Tornado tragedy

One of the heroes of this tragedy, 14-year-old Zach Jessen, with Governor Chet Culver. Zach threw himself on top of another boy to shield him from flying debris.

This weeks tragic tornado in Iowa that took the lives of 4 Scouters has spawned literally thousands of news articles and opinion pieces ... from as far away as Australia. This is the best I found.

WE NEED MORE BOY SCOUTS

It's hard to imagine the pain facing love ones of the four Boy Scouts who were killed when a twister ripped through their camp in Iowa this week. Don't forget them. They are: Aaron Eilerts, 14, Sam Thomsen, 13, Ben Petrzilka, 14, and Josh Fennen, 13.

This was the loss of four boys who were likely to become extraordinary men - the kind who would become leaders in their communities and put others ahead of themselves. How would anyone know this? Because they were Scouts, meaning they were statistically likely to succeed. There's no shortage of cadets, at the Air Force Academy as well as the other service academies, who were Boy Scouts. Many of them were Eagle Scouts, the pinnacle of Scouting's ranks.

Boy Scouts organizations are a genuine gift to the United States and other cultures of the world. They teach boys and young men to be prepared, instilling in them the life skills to live as men - real men who can survive hardship, build fires, change tires, handle guns and knives, and help people in need. They live by the Scout Promise, which says, "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent." That sounds like good folks to have around.

When an assassin tried to kill Maldividan president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Boy Scout Mahamed Jaisham risked his life, got between the president and the attacker, and saved the president's life. Boy Scout heroics are common, though most don't make news.

Moments after the tornado turned their camp to shreds, it was evident how the Iowa Scouts had been prepared to serve. They immediately began putting their training to work, digging through rubble to free and tend to their injured peers. While most children understandably would have panicked, the Boy Scouts went to work. Some broke into an equipment shed, grabbed tools and a chainsaw, and began clearing fallen trees from the road so parents and rescuers could get to the scene.

The boys who died can never be replaced. But their deaths should bring attention to the need for more Boy Scouts, in a culture that's suffering from an abundance of weak men, barely prepared to care for themselves. More Boy Scouts, like the four who died, would make our future world a much better place.

As word broke on Thursday evening of the tragedy I googled the campsite and found an email address for the director of communications for the BSA area to let him know, on behalf of our group that we were thinking of them.... much to my surprise he responded within a couple of hours that he appreciated the gesture.

Rest in peace boys.

Cross-posted from the Second Smiths Falls Scout website

Reaching for a new height

The kiddies and I attended the somewhat washed out fly-in breakfast at the Smiths Falls-Montague airport Sunday ... no matter, we were treated to a great performance by Bob Hanson and his crew, as well as a great meal at a great price.

In other local flying news, the local club has announced in The Record News (I'd link but they STILL don't have a website !) they are building a new clubhouse to replace the one lost by fire two years ago.

The plan is impressive -- a two-story 4000 square foot building complete with an Elite Pro simulator for the flight school, an overnight room and an observation deck. Also included in the plan is the construction of a new hangar to house a small interactive museum for the kids.

Kudos to the club for their ambitious plan -- and nary a mention of asking for tax dollars to finance the project. In fact, the club intends on raising the money from within, use a local contractor to frame and finish it off over the winter themselves.

How refreshing .... I wonder how many hockey moms will be wielding paint brushes to finish off the new arena ??

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

She has all the makings

to be the biggest "star" ever to come from Smiths Falls .... watch for it. A female "Tiger" ... perhaps to finally give the LPGA the respect it deserves.

Brittany Henderson of Smiths Falls was not to be denied her first CN Future Links title yesterday.

At the Stratford Country Club, the 17-year-old junior shot an even-par 72 to win the girls title at the CN Future Links Championship to win by a commanding five strokes over Jennifer Kirby of Paris, whom she had been tied with entering the day.

Henderson, who's due to play in a CN Canadian Women's Tour event in London, Ont., this week, finished with a 3-over 219 total.

Here's a profile of Brittany from the 2007 Spring Flagstick magazine.

Wash, rinse, repeat

Regularly you'll hear crime stories from the area that go something like this :

Vehicle stopped on the 401 for speeding nets illegal cigarettes (or pot or goods from a break-in,etc ).

I sure didn't expect to see this story repeated any time soon .... less than two months later, it has.

Six people face charges after Ontario Provincial Police discovered a marijuana grow operation containing 1387 plants when they responded to a report of a break-in on Waba Road in Mississippi Mills on Monday.

This should not be an embarrassment

.... sadly, it is.

The kiddies and I have recently taken up geocaching as another hobby. If you haven't heard of it, basically you use a hand-held GPS unit to find "treasure" hidden just about everywhere. It's a great hobby that gets you out hiking and finding places you never knew existed.

There are over 2000 caches hidden within 100 km's of Smiths Falls. Some of the interesting local ones are an old alloy factory near Port Elmsley, one at the Mill Pond Conservation Area, one at the intersection of the 45 & 76 parallels in Montague and "the Poonamalie Monster" (this one has a riddle to solve to get the final waypoint !).

As you might have guessed there is also one at the old CN bridge in Smiths Falls. From the cache description:

Be careful about feeling around under stuff. The locals have smashed many beer bottles here.


Beautiful. Not local teens or yahoos ... locals.

Me. You.

Ya'd think between the Town Crews or Parks Canada or the Smiths Falls Police this situation could be remedied .... sadly that's not the case. A local geocacher who blogs his finds visited over the weekend .... here is his impression of our fair town:

You have to be really careful though, as the locals think this is a grand place to throw beer bottles.

Sounds like a job for my Cubs ... only the rest of the year is booked up.

To, two, TOO !!

Here's a hint .... if you are going to mount an 8ft sign in your front yard, you might want to ensure you have the correct grammar on it.

Just so you don't look like a bloomin' idiot !

"This was a murder of morality."

"My daughter's action made us aliens in our own land. But we have managed to redeem our honor. She paid for her ill-gotten action."

Among the Jat caste of the conservative northern state of Haryana, it is taboo for a man and woman of the same village to marry. Although the couple were not related, they were seen in this deeply traditional society as brother and sister.

"From society's point of view, this is a very good thing," said 62-year-old farmer Balwan Arya, sitting smoking a hookah in the shade of a tree in a square with other elders from the village council or panchayat. "We have removed the blot."

Cave dwellers.

Fame and fortune ...

if you can tell me what the fork this is:


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Fishy business

A quick post .... reaction to the final report released Tuesday on the assaults on Asian Anglers.

The final OHRC report ... even more lop-sided than the preliminary. It's all whitey's fault ... I dunno, but the report seems to me to be every bit as racist as, well, you know. Racial profiling training for conservation officers ... WOW.

Building Barbara Hall's empire one racist community at a time ... it's a subscriber Globe piece, but you can read it (and all newspapers) for free on the pwsgc website.


Bob Runciman isn't worried ...

"I don't give it much credibility. They draw conclusions without having any sort of point-counterpoint or testimony for the defence," said Runciman.

