The definition of "Schadenfreude" is: pleasure in the misfortunes of others. I'm not sure that I quite agree with definition as I feel that there is nothing sweeter than watching the chickens of Karma come home to roost. In other words, when people who have it coming get it in the proverbial end
Take this for example:
Bush Appointee resigns, reportedly over Call Girl Ring
This is the guy, Folks who over saw a controversial policy by the religous right that required any US based group taking oversaw a controversial policy that required any US-based group receiving anti-AIDS funds to take an anti-prostitution “loyalty oath.”
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
I guess you could say they were fleeced
Japanese fooled in poodle scam
What I find to be really odd, is that they had to be told that their "poodles" were actually sheep. While they may not have known what sheep looked like, I would assume that they would have known what a poodle did.
What I find to be really odd, is that they had to be told that their "poodles" were actually sheep. While they may not have known what sheep looked like, I would assume that they would have known what a poodle did.
Hallowe'en will never be the same
Monster Mash singer now a graveyard smash
Bobby (Boris) Picket, whose Monster Mash hit in 1962 made him one of the biggest one-hit wonders in the history of pop music, has died in Los Angeles at age 69 of Leukemia
Rock on, Bobby, you will be remembered.
Bobby (Boris) Picket, whose Monster Mash hit in 1962 made him one of the biggest one-hit wonders in the history of pop music, has died in Los Angeles at age 69 of Leukemia
Rock on, Bobby, you will be remembered.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Nemesis - the Last Days of the American Republic
Chalmers Johnson is president of the Japan Policy Research Institute & professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego, has written numerous books on Japan & Asia including his classic "Miti & the Japanese Miracle"&"Japan: Who Governs?" He was also, for many years, an advisor to the CIA.
From his publisher:
Johnson was interviewed on The Current - April 18, part three. If you have realaudio, and half an hour to spare, I suggest that you listen. I think I will be picking up those three books.
In the interview, Johnson points out that one can either have a domestic republic or a foreign empire, but not both. Further, that the only way to have the empire is through a military dictatorship.
As one standing on the outside of America, Johnson's premise and prediction have a frightening ring of clarity - the constitution is effectively eroded, the influence of congress has all but disappeared.
If the price of Liberty is eternal vigilence, The USA is asleep at the wheel.
From his publisher:
The long-awaited final volume of Chalmers Johnson''s bestselling
"Blowback" trilogy confronts the overreaching of the American empire and the threat it poses to the republic. In his prophetic book "Blowback," Chalmers Johnson linked the CIA''s clandestine activities abroad to disaster at home. In The Sorrows of Empire, he explored the ways in which the growth of American militarism and the garrisoning of the planet have jeopardized our stability. Now, in "Nemesis," he shows how imperial overstretch is undermining the republic itself, both economically and politically. Delving into new areas--from plans to militarize outer space to Constitution-breaking presidential activities at home and the devastating corruption of a toothless Congress--"Nemesis" offers a striking description of the trap into which the dreams of America''s leaders have taken us. Drawing comparisons to empires past, Johnson explores in vivid detail just what the unintended consequences of our dependence on a permanent war economy are likely to be. What does it mean when a nation''s main intelligence organization becomes the president''s secret army? Or when the globe''s sole "hyperpower," no longer capable of paying for the vaulting ambitions of its leaders, becomes the greatest hyper-debtor of all times?
In his stunning conclusion, Johnson suggests that financial bankruptcy could herald the breakdown of constitutional government in America--a crisis that may ultimately prove to be the only path to a renewed nation
Johnson was interviewed on The Current - April 18, part three. If you have realaudio, and half an hour to spare, I suggest that you listen. I think I will be picking up those three books.
In the interview, Johnson points out that one can either have a domestic republic or a foreign empire, but not both. Further, that the only way to have the empire is through a military dictatorship.
As one standing on the outside of America, Johnson's premise and prediction have a frightening ring of clarity - the constitution is effectively eroded, the influence of congress has all but disappeared.
