My Opinion (should be yours too)

My new project

2010-07-21T22:05:00.000-04:00

If you are still faithfully subscribed to this blog, I really appreciate it. I will get back to it eventually. But if you are at all curious about my latest project I invite you to follow my personal story here.

As for my opinion, there will be plenty to come what with the Tea Party bullsh%t and the coming election. Stay tuned!

Socialism is the new GOP tactic!

2010-03-24T14:30:00.000-04:00

Call me crazy, but I think the GOP just turned to socialist measures!

GOP Senators Refusing To Work Past 2PM, Invoking Obscure Rule

Is it just me? Random angry musings...

2010-03-17T21:35:00.001-04:00

As I sit and watch the world slowly go insane, I am filled with random thoughts that just never seem to find an outlet. But living in my beloved small, French-Canadian town makes it hard to find anyone willing to engage in an angry debate concerning the re-writing of US history by Christian right-wing fanatics who have taken hold of the Texas department of education....

It has been suggested by many a therapist that you must vent your frustrations in a healthy way. Thank you blogosphere for this outlet! Therefore I am starting a monthly feature called "Is it just me?" in hopes of some how improving my own sanity by pointing out the world's lack thereof.

Does any true Christian really believe that Jesus would vote against universal health care? Really?
On what planet must you be born to think that you can obtain a photo ID with a hood (or niqab) over your face? (local Canadian political issue)
What kind of world leader goes on live TV to discuss his March Madness basketball picks while almost 200 thousand young men and women are in the line of fire for him? (@manofbird - De Gaul playing petanque?)
I think Stephen Harper prorogued parliament so he could spend 3 weeks at the Olympics... And man did he make that black Team Canada jacket look good.
Why does FOX News seem to have such a hard time finding seemingly intelligent, rational and knowledgeable commentators?
Marois and Charest? Is this really the best we can come up with? (local Quebec leadership issue) A woman who claims to deeply care about the poor and underprivileged while she drives 2 (yes 2) Porsches and lives in a multi-million dollar mansion with a staff? A man who looks like Bozo the Clown out of makeup and cannot seem to make a decision on the most simplest of issues without looking at his popularity numbers?

And last, but not least, my biggest frustration of the day:
Texas education reformers have taken measures to rewrite history textbooks for the entire state. Amongst the edits and changes they have imposed:

Replace the word "capitalism" at every instance with the words "free market system." WHY? And Sesame Street will be changing the name of Grover to "hairy blue monster who talks funny."
John Calvin replaces Thomas Jefferson in many instances relating to the founding of the country. WHAT? Calvin was leader of the US church reformation and propagator of modern "evangelical" thinking, but he didn't write the mother-f-ing declaration of independence dawg! This is blatantly banishment of Jefferson because he was a secularist...
They also stripped the emergence of hip-hop as a cultural movement from curricula on American cultural history, have moved to systematically deny that numerous Hispanics died at the Alamo, and removed important passages relating to the Ku-Klux-Klan and the plight of the American Indians.

Has Texas decided they weren't turning out enough ignorant people from their school system? That must be it...
Stay sane out there people - it is an insane world.

Discalimer

2010-03-12T12:59:00.000-05:00

Saw this today and couldn't get enough of it. Enjoy!

It's not about you, America...

2010-03-01T13:50:00.006-05:00

Surprise, surprise...Americans disapprove.

After laughing wholeheartedly last night at the humourous, witty and tongue-in-cheek display that was the Olympic closing ceremonies, I can't say I am overly surprised at the comments and reactions of American voices on the web this morning. Below are some excerpts of the crap I have seen spewed this morning on the Huffington Post community and for fun I have included some of my responses. But let me start you off with the quintessential defense of Canada's attitude during the Olympics posted by BritishColumbian, who I am taking the liberty of quoting:

"...the swelling of national pride in Canada has nothing to do with America. It began when then torch relay began and proceeded to get stronger as more and more Canadians came out to cheer the flame and the runners on. What spurred the reaction in our 2nd largest country in area and small population was a realization that people across our nation felt the same as we did. Thus, a chance to share our emotions.
Why Americans think that they have the right or obligation to say anything about it and actually think that they have the right to criticize how we feel about our country, how we should express ourselves and how we should act is over the top."

