Scientology 101

Yonge street in Toronto is home to a large Scientology building. I pass by regularly and am often offered information by members. On more than one occasion, I've been offered, and taken information being handed out by protestors. As an atheist, and someone with a bit of common sense, I feel that Scientology is really nothing more than a scheme to make money, by what amounts to nothing more than a cult. However, I shouldn't pass judgement so quickly since I don't know much about Scientology, which is what I aim to find out in a new series I am calling Scientology 101. 


More after the jump.

Accusations fly at Oshawa lesbian assault trial

As the trial for an Oshawa man accused of beating a lesbian couple continues, some Oshawa residents say the November 2008 incident stems from hatred towards homosexuality and ignorance within the suburban community.

"It's a closeted community where the gays and lesbians hide . . . because of fear of being beaten up, bashed or harassed," said Jayme Harper, Ontario director of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), a gender-identity and sexual orientation support charity.

Harper said he also notices "a higher tone of racism in the Durham Region."

He and about a dozen members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in Oshawa have attended both days of the trial for 44-year-old Mark Scott, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault after Anji Dimitriou and her partner, Jane Currie, were verbally and physically assaulted outside their children's elementary school.

Both Dimitriou and Currie told Ontario Court Justice Katrina Mulligan that Scott attacked them in the parking lot of Gordon B. Attersley public school.

Both women testified that Scott asked Dimitriou, "Which one of you f------ 'men' talked to my kid?" Both women said he called them "dyke bitches."

They told the court Scott punched Currie once and Dimitriou twice.

Read the full story here. For some reason I can only seem to find any coverage of this story at Global News, I guess the others don't think suburban gay bashing is important? This story is from Friday.

The Poppy Campaign

The following is from the Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) Website:

Each November, Poppies blossom on the lapels and collars of over half of Canada’s entire population. Since 1921, the Poppy has stood as a symbol of Remembrance, our visual pledge to never forget all those Canadians who have fallen in war and military operations. The Poppy also stands internationally as a “symbol of collective reminiscence”, as other countries have also adopted its image to honour those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
This significance of the Poppy can be traced to international origins.
The association of the Poppy to those who had been killed in war has existed since the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century, over 110 years before being adopted in Canada. There exists a record from that time of how thickly Poppies grew over the graves of soldiers in the area of Flanders, France. This early connection between the Poppy and battlefield deaths described how fields that were barren before the battles exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.
Just prior to the First World War, few Poppies grew in Flanders. During the tremendous bombardments of that war, the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing “popaver rhoes” to thrive. When the war ended, the lime was quickly absorbed and the Poppy began to disappear again.
The person who was responsible more than any other for the adoption of the Poppy as a symbol of Remembrance in Canada and the Commonwealth was Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian Medical Officer during the First World War.

Movember Appeal

I have decided to join a global movement that is bringing much needed attention to prostate cancer.  I’m doing this by growing a Moustache this Movember, the month formerly known as November. My commitment is to grow a moustache all November and I am hoping that you will support my efforts by making a donation.  The funds raised go directly to Prostate Cancer Canada.

What many people don’t know is that 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to afflict Canadian men with 25,500 diagnosed and 4,400 dying from the disease each year.

Facts like these have convinced me I should get involved.  

To make a donation, you can either: 

•    Click this link http://ca.movember.com/mospace/93711/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account , or
•    Write a cheque payable to ‘Prostate Cancer Canada’, referencing my Registration Number 93711 and mailing it to: Prostate Cancer Canada, 145 Front Street East, Ste. 306, Toronto, ON M5A 1E3, Canada.

All donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. 

Prostate Cancer Canada will use the money raised by Movember for the development of programs related to awareness, public education, advocacy, support of those affected, and research into the prevention, detection, treatment and cure of prostate cancer.

For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please click [HERE]. 

Thank you,


Mark Daye

Anti-Olympic protests force 2010 torch relay to divert in Victoria

Protesters agitating for years against the 2010 Olympics took their first chance to disrupt Games planning Friday and forced a diversion of the torch relay just before the Olympic flame was to be triumphantly presented at a community celebration wrapping up its first day on Canadian soil.

Several hundred anti-Olympic activists, angry that billions are being spent on the Olympics instead of housing and health care, blocked Victoria city streets for hours.

Full Story

Way to go protesters, you all deserve medals!

