The debate on IVF and the commodification of reproduction continues up here. There were a few articles in Toronto Star recently about donation of sperm and eggs that basically showed how ridiculous Canadians are when it comes to staying within the grey area of the law. It reminds me of our laws on marijuana: for many years the laws were so convoluted and mish-mashed it was both legal and illegal.

Typically Canadian, we have had an actual Royal Commission on assisted reproduction and we now have some sort of Office that is supposed to deal with the issue. There are, in fact, laws on the books although I don’t recall them being passed by Parliament but they must have been as the Commission insists it is trying to enforce them. What they say is this:

• anyone wishing to assist in reproduction, i.e. be a surrogate, offer their sperm or eggs, is to be an altruistic participant
• anyone caught paying for these services or ‘goods’ is subject to a fine of $250,000 and five years in jail

I have no idea how the Commission came up with these rules and who they polled about infertility. But the sum result of these rules is driving the search for surrogates and donors underground. The Star article cited a number of couples looking for egg donors — wait for it — online! They don’t even know what to ask; they certainly don’t have any kind of system in place to screen donors; it’s completely ridiculous. This is not a system that protects the infertile couple or that helps them in any way, shape or form.

I understand that some Canadians, being the milquetoast nation that we are (unable to call a spade a spade), want to “avoid” the commodification of anything related to human genetics. But the truth is, we are all commodities, even and perhaps especially, as adults. Those folks working to build your car, or serve your coffee, or take your money at the bank, and you — whatever it is you do — we are all just numbers in the big corporate game. Cogs in the wheels of our commercial society.

Also, have any of these Commission members gone through IVF? Do they understand the medical long-term consequences of it? Do they feel the pain of it, literally and emotionally? I cannot possibly imagine harvesting eggs out of the goodness of my heart. I cannot imagine that there are huge numbers of women lining up to carry babies for women that cannot. In fact, a very good way of maintaining privacy and anonymity is to commodify this. When there is a perceived fair exchange, everyone goes merrily on their way. Just as an example of the effects of these rules, my own fertility doctor recommended that we search out a donor in the US through a clinic that provides the service and then coordinate the donors cycle and our cycle in two different cities, then fly the donor to Canada for the retrieval. Well in fact, it’s easier and cheaper to just sign up with a US clinic and go there for one week during retrieval and transfer. On top of that, the donor can rest and recuperate in her own home.

While I’m on the topic, let’s also be honest about surrogacy: if we agree that abortion is a woman’s choice — and it is legal in Canada, thank goodness — then why is using your body to carry a child for someone not a woman’s choice and a service for which she can be paid?

It does not make any practical sense to limit reproductive efforts. By doing that you will always discriminate against someone, somewhere. Either your society supports assisted reproduction or it is against it. Grey areas only serve to create desperate situations that end up punishing the innocent.

For example, the same Commission recommended funding IVF for a prescribed set of infertile couples (age limits and the like) for three tries but limiting the transfer of embryos to one per try. I’m sorry, but who are we to judge and impose an age cut-off? On the one hand, you’ve got governments and society telling women to get multiple degrees and join the workforce and put off child bearing. Then you turn around and tell them, Oh, by the way, we won’t fund your IVF because we made a mistake. We now believe women should have children earlier in their career and worry about climbing the corporate ladder later in life. It also dismisses the 14 percent of Canadians that have unexplained fertility. It’s amazing that science can do so much to help couples conceive but we still can’t figure out why a great many folks can’t conceive with any type of intervention. All of these couples, who need help the most and go through the most pain and spend the most money, are being relegated to the margins of society with this potential new law. We are getting into Orwellian territory with such proscribed criteria; talk about the nanny state.

These recommendations were not developed to help infertile couples but to eliminate the apparently staggering number of multiple births that are supposedly draining the health care system. The debate also gets couched in terms of “being fair” and “providing service to the poorest to level out the opportunities” but that is not really true. If it were true, then we’d see opportunity at every level of fertility treatment (including donors) for every infertile couple no matter what their income or diagnosis.

I consider these laws and the thinking on this issue by the Commission as wholly lacking compassion and far-sightedness on the issue of commodification. Let’s just be honest: sperm and eggs are commodities. We should regulate their sale and sure, the price might go up, but if the government truly puts their money to back up their so-called beliefs, then perhaps they should cover part of the costs. If your population needs  help reproducing for economic reasons, then step up and use this as a tool to build your country. Otherwise, suck up to the fact that Canada cannot be a one hundred percent welfare state and accept that there is such a thing as private health care choices, and hey, maybe offer a better tax deduction.

So sorry but my human is so busy with our “moving overseas” thing that she hardly has any time to help me do blog stuff and I’m finding it really hard to keep up with visiting my friends at the moment – so please forgive me if I don’t manage to comment much in the next few weeks!

I’ve got lots of things I wanted to post about from ages ago which have been sitting in a queue but I keep having so many new adventures that I’ve had to tell you about those first and so my catch-up list keeps getting longer and longer!

But now that we are leaving NZ, my human thinks we should quickly tell you about all these things before we leave – as I’m sure I will have even more adventures to post about after we move to Australia! So I hope you won’t mind me bombarding you with posts about “old stuff” for the next week or so (whenever my human can get time away from all the packing and “moving overseas” stuff!)

OK – so I wanted to tell you about a lovely walk I did on St Heliers Bay beach back in July. My human, Hsin-Yi, says that we are very lucky because Auckland is a “harbour city” right next to the sea and so there are many “inner-city beaches” that we can get to in 10mins with the car machine, to enjoy.

