Mafia bribed Montreal airport customs agent

Nancy Cedeno, a former airport customs officer, was found guilty of accepting bribes from cocaine smugglers. (CBC   mob figure Nicolo Rizzuto.   A former Montreal airport customs officer has been found guilty of taking bribes from a drug smuggling ring with ties to the city’s Mafia.    Read This Full Story On Wednesday, a Quebec court judge ruled that Nancy Cedeno, 34, was guilty of accepting money at the Montreal Trudeau International Airport, in exchange for providing drug dealers with confidential information on bag searching procedures

80’s Music Rules ~ More from Retrospect CFRC-FM ~ 9-29-09

I knew it was going to be a great night when Ed-FM opened the show with Armoury Show. We were also treated to a taste of Goth in honor of this week’s Criminally Underrated feature about the Sisters of Mercy, plus some fabulous barn-burners such as Cassandra Complex’s “Def Con One” and Data Bank A’s “Waiting Room.” Don’t recognize any of the tunes? Then consider joining us next Tuesday night at 8 pm.

Be sure to tune in to Ed and his “obscure is like a box of chocolates” 80’s Retrospect show on CFRC-FM from 8 pm until 10 pm on Tuesday nights. Ed takes requests by phone: (613) 533-CFRC (2372) or email: retrospectcfrc at yahoo dot ca. Indulge yourself in some “80’s Music that doesn’t suck.” I guarantee die-hard 80’s New Wave/post-punk fans will not be disappointed. 

CFRC-FM Playlist September 29, 2009

Basement of Carruthers Hall in Queens University, Kingston, Ontario
ED-FM ~ Retrospect
80’s Music That Doesn’t Suck
If the “Listen Live” link on the CFRC Website doesn’t work, copy and paste this URL into your Windows Media Player: http://sunsite.queensu.ca:8000/
Join us in the Chat Room during the show – either click the link on the right menu under the Rave and Roll graphic, or here. To listen to any shows that you may have missed, go to the CFRC website and look up the archives under the “Programming” drop-down menu. You can enjoy Ed’s previous shows in one-hour increments.

1.      Armoury Show – Castles In Spain
2.      Chain Of Fun – Paisley Girls
3.      Spoons – Smiling In Winter
4.      The Smiths – There’s A Light That Never Goes Out
5.      Men Without Hats – Unsatisfaction
6.      Siouxsie And The Banshees – Killing Jar (lepidopteristic mix)
7.      Simple Minds – Today I Died Again
8.      Skinny Puppy – Choke
9.      Bauhaus – Ziggy Stardust
10. Breeding Ground – Reunion (12 inch)
11. Data Bank A – Waiting Room
12. Cassandra Complex – Def Con One
13. Fad Gadget – Collapsing New People (the Berlin mix)
14. Mittageisen – Wir
15. Sex Gang Children – Beasts (12” single)
16. Happy Birthday – Altered Images
17. Cult Hero – I’m A Cult Hero
18. Victims of Pleasure – Jack And Jill
19. Paul Hardcastle – 19
20. Berlin – Sex (extended)

Psychic Clues - Mariam Makhniashvili - Jessica Neilson - Lisa Stebic - Missing Persons

mariam makhniashvili toronto disappear sept 14 2009

I have psychic information about Mariam Makhniashvili, Jessica Neilson and Lisa Stebic.

On The Idea Girl Says I show the comparison in looks and share two of the visions, dreams about Mariam Makhniashvili.

On Jessica Neilson A Pyschic Investigation – I’ve posted psychic dreams, visions about these cases on Squidoo.

I woke up today around 330 am.

I’ve been trying to AVOID doing the pyschic stuff for awhile because I find it very draining.

But this case is bugging me so I gave in and posted the info.

I hope it helps the police and detectives in solving their cases.

That is what I pray will happen.

I hope what I write and share helps bring closure to the grief these families share.

That is the only reason I post the information given to me.

I never know if a dream will come true but in some cases they do.

If our dreams can be used as clues to help find missing persons then I’m helping the universe in some small way.

I guess I believe when you have a gift your supposed to share it.

I stopped working with the gift and ghosts because I lost my surround sound then my car.

I was angry about it.

But now I realize that I have to help in any way possible because there are no leads for Mariam.

Hopefully what I’ve written, or what others have written (other pyschics) the police can use the similarities between the clues given to find what they are looking for.

Usually a dream from the Universe will be given to more than one person, if it’s asked to help with something.

There should be some sort of gut confirmation or dream sequence of events that all ties in together.

When I was working on the Victoria Stafford case, I was constantly being shown that what I saw or dreamed about was also given to several other people (we all had the same dream, vision but none of know each other and were all in different cities – we bumped into each other during a psychic vision night with Zoltar)

It’s also been the case in disasters.

The big mud slide that wiped out a village?

Over 30 people had a dream that something was going to happen to the village two nights before it happened.

If they had shared their dreams or visions, they would have realized it was a warning from the Universe to protect themselves and get away from that area.

The people that had the dream, all survived and talked about the DREAM after it happened.

I read about it somewhere while surfing the net for DREAMS and VISIONS and Psychic stuff.

It’s something that mankind needs to embrace.

The Universe will send you messages that sometimes don’t make sense.

A dream, words, a sentence – jot it down in a diary and put the date and time.

Later go back over your notes and you’ll be surprised that you have a message.

It will be sent to help you, guide you or give you wisdom concerning a future decision that you will have to make.

In some cases, it’s also the way your brain solves a problem.

Our brains are like a computer we have packet loss when a message is sent to us.

So I guess the Universe sends the messages to our brains in bits and pieces so that we can put the puzzle together (strengthen our brain muscles = a healthy brain) and learn something from it.

In Victoria Stafford’s case, I was given the message where her body would be found but I didn’t figure it out till after it happened.

Now I write down all clues and look at them from different angles while keeping in mind, that the Universe has a different dimension then we do, so we have to look outside the box or in other words, look for a pattern or something out of the ordinary.

The next time you’re out in a public place, really listen to your gut instincts.

I had a strange experience the other day as I was walking by people, something was telling me what they did for a living.

I used to do that for a game then I’d ask people and I was usually right about their occupation.

Have you ever known yourself to read people’s minds?

You have a thought when looking at someone then without even knowing it – minutes later they start talking about what they were thinking – and you realize that you’ve read their mind.

You’re an antenna picking up on their thoughts.

It’s all about tuning into your intuition and following what your gut says.

When I refer to the Universe I believe we are all connected.

Six Degrees of Separation – Facebook is a prime example – out of six people someone will be connected to you and to someone else that you know.

Maybe our minds are all connected in some way shape or form, (now that’s scary!)

We will never know unless we try to understand how our brains work.

Through Science, Research and Technology new things are being discovered about the human body on a daily basis.

Someday we’ll have the answers to all of our questions and thoughts that flitter through our brains.

In the meantime, lets do what we can to help humanity.

If you have a gift, don’t be afraid to share it.

You might just rescue someone from a bad situation or you will help to bring peace of mind to a family somewhere…

grand final

Being in Canada, finding somewhere to watch one of Australia’s biggest annual sporting events, the Australian Rules Football Grand Final, was never going to be easy.  After a few false starts, we found a drinking establishment that claimed to know what TV channel would carry the game and, even better, was willing to put it on.  The Charles Dickens Pub was the place in question.  Sounds almost gentrified, doesn’t it?  I have even had lunch here on one occasion before and found it to be a nice, quiet local pub.

The start time for the game here was 9:30pm local time, Saturday night.  Ever heard that old Elton John song, “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)”?  Almost positive that he wasn’t thinking of sleepy ole Vancouver Island when he wrote those lyrics.

We sat on high stools up against the bar, watching a small TV up in a corner, above the bottles of spirits.  The bartender warned us that he couldn’t put the sound on, but that didn’t worry us, we were just happy to watch.  Turns out that sound or no sound wouldn’t have made any difference as the noise levels in the pub rose to a dull roar by 10pm.  The table behind us became a meeting place for a large group of 20-something, mostly male patrons.  I was pretty focused on the game but I could certainly hear that things were getting a little messy behind us.  As the game went into the 2nd quarter, some “words” had already been exchanged amongst the young bucks but up until then, they were just that, words.  And then the fists started flying.  I missed the start of proceedings (hey, I was watching the game!) but when I turned around there was a large scrum off to the left of us.  It seemed to be degenerating rapidly towards an all-in brawl until the bouncers showed up and did their job well.  This quieted things down for a little while but it was clear that testosterone levels were still elevated.  We were also baffled by the presence of the original combatants again behind us with drinks in their hands.  Turns out they were actually “friends” of sorts!

Half time arrived and we reluctantly decided that, although we wanted to see how the game would end, we didn’t want to witness how this night at the pub would end.  Now, some of you are probably thinking that this sounds like a normal Saturday night at the pub, and you may be right, but I don’t get out much.  I just wanted to watch the game without fear of being king-hit from behind.  Is that too much to ask?

In the end I had to settle for listening to the second half on an internet radio station.  Cheers to Cats supporters and commiserations to the Saints supporters.

Canadians should be in a National Uproar over the Globalive / CRTC hearings. Is Globalive Canadian owned ? Does it matter ?

It apparently does, and the incumbents (Bell, Telus, Rogers) are pissed – why ? Well, here’s the new kid on the block that’s going to rain on their parade. If you were one of three firms operating in an oligopoly ripping consumers off for so many years, and a new competitive threat was knocking on the door, wouldn’t you do anything you could to stop the new companies from entering the market ?

And on the flip side, the Canadian consumer should be pissed. We have opened up wireless spectrum to allow for more competition in the marketplace. We need this competition to drive down prices and improve service. We should be in a national uproar that these CRTC hearings are even happening – if Globalive is stopped from entering the Canadian marketplace it’s the consumer that will suffer. It’s particularly disturbing considering Industry Canada has already approved the Globalive structure.

I did a post a few weeks ago about Globalive, one of Canada’s three new cell companies getting ready to launch in the next few months.

Well – with the help of the CRTC, Globalive is back in the news.

The CRTC, apparently the pet dog of Rogers , Telus, and Bell, was let loose to freely attack Globalive. Telus, Bell and Rogers, under the guise of the CRTC, seem to have a bit of a problem with the funding that Anthony Lacavera received to make the bid on the Canadian spectrum, and they are trying to do whatever they can to spoil Globalive’s chances of success.

The incumbents all have a good reason to attack Globalive. As reported by the Globe and Mail, upstarts like Globalive, Public Mobile, and DAVE mobile will potentially eat up 24% of the Canadian wireless market by 2014. That’s some serious market share, and the incumbents aren’t going to lie down and let the new guys steal their lunch.

