Homegrown Terror – I Never Thought We’d See it Here

Naive…maybe.  I never claimed to be the most informed or wise individual who ever walked on two feet.

Other than understanding that nutcases have always walked among us I didn’t really expect that we’d see acts of terrorism on Canadian soil. Of course, I’m not completely ignorant nor looking at the world through rose-coloured glasses.  After 9-11, I think we all expected more terrorist acts after that tragedy but in the ensuing years they didn’t materialize.  So, an obviously misguided sense of security took hold of me, largely based on the notion that “No one hates Canada, we’re the good guys!”  I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Just our existence as an ally of the United States and Britain and of course the fact that we’re not a Muslim governed nation, make us a target for acts of aggression.

The senseless murders of two Canadian soldiers on home soil should be a severe wake up call to all of us.

People will try to dismiss the perpetrators of these vile acts as mentally unstable individuals. Somehow trying to disassociate the lunatic with any ties to a “legitimate” terror group.  Not an Al-Qaeda or ISIL cell member?  Who cares?  What does that matter?  Who radicalized the lunatic is not as important per say…as the fact that they were radicalized at all.  Obviously, the vile spew and influence of the jihadist movement has reached over our fence and influenced weak-minded individuals or emboldened closet jihadists to take up their cause.  Either way, it’s bad.  Real bad.

As we’ve now seen since our own taste of jihadist madness, Australia and France have now tasted the bitter pill as well.  It’s safe to say I think…Game On! and all western, democratic nations beware.

How our governments react to these threats will be the very tricky part.  Will they allow the threat of terrorists to infringe our freedoms and allow more police and government agency trampling of our rights?  Will those people who mistakenly believe it is the governments’ responsibility to protect them at all times allow the erosion of our freedom in favour of perceived security?

I hope not.  I hope that we maintain our collective cool.  We will be playing into the hands of these vile, hatred spewing nutcases when we start to unravel our own democracies out of fear.  Binding ourselves in laws and giving away our freedoms with the hope that the government and its agents will do right by us all.

One final thought; lots of banter about free speech and freedom of the press since the Paris attack on Charlie Hebdo.  Though I am not personally familiar with the publication, it seems that Charlie Hebdo is known for producing inflammatory material to many different groups.  From what I’ve read, I don’t think Charlie Hebdo is my kind of reading…whatever.  But for anyone to insinuate that the anger they inflamed, and it turning to murder, is in anyway understandable is reprehensible.

Is it understandable that people were angry and disliked the materials?  I think that’s quite normal.  I am allowed to dis-like it as much they are to like it and produce it.  I can choose not to look or read if I wish and just ignore it.  That’s the beauty of democracy and freedom.  Now, did the people at Charlie Hebdo poke the bear who doesn’t share their belief in free speech?  You bet they did.  Is it worthy of death? Hell no!  Is it a justification or even a lame excuse? No way.  But, what sets democracy apart from all other ideologies is the fact that we get to choose and choose on so many levels.  But with freedom comes inherent risk.  So we accept those risks if we choose to reside in the free nations.

The people at Charlie Hebdo must have known they were taking their lives in their hands by producing what they have. Right?  Did they?  I honestly don’t know.  If they knew, I’d commend them for their courage…I think.  If not, maybe I’d scold them for being naive.  Unfortunately, freedom isn’t an impenetrable shield from pyschos who do not share your views or beliefs.

 

Worst thing to happen to Ontario since forever

Ontario Provincial Election

Some thoughts on the upcoming Ontario Provincial Election

Well first, being a current BC resident I want to say “I don’t care”. But that would be a mistake for so many reasons.  First, I grew up in rural Ontario and have many friends and family there.  They have suffered enough and don’t deserver to have any more of this Liberaltatorship. Life is much too short to waste it following provincial politics – but you would have to be living under a rock to not hear how badly things have been going in Ontario. It seems that every week in Ontario there is a new scandal, fiasco, or  generally inept handling of what should be a routine task. Some of the topics of interest:

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Plants to clean the air in your house

The following is an interesting and short (4 min) video about cleaning the air in your home and producing your own oxygen.  The health and mood improvements must be substantial.

Working in an industrial shop, I am always worried about air quality and it’s longterm effects on my health.  Thankfully the air pollution is very low where I live and I can go hiking to give the lungs a real cleaning.

I suppose producing your own oxygen is another aspect of self-sufficiency….

Enjoy:

Are you using these plants to clean the air in your house?  How has it affected you?

My Start with Permaculture

How I am getting started with Permaculture

The most major part of self-sufficiency is being able to grow as much of your own food as possible.  I learned this at an early age growing up on a small farm.  At the end of the summer and early fall, the only trips to the grocery store were for items that we didn’t grow.  With canning, freezing, and drying we were eating this produce for most of the next six months.

