Aretha Franklin - Don't Play That Song For Me

Oh Boy! Oh Boy!

Patti Page 1981 -- Tennessee Waltz

And So It Goes

Great Billy Joel Anthem

Elvis Costello - Veronica

Doing the Vatican Rag...hahahahaha...

Vatican official ‘was pretending to be gay'
Associated Press
October 14, 2007 at 11:45 AM EDT

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican official suspended after being caught on hidden camera making advances to a young man said in an interview published Sunday that he is not gay and was only pretending to be gay as part of his work.

In an interview with La Repubblica newspaper, Monsignor Tommaso Stenico said he frequented online gay chat rooms and met with gay men as part of his work as a psychoanalyst. He said that he pretended to be gay in order to gather information about “those who damage the image of the Church with homosexual activity.”

Vatican teaching holds that homosexual activity is a sin.

“It's all false; it was a trap. I was a victim of my own attempts to contribute to cleaning up the Church with my psychoanalyst work,” La Repubblica quoted Father Stenico as saying.
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Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said Saturday that the monsignor had been suspended pending a Vatican investigation. Father Stenico is a top official in the Vatican's Congregation of the Clergy.

The Vatican after acted its officials recognized Father Stenico's office in the background of a television program on gay priests that was broadcast on Oct. 1 on La7, a private Italian TV network. Father Stenico was secretly filmed making advances to a young man and asserting that gay sex was not sinful.

In the Repubblica interview, Father Stenico said he had met with the young man and pretended to talk about homosexuality “to better understand this mysterious and faraway world which, by the fault of a few people — among them some priests — is doing so much harm to the Church.”

He said he had never been gay and was heterosexual, but remained faithful to his vow of celibacy.

Italy's Sky TG24 said Father Stenico had written a letter to his superiors with a similar defence.
Calls to Father Stenico's home and Vatican office went unanswered Sunday.

What the...

Man dies at Vancouver Airport
ROBERT MATAS
Globe and Mail Update
October 14, 2007 at 12:51 PM EDT

RICHMOND, B.C. — A middle aged man died at Vancouver airport today after an encounter with police involving a taser gun.

RCMP do not know what precipitated the incident, Sergeant Pierre Lemaitrre said in an interview.

Nancy Baggio, operations manager for the airport, said the incident did not disrupt any flights. Some travellers were redirected to another area but operations continued uninterrupted, she said.

A man in his 40s was behaving wildly around 1:30 a. m. in the arrivals area. The RCMP were called to assist the private security company, Sgt. Lemaitre said.

An RCMP officer used a taser in an attempt to subdue the man. However the man continued to strike out, Sgt Lemaitre said.

Three officers finally restrained him. The man passed away shortly afterwards.

Police had the man's passport, but Sgt. Lemaitre declined to release his name.

The local coroner removed the body from the airport about 9 a.m. The police investigation continues.

Campbell/Coleman Housing Scam

Rich Colman is well named.

Only someone named Rich could announce with pride that some millions of dollars have been allotted to keep homeless shelters open 24/7. Only someone who completely doesn't understand the issue could talk this way and do these things.

Rich, by the way, is Gordon Campbell's Minister of Forests AND housing. ??????

The best reaction comes from comes a Carnegie worker: "A 24-hour shelter is a commitment to homelessness." And others have pointed out that there is no announcement about new social housing.

Clearly Campbell and Coleman are DELUSIONAL. Listen:

"There is not a jurisdiction in Canada as advanced on housing as we are in BC."

Is he joining Mildew every day for a toke?

MIro Cernetig rightly points out in his column that this sham announcement if, of course, all about 2010. But even a good writer like Cernetig doesn't understand the landscape. He reports "Outreach workers will be installed in the shelters to guide people to social housing, psychiatric care and drug counselling..."

WHAT FUCKING SOCIAL HOUSING AND DRUG COUNSELLING????

If it doesn't exist, for what do we need guides?

I stick to my new Credo: All Official Stories are Lies.

***WARNING*** major stupidity ahead

WARNING!

WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ IS SICKENING! GOOD LUCK...

BEFORE YOU READ IT, CONSIDER THIS: Libby Davies and Penny Priddy are both wonderful people; serious, hard-working and dedicated to public service in the best possible way. UNFORTUNATELY, when it comes to drug addictios and the public policies we have on addictiosn, they are COMPLETELY IGNORANT...AND THUS DANGEROUS.

What is especially depressing about all this is ALL THE OFFCIALS WHO AGREE WITH THESE MISTAKEN IDEAS and HOW CONVINCED THEY ARE OF THEIR CORRECTNESS.

Campaign for a Common Sense Drug Policy: OCTOBER Harm Reduction UpdateDear Friends,The federal Health Minister has bought his government some politicaltime by the extending the operating permit for Vancouver’s safeinjection site, InSite, by six months. However, given the recentannouncement of the Conservative’s new “Anti-Drug” strategy, and theeven greater emphasis on criminalizing this public health issue, Ibelieve the future of InSite is as uncertain as ever. I am writing to all Members of Parliament and other public officials toask that they join the growing support for InSite, and to ensure thatharm reduction remains a key part of Canada’s Drug Strategy. I haveincluded my letter below along with the most recent press release fromme and my NDP colleagues, about our concerns with the Conservative’s newso-called “Anti-Drug” strategy.Also, as you may know, this summer I began a campaign to visit citiesacross Canada, meeting with communities, organizations, and publicofficials to raise the alarm that harm reduction programs are at risk. Iwill be at a public forum in Ottawa on Thursday, October 25, hosted bythe AIDS Committee of Ottawa. I’m hosting a Vancouver harm reduction forum at the end of October, andwould like to take this opportunity to invite you to join me and myspecial guests, including former Vancouver Mayor, Phillip Owen, Dr.Thomas Kerr, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and other leadingexperts and advocates for harm reduction. The event details are asfollows:What: A public forum to discuss the future of harm reductionWhen: Sunday, October 28, 2007 2 pm – 4 pm Where: SFU Downtown Harbour Center Fletcher Challenge RoomSponsored by: Portland Hotel SocietyPlease mark your calendars or contact me at daviel@parl.gc.ca or604-775-5800. Yours SincerelyLibbyDear Member of Parliament, I am writing to you about an important public health and social justiceissue: Harm Reduction. The rapidly growing spread of HIV, Hepatitis C and other blood bornediseases among drug users is taking its toll on our health care systems,communities and the health and lives of some of our most disenfranchisedcitizens. Innovative strategies like the City of Vancouver’s Four Pillar Approach,integrates prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcementprograms, with positive results, recognizing the value of acomprehensive approach to drug use. Vancouver’s safe injection site, InSite, serves as an internationallylauded example of harm reduction success. After much scientificscrutiny InSite has been proven to reduce the spread of HIV andHepatitis C, significantly increase the number of people accessingtreatment, and decrease the number of overdoses and public injections. Despite the overwhelming evidence and wide spread support for InSite,the Health Minister has refused to acknowledge its successes, and hasagain delayed a decision to extend the program for the requested fullthree years. InSite staff, drug users, and the affected community arefacing an uncertain future. As you know, the Conservative government has recently removed harmreduction from Canada’s Drug Strategy. Criminalizing this public health issue is short sighted. With 73% ofour current drug resources going to enforcement, diverting more dollarsto enforcement may leave harm reduction programs, which we know areworking, in jeopardy. World leaders, politicians at all levels of government, activists, localcommunity organizations and even the Vancouver business community havepublicly recognized the social and economic benefits of harm reductionand InSite. I would like to invite your support for making it clear that harmreduction is a key part of Canada’s drug strategy, and that InSiteshould continue to operate. I hope that you will be interested injoining an informal Parliamentary network of MPs and elected officialswho support harm reduction programs. Please fill in the attached statement and return it to my office, and Iwill be glad to contact you and convene a meeting to discuss thisfurther. Yours sincerely, Libby Davies, MP VancouverNDP Spokesperson for Drug PolicyFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 4, 2007 FAILED US STYLE DRUG POLICY WRONG DIRECTION FOR EVERYDAY CANADIANS: NDP WINNIPEG, TORONTO AND SURREY – NDP Spokesperson for Drug Policy LibbyDavies (Vancouver East), NDP Health Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis (WinnipegNorth) and Public Safety Critic Penny Priddy (Surrey North) criticizedthe Conservatives for taking the wrong direction on their anti-drugstrategy today. “We need to combat the very real problem of youth gangs, violence andcrack houses in our communities,” said Wasylycia-Leis. “But everydayCanadians know that simply criminalizing a public health problem is notthe solution. We don’t need more advertising – we need to invest in harmreduction, education, treatment, and enforcement.”“A heavy handed US style war-on-drugs only serves to create a culture offear,” said Davies. “This so called drug strategy fails to address thevery real needs in our communities. Experts and average Canadians alikeagree that we need to invest in real, long-term solutions to drug useand the problems that result from serious substance abuse.”The New Democrat MPs pointed out that the Conservative government hasconsistently failed to address the root problems of drug use in Canadaor to invest sufficiently in real enforcement solutions. “The Conservatives are not investing enough money where it’s needed tocombat the very real problems of crime and public safety in ourcommunities,” said Priddy. “Investing in adequate police resourcesallows the police more time both for enforcement work as well as forschool and community outreach initiatives.”The Conservatives showed their focus was on greater enforcement overtreatment and prevention in its 2007 budget, when it removed harmreduction as a pillar of Canada’s Drug Strategy. Health Minister TonyClement has also refused to commit to the requested three year extensionto InSite, Vancouver’s safe injection site, despite the scientificfindings that the program has reduced the transmission of HIV/AIDS andHepatitis C, and increased by 30% the number of people accessingtreatment. “Empirical evidence has proven that treatment, prevention and harmreduction programs, that are community based and accessible to drugusers, are key components in preventing drug use,” said Davies. “Thegovernment must acknowledge that these programs continue to producepositive social and economic results for working families in ourcommunities.” -30-

