We now return to our regular scheduled programming...

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If you see a few Chinese characters on some of the older pages don't pay any attention to them.

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Oracle

This One's Gonna Hurt

The Conservative party has quietly admitted during the holiday period that it failed to publicly disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of donations during a convention.

It appears that one of the delegates having exceeded the annual limit is Prime Minister Harper.

Just two thoughts for now:

1. I wonder if the recently enacted Federal Accountability Act will have any bearing on this event ?
2. Did I read somewhere that Judge Gomery is available for another Inquiry ?

Ltr DooDs...

"Pitiful Single Mother"

At the high point of drama in 2004, then Prime Minister Paul Martin asked Canadians to step forward with information on the Sponsorship Scandal.

Like a bolt out of the blue, Olympian Myriam Bédard took the Prime Minister up on his call for citizens to step forward and claimed that she had been fired by VIA Rail and a victim of the sponsorship scandal.

When asked about this matter, then VIA Rail chairman Jean Pelletier said (to his great chagrin) of Myriam Bedard that she was a "Pitiful Single Mother".

Canadians were outraged, the nation demanded the former Chretien Chief of Staff's head be delivered to them on a platter and then Prime Minister Paul Martin obliged them by terminating Mr Pelletier's employment.

This occurred at the time when Myriam Bedard benefited a stellar reputation.

Conservative MP's Diane Ablonczy lauded her as a "world-class straight shooter", Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay called her a "heroine", John Williams called her "an extremely credible witness".

However, her latest escapade has removed that credibility forever.

The accumulation of events have taken their toll :

• She received a $70,000.00 Mercedes Benz in large part from Groupaction (which was later given to her partner Nima Mazhari to be turned into an objet d'art).
  
• Claimed Jacques Villeneuve paid 12 Million to wear Canada logo. Claimed under oath that Groupaction had been involved in drug trafficking.
  
• Claimed her common law partner advised the Prime Minister of Canada not to support the Iraq invasion,
• Claims that she is a victim of "bureaucratic terrorism",
  
• Having spent the Christmas holidays under arrest in US, is now claiming political asylum from the country she spurned for having invaded Iraq.

Myriam Bedard and Nima Mazhari (2004)

The Mazhari-Bedard couple have many reasons to flee Canada, however they have nothing to do with political asylum.

The couple have been amassing extensive debts and are the focus of numerous lawsuits.

The couple seem to have a preference for Mercedes, the leaser is suing for $25,000.00 in the matter of an unpaid 2002 Mercedes Benz. The vehicle is the object of an outstanding $435.00 speeding fine (140 km/h in a 70 km/h zone).

Myriam Bedard has hit rock bottom, estranged from her family, having spent Christmas in jail , remanded over for an extradition hearing and staring at a possible 10 years in jail for child abduction.

It should not surprise you to discover that Myriam Bedard and her common law partner where not invited to testify at the Gomery Inquiry.

It's little sad say that Mr. Pelletier wasn't far off on his assessment of Myriam Bedard.

Glad Tidings To All Creatures Great And Small

It's GREEN Christmas in Ottawa this year, not quite what we have come to expect at this time of year.

Nonetheless, the Oracle Of Ottawa wishes one and all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season.

Permit me to pass on this beautifully done short video which I found on You Tube:

The Nativity-Breath of Heaven

Within Weeks

As Europeans circulate the final draft for today's UN vote on sanctions to prevent Iran from further developing its nuclear programme, Iran's President has declared his country will become one of the few nations with nuclear capabilities within weeks:

Persian Journal
Iran, North Korea dig in against West's threats
Dec 22, 2006

IRAN has defied imminent United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program and pledged that it will become a member of the nuclear club within weeks.

The barn door is wide open

The target date will most likely coincide with the commemoration of the 1979 Iranian Revolution in February:

Iran has already planned to celebrate its mastery of nuclear technology on the “Ten-Day Dawn Celebrations” which marks the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The date runs from February 1 to February 11.