Enjoying the sunshine on Tamaki Drive

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In fact, there is a beautiful long road called Tamaki Drive which follows the side of the sea and there is a row of “waterfront suburbs” along this road which all have beautiful beaches.

View Larger Map

Tamaki Drive

Lots of humans like to walk, jog or cycle along Tamaki Drive and it’s REALLY busy on Sunday mornings!

 (Hsin-Yi says: I think this is one of the most beautiful city drives in the world, with the sparkling blue sea dotted with yachts on one side, and on the other side – the pohutukawa trees (aka. the ”NZ Christmas Rose”) with their bright red blossoms fringing the road and the sleeping volcano, Rangitoto Island, looming on the horizon…

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Rangitoto Island

You can get lovely views of Waitemata Harbour, from anywhere along Tamaki Drive and also beautiful views back to the ‘City of Sails’ with the Sky Tower dominating the skyline…

 

Our favourite, of course, is Mission Bay where there is a beautiful fountain and park and lots of people sit at the cafes out on the street and it feels like you are on holiday all the time!

(Mission Bay has more young humans living there and is more “trendy and happening”, with lots of bars, restaurants, cafes and an art-deco cinema)

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Mmm - my special treat!

I love the beach at Mission Bay and often meet my friends there (check out my post: “A Walk with Chobe & Breakfast at Mission Bay“)

- and sometimes, after our walk, my humans will take me to the ice-cream shop to get me a special treat!

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But all the other beaches along Tamaki Drive are also really beautiful. Kohimarama is smaller & narrower and lots of people who live in the waterfront suburbs like to walk their dogs there but we don’t go as often ‘coz Hsin-Yi doesn’t like the way some of the other dogs (or their irresponsible owners!) behave and she says lots of uncontrolled, aroused dogs in a small space is just asking for trouble…

We learnt this the hard way because when I was younger, she used to take me to a dog park called Madills Farm where lots of humans like to stand around and gossip and just let the dogs play around them, instead of walking them…and while I was playing nicely with a Border Collie pup, a Husky-Shepherd-cross suddenly arrived at the park and ran up to me and tore a strip out of my shoulder! And his owner wasn’t even sorry – he just laughed and said proudly, “Look at that! Going for the biggest dog in the park!”

I was bleeding very badly and my humans had to rush me to the vet for stitches. I still have the scar – ouch! That was one of the ‘bad experiences’ which started me getting grumpy with strange dogs…and Hsin-Yi has had to work very hard with clicker training and “re-conditioning” to get me friendly with strange dogs again.

So now, Hsin-Yi avoids taking me any place where people  just want to gossip and be lazy and hope their dogs will exercise themselves - unless the dogs all know each other really well and (more importantly!), the owners are all sensible and responsible and have good control over their dogs – because even best friends can have an argument sometimes or accidentally hurt each other during play and of course, us doggies argue with our teeth! And if you have a pack of dogs together all highly aroused, then what started as a little argument can quickly turn into a nasty dog fight!

So the best thing is to always keep moving when out walking – this is much more natural for us doggies anyway and we get to see & smell more things and the exercise is better for our health and our humans’ health! Even if people want to socialise with a group of friends, they should keep moving because a group of dogs walking together is usually a happy, peaceful pack.

Oops! Sorry for that long story! Anyway, back to the beaches: after Kohimarama is St Heliers Bay beach which is bigger and quieter, so we like it better. St Heliers Bay also has some nice cafes and shops but it has more older humans (who are not working anymore) living there and feels a bit different to Mission Bay.

Me at St Heliers Bay beach

When we arrived that day, it was very exciting because some killer whales had just been passing by that morning, hunting sting rays for food in the sea, and now there were hundreds of birds coming to check out the “leftovers’!

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A lot of the half-eaten sting rays had washed up onto the beach…

They smelled deliciously fishy but actually tasted quite leathery and not very nice at all!

So I left them alone and contined my nice walk along the beach…

…until I found a stick!

Oh! But then a black spaniel came out of nowhere and tried to steal the stick from me!

But I won – ha! ha!

We had a nice play together, though, because Hsin-Yi is always very strict about teaching me to share my toys with other doggies. Then some more doggies arrived to join the fun!

Hmm...if you lost a lot of weight, you might look like my friends, Cookie & Cinnamon!

The sun was setting as we started walking back to the car machine but there was time for just one more picture!

I didn’t know then but that was actually the last time I could enjoy the beaches on Tamaki Drive!

See, usually dogs are only allowed on the “inner-city beaches” in the winter months (from Easter until end October) and even then only before 10am or after 4pm…so in winter, my humans usually take me to Mission Bay and the other Tamaki Drive beaches a lot for my daily walks.

But this year, just shortly after this lovely walk in July, a terrible thing happened! Five dogs died from eating something poisonous on the beaches and there were also some dead dolphins washed up on the beach, so they shut all the beaches along the Waitemata Harbour coastline and told all humans not to swim in the sea, until they could find out what it was.

Very sad – they have been shut ever since and now it has passed October which means we doggies can no longer go on the beaches anymore…so I have missed my chance this year and since we’re leaving NZ now, I will never get to go again!