"They are tarring the community without any documented evidence."

Runciman said residents of Westport and the Rideau system "are overwhelmingly good people" who care about their fellow Ontarians and Canadians.

"Just don't lose any sleep over the conclusions of Barbara Hall," he said.

We seem to have more than our share

of this kind of story around the Falls ....

Dozens of cats, chickens and ducks in need of immediate medical care were seized from a poorly-ventilated house in the Smiths Falls area after an investigation into an alleged case of "animal hoarding."

A human rights complaint for the OHRC

I'm wondering ... Since there now appears to be the human right not to be offended ... how long can it be before Barbara Hall and crew -er-

Sniff this one out.

"You're in a dorm with 30 people, no windows open, people are farting, you're breathing in their farts, it's just really, really inhumane,"

He's talking about Ottawa's Innes Road detention facility .... but it's not isolated. I had a chum who did 90 on the weekends at Burritts Rapids a way back for a driving offence. That was his biggest complaint too.

Sounds like a solution is forthcoming though ... cuz, ya know -- jail isn't about punishment anymore.

"Our goal is to treat our inmates in a humane manner," Mr. McGetrick said. "We're not out there to punish them just for being in the institution."

When city people come out to the country

they complicate everything ...


On a farm the .22 calibre solution to varmint problems is simple and effective, but you can’t shoot around a marina. Boaters are by and large peaceable creatures who have no desire to do violence to a warm-blooded animal who shares their tastes in food, drink, and accommodation. So the racoons thrive.

Did I ever tell ya about the citiots that moved in across the road from my buddies century-farm ?

They complained to the Township .... about that awful smell.

Blues legend Colin James

is coming to Smiths Falls with the Olympic Spirit train.

Fox News and the Vancouver Sun ???? (and nobody else) are reporting that on October 16th the train will stop in good ol' SF.

Beginning in September 2008, the Spirit train will stop in communities across Canada for day-long celebrations where families can meet Olympic and Paralympic athletes and will have an opportunity to interact with Olympic and Paralympic partners.

CP also announced Canadian recording artist Colin James and his Band will be the musical headliner for the 2008 Spirit Train.

The Spirit Train will unite Canadian communities under its maple leaf banner to create momentum for the Olympic spirit over the next three years. The 2008 tour includes Metro Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Toronto, Smiths Falls and Montreal.

From the Spirit Train website:

It's a full day of fun when the Spirit Train pulls into your town.
Meet Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Experience Olympic-themed events the whole family will enjoy.
Travel through time with the Olympic Games History Wall.
Feel the rush of performing an Olympic sport in the Sound Dome.
Try your hand at sledge hockey, test your start skills in a real luge, and pose like an Olympic ski jumper to create memories you can download to share with family and friends.
The fun doesn’t stop there: Spirit Train musical headliner Colin James & The Little Big Band will have you dancing with their unique brand of high energy boogie.
Sharing the Spirit Train stage will be 18 year old world class Métis fiddler Sierra Noble, along with many more various local and First Nations musicians.

And a bit 'o' the man hisself ...

It's gonna be a bloodbath

For political junkies this is something akin to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup play-offs - Mark Steyn will be facing off against the sock-puppets on TVO's The Agenda tonight at 2000hrs. If host Steve Paikin allows Steyn some breathing room (and that's a BIG IF) I have a funny feeling Steyn's gonna make the Osgoode Hall graduates sound like the kids who rode the proverbial short bus to class.

UPDATED: Chickenshits. For some reason the Kids in Osgoode Hall need more time to debate a man they have been slamming in the media for four months now. I missed it last night ... the hayfield in front of my house took priority ... I'll be watching the show here tonight.

RELATED: Listen to Steyn's 23 minute interview with Steve Madely on CFRA yesterday.

Also related: Macleans tells Elmo ... screw you, jihad this. With Ted's warchest ... I'm thinking it's not gonna be pretty.

"any settlement at this point would have to be approved by human rights authorities in Ottawa, and would thus involve an implicit acceptance on our part of the jurisdiction of human rights commissions to regulate the content of print media publications in Canada. That is an unacceptable precedent."

Not hard to tell

the high school year is coming to a close.

Desperate parents from all over have been hitting this post heavy in the past week.

Too late --

they are likely already leaking. The only questions are ... how much poop in the Rideau will be enough? And WHEN will Dolt ante up the cash ?

Engineering consultants have advised Merrickville-Wolford Township that recent inspections indicate that three sewage holding tanks serving the village “are most likely leaking due to corrosion.”

A statement issued by the township today said the engineers’ report confirms years of statements that failure of the sewage tanks was imminent. The testing confirms there is rapid deterioration of the tanks in the small township system “and indicates the contents are most likely leaking into the surrounding ground,” the report says.

Too bad the strip mall in Iroquois won the Liberal lottery --

$1.1 million nearby South Dundas Twp. was granted in provincial restructuring funds to spruce up a shopping plaza in Iroquois.

In order for the project to qualify for the public funds, South Dundas council is acquiring ownership of the pedestrian walkway and canopy outside the mall stores.


Of course, you have to elect a Liberal to get cash for the really important stuff.

That's where Merrickville went wrong. Partisan politics of the most disgusting kind.

A ray of hope ?

Sounds like Mayor Dennis Staples is hinting there maybe be some sunshine ahead:

Staples says he is still optimistic Rideau Regional could be used as a health care facility that would benefit people of the area.

Meanwhile, there could be good news ahead for Smiths Falls concerning the fate of the Rideau Regional Centre and the Hershey Chocolate plant, both slated to close within a year.

Staples said yesterday six or seven organizations or individuals have expressed a serious interest in either acquiring or exploring alternate uses for the facilities.

In a few short years

of Dolton rule Ontario goes from being the economic engine of the Country to sucking on the tailpipe of equalization payments.

Good job, Dolt.

Scouting is REAL

environmental action !

Wow ... what a week 2nd Smiths Falls Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have had !

First off, all groups signed onto the annual Pitch In! to clean up the Town of garbage pigs have left laying around for the weekly meetings. Really ... I believe it's a disgusting character flaw to leave crap laying around. I had my children conditioned by 2 that littering was unacceptable. Period.

Anyhow our kids did a great job of cleaning up the assigned locations .... to the tune of about 120 hours combined. GREAT JOB !

Just imagine how spiffy the Town would look if each minor hockey team put an hour and a half in repaying the community a bit for the mucho deneros they receive ... and ya, that's a challenge.

This weekend the Cubs held a fundraiser for our big year-end trip .... and holy freakin' holy. Grand-slam is an understatement. This year we decided to get seedlings from Ferguson Forest Center in Kemptville and sell them for 2 bucks a pop at some fine business locations in Town. A really big Thanks !!! to those who allowed us to peddle our wares ! Well ... we initially ordered 300 to sell and ended up running very early Saturday morning for another 400. SOLD OUT .... early Sunday. So, with the trees that were purchased for Cubs to plant there are over 1000 new trees in Lanark County.



Does this look like a dump?








