it was changed to Happy Holidays. Why? Because these wise retailers, in their desire to get every dollar in the highest buying time of the year didn't want to OFFEND anyone. In their perception of what Christmas is all about, they seem to think that Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Shinto priests, medicine men and Shamans of all esoteric tribes will quit shopping at their chain stores if they dare have the words Merry Christmas on their windows or in their advertising. Macys in New York won't say it. The Bay in Vancouver didn't last year. I hope they rethink it this year. The Body Shop refuses to say Merry Christmas, as does snooty old Holt Refrew. Maybe they think they'll sell more head scarves to Muslims.
So who exactly ARE these retailers offending?

Tradition in North America at least, seems to point to Christians as the core of this buying spree built around December twenty-fifth. They are buying gifts to loved ones in celebrating the birth of Christ. Sure it has gotten out of the basic concept of a religious time of deep spirituality. Yet the spirit of love, acceptance, toleration, forgiveness, and brotherhood remains amid the feelings of well being at Christmas. We are all nicer people at Christmas.
Yes it is a buying spree. Yes it has become commercial. And you needn't go to church services or mass to celebrate a special time of year.
I know MY list of Christmas buying will be made around those who actually have the Christmas spirit instead of those who perceive some imagined offence at this time. Public Relations departments don't get it. Happy Holidays doesn't cut it. Xmas doesn't either. Merry Christmas does.
I am offended by those who are afraid to express it when they want my dollars.

Merry Christmas to all you who have tolerance, bah humbug to you who don't.

Olympic costs already 50% over budget

File this report under "I knew it would happen."
John Furlong, head guy of the coming Olympics announced that the games budget was already overspent ... it seems that when all these politicians, 'thinkers', power players, accountants, engineers, got together a few years ago, they called Home Depot to find out what a 2 x 4 piece of wood costs.
They might have been told a dollar. THEN they went ahead and planned everything based on that dollar! NOW, lo and behold, they are crying because the 2x4 doesn't still cost a dollar!
Furlong points out that the original estimate was in 2002 dollars and that between now and 2010, the Vancouver region has between $70 billion and $75 billion in construction projects on the go, putting immense pressure on labour and materials costs.
Hmmm. In all that forward thinking brain activity, didn't ANYONE suggest that the cost of that piece of wood wouldn't be the same in 2005? 2007? 2009?
One begins to believe that these 'organizers' are just plain stupid people ..... or ..... they knew it all along and told us one price of the games to win over public support.

Hmmm, wait a minute ... I just got it ... aren't the lying cheating deceiving Gordon Campbell Liberals involved in here somewhere?
See the light bulb over my head?

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/stories/headlines.shtml?/story/olympics/national/2005/11/25/Sports/vancouver051125.html

Debra LaFave teacher sex

Florida middle school teacher Debra LaFave has been sentenced to a three year house arrest for having sex with a 14 year old student in her car, home and classroom.

Debra - ba-a-ad teacher. tsk tsk.


I wonder if I can apply to have my house as the venue in which she serves her house arrest sentence?

Power of the public

Rapper 50 Cent is supposed to come to Canada for a tour of several cities. He advocates gun violence. There was a shooting during his performance the last time he played Toronto, which is currently plagued by gun violence.
And as most rappers do, he advocates guns, drugs and violence in general, demeans women in general, and is generally bad news for vulnerable children listening to a twisted message against society.
One person has suggested the public to do an action that they did with Axl Rose in some cities in the states. (Axl Rose suggests killing cops in his songs.)
That action is to call in bomb threats to all the venues where these hate message people play.
The police must respond and clear the building. (I think they delighted in doing that with Axl)
I am not suggesting anyone do such a thing, but it does demonstrate the power that the public has to put these hate message bearers out of business. How many times would a building have to be cleared before the promoters got the hint that these people are not welcome to tour in Canada and spread their hateful diatribe?
And all the movie theaters today have about 6 movies running at the same time, if you have to clear out the theater for a 50 Cent movie, you have to clear out the rest of the theaters too. Would the producers of all those other movies tolerate 50 Cent movies being in the same theaters as theirs? Cutting out their profits? Producers don't want to die trying to get rich, they just want to get rich.
'Fiddy' needs a ministerial permit to enter Canada because of his criminal record. Why would we want his kind of people here? I hope they don't give it to him.
But the law abiding, respectable public does have the power to put him out of business.
Even at 50 cents his tickets should be overpriced.

