Barmy Whoresons

NAMCA: North America Missing Children Association

2009-03-17T16:01:00.000-07:00

I have a few charities that I personally support, mainly the United Way and Cancer Society and I tend to make my donations directly and not respond to door to door canvassers.

Someone from NAMCA, the North America Missing Children Association came to my door asking for donations. They came last year and I didn't make a donation and checked them out. I thought I'd post this and you can make up your own mind as to what you want to do with your money - personally I don't care what you do.

The registration number of this charity is 899696553RR0001. Upon doing a search on the CRA site I found the following:

(Source: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/sec/SrchLogin-e?login=true&searchType)

NORTH AMERICA MISSING CHILDREN ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED
BN/Registration Number: 899696553RR0001
Charity Status: Revoked
Effective Date of Status: 2007-02-24
Charity State: N/A
Language of Correspondence: English
Designation Description: Charitable Organization
Charity Type: Benefits to the Community & Other
Category: Community Organizations, (not else classified)
Address: 136 ROUTE 420 HWY
City: SOUTH ESK
Province/State: NEW BRUNSWICK
Country: CA
Postal Code/Zip Code: E1V4N8
Charity Email Address: N/A
Charity Web site Address: N/A
Revocation:

Reason for Revocation: Revocation for Cause

Income Tax Act Reference: ITA 168.(1) - 168.(2)
Letter of Revocation: N/A

Economy

2009-03-06T18:21:00.000-08:00

Although we haven't really felt the full brunt of the economic downturn here in Nova Scotia, at least not yet I have a few observations.....

I've never put much weight into what the analysts or so called experts say. Remember when oil dropped to $100, there was an article in the National Post predicting oil could either go to $50 or to $150.

Jonathan Chevreau then advised us that we should lock in our variable rate mortgages as fast as we could. Don't know about you but I'm paying 2.5% on mine - 5 months later. I'll likely lock in when the long term rates in Canada drop some.

What all this tells me is and what I've always known is that all of these are mere opinions and hold no more weight than anyone elses. There have been predictions of economic depression for 20 years now and every year is the year. Perhaps this is the start of one, perhaps not. I have no idea and neither does anyone else.

I spent just about every evening through last fall and through to February listing to the financial news and how bad everything is or is getting and predictions from the "experts" either on how things will turn around by the end of 2009 and get worse and stay that way for at least a couple of years. Considering that time travel hasn't been invented yet, it's pretty clear to me that no one knows. I've stopped listening to doom and gloom predictions and to the pie in the sky predictions. To avoid driving yourself crazy you have to get your feet back on the ground and make an assessment of your situation. Dale Carnegie once wrote, I believe it was in his book
"How to Stop Worrying and Start Living": Assume the worst and then try to improve upon it.
My advise, focus on the "try to improve upon it" part and less on "the worst". Don' t misunderstand me and assume that I have my head shoved so far up my ass that I don't realize how bad the economy is, all I'm saying is that you can't do a thing about it but do whatever you can to improve your own financial situation.

I live in a part of the country that has been historically considered a "have not" province. One of the advantages is that the economy here never booms or busts, I've been lucky enough to have been working through every recession since 1990 - I am hoping that my luck holds for this one.

I've stopped paying so much attention to the news and reports on job losses, distressed companies, the stock market etc. etc. It's not like I can do anything about it, so why should I worry about it. Just in case something does happen, I've started doing a little freelance work for some extra money now and a source of income in the event I lose my job.

Other than this I go into work every day, do the best job that I can and hope that it's enough. I moved my investments around last fall and took my lumps, I'm about 40% in cash, 30% in bonds (mutual fund) and 30% in a balanced fund which is weighted roughly 50/50 in bonds and stocks. Like many people, I have a little to much credit card debt. However I've been getting that under control for the last year - I've got about 6-9 months to go and they'll be paid off.

I feel for everyone out there who has lost there jobs and have been struggling to find something else. I cannot imagine what it must be like and I wish you all the best in your job search.

Jesus appears on ceiling - whatever

2008-09-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

Pretty soon there be a pilgrimage to this weight loss clinic. It's one thing to believe this crap, it's totally another to pay $24,000 for a grilled cheese sandwich with an image of the Virgin Mary on it. Kudos to the one that sold it though.

Can you say "more money than brains"?

Technorati tags: Jesus Jesus image

David Boyd running for Mayor

2008-09-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

David Boyd, a taxi/tow truck driver from Halifax, is running for HRM mayor. His platform - making Halifax a Vegas of the east with more casinos and strip clubs.

In a 2004 run for council he also advocated changing marriage laws to allow unions between humans and androids.

Dave, why don't you shut the fuck up and do something useful; tow some cars or something?

Technorati tags: David Boyd Halifax mayor

Joe Lieberman's - McCain speech

2008-09-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

Politics is such bullshit.

Joe Lieberman made a speech before the RNC in support of McCain and criticizing Obama's experience and as a result could potentially lose the chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The threat is that he could be removed from the Democratic Caucus which allows him to chair the committee.

Given that he's an independent, the sole solitary reason that he's still in the Caucus is the slim majority the Dems hold (49 R, 49 D and 2 I that causus with the Dems) in the Senate, otherwise he would have been long gone.

If this is what Lieberman honestly thinks, fine. However there's something inherently wrong in a system which penalizes and democratically elected representative from voicing the opionions of the people that chose him to represent them just because those opinions aren't the same as the rest of the party. It's not like this is any kind of epiphany, politics is, after all, all about power and not about representing the electorate.

A similar thing happened to Bill Casey of the Conservatives when he voted against his own party's budget last June because of changes that were made to the Atlantic Accord. He was expelled from Caucus and now sits as an independent.

Technorati tags: Joe Lieberman John McCain 2008 Election

Election in Canada - October 14th

2008-09-02T17:59:00.001-07:00

Looks as though the PM will be asking the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and we'll be heading to the polls.

Out of the three candidates: Stephen Harper, Stephane Dion and Jack Layton; I can't say that any of them inspire me give my support. I used to be a member of the PC party but resigned about a year after the merger with the Alliance. I gave it a chance, but the new Conservative party just didn't reflect where I stood on a multitude of issues and Stephen Harper is simply someone I cannot support given his history political leanings. Particularly concerning to me was the 2% reduction in the GST/HST in lieu of reductions in income taxes. Reduction in the consumption tax will prove to be an serious error in judgement a few years out from now.

I'll have to find out more about the carbon tax proposal of the Liberals. I'm certainly not in support of any kind of tax grab. It's probably not all bad but I need more information.

Technorati Tags Canada election Stephen Harper Stephane Dion Jack Layton

Sarah Palin / Bristol Palin

2008-09-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

It's been quite some time since I've blogged but this whole Sarah Palin thing and the media fascination with Bristol Palin being pregnant has forced me from hiding.

What used I used to find amusing in the US "news" I find increasingly annoying so I've stopped watching CNN and Fox News. I can certainly appreciate Lara Logan's comment, "if I had to listen to the news you watch United States I'd blow my brains out because it would drive me nuts." There was one exception though, I did enjoy watching Ali Velshi getting pummelled by wind during the Hurricane Gustav coverage. Way to go CNN, put the new guy on the barrier island, 7 ft above sea leave while anticipating a 10 ft+ storm surge.

CNN health benefits must be SWEET!

But, I digress....

It has to be tough for Bristol Palin, I'm sure she had a tough time when she told her parents she was pregnant. Now, even better, there's 400 million people talking about it; everyone talks about how candidates children are off limits, yet the media not only still talks about it but analyzes the shit out of it.

The bottom line: Unless you live in Juneau, Alaska and are either 18 years old or a perv, do you really care if Bristol Palin puts out?

Technorati tags: Sarah Palin Bristol Palin US News

Iran's nuclear weapons program

2007-12-03T15:30:00.000-08:00

I find the perspectives from the major news networks/sources around the world quite interesting. You wouldn't know it from the headlines but the content is quite similar......

Fox News: Hadley: U.S. Policy Toward Iran Nuclear Weapons Must Continue

CNN: U.S. report: Iran stopped nuclear weapons work in 2003

BBC: US report plays down Iran threat

Al Jazeera: US: Iran nuclear work ended in 2003

Globe and Mail: Iran halted nuclear program in 2003: report

I've blogged a couple of times before about this type of thing, once on a story related to the Venezualan election and once on an article about Donald Rumsfeld. Thoughts anyone?

Technorati tags: Iran

Saudi rape victim's husband blames judge for punishment

2007-11-21T14:48:00.000-08:00

A woman who was raped multiple times was sentenced to 6 months in prison and 200 lashes. Apparently this had something to do with the fact that she violated the law by not having a male guardian with her, the judge in the case referred to the "relationship" she was involved with as suspicious.

This is absolutely outrageous and defies reason by any stretch of even the most vivid imagination that a woman could be found guilty of any kind of crime for having been brutally raped multiple times.

