Blog Note

Switching to Wordpress this morning. Wish me luck and please excuse if things are a little messy...

A Little Ditty...

Something to get the work week started off right...

Today's selection comes with a language warning so you're going to have to push the play button yourself (top left-hand corner of your screen)

Enjoy

Running For Terry Fox

I raised $250 dollars for this years Terry Fox Run, $135 from donations by people who read this blog (or At Home in Hespeler).

I ran the full 5K for the first time, my only stops occurring due to traffic jams. My son ran instead of biked this year, and while he walk/ran the first half with Lady Hespeler, he got bored about halfway through, and was only about 2 minutes behind me at the end.

Thank you to all who donated, linked to my donation page or woke up this morning and thought, "hey Terry Fox day, that blogger guy is running."

It is not too late to donate to the Terry Fox foundation, where 87 cents of every dollar raised goes to Cancer research. The foundation is ran by Darryl Fox, Terry's brother who was with Terry for his Marathon of Hope. It is, in my opinion, well run and worthwhile charity. If you are wondering where to make a charitable donation this year, please consider the Terry Fox Foundation.

And if you still wish to donate to my run, you still can:

Donate Here!

Again, thank you to all who helped out.

What A Crock

The other day I got this letter in the mail:


It's from the Domain Registry of Canada and they're looking to take over registration of my domain name "no-libs.com". Beyond the wording that tries to convince folks that registration should be done through them, here's what really pissed me off:

They want to charge me $40.00/year.

My current service (sibername.com) only charges me $13.46/year.

Why on earth would I want to pay an extra $26.03/year for the privilege of having the Domain Registry of Canada be my registering agent?

A word to the wise: If you're currently using the DRC as your registering agent consider switching. Just because you're in Canada doesn't mean that you have to go through them.

Even if you need a "dot-ca" domain name, it'll pay-off to do some shopping around. I recently purchased www.myblahg.ca through the company that hosts my server (IX Web Hosting) and it only cost $24.95/year. Actually, it really didn't cost me anything because of the "credits" they gave me when I signed up for their "Business Plus Plan".

Note to the Domain Registry of Canada: Quit sending me mail telling me how you're going to overcharge and I'll quit putting up posts telling the rest of the world what a CROCK OF SHIT you really are! Fair enough?

Note re www.myblahg.ca: I bought it specifically to piss-off Robert McClelland who owns www.myblahg.com. And it worked. Currently it redirects traffic back here. In the future it's going to be used as an NDP slam site. That's going to piss him off even more. Don't ask me why I find this humorous. I just do.

More New Audio

Mike Church does it again... If you're not hearing it right now, click on the play button on the player top of the left hand sidebar...

Kimveer Gill

Do you think this most recent shooting will finally make the lib-left in this country admit that criminals and psychos won't register their guns? Hmmmm? Probably not.


Do you think this most recent shooting will finally make the lib-left in this country admit that criminals and psychos need to be treated like criminals and psychos and held responsible for their actions instead of coddling them like unruly toddlers? Hmmmm? Probably not (Our friend Eugene is blamining video games).


The folks on the lib-left are going to tell us that we have to wait before judging. They're going to tell us that we don't have the facts. They're lying. We have enough facts...

Fact - This psycho used a 9mm semi-automatic rifle and the gun registry didn't stop him.
Fact - This psycho used a 45 cal pistol and the gun registry didn't stop him.
Fact - This psycho used an unspecified 12 cal weapon with the ability of firing 4 bullets at once and the gun registry didn't stop him.

Fact - We, as Canadian taxpayers, dished out $2 Billion to fund a gun registry that has proven time and time and time and time and time again to have no effect on gun crime.

Fact - We don't need the facts of this individual case to draw conclusions based on recent trends!

If you're the praying type, direct some thoughts to a conservative majority in the next election so they can scrap that useless program outright and direct it's funds and energy to something that may actually be effective.

********************

On the media coverage of this event:

I'm not friggin' impressed...

Here's the story as I got it listening to reporters on the scene:

1. 4 men in combat fatigues stormed the school
2. 2 men in combat fatigues stormed the school
3. The men were all dressed in black trench coats
4. There were two shooters dead - one by suicide and the other shot by police.
5. There were no dead.
6. There was one dead.
7. There were no civilian deaths.
8. There were 4 civilian deaths.
9. And finally today, we've got a more accurate picture: One shooter. Killed by police. One civilian death. Killed by the shooter. Lots of casualities.

