Getting it Right

Taser Nazi of the week: Const. Adam Cheadle, Winnipeg Police

2008-07-23T22:49:00.005-07:00

Let's be clear about this right from the start: NOBODY deserves to die at age 17, comprende?

Yet there's one officer that keeps up the good-old rant for Taser: Constable Adam Cheadle of the Winnipeg Police Service.

Here's the bit that got him nominated:

"[Tasers are] another less-than-lethal option for them to utilize," he said.

Well, sir, is there any decency in you? How DARE you to call the taser less-than-lethal, right after this 17 year old boy died from it!?!

Actually that wasn't a rhetorical question. Let him answer it for himself (CBC News, December 17, 2007):

"Tasers are not meant to replace firearms," Cst. Adam Cheadle, the service's use of force co-ordinator, said in a recent interview. "The Taser is on the same playing field as a baton or [pepper] spray."

Let me see if I got that right:
- Don't feel like using your baton today? No problem. Use a taser.
- Too many people at the airport to use pepper spray (wink, wink)? No problem. Use the taser.

Is this Constable serious? Can't he see how inhumane his standards are? Doesn't he now 361+ people who have died after being tasered?

When a Constable starts training inhumane standards for using the taser, and has the guts to repeat the false claim that the taser is less-than-lethal right after the latest Winnipeg taser death, I'm left no other (100% non-lethal) choice than to congratulate Cst. Adam Cheadle with his nomination for taser nazi of the week.

Congratulations!

LINKS
- CTV: Winnipeg Police kill 17 year old boy with less-than-less-than-lethal taser
- CBC: Don't feel like using your baton today? NO PROBLEM!
- Getting it Right: We at the Vancouver RCMP prefer the taser because we're just not very fond of using pepper spray; it hurts the officers eyes and all.

Boy in Winnipeg's Taser killing was only 17 years old

2008-07-23T13:30:00.006-07:00

Yes, I believe this is a first for Winnipeg:

The suspect who died after being hit by a Winnipeg police stun gun was 17 years old [...]

Wonderful, I remember my 17th birthday quite well (and my 18th, and my 19th and so on).

[Const. Jacqueline] Chaput said the victim, whom she declined to name, was viewed as a suspect in an attempted car theft.

I see, a 17 year old kid attempting a car theft is currently enough reason to taser someone to death; nice job, Winnipeg Police Services, no need to apologize to the victims relatives then.

LINKS
- Vancouver Sun: "Boy in Winnipeg's taser killing was only 17 years old"

Winnipeg Police's first taser killing is probably not their last

2008-07-22T20:18:00.006-07:00

Disappointing, but expected: Canada has another taser death.

WINNIPEG - A man died Tuesday after being shocked with a Taser by Winnipeg police in a back lane behind a city home.

Investigators had taped off a large area to investigate the incident Tuesday evening.
A police spokeswoman said it was the first time a suspect has died after a Winnipeg officer has used an "electronic control device."

Trust me, Winnipeg Police Services; it might be your first taser death, but as long as you don't get rid of those electo-torture shock guns, it won't be your last.

"The male was conveyed to hospital in critical condition and has since succumbed to his injuries," said Const. Jacqueline Chaput.

Dare I ask “what injuries?” I though the taser was supposed to be the (warning: sales pitch ahead) non-lethal weapon of the future?

[An eyewitness, ] owner of [a] store who identified himself as Dave, said the man walked calmly across the street, turned around and began giving the occupants of [a black Chevrolet Suburban] the car the finger.

I always tell people, “don't finger black Chevrolet Suburbans because, hey, there could be police with tasers in there; and we all know the kind of hobbies they like”

You'd think that the police has something better to do (while at work) than killing people that “finger” them; apparently not.

Getting it Right knows that tasers kill. The only police forces that won't contribute to the rising taser deaths in North America (361+ dead) are those forces that don't use them.

Just a thought.

LINKS

- Ottawa Citizen: Winnipeg Police kill suspect with Taser
- Taser.org: Tasers kill AND are "non-lethal"; isn't it amazing?
- Truth not Tasers: Do Tasers kill? Some numbers that speak for themselves (except for when you're a police officers - so much for being in touch with the rest of us)

BC Premier Gordon Campbell's support for killers of Robert Dziekanski is disgusting

2008-07-18T14:16:00.008-07:00

There are quite a few things to be learnt from one of CBC's latest Access To Information (ATI) requests, consisting of email exchanges between RCMP Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass and RCMP Commissioner William Elliot. Here's the obvious (read the emails here):

The RCMP's “law and order” ideology is highly supported by BC's top Liberal administrators, including (well-known drunk and overpaid monkey) Gordon Campbell.
The RCMP doesn't trust the Globe and Mail, suggesting the paper is biased against the RCMP.
The RCMP doesn't trust the public at large, especially those critical of the RCMP.
The RCMP's own investigation was part of the overall media strategy to whitewash the killing of Robert Dziekanski by the four RCMP officers.

Let's get a bit more detail here:

(1) Do you remember what happened to BC's Premier in January 2003? Wikipedia does! He's Canada's only premier that has spent time in jail due to drinking and driving, yet is still in office. Driving with a blood-alcohol concentration level of above .08 per cent he COULD have easily killed someone!

Compare that with Robert Dziekanski's final “holiday trip” to heaven, killed after being tasered to hell and back. Having spent hours in the Vancouver airport's security zone, not knowing where to go and what to do next, he just lost it. Yes, he threw some computer stuff around, but anyone who has seen the Dziekanski Tasering video would agree with me that Dziekanski himself WASN'T going to kill anyone, not in a million years.

We now know that Gordon Campbell was highly supportive of the Force and the four officers involved.

(2) The anti Globe and Mail bias was quite revealing to me. I personally don't take the G & M too seriously (because of it's overall corporate and culturally conservative bias), but why does the RCMP hate the Globe and Mail so much? Perhaps point #3 is the answer?

