What has been happening?

What has been going on in our world while the mainstream media concerned itself with picayune matters -- matters of usually utter unimportance in the larger scheme of things?

Just a few examples of the media's concerns:

Paris Hilton
what film or musician will win what award
the size of our new PM's waistline
that PM Harper wasn't available to make noises (that they could re-print without having to do any journalistic work -- as done for the former federal Liberal government.)
Paul Martin's latest breathless pronouncements which said nothing of substance -- and now we'll be treated to an extreme number of items on his possible successor which will allow them to ignore any important issues that should be investigated
the plight of the poor Palestinians -- the death cult ones who have brought many of their woes upon themselves -- but there will be no media investigation of the death cult and the education in violence carried on in Hamas and other Islamic territories -- strange isn't it?
whether two men have a "right" to marriage -- polygamy next
whether sharia should be allowed -- little concomitant discussion by feminists about the rights of women in Canada or in the Muslim world ........

Meanwhile, too many reserves fell into decay, alcoholism and drugs and the department involved was busily giving more that would be funnelled through those who offered no transparency nor accountability -- no MSM discussion of the low standard of education on remote reserves nor investigation why. Criminal gangs, drugs and guns dominated too many areas of Canada but the racism / victimology industry kicked in -- in case anyone might put two and two together .... Where has the mainstream media been on the statistics; in fact what are the statistics? Don't keep any -- might be ethnically-based? ..... I could go on but you get the picture.

Sometimes, it is a breath of fresh air to read something like the following. On this webpage, there are several comments from others that are worth reading.

Small Dead Animals: Talk is cheap -- these comments of interest posted by maz2, Mar. 14, 05

Gramsci's plans for you:

"...the role of western Marxist intellectuals was to create a 'counter-hegemonic project', that is, an alternative form of political and moral leadership."

This form of leadership includes: feminism, political correctness, multiculturalism, queer studies, historical revisionism, & etc. The communist "movement", after the fall of Soviet Russia, split into segments to push the agenda. The agenda remains: Crush Western Civilization; Build Utopia.

Left liberals pursue this agenda; left liberals and other nihilists are now allied with Islamist murderers to effect the goal of the crushing of the West. Their desired end result would be a global, totalitarian order which was the goal of Communism & Nazism, etc.

Intellectuals play a key role in the new "Utopia" as seen by Gramsci et al. More here: ...

The Treason of the Intellectuals: Power, Ethics, and Cultural Production as part of the course, HIST 382 FA, the following are major readings:

Raymond Aron, THE OPIUM OF THE INTELLECTUALS
Simone de Beauvoir, THE MANDARINS
Julian Benda, THE TREASON OF THE INTELLECTUALS
Michael Burns, FRANCE AND THE DREYFUS AFFAIR
Albert Camus, THE PLAGUE
David Carroll, FRENCH LITERARY FASCISM
Tony Judt, PAST-IMPERFECT
Jean-Paul Sartre, DIRTY HANDS

There is more from maz2--selected excerpts worth reading.

Drawing on the work of Machiavelli and the elite theorist Pareto, Gramsci used the concept of hegemony to describe the way in which he believed the bourgeoisie established and maintains control even in a democratic system in which workers and peasants might make up an electoral majority. The dominance of the bourgeoisie was not based on their control of the coercive power of the state, but rather rested upon their ability to exercise moral and political leadership, and to win consent for their vision of what was possible and worthwhile.

There is more if you link. The above came from this website: Hegemony and the hidden persuaders -- the power of un-common sense George Clark (June 2002) www.srds.co.uk

This short article explores the concept of Hegemony by offering some definitions and quotations and listing some web links for those who want to drill down into the concept.

A quotation at the top:

It is not by accident that we come by our 'common sense'. People who think freely and independently are quick to realise how they have been taught to imprison and enslave themselves. In breaking free they become the champions of un-common sense. May their thoughts be clear, fruitful and infectious. [. . . . ]

Free thought in Canada? You jest! That is the kind of thing that gets one branded ... negatively. Nevertheless, I recommend reading these web pages.

"If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves."
[Howard Zinn, historian and author]

Think about what issues are left untouched by mainstream media, of how people self-censor, that they consider political correctness before writing ....... We control ourselves ... some more than others, of course.

There is much more to read and think about on this site, as well as links to more.



WMD -- from Iraqi document translations

Saddam Had WMD: The Missing Dots Posted 3/14/2006

Origins Of War: President Bush has ordered the vast quantity of documents and tapes captured by U.S. forces in Iraq to be made public. Based on what has been revealed already, a lot of people owe him an apology.

[. . . . ] For in the 12 hours of tapes revealed so far is documentation that Saddam had active WMD programs and conspired to deceive weapons inspectors, hiding them and then spiriting them out of the country with Russian help.

In short, they are a damning indictment of the "Bush lied" crowd and a total justification for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The recordings released so far show how Saddam was hiding his WMD from weapons inspectors. They also show the Iraqi dictator discussing previously unknown plans for enriching uranium. [. . . . ]

Jim Bronskill: CIA-linked jet landing questioned

Recently declassified memos say 20 planes with alleged CIA ties have made 74 flights to Canada since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Flight records compiled by The Canadian Press indicate that since mid-2005 alone, at least eight different planes owned by reputed CIA shell corporations have landed at Canadian airports in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, Ontario and Quebec. [. . . . ]

I'm not quite sure how I came upon this (note date Nov. 21, 05) but it might be interesting to know why the CIA was interested. I could make a few guesses; good on 'em, for our government seemed for years to have been singularly uninterested in our security.



Canadian accused of laundering drug money -- Martin Tremblay of Saguenay PQ -- Bahamas-based investment services company, Dominion Investments Mar. 15, 2006

NEW YORK (CP) — A Quebec investment banker charged with laundering $1 billion (all figures U.S.) of drug money appeared Wednesday in U.S. federal court. [. . . . ]

Search: double agents , Hell's , Norbourg CEO Vincent Lacroix



The pot plants that are worth millions -- Vietnamese gangsters John Steele, Mar. 16, 06, Telegraph UK

A network of cannabis factories run by Vietnamese gangsters and producing tens of millions of pounds' worth of drugs a year has been uncovered by police.