The fact that the world is forced to support this government and its archaic and brutal social customs because of it's oil reserves is a slap in the face to the Western values of freedom, social justice and human rights.

Technorati tags: Saudi Arabia Human Rights

Rated PG

2007-11-20T18:24:00.000-08:00

Of course, if you're reading this blog regularly you already know this. After all, you're geniuses!

Vick faces $900,000 bill for dog care

2007-11-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

From CNN.......

$900,000 for the care or euthanasia of 54 pit bulls?? Where are they being kept, the Jefferson! I wonder if it's to late to become a vet......

At an average of almost 20k a dog, sometimes I think anyone in with aspirations of being in law enforcement should be forced to take remedial math classes as prerequesite to employment. There is something fundamentally messed up about a countries judicial system that is looking to hand out similar sentences for killing a dog and organizing dog fights as it has, on occasion, in child sexual abuse cases.

These are pit bulls that have been trained to fight and kill. I'm sorry but 900 g's? Someone needs to give there head a shake. A box of 100 9mm can be purchased for 25 bucks on Amazon.

Technorati tags: Michael Vick

Barack Obama

2007-11-14T02:17:00.000-08:00

From CNN, Barack Obama responded to questions about his patriotism, his religious affiliation and whether he was schooled in a madrassa in a speech to the UAW.

I just love politics; candidates get built up based on nothing, then torn apart based on nothing. What about actually listening to the candidates about where they stand on issues, spend some time thinking about what that stance actually means in the bigger picture instead of getting all of there information from Insight Magazine, YouTube and Fox News.

I guess it's easier to have someone else think for you than to think for yourself.

Technorati tags: Barack Obama

Man in India Marries Dog to Atone for Stoning to Death Mating Canines

2007-11-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

Couldn't this guy just make a donation to the SPCA?

Technorati tags: Selva Kumar man marries dog

H5N1 confirmed on UK farm

2007-11-13T15:25:00.000-08:00

Over 6,000 birds are being slaughtered on farm near Suffolk as a result of a recent bird flu strain was confirmed as H5N1. There was an earlier outbreak of H5N1 in February in Suffolk as well.

I've blogged several times previously on avian influenza and this particular strain. To date there have been no cases of the H5N1 strain in Canada.

Technorati tags: H5N1 Suffolk

Commonwealth threatens to suspend Pakistan

2007-11-12T17:21:00.000-08:00

From the CBC......

The Commonwealth is threatening to suspend Pakistan for imposing a state of emergency rule, saying in a statement that it has "seriously violated the Commonwealth's fundamental political values."

I assume they are referring to the Harare Commonwealth Declaration of 1991. Pakistan was suspended from the Commonwealth following the 1999 coup where Musharraf took power. Pakistan was reinstated in 2004. I presume this was a reward for Pakistans tacit support on Iraq. All this aside, I'm not clear exactly what Pakistan (or any other country) gains from being a member of the Commonwealth.

Technorati tags: pakistan commonwealth

I'm so humbled!!

2007-11-12T16:59:00.001-08:00

This blogs reading level......................

Tory death penalty decision fails to thrill voters

2007-11-12T16:15:00.000-08:00

From the Globe, according to a recent survey, 50% of Canadians oppose the Conservative death penalty decision I had recently blogged about while 7% are undecided and 43% support it. Of course what I am referring to is the Governments position that it will not seek clemency for Canadian citizens that are convicted of a capital crime in another country.

The article goes on to state that the results are split largely along party lines. So the Conservative party in Canada leans on towards right to life and is more supportive of the death penalty. I guess they share some things in common with there hypocrite Republican cousins.

Technorati tags: death penalty conservatives republican

Aqua Dots / Bindeez recall

2007-11-08T03:13:00.000-08:00

Having worked for companies (not in the toy industry) in the past that have either outsourced I have to say that I'm not surprised at this and other recalls of toys from China. There's a myth perpetuated that because the cost of living is so low allowing companies to pay there employees less in a month than what someone in North America would make in day that there's a tremendous cost advantage. Not so, when you take into consideration:

1) the horrendous productivity that labor intensive businesses have compared to the more automated facilities in developed countries;
2) turnover, our companies have experienced incredibly high rates of turnover many, many times higher than what we experience here;
3) when we asked about quality control at one facility in China, they looked at us like we had two heads. One of the reasons costs are kept low.

Given these and where the US dollar is these days, I doubt very much there will be an impact on prices if production of some of these items is moved to domestic suppliers.

Consumers and basic economics will force wages up and quality systems to be put in place in China.

Technorati tags: Aqua Dots Bindeez China

U.S. and Russia seek to rescue arms treaty

2007-11-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

U.S. and Russian diplomats are holding crucial talks in Geneva to try to rescue a key European arms control accord that Russia's lower house of Parliament voted Wednesday to suspend.

"We regret these steps," said the NATO spokesman, James Appathurai. A spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said "unilateral actions do nothing to further security,"

What is being referred to is the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty. This follows Russia pulling out of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in February.

I recall quite an uproar in the early days after it was announced that the US was pulling out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2001/2002.

Technorati tags: missile defense

Quebec warns Harper about Senate plans

2007-11-07T16:51:00.000-08:00

From the Globe and Mail.....

Wednesday, the three main parties in Quebec unanimously adopted a motion stating that “any changes to the Canadian Senate cannot be done without the consent of the government of Quebec and the National Assembly.” Kind of an odd statement given that the Government of Quebec didn't sign the document in the first place. One would think that the first goal would be to negotiate with the provinces and create an environment where it would be acceptable for Quebec to ratify it.

First of all, any changes to the Senate will require re-opening the Constitution and a resolution supported by the Senate, House of Commons and resolutions of 2/3 of the legislative assemblies of the provinces representing 50% of the population based on the last census. I sometimes wonder if those reporting the news or elected officials actually read the documents they are commenting on.

So, from the statscan website, here are the numbers (the percentages are mine).....

in thousands % of population
Canada 32,623.5 100.0%
Newfoundland and Labrador 509.7 1.6%
Prince Edward Island 138.5 0.4%
Nova Scotia 934.4 2.9%
New Brunswick 749.2 2.3%
Quebec 7,651.5 23.5%
Ontario 12,687.0 38.9%
Manitoba 1,177.8 3.6%
Saskatchewan 985.4 3.0%
Alberta 3,375.8 10.3%
British Columbia 4,310.5 13.2%
Yukon Territory* 31.2 0.1%
Northwest Territories* 41.9 0.1%
Nunavut* 30.8 0.1%

* Territory, not a province.

Technically, the federal government could amend the constitution without the approval of the Quebec National Assembly however, I'm not so sure that the general public actually understands what an elected Senate means in terms of the dynamics between federal and provincial politics. An elected Senate would in effect concentrate more power in Ottawa as federally elected representatives in both houses would answer to there constituents. The end result being a weakening of the provinces. The model would be similar to that of the US federal government and state governments. Not that it's a bad model I just cannot envision the provinces agreeing to giving up powers. Certainly not Quebec. I doubt very much that Ontario or the Atlantic Provinces would either.

In any event, hopefully the Harper Government will not use the "Bull in a China shop" approach to Senate Reform and create a crisis where none exists. That would constitute as poor a leadership as was in place during the last Quebec Referendum when Chretien was in power.

Technorati tags: Canadian Constitution Senate Quebec

Sudan tragedy

2007-11-06T18:00:00.000-08:00

A little behind the times but I had blogged before about a man who was ordered by the courts to marry a goat after having been caught having sex with it. Sadly, the goat has died after having apparently chocking on a plastic bag (not a rubber and not the scrotum of it's significant other; it was a plastic bag, remember).

Technorati tags: Sudan goat

Time to abolish Senate: Layton

2007-11-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

Jack Layton of the NDP is quoted as saying that the Senate in Canada is "outdated and obsolete" and that "It's a 19th-century institution that has no place in a modern democracy in the 21st century,"

Huh?

Elected Senate yes, but this guy just wants it abolished. By doing so, moving from a bicarmel to unicarmel parliamentary system, the House would hold sole power with no checks and balances save the Courts. Although there are developed nations with unicarmel (parliamentary) systems, the vast majority of them have a bicarmel system.

Technorati tags: Jack Layton NDP Senate

Harper won't seek clemency for death-row Canadians abroad

2007-11-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

From the Globe.....

Seeking clemency for Canadians on death row in the United States would be at odds with the federal government's stance on violent crime, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Canada abolished the death penalty in 1976 (Bill c-84)

And whatever happened to the Charter or Rights (#7. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.)

It's going to be a little difficult not to "re-open the debate" on capital punishment if we just let executions occur for convicted murderers in the US.

I guess if a Canadian were convicted of a capital crime in an Islamic country under Sharia Law it would be the position of the Government of Canada not to intervene either. I wonder how all the assholes who left comments on the Globe article feel about that?

