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January 30 Shameless Plug.... In case you hadn't noticed, if you scroll down past my most recent political rantings, you'll come across a list of links. If you choose to skip over them, the one you emphatically DO NOT want to neglect, is the blog of "Dreamtwister":
Granted, some people would find my politically incorrect, municiple, provincial, and national ramblings somewhat "ballsey". Not to mention, find me certifiable for posting them in the first place. Dreamtwister, however, offers up the fear of God from a GLOBAL perspective. With uncanny accuracy (See his latest blog. He predicted this oddity occuring as far back as 2003.). So if you want the full-on spook, be sure to read us both.
'Nuff said. I'm outta here. "Afrocentric" schools are a "go"..... Well, they got their wish......I told you so!!!
I would love to be able to fast-forward 5 years, to see how this project pans out. For the sake of many in the black community, I hope this finally solves all their problems. Especially considering they've put almost all their eggs into this one basket. Piss-poor scholastic skills, an extremely high dropout rate, drug abuse, violence and an "overly white" school curriculum, have all been attributed to not having their own "Afrocentric" educational system. So when this project finally comes into fruition, they'll be no excuses left for them. Well, in THEORY, anways.
I find it interesting that, in the three informal polls I read the previous night regarding this issue, almost all relayed a voting margin of 9-1 AGAINST "Afrocentric" schools. Now, it passes with an 11-9 vote. The only saving grace being, the Province has refused to fund this sham. But based on their sordid history, God only know how long it will be before they eventually cave in as well.
Back to 1950's America! Eat your heart out, MLK!
January 29 The "Strong" arm of the law? Theft, assaults, child porn, and now this....
Remember the good, ol' days when they lead by example? Don't get me wrong: Nobody is perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. But over the last few years, things have really gotten out of control. And the changes laid during that duration have been fairly substantial. Remember last year when I said a re-evaluation of the hiring policies was in order? STILL think I'm wrong?
Gh0sT
January 27 "No Future For You." This is precisely why I wanted Howard Hampton in office instead of McGuinty. Hampton is able to see long-term cause and effect, while McGuinty can't see the forrest from the trees.
In McGuinty's small world, everying is just peachy with the Ontario economy, because Tim Horton's and fast food establishments are hiring. Well, that's just great Dalton. So long as we can still get our Big Macs and bagels on time. But the rest of the waking world residing in Ontario knows two things: 1.) The average SINGLE person, with NO dependents, can't get by on $8.00 an hour...and 2.) Most of the people working those occupations (Especially Tim's) based on their poor work ethic and lack of verbal skills, are GROSSLY OVERPAID as it is. And I've not even begun to address the huge discrepency in the amount of actual E.I. benefits received by Ontario workers, as opposed to those in other Canadian provinces.
But let's discuss that, shall we?
Right now, my E.I. pays me less than half of my former paycheck. if I were to pick up a part-time job, I was informed I would be allowed to work no more than SIX (you read that right...SIX) hours a WEEK. All of which they would STILL be obligated to take off my E.I. check.
But it gets WORSE....
I was recently offered a "part time" job in the food industry (Less than 9 hours a week to start. One, single shift.). Based on the Provincial law, were I to accept the offer, I would be required to give up my entire E.I. check. Then, I would be required to start at mimum wage. Five dollars LESS than my last paid job. Which, unfortunately, I wouldn't even be making, as it was a unionized job. Therefore, after paying required union dues, I'm making maybe $6.75. This is what I'm expected to live off of.
I find the Province's expectations are completely out of touch with its workforce. Especially when they won't even lift a finger to protect the right's of people like Vushtaeheby Srishkandarajah, and her co-workers. If it's any consolation to her, my termination in August was much worse. I arrived up to my place of employment, and found the doors padlocked, with no prior warning. I was given a form letter, informed me I wasn't going to be recieving any mandated termination payments. If I wanted them, I was told to "file a lawsuit" in order to obtain them. Like her, I was treated like criminal, and my every move monitored. I was threatened by customer after customer, and left to explain the unexplainable. How their thousands of dollars in credits and parts were suddenly null and void.