The high-strength skunk cannabis is cultivated in hundreds of houses in London, with power diverted from the mains to heat and light the plants. Young Vietnamese men, smuggled into Britain as economic immigrants, are used as "gardeners". [. . . . ]

Search: economic migrants , no documents , a network of similar factories , an occupational hazard

See photo and 11 March 2006: Pensioner who grew cannabis spared jail

Our ex-Liberal government was going to import Vietnamese truckers ... posted on this website about a year ago.



Absolutely correct

Mindelle Jacobs: Sicko deserved harsher punishment Mar. 18, 06

.... incest, bestiality and rape .... Three and one-half lousy ... years .... That'll teach him.

Rebel Son Mobile: customization -- Note the license plate -- Saturday chuckle

Happy St. Patrick's Day - Erin go bragh!

Four Leaf Clover by Ella Higginson (born in 1861)

I know a place where the sun is like gold
and the cherries bloom forth in the snow;
And down underneath is the loveliest place,
Where the four-leaf clovers grow.

One leaf is for FAITH,
And one is for HOPE,
And one is for LOVE you know;
And GOD put another in for LUCK:
If you search you will find where they grow.

But you must have FAITH,
And you must have HOPE,
You must LOVE and be strong and so...
If you work and you wait,
You will find the place
Where the FOUR-LEAF CLOVERS grow!

Try a St. Patrick's Day corned beef sandwich with this mustard, compliments of Michael Smith, the Inn Chef.

From The Inn at Bay Fortune and a variety of locations throughout Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, Canada, The Inn Chef creates imaginative and artistic menus catering to the connoisseur, the traveler, the comedian and just about anyone who loves food!

Homemade Mustard from the Inn Chef

Leave for a few days for the flavours to develop before using. This is hardly a retiring mustard but men (and some women) love it on roast beef, corned beef and ham. I happen to prefer it to anything bought in a store. I often mix a bit with mayonnaise and a bit of vinegar to use on a salad of broccoli florets, cauliflower, purple onion, cheese and ham.

More recipes from the Inn Chef are here


Ireland in photos: Gallery 1
Ireland in photos: Gallery 2
Ireland in photos: Gallery 3


Bloggers Wanted -- "The British newspaper is looking for two people to travel the world and blog about their experiences for the newspaper’s online site." via newsbeat1

Get paid to go on holiday -- Guardian Travel

Each of the Netjetters will win up to £2,000 towards their trip, Fuji S9500 camera, a Nokia 6630 3G camera phone and a state-of-the-art laptop, all of which will be theirs to use on their Netjetter journeys and to keep thereafter. [. . . . ]

For fun: Boortz Redneck pictures -- I still chuckle, and sometimes guffaw, when I look at some of these: Redneck Scrap Book



My car has been surrounded by a pack larger than this when I wandered off the main road down a back road just to see where it went; the dogs make turning around to make a getaway a bit dicey.



Why do we have an announcement that an announcement will be made?

Martin to resign this weekend as Liberal leader -- Paul Martin intends to officially step down as Liberal Leader on March 19 when party executives meet in Ottawa to set a convention date.




Harper tightens leash on his ministers: report CTV.ca News Staff

Just as a point of interest, why does the report start with "In an effort to appear focused" -- "appear"?

[. . . . ] The orders indicate that ministers have been told to avoid talking about the direction of the government, and that the government wants them to be less accessible to the media.

"In order to keep a grip on such events (those that distract from priority areas), PMO will approve of all ministerial events."

The five Tory campaign priorities include a GST cut, a child-care allowance, tougher criminal sentences, a patient waiting-times guarantee and a Federal Accountability Act. [. . . . ]

Have we not had enough of the opposite?



Photos of Mexico City from the air -- "pictures ... taken while working as a Helicopter Pilot over Mexico City" -- via Autonomous source , a male who stays home to look after his two children. He has a delightful article on parenting and how children overtake you.

Stand up for choice in child care



Bernard Shapiro out of his element Tommy Schnurmacher, The Suburban, Mar. 15, 06

Ethics commissioner Bernard Shapiro should be fired. Why? Because he is completely out of his element, that’s why.

Partly responsible for the low morale among McGill faculty when he was principal, Shapiro has been winging it ever since he landed this new gig. At one point, the man was asking MPs to reveal the dollar value of their furniture. [. . . . ]

Bi-weekly Avian Influenza Maps via newsbeat1


Dutch get tougher on terror Lorenzo Vidino, Mar. 15, 06

Lorenzo Vidino is a senior terrorism analyst at the Investigative Project and author of "Al Qaeda in Europe: The New Battleground of International Jihad."

[. . . . ] Most of the members of the group, in fact, were born in the Netherlands, sons or grandsons of North African immigrants who had grown up immersed in Dutch culture, yet had embraced radical Islam and decided to "wage a holy war against their own country," as Dutch prosecutors defined it.

Bouyeri, who had described Holland as a "democratic torture chamber," talked about overthrowing the Dutch parliament and replacing it with an Islamic court. While receiving generous benefits from its social security, the men planned to kill the country's leaders and start a civil war that would have pitted Muslims against Christians. [. . . . ]

Hofstad group , Mohammed Bouyeri , Theo van Gogh , the end of Holland's multicultural dogma , the burqa and the niqab

Updated: "Privacy" abuses taxpayers, China-SAmer, Senate -&- Daycare Etc.

I have other commitments and no time for other posts -- but these are must read articles I just had to post -- with updates and comments added. There is one new post below this.



Updates:

Radwanski to face fraud charges Kelly Patrick, National Post, March 16, 2006

TORONTO - The RCMP has laid fraud and breach of trust charges against former federal privacy commissioner George Radwanski, more than two years after announcing it would probe the inappropriate spending that led to his June, 2003, resignation. [. . . . ]

The Mounties' 26-month investigation also resulted in charges against Mr. Radwanski's former chief of staff, Arthur Lamarche. [. . . . ]

Search: during a 2 1/2-year term Auditor-General Sheila Fraser said in a 2003 report , marred by more than $500,000 , Mr. Radwanski's lawyer, Edward Greenspan


Question: Are the taxpayers picking up the tab for this expensive lawyer as they are for others? (I seem to recall they are paying for a lawyer for ex-sponsorship PM Chretien though the details are fuzzy now. Was it only for his appearance before Justice Gomery? You'll have to check.)



