test blog #10

Did you all see this today? Taser International and another company closely linked to the manufacturer have paid the way for Ontario's deputy chief coroner to lecture at their conferences on the phenomenon of "excited delirium," a medically unrecognized term that the company often cites as a reason people die after being tasered. James Cairns, one of the country's most high-profile coroners, who publicly advocates the use of the stun gun, has become one of the top Canadian experts Taser officials turn to for help shoring up public support for their products in times of crisis. Since the death of Robert Dziekanski, a Polish immigrant, at Vancouver International Airport last month, Taser has repeatedly urged journalists to contact Dr. Cairns for his pro-taser views. Dr. Cairns has recently given seminars at two conferences hosted by Taser International - one in July in Chicago and another last year in Las Vegas. He has also spoken at a Las Vegas conference for the Inst...

In response to my recent list of some sad US goings-on , my friend Dean G said: Another item in your list could have been about the increasing cries by (especially young) US right-wingers for people they disagree with or find annoying to be tased. I've heard this sort of thing frequently over the past few years, and people here know full well that tasers are not safe, that they do destroy people. I somehow doubt that even a small segment of the Canadian population regularly calls for people they disagree with to be shot with enough volts to cripple or kill them, yet it's become a familiar cry now in the US. Dean's comment was on my mind when I read this post in Joy of Sox. [Emphasis mine.] Philadelphia Daily News sportswriter Bill Conlin believes that Jimmy Rollins was the National League's Most Valuable Player. Rollins was decidedly not the MVP (as FJM points out), but that's not important. A Phillies fan who writes the Crashburn Alley blog emailed Conlin and mad...

This will not be a pleasant post. I have a bunch of links sitting in my inbox that readers (mostly Allan and James , but some others as well) have sent - items I'd never see if I weren't blogging, and perhaps you haven't seen them, either. I know I've been belabouring the war and war resisters lately, but as I've said elsewhere, this blog reflects what's on my mind. I'm so disgusted, enraged, heartsick, horrified - got any other words? - at what's going on in Iraq, at how veterans are being treated in the US, at how ordinary citizens are being treated in the US. Wmtc is a chance to vent that, and maybe bring some items to your attention that you haven't seen. So here goes. We'll file these under "The Hidden Costs of War". Low-income U.S. families planning to rely on a federal program to help pay expensive heating bills this winter are in jeopardy after President George W. Bush on Tuesday vetoed spending legislation that would have pro...

Last night we watched "The Wind That Shakes The Barley," a film by one of my favourite directors, Ken Loach . Like many of Loach's films, this is about a people's struggle for independence and freedom, in this case the Irish fight to overthrow British rule. It won the Palme d'Or at Cannes last year, and was probably Loach's most popular movie to date. Although I have no ancestral connection to Ireland, I was obsessed with Ireland and Irish history for a good 15 years. The fascination abated when we finally went to Ireland in 2001, an ordinary trip for some, perhaps, but a dream for me. So a Ken Loach movie about Ireland is a natural for me. You could say my recommendation is as one-sided as the film. Loach isn't there to give you so-called balance. As the infamous Black and Tans - the mercenaries the British hired to terrorize and control the Irish population - break into homes, humiliate families, destroy property, torture and kill, it was obvious Loach ...

My favourite mug, home to my morning caffeine fix since 1996, is on the disabled list with a career-ending injury. The mug was my favourite souvenir from when I covered the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta. When I discovered the hairline crack, I retired it to decorative status. Who will replace the trusty Paralympic mug? I've been using a bland Ikea replacement until a suitable player could be signed. Prime Minister of Red Sox Nation to the rescue. While scurrying around New York City last week, Allan bought this for me. If you are lucky enough to have visited New York before the Starbucks Era, you will recognize the ubiquitous coffee shop mug. Most of the zillions of coffee shops (i.e., diners) in New York City are owned by Greeks, hence the design . Allan once bought me a t-shirt with this same design, but it died many years ago. This is even better: a daily reminder of my hometown. The mug doesn't have a handle, but it's made of thick ceramic, so the outside doesn't get...

