floccinaucinihilipilificate

The viagra bribes

2008-12-26T17:26:00.000-05:00

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?!

2008-12-26T10:43:00.002-05:00

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

2008-12-25T23:05:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-25T13:42:00.001-05:00

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

2008-12-22T11:23:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-22T11:13:00.001-05:00

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!

2008-12-21T23:18:00.001-05:00

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?!

2008-12-20T18:37:00.002-05:00

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!

2008-12-05T21:30:00.001-05:00

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

2008-12-04T06:11:00.001-05:00

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!

Yo! Gullible People!

2008-12-02T10:30:00.001-05:00

Yes, you, gullible -- mostly white people, but also a whole lot of immigrant Indian people -- stop being gullible, Deepak Chopra is actually full of shit. Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but he's been feeding you shit in his books, lectures, audio and other media releases. If you need anymore evidence that the man is full of shit, just check out his recent verbal diarrhea on CNN, regarding the acts of terrorism in Mumbai.

OK, after getting over the shock that Larry King is still alive, any reasonably intelligent person must be asking themselves, since when has Chopra become an expert on terrorism or geopolitics? Maybe you need to be a transcendental bullshitter to be on the seance that is the Larry King show. Or maybe they were just looking for any brown guy to keep the idiot box going, and Chopra the media whore just happened to be scratching on the door after the murder started. (I did notice that it took CNN some time before they could actually find some Indians to talk about the carnage in Mumbai.)

Chopra, I am sure, was a good, practicing medical doctor. But somewhere along the way, he went horribly wrong. It could have been his first meditation -- where he just lost his mind, and never found it again. I know a lot of people are looking for more meaning in their existence, and any Indian guy talking shit appeals to you -- but please -- it's all bullshit. So don't let him start lecturing you on terrorism.

American consumer madness kills

2008-11-30T04:07:00.001-05:00

Here is a story of consumerism taken to its most horrible end -- the taking of a life. It's a retail tradition in the US to have massive sales after Thanksgiving, in preparation for Christmas -- the holiday where to consume is to be holy. Americans, having eaten their fill this Thanksgiving, with an economy in a tailspin, took their smoking credit cards to stores to see if they would still work. At a local Wal-Mart in Long Island, NY, shoppers went nuts at the 5AM store opening. Chanting "push the doors in," they crashed into the store, tearing the doors off its hinges, and stampeded store employees. Most employees got out of the way of the crowd in a hurry, by jumping onto vending machines -- no such luck for Jdimytai Damour, was knocked down and crushed by the mob. When the shoppers were then told that a store employee had died in the melee, they refused to lease, since they were in the line for a long time.

"I look at these people's faces and I keep thinking one of them could have stepped on him," said one employee. "How could you take a man's life to save $20 on a TV?"

Terry Pratchett's The Nation

2008-11-16T20:28:00.000-05:00

I finished Terry Pratchett's The Nation last night -- weeks after my wife had finished it, but not long after I had flipped it open on the bus, on the way to work one morning. Pratchett's books tend to be devoured in my house -- my wife, my daughters and me, where the addiction first got started. My wife and I picked up the Nation at Waterstone's on Sauchiehall Street, in Glasgow, when we were on holidays in Scotland. I think we got it before its North American release. We usually have to wait until after Christmas to read a new Pratchett book, since it's usually bought as a Christmas present for someone. Not this time around, however.

The Nation is a departure of sorts for Pratchett. It's not a Discworld novel. It's set in a new world, very much like our own, but slightly askew. I'm not sure if the novel was intended for young readers, as it featured young protagonists -- but Pratchett doesn't do well writing for a young audience. If he's writing for a younger audience, he's specifically targeting the smarter, thoughtful bunch. They are the introverts. The ones who hang out in the library, and are inclined to join the library club in school and know the difference between the Dewey Decimal Classification system and the Library of Congress Classification system. Like every other Pratchett book however, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not going to review the book or give a synopsis in this post. You can find that stuff via Google. If you're a Pratchett fan, don't be afraid of the departure.

From the cover-flap of the book:

The sea has taken everything.

Mau is the only one left after a giant wave sweeps his island village away. But when much is taken, something is returned, and somewhere in the jungle Daphne�a girl from the other side of the globe�is the sole survivor of a ship destroyed by the same wave.

Together the two confront the aftermath of catastrophe. Drawn by the smoke of Mau and Daphne's sheltering fire, other refugees slowly arrive: children without parents, mothers without babies, husbands without wives�all of them hungry and all of them frightened. As Mau and Daphne struggle to keep the small band safe and fed, they defy ancestral spirits, challenge death himself, and uncover a long-hidden secret that literally turns the world upside down.

India is on the Moon

2008-11-15T00:35:00.000-05:00

The Indians have landed on the Moon. Yesterday, the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) separated from the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft for a dusty splash down. Immediately after landing, the MIP righted itself, and started to dance. See more images of this historic event for India at the ISRO site.