They are still not sure what the poison was but they think it was “tetradotoxin” which was in some sea slugs washed up on the beach that the doggies (and other animals) ate…

The good news, though, is that it is still OK to go to the beaches on the West Coast ‘coz they are next to a different water. I love these beaches too, like Bethells Beach (Te Henga) which was my first ever beach when I was 3 months old, and dogs are allowed on them all year round but they are about 1 hrs drive from Auckland centre. Still, my humans have promised to try and take me there for a last walk before we leave NZ - if they manage to finish the packing in time!

View Larger Map

* For more information about Auckland’s beaches, check out the Auckland City Council website: http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/outdoors/default.asp

* For more information about the West Coast beaches, check out the Waitakere City Council website: http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/cnlser/pbr/prkgrnsp/index.asp

Hi There Everyone,

Great News I now have an official Facebook Fan Page!

Simply search for “Ashleigh Alexandra Louise Smith” on Facebook and Join my Fan Page today as that is where
photo’s and Video’s and News is being posted more regulary than at this blog.

So my advice is to join my facebook fan page and keep checking back here on a regular basis as the plan is to release
some exclusive photo’s and videos via this blog every now and again which will not appear on my facebook fan page and
then also put some stuff on Facebook which won’t appear here!

As you can see in the above video I sleep very well even when in noisy room’s, indeed
I reckon I could sleep through an earthquake I take after daddy like that : ) !

To finish for today here’s a quick video clip which daddy made by accident when he
was trying to take a picture of me on his mobile phone..

So Remeber to go to Facebook and search for “Ashleigh Alexandra Louise Smith” in the Manchester Network (England)
and join my Fanpage today!

Keep checking back as I have some important and amazing news coming very soon!

Hugs

Ashleigh

A Conversation on the Commonwealth and LGBTI Advocacy:
sharing experiences and discussing strategies

generously supported by Arcus Foundation, UWI-St. Augustine Institute of
International Relations, Josh Drayton, and an anonymous donor

Sunday November 29th, 2009
Classroom, Institute of International Relations, University of the West Indies-St. Augustine 

9:00 Setting the Stage
Stefano Fabeni, Director, LGBTI Initiative, Global Rights
Marcelo Ferreyra, Latin America and Caribbean Coordinator, IGLHRC
Zaharadeen Gambo, Program Officer, Global Rights Nigeria
Colin Robinson, Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation, Trinidad & Tobago
Timothy M Shaw, PhD, Director, Institute of International Relations, University of the West Indies-St. Augustine 

10.00 Decriminalizing Same-Sex Intimacy: first India, then Trinidad & Tobago?
Colin Robinson, CAISO, Trinidad and Tobago
Siddharth Narrain, Alternative Law Forum, India
Tracy Robinson, UWI Rights Advocacy Project (U-RAP), Cave Hill, Barbados 

11.30 Coffee break (provided) 

11.45 Sexual Citizenship in the Commonwealth: charting a civil society agenda
Zoe Ware, Royal Commonwealth Society
Robert Carr, Commonwealth HIV & AIDS Group (CHAAG)/Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC)
Heather Collister, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
Hassan Shire Sheikh, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project 

1.15 Lunch (provided) 

2.00 Viewing of LGBTI advocates’ interview on TV6 CHOGM broadcast 

4.00 Coffee break (provided) 

4.15 Human Rights in the Commonwealth
David Kalete, Civil Society Liaison Manager, Commonwealth Secretariat
Clare Doube, Commonwealth Foundation & civil society consultation processes 

Both days are free, catered and open to the public and the UWI community.
To reserve a meal, please RSVP to caisott@gmail.com 

Monday November 30th, 2009
Conference Room, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social & Economic Studies (SALISES), UWI-St. Augustine 

9.00 The Commonwealth of Nations: functions, opportunities, obstacles and allies
Stefano Fabeni, Global Rights 

10.30 Coffee break (provided) 

10.45 Framing an LGBTI advocacy strategy
Moderators: Marcelo Ferreyra & Zaharadeen Gambo 

12.00 Conclusions 

12.30 Lunch (provided) & Networking 

Eighty-six countries in the world currently have legislation criminalizing same-sex conduct between consenting adults a well as other non normative sexual and gender behaviors and identities; half of them are member states of the Commonwealth. For the first time at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, at this week’s CHOGM in Trinidad & Tobago, there is significant gay, lesbian and transgender (GLT) representation among civil society participants, and a concerted effort to highlight issues of sexual citizenship and rights. Working in partnership with gender and disabilities advocates, GLT participants have already achieved visibility for a number of key GLT concerns, and won their inclusion on the broad civil society agenda for the Commonwealth. 

Links: 

LGBT Rights in the Commonwealth 

Can’t Every Body Be a Commonwealth Citizen? Making Safe Space for Sexuality on the People’s Forum Agenda 

Taking responsibility for creating spaces at CPF for discussion and action on questions of sexuality, gender and development 

Port of Spain Civil Society Statement to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
 

Read more about the event: 

Criminal provisions in some countries target same sex sexual conduct, some specifically men who have sex with men, others more generally any sexual behavior considered “unnatural”. Some countries criminalize other non normative behaviors, such as cross-dressing, or utilize criminal provisions on indecency or debauchery, among others, to target individuals on their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. In 1994, the UN Human Rights Committee delivered a decision in the case of Toonen v. Australia arguing that criminalizing same sex sexual conduct constitutes a violation of the right to privacy and the principle of non-discrimination under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (nearly all countries with sodomy laws have signed and ratified this Covenant). Criminalizing same sex conduct has also been established as a violation of fundamental rights by regional bodies. These criminal provisions not only constitute a violation of civil and political rights in and of themselves because they violate key provisions established by international human rights law; they also have significant human rights implications, representing a serious risk for the exercise of other fundamental rights, such as the right to association, the right to assembly, and the right to expression, the right to health, the principle of non discrimination, just to mention a few. Furthermore, the mere existence of these laws is in many countries an avenue for other human rights violations by state and non-state actors. 