Amnesty International is calling for a moratorium on the use of tasers by law enforcement officials, saying that the use of tasers sometimes reaches the level of torture. "Despite a lack of independent research on TASER safety, police officers are using these weapons as a routine force tool -- rather than as a weapon of last resort," said Dr. William F. Schulz, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA). "These weapons have a record that's growing longer each week -- and it's not a good one. The increasingly frequent TASER-related deaths underscore the need for an independent, rigorous and impartial inquiry into their use." Amnesty International's continued research, including a review of TASER-related deaths since the organization's November 2004 report, reveals that most who died were unarmed men who did not appear to pose a threat of death or serious injury at the time of being electro-shocked . In some law-enforcement agencies, the ...

Last night we attended a speaking engagement of some of the war resisters . There are lots of speaking events, often booked through universities and community peace groups. This one was "Women Against War," and featured two women who are married to AWOL soldiers, and a female war resister, who I am trying to write about. On our way there, I wondered if we would be the only ones in attendance, or if the whole audience would be Campaigners. It was pouring out, and I wouldn't have been surprised if the room was empty but for people who already knew the speakers. Yet despite the bad weather, the room was packed. The speakers were great, bringing three similar, but different, perspectives about the war and their personal struggles. One of the women, Jill Hart , was a very active military wife - so much so that when she learned her husband Patrick was AWOL, she reported him to his commanding officer. Jill still describes herself as "pro-military, pro-troops," but is n...

Lone Primate, clear thinker, excellent writer and long-time friend of wmtc, has a message for Stephen Harper . Here's hoping Canadians follow the Australians and send these guys packing. Here's hoping the Liberals give them an opportunity to do so.

I've been feeling so critical of Canada lately , enough to lead a few Canadian wingnuts to tell me to "go home". Hey guess what? I am home! Because I care about Canada, I want it to be the best society it's capable of being. And you know what else? Injustice is injustice, and must be illuminated no matter where we find it. Especially if we find it in our own home, after spending so much time criticizing our neighbours. I think most Canadians know that. One thing I love about this country is that most people don't accuse you of being unpatriotic when you criticize the government. ( Peter Mackay is not most people. ) After spending five days in the country of my birth, I again experienced the same feelings I always do when I return home. As we drove through western New York State, as the miles fell away, soon to change to kilometres, I thought, I'm going home, where I should be. A sense of relief and gratitude washed over me. I was driving, and Allan was aslee...

While we were in New Jersey, one of our nieces showed us Unembedded . It's the companion to an exhibit and a book by four photojournalists who have been working in Iraq. In case you don't know what the title refers to, the mainstream media in Iraq is tightly controlled by the US government, said to be "embedded" in the military . Journalists and photographers actually signs contracts that limit what they are allowed to report. All the major news organizations signed these contracts without protest. Indeed, after being locked out of Afghanistan and the first Gulf War, they were whooping with joy over the supposed increased access. Many TV reporters were positively giddy at the chance to don flak jackets and play soldier. This was during the initial invasion, in March 2003. I don't know if they're quite so jolly anymore. My niece showed us the Unembedded website during a discussion about the American public's consciousness of the war in Iraq. We all agreed...

Lawrence Hill is a Canadian author. His book The Book of Negroes (titled Someone Knows My Name in the US) was a bestseller in Canada and long-listed the 2007 Giller Prize. Hill also co-authored Joshua Key's moving memoir, The Deserter's Tale , which I have blogged about so many times. This essay of Hill's ran today in the Ottawa Citizen . Just desertions Canada should open its arms to soldiers fleeing the horrors of an illegal American war in Iraq by Lawrence Hill Now that the Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear the cases of the first two American deserters from the Iraq war to come knocking at its door, the last real hope for U.S. soldiers who have moral objections to the war lies in the hands of Canadians and our elected officials. Last week, Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey -- the first two American military deserters to ask Canadian courts to allow them to stay in this country -- came to the end of their legal fight. By refusing them leave to appeal, the S...

