justice? i don't know

On a day when Saddam is hanged, I remembered this blast from the past Whitehouse statement. Click the link.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/05/20030501-15.html

OUT OF SIGHT

JB. The legends will soon all be gone.

When they die, they sell records. I have lots of James, but if I had to choose one, I would choose Live At The Apollo.

I was thinking of 5 of my favs JB songs ever.

Here they are - in no particular order.

*Escape-ism (love the kick-off)
*Bewildered (so much reverb all over this track, love JB's echo vocals mixed with sweet backgrounds)
*Give It Up Or Turn It Loose (sampled so much, hip hop owes such a debt to this track, crazy bassline, tight ass vocals, those horns.....damness)
*Cold Sweat (not everyone fav, but one of mine, I love the strange edge this song has)
*Stone To The Bone (crazy vocals dancing on tight rhythm guitar, love the sexed out vocals, James knows he has "a good thing")

Such a hero to many. Such a contradiction. One thing about James Brown is the music is strong.

merry xmas : cut a hole in a box

snl gets at least one xmas skit right every year. my computer is still broke I will be back. my love affair with apple computer's is getting sour.

smart people in space

have not been blogging much - my computer is broke. sucks but is also nice. getting caught up on some movies.

The Space Shuttle launched into night time skies today. Very cool.

Kenny Kramer

I wonder how the "real" Kramer feels about his name getting racked through the mud.

larry king has never been on either of the Internets

Click this link to hear Larry King mention he has never been on the Internet Machine

Maybe Larry and Dubya can take a Learning Annex class together.

the air out

Would it not be ideal to have a federal environment minister who cared about the environment. I am not saying a David Suzuki type person, just someone with a built in knowledge. They could also be politically savy, that is fine.

The Feds are such line riders that they lose site of their roles as a government. The former party in power was also guilty of this. The need for some of these leaders and people in parliament to get their heads out of the deep sand in Ottawa is more and more obvious when they release platforms like The Clean Air Act.

I could be convinced that Kyoto is a really hard target to meet, but the Clean Air act is a platform of a party that has a short lifeline.



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambrose brings Canada’s political dirty laundry to conference

By Mike De Souza
CanWest News Service

Wednesday, November 15, 2006


CREDIT: (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
Canadian Environment Minister Rona Ambrose speak to reporters, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
NAIROBI, Kenya -- Environment Minister Rona Ambrose tossed in a few jarring shots at her critics on Wednesday as she addressed the annual United Nations climate change conference, with a pledge that her government would achieve better results to fight global warming than its predecessor.

“Indeed, we have chosen real progress over delay - and transparency over rhetoric,” she said in a prepared speech. “We are taking responsibility, embarking on pragmatic solutions and finally beginning the process of putting our own house in order.”

Ambrose told the UN conference that the previous Liberal government left Canada in an “unacceptable situation” without sufficient or accountable measures to address climate change. She explained it pushed the country’s international Kyoto Protocol commitment, to reduce greenhouse gases by six per cent below 1990 levels, out of reach.

While some provincial governments have allied themselves with opposition parties and environmentalists who are urging the federal Conservatives to recommit to Canada’s Kyoto targets, Ambrose accused her opponents of tearing the country apart.

“There are some who are using the Kyoto Protocol to create divisions within our country -- but we will not let that happen,” she said.

Environmentalists and opposition parties, who criticized the minister in Nairobi earlier this week, were shocked by Ambrose’s partisan attack, calling it out of place at an official UN event.

“It was like a speech at the House of Commons,” said Matthew Bramley, a climate change policy analyst at the Pembina Institute. “The minister really said nothing new, nothing that changes her government’s position that it’s not even going to try to meet our Kyoto obligation. She started talking more about Kyoto, but when she’s pushed, it’s clear that she has no intention of actually trying to meet the target.”

After her speech, Ambrose said that she made her presentation to move the Kyoto debate past partisan issues, but her critics didn’t buy her explanation.

“Everyone knows the Liberal record was bad,” said NDP critic Nathan Cullen. “That’s not necessarily the world’s concern. They just want to know that Canada’s committed, and we’re not under this Conservative government.”

Ambrose’s speech followed a call from the UN’s top ranking official for Canada to be a world leader in fighting global warming.

“I believe Canada is among the countries that are making an effort,” said UN secretary General Kofi Annan at a news conference, following a speech in the morning. “But I believe that each country should really increase its efforts, and Canada should play a leadership role to show other countries that it can be done. And I believe that the Canadian population is very engaged in this area, and I hope that, by working together with the government, they will be able to show other countries what can be done in this area.”

Annan also announced that six UN agencies would be brought together to help deliver resources to developing parts of the African continent that are struggling to cope with the existing impact of climate change. The resources would be routed through the Kyoto protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism, which allows industrialized countries to earn credits that can go towards their targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions when they invest in projects outside their own borders.

The industrialized world has a responsibility to help poorer countries adapt to climate change which is becoming a matter of survival in many parts of Africa, he added.

Meantime, Quebec’s Environment Minister joined the critics who were shaking their heads about Ambrose’s speech.