http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=canada_home&articleID=2097695

and a little more common, 9 Millimeter Ruger
16 shots, hollow points will go through ya
and this? this here? this is a 12 gauge Mossburg kid,
two shots and you can wet like half a block
this shit here gets my dick hard,
it's a Calicko, it holds a Hundred shots
if you can't kill your beef with this you need to stop
c'mon, pick somethin' now nigga, you know it's hot
- - - fifty cent

ETC ETC

Carol James is the bad guy (girl)

Did you notice how the Liberals are spinning Carol James' action of backing off from the pay raise the sneaky MLAs brought in? They are making HER the bad guy, calling HER the bad leader, and it's obvious that they are just pissed off that they didn't get their stealth money.
No concern whatsoever for the screaming public voice at all. Like they don't even REALISE what the furor is about!
Typical Liberal arrogance.

proof of Liberal collusion in the media

If there wasn't Liberal collusion in the media, we would have clips playing every five minutes of Premier Campbell standing up and saying, "We are going to have open government." A phrase he constantly repeated while running for the Liberals to govern our province. Some dupes believed him.
Gordon Campbell has now gone to the opposite extreme; secret government.
And one must fault the NDP in with this sneaky secrecy and deception. Together the greedy MLAs got together in the back room and voted themselves a fifteen percent raise in pay, when thousands of British Columbians are struggling to make ends meet. Union and non union. When Gordon tells us all that the economy is strong, he doesn't mean for you and I, he means for his big business buddies.
There is a public outcry to MLA offices. The people of the province are furious, they are expressing their anger every way they can, on the web in chat forums, to phone in radio shows, but do we see it in the press or television? No.
Why? Because the federal Liberals have most newspapers, even community newspapers, and TV stations in their pockets. The only newspaper the public has left is the Georgia Straight, the one Gordon Campbell tried to shut down.
Gordon Campbell and Carol James betrayed the people of BC. They KNEW they were doing it. They KNEW it was sneaky. They did it anyway. Without a single dissenting voice from one Liberal or NDP MLA anywhere! Without one leaked message to the media.
Once again, I hear a cry from the dark wilderness, where is the Social Credit party when we need them?
What a mess!

A little fun ....

The original Numa Numa guy, Gary Brolsma ...

http://www.guzer.com/videos/numa_numa.php


This guy can't stop laughing at the second person who speaks ...

http://www.break.com/articles/holditin.html

Liberals' "business first" policy

If there was ever a case showing how putting business ahead of people by the present Gordon Campbell government hurts, it is the tragic death of little Sherry Charlie. Mr Campbell cut funding to many agencies that helped the people in our society who need it.
We saw old folks split up and their community hospitals closed. We know Mr. Campbell has the reputation for hating women. And now he should hang his head in shame and resign because his policies have resulted in harm coming to children too.
I wonder how the tax cuts to business are going?
Well, whatever, as long as the foreign economy within our province is strong, that is what Gordon Campbell really cares about. Too bad.


Goodbye sweet little Sherry Charlie, too bad you were a female, a native indian BCer, and poor. Too bad you didn't have a chance at life.
Too bad you didn't even make it to your 2nd birthday.