It was a clusterfuck of information.

Simply put, the reporters didn't have the facts. They were speculating based on witness interviews. They reported their speculation as fact and changed their reports as more info came in.

Now I understand that the story was unfolding at the time but why not frame it in that sense? Why not state fact as fact and speculation as speculation? The media didn't seem to do that.

********************

Anyway, I've got another question and I'm sure it's going to get me in some hot water...

Witnesses and the media are reporting that the shooter was a "white guy" nammed "Kimveer Gill". Now, if I'm not mistaken, this is a "white guy":


Does this individual look like the guy above?:


Not so much. In fact, he looks more like this guy (typical middle eastern complexion):


White guys generally have names like Alex, Sam, John, Craig or Wade. Have you ever met a white guy with the name Kimveer?

Does what we're being told by the MSM jive with this guy's name and complexion and how long will it take the lib-left to freak out because I'm asking that question?

I bring this up based on the lessons learned from the Ecole Polytechnique shooting all those years ago. The media and officials told us that Mark Lapine was a white guy who just managed to snap one day. Later we discovered that he was a devout Muslim who was pissed that Canadian women weren't acting the way that good subservient (Muslim) women should act. You never hear the MSM bring those points up during the anniversary candle-light vigils now do you?

They fooled us once and I don't think it's wrong to ask these questions now...

Greenstone Media

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Greenstone Media, a radio company whose founders include social activist Gloria Steinem and actress Jane Fonda, has launched an all-women, all-talk network across the United States.

Steinem said the network, which is run by women, aims to provide an alternative to current radio talk, which she describes as "very argumentative, quite hostile, and very much male-dominated."

This network "has a different spirit. It has more community. It's more about information, about humor, about respect for different points of view and not constant arguing," Steinem told Reuters in an interview.

Alright, let's see if I've got this correct... Uber Fem-Nazi, Gloria Steinem, and America's most famous, traitorous bitch, "Hanoi" Jane Fonda, have started a talk radio network. How nice.

I can just imagine the line-up...

07:00 - 10:00; Men Are Pigs - hosted by Gloria Steinem
10:00 - 13:00; Communism for A Better America - Hosted by Jane Fonda
13:00 - 15:00; The Planned Parenthood Show - Various Hosts
15:00 - 16:00; ACLU Update - Various Hosts
16:00 - 17:00; Getting In Touch With Your Vagina - Hosted by Eve Ensler
17:00 - 20:00; Peace Mum - Hosted by Cindy Sheehan
20:00 - 07:00; Replay of the daily line-up
All times are Eastern

So, what do you think? Will it crater faster than Air America and will it have the same accounting irregularities?

Some Recent Comments and Some Thoughts

Posted in response to the 9-11 memorial I put up yesterday:

"They weren't lib-left whimps"

You my friend are the most deplorable person I have ever encountered. To use someones loved ones, who perished that awful morning , to bolster your political beliefs, is beyond phucking rude. You are a dispicable piece of crap and anyone that follows or finds enjoyment in your posts, is either a moron or Hitler SS. Un-bloody believable, your kind have no shame. I, as I imagine many others, wish sir that you were within reach but of course that is how you pukes operate, in hiding and ALWAYS in a gang. DONE
I.B.Lever | 09.11.06 - 3:29 pm | #
I.B.Lever | 09.12.06 - 1:55 am | #

And:

In 2003, a total of 42,443 people were killed in car accidents according to the data collected by the Federal Highway Administration. That (very precise) figure only includes those reported or identified by the police.

The total 9/11 death toll, including all crash sites, victims on the ground and in the planes, was 3030. I havn't checked if that includes the terrorists themselves.

So, in terms of car accidents alone, America undergoes fourteen 911s each year. Every one of those deaths is preventable. This is ignoring all other sources of accidents, and non-preventable death such as illness.

Wow, you sure make a lot of fuss over 1/14th of a year's worth of car accidents!
Suricou Raven | 09.11.06 - 4:29 pm | #

And this from Darcey's post at the WS letting folks know that we were having the recent 9-11 support rally (I don't normally publish this type of language on this site but it had to be seen to be believed):

Heres why we should rally amd support 9-11, this is what I say to my compadres

From your fucked up values and religious whacks like your president, to your arrogant “I love oil” nature and your love for attempting to fuck other countries up with your “superior” defence force. I hate the way you think that America is responsible for all good in this world. You’re not.

