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Kickstarter Check-In: Sun Haven, Patagon: The Forbidden Island
by Alex Fuller · Published October 12, 2020 · Updated October 12, 2020
RPGamer's ad hoc Kickstarter Check-In feature returns for a look at two ongoing crowdfunding campaigns. This edition features Pixel Sprout Studios' Sun Haven, as well as Something Awesome Games' Patagon: The Forbidden Island.
Sun Haven
Pixel Sprout Studios' Sun Haven is a multiplayer farming sim/fantasy RPG. The game is set in the eponymous, struggling town of Sun Haven, and it is up to players to help revitalise it. Nearby the town is the monster city of Withergate, which has been rumored of late to attract creatures with strange technology.
Players have freedom in what role they play in Sun Haven, such as farming, mining, fishing, or adventuring. It also includes questlines and sixteen romanceable NPCs. The game includes 50 types of crops, over 40 types of fish, and numerous fantasy creatures to raise. It also includes a cooking system, with over 40 current recipes and more being added. Combat is real-time and features melee, ranged, and magic attack options. Up to eight players can join together in online multiplayer.
Pixel Sprout Studios is looking for $44,700 in funding with the campaign set to run until October 29, 2020. Those who pledge at least $25 will receive a copy of the game as part of their backer rewards. Sun Haven is being developed for PC and Mac, with potential mobile and Nintendo Switch versions under consideration, and is currently expected to launch in May 2021.
Patagon: The Forbidden Island
Something Awesome Games' Patagon: The Forbidden Island is a virtual-reality steampunk RPG, though a non-VR version will also be available. It takes place in an alternate world where the British Empire continues to exist and zeppelins are the primary method of travelling around the world. Players control a retired army lieutenant turned hunter and explore an island inhabited by dinosaurs.
Patagon: The Forbidden Island lets players fully explore the open seven-square-mile island and features a mixture of stealth, action, and puzzles. The game includes multiplayer for up to four players, who can either play through the main campaign or one-shot missions. The world features a two-hour day-night cycle with enemies that behave differently depending on the time of day and NPCs that are only available at certain times. Players will be able to customise their character.
Something Awesome Games is looking for $30,000 in funding with the campaign set to run until October 30, 2020. Those who pledge at least $29 will receive a copy of the game as part of their backer rewards. Patagon: The Forbidden Island is being developed for PC and PlayStation platforms and is currently expected to fully launch in late 2021. The game will support PlayStation VR and all headsets that support Steam VR.
Please note that RPGamer's crowdfunding coverage is solely at staff discretion. Campaigns may send a press release to news@rpgamer.com, but are asked to please not personally petition RPGamer staff via e-mail or social networking. Coverage is not guaranteed. Thank you!
Tags: KickstarterMacPatagon: The Forbidden IslandPCPixel Sprout StudiosPS4PSVRSomething Awesome GamesSteam VRSun HavenVR
Legends of Ellaria Full Release Set for Q3 2020
by Alex Fuller · Published June 6, 2020
Tainted Grail Coming to Steam Early Access in June
Fallen Legion: Flames of Rebellion Receiving Limited Run Physical PS4 Edition
by Alex Fuller · Published February 25, 2020
Next story Witch Spring 3 Re:Fine Launching in December in Japan
Previous story The Magister Switch Version Announced


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Q: I would like a matplotlib graph created in python to open via button on my pqt main window I have created a graph in python using pandas to extract the data and matplotlib to create a graph. I have then created a main window with one button in qt designer and created a py file copy so I can add a function to the button to open the graph from the python application. Is there a way to actual do this? I have used
subprocess.call(['pythonw', baebropgh.py])

but this opens the main window which is good but when I click the button a terminal opens and just says RESTART: shell
below is the code from the pyqt:
from PyQt5 import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets
import subprocess

class Ui_MainWindow(object):
def setupUi(self, MainWindow):
    MainWindow.setObjectName("MainWindow")
    MainWindow.resize(800, 600)
    self.centralwidget = QtWidgets.QWidget(MainWindow)
    self.centralwidget.setObjectName("centralwidget")
    #push button graph
    self.pushButton = QtWidgets.QPushButton(self.centralwidget)
    self.pushButton.setGeometry(QtCore.QRect(300, 240, 111, 21))
    self.pushButton.setObjectName("pushButton")
    #push button action
    self.pushButton.clicked.connect(self.open_file)

MainWindow.setCentralWidget(self.centralwidget)
    self.menubar = QtWidgets.QMenuBar(MainWindow)
    self.menubar.setGeometry(QtCore.QRect(0, 0, 800, 21))
    self.menubar.setObjectName("menubar")
    MainWindow.setMenuBar(self.menubar)
    self.statusbar = QtWidgets.QStatusBar(MainWindow)
    self.statusbar.setObjectName("statusbar")
    MainWindow.setStatusBar(self.statusbar)

self.retranslateUi(MainWindow)
    QtCore.QMetaObject.connectSlotsByName(MainWindow)

def retranslateUi(self, MainWindow):
    _translate = QtCore.QCoreApplication.translate
    MainWindow.setWindowTitle(_translate("MainWindow", "MainWindow"))
    self.pushButton.setText(_translate("MainWindow", "Graph"))

def open_file(self):
    subprocess.call(['pythonw', baebrogph.py])

if __name__ == "__main__":
import sys
app = QtWidgets.QApplication(sys.argv)
MainWindow = QtWidgets.QMainWindow()
ui = Ui_MainWindow()
ui.setupUi(MainWindow)
MainWindow.show()
sys.exit(app.exec_())

A: I found a work around. I just save the plot graph as a png using
plt.savefig('foo.png')

then got the button in my pyqt to open the png file.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Oracle SUM function not working in Select clause I have the attached code below in which the sum(slice) column is giving me same results even if I don't use the SUM function. Can somebody help me fix the code?
Also need the following:
Currently, it is giving output as:

Task Name             Resource ID                  Slice Date            Slice Hours
abc                       123                         4/1                   8.50
abc                       123                         4/2                   7.50
abc                       123                         4/3                   8.50

I need output as:
Task Name          Resource ID                     Slice Date            Slice Hours
abc                       123                      4/1 – 4/30        <Total for the month>
xyz                       123                      4/1 – 4/30        <Total for the month>

select distinct PCF.project_code as project_id,
    PCF.project_name as project_name,
    RCF.resource_id,
    RCF.last_name || ' ' || RCF.first_name as resource_name,
    Tsh.slice_date as fact_date,
    sum(tsh.slice) "Total Slice",
    T.prname as TaskName,
    task_info.phase_code as phase_code,
    task_info.phase_name as phase_name,
    task_info.task_sequence as task_outline
from prj_blb_slicerequests tsr
JOIN  prj_blb_slices tsh ON tsr.id = tsh.slice_request_id
JOIN prtimeentry TE ON tsh.prj_object_id = te.prid
JOIN prtimesheet TS ON TS.prid = TE.prtimesheetid
 JOIN  prAssignment A ON TE.prassignmentid = A.prid
 JOIN prtask T ON A.prtaskid = T.prid
JOIN nbi_resource_current_facts RCF ON TS.prresourceid = RCF.resource_id
 JOIN nbi_project_current_facts PCF ON T.prprojectid = PCF.project_id
 JOIN prj_projects PP ON PCF.project_id = PP.prid
 JOIN (select task_id, phase_code, phase_name, task_name, task_sequence from cust_phase_rollup_v) task_info ON T.prid = task_info.task_id
where tsr.request_name = 'Daily Timeentry Actuals'
  and tsh.slice > 0
  and ts.prstatus < 5
  and tsh.slice_date >= to_date('1-MAY-14')
  and tsh.slice_date <= to_date('31-MAY-14')
group by project_code, project_name, resource_id, RCF.last_name || ' ' || RCF.first_name, Tsh.slice_date, T.prname, task_info.phase_code,
  task_info.phase_name, task_info.task_sequence
order by project_id

A: 2 problems:

*

*You want results per month, not per day, so instead of just selecting the slice_date, you should convert that into month/year format.