Technorati tags: capital punishment Stephen Harper

Colbert off ballot

2007-11-01T17:55:00.000-07:00

The South Carolina Democratic Party voted to keep Stephen Colbert off the Democrtic Primary ballot today.

Waring Howe (Charlseton Democratic Party chairman) says that his running would make a mockery of the political process.

Where in the hell did he get an idea like that? It never stopped Mary Carey from running for Governor of California!

Technorati tags: Stephen Colbert

Venezualan protests

2007-11-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

According to CNN, Chavez indicated his reforms will allow local governments "more decision making power in using government funds for local projects such as paving streets and building public housing."

Meanwhile Venezualan troops used tear gas to disperse protesters today.

I'm sure that's where he was going with that Bill back in January giving him the power to rule by decree.

Technorati tags: Venezualan protests Hugo Chavez

Hurricane Noel

2007-11-01T17:28:00.000-07:00

Looks like another Hurricane is heading towards Nova Scotia. It's anticipated that the storm will lose it's tropical characteristics by the time it reaches Nova Scotia. Sound familiar? The hurricane center said Juan was going to be tropical storm by the time it hit, it ended up being a Cat 2.

Anyway, for the record, this is what the weather office is saying about Noel....

WOCN11 CWHX 011828Special weather statement for Nova Scotia issued by EnvironmentCanada at 3:27 PM ADT Thursday 1 November 2007.

The remnants of tropical storm Noel are forecast to travel northward toward Atlantic Canada and interact with a trough of low pressure over the eastern United States on Friday. A significant autumn storm is therefore expected to affect the Maritimes on Saturday.High winds..Heavy rains and rough wave conditions are expected with this large storm throughout much of the maritime provinces. It is aBit too soon to predict specific rainfall amounts..Wind speeds orImpacts..But the public is advised to anticipate stormy weather conditions on Saturday and Saturday night. Detailed warnings will be issued early Friday morning.

END/CF/MC

Technorati tags: Hurricane Noel

2007 Budget Vote

2007-06-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

Here's how they voted. Not surprised that MacKay sold out NS. Unfortunately he'll likely get re-elected.

BRISON, Scott
Liberal
Kings--Hants, Nova Scotia
Against
CASEY, William D. (Bill)
Conservative
Cumberland--Colchester--Musquodoboit Valley, Nova Scotia
Against
CUZNER, Rodger
Liberal
Cape Breton--Canso, Nova Scotia
Against
EYKING, Mark
Liberal
Sydney--Victoria, Nova Scotia
Against
KEDDY, Gerald
Conservative
South Shore--St. Margaret's, Nova Scotia
For
MACKAY, Peter Gordon
Conservative
Central Nova, Nova Scotia
For
MCDONOUGH, Alexa
New Democratic Party
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Against
REGAN, Geoff
Liberal
Halifax West, Nova Scotia
Against
SAVAGE, Michael John
Liberal
Dartmouth--Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
Against
STOFFER, Peter Arend
New Democratic Party
Sackville--Eastern Shore, Nova Scotia
Against
THIBAULT, Robert
Liberal
West Nova, Nova Scotia
Against

Technorati tags: 2007 budget vote

Tory MP ups anti-budget talk as vote approaches

2007-06-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

If Bill Casey votes against the Conservative Governments budget unless changes are made that incorporate the offshore accord he'll at least have more integrity than Peter MacKay has (or ever had for that matter). He might get kicked out of caucus but at least he would be a politician worth voting for.

The budget will likely pass but it will have to be an embarrassment to the government that the longest sitting Conservative MP in the house votes against it. It should be an embarrassment and there should be consequences for any party that breaks such a significant election promise to garner votes during an election campaign.

If any MP from Atlantic Canada votes for this budget they don't deserve to be re-elected.

Technorati tags: Bill Casey offshore accord 2007 budget

William Jefferson

2007-06-04T15:28:00.000-07:00

I had blogged before about William Jeffereson (D). It turns out he was charged today with soliciting bribes, racketeering and obstruction. If convicted Jefferson could face over 200 years in prison.

It goes to show you that if it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it's probably......

a duck

In light of the charges, Jefferson should resign.

Technorati tags: William Jefferson

Lindsay Lohan

2007-05-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

Other than:

1) her immediate family;
2) people that drive in and around Hollywood;
3) people that occasionally find themselves in a crosswalk in the same area;
4) guys that frequent the same night clubs that she does hoping for a piece of ass;

is there anyone that really gives a fuck about reports of Linsday Lohan being hammered or stoned?

Technorati tags: Linsday Lohan

Zimbabwe to head key U.N. body

2007-05-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

Francis Nhema of Zimbabwe will be heading the UN Commission on Sustainable Development over the strong objections of the US and many European countries.

Francis Nhema is Zimbabwe's Minister of Environment and Tourism.

If anything, the experience should give the Mugabe Government some insite as to what constitutes development, let alone sustainable development.

Technorati tags: Zimbabwe UN Commission on Sustainable Development Francis Nhema

Media bias

2007-05-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've blogged a few times before about the Western Standard. I had registered at the site last year just for a laugh. Occassionally I receive emails from them and I found this one in my mailbox today.....

It refers to a website where you vote on how biased (or not) an article is. The site is hosted by the Western Standard and the articles are selected by their staff. The logo for the site bears a striking resemblance to that of the Globe and Mail at http://www.globeandmail.com/.

Does anyone else find this amusing and rather stupid? You can't say the Standard doesn't know there subscribers. Perhaps I'm biased.

Dear Western Standard Reader,
Canadian music has the Juno Awards and Canadian movies have the Geminis, but where is the award for media bias?
Introducing The Globies, Canada's first Media Bias Award!
The Globies is a new, interactive website that allows you, the reader, to submit examples of the most unfair, the most biased, and the most unethical journalism in Canada — and to have your fellow Canadians vote on the worst of the worst! It's simple to nominate a candidate. Just go Globies.ca and submit the web address of a biased article, add your thoughts as to why it should be nominated and voila!
We'll highlight a particular aspect of the article that's biased, and post it on the website with a ranking from 1 - 10 for its balance. You can agree or disagree with our vote by visiting Globies.ca, and the results will be calculated automatically.
It's that easy! Help us - and Canadian media - by submitting articles and voting today.

Technorati tags: Western Standard Globe and Mail media bias

New Noah's Ark ready to sail

2007-04-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

Johan Huibers of Netherlands built a replica of Noah's Ark that is 2/3 the size of a football field and as high as a three-story house.

Methinks he doth have to much free time on his hands.

Technorati tags: Johan Huibers Netherlands Noah's Ark

Sudan man forced to 'marry' goat

2007-04-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

A council of elders in Hai Malakal, Sudan ruled that a man caught having sex with a goat pay a dowry to the goats owner and be forced to take the goat as his wife.

Strangely enough, any curiosity I had towards trying goat cheese has disappeared.

According to an article in Dalhousie Universities newspaper, The Gazette, "A female goat, which costs roughly $35 CDN in southern Sudan, will give the Sudanese not only a source of milk but also a source of income as its offspring can be traded for food, tools and other basic needs."

Time to move up the hierarchy of needs in a big way!

Technorati tags: Sudan Hal Malakal goat

What would Jesus really do?

2007-04-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

It's been quite some time since I've blogged, but I saw this article "What would Jesus really do?" on CNN and couldn't resist.

So, in the spirit of Easter..........

How in the hell did Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson et al, become the voice of Christianity? Today (April 6) on Jerry Falwell Ministries website is an article about how the church should denounce global warming. Clearly the message on this site is political and not one of faith.

If this what Christianity has come to mean in North America, then count me out. These groups, the leaders and the followers, are idiots.

Technorati tags: Christianity Politics Easter

Volunteer for the Western Standard?!

2007-02-25T08:10:00.000-08:00

I registered at the Western Standard a few months back. I thought it would be good for a laugh, reading some of the crap that's in that publication and in the blog on it's site...

Anyway, I received the following email the other day:

Dear Western Standard reader,

Have you ever thought of volunteering for the Western Standard? Now's the time to do it!

We've got a bustling little office in Calgary, and we're looking for a few volunteer helpers in every department. Whether you're a young person looking to build your rėsumė or whether you're retired and looking to stay active, we could be the place for you.

We're looking to fill part-time positions, including:

Assistant to the publisher – help with special projects, ranging from investor relations to organizing our Publisher's Circle events

Office assistant – help keep our office ship-shape, from dealing with couriers to filling orders for Western Standard merchandise and other odd jobs

Ads assistant – keep the Western Standard financially strong by helping write and edit our advertising features on subjects from real estate to resource investing. And help with the scheduling and production of our exciting radio shows!

Assistant bookkeeper – help us keep track of our accounts, and even help out with gift subscriptions!

All volunteers would work right in our Calgary office, with our energetic young team. It's a fun place to work – and you'll help us make a difference!

Please submit resumes to: info@westernstandard.ca.

I hope you'll consider joining our team as a volunteer!

