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There is a new Anti-Smoking campaign that are bribing kids not to smoke. Get this; This is what this R.E.W.A.R.D.S. Foundation which is based in Vancouver, have dreamed up. They are offering children in grades five through eight, $5,000 to quit smoking or stay smoke-free throughout their high school years. The group R.E.W.A.R.D.S., is unveiling its Canada-wide program in conjunction with National Non-Smoking Week, which begins Sunday. In order to be eligible, students must sign a contract pledging to remain smoke-free at least until graduation. They must also enlist four people who agree to donate some cash each month to the R.E.W.A.R.D.S. foundation which, in turn, hands the money to the student when they complete Grade 12. The group R.E.W.A.R.D.S. program president Samy Bishay says the goal is to sign up 100,000 young people over the next few months. This is what this guy, Samy Bishay says; "The decision to smoke dramatically increases health care costs and lowers worker productivity. The decision to drop out of school decreases opportunities available to the individual which leads to increased welfare and criminal justice costs". This moron thinks that smoking increases health care costs, lowers worker productivity, that those who smoke drop out of school, which leads to increased welfare and criminal acitivity and thereby incure justice costs. That the results of smoking, these two decisions keep our society from prospering. Yeah Right! I guess that all the people back in the 1920's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's who have smoked, were the people who had increased health care costs, were workers of low productivity, had droped out of school, and were all on welfare and were criminals, just because they had choosen to smoke! This guy is not only a moron, he is a proper jerk! The only real goal this jerk has is to make a nice paying cushy job for himself.
The weather forcast is calling for a lot of snow for our area. As I look out my window at 12:40 AM, the snow is already falling moderately. By 8 AM this morning, we will have some heavy snow which will block up some of the secondary roads.
Looking out my window at 11AM, the snow is falling pretty heavy now. I can not even see across the lake. The barometer has not moved since the last time I looked at it at 6 AM. I am glad that I had decided to get my grocery yesterday. I read that US president George W. Bush and the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke both threw their support behind a stimulus package to prevent the slumping U.S. economy from sliding into recession. That is strange, I had thought that the US was already in a recession because economic signposts pointed to a slowdown in the U.S. housing market and a severe slump in jobs and credit conditions had worsened since last year. We all knew that the U.S. economic indicators have been largely negative lately, what with the retail spending had steadily fallen, housing starts were at multi-year lows, and foreclosures are way up, unemployment has risen, and stock markets have been selling off. The White House said that it would support government intervention to prop up the US economy. They are planning to cut income tax to give people more money to spend, and buy more products. I think that whatever money people get from those income tax cuts, they will hang on to it, or pay off some of the debt they own on bank loans or on their charge accounts. I doubt that people will go out and spend that money on more products, given what the economic situation is at the present time. But then, not being an American, it may be that Americans might spend that money, willy-nilly on products they really do not need.
Well, it started to snow again after a spell of sunny weather we had in the afternoon. The snow is falling gently with little wind. It is just nice to go out for a leisurely walk and enjoy the moment. I will be getting that eye operation soon and will have full sight again once the cataract is removed so it will no longer impair my vision. I have also been very fortunate that I have not been infected with that flue virus that has infected some people. No doubt they are feeling run down as they struggle to maintain their very busy, active modern lifestyle. This is the time when people should be staying at home in bed and rest. It makes no sense going out to work and spread the flue on their co-workers or their friends. But I see a lot of people doing that. When I go shopping, I make it a point to always wash my hands when I get back home. Having those little packets of hand wipes is always good to have around. I picked up a book from the library and will settle down and try to read it this evening. The book is called; Song of Wovoka written by Earl Murray. It is about a Paiute prophet Wovoka who had tried to revive hope to a desperate people through his vision of a Ghost Dance. I already know the true story, but it will be interesting to see how accrete Earl is in his retelling of that sad story. How nice and quiet it is here, compare to all the turmoil, brutality and killing that is happening in some parts of the world. I feel blessed to be living here in Northeastern Ontario.
It seems, according to Tim Harper who reports in the Monday's Star, that black women in the United States are rallying behind Barack Obama’s bid to be the leader of the Democrat party. Now that Democrats have voted or caucused in three states in three different parts of the country, it appears there is one crucial voting bloc that will not support Barack Obama: older Americans. Obama was able to overcome a consistent age gap in Iowa because of an unusually high turnout by young voters who supported him overwhelmingly. And he may be able to carry South Carolina, where roughly half the Democratic primary voters are expected to be African-American. But Obama’s weak performance so far among older voters substantially increases the odds against him scoring big victories in the slew of states voting on February 5th, "Super Duper Tuesday". There seems to be a controversy that Barack Obama may be a Muslim and has radical Islamic beliefs. His religion may be a problem for Americans, given all the killing and bombings and the 9/11 tragedy perpetuated by Muslims. His middle name is Hussein and that is what triggered this controversy. Barack Obama admits that he had spent part of his youth in Indonesia, which is a Muslim majority, radical Islamic country, and he do have Muslim roots on his father's side. Other people claim that Obama is a Christ Baal worshiper. People who belong to those religions, be it Islam or that Christ Baal religion, tend to lie a lot, so I will not make any comment on it and see where the truth will come out on this whole issue.