*To use an aggregate function, you need a corresponding group by in your query. You should group by all of the other columns you're selecting.
This should work (untested, though):
select distinct PCF.project_code as project_id,
    PCF.project_name as project_name,
    RCF.resource_id,
    RCF.last_name || ' ' || RCF.first_name as resource_name,
    to_char(Tsh.slice_date, 'mm/yyyy') as fact_date,
    sum(tsh.slice) "Total Slice",
    T.prname as TaskName,
    task_info.phase_code as phase_code,
    task_info.phase_name as phase_name,
    task_info.task_sequence as task_outline
from prj_blb_slicerequests tsr
JOIN  prj_blb_slices tsh ON tsr.id = tsh.slice_request_id
JOIN prtimeentry TE ON tsh.prj_object_id = te.prid
JOIN prtimesheet TS ON TS.prid = TE.prtimesheetid
 JOIN  prAssignment A ON TE.prassignmentid = A.prid
 JOIN prtask T ON A.prtaskid = T.prid
JOIN nbi_resource_current_facts RCF ON TS.prresourceid = RCF.resource_id
 JOIN nbi_project_current_facts PCF ON T.prprojectid = PCF.project_id
 JOIN prj_projects PP ON PCF.project_id = PP.prid
 JOIN (select task_id, phase_code, phase_name, task_name, task_sequence from cust_phase_rollup_v) task_info ON T.prid = task_info.task_id
where tsr.request_name = 'Daily Timeentry Actuals'
  and tsh.slice > 0
  and ts.prstatus < 5
  and tsh.slice_date >= to_date('1-MAY-14')
  and tsh.slice_date <= to_date('31-MAY-14')
  group by PCF.project_code,
           PCF.project_name,
           RCF.resource_id,
           RCF.last_name || ' ' || RCF.first_name,
           to_char(Tsh.slice_date, 'mm/yyyy'),
           T.prname,
           task_info.phase_code,
           task_info.phase_name,
           task_info.task_sequence
  order by PCF.project_code


A means of building away from the KSC (Ground Construction/Extraplanetary Launchpads) is recommended but not strictly required.
These parts are heavy, either UbioZur welding or careful assembly is recommended.
Parts are designed to work with Umbra Space Industries, but will function as a simple cosmetic parts pack if installed without.
Functions with stock KSP install, contains configs for Connect Living Space, Umbra Space Industries, and Near Future Electrical compatibility.
Hello chaps, not posted much at all so I hope this is not a breach of etiquette.
After a considerable break I came back to KSP some months ago to find that the base building aspect of modding has become very well developed. I started a new career mode and duly assembled first a rudimentary temporary shelter, then a network of inflatables that could feed themselves, then a fancy manufacturing base. Like any good materialist, however, I asked myself what would come next and considered that there may exist a niche for more permanent facilities in the style of science fiction imaginings from, for example, Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars.
What I propose to pursue, then, is a project that incorporates a set of concrete (or equivalent material) parts designed to be manufactured on site using, for example, Allista's Ground Constuction, at greater economy than lighter, more mobile parts.
I fear this is my first such project and have had to learn blender/unity/GIMP, thus the quality is most assuredly not the highest, still I present for you what I've put together so far with some stock parts for scale. Currently acutely lacking in detailed textures, but I feel they tesselate and snap together quite nicely to create a range of geometries. Yet to attempt windows, hatches, or bump mapping which I feel will probably be quite involved but add significantly.
Have you considered part welding?
Part welding does seem like it would complement nice to prevent droopiness. It is still a tree based structure I suspect that drooping might be a problem with more elaborate structures when I set the weight properly.
I've been working on detailing the textures, as well as sorting out an inverted corner primitive. We've wear and bevel effects on the large panels, and filled in casting holes. I'm quite happy with the effect and can't presently imagine anything else to add purely through textures, I'll probably not add dirt and grime, which seems to be a staple of concrete texturing, both for the shiny science fiction utopianess and variety of possibly environments. Masonry screws might add a nice metallic glint to the parts but I think they'd look silly without joining plates which probably warrant model detail. If anyone has feedback or suggestions I'd be pleased to hear them.
Hmm, I've started making windowed parts and thought I could be slightly tricky by reusing textures with flipped UV maps (isomers, you know). But it seems this messes up the normal mapping. Am I correct in assuming then that to use normal maps and/or specularity maps all UV mappings need to have the same 'handedness'? Not a great tragedy if so, but would be a nice efficiency gain.
Also, I'm getting some strange artifacts running along certain convex edges depending on where the sun is, not evident from pictures. It's present to a lesser extent on stock parts like the cupola that have convex edges and some reflectivity in their specular maps which suggests it might be unavoidable, looks like triangular shadows running endlessly along the edge. Anything I might be doing wrong to cause this?
No emissives on the windows yet. Not sure how I want to distribute functions yet. Probably USI LS hab multipliers/greenhouse on the windows, module swap on the plain parts for storage/hab time. Probably do parts with a single detailed face like the airlock for labs, battery blocks to feed all the USI modules, etc.
I've put together a pre-release before putting it out into the addon releases section. I would appreciate it if any interested parties would give it a download and see if it conforms to expectations or if anything needs fixing. Github can be found through the download link for logging issues.
Can't speak for the functioning parts. I play sandbox. Not sure how I'll use these yet, but I had fun for about an hour last night just snapping parts together. Works as advertised. Looks good up close. Nice Job.
Real nice job on the textures, i'll download for a play when i can.
What happened to this mod?
Well, there were a few things. First of all, my working practices aren't terribly efficient and I was finding myself with less time. Secondly, having achieved a release I thought 'well, that's done, now I can proceed at a more leisurely pace'. Thirdly, I was trying to work on more detailed parts and while I thought what was coming together wasn't terrible it wasn't terribly good either. Lastly, I'd rather hoped for these parts to fill a role in career mode, but was having trouble finding a way to make that balanced, and by the time I'd have the infrastructure myself in place the scene would be too laggy regardless.


