Brenda Martin: The other side

A Canadian-citizen moves to become a full-time cook for an American-businessman who it turns out was running a fraudulent-investment scheme that robbed investors of almost $60 Million US.

She is fired from being his chef, and received a severance payment. She then turns around and invests her severance payment into one of his "investment" companies. Several years later Martin is arrested on fraud charges, with police alleging that her severance re-investment was simply money-laundering for her corrupt boss.

That was in 2006, it is now 2008 and she has not had a court date yet.

What an outrage you say! Why has she not been tried in a court of law yet? Why is the government not doing anything about this horrible travesty of justic?

I can answer all your questions in one word: Mexico.

All this took place in Mexico, and so as a result Canada can do nothing to spring Brenda Martin from jail. Her fate is in the hands of Mexico's corrupt and glacial-fast judicial system now. Sorry, sister.

But you wouldn't know it was Mexico's fault by listening to Ms. Martin's comments. How do I know her comments, you ask? Why because she regularly calls her family on the telephone from jail, not a bad privilege when you're whining to high-heaven about your treatment.

Here are some of her claims:

• When visited by two Conservative MPs: ""It was a photo op for them for political gain...My life is at stake...I believe that the dog-and-pony show that showed up here yesterday..."
• Her condition: "hanging on by a thin thread"
• When visited by one Liberal MP: "...a wonderful man"
• When asked about contact by Consular officials: "They could have made 600 calls, for all I care..."

So now that we know that her life is in serious danger, and that Canada has done "nothing" to help set her free, let's look at what the Prison Warden has told our Canadian officials:

• "Called warden re visit and was informed Ms. Martin did not wish a visit"
• "aggressive with fellow inmates'' and was "rude' to cafeteria staff"
• Warden says subject refuses to eat during her stay in the hospital she managed to eat fries and soda.''
• Martin complained to the consular officials about overcrowding and sleeping on a mattress on the floor, but wouldn't transfer dormitories because she'd lose access to a refrigerator.
• "No call to mother as Ms. Martin was in a beauty pageant in the prison and did not go to the office for the weekly call.''

Not even mentioning what the consulate has done:

• Consular officials spoke often with Martin, 51, by telephone, sometimes several times a day, and visited the prison at least a dozen times.
• Harper said Canadian officials have had about 100 contacts either with their Mexican counterparts or Martin herself in the last two years.
• Harper has called Mexican President about Martin
• Canada has sent a diplomatic note about Martin
• Two government MPs have visited her
• Foreign Affairs Minister Bernier has raised the Brenda Martin issue with his Mexican counter-part

So much for not helping her out. There have even been times when she turned down officials help, and times when she did not even bother to call her mother.

Sounds like someone has a hate-on for the Conservative party too, which is silly considering they're currently in government!

Dingos ate my writers

I haven't made a post in awhile on my blog, preferring to let the indexing-bots that make up 99% of my readership finish indexing my old posts first. That's not an easy task considering each post has more self-congratulatory content than George Clooney after an Oscar win.

So now that that's over with, I thought what better way to kick-off 2008 than to re-post other, already published, articles! Generally only quality stuff gets the privilege of being rerun, but when dogs with weird owners aka The New Westminster Dog Show started re-runs in prime-time; I knew it was my time to strike.

So here they are, columns so bad they make Dion look literate:

More police needed

The Vancouver Province
Letters
Published: Monday, February 18, 2008

It is great that the provincial government is going to take crime seriously by stiffening sentences and expanding our prisons.

There is a lot of hot air from politicians every time someone is killed in the Lower Mainland, and it's time for something to be done to keep us safe.

Now, if only Vancouver would do its part and properly staff its police department.

Mackenzie Gans,
North Vancouver

BC Drivers Licences get smarter

The Premier announced a pilot project to add extra information to our driver’s licences, such as an RFID tag that will allow you to sail through the border. The information on that tag will probably be your fingerprint and everything visible on your licence, including your photo, signature and address. It’s a great move because the US State Department has recently started adding an RFID tag to their passports, so this is definitely the way the world is going. You drive up to the border, flash your licence at the scanner, and after a brief confirmation of your photo and criminal record you’re on your way. With the wait at both sides of the border getting longer and longer, let’s hope this radio tag comes in sooner rather than later.

Adventures in Castro-Land

As you can tell I have been away from the keyboard for awhile, spending two weeks immersed in one of the world's last bastions of communism does that too you. It took me this long to recover. For those of you who missed the memo, I was in Cuba from December 23 to January 7, spending Christmas and New Years and just about every other important holiday there. I had a good time and marvelled at how amazingly poor they all are.

