Thank God for Big Oil

Fordson Super Major tractor (Photo credit: markpeate)

I love Big Oil. Jobs, taxes, a reliable supply of an efficiently produced product that fuels my lifestyle -- and yours. Thank God for oil in the ground and Big Oil to get it out.

Here's an excerpt from the article cited above:

Single-handedly, oil and gas companies finance over 10 percent of non-defense discretionary spending within the U.S. budget. According to the Wall Street Journal, ExxonMobil, the world’s largest energy firm, paid out $59 billion in total U.S. taxes over the five years prior to 2010 while earning only $40.5 billion in domestic profits.

I'll be riding on the benefits of big oil when we motor east from Phoenix to Toronto -- leaving tomorrow. Right now, I'm scarfing down all the In 'N' Out burgers I can. But, that's another post for another time. Have a good week-end.

Evil plastic vs. eco-friendly Save-the-Planet bags: which is better?

"London: Scientists looking at different types of bags and their impact on the environment have found that cotton bags offered by many supermarkets may be less "green" than plastic carriers."

That's usually the case with pushy environmental initiatives. At least the eco-friendly bags invariably come with a message you can parade around with, like "I'm saving the planet". One woman in our complex has a car with a bumper sticker on it that says, "The owner of this car has purchased carbon offsets". Who is she kidding?! But they really, really want others to know, don't they?

Do the crime, do the time...

Do the crime, do the time...

At unionized Air Canada, that would be a 72 hour suspension, with pay.

Supreme Court: Judges Must Consider Person's Ethnic Background When Sentencing

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/judges-must-consider-history-when-sentencing-aboriginals-supreme-court-rules/article2379145/Judges must consider history when sentencing aboriginals, Supreme Court rules...

Because aboriginals are just not up to the task of being treated equally as other Canadians.

Releasing rulings in a pair of much-anticipated cases that go to the heart of separate [but unequal]* treatment for aboriginal offenders, the court said that considering factors such as cultural oppression and a history of abuse in the residential school system must be central to the sentencing process.

If we are mandated by the highest court in our land to "expect less" from aboriginals when it comes to law, are we not also justified in expecting less when it comes to, e.g., employment?

I'm glad I have a high view of equality and am not a liberal.

And that's the way the Ball bounces.

(*) my amendment

Who is Sandra Fluke, really?

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"Sandra Fluke is being sold by the left as something she's not. Namely a random co-ed from Georgetown law who found herself mixed up in the latest front of the culture war who was simply looking to make sure needy women had access to birth control. That, of course, is not the case."

And this.

Sandra Fluke claimed that people in school were paying $3,000 over the course of three years for birth control and many people could no longer fit it into their budgets.
“Without insurance coverage, contraception can cost a woman over $3,000 during law school," Fluke said. "For a lot of students who, like me, are on public interest scholarships, that’s practically an entire summer’s salary. Forty percent of female students at Georgetown Law report struggling financially as a result of this policy."

The last time I checked sex was a discretionary activity. And, outside of marriage, it is still immoral in my books.

But what I really don't get is this. If someone is spending $1,000(*) annually and they want to get insurance to cover it, how can they expect the insurance to cost less than $1,000(*)? And why should they expect someone else to chip in? Do they think insurance is some form of magic where expenditures can be made without expenses being incurred? Or is this just a form of "I want to be behave irresponsibly and have someone else pick up the tab"? Or, "I want my freedom and someone else a slave to the costs involved"?

It's hard to get inside the left/liberal mind. But at some level it seems to me they are a war with reality.

And that's the way the befuddled Ball bounces.

(*) fixed per Anon1152. Anon -- your cheque is in the mail.

The universe: It's a beautiful thing

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O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,

How great thou art, how great thou art!

The universe: it's a beautiful thing.

Someone to thank -- another reason I'm glad I'm a believer.

Enjoy.

h/t Apologetics315

Killing babies no different from abortion, experts say

"Killing babies no different from abortion".

If experts say it, it must be so.

