tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25190363019684087072024-02-02T07:58:07.720-08:00George's Rantings & Ravings<center>KNOW THEN THYSELF, PRESUME NOT GOD TO SCAN. THE PROPER STUDY OF MANKIND IS MAN.<br>Alexander Pope (1688-1744)</center>George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-83680601455041671382015-10-20T21:40:00.000-07:002015-10-20T21:40:05.944-07:00DING-DONG! THE WITCH IS DEAD!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlIJUrz1V2s0ecWEEGbVX2DpZpF0koYnbph62NRuY7yzTWWjsVqVYKnosy8jKnL1w5KNZGUPXNRcdffFBcluv5pxuEzLLN9bjsyFM-EIejMaLdsXLnzrfSuR03-8zhWiMkOJrVj1iyY8/s1600/wicked_witch_of_the_west_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlIJUrz1V2s0ecWEEGbVX2DpZpF0koYnbph62NRuY7yzTWWjsVqVYKnosy8jKnL1w5KNZGUPXNRcdffFBcluv5pxuEzLLN9bjsyFM-EIejMaLdsXLnzrfSuR03-8zhWiMkOJrVj1iyY8/s1600/wicked_witch_of_the_west_md.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-55356494122676960092015-08-29T13:39:00.001-07:002015-08-29T14:11:54.360-07:00"HARPERMAN" & OTHER ELECTION GOODIES<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
In June 2015, Tony Turner, an Ottawa folksinger and Environment Canada scientist, got together with some friends and wrote and produced this rather unique ditty which is destined, I hope and think, to become part of Canada's future folklore. It sat on YouTube, largely unnoticed, until yesterday, August 28th.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
At that point, the Prime Minister's Office appears to have noticed it and with their customary professionalism (amply demonstrated during the PMO Duffy Scandal) contacted someone at Environment Canada to punish Mr. Turner. Unfortunately, for Harper's minions, they couldn't fire him because he's a month a away from retirement, so they suspended him with pay. Since he didn't produce this recording at the office or during working hours, this suspension will have further repercussions for Environment Canada once Mt. Turner's professional association gets involved. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the meantime, thanks to the publicity garnered by their actions, "Harperman" is now going viral and we have a new nickname for our temporary "All-Deficits-All-The-Time" right-wing prime minister.</div>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ei50lM6ab1c" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Doesn't this song just very neatly sum up everything the Conservatives have done to us since 2006? Don't you just want to play it over and over again? It's the same reaction I had a long time ago when I listened to "Puff, the Magic Dragon" or "Where have all the Flowers gone?" or even "Lili Marleen".</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
More to come...<br />
<br />
Here are another couple of high quality productions for every progressive person to enjoy:<br />
<br />
<b>STEPHEN HARPER HATES ME</b> by Cathy Cook<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JJjt3hZ0sxQ" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
and a follow-up second version:<br />
<br />
<b>STEPHEN HARPER HATES ME TOO</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yR9wFrdY7cw" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
And finally (for now):<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>The Harper Song (Steve It's Time to Leave)</b> by John Roby<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iLfbp-HEylU" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One of the things I really like about these music videos is the artistic quality. So maybe Harperman has at least that to his credit (sort of). Oh, and this isn't all, if you need more just got to YouTube...</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-39613177590665958112015-08-28T23:01:00.000-07:002015-08-28T23:01:07.572-07:00Harper’s Police State Law – by Elizabeth MayMarch 3, 2015<br />
Monday, February 9th, 2015<br />
by Elizabeth May, MP, Leader of the Green Party<br />
<br />
I remember the events of October 22. While I was in lock-down on Parliament Hill, I remember who hid in a closet and who ran toward gun fire. The guy in the closet is now planning to concentrate the powers of the state in his own hands while converting the Canadian spy agency into a secret police with virtually unlimited powers. And, at the same time, he has decided to demote the security team that performed its role heroically, the House of Commons Security, led by former Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers, and put the RCMP in charge of Parliament Hill. Of the two moves, clearly creating a secret police is the most dangerous, but upending the Constitutional principle that the government reports to Parliament is no small matter (and, as a Member of Parliament, I would prefer security to be in the hands of the people who paid attention that day and not the RCMP who somehow missed an armed man running past their multiple idling vehicles.)<br />
<br />
<b>Here is what Stephen Harper wants Canadians to think:</b><br />
We are at war. We face a massive terrorist threat. We must be very, very afraid and we must not question any law brought in allegedly to fight terrorism. Anyone who raises finicky, lily-livered concerns about civil liberties is a fellow-traveller of ISIS.<br />
<br />
<b>Here’s the truth:</b><br />
We are not at war. We are at peace. (Would Harper’s most trusted lieutenant and Minister of Foreign Affairs quit if we were really at war?)<br />