During my entire stint in retail, I spent the better part of 5 years, trying to get into a career I was told by one 30-year veteran: "You have to be absolutely INSANE to do.". Which was Provincial law enforcement. I paid for test after test, jumped through hoop after hoop, and followed all the necesary protocols. I was even picky about placement. I told my recruitment officers, "I'll even work the jails and prisons as a correctional officer. Or the subways. Anything. I'm don't care. Just give me a chance.". But after 5 years, and hearing "White males, between 19-40 need not apply..." one, too many times, I just cut my loses. I wasn't getting any younger. Money doesn't grow on trees, and I wasn't about to put myself in the poorhouse to make the Province rich. Especially when they were no offers of employment.
I feel the Province has one goal right now: To get blood from a stone. This is never more apparent, than in the job sector. If you came from money, or have the financial means at your disposal, there is a chance that you can literally "buy" youself a decent job. Via an extensive education. Or, if you'd make one hell of a Provincial "poster child", you might get that education comped for you. Other than that, you're essentially swimming upstream.
The last few years in the job sector, have really served to open my eyes. There was a time when I believed a solid work ethic and sense of loyality, only served your benefit. Both occupationally and financially. I don't believe that anymore. In fact, I don't know what to believe anymore.
One thing's for certain. I'm now more willing to just watch it all fall apart, then to be just another cog in the machine.
January 25 Oh God...Here we go again!!!!! "Captain Crazy" is in the news again!
Last time, it was "George Bush is the Devil!". This time, it's Colombia "acting as a pawn of the U.S. empire". Gotta love this guy. He's global, comedic relief. I could walk his ass down to the Queen Street Mental Health Center, and cash in on his paranoid rantings. "This is my Uncle Hugo. He chugged an entire bottle of Mexican hot sauce, and washed it down after with Tequilla at my Papa's wedding last year. He just hasn't been right since. Now, all he talks about is 'El Diablo Bush', and the Chupacabra that lives under his bed at night. Can you help him please?". LOL!!!!!!!
January 24 New details of Heath Ledger's passing.... This poor guy....
I swear to God.... If I am ever unfortunate enough to find myself in ther position of the late Heath Ledger, I hope my very existence doesn't rest in the hands of someone TOO STUPID TO CALL 911.
Masseuse Diana Wolozin arrives at 2:45pm for her appointment with Ledger. At 3pm, when he had still not exited his bedroom, she enters and tries to rouse him. When he fails to do so, she senses he is in some kind of medical distress. So what does she do? She calls MARY-KATE OLSEN, all the way in California (I guess she has a medical degree?). Not once, but TWICE. Not until 3:26 pm, is the first call to 911 actually made. That's almost a FULL 30 MINUTES after realizing something is seriously wrong. EMT's arrived 7 minutes after the call. By that point, it was 3:36 pm, and not too long after Ledger was pronounced dead. So based on this timeline, if her FIRST call had been to 911, there's a very good chance Ledger would have been receiving medical intervention by as early as 3:07 pm, and possible on the way to the hospital as early as 3:10 pm. Had the EMT's choosen to do a "scoop and run". Which, in a respitatory emergency, would have been very likely.
Ledger was last seen asleep and breathing around 1pm by Teresa Solomon. His housekeeper. So between 1pm and 3 pm, is when something went medically wrong with Ledger. It could have happened earlier or later. We'll never know.
I'm not trying to lay blame. But this isn't the first time an entertainer has died under such questionable circumstances. The late musician Jimi Hendrix died virtually the same way. With his roomates talking on the phone with others, trying to decide what to do. Or the late River Phoenix. Who died with the paparazzi snapping photos of him convulsing on the sidewalk. Not one of them lifting a hand to make a call.
I have to ask: What is so debatable in a situation like this? Absolutely nothing. I fail to understand exactly WHY someone wouldn't first call 911 to summon help. I've done it before. And I didn't spend a half-hour thinking about who the person was, or even bothering to ask their name. It required no forethought. I just did it because that's what you are SUPPOSED to do.
Are celebrities more "super human" than "Joe Average"? Can they magically come back from the dead? Of course not. So where and when will common sense prevail?
Hopefully, before something like this happens again.
January 23 Heath Ledger protest in the making..... Just when I finished praising them the other day, www.citynews.ca SERIOUSLY drops the ball with this story.....
