As many of my readers know I have been very honest on how I think sex offences should be dealt with in the court system. I have always been of the belief that sex offenders, especially serial sex offenders, should be dealt with the same manner as that of a person who commits murder. Yet the laws of this land do not see it that way.

 

This whole belief is reinforced yet again with the latest Amber Alert. A 10 year old boy from Saskatchewan, Zachary Miller, was abducted by a known pedophile. This man has been convicted numerous times for his crimes against children. Peter Whitmore is his name, and apparently he has spent a few times in jail for his sexual fascination with children.

In 1993, he was convicted of abduction and five sexual offences involving four young boys in Toronto. He spent a year and four months in custody.

Nine days after his release he took an eight-year-old girl from Guelph, Ont., to Toronto and was sentenced to more than four and a half years in jail.

Less than a month after his November 2000 release, he was found in a downtown Toronto motel with a 13-year-old boy. He was sentenced to one year in jail.

In 2002, a judge in Toronto sentenced him to three years in jail for probation violations because he fled to British Columbia after being found in the company of a five-year-old boy.

The violations included the fact he was carrying a “rape kit” in his backpack while in B.C. It contained latex gloves, pictures of young children, tubes of jelly lubricant, duct tape, a sleeping bag and plastic zipper ties that can be used as handcuffs.

My question is this. How is it that this man who has over time shown no form of rehabilitation, nor any sign of desire to stop his actions, allowed to walk around a free man. Why is it that sexual offences--especially those committed against children--are not considered to be so heinous that they deserve the same sanctions as a person who kills another human being? How is it not considered a murder? When a sexual violation occurs it kills off any innocence within a child, it kills off any dignity within a person and it is one of the most invasive crimes out there yet for abducting and raping a child a person gets four and a half years in jail. This is a grave mis-justice to women and children across this nation(I say this as the rate of grown males coming forward for sex offences committed againsts them that it's so low) that it makes me so sick to my stomach. I think law makers should be ashamed of themselves.

Mark my words, if Zachary dies as a result of this man you can bet your bottom dollar that people out there are going to go to war on Vic Toews. If he is ever to win me over than he better change the laws on this issue. Not that he would ever win me over as currently he's hell bent on coming down on people who carry guns or kids who have consensual sex with their peers before the proposed new age of consent. Again this issue will get swept under the rug because the government is more concerned with other issues. Screw the vulnerable people of this nation. That's always been the position of the Conservative government.

So I've decided to quit my other two jobs. I was offered a position with the school board as a full time Child and Youth Counsellor which guarantees me some real good hours and excellent vacation time. Therefore I will not need the other two jobs that I have had for the last year and a half to maintain a certain standard of living.

 

As a result I will have more time on my hand for things that are going to push me forward in my career. I will be able to take my degree program part time. I will be able to focus on my daughter more and my relationship with Pete. I am turly looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead for myself.

The fighting between Isreal and Lebanon continues and the almighty Condelizza Rice is all over the news. How is it that this woman is the "saviour" of all? Everytime there is major conflict she is never far behind and all over the news. I have a theory about this. I know I know....more conspiracy theory about things that are not happening.

 

I think that the reason this woman is all over the news at the present moment is I feel she is being groomed to become leader of the republican party. The reason the republican party is going to allow a woman to spearhead their party is because Hilary Clinton is grooming herself to run for the leader of the Democratic party. This scares the hell out of the Republican party because Hilary is a strong, intelligent and forward thinking woman who doesn't cater to the big business of oil. So in order for the party to secure more time in office they have put this woman in the forefront in hopes of gaining some favor for when that time comes and Hilary plans to run they have a matching candidate. As it stands I don't think there is a male who could beat her on the Republican side.

 

Or maybe these are just ramblings of a tired person after spending 12 hours in a custody facility with 13 youth just going bonkers. Only time will tell if my theory will prove to be true.

Is this world of ours at war constantly. I just read that Ethiopia is going into Somalia. Isreal is at war with Palestine and Lebanon. The US is at war with Afganistan and Iraq and soon to be North Korea and Iran. Then there are the civil wars happening like in East Timor and Sri Lanka. Then there are the verbal war like spats between "western" countries like the US and Germany or the US and France or the Liberals vs The Conservatives in Canada.

 

Are we headed for an all out war in the near future. I suspect with the way things are going that a world wide outbreak in violence all over the place is unavoidable. I know it's faulty thinking on my part. I'm catastrophising the situation but at the same time I can't help but think this because of the direction the world appears to be going.

 

Don't worry I'm not going to bunker down in my apartment and wait for the destruction of the world. I do know better but alas the thoughts are always in the back of my mind.