During the revolution, Iranian students in an unprecedented move, abducted US embassy officials and held them hostage for 444 days.

One of the students was the current Iranian President.

It is claimed that he appears as one of the alleged hostage takers in the picture below (3rd from the left).

1979 Iran Hostage Crisis

Enjoy the Christmas holidays folks, it's going to be a difficult 2007.

Tis The Season For A Crisis

A crisis just in time for the Holiday season:

• Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calls President Bush "the most hated person" in the world.
• Iran defiant in the face of the UN vote on sanctions vowing that nothing would stop them in moving forward with its nuclear program.
• News reports that the U.S. and Britain will soon be sending additional ships to Persian Gulf.
  

One group of Middle East analysts deeply concerned about the recent turn of events has this to say:

Editorial Note

This report on US war preparations must be taken very seriously.

In previous Global Research reports, we focussed on the US sponsored military buildup in the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The US and its allies are on a war footing.

The military operation directed against Iran and Syria is at an advanced stage of military planning.

Although the decision to wage war is not contemplated, US and allied forces, including Israel and NATO, are in an advanced stage of readiness.

Media speculation is that USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier will be sent (below) to the Gulf in order to exert this physical presence.

USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)

Tis the season for a Crisis .....Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

The Hottest Selling T-Shirt In The USA This Christmas

Are you looking for a unique Christmas gift for someone in the USA ?

Well, this is hottest selling T-shirt in the USA and all it has is a date.


This is the website where you can purchase one and this is the story behind it.

Obvious

Associated Press is reporting:

UNITED NATIONS: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for key parties to seek a negotiated settlement with Iran over its nuclear program and warned that military intervention would be "unwise and disastrous."

Have a look at the big arrow on the map, it points to the Straight of Hormuz.

Roughly 25 percent of the world’s daily oil production passes through it.

It's a very narrow area for a naval engagement, not what you might consider ideal for modern surface vessels.

The Straight is 21 miles wide at the narrowest point and has two 1-mile-wide channels for marine traffic separated by a 2-mile-wide buffer zone.

It's also the only sea passage to the open ocean for large areas of the petroleum exporting Persian Gulf States.

As you can see for yourself on the map, Iran is located strategically on the Persian Gulf and the right bank of Straight of Hormuz.

Obvious.

Confusius Says...

Head of Canadian Wheat Board Fired

We Are In Pre-Election Mode

Santa Harper delivering the goodies to Quebec but not everyone is on the nice list

Mirabel Land Expropriated under Trudeau to be returned, a winter visit to the Saguenay by the Prime Minister to highlight his Quebec friendly Government.

Ladies and Gentlemen we are in Pre-Election mode.

Update - Asia at the Crossroads

USA Today is reporting:

Nuke talks begin with N. Korea salvo

"North Korea set out sweeping demands on Monday," Reuters says. "North Korea defiantly declared itself a nuclear power Monday," the Associated Press reports. Welcome back to the six-party talks.

Associated Press also reports that North Korea wants U.N. sanctions lifted.

Asia at the Crossroads

Asia at the crossroads.

North Korea is hanging on to it's nuclear weapons programme and the negotiating nations are nearing the point of no return:

America warns North Korea that sanctions may replace diplomacy
By Burt Herman in Beijing
Published: 18 December 2006

Talks on North Korea's nuclear programme have reached a "fork in the road" between diplomacy and sanctions, America's top envoy on the issue said yesterday.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill called for progress at the talks, which are set to resume after a 13-month hiatus during which the North detonated an atomic bomb.

Negotiators were gathering to discuss how to implement a September 2005 agreement, the only accord reached at the six-nation talks, under which the North pledged to disarm in exchange for aid and security guarantees.

The negotiators don't sound very optimistic so the outcome doesn't look very promising:

The negotiations will be neither easy nor quick, the South Korean and Japanese envoys said.