For those who don't know, amongst its many achievements VANOC put on the longest torch relay in Olympic history: 106 days, 45,000 kilometers, 12,000 carriers, touching over 1000 communities in all 13 provinces and territories.

Here is some of the piss out there today:

“I couldn't help watching these games and not be distracted by the amount of attention Canada placed on Canada, and this feeling was reinforced by the self-conciousness of the Closing Ceremonies.”

“…it seemed very much like a pro-Canada spectacular, not an international event, at the very end.”

My response to the above:

“Boy are there a lot of sore losers on this board...
Canada proved they are better than the US at more than just hockey

- we know how to be light-hearted and laugh at ourselves
- we know how to overcome adversity without dragging everyone else down with us
- we are capable of positivity under all conditions
- we inspire peace and gratitude in all who visit or associate with us
- we lose with as much pride as we win
Americans would struggle to equal any of the above...”

To which I received:

“You forgot "humility." Oh...right, you covered that by being supercilious.”

Which merited a swift retort in the form of:

“And is humility something we should be learning from you? haha! Why don't you go cry into a tissue made from the recycled "Mission Accomplished" banner...”

Then an even better fight developed when another yank on the board claimed that our patriotism was mean-spirited:

“…It’s being said with the worst kind of mean spirited nationalism…”

The fact that any American would have the gall to say such a thing is pretty incredible, but I couldn’t let it lie, so:

"Actually let me correct you - the above was said not with "mean spirited nationalism" but rather the kind of disdain inspired by a bad neighbour - the kind of neighbour whom you lend your lawn mower, who never brings it back and then makes you feel like a prick for asking for its return.
Frankly, if anything, the Canadian patriotism that we all witnessed (trust me, Canadians are just as surprised as anyone else to have witnessed it) was most likely amplified by the frustration of having spent the past 9 years living next to Homer Simpson.
And the day Ned Flanders finally stands up for himself instead of just saying "Okily-Dokily" inevitably is the day Homer chooses to point out our poor attitude. Quite typical of an American...”

On that note, enjoy the hangover Canada – we earned it!

Why the iPad matters more than anyone understands. (except for Bill Gates)

2010-01-28T23:52:00.000-05:00

Many are indifferent to yesterdays news that Apple has launched its long-awaited tablet computer. Many more are having a poo-poo party claiming the product it a bust, a failure, an unnecessary toy that no one will buy... I have read multiple blogs and tech articles discussing the fact that it's too big to fit into your pocket but too small to use effectively as a laptop replacement. Others complain that it is just a giant iPhone and that it's useless because of the virtual keyboard not being as good as the real thing. Where's the mouse? How do I hold it? Does it have a CD-Rom?

I am telling you right here, right now, that Apple's iPad will cause an irreversible shift in the technology zeitgeist. And ironically it was predicted by none other than Steve Jobs' arch-nemesis, Bill Gates.

Bill Gates has been carrying a tablet computer everywhere he goes for eons, and in fact, back in 2001 Gates told CNN, "...within five years I predict it (the tablet PC) will be the most popular form of PC sold in America."

Now while his timing may have been off by a few years, he was right. Sadly for him, the platform that would make the revolution finally stick was not to be PC/Windows based - Steve Jobs has again taken the cigar out of Bill's mouth and dropped it into his brandy snifter...

Truth be told, the launch of the Apple tablet was not yesterday at all - it was launched in June of 2007 under the name iPhone/iPod Touch. While Apple had already successfully revolutionized the way people buy and consume music thanks to the original iPod franchise, iPhone and iPod Touch opened the door to the idea of pocket-mobile software, games, movies and television.

Just 30 short months later Apple has sold well over 100 million iPhone/iPod Touch units. Over 125 million iTunes accounts are open and 3 billion Apps have been downloaded from the App-store. While touch-screen multi-touch interfaces were unproven and new, Apple executed the technology perfectly, stylishly and delivered it to the masses. And more significantly, their faithful community backed it up with innovative and limitless content in the form of media, software and games. (Light-saber app anyone?)

And this is the key to the importance of the iPad - iPad is not a "gadget," but like iPhone it is a platform - a whole new realm open to developers and designers. And just as important, it will once and for all break through the conventional thinking in UI (User Interface) design.

Hard to imagine a world without mice and keyboards? Get used to the idea...

