Happy BC DAY!

Imagined Nation

from the archives of the Western Standard

Canada has become a phony country made up of diverse tribes who have no idea what they're doing together

David Warren - August 8, 2005

"Why do you think Canada is breaking up?" This perfectly straightforward question from a reader took me aback. What appears obvious to me, may not appear so to others; and vice versa.

The short answer is, because there is nothing left to hold it together. Anything that was particular about the country--not about regions but about the country as a whole--has been obviated by government legislation, or put quite purposely into disuse. We are no longer a Dominion; we have a Queen only on paper; our system of Crown-in-Parliament has been negated by the quasi-presidential rule of a succession of "federaste" prime ministers from Quebec. Our history is no longer taught in schools.

We are reduced to waving a Canadian flag--and that is itself an imposture. The current Canada is something that was invented from scratch, in Liberal party advertising agencies, and dates approximately from the invention of that flag, in 1964. But successive Liberal governments could think of nothing with which to replace the old symbols. Hence, a "new Canada," defined by a bunch of nothings.

Ask a Canadian who is waiting for a bus--or more likely for a CAT scan--what Canada means to him, and he will say something like "multiculturalism" or "tolerance" or "universal health care." These are nothings. There is nothing Canadian about any of them. Every postmodern country has all these things, and none of them are worth having.

But this is old news, dating back to Pearson. The late Pierre Trudeau made no secret of his contempt for Canada and Canadians as a national group, and instead put his faith in universal abstractions. We got what we deserved by repeatedly electing him.

Quebec has a linguistic identity. Alberta has a western identity--which by now appears to be shared with the B.C. Interior and much of Saskatchewan. (It is, in fact, what's left of the old English-Canadian identity.) Newfoundland has a Newfoundlandish identity. The Maritimes and Manitoba are resentful, mendicant districts; the North is a kind of environmental reservation; and Ontario exists by default.

I live in Ontario, and so far as I can make out, it is the ultimate zero. It eats, makes money and sleeps. It has no morals, no religion, no culture, no purpose beyond getting to work in the morning. No Ontarian can explain what he stands for, except with negatives. The only thing I see is a smug dislike for anything with a shape. Ontario hates the rest of the country, the West especially, for embodying positive qualities Ontario once had.

And it is Ontario that supports the Liberal party--together with the bought provinces, which live on Ontario's evaporating goodwill (plus money appropriated from the West). It will not vote Conservative for fear that the Conservatives have a "secret agenda," i.e., that they may harbour any opinions at all.

This is why Canada will break up. The Liberal party is absolutely despised by the great majority in Quebec and the West. Ontario will vote to keep it in power, in the full knowledge of the degree of its corruption, for the sake of "national unity." Yet that is the very thing to which another Liberal victory will give the coup de grace.

For Ontario does not even pretend the Liberals are not despised elsewhere. Ontario doesn't care. It doesn't think separatists are serious. It is not even sure the rest of the country exists. Well, it thinks Quebec exists, but that Quebec can be assuaged by saying, "We wuv you."

It is like a husband who doesn't know his wife hates him. Who will be utterly surprised when she sues for divorce.

European countries are still held together by common ethnicities. The United States is held together by a rich, common historical and constitutional heritage, inculcated in children from birth. Canada has become more like an African state, with diverse tribes, and no memory of what they are doing together. We, at least, were something once, but now that is gone. We have become a sleepwalk, a "gay marriage."

Why Beancounters Should Stick To Counting Beans

CGA BC's radio ads are good for a laff anyway.

You've probably heard it by now, the "Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau defined luck as where opportunity and preparation meet" ad from the Certified General Accountants of BC.
Actually, it was Lucius Annaeus Seneca, most of 2000 years earlier who defined luck that way.

Some other news flashes for the CGAs:

Pierre Trudeau did not create the heavens and the earth
Pierre Trudeau did not part the Red Sea
Pierre Trudeau did not invent hockey, beer or pizza.

And Pierre Trudeau did not elect a single MP west of Winnipeg for 16 years, which may cast into doubt the sagacity of invoking his name and memory in your BC ad campaign.

On the other hand:

"Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau expressed his contempt for British Columbians with the famous Salmon Arm Salute."

Work that into the copy, why doncha.

Live Local and Latebreaking

Thomas Anthony Proniuk (seen here with a daughter to be proud of)
may be back out and about soon.

The North Burnaby neighborhood terrorized by last week's pellet gun and bear spray rampage are waiting to hear the results of the suspects second hearing Monday morning in New West.
Will he be heading over with a real rifle this pm? Will he cool his heels in the jug a while more at least?
They're getting hourly reports on Susan Boyle instead.
Weak.

Of Course The People Are Happy With Us

They all vote!

If one had doubted whether the totalitarian impulse is alive and well and abroad in the land, the number of voices clamoring for compulsory voting in the wake of less than half of British Columbians voting last week should remedy that.