It is, or was .... and you'd never know .... save for the signs and test well heads. For the past 15 years, Scouting groups in Lanark County have been reforesting the old Drummond/North Elmsley dump. We're just about done completely rehabilitating the land back to deer paradise. Next weekend there's 300 more going in, and that's just the Smiths Falls group !











And now, the reward. I'm really looking forward to this .... overnight in the barracks at Fort Henry in Kingston !!

No classroom experience will equal the excitement and fun of the Soldiers' Overnight Program. It is by far the premier learning experience we have to offer. Immerse your students into the lifestyle of Fort Henry's garrison, exposing them to actual routines of the 1860's. In essence, your students will become soldiers for 21 hours at the Citadel of Upper Canada. Your students will be provided with an Interpreter to teach and guide your class in their experience as soldiers in the British Army in 1867. The following is a list of activities that your students will participate in. These will be much more in depth to allow your students to immerse themselves in the living history and fully appreciate the experiential learning:

* Guided Tour
* Issued uniforms
* Muster
* Schoolroom
* Fatigues
* Barrack Room Inspection
* Ghost Tour
* Flag Raising and Lowering
* History Hunt /Historical Detectives

Like I said ... Dead.

The Rideau Regional Centre (RRC) is not the solution to the problem of clogged emergency departments at area hospitals, Ontario Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman said Friday.

In an interview with The Recorder and Times, Smitherman said a proposal by two Opposition Progressive Conservative MPPs to use the facility to free up acute-care hospital beds is “just not a good fit” for the health-care system.

Say Hola! to Mexican chocolate

Coming very soon to a convenience store near you:

Production at The Hershey Co.'s plant in Monterrey, Mexico, is under way, the company said Thursday. The company would not reveal much more, except to say it expects to ramp up production there as the year progresses.

The Monterrey plant is the centerpiece of the manufacturing realignment program Hershey announced in February 2007. Hershey intends to eliminate at least a third of its manufacturing lines in the U.S. and Canada and shift some production to the 200,000-square-foot Monterrey facility.

Exposing Ottawa's underbelly

W-Five had an excellent piece on Ottawa's growing crack and heroin problem and the role of the needle exchange program .... or more accurately give-away, since you can just leave your dirty used one anywhere you please.

The growth of the crack problem, they say, is largely due to a drop of a hit from $10 to $3.

I don't think it's too terribly hard to see why the price dropped. Encourage behavior by supplying paraphernalia and reducing enforcement -- the market is gonna get flooded with supply.

Price drops.

Get tough with dealers, give users the option of treatment (if Dolt hadn't closed Burritts Rapids that might be an option) or time. That restricts supply ... a scarce commodity demands a higher price.

It's simple economics.

Needles have been handed out in Ottawa for 13 years. Isn't it time to call the grand experiment a colossal failure ?

Not according to Dr. Gabor Mata, head of the safe-injection free-for-all in Vancouver ... he thinks we outta just let the junkies and crackheads do as they please .... completely unfettered. In an interview on CFRA on Monday he stated:

"What sense are we making in criminalizing the petty drug addict who sells an ounce of cocaine to support his own habit ?"

One of the crackheads in the W5 story was asked if they hated their life. The answer ?

Of course ... every second of it.

The innocent one ounce pusher is responsible for enabling and prolonging that hell ... just a little longer ... for 56 individuals.

Some city councillors have their heads in the sand

I'm thinkin' that this story was devastating for Ottawa's tourism industry ... what Canadian would want to come and see this crap in the heart of the capital. I woulda thought Ottawa city council would have had an emergency meeting Monday morning to discuss how to mitigate the damage.

It didn't happen. Guess they were too busy writing their odes to the Portrait Gallery.

Not only did it not happen .... On the regular Thursday municipal panel Councillors Alex Cullen and Jacques Legendre admitted they hadn't seen it. Marianne Wilkinson admitted to seeing only the part that featured City police chief Vern White. Cullen and Wilkinson were watching hockey (cuz you know ... that's what's really important). Legendre didn't even know about the program.

Shame on them. Oh, so happy I don't pay taxes in that City.

The idea is officially dead

The thought of using Rideau Regional Center as a facility for the aged is .... not gonna happen.

"The place is not vacant yet and it wasn't designed to be a health institution," Georgina Thompson, chairwoman of the board for the South East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).

She cited cost and time as obstacles to using the facility.

"The cost to retrofit [the facility] to bring it up to where it needs to be brought up to would be involved and it would take a long time," she said.

On with the carnage ... I hear there are only 111 souls left out there.

RELATED: Leeds Grenville MPP Bob Runiciman talks about the issue and his efforts to make it happen on CFRA this morning. Evidently Smitherman is to be in the area tomorrow .... Runicman plans on pitching this again.

If she were mine

She would be an ex .... right quick.

I know my way around a washing machine and vacuum as well as the next guy or girl. And I do most of the cooking, just cuz I don't mind doing it ... and I'm not bad at it.

But if my wife EVER treated me this way the torrent of profanity would make a seasoned sailor blush.

And if she dared write about it on MSNBC .... well, this would become one of those divorce blogs.

I finally did it

I finally ordered Mark Steyn's America Alone .... No more excuses. It's "Warman Wednesday" and all of the profits are going to the Canuck Five's defense funds.

Steyn is super smart, funny and I guess the ladies find him easy on the eyes. That I know nothing about ;) Rachel Lucas says so ... and seeing as she's no dog, I'm prepared to accept her word.

Hats off to Mark for helping the bloggers out .... he's putting his money where his mouth is. So did I.

Have you ?

City people crack me up ....

I thought it was just in Kanata .... guess I was wrong.

Clothesline bans are imposed in 20 to 30 per cent of the province's subdivisions,

To his credit, McGuinty is out to change that .... so those that want to save the power have the option.

Here's what the past-president of the Ontario Home Builders Association had to say:

It's taking away a right from people who knew (a ban) was in place and purchased a home because of that," Fiume said.

Call Barbara Hall -- They've been been wronged !!

In any case, Fiume said, the new regulation is a non-issue because few people will use clotheslines in any case. "With today's lifestyle, no one has the time or inclination to hang their clothes outside to dry."

Three weeks ago they were turning the lights off for an hour in a grand display of moral righteousness .... now it's a right to waste "kill-a-watts" of power so you don't have to see your neighbours gotchies hangin' to dry.

Sez it all ... Cityiots.

The Sens are out ...

can I have my radio station back now ??

For the life of me I can't figure out why anyone interested in hockey would want to listen to commentary on the subject from political junkies. That's what The Team 1200 or WSLB 1400 is for -- just as I wouldn't tune into those stations for breaking news.

Stick to what you know, boys.

On the bright side -- I found AM1050 today, and they had the Sean Hanneddy show on this afternoon. Wonder if they carry Rush ?

Macleans responds

to the guilty verdict delivered by the OHRC in the trial that never happened ....

The high-points --

Human rights commissions are undermining the fundamental Charter rights of all Canadians. Protest while you still can.

Keep in mind that is Macleans saying that ... not exactly a right-winged knuckle-dragging wacko publication !



