New book about the Clark Park Gang

Aaron Chapman recently put out a book called The Last Gang in Town: The Epic Story of the Vancouver Police vs. The Clark Park Gang. This is a historical look at a Vancouver gang back in the /70's. The description on Amazon reads: "A riot at a Rolling Stones concert opens this compelling story of a year-long confrontation in 1972 between the Vancouver police and the Clark Park gang, a band of unruly characters who ruled the city's east side. Corrupt cops, hapless criminals, and murder figure in this raucous history with contemporary overtones that questions which gang was tougher: the petty criminals, or the police themselves."

A little more Wayne Moriarty

I guess my big push for the New Year is a break from the persistent insanity that we are being spammed with. The world needs a little more Wayne Moriarty and a little less Xanadu.

Michael Smith is reporting that Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is heading the Taxpayers foundation's naughty list for going tax-mad this year. We talked about how Robertson raised property taxes 3.9% recently in Vancouver promising to kick back 0.5% for harm promotion. So in reality what did he do? He just raised rents and increased the number of homeless on the street. Great thinking. Gregor Robertson is part of the problem not part of the solution.

Feliz Navida

I was going to call my Christmas message this year Christmas in the Hood, but since I already did that on Father's day I thought I'd talk about another challenging topic and that is dealing with loss at Christmas. Christmas is supposed to be such a happy time. Yet suicide rates increase this time of year. Most families aren't perfect so all the pressure of getting together at Christmas sometimes brings heartache and sorrow. Especially for lost loved ones.

Earlier I talked a little bit about how much I liked the movie Collateral Beauty. Everyone deals with loss in different ways. Lindsey Stirling said when she lost her best friend to cancer it really set her back and she took a considerable amount of time to grieve that loss before putting out her latest album Brave Enough which meant she was brave enough to come back after that loss.

My daughter was face timing with some friends from Honduras the other day. They had all the young cousins together and were setting off fireworks at night. Something I could relate to before fireworks became a banned substance in Surrey. Sometimes she'd put me on and since I don't speak Spanish I'd always be at a loss of what to say and usually just come out with a yo que pasa hombre, como estas? This time there was several young children present and all I could think of was the Christmas song feliz navidad so I shouted out feliz navidad! Then the young children who didn't speak english remembered that song and all started singing the english verse I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart. It was priceless.

That wonderful little girl had just lost her mother to cancer and this would be her first Christmas without her mother yet they had a very close extended family. Money can't buy that. Peace.

Users overdose minutes after cashing assistance cheques

Crime City Surrey is reporting that "They're buying drugs right there outside where they're cashing their cheques" - seems a good place for police to attend." One would think. Failing to do so is criminal culpability. Minutes later Crime City Surrey then tweets "Users overdose minutes after cashing assistance cheques." Who's the criminal now? Us or them? Right now it's hard to tell.

East Vancouver shooting

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that a 42-year-old woman is in serious but stable condition after a targeted shooting in north east Vancouver Tuesday night.

Man convicted of murdering a Hells Angel acquitted after informant admits lying

The Montreal Gazette is reporting that "The Quebec Court of Appeal has acquitted a man who was convicted a decade ago of murdering one of the highest-ranking Hells Angels in Quebec during the biker gang war. The appellate court delivered its decision on Wednesday, acquitting Tony Duguay, a former member of the Bandidos, of the murder of Normand (Biff) Hamel, a member of the Hells Angels now-defunct Nomads chapter based in Montreal."

"The decision was based on new evidence supplied by a witness who testified against Duguay during his trial. The witness, a former gang-member-turned-informant named Sylvain Beaudry, admitted after the trial that he lied while on the witness stand."

Normand "Biff" Hamel was a member of Maurice "Mom" Boucher's white supremacist SS motorcycle gang until it disbanded in 1984. That's when he and Mom became Hells Angels prospects. Biff was a prospect of the Laval chapter and was present when the Hells Angels murdered his sponsors in the Lexonville massacre.

Two years later the Hells Angels wanted to take over the Death Riders. The take over became absolute on May 4, 1987 when the President of the Death Riders, Martin Huneault, was shot to death in a Laval bar. No one was ever arrested for the murder, but just hours after Huneault's funeral, Death Riders Mario Martin and André Richard were seen meeting with Hells Angels Maurice "Mom" Boucher and Normand "Biff" Hamel. Boucher and Hamel received their colours after the incident and Huneault's murder allowed the Hells to completely take over drug trafficking in Laval and the lower Laurentians area. Biff Hammel was murdered on April 17, 2000.