First and foremost: My condolences to Ledger's family. I've never read a harsh word about the man, personally or professionally. And from all I've observed, he was the complete opposite of your atypical "Hollywood jet setter". So to lose a talent of that character, especially at such a young age, is truly horrible.
Now. On to the crux of my issue.....
I had to write Citynews today, about the above story. As hard as this may be to digest, a group calling themsleves "The Westboro Baptist Church", are planning one of their ritual protests around Ledger's coming funeral. So who are these people, anyways? Well, read about their exploits for youself....
Unfortunately for REAL Baptists, those at Citynews neglected to mention this piticular group is, in no way, shape, or form, afflilated or even recognized by ANY governing Baptist body. "Why is this worth mentioning?" you ask? Because it demonstrates just how far removed Westboro is, from Baptist fundamental core beliefs. When a church will fly under that specific banner, yet there isn't one, solitary governing body that will recognize them. They are THAT sociopathic, dangerously unstable, and devoid of any Christ-like characteristics. So due to this glaring oversight on behalf of Citynews, there's a good possibility the uninformed reader might mistake Westboro for the actual thing. Which obviosly they're not.
Hopefully, this was a innocent oversight. I'd certainly like to believe so. But I thought it needed correcting. Baptists are, by nature, quiet and reserved. Not arguementative and confrontational (At least all the ones I've ever met.). Whether or not you happen to subscribe to their line of thinking. Don't make the mistake of lumping them in with these bigots.
Gh0sT
January 21 "The Better Way"? Interesting article....
For the life of them, the City of Toronto hiarchy can't understand WHY people are STILL refusing to give up thier "gas guzzlers", and take the TTC. I'm guessing for the very, same reasons their employees are often refusing to go back to work: Because often it's UNSAFE.
Two generations of my family worked directly for the TTC. And if push came to shove, I could probably have an "in" with them career-wise. But as I've stated repeatedly.....Unless the position involves being an armed "Special Constable", then sorry. It just isn't happening. I'm not big on the idea of an uneven playing field. And from the point of a consumer, I feel a helluva lot safer locked in my car, than trapped on a speeding subway car, with a certifiable nutjob or petty criminal.
However. Unlike the city itself, it should be noted the TTC has taken radical steps to beef up security. Using closed circut cameras, and Special Constable patrols. So on that note, they should be applauded. They recognize there's a problem with violence, and are taking steps to deal with it. Talk about leading by example.
IS ANYONE AT THE CITY OF TORONTO LISTENING? HMMMMMMMM?
January 19 Ignore THESE FACTS, "Mr. Mayor"..... Finally! The voice of reason has stepped in to put Miller in his place....
Thank God for the testicular fortitude of Stockwell Day. Remember a short time ago, I mentioned that 15 year study by the Vancouver police? How it found the use of unregistered firearms in the comission of a crime to be at 80%? Well, look at the numbers now. In Ontario, it's 94%. That's a 14% increase, when compared to a city that has a crime rate even WORSE than us. But Miller would STILL have you believe that all those firarms being used, are actually being stolen out of the homes of registered gun owners. To FURTHER sound even MORE idiotic, I just watched Miller go ape on a local news channel, for the amount of guns coming across the border from the United States. Ummmmmm.....HELLO????? Earth to Miller? STATISTICS HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU THIS FOR YEARS. Pull you head out of the stand. You're good at pleading. So plead with the Feds to beef up security at the borders, airport, and shipping docks. Anything else you do before so, is an absolute waste of tax dollars. And while you're at it.....How about pushing the province and Feds to actually ENFORCE the laws we already have on the books, that specifically deal with gun crime? So someone caught carrying or using a gun on the streets DOES NOT get a "Mickey Mouse", "two years less a day" sentence? Or is that too much to ask?
Hyprcrite or simpleton. I honestly don't know which Miller is. Maybe a bit of both? January 17 Opening a can of worms........... Mark my words: This IS going to happen.....