(3) Gary Bass labels those critical of the RCMP as “armchair quarterbacks”. The derogatory seems to be used to disqualify all criticism, regardless of the validity.

I'm pretty sure that the majority of the people who saw the video were appalled by how the four RCMP officers “solved” the “C.E.W. incident”... there were plenty of very good reasons for critical discourse. Why did the RCMP use the taser on an unarmed immigrant in one of the most secure zones of the Vancouver Airport? Why did the RCMP have to kill Robert Dziekanski? Why did the RCMP not try to resuscitate Robert Dziekanski? Why did RCMP tell so many lies about the killing? Why have the killers not been charged? Who are the RCMP officers? Why are their names not made public? All valid questions (if you ask me), but non of them have ever been answered properly, and no apology has been made either.

The RCMP might not trust the public, but with "incidents" like these we surely can't trust the RCMP, and for overly obvious reasons: they get away with killing and lying without further consequences.

(4) Whitewash galore! At least the RCMP gets some things done! Remember Ian Bush? He was the youngster that was shot in the back of his head by the incredible rubber mountie while in custody. No serious problem for the RCMP spin machine (as long as pesky video cameras have been turned off, and ATI requests can be neutralized).

And the same RCMP started their media campaign in the Dziekanski killing case right "from the get-go". Remember Sgt. Pierre Lemaitre, lying through his teeth? I do.

Make no mistake about it; Robert Dziekanski was killed by four RCMP officers. And plenty of people have helped to cover it up or whitewash it, including Gordon Campbell:

[Gordon Campbell] was highly complementary of the Force, disappointed over the degree of criticism, and wants to support [the four RCMP officers that killed Robert Dziekanski] somehow.”

Supporting killers now, Mr. Gordon Campbell?

LINKS
- CBC: RCMP e-mails throw Dziekanski Taser probe into question, critics say
- Dr Dawg: Ian Bush and the incredible rubber mountie
- Wikipedia: I'm Gordon Campbell, and I got caught drinking and driving
- Wikipedia: Ian Bush (1983 -2005)
- Benediction Blogs On: RCMP Emails regarding Robert Dziekanski's taser-death(pdf)
- Getting it right: something fishy about Sergeant Pierre Lemaitre...
- Getting it right: Robert Dziekanski

Rush transcript of the emails:
---------------------------------------------------
2007/12/04 Gary Bass - Re: Members Involved in YVR C.E.W. Incident

From: Gary BASS
To: Elliot, William
Subject: Re: Members Involved in YVR C.E.W. Incident

That's great. I'm sure that they did appreciate the call as do I your comments of support.
This is really tough business these days and really hard on the men and women in the trenches trying so hard to serve well.
When I arrived home tonight, there was a Langley Det car and two young members next door.

[ deleted material]

It sure made me very proud. Not likely to see that one in the G and M in the morning, or anyone else for that matter.

Gary.
-----Original Message-----
From: William Elliott
To: BASS, Gary <00000t654.ops.ediv_ehq>

Sent: 11/15/2007 10:44:39 PM
Subject: Re: Members Involved in YVR C.E.W. Incident

Thanks Gary,

I have just now placed calls to all 4 members. I spoke to 3 of the 4.

The only person I did not reach is [deleted material] I left a message on his home voicemail indicating who was calling and that I would try again to reach him. I'll try to do that tomorrow.

I know this is tough and you and all our folks in E Division. Please be assured of my ongoing support.

Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary BASS
Cc: MACINTYRE, Al <000001690.ops.ediv_ehq>
Cc: BOUCHER, Byron <000038391.ops.ediv_ehq>
Cc: PETERS, Gerry <000039349.ops.ediv_ehq>
Cc: Rideout, Wayne <000037745.sc.ediv_lmd>
To: Booth, Rod <000036789.nhq3.ncr_hq>
To: Elliott, William <000163439.nhq4.ncr_hq>

Sent: 11/15/2007 9:33:28 PM
Subject: Re: Members Involved in YVR C.E.W. Incident

Cmmr;
Further to our conversation today, I confirmed with the OIC IHIT that your proposed calls will not be a problem. I will call them as well after you have done so.
You can be confident that a highly professional and thorough job is being done by the team. CPC are fully engaged and pleased with the cooperation they are receiving.
Lots of armchair quarterbacks on the news there tonight and linkages to the Bush case. The sooner the CPC makes that release the better. We are monitoring very closely and I will once again review the duty status with the Crops Officer inthe (sic) morning.

[ deleted material]

2007/12/04 Gary BASS - YVR

From: Gary BASS
To: William Elliott, Bill Sweeney
Date: 2007/11/24 10:47
Subjecty: YVR

I just ran into our Premier at the airport and we had a great discussion on the issue generally. He had called Mrs. Cisowski yesterday just after we left there. He was highly complimentary of the Force, disappointed over the degree of criticism and wants to support the members involved somehow. He asked me to think about what he could do in this regard and get back to him next week.
He supports the continued use of Taser and any other tools which support and protect our members. He said that the inquiry will not be a negative attack on the Force but a focused examination of all the issues. Extremely positive and supportive comments which we really cannot do much with but good to know.

Gary

Morgentaler's award aggraded! Abortionists and atheists are counting their blessings

2008-07-08T20:45:00.010-07:00

Today was a good day for atheist in this country, at least if one may argue what some self-proclaimed followers of Jesus Christ (also known as "Christians") have argued lately: that giving the award to persons with questionable moral believes "degrades" the honour.

This his how reverend (and convicted criminal) Lucien Larré put it:

"When you're in the [repressive "pro-fetus + anti-choice"] movement, and someone who is [pro] abortion gets the Order of Canada, it degrades the Order of Canada for all those who believe in [rights for fetusses] ," he told [CTV's lazy lapdog journalists].