This concept is incompatible with individual liberty as it assumes state ownership of the individual, rather like conscription to military service, which in a free society, takes, as Daniel Webster put it, "an exercise of perverse ingenuity to extract slavery from substance of a free government."

Its also instructive to note how popular compulsory voting is with authoritarian governments and governments in general who feel insecure about their legitimacy.

As Filip Palda puts it so well in Vote. Or Else

"The less legitimate politicians feel, the more they try to pass laws that build around their regimes a Potemkin facade of citizen involvement. This is why Soviet Bloc countries forced their citizens to vote. I remember one election day in Prague in the 1970s when my aunt had returned from the polling station. A young man had started shouting that the election was a farce in which he refused to participate. Police whisked him away, perhaps for a lesson in civic duties administered by truncheon. As the fall of the Soviet Bloc showed, government cannot paste a happy face on a political system and hope that people are smiling inside."

Then there are those great defenders of democracy like Team 1040's Don Taylor (who should stick to sports) and CKNW curmudgeon Bruce Allen who figure, in Taylor's professional broadcaster turn of phrase:

"All's (sic) I'm saying is if you didn't vote you got no right to complain."

Apparently, free expression and free association (as opposed to the forced sort) are even more devalued than ever in some people's minds, while taxes of all sorts count for nothing.

As for Bill Bland's assertion that people who disdain the choices on offer should just vote "for someone, for anyone or spoil your ballot", well, every day in every way Bill demonstrates why that nice deep voice of his is so good for reading the news.

Genesis live 1977 - Firth Of Fifth*

STV Goes Down To Defeat

*And so with gods and men the sheep remain inside their pen
though many times they've seen the way to leave.

Verily, They Getteth It Not

Its simply not good enuff to have scofflaws
charged with the governance of British Columbia

BC-STV Debate Made Real Simple

Backroom boys like these don't want you to vote yes.

Need more? Check out Christy Clark, of all people, on STV. Yes, that Christy, the one I've so excoriated so often. Whether it was a visit from three ghosts one night or, as she says, listening to vox populi, Christy's seen the light.
Note especially her mea cupla for her previous opposition to BC-STV,

Then go vote YES on Tuesday.

Illegal in the UK?

But, but, everybody loves the classics! Don't we?

A Brit, an American, a Vietnamese, a Russian and an Israeli are sitting at a bus stop when a reporter approaches doing a 'streeter'.

"Excuse me, may I have your opinions on the shortage of grain in the Third World?"

To which the Brit asks, "What's a 'shortage'?"
The American asks, "What's 'the Third World'?"
The Vietnamese asks, "What's 'grain'?"
The Russian asks, "What's an 'opinion'?"
and the Israeli asks, "What's 'excuse me'?"

Is that someone at the door?

What a Revolting Selection

Please tell me this is just a bad dream.

Let's see, I can take my pick, one of three varieties of poison.

Jane Sterk's Greenies -yeah, right. I experience one of those cognitive dissonances whenever I see Jane 'cause she should be an earnest 9th grader to listen to her. I spoke with her local candidate whose big idea was establishing separate PACs in the schools for parents who don't speak English. The party for hippies.

Carole's Cadre - I don't fall into too, too many of the approved victim groups Carole discriminates in favor of, and as a matter of fact, I hold to all sorts of heretical ideas about equality, individualism ... and I abhor antiSemites. I'd find myself on Minister of Niceness Mabel Elmore's Shortest Shit List in short order no doubt. The totalitarianism of the Non Democratic Party should frighten anyone who thirsts for Liberty (is that someone at the door?) if using that word won't get me dragged in front of an HRC for offending some imam.

Then we have Gordie Campbell's Crew. I had to chuckle the other day when Christy Clarke referred to "conservative voters" voting for Gordie. Gordie is the archetypal Liberal, complete with the stench of corruption, cronyism and the co-option of media magnates.

The fairy tale of Human Induced Global Warming, oops, its not warming anymore? Well, Global Climate Change then induced Gordie to fish ever deeper into taxpayers' pockets. Surely the Hansel and Gretel Tax can't be far behind.

The cruel, absurd, postmodernist shibboleth of 'aboriginal self-government', though struck down emphatically by the courts, has nonetheless been championed relentlessly by the Liberals federally and now Gordie plans to weigh in with his Aboriginal Recognition project, which will be a disaster for BC's economy while, far from doing anything to alleviate the miserable plight of natives, will further impede their integration into modern civilization and make their situation far, far worse, aside from the tribal chiefs, who will get richer.

Conservative? Gordie has a Ministry of Healthy Living! What's next, the Ministry of Optimistic Encouragement? How many zillions of tax dollars can be poured into turning that into some sort of a monster a la Human Rights Commissions?
Twenty years from now, I can see the Ministry of Healthy Living issuing us all chits entitling the bearer to buy so much of this food item, so much of that, all for our own good of course.

Under the ideologues of the Liberals and the NDP BC has become a place where I can sit in the doorway of a shop shooting heroin, but I can't ride my bike without a bucket on my head.

