You are wrong Mayor Miller

It's Official: All Plastic Bags In T.O. Stores Will Cost You 5 Cents Starting Next June

If your favourite grocery store is No Frills, Food Basics or Price Shopper, this won't really be anything new.

But if you shop at one of the other big chains in Toronto, like Metro or Loblaws, get ready for a change. And that change will be 5 cents.

City Council has passed a law making it mandatory for all stores in Toronto to charge you a nickel for every plastic bag you use.

The idea, which passed Tuesday night, is to get you to reduce the number of bags that inevitably wind up in a landfill and either use up the ones you have now or buy one of those reusable types that are earth friendly.

Mayor David Miller has complained that the carry-alls aren't biodegradable and can last for years and years at garbage dumps. "I'm very proud that Toronto is leading the way," he agrees. "It's the right thing to do."

Source: CityNews (Complete Article)
H/T DARRELL

This story comes via Darrell at NhiCAPS' entry regarding Roger's e-billing.

Although this is a step in the right direction, discouraging the use of Earth unfriendly products, I object to Mr. Mayor's affirmation that "Toronto is leading the way". Toronto is not leading the way, all it is doing is passing a superficial law that will in all likelihood have little affect on consumer behaviour.

Shoppers who buy their groceries at premium supermarkets will most probably not be swayed by the cost of five shopping bags on an eighty dollar shopping trip. As Darrell quite rightly points out, profits garnered from this five cent levy should at the very least be shared with Toronto's recycling facilities. If the Mayor's motivation is indeed our planet, why let the corporations keep 100% of the cash flow generated by this new charge? Why aren't said funds being allocated to improving Toronto's recycling facilities? Or being used to help clean up the city? Or a dozen other things?

Getting back to "Toronto is leading the way" - they are not sir. As of July 21st, 2004, according to the Seattle Post Intelligencer here is a list of cities and countries who, over four and a half years ago began banning or cracking-down on plastic bag usage.

• Australia
• Bangladesh
• Ireland
• Italy
• South Africa
• Taiwan
• Mumbai, India

Leaf Rapids, Manitoba banned plastics bags in April of 2007 and later that year Nigeria and Kenya began spearheading banning plastic bags in Africa. So Toronto is hardly a leader, at least not in this respect.

I do not mean to harp on Toronto. I am proud that she is taking steps to at least try to help clean up the world in which we live, but if Toronto truly wanted to lead she would not stop at half measures that in my opinion reek of nothing more that public relations and photo op shenanigans.

Why Are Cab Fares Still So High?

Early this past summer gasoline prices in Toronto were at about $1.25 per litre. At about the same time, taxi companies increased their cab fares by 17% and the cost simply sitting in a taxi went up from $3.00 to $4.00 citing the increasing value of oil. That was in early June of 2008.

Today the price at the pump is anywhere from $0.69 to $0.75. In six odd months the cost of filling up a vehicle has fallen almost fifty percent, but when I needed to take cab ride last week, as soon I as got in to the car, the fare started at $4.00.

Why is it that the when the price of oil rises, it is reflected at the pumps and all related enterprises almost immediately, but when the opposite happens, everyone is found staring at the grounding whistling and unable to make eye contact?

This is just another example of Canadian consumers either not connecting the dots, or simply being okay with getting robbed blind.

Kevin Smith is Coming to Town

For those of you who are unaware, Apart from directing, acting, writing and producing films, he is also one hell of story teller. In the days of olde, he would have been considered an outstanding bard. He has already done this three times:

1. An Evening With Kevin Smith
2. An Evening with Kevin Smith: Evening Harder
3. Sold Out: A Theevening with Kevin Smith

And now for his fourth appearance he come to The Roy Thompson Hall! Get your tickets now!

Here`s a sample from An Evening with Kevin Smith: Evening Harder

Free Source of Hidden Electricity

Watch Source of Free Electricity in Game Videos  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

I want to try this!

John Safran V The Mormons

Oh the irony!

Mad World - Gary Jules

Love this song, love this video. The whole thing is one continuous shot.

Video Manipulation Like Never Before

I can see a lot of room for abuse with this technology. Nevertheless, very cool stuff.


Interactive Video Object Manipulation from Dan Goldman on Vimeo.

Heart Attack Grill

H/T: Ronnie B.