Oh, I forgot. Today the MLAs, in secrecy, voted themselves a 15% raise in pay. Does anyone else feel sick like I do?

the Eleventh Hour

The cherry tree in Victory Square gives up another yellowy leaf fluttering softly to the damp ground.
The Cenotaph. The eleventh month, the eleventh day, the eleventh hour.
Nearly a century after the signing of that first armistice in November, 1918, we are gathered on this cool autumn morning to remember the darkest hours. The large crowd is not restless, there is too much respect in the chill air to be restless. Only soldiers’ ghosts have the right to be restless this poignant hour. Looking over shoulders toward the marble monument, flags bright against the morning dull of overcoats and scarves, the cherry tree steals attention. Burnt orange and yellow and faded green leaves now sparse on its dark wet branches. The Vancouver Bach Youth Choir sings beautifully beneath it, an ethereal sound, angelic voices coaxing the leaves to let go, asking our hearts to remember.
The 15th Field Artillery Regiment begins the 21 gun salute with a dull thump in the thick misty air, startling nervous pigeons to fly in circling squadrons. Marching cadets and full dress troops arrive in staccato rhythm, heels upon pavement, commanded to halt by a disjointed voice. Military uniforms are especially crisp for this day and polished boots are perfect.
People singing Oh Canada with softness and pride, knowing we are the best. A patient grey sky of swirling cloud holds back its rain. A large plane with full flaps glides as slowly as possible overhead. Then four Harvards in the 'missing man formation' following in a drone of sound.
Another cannon thump. Gulls wheeling, watchful of food. Curious crows disappear into the dark evergreens. A poem written by a high school student is read with quavering emotion. Children’s voices echo. Murmurs. Here and there a solemn glistening tear on a worn face.
Many younger families clustered in an area they would never go to normally. A car alarm squawks irreverence, perhaps a comment to an almost forgotten generation. Bagpipes wailing, reproachful of modern interruptions. A phalanx of antique planes now circling with buzzing engines.
The earth smell is not unpleasant. Nor the odor of damp wool. Pipe smoke floats through the assembly. Coughs from some who shouldn’t be here remembering others who couldn’t be here.
An elder Sergeant’s voice giving directions to the parade troops, losing its strength with a crackle. The Chaplain speaks a prayer, I catch words, ‘in the journey through life’, and give a silent thanks that my passage has been without the fright of war, without the fear of death, without the tragic loss of dear ones.
My mind drifts to Belgium, a few years ago, of feeling a duty to visit Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Canadian World War II Memorial, even though I had no name to search carved on that monument. Standing amid the wheat fields in a summer breeze where a sprinkling of red poppies still grow, giving thanks that I was allowed to roam at will in a free Europe. There’ll be Bluebirds over, the white cliffs of Dover, tomorrow, you just wait and see, Vera Lynn promised, and there were.

the parade's gone by ...

click to enlarge
And in my free Canada, the laying of wreaths begins, dignitaries, officials and crippled old military men weighted down by their chests of medals, saluting a memory, a face, a daring-do friend, perhaps a chipper smile from long ago. Their bodies are crisp and straight for the salute, if only for a moment before they hobble back to their place in the hushed crowd. A man’s valor can never be extinguished.
Another thud from the artillery. War is different now. Can individual bravery and courage exist today? The choir sings, Abide With Me, and the beauty of the music and words hang in the mist.
The cherry tree sheds another leaf, then another. Dropping silently to the moist brown earth, as many soldiers did in a strange land. A song I once wrote drifts into mind -
Oh that man there might have been your uncle,
or a brother who was very dear,
or a father, never having seen his little son.
Now he’s lying softly in the grasses,
and he keeps on looking at the sky,
and he’s slowly giving up his dreams, one by one ...
Again the thump of artillery. Two minutes of silence. A frail woman’s voice in prayer. Yet not disturbing to those in reverie, they have liberty because of these fallen GrandDads. Lest we forget, lest we forget, at this moment, Kiplings greatest lines.
The clusters of dress parade troops begin to move off. Straight-backed young cadets in a rhythmic shuffle, perhaps understanding for the first time what glory is. And crumpled old veterans, walking as best they can. Able to show a resolve in their eyes to all who would see it. Leading the way even at this long time from the event of their courage. Perhaps able to incite the young men gazing at them to be the very best they can be. And I hoping that they are able to sense and receive my thanks as they pass. And not sure, so I say it aloud. Thanks.
The eleventh month, the eleventh day, the eleventh hour.
The cherry tree gives away another yellow leaf fluttering down, though not to die in vain, but to give life to that tree for a future world.
Remembrance day, any time, any year.