Could the Commonwealth provide an important political space, or at least a catalyst, to advance LGBTI human rights issues, especially following the commitment to human rights, democracy and equality strengthened by the 1991 Harare Declaration and reconfirmed in 2002 by the Commonwealth by strengthening its Human Rights Unit. LGBTI civil society participation and advocacy at Commonwealth meetings can provide an important space for activists to call for member states to consider the significant risks criminalization of non normative sexual and gender identities and behaviors poses to the respect of human rights of LGBTI communities around the world. 

This event, open to the Trinidad & Tobago public, offers the opportunity for activists, civil society organizations, legal and human rights professionals, and representatives of states and the Commonwealth to share experiences and discuss avenues for advocacy at the domestic and international level, particularly within the Commonwealth, to counter the serious human rights risks to local communities posed by these criminal legal provisions. Participants can: strengthen knowledge of the Commonwealth as organization, its documents and procedures; start conversations around the potential spaces for advocacy within the Commonwealth; exchange views and information on avenues for advocacy within the Commonwealth with other civil society actors, state representatives and officials of the Commonwealth of the Nations; and establish advocacy strategies for CHOGM) 2011 in Sri Lanka.<!–[endif]–> <!–[endif]–> 

When the inevitable happens and I finally take control of this planet we like to call Earth (do we actually like to? Strange saying..) these are the things I’m going to do to make the world a better place:

• Consider a new name for Earth that we DO like to call it
• Ban beards. Just why? They’re ewwy!
• I’d meet Taylor Lautner. I’d only have to meet him once for him to fall in love with me, haha (I wish)
• Every book I love will be made into a TV show/Film
• Being Scottish will be illegal
• Flying will be free (for people I like)
• Everyone will say hello and goodbye with a hug
• Anyone I don’t like get’s sent to Fiji
• I’ll build a bridge between the UK and USA with one giant flat (and uber fast) esculator thing along it so you just have to stand there
• Scales will be illegal – who cares how much you weigh?
• OAPs and children will not be allowed to go to town when I am
• My favourite TV shows will run continuously (every week) without hiatus or season breaks until I say so
• All dance/trance/house/rnb will be banned
• Chivalry will be law, but there will be clear guidelines on the difference between chivalry and sexism
• All bombs/guns/explosives will be destroyed and anyone wanting to fight must do so (with my permission) using swords and bow and arrows
• Karma will be MADE to happen
• No one is allowed to say they don’t like something unless they have tried it. Properly.
• Arguing with me would result in death
• All idiots will be prosecuted
• I would have one of every item of clothing/shoes in Topshop, Bershka, H&M, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Republic, River Island etc and someone to help me pick what to wear each day
• Anyone who annoys me while I’m driving will have their licence removed. For life.
• All hot lads must play either guitar/bass/drums and know how to ride a motorbike
• All cities will be removed from Africa, people from there will be given the option of a house in a different country or staying there and living in a tribal hut
• People who are bosses/supervisors/managers will be taught that they are only ‘higher’ during working hours and must consider than the rest of the time they’re no better than ‘their staff’ and should therefore treat everyone with respect within working hours too. Or it may come back to bite them in the arse.
• The whole ’sleep at night’ convention will be removed and the world will be constantly in motion with people sleeping whenever they want instead
• Friday and Monday will become parts of the weekend
• Everyone must read my blog. Or be punished.

That’s all I can think of for now. My world sounds pretty darn nifty, doesn’t it? Have a song that matches. Take That – Rule The World ♫ http://blip.fm/~gvp9n Enjoy!

Why do we insist on doing stupid things? Politics have reached a new level of absurdity. The liberals want to punish George Bush so badly they have lost their reason.  The GITMO boys were not caught on US soil breaking US laws. Why then are we trying them in a domestic  judicial system? The logic of it escapes me. One strong reason does come to mind. The liberals want to make a show case out of our judicial system. In the process they will open issues of  torture, and harsh treatment of prisoners, thereby punishing Bush once more. I have news for the liberals, the harshest treatment the GITMO boys will receive, is being moved to Illinois. Our winter will convert them to Christianity.

The world will wonder why we go out of our way to give these proclaimed warriors a voice.   I’m sure the accused would go to equal lengths to give their prisoners fair treatment.  Liberals make the argument that we are a nation of laws. I agree, but show me the law that says we try these guys in the US. In the meantime, because they were captured in a war environment, none of the usual citizen rights were awarded them. It is my opinion, that any good judge will throw this case out of court. The GITMO boys will walk. How will we look to the world then? Our great system will fail to convict admitted terrorists. They will not walk because we have a weak system, they will walk because we did not afford them the same rights on the battlefield as we do a gang member on the battlefield of a Chicago street.

Rules of war and domestic laws can not be crossed in court. Each should be treated separately. Our current leader is too stupid to see it that way. He wants this trial to blow up and degrade our country in the eyes of the world. Why does he hate America so?

Article on MSN concerning ID theft. SD ranks near the bottom since SD “cooks the books”.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Banking/FinancialPrivacy/P125094.asp

Updated credit report for Amy Lyngstad. Someone, most likely the Court, had all but one social security number she has used removed. But look at all the aliases and fake addresses! The names do not correspond with the address and are in a random order. But first States Attorney’s, (who was her attorney at one time), letter. She was never arrested or prosecuted for Identity theft of her daughter or the social security numbers on her credit report. Nor the no account checks listed in a brief history of an id theif.