You did not invent human rights, you did not invent sliced bread, or the wheel, AND JESUS WAS NOT BORN IN TEXAS. NOR WAS HE WHITE.

AND HE DID NOT SLEEP WITH YOUR SISTER. Although I’m sure you did.

I hate you so much that I want to draw a tan^-1(1) with my fist to your face. (NO, YOU DID NOT INVENT TRIANGLES)

I hate how you complain about the price of oil, while you rape your planet with your fat ass, McDonald’s eating, gas guzzling fuck Hummers of hell.

I hate how you feel the need to liberate random countries from “oppression” and instill your proud and wonderful freedom and democracy.

I also hate your “Patriot Act” which effectively removes all forms of freedom and democracy from your country… and allows your government to go all fascist on you ass, while you sit in your homes and hate gays, blacks, Hispanics, Mexicans, the Spanish, Cubans, Latinos (that’s ignorance for you)

I hate how you destroy the English language using the letter z in random places, and leaving out u in others. Your education system is fucked up. NO ONE TEACHES CREATIONISM ANY MORE.

You piss me off by being the most religious country in the Western world, with your conservative values hindering the progress of mankind.

And fuck you and your nuclear warheads trying to fuck this planet up, while making sure to condemn any Arab that ever tries to enrich Uranium (ooh laa dee daa)

I hate your conservative, Jewish-owned media with your O’Reillys and Coulters spouting pro-Bush, Christian (figure that?) propaganda, and telling you that Bush taking away your freedom is the greatest liberty you will ever receive.

I hate the Westboro Baptist Church, allowed to exist because of your fundie values and gay hating economics.

I hate your consumerist whore views, buying things just because rich guys in suits tell you to.

And I hate your disgusting superiority complex, segregating all races except Americans (ye, that’s a race) and fucking over your neighbours to the south by not allowing them to speak Spanish, and thinking that you are far better than Canada. You’re not.

I hate your “obesity epidemic” while people in Africa starve. JUST DON’T FUCKING EAT.

And also, I hate the way you stereotype yourself so much that I can go off on rants such as these.

So FUCK YOU

Posted by: Rallysupporter | Sep 10, 2006 6:02:28 AM

And these gems from our recent post on the NDP:

You are clearly a sissy, dick and I can't picture you chasing anyone but a conservative in a skirt, with a cattle prod. Brave words from a fruity little neocon whose nose is probably buried up a local politicians ass so far, your eyes are brown. Don't kid us dick, you're admired by a handful of limp wristed lunatics so out of touch with reality, they plead for a fellow sissies attention. What a repulsive representative of corporate greed such as you and your feeble-minded flock needs,is to be slapped silly with a pair of your own silk panties.
Stop drooling "dick", won't happen but justice will be handed out before it's all said and done. Paranoid pansies, is all.
I.B.Lever | 09.10.06 - 4:58 pm | #

And:

I'm proudly a socialist. my only arugment in all this is simple.

You state socialism and communism as the same, NOT true. maybe you need to go to http://www.politicalcompass.org/....org/ uselection

and touch up on your political left and right orientations

Our oil is owned by US Corporations, NOT Canadians. So why would it hurt us to claim it back as OURS?
I could go on and on, but yea, you just sound like a bush/harper lackie.. keep kissing..
bajanman | Homepage | 09.11.06 - 6:49 pm | #

Now I don't know about you folks but it seems to me that the lib-left is particularly testy of late;

• Lib and NDP supporters are at each others throats, fractured,
• Our favorite MoonBat is franticly trying to convince himself others that the NDP has some relevance by irrelivant poll results,
• The anti-Americanism comming from both the Libs and NDP is at a fever pitch and,
• The idea that a group of people would get together to show support for the US and remember 9-11 sends them off the deep end.

I have a theory: We're ripping their hearts out...

• Cindy Shehan and other darlings of the left get laughed at whenever their names get brought up.
• Rove and Libby have been cleared in the Plame case. - No "Fitzmas" for the MoonBats
  
• Progress is being made in Iraq and Afghanistan and the MSM is forced to report it.
  
• Hezbollah and Hammas are losing support in the West.
• The G-8 stood in solidarity with Israel.
  