According to Peter Gorrie, who is the environment reporter for the Toronto, "thestar.com", most Canadians tell pollsters they're concerned about climate change. Many insist they'd like to do something about it, and would even pay for measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But propose actual cash amounts, like adding 25 cents to a litre on gasoline, or perhaps have a $10 daily commuter toll, and all that environment support, evaporates. "Once you put a price on it, people tend to think twice about it and say, `Maybe not,'" says Mario Canseco of Angus Reid Strategies, which surveyed about 3,700 Canadians on the issue last March. That's just one reason politicians aren't rushing to embrace an idea endorsed by environmentalists. many economists and even some business groups. It's also why this month's report from the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy, while it produced a flurry of media headlines, it appears that report will likely join many others on a long, dusty shelf.
According to the CTV.ca News Staff, two men were killed outside a Vancouver restaurant. The two men were killed in a gangland-style shooting outside an upscale downtown Vancouver restaurant late Saturday night. Vancouver police say the men were shot at about 10:15 p.m. Saturday after pulling up outside the restaurant in a black Land Rover. Const. Tim Fanning said two armed men walked up to the vehicle and shot the two occupants. Other people were in the car at the time of the shooting, Fanning said. One witness described a heavy police presence at the scene. "We watched them open the trunk and pull out four weapons. We're talking heavy artillery here," he said. The victims are reportedly a 38-year-old man from Chilliwack, B.C., and a 37-year-old man from Vancouver. Fanning says the hit is believed to be a targeted attack, with the shooters and victims likely known by police. Police took one man into custody and have questioned witnesses from the restaurant. They are looking for more suspects seen running from the scene. This is something you would never hear about in all of B.C. back in the 1960's and 70's. This is the result of illegal drug-gangs that have established themselves in B.C. in the last 20 years. It will only get worse if this illegal drug business is allowed to go unchecked. We need a war on illegal drugs and hand guns in Canada, rather than worry about Afghanistan, or elsewhere around the world, where we have no business being there. There is a lot of cross-border smuggling of illegal drugs and hand guns coming into Canada from the USA, which arm these drug gangs. If government officials gave as much attention to gangs, illegal drugs and hand guns as they have done with airport security, maby there will be less killings on our city streets. This situation even puts our police force in greater danger, as we have read in news reports during the past few years.
David Wilkins, the United States' ambassador to Canada, wanted his country off the torture list. Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier has stated that he regrets the embarrassment caused by the public disclosure of the training manual used in their torture awareness. It contains a list that wrongly includes some of our closest allies. There is irrefutable evidence from the news media that the USA has engaged in torture, and should remain on the list. The well known organization, Amnesty International, have the USA on their torture list and feel it should remain on the Canadian torture awareness list. It is plain to see that our government has caved in from pressure coming out from the White House. People like United States Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama and others made it clear that the United States government should be against any kind of torture. But there is irrefutable evidence from the news media that the USA has engaged in torture, and should remain on the list. The well known organization, Amnesty International, believe it's valid to have the U.S.A and Israel on the list. Besides the U.S., the torture manual also lists Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Syria. I had watched CTV's documentry; Confessions of an Innocent Man where it told the story about Canadian William Sampson who was imprisoned and tortured in Saudi Arabia. William Sampson is a Canadian/British dual citizen who was working as a business consultant in Saudi Arabia with his two colleagues who were forced to confessed on live television in orchestrating a car-bombing that killed British engineer Christopher Rodway. For the next 31 months, Sampson was held in solitary confinement and regularly tortured by his captors. CTV News had also covered the story about Canadian Maher Arar who was tortured in Syria after being "renditioned" there by the United States in 2002. CTV also covered the story about the uproar that had broke out last year when some Afghan militant detainees alleged they were tortured after Canadian forces turned them over to Afghan authorities. CTY also covered the story about the U.S. prison on Guantanamo Bay on the island of Cuba as places of torture for the alleged terrorists that are held there. CYV news reported the horrendous abuse of prisoners on Guantanamo Bay, and in Afghanistan. detainees had been taken out and tied to a post and having rubber bullets fired at them. Sexual degradation, forced drugging and religious persecution and were being made to kneel cruciform in the sun until they collapsed. The so-called “war on terror” has led to an erosion of a whole host of human rights issues. The United States are resorting to practices which have long been prohibited by international law, and have sought to justify them in the name of national security. It is a well known fact that hundreds of people are feared to have been unlawfully detained and transferred, usually in secret, to countries where they face further human rights violations, including torture or other ill-treatment and enforced disappearance. The detainment areas on Guantanamo Bay consist of three camps on the base. Camp Delta (which includes Camp Echo), Camp Iguana, and the now-closed Camp X-Ray. The facility is often referred to as the place where detainees are held by the United States who are classified as enemy combatants. We heard news reports about the number of suicide attempts by detainees and the level of their mental health is evidence of the treatment that they are receiving. It is plain to see that our government has caved in from pressure coming out from the White House.
