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cool
Started out having a good morning on-line..
...but I could have stayed all day here.
http://www.adn.com/2010/05/04/1263796/best-of-may-2010.html
Ciao!
accident proneThis one's neat/different.
Old outdoor campaign for German lingerie store Blush .
Should I issue a disclaimer before posting the link? I actually should.
Not responsible for people blushing.-lol
cheekySung to the delightful tune of: stop the oppression!
NEWS FLASH
In what is believed to be the first of its kind in the world of consumer protection law and the first trial and verdict under California’s Anti-Spam Law, a state court judge awarded a plaintiff $7,000 against a spammer.
It marks the first law suit brought by a consumer plaintiff to go to trial against a spammer.
I think we all deal with the annoyance and will likely grow to appreciate a tide turning against unsolicitied advertisements.
Now I dont know if this company was selling prescription drugs, personals ads memberships or eboook kits on how to make money on e-bay. But this is the point of spam: we dont care.
Of course the idiot is going to appeal. He is already arguing that the law for spam should be used only by consumers who are actually "injured" by the e-mails. And no, that is not a misprint/keystroke error.
(He also contends that California is overstepping its jurisdictional boundary and this is a job for CAN-SPAM.)
But, apparently where this spammer gets put back on the hook instead of off is where it intentionally undertook efforts to impair the recipient’s ability to identify, locate, or respond to the email as the initiator of the e-mail, and that it intended to hide itself from identification by recipients as the actual sender. (Harrumph, then.)
California’s anti-spam statute sits at $1,000 per violation for sending e-mails to recipients without consent that misrepresent either the source or the subject of the message.
In this case, the “from” line in eight e-mail messages used a nonexistent source – such as “Paid Survey” or “Your Promotion” – and none of them named the company as sender. Of the eight messages, seven were sent from senders that did not exist or were otherwise misrepresented so the plaintiff in this case was awarded damages of $7,000.
A cautionary tale for anyone thinking about sending spam messages to residents of California.
© Copyright 2006-2010
Globe Business Publishing Ltd
As for our country, recently, an official announcement was made, concerning new legislation in Canada that would seem to indicate we moving in the same direction. On the surface, this should help drive spammers out of Canada and further deter them from setting up shop in the first place.
See also:
http://it.tmcnet.com/news/2010/05/25/4808823.htm
And as far as legal marketing front goes, theres news on "Online behavioral advertising" which as a practice is still in infancy. Apparently there are " growing privacy threats" related to this online business as practiced by such online giants as Google and Yahoo.
I mean what other word instantly comes to mind for you when business's engage in this type of activity, tracking with cookies your online "behavior"?
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100525-707736.html
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Now if you'll all excuse us, I believe we all have more important things to consider and get along to. :)
Like what does this mean for the general diet of the population?
lazyI know some people mean well. Others aim well. Where the government has brought us right now, I am sorry to report that even with the best of intentions tainted by imperfect humans prone to error, there is no way government could be so remiss of the lessons of the recent past so as not to have arrived at a different way point in time by now. In other words, is what we call government in reality nameless faces, unfeeling vesitibules of laws and soul less renditions of best "endeavours" and inefectual hapless minions of a half created state of a whimsical fancy called a Queen? Powerless pontificators who only concede victory to those brave enough to venture into their sometimes unattended gardens to snip out their overgrowing weeds? But even then sometimes not, thanks to the smug smiles and quasi-regal bearings and holier than thou smart cadences of some people in government, typical of and in the same vein of a smart ass teenager out on a lark to prove he is: 'brighter than teacher'.
As said and writ: Some people mean well. Others aim.
We may grow whipper snap fast tired of punks in government or being made out for long suffering fools, openly tolerant of young up and comers eager to carve into stone a legacy of openess when they cant even show their expense accounts to the Auditor General.
About that bid for Prime Ministerial power Mr Harper, now that you have achieved it, can you ensure the public you have not carved a trough to Parliament Hill -,...not as an excuse to get cozy with rock idols; but actually to do your part and bidding on the ticket that got you there? To ensure the transparency and openess you so promised is actually delivered?
Or is that merely your foot in the door preventing it from being fully opened?
If you can let us in to see the labels on your rock band set, surely you won't disallow a professional peek at the expenses of MP's.
