Saturday, August 29, 2009
Phillip Garrido's sick blog
Philip Garrido, the man accused of kidnapping Jaycee Lee Dugard and holding her hostage for 18 years, apparently maintained a blog. The blog (which is available here, although knowing the nature of these types of things may not remain online) is titled “Voices Revealed” and the author makes claims about hearing voices, speaking in tongues and controlling sound with his mind.
It obviously reveals a sick mind but who could possibly imagine just how disturbed he was.
It obviously reveals a sick mind but who could possibly imagine just how disturbed he was.
Based on Phillip Garrido, parole systems are broken
n 1988 Phillip Garrido was released from prison after serving eleven years for kidnapping and raping a Nevada woman. He was supposed to serve fifty years but was paroled and tagged a registered sex-offender. And now we know the chilling details of the 1991 abduction of then-11-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard, now 29, who Garrido and his wife Nancy grabbed off the street in front of her Northern California home and held her prisoner in their backyard shed, during which time he repeatedly raped her and ultimately fathered her two children, 15 and 11. He was not alone in committing these crimes. He spent several months in jail for a parole violation in 1993 but his wife Nancy did not free the poor victim during his absence.
How is it that this deranged maniac was granted parole is beyond me. He called the ordeal a "heartwarming story" when arrested. We now all realize that he should not have been free to stalk his child victim. But during this time he was on parole and I presume had regular visits with his parole officer. Which can only lead to a conclusion that this system failed. Not only was he not rehabilitated but he continued with his cruel and sadistic behaviour shortly after his release.
I am no expert on the subject matter but how do you effectively monitor a paroled sex offender? Psychopaths are perfectly capable and holding down a job and hiding their crimes. It's not like other types of criminals whose lifestyle provide ample of evidence of criminal activity. It's not illegal to be a kook nor does it lead to the conclusion that a person is a sexual predator.
I have heard the argument that it is often better to parole offenders so that they can monitored than let them serve out their sentence and be released unsupervised. Certainly as an offender reaches near the end of a sentence that could be a consideration. But Garrido was only 11 years into a 50-year sentence. That couldn't have possibly been a factor in his release. He had to have been considered rehabilitated and safe for release. People should be accountable and pay for that decision.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Josef Fritzl vs Phillip Garrido
The recent arrest of Phillip Garrido has brought to mind the case of Josef Fritzl who was arrested in 2008 on similar charges. Both men were accused of keeping young girls prisoner and fathering children by them against their will. It's almost unfathomable to believe this could happen twice but it did. How many more monsters like this are out there?
| Name | Josef Fritzl | Phillip Garrido |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname | "incest monster" | "creepy Phil" |
Age | 74 | 58 |
Residence | Amstetten, Austria | Antioch, California |
| Occupation | Retired, previously an electrical engineer | Owns a printing business. Also began a non-profit-making corporation to develop an audio system to reproduce the voices in his head |
| Family | Married to Rosemarie Fritzl and had two sons and five daughters with her, including Elisabeth with whom he fathered another seven children although one child died shortly after birth | Married to Nancy Garrido. Fathered two children by Jaycee Lee Dugard who he allegedly kidnapped |
| Hobbies | Travelled to Thailand on holiday multiple times | Loves opera and is very religious, spending hours distributing leaflets and claiming to be able to channel unearthly voices |
| Accused of | Charged with incest, rape, coercion, false imprisonment, enslavement and murder and in March 2009 was sentenced to life imprisonment | Accused of rape, kidnapping and lascivious behaviour |
| Previous convictions | Served 18 months in jail for raping a 24-year old woman in 1967 | Served 10 years in a federal prison for kidnapping and seven months in a state prison for rape |
| How they justified their actions | "I had to create a place where I could keep Elisabeth, by force if necessary, away from the outside world." | "Wait until you hear the story of what took place at this house. You are going to be completely impressed. It's a disgusting thing that took place with me at the beginning. But I turned my life completely around and to be able to understand that, you have to start there." |
| What neighbours said | “I grew up with Josef and he always appeared friendly, though he never seemed to want close contact. It seemed as if they were a perfect family unit.” | "If I needed something, they would be the first I would call on. They were real good neighbours, real nice people." |
Mechanical bull easily wins this one
Definitely worth watch for the last 10 seconds.
Fat Girl Faceplants Off a Mechanical Bull - Watch more Funny Videos
Fat Girl Faceplants Off a Mechanical Bull - Watch more Funny Videos
Why not abolish the Canadian Senate?