Everything was different over there. You could buy Coca-Cola, but it was bottled in Mexico and cost a lot. Their popular substitute was Ciego-Montero Tu Kola:
It was OK, but definitely no Coke. 80% of the vehicles were either charter buses or taxis for tourists, of course it was all owned by the government. The only private enterprise was the "Yo...you wanna buy sum Cubans?" I'm-losing-my-nuts-tomorrow kind. Their buses were nice, we rode in this Yutong bus (made by Mao) a couple times:
There were smaller buses that we rode which were equally nice. The buses had to be nice, however, because their roads (Even the highways and toll roads) were more full of holes then Steve Irwin eaten by a sting-ray. Ouch. The maintenance of everything was, well, less than we're used too:

But it was fun, and so worth it. In Osoyoos the sand gets so bloody hot your feet melt, but in Cuba the sand was fine and not too hot, plus the water was warm. (But the salt in the water means I give the advantage to Osoyoos Lake) The street markets all had similar wares, whether you were in Varadeo (Where our resort was) or Havana, and the best part was the bags. Yes, the plastic bags. They were the same EVERYWHERE you went! Street market in Varadeo. Mall in Varadeo. Street Market in Havana. The same bags, no matter where you went or what you bought. It's like Castro is trying to freak you out. What a bastard.

So now the final piece,

I just had too. Come on, it's hot. I would've bought it, if it wouldn't be a labour of hemorrhoid-proportions to take it on the plane, plus it would've cost a ton of Castro-dollars. (Called Cuba Convertible Pesos, or CUCs in Cuba) I could go on, posting a million photos but I think this is enough. You can't top a nekkid girl on a beach, no sir.

Photo Album

Left-leaning media bias: Strong like the North star

I thought I would actually back up my talk this month. Instead of always whining about bias this, tax-cut that I actually have information to back it up. See, now liberals are screwed because their arguments are usually based on emotion and not reason. (Gun control, abortion and tax-cuts are three great examples)

Exhibit A: Media Bias

Howard Dean to be Liberals' keynote speaker

Updated Fri. Nov. 10 2006 1:13 PM ET

Canadian Press

MONTREAL -- The Liberal party will turn to a Democratic heavyweight from south of the border to inspire the troops during their convention.

So. You wanted a liberal bias. You got it. Now forget what you just read, and close your eyes. Picture this: The Conservatives are having their convention in Winnipeg, it's November 2008. For the main, keynote, speech they ask Ken Mehlman, the Republican National Committee Chairman. How would the media react? With outrage! "Conservative turn to Republicans for inspiration” or “Tories chooses Bush-ally as keynote" Can you get the picture? The press coverage would be, let's say, less than flattering. Every Public-health-care-group and their dog would be up in arms over this "Americanization" of Canadian politics. Yet if Liberals do it they get a free ride. I don't get it. My solution? Stop action like 10 year-olds and act like adults: There is no problem with asking someone from outside Canada to give a speech. We have free trade with business, which should apply to people speaking too. If I go to the US, I should be able to give a speech (On, say, Why John Kerry is big, brown douche-bag) without raising a ruckus in the media just because I'm Canadian.

Exhibit B: Foolish, Reactionary Comments

Religion sparks anti-gay bias, says Elton John

Updated Sat. Nov. 11 2006 7:19 PM ET

Associated Press

LONDON -- Organized religion fuels anti-gay discrimination and other forms of bias, pop star Elton John said in an interview published Saturday.

"I think religion has always tried to turn hatred towards gay people," John said in the Observer newspaper's Music Monthly Magazine. "Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays."

I'm not going to say much on this. Elton John hates religion, fine. Elton John is a celebrity, fine. Elton John opens his mouth to bash every religion in the world, wait a minute! I understand how he feels marginalized by the "Big Three" (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) but surely not all religion is "anti-gay". I'm sure there is ONE which is tolerable to gays. That was enough of that, next topic please.

Exhibit C: Media Bias/Shitty Grade 8 level-writing

Senator calls for probe into alleged spying

Updated Mon. Nov. 13 2006 5:19 PM ET

Canadian Press

OTTAWA -- A costly foreign trip by the Senate's security and defence committee has given rise to heated allegations the Conservative government is actively spying on Liberals in the upper chamber.

The motion came after Conservative Marjory LeBreton, the government leader in the Senate, admitted that one of her staff members looked into the cost of the defense committee's trip to Dubai in early September.