“I don’t have any more confidence in her today, than I did yesterday or the day before,” said Bechard who was invited by Ambrose to join the Canadian delegation. “We would have really liked her to talk about the Quebec plan. It’s a plan that’s not only a source of pride of Quebecers, but that should also be a source of pride of Canadians.”

Cullen suggested she intentionally left Quebec out of her speech since it has a plan to achieve Kyoto’s targets.

“Quebec is a real problem for Ms. Ambrose and Mr. Harper, because (Quebec) is putting truth to the lie that Canada can’t go after its Kyoto targets,”
said Cullen.
© CanWest News Service 2006

thanks 50

funny how music can change your mood, bring you up when you are down. For me I find if I a down or feeling sad, that sad music is the worst thing. gotta get something hitting or uptempo. I was feeling down today and listen to a mix of 50 cent, and now I am writing this not feeling so sad. weirdness.

50 looks mean in that mug shot.

ed bradley

this link is Ed Bradley talking about Vietnam, a place where he made his name as a journalist.


Ed Bradley on Vietnam

basketball

BASKETBALL IS ALSO MY FAVORITE SPORT.

go back!

Dear NBA Commisioner David Stern,

The future of your league is not happy with the new synthetic basketball you have introduced this season. Take the high road and go back to the leather ball, that we and all the professionals have been playing with for years. King James has spoken.

Thanks
A fan.




LeBron Thinks He'll Never Get Accustomed To The New Ball
7th November, 2006 - 7:59 am
News-Herald - Count LeBron James as one player who hasn't stopped voicing objections regarding the NBA's new composite basketball.

"I don't think I ever will," he replied when asked if he'll ever become accustomed to it. "It's not a good basketball, in my opinion. You've been so used to playing with a leather ball for the last three years. It feels like a basketball you buy for your kids at Christmas, or something.

"If you want to change something, make our shorts shorter or our jerseys smaller and tell us how to wear wristbands," he said. "You change the dress code.

"The one thing we care about is the basketball. I don't understand why would you change the one thing we agree and care about. When you change the thing we play with at every single game and in every practice, that we were comfortable with, it doesn't make sense to me at all." [READ]

HELL - THEY EVEN DID EXPERIMENTS THAT SAY THE BALL SUCKS!

the prince

like reggae? this dude Prince Buster had a huge part in bringing reggae and ska to the world. I am interviewing him on wednesday. I am excited.

Wash, Wash is the tune, great title.

just curious eh?

Church Leader Says Haggard Admits To Some Indiscretions
Interim Senior Pastor Says Haggard Admits Indiscretions -- Raw Interview
Ted Haggard Accused
Haggard Update
Colorado Springs
Updated: 10:14 AM Nov 3, 2006
11 News

A sudden about-face in the scandal facing New Life Church's pastor.

After Pastor Ted Haggard went public Wednesday night denying allegations of a homosexual affair, senior church officials told KKTV 11News Thursday evening, Pastor Ted Haggard has admitted to some of the claims made by a former male escort. The church's Acting Senior Pastor, Ross Parsley, tells KKTV 11 News that Pastor Haggard has admitted to some of the indiscretions claimed by Mike Jones, but not all of them.

An email has also reportedly been sent to Church staff saying Haggard admitted to some of the accusations.

What those indiscretions were remains a mystery. Mike Jones took a polygraph examination, and was asked about his claim of a sexual relationship with Haggard. The polygraph examination showed "some deception." However, the person who administered the test said on Denver radio station KHOW that the results could be skewed by Jones's "mental and physical exhaustion."

Thursday morning, Jones went on a Denver radio talk show and said Pastor Haggard paid him for sex over the past 3 years. Jones also claims Haggard used drugs with him.

Right now, the situation is under investigation by an independent panel of leaders from four outside churches. The leaders are from Colorado Springs, Larkspur, Westminster and Louisiana. The panel's role is to decide if Haggard will be exonerated, released from his duties or restored to his pastorship.

Earlier Thursday, Haggard resigned as President of the National Association of Evangelicals, and placed himself on administrative leave as head of New Life Church. New Life Church has an estimated 14,000 members, while the NAE claims roughly 30 million members.

the timing of this is crazy

Evangelical Leader Resigns Over Sex Scandal

By REUTERS
Published: November 3, 2006



COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) - The president of the U.S. National Association of Evangelicals, who has had regular talks with the White House and vocally opposes gay marriage, resigned on Thursday after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a male escort.

Ted Haggard, who denied the accusation, also temporarily stepped down as senior pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, the church said in a statement.

``I've never had a gay relationship with anyone,'' Haggard said in an interview with Denver television station KUSA on Wednesday night. ``I'm steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife.''

The New Life Church statement quoted Haggard as saying he could ``not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations.''

``I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity. I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date,'' the church statement quoted Haggard as saying.

Mike Jones, who said he was a male escort, told KUSA on Wednesday he had had a three-year sexual ``business relationship'' with Haggard.

Haggard, who is often credited with rallying conservative Christians behind President George W. Bush for his 2004 re-election, talks to Bush or his advisors every Monday, Harper's Magazine reported last year.