This is reminiscent of the era that produced Social Credit as a BC based alternative whose leader spoke of the paramount importance of the individual. I sure wish we had one of those nowadays.

Which One of These is Not Like the Others?

a)Robert Dziekanski b)Frank Paul c)Ian Bush

Well, if you chose c) Ian Bush, you're correct. Give yourself one of those nice gold stars.
The strange case of Ian Bush's in custody death doesn't feature any video evidence to uh, confirm RCMP Constable Paul Koester's highly intriguing account of how he came to shoot Bush in the back of the head in self defense.

Although there should have been a video cam recording everything that happened, goshdarnit, for some reason the camera wasn't turned on during the crucial time. How hideously inconvenient. I'll bet Stetson'd heads have rolled over it, we just haven't had that briefing from the RCMP yet.

This case then, if nothing else, should have an effect on English usage, which until now has featured the phrase "shot in the back of the head - execution style."
So remember, that's now to be "shot in the back of the head -self-defense style." (I wonder if the style guides will publish new editions to cover this.)

Just ask the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, in whom we all have such confidence.

It Can't Be Helped But There's A Lot Of It About

Vague (at least) suspicion, that is. It hit me again last night as I read:

" ... Sometimes I think he is the naif. Other times I think something much more sinister is afoot."

Thus endeth the wonderful Deborah Gyapong's typically wonderful evisceration of President Bamessiah's recent "New Foundation" speech. I can't help but be struck by how many who hardly qualify as paranoid wingnuts are experiencing dark forebodings too.
Its nice to know we genuine paranoid wingnuts aren't alone in wonderin' about this guy.

Meat Is Murder

Tasty, tasty murder.

So This Is What A "Community Organizer" Does

Apparently, this sort of thing is an expression of Pride in some circles.

Carole the Nice , leader of the Non Democratic Party, had better get a memo out toot sweet to all candidates re: getting one's freak on for all the world to see via one of those incredibly popular narcissistic achievement substitute social networking sites.
Remember the federal NDP candidate who had videos up of himself driving around with a face full of reefers?

Well, now one of Carole's Cadre has weighed in with her very own where do they find these people? moment to wear with her trademark indignant on behalf of working families, women, the disabled ... look.

In Ray Lam's defense, posting weirdo pics of you and your pals is a far cry from endangering public safety by driving impaired (pulling a Gordie in some circles) but one does tend to hope for some shred of mature judgment (a spot of dignity wouldn't be amiss either) in an elected representative, trained seals for the party leaders tho' they be.

So, how does this work, do they have to find another gay guy who looks Asian or is one or the other enuff? What about someone with a visible disablity who's one of the other two? What about a lesbian who's differentially abled, how would she stack up against someone who could tick off 'transgendered', or, how does that whole thing work?

Anyway, fearless leader has said she will be looking into how the NDP screen potential candidates. Oh, that. While its a bit late now for that, still this bunch o' bananas figure they should be running BC.
No, thanks.

Daylight Fading pt MMDCCLXI

Barack Hussein Obama, the successful candidate, grovels to the
King Of Manchuria Saud. The UK's Queen got a pat on the back.

"With a grinning Goliath staggering about sporting a "kick me" sign on his back, even reputed allies joined the fun. Pakistan freed from house arrest A.Q. Khan, the notorious proliferator who sold nuclear technology to North Korea, Libya and Iran. Ten days later, Islamabad capitulated to the Taliban, turning over to its tender mercies the Swat Valley, ..."

Perhaps, but you know, since the normally Obamaphile Washington Post's Charles Krauthammer krauthammered President Hopechange over his "supine diplomacy" back in February, increasingly, the Appeaser-in-Chief's Middle East policy strikes one less and less like 'earnest' (stupid wot's been to university) bungling and more like that of someone who grew up attending a madrassa in somewhere like Indonesia.

How else to make sense of basing American policy on the appalling 2002 Saudi "Peace" Initiative (more properly "Destruction of Israel" Initiative) which hinges on the so-called "Palestinians"'s alleged "right of return" in addition to the two state solution? This would mean of course, not only a state just for the "Palestinians" (we can imagine, I'm sure, what that would be like), but their "right" to overrun Israel in the bargain. Two states indeed. But both Arab.
Hmmmm ... that would make 24, right?

But while His Hopeiness dismisses such revolting developments as Iran hitting the home stretch to nuclear powerdom (probably handy for that wiping Israel off the map thing they're always raving about) as "distractions", his throwing Israel to the wolves will be making the world a far more dangerous place.

The Teleprompter's Sidekick can sing Kumbaya, kow tow, bow, scrape, beg forgiveness, play the lyre while Jerusalem burns ... all he likes, clearly the Israelis have no intention of going down without one hell of a fight.

And then heaven help us all.

No, We're Not Laffing With You ...

Mecca, Mo's first conquest, is the home of Islam's sacred rock in a box.