If the price of Liberty is eternal vigilence, The USA is asleep at the wheel.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Update - Dr. Riyadh Lafta at Simon Fraser
Now the British government won't even give him a transit visa through Heathrow to change planes. Of course, this should not be surprising as the Blair is in bed with Bush and both have a vested interest in keeping the world ignorant of the findings of this report.
Another thing I have noticed when I have tried to research this story is the way that it has been almost ignored by the media. I found nothing on the CBC website, and this morning, my favourite current events program on CBC ONE "The Current" was supposed to have done a story on Dr Lafta this morning - but didn't. I am really curious to know why and sent an email to that effect. I doubt if I shall receive a response.
Update on the Update: I did get a response from The Current:
We need this data and, as unpopular as it is, we need to complete this work," Dr. Takaro said. "It's extraordinary that the British would have held up something, and it makes me think that they were influenced to do it -- we'd love to know why."
Another thing I have noticed when I have tried to research this story is the way that it has been almost ignored by the media. I found nothing on the CBC website, and this morning, my favourite current events program on CBC ONE "The Current" was supposed to have done a story on Dr Lafta this morning - but didn't. I am really curious to know why and sent an email to that effect. I doubt if I shall receive a response.
Update on the Update: I did get a response from The Current:
I am not sure why this didn't air or if it was a mistake in the promo ... I didn't see it in the line up. We are still intending to do the story though. Stay tuned next week.
Take care,
Lisa Ayuso
The Current
So there you have it. I, for one, will be waiting.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Cowboy Nation
I wrote earlier about the recent massacre at Virginia Tech perpetrated by one lone man who besides being off his rocker, had extremely easy access to guns; access made all that more easy by the very lax gun legislation of The Commonwealth of Virginia. These laws (or rather lack thereof) make it possible to purchase any gun one would ever want with out permit or waiting period. In effect, in Virginia it is more difficult to adopt a cat from the local animal shelter than it is to get semi-automatic weapons.
As to be expected, the Gun Lobby claims that guns would have prevented this massacre. It seems that the Gun Lobby believes that as soon as this lunatic began firing, the students would have magically morphed into Bruce Willis and saved the day in a blinding flash of gunfire and testoserone. OOOOOOOkay.......
It is hard for one not of The Excited States of America to understand the American love affair with guns. To be sure, the right to bear arms is enshrined in their constitution. However, that said, I can't imagine that the founding fathers with their muzzle loading muskets could even conceive of the guns used by Cho Seung-Hui when he killed 32 people. Likewise, I don't think that they could envsioned in any way the carnage that happened at Virginia Tech. I believe that if they had any notion of what this amendment would have led to, the wording may have been drastically different.
I also can't figure this out: No one is asking for a ban on guns. All they want to know is who has them and waiting period to do a criminal/mental health check on the person who is buying it. That's it. No one wants to take their precious phallic symbols away. Now, that said, their government has carte blanche to tap their phones, it is even tracing the library books that people read, and they have their collective knickers in a twist because someone wants them to register their firearms.
I'd say they have a few larger problems than registering guns. But then, I'm Canadian.
As to be expected, the Gun Lobby claims that guns would have prevented this massacre. It seems that the Gun Lobby believes that as soon as this lunatic began firing, the students would have magically morphed into Bruce Willis and saved the day in a blinding flash of gunfire and testoserone. OOOOOOOkay.......
It is hard for one not of The Excited States of America to understand the American love affair with guns. To be sure, the right to bear arms is enshrined in their constitution. However, that said, I can't imagine that the founding fathers with their muzzle loading muskets could even conceive of the guns used by Cho Seung-Hui when he killed 32 people. Likewise, I don't think that they could envsioned in any way the carnage that happened at Virginia Tech. I believe that if they had any notion of what this amendment would have led to, the wording may have been drastically different.
I also can't figure this out: No one is asking for a ban on guns. All they want to know is who has them and waiting period to do a criminal/mental health check on the person who is buying it. That's it. No one wants to take their precious phallic symbols away. Now, that said, their government has carte blanche to tap their phones, it is even tracing the library books that people read, and they have their collective knickers in a twist because someone wants them to register their firearms.