http://www.anavets.ca/

© RC Westerholm
Reprinted from www.peregrine1.blogspot.com

Movie review - The Legend of Zorro

Long in the tooth Antonio Banderas would rather ride the Black Horse than Catherine Zeta Jones, just when she's heaving her breasts ala Barbara Cartland romance novel, he rides off into the moon. A chubby lil Mexican kid runs weight off by the end of the picture and Catherine wells up with tears again and again. Lots of sword fighting, but it's not Johnny Depp, more like his Dad with bad eye makeup, and nobody ever gets cut. But blow-ups are everywhere and even when a California orange falls to the ground it sounds like the Space Shuttle exploding. I think the sound effects guy must be the producer's brother-in-law. Bring ear plugs. There are a couple of times where they forgot to put Antonio on the apple box and he has to look up to Catherine, but who cares? Being anywhere near that magnificent brunette is good enough, and especially when you're at eye level with her ..... well never mind. Have fun trying to spot the Lee Marvin movie parody.
The hero of the piece? I'd put my money on the Black Horse.
Z

Could this be the start of something big?

In Vernon B.C. yesterday, a local man, obviously tired of street drug dealers with death in their pockets, attacked three men. In the ensuing fight, he was chopped with an axe and ended up in hospital. Neither the dealers or the attacker are talking.
The police said he should have called them and they would have started an investigation. His vigilanteism will not be tolerated.
In our sorry state of policing today, when all of us can spot the dealers on our street corners and evidently the police can't, starting an 'investigation' is a poor answer to the frustration of law abiding folks who are fearing for their children. Meth dealing and labs are driving us crazy. Cocain is everywhere, these drugs with heroin and others are the scourge of virtually every community in Canada. Indeed, North America. The police are always 'investigating'.
Sorry, doesn't work anymore. That answer is standard to appease the public. We all know dealers are back on the streets within hours after being arrested.
It was only a matter of time before someone started doing 'things' on their own. This man had bravery ahead of intelligence though. He went it alone and it hurt. Perhaps he'll learn a lesson from his actions. No, I don't mean 'let the police handle it'. We've been waiting for the police to handle it way too long now.
This man and others who have such a notion might have learned something else; Attack must be with overwhelming odds. Attack must be short and sweet. Attack must be with stealth and secrecy. Attack must be lethal.
In their quest for territory drug battles are spilling onto innocent citizens. A woman was recently shot with a stray bullet from a drive by shooting. Another shooting was in a crowded restaurant. Perhaps local folks will realise that the dealer on the corner is a supreme target himself for a drive by shooting?
Every drug dealer on every street corner should have no sympathetic feelings from the community. Many of them are illegal immigrants here for the PURPOSE of selling us drugs. Every one of them is contributing to the death and prostitution among our children. Somehow, somewhere they need to be stopped. Perhaps the way is to make it deadly to stand on the corner with death in your pocket. The police are failing miserably all across the continent. Judges have no idea what justice is about. Maybe it is time for a new justice.
This could be the start of something big.