I’m pleased to see Prime Minister Harper abandon his goal of reforming the Canadian Senate. Clearly his 27 appointments this year is a signal that Senate reform is no longer on the table.
Modeling Parliament after the U.S. Congress with two separate and independent elected bodies is a costly initiative that would not necessarily produce better laws. Though retaining the current system is not necessarily better. I think
The Fathers of Confederation saw the Senate as serving two purposes. First, it was to provide for a "sober second thought" regarding the decisions reached by the elected House of Commons. Second, it was to provide for equal regional representation. However, the Senate fulfills neither role and is totally irrelevant. As a chamber of "sober second thought" it is irrelevant because in a democracy, decisions regarding policy ought to be made by elected officials. As a regional representative, it is irrelevant because senators owe their allegiance to the prime minister who appointed them rather than the province they represent.
An elected Senate is not the solution. In the Canadian system, under the principle of responsible government, since cabinet is responsible to the democratically elected members of the House of Commons, there is no separation of powers between the executive and the legislature. This reality makes it difficult to give the Senate any effective powers, regardless of whether or not it was elected.
And do we really want equal representation from each province? Based on some of the proposals floating around, the six smallest provinces and territories representing only 11 per cent of the nation's population would hold a majority in the Senate, while the two largest provinces representing 62 per cent of
The solution to regional representation is to properly divide responsibility between the federal and provincial governments and ensure taxation is fairly distributed. Let’s face it, it’s all about money. The provinces don’t like being told how to spend transfer payments.
So save the taxpayers’ money by abolishing the Senate. These patronage appointments are just too costly.
Worst road in Ontario
The worst roads in Ontario poll by CAA is underway, and Steeles Avenue leads the worst of the worst. Preliminary results from a CAA South Central Ontario survey show the GTA as having seven of the 20 worst roads. Steeles Avenue was the worst road of 2008.
There is no question Steeles is the worst. Don't be drinking a coffee while driving down the street.
Naked man hijacks school bus
What seemed to a an everyday bus route for several Georgia teens quickly turned bizarrely frightening when an naked, angry man highjacked a school bus.
The incident occurred Thursday afternoon when a man jumped through an open window at a bus stop to let students off. According to CNN, the man drove the bus for less than mile when a student grappled with him and crashed the bus into a wall off the road.
The naked assailant, Arris Pitmon, 23, hijacked the bus as the driver ran to the back. According to police Pitmon abandoned the wheel and proceeded to the walk to the back of the bus.
When a brave student hurled himself towards the steering wheel, Pitmon physically attacked the student, leaving the moving bus without a driver until it eventually crashed off road.
When the bus finally stopped, students fled from the emergency exit, while an onlooker, who was cutting the grass, subdued the man until police arrived.
The mother of the student who tried to take control of the bus, Chiquita Rogers said Pitmon tried to hit several students.
Careful, wet weekend coming up
We’re supposed to get a lot of rain this weekend. So don’t slip and fall and get stuck in a ditch like this lady.
EMBED-Woman Stuck In Trench - Watch more free videos
EMBED-Woman Stuck In Trench - Watch more free videos
Thursday, August 27, 2009
'Provocative' fans ejected from Britney Spears concert
How is this for irony. Security had to remove three fans from the aisles of Madison Square Gardens after other fans complained that they were dancing too provocatively at a Britney Spears concert.
Yes, fans complained about risque dancing at a Britney Spears concert! Meanwhile, Britney is onstage gyrating half-naked and singing ‘Get Naked.’ It was totally ridiculous."
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Stairway to Heaven compilation
...on a harp
...on a ukulele
on a violin
on a chinese bamboo flute
...Michigan Marching Band
...synchronized swimmers
...how about Dolly Parton
...on a ukulele
on a violin
on a chinese bamboo flute
...Michigan Marching Band
...synchronized swimmers
...how about Dolly Parton
NHL wants to buy one if its franchises
The drama in Phoenix that began in May continues to surprise with the announcement that NHL surrogate, Jerry Reinsdorf, has withdrawn from the bidding for the Coyotes and has being replaced by bid by the NHL itself. Bettman’s boast that a number of parties were interested in purchasing the Coyotes has now proven to be fiction. Without another legitimate bidder, the court would likely have handed the team over to Jim Balsillie so the NHL has no choice but go head to head with Mr. Blackberry. It creates a bizarre situation where the NHL is bidding to own one of its franchises.