<br />
Acts of terrorism are a threat. They are criminal acts of horrific cruelty and sadism. Luring of disenfranchised, disenchanted, alienated Canadians into their barbaric crusade must be addressed, but the new law, C-51, is not primarily an anti-terrorism law. And legal experts are already pointing out it “undermines more promising avenues of addressing terrorism.” (Bill C-51 backgrounder, Professors Kent Roach and Craig Forcese)<br />
<br />
In terms of Canada’s future, the climate crisis is a much larger threat.<br />
<br />
We must not be afraid. We must be smart. It’s really hard to think when paralyzed by fear. Any thinking person will stand up and oppose C-51 with every ounce of their strength.<br />
<br />
Harper claims to believe Canada is a freedom-loving country. If he’s right, he miscalculated in hoping we could be scared out of our wits.<br />
<br />
We already have anti-terror laws. Terrorism, treason, sedition, espionage, proliferating of nuclear and biological weapons and other offences repeated in C-51 are already illegal. The police already have expanded powers in relation to terrorism. RCMP have powers to disrupt terrorist plots. That’s how they broke the Toronto 18, the VIA rail plot and ISIS sympathizers in Ottawa before they could move their plots into action. Full marks to the RCMP for these proactive successes. Those suspected of terrorism already have a second set of Kafa-esque laws to allow their detention through security certificates. Oversight of the operations of CSIS was reduced in the 2012 omnibus bill C-38. Put simply, Canada has already significantly intruded on Charter rights to give the RCMP, CSIS and Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) broader powers and less over-sight. Thanks to Edward Snowden, we now know that CSEC has been gathering millions of internet communications every day from Canadians – even though CSEC’s mandate was supposed to apply only to foreign activities. Under project “Levitation,” CSEC collects as many as 15 million records of uploads and downloads every day.<br />
<br />
No one from the security establishment has made a case for requiring expanded powers.<br />
<br />
C-51, the so-called Anti-Terrorism Act, creates new powers for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, CSIS. CSIS was created to keep the RCMP policing functions separate from intelligence work after the fiasco of burning down the barn in an FLQ sting operation. This bill gives CSIS the power to do anything. (Okay, not anything. It specifically says CSIS cannot directly kill or harm people or “violate the sexual integrity of an individual,” but otherwise, CSIS will have a vague set of sweeping powers).<br />
<br />
CSIS will be able to conduct any operation it thinks is in the interests of protecting the security of Canada. The definition of “undermining the security of Canada” is more a list of suggestions than a definition, using the word “including” before listing nine types of threats. Using “including” as the heading for its list leaves open the possibility that CSIS may think something else should have been on that list.<br />
<br />
Most listed activities are already illegal, such as treason, espionage, causing serious harm, etc. To this is added “interference with critical infrastructure,” raising legitimate concerns that the bill is targeted at First Nations and environmental groups opposing pipelines. There is a caveat in the Act: “For greater certainty, it does not include lawful advocacy, protest, dissent and artistic expression.”<br />
<br />
I have now twice asked the public safety and justice ministers in Question Period to clarify if the act will apply to non-lawful, non-violent civil disobedience, such as blockading along a pipeline route. Neither Stephen Blaney nor Peter MacKay would provide that assurance.<br />
<br />
This act could apply to Rosa Parks sitting in the “Whites Only” section of the bus. It could apply to anyone who talked with her about it ahead of time. It could apply to journalists who wrote she should be commended for breaking the law.<br />
The vaguest of those things that undermine the security of Canada reads as follows: “Interference with the capability of the Government of Canada in relation to intelligence, defence, border operations, public safety, the administration of justice, diplomatic or consular relations or the economic or financial stability of Canada.”<br />
<br />
That list of vague activities has the same status as terrorism in launching CSIS operatives into a murky world with powers to “take measures, within or outside Canada, to reduce the threat.”<br />
<br />
So, Saudi Arabia pumping out enough oil to cause the dropping price? Global currency speculators? Judges’ decisions the PM doesn’t like? Calling this section vague is an understatement. And CSIS only needs to go before a judge for a warrant in cases where it decided for itself that its actions will violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Then it goes to a judge for a secret warrant process. The warrant can allow break and enter to take anything and to install anything.<br />
<br />
