The Majumdar Family

I just watched a truly disheartening and frightening CTV W-Five episode covering a subject that is often not discussed – far less so by the Federal ministers on Parliament Hill just blocks from one of the worst drug, prostitution and homelessness problems anywhere in the nation. None of them, including Public Security Minister Stockwell Day, accepted to meet with CTV W-5 saying they were “too busy”…

They hounded the Premier of Ontario, but he also brushed off a reporter and hustled into a building…

Personally, I am not surprised by this report. I’ve been to Ottawa many times over the last 20-25 years; my ex-wife and much of her family were from there, as was my late stepfather.

In January 2008 I began a series of about a ½ dozen business trips, one every month or so, to the National Capital Region and usually stayed in hotels in the Downtown, or Byward Market area. The Byward Market is a charming 3-4 square block neighbourhood which, by day is a nice selection of multicultural restaurants and farmer market type stands. It’s next to one of the largest shopping centre’s in the Ottawa metropolitan area; the Rideau Centre Shopping Centre.

Now being a Montrealer, I like to explore a city’s nightlife and evening culture – we have a massive choice of cafés, lounges, showbars and nightclubs in Montreal – around the market.

A few of the times I stayed in hotels (including the Econolodge and Marriott Courtyard Inn) near the Byward Market. Those are both nice hotels; granted the Econo Lodge Downtown at 475 Rideau street is pretty much no-frills motor inn more than hotel with rooms straight onto an inside parking lot that is directly onto Rideau street across from a 7-11 and in the vicinity of churches, residential homes and … well a little pic of the Econolodge :


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You gotta wonder about the timing… eh ?

The top legislators in Alaska have approved the release of a report that finds Sarah Palin guilty / responsible for the unjust firing of Walter Monegan who was the Public Safety Commissioner in Alaska - essentially the highest ranking law enforcement position.

Apparently, the firing resulted from Mr. Monegan refusing to fire an Alaskan State Trooper (Mike Wooten) who was going through a bitter divorce and custody battle.

Supposedly, the Palins (Sarah and her husband Todd) put intense pressure on Commissioner Monegan to fire Wooten…

The McCain campaign had released its own 21 page report on the incident which concluded

“It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger over drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically-driven investigation”

Can we say smear campaign..

The sad thing in all this is that it is the (real) family that really suffers…

Info and source: BBC News about Sarah Palin

Le CSST aujourd’hui a rendu public les résultats sur l’enquête des circonstances entourant le décès de la policière Lavalloise Valérie Gignac…

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Well, at least we get a first glimpse into what a CSIS interview of a Canadian minor in an offshore holding facility (yeah, my tongue is planted firmly in cheek) by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service is like. US DOD provided special clearance to CSIS and DFAIT to release this clip upon request of Khadr’s defense team and subsequent to a court ruling.

We don’t see much, but of course we do see that Khadr appears quite distressed…

Things could be worse…

OK, I fail to understand how Austrian Josef Fritzl was convicted of rape (and imprisoned for 5 years) back in the 60s and was then subsequently allowed to legally adopt 3 children that he bore through his daughter Elisabeth.

I suppose the Austrial legal system has its fair share of abysmal loopholes…