Not that I had doubt but I'm happy to report that Clifford Olson was denied parole for his murders. For those not in the know Clifford Olson is Canada's infamous serial killer. Of course for my time it will always be Paul Bernardo but for the older generation it's Clifford Olson who murdered and burried the bodies of 11 children age 9 to 18 years of age. His deal was even sweeter than Miss Karla Holmoka. While she gets her freedom after 12 years of sentancing Clifford was able to secure $100 000 for his family in 1982 in exchange for the place of the body dumps. His deal is sweeter because the crown had already caught him red handed with a murder. I guess it's not "sweeter" per say but more like bitter sweet.

 

Either way I'm glad to report that justice prevailed and the man stays behind bars.

So I got a call today offering me a full time position with the Halton Board of Education. This is excellent news for me as I wasn't sure what I was going to be doing as of the next couple of weeks. I'm happy to report that I now have a wicked job with wicked pay and wicked benefits.

 

It appears I will not be confined to a classroom. This is the most exciting part of the gig. I will be what they call an Itinerate Child and Youth Counsellor. This requires me being the school counsellor for 3 to 5 schools in a certain area. I will be responsible for taking kids in as a referral, doing school consultations, running groups if the school feels it needs the programing and well I'll have a lot more responsibilities than working in a classroom and I will be utilized much more than in the past which makes me very excited.

 

The pay scale is a wicked pay scale. I love that I am getting paid as a professional instead of as an employee. I'm a professional. Who knew!

 

The other great thing about the job is I get benefits. I have the same benefits as teachers. My union is the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation. We have a sub branch for us Professional Student Support Personel(PSSP). I am in the same ranking as the Psych Ed people, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists. That's right...I'm a professional--SEE ABOVE STATEMENT

 

So in conclusion things look really good in Vern's world. Not only have Pete and I found an apartment(we're renting just to clear the air up) but I have a full time gig that works well with my needs and skills. Now if only I could get through this summer finacially. Only a few weeks...only a few weeks.

 

Ohhh speaking of summer...I get two months holidays...that's right I get the same holiday as the teachers!!!!!!

Pete and I were out and about Saturday night enjoying a lovely date night. We were down at Harbour Front Centre for some live music. It was great music. A mix of 60's to 70's soul, funk and reggae. The show was called From Jamacia to Toronto. Beautiful stuff.

 

However our evening was a bit off when we were at Splash! the outdoor makeshift restaurant. While we were enjoying our wood oven baked nachos the couple next to us decided to light up a cigarette. My god how disgusting and downright disrespectful for the people around them. I hate smokers who have no consideration for the people around them. So while we tried to enjoy our meal we were surrounded by gross smelly second hand smoke.

 

Grrr to that I say, grrrr

So Pete and I have a place that we take possession of as of September 1st. I'm soooo excited. It's a gorgeous place.

 

It's a two bedroom unit in a 4 unit building. The outside looks like a Hacienda. It's got this gorgeous dinning room/sitting room combo that has gorgeous french doors that open into a living/entertainment space. The kitchen is huge with lots of cuppard space and space for actual cooking. Bailey's room has a chandalier for a light and a large closet for her clothes and other items and my room has a walk in closet. There is lots of storage space but also just space in general. We also have a working fireplace that will be used in the winter on occassion.

 

I will be taking lots of pictures of the place once we settle in. The neighbourhood is gorgeous and is on its way to being a trendy place so getting there before it becomes trendy is awesome.

 

 

So I don't know a whole lot about the history of this conflict but what I have gathered it seems that Isreal is being a big bully about the Palestine state. I did recently read a book that was controversial as it was a view of the conflict from both sides of the issue from the eyes of the children.

 

I don't understand it. What I don't understand is why can't the Palestinians(sp?) have their farm land. Isreal has their state and land now what do they need with the Gaza strip? It just seems like a land grab. I say give the land to the Palestines, give them their lives back and get on with it. Many countries and neighbours get on well without having to resort to violence to solve their differences--albeit it seems more and more countries are increasing their violence. I just can't understand why people don't allow their fellow human beings their differences. Be it religion or region.

 

Maybe I am naive on the whole situation or maybe I'm just an idealist. It's a shame what is happening around the world these days. The conflicts with each other and other nations. It's a sad state of the world. Maybe another war is needed. The big conflict to end all conflicts. The one that sends us into the age of Aquarius.

Tonight at my soccer game there were parents from another team who were smoking near the kids. Now this is the big reason I can't stand smokers. The vast majority are so self absorbed that they don't consider the people around them and how their smoking is affecting them. I can't stand that self absorbed smoker.