Chinese Training Military in Latin America NewsMax.com Wire, Wednesday, March 15, 2006

WASHINGTON -- China is training increasing numbers of Latin American military personnel, taking advantage of a three-year old U.S. law that has led to a sharp decline in U.S.-run training programs for the region, an Army general said Tuesday. [. . . . ]

Notice how many leftists--or are they properly termed Communists?--are running governments in South America?



Hillary Clinton Rips Bill's Panama Ports Deal Feb. 27, 2006

2008 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is expanding her complaint about foreign companies owning U.S. ports - and now says a 1999 deal to let a Chinese company [Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa] takeover the ports at each end of the Panama Canal was a mistake.

[. . . . ] Mrs. Clinton neglected to mention, however, that it was her husband who approved the deal in question, when the Chinese company, Hutchison Whampoa, sought to buy the Panama Canal's ports. [. . . . ]

Hillary a little slow on the uptake?



Senate

Lorne Gunter: Putting the regions back into the Senate -- Whether elected or appointed, the Red Chamber won't function properly unless the provinces pick our senators

In a three-part series, the National Post is examining the implications of the Conservative government's plan to reform Canada's Senate. To help guide Stephen Harper, we have asked three authors to offer their prescriptions. In today's second instalment, Lorne Gunter argues for an elected Senate. [. . . . ]

Still, while I favour an elected Senate above the other two choices, I fear electing senators in the wrong manner will eventually be more destructive to regional and provincial aspirations than not electing it at all. [. . . . ]

Paul Vieira: Elected Senate a powder keg -- Stephen Harper's plans for an elected Senate could shake an institution that has withstood previous reform efforts. It could also change the way Canada... National Post, March 15, 2006

[. . . . ] APPOINTMENT BREAKDOWN:

Stephen Harper: one
Paul Martin: 17 [And how long was he in office as PM to stack the deck? That is why Mr. Mulroney had to expand the Senate which was overwhelmingly Liberal.]
Jean Chretien: 44
Brian Mulroney: 24 [Progressive Conservative]
John Turner: one
Joe Clark: one
Pierre Trudeau: 12

PARTY BREAKDOWN:
Liberals: 66
Conservatives: 24 [Are these the ones appointed by Brian Mulroney? Weren't they Progressive Conservatives? Of course they were, with maybe one or two exceptions. Check. ]
Progressive Conservatives: four
New Democratic Party: one
Independent: five

Two nations, only one Lords -- A shrinking house of controversy Joseph Brean, National Post, March 16, 2006

Re: UK

[. . . . ] As with the Canadian Senate, the Lords provide a sober second thought to non-financial bills, but they are generally expected to do the bidding of their elected counterparts in the Commons.

Unlike the Senate, however, the House of Lords is also Britain's highest court of appeal, with a subset of 12 "Law Lords" acting much like the Supreme Court of Canada.

Last year, legislation was passed that will eventually create a Supreme Court.

Premiers not in favour of more powerful Senate -- "There's the potential for provincial premiers losing power -- and politicians are very jealous of that." Paul Vieira, National Post, March 16, 2006

OTTAWA - When Canada came together in 1867 the founding fathers agreed that the Senate would act as the voice of the regions in the national Parliament.

The formula for regional representation in the upper chamber, it was envisaged, would offset the dominance of central Canada in the lower chamber, or House of Commons.

It hasn't worked out that way, and one of the reasons reformists champion an elected Senate is to enhance its effectiveness. Which may explain why some of the provincial premiers are so opposed to Senate reform today. Recreating the Senate as a truly effective voice of regional interests would only detract from their own claim to be the voice of the people. [. . . . ]

Privacy

Medical researchers caught faking it -- Federal grant recipients -- "Officials at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) say they cannot, under federal privacy laws, identify the researchers." Margaret Munro, CanWest, March 16, 2006

More than a dozen scientists and doctors, several of them recipients of sizable federal grants, have been faking research, destroying data, plagiarizing or conducting experiments on people without necessary ethics approvals, the country's lead research agencies report.

One medical researcher, who was awarded $1,347,445 for various projects, fabricated and falsified data .... [. . . . ]

CIHR and NSERC distribute almost $1.5-billion tax dollars a year to close to 16,000 researchers and thousands more graduate students across the country. [. . . . ]

Search: worst case of scientific fakery in two decades , Health Canada also refuses ....

I did a search: news, nserc, plagiarism, fraud

Some of the results:

There may be repetition or overlap; I simply have not the time to read all of this now -- and it it lengthy and detailed.

Caveat: I skimmed but did not read these completely. Yet, there seems to be something to the story of Michael Pyshnov.

Carnegie Foundation: The corrupt Canadian academia...Posted by Michael Pyshnov the scientist who is making the charges: see below for his supporting documents that you may read and judge for yourself. (max2-net131-ip066-toronto.ica.net)Date: 4/7/2005 7:24:02 PM

In 1985 I was a mature PhD student at the University of Toronto. Two of my papers were published earlier in The Journal of Theoretical Biology. I postulated and described a "division wave" of cells in the tissue and showed that the division wave is the only way in which the cells can divide and multiply without destroying the structure of the tissue. In my PhD research I made the discovery (predicted by me) of embryonic cell patterns responsible for the structure of adult organs in Drosophila.

The opinion of the Department about me was this: "We estimate he is of first-class calibre.., our Departmental Graduate Committee ranked him 1st of 7 applicants for PGS-3 awards [the highest scholarship in Canada, NSERC]. He has already proven himself as an independent researcher". My supervisor's opinion was: "Mr. Pyshnov's demonstrated creativity in conceiving of this novel approach plus his superb technical skills uniquely qualify him to carry out these studies of far reaching significance." She said that I am "a man of proven scholarly attainments" and "a very creative scientist".

However, in 1986 my status was fraudulently changed to "lapsed candidate". [. . . . ]

Privacy

University of Toronto Fraud

This site contains evidence of fraud and criminal conspiracy perpetrated by the following: President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) T. Brzustowski, former Ontario Minister D. Cunningham, former Ont. Attorney General J. Flaherty, former University of Toronto President R. Birgeneau (presently - Chancellor of the UC at Berkeley), University of Toronto professors: I. Orchard, D. Dewees, B. Roots, S. Desser, P. Gooch, E. Larsen.