Cuba's election is the first step in determining 81-year-old Castro's future influence over the country. A single candidate appeared on the ballot for each district. Unfortunately, the Communist party is the only choice people can vote for. No campaigning was permitted prior to the election. The new parliament will meet Feb. 24 to select a governing council of states, which will then elect a president. It is then that Castro's official status will be determined. While I may not agree with all of Castro's actions or his choice of Communist rule, I can understand his reasons behind his actions. At the time Castro became involved in politics, Cuba had been taken over by American interests and their economic power, while Cubans became less than second class citizens in their own country at that time when Cuba was deemed as America's privet playground. Castro's heart was for his fellow Cuban's and wanted to get rid of that degrading influence and corruption which had infected his people and native land. During that time, the Roman Catholic Church did little to help the people out of their misery and poverty. Instead, they choose to support the wealthy, lavish in the wealth of the insurgents, as they have done throughout the Latin American countries. Telling the native people to just accept their fate in life, and hope for that better life in Heaven. I can well understand Castro's fear that Cuba may one day revert back to be taken over by outside influence once again, once he relinquish his hold on what he had set out to do. That was to free his people from economic slavery, so that Cuba may be the ruler of its own destiny and give back to his people the self respect and dignity of a free people.
As to the stock market taking a nose dive, I am not the least bit surprised that the global stock market took a nose dive after U.S. President George W. Bush had announced his economic stimulus package of $145 billion in tax cuts, Investors around the world are doubtful those measures will lift the US economy quickly from its downward slide.
Sault Ste Marie OPP are now advising that Hwy 17 between Batchawana Bay and Wawa may be closed for at least another 24 hours. An intense weather front is resulting in an accumulation of four to six inches (15 centimeters) of snow on the roadway per hour in an area between Batchawana Bay and Montreal River. Plow trucks are experiencing difficulty keeping the heavy snow fall off the roadway. The heavy snow fall combined with high winds have not let up, and are not expected to let up for at least the next 24 hours. Highway maintenance crews are reporting zero visibility due to snow squalls since the storm set in yesterday. Here in Haileybury we had only recived a small amount of snow with light winds. The tempature last night rose up to -21 °C and continued to rise, with our present tempature at -11°C with partly cloud cover.
Now for more good news. An Albertan man had survived after being trapped in bush country for 96 hours. According to CTV, via The Associated Press, A paramedic who's used to saving the lives of others found himself having to eat rotting beaver meat and fend off snarling animals to ensure his own survival while trapped for 96 hours in the Alberta bush country. Ken Hildebrand of Fort McMurray was riding his all-terrain vehicle as he collected animal traps north about 80 miles southwest of Calgary, on Jan. 8 when the ATV rolled after hitting a rock and trapped him underneath. Hildebrand, who has a weak leg due to polio, ended up face down on the snowy ground with his machine pinning his strong leg. "He was stuck there for four days and three nights -- almost 96 hours straight," said Troy Linderman, director of Crowsnest Pass emergency medical services said. Hildebrand's injuries aren't described as life-threatening, but there is a chance his right foot might have to be amputated. Hildebrand, who wouldn't give his age, said he kept himself alive -- albeit sick -- by eating the rotting meat of the animals he had collected. He said he faced constant harassment from coyotes who were growling and fighting each other a few feet away, but was able to keep them at bay by constantly blowing a whistle he had with him. "It was time to get ready for survival mode," Hildebrand said. As a paramedic, he knew people start losing heat quickly from their upper body so he took a beaver carcass and set it by his groin to help keep his body warm. He used another beaver as a bit of a windbreak and part of its skin as a makeshift pillow. With no water or food with him, no snow close by and nothing but dirt around him, he quickly became dehydrated. He pulled some surveyor's tape through his teeth to get a little bit of the dew that dropped onto it. "I ate a lot of dirt to get a little moisture," he said. By the second night he was so hungry he started to pick at the beaver bones an hour after the sun went down. "I tried to eat pieces of that, but it made me sick and I threw up," Hildebrand said. Hildebrand made several attempts to get out from under the ATV, including using an ax to pry it off, but he didn't have enough leverage to free his leg. As Hildebrand was entering his fourth day of being trapped, he began to accept the fact he might not be found before