Yours truly,

Ezra Levant
Publisher and Editor

Nice try, but I hardly think so.

I didn't realize that the Western Standard was a registered charity or philanthropic organization, either that or they're in financial difficulties and can't afford to pay people.

Technorati tags: Western Standard volunteer

Australia PM slams US candidate

2007-02-12T14:33:00.000-08:00

Mr Howard said Mr Obama's stance on Iraq "will just encourage those who want to completely destabilise and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and a victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for an Obama victory".

"If I were running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats."

In response, Obama shoots back....

"I would also note that we have close to 140,000 troops on the ground now, and my understanding is Mr Howard has deployed 1,400, so if he is (ready) to fight the good fight in Iraq, I would suggest that he calls up another 20,000 Australians and sends them to Iraq."

Based on relative population and size of armed forces Austalia could send perhaps another 2000 to 6000 troops. PM Howard should put up or shut up. At least the Dems and US electorate know how it feels when a political leader from a foreign country interferes in domestic affairs of their country now.

Pisses you off, doesn't it?

Technorati tags: Barack Obama John Howard Australia 2008 election

Harper chides China over economic threats

2007-02-09T15:20:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned China Friday not to threaten Canada with economic repercussions for bringing up the Asian country's human rights record and standing up for the rights of Canadians abroad.

"I would point out to any Chinese official that just as a matter of fact, China had a huge trade surplus with this country, so it would be in the interest of the Chinese government to make sure any dealings on trade are fair and above board," Harper told reporters Friday in Halifax.

China is the world's 2nd largest economy. As of 2004, Canada imports approximately $20b from China (roughly 5% of China's total exports) and exported approximately $5b to China (roughly 2% of Canada's total exports). By the way Canada has the world's 11th largest economy.

I'm sure some in Canada would be impressed with Harper's comments but let's face it, Canada is not exactly an economic heavyweight. We have a population of 33m, China has 1.3b. China needs to be called to account for it's record on human rights but international diplomacy tends to be just a tad more muted. Harper is a like a bull in a china shop (pardon the pun) where the bull has a c4 vest on.

Technorati tags: Canada China Stephen Harper

Iranian Cartoon Shows Nazi Swastika Growing Into Jewish Star of David

2007-02-07T15:02:00.000-08:00

An anti-Semitic cartoon recently shown on Iranian TV shows a Jewish rabbi planting a Nazi swastika, covering it with dirt, watering it and watching as a giant star of David grows in its place.

The picture to the left.

Just to be fair, here is one of the pictures that offended so many in 2006 below.

It's obvious that the intent was to offend.

If it weren't for the oil, I don't think anyone in the west would care what happened in the Middle East and given what other products are traded with the region, there would be no reason to do business in the region.

Seriously, what incentive do we have to engage?

Technorati tags: cartoons middle east

Israeli excavation in Jerusalem stirs Muslim anger

2007-02-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

Palestinians warned Israel on Tuesday that a ceasefire deal in Gaza would unravel if Israeli excavation work near a compound housing al-Aqsa mosque damaged Islam's third holiest shrine.

Perhaps the Israeli government could subcontract the work to a company operated by Muslims to avoid conflict or they could just forget about it and let people figure out another way to get to the site when the ramp becomes impassable. I'm sure then the Israelis would be criticized/condemned for having done nothing.

Technorati tags: al-Aqsa mosque Israel Palestinians

Gorbachev to Gates: Show software 'pirate' mercy

2007-02-05T14:34:00.000-08:00

"Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on Monday asked Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to intercede on behalf of a Russian teacher accused of using pirated software in his classroom.
In an open letter, Nobel Peace Prize winner Gorbachev said the teacher, Alexander Ponosov, from a remote village in the Urals, should be shown mercy because he did not know he was committing a crime."

I find it incredible that a teacher, of all people, would not know that a crime was being committed that is unless it wasn't him that purchased the computers. Whoever did, should have questioned why no software and licenses were received with the computers. If this person didn't know, the only two explanation is that they've lived in a cave for the last decade or is unable to read the piracy warnings on the back of just about every software CD label on the market.

The school is in the village of Sepych in the Urals, east of Moscow near Perm.

Technorati tags: Mikhail Gorbachev Sepych Alexander Ponosov Microsoft software piracy

U.S. general now leading NATO troops in Afghanistan

2007-02-04T10:50:00.000-08:00

US Army General Dan McNeill took over command today of the ISAF in Afghanistan, he was appointed as successor to outgoing British general David Richards in October 2006.

I wonder how long it's going to take for those in Canada that oppose our involvement in Afghanistan or the Bush Administration policies to call yet again for us to pull our troops out. Not long I would suspect.

For an update on the ISAF and Afghanistan here is the link to NATO's site.

Technorati tags: NATO Afghanistan ISAF General Dan McNeill

Removal of Cross From Virginia College Chapel

2007-02-04T06:18:00.000-08:00

Last fall, at William and Mary school President Gene Nichol, ordered the cross removed from the chapel last fall stating that it is important that the campus is "open and welcome to everyone. This is a diverse institution religiously, and we want it to become even more diverse."

Typically, services offered at chapels on university campuses are non-denominational. That being the case, I fail to see what the issue is, they could have easily added the Islamic crescent, the Star of david, a statue of the Buddha and the Hindu swastika.

Technorati tags: William and Mary Gene Nichol religious symbols

Newborn dumped on Saskatoon doorstep in –21 weather

2007-02-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

Police investigators and dog teams searched a Saskatoon neighbourhood for clues on Saturday after a newborn girl was found abandoned on a doorstep in –21 weather (-21 degrees C = -6 Fahrenheit).

The baby — estimated to have been born only an hour earlier — was found wrapped in a towel and a sleeping bag shortly after 10 a.m. on the back step of private home in a middle-class Saskatoon neighbourhood.

Melnychuk said the infant probably would have died if she hadn't been found soon after she was left on the step.

She was taken to hospital, where she seems to be in good condition. She was described as a healthy, full-term baby.

The law in Canada states that child abandonment is an indictable offence and carries a punishment of up to five years in prison.

Technorati tags: Saskatoon child abandonment

B.C. intervened to save 3 sextuplets, after 2 died

2007-02-01T02:47:00.000-08:00

Bravo to the BC Government for intervening, although something should have been done earlier to save the first two children.

Religious freedom shoud have it's limitations and not be allowed to supercede other Charter Rights. Believe what you want, at the end of the day it's nothing more than an opinion.

Technorati tags: BC sextuplets Jehovah's Witness

Muslim Council of Montreal outraged

2007-01-31T16:19:00.000-08:00

The president of the Muslim Council of Montreal, Salam Elmenyawi, condemned the council (of Herouxville), saying it had set back race relations decades. "I was shocked and insulted to see these kinds of false stereotypes and ignorance about Islam and our religion."

Actually in the statement issued, Islam was not mentioned once.

The practice of stoning is a legal sentence in Nigeria, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and the UAE. Iran has officially place a moratorium on the practice. Stoning has also occurred in Nepal.

Acid attacks primarily occur in South Asia and the practice of burning one alive occur as a form of lynching in South Africa and Haiti.

Technorati tags: Muslim Council of Montreal Herouxville

Bush officials misled public on global warming

2007-01-30T16:38:00.000-08:00

I suppose it's possible that the American people could have been misled by statements made by members of the Bush Administration.

I pretty much stopped believing what was being said shortly after (actually it was immediately after, but who's counting) Colin Powell's speech at the UN back in 2003. If you couldn't tell that it was bullshit back then, it's entirely possible you've been misled by statements made on climate change.

Technorati tags: climate change

Quebec town's rules highlight immigration debate

2007-01-30T15:19:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's amazing what gets latched onto in the news. The town council of Herouxville, Quebec (population 1300) made public a set of rules including:

Immigrants must not
1) Stone women in public
2) Burn women alive
3) Throw acid on women

I would suggest that for #1 you might want to add that stoning women in private would be frowned upon as well, just to be clear.

Here is the link to the entire announcement.

It will be interesting to see if this would withstand a Charter challenge, particularly on equality rights as it relates to religion that conflict. I would suspect that this is intended to target customs in other countries that may be unacceptable which have no foundation in relgion.

Reuters must be really looking for this kind of thing to have found it.

Technorati tags: Herouxville, Quebec immigration Reuters

Passport waiting times in Halifax

2007-01-29T17:01:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine went in to the passport office in Halifax on Thursday afternoon. As has been reported in the news, there was a waiting room and an overflow waiting room. The total waiting time was 5 to 6 hours.

What's not being reported in the news is that the waiting times are for people that require there passports right away. Fortunately he's not travelling until late May. There is another area in the Maritime Centre, where the Passport Office is located, for those that don't require there passports right away, the total wait time there was just over an hour. Agents at the passport office were directing people to the appropriate spots.

It just proves the points that I've previously made. Those people who are incapable of planning or have lived in a cave over the last few months are the ones complaining about Passport Canada's inability to plan for those incapable of planning for themselves.