The whole affair was conducted with confidence that reporting it in the media will be precluded, and the complete blackout exists to this day.

Download this site if you wish to preserve this evidence. [. . . . ]

List of documents or if the site is banned: Click on Cached in Google for "University of Toronto fraud"



Maritimes independent media centre: "University of Toronto fraud. The most censored story of corruption."



Bulk of editorial board quits embattled CMA Journal CNEWS, Mar. 16, 06

TORONTO (CP) - The bulk of the editorial board of the Canadian Medical Association Journal resigned Thursday in an ongoing battle with the journal's owner, the Canadian Medical Association, over the issue of editorial independence. [. . . . ]

The New England Journal of Medicine will publish an article with details in the March 30 issue. You won't learn much in Canadian news, imho. See just below.


Bumped up: Medical researchers caught faking it -- taxpayer funded -- with privacy protection ........

The malfeasance occurred at several universities -- their punishments? Cut off research funding from 1 to 4 years. If an adult (not a teen) commits a relatively small crime, his/her name is published, but if a white collar criminal / researcher commits what amounts to a crime using taxpayer money, the system seems to kick in to protect that person. Taxpayers may not know and vote with their feet. How many are mentioned as moving on or fired? The system kicks in to protect itself and those who falsified their research. That doesn't seem fair, does it? It is rather like the sponsorship scam where politicians are protected from punishment for their part in it; they passed time-limiting legislation, as I recall. And they didn't know a thing?



A husband is someone who, after taking the trash out, gives the impression that he just cleaned the whole house. (from a friend)


Daycare and Equality / Equity

Excellent William Watson: Daycare on strike: Canadians can hope Stephen Harper and Jean Charest aren't mapping out a blueprint for a national 'social economy'

Instead union leaders, ministers and senior bureaucrats negotiate one wage for the whole province. The way parents have their say is by providing more or less pressure as union leaders order more or less inconvenience. People's responsibility for their own actions becomes attenuated. Parents would like to help daycare workers but, hey, it's not up to us, it's up to the minister. Workers would prefer not to inconvenience parents and children, but, hey, what can we do, the union called us out.

Shrug!

We see this kind of thing repeated in health care, in education, almost everywhere there are monopoly public services. Reporters from the Gazette in Montreal recently followed a [. . . . ]

Search: "But it is work ... of ... equal ... value. How do we know? Consultants told us so." [re: equality / equity]

Actually, I think parenting is so important it should be done by a parent, not someone outside the home. Our tax structure should reflect this and reward parents who actually think about what they are doing when they have a child -- that there are responsibilities that come with a child. Also, when you choose to parent it may entail making do with less but first, thinking about the consequences. Make a choice about lifestyle versus parenting and what comes with it, responsibilities that no-one else can shoulder in the same way. Obviously, adversity ameliorates this in some cases such as the death of a spoouse -- but I want to hear about the fathers who create single moms too. Where are they and their responsibilities?

I really like this article on daycare and also on reimbursement of women, perhaps because I would like the merit principle rewarded more than the networking and longevity principles rewarded -- leading to that great leveller, mediocrity.



Paul Champagne, DND, Procurement, HP

Note that HP has repaid at least some of the money and they going to court over this. Politicians? Anyone else? ..... I jest, of course.

Operation invoice -- re: Paul Champagne and associates -- "The inside story of the extraordinary scam that stripped DND of $146 million" James Bagnall and Glen McGregor, The Ottawa Citizen, March 11, 2006

After everything that had gone before -- the years of building a private-sector network of impressive range and power, Paul Champagne's change of jobs in November 2000 seemed odd.

He was an independent procurement expert, a fixer with a wealth of contacts inside the military establishment. Now he was proposing to take a salary cut and become a DND bureaucrat. People usually moved the other way. [. . . . ]

willing to take a salary cut. [. . . . ]

the military invoicing scheme [. . . . ]

The criminal proceedings -- scheduled to begin March 22 with a preliminary hearing -- carry potentially large risks for HP and the federal government, as well as the defendants. HP could find its own procurement procedures under scrutiny, while a trial would expose weaknesses in government contracting practices and standards. Some of the flaws emerged following a mid-1990s downsizing, which squeezed procurement and auditing jobs at DND and Public Works, the agency responsible for negotiating and auditing nearly all federal contracts. The reduction in bodies was exacerbated by the slower-than-expected installation of information management systems. A DND post-mortem concluded that managers didn't have access to data that might have alerted them to the invoicing scam. [. . . . ]

Lengthy, detailed, with a timeline -- how he accomplished it: Inside job -- Operation Invoice: Part 2 of a series James Bagnall and Glen Mcgregor, The Ottawa Citizen, March 12, 2006

Operation Invoice, Part 2: Paul Champagne knew his corner of DND and its computer systems inside out. He also knew, it's alleged, that DND was one place where citing national security concerns could smooth the path of vaguely worded invoices for services never rendered. For investigators, it pointed to an ...

In part one, published yesterday and which can be read at www.ottawacitizen.com, Citizen writers James Bagnall and Glen McGregor traced the career of Paul Champagne from the computer operations rooms of Mitel, DY 4 Systems and Monenco to the inner sanctum of the Department of National Defence, where he served as an independent contractor and procurement expert. Although Mr. Champagne earned only a five-figure salary, associates couldn't help but notice that he had accumulated significant wealth by the mid-1990s. It was just the beginning. [. . . . ]

And nobody suspected in DND? in procurement? DCPS?

Winston Churchill’s comment on Islam

This came from a friend -- and thanks R.

Sir Winston Churchill’s comment on Islam
from The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248 50
(London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).

"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. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses 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."



Remember, this was written 106 years ago. Not much has changed.

