Mood:  sharp

As a Canadian I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the entire Polish community and my heart goes out to Mr. Dziekanski's closest friends, nearest relatives and family.

The deadly event at YVR Airport represents the most serious form of erosion of faith the public citizenry may ever have to withstand in one of our most trusted and revered institutions to date.

While we appreciate any one person can make a mistake, it's the acknowledgment of the mistake that quickly settles most peoples harshest judgments.

From the top rung of the R.C.M.P. to a low level airport employee; to Customs officials to a bystander attributing the Polish tongue to Russian, that we are all capable of making mistakes due to haste or inexperience; misinformation, or any combination thereof is what makes us human.

But it's the admission of our mistakes no matter how egregious that makes
us wise and just.

The glaring difference between the version of events originally relayed by the police and what the tale of the tape has shown is something no apology can atone for nor public relations exercise mitigate.

We can only hope the scope of the inquiry is not so embarrassingly limited by its own power and reach so as to not bring this glaring omission further out into the light to help restore lost faith and confidence in the emblems of our esteemed nations' police forces.

To most honest and law abiding Canadians, once again we should not be so ashamed of the facts as they are brought out unless we are all prepared to be fooled twice.

Let's hope the fruits of the efforts to bring the truth out; and not simply manage it, are both far reaching and deeply felt.

Let's not waste this second chance given to display our true sense of
humanity.As has been repeated oft enough: the world is watching.

Once is enough may be the last and final thing left that we can all be sure
to agree upon in order to take us somewhere new.

Somewhere Mr. Dziekanski would be glad to see us all be.

Airport firefighters not called during Taser incident
National Post, Canada - 3 hours ago
VANCOUVER -- Firefighters at Vancouver's airport firehall are angry that they were not called to respond the night Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski died, ...
Criminal charges possible over Canada airport Taser death AFP

Posted by mach1231 at 11:36 PM PST

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Mood:  caffeinated

CAN THIS MAN BE PRESIDENT?

 - -

George W Bush is not a businessman.

Hillary Clinton is not a businessman.

Senator Obama is not a businessman.

-  - -

Its like to put the full weight business leadership and learned expertise behind the Oval Office.

"President Bush's refusal to do anything meaningful to reduce our dependence on oil or take action against climate change has insured that we are stuck paying the bill at the pump for his irresponsible foreign policy," said Sen. Biden. "As the next president I will tackle our greatest challenge: undertaking the massive economy-wide project of transforming America into the source of the world's energy future."

  --  -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUC8LeZ1hM4 

 His efforts to combat hostilities in the Balkans in the 1990s brought national attention and influenced presidential policy: traveling repeatedly to the region, he made one meeting famous by calling Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic a "war criminal." He consistently argued for lifting the arms embargo, training Bosnian Muslims, investigating war crimes and administering NATO air strikes. Biden's subsequent "lift and strike" resolution was instrumental in convincing President Bill Clinton to use military force in the face of systematic human rights violations.^{[citation needed]}

The Bush administration rejected an effort Biden undertook with Senator Richard Lugar to pass a resolution authorizing military action only after the exhaustion of diplomatic efforts.

In November 2006, Biden and Leslie Gelb, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, released a comprehensive strategy to end sectarian violence in Iraq. Rather than continuing the present approach or withdrawing, the plan calls for "a third way": federalizing Iraq and giving Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis "breathing room" in their own regions.

 - -

Joe Biden's impossible dream

NPR : Sen. Joe Biden on Health Care

Joe Biden - Forbes.com

 - -

They Write Letters

Yesterday, Scott Paul railed against the inaccuracies found in [this] Washington Times editorial about the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea:

"President George W. Bush wants the Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, saying it would allow US armed forces to move  ...."

Senate panel oks Law of the Sea treaty
Washington Post, United States - 31 Oct 2007

Law of the Sea Treaty heads out to open sea
Canada Free Press, Canada - 1 Nov 2007

Posted by mach1231 at 2:27 PM PST

Updated: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:46 PM PST

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Mood:  bright

What we have learned from the Balkans.

Neither Gordon Brown nor David Cameron is talking about it, but there are darkening storm clouds over Kosovo and Bosnia
according to
Andrew Rawnsley of the Guardian.