In regards to the black community, there are two schools of thought regarding this issue. The first sounds something like this: "This is insulting. Dr. King didn't die for nothing, and we didn't spend generations fighting for equality, only to be told in the end that we need sepcial treatment, because our skin colour is viewed no differently than a physical diability.". The second goes something like this: "SURE! We will GLADLY take yet ANOTHER handout...er...I mean 'hand-up''! Because what's one more in the grand scheme of things?". Fortunately, my black friends adhere to the first school of thought. UNFORTUNATELY, I have a sinking feeling THEY are in the minority (no pun intended).
Personally? I feel this issue is one, BIG hypocritical shit sandwich. But then again, we're talking about the city of Toronto here. If the city's hiarchy had a solitary thought in their heads, it would certainly die of lonliness. One minute, they are bending over backwards to cram multiculturalism down the public's throat using reverse discrimination. The next, they are promoting segregation. Hey guys....HOW ABOUT YOU MAKE UP YOUR MINDS, HERE?
Instead, allow me to offer up this little tidbit of information: You've already done wonders to segregate whites from non-whites, via a well-documented history of reverse descrimination (Ya, ya..."But we have quotas to fill!"...Blah, blah, blah...). This is just going to add fuel to the fire. Graduates of this new system will eventually have to go out and survive in the REAL world, and deal with REAL people. From MANY facets of life. Criminal and law-abiding, familiar and unfamiliar, coloured and non-coloured. Think every black student is going to be adopted into a "black only" buisness upon graduation? I bet you believe in the "Tooth Fairy" as well. But if you feel socialization skills are not that important in everday life, or that it's okay to compound an already existing sense of entitlement, then by all means, make these schools a reality. Just don't say at least ONE person didn't warn you about the consequences of your actions.
"What's on the City's menu, today?"
January 14 Guns and Violence.... Someone call the guys in "Onyx", because I'm about to issue a two-tiered "SLAM".
So in their infinite wisdom, the family of Jordan Manners has proudly proclaimed HIS TEACHERS are to blame for his death......
You read that right, people. NOT the criminal element. NOT the gang mentality permiating the schools. His teachers. The one's making a pitance, of their real financial worth. The ones who have to risk being assaulted, spat on, and threatened on a daily basis. Just to help rear a generation, who quite often, have parents who refuse to do the same. The ones with families of their own to protect.
The Manners family wants to talk about "silence"? Talk about irony! Considering the community they represent PERPETUATES an unspoken "code of silence" themselves. No wonder "Metro's Finest" are strong-armed into public pleas for help via the media, every single time there's an incident of "black on black" crime. Why? Because the aforementioned community feels they are above the law, and can regulate themselves. Henceforth, the code of silence. Well obviously....YOU CAN'T. So how about taking responsibility for the issues YOU create? Oh yea. That's right. It's easier to shift blame. Not to mention, gives you a podium for yet ANOTHER "15 minutes" you didn't deserve in the FIRST place.
Which brings me to THIS neophyte.....
I think the public honestly needs to ask themselves this: Do we REALLY want a guy, who can't find his ass with both hands and a map, running the largest metropolitian city in all of Canada? And I'm not just refering to his take on gun control (I mean, he's a Harvard-educated economist. Yet he behaves like a glorified panhandler. Always looking for a hand-out.).
Mr. "Mayor"....I proclaimed this in my college term paper, WAY back in 1992. And I'm saying it again for your benenfit (Albeit VERY slowly. Because you seem to always be a few steps behind the pack.): Taking guns away from licensed gun owners, in Toronto or otherwise, WILL NOT ELIMINATE GUN VIOLENCE. Your contemporaries have done everything possible over the last 15 years to eliminate guns altogether, and it STILL hasn't worked. If anything, the violence has only got WORSE. Know why? Because petty criminals won't travel 300 kilometers north, to break into a farmer's home to steal his deer rifle, just to acquire a gun. They don't have to, when studies have proven the majority of tracable firearms used in the commission of a crime, are coming to Canadian soil, via the U.S. AND MEXICO. Which end up being sold on the black market. One such study was over a decade in length, and conducted by the Vancouver police. They found 8 out of every 10 (That's 80%, Mr. Mayor), came from outside Canada! Shouldn't that tell you something regarding the REAL source, of illegal firearms acquisition? Or would you still prefer to believe a cracked-out petty thief, will risk going from break-in to break-in, house to house, in the vain attempt to find one with a handgun, which just happens to be laying around in plain sight?