We consider it deeply troubling that Barbara Hall, or any other government-appointed official, would take it upon themselves to publicly impugn this magazine and its journalists without so much as a hearing. She cited no evidence, considered no counter-arguments, and appointed herself prosecutor, judge and jury in one fell swoop.

The OHRC's code of ethics requires Barbara Hall to perform her duties in a manner that is "neutral, fair to all parties, free from reprisal," that she will be "conscientious and respectful of all members of the public," and that she "shall be, and shall be perceived to be, neutral and without personal or corporate bias" in her duties, in their decisions, and in their judgments.


via Mark Steyn

Local Conservative identified as crash casualty

Listeners to CFRA will recognize him as "Doug from Lombardy", a regular caller to Lowell Greens show.

Doug Aldridge, former broadcaster with Canadian Forces radio, morning show host with CFMO, Reform Party candidate and most recently webmaster/host of The Right Side was identified as the man killed in a crash on Hwy 7 Wednesday morning.

Doug will be remembered for his passionate, thoughtful political commentary .... I haven't been to his site in a while, and I didn't realize he had relocated to Pennsylvania. Seems re-locating didn't dampen his passion for Canadian politics -- he has some fairly recent posts on the Ezra Levant/HRC fiasco -- some weekend listening.

Rest in peace, Doug -- and heart-felt condolences to his survivors.

Former SFDCI teacher goes nuts

Why is it I get some kinda smug satisfaction outta writing that ?

Walnuts, to be precise.

Mr. Croskery is now livin' the retirement sweet life on his hobby farm near Westport. While I didn't have the pleasure to study under his tutelage (after reading my blog, that's a fact he'll likely be comforted by - my life's work ..... wasted), from all accounts he was one of the great ones.

I've been to Mr.C's blog before .... I think I first ran across it looking for info on importing a vehicle from the US. It's quality stuff .... on successfully biking UP Foley Mountain hill -- certainly not a task for the faint of heart:

I’m not saying it was pretty. There was drool all over the front forks of the Raleigh.

I've been waiting for the perfect time to introduce his blog here -- the day has arrived.

LEAVE IT TO A BLOGGER ....

To give ya the straight goods on what's really happenin'.

Mr. C was at the meeting in Westport Saturday with the MNR, the Ontario Chinese Anglers Association and local residents to discuss the bru-ha-ha last summer over illegal fishing and assaults in Westport and other areas of the Province. Media accounts of the meeting were a tad lacking, the only stunning revelation being the MNR doesn't have the resources to protect our resources. Here's a hint -- take the deneros spent on counter-productive one-sided OHRC reports .... and put it toward actually solving the issue. Better yet -- disband the whole darned thing and give the entire budget to the MNR ... one of those win-win, two-birds-with-one-stone deals.

Reflecting on the meeting, and following a visit to the Ontario Chinese Anglers website Mr.C is left with the impression that the Chinese community is taking some responsibility and ownership of the problem and tackling the issue head-on -- from within "the community". Steps such as education on regulations for newcomers are underway.

How utterly refreshing. Now if we could just get Jam .... Er, never mind - that one will only get me in trouble.

What's really interesting to me: Some culpability is acknowledged by the anglers -- but that's something the OHRC fails (or refuses) to include in the report. More to come on that when I get the time.... the preliminary report really begs to be dissected. FACTS are completely ignored and it's FULL of half-truths, mis-quotes and assumptions. Each one designed to suit the Commissions self-serving purposes, of course.

Anyhow, it's nice to have another local voice in the blogosphere -- three now !!

Another case of mixed-up priorities

So far this year, the City of Kingston has discharged roughly 345 million litres of raw waste, compared to 89 million in 2007.

Most of that untreated sewage went directly into Lake Ontario, from which Kingston and dozens of other municipalities draw their drinking water.

Of course, they could always drink or poop in that $50M nifty entertainment complex they just built ... way to put the real important stuff first guys ! 345 million litres .... I'm finding it hard to wrap my head around that number .. 345 million litres of poop - in four months - straight into the lake. WOW.

RELATED: Speaking of K-Town environmental madness --

When Heather O'Reilly decided she wanted to become an environmental activist, she thought it was important to learn from one of the best.

The Queen's University graduate student wasted no time in going straight to former U.S. vice-president Al Gore

O'Reilly said the most difficult aspect of talking to people about global warming is that it's hard to prove to those who don't believe it's happening.

"You can't see it, you can't breath it and you can't touch it," she said. "If I were to be questioned by those who truly don't believe that global warming is happening, I won't engage in debate because I am not a scientist."

So, you won't engage in debate because your not a scientist, but you will get your training in the subject .... from a politician ???

EGAD.

Wanna know what's really scary ?

O'Reilly will finish her master's degree in education this August. After graduating, she'll look for a teaching position.

Ontario HRC goes after the small fish

Fresh off a stunning victory in the trial-without-a-trial of the century against Mark Steyn and Macleans last week and the subsequent public pee-pee wacking, Barbara Hall and the OHRC turned their attention to a much more sinister enemy:

The Ontario Rural Redneck.

Ya had to know it was gonna happen.

(Westport Mayor Bill Thake) met with Hall nearly three weeks ago and was reassured by her that comments she made last fall did not mean to imply that Westport is a racist community.

But read the preliminary OHRC report into some assaults last summer on Asian anglers in cottage country and it'll leave you wondering if a single .. even one .. person of Asian descent has ever successfully integrated into the way of life that exists outside the ultimate uber-urban metropolis that is the GTA.

Until you start thinking about the individuals you know that have: and succeeded quite nicely, thanks so very much. I can think of better than 30 that I would consider friends; from the Vietnamese boat people that were welcomed to the area in the late 70's (including some to my elementary school) to a friends recent adoption from China. Never, ever, not once, have any of them complained to me of being subjected to racism. That tells me something.

Mrs. Hall and the OHRC : Screw off, you and your klan of kronie kommissars are making this krap worse.

If some idiots are assaulting people for no reason, that's the job of the OPP.

If some idiots are flouting conservation laws , then that's the job of the MNR.

And if both these authorities have the tools and resources necessary to do their respective jobs, and can be seen doing them, I can guarantee this would not be an issue.

One more reason to scrap the HRC's .... trumped up bullshit.

I can almost hear it ...

Lanark County 911 -- What is your emergency ??

Ya, some crazy dudes have broke into my grow-op and are threatening me with a gun.

*Snicker*Snort*..... ah-hum -- Excuse me,

We'll be right there.

It just keeps getting worse ...

According to a draft consultant's report it may be more cost effective to demolish the sprawling 880,000-square-foot provincially owned Rideau Regional Centre than try to remodel it for another use.


After that ... what's left ? Ya got it, a bunch 'o' farm land.

Great.

RELATED: The Reckless keeps it's head in the sand ... check out the "opposite" editorial this week.

"Smiths Falls is a progressive, forward thinking town"

Uh huh.

