June 3, 06: Updated Prambanan & Eagles

Update added at bottom

When the world is too much with you ... and you need respite:




Prambanan Hindu Temple is the biggest and a most beautiful Hindu temple about 20 minutes from Yogyakarta / Jogjakarta city on the island of Java. It is believed to have been built by King Balitung Maha Sambu in the middle of the ninth century





Discovery Channel: Quake Badly Damages Hindu Temple AP

May 29, 2006 — The recent earthquake on Indonesia's island of Java badly damaged the famous Prambanan temple complex, sending intricate stone carvings crashing to the ground and destroying years of restoration work in less than a minute.

Recognized as a U.N. World Heritage Site, the ninth-century temple and the nearby Borobudur Buddhist complex are reminders of the rich Hindu and Buddhist past of what is now the world's most populous Muslim nation. [....]

Asian Historical Architecture -- Discover the Historical Architecture of Asia -- Introduction

Prambanan Index Note also the bas-reliefs on the the Brahma temple.


There are photos from several countries -- not to be missed ... an utterly wonderful collections of photographs.



Update entry

Eagles and eaglets: The clarity is superb and the artistic sense obvious. These made my day. I could not find what thread led me to these but I would like to thank the photographer whose work I saw because of a link found somewhere on this site: Eagles and other wildlife: Forum

Martin Smart Wildlife -- don't miss these

Whenever events leave me feeling 'down' or sad, I listen to music, look at something artistic, or create something, all of which touch my soul and spirit and leave me feeling uplifted. The links above will lead you to the works of the people who have created currently or the works others left for posterity, the richness of man. All will take your thoughts away from the works of the destructive, aka peaceful, ones. Enjoy.

Jun. 3, 06: Details: Canadian terror suspects named

Locations included at FoxNews, June 3, 06.
www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/06/03/canada.names/index.html


Terrorists: names compliments of CNEWS Forum posted by RottenRon. After all the warnings from the security services representatives and the mainstream media that these alleged terrorists were from various groups, do you notice a certain similarity in their names?

This story also connects with the two arrested in Georgia, US, which I have mentioned on this site previously.



Doug Struck: 17 Suspected Terrorists Arrested in Canada WaPo, June 3, 2006

TORONTO, June 3 -- Canadian police and intelligence agents say they foiled a "series of terrorist attacks" by a group that had obtained three tons of explosive fertilizer -- more than the amount used in the Oklahoma City bombings -- to attack targets in Ontario.

Twelve men -- described as "mainly Canadian citizens" -- and five juveniles were arrested in a series of raids Friday night at locations in the outlying suburbs of Toronto in enclaves for immigrant groups in Canada. The men, all with Arabic names, were mostly in their 20s. [....]

Make a guess someone will write that they were "all good boys ... went to the Mosque". The mainstream media is working hard to convince us not to leap to any conclusions about their belonging to any particular group, though all apparently have Arabic names ... their parents or they, having emanated from the same countries from which terrorism/jihadism have sprung.

It is time for the non-violent Muslims who don't owe their first allegiance to some far-away cult of violence and hatred, and who want women to have the same freedoms as the rest of Canadian women, to come out and fight this madness among Muslim youth.

At the same time, Muslims are rightly appalled at what they see around them in our society in the flagrant sexualization everywhere, particularly in the media, and the abuse of the freedoms we have gained, along with the absence of moral outrage over the most abhorrent actions -- a sick distortion of choice, rights and freedom.

How is this barbarity legally possible in a society claiming to be civilized? Scroll to "Here are some photos" on that website as of June 3, 06. I had never seen anything like these photos before today.



Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day rebuts CSIS deputy director Jack Hooper -- Day and the Conservative government may be right about policy today -- but what about the past? Kathleen Harris, TorSun, June 3, 06




Stewart Bell: Nevermind foreign terrorists, why is Canada growing its own extremists? National Post, June 03, 2006

[....] But they share a devotion to puritanical Islam, contempt for non-Muslims (and other Muslims deemed not sufficiently Islamist) and a seething anger at what they see as the worldwide oppression of Muslims. On top of that, they believe that terrorist violence is a justified response to the "war on Islam" they are convinced the West is waging in such places as Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as within Western countries such as Canada, which have arrested Muslims for terrorism. [....]

We can't even get rid of the worst of criminals -- their rights supercede the rights of the rest of us -- and furthermore, Canadians' taxpayer money will be used for this smuggling kingpin to fight his deportation: "He will now seek a court appeal of the risk-assessment process itself." Terri Theodore, CP, June 2, 2006

[....] Lai [Changxing], 53, has exhausted all his legal appeals for refugee status since arriving in Vancouver in August 1999. He will now seek a court appeal of the risk-assessment process itself.

He will be allowed to remain under house arrest in Vancouver, the court ruled yesterday, while he launches the further appeals. That process is likely to take months.

Justice Carolyn Layden-Stevenson .... [Why is she not more concerned about us? Why should Canadians not get to turf this type of individual instead of paying and paying for appeals? ]

The Canadian government has argued that a diplomatic note from China promises Lai will not be executed or tortured if he's returned for prosecution. But the judge cited Supreme Court of Canada case-law that noted that assurances against execution can be monitored, but torture is much harder to verify. [....]

Julie Smyth June 2, 06

The Liberals shuffled their critics this week to replace leadership contenders, which is just as well as many don't plan on being in Ottawa too much. They will continue to collect their MP salaries but constituents should not expect too much from them, as they are busy eating pasta, sipping chardonnay and crossing the country seeking votes.

EDITORIAL: Did Trudeau have feet of clay? via
Copy and comments uplink, 6/01/2006

Here's some things you probably don't know about Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Canada's 15th prime minister.

* At age 17, he fantasized about leading a separatist army to establish an independent, Catholic, all-francophone Quebec and about blowing up "the enemies munitions' factories."

* At 19, he wrote a "comedic" play performed at his college "intended to bring out the difference between dishonest and profiteering Jews and honest but too-naive French Canadians."

* At 23, he denounced Canada's participation in the war against Adolf Hitler in terms that bordered on treason.

* One of his earliest heroes was Alex Carrel, a prominent Nazi sympathizer in France's infamous Vichy Regime. Carrel argued "the equality of rights is an illusion," that "the feeble-minded and the man of genius must not be equal before the law" and that "the sexes are not equal" in a book Trudeau referred to as "perfect" that needed "to be assimilated entirely."

I have seen his friends interviewed who emphasize how far beyond these views he moved and, truthfully, do we not all change? I think he did great harm to Canada too with his charter and constitution, for Canada has become more dangerous and the Charter has enriched lawyers, not the lives of most of us. It seems we are ruled from abroad and cannot get rid of scum. (see Lai article.)

Does anyone know whether this is true? -- Comment from Sensaregreat: "What they didn't publish was Trudeau was the Past President of The Communist Youth League of Canada"



And another bit of information from that site: from gordholio: "The following is a partial transcript of the impromptu interview between Tim Ralfe of the CBC and Trudeau." -- during the 1970 FLQ crisis and the kidnappings of Pierre Laporte and the British consul (I think) -- the "Just watch me" speech on deploying men with guns to Montreal.

Trudeau: Yes, I think the society must take every means at its disposal to defend itself against the emergence of a parallel power which defies the elected power in this country and I think that goes to any distance. So long as there is a power in here which is challenging the elected representative of the people I think that power must be stopped and I think it's only, I repeat, weak-kneed bleeding hearts who are afraid to take these measures.

There is more.




Globalization: Hamilton-Windsor area ... a Nigerian immigrant ... mastermind in an auto theft ring which was shipping vehicles abroad tweetypie, 6/02/2006

I have seen the news article on this but no longer have the link.

Jun. 3, 06: Updated -- Arrests under Anti-terrorism Act

Update:

INSET is the overall co-operative investivative team, group or unit (over 400 highly skilled individuals involved) comprising the collaborative efforts of several security forces.

Privacy concerns prevent disclosure of the names of the 5 young offenders and 7 others involved in alleged terrorist activity. (a misguided use of privacy there, I would say -- that right should be changed to protect all of us by giving us information) The oldest is approximately 40 but most of these Canadian citizens are in their twenties; they will be charged in a Brampton court later today. 3 tons of ammonium nitrate (a commonly used fertilizer) for creating a massive explosion was found, along with what looked like a cellphone detonator, a barbeque, et cetera. Possibly, there were training camps involved outside Toronto (Barrie? Combermere? further north?)

As a comparison, 1 ton of ammonium nitrate was used in the 1995 bombing of the Murragh Building (Timothy McVeigh, Oklahoma) that killed 100-200 people.

