You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘WTF’ tag.
How is this even a thing?
Score one for the kids on this one, they can tell that something abnormal is going on here. This is deviant behaviour has no fucking place in a school. Where is the Administration on this one?
Jfc.
The Admin are standing behind the teacher who thinks its okay to be around students presenting like that. All it takes, apparently, to do perverse shit in the Ontario Public school system is to declare they are transgender and no rules apply to you anymore. Do you think that for one second a real woman, in similar attire, would be allowed to teach class?
This tearing down of normalcy and the values of the majority of Canadians hold must stop. Pandering to mental illness and abdicating child safety in the name of what exactly? Inclusivity?
Newsflash – Some behaviours/lifestyle choices should *NOT* be included in public education milieu.
Given how the world works, I find it hard to believe that Canada is taking a principled stand on human rights in Saudi Arabia. Western democracies certainly try to own the rhetoric when it comes to democracy, peace, and freedom – but their realpolitik is quite similar to the nations they routinely criticize for being autocratic dictatorships that are terrible to their people.
My skepticism aside, this is the tweet that started the diplomatic furor between Saudi Arabia and Canada:
Well, the powers that be in Saudi Arabia didn’t like that one bit:
“We consider the Canadian ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia persona non grata and order him to leave within the next 24 hours,” Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.
“Any other attempt to interfere with our internal affairs from Canada, means that we are allowed to interfere in Canada’s internal affairs,” it said.
“Saudi state television later reported that the Education Ministry was coming up with an “urgent plan” to move thousands of Saudi scholarship students out of Canadian schools to take classes in other countries.”
“Saudi Arabia said it is also freezing all new trade and investment transactions with Canada and “reserves its right to take further action.” Saudi Arabia is one of Canada’s largest export markets in the region, and some 10 per cent of Canadian crude oil imports come from Saudi Arabia.”
“Of course the major worry for Canada will now be the fate of a $15-billion contract for almost 1,000 light armoured vehicles between the Saudi government and London, Ont.’s General Dynamics. The controversial deal, struck in 2014 and approved in 2016, called for the vehicles to be delivered starting in 2017, but it’s not clear how many have already been sent as Ottawa refuses to release the “commercially confidential” information.”
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is reportedly selling off its assets in Canada and will stop buying Canadian wheat and barley, in the latest escalation in the sudden diplomatic dispute between the two countries.”
“The national Saudi Arabian airline, Saudia, said this week that it would suspend all flights between the country and Canada, starting next week.”
I think I speak for many Canadian when I say. “WTF just happened here?”. The Saudi record on human rights isn’t a particularly deep dark secret and to call for a what seems to be a bit of leniency in one specific case doesn’t seem as beyond the pale as the Saudi’s seem to think it is.
Would Canada recall its ambassadors and impose sanctions if Norway made light of our decidedly horrible treatment of our First Nations people? I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t. Most likely some diplomatic hand-waves and some impassioned statements about how we’re working hard (we’re not) to improve the lives of all Canadians and then the issues would pass.
What is more intriguing is that despite the Saudi backlash, Canada’s government isn’t backing down:
“Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada isn’t backing down from its position that led to diplomatic sanction from Saudi Arabia.
Freeland made the comments Monday afternoon in Vancouver a day after Saudi Arabia announced it would cease new trade deals with Canada and expel the Canadian ambassador.
“I will say Canada is very comfortable with our position. We are always going to speak up for human rights; we’re always going to speak up for women’s rights; and that is not going to change,” she told a news conference.
“Canadians expect our foreign policy to be driven by and to embody Canadian values, and that is how we intend to continue our foreign policy.”
On Friday, Global Affairs Canada had tweeted, “Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women’s rights activists in Saudi Arabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful human rights activists.”
This is post is just full of WTF’s. Freeland seems to be articulating a values based position on a foreign policy issue. It makes little sense has Saudi Arabia is clearly demonstrating their willingness to go full-trump and punish Canada economically for having the ‘bombast’ to ask them to release a blogger they have detained and are torturing (sorry folks, flogging is torture any way you want to slice it.)
It’s sad that I’m feeling so cynical about this particular story, and continue to look for the angle that the Canadian government is not sharing with the press. Like, since when do nations actually take ethical stands on any issue these days? It just isn’t good for business.
I’m going to continue to follow this story folks, because something just isn’t adding up.
Admittedly, it looks fantastic, but is this something that is on many people’s bucket lists?
Dad: “Ya know son, before I die, I need to find a herd of people and learn to walk with them in precise motions…”
Son: “Why not learn to dance instead?”