Gomery report

What else can we conclude from the Gomery report about the federal Liberals other than that Chretien was in charge of everything and that he didn't know everyone below him was corrupt? And what else can we conclude other than that Paul Martin was in charge of the money and that he didn't know what the corrupt people in his department were doing with it?
What else can we conclude but that everyone in the government from French Canada is corrupt and stealing money from the rest of Canada?
The basic assumption so far is that the Liberal controlled media across Canada will say poor Paul Martin needs another chance for re-election and that the Conservaives and the NDP would be scary as government.
And the basic assumption is that Quebec will pass the separatist referendum which it will hold in the near future, because the French Canadians controlling our government will again step back to allow it and say nothing.
What is REAL scary is that when that all happens, Canadians will once again stand there and let French Canadians negotiate the separation of Quebec with other French Canadians when every French Canadian MP in Ottawa should immediately resign on the outcome of that vote.
But then corrupt people can't be expected to be honourable, can they?

Don't be afraid

Carve a punkin and have fun!


2004 model

I think I might have got a genetically engineered pumpkin. The second day after I carved it, the thing seems all rubbery and is shrinking. His hat doesn't fit already. He looks like my old Grandma without her dentures and he's supposed to be scary. I was only afraid Grandma would kiss me.
They used to last several days. And funny, but I think this one might be a clone, a DNA manipulated punkin, he looks exactly like last year's Jack-O-Lantern. Doesn't he?
Or is it a trick?

Ignore the guy on the left, he's a freak.

2005 clones?

Dead celebrities

A recent study produced these names as the top earning dead celebrities in the world today ....
The Lucky 13

1. Elvis Presley
2. Charles M. Schulz
3. John Lennon
4. Andy Warhol
5. Theodore "Dr. Seuss" Geisel
6. Marlon Brando
7. Marilyn Monroe
8. J.R.R. Tolkien
9. George Harrison
10. Johnny Cash
11. Irving Berlin
12. Bob Marley
13. Ray Charles

A following poll came up with these results ...
Poll; Which dead celebrity would you most like to see resurrected?

Marlon Brando(0%)
Johnny Carson(5 %)
Johnny Cash(3%)
Johnnie Cochran(1 %)
James Dean(3 %)
Albert Einstein(13 %)
Theodor 'Dr. Seuss' Geisel(1 %)
Peter Jennings(2 %)
John Lennon(9 %)
Bob Marley(4 %)
Marilyn Monroe(6 %)
Elvis Presley(37 %)
Tupac Shakur(10 %)
Hunter S. Thompson(1 %)
None. They all annoyed me while living.(3 %)
All of them. I love celebrities!(2 %)
I don't know.(1 %)

I guess they didn't know Elvis isn't dead.

Here we go again ....

Maybe we should just go peacefully. Accept that George Bush will be our hero too. Embrace baseball with all those chubby guys. Admit that Oprah is our Queen. Try to love plastic. Tune into TV wrestling. Buy guns.
Yes, yet another American takeover is in the wind, U.S. businessman Jerry Zucker is about to buy the Bay. Our Canadian company that has been the heritage retailer in Canada since 1670. Who knows what he will do with it? Some think that the Bay store at Granville and Georgia will be bulldozed for a high rise office building. The property assets of the Hudsons Bay Company are worth many millions. There is much speculation that Zucker will simply cash in on the buy, gut the value out of it and we'll have Target stores to go along with our WallMarts.
And all those small communities across Canada will end up with a 7-Eleven instead.
The Bay will be gone the way of Chunky Woodward and Timothy Eaton. Get used to a lower quality of life, folks, the Americans are coming. Wait a minute, they're already here!
Go peacefully into the night, Canada, we'll have a red zinger swoosh trailing from our pucks in no time.

http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=cp_business_home&articleID=2069917