Haggard supports a proposed amendment to the Colorado constitution that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Colorado voters will decide on that issue next week when they vote in the congressional elections.

BALLOT INITIATIVES

Such ballot initiatives also help the Republican Party which polls say is in danger of losing control of Congress in Tuesday's midterm vote.

Evangelical Christians have been a key base of support for Bush and the Republican Party.

A father of five, Haggard has long been a leading figure among conservative U.S. evangelical Christians.

Time Magazine included him in its list of the ``25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America.'' Harper's Magazine, an influential liberal periodical, described New Life last year as ''America's most powerful megachurch.''

While the National Association of Evangelicals is associated with conservative causes it is not as rigidly ideological and staunchly supportive of the Republican Party as other evangelical groups.

Its vice president of governmental affairs, Richard Cizik, is vocal in support of policies to stop global warming, an issue not associated with most Republicans.

Jerry Falwell, a prominent conservative Christian and Republican Party stalwart, was quick to play down the organization's role and Haggard's standing among evangelicals.

``He (Haggard) doesn't really lead themovement. ... He is the president of an association that is very loosely knit and I've never been a member of it,'' Falwell said in a CNN interview on Thursday.

erieau halloween treat

Man - I saw my kids candy from Halloween and was thinking that he got all the same kind of stuff- chocolate bars and chips and maybe those rocket candies. Those are all tasty but predictable.

Not to reminise to much but in the little village I grew up in Erieau ( just west of Point Pelee) a few people got creative. This one older women, who everyone called Aunt Betty would make a ton of candy apples. We look so forward to hitting Aunt Betty's. She ruled.

Her neighbour, was known for his skill at making amazing smoked fish (Erieau is a fishing town), and he would give out smoked fish. Sounds very Trailer Park Boys, but everyone hit him up, some people numerous times. My dad always ate ours.

And if you hit the gold mine of a can of pop, that was the best.

THIS IS ERIEAU

the good, the bad, and the queen

Pretty excited about this.

From wikipedia :
The Good, The Bad and The Queen consists of Albarn, The Clash's bassist Paul Simonon, former Verve member and Blur and Gorillaz guitarist Simon Tong, and Afrobeat pioneer and Africa 70 drummer Tony Allen, intend to release and delete their first single, "Herculean" on 30 October 2006

If this is just a Damon Albarn thing I would not care so much. But Tony Allen and Paul Simonon. That gets me excited. I like the single so so , they lose Allen in the mix a bit, but I have read that they have made an incredible record. We will see.

The Good, The Bad and The Queen Myspace page They have the single on this page.

"war on terror is like a war on lust or love'

that is a quote from Lewis H. Lapham on The Hour

I just watched the pre-tape.

I am shelling for the show I work on. sorry

the times really are changin

WITNESS THE CLIP ABOVE
Man, sometimes theatre and Broadway makes me want to become a pack rat and barricade myself in my house, so I do not have to witness them killing every damn cool element in music.

Did Dylan sign of on this? If so did he see it? Has he barricaded himself in his house?

I have a 20 year old boy, so I can deal with the Wiggles and such and over the top singing and acting but Dylan. I am going to steal a line from my dad, "these guys should be shot."

They already did a Brian Wilson/Beach Boys play on Broadway. Bastards, these jukebox musicals drive me crazy, and you know there is many more to come.

limbaugh is a A-1 prick

Liberal, right-winger or whatever, Rush Limbaugh calling Michael J Fox a faker or acting like he has severe Parkinson's is sad.

Limbaugh proved his desperation in disagreeing with Stem Cell research. Your beliefs are one thing but to cross that line is disrespectful of those who have the disease, and strangely enough I am sure there are a few Americans who have Parkinson's who are Limbaugh listeners.


this is a funny take on Rush, his meds, and Alex P Keaton


Here is also a rebuttal ad, with the mom from Everyone Loves Raymond and some NFLers

Man cheng jin dai huang jin jia

This movie The Curse of the Golden Flower looks amazing. Another beauty from Yimou Zhang (Hero, House of Flying Daggers) I am sure, and Chow Yun-Fat is in the movie with a full grey beard. Gong Li is also in it, probably playing the usually sullen women in Yimou's flicks.

I heard that Yimou did a lot of research into martial arts styles and uncovered some real ancient techniques. He also is known for his elaborate sets. I am sure it will be beautiful looking.



Also Jeff Skilling of Enron infamy was sentenced to 24

yes yes brazil

The best new J5, The Roots and Black Eyed Peas track of the year (out of all their new albums) is "Yes, Yes Y'all" on the Sergio Mendes album.

harps

My man harrrper in the fall.

go back to the drawing board

I will be 77 when the Conservative's cut the Greenhouse emissions by 45%.
Thanks for nothing.


-------------------------------------------------------------
Emissions goal decades away
Proposed law makes no mention of Kyoto Protocol
Oct. 19, 2006. 11:22 AM
DENNIS BUECKERT
CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — The Conservatives released the centrepiece of their "made-in-Canada" environment agenda Thursday — a Clean Air Act that would cut greenhouse gas emissions in half, but not until 2050.