Happy Halloween

Hundreds turned away as flu vaccine runs short

Hundreds of angry, frustrated people were turned away from the Etobicoke Civic Centre this morning after health officials announced they were running out of H1N1 vaccine.

The centre had 2,500 shots of the vaccine but the lineup far exceeded that number. Many people who were turned away left furious at the system.

Earlier, pregnant women and the elderly braved the cold winds and young children jumped in puddles, but as time went on, frustrations in the crowd started showing.

Inside the clinic, where a crowd pressed against the information desk, Joseph Almonte held two coveted cards, numbers one and two in the lineup for the vaccine.

Obama lifts ban on US entry for those with HIV

President Barack Obama said Friday the U.S. will overturn a 22-year-old travel and immigration ban against people with HIV early next year.

The order will be finalized on Monday, Obama said, completing a process begun during the Bush administration.
The U.S. has been among a dozen countries that bar entry to travelers with visas or anyone seeking a green card based on their HIV status.
"If we want to be the global leader in combatting HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it," Obama said at the White House before signing a bill to extend the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program. Begun in 1990, the program provides medical care, medication and support services to about half a million people, most of them low-income.
Read the full story

Christopher Skinner Vigil Video

Hundreds Attend Christopher Skinner Vigil

Hundreds of people came out to an emotional and moving vigil tonight for a young gay man, Christopher Skinner who was first viciously beaten, then run over with an SUV on Adelaide Street in downtown Toronto last Saturday, October 18.  Christopher was making his way home around three a.m. from celebrating his sisters birthday at a downtown nightclub.

In a moving tribute, we heard about Christopher's passionate love of life and his fellow man. Christopher was described as someone who was very outgoing and always making new friends.

Observing a moment of silence, the crowd raised their candles and looked to the sky in a show of solidarity honoring the memory of Christopher.

Many in attendance, including myself, did not know Christopher, but felt it was important to show support for his family and friends. And to show that we are not afraid, and we will not let Christopher be forgotten.

Observers on the street applauded as we walked from the corner of Church and Wellesley in the heart of Toronto's gay village south to Adelaide and Victoria streets where Chris was savagely beaten and run over. A haunting rendition of Amazing Grace was sung by some in the crowd, as marchers signed the banner bearing Christopher's name that had led the vigil to the downtown corner.  

If you have any information about the murder of Christopher Skinner, pleasce contact Detective Stacy Gallant at 416−808−7410 and Detective Doug Dunstan at 416−808−7406, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). 

Toronto Police News Release: Homicide #43/2009

Toronto Police News Release: Homicide #43/2009 Update

Toronto Police Release Additional Security Video In Christopher Skinner Murder

Three new video clips released Saturday show Skinner trying to hail a cab at different points on Adelaide St. The first is at 2:36 a.m. in the Entertainment District, where he seeks a cab then walks east.The second clip, 15 minutes later, shows Skinner looking at what police believe is his cellphone or iPod.The third and longest clip has Skinner east of Yonge St., not far from where he was killed.

Universal Cell Phone Charger Approved

This is what I consider to be a victory for anyone who has cursed the mobile industry, and the wasteful and greedy manufacturing of more than 50,000 tonnes of redundant phone adapters each year.

A new charger, that will work with any handset has been approved by the International Telecommunication Union, which is a body of the United Nations.

It has also been estimated that greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 13.6m tonnes each year.

Read the full story at the BBC.

Candlelight Vigil for Christopher Skinner: Sunday, Oct. 25th at 8PM

Candlelight Vigil to be held Sunday for Christopher Skinner

A young gay man, Christopher Skinner, was savagely attacked and murdered while walking home from his sister's birthday party this past Saturday night in downtown Toronto. Although the police have been reluctant to call this a 'hate crime', Chris's sexuality was undoubtedly a factor in this otherwise unprovoked attack. It is a stark reminder that queer bashing is still an all too common occurrence in Canada.

Chris's murder has left many of us feeling shaken, angry, scared and frustrated. To all queer communities and allies - this is a call out for a CANDLELIGHT VIGIL ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT 8PM AT THE CORNER OF CHURCH & WELLESLEY. If enough people show up and want to, we can march. Bring a candle, a sign, a flower, whatever. 
Please pass this invitation along to anyone you know who might be interested.