The Heart Attack Grill`s menu includes such items as the single, double, triple and quadruple bypass burgers, flatliner fries - fried in pure lard, Jolt Cola and no filtre cigarettes. On Sundays they have an event called Sponge Bath Sunday, but refuse to divulge details. And as a final irony, the web-site is called Heart Attack Grill Diet Center.

Ann Coulter's jaw wired shut!

Page Six is reporting that right-wing agitator and controversy-seeker Ann Coulter's jaw is wired tightly shut.

I know, I know. If the report is true, It's almost as if our prayers have been answered.

Apparently it was broken, but by whom, no one seems to be sure. We could hazard a guess, but why throw roses yet.

The blogosphere is already aquiver over the idea of a forced Coulter Moment of Silence.

SOURCE: The Envelope (Complete Article)

H/T Michael B.

If you listen very carefully you can actually hear the planet's Bullshit-O-Metre dropping.

Steady Chicken Head

H/T: Darrell F.

Quoting... Richard Jeni

I'm a Catholic, the same way a cow born in a tree is a bird.
- Richard Jeni

Sign Win

see more pwn and owned pictures

Quantum of Bonds

Bond v. Bond

"Star Wars" - an a cappella tribute to John Williams

This is, simply put, brilliant!

Carl Sagan reads from Pale Blue Dot - Galileo

This further illustrates my point here

Quoting... Jean Kerr

I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?
- Jean Kerr

Cutting Through the Bull - Sarah Palin

I saw Campbell Brown on The Daily Show recently - If what she said on TDS and this short clip above is an accurate cross-section of her new show, No Bias, No Bull; expect to see more clips from her.

A Quick Thought on Evolution v. Creationism

In many parts of The United States of America schools have ceased teaching The Big Bang Theory and The Theory of Evolution in favour of Creationism and Intelligent Design because the The Big Bang Theory and The Theory of Evolution dispute The Bible.

The Bible says:

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day(the sun), and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night: he made the stars also. [Genesis 1:16]

SOURCE: Bible Gateway (King James Version)

So are those same school districts going to stop teaching the fact that there are not two sources of light in the sky, but one? The lesser light is merely a reflection of the greater light. This is not a theory but an observable fact.

And while we're on the subject of Theory, there is a vast difference in the everyday definition of "Theory" and the scientific definition of "Theory" as this video so eloquently explains:

Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven

Say what you will about Tom Cruise but...

Tom Cruise is an amazing actor. Sure his off-screen antics (The Oprah Incident, The Brooke Shields Incident (which he has subsequently apologised for), The Leaked Video Incident) leave much to be desired but that notwithstanding his talent is undeniable.

I just finished watching Tropic Thunder and I have not laughed that hard during a film in a long time. The overall film was funny but Tom Cruise took it to whole new level.

Side Note: Solid performance from Robert Downey Jr and Nick Nolte.

Here are the end credits of Tropic Thunder (No Spoilers)


It is well known that Tom Cruise is a member of the Church of Scientology which tends to turn off many film goers who consequently boycott his work. Personally I too, vehemently disapprove of the Church of Scientology's philosophy and their alleged and otherwise tactics, so when people choose to blackball his flicks, I completely understand.

Here is his selected filmography:

• The Outsiders
• Top Gun
• Rain Man
• Born on the Fourth of July
• A Few God Men
• Interview with a Vampire
• Mission: Impossible
• Collateral
• Mission: Impossible III
• Lions for Lambs

If film goers black list Cruise's work solely based on his religious affiliation, here is something to consider - the following is a short list of members of the Church of Scientology:

