Tuesday 5 October 2010

US continues its drone attacks

New York, October 05, 2010

Despite public protests in Pakistan over relentless US drone strikes within that country in the last 45 days, the US isn’t relenting in its drone attacks in Pakistan, with three already in October including one on Monday that reportedly killed eight German nationals in North Waziristan. They are unlikely to forgo the CIA-led strategy as it has proven effective in killing terrorists. The numbers are startling – 78 strikes so far in 2010 as against 53 in all of 2009.

Story

Can't Americans see that despite killing terrorists, would-be terrorists, suspected terrorists, terrorist sympathizers, and innocent men, women and children in the vicinity of possible terrorists in increasing numbers has done nothing but increase the number of terrorists? Are they so blind that they cannot see that they are quickly running out of goodwill capital with the nations of the world? Overseas adventures was a bad idea when America was the defacto superpower, but in her current weakened condition, coupled with the rise of China and others on her heels, she is tempting fate. I shudder to think what a war between or among developed countries would be like. Iraq and Afghanistan are a picnic in comparison. Terrorists aren't born--they're made.

Note: There was a time when certain events (such as drone attacks) could go on without notice and third-hand reports reaching the media could always be dismissed as lies or propaganda. Today, a Pakistani resting in the shade of a tree waiting for a bus, might capture video of a U.S. military action in the area on his cell phone and have it on YouTube and or Facebook and be seen by a million people around the world less than an hour after it occurred. It's becoming increasingly difficult to BS the people as more and more of our "news" is reported live and by ordinary people without an agenda colouring/spinning it.




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Wednesday 22 September 2010

A rare example of great customer service

I received this in an e-mail today, coincidentally with the arrival of an unexpected DVD...


(Click on image to enlarge.)


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Saturday 18 September 2010

A Toronto tid bit

It seems that just about everything done in Toronto is special. That's easy to say given that I've spent virtually my whole life here, but the city just keeps proving itself over and over again. Few projects are poorly executed. Everyone involved in a major way in this city from the mayor to city planners to large businesses seem dedicated to not being satisfied with the mediocre.

I'm a little late in writing about this, but truth be told, I hadn't really seen the subject of this posting in the three years or so it's been in existence. I'm talking about BMO field--the home of the Toronto FC Major League soccer team.

Here are a few photos that I found impressive:

On one side of the stadium, the seats are colour-coordinated to display the symbol and flag of Canada, the maple leaf. The MLS soccer franchise also happens to be owned by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL team. Downtown Toronto is in the background, dominated by the CN Tower, which for some 40 years until recently was the tallest building in the world.



On the opposite side of the stadium, the seats spell out "TORONTO".


Background is Lake Ontario and Toronto island.





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