From AsiaNews -
"Islamic world discusses religious tolerance under Sharia
Mecca (AsiaNews) - Religious tolerance under Sharia and freedom of expression will be two of the central themes of the 19th meeting of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), which will see the presence of experts and scholars of Islamic law from about 60 countries, and will be held at the end of April in Mecca. ..."

In Mecca. Where non-Muslims aren't allowed.
Pretty much says it all, doesn't it?

Another Gordie Campbell Disaster in the Making

Is this guy loaded or something?

"However, land claims and demands for self-government did not originate within the aboriginal population and are not being formulated and implemented by aboriginal peoples themselves. Rather, they are the result of a long historical process in which an ever-expanding, parasitical Aboriginal Industry - first clergy, then consultants, lawyers, and anthropologists - have used the plight of aboriginal peoples to justify a self-serving agenda. The legal and "culturally sensitive" bureaucratic solutions to aboriginal problems that the Industry proposes would continue to keep natives isolated and dependent, thus perpetuating existing social pathologies and, not incidentally, justifying demands for more funding and programs for the Aboriginal Industry.

Widdowson, Frances and Howard, Albert - Disrobing the Aboriginal Industry -
The Deception Behind Indigenous Cultural Preservation pg 9; McGill-Queen's University Press

And now Gordie Campbell has vaguely sketched something out on the back of a coaster, apparently, that will not only pour even more taxpayers' money down the bottomless sinkhole of the AI, it will involve said "ever-expanding, parasitical" cluster of entities in private business enterprises and the development of BC's lands and resources in ways one shudders to contemplate.

Clearly the guy has fallen under the spell woven as the AI's purported premise: that a certain group of people should be condemned to pursue some sort of neolithic way of life, mainly hunting/ gathering, under tribal rule rather than laws etc, all that nasty, brutish and short stuff (romanticized of course) based on their ethnicity, in the midst of 21st century British Columbia.
Cruel and insane are two words that come to mind.

Gordie bit on Human Induced Global Climate Change- hook, line, sinker, rod, right up to the reel he bit. Result? The economic kedge anchor known as the Carbon Tax.

The Law of Unintended Consequences was derived from Gordie Campbell's style of governance, flitting from fashionable fable to fashionable fable, devastation in his wake. The mind reels at where this new big thing of his will lead us all to, but of course, as we should always bear in mind:
the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Afghan Democracy Update

Its not enuff for Afghan women to degrade themselves with burqas and such. They will soon be required by law to submit to rape.

Although readers of this blog could hardly have been surprised by developments, the msm finally discovered something of the true nature of Afcrapistan's "fledgling democracy" when they stumbled on the primitive, repugnant, Sharia-based marital rape law making its way into what that "country" is pleased to call its law books.

Now, when all of 300 women dare show up at a demo against said law, they're promptly pelted with rocks and gravel. Interestingly, the "counterprotesters" as the Daily Mail carefully calls them were hollering "Death to the slaves of the Christians!". Charming.

Seyyed Kambakhsh is still rotting unmentioned in prison for suggesting males and females should be equal under law, but apparently the Afs have finally now at last come up with something truly beyond the Pale. I suppose it was only a matter of time. Still, the whole thing will soon blow over, I mean, wouldn't it be sorta "racist" or something to dwell on it? And besides, what to do about it? Aside from simply pulling out and letting the Afs enjoy the 7th century unhampered, only ensuring they're never again in a position to export any of it?

As this sickening travesty drags on, as the casualties pile up, remember: NATO troops are dying to prop up a regime that more and more resembles what is being set up in the Swat Valley of stout ally Pakistan.

Could this get any crazier?

Liar Liar ...

A BC Liberal Government will push Ottawa for provincial control over BC offshore fisheries, to improve fisheries management and protect jobs.*

It sure sounded good. The trouble is that, rather true to form, Gordie Campbell's government has done the exact opposite of what they campaigned on, turning more control of our dwindling fish stocks over to Ottawa.
Worse yet, they've agreed to let them muck about with our freshwater fish, something BC has never countenanced before.
All this quietly, sneakily one might even say; but then, he was breaking yet another promise so why have the trumpets sounded? Certainly, the online release disappeared quickly enuff. Requests for answers from Burnaby MLAs have gone ignored.

Whether its fish or railways, it seeems Gordie can't divest BC of it fast enuff.


* BC Liberal Party: A New Era for British Columbia

Playoff Hockey Returns!

Its the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be lots of good hockey
and everyone talking
"Lord Stanley this year!"
Its a most opportune time for a beer
Its the most wonderful time of the year

Yet Another Uncomfortable Question for CKNW

Do you people really think sponsoring an appearance by the egregious Sylvia Browne does your station's credibility a shred of good?