Oh no! Senator LeBreton got her staff to look at the cost of the defence committee's vacation in Dubai! Shame! This is such a silly article. There is nothing wrong with researching expenditures of committees. The only reason there is an article on it is because the Defence Committee took a holiday in Dubai, when they knew they would not be allowed into Afghanistan, and got burned in the public for it. My second beef: Horrid use of language! HORRID! If I get my secretary to look at the cost of my co-workers conference expenses, that's not spying! What are you in grade 8? "Mommy, Johnny was spying on me in the change room!" My god! We graduated English 12, well except for this reporter. I'm gonna mail the "CTV.ca Staff" (Read: Un-employed, work-at-home bloggers) some frigging dictionaries with a note that says "Dear retard, please consult this dictionary when you are going to write your headline, to see if your chosen word represents the correct word for the situation" The maybe we'll get some decent (I use the word loosely) headlines and articles. Maybe.

Harper lays down the law and clears the air

Hello fans,
Thanks for reading this blog, and making it very popular on 'the Hill'. Even though I'm some no-name Independent backbencher now, I still plan on having fascinating interviews, like Kent, our wonderful Center Block Chief Janitor. Someone laid a log in the urinal this week,

and Kent has agreed to come to my office (He should find it easy, its stall 2) and tell us all the juicy details of the investigation.
Your hard(ly) working MP,
Garth Turner

Now to be fair, Turner didn't actually write that on his blog. That's merely my attempt to show what an attention-whore he is, what with his getting turfed from caucus and all. You see, it was all his doing:

"Turner warned a month ago about his blogging

Updated Wed. Oct. 18 2006 11:43 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

While maverick MP Garth Turner says he has no idea why the Conservative caucus kicked him out, CTV News has learned he was warned a month ago to stop playing reporter on his blog.

"Garth Turner is trying to wrap himself in the veil of innocence," Robert Fife, CTV's Ottawa bureau chief, said Wednesday. "But he knows why he got kicked out.

Fife said the party had been warning Turner since the summer to stop with the injudicious blogging."

I don't know about you, but when I'm told to stop doing something or risked getting kicked off the team, I stop doing it. Like, now. But not Turner, no, he's too 'maverick', independent and stupid to heed warnings. So he finds himself out of caucus and doomed to losing the next election, lest pimp his services to the fiberals and manage to become their 200th associate-critic. Pretty dumb move, but with his blog he can always fall back on the knowledge that people who accidentally find his page stay there for all of 1.2 seconds and move on to their original destination. Knowing Turner, he probably cracks the champagne for every 10th viewer he gets on his blog. Whatever, as long as I don't get a cork in the eye.

So moral of the story, boys and girls, when you get told by the top dog (Who's a rottweiler) to stop going against the team, stop. Unless you like getting kicked off the team, in which case you're probably french, and I pray for your soul.

"Clean Air Act receives rocky reception from MPs

Updated Fri. Oct. 20 2006 10:30 AM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The Conservatives' proposed Clean Air Act received a rocky reception from opposition MPs and environmentalists, who were quick to dismiss the bill as a "hot air plan."

The minority government released the centrepiece of it "made-in Canada" environmental agenda on Thursday, a Clean Air Act that aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050."

Wow, what a nice contradiction. First it's a "hot-air plan" then it's "aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050". So which is it, oh omni-present "CTV.ca News Staff"? How can a plan that cuts GHGs in half (That's 50%, Turner) by 2050 (More than the Liberal plan) be a "hot-air plan"? The answer: Biased reporting, which I talked about last article. That's what happens when you let lazy teens masquerading as "CTV.ca News Staff" post reports giving the SIGs (Special Interest Groups, who are always up for a quote) quotes lasting half the page.
Let's get down into the actual details:

1. Cut Greenhouse Gas levels in half by 2050, from 2003 levels.
   
2. Tax credit for transit passes takes 56,000 cars a day off the roads
3. Reduce auto-sector GHG emissions by 5.3 megatons by 2010 (Equivalent of "taking another several hundred thousand cars off the road")
4. Regulations to "slash emissions from motorcycles, outboard engines, all-terrain vehicles and off-road diesel engines"
5. By 2011, produce new regulations for vehicle fuel consumption
6. By 2025, set federal targets for smog and ozone levels
7. Harmonize vehicle emissions standards with those of the United States over the next 12 months
8. Align regulations with those of the U.S. for volatile organic compound emissions
9. Work with provinces to create system for mandatory reporting of air emissions and avoid regulatory overlap
10. Introduce environmental damages fund that applies non-compliance fines directly to cleanup