The biggest problem seems to come down to math. Globalive states that Lacavera is in control, and he is a Canadian citizen. The incumbents are complaining about the amount of ownership and possible influence that the Egyptian financial backer, Orascom Telecom, has on the Globalive company. The way that Lacavera has explained it, the Globalive team is following all the rules while still allowing for some out of this country funding. Here is the breakdown:

• Anthony Lacavera owns 35 % of Globalive, and Orascom owns 65%.
• Orascom funded over $500 Million so Globalive could pay for the wireless spectrum that they bought, and the bridge financing required for the infratructure
• Both of these parties have agreed to replace the loans with third-party investments – as soon as it is commercially viable.

Telus and Bell suggest that Globalive and Orascom are pulling a fast one – trying to get around the legalities by setting up separate companies but still providing Orascom with a majority stake in the company, and also with the added benefit of controlling the operations.

It shouldn’t be a big shock that Globalive was financed through another country, and as long as Globalive and Orascom commit to what they say they are going to do, there shouldn’t be any problems.

Well – still one hefty problem – the CRTC is under the influence of the incumbents. The decisions coming from this regulatory body will provide fuel for many posts to come.

Am I the only one that sees the irony in the CRTC grilling Globalive about being influenced by outside sources? Isn’t this the pot calling the kettle black?

More: You can read about the other two new cellular companies coming to Canada. TheTelecomBlog.com has profiled:
Coming to Canada this Fall – profiling Public Mobile
Coming to Canada this Fall – profiling Wind Mobile
Coming to Canada this winter – profiling Dave Wireless

Written by: Jason Finnerty & Jeff Wiener. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com by: RSS, Twitter, Identi.ca, or Friendfeed

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing

Lake of the woods is located in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota. Lake of the woods is over seventy miles long and seventy miles long. It has over 14,552 islands and 65,000 miles (105,000 km) of shoreline. It would be the longest shoreline of any lake in Canada but the lake is not completly in Canada.

There are several communities around the lake of the woods. In Minnesota there is Angle Inlet, Baudette, Hackett, Roseau, Warroad, and Wheeler’s Point. In Ontario there is Angle Inlet, Big Grassy, Dog Paw, French Portage Narrows, Kenora, Minaki, Morson, Naongashiing, Naotkamegwanning, Nestor Falls, Obashkaandagaang Bay, Ochiichagwe’Babigo’Ining, Onigaming, Rainy River, Regina Bay, Sioux Narrows, Wauzhushk Oniguming, and Windigo Island. Manitoba has only two communities near the shores of Lake of the Woods, Middlebro and Buffalo Point.

The main feature of the Lake of the woods is the Aulneau Peninsula. It is connected to the mainland by a strip of land at its southeast corner. Aulneau Peninsula is about twenty five miles long and ten miles wide. It has over eighty lake with in it and the largest of the lakes is called Arrow Lake. The Aulneau Peninsula was named after the Jesuit Father Jean-Pierre Aulneau, he was a French Catholic priest, who was killed on June 6th 1736 at Lake of the Woods.

The local economy of the Lake of the Woods relies heavily on tourism for revenue. There are many places for recreation on and around the lake. Equipment and boats can be supplied by the many resorts and outfitters for those that don’t have their own to use. Many locations of the lake are extremely remote and are difficult to access. Because the lake is so huge, it provides many excellent enviroments for fish to thrive in. The lake is well known for its walleye population, but lake perch and pike are also aboundant. You can also catch bass and muskies in this huge lake.

Ice fishing of this lake is a huge business. It freezes over completely in winter and provides hours, days and months of ice fishing enjoyment for those zany hard water anglers. You can expect to pull walleye, lake perch, pike, musky and bass out of the ice hole.

Shepherds Pie / Cottage Pie

This recipe comes from my Brother in Canada who sent me this to share with everyone, after he was sent it by our mum back in 2007. I think he enjoys making this to remind him of the delicious home cooked food we were brought up with.

Apparently there is a dish called ‘Pâté chinois’ in Canada already (Chinese pie) which is a French Canadian dish similar to that of Shepherds or Cottage Pie – however it seems to have an additional layer of canned corn in the middle between the meat and potato and is usually eaten with ketchup mixed in.

500g Potatoes sliced then cooked and mashed with olive oil and or butter or spread - salt & pepper
500g Extra-lean Minced Beef or Minced Lamb
1 Small Onion – finely chopped
1 dessert spoon Cornflour - you may need more to thicken you must decide.
Stock or water and Bovril or something similar
Ground Bay Leaves, Celery Salt or something or nothing, whatever you prefer
Salt & Pepper

Some people add a half can of chopped tomatoes, red wine, and garlic, but this then becomes a Bolognese sauce.

1 Put meat in a saucepan and cook until meat is browned and the fat runs. (Drain off some of the fat if there is a lot of it).

2 Add the onion and mix in. If using other ingredients add them – then and cook until all the juice is incorporated, over a medium heat.

3 Sprinkle over the cornflour – cook for 1 minute stirring it in.

4 Then add the stock to the thickness you want – cook for 1-2 minutes stirring all the time

5 Put into an ovenproof dish – spread over the prepared potatoes and if you want, a sprinkle of grated cheese.

6 Cook in the oven for 20-30 minutes until potatoes have browned.

Enjoy!

Pics to follow…

Where's Waldo?

In today’s installment of Heave Steve, I must posit this question:

Where the hell was he for the past few days?

The majority of the G-20 leaders from around the globe were having a pow wow at the United Nations headquarters in New York City to discuss a varied slew of issues that are relative to global unity and security  – but where was the Right Honourable Stephen Harper?

Not in New York, I can tell you that right away.

Who was in New York?

Among the major players were Barack Obama (United States Of America), Gordon Brown (the United Kingdom), Nicolas Sarkozy (France), Dmitry Medvedev (Russia)… hell, even the world’s snappiest-dressing/Jew-hating/terrorism-endorsing/nuke-wanting and all-around assclown Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in attendance.

This was a meeting of the United Nations Security Council – the people who penalize countries when they do bad things (whether it be in the form of military strikes, or the more common strongly worded letter) – a council that Canada really wants to be on so it will have a say in how the world works, or at least the illusion of doing so.

The big topic of this meeting?

Nuclear weapons: who has them, who wants them, and who is not allowed to have them.

Sounds like a good conversation that the Canadian people should have a voice in, doesn’t it?

What makes it a great place to be for world leaders is that you get to step up to the dais on – what is quite literally – the world stage and address the peoples of the entire planet, telling them what your particular country plans to do in the coming months and years and what that means to global peace.

From here, you explain to the world how your country’s actions, programs, policies, and military operations will effect nations and people around the world – either for the better, or for the worse.

The big drama this week?

Ahmadinnerjacket – errr, Ahmadinejad – announced to the world that he had a secret uranium enrichment facility (on top of the one the U.N. Security Council was already aware of) humming away at an undisclosed location in the Iranian desert… which is the type of place where you can turn regular uranium into the type of fuel that either powers a nuclear power plant OR a thermonuclear weapon.

This is somewhat distressing because:

A) Iran is the number one exporter of terrorists in the world.

B) Iran hates Israel and has repeatedly said that it intends to wipe Israel off the map – which is one use for a stockpile of nuclear weapons.

Crazy, eh?

You know… it would have been really great if someone of global import had spoken up on Canada’s behalf during the fallout of that revelation – someone who could step up to the podium and say how incensed we as a Canadian people were at such a unacceptable revelation.

Wouldn’t that have been great?

Yeah, but Stephen Harper – the Canadian Prime Minister who is supposed to be the focused voice of 33,792,000 Canadian citizens – wasn’t anywhere to be found at the United Nations building.

You know what building he WAS found at?

A Tim Horton’s store in Oakville, Ontario – from which he dutifully blasted Iran’s secretive nuclear shenanigans with all the authority he could muster.

At a Tim Horton’s.

I’ll give you a minute to process that information.

Need a bit more info?

He made this declaration after bragging about how Canada was once again the home base for Timmy’s.

Just wrap your mind around it.

You good?

Need another minute?

Two or three?

Okay… I’ll wait.

Got it?

Good.

Some might say that the neighborhood Timmy’s is the best place to make a Canadian statement – and I would agree to a certain extent if it wasn’t a matter of global import where image is everything.

I mean… seriously.

What the fuck?

C’mon, man – give your head a shake, Steve!

What the hell were you thinking?!?!

Conservative PM Stephen Harper's false power plays

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX20u1Y_iik     PM Stephen Harper is being predicted as looking for an excuse to call a new federal election, to stay longer in power, by getting a majority next.   He Harper has already found unsuccessful election platforms such as Transparency, Accountability, Honesty, Integrity  which he did not deliver upon, or Abolishing or revising the Senate… cutting back on federal Powers..   And so why does he want another term in office when he said originally elect us and we will show you what we can do?   For  we all next saw Harper rather  become another dirty, corrupted, immoral, polluted politician who lied, broke his promises, hired his friends into offices as well and he really was no different!   So why do you want a majority now, to even make things worse? or falsely try to kick Quebec out of Canada?     Stephen Harper’s Conservative minority government proposed to redistribute the federal elections ridings last year as well. But the bill was never passed into law, partly due to complaints from Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty who had felt the province wouldn’t receive enough additional parliamentary seats under the proposed changes.  And Quebec and the Bloc Quebecois is expected to oppose redrawing the electoral map. The Bloc has come to hold about two-thirds of Quebec’s 75 ridings in recent elections.  Adding seats elsewhere would erode the Bloc’s political clout. The Conservative Stephen Harper federal government is reportedly still working on legislation to create as many as 32 new electoral ridings across suburban areas of B.C., Alberta and Ontario so hopefully next time they can get a majority government. Changing the electoral map in such a way will play in the Conservatives’ favour because the party thinks it stands a good chance of picking up additional seats in suburban Alberta and B.C., and potentially Ontario as well. ” For Harper  this is the route not only to getting rid of minority governments, and a a route to a Tory majority, creating  a dynasty. The proposed changes  could be presented to Parliament as early as this fall or early 2010, and would increase the number of MPs in the House of Commons to 340 from 308. The new ridings would in all probability go to suburban areas around the major cities of Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto, communities. As a result Quebec and BQ would lose some ridings. Which will not go over in Quebec, and will be forcibly opposed, causing another federal election likely.. which is what Harper wants anyway?   Mr. Harper now  what about rightfully getting elected by doing good work looking after all the Canadian good welfare and not trying to steal the votes by being another dirty politician?    

