Juggernaut

Prelude

During a thunderstorm, lightning struck a 100-year-old oak tree. The tree snapped in half onto a citizen's home. Damage to the house was extensive, the tree collapsed the residence into shambles...like a bomb had exploded. Fortunately, no one was inside a the time. When the homeowner finally arrived and saw his home ruined he was absolutely devastated and traumatized. His neighbour proceeded to console him.

Homeowner (horrified, shocked) - "Oh my God, look at my house, it's fucking destroyed." Neighbour (sad) - "Take it easy, your home can be rebuilt but look at the unfortunate tree".

We all have our favourite colour...I cherish navy blue. However, it appears all three levels of Government and these meddlesome environmentalists want to manipulate everyone to become attached to their beloved colour...green.

Over the years I have noticed a considerable amount of businesses in and around Hamilton, Ontario that incorporate the word green on their companies name, logo or motto. The outfit who picks up our garbage is called Green For Life.

A lot of gardening and landscaping establishments fancy the word green on their firm's names such as Green Collar, Green Home, Green Lawn, Greentario, Greenview and Heritage Green. Maybe the logic for that marketing strategy is it will attract and captivate the public because of the propelling force of the environment faction and if society observes the word green on their vehicles or advertising, the company will perform a superior, top quality green job compared to an operation called Block and Puritan Landscaping.

I couldn't help but chuckle when I read articles in City News - Breakfast TV, Toronto Metro and the Toronto Star on July 28/16. The write ups were about a contractor who cut trees down in Toronto, Ontario to make way for a townhouse complex. What forced me to laugh was Toronto Mayor John Tory stating he was "HORRIFIED" about the whole occurrence.

Goodness gracious, what a diabolical crime. Has Mr. Tory ever been "HORRIFIED" about the terrifying and frightening copious amounts of violent crime (murders, shootings, stabbings) in his Kingdom. Are trees more important than human life or is Mr. Tory just playing 'the game?'

Politicians are far from stupid but rarely are they genuine and straight forward. A lot of times they have the capability and aptitude to fool the people all of the time. They have to present a 'front' and have an extremely convincing demeanor...they must have their A-game ready at all times, especially at debates, here is an example.

A long time very good friend of mine was a contender in the 1990 Ontario Provincial Election. He was representing the Libertarian Party in the riding of Hamilton (Ontario) West. The candidates held a debate on a local cable T.V. station. The incumbent, Dr. Richard Allen, who represented the N.D.P. (New Democratic Party) and my chum were discussing an issue. They traded their comments with each other and Dr. Allen's final remark left my buddy speechless. Some time later my pal told me this guy (Dr. Allen) is good and said I have never heard of that program he mentioned in his final statement. It wasn't so much my friend didn't bring his A-game but Dr. Allen's experience definitely acted on his behalf but he was also thoroughly prepared and ready for any discussions...he's a pro.

Getting back to Mr. Tory, I don't recall reading he was "HORRIFIED" about the terrorist attack in Paris and Nice, France Nov. 13-14/15 and July 14/16 respectively. They could very easily happen in Hogtown...let's hope that never transpires anywhere in Canada...NEVER! In fact anywhere, anymore!!

Mayor Tory is looking to impose a $1 million fine on the contractor for that dreadful tree cutting "illegal act" because he is so "HORRIFIED".

Tory claims to be a conservative, supposedly a Tory (no pun intended) he may say he's conventional but he has a lot of liberal characteristics. This is the guy who is craving and yearning $3.9 billion in new fees/taxes as reported by CTV News on June 22/16. He has a real thirst and appetite for these latest dues to be enforced on Torontonians, visitors, and tourists.

His intention and scheme includes an alcohol tax, parking tax, entertainment and amusement tax, vehicle ownership registration tax and tobacco tax. I understand those taxes can be implemented under the authority of the City of Toronto Act. He is also showing keen and eager interest in a hotel tax, parking sales tax, municipal income tax, municipal sales tax, and development levy, however, those would require provincial approval.

I found the description and information about the parking tax very inappropriate and controlling, turning to the Government's favour and advantage. It stated the tax has the potential of increasing the number of Toronto residents to use the T.T.C. (Toronto Transit Commission). Ya, force and financially bully people to take the bus...shameful. Overall the whole idea of these new taxes is absolutely disgraceful.

These futuristic and outrageous expenses were researched on a 185-page report by K.P.M.G. a professional service company having it's head office located in Amsterdam. It is one of the big four auditors and provides three lines of service: audit, tax, and advisory. I can only imagine the cost of their study...it's quite evident these folks aren't working for minimum wage.

Mr. Tory makes himself known as a true, loyal and faithful tree lover but he also glorifies and worships taxes. Enough about Mayor John Tory. I had to write a segment on him because he was so "HORRIFIED" about a crucial and severe misdeed that took place in his city.

The tree movement has existed for many years. Politicians WON'T ignore the green campaign. The tree-loving lobby groups and even the green loving taxpayers are numerous votes for bureaucrats. These elected representatives know exactly which issues to fully support if necessary sell their souls and trees are a prime example.

I recall Hamilton Ontario Ward 1 Councillor Mary Kiss (1982-1997) was outright livid or maybe I should say HORRIFIED when she found out from one of her constituents trees were being cut down on the Queen St. hill. The Queen St. hill is one of five accesses connecting downtown Hamilton to the mountain residential and commercial area. Ms. Kiss phoned City Hall to complain.

Dispatcher - "Good morning City Hall". Complainant - (commanding, irate) "THIS IS ALDERMAN MARY KISS!!!" Dispatcher - (unfriendly, cold) "Ya." Mary Kiss - (commanding, irate) "THEY ARE CUTTING TREES DOWN ON THE QUEEN ST. HILL!!!" Dispatcher - (not really caring) "Who's cutting the trees down?" Mary Kiss - (irate, commanding, infuriated) "THEY CITY IS, HAVE A FOREMAN PHONE ME IMMEDIATELY!!!"

As it turned out the tree cutting 'felony' was entirely legitimate...why the fuck wouldn't it be. The Forestry Dept. had work orders for the work orders to perform their task. When Ms. Kiss finally re-entered the real world from her oblivious stupor and trance all she could say was, "I hate trees being but down."

This ex-politician should have shown more awareness and familiarity to work programs and activities occurring in her own Ward. Furthermore, she should have been more focused and attentive at City Council meetings.

Then there is Hamilton Ontario Ward 1 Councillor Brian McHattie (2003-2014) who totally opposed the construction and even the thought of the R.H.V.P. (Red Hill Valley Parkway). A huge opposition and disapproval of his was, ya, you got it...destroying trees.

The R.H.V.P. opened in 2007. It is 4.3 miles of expressway with a maximum speed of 90 km/Hr. and is located in the east end of the city and is an extremely significant and important transportation artery for Hamilton. Studies proclaim 70,000 vehicles drive on the Parkway every day. An article in the Hamilton Spectator Jan. 27/14 stated the R.H.V.P. is credited with being an economic magnet for commercial and industrial use.

The Parkway has various advantages and benefits such alleviating major traffic congestion on other thoroughfares, convenience and economic values for drivers and the creation of businesses and jobs. There has also been a massive residential build up at the south end of the Parkway (Stoney Creek Mountain). The frugal and personal impact for people is an absolutely fantastic innovation...it's beneficial to all.

Let's not forget about the environmental bonus. Prior to the R.H.V.P. being built traffic on Lower Centennial Parkway from Barton St. southerly to Queenston Rd. on any given day was bumper to bumper, we all know what that means...vehicles idling and producing unnecessary emissions into the air.

To give you an example, my Executive Assistant (E.A.) was a nine to five gal and worked at the corner of Barton St. and Lower Centennial. For her to drive to Queenston Rd., her journey would take five, sometimes ten minutes to travel 1.5 kilometers. Since the Parkway was built the gridlock on Lower Centennial has decreased enormously.

It appears these bird brain tree lovers despise progress and will do anything within their capabilities to disrupt, impede, interfere, hamper, obstruct, derail, ANYTHING for the improvement and/or advancement of infrastructure and technology just to save "their" trees.

