Do tell, what is up with Karlheinz Schreiber? It seems obvious to me that this is a ploy to stay in Canada. Why else would he open up a can worms so far after the fact. I also fail to see why we would spend so much money on this. Does it really matter what Mulroney did oh so many years ago? Is it any different than any other PM? I don’t think we went to all this trouble when Cretien did his dirty deeds. We knew what he was up to and we elected him again!
Karlheinz has admitted to committing a crime; he paid Mulroney for favours. Clearly he will say, or not say, whatever he needs to; satisfying his own agenda is his objective. It started off with 300 hundred thousand now it is 5. He could easily say it was a million. Who cares? Besides isn’t there a statute of limitations on these things? I say let’s kick Schreiber out of the country. Then we can set aside the whole investigation thing and save the money. We could put it some good productive use like building affordable housing or paying down the debt. Alas that would never fly. What would all the Politicians have to do then?
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Conrad Black's Reservoir
Here is another example of how we refuse to hold each accountable. Conrad Black’s lawyer is arguing that he should receive no more than 29 months. Why? Because “he is a person with a deep reservoir of kindness” and has suffered enough. Right. Suffered in the palatial home he has been staying in. I wonder if Mr. Black has dipped into that deep reservoir and found the kindness to pay everyone back.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Oh the Poor
Poverty. Why is it my problem? Why do poverty organizations seem to think that rich people are the enemy? I look at it as inspiration. From time to time, I delivery flowers to people that live in very large homes in very wealthy neighbourhoods. Do I resent them? No. I usually end up fantasizing about living in one of those homes. Often it’s not the one I am delivering too. Some of them may be big but when you give lots of money to people with no taste it is disaster on a large scale. That, however, would be fodder for another Blog entry. My fantasy often includes thoughts on what I could do, what business I will be running, when I am living in my giant home. I drive my delivery route sipping my Starbucks Chai latte dreaming. No resentment, just big dreams.
I do not resent “rich” people. I know some that have worked very hard for what they have. I know of some that had it handed to them. So what. If you are poor look in the mirror. What has it got to do with you? What responsibility are you taking for your personal situation? Could the government do more, perhaps, but nothing and no one will help you more than yourself. I have often said to my siblings “what the hell is our problem”? We are intelligent people with some great ideas. Why can’t we create income and live large? The answer, put nicely, is that we choose not to. We get caught up in trying to get through our day and life without getting rear-ended (which of course is bullshit on the re-read we just don’t want to put in the extra effort). All that is true but we also do absolutely nothing about it. So, do I expect others to carry me? Sometimes yeah I do, what the hell. Most of the time I don’t and most of the time I know that it comes down to me. So, I fail to see how it is productive to “march on Queen’s park” when they have a BBQ.
I believe in personal accountability. I hate that I do because it is truly inconvenient when I want to just lie around and still have a nice warm bed (which is caving in and getting uncomfortable – do I whine about the price of mattress’s or get out of it earlier and make more money?). The irony here is that it has nothing to do with money. It has to do with taking action in life and going after what you want. You do not need money for that. If you are able bodied and mentally stable then get on with it. Even if you are not able bodied you can still get on with it. I know that from seeing living examples.
I have no issue with anyone taking up a cause. Raising money for this or that, I do it myself. I have no issue with anyone taking up the cause of the poor. What I have an issue with is handing anyone free money (but please do let that stop you from buying me gift certificates or dinner). Welfare or Workfare whatever it is now is just that. Free money. It is unhealthy and creates dependence. What we need is personal accountability and a system that promotes and rewards education and personal development.
Anyone want to help me start Education Financing For Everyone? It is a little project of mine that I have not gotten off the ground, yet.
I do not resent “rich” people. I know some that have worked very hard for what they have. I know of some that had it handed to them. So what. If you are poor look in the mirror. What has it got to do with you? What responsibility are you taking for your personal situation? Could the government do more, perhaps, but nothing and no one will help you more than yourself. I have often said to my siblings “what the hell is our problem”? We are intelligent people with some great ideas. Why can’t we create income and live large? The answer, put nicely, is that we choose not to. We get caught up in trying to get through our day and life without getting rear-ended (which of course is bullshit on the re-read we just don’t want to put in the extra effort). All that is true but we also do absolutely nothing about it. So, do I expect others to carry me? Sometimes yeah I do, what the hell. Most of the time I don’t and most of the time I know that it comes down to me. So, I fail to see how it is productive to “march on Queen’s park” when they have a BBQ.
I believe in personal accountability. I hate that I do because it is truly inconvenient when I want to just lie around and still have a nice warm bed (which is caving in and getting uncomfortable – do I whine about the price of mattress’s or get out of it earlier and make more money?). The irony here is that it has nothing to do with money. It has to do with taking action in life and going after what you want. You do not need money for that. If you are able bodied and mentally stable then get on with it. Even if you are not able bodied you can still get on with it. I know that from seeing living examples.
I have no issue with anyone taking up a cause. Raising money for this or that, I do it myself. I have no issue with anyone taking up the cause of the poor. What I have an issue with is handing anyone free money (but please do let that stop you from buying me gift certificates or dinner). Welfare or Workfare whatever it is now is just that. Free money. It is unhealthy and creates dependence. What we need is personal accountability and a system that promotes and rewards education and personal development.
Anyone want to help me start Education Financing For Everyone? It is a little project of mine that I have not gotten off the ground, yet.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Re: The all wet post...
