"During the Christmas Eve seizure, officers found 186 kilograms (410 pounds) of methamphetamine worth $1.86 million in a truck destined for Calgary." Photo courtesy of CBSA https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/286m-in-cocaine-meth-found-in-recent-alberta-border-busts/

Courtesy of Emily L. Depasse MSW MEd https://www.threads.net/@sexelducation/post/DGdC3uDxNOy?xmt=AQGzSP1c4TSGAcvO4p60kL4_4s8rCWkwv3b4YQxEmZYXfQ

RMR: Rick and the Hamilton Police

Barack Obama rose from a community organizer post law degree to a remarkable president. He highlights many of the obstacles he faced in his memoir The Promise Land, from hanging out on Hawaiian beaches, to rising to his grandmother's challenge to do something with his life, to convincing the Illinois Democratic Committee that he could win votes in the predominate Republican south Illinois communities. Here is another reason, his ability to connect with people. Below, he and Michelle host a celebration to the incomparable Ray Charles. Watch President Obama speak -- and sing -- at White House tribute to Ray Charles

"Ret. Vice-Admiral Mark Norman urges Canada to acknowledge and respond decisively to growing threats from the United States." Here is the admiral's analysis of Trump and reasoning for NATO involvement. Photo courtesy Canadian Press Standing in the schoolyard and taking a beating from the local bully might seem stoic, but it also might be foolish. Further, if the other kids watching don’t have the courage to intervene, they are complicit in the beating. As I reflect on what is happening at the moment I am reminded of the cautionary work of William Golding, The Lord of the Flies.When the leader of our closest neighbour, ally and trading partner says that he can destroy us with the stroke of a pen — and repeats his willingness to do so — it is more than just an expression of perceived superiority or hyperbole, it’s a real threat. To dismiss it as anything less would be irresponsible and naive. The question we must ask ourselves is whether we are going to act as a serious nation or not. Although recent comments about the potential futures of Ukraine and Gaza appear to be awakening the capitals of our other allies, we continue to endure a “special” focus and abuse from Washington. Ironically, this might enable us to convince the other kids in the schoolyard that the bully is not as invincible as he thinks. There is truth to the maxim that there is strength in numbers. What has yet to fully materialize however is the requisite catalyst to rally those “like-minded nations” into a coherent and collective response — but we could be close. The other day, I suggested on X that Canada should consider its rights and protections under the NATO charter. Specifically, under Article 4, we can — and perhaps should — formally approach our allies for support (diplomatic or otherwise) as we are threatened by the United States. Many responded to my comments suggesting that we are getting what we deserve due in part to decades of neglect of our defence and security; that NATO is useless and the gesture would be meaningless; the U.S. would ignore our efforts or withdraw from the alliance; that this is all just an overreaction to bluster; and, other similarly dismissive comments. Perhaps those critics might be right, but here’s the real issue: we either believe in, and live by, the principles of a rules-based system and the power of alliances and multilateralism; or, we slip into the behavioural model of Golding’s book where Jack runs amuck and the entire island is mired in chaos, conflict and savagery. I am of the view that Canada’s ongoing transactional approach to countering the overt and repeated threats to our economy, territory and sovereignty is flawed. Trying to placate the ambiguous and chaotic demands of Jack, or responding tit for tat to arbitrary and punitive tariffs is not a winning strategy. This crisis is not exclusively the creation of Jack himself. He is as much a character of his own fantasy as he is the product of a disturbing systemic shift. Focusing our disdain toward the “talking head” of a deeper problem distracts us from the importance of what is happening. Jack and his tribesmen are convinced of a series of perceived injustices and economic disparities levied against the United States since the end of the Second World War, and by extension they blame much of the world — including Canada — for many of their current woes. As a remedy they intend to reset the entire global system to their advantage, and they don’t care about the consequences. Recent comments to NATO’s leadership by one of Jack’s henchmen that U.S. security interests lie outside of Europe are a case in point. In this emerging reality, are we as Canadians any different than Ukraine is to Russia or Taiwan to China? We need not like, or even agree with this possibility, but we had best acknowledge and understand it.We are at a serious inflection point in our history as a country. As our predecessors emerged from the control of our former colonial masters, we are once again pawns in a high-stakes power struggle. We must now decide if we are prepared to abandon the relative comfort and convenience of our decades-long dependence on the U.S. We don’t have the luxury of physical separation. We can, however, accept that the marriage is over and focus on “moving on,” even if that means continuing to live next door to each other.To make matters worse, our current political circumstances and the resultant “power” vacuum are extremely unhelpful, and Jack and his minions are exploiting this vulnerability with brutal effect. Lacking the requisite confidence, we risk potentially self-destructive behaviour — not unlike an abused partner believing that the relationship can be salvaged if they only try harder.In this growing fog of rhetoric and posturing it is difficult to decipher the fine line between threat and attack. Faced with such ambiguity, we can either continue to wait and respond incrementally or we can act decisively. I submit we are under attack and more significantly, so too is the global system upon which our security and prosperity are based. In response we need to rapidly deploy all available instruments of national power with maximal effect. This may need to include otherwise previously unthinkable actions such as shutting off our oil and gas, electrical power and critical supplies, as well as the abandonment of historic diplomatic and military relationships and commitments. We must also convince our other allies — those kids on the sidelines of the schoolyard — that they too have a responsibility to act as they are at risk as much as we are.This is no longer just about Canada and our national pride, this is about stopping Jack before he destroys the whole island. Mark Norman is a former vice chief of the defence staff.  https://link.vancouversun.com/view/63e13d6fc3f0aa365c0a1714n0pv1.82/3a92bb3f