"It has been the arena of the only war on European soil since 1945."

"That was a vicious conflict with genocidal dimensions that cost at least 100,000 lives and displaced millions of people."

"At the heart of the gathering crisis is the future status of Kosovo. "

Kosovan Albanians want independence and the Serbs think: not.

"Adding both complexity and peril, the future of Kosovo is entangled in the new Cold War between Washington and Moscow. America backs independence. Russia, traditional ally of the Serbs, is against."

  - -

Good article.

 "I fear Serbs will feel cornered and will react with their hearts rather than their minds, and that means violence," Oliver Ivanovic, a Serb moderate

-  -

 Oliver Ivanovic also criticized Serbian authorities in Belgrade for instructing Serbs in Kosovo not to vote, saying they will now have no elected ...

 Oliver Ivanovic, a Kosovo Serb leader, wasn't surprised. "Local fellows of the government are pressing the local people not to appear at the voting booths," .

 - -

... the Serb List for Kosovo leader, Oliver Ivanovii??‡, says Kosovo Serbs will suffer "catastrophic consequences" for their election boycott.
 

And Im going str8 to ...

Photo from messageboard for film The Brothers Bloom

which recently wrapped up shooting in Belgrade to be released next year.  Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz and Maximillian Schell.

Posted by mach1231 at 12:46 AM PST

Updated: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 1:26 AM PST

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Mood:  a-ok

I will bet anyone out there 1000.00 that the new Indiana Jones film will feature Indy getting booted out of a country and coming back again. You know: passport problems! 

"...sort of like Forrest Gump with a whip.""

Lucas and Paramount Home Video have pumped millions of dollars and four years into reframing [the] "Young Indiana" [series] as a three-volume library of DVDs with a staggering number of extras, including 94 documentaries on famous people and moments in history. Look for Max von Sydow, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Daniel Craig as well as Elizabeth Hurley passing through in these early out takes of their careers. Except for Max-lol.

Read more here on how Lucas sends a: "..29-member film crew across 35 countries to use exotic locales as backdrops, [putting] them at the mercy of armed bandits, snakes, storms, dysentery, customs agents and crocodiles..."

Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime, teach a woman to fish and you can expect to sing for your supper.

But another thought to have is this: give a man a fish and he eats for a day, on the other hand...show him how to use the Internet and you expect to be rid of him for at least two weeks. :)

-

Here in Prince George BC many of the townsfolk rushed out to see the great family film '8 Below' when it came out, as much of what was filmed not too far from here.

In a serious twist of clashing Disney fantasy with reality, there was a name less individual  with a seriously twisted idea on how to care for our friends companions and pets and loyal servants.

But as I want to end on a positive upbeat note..

Click the pic!

Thanks for visiting Machs Cafe today. We hope to leave you feeling more inspired than since when you had first arrived..

..it's been fun.

Posted by mach1231 at 4:12 PM PST

Updated: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:30 PM PST

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Mood:  special

Put tritely: This film is for any person with heart.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/flicka/flicka_trail_lg.html

Amazing in its intensity.

Posted by mach1231 at 4:11 PM PST

Updated: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 1:02 PM PST

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Mood:  incredulous

Stupid.

RE: Dan Rathers lawsuit

First the network being sued tacitly admit to defamation and then say his allegations are self-serving. Since when is a corporation ever not itself : "self-serving"?

A corporation has to answer to shareholders and serve their interests otherwise they are breaking the law.

An individual such as Mr Rather has to answer to him self. Since a corporation only cares about its image, good for him then.

I know everyones loves Katie and everything, she is totally a womans woman and it is refreshing to hear a woman use the word "dude" and she plays the smart alec with great reserve for true character to make her still likable...loveable!

Meantime...

CBS files to dismiss "far-fetched" Rather suit

"This lawsuit is a regrettable attempt by plaintiff Dan Rather to remain in the public eye, and to settle old scores and perceived slights, based on an array of far-fetched allegations.."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

- -

"..regrettable...".

IN the video blog Katies mentions her uggs. Hopefully

she means the Australian ones which are in fact the only

true boots to go by that name.

Heres to your uggs , er boots..

