Unfortunately today Canada lost four soldiers and a female journalist in a bomb blast in Khandahar City.
In Khost, Afghanistan a suicide bomber killed eight American civilians. It has now been revealed that the base is a C.I.A. Special Activities Division base. The acronym is SAD.
The Special Activities Division (SAD) is a division of the United States Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) National Clandestine Service (NCS), responsible for covert action and other “special activities”. These include covert political action and paramilitary special operations. Within SAD there are two separate groups, one for paramilitary operations and another for political action. The Political Action Group within SAD is responsible for covert activities related to political influence, psychological warfare, and economic warfare. The rapid development of technology has also added computer or cyber warfare to their mission. A large covert operation usually has components that involve many or all of these categories, as well as paramilitary operations.
Special Operations Group (SOG) is the element within SAD responsible for paramilitary operations. These operations include the collection of intelligence in hostile countries and regions, and all high-threat military and/or intelligence operations which the U.S. government does not wish to be overtly associated with conducting. As such, members of the unit (called Paramilitary Operations Officers) normally do not carry any objects or clothing (e.g., military uniforms) that would associate them with the United States. If they are compromised during a mission, the government of the United States may deny all knowledge.
The Winnipeg suburb of Charleswood has a few eccentric features about it. It is known for a very big deer population which causes many problems with drivers. It is also known for having hardly any sidewalks on its streets. I guess deer don’t use sidewalks. But for pedestrians it must be somewhat dangerous.
I have also discovered a bizarre housing development while I was searching Google street view. It is called Westboine Park Housing Co-op. Some cursory research shows that it is some type of collective housing organization that has no landlords or leases. That is as much as I can figure out.
What it does have is some of the most interesting urban architecture I have ever come across. The housing units look like something that should be at Falcon Lake or in Thompson, Manitoba. The siding is wood like, but it is the shape that is incongruous. The roofs are as steep as a ski-jump. They are located north of Roblin off of Shelmardine Drive. The pictures speak for themselves.
The first picture shows the non-existant sidewalks.
When the daughter is going on a date with a new boyfriend I can imagine it is a traumatic situation for the parents. The parents have no idea what the new Bo is about. Is he into substance abuse? Does he hang around with dangerous friends? Is he a fast reckless driver? Will he attempt sex with little princess on the first date? Or something more sinister?
All of these questions must grate on the minds of the parents. But on the other hand the boyfriend could be a really nice person, even if he does show up at the door looking somewhat rebellious. Most new boyfriends will try to look as respectable as possible when they knock on the front door. But there are some that will stick to their guns and let their appearance convey what they feel they truly represent. Whatever that may be?
Sports team nicknames come in all shapes, sizes and strange meanings. Most of the major professional leagues have names that make immediate sense. Vikings, Bruins, Rangers and Yankees. But there are some that are a little hard to understand. Maple Leafs, Browns, Dodgers (what the hell is a dodger?), Thrashers and Blue Bombers. Blue Bombers has to be one of the greatest ambiguous team nicknames of all time.
But once you get to the college ranks and minor pro leagues in North America, almost any name goes. Check below to see some of the weirdest.
On reflection it is quite amazing that the 9/11 Al Qaeda terrorists pulled off the attack successfully. From the shoe bomber to the most recent failed attempt, the terrorists more often than not screw up.
In 1993 when the terrorists planted a giant bomb in the underground parkade of the World Trade Centre, only the incompetence of the terrorists prevented a catastrophe. The van with the bomb was parked beside a very large concrete column, if the placement of the van with the bomb had been further from that column, the tower would have collapsed. This time there would have been no warning to evacuate.
This time in Detroit the Nigerian terrorist tried to light his concoction only to have it flame up and die out. All he got for his efforts was second degree burns to his privates and a life sentence in the US federal penal system. If these Jihadists were more resourceful and cunning, the west could be in trouble. But fortunately the brightest and best of the Islamic world are not joining Al Qaeda.
Since the early 1980′s a few American arms companies have come up with ultra-long distance 50 calibre sniper rifles. Fifty cal is a really big bullet. And as the Americans take guns extremely seriously, they have developed sniper guns that can take down a really big camel at 3000 meters.
These rifles split Jihadists in half. Fifty cals can knock out vehicles by ripping into the engines or snapping axles. Helicopters can be knocked out of the air. When a terrorist gets hit by one of these slugs, his split remains make his buddies think twice. The Mexican drug cartels have used them. So they are spreading.
The US companies that make them — Barret, McMillan and Cheytac corporations — sell them to private individuals. So basically anybody can buy one. I’m sure the authorities in the States usually know where the guns are going, but it is just a matter of time before the terrorists get their hands on one. One of these things could knock Obama’s chopper out of the sky. And we don’t want Joe Biden running the USA, do we?
The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner airliner has the dubious distinction of being the most back ordered aircraft in history. Delays have led to more than 875 airplanes on back order. Over 40 airlines are waiting for their planes.
Winnipeg is a major centre of production for wing to body fairings for the 787. Sub-contractors from around the world could not procure the needed parts, perform the subassembly on schedule, or both. This lead to major delays. But the problems seem to be ironed out and the assembly lines in Winnipeg are humming.
Boeing Winnipeg is a Tier I partner to the 787 Dreamliner program and is responsible for the Wing-to-Body Fairing, Main Landing Gear Doors and the Vertical Fin Fairing for the lifecycle of the program. Boeing Winnipeg also supplies the Engine Strut Forward and Aft Pylons for the 787 as a Tier II Partner.
These are pictures of ship breaking in Chittagong, Bangladesh. These old ships are pulled ashore and then the work begins. Unskilled labourers use mainly setaline torches to break down the ships. The steel is then pulled or carried to trucks further inland.
The labourers can make up to US $1.50 a day. No safety equipment or standards. The heat can be excruciating. Tough days work.
Western countries used to break down their own ships. But dismantling a steel ship is costly with high union wages in European countries. So the ship owners sell the ships to ship breaking firms in India, Bangladesh and China.
This has got to be the closest to earthbound hell that you can get.
Third world society in a first world country. And what is the most prominent feature of third world countries? Rampant corruption.
CBC
Anger and outrage are being expressed on a small Manitoba First Nation community over the salaries and benefits paid to the community’s elected leaders.
Documents provided to CBC News by the advocacy group the Canadian Taxpayers Federation show that the chief and four councillors of the Peguis First Nation were paid between $206,000 and $310,000 each last year.
The community is home to about 7,200 people and is located about 200 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
The documents, which were part of a review of the council’s finances, were prepared by accounting firm BDO Dunwoody in Winnipeg.
They show that in 2008-09, Chief Glenn Hudson earned $206,381.
In the documents, accountants say that figure includes:
$124,830 in salary.
$32,151 in travel expenses.
$1,200 in honorarium payments.
$48,200 for “other remuneration.”
Coun. Glennis Sutherland earned $310,731, broken down as:
$127,310 in salary.
$58,984 in travel expenses.
$124,437 in “other remuneration.”
The documents do not explain what qualifies to be paid out as “other remuneration,” but spokesperson Colin Craig of the taxpayer group said Sunday that it’s likely the amount reflects extra payments for the politicians to attend meetings and other duties.