The mobile company was found to not be infringing a patent Microsoft holds related to applications running on different devices.
Score one for Motorola Mobility in the company's ongoing legal battle with Microsoft.
The Google subsidiary today was found to not be infringing a patent Microsoft holds related to applications running on different devices without having to write separate code for each product. The ruling came down in the Mannheim Regional Court in Germany, which has become a hotbed of patent lawsuit activity.
Motorola's victory today comes less than a week after a federal appeals panel in San Francisco upheld an earlier ruling that stopped the mobile company from blocking Microsoft's Xbox and Windows software sales in Germany. Motorola had previously won a ruling in Germany over Microsoft's use of its H.264 patent in its products. A U.S. court has stopped the injunction from being enforced, pending investigation into the matter in the U.S.
That issue, along with today's ruling, seems to highlight one key point: neither Microsoft nor Motorola has been able to gain an upperhand. In fact, when one company wins a case, the other quickly steps forward with its own success.
A similar scenario has been playing out in other cases between mobile companies.
Today's ruling does not affect other cases Microsoft and Motorola have open around the world. However, it's one less issue the companies -- and weary spectators -- need to worry about.
CNET has contacted both Microsoft and Motorola for comment. We will update this story when we have more information.


Hi there! I've acquired a motherboard and a processor that both support 64 bit. I would like to know if I'll be able to work with the AUDIGY2S(assuming I install XP 64), or will I need any special drivers, or updates, since on the Creative site they mention compatibility with XP, but nothing about 64. I'm asking about a sound card, but i'm also interested to know about other hardware - assuming that I have a hardware component that works only with 32(its a RADEON X300, BTW), will I get 32 bit performance in all aspects of the system due to a bottle neck effect? I'd appreciate links to 64 bit transfer dedicated sites. Thanks!
Having a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system mainly depends upon the operating system that is loaded on your primary hard drive (generally drive C:). However, your motherboard's components, i.e., processor and amount of system RAM, will be a major factor in determining whether you can only run a 32-bit operating system, or upgrade to a 64-bit system.
Simply acquire a copy of Windows XP 64bit and install. You should then update all drivers needed with 64 bit drivers.
Make sure that you really have a Windows 64 bit because that sounds like windows 32 bit OS, besides that also check that your Processor have a 64bit architecture.
I want to know if i can install windows 7on computer,i've a motherboard GA-8S661FXM-775,& 512 RAM?
Look up your motherboard in the hardware section and you will have the answer.
You will need the 64 bit install CD and you'll have to completely re-install, but this is only an option if you have a 64 bit processor. In all reality, 32 bit offers the most compatibility and the gains of 64 bit are small at this point in time.
To use a pao88 on Win7 64bit you will need to have Win7 Ultimate, Professional or Enterprise edition AND your computers processor must support hardware virtualisation.
Dowload and install the latest version of XP Mode.
Install the cable in XP mode.
Turn on USB compatibility in XP mode.
I connected and ran a successfull diagnostic test on an old serial modem without issue.
i suggest taking the 64Bit Disk back to the shop, and ask for the 32bit version, then reinstall windows with this version.
64Bit windows will have this problem , if you do try to use legacy applications on it.
you can try to run the program in compatibility mode, by right clicking on the executable, and going to the properties window and ticking the Run in Compatibility mode. sorry i am not near a 64bit machine at the moment, so cannot tell you the exact wording.
Can i install a 64 bit of 32 bit Computer?
Yes you can, unfortunately you can not upgrade from 32bit to 64bit, you would need to do a fresh installation. Also your processor and motherboard need to support 64-bit architecture. If you start the installation for the 64bit if the architecture isnt supported it would notify you that the installation can not be completed with an error message.
Enjoy your copy of Windows 7 64-bit if it works.
HI. that is not possible on your hp pavilion 9800, the architecture design of your motherboard and the processor installed in this computer is on 32bit microprocessor. In order to install a 64bit operating system, you need a motherboard and a processor designed in 64bit.
toshiba satellite l300 restart after being conected with power Hi, i have an old Toshiba 1300. after i connect it to power it just restart. I noticed that in battery mode runs just fine. What can i do to fix the laptop?
Have a manual for Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card?


