paisley

whiskey gets me blitzky

but brandy makes me randy

ever hooped a half ounce?

sounds great, nice one

not sure but think this might've been their first Hamilton show... if so was a small affair with mostly band members' friends and families attending

is not far off anymore

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

TheStar.com - comment - Corporate governance

Re: We need a dialogue, not protests

Column, Aug. 13

In her column about the upcoming Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) summit in Montebello, Que., Carol Goar claims that the Council of Canadians is stretching the truth when we say that "corporations are drafting government policy behind closed doors." We say this because access to the SPP – a broad plan to integrate economic and security policies across the continent – is off-limits to everyone except a group of 30 CEOs calling itself the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC).

A year ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked these CEOs "to help us identify and pursue initiatives that will create a more competitive North America." Fair enough, but statements from members of this elite club prove that its mandate is much larger. Ron Covais, a Lockheed Martin executive on the competitiveness council, has been reported as saying, "The guidance from the (SPP) ministers was, `Tell us what we need to do and we'll make it happen.'"

This implies the SPP will be driven, to an unacceptable extent, by the corporate sector. Given our leaders' unwillingness to include the public in the discussion, can you really blame us for protesting?

Stuart Trew, Council of Canadians,

Ottawa

------------------------------------------------

In her column about the upcoming Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) meeting in Quebec, Carol Goar says, "But there is no evidence in the reams of documents available on the Internet that the negotiators are up to anything insidious."

How can there be any evidence of anything when these discussions are taking place under a heavily guarded blanket of secrecy with little more than the odd mention in our media? That these talks are being carried out undercover, without the mandate of Canada's Parliament, should in itself be cause for concern.

According to this column, Tom d'Aquino, head of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, says the talks are so boring that it's hard to get Canadians to pay attention. Excuse me?

I can assure d'Aquino that harmonized health and safety standards, accelerated energy development, biometric screening and joint law enforcement are major sovereignty issues with far-reaching consequences to which most Canadians will readily pay vigilant attention (witness the example of joint law enforcement in the case of Maher Arar), if only our major media outlets first pay attention and cast the bright light of public scrutiny upon the SPP.

Moira Connelly, Cavan, Ont.

------------------------------------------------

If Carol Goar is right and the truth about the Montebello summit "lies somewhere between the apocalyptic and the mundane," perhaps she or someone can answer these questions:

Why will the discussion and treaty signing, which involves the leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico, take place behind closed doors? Why have 30 corporate CEOs from these three countries been invited to attend, while opposition members of Parliament, representatives of organized labour and social movements, and the general public been excluded?

Why has the content of the proposed agreement – which is likely to include harmonized (i.e., lower than Canada's) health and safety standards, energy development, border and security measures, privatization of public services and joint military initiatives – been kept strictly away from public scrutiny?

Why has there been no debate in any legislature on the actual content and possible impact of the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership?

Why is the process, as Goar aptly puts it, so "troublingly opaque"? Thank goodness for the planned mass protests, which are attracting some media attention to this infernal exercise.

Barry Weisleder, Toronto

from The Toronto Star

WATER EXPORTS

Secret talks underway, Dion claims

But the U.S. ambassador, senior officials in Ottawa deny charge that bulk water exports on the agenda

OTTAWA–Canada is in secret talks with the United States that could lead to the bulk export of water south of the border, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion charges.

"The pressure coming from our American friends to remove Canadian water to help their problems with the shortage of fresh water is very strong," Dion told a news conference yesterday.

"There is a strong lobby for that. We should be strong to resist that."

Dion rejected the denials of senior government officials and insisted yesterday that he has inside knowledge that "negotiations" are underway.

The Liberal leader suggested that Canadian water exports will be on the table when Harper hosts U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon for a North American leaders' summit in Montebello, Que., next week.

But that suggestion was immediately dismissed by David Wilkins, the U.S. ambassador in Canada.

"From my vantage point, I have never heard or seen of such a proposal and I do not believe there is one. I don't think that's accurate," he said in an interview yesterday.

And Harper aide Sandra Buckler yesterday repeated her denials from the day before, saying the government "has no intention of entering into negotiations on bulk water exports.

"It's not on the agenda. Period," Buckler said in an email.

But asked about those denials, Dion all but accused the Prime Minister's office of lying.

"I don't believe the government. I believe there are secret negotiations. We want to an end to these negotiations," he said.

"We have information that these discussions are going on," he said, refusing to make public his sources.

Dion cited it as one example of how meetings between Harper and Bush next week – done under the Security and Prosperity Partnership process launched by former prime minister Paul Martin in 2005 – are undermining Canadian sovereignty. And Dion accused the Prime Minister of being too cozy with the White House.

"Americans for us are friends and allies but not a model," Dion said.

"Since Mr. Harper became Prime Minister and his government took power, the distinction between a model and a friend has been lost.

"It seems that increasingly the partnership is catering to the Bush administration's interests and Canadian interests are being ignored."

But Wilkins painted the meeting as business-as-usual between the leaders to deal with issues such as security and trade.