Here’s what I could do with this section as Prime Minister. Climate change is surely a threat to public safety and the economic stability of Canada. So let’s launch CSIS at messing with the heads of all those in the fossil fuel business. Install malware. Implicate them in bogus child porno charges. Break and enter and see if they have been hiding the patents for photovoltaic, electric vehicles, better batteries. A secret police at the PM’s beck and call. Of course, if I ever were Prime Minister, one of the first things I would do is to repeal this act.<br />
<br />
It’s not enough to call for better citizen oversight as one opposition party urges. And it is certainly an act of egregious cowardice for the other opposition party to support this bill.<br />
<br />
It is trite to say that when we surrender our freedoms, the terrorists win. Even to level that charge at this bill is to fall into the Harper trap of making this bill about terrorism. It’s not. It’s about creating a secret police. It’s the death of freedom.<br />
<br />
<i>Originally published in The Tyee.</i>George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-66283064224460576152015-08-28T22:57:00.002-07:002015-08-28T22:57:25.557-07:00Bill C-51: Anti-Terrorism or Anti-Democracy?February 26, 2015<br />
<br />
The Harper government’s proposed anti-terrorism legislation, like most of its policies and pronouncements on almost anything, has almost nothing to do with the subject seemingly addressed here.<br />
<br />
As with everything else, like the unqualified support for the current Israeli government or the Ukrainian situation for example, this bill has to do with solidifying the potential pro-Conservative votes for the next federal election. Everything this government has proposed or implemented (the two things are quite different) has to do with fooling unsophisticated voters into casting their votes for the Harper party. One only has to examine the reaction of professionals in every field the Conservatives have touched, to see that they always look for political gain rather than sound policies.<br />
<br />
Everything in Bill C-51, whether potentially positive or negative, depends on proper oversight of the intelligence, security and police agencies of our country. Not review (even if it were effective, which it isn’t), but pro-active oversight. Canada’s intelligence, security, and police agencies are currently not subject to effective oversight, and they never have been since I can remember (and my professional memory goes back to before the 1970 October crisis). For some reason, Harper does not want oversight, or even effective review.<br />
<br />
Is he a potential dictator? Or does he just have a massive inferiority complex which makes him need absolute control over everything? In any case, this new proposed legislation, which will probably be passed without proper examination, is anti-democratic because it allows the agencies involved to interfere with our individual rights as Canadian citizens.George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-46649035677933600902015-02-24T13:11:00.002-08:002015-03-22T10:06:32.706-07:00Google's Blogger gets right-wing religion and abandons freedom of expression<b>Yesterday I received the following email from Blogger:</b><br />
<br />
Dear Blogger User,<br />
<br />
We're writing to tell you about an upcoming change to the Blogger Content Policy that may affect your account.<br />
<br />
In the coming weeks, we'll no longer allow blogs that contain sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video. We'll still allow nudity presented in artistic, educational, documentary, or scientific contexts, or where there are other substantial benefits to the public from not taking action on the content.<br />
<br />
The new policy will go into effect on the 23rd of March 2015. After this policy goes into effect, Google will restrict access to any blog identified as being in violation of our revised policy. No content will be deleted, but only blog authors and those with whom they have expressly shared the blog will be able to see the content we've made private.<br />
<br />
Our records indicate that your account may be affected by this policy change. Please refrain from creating new content that would violate this policy. Also, we ask that you make any necessary changes to your existing blog to comply as soon as possible, so that you won't experience any interruptions in service. You may also choose to create an archive of your content via Google Takeout (https://www.google.com/settings/takeout/custom/blogger).<br />
<br />
For more information, please read here (https://support.google.com/blogger?p=policy_update).<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
The Blogger Team<br />
<br />
(c) 2015 Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043<br />
<br />
____________________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
<b>My Comment</b><br />
<br />
It seems that Google who own Blogger have succumbed to right-wing Republican, Tea Party and extreme right-wing religious pressure and are going to ban sex from anyone using Blogger. Of course we all know that these weird people who try to control our lives don't usually think about sex except when they breed or molest children and they don't want real human beings to have sexual thoughts either. Not that that's going to work!<br />
<br />
