Joke Of The Month

-----Dear Tech Support:

Last year I upgraded from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0. I soon noticed that the new program began unexpected child processing that took up a lot of space and valuable resources .

In addition, Wife 1.0 installed itself into all other programs and now monitors all other system activity. Applications such as Poker Night 10.3, Football 5.0 , Hunting and Fishing 7.5 , and Golfing 3.6.

I can't seem to keep Wife 1.0 in the background while attempting to run my favorite applications. I'm thinking about going back to Girlfriend 7.0 , but the uninstall doesn't work on Wife 1.0 . Please help!

Thanks,
Troubled User.....

_____________________________________
REPLY:
Dear Troubled User:

This is a very common problem that men complain about.

Many people upgrade from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0, thinking that it is just a Utilities and Entertainment program. Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM and is designed by its Creator to run EVERYTHING!!!

It is also impossible to delete Wife 1.0 and to return to Girlfriend 7.0 . It is impossible to uninstall, or purge the program files from the system once installed.

You cannot go back to Girlfriend 7.0 because Wife 1.0 is designed to not allow this. Look in your Wife 1.0 manual under Warnings-Alimony/Child Support . I recommend that you keep Wife 1.0 and work on improving the situation.

I suggest installing the background application "Yes Dear" to alleviate software augmentation.

The best course of action is to enter the command C:\APOLOGIZE! because ultimately you will have to give the APOLOGIZE command before the system will return to normal anyway.

Wife 1.0 is a great program, but it tends to be very high maintenance . Wife 1.0 comes with several support programs, such as Clean and Sweep 3.0 , Cook It 1.5 and Do Bills 4.2 .

However, be very careful how you use these programs. Improper use will cause the system to launch the program Nag Nag 9.5 . Once this happens, the only way to improve the performance of Wife 1.0 is to purchase additional software. I recommend Flowers 2.1 and Diamonds 5.0!

WARNING!!! DO NOT, under any circumstances, install Secretary With Short Skirt 3.3 . This application is not supported by Wife 1.0 and will cause irreversible damage to the operating system!

Best of luck,

Tech Support

The Arar Incident

If you've been following my posts at all you'll know that I'm not a huge fan of conservative politics or their leaders.

But I have to praise Steven Harper and our current government in the way they settled the case of Maher Arar.

Briefly, Arar, a Canadian citizen, was kidnapped for no reason by the US authorities as he entered the United States. He was then sourced out to Syria where he was confined and tortured before being released.

The RCMP was also implicated in the kidnapping by providing US authorities with false information on Mr. Arar. That resulted with the disgraced resignation of the Commissioner of the RCMP.

The story as told by the CBC can be found here.

The Canadian Government has realised the severe injustice that this man has suffered and has compensated him with $10 million Cdn dollars along with a sincere apology for the part that Canadian officials had in the travesty.

While money can never reclaim the horror this man has had to endure, at least he now has the means to restart his family life.

The United States, in their stubborn hysteria over "the terrorists", have refused to acknowledge that they have wronged this man.

Not only that, but they still consider him a terrorist suspect for "their own reasons". Reasons that they refuse to indulge, because there aren't any.

Mr. Arar has been investigated to the ends of the earth. No terrorist link has ever been found other than the fact that he is of Arabic descent.

Does anyone think that the Canadian Government would fork over $10,000,000 dollars to someone suspected of being a terrorist?

I'm glad the amount was so large, because it represents a substantial slap in the face to the United States as much as anything else.

Good for you Canada. Shame on you America.

Mac vs. PC

I currently own and use two Apple iMacs and two PCs using Windows XP. I think it's safe to say that I am fit to make a proper comparison between the two systems.

Apple has somehow managed, over the years, to establish a phenomenal amount of Brand Loyalty among their customers. Even when they were down and out with what seemed like overpriced and relatively slow computers when compared with Windows based PCs.

I've owned personal computers since 1988 but only purchased my first Mac in 2003 when Apple introduced the 17" flat screen iMac on the swivel head. The design was and still is (it's in my living room) beautifully elegant and functional.

This particular computer is used daily as I surf the Net while watching evening TV. By today's Standards it's not a fast machine. But it has one endearing quality. It's rock solid reliable and stable.

How many times have you had to yank the plug out of your Windows Computers over the years to reset the machines because they just froze up or some other inexplicable occurrence happened which stopped you in your tracks?