The coming years will be alive with incredible new ideas in the form of software apps, peripherals and accessories that we never imagined possible. Minority Report-style interfaces powered by pico-projectors and word processing powered by voice recognition are surely not far around the corner. The content will evolve just as rapidly as the interfaces making the marriage of man and machine more natural, more human.

And while iPad is busy introducing all kinds of new ideas and experiences into our living rooms, cars, offices and public transit systems, it will inevitably influence the way humans interface with all machines.

I sure hope Bill Gates sends a thank you note to Steve for finally getting the message out about tablet computing...

That's my opinion, should be yours too.

(PS - I missed Michael Pollan on Oprah today...sure would be nice if I could just grab my iPad and log into my cable provider to download it... think my next blog will be completely devoted to the long overdue demise of the traditional cable-TV distribution model)

Direct from Haiti

2010-01-20T16:30:00.005-05:00

Carel Pedre is a Hatian radio DJ who has been desperately working to communicate and coordinate information about relief using Twitter as well as broadcasting locally from a table in the street. I feel compelled to share this set of tweets with you because they are as clear a portrayal of the local sentiment as you can get.

carelpedre Going to do a Five Ws (and one H) Tweets
carelpedre 1^st W: Who is in charge in Haiti to distribute Food/water and medical supplies to us?
carelpedre 2^nd W: What will the government do with the humanitarian aid?
carelpedre 3^rd W: When are you going to Start distributing the aid properly?
carelpedre 4^th W: Where can we go to get food and water?
carelpedre 5^th W: Why after 8 days, the president did not formally and officially address to the nation?
carelpedre The H: How do you expect us to be patient when we are hungry and thirsty and we have lost everything?
carelpedre Done with my Five Ws (and one H) Tweets. I hope some journalists will ask them to the Prez or the PM next time they'll meet them.

I hope so too Carel. That is his opinion, and it should be ours too.

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It should be noted that one of the loudest voices demanding to know why there are so many challenges with the logistical coordination on the ground in Haiti is none other than CNN’s Anderson Cooper. If you haven’t seen his show from there I recommend you throw on CNN at 10pm – he is doing a remarkable job of reporting the situation and he is getting more frustrated by the day. Links: Aid workers frustrated with relief effort

You can't eat or drink dollars...

2010-01-16T21:55:00.006-05:00

While my expectations were pretty low having closely followed the clusterf#ck that was the US Government's reaction to Hurricane Katrina, I find myself amazed and horrified by their absolute failure to make a true difference in Haiti within the window of time required.

Barely 600 miles from Miami, we allowed approximately a million people to go without food or clean water for 5 days. Meanwhile, I watched and listened to the US media pat themselves on the back for the incredible speed with which they were able to mobilize and dispatch Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and the like to Haiti within hours of the quake. And don't get me started on the “feel-good” news story of the year – donations by text message...

While I hardly am reproaching the generosity of the hundreds of thousands of Americans and Canadians who dug into their pockets during an economic crisis to help out, (I wonder how much Goldman Sachs is sending to Haiti) I am absolutely criticizing the people who had the power to make the real required difference when it mattered. President Obama gave a nice press conference the day after the quake, but ultimately he, his secretary of state and his military commanders failed to get the job done.

Every news crew on TV stated the facts – they had 48-72 hours to search for survivors before dehydration would begin to set in. As well, it was clear by midnight of the first night that hundreds of thousands were out in the streets with no food or clean water.

Can someone please tell me how the largest military industrial complex in the world couldn't get a couple of transport aircraft loaded up with clean water, a few hundred men and some helicopters, and get them 600 miles from Miami within the first 24 hours? They couldn't get the Army Corps of Engineers saddled up with a few bulldozers and backhoes into there to open the roads and begin moving rubble by day 2?

Instead we were told that “advance teams” had been sent to “assess the needs on the ground.” Funny – the news stations seemed to know what was needed...my dumb ass sitting at home seemed to know what was needed. Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta could definitely tell you what was needed.

The next day the excuses started piling in – the roads are blocked...the airport is congested... roads? Helicopters don't need roads. A helicopter with a decent pilot can take a 2-ton pallet of bottled water chained to it's winch and land it softer than a butterfly on a target the size of a dart-board. If he's has been told to do so that is. Take 4 helicopters and a full days work, and a pallet could have been dropped into every neighborhood by day 2.