People were told--warned--not to pinpoint any one group, whatever that means, but I suspect it is to keep people from using the M word or questioning ... well, whatever Canadians might question about our security in the face of exploding immigration from areas whence terrorists have emanated ... and what has gone on before in (liberal and Liberal) Canada. Nevertheless, for some strange reason, Tarek Fatah (see more below), spokesman for some Muslim Canadian community was interviewed about backlash ... so I think one can safely assume the terrorists were not associated with the Legion of Mary nor a Mormon Tabernacle choir on tour in Canada.

CTV.ca has interviews online, I expect. See if there are video replays:

* a replay of the CSIS, CBSA, RCMP, Durham, Toronto, OPP, York, Peel Regional Police Chiefs press conference from June 3, 06 am.

* an interview with John Thompson, Mackenzie Institute, and David Harris, CSIS (or ex-CSIS now?) It may have been on CBC.

Congratulations on the impressive result of much high powered police activity from that thin blue line of people engaged in policing and security that allows the rest of us to rest relatively comfortably. Good show!


(CTV or CBC TV?) Tarek Fatah discussed reasons for the Muslim community's relatively affluent youths' disaffection from mainstream Canadians in their readiness to support Islamist terror:

* failure of the Muslim community to destroy the credibility of the Islamists -- He suggested that instead, youth should become politically active -- protest -- demonstrate -- not act violently

* an anti-American component (Now, where did they learn that?) -- re: Iraq and possibly Afghanistan. Fateh did not mention what the West should do instead, after 9/11 and in the face of all that has occurred since. Frankly, political activity here by Muslim youths won't stop the Islamist barbarism happening around the world ... except perhaps to give the leftist media some activist photo ops. In fact, considering some of the activities, one could ask how much activism we want from Muslim youth and others:

* the mostly Palestinian activists at Concordia in Montreal (Netanyahu, violence)
* the anti-Israel hate-fest at U of T in Toronto
* along with the No one is illegal / Anti-Capitalist Convergence activity (note Algerians, Montreal) and their funding and networking internationally (see FHTR May 5 and May 31, 06) -- Then add to the above
* the native protests that have become increasingly violent and seem to be above the law (Caledonia) -- native activism supported by and included on the website of No-one is illegal / Anti-Capitalist Convergence

I don't know enough about the native youth to comment on their efforts at dialogue. However, the Muslim youth movements in Canada have not exactly been geared toward friendly dialogue ... you know, the meetings over coffee and cookies designed to learn more and to appreciate "the other".

My personal preference would be that some of these privileged young people--privileged in that they have enough time and money to protest--do a little more school / home / community work, volunteer activity, anything that would keep them occupied until they know more about what they are activating about. Perhaps we should send the disaffected Muslim youths for a stint in their parents old country? Let them find out what life would be like under the Taliban ... but for some strange reason, based on evidence of those who have done this and become jihadis, it might just make them worse. We could start with the mosques which spew hatred via imported imams speaking in Arabic; end this. Stop caving in to Muslims in their efforts to bring their ways to Canada. Just for a start. But, back to the young.

What is wrong with the Canadian upbringing and teaching ... or whatever, that turns out such hate-filled young people? Here, consider all our young ... the goth murders, the swarming and bullying, increasingly violent kids, the unruliness that has passed far beyond youthful testing of adult boundaries, drug taking and seling and mindless criminal and gun violence. We all have a problem, not just certain identifiable communities.

End of update






Involving several police forces -- Alleged terrorists may have attended a large training camp north of Toronto -- found guns and explosives -- may have been planning a major terrorist attack.


Arrests in terror raid -- At least nine nabbed, one suspect sought Stewart Bell, National Post, Published: Saturday, June 03, 2006

[....]The RCMP has scheduled a news conference for this morning to announce it has made at least nine arrests under the Anti-terrorism Act, and was still seeking one suspect. Hundreds of officers were involved. The arrests went without incident.

[....] CSIS has been reporting for the past two years that a "new generation of jihadists" is emerging in Canada composed of youths angry about what they see as the oppression of Muslims.

CSIS now reports that a "high percentage" of the extremists on its target list are Canadian-born.

Terrorism raids sweep Toronto -- using various police forces -- "The Integrated National Enforcement Team, comprising the RCMP and other police, CSIS and federal agencies such as the Canada Border Services Agency, will hold a press conference this morning to outline charges and further details." Tim Appleby (With reports from Jeff Sallot and Oliver Moore), G&M, June 3, 06



CNEWS/Toronto Sun, June 3, 06
At least 8 in 'terror' cell arrested as police foil possible attack on TTC -- In a stunning development yesterday, police made a sweeping terrorist bust within the GTA and expected to make several more arrests throughout the night.

Major terror bust in Toronto


News conference on terror arrests this morning: See newsbeat1 -- for press conference this morning with links -- Also, don't miss the Hansard excerpts from June 2, 06


UK: London police arrest two while searching for chemical bomb June 3, 06, NatPost



Information websites: MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base and MIPT: National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism



Canada must establish sovereignty over Northwest Passage, author says -- if viable transit route -- jurisdiction dispute possible


Heads up -- Globe and Mail
Christy Blatchford: A tragic failure of the legal system
Re: Natives and legal system -- special treatment -- sentencing circles


Get off the dole June 3, 06

From 1971 through 1996, the number of Employment Insurance (EI) claimants who filed for benefits every year rose steadily from around 100,000 to almost 750,000. Even good economic times barely put a dent in the expansion. Rich federal benefits encouraged legions of able-bodied Canadians not to work year-round. Thanks to Ottawa's largesse, it was possible to make nearly as much money working 12 or 14 or 20 weeks, then living off the dole the rest of the time, as it was to work 52 weeks.

[....] This month, one of the Liberals' EI embellishments is coming up for renewal. [....]

Like the phoenix, it rises ... again

Update: Resurrection h/t jacksnewswatch.info

YouthForVolpe.ca -- website

Bumped up. There is a new post below.


Try the link above. See what happens to history on the web.

The story of the Liberal Senator (update below) fits in very nicely in the power clout department with the story of Joe Volpe, his so-enthusiastic youthful voters with their individual $5,400 donations, the setup of a website named youthforvolpe.ca. Apparently, someone did not like the website Youth for Joe Volpe--perhaps it was the unintentional humour--for it was deleted by someone on the Volpe team--see quotation below.

I have in hand a copy of a Globe and Mail article: Jane Taber: Campaign gets tangled in website spoof -- "youthforvolpe.ca"

It includes information on the website and screen captures of the website, I assume, before it disappeared. It's rather like taxpayer money ... off into the ether ... as if it had never been there. The wonders of history now that we have the internet. Buy a copy of the Globe and Mail (A4) and save it for posterity. Again, the G&M makes the point I have mentioned several times: What happens to truth in the age of rewriting history at the press of "delete" with your mouse? It never was?

There is no google cache either. Not only in Canada you say? Exactly .... shades of China, Stalin's Russia, maybe even Putin's ...... and a few other fine member states of that organization to which Liberal governments turned for "ethical" guidance ... you know, Kofi Annan's talking head shop.

Campaign gets tangled in website spoof June 2, 06

This is a hoot! The article online lacks the children's pictures with captions.

"My Office has had the website suspended through CIRA [Canadian Internet Registration Authority] and CDNS [Canadian Domain Name Services] and it will be down as soon as 6 p.m. I think the issue with the website has been dealt with. . . ."

Background: John Ivison: What would a child not buy for $5,400? John Ivison, National Post, June 01, 2006

Kurt Liedl, a 17-year-old from Vancouver who was visiting Parliament Hill with his parents yesterday, rubbed his chin and considered what he would do with $5,400, if he had it.

Put it toward a Volkswagen Beetle, perhaps. Or travel. Would he follow the lead of the teenage children of drug company executives Barry Sherman, Craig Baxter and Jack Kay, and donate that amount to the leadership campaign of Toronto Liberal MP Joe Volpe?

Not likely. Clearly he is not as civic-minded as the 20 individuals connected to Apotex -- including children as young as 12 and 13 -- who handed over the maximum allowable donation of $5,400 each to Mr. Volpe. Young Mr. Liedl said contributing to a Liberal leadership campaign is precisely the last thing he'd do with such a windfall. [....]

Volpe returns money from young donors Joan Bryden and Alexander Panetta, May 31, 06



Update at StephenTaylor.ca June 1, 06

Re: June 1, 2006: Breaking Senate Scandal: CALLS IN RCMP

Stephen Taylor is breaking the story that the senate will call for a RCMP investigation of Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne

[....] The updated lede: Today, I learned that new improprieties by Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne may land him in trouble with the RCMP. This morning, the Senate board of Internal Economy heard that he allegedly filed a false $20,000 travel claim and I've heard that his own colleagues are going to call for an RCMP criminal investigation. [....]