The bill, aimed at dispelling the notion that Tories are soft on the environment, sets no short-term targets for cutting greenhouse emissions. In the long term, it says the government will seek to cut emissions by 45 to 65 per cent by 2050.

In the interim, the government will set so-called "intensity targets" which would require industry to reduce the amount of energy used per unit of production, without placing a hard cap on emissions.

Regulations for large polluters would begin in 2010 and the government is giving itself until 2020 to set national emissions-cutting targets for the pollutants that cause smog.

The proposed law, which is certain to get a rough ride from opposition parties who say it's far too weak, makes no reference to the Kyoto Protocol even though Canada remains a party to the treaty.

In the coming year, the government will introduce regulations to reduce emissions from motorcycles, outboard engines, all-terrain vehicles and off-road diesel engines. Officials were unable to say what proportion of Canada's emissions come from those sources, or by how much they will be reduced.

The intention will be to synchronize Canadian regulations with those of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. New rules for the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks will be established by 2010.

On the sensitive issue of targets for large industrial emitters, the government is moving cautiously, with a three-phase consultation process in coming years.

The previous government already held three years of consultations on regulation of large emitters, which account for about half of Canada's greenhouse pollution.

The Clean Air Act will transfer a number of substances that were previously defined as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to a new category labelled "air pollutants."

Critics say this shift is almost certain to result in a constitutional challenge. The wording used in the act had been tested before the Supreme Court, while the new wording has not been tested.

old school

The Hour won a couple Gemini's which is cool. Congrats to George for best host, he works hard that man.


VH1 Hip Hop Honors (spelling) is on MuchMusic - I like this even if it is old school dudes. Mixmaster Mike is cutting up the Beastie Boys right now. I like Mike.

I was listening to some Big Daddy Kane on my way to work yesterday, and realized, the dude never cursed when he rapped. Who made cursing so popular. I am thinking it was N.W.A , although you could dig deeper, they made it popular.

Man, the Beastie are doing Whatcha Want. I like this song. MCA has a lot of grey hair.

This honors stuff kills me , I remember saying to friends, what is it going to be like when LL Cool J is old? They can't keep rhyming. Well I guess they can. (although LL is not really that old) .



I watched the BBC Office and died from laughter and pain. The NBC version is very different, but I am enjoying it equally. I am not sure if anyone saw the episode where Angela made Dwight a bobblehead. Well I bought one in NYC- Dwight is amazing he even has his own blog

sort of scary

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden was on the Hour today - I just watched the pre-tape. The guy is a first officer for Astraeus airline. The dude has a legit day job outside of singing for Metal heroes Iron Maiden.

What is next?

Ozzy Osbourne a heart surgeon? Blackie Lawless drives an ambulance in Los Angeles? Alice Cooper is good at golf?

Actually, Dickinson is pretty together for a metal frontman, he was also at one time the 7th best fencer in England.

enough of my useless trivia.................

taking hip hop lyrics to a new level

Nas rhymes that "sleep is the cousin of death". (in NY State Of Mind, from his debut, Illmatic)

But I am tired today and I would love to sleep.


Could be that I played road hockey for 3 hours with a bunch of 10 year olds yesterday. I realized that I am 23 year older than them this morning when my back was aching.

But to continue my hip hop is life BS.....

Slum Village rhymed that "if you sleep you don't eat".

And right now I am hungry.

I guess this basically means that I am "not hip hop" because I like to sleep.

anyways - I am in blog idiot mode. I was thinking of Nas after reading this Fader Magazine review of his new album.

battle of the record covers

only one kid?

So Madonna adopted a young boy from Malawi. I think it is good these super celebs are helping out people, but is adopting this kid, really helping him?

Welcome young boy to your new mommy being chased by cameras. I guess this is better than starvation. I just worry that celebs adopting one child in a continent were millions of children need help, will overshadow.





I am listening to the new K-os record. I cannot explain but for some reason I did not think i would like it, but I am digging it. Dude has a deep understanding of music and has really placed himself into a spot that he can crossover all elements of music. This is the sort of the solo record Andre 3000 should have made.

He is passed Hip Hop giving a shit about him. They complain about Jay-Z making his comeback. I am sure it is only time before he gets a hit on North American record, he has that potential.

Week one of The Hour is almost finished. If every week is like this , they may need to clone the whole crew who work on show.

and no one even mentions.....

Maybe you might want to look at your constitution?

Bush plans conference on school violence
October 3, 2006


RENO, Nevada (AP) -- The Bush administration, alarmed by recent attacks at public schools across the country, is bringing education and law enforcement experts together for a conference on coming to grips with the problem.

The goal would be to discuss the nature of the problem and federal action that can help communities prevent violence and deal with its aftermath, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said as President Bush made a campaign tour here Monday.

Three schools have been hit by deadly attacks in the past week. A gunman killed himself and five girls Monday at a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania; on Friday a 15-year-old Wisconsin student shot and killed his principal; and last Wednesday a man took six girls hostage in Colorado, sexually assaulting them before fatally shooting one girl and killing himself.