World Series 2005

I was watching the fourth game in Houston, Texas. spit
It seemed like it was spit going to be a good game. Then this chubby guy gets on first. A play later he's running to spit second, he gets halfway and starts running out of steam! He slows down just before reaching the base and get's thrown out! Has a big drink at the dugout like he's won the game.
Close Up on his manager trying to be stoic. Extreme spit tips us off what he's really thinking.
Pitches later. Close Up on the league commissioner, nice wig, preoccupied with his shoes, chewing nuts with his mouth wide open. More vacant innings. spit Ex president George Bush is there, Barbara beside him with her head down doing a crossword puzzle or something.
Then this player gets hit by a pitch in the batters' box. spit He is in pain even though he had armor on the hand. Everyone attends him, he gets the base but it seems doubtful if he'll make it to first. Several guys crowd around him. spit Maybe he'll need a doctor. Maybe even counselling. These baseball players are wimps, they need to see a hockey game.
CU again on the managers. full spit A fat pitcher comes out. Throws a few spitballs and retires for hamburgers. CU on George Bush, staring off into space wondering if Saddam is dead yet. Barbara sleeping with her eyes open. A guy goes to the plate, doesn't swing. Stands there watching the pitcher or something behind him maybe. Three fastballs. The guy is out, goes to the dugout, gets a big slurpy or Gatorade, (these guys need gaiter aid) then acts like he's just nailed the last spike in the Crossing of America railroad! He gets some attention from the trainer over that indentation on his shoulder from the perpetual bat rest. spit
Lots of closeups on fans, most of them preoccupied with their shoes. spit Many young boys there in the prime front seats, looking to a future of spending their Dads' money. spit More throwing. Great spit from the Houston manager, at least a pint. CU of huge wad of gum in a mouth. Nose picker. oops. spitter. Players wives, clones looking all the same. NL approved hair. Umpire spits, I think he farted too. Some important looking guys in a row, all spit and polish with suits. Great catch by someone. Men on base, a 1 to nothing game for White Sox, then a high hit, Astros runner goes from second. Way high ball caught by center fielder, he throws .... Cut to: Runner sliding into home plate! Hurray! I'm looking at the score, hey it should be tied now? Right? But they're not posting that run? Oh, wait, I get it, just after the Chicago guy caught the ball, the clever TV director inserted a Houston runner sliding in to home from a different game! Wow, for a minute there I thought there'd be some excitement in baseball. spit. I wasn't tuned in in time to see any F15s flyby before the game, but I would have expected Spitfires anyway. spit
A batter swinging wildly and slipping in his spit. I think he strained something. Maybe a spittoon should be by the plate? Then a final guy pinch hitting and tossed out at first. He's not Kirk Gibson. George Bush Sr. seems a little pissed because they lost the game, and even though he's got two strikes against Saddam, he might lose that game too.
Chicago 1 - Houston 0
spit Never mind that hockey idea, if these guys played hockey the ice would be too bumpy to skate on. spit

Corruption? Graft? On the take?

Is there anyone left in BC, (even a Liberal voter) who doesn't think that the current BC Liberal government under Gordon Campbell is not corrupt and piloting a secret agenda to destroy our province and hand it over to foreigners?
It has just been announced by the BC Utilities Commission that it will NOT hold any OPEN hearings regarding the sale of Terasen Gas (Once BC Gas) to huge US conglomerate Kinder-Morgan of Texas. In many minds the commission was the last hope to quash the sale. This revelation is astounding! The commission is supposed to be protecting the interests of British Columbians. 8000 letters were sent to the commission about this sale! And they are saying that NOT ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE SALE WAS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT.
The BC Liberals wrote a letter to the BC Utilities Commssion saying they saw no need for public hearings. Now whatever is going to happen will go on behind closed doors. More secrets.
Something is going on. What else can one suspect?