But that was just very small scale gardening, and the rest of our livelihood came from conventional mono-crop agriculture.  I always wondered why we had to plant everything in rows and spend so much time weeding.  Thankfully we didn’t spray chemicals on our garden.  Perfect it was not, but I learned a lot about planting, weeding, seasons, watering, staggering plantings, collecting sends, harvesting, protecting from early/late frosts, bugs, blights, and composting.

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High River, the “Abolished” Long Gun Registry & the CFP

So, what are we Canadians supposed to think?  What are we to make of the recent developments regarding the so-called “abolished” Long Gun Registry, the smashing of personal liberty in High River, AB and the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP which is administered by the RCMP) nearly criminalizing thousands of legitimate gun owners with the stroke of a pen?

In my humble opinion, something smells bad…really bad.  Not so unusual though, it is emanating from Ottawa, the headquarters of Canadian bureaucracy.  Consider this term “Bureaucratic Dictatorship”…look it up and tell me you don’t see the makings of a disaster.

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Sample Letter to PMO or Public Safety Minister

Good afternoon Honorable Minister,

I am writing to voice my support for a full review, repeal and replacement of all our current legislation concerning firearms and ammunition in their entirety.  The current limitations and restrictions do nothing to protect the public from those who choose to do violence on their fellow citizens.  Criminals will continue to access and use non-restricted, restricted and prohibited weapons, magazines and ammunition at will.  Our current laws only prevent the responsible, trained, licensed and law abiding citizen from legally obtaining them.

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Canadian Firearms Safety Course

My thoughts on the Canadian (Restricted) Firearms Safety Course

I recently completed the education course required to apply for a Possession and  Acquisition Licence (PAL) from the RCMP.  Non-restricted and restricted firearms are handled separately here in Canada, and you must complete a second course to apply for your Restricted or RPAL.  If offered to you, it is well worth doing your CRFSC – restricted firearms safety course – at the same time as your CFSC.

The course that I attended took place over three evenings after work.  Each session was four hours long.  This method I highly recommend, since four hours is not too long or too much material for one sitting.  I took my course through Silvercore Advanced Training Systems and I highly recommend checking them out if you are in Vancouver, the lower mainland BC, or Vancouver Island.

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CFO Letter Example

An example of a letter for you to send to your provincial Chief Firearms Officer

Dear [Provincial CFO],

I would like to thank you and the Conservative Party of Canada for the effort that was put into the dissolution of the Long-gun registry, and further efforts that are being put into restoring civil rights to firearms owners. I have, along with my family, voted Conservative (if applicable) in all elections, and will continue to do so while the party protects the rights of their citizens in all regards.

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Quote: Rise of Minarchism and Anarchism

Jack Spirko: “Minarchism and Anarchism have arisen from the fundamental understanding that what states do is theft”

“Minarchism and Anarchism has arisen from the fundamental understanding that what states do is theft. It is no less theft for your government to take 30% of your income, than for me to come into your home and take 30% of your shit.  It’s actually a greater theft.  You have recourse if I take your stuff.  You can shoot me.  You can fight back.  You can bury me in a hole in the ground.  When the government demands their 30% they will use overwhelming force and you have no recourse.  And they can spend your money on things that you find to be morally reprehensible.  And there is nothing you can do if you stay in their system.  And they make it very difficult for you to disassociate with their system.  In fact I would say all nigh impossible for you to fully disassociate with their system.  But there are ways you can begin the process. And what I’ve learned about most, not all – cause some of you are flaming assholes – but most anarchists understand these things and understand that you can’t just switch a switch and make this happen.  That there is a move toward this.  And many even understand we may never actually get there.  But if we don’t set the goal at absolutely no state, all we will ever get is more state.  And then a lot of anarchists would be happy if we could get into a true monarchist system, as long as we don’t lose site of the eventual goal.  And that actually makes anarchism a lot easier of a system to adapt.  … You can’t steal other peoples’ shit, and you can’t tell other people how to think”

— Jack Spirko, The Survival Podcast Episode 1316

First Look – IWI Jericho 941(Baby Eagle II)

I just recently brought home my newest acquisition and couldn’t be more pleased.  I purchased my 9mm Jericho 941 from Wanstall’s in Maple Ridge and was thoroughly satisfied with their service and helpful advice.  I have to admit that their store is addictive for me and I’d soon be broke and divorced if I spent anymore time and money there than I do now.  Nothing like getting up close and personal with all kinds of awesome hardware!

Anyway, pics are where it’s at so, I’ve included a few.  One of my favorite things about the Jericho 941 RPL or full sized model is the large, molded grip.  I have larger mitts I guess and I like the bottom of the grip on a handgun to come to at least the bottom of my hand or slightly past; which the RPL model does.

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