Friday night we watched "Breaking Ranks," a Canadian documentary about US war resisters in Canada. We brought it with us to show interested family members. It's very good, and only about an hour long, so excellent for watching plus discussion. It's being screened in conjunction with war resisters doing speaking engagements and answering questions. Zip doesn't seem to have it yet, but I hope you'll keep your eyes open for screenings or possibly a CBC appearance.

We had a really wonderful trip, jammed packed with family and friends, laughter and love. I feel incredibly fortunate to enjoy my family so much. It hasn't always been the case. I didn't exactly grow up in a home full of harmony and light (although it was full of love, and I'm grateful for that). I blogged about this last year , and the feelings only deepen as I get older. I really miss my family. It's the only downside of having moved away. But I'm lucky to have family worth missing.

An item from the continuing series: how does the US support its troops? The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments. To get people to sign up, the military gives enlistment bonuses up to $30,000 in some cases. Now men and women who have lost arms, legs, eyesight, hearing and can no longer serve are being ordered to pay some of that money back.

We've been having a really nice time, visiting family and friends, including my dear old friend New York City. As always on this annual trip, it's a good combination of hanging out, running around, helping my mom with stuff, laughing with family that we don't see often enough, spending money and eating too much. Checking in with Canada news, I see Peter MacKay called war-crime allegations "un-Canadian" . Once again, he is ass-backwards. Mr MacKay, it's the torture that's un-Canadian, not the people trying to uncover it. He sounds so American. In all the wrong ways. I also see the Opposition managed to unite to call for an investigation of the latest scandal. Will they unite to Let Them Stay? That is, can the Liberals take on the Conservatives about anything of substance? Hope you're all well. Feel free to leave news in comments if you want.

We're off this morning for our annual pilgrimage to New York and New Jersey. For the past two years, Cody has come with us. In 2005 , it was right after Buster died, and we couldn't bear to leave her alone. Then we had such fun traveling with her, and she was such a big hit with our family, we brought her again in 2006. On the way home from last year's trip, we met Tala ! But now we are a family of four again, and there's no way we can stay at my mom's apartment with two dogs, one of them young, energetic and full of white fur! Plus, Cody is really too old to enjoy a ten-hour car ride. So both pups will be home with Ellen The Amazing Dogsitter. I am excited about seeing my mom, my sibs and sibs-in-law, and our wonderful nieces and nephews, who will be in from various locales around the continent. An item from the I Know I Shouldn't Dignify This With A Response But I Can't Seem To Help Myself Department. When we went to Vermont for our friend Ray's wedd...

Today I attended a Support Campaign strategy session. During a discussion of talking points and messages for the political campaign, we were brainstorming responses to the argument, "...but they volunteered". Among people who think Canada should not give asylum to US war resisters, this seems to be the most common response. A war resister at the meeting said, "Yes, I volunteered, but what did I volunteer for? I volunteered to protect and defend my country. "When someone volunteers - in any area - they volunteer for a certain line of work. The lawyer who volunteered to defend me did not volunteer to shine my shoes or change my son's diaper. A doctor who volunteers to help a wounded person does not volunteer to kill people. "I volunteered to protect and defend my country, not to advance the political or economic interests of certain people. Nothing that is going on in Iraq is protecting and defending the United States." The other argument against lettin...