For me, too many to count. In the 3.5 years I've owned my iMac I can think of maybe twice.

Its like comparing a Toyota Corolla with a Chevrolet Cavalier. Few things are more comforting than reliability and that's what the Macs offer.

In almost every area: Design, "Coolness" Factor, Ease of Use, Embedded Software, Reliability and now even hardware, the Macs seem superior.

Up until recently the one thing the Macs never could compete with was speed. PC's were always faster.

But that's over now. I have the new iMac with the Core 2 Duo chip by Intel and I can say that this is one speedy machine.

Yes, it cost more than a PC but I got more. I firmly believe you get what you pay for in life and if you want something of quality you have to pay for it.

I still use my Windows Computers. There is some software out there that you have to have and will only run on a Windows machine.

For Gaming, Windows PCs still rule and I think will always rule. Sadly I would never recommend anyone going it alone with just an Apple computer.

In this world a Windows based PC is a necessity, thankfully you can pick one up for a few hundred bucks that will suit most needs.

Yes we can install Windows XP on our Intel based Macs. But do I really want to give Bill Gates $250 so I can run his inferior program on my superior machine?

Hmmm... I have to think about that one.

And finally, who would you rather invite to your party? Bill Gates or Steve Jobs?

Consumers and Rebates

Regarding this CBC Website article.

There has been several reports in various media lately about the technique of Consumer Rebates that many stores, especially electronics stores like Future Shop, use.

Rebates from anywhere between $10 and $200 can be had if you go through the process.

For some reason Consumer Advocates think this system is flawed and deceptive. They report that the prices advertised include the rebates and are misleading to the Consumers.

They also say that the process of redeeming the rebates is too complicated and that you might have to wait several weeks to get your money back.

And that if you don't fill out your rebates properly, you might not receive it.

And the most astounding fact, which I find very hard to believe: "Typically, less than 10 per cent of Canadians claim the rebates they are entitled to."

Which means that 90% of the people that have made purchases with available rebates are really, really Stupid.

So here are the facts. A company is offering you, say $100, to purchase their product. All they ask you to do is fill out a simple form (I know it's simple because I've done it several times) and mail it in.

A few weeks later, after you've forgotten all about it, you get a nice check in the mail that you weren't even expecting.

Tell me, what's so hard about that? There is absolutely nothing complicated about the process. So they ask you to do it right. Isn't that a reasonable request?

Over the years I have submitted maybe 15 to 25 rebates and I can't ever remember being cheated on one.

Would you rather pay the full price? If you would rather pay an extra $100 just because you can't be bothered spending 5 minutes to fill out a form and wait a few weeks, then you are one dumb F***.

I can't believe the things people whine about. Even when they are offered money they still cry foul.

People continue to astound me.

Pickton, Pickton, Pickton

It's just the first day of the trial and I'm already tired of it. The media Feeding Frenzy has started.

I'm currently 20 minutes into watching the 6 O'Clock Global News and they are still talking about it. The news people may think it's sensational, but I think most, like me, think it's BORING!

Isn't there any real news out there?

It was reported that some "spectators" and/or victim family members had to leave the court proceedings in disgust and nausea after hearing of some of the alleged horrors.

What did they expect to hear? Goldilocks and the Three Bears?

Charities

I just got an email from someone I work with asking for a pledge for some bowling thing with the money going to Big Brothers and Sisters.

No Thanks.

I do not give to charitable causes of any kind.

Why?

Because I don't trust charities to spend the money properly (i.e. putting it in their own pockets).

Because Charities have become Big Business with Fund Raisers getting most of the "funds".

Because there are very few really deserving charities.

Because I don't make a lot of money and charity begins at home and, in my case, ends there.

Ok, so I may be greedy and selfish too.

People are usually guilted into giving. I try not to believe in guilt, so that tactic doesn't work on me.

As Polonius said to Laertes: Neither a borrower nor a lender be.

Sorry Charities, please move on.

YouTube For Adults

It was bound to happen. You may know that mainstream sites like YouTube do not allow nudity or blatantly sexually videos being uploaded or shown.

Obviously there is a huge vacant market there for the taking.

And it's getting filled. Shufuni and YuVuTu are a couple of sites I've come across where exhibitionists and would be porn stars can demonstrate their talents.

These are adult sites! Be warned.

I've gone to YouTube and for the life of me I can't understand it's popularity, most clips are BORING!