• Kirstie Alley (Cheers, Veronica Mars)
• Anne Archer (Privileged, Felon, End Game, Rules of Engagement)
• Beck (Soundtrack for: Grey's Anatomy, Knocked Up, Entourage, Scrubs)
• Catherine Bell (Army Wives, JAG, Bruce Almighty)
• Nancy Cartwright (The Simpsons, Kim Possible, Pinky & The Brain, Anamaniacs)
• Erika Christensen (Six Degrees, Flight Plan, Traffic)
• Jenna Elfman (Looney Toons: Back in Action, Doctor Dolittle, Dharma & Greg)
• Paul Haggis (Quantum of Solace, In the Valley of Elah, Casino Royale, Crash, Million Dollar Baby)
• Isaac Hayes (South Park, Shaft, Hustle & Flow, Reindeer Games)
• Jason Lee (My Name is Earl, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, The Incredibles, Almost Famous)
• Juliete Lewis (Old School, The Way of the Gun, From Dusk 'Till Dawn, The Basketball Diaries)
• Christopher Masterson (Malcolm in the MIddle, Scary Movie 2, American History X)
• Danny Masterson (That 70's Show, Puff Puff Pass)
• Michael Pena (Shooter, World Trade Center, Babel, The Shield)
• Laura Prepon (That 70's Show, October Road, Karla, Halo 2)
• Priscilla Presley (The Naked Gun Trilogy, Dallas)
• Kelly Preston (Death Sentence, Return to Sender, Eulogy, The Cat in the Hat)
• Lee Purcell (The Unknown, Dizzyland, Due South)
• Leah Remini (King of Queens, Old School, Glory Daze)
• Giovanni Ribisi (Perfect Stranger, Flight of the Phoenix, Cold Mountain, Friends)
• Ethan Suplee (My Name is Earl, Fan Boys, Mr. Woodcock, The Butterfly Effect)
• John Travolta (Hair Spray, Wild Hogs, The Punisher, Swordfish, The General's Daughter)

Does this mean people also boycott the aforementioned and their endeavours as well? Or is Tom Cruise simply targeted because he has the highest profile or simply because these days it seems fashionable to hate Tom Cruise. It might be time to separate the person from the artist, else we might miss out on some wonderful entertainment.

Don't Vote & Five Friends

The star studded voting public service announcements - really well done.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

"I can do anything... I was in a boy-band" - Priceless!

Prankin Palin

A couple of Quebec radio show hosts prank call "foreign policy expert" Sarah Palin.

Wassup Circa 2008

KO Special Comment - The Real America

How an Engineer Folds a T-Shirt

How awesome was that?

Shopping Experiences - A Comparison

This is a post I made on my other blog this summer - I went to the price chopper a couple of days ago and thought I should post this on a more public forum...well as public as TFTH gets.

I've always known I've been a bit of a traditionalist, or dare I say: old fashioned, but I had never felt it as hard as I had today. It came to me at the butcher's.

It was a beautiful day today. I meandered my way towards the "market" to acquire some sustenance. I usually shop at the Food Basics for anything not meat related. Tomato Sauces, Rice, Bread, Eggs... whatever. The meat, I buy next door at the organic butcher's. I enjoy shopping at the butcher's and I hate shopping at the Food Basics.

Yes yes yes, the Food Basics have the variety and prices that can't be beat which is all well and good if all you want to do in get in, switch-back in the aisles grab what you came for and stand in line noticing that no one is noticing, no one is making eye contact with anyone let alone striking up a conversation or heaven forbid even simply smiling at anyone and being checked out by a soulless employee who on a good day may offer the perfunctory corporate mandated concept of what passes customer service, so canned, so devoid of kind of personality and more importantly sincerity that you feel dirty afterwards - have at it.

However if you like the idea of walking in to an establishment where upon entry, or first chance thereafter, you are greeted with a smile, eye contact and a words that filled with genuineness and authenticity followed by queries of your dining plan to better aid the cut of meat you buy. If you require ground meat, it's ground right there - as much or as little as you want. No pre-packaged quantities dictating how much you shall make or conversely will have to freeze. It is the kind of place where the sole butcher wears neither an apron nor gloves. But when he cuts the meat with his razor sharp blade and handles the product with his bare hands I cannot describe watching him work and still do it justice, suffice it to say it's poetic.

After reflecting on this, I longed, ached for the old days. I thought if there somewhere I could get my fruits, vegetable and dietary staples that was akin to the shopping experience of the butcher, I would patronise it even if it meant it was farther from home. There's something to said about having a rapport with the people from whom you shop. I left the butcher's smiling. I then went to back to the Food Basics for some mushrooms that I forgotten and after leaving, my smile was lost.

Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip

Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip from Leo Murray on Vimeo.

Time for Some Campaignin'

The Earth is a Beautiful Place*

*Limited Time Offer

-Me

If Canada's political leaders were children

In time for the elections...

Flirting with a Westboro Church man

God Only SEEMS Nonexistent!

Now that my summer hiatus is over, I thought I would begin with this tongue in cheek video.

Unexpected performance

Came across this in my on line travels - very creative and effective.