For more details search: Daniel Côté , cut down about 15 trees , Wakefield, Que.



Excellent work on the media -- don't miss Reductio ad americanum May 29, 2006, StephenTaylor.ca

June 2, 06: TGIF

Heads up!

I noticed today that at least two links appear to have disappeared in a post from News Junkie Canada October 24, 2004 News Junkie Canada October 24, 2004. Eventually, I shall retrieve a copy with links from Pack Rats R Us. Until then ...

Additionally, spooks or gremlins are at work. Mid-post ... poof ... connection gone ... think ... what could be on this site that would cause a meltdown? ... nada ... spooks and gremlins drinking early on Friday? .........


Ottawa offers land deal to only First Nation offside with pipeline project -- Deh Cho

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government hopes cash and land will lure the only native group challenging a $7-billion proposed pipeline that could fuel prosperity in the Western Arctic.

Liberal leadership hopeful touring Okotoks' green community -- Stephane Dion Calgary Herald
http://
www.canada.com/calgaryherald/
story.html?id=dcbb765a-cef8-4e33-b7d3-546fe8e68246&k=87452

Liberal leadership candidate Stephane Dion visits Okotoks this morning to tour the Drake Landing Solar Community, a 52-unit, state-of-the-art subdivision with solar panels on rooftops that will generate energy to heat the homes and water tanks.

Kathleen Harris: Polygamy allowed 'limited' status May 31, 06

Multiple-wife marriages have been legally recognized in Canada to award spousal support and inheritance payments.

The former Liberal government long maintained that polygamy is criminal in Canada but documents obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information show that polygamous marriages have been recognized "for limited purposes" to enforce the financial obligations of husbands.


Religious organizations say same-sex marriage opened the door to decriminalizing polygamy, and worry that formal recognitions of plural marriages will weaken the government's ability to defend the anti-polygamy law if it faces a constitutional challenge on religious grounds. A polygamist from Bountiful, British Columbia has warned he will fight for his constitutional right to have plural wives on religious grounds.

We have had Muslim immigrants or refugees who imported a second wife as a "cousin" or other relative; once here ... Canada apparently has accommodated these women, the men's "cousins". The slippery slope ...



Internet Filtering in China in 2004-2005: A Country Study via opennet.net/map/

China's Internet filtering regime is the most sophisticated effort of its kind in the world. Compared to similar efforts in other states, China's filtering regime is pervasive, sophisticated, and effective. It comprises multiple levels of legal regulation and technical control. It involves numerous state agencies and thousands of public and private personnel. It censors content transmitted through multiple methods, including Web pages, Web logs, on-line discussion forums, university bulletin board systems, and e-mail messages. Our testing found [.... Would you trust a computer put together in China with the potential for ... exactly what? It bears considering .......]

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

2. Political, Technical, and Legal Context in China

A. Sensitive / Controversial Topics for Media Coverage
B. Internet Infrastructure and Access
C. Legal Background
D. User Rights and Protections

3. Testing Methodology

A. Methods
B. Results Analysis
C. Methods Specific to China
D. Comparison of Testing Methods
E. Topics Tested

4. Results and Analysis

A. Summary
B. Proxy Testing Results
C. In-State Testing Results
D. Overblocking
E. Mechanics of China's Filtering
F. E-mail Filtering
G. Blog Filtering Testing
H. Google Cache Testing
I. Filtering by Chinese Search Engines Baidu and Yisou
J. Restrictions on University On-Line Bulletin Board Systems
K. Restrictions on On-Line Discussion Forums

5. Conclusion

Appendix 1

Appendix 2


2. POLITICAL, TECHNICAL, AND LEGAL CONTEXT IN CHINA

A. Sensitive / Controversial Topics for Media Coverage

[....] In general, China attempts to suppress publication of information related to "subversive" political movements and controversial state actions, including the Tiananmen Square uprising,5 support for a free Tibet,6 the Falun Gong spiritual movement,7 criticism of China's human rights and social justice records,8 independent news media,9 and pro-democracy / pro-Western commentary.10 Calls for decreased censorship are often themselves censored.11 Journalists who report on unfavorable events or question the party line are often jailed on fabricated charges meant to discredit them.12 Additionally, the state actively suppresses "inappropriate" material including pornography, sex-related information, and obscenity.13 Methods of circumventing Internet filters and content restrictions are also censored.14

[....]

H. Google Cache Testing

To test access to Google in China, we connected to 37 Google servers from 11 remote computers located on four different backbone networks in China, and also from a remote testing facility. We found that the filtering mechanism blocking Google's cache is triggered by the text string "search?q=cache" in the HTTP GET request; this occurs whether the request is sent to a Google server or to a different site's server. A user making such a keyword request - seeking to access a site's cache - experiences disrupted access to the site.174

However, the filtering system can be bypassed - inserting an ampersand (&) into the HPPT GET request, such as "search?&q=cache", allowed access to Google's cache.175 We could not access Web sites with sensitive keywords, such as "falun," in their URLs. The filtering mechanism appears specifically designed to target Google's cache, since caches of other popular search engines, such as Yahoo!, worked properly.176

[....]

Sidebar:
Related Projects

* Internet Filtering in Bahrain
* Internet Filtering in Burma
* Internet Filtering in Iran
* Internet Filtering in Saudi Arabia
* Internet Filtering in Singapore
* Internet Filtering in Tunisia
* Internet Filtering in the United Arab Emirates
* ONI Country Studies

There is much more to check.




Poor Mr. Brison ... timwest, 5/31/2006

Mr. Brison will be replaced as environment critic by John Godfrey, the former president of the University of Kings College, who was a leadership candidate himself until sidelined by health concerns.

As environment critic, Mr. Brison’s attacks on Environment Minister Rona Ambrose were often easily parried. She and Prime Minister Stephen Harper simply read aloud old quotes from Mr. Brison, who, as a Tory, was critical of the Liberals for their lack of a plan to meet the Kyoto accord targets, and voted against ratifying the treaty.

Do they have no conscience? No fear of retribution? Of community censure?

It may be time to bring back God ... the one that Time pronounced dead on its cover long ago. A resurrection? Rebirth? ... Failing that, perhaps a suitably lengthy period of time in an unpleasant jail?

[Comment] Brigand, 5/31/2006 16:07:38 Onlookers taunted workers at accident scene reads the headline.Seems that emergency workers were disrupted by some of the friends of two killers who killed a married couple when they were street racing at 140 to 150 k an hour.These creeps tried to sneak past a cordoned off area to take pictures of the wreckage.A police officer stated that he has such people say."I don't care,officer.This is my thing. (street racing) This is what I do.I'll take my chances in court." Sure he will as he knows liberal lawyers might give him house arrest.Meanwhile a little girl 7 is an orphan.Wonderful.

[....Comment: eliza99 5/31/2006 17:53:02]

Picked this up from Govt. website. There SHOULD be a jail sentence, however

2. Imprisonment

The more serious offence, criminal negligence causing death, is punishable by life imprisonment,(64) while the less serious offences, criminal negligence and dangerous driving causing bodily harm, are punishable by imprisonment for a maximum of 10 years.(65) The maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing death is imprisonment for 14 years.(66) .... no minimum term ....

[....] At present, imposing conditional sentences is a widespread practice, even for a serious offence such as criminal negligence causing death.(69) The sentencing judge is required, under the Code, to consider all available sanctions less restrictive than deprivation of liberty.(70)

Canadian-Vietnamese soccer mafia boss nabbed
Thu, May 25 2006, By Mata Press Service

Vietnam police investigating a high profile corruption case involving government officers in Hanoi have arrested a Canadian who is reputedly the head of an international criminal syndicate. [I'm shocked! Shocked, I say ...]

The crime gang called "Long Haul" operates in Canada, Europe and Asia specializing in drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized betting on international soccer games, police said according to Vietnam-based news sources.

The Canadian was identified as 46-year-old Ngo Tien Dung alias Dung Kieu.

The Vietnamese native also uses the names Dung Hanoi and Lai Thanh Huu and reportedly operated out of Vancouver and Toronto. [....]

Vietnamese media said Dung changed his named to Lai Thanh Huu in Canada, obtained citizenship and has traveled to Vietnam at least 35 times as an overseas businessman.

Think hard ... Vietnamese truckers ... immigration Canada ... "obtained citizenship and has traveled to Vietnam at least 35 times as an overseas businessman." ... investor program ...

Related? Multiculturalism, IRB, Vietnamese ..... re: importing Vietnamese truckers



Dutch Pedophiles Form Political Party Bruce Mutsvairo, AP, May 31, 06 via CNEWS Forum

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Several self-avowed pedophiles founded a political party in the Netherlands on Wednesday, but it was unclear whether the party has more than a handful of members.