A $2.5M loan in the works to finance the remainder of the new rink .. taking the Town to the limit of its ability to service debt ... and we need to "embrace" it. To me, that's decidedly regressive and backward.

THE HURTING HASN'T EVEN STARTED YET !!!

RRC: Definately not

what we wanted to hear:

(Rideau Regional)centre structures, which were state of the art when built, would have to be modified significantly to be used for other uses, including a long-term-care facility. Major refitting of most of the regional centre's buildings would be required, including widening of corridors, relocation of washrooms, removal of lead-based paint and asbestos insulation and heightened of ceilings to provide for ductwork

The carpet ripped right out from under us ... just like with the water park.

Hey Dalt !!! Hows about we get some of this kinda love ?? I'm thinkin' we might need the help ... and it'll be a much it'll a better investment than a new archive building in Ottawa.

Ford Motor Co. said Monday it will reopen an engine plant in Windsor, Ontario, after getting a $16.5 million grant from the Ontario government.

Please, McGuinty ...

explain to me ... how is it a rink in Smiths Falls or a theater in Brockville is more important than the Rideau watershed ?

While there was much joy in Brockville, Smiths Falls and west Leeds, other proposed projects for Leeds and Grenville were not approved, including an application from Merrickville Wolford Township for $5 million to replace aging waste sewage treatment holding tanks.

Township mayor Doug Struthers said he was “shocked” to learn the township’s bid was rejected for a fifth straight year.

“I’m at a loss for words to try to explain why we would not qualify for funding,” said Struthers.

He said the project has been the number one concern in the township for years because the current system of holding tanks is 35 years old and has been identified repeatedly by engineers and the Ministry of Environment as a major threat.

In fact, a 2007 study indicates a catastrophe is imminent as the lining of the tanks deteriorates and the waste could leach into the nearby Rideau River, said Struthers.

Snazzy sales job....

Check out the sales brochure produced by the ORC for Rideau Regional Center.

Slippery bastards

Some sanity around the Smiths Falls council table this week:

“We could consider raising it closer to the average to $131 per hour,” said St. Dennis. Councillor Ken Graham said he had no problems with hoisting the fees.“We should be charging whatever it costs for the arena,” he said. “We shouldn’t be subsidizing the arena…people who use it should pay to run it.”

Hallelujah.

Now, I'm assuming that's the cost to operate and maintain it ... what about the initial building cost ? Sadly, taxpayers on the hook for that one. Ol'Dolts neighbour and right hand man Jim Watson came home today, spendin' our cash like a drunken sailer on shore leave ... $20 million for a desperately needed (sic) spankin' new archive building for Ottawa and this ....

At Friday's announcement, Mr. Watson said Smiths Falls had also been awarded money under the same program that awarded money to the archives. The province will put $6.2 million toward renovating that city's arena, he said.

Just what we needed, a renovated rink. Forget that this much could buy the Hershey factory for some entrepreneurial soul , or get a commuter rail system off the ground, or or or or ... you get the drift. $6.2 million ... that works out to better than $400 bones for every man, woman and child who live within a reasonable radius, whether you use it or not.

Now, we don't use the rink -- so instead how's about Watson buys me a fishin' boat with my families share ... I promise I'll pay for the fuel and maintain it !!

No, eh ?

It's the same damn thing. Buy your own rink, and gimme my money back.

An alternative found

for Hershey !!

Sadly, not in Smiths Falls .....

Sconza Candy Company of Oakland, a maker of premium candy products for nearly 70 years, says it plans to purchase the former Hershey chocolate plant in Oakdale, moving its operations from Oakland.

The move will allow it to expand operations to meet increased demand for its premium candy products, the company says.

The purchase is expected to be final on May 1, with candy production expected to start at the Oakdale plant beginning Oct. 1.

On the home front ... the "alternative use study" STILL has not been posted on the Town's website.

How much do ya think we paid to find out what we already knew ? Wouldya believe close to 55 grand ??

What a waste.

Facebook cheater not so smart

You've heard the story ...

Avenir, 18, was cited for 146 counts of academic misconduct after creating a Facebook group that invited classmates to "input solutions" to various problems, including a take-home exam that was assigned to be completed on an individual basis.

Now the kid gets off with a rap 'o' the knuckles ... but i'm thinking this was was too light. See, the kid wasn't too bright -- IF ... when he was creating the facebook group he'd paid attention he'da known this mess coulda been avoided all together.




Click the image to see how .... Dumbass.

Not so sunny

in the Florida real estate market.

When we were in Florida last fall, we looked into the economics of owning a vacation rental house .... turns out it wasn't in the cards for a number of reasons. With the price of the houses, you need about 85% occupancy just to break even. I've since found out that the hotel industry uses a target of 60%, and this seems to be a more reasonable target .... thus the only way to achieve this is for the price of the houses to come down.

With that in mind I've been watching the Kissimmee market rather closely .... and let me tell ya, it's REALLY bad. Absolutely nothing is moving. Check out this sales chart 2000-2008:



Sadly, prices really haven't come down as much as the above chart would have you believe.... YET.

Out of about 10 cities along the I 81/95 route down I couldn't find one exception to this type of graph. "Flip that house" is set to become "Ditch that house". Trulia is the place to go to get the ugly truth.

Of interest to those of us in Smiths Falls and The 'gue is the Spruce Ridge Fly-in community in Daytona. We're no Daytona ... but the prices of lots and houses in this place are astronomical - lots are $350k and fixer-upper houses go for $500k... and they go from there to $2Mill plus.

Phew! Dodged that bullet

Shorewood Packaging confirmed Tuesday that about 275 employees at a paper packaging plant in eastern Ontario will soon be out of work.

The company said that it is shutting down its Brockville, Ont., facility

Of course, the usual suspects are to blame ....

"Brockville's top three customers made up 85 per cent of their business and all three of those customers are moving their tobacco and cigarette production out of Canada," said company spokeswoman Amy Sawyer.

She added that there have also been economic pressures caused by a rise in the Canadian dollar, which has jumped from 85 cents US to above par in the past year.

Bad for Brockville, but it would have been killer for Smiths Falls.

Begs the question though ...

Is there any hope in hell there will be a buyer for Hershey ?

Three reasons to move to Australia --

1. They have a sex-offender registry that everybody can see

2. It's actually illegal to diddle a 16 year old.

3 There is a media with enough BALLS to actively pursue these freaks ! What a performance this guy puts on !

Better than Nostradamus ...

WOW ....

Some right, some wrong. I imagine some were easy to see ... others, well, pretty freakin' astounding.

What changes to the way humans live do you think we'll see in the next 100 years ?? Here are some predictions for the future .... from December 1900.

Accurately predicted: MRI/CAT scans and cell phones ... even the freakin' internet.

Way off base: Rats and mice will have been exterminated (OHHHH ... how I wish that were true !)

Little bastards

Anyhow ... I dugg this up ... not sure where it originally came from ... so I took it upon myself to save it and keep it locally, just in case the original disappears.






Click to enlarge the image.

You can take the boys outta the city ....