text:
DAI's Enrique Giraldo Presents Best Practices in Fiscal Reform at High-Level OECD Events
Since the passage of El Salvador's Access to Public Information Law in 2011, DAI has assisted that government to promote fiscal transparency initiatives including a public-private sector agreement on fiscal transparency policy, adopting International Public Sector Accounting Standards, upgrading the Government Financial Management Information System, implementing an e-procurement system, and launching a revamped Fiscal Transparency Portal.
These initiatives and more are what DAI's Enrique Giraldo will share at two upcoming events hosted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): The Symposium on Anti-Corruption Development Assistance: Good Practices among Providers of Development Cooperation, and a meeting of Task Force on Tax and Development. Both events will take place in Paris on December 11 and 12.
Giraldo, the Chief of Party on the El Salvador Fiscal Policy and Expenditure Management Program (FPEMP) funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, will present at the Symposium lessons learned from the program's experience facilitating the implementation of a Trilateral Cooperation Agreement between the governments of Brazil, the United States, and El Salvador—an innovative partnership for peer learning, best practice, and lesson sharing.
Giraldo will also share El Salvador's redesigned Fiscal Transparency Portal, which provides timely, relevant, user-friendly information on the country's public finances, including interactive graphics, a citizen's guide to the budget, and a one-stop to most relevant information on budget planning, execution, and monitoring and evaluation.
At the Task Force meeting, Giraldo will showcase evidence on sustained assistance to build El Salvador's tax system. He will also take stock of DAI's assistance to the government in the past decade with helping raise tax revenue from less than 12 percent of GDP in 2004 to nearly 16 percent of GDP in 2014 through the 2005–2010 USAID-funded Tax Policy and Administration Reform program and the 2011–2015 FPEMP program.
DAI's assistance through these programs has consisted of holistically supporting the national tax administration to implement technologically enhanced services, fewer but better tax audits, reduced fraud and corruption, improved taxpayer services, cutting-edge tax analysis, anti-transfer pricing techniques, up-to-date taxpayer registry and current account, tackling tax arrears, performance-driven culture, and a country-wide tax awareness program for youth. Domestic resource mobilization has allowed the government of El Salvador to meet its expenditure commitments through increased social spending, mainly in education and health programs.
Through FPEMP, DAI works to advance the Government of El Salvador's fiscal reform agenda by building capacity and improving systems for enhanced public expenditure management, improved tax revenue mobilization, and strengthened private sector engagement.
DAI Project Supports Key Investment Forum in Northern Iraq
DAI is supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to bring together international and diaspora investors with local businesses to showcase the investment potential of northern Iraq at the Ninewa Investment Forum on December 3-5 in Erbil, Iraq.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Policing in Canada's LaLa Land
Posted on May 16, 2022 by Pete Cross
Hitting the headlines in the past couple of weeks was the fact that the NDP led government of British Columbia released a report by the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act , dated April 2022, entitled "Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia".
Fairly or unfairly, most times these types of reports receive little or no attention. This report by ten MPP's seemed to garner headlines for two primary reasons; one being that both of the current political parties produced a bi-partisan report in a rare act of consensus; the implication being that this report could therefore actually result in action. Secondly, it was news because one of its eleven recommendations was that the currently contracted RCMP should be replaced as the Provincial level police force.
It is still a government report of course, so it will likely atrophy on those always burgeoning government shelves. Especially a report with especially grand recommendations. Even In the body of this ninety-six page report they state that enactment of their recommendations will take: "many years and successive parliaments to enact". So if you are a bettor, bet the under, as the odds of retaining the political attention of successive governments are not good.
In terms of full disclosure, few of you who on occasion read this blog would be shattered to learn that there is a belief, that this once proud organization is structurally flawed and needs to be re-built. Nothing less than a tear down– if there is to be any hope of reformative change. If that is not possible, unlikely, or more accurately never undertaken, then there is little cogent argument against having the RCMP replaced in the Province of BC or any other contracted Province.
This current proposed structural re-alignment is not the first time that this has either been proposed. So no one should be shocked by a recommendation of this kind.
What is shocking is an actual reading of this report reveals some clear and deeply flawed assertions, some mis-held perspectives and is more a reflection of "woke" in-breeding than thoughtful contemplation.
What is truly appalling is the recommendations in this report which are not being talked about. Recommendations which are aimed at totally altering the policing structure in this province to the benefit of a single favoured political group. Even though they state that the goal was to work towards "modernization and sustainability", the flaw and subjective bias in this report is revealed quickly at the very beginning of this report.
In their words there is a need to determine the "scope of systemic racism with policing agencies" and that their study must be "consistent with the United Declarations of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples". Their underlining principle therefore is formed around the "increasing widespread awareness of systemic racism in policing…(therefore) transformal change is required". This is of course a perspective that those in policing circles, if brave enough, would categorically dispute. Unfortunately, police leadership in this country are proving themselves to be sheep not shepherds.
To be fair one can not accuse this committee of not spending a great deal of time listening (and tax dollars) in the pursuit of their truth. They list over four hundred and ten agencies and individuals who came before them over the course of eighteen months. Predictably, there were the usual organizations, those that seem to appear before every committee: Civil Liberties, social workers, Downtown Eastside Women's centre with a group called "Red Women Rising", numerous Indian bands throughout the Province, Pivot Legal Society, and even the University of Victoria Environmental Law Centre .
The police were also more than adequately represented: the RCMP, the Chiefs of Police, various Municipal police agencies, Vancouver City Police, the Pacific Training Centre, Depot Division of the RCMP, Nelson Police Department, and the list goes on. One has to wonder what these policing groups thought of the final report and whether it reflected their views in any semblance.
This smorgasbord of agencies and individuals led the committee to come up with eleven recommendations based on hearing "clear evidence of systemic racism in policing as well as the colonial structure of police services". Ironically, they also heard that many of the Indigenous communities were both "over-policed and under served" –all in the same breath.
The "clear evidence" of systemic racism is a little more difficult to find in the report. There were muddled explanations of that evidence, such as the one by the Human Rights Commissioner who found there were "patterns of behaviour..that create and maintain the power of certain racial groups over others". How one patterns the entire report on a presumption, without definitive evidence of the underlying premise, is manifestly frustrating.
The police agencies appearing before the Committee, with little doubt talked about things such as service delivery, oversight, accountability, and funding. There was talk of the mental health and addiction issues, and the recommendations coming from that part of the world are also highly predictable. More resources, more funding.
So what are the Eleven recommendations? They are listed here as they appear in order in the report. I paraphrase them here, in the interest of brevity.
Leading the recommendations, first and foremost, is not the creation of a Provincial Police force but:
That the Indigenous have direct input into the structure and governance of police services. The Indigenous need to be involved in the drafting of a revised Police Act.
The Indigenous clearly have now garnered a special advisory relationship in all matters of government whether it be pipelines, the environment, climate change, or lumber and mining, and this now continues into policing. Special laws and special courts already exist, and now their wish is for their own police departments. Their claimed expertise seems limitless. On page 64 of the report, they go even further in that there was a need to "establish robust and well-funded Indigenous civilian police oversight bodies…in all jurisdictions"
2. The formation of a BC wide Provincial Police Force.
This is explained as now being needed primarily because of the "fragmentation" of services. The report authors also point to the needs of of consistent education and training and the sometimes jurisdictional boundaries which interfere with communication and that consistency.
3. That the Indigenous have direct input into their police "service structure and governance".
What the authors imagine is that the Indigenous be allowed to have their own self-administered policing services as well as the full governance over those services.
This recommendation also includes a revision of the type of training and education that will be required for all police services. In effect extending programs such as "Circle of Understanding". In anticipation of this being a successful venture they hypothesize that the Indigenous police services may be able to expand and offer up their services to other non-Indigenous neighbourhoods and jurisdictions who are in close proximity. Logistically just to be clear, in this Province there are 13 municipal departments, and 65 RCMP municipal agencies. There are 198 "distinct First Nations". Does that mean a potential 198 new police departments? (One wonders how one points to an apparent problem of the fragmentation of police services in the province and then recommends further fragmentation.)
The Indigenous want to be involved in oversight to "observe and oversee in (all) cases involving Indigenous peoples".
4. That there be some revision of the Mental Health Act which includes integrating Mental Health worker attendance into the 911 dispatch system. They also recommend that there be "increasing investment in social services".
5. That there be "equitable access to high quality police…" …which is "informed by the community". It is not real clear as to what this even means.
6. An equitable shared "funding Model".
7. Police Education to be increased.
8. The need to collect and report "disaggregated race-based" demographics. This is interesting because for a number of years, questions directed as to race involvement in crime were in and of themselves discriminatory. The intention here is that if they gather this disaggregated evidence they will be able to prove that there is racial inequality in the enforcement of laws in this Province.
9. Civilian oversight. Not easily done but difficult to argue against and most police officials would counter by saying that there is already policing/civilian oversight.