I have frequently suggested that the franchise was dead and could not possibly draw serious buyers who would be willing to keep the team in
- Take control of the team by winning the auction
- Operate the team out of
- Search for a new owner and location for the 2010-11 season
The eventual sale would have to produce enough revenue to reimburse owners for the money they will have put out to keep the franchise alive. Afterall, there are other teams under financial stress who could not possibly willing to lose money on
Edward M. Kennedy: February 22, 1932 - August 25, 2009
Ironically, Ted Kennedy’s legacy is more accomplished than his two more famous brothers Jack and Bobby. He might have been more famous too had it not been for his drinking and womanizing. The tragedy that occurred on
Kennedy sponsored quite an impressive list of major legislation in his 46 years in the Senate. He was once passed off as a light weight when compared to his brothers but that did not turn out to be true. As a leading Liberal he was vilified by Conservatives but managed to get their support for many of his bills. This reflected both the broad appeal of some his bills and how well understood the workings of the Senate. He took some difficult positions including his 2002 opposition of the Iraq War. The “cause of his life” was health care reforms and he would have so dearly liked to have stuck around long enough to see the current policy debate evolve into some form of universal health care.
Kinky mayor arrested for stealing underwear
Ian Stafford, 58, was arrested after women in the area called police to report knickers (underwear in England) repeatedly disappearing from their homes.
One woman was so peturbed she installed a hidden camera in her bedroom, which recorded a semi-naked man rifling through her drawers and putting on her underwear before performing a sex act (maturbating).
Investigations later revealed a collection of knickers, allegedly matching those reported stolen, at the home of the mayor.
He was arrested on suspicion of burglary and bailed.
Now does this guy look like a pervert? Oh never mind.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Meet Caster Semenya, the androgynous athlete
Some of the testing results are starting to leak out from the gender identity test for Caster Semenya, that South African runner who blew everyone away in the women’s 800m race at the world championships in Berlin last week. It seems that he/she has three times the testosterone level you would expect in a woman. Fancy that.
Seems that doesn't mean he/she failed the test. Just means that Semenya is just as likely to have a penis or a vagina.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Canada's 2010 Olympic uniforms
Hockey Canada released their fashion line for 2010, a sharp new look for Canada's three competing hockey squads at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
The home side will feature a uniform featuring a crest that depicts much of what the nation is all about, from eagles to Thunderbirds, to Maple Leafs and Fleur de Lys, the fabric of the nation is pulled together in the fabric of the red and white uniforms.
The highlight of the uniform features a vivid Red Maple Leaf with smaller Maple Leaf designs imprinted on the main logo, each depicting a gold medal victory as well as other designs. The official and replica versions will be manufactured by Nike.
So what do you think? Is it a hit or a miss?
The highlight of the uniform features a vivid Red Maple Leaf with smaller Maple Leaf designs imprinted on the main logo, each depicting a gold medal victory as well as other designs. The official and replica versions will be manufactured by Nike.
So what do you think? Is it a hit or a miss?
Virgin Mary painting stolen to pay for teen abortion
Not being Catholic I'm fuzzy on this stuff but I understand there are venial sinners and mortal sinners, but they may need a new category for Aurelio Vallerillo-Sanchez, 39. He was convicted of stealing a 300-year-old painting of the Virgin Mary to pay for an abortion for a teenage girl whom he is accused of raping. That should cover the bases for a one-way ticket to Hell or worse.
There was nothing immaculate about this conception. Vallerillo-Sanchez seemed determined to rid himself of the baby — and evidence of his original crime.
Vallerillo-Sanchez fled Nebraska to Mexico with both the Virgin Mary and the pregnant teen. No abortion occurred and he then pushed the girl to put up the child for adoption.
Vallerillo-Sanchez, 39, was convicted of first-degree sexual assault and felony theft. He was sentenced up to 70 years in prison.
Oh my! Sex on display at New York hotel
Porn. Masturbation. A naked woman jumping on a trampoline. Visitors to Manhattan’s High Line Park, located in the Meatpacking District, say they’ve seen all that and more in the windows of the recently opened Standard Hotel.
The New York Post is reporting that exhibitionists have found a new home away from home at the hotel, which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows perched high above the new urban park.
Tasered man set on fire
Police in Ohio say officers using a new Taser stun gun briefly set a homeless man on fire while trying to subdue him.