• Multiculturalism is being proven to be a failure all over Europe and North American immigration policies are being questioned.
• Welfare reforms have proven successfull.
• The abstainance "doesn't work" argument is being proven to be false.
• The MSM is being taken to task on every point and we're not letting them get away with anything
• The New Conservative government has lived up to their promises and are continually gaining support.
• Our halls of higher education are continually being exposed as centers for socialist indoctrination. - More and more parents are sending their kids to private or charter schools.
• and on, and on, and on...

I think it's starting to dawn on them that any progress they thought they were making toward the "North American Socialist Utopia" is being halted. They're clueing-into the fact that normal folks like you and I aren't buying into their bunk anymore. They're losing public support and they're starting to go into panic mode as a result.

This is a good thing.

Wait and see what happens when we start to reverse the supposed "progress" they've made thus far...

Heros

Five years ago this morning (Sept. 11) I had just finished dropping my daughter off for her first day of the school year. I was headed to work when the news broke... a plane crash... wow... into a building? what the hell? We had a tv that we used for safety orientations on on the construction site. The project engineer had it tuned into either CTV or CBC. I can't remember which. I just know the picture was crap because of bad reception. We all watched. That was when I woke up. When I started to pay attention to things beyond my little bubble. That's when I started to draw clear lines between right and wrong.

Today is a day of rememberance. Not a day to remember myself though. That crosses one of the clear lines mentioned above. It's a day to remember those who died for the simple act of riding on an airplane. For simply showing up to work...

Most of you know that I have a soft spot for emergency responders. Today's post isin't about them either though. It's about the hero's who flew, faught and died on United Airlines Flight 93.

From the list below, Todd Beamer was one of the heroes aboard United Flight 93 and is the one heard by the "911" operator to say "Let's Roll" before they bravely overtook the hijackers and saved countless lives by forcing the plane down in a field in Pennsylvania. In fact, the song you're listening to was written based on those words: "Lets Roll"

These people didn't fold up and accept their fate. They fought it and saved countless lives in the process. They weren't lib-left whimps. They fought back. They rolled. Remember that as you read their names and look at their faces.

(no photo)

Christian Adams, 37, from Biebelsheim, Germany, was a foreign sales manager for the German Wine Fund (Deutschen Weininstitut). He graduated from the Wine School in Germany and had a degree in marketing from the University of California at Davis. Survivors include his wife, Silke; children, Lukas and Theresa; father, Dr. Karl Adams; mother, Erika; sister, Ulrike Weyand and brother, Peter.

Lorraine G. Bay*, 58, was a flight attendant with United Airlines for 40 years. She was working her regular route at the time of the attack. Bay grew up in Levittown, Pa., and was living in East Windsor, N.J. Survivors include her husband, Erich, who says she was "a loving wife always looking out for family and friends."

Todd Beamer, 32, from Cranbury, N.J., was an account manager for Oracle Corp. Survivors include his wife, Lisa, and four children.

Alan Beaven, 48, from Hurleyville, N.Y., was an environmental lawyer. Born in New Zealand, Beaven had a legal career that spanned four continents. In England he was a law professor at Kings College, a private defense attorney and a lead prosecutor for Scotland Yard. He practiced in Portugal, Hong Kong and New York before forming a firm in San Francisco. Survivors include his wife, Kimi; daughter, Sonali; and sons, John and Chris.

Mark Bingham, 31, from San Francisco, was the owner of The Bingham Group, a public relations firm.

Deora Bodley, 20, from San Diego, was a junior at the University of Santa Clara near San Jose. She was pursuing a double major in French and psychology. Bodley volunteered in AIDS education, for the Special Olympics and for America Reads, where she helped children learn to read. Survivors include her father, Derrill; mother, Deborah; sister, Murial; stepmother, Nancy; and stepsister, Eva Rupp.

Sandra W. Bradshaw*, 38, from Greensboro, N.C., was a flight attendant with United Airlines. Following her younger sister, Bradshaw trained to become a flight attendant after graduating high school. Survivors include her husband, Phil; daughter, Alexandria; son, Shenan; a stepdaughter and other family.

Marion Ruth Britton, 53, from Brooklyn, N.Y., was an assistant regional director for the U.S. Census Bureau. She was traveling with Waleska Martinez to attend a business meeting at the time of the attack. Co-workers say she loved collecting objects and displaying them in her office.

Thomas Burnett, 38, from San Ramon, Calif., was a senior vice president and chief operating officer for Thoratec Corp., a medical research and development company. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Bloomington, Minn., after leading the football team to the state semifinals as their starting quarterback. Survivors include his wife, Deena, and three daughters.