I'm glad Passport Canada didn't hire, as has been suggested, I would be quite pissed off if my tax money paid for the stupidity of those who can't or refuse to plan there own affairs (quite frankly I'm surprised most of these people could plan to have a piss let alone plan a vacation).

Technorati tags: passport wait times Passport Canada

Tories unveil their attack ads

2007-01-28T15:12:00.000-08:00

And the Conservatives weren't doing to badly either.

They should stick to governing, unless the feel Harper is a weak leader as well; then they'll need all the help they can get.

Technorati tags: Conservative attack ads Stephane Dion

Model weight controversy

2007-01-27T04:23:00.000-08:00

There has been quite a bit of controversy in Europe and Brazil about models and there weight. Several countries, namely Brazil, Italy and Spain have either outright banning them or are at least considering it in light of the death of Brazilian model Ana Carolina Reston, from anorexia, last fall.

If the industry is going to do this to send a message that being severely underweight is unhealthy, then it should also send a similar message on obesity and plus size models. If you can't work if your body mass index is below a certain level then you shouldn't be able to if it's over a certain level as well.

It is irresponsible of the industry to in effect state that it is unhealthy to be to thin but it's okay to be overweight. It isn't, there are just as many health risks.

Technorati tags: anorexia obesity Ana Carolina Reston

Canada compensates man U.S. deported to Syria

2007-01-26T13:58:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Mr. Arar and his familty on the settlement and apology. At least one of the governments in North America has enough honor to admit it was wrong.

Technorati tags: Maher Arar

If you drink, some cabbies won't drive

2007-01-25T14:28:00.000-08:00

Some cab drivers at the Minneapolis Airport won't drive you anywhere if you are carrying alcohol. The drivers in question are Muslims and have emmigrated primarily from Somalia. I had never heard of this happening before but apparently the Muslim American Society indicated that it is expressly forbidden (I assume in the Koran????) for a Muslim to transport alcohol. The Airport is attempting to accomodate but there is a controversy in that Muslims are claiming discrimmination and customers are getting frustrated that they are being refused service.

5,400 passengers have been refused service in the past five years. To put this into perspective, the Minneapolis Airport is ranked 20th in the US by passenger volume with over 27 million passengers. I have no idea what this would translate into in terms of cab fares but even if that figure is 1/10 of one percent roughly 4% of fares would be refused. Irritating, absolutely, but not the end of the world.

I see no reason for the controversy because the beauty of supply and demand is that if you make it more difficult for consumers to buy your product or service, they tend not to. The cab companies servicing the airport that hire drivers who refuse to drive people carrying alchohol, lose business.

You may be able to force cab companies to hire these drivers and the airport to come up with a system to accomodate them but you can't force someone into the cab.

It may be a good idea for these drivers to seek alternative employment.

Technorati tags: Minneapolis Airport Muslim American Society

Wilkins slams Day for questioning U.S. on Arar

2007-01-24T14:38:00.000-08:00

David Wilkin's, US Ambassador to Canada spoke out about Ottawa's efforts to have Maher Arar removed from the US no fly list.

I blogged on the Arar case and Stockwell Day before and I've got to Wilkin's is absolutely, without question, right on every point in this news story. If the United States feels that Arar should be denied entry then it is up to Arar to get his name off the list.

True, he was wronged by the RCMP, there is no debate there. However, according to the US Government this is not the only information used in the determination. If Canada doesn't feel it's enough, then that's nice but is of no relevance.

I wish Arar the best of luck with his case against the US Government but it's up to the courts down there to decide. We, as a nation, need to stay out of this diplomatically.

Technorati tags: David Wilkins Stockwell Day Maher Arar

Passport applicants find they're not Canadian

2007-01-24T02:31:00.000-08:00

Do to an obscure law forming part of the Canada's Citizenship Act that was in effect between 1947 and 1977, some people applying for Canadian passports are finding that they are in fact, not Canadian citizens. The states that if you were living outside of Canada on your 24th birthday and didn't complete a certain form, you would lose your Canadian citizenship.

What the article on CBC doesn't state is that until 1947, there was no such thing as a Canadian citizen. People living in Canada were British subjects. The Act came into effect January 1, 1947.

The form that is being referred to is a declaration of retention form that was required to be signed.....

"Loss of Canadian citizenship generally occurred in the following cases:
- voluntary acquisition of another citizenship by a Canadian citizen aged 21 or over while outside Canada
- in the case of a person aged under 21, Canadian citizenship was lost if the responsible parent (usually the father, in exceptional cases the mother) lost Canadian citizenship and the child possessed another citizenship at the time
- naturalized Canadians who lived outside Canada for 10 years and did not file a declaration of retention (repealed 7 July 1967)
- where a Canadian had acquired that status by descent from a Canadian parent, loss of citizenship could occur on the person's 24th birthday unless the person was living in Canada on that date or had filed a declaration of retention "

Barbara Porteous is 70 years old (born in 1936 in the US) and has lived in Canada since 1960 when she was 24. It seems to me that she new about the law since she came back. Not sure why she would have had to file a declaration of retention if she was living here on her birthday.

Technorati tags: Barbara Porteous citzenship Canada

Man arrested for smuggling 500 parrots in a car

2007-01-23T14:15:00.000-08:00

A man was arrested at the border of Uzbekistan and Kazakstan in an attempt to smuggle 500 live parrots across the border to Kazakhstan in his Audi. Trade in wild parrots is banned throughout the world.

"Border guards discovered a live cargo of 500 parrots in his car,"

Now Audi's aren't that big so I'm curious as to how exactly it be possible to miss 500 live parrots in a car.

Technorati tags: Uzbekistan Kazakhstan parrots

Passport delays to worsen as U.S. rules come in

2007-01-23T14:01:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how little people actually think; it's as though the new passport regulations were a big secret until January. In typical Canadian fashion, many spent late fall of 2006 bitching about the new regulations instead of preparing.

I new that I would be travelling in the new year in the fall, so I got my passport in October. I had gotten a passport 5 years ago, I just thought after 9/11 it would be a good document to have, I had about a 2 hour wait 5 years ago. Last October, I deliberately got to the office early, about 1/2 hour before it opened; I was the 2nd person in line and was out in 15 minutes.

Now given that the period January through March/April is prime season for Canadians travelling South, one would have had to be living in a cave for the last 6 months no not realize that there would be huge lineups at passport offices.

I find it difficult to have much sympathy.

Technorati tags: US passport regulations Canada

Canada expresses reservations about Afghan proposals to spray poppy fields

2007-01-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

The Afghan government is coming under pressure from a number of countries to institute a spraying program to control the drug trade there, namely farming of the opium poppy.

Canada objects on several grounds (in no particular order): the impact that pesticides will have on troops; destruction of crops of poor farmers without providing alternative crops or livelihood will drive them back to the Taleban; lack of water and poor irrigation preclude other crops from being produced (poppies can flourish under dry conditions); health impacts to local population as a result of spraying (Russia was confronted with a similar issue during there invasion and occupation in the 1980's)

It seems as though simply destroying the crops is a short term solution with potential and significant negative long term impacts.

The issue could be dealt with on several fronts:

1) develop irrigation systems to provide water to support alternative crops;

2) provide compensation to those farmers whose crops are destroyed;

3) where the opium poppy feeds the drug trade (drugs such as morphine, opium and heroin) and proceeds from the poppy trade is thought to feed terrorism, the trafficking of opiates can be argued to be an act of treason in the Afghanistan and the US and prosecuted as such.

Technorati tags: Afghanistan opium poppy treason

Owner of ritzy shop sues homeless for $1 million

2007-01-22T16:35:00.000-08:00

Karl Kemp, owner of Karl Kemp and Associates on Madison Avenue in New York is suing four homeless people for scaring customers away from his store as a result of them loitering in front of his store (according to the article "drinking alcohol, urinating and warming themselves above a heating duct").

Homeless advocates are, as can be imagined, upset. However many other store owners on Madison Avenue support him. Apparently, this has been going on for several years, police get involved but the keep coming back. People working in the area indicated one man is often found cursing at people passing by.

The suit also seeks to place an injunction on the homeless people preventing them from loitering within 100 ft of Kemp's store potentially giving police more leverage in dealing with complaints.

Technorati tags: Karl Kemp homeless

Serial murder trial opens

2007-01-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

The trial of Robert Pickton started today. Pickton has been charged with the murder of 26 women from Vancouver's downtown east-side. He had admitted to police to having killed as many as 49.

According to police, when they searched Pickton's farm, they found items belonging to one of the victims which triggered a larger search of the farm. Upon further search, laundry buckets were found stacked in a freezer containing the skulls, hands and feet of several of the missing women.

