Being comfortable in your own skin

I'd like to give a shout out to Ben Affleck, a superhero we all admire and respect. I'm not much for celebrity gossip. In fact I think people who obsess over the lives of the rich and famous really need to get a life. However, since a few news headlines crossed my desk I will comment on them.

First we hear People Magazine report that Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus split up after a year of dating over distance. It was amicable but they couldn’t make a long-distance relationship work. OK a little too much information but good for them. Two wonderful good looking individuals move on in an amicable manner. That's all that needs to be said. Oh but no, the sleazy paparazzi have got to trash things up a bit to stir up controversy so they can make a buck at others expense.

Then we hear that since the break up Ben has been spotted with a 22 year old Playboy model. OK that's really TMI. People have a right to privacy. Oh it gets worse. Then we hear his ex wife and her body guard just dropped Ben off at rehab. Give the guy a break. I mean really.

We are told that Ben Affleck lives in LA near his ex wife with whom he shares custody of their three wonderful children and that Lindsay Shookus lives in New York near her ex husband with whom she shares custody of her darling daughter. Young kids are involved in all of this. The tabloid trash need to back off. The MSM is turning into celebrity gossip.

In July the tabloids went on about how Ben's ex wife didn't want the woman he has been dating for a year near their kids. Ben and Lindsey were not seen together in public since. Meanwhile the tabloids are rolling their eyes about Ben going into rehab again as if we didn't know why. We're talking about three wonderful adults and four wonderful kids. Let them be.

Years ago I applied for a paid position as a youth leader. One of the teenage girls who was also part of the selection committee asked me in my interview what I would be willing to do with regards to talking with the youth about dating. I just shook my head and said dating advice?! Not a chance. I am divorced you know. If you want someone to teach the youth martial arts and take them on service projects I am totally down with that but if you want someone to sit there and talk about dating, you're going to have to find someone else. Needless to say I didn't get the job.

Nevertheless, over the years I have noticed various other people, famous and not so famous, go through relationship meltdowns. We saw Brad Pitt leave a healthy relationship for a passionate affair with a woman who completely screwed him over in the end. Was it worth it? Absolutely not. Even Curtis in New York has been through some pretty bizarre break ups. I'm like yo, I do not want to go out like that. I want to retain my dignity. I want to retain my self respect. After all, it's about being comfortable in your own skin.

Martin Luther King said "This is the judgement: Life's most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others? Anybody can be great because anybody can serve." I agree. Service to mankind is the true measure of greatness, not material wealth. However, I'm at a different place in my life right now. I've served all my life and I do not regret one minute of it. Now, I lean towards Buddha who said "If you can, help others. If you can't help them, do no harm to them." We need to see how our choices affect others. Finian's Inferno. That's what I'm talking about.

I remember hearing a Mormon joke a few years back. "This guy gets diagnosed with cancer. It's fatal. The doctor said he only had six months to live. He tells his doctor that he is considering joining the Mormon church. The doctor says he thinks that is a great idea. The patient then asks do you think it will heal me of cancer? Not at all but I think it will be the longest six months of your life." Mormons are busy. They are very dedicated. Very hard working. Very busy.

I'm not so dedicated any more. I'm more at the age where if you can't help them, do no harm to them. For me it's all about being able to live with yourself. When you look back over your life can you say in all honestly you are OK with the decisions you have made and how they have affected others? Looking forward when it comes to making new decisions and new footprints so to speak, instead of saying what would Jesus do ask yourself "Can I live with myself if I make that decision?" We all make decisions in life and we all face the consequences of those decisions. Not all consequences are bad. Some are good depending on the choices we make.

The bible says a friend of the world is an enemy to God. It kinda makes sense. The world is pretty messed up hence the term worldly. If the world, generally speaking, is evil, you can't be a friend of the world without being evil. They say the three deadly Ps are the quest for power, popularity and praise of the world. Which makes being externally defined somewhat problematic.

Some people are internally defined. They make their own decisions based on what they feel is right. Others are externally defined. They make decisions based on what others tell them is right. That's not a road I'm prepared to walk down. They say if you don't have haters, you never stood up for anything. I have a lot of haters because I've stood up for a lot of things and I'm totally OK with that. As William Shakespeare once said, "To thine own self be true." Peace.



The compassion of Buddha, the truthfulness of Tao and the five virtues of Confucius. These are the principles that I embrace. This is the Ghetto Gospel. Ethics matter. It brings inner peace.

Years ago I was pretty hard on Amy Winehouse simply because she refused to go to rehab. She even sang that catchy song making a joke of it. Unfortunately, Amy should have gone to rehab. That was no joke. Greg Scarnici did a parody of the video showing how absurd it really was. Before her adition to crack cocaine, Amy was comfortable in her own skin.



The fickle mob that obsesses over the new age anorexic models would have called her chunky but she was gorgeous back then. Anorexia is not sexy. Back then Amy was a magnificently talented singer who was at peace with herself. Then something happened and she became addicted to crack. Her physical appearance went downhill fast.