So now, day 6 and the aid is finally starting to trickle from the airport into Port-au-Prince. I guess the “advance teams” have finished their work. Time for the photo ops of Hillary Clinton handing out biscuits....

On a more positive note, I am truly proud to be Canadian when I see the incredible numbers our small country has put up in donations to various organizations. Even prouder when I read today that Canadian Tire is filling the cargo hold of a 767 with as many tents, sleeping bags, flashlights and batteries as they can get their hands on.

I would like to highlight the organization that we donated to here at home – Médecins sans frontières/Doctors Without Borders will most likely play a larger role in this disaster than any other in their history. This due the the tragic fact that a huge number of of Port-au-Prince's medical community was devastatingly killed when their hospitals and clinics collapsed on them.

If you would like to make a donation to MSF:

msf.donorportal.ca

That's my opinion and it should be yours too.

"They don't give a damn..."

You have faith or a disease?

2010-01-07T16:41:00.005-05:00

I have the utmost respect for people with faith, but when you need 10 radio stations, multiple bumper stickers, and a CITY of your own (called Ave Maria in southwest Florida...look it up people) you have a disease...seek treatment.

Honestly, it really seems more like you are trying to convince yourself....kind of like an alcoholic who runs around blaring he doesn't have a problem. Stick a cork in it, would ya?

The crotch bomber won!

2009-12-28T10:45:00.005-05:00

Here we go again. The American authorities, in their never-ending mission to strip me of my personal liberty and dignity, have imposed new regulations for flying into the US in the wake of the recent bombing attempt.

As if stripping my belt and shoes off scores of times since 9-11 hasn't been enough harassment, I will now have to be subjected to a full pat-down prior to boarding, and I will be denied blankets or pillows during the last 60 minutes of flight. And no peeing 1 hour prior to landing either...flying with my small children just got more interesting.

All this in the name of the 'ILLUSION' of security. Never mind the fact that:

- Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab was on an FBI so-called 'watch list'
- he was on a Banned from Entry list in the UK for months now
- his father recently contacted the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria with concerns his son had "become radicalized" and was planning something!
- he boarded a flight with a ticket paid in cash, and with NO LUGGAGE!!!

Of course, I feel much better after seeing Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on TV saying "While we continue to investigate the source of this incident, the traveling public should be very confident of what we're doing now."

NOW? NOW? WTF! You couldn't set up a system to make sure a passenger agent properly signaled the authorities when a guy checked in for a flight from Nigeria to Detroit with NO LUGGAGE?

I see all the news sources calling this a "botched attack" but the only thing that was botched was the basic common sense of every individual that came in contact with Umar during those last 24 hours before he tried to light his pants on fire...

And even more botched, is the basic thinking that all this so-called security makes us safer.

Fighting terrorism can be done only one way - getting on with our lives and not letting them get to us. Because every time my Yankee friends panic and decide to start checking my underwear, the terrorists win.

Please grow a pair Mr. Obama....

2009-12-17T09:27:00.009-05:00

FACT - polls of the American public demonstrate an overwhelming majority support a public health care option.
FACT - the representatives elected to represent the American public, have intentionally destroyed any chance of getting a true public option on behalf of the insurance and pharmaceutical lobbiests.

What has transpired in the US senate over the past 2 weeks is not just disgraceful and disgusting, but it is downright unconstitutional. Yet again the White House has allowed special interest groups and lobbyists to wipe their proverbial arses with the very document that was supposed to make their nation so great.

And while I would love to blame Joe Lieberman...(there is a special place in hell set aside for this schmuck)...I am afraid there is no one to blame but Mr. Obama and his White House.

The lack of balls they have shown over and over again since there arrival is disgusting. Where is the AUDACITY? Where is the HOPE? Guantanamo flip-flop, the abuse photos flip-flop, 30K troops to Afghanistan... The never ending list of ballslessness of this administration to make the tough decisions.

While I am no political expert I am fairly knowledgeable on the subject of leadership. You cannot lead by constantly seeking compromise. You cannot lead without showing where you stand and what you believe. You cannot lead without a fire and fight. Obama's silence during the health care debate is astoundingly cowardly. Crickets...nothing but crickets.

As a 'liberal' minded person I was as hopeful and ecstatic as anyone else on that historic November evening. Today I hope that I am not the only one that feels dismayed and betrayed.