Pickton entered a plea of not guilty. If found guilty, Pickton will face a life sentence; Canada does not have a death penalty

Technorati tags: Robert Pickton

Warnings of Iraq refugee crisis

2007-01-22T02:32:00.000-08:00

You don't hear very much about this aspect of the Iraq War but According to the UN, there are approximately 1,000,000 Iraqi refugees in Syria, 700,000 in Jordan less than 100,00 in Egypt and Lebanon.

I could be wrong, but I don't ever recall a story about this on CNN, Fox or CBC in the past 4 years other than in the last couple of months. This certainly would not have occurred overnight, I would have thought that the displacement of 2,000,000 people would have been bigger news.

Technorati tags: Iraq UNHCR refugees

MySpace is sued over child safety

2007-01-21T16:12:00.000-08:00

MySpace is being sued by the families of five teenage girls that were, allegedly, sexually assaulted by men they met on the site.

I'm not sure exactly how MySpace is negligent in this case but if it is, they the parents of these children should bare some of the burden as well.

"In our view, MySpace waited entirely too long to attempt to institute meaningful security measures that effectively increase the safety of their underage users," said Jason Itkin, a lawyer for one of the firms representing the families.

By this logic, the parents waited entirely too long to monitor their children's computer usage.

Technorati tags: MySpace

Zeus devotees worship in Athens

2007-01-21T15:30:00.000-08:00

"The president of the Association of Greek Clergymen, Father Efstathios Kollas, has described the followers of the Olympic gods as a handful of miserable resuscitators of a degenerate dead religion who wish to return to the monstrous dark delusions of the past."

I won't say that this same argument could apply to any of the major world religions. Oops, I think I just did.

Does it really matter what dogma an individual holds to be true? I find the political influence held by religious organizations to be far more disturbing. The Greek Orthodox Church vigorously opposed recognition of the ancient religion which courts did last year.

Unless Greece becomes a theocracy, Father Kollas is entitled to his opinion, he is not entitled to impose it.

Technorati tags: Greek Orthodox Church Father Efstathious Kollas paganism

Pope offers olive branch to China

2007-01-21T12:34:00.000-08:00

It will be interesting to see how discussions on restoring relations with the Vatican and China will progress. The issue is much larger than the appointment of bishops by the government of China.

The Vatican has had diplomatic relations with Taiwan since the 1940's and is one of 24 states to formally recognize Taiwan. The PRC has a "One-China" policy, any country seeking relations with the PRC must acknowledge this, so any Sino-Vatican agreement would have to acknowledge this as a pre-condition.

The 2nd issue would be the recognition of the authority of the Holy See by catholics. Currently, the Chinese Patriots Catholics Association, a government organization holding authority over catholics in China. The government of China accepts no allegiance to foreign influence. Canon Law would dictate that the CPCA is a schism from the Church, however the Vatican has never declared it as such.

Although the CPCA has accepted appointments of bishops by the Vatican in the past it does not recognize the authority of the Holy See.

It doesn't appear as though there is much middle ground here.

Technorati tags: Pope Benedict XVI China Vatican Catholic Church

Muslims protest '24'

2007-01-21T04:53:00.000-08:00

To me, this is a "chicken or egg" controversy. Do shows like 24 feed stereotypes or do stereotypes feed shows like 24. I'm inclined to agree with the latter.

Without them, there would be some pretty boring TV out there.

"...stereotypes are a result of our need to selectively perceive our environment. We notice, remember and store the information that is most noticeable (e.g. most strange, different, pleasing or detestable about someone) and that which confirms what we already seem to know. Thus stereotypes help us to 'understand' and structure the complex world around us, because they are 'useful' simplifications. They provide stock-information about what to expect and how to act concerning certain groups of people. However, direct contact with members of this group may modify the stereotype by adding more and more details, until finally it has to be given up, because the necessary oversimplification and generalization are no longer appropriate."

Technorati tags: 24 stereotypes muslims

Veil row woman challenges sacking

2007-01-20T14:25:00.000-08:00

A teaching asssistant at a UK elementary school, Aishah Azmi, has been suspended for refusing to remove her veil during lessons. Students apparently had difficulty hearing her. Mrs Azmi had indicated she had no issue removing the veil in class, though not when male colleagues are present.

Not being familiar with Islamic tradition and law surrounding dress, I've found a reference. I'm sure it's not representative of all views and I would be very interested in comments surrounding muslim dress.

It should be noted that Tony Blair has also commented on the case while it was before the courts, supporting her dismissal.......

When asked at the news conference if a Muslim woman wearing a veil could make a contribution to society, he replied: "That's a very difficult question. "It is a mark of separation and that is why it makes other people from outside the community feel uncomfortable. "No-one wants to say that people don't have the right to do it. That is to take it too far. But I think we need to confront this issue about how we integrate people properly into our society....... He also said he "fully supported" the way the authority dealt with Aishah Azmi......"

Mary Ann Sieghart is quoted in the Times in reference to this incident ".....is as culturally insensitive as it would be for me to walk through a Middle Eastern souk in a pair of shorts."

I agree that integration into a new culture is vitally important for new immigrants to foster a sense of belonging. However, in a multicultural society, shouldn't differences be celebrated as well?

It should also be noted that Aishah Azmi is NOT an immigrant to the UK, she was born in Cardiff, Wales.

Technorati tags: Aishah Azmi

Buying Mideast oil gives cash to dictators

2007-01-20T11:42:00.000-08:00

Having some measure of energy independence is a great idea, however there is a bit of fear mongering here, on the part of Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D). True the US is not going to solve ethnic or religious divides in the Middle East in our generation or likely my great grand childern's generation but according to the EIA, the #1 exporter of petroleum products to the US is Canada with 20%, next is Mexico at 15% followed by (and in order): Saudi Arabia, Venezuala, Nigeria, Iraq, Angola, Algeria, Virgin Islands, UK, Kuwait, Ecuador, Russia, Brazil, Norway.

In total just over 14% of oil imports come from the Middle East. However 37% (1.5b barrels) comes from war zones, countries that are known hostile to the United States or are politically unstable (Venezuala, Nigeria, Iraq, Angola, Algeria)- less than 5% comes from Iraq.

If the US wanted to eliminate it's dependency on the Middle East and hostile countries/unstable regions (about 2b barrels), I'm thinking it could easily through conservation and alternative energy sources. All that's missing is political will.

Technorati tags: energy independence Gov. Brian Schweitzer

NY couple build wall through home

2007-01-20T04:26:00.000-08:00

"Chana and Simon Taub, both 57, have endured two years of divorce negotiations, but neither is prepared to give up their Brooklyn home. Now a white partition wall has been built through the heart of the house to keep the pair apart. "

Reminiscent of the movie The War of the Roses, for a couple of 57 it appears as though they have some growing up to do yet.

Sell the house and move on with life unless your aim is to make your divorce lawyers richer.

You're both fools.

Technorati tags: Chana and Simon Taub divorce

Shawn Hornbeck willing to testify

2007-01-19T15:45:00.000-08:00

This is a very brave and strong young man being prepared to testify.

The mother is quoted "One thing I would like to say to him is if he has any decency in his body he would do the right thing and not make these boys go through that again...." Assuming Devlin is guilty of the kidnapping charges and is found to have sexually assaulted one or both of these boys, by definition, he has none.

Technorati tags: Michael Devlin Shawn Hornbeck

Rule by decree passed for Chavez

2007-01-19T02:48:00.000-08:00

A bill allowing Venezualan President Hugo Chavez the authority to rule by decree is expected to pass second reading easily.

The political opposition is not represented in the Assembly, it boycotted elections in 2005. The boycott was the result of a dispute over electronic voting machines and the fear that the results could be manipulated.

Instead, the people of Venezuala elect a dictator by acclamation. Perhaps he would have won regardless but the boycott was obviously irresponsible.

Technorati tags: Hugo Chavez Venezuala

Your PCs forecast climate future

2007-01-18T17:10:00.000-08:00

First results from a distributed computing climate prediction software has yielded it's first results and suggest temperatures in the UK may change by as much as 3 degrees celsius in the next 75 years.

The software can be downloaded from http://climateprediction.net/ and is funded by NERC, the UK e-Science, ENSEMBLES and Microsoft. The application was developed at Berkley.

Initially it was hoped that as many as 10,000 people would participate but 10x that many people downloaded the software and contributed to the results.

Technorati tags: climateprediction.net climate change distributed computing

Lost girl recognised by father after 19 years living wild in the jungle

2007-01-18T16:23:00.000-08:00

A eight year old girl, Ro Cham H'pnhieng, who got lost in the jungles in Vietnam in 1988 has been found alive.

She was found after a villager noticed that food was disappearing overnight from a lunch container near his farm. After sighting her, he gathered some friends and managed to capture her.

Technorati tags: jungle girl Vietnam Ro Cham H'pnhieng

US condemns China 'space weapon'

2007-01-18T14:18:00.000-08:00

China sent a ballistic missile into space to knock out one of it's aging weather satellites; the United States has condemned the actions.