The Charity, Freedom and Diversity party said its central campaign platform will be lowering the age of consent in the Netherlands from 16 to 12.

"Forbidding children from sex only makes them more curious," party president Martijn Uittenbogaard told The Associated Press. [....] [It looks as though the pedophiles have caught the zeitgeist ... no?]

Whatever children are curious about, they must have, of course ............ Will Big Brother provide?




US Ambassador to the UN, Bolton, cuts to the chase

-- Bolton: We Won't Be Fooled by Iran -- U.N. Ambassador John Bolton gets tough with Iran: 'This is their last chance' to stop uranium enrichment and give up plans for nuclear weapons. (AP) newsmax.com, Jun. 1, 06

VIENNA, Austria -- Six world powers meeting to discuss the crisis over Iran's nuclear program have reached an agreement on a package of incentives and penalties to be presented to Tehran, diplomats told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The diplomats were speaking on the sidelines of a meeting between officials from France, Britain, Germany, the United States, Russia and China. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to make a public announcement. [....]

Related articles on that site:

U.S., Others Reportedly Reach Deal on Iran Incentives
Bush: U.N. Security Council Could Loom for Iran
Rice, China Discuss Iran Nuclear Issue
Iran Rebuffs U.S. Demand on Enrichment
U.S. Policy Shift on Iran Clears Way for Talks
U.S. Offers Talks With Iran; Iran Rejects 'Propaganda'
Former Iran Parliament Speaker Urges U.S. Talks
Iran's Military Plans for Invasion by United States

Howard launches Australian nuclear energy debate By Rich Bowden May 31, 2006, Monsters and Critics

Professor James Lovelock – originator of the Gaia theory – shocked environmental groups in May 2004 by advocating an expansion of the world’s nuclear energy programs. Lovelock considered that the dangers of global warming through the overuse of fossil fuels made nuclear energy – which emits no greenhouse gases – an attractive option.

Several commentators though, have questioned the Prime Minister’s motives for raising the nuclear issue. With an election due next year, and with Howard’s reputation as a master of “wedge” politics, many see this sudden emphasis on the emergence of an Australian nuclear power industry as no more than a stunt designed to divide anti-nuclear and pro-nuclear members of the Opposition Labor party.

Currently Labor’s left and right wings have agreed on an uneasy anti-nuclear energy stance though the party’s bitter internal divisions over uranium mining have shown the nuclear energy policy to be a potentially damaging issue.

Manhattan Democrats Unhappy With Hillary May 30, 06

As widely reported, Clinton has been moving to the middle as part of her probable run for the White House in 2008, staking out new, moderate positions on several key issues and sounding alarm bells among some liberals in the process.

The News reports that she has called abortion "a tragic choice," has sponsored a bill to make flag burning a crime, pushed for a crackdown on violent video games and, worst of all in the eyes of ultra-liberal Manhattan Democrats, supported the war in Iraq.

To make matter worse in their eyes it was revealed that Murdoch -- whose conservative Fox News Network regularly chastises Clinton and her husband, Bill -- plans to sponsor a fund-raiser for her. [. . . . ]

What world religion's positions could she have supported and then been applauded ... no matter what the barbarism? ... Think hard. Hint: it isn't Christianity.



French Jews Feel Abandoned. Tension in Suburbs From the desk of Paul Belien on Wed, 2006-05-31 20:14
www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1094

Today the French authorities closed down the website of “Tribu Ka”, a group of French black Muslims. The website contained anti-Semitic texts [some of which are quoted here]. Last Sunday evening about thirty members of Tribu Ka, armed with bats and sticks, staged a march through the Rue de Rosiers in the historic Jewish quarter of Paris, shouting “Death to Jews” and “Let the Jews fight us if they dare!”

Tensions between black Muslim immigrants and French Jews have been rising since another black gang, who call themselves “the Barbarians,” kidnapped Ilan Halimi, a 21-year old Jew, last February. Halimi was tortured for three weeks and subsequently murdered. Youssouf Fofana, the imprisoned leader of the gang that murdered Halimi, is acclaimed as a hero by groups such as Tribu Ka. Tribu Ka was founded by Kami Saba [Kémi Séba], a black Parisian who says he has been inspired by the Black Muslims in the United States. [....]

Lengthy, detailed, documented. Is it a hate crime in Canada to report that the gang are ... well, what they are?

Was allowing imams to prisons to instruct in the faith the wisest idea? ... Think of the education level of the "students" and a certain level of ignorance of world, national and their own history and geography; for example, their own history in Africa where Muslims and their own tribal enemies enslaved their ancestor Africans to sell to slavers for ships bound for the Americas ... et cetera.




New chief sounds alarm over siding Licia Corbella, Jun. 1, 06

Calgary and area fire chiefs are sounding the alarm on the need for building code changes in the wake of large recent fires.

[....] massive $60-million Erlton fire May 30, 2002 .... changes to the national building code, which isn't expected to change until 2010.

"Included in Calgary's submission is the question of vinyl siding, the materials that are installed under vinyl siding, the proximity of buildings to one another -- in short, a whole range of issues that come into play in these fire situations and we're going to be looking at all of them," said Chown.

[....] But he points out when you have a criminal deliberately setting fires in unoccupied homes, the "fire is fully raging before anybody know about it. [....]

Volpe to return $27,000 in donations -- NDP wants minors to be restricted from giving money to politicians

The sums were among the 20 donations of $5,400 -- the maximum allowed by law -- that Mr. Volpe's campaign received from five current and former Apotex executives and 15 of their family members.

Apotex chairman Barry Sherman -- whose wife is the sister of Mr. Shechtman's wife -- also gave $5,400, as did his wife, Honey, and four of his children, including a daughter who is under 18. President Jack Kay, his wife, Patricia, and two children, including a son under 18, also gave $5,400 each. Vice-president Craig Baxter and three family members also contributed $5,400 each, as did vice-president Michael Florence.

[....] Maurizio Bevilacqua, another contender, said he wouldn't have accepted such large donations from minors. But he said an age limit isn't necessarily the way to go since a 14-year-old should not be discouraged from donating $10.

Campbell Clark: Twins, 11, donated $10,800 to Volpe's campaign -- Liberal MP received additional $5,400 from 14-year-old boy via timwest, 6/01/2006

"When I came out and said that laundering money through your children's bank accounts to circumvent the donation limits of the election act is fraud, I should have said, laundering money through your children's bank accounts to circumvent the donation limits of the Elections Act seems like fraud, and it's up to the Elections Commissioner to determine if what took place is illegal or not," Mr. [New Democratic Party MP Pat ] Martin said.

In his first report of leadership campaign donations to Elections Canada filed last month, Mr. Volpe reported that he received 29 donations on April 20 totalling $152,700. Just over 70 per cent came from 20 donations of $5,400 made by the current and former executives of Apotex Inc., and members of their families.

Check the ages of the "instant members" who paid $10 to join the Liberals in BC during the time of the run-up to Canada's turfing the old PM and getting a shiny new PM ... you remember, the articles on Basi's Boys. May be interesting.

Breaking Senate Scandal: CALLS IN RCMP

Stephen Taylor is breaking the story that the senate will call for a RCMP investigation of Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne

[concerning] the actions of Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne, a late-term Chretien appointment. Lavigne made news a while back when he used Senate resources to cut down some trees on his property. Today, the Senate board of Internal Economy heard that he allegedly filed a false $20,000 travel claim and I've heard that his own colleagues are going to call for an RCMP criminal investigation

Thanks, R, for this.

Updated May 31, 2006: #4 No one is illegal! Screen captures

These screen captures go with the post entitled May 31, 2006: #3 No one is illegal! Anti-Capitalism Convergence

http://
frosthitstherhubarb.blogspot.com/2006/05/
may-31-2006-3-no-one-is-illegal-anti.html



Note in the following the organization of activists both nationally and internationally, the fact that two Canadian MP's, a doctor, and the Canadian Auto Workers union are involved in "No one is illegal", which is the latest idea emanating from the United Nations. Note also with the Cyberactivism abstract information from a student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), there is mention of both IRFD and the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Activism on behalf of illegal aliens tends to be rather well organized. Is OISE aware that the use of its name--even as a meeting place--lends some legitimacy to this? Does it approve? Note that the Toronto No one is illegal group is part of an international network connected to the Montreal activists and their activism which, surely, is illegal -- "to help people find places to live, under the table work, health care, safe ways to cross borders" (No one is illegal Anti-Capitalist Convergence: see statement of its activities and aims.)

