Sad

I don't even know what to put as a title for this one. I'll add one at the end. Catching up on the news of the past week. This story raises more questions than answers.

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/11/06/fort-hood-shootiong-rampage-13.html

13 dead

fired over 100 rounds

single 5.7mm handgun used

brought down by two civilian officers

didn't want to be deployed to Iraq


I can see where picking the right place on base, where soldiers are normally unarmed, plus the element of surprise, would lead to a high body count. I don't understand the 100 rounds. How many rounds does a 5.7mm pistol hold?

A lot more than I thought. Up to 30 rounds, but usually limited to 10 to 20 rounds by law. 30 rounds. In a pistol.

Impressive

Sad

Yes sad. Why on earth do we devote such time and effort to guns? Why do we make pistols that can hold 30 rounds in a small convenient package? Why can't we spend our efforts on something more worthwhile? More profitable?

Ahh, profitable. Depends on one's definition of profit. Guns make lots of profit for some. Feeding the starving makes no financal profits for anyone, rather only profits as a species. Makes us less bloodthirsty. Sad

How to change the world?

How to change people?

How to change oneself?

Maybe we are doomed to extinction. Move on over dinosaurs.

Day 1

Cellphone ban begins for Ontario drivers.



http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/10/26/ontario-handheld-device-ban-drivers130.html

Still saw a lot of drivers chatting on cell phones with no handsfree. Maybe that's because they announced they were not going to actually charge anyone until February.....

That bit aside, this is definately a good idea.

Premature?

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/10/09/nobel-peace-prize-reaction-obama389.html

I was a bit surprised by this announcement. Seems a bit premature. After all, he's hardly had any time in office to demonstrate what he will be doing in terms of peace. Seems odd. Maybe it's a countermove idea. Here's the prize for all the stuff you WILL be doing for peace. You will be doing all that stuff right? You've already got the award, better do the stuff.

Huh. Hopefully at the end of his term in office we can all look back and say yes, he definately deserves this honour. He and his country.

What are they thinking?

Ontario launches $50B tobacco lawsuit

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/09/29/ont-tobacco.html


In Canada, in 2001, there were 5.4 million smokers in Canada (Estimated).

Let's see. $50B estimated medical expenses over 56 years.

That's $892,857,143 per year.
Across 5.4 million smokers, thats $166 per smoker per year. If each smoker smokes only a pack a week, that's $3.20 per pack. As it's more likely a smoker runs at least 2 packs a week, cut this in half to end up with $1.60 per pack.

$1.60 per pack.

$1.60 per pack is why this will fail. One of the reasons anyway. Now, I do not advocate smoking, but I can't see how the provincial government can successfully sue the tobacco companies. Here's the why they are sueing:

"The province said in a news release it is seeking damages "for past and ongoing health-care costs linked to tobacco-related illness."

"Ontario is taking the next step towards recovering taxpayer dollars spent fighting tobacco-related illnesses."

What is the Ontario Government thinking? Smoking cigarettes is legal. Smoking pot is not. Why. Laws of the land. Who sets the laws. The government. The same government that taxes and has taxed for some time, cigarettes. Yes, cigarettes are a revenue source for the government, the same government that has to pay for health care. So the taxes are paying by smokers, who are the taxpayers burdened by the tax on the cigarettes, and if the government. $1.60 - $2.00 per pack of tax should about cover it, which is all under the power of the government to set. Now they sue someone else to recover it? I can't see it stick. But hey, who knows.

Granted, all that could be a bit understated, but I can see the cigarette companies and their lawyzer laughing a bit at the lawsuit... They are getting sued for selling something governments have the power to tax and to ban. Of course, they are saying just the same as I have above. It's legal, the government gets taxes from it, and as such, are a player in the game.

So what are they thinking, these governments? Why spend even more money on a lawsuit? Why not take that money and spend it on trying to help people stop smoking? Cut their addiction. Whay not raise the tax a bit on smokes and get more revenue that way. Adds fuel to those wanting incentive to quit. Surely there is some better recourse here than a pretty hopeless lawsuit?

Art

My youngest daughter sketched out some things in my living room on a piece of paper that was lying on the table. It was kind of a neat sketch and I decided to share it here. Inspired, I thought I'd try my hand at it too. Mine is the second sketch. Style wise, mine's all matter of fact (aka dull) and is what was straight across from my seat on the couch, namely my other daughter on my computer. My daughters sketch is more abstract, pulling items together that are in my living room, albeit in different places and not at all as drawn (aka interesting). Plus she drew in the cat she wished was there... :)

Icarus

Did I fly to close to the sun? Did the wax melt, my wings fall off? Did I plumett to my death?

If so, why am I still here? Did I survive? Beat the odds?

Or does death wear a subtle mask?

Wake Up!

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/sept21_hub/?cl=337659811&v=4115