In 2014 McHattie threw his hat into the ring for the mayor's title for the City of Hamilton. This guy is something else. An article in the Hamilton Spectator on Aug. 27/14 stated he finally drove on the R.H.V.P...after all those years, REFUSING to drive on the Parkway and now travels on it for the first time...I wonder why he reversed his morals...Hmm, could it be the election?

I think it's quite obvious why he adjusted his belief...votes. He reneged on his principles and standards, all for political reasons. He's another one you have to ask the question...can you trust him? Isn't it mind blowing what politicians will do to win an election, Anyway, McHattie lost the mayor's race to Fred Eisenberger. Maybe voters saw directly through his transparent thinking when he switched his attitude and drove on the R.H.V.P...again, can you trust this individual?

There is a multitude of average "Joe Public" citizens what are completely infatuated with any damage to trees whatsoever. The green propaganda is overwhelming.

I recall a few years ago the City of Hamilton's Forestry Dept. were cutting eighty plus year old trees down in the section of the city called Westdale. The trees were diseased and/or dead. That wasn't relevant to the residents perspective who lived in the area...they were enraged and fuming, calling the Forestry employees TREE KILLERS!!!

Back in the 1990's an infuriated and furious senior citizen from Stoney Creek (a suburb of Hamilton) complained to City Hall his neighbour was cutting a tree down. When asked where his neighbour's tree was located he replied "his backyard". He was then told his neighbour had every right to do whatever he desires with his own tree since it was rooted in his backyard and not on city property. This busybody became more agitated and outraged but after a few moments, he dismissed himself.

The City of Hamilton Traffic Operations Dept. has a yearly late spring, summer and fall program of trimming foliage from stop and yield signs that obstruct drivers 100% visibility of the signs. Quite often homeowners would become incensed seeing the city employees pruning limbs from the signs to make sure they were fully visible from 200 feet away...it's crystal clear this is a safety priority, but some of Joe Public just doesn't get it.

Some time in 2016 there was a report that a woman lodged a formal complaint about children hammering nails into a tree to build a tree fort. She was bothered and upset that the nails were hurting the tree.

Before the R.H.V.P. was opened the authorities had a few obstacles to contend with that involved the Green Panthers. In the beginning, there were many ground protestors but it wasn't long before they were arrested.

Since there were acres of trees to be removed, the tree lovers hatched an ingenious plan. Individually they would pack some provisions and climb the trees (some a 100' tall) and declared the tree their new home. Some of then endured up to two months before finally setting foot on the ground again. My question has always been, how did they get that amount of time off from their jobs?

The green folks reside on all four corners of the globe...young, old, male, female, different types of races and religions and economic status. It gives me the impression they are Mother Nature's Warriors.

Maybe more people will support and cheer professional North American sports teams like Boston Celtics, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Eskimos, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Seattle Sounders (just to name a few) and our future generations will choose those squads because their uniforms are green.

Epilogue

It has always shocked me why these tree huggers appear to have more adoration, devotion and affection for trees than they do for human life and suffering. There is an abundance of dreadful, frightful and horrendous issues happening throughout the world every day but trees are momentous for these so called guardians and saviours...sadly the green crusade is a mania.

The End

The Harvenut Puritan Project

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"Concept vs Reality"

In 1984 I enrolled in a first year Political Science night school course at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. (I was working full time.) My professor was extremely knowledgeable and educated. He was also a very amusing and entertaining individual. He and his brother escaped Nazi Germany and my 'prof' touched down in New York City. He drove a taxi for a living and received his education at Columbia University. One of his lessons was about the United Nations (U.N.). He finished his lecture with his final thought and said "are they (U.N.) really doing any good"?

The U.N. is an organization founded on Oct. 24/45 after the most devastating was in history was finally over...WW2. It's headquarters is located in New York City and had 53 member countries at that time with a $19 million budget. The U.N. tries to promote social progress, better living standards and human rights. Some of the other functions of the agency are refugee protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, enhance economic and social development and maintain international peace and security.

Here are a few facts about the power house institution today as narrated by Rachel Weisz on the video by Guardian - 'how did the U.N. get so big'. The U.N. is located in Manhattan with four buildings spreading over eighteen acres. It consists of 85,000 staff and has a budget of $40 billion a year and incudes a membership of 193 countries.

The C.N.S. news (Dec.28/12) stated the U.S. pays more than one-fifth of the U.N. budget but in another article from C.N.S. news on May 7/15 it stated the U.S. pays over $3 billion a year to the U.N. However, according to Wikipedia the U.S. pays 22% of the U.N. budget for 2016, Canada is just under 3%.

I understand there is hunger and poverty in the world and without a doubt those two elements coincide with each other. The World Food Program states hunger is the number once cause of death in the world...I agree, if you don't eat, sooner or later you die. They also stated there are 795 million undernourished people in the world in 2016.

The United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (U.N.I.C.E.F.) proclaims 22,000 children die every day due to poverty...that's over 8 million kids every year. The website DoSomething.org states more than 3 billion people live on less than $2.50/day and more than 1.3 billion live on less than $1.25/day and over 1 billion children live in poverty. I saw a television commercial from 'Save the Children Fund' which announced that 19,000 children die every day in Africa due to hunger...just under 7 million victims every year.

I don't know how accurate those figures really are or how they arrive at those numbers. Maybe they have been fabricated and/or exaggerated, either way if they happen to be authentic it certainly sounds like the U.N. IS NOT taking care of business.

We have all heard of U.N.I.C.E.F....many children would collect money for the agency's crusade when they ventured out to go trick or treating. U.N.I.C.E.F. was established on Dec. 11/46 and their world headquarters is also in New York City. Governments contribute two-thirds and one-third is donated privately for their mission. In 2008 their earnings were, are you ready for this. $3,372,540,239.

A few years ago my Executive Assistant's father showed me an article in the Toronto Sun newspaper about pay salaries and benefits Chief Executive Officers (C.E.O.), Presidents etc. earn from their charities they so dearly cherish. I remember a lot of these social conscience and devoted individuals were receiving enormous incomes 'managing their humanitarianism purpose.'

I discovered a website with similar information called Snopes.com written by David Mikkelson. His article contained top salary earners of charities. He stated for the eleventh straight year the worst offender was Caryl M, Stern, C.E.O. for U.N.I.C.E.F. who earned $1,200,000 a year. Another high priced executive was Canadian World Vision President Dave Toycen who receives a base salary of $300,000 a year, a home valued at $700,000-$800,000 and fully paid amenities from taxes to maid, pool and garden service...even the high definition cable is a freebie.

In Ms. Stern's defence U.N.I.C.E.F. wrote a letter of response on their own website and stated Ms. Stern's salary is only $521,820. Maybe she was thoughtful and considerate and donated over half her salary to the charity she so strongly believes in and adores. Either way, four-fifths of her so called salary now could feed a lot of hungry children.

Near the end of Mr. Mikkelson's article an e-mail from U.N.I.C.E.F. was written and stated Ms. Stern earns $472,891. The Canadian World Vision also replied in the same column and said Mr. Toycen (I believe he is retired now) earns $184,000 and none of his housing costs are paid for and has lived in the same house for over twenty years outside of Toronto, Ontario. If you are inquisitive about the discrepancies I suggest check out the website and you be the judge. It makes me wonder about other agencies such as C.A.R.E., Save the Children and Christian Children's Fund of Canada and their high price administrators.

There are more than a few websites praising the U.N. on their success such as The Flame - Top 9 Greatest Achievements of the United Nations, Borgen Magazine - 10 things accomplished by the United Nations and the United Nations Seventh Anniversary.

These articles are commending the U.N. in such categories as combatting terrorism, containing the world drug problem, fighting hunger and poverty, nuclear weapons peace keeping and human rights.

Many experts believe modern day terrorism commenced in 1968. Maybe they selected that year because Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated by Palestinian-Jordanian Sirhan Sirhan on June 5/68. According to 'Our World. In Data' terrorism (observing their graph) started to erupt in the mid 1990's and we can never forget about that horrendous day...Sept. 11/01.

