Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas everyone

Let's all take a break from thinking of politics, social issues, strife, tribulation and turmoil and instead focus on what really matters: Family, friends and the gift of life from God above.

God bless you all, and special kind regards and wishes to Yvonne Jones... one of the nicest, bravest, most personable and giving people I know.

Merry Christmas to all,

Ward

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Israel: The Truth isn't very popular

A lot of my friends on the left side of politics often complain about Israel and point out what Israel Defense does as if unprovoked or not in defense at all.

Every day, civilian children women and men in Israel are under attack from Palestinian and Lebanese terrorists. If we were to endure even one day of this, I feel we would react in a much stronger way than Israel does. Shelling, bombing, sniper gun fire are all common.

The truth isn't very popular when it comes to the anti-Israeli/anti-Christian forces in the world...and sadly, some of the blindest of all are right amongst us.

For example:
• Gaza Rockets Hit Major Israeli City, Injure Child
• Large increase in rocket attacks from Gaza
• Israel Air Force retaliates to protect civilians
• Radical groups, affiliated with Hamas, spread violence


Plese click on the map for details of recent Gaza rocket attacks.
http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=4183369&ct=8971893

Jerusalem, Dec. 21 – A Qassam rocket fired from Hamas-controlled Gaza landed in Ashkelon today near a kindergarten, injuring a young girl. At least 13 rockets and mortar rounds were launched from Gaza since Sunday (Dec. 19), according to Israeli officials.
More than 200 Grad and Qassam rockets and mortar shells have been fired from Gaza this year. Iran-backed Hamas has controlled Gaza sinceIsrael withdrew from the area in 2005.
"The children were arriving at school this morning, at quarter to eight, when the siren blared. There was a code-red warning and everyone panicked and rushed for the safety of the bomb shelters," Aviva Fold, Ashkelon's kindergarten department manager told The Israel Project.
"You can wake up in the morning and feel happy and suddenly within a second everything changes. It is terrible and frightening," Fold added.


Gaza has stepped up its launching of projectiles over the past few weeks. In response, Israel launched pinpoint strikes against terrorists and their infrastructure in order to defend the residents of southern Israel.
There are several reasons for the recent rise in terrorist activity coming from Gaza, according to Ely Karmon, counter-terrorist expert at the Institute for Counter-Terrorism in Herzliya, Israel.
"Hamas is in a bind. It is trying to reconstruct Gaza to take more responsibility over the quality of civilian life. Yet there are reports that Iran is providing Hamas with more sophisticated weaponry, including long-range missiles," said Karmon.
"More radical members of Hamas are pushing for increased violence against Israel and Hamas is trying to keep the fire burning to appease those elements. It is very complicated,” he said.
When Israel withdrew from Gaza, Jerusalem hoped that would jump start the peace process and lead to atwo-state solution.
Expert Comment Available:

Ely Karmon
Affiliations: Senior Researcher, Institute for Counter-Terrorism (IDC Herzliya)

Fields: International terrorism, Strategic issues in the Middle East and beyond, Weapons of mass destruction
Fluent in English, French, Spanish, Italian
Tel: 09-952-7277
09-951-3768
Cell: 052-265-3306
E-mail: ekarmon@idc.ac.il


Lt. Nili Aharon
Coordination & Liaison Administration, Gaza Strip,

Tel: 08-674-1414
Cell: 050-624-6417

Major-General Ya’akov Amidror
Affiliations: Program Director of the Institute for Contemporary Affairs; former head of the IDF’s Research and Assessment Division; served as the military secretary of the Defense Minister.

Fields: Contemporary guerrilla warfare; Hezbollah; Lebanon security dilemmas; Gaza security dilemma
Contact via Adam Shay, JCPA Project Coordinator
Tel: 02-561-9281


Leah Malul
Spokesperson for Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon; Barzilai Hospital currently treating Palestinians injured in Gaza and Qassam rocket attack victim

Tel: 08-674-5766
Cell: 057-767-8766


Paz Reuven
Affiliations: Director, The Project for the Research of Islamist Movements (PRISM) (IDC Herzliya)

Fields: Ideological, cultural, political, and social roots of Islamic movements and terrorism, Impact of Islamic radicalism on Palestinian politics, Financing of Middle East terrorist organizations, Iran’s sponsorship of international Islamic terrorism
Home: 09-950-7317
Cell: 054-469-1777
E-mail: reupaz@netvision.net.il
pazlek@aol.com
http://www.ict.org.il/
http://www.e-prism.org/


Mark Regev
Prime Minister’s Office - Foreign Press Adviser,
Tel: 02-670-5555, 02-670-5354
Mobile: 050-620-3264


Maj. Avital Leibovitz
Head of IDF International Media Branch

To contact: 011-972-03-608-0238 (office)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Rock Solid Politics

New blog recommendation:
http://rocksolidpolitics.blogspot.com

Brad Cabana has an interesting article on the OLD HARRY OIL & GAS FIELD over there.