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=6&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideoplay%3Fdocid%3D341199810782531049&ei=Vb3iSaWDLJeWswPJ9pjFCA&usg=AFQjCNFqwt_Dupi7CeO6ghW14WUwbp8UMQ

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideoplay%3Fdocid%3D-2777082733543669415&ei=Vb3iSaWDLJeWswPJ9pjFCA&usg=AFQjCNH1u_-jH0oriGcl_03hKqhlqJAykQ

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=5&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhRc4LkBRjIc&ei=Vb3iSaWDLJeWswPJ9pjFCA&usg=AFQjCNEsIWiQcv85_eoBSowLAyPYIe33ww

A Glimpse of the Future?

and in other news, Premier Carole James and Antizionism Minister Mabel Elmore were flown in to a remote area south west of Fort Nelson this morning. There they toured the first of the Province's three new Zionist Reeducation Camps which are opening this month.
Construction of the camps began once the Supreme Court of Canada ruled last year in the Levant case that while some of their best friends are Jewish, nonetheless the scourge of Zionism must be eradicated by any and all means necessary and possible. ...

Oh Carole

You've gone and thrown my vote away*

So, first I absolutely shocked family and friends by announcing that I found myself in the unprecedented situation of intending to vote NDP. I'd voted Green last time knowing Gordie Campbell would win, but hoping a reduced majority and popular vote might inspire him to straighten out and fly right.

Well, that didn't happen of course, instead we've had the carbon tax, more of his endless smooching of Ottawa's backside, an all-out sleaze fest at taxpayers' expense, and on and on ...
It seemed I had no choice but to move my vote to the NDP.

Now I learn that amongst the various left wing loonies on board with Carole the Nice is a particularly virulent Jew-hater, one Mable Elmore by name. Ms Elmore apparently can't simply shut up and drive the bus, she has to battle "Zionists" in her workplace as well.
Uh huh.

Well, so much for voting NDP. Now what do I do? Until BC has our own version of the PQ, thanks to Willie Woodenshoes, there's really not a party that's anything like a natural fit for me, I always have to hold my nose; but Carole James has seen to it I won't be voting NDP this May.

*apologies to Chuck Berry

Calexico - Cruel

Wonderful Cali-Mex indie band.

TOTUS Now Has Own Blog

If you haven't found it yet, President Obamessiah's trusty teleprompter now has its very own blog and its pretty funny stuff.

http://baracksteleprompter.blogspot.com/

Rick Mercer's Apology To America

I am truly regretful and I apologize without reservation for the torrent of ridicule and mockery I have poured on you over the years, America. I realize now, too late I admit, that my antics have been those of a puerile ingrate.

Your country's blood and treasure have ensured my country's security and allowed us to spend our money on, well, the CBC for one thing, which has allowed me to avoid fulfilling the yearbook prediction:
"Most likely to be working at Walmart 20 years from now".

My gratuitous stereotyping displayed a deep ignorance of the US and its citizens and only helped fuel the mindless anti-Americanism that is one of the least appealing aspects of my country's rather pathetic

Huh? What's that? I dreamed that? It didn't happen?
Well, then why did this guy apologize?


http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/world/2009/03/24/8860806-sun.html

After all, turnabout is fair play.

BCTF Needs To Be More Clear?

It just seems so many of their members don't comprehend that 'screw the students' is a philosophical statement, not a directive.

News Flash! US Pres Stressful, Demanding Job

Who knew? I mean really, who knew?

Three whole months into his presidency Barack Obama is greying rapidly, showing weariness and flashes of irritation and has been, according to "allies" of his, surprised at "the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk."
As one source close to his inner circle puts it "Obama is overwhelmed."

This is truly amazing, as during the election campaign, anyone who questioned whether Obamessiah had the sort of executive experience needed for what might just be the most stressful and demanding job on Earth were derided and reminded that he had been "a community organizer just like Jesus" in the immortal words of distinguished New Testament scholar Susan Sarandon.

"A Democratic strategist, who is friends with several senior White House aides, revealed that the president has regularly appeared worn out and drawn during evening work sessions with senior staff in the West Wing and has been forced to make decisions more quickly than he is comfortable.
He said that on several occasions the president has had to hurry back from eating dinner with his family in the residence and then tucking his daughters in to bed, to conduct urgent government business. Matters are not helped by the pledge to give up smoking."

It might be better to put that whole quitting ciggies thing on hold for a while. At this rate, President Barry might just wind up dealing with the stress of it all by going back to smoking dope and snorting coke; after all, it got him through school.

Still, that might make for interesting press conferences, especially when he has to do without his beloved teleprompter.

"Mr President, Mr President, what about reports that Iran will soon have the bomb?"
"Well, that's no big deal, they invented the hookah, didn't they?"
"Not the bong, Mr President, the Bomb, nuclear weapons."
"Oh .. oh .. yeah .. that ... right ... well ... uh ... (*sniffle*) ... Maybe its like in Lord of the Rings, you know, when Gandalf and Pippin are in Gondor just before the big battle and Pippin's like "I'm so shit scared, Gandalf", and Gandalf is like all, you know... (*sniffle*) ... Hey, have you guys ever wondered if maybe this whole universe could be just you know, like, a molecule in some other bigger universe which is like a molecule in like another ... uh (*sniffle*) .... what was the question?"