War Criminal/Terrorist Speaks at Iconic Montreal Hotel

Former U.S. terrorist President George W. Bush spoke at the iconic Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal today, to an audience of ( I suspect) fat, rich, french businessmen.
In what is the most ironic thing I've heard today, the Queen Elizabeth hotel is the same hotel where John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their bed-in and recorded the peace anthem "Give Peace a Chance" in 1969.
Read all about it in The Toronto Star

Olympic Whores Can't Stop

I read an interesting post today in Randy Starkman's Olympic blog, which highlights just one more reason why I will never support the scam that is the Olympic games.  As you are probably aware the Olympics makes huge money in sponsorship deals, deals which in my opinion are, pardon my french; bullshit.


For example: McDonalds is the "Official Restaurant"! Give me a break.  Yeah, I know you love the sappy, feel good commercials, but do you really think these elite "amateur" (which brings me to another item in the Olympic scam, but that's for another day) athletes eat at McDonalds? If you do, I've got some oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you.


So the point Randy is trying to make is this: Why should CTV "storytellers" be selected to carry the torch before, say children or real amateur athletes. I hope the people at CTV will rethink this disgusting and shameful scam.

Read Randy Starkmans post here.

Video of SUV in Christopher Skinner Murder

Toronto Police released this video today of a black SUV suspected of killing Christopher Skinner last weekend. There is speculation that Skinner was targeted because he was gay.

Sarah Palin to be on Oprah

In what Harpo Productions is promoting as a "world exclusive," Oprah will interview Sarah Palin November 16th, the day before the former Alaska Governor and Republican Vice Presidential candidate's book "Going Rogue: An American Life" is released.


This should be good.  Palin is an idiot and Oprah always asks the questions that the audience would ask.

The Fun Theory

Chretien receives Order of Merit from the Queen at Buckingham Palace

Former prime minister Jean Chretien has been awarded the Order of Merit by the Queen in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Seventy-five-year-old Chretien is only the fourth Canadian to be presented with the order. The others were neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield and former prime ministers William Lyon Mackenzie King and Lester B. Pearson.

The award, called a "gift from the sovereign," is given to those who show "exceptional distinction" in the arts, learning, sciences and public service.

Source: 680 News

Was Skinner murder gay bashing?

Homicide officers are sifting through mounds of security footage hoping it will lead them to the identity of the suspects responsible for attacking, running over and killing Christopher Skinner early Sunday morning.

"We have officers out gathering every piece of video tape we can find along Adelaide St. between the entertainment district and all the way as far as Church St.," said Det. Stacey Gallant, the lead investigator on the case.

Some of the victim's friends have voiced their concern the assault may have been related to the fact Skinner was gay, said McAreavey.

"Christopher was not the type of guy to pick a fight with someone," she said. "The only reason I could see something happening like that would have been because he was gay.

From: The Toronto Star
Toronto Police Report

Global Day of Action

Saturday is the Global Day of Action on Climate Change.  Please join Toronto Greens and other Torontonians to celebrate life and this planet we love, and to demand a good future for ourselves, our children, our communities, our grandchildren.  Take part in the global movement initiated by 350.org to press world leaders for the decisive action climate change demands.

World leaders are gathering in Copenhagen this December to negotiate a global agreement on climate change for the post-Kyoto period.  The decisions they make will determine the world our children and grandchildren inherit.  Failure to commit to the dramatic changes that science demands could leave a vastly impoverished planet this century, no longer able to sustain us all.

Emerging science indicates that the emissions reduction targets being discussed in Copenhagen are likely too weak, and Canada is proposing targets well short of this inadequate range.  The Green Party of Canada is joining with Canadians to press our government for the commitments we need.  Now is the time for Canada to take responsibility.

What can we do?  Participate in any/all of the following on October 24:

2 pm - Join Toronto Greens at the 350.org Rally for Climate Action in Queen's Park organized by the Toronto Climate Campaign.

4:30 pm - Gather with Toronto Greens at O'Grady's Tap & Grill, 171 College St.

6 pm - Watch The Age of Stupid with U of T Greens at Sidney Smith Hall, room 2102, 100 St. George St.  See the movie for $10 or buy a Green Party membership for $10 and see the movie free.

Please spread the word:  bring your kids and grandkids, bring your friends and neighbours, tell your colleagues and your classmates ... lots of participation will make a huge impact!