There is some merit in this "militant" (how much I love the conservative vocabulary) way of thinking, and I think we would do wrong to dismiss it solely on the basis that it is brought forward by someone as delusional as Lucien.

I have had thoughts about returning an award myself. Not that I was offered too many in my lifetime, but once in a while I do apply for scholarship awards or commission works. And one the one time a was granted an arts council award I was somewhat hesitant to accept it. Not long after I had applied for it I found out that part of the arts councils own funding was financed through the earnings of the BC Lottery Corporation: in other words, gambling addicted people with humongous debts were partly funding my scholarship. Yes, the world is somewhat complicated, isn't it?

I did consider returning a third of the scholarship (I seem to remember that I somehow found out that the lotery Corp was funding the arts council for 1/3), but since the money I would be getting would only cover 1/2 of my budget deficit to begin with, I swallowed my morals. But not without feeling guilty about this ever since.

Back to the order of day:

On Tuesday, members of the Madonna House Apostolate took the Order of Canada medal and framed citation back to Rideau Hall in Ottawa to [show] their objections to what they called "the serious misdirection of our country and many of its leaders."

Were they referring to our "honourable" prime minister Stephen Harper here too? I know Stephen is a briber, but he's also a devout believer of his own version of the great delusion. This leaves me confused.

But also relieved.

The return of all these Orders is excellent news for atheists and pro-abortionists! Criminals and followers of "intelligent design" returning their Order, combined with the long-overdue award for pro-abortion advocate and atheist Dr. Henry Morgentaler aggrades the award significantly.

Now if only ALL servants of God would return their Orders....wishful thinking from an atheist, I suppose. "Count your blessings, Eric", He said. And all was good.

LINKS

- CTV: Criminal priest critical of pro-abortion Morgentaler
- Wikipedia: Lucien Larré
- Wikipedia: pro-fetus + anti-choice = repressive
- Wikipedia: The God Delusion
- Getting it Right: Stephen the briber
- Wikipedia: Stephen Harper's delusion
- Wikipedia: "I don't believe in evolution" and other junk science

Taser-Nazi of the week: RCMP Constable Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo

2008-06-30T15:27:00.013-07:00

It's one thing to apply the taser WITHOUT killing the "suspect", it's another thing to use it as an "excellent example" that a deadly device is able to "save lives".

At issue is the deployment of the taser on a suicidal man who was hiding on the balcony of a Nanaimo motel, after he had slit his wrist.

RCMP Constable Gary O'Brien:

The suspect was losing large quantities of blood and the officers came to the conclusion he could cause either death or grievous harm to himself [...]

So what did the officer in question do? He shot him with his torturous taser. Zapper-Di-Zap-Zap!! And why not? The "suspect" was apparently in for dieing anyways, so why not help him a bit along the way? He wouldn't be the first one that week to die after being tasered to shit:

Police used a Taser while arresting Marreel in the hamlet of Fisher's Glen, south of Simcoe, at Front Street and Fisher's Glen Road, about 10:30 a.m. Monday. Marreel died two hours later and was pronounced dead at hospital.

Anyways, back to our Taser friend O'Brien. The following quote got him nominated:

RCMP spokesman Gary O'Brien:

[The electro-shocking of the suicidal man] was an excellent deployment [of the taser] and an excellent example of how these things can save lives.

It's a beautiful success story for Taser of course, if it were the truth. Unfortunately it is far from it, and here's why:

In order to save lives one would have to assume that without the use of the taser this suicidal person would have died. This doesn't necessarily follow (since there are plenty of other ways to resolve issues like these), it's hard to believe and it is even harder to proof. All that was needed to have helped this man was some good policing: there are plenty of other techniques to help and/or handcuff a suicidal man, without the use of a taser.
Contrary to popular believe, there isn't ANY serious proof/evidence that the taser has saved a single live, EVER. Therefore declaring this incident as an "excellent example of how tasers can save lives" is like saying that Christmas is an excellent example that Santa Claus can fly through the sky...

I love to believe in fairy tales and miracles, Constable Gary O'Brien, but the reality is that tasers kill, again and again. And as long as the police remains numb on their own police taser killings, yet dare to have the guts to take each and every opportunity to spread corporate supplied misinformation about the taser, I will keep honouring publicly paid spin-masters with "excellent" awards.

Readers, I'm honoured to present to you a perfect example of a Taser-Nazi: RCMP spokesman Gary O'Brien.

Congratulations!!

LINK
- Globe and Mail: "We, Canada's Corporate Press, have never been sure that Taser International's wonderful tasers can kill, but we're positive tasers they save lives - just check out our headline"
- MSN: "We're MSN Money, and we love Taser too"
- Taser International: "We at TASER love doing research (when we're not busy suing coroners that don't agree with junk science)"
- Taser's old site: "Our mantra is that "we save lives everyday" - The reality is quite different, but who cares?
- Truth not Tasers: "Do tasers kill? You do the math"

PS1: Here's another take on Taser death.
PS2: Find spin-master O'Brien's press release below. And why don't you give him a call to congratulate him? His phone number as at the bottom of the press release:

Nanaimo - Taser ends stand off with suicidal male armed with knife
File #2008-18130 2008-06-26 12:06 PDT

Nanaimo RCMP deployed a Taser June 21 successfully ending a standoff with a suicidal male armed with a knife.

The incident began shortly after 7:00 am on Saturday June 21, near the 7-11 on Terminal Avenue. An RCMP member sitting in his police vehicle, saw a male carrying a knife and dripping blood from an apparent wound to his wrist. The officer called for back up and was told by the unidentified male he wanted to die. The male, bleeding profusely from his wrist, continued to slash at and worsen his injury. Additional officers arrived and they attempted to establish dialogue with the male.