Check it out!

Green Christmas?

Hey all.

Wondering where all the snow is? Expecting a green Christmas? Yes, me too. The fact is, I can't remember it being this mild over every square inch of Newfoundland and Labrador for such a long time. Whilst it's normal for it to be this mild in the St. John's metro area right up through til New Year's Eve, for the rest of our beloved homeland, not so much so.

Today, for example, it's raining drizzling and fogging (just bear with my poor use of the Queen's native tongue) everywhere from Saglek (!) to Lab City to Port Aux Basques to (no surprise) St. John's. Normally, there'd be blankets of snow, sure beds up to 8 feet deep everywhere on the Labrador, and down the Northern Pen of Newfoundland all the way towards the Codroy Valley, and as far east as Gandah. But not this year. Raining in Lab City, the 16th of December. Really. Never expected this in my lifetime. Temps as high as 10º ion Western closing in on the Christmas week. Not enough white-stuff to make a snowcone even in the hills. Honestly, bizarre,

Sure it's even been freezing (literally) in Florida.

So where is all the snow?
West of us, South of us and yes... even east of us:
Read here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10694873
Another 8" of snow forecast in ENGLAND.

My eldest son and I were planning on snowboarding and skidooing Christmas week. Doesn't look like that's going to happen unless we go to Canada, England or perhaps even the southern US.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Christmas Baking Season

I acknowledge my last few posts have been very hard. some would say Harsh. Blogger William Murphy suggested I should be the "Justice Ombudsman" based on some of my remarks and perhaps one is desperately needed in this time of decreased civil rights and greater police authority... however... let's go to the lighter side of things.

I've been into my Christmas baking for a few days now, and yes, this is a man talking who's new to the whole baking thing... I've only dabbled in it each Christmas time sticking to making dark rum fruitcakes.

So this year, I've decided to get a little more adventurous. I've made my dark rum fruit cakes from my late maternal grandmother's recipes (actually, I think that one goes back two more generations) and as well have gotten hold of her cherry cake recipe from mom as well and made a couple of those. They didn't quite turn out like mom's, but they are pretty good. No complaints from the kids! Sugar cookies (easy but yet new for me) turned out perfectly as did tollhouse (you know, the American version of chocolate chip cookies... ones that again, mom used to make) also turned out well, although a little harder than mom's. But the kids aren't complaining. Heck, they're almost through them all which will mean another batch is soon in the offing.

Friends have been making other suggestions. Care to share any recipes or suggestions?

One thing about being a single father with 3 children, sometimes you have to be both mom and dad, and the mom part is really hard for a lot of us men. Ladies, you have my respect!

Monday, December 13, 2010

7 Day Stand-off in Witless Bay

I suppose you've all read the news and heard how there was a stand-off in Witless Bay for 7 days, the forces of the RCMP poised against a lone individual inside his home. A man suffering from Mental Illness who posed a threat to no one, not even himself...a lonely gentleman of 55 years who had expressed concerns about his family's land. A man cut-off from the world voluntarily who was then placed under siege because the cowboys couldn't get their own way...


Let me put forward a few points for you to think about...

1. This man was wrongly imprisoned in the past.
2. This man launched a complaint against the RNC and won
3. This man suffers from mental illness that went untreated during his time under siege.
4. This man did not call in the RCMP or start the stand-off or hold anyone hostage.
5. This man wanted to be left alone.
6. This man was paranoid as it was, this only made it worse for him.
7. No offer of help from family members or friends was made to him.
8. No known psychiatric specialist was brought on site to deal with this medical issue.
9. The RCMP had the man under SIEGE! Hello, reality calling... what did they expect?
10. The RCMP fired FIRST! There was no threat from the man, this was an aggressive act.
11. Not one person from the community feared the man in any way, shape or form and said so publicly.
12. The RCMP fired TEARGAS into his HOME, as if it were a terrorist or hostage situation like a bunch of rogue cowboys.
13. No one is considering what this kind of stress would do to themselves.
14. He quietly "escaped the siege" and peacefully went on his way, harming no one, and not taking any weapons with him.