Some growing pains for Carleton Place ??? Stories from the last few days:

Police believe a house fire last week west of Carleton Place was deliberately set. Police believe the fire was intentionally set in the garage. They said a set of footprints in the snow were seen at the time of the fire.

Provincial police are investigating after a man was shot in the chest with a pellet gun in Carleton Place earlier this week. OPP said the man was standing on the corner of Lake Avenue and Neelin Street at about 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday when a car with three young occupants pulled up. According to police, the occupants of the car started cheering when the male driver pulled out a pellet gun and shot at the victim.

OPP arrested a 16-year-old Carleton Place boy after a stabbing outside a Mac's convenience store on Wednesday afternoon. Police said two male youths were walking along Townline Road when a westbound vehicle driven by a 43-year-old man stopped and an argument occurred. The youths continued into the Mac's parking lot at the corner of Townline Road and Joseph Street, police said. The man showed up and another argument occurred at about 4 p.m. During the argument, the man was stabbed with a small knife, police said.

Wow ... and they say Smiths Falls is sin city !

Not a pretty picture ...

but you already knew that, right ? Ya, me too.

The consultant's report on what should be done to fill the soon-to-be-vacant Hershey Chocolate factory in Smiths Falls does not sugarcoat the difficulties the town faces, that's for sure.

Great, the long-awaited report ... whaddya got fer us ?

....the 40-page report by the firm of Millier, Dickinson, Blais notes that the high Canadian dollar and stiff competition from low-wage countries

OK ..

Smiths Falls' overall education levels fall well below provincial averages and are not consistent with what will be required,"

We're dumb ... that's nice. Onward....

In the case of Smiths Falls, the issue takes on added importance because of the upcoming closure of the Rideau Regional Centre, which with 800 workers is the town's largest employer.

Yep, knew that... but you forgot about Burritts Rapids Correctional Drug Treatment Facility. Everybody does. 300 good jobs went there too. Thanks McGuinty, you f'in anus.

Anyhoo, the report .... So Mr. Hotshot consultant since your so goddam smart and we're all so f'in stupid out here in the sticks .... whaddya got for us......

What DO we DO ?

"the town play a larger role in marketing the Hershey property and that it needs to improve its economic development efforts, which are not currently at the "gold standard."

Holy ol' jeezus ... WHAT -- THAT'S IT ????

OOOOOPPPPS: Just this gem ....

"the suggestion that the town consider purchasing the plant if a buyer can't be found "

Ummm, no. But then again ... it would be a better investment in the Town than a $$ 9 million $$ rink.

But still, no. And not the rink, either.


As far as I know, that's it for the report. Like any of us didn't know all that already ? I wonder what it cost ? (not a whole lot more than the paper I hope)Uggghhhh. I don't think I wanna know. If I were a ratepayer in SF, I'd be demanding my money back.

By the way ... you CANNOT download a copy of the 40 page report from the Town's website.

It isn't there.

The very last thing

our economy needs is any link to a US terror attack.

U.S. authorities are checking whether several people stopped at the Canadian border are linked to an explosion that damaged a military recruiting station in New York, police said on Friday.

"Some pictures of Times Square, including the recruiting station, were found,"

A backlash from our biggest customer ... you think it's bad now ??

Oh, the humanity.

chchch ...Changes

at the top of Hershey.


How's the plan workin' for you now guys ?? Surprise, surprise :Sales, profits and stocks are down ....

Hershey has faced turbulence in its upper ranks. Chief Executive David West was thrust into his post after Richard Lenny abruptly announced his "retirement" in October.

In November, the Hershey Trust, the company's controlling shareholder, ousted six board members, in part, out of frustration with the company's declining financial performance.

DISMAL: 1 yr chart for HSY




Sez it all, don't it ?

Hillary has a problem, McCain is screwed

and Obama scares the shit outta me.... I really fear he's unbeatable.

After all, he does carry a pretty big stick .... criticize him for anything, you risk being labelled the dreaded RRR word.

So Hillary is definitely right. It’s not a level playing field. Her entire anatomy and character have been dissected and lambasted for years, partly because she’s female but a whole lot more because she’s white and it’s okay to say whatever you want about white folk, as the Beady-Eyed Retard Chimp-in-Chief and the Big-Butted Cackling Witch Hildebeast can attest.

You really think Rush Limbaugh is going to call Michelle some sort of “beast” on his radio show every day?

Sighhh ... If all they wanted was a black, why oh why didn't the Republicans swoon Colin Powell or JC Watts ???

Out with the old ...

in with the new. This newspaper isn't " waiting for the asteroid ".

I'm worried...5 years from now what will I start the wood stove with ?

"The Capital Times will shift from distributing news via piles of papers distributed on trucks that must traverse the snow-clogged streets of our winter wonderland to the information superhighway."

...the urgency of the moment requires that we leave nostalgia to others."


Really makes me wonder what The Record News is thinking. Little known fact: a healthy percentage of google searches that come this way land at this post looking for Smiths Falls This Week. I mean ...from all over the place ... Texas, California, Florida and Vancouver to name a few. PDF publishing makes them not much better than The Reckless.

Bassackward bunch.

A feather in our cap

and one of the best ideas to develop Montague I've heard in a really long time.

....the Russ Beach/Smiths Falls-Montague Airport could easily increase the more than $920,000 in economic activity it generates each year. Town officials hired the firm to examine whether the airport was worth the more than $40,000 taxpayers in Smiths Falls and neighbouring Montague Township invest

"One of the first things a company looks for when deciding whether to relocate to a community is its airport services."

Doesn't this sound really cool ... imagine, pulling your Cessna into the driveway !!

In addition, the town should consider creating a residential airport park with houses constructed at or very near the current airport property.

He shoulda stayed in bed

First he loses his money down the manhole .... then.

The rescue crew's only option was to pull him out using a tow-truck.

via DMB

Horrifying case of child abuse

I can't figure out why this isn't national news ....

Benjamin Sargent died with his eyes open, fists clenched and strapped into a car seat after eight days without food or water...

The 5-month-old was dropped off at his parents' house on Feb. 4, wearing a bright-blue snow suit and strapped into his car seat.

Eight days later, he was found in the same position ... "

What were the parents up to ??? Busy folks, they were ...

"playing video games, watching TV, feeding and caring for themselves,"

Thank God this happened in Illinois ... where the death penalty is a possibility.

I beg to differ ...

Mr. Snow.

CFRA has a news quiz on Friday afternoons ... 10 questions. Caller #1 starts off and goes until he answers incorrectly, or is unable. The person that answers the 10th question correctly wins.

The first caller was hot ... answering 5 in a row. Until this one:

The Massachusetts governor is a good friend of Barack Obama. What is his name ?

Stumped him ... and three more callers.

Listening to WBZ1030 from Boston regularly, this one was easy-pesy pour moi. Not being able to take it any longer, I had to call. I got through and answered:

Deval Patrick.

Rob Snow replies: Well, actually it's Patrick Deval, but since you got both names, we'll give it to you.

I went on to answer the rest of the questions correctly and won.