William Joseph Cashman, 60, from West New York, N.J., was an ironworker, welder and welding teacher. In addition, he was a member of Metal Lathers Local 46 of the Ironworkers Union. A veteran of the 101st Airborne Division, Cashman also held a red belt in karate. He was on his way to an annual hiking trip in Yosemite National Park with his friend, Patrick Driscoll. Maggie Cashman says William was a "devoted and loving husband," a "true gentleman" and an "unsung hero of Flight 93." His sister, Kathleen O'Connell, says, "He was a kind and responsible person and faced any situation with courage and conviction."

Georgine Corrigan, 56, from Honolulu, was an antiques and collectibles dealer. She was returning home from a buying trip on the East Coast. "She was someone who was like a mother figure to a lot of people. She always had good advice and was always optimistic," collectibles dealer Eileen Wong said. Survivors include her daughter, Laura Brough, and brother, Robert Marisay Jr.

Patricia Cushing, 69, from Bayonne, N.J., retired from Bell Atlantic in 1994 after 25 years there. She was heading to San Francisco for a vacation with her sister-in-law, Jane C. Folger. Cushing is survived by her five children and other family.

Capt. Jason M. Dahl*, 43, from Littleton, Colo., worked for United Airlines as a flight instructor in their Denver training center. As part of the requirements to keep his flight certification current, he had scheduled himself to captain Flight 93. Dahl was born and raised in San Jose, Calif., where he learned to fly as a teenager. Friends remember Dahl as smart, unassuming and the consummate neighborhood "tool man." Survivors include his wife, Sandy and son, Matthew. Sandy says: "May he soar with the eagles and sleep with the angels. Love from family and friends."

Joseph DeLuca, 52, from Ledgewood, N.J., was a systems business consultant for Pfizer Inc. His sister, Carol Hughes, says, "He was a wonderful person, so kind and lovable, a very fair person and very giving. I was so lucky to have a brother like him."

Patrick Driscoll, 70, from Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., was a retired research director for Bell Communications. A U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War, Driscoll was on his way to an annual hiking trip in Yosemite National Park with his friend, William Cashman. Survivors include his wife, Maureen; sons Stephen, Patrick and Christopher; and daughter, Pamela Gould.

Edward P. Felt, 41, from Matawan, N.J., was a technology director for BEA Systems. He was traveling on business to San Francisco. In October of 2000, Felt was awarded a U.S. patent for a software application he designed. His family says, "He loved sharing his life with family and friends." Survivors include his wife, Sandra and daughters, Adrienne and Kathryn.

Jane C. Folger, 73, from Bayonne, N.J., was a retired bank employee. She was heading to San Francisco for a vacation with her sister-in-law, Patricia Cushing.

Colleen Fraser, 51, from Elizabeth, N.J., was appointed by the governor to be chairwoman of the New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Council, where she served for five years. She was also executive director of the Progressive Center for Independent Living. Born with an inherited disorder, Fraser underwent multiple childhood surgeries to allow her to walk. After being persuaded to work as a counselor for others with disabilities, she started her lifelong advocacy for the rights of disabled people in New Jersey and elsewhere in the U.S. Fraser, who had a lifelong fear of flying, was headed to a seminar on grant writing. She is survived by her sister, Christine.

Andrew Garcia, 62, from Portola Valley, Calif., was an industrial products salesman. He had worked as a grocery clerk, postal carrier, air traffic controller and as a purchasing manager for United Airlines, where he met his wife. In 1991, Garcia and his wife started a small company, the CINCO Group. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; son, Andrew Jr.; daughters, Kelly and Audrey; granddaughter, Madison, and grandson, Andrew.

Jeremy Glick, 31, from Hewlett, N.J., was a managing director for Credit Suisse Boston. The University of Rochester graduate was also a national collegiate judo champion. Survivors include his wife, Lyz; daughter, Emerson; parents; three brothers and two sisters.

(no photo)

Kristin Gould, 65, from New York City, was a freelance medical journalist. She researched early contributors to the fields of science and medicine and could speak Latin and ancient Greek. Gould was heading to San Francisco to visit friends and tour the wine country. She is survived by her daughter, Allison Vadhan.

Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, 38, from San Rafael, Calif., and originally from Houston, was a salesperson for Good Housekeeping magazine. She was returning from her grandmother's funeral in New Jersey. Survivors include her husband, Jack, father, Larry, and a sister. "Lauren had a great spirit and was a very unique person," her family says. "We are fortunate to have her as a part of our family, and we miss her so very much."