(Except if you want to view my Colin McRae Rally 2005 Finland SS4)

Shufuni and YuVuTu are an obvious extension of the video uploading craze. After all, wouldn't everyone secretively want to be porn star?

Dieting and Weight Loss

It's amazing to me that so many people have made so much money telling people how to lose weight when, in fact, it's so simple a 5 year old can figure it out.

It's just a matter of counting calories. Just like balancing a ledger but in reverse.

It's so simple. All food items have a calorie index on the label. You just take in less than you burn. Duh? What's so difficult?

I consider myself a pretty average person lifestyle wise. My job forces me into a certain amount of physical exertion and I have been doing some running lately.

I've determined that if I limit my caloric intake to 1700 calories a day I should lose 2 lbs per week.

I came up with these figures myself and they were verified by a site known as My Plate, a web site which can assist dieters by displaying calorie counts and even adding up the calories you've ingested daily.

I started this meal plan January 1st and have lost 8 lbs so far, right on target.

For Breakfast I eat: Trophic Green Concentrate with 6 oz of Organic Apple Juice. I also have two poached eggs.

That adds up to about 250 calories.

I have an apple mid morning: 80 calories, subtotal so far: 370 calories.

For Lunch my wife makes me a large meat and cheese sandwich: 500 calories. Subtotal: 870 calories.


For Dinner I have a mixture of Organic Refried Beans with dry low fat cottage cheese.
Good for 250 calories. Subtotal: 1200 Calories

I have 1 orange at 8 PM each night: 80 calories.

Later in the evening, around 9 PM I make myself a tomato and onion sandwich (300 calories) with an 8 oz. juice drink of Cranberry and Apple Juice, 200 calories.

Total calories consumed is : 1700 Calories.

I eat nothing else but the above, no snacking or nibbling. And because these foods supply all my nutritional needs, I've never felt hungry between meals.

I eat the same thing every day. This meal plan gives me a good balance of protein, fat, carbs and fiber.

In the last 18 months previous to this I believe I was consuming about 2500 to 3500 calories a day simply because I had no idea how many calories I was eating. I ate everything that was offered to me. And I let others control what I ate.

That amount was probably 500 to 1000 calories stored each day, as fat.

I started my new meal plan weighing 192.5 lbs. My Goal obviously is 173 lbs. which would be a healthy weight for a person of my height and build.

In order to maintain that weight once I get there I need to consume about 2000 to 2200 calories per day. Should be no problem, if I continue to count calories.

The secret to maintaining a given calorie level is to eat the same food everyday!
That makes counting calories easy and there is no way you can deviate from your goal.

I hear all this whining about how boring it is to eat the same food.

My philosophy is that food is fuel for your body and should not be a source of pleasure. There are many ways to gain pleasure, food shouldn't be one of them.

Do you want to be at a healthy and good looking weight level or do you want to "enjoy" food? Pick one.

Look for more posts on this subject as my weight loss continues.

I'm An Aquarian

First off, I don't believe in Astrology in any way, shape or form.

However I did come across this description of Aquarians and I found it amazingly accurate, especially the negative stuff.

I still don't believe in Astrology because I think these traits could be applied to anyone regardless of their Birth Sign.

Anyway, it's a pretty good desription of moi.


Aquarius
The Water Carrier

January 20 to February 19

Traditional
Aquarian Traits

Friendly and humanitarian
Honest and loyal
Original and inventive
Independent and intellectual

On the dark side....

Intractable and contrary
Perverse and unpredictable
Unemotional and detached

Aquarians basically possess strong and attractive personalities. They fall into two principle types: one shy, sensitive, gentle and patient; the other exuberant, lively and exhibitionist, sometimes hiding the considerable depths of their character under a cloak of frivolity.

Both types are strong willed and forceful in their different ways and have strong convictions, though as they seek truth above all things, they are usually honest enough to change their opinions, however firmly held, if evidence comes to light which persuades them that they have been mistaken.

They have a breadth of vision that brings diverse factors into a whole, and can see both sides of an argument without shilly-shallying as to which side to take. Consequently they are unprejudiced and tolerant of other points of view. This is because they can see the validity of the argument, even if they do not accept it themselves.

They obey the Quaker exhortation to "Be open to truth, from whatever source it comes," and are prepared to learn from everyone.Both types are humane, frank, serious minded, genial, refined, sometimes ethereal, and idealistic, though this last quality is tempered with a sensible practicality.