It's been quiet on my weekend job, a rare occurrence these days, so I've been clicking around and reading a lot. Here are some goodies I found for you on activism - and backlash - happening all around. A new game: Six Degrees of Exploitation , staring Kevin Bacon as a spokesperson for Hanes. United Students Against Sweatshops have been dogging him around the country, trying to get the actor to back up his progressive words with some progressive pressure on the company he shills for. Tree-sitters in Berkeley are being arrested and harassed, as they bring attention to a grove of old trees, which is also a Native American burial ground. The University of California, Berkeley plans to bulldoze the area to make room for a $125 million sports centre. I'm linking to the Common Dreams reprint, rather than the original in the San Francisco Gate , because the comments are more interesting (and less stupid). People are very quick to dismiss people who engage in these types of prot...

I just read this in a review of Paul Krugman's new book, The Conscience of a Liberal . I thought it was worth repeating. He recites the now-familiar data that the wealthiest 0.01 percent of Americans are seven times richer than they were three decades ago, while the inflation-adjusted income of most American households has barely nudged upward. Chief executives who typically earned 30 times more than their average employee in the 1970s now take home more than 300 times as much.

Three excerpts from three works I've already blogged about. More from Naomi Klein's "Disaster Capitalism," adapted from her new book, The Shock Doctrine , in the October issue of Harper's . The recent spate of disasters has translated into such spectacular profits that many people around the world have come to the same conclusion: the rich and powerful must be deliberately causing the catastrophes so that they can exploit them. In July 2006, a national poll of U.S. residents found that more than a third of respondents believed that the government had a hand in the 9/11 attacks or took no action to stop them "because they wanted the United States to go to war in the Middle East." Similar suspicions dog most of the catastrophes of recent years. In Louisiana in the aftermath of Katrina, the shelters were alive with rumors that the levees hadn't broken but had been covertly blown up in order to keep the rich areas dry while cleansing the city of poor peo...

I've been feeling so sad and disappointed in Canada lately. First the murder of poor Robert Dziekanski, then Stockwell Day signing off on the execution of a Canadian citizen by a US state, then the Supreme Court rejection of the war resisters' appeal. Allan reminded me that the taser death is not "Canada": it's people. The abuse of power by men in uniform with weapons is as old as civilization, and as universal as DNA. The national outpouring of horror at the incident, and the outcry - both public and political - for something to be done, is very different than it would be in the US. Death at the hands of police or security forces is not that uncommon there. Incidents are quickly covered up and forgotten. And of course in many countries, the incident wouldn't be news at all. I'm not letting the system off the hook. But in this instance it's not the government's fault. The other two examples are. I never expected Canada to be paradise. I never harbo...

Soldiers strained by six years at war are deserting their posts at the highest rate since 1980 , with the number of Army deserters this year showing an 80 percent increase since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003. While the totals are still far lower than they were during the Vietnam War, when the draft was in effect, they show a steady increase over the past four years and a 42 percent jump since last year. "We're asking a lot of soldiers these days," said Roy Wallace, director of plans and resources for Army personnel. "They're humans. They have all sorts of issues back home and other places like that. So, I'm sure it has to do with the stress of being a soldier." The Army defines a deserter as someone who has been absent without leave for longer than 30 days. The soldier is then discharged as a deserter. According to the Army, about nine in every 1,000 soldiers deserted in fiscal year 2007, which ended Sept. 30, compared to nearly seven per 1,000 ...

Guess who that is the red cap? None other than my partner, our esteemed Redsock . This picture from Metro News makes me smile, because of my prior history with this sort of thing. When I was younger, every time I'd go to a demonstration, my picture would end up in the newspaper. It started in Philadelphia, where I went to university, and continued well into my Brooklyn years. Making it easy for the FBI, I guess. It hasn't happened in a long time, but perhaps Allan is taking over my former role. ( Update: the photo caption is incorrect. The protest was in front of the Federal Courthouse, as it was in response to the Supreme Court decision, not in front of the US Embassy. As much as we like to protest there.) There was also a very sympathetic story in the Toronto Star today.

Is your peace showing? Please make your opposition to the US occupation of Iraq visible today. Here are some ideas for personal actions. United for Peace and Justice always has lots of good ideas and organizing material, plus lists of local actions all over the US.