A police report in Lancaster, about 30 miles southeast of Columbus, says one officer had seen the man inhaling a chemical from an aerosol can on Monday night. That officer and another then struggled with the suspect, and the Taser was used. A flame appeared on the man's chest, and officers patted it down.
Police Chief David Bailey says 31-year-old Daniel Wood was not seriously hurt.
The department's policy warns against using Tasers when flammable chemicals may be present. Bailey says officers acted appropriately.
Wood was charged with abusing harmful intoxicants and other counts. Court records do not list his attorney.
A police report in Lancaster, about 30 miles southeast of Columbus, says one officer had seen the man inhaling a chemical from an aerosol can on Monday night. That officer and another then struggled with the suspect, and the Taser was used. A flame appeared on the man's chest, and officers patted it down.
Police Chief David Bailey says 31-year-old Daniel Wood was not seriously hurt.
The department's policy warns against using Tasers when flammable chemicals may be present. Bailey says officers acted appropriately.
Wood was charged with abusing harmful intoxicants and other counts. Court records do not list his attorney.
Lessons to learn from the Canadian health care system
1. Single payers systems have lower administration
Under a national health insurance system such as in Canada or France, you don’t need thousands of actuaries to set premiums, there’s huge savings on administration, both within the insurance system but also in doctors’ offices.
A recent report in the US said over six percent of all doctors’ revenues are spent on billing and reconciliation. That would suggest that many large American hospitals have more people working in their billings and reconciliation departments than we have at the Ontario Health Insurance Plan head office to administer health insurance for 13 million people. So, all through the system, there is increased administration.
2. Single payer systems can negotiate lower prices
Canada spends ten percent of its gross domestic product of our national economy now on health care. The U.S. spends 16 percent. Half of the difference is due to the increased administration of insurance, and the other half is due to the fact that a single-payer system can negotiate much lower prices than multiple payers in your system. And so, about half of the rest of the difference is due to higher prices.
In fact, Canadians get more of some services than Americans. We get fewer of some high-tech services, but even in the high-tech end, like for lung transplants, Toronto is an international center. We do more lung transplant surgery per capita than the U.S.
3. People will wait longer for non-urgent services
The number one problem with Canada’s health system is wait times for elective care.. Notwithstanding some of the high-profile cases reported in the media of Canadians who apparently couldn’t get care for urgent conditions, they’re just not true. Canadians who have urgent conditions do get care right away, but we wait longer for elective care than Americans. But on the other hand, Americans wait longer for an appointment with a specialist or elective surgery than do the French or the Germans. Wait times have nothing to do with our national health insurance system. It is a mechanism chosen to reduce costs in the system. Politicians can eliminate wait times by raising taxes and pumping more money in the system but the public seems to be accepting the status quo.
4. The insurance system makes no decisions about treatment
There isn’t any formal rationing through a bureaucracy that people have been describing in the U.S. media. We don’t have death panels in Canada. The decision about treatment is made actually just between the doctor and the patient. The insurance plan is virtually never involved. And ironically, in the U.S., it’s the private insurers that often stand between patients and physicians. In Canada we have legislation what sets out which services are insured and beyond that the government is not involved.
5. Canadians have a free choice of doctors
Let’s say your family doctor suggests that at your age it's time to undergo a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer (and you show no symptoms). The specialist that the family doctor usually refers patients to is scheduling exams fifteen weeks in advance. But you can use a public website run by the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Ontario to find specialists who are booking procedures the following week. Your family doctor will make the referral to anyone you want. So you can choose any doctor you wish in Canada. They might not always be able to see you, but we have completely free choice of care. Many Americans do not these days.
Under a national health insurance system such as in Canada or France, you don’t need thousands of actuaries to set premiums, there’s huge savings on administration, both within the insurance system but also in doctors’ offices.
A recent report in the US said over six percent of all doctors’ revenues are spent on billing and reconciliation. That would suggest that many large American hospitals have more people working in their billings and reconciliation departments than we have at the Ontario Health Insurance Plan head office to administer health insurance for 13 million people. So, all through the system, there is increased administration.
2. Single payer systems can negotiate lower prices
Canada spends ten percent of its gross domestic product of our national economy now on health care. The U.S. spends 16 percent. Half of the difference is due to the increased administration of insurance, and the other half is due to the fact that a single-payer system can negotiate much lower prices than multiple payers in your system. And so, about half of the rest of the difference is due to higher prices.