They are quick, active and persevering without being self-assertive, and express themselves with reason, moderation and sometimes, a dry humor.They are nearly always intelligent, concise, clear and logical. Many are strongly imaginative and psychically intuitive, so that the Age of Aquarius, which is about to begin, is much anticipated by psychic circles as an age in which mankind will experience a great spiritual awakening.

The Aquarian philosophical and spiritual bent may be dangerous in that it can drive the subjects into an ivory-tower existence where they meditate on abstractions that bear little relevance to life. On the other hand it can help the many who have scientific leanings to combine these with the Aquarian yearning for the universal recognition of the brotherhood of man, and to embark on scientific research to fulfill their philanthropic ideals of benefiting mankind.

When some cause or work of this nature inspires them, they are capable of such devotion to it that they may drive themselves to the point of exhaustion and even risk injuring their health.Both types need to retire from the world at times and to become temporary loners.

They appreciate opportunities for meditation or, if they are religious, of retreats. Even in company they are fiercely independent, refusing to follow the crowd. They dislike interference by others, however helpfully intended, and will accept it only on their own terms.

Normally they have good taste in drama, music and art, and are also gifted in the arts, especially drama.In spite of the often intensely magnetic, forthcoming and open personality of the more extrovert kind of Aquarian, and of their desire to help humanity, neither type makes friends easily.

They sometimes appear to condescend to others and take too little trouble to cultivate the acquaintance of people who do not particularly appeal to them. They do not give themselves easily - perhaps their judgment of human nature is too good for that - and are sometimes accounted cold. But once they decide that someone is worthy of their friendship or love, they can exert an almost hypnotic and irresistible mental attraction on them and will themselves become tenacious friends or lovers, ready to sacrifice everything for their partners and be faithful to them for life.

However, they are sometimes disappointed emotionally because their own high personal ideals cause them to demand more of others than is reasonable. And if they are deceived their anger is terrible. If disillusioned, they do not forgive.

Aquarians work best in group projects, provided that they are recognized as having a leading part in them. They have a feeling of unity with nature and a desire for knowledge and truth that makes them admirable scientists, especially astronomers and natural historians.

They may excel in photography, radiography, electronics - anything connected with the electrical and radio industries - aviation and everything technical.

On the arts and humanities side their progressive tendencies can be expressed in writing, especially poetry, and broadcasting, or as welfare workers and teachers.

Some have gifts as entertainers and make good character actors (having an ability to mimic) and musicians. The more psychic among them possess healing gifts, especially in curing the mentally sick. Among the faults to which they are liable are fanatical eccentricity, wayward egotism, excessive detachment and an inclination to retreat from life and society, and a tendency to be extremely dogmatic in their opinions.

Aquarians can be a threat to all they survey or a great boon for humanity in general. Circumstances - for example, continuous opposition to a cause they hold dear - may cause the atrophy of the openness of mind that is one of the Aquarian's most attractive traits.

They may express a lack of integrity in broken promises, secretiveness or cunning. Simmering anger and resentment, rudeness or, worse, a tense, threatening silence which may suddenly burst out in eruptions of extreme temper, these are all part of the negative side of the Aquarian. This can also reveal itself in a sustained hatred for enemies that is capable of enlarging itself into a misanthropy toward the whole of mankind.

Hate Laws vs. Free Speech

There was a recent poll submitted by The Globe and Mail asking readers if Holocaust Denial should be a criminal offense.

First of all, having read many books and articles on WW II and books by the survivors of death camps (because I find it gruesomely fascinating) there is no doubt in my mind that a systematic program to eliminate the European Jewish Community was in place.

The numbers might vary, 6 million, 4 million, whatever. The numbers aren't as important as the fact that the event and attempt happened.

The facts and witnesses are there. To deny the Holocaust is to deny the facts.

Still, people have a right to be wrong. Lawmakers have made a correlation between Holocaust Denial and Hate. I don't really get that.

I don't think a person necessarily has to be anti-Semitic or hateful to preach Holocaust Denial. It may be true in most cases but it doesn't always follow.

There are major religions followed by billions of people that have built their foundation on beliefs that are factually and scientifically not only untrue but impossible. Few are accused of hate, though maybe they should be.

And yet we not only allow them to preach these untruths, our society often encourages it.

Is preaching Creationism a hate crime against Evolutionists?