I see clearly who the aggressor was here and it is those in uniforms who should be charged with at least 16 offenses, not this poor beleaguered chap.

This was not law & order. Justice had no part in this. Power and control were what it was all about. And yes, I know his past history.

I'm just surprised he didn't end up dead

Friday, December 10, 2010

2010 Peace Prize Winner

OK, I know I'm going to catch a lot of heat on this from the "left" and/or the "Politically Correct" but here goes anyhow.

Am I the only one amongst a sea of bloggers and political commentators who can see China's point-of-view with regards to the 2010 Novel Peace Prize?

The Chinese government says that Nobel Peace Prize is more about western politics than it is about actual peace efforts.

Let's just examine this for a minute, considering past NPP winners and their actual contributions to peace.

2010 LIU XIAOBO
They say...for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.
Oh really now. China has increased the economic welfare of 1,300,000,000 people and increased civil rights in a democracy that is practically less than 20 years old, have changed their ways on a multitude of fronts in the face of a gigantic military and societal communist regime that is slowly dying off or crumbling. To throw this in their face YET AGAIN is tantamount to throwing oil on the fire and wondering why it isn't put out.
Read here: http://shanghaiist.com/2010/03/11/six_nobel_prize_nominees_that_will.php
According to the Nobel Foundation themselves http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/nomination_committee/nominations-2010/ there were 237 nominees this year.

Was their anyone this year who actually devoted their time to the larger goal of human rights? The manner in which winners are chosen makes one truly appreciate the satire at There Goes a Thought and wonder if those satirical candidates are almost as deserving.

How did they miss Ariane Inkesha of Rwanda who has been seriously working on re-building Rwanda for the past 50 years????

It certainly helps one see China's point of view that the Nobel Peace prize is just a western political tool and mutual admiration society full of self-praise.

2009 BARACK OBAMA
They say...for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.
Gimme a break. First year of his presidency, his time devoted to the bail-out of the richest of the rich in America and that extended to other countries and their bail-out needs for the fat-pigs syphoning off the economic comfort zone of the western world for their own largess... I don't recall ANY serious peace efforts, and ZERO NAUGHT NADA ZILCH in results. I guess everyone was just delighted to have a non-white President that nothing else mattered.

Let's just forget about Bill Clinton's missions to North Korea that single-handedly ended conflict, or his missions to Haiti and other places. Wherever that man goes, peace breaks out. But wait... he's white. And of course, let's not forget the man's sexual appetite, that surely voids all his efforts.



2008 MARTTI AHTISAARI
They say...for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.
I guess he was one of their own... let's forget about Ron Brown who actually gave his life on secret diplomatic missions flying in and out of Kosovo, and not just preaching from finland. Yes, I know that was 14 or 15 years earlier but it seems to be the basis for this one.

2007 INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC) and ALBERT ARNOLD ( AL) GORE JR.
They say...for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.
Perhaps the FUNNIEST bumble ever by Nobel! This "joke" of an ex-VP made so many cackle with laughter it wasn't even funny. The lard-ass hypocrite was shown that same year to be the single biggest user of energy in the USA amongst individuals. Talk about environmental waste and largess. you know, there were actual peace efforts in 2007, and this propaganda wasn't even remotely connected to actual peace efforts.

2006 MUHAMMAD YUNUS and GRAMEEN BANK
They say...for their efforts to create economic and social development from below.
Are there no Linus Paulings left in the world???

2006 INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY and MOHAMED ELBARADEI
They say...for their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used in the safest possible way.
Remember that bit about Mutual Admiration Society and self-praise? I'd say China has a right to underline this one as another point. did no one even think of Father Daniel Berrigan? See, he isn't politically correct but he is certainly a devoted peace activist.

2004 WANGARI MAATHAI
They say...for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace
Nice Lady. Environmental activist though. Not someone who actually achieved a significant increase in world peace. Were there no actual deserving people this year? Again, this is about politics.

2003 SHIRIN EBADI
They say...for her efforts for democracy and human rights
HALLELUJAH! Someone who actually deserved the prize! Although one has to wonder if an Irani winner was more about poking a stick in Iran's eye than anything else. Still, she was deserving.

2002 JIMMY CARTER JR., former President of the United States of America,
They say...for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development
I really like Jimmy Carter, but he was no Bill Clinton.