And now for the Liberals. In case you missed it, yesterday the Supreme Court of Canada rejected the appeals of Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, the first US war resisters to apply for asylum in Canada. The Supreme Court will not hear the men's cases, which claimed the Immigration and Refugee Board acted improperly by not allowing arguments on the illegality and immorality of the war in Iraq. Thus, the attempt to give these brave men and women and their families refuge in Canada through the judicial process is over. Now it's up to the political process. The NDP and the Bloc already support a resolution to allow US war resisters asylum in Canada. If the Liberals would get on board, a united Opposition would pass the resolution - and we would Let Them Stay. Lobbying efforts by the War Resisters Support Campaign show that many, perhaps most, Liberal MPs personally support the idea. But to date, the official leaders of the Opposition have shown no leadership on this issue. It...

This Harper Government is really pissing me off lately. Even more than the Liberals, and I'm getting really pissed off at them, too. This morning we learn that Stockwell Day, who thinks it's fine if Montana executes a Canadian citizen , doesn't think Canada needs a full national review of taser use by police. The RCMP can investigate itself. Asked whether he would agree to public hearings about the overall use of Taser weapons, Day said that both the RCMP and the commissioner for complaints against the RCMP are conducting investigations into the incident. Day added that Quebec has also launched its own review and that he had already asked for a review of the use of the weapons. He said the RCMP is reviewing the practices related to Taser use and that a report is being prepared. He said he is waiting to see the conclusions of that report before commenting. "We want to make sure things are maintained, that public safety is maintained and answers are found on this partic...

Friday, November 16, is the third Iraq Moratorium. Moratoriums are being held on the third Friday of every month, to build support for the peace movement and to voice our indignation at the continuing US occupation of Iraq. Here are some ideas for things to do tomorrow: Wear a peace button. Wear an arm band. When someone asks you why you're wearing it, tell them about the Moratorium. Send an email to everyone you know, asking them to think about the war and to support anti-war efforts. Make a donation to a peace organization. Go to a demonstration, teach-in, or other anti-war event. Hang a peace sign in your window or on your front lawn. Print out anti-war flyers and leave them in the lobby of your apartment building, in the break room or pantry where you work. Write a letter to your local newspaper. Iraq Moratorium has ideas for what you can do on your own , and a list of actions you can join . Remember, the idea is to do something in public . Blogging is good - but not sufficien...

The Supreme Court of Canada has announced that it will not hear the appeals of US war resisters Brandon Hughey and Jeremy Hinzman. This is very bad news. But it's not the end of the fight. This decision makes the political battle more crucial. Join us this evening for a protest in front of federal courthouses across Canada.

The video of the taser death of Robert Dziekanski was released yesterday. I'm not going to post a human being's murder on my blog. It's all over the internet if you want to see it. This is deeply shameful. And there's no getting it out of it this time: the RCMP did this. They must answer for it. This morning we are waiting for big war resister news. More soon.

Question: Would you like to work longer hours and have more responsibility, but earn less money? Answer: I have no answer. Only questions, such as, "How stupid do you think I am?", "What do you take me for?", and "Are you insane?" So that's the upshot. They offered me the coordinator's position at a lower rate of pay than I'm currently earning, and I turned it down. In addition, the contract position I now have is not going permanent (yet), and HR claims she never said it was. Or, she admits she said the job was going permanent, and also says that the job is not going permanent, or some double-speak like that. Ah, well. At least it wasn't a difficult decision. And I'm still employed. (And still looking for more work.)

James sent me this terrific link . It's a graphic depiction of how much money the US is spending on the war in Iraq, compared to how much money it spends developing renewable energy sources. I won't post the picture here: to get the full impact, you have to click . And how much is the US spending on the war? Perhaps twice as much as estimated. A report was released yesterday about the hidden costs of the war and occupation. The National Priorities Project details what is lost.