Bud Talkinghorn -&- May appear law-abiding and reasonable, but ... "

The Ethic Commissioner--from lapdog to attack dog

Here is Bernard Shapiro, Ethics Commissioner, a man who was publically censored by an all-party committee for gross negligance and called on to resign by Ed Broadbent (the only NDPer I would consider voting for). He failed to report back on PM Martin's potential to be in conflict, considering his various business concerns. He couldn't investigate Tim Murphy in the Grewal case, nor Dosanjh, for that matter. The former because he was not part of his mandate, the latter because, well, he was. He mishandled the Judy Sgro file, claiming that she was exonerated completely, when his actual report didn't state that.

Now he is tackling a case against Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai. Interestingly enough, this case involves charges by Obhrai's mentally ill brother-in-law, who claims Obhrai sold his influence for $40,000. This accuser subsequently returned to India and committed suicide, after Shapiro's lawyer tracked him down for evidence. This was despite Obhrai's telling Shapiro that his in-law was extremely unstable. However, far more interesting is the source for the fraud complaint which came out of Joe Volpe's office. A request to investigate Volpe himself was turned down by Shapiro, because "the government was no longer sitting." This from an supposedly independent officer of the Crown. Does the civil service take a two month break when government is no longer sitting? How feeble an excuse. That Harper's government is not presently sitting doesn't stop Shapiro from investigating his granting the Liberal turncoat, Emerson, a Cabinet position. That he will follow up with investigations into the Liberal Cabinet appointments of Brison and Stronach is rather unlikely.

This is the man whom Martin trumpeted as part of his "democratic renewal" program. Even in defeat, the Liberals continue their unrivaled smear campaigns using this partisan commissioner. That the Conservatives and the NDP want him removed post haste will not effect the biased reporting on his behalf by the liberal media. Howard Wilson--best-in-show for lapdogs--at least simply shielded Chretien from blame. His pitbull replacement is much more proactive. If he can't perform his duties with neutrality, then he should be muzzled.

© Bud Talkinghorn

Note: scroll down for Beryl Wajsman: "THE SHAPIRO AFFAIR" etc. He is detailed and scathing. Check the Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal for more of what he has written, as well as Canada Free Press



"may appear law-abiding and reasonable, but..."

Sudden Jihad Syndrome (in North Carolina) by Daniel Pipes, New York Sun, March 14, 2006

[NY Sun title: "The Quiet-Spoken Muslims Who Turn to Terror"]
Read the details.

[. . . . ] This is what I have dubbed the Sudden Jihad Syndrome, whereby normal-appearing Muslims abruptly become violent. It has the awful but legitimate consequence of casting suspicion on all Muslims. Who knows whence the next jihadi? How can one be confident a law-abiding Muslim will not suddenly erupt in a homicidal rage? Yes, of course, their numbers are very small, but they are disproportionately much higher than among non-Muslims.

This syndrome helps explain the fear of Islam and mistrust of Muslims that polls have shown on the rise since September 11, 2001. [. . . . ]

Indeed.



Rex Murphy--Secret agent

Is it just me or do Rex's pensive essays on CBC seem subversive? Usually ending an hour of CBC National News' politically correct, fuzzy-left analysis of domestic and international events, there is Murphy skewering many of those sentiments. While I occasionally disagree with Rex's commentary, he is dead on most of the time. He is an oracle of common sense, whose ideas do not radiate from some hardcore ideology. He is such a relief after listening to the often shrill left-wing chorus that dominates the rest of the CBC's coverage. And by god, that man has the voice of a re-incarnated Shakespeare. If the "Selected Choughts of Chairman Murphy ever come out, I will be in line to buy it.

© Bud Talkinghorn

Dear CBC: You Lie by Omission and by Choice, it seems -&- More

I still have little time to read but I did come across these -- in no particular order and some I came to from other bloggers such as Jack's Newswatch and newsbeat1 but which ones, I do not remember. NJC

CBC Lies by Omission and by Choice, it seems

I posted on why the Canadians are in Afghanistan; scroll down to March 13, 2006: "Harper, NATO-led ISAF, Cdn. Troops in Afghanistan"

Then, yesterday, I listened to the Liberal/NDP Propaganda Organ aka CBC go on and on about whether the troops should be in Afghanistan and more than once with that "It's Harper's fault" tone concerning "body bags coming home"; just so you'll know who to blame for the body bags coming, soon if not in great numbers now. You have to listen to it to get that practiced, fault-finding, bad Conservatives / not good Liberals, sneering, dismissive or whatever the currently needed negative tone might be.

As part of NATO, Canadians are in Afghanistan. CBC is trying to spin this by repeatedly mentioning PM Harper, as though he were the one who sent them, when it was under the Liberals that the troops were deployed. CBC UTTERED NOT A WORD ABOUT NATO NOR THE ISAF. THE CBC IS NOT ONLY DUPLICITOUS, BUT IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT IS COMPLETELY POLITICIZED. IT USES TAXPAYER MONEY TO DISTORT, TO AGITATE AND TO URGE POLITICAL ACTION ON BEHALF OF LEFTISTS AND ASSORTED OTHERS -- ANYTHING TO TRY TO BRING BACK A LEFTIST GOVERNMENT, A LIBERAL GOVERNMENT. GET RID OF THE CBC, PLEASE.

Read the post and article for yourself; read what the troops themselves write, read PM Harper's speech to the troops, and try to find out more for yourself. If you listen too much to CBC, you'll simply be socially engineered to leftist speak--NDP/Lib speak -- as the Maritimes tend to be over-subjected to.

PS: I have been told three times that this blog is often not available in the Maritimes. Is it overload or unload? Makes you wonder. NJC

Dear CBC, you dissemble with the best of them! Read this message on the Parliamentary Press Gang Cjunk




The thread: Canada's Pathetic Response to Terrorism

Three ways to fight terrorism NatPost, Mar. 3, 06 -- worth reading

REFUGEE REFORM [....]

CRIMINALIZE THE TAMIL TIGERS [....]

EXPEL JIHADIS [....]

Fortunately, Canada's Muslim community is nowhere near as radicalized as those in Britain, France and other European nations. Indeed, most Muslims in this country are just as appalled by militant Islam as the rest of us -- though you would not always know it from the terror apologism spouted by such self-appointed mouthpieces as the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC). [....]