Quite often I will listen to the British Broadcasting Corporation (B.B.C.) news from London, England on radio station Jazz F.M. 91.1 located in Toronto. There is not a day goes by there is at least one act of terrorism happening in the world...it's a regular event. It doesn't appear to me the U.N. is mending this calamity.

Trying to combat the world drug problem is just a daydream. Ex President Ronald Reagan of the United States declared war on drugs Oct. 14/82 and look at the drug trade some thirty plus years later...a thriving, lucrative and successful business...illegal drugs are plentiful throughout the world.

Fighting hunger has always been a major priority of the U.N. but look how many starving kids are in the world today. The U.N. is attempting to fulfill their mandate but how hard are they really trying?

Supposedly the U.N. has banned nuclear testing and encouraged arms reduction. Meanwhile, India, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan have high stockpiles. Five will get you ten Iran has a secret stash hidden in their backyard and I.S.I.S. has access to nuclear weapons.

Peace keeping is a primary issue for the U.N....why wouldn't it be, no one likes war or maybe some do. According to Freedom Outpost (Oct. 26/14) nearly 150 wars with over 100 million casualties have occurred since the birth of the U.N. in 1945.

Human Rights is one of the U.N.'s significant subjects. We all know that some Middle East countries regard women as absolutely inferior human beings and I wonder how often human rights are exercised in China, North Korea and Vietnam...probably nada.

The U.N. has had their share of sex scandals and corruption. In 1990 there were reports from countries of Bosnia, Cambodia, Haiti, Kosovo and Mozambique that areas with peacekeeping personnel saw an escalation of child prostitution. U.N. soldiers would give children candy and small amounts of money in exchange for sex. Get this, the soldiers claimed it wasn't rape because the children were receiving some sort of payment for their "service".

The Congo Sex Scandal as reported by The Trumpet (Feb.2005) stated in 2004 over 150 accusations of rape, child abuse, solicitation and other sexual crimes were reported. Hundreds of images of child pornography were found on a French U.N. civilians laptop.

The Oil for Food program suffered extensive corruption and abuse. It was created in 1995 to allow Iraq to sell their oil on the world market in exchange for food and other humanitarian necessities without Iraq advancing their military capabilities. Profits were conveyed to Iraq and U.N. officials.

The Trumpet (Oct. 20/05) also wrote the U.N. has had rape and murder allegations as well as billions of dollars in fraud and embezzlement on a global scale over the years.

It's a crying shame to see starving children but I believe a lot of people are becoming very affluent off the misfortune and hardships of these skin and bones kids...I find it absolutely FUCKING DISGUSTING!

The Guardian (Sept. 7/15) published an article titled '70 years later and half a trillion dollars, what has the U.N. achieved'. I wonder how much money is exhausted on overinflated salaries and unnecessary perks and benefits...where is the money really going?

Epilogue

The U.N. was formed to conquer and eliminate all the despair in the world. Clearly the belief was wonderful (sounded like a good idea at the time) but it appears that the bigger organizations develop and expand the less effective and successful they are...does that remind you of some other huge and powerful organization...I'll give you a hint, the word starts with the letter G. I don't doubt it for a second the U.N. has kind, warm hearted, caring and compassionate principles, but on the flipside I get the impression they can be devious, untrustworthy and dishonest just like that word that starts with the letter G. I reflect back on my political science professor and ask myself, was he ahead of his time?

The End

The Harvenut Puritan Project

'Upside Down: The Ignorance on Violent Crime'

'Upside Down: The Ignorance on Violent Crime'

"Attention Canada. I am Barney from America and I'm here to fix your backwards ass country," from 'How I Met Your Mother' Season 5, Episode 5, 2009.

Backwards ass or ass backwards no matter how you evaluate our criminal code, it's a disgrace...almost like a haven for murderers. The politicians and bureaucrats (that includes the Supreme Court of Canada) need an abundance of awareness and understanding on how to manage our justice system. They really need to get a grip, in other words, common sense and level headed sound judgement. Regrettably,  they convey to me the impression that our laws are very first rate, acceptable and fair...fair?...maybe for the violent criminals...the punishment doesn't fit the crime. It's too lenient, too feeble and too inadequate...numerous times it's nothing more than a pathetic travesty.

Let's travel in a time machine for a moment...the year is 1976. The United States is celebrating it's bicentennial. The price of gasoline in Ontario is $.75 a gallon and the minimum wage is $2.65 an hour. The Summer Olympics was happening in Montreal. The Mississauga, Ontario train derailment occurred where thousands of residents had to be evacuated from their homes due to a chemical leak. Charlie's Angels premieres on television and some other prime time shows are Barney Miller, Columbo, Happy Days, Kojak, Little House on the Prairie, Police Story and Rockford Files. Number one and two songs on the hit parade were 'Silly Love Songs' by Paul McCartney and   Wings and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart' by Elton John and Kiki Dee respectively.

Pierre Trudeau was Canada's Prime Minister, commanding a Liberal majority government. On July 14 Bill C-84 was passed meaning Canada abolished the death penalty except for certain offences under the National Defence Act...that was terminated in 1998.

Trudeau and his pack of compassionate stooges initiated the 'Faint Hope Clause' into the Canadian Criminal Code. Prisoners who had been sentenced to life with a parole eligibility greater than 15 years could request for an early release once they have served 15 years. Offenders who committed the offence after Dec. 2/11 could no longer apply.

According to Wikipedia this so-called rationale was to lower the risk of prison guards from murderers serving life with little hope of release and nothing to lose from unleashing violence. It was also added for convicted murderers to rehabilitate themselves and give the prisoner some hope and preventing prisons from being even more dangerous than they already were. I can't believe this FUCKING LUDICROUSLY. This clause also catered to persons convicted of multiple murders but after Jan. 9/97 they were ineligible.

Sounds to me Trudeau and his illogical thinking regime were expressing their sympathy and pity towards the 'unfortunate' murderer...irrational and nauseating Liberal thinking...disgusting, just fucking disgusting.

Here are a couple of frightful and sickening examples about our justice system. In 1983 Francis Patrick Clancy murdered 29-year-old Iain Irvine in Ottawa, Ontario by smashing his face repeatedly with an axe...Mr. Irvine was an innocent young man who befriended Clancy.

Clancy was granted parole while serving a life sentence of 15 years (you read it correctly, 15 years). He has been in and out of prison many times because of his parole violations. He was moved to a low-security prison with no fences and unarmed guards only to escape twice from that 'hotel'. Hmm...I wonder why our 'clever' officials would return him to the same prison after his first escape...doesn't matter, our government knows what is best.

In 2010 he was living in a halfway house or shall I say halfway 'lodge'. In 2015 he breached his parole. This guy has had a lot of 'second chances'. It wouldn't surprise me at all if our incompetent system gives him, yet, another opportunity of freedom.

In 1988 the notorious violent sex offender and convicted pedophile Joseph Fredericks kidnapped and murdered eleven-year-old Christopher Stevenson at a mall in Brampton, Ontario. Prior to the murder Fredericks was out on mandatory supervision after serving two-thirds of a five year sentence for a sexual assault on a boy in Ottawa, Ontario...get this, the prison's head psychiatrist said when he was released "I know he's going to reoffend, I just don't know when", (Globe and Mail July 8/04).

Fredericks was a sexual predator for many years. When he was 20 years old he was released from Oak Ridge Facility, a psychiatric prison located in Penetanguishene, Ontario and raped two boys at knifepoint and fondled a six-year-old girl after only two days of freedom. In 1992 Fredericks was murdered in prison by a fellow inmate.

An article on www.TheGeorgiaStraight.com - the Canadian justice system is so broken it's criminal by Mike Cowie Oct. 22/09 is well worth reading.

In this country, a life sentence doesn't mean life. A life sentence should be exactly what it says...a criminal enters prison and he/she dies there, case closed, not any of this idiotic nonsense these sentimental simpletons who advocate life in prison for 15 or 25 years without parole...fucking rubbish.