Terrorist Attacks without a Motive

When tragedy strikes it's always heart wrenching. Yet every crime has a means and a motive. If someone accused of committing a crime didn't have the means or motive to commit the crime then that is a red flag calling for further investigation. Recently there have been two more terrorist attacks in the news. One had a motive the other did not. Both are suspect.

Why on earth would anyone drive a truck into a crowd of pedestrians at a Christmas market anywhere especially in Germany? Germans love Christmas and their Christmas market. During the war soldiers on the front line called an impromptu ceasefire on Christmas Day to exchange gifts with the enemy. Christmas in Germany is a very peaceful time.

As soon as the horrific incident occurred, CBC reported that The White House said it "appears to have been a terrorist attack." White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. was ready to assist Germany in investigating and responding. Evidently Ned Price was suspiciously fast with a press release on the matter.

CBC also reported that it has been less than a month since the U.S. State Department called for caution in markets and other public places, saying extremist groups including ISIS and al-Qaeda were focusing "on the upcoming holiday season and associated events."

Isn't that ironic? Just like how the Israeli intelligence agencies warned the Brussels Airport of a possible attack right before it happened. Then got the contact to do their security after the attack. Cynical minds would declare the Israeli Intelligence agency that won the contract were the ones that had a motive to commit that crime not some random lone wolf.

So what is the motive for this attack on the Berlin Christmas market? There is none. In contrast, the other attack in Turkey did have a motive.

The Guardian reported that "The Russian ambassador to Turkey has been shot dead by a police officer who shouted 'Don’t forget Aleppo' as he pulled the trigger." In this incident a motive is apparent. Russia was directly involved with killing civilians in Aleppo so it is logical someone would target Russia in response. That one makes sense.

I am however, having difficulty with the math in relation to the attack in Berlin. All of a sudden the media is reporting ISIS has claimed responsibility for the Christmas Market attack in Berlin despite the fact that there is no motive. Germany certainly didn't bomb Aleppo, Russia did. The math I'm having trouble processing is the fact that the Americans and the Israelis were supporting ISIS in Syria to defeat Assad. Hillary Clinton used her position as Secretary of State to convince the American Military complex to supply arms to ISIS through Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

I did not make up Operation Northwoods. I did not make up the 911 inconsistencies. Architects and engineers in the field declare that for a steel framed tower to collapse at freefall speed into it's own blueprint, the load bearing beams have to be blown out like a controlled demolition. I did not make that up. Experts in the field of controlled demolition declare it.

I did not make up the attack on the USS Liberty. That really did happen. I did not recall the air support sent to defend the USS Liberty when it came under attack saying I want that ship sunk. That was President Johnson after Kennedy was assassinated for vetoing Operation Northwoods.

Given the reality of Operation Northwoods, 911 and the attack on the USS Liberty, it behooves every rational mind to question the means and motive of every criminal act relating to acts of terrorism because the CIA is the largest terrorist organization on the planet.

The only motive for a terrorist attack on civilians at a Christmas market in Berlin points to German election candidates not ISIS or lone wolves. Lest we forget Sarkozy and the Karachi affair.

Germany of all places has to be suspicious of false flag attacks. That's where it all began. Hitler burned down the German parliament building and blamed it on terrorists to gain the powers of Chancellor. Then he burned down a German radio station and blamed it on Poland to justify an invasion. The rest is history.

Hells Angel-turned-informant pleads for 2nd chance

CBC is reporting that "Hells Angel Stéphane "Godasse" Gagné, 47, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Lavigne's death and was sentenced to life in prison, where he has now served more than 19 years. Gagné, who is eligible for parole in 2023, filed a motion last year to have his request for parole heard earlier. The motion was granted." Diane Lavigne was a widowed prison guard with two adult children. She was shot dead June of 1997 during the Quebec Biker War.

CBC also reported that as a child, Gagné was bullied, he said. In high school, he started dealing drugs. "No one bothered me. I learned that money brought respect," he said. He quit school, started stealing cars and kept on dealing. Soon, he affiliated himself with the Hells Angels in order to make sure he wouldn't get himself into trouble, dealing in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood, which would become a hotbed of biker activity. Gagné said It was known in wartime that if you didn't kill, you don't move up. Yet there is nothing noble in killing a woman.

The day after the shooting, with news of the murder plastered all over television screens, Gagné's wife pronounced that whoever killed Lavigne must have been a repugnant person. Gagné, ashamed, slunk out and became a police informant. CBC claims in the summer of 1997, the biker war was in full swing. A fellow biker told him they had a job to do - a prison guard to kill. "I had two choices. Go to the police, or say no and be killed," he said.

