Summer Food Fun and Drink Chapter 7 Kiva and Hug someone · Saturday July 3, 2010 by colin newell
I have a friend named Bob Harris, from Los Angeles, who tonight is somewhere in Hungary… Budapest I think – being astounded by the unique nature of the language.
On his own. On a mission that any parent, friend or partner would be proud of.
Researching a book on the subject of KIVA – a microfinance thing that everyone should know about and participate in.
Because it works.
Simple concept.
You loan out small amounts of money to folks in developing nations that are starting up a business that need a helping hand.
Bob has made hundreds of loans – many of which that have already been paid back. It’s simple. And hey, it works. Check out his page
Anyway – yesterday Bob was in Bosnia – a war torn region that is on a comeback. And he anonymously met with folks that he has loaned money to. He is writing a book on the subject. From where I am sitting, Bob is a saint. Or not. Maybe just a normal guy on a mission. That you can participate in as well.
Check out Kiva.
Summer Fun Food Drink Chapter 3 My New Canada · Sunday June 27, 2010 by colin newell
Yup. Pretty much sums up the New Canada.
A gentle reminder for those folks who will be celebrating Canada Day in the Victoria area – and leaving their vehicles at home – and doing the right thing by taking cab or B.C. Transit to their destinations…
You do not have to consent to a search of your person or belongings while celebrating Canada Day. You have every right to move from place to place in the Capital region with sealed wine, beer or liquor on your person. Open liquor is obviously another matter.
If you are unsure about this, read the 2008 report within the Commission for public complaints against the R.C.M.P.
This applies to the Victoria police, the transit authority as well as other regional and community law enforcement agencies.
Comment [1]
Summer Food Fun and Drink 2 Liberty Fun and Games G20 G8 · Friday June 25, 2010 by colin newell
Police forces in charge of security at the G20 summit in Toronto have been granted special powers for the duration of the summit.
Come within five metres of the security area and you are obliged to give police your name and state the purpose of your visit.
This is a Charter rights violation.
Anyone who fails to provide identification or explain why they are near the security zone can be searched and arrested.
Again, a Charter rights violation.
The new powers are designed specifically for the G20. Sure they are.
Anyone who refuses to identify themselves or refuses to provide a reason for their visit can be fined up to $500 and face up to two months in jail.
If I am up to no harm, no cop can ask me my name. Is is that simple.
Nice. Our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Dalton McGimpy
is a traitor to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
They have urinated on our charter to protect despot leaders and big bankers.
Be angry… I am.
Say it with me folks: F*ck F*ck, F*ckity, F*ck.
Comment [1]
Final Rite of Spring #39 - Let's attack the poor - it's fun · Monday June 21, 2010 by colin newell
In Canada we have ancient magazine pushers like Readers Digest – who prey on the elderly with their micro-font contract deceptions and postal station busting book dumping binges…
Neoconservative Liberal funded think tanks that trumpet their masters every word (for a price…) – like how good the HST is going to be for us regular folk.
(And) Seemingly reputable publicly funded media outlets, like the CBC, that re-bleat and tweet every utterance of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Photo above right – Minister of Housing and Social Development, Rich Coleman
And all of this sort of makes sense – I mean, Readers Digest is a company that profits from sort of legally manipulating our elderly and vulnerable into parting with their retirement savings – I mean, sure, the elderly can eat pet food, yea?. (And)If we paid more attention to our seniors, a lot of these abuses would not happen.
And the CBC – well, it has a symbiotic relationship with Big Banks, Conservative think tanks and professional realty pundits and so on. Everyone wins in this game.
And I am not being cynical… really. I’m not. Yet anyway.
What I do not get is the Liberals twitchy and obsessive fixation with going after the most vulnerable in British Columbia society (yes folks, even the poor are part of our society…)
In late May 2010, the minister responsible, Jabba Rich the Hut Coleman, said the ministry had filed 317 cases in small claims court seeking repayments. Some of the cases involved fraud, while others may have filed incorrect information that resulted in over payments, he said at the time.
A single employable person (on social assistance) in BC gets 235.00 a month for food…and 375.00 for shelter. In Victoria or Vancouver that will not rent you a greasy corner of a garage.) Ironic that Coleman’s first name happens to be “Rich”!
Can you imagine an over-payment for a welfare recipient? What would that be? An extra $25 a month over the period of a year? A real back breaker that, yea?
In a Province that hands out millions in visibly excessive over compensation to corporate, government and academic fat-cats – Well, it is genuinely cynical… sick… miserable. And doesn’t make me feel particularly good about the place I live, my community, my society, my leaders or my Province.
And that’s where I am coming from. And thus ends a 39 part series on Springtime in Victoria B.C. Canada. Time to move on.