There was a video leaked to the press of Amy smoking a crack pipe. It was heartbreaking for two reasons. Seeing her descend that low was one reason and the betrayal of a fake friend trying to make a buck by betraying her trust was the other. Think of the pressure these people are under. They can't make a move without the paparazzi watching them. Fake friends tag along for the money then betray them at first opportunity by selling inside info to the tabloids.

In the video of Amy smoking a crack pipe right before she lit up she was looking at her wedding picture on the wall. It was very sad. Who do these people have that they can trust? Money attracts fake friends. The same thing is happening now to Ben Affleck. His fake friends selling inside tips to the tabloids need to STFU and mind their own business. Private lives are private.

The bottom line is obvious. People who are comfortable in their own skin and are at peace with themselves don't use drugs to escape reality. They embrace reality. That's enlightenment.

Newfoundland Hells Angel caught with handgun

The Newfoundland Advertiser is reporting that "Bradley Summers, an alleged member of the Hell’s Angels who was reportedly the target of a murder plot earlier this year was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a dangerous weapon, and careless use of a weapon. The weapon in question is alleged to be a handgun, according to court documents."

Here's the deal. There already is a handgun ban in Canadian cities. Even if you have a firearm licence, you are not allowed to walk around with a handgun in your possession or in your car. This Hells Angel broke that ban. So what are the consequences? Disarming law biding citizens is not the answer and will do absolutely nothing to reduce gun and gang violence.

Addressing gun violence with the New York Model

Canadian Teacher murdered in Taiwan - Update

The Toronto Sun is reporting that Canadian teacher Ramgahan Sanjay Ryan was found murdered in Taiwan. His wife Cat drowned last October. "Taiwanese detectives are trying to unravel the grisly dismemberment slaying of a Canadian teacher whose body parts were discovered in a Taipei park. Cops say they believe the murder of Ramgahan Sanjay Ryan, 43, may have been drug-related. On Thursday, investigators discovered two machetes on a riverbank near where the English teacher’s body was found." Unusual for Taiwan.

Update: There has been some interesting developments in the case. The Taiwan News reported that "Israeli-American murder suspect escapes after being surrounded by Philippine police." The Taiwan News is also reporting that "Reports have surfaced that the two men suspected of brutally butchering a Canadian English teacher in New Taipei last week served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the United States Marine Corps and trained in MMA before moving to Taiwan, where they taught children English at various cram schools."

When they say drugs were involved it sounds like they were just selling pot.

Smoke on the water, fire in the sky

Smoke On The Water. July was flawless. August, not so much. A few weeks ago as the sun rose over the horizon it was bright red. We now know what that means in BC. In means smoke from forest fires. For the last few weeks the summer sky has been clouded with smoke and tonight the smoke has started to descend into the city. We really need to be more proactive in dealing with these forest fires. It is becoming an annual event.

It's heartbreaking to see a forest beside a lake burn to the ground like in the above picture from Peachland. It was right beside a water source. There is no reason for this. We need to install fire hydrants and irrigation for the next generation of tree planting. One of the reason we have so many forest fires now is because of the long dry summers. This can be eased through irrigation.

Several years ago I attended the Joey Verma trial in Kelowna. I stayed at the Bear Creek campgrounds on the west shore of the lake. There was remnants of a previous forest fire. One employee said a few years ago a forest fire in West Kelowna came right up to the campsite. One crazy old man with a garden hose refused to leave and held the fire off single handedly. Installing fire hydrants and sprinklers in forests near water sources will be a step forward for everyone.

We also need a few big ass water bombers the size of a B-52. Justine Trudeau wasted all that money buying a pipeline that already existed when he could have purchased some water bombers instead to fight the fires. That shows you where his priorities are.

Dave Woods quits Surrey First

Global is reporting that "There is yet another shakeup in politics at Surrey city hall. Councillor Dave Woods has resigned from the ruling civic party, Surrey First. In a statement, Woods said he cannot support a leader who doesn’t value or seek consultation with team members. “I have no confidence the movement towards a more open, collaborative, and transparent culture within the party will exist and, therefore, I will not be seeking re-election as a member of Surrey First,” he said. Woods says mayoral candidate Tom Gill supports a handgun ban in the city. Woods opposes a ban, saying it would impact law-abiding handgun owners." Exactly.

Tom Gill has lost his mind. This is further proof he mirrors Linda Hepner's incompetence. There already is a handgun ban in the city. In addition to that, Blaze was already under a firearm ban when he was caught with firearms and went to the wrong house to collect a drug debt. The current firearm bans that affect criminals are virtually worthless because they are not enforced.

I have a firearm licence. I am not legally permitted to drive around the city with a handgun in my vehicle. The ban is already in effect. I can drive around with my long guns in the trunk of my car but not handguns. I am only legally permitted to transport handguns unloaded, in a locked case with a trigger lock in place to and from the gun range. That's it. To and from the gun range only.

You want to know why we have a problem with gun violence? Because the BC Gang Task force is compromised and the RCMP stopped investigating organized crime. That's why.