وَمَن يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِهِ ۖ وَنَحْشُرُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ عُمْيًا وَبُكْمًا وَصُمًّا ۖ مَّأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنَاهُمْ سَعِيرًا

And he whom Allah guides, he is led aright; but he whom He sends astray, for such you will find no Auliya’ (helpers and protectors), besides Him, and We shall gather them together on the Day of Resurrection on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf; their abode will be Hell; whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.

[Al Isra : 97]

A rare and most comprehensive documentary on Abdul Rasheed Ghazi and massacre in Lal [Red] Masjid including all relevant events.

Part 1 of 7

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Part 3 of 7

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وَمَن يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِهِ ۖ وَنَحْشُرُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ عُمْيًا وَبُكْمًا وَصُمًّا ۖ مَّأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنَاهُمْ سَعِيرًا

And he whom Allah guides, he is led aright; but he whom He sends astray, for such you will find no Auliya’ (helpers and protectors), besides Him, and We shall gather them together on the Day of Resurrection on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf; their abode will be Hell; whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.

[Al Isra : 97]

A rare and most comprehensive documentary on Abdul Rasheed Ghazi and massacre in Lal [Red] Masjid including all relevant events.

Part 1 of 7

Part 2 of 7

Part 3 of 7

Part 4 of 7

Part 5 of 7

Part 6 of 7

Part 7 of 7

3109703    กฎหมายและข้อบังคับทางสัตวแพทยสาธารณสุข    Laws and Regulations Related to Veterinary Public Health

ประวัติและวิวัฒนาการของข้อบังคับ ระเบียบ กฎกระทรวงและกฎหมายที่เกี่ยวข้องกับสัตวแพทยสาธารณสุข ศึกษาและวิเคราะห์ปัญหาและการวางแผนการพัฒนากฎหมายสาธารณสุข

(History and evolution of rules, regulations, notifications, and laws related veterinary public health; study and analysis of problems and developmental plans of public health laws.)

(3109703 จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย)

The recent bollywood flick “Jail” by Madhur Bhandarkar deserves an applaud. It not only exposes the real truth behind the so glorified dowry cases (all of which are false) and how Section 498A is being misused by women to extort men, but also exposes  the truth of Indian Judiciary. Treat your eyes,

The last couple of weeks there has been a huge debate on Eric Holders decision to prosecute the 9/11 conspirators in civilian criminal court instead of a military tribunal. I’m not sure why the decision was made, I believe it probably has more to do with National Security than anything political. I believe in civilian court if things get to close to revealing something of a confidential nature prosecutors can site  “ it’s a matter of National security” to keep things from coming out. If they’re tried in a Military Tribunal which is not a public hearing everything must be put on the table, prosecutors can’t site “a matter of National Security” because theoretically everything that would be in a military tribunal would fall in that category so that can’t be used and tactics or secrets could come out and you know as well as I do even though it’s not a public hearing it doesn’t mean it’s a private one.

But that’s not what gave me the clue that he (Holder) made the right decision. What did it was last night Former Bush Administration Vice President Dickhd Cheney was on some radio show and said Holder was wrong and the Bush Admin. probably wouldn’t have made that decision. They would have PROBABLY tried them in a military tribunal. Well that did it because the Bush admin. DID NOT make one right decision during there two terms in office.

Well apparently European countries have some new anti-piracy laws that have us a little shook. Last week France adopted laws that will cut off repeat offenders of downloading illegal content offline! The violators will get warnings from their internet provider that they’re downloading illegal media, wether film or music. If the violators choose to ignore the warnings they will end up getting the boot! No more internet.

Now some Americans feel we need those strict guidelines! It looks like it may be a fine time to find another way to download, cause the dream may be coming to a wake-up. No more getting the album 3 weeks in advance from your favorite leak spot!

Personally I don’t care as much about not being able to download movies, the only time I look for movies to download is around Oscar time when those beautiful dvd screeners get sent out. (I am not a fan of the camcorder style bootlegs). But not being able to snatch up those albums early will be a problem! Especially since they still charge a dime for an album these days. I would rather get the download and if, and only if I like the album, go out and buy it.

Will these laws help boost the sales of music and films in the States? That’s a good question. According to our friends in Sweden, who has similar rules, album sales have increased 18% so far this year.

So my advice would be that if you are in the know and you still need a few more cd’s for that collection, snatch them up now! It just get tight sooner than you think! Look at YouTube, videos are disappearing left and right.

While Americans suffer from a variety of sickness (oh no…not a pandemic?) and no insurance (a club of 47 million and climbing), the Senate and the Congress-all Mighty may agree to “talk about it, talk about” and maybe talk some more…Great! Now we have a “not agreement” to  procedural approval to begin a debate on Health Care legislation in the Senate. And! Blanche Lincoln, Mary L. (maybe Lou) and Ben Nelson must…must…need an incentive? Must be another hands-out and arms-open-wide and eyes-wide-shut distraction to the desparate need of Health Care in the U-S-A…an oh well and a dash of Socialism, don’t you think?

