My android interferes with my Suzuki.

Yep. My Samsung android smartphone interferes with my Suzuki Grand Vitara keyless entry system. I thought the battery on my electric key was low because the key seemed to lose range. It would seem it's something installed on my android phone that is causing the problem. 

Also the bluetooth that seems to cause a problem to the sound system on my Grand Vitara is also an android problem.  Not a Suzuki problem.   I went to the dealership today to get maintenance done on my truck. I do prefer my experience with their service department over Mazda that's for sure.

The guy who works at the service department is the son in law of a Matrox employee that I've known for years. He's really nice and he explained the phone issues with my truck . Apparently he realized his iPhone was interfering with the electric key on his Suzuki a couple of days earlier. He can't keep his key in the same pocket as iphone.  He says he's heard of blackberries also doing that. 

So far I still am completely in love with my truck. It really rocks and they are also really nice at the dealership. That counts for a lot.  

February over at Midnight!

Finally the last day of February - the month that is short but still too long!  Also bear is mind that February is Black History month - and although it's not as promoted as much as it used to 20 years ago, Africa is the cradle of civilization so black History is technically everyone's history.

I wish I could say it was over in Syria. Nearing the first year anniversary of the start of the Syrian revolution and Bashar's thugs are still killing with impunity. Homs the city besieged is still in desperate need of food and medical supplies. The two journalists that were injured in Homs are now in Lebanon, but to what cost of Syrian lives? 

I'll be marching with my Syrian friends on March 17th, in solidarity with the Syrian people to mark the one year of the start of the Syrian revolution.  I remember last February when things were going on in Tunisia and Egypt, I said Syria was next, hubby said it was unlikely. Well a year later they are still pushing on. There is no turning back. Syria can never be run by Al-Assad again.

My prayers as always are with the Syrian people. Inshallah, they will win!

Standing in solidarity with the Syrian people - February 24th, 2012

Syria: the horror of Homs, a city at war

Occupy Kitties strike again...

Homelessness - it's closer than you think

When raised in a bourgeois middle class or when you're part of the upper class or even 1%, it's really easy to ignore the scores of homeless people that litter downtown Montreal and many indoor public spaces. Depending where you go, it can be some of Canada's natives - who's life on their reserves are even worse then being homeless downtown Montreal, or just plain Quebecois down on their luck and sometimes it's new arrivals who fail to navigate through the maze of social services.  Many don't realize this but many new arrivals suffer from PTSD and many have witnessed crimes no human should see. Not to say this doesn't also happen to the locals, but many of those destitute are people who need help, NOT tickets from the city!

Sure a percentage of the homeless have either drug, alcohol or mental health issues, but what does this say about our society, when not only do we not provide help to the downtrodden but instead impose fines on them for loitering, drunk and disorderly, public urination, and lord knows what  other petty crimes they may be doing. Some actually go to antagonize homeless guys to find an excuse to toss them in jail. I'd much rather pay for more shelters then more jails personally!

Article in La Presse this morning talks about the problem with the city of Montreal and it's abuse of  tickets. 

What is frightening having now known several  young men [men in their 30's] who have ended homeless, is to realize how  close any of us are to being homeless. It doesn't take that much when you're already on the edge to lose it all.  If you're lucky and you have friends, they let you couch surf until you're back on your feet, or if you have family.  But sometimes your family are losers and your friends have all double-crossed you so where do you go?

And then people wonder why we Occupy? I mean corruption at Entrelacs is basically aimed at getting rid of the poorest residents of the area, those on welfare and other social programs. 

Here's another interesting link that discusses homelessness and housing crisis across Canada. 

Photos from Entrelacs Week 6 and Syrian Awareness day

Last Friday I went back to Entrelacs and we took pictures around Lac des Iles, the municipal skating ring and around the municipality. Pictures are from Friday February 10th and Saturday February 11th, 2012. 

On Sunday February 12th,  I went from 2-5pm to Syrian Awareness day at Concordia. I took some video and some photos.  There was an important panellist later but I was too exhausted to stay past that time and I really wanted to catch the early train.

I've got a nasty stomach flu, that's kept me bedridden for the 3rd day.  I know I've been in bed since about 2pm Sunday. I was cold and decided to take a warm bath and I've never felt so ill after a warm bath. I spent a solid 2 hours lying in bed being hot and cold and thinking I was going to throw up violently. Thankfully I suspected a stomach thing and took my no name Strawberry extract.  It's ironic for a house full of people, I was alone the first 4 hours I was in pain. But at least I could moan without alarming anyone!

I had a momentary blank and could not remember what I did this Friday and Saturday. Well DUH I was in Ottawa visiting a friend who had just suffered a nervous breakdown. After working himself ragged for months he finally collapsed and had to be picked up by his friends who rescue wild animals. They brought him back to a semblance of normality.