General Calls Iraq "Nightmare"

"After more than four years of fighting, America continues its desperate struggle in Iraq without any concerted effort to devise a strategy that will achieve victory in that war-torn country or in the greater conflict against extremism."LT. GEN. RICARDO S. SANCHEZ, the retired former top commander of American forces in Iraq.

Now doesn't that just say it all.

If it were just Democrats or Bush-haters saying these things...but here is the guy with the credentials.

Here's the full story.

The Search for Alien Life

Headline: "Scientists hope new technology will find alien life by 2025."

Brother. What are they waiting for?

Vancouver is bursting with "Alien Life."

City Council, Vandu, DTES, the Mayor...

We are Spore City. Have been for a dog's age.

The ever-present fear is of falling asleep and becoming ONE OF THEM....

Pick me up - Throw me Down

A letter to the editor has stayed in my mind from yesterday's Sun.

The writer legitimately points out that we have survived almost 3 months without garbage pickup...and then asks a wonderful question.

If we have managed all this time somehow, then why does the City pick up residential garbage every week???

How about every 2 weeks?

I have been thinking about this all day.

And how much is this a reflection of ALL city hall functions?

What if...city hall spent HALF of what it now spends because at least half of its alleged services ARE COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY?

The Gift of Giving - 2010 Style

"Admission to a Dream" should be retitled "Dream About Admission."

The paper was chocker block full today with exhortations from Vanoc/2010 about how affordable all the events will be.

Hahahahahaha...

Let's even say you could get into line in the wind and snow to watch first-hand the fabulous luge for a bargain basement $55.

Who goes to things alone? Your partnered up with at least a spouse, partner, friend, kid...so right away 55 = 110. Then bring your entire family and it's really 220. Canadian dollars that is.

Does Vanoc have some deal with the press that they can corner page after page whenever they want for their fake news?

Canada POST - My New Torah

Political parties with single focus are flat stupid.