"This is a continuation of a meeting they've had before," he said.

"What it is not dealing with – and people tend to manufacture in their own mind – is a North American union, a North American currency, or a proposal for a highway."

Dion released his own priority list for the summit, starting with a demand to make the process more "transparent and accountable."

He urged Harper to press the Americans to transfer Canadian terror suspect Omar Khadr from the military prison in Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. to be tried in a "legitimate court" with access to legal process and Canadian consular officials.

If that doesn't happen, Liberals want Khadr brought home to Canada and tried here, he said.

Dion also wants Harper to demand tougher action in the U.S. to stem the tide of illegal guns flowing into Canada.

"It's estimated that more than half of gun crimes committed in Canada's major cities are with guns smuggled into our country," he said.

33 is still standing... believe there's plans for rebuilding it someday

hopefully will pop by Bri

was gonna say I'd be down with it except for CTMF weekend

seems I've missed yet another opportunity to become glorious overlord to a clan of evil minions

I don trus no uhn.

Some predictions for this show..

after soundcheck, Dave will...

- walk up to that sketchy Tim Horton's for coffee

if ya want I'll get all sketchy then wander all dodgy a few doors down to hook ya up with some tasty fair trade joe... get in touch with my people

awesome! be great to see ya Dave

happy birthday brother Davey Boy! you's some funky shit!

rock it out my friend

lol

hook line and sinker

went into my friends basement bathroom a while back and she goes "watch out for the spiders."

I goes "Pfft. No Problemo."

Then this big black hairy thing the size of my palm leaps off the wall at me and keeps leaping at me all the way out into the hall.

used the can upstairs

1. Musique

2. Da Funk

3. Around The World

4. Revolution 909

5. Alive

6. Rollin' & Scratchin'

7. One More Time

8. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

9. Something About Us

10. Robot Rock

11. Technologic

12. Human After All

13. Mothership Reconnection (Daft Punk Remix) - Scott Grooves

14. Chord Memory (Daft Punk Remix) - Ian Pooley

15. Forget About The World (Daft Punk Remix) - Gabrielle

still haven't gotten over the show yet

that is freaky

I'd deny it too.

feeling the wrath from the ghost of Bob Barker

who's not even dead!

hey I have a great idea, lets combine forces with the worst president in US history!

as Trudeau always said: Canada's Canada, the U.S. is the U.S.... they're run differently and as a result the people are different

fully worthy of worry... we already have "Free Trade" which is more than enough of a connection (still waiting on that $2 billion softwood lumber settlement, oh yeah, Harper told them not to worry about it... free trade indeed)... Canada has different security concerns than the US... and a lot less of them, meaning Canada will be shouldering an unfair amount of burden

bring the european nations on board and maybe it would make a little bit of sense but would be plain stupid to jump onto the sinking ship of the US with mexico at this point in time

we don't want to turn into more of a justice system / military fueled economy such as our unfortunate neighbours to the south... under such a system you go broke if you run out of crime and/or war, a sick policy... why is the U.S. dead set against reforming drug laws? because there's no way they could afford to reform their drug laws, their economy would crash

Bush is not to be trusted on his way out, especially on matters of "security" with which his policies seems to be largely centered around trying to take away his citizen's basic freedoms in the name of spreading freedom... "no fly list"? "Canadians need passports to enter the U.S."? god knows any terrorist worth his salt wouldn't remember to blow $200 on a decent fake I.D. before entering the country... who gets hassled? you do

I'm looking into a place off the grid, I want to buy. (with 25 acres!!!) It's a little scary though. How was the place you stayed at working out?

if you and Sara ever need a hand skipping out took a year of forestry 10 years back and grew up running off into the forest every chance possible... happy to help any way I can

when not posting crazy shit am generally sober and full of positive subversive pinko thoughts

get land... build shelter... find local (mostly) and some not quite as local (less) people to work for... they're half off the grid themselves and will sympathize for a beautiful couple with a brand new beautiful baby

just talking with one of the guys from Battleship Ethel tonight who just got back from "off the grid" out west... said it was too clean for him, he wasn't ready... pissed him off sorta

I respected those words... the perfectness of out west chased me home too

(free movie night at pjc, too band no skancs... free.... sun ra and pink floyd movies... all musician audience)

we all belong off the grid, we're built for it... hard wired and full of a million years of evolution

electricity's been around a hundred years and a bit... television should be illegal

the new revolution

you are

ugh

If we can't have revolution, we just might settle for revenge.

- George Oswall

Anyone in a free society where the laws are unjust has an obligation to break the law.

- Henry David Thoreau

...a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing...

- Thomas Jefferson

more food more bed more blackouts more honest days in life

- paisley

le edit

“When the highwayman holds his gun to your head, you turn your valuables over to him.

You 'consent' alright, but you do so because you cannot help yourself, because you are compelled by his gun.

Are you not compelled to work for an employer? Your need compels you, just as the highwayman’s gun.â€

- Alexander Berkman

law-less