Benjamin Perrin, a law professor at the University of British Columbia wrote a column in the Globe and Mail, May 7/15 and stated, "our most severe penalty gives the most atrocious murderers parole eligibility after 25 years into their life sentence - and many are paroled."

An article in the Globe and Mail, March 4/15, stated killers are eligible for day parole after 22 years and full parole after 25 years. Globe News, March 4/15, wrote 658 convicted murderers were released from prison from Jan. 1975 - March 1990.

Here are some more shocking and outrageous numbers that may piss you off from Statistics Canada, Corrections Canada and the National Parole Board from Global News, March 4/15 titled 'By the Numbers: Lifers in Canada Prisons:'

1,862 number of lifers on parole in 2013

1,600 lifers on full parole in 2013

94 lifers granted full parole in 2014

Articles in Vice, C.T.V. News and the Toronto Star on March 4/15 stated that ex Prime Minister Stephen Harper was planning on introducing new legislation to keep violent criminals in jail for 35 years without possibility of parole. Some of the caucus were concerned that jailing people in perpetuity would be unconstitutional. Do these caring and loving airheads realize these people are heartless killers...they have murdered innocent children and adults and have devastated and destroyed their victim's families FOREVER and these lame brain bureaucrats are talking about constitutional rights...HOW FUCKING DARE THEY! Anyway, we all know Harper's plan didn't fly...He was defeated in the Federal election Oct. 19/15.

The United Kingdom (U.K.) has some stiff and firm penalties for certain murderers. In 2012 Dale Gregan murdered four people including two policewomen in Manchester, England. He was sentenced in 2013 to a whole life order meaning he will die in prison. Nearly fifty other inmates in the U.K. are in the same boat...oh well...maybe Canada should follow suit...we do pay allegiance to the Queen.

I didn't follow the Tim Bosma murder trial in Hamilton, Ontario in much detail. The investigation lasted more than three years. Mr. Bosma went missing May 6/13 and the court case continued for five months. On June 17/16 Dellen Millard and Mark Smich were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced (here we go again) to 'life' in prison without parole for 25 years.

Just to remind you with this upside down justice system, life means 25 years and then the prisoner is eligible for parole...their freedom can be restored.

However, there has been a few cases where killers have received more than 25 years. In 2014 Justin Bourque murdered three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers and wounded two more in Moncton, New Brunswick...he received 75 years.

Travis Baumgarter was given 40 years in prison for the murder of three armoured car guards in Edmonton, Alberta in 2012.

Also, in 2012, Christopher Husband admitted to second degree murder for killing two and injuring five bystanders at the Toronto Eatons Centre in Toronto, Ontario...he was sentenced to 30 years.

With the exception of Bourque and Baumgartner, Husband may see the light of day...hopefully not. 

What I can't understand is why other vicious and inhuman savages like Paul Bernardo and Robert Picton didn't receive much stiffer penalties, each was sentenced (here we go again) life in prison for 25 years with no chance of parole.

Bernardo was a ruthless and brutal killer who was convicted in 1995 of murdering three young women and raping thirteen others. Picton, remember him? He was the 'Pig Farm Killer' from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. In 2005 he was convicted of murdering 49 women, most of them prostitutes. He told an undercover police officer he wanted to make it an even 50 but the reason he was caught, he was sloppy.

The Boxing Day shooting on Dec. 26/05 in Toronto, Ontario on Yonge Street was nothing less than a tragedy. Fifteen-year-old Jane Creba was murdered and six other bystanders were wounded because of a mindless gang war. Obviously,, these gang members exhibited no sensitivity or respect towards human life whatsoever. In 2009 Jeremiah Valentine pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years. Jorrell Simpson-Rowe, who was seventeen years old at the time of Jane Creba's death, also pleaded guilty to second degree murder in 2009 and was given a life sentence with no chance of parole for seven years.

Back in the 1970's I remember reading an article in the 'Toronto Sun' about officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (L.A.P.D.) gang squad visiting Toronto. The purpose of their trip was to present a workshop/conference about gangs to the Toronto Police Department and other legislators. The L.A.P.D. warned our lawmakers...this is what's occurring in L.A., don't let it happen in Toronto.

Was Poland warned about Nazi Germany invading their country on Sept. 1/39...NO!

Was the United States warned about that horrific day, Sept. 11/01...NO!

Was Jennifer Neville-Lake warned that a drunk driver would kill her three children and father on Sept. 27/15 near Vaughn, Ontario...NO!

It always amazed me that the authorities were warned about the possibility of gang violence but didn't take any advice...it was like they completely ignored it. Maybe it's along the same line as the stock market crash in 1929. There were warning signs but the 'fat cats' were having too much fun spending their money and paying no attention to the soon to become an economic world disaster. Maybe our bureaucrats just simply said "there won't be a gang problem in Canada, Eh!" Well, the reality is the gang problem has been snowballing and there isn't enough heat to melt the problem...it is a major crisis in society, just not in Toronto but in the entire country.

One of the Ten Commandments in the bible states "thou shall not kill", but then Exodus 21:24, Deuteronomy19:21 and Matthew 5:38 announces "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". In plain English, the term means, when a person who has been injured by another person returns the offending action to the originator in compensation or that an authority do so on the behalf of the injured person. The authority is the justice system or government. Well in CA...NAY...DA most of the time the punishment isn't severe enough.

Placing violent crime on the back burner for a moment, politicians appear to have the ability to 'dodge the bullet' when they have been 'naughty' or dishonourable, such as ex Ontario Premier Dalton McGUILTY (no folks it's not a spelling mistake) and his associate/successor Kathleen Wynne. Their corruption and dishonesty of the gas plant fiasco is basically water under the bridge. If somehow those two (I know how to cover my ass) politicians are found guilty it will be an absolute miracle. However, five will get you ten, they would have their 'fall guys' take the full blame...it's in the cards.

Then we have Senator Mike Duffy who was charged with 31 allegations of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. On April 21/16 he was acquitted of all 31 charges. Now, wouldn't you think the authorities would make at least one charge stick. 'DickMac' would definitely be saying "something fishy is going on here."

Getting back to our broken down and defective justice system it drastically needs a massive overhaul. The lists are plentiful of offenders who are released early to halfway houses. Look at www.wenswriting.com - missing people of British Columbia...numerous high-risk sex offenders released from prison and residing in halfway bed and breakfast accommodations...that's just in B.C. but we all know its happening throughout CA...NAY...DA.

Here is some more salt for the wounds for victims families from the National Post March 5/15. In 1976 Bill Nichols murdered two Calgary, Alberta police officers...he was freed 17 years later under the Faint Hope Clause. In 1980 Harold Smeltzor was convicted of murdering a 5-year-old girl in Calgary, Alberta...he started receiving day parole in 2008. Craig Munro killed a Toronto, Ontario police officer in 1980...in 2010 he was granted unescorted leaves from prison. Steven Leclair shot and killed three patrons in a Vancouver, British Columbia bar in 1980...in 2014 he began receiving unescorted absences from prison.

I read an article on the Weather Network June 7/16 and had to laugh but also shook my head in disgust. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency fined a greenhouse in Kingsville, Ontario and it's two executives $1.5 million for selling foreign vegetables falsely labelled from Mexico as being from Canada...what a heinous and nightmarish crime...off with their heads! There were no reports of any side effects or sickness with consumers eating their produce. Big deal, they lied, politicians don't lie? Does that monetary penalty fit the 'crime'...positively not...priorities, warped as usual.

Even though I consider myself agnostic I will use another verse from the bible, Genesis 9:16 "who so sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Polls published in the Toronto Star (Feb. 8/12) and Yahoo News (March 20/13) revealed two-thirds of Canadians support the death penalty...I favour it.

Correctional Service of Canada states the following: the abolition of the death penalty is a significant development of human rights. Then they to go to quote Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, "everyone has the right to life". The demons have more rights than their victims and the victim's family. We have to consider the question...who is really benefiting from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?...certainly not the families of loved ones who have been murdered.

For the evil fuckers I have talked about (and there are many more) all of them, and I mean all of them, should kiss and worship the ground they walk on every day and thank whoever they aren't living in certain States in America wasting away on death row.