I'd say they have a few larger problems than registering guns. But then, I'm Canadian.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
What is happening to the bees?
Bee colonies are dying off in Europe, the United States and here in Canada. Colony Collapse, where all the bees leave the hive with no forwarding address, is happening both across the pond and south of the border. That doesn't seem to be the case in Canada *thus far* as the bees seem to have suffered from a wet fall, a long winter and infestations of parasitic bee mites. None the less, I don't think it would be out of place to call what is happening an epidemic.
If there are no bees, there is no pollination, no fruit, flowers, vegetables, and no life. Albert Einstein said:
Honey bee Deaths Sting Ontario Apiaries
If there are no bees, there is no pollination, no fruit, flowers, vegetables, and no life. Albert Einstein said:
Once the bees are gone, man would have only 4 years of life left.Well, I have found that Albert never actually said that. Some things are wind pollenated, still, the prospect is not pretty.
Honey bee Deaths Sting Ontario Apiaries
Run, Bunnies, Run!!
5,000 Rabbits block Major Highway in Hungary
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - Five thousand rabbits blocked a Hungarian highway Monday after the truck that was carrying them crashed.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Up In Smoke
The Federal Dope Deal
Once upon a time, about 8 or so years ago, I was hospitalized for the first time in my life. While I was recovering, attached to an IV pole that I named "Sancho" a la Don Quixote, I would wander about the building. On a regular basis, a strange and somehow faintly familiar odour would assail my nostrils; bringing back memories of being in someone's basement on hot summer nights listening to Moody Blues records in the dark.
The days of my mispent youth aside, there was a man in the hospital at that time who had fought for and won the right to use medical marijuana. Unfortunately, while he had the right to use it, there was no legal supply available. None the less, it was brought to him on a daily basis from a source that no one asked about and the nursing staff simply closed the door to his room and pretended that nothing was happening.
The Federal Government has gone in the the Medical Marijuana business and pays "Prairie Plant Systems" to grow it in an abandoned mine shaft in Flin Flon Manitoba. According to records obtained under the Access to Information act, the cost to the patients is 15 times more than the government pays for the weed in the first place. In effect, the government has allowed the use of medical marijuana on one hand, and is placing it out of the reach of those who need it with the other. (I know that this sure isn't covered by my medical plan).
To add insult to injury, I have been told that the government weed, in the immortal words of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, "couldn't get a fly high".
Once upon a time, about 8 or so years ago, I was hospitalized for the first time in my life. While I was recovering, attached to an IV pole that I named "Sancho" a la Don Quixote, I would wander about the building. On a regular basis, a strange and somehow faintly familiar odour would assail my nostrils; bringing back memories of being in someone's basement on hot summer nights listening to Moody Blues records in the dark.
The days of my mispent youth aside, there was a man in the hospital at that time who had fought for and won the right to use medical marijuana. Unfortunately, while he had the right to use it, there was no legal supply available. None the less, it was brought to him on a daily basis from a source that no one asked about and the nursing staff simply closed the door to his room and pretended that nothing was happening.
The Federal Government has gone in the the Medical Marijuana business and pays "Prairie Plant Systems" to grow it in an abandoned mine shaft in Flin Flon Manitoba. According to records obtained under the Access to Information act, the cost to the patients is 15 times more than the government pays for the weed in the first place. In effect, the government has allowed the use of medical marijuana on one hand, and is placing it out of the reach of those who need it with the other. (I know that this sure isn't covered by my medical plan).
Health Canada, in turn, sells the marijuana to a small group of authorized users for $150 - plus GST - for each 30-gram bag of ground-up flowering tops, with a strength of up to 14 per cent THC, the main active ingredient. That works out to $5,000 for each kilogram, or a markup of more than 1,500 per cent.
To add insult to injury, I have been told that the government weed, in the immortal words of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, "couldn't get a fly high".