Posted by mach1231 at 1:06 PM PST

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Mood:  chatty

Europeans demand that their food tastes better, makes them healthier and can be prepared in less time, and yet they want this food available year round at a low price. To meet these needs, food travels many more miles

Food has never been more of a global commodity than it is today. 

Watching What We Eat: Food Systems in Europe

 - -

Now, for the first time, the extent of child hunger as reported by the USDA has been examined by state in a new study released by America's Second Harvest--The Nation's Food Bank Network and sponsored by ConAgra Foods Foundation.

New Report Finds 17 Percent of All Children in New York State Don't Have Consistent Access to Meals

 - -

So I was one of a handful of people who was up early Saturday morning here in Prince George who also sloughed off the winter morning chill to make it to hear one Dr.Gabon Mate speak.

One other thing: this surprised me very much about Dr Mate and that is his age. Honestly, post-blog entry I would have sworn the man I went to go hear and speak was probably maybe 40-45 years old. I was shocked astonished and amazed to read he is actually already over 60+years old.

Gabor Mate is a noted physician, Globe and Mail columnist and best-selling author as well as a profile speaker with the Lavin Agency.

Some of his work is published in ten languages on five continents and he is changing the way parents THINK about the relationships with their children and parenting culture in general.

After hearing Dr Mate speak, you will want to run to the nearest bookstore or library to keep a copy of his book for reading.

Although a handful made it for the lecture on parenting/child development, the auditorium was packed with filled round tables all of whom paid $25 each and were eager to learn about

When The Body Says No - The Hidden Cost of Stress

in which he reveals new scientific information on the connection between emotions and health.

Interview | Gabor Maté

 The thunderous applause could be heard from the hallways and the lineups for attendees eager to snap up a book and seek autographs or a chance to talk with Dr Mate were long and went on for long.

RandomHouse.ca | Author Spotlight: Gabor Mate, M.D.

  - -

 Attention deficit disorder in adults and children | Dr. Gabor Mate's best-selling books offer a completely new perspective on the treatment ADD and ADHD.

Word.

http://www.scatteredminds.com/ 

One good little vignette the good doctor relayed was where on one occasion he was engaging his teen daughter on the benefits of doing homework instead of watching television (that old creativity killer) and admitted he had come home a bit grumpy and set off on the wrong foot to go about preaching the merits of his wise directions  in the first place.

She resisted. Eventually it came down to her insisting on going to Grandmas to watch tv instead and she was going to do it if he liked it or not! No way, jose. So , she says, I am a prisoner in my own home am I , is what she reasons. Take it with that grain of salt, just a kid.

She threatens to call the police.

Look he says, whipping out a handy dandy cellular phone, heres a phone, go ahead and call them, gesturing and demonstrating how to call nine one one.

Little did he know at the time the cell was turned ON!

So back call the police right away to ensure the situation is stable and not perpendicular to their purposes of responding to and handling emergencies.

Uh no , I uhm was just arguing with my daughter....(gulp)

So, being as accomodating and as forthcoming as possible, he invites the police over to check without much adieu, they have a duty and protocol to be sure.

But unbeknowest to the two participants in the milder than mild typical teenage rage and parental response, the older son, University aged, had arrived downstairs (after the father has said they are the only ones home)

In any case, the funniest part is the son says to the police after they arrive: "Dont you worry my dad is an award winning and nationally acclaimed international expert on parenting".

-  - - --

Well, you probably might be shaking your head but it is probably a lot better the way he had told it but I assure you my basic facts are on target.

And you were expecting a morale to the story?

- -

As I may or may not blog an entry for a while, I had wanted to post something in the general spirit of why this blog came unto being..

and something I can come back to to refer to for my self.

Posted by mach1231 at 8:24 AM PST

Updated: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:24 PM PST

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Mood:  crushed out

- 16 % of licence plate holders in this U.S. State have vanity pl8s...

...which state is it? (HINT: Answer @ bottom of post)-lol

-   TIDBIT FACTOID: L84AD8 was Nicole Brown Simpsons California vanity plate

 - Malaysia embeds its car license plates with microchips to help combat theft. citation needed-lol

-

 MOST ORIGINAL

- Some American states have a web site URL for the st8 on issued pl8s and others the st8s tourism web site.