Predictably, this last recommendation has raised the ire of activist groups. The CIC, most notably, has put out a hysterical press release accusing Mr. Collacott of "immigrant phobia." But in fact, the measures he proposes are already law in many other Western nations. Tolerance is all fine and good. But no democracy should be forced to endure the spectacle of minority communities advocating violent jihad against the rest of society. [....]

Re: Canada full of terrorist 'refugees' -- Rogue's gallery of 'refugees' reveals deep flaws in immigration system Alan Ferguson,
The Province, March 03, 2006

[. . . . ] Take Algerian-born Fateh Kamel [. . . . ]

Then there's Mohammad Issa Mohammad [. . . . ]

Sanththijesvaran Kathiravelu was among 50 suspected members of Tamil gangs rounded up by police in Toronto in 2001 and earmarked for deportation.

The gangs were allegedly responsible for murders, extortion, drug trafficking, you name it.

Unsurprisingly, Kathiravelu remains in Canada and, since his arrest, has got married and become a father. [. . . . ]

And how do your tax dollars contribute to their being still here? Make some noise if you do not approve of your tax dollars being wasted.



Re: Canada's terror-friendly refugee system National Post


Today, you might want to read Terence Corcoran (Collacott and immigration), with whom I do not agree, and David Frum (aid to Hamas), with whom I do, in the National Post.



Brison's Crystal Ball Lorrie Goldstein, Sunday Sun: posted by rosemarie59, 3/12/2006

We now know that former Liberal cabinet minister and potential Liberal leadership contender Scott Brison can PREDICT THE FUTURE!

[.... Then scroll down to the next item beginning] Dear Mr. Brison: In light of last week's events, how do you predict [. . . . ]

THE SHAPIRO AFFAIR

A COMMISSIONER WORTHY OF CONTEMPT OR A CULTURE BENEATH CONTEMPT?

"The condition of all human ethics can be summed up in two sentences: We ought to. But we don't."
~ Kurt Tucholsky, anti-Nazi German Philosopher

[. . . . ] Why is it that Mr. Broadbent, who twice demanded Shapiro's resignation within the past eight months, now comes to his defence? Where were they when Stronach and Brison were crossing the floor for Minister's posts? I'll tell you where. Hiding in corners. Shapiro because he served at the pleasure of Paul Martin. And the NDP because they had made their deals with the ruling Liberals.

Shapiro has shown himself time and again to be either a bumbling foot-dragger or a totally manipulated pawn. [. . . . ]

He makes quite a case--worth thinking about concerning Liberal appointee and Ethics Commissioner Mr. Shapiro, but also on "A dangerous naiveté in Canada's polity." if you read to the end.

By Beryl P. Wajsman, President
Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal
http://www.iapm.ca



Music Break:Itzhak Perlman's Greatest Hits

Composer: Fryderyk Chopin, Edward Elgar, et al. Performer: Itzhak Perlman Label: EMI Classics Catalog Number: 56602 Audio CD (February 17, 1998) Number of Discs: 1 ASIN: B000002RZO


Jim Bronskill: CSIS warns of consequences of U.S. pullout from Iraq CP, Mar. 12, 06

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=4f5950df-82ef-416c-a20b-ef6edd242294&k=34723

OTTAWA -- A secret study by Canada's spy agency says insurgents wreaking havoc in Iraq would see a U.S. withdrawal of troops as "a significant victory" unless Baghdad first has a stable government.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service paints a bleak picture of "dire proportions" in which determined fighters are exploiting divisions between the Shiite majority and Sunni minority in Iraq.

[.... ] Judd said the Middle Eastern country is becoming a "kind of a test bed for new techniques" for Islamic extremists, such as suicide attacks and the use of improvised explosives.

[. . . . ]



A must read: Security lapses found at U.S. ports Ted Bridis, AP, Mar. 12, 06

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060312-011930-5279r.htm

[. . . . ] The $75 million, three-year study by the Homeland Security Department included inspections at a New Jersey cargo terminal involved in the dispute over a Dubai company's now-abandoned bid to take over significant operations at six major U.S. ports.

The previously undisclosed results from the study found that cargo containers can be opened secretly during shipment to add or remove items without alerting U.S. authorities, according to government documents marked "sensitive security information" and obtained by the Associated Press. [. . . . ]
Among the study's findings:

• Safety problems were not limited to overseas ports. [. . . . ]

Freedom to oppress -- Bullying power of state used in clash over cartoons Ezra Levant, Mar. 13, 06

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Levant_Ezra/2006/03/12/1484796.html

[. . . . ] Soharwardy went to the police and asked them to arrest me. The police politely threw him out of their offices. Peacefully disagreeing about contentious matters such as politics and religion is not a crime in Canada.

So then Soharwardy went to a less liberal institution: The Alberta Human Rights Commission. Unlike real courts, the human rights commission doesn't follow rules of evidence. Unlike real courts, it is often packed with activists, not neutral judges. And the government pays for the inquisition -- unlike civil courts, where a complainant has to pay for his own lawyer.

Human rights commissions were created to help people denied an apartment because of their race, or fired from a job because of their religion. Today they're about political correctness and ideological engineering. [. . . . ]

Teenage 'Buddha' missing March 11, 2006

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/nepal.missing.ap/index.html

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- A teenage boy in Nepal whose followers believe he is the reincarnation of Buddha is missing after 10 months of meditation, allegedly without food or water, officials said Saturday.

Followers of Ram Bahadur Banjan, 15, reported his disappearance and a police team has been sent to the jungles of Bara, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of the capital, Kathmandu, to investigate, said Santaraj Subedi, the chief government official in the district.

[. . . . ] Buddhist priests who visited him said the boy was not the incarnation of Buddha but believed he had been meditating for months.

Would the Chinese Maoists have had anything to do with this?



China-e-lobby: News of the Day Mar. 9, 06


A must read -- a good case is made

Reason: Anti-Humanitarian Aid -- The moral case for ending assistance to dictatorships -- "Africa's dire need is undisputed, but good intentions aside, could it be that aid actually harms Africans—and that less help would do more good?" Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler, March 10, 2006

Jens F. Laurson is Editor-in-Chief of the International Affairs Forum, Arlington, Virginia. George A. Pieler is Senior Fellow with the Institute for Policy Innovation.