`Most Difficult' Conditions

``I think these talks will proceed amid the most difficult of conditions because they resume after a 13-month hiatus and they follow the UN Security Council resolution in the aftermath of the nuclear test,'' South Korea's Chun Yung Woo told reporters at a briefing before the dinner. ``The participants will likely test the waters on the overall measures. I don't think it will be easy to come up with substantive measure in a short amount of time.''

The United States has limited the negotiations to a single point: negotiate or face sanctions.

Matters are difficult owing to the North Korean leader's resolve to retain his nation's nuclear capability no matter what the cost.


Kim Jong Il has subjected the citizens of North Korea to great hardships in order to achieve his vision of becoming a nuclear power as attests the satellite photo (above) which shows only one small point of illumination in North Korea, the capital Pyongyang.

It's evident that he will let nothing stand in his way.

The North Korean leader controls everything in his nation with an iron fist and I mean everything:

Coolest Photoshop Picture Composition That You Are Going To See Today

Today, I cede the blog to a better Photoshop artist than I will ever be.

The amazing photoshop below is the winner of a recent Photoshop contest. NomeDaBoy, the artist of the winning entry is an expert.

The title of the composition is Change in The Weather .

It's best viewed in a larger format, so click on the picture below and it will expand in your window, scroll down to the bottom, then scroll back up slowly.

Well worth the view.

Christmas Tree Selection

Are you having difficulty finding the perfect Tannenbaum ?

Are you running around town visiting the Christmas tree lots, or walking knee deep in snow in the bush, or God forbid, putting up the old artificial tree which looks like a large green bristle brush which lost a battle with your pet Doberman (Teddy) ?

Say no more, the Oracle Of Ottawa has searched the Internet just for you.

For a mere $24.00 US you can have your very own copy of one of the most famous Christmas trees ever known !

Yes, you now can purchase online at Urbanoutfitters.com the very same Charlie Brown Pathetic Christmas tree which comes with one ornament (seen below).

Some Assembly Required

As an added bonus (I spoil my readers) here's a clip from the Charlie Brown Christmas animated classic which features the little Christmas tree, something that you can share with your co-workers during the holiday season.

For Someone I Know

You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing...

It's become abundantly clear that Federal and Quebec political parties have begun to consider election timing.

Angelo Persichilli, a very astute political pundit writes that Stephen Harper and Jean Charest are on the verge of triggering elections.

There's substantial evidence supporting Mr. Persichilli's analysis on a spring election call in Quebec. Premier Charest has invoked closure on 3 controversial pieces of Quebec legislation which Radio-Canada suggests is the prelude to an election call in February just before the Quebec National Assembly resumes.

However, the crystal ball on the Federal strategy is a little fuzzier.

Mr. Persichilli suggested in yesterday's Toronto Sun, the Harper Government would go to the polls after the Quebec Provincial election. Mr. Persichilli added that he didn't foresee any dramatic moves from the Bloc Quebecois before spring.

That sounded pretty accurate to me as well, however Gilles Duceppe began threatening to topple Harper government over the one single issue which could force the Liberals and NDP to support: Afghanistan.

The Bloc is banking on the fact that Quebecers have been less supportive than other Canadians about the mission, and opposition in the province will most likely deepen as more soldiers from Quebec are deployed to Afghanistan.

Of course, it would be in the Bloc's interest to force an election call now for other reasons as well, one being the Liberal leader was elected party leader just weeks ago.

I agree with Mr. Persichilli the next 10 months will be volatile and interesting times for Canada.

It's any one's guess as to exactly when the election calls will be made, however it's clear the momentum is building for the election calls.

At this point it's not will they call and election it's "when" they will call the election, it's really all about timing.

“You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.”
- Miyamoto Musashi, (1584-1645) martial arts expert and swordsman.