We have one Earth, for all of us to share.  Help make October 24 a celebration of our Earth, now and for the future. 

Toronto Wins World Pride 2014

The world will now get a taste of Toronto's famous Pride festivities, after the city won a bid to host the 2014 World Pride event.

World Pride promotes gay, bisexual and transgender issues internationally through parades, festivals and other cultural activities.

The world event will be hosted during Toronto's regular Pride week, but will have extra events including an opening ceremony, a human rights conference, and networking events, as well as Canada Day and U.S. Independence day parties.

Toronto beat out Stockholm with 78 per cent of the ballots in the second round of voting on Sunday.

Pride Toronto organizers say last year's Pride Week infused $136 million into Toronto's economy, created 762 jobs across the province, and drew close to 750,000 tourists for the festivities.

Pride Toronto's website says Toronto's Pride Week is one of the biggest in the world, with more than a million people turning out every year.

Organizers say they hope to attract tourists who may not have considered Toronto for their vacation.

London will host the world event in 2012, a few weeks before the summer Olympics will be held there. World Pride is expected to double London's usual number of participants to 1 million people.

The first World Pride was held in Rome in 2000.

Toronto was announced as the winner Sunday at the InterPride 2009 conference in Florida.

My Global Village Trip To Portugal

My Global Village Trip To Portugal

My friend Jane is building houses in portugal. Please click the link to make a donation to Habitat For Humanity and sponsor her.
Thanks!

Darryl's Hard Liquor & Porn Film Festival

Darryl's Hard Liquor and Porn Film Festival returns to Toronto and Montreal this October with it's 10th annual show. Featuring more funny short films about sex from Canada and around the globe.

May in Munk Debates

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will participate in the prestigious Munk Debates on Tuesday, December 1st in Toronto, along with Bjorn Lomborg, Lord Nigel Lawson, and George Monbiot.

The topic at hand is “Climate change is mankind's defining crisis, and demands a commensurate international response.”  Ms. May and Mr. Monbiot, both best-selling authors of books on the mitigation of climate change, will argue in favour of an urgent and significant international response to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

On the opposing side is climate change skeptic Bjorn Lomborg, and Lord Nigel Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, both of whom question whether climate change mitigation will cause unnecessary social and financial hardships.

The Munk Debates is a signature initiative of the Aurea Foundation, a charitable organization established in 2006 by Peter and Melanie Munk to support Canadian institutions involved in the study and development of public policy.  Held annually, previous Munk Debates have featured U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke, activist Mia Farrow, journalist Charles Krauthammer, historian Niall Ferguson, former diplomat Stephen Lewis and General Rick Hillier.

“I am honoured to be selected as the only Canadian and only political leader to join internationally respected author George Monbiot in the debating team for urgent climate action. There is really no longer any scope or time for debate. With every passing year the Canadian government falls behind in terms of green technology, green jobs and responsible action to give our children a future,” said Ms. May.

The Munk Debates will be held on Tuesday December 1st, 2009 at The Royal Conservatory – TELUS Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, at 7:00 pm, and are open to the public.

Tickets range from $20 to $50 and can be purchased through the Royal Conservatory box office by phone at 416-408-0208 or online at performance.rcmusic.ca. Seating is limited. A free public reception will follow the event.
For more information on the Munk Debates visit: http://www.munkdebates.com/media/

Uganda MP urges death for gay sex

A Ugandan MP has proposed creating an offence of "aggravated homosexuality" to be punishable by death.

Ruling party MP David Bahati wants the death penalty for those having gay sex with disabled people, under-18s or when the accused is HIV-positive.

Homosexual acts are already illegal, but the Anti-Homosexuality Bill proposes new offences and urges the toughening of existing penalties.

Full Story at BBC News.

Once again I will reiterate that one of the reasons civilized countries and cities like Canada and Toronto have gay pride celebrations and is to educate the idiots and freaks out there and try to save others like ourselves from persecution, torture and yes, even death.

Metro Editorial Cartoon for October 13, 2009

Gay rights activist Milk honoured

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law a bill that establishes a day recognising US gay rights leader Harvey Milk.

Harvey Milk Day will be marked in California on 22 May, Milk's birthday. The activist was assassinated in 1978.

Mr Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year.

In the interim, Milk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was the subject of a film for which actor Sean Penn won an Oscar.