Anti Bill C11 promo video

Corruption in Entrelacs - another video

A poem

November 16th, 2007

Those Eyes

Those eyes, it is a place to get lost
It is a place to reflect.
To feel the journey within.
Those eyes that have stopped a thousand ships
To which is is so hard to resist
Or to say no to.

Those eyes, full of sadness and melancholy
That you want to hold tight
and protect from the world
Those eyes, full of passion and desire
That you hope you can share
The ecstasy.

Those eyes with that magical spark
That enchants as a unicorn does
Leaves you mesmerized.
Those eyes, a mix of naive innocence
That sense of wonder
Those eyes.

---------

I found this poem looking through my hard disk this morning.

Dawn in Ottawa

Sit-in at CEGEP du vieux Montreal.

Link to video about events at CEGEP du view Montreal this morning.

IS police brutality on the rise in Montreal ?

I have no statistics on the matter, but I know what recently happened. I know we had a vigil for Farshad Mohammadi, he was homeless and was the first death in Montreal in 2012  - shot by SPVM. They claimed he had a knife. What? 2 trained police officers cannot disarm a man with a knife without killing him? 

Then I heard about the student protest, where police got brutal with them, never mind the protest yesterday morning at Tour de la bourse where some of my friends got pepper sprayed! 

This morning I go read in our media team group and someone is telling us that the SPVM shot one of his best friends. The man was suicidal. Wow so the police shot him. Article here. We'll be organizing a vigil for him and against police brutality. May he rest in peace.

Happy Valentines day

I should have written this earlier today... 

At 5:30 today, at Berri-UQAM there is a Marche a l'amour - where poems will be read. 

Also at 5:30 today, at Cabot Square [Atwater metro] there is a Memorial march for disappeared and murdered indigenous women. This is the 3rd year for this event in Montreal. 

At 6pm in front of St James the Apostle Anglican church on the corner of Bishop and SteCatherine there is a silent stand for all the fallen heroes of the Syrian revolution.

Last but not least, apparently at McGill there is a large group of protesters that have entered the downtown campus through the Roddick Gates. Wonder what is going to happen if anything? 

C-11 Protest in Montreal Friday February 10th, 2012

C-11 protest in Montreal. Now I have Welcome to the Jungle stuck in my head :P

They need a Zamboni to fix the ice on the LAKE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Zamboni on Lac des iles in Entrelacs

I had to see it to believe it. They have a Zamboni - a real one to fix the ice on the skating ring on the lake!!!!! They also have a 4x4 truck just to keep the ice clear of snow. Talk about wasting municipal funds on a few dozen people.

Walking on lac des iles in Entrelacs

Love the effect of the shadows in the snow on this photo, we were walking on lac des iles in Entrelacs.

City of Montreal claims it cost them a fortune to take down Occupy Montreal

Here is the thing, they kept much of the equipment they took that day and I can't help but wonder how much money they could have recouped if they had sold the materials. Because they certainly didn't give us back our things as promised.  Read more about the story here.

Old female dog passes in Entrelacs

I found out last night that Princess, the old female German Shepard that belongs to Tony has passed away. I'm upset because I had a chance to bond with her. She's the dog that kept me warm the week-end I camped there and it was -35C.

May old Princess RIP.

Corruption a Entrelacs - video

Solidarity between movements - Arab Spring & Occupy

Solidarity with Homs - February 4th 2012

More Shelling in Bab Amr, Homs, Syria

It's another humanitarian disaster in Bab Amr Homs, the Syrian Army has been shelling indiscriminately for days now. Check the story on Al Jazeera here.

I also love the people who are condemning the vandalizing of the Syrian Embassy in Ottawa. Let me see splashing paint on people who represent the Syrian regime [Did not physically hurt anyone] in comparison to the Syrian Army killing people just because they are there....  

People are saying that splashing paint is being a thug like the Syrian Army. I dunno I think splashing red paint on the embassy makes them look like they have blood on their hands. It's not like anyone got hurt in Ottawa, but a message was relayed. 

I have it on good authority that the door to the Syrian Consulate in Montreal was also vandalized.  I will look to see if someone has photos.

Another photo of the Syrian Embassy in Ottawa

Syrian embassy in Ottawa gets vandalised

The gazette reports that the Syrian embassy in
Ottawa got vandalized on Saturday. The RCMP isn't sure if it's related to the demonstration that happened on Saturday.

Photos I found on the net of the vandalism :)

The red paint symbolized the blood on the hands of all who stand with the regime of Bashar al Assad.