The Peace arch News is reporting that John Gibeau from the Honeybee centre is running for a seat on Surrey council with the Integrity Now slate. I have known John for years. He is a good man and like Rina Gill, exemplifies Integrity. Unfortunately, the slate is now full and I am unable to endorse him at this time. He and Adam MacGillivray would make great alternates and I encourage their future participation in politics. We need more people like them.

Hells Angels associate gunned down in Mexico

Kim Bolan is reporting that Guiseppe Bugge from West Vancouver has been gunned down in Mexico. The compromised Gang Task Force tells her he was a Hells Angels associate. The story made the Borderland Beat blog.

June 2005 Guiseppe was kidnapped and roughed up. May 2007 Hugo Filipe Amado, Paul Vaslot and Robert John Davis plead guilty to kidnapping him.

In August 2005, a young man employed by Guiseppe Bugge driving a company truck into Blaine Washington was caught bringing 283 kilos of pot into the US. That front company along with several others has since gone bankrupt.

Now he's shot dead in Mexico. With friends like that, who needs enemies? Does this mean the compromised BC Gang Task force is starting to arrest Hells Angels for drug trafficking? No it does not. They stopped doing that in 2012. Just say'n.

Dr. Allison Patton joins Safe Surrey Coalition slate

The Peace Arch News is reporting that "Safe Surrey Coalition has announced Dr. Allison Patton is joining its slate for the upcoming Oct. 20 election. Patton, who has been a community physician for more than 17 years, says she’s running for a seat on council because she “see the symptoms my patients suffer with and I understand what the root causes are."

“I’m running for council so I can address these root causes and help the citizens of Surrey can live better, longer lives. I have a unique perspective that should be part of smart development guidelines,” said Patton, who has a Masters of Businesses Administration from Royal Roads University and was awarded the Governor General’s Gold Medal for the most outstanding thesis at the university." Look at the credibility of these candidates. The future looks bright so it does.

Dr. Patton will obviously be a valuable asset in the planning of a new hospital in Surrey. No doubt Safe Surrey will not make the same mistake Surrey First did with regards to the parking lot fraud at the Surrey Memorial hospital. Tearing down a brand new paring lot only to build another parking lot was a complete waste of tax dollars. City council needs to be fiscally responsible.

Langley mother charged with the murder of her 7 year old daughter

Global is reporting that "A Langley woman has been charged in the death of her seven-year-old daughter. Aaliyah Rosa was found dead in a Langley condo last month. On Monday, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said Rosa’s 36-year-old mother, Kerryann Lewis, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death."

"Court documents show the girl’s mother was once the subject of a restraining order and required supervision for visits with Aaliyah. In 2016, the girl’s father had sole custody and the mother was not allowed within 500 metres of the girl’s home or school. Supervised visits were granted in Feb. 2017, followed by unsupervised visits in May of this year."

Doug McCallum running strong campaign for mayor of Surrey: Bableen Rana joins Safe Surrey Coalition

The Sach Di Awaz, a local Punjabi newspaper, has a front page article stating Doug McCallum running strong campaign for mayor of Surrey announcing that Bableen Rana is the newest council candidate to join his Safe Surrey Coalition slate along with Doug Elford.

This is significant because it is an answer to the Wake up Surrey movement led by the South Asian Community. The same community that Tom Gill infuriated with his inaction on Surrey First and his suborn refusal to back down on the mega casino on rural land the South Asian community bitterly opposed along with the rest of us.

The IndoCanadain Voice is reporting that Bableen Rana has been a lawyer for 17 years and is a past president of the Surrey Newton Rotary Club. When McCallum was first elected as mayor Bableen served on Surrey’s Parks and Recreation Commission.

The Peace Arch News is reporting that "The slate also vows to scrap the “second-rate LRT in favour of SkyTrain along Fraser Highway,” and to pause development to “come up with smart community development guidelines that include affordable housing.”

Woman fatally shot on Edmonton reservation identified

CBC is reporting that "The woman shot to death this week on a reserve west of Edmonton was a young mother named Ellie May House, friends and community members say. The RCMP major crimes unit has been investigating the 31-year-old woman's death on the Paul First Nation reserve since early Tuesday morning."

Redd Alert is an Edmonton First Nations gang that sells drugs for the Hells Angels. Christian Grayhorseman's body was found on Boxing Day 2016 on the Paul First Nation reserve west of Edmonton. His mother said said her son started dealing drugs when he was 14 and that he was involved in organized crime. "I'm pretty sure it was RA - Redd Alert," she said.



Shawn Wruck, a 42-year-old former Edmonton man, was accused of killing his former girlfriend Shannon Collins, 29, on Dec. 22, 2007 in Kelowna. Her dead body was discovered in Strathcona County west of Edmonton. Shawn told an under cover officer that he had two women who belonged to the Redd Alert native street gang come over and choke the woman to death, and then he dumped the body. Shawn Wruck was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Shannon Collins January 2017. He received a life sentence for her murder.

In 2010 we reported that Shannon Collins murder had ties to the Edmonton Hells Angels. Shawn was pimping her out in Edmonton. When they broke up and she was ready to move to Calgary he had her killed. Those guys are such sleazebags. Shannon was a wonderful person.