Actually, the Ball Bounces agrees with them.

We just differ in its implications.

And that's the way the Ball bounces.

PS. I thank God that I was born of a Catholic mother who did not abort me. Thank God for faithful Roman Catholic witness against abortion and infanticide.

I'm on the Lord's side -- whose side are you on?

Electronic cigarette or "Allah is great!": Which worries you more?

This dude does both -- the article goes with the onboard cigarette angle.

As much as I dislike onboard smoking, I'd be more worried about the Allah bit. Would it make a difference if instead of "Allah is great!!!" the guy shouted "Amish rock!!!"?

"Don’t like infanticide? Then don’t do it"

What if arguments for abortion were applied to infants?

Seven arguments for infanticide.

* * *

Don't think government-condoned infanticide happens now as part of botched abortion procedures?

Consider this:

"After doctors realized the "blunder," the woman, who was 32 weeks pregnant [do the math], had to undergo an emergency cesarean to deliver the sick fetus, where it was later terminated."

If you want it, it's your baby, if you don't it's just a fetus.

And that's the way the Ball bounces.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

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Vietnam man next to crying child opens plane door

"An airport official says the man will be fined up to $950, and it will cost $10,000 to refit the slide."

Why wasn't the fine $10,000?

Liberals: If they don't get their way, they leave their country

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Image via Wikipedia

Like the whiny kid who was always on the verge of taking his baseball mitt and leaving the game, liberals are always threatening to leave their country if they don't get their way. American celebrities did it when George Bush was running for re-election. (Don't think many actually left.) Now Justin Trudeau -- the gift that keeps on giving -- has said that if Canada doesn't support his values, he would be in favor of taking Quebec out of Canada.

Liberals -- when they get their way, they demand that the rest of us fall in line; when they don't, they threaten to leave.

So, grow up or leave already.

And that's the way the Ball bounces.

30-Year Old Caught In Act Of "Adolescent Preening"; Judge Overrules Manda-tory Minimum

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Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Smickle the perp was in a pickle. He was caught holding a loaded weapon when police burst in. Facing a mandatory 3-year minimum imposed by the federal Conservatives, an Ontario judge struck down the sentence, and in a fit of Charter righteousness called the sentence outrageous, abhorrent, and intolerable.

Why not just call it "excessive"?

The perp's act of brandishing a loaded weapon is downgraded to an act of "adolescent preening". He's 30 years old!  In a further attempt to spin the perp as a decent lad, the article goes on to note he "had no criminal record, held a job, has a young child and a fiancée and was working to finish high school." Apparently fathering a child out of wedlock passes for some form of accomplishment these days.

I agree with the judge that three years is too long a sentence, but I disagree with her tactic of over-riding the law. The sentence doesn't rise to the level of outrageous, abhorrent, intolerable or cruel. And incarceration is certainly not unusual.

Her act was in itself, in effect, an act of lawlessness -- something that Charter-empowered judges are prone to.

And that's the way the Ball bounces.

PS -- I'm open for opinions on all sides of this issue.

Mitt Romney's Nutso Analysis On Islam

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"There is, however, a movement in the world known as jihadism… It’s by no means a branch of Islam. It is instead an entirely different entity. In no way do I suggest it is a part of Islam." via Mark Steyn


I  watched the movie UA93 last night on Netflix. Now we know that the plane crash had nothing -- nothing -- to do with Islam -- which would come as quite a surprise to the martyrs.

Roadtrip!™ Day Five: Albuquerque - Phoenix

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Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Day Five.

Albuquerque - Phoenix.

We get on the road by 6:20 am. so we can make the Turquoise Room in Winslow, AZ for breakfast. A stop for gas and another stop for a fortifying Egg McMuffin. Great scenery along the way. 

We roll into the historic La Posada Hotel and the Turquoise Room at 10:50 am. I inform the host “two for breakfast”. He says, “actually, we’ve just switched over to lunch”. I inform him no, it’s not 11 o’clock yet, and we’ve driven from Albuquerque for breakfast. I tell him we want the Arizona Green Chile Eggs and the Corn Maiden and he goes to check with the kitchen and put the order in.