Milk was a leader in the gay rights movement and was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

According to the new law, he was the first openly gay man elected to public office in a major public city. He was assassinated in November 1978, after 11 months in the role.

Full Story

We tend to think of California as being liberal, but don't forget Shwarzenegger is a Republican. It's nice to see Harvey being honoured with this day.

U.S. Senate Finance Passes Its Health Care Bill

By a 14-9 vote -- with Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine as the lone Republican voting "aye" -- the Senate Finance Committee just passed its version of legislation to overhaul the nation's health care system.

The 10-year, $829 billion plan would require all Americans to purchase insurance.

Source: NPR

It's about time. America is finally joining the rest of us in the 21st century!

Revised TTC Bylaw No.1 to be applied starting October 12

For the past several months, TTC Special Constables have been educating and making passengers aware of the changes to the by-law, including the increased fines associated with it. For example, the fine for smoking on TTC property was $95. It is now set at $195, plus a victim fine surcharge of $35. Fines for other infractions, such as “altering fare media,” are now set at $345, plus a $75 victim fine surcharge.

The most frequent offenses include entering a station illegally, smoking, failing to tender proper fare, and littering. The TTC also has the authority now to enforce and apply fines with respect to priority seating, laying across seats or having feet on seats, and obstructing doors.  Read the  TTC news release here.

I've lived in Toronto now for more than ten years and I regularly use the TTC. In that ten years I think I have seen perhaps two of these 'Special Constables'. So, to all you idiots who have no manners and block the doors and put your feet up, you really have nothing to worry about. It would be nice for once to see people get on the subway, and off for that matter, taking into consideration that there are others behind you and they may need to get on or off as well.  

Microsoft readies bumper update

Microsoft will issue its biggest ever security update on 13 October.

The update will include 13 bulletins that between them tackle 34 vulnerabilities.

Microsoft said that eight of the bulletins were rated as critical - the most serious sort of vulnerability.

The security patches will close loopholes in many different programs including different editions of Windows, Internet Explorer and some elements of Office.

One update, rated as critical, tackles a loophole in Internet Explorer 8 running under Windows 7. The next version of Microsoft's operating system is due to be released on 22 October.

Now Microsoft is releasing updates for products not yet available.  My advice: Get a Mac!

Obama pledges to end 'don't ask, don't tell'

U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to end the ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military in a Washington speech Saturday but acknowledged to a cheering crowd that the policy changes he promised on the campaign trail are not coming as quickly as they expected.

"I will end 'don't ask-don't tell,"' Obama said at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay civil rights advocacy group.

Obama reaffirmed his commitment to end the ban but did not give a timetable or the specifics that some activists have called for.

Full Story at CBC.CA

I, like many others would like to see you do something for a change. Enough with the talk and promises, how about some actual action?

Praise, shock greet Obama's Nobel win

U.S. president Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision designed to encourage his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.  
Full Story at The Toronto Star


Okay sure. I think I deserve a Grammy, after all I wrote a song once. It will be interesting to see if he actually completes any of the things he's been given this award for. 

Congratulations Paul & Colin

My friends are getting married today. I wish them well!

A message from The Green Party of Canada

This October 24, demand a future for our children.

Join in the global movement to press world leaders for the decisive action climate change demands.

World leaders are gathering in Copenhagen this December to negotiate a global agreement on climate change for the post-Kyoto period. The decisions they make will determine the world our children inherit. Failure to commit to the dramatic changes that science demands could leave a vastly impoverished planet this century, no longer able to sustain us all.

Emerging science indicates that the emissions reduction targets being discussed in Copenhagen are likely too weak and Canada is proposing targets well short of this inadequate range. The Green Party of Canada is joining with Canadians to press our government for the commitments our children need.

Now is the time for Canada to take responsibility.

What can we do?

The Green Party of Canada is calling on all its members to do four things on October 24.

1. Sign the KYOTOplus petition and spend part of the day collecting more signatures.
2. Call or write your MP on or before this day and demand that Canada meet and exceed the measures called for by KYOTOplus.
3. Participate in International Day of Climate Action events in your neighbourhood or help Fill the Hill in Ottawa.
4. Attend a local screening of The Age of Stupid or arrange a screening of your own.

Click the links to find out more.

Copy and print a flyer to spread the word.