[. . . . ] Surely we grasp that nobly motivated aid does more harm than good when it props up corrupt and brutal regimes. Dictators who demand aid to stave off mass starvation must account for the misery and hunger caused when they divert aid to supporters and cut off opponents. Why should they benefit politically while aid wrecks local agriculture? Aid placates enough people to ensure the regime's survival, but for every soul saved by foreign aid, more will perish because of the continued existence of that regime. [. . . . ]

Energy Pipeline News...which is published on the first business day of each month. An index of the stories covered in the current issue appears below.

http://www.energypipelinenews.com/

BULLETIN

March 13, 2006

It’s official: BP spill on Alaska’s North Slope is largest ever there

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The BP pipeline spill at Alaska's Prudhoe Bay discovered March 2 is the largest ever on the North Slope, according to an official estimate released March 10. BP, in a joint statement with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and state officials, put the volume of oil spilled at 201,000 to 267,000 gallons of crude, or 4,786 to 6,357 barrels. While substantial, that is still far less than the 11 million gallons spilled in Prince William Sound when the Exxon Valdez ran aground in March 1989.

[. . . . ] Index to Vol. 7, No. 3 (March 2006): [. . . . ]

There is an extensive list of articles.




Of course, Libs/NDP have no reason to stir up the public service ...
Liberal finance critic John McCallum: Massive PS cuts feared -- "NDP MP and finance critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis shared McCallum's concerns" Kathleen Harris, OttawaSun

[. . . . ] PSAC is concerned about 350 federal gun registry jobs [. . . . ]

Music Break

300 Years of Guitar Masterpieces

Composer: Isaac Albeniz, Johann Sebastian Bach, et al.
Performer: Manuel Barrueco

[. . . . ]




This came via a friend so I have no link.

NEWS STORY
By F. Abbas Rana and Kate Malloy
Some Grits expect Martin to resign as party leader: Liberals

There are many Liberals who want to make sure former prime minister Paul Martin is long gone before the next election.

[....] "The Maritimes are the sheet anchor of the Liberal Party. It's an incredibly important region for the Liberal party. It always has been, always will be," Mr. Ignatieff told the Halifax Chronicle Herald. "Anybody who's even thinking about leadership has to spend time understanding the Maritimes, understanding its concerns, getting the issues right."

Media lawyers want release of search warrant information in legislature raid -- "Lawyers for the media say the public is being misled about allegations connected to the 2003 raid on the B.C. legislature" Terri Theodore, Mar. 13, 06

[. . . . ] Basi and his brother-in-law Bob Virk, both former government ministerial assistants, face charges of accepting a bribe, influence peddling, breach of trust and two counts of fraud over $5,000.

Basi's cousin, Aneal Basi, has been charged with two counts of laundering money.
A brief summary of heavily edited search warrant information released earlier alleged that Dave Basi and Virk traded government inside information on the privatization of B.C. Rail for job recommendations with the federal Liberal government. [. . . . ]

Memory Lane: Shotgun

Shotgun May 10, 2004: The Western Standard / Shotgun is now two years old. I opened this webpage and, by the time I had the time to read it, I forgot why I had gone to it in the first place -- but there are several possibilities.

Search: firebombing ,
March for life , abortion ,
Muskeg Lake Cree Nation , clinic , attempt to breach the Canada Health Act , two-tier medicine ,
fish , cod , Atlantic , EI , buy Atlantic Canadian votes , changes to Employment Insurance , seasonal workers ,
Sheikh Abd Al-Sudayyis ,
Oscar Lacombe Gun Registry Defense Fund

Other Shotgun items:

Victor David Hanson: How Jimmy Carter and academic multiculturalists helped bring us Sept. 11 -- an excerpt here: multiculturalism

Just Another Day in the Friendly Dictatorship


"Lawrence Martin put together this little primer on the politicization of the boys in red serge. At a bit more analytical level, Paul Palango's The Last Guardians talks about how politicization and a conflatin of business management methods with policing techniques have eroded the RCMP's independence and credibility over a generation."

Harper, NATO-led ISAF, Cdn. Troops in Afghanistan

Update:

I have other commitments and shall not post for a while.

Download a high resolution map NATO: Afghanistan Map




Prime Minister Stephen Harper has landed in Kandahar for a surprise, two-day visit with Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan. Good show, PM Harper!



The media haven't exactly been forthcoming with this NATO information.

They try to slant stories why Canadian troops shouldn't be in Afghanistan while they know perfectly well that NATO is behind this mission and that 26 NATO allies and 10 non NATO countries are involved; however, they haven't really informed the public because it doesn't fit their agenda. The Liberals were in power when the decisions were made in December but they are trying to blame Harper. This should cause some backtracking when the Canadian public becomes aware of the mission.

So much for providing necessary info to Canadians newsbeat1


The NATO-led ISAF Mission Afghanistan

Revised operational plan for NATO ’s expanding mission in Afghanistan

http://www.nato.int/issues/afghanistan_stage3/

On 8 December, NATO Foreign Ministers endorsed a revised Operational Plan, prepared by NATO's Military Authorities, which will guide the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to assist the Afghan Government to extend and exercise its authority and influence across the country.

The Plan addresses the tasks and challenges ISAF will face as it continues to expand its area of operations to the south and subsequently to the east of the country.

It provides the strategic focus to create the conditions for stabilisation and reconstruction across the country. It recognizes the primacy of the Afghan Government and the paramount importance of continued, coherent and consistent development of Afghan political institutions and security capability. In addition, it outlines clear arrangements for enhanced coordination and deconfliction between ISAF’s stabilisation mission and the Coalition counter-terrorism mission. It also highlights the need for ISAF to cooperate effectively with the other key international community agencies in Afghanistan , notably the UN, the EU, the G8 lead nations and the NGO community.