What does this all mean? It means over 10 solid points about cleaning up the air breathed by the citizens right now, and in the future. And none of these plans existed under the Libs. These are bona fide new rules, not merely re-announcements.
It also means the SIGs and Opposition parties are full of crap, as they just want a cute name like Kyoto to bandy about, but not real action. So the 3 defeat-ocrat parties (They all want to run away from Afghanistan, without even trying the opium first) will vote down the Clean Air Act and the Conservatives will have to wait for a majority (This spring or spring '07) for the mandate to pass it. I can't wait, because I love outdoor air warnings. Not. Let's hope enough of the plebians agree.

Let's talk: Healthcare

B.C. gov't launches health-care 'conversation'

I won't post the rest of the article, because it's simply a biased hack-job on Campbell, and doesn't mention anything about the conversation on health. For fun let's look at what "CTV.ca News Staff" consider to be a 'news' 'article':

• Biased adjectives: "VANCOUVER -- Depending on whose story you believe, B.C.'s health system will soon be swamped in a tidal wave of growing expenses or it's in a crisis of the provincial government's own making."

What a great idea! Start off the report by using the words "swamped", "tidal wave", "crisis" and for good measure, "own making". Because that's how everyone starts off their reports! Why not throw in as many negative adjectives as possible, because "swamped" is easier than doing research and writing "From 2002 to 2004, ER visits rose 5.53% while population growth was only 1.97%" or "ER visits rose more than double the population growth from 2002 to 2004" See! It's called research, and it's called writing objectively. I like it. Most intelligent people do, too. Now let's check out what else CTV has in store:

• Stupid quotes: "New Democrat health critic Adrian Dix said he already knows the answer to the problem."

Oh really!! Mr. I-fudge-dates-on-memos has already found the answer! How? Oh I forgot, he's NDP, he's smarter than all of us normal people.

"Dix said Liberal government mismanagement and lack of support has weakened the health-care system."

Hmm. Let's inspect that so-called 'answer'. "Lack of support", what does he mean by that? According to my research, the provincial government spends 40% on one fucking ministry! Who's hogging all the money, you ask? Why, the HEALTH MINISTRY, of course! And how much is 40%, anyways? Oh, only close to 13 billion dollars! That's like half the PST I got charged on my TV! So, let's throw this "lack of support" "answer" into the "Dix is a bull-shiter" pile:

And no more quotes, either:

Ok, we're making good progress, so let's keep going troops:

• The so-called "expert":"While health-care unions and advocacy groups say this conversation may be another way for government to bring in more privatization, Bob Evans, a health economist at the University of British Columbia, believes the premier is setting up to fight the health-care industry."

Another out for lazy journalists is to call up some university, any will do really as they're all left-wing, and ask for a quote from an all-too-happy professor. In this case the 'expert' is at UBC. And according to Mr. Expert the Premier is "setting up to fight the health-care industry." Wow, this sounds like another 'answer'!! We've barely finished the press conference and we've got 2 answer, already! Man, where do they find these guys! No back on topic, I don't know about you, but I don't know how you can 'fight' the health-care sector. I've tried. It doesn't matter how you offer the challenge to them, be it a soccer-match, steak-off, or weelchair derby. Or even a milk challenge. They always turn you down! No offense to this 'health economist' (What the hell is a health economis, anyways?) but that is the stupidest term he could have used. You can't pick a fight with an industry, sadly. It's like saying "Mackenzie Gans is setting up to fight the liberal-media" because, obviously, there is no way I can 'fight' media. It's the most useless and non-descriptive term there is! NEXT!

• Going for the easy quote: Unions: "The president of the B.C. Nurses Union, Debra McPherson, supports the idea of "balanced" dialogue, but said she is concerned the conversation may open the door to more privatized health care."

This is also a widely-used tactic. Because Canada, and BC in peticular, have 1000000000000 different unions, it is very easy to call a leader for comment. They have unions for everything nowadays, including teachers, grocery baggers and call-center pukes. Because why make good money when you can spend it all on union dues! According to Debra McPherson (Who needs to nurse her weight down, like a lot, it's not healthy) "the conversation may open the door to more privatized health care" Now I don't know about you, but when did a conversation open the door to anything? When I have a conversation with friends, nothing opens, let alone a door. If a door opened after talking with a friend, I'd scream and run out of there at Mach 10. That's called haunted and I don't like haunted shit. So again, let's toss this silly little quote into the "Try privatizing your opinions, because I don't give a bull-shit about them" area of the garbage can.