I wanted sooooo bad to challenge Snow on air ... but resisted the urge.

So, Mr.Snow ... just so you know: I was right, you were dead wrong.

Early last week, the presidential campaign was rocked by the "bombshell" that Barack Obama had borrowed certain rhetorical flourishes from Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick's 2006 gubernatorial campaign.

Now, I just gotta figure out how to get downtown to pickup my movie tickets.

Happy Birthday Mr. Magoo

You're off to the can ....



A Manhattan senior celebrated his 72nd birthday by trying to smuggle what cops say was more than $1 million in marijuana down the East Coast - and almost got away with it.

Cole was taking a mindblowing 146.6 pounds of marijuana down South when he stopped for a coffee break at the New Carrollton, Md., convenience store, police said.

A cop who happened to be in the parking lot watched Cole back his silver Toyota Camry into a car, police said.

You'd think if you were hiring a drug mule you'd get someone who doesn't suffer from the worst case of cataracts I've ever seen.

Well... that's mighty

...er... white of ya !

Where did that saying ever come from ? Seems to fit, more and more, with increasing "white guilt" creeping into Canadian lib-tard society. Yep, we are responsible for all that ills everyone.

Anyhow ....

This weeks EMC has a full front page article (section 2) on the new Algonquin band in the Smiths Falls area. Seems the sign erected on the 177 acres of Crown land has caused a bit of a stir .. or as the EMC puts it "a mystery".

Back to the saying: Chief Taillon was quoted "We have no intention of putting a gate on that property or a barricade" and adding "People who have been using it are still going to be able to. We're not going to deter anyone from hunting or fishing. We put that sign up because we wanted the public to know that we are going to be using that land as well."

Again, mighty white of ya ... considering the band has absolutely no title to said property.

Are they entitled to use it ?

Absolutely.

But to walk in, plunk a sign down .... with no approval from the MNR (the Crown caretaker), according to a neighbour that inquired ... well ... it's tantamount to staking it, claiming it for your very own.

At least that's how I see it. How long before we see those notorious flags flying beside the sign ?

Of course, the Record News in their usual "careful ... lets not piss anybody off" style lets the Chief away with his statement without daring to ask a tough question. Typical.

Now, if the band truly wanted to get off on the right foot with the local "colonialists" here's how they should have gone about this .... something like getting proper approval from MNR ... and then inviting MNR reps, maybe the Township Reeve and local residents to a pow-wow.

Just a thought.

Another one ... instead of going after Crown land .. uh, for free, how's about you take up a collection from your members and buy your own land ... you know, like The Fish and Game club ? Or Scouting ... they pay a pretty handsome stipend to the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority yearly for use of the Whispering Pines camp on Otty Lake. I guess Indians are more entitled to the Crowns assets for free than are our children.

In my last post on this topic, an anonymous commenter was wondering if there was any updates. In short, it's winter, nothing will happen. But here's how I see this going down:

This year ... everybody gets along. Natives and colonialists using the property. Government negotiations ensue for the next couple years and progress goes.. uh ... nowhere. Frustrated, the band (and this could be under the leadership of someone not soooo accomodating) decides to "up the ante" and block others access and occupy the land... From there ? God knows.

Sharbot Lake and Deseronto are where the action is gonna be this summer.

I'd sure like to debate some of those who have Googled the issue and landed here ... don't be shy, drop a line in the comments.

Forget Kyoto and GHG

This is the real environmental ... uh ... mess.

Every day, six plants in Miami-Dade, Broward and south Palm Beach counties pump about 300 million gallons of sewage into the Atlantic Ocean.

''In my lifetime, we've pumped enough sewage offshore to fill Lake Okeechobee twice,'' he said. ``It's probably the biggest environmental disaster in Florida, but because nobody sees it, nothing's been done.''

UPDATED: You know what they say about not crapping where you live ?? What is Ol'Dolt waiting for ?

From the London Free Press ....

Environment Minister John Baird visited the community of Merrickville, near Smiths Falls, to announce $2 million in funding to help build a new sewage treatment plant.

Baird says Ontario is the only province that hasn't signed on to the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and is missing out on $64 million in funding. He accuses Premier Dalton McGuinty of wasting time and playing politics instead of securing federal funding for his province.

Total Lunar Eclipse

This Wednesday, peak @ 2226 hrs.

So far ... the forecast is for clear skies.

Grading Montague School

Marked improvement ! 2007 Fraser Institute results released.

Academic Performance	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	Trends
Gr 3 avg. level: Reading	n/a	n/a	2.6	2.6	2.9	n/a
Writing	n/a	n/a	2.6	2.4	2.9	n/a
Math	n/a	n/a	2.9	2.7	3.0	n/a
Gr 6 avg. level: Reading	n/a	n/a	2.8	2.6	2.6	n/a
Writing	n/a	n/a	2.8	2.4	2.3	n/a
Math	n/a	n/a	2.9	2.7	2.5	n/a
Gender gap (level): Reading	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Math	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tests below standard (%)	n/a	n/a	31.5	44.7	35.7	n/a
Tests not written (%)	n/a	n/a	6.3	5.6	0.0	n/a
3-year value added: Reading	n/a	n/a	A	C	B	n/a
Math	n/a	n/a	A	B	B	n/a
Overall rating out of 10	n/a	n/a	6.6	4.3	5.9	n/a

Compare with other schools here.

There's a first for everything

The fact that Mr. Lovelace is in jail today is one hundred per cent the fault of Mr. McGuinty and Mr. Bryant.

Proof reading the NY Times makes you smarter

I bet you didn't know this:

Navy ships routinely carry missiles to shoot down aircraft.

Thanks, Einstein.

The article was cool enough: On a spy satellite the US plans on blasting prior to it's re-entry ... why would the author write such a condescending piece of crap like that ?

Almost as bad:

"....the Earth’s surface has more remote regions and seas than it does heavily populated areas."

And they wonder why circulation is dropping ....

And now we go live to Lam's Gardens

Just kiddin' ... but it coulda been.

BANNED FROM BUFFET !

"I got 4 frog legs .. cuz, ya know, there's two legs to every frog "





Who says Smiths Falls has all the rednecks ??

Too funny.

H/T to Joan

Sensational trial

for a Prescott murder.

Haven't blogged about this but it keeps getting better and better ...

"I didn't want to stab nobody," he said. "I didn't want to stab Doug Mott. I just wanted to get out of town."


I seem to remember that name from these parts.

Not the sharpest....

Does this guy never, ever, ever, watch TV ???


Cuz if he did, he'd know that THE FIRST call you should make after hearing police radio appeals for witnesses to you beating your step-kid .... is to a lawyer.

At the bottom of the call list: The local radio call-in show.


"I backhanded my daughter three or four times with the back of my hand before a woman stuck her nose in where it doesn't belong," he told a reporter at the radio station.

KINGSTON WHIG-STANDARD

Stating ....

the completely obvious.

Paying taxes is the "Canadian way of life."

The CRA plans to launch a multimedia campaign this year that focuses on compliance and targets new Canadians in particular, according to a request for tender published yesterday.