10. Review of the Mental Health Act.
11. The establishment of an all-party standing committee on policing and community safety.
Of course this report is much more effusive under each of these categories, but you get the intended direction.
The National Police Federation are already out on the hustings, running countering media spin, no doubt apoplectic at the thought of their union representation taking a 4,000 member hit if in fact a Provincial Force was formed. They are reverting to their tried and true arguments, calling the recommendation a "little odd" and a "little premature". After all they say they have done "waves and waves of independent research in policing in British Columbia, and consistently British Columbians have told us they were very satisfied with policing they receive from the RCMP". Of course it is not independent research, but that may be nitpicking, but they too are missing the point. This is not about individual police officers being liked or doing a good job. This is about the structure of an Ottawa headed police force being inert and ineffectual in terms of its ability to police portions of this country.
The possibility of a Provincial replacement force, first surfaced in 1994 under Judge Wally Oppal. It has now surfaced a couple of decades later, and will likely re-re- surface again a couple of decades from now. There is little need to concern ourselves with this recommendation.
As to the other recommendations. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the government would review the report and its recommendations and consult with "community groups" and "First Nation leaders". Apparently you as the actual police, have no input here as to the recommendations.
This report is another ridiculous and over bearing attempt by the government to genuflect to the dialogue of the enlightened, to bow to a special interest group, regardless of the actual needs of policing. It would establish a fragmented policing structure, where different laws and different levels of enforcement would create two separate classes of individuals, laws and their enforcement based on race, not on equality before the law.
This report should be buried on the very last shelf in the dingy basement of the Legislature.
Photo Courtesy of Flickr Commons by Stuart Butterfield – Some Rights Reserved
Posted in UncategorizedTagged committee on reforming the police act, governance, indigenous, mental health act, mike farnworth, NDP, police structure, provincial police, public safety minister, RCMP, systemic racism, transforming policing, Wally Oppal1 Comment
Good-bye to Commissioner Lucki?
Posted on April 14, 2022 by Pete Cross
It has been widely rumoured, keep in mind, one knows what an Ottawa rumour is worth, that RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is headed to retirement in June 2022. Let's say from the outset, I do not know Ms. Lucki personally, have never even seen her in a public forum, so on a personal level one can only wish her a the best in her retirement after a lengthy period of service.
As an interested observer from afar however, or as simply a member of the general public, the time seems appropriate to evaluate her time on the Mountie throne.
In terms of our ability to measure her time and effectiveness, she did not leave us much to go on.
Ms. Lucki was "the leader the Mounties needed" according to Justin Trudeau in 2018; who he judged to be the "absolutely best person for the job, who just happens to be a woman". The fact that he needed to add "happens to be a woman" is clearly a glimpse in to what Mr. Trudeau saw a pre-requisite for this job.
She was heralded as the 1st "permanent" woman to head the RCMP, her predecessor Bev Busson only being around for a short time in her "temporary" position. (Long enough clearly though to score sufficient points for an eventual Senate seat.)
In 2018 the decade of women advancement in policing was in full bloom much like in all the other government departments across the country. Women were reaching new heights in terms of leadership roles across the organization and at an unprecedented speed. They were in effect being "over-represented" in order for an organization to progress and just as importantly to at the very least be deemed progressive.
In her acceptance of the post as the 24th Commissioner, Lucki outlined her primary plans for "bolstering diversity"and "reconciliation with indigenous persons". She pointed to her previous successes with the First Nations of northern Manitoba. The speech could have and may have been written by Gerald Butts. No real mention of the brewing problems of contract policing or the upcoming possible unionization of the membership. She, unlike most of her predecessors was a one dimensional candidate, with a singular approach to what ailed the Mounties. Diversity and inclusion would be from the beginning to the end her single mantra.
Her background reflected an insular policing career–in the Peace keeping program in Ottawa, as the head of Depot training centre in Regina, as part of the United Nations protection force in Yugoslavia. None of these positions pointed to a larger understanding of Federal or Provincial policing, the true fundamental core of the RCMP.
The problem of course, like many Federal employees is that Lucki was a liberal in speech only, in knowing the right things to say and where to say them as opposed to knowing the machinations that would be needed to carry out any re-conditioning. She was playing the game of "representation" and "diversity", without really knowing how she was going to accomplish this, or fully appreciating that the Force that extended past Ottawa didn't share the same level of concern. Secondly, decades of processes and ingrained cultural history were simply not going to be won over from the confines of a committee room in Ottawa.
In essence she was pulled up by the language of the Woke, then got entangled in the spider-web language of the Woke. Her credence and her dilemma began to unravel once she came under the Liberal magnifying glass of the truly Woke of Ottawa. She aptly demonstrated her conundrum a mere two years later when she flip-flopped on the term "systemic racism".
She also quickly learned that the Indigenous leadership in this country will turn on you very quickly– should you dare to question their "truth". Her award for building relationships in Manitoba was as flimsy as the paper on which it was written when confronted by the dialogue of the Indigenous victim. She was caught between knowing that in fact, in the policing world, there is little evidence if any of "systemic racism" by its true definition and on the other side was what she needed to say to appease. She floundered. She knew that if she stated her truth she would have been in full conflict with the people who put her there.
So twenty-four hours later desperate to be on the side of the righteous left, she became a convert, and admitted to "systemic racism". Unfortunately, she was then asked for examples to prove her conversion and once again, she became the proverbial fish out of water. The example she felt that bolstered her new claim of "systemic racism" was the "height" requirements for Mounties. When someone pointed out that this was more likely "discrimination" rather than "racism" she bumbled once again. The next day, Bill Blair had to come to her rescue and do damage control.
So a mere two years after her start, Perry Bellegarde the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs called for her "resignation". Apparently her "strong focus on advancing Indigenous reconciliation" had failed– the Indigenous now not wanting to "reconcile" with the Commissioner.
She kept trying though. When asked during an interview as a leader of the RCMP what was the toughest decision she faced, she confusingly answered that it was listening to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry testimony. Her need to appease clearly had overwhelmed her ability to even understand the concept of what constitutes a "decision".
It may have became clear early on to the Liberals, that it may be best if she remained silent and in the background.
Suffice to say that for the last couple of years, we have never had a quieter Commissioner. We went from the somewhat bombastic Paulson to the uncomfortable introvert.
Even when the Force was chastised or lambasted for its lack of leadership, she remained quiet, seemingly unable or incapable to defend. Recently the Information Commissioner of Canada said that "the RCMP is failing in terms of its obligation to ensure Canadians have access to information about its operation and decision making…" that this "lack of action on the part of the RCMP leadership" had been going on for too long.
When a human rights watchdog agency had its requests ignored about the "spying on Indigenous and climate activists" it led to "inexcusable delays" and they accused Lucki of simply ignoring the matter. So the Commissioner who had promised to a program of "listening and learning" wasn't listening and had not learned that one needs to get ahead of issues. The ongoing examination of the incident in Portapique, is looking like another embarrassment of riches in terms of failures to get things done, at least on a broader level.
Under Lucki, the organization has continued to be inert, unable to act or react, weighed down by a suffocating bureaucracy.
This would have been a difficult time for any Commissioner, it would have taken an extremely strong leader to counter the accepted narrative. Commissioner Lucki clearly did not have that capability. One would have had to at times embarrass the Liberals, stand up to ridiculous assertions, outline the resourcing and staffing difficulties, and point to the failings as well as the successes. She did not or could not do that.
We should also remember that Ms. Lucki was picked by a large panel of seven individuals headed by former Premier of New Brunswick Frank McKenna. How is it that this crew could have felt in those tentative times, that Ms. Lucki was the best choice from across Canada?
One wonders that if there was a Walk of Fame for former Commissioners built outside Leikin Drive –who would get a star or a set of spurs in concrete. Maybe Paulson, if infamy is important, for his crocodile tears on settling the sexual harassment suit and paying out millions of dollars. It was at the very least a memorable media moment.
Elliott who ran into the wall of Mountie intransigence and was apparently given to throwing papers around. Not likely. But then again his intemperance may have been earned.
Zaccardelli who was forced to resign by Harper over the Maher Arar incident for not quite telling the full truth about the RCMP involvement. Again, not likely.
Busson will probably get one after all, she was the first 'woman" to accept the post, at least temporarily.
One wonders for the next round of Commissioner applications if we are we still in the age of firsts– first woman, first black, first Indigenous, first LGBTQ member? One can only hope that in the next selection for Commissioner we have run out of "first" as being a qualification.
So who will that next Commissioner be? There is another rumour that it may be the current Acting Executive Director of Strategic Policy and Planning Directorate, Alison Whelan. Apparently she is good friends of Lucki, but I am not so sure that Lucki's pick will carry much weight.
Ms. Whelan is a policy wonk and a long term civilian civil servant in the RCMP. She joined the Federal government as a policy analyst in 2003, then into the RCMP in 2013 to "manage policy development" and to provide "analysis on national security, serious and organized crime." In 2018 she moved over to National Security and Protective policy. She has a Masters in Political Science from Memorial University in Newfoundland and is co-chair of a task force to create National Hate Crimes Policy Standards as well as an executive director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. Policy, is clearly her noteworthy strength, policy is central to her being, but is the policy bureaucracy of Ottawa the place where we should be looking for change, understanding, and leadership? Would a "civilian" leader be the right choice at this time?