I  doubt if capital punishment will ever be reinstated in Canuk Land particularly with Trudeau Jr. or, as a very good friend of mine called him, out teenage Prime Minister. Junior never met a camera he didn't like...reminds me of the 1977 song by Steely Dan titled 'Peg', "won't you smile for the camera."

Epilogue

Canada has always had the reputation of a caring nation. Are we really that thoughtful of a country or are the politicians forcing us to be obliging, considerate, comforting? There are a lot of bleeding heart liberal sympathizers in this country. For those compassionate fools, hopefully Bernardo and other vicious beasts aren't awarded parole and move into their neighbourhoods.

The End

Harvenut Puritan 

'Compassion'

As I stated in one of my previous rants (Rewind; Feb 27/16) my grade 11 and 12 years at Westmount Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario were, for the most part fun and enjoyable. I think an extremely high majority of my fellow classmates experienced some pleasurable good times, We 'showed up' to class, engaged in sports, socialized with our friends and other students and participated in drinking escapades on weekends at house or bush parties and bars...it was a good time.

Mental illness should never be overlooked. It should always be taken seriously, especially if an individual is encountering suicidal thoughts. A lot more teenagers are partaking in this horrible 'pastime' of attempted and completed suicides today than my generation did in my scholastic days.

Some of the contributors to teen suicide are bullying, depression, heredity, parents divorcing, relationship breakups, stress and substance abuse. Maybe all the anguish and despair in the world, as well as corrupt governments. and untrustworthy and dishonest politicians are also instrumental of why teens want to kill themselves...the future looks bleak, hopeless and unpromising...their fate is shattered into a million pieces.

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) proclaims rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent, that they are now the group at highest risks in a third of all countries. An article in C.T.V. News (Oct.3/11) stated, in Canada, suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15 - 24 year-olds and is the second leading cause of death between the ages of 10 - 24. Woodstock Ontario has been faced with that horrible dilemma.

Woodstock is a city in Canada located in southwestern Ontario and has a population of 37,754 according to the 2011 Canadian Census. The city claims they are the dairy capital of Canada. The Woodstock Economic Development Dept. stated the average household income in 2006 was $64,523 (Canadian dollars).

The crisis started at the beginning of 2016. The Toronto Star reported (June 7/16) five people age nineteen years and under have killed themselves and according to the Woodstock Police Dept. thirty-six more young people have expressed suicidal thoughts or have actually attempted suicide in neighbouring communities.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not trying to be some sort of idiot comedian or buffoon, but, is there something in the water or is it the air they breathe...what is going on? We can ask the same question about the calamity that is happening in Northern Manitoba involving the Pimickmak Cree Nation. Both locales have different socioeconomic environments but either way you look at it, young people are killing themselves.

I honestly believe we didn't have the alarming rate of attempted and completed suicides back in my high school days. If that was the case it would only be kept 'hush hush' for so long because like any secondary school the hallways (and in my case the smoking area) were a wealth of information. Whether the stories were tall tales, rumours or hard facts, sooner or later we would receive the lowdown...they were superb 'data centres'. Overall attempted and completed suicides were extremely few and far between.

I do recall hearing about one suicide when I was fifteen years old. A friend of mine told me and his other buddies his sixteen-year-old female neighbour jumped off an overpass onto Highway 403 in Hamilton, Ontario, instantly killing herself.

I remember, just a few years ago, two seventeen-year-old boys committing suicide as stated by the Hamilton Spectator (June 22/12). They both jumped together off a transportation overpass called the Jolley Cut in Hamilton, Ontario and landed on the escarpment. Their cause of death was blunt force trauma due to descent from height. Supposedly both boys were best friends and said good-bye to their other friends via facebook and twitter before they took their lives.

Years ago I use to fill out death forms as one of my job duties so the death would be registered with the City of Hamilton. The funeral home representative would hand me the official death certificate which contained information such as the deceased's name, their address and a written autopsy by the Doctor. The document was an eight and one half inch by eleven inch white piece of thicker than normal paper. The paper had a distinct odor, almost like embalming fluid...fuck, I despised that part of my job.

Five will get you ten, I recorded at least one thousand deaths while I was employed at that position, however, one demise is still locked in my brain. It was a seventeen-year-old male high school student from Hamilton, Ontario. In the space titled cause of death,  the physician wrote the source ever so straight forward...suicide - shotgun blast to the face.

For those four adolescents, life must have been intolerable, filled with misery and gloom...such a waste of young and precious lives. It's so heart-rending these kids didn't want to live anymore...their pain must have been unbearable.

I worked in a psychiatric ward of a community hospital for two years, my title was a Psychiatric Assistant (P.A.). Prior to working at the Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital (H.P.H.) with a schizophrenic and severely brain injured patient, I had no formal training or post-secondary education in psychiatric nursing...my head nurse told me the reason I was hired was I had good raw skills.

Some of my duties as a P.A. were assessment and monitoring of male and female patients and a case coordinator. I saw a wide range of mental illnesses such as Alzheimer's, dementia, depression, manic depression, schizophrenia, and suicide...suicide coincided with depression and manic depression.

For a lot of suicide patients, it was like the ward had a revolving door. They would be admitted, have their medications stabilized, attend therapy and then discharged only (in a lot of cases) to return again, some as many as seven or eight episodes.

One patient I recall was an eighteen-year-old male prostitute who 'worked' on the streets of Toronto. As I remember he made at least three appearances on the ward. Realistically he was a pleasant teenager. He complied with all the ward rules and never acted out. But once he was discharged the staff knew it wouldn't be long before he returned because of his suicidal thoughts or actual suicide attempt. As of this day I have no idea of his status...I hope he's alive and has a conventional job.

It's heartbreaking and traumatic when death makes a visit at any time and absolutely devastating and horrendous to have a family member pass away. Obviously, teenage suicide is no different. A lot of the times there are no warning signs...the parents receive that dreaded phone call and everyone's life changes forever. It's evident that the sadness and sorrow will always be there but sometimes the parents suffer and endure guilt asking themselves "I should have known" or "what did we do wrong?" or the simple question "why?". The smooth jazz song by Robert Sanae and The Crater Creek titled 'If You Only Knew' is fitting because sometimes the parents don't have any indication whatsoever what their child is contemplating.

Epilogue

Teenage suicide has been making the headlines for quite a few years now. This epidemic for our young people will exist for a lengthy duration. This is one time I really hope I am mistaken, but sadly enough I don't think I'm wrong...I wish I was.

The End

Harvenut Puritan

'Honour The Neighbour'

I will put this bluntly...I HATE WINTER!! The frigid temperatures, bone chilling wind, snow and ice make it exceedingly undesirable for me but in spite of all that, like everyone else, I have adapted to old man winter throughout the years. It would be highly satisfying for my Executive Assistant (E.A.) and I to be converted to Snowbirds (holiday in Florida for our winter months) and finding a little tranquility like laying on the beach writing my amateur rants with a cooler of ice cold Miller High Life adult beverages beside me, but as usual, money is the principle component of preventing that fantasy.

My E.A.'s father was born in Newfoundland (N.L.). She and I have discussed a few times about moving to the rock. She has relatives who could assist us on such issues as pinpointing a doctor, dentist, financial advisor, hospital and a decent supermarket as well as just settling our roots. We conversed our home would be small, nothing elaborate, but have a picturesque and scenic view overlooking the ocean. The summer months would be comfortable and pleasant but then we have the winter...their winters are absolutely brutal. When N.L. receives snow they are clobbered and pummelled...many times they will sustain thirty, forty or fifty centimetres (that's eleven to nineteen inches) of snow in one storm, and with the wind and drifting, people can be snowed in for days.

We have viewed numerous N.L. winter pictures but one really attracted my attention. The picture showed a heavy duty front end loader on a road. The snow banks were mammoth, I kid you not, they had to be at least forty feet high...the front end loader looked like a dinky toy. It didn't take us long to give our heads a shake and squash the idea of having N.L. as our new residence.