There comes a time when enough is enough especially for my industry. I have been in this lovely profession for twenty-three years plus! I am tired of the manufacturer’s depleting the industry, distributorships being bought up by manufacturer’s. Salon owners not treating their employee’s as employee’s. Salons not holding up to the standards of education. And also hairdresser’s not SPEAKING UP!. When the time comes you will be quite surprised at the non participation of the professionals, and then it will be too late. Change must come and the change must come from you also. I can make all the Films I possibly want to but not having the participation of the industry for added support the gain will be futile. Crazy as it may sound the industry is taking away from the professional. And the “CIRCLE MUST BE BROKE”. Website’s that started as informational are now online stores.

Hard times are upon us and I also feel the constraints of this era, no longer will it be affordable for you to open up a salon and progress as a small business owner. Distributorship will increase their costs, you will also have to. Schools will just manufacture students, and some industry schools tuitions are as high as $19.000 dollars. Now hairdressing is not rocket science it is an art, $19,000 is way to much. And these large manufacturers are spitting out these schools at a rate of 2-3 a month and also worldwide!.

The laws of Cosmetology renewals are a laugh a booklet for nothing, 30-40 questions of imbecilic knowledge will not keep our cosmetologists on a path of higher education.  It only defeats the purpose and insults the professional. This is done on a state-wide level to meet a very short detailed requirement of generalship. THATS ALL!!

It is up to the license professional to take matters in there own hands and lift their industry out of the nickel and dime era we are in. To stop the political enviroment plaguing our hair show, and professional organizations. Is any professional cosmetology organizations doing anything for you, I went on a well known site and the links did’nt even work.  I don’t see anything. Is the online industry website’s providing you with information that is New! That is a big NADA, only trying to sell you crap, crap. And emailing you constantly will holiday bargains, or promoting there “CIRCLE” It is all to comforting for them to stay in this, since they are getting your money. And to show off anything NEW would be a financial, and risky endeavor for them. So don’t expect anything to change with them. They play it safe. But enclose themselves in a hollow shell. SAD! But let me give them a word of advice. Its all about ART,  and CONTENT!

Is the price of your salon supplys decreasing and is the distributorships offering you anything other than product knowledge class’s. I use Goldwell hair color and since last May I have not even received a brochure from the distributorship (EVOLUTION SALON SUPPLYS - JACKONSVILLE, FLORIDA).  Not one form of educational venue  is offered in a structured  form from my distributor. I have not seen my sales consultant in over 6 months. And when I do its to sell me something, a bargain package of goods. Or to let me know someone from the “CIRCLE” has just started there own retail line.

Look I have been there and I know what it is to be a salon Employee, Salon owner, Booth renter. I know how hard it is to scrimp and save, to train someone and see them go out the door, to rent a booth and see the salon owner abuse my space and also work around alcoholics, drug users, etc/ I HAVE BEEN THERE. But I cannot change or try to implement change without the help of the community. It is not hard to speak up for yourself and defend you craft. I love my work and my profession, I have had many, many ups and downs. Highs and lows and I must accept then with a grain of salt. But if you are bothered by what is happening in our community of hairdressing then you must WAKE UP! And speak you mind. Let people know your beliefs, and also take the responsiblity of your professional success. Nothing will come to you easily. You will learn to embrace the quality of hard times and the successions of perseverance. That is how you will succeed. But you will not change the industry with your own success singularly. It must be done as a whole and as a simple step towards the cleansing of the profession that it  needs. To stand-alone will gain you defeat but to instil a facet of unity and togetherness then the ball will roll.

AND ROLL IT WILL !!!!

Joseph Kellner

This past year had been one of the hardest years of Emily Millers life.  Sitting at her window she she stared outside watching the leaves fall gently to the ground.   Lost in her own mind, a thousand thoughts all jumbled together.   She closed her eyes and abrubtly came back to reality.   She need to get her thoughts together and think about the coming week.  Thanksgiving was just three days away.  And she had many things to be thankful for. 

“Psssh..”  she thought to herself, “everyone has problems, I just need to suck it up.  Things could have been much worse.”   A thought which she tried to tell herself everyday for over a year. 

 Thankyou lord for these blessings on me should have been her new motto, or hope for the best but expect the worst.   These were all thoughts that ran through Emily Millers mind. 

Robby, Emilys husband was due to be home at any minute.  Another day of job hunting for him, but at least he had an interview today.

“We have really had a tough year, but hasn’t every year of my life really been hard?”  Emily asked herself.  “Well maybe not every year…”

When one travels to another country, it’s advisable to be aware of that country’s laws, culture, and customs. Before the plane lands in Saudi Arabia, flight attendants distribute a Landing/Entry Card for visitors to fill out and present to immigration officials. The stark warning towards the top in red letters is enough to send chills down anyone’s spine: WARNING – DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKER. Saudi Arabia has very strict laws and harsh punishments regarding anyone attempting to bring in or in the possession of illegal items such as drugs, alcohol, or pornography.
The US Department of State website explicitly states:
Persons violating Saudi Arabian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, imprisoned or even executed. Suspects may be detained without charges or legal counsel, and with limited consular access, for months during the investigative stage of criminal cases. Penalties for the import, manufacture, possession, and consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs in Saudi Arabia are severe. Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences, heavy fines, public floggings, and/or deportation. The penalty for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia is death. Saudi officials make no exceptions. Customs inspections at ports of entry are thorough. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General have no standing in Saudi courts to obtain leniency for an American convicted of alcohol or drug offenses. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.
Well, That’s My World for this week! That’s My World! offers a unique glimpse at life all over our planet. Take a peek at other people’s lives from all over the world by visiting That’s My World!