BBC Exposes Facebook Flaw

EEEK!!! I was going to say my next move is to remove all my applications from my profile, but then realised that my "friends'" profile may contain potential nasty applications. Actually now that I think about it I think I will remove still remove my applications. Even though this probably won't immunize me, I will be sure that I am not infecting others. Damn you Darrell and Alana for introducing me to Facebook! I have reconnected with too many people to just give it up now.

Quoting... Kurt Vonnegut

Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.
- Kurt Vonnegut

Freedom Of Speech By Unlikely Candidate

Court says Ill. student can wear anti-gay T-shirt at school

CHICAGO - A federal appeals court has ruled that a suburban Chicago student should be allowed to wear an anti-gay T-shirt at his high school -- a decision the teen's attorneys describe as a victory for First Amendment rights.

In its ruling, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals instructed the district court to order the Neuqua Valley High School to suspend its ban on the "Be Happy, Not Gay" T-shirt while a civil rights lawsuit in the case proceeds.

SOURCE: The Chicago Tribune

I applaud said decision... I applaud said decision if the atheist kids can wear a T-Shirt saying "God is imaginary" I wonder what The Alliance Defense Fund, the Christian litigation group, would say then? Would they still say: "The court's ruling is a victory for all students seeking to protect their First Amendment rights on a school campus"?

While I realise that fight was more of a battle to preach the Christian word and not really about the First Amendment, I can just as easily see them protesting the atheist kid's T-shirt as that would infringe of their freedom of religion.

Once again I will quote Voltaire as he was more succinct that I can ever be: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

An unfortunate side affect of people saying what ever they want is you don't always hear what you want to hear.

Searchme.com

This is pretty neat. I don't know how efficient it would be when sifting through mass results. I would go in to further detail but I wouldn't want to ruin Searchme for you

Coolest Keyboard

I've seen some pretty cool keyboards, but this one is a strong front runner with programmable LED keys

Thoughts From The Head Is Being Retarded

Okay, judging by the reactions (here and by phone), for some indecipherable reason, my previous post was not considered amusing... at all! Perhaps it is just my warped sense of humour, if you can call it that, but I thought it was hilarious. While I knew some would think I took things too far, I didn't expect them to be in the majority. I suppose it was one of those things that was funnier in my head. My apologies to those who think I crossed the line.

I shall attempt to be more wary with next years edition of dumbschmuckery.

Thoughts From The Head Is Being Retired.

Some may be wondering where I have been for the past five weeks. Well now that it's all over, I am finally at liberty to say. I have been embroiled in a legal battle with the Government of Canada, more specifically Immigration Canada.

A brief history - I emigrated to Canada almost fifteen years ago. About six weeks after arriving in Canada, my father passed away from a heart attack. While I have been eligible for Canadian Citizenship for almost a dozen years, or at least I thought I did, loyalty to my birth nation of Kenya has refrained me becoming a Canuck on paper. However after my recently aborted trip to Kenya, my loyalty succumbed to pragmatism and I bit the bullet and applied for Canadian Citizenship. It is just so much easier to travel as a Canadian than a Kenyan.

I received and filled out the forms as directed. I had all my references and guarantors in order and everything was coming along swimmingly... until I received a call from one Ms. Catherine Stewart. It turns out I have been in the country illegally since my father passed away. Apparently, it was my father who actually emigrated to Canada, and I was only allowed in as his dependant. Since he passed away so shortly after our arrival, it invalidated my status here in Canada. The only problem is no told me. I simply slipped through the cracks of the system. I slipped through so many cracks that I never raised any flags when I applied for jobs, filled out my taxes or required health care - Since, my SIN and OHIP have been rescinded.

So I'm on the phone with Ms. Stewart and saying I was stunned would be the understatement of the decade. Luckily, because I had been here so long, and because I had stayed out of trouble, that is to say, no warrants or even a police record, there was an appeals process. So with the aid of an immigration lawyer I appealed and lost. The panel were very understanding, but because I do not possess any "specialised skills" or have no real ties here, such as a partner or children, they could not see why they should let me stay.

They did however, say that once I am back in Kenya, they will allowed me to apply for permanent residency in Canada without prejudice. They will even push me as far to the front of the list as possible, but, I cannot apply from within Canada.

I have until May 31st to get my affairs in order and leave this great nation. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who read and contributed to my blog. You will be missed. Take care. If I do begin another blog once in Kenya, I will let you all know. Until then take care and appreciate Canada every single day.