In fact, Canadians get more of some services than Americans. We get fewer of some high-tech services, but even in the high-tech end, like for lung transplants, Toronto is an international center. We do more lung transplant surgery per capita than the U.S.
3. People will wait longer for non-urgent services
The number one problem with Canada’s health system is wait times for elective care.. Notwithstanding some of the high-profile cases reported in the media of Canadians who apparently couldn’t get care for urgent conditions, they’re just not true. Canadians who have urgent conditions do get care right away, but we wait longer for elective care than Americans. But on the other hand, Americans wait longer for an appointment with a specialist or elective surgery than do the French or the Germans. Wait times have nothing to do with our national health insurance system. It is a mechanism chosen to reduce costs in the system. Politicians can eliminate wait times by raising taxes and pumping more money in the system but the public seems to be accepting the status quo.
4. The insurance system makes no decisions about treatment
There isn’t any formal rationing through a bureaucracy that people have been describing in the U.S. media. We don’t have death panels in Canada. The decision about treatment is made actually just between the doctor and the patient. The insurance plan is virtually never involved. And ironically, in the U.S., it’s the private insurers that often stand between patients and physicians. In Canada we have legislation what sets out which services are insured and beyond that the government is not involved.
5. Canadians have a free choice of doctors
Let’s say your family doctor suggests that at your age it's time to undergo a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer (and you show no symptoms). The specialist that the family doctor usually refers patients to is scheduling exams fifteen weeks in advance. But you can use a public website run by the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Ontario to find specialists who are booking procedures the following week. Your family doctor will make the referral to anyone you want. So you can choose any doctor you wish in Canada. They might not always be able to see you, but we have completely free choice of care. Many Americans do not these days.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Toronto Blue Jays slow, painful slide into mediocrity
It's hard to beleive but back on May 19, the Blue Jays sat atop the AL East by three and a half games. At lot has happened in the intervening three months, and not much of it has been all that entertaining.
Since then, the Jays have gone 29-50. That's 21 games below .500. And just for the sake of reference, the hapless Washington Nationals over the same period of time have gone 31-51.
Yes, the Jays are one game worse than the Nationals over the past three months.
In the early part of the season, the Jays were knocking the seams off the ball, with a team OPS of .821 (.358 OBP, .463 SLG). In those heady days, the pitching staff put up a 3.58 ERA, with a WHIP around 1.25.
But as the season wore on, injuries piled up, and the magic of Cito began to wear off. The pitchers posted an ERA of 4.43 from May 19 on, and the offense sputtered, mustering only a .734 OPS (.316 OBP, .418 SLG).
It's depressing to look at that drop off, and to see that the preponderance of evidence suggests that this team is not close to regaining their footing in the AL East and reawakening dreams of pennant races.
It's important that we not lose sight of the good things that this team has going for it, and the bright spots that we can forsee on next year's roster and beyond. But it is equally important that we not overlook what an absolute mightmare the majority of this season has been.
Yes, the young pitchers have played surprisingly well but the bar was set pretty low for these guys. You cannot win a pennant with such green arms. As for McGowan, Marcum, Litsch who knows if they will be effective next season.
The top 3 guys in the lineup have been terrific all season. However, Scutaro becomes a free agent this fall and has to be re-signed. We can't go with another has-been at shortstop. The team has no closer, clean up hitter or right fielder. Snider has to be moved back to left field and Lind should be moved to first which means its time for Overbay to go. Rod Barajas has been terrific again this season. The Jays have never had a catcher capable of throwing out runners like the Rays' Upton and Crawford. So he too has to be re-signed. By the way, why does a weak hitting centre fielder have to play ever day? Even if he makes over $20 million. Play someone who can get it done.
But the last thing that Jays fans need is another season of selling off talent and rebuilding. It's time to get it done.
ATTENTION MEN: excessive shopping can cause depression
A man has been diagnosed with clinical depression caused by his girlfriend constantly dragging him round on shopping trips.
Psychiatrists are treating Wu Cheng, 28, who told them: "I can't even look at a shop now.
"Every time she tries to drag me to a mall my heart starts to pound, I'm short of breath and I feel sick. We have been going out for two years and at least 12 months of that time have been spent in shops. She is obsessed."
Wu's girlfriend Zhang Keyi said from her home in Chongqing, central China: "When he's better I promise we'll only go to the shops once a week. Except when the sales are on."
Eric Bruntlett had an unassisted triple play today
It also clinched a win. The Mets had two on in the 9th and none out when Bruntlett came up with the triple play to end the game.
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