Drawing a conclusion from the email, laws are only to scare honest people and the government is answerable to no one. Amy Lyngstad does not have to obey the law. Nor does law enforcement and the courts have to obey the law. So what good is paying congress when no one has to obey the laws? Taxpayer dollars are wasted on law makers since Courts do not have to follow the law. Congress is a waste of taxpayer’s money making laws since they don’t apply to everyone? Law enforcement did their job but the State Judges nullified federal law and get away with it.

RE: ID Theft‏
From: James Van Dyke (jvd@javelinstrategy.com)
Sent: Mon 11/23/09 10:10 AM
To: ************* (southdakotagov@hotmail.com)

Attachments: 1 attachment
image001.png (6.8 KB)

Mike, that sounds like an awful situation-I’m very sorry to hear about it. I’ve personally been a victim four times, and my business was a victim of a Russion gang once more on top of that. The ITRC is one of the best victim advocacy groups around. http://www.idtheftcenter.org/

Their founders, Linda and Jay Foley, are simply passionate about helping individuals like your daughter. They do superb work in this area.

Local law enforcement is very hesitant to get involved due to workload and state or federal groups are hesitant to get involved unless the damage can be shown to be very high in financial terms.

Best of luck to you

James Van Dyke

President and Founder, Javelin Strategy & Research

javelinstrategy.com

+1 925 225 9102 (office)
+1 925 225 9101 (fax)
4301 Hacienda Drive Suite 550 Pleasanton, CA 94588

From: ************ [mailto:southdakotagov@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 11:03 PM
To: James Van Dyke
Subject: ID Theft

To Javelin Strategy and Research,

My daughter had her identity stolen by her mother, my ex-wife. The Yankton County Sheriff’s Department investigated last April.
Here is their report: http://southdakotagov.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/federal-trade-commission/ or you can google southdakotagov info.

Now my ex wife was convicted of id theft in 2005. For 19 counts of id theft she got a $100 fine and no restitution with a year of federal probation. While on probation she continued to commit id theft as you can read by the sheriff’s report. http://southdakotagov.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/19-counts-of-id-theft100-fine/

My ex wife has been using fake social security numbers since 1999. She was not prosecuted for having used 9 different social security numbers on no account checks. She had checks printed with the fake social security numbers and got away with $1000s in bad checks while on probation for no account checks.
http://southdakotagov.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/brief-history-of-an-id-theif/

SD State Judges don’t think that using your children’s identity is a serious crime, even though it is a federal offense. Since the April report she has not been arrested. No one will say why not as there are federal and state felonies involved while she was on probation both state and federal. Probation officers knew she was committing id theft but they did not want to hear about it.

Now the IDRC was contacted there is nothing they can do about it. The FTC was contacted. They only take reports but do not know why she is not arrested and prosecuted.

My daughter now has bad credit and will be graduating high school. Since she has bad credit, she is not eligible for college loans and grants. In addition on her credit report besides the outstanding debt, her mother used another social security number with our daughters name and her age is listed as 40 not 16.

State Judges have nullified id theft laws and obviously identity theft has been committed. Telling people about id theft should include the caveat that if the id thief has connections they will get away with it and you will be left with bad credit.

Does anyone have resources for id theft prosecution when the State allows it?

From:	info@consumeraffairs.com
Sent:	Wed 11/25/09 11:02 AM
To:	southdakotagov@hotmail.com

Thank you for sending your consumer incident report to
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Message that you sent:

Date = 2009-11-25-17:02:53

Country = United States
Email = southdakotagov@hotmail.com
Home phone =
Work phone =
Company Name = State of South Dakota
Company Contact =
Company Address =
City =
State/Prov =
Zip2 =
Country = United States
Company phone =
Incident = My ex-wife has used our daughter's identity resulting in our minor daughter having a bad credit report. South Dakota government says this is legal and will not prosecute her even though the sheriff's office did an investigation and found id theft, along with other State and federal crimes. My ex also passed 13 thousand bad checks using fake social security numbers and no arrest again even thought there is a police report. The merchants are out their money although the State collects the sales tax.The merchants pass the losses on to her. In addition my ex was charged with 19 counts of id theft in a separate incident. She got a $100 fine and no restitution. Is identity theft legal then since there are more documented cases of other banks where she opened an account passed no account checks when it was closed for being overdrawn. The merchants have to pass te loss on to paying customers right?
Damage Resulting = My minor daughter has bad credit and judgments against her. No college loans or grants. The FTC says it is a crime yet South Dakota state courts say it is not.

All the no account checks she wrote there is no restitution so the merchants and banks pass the loss on to paying consumers. I am talking 1000s of bad checks.  http://southdakotagov.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/federal-trade-commission/
Contact me = Y

 

Ontario stands firm on street racing law Toronto Star  A judge overturned the stunt-driving conviction of Jane Raham, 62, of Oakville who accelerated past a truck to get out of its blind spot. A second Ontario judge has ruled that the province’s stunt driving legislation is unconstitutional, but provincial police say they will continue to lay charges under the so-called street racing law.A street-racing charge automatically leads to a conviction, which can carry a minimum fine of $2,000, an immediate driver suspension and vehicle impoundment, as well as a maximum jail sentence of six months.Justice Peter West, a provincial court judge in Newmarket, found that an accused driver’s Charter rights are “clearly infringed” by the potential jail time because the law doesn’t permit the person to put forward a defence. More than 15,000 drivers have been charged under the stunt driving laws since they were introduced in 2007, Ont. street-racing law constitutional, says AG CTV.ca

Judge tosses stunt-driving charge as unconstitutional National Post

EVEN COPS DO NOT THINK SPEEDING IS A SERIOUS CRIME…

Feb. 10 2009 4:35:51 PM  The Canadian Press  TORONTO — It appears no one is exempt from Ontario’s street racing law — including the police. A provincial police officer in an unmarked vehicle was stopped on Highway 403 on Jan. 31 for driving 65 km/h over the limit. Det.-Const. Heidi Fischer was charged after an investigation determined she was “not within the lawful execution of her duties at the time.” Because she was charged with exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h, her driver’s licence was suspended for seven days — and her police vehicle was also impounded for a week..