The incident carried across the street to a second level landing at the Port of Call Motel. The male then without warning escalated his actions and placed the knife to his throat and began to turn away from the officers. Fearing he was about to slash at his throat, one of the officers deployed the Taser from approximately 8 feet, instantly incapacitating him, allowing the officers to safely move in and take the knife from him. He did not sustain any injuries from the deployment of the Taser or when he fell to the ground. He was then treated by waiting paramedics for his life threatening self inflicted injury and transported to hospital.

The 44 year old male and resident of Nanaimo for the past year was arrested under the Mental Health Act and remains in hospital. No additional charges were laid. Constable O’Brien, Media Relations Officer for the Nanaimo RCMP spoke with him today he admitted the Taser and actions of the police officers probably saved his life.

Released by:

Constable Gary O'Brien
Media Relations Officer
Community Policing Services, Nanaimo
303 Prideaux St, Nanaimo V9R 2N3
Office No.: 250-755-3257
Cell No.: 250-713-0701
Fax No.: 250-755-3238
ediv_internet_webmaster@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Taser Death?

2008-06-30T15:08:00.003-07:00

Perhaps not exactly, but this is starting to look like it.

Enjoy.

LINKS
- Google Finance: Taser Stocks are now under $5 a pop.

Why cyclists don't belong on highways

2008-06-30T12:21:00.008-07:00

The first time I came to Canada I was amazed about so many things. Here are just a few:

the many chain fast food restaurant per square km
Banff postmen wearing shorts in the middle of winter
the sincere friendliness of (most) Canadians
the incredible wildlife

But also this thing about cyclists on highways: isn't that dangerous?

I've been living in Victoria for a while now and I somewhat got used to some of the Canadian oddities, but whenever we pick-up European visitors from the airport, the first thing they will mention is the cyclist on the highway: "Are these people nuts?"

Yes, it's illegal in the Netherlands and Germany (countries in Europe I've travelled most) to ride your bicycle on a highway, but let's face it, it's also common sense. Cars and trucks kill, especially at high speeds.

Unfortunately it's too late for these cyclists:

A Quebec cyclist killed while riding next to his two teenage children as part of a cross-Canada charity trip is being remembered for his energy and efforts to raise awareness about diabetes.
Daniel Hurtubise, 50, was killed and his children were injured Sunday when they were hit by a car on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Winnipeg.
A 45-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., was also killed in the collision, but officials have not released his name, saying it's unclear if his family has been notified.
The group was travelling from Vancouver to St. John's, N.L., with Ride of a Lifetime, a fundraiser for the Toronto-based Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Andrew McKee, the head of the foundation, says Hurtubise had an "energy and a spark," and his cycling journey helped raise awareness about the disease.
McKee says Hurtubise was 15 when he was diagnosed with Type-1 juvenile diabetes.

Very unfortunate.

Do the Nader challenge (video)

2008-06-23T15:29:00.006-07:00

Have you done the Nader Challenge?

Which Presidential candidate would eliminate the billions of dollars in corporate welfare we pay every year to the ethanol industry?

"Obama!"

Wrong. (According to today's New York Times, Obama actually has very close ties to corn ethanol industry - an industry that Ralph Nader has called "a multifaceted monstrosity radiating damage in all directions of the compass.")
Many people still consider Obama the progressive candidate in the race.

He's not.

He's just another corporate candidate.

Who's the progressive in the race?

Ralph Nader.

To drive home the point, today we launch The Nader Challenge.

Check out the video here.

Who favors single payer national health insurance?

Obama!

Wrong.

Nader/Gonzalez.

Who favors cutting the bloated, wasteful military budget?

"Obama!"

Wrong.

Nader/Gonzalez.

What's wrong with US politics and the media? Arianna Huffington explains (video)

2008-06-20T08:33:00.004-07:00

Arianna figured it out, so why can't you?

Personally I've always been reluctant to label myself as a "lefty" (exept for my left-handedness). The label puts one on a two dimensional political line that does not sufficiently describe the variety of personal wisdom that is out there; it definitely doesn't describe my personal beliefs very well.

The real reason that North America has fallen into the two-dimensional politics trap is of course the FPTP-system; when there really only can be two valid candidate parties that nominate for governing the country (US: Democrats or Republican - Canada: Liberals or Conservatives) one will start to see everything through this two dimensional lense.

Here's What Arianna Huffington has to say about this:

In fact, what I'm saying is that when we look at everything in politics through that prism of right versus left, we really fall into the trap of assuming that the truth, the correct thing to do is by splitting the difference. And that is a major problem, because as I say in the book again and again, the truth is very often on one side or the other. [...]

[What] I'm saying is that first of all we should stop using that shorthand of right versus left, especially since on the major issues of our time, positions that used to be considered left-wing, like bringing the troops home from Iraq, some form of universal health care, and doing something about global warming, all those things are now solidly mainstream. You know, we have 60, 70 percent of Americans who believe in those positions. It's not that the left has suddenly expanded itself; it's that the center has shifted. But the American media haven't really noticed it.

The mainstream media didn't notice, or doesn't want to notice?

PALEVSKY: And what has been the fault of the US media? I mean, we saw it clearly after 9/11 in the media and the run-up to the war. And, you know, The New York Times and many of the big media outlets have come out and said, "We didn't fully do our job." But now they seem to be trying to make up for it. What is it now? What is the media missing when you watch the news?

HUFFINGTON: Well, we really have the same problem. We have the meme that the surge is working. It's still being mindlessly repeated by the media. And even as violence was escalating, we would have the media keep the same meme, the surge is working, even though it wasn't even just about violence. Remember, the surge supposedly was there to give the Iraqis a breathing space to reach some kind of political reconciliation. That has been completely forgotten as a benchmark. So the media are following the conventional wisdom. This is probably the worst thing you can say about the media. And that's why I have special sections on Dean Russert, whom I call the conventional wisdom zombie, and Bob Woodward, who's an icon of American journalism, who has had unparalleled access to the White House, but [in] his first two books during the Bush administration years completely missed the story of how we're misled to war.