April Fool's

Quoting... John Benfield

Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
- John Benfield

Jesus & Mo - Plot

Here's the latest from Jesus & Mo. If the image is fuzzy, click the image for clarity.

This one just SEEPS with irony

And here's the cartoon that started it all.
Never got to see this until today.

Ron Paul Slams Republican Warmongers

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this guy makes more and more sense every time he says something.

KO Special Comment FISA Veto - Feb 14, 2008

A part of what I will say, was said here on Jan. 31. Unfortunately it is both sadder and truer now than it was then.

“Who’s to blame?” Mr. Bush also said this afternoon, “Look, these folks in Congress passed a good bill late last summer.... The problem is, they let the bill expire. My attitude is: If the bill was good enough then, why not pass the bill again?”

Like the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Or Executive Order 90-66. Or The Alien and Sedition Acts. Or slavery.

Mr. Bush, you say that our ability to track terrorist threats will be weakened and our citizens will be in greater danger. Yet you have weakened that ability!

You have subjected us, your citizens, to that greater danger! This, Mr. Bush, is simple enough for even you to understand.

- Keith Olbermann

Source: Countdown with Keith Olbermann (Complete Transcript)

Quoting... Henry J. Tillman

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.
- Henry J. Tillman

Wexler Confronts Condi on Iraq War Lies

Rice is so full of shit, her ass is jealous.

"Taxi To The Dark Side" - Trailer

This documentary murder mystery examines the death of an Afghan taxi driver at Bagram Air Base from injuries inflicted by U.S. soldiers. In an unflinching look at the Bush administration's policy on torture, the filmmaker behind Enron: the Smartest Guys in the Room takes us from a village in Afghanistan to Guantanamo and straight to the White House.

Obama on "60 Minutes"

Progress in Kenya

Kenya constitution 'within year'

Kenya's government and opposition party have agreed to write a new constitution within a year, a government negotiator has said.

Mutula Kilonzo told Reuters news agency that the parties had "reached agreement on a wide-ranging sphere of issues"

The deal comes after talks aimed at bringing an end to the post-election violence which has left at least 1,000 people dead.

Source: BBC News (Complete Article)

So it seems that Kenya is finally making progress in healing and repairing a damaged nation. While I'm overjoyed at this apparent progress, the sceptic in me will reserve judgement until this progress transcends the negotiating table and actually begins to affect the populace. Nevertheless, this is a step the right direction. Good Luck to Kenya and her people.

Kenya Help?

After my last post, readers asked how they could help the situation in Kenya.

Here are some of the usual suspects, plus a few others.

Amnesty International
Canadian Red Cross - Click on "How you can help" on the left.
Save The Children
American Friends of Kenya
Global Impact - This also has a listing of various other charities doing work in Kenya

This is by no means a complete list. If anyone out there is aware of more ways to help, please leave a comment and I will append them to this post - Thanks.

Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?

Quoting... E. B. White

I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White

KO Special Comment on FISA - Jan 31 08

Once again, Olbermann hits the idiot right on the head

The Reality of Kenya circa 2008

Apologies for the graphic image associated with this entry. Regular readers will know that I'm not one to exploit graphic and grisly images but after a friend living in Nairobi sent me this I felt it needed to be seen. She also sent another one that was even more heart breaking but I chose not to utilise it as it may have been too graphic - Take a minute to digest that.

I've been trying to keep apprised of the volatile situation in Kenya by making a concerted effort to read as many news sources on the escalating turbulence in my birth nation and they all have one thing in common - they dispense their stories methodically and clinically.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has called for military solution within Kenya to end the current violence. Quoted by Thursday's Daily Metro, Kagame suggests that a military coup would be the only way to save Kenya from a genocide like what was experienced in Rwanda in 1994.

Source: Africa News (Complete Article)

One can read volumes on the rioting, looting, burning, raping and killing and never ever get a sense the anguish the citizenry are experiencing. Even this single image will not convey the worst of the atrocities, but if it makes you turn away in shock then perhaps the message is getting through, even if ultimately you decide to ignore it and try to put it out of mind, it will not be easy, or at least, it should not be, it may yet stick with you.