(On the off chance you want to learn more of Ms Whelan– she will participate in a "fireside chat" on May 4th, 2022 at the Law of Policing Conference.)
There have been a long list of Commissioners over they years, none of who's names usually spring quickly to mind.
Remember Malcolm Lindsay in 1969, after all we named a boat after him.
There was William Higgitt in 1973– we also named a boat after him. He was followed by Nadon in 1977, and yes we named a boat after him as well. Simmonds and Inkster soon followed and we named boats after them. You would have thought we were building a navy.
Nevertheless, as we say bon voyage to Ms. Lucki maybe a new boat is in order or, at least maybe a small raft as she sails into retirement. Maybe, if we built a big raft, we could put the real root of the problem, Mr Trudeau, on the raft with her.
Photo Courtesy of Flickr Commons via Benito Condemi de Flice – Some Rights Reserved
Posted in UncategorizedTagged Alison Whelan, assembly of first nations, brenda lucki, busson, commissoner lucki, Higgit, information commissioner, inkster, Leikin Drive, murray, nadon, Paulson, Perry Bellegarde, Portapique, RCMP, retirement, Simmonds, systemic racism, zaccardelli14 Comments
Loved and Defunded…
My news intake has admittedly been reduced to an almost ignorant level. A few snippets in the morning and then nothing else for the rest of the day. A prescription for a blissful day and for the most part unabashedly content in that ignorance. No t.v., no Twitter, no Facebook, no radio intruding on rational thought. The world, or at the least the world of large capitalized headlines, temporarily pushed aside.
Yet, the continuous carousel of causes swirls around and around, constantly exposing us, albeit inadvertently, to the special interest punch lines. The catch lines are designed to instil a reaction of fear or outrage. In turn the politicians continuously seek public affirmation. Constantly chumming the waters for us to bite and be hooked.
Frustratingly— you once again find yourself having fallen into their trap.
The bellowing cry to "Defund the Police" is one that has garnered the herd following, and like almost all of the ideas born by protestor insemination it seems to lack any real substance. There is no specifics on how this would work or any articulated policy flowing from this fragile concept. Of course this does not deter the politicos. Form and function is irrelevant.
In New York City, which commands the largest city police force in North America, the city counsel just "defunded" the police to the tune of a $1 billion. N.Y of course, is an enclave of democratic power, so it is not much of a surprise that they have reacted with knee-jerk reflexes and near sightedness. The polar fringes reacted with those on the left saying that it was "not enough" while on the other end of the spectrum, usually portrayed as "red necks" saying it was "too much".
Nevertheless, this fashionable debate forces one to ponder what started this process, this lack of confidence in policing? How did the police manage to ostracize so many? Did we help to create this? Is it wrong to look inward when things go awry? Should we just assume that all who level criticism at the police are by definition fools?
How did we get here and how do the police get out? After all the police practise and policies during the last number of years has been driven by the need to be "liked. Is it possible that the police in their attempts to be everything to everyone has completely backfired?
Managers of the various police outlets all adapted and were co-opted to the theory that the way to improve policing was to be accommodating, to be all encompassing to special interest groups. The new school of management preached in public administration that government bodies needed to be more imbued within "the social fabric". All the problems that that would entail could be surmounted by an understanding police department. This was the birth of the politics of "inclusion".
It's explains how when the police hear the recent cries of "systemic" racism that it all seems so ludicrous. The police can not relate to these allegations. They have been living through this "new"age when the RCMP and other police forces have been extolling the virtue of the police being all good, all present, and all connected.
Police departments sought out affirmation and were being directed to the goal of being loved by everyone; to be one with all members of society, no matter where you appeared on the economic or political spectrum, we wanted to see through your eyes. The police began hugging everyone in their immediate vicinity, crying when deemed appropriate by those that demanded empathy and conceded the need for retribution for all of the historic real or even perceived "wrongs".
If you want the gay movement to like the police, march in their parades.
If you want children to like you, let them climb around your cars and hit the siren button. (That was learned that from the fire departments actually)
If you want to relate to teenagers, put officers in the schools where they can be one of them; play basketball with them, or dance with them at school fund raisers. After all, officers dancing in the streets to some neighbourhood rap has become one of the favoured youtube draws. It plays.
Recently, a video showed a female officer in full uniform going down a "slip and slide" became a viral video; clearly aimed to garner love and "likes. The police have been feeling the need to demonstrate to all that they are in fact humans too; we feel, we rejoice, we are sad. Or so was the theory.
This love and acceptance would lead us into a better policed world and therefore a better society, a "just society" to intone former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. They wanted to grow beards or wear tattoos as it would show that we were just like them. We would be "cool".
The events of the past few weeks has proven that this theory which was to drive the police to a utopian acceptance –was entirely wrong.
In the love/hate relationship with the media the pendulum has also been swinging with abandon. Modern thinking was that if you want the press to like you, then answer all and every question. Be at their constant disposal. Twitter out events as fast as you can— god forbid that the press didn't have the latest police sound bite. In this quest the police have issued tweets that were about events before the police even got to the scene.
It is this incessant need to accommodate that led to the questions as to where was the Amber Alert in Nova Scotia? They want the press to love them, to come to some understanding of how hard they work, to not misunderstand them. They are doing good work, so how can you possibly write bad stories about us.
This too clearly is not working. That damnable ungrateful press has now turned on them.
This overall theory founded on the need to be "liked" is clearly and universally flawed. The counter argument being suggested here is that the police do not in fact need to be liked by everyone and not all the time.
But, they do need to be "respected".
The way to gain and achieve that respect is to be seen as being objective, fair; both in their investigations and in their decisions. A police force should never be seen as being on one side of an issue no matter what the issue. The police can not be "political" and survive in a society made up of disparate and diverse groups.
It is impossible for the police to be seen as independent, fair, or objective if they are seen as being influenced by their political masters or favouring one political entity over another. They are there to enforce the laws, not to influence or pander to variations or interpretation and enforcement of those laws.
In all areas of policing, the police having been enamoured with inclusion and affirmative action politics have by necessity become political on multiple levels. The once arms length approach to the role of government and the political executive arms has disappeared.
In the RCMP Ms. Lucki and her mandarins have proven conclusively that they are under the direction of the current government. One does not have to look any further than the recent flip flops over "systemic racism". But, there are numerous examples, some far more damaging in their outcomes.
Does anyone believe that the RCMP will investigate with any fervour the corruption that is implicit in the recent awarding of almost $1 billion to the WE organization and its connection to the Trudeaus. Does anyone believe that any corruption on the part of the Indigenous would ever be investigated? Does anyone believe that SNC-Lavalin was investigated without prejudice?
The general population of Canada, watches and sees this clear political influence being exerted on an almost daily level on the police. They roll their collective eyes and shake their collective heads. The confidence of the public is wavering in the ability of the RCMP to conduct any investigation, not just the ones that require some level of sensitivity.
So, if they want to defund the police, lets throw them some bones. Let's defund the sections that are solely aimed at being "liked" and instead reinforce the investigative mandate.
Let's get rid of all community policing officers and let's get rid of all school liaison officers. Give that money over to the hiring of another school counsellor or some other community program. Let's shut down those child safety programs, like the bike rodeos, or the pretend officer training programs. Let's get rid of any program that are echoes of social work. Let's get rid of the Safety Bear.
Let's get rid of all those media relations officers and all their respective units, including the "strategic" media units. From now on, officers on a case of particular importance can issue a one page press release if there is a need. (Believe it or not this was easily done in the past). Let's get rid of the Twitter and Facebook feeds. We should not be part of the social media universe with all its frantic and frenzied radicalism on both the right and the left. It's an internet conversation and therefore those conversations are mostly ridiculous.
Let's not react to any 12 second video clip without conducting a full investigation.
Again, remember the public wants confidence in your fairness and your thoroughness. Prove through investigative results your case for the value of objective policing.
Investigate all in a timely and fair manner.
If undue influence results, then the leaders of those investigative units must step forward and publicly call out any attempt to influence. The police leaders have to re-establish their independence from the legislative and administrative arms.
There is little doubt that this would take tremendous courage, which is admittedly in very short supply in these off-kilter days. The managers need to lead and not just post on Linked-In their leadership skills. There would be some "hills to die on".
The public would eventually be on their side if that trust could be re-established.
Chief Adam Palmer of the VPD recently stepped forward after some hesitation to address systemic policing. It was a dangerous move with the left leaning NDP Mayor of Vancouver watching from a safe political distance. Maybe Chief Palmer was still angry over having his police budget cut by the bike lane loving mayor, but in any event he stepped up. He will likely pay an eventual price, but he did what was right.
The people just want to have faith in their police force. It is really that simple. It will be difficult and will involve facing numerous hurdles, but it can be done.
The public wants to be assured of the police arrival, confident in the job that will do in a fair and impartial manner, without regard for race or community. The public want the police to be professional and above all else immune to all the faces of favouritism.