Oh yes, could be interesting times ahead indeed.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

In keeping with this blog's tradition, here's the Pogues and the Dubliners joining forces for auld favorite The Irish Rover.
Erin Go Bragh!

Who's In Charge Here?

"L' État c'est Moi."

1-800-395-8813

Well, many of us now have a new phone pest calling without leaving a message, often many times a day. The number is 1-800-395-8813

The caller is:
Gemma Communications
375-700 Lawrence Ave. West,
Toronto, Ontario
M6A 3B4

Ph#416-256-1800
fx#416-256-6499

calling for Rogers.

A loophole in the Do Not Call list allows you to be pestered by telemarketers on behalf of firms you've done business with in the past 18 months.

Rather ironically, Gemma's website states "Relationships with your customers are largely defined by the quality of a customer's experience during each contact."

It might be a good idea to let Rogers also know what you think of this sort of "contact".

Thousands of Muslims March for Liberty, Condemn "All Forms of Jihad"

Had you going for a moment there, didn't I? No?

Come to it, since the Islamic threat consists of nothing more than a few fringe loonies who misunderstand a Religion of Peace, why don't we hear from the great silent majority that is "moderate Islam"?
Why aren't they marching in the streets pouring condemnation on those who misunderstand and disgrace the RoP?
Curious.

Oh, and in case you're the one who hasn't heard by now, the kooks in the pic are that bunch in Luton who abused British troops returning from Iraq last week. These are the sort of Muslims that hit (and throw) the bricks at the drop of the proverbial hijab anywhere, any time.

The truly charming bit is that these were homegrown problems, every one of them, "British" under law as in born and grew up in Britain; the problem is they don't identify as British, their identity comes from Islam, they loudly call for Sharia law to replace British law in the same way as the British national self-identity has been all but eradicated in the name of multiculturalism.

And of course, the UK is by no means alone in growing their own Islamofascists.
Who could forget the plot to behead Harpo? I'll bet he remembers.


And in a no doubt unrelated story...

BC Muslim Association to Host Koran Memorization Contest

"Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends." (Q 5:51)

"Muhammad is God's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another." (Q 48:29)

O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him). (Q 9:123)

Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a (fierce) slaughter. (Q 33:61)

Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. (Q 9:5)

...

You Know, I've Always Been a Dreamer

The Most Open, Accountable Government?

That was the promise. Of course, Gordie Campbell also promised not to sell BC Rail, so that's what his promises are worth. Here's his open, accountable henchman Wally Awful earning his nickname - "Stonewally".



Thanks to publiceyetelevision and kudos for their continuing good work. And by the way, I wonder if any of Gordie's crew have aides who are middle aged, not so great looking guys. Just wonderin'.

Poetic Justice At Work

"... 'tis the sport to have the enginer Hoist with his own petard ..."

Khadija Abdul Qahaar, formerly Bev Giesbrecht, a self-described "level-headed, capable woman" reacted to 9/11 by channeling her hatred of George Bush into a novel direction: she converted to Islam, changed her name and set about, as her website, "Jihad Unspun" puts it: "informing the public about some of the things (she) had come to know and to give voice to the other side of war on “terrorism”."

Well, she's in a great position to hear her Taliban heros' "voice" nowadays, having so far spent about a year as their prisoner, guest, having been grabbed, invited round while doing a documentary for, of course, Al-Jazeera.

Oddly enuff, Khadija seems to have fallen victim to the common, Bush-induced delusion that her hosts are to be feared. Certainly, she looked and sounded pretty shaky in her recent video appearance, almost as if she was afraid of the two victims of American foreign policy standing by her with automatic weapons.

She even claimed to have been "kidnapped" by the Taliban, ridiculous of course, as that's the sort of thing terrorists do; and Bev, I mean, Khadija knows better.
Just read her website.

Foreign Affairs says they're "pursuing all appropriate channels" to assist in her "release". Meanwhile, The Canadian Association of Journalists is urging Harpo to secure her "release".

That's just silly of course, its just buying into the "war on terror" any canerdian 'journalist' worth their salt sees through all the time.
I'm hoping you'll join your correspondent in urging Ottawa to let the Taliban take care of their own.
You can drop the minister a line at Lawrence.cannon@international.gc.ca

Peter Gabriel - Humdrum

Live on Rockpalast *- 1978

*One wonders if "Hun" drum was just a typo.

Afghan Democracy Update

Afghanistan's Supreme Court has upheld the 20 year sentence handed to Seyyed Parwiz Kambakhsh for suggesting that men and women are equal. In Afcrapistan apparently, this is something called "blasphemy".

So, this is the sort of Sharia Lite which NATO troops are dying to prop up. Seems rather like the Taliban with a bit better pr advice.

Kambakhsh's brother has made the rounds of European countries trying to drum up support abroad. Among those waving their hands and doing nothing, Italy's under-secretary for foreign affairs, Alfredo Mantica, offered up this gem, "It's a fact that Afghanistan's courts are strongly influenced by the religious authorities."

No kidding.

