Wednesday, May 31, 2006

With all due respect to the Flea

Lately I've been stealing one of the Flea's many schticks...

AFI - The Leaving Song
Now is the time at WCC when we dance.

Lyrics

Walked away, heard them say
"Poison hearts will never change, walk away again"
Turned away in disgrace
Felt the chill upon my face cooling from within

It's hard to notice gleaming from the sky
When you're staring at the cracks
It's hard to notice what is passing by with eyes lowered

You... walked away, heard them say
"Poisoned hearts will never change, walk away again"

All the cracks, they lead right to me
And all the cracks will crawl right through me
All the cracks, they lead right to me
And all the cracks will crawl right through me, and I fell apart

As I... walked away, heard them say
"Poisoned hearts will never change"
Walked away again
Turned away in disgrace
Felt the chill upon my face cooling from within

No Slippery Slope here.

Nope, that whole Slippery Slope argument is just pure bunk.

Polygamy allowed ‘limited’ status

Well, isn't that special. Now that the precedent has been set under the guise of "equal rights", it's inevitable that the polygamists are going to want to be recognized as well.

All aboard the sled! Weeeeeeee!

Monday, May 29, 2006

Update on Ian Bush Investigation.

Several months ago, I posted on the death of Ian Bush. Mr. Bush was shot while in custody at the Houston RCMP detachment. He had been arrested outside the Claude Parrish Arena in Houston, B.C. by police for having open alcohol and providing a false identity to the officer. I received loads of traffic via Google, Yahoo, and other search engines, as folks in the Bulkley Valley (and all across Canada) clamour for any information they can get. The story is once again in the news, so I think it is a good time to make some additional comments.

The MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, NDP Nathan Cullen, has been in hot water over some statements he made recently,

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen is backpedalling from comments he made in the national media suggesting he is fearful of questioning the RCMP over the in-custody death of Houston's Ian Bush.

On Thursday, Cullen publicly apologized while speaking on CKNW Radio's Nightline B.C. program for the comments he made to the Globe and Mail's Gary Mason.


Thankfully Cullen did the right thing by apologizing to the RCMP for his off-base and offensive remarks. Kudos to him for doing so. The crux of the issue is that the police investigation is nearing its eighth month, and family and friends of the late Mr. Bush are wondering why there is such a delay. They also questioned why Mr. Cullen has not been more vocal about the shooting and the investigation. The Interior News goes on to report that,

Over the course of the investigation, (Liberal MLA for Bulkley Valley-Stikine Dennis - ed.) MacKay said he has spoken with the coroner's office and the RCMP a number of times to make sure everything possible was being done to bring the inquiry to a close. Regardless of the length of time it takes, MacKay said it was more important to him that it be done correctly.

"None of the investigative members handling the file have done anything improper," said MacKay. "They're doing a thorough investigation and surely to goodness you can't criticize the RCMP members for doing a complete job."
(emphasis mine)

This is the money quote, and it's something that needs to be said to anyone who dismisses the investigators work as incompetent, or suggests that they are stalling to protect one of their own.

Houston Mayor Sharon Smith said it has been difficult for the community to wait for the outcome and she thinks Cullen's remarks took focus away from the real issue.

"As a District Council, we have worked well with the RCMP and have never had any problems," she said. "I don't think the comments assisted this in any positive way. We just hope things can come to a finality. We know whatever comes out of the investigation will be difficult for the community. Patience is always hard in something like this."


I have never met Sharon Smith before, but I fully agree with her comments here as well. No one wants a rushed and incomplete investigation.

But the recent heat he has felt won't stop him from keeping focused on the issue, Cullen said. He said it is his hope that if another situation like this arises those involved won't have to wait so long to find out what took place.

"I can't understand how it can take so long to do an investigation when there's only two people involved and one of them is dead. Ninety-nine point nine per cent of the police are great and do their job well but they're human and mistakes happen and we can't have some sort of feeling of infallibility because that's when mistakes happen, when you can't admit to something having gone wrong."


But I must take issue with Cullen's lack of respect towards the officer who shot Mr. Bush. No one knows what went on in that detachment in the moments leading up the Mr. Bush's death. Yet Nathan Cullen makes it seem as though it was obviously a case a police neglect.

Lets look at the facts that we know:

1) Mr Bush was drinking alcohol openly in a public place.

Even though it was at hockey arena, and it was merely a can of beer (as opposed to him waving a bag of cocaine or an ak-47 around), it is still an illegal thing to do. The last time I checked, you are not legally allowed to drink alcohol in a public place.

2) Mr Bush provided a false name to the police during questioning.

This is, quite frankly, one of the stupidest things a person can do. Lying to a police officer will get you in a world of trouble every single time. Is that some kind of big secret or something? I think not.