Wanda A. Green*, 49, from Linden, N.J., worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines for 30 years. She was planning to visit family in Oakland during her layover. Survivors include her mother, brother, twin sister and two children.

Donald Greene, 47, from Greenwich, Conn., was executive vice president and CEO of Safe Flight Instrument Corp. His father founded the company, which manufactures airplane safety equipment, in the 1940s. Greene was also a licensed pilot himself. Greene was on his way to a camping reunion with his three brothers. His wife, Claudette, says, "Charlie (now age 14), Jody (now age 10) and Claudette miss him and love him."

Linda Gronlund, 46, from Greenwood Lake, N.Y., worked in environmental compliance for BMW.

Richard J. Guadagno, 39, from Eureka, Calif., was the manager of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where he spent most of 2001 supervising work on a new visitor's center. "He was looking forward to showing off 'his' refuge," a co-worker said. He had completed federal law enforcement training, was a stained-glass artist and enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, studying the stars and working in his greenhouse. He was on his way home after visiting family in New Jersey (he was raised in Trenton) and Vermont, including attending his grandmother's 100th birthday. His aunt, Josephine G. Landwirth, says, "Rich was caring about plants, vegetables, fruit, birds, animals, land and people. He was a joy to be with — plus being a great cook."

Leroy W. Homer Jr.*, 36, from Marlton, N.J., was the first officer on United Airlines Flight 93. He was an Air Force reservist and a recruiter for the Air Force Academy. Homer's mother, llsa, says, "Leroy was humble, compassionate, dignified, gentle and very loving." He also is survived by his wife, Melodie, and a daughter.

Toshiya Kuge, 20, from Nishimidoriguoska, Japan, was a student at Waseda University. In 1999, he graduated from Kitano High School, where he was the goalkeeper for the school's football team. Kuge was on his way home after a tour of the U.S., where he wanted to attend college. Survivors include his parents, who live in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, in Japan.

CeeCee Ross Lyles*, 33, from Fort Pierce, Fla., was a flight attendant for United Airlines. Before joining the airline in late 2000, she was a police officer for the city of Fort Pierce, where she met her husband, Lorne, also an officer. Survivors include her husband; sons, Jerome Smith, Jevon Castrillo, Justin Lyles and Jordan Lyles; her aunt, Carrie Ross, who raised her; sister, Mareya Schnieder; and birth mother Shirley Adderly. Son Jerome says: "She was the most strong and loving mother anyone could ask for."

Hilda Marcin, 79, from, Mt. Olive, N.J., was a retired special education instructional aide. Her family says: "She loved her family, life and inspired all people she touched."

Waleska Martinez, 37, was an automation specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau living in Jersey City, N.J. Originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico, she was traveling with co-worker Marion Britton to attend a meeting. Her father, Juan R. Martinez, says, "My daughter was warm, caring and loving, not only to the family, but to everyone near her. She was so special. My life is not the same after 9/11. I keep on living because I am an American fighting man."

Nicole Carol Miller, 21, from San Jose, Calif., was a student at West Valley College. A sophomore on the dean's list, she was trying to decide between majoring in business or communications as well as what four-year college to attend. She was an outdoors and exercise buff, played softball in high school and later taught body-sculpting classes to IBM workers. Miller was returning home after a last-minute trip to the East Coast with a friend. Her sister, Tiffney de Vries, says, "She was brave, heroic, strong-willed and would have fought back with all her might. She was beautiful like a cover girl inside and out." Survivors include her mother, Cathy Stefani; sister, Tiffney and other family.

Louis Joseph Nacke II, 42, from New Hope, Pa., was a distribution center director for Kay-Bee Toys. He was on his way to San Francisco to meet a supplier. Survivors include his wife, Pat, and sons, Joseph and Louis.

Donald Peterson, 66, from Spring Lake, N.J., was the retired president of Continental Electric Co, where he worked his entire career. He had an electrical engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master's degree from Rutgers University. Peterson's retirement years were spent as a Baptist missionary in the West Indies. He also volunteered at a local addiction recovery program. Peterson was on his way to attend an annual family reunion at Yosemite National Park with his wife, Jean. Survivors include his brothers, Richard and Bob; sister, Ellen P. Morris; sons David, Hamilton and Royster; and stepdaughters, Jennifer, Grace and Catherine Price.