Standing in solidarity with Homs Syria, February 4th, 2012

Today we stood for two hours in solidarity with Homs, in front of the Syrian Consulate in Montreal. Despite the fact that the event was called only a few hours before it happened, about 60 people showed up. There were a lot of women and they were in fine chanting form. It was a spirited demonstration! My pictures are here, and hubby's are here.

Entrelacs - does this sleepy municipality in Lanaudiere think they can invent laws?

Apparently Tony has been told that the municipality wants to remove the signs. Here's the thing, last I checked the municipality cannot do much on private property. I'm not sure what kind of power trip the officials are in Entrelacs, but they seem to think because one neighbour complains they have to do things. Let the neighbour complain.  He claims it's  because he wants to sell his home but cannot because of Tony... 

Sounds to me like just excuses. Sounds to me like there are ulterior motives.  I mean if I wanted to sell my house I'd find a buyer that would fit into the current neighbourhood. Problem solved!

Remembering the Hama massacre in 1982 - and Demo today at Syrian Consulate

Last night in front of Montreal's St James the apostle Anglican church, we gathered for a vigil to commemorate the deaths of those killed in Hama in 1982 by Assad Sr. Here are photos of the vigil.

I didn't take many because I was only there one hour, most of which I spent talking to this 82 year old woman who was curious what our vigil was about. Turns out she's also a photographer herself and had been to Damascus in the 1970's. She was very supportive and very nice .I wish I could remember her full name at this point. I hope she finds me on facebook :)

Meanwhile while Syrians both local and abroad mark the anniversary of the Hama massacre, there was a new massacre in Homs, over 200 people killed in a couple of neighbourhoods.

Today there's a demonstration in front of the Syrian Consulate, on Cote Vertu - in front of the Jean Coutu Pharmacy of the Consul.

Video of vigil for Farshad Mohammadi

Here is the video for the vigil of Farshad Mohammadi, the homeless man shot by the SPVM. Amusingly we were one of the first people at the event, and the police officer in charge of supervising the event came to ask who was in charge of the event and if we had an itinerary. I told him that as far as I knew, we were going to stand there for one hour and then disperse, and that the organizers were not there yet. They did show up but were about 15 minutes late probably due to the snow. It was hell walking in those conditions.

Mind you I'm of the mindset that if it's downtown somewhere it walkable. So I take the train to Gare Centrale and walk anywhere I need to go. That day I figured we had a window of opportunity to go get hubby his doc martens. So we walked from Gare Centrale to St Denis a bit above Sherbrooke to Rio [or was it X20 I can never remember] and then walked back to the SPVM headquarters for the vigil holding boots.

He loves his new docs and finds them really comfortable and warm. I like the fact that though they are just leather boots, unlined, often I find them warmer then winter boots. Unless I'm going to be outside long, I prefer wearing docs.

I also love my new docs. I have 20 hole docs that go to my knees, but I don't find those practical for certain activities, though I love them for going to protest marches. For camping and other activities I prefer 8 hole docs. The pair I got back in the 90s were so dead, though I keep them for camping. So I ended up taking a pair of floral doc martens home with me. Did I mention I love them? I've had several people say that they were so me :)

Canadian MPs laugh at potential transgender flight ban.

The conservative government in Canada is turning this country into a place where few of us will want to live.  They seem to think it is amusing that transgendered people may be banned from flying. Having a letter from your medical doctor to prove that yes it's normal for you to not be the same gender as your outward appearance is offensive.  I don't need a letter to travel, neither should they.  People should be treated the same whether they are male, female or a mix of the above. It is not for the people in the government to decide. 

See this article for more details. I'm appalled. 

Case dropped against journalist

This story makes me realize that if you are going to photograph or videograph interactions with the police you should make sure to have witnesses, otherwise they might change the facts to charge you even if you did nothing wrong. See this article from the Gazette today.

Sabotage by stupidity

It sucks that sadly when involved with a leaderless movement, you also end up with idiots who sabotage because they are too dense to realize what they are doing. 

A bunch of us have been working relentlessly on the Entrelacs project only to have a few unicorns think that bringing an GA to Entrelacs is a good idea. I'm not sure on what planet it's a good idea. The best part is they think they are bringing democracy to Entrelacs, what they are bringing is one way of seeing things, if it was democracy, there would have been a vote done in the Entrelacs group - and with the whole group, not just one person with 2 new arrivals. 

The whole GA concept hasn't been working for Montreal but let's bring it to a small town and show them how it's done!?!?! Yeah. Sure whatever.  The people involved in Entrelacs up to now have been doers, not GAers but let's bring in the deadbeats who will spend the next couple of months talking while the municipality bowls over it's residents.

Here's the thing, the 1% isn't afraid because they know the infighting in the end will win!