What I'm really insulted about is that I (and other Blogger users) received this email accusing me of publishing pornography. The only image on my blog that could possibly fall under this heading is the following reproduced painting:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-isPOxZZNEMZcUaBx32zy3TGcQth06pcsCDhFCR0QMMBa-wGIvopcMMYyoj9UinOV9XiuSmPjaTLGESYFz6H-zIeCZyGlBKj1Irf6l8YegVD75fReONcHImyJNYLLogJoyUiIskGWcAE/s1600/Emperor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-isPOxZZNEMZcUaBx32zy3TGcQth06pcsCDhFCR0QMMBa-wGIvopcMMYyoj9UinOV9XiuSmPjaTLGESYFz6H-zIeCZyGlBKj1Irf6l8YegVD75fReONcHImyJNYLLogJoyUiIskGWcAE/s1600/Emperor.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And the only reason this painting could be considered pornographic is because of the person who is displayed here whose name I won't mention. On the other hand, because it is a painting, it's excluded from Blogger's non-publication policy.<br />
<br />
So, because Google and its Blogger subsidiary are trying to violate my right to freedom of speech and expression, I will delete this blog when the anti-free speech policy comes into effect and will also monitor and limit my exposure to Google products (although that will be difficult, just as it is difficult or impossible to escape scrutiny by the CIA and NSA, and its, thank god much less effective, counterparts in Canada). It seems the warnings of George Orwell's "1984" are coming ever closer to reality 30 years later!George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-17507021381154388872014-12-20T15:59:00.000-08:002014-12-20T15:59:30.179-08:00It's that time of year ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>I can't decide whether to be traditional or ....?</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>But be happy, whatever holiday you're celebrating around this time of the year!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeUCAiVC0sLty6DnG7fLdPeVfXJuDZ55FseSkPWoaq3-iceF8tKG9utABcDVYNDW_j2wbFXdQrpPVjJMUVfKdkAuahakizHuUq42sZxLUgR92GND6cA4d3gan19xHlJyC-4yNjWqGwiM/s1600/christmas2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeUCAiVC0sLty6DnG7fLdPeVfXJuDZ55FseSkPWoaq3-iceF8tKG9utABcDVYNDW_j2wbFXdQrpPVjJMUVfKdkAuahakizHuUq42sZxLUgR92GND6cA4d3gan19xHlJyC-4yNjWqGwiM/s1600/christmas2014.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdH6kVfql3ghFe8BJYS24HR7xC2b1NrFIozZcomx-nqrxjF1owUifuxYQErTesaJnS_2GxCrovb2CvNvwWnTlksvKI-3u7jbQVBC0LMHONCKfpmSdN4Q98lsR-yWHcFuHWoPlIpqfCxQE/s1600/rudolph2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdH6kVfql3ghFe8BJYS24HR7xC2b1NrFIozZcomx-nqrxjF1owUifuxYQErTesaJnS_2GxCrovb2CvNvwWnTlksvKI-3u7jbQVBC0LMHONCKfpmSdN4Q98lsR-yWHcFuHWoPlIpqfCxQE/s1600/rudolph2014.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-37497706026760317802014-05-14T12:04:00.002-07:002014-05-14T12:04:30.733-07:00Words of Wisdom for Harperites and Religious Nuts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w1HuQhnju88ozD1GY3-xShJbP9qvTiiTAt-GzIUjsEpkZ5jzNTqGDPwAOcFBQT_3qzKD6n0QmU4v45LidQ_UxrWBMNBjEbu67IZsEQVvOuW6_rFH1Ia9Xc-VYHpJpoCqWCyEWl8vkGU/s1600/tumblr_n5ic9542WT1smpm6vo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w1HuQhnju88ozD1GY3-xShJbP9qvTiiTAt-GzIUjsEpkZ5jzNTqGDPwAOcFBQT_3qzKD6n0QmU4v45LidQ_UxrWBMNBjEbu67IZsEQVvOuW6_rFH1Ia9Xc-VYHpJpoCqWCyEWl8vkGU/s1600/tumblr_n5ic9542WT1smpm6vo1_1280.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-44659511511432937782014-04-09T12:42:00.000-07:002014-04-09T12:42:06.204-07:00About Harper's "Fair" Elections Act<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNNW3i07an7eMze6XHcBkEwBqHhWynLIyonEQD_xk0WpWF9cOcDfIiKvpIZBgcRk5Vq-gB-5fCrF94uT-vBb4VvOglz8lziHY-6DpCMuQrfn1A8_fKT20eCItpnMvT3jqIXK_CswHpe4/s1600/tumblr_n3rx1c0IlS1raw1oio1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNNW3i07an7eMze6XHcBkEwBqHhWynLIyonEQD_xk0WpWF9cOcDfIiKvpIZBgcRk5Vq-gB-5fCrF94uT-vBb4VvOglz8lziHY-6DpCMuQrfn1A8_fKT20eCItpnMvT3jqIXK_CswHpe4/s1600/tumblr_n3rx1c0IlS1raw1oio1_1280.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In view of what Harper and his party trolls are saying about the election experts' comments about his "Fair" Elections Act, what do you think Conservatives would say about the "self-appointed" experts shown in the image above, eh?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-11548162221895967712014-04-09T12:32:00.000-07:002014-04-09T12:32:50.685-07:00Spring in Victoria: not so different from Winter ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNWZtSTa30AQfTT-9TcvfqH2N1vQ3apHTzyA_Pb05-XEmVtfwNWDBNnm3w8MWjgNNQS5ZhQRAx5WvSbjXEfjNgZAlZ_jWLRVHmMU5Um5dEvS1PAKcMc-9_jstfmfBzV04VB1AdKw7Hko/s1600/march27-10a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNWZtSTa30AQfTT-9TcvfqH2N1vQ3apHTzyA_Pb05-XEmVtfwNWDBNnm3w8MWjgNNQS5ZhQRAx5WvSbjXEfjNgZAlZ_jWLRVHmMU5Um5dEvS1PAKcMc-9_jstfmfBzV04VB1AdKw7Hko/s1600/march27-10a.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3hUOZAO7eNNeSp7m9v3q52oys1MiAKX3IUQMa5IYOZBuDDqFuazjgnmb8MGC3PHXWiVGBLcH7KZIkOXej7Uc0HQBR2Y-UsdhO1tXCTTZJpksGSB28V4k87-5b7CiSu33RkrVY8mpb2k/s1600/march27-10b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3hUOZAO7eNNeSp7m9v3q52oys1MiAKX3IUQMa5IYOZBuDDqFuazjgnmb8MGC3PHXWiVGBLcH7KZIkOXej7Uc0HQBR2Y-UsdhO1tXCTTZJpksGSB28V4k87-5b7CiSu33RkrVY8mpb2k/s1600/march27-10b.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3XnluscaThdRVYPlOsm7bhH1fOjK-Cu27FOFhI9kX4-J5QJt4k-itU4BG3fywX5np3pgvCfO9iBBDVp3ZaK7baIVzw0z0hhlpN_asLdvGtXwghYRjAEj0DqKZgFrOQBadomMsnCM_gw/s1600/march27-10c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3XnluscaThdRVYPlOsm7bhH1fOjK-Cu27FOFhI9kX4-J5QJt4k-itU4BG3fywX5np3pgvCfO9iBBDVp3ZaK7baIVzw0z0hhlpN_asLdvGtXwghYRjAEj0DqKZgFrOQBadomMsnCM_gw/s1600/march27-10c.