Howard Dean is right - the current bill must be killed and sent back up for compromise - it is the only way to send a message to the lobbyists that they can no longer buy and sell policy. Then, Obama a must wake up the beast and fight for the true public option. He must use all tactics possible...the American people who voted for him deserve that fight.

Please grow a pairMr. Obama.

That's my opinion and it should be yours too.

"You know who should have been on the cover of TIME magazine? The lobbyists." - Arianna Huffington

Please remember to remember.

2009-11-09T08:35:00.000-05:00

My hiatus is over and I am back with many opinions to share, but I feel it's appropriate to begin by republishing this piece in honour of Remembrance Day - Please leave comments.
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As high school students my friends and I were Air Cadets and military buffs. While I didn't have the discipline for it, some of my friends joined the real military upon turning eighteen. I lost touch with those friends for several years, but one day I ran into one and we sat and chatted in the food court of a mall.

We caught up on old times and reminisced as old friends do - I told him about my exploits trying to make it in a band and all the silly jobs I had held to finance that project. We laughed - a lot. When I asked him what he had been up to, his eyes suddenly glazed over. His face became very cold and a wedge appeared between us. "Not much" he said.

I pushed further and asked if he had traveled as a soldier, seen action, lived the dream as I saw it through the eyes of a WWII movie lover... He told me he had been to Cyprus, Bosnia and parts of Africa as a UN peacekeeper along with several other of my old friends, but it was like a tooth extraction to get any info out of him. One word answers, grunts and nods. After a few minutes of this I gave up... I wished him well and moved on with my day. A strange run-in indeed. "People change" I thought to myself.

I thought nothing of it until several months later when in a bar I ran into another one of these friends who had joined the service together. This was a much friendlier run-in, especially as we were both fairly intoxicated. I learned in this conversation that he had in fact served with the UN alongside the first friend mentioned above. He told me about the beaches in Cyprus and the girls in Germany...then he told me about Bosnia.

Their first detail upon arrival in Bosnia had been to assist a UN crew in cleaning up an elementary school and it's yard. I remember feeling really proud to be Canadian when he said that - the mental image of handsome young Canadian soldiers helping to re-open a school....very romantic and idealistic.

He then proceeded to describe to me in grotesque detail that in fact the school was a crime scene. The UN squad was actually there cleaning out a mass grave of Muslim children that had been executed by Milosevic's christian militia in their classroom, and then buried in the yard several months previous. There aren't words to describe the horror he communicated, but suffice to say that they found themselves carrying the partly decomposed bodies of elementary school children.

He went on to tell me that the mission was much easier after that, though there was the story of being pinned down under live fire as an enemy sniper shot civilians in the street in front of him...including a pregnant woman.

Even more disturbing was that as he told these stories, he did so with the same tone I would use to tell you about taking my kids shopping for shoes at the mall yesterday. (He also downed at least 4 drinks in the half hour or so we spoke.) Of course I was speechless - I couldn't find words. What do you say to that? "Wow dude...rough job...?" Instead, I asked him how he was dealing with it. He looked up, stared into my eyes and said, "I'm not."

Enough said.

I can't tell you how many times I've wondered how those friends are doing today. I think about them every time I see a Canadian death in Afghanistan reported on the news. Worse, I think of them every time I read about another one of our best and brightest committing suicide.

Sixty five thousand Canadians will have served in Afghanistan by 2012 - It's not enough to just drive around with a "Support the Troops" sticker on your car. We owe it to them to understand the horror and duress that haunts many of them for the rest of their lives. Read a book like Shake Hands with the Devil by Roméo Dallaire.

We owe it to them to respect the sacrifices they have made in the name of our country, so buy a poppy and take your kids to the local Cenotaph on November 11th; explain to them why you are there.

And we owe it to them to hold our government accountable for providing the support and treatment they need, so write a letter to your Member of Parliament demanding they support funding for programs like Operational Stress Injury Support Service. (OSISS )

That's my opinion, and it should be yours too.

Learn more:

Article: War at Home: Military rethinks suicide tally

Organization: Operational Stress Injury Support Service

Darwin wins again

2009-07-13T17:13:00.012-04:00

A fantastic piece in the New York Times that makes it simple for anyone to understand the economic situation we are going to be in for some time.

The Invisible Hand, Trumped by Darwin?