You probably know that Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau welcomed Vietnam War deserters and draft resisters to Canada in 1969, saying that Canada can be a "refuge from militarism". But did you know that was a full seven years after Americans opposing the war in Vietnam started coming to Canada, in 1962? Did you know that in those intervening seven years, peace-loving Canadians were pressuring their government to make this move? In other words, Trudeau was acting on behalf of the will of the people. It happened before: it can happen again. I need no reminder that Stephen Harper is not Pierre Trudeau. Two words: minority government. The NDP and the Bloc Québécois already support a resolution to let them stay. If the Liberals will get on board, it can happen. Tell them how you feel. Let them stay. * * * * I'm too quick on the post button this morning. A reminder: if you haven't answered this question , your thoughts are most welcome.

Movie Season has been in full swing here at Chez KaminkerWood. We've seen some good movies, but last night's was a big winner. We saw " The Corporation ," long recommended to us. If you haven't seen it, please do. It's a excellently produced documentary on our corporatized world - how it got that way, the price that we pay, and what might be done about it. Among the more powerful interviews is Ray Andersen, CEO of Interface , a carpet manufacturing company. Andersen talks about his epiphany, when he realized that that he was a plunderer of the earth, and vowed to learn how to run a sustainable business. He uses a metaphor for our use of our planet that struck me as completely brilliant. Andersen talks about the history of flight, when humans were experimenting with all sorts of contraptions, trying to achieve this collective dream. When you look at film of some of these attempts, you see that the man in the cockpit thinks he is flying. His face is filled with ...

Nice t-shirt. Here's a short note on the design , which includes a link to some comments about it . I find it truly bizarre that some commenters say people may be offended by "the joke". What joke? The artist designed the shirt in response to the revelations about Walter Reed Army Hospital that surfaced in March. Remember that? The American public found out, for about a minute and a half, how the US really supports its troops. (Those links are to wmtc posts about it, which in turn contain links to the story itself.) A portion of proceeds from the sale of the shirts go to Fisher House , a nonprofit organization that helps wounded vets and their families. That is, does the job their government - who caused their disabilities in the first place - doesn't give a shit about doing. How many wounded are there? Most of the sites listing deaths and casualties divide the figures by nationality , with separate listings for US, coalition, Afghan and Iraqi deaths. On the other h...

This wonderful bit of deadpan British humour speaks to something I say on this blog all the time. If I only I had this talent for comedy. Sheer brilliance. Many thanks to James for this.

There's another side to the wmtc category "US regression": the regression of democracy into fascism. So many intelligent Americans who value democracy and hate what has happened to their country - that includes both liberals and conservatives - still cling to their supposed evidence that the US is not, in fact, a fascist state. They point out that there is free speech, and there are elections. Well, you know my thoughts on US "elections" . The last two presidential elections were stolen. What else you got? Free speech, for the most part, continues. Published dissent that changes nothing is tolerated. ( Although public dissent is often punished. ). These Americans hold up their mental image of fascism - tanks rolling through the streets, mass arrests, martial law, a shut-down of elections - and compare it to what they see around them, and conclude, no, things are bad, but we're still safe. I wish they would think a little more creatively. Is an armed coup the...

I don't know how many of you will read Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine , her new book that has gotten a ton of media attention here in her home country. I will probably not read it, but the October issue of Harper's has a long essay that Klein adapted from the book: "Disaster Capitalism". As usual, because of my reading habits, I end up recommending this when the issue is already off the newsstand, but it's worth digging around for at a slow-moving bookstore or your local library. (You can also read it online if you subscribe to Harper's or have a friend who does.) Here's an excerpt. Everywhere in Iraq, the wildly divergent values assigned to different categories of people are on crude display. Westerners and their Iraqi colleagues have checkpoints at the entrances to their streets, blast walls in front of their houses, body armor, and private security guards on call at all hours. They travel the country in menacing armored convoys, with mercenaries...