"The president is deeply saddened and troubled by the recent school violence and shootings that have taken place in different communities across America," Perino said. "It breaks America's collective heart when innocent children who are at school to learn are violently taken hostage and cut down in their own schools."

Perino said the conference was still in the planning stages, so a specific date, location and other details were not ready to be announced. It was not clear whether President Bush would attend.

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Bush's domestic policy adviser, Karl Zinsmeister, met Monday at the White House to discuss the conference. They met while the president was on a cross-country flight to begin a three-day fundraising trip for Republican candidates in the midterm election.

Perino said participants on the education side would include groups like the National Parent Teacher Association, school principals and teachers' unions. The Federal Bureau of Investigations would be among those representing law enforcement, she said.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

i hate computers

My laptop died and fortunately a friend has lent me his. I am looking into buying another but since I am a mac person and they have new Intel processors that don't support Avid editing, I am struggling. Computer's make me ill.

anyone wanna sell me a cheap mac that can run avid express 4.6?

Criky

Witnesses tell of freak death of Steve Irwin


A DOCTOR and witnesses have told of the desperate efforts to save Australian icon Steve Irwin after the Crocodile Hunter was struck in the chest by a stingray barb today.

Irwin, 44, died this morning after being fatally injured while filming a nature documentary off Queensland.

The news has shocked the nation and prompted a rush of tributes from politicians and the public alike.

Irwin's wife Terri was in Tasmania at the time of the tragedy and had to be contacted by police with the terrible news.

The couple's daughter Bindi, 8, was with her father in north Queensland, Irwin's manager John Stainton said from Cairns.

Choking back tears, Mr Stainton said Irwin had gone “over the top of a stingray and a stingray's barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart”.

"He possibly died instantly when the barb hit him, and I don't think that he ... felt any pain.”

Professional diver Pete West was on board a nearby boat and was asked by Irwin's team to call in the emergency.

Asked on Channel 7 if Irwin was alive when they got him on his own boat, Mr West said: “I believe so.”

"He was doing what he did best and unfortunately today he wasn't quick enough."

Dr Ed O'Loughlin was aboard the Emergency Management Queensland Helicopter which was called from Cairns at 11.21am (AEST).

Irwin was being given CPR at Low Isles, off Port Douglas, as the helicopter arrived less than one hour after the incident, but Dr O'Loughlin said nothing could be done to save him.

"It became clear fairly soon that he had non-survivable injuries," Dr O'Loughlin said.

"He had a penetrating injury to the left front of his chest. He had lost his pulse and wasn't breathing."

Mr Stainton admitted he had always feared Irwin might meet his death while working with wildlife, but added that Irwin himself was never scared.

"We've been in some pretty close shaves. (But) nothing would ever scare Steve or would worry him. He didn't have a fear of death at all.”

Tragedy

Father-of-two Irwin was swimming at Batt Reef, off the Low Isles, when the tragedy occurred.

Tasmania Police this afternoon confirmed his wife Terri was travelling in the state at the time of the tragedy.

A spokeswoman said police had made contact with Mrs Irwin and "passed on a message relating to the death of her husband".

The Irwins have two children - Bindi and a three-year-old son, Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin.

John Weigel, of the Australian Reptile Park on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, said Irwin's death would be "devastating to a lot of people".

"He walked into the room like someone had opened the window and let the light in.

"He seemed invincible and it's a great shock that it could happen."

Famed

Steve Irwin - known worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter - was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchcry "Crikey!".

In an sad twist, it has been reported that his new documentary was aimed at demystifying the stingray. However Mr Stainton said Irwin was filming other footage for a program with Bindi at the time of the attack.

Irwin's Crocodile Hunter program was first broadcast in 1992 and has been shown around the world on cable network Discovery.

He has also starred in movies and has developed the Australia Zoo wildlife park, north of Brisbane, which was started by his parents Bob and Lyn Irwin.

Tributes quickly poured in for the larger-than-life character.

Prime Minister John Howard said Irwin was a typical Australian larrikin who brought joy to millions of people around the world.
"I am quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death," he said.

"It's a huge loss to Australia."

A Tourism Queensland spokeswoman said the death was shocking and paid tribute to Irwin's "enormous contribution" to his adopted state.

"I don't think we could even estimate how much he brought us through his personality and his profile and his enthusiasm about Queensland," she said.

- with AAP

get the drugs to the people!

the post below is a bit knee jerk of me. Except the Stockwell part.

AIDS conference in Toronto this weekend.


HIV therapy drugs reach one in five-study
Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:56 PM ET

By Matthew Bigg

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Only one in five people with HIV in poor and middle-income countries receives the drugs that treat the virus, said a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday.

That is despite a 200 percent rise in the number of people receiving the drug treatment between 2003 and 2005 as individual countries worked to meet a target of treating 3 million people with the drugs by 2005, the government agency's report said.

The dramatic increase in the number of people receiving the drugs means that globally there will be a rise in people living with HIV and thus a growing need to boost measures against HIV transmission, said the report.

In all, 4.1 million people were newly infected with HIV and 38.6 million were living with HIV and AIDS in 2005 in an epidemic focused on sub-Saharan Africa.