Above all, help make October 24 a celebration of life and of this planet we love.

Auditor General Ehealth Report

The McGuinty government has WASTED ONE BILLION DOLLARS of our money.
What are you going to do about it? Click the post title to see the auditor general's report.
Here's a couple of highlights copied directly from the auditors press release:
1. Of the $1 billion spent so far on the EHR initiative, $800 million was spent by the SSHA primarily to build a computer network for health-care providers that is expensive to operate and significantly underutilized, mainly because of a dearth of available applications. 

Specifically, it is costing $72 million annually to operate the network; and, on average, users are utilizing less than 1% of the network’s available bandwidth (or system capacity), with peak usage averaging only about 16% of available bandwidth. 

2. Allegations earlier this year that eHealth Ontario awarded contracts to certain companies without giving other firms a chance to compete were “largely true,” as were allegations of “favouritism” in the awarding of such contracts. For example, one firm that bid 500% more than the next qualified bidder was invited to bid again, the only company offered such an opportunity, and, after lowering its bid significantly, won the contract. Another firm that was awarded untendered contracts on the first phase of several projects was awarded many subsequent contracts worth about $7 million to work on successive phases of those projects. 

I am disgusted by this and will be urging the opposition leaders to hammer McGuinty in the legislature. He has a majority government so there's not much we can do until the election in a couple of years.

Health Minister Caplan quits

Government won't confirm resignation on eve of report into spending scandals at eHealth Ontario

Health Minister David Caplan has resigned on the eve of a report into spending scandals at an agency tasked with creating electronic health records.

Sources told the Canadian Press Tuesday that Caplan tendered his resignation to Premier Dalton McGuinty. However, the Liberal government will not confirm the minister has quit.

Full story: The Toronto Star

All I have to say is; it's about time!  This government has gotten away with too much of this wasteful nonsense for far too long. Wake up people!

Bureaucrats skirt rules to hide huge salaries

Hefty salaries for some of Ontario's highest paid civil servants – including the deputy health minister, who earned nearly $500,000 last year in salary and taxable benefits – are being channelled through hospitals to skirt government pay guidelines, the Star has learned.

As Premier Dalton McGuinty's administration clamps down on untendered contracts and consultants' meal expenses in the wake of the eHealth Ontario spending scandal, salaries for top bureaucrats are being buried in hospital budgets.

Read the full story: The Toronto Star

Here we go again. Looks like Dalton isn't interested in getting re-elected considering his government has seen one spending scandal after another recently. Personally, I'm sick and tired of his governments abuse of OUR money!

Apple Resigns From Chamber Over Climate

Apple has become the latest company to resign from the United States Chamber of Commerce over climate policy.
“We strongly object to the chamber’s recent comments opposing the E.P.A.’s effort to limit greenhouse gases,” wrote Catherine A. Novelli, the vice president of worldwide government affairs at Apple, in a letter dated today and addressed to Thomas J. Donohue, president and chief executive of the chamber. Click here to read the letter.
Click here to read the New York Times article.
It's great to see more companies promoting greener policies.

Cat Stevens' Peace Train by Dolly Parton

Community Meeting on Trans Rights

Please click on the image to view full size.

Phishing attack targets Hotmail

Thousands of accounts on web-based e-mail system Hotmail have been compromised in a phishing attack, software giant Microsoft has confirmed.

BBC News has seen a list of more than 10,000 e-mail accounts, predominantly originating from Europe, and passwords which were posted online.

Microsoft said it had launched an investigation.

Phishing involves using fake websites to lure people into revealing details such as bank accounts or login names.

It's a good idea to change your password periodically, if you have a hotmail account, I suggest now would be a good time.

Empire State in China lights row

Rights groups have criticised the move to bathe New York's Empire State Building in red and yellow in honour of communist China's 60th anniversary.

Managers of the building said the lights were to honour the Chinese people, adding that they celebrated many cultures and causes in such a way.

But Human Rights Watch, which has offices in the building, voiced dismay.

The group objected to celebrating the Communist Party, whose rule it said had seen many rights abuses.

Full Story at BBC

Human Rights Watch is right to object to this light show. Here in Toronto the CN Tower lights are used to celebrate different groups, but I think this was a big mistake on the part of the Empire State Building management.  Maybe Human Rights Watch needs to move or at least make some changes to their lease when it comes up for renewal.