The CRA plans to launch a multimedia campaign this year that focuses on compliance and targets new Canadians in particular, according to a request for tender published yesterday.

"....to determine how best to inform new Canadians that they are required to file a tax return if they have taxes to pay"

Umm..how 'bout this : Tell 'em when they show up at the door ???

Northern Lights -- Laterally

A view of the Northern Lights as you've never seen them before: From the ISS, some 200 miles above terra firma...... Photographed Feb 1, over the Bay of St.Lawrence. Click here for more images.

Last summer I watched the ISS and the Shuttle (which had just undocked) streak across the night sky .... with binoculars. Simply amazing.

International attention

Soooo happy to see the many visitors from around the planet sent here via The Torch (see post below). Examples:US Government, Germany, Australia,Slovenia ... and more. What an impression those people must have of Canada !!

If you are looking for the most comprehensive information on our mission in Afghanistan, The Torch is place to go.

Repatriating our warriers

If these images make me this proud as hell of my country, I can only imagine the emotions they spur in the families of the fallen ....

"It's a long and awful trip from Trenton to Toronto in a limousine or a hearse carrying a loved one or a comrade-in-arms. But this is what those who make that terrible trip see out the windows of their vehicles."

via SDA.

Do they make snowshoes

for dogs ??

Cuz my springer is having real difficulty getting to her favorite business locations.

Insider trading

in the Kingston City Police.

The owner of a Kingston auto body shop, a high-profile former member of an outlaw motorcycle gang and a Kingston Police dispatcher were among 14 people charged after police broke up what they called a "major" drug ring in Kingston.

The civilian employee of eight years was charged with attempting to obstruct justice and unauthorized use of a computer, after police say she used her position at the department to access sensitive information about investigations and pass it along to those involved with the ring.

The last lecture

.... given by Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch: "Really achieving your childhood dreams". A computer science doctorate by trade, he reflects on life, his career (including what HAS to be the greatest job out there, Disney Imagineer) and inspiring others to accomplish all they can with the time we are blessed to have on this planet (Mr.Pausch has pancreatic cancer, so his is at a premium). I've had the extreme pleasure of riding on Mr. Pausch's work in the virtual reality mecca that is DisneyQuest, and it's absolutely mind-blowing.

No need to spend $300 to see Slick Willie or Hillary Swank on "The Power Within" ... Mr. Pausch gives it all up here, for free.

All 76 minutes are well worth your time, but if you get antsy, the really good stuff starts around 60 minutes. I promise, you will laugh and cry.

Tase me, bro, tase me !!

Perhaps this should be a question in all SIU investigations and related coroners inquests:

Could this death have been prevented through the use of a taser, rather than being plugged with 9mm of police love through the pipes.

The inquest heard that an intoxicated Mr. Steacy was sitting at a computer in his mother's darkened home in a trailer park near Smiths Falls when now-Sgt. Hollywood and Const. Mike Cholette attempted to arrest him at about 11:30 p.m.

Mr. Steacy, who had his back to the officers and had a phone in his left hand, started to turn around when they ordered him not to move.

According to testimony, he kept turning toward the officers when his right hand dropped to his waist with his fingers gripping what appeared to be a weapon.

After ordering him to drop what was in his hand, Sgt. Hollywood shot Mr. Steacy in the chest.

The officers later learned that Mr. Steacy was only holding a computer mouse.

RELATED: Brockville city police aren't tas..er ... I mean fazed by the controversy ...

"In 2007, the Taser,....was "deployed" eight times ..... Meanwhile, officers pointed the Taser without using it nine times last year and got suspects to settle down simply by drawing it another 13 times.

"Just the act of unholstering it is usually enough to get compliance," Manoll told the board.

Freaks abound:From the same article:

Brockville has 23 residents listed on the provincial registry of sex offenders, meaning they must report regularly to police. All 23 are listed as "compliant" with their respective conditions.

The numbers reflect the situation as of Jan. 8 of this year. People listed on the registry are living in the community. When they are listed as "non-compliant," the chief said, they have likely breached their conditions and face charges in connection with that.

In comparison, Smiths Falls has 20 people on the registry, one of whom is listed as non-compliant.

RELATED: Check out the SICKO that dropped in here:

Domain Name bell.ca ? (Canada)
IP Address 76.64.75.# (Bell Canada)
ISP Bell Canada
Time of Visit Feb 4 2008 6:05:53 pm
Referring URL http://www.google.ca...n&q=SFDCI porn&meta=
Search Engine google.ca
Search Words sfdci porn

Those girls are still underage ... perv.

Where I've been ...

Due to the huge numbers (ok, three) of disappointed fans, I feel compelled to get back at this blogging thingy. Actually, I've really been missing putting my rants and discoveries down on paper.

Why I've been gone ...

Time: As the father of two young 'ens... well, it's precious. In addition to my paid work, I've signed on to a new volunteer role. It eats a lot of time, but is really rewarding. I've witnessed a truly remarkable thing happen in this role, something I don't have time to blog about tonight, but I surely will.

Disgust:I didn't blog the provincial election last fall, as I saw the disaster unfolding, and didn't really have much positive to say. An utter disaster. FWIW -- I think it's time Tory moved on .... I'm sure he is tarred by this failure, and keeping him will only give us another four years of ... well, you know.

Paranoia: Yep, that's me .... mild, but ever-present. When I started this, I was warned by a close family member (who happens to have been in the publishing business) to be VERY careful what I posted.... one wrong keystroke and you can find yourself being sued, he warned. Now we have two cases in point: Levant and Steyn. Then there is the Warman affair .... a couple of "ooopppsss" in the blogosphere ... by people much more experienced in this medium than I.

Those little complications aside, as I said, I really do enjoy doing this, so I'm going to attempt to be around here a little more .... if only for this.

The first shots ....

Have they been fired ?

Word comes this week buried in the back pages of the Record News/EMC of the recognition of a new Indian band in the Smiths Falls area, notably Drummond/North Elmsley Township.

Seems this group has erected a sign on 177 acres of Crown land in Port Elmsley that reads Pasapkedjiwanong Algonquin First Nation Ceremonial & Cultural Land. I'm wondering, did they have permission from the Crown to erect the sign ? The Township was certainly unaware, they were "surprised" by calls from area residents who were concerned what the sign meant.

Now, the erection of a sign might seem a tad benign, but looking through my site meter logs from the last little bit I turned up this odd hit :

Domain Name uu.net ? (Network)
IP Address 66.48.146.# (Verizon Business)
ISP Verizon Business
Location
Continent : North America
Country : Canada (Facts)
State/Region : Ontario
City : Napanee
Time of Visit Jan 28 2008 11:03:04 pm
Referring URL http://www.google.ca...ive occupation&meta=
Search Engine google.ca
Search Words smith falls native occupation

Hmmm ... a google search for "smith falls native occupation" from Napanee, not so far from Deseronto ... Coincidence ????

Watch for this one ... I have a funny feeling this isn't stopping at a sign.

RELATED:Why reserves are bankrupt