"Approximately 10 percent of the world population lives in sub-Saharan Africa but the region is home to approximately 64 percent of the world population living with HIV ... More women are HIV-infected than men," said the report.

Some African countries including Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe have seen a decline in adult HIV prevalence but in southern Africa, the epicenter of the pandemic, only 17 percent of those infected with the virus received the drug treatment.

The drugs save lives by treating infections caused by retroviruses, including HIV.

The report was published ahead of the 16th International AIDS conference in Toronto, Canada, which starts August 13.

There has been major progress in the drive to prevent HIV-positive mothers passing the virus on to their children but only 8 percent of the relevant women receive services such as health education, the report said.

Researchers in a separate study by the CDC and the Thailand Ministry of Health found an "alarming" 64 percent increase in sex between men in Bangkok between 2003 and 2005 and "low awareness" of HIV status among all men in the study."

"The study ... underscores the need to reach (the group) with more effective behavioral and biomedical interventions, more frequent and increased access to HIV counseling and testing, improved STD diagnosis and treatment and community awareness and support," said the report.

Crazy (click to CBC story)

they want us grounded. out of the middle east. we should leave.

I heard this statement by Canadian Home Security Minister Stockwell Day, about new policies on flights. That was good, so what i cannot bring a juice on a plan?

But then he followed it up with a statement about, "freedom". He said, "freedom" a lot.

Politicians! Please! Quit using this word. This word is earned, and Mr. Day, you have not earned it.

It also is fuel for the fire.

Nelson Madela has earned the word.

Steven Truscott has earned the word.

MLK has earned the word.

We enjoy it.

Afro Samurai

New cartoon voice by Sam "snakes on a plane" Jackson and music by RZA.

Click title for link.

Man I hope this comes to Canada

Bill Maher on Mel Gibson

click above to read an awesome opinion piece by Bill Maher about Mel Gibson.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20060802/cm_huffpost/026315

Click Here For The Article

summer

Summer....
is not condusive to blogging. Seriously swelty in Toronto. This hot weather is the stuff that makes me laugh when I head south and hear about "all the snow we get".

Listening to some Sam Cooke today, while both trying to reorganize my home office and do some computer stuff. I have slept on Cooke for a while. So soulful, "That's Heaven To Me" rips my heart out.

Nice cleaning music. I personally think James Brown is the best cleaning music. Especially while brooming.

Also Maxwell's, "Get To Know You" , that is a sink scruber for sure.

War=Rape

HARSH.



Soldiers' rape trial hits obstacles in Iraq
Jul. 16, 2006. 08:48 PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — U.S. military officials fear that religious hurdles in exhuming the body of a teenager could complicate the prosecution of American soldiers accused of raping and murdering the girl — and create a political nightmare for the U.S. mission here.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, U.S. officials believe a vigorous prosecution is essential and punishment should be severe if the six servicemen and one former soldier are convicted.
Anything short of that would be seen by Iraqis as a cover up and could shatter remaining support for the U.S. presence here.
Five soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division are accused of raping and murdering Abeer al-Janabi near the town of Mahmoudiya on March 12. A sixth soldier is accused of failing to report the crime.
The soldiers allegedly saw the victim at a checkpoint in the town and plotted the attack for a week, according to federal court documents. Three of her family members were killed in the assault.
But the victim's male relatives have refused to allow her body to be exhumed because of objections from a Muslim cleric. Islamic law frowns on exhumations as desecration of the dead.
"Chief among our concerns is carrying out justice. But when you get town officials or an imam saying that exhuming the body doesn't jive with our cultural sensitivities, that creates a massive stumbling block," a U.S. military official in Baghdad close to the investigation said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to media.
Without forensic evidence, prosecutors must rely heavily on statements from the suspects. Defense lawyers will doubtless claim those statements were made under duress and seek to keep them from the jury.
While some evidence has been collected at the home where the assault allegedly occurred, officials say none of it confirms guilt.
A photograph of the girl's Iraqi identity card, viewed by The Associated Press in Baghdad, showed the girl was 14 at the time of the attack, with her birthdate listed as Aug. 19, 1991. The identity card was issued in 1993 and shows a picture of the girl as a toddler.
The soldiers — Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, Spc. James P. Barker, Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman and Pfc. Bryan L. Howard — are accused of rape and murder. They allegedly conspired with former soldier Steven D. Green, who was arrested last month in North Carolina.
Green, who was discharged from the Army because of a personality disorder, likely will be tried in federal court. The former Army private pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and four counts of murder and is being held without bond.
Sgt. Anthony W. Yribe, is charged with failing to report the attack but is not alleged to have been a direct participant.
Those still on active duty face an Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a grand jury proceeding, to determine if they should stand trial. If the case does go to trial, the murder suspects could face the death penalty.
Yet Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has complained that Iraqi courts should try cases of abuse by American soldiers — something the U.S. command strongly resists — and last week called for a review of an agreement giving foreign troops immunity from Iraqi prosecution.
"Those who are free from being punished misbehave, and they have misbehaved a lot," al-Maliki said.
The U.S. military always has insisted it will punish soldiers who commit crimes against Iraqis. During a visit last week, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld underscored that position, insisting that "no one" in the U.S. force "is immune," meaning from U.S. though not Iraqi prosecution.
The attack was the latest in a string of allegations that U.S. soldiers and Marines in Iraq have killed civilians, including the alleged massacre of dozens in Haditha.

finally

The NBA draft came and went yesterday. If you watched did you happen to see Commisioner David Stern take some jabs at ESPN's Dan Patrick. That was one of the better moments.