And we will likely never know why
33 Dead in "horrific" campus shooting
I was 11 years old when the first occurance happened: sniper Charles Whitman killed 14 people and injured dozens at University of Texas in August of 1966 and I remember it still. Then came Columbine, and for a time it seem that every 6 weeks, as regular as clockwork, there was a shooting at some high school in the states. We in Canada were not immune, there was Taber Alberta, and L'Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, and others. Now, frighteningly, it seems that there are too many occurances to list.
The thing is, there will never be a satisfactory answer to the question of "Why?" In the end, even if we could get inside the head of the shooter, we would not find an answer, because truly, there is no satisfactory answer. Were they suicidal and wanted to take a bunch of people with them? Did they want a "blaze of notoriety" that their lives otherwise would never have brought them? What is the "short circuit" in the brain that erases everything except the urge to kill, and then to die?
I was 11 years old when the first occurance happened: sniper Charles Whitman killed 14 people and injured dozens at University of Texas in August of 1966 and I remember it still. Then came Columbine, and for a time it seem that every 6 weeks, as regular as clockwork, there was a shooting at some high school in the states. We in Canada were not immune, there was Taber Alberta, and L'Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, and others. Now, frighteningly, it seems that there are too many occurances to list.
The thing is, there will never be a satisfactory answer to the question of "Why?" In the end, even if we could get inside the head of the shooter, we would not find an answer, because truly, there is no satisfactory answer. Were they suicidal and wanted to take a bunch of people with them? Did they want a "blaze of notoriety" that their lives otherwise would never have brought them? What is the "short circuit" in the brain that erases everything except the urge to kill, and then to die?
Street Preacher vows to stay loud and proud
Pawlowski believes the city is persecuting him because of his religious message.
No, My dear, they are persecuting you because you are using a bullhorn and we godless heathen hordes would like a little peace and quiet as we go about our sinful ways.
The city of Calgary is prejudiced against our message of hope in the name of Jesus and there is some witch hunt against the cross," he said.
No, My dear, they are persecuting you because you are using a bullhorn and we godless heathen hordes would like a little peace and quiet as we go about our sinful ways.
History Repeats Itself
Sex workers Cashing in on Alberta's Oil Boom
If you look at the history of any "boom", the same thing happens over and over again: The Rush begins, the place fills up with a lot of men, most of whom have no ties to the community and have no intentions of putting down roots. A lot of them are single, but a good chunk are not and of those, they are not likely to have brought their wives and families with them. All they want to do is make their money and go home.
As a result, you have a situation where the men outnumber the women, there is a lot of money, not a lot of ways to spend it.
So, in the wake of the "gold rush" (or in this case, oil) came the liquor (or these days, drugs) and the dance hall girls (sex workers). It is a basic law of supply and demand: if there is a demand for something there will be supply. If you want to get rid of something; do away with the demand.
Now, when it comes to prostitution, I am a tad on the pragmatic side: No, that is a job that I would not like to do. However, I think that anything that goes on between two consenting adults is no one's business but their own and legislating morality is pretty much an exercise in futility. In the words of one of our former Prime Ministers, Pierre Elliot Trudeau: "the state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation." I also know that there but for the grace of (insert name of diety here) go I, or for that matter any one of us.
If you look at the history of any "boom", the same thing happens over and over again: The Rush begins, the place fills up with a lot of men, most of whom have no ties to the community and have no intentions of putting down roots. A lot of them are single, but a good chunk are not and of those, they are not likely to have brought their wives and families with them. All they want to do is make their money and go home.
As a result, you have a situation where the men outnumber the women, there is a lot of money, not a lot of ways to spend it.
So, in the wake of the "gold rush" (or in this case, oil) came the liquor (or these days, drugs) and the dance hall girls (sex workers). It is a basic law of supply and demand: if there is a demand for something there will be supply. If you want to get rid of something; do away with the demand.
Now, when it comes to prostitution, I am a tad on the pragmatic side: No, that is a job that I would not like to do. However, I think that anything that goes on between two consenting adults is no one's business but their own and legislating morality is pretty much an exercise in futility. In the words of one of our former Prime Ministers, Pierre Elliot Trudeau: "the state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation." I also know that there but for the grace of (insert name of diety here) go I, or for that matter any one of us.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Good bye June
You made us all stop and think.