2009-2010 Act NOW! National Playwriting Competition

Do you like writing? Are you an aspiring playwright? Are you interested in sustainability? Do you have a solution? Do you want a challenge? Enter the Act NOW! National Playwriting Competition for a chance to win cash prizes and see your play aired on Sustainability Television and performed to more than 10,000 people across Canada! For more information, contact info@now-org.com or check out http://now-org.com/get-involved/act-now-playwriting-competition/.

Dólar Canadense

Em 1995, o Canadá criou uma versão do dólar candense em homenagem aos peacekeepers.

O Canadá é dono de uma grande tradição nas missões de paz das Nações Unidas. Sua primeira participação em ações da ONU, embora não em missão de paz, foi na “ação policial” que tinha por objetivo proteger as eleições na Coréia do Sul em 1950.

Foi na Caxemira que o Canadá liderou pela primeira vez uma missão de paz - United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan. 

Em agosto de 2009, o Canadá contribui com apenas 177 oficiais. (fonte: DPKO)

A Few Words Strung Together About The Ontario HST...

Listen.

You can’t do anything about it – no matter how much the NDP and PC parties would have you believe.

You should also remember when it comes to election time in 2011, neither the NDP or the PC party could cancel it – even if they were inclined to do so… which is completely unlikely because government likes money – since it makes it possible for them to live up to 45% of the promises they make during their election campaigns.

The only reason that the NDP and PC parties are squawking about it now – two years before any election could be called by normal means – is that they’re trying to build up doubt amongst voters in the long term.

In two years time, the dust will have settled mostly over the HST implementation because the electorate will have been paying the extra taxes for more than a year and will have settled into acceptance – however begrudging it is.

Ontarians were irritated by the health premium tax introduced by the Liberals before eventually getting over it by the next election – despite the two opposition parties hammering away on the issue to no end during the last provincial election campaign.

It all boils down to the experienced adult’s concept of reality i.e. the old saying that the only certainties in life are death and taxes – which is pretty much universal no matter which party is in control of Ontario’s parliament.

Taxes go up in the long term – never down (except in brief spurts that raise the ruling party’s profile for a time – such as the federal Conservatives lowering the GST rates).

Why don’t they ever go down?

It’s simple: the provincial electorate – the citizens who vote during an election – get used to a particular level of service from their government and it’s individual agencies that deals directly with the public.

Let’s take two costly departments as an example – the Ministry Of Health, and the Ministry Of Education.

These two governmental departments take an enormous amount of cash to run at their current levels of service… and even then, they don’t really have enough money to meet their goals as set out by the government – the goals that the majority of Ontario’s citizens look forward to seeing implemented sooner than later.

How else is the government going to pay for shorter wait times at hospitals and doctor’s offices?

Where is they government going to get money to hire teachers and implement a better curriculum to teach at your children’s schools?

Taxation.

The money for these enormous public institutions comes from your pocket through taxes and tariffs on the goods and services that you consume on a daily basis.

As much as it hurts at the point of purchase, the average citizen sees that money come back to them in the form of the government improving areas of their lives – whether it be through better health care, improved educational opportunities, or expanded and renewed infrastructure projects.

That’s where your tax money will go when the HST comes into effect next July.

The NDP and the PC parties would like it very much if you temporarily (or better yet, in the long term) forget that you can’t get something for nothing in this world that we live in.

Both the provincial New Democrats and Tories tried that last time they ran the province and what did it result in?

Nearly every single public employee union was on strike.

The poor were getting poorer.

Health care suffered.

Things didn’t get better until taxes went up when the Liberals took over.

See how that works?

In the end, higher taxes make people happier – which seems rather perverse when you think about it and is the absolute inverse of what the opposition parties want you to believe.

What else can they harp about that will resonate with the general public?

The OLG and eHealth scandals are fleeting and will subside over time, most likely long forgotten by the fall season in 2011 – yet the NDP and PCs still nag about those at every chance they get – despite only the eHealth issue being directly attributable to the current Liberal party.

No… taxes are the only long-term issue that effects the public, so that’s the topic which the opposition will crow the loudest about.

But it doesn’t really matter in the end.

We as the voting public will get over the HST and the increases that it represents to our bottom lines.

That may stick in your craw at the moment and leave a sour taste in your mouth – but it’s inevitable.

It’s somewhat similar to those of you out there that may be reading this blog who absolutely HATE getting any kind of needle – regardless of the obvious health benefits that will you’ll receive upon going through the momentary pain.

So why don’t we all just roll up our sleeves and demand that our chosen political parties get it over with and move on to something far more interesting?

I, for one, and really tired of hearing the broken record that’s playing at Question Period.

Let’s listen to something better.

Things you need to consider to have a merchant account

Surf to Google and perform a search on “Internet Merchant Account”. The results are staggering (14,200,000 results!) on 24th Sep.’ 2009. If you have created a web based business and need to accept credit card payments, your choices are limitless. Before you partner with a provider, take time to understand the different components of internet credit card processing, and know what to look for in a merchant provider.

How It Works

Accepting credit card payments through your web site actually requires multiple components. Between a paying customer and your bank account, three layers exist:

Payment Gateway – This is the code that will transmit a customer’s order to and from an internet merchant account provider. The payment gateway provides you the ability to accept customer billing information (credit card number, credit card type, expiration date, and payment amount) and the necessary validation steps that must be followed before the credit card is actually billed.

Internet Merchant Account – A Merchant Account is an account with a financial institution or bank, which enables you to accept credit card payments from your clients. The payment gateway actually transmits the billing information to the internet merchant account provider. Unfortunately, most local banks do not provide internet merchant account capability.

The main reason why most local financial institutions or banks do not want to provide online merchant accounts is because transactions conducted over the Internet are totally different from face to face transactions where a signature is required to authorize the purchase. This makes online transactions prone to credit card fraud. Fraud protection should be one of your primary considerations when choosing an internet merchant account provider.

Web Site – Regardless of which merchant provider and gateway service you choose, your web site will need to integrate with your service providers. Most providers include detailed web integration instructions.

How Much Does It Cost

Understanding the total costs of your merchant provider can be tricky. Remember my Google example – there are more merchant account providers than there are people looking for internet merchant accounts so ask questions and be picky! Typically, an internet merchant account will have three types of costs:

• Up Front Application Fees
• On Going Fixed Fee
• Discount Rate
• Fixed Transaction Fee
• Termination Fees
• Miscellaneous Fees

Let us discuss each type of cost:

Up Front Application Fees

Many internet merchant accounts will require an up front application fee. This fee, supposedly, is to cover their costs for processing your application. In case you choose not to open an internet merchant account, they still cover their initial costs. Although common, many providers waive these fees and I recommend that you choose a provider that does not require an up front fee.

On Going Fixed Fee

Most all internet merchant providers require a monthly fixed fee or “statement fee” as it is commonly named, which is simply another way to cover their costs and make money. You will be hard pressed to find a provider that does not require this type of fee on a monthly basis. However, do not choose an internet merchant account that requires more than $10 per month. Additionally, most internet merchant providers require a monthly minimum (usually $25). The bottom line is that you will be paying at least $25 per month (on top of the monthly statement fee) for your account.

Discount Rate

Usually, the discount rate will be between 2 and 4 percent. The discount rate is the sales commission the provider earns on each sale. For example, if the discount rate offered is 3%, and you receive a sale over your web site for $20, you will owe 60 cents to your internet merchant provider.

Fixed Transaction Fee

Usually between $0.20 and $0.30, the fixed transaction fee is the fixed fee portion of each sale. Unlike the discount rate, the fixed transaction fee is the same for every transaction. Whether you get a $1 sale or a $100 sale, the transaction fee will be the same.

Termination Fee

A bit more hidden in the small print, a termination fee can apply if you cancel your merchant account within a specified period of time (usually within one year). But beware, some merchant providers require a three year commitment!

Miscellaneous Fees

If a customer requests a refund and they want their credit card credited, an internet merchant provider will charge you a separate fee (usually between $10 – $20). Read the contract carefully, as other special fees may apply.

Putting It All Together

Now that the different fees have been explained, let us look at an example set of transactions to help understand what an internet merchant account may cost your business on a monthly basis.

I have created a simple formula to help you calculate your monthly charges:

Total Charges = Statement Fee + Number of Transactions x (Average Sale x Discount Rate + Fixed Transaction Fee) + (Number of Chargebacks x Chargeback Fee)

For example, let us see you sell widgets over the internet. The sales price for each widget is $10. You typically have 100 sales per month and about 5 people request refunds (chargebacks). For this example, let us assume you have signed up with Jones&Jones internet merchant account services and have the following terms:

Discount Rate – %2.5

Statement Fee – $10

Fixed Transaction Fee – $0.30

Chargeback Fee – $15

Using my formula above, your monthly Jones&Jones charges will be:

Total Charges = 10 + 100 x (10 x .025 + 0.3) + (5 x 15) = $140

You can calculate your monthly sales revenue by multiplying your sales volume by your price:

Monthly Sales Revenue = 100 x $10 = $1000

Your internet merchant provider is costing you %14 or your total sales.

Making Your Decision

Before you choose and internet merchant provider, understand all of the cost components. Use your current or projected sales data to forecast what your internet merchant account costs will be. Planning ahead can save you time and money.

By Andy Quick

Please visit us for credit card processing merchant account services (USA, Canada & Europe) :

Credit Card Processor (CCP) provides the best credit card processing services, merchant accounts and merchant services.

Un mois déjà

Et oui, cela fait déjà un mois que nous sommes arrivés au Canada (le 23 août dernier). Certains diront, que le temps passe parfois trop vite, et d’autres “vivement dans trois mois…”

Nous avons donc décidé pour cet “anniverssaire”, de vous montrer ce que vous n’avez pas vu!!!

Bien sûr notre belle voiture, avec laquelle nous avons fait de nombreux kilomètres.

 

 

Nous connaissons certaines personnes qui auraient déjà perdu leurs permis ici…

 

 Nous avons visité le stade Olympique de Montréal (JO de 1976)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Nous nous sommes également fait de nombreux amis…

 

 

Upper village ( un village qui retrace la vie des année 1860 au Canada), une sorte de “Petite maison dans la prairie”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Les écureuils sont présent partout dans les rues. Le temps d’une soirée à Montréal, nous avons rencontré des amis français de la maman de Maud avec leurs enfants.