I would also personally like to thank the provincial government of N.L. (Liberal regime) from the bottom of my heart of reinforcing our decision of NOT relocating to N.L. I read their latest budget in C.B.C. news April 14/16. I know Liberals have a deep affection and are fixated with tax payer's money but this financial plan is shocking, sickening and outright thievery. Here are a few highlights of their extortion scheme: a new 10% tax on all books, a Harmonized Sales Tax (H.S.T.) increase from 13% to 15%, a 16.5 cent per litre gasoline tax, 15% new tax on insurance premiums, increase of income tax 1% - 3%, depending on an individual's earnings, tax increase on registering a passenger vehicle, about three hundred fees such as license permits, fines and inspections are going up and another fifty new fees will be introduced. Overall the average household in N.L. will be 'coughing up' another $3,000 a year. TAX, TAX, TAX...typical fucking politicians.

We bought our house in Hamilton, Ontario in 2001 and thoroughly enjoy our home. We plunked quite a few bucks into upgrades but it was money well spent...it's a cozy and snug two bedroom pad...we are very content. When we saw the ad in the real estate paper, it was normal, like other notices, except at the end of the description it read, wonderful neighbours. Throughout the years we have discovered that the word wonderful certainly wasn't fabricated. Some neighbours have come and gone but the folks who are still here are splendid and wonderful.

Nevertheless, we sincerely miss our neighbours who lived adjacent to us. They were an enjoyable couple, just not neighbours but dam good friends. They were highly educated and professional people but were extremely and completely distant from being egotistical and conceited...they were common, down to earth individuals. We would engage in barbeques together. He and I would partake on having some beers and watch sporting events on television. He would play video games with my sons, sometimes till three o'clock in the morning. His wife took a real pleasure in sewing and stitched a Hawaiian shirt for myself and made slip covers for our furniture.

Sadly enough their relationship didn't last...it's like the 1967 Chamber Brothers song titled 'Time Has Come Today', their time had come...they sold their house and divorced. We were truly sorry they journeyed their separate ways.

This past winter (2015 - 2016) was semi-tolerable, mind you I find winter is never bearable. My E.A. bought me a new gas powered snow blower as my Christmas present and I used it on four occasions. I must say it was a delight to operate. My previous machine was a 1985 model...I bought it used for $300. I acquired less than two years service from the unit and had to pay $600 for a substantial tune up...I should have bought a brand new machine to begin with. Yea, I agree, DUH!!

Whenever we receive enough snow to use my blower I make sure I clean some of my neighbours sidewalks and driveways. Our 92 year old neighbour across the street is starting to slow down a snippet so I always clean his property. Notwithstanding his age, a couple of years ago I attempted to clean his sidewalk with my old machine as he was starting to clear his driveway. He noticed what I was doing and gave me an aggressive sideways motion with his right hand...translated into English I think it meant FUCK OFF...pride and dignity are hard to surrender. Before I bought my used blower he would always clean our sidewalk and driveway...it saved a lot of back breaking shovelling and in return I would thank him each year with a $50 gift certificate to Swiss Chalet and a $30 gift certificate to the Mandarin Restaurant.

I also clear my neighbour's sidewalk and driveway who live beside us. I know he appreciates my labouring because he rewards me with a case of 24 Miller Genuine Draft beer (man, that liquid gold is $40 a case) or a pack of kielbasa. At times he and his wife will have us over for dinner and we certainly eat and drink substantially. I recall once instance when one of my trees was obstructing the reception of his satellite dish and he asked me if I would be good enough to trim the limbs. I told him there was no problem and I cut the entire tree down, it might have been 20 feet high and it was dead anyway, not that it would have made a difference. Two days later he's knocking at my door with a gift, yes, another case of 24 Miller Genuine Draft beer. As usual I said to him "you don't have to do this" and his customary reply was "I know I don't have to do this." I also perform my duty with the neighbour next to my 'beer buddy'. Over the years he has helped us out a great deal before I owned a snow blower.

Then we have the woman who lives on the other side of us, she bought the house from our previous neighbours who divorced. I've been blowing her snow (sidewalk and driveway) for three years and she has never once offered me anything. The last two storms of this past winter, I only cleaned her sidewalk and she never even thanked me.

She bought two small mongrels from a puppy farm when she moved in...I call them Yacky and Whacky. Their barks are ever so high pitched and ear piercing and they will yap for ten, sometimes fifteen minutes at a time before she brings them inside. On few occasions they have woken me up after midnight. A great many times they are supremely annoying and irritating. I always say I'm going to phone noise control/bylaw but I never do...may I just want to keep peace.

She has approached us more than once for assistance. One episode was when she kept hearing an intermittent beeping sound and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I traced the noise to her kitchen garbage can...I didn't need any high-tech equipment to fathom the location of the sound. As it turned out, it was her old smoke alarm she discarded with the battery still connected.

Another event 'we' encountered together was then the city experienced a long power outage. She knocked on our door and appeared to be in a panic and explained her problem to me. She was hearing a loud alarm signal from her sump pump and asked me to eyeball the situation, I obliged her and we entered her home together. I could hear a blaring warning sound from her sump pump in the basement. I don't know anything about sump pumps so I suggested we phone the Fire Department...just to be on the safe side. I called them on my cell phone and the alarm room operator explained to me they were extremely busy...I didn't doubt him for a second they were swamped with calls. However, ten minutes later Ladder 4 arrived at my neighbour's house. Three firefighters (one stayed with the apparatus) walked into her house and proceeded to the basement and shut off the noise. They assured her there was no danger but suggested she have someone inquire looking into it. The firefighters were, as usual, professional, courteous and exceptionally helpful.

I recommended to my neighbour she write a thank you letter to Station 4 (that was the firefighters home base) and she also agreed. A few years later I asked her if she had ever written the letter and her reply was "I tried but I couldn't find the phone number." Now really, we all know she could have written a short note and personally delivered it to Station 4...it's only a five minute jaunt away.

Epilogue

I really don't know what to think of our neighbour. Basically she is a nice woman but on the flip side a considerable amount of times, it's all about her. The smoke alarm and sump pump, well, as far as I'm concerned, are just loyalty and devotion to any neighbour. Be that as it may, she did disappoint me not sending a thank you letter to the Fire Department. As far as snow blowing, some times a little token of appreciation (especially after three years) is always welcomed. I will continue to clear my neighbours properties and clean her sidewalk only. I wonder if the phrase 'thank you' is permanently deleted from her vocabulary.

The End
Harvenut Puritan

'At The Movies, With Harvenut Puritan'

We all like movies...I don't think anyone would argue that statement. Hollywood provides us with a massive variety of films for our viewing pleasure in various categories: drama, comedy, action, science fiction, fantasy, romance, westerns, animation, crime, documentaries, they do it all, the entertainment is endless. I've noticed the acting and writing has never been so talented and accomplished as it is now.

I don't consider myself a movie critic. I have compiled a list of my Top 30 movies. Obviously, I have excluded certain classics that do appeal to me but I haven't watched them yet. I know some folks may disagree with my choices (everyone's tastes are different) they are just my recommendations.

My Top 30 are listed alphabetically and each of the following movies is my own synopsis. I purposely wrote a very short summary on each film trying to keep it brief and to the point, not giving away any surprises of spoiler alerts...so here we go.

The Anderson Tapes - 1971, Sean Connery, Dyan Cannon, Martin Balsam. A released convict plans a major robbery at a posh New York City apartment building. Martin Balsam is great.

Born On the Fourth of July - 1989, Tom Cruise, Raymond J. Berry, Caroline Kara. Based on a true story about a Viet Nam veteran returning home dealing with personal issues. Maybe the best performance ever by Tom Cruise.

Broken City - 2013, Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta Jones. A big city mayor hires a private detective to investigate his wife because he is suspicious of her infidelity. Some nice twists in this one.

Crash - 2004, Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle, (Academy Award Winner Best Picture). Story focusing on racism in Los Angeles. Some superb stories happening here.

Die Hard - 1988, Bruce Willis, Allan Rickman. An NYPD cop arrives in Los Angeles at his wife's company Christmas party only to find it has been invaded with terrorists. Great action never a dull moment.