It was fabulous. 

The orange juice and coffee are also superb.

Now it’s noon and time for the victory lap down into Phoenix. We take the back road as I don’t like the hair-raising 75 mph drive down the mountain from Flagstaff. It’s 5 degrees C. when we leave Winslow and 20 degrees C. when we arrive in the valley. We pass the Winslow correctional institute on the way out of town. All the buildings are battleship grey, just to rub it in. "OK, we know we’re incarcerated, but do you have to paint the walls grey?!"

Phoenix. We park in our condo complex, and "the boys" (our two dogs) know immediately they are home. Reggie knows to turn to the left when we get off the elevator and Brady just follows along. The condo is in great shape. Let’s see, the mountains, the golf course, the pools, yep, all still there.

It’s great to be in Phoenix!

And the morning and the evening were the fifth day.

Hope you enjoyed to ride.

Roadtrip!™ Day Four: Oklahoma City to Albuquerque

Day Four.

Oklahoma City - Albuquerque.

We get onto I-40 in Oklahoma City and Garmin says something like, “In 600 miles turn left”, so you know you’re going to be heading west on I-40, the Route 66 overlay, for some time. 

We stop at El Reno OK to check out the pet-friendly Best Western. There’s a swarm of red-clad Halliburton employees milling around the dining room and the check-out. No wonder the BW was full last night! There’s a diner in El Reno -- Sid's -- we want to try. Maybe next time. 

Out of Oklahoma and into Texas. 

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We make the Big Texan in Amarillo around  noon. We order the 9 oz rib-eye lunch-specials. Had to wait over half an hour, but the wa

it was worth it. Three words: de lic ious. I see a half-order of fried mushrooms on the menu for nine dollars and a full order for 12. This intrigues me. Usually a side order of fried mushrooms runs you around four dollars. On the way we'll order the plate of mushrooms and a decent-sized steak for sharing. I want to find out what 12 dollars of fried mushrooms gets you.

Back in the car and on through Texas and into New Me

xico. This is where the scenery begins to get really interesting. We drive on to Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Drewry Inn. Kick-back time in their expansive eating area. Macaroni, mmmm! 

And the morning and the evening was the fourth day.

Tomorrow: The Turquoise Room and arrival in Phoenix.

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Roadtrip!™ Day Three: St. Louis to Oklahoma City

St. Louis to Oklahoma City
Wed. Feb 2, 2012.

A Drury Inn Quickstart breakfast in the St. Louis Southwest Drury Inn and then on the road.

Lunch at Lambert's -- Home of the Throwed Rolls™ in Ozark MO. We get the pulled pork sandwiches and the pass-around fixin's and I get three rolls throwed at me. I miss one.

Then on down to Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Welcome Center.

On past Tulsa down to Oklahoma City. Oklahoma has no Drury Inns, so we check our coupon booklets and decide on a pet-friendly Howard Johnston's. It's "OK". We share a pizza at the sports bar next door.

And the morning and the evening was the third day.

Tomorrow: Amarillo and The Big Texan.

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Road Trip!™ Day Two: Dayton - St. Louis

The mission: Toronto - Phoenix in five.

Day Two: Dayton - St. Louis

Tuesday February 1, 2012

QuickStart breakfast at the Dayton Drury Inn and then off we go. 


Drive west into Indiana and on to Indianapolis. Pass Lucas Oil stadium, site of the 2012 Super Bowl. No sign of Madonna.


Have a second Bob Evan’s biscuits and gravy breakfast at Terra Haute. Into Illinois, past Effingham and on to East St. Louis (Illinois) and St. Louis proper (Missouri). We spot the St. Louis Arch, “Gateway to the West”. We spend the night on the other side of St. Louis, at the St. Louis Drury Inn Southwest. Kick-back from 5:30 to 7. 