We do not need to like them.
Photo courtesy of Carole Raddato via Flickr Commons – Some Rights Reserved
Posted in UncategorizedTagged Chief adam Palmer, defund, indigenous, NYPD, SNC Lavalin, systemic racism, Trudeau, WE foundation4 Comments
Bowing to Ignorance
Posted on June 22, 2020 by Pete Cross
It was hard not to feel sorry, or a better word may be uncomfortable for the beleaguered Commissioner Lucki, or maybe even the befuddled Deputy Commissioner Zablocki. These two individuals have risen to the upper echelon of the Mounties and have been drinking in that rarefied air, playing to a political agenda in relative peace and harmony. But here they were, in the last few days, cornered and out-gunned by the more politically correct, the masters of appeasement. Even they could not have imagined this looking glass world of righteous indignation which was being thrust upon them with increasing ferocity.
Through their careers they have been promoted and extolled for their adherence to the themes of diversity and inclusion, and in many cases had to abandon ethics and principle. They were required to chant in unison the mantra of the enlightened progressives. Go along to get along would have been their placard as they eyed and encircled that executive corner office. In this and that environment there was absolutely no tolerance for dissension or counter-point. Similar minds were recruited and pulled up the ladder by the other similarly minded.
Say nothing offensive, say nothing for which you could later be held accountable. Job experience or the position that was held was a distant second to conforming to "the system". Pandering to those favoured interest groups and following the progressive line has been "systemic" for a number of years.
But in the last number of weeks, we reached a point of significant accounting, a "crisis" if you prefer the new word for news. Of course I am referring to this newly professed outrage of police brutality and rampant racism in the RCMP, all of which had been ingrained by some sort of conspiratorial process.
The force of the cable news pushed Ms. Lucki out of hiding. Most of all the throngs were demanding acquiescence. Like the Papal blessing from the Vatican, they wanted the head of the RCMP to publicly acclaim their beliefs and proclamations of "systemic racism".
So, she consented to do an interview with that bastion of special interest bias, the CBC, to be conducted by the"Senior Political correspondent" Rosemary Barton. Ms. Barton, who no doubt feels that she is the epitome of the probing journalist, is well connected to Justin Trudeau and the inner Liberal sanctum. Ms. Lucki must have believed or may have been comforted in the fact that she was in normally friendly territory.
Throughout this interview, it was clear that Ms. Lucki was referring to her notes when she was being pressed on the terminology of "systemic racism". Finally, Ms Barton pushed, so "you you didn't answer the question, do you believe there is systemic racism in policing organizations, including yours in the country?"
What followed was an inept stumbling meandering response to that "interesting question". Clearly, Ms. Lucki knew it was coming, clearly it was the thematic background for the entire interview. It was also equally clear that the CBC was pressing to have Lucki admit on camera to "systemic" racism. The masses demanded it. Ms. Lucki was not ready.
Ms. Lucki chose to respond by saying that she was confused by the many definitions of "systemic racism". One had a mental picture of Ms. Lucki surrounded by Funk and Wagnals, Oxford English, or Miriam-Webster dictionaries desperately thumbing the pages trying to gain some insight. But, it was all to no avail apparently, frustrating she said, as there were so many "versions" of it.
It should be noted that the interview with Ms. Lucki was a day or so after the interview given by Mr. Zablocki— who in after an apparent dose of sodium amytal stated that there was no "systemic" racism in the RCMP. Unfortunately, the dosage wore off a few hours later.
Still struggling, Lucki looked down at her notes to say "if you mean unconscious bias" —then she would admit that the RCMP was guilty as charged.
The interview painfully continued and Ms. Barton opined at one point that in this country "people feel scared calling the police". Even this outrageous comment did not force the docile, pliant Commissioner to react in defence. She trotted out her tested and true response: "We need to get better"…"my expectations are high". She went on to agree to review the carotid hold which was still in use, to bring better accountability through possible use of body cams, as that was part of her "digital policing strategy". After all "we need to get better".
The interview concluded with the Commissioner inappropriately telling Ms. Barton "thanks for your respectful questions". She was clearly relieved; but this too would be short lived.
A day or so later, Trudeau threw them all under the bus.
Of course, there is systemic racism in the RCMP according to Trudeau. It was everywhere.
No one missed the irony that this was coming from the three times "black face" Prime Minister, the white privileged Prime Minister.
Shortly thereafter, predictably, Ms. Lucki turtled, fell into the prone position, hands over her head and ears, instinctively warding off the blows of the persistent masses. Through the safety of a press release said:
"…I did not say definitively that systemic racism exists in the RCMP…I should have".
So given this state of confusion, this intrepid blogger feels obligated to help these poor confused mandarins of the RCMP.
"System", from which the word systemic originates, is referred to as the "structure, organization, order, complex, administration" etc. If one stretches the definition and refers to "the system" in the modern vernacular, one could be referring to "the ruling class, the regime, bureaucracy".
So follow along you poor, confused, Mountie managers, if one is claiming "systemic racism" one is claiming that the bureaucracy, the administration, the laws of this country, the structure of the RCMP, is in fact racist. Systemic racism to exist and meet the definition, must be built into the rules and the structure of the organization. Miriam Webster says that "systemic" means that it is "fundamental to a predominant social, economic or political practise"
Does anybody inside the RCMP believe that to be the case?
Of course, you are allowed to have that opinion but, there is a convincing argument to be made that in the last twenty or thirty years that the administration and the bureaucracy, and the management of the RCMP organization has in fact been the exact opposite.
Affirmative action hiring, recruiting, promotion, transfer policies, have in fact been tailored to meet the demands of the growing multi-racial society of Canada. Community policing, school liaison programs, Youth Intervention, and the like have all been tailored to meet the growing demand of diversity and inclusion. (How successful they have been is quite another matter. )
Nevertheless the Commissioner of the RCMP (and there have been no dissenting voices among the other RCMP managers) has now implied that everyone and everything in the Mounties is racist. The entire system.
This charge is absolute nonsense. But, no one is daring to step in front of the stampeding herd. The herd has declared it to be, therefore it is. Celebrities and sports figures joined in.
It should be noted that when we go to these protestors, or their talking heads and seek specific examples of this systemic racism none are proffered.
Chief Allan Aden of the Athabascan Chipewyan First Nation in Alberta stated "If a white man is denying systemic racism, that is systemic racism". This is the level of intelligent debate in this country. If I deny I am a sexual predator, I am therefore a sexual predator.
This very same logic was used by the minority leaders of the Opposition NDP who has never missed a cause or a bandwagon on which to jump. So he was poised for this latest cause. He proposed a "unanimous consent" bill, for all parties to agree, that the RCMP was systemically racist and that RCMP officers were killing the Indigenous and blacks in this country. It was clearly an act of grand-standing, and after making his support speech, he pompously sat in his seat, assuming all would agree.
All political parties voted for it, a disturbing lack of support for the police to say the least, but one single member of Parliament, Alain Therrien for the Bloc PQ, said no.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, jumped up, clearly upset. He then called the Member of Parliament a "racist" for not going along with the bill.
He was a racist according to Mr. Singh because he didn't agree with Mr. Singh. The same logic as the Chief.
Justin Trudeau, went further and refused to criticize Mr. Singh, despite Mr. Singh having been removed from the Commons for the day for his "un-Parliamentary" comments. His justification was that Mr. Singh was a "racialized" leader and therefore it was forgivable.
These last few days, the seemingly endless accusations continue to be stoked by the irresponsible of this country. It is discouraging and is tearing at the very fabric of this country. The lack of informed narrative, and the often ridiculous proposals to counter this ill-defined problem have left many parts of this country speechless. The pundits and media commentators in this progressive world have gone from being expert on the coronavirus to experts on policing with often comedic speed. A quote from Oscar Wilde resonates, "by giving us opinions of the uneducated, journalism keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community".
Where will it all end? When will reasonable dialogue return? It is difficult to say. This blogger never imagined a time when political dialogue in this country was so blatantly biased and absent of substance. The level of this demand for conformity rivals any historical third world despot.
The tearing down of statues and the rewriting of history, the calls for defunding the police, and the chants for a revamping of the RCMP will one day run into the wall of reality. These protests and cries for reformation are not based on any intimate knowledge of policing, they are based on slogans. The day when the social worker arrives at the domestic dispute or to deal with the mental health patient instead of the police, is a very long way off.
When someone can actually point to systemic racism with an objective rationale, then we can begin to address it. The danger now is knee-jerk policy to appease the masses and Trudeau is already floating trial balloons. Most will end up meaningless, a let them eat cake moment and of no intrinsic value.
As for the Commissioner and the rest of the Executive of the RCMP. Maybe they should consider that now is the time to fade into the night. Their time to show leadership arrived and they shrivelled before your very eyes. They should be bowing their heads in shame.
Some one should also wake up the National Police Federation from their slumber. Although willing to speak out about the formation of a Surrey Municipal Force, they have now conveniently lost their voice, when their officers are being slandered, ridiculed, and even endangered in the heat of these protests.
Maybe, it's time for the police of this country to march on Ottawa. Maybe it's time that the ground level police nationally form a strong and singular political voice. It may be time for their protest. And if I was planning the parade route, it would definitely go by Mr. Trudeau's "cottage", and end by occupying Mr. Singh's office.
I wonder who they would call to remove these 68,000 blue uniformed protestors? Maybe a social worker.
Photo courtesy of Flickr Commons and Yannick Gingras – Some Rights Reserved
Posted in UncategorizedTagged Alain Therien, Bloq, commissoner lucki, Deputy Commissioner Zablocki, Liberals, national police federation, policing, RCMP, systemic racism, Trudeau21 Comments