 

Anyways I piped up and told him he wasn't allowed to smoke because of the smoking bi-laws and smoking laws in effect. I also think that the Canadian Government is thinking of considering smoking around children a form of neglect as the parent is neglecting the health of their child by exposing them to second hand smoke.

 

And for the record I am not an ex-smoker. I have never and I never will see what is so great about that shit anyways.

What a great time we had at the festival on Sunday. There were plenty of great performers and awesome food to be had. I'm a wee bit on the red side.

 

What I can say about the whole experience this year was just on the outskirt of the festival--which was held in Victoria Park in downtown London--was that the Italian fans were quite respectful of the festival and kept their celebrations on the outskirt of the festival and they didn't impose their joy on the music festival.

 

Check out the pictures for the festival--we also have a few shots of some celebrating Italian fans--

 

I can't wait to do it all again next year. We will be checking out Salsa festival on St. Clair West next weekend so more pics to come!!

What an odd final for the world cup, considering France wasn't looking so hot in the beginning of the series. Well this should prove to be a very interesting final. For the sake of France I would like to see them win but unfortunatly I suspect it with be an Italian win which means I can't drive down to see my love, well I could, but I won't have any parking available because of the all night party event.

 

I'll be in London which will be a bit milder celebrations if Italy wins, however I will be at a music festival featuring sounds of sunny countries--some Italian and French music will be there too.....so who knows.....

 

Check out the music festival I'll be going to at www.sunfest.on.ca

 

 

So last night Italy won their semi-final match against Germany. Normally I wouldn't care about the Italian team. I'm not a fan of theirs however it was hard to ignore their team's win when I was in the heart of an Italian village. Hence the camera came out to show how the Italians like to party in good ol's Corso Italia.

 

I wasn't on College street but I can image what that place was like last night considering I was on St. Clair W which has a big Italian community. It's not as big as Little Italy but man it's big enough to shut down the street from Dufferin down to Landsdowne because too many people partying on the street.

 

So look away at the pics of Corso Italia.....and see for yourself.

Less Politics, more good times. Bailey has been shipped off to camp. Well it's happy times for her, and interesting times for me. I miss the little lady but I know she's having a great time up in camp. She's attending Ontario Pioneer Camp up near Huntsville.

 

Peter and I dropped her off on Sunday afternoon. She was a wee bit overwhelmed at first but I think after she got the lay of the land and as soon as I set her up in her little chalet and as soon as she made a friend we were basically told "see you later mom and Pete!". She really is a social butterfly and she has great independence.

 

I couldn't be more prouder of my little lady. I figure she won't want to come home on Saturday when I go to pick her up. I suspect if she has a great time up at Camp she'll be wanting to do a 2 week session next year.

 

I'll have pictures to show once I get back home. I'm currently at my loves place just relaxing after a long school year. Now comes work. I think I've landed a full time gig but I wont know probably until next week. It's here in Toronto. So fingers crossed things will be good.

 

Sad news to report. Both my teams did not advance to the semi-finals. Netherlands went out in the round of 16 and my England went out in the round of 8. Both to the hands of Portugal none the less. So with that in mind, Pedro gets my full support. Who's Pedro you ask? Pedro is my buddy in Portugal. So GO PORTUGAL GO!

 

EDIT--I've added pics from Bay's adventure to camp.

 

 

How exciting the times have become when I can save 1 cent on my daily coffee purchase! The joy that brings to my life!!!

 

Wow Mr. Harper you have found a way back into my target range. I'll leave poor Mr. Toews alone for the time being but I'm sure he'll be right there soon enough!! As of July 1st us lovely Canadians are paying 1% less in taxes. This comes courteousy of Mr. Harpers government!

 

I have a hard time with this 1% cut in taxes as the average Canadian will not see any real difference in their purchasing of products. What I do see however is our services that we hold near and dear to our hearts will suffer as a result. With less revenue coming in for services funding formulas are going to get tighter which means we the average Canadian are going to suffer.

 

As it is, since the Harris era of Ontario Politics and the tax cut mentality the current Liberal government is having a very difficult time following through with promises made due to lack of actual funding. I'm one of those people that have always maintained that I don't mind paying the taxes as long as the services are available. With the 1% cut instituted I doubt that the services will be available in the near future.

 

You see, this tax cut won't have it's actual implications on services until the Conservative government is out of office. The ramifications of the tax cut in Ontario are now being seen by the general public. Our education system is going deep in debt, our social service industry is feeling the tightening of the government wallet, our health care system is atrocious.

 

What I need to do is get involved in Politics. I hear there is an election coming up in September 2007. Maybe I'll get involved then, chose my party and stick with it, become a member, run for public office. I could do that. All I know is the way the current governments are running is driving me to insanity.