June Callwood, Canada's social conscience dies at 82
June Callwood, Canada's social conscience dies at 82
I don't have power — I have influence," she said. "Power and privilege? It's an ability to help to change. My prominence is a trust."
Friday, April 13, 2007
I knew Homeland Security Had to be good for something
It really must have been a slow day.
Alberta RCMP Enlist Help of U.S. Homeland Security to nab Pepperoni thiefs (SIC)
Alberta RCMP Enlist Help of U.S. Homeland Security to nab Pepperoni thiefs (SIC)
Later in the day, they arrested two teenagers in a wooded area with the help of an American aircraft with an infrared camera.The RCMP probably could have used their help tracking down a trailer load of Moosehead Beer headed for Mexico back in 2004
Another Great Moment in Censorship
All because two paragraphs show depict something that people find "uncomfortable".
This is almost as bad as the time a teacher was fired for showing a puppet version of Faust in a music class.
Burlingame Schools pull 8th Grade Book From Class
This is almost as bad as the time a teacher was fired for showing a puppet version of Faust in a music class.
As poignant as it is painful, "Kaffir Boy" reached the top of the Washington Post best-seller list and No. 3 in the New York Times list. It earned the 1987 Christopher Award for literature, "affirming the highest values of the human spirit." And it was a finalist for the Robert F. Kennedy Award for books representing "concern for the poor and the powerless.
Burlingame Schools pull 8th Grade Book From Class
The Epitome of Bad Taste
Just when you thought OJ would go away, after his publication of his book "If I did it" and the television interview was cancelled due to public outrage, the rights for the cursed thing are going up for auction next week.
What is worse is that the family of Ron Goldman really want it to be published. Why? For the money, of course!
Estate of Nicole Brown Simpson Doesn't want the OJ Book Published
What is worse is that the family of Ron Goldman really want it to be published. Why? For the money, of course!
Estate of Nicole Brown Simpson Doesn't want the OJ Book Published
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Winning their Hearts and Minds
Canada offers forum for lecturer barred from U.S.
In short: A highly regarded Iraqi epidemiologist who wants to tell Americans about an alarming rise in cancer levels among Iraqi children will come to Canada instead because he couldn't get a visa to the United States.
Cancer and birth defects are rising in epdemic proportions among Iraqi children since the first Gulf War. the University of Washington wanted Dr. Riyadh Lafta to speak there, but his requests for a visa went ignored. So, he was invited to speak at Simon Fraser.
Spent uranium coating, among other things, are the causes. There is nothing left in Iraq to use such weaponry against, yet still it is being used. And in Afghanistan too. In the years to come it will effect not only the children, but the vetrans of this war as well.
This is just another thing that Bush's propoganda machine does not wish Americans to know about. The effects of this poisoning will likely be felt years from now, just like agent orange, and likely denied, just like agent orange.
Heard on the news this morning
I will post a link to it as soon as I can find one.
Here it is:
The gist of it is someone has come up with the idea of having an all "First nations and Inuiit" regiment within the Canadian Armed Forces.
The logic behind this "brilliant" idea for this is:
"anyone who is not white and anglophone finds it very difficult to be in the Armed Forces."
Okay, point taken, it is hard, but exactly how will segregation solve this problem?
Here it is:
Former soldier in Dalhousie pushes for native-only regiment
The gist of it is someone has come up with the idea of having an all "First nations and Inuiit" regiment within the Canadian Armed Forces.
The logic behind this "brilliant" idea for this is:
"anyone who is not white and anglophone finds it very difficult to be in the Armed Forces."
Okay, point taken, it is hard, but exactly how will segregation solve this problem?
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Dead Heroes
Last week at work, we brought up the least of who was considered to be the greatest Canadian, and on that list was Terry Fox, who, about 28 years ago, began his "Marathon of Hope" - a run across Canada to raise awareness and funds for Cancer research. Terry didn't make it: his run came to a halt near Thunder Bay when his own cancer returned. While Terry began a great thing, and he is a hero. However, I brought up a name that none had ever heard before:
Steve Fonyo.