Flight - 2012, Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood, Don Cheadle. An airline pilot is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Another wonderful performance by Denzel.

The Flim Flam Man - 1967, George C. Scott, Sue Lyon, Michael Sarrazin. A confidence man 'plays' the deep south. A fun and easy going movie. George C. Scott is great.

The Final Countdown - 1980, Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, Katherine Ross, James Farentino. The U.S.S. Nimitz enters a time warp that would change history. Actually filmed aboard the U.S.S. Nimitz, the ending may have you thinking to some extent.

Forrest Gump - 1994, Tom Hanks (Academy Award Winner Best Actor), Robin Wright, Gary Sinise. A simple and unintelligent man's life is portrayed through several decades. One minute you're laughing, the next minute you have tears in your eyes. Tom Hanks is nothing less than brilliant, great soundtrack.

The French Connection - 1971, Gene Hackman (Academy Award Winner Best Actor), Roy Schreider. Based on a true story, two NYPD narcotic detectives 'catch wind' of a shipment of heroin entering the city. Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Picture. Extremely realistic. Gene Hackman is brilliant.

Glory - 1989, Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington (Academy Award Winner Best Supporting Actor), Morgan Freeman. A true story about the first black regiment fighting along side the Union army in the American Civil War. An excellent civil war movie.

Gone Girl - 2014, Ben Affleck, Roseamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris. A man is accused of murdering his wife after she disappears. Some nice twists in this one.

Home Alone - 1990, Macauly Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern. A young boy is mistakenly left at home by himself and must 'face off' against two burglars. A fun Christmas movie.

The Judge - 2014, Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall. An arrogant and conceited lawyer must represent his father (a retired judge) who is charged with murder. A great flowing movie, with a terrific story.

Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2 - 2004, Uma Thurman, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine. An ex assassin's boss wants her dead. One of Quentin Tarratino's best.

Kingsmen: The Secret Service - 2014, Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson. A private organization attempts to stop a genius from controlling the world. A bit of a take off of James Bond movies but constant action in this one, very enjoyable.

Lawless - 2011, Tom Hardy, Shia Labeouf, Guy Pearce. True story of the Bondurant brothers' illegal moonshine operation in 1931 Virginia. Excellent movie depicting the Depression era Unites States.

Madigan - 1968, Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Inger Stevens. Not to be confused with the T.V. series. Two NYPD detectives are given 72 hours to recapture the killer who escaped them. Great cop flick. Four different stories going on here.

Nebraska - 2013, Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb. An elderly man is obsessed with collecting his million dollar prize he thinks he has won. Filmed in black and white. Bruce Dern is excellent, with a fantastic soundtrack.

Old Boy - 2013, Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson. A man is kept in confinement for twenty years then released back into society. Some nice twists here with a huge shocker at the end.

Phone Booth - 2003, Colin Farrell, Forest Whitaker, Kiefer Sutherland. An egotistic man is kept hostage in a phone booth by an unknown gunman. Colin Farrell is great.

Platoon - 1986, Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Williem Dafoe. The horrors of the Viet Nam war seen by a raw recruit. Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Picture. Tom Berenger is absolutely fantastic.

The Polar Express - 2004, Tom Hanks. A young boy has a difficult time believing Santa Claus exists. Animated. A lovely and heart warming Christmas movie.

Prisoners - 2013, Hugh Jackman, Jake Cyllenhaal. A father becomes fixated on finding the kidnapper of his daughter. A huge and great twist in this one.

Raiders of the Lost Ark - 1981, Harrison Ford, Karen Allen. An American archaeologist is searching for a lost artifact, the only problem...so are the Nazis. Total entertainment, constant action.

Rainman - 1988, Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman (Academy Award Winner Best Actor). A self centered man finds out he has an autistic brother. Dustin Hoffman is excellent.

Reservoir Dogs - 1991, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Masden, Steve Buscemi. A group of gangsters are brought together to perform a jewellery store heist. Very realistic movie with a splendid soundtrack.

Sex and the City 1 - 2008, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Chris Noth. Carrie and Mr. Big plan their wedding. Some emotional scenes in this one.

Skyfall - 2012, Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Borden. Someone is trying to kill 'M' and destroy 'M16'. The best James Bond movie I have ever seen, continuous action.

Star Trek: The Final Frontier - 1989, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelly. A Vulcan hijacks the Enterprise to pursue his fantasy. An awesome story with some great Klingon music.

Epilogue

So, those are my choices. Hollywood will continue to make excellent movies for years to come. Their mastery to produce entertaining films will never cease. So grab some snacks and a couple of adult beverages and view some of my favourites...hopefully you will enjoy.

The End

Harvenut Puritan

'Where Do We Go, When It's Over'

Back in March of this year, I had the unfortunate experience of attending an event no one enjoys...a funeral. My Executive Assistant's ex-sister-in-law passed away at the age of 69. Both ladies had kept in touch with each other over the years. I only met her a few times. She was a loving and caring individual with a nice bit of a dry sense of humour...overall I found her to be a real 'hoot'. For some reason whenever I hear Boney James' smooth jazz song titled 'Vinyl' it reminds me of her...R.I.P. and God Rest Your Soul.

The service was Roman Catholic and the priest knew the deceased personally and mentioned a couple of pleasant and humorous stories about her. During the memorial, he stated something that puzzled me. Like all Roman Catholic funerals they provide communion (eating the bread and drinking the wine representing Jesus Christ's body and blood) for the congregation but the priest made it clear if  any members of the assemblage weren't Roman Catholic they couldn't partake in communion.

I realize religions idolize and pray to their own Gods. Christianity has many denominations such as Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic (just to name a few) but we all believe in the same God and Jesus Christ...we are all Christians. We celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, mourn Good Friday and honour and glorify Easter Sunday. I don't understand, if an individual is confirmed (qualified to engage in Holy Communion) they shouldn't be denied to participate in Holy Communion...we all praise and worship the same God and Jesus Christ.

My parents raised me under the Anglican faith. When I was a young boy they made me go to church while they stayed home. I was finally (and I mean finally) confirmed after three attempts of writing the test...even on my third effort I failed...finally, the Reverend gave up on me and said I was confirmed...you could say at least my intention was there. Science and theology were two subjects I just couldn't comprehend.

I am very suspicious and leery on religion...I consider myself an agnostic. I question whether God, the divine (supreme beings and spirits) or the supernatural (Jesus Christ walking on water) actually transpired. Religious philosopher William L. Rowe 1931-2015 stated an agnostic neither believes nor disbelieves in God...that is a clear cut definition on my feelings.

A very good friend of mine mentioned to me years ago that God and Jesus Christ and religion as a whole was nothing more than a superstition...at times, I'm inclined to agree with him I do question the history of religion throughout the ages. Is it possible a lot of different versions were established and expressed in stories that have been twisted, turned and exaggerated over the years into favourable tall tales?

We have all heard the saying "second coming of Christ"...I've been hearing it for over fifty years. I'm very inquisitive why his arrival is taking such a long time...has it been deferred for some odd reason? Look at all the wars in the last century and let's observe the total amount of casualties of the large scale conflicts: World War 1 - 38 million, WW2 - 60 million, Korean - 3,217,000, Viet Nam - 1,450,000 and Middle East - 1,000,000. You certainly don't have to be a whiz at mathematics to calculate the shocking and gruesome figure of bloodshed...over 100 million fatalities, where are you, Jesus?

Now, let's perceive the condition of the world as of this moment(and I'm not talking about climate change) the horror, bedlam, and absolute craziness...it's never been so dreadful. The corrupt governments, crime, financial instability, homelessness, hunger, mental illness, people, especially children dying from 'incurable' diseases, poverty, racism, refugees, terrorism, unemployment, violence (have I forgot any?) have made this planet into a ticking time bomb. As far as I'm concerned Jesus can make a guest appearance at any time and annihilate all the hardship, misery and turmoil the human race is enduring...five will get you ten, we would welcome him with open arms.