Note also that this group, No one is illegal, along with its international brethren, also support native activism which often has devolved into criminal activity, as the Caledonia protest shows. There has been other illegal activity on some reserves; think of Tobique with illegal aliens found who were to be shipped into the US (check for links for that one), think of the drugs that make it to remote reserves, along with weapons crossing the border with the US. There are other examples. Do you think this international activism is supported and funded to induce destabilization of Canadian society? I do.

Related -- native activism: a post on the Inuit Circumpolar network, Inuit leader Sheila Watt-Cloutier and her lawsuit against the US and the network supporting these activities -- May 29, 06 #1: Propaganda, Kyoto, Activists, NRTEE, Global Justice
[end of update June 2, 06]






























Karim Remtulla: Cyberactivism

May 31, 2006: #3 No one is illegal! Anti-Capitalism Convergence

Update: May Day

http://
toronto.nooneisillegal.org
/node?from=10

International Manifesto of The Undocumented

May 1st: International Mobilization For Regularization

On May 1st the undocumented have taken to the streets demanding RIGHTS, DIGNITY, and RESPECT. We publish here a Manifesto drawn up by migrant/undocumented organisations from across the world.

May 1st is Labour Day in most countries around the world, celebrated in honour of those who lost their lives to gain the 8 hour work day. On this day, demonstrations around the world will come together to support the rights of the working class and of the oppressed. It is a day of read more

End of update




No one is illegal?

These are must check websites. They are in the same vein as the misguided activism and propaganda detailed in this post: May 29, 06 #1: Propaganda, Kyoto, Activists, NRTEE, Global Justice. That may be compared to the scientific data detailed in this post: May 29, 06 #2: Kyoto, Scientists & Data


There were marches in at least four places across Canada in support of illegal aliens in Canada. Previously, I had posted this: FHTR May 5, 2006 #1
Why was this meeting held at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)?
No One Is Illegal & Don't Ask, Don't Tell [DAD] General Meeting

History on the internet is ephemeral, disappearing at the click of a mouse. The website I referenced has disappeared ( toronto.nooneisillegal.org/ )-- but Google cached a copy.
http://
www.google.com/search?q=cache:OfNoc0zgeuMJ:
toronto.nooneisillegal.org/
+no+one+is+illegal&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=1


Why were Members of the Parliament of Canada, MP Olivia Chow (NDP) and MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Liberal) participating in supporting illegal aliens in Canada? (Toronto) They have sworn to uphold the laws of Canada and these people are illegals. Did they check out the connections to a group in Montreal called Anti-Capitalist Convergence? Its international network?

Do all those who contribute to the CAW, the Canadian Auto Workers union of Canada wish their union to support the idea that "No one is illegal"? See website for evidence.

Search: No one is illegal -- Then open the cached copy.

No one is illegal -or- here

Anti-Capitalism Convergence
No One is Illegal!
Direct Action and Agitation for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
DIRA (Anarchist Library) Documentations, Informations, References et Archives -- a screen capture

The No one is Illegal campaign of Montreal is part of a worldwide movement of resistance for justice and the right to self-determination for (im)migrants, ...

clac.taktic.org/en/index.php?section=9&subsection=0

[....]2035 St-Laurent, Métro St-laurent Montréal [....]
Clac.taktic.org
dira@riseup.net
(514) 843-2018

Immigrants and refugees all over the world are being scapegoated for crime, economic problems and the threat of "terrorism".

[....] Now we are part of a new network of groups, who have come together to say NO ONE IS ILLEGAL.

[....] Not just to lobby the government for legal rights (though that's essential work), but also to help people find places to live, under the table work, health care, safe ways to cross borders. No One is Illegal networks worked with artists and activists too, to question our very idea of borders, to do anti-racist education, to put on fundraising and consciousness-raising concerts.

[....] In Montreal, for instance, NOII works alongside the Action Committee of Non-Status Algerians, to prevent the deportation of almost 1,000 Algerian refugee claimants. .... The Committee has held weekly protests at the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, and big marches that have brought hundreds of supporters to the streets. In October 2002, they won the right to apply for landed immigrant status under a special process, for most of the 1,000 people immediately affected. But not everyone is able to apply or get landed status, and many still face deportation. .... For more about the non-status Algerians in Quebec ....

[....]

Mass mobilization:

* We will organize demonstrations, pickets, and other events to publicize our demands and to concretely support communities and community members.

* We support direct action, and honour the tactics developed by people resisting on their own behalf.

* We will build and participate in demonstrations against US war and imperialism, against the occupation of Iraq and Palestine, and in support of First Nations sovereignty in Canada.

Network building:

* We will connect with other groups working on these issues across Canada.

* We will contact and share information with groups internationally.

[Link and telephone number for contact are on the site.]

FHTR May 5, 2006 #1 -- Why was the "No one is illegal" march meeting at OISE: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education?

Search: Karim Remtulla , Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)



Memory Lane FHTR Sept 19, 03 Why Does “fairness, openness and flexibility” Mean Lower Immigration Standards, Mr. Coderre?

May 31, 2006: #2

Liberals wanted me to shut up, ex-watchdog says -- RCMP Public Complaints Chair Cristin Schmitz, NatPost / CanWest, May 30, 06

OTTAWA - The retired civilian watchdog over the RCMP says the Martin government "didn't want any waves" and tried to "shut her up" by offering to continue her salary if she stepped down early.

Shirley Heafey, the lawyer who chaired the RCMP Public Complaints Commission for eight years until last October, said she had an "absolutely dreadful" time due to what she called "direct interference" by the Martin government with her independent role.

In allegations denied by former government officials, Ms. Heafey said she and her office were audited "to death" and there was an effort to forestall a public hearing by her commission into allegations that the Mounties covered up sexual abuse by an RCMP staff sergeant at the now-defunct Kingsclear youth training centre in New Brunswick. [....]

Ms. Heafey says she believes [ex-Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for public security] Ms. McLellan was concerned about an investigation launched by Ms. Heafey in May, 2004, into allegations that the RCMP failed in the 1990s to properly investigate alleged sexual abuse at Kingsclear, a probe carried out under Commissioner Zaccardelli's supervision as head of criminal operations in New Brunswick. [....]

New Route to the West by Daniel Pipes, New York Sun, May 30, 2006

The illegal immigration of non-Western peoples, I predict, will become an all-consuming issue in every Western country.

As Western birth rates plummet, as communication and transportation networks improve, and as radical Islam increasingly rears its aggressive head, Europeans, Americans, and others worry about their economic standards and the continuity of their cultures. After ignoring this issue for decades, reactions in Europe especially have sharpened of late.

[....] Austria's interior minister, Liese Prokop, has asserted publicly that 45% of her country's Muslim immigrants "cannot be integrated," and admonished them to "choose another country" in which to live. [....]

Search: The French lower house of parliament , West Africa's role , Mauritania Senegal , "mass exodus" and armed conflict

Worth reading.




A sinking party, sinking its leadership contenders. NatPost, May 31, 06

If efforts to sue the Liberal party of Canada for the missing adscam money are successful, then a sinking Liberal Party could also take down its leadership hopefuls who will have spent their money to lead a bankrupt party. Interesting! A sinking party, sinking its leadership contenders. They may have trouble repaying their loans.

This appears to have all the makings for a long-term tenure for the CPC.

The above was sent by a friend.




Ottawa plans to snuff out flame retardants -- -- or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) -- Researchers link common chemicals to hyperactivity Martin Mittelstaedt, May 30, 06

[....] In reaction to the surprising discoveries that flame retardants can migrate from consumer products into people and affect health ....

[....] But testing of dust has found their concentrations can be thousands of times higher than in foods, indicating that unlike PCBs or the banned pesticide DDT, the chemicals have not yet contaminated the human food chain in a big way.

Next in the series: A plastic chemical mimics the hormone estrogen when absorbed by humans





Mark Levin: And Another Thing Presidential Irresponsiblility, 05/21 07:44 PM

[....] So now the Republican president and the Republican Senate are cobbling together an illegal-immigration bill that will badly damage both the Republican party and the country. ....

[....] Yes, we’re a nation of immigrants, like every other nation. But our government has never acted so irresponsibly. In the past, our country decided what kind of immigrants it needed and wanted. Today, illegal immigrants and foreign nations bring pressure on our politicians because they know it will respond favorably to their demands. America’s political class has never been so frivolous about U.S. citizenship and sovereignty, and so contemptible of the will of the American people. This is why the Republican majority will likely pay a severe price in November, even though conservatives like Jeff Sessions and Jim Sensenbrenner, among many others, are fighting the good fight and trying to save the day, while liberals get a free ride.

Heads up!