"They say the test went against the spirit of co-operation both countries aspire to in the area of civil space. "

Isn't this a little hypocritical on the part of the US? In 2001, the United States gave notice of it's intent to pull out of the anti-ballistic missile treaty it had with Russia. Bush is quoted as saying "I have concluded the ABM treaty hinders our government's ability to develop ways to protect our people from future terrorist or rogue state missile attacks."

The concern at the time was that this would re-ignite an arms race particularly with China, India and Pakistan.

Given the developments with North Korea and Iraq and now this test with China I guess the critics can now say.... "We told you so."

Technorati tags: China missile defense

Lethal secrets of 1918 flu virus

2007-01-18T02:39:00.000-08:00

Some interesting research on the 1918 flu strain. Known as the Spanish Flu or H1N1 strain, genetic material was extracted from a victim of the flu buried in Alaska, Canadian scientists reconstructed the virus and infected a Macau monkey.

Symptoms appeared within 24 hours, and within a few days the monkey was put down if not as a result of the virus' destruction of lung tissue it would have drowned in it's own blood.

However it wasn't so much the virus but immune system proteins that destroy infected tissue were found and much higher levels than normal virul infections. A gene RIG-1 is involved and H1N1 has the ability to swith the gene off in effect altering the bodies immune system response.

Technorati tags: H5N1 1918 flu pandemic

Tories to spend $230M on clean energy technology

2007-01-17T16:35:00.000-08:00

230M? If we were serious, we would add an additional zero somewhere right of the 2. This figure is only slightly higher than 1/2 the cost to clean up the Sydney Tar Ponds.

Liberal or Conservative, I'm not impressed with what either government has done concerning the environment.

Technorati tags: Canada environment

Swastika ban call upsets Hindus

2007-01-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

Germany assumed the 6 month rotating presidency of the EU on January 1 and is attempting to enact legislation banning the swastika throughout the EU. The swastika is currently banned in Germany due to it's association with Hitler.

Hindus are upset as the swastika (in Sanskrit it means May Goodness Prevail) is also a symbol of there religion and equates banning the swastika for it's use by the Nazi's as similar to banning the cross because it has been used by the KKK to terrorize blacks.

In the West the symbols political association with Nazi Germany has eclipsed it's historical religious significance.

Germany is seeing a resurgence in far-right crime in recent years.

Technorati tags: EU Germany Hinduism swastika

Mullah Omar 'hiding in Pakistan'

2007-01-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

Pakistan rejected claims that Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar is living in Quetta, Pakistan a densely populated area close to the Afghan border. Captured Taleban spokesman, Muhammad Hanif also claims that Omar is being protected by Pakistan's security force, the ISI.

Pakistan has 80,000 troops along it's border with Afghanistan with about 800 checkpoints. Either Omar and bin Laden are not in Pakistan, they are and the government of Pakistan is lying or they the are being protected and the information as to there whereabouts is being withheld from the government. There are some 8000 ISAF troops under NATO command and roughly an additional 20,000 US troops covering an area of 250,000 square miles whereas the Afghan/Pakistan border is some 2,250 miles long. Given this, it is possible that Omar is still in Afghanistan.

Technorati tags: Taleban Mullah Omar bin Laden

Pregnant Chinese face HK limits

2007-01-17T02:28:00.000-08:00

"The Hong Kong government has announced new rules to try to limit the number of pregnant women from mainland China coming to give birth in Hong Kong. The women are tempted by Hong Kong residency rights, the chance to dodge China's one-child policy, and higher standards of medical care. "

I've blogged previously about China's one-child policy.

Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997 when sovereignty was tranferred to China. Hong Kong is special administrative region meaning it has some autonomy, having it's own judiciary, legislature, immigration policies, currency and extradition process. The arrangement does not include defence, diplomacy and a few others.

It seems to me, that this arrangement, over the longer term, risks of creating two classes of citizens within the PRC. Something that typically isn't tolerated by the general public for very long, not without political consequences anyway.

Technorati tags: Hong Kong China

Saudi national flees Canada without passport

2007-01-16T16:28:00.000-08:00

I find it difficult to believe that Taher Ali Al-Saba managed to get through airport security, past the gate and through Saudi customs with ever showing his passport having been taken away from him upon arrest. The Saudi embassy must have assisted him in getting out of the country.

Mr. Al-Saba is facing two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference involving a person under the age of 14. The complainants, a boy and a girl, are from the same family and police say they are both under 14. He was released on bail but failed to appear in court in August. An international arrest warrant is being issued.

Although there is no extradition treaty between Canada and Saudi Arabia, the Canadian government could request that Mr. Al-Saba be returned to Canada or request that the Saudis prosecute him there. Punishment for sex offences are much harsher there then they are here with sentences also imposed on the victims as well.

Technorati tags: Saudi Arabia Taher Ali Al-Saba Sharia

UN 'should take lead on climate'

2007-01-16T14:56:00.000-08:00

The Kyoto Protocol is set to expire in 2012 yet there has been little progress towards dealing with the issue of climate change. I've blogged before about UN reform. If international agreements are to have any relevance, then the UN should have the power to impose economic sanctions on those members that do not comply with international treaties they have ratified.

Perhaps this would avoid situations of partisan politics as is the case in Canada. The Liberals scored points for signing the treaty and then ratifies it in a hurry in an attempt for an outgoing Prime Minister to leave a legacy. The Conservatives score points stating that meeting Kyoto targets isn't possible, threatens to pull out of the agreement and saves the day by proposing there own solution.

In the middle of all of this debating and rhetoric, nothing or very little gets done.

Technorati tags: Kyoto Protocol UN

Somalia shuts down broadcasters

2007-01-15T18:04:00.000-08:00

The Somali government has ordered three radio stations shut down.

The three radio stations in question are: Shabelle Radio, Radio HornAfrik, Voice of the Koran radio. In addition Al-Jazeera TV has been shutdown as well.

Somalia is in a state of emergency and martial law has been declared within the past week. In an al-Jazeera article, it is inferred that the reasoning is a result of media undermining the government through the issuance of unconfirmed reports.

Technorati tags: Somalia media

Got raw milk?

2007-01-15T17:27:00.000-08:00

An eastern Ontario dairy farmer has received a cease-and-desist order from the province's milk marketing board after selling shares of her cows to consumers who want raw milk.

I can understand why some may argue that the health benefits of consuming raw milk outweight the potential health consequences.

So lets see......

Pasteurization destroys enzymes that aid in digestion, boost immunity and aid metabolization, lowers vitamin content (primarily B6).

Raw milk may harbor a host of disease-causing organisms (pathogens), such as the bacteria campylobacter, escherichia, listeria, salmonella, yersinia, and brucella. Common symptoms of foodborne illness from many of these types of bacteria include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, headache, vomiting, and exhaustion. Some of the diseases that pasteurization can prevent are tuberculosis, diphtheria, polio, salmonellosis, strep throat, scarlet fever, and typhoid fever.

Tough one.

Technorati tags: pasteurization raw milk

Hope over 'obesity-busting gum'

2007-01-15T15:30:00.000-08:00

I've blogged before about my personal feelings about the obesity epidemic (and yes I am overweight).

The latest is an appetite-suppressing chewing gum containing a hormone, pancreatic polypeptide, which is produced naturally by the body after eating that has the effect of making people feel full.

For more information on the hormone follow this link and while your waiting for the chewing gum, get on a treadmill and ease up on the cheeseburgers.

Technorati tags: pancreatic polypeptide obesity

Iraq's Sunnis angry over hanging and decapitation

2007-01-15T14:51:00.000-08:00

Some Iragi Sunnis are angry and Shiites are shocked by the decapitation of Saddam Hussein's half-brother, Barzan Hassan al-Tikriti which occurred during his execution by hanging. One person was quoted as saying..... "There is no way a head would be ripped off the body during a hanging. I'm sure they mutilated the bodies after they hanged them..."

Typically, calculations are done based on body weight in order to determine the appropriate rope length so that there is adequate force to fracture the neck but avoid decapitation

Spokesman for the Iragi Prime Minister, Basam Ridha was quoted as saying that the decapitation was an "act of God" (more like an act of gravity but, whatever).

The Iragi government video of the execution was shown to journalist but the government indicated that it would not be released to the general public.

Good call.

Technorati tags: Iraq execution by hanging Barzan Hassan al-Tikriti

Abuse of P.E.I. hockey refs rising

2007-01-14T16:04:00.000-08:00

Not ever having played hockey myself, I have a difficult time understanding how someone could justify assaulting officials.

I suppose one could argue it's a natural extension of the physical nature of the game and a result of the effects of adrenaline. All great excuses for anyone that would prefer not to take responsibility for there actions. These people should be charged with assault and expelled from whatever team and league they happen to be playing on.

It's just a game. These people are idiots.

Technorati tags: hockey PEI

Ganges flushed for Hindu bathers

2007-01-14T10:56:00.000-08:00

Water from upstream canals was released to "clean" the river for the Ardh Kumbh, an annual festival where millions of Hindu's are expected to bathe at the convergence of the Ganges, Yumana and Saraswati rivers to wash there sins away.