The Raps picked 1 and chose Italian centre Andrea Bargnani. This is huge for Toronto, which has 700,000 plus of Italians living within the city.


I like this pick. As most of us know, Italians are known for being creative, whether in art, the trades or food, (this is me stereotyping) I hope Andrea brings some creativeness to the ACC, we need it.

New GM, Colangelo is also of Italian background and he is creative, maybe the Leafs should hire an Italian GM, god knows they need some creativeness.

ammo

well the Toronto Raptors have the first pick in the NBA draft this Wednesday. I am pretty excited, as are many other Raps fans. I cannot get enough news on who we will pick or what we will do. But one thing that is ticking me off, is the talk of "soon to be superstar", Adam Morrison's and the fact that he had diabetes.

I read a few Canadian publications this morning mentioning his diabetes and that it may scare off some teams. Such bullshit!




This kid has been balling for probably 10 years with no problems and he has a deep understanding of his body and when he needs insulin or sugar. There were times when he was giving himself shots at timeouts in college. Sure if health is involved teams should look into it, but I am sure Adam's diabetes is a blip on his overall standings as a player, and for the media to state that it could scare off teams to me is not truthful and grasping at straws.

Basketball media is a bit bent these days, with sites like Hoopshype and RealGM, all over ever rumour and such, so for reporters to actually feel that Adam has a downside because of diabetes is scary to me.

I am not sure who the Raps will pick but if Adam is the guy, I will be happy.

blah!

THEY SHOULD CHARGE ALL THESE BILLIONAIRES A FEE TO ENTER AFRICA.

COME TO NAMBIA FOR YOUR KID'S BIRTH
IT'S THE LOUISANA OF CHILDBIRTHING.

For real though, I think charging them is a great idea. Why does she pick Namibia anyway?



Spears now eyeing a Namibian birth
Jun. 16, 2006. 01:37 PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WINDHOEK, Namibia — Following in the steps of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Britney Spears is considering a Namibian birth for her next baby, a government official said Friday.
Leon Jooste, deputy environment and tourism minister, said officials have received an inquiry on behalf of the 24-year-old pop star, who has a nine-month-old son, Sean Preston, with husband Kevin Federline.
"She has shown interest to come over to Namibia," Jooste said by telephone from a conference in neighbouring South Africa. ``Nothing has been confirmed yet, but there is a definite possibility of that happening."
He declined to provide further details, saying: "She wants to come in very low profile and have some privacy. She might change her mind if we reveal too much now."
There was no immediate response from Spears's New York-based representative, Leslie Sloane Zelnik, to requests by The Associated Press seeking comment.
Spears, who recently announced she is expecting a second child, has taken a beating in the tabloids, which have questioned her parenting skills. She has been photographed driving with Sean Preston in her lap, and nearly dropped him when she tripped outside a New York City hotel.
Spears would probably appreciate some of the peace and privacy that Pitt and Jolie enjoyed when their daughter, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, was born last month in the sleepy southwest African country.
The Namibian government shielded the Hollywood couple from the paparazzi, insisting that visiting journalists obtain permission in writing to cover them.

livin

I did an interview today with a friend who is also a minister about tomorrow which on the calender is "666", and in the interview he said, "there is nothing more deceitful than organized religion that is self serving".

this really stood out for me, after all the islamic extremism getting a national eye in Canada.

drive slow

click above to check Kanye West's new video for "Drive Slow". That is my track on Late Registration. Got that cool soulful Hank Crawford horn sample.

Listening to my one year old trying to say some new words behind me as I write this - he is killing me- some kind of high pitched - EEEEEAHHHHHH! then a DADADAY.

If you were in Toronto, you know TTC went on a "wildcat" strike at 4 am yesterday throwing the city into a bit of hectic turmoil. Like the blackout - I love when this kind of stuff happens to a major city. It really brings out the character of the city. So many cyclists, and walkers and I also noticed many patios full with those you skipped work. Although I am glad it was short lived, it sure was interesting to watch.

head burst-downtime

long time no blog. I am bad at this. I think George Stroumboulopoulos has got a link to me at his site stroumbo.com - it has not launched yet but when it does I guess I better update this thing because someone may actually hit it.

as i am writing this it is early am and I am listening to some George Benson guitar jazz. I like a lot of jazz, but not much guitar oriented stuff - I need horns or Bill Evans piano. But Benson chills my bones instantly, especially after a crazy week. If you want to chill, I highly recommend some mellow Benson (he also gets funky sometimes) .

If you wanna get out of that daze that Benson puts you in - hit up some Cannonball Adderley- I recommend Cannonball Plays Zawinul- uptempo craziness.