What is the worst evil here? Statements of hate and mistrust or censorship? Why are we so afraid of others' contradictions?

I hate censorship. It's a terrible evil used by those in power to control our thoughts and actions.

Our free societies' only weapon is free speech. And that right has to be protected universally even though in some cases we might find that speech distasteful.

Let's get everyone's views out there. If someone or some group has an opinion that is based on hearsay, rumor and suspicion the true substantiated facts will show them wrong.

We need not be afraid of that.

Fascinating New Auto Technology

And it's introduced by GM! It's the Chevy Volt.

Basically it's a Hybrid but unlike most Hybrids it runs exclusively on electric battery power for the first 40 miles until the stored battery power is depleted.

This is regardless of what speed you are traveling.

Then if you still need more miles than that, the gas or diesel internal combustion engine takes over and recharges the battery. You can still run with the electric motor but the engine would need to run to keep the battery pack charged.

Even if you are going for a long trip, the first 40 miles are "free". Basically that would be one or two gallons of gas (say 6 Litres free).

The real bonus is driving around town or to work when you are probably driving less than 40 miles per day. No Gas is required.

On returning home you plug your car in to your household current to recharge the battery.

No gasoline needs to be consumed in this case.

Theoretically you could drive to work and back all week without using any gas.

The Volt is still in the concept stage but the idea makes too much sense. This is what I would call a true hybrid and I think is the future of the automobile.

Sometimes I Get So Proud To Be Canadian

This article from the Globe and Mail tells the sad tale of the poor movie companies being targeted by Canadian Pirates, avast!

The story talks about the lax or relaxed Canadian laws in dealing with those committing the heinous crime of camcording first run movies in the movie theatre!

Oh my God, lock up your daughters!

These bootleg DVD's will be the ruin of our society!

The really interesting part of the story for me is how each country dealt with a convicted Pirate. In Canada the Pirate was given a $5000 fine with a 12 month suspended sentence.

In the US a similar convicted pirate was sentenced to 7 Years in prison!!

The US authorities criticise Canada for treating Intellectual Property violations as a "soft crime".

Duh..that's because it is dummies. No one gets hurt, society isn't affected. The only thing that might be affected is a small amount (like a dot) of the bottom line of the film industry.

And they more than make up for it by exorbitant prices for tickets, popcorn and pop.

And the corporations sure don't mind ripping off the taxpayers with their loopholes and dubious accounting practices.

Bootlegging a DVD from the film industry is like stealing a pair of shoes from The Bay. Sure it's wrong but lets keep it in perspective. A $5000 fine versus 7 years in prison?

This all demonstrates that, in the United States, any crime against the wealthy or "the establishment" is multiplied tenfold in severity.

And they wonder why the world distrusts them?

US Tries Once Again to Bully The World

More on this subject here.

Canucks 6, Mofo Laughs 1

The Canucks rolled into Toronto last night and humiliated the Leafs in their own Building and for a national TV audience to witness.

It was a beautiful site.

The two senile "senior" announcers, Bob Cole and Harry Neal were pathetic in their Homerism. How dare those west coasters embarrass their beloved Leafs?

And Harry, its Marcus Naslund not Mats Naslund. You are flashing back to to the '80's when your brain had the clarity to actually do your job properly.

Bob Cole is also a few mini-strokes past his prime. The new style of broadcasting is "gettin' up there" and "goin' in there"?

Even though the Canucks walloped the Leafs it was a poorly played game with Andrew Raycroft trying to win the Dan Cloutier award for incompetence in goaltending.

John Edwards on Jay Leno

John Edwards recently appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno shortly after he announced he was running as the Democratic Candidate for the 2008 Presidential Election.

He was BAD. I've seen John Edwards on the same show when he was running as Kerry's Vice Presidential Candidate in 2004 and from that appearance I know he can be impressive.

On this occasion, Mr. Edwards appeared tired and worn out, like he hadn't slept in days.

His responsive to political issues was extremely vague and all the tired cliches rose their ugly heads.

A few weeks earlier Barack Obama also was a guest on Jay Leno's show. No comparison, not even close.

I know some people have bad days and maybe the guy didn't have much sleep or was fighting a bug. But if you are going to be on a nationally televised show like the Tonight Show, suck it up and try to be impressive.

Leno asked Edwards if it was a tough decision to run for the Presidency. His response "It was very tough".

Huh? It's pretty clear to me that this person does not really want to run but that he has been pushed to run by "his people".

Even up against a Black Man and a woman (Clinton) this reluctant candidate hasn't got a chance.

Definition of War

God how I love this stuff:

"A 'major armed conflict' is the use of armed force between the military forces of two or more governments, or of one government and at least one organized armed group, resulting in the battle-related deaths of at least 1,000 people in any single calendar year and in which the incompatibility concerns control of government and/or territory."

As defined by The Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University.

If you read my previous post Blizzards, Hurricanes and Sluts then you know I love a concrete definition. It doesn't really matter who establishes the definition as long as they've put some thought into it and it can be universally accepted.

I took the quote from a CBC article on the World in Conflict. This Map illustrates the major "conflicts" going on right now.

If you have a sense of history, there isn't really much going on now, relatively speaking.

While some would like us to believe that the world is a terrible place and continue to stir the embers of fear I believe the world is the best it's ever been in every sense.

Cruel But True Observation

I live in Kelowna, B.C., a town with a lot of beautiful people making or having lots of money (I'm not one of them).

The economy is, at present, very good. Everyone can find a job and we have an abundance of service industries that pay lower than average wages.

It wasn't always this economically good here. I remember not too long ago when the unemployment rate was nearly 10% and university graduates were pumping gas, stunning beauties ran the cash registers.

Now the opposite is true. And you can see it with your eyes.

Go into any Walmart, Costco, or in the case of where I was yesterday, Canadian Tire and you will find the ugliest people in town.

Before you get on my case let me qualify. I'm talking about preventable ugliness. I'm talking about hair being uncombed and in some cases unwashed. I'm talking about women that desperately need make-up not wearing any. I'm talking about grossly obese women and men that obviously don't care what they look like.

Or the elderly, just a few hugs short of the Nursing Home.

In tougher economic times, these people would be unemployable, they look that bad. Now, employers are desperate and they'll take pretty much anyone that can walk.

It the price we pay for a good economy.

Try it when travelling. Go into any town, check out those employed at local retailers and you'll get a good indication of the current economy.

Which Corporations Are Your Puppet Strings Attached To?

Don't Believe in the fact that Corporations, not governments control our lives?

In this humorous but apparently banned video clip produced by SNL you get a jist of what's really happening in our society.

Corporations have cleverly bought up most of the major US media outlets like ABC, CBS and CNN. All these so called "news" outlets now have an agenda, a corporate agenda.

Any news received from these sources are obviously "filtered". Let's call it what it is: censored. I will often access the CNN site not for the news itself but to see how "the news" is presented and what stories are conveniently left out or not elaborated on.

In Canada we have the CBC, a news organisation that still retains some sort of integrity. Let's hope it stays that way.

I am always flabbergasted that a great deal of our population is constantly attacking our governments while The Corporations seem to have free rein on whatever they want to do.

Security Defeats Common Sense

Recently, as reported in this CBC news release a minor security breach at the Vancouver International Airport caused flight delays for thousands of passengers.

When these minor infractions happen, airport officials go By The Book, abandoning any common sense and discretion and screw as many people as they can.

It's absolutely insane. And what's worse is that most passengers, brainwashed by fear of "the terrorists" go along with it despite the incredible inconvenience and the destruction of their travel plans.

Nothing changes if no one objects.

I remember, two hours into a return airline trip from Hawaii, the pilot getting on the PA and informing us: "We have to return to Maui because of a possible fuel pump malfunction." He went on to say: "Don't worry, we have a redundant system in place, there is no danger".

My job dropped and I said to my wife: "If there is no danger then why the f--- are we returning to Maui?"

I cannot believe how many people won't take some of the most minutest risks.

I think I missed my calling in life, I should have been in the Scam they call the insurance business because I think a lot about Risk Assessment. I really enjoy pondering the odds of some event happening and how it stacks up against the frequency other events.

In this recent case, and in most cases like this where some airport security procedure has not been followed 100%, the risk of disaster is too minimal to consider.

I would go on to say that the risk of injury or death is 100 to 1000 fold greater for any person during their trip to the airport than in the case of someone bypassing a security gate. A gate manned by minimal wage people who don't really give a shit anyway.

Why do we let ourselves be manipulated by fear? Makes me believe that the Terrorists have indeed won.

Canucks Update : Five Straight Wins !

It wasn't to long ago I was writing of my dismal hopes for the Canucks.

But now, after five consecutive victories, I think we can say that the Canucks have turned the corner.

The breaks are starting to go their way, the pucks are finding their way into the opposing net and scoring is coming from several sources (not Naslund).

The penalty killing is now ranked second in the league, I think that's the major improvement, helped mostly by Luongo's terrific goaltending. One wonders how he can continue to play every game or for how long?

Naslund is the only Negative. What's wrong with him? In last night 2-1 shootout victory he wasn't only not shooting, he wasn't skating at all.

If he is hurting then he shouldn't be playing. Something is wrong with him, he's never played so poorly, he just doesn't have the energy he usually does. It's no wonder he isn't scoring.

The good news is that the Canucks are winning without his contribution. When he gets back to normal, look out!

Is The Fascist Threat in America Real?

In this Post author Gene Callahan writes of his concerns of what he perceives as a rising tide of fascism in his country, the United States.

I've always considered fascism more of an economic system rather than an ideology, much like communism and capitalism are.

Fascism is capitalism on crystal meth while communism is capitalism on Halcion.

Fascism is totalitarian rule for the sole benefit of corporate greed over human compassion. I think Mr. Callahan has a lot of justifiable concerns in his essay.

The good news is that the Bush Gang will be out of office in 2 years time and I have little doubt that the Democrats will gain the Presidency.

My gut feeling is that the American People are finally cluing into what is really being done to their Nation by this creepy little gang of corporate puppets and they are ready to toss them out.

There really is no left wing politics in the US. The Democrats are right wing and the Republicans are even righter than that.

Until the grassroots American people realise the value of a strong left wing opposition their Nation will continue to look for wars and threats and continue to be the target of animosity from the rest of the world.

They will continue to favor corporate interests over that of their citizens and continue to have a vast population uneducated and enslaved in poverty.

Were the '50's Really That Good?

I watched a film the other day, "Harrison Bergeron", based on the short story by Kurt Vonnegut, about a future society which was ruled by an intellectual elite over what they considered the dumb masses of the rest of the population.

People were rewarded for stupidity rather than intelligence and the dumber they were the higher a position they rose within the community. The premise was that all laws, rules and jobs should be understandable to the dumbest among us, applying standards to the lowest common denominator.

Although the movie was set sometime in the future, all architecture, fashion and behaviour was modelled from the society of the 1950's. "People were most happiest in the 1950's" was the quote from one of the intellectuals.

That was the era of the Nuclear Family when "Father Know's Best" and Mom was in the kitchen when she wasn't taking care of the kids.

I was born in the '50's and caught the tale end of the culture and I understand to a point what they were saying.

But was it most happy for who? I think for Caucasian, educated males it was the ideal culture, one that Bush and his Cronies would love to get back. "Family Values" I think is the catch phrase.

But for visable minorities, children, women, the aged, the physically and/or mentally disabled, the Jews and the working classes was it really that great?

Blacks had no rights, women were kept repressed at home and if they chose to work had little protection against the glass ceiling or sexual harassment. Birth control and abortion were the acts of wanton women.

The children were raised with the fear of God and their father's belt buckle. Classroom creativity was discouraged and god help the child who dared to question authority.

The mentally ill were imprisoned in nut houses, and there sure was no handicapped parking spots.

It's little wonder that the producers of the movie chose that decade as a model for their elitist society. For most of it's citizens unquestionably followed their superiors and governments. And what was right for General Motors was right for the country.

I am always fascinated at the polls that various news web sites provide regarding issues of the day. You can get an instant, if not scientific, read on the mentality of the people that you share your town or nation with.

I would venture that if polls were in place in the 1950's like we have now that most results on any issue would be close to 90% to 10%. Because pretty much everyone thought the same back then.

Today we live in a Polarised Society and most poll result that I see are close to 50/50. And you know what? I think that's a good thing.

When everyone thinks along the same lines there is a very good chance that opposing views are not tolerated.

When two sides clash as they often do now the result seems to be a fair compromise. We give a little and we get a little. It may be frustrating but somehow it all seems to work out.

Our Canadian Society is the target of a lot of self-criticism, whether it be on the issues of crime, health care, education, civil rights, economics, etc.

I think, right now, we have our best Society ever in our Nation's History and it continues to get better because of the vast differences in all of us and because all our ideas, whether we agree with them or not, are being heard.