From "Never again" to "Never mind"? D.J. McGuire May 30, 06

"Camp 22 is Stalinist North Korea's camp for chemical tests - on political prisoners."




Video: Do not miss this one

BBC documentary examines issues raised in this post -- 211.46.92.250/board/JPHONG/upfile/bbc_01_a.wmv Posted by: Knight of Good Mr. Iron Man 30-May-06

Image of Camp 22 posted by Knight of Good Mr. Iron Man 30-May-06

North Korea's grisly arms tests on babies -- MI6 file describes concentration camp bigger, deadlier than Dachau, Auschwitz Gordon Thomas, wnd.com

Gordon Thomas is the author of "Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad." He specializes in international intelligence matters and writes regularly for Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

[....] Thousands of men, women and children are trucked to the nearby town of Haengyong. There they wait and, just as Nazi Dr. Josef Mengele did at Auschwitz, the North Korean physicians single out those who will die in gas chambers, or in biological tests, or face death in the human dissection rooms.

[....] "I spoke to eight refugees who had first-hand evidence. Their stories tallied," said Hawk.

The Dictator on My Bar Napkin: The Case for Arguing Against Lies, Instead of Censoring Them By Joshua Stanton, Correspondent in Washington via China_e_Lobby DJ McGuire

china-e-lobby.blogspot.com/2006/05/news-of-day-may-30.html

Two recent news stories again raise the one of the most difficult questions free societies face: what role should governments play in limiting the expression of views that are tasteless, offensive, or which might even be lies designed to strip that society of its freedom?

Let's begin with some context. If the first casualty of prosperity is taste, a corollary to this rule is that the depth of affliction is proportional to the speed with which a society achieves prosperity. No society has achieved prosperity as quickly as South Korea, with one exception we'll get to later. [. . . . ]

Search: "Hitler Techno Bar and Cocktail Show," , "Gestapo" pool hall

May 31, 2006: #1 Bud Talkinghorn

My apologies to you, Bud. I have been preoccupied for a bit and these should have been posted earlier.


Can the Wiggles save music?

I am sure that the first question that needs answering is "who the h*** are The Wiggles? They are four Australians, who used to play different bands in Australia to little lasting acclaim. They met when studying for education degrees. The men were dismayed at what music was being offered to pre-schoolers so they took Anthony Field's songs from his Cockroach days, rejiggered them to a 4-5 year old's interests. After four years of fronting a popular Aussie kids show, they were picked up by Disney. Meanwhile, Harold Chizick, a Toronto toy maker, began selling Wiggles toys, guitars, even funiture. The whole Wiggles thing exploded into mega-stardom--200 tours a year, millions of videos sold and their faces plastered on everything from Motts Juice to Yoplait.

If they were just another kiddie band, one could say "Who cares?" But their genius for me is that they lard their tunes with jazz, country-rock, R&B, pop, and Motown rhythms. Besides which, they use every instrument imaginable. For instance, how many kids get to hear zithers, fuzz pedal, bouzoukis, pump organs and trombones? Their legions of fans are being exposed to the great musical traditions of our age. Perhaps later on they will be able to enjoy music other than the tin-eared "garage rock", or the equally hideous rap/hiphop that infests the download sites. Look, I have access to a great music library, so can peruse numerous new "supertalents" like Beck, Oasis, and Wilco. They simply never appeal to my ear. They try too hard to be different, which unfortunately often translates into tunelessness. Or at worst, cacophony. It can be hoped that the immense popularity of The Wiggles will attune the youngsters' ears to a wide, melodic brand of music. John Fogerty. of CCR, appeared on one of their videos and proclaimed them extremely talented songwriters and musicians. Coming from him, that is high praise.

© Bud Talkinghorn



The Caledonia Protests

Caledonia is merely the latest illegal act by an Indian tribe. If the "activists" were non-native, the barricade would have been torn down days ago. And you may bet that resisters would have been tear gassed and arrested. However, after Oka and Ipperwash, the police have adopted a velvet glove approach if the protesters are aboriginal. The blacking out of the town, when they tore down a transmitting tower to re-enforce their blockade should have been the final outrage, but the cops did nothing. No doubt their orders came directly from the Premier's office. Those protesters might be Liberal voters. Besides, the P.M. has to listen to the endless elites' drone about "residental schools" and "historic injustices". It was only when the natives brought in a backhoe to tear up the main road into town, that the townspeople went ballistic and attacked the natives. As one Caledonia woman on CTV stated, "This is terrorism. And it is never going to stop." If the authorities don't get some backbone, it never will.

Perhaps, with a new Indian Affairs Minister, we will get some some semblance of control over the anarchy that characterizes a number of reserves. Then there is the vast fraud and mismanagement of the $9 billion that they take in every year from government coffers. The Eskasoni Reserve in Nova Scotia (pop. a few thousand) is run by a chief making more than the Prime Minister. His reserve has all the pathologies that plague so many reserves. There have been reports (from someone who had occasion to know) of widespread financial abuse, child neglect, and rampant alcoholism observed. Why is this chief making almost a quarter of a million dollars to manage such a squalid community? I hope that absurdities like this will be history when Jim Prentice gets rolling. Phil Fontaine and his ilk will be displeased, but the taxpayers (natives included) will be overjoyed.

If these protesters were gainfully employed, they wouldn't have the time for their theatrics. However, since our Supremes decided that "oral history" must be given legal standing in land claims, we have seen ever more demands based on dubious evidence, i.e. "The elders have declared that the Sky God gave all of present day Vancouver to the Gwinchin tribe." ******, the Ottawa nabobs, with their political correctness, have turned the Indians into greedy landgrabbers. Given their proclivities, our betters would turn the whole native shebang into a cultural petting zoo. Enough already!

© Bud Talkinghorn



Ray Nagin to the rescue

It never ceases to amuse me when a complete failure like Nagin gets re-elected for mayor. He ruled over a city with one of the highest crime rates and welfare dependancies in the nation. Still, nothing beats Marion Barry getting re-elected in Washington D.C., after he brought his mistress back to D.C. so they could party down--with a little crack cocaine. Billed under miscellaneous expenses. Then there was that little embezzlement charge. However the black citizens saw nothing odd about this and brought him back.

Nagin's municipal government had to be the first responder in Katrina, yet he allowed the city buses and the 400 school buses to be drowned, when they could have been evacuating his "chocolate" constituency. What does he think when he sees the footage of that colossal disaster he was partly responsible for? Obviously for the voters, the race card trumped common sense. The city of New Orleans is still a disaster zone, with whole wards a jumble of flattened houses and junked cars. Yet, Nagin called for thousands of citizens to return within weeks of the hurricane. His re-election is right up there with Govenor Huey Long's. Long said at a stump meeting in New Orleans, "My opponents say I have stolen millions from you folk. Well, I might have, but for every million I might have stolen, I've spent twenty million on you." He was re-elected. Isn't that a fabulous moment in politics? Nagin must have studied Long's playbook. Maybe with the disappearance of large numbers of public guests / criminal citizens, he will be able to raise the standard of living of the Crescent City's populous. America will be watching.

© Bud Talkinghorn

May 29, 06 #4: A Hodgepodge

Justices need more money ... to preserve their ... independence?

Tories plan to reject 11% raises for judges Janice Tibbetts, CanWest, May 27, 2006. via Anne_mcm, 5/28/2006

[....] The recommendations would immediately increase judges' salaries to $240,000 from $219,400. Chief and associate chief justices would earn $263,000. Beverley McLachlin, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, would earn $308,400 and the other eight Supreme Court judges would each receive $285,600. ....

Justice Robert Blair, president of the Canadian Superior Court Judges Association, said he has written Federal Justice Minister Vic Toews pleading the judges' case.

"Judicial independence is at stake here," said Blair, an Ontario Court of Appeal judge. [....]

Please, Sir, may I have some more ... judicial independence.



Media & GG

Governor General warns against sensationalism in Canadian journalis James Keller, May 25, 06

HALIFAX (CP) - Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean cautioned Thursday against sensationalism and gossip replacing critical news reporting, urging an audience of journalists to remember their civic responsibility.

Without narrowing in on specifics, Jean painted a bleak picture of the dangers of transforming journalism into a commodity, where sales figures and deadline pressures erode the quality of reporting. [Is this an arguement for keeping the Liberal Propaganda Organ / CBC? Spare us!]

[....] media concentration leads to lifeless, one-sided reporting that sees local news fall through the cracks.

"The long-term consequences of seeing things in the same way, of reporting the world in the same voice, are also hampering the free flow of ideas and preventing the diversity of content," she said. [What does she want here?]

A Senate standing committee has staged hearings on the state of Canadian media, including media concentration. It's expected to make recommendations this summer.