Remember him? I have found that not many do.
He too lost a leg to cancer, and Terry Fox's heroic doomed effort to run across Canada inspired Steve to complete the run that Terry could not. The first part of his "Marathon for Lives" lived in Terry's shadow, and there were many accusations of being a "copy cat". But Steve perservered, and in doing so, raised 13 million for cancer research. If you look carefully, you can still see a couple of streets named in his honour. But Steve did the unforgivable - he was human and he lived.
Terry and Steve came from very different backgrounds: Terry was well educated, middle class and articulate. Steve came from an immigrant family, neither he nor his family were well educated, articulate speakers. Steve was a young man, certainly ill-equipped to deal with the pressure that came with his short lived fame. His father had a talent for rubbing the people the wrong way, and he was ill-used by some very shady publicists. The cost of Steve's run bankrupted his family, ruined their health and the media, to their eternal shame, slaughtered them: making fun of Steve Fonyo's father's accent, and his attempt to start a business that made perogies. Steve was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1987, however that was bittersweet, as his father died of lung cancer that same year. Steve dropped from sight after that, and began a downward spiral of addiction, depression, trouble with the law and was at times nearly suicidal.
I have been unable to find any mention of any help being offered to the Fonyo Family. Perhaps saddest of all, I have also been unable to locate any record of the Fox Family so much as raising a finger to speak out against this injustice. One would think that they, of all people, could afford to be gracious to someone who honoured their son in his own way. However, it seems that the "Terry Fox Foundation" founded and run by the Fox family, guards Terry's "legacy" very jealously. I wonder whether Terry, if he was 1/2 the person that people hold him to be, would have approved of this.
That Terry Fox accomplished a great thing is not in question. He was an inspiration to many, not only Steve Fonyo, but to others such as Rick Hansen as well. But Terry Fox is frozen forever in time; he will never stumble and fall from the pedestal where he now stands, his humanity will never betray him. I guess that is why our greatest heroes are dead.
Steve Fonyo.
Remember him? I have found that not many do.
He too lost a leg to cancer, and Terry Fox's heroic doomed effort to run across Canada inspired Steve to complete the run that Terry could not. The first part of his "Marathon for Lives" lived in Terry's shadow, and there were many accusations of being a "copy cat". But Steve perservered, and in doing so, raised 13 million for cancer research. If you look carefully, you can still see a couple of streets named in his honour. But Steve did the unforgivable - he was human and he lived.
Terry and Steve came from very different backgrounds: Terry was well educated, middle class and articulate. Steve came from an immigrant family, neither he nor his family were well educated, articulate speakers. Steve was a young man, certainly ill-equipped to deal with the pressure that came with his short lived fame. His father had a talent for rubbing the people the wrong way, and he was ill-used by some very shady publicists. The cost of Steve's run bankrupted his family, ruined their health and the media, to their eternal shame, slaughtered them: making fun of Steve Fonyo's father's accent, and his attempt to start a business that made perogies. Steve was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1987, however that was bittersweet, as his father died of lung cancer that same year. Steve dropped from sight after that, and began a downward spiral of addiction, depression, trouble with the law and was at times nearly suicidal.
I have been unable to find any mention of any help being offered to the Fonyo Family. Perhaps saddest of all, I have also been unable to locate any record of the Fox Family so much as raising a finger to speak out against this injustice. One would think that they, of all people, could afford to be gracious to someone who honoured their son in his own way. However, it seems that the "Terry Fox Foundation" founded and run by the Fox family, guards Terry's "legacy" very jealously. I wonder whether Terry, if he was 1/2 the person that people hold him to be, would have approved of this.
That Terry Fox accomplished a great thing is not in question. He was an inspiration to many, not only Steve Fonyo, but to others such as Rick Hansen as well. But Terry Fox is frozen forever in time; he will never stumble and fall from the pedestal where he now stands, his humanity will never betray him. I guess that is why our greatest heroes are dead.
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