First Photos of Planets Around Other Stars

2008-11-13T22:18:00.001-05:00

Astronomers have taken the first ever direct photos of planets outside of our solar system. Three planets orbiting the star HR 8799, have been photographed in the infrared. And another, photographed by Hubble, orbits Fomalhaut. The planets are all larger than Jupiter. These planets are gas giants, but it can't be far off before direct photos are taken of smaller terrestrial planets. And won't that be cool?! We know we're not the only solar system. How long more before we find out that we're not alone?

The Business of Human Rights

2008-11-09T22:33:00.000-05:00

Here's a new one for you -- the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre -- tracking the impact of over 4,000 companies operating in over 180 countries around the world. Allegations of corporate misconduct get a little light, with the organization confronting businesses and seeking responses. As expected, a lot of the issues deals with first world corporate giants and their colonial adventures in far off lands. But, there are still issues right on our doorstep, and the BHRRC is there too. The site acts as a clearinghouse for social responsibility news, and is worth the bookmark for those passionate about justice.

Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow stoned to death

2008-11-02T08:22:00.001-05:00

Yet another little girl has been murdered. Horribly murdered. Thirteen year old Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow, of Kismayo, Somalia, was raped by three men. She was convicted of adultery by the Islamic Courts in Kismayo, and was stoned to death by dozens of men in a stadium packed with about 1,000 spectators.

If the UN doesn't do something in Somalia, Ethiopia should just permanently occupy the country and open hunting season on the murderous Islamic Court.

bomomo

2008-10-26T23:56:00.001-04:00

OK ... I don't know what it is. But you can waste time there too.

Environmental Crime - a Threat to Our Future

2008-10-20T01:34:00.001-04:00

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) recently presented a report, Environmental Crime - a Threat to Our Future, to a UN meeting on trans-border organized crime. According to the report, environmental crime generates billions in profits for criminals annually. Environmental crime includes the illegal trading of wildlife, smuggling of toxic substances and hazardous waste, illegal fishing, illegal logging and trade in stolen timber.

The fact that there are those willing to steal and destroy the environment for profit, doesn't surprise me. How often do you hear of legitimate businesses that take advantage of public trust and harm the environment? Be it the dumping of toxic waste, including banned substances in their products or lobbying governments to reign in regulators -- well respected corporate giants already do it -- although those that break the law are thankfully few. I'm not suggesting that the criminals in the EIA report are no different from legitimate businesses. They are different. Crime is the enterprise of criminals -- not legitimate businesses.

The hardened criminals and legitimate businesses, have one thing in common however -- customers -- the public. There are people willing to buy the tusks of elephants; the skin of endangered animals; the fins of shark -- and by extension, shark-fin soup; trees cut illegally and the products made from them; and yes, even chemicals that contribute to the destruction of the planet they and us, live on. You've probably know the type. They're the ones for whom doing the right thing is for someone else. They're motivated by self interest and feel no remorse for their wrongdoing. It's not enough to just shine the light on the criminals -- more needs to be done to expose the market these criminals service.

Still no consensus to save the world

2008-10-18T11:45:00.001-04:00

The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently wrapped up its 10-day World Conservation Congress in Spain, with high hopes for the future. High hopes, because IUCN believes the tide is turning in trying to save the world by conserving biodiversity.

Hope came from the commitment of stakeholders to protect Sumatra -- the world's sixth largest island and a garden of Eden for biodiversity. Since 1985 for instance, Sumatra has lost 48% of its forests, and there is still danger as deforestation continues to increase production of palm oil and acacia.

Still, there is much work to do when the blinders of short-term economic gain are being rigorously protected. Japan and Norway for instance, continue to refuse to heed the calls for conservation to allow whale populations to recover.

An IUCN study assessed the 5,487 mammal species on Earth and found that at least 1,141 are threatened with extinction. Another IUCN report shows that 35% of the world's birds, 52% of amphibians and 71% of warm-water reef-building corals, are likely to be negatively impacted by climate change.

New Energy Economy

2008-10-18T11:08:00.001-04:00

A new report from the Earth Policy Institute is extolling the potential of the emerging new energy economy in the United States -- potential is my refrain -- I'm a little cynical of sustaining the investment without an enforcing regulatory environment to make sure the playing field is level and the commitment is unwavering. My cynicism isn't unfounded. The dangers of climate change has been apparent to those who wanted to know, for years -- decades even. The majority still don't view it as a problem that needs near term action. What is driving the shift in energy investment is the constraint on access to fossil fuels. If that changes, expect businesses and consumers to take the easy way out. I don't for a minute believe that the shift currently happening is wholly out of shared concern with the green movement.

Oops, they did it again!

2008-10-15T07:21:00.001-04:00

Ah shit! You stupid Canadians! You did it again!