Personally, I do not condone the use of shock tactics to send a message. I have always been of the mind, naive as it may be, that with enough time and patience, you can reach someone on an intellectual level, but I fear that Kenya and her people do not have the luxury of either. If doing this makes me a hypocrite, then so be it. I am willing to sacrifice my principles to draw attention to the plight of Kenyans.

To the "leaders" in Kenya, for the love of all that is near and dear to you please, for goodness sake, put aside your petty squabbles and begin healing what was once a good and true nation.

Those dying in Kenya are not the politicians, they are not the rich, and they are simple people whose only mistake is to belong to a certain tribe and not the other. And when all is calm and normal, the leader Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki will remain the leaders of Kenya whether now or in future.

Source: allAfrica.com (Complete Article)

This is a critical time. This is the time when damage can still be minimised. This is the time when the nation can still be saved. If you want to lead this nation, then make it a nation worth leading. There is still time to prevent Kenya from becoming Rwanda circa 1994.

H/T: Sameera K.

Noam Chomsky On CBC

I know I know... More videos, but when it comes to Chomsky, I just can't resist.

PART I


PART II

Noam Chomsky on "Concision" on the North American Media

I know I've been posting a lot of videos lately and I told myself that I would try to kerb that - then I came across this Noam Chomsky video. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - One of the smartest people I have ever come across. This is a must watch!

Didn't I tell you it was a must watch?

Barack Obama interview w/ Keith Olbermann & Chris Mathews

Need An Breast Implant?

Free Breast Implants - Okay this is a new one. This site will find men to donate money to women who want a boob job. And here's a short news segment about it.

Quoting... Atheists

Atheism: A non-prophet organization.
- George Carlin

Which is it, is man one of God’s blunders or is God one of man’s?
- Frederich Nietzsche

If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.
- Albert Einstein

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
- Mohandas K. Gandhi

It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.
- Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

If you gave Falwell an enema, he could be buried in a matchbox.
- Christopher Hitchens

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.
- Karl Marx (Always thought the quote was "Opiate of the masses")

The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one.
- George Bernard Shaw

You’re basically killing each other to see who’s got the better imaginary friend.
- Richard Jeni

The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.
- Delos B. McKown

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime; give a man religion and he will die praying for a fish.
- Unknown

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
- Epicurus

There’s a phrase we live by in America: “In God We Trust”. It’s right there where Jesus would want it: on our money.
- Bill Maher

If I thought the Jews killed God, I’d worship the Jews.
- Bill Hicks

Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.
- Isaac Asimov

1/2 of Caribbean Coral Reefs died in the last year

This just breaks my heart. While I was in Kenya on '05 I picked up my PADI. It was the first time I had been able to go down, up to thirty feet, (up until this point, I was limited to snorkelling and glass-bottomed boats) and see the East African coral reef in all its glory. I was astounded. It has been said that you can see more life in the coral reef in ten minutes than you can see in a tropical rainforest in ten days.

Kenya's coral reefs had been dwindling due to poaching; fortunately, the Kenya government were smart enough to realise that Kenya's bread and butter was vanishing off the ocean floors and banned any kind of poaching from collecting shells and starfish to fishing. I am happy to say that Kenya's coral reefs are in the midst of a resurgence. But now it seems all those effort will have been for naught. After having seen all the beauty the ocean has to offer, there is no other way to put this other than - Hearbreaking

Legislators vote fraud caught on video

While this is scary, it's hardly surprising. What probably concerns me most is how rampant it is and how the violators don't even bother being discrete.

935 Whitehouse Lies That Led To War

I'm surprised that no one had done this before. The Centre For Public Integrity has a searchable database of all the lies.

How Women Get Away With Farting

Tee Hee Hee

I Can't Think Of A Headline For This

I'm rendered completely speechless on this one.

[EDIT]

Thanks to Al who established that this is a hoax. I was debating whether or not to leave this here, but after he said:

So I suppose the funniest part of this whole ordeal would be that Faux News did a segment on something that doesn't even exist.

I chose to keep it.

The Corporate Machine

It's sad because it's true

Mr Ranneberger, The Wise.

So I was perusing The New York Times web-site and came across an article about the violence and post-election riots in Kenya. Here is the opening few paragraphs of that article, the bits in Bold are the parts I would like to draw attention to.

U.S. Envoy Wants Political Pact in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya — The American ambassador to Kenya said Wednesday that his deepest worries about the postelection crisis here were not about Kenyans rampaging in the streets or killing one another because of ethnic hatreds, both of which have claimed hundreds of lives.