 

N’oublions pas un de nos passe temps favoris…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Hot dog, sport national et Breakfast du dimanche.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Et oui au Canada, il n’ y a pas que de la neige il y a surtout du soleil…

 

 

Un petit souvenir de notre passage au Môtel de London : A peine arrivé, l’alarme incendie se met à retentir, et 15 minutes plus tard deux camions de pompiers avec une dizaine d’hommes débarquent pour examination, comme dans les films… mais fausse alerte, il y avait rien!!!!

 

Du sable bleu (au musée de la civilisation à Québec), qui remplace les galet de la plage de Nice. (Instant magique pour Maud et sa maman, car c’est leur couleur favorite)

Market Force Information is Growing!

Despite the economic downturn, Market Force Information contiues to add new clients and expand programs for existing clients. Market Force is a recognized leader in the mystery shopping, merchandising and theatre check industry and serves a variety of clientele.

MFI delivers information, insight and action for Retail, Restaurant and Hospitality, Drug and Grocery, Convenience Store and Petroleum, Banking and Finance, Consumer Packaged Goods, Consumer Electronics Manufacturers, and Motion Picture Studios and Theatres.

Mystery shoppers, merchandisers and theatre checkers are independent contractors who have the ability to select the projects that interest them at times that are convenient to their shedules. Mystery shopping involves the covert gathering of information to measure customer service and the feedback allows companies to reward excellence and adjust policies. Merchandising involves managing products and displays for national brands in local stores that allows companies to provide quality products in a timely manner. Theatre checks involves measuring the motion picture industry at the local theatre levels and helps to develop marketing strategy and product advertising.

If you would like to become a part of MFI’s Field Network, simply apply online at http://www.marketforce.com Click on Apply Here and then register on the Blue (mystery shopping) and Purple (merchandising/theatre checks) Portals to become a mystery shopper and/or merchandiser/theatre checker.

Market Force is a member of the Better Busines Bureau, Mystery Shopping Providers Association, National Association for Retail Marketing Services, Marketing Research Association and International Customer Service Association. You can find links to these organizations on the MFI Home page at www.marketforce.com

Man goes on trial in volleyball star's death

District attorney’s office decides against seeking the death penalty in the 4-year-old murder case.

Four years ago, Christy Ann Galvin was found slain in her bed. The 26-year-old former UNC Charlotte volleyball star had been strangled and her left wrist cut. Her car was missing – and so was her boyfriend.

Fourteen hours later, authorities in upstate New York found the boyfriend, Seyi Tayo Odueso, trying to cross into Canada. He was driving Galvin’s 2003 silver Nissan 300Z.

Odueso is now on trial for the July 2005 killing, with jury selection expected to last much of the week.

Prosecutors said initially they would seek the death penalty but have since changed their minds. But Odueso, 31, could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.

Mecklenburg Assistant District Attorney Glenn Cole declined to say why prosecutors decided not to seek death.

Odueso’s lawyers have said self defense might be one of their client’s defenses.

Galvin’s parents, Michael and Ernestine Galvin, sat in the back of the courtroom Tuesday as a prosecutor questioned potential jurors. Michael Galvin, 63, declined comment.

Also in court were Odueso’s mother, brother, aunt and uncle. Godwin Odueso, 39, told the Observer his brother is innocent: “We’re just praying for him. Praying for the best outcome. That the truth will be known.”

The day before Galvin’s body was discovered, someone at her University City apartment called 911. When the dispatcher answered at 1:22 p.m., no one spoke. An operator called back, and a man answered.

The man said “everything was fine. It was just a kid playing on the phone,” a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokesman said at that time.

Galvin, who was from San Carlos, Calif., played on the Charlotte 49ers volleyball team from 1997 to 2000 and ranked among the school’s all-time leaders in several categories. She had helped her high school team win state titles in 1996 and 1997.

She graduated in December 2001 with a degree in international studies. She stayed close with the 49ers volleyball team, attending games, working at the scorer’s table and playing in alumni matches.

She met Odueso in college, friends said. She had worked two jobs, as a restaurant hostess and as an assistant property manager at the apartment complex where she lived.

Friends said Galvin broke up with Odueso about a week before she was slain.

By Gary L. Wright
gwright@charlotteobserver.com

Please visit us :                                  

NBLSC provides Board Certification for Trial Lawyers & Trial Attorneys, Civil Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers, Family Lawyers and Social Security Disability Lawyers.

Farmers turn to alternative agriculture

from: foodandfarmingcanada.com

“Growing numbers of farmers are turning to alternative agriculture and agri-tourism initiatives to help them earn a living. That message was illustrated by several speakers at the recent Canadian Farm Writers Federation annual meeting in Edmonton, Alberta earlier this month.

Ron Hamilton, Mary Ellen Grueneberg and Doug Livingstone have each found a different niche for themselves, but they are bound by a common love of the land, passion for food and dedication to farming. Here are snapshots of their stories I heard while attending the conference.”

Full Article Here

Liberals To Fight For "War Resisters"

Photo credit: Kerfuffles and Flourishes

Before I get the context of the headline, I just want to thank everyone who privately emailed me and particularly those who have contributed to my legal defence based on the libel suit brought against me. I am speechless as to how warmly you have come to my aid.

I’m cleaning out some of the links I’ve bookmarked in the past few days that I’ve wanted to write about, but haven’t had time. My brother is visiting from Ontario, where I just returned from to attend his wedding. This one is a few days old, but still interesting.

It’s a little strange to stumble on an American article about a Canadian news item, particularly one that got as little press as this one did. As far as I can tell, this was just a Canadian Press wire release that has been syndicated, but few have offered up any comment on it.

The Liberal Party’s Gerard Kennedy has introduced a bill that would allow American deserters from Iraq, and other “war resisters” from other countries, to stay in Canada. The illegal aliens would be granted amnesty if their refusal to serve is based on “sincere moral, political or religious objections.” Canada’s Parliament already voted twice to support these war resisters, but the motions were non-binding. Mr.Kennedy’s bill goes a step further because it aims to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

I’ve already written at length about my objections for granting amnesty to war resisters in Canada. This isn’t just based on toeing the conservative government line either; prominent political figures and writes from the entire spectrum have said that it’s a mistake to grant amnesty. John Moore, radio host for CFRB in Toronto, once held a call-in show on the topic in which he espoused the belief that the volunteer corps refusing service in Iraq were in breach of contract, and that nothing was being accomplished by “running away”.

Running away appears to be the more accurate description for what’s actually happening here, as Matt Gurney explained in the National Post in June. The practical costs of accepting American war resisters are numerous. One is obvious: the strain on relations with our strongest ally, who can take subtle steps to make us aware of their disapproval. But even more important is the consideration that the technical legality of war resisters in Canada should be left to a legal body, and not a populist parliamentary ideal:

Upon return to the United States, soldiers absent without leave face trial by courts-martial, and, if convicted, would likely be handed bad-conduct discharges and prison sentences of approximately one year. (Supporters of the resistors’ right to remain point out that the more public noise a resistor makes, the longer his or her sentence.) While bad-conduct discharges and possible prison time are certainly unpleasant, it is hardly torture or risk of execution. Canadian courts must decide whether or not that constitutes sufficient reason to permit the resistors to remain.

The wording of the bill is also worrisome, since it leaves it open to subjectivity and much ambiguity. After all, how is one to determine if someone has a “sincere” moral objection to a conflict. Are some conflicts moral and others immoral? If so, why did such a person sign up for military service, knowing that they could not choose the morality of the conflicts they would be serving in? Political or religious objections? Are soldiers now given the opportunity to be polled when they are called to service, so that they may enter into record what specific objections they have to their country’s participation in a current conflict?

It’s also a little dangerous to consider that many soldiers who sign up for the Army in the U.S. receive lucrative signing bonuses, necessary to attract recruits without the need for mandatory military service, who could then take the signing bonus and cross the border with their new life and cash to start it. We would be final arbiters in deciding that breach of contract is okay if all it means is that one must say they object on moral, political, or religious grounds.

Just as one could make a valid argument that opposing all war resisters without hearing their specific claims is prejudicial to the process, drafting a law in the Immigration Act that accept all war resisters without hearing their specific claims extends itself to the same flaw in reason.

A Pow Wow With Raven, Jesus and the Great Spirit

“Raven came. All the world was in darkness. The sky above was in darkness. The waters below were in darkness. Men and women lived in the dark and cold. Raven was sad for them. He said, ‘I will search for light.’  “

- from Raven: A Trickster Tale From the Pacific Northwest, as told and illustrated by Gerald McDermott (Harcourt Brace & Co.)

In my menswork and other church work, I’ve gotten back recently to telling and using the American Indian mythic story Raven Brings the Light. It has many parallels to Christianity, especially the Nativity story about the birth of Jesus. Thus it has special significance at Christmas among Native American Christians in the Athabaskan tradition, from Oregon up into Canada, and on into Alaska ( I think… unless I’ve been misled, which is always possible, as lies and convenient fallacies abound in these mixed-up multicultural times).

I first heard the Raven folktale on tv, in the context of the early 1990s show Northern Exposure. Below is the version they staged on one of their Christmas shows. Thanks, YouTubers!

I didn’t watch Northern Exposure show very much when it was originally being aired, but discovered it soon after, in syndication. It soon became one of my all-time favorites though, one of the early “dramedies” –one hour long, no laugh track, occasionally taking on serious subjects. I liked Northern Exposure for the quality of the writing, for its whimsy with a purpose, and for the accessible way that it portrayed Indians’ role in the American (and Canadian) experience.

As for those of you, Native and European alike, who would get on my case for using the word “indian” above –instead of the more P.C. version “Native American”– well, go soak your head. You’re just naive Americans. Things change. Yeah, I know the difference. I know my history, too. And I do care. But if the highly political Russell Means and the American Indian Movement found the word good enough for them, then it’s good enough for me. For now. More important fights should take priority, and positivity will go a lot further than intellectual gibberish.

Take for example the upcoming 56th Annual Powwow, sponsored by the American Indian Center of Chicago. This is one of the bigger ones, on Nov. 7 and 8 at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Attening this event a few years ago was deeply moving for me, and yet I have not one ounce of Indian blood to brag about. I just want to understand the community. To be taught by them. And the thunderous sound of  those ten-foot drums, played loud and proud by committed members of an authentic community, still rings in my ears. If I let them, those drums (and the important conversations in-between) have the ritual power to change me – as much as any church service can, and probably more than any classroom ever could. They widen and deepen community, and strengthen the love between equally valuable citizens within various communities.