Image via Wikipedia

And the morning and the evening was the second day.

Road Trip!™ Day One: Toronto - Dayton

Monday Jan 31, 2011
Toronto - Dayton.

The mission: Toronto to Arizona with two dogs and a wife in 5 days or bust. Enjoy the ride!

Toronto to Sarnia. Early stop at McDonalds for the ultimate road food: Egg McMuffins. We order two extra in case of a road emergency. Stop for a final Canadian Tims -- we try out the new extra-big size. We buy an extra large and share it -- anybody else do this?

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Across the border in under 10 minutes. Where is everybody? We have applied for Nexus cards to expedite border crossings so we go to the Blue Water Bridge Nexus Center in Port Huron. Obama's millions billions trillions have not, tragically, trickled down to the Blue Water Nexus Center. It's a barren wasteland of a government office complex. Early soviet union decor. There's a US agent and a Canadian agent (both female) working side by side. Kind of makes me tear up. The Canadian agent is Ms. Gruff. Why are you here early, she barks. Like, because we got here sooner than planned? The US agent helpfully informs us that the Canadian agent gets a mandatory lunch period.

So, over to Bob Evans for the first biscuits and gravy of the trip. Where is everybody? Never seen Bob's so empty. Then, back to the Blue Water Bridge complex. Did I mention it's a dump? Elevator not working. Stairways are narrow. The thing has the look and feel of a nuclear bunker in some apocalyptic post-America America. Back for our scheduled interviews. They go swimmingly. Both the American and Canadian agents are friendly and efficient. With Nexus, you don't wait for the agent to ask you, you proactively declare you are bringing in dog food, an orange, and $10,000 in American cash or they revoke your card!

On through Detroit. Talk about post-apocalyptic. Detroit is in a sorry state. Abandoned buildings. Roofs caving in. Windows broken out. I think, "this is what a generation of Democratic socialism where self-esteem accounts for more than competence gets you". (If you have any doubt about this, google the head of Detroit's school system.)

Through Detroit and on down to Ohio. Say hell-o to O-hi-o! Toledo, then Dayton. Spend the night at the dog- and people-friendly Dayton Drury Inn. 6:30 pm -- still a half hour left on Drury's Kick-back!  The steamed hotdogs have seen better days, but still taste good. I over-eat on the potato chips.

And the morning and the evening were the first day.

Aboriginal Arab Spring, anyone?

"OTTAWA — Canada could face an Arab Spring-style “uprising” if Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t give a clear indication in his meeting with aboriginal leaders here Tuesday that he’s prepared to take their concerns seriously, a B.C. native leader warned Monday."


Over what, exactly? The endless billions in perpetual hand-outs from Canada? 


Or the fact that Indians get to have all the fruits of western culture handed to them while remaining flash-frozen in their own pre-industrial culture?


Fine. Throw out your eyeglasses, medicines, cars, snowmobiles, and iPhones and we'll end all our oppressive subsidies.


Wouldn't it be better to, you know, ditch the reserve, join Canada and get jobs and live productive lives like the rest of us? 


We would welcome you with open arms.


And that's the way the Ball bounces.

Mark Steyn Asks...

"What First World jurisdiction needs over a fortnight to count a hundred thousand votes?"
Good question. And the answer is?

Mark Steyn: Politics trumps Left's empathy

I'm at an African internet cafe. Chewing up some valuable i-time to post this from Mark Steyn.

Well worth reading.

Sorry I've been late approving comments etc. I have been deeply unavailable. May post some pictures from our trip to Kruger National Park if I get a good connection.

The Ball Bounces... To Africa

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You can read about my latest short-term missions adventure to South Africa and Zambia here.

I'll be back in 19 days.

See you then!

Fearless Predictions For 2012

                           Image via Wikipedia

1. The Bible will continue to contain all the answers to the world's problems.

2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on earth.