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=3.0.3085587696

Mayor Green Acres

Van-couver is the place to be.
Fa-arm livin' in the Big City.
Rats, coons in every chicken coop.
City people shovelin' chicken poop.

1-803-265-9898

Been getting those auto calls with the message you've won a cruise? Pestered by mystery calls from "1-803-265-9898"? The source of this irritation is in Beech Island, South Carolina, and their current phone carrier is:

NuVox Communications Corp
2N. Main St.
Greenville SC. 29601
Phone: 864-672-5000
Fax: 864-672-5305

abuse@nuvox.com

http://www.nuvox.com/Feedback/index.php

Remember to allow for the time zone difference if you plan on calling at dinnertime.

Unelected, Unaccountable, Unknown

Crown prosecutor Teresa Mitchell-Banks - for not at least trying to get gangster Johnny Porker and his idiot pal locked up.
Judge Pedro de Couto - for not manning up despite the lack of effort from the "prosecution" (yeah, right) and getting these two behind bars, no bail, halo, non, nyet, fahgeddaboudit anyway. Do the right thing. Surprise the hell out of me for a change.

BC Supreme Court "Justice" (sure) Deborah Satanove - for handing Jaren Feser a conditional sentence of two years less a day to be followed by 18 months probation for driving drunk and damn near killing six people.
"Prosecutor" Tara Laker for her "joint submission" with the defence that a conditional sentence would be “appropriate”. Way to play hardball there, Tara.

Hyas mahsie to you all, big, big thanks on behalf of a grateful public who know our safety is paramount with you.

Big Surprise! Bacon Brother Bailed!

The Bacon brothers are only a public menace, no reason for canerduh's loony legal system to lock them up.

Shocked I wasn't that the judge would let these two specimens, Jonathon Bacon and Dennis Karbovanec, walk out on bail.
The surprise was in learning that the "crown" hadn't even tried to have them denied bail.

This after Gordie Campbell's AG Wally Awful assured the public "my prosecutor will do the proper job". Presumably that means Ol' Wal approves of having Johnny Pork and his pal grounded overnight and forced to have messages relayed, which is what the requirements boil down to, without so much as a whimper from his prosecutor (your words, Wal).

At least we have the comfort of being assured that police, already stretched to breaking, will be deployed in watching these two, both of who have endless records for gun and drug offenses, 24/7. Right.

And I can't help but notice that once again, coverage of this outrage omits mention of the judge and prosecutor's names. Why? Let them be known, these people who hold public safety in such low regard, let's see their faces, let's know their names.

The Religion of Peace -BC Division

Blasphemy is more grievous than bloodshed. (Q 2:192)

“What freedom? No one has that type of freedom. There is always a limit to it. For example, could you just drive by in a red light because you felt like it, because you have the freedom to do as you wish?”
- Shaykh Ahmad Shehab on the relative threat to life and limb posed by reckless driving and the Danish Motoons.

Inshallah, Shayk Shehab will be the "special guest" at an upcoming fundraiser for the Surrey Muslim School. This promises to be a fascinating evening as the special guest is apparently quite the polymath, being not only well, ahem, versed in Islam's views on free expression, but an expert on marriage, as well as the dangers of black magic and possession by jinns.

One can't help but wonder how these topics are covered at the school, which lists amongst its goals cultivating their students into "ambassadors of Islam."

On the other hand, the BC Muslim Association, which runs the school, may well be alerting everyone to their complete disagreement with Shehab's teachings on one of the basic freedoms on which Western Civilization is based, and making sure they don't make their poisonous way into the curriculum, since we all know (or should) where that sort of thing leads.

Anyway, one thing's for sure, if I'm ever possessed by a jinn, I'll know just where to turn.

Spike Jones and His City Slickers

Cocktails For Two

This classic short (nowadays its called a "music video", I believe) is from 1945. The song was written in 1934 and celebrates the end of alcohol Prohibition in '33.

In a classic case of mixed feelings, 'tis said one of the tune's composers, Sam Coslow, seriously hated Spike's, uh, irreverent take on his tune, but did have to admit he enjoyed banking all those lovely royalty checks (mmmmm ... royalty checks.)

The Right Guy for the Job -Yessiree

So they like bingo in Nanaimo, there's a lot of old people,
I mean, senior citizens, there. So, what?

Why the hell would I put a rail on the deck? That would spoil the view.

The genius that is Mike Harcourt will be safely ensconced in an ivory tower (with railings one hopes), dispensing wisdom on all matters green, livable and sustainable. This can only be a good thing as the brilliant, insightful ideas he will no doubt be contributing to UBC's new "Continuing Studies Centre for Sustainability" and Mayor Happyplanet's "Greenest City Action Team" (those people in Vancouver sure elect some winners, don't they? I have a feeling Action Man is going to be a lotta laffs. But I digress ...) will be incorporated into reports and learned papers that will be, as such are, studiously ignored by those who actually make the decisions in the real world where things cost money and people don't all want to live in 500 square foot apartments.
At worst, he may spawn a new irritating buzzword.