As an aside, I have heard from various sources in Smithers and Houston that he was familiar to the police, and that he was only joking around with one of the officers when he told them the wrong name. If he really was "known to police" (ie, had run-ins with them in the past), the last thing he should be doing is lying to them! Also, I wonder what other offenses he has committed in the past that makes him so familiar to police. Drunk and disorderly? Assault? Drug abuse? The excuse that "he was known to cops and was just joking around" simply doesn't fly with me.

It could be that Mr. Bush assaulted the police office, forcing him to draw his weapon. It could also be that the officer is a loose cannon with a history of violent behaviour. We simply do not know at this point. And we aren't going to be finding out anything until the investigation is complete.

When the report is finally released, I will post it on this blog along with my thoughts.

D-Day Picture

A commenter over at the Rottie, Jaybear, posted a fantastic picture at Misha's Memorial Day post. In his comment, he says "Here’s a picture that I’d like to share." and I assume that to mean his picture is available for all. It really should be, after all.

You should check out the entire post, and be sure to look at Jaybear's original comment.

Click to Enlarge.

What an amazing, horrifying, beautiful photo. Thank God for such men.

Jaybear's website can be found here.

Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous

Now is the time at WCC when we dance.

Nelly Furtado has gone the way of Jewel. From sweet, wholesome, and innocent to booty-shaking and trashy.

Heh, I love it.


I'm a big girl I can handle myself,
but if I get lonely I'm gonna need your help...

Thursday, May 25, 2006

File under: "Worst Judge Ever"

Judge Spares Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting a Child, Saying He Is Too Small to Survive in Prison


Yep, you read that right.

SIDNEY, Neb. May 25, 2006 (AP)— A judge said a 5-foot-1 man convicted of sexually assaulting a child was too small to survive in prison, and gave him 10 years of probation instead.


I wonder how small the child was? Guess that doesn't matter.

His crimes deserved a long sentence, District Judge Kristine Cecava said, but she worried that Richard W. Thompson, 50, would be especially imperiled by prison dangers.

"You are a sex offender, and you did it to a child," she said.

But, she said, "That doesn't make you a hunter. You do not fit in that category."


So exactly what category does he fit into? The category for "Royal Shitbags"? How about the one for "Useless Wastes of Human Flesh"? Oh! I know, "Pedophilic Sex Offending Criminal!"

Thompson will be electronically monitored the first four months of his probation, and he was told to never be alone with someone under age 18 or date or live with a woman whose children were under 18. Cecava also ordered Thompson to get rid of his pornography.


And keep it down to a half-sack of beer and a joint per night, would ya? Or is that too much to ask?

He faces 30 days of jail each year of his probation unless he follows its conditions closely.


What he should face, is a severe beating at the hands of a hardened prison inmate named "Butch". Give him a taste of his own medicine.

"I want control of you until I know you have integrated change into your life," the judge told Thompson. "I truly hope that my bet on you being OK out in society is not misplaced."


So does every kid in his neighbourhood.

D'argh, this wasn't how I wanted to start my morning...

Monday, May 22, 2006

God Save the Queen!

From the Monarchist,

"...it seems only proper that we continue to reserve one day of every year to commemorate the institution that goes to the very core of our narrative and identity as a people. The story and spirit of Canada is every bit as much tied to the national significance of May the 24th, as it is to the significance of July the 1st and November the 11th, the three occasions which respectively evoke the memory of King, Country and those who died for it.


When I was growing up, I thought the Monarchy was a complete joke. A bunch of rich, spoiled elitists who travel with pomp and circumstance, yet lack any sort of meaningful role. And could you blame me? For most of the 1990's the Monarchy was cannon fodder for Tabloid magazines. Divorce after divorce, affairs, cheating, lying, and of course, the death of Princess Diana.

But as Beaverbrook pointed out, Canada's history stands lockstep with the British Monarchy. Will we now dishonour that past by cutting all ties today? Many wish to pull Canada in a direction that does not include her Majesty the Queen. They say we ought to establish and maintain our Canadian distinctiveness. But our current system of government is distinctively Canadian,

Once the "British" character of Canada is properly understood and accepted, then arguments on that score against the Monarchy are shown to be the unnatural thing they are. People will see how we got the Monarchy. They will understand that it was not imposed on an already existing country but brought here by the settlers who created Canada, just as all the other institutions we enjoy were. They will then appreciate that in standing on guard for the red-coated Mounties they are in fact cherishing a Canadian development and manifestation of their "Britishness". And it will be impossible for even the most stupid or malicious individual to say that the Queen and her family are foreigners, since all will see that not only do they come to us out of our own history but that they are also linked "forever" -- the word is Sir John A. Macdonald’s -- to the sense of purpose that underlies Canada.