Or does not this picture accurately encapsulate , summarize and characterize all thelatent politically-correct posturing while rendering all the self serving truly best sentiments mute? I think it does that quite well.
Wrong link.
Posted a wrong link to the entry about First Nations.
The picture/photo I was going to use to reference the Indian reserve has also vanished.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitchenuhmaykoosibhomeland/page11/
http://kitchenuhmaykoosib.com/id11.html
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I'd wondered how many reserves across Canada are faced with this exact situation, quietly holding their little memorial walks in sombre silence, practically oblivious to noise and din of celebrations of welloff better off Candians everywhere. Blunted and muted to the sobering sound of the French horn quietly playing everytime a soldiers body comes home to rest in peace. Fortunate even to garner the attention of a news editor on an otherwise slow news day.
Google indian reserve images to get your own results.
Heres one from June 9, 2007
Ariel Farmer, 14, left, Kyla Sharp Butte, 14, and Will Sharp Butte, 15, hang out at the Gus Stop on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.
a-okHaving had the opportunity to watch the official unveiling of Jean Chrétiens official portrait on Parliament Hill (see blog entry below) on CPAC today, I am proud to say and have no problem reporting that it was indeed very moving to witness this close-to intimate gathering (a state secret was revealed!!) of people take place.
People who have dedicated their entire lives to the building and betterment of this country took turns speaking and made introductions (some in more practiced French than others) that took heed of the outstanding efforts each has made in the walk of life as public officials.
It was truly a very special occasion and gathering.
Old rivalries and bitterness died to a small ember as politicians from different parties displayed a true generousity of spirit (and also some jocular humor!)
I am quite sure there must be a few people in like feeling as my self with similar sentiment and swelling of pride and joy in what these long upstanding people dedicated to public service have accomplished.
For my self personally it was a time for tears, as my continual love of learning and of our nations recent proud history and love of country is faithfully renewed and restored.
For 40 years Mr Jean Chretien (Rt. Honorable) served in government as an underling and cabinet minister in toil and dedication and perseverance. To which he followed up with 10 years of excellence as our countries Prime Minister.
This level of experience places him (post-political life nonwithstanding) with as more experience in politics than Mr.Harper has even been alive. (Stephen is 51 years old with 25 years in politics, 18 as an elected leader. He is the first prime minister since Lester B. Pearson not to have attended law school.)
Mr Stephen Harper (Rt.Honorable) was in a room today and sharing a podium with well over 200 combined years of poltical and life experience.
I don't know whats happened to our world, and our country, when we tune into the news , to see our Prime Minister on television with rock stars memoribilia in his living rooom with an actual drum set and guitar and amp in the PM's offcial residence when we are awaiting the casketed return of a Colonel rank achieving soldier from Afghanistan.
With no exception, I would find it hard to believe that this is how any of his predecessors would take their position of high responsibility in this country. It is the highest position in the land and its most noblest aspiration and achievement.
It shouldn't be jumbled in there somewhere as on par with being able to mix with stadium rock stars as one of the best parts or perks of the job. IMHO.
So, anyway..just one opinion of many. But I feel truly fortunate to be born Canadian and it appears that every introspective moment of life since being born in Canada has been on a road seeking to fully qualify and define exactly what it means to be Canadian.
Today was just a further defining moment, and a further incremental advancement down that road, and for I think; a few Canadians who feel as priveleged as I-,...to have been able to witness something as seemingly mundane as the unveiling of an official portrait in Parliament.
But thanks to our freedoms and luxury of internet technologies and 24/7 free access to something as unique and as democracy supporting as CPAC, it's a wonderful encapsulation that in a way kind of rounds out the greatness of living in this country Canada we call home.
And yes, indeed. I even get to blog about it. And thank you, citizens of Ottawa and Parliament Hill for including and for remembering the First Nations of Canada in the official unveiling. Cheers and regards!
And thanks for visting Machs Cafe and live current event commentary villa TODAY.
a-ok"We have to show respect to the men and women who devote their life to public life,...[-]..it was, for me, a great honour, first, to be a member of Parliament. It was a great moment for me. Coming under the Peace Tower today again, I could not help but remember all I've learned here." -Jean Chrétien, former Canadian Prime Minister, speaking on the occasion of the unveiling of his official portrait in Ottawa May 25, 2010.