the cold, malnourishment or animals claimed him. His saving grace came when a hiker and a dog from Pincher Creek found him. "He was hiking and he came there because he told me he had this funny intuition and urge to go hiking there even though he'd never been there before," Hildebrand said. After spending a night in the Crowsnest Pass hospital, he was transferred to Lethbridge, where he has undergone several operations to treat frostbite and injuries to his legs. "It's amazing that he's alive. I can't believe it," Linderman said. "Ken's as tough as nails." Despite hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration and leg injuries, Hildebrand's only concern after being rescued was not being able to make his next paramedic shift, Linderman said. Hildebrand, who works teaching first aid and heavy equipment at Keyano College in Fort McMurray, said he still has property in the Crowsnest Pass and was there seeing if he could help ranchers with the problem of wolves preying on cattle. I recall that Crowsnest Pass area when I had traveled through B.C. It is quite rugged there, but what beautiful country it is. The people there are as good as they come. I have fond memories of the people at Crowsnest Pass.
Israel, tiny and without oil, has decided to embrace the electric car. On Monday, the Israeli government had announced its support for a broad effort to promote the use of electric cars, embracing a joint venture between an American-Israeli entrepreneur and Renault, of France, and its partner, Nissan Motor, of Japan. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, with the active support of President Shimon Peres, intends to make Israel a laboratory to test the practicality of an environmentally clean electric car. The state will offer tax incentives to purchasers, and the new company, with a $200 million investment to start, will begin construction of facilities to recharge the cars and replace empty batteries quickly. The idea, said Shai Agassi, 39, the software entrepreneur behind the new company, is to sell electric car transportation on the model of the cellphone. Purchasers get subsidized hardware - the car - and pay a monthly fee for expected mileage, like minutes on a cellphone plan, eliminating concerns about the fluctuating price of gasoline. Good idea, but maby Israeli people should look at the ZENN Electric Car. It is is headquartered in Toronto, and manufactured in Quebec, Canada. The ZENN Motor Co. is dedicated to producing zero-emission transportation solutions for cities and global markets. The ZENN, is the perfect vehicle for city commuters, fleets (such as resorts, gated communities, airports, college and business campuses, municipalities, and parks) The ZENN is for the environmentally conscious driver, and consumers who just want to save money. Presently, the ZENN cars is sold in the United States. The ZENN is a fully electric, battery-powered with zero emissions and no noise, low speed vehicle (LSV) with European styling and appointments that offers tremendous operational cost savings compared to a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The electric cars can travel up to 50 kilometres on a single charge. Unfortunatly, a full charge would typically required 6 to 8 hours. These cars are roughly the same size as a Mini-Cooper. Better batteries that hold more energy and last longer are being developed. Electric vehicles should be able to go 150 to 200 miles before recharging. Adopting that standard, would drastically improve air quality and cut down on air pollution. Base Price for this car is; For the 2.22 - $12,750 and the 2.22LX - $14,700.00
Or else Israeli people might be better off to look towards India for their small cars. The Nano compact car will no doubt shake up automakers and revolutionize the auto industry. The new Nano car will force other auto makers to compeat drasticly if they intend to survive. India's Tata Motors has unveiled its much anticipated $2,500 US car, an ultra-cheap price tag that brings car ownership into the reach of tens of millions of people. Tata said. And, in these days of escalating gas prices,
Back to more serious, news items.....;
The Security Council is holding a meeting today, Tuesday, January 22, 2008; on the Middle East. Briefing this morning, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe expressed continued UN concern about what he termed the “extremely fragile” humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip while strongly urging Israel to allow “regular and unimpeded” delivery of fuel and basic necessities to the area. Pascoe emphasized the UN’s support for the humanitarian needs of the population there. He also said, “Israel must reconsider and cease its policy of pressuring the civilian population of Gaza for the unacceptable actions of militants. Collective penalties … are prohibited under international law.” He acknowledged Israel’s security concerns and condemned without reserve the “unacceptable” escalation of rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza. At the same time, he also reminded Israel of its obligations under international humanitarian law to avoid endangering civilians in its military actions.
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