Anyhow - back to Benson.

The show I work at The Hour has a new website - click my title above (head burt-downtime) to get to it.

$279,527,656,846

$279,527,656,846 was the cost of the war in Iraq at midnight Tuesday, May 9,2006

146 million children in poor countries are underweight, a condition that kills 10 children every minute.

Frustrating.

ty-d-blaine

Watched David Blaine craziness this eve. He was in that bubble near the Lincoln Center in NYC for a couple weeks - which was totally a wild stunt. He had planned to hold his breath for 9 minutes after and release himself from chains. His problem was throwing the chains into the stunt, cause at 7 minutes he was damn close.



I could not stop thinking of those old toilet bowl commercial and the ty-d-bol man who drove around the toilet bowl in his boat. Not sure why I thought of this?

Cloud Watch

another algonquin shot from my friend Matt- such a beautiful place- It used to be more touristy (is that a word?) up there. I have a hard time believing that. The gov't that decided to scale back development and logging in the area did good. I found this

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006097
"ALGONQUIN, established in 1893, was the first Canadian provincial park established to protect a natural environment. The idea for such a park was conceived in 1885 by an Irish immigrant, Alexander Kirkwood. As a clerk of the Crown Lands Department, he had become concerned about the destruction of the northern forests and wildlife and was impressed by the new NATIONAL PARKS at Yellowstone in the US and BANFF in the Canadian Rockies."

I also read that Rondeau Park was the second provincial park created in Ontario. That is cool, I grew up real close to it and spent lots of time there.

soon come

I am so looking forward to some summer. I gotta build a deck this year in the backyard. Always makes for a better summer.

Creature meet creature

I cannot think of much to blog about these days so I thought I would start posting photos from my day or the week.

Here are a couple males who don't know it yet but will probably be best friends.

Right now, one of them harasses the other, while the other follows the one around for food droppings.

A strange chemistry these two have got going.

weak week's and

wow - my blogging efforts have been weak lately. I have been on the road a lot with my job and I am not one of those "wired" people.

I caught a bit of the Juno's lastnight, only out of curiousity. Makes me feel glad that I do not work in the music side of TV anymore. I used to work at the NewMusic and Muchmusic and loved it, but when I left I started to really get into and enjoy music again. Not sure why I noticed a change but it happened.

CTV did a good job with the shooting of the show- it looked nice. I could have predicted some discontent amongst the artist there. Broken Social Scene mentioned something-I know these groups want to have some recognition, but people it is the Juno's. Like they say, it is what it is. The reason groups like BBS and The Arcade Fire are cool is because outfit's like the Juno's have no idea who the hell you are (lthough I think they both won one award) . Fuck them I say (sorry mom). I can honestly say that I do not know one Michael Buble song, but the Juno folks have and so has a lot of the population who listen to the radio. I did see Buble on our show in an interview and he did seem smart, and likeable, and that goes a long way.

I think the Juno's accomplish one thing- the term "juno award winner", looks good on a press release. As does Grammy award winner, American Music Award Winner, Billboard Music Award Winner, Brit Awards, Latin Grammy Awards, MTV Music Awards, MuchMusic Video Music Awards............................................

Montreal's Finest

click above to....
check this promo for DJ A-Trak's new DVD, Sunglasses Is A Must. Dude has been representing Canadian scratch DJ's for a long time, and he is still a young man. I was glad to see Kanye West recruit him as his show DJ, cause that was something that Mr. West was lacking in his live performances.

Thank You For The Money

Gotta love this handwritten note from the Sex Pistols (most likely John Lydon) rejecting an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. I am sure if the Pistols got offered some big bucks they would come, remember their comeback tour?

tribute

http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/32980/

Nice article on the late great J Dilla from Alternet

bushy did a heck of a good job

So more info has come out on the Bush administration's total lack of interest and competence in prevention and preparation for Hurricane Katrina, and specifically the knowledge that the levee's were doomed.

This to me is worst than any botched vote tally in Florida, or the Karl Rove fiasco, or the previous president's under the desk blow job. Sure, it was a natural disaster, but these new videos show that President Bush had knowledge of the depth of the disaster and it's potential. What was done in preparation at the federal level- not much. State officials were understaffed and without power to have any real force in getting people out of New Orleans.

Disgusting work and another dumb ass showing by Dubya. I try to see bright spots in his reign, but they are few.


That is my man Thomas with me on Blackcomb

I was in whistler this past week- I feel like I have not been at home base for a few months. Whistler is funny. Quite the place, I met a lot of locals this week and they are all warm and nice and understand the hugeness of the "resort" side of Whistler. I have a bunch of friends there also. My son also came and it was his first trip west, and his first time flying. He acted like he had been flying for years.


My friend Jeff and I - high on mountain air.

It is funny, lots of drunkeness in the village in Whistler, which is ok I guess. I was walking back from a friends to the hotel after a few beers and watched some of the loogans. I wondered if I ever acted like that. Probably. This is one thing that sort of drives me crazy about Whistler, but everything that sucks about Whistler, the mountain makes up for.