So today, along with the kind folks at the Monarchist and Canadians from coast to coast to coast, I recognize and celebrate Victoria Day.

God Save the Queen.

Friday, May 19, 2006

Red Ensign Standard #42

One of the most fascinating Red Ensign Standards can be read at RootleWeb.

Read and Click and Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Troop Deployment Vote passes

Barely...

A motion to extend the deployment barely passed 149 to 145 Wednesday night.


I wish it had been passed by a more significant margin, but a pass is a pass is a pass nonetheless.

Other leadership candidates, Michael Ignatieff and Scott Brison, voted for the longer commitment in perilous Afghanistan, as did interim Liberal leader Bill Graham.


Good on 'em for voting the way they did. I've said a lot of bad things about Brison in the past, but I'll give him credit this time. I suspect his decision wasn't simply based on principle, but maybe I'm wrong on that.


Former prime minister Paul Martin was absent.


Shock! Gasp! Colour me surprised. What a shitbag. Hope he had a good excuse.

“I think the truth of the matter is support for the mission is a lot stronger than the vote,” Harper said. “There were a lot of people in there who just wanted to vote against the government. But certain Liberals took a principled position and Canada is much better for it.”


Thanks you to all the Libranos that did take a principled position.

The mission continues. God bless our troops.

Stanley Cup Ring to Angry.

King's Perspective has a good piece on the vote as well.

Capt. Nichola Goddard.

Rest in Peace.

A female soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, making her the first Canadian woman to die in combat since the Second World War.


Let's make sure her death was not in vain. An early retreat from Afghanistan would embolden the very same bastards that took her life. This must not be allowed to occur.
Captain Goddard believed in the mission. She knew the seriousness of the mission, and the risks involved. And she gave her life for it.

Our nation is better because of men and women like her. And Afghanistan is a freer nation because of her sacrifice.


"The government of Afghanistan and the Afghan national security forces have had a good successful day. There was significant Taliban casualties both killed and captured.
"Unfortunately, the cost today was the life of Nichola.


If there is any eternal justice in this universe, then the last thing the terrorist sandnits saw before entering everlasting hell was the sight of Capt. Goddard being lifted up and exalted into her heavenly home.

R.I.P. Captain Goddard. You're my hero.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

A fine idea

This is a fantastic move by the Conservatives in Ottawa,

Parliament to vote Wednesday on extending Afghanistan mission


Reminiscent of what the Republicans did when Rep. Jack Murtha (D) uttered his now infamous "bring the troops home, now" speech.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has been quietly feeling out opposition parties for the better part of a week about their willingness to have a debate on re-deploying Canadian troops after Canada’s role officially ends in the war-torn country in February 2007. But numerous sources in several parties confirmed that the Tories put an offer on the table late last night that will see members of Parliament debate the mission Wednesday evening and vote on whether to stay in Afghanistan until 2009, or pull the country’s 2,000 troops out early next year.


This will show us exactly how much the members of the New Democratic and Liberal parties "support" our troops.

Support for the mission has wavered in recent weeks, and doubts are increasing with anticipation that more Canadians will be coming home from the war on terror in body bags.


We're battling a group of death-loving tyrants and brutes who cheer loudly when roadside bombs kill children, and who strap bombs to their bodies and explode themselves in marketplaces. Unfortunately, these bastards "win" the odd battle and we lose one or two of our own, but we need to make sure they do not win the war.

The Liberals, who sent Canadian soldiers to Afghanistan shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, are in the midst of a leadership race and are deeply divided on the issue.

The New Democrats are the party most likely to oppose redeployment. NDP foreign affairs critic Alexa McDonough has just returned from Afghanistan and will present a preliminary report on the Canadian mission to her caucus on Wednesday, NDP sources said.


What better way than a free vote to see exactly how the members of the parties view the mission in Afghanistan?

"I think they’re working to artificial timelines that are driven by politics and not concern for soldiers on the ground, which is a little shocking," said one party source.


Bingo!

One thing is for certain.

I support our troops.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Let that be a lesson to you, young man!

"I won't do this no more," Morris of Chesterton told The Times of Munster.


I should hope not! I'd be thoroughly embarrassed if I were either of these kids' parents.

Idiots.

Both of them.

Religious Freedom?

We are all Hutterites.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Dusting the Brooms.

If you are feeling so inclined, please pray for my friend.

Winston Churchill said it best, sixty-one years ago,

Even if it is a hard struggle we will not be the ones who will fail.


Thank God for Winston Churchill. And Thank God for Darcey Jerrom.

Update Tuesday May 9th, 7:07 pm - Darcey writes, "...I'll be back up soon.". Good Deal.