And yet, isn’t UIC a branch of the same state university that many self-serious people have criticized for using Chief Illiniwek as its mascot? So what’s up with that? Why would Chicago’s own Indian population have their event there? I suspect that the only people who argue ad nauseum about silly semantics are those who prefer arguing to actually DOING SOMETHING about the real problems today’s Indian (and other impoverished communities) still face. The local and regional participating organizations and Native Americans don’t seem to mind using the word indian, the so-called racist or inaccurate term. Or at least they don’t take themselves or the word or Chief Illiniwek too seriously. So why should I?

Maybe today’s American Indians are reclaiming and reinventing the word indian. In which case, more power to them. Especially when my cousin Tom’s mid-level engineering job (at Lucent?) was just this month shipped overseas to the REAL India — by a company more concerned with bottom lines than with its own employees and their families. Ah yes. Now I have seen the light. All bets are off in the ridiculous economy of present-day North America.

So steal the light back from the Sky Kings, Raven. We all need your help now. Not “by any means necessary”, as Malcolm X once said, but maybe it IS time to start becoming tricksters, maybe fight a little dirty, like the big boys in power ties have been doing for generations.

In the same way, this Italian American can reclaim and reinvent the words Dago, wop, or greaseball while still claiming my dignity and my rights and accepting my responsibilities. I really don’t mind if you use those so-called slurs. With me, anyway. Sticks and stones, as they say. Besides, I really do have oily skin. That only means I will have fewer wrinkles at age 50 than my counterparts of a more northern ancestry. So who has the last laugh now?

As long as you will eat with me at my table, and as long as you will respect and enlighten me like our beloved Raven and our beloved Jesus, and let me do the same for you, then call me whatever you want. We have more in common than we have differences. And we’re all stuck in the same mess of contradictions. Why claim otherwise?

So maybe I will see you in November at UIC, or at Evanston’s Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, or at some other event coming soon to a drum circle, health clinic or campfire near you. If I do, we’ll share a bit of  Indian frybread, pray together, and then dance dance dance!

Then we’ll get down to the real work, which is the hardest, but the most fun of all.

“Raven threw the sun high in the sky, and it stayed there. This is how Raven stole the sun

and gave it to all the people.”

ALL the people.

Radio Will NEVER Be The Same...!!!

Just a quick note to keep you all in the loop. “Hey Get Off My Lawn” the Comedy Radio Rant has been gaining ground. We’ve just been added to Comedy 104/Rock 104 in Kansas and many more to come. They also stream over the internet by the way Here’s what some are saying from other parts….

“Get Off My Lawn” has become a very popular, and anticipated part of our

programming. His insightful and timely humour is perfect water cooler

fodder. The listener response is always excited and positive…. S.MICHAEL

LEIER~THE MORNING X USA

YEAH BABY, That’s what I’m talkin about! “Get Off My

Lawn,” is to your mind’s eye, like a can opener is to a

can .. ROY BUNALES~Drive WRJW

Bryan Cox’s ‘Hey, get off my lawn’ has proven to be a successful

part of my show. It’s short, it’s extremely funny, people can relate

to it and my listeners are actually looking forward to hear the latest

episode…. The Dutch Guy – Buzz FM ~ Holland

Now if you know of a Radio Station that needs some original “Comedy and Opinion”,  please pass on the info about Hey Get Off My Lawn. If you’d like some promo and an audio sample please e-mail me at info@coxmarketing.ca

Thanks for the read

Bryan Cox

www.coxmarketing.ca

Le Mont-Royal

Ça y est, on est monté au sommet du Mont-Royal. Je dois dire que je ne suis pas du tout déçu de cette balade. Et comme toujours, votre serviteur adoré avait son appareil photo pour vous faire profiter !

Bon juste pour votre culture, voici quelques trucs à savoir sur le Mont-Royal (révisez vos cours de SVT avant de lire ce qui suit, hehe). Le Mont-Royal s’est formé il y a environ 125 millions d’années lors d’une intrusion souterraine de magma. La montagne possède trois sommets : la Grosse Montagne (234 mètres), l’Outremont (211 mètres) jadis sous le régime français appelée Pain de Sucre et la Petite Montagne (201 mètres) ou mont Westmount.

Nous sommes monté par le plus grand accès situé du côté de l’Avenue du Parc. Voici un résumé de notre trajet sur Google Maps :

View Larger Map

Tout d'abord, situons nous géographiquement.

Le Parc Olympique de la ville. Une architecture assez étrange pour un résultat impressionnant.

La première vue que nous avons eu lors de l’arrivée au premier belvédère. C’est vraiment très impressionnant.

Nous n'étions pas encore au sommet mais voici un superbe panorama réalisé à l'aide de Photoshop. Cliquez-dessus pour le voir en taille réelle (attention, l'image est lourde).

Arrivée au véritable sommet du Mont-Royal, pas de vue mais une très grande antenne de télévision.

Ben observant l'immense antenne. C'est pour ce genre de trucs qu'on a voulu devenir ingénieur. Et on ne changera pas d'avis !

La croix du Mont-Royal. On se demande quels illuminés (simplement parce que c'est éclairé la nuit) ont construit cet édifice d'acier.

Une équipe de McGill pendant un entraînement.

Le pont Jacques-Cartier vu du Mont-Royal.

Vue d'ensemble du Downtown en 18mm, c'est assez sympa.

Flou net en 70mm.

On a failli se perdre dans les nombreux chemins du Mont, mais grâce à mon sens de l'orientation légendaire, on a fini par retrouver le droit chemin !

Voilà, c’est tout pour ce soir ! (je sais, vous allez bientôt vous lever en Europe, mais chez nous, il fait nuit.)

RCMP Gives Confidential Information to a Private Company

This week the Canadian Shooting Sports Association released an alert regarding a poll that is being conducted by Ekos Research Associates.  This poll is supposedly a “client satisfaction survey” regarding the Canadian Firearms Centre (CFC).  The CFC is the call centre that administers the controversial firearms registry.  It is part of the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) which is run by the RCMP.  According to information available so far, this survey was commissioned by the RCMP. In order to conduct this poll, Ekos was granted access to confidential information without permission from the people involved or any type of oversight.

There’s so much wrong with this situation that I’m really not sure where to start.  I guess the RCMP’s own words regarding privacy and sharing of information is as good a place as any:

Does the CAFC share personal information collected for the Firearms Program with other agencies or the private sector?

Relevant Firearms Program information is disclosed only to federal and provincial public safety business partners that have legal authority to collect this information consistent with their public safety responsibilities. Program business partners include local and provincial police, the Canada Border Services Agency and International Trade Canada. The Privacy Act requires that those agencies must have a use consistent with the purpose for which the information was collected. In turn, those non-federal agencies to which firearms information is disclosed are bound by similar requirements under their jurisdictional privacy laws.

Furthermore, firearms information is not shared with any private sector agencies. Some private companies, however, can have access to personal information while under a contracted arrangement for software administration or records management procedures. Under the terms of those contracts, these companies cannot use or disclose information. Also, employees of private companies are thoroughly screened for security clearance to ensure that personal information is protected at the same level as federal requirements.

If someone can explain to me how a “client satisfaction survey” falls under either software administration or records management procedures I would really love to hear from you.  It would appear that not only has the RCMP blatantly violated the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), they have also acted in contravention of their own policy!

To add insult to injury, only 4 of the questions being asked have anything to do with “client satisfaction” (see the end of this entry for the full list of questions).  The remaining questions request information that is: already documented in the registry database, irrelevant and inappropriate, and/or nothing more than a thinly disguised fishing expedition.

Apart from the obvious and appalling privacy issues, one of my immediate concerns is public safety.  What security clearance do the pollsters have?  What type of confidentiality agreements are in place?  Who is accountable if this confidential information ends up in the wrong hands?  You see, we’re not just talking about names, phone numbers and addresses (which is bad enough in its own right!).  We’re talking about names and addresses in conjunction with a list of firearms stored at that address. 

The security of the registry database has been a bone of contention with firearms owners since its inception.  In the wrong hands, the information held in that database amounts to a detailed inventory and shopping list.  Criminal access to the registry database puts the safety of both firearms owners and the general public at serious, and unnecessary, risk.  The registry has, in fact, been hacked more than 300 times in the last decade, with several dozen of those cases still unsolved.

Riddle me this: if the RCMP can’t even keep my confidential information secure in their own databases, why would they think that a private company would be able to?  Or, for that matter, even care to?

If the privacy and public safety concerns regarding this issue weren’t enough, there is a third factor at play here too: politics.  The two points that are catching my attention are:

• Bill C-391, a controversial private members bill seeking to abolish the long gun registry, is slated for its second reading in two weeks.
• The Gun Control lobby launched an aggressive worldwide campaign (spearheaded by IANSA) over the summer in which they attempted to link legal firearms ownership to domestic violence.

I just can’t help but wonder at the timing of it all.  Especially when this survey asks questions about things like marital status, children in the home, types and numbers of firearms owned, and plans for future firearms purchases.  Add in the fact that the Gun Control lobby in Canada is funded by tax-payer money (courtesy of the Liberals) and that Michael Ignatieff seems to be hell-bent on toppling the pro-gun Conservative government as soon as possible.  It’s definitely enough to make a person pause.  And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that there’s no such thing as coincidence, particularly in politics.

While I can only speculate as to the political reasons for this survey, there is no room for debate on the issues of public safety and the RCMP’s violation of the Privacy Act.  The Conservative government has already launched an investigation into the matter, and the CSSA and National Firearms Association (NFA) are contemplating criminal charges against those responsible.  There is even talk of a class action lawsuit, although at this stage that is little more than rumour.

I know that some readers are thinking, “What’s the big deal?  It’s just some innocent questions.”  The issue is not the questions being asked.  The issue is how Ekos came into possession of the list of people to whom they posed those questions.  The bottom line is this:  the RCMP intentionally distributed confidential information to a private company without permission or oversight, and in contravention of The Privacy Act and their own policies.

Given the nature of the information at the centre of this firestorm, and the history of security violations pertaining to that information, it is not at all unreasonable to be concerned about the safety of gun owners and the public at large.  This breach may well result in an innocent gun owner being killed, or his/her guns being stolen to kill someone else.

Someone is purposely playing with life and death, and likely for political gain.  People in positions of authority need to be shown that, even though the majority of Canadians would rather watch Big Brother than stand up to Big Brother, there are still those of us who are willing and able to hold them accountable for their actions.