The real question in follow up to this piece: Are the current power brokers and insiders in charge of the US (and Canadian) economy ready to make the right decisions for the common good? Me thinks not...

Worth the read no matter your level of economics understanding.

Just when you thought America was going to get it right...free speech is dead

2009-07-10T14:59:00.000-04:00

I would love to write something sophisticated and poignant about the health care debate in the US. As a matter of fact, I would like to be telling you that the US is finally about to take a step forward and join the rest of the developed world by offering a decent basic health-care plan for all of its citizens. But sadly, I am here to tell you about a most disturbing development in the history of American public policy and its debate.

Remember in college when we tackled the free speech debate: ''Is falsely yelling FIRE! in a crowded theater legal?'' was the example usually used. Well I would like to recommend teachers update the reference to the following:

''Is it legal, in order to destroy a health care bill in congress, to falsely tell a xenophobic senior-citizen their new black president is going to euthanize them?''

But why change the FIRE! test? It's so much easier to remember...

You see, it had appeared that mobs of stupid people had gained control of the public debate on whether or not the US government should once and for all administer a public health insurance option for its citizens. When I say stupid, I don't mean stupid as in 'dude, you're stupid' stupid - I mean stupid as in the Webster dictionary says: lacking intelligence or reason stupid. (really folks, YouTube these folks...their stupidity is startling! I couldn't make this stuff up.)

The following examples of stupidity read like the plot of the next South Park: The Movie installment, but I fear even Trey Parker and Matt Stone might not have seen these coming... Here is a sampling of their key talking points:

Health care reform means "socialism" or a "government takeover" of all health care, closing down the insurance companies and forcing everyone onto a 'Canadian-style' system that rations care
Government will pay for 'abortion on demand, 'in-vitro for lesbians' and 'sex change operations' with tax-payer money
(and my favorite) Government will create 'death panels' to decide the fate of senior citizens - yes, they are talking about euthanasia, and they are doing it seriously. (people have been seen in tears at protests over this supposed clause...)

Any half-intelligent, truly concerned American citizen looking for real information on the health care reform debate shouldn't look far. The actual bill is a public document by law, and the ins and outs of every clause can be examined and read. I'm Canadian and I was able to debunk these points in 15 minutes on the web. Now I realize I may be more skilled than most using the web and its search capabilities, but isn't the future of health care in your country worth some of your time?

But back to free speech...

I did say 'it appeared' that stupid people gained control of the public debate. Sadly I must report that the truth is even worse...the medical industry and conservative (=crazy) lobbyists have successfully hijacked the debate. They are the money and organization behind these so-called 'grass-roots' groups of angry people sent to and drown out public debates on the vitally important topic of American health care reform. (They have in fact done so successfully and without even hiding it very well...)

While this storyline could be made funny were it woven into the plot of the South Park movie follow-up, the actual health care debate in the US lies helplessly in tatters, as do the 1st and 14th amendments of the US Constitution.

The stupid will always be there, as will those who will manipulate them. But those who lend the manipulators credibility are the true offenders.

Every day American society allows the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck et. al. to spew their hate-speech-camouflaged-as-free-speech. These pawns of corporate interests are allowed to go on the air and present their opinions as fact and distribute lies to sway the opinion of their less-than-intelligent watchers and listeners. And it seems to me there might finally be a way to shut these ''liars-for-hire'' down once and for all.

But excuse me, oh wise one, how are they infringing on the right to free speech? Aren't the stupid and the ugly protected too? Well in the case of the health care debate the Schenk v. US test may apply in that false statements are presenting a clear and present danger to the United States and its citizens.

''The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent." - Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Schenck v. United States, 1919

If we assume that the destruction of the health care reform bill would mean:

47 million uninsured Americans will stay uninsured and therefore die younger than those with insurance.
Americans will continue to fall uninsured when they lose or change a job, then facing the horror of trying to qualify for benefits at their next job as a new applicant
Insured Americans will continue to fall victim to the new (and very profitable) practice of recision, or in layman's terms, kicking people off their insurance once they get sick
The eventual bankruptcy of the American economy as the current system is unsustainable at current cost levels

Then doesn't the US Congress have the right to prevent the above-mentioned evils??? Only a daring US lawyer ready to take on the corporate healthcare establishment would be able to put this to the test...I suggest somebody find one immediately.