Dad: “Good point.”
Well how here it is, enjoy.
Now where did that power spike come from? Arbourist: *sheepish grin*
Dammit CBC you just ratted me out! It is machinations like this (not reminding me about earth hour) and the insipid commercials on Radio 2 that are straining our relationship!
“Canadians joined millions around the world Saturday night in turning off their lights to mark Earth Hour, celebrating the eighth year of the annual event.
But as participation appeared to be on the decline in recent years, supporters emphasized the goal was to raise awareness of climate change — 24 hours a day.”
You would think that I would remember these sorts of occasions and stuff, being all socially responsible and what not. Not the case this year. I believe I behaved in a manner that can only be described as “anti-earth” hour.
As I am having the family over for supper today, so Saturday for me, was the day of preparation. Doing laundry, using the oven to make Lazy Cabbage rolls (OMG, so good) and having almost every light in house on to facilitate proper vacuuming, mopping and dusting. It was an orgy of domestic power consumption (oh the bitter shame).
Oh, and my damn Christmas Lights were on as well because the damn automatic timer is behind a rather large (but gradually shrinking) pile of snow so we had the outdoor lights a blazing as well.
So this year, Anti-Earth Hour was brought to you by yours truly The Arbourist here in Alberta, the home of big oil and big lack of environmental stewardship.
Arbourist Out.
Enviro-puppy had a sad because of me. *sigh*
What the hell is this? Am I living in the US or something?
This story broke on on CBC radio June 27th, and listening to what happened I filled this news tid-bit safely under the “smart people doing stupid things” category. The tale of this doctor’s mixed up medical ethos stuck in my brain though and managed to annoy me enough inspire a blog post on the topic.
“A Calgary doctor is being criticized by patients for refusing to prescribe birth control at a walk-in clinic. When Dr. Chantal Barry is on shift a sign at the WestGlen Medical Centre informs patients that the doctor on duty does not prescribe birth control pills.”
Whut? Naw, lets append that to, “What the ever living frak is Dr. Chantal Barry thinking/smoking?”
“The Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons has a policy that states doctors are not required to provide care that violates their moral or religious beliefs. However, physicians are expected to refer patients for care in a timely manner.”
Okay, a stupid policy if I ever heard one, but at least it has the proviso that patients that you happen to neglect because of your particular voodoo should be referred to another doctor that is less reality challenged then yourself. In this situation though, being a clinic with only one doctor on duty per shift, that particular option doesn’t exist.
Pam Krause, head of the Calgary Sexual Health Centre, said she is shocked to hear about a doctor at a walk-in clinic refusing routine medical care.
“Easy access to birth control works,” she said. “It prevents pregnancy and it prevents other social problems down the road, and it should be easily accessible in a city like Calgary from a family physician.”
The solution, Dear Doctor Barry , is keep your ‘morality’ hung discreetly under that MD in evidence based fucking medicine and do your damn job.
***TW – Extreme Incompetence ***
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority are on eternally vigilant for dread items such as this:
or this:
Obviously items depicted above are a clear and present danger to yourself, your fellow passengers, the airplane, and Western Civilization(!). Trying to get either types of these items past airport security gets you this:
YOU SHALL NOT PASS !!!
Recently though, at the Edmonton International Airport someone decided to bring another item in carry on luggage. It looked like this:
This is the security photo from the Edmonton Airport. Observe cylindrical object on left.
Let’s get another view of said item.
Hmmm. Smells like a pipe bomb to me.
Our intrepid CATSA security screeners responded like this:
CATSA AGENT – Lol Whut? It’s only a pipe bomb. Carry on with your flight sir, oh AND DID YOU WANT YOUR PIPE BOMB BACK?
Thankfully, the passenger in question, did not want his pipe bomb back and insisted, to the properly mollified airport screeners, that the pipe bomb should remain in the hands of airport security. Our watchful guardians then sat on the pipe bomb for four days before they notified the police (RCMP).
This story broke and everyone who has heard it since has been like this:
WHAT THE F*CK?
I have nothing really more to say on the subject as my mind is blown. If you’d like the full story, please see these three CBC articles linked below detailing how a dude brought a pipe bomb to the Edmonton Airport, got caught in airport security, had security GIVE THE PIPE BOMB BACK, and then have him insist they take it, and then board his flight despite having brought a bomb in his carry-on luggage.
I heard he had a great vacation.
bleatmop
Mystro
The Arbourist
Dead Wild Roses 
Your opinions…