Ontario stuntman murdered before being sentenced on drug charges

The Toronto Star is reporting that "Ontario-based stuntman Dean Ilia Copkov, 52, has been identified as one of two men killed in a double slaying in Collingwood, Ont., last week, shortly before he was due to be sentenced in Montreal on drug offences."

69-year-old grandfather gunned down in East Vancouver

CTV is reporting that "A 69-year-old man was shot dead on the doorstep of a home he shared with three generations of his family, including five children, one as young as two years old, neighbours say. Zenen Cepeda Silva was killed just after midnight on Fraser Street just south of 51st Avenue Sunday. His horrified wife and some of his children stayed in the house next door while police combed the lawn for evidence and dusted for prints."

CTV is reporting that "A man in his 50s has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a shooting in East Vancouver. Police announced the arrest of Alvaro Julio Roche-Garcia on Tuesday, three days after a grandfather was shot dead outside his family home. The 58-year-old suspect remains in custody, officers said."

Vanier Park Kite flier passes away at the age of 90

The Vancouver Sun / Province is reporting that "Ray Bethell, the self-taught kite flying maestro, who was a fixture at Vanier Park and an international star, died on Dec. 18, 2018, aged 90."

When my kids were young we loved going to Vanier park and take the passenger ferry over to Granville Island. We would get a year membership at the Vancouver Planetarium and go on a virtual voyage through space. We even took up flying two string kites thanks to Ray.

I remember seeing him there one day masterfully weaving three two sting kites at once like a conductor in a symphony. He made it look so easy so I decided to buy one in Gastown. Only it wasn't that easy. We couldn't figure out how to get the two string kite in the air. So I went back to the kite shop and they gave me the magic key.

They said hold your arms out straight parallel to the ground and move back until the kite strings are taunt. From there, take three steps back while gradually bringing your arms down to your sides. That was it. It worked. From there were were air-born.

One time I saw him there flying 21 kites at once. He had a two string kite in each hand and another connected to his hips. Then he had seven kites on each line. It turns out he wasn't just the average guy, he was a world record holder. There's lots of videos of him on youtube. Let's keep the tradition alive. It's great fun for the kid in all of us. The kite shop in Gastown has closed down but the one on Granville Island is still there.

Happy Birthday Amadeus

Today is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birthday (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791). To commemorate the event the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra held a Happy Birthday Amadeus concert at the Mount Baker Theater in Bellingham. It was awesome. Specials guest appearance from the legendary Martin Kuuskmann performed a flawless rendition of Mozart's bassoon concerto. Preserving the art is a worthwhile cause. Civilization is diminished without it.

4 charged with manslaughter in death of Kelowna man

Kelowna Now is reporting that "Three men and one woman have now been formally charged with manslaughter in relation to the 2018 death of Esa Carriere." He was killed outside City Hall at the Queensway bus loop following the Canada Day fireworks. A senseless tragedy.

Jury orders Mongols motorcycle club to forfeit logo

NBC is reporting that "A California jury decided Friday that the Mongols motorcycle gang should be stripped of its trademarked logo in a first-of-its-kind verdict, federal prosecutors said. The jury in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana previously found Mongol Nation, the entity that owns the image of a Mongol warrior on a chopper, guilty of racketeering and conspiracy. The verdict caps an unusual decade-long quest by prosecutors to dismantle the gang responsible for drug dealing and murder by seizing control of the trademark they said was core to the gang's identity."

I competently disagree with this verdict. It has nothing to do with fighting crime. It is about removing civil liberty and promoting the CIA's monopoly on drug trafficking. All Mongols don't sell drugs. That is ridiculous. The fact that they went after the Mongols and not the Hells Angels who have far more drug convictions than the Mongols represents unequal protection of the law.