As a Canadian with universal health care, I truly wish the same for America. But sadly I am convinced that they will be denied again and the hijackers will win...and in the process destroy what little is left of the US Constitution.

That's my opinion and it should be yours too.

Pass the anesthesia please

2009-07-10T08:37:00.004-04:00

Stunning facts about Michael Jackson's memorial:

31.1 million US television viewers (Nielson)
18 million views over live stream (estimate)
20 million downloads/streams after the fact (estimate)

(I tried to find a statistic on how many hours of coverage were dedicated to the story over the past 10 days but was unable, but I can tell you I was in 2 countries over the period and not much else was discussed.)

The tragic story of a talented young boy who endured great turmoil but went on to succeed in a tremendous way, only to spiral into a darkness of folly and debauchery leading to an early demise....

Must have been a nice distraction from the story of a young nation born from turmoil who went on to succeed in a tremendous way, only to spiral into a darkness of folly and corruption, seemingly headed for an early demise....

While the memorial was dominating the US media space, that nation continues to spiral out of control. The apparently impotent Obama administration continues to waste time seeking "consensus" rather than taking the radical steps required to begin the reversal of 30 years of economic debauchery. Oh, but there is time to meet the Pope. (don't get me started on the Pope)

FACT: AIG will be issuing fat bonus cheks this week
FACT: Morgan Stanley has obtained approval for the sale of a new derivative product: bundled debt assets... HELLO?

Pass the laughing gas please.

I invite anyone in the mood for horror reading to enjoy the following link.... http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/28816321/the_great_american_bubble_machine/print

2 steamé alldrèsse....

2009-07-09T11:14:00.004-04:00

(A food review I wrote back in early May.... I warned you my subjects would vary!)
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So I'm cruising back to my office in Old Montreal from Verdun yesterday and for some reason I decide to cut up Charlevoix to St-Patrick from Wellington.

My tummy grumbling, I see a casse-croute on a corner and hit the brakes. I consider myself a pretty savvy Montreal eater, but I had never been to or heard of Paul Patate! What a great little experience this turned into...

I walked in, sat down and ordered the classic combo - "2 steamé alldrèsse avec poutine." The girl behind the counter brings my poutine - it was classic and simple - fresh cheese curds, hand-cut and lovingly double-fried fries...and classic quebecois style 'sauce BBQ'

Just as I'm savoring my first bite, she brings me a very plump and fresh looking steamed hot-dog. 'I ordered 2' I say to the girl. She says I know, but we serve them one at a time - when you're done that one I will bring you the second. GENIUS! The second will be as hot and tender as the first! (no brainer...can't believe I never thought of it before...)

Poutine: Very good - the fries really make it shine. Caramelized flavour - that slight sweet taste of 'we don't change our oil very often' in every bite. Honestly some of the best fries I have tasted. The sauce was very typical, nothing outstanding, but trhe fries really boost the whole plate - overall a very good poutine.

Hot-dog: Having grown up here you grow accustomed to the average steamy - wet, gummy bread, regular size hot dog that's been kept warm too long, and cole-slaw that is bordering on kim-chi as far as how long it's been sitting in the same bowl.... Well let me tell you - this place really lifts the bar - the bun was freshly steamed, warm and just ever-so slightly moist. The sausage was plump and tender - not overcooked - just perfect. (I didn,T thing to ask what brand they use...I will next time) The mustard and relish were stock, but the cole-slaw was fresh, cold and just the right acidity - piled neatly on top.

I should add, though I see it is mentioned in other posts, the legendary spruce beer of Restaurant Émile Bertrand formerly on Notre-Dame is served exclusively at Paul Patate. I tried it - It's an acquired taste. But it sure adds an aura of authenticity to the place.

One last funny anecdote about my visit - Sitting at the counter and half way through my poutine I got this strange feeling I had been in this place before. Apparantly I had quite the puzzled look on my face because the girl behind the counter asked me if everything was OK. I innocently told her what I was feeling and she answered 'television.' '

What?' I asked.

'Television' she repeated. 'This place is on TV all the time - this is the casse-croute in Taxi 22.'
I couldn't help but laugh out loud - I was a big fan of Taxi 22 in its first season - a very funny Quebecois comedy starring Patrick Huard.