The 18th of 19 children, as a youth, he suffered an attack of Bell's palsy, leaving the left side of his face partially paralyzed. Chrétien used this advantageously in speech during his first Liberal leadership campaign, saying that he was: "One politician who didn't talk out of both sides of his mouth."
One of the best. Best Prime Ministers Canada has ever had. At one point in time, he kept this entire country called Canada from falling apart and kept it together!
(And you can practically hear the then Opposition members seethe: This according to Machs Bla-gh. Hagh!")
chattyI do not mind the idea of government being run like a business. Where it starts to offend the sensibilities is the person at the top running the government like his private corporation.
Just imagine that: altering your policy just in the nick of time so as to avoid your communications staff having to come out on the carpet to defend their wrongful actions.
This is beyond the pale. You can't just fix things or change the law to suit your self. Canadians do not run their lives with a rule of thumb of expediency.
Please note that Christian Paradis was also front and center recently touting and announcing, ahem, "tough new anti-crime measures" focused on white collar crime.
The measures simply call for mandatory sentencing. Anybody who knows anything about fraud prosecution or has been adversely affected or hurt by white collar crime (say yea) can tell you that the issue has always been one of manpower and resources.
Just ask Janet Watson, the loser at the tail end of a scam of nearly $70,000 involving Mount Real Corp which she will never see again. At least one forensic accountant, good enough to have his opinion vouched for by broadcaster CTV, has called the moves by government : "..an insult to Canadians...". And he's just one of may reputable experts in their fields who share the same opinion and belief. (Please see link to Janet above)
People-,....Canadians, such as Janet Watson, and as well as my self included, have good reason to be p'-offed at the federal government for a number of reasons.
To call this disgraceful and shameful is a poor choice of words. In the mish mash of verbology and finely chosen words government members use in the mainstay of their vocabularies, the government has been in remiss in choosing one that best describes the equivalent of their own actions: criminal.
caffeinatedA few news items that caught my eye this week last..
One was a story about a mysterious creature found in Eastern Canada that was hauled up from a river side and the subject of much speculation. It had since been determined to be the carcass of a mink.
But I grew increasingly curious about the native nation that had reported it. Please have a quick look at the picture here.
It's interesting as I wonder how many native nations there are in Canada exactly like this. Marching quietly on weekends in sombre little walks and memorials as they lose their living to suicides and other ways of silent represssion and oppression.
The gaping maw of disparity is but a sad corrolary 'human interest' in the annals of the mainstream press.
Subjected to round after round of nearly perverted gaping spectacle of these neglected people in need of so much help beyond the occasional annual newspaper headline on a weekend when news is slow. Like so much rubber-necking at the scene of an accident. Followed by the cursorary: "Move along now. Nothing much to see here , folks. Thank you.!"
The findings, reported in the journal Psychological Science, are based on a series of experiments involving touch.
Just a pat on the back or a reassuring touch on the arm can be a powerful tool to influence behaviour, according to new research.
And it could determine whether someone invests in a risky financial venture or decides to play it safe.
A month ago, a mother and father identified a body in a morgue as their daughter's. She was buried and mourned — only to be found alive this week.
And this was in the 'Odd News' section. More on this fascinating and touching story here.
And in other news, after much time consuming research, I have recently conceded that in the longer run the new Harmonized Sales Tax implemented in my Province of BC may be a boon for consumers and business's.
I would also conclude that even the most ardent and die hard supporter of the NDP would also be in support of it provided they have been given a larger more detailed picture.
Having writ that (said), I do not applaude the sneaky method of the BC government in bringing in the new tax measure, nor do I at all appreciate the wholesale slap in the face to the general intelligence level of the average British Columbian by not immediately bringing to the surface the merits of the new tax system (let us presume this is what happens when you are bogged down in scandals!) and making a mere footnote that we stand to collect over a billion dollars from this arrangement ( I am sure the "average" BC'er would be very interested in seeing how that new money is spent and is done so wisely.)
So yes, I remain confident that the new pro-business philosophy of the new NDP could better handle this developing situation than the present Liberal government.
I do not think it has been wise to try to caddily invoke arguments from the NDP about this new NDP and use it as a political wedge to prop up ones government.
The idea is to have more money to spend. Why such a hard sale? It should be a breeeeeeze to sell this package!
I am sure they would love to take credit for it but I would hope next time they would not expect the NDP to run their campaign for them.
