Ground Zero, A Tourist Attraction?

A friend sent me a clip of a video link for "God on Trial". The clip is a dramatised dialogue between between Jewish prisoners during WWII at Auschwitz. This is what the brief description on YouTube says about the clip

This video from wimvandenberghe features a scene from the movie "God on Trial," in which Jewish Auschwitz prisoners discuss God's breaking of his covenant with the Jewish people. It's a powerful scene which clarifies God's abuse of Jews.

And here is the clip of the video, I am not embedding it because it doesn't really have anything to do with this entry, except to explain my train of thought. It is still worth the watch.

I was then reminded of an entry a friend made on his blog, The Foley Loaded, where, while visiting Germany he saw The Dachau Nazi concentration camp. I remember being touched by this entry.

From there, for whatever reason, I wondered what's going on with the former site of the World Trade Centre. (Side Note: Because my mind went from concentration camps to 9/11 does not in any way mean I equate the events of September 11 with the Nazi Holocaust - Six million lives lost in agony versus three thousand lives lost does not compare.) After all it has been more than eight years, surely there must be some plans for it? I remember right after September 11, 2001 there was all this rhetoric flying around from much of America saying they were going to rebuild as quickly as possible, they would construct something even bigger as a sign to the terrorists and the world that America will endure and that they will not be cowed by these "cowards".

So I searched the Internet for "Plans for Ground Zero New York" to see if there is an agenda and if so what it is. I clicked on the first non-sponsored search result returned by Google which led me here. Briefly, it outlines some proposed plans followed by loss of investors and insurance money followed by delays followed by more delays and then followed by even more delays.

Then I looked up at Google's sponsored link which said "Ground Zero & Statue Tour". I read it again and the words had not changed. Ground Zero had become a tourist attraction! And for a reason I can't explain, I felt dirty and cheap. So I asked myself why was it that I was bothered by the former site of The World Trade Center being a tourist attraction but when I thought of the Concentration camps of Nazi Germany being the same, my reaction was different?

Was it because 9/11 happened in my lifetime? And I could remember where I was when I found out about the planes crashing in to the towers?

Was it because I had seen the footage of the towers crumbling down over and over and over again?

Was it because this now tourist attraction had led to two wars in two countries?

Was it because I had lost someone in the attacks?

Was it because when I had seen current footage of concentration camps, they had not been not a pile of rumble?

Was it because in my mind, concentration camps were not in the middle of a once devasted city serving as constant reminder to everyone one of its citizens of the most tragic day in recent American history?

Was it simply that I had never been personally affected the Holocaust even though it happened on a grander scale?

Perhaps it's a combination of some or all of the above... I just don't know.

---Update---

You know what I think it is? I think it's because nothing has happened at Ground Zero. I think it's because it's like still like looking at a fresh open wound. If a memorial had been placed or something, I believe it would be a little easier to me to bear. I find there's a certain morbidity looking at it the way it is. The concentration camps have been sanitised and probably no longer smell of decay and loosed bowls and urine while where is the Twin Towers resided, there is nothing but a gaping hole in the ground.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

What The Fuck Man???

U.S. Publisher Takes American Price Off Magazines To Charge Canadians More

Is it dirty pool or simply smart business? Whatever you decide, it's not a story you're likely to read in a magazine. After months of being hammered over Canadians paying higher prices for U.S. goods despite the higher value of the loonie, one American firm has apparently found a way around it - they've simply removed any trace of the U.S. price for their items sold in Canada.

SOURCE: CityNews
H/T: Darrell F.

All protocol and decorum is being abandoned for this entry. WHAT THE FUCK MAN??? I'm truly sick of the Canadian consumer getting screwed at every turn. For years, when I used to buy magazines, I would look upon the USD price with Envy, and for a split second wished that I too lived the in the land of the green-back, but now that the shoe's on the other foot...

The company maintains it was simply trying to end the confusion for Canucks about the price difference and why it was there in the first place.