 

As promised, here’s the list of questions being asked in the poll:

• How do you contact the CFC?
• How many times in a year do you contact the CFC?
• What do you call about?
• How satisfied were you?
• What classification is your firearms license? (Restricted/Non-Restricted/Prohibited)
• Do you own any firearms?
• What’s your reason for owning firearms?
• Will you renew your license?
• When will you renew your license?
• How do you renew your license?
• Have you ever had a gun verified?
• How was it verified?
• Do you plan on updating your address?
• Do you plan on transferring firearms in the future?
• Do you plan on destroying firearms?
• Do you plan on changing your license status?
• Do you plan on deactivating a firearm?
• Do you transport firearms?
• Do you plan on acquiring more firearms?
• What’s the best way to communicate with you? (E-Mail, Advertisement, Mail)
• When looking for information about firearms how likely are you to contact (Between 1-7)
  • CFC, Friend and Club?
• Are you married, single or common law?
• Do you have children in the home?
  • How many under 18?
• What is your highest level of education?
• What is your annual income?

Les banquiers canadiens souhaitent un gouvernement majoritaire Libéral

Ils ne le diront pas haut et fort sur la place publique mais les banquiers canadiens souhaitent un gouvernement majoritaire Libéral aux prochaines élections.

En fait ils souhaitent un gouvernement qui approuvera enfin leur droit à se fusionner entre elle.

Actuellement aucun gouvernement minoritaire approuverait une telle chose.

Sauf que les banques canadiennes pourraient maintenant dire que si elles fusionnaient elles pourraient devenir les plus grandes banques au monde car elles n’ont pas subit de plein fouet comme d’autres la dernière crise financière.

Sincèrement je crois qu’aucun gouvernement ne devrait approuver la fusion de banques canadiennes entre elle tout simplement parce qu’elles sont actuellement cinq à contrôler d’une main de fer le système bancaire canadien bien sûr avec l’appuie du gouvernement fédéral via la SCHL et l’Assurance-Dépôt..  Si elles devenaient plus fortes, elles étoufferaient le consommateur. C’est là que je m’y oppose.

Parlant des banques canadiennes, leurs actions sont actuellement largement surévaluées.  Vous ne me croyez pas?  Regardez le volume sur leurs options de ventes.  Souvent ça en dit long.

Bienvenue à Montréal

Bonjour!

I have arrived in the beautiful city of Montreal. (That was almost a month ago now, but i’ve been really busy)

Again, extremely tired after an 11hr flight, via Zurich.

Luckily I had emergency exit seats this time!

Before collecting our bags we all had to go through immigration. On the plane they give you a simple form to fill in which you hand to the officer.

Being a student I then had to go to another queue where I handed the lady my study permit and original acceptance letter to McGill. A few minutes later she stamped it and directed me to the CAQ queue. All i had to do here was give the lady my CAQ and i was done! It only took 30mins, alot shorter than i was expecting.

After that I collected my bags and went through to arrivals. In my McGill International Student Services Pre-Departure and Immigration Guide, it said there would be a team their all day to help you out. It’s definitely worth speaking to them because they gave me a ticket which gave me discount on the bus to Berri-UQAM (the main bus terminal in the city). Usually it would cost $16, but students were able to get it for $5.

I was keen to practice my French, so i got chatting to a French dude on the bus. I clearly needed lessons, since it had been 3 years since last doing any.

Montréal has great public transport: Metro and Bus. A single fare is $2.75, but this allows for changes onto all the different coloured lines. Included in your ticket fare is a bus journey too, so $2.75 for 1 metro and 1 bus ride. Not bad.

MAJOR TIP- BUY A 3 DAY TOURIST CARD-ALLOWS UNLIMITED TRAVEL!!!

I didn’t know about it at the time

Once you’ve registered at McGill you can also get an Opus Card, which allows unlimited use of Metro and Bus for $37 per month. I’ve been told that the metro is vital when it comes to Winter!

Ok, so the first 2 weeks I stayed in a hostel near Jean Talon, which is quite a francophone area. I would advise getting a taxi from Berri-Uqam to wherever you’re staying because it’s really difficult with two 23kg bags, especially in the unexpected humidity of Montreal.

My hostel was called Explorers House Holiday Makers. It was one of the cheaper places to stay, around $20 a night, but that’s due to it’s distance out of town. On arrival I was greeted by lots of friendly travellers, all here for short periods of time and looking to go out and party. So basically, for the first week or so, instead of looking tirelessly for accommodation, I went out every night with these guys. Maybe not the best plan, BUT… I met some truely amazing people. I’ve stayed in plenty of hostels before but I can honestly say they were the best! Plus, I now have reasons (and free accomm.) in Boston, Delaware, Israel, Netherlands and VENEZUELA!!!

After this mental week and only viewing a few places I started to panic. Term was starting in a week and FROSH (equivalent to Fresher’s week) would be starting in a couple of days….

I’ll do another post talking about Frosh, Flat Hunting and any other crazy stuff I got up to soon.

Bryan Coffee and The Mutant

It feels like ages since the Fringe, especially the Winnipeg Fringe, which I have to say may have been my favorite of the three I went to this year. Why my favorite? Not sure really, it had nothing to do with the lack of quality of performances in other places, because both Calgary and Edmonton had such incredible talent. There was a feel about the city itself that I really liked, something older and a little Western that struck me as somewhat comfortable. It had a kind of roughness an underbelly that I could feel, and under bellies always keep a place on its toes, plus there were just some great people who I met there that I didn’t get to see again once we left Winnipeg. People like Jack Dagger, Julia Mackey, Dirk, Geoff Huges, Nancy Kenny and Natasha Jetté, Jimmy Hogg, Martin Dockery and Bryan Coffee: you probably could tell by the title of this blog post that it is about Mr. Bryan Coffee.

I’m not sure what I was watching but it was something Sci-fi, and suddenly Bryan’s show, The Mutant, came to my mind, like little flashes of a camera I was watching various scenes played out by Bryan and I thought, damn that was a really good show, and here it is still playing around in my mind. Like many of the shows at the fringe it was a one person show, one hour long. I believe it was written by Bryan, which most of the shows are written by the performer. If you had to throw it into a category, because we just cannot live without our categories, I’d say it was a comedy but really can we make a new category like, oh say, bittersweet comedy or poignant comedy- how about tragic-comedy, apocolyptic comedy? I really like apocolyptic  comedy: “It was crazy man everyone died- it was totally funny.” Yes, I’d throw Bryan’s, The Mutant into all my new marketing strategies, because although it was funny, there were some pretty sad but truthful tellings under all of the miming of the end of the world. That’s right I said it, end of the world. Bryan created a string of short sketches held together by the theme of human destructiveness (what will be funny is if Bryan ever reads this and says, Uh no Adrienna, that wasn’t what my show was about…Hello!) There is no set, no costumes, just the small boxed theatre and Bryan- This is ACTING folks they don’t need all the trimmings all the time. Plus it’s a hell of a lot cheaper to not have to cart stuff around.

In the opening scene Bryan plays a captain of a ship, who is of course dashing daring and debonair as captains are, it is a space ship on another planet, I believe, and there is an approaching invasion, (you’ll have to forgive me because some time has passed) but it all ends in a major shoot out with Bryan as the sound man and the actor creating the violent sounds of laser blasters coming from all sides! It was riveting! I was on the edge of my seat! WHAT next My GOd What NEXT?

What came next was a hilarious restaurant owner that loved to change his ringtone, talk about the tragedies of the planet, and offer cups of coffee. One of my favorite sketches was the release of the bald Eagle from captivity into the wild- Bryan somehow managed to morph his face into that of an eagal- not just any kind of Eagle but a cartoon eagle. This scene brought me right back to Warner Bros.’ early cartoon schticks, like the one of the dog chasing after bugs through the hollow tree trunk (have you actually ever seen a hollow tree trunk?) balanced on the edge of a cliff, and as the dog runs through bugs spins the trunk so the dog is standing on the sky for a second (with out falling mind you) then in a panic he runs back to the tree, but bugs spins the trunk again, and they do this like a thousand times, and it’s always funny. That was Bryan as the eagle getting his revenge a thousand times and it is still funny.

I really enjoyed this show, I am not doing The Mutant or Bryan Coffee justice in this post. He is truly a talented comedian, writer and performer. I would love to attach some links to this post but I wasn’t able to find anything that could give you more info on him, but I believe he is in LA, and if you happen to see his name you should check out one of his shows. If I can dig up more about this great guy I’ll post it here so that you, oh humble audience, can get the opportunity to see some tragic bittersweet not poignant apocalyptic comedy by one man on a stage with no set, and all dressed in white.

Basia Bulat's Heart Of My Own: News

Photo from Secret City Records.

Thanks to Chromewaves with this news he got straight from Exclaim.ca

What also is great to hear is that she is signed to Secret City Records

Here are the tracklisting for the new album:

Heart of My Own:

1. “Go On”

2. “Run”

3. “Sugar and Spice”

4. “Gold Rush”

5. “Heart of My Own”

6. “Sparrow”

7. “If Only You”

8. “I’m Forgetting Everyone”

9. “The Shore”

10. “Once More, For the Dollhouse”

11. “Walk You Down”

12. “If It Rains”

80’s Music Rules ~ More from Retrospect CFRC-FM ~ 09-15-09

Ed-FM set the tone for the evening with a fantastic classic Payola$ tune. Of course, there was also a truly ironic tip of the hat to the newly departed Jim Carroll, RIP. It was such an exciting evening that I somehow added in an extra song to the list (sinced removed by “Eagle-Eyes Ed”), although no addition was necessary. There was no shortage of obscurity extraodinaire last evening as the fastest two hours in the week zipped by leaving us all feeling sated but looking forward to more.

Be sure to tune in to Ed and his “you only think you know obscure” 80’s Retrospect show on CFRC-FM from 8 pm until 10 pm on Tuesday nights. Ed takes requests by phone: (613) 533-CFRC (2372) or email: retrospectcfrc at yahoo dot ca. Indulge yourself in some “80’s Music that doesn’t suck.” I guarantee die-hard 80’s New Wave/post-punk fans will not be disappointed.

CFRC-FM Playlist September 15, 2009

Basement of Carruthers Hall in Queens University, Kingston, Ontario

ED-FM ~ Retrospect

80’s Music That Doesn’t Suck

If the “Listen Live” link on the CFRC Website doesn’t work, copy and paste this URL into your Windows Media Player: http://sunsite.queensu.ca:8000/

Join us in the Chat Room during the show – either click the link on the right menu under the Rave and Roll graphic, or here.

To listen to any shows that you may have missed, go to the CFRC website and look up the archives under the “Programming” drop-down menu. You can enjoy Ed’s previous shows in one-hour increments.