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-86329987502286253132014-03-23T17:36:00.000-07:002014-03-23T17:36:47.757-07:00The Last Day of Winter in Victoria<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>March 19, 2014</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBsJYYUAIa9_QywuintVPmqmFgQZXuO1TDCs5fJ3Lp3TpdGjPsp3roIu6tqDrY5F6SH1NVZ4JVmZ-DAGgALbD2rV8laREu3-jgsDxt6UCLTZj4NDvIWLjvbJairoumXN9-QWGWvb8Re8/s1600/march29-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBsJYYUAIa9_QywuintVPmqmFgQZXuO1TDCs5fJ3Lp3TpdGjPsp3roIu6tqDrY5F6SH1NVZ4JVmZ-DAGgALbD2rV8laREu3-jgsDxt6UCLTZj4NDvIWLjvbJairoumXN9-QWGWvb8Re8/s1600/march29-14.jpg" height="268" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-38935196140198769452014-03-08T17:02:00.001-08:002014-03-08T17:03:11.001-08:00The End of February in Victoria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Sunday, February 23rd, 2014</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>West Saanich Road</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqbVgVR_Q4I1IB-m75lFawjGb_gsycC8hqyatYl6bNZhyphenhyphenAveVcc9IPNOvg2cmTEBHTSAXV81SGxKxD2ouSUA8FCxcoInZACx8dpMawIYrZZQEdLQT3E7X7RLdyF9V3qPNtOGhsnTpwbE/s1600/feb23-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqbVgVR_Q4I1IB-m75lFawjGb_gsycC8hqyatYl6bNZhyphenhyphenAveVcc9IPNOvg2cmTEBHTSAXV81SGxKxD2ouSUA8FCxcoInZACx8dpMawIYrZZQEdLQT3E7X7RLdyF9V3qPNtOGhsnTpwbE/s1600/feb23-14.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjEtjm4RVZiJp7FcHUK_APtPSxsAbtZ0bLBlVqTXjs3fcz5RfILIQlT32MX85cITbE876LpQUJ8CMnvnztwvFUIsDVAYa-CBBqxH5qpCNArnYLQhnq4jfmCpV-IUZKzGRULcyp2TokZ8/s1600/feb23-14a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjEtjm4RVZiJp7FcHUK_APtPSxsAbtZ0bLBlVqTXjs3fcz5RfILIQlT32MX85cITbE876LpQUJ8CMnvnztwvFUIsDVAYa-CBBqxH5qpCNArnYLQhnq4jfmCpV-IUZKzGRULcyp2TokZ8/s1600/feb23-14a.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Wednesday, February 26th</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Mount Baker & a sail boat</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gCLC_1UNlnmhzybegmtax83QfnNM0mO3dWRVL4I0e2GcZy-3OqqJEu_zqzG-Oc8t59NJGyz36MWygBVX7OCza7np87Irn24ijTmlS6hHaHP7AnUA-QU3waBhUClCoGtHFojzZEs-WY8/s1600/feb26-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gCLC_1UNlnmhzybegmtax83QfnNM0mO3dWRVL4I0e2GcZy-3OqqJEu_zqzG-Oc8t59NJGyz36MWygBVX7OCza7np87Irn24ijTmlS6hHaHP7AnUA-QU3waBhUClCoGtHFojzZEs-WY8/s1600/feb26-14.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAcl7CcCLXi-pKrI1CGC4124VY4ECDOI9_HhcCFUPOaCNLWakyDgUkalMCbAdQxG1NgEAt4bP7wWzMuszrqVh8hqRVjOC6LUl62C4b7pxwzXsjJEhyDdgyO4EpGKe5FILeynnIr06zZE/s1600/feb26-14a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAcl7CcCLXi-pKrI1CGC4124VY4ECDOI9_HhcCFUPOaCNLWakyDgUkalMCbAdQxG1NgEAt4bP7wWzMuszrqVh8hqRVjOC6LUl62C4b7pxwzXsjJEhyDdgyO4EpGKe5FILeynnIr06zZE/s1600/feb26-14a.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Friday, February 28th</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>My first daffodil</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZlEoUPEvzFjX3HHTbuEjH5yY34At66BsmmjOzAoEVgJAYvu33WEJuULxF-w1u2EFj_IwRjfNa2DM94MnJ8qeYDkRQdZJNLoSLfPwA5OPqF3JZunwkwPXI140kFiaVnJ2S10uiJemJMs/s1600/feb28-14_1st-daff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZlEoUPEvzFjX3HHTbuEjH5yY34At66BsmmjOzAoEVgJAYvu33WEJuULxF-w1u2EFj_IwRjfNa2DM94MnJ8qeYDkRQdZJNLoSLfPwA5OPqF3JZunwkwPXI140kFiaVnJ2S10uiJemJMs/s1600/feb28-14_1st-daff.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-32441041990148270652014-02-18T11:30:00.000-08:002014-03-08T17:13:13.912-08:00A Message for the Thinking Person<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/t5Lt43E0wCI" width="560"></iframe></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-1192680222144319232014-01-09T12:34:00.000-08:002014-01-09T12:38:26.861-08:00Better late, than never!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UnKxk1pV42ame6rfknMi6iilTyxJH_hW-wz9RLu9SRDzGhmxi7gJaCufSo12xTYRAhm7Em_9pdffYsLUzVgFrCklgd9iRL0_iGHse2hUB7_5ozjEwA8GnCm4shNaPVE03aBp7HQbWH4/s1600/christmas2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UnKxk1pV42ame6rfknMi6iilTyxJH_hW-wz9RLu9SRDzGhmxi7gJaCufSo12xTYRAhm7Em_9pdffYsLUzVgFrCklgd9iRL0_iGHse2hUB7_5ozjEwA8GnCm4shNaPVE03aBp7HQbWH4/s1600/christmas2013.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Victoria, a few days before Christmas</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>HAPPY NEW YEAR
</b></span></span></span></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-19888914255613824122013-10-23T23:47:00.000-07:002013-10-23T23:52:17.376-07:00HARPER'S IDEA OF DEMOCRACY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iWus8mPAisMglrAQwo4s8L1_gScUp9KRqqrD09ddEIrxGiLU5H9D62a1-jDh4BvzlFh301G0ra1fxpYZ9NPBRbHhzUAFpyCGVVUTG9sIv0G02yH5tiRsoM4v1gOhB5UZIK0fWIkaoV0/s1600/harper07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iWus8mPAisMglrAQwo4s8L1_gScUp9KRqqrD09ddEIrxGiLU5H9D62a1-jDh4BvzlFh301G0ra1fxpYZ9NPBRbHhzUAFpyCGVVUTG9sIv0G02yH5tiRsoM4v1gOhB5UZIK0fWIkaoV0/s1600/harper07.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>NO SENATE, NO HOUSE OF COMMONS, JUST ME.</b>.</span></span></span>.</div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-67980864283658659822013-08-09T17:49:00.001-07:002013-08-09T17:49:40.800-07:00Sochi 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWxtcoX33d-HCSRbJA0pPKJjWOc-qNu-AhF_bBfj72rHGlyQxvy-R2y6erYTAu_TGkufMKVjRgYY3S9hYrMjRo6CSAQRpeFt89PlQKsKOeQzrikPoSz5IuT3ZE9qIXXl8Caz2BElh500/s1600/sochi2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWxtcoX33d-HCSRbJA0pPKJjWOc-qNu-AhF_bBfj72rHGlyQxvy-R2y6erYTAu_TGkufMKVjRgYY3S9hYrMjRo6CSAQRpeFt89PlQKsKOeQzrikPoSz5IuT3ZE9qIXXl8Caz2BElh500/s1600/sochi2013.