What a load of ox shit! There was little confusion for the dual priced magazine cover when the USD / CAD exchange rate favoured the Americans. We in Canada knew that the Loonie was not doing so well against the US Dollar, and so we forked out the extra cash. Seems logical, yes? If there is any confusion, it's why when the exchange rate now favours Canadians, do the the American publishers think that we'll keep paying the extra money!

If I still read any American magazines, this alone would be enough for me stop purchasing their rags all together. If Canadians still buy American magazines at "Canadian" prices despite the current exchange, then they deserve to take it up the tail pipe.

Outright ban of Scientology in Germany

German officials want Church of Scientology banned in the country

BERLIN — Top German officials announced Friday that they will seek to outlaw the U.S.-based Church of Scientology.

The announcement came after a two-day conference of interior ministers of Germany's 16 states well as federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.

Berlin Interior Minister Erhart Koerting, who presided over the two-day conference, told reporters that Scientology is an organization that is not compatible with the German constitution.

The German government considers Scientology not a religion but a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people, he added.

The ministers said the planned to ask Germany's domestic intelligence agency to begin preparing the necessary information to ban Scientology.

The agency has had Scientology under observation for a decade on allegations that it “threatens the peaceful democratic order” of the country.

SOURCE: The Globe & Mail (Complete Article)

This is a tough one for me. Although I don't agree with the principles of Scientology / Dianetics, I don't see how any modern nation's constitution can disallow its citizens to practice anything of this nature.

Granted, I can see how anyone would draw issue with a "religious" institution that charges its "congregation" for salvation. And yes I can see how Scientology can be regarded as a money making endeavour,but couldn't the same be said about self-help "gurus" such as Tony Robbins who charge for their endless library of books, cassettes, CDs & DVDs? True, he doesn't tout himself as a religion, and I'm sure he doesn't receive the same tax breaks and benefits that most religious organisations do, but I'm sure you can still buy his media in Germany.

I can see a government refusing to recognise Scientology as a religion and disallowing many of the privileges that religious organisations enjoy. But to ban it outright seems more than just a little dictatorial.

Where have all the good men gone?

I just finished watching "Licence to Wed" and my one word review is, "YUCK". It was sappy, more than predictable and barely funny at best. That's not the point of this entry, but it did get me thinking.

Is it so politically incorrect to have a strong man in a any kind of "couple" type scenario that they have been written off into extinction? Be it on the small screen or the large, men just seem to be portrayed as impotent pansys. They're indecisive, weak-willed putzes that are completely clueless until an ethereal woman graces him with her presence.

When he screws up, and he will screw up, she gets all indignant until he carries out the great romantic gesture that will win her back over. "Fine." One might say, "Fair enough." He screwed up, he should pay for it.

Conversely if she ever screws up or does something less than honourable, that is usually a mechanism for her to find out that he is screwing up, even unknowingly, (the bastard should have known better) and she gets all indignant until the great romantic gesture wins her back over.

It's a pathetic commentary on either the writers or the audiences or both that a needlessly weak character is required to highlight the strengths of the more stalwart one. Alana (my writing sounding board) rightfully points out, "movies would be a lot more engaging with two leads who could hold their own, not one pansy and one hero-type." Two strong leads or even two weak leads in the same film or television show should not need to be mutually exclusive.

The exceedingly sharp contrast in character types either illustrates how writers cannot write in nuance or that the audiences are just too stupid to understand nuance.

Individual Rights v Societal Rights

Students Launch Human Rights Complaints Over School Food Allergies

There are all kinds of deadly weapons that have appeared in schools in the modern era. We've heard of recent knife attacks and gun threats. And then there's the peanut butter sandwich. The lunch bag staple many used to take for granted has become a new threat to some kids who suffer from severe food allergies.

And on Friday, six students from York Region afflicted with the problem announced their intention to file a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission to force their school to re-introduce mandatory bag checks to ensure they're not exposed to any of the substances that can kill them.