1. Payola$ – I’ll Find Another (Who Can Do It Right)
2. The Glove – Perfect Murder
3. Psyche – Insatiable
4. Cottage Industry – The Point On A Hill
5. Dead Can Dance – Mesmerism
6. Jim Carroll Band – People Who Died
7. Yeah Yeah Noh – Another Side Of Mrs. Quill
8. Yello – Vicious Games
9. Danielle Dax – Bed Caves
10. Chalk Circle – Believe In Something
11. Captain Sensible – Damned On 45
12. Martha & The Muffins – Obedience
13. Shriekback – Accretions (the monstrous dance mix)
14. Data Bank-A – Etiquette Of Travel
15. Fad Gadget – I Discovered Love
16. Johnny Analog – Agent Provocateur
17. The Alarm – The Stand (12” single)
18. Big Supreme – Don’t Walk
19. Annabel Lamb – Riders On The Storm
20. Echo & The Bunnymen – Bring On The Dancing Horses (extended)
21. Visage – Moon Over Moscow (12” mix)
22. Jona Lewie – Always In The Kitchen At Parties

Georgian Bay Ice Fishing

Georgian Bay is a great lake for ice fishing in the winter. It is a large bay of Lake Huron, which is one of the great lake in North America. It is located in Ontario, Canada. The main part of the bay is between the Bruce Penninsula and Manitoulin Island.

Georgian Bay is 320 kilometres (200 miles) long by 80 kilometres (50 miles) wide. Its surface is over 15,000 square kilometres (5800 square miles), making it almost as large as Lake Ontario.

There is a huge number islands in Georgian Bay. Most of these islands are along the east side of the bay and are known as the Thirty Thousand Islands, including the larger Parry Island. Manitoulin Island is the world’s largest island in a freshwater lake.

Midland and Penetanguishene, at the south end of the bay, are popular sites for summer cottages. Collingwood, Meaford and Wasaga Beach are located at the south end of the bay. Owen Sound and Wiarton are located on the Bruce Peninsula. Tobermory is located at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula. Parry Sound has the world’s deepest freshwater port and is located on the east shore of the bay.

The shores of Georgian Bay are the domain of Anishinaabeg First Nations peoples to the North and Huron-Petun to the south. It was a major trade route between those two tribes.

It was named Georgian Bay after King George IV by Lieutenant Henry Wolsey Bayfield of the Royal Navy in 1822.

Some of the species of fish that you can expect to cath while ice fishing are, Walleye, Bass, Northern Pike, Musky, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Pacific Salmon, Chinook, Coho, Pink Salmon, Atlantic Salmon, Whitefish, Sturgeon and Catfish.

Although Georgian Bay is an awesome summer cottage destination in the summer, it is also a great location for some hard water ice fishing. The bay freezes over completly in winter so be sure to head out to this northern destination with your gear ready for some icy fun.

Les taux d'intérêts vont monter en flèche à moyen-terme

D’ici 1 an à 2 ans, les taux d’intérêts vont monter en flèche aux États-Unis.

À force d’emprunter autant d’argent et d’injecter cette argent dans des entreprises moribondes et pour sauver des banques et aussi pour encourager la consommation par endettement, le gouvernement américain va créer une inflation majeure.

Quand il y a inflation deux choses peuvent être faits par un gouvernement central:

- la regarder aller en se croisant les bras

- augmenter les taux d’intérêts

Il est clair que les américains vont augmenter les taux d’intérêts car une inflation à deux chiffres est à leurs portes.

De plus, croire que ça ne touchera pas le Canada serait une très grande erreur.  N’oubliez jamais que les États-Unis sont le principal partenaire économique du Canada.

Imaginez juste des taux hypothécaires à 8%, 9% ou même 10% au lieu de 4%.  Il y aura bien du monde de pris à la gorge alors vous le savez maintenant, soyez vigilants et cessez de croire les banquiers et les agents immobiliers qui vous disent le contraire.  Ils n’iront pas vous prédire pareille situation, c’est normal, les hypothèques et la vente de maison c’est leur gagne-pain.

Stimuler l’économie par endettement est la pire chose que le gouvernement américain pouvait faire.  Prenons l’exemple de la prime à la casse où un américain reçevait une subvention pour se procurer une nouvelle voiture.  Ainsi le gouvernement subventionne en partie l’endettement du consommateur pour s’acheter une voiture.

L’endettement ça ne stimule pas une économie.  Juste les égos.

La hausse des taux d’intérêts est le scénario qui se dessine à l’horizon.

Working On Install

I am updating Apache at the moment so everything on the server is compatible. I hope my Blog/Website/Forum will be up and running by the end of the week.

The Blog will mostly be about technology in Canada. I will try to include as much as possible from other parts of the world, but at first it will mostly be Canadian news. There will also be a forum for questions or to share Ideas.

If you would like to help me, share some ideas, or give some tips, you can email me at rainor.blog@gmail.com

Our north-of-the-border correspondent tipped us off to this strange story from Vancouver.  It seems a Canadian man was accidentally overdosed with Ketamine a few years back, and even though it seems the judge didn’t think the trip caused the man any serious damage, the unwitting tripper was awarded $63,000.

The tripper, one Bradley Weafer of Campbell River, B.C., was given 500 mg of Ketamine in five minutes.  He claimed to have had an out-of-body experience during which he saw God.  I wish we could bring Canadian-style health care to the U.S. Normally, when we want K we have to pony up $25 or at least fingerbang a bear.

And remember, kids:  Send in your tips to sethamphetamine@gmail.com

Montréal

Nous revoilà! Depuis notre arrivée au Canada, il nous est bien difficile d’avoir une connection internet. Ce soir c’est bon, on en profite donc pour compléter le post précédent écrit très vite et donner des nouvelles fraîches.

Avant d’aller vers Montréal, nous nous sommes offert une journée de farniente à Trois-Rivières (à mi-chemin entre Québec et Montréal), non pas dans les rues de la ville que nous avons ce jour là la flemme de visiter mais dans un camping très agréable. Au programme : baignade, jeux, lecture et un peu d’école.

A savoir quand même : Trois-Rivières tire son nom des trois chenaux que forme la rivière Saint-Maurice à son embouchure. Elle est la 2ème ville française en Amérique du Nord et a été élue capitale culturelle du Canada en 2009.

partie de « horse shoe » logiquement appelé ici « fer à cheval « ou tout simplement « fer »

Pour rejoindre Montréal, nous prenons une partie du Chemin du Roy, qui longe le Saint-Laurent et traverse des villages historiques. En arrivant sur Montréal, nous faisons le plein de dollars, le plein d’essence et le plein du frigo. Echaudés par les voies rapides de l’arrondissement de Québec et l’éloignement des campings, on a cette fois bien pensé notre affaire. En Amérique du nord, si le camping sauvage est interdit, il est permis de passer une nuit sur le parking d’un Wall Mart (l’équivalent de notre Carrefour). Astuce donnée par les responsables du camping de Trois Rivières. Nous avons opté pour cette solution et nous en sommes très satisfaits. Nous avons fait le plein de la réserve d’eau la veille, le frigo tient largement deux jours sans se réchauffer et le porte-monnaie ne s’en porte pas plus mal. On se trouve à seulement 10mn du parc de Mont Royal, le top.

Alexis réclamait depuis un moment une soirée crêpes et moi une soirée typique. Après s’être ravitaillé au Wall Mart, notre dîner s’est donc composé de pancakes au sirop d’érable. On s’en est mis plein la panse ou comme on dit ici, on s’est « sucré le bec ». Excellent! On se souviendra à coup sûr de cette soirée crêpes sur le parking de Wall Mart à Montréal. Nous avons remis ça quelques jours plus tard, il nous restait de la pâte…

En route pour la visite de “la plus européenne des métropoles nord américaine”.

Grande balade dans le parc du Mont Royal, conçu par Frederick Law Olmsted, également à l’origine du Central Park de New-York.

Nous ne faisons que traverser le centre-ville aux rues très larges, un mélange de gratte-ciel et de maisons au style victorien. Il existe une ville souterraine de près de 33km (en partie pour passer l’hiver plus agréablement) que nous n’avons malheureusement pas vu animée pour cause de jour férié.

Nous nous sommes promenés au Vieux-Port, véritable rendez-vous des patineurs, cyclistes ou simples promeneurs le long des berges du Saint-Laurent et du canal de Lachine, puis dans le Vieux-Montréal.

Nous avons apprécié mais sans être complètement transportés par Montréal. Peut-être trop urbain au milieu de toute cette nature…

En route pour l’Ontario.

And the CBC says: 'Tories to introduce EI reforms'

Ta-da!

Who can blame Stephen Harper for buckling to his knees in the face of defeat? I mean, he is only human…. right? I mean that to be a serious question – he is human? Sometimes its hard to tell, what with all of his indifference towards others, compulsive need to control others, and the strange void that is the part of his brain that creates facial expressions… and emotion.

Today the CBC reported that officials in the Conservative Government have leaked possible plans to introduce Employment Insurance reforms in an attempt to woo NDP support in the early days of this upcoming Parliamentary session. The reforms would be introduced in two parts:

• extending benefits to workers who have ‘worked for years’. With no criteria yet formalized, this presumably means that currently ineligible workers who have long paid into the system, but have taken little or no out of it will be made eligible or more eligible.

• extending maternity and paternity leave to the self-employed – a 2008 Conservative platform promise. It should also be noted, carefully, that the Tories estimated the cost of extending these benefits in their platform at $147 million in 2008.

The New Democrats have yet to make a firm commitment to supporting these reforms, due in large part to the fact that there has been no offical document or plan released by the Conservatives in regards to the reforms. These are just rumours. In fact, as I think about it more, I am inclined to believe that the whole thing is a giant posteuring move by the Conservatives to appear progressive and socially-aware during a tense and delicate political time. The Liberals have been put on to the backburner, and the NDP has taken the lead as the most important party in play here. The Bloc has been irreversibly alienated by the Tories since the Coalition issue last winter, and so they play little part in this, I would even suspect the Conservatives turn down the Bloc should they be the only ones to extend their confidence to the Government.

What will be interesting to see is what route the internal factions inside the NDP will take on this issue. The way I see it, they can go both ways and still not compromise the values and morals of the party base. They can be the ones to pull the plug on the Harper Gang and stand tall over the broken and hollow Conservative Government, or they can accept the reforms and make incremental successes in taking progressive consessions out of the Tories, naturally by putting the fear of their own defeat (even more terrifying than God) into their souls.

I, for one, would much prefer to hold off an election until the Liberals can open up a clear majority over the Government, and we will no longer need to achieve progress by resorting to this perverse, yet democratic, coersion that Canadian politics inevitably boils down to.