2001 UNITED NATIONS, New York, NY, USA KOFI ANNAN, United Nations Secretary General
FOR WHAT??
??? I never got this one. Not for one moment. If anyone deserved it, it certainly wasn't the UN. This was just political grand-standing and the kind of thing that validates China's claims. for Pete's sake. they had GEORGE W BUSH on the short list for nominees this year! That idiotic war-monger. Serioiusly? This was the year Nobel really lost credibility. They didn't know their ass from a hole in the ground.
Even Jean Chretien deserved this more, this year, for wanting to have his own say in world military efforts and not just knee-jerk reactions... and "not following the US blindly into illegally invading a sovereign country"


2000 KIM DAE JUNG
They say...for his work for democracy and human rights in South Korea and in East Asia in general, and for peace and reconciliation with North Korea in particular.
If ANYONE kept the Korean peninsula under control it was William Jefferson Clinton. How many times has he been back to keep the peace there? I just wonder.


1999 DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES), Brussels, Belgium.
FOR WHAT?
Umm...isn't there a Nobel Prize related to Medicine? Again, no one thought of Bill Clinton.

1998 JOHN HUME and DAVID TRIMBLE
They say...for their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Yes, They made efforts. But MORE SERIOUSLY... am I the only one who thought trying to stop India and Pakistan from testing and further developing nuclear bombs might have been just a tad more deserving? What about Arundhati Roy?

Ok fine. I've had my say. Bring it on.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

What is Pm Dunderdale trying to do?

I just finished reading an article on VOCM news about how Kelvin Parsons is unimpressed with the cabinet shuffle (as if he would speak positively about it, come on now people!). I've printed the article below...

But here's what occurs to me:
Is Kathy Dunderdale trying to so over-burden and bury Joan Burke in work that doesn't get done that she will quit cabinet altogether? Friends of mine in her riding suggest one of the best things that could happen to the Stephenville-Bay St. George area would be for her to quit politics altogether as they find her completely ineffective and out of touch with reality.

I concur. My few dealings with Burke have been nothing more than exercises in futility with someone who has the brain power of a 10th grader in "Special Education". I.E. Pointless circular discussions with someone who doesn't give a flying fig.

From VOCM's website...
Liberals unimpressed with Cabinet Shuffle

Shawn Skinner is the new Natural Resources minister, but Premier Kathy Dunderdale indicates she is keeping some hands-on involvement, especially in the Lower Churchill project. She says she's passionate about the Lower Churchill project and calls it an important project to the people of the province.

Skinner is also the Minister Responsible for the Forestry and AgriFoods Industry. Susan Sullivan is taking on Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, including Minister Responsible for the Rural Secretariat while also becomes Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. Sullivan will keep her responsibilities with Francophone Affairs. Joan Burke has been appointed the Acting Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities as well as the Labour Relations Agency, Workplace Health Safety and Compensation Commission, and Youth Engagement. Burke will keep her role as Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services.

The Liberals don't think much of the cabinet shuffle. Party leader Kelvin Parsons is concerned that Joan Burke, who heads up the developing department of Child, Youth and Family Services, will also be taking on Human Resources, Labour and Employment. Parsons feels that's too much for one minister to handle.

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael would prefer to see Dunderdale distance herself from the previous PC administration and put her own stamp on the government.

Thursday, December 02, 2010

The Fisheries Broadcast

Yes, that was me who was read on the Fisheries Broadcast with John furlong on 30 November 2010. I was responding to a post on another blog and must have said something that made some sense...

Decide for yourself. The reference points are Rex Murphy, Newfoundland as he remembers it and thinks it still is.

Rex, like all ex-pat Newfoundlanders OR Labradorians, tends to fictionalize, romanticize, embellish the place where NL was when he left (that point in time in the course of its development).

In his mind, like all others, the NL he remembers is frozen in time and does reflect the true dynamically changing culture of Newfoundland and Labrador.

We see the same from the cartooned representation of Irish culture in the USA, Canada and Newfoundland. Imagine my shock when I first spent a fortnight vacation in the actual Republic of Ireland and found that what most they held in common with us (of Irish descent or otherwise) was a determination to get on with it: To grow and develop, to maintain their culture but not to let it stagnate or be frozen in a moment in time. The same is true for any strongly identifiable nationality in the world with a disproportionate diaspora to the resident population.

But I will not take from Rex his passion for prose nor his intellect. Nor his loyalty to this land, albeit one that doesn't exist as he remembers it.

Opinions will vary, this is just mine.


BTW, when I reference "Newfoundland" and not "Newfoundland and Labrador" I am actually making a distinction.

God bless you all, only 23 days 'til Christmas!

Ward