Media, Conservatives -- BellGlobeMedia/CBC would have no reason to fear ... would they?

TiVo sets its sights on Canadian market -- Video recorder: Company hopes to form links with cable, satellite providers -- Rogers? Bell ExpressVu? Barbara Shecter, Financial Post, May 25, 06

[....] In the U.S., TiVo has deals with cable and satellite operators to integrate its software into the set-top boxes that deliver channels to viewers.

The features of TiVo, pictured, include the ability to rewind live programs and a "recommendation engine" that selects shows to record based on the consumer tastes demonstrated by past recordings.

Rogers' PVRs don't have that latter function [....]

Klein issues warning on sharing the wealth -- Premier threatens to pull province out of revenue-sharing deal with Ottawa Katherine Harding and Brian Laghi, Globe and Mail, May 25, 06

EDMONTON and OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Ralph Klein vowed yesterday to fight "tooth and nail" to protect his province's vast natural resource wealth, including possibly dropping out of Ottawa's revenue-sharing program with other provinces if energy income is included in the equalization formula.

[....] He also said it would be politically unwise to include resource revenues in the equalization formula because while Alberta might be reaping the benefits of high oil prices today, the good times may not last forever and "provinces ought not to depend on [this money] to sustain programs."

Ralph Klein vs Equalization Changes via caspar34, 5/24/2006

I think Klein is right and will have support from many provinces. If anyone is interested in a good read about why to exclude non renewable resources go here:

http://www.aims.ca/library/tenreasons.pdf

1. Resource revenues have been nothing but trouble for the equalization program
2. Removing nonrenewable resources would vastly simplify the program
3. Having nonrenewable resources in equalization produces perverse incentives
4. Having nonrenewable resources in the formula causes fiscal problems for Ottawa
5. Having resource revenues in equalization is arguably unconstitutional [See reasoning included.]
6. Having nonrenewable resource in equalization does not make economic sense
7. The equalization formula double counts the fiscal capacity from resources
8. Removing resources would allow the program to reflect all province’s fiscal capacity
9. Removing non-renewable resources would mean very small adjustments for recipients
10. The politics of the proposal look good

Check the rest -- interesting. Then check the AIMS site and the site's list of contributors [includes John Crosbie], et cetera.



Memory Lane: Atlantic Institute for Market Studies -- Equalization

Equalization and natural resources: Bill Watson on AIMS' paper -- The case for taking oil, gas (and heat) out of equalization Non-renewable resource revenues fuel ongoing debate The National Post, 30/6/01




Analysts from Eastern and Western Canada Agree on Need to Change Equalization -- Emphasis must be on building Atlantic region’s capacity to pay its own way. Dated: 29/5/01

[HALIFAX] — AIMS today released two new major papers on equalization and the future of Atlantic Canada: Equalization: Milestone or Millstone? (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) by Roland T. Martin, former Deputy Minister of Finance for Newfoundland and a noted expert on public finance in Atlantic Canada, and Taking off the Shackles: Equalization and the Development of Nonrenewable Resources in Atlantic Canada (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) by Kenneth J. Boessenkool, a distinguished policy researcher and author based in Calgary, Alberta. [....]

PQ: Quebec urges federal government to respect climate change treaties CNEWS, May 25, 06

The initial Quebec resolution tabled by the Parti Quebecois condemned the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper for not respecting the Kyoto accord.

The second motion, proposed by Environment Minister Claude Bechard, called on Ottawa to contribute financially to Quebec initiatives to deal with climate change as well as urging it to respect international treaties on climate change.

Kyoto commits Canada to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.

Why respect a treaty that wouldn't have done much, if anything, to reduce climate change? For more on this scroll down to the Kyoto posts:

• May 29, 06 #2: Kyoto, Scientists & Data
• May 29, 06 #1: Propaganda, Kyoto, Activists, NRTEE, Global Justice

Poverty groups to picket Stratford -- Activists on the prowl ... again Guy Dixon and Kate Taylor, May 25, 06Globe and Mail

OCAP [Ontario Coalition Against Poverty ] plans to bring in a busload of protesters. Clarke wasn't able to say whether protesters would try to disrupt the opening-night production of Shakespeare's Coriolanus ....

The coalition of activist groups is seeking not only to mobilize the poor, but specifically to raise social-assistance rates by 40 per cent. [Hiring buses is not cheap. Search their funding sources; first, make a guess where it will lead.....]

Search: "Perth County Coalition Against Poverty, has invited the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) and the Ontario Common Front"



More networking and 'rights' -- control and global governance alert

Trials, tribunals and tribulations -- "It's a battle between B.C. lawyers and activists over whether human rights laws go too far--or not far enough"-- Personally, I smell a UN, activists' skunk in these 'rights' groups Terry O'Neill, Western Standard, May 8, 2006

[....] Led by former human rights commissioner Mary Woo Sims, and armed with a new study, the activitsts are pressing B.C.'s Liberal government to reverse its three-year-old decision to eliminate the B.C. Human Rights Commission. [....]

On March 30, the University of Victoria's International and Human Rights Law Association, and the activist group, B.C. Human Rights Defenders, released a report concluding that B.C. is the only province without a human rights infrastructure that measures up to the Paris Principles adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993. The principles call for states to create human rights institutions with broad powers to hear claims, investigate, collaborate with and advise governments and NGOs, and "combat all forms of discrimination."

[....] B.C.'s human rights code, like others in Canada, contains a provision outlawing publication of anything that "indicates" discrimination or is likely to "expose" someone to hatred or contempt. No discrimination need occur to prove an offence. [....]

Read more on what Alan Borovoy has to say about this and "anti-free speech provisions should be on the table"


In March, Toronto lawyer A. Alan Borovoy, general counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, wrote that he and fellow human rights activists "never imagined" the legislation they created a generation ago would "be used against freedom of speech" .... since rights activists are agitating for code amendments, anti-free speech provisions should be on the table, too.


Media Bias

Re: Harper to avoid national media, claiming bias CTV.ca News Staff, May 24, 06

There was a cozy little relationship between members of the Ottawa Press Gallery and the Liberal government. No, Mike Duffy, the press gallery hasn't been doing its job. Via TV I have watched you cozy up to the former government(s) and their MP's and spokesmen, I have listened to former PM Mulroney speak of how he was treated by the press, and I have watched the pettiness toward PM Harper. You were not doing your job over years of Liberal governments and Canadians expect more. Where were the mainstream media's investigative journalists while Canadian taxpayers were being fleeced? At the Press Club dinner? Dining on the Hill? Speed-dialing your favourite leaker, getting your slant or spin for the day and then having more time for schmoozing?

"The Parliamentary press gallery does its job, which is asking the government questions," Smith said on CTV's Mike Duffy Live from Ottawa.

[....] In spite of the negative bits [of media spin which is largely leftist/Liberal spin], Harper's government is off to a good start with voters. Recent polls have placed the party above 40 per cent, which could put them on track toward a majority government.

The Ottawa Press Gallery ... from someone with experience of it

I heard this weekend that the OPG elect a president or leader who then parcels out the questions to a few, not all reporters -- thus maintaining control over the type of questions asked and whether some questions will never get asked ... also whether the reporters chosen lean more toward Liberal or Conservative. Since there was an incestuous relationship between the press gallery members and the previous (Liberal) government(s) (socializing, schmoozing, leaking .....), it was a cozy little arrangement to get the Liberal spin out. Now, with Conservatives elected, the OPG don't like losing this control and since, reportedly, the one who ran / runs the show does not like or lean toward Conservative thinking, the walk-out was political, as much as anything ... perhaps with a little hatred and attempt at gotcha Harper thrown in.

That is from someone who knows how it works and who will remain nameless.


We are not the Opposition Andrew Coyne, National Post, May 27, 2006

To understand the current flap between the prime minister and the press gallery, in all its triviality and its pettiness, tune in sometime to the annual Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner. (They used to be off the record; lately they have been televised, or at least videotaped.)

The dinner is an occasion for le tout Ottawa to gather together for a night of riotous good fun. The party leaders are expected to give amusing, self-deprecating speeches making light of the controversies of the day. The guests, for their part, are supposed to shed their partisan or professional affiliations for the night and share a cup of good cheer, rather like professional wrestlers after a bout.

The whole thing, in short, is one big collective wink. [....]

Very good article



...As General Sherman once said "Four hostile newspapers are more dangerous than ten thousand bayonets"... comments from bkbja, starboardside and contraryminded, May 25, 06

1. Only the press gallery in Ottawa is affected. Harper is willing to speak with press in every city he goes to. So it is not the entire media that Harper is not speaking to.

2. The list is designed to control the order in which questions are asked. No one is controlling the types of questions." [....]