It goes without saying, but I'm saying it anyway because the blog post demands it, that there is something utterly magical about Mary Poppins.
The way she appears from nowhere, knows exactly what needs to be done and wastes no time doing in the most imaganative ways possible is nothing short of fabulously wonderful, and the first full trailer for the upcmoming sequel to 1964's Mary Poppins reveals all kinds of magic, animated and otherwise, at play when mary returns once again.
There is, of course, music, worlds within worlds and some tough love, reflecting the books of P. L. Travers which were always a lot darker than Disney ever allowed for, and it's good to see, even though I am ardent fan of Julie Andrews' performance in the original film, how the talented Emily Blunt gives Mary a sharper edge.
The tale though is ultimately redemptive and there is no doubt that by the end of the film everyone will be better for Mary Poppins being there, but oh what fun we shall have arriving at that magical place!
Mary Poppins Returns premieres USA on 19 December, UK on 21 December and Australia on 1 January 2019.


text:
De Duif is een korenmolen in Nunspeet in de Nederlandse provincie Gelderland.

De molen werd in 1886 gebouwd op de plek waar een vorige molen was afgebrand. Deze voorganger was ook al een opvolger van een afgebrande standerdmolen. De huidige beltmolen werd in 1963 en 1982 gerestaureerd.

De roeden van de molen hebben een lengte van 23 meter en zijn voorzien van het Oudhollands gevlucht met zeilen. De inrichting bestaat uit één koppel maalstenen. De voormalige eigenaar laat de molen wekelijks op vrijwillige basis draaien. In 1999 heeft de molenaar de molen aan een andere particuliere eigenaar verkocht.

Elk jaar vinden rondom de molen diverse activiteiten plaats zoals Midwintersnertwandeling, Lentemarkt, Kofferbakverkoop, Pompoenenmarkt, Nationale monumentendag, en op de 1e zaterdag van oktober een Boerenlanddag.

Molen in Gelderland
Beltmolen
Korenmolen
Maalvaardige molen
Rijksmonument in Nunspeet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia