The Most Compelling Reason Against The Death Penalty

How many innocent people have been put to death in the United States via their obsolete Justice System?

Read this story of how Steven Truscott has finally been acquitted 48 years later for the rape and murder of a 12 year old girl.

Mr. Truscott was initially sentenced to Hang and spent 4 months on Death Row (this when Canada still had the Barbaric Penalty of Death).

Thankfully sanity prevailed and his death sentence was commuted.

New evidence, based on the latest science, established that a miscarriage of justice had occurred based on lazy and sloppy Police work.

In the US this young man would probably have been killed, like many other innocents have been.

To those that still, against the flow of all advanced nations, still believe there is Justice in legalised killing I say to you: Get a brain and think with it for a change instead of letting your animal reactions control you.

More thoughts on the Death Penalty.

Better to have 100 guilty men set free than to imprison 1 innocent man.

Dwight d'Eon Shows His True Colours

Dwight can't sing, and now everyone knows what most of have known all along.

Last night's performance was embarrassing for Dwight, especially when compared to the three others'. I almost felt bad for him.

Almost. His fans brought him much farther then he should have come. Up to the point where he embarrassed himself.

Personally, I don't think he ever should have been in the top 10 let alone the final four.

Tonight's elimination should be a no-brainer, but strange things can happen.

I actually liked Jaydee Bixby's performance last night. He's got some interesting stage moves and you have to love his confidence. For the first time, when he sang "Smiling", I didn't get the impression he was trying to be Elvis.

Carly Rae Jepsen was very good again. I knew Jake would slobber over her second song, he is so predictable. Is she putting on weight?

It's up to Brian Melo to lose this thing. This guy just keeps getting better and better. The confidence is oozing and flowing all over the stage when he's on it.

When the top ten started I thought "there is no one here that deserves it". But now I think Brian is a deserving choice for Canadian Idol.

Three Valley Chateau

On the evening of August 21st my wife and I stayed at the Three Valley Chateau near Revelstoke, B.C. It's situated on the Trans Canada Highway, we've driven past it many times.

We stayed because I'm a big fan of old relics and Ghost Towns and this is one of the attractions of Three Valley.

You can pretty much sum up Three Valley into two parts, the Hotel itself and the attractions which are: the location, the Ghost Town, the auto museum, the Railway Interests, with Roundhouse.

Gordon Bell and his family have established this property over the years. Mr. Bell is living his dream of playing with his toys. He obviously loves relics of the past, Canadian history and the Railway.

It's also obvious that he is not a hotelier. This is one strange Hotel. The layout is weird, the rooms are spartan and the food is not good.

The first thing one notices is a plethora of signs indicating that Pets are NOT welcome. Your eye can not avoid the signage which seems to be everywhere to the point of obsession.

The very old fellow that signed us in said "And you have pets?", in an obvious trick to expose those trying to sneak in pets undercover. Pretty cheesy.

We paid $125 CA for a very basic generic small room with no features other than a small fridge. Then we found out we had to pay the $10 entrance fee (each) for the guided tour of the Ghost Town and Museum.

One would think that paying guests of the Hotel would get a free pass into the attractions, or at least a discount.

I tell you I was ready to rip this place apart. I said to my wife "I'm going to crucify this place when I post my review".

After we checked in we briefly walked the grounds and on the surface of things it looked nice. Closer examination revealed a lot of projects started and not finished, some major repairs to a section of rood/siding taking place and covered in tarp.

Some buildings were missing sections of siding, landscaping in some areas needed a major overhaul. The interior of the Hotel is very boring and not helped by one of the the cheesiest and cheapest looking tourist trinket/souvenir shops I've seen.

It just looked like a hotel which needed professional help.

We ate at the "family restaurant". It looked like we should be apprehensive about the quality so we ordered cheeseburgers, pretty simple. Well I can confidently say they were the worst cheeseburgers I've had in a long while. And we payed $7.50! McDonald's puts them to shame. Just awful, no effort, no caring.

(In the morning we went for breakfast there, by the till was a sign "Due to staff shortages service may be slow". Yikes! That's not the way to do business!)

While in our rooms we heard the constant pounding of children's' feet as they ran up and down the halls. Thankfully this stopped after 10.

The beds were good, the room fairly quiet but we could do without the religious message from Jesus hanging on our wall. There is no place for that in a Hotel.

Well by the end of the day I was ready to write this place off as a disaster.

The next day was bright and sunny and I finally got a good night's sleep after three days of not. We had decided to take in the Ghost Town and other attractions that morning. So after reluctantly forking over the $20 we commenced our tour.

It was really interesting and well worth it. Our tour guide, Dianne, was very good and even though there was only one other couple with us, she gave us a good effort.

We spent about 90 minutes on the attraction grounds but you could almost spend all day there. If you are into history and the recent past and how people lived a hundred years ago, this place is for you.

Unfortunately the Railroad Roundhouse is still under construction, but what we saw of it was really amazing, its going to be awesome, if it's ever completed.

It's pretty obvious where Mr. Bell's interests are. He doesn't give a hoot about the Hotel business. All his efforts seem to be geared towards his Ghost Town and Railway Collections.

My advice: Hand over the Hotel to a real Hotel Management company and stop trying to do what you are not good at.

I can't understand why, with thousands and thousands of interesting relics in the Ghost Town and Museums, that your Hotel is so freaking Boring!

How about taking a small fraction of the neat stuff you have over there and actually trying to decorate your Hotel?

It looks like Mr. Bell is trying to finance his "dream" with overpriced $125/night hotel room rates. The place did not look very full. Put some effort into the Hotel and more people will stay and you'll have more money to finish the many unfinished projects you have going there. And more people shelling out $10 to see your dreams.

My recommendation: By all means check out the Ghost Town and Railway/Relic exhibits, well worth the $10.

But find somewhere else to sleep and eat.

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The Hume Hotel, Nelson, B.C.

My wife and I just got back from a two day road trip, one of which we stayed in the beautiful city of Nelson.

Earlier this summer I posted a Blog expounding some of the virtues of this really cool town. We had planned to revisit Nelson and stay in the Hume Hotel in July, but the day we had booked had a forecasted temperature of 35 C.


Warning: The Hume does NOT have air conditioning so if you ever plan to stay there be aware of the weather forecast, Nelson can be very hot during the summer months. Rooms would be unbearable during a heat wave.

The Hume Hotel is a lovely and charming Heritage Hotel with all the fixings of yesteryear. Lot's of old (antique) furniture and wood fixtures. Very fitting for a town like Nelson which prides itself for its Heritage architecture.

We found the staff very friendly and courteous. We had booked the Rapunzel Suite, very large with two queen beds, and a sitting room overlooking the main street corners of Nelson from the fourth floor.

A pair of French Door open on the west and north corners of the building providing a nice view of downtown Nelson with Kooteney Lake in the background.

Because this room overlooks a busy corner and a bar, noise might be an issue. We stayed on a Monday evening and did not find noise a problem.

We kept a loud but constant fan going (provided) to drown out any incidental noise.

Thankfully the weather was cool and our room was a nice ambient temperature.




We had dinner at the General Store Restaurant. The food was very nice, I had the Baby Back Ribs, mmmm, yummy!

Prices: Our room was $149 CA plus taxes and the meals for 4 of us came to about $85 (no drinks, appies or deserts).

One other concern of note is the lack of Parking for guests. There are only about 12 stalls available. WE rolled in early enough so we got one. I'm not sure what they do when the parking is full.

Overall a really nice and unique Hotel, recommended!

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I Rate The Idol Judges

Zack Werner


Canadian and American

1. Zack Werner (Canada)

Zack is never afraid to say what's on his mind even if he may say it in a convoluted manner. Much like Cowell on the American side, I think the contestants respect his opinion above all other.

Zack knows what can sell, and really, that's what it's all about.

2. Simon Cowell (U.S.)

You gotta love Simon, without him, the show may not have survived it's first season and developed into the phenomena it is. Let's face, the judges are as much of the show as the contestants.

3. Farley Flex (Canada)

Without a doubt the most professional of the Judges. Very likable. Farley's only downside is that he's too nice a guy. Rarely gives severe criticism (and that's what we like to see).

4. Sass Jordan (Canada)

Like Farley, Sass is really a "soft" judge that praises when praise is not deserved.
But she can give useful advice and I love her harsh treatment of Dwight this year. Very unusual for her to have so much of a hate on for one competitor.

5. Randy Jackson (U.S.)

"What's Up Dawg", " Now Check It Out". Yikes. Very rarely does this goof say anything of value. Know what I'm sayin'?

6. Jake Gold (Canada)

I really don't like this guy, I don't care who he's managed. He's gotta feel it! Yea, right I wonder if this dude is as big a jerk as he seems to be on Idol. I hope not. As insecure as a new born puppy.

7. Paula Abdul (U.S.)

In a word: Useless. Meaning of no value to anyone. Get rid of this doped up dummy!

Why Did You Buy That Ragtop Anyway?

My 1994 Mustang GT

Human behaviour is a strange thing. Most of us find it amusing to analyse the motives behind human actions, or inactions.

People have a right to do whatever they want with their own property in most cases, so long as the general public is not adversely affected.

Ok, to the point.

I have a convertible which I enjoy driving March through October. If it is not raining and if the temperature range is anywhere between 10 and 30 C I will drive this vehicle and the top will be down.

I would not consider keeping the top up if the above conditions were met. You could say I drive my car topless about 95% of the time.

Having a convertible I tend to notice other convertibles on the road.

It is absolutely astounding to me that most people who own convertibles seem to drive them with the top up.

My guess is that 75% of convertibles on the road, even with ideal weather conditions, have their tops up.

Even on the most beautiful, pristine days with optimum temperatures between 18 and 25, the vast majority of convertible cars out their have the tops up.

I can't for the life of me understand why.

I can understand people not owning convertibles.

They cost 10 to 25% more than a fixed roof.
They are noisier (even with the top up).
The styling is usually not as attractive with the top up.
Maintenance and weatherproofing issues (rare).

But for those who have made the decision to purchase a convertible, why not use it?

For me, topless driving is the most true and pleasurable driving. The sounds, smells and temperature changes in the air as one passes through it make you really feel alive.

I wish I could stop a driver in his tracks and ask him why, for God's sake why, he doesn't take advantage of his vehicle's most prominent feature, all the time.

Greg Neufeld Eliminated From Idol

Yeah and your problem is?

I can't understand why the judges and Mulroney were so surprised and disappointed that this rather tediously boring fellow was nuked.

A pretty face can only get you so far. Greg's problem is that he didn't stand for anything, he had no "style" of his own. He is the type of person who gets lost in a crowd. No "Presence" and precious little charisma.

Greg's the type of guy that you want your daughter to bring home to meet you, but as a pop star, no way.

Mulroney's reaction was embarrassing. If he is going to make the statement that "Canada Got It Wrong" then he should have the Kahunas to state who he thought should be eliminated.

More surprising to me than Neufeld's elimination was that Carly and Brian Melo were also in the bottom three.

Brian's problem is a simple one to identify: He sings songs no one has heard. Dumb move. If this guy with the good pipes would sing something familiar to us all we'd like him a lot more.

Carly is my favorite and I'm constantly worried the Canadian Public can't see the talent in this girl.

She has what Greg doesn't, Style and Charisma.

I think she need to cut her bangs, I think that's the problem there.

For the life of me I can't understand why Dwight d'Eon is still around, not even in the bottom three this week. Hmmm..maybe Canada did get it wrong?

Our Thriving Hypocrisy

Once again the annual (which they seem to have 4 times a year) Gay Pride Parade was a happnin' thing in Vancouver and all the Politicians and anyone who is anyone was there.

The Politician pretend to want to be there and the news media slant is that everyone loves it and has a good time.

It's just bad Karma and political incorrectness to say how distasteful it all is.

For my part, I don't give a hoot where people put their dicks or fingers or tongues, whether that be people or objects, dead or alive.

But I'll pass on the parade. Young men in loin clothes with enhanced bulges thrusted forward in "pride" is something I don't really need to see. Nor do I want to see men dressed as women or women in their Butch Pride.

But that's me, if others want to see that, no problem.

Meanwhile, on the same day in Penticton we had the Annual Mr. Muscle Miss Bikini Contest .

The same news outlet, B.C. Global News, covered that one too, but with a whole different slant.

They interviewed Elsie Wiebe of the Penticton and Area Women’’s Centre who seems to have a huge problem with Heterosexual people dressing up and strutting their stuff.

You know, the women as sex objects argument (like men are supposed to find other creatures to lust after).

Ms. Wiebe unfortunately did an on-camera interview. Well that explained everything.

Why is it that no attractive women complain about being sex objects?

But back to the news media. Homosexual flaunting: Good. Heterosexual flaunting: Let's take issue with that.

Yikes.

DVD Review: "300"

I didn't realise that they had Steroids back in Ancient Greece. Amazing. And they must have eaten a lot better too. Everyman a buffed athlete.

This is one of these movies where you are constantly thinking "It's gotta get better soon". You know it has to, it must.

But, alas, it never does.

In short this movie is tediously boring. Hope of a real storyline or twist or some kind of plot gradually fades as one comes to the realization that this movie is just an exercise is Computer Generated Graphics.

Unless you get off on 6 Packs and overwhelming testosterone and mucus-throated shouting this movie is best avoided.

The novelty of the brown and white high contrast photography lasts only so long.

If your going to have graphic violence which justifies an R rating why not go out and show us some REAL graphic violence instead of black splotches of goo flying hither and thither. Ok, so there were a couple of beheadings and leg removals.

We want our blood RED not black!

Waste of time, don't bother.

The Kissel Car

We've been going to a lot of Show 'n Shine Auto Shows the last few years.

It's a nice way to enjoy a summer day but, to be honest, we see a lot of the same cars in every show.

The muscle cars of the '60's are without a doubt the most BORING of the bunch. These low tech poorly built vehicles really don't deserve the attention they get.

But I suppose they are cheap and easy to work on and they seem to have some sort of cult following.

I like to find something, anything, unique at these shows. This 1913 Kissel Car was seen at the Penticton Rotary Auto Show on August 4, 2007.

The detail in a lot of these old vehicles is really interesting and you have to wonder what it would be like to drive one.

Mike McCardell Blasts The Panhandlers

I don't normally watch Mike McCardell's fluff pieces which end the 6:00 PM Global News Hour. They are usually so lame and boring that I wonder why he gets paid for them.

Stories about people and their pets, or kids and their bikes or some old folks celebrating anniversaries. Stuff that's supposed to make you "feel good" after the sad news of the day.

I find it tedious.

But last night old Mikey was MAD! He was mad at the panhandlers which are spoiling his enjoyment of his adopted city, Vancouver.

He was MAD that visitors were seeing this blight and MAD that citizens were regularly bothered and pestered by these lazy bums.

In his day no one would even remotely consider a career of panhandling. In his day people had pride and self worth and would never lower themselves to "ask" for money.

I get mad too.

I get mad when you can't enjoy a July 1st walk in your own park without being "asked" to donate to some cause of dubious need. These are officially sanctioned beggars.

I get mad when public events are held on taxpayer ground and asked for a "donation".

I get mad when telemarketers phone me at my dinner break and ask for my money for some useless service or product.

I get mad when I want to drive along my taxpayer paid scenic highway and am met by a disgusting display of Billboards begging for my money.

I get mad when my television viewing is interrupted by intelligence insulting advertisements asking me for my cash.

Mike, the truth is that almost everyone is begging for our money. The only difference is who is doing it and how they do it.

Your little tirade against the poor, the mentally disturbed and the plain lazy was hilarious considering how you make your money.

To call you a journalist is to call me a writer. I don't pretend to be and neither should you pretend to be a journalist. I can't believe they pay you for the fluff you usually vomit.

And when you finally get serious you blast the poorest and least represented of us all. You're a fine fellow aren't you?

These people who panhandle are, for the most part, unemployable. No one would want them because of their lack of skills (technical and social), their emotional baggage, or their physical appearance.

No one wants them.

Until panhandling is illegal they have a right to do what they do, disturbing as it may seem to us all.

Just like telemarketers have a right to bother us in our own homes, for now at least.

Mike, go back to your fluff that no one watches. You're harmless that way.

And Mike, ever thought about a diet?

Why Are You Paying For Music Downloads?

If you pay iTunes or other MP3 "Legal" downloading services for your music, you are an idiot. Plain and simple.

Downloading music for your own personal use via clients such as Limewire is PERFECTLY LEGAL in Canada!!

Not only that, but YOU ARE ALREADY PAYING A DOWNLOADING TAX via the levy that is placed on black cd's. And the government is talking about future substantial taxes on MP3 players, up to $75.00 per player depending on storage size!

So, what is the purpose of paying for something that you don't have to? Or that you are paying for already?

It's unbelievable to me that someone would.