Loving Once Upon a Time in Virginia

2008-10-14T00:10:00.000-04:00

"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, Malay and red, and He placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with His arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that He separated the races shows that He did not intend for the races to mix." -- Leon Bazile, Trial Judge, Jan. 6, 1959, Virginia, USA.

Not so long ago, people went around telling others who they were allowed to love. The culmination of love between two people, marriage, was forbidden in certain circumstances, and enforced by law. Today, sadly, not much has changed. There are still people going around telling others who they are allowed to love, and who they're not. In some places, they are supported by the law. In some places, it can lead to death. We're an unjust society when we allow such laws to remain -- and when we allow some to dictate who others can live with and love. This is why I support same sex marriages. [Source: reddit]

Giving Thanks

2008-10-13T18:30:00.002-04:00

Thanksgiving history isn't lost on me -- it is a harvest festival that has been celebrated in North America for hundreds of years, but the cynic in me can't help but think of the North American aboriginals that got there thanks the hard way at the hands of the European settlers. Wonder how they view Thanksgiving. Anyway, I'm not about to start another tirade on political and social injustices. For my wife, it's a tradition that brings back memories of family -- and so this year, I decided to take on the task of bringing some tradition to the table for supper.

I've never roasted a turkey before, and since we're only a family of four, my wife asked that I do something smaller. So I got a chicken. Something smaller. I've never roasted one of those before either, so I called on my friend, Google, and found the instructions at Canadian Living to create a classic roast turkey -- which I applied to my chicken -- with some slight modifications, as I'm not too good at following instructions. It didn't turn out too bad. The chicken was good.

I wanted to make stuffing as well, and found a recipe by Miriam Rubin in the November issue of Prevention magazine. I made this one from scratch, being a little carefree with the measurements, and substituting almond slivers in place of chopped hazelnuts. I started last night on this one, with six slices of whole wheat bread in the oven. I let it sit overnight to get nice and brittle for when I needed it today. I followed the instructions precisely, but unfortunately, it was in the oven too long. It got burnt a bit, and the pan still needs to be cleaned, since there's a nice layer of burnt bread on it. It was tasty however. The apricot and cherries was a nice touch.

You couldn't have a Thanksgiving dinner without mash potatoes -- but who wants the traditional mash potatoes? I read a recipe somewhere, then lost it, so I made it up from memory. It called for a combination of sweet potatoes and butternut squash, along with some onions, garam masala and curry powder. It was a pain in the ... hand ... peeling and chopping the potatoes and squash. The use of the knife gave me instant callouses, and even tore the skin on my index finger. The entire concoction was cooked in a frying pan on the stove. It didn't take long for everything to go soft and become mush. Easy mash potatoes, and the tastiest part of the meal.

Lastly, was the gravy ... and it was gross. I followed instructions and liquid remains of the cooked chicken, adding flour and spices. Still, there was too much fat left in it. It was floating at the top of the gravy. Gross. Never doing that again!

I'm about to go down to the kitchen and get the pumpkin pie into the oven. We picked one up on Saturday in Vineland, after we had finished at the Ball's Falls Thanksgiving Festival. Since I didn't make the pie, I expect it will be excellent!

Environmental Piracy or How to Gain Sympathy While Plundering the African Coast Wearing an Eye-Patch

2008-10-13T10:56:00.002-04:00

Al Jazeera is reporting that the pirates holding the MV Faina, a Ukranian ship carrying weapons, are demanding a ransom for the ship's release in order to clean up the coast of Somalia that has been a dumping ground for toxic waste, including nuclear material, by European and Asian vessels. The pirates allegation was confirmed by the UN envoy for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah. So, two problems.

The pirates are no more than opportunists at best -- at worst, terrorists -- who are using piracy to cash-in on international trade to bolster their status at home -- funding power and religious struggles. They should be treated as such. They don't have noble goals. Selfishness and profit are their motives.
The environmental disaster that is being made off the coast of Somalia -- and I've got to wonder about elsewhere in Africa -- needs to stop. Not only has colonialism -- past, present and future, in its varied forms -- destroyed the people, but it's also taking their natural resources, environment and hope. This needs to stop, and we, in the first world nations need to stop it. If we stopped fucking with the continent and just leave them alone -- no weapons, no interference in domestic squabbles -- they'll be better off than if we were there.

The environmental disaster we're making there seems to be lost on the international community. Dumping toxic material in the oceans is piddling in our bath. The oceans are ours. We're all connected. Funding wars that lead to further desertification of the continent affects the global environment in ways we are struggling to comprehend. The planet is a system. Mess with one part is messing with the entire system. We're not only killing Africans. We're killing ourselves.

Currently, there are about 10 ships being held by pirates. That is not the problem. That is a symptom. The bigger problem won't be solved by naval escorts and gunships in the region. It will be solved by the international community resolved to do something strategic -- something that requires foresight. Unfortunately, there's no hope for that as international leadership is sorely lacking.