We all know the world's population is comprised of all different types of personalities and hundreds of millions of the inhabitants believe in their own religion. However, there are a few people that are in complete despair. They are lonely, seeking guidance, direction and a longing they can trust someone or at least something...they have to rely on some sort of entity or individual. Unfortunately, on occasion, that populace becomes associated with questionable and controversial coteries.

Jim Jones was a sect leader of the Peoples Temple which he created in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1955. He was responsible for the Jonestown Massacre on Nov 18/78 in Jonestown, Guyana where 909 of his church followers (men, women, and children) committed suicide from drinking cyanide-laced 'Kool-Aid'. Apparently Jones committed suicide by shooting himself.

David Koresh was a prophet of the faction called the Branch Davidians who resided in Waco, Texas during the Clinton Administration. On April 19/93 after a 51-day siege by the United States government, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) discharges tear gas into the Davidians compound and 'somehow' a fire started. Eighty of Koresh's devotees including men, women and children perished in the blaze. According to the F.B.I. Koresh's right-hand man (Steve Schneider) shot and killed Koresh because he thought he was a fraud and then committed suicide with the same gun.

I don't believe in cults especially what Jones and Koresh represented and preached. I watched the entire ordeal of Waco including the congressional hearings after the incident as well as documentaries about the blockade. However, I will say one thing, in my opinion, the authorities rudely mishandled that situation and I think they know it.

There are an abundance of evangelists in the world and a few of them declare themselves faith healers. Ernest Angley, Benny Hinn and Peter Popoff appear in my mind. These three 'pastors' are notably wealthy individuals...just look at their custom made wardrobes. Angley owns his own television station and Hinn has his own TV show. In 2005 Popoff was worth $23 million and in 2006 his ministry changed from a non-profit business to a religious organization making it tax exempt...of course he's going to do that, why wouldn't he? He has taken his crusade to a higher lever...he markets and promotes Russian Miracle Spring Water. I have seen his fascinating water advertised on infomercials. Popoff proclaims this amazing Adams Ale will provide miraculous protection from disease and disability along with financial prosperity...stupid me, all these years I've been drinking tap water.

I have seen Angley and Hinn perform their 'project' on television, curing persons with physical handicaps, sickness, and incurable diseases. When people are told their days are limited they can become frantic and desperate...they will literally do anything to stay alive. These folks, a lot like cult members, are reaching out to these zealots for a magical cure for themselves of family members. People that are in these crucial dilemmas will also donate money to these extremists and attend their live acts and routines...it's a worldwide event. Evidence has shown, at times, the mind can be extremely powerful and function in mysterious and positive ways. However, do I believe Angley, Hinn, and Popoff can heal...my answer is very simple, NO!!!

I remember reading about people who had contracted Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (A.I.D.S.) and were spending literally thousands of dollars for a so-called medication cures that were listed on the internet. The same can be said about the 2013 movie 'Dallas Buyers Club' starring Matthew McConaughy, Academy Award Winner for Best Actor, Jared Leto, Academy Award Winner for Best Supporting Actor and Jennifer Garner. The film is about a dying A.I.D.S. patient seeking a cure. When we hear death knocking sometimes anything goes.

So, when each of our movies have finished and our numbers are finally called, where do we go?...heaven, hell, somewhere else or absolutely nowhere. Essentially, religion asserts good people enter heaven and bad people appear in hell. The myth also claims heaven is high in the sky and hell is deep in the ground, like a scary and frightening cavern.

I think the vast majority of us have broken at least one of the Ten Commandments in our lives...I'm guilty. When we have offended, do we go to Tophet because our sins weren't washed away by frequenting church? Certain Christian branches dismiss homosexuality and same-sex marriages...are those people classified as immoral and rejected admission into paradise and wind up in hell? What about past and present evil dictators and diabolical murderers, pedophiles, rapists and serial killers...are they condemned to damnation for their wicked and atrocious offences they have committed or do they just burn? Perhaps their non-lubricated brains and unbalanced minds and souls are cleansed and purified from their heinous activities and start exhibiting appropriate behaviour...I believe this is what religion calls purgatory.

We have all seen artists paintings of God and the Devil...they portray them as men. However,  maybe God is a man and the Devil is a woman, or vice-versa, or maybe both are women. I wonder if the Devil is dressed in a red outfit with pointy ears, a tail and a pitchfork living in a raging inferno or is Satan some horrendous and blood curdling looking creature like we see on graphic video games.

I would like to think promised land is an outright Utopia, a perfect society, full of love, laughter, fun and friendship...fabulous and fantastic times for all. A society completely rid of crime, death, disease, poverty, sickness, terrorism and war. A lot of religions have that conviction...wouldn't it be wonderful and outstanding if a place like that did prevail

Over the years, Hollywood has produced movies and shown scenes and had partial scripts depicting heaven in their films. One excerpt I remember is from one of my all time favourite flicks (as far as I'm concerned it's a masterpiece) the 1968 Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, 'Platoon'. The setting is 1968, somewhere in South Viet Nam. The scene has an American soldier named Rhah (played by Francesco Quinn, Anthony Quinn's son) talking to a small group of fellow G.I.'s in their barracks, after the death of one of their sergeants, "Elias didn't ask you to fight his battles for him. And if there's a heaven, and, God, I hope there is, I know he's sitting up there drunk as a fucking monkey and smoking shit, cause he done left his pains down here." The way I interpret Rhah's dialogue is his belief in the pearly gates is skeptical, but on the flip side he hopes they do exist because he knows he could be killed at any time.

The following is from Wikipedia. Reincarnation is a central tenet of the Hindu religion and Buddist's refer to it as rebirth. Some people believe in reincarnation, though major Christian orders reject the concept of reincarnation, however, a large number of Christians profess the belief.

If people are revived to a new life who is responsible for this phenomenon, is it some sort of mastery and paranormal wonder or are God and the Devil accountable for this happening? Do we maintain the same bodies and mental status we died with or are we totally different and all our memories erased away? Could it be, if we do reappear, we are peasants living in the Middle Ages, or, soldiers and nurses in the American Civil War, or, living in poverty in some war-torn third world country. Perchance, we are transferred to a futuristic society that not even the utmost Hollywood writers, fiction writing authors or people with an extraordinary imagination could ever envision. Could it be, we proceed to the greatest time in our past life, the most favourite, enjoyable and delightful...full of bountiful feelings of ecstasy, elation and rapture...the euphoric state lasts forever. Maybe we are taken to the time and location which we experienced the ultimate depressing, awful, hateful, horrible and worst time in our past lives, and, that lasts forever...that would definitely be Hell.

Perhaps, we don't advance anywhere. Could it be similar to being in the hospital for surgery (let's say minor) and the Doctor administers the anesthetic and seconds later we're in la, la land. Fortunately, we wake up but have precisely no recollection of anything, not even dreaming...absolutely nothing...it's a deep sleep forever.

I have always had a high level of uncertainty why innocent people, especially children, young men, and women have left the world prematurely. When death 'hits home' it's probably the most devastating circumstance family members can encounter...the smooth jazz song by Brian Bromberg titled 'Tears' comes to mind. My Executive Assistant's niece died at 13 years of age. A very good friend of mine had his mother depart and not too long after his younger sister passed away when he was a teenager. Another very good chum's brother died (I never met him) when my chum was very young and yet another good pal and high school buddy had his father 'taken away' when my pal was also young and before I actually met him. The first time I saw one of my friends 'take the last bow' was in the mid-1970's...he was 20 years old. Let's, also, take notice why people, especially the young ones, commit suicide. Religion may say it's part of life and the deceased have journeyed to a greater place. Regardless, why should family and friends undergo and endure this grief and sorrow? We constantly ask ourselves the question...if there is a God why does he or she allow this to occur?

Epilogue

We all have our own opinions and creeds on what happens when 'our plug is pulled'. If we knew that time was approaching wouldn't it be spectacular if we could backtrack our lives, like Jonathon Fritzens smooth jazz composition titled 'Turn Back Time' or even more remarkable locate and utilize that 'Fountain of Youth'. If there is a heaven, and, I hope there is, because when I go belly up, I also want to be up there, drunk as a fucking monkey.

The End

Harvenut Puritan