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-92003078334894800052013-07-23T17:19:00.002-07:002014-03-08T17:16:54.651-08:00"Our" Story in Two Minutes<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MrqqD_Tsy4Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>With a slight overemphasis on the US (as our = human kind)...</b></div>George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-5510080576311727672013-07-22T17:04:00.000-07:002013-07-22T17:04:21.237-07:00OH CANADA <div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/69748338?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=006699" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>No commentary necessary!</b></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-77515498800691379302012-12-29T12:33:00.001-08:002012-12-29T12:33:44.652-08:00The End is a Beginning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgzg9B5LZrbdI1ekiD1H-KT6nNar0-eDpPjzikOzXp5rOqlGk9t0rMK5RIQfA52t9mA4HcEbObEL2SKmWTDZELCZhsVRh3baiAaHYH2sJzxUJgbXO7S-p3e48DnVMw-XaVhCfpWwid34/s1600/christmas2012-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgzg9B5LZrbdI1ekiD1H-KT6nNar0-eDpPjzikOzXp5rOqlGk9t0rMK5RIQfA52t9mA4HcEbObEL2SKmWTDZELCZhsVRh3baiAaHYH2sJzxUJgbXO7S-p3e48DnVMw-XaVhCfpWwid34/s1600/christmas2012-3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br />This year I decided to return to the original Nordic, Germanic meaning of the festival we celebrate at this time of the year. This meaning is pure, real and scientific. And above all, it doesn't have a religious sentiment attached to it which in today's politically correct version would mean adding dozens of different names to the image.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And, more importantly, the days in question no longer have any religious meaning for the vast majority of people, particularly in the so-called first world. It's become nothing but an excuse for excessive, almost unbridled shopping and debt creation. And what, pray tell, does any of that have to do with "Christmas"?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, let's celebrate the winter solstice, enjoy the days already getting longer, if not warmer, and think of friends and family. Oh, and let's hope for a much improved new year - 2013.</div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-81688141274813939022012-12-15T12:03:00.000-08:002012-12-15T12:03:16.568-08:00America: Once upon a time, The Beautiful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rtl1JP-x2Ihx54XCPButS1T5xEdXmMywL0fWUCH9S7y0pT-hZZ-sKqxVqqqYTSQR6sONBEXXHR0XDO8JUtxWKn-qObViW1X54YR3KPfB4bBzavJLU6CYyfrMoWJNqXmM0r-X50CPU6c/s1600/tumblr_mf1hodDzrU1r43hwjo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rtl1JP-x2Ihx54XCPButS1T5xEdXmMywL0fWUCH9S7y0pT-hZZ-sKqxVqqqYTSQR6sONBEXXHR0XDO8JUtxWKn-qObViW1X54YR3KPfB4bBzavJLU6CYyfrMoWJNqXmM0r-X50CPU6c/s1600/tumblr_mf1hodDzrU1r43hwjo1_500.jpg" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And that's only handguns, not including assault guns and rifles and assorted other guns, all of which are legal in the US. Why? Isn't it time to declare the National Rifle Association a terrorist organization?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-62223821768894421832012-10-20T11:25:00.001-07:002012-10-20T11:44:14.099-07:00It's been too long since I've posted anything here.I'm sick to death of what the Harper dictatorship is doing to drag Canada back into mediocrity every day. So here are a few non-political pictures to put some distance between us and them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs59Cur2at4hE-ZnPPMXksiUxkaHGU1O6ytLq9rRi2wcmrmdsj8_U0m5w_jjEBCe_WgQtVpBdcJQVz2fFd9KYmhBpADNXWu6bKY15QEXB1hCep9W_xxOjFi1XaUBGkyu4eyycoKvFogsU/s1600/tumblr_lsqcpqvm1T1qd01d5o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs59Cur2at4hE-ZnPPMXksiUxkaHGU1O6ytLq9rRi2wcmrmdsj8_U0m5w_jjEBCe_WgQtVpBdcJQVz2fFd9KYmhBpADNXWu6bKY15QEXB1hCep9W_xxOjFi1XaUBGkyu4eyycoKvFogsU/s400/tumblr_lsqcpqvm1T1qd01d5o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hxFvdHXvoKpBmUoUZXKKJz8vhLSiRPLfXIz6hBKZqaCy82MrC2nIvTwPmj53K9WFkRpJA38aeGDK55U6Bjl7CbbD8_j9k6HOAPqzLe9Q_8W2-HFVJSDVY7Cdan4BA_9ZxjXQ70fFJPw/s1600/tumblr_lwqmboxmrZ1qzmpi9o1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hxFvdHXvoKpBmUoUZXKKJz8vhLSiRPLfXIz6hBKZqaCy82MrC2nIvTwPmj53K9WFkRpJA38aeGDK55U6Bjl7CbbD8_j9k6HOAPqzLe9Q_8W2-HFVJSDVY7Cdan4BA_9ZxjXQ70fFJPw/s400/tumblr_lwqmboxmrZ1qzmpi9o1_400.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMUjCMeQU2Eiq_7igbf0B2aYdIigT5-l6o4qw_yGrgWYiGJHN1dbaSFVZ3zFYY2xjyI8P8UHOCt1hC3Kp6FFnHl3EyvQq1syaQ3aP4C5GGBv7yE2AEGfYKeed2sb6n3CheJFztfDTkrw/s1600/tumblr_lxgg84e1bf1r33belo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMUjCMeQU2Eiq_7igbf0B2aYdIigT5-l6o4qw_yGrgWYiGJHN1dbaSFVZ3zFYY2xjyI8P8UHOCt1hC3Kp6FFnHl3EyvQq1syaQ3aP4C5GGBv7yE2AEGfYKeed2sb6n3CheJFztfDTkrw/s400/tumblr_lxgg84e1bf1r33belo1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfR-cghRLSWJZp_LupTg21WrixZQBnUUeSSn20K3pREBQN2P9oys6tQreQuH9WKANwKne-eXNjQsMI3x7sKPKgvg6jEVffsPJGY90ZlGYTBU4MBAxyvFqCPU0wFcWs2_2tZu18d_q0cQ/s1600/tumblr_m0xdeak4Q51r4t9h1o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfR-cghRLSWJZp_LupTg21WrixZQBnUUeSSn20K3pREBQN2P9oys6tQreQuH9WKANwKne-eXNjQsMI3x7sKPKgvg6jEVffsPJGY90ZlGYTBU4MBAxyvFqCPU0wFcWs2_2tZu18d_q0cQ/s400/tumblr_m0xdeak4Q51r4t9h1o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8de_NjSkkcipcTJCC5SCk1-iHojVUQRbQEWR4VuTw-tzMYQmdS8L_pqjrBv6TtDxVlGiHy6QfZKJSqzKAt34XUL8EO_kWumzl1Mevo5KtbSpo2lfWEMhmHFTo0YiQvtdJuL8Ao-GXre0/s1600/tumblr_m5irqnbzl01qh66wqo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8de_NjSkkcipcTJCC5SCk1-iHojVUQRbQEWR4VuTw-tzMYQmdS8L_pqjrBv6TtDxVlGiHy6QfZKJSqzKAt34XUL8EO_kWumzl1Mevo5KtbSpo2lfWEMhmHFTo0YiQvtdJuL8Ao-GXre0/s400/tumblr_m5irqnbzl01qh66wqo1_500.