The kids, who attend St. Stephen Catholic Elementary School in Woodbridge, insist their rights have been violated after repeated appeals to the principal and the board proved fruitless. The school used to have a policy that had teachers inspecting all lunch bags to ensure they were peanut free. But it became an onerous and expensive process and was eventually abandoned. Now the kids and their parents want it back, arguing it may not be pleasant or easy - but it's better than the alternative.

SOURCE: CityNews (Complete Article)

Hmm, I don't know where I stand on this issue. Although I am all for the safety of kids, I think this might be going too far. I mean if every allergy were catered to in this manner, what would be left? Thinking back to my childhood, I would have starved if all these options were removed.

Milk

Some forms of it can be found in:

• Deli slices,
• Canned tuna (casein, a milk protein),
• Pudding,
• Sour cream,
• Yogurt and custard,
• Margarine,
• Butter used to grill food, which melts into the product and can't be detected

Eggs

Some forms of it can be found in:

• Foam topping on coffee drinks,
• Egg substitutes, despite the name,
• Cooked pastas,
• Soup,
• Mayonnaise,
• Pasta,
• Marshmallows

Peanuts

Some forms of it can be found in:

• Any cooked products made with peanut oil,
• Many ethnic foods, like Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese,
• Baked goods,
• Ice cream,
• Sunflower seeds,
• Chocolate and other candy,
• Chili,
• Donuts and pastries,
• Egg rolls,
• Any product that is made near where peanuts or peanut oil is in use.

Tree Nuts

Some forms of it can be found in:

• Barbeque sauce,
• Cereals,
• Crackers,
• Ice cream,
• Mortadella,
• Pesto,
• Chocolates,
• Hacky sacks or bean bags (non-food items that may contain crushed nut shells.)

Fish

Some forms of it can be found in:

• Caesar salad dressings,
• Steak sauce

Soy

Some forms of it can be found in:

• Baked goods,
• Canned tuna,
• Cereals,
• Crackers,
• Infant formulas,
• Sauces,
• Soups,
• Peanut butter.

Wheat

Some forms of it can be found in:

• Many baked goods,
• Hot dogs,
• Ice cream,
• Imitation crabmeat,
• Couscous,
• Wreaths (a non-food product that may use wheat as part of its decoration)

Shellfish

Some forms of it can be found in:

• Crab,
• Lobster,
• Shrimp,
• Prawns,
• Oysters,
• Some natural or artificial flavourings

Lists courtesy of: Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, Health Canada and various health agencies

I believe that when the allergies get this extreme, the onus should be on the children and parents to protect themselves, even if it means wearing latex gloves all day. This sets a dangerous precedent in that, say for example, I have a child who is allergic to chlorophyll (extreme, I know, but humour me here) can I ask the school to chop down every tree, eliminate every bush and shrub and pave over every blade of grass? Would I be out of line in asking that children with such extreme conditions be home-schooled?

While I am all for individual rights, my common sense tells me to draw a line when they infringe on the rights of a society as a whole.

Silly silly gift card!

Shopping Malls Exempt From Dropping Expiry Dates On Gift Cards

Before you get gift card happy this holiday season, there's something you should know.

You may recall when the Ontario government banned gift cards from having an expiry date back in October because it wants "consumers to know that gift cards are worth the money they paid for them, regardless of when those cards are used," according to Consumer Services Minister Ted McMeekin.

But it looks like that rule won't apply to shopping malls over the shopping frenzy this month as they've been granted a temporary exemption from the new law until the New Year.

Some malls are still charging a $1.50 processing fee, while others are subject to a monthly two dollar maintenance fee.

SOURCE: CityNews

I've never understood why gift cards had expiration dates to begin with. In my mind, that's the equivalent of going to the ATM and withdrawing cash with an expiration date, saying must be spent by xx/xx/xx. I mean come on shopkeepers, I've paid for the card, you have the money, let the bearer spend the card when ever they damn well please. It makes no sense to me.