• The "BC has more/less _______" quote: "B.C. Health Coalition spokesperson Joyce Jones said she doesn't believe the premier when he said he doesn't want to challenge the Canada Health Act.

  "Our province is the leading provider of privatized medicine. We have more private clinics in B.C. than we have anywhere else in Canada," she said."

No article is complete without a false 'fact' from some nobody special-interest-group. Of course no one knows who this "BC Health Coalition [of Unions]" is, but that's exactly the point. They're not union-funded, no, they're just concerned citizens like you and me! Yeah, right. In this case she says BC has the most private clinics in Canada. Which would be nice, except for everyone and their dog knows that it's Quebec that has the most. BC doesn't have as many because we're not a 'distinct society' like Quebec. Apparently since French people are d-bags (Douchebags, for those ignorant of the movie Bobby Dukes), they get special treatment. Whatever.



So there you have it, folks. I've just dissected a biased article. Now when you read news stories you can spot the cop-out from the reporter. Usually they're lazy so they accept union leaders B$ as gospel. Because why let facts and reality get in the way of a good story, right!

Politicizing the AIDS fight and investing in BC

Politicizing the AIDS fight

Wow, what a whirlwind of AIDS news we have been deluged with lately! Thanks to the UN's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Bill Gates and Bill Clinton, we have no shortage of front-page headlines about AIDS this week. Let's break it down:

"Harper lambasted for skipping AIDS conference"

Whoa, Whoa! Skipping? Since when is Harper, that PM guy with a busy schedule, obligated to go to an AIDS conference? Last time I checked it was "I know you're busy guy Prime Minister, but if you have the time...it'd be great" Maybe Stephen Lewis should back off the rhetoric and maybe he'll be surprised. Harper isn't a guy who likes to be told what to do by UN pukes, especially career pukes like Lewis. (He quit the Ontario Legislature after he got tired of losing--As the NDP)

How is the AIDS fight being politicized? Well consider this:

Clinton:

Former Democrat President (Where was his AIDS posturing when he was in Office?)

Stephen Lewis:

Former Leader of the Ontario NDP

I think it's pretty clear. When I see these two semi-successful former politicians spouting of claims about Bush and Harper, I don't see constructive criticism of world leaders, I see weenie liberals getting their kicks "Oh Harper, where art thou Harper!" in while media lap it up. I see it as petty and pathetic. Two left-wing guys with bleeding hearts trying to tell me condoms are the be-all, end-all method of AIDS prevention! (Hey Stephen, never heard of the ABC method?)

Abstain,
Be faithful or,
Use a Condom

One thing that, surprise, surprise, has completely missed Mr. Lewis is that abstinence works!

One last comment:

As you can see, the AIDS conference in Toronto was run on a very low-budget. The 4 hour concert notwithstanding. ;)

Next time you hear Clinton or Lewis spouting their pompous crap, tell them 'Hey assclown, abstain will you!" They should know what you're talking about, especially Clinton. Ouch.

The reason why I dislike the Clinton/Lewis grand-standing is, I don't like being told what to do on AIDS by guys who did nothing about it when they were in office.

Investing in BC

"Alcan announces $2 Billion investment plan for Kitimat smelter"

Wow! What about the plant that was "closing down" in 10 years! According to some reports, it means the smelter is open for at least another 35 years. Score one for BC! This announcement was so big; Gordon Campbell came back from his vacation to speak about it. Of course, no $2 Billion re-vitalization is complete without Kitimat trying to shut it down.

Here we go:

"The north-western British Columbia community of Kitimat is vowing to thwart a smelter expansion plan that would give Alcan Ltd. the right to sell excess power from its B.C. aluminium operations back to the hydro grid"

"Under the plan that was unveiled this week, Alan is set to increase its aluminium production by 60 per cent to 400,000 tonnes, a level that falls far short of the 550,000 tonne operation that the district is hoping for."

Why are they "vowing" to thwart it? Why because Alcan is only increasing production by 60% and not more, of course! Well, why doesn't Alcan just shut down the smelter in 10 years, like the original plan, and then see where Kitimat is? Try off the map.

It's a joke they're "fighting" a $2 Billion dollar expansion, seeing at how that does nothing but expand the lifeline of the aging plant. Well that's BC for you. "Expand our smelter by at least 25 years? Not in my backyard!"