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX_jpXddw5zqmL2oyZUEPflePYg6XFy6lUqSRv66mss3mQ6Ll8lYoe_3aKtF5yIi1YTyEd-wmdBX_G1U4Fd6-4x5-QxuO2wyN5jcOzdcydTDY5MHgJRReOYm6oBDlFcr0OkJ-6nfIizA/s1600/tumblr_m5zr2aKuP91r0066wo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX_jpXddw5zqmL2oyZUEPflePYg6XFy6lUqSRv66mss3mQ6Ll8lYoe_3aKtF5yIi1YTyEd-wmdBX_G1U4Fd6-4x5-QxuO2wyN5jcOzdcydTDY5MHgJRReOYm6oBDlFcr0OkJ-6nfIizA/s400/tumblr_m5zr2aKuP91r0066wo1_500.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG4RfgdxYCXG7n52nAZpl-pG7LYBHuiWcOLyJGmnCBXTcaF5QSmL5O9XZbmUFC1xsBRROvdW1Vda_lfo1xgonjQtnNFC90UWmNTpbe3yAAPt26_0uu462iaFzTC0cOIOXMXNERw3RRGA/s1600/tumblr_m6s4z9Tk1U1qhwuczo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG4RfgdxYCXG7n52nAZpl-pG7LYBHuiWcOLyJGmnCBXTcaF5QSmL5O9XZbmUFC1xsBRROvdW1Vda_lfo1xgonjQtnNFC90UWmNTpbe3yAAPt26_0uu462iaFzTC0cOIOXMXNERw3RRGA/s400/tumblr_m6s4z9Tk1U1qhwuczo1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: red;">There, don't you feel a bit better now?</span></b></div>
George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-9226763853671273122012-08-10T11:47:00.000-07:002012-08-10T11:47:40.862-07:00What Harper really thinks about federalism<b>British Columbia “firewall” anyone?</b><br />
<br />
Elizabeth May <br />
The Island Tides<br />
August 9, 2012<br />
<br />
For anyone familiar with Stephen Harper’s role as a provincial rights advocate, the federal posturing on the Enbridge risky tanker and pipeline scheme is more than ironic. It is a 180 degree about face.<br />
<br />
Back in January 2001, our future Prime Minister sent a letter to Premier Ralph Klein in which he called for Alberta to exercise its Constitutional provincial powers to “build firewalls around Alberta.” The letter was co-signed by Harper’s mentor from the University of Alberta Tom Flanagan, Ted Morton (at the time described as Alberta Senator-elect), the head of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and other Alberta luminaries, including Ken Boessenkool, (described in the letter as former advisor to “Stockwell Day, Treasurer of Alberta,” who is currently none other than Premier Christy Clark’s Chief of Staff.) Stephen Harper, who claimed top spot in the list of signatories, was at the time President of the National Citizens’ Coalition.<br />
<br />
The letter set out what the signatories believed to be Constitutionally allowed steps Alberta should take, including: withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan, ending the provincial contract with the RCMP, a provincial take-over of health care decision-making, and collecting revenue for the province from income tax. The aim of this bullish use of provincial powers was “to limit the extent to which an aggressive and hostile federal government can encroach on legitimate provincial jurisdiction.”<br />
<br />
What a difference a decade makes. Now Stephen Harper is so confident of the right of the federal government to insist on an over-land pipeline to a tanker route through the most treacherous waters on earth that he committed to the project’s approval and completion before the provincial government had so much as uttered a word on the project’s acceptability. (I leave it to Patrick Brown to set out the nature of Christy Clark’s rather belated demands, but at least she has asserted that British Columbia has something to say in the matter. I leave for another day that other Constitutional objection to the Enbridge project – the constitutionally protected inherent rights of First Nations.)George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-91721411842129922712012-07-31T13:00:00.000-07:002012-07-31T13:02:06.215-07:00Two days ago, in my driveway ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwK5gbWK2bEDjSSgE21mMaIps4h1G7q7LccK9oUuPwWyYHNF3d-RN9Ao8s1M5hWC0n9W_y5f6PHlmWWIYLNKjIrRWZy27xLCdPyQWAG5j5whZXROO2ngCz35x2sIvQDBpQi1ikaDHiWg/s1600/DSC00698_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwK5gbWK2bEDjSSgE21mMaIps4h1G7q7LccK9oUuPwWyYHNF3d-RN9Ao8s1M5hWC0n9W_y5f6PHlmWWIYLNKjIrRWZy27xLCdPyQWAG5j5whZXROO2ngCz35x2sIvQDBpQi1ikaDHiWg/s400/DSC00698_md.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kcSu6i6TOkc_WcOtVVzEx3LigOYNpP6emL4uojEk8axXnThZXkbfsEfPiwTJrhIFv2x0lvm5_IsCXQPu7vWrzoyQGa02YXf2c1_Jn4eFh6wrWYsyIF9UX7uTitNP5RThHy6z7-EDJYc/s1600/DSC00700_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kcSu6i6TOkc_WcOtVVzEx3LigOYNpP6emL4uojEk8axXnThZXkbfsEfPiwTJrhIFv2x0lvm5_IsCXQPu7vWrzoyQGa02YXf2c1_Jn4eFh6wrWYsyIF9UX7uTitNP5RThHy6z7-EDJYc/s400/DSC00700_md.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's proof that life can still go on despite the ravages imposed on our society by neo-conservative politicians. So let us not give up hope, instead let us pray harder as I suggested in my last post.</div>George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-33879630420966810672012-07-27T15:24:00.001-07:002012-07-27T15:24:51.688-07:00LET US PRAY!<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