See the whole interview below:

LINKS
- The Real News: Huffington breaks down the media
- Wikipedia: FPTP or Single Winner Voting System

Taser International loses court case: Taser stock fall

2008-06-11T07:55:00.009-07:00

Taser stocks are down! Yep, it's all because of the latest liability suit that they've lost.

It's not the first time Taser didn't win a court case. Taser ended settling many court cases in the past to preempt embarrassment.

Here's why they lost this liability suit:

Taser failed to warn police in Salinas, Calif., that prolonged exposure to electric shock from the device could increase the risk of cardiac arrest, a San Jose, Calif., jury said on June 6. The jury awarded $1-million in compensatory damages, and $5.2-million in punitive damages to the estate of Robert Heston, 40, and his parents. The police officers weren't held liable.

"Police weren't held liable", that's interesting, isn't it? And on many levels. But the result is most important: the police can turn against Taser if they have to.

So it's for real. Taser loses the case in court. The beginning of the end of the taser-era.

LINKS
- G&M: Taser loses first liability suit - Shares fall 11% after jury orders manufacturer to pay $6.2-million (U.S.) in man's death
- Wikipedia: Taser
- Google Finance: Taser

River Man (music)

2008-06-08T19:23:00.001-07:00

River Man

Betty came by on her way
Said she had a word to say
About things today
And fallen leaves

Said she hadn’t heard the news
Hadn’t had the time to choose
A way to lose
But she believes

Gonna see the river man
Gonna tell him all I can
About the plan
For lilac time

If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
And all night shows
In summertime

Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn’t sure

For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain
And stayed for more

Gonna to see the river man
Gonna to tell him all I can
About the ban
On feeling free

If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
I don’t suppose
It’s meant for me

Oh, how they come and go

Fame is but a fruit tree (music)

2008-06-08T18:14:00.002-07:00

Fruit tree

Fame is but a fruit tree
So very unsound.
It can never flourish
‘til its stock is in the ground
So men of fame
Can never find a way
‘til time has flown
Far from their dying day

Forgotten while you’re here
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style

Life is but a memory
Happened long ago
Theatre full of sadness
For a long forgotten show
Seems so easy
Just to let it go on by
‘til you stop and wonder
Why you never wondered why

Safe in the womb
Of an everlasting night
You find the darkness can
Give the brightest light
Safe in your place deep in the earth
That’s when they’ll know what you were truly worth
Forgotten while you’re here
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style

Fame is but a fruit tree
So very unsound
It can never flourish
‘til it’s stock is in the ground
So men of fame
Can never find a way
‘til time has flown
Far from their dying day

Fruit tree, fruit tree
No-one knows you but the rain and the air
Don’t you worry
They’ll stand and stare when you’re gone

Fruit tree, fruit tree
Open your eyes to another year
They’ll all know
That you were here when you’re gone

LINKS

- Wikipedia: Nick Drake

Revealed: Secret plan to keep Iraq under US control (video)

2008-06-07T08:13:00.003-07:00

Obama will tell you that once he's leading the United States of America, all US troops in Iraq will return within 16 months (except for some to protect the embassy and diplomats), and there will be no US bases in Iraq. You wish...

From "The Independent"

Revealed: Secret plan to keep Iraq under US control

Bush wants 50 military bases, control of Iraqi airspace and legal immunity for all American soldiers and contractors

By Patrick Cockburn
Thursday, 5 June 2008

A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November.

The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq's position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country.

But the accord also threatens to provoke a political crisis in the US. President Bush wants to push it through by the end of next month so he can declare a military victory and claim his 2003 invasion has been vindicated. But by perpetuating the US presence in Iraq, the long-term settlement would undercut pledges by the Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, to withdraw US troops if he is elected president in November.

The timing of the agreement would also boost the Republican candidate, John McCain, who has claimed the United States is on the verge of victory in Iraq – a victory that he says Mr Obama would throw away by a premature military withdrawal.

America currently has 151,000 troops in Iraq and, even after projected withdrawals next month, troop levels will stand at more than 142,000 – 10 000 more than when the military "surge" began in January 2007. Under the terms of the new treaty, the Americans would retain the long-term use of more than 50 bases in Iraq. American negotiators are also demanding immunity from Iraqi law for US troops and contractors, and a free hand to carry out arrests and conduct military activities in Iraq without consulting the Baghdad government.

The precise nature of the American demands has been kept secret until now. The leaks are certain to generate an angry backlash in Iraq. "It is a terrible breach of our sovereignty," said one Iraqi politician, adding that if the security deal was signed it would delegitimise the government in Baghdad which will be seen as an American pawn.

The US has repeatedly denied it wants permanent bases in Iraq but one Iraqi source said: "This is just a tactical subterfuge." Washington also wants control of Iraqi airspace below 29,000ft and the right to pursue its "war on terror" in Iraq, giving it the authority to arrest anybody it wants and to launch military campaigns without consultation.

Mr Bush is determined to force the Iraqi government to sign the so-called "strategic alliance" without modifications, by the end of next month. But it is already being condemned by the Iranians and many Arabs as a continuing American attempt to dominate the region. Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the powerful and usually moderate Iranian leader, said yesterday that such a deal would create "a permanent occupation". He added: "The essence of this agreement is to turn the Iraqis into slaves of the Americans."

Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is believed to be personally opposed to the terms of the new pact but feels his coalition government cannot stay in power without US backing.

The deal also risks exacerbating the proxy war being fought between Iran and the United States over who should be more influential in Iraq.