 -

- Saint Pierre and Miquelon represent the only portion of North America that do not adhere to a standard of 6"X12" license plates.

- Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador do not ofer vanity plates.

- Florida is one the states with the most specialty plates(plates with a design which is different from the normal licence plate) currently offering 104 plates.

- - 

While it is popularly believed that license-plate numbers are assigned randomly, the usual practice is to assign them in ascending order, beginning with a starting point such as AAA-001.

See also 

 www.coolpl8z.com

 TRIVIA ANSWER: CLUE: _______ is for lovers.

-  -

OK OK OK : "Americas 400th Anniversary"

Whatever. It is still the state with the highest percentage of

vanity plate owners.

SO THERE!

L8W84ME

JANE

TOTO

P3345 Y

I wonder how many [-LMAO-] plates are out there. Probably not too many. Esp after reading this blog, huh! LOL.

Posted by mach1231 at 11:07 PM PST

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Mood:  caffeinated

For 1980's Festival Canada celebrations at Disneyland

 4 Mounties

joined Canadian celebrity singing sensation Anne Murray

(seen here singing Canadian classic Snowbird,-lol)

along with members of the Buffalo Child Society Dancers

to provide content for the neccessary Canadian portion of the festivities.

D.R. Turner, the manager of the Canadian Government Office of Tourism
at the time was reportedly estatic, remarking
that Disneyland was "doing an exemplary
job in presenting Canadian culture, peoples
and destinations."

Linking Canada's
name with tourism destination Disneyland can "only be beneficial"
was one of his conclusions.

But the RCMP's exparte linking with what would eventually come to be renamed
'Tourism Canada' was not something that could be entered into lightly.

Nor was an endorsement from the RCMP Commisioner at the time something
that would come without slightly more than easily found chagrin.

In a letter penned to the then Solicitor General at the time, in request for
two Mounties to attend the World Culinary Olympics in
Frankfurt Germany in 1984 he wrote:

"With all we have to contend with, this really seems to be rather
frivolous, but in the eyes of E.A> (External Affairs) and others it is
apparently good for Canadas image, trade and general good will."

The request was granted along with the comment:

"frivolus but worth it".


Source for quotations:

"The Mountie: from dime novel to Disney" by Michael Dawson



- - -

If you ask me I think Canada should make it a point to station
at least two Red Serge Mounties from now on at all International airports in Canada.

Hardly a frivolous
endeavour to be sure but most probably and assuredly most definetely worth it.

It won't be too long after all when even Disney comes to boycott promoting
Canadian culture vis a vis our beloved and revered Canadian mounties.

 Images from

  http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/. and www.octhen.com




Haha..:

 I had no intent to post this photo such shocking is it intensity, I urge you
to visit your self for a DIFFERENT image of the RCMP.

 -  -

Posted by mach1231 at 2:32 PM PST

Updated: Sunday, November 18, 2007 2:56 PM PST

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Mood:  don't ask

Here's a story that cant be much better to read for ones health esp after  IV dripping all the sattellite debris and clutter than invades our newsrooms (please do not adjust your set)

..even as  a CTV documentary airs about the haranguing of a man over the insinuations of society that lost its head

..a lone man escapes from a secure prison in Coquitlam BC. 

 Make that a well connected and slightly well off lone man

and make that a maximum security prison he managed to have 'escaped' from.

The newscast ended with the suggested possibility he may have already fled the country.

Just juxtaposition that for a second against all the hoopla in the news over the actions of our police forces on innocent immigrants coming to Canada to experience freedom.

Somethings not right with this picture.

-  -

So heres something 'new'...

A recently released report from the travel study marketing group FlyEnSure Plus  has determined according to its polls based on surveys of over ten thousand peoples that the top two main reasons people gave and deciding factor for taking a much needed vacation were:

#1) one too many times constantly blowing ones own nose

#2) one too many depressing news casts in a row

---

Somethings' wrong with the world today.

 Christmas Break Dangers for College Students - Cruise Ships

G'night. 

Posted by mach1231 at 7:00 PM PST

Updated: Saturday, November 17, 2007 7:24 PM PST

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