In response to 1. I agree that this is partly true. The press gallery has more knowledge but oftentimes in the scrums I've seen, the questions are not so much probing as accusatory (this includes when Liberals were in power).

[....] With all the talking coming out of the press gallery in Ottawa, not once has anyone mentioned tough questions that Harper refused to answer. All they have complained about is the fact that they don't want to be put on a list and selected to ask questions. And yet no one has explained why this would result in an inability to report the news accurately or honestly. [....]

Joan Bryden: Liberal leadership hopeful Joe Volpe has received $54,000 in donations from two drug company executives and their wives and kids

[....] employees and family members are each entitled to give a maximum of $5,400. [Read the details on this one ... DONATIONS FROM THE CHILDREN OF THE WELL-TO-DO]

[....] Elections Canada and the Liberal party said there's nothing wrong with taking out loans, provided they are repayable at a commercial rate of interest within 18 months. The law governing donation limits would apply to any money collected to pay off the loans.

Bob Rae, the former Ontario NDP premier, has received a $100,000 loan from his brother, Power Corp. executive John Rae.

Rookie Toronto MP and renowned academic Michael Ignatieff has received two loans totalling $125,000 from his campaign director Ian Davey, son of former senator Keith Davey.

You must remember this .......

Maersk Dubai incident sheds light on stowaways -- re: whistleblowers Steve McLeod, May 27, 06

When asked if he'd go to police again if confronted with a similar instance of abuse, his reply is quick and emphatic.

"No, no," Broas says. "I don't care anymore because they don't care about me. It's not my business anymore.

"Nobody's going to look after you. Even if you do a good thing, it's not worth it."

[....] ALLEGATIONS: Four of the ship's crew claimed the officers put three Romanian stowaways overboard during two voyages in the spring.

OUTCOME: Only Shiou went trial and he was acquitted when the Taiwanese court ruled there is no evidence the stowaways actually died.

Remember Canada's own whistleblowers? Scroll down for Hansard link posted earlier.



Thus far, in this thread, the posters are civilized with each other -- not the case with several other threads. I like reading what other people think about products like this.

VOIP discussion thread: Vonage, Shaw, Comwave, Cogeco -- Rogers not mentioned yet but Bell / Sympatico is compared. If you have experience, why not leave a message for readers? May 29, 06
In the East, which of those companies is available? Make a guess.
e.g. Ne0_North, 5/29/2006

I use VOIP with Cogeco. Its sort of VOIP anyway. The Telephone modem ports to the Cable line instead of the RJ-45 cable so the signal is on a sub-carrier like the digital cable and internet service.

My Bell bill was $80 and now I pay half that for the phone bill added onto my Internet/Cable TV package. Signal is good and clear. In 6 months I've only had a message problem twice and it didn't last long before I was able to retrieve them. I think someone made a mistake once and I was without Cable/Internet and Phone for 12 hrs (overnight) once. I think someone unhooked my cable at the apartment mainbox, but you can't tell the service people anything if you are a mere [know]-nothing customer :)

The only thing you may consider is that you may not be able to make direct international calls outside North America without a Calling Card type long distance Card.

My pick against VOIP would be the same as with the internet generally -- lack of security compared to land lines. I have heard that land lines are hacked though, too. People who know about these things say to wait until there is greater security, and also, when there are more companies offering service -- minimal at present. Any comments?



CANADA -- The creature sprang in front of its prey, its hindquarters exposed, its paws raised above its shiny mane, caught in the headlights of international attention.

[....] The assembled leaders gathered at the Summit of the European Union, Latin American and the Caribbean in Vienna were caught off guard yesterday during a group photo shoot when a young woman wearing a thong, bra and knee-high black boots emerged on the stage holding a banner declaring ....

Sponsorship lawsuit grows to $63 million -- "the Tories have increased the lawsuit from $40 million" Allan Woods, CanWest, May 26, 2006

OTTAWA — The federal government will spend about $665,000 in lawyers fees alone — plus court costs — in order to recoup the $63 million it says was lost in improperly awarded contracts related to the federal sponsorship scandal.

The cost of the lawsuit was revealed as the government said Friday it was including Nicolas Gosselin and Groupaction subsidiary Alleluia Design in the civil lawsuit that was launched under the previous Liberal government, originally against 19 defendants for more than $40 million. [....]

Seeing Trudeau through open eyes Conrad Black, National Post, May 27, 2006

The first volume of Max and Monique Nemni's semi-official life of Pierre Trudeau is a worrisome read ... [subtitled] "Son of Quebec, Father of Canada."

[....] He believed that Britain initiated the Second World War, and that Nazism and Soviet Communism were "two Bolshevisms to be combatted by expiatory prayer." This cannot be blamed on the priest-ridden condition of Quebec at the time. The overbearing leader of the Quebec Church, J.-M.-R. Cardinal Villeneuve, former fire-breathing French Canadian nationalist though he was, urged full participation in the war, praised the British to the skies, banished anti-war priests to monasteries and urged the faithful to "give generously of our very blood, for the [Allied] victory of God and man, that the world may again know days of peace and justice." The young Trudeau wasn't listening; he was apparently fighting the Blitzkrieg with pious incantations. [....]

Worth reading this one



Microsoft shows off JPEG rival By Joris Evers, Staff Writer, CNET News.com

SEATTLE--If it is up to Microsoft, the omnipresent JPEG image format will be replaced by Windows Media Photo.

[....] In his presentation, Crow showed an image with 24:1 compression that visibly contained more detail in the Windows Media Photo format than the JPEG and JPEG 2000 formats compressed at the same level.

Still, the image in the Microsoft format was somewhat distorted because of the high compression level.

Typically digital cameras today use 6:1 compression, Crow said. Windows Media Photo should offer better pictures at double that level, he said. "We can do it in half the size of a JPEG file." [....]

Canada’s main wars over the last 100 years, and the Prime Ministers who sent the troops. timwest, 5/28/2006

Liberals divided on Afghan mission ....

* Boer War: Sir Wilfred Laurier (Liberal)
* World War I: Sir Robert Borden (Conservative)
* World War II: MacKenzie King (Liberal)
* Korea: Louis St. Laurent (Liberal)
* Kosovo: Jean Chretien (Liberal) [Also, check what JC contributed soon after 9/11 -- posted last week on this site.]* Afghanistan: Paul Martin (Liberal)

Perhaps they should consider a retraction on the war mongering label leveled against the Conservatives.

Is this correct, Libs?



Re Military: The above via How PM Cornered Opponents Contributed by: 4Canada

I was actually surprised at how few Liberals gave a "Nay". I was expecting an overwhelming "Yay" from them. 4Canada

There is an article published May 18, 06 by James Travers.

I suspect NATO can provide plenty of support without Canada.

But Mr Travesty sees no need to explain reality to his readers. That would spoil a nice chance to score points off the government.

Trash journalism.

Mark
Ottawa

Check out his reasoning.




Related to Canfor

I had posted on Canfor and its school in China May 27, 06 -- link below.

Google Search:
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
Diversification Fund to assist in the marketing and promotion of blue stained ... target conversion cost for Canfor's Houston sawmill is $73 per mfbm. ...
ir.lib.sfu.ca/retrieve/2493/etd1872.pdf

An alternate to pdf: Via a search of DSpace

Title: Water storage of pine - A strategy to mitigate losses due to mountain pine beetle
Authors: MacDougall, Gerald L. Issue Date: 2005
Abstract: The pine forests of BC are currently subjected to an epidemic infestation of mountain pine beetle. This paper provides a review of the history and extent of the infestation, a report on the likely economic effects of extensive pine mortality and an evaluation of a strategy to mitigate some of the projected negative economic impacts. Because of the infestation's scale, the limited shelf-life of dead standing timber, and milling capacity constraints, a majority of the affected pine will not be salvaged. The merchantable value of some of the affected timber could be maintained by storing it in lakes. Lake storage involves substantial carrying charges as logging costs are incurred in the near term while the timber will be processed and sold at some time in the future. Incentives will likely be required and it is recommended that the Province defer stumpage, facilitate regulatory approvals and appoint a "Facilitator of Innovation". Description: Research Project (M.B.A.) - Faculty of Business Administration - Simon Fraser University
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1892/2450
Appears in Collections: Theses, Dissertations, and other Required Graduate Degree Essays
http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/handle/1892/113

FHTR May 27, 2006: #2 -- Canfor hopes Chinese school will build wood market -- "a school in China funded by Canadian forest company Canfor Corp. to teach wood-frame construction techniques to planners, designers and builders." or original article Gordon Hamilton, CanWest News Service, May 25, 2006


Opposition MPs say they will fight softwood legislation