Too innocent to arrest to dangerous to fly 2 · Saturday June 30, 2007 by colin newell
Alistair Butt and Alistair Butt both have the same problem — they can’t fly because of their name.
One Butt is a 15-year-old Ottawa boy — a star athlete and 2003 Ontario junior citizen of the year. The other Butt is a 10-year-old home-school student from Saskatoon who just finished Grade 4.
Both Butts were barred from their flights after their name popped up on a no-fly list, which is intended to flag airline security threats.
Canada’s no-fly list in an obvious waste of time and money that will do nothing for aviation security.
What’s more, when one of the Butt parents asked what they could do to fix this situation they were told:
“...perhaps it would be best to change the child’s name.”
Why? Because the child could be barred for flying for life.
And he will never be told why.
Because it’s a secret.
Fcuk. Fcukity Fcukity Fcuk.
Who stole Canada?
Comment [3]
Too dangerous to fly - Too innocent to arrest · Friday June 29, 2007 by colin newell
The neo-cons I have coffee with every morning do not get it.
“Very few innocent people will be caught in the snare of heightened security at Canada’s airports…”
That is not the point, I keep harping.
Canada’s No-Fly list was a bad idea from the get go.
It needs to be abandoned, scrapped, shelved, whatever.
This is Canada after all – not America.
My coffee buddies argue: “There are only 1000 people on the list right now…”
Yes, I reply. 1000 too many. And there are 5000 other people that have the same name as these people.
And how guilty are these 1000 people on the list?
Well, apparently not guilty enough to arrest.
Apparently we are entering a time in Human history where it is against the law to think about stuff… not actually do anything bad but contemplate doing something contrary to public order.
In some countries, for instance, this blog entry would be considered an act of terrorism.
Boom.
Canada day attacks on freedom · Tuesday June 26, 2007 by colin newell
Coming to your town. In a Times-Colonist report this morning, Victoria, B.C. Canada will be a locked down camp the evening of Canada Day.
What does this mean? Well, according to the newspaper item, you are not to transport alcohol (in pretty much any form) between hours X and Y through a corridor or a series of corridors and Manned barricades in the city of Victoria, B.C. Canada.
What this also means is that civil liberties will be suspended for this time period.
What it meant to bus riders and pedestrians last year (and the year before) is that you could and would be stopped and (illegally searched) by designated officials. Illegal search and seizure my friends.
That means if you are crossing town and minding your own god-damn business (with a bottle of Pinot Noir in your pack-sack) you can be illegally stopped and illegally searched…
if you are walking.
if you are taking a bus.
if you are riding a bike.
if you are driving your car and your wine is in your trunk.
You can say no to this attack on your charter rights.
You should say no to this attack on your fundamental rights.
Canada Day is about freedom, liberty and destiny…
It is not about illegal search and seizure.
So. If you live in Victoria B.C. Canada and want to freely move about on Canada Day… at any time of the night or day…
Remember: You have a right to!
In Canada, Section Eight of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects all individuals from unreasonable search and seizure. For a search to be “reasonable” it must be authorized by law, the law itself must be reasonable, and the manner in which the search was carried out must be reasonable (R. v. S.A.B., 2003 SCC 60). This means that the officer must be acting within the power of a valid statute, and it must be performed on the basis of there being “reasonable and probable grounds” that a crime has been committed.
Fishing for lunch... Barb's place · Monday June 25, 2007 by colin newell
I am a big fan of Fish and Chips. Everywhere I go, I have to try and find the best Fish and Chips that the city has to offer.
Barb’s Place in Fisherman’s Wharf, Victoria B.C. Canada is a stop I make a few times a year.
Let me just say that I have been coming to Barb’s for years… since Barb actually ran it. She does not anymore – Barb’s was sold to some dude a few years ago.
My overall experience, once I got past the sticker shock ($17.50 for a 2 piece Halibut and Fries meal!) was, well, blah.
It is not that exciting and certainly not worth the gold they demand for a floating kiosk style joint. The fish is OK for a product that is delivered to their door. The batter is bland and a tad soggy. The fries are mushy and instantly forgotten.
The upside of the Barb’s experience is sharing a table with tourists. There is always talk-story and you will always make new friends here. And if that isn’t enough, the buskers are entertaining and original and sea lions feed a few feet away.
In the end analysis, Barb’s Place could well be the most expensive order of Fish and Chips in North America – I do not know.
All I know is… It is OK. Nothing to write home about. They do have a captive audience here – I mean, tourists wander off of cruise ships within a few blocks so I think the pricing here comes down to the “what the market will bear” economic theory.
For some reason on this particular Saturday, I was inclined to order some Onion Rings ($4.50) — possibly the most expensive order of Onion Rings anywhere.
Good thing this is enough food for my wife and I. Yes, we share a double order of Halibut and Fries.
With Onion Rings and a single refillable “pop” – that comes to $27 or so.
On a scale of 1 to 10, this Fish and Chip meal comes in at about a 6. I have had way better for less.
In a continuing series on food and drink on Vancouver Island, Colin explores the good, the bad, and the downright tastless.