Dangerously Ridiculous

The BBC is reporting that Iran will be hosting a two-day conference which is likely to question whether the Holocaust actually happened:

A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, Manouchehr Mohammadi, said the conference would examine fundamental questions about the Holocaust.

"The first question to be posed is: did the Holocaust actually happen or not? And the second one is: if it did happen, what was the scale of it?

An official at the Iranian foreign ministry claimed that delegates from 30 countries will attend the conference, initiated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has publicly called for Israel to be "wiped off the map,".

The conference has bizarre seminars designed to cause maximum pain to Holocaust survivors and their descendants:

Gas Chambers: Denial or Confirmation, is the title of one. Others are entitled Freedom of Speech and the Stance of Holocaust Deniers in the West, and The Current Laws Against Holocaust Deniers.

It's all rather frightening when you consider this country is seeking to justify its nuclear ambitions.

Saturday Night at the Dinosaur BBQ

My wife really likes the food at the Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse, NY.

A recent news report of a viral outbreak did little to weaken her desire or resolve to go last night.

The media had subsequently reported that health officials had allowed it to re-open and that's all she needed to know.

The staff were a bit edgy when she asked about the outbreak, but it didn't deter her from ordering her usual fare (the fried green tomatoes are her favorite).

The food was excellent (as it always is)the draft root-beer is without equal, the pleasant light smokey smell from the BBQ bit permeates the room and the lively blues music caresses your soul.

I added another Dinosaur BBQ T-Shirt to my collection (great for playing guitar) .

There's something about listening to Sweet Home Chicago while eating BBQ chicken in this place which defies all worldly description.

Masters Of Equivocation

Snake oil peddlers of the Old West would be impressed with today's announcement by the Harper Government "cracking" down on toxic chemicals.

The Conservative government rolled out a brand new website sporting the "Conservative" layout to press their message to Canadians that their Government is indeed concerned about environment and health issues.

During the announcement, the Conservatives indicated in a tough tone they had already singled out one nasty toxic chemical for the list of banned chemicals:

"If we're not satisfied, industry will be required to take action, Ambrose said. In some instances, we may require industry to provide alternate materials."

Ambrose released the name of the first chemical to be placed on the list: hexafluorobutadiene."

What the Environment Minister didn't say (amongst many other things) was according to the information available in the Canada Gazette since May 18, 2002 and which also appears on the former (Environment Canada) website, hexafluorobutadiene was never manufactured in Canada and no longer imported:

"Hexachlorobutadiene, or HCBD, has never been commercially produced in Canada. Formerly, the substance was imported into Canada for use as a solvent, but it is no longer imported."

Today's announcement wasn't intended to signal a tough stance by the Conservatives to the Canadian chemical industry, it was purposely designed and crafted to manipulate Canadians, and and leave them with the impression that the Harper Government was acting tough on the Environment.

Conspicuously absent from the list announced today by the Environment Minister is Road Salt.

The toxic chemicals evaluation program under CEPA has been quietly working for many years under successive Liberal governments who have all seen the intrinsic value of this work to Canadians and the world.

The Prime Minister's claim :

"It includes realistic and enforceable measures that will improve our environment and protect the health and safety of Canadians."

Is nothing more than hyperbole.

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the CEPA Registry are the cornerstone of Environmental Law in Canada and the Conservatives have chosen to "appear" to embrace it as it would be next to impossible at this point in time to repeal it.

In short, the Conservatives have done nothing more today than give Canadians a nifty new website to look at.

I am deeply disappointed in Mr. Harper and the manner in which today's announcement was made and I expected a lot more integrity from his Ministers (Ms. Ambrose and Mr. Clement.

I can assure you that I will pay far more attention to the "fine print" in all future Conservative announcements.

Yes folks, travelling medicine show "doctors" past and present would be impressed.

Is That You Billy Idol ?

Billy Idol has a new look and his most recent effort is a collection of Christmas Songs.