Possibly even more dangerous, he said, were the deep rifts among the country’s opposing politicians, who seem “entrenched” and surrounded by “hard-liners.”

“You can never underestimate the ability of just a couple of people to tear a place apart,” said Michael E. Ranneberger, the ambassador, during an interview at his home in Nairobi, the capital.

He said his chief concern was whether Mwai Kibaki, the president, and Raila Odinga, the top opposition leader, were “prepared to rise above themselves and put the interests of the nation ahead of their own personal or their group’s political interest.”

“That is still an unanswered question,” he said.

Source: The New York Times (Complete Article)

Mr. Ranneberger, sir, truer words were never spoken. May I suggest you speak them to your own government?

Violence In Kenya ***Update***

Maybe I've been out of Kenya for too long. Maybe I've lost touch with pulse of my birth nation - actually there's probably no maybe about it. I have.

Regular readers are aware of my attempt to go visit Kenya three weeks ago. Since, I have tried to keep abreast of the goings on in this now struggling East-African nation.



While I'm not privy to the initial trigger of the violence I can't help but ask what the Kenyan Populace is thinking. I understand the frustration of the locals. I grew up under Daniel Moi's regime. I still remember the growing up under all the limitations imposed by the government - true, I was probably still too young to be directly affected by government policies, but I still remember.

At least on some level, I would like to think I can empathise with the Kenyan people - while I do, I don't understand the tactics the understandably disgruntled citizenry are employing. What seems like random and ethnically based violence does so very little for the country as a whole.

A country whose chief source of foreign currency is tourism should hardly be creating the sort of violence that triggers travel advisories.

Kenya was once hailed as a bastion of stability in an otherwise unstable region. It pains me to say this is no longer. Kenya was on the way to becoming a strong nation, both economically and socially and now it seems that this once promising nation has been set back decades in less than one month.

I truly wish the Kenyan people put their frustration in check and try to see the bigger picture of a country called Kenya.

Canada Are Pussies ***UPDATE***

Canada Are Pussies

Canada FM regrets 'torture list'

Mr Bernier said he regretted the embarrassment the manual caused The Canadian foreign minister has apologised for including the US and Israel on a list of states where prisoners are at risk of torture.

Maxime Bernier said the list, which formed part of a manual on torture awareness given to diplomats, "wrongly includes some of our closest allies".

Mr Bernier insisted the manual was not a policy document and did not convey the official views of his government.

The listing was criticised by the US and Israel, who demanded it be changed.

Source: BBC News (Complete Article)

That "headline" is one of the toughest things I've had to write. I hated writing it. However, it had to be written.

I really love this country and I really hate that Canada succumbed to US and Israeli pressure so quickly and easily. Actually it wasn't even really pressure; all it took was moral outrage and indignation. It didn't matter that the US at the very least have conducted state sanctioned torture... discomfiture tactics... enhanced interrogation techniques or what ever the hell euphemistic term they choose to use - all they essentially said was, "How Dare You?" and Canada responded with "Hmm, you present a strong and valid argument, we shall reconsider, after all how can we argue with such well thought out and poignant rhetoric?"

I don't know how it happened or when it began but why do nations just bow to this notion that the US government is beyond reproach? Instead of US outrage stemming from being associated with nations like China and Iran, the outrage should come from them being on that list, associated with China and Iran. And the only way off that list should be from the cessation of torturous activities not the diplomatic equivalent of holding one's breath.



A clip from Fox & Friends talking about Dick Cheney and water-boading.

Jesus & Mo - Piety

Here's the latest from Jesus & Mo. If the image is fuzzy, click the image for clarity.

What the...?

This is an advertisement for the Razr 2 cellular telephone by Motorola. If you haven't seen it, the commercial is enclosed for your convenience.



Okay. Now you've seen it. I'm sorry I had to put you through that. I truly am. I saw this on commercial television and I don't get it. I just don't get it and I used to be in advertising. I get that the phone is so thin it's Razr sharp, but I don't get it. Can someone please explain it to me? Maybe I'm not in the demographic that this advertisement is targeting. What is the point of the ad? Every time I've seen this commercial, I have found myself cringing... Someone... anyone... please tell me what is the point of this ad?

Nobody Gives A Shit

Quoting... Vicomte de Chateaubriand

You are not superior just because you see the world in an odious light.
- Vicomte de Chateaubriand

And the hits just keep on coming...