Although Iraqi ministers have said they will reject any agreement limiting Iraqi sovereignty, political observers in Baghdad suspect they will sign in the end and simply want to establish their credentials as defenders of Iraqi independence by a show of defiance now. The one Iraqi with the authority to stop deal is the majority Shia spiritual leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. In 2003, he forced the US to agree to a referendum on the new Iraqi constitution and the election of a parliament. But he is said to believe that loss of US support would drastically weaken the Iraqi Shia, who won a majority in parliament in elections in 2005.

The US is adamantly against the new security agreement being put to a referendum in Iraq, suspecting that it would be voted down. The influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called on his followers to demonstrate every Friday against the impending agreement on the grounds that it compromises Iraqi independence.

The Iraqi government wants to delay the actual signing of the agreement but the office of Vice-President Dick Cheney has been trying to force it through. The US ambassador in Baghdad, Ryan Crocker, has spent weeks trying to secure the accord.

The signature of a security agreement, and a parallel deal providing a legal basis for keeping US troops in Iraq, is unlikely to be accepted by most Iraqis. But the Kurds, who make up a fifth of the population, will probably favour a continuing American presence, as will Sunni Arab political leaders who want US forces to dilute the power of the Shia. The Sunni Arab community, which has broadly supported a guerrilla war against US occupation, is likely to be split.

Stephen Harper the briber...(reloaded)

2008-06-05T14:23:00.005-07:00

...when will he be removed from office?

That post on the Cadman bribery was written March 6th, almost 3 months ago.

It's about time the opposition starts beating the drum for removal of this corrupt government. The Bernier scandal is one thing, but the Cadman bribery really shows how corrupt this current government is. And it's coming all the way from the PMO.

Buying the National Post newspaper is a "tragic waste of time and money"

2008-05-27T13:31:00.004-07:00

And what about the editorial board of the National Post? One word, disgusting.

LINKS:
- National Post: The Post editorial board: Offering aid to Burma is a tragic waste of time and money
- Wikipedia: Burma | Cyclone Nargis
- Wikipedia: Cyclone Nargis

Taser now linked to sudden cardiac arrest; taser victims have died for years but Taser International doesn't seem to care

2008-05-20T22:44:00.005-07:00

Today was a fascinating day. For the first time we were able to hear the expert knowledge of two heart specialists, information I've NEVER heard from any of Canada's nominated taser-Nazis. Here's what the heart specialists had to say:

VANCOUVER — Two heart specialists told an inquiry into the use of Tasers on Tuesday that a jolt from the weapons can "almost certainly" cause heart problems and possibly even sudden cardiac arrest.

Gee wiz, possible sudden cardiac arrest, that sounds kind of serious, doesn't it? Wikipedia thinks so:

The term sudden cardiac death refers to natural death from cardiac causes, heralded by abrupt loss of consciousness within one hour of the onset of acute symptoms.

But fortunately all police officers were aware of the possibilty of “sudden cardiac arrest”, right?

And a senior police officer who trains others on how to use the Taser said his training from the company that manufactures the device suggests the Taser does not lead to cardiac arrest.

I suppose that's a NO.

More medical experts had more troubling news for police officers trainees:

Dr. Michael Janusz, a heart surgeon and professor of surgery at the University of British Columbia, told the inquiry that based on his study of available literature on Taser use, "almost all physicians would conclude that Tasers can induce ventricular fibrillation."

Ventricular fibrillation? What the heck is that? Wikipedia!!!

Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib or VF) is a condition in which there is uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle of the ventricles in the heart, making them tremble rather than contract properly. Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency. If the arrhythmia continues for more than a few seconds, blood circulation will cease, and death will occur in a matter of minutes.

That's serious stuff. Not that Taser seems to care:

Staff Sgt. Joe Spindor, of the New Westminster Police Department, told the inquiry Tuesday his Taser training is based on what he was taught by Taser International. "The information we receive is that it's safe to use on subjects," Spindor said. He said he hadn't heard of Janusz's opinion on possible cardiac arrest. "No. I've actually heard the opposite from Taser in my instruction."

Thank you, Taser, for all of your helpful “education”; leaving out essential warnings about possible cardiac arrest has likely led to several taser deaths, deaths that could have been prevented if proper education would have been in place.

LINKS
- The Canadian Press: Cardiologist, heart surgeon tell Taser inquiry weapon can cause cardiac arrest
- Wikipedia: Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- Wikipedia: Ventricular Fibrillation

U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms brings special visit to Getting it Right

2008-05-19T09:50:00.004-07:00

I would like to welcome the US Senate Sergeant at Arms to Getting it Right! (see image)

What was he searching on Google for? This.

And what did he find on Getting it Right? Bush compares those who talk with Iran to Nazi Appeasers

LINKS
- US Senate Sergeant at Arms

Taser-Nazi of the Week: Sgt. Mark Tonner of the Vancouver Police

2008-05-18T13:14:00.013-07:00

You'd think that any Police Seargant who headlines his latest biweekly column “Use of Taser has saved lives” would support it with proper proof of some lives saved, right?

Not so with Vancouver Police Officer Sgt. Mark Tonner; he'll write anything to back-up his flawed argument, and have it published too.

Mark Tonner's personal downtown story
Through Mark Tonner's personal “downtown Vancouver story” we are led to believe that tasers save lives. Read along:

A man standing in the middle of a side street stepped into a shooter's stance in front of my police car, aiming a pistol at my face. It should have occurred to me to run him over, but I backed away, rolling behind a concrete pillar.

Out on foot and taking a peek, I saw the man still standing on the street, pistol in hand but pointing downwards. A small group of us crept up in uniform, shouting at the man to drop the weapon. He didn't. We all knew that if he raised it we'd have to shoot. A uniformed friend deployed a beanbag round -- an energy-absorbent projectile from a shotgun. It's supposed to drop someone to the ground, but it relies on the ability to feel pain. No luck. The recipient turned and ran, hiding behind a concrete pillar.