But then again, I've always thought the concept of gift cards made little sense to begin with. As a comedian, whose name I cannot recall, so aptly put it, and I'm paraphrasing here, you know for the same twenty dollar gift card, you could have gotten me twenty bucks. So much for telling me not to spend it all in one place, it doesn't seem like I have a choice now, do I?

What's worse is it says about the giver that they went all the way to a store, but when they got there, were too lazy to figure out what to get.

Some might argue that giving cash may seem thoughtless and crass. I don't see how it is crass, the value of the card is printed in large bold text for the whole world to see; we know exactly how much it cost. Also, by giving someone a gift card, you're telling them where to shop... that seems a lot less thoughtful.

A thought just occurred to me. If one were to buy, say a $20.00 gift card, after taxes, that should come up to something just shy of $23.00. Now, when the recipient purchases something with that same gift can they buy something with a $20.00 sticker value and simply walk out the store, or would they have to pay taxes on that again? Would the government be double dipping on an item that was essentially only sold once?

Total Recall

This is by no means a complete list. Even, of the side affect listed, I only selected the most severe to illustrate my point.

Drug	Use	Side Affects
Accutane	Acne Medication	Suicidal Depression
Advair	Asthma Medication	Exacerbates Asthma
Avandia	Diabetes	Heart Attack and Heart-related Death
Bextra	Arthritis	Heart Attack and Stroke
Celebrex	Arthritis	Heart Attack
Crestor	Cholesterol	Life Threatening Muscle Failure & Kidney Failure
Ortho Evra	Birth Control Patch	Death Due To Blood Clotting
Paxil	Anti-Depressant	Suicidal Behaviour
Permax	Parkinsons	Heart Valve Damage
Plavix	Anti-Coagulant	Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Procrit	Anaemia	Heart Attack, Blood Clots & Kidney Failure
Risperdal	Schizophrenia	Stroke
Serevent	Asthma	Life Threatening Asthma Attacks & Death
Serzone	Anti-Depressant	Liver Failure & Death
Trasylol	Control Bleeding Of Heart Operation Patients	Doubles The Risk of Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Stroke and Renal Failure
Viagara	Erectile Dysfunction	Heart Attacks, Sudden Cardiac Death
Vioxx	Arthritis	Heart Attack
Xolair	Asthma	Difficulty Breathing
Zelnorm	Irritable Bowel Syndrome	Heart Attack & Stroke
Zicam	Common Cold	Total Loss Of Smell

SOURCE: Defective Drugs

I have a couple of questions:

What the hell are the FDA doing? If this is the stuff they have approved, I dread to think of the drugs they did not approve. When anti-depressants lead to suicide, when asthma medication increases difficulty breathing and promotes severe asthma attacks and when medication that's supposed to aid in a patient's heart surgery recovery causes more damage to the heart, there is definitely something rotten in the State of Denmark.

If all these prescriptions drugs, many of which have not been tested for more than twenty or thirty years, seem to be approved willy nilly, why hasn't Marijuana?

Marijuana has been smoked and ingested in various forms for at least 2500 to 2800 years in the Indian sub-continent alone, and as far as I am aware, there isn't a single weed related death on record. Ganja's medicinal benefits have been proven time and time again, yet Big Pharmacy has the FDA and other regulating bodies by the short and curlies.

A new study published by JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) reveals that Marijuana can kerb the spread of breast cancer, and yet it, in most of the world, it remains only available on street corners.

Too dumb for words

I'm stunned! First Sherri says she doesn't believe in evolution, then she says she doesn't know if the world is round or flat now she's saying NOTHING pre-dates Christianity! Oy vey! I don't know where to begin.

There's is just no defending this kind incompetence. I mean I can't even say she's a mindless Christian drone, because she's not even that. She's Dumb! Even a mindless Christian drone who has read the Bible would know that the ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT pre-dates Christianity. In the words of Bugs Bunny, "Whatta maroon! Whatta ignoranimus!"