3. The Holy Spirit will still be moving over the earth and among God's people.

4. God will still honor His promises to His people.

5. Faithful people will still suffer persecution for righteousness' sake and their faithful witness to Christ.

6. God's people will still sing praises to God.

7. God will still provide room at His cross for drowning men who seek Him.

8. God's people will still receive God's blessings in abundance.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. We will be one year closer to the coming of the Lord.

"The Word of the Lord endures forever." I Peter 1:25.

Merry Christmas 2011 From Boko Haram

Countries in which Islamist terrorist attacks have occurred on or after September 11, 2001.Image via Wikipedia

The Nigerian 2011 Christmas Day massacre.

The Boko Haram Islamist sect, which aims to impose sharia law across Africa’s most populous country, claimed responsibility for three church bombings, the second Christmas in a row it has caused carnage at Christian houses of worship.

Meanwhile, over at Macleans they are bravely taking on Christian fundamentalists who have apparently squashed a Muslim TV show in the US. I posted the following comment:

"carping", "pandering", "zealots", "fanaticism"? Comes across as cheap bigotry rather than reasoned argument.
Plus it seems a bit insensitive of Macleans to have this still posted on a day -- Christmas Day no less -- when Muslim extremists have freshly massacred 39 Christians.

Which got me the following response: "Christians have been massacring Muslims on Christmas Day for a long time...also during Ramadan, Eid and the Haj."


Christmas marks the entry of God into fallen creation. It is book-ended by the cross, where the Son of God took evil's best shot and rose victorious over it. So, come on, militant Islam and Christian-haters, give us your best shot -- our victory in Christ is guaranteed. Death is swallowed up in victory. Evil's days are numbered. The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And he shall reign forever and ever.


Those who love Christ affirm the truth of the resurrection; those who hate him, the truth of the cross. God has come and done something and there's nothing you can do about it and even your unbelief and enmity testifies to God's truth.


So merry joy-to-the-world Christmas to all, including those who hate Christ, Christmas, and Christians.

First Century Media Reports of Nativity Story

"Birth in Manger Reveals Looming Crisis in Housing and Transportation"

etc.

Caledonia Verdict: Justice, Canadian-Style

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Native attacker gets reduced sentence for ‘vicious’ Caledonia assault.

"CAYUGA, Ont. — For beating a non-native builder to within an inch of his life during the fiery native occupation in nearby Caledonia, a young aboriginal man was sentenced to less than two years in jail, plus time served – a punishment that leaves the victim’s family demanding an inquiry into how the courts treat First Nations offenders."

Some Canadians are more equal -- a lot more equal -- than others.

Question: If a native whacks another native does he a) get a reduced sentence because he's a native, or b) get charged extra -- with a hate crime -- because he whacked a native?

In Canada, the soft racism of diminished expectation is alive and well.

My ancestors lived through the Irish potato famines. Does this buy me anything?

Christmas Countdown: Christmas Myths From Paul Copan

Myths, and mythunderstandings, that is.


Here’s a true-false quiz:

1. Mary and Joseph had to travel as quickly as possible to Bethlehem because Mary could have given birth at any moment.

2. The Bethlehem innkeeper was fully booked, and so Mary had to give birth to Jesus in the barn/stall nearby/behind the inn.

3. Initially, this experience must have been frightening and lonely for Mary and Joseph.

4. “The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.”

5. The angels who appeared to the shepherds had wings.

Here.

Breaking: Soccer Goalie Kicks Fan: NDP Demand Foot Registry

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A Dutch soccer goalie landed some effective kicks at a drunken fan who had charged the field and attacked him.

The NDP, viewing the video during a Question Period time-out, were outraged at the assault of this soccer field Occupier and stormed the Canadian legislature demanding the immediate institution of a Foot Registry.

Estimated cost, based on past cost estimates for similar endeavours, is not expected to exceed two million dollars.

The nation's pundits were abuzz. Will this give the NDP a leg-up on the ruling Conservatives, or will PM Harper put his foot down, telling them they don't have a leg to stand on?

The best video of the event is at the 2:40 minute mark. Put the video on, go grab a coffee, and come back for it.