It seems, the powers that be decided it wasn't enough that I would be at the epicentre of all the brats on a flight out of Toronto, or that I wouldn't even make it to Kenya, or that I would barely make it back to Canada - I guess for a lark, they thought let's hit Shay with a viral infection in the sinuses! Something fun that would keep him coughing all night long, unable to sleep with a vicious headache, congestion, stiff neck, hips and knees - this is shaping up to a just a wonderful fucking year! Feel sorry for me...

Horrible Impression Of Canadian Immigration

Upon my return to Toronto after my very short trip across the pond, I had to go through an extra checkpoint to explain the brevity of my trip. I don't blame them. When it comes to "terror suspects", I hit the trifecta. I was an unshaven Indian chap with a Kenyan Passport who had been out of the country for less than twenty-fours so I don't begrudge the officials for doing what probably needed to be done.

Here is my qualm with Canadian Immigration officials - there was a Nigerian gentleman ahead of me in line who, for whatever reason, walked past the "Wait Here" sign and one of the officials, in a tone seething with sarcasm told him to wait at the "Wait Here" sign. She went on to say the sign was after all, big enough, to laugher from her co-workers.

After my turn at the counter, being unfamiliar with this area, I asked how to get out of there to which the official replied in a tone I can only describe as snarky to follow the big "Exit" signs that were across the room obstructed by security people loitering right in front of them.

Think, for a moment, someone who has never been to Canada before, is greeted in such a manner. What are the chances they would come back? How many would recommend Canada to their friends and relatives as a friendly nation to visit, or worse still, how many would tell their friends and family not to come to Canada?

I always thought Canada to be better than that. Sure, not all officials are like that, but these people represent Canada, more than that, they represent people's first impression of Canada. There is no excuse for this sort of shoddy attitude.

Quoting... Sir Winston Churchill

Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events.
- Sir Winston Churchill

Offensive Drawings

Kids Today!

I'm really beginning to hate kids, more than that, I'm really beginning to hate their parents.

While waiting for my flight to Amsterdam, there were literally a dozen or so screaming children running everywhere by the boarding gate. There were kids crying. There were kids running in to other passengers and there were parents who were simply sitting idly by.

I don't know what it is about parents, but they have this ability to tune out tantrums by their children. I, on the other hand, not being parent, cannot! If anything quite the opposite my ears tend to focus on the noise until if feels like a drill boring in my head.

Once we got on the plane, I had children at my twelve o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock and six o'clock. The child in front of me was as children are supposed to be, seen but not heard. The child at my two o'clock was running up and down the aisle seriously inhibiting the flight attendants - his parent did nothing. The child to my three o'clock was screaming and crying and throwing everything from her colouring book to the food containers in the aisle obstructing the food and drink carts. The flight attendants were forced to play nanny to this spoilt child by cleaning up after her - her parent did nothing. The child behind me had a never ending tantrum, screaming and crying and kicking the seat in front of her which was occupied by a elderly gentleman. After a few minutes of seeing this poor man being jerked forward after every kick, I turned around and politely, but firmly, asked her parents to kindly restrain their child, until I did this - her parents did nothing.

Now I'm not that old. I was born in the mid-seventies and I hate those "when I was kid" type differentiations, but when I was kid, there is no way in hell I would have gotten away with anything like this sort of behaviour. I was raised the way, in my opinion, children should be raised - quietly.

While I dislike gross generalisations, even more, I dislike gross generalisations based on race - I have found that is the children of Africans and Indians who are the worst culprits - Indians more so.

These aren't one time observations, I have noticed this pattern all over the city, but unlike the city where I am able to remove myself from unruly children, an aeroplane is a different matter entirely.

Not being parent, or even being an older sibling to anyone, I can't say I have any solutions that on how to handle children like that. What I can do, is offer what worked for my Mother - a tight slap!

A tight slap on the bottom or my face was always constructive to my social behaviour. Yes, here in North America one would probably be incarcerated for administering such discipline, something I vehemently disagree with but seeing as how the majority of the next generation are being raised, I think it's a policy the government ought to re-think because till this day, I am grateful to my Mother for being the disciplinarian that she was.

Are children getting worse, or are parents getting lazy? It's probably cause and effect. Lazy parenting leads to this kind behaviour.