Punk Rock aficionados avert your eyes and plug your ears as Billy sings that Christmas classic, Jingle Bell Rock .

Take it away Billy....

Dion: Understanding Quebec as a Nation

I stumbled on this Rex Murphy interview which occured on November 27th (before the Liberal Convention).

Worth listening.

Truly Sad State Of Affairs

ABC News is reporting that Nigerian e-mail scammers are successfully cheating US churches and ministers out of millions of dollars.

I don't know about you, but I get a least 100 spam (and I expect to receive a lot more) eMails a day, which include a large amount of Nigerian scam messages.

It's truly a sad state of affairs when you consider the 419 Coalition Website has devoted itself to this type of fraud for 10 years.

What could it be ?

NASA has scheduled a briefing today in order to announce a "significant" find on Mars.

I wonder what it could be ?

Calling Elvis

Click on picture for larger view

No Soup For You !

A British publication, The Guardian Unlimited is reporting the Iranian Government has cut off Internet access to some of the Web's best known websites such as You Tube and Wikipedia :

Iran yesterday shut down access to some of the world's most popular websites. Users were unable to open popular sites including Amazon.com and YouTube following instructions to service providers to filter them.

Similar edicts have been issued against Wikipedia, the internet encyclopaedia, IMDB.com, an online film database, and the New York Times site. Attempts to open the sites are met with a page reading: "The requested page is forbidden."

The clampdown was ordered by senior judiciary officials in the latest phase of a campaign that has seen high-speed broadband facilities banned in an attempt to impede "corrupting" foreign films and music. It is in line with a campaign by Iran's Islamist president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to purge the country of western cultural influences.

What else would you expect from a country claiming to need nuclear power for their energy "thirsty" citizens while they are sitting on one of the largest oil reserves on the planet.

And has a President who looks and acts like the Soup Nazi.

                             Click on the picture for a larger view

Santa Claus Kidnapped. Pay Ransom And Save Christmas

I like bidding for items on eBay and every so often you see a really weird item which defies description or logic.

One eBay item caught my eye, it's a cross between a bad joke and the age old Michael ("King Mike") Cassius McDonald quote "There's a sucker born every minute."

Here's what I saw :

Santa Claus Kidnapped. Pay Ransom And Save Christmas

Starting Bid: $100,000.00

First, I am NOT the one holding Santa Claus hostage. The captor has contacted me to list his demands to the world, via eBay. One lucky bidder will be able to save Christmas and wil be a hero in the eyes of the world! The winner will receive the ransom note, the receptacle which currently imprisons the Spirit of Christmas and the instructions on how to release it. Below is the ransom note's demands:

I have captured Santa Claus and am holding him hostage! It is not his physical body but his Christmas Spirit. This is the form that allows him to travel the world on Chrismas Eve, as well as emulate good cheer, compassion and the Spirit of Giving to others throughout the year. I had spent years studying how to capture him and was successful. His energy is being contained within an "Empty Present". This is when someone gives a person they don't like a wrapped box with nothing inside. This is very cruel and the only container that can imprison the Spirit of Christmas. The authorities cannot help because there is no missing persons report filed and most importantly, they DON'T believe. If my price is not paid then there will be no Christmas this year, next year. . .or any other year!

The eBay seller does have more affordable items for sale, such as the Vintage Silver Surfer Pen Given To Fan By John Buscema currently going for $29.99.

This is for the books

Very few pundits got it right and I certainly wasn't one of them.

Cam Cardow's editorial cartoons always manage to say in one single picture what many of us are thinking.

Cam was surely inspired by this famous 1948 photograph:

"When Truman went to bed November 2, he was losing the election. Upon arising the next morning he, of course, learned he had won. he traveled to Washington, D.C. that day by train. On a short stop in St. Louis, Truman was presented with one of the "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN" papers while on the back platform of the train. It was at this moment that the now famous photo of Truman holding up the paper was taken. When asked to comment, Truman said "This is for the books."