Original news link here.

Urgent Canadian Etiquette Question of the Day

If the FedEx guy tosses your package over the fence into your yard, do you still have to tip him?

Another Urgent Canadian Etiquette Question brought to you by the friendly folks at the Ball Bounces.

How December 25 Became Christmas

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How December 25 Became Christmas -- it's perhaps not what you think.

Flash: Educator Arrested For Hash (Brown) !!!

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The flying McDonald's hash brown is at the 33 second mark.

It's enough to give the title "Educator" a bad name.

Now That Jong's Dead, Who Is The Worst Person On The Planet?

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North Korea's Kim Jong Il Dies at 69.

Ding Dong, K-Jong Is Dead

What a wretched man -- he brought misery to millions.  Was he the worst man alive? Is there anyone else on the planet who has done more to bring misery, starvation, and death to more people? Mugabe, maybe?

What do you think? Now that Jong's been gonged, who is the worst human being on the planet?

(Leftist votes for George W. Bush who cruelly shovelled hundreds of millions of US dollars towards the AIDS epidemic will not count.)

Sunday Psalm 18: "In my distress I called upon the Lord"

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 Psalm 18

 1I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

 2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

 3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

 4The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

 5The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

 6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

 7Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

 8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

 9He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

 10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

 11He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

 12At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

 13The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

 14Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

 15Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

 16He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

 17He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

 18They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

 19He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

 20The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

 21For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

 22For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

 23I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

 24Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

 25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

 26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

 27For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

 28For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

 29For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

 30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

 31For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

 32It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

 33He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

 34He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

 35Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

 36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

 37I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

 38I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

 39For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

 40Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

 41They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

 42Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

 43Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

 44As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

 45The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

 46The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

 47It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

 48He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

 49Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

 50Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

Now for the Ball Bounces erudite commentary: wow!

source: biblegateway.com

Canadian Immigrants Want Their Money Back

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"The program... has floundered in the three Maritime provinces under the weight of political scandals sparked by scathing auditor-general’s reports, RCMP investigations, lawsuits, allegations of bribes and corruption and, in Prince Edward Island, a protest by Chinese immigrants who stormed the provincial legislature demanding their money back."

Money back? We all want our money back.

Welcome to Canada.

Trying To Make A Driving Complaint With The Toronto Police

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Let me be clear. I have the highest respect and admiration for front-line Toronto police and Canadian police in general who daily put their lives on the line to protect us.

OK. Here's my minor brush with "the law".

I'm trying to make a driving complaint to the Toronto police. Trucks and/or cars have been mounting the curb and driving along a sidewalk and grass at Byng/Kenneth Avenue in North York.

I caught a guy in a black pick-up doing it Tuesday.

Today I logged on to the Toronto Police website and accessed the Driving Complaint screen. Got about 20 minutes into this when, near the end of the whole thing, it asked for perp vehicle identification information. It was a full-size black truck. I got the license plate number. You would think that would be enough, right? Wrong. The site demands that I enter the Make. Frustrated, I finally enter GMC as a guess. Then it demands that I enter the Model. Without Make and Model, it will not allow you to enter a complaint.

Apparently it's a new system. Had many complaints registered yet, boys? Did you do any testing on the system before you went live?

I phoned the number associated with the screen to seek website assistance. All the person I got could do was tell me she knew nothing about the website, didn't know who I could talk to about the website, and suggested I go into the police station and report the driving complaint directly.

I told her I had tried by phone and they weren't interested. What I didn't tell her was this: t got passed along the police chain twice. The third person I spoke to told me to call 311 and report it to the City of Toronto. Which I did. The next day I got a call from the city of Toronto saying they'd had a swing by and determined it was not their problem, they were passing it off to the transportation dept.

Meanwhile there's some guy in a black truck out there wilfully destroying city property. And somewhere inside the Toronto Police Dept. there's some guy reporting on the successful implementation of a new online citizen reporting system.

And that's the way the Ball bounces.