Engaging the man then meant stepping into a line of fire at close range, with no way to see where his pistol was directed. Another uniformed friend reached out with a Taser. The suspect went rigid from the electrical charge and was taken into custody.

What appeared to me like a pistol was actually a piece of metal from a bicycle held out in a shooter's stance. Imagine the tragedy if the man had been shot for posing with a piece of a bike.

Does this read like a sound argument that supports the title “Use of Taser has saved lives” to you? Well, it doesn't to me, and here's why.

1. If I understand his “downtown story” correctly, then the "suspect" never actually carried a pistol, but a “piece of metal from a bicycle”, most probably a bike lock: no lives were at danger to begin with. Mark had been fooled by perhaps some kind of lunatic, but nothing more than that. There were no lives to save.

2. Sgt. Tonner explains that he wasn't alone. "A small group of [police officers]" was at the “downtown” fool-some-police-officers scene. Were all Vancouver police officers unable to see the difference between a gun and a bike lock? It's hard to imagine. And would a single police officer shoot a “suspect” without knowing 100% sure that what was aimed at them was an actual gun? I sincerely hope not.

3. Even in the worst case, if the faulty assessment of the police would have actually resulted in the firing of real bullets onto the “the suspect”, we cannot conclude that this would automatically result in the death of the lock-carrying-police-fooler. This instance comes to mind.

No proof of even a single life saved
So there you have it; no proof of even a single life saved. But there's something else that bothers me here.

Isn't Mark Tonner lying here?
Mark opens his downtown story this way:

“A man standing in the middle of a side street stepped into a shooter's stance in front of my police car, aiming a pistol at my face”

Isn't that a flat-out lie? Shouldn't it have read “what appeared to me to be a pistol”. Why lie?

Only fearful and poorly performing officers need the taser
Although Mark's column does in no way proof that tasers save lives, his “downtown story” is the perfect example why Canadian police forces should not be using the electroshock weapon. because fearful police officers will use it far too soon, and far to easily. Taser-carrying police officers seem to see ghosts in every downtown corner: lunatics become instantly criminals (“it should have occurred to me to run him over”), bike-locks become instantly weapons, and there's only one instant solution: the taser.

Does the Vancouver really need the taser to make up for poorly performing peace officers? Of course not. If a whole group of officers can't see the difference between a bike-lock or a gun (but for some strange reason are able to see precisely at what direction this “gun” is pointed: see story), then isn't there something seriously wrong with our Vancouver's PD? Do they not learn what good policing entails?

Taser-Nazi of the Week
Sgt. Mark Tonner, I've got news for you. Repeating corporate mantras (tasers save lives) without backing them up with solid evidence, and spinning a personal story of poor policing into a justification for the use of the torturous electroshock gun a.k.a. the taser has gotten you nominated for taser-Nazi of the week. Congratulations!

Official 2008 Taser-Nazi nominees:
- Sgt. Mark Tonner - Vancouver Police Department (May 18, 2008)
- Cpl. Scott Willson - Kamloops RCMP (May 9, 2008)
- Sgt. Willie Merenick - Greater Vancouver Transit Authority Police Service (April 18, 2008)

LINKS
- Vancouver Province - "Use of Tasers has saved lives"
- Getting it Right: Taser Nazis
- Taser Stock is down again

Bush compares those who would talk with Iran to Nazi appeasers: Democrats are not amused (video)

2008-05-16T14:16:00.001-07:00

Transcript

VOICE OF CARLO BASILONE: US President George W. Bush launched what many say was a political attack against Democratic front-runner Barack Obama on Thursday when he addressed the Israeli Parliament. Though he didn't name names, the statement seemed to be directed at Senator Obama's willingness to meet with leaders of Iran and Syria, among others.

(CLIP BEGINS)

GEORGE W. BUSH, US PRESIDENT: Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they had been wrong all along. We've heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared, "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is: the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.

(CLIP ENDS)

White house spokespersons denied that the Knesset remark was aimed in any way at Obama, but leading Democrats were furious and struck back at Bush.

(CLIPS BEGIN)

JOSEPH BIDEN, US SENATOR (D-DE): This is bullshit. This is malarkey. This is outrageous, outrageous for the president of the United States to go to a foreign country, sit in the Knesset, and make this kind of ridiculous statement. He's the guy that's weakened us. He's the guy that's increased the number of terrorists in the world. His policies have produced this vulnerability the United States have—his intelligence community has pointed that out, not me. The NIE has pointed that out. And what are you talking about? You know, is he going to fire Condi Rice? Condi Rice has talked about the need to sit down.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: You know, we have a protocol, sort of a custom informally around here that we don't criticize the president when he is on foreign soil. One would think that that would apply to the president, that he would not criticize Americans when he is on foreign soil. I think what the president did in that regard is beneath the dignity of the office of president and unworthy of our representation at that observance in Israel.

REPORTER: Mrs. Speaker, you referred to refocusing—.

PELOSI: And I would hope that any serious person would disassociate himself from the president's remarks.

(CLIPS END)

PEPE ESCOBAR: A sitting US president addresses a parliament in foreign soil and compares a candidate of the opposing party to appeasers of Nazi Germany. What's significant is that this president, referring to Iran, was contradicted by his own secretary of defense. Robert Gates is saying the US should, and I quote, "develop some leverage, and then sit and talk to Iran, and not bomb Iran."

DISCLAIMER:

Please note that TRNN transcripts are typed from a recording of the program; The Real News Network cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.