Okay, kids. I've had enough "throwing pearls to swine" for one day.
January 11 Immigration problems in Canada? YA THINK???? Canada has long needed a reality check on immigration. Today, it got one......
Webster's dictionary defines the term "refugee" as : "one that flees; especially : a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution.". Why the need to get technical with definitions, you ask? Because simply put, there are too many liberal pencil-pushers, who are pulling in a nice, fat government paycheck, without the first idea of what their job specifically entails. So clearly, a textbook definition was in order to set them straight. As nobody should be allowed to be THAT inept at their job, yet STILL be entitled to it's salary.
I encourage everyone to read the above article. It is so intelligently written, it would be an absolute waste for me to repeat the issues with our current system, that have already been so thoroughly documented in great detail by it's author. If billions of dollars, urban crowding, and national security weren't mitigating factors in this drama, it may actually serve as comedic relief. Watching the immigration hiarchy bumble their way through blatantly bogus claims and "no show" hearings. Imagine how efficiently a prison would run, if the warden cut a hole in the fence, and gave each inmate a week's head start to "get outta Dodge". But don't laugh. That's EXACTLY how Canada is being run under the current regime.
While poverty and disease can be found the world over, so can it be found HERE. Right on Canadian soil. Not to mention, neither of which constitute "refugee" status in any way, shape, or form. However, a person claiming so will entitle them to government handouts. Something a country of origin may not be so apt to offer. So in this case, it literally PAYS to claim "refugee". Which unfortunately devalues TRUE claims. Ones based on religious, gender, sexual orientation, and political opposition. In countries where just being openly homosexual, or a devount Christian, will land you a guest appearance on the lastest Al Qaeda beheading video. A claiment with REAL problems to worry about. Not someone looking for a free lunch.
"Free" food for thought. January 08 Smoked in Iowa! I've been watching the American Presidential race for the last few days. I'll say this much: I've never taken more enjoyment from watching someone get their ass kicked, than I did watching Hilllary Clinton getting her's handed to her on a silver plate, by Barack Obama in Iowa.
I know some will say "It's only one state.". But the fact that her campaign heads are working overtime doing damage control, speaks volumes. The gloves are off, and desperation has finally set in with her. Gone are the days, when she so often arrogantly proclaimed, "WHEN I am President...". Now, there's a new excuse for her loss on every channel you switch on. "They are voting against her age....They are voting against her being a woman....It's because she's a former First Lady.....". Etc, etc. Even "Bubba" Bill Clinton has been brought in, to defend his militantly-Feminist wife (Note the irony there!). Hillary can cry all the "crocodile tears" she wants. It doesn't sway the general public from knowing she's a self-absorbed, arrogant, power-hungry narcissist. All the faux, post-battle crying won't save her now. Nor will it erase all her questionable behaviors during her eight year tenture as former First Lady.
If given the option, I'd most likely vote John McCain. Just based on his policies and political experience. I have nothing personal against Barack Obama. But history has shown that Presidents elected to the Office in the adolescence of their political careers (Not to mention, barely peaking middle age at that. Think Bill Clinton and JFK...), have had a tendency to be overwhelmed with the power bestowed upon them at such a young age. Resulting in questionable personal, political, or legal behaviors by them. Like Whitewater and the Vince Foster death with Clinton, or the Cuban Missle crisis with JFK. In short, a sitting President has to have his own house completely in order first, before taking on the job. He can't be spending time and tax dollars covering his deeds. I'm NOT saying Obama even remotely falls into the same catagory as Clinton and JFK. But I'd hate to see history unnecessairly repeat itself. Having said that, however, the same could easily happen to any of the more "senior" candidates. So nobody can say for certain.
From everything I've read, I like Barak Obama as a FUTURE President. Just not right now. I think a little seasoning is in order first. And it's not like he can't do great work from the sidelines until that time comes. However, if push comes to shove? I would absolutely love to see a 47 year-old Obama as President, then a 60 year-old clinton. Because he's CLEARLY more mature and capable than she is. That much is obvious. It's just a mantle he'd have to carry with a degree of wisdom and responsibility, usually reserved for those his senoir.
It's getting interesting!
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