Jean Peterson, 55, from Spring Lake, N.J., was a retired nurse. Peterson earned her nursing degree from the University of Rochester and her master's degree in education from Columbia University. She spent her retirement as a Baptist missionary in the West Indies. Peterson was on her way to attend an annual family reunion at Yosemite National Park with her husband, Donald. Survivors include her parents, Walter and Virginia Hoadley; brother, Richard; daughters, Jennifer, Grace and Catherine Price; stepsons, David, Hamilton and Royster Peterson; and granddaughter, Charlotte.

Mark "Mickey" Rothenberg, 52, from Scotch Plains, N.J., was the owner of MDR Global Resources. His family says, "Mickey was a loving husband and father. He was intelligent, charming and hardworking."

Christine Ann Snyder, 32, from Kailua, Hawaii, was an arborist for Outdoor Circle, a forestry organization. She had married her husband, Ian Pescaia, three months before the attack. Her family says, "She was outgoing, caring, loving and tried to make this world a better place. Christine was our angel — she is greatly missed."

John Talignani, 74, from New York, N.Y., was retired. He had worked for 20 years as a bartender and steward at the Palm Restaurant in Manhattan. Taligani was heading to San Francisco to claim the body of his stepson, Alan Zykofsky, who had died in a car accident during his honeymoon. Survivors include his sister, Alice Bertorelli, and two stepsons, Mitchell and Glenn Zykofsky.

Honor Elizabeth Wainio, 27, from Baltimore, Md., worked for Discovery Channel stores, where she was one of the youngest district managers. In April 2001 she moved to Watchung, N.J., after receiving a promotion. Wainio was headed to a business meeting in San Francisco after returning from a European vacation. Survivors include her father, Ben; mother, Mary White; stepmother, Esther Heymann; brother, Tom, and sister, Sarah.

Deborah Anne Jacobs Welsh*, 49, from New York City, was a flight attendant for United Airlines. Born in suburban Philadelphia, Welsh had been a flight attendant for more than 25 years and had worked for United the last four. Welsh lived with her husband, Patrick, and their Dalmatian. She was a member of the choir at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle. Her mother, Lillian E. Jacobs, says, "Debbie had a great sense of humor and a lot of caring and compassion."

- Names marked with an asteric (*) denote flight crew.

- Photos and bio's stolen from discovery.com

This is an annual post.

Calgary: The Rally That Wasn't Much...

On the one hand, it was really friggin disappointing that only10 people showed up to remember 9/11. On the other hand, it was a bonus that 10 people had the stones to show up and be counted.

The media was there. I wonder how much exposure we'll get.


As we're usually counter-protesters, it was kind of amusing that we had counter protesters of our own. The young woman in this pic was extremely concerned that the pic would be posted. Maybe it was because she professed to be a "modern satinist" and is afraid that her folks may read this blog. Here's to you littlemissmodernsatinist! We're raising a glass in your direction!


Here's part of the crew (Ted, Rob and Darcey)


I know, you're asking what the blue flag is all about... You'll have to go to "Dust My Broom" and ask Darcey.

Anyway, it's Sunday and we're busy drinking beer.

Check back tomorrow for the 9/11 memorial post.

92% Of Canadian Socialists Agree

QUEBEC (CP) - NDP members have given their leader, Jack Layton, a strong endorsement.

Delegates at a party convention voted 92 per cent in support of Layton's continued leadership.

The announcement of the leadership-review results prompted a long ovation from about 1,500 delegates gathered in Quebec City.

Layton became party leader in January 2003 and has seen the NDP's seat count in the House of Commons rise significantly in two consecutive elections.

He probably helped his case with party delegates by calling for a withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan, a popular cause with the party's rank-and-file.

Meanwhile, back in the real world...

The New Democratic Party used to be kind of cute, the way a precocious five-year-old is cute.

Fun to listen to, but you don't want to put them in charge of the household accounts.

New Democrats believe in preposterous things, but at least you used to be able to say they had good intentions.

No more.

After this week, having a membership in the New Democratic Party ought to be considered evidence of serious mental illness.

In a sane society, we would round these people up with cattle prods as the danger to society that they are, and put them behind barbed wire in the High Arctic and put them to work drilling oil wells in protected wildlife preserves.

These people are crazier than an outhouse rat.

[...]

They are nuttier than a pecan pie.

[...]

New Democrats are socialists and socialism is Communism-Lite.