Ramses Rules

2008-05-15T23:51:00.006-07:00

Voor degene in een schuilhoek achter glas
Voor degene met de dichtbeslagen ramen
Voor degene die dacht dat-ie alleen was
Moet nu weten, we zijn allemaal samen

Voor degene met 't dichtgeslagen boek
Voor degene met de snelvergeten namen
Voor degene die 't vruchteloze zoeken
Moet nu weten, we zijn allemaal samen

refr.:
Zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder
Zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder
Zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder
Zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder
Niet zonder ons

Voor degene met de slapeloze nacht
Voor degene die 't geluk niet kan beamen
Voor degene die niets doet, die alleen maar wacht
Moet nu weten, we zijn allemaal samen

Voor degene met z'n mateloze trots
In z'n risicoloze hoge toren
Op z'n risicoloze hoge rots
Moet nu weten, zo zijn we niet geboren

refr.

Voor degene met 't open gezicht
Voor degene met 't naakte lichaam
Voor degene in 't witte licht
Voor degene die weet, we komen samen

refr.

Niet zonder ons (15x)

Mensch, durf te leven
Dirk Witte

Je leeft maar heel kort, maar 'n enkele keer
En als je straks anders wilt, kun je niet meer!
Mensch, durf te leven!

Vraag niet elken dag van je korte bestaan:
Hoe hebben m'n pa en m'n grootpa gadaan?
Hoe doet er m'n neef en hoe doet er m'n vrind?
En wie weet, hoe of dat nou m'n buurman weer vindt,
En - wat heeft 'Het Fatsoen" voorgeschreven?
Mensch, durf te leven!

De menschen bepalen de kleur van je das,
De vorm van je hoed, en de snit van je jas
En - van je leven!
Ze wijzen de paadjes, waar langs je mag gaan,
En roepen 'o foei!' als je even blijft staan, -
Ze kiezen je toekomst en kiezen je werk,
Ze zoeken een kroeg voor je uit en een kerk,
En wat j' aan de armen moet geven.
Mensch, is dat te leven?

De menschen - ze schrijven je leefregels voor,
Ze geven je raad, en roepen in koor:
Zoo moet je leven!
Met die mag je omgaan, maar die is te min.
Met die moet je trouwen, - al heb je geen zin.
En daar moet je wonen, dat eischt je fatsoen -
En je wordt genegeerd als je 't anders zou doen,
Alsof je iets ergs had misdreven,
Mensch, is dat leven?

Het leven is heerlijk, het leven is mooi.
Maar - vlieg uit in de lucht, en kruip niet in een kooi!
Mensch! durf te leven!
Je kop in de hoogte, je neus in de wind,
En lap aan je laars hoe een ander het vindt!
Hou een hart vol warmte en van liefde in je borst,
Maar wees op je vierkante meter een Vorst!
Wat je zoekt kan geen ander je geven!
Mensch, durf te leven!

LINKS
- Wikipedia: Ramses Shaffy (english) | (dutch)
- Google Translate (Dutch>>English) is altijd lachen

Tasers kill, and Taser International's Tom Smith agrees!

2008-05-13T06:45:00.012-07:00

Yeb, that's what Taser Tom's statement in Vancouver's taser death inquiry boils down to. It happened yesterday and it went like this:

[Tom Smith] said Tasers save 70 lives for every life lost.

It's easy for me to proof that he got the numbers wrong (because apart from this "fortunate guy" I can't find another single life saved on the whole www), but that's not the point. Tasers kill, and Tom agrees.

Thanks for clearing that up, mate.

PS1: Leftdog says that Taser stocks are down. No wonder.
PS2: After extensive research I found another life saved (wink, wink). 2 saved, 344 taser related deaths; you do the math.
PS3: For more information on protecting life with TASER technology, please visit: http://www.TASER.com.

LINKS:
- Times Colonist: taser [kills] : see for all of it below
- Wikipedia: Taser
- Truth not Tasers

Taser boss says weapon saves lives
Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, May 12, 2008

VANCOUVER - The chair of the company that makes Taser electrical shock weapons says the device is not risk-free but has been proven to save lives.

"Are Tasers risk free? No, they cause people to fall down," Tom Smith of Taser Inetrnational told a Taser inquiry in Vancouver today.

He compared the use of Tasers to that of air bags, which inflate during car crashes.

He said air bags cause some deaths but save many lives.

He said Tasers save 70 lives for every life lost.

Smith said it is a common myth that there has been no independent reseach of Taser use.

One of those attending the inquiry is Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh, who said outside the hearing that he remains unconvinced that Tasers won't cause death.

"I believe the science is incomplete," he told reporters.

Dosanjh, who will testify later today at the inquiry, approved use of Tasers in B.C. in 2000.

He said he was misled at the time, saying he was told during a briefing that Tasers were totally safe.

He now believes the weapons need further study and national standards should be set for police about when they can be used.

Smith said there are about 300 documented deaths that occurred after Taser use in North America, including 20 in Canada, of which seven were in B.C.

He pointed out only 30 of those deaths listed the Taser as a contributing factor.

"I think it's extremely low," Smith said of the risk factor of using Tasers.

Smith said after his presentation to the inquiry that it is a myth that there have been no independent studies of Taser use.

There have 129 medical and field studies, he said, with less than 20 per cent funded by Taser International.

"I certainly encourage more studies," Smith said. "This is the most studied non-lethal force option in the world."

He pointed out that Amnesty International is one of Taser's biggest critics but has not funded any scientific research to support its allegations.

Smith said studies show that Taser use reduces the number of injuries to officers and suspects being arrested.

Smith said one study looked at a continuous Taser shock of 45 seconds, which found no evidence of increased risk.

"You show me the science that says risk increases with multiple exposures," he told reporters.

He said the death of a Polish immigrant at Vancouver International Airport was a tragic event that prompted the cuurent inquiry, but it remains unclear what killed the man.

Some police forces such as Cincinnati since bringing in Tasers, reported officer injuries are down 75 per cent, suspect injuries have dropped 40 per cent and use of force complaints against police are down 50 per cent, Smith told the inquiry.