Smoke

Hehe, guess you didn't recognize this

It’s obvious that this happened because someone feels completely excluded, completely at war with innocents, at war with a society, and our approach has to be ”where do those tensions come from”.

Hi Keepitsimple, I notice this sentiment coming up a lot since the election, mostly from those on the left tho'. Too bad Harper and the conservatives weren't afforded the same luxury. I recall the smearing started right from day one. Does anyone remember the words "Hidden Agenda" and all the other partisan crap being hurled. Smoke

Hi, this simply appears to be the Liberals laying the groundwork for blaming Harper for anything and everything that they screw up from now until the end of time. (See Mike Harris) Smoke

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Hi cybercoma, I am honestly having some trouble following what exactly a microagression is and therefore do not yet have an opinion on them. I've read the links provided and thought I understood, but it really does seem the goalposts move from day to day. For example I have seen you in other threads refer to conservatives as "old white rich men". Why is that not a microagression, but asking someone where they are from is? Please don't assume I'm trying to be argumentative for arguments sake, or to refute your position on microagressions or to say "gotcha". Just really trying to understand. BTW I am an old white man that is fiscally conservative (but not rich by any means ). Also, is a microagression only related to race or gender? For example, would it be a microagression if someone referred to redheads as "gingers"? Smoke

Hi everyone, this a tough one. On one hand, I think we have to consider how many times police officers encounter wackos in the line of duty. For example, if you have ever had a gun pointed at you by some nutcase, you would be prone to think that nutcases you encounter in the future would be packin' some heat as well. It must be unsettling for them, they are in a tough spot. However, After watching the videos it does seem the police officer in question acted prematurely, even recklessly. It would not always be practical, but in this case could they have not kept the perp on the bus and called in a police pyschologist to defuse the situation rather than blasting away. It's easy for us armchair commentators to form opinions, especially in light of the many videos on the internet showing questionable police behaviour. For example, does someone really need to be killed for refusing to get out of a car, or for walking down the street, or for reaching for the drivers licence that the officer just asked for? Surely there are ways to accomplish things without the shooting. IMHO opinion it's a matter of better, more comprehensive police training. Police are supposed to be "professionals". Lot's of times it seems emotions get in the way and they react accordingly. That is NOT professional. In fact, when dealing with the wackos out there, I think the police should expect things like verbal abuse and rise above that to administer their job. I may be wandering here a bit...sorry don't have time to organize all my thoughts on this. Smoke

Hi, glad to hear that I won't go to jail when I use the LFC for toilet paper.

Hi ToadBrother, that may be true, but does that include "lies & slander" which is what Moonlight Graham was alluding to. Smoke

Hi, I agree with everything Squid has said in this thread. Personally, I would support the elimination of ALL third party donations/advertising rather than allowing ALL third party donations/advertising. Let the politicians do their own campaigning. Smoke

Hi Boges, you nailed it, basically "killing the goose that lays the golden egg to get what's inside". Smoke

Hi MiddleClassCentrist, not quite true, at least for a music degree. While a music degree won't guarantee that one will become the next Justin Beiber, it does provide many well paying opportunities. For example....a music instructor straight out of school will typically charge between $30-$40/hour in Ottawa. Studio production and engineering is another career. Music transcribers another. Studio musician also. There are lots of well paying live performance opportunities other than the bar scene, which is the lousiest paying aspect of the music industry. I will say though, that most people making a living in the music industry are involved in many of the aspects mentioned above, combining instructing, live performances, studio work, etc. Smoke

There is no doubt in my mind that the provincial Liberals are the most corrupt and incompetent provincial party in my lifetime (I'm 60), and yes, we should be holding them to account, but my question is.... When are we going to start holding the public service unions to account as well? It takes two to tangle and they are the ones accepting these backdoor payouts, money for the Lib campaign machine, money for 3rd party ads etc, etc, etc. IMHO they are just as corrupt as the Wynne/McGuinty Liberals. Yet people are always falling all over themselves praising teachers, nurses, police, firemen, etc. Smoke