[. . . . ] The next stage of ISAF expansion is planned for 2006 and is known as Stage 3 Expansion, which will result in the following:

ISAF's area of operations will be expanded to include six additional provinces: Day Kundi, Helmand , Kandahar , Nimroz, Uruzgan and Zabul (see attached map [on that site]);

Four Regional Commands will be established at: Mazar-e Sharif, Herat and Kandahar for ISAF Regions North, West and South respectively and one for the capital, Kabul;

Four additional ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) will be created in the Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces, subject to national approval (see attached map [on that site]);

An additional Forward Support Base will be established in Kandahar (see attached map);

Deployment of ISAF operational mentoring and liaison teams to Afghan National Army units at various levels of command. These are small groups of experienced officers and NCOs that will coach and mentor the Afghan National Army units to which they are attached;

ISAF will be increased by up to 6,000 personnel potentially bringing the total number to approximately 15,000;

(Currently 26 Allies and 10 non-NATO countries contribute some 9,000 personnel to the operation). [. . . . ]

Updated: Drugs & Abortion

Update Mar. 13, 06 at end of this post -- "One Medical Opinion"


What do you mean this isn't a dog?





SAVE OUR CHILDREN posted by via neutralsam, 3/11/2006. It leads to this LEAP audiovideo . The main webpage is here: Law Enforcement Against Prohibition of drugs. This is from retired police officers and it is worth the time.



Bud Talkinghorn: The Conservatives' reefer madness

I voted for the Conservatives based on what I perceived would be their fiscal prudence and their commonsense approach to social issues. While I appaud Vic Toews' ratcheting up the penalties for violent crime, his prohibitionist stance on marijuana is so wrong-headed. If he wants to tackle drug use, let him zero in on the really destructive drugs, like crack cocaine, heroin and meth. Do not clog the courts (and jails) with a mindless jihad against a drug softer than alcohol--or cough! cough!--tobacco. Surely he can see the utter failure to stem both production and sale of domestic pot. All that the biliions spent during the last three decades to stop foreign trafficking of weak weed did was to create a superior homegrown variety. It has become the major cash crop of states like Kentucky, Oregon and West Virginia. I'm sure that whatever Canada sends them is merely a top-up.

Now this nonsense scare tactic about the increased potency can be put to rest. Yes, today's homegrown is more powerful. All that means is that you smoke a whole lot less. Whereas it took five lung-burning joints to launch you to your favourite spot, now it takes half a joint. Which was worse for your delicate lung tissues?

The Vancouver police had it right when they were asked why Mark Emery was allowed to sell vast numbers of marijuana seeds unhindered. The spokesman said, "We have a serious heroin/cocaine problem here. That is behind our crime wave. Emery is way down our line of priorities." As well he should be. Do we really want to spend billions aping the American's futile war on marijuana? Do we really want to see some kid (the caught are mainly stupid kids smoking in public) sentenced to jail? While some other sensible judge gives another kid a complete discharge? Even the police, who number among the illicit tokers, of course, have taken the position of questioning whether to charge or not to charge for possession. We cannot have the absurd disparity that we see in the U.S., where two kids, convicted on the same possession charge have sentences ranging from zero time to five years in a max prison. If we could, by some futuristic device, jail all the Canadian marijuana smokers we would immediately collapse as a nation. From architects to zoologists, the help wanted listings would fill the entire paper. It would certainly end our unemployment problems, with hundreds of thousands in jail and thousands more warders and other staff to keep them there. The Conservatives must wake up to the destructive reality of what they are proposing. The Trudeau LeDain Commission on Marijuana Use said to legalize it in the 70s, and the Canadian Senate committee said the same thing in the late 90s. 600,000 marijuana convictions later, it is time to stop. For Toews to overrule such sage advise is foolhardy, in itself.

Let Joe Average cultivate a few plants for personal use and the criminal element would wither away. What ever happened to the mafia bootleggers after prohibition was repealed?

© Bud Talkinghorn


My Perspective

Bud, didn't the depression-era bootleggers, at least the ones at the top of the supply chain who were not caught on tax evasion, become solid citizens? I seem to remember something about a Kennedy and even families in Canada who became solid, respectable bottlers and/or purveyors of find wines and spirits .... but the research would take more time than I have. I'm off to see a dog and to sit in the sun.

As for my position on marijuana, I am ambivalent. I hate the stuff though I'm not sure why, and even I know that my reasons are somewhat illogical, given the arguments on the other side. I suspect that my reasons have more to do with not understanding the drugs and rock and roll culture and not fitting into any group that was into it, mostly because I'm much too uncool/square -- not a very logical position on my part, but ... I listened to some of the pot smokers' ideas spouted and I dismissed it as silly babble. They could probably sense what I thought of them. Anyway, I don't have enough knowledge and I do want to protect children. Yet, I know a few who grow the stuff or want people to think they do (imho), and they're ordinary blokes. As with most, I have special rules for them in my heart -- illogical too. Mostly, I don't want to know the details -- live and let live -- another illogical position if pot is a real danger to society's children. I have some research on the dangers of marijuana which I'll try to find when I return; perhaps there is other research; it would be useful to see on which side of the question the bulk of the evidence falls. Meanwhile, I did post on marijuana research some time in the last two years. Check the RCMP website too.

I believe this is one of those issues that needs open discussion -- that decent people who want the best for society have views that differ from mine; others concur with me. Let the discussion begin.

Don't tell decent people that the topic shouldn't be discussed; open debate has been curbed enough in Canada.

Also, I think so much would be better for young people if there were one adult in the family charged with being a stay-at-home parent and being aware of where the children are at all times -- or else. As for the pressures on teens--whether bullying, peer pressure over costly clothing, over trying drugs or anything else--if it looks as though it will be a problem, consider removing your child from the scene and home-schooling. Contact other parents who have similar concerns. Get together and find a solution so that you may raise good human beings who can stand on their own two feet. It will be after you have taken steps to protect them, to give them the tools to be independent thinkers who can withstand peer pressure, so they are capable of operating as older teens ready to stand up for what they believe or know is right. Ah, I'm on my soapbox again. NJC



Update Mar. 13, 06: One Medical Opinion

Marijuana's harm can't be ignored -- letter from "Morris Givner, Ph.D., FCACB, FCIC, Professor of Pathology (Ret.) and Associate Professor of Medicine (Ret.), Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S." National Post, March 13, 2006 -- Re: Freedom And Pot, editorial, March 11.

The National Post's editorial writer is wrong. Marijuana is a toxic and carcinogenic drug (more than 40 carcinogens). It diminishes response times, decreases motivation and leads to more addictive drugs. [. . . . ]

Michael Coren: Canada too permissive on abortion