Behold A Pale Rider

This Photoshop and comment appeared on the November 5, 2006 entry of my former Gomery Blog .

My weekend photoshop creation is about Liberal leadership "dark horse" candidate Stephane Dion who is doing well in the polls.

Mr. Dion would be a worthy adversary to the Prime Minister in an upcoming spring election.

"And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider's name was..."

I am certain that Mr. Dion is on the minds of Prime Minister Harper, NDP leader Jack Layton, Bloc Quebecois leader Mr. Duceppe, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and PQ leader Andre Boisclair.

It should be an interesting week in the House of Commons.

Da Winnah !

The Keys to Stornoway have been handed over to DION

The Race for Stornoway is almost over

No surprise yet.

Third Ballot kicks out Rae.

It's Dion and Ignatieff.

Rae has released his candidates, however just moving to Ignatieff's side will surely influence many of his supporters.

Nonetheless, Dion has a lot of momentum and may pull it off.

Politics is a game of friends

Second Ballot is over.

I expect Rae to crossover to Ignatieff after the Third Ballot.

Why ?

Mr. Rae and Mr. Ignatieff are friends.

"Politics is a game of friends. They want you to do well for each other and they take a great deal of pride in what they do. " Jean Chretien, Straight from the heart, 1985.

First Ballot Results

Just in from CBC:

Ignatieff wins first ballot; Hall Findlay, Volpe out
Last Updated: Saturday, December 2, 2006 12:45 AM ET

Ignatieff received 1,412 votes, or about 29.3 per cent of the delegates, ahead of his chief rival, former Ontario premier Bob Rae, who garnered 977 votes, or about 20.3 per cent. Stéphane Dion narrowly finished third with 856 votes, just two votes ahead of Gerard Kennedy.

A lot of backroom deals are going to be made in the wee morning hours,

It's going to be an interesting Second Ballot this morning.

View From The Nose Bled Section

I listened to the oratory of the Liberal Leadership Candidates.

These are my picks:

1. Kennedy
2. Ignatieff
3. Rae

However, the voting is unlikely to play out that way.

Past convention results for Liberal Conventions have shown the front-runner usually wins the crown.

Ignatieff came into the convention as the front-runner.

The Second Ballot will be the determining factor, should Rae, Dion and Kennedy form an alliance on that ballot and place all their support behind one man we could see an upset.

They can't afford wait for the Third Ballot.

Like it or not, the math favours Ignatieff and he should draw enough support for the Third Ballot or Fourth Ballot, should it go that far.

Liberal Convention Blog Aggregator and Streaming Video Feeds

CPAC has live streaming video feeds for the convention.

Pundit's Alley is posting a rather timely blog aggregator for the Liberal Convention.

It has timely posts by many prominent bloggers like Jason Cherniak.

Paul Wells was live blogging Paul Martin's "farewell" speech.

The 9:12 PM entry records the "wild exuberance and excitement" of tonight's event:

The showstopper: Jim Wofhumhum, from Australia! He's the guy with the emu puppet, right? No?

I began watching Mr. Martin's "farewell" address after that and missed the "Showstopper"

I didn't miss much folks ...

The Entertainment Has Arrived ...

The Liberal Convention has begun.

Media and blog coverage : here, here, and here.

Interesting entertainment they lined up:

click on the pic for more info on the band

It's doing to be a LOUD convention .....

New Beginning

Please accept my apologies, it’s been a rather difficult period.

It’s gone, yes the original website is all gone.

My web host was attacked by a hacker who marked the webpages with anti-Bush slogans.

To amplify matters I have a close family member which has undergone testing for a serious illness.

I will begin to post again, however not as often.

I don’t know if this blogger site will remain a temporary or a permament home.

Let’s see how it goes .

This is my inaugural PhotoShop

A Difficult Path

click on the picture to view a larger version