The viagra bribes

I'm not sure what to do with this one. Old Afghan warlords being bribed with viagra to cooperate with US troops. Isn't that like selling the sexual services of (probably) young Afghan women (probably girls) to get a leg up on the war on terrorism?

With lower gas prices, SUV and truck sales pickup ... WTF?!

Is the general population that fucking stupid? Edmunds.com is reporting that with dropping gas prices (and huge incentives to move inventory), people are again turning to gas guzzling SUVs and trucks. Expectation is that hybrid and fuel efficient vehicles will drop in sales in December. Consumers really do not think. Even monkeys are smarter for crying out loud! I'm not even thinking about the continued demise of the environment -- I'm just thinking about the economic disaster we're currently in. You'd think people would want to save money on gas. But in just one month of lower gas prices, they've shifted their purchasing practices. It's like they're unable to think -- to plan -- to forecast. It's all about instant gratification.

So yes, the general population is that fucking stupid. Which just begs for smart leadership and government regulation to ensure we have a future, because you can't rely on the public.

Pook Toque

It's my favourite new hat -- out with the Goofy, in with the Pook Toque. Got it for Christmas this morning, and haven't really taken it off. I'll be going to bed shortly, and I'm still debating whether to take it off or not. My wife has a preference, I'm sure, but she was the one who also purchased it for me. What will I do with the pair of socks on my head?

Giving houses for Christmas

Merry Christmas Toronto! And the rest of the world ... regardless of your religious affiliation. I'm not Christian, but I'm in a Christian family ... sort of ... and Christmas is an occasion we mark with friends and family. Christmas for me isn't about celebrating Big J's birthday -- because let's face it -- it's not his birthday -- it's a creation of the church, and nothing more, which coincidentally, co-opted a number of pagan celebrations. Go figure -- the church -- political. Christmas is a time however, for a little introspection -- a time to take a deep breath, regard past misdeeds with a sigh, and make promises to build an improved future in the coming year. Goodwill to everyone, and all that sort of stuff, which the world could always use a little bit more of.

Which is precisely what Habitat for Humanity is all about this Christmas, for the Mpianas -- a family that fled the Congo in 2002 to find refuge in Toronto. The Mpianas were recently given the keys to a brand home built by volunteer hands motivated by goodwill -- a volunteer that includes my eldest daughter, who spends a few days (evenings, weekends) per week at Habitat -- literally putting the roof over needy heads. For the folks who volunteer at Habitat -- those that donate money and materials -- the Christmas spirit is one that is celebrated year round, in countless builds, around the world. If all of us just gave a little -- just a little time, if nothing else -- what a different world it would be.

Setting the stage for future conflict in Afghanistan

Oh, will we never learn? Apparently, the US military wants to arm Afghan tribes so them can take on the Taliban in areas of the country, where few dare to send troops. WTF? Haven't we learned anything from our past excursions in the developing countries? Arming people who are your friends today to fight a proxy war will only end in disaster. It has never ended good. The Taliban was armed by the US to fight the Russians -- look how that turned out? Saddam Hussein was armed by the US to fight Iran -- and that created another mess. Look at what's happening with Israel -- armed to the teeth, it seems less interested in peace as it routinely encroach on Palestinian lands.

Sigh. At least Canada isn't going along with this one.

Civil disobedience is called for

In an act of desperation, Tim DeCristopher chose civil disobedience to disrupt the bidding process that saw 149,000 acres of public land leased off to oil companies in Utah. The lease of the land to oil companies, to allow drilling, has been contested by many who wish to preserve the pristine land, located near Arches National Park, the White River, the greater Desolation Canyon region, Labyrinth Canyon, the benches east of Canyonlands National Park, Nine Mile Canyon, the Book Cliffs and the Deep Creek Mountains. It is one of the final sell-off by the dying Bush administration. DeCristopher showed at the auction, registered as a bidder, and started bidding -- and winning -- with no intention of purchasing or paying for the auctions he won. Way to go dude! You're a hero!

You are a pirate!

Yar har, fiddle di dee,
Being a pirate is alright with me!
Do what you want '‘cause a pirate is free,
You are a pirate!
Arr yarr, ahoy and avast,
dinky-dink-dink-a-dinkadefast!
Hang the black flag
At the end of the mast!
You are a pirate!

UN votes on right to food: US the only country that votes against. WTF?!

By a vote of 180 in favour to 1 against (United States) and no abstentions, the Committee also approved a resolution on the right to food, by which the Assembly would “consider it intolerable” that more than 6 million children still died every year from hunger-related illness before their fifth birthday, and that the number of undernourished people had grown to about 923 million worldwide, at the same time that the planet could produce enough food to feed 12 billion people, or twice the world’s present population.

And there you have it folks. It's quite simple. The United States has voted to starve the world -- including people in the US -- in its participation on the UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on the Right to Development.

By the terms of the text, the Assembly would express concern that, in many countries, girls were twice as likely as boys to die from malnutrition and childhood diseases and that twice as many women as men were estimated to suffer from malnutrition. Accordingly, it would have the Assembly encourage all States to take action to address gender inequality and discrimination against women, including through measures to ensure that women had equal access to resources, including income, land and water, so as to enable them to feed themselves and their families. By further terms of the draft, the Assembly would urge Member States to promote and protect the rights of indigenous people, who have expressed in different forums their deep concerns over the obstacles and challenges faced in the full enjoyment of the right to food.

After the vote, the representative of the United States said he was unable to support the text because he believed the attainment of the right to adequate food was a goal that should be realized progressively. In his view, the draft contained inaccurate textual descriptions of underlying rights.

Is it me, or is the US set on declaring war on the poor, starving, children and girls? Or maybe this is the US' war on the rest of thw world? If the world goes one way, the US needs to go the other -- especially where the UN is concerned. I for one can't wait until the Obama government boots the Bush lackeys out of power. Hopefully the Obama administration won't disappoint the world.

Read more here.

HeroRATS saving the world!

The problem of landmines in Africa is horrifying in its numbers, as it is deadly effects. The numbers are astounding. There are probably close to 45 million landmines scattered across the continent, left over from various conflicts – much of the mines having been manufactured, sold or given to various pet projects by the developed world to fight their proxy wars.

To make Africa a safer place, heavy investment is needed and lots of time. Traditionally, dogs have been used to sniff out mines so they can be properly disposed of. But dogs take a long time to train, are costly to maintain and there are only so many dogs that can be handled. Enter a new and unique solution to this problem: rats. Not just any rats however – HeroRATS!

HeroRATS is project by APOPO, that train rats to sniff out landmines (as well as certain diseases and as to aid search and rescue workers). Other ways of detecting landmines are expensive and rely on foreign expertise for development, maintenance and execution. Rats however, are a low tech vapour detection technology.

It’s a totally cool, inexpensive idea, that empowers those in the countries affected, to help themselves. What better way to save the world? If you have a bit of spare cash, you can help this program by sponsoring a HeroRAT. It takes 5€/month to sponsor a HeroRAT, that can clear a 100 square metre landmine field in 30 minutes –- much faster than a human can.

Toronto bans bottled water sales

OK, it's not an outright ban, but nevertheless, it's a start. Way to go Toronto! Banning bottled water sales from municipal premises. It's a start, and hopefully, it is only the start. I for one would love to see a tax, akin to the tax on cigarettes, be placed on bottled water sales to discourage their sales. The proceeds from the tax collected could be used for city waste management. People are just way too lazy, and if they are lazy, make them pay!