I first posted this some time ago, but it really needs repeating as often as possible!</div>
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
</div>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Losing Favourites ...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br /><b>In church I heard a
lady in the pew next to me saying a prayer. It was so sweet and
sincere that I just had to share with you. </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><b>Dear Lord, </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><b>This has been a tough two or three years. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><b>You have taken my favourite actor Patrick Swayze. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><b>My favourite musician Michael Jackson. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><b>My favourite salesman Billy Mays. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><b>My favourite actress Elizabeth Taylor. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><b>And now my favourite singer Whitney Houston. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<div style="color: #cc0000;">
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I just wanted you to know that my favourite politician is Stephen Harper.</b></div>George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-69491644895767869292012-07-20T13:41:00.000-07:002012-07-20T13:42:25.983-07:00REMEMBERING JULY 20, 1944<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today, 68 years ago, was the last of many unsuccessful attempts by courageous, patriotic Germans to remove Hitler from power by one way or another. These heroes who came from many areas of German society, from students and ordinary people to generals, diplomats, politicians, civil servants, clergy, artists and aristocrats, deserve our admiration. They risked imprisonment and death to rid their country and the world of evil. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_C4mtq79LilbVhflehYzAnVsuP2iqsfSdolxsy2UQMdQgXD8tWK6eLP-73hM7p1AihDIQ9K6T0lZdNfpG6X-UTSs485KkFsjxeUaH87vhePzDKlH-cWyXq7OOl4QhlUNai-Y0UWEkow/s1600/stauffenberg01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_C4mtq79LilbVhflehYzAnVsuP2iqsfSdolxsy2UQMdQgXD8tWK6eLP-73hM7p1AihDIQ9K6T0lZdNfpG6X-UTSs485KkFsjxeUaH87vhePzDKlH-cWyXq7OOl4QhlUNai-Y0UWEkow/s400/stauffenberg01.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The last and best known of these heroes was Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, so I'm using his picture to stand in for them all. It doesn't matter that they didn't succeed, what matters is that they tried when most didn't or couldn't.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Unfortunately political evil and dictatorship didn't end in 1945. It exists today all around us. China hasn't ever been governed democratically in its long history. Russia has only experienced a few years of imperfect democracy and can't be called a democracy today. The Middle East (Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, to name a few of the more atrocious examples). Most countries on the African continent. And let us not forget the so-called advanced democratic countries of the "Western World". The only "super power" left, the United States, which demonstrates every day that its democratic institutions are almost bankrupt. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And especially, let us think about our own country, Canada, which since 2006 has been run by a man and a party which is dedicated to undermining our democratic institutions and take us back to a time when the country was ruled for the benefit of a small, ignorant, racist, bigoted, white minority and doesn't see itself as being there to advance and protect all of us equally.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Fortunately, 30 years ago, we had a far-seeing prime minister who foresaw that there might be a future danger from the far right of our society to undermine our rights and freedoms. As a result, so far, it's proved difficult for our current government to encroach deeply into the values of our society. But, as the example of the heroes of July 20, 1944 shows us, we must remain ever vigilant so that we can prevent our freedoms from being encroached upon in the first place and thus not make it necessary to resort to the extreme measures that they had to.</div>George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519036301968408707.post-79233721369960825552012-06-04T20:34:00.001-07:002012-06-04T20:34:49.254-07:00SILENCE HARPER! SAVE DEMOCRACY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQ_WURuybK3688f5D9m2W3er7s0dZooVXJlDMuV1zFCHT7Kk_P49b2A7nYX0Ly7YH7sxuNPVLtvIHwM0FgDkmKxNKVDGCreFtoVXqVLO9_ZijgPysX-XZiw0KEAg9XKvjXGMK0ihbzmg/s1600/EN-1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQ_WURuybK3688f5D9m2W3er7s0dZooVXJlDMuV1zFCHT7Kk_P49b2A7nYX0Ly7YH7sxuNPVLtvIHwM0FgDkmKxNKVDGCreFtoVXqVLO9_ZijgPysX-XZiw0KEAg9XKvjXGMK0ihbzmg/s640/EN-1200.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Think about this: First he wants to put his whole legislative plan into one massive bill. What's next? No legislation at all, just orders? Heil Harper! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>George Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953942818042530856noreply@blogger.com0