Anybody who paid attention to world events over the last century knows Communism -- and its wimpy handmaiden socialism -- don't work.

Every country that has a seriously socialist or Communist government is totalitarian to some degree, and screws up the economy so that goods and services to ordinary people are in short supply.

They are corrupt and evil and deny the aspirations of their best and brightest.

Socialism and communism operate under the assumption that people who are good at something and earn money for it are wicked and those who do not are noble and that the government should steal the earnings of achievers and give it to underachievers.

[...]

As long as New Democrats talked about "fairness" (for non-achievers) and equity (which translates roughly as 'eat the rich and middle classes') they could be considered to have a constituency, albeit one completely bereft of intelligent understanding of the nature of the world.

They have now, under Smirkin' Jack Layton, a pathetic political opportunist who has never held a real job for any length of time -- unless you consider university professor and politician real jobs -- revealed their true insanity.

[...]

Another calls for a "day of Remembrance" in November for transexuals.

What kind of political party would defile the term "Remembrance" in the month of November -- for those New Democrats reading this, here's a helpful hint: Nov. 11 is Remembrance Day, the day we sanctify the sacrifices of the nation's warriors, not a bunch of gender-confused whack-jobs bent on self-mutilation of their genitals -- with a call for this kind of nonsense?

I can say that again

Back on November 10th, 2005, I had a post on the feasibility of handing the keys to 24 Sussex to Stephen Harper ifs Paul Martin lost a confidence vote. In a post called "Enough Playing Nice... Lets Have a Coup!" I said:

In the wake of Jack Layton's ''Common Sense Revolution ...er .. Solution" the constitutional validity of his plan is being questioned. If the united opposition is serious, there is a real solution. Use the Conservatives opposition day next week to declare non-confidence in the Liberals. Then inform the governor general that the three opposition parties have an agreement in place and the Conservatives are ready to form a government.

Apparently I wasn't too far off base, and a new book by governor-general Adrienne Clarkson suggests she was prepared to do the same, although by the time I suggested it she was not looking at that possibility:

Martin's Liberal government had been reduced from a majority to a minority in the 2004 election. If Martin had attempted, within six months of that election, to dissolve Parliament and call another election, he would have been stymied by Clarkson.

The governor-general has few real powers. But that is one of them. He or she can deny a prime ministerial request to dissolve Parliament and call an election when a minority government is defeated in the House or simply wants to resign.

Instead, the governor-general can invite the opposition leader to attempt to form a government. In such a scenario in 2004, Stephen Harper's Tories, with the help of some other parties, could have formed a government without having to face the electorate.

That election was June 28, 2004, so Clarkson is suggesting that by January 2005 she would have let Martin go to the polls. However, you have to wonder what would have happened if Harper and Layton had approached governor-general Clarkson, as I suggested.

via Hespeler

Calgary: Downtown Rally To Mark 9/11

Thanks to Darcey, Merle and Huck for letting me know about this:

From the Calgary Sun

Uniting Calgarians by rallying in support of 9/11 victims and Canadian troops in Afghanistan is the goal of a Calgary man.

Luke Thomas said he's concerned the terrorist attacks against the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, are at risk of fading from memory.

"I don't think it's something we should forget," said Thomas, who has joined with friends to organize a rally outside city hall Sunday at 3 p.m.

"We also want to extended a particular invitation to the Muslim community. This is an opportunity for the Muslim community to come out strong," he said.

Could be just me but I think the local bloggers may outnumber the Muslims...

In any case, lets get as many folks as possible out to show that we haven't forgotten.

Racial Profile 'Em For Me!

A new poll is out:

But even if most Canadians seem unconcerned about their personal safety, a large majority (70 per cent) think travellers should stop complaining about the inconvenience created by the carry-on baggage restrictions added last month after the arrests of 17 airline bombing suspects in Britain.

And slightly more than two in five Canadians believe racial profiling -- security screening based on a person's appearance, ethnicity or citizenship -- should be used in the fight against terrorism.

While that number might appear tame compared to the big majority in favour of tight airport security, the poll suggests that only 34 per cent actually oppose racial profiling on moral grounds. Another 17 per cent oppose the idea because they don't think it works.

Right. So what's the point?

Well, if this poll is any indication, roughly 50% of Canadians are serious enough about terrorism that they want to do the right things. In this case racial profiling.

Maybe Canadians are coming to their senses...

Chicken Run

Screw Photoshop. I've got Fireworks MX!