I thirst for a Canada and a Government I can be proud in. Right now, with our country at dead-last in the UN’s Action on Climate Change scale, with the outrageous failures in our dealing with Canadian citizens outside our borders, we have very little to be proud of. With our unexplainable absence in the dealing with of homelessness, we have very little to brag about.

Canada’s heart has stalled for the last decade. We desperately need a change, but we simply can’t afford the change we need right now.

New Democrats; push for bipartisanship this session – save Canada another useless and risky election. Chances are we will have another Tory Minority. That translates into another ‘mandate’ buzz-word crazed 2 months by Harper and Flarherty.

No one wants that…

By the way, check me out at one of my new thought-storages on the Canadian internet at KnowYourVote.ca.

[Via http://nationalpolitick.wordpress.com]

Here comes a softer, Steve-ier Steve

McLeans Magazine

by Scott Feschuk

Yes, an election is in the air, for our PM, aided by a series of levers and pulleys, is smiling

There’s no longer any doubt: a federal election is on its way. We know this because Stephen Harper has started Giving Something of Himself.

Last time around, we could tell an election was coming when Harper donned a sweater vest and appeared in TV commercials in which he spoke in gentle tones and—aided by a series of levers and pulleys operated by a team of stout men and a pack horse—smiled.

This time he’s taken it up a notch, giving a magazine interview in which he “opens up” about his hopes, his children and the fact that, “When I play the piano, I become very involved emotionally. I’m no longer the same person.” (Spoiler alert: the person he becomes is named Denise and Denise doesn’t take requests, okay?) Another few weeks of laying the groundwork for a campaign and the Prime Minister will be “reluctantly” sharing some of his poetry from a Hello Kitty diary while braiding Lloyd Robertson’s hair.

The interview with Harper, published in Quebec’s Prestige magazine, is quite revealing. “My main preoccupation is not my personal image,” confesses the man who hired a stylist to comb his hair and pick out his ties, “but rather the country’s higher interests.” I think we all know what this means: Harper is getting his stylist to make over the entire country! You know, play down those unsightly bulges out west, spruce up those Prairies and—ugh!—that Canadian Shield has just got to go. It is so 540 million BCE.

The magazine piece features photographs of Harper skating with his son, playing cards with his daughter and building a temple from the bleached skulls of his enemies. (One of these examples may be made up.) But even as the PM rolls out his softer, Steve-ier side in the press, he remains focused on bringing serious, hard-nosed change to the way Ottawa works.

For instance, Liberal prime ministers used to dole out cushy jobs to their party loyalists, but Steve changed all that. Now he doles out cushy jobs to his party loyalists. Status quo, consider your mind blown.

Harper has named donors and party workers to government boards and authorities. He’s named them to government tribunals and commissions. Recently, he named so many close friends and associates to the Senate that we should all be relieved he didn’t accidentally appoint one of his cats. Although that would have given Conservative campaign mastermind Doug Finley—one of the new Senate appointees—something to stroke menacingly while preparing to kill James Bond. Now he’ll have to make do with Mike Duffy.

To be fair, it’s not as though Harper is appointing only party hacks. He’s also appointing a few non-hacks whose job it is to draw attention away from the hacks. Incoming senator Jacques Demers, former coach of the Montreal Canadiens, was so humbled by the honour of serving his country that he immediately asked if he could keep his day job as a hockey analyst. Life as a Canadian senator: drop by if you can squeeze it in.

Harper’s slew of patronage appointments riled those who, adorably, fail to understand that political pledges, especially those regarding integrity and accountability, are the Velveeta of promises—they vaguely resemble the real thing but then on closer inspection, umm, no.

National Post editors were so distressed by the shots being taken at their boy Steve that they rushed to his defence with an editorial, which had all the intellectual heft of the “Leave Britney alone!” video and twice the girlish whimpering. The Post posited that poor, helpless Harper was simply left with no choice—he had to stuff the Senate with senior Conservative party figures. Don’t you understand: he had to! LEAVE STEPHEN ALONE!!

Anyway, Harper’s principles may have gone bye-bye but his reading of the political climate is as savvy as ever. The Liberals do indeed seem poised to force an election this fall. According to reports, the party will soon roll out a “massive” ad campaign designed to let Canadians “get to know” Michael Ignatieff—to help them put their feet in his shoes, their necks in his ascot.

Apparently, Ignatieff has “an inspirational dream” to turn Canadians into the best-educated people on earth by 2017, the 150th anniversary of Confederation. How he plans to deport Don Cherry by then is unclear.

Which brings us back to that interview with the Prime Minister. What earned the attention of headline writers wasn’t Harper’s piano-playing alter ego but rather his assertion that he is more concerned about God’s judgment of his time on earth than historians’ judgment of his time in office.

Frankly, this seems a sensible viewpoint for a man of faith. But that doesn’t mean Stephen Harper is willing to leave that judgment entirely to fate.

Hey God, any interest in sitting in the Senate? You can keep your day job.

There. Now He owes him.

[Via http://charrois.wordpress.com]

Dreams Realized by my Kazakh Students

The following are quotes from my Listening and Notetaking students answering the question: “Have you ever had a dream that was almost unattainable, almost impossible to master? If not, do you know someone in your family or friends who realized their dream?”

 Dreams Realized by Kazakh students

Abylaikhan – I had a dream which was almost unbelievable to make since I was 5.  I wanted to go to NYC and live in the U.S.  But the problem was that I didn’t know nothing in English except for a word “Please.” When I moved to Kryzlorda, I went to a special English language school.  Till ninth grade I was studying hard, and I won a FLEX program.  I got hosted by a wonderful family from ….New York!!! I can’t even express that moment when the organization called me to inform me that! I was so happy and still remember the day! August 16, 2007. (;-)

Nurlan A. One of my friends has always dreamed about studying in the UK.  Particularly he wanted to study economics at one of the top schools in England.  It took him two years to master his English to the level needed and practice subject tests which he needed to pass in order to get admitted.  But good effort and chasing down a dream gave positive results.

Daniya – My cousin wanted to study in London School of Economics.  But it is difficult to enter this university and also her parents didn’t let her go there.  They wanted her to stay in Kazakhstan.  She is studying in KBTU at the International School of Economics.  After she graduates she will have 2 diplomas: diploma of KBTU and diploma of LSE.  This summer she went to London for 3 weeks, for studying at LSE.  She was sent there from her university at the best student.  And she says that her dreams came true.  She studied at LSE even if it was a small time.

 Galimzhan – When I was 18 years old I was dreaming about studying abroad, but had financial problems.  So I started saving money, a year later I won a lottery and spent all that money to go to the U.S.  I passed a few courses of self-esteem and managing money.

 Gaukhar N. – one of my friends is living and studying in Canada now, actually it was his dream many years and finally this dream came true.

 Raushan – I had a dream but I’m not sure that it was so unattainable. I wanted to graduate from school with “Altin Belgi” but everybody, beginning with a headmaster ending with other people, except my class master and friends, didn’t believe that I could do that and they did everything that could help me NOT get “Altin Belgi.”  I think it was like a Rudy’s case.  In spite of these obstacles, I achieved my goal and everybody should go to their dream chasing it.

Aigerim M.  I love dreaming and thinking about my future.  I have many dreams.  In Kazakhstan, after graduating at school, we have a National Test to enter a university.  In school, all my lessons were very good.  I was “5” student, so I had a chance to get “Gold Medal” I don’t know exactly how to say in English.  So, my first dream was to prove my skills in this test and get “Gold Medal” then with our university with a grant.  So, my dream came true.  I’ve realized them.  My National Test score was perfect.  Now I’m studying at our university with Nazarbayev’s scholarship.  My teachers and parents were proud of me.  I was happy, too.  My second dream is to enter Cambridge University for a master.  Third one is to make my parents happy and proud of me. So, I hope that my dreams will be realized.  Of course, it is difficult.  The person should be tolerable for everything despite failures in our difficult life.

Amina – Yes, I had such dream, which I was crazy about.  Actually I had lots of them in my life.  Fortunately I’ve made them reality.  It was VERY HARD, BUT WORTH IT.  The last one was to prepare one totally, not-prepared student for union test.  He got 100/100 in math and 100/100 in physics.  He wanted to have full [ride scholarship?], but his knowledges wasn’t quite enough.

Anar K. Two years ago, I listened about our university and I really wanted to enter in this university.  And I realized my dream, I am so happy!

Aigerim K. – When I studied at school (15 or 16 years old) I really dreamed about returning to my relative’s town of Almaty.  But we lived in Astana.  I thought that it would never happen again that I would live again in Almaty.  But when I passed all exams and entered our university in Almaty, I realized that my parents allowed me to return to Almaty and to live here.

Madiyar – My father had a dream. First of all, I want to tell pre-history.  Ten years ago, my father worked in the theater and his payment was low.  We lived in a small flat. And his dream was to build a big house with a big garden, open his own shop.  Before, he always wanted to be boss.  And his dream was realized maybe because he really wanted it.

Indira – I have never had a dream that was almost unattainable or impossible because I am a realist and I don’t like to dream.  But of course, I know that my sister likes to dream very much and she always realizes her dreams.  She is very clever and self-confident person.  For example, when she was a school girl, she dreamt about studying abroad, and in future work as a translator, she was really interested in Italy.  And now, she really works in Italy as a translator and five years she studied abroad in Russia.

Julia – I don’t think there is anything unattainable.  My aunt finished her school in a small town in Russia (Batagay) then she went to Moscow and started studying in MSU for free.  Those times it was almost impossible (as well as now).  Now she’s an editor in one of Russian magazines.  Her hard working character helped her achieve success.

Elbar – My mother when she was a teenager dreamed to live in a city, (she lived in a village near Almaty), to have a car, own flat, etc.  She didn’t work like all Soviet teenagers, instead of this she studied.  So she went to university, finished, found a good job, by that time she developed in her career and realized her dreams.

Tolegen – To have a dream that I cannot realize, is not me.  I always think realistically, whatever the subject is.  I have a friend who had such a dream; he wanted to leave to Japan and continue his education there, but it was almost impossible, because of lack of money, however, he realized it with an international program for students

Serikzhan – I’ve never had unattainable dreams.  But I have a friend who was eager to be a football player of a professional team. (He ha) It was impossible task.  We all thought that he wouldn’t be able to reach his goals.  But he did!

Karlygash – I had an experience when I really wanted to participate in the science project competition and I really wanted to take a place there.  I dreamt about this and one day my director said that I was chosen to this competition and then I was ready to tell about my project.  At the end, I took third place on Republic competition.

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