The Marijuana Party, The Sex Party, The Cream-Coloured Buttered Turtle Party, may they all go the way of the Dodo Bird Party.

Having said that, what's with Canada POST deciding it cannot carry messages from one of these groups?

Can the word "penis" be any more offensive than "plazma TV?"

For all my good friends and guardians of the public morality at Canada POST, herewith a list of words to consider:

Johnson, dick, cock, bird, thingee, snake, soldier, head, mushroom, POST and the inevitable Eddie.

NEWS ALERT - GORE WINS NOBEL

Al Gore has won the Nobel Peace prize for his work in making public the problems of global climate change.

Within minutes the hosannas and the denouncements followed. Read the NY Times report here.

A Pox on 2010 - Mortgage Your House for Tix

I haven't relented in my disapproval of 2010 since it was first breathed as a bilious rumor some years ago.

Now, the ticket prices are being revealed. Lovely.

A thousand bucks for opening or closing ceremonies. 500 for a hockey game or figure skating show.

Yes, of course. All B.C. families have that kind of money.

This is a tax-payer funded party for the elite.

May Gordon Campbell and friends slip on a big banana peel.

Can the Charter be Re-written or Expunged?

Prime Minister Harper plans to impose automatic jail terms on young people who commit violent crimes.

I have no problem with this. I believe that the basic sentiment is right. One in a hundred juveniles who murder and maim might be ripe candidates for rehabilitation. But the wooly-headed assumption that because a boy is 15, he's a dear who has just gone momentarily astray is nonsense.

There are killers and then there is everybody else; the divide between the two is enormous.

And some kid who crashes a human being's skull in 45 times with a rock is a crazed killer and needs, for my benefit and for yours, to be locked up forever.

Enter the Charter.

The Supreme Court is now being called upon to declare that the existing Youth Justice Act is unconstitutional because it violates the poor babies' rights under the famous Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Adult crimes call for adult courts and adult sentences.

You want to let the bastard out some years later for good behaviour or whatever spurious reason, that's another story. But until that day, stick to some principles that we understand and that work.

Is it the Fish or the Paper that Stinks?

Mildew has long been one of the worst writers at the local paper. He covers the courts.

He is also a self-confessed and proud pot head. If he had his way, most everything in life would be legal. Let the chips fall where they may.

I go out of my way to not read his poisonous rants.

But this morning I actually got as far as paragraph 2. That, of course, is where I stopped.

This is what the sad fool had to say:

"For a decade now, this city has led the nation in new approaches to the persistent and pernicious problem of illegal substance abuse."

How could anybody get anything so completely wrong, backwards, inside out?

Vancouver and Victoria are leading the nation and possibly the world in creating one of the greatest urban social disasters of all time.

Once you pass the gimmick "science" of the Insite apologists - all of whom have their hands in the till - you quickly learn that Insite cannot name ONE HUMAN BEING WHO HAS MOVED ON FROM DRUGS. NOT ONE.

Drug addicts don't bother me. Never did.

It's what we used to call "the mid-town sillies" who give me the willies. These university educated, over talkative, intellectually barren, undersexed meddlers in social policy who should all be put on the last melting ice flow out of Dodge. They are the modern day Joseph Mengeles, experimenting and torturing real people in the name of social progress.

Shame on the newspaper for continuing the employment of such a misinformed, consistently negative and utterly doctrinaire creep as Mildew.

Duh?

Librarians and Outside workers vote No???

Hired Guns Shooting Up Iraq

Two weeks it was Blackwater playing Wild West.

Yesterday another private "security" firm, RTI INternational, shot 2 completely innocent women in Baghdad. They only shot them about 40 times because the women's car was close to theirs.

Would someone please explain to me what is there in the so-called Iraq War that isn't sickening and totally corrupt?

More detestable details here.

Annie Lennox Every Time We Say Goodbye

She's one of the great great pop singers of our era. This is one of the great ballads from the American Song Book by Cole Porter. Nuff said?
Well, there's news. Annie has just released a new album and I've been told it's dynamite.