I wrote that post before reading the article. How devastating for the family. I do feel for them and more so for Shaquille. Just when we thought we had come so far with equality, our children reminds us we have more work to do.
I also noted the comment that the Step Mother stated that she is computer illiterate. Further, she had no idea about the online abuse until Oct. 27. 7 days after his death. Is it cruel to point that out? Like understanding how to feed and nurture a child is the responsibility of the parent so is how to keep them safe. Any parent that purchases or allows a computer in their home and takes no action to protect their child needs to heed the warnings of this incident. One does not need to be computer savvy to hire someone who is.
I also noted the comment that the Step Mother stated that she is computer illiterate. Further, she had no idea about the online abuse until Oct. 27. 7 days after his death. Is it cruel to point that out? Like understanding how to feed and nurture a child is the responsibility of the parent so is how to keep them safe. Any parent that purchases or allows a computer in their home and takes no action to protect their child needs to heed the warnings of this incident. One does not need to be computer savvy to hire someone who is.
I might be all wet on this one...
I have been hearing about cyber bulling. A new concept dreamt up by teenagers to torture those kids they don’t like via the wonderful world of the web. It seems that we as adults try to get control of bullies; likely it is those among us that were victims as kids. As with any attempt to gain control, it will fail. Control is an illusion. It comes down to the concept of power verses force. What we need to teach our children is the idea of power.
I truly feel for the lad that recently committed suicide. The Toronto Sun has his picture on the cover with the headline: “Cyber-bullies drove him to Suicide”. I wonder. I wonder how can someone force me to commit suicide? Is that truly possible? I wonder where this child’s parents were while all this Internet bulling was going on? What action were they taking to stop the “cyber bulling” and what support were they offering their son?
Being an avid Internet user I am mystified by the concept of cyber bulling. Has no one explained to these kids that they can turn the computer off? What about changing Internet chat nic-names and email addresses? What about printing the offending notes and messages and confronting the other child and the parents? What about monitoring your child’s use of the Internet? If your child was doing this over the phone would that go unnoticed as well? I say without a doubt that my parents would have known what I was doing.
I may be simplifying the situation. I just can’t help but wonder how this goes on. I need parents to explain to me how a child can be abused over the Internet to the point that he kills himself. It is so simple to block unwanted email (I get that it only works to a point, however, it is 100% when blocking a known email address or domain) and chat requests. Educate your child on the use of the Internet. Educate yourself for that matter. Are these parents working with their children to help them understand that the person with the serious problem is the abuser not the abused”. I have to believe that the parents of the abused have no clue. That makes me believe that the child’s computer is in their bedroom and the child’s Internet use goes unchecked. I question any parent that feels it’s okay to allow a child to access the net in privacy. It should come as no surprise to you when your child is kidnapped or bullied.
I am laying this all on the parents. It’s time to turn off the TV, shut off the computer and connect with your children. Computers and TV’s have no place in the bedroom. Setting up spam filters and other restrictions on your computer should be the standard. Practice daily open communication about what your children are doing. Take the time to check the computers cache and temporary Internet files. Do not shrug off the responsibility of knowing how to do these things; learn. And if you discover that all those files have been deleted, take that as a sign that your child does not want you to see what they have been doing.
So help me understand how this all works. How it is that some teenage hooligan can get so deep inside your kid’s head that they kill themselves. While your explaining that, please explain how all this happened without your knowledge.
I truly feel for the lad that recently committed suicide. The Toronto Sun has his picture on the cover with the headline: “Cyber-bullies drove him to Suicide”. I wonder. I wonder how can someone force me to commit suicide? Is that truly possible? I wonder where this child’s parents were while all this Internet bulling was going on? What action were they taking to stop the “cyber bulling” and what support were they offering their son?
Being an avid Internet user I am mystified by the concept of cyber bulling. Has no one explained to these kids that they can turn the computer off? What about changing Internet chat nic-names and email addresses? What about printing the offending notes and messages and confronting the other child and the parents? What about monitoring your child’s use of the Internet? If your child was doing this over the phone would that go unnoticed as well? I say without a doubt that my parents would have known what I was doing.
I may be simplifying the situation. I just can’t help but wonder how this goes on. I need parents to explain to me how a child can be abused over the Internet to the point that he kills himself. It is so simple to block unwanted email (I get that it only works to a point, however, it is 100% when blocking a known email address or domain) and chat requests. Educate your child on the use of the Internet. Educate yourself for that matter. Are these parents working with their children to help them understand that the person with the serious problem is the abuser not the abused”. I have to believe that the parents of the abused have no clue. That makes me believe that the child’s computer is in their bedroom and the child’s Internet use goes unchecked. I question any parent that feels it’s okay to allow a child to access the net in privacy. It should come as no surprise to you when your child is kidnapped or bullied.
I am laying this all on the parents. It’s time to turn off the TV, shut off the computer and connect with your children. Computers and TV’s have no place in the bedroom. Setting up spam filters and other restrictions on your computer should be the standard. Practice daily open communication about what your children are doing. Take the time to check the computers cache and temporary Internet files. Do not shrug off the responsibility of knowing how to do these things; learn. And if you discover that all those files have been deleted, take that as a sign that your child does not want you to see what they have been doing.
So help me understand how this all works. How it is that some teenage hooligan can get so deep inside your kid’s head that they kill themselves. While your explaining that, please explain how all this happened without your knowledge.
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