The Aging Rebel is reporting that "Mongols attorney Joseph Yanny filed a motion to overturn the verdict that found a hypothetical affinity entity called Mongol Nation guilty of racketeering. Prosecutors have asked for time to respond to Yanny’s 35-page motion. Before implementing the forfeiture, Carter also intends to hear arguments on the constitutionality of the forfeiture. All that will be debated at the February hearing."

Constitutionality of the forfeiture? It is unconstitutional but that wouldn't be the first time the courts trampled on the Constitution. This is a dark day for civil liberty in the US. The flag has fallen.

Montreal real estate developer shot dead

CBC is reporting that "A man in his 50s is dead after he was found shot in the upper body in Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grâce district this morning. Multiple sources have confirmed to Radio-Canada the dead man is Tony Magi, a businessman with known ties to the Montreal Mafia."

The Montreal Gazette is reporting that "Magi, the construction entrepreneur who once had close business ties to Montreal Mafia leader Vito Rizzuto, was kidnapped in April 2005 and survived at least three subsequent attempts on his life, died shortly after he was taken to a hospital after having been shot." Magi owed money. The Montreal Gazette claims his death was inevitable.

Two fatal shootings in Kamloops

CBC is reporting that "Two men were shot and killed at two separate hotels in Kamloops Wednesday morning, and Mounties have yet to make any arrests. The first victim was discovered at around 6:50 a.m. PT at the Super 8 motel in Valleyview, according to an RCMP news release. He was lying on the ground, wounded and was taken to hospital. Two hours later, police found a second injured man outside the Comfort Inn and Suites on Rogers Place, about a 10-kilometre drive from the first shooting scene. Shortly after noon, RCMP reported both men had died."

Global is reporting that Rex Gill of Penticton, B.C. was one of the fatalities in Kamloops. In the picture they posted he's wearing a MC vest.

Kamloops BC Now is reporting that "The 31-year-old male victim of the Super 8 Hotel shooting has been identified as Cody Marcel Mathieu from Kamloops. He was previously known to police. The victim of the Comfort Inn and Suites was 41-year-old Rex Edward Gill from Penticton. He was not previously known to police. Police believe that organized crime was behind the violence, therefore, targeting specific people."

Castanet is reporting that "Police say a burned out vehicle was found in the Barnharvale area Wednesday that matches the description of a vehicle seen in the area at the time of the second homicide." They are referring to the double homicide as gang related.

US Government shutdown insanity

The US government shut down is absolutely insane. Not because someone wants to build a wall or create affordable medical, but because politicians can't agree on something government employees don't get paid. That doesn't happen in Canada. In fact I don't know of any other country in the world where it does happen. That's something that only happens in a third world country. The fact that the politicians are still being paid even though the government employees aren't is obscene. If the politicians are still being paid so should the government employees.

Don't get me wrong. I am a staunch supporter of the US Constitution but this flaw has nothing to do with the Constitution. There is no reason the politicians can't pass a bill stating that government employees continue to get paid during a legislative gridlock. There is no reason.

American politics right now is a circus side show of self promotion. Both camps are cult like. No offense, but crossing the 49th parallel right now is is like entering the Twilight zone.

The Federalist Papers ~ Exploring Federalist 51: Legislative Power ~ Madison was NOT wrong

"Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit." The Federalist 51

Canada Pension Plan still investing in Communist China

CNBC is reporting that "Canada's vast pension fund is sticking with China even as political tensions mount." AYFKM? OUR pension funds are invested in a Communist country that murders and tortures political prisoners? That needs to change. People talk about ethical investments. Right now Communist China is an unethical investment.

Amnesty International has called upon China to release the numbers of people they execute ever yar. Right now the number of people they kill is a state secret. Amnesty International claims that the Chinese authorities executed thousands of people in 2009, more than the rest of the world combined. These aren't people convicted of drug dealing or murder. These are political prisoners executed to order for organ harvesting.

We need to look at the torture that includes human rights lawyers in China.

Canada Pension investing in China knowing that is like investing in Adolf Hitler during the Holocaust. We need to change that investment of public funds.