The Ganges is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. An estimate 1 billion litres of raw untreated sewage is dumped into the river each day. Industrial development along the river has also added to the problem as has inadequate cremation procedures resulting in partially burnt human remains and livestock corpses being dumped in the river.

Technorati tags: Ganges river India Ardh Kumbh

China: 30 million men face bleak future as singles

2007-01-14T10:34:00.000-08:00

By the year 2020, there will be 30M more men of marriageable age than women. There is a consistent trend throughout China for there being more male than female births.

The gender imbalance is the result China's "one-child policy" combined with traditional preferences of boys over girls; families choosing to abort female fetuses and the practice of female infanticide. Laws have been passed in many areas of the country to prevent gender diagnosis to reverse the trend.

Technorati tags: China

British ballerina blasted for far-right party membership

2007-01-14T09:37:00.000-08:00

Simone Clarke, ballerina with the English National Ballet, has been harshly criticized for her political views and membership in the BNP (British National Party).

Perhaps I'm missing something, but what does Simone Clarke's political leanings have to do with her performance? Everyone is entitled to there opinions just as everyone is entitled to agree or disagree with that opinion; the reaction to this is ridiculous.

Technorati tags: Simone Clarke BNP English National Ballet

Woman drinks so much water she dies

2007-01-14T06:03:00.000-08:00

A woman died from water intoxication after drinking to much water during a KDND 107.9 radio contest "Hold Your Wee for a Wii".

Water intoxication occurs as a result of in to much water; upsetting the bodies electrolyte balance. Electrolyte's regulate nerve and muscle function.

Refer the Mayo Clinic's online article to "Water: How much should you drink every day?"

Technorati tags: water intoxication electrolytes

Venezuela, Iran to finance opposition to U.S.

2007-01-14T05:27:00.000-08:00

Iran and Venezuala are going to set up a joint fund to finance development projects in their respective countries as well as elsewhere in the world to combat "US imperialism"

I wonder if these guys realize that when a US company invests in a country that it's the company and not the US that owns the assets. If workers are mistreated in any way or if profits don't stay in the region, it's not the US but that company.

EDIT: Chavez and Ahmadinejad would realize this, but the vast majority of the population in there respective countries likely would not as most would have no exposure to any other political or government structure than what exists in there own countries.

Technorati tags: Venezuala Iran United States

Only video of Crocodile Hunter's death destroyed

2007-01-14T05:08:00.000-08:00

The last remaining video footage of Steve Irwin death as a result of stingray bard piercing his heart has been destroyed.

Authorities indicated last week that their investigation was complete and that they had destroyed all but one copy which was given to Terri Irwin. Terri indicated that this video has been destroyed as well.

Good call on the part of the Irwin family, the video would have only been stolen eventually and posted on Youtube.

Technorati tags: Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter youtube

Man beheaded in southern Thailand

2007-01-14T04:04:00.000-08:00

This article in CNN implied that the unrest in southern Thailand is a new phenomenon and a result of Islamic insurgency. In fact, there have been unrest and nationalist movements in Southern Thailand as far back as the 1930's.

The region is largely Muslim (approx 95% of the country is Bhuddist) but there is also an ethnic component as well, the south being of Malaysian descent as well as linguistic component (large component speak Yawi).

There are no confirmed links between the current unrest in Thailand and Islamic groups in the Middle East.

For more information on the conflict, here is an Amnesty International report from 2006.

Technorati tags: Thailand

ASEAN draft EU-style charter

2007-01-13T16:22:00.000-08:00

"The leaders of the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations approved several agreements on Saturday considered by many here to be remarkable in their scope and visionary in their ambition.

Among the agreements approved on Saturday, the first day of the meeting of the heads of state in this central Philippine province, were the drafting of a new charter that seeks to integrate Southeast Asia much like the European Union, establish a free-trade zone by 2015, intensify the war on terrorism, protect the region's migrant workers, and improve the campaign against HIV/AIDS."

With a total population of 550m people and a combined GDP of just under USD 800 billion, a free trade zone in Southeast Asia would be larger in terms of population than the EU or North American trade zones although nowhere near the size of either economically. Trade liberalization in the region should go a long way to strengthen the economies in the region and provide many opportunities for the people living there as well as attract foreign investment.

Technorati tags: ASEAN Southeast Asia

Violette arrested: will likely be charged

2007-01-13T15:42:00.000-08:00

John Patrick Violette will likely be charged with the murder of his 4 year old daughter, Kaitlin, who was found decapitated Friday evening.

Violette was arrested in Washington with an extradition hearing expected on Tuesday.

If found guilty, Violette could face the death penalty. North Carolina currently has 167 people on death row. Under NC law, the death penalty can be sought for 1st degree murder.

Technorati tags: John Patrick Violette North Carolina capital punishment

Teacher faces 40 years for porn in classroom, blames adware

2007-01-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

This makes absolutely no sense to me......

"Julie Amero, 40, of Windham, was convicted Friday on four counts of risk of injury to a minor in connection to pornography the students saw on her computer screen. Prosecutors said sexually graphic computer images she accessed were seen by several of her Kelly Middle School students in October 2004."

A teacher is facing as much as 40 years in prison but teachers can actually have sex with students and get a slap on the wrist?

After the Mary Kay Letourneau case in 1990's (sentence to 7 years) we have.....

Debra Lafave, 3 years house arrest and 7 years probation.

Kristen Magrif, 1 year delayed sentence

Cameo Patch, $1500 fine and no contact with victim

There's no possible way she'll get 40 years.

Technorati tags: Julie Amero teacher sex scandal

U.S. to begin drone patrols on Canadian border

2007-01-13T12:49:00.000-08:00

I think it's a great idea for drones to fly along the US/Canada border.

The MQ-1 Predator can function as a reconnaissance aircraft or can be weaponized (this photo shows the aircraft equipment with hellfire missiles). Ever since Ahmed Rassam was captured at the border there has been a concern in the US about terrorists crossing the border. Even though no such incident has ever occurred, the US government would be negligent if it did not patrol its border.

Also, just because no known terrorist has crossed our border into the US to date, does not mean that it never will or couldn't happen. I don't understand why anyone in Canada could possibly take offence or object to this.

According to Global National,

".....Officials of the U.S. Homeland Security Department last September unveiled plans for an array of sensors, infrared cameras, watchtowers and drones that will eventually encompass the country's entire 8,890-kilometre border with Canada. The goal, they said, was to have the world's longest undefended border under surveillance within three to six years......10,000 people were detained trying to enter the United States illegally from Canada in 2004, but U.S. officials have struggled to prevent the flow of narcotics across their northern border......."

Technorati tags: Canada-US border MQ-1 Predator border security

William Ownby and Shawn Hornbeck

2007-01-13T07:54:00.000-08:00

On the AMW site, it indicates that Michael Devlin was on the sex offender registries in Utah and Texas but not in Missouri where he lived. The links for both sites are here and it doesn't look like the same person from the Fox News site to me.

I'm sure there will be all kinds of misinformation out there until the investigators have time to do there job.

EDIT: The reference to the Michael Devlin in this case being on the sex offender registries in Utah and Texas has been removed from the AMW site.

Technorati tags: Shawn Hornbeck William Ownby Michael Devlin

Italian gays protest Pope's stance on marriage

2007-01-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

Pope Benedict has said in recent addresses that such changes would support "those ruinous theories that strip all relevance from the masculinity and femininity of the human being".

About 150 people protested the Pope's stance in gay marriage.

The Italian government has indicated that it intends to pass legislation by the end of January legalising civil unions and same sex marriage.

Perhaps Benedict could, instead, spend some time imposing his morality on the members of the Catholic Church convicted of genocide in Rwanda, under investigation in Poland for spying or molesting children.

Technorati tags: same sex marriage Vatican Italy

Israel names first Arab minister

2007-01-13T06:20:00.000-08:00

Israel's Labour party leader has appointed Raleb Majadele as science and technology minister - making him the first Arab Muslim in Israel's cabinet.

This should be put in perspective. Keep in mind Raleb Majadele is one person, it's hardly as quoted in the article a "lethal blow to Zionism" or do much to "bring balance".

It's a first step. The impact will be determined by the steps that follow.

Technorati tags: Israel Raleb Majadele

4-year-old girl found decapitated, police seek dad

2007-01-13T05:04:00.000-08:00

A mother found her 4-year-old daughter decapitated in her home, and police issued an arrest warrant for the girl's father.

I checked the local news in Raleigh and got this......

The Grovewood Subdivision in Clayton is where authorities are investigating the death of a small child.

Clayton police say they received a call for help around 4:45 on Friday, Jan. 12th.

They found a small child dead on Mckinnon Drive and the death is being called suspicious.

Technorati tags: Raleigh North Carolina John Patrick Violette