This was Paul (Fon Fon) Fontaine's coacused. "On Sept. 8, 1997, Gagné and a different partner, Paul (Fon Fon) Fontaine, killed Rondeau and wounded Corriveau by firing several shots into the bus the guards were riding in as they headed to the Rivière des Prairies Detention Centre. The guards were about to pick up detainees who had court dates that day. Gagné was arrested on Dec. 5, 1997, and, after deciding to become a witness for the prosecution, he pleaded guilty, on March 25, 1998, to murdering Lavigne and the attempted murder of Corriveau."

When asked Why kill a prison guard instead of a member of the rival Rock Machine gang? He said "Prison guards can't kill you." This just keeps getting worse. Denying his parole isn't going to bring the woman he murdered back. It's just a no win situation. The driver of the motorcycle Stéphane was on when he shot Diane Lavigne, André (Toots) Tousignant, was murdered months after Lavigne was killed.

I think it's important to know that he was asked by the club to kill the woman. He didn't really have a choice. The job he did with Fon Fon was for Mom Boucher himself. He is the one that ordered the hit. Mom Boucher had a similar start as Stéphane. Boucher was a petty thief who robbed an old man with a shotgun. He got his patch after serving a prison sentence for armed rape. There is nothing there to admire.

Even in the top picture of the Quebec member on a run in Ontario, the guy has a full fairing and is wearing shorts. He looks like an idiot. People who ride motorcycles make fun of people who ride with shorts because your bare skin will turn to road kill on the dry pavement if you go down.

In contrast, I see there is a new season of the Musketeers on Netflix now. The French version of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table or the chivalry aspired to in the movie Kingdom of Heaven with Orlando Bloom. Now that is noble. As William Wallace said in the movie Braveheart, lands and titles don't make a man noble. Neither does money from drugs.

Another shooting in Surrey, more Fentanyl ODs

Back to reality. Global on Twitter is reporting that Surrey RCMP are investigating a shooting in 13500-block of 91 Ave this morning. One man is in critical condition.

The Huffington Post is reporting that at least 11 people died of drug overdoses in BC on Thursday alone, six of them in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. If we do not start arresting the drug dealers that are selling drugs tainted with Fentanyl, we are all criminally culpable.

Gregor Robertson is a flaming idiot just like Linda Hepner. Kirk LaPointe and Doug McCallum would have been much a better choice. Different people have different plans on how to address crime in our community. Kirk LaPointe wants to get rid of open drug dealing at Main and Hastings and so do I. Meanwhile back on the ranch, Donald Trump has launched an impressive course change in political corruption south of the 49. No wonder the CIA's drug trafficking network opposes him so bitterly. Donald Trump is delivering hope while others just talked about it.

This is wonderful news. Kati, a drug addict on the Surrey strip that was interviewed by CBC has come clean and is endorsing more long term treatment as opposed to more harm promotion.

Collateral Beauty

I didn't see the new Star Wars but I did see Collateral Beauty. I was in the mood for something different. I read a couple of lousy reviews but wasn't swayed. I like to make up my own mind for myself usually and in this case I'm very gad I did. I thought the movie was profound.

F*ck the haters. Haters gonna hate. What the hell were you expecting? What are you all like Shallow Hal incapable of solemn reflection and unable to produce a rational thought? The point of the movie is to get people thinking as different people deal with grief different ways. Some people retreat into their shells. Others turn to drugs and alcohol. I think all of us have experienced some kind of loss or grief in our lives and eveyone likely knows someone who abuses drugs or alcohol.

I really liked Will Smith in the Pursuit of Happiness. I had to walk out of the theatre during the scene when he was homeless with his son. It hit a little too close to home. I was told it had a happy ending if I had stayed but I wasn't able to go through that at the time.



I would highly recommend Collateral Beauty to anyone with a brain who is wiling to think outside the box this Christmas. Elizabeth from Pirates of the Caribbean played love. Although the movie didn't go into depth expanding on the meaning of the title it did touch on it and imply that when something bad happens there is always something else to be grateful for like the song Photograph by Ed Sheeran. I would like to use the Collateral Beauty title as a theme for my 2017 Summer Jam and pick up where that movie left off.

Right now I am really enjoying Lindsey Stirling's Gavi's Song. It's peaceful and elegant. The song is about her best friend who went to the hospital for cancer. They started writing the song together and promised they would finish it together when he came home from the hospital. Tragically he died before they could finish the song so after a long period of grieving she finished the song and created a masterpiece. That is collateral beauty. It's the last song on her album Brave Enough.

I would like to add that right now it is indeed cold as f*ck on the motorcycle but it's not as cold as being homeless. It infuriates me when I hear people say the homeless are homeless because they want to be. That is absurd. People need homes not drugs. With all that money we are pouring straight into the predatory drug dealers pockets who are brutalizing the homeless as we speak we could build a lot more affordable housing instead.