ALL THESE HARSHER POLICE DEMANDS ARE MAKING CANADA  A  POLICE STATE

It is not the rapists, drunk drivers that mostly  fill the courts calendars, docks it is mostly the revenue generating traffic tickets.. if the government wants to get tough on crime, as it purports, it should go after the real criminals. Drunk, impaired drivers too.  After all speeding is not the major cause of vehicular accidents, what you did not know that yet? and the police Chief himself did not tell you? What is then the cause of major car accidents? Drunk driving, road rage, impaired driving, distracted while driving…. and what the revenue generating traffic division has not gone after all this mostly instead yet too? and why Not? The Cops becoming judge and jury, now taking the law into their own hands  even when they still say “ In most cases, our cops are the best to judge if stunt driving is really stunt driving. Or, is it simply speeding. If that is the case, they should charge accordingly or face more legal challenges.” And them the cops still being continually soft on drunk drivers is cause too many cops do  drink alcohol now too?  http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/speeding-is-not-the-major-cause-of-car-accidents-still/

http://picasaweb.google.com/anonconformer/Thenonconformer# OR http://www.mininova.org/tor/3176107

And do see  also the other posts here about bad cops, alcohol and speeding.. 

http://postedat.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/the-unfortunate-facts-of-life/

http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/bullies-free-speech/

http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/drink-alcohol-and-die/

http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/alcohol/

http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/third-police-vehicle-impounded-under-hypocrtical-speeding-legislation/

http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/drunk-driving-arrests-jump/

http://postedat.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/a-blatant-tax-on-the-motorist-speed-cameras/

http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/call-it-what-you-want-but-it-is-not-about-safety/

http://thenonconformer.multiply.com/journal/item/1/No_cop_is_above_the_law

http://postedat.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/paradoxically-despite-all-the-dangers-warnings/

http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/pretentious-incompetent-in-real-life/

http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/speeding-is-not-the-major-cause-of-car-accidents-still/

CAISO released the following statement yesterday:

CAISO stands with human rights advocates of all stripes across the Commonwealth and the world in issuing a call to Commonwealth Chairs Ugandan President Museveni and our own Prime Minister Patrick Manning:

We urge them to use Trinidad & Tobago’s shores to speak out forcefully against legislation introduced by a member of the Ugandan Parliament that would deprive all gays and lesbians and people with HIV of the core benefits of citizenship. We urge President Museveni to bring to defeat the bill which would prescribe life imprisonment for consensual sex, and which singles out lesbians and gays with HIV for death if they have sex, even with a partner to whom they disclose their HIV status.

Photo courtesy Newsday

Sadly, CHOGM in Uganda saw lesbian, gay and transgender Ugandans beaten by security forces for speaking out in the Commonwealth People’s Space. CHOGM in Trinidad & Tobago provides an opportunity to repair that. We encourage Prime Minister Manning and all other CARICOM leaders to join President Museveni in making CHOGM here in Trinidad & Tobago a cathedral of human rights by joining their voices in joint opposition to moving any Commonwealth state backward on human rights.

No self-respecting leader of the Commonwealth, either incoming or outgoing, or of the region, can turn a blind eye to such a threat to sexual freedoms. Public health leaders have made it eminently politically safe for our leaders to do what is right when it comes to protecting the freedom and equality of their citizens who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and living with HIV, and who seek to harm no one in pursuit of our human and God-given gifts. What is more, here in Trinidad & Tobago doing so has no real political cost. It is, more importantly, a deeply principled way to show leadership in the world community, ensure human dignity, and save human lives.

Links:

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009

Africans Against Hate

“Row Over Uganda Bill” by Andre Bagoo, Newsday, 26 November 2009

Museveni messaging sticks: Newsday article on his address to Commonwealth Business Forum opens: “Even as his administration is under international fire for a proposed bill which seeks to impose custodial sentences and even death for homosexuality, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni…”

CNews lead story, 24 November 2009: “Former UN Official criticizes leaders criminalizing same sex activity”

“Proposed Uganda legislation could accelerate Caribbean homophobia” by Gary Eleazar, Kaieteur News, 26 November 2009

SMUG: Sexual Minorities Uganda

Gay Uganda blog

Remarks by Stephen Lewis, Co-Director of AIDS-Free World Delivered at the Commonwealth People’s Forum on the Eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

Pambazuka News

International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission

Human Rights Watch

“This Alien Legacy”, HRW report on the colonial legacy of sodomy laws in Africa and Asia

Political Research Associates: “Globalizing the Culture Wars: US Conservatives, African Churches, and Homophobia”

“Law to protect gays, lesbians”, Barbados Nation, 26 November 2009: Minister of Family, Youth and Sports Esther Byer-Suckoo promises domestic violence protections the day after participating in the Comonwealth People’s Forum