And really, Mike well away from the levers of power is by far the safest thing for all concerned, isn't it?
Finally, some good news.


http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=638a3a2f-e1e9-4aee-8c27-40dbe2514939

http://digital.theprovince.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Another Uncomfortable Question for CKNW

How can the business partner and spouse of a top drawer Liberal Party apparatchik possibly provide her listener with objective, disinterested coverage of that party?

In Memory of Charles Lillard

February 26, 1944 - March 27, 1997

Another BC national treasure, Terry Glavin (my favorite leftie) suggests honoring Lillard with the words of an old Chinook song:

Elip naika nanitch
Sitka, maika illahie.
Cultus spose naika memaloost
yukwa elip.

I have seen
Sitka, your country.
Nevermind if I die
here now.

Artist Bosch Fawstin Riffs on Spartacus

http://fawstin.blogspot.com/2009/01/im-geert-wilders.html

Melanie Phillips on Geert Wilders and the Fall of the UK

"... So let’s get this straight. The British government allows people to march through British streets screaming support for Hamas, it allows Hizb ut Tahrir to recruit on campus for the jihad against Britain and the west, it takes no action against a Muslim peer who threatens mass intimidation of Parliament, but it bans from the country a member of parliament of a European democracy who wishes to address the British Parliament on the threat to life and liberty in the west from religious fascism. ..."

http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/3344161/britain-capitulates-to-terror.thtml

D'Oh Dhimmi Canerduh

Some are clearly more equal than others in canerduh.

Not surprisingly, John Simpson has had his human rights complaint thrown out by BC's kangaroo court, I mean, Human Rights Commission.

Simpson had complained about the many verses of the Koran which call on all Muslims to hate, kill, conquer, humiliate and generally not treat Jews and Christians particularly well.

However, while Section 7 of the Human Rights Code states that a person must not publish any statement that is likely to expose a person or group to hatred or contempt because of their religion, Commissar Barbara Humphreys managed to invent a loophole, ruling Simpson didn't explain how the Koran had a negative impact on him, a novel interpretation of Section 7, to put it mildly.

Now, don't get me wrong, I consider the whole Human Rights Commission racket an assault on freedom, free speech sacrificed to the bullshit, counterfeit "right to not be offended" claimed so frequently nowadays, so frequently, as in the Mark Steyn - Mclean's case, in the cause of stealth jihad.

However, fair is fair, and Commissar Simpson's twisting of the rules is just the latest example of the bias these kangaroo courts operate under. They'll go after some obscure Christian pastor and ban him from ever again publicizing in any way his (loony I think) views on homosexuals, while somehow managing to wink at:

O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him). (Q 9:123)

Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a (fierce) slaughter. (Q 33:61)

Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. (Q 9:5)

and on and on ....

Apparently, sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander in the crazy world of human rights commissioners.
Proof yet again that its time to scrap the whole thing.

Afghan Democracy Update

Getting tough for the Taliban to grasp that they're losing the war?

I mean, they are losing, aren't they? So we're told; but then there's all this sort of thing:

"Jail upheld in Afghan Koran case
An Afghanistan appeal court has upheld 20-year jail terms for two men who published a translation of the Koran. ...
The men were convicted of modifying the Muslim holy book into Persian while not including the original Arabic text. ...
Together with the prosecution they had called for the death penalty, but the three-judge panel upheld a lower court's decision to sentence them each to 20 years' imprisonment. ..."

All this medieval insanity going on under the aegis of a government NATO countries are sacrificing young lives to prop up, all in the cause of saving the Afghans from themselves.

Churchill on the Religion of Peace

That strange sound you've been wondering about lately is this man spinning in his grave

“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity.

The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities - but the influence of the religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”

— Winston Churchill, from The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).

Marillion - Sugar Mice

Underappreciated group was a rare bright spot in the 80s.

Its All About Priorities

Just follow the money -to the Fat Man.

Burnaby residents frightened for their family's safety in the midst of the current gang war may have been somewhat depressed this week when CKNW's Marcello Bernardo reminded us that Burnaby RCMP are the lowest paid cops in the Lower Mainland.

A look at the books further reveals that in the five years ending Dec 31 '07 Burnaby's capital expenditure for the chronically understaffed Burnaby RCMP was dwarfed by such priorities as recycling, "cultural services", the bicycle program, the "urban trails" so popular with those looking to escape police ...

On the other hand, Mayor Three Chins and his pals on council are among the very best paid in the Lower Mainland; and those annual automatic raises don't hurt (them) either. What's more, these self-proclaimed socialists get a good chunk of that tax free, Comrade.
Nice.
It sure is heartening to the rest of us to know our tax money is being wisely allocated, isn't it, Burnaby?

http://www.burnaby.ca/__shared/assets/Budget_-_2007_Financial_Report4601.pdf?method=1

http://www.newwestcity.ca/cityhall/Leg_Info/Electronic_Packages/2008/0121_Jan21/CW/Reports/CW3.pdf