Continued deceit from Gordon Campbell

Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals promised, amid obvious voter concern, that they would not privatize BC Hydro.
BC Hydro with its British Columbia management has been good enough for us since WAC Bennet took control. We've had wonderful cheap power and it has served us well. Managed by BCers. But the Liberals are up to their misleading and deceptive tricks again. Finding ways to eliminate the people of this province from participating in its future. A small private hydro powerplant recently opened in Squamish. "Run Of River" hydro will sell its production of power electricity to BC Hydro for 20 years. (Why not 990 years like the CN rail deal?) THEN, the Squamish plant is free to sell it whoever it wants to. Read America.
This is the method that Gordon Campbell uses to deceive British Columbians. Of course he says, I will not privatize BC Hydro, however, I will encourage NEW PRIVATE developement of British Columbia resources for export by simply BYPASSING BC Hydro, leaving them cooling themselves out of the loop. (We currently BUY American power from COAL FIRED power producers in the US. These plants are huge polluters, which rains down on Canadians by the way. Those producers are protected from the Kyoto treaty by lobbyists.)
The new facility at Squamish is yet again an example of Gordon Campbell's deliberate disassociation with British Columbians and their pride in themselves. More sneakiness. More fraudulent claims. More dupery and trickery.
Nice try Mr. Campbell, but you are not fooling everyone all the time.

Liberal backroom battle?

Gary Collins and Kristy Clark are both going for the Liberal party leadership. They saw that Campbell would, sooner or later, have to resign in disgrace over his extreme views and maneuvering of BC into complete foreign ownership. During the current teachers' strike he is touting that breaking the law is the major problem. A law he unilaterally created. This from the notorious Maui law breaker.
Clark said she wanted to spend more time with her family, then bought a house in Vancouver (a potentially RENTAL house) and tried to become Vancouver's Mayor, a stepping stone others have used for lusty ambitions.
Collins is safely tucked away in a polically harmless job as CEO of the Liberal friendly Harmony Airways. He is being kept clean. So far he's leading this secret race because of Kristy's humiliating defeat in Vancouver.
It has recently been suggested that the electorate of BC might be looking for another alternative, one that could be viewed as British Columbia friendly, an alternative like the once strong and vibrant Social Credit party. At least that party was viewed as having been interested in the well being and progress of British Columbia and the people. WAC Bennett built a strong province in the face of all opposition.
We currently have a Liberal government at the end of a long string to the Liberals in Ottawa and American interests in the USA. The NDP is also attached to Ottawa through a national party.

One of the most effective aspects of the old Social Credit party was its lack of control by a distant political party or foreign interests. As a matter of record, the Bennett led Social Credit government had a proviso in the ownership of BC Gas; that it could not be owned by more than 20% out of province interests. The BC Liberals took out that control then privatized it and sold out to Terasen Gas, now soon to be totally controlled from Texas.
Some are looking for those days to return when we were proud of our province and our own accomplishments. Having Collins or Clark at the helm of our province only continues the devastation of British Columbia for greedy shareholders elsewhere.
Whoever runs the BC Liberal party, it is bad news for British Columbians.

http://www.bcpolitics.ca/left_collinsgone1.htm

But tell me why?

I KNOW it is simplistic. I KNOW some think it's stupid. I KNOW I don't know about world trade stuff ........ BUT .... it has been said that this year Canadians will pay about $1000. dollars more to heat their homes. I am only wondering why?
Why, when WE Canadians have HUGE resources in natural gas.
Why, when we should be controlling it for ourselves.
Why, when we should be commanding whatever price we want for us.
Why, when we should be dictating the price for others.
.
Oh, I see, Free Trade agreements. Hmmm, I thought things like that should have been negotiated for a favourable position for Canadians. Whatever happened with Katrina, or the Gulf Oil platforms or international oil shipments or greedy Arabians has little to do with us. Yes?
It's sort of like a bakery. The owner sells the bread to others for, say, ONE dollar, but he brings home his own bread for his family at cost, maybe 25 cents. Isn't that the history of REAL trade? Why does that Free Trade Agreement say that if we charge other countries one dollar for our bread, we have to charge ourselves a dollar too?
I would simply like to know why, when it is OUR natural gas, we are being penalized by foreign interests for owning it. We either control our own destiny or others do. Which do we want?
Anyone have an answer?
.
One thousand bucks is a bit much.

Today in history - Oct 10, 1886

1886 - Griswold Lorillard of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., fashioned the first tuxedo for men.
It was said Griswold got the idea after a wildlife adventure trip to Antarctica.