It turns out I had been sitting with my back to a wall that is plastered with newspaper clippings and pictures of Patrick Huard and the owner of Paul Patate. (Not to mention a signed picture of Martin Brodeur!)

My first post...

2009-07-02T17:00:00.011-04:00

So here we are - my first post. Let me begin with the following disclaimer:

I am fully aware and conscious that many of the opinions I will share in the blog will shock, provoke and perhaps even insult some readers. These posts will be made up of words and only words, and to quote one of my heroes the great George Carlin, there are no such things as good words or bad words - only good or bad intentions. Therefore let me make it clear that my only intention is one of self expression and whenever possible to provoke thought and perhaps a laugh or two. Please know that your reaction to my post is purely your own responsibility.

Now on with it then...

I have been racking my brains on where to begin...the PQ and their silly would-be-Premiere Marois? Herr Harper and his band of rednecks? Bob Gainey and his obsession with midgets? Perhaps something light such as why Shepherds Pie is known as Chinese Pie in Quebec...

As luck would have it, a discussion on a finance chat board led me to the golden trough of opinions to be vented. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, as my first post I deliver unto you - my opinion (should be yours too)

The context of the chat:

In response to a plea for financial advice from an unemployed man with few options but personal bankruptcy, the gentleman below recommended he should give away all his remaining money to the church and trust God to save him. At first I laughed and kidded with this gentleman thinking it was a joke - alas it was not.

The post that invited my opinion:

Tomorrow everything will be taken from you, and the question will be asked, "What have you done with the gifts God has given freely?" Everybody has a choice, what is yours? Open your heart to truth, and you will see what I see.

My first reply:

My choice is to believe in the potential for goodness in men without the need for a God or a fear of God...just out of pure humanity. More unspeakable atrocity has been committed in the name of "God" than any other guise... if anything the choice is made even clearer by this - stay away from "God" and chances are you will be a better person. As for seeing what you see - no thanks! I opened my eyes 3 years ago and have never seen so clearly in all my life. I only wish the same for you some day.

To which he responded:

I think you are mixing religion with God. Religion is mans attempt at understanding God. Man has a conceited streak which contaminates truth. That is why we have so many religions. Man also uses religion for his own personal gain. I am talking about truly knowing your maker, not about any religion. You can find God anywhere, not only in church. You have made your assumptions due to the life experiences you have encountered. Einstein believed in a Creator. E=MC2 was being taught by Jesus 1900 years earlier. With faith you can actually move mountains. When we study the tiniest levels known to science currently a theory, we see strings of energy in every atom. Unlocking this energy is the key to all miracles. God created the sciences for man to learn about Gods creation,. We are only infants in this wonderful universe.

Which left me no option but to bring down the full force of my opinion (should be yours too)

Nice apologist manifesto - and quite convincingly recited I may add. The true and awesome power of the universe is unlocked in science, fact and rational thought. And Einstein believed not in a "creator" as you say, but a creative force of nature...and where you got "E=MC2 was being taught by Jesus 1900 years earlier" I'll never know, but it is not only false, it is insulting to imply that the greatest scientist of our time was only spewing rehashed theories from a character in a book.

If you ask me to believe that somewhere down the study of creation we may stumble upon a creative force that is responsible for this beautiful universe, I may CHOOSE to believe it - with scientific proof and rational thought.

If you ask me to believe that this creative force is in any way divine, all-knowing, omnipotent, responsible for anything that happens in my daily life or the daily lives of any creature to have lived in the universe...I cannot. If you ask me to believe that this creative force sent messengers to earth, possessed people, spoke to people, I cannot. If you ask me to believe that this creative force has any effect whatsoever on the decision making capabilities of a man to choose between right and wrong, I cannot. To do so would be utterly ridiculous and irrational.

I choose to take responsibility for my actions, decisions and human experience. And the sooner the rest of humanity can do the same the more chance we have of making it through the next 200 years as a race. For the truth is that men of "God" can currently be linked to most of the non-essential struggles of our time, never mind most of the human atrocities of the past 5000 years...

Instead of working together as a race to lift people from poverty, desperation and desolation, we divide and destroy in the name of "God." So please spare me your apologist speak, because you and I both know that you believe in Jesus and the bible. At least assume responsibility for that.

And there you have it - the ice is broken and the first post is done. I welcome your comments, I only ask that they be kept in clean language and as rationally thought out as possible.