Hansen's Man in Motion World Tour was to draw attention to the barriers society has to those with disabilities. In the process the tour raised 26 million dollars. Here Rick and Rick demonstrate the manta of the Invictus Games, Unconquerable. Second Photo/video. RMR: Rick Hansen Bungee Jump

Mark Carney was on Rosemary Barton 2-16-2025. Regardless of your political affiliation, do you think he was able to convince Canadians about negotiating with Trump? Photo courtesy CBC Liberal leadership hopeful Mark Carney on how he'd change Canada's carbon tax

Americans/Canadians! Canadians/Americans! As a Marine it has been a joy to watch the INVICTUS Games. Injured Marines & other service members along with 23 nations competing with each other, not against. Canadians n American warriors joyous in each other's company gaining strength & support from the collegiality. THE INVICTUS GAMES - OPENING CEREMONY RECAP

America's DEA states officially that it intercepted 19 kilos (41 pounds) of Fentanyl from Canada in 2024 compared to 9,600 kilos (21,000 pounds) from Mexico. For this we need a Czar? Of course not. This is purely a move to placate Trump. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/former-mountie-kevin-brosseau-named-fentanyl-czar-in-reply-to-trumps-tariff-threats/

The Contrarian Feb 12, 2025   Donald Trump and his shadow-president, Elon Musk, might be doing everything they can to “flood the zone,” but a coalition of democracy defenders is proving that it takes more than a couple of billionaire bros to defeat the rule of law. Late last night, a coalition including The Contrarian’s resident litigator-in-chief, Publisher Norm Eisen, brought suit against the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on behalf of the more than 2 million federal employees whose safety and privacy have been violated by Musk and co.’s illegal and unauthorized access of OPM’s personnel data. This is the latest salvo in the developing shock-and-awe campaign of resistance against DOGE’s attempted coup and Trump’s unconstitutional executive orders. More than fifty lawsuits have already been brought by unions, governors, individual federal employees, attorneys general and more. “They say it takes a village,” says Norm. “Well, it takes a coalition to defend democracy and rule of law.” The results are rolling in. Last week, a federal judge temporarily blocked DOGE from accessing a critical Treasury payment system under a similar lawsuit. Other wins in recent days include a block on Trump’s attempted assault on birthright citizenship and an emergency order to prevent the doxxing of nearly 6000 FBI employees. These rulings have been delivered by judges appointed under Republican and Democrat administrations alike—because to Americans who care, the fight against autocracy is a bipartisan issue. Watch Norm and Jen discuss the latest here: Breaking! Coalition of government employees and unions sue OPM & DOGE. And thank you, Contrarians, for joining us in the fight for our nation’s future. https://contrarian.substack.com/ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF-c8V0OPFj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Trump supporters share their concerns. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF8AjSXuReZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Listening to an RN today she mentioned that many of her male colleagues are regularly harassed by patients for choosing a "feminine" career. Image courtesy of Wix Please pass this along to all nurses, particularly men, I am a Marine and as such can attest to every Medic I've known, been treated by or seen are men. The audacity of someone denigrating a male nurse is beyond gaul. Pass the word. Men are nurses. If I am shot, it is a man who comes to save my life. A Navy Corpsman. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BMZqHLdFZ/

Comment by eyewitness. "If you can't see that it's a kid, you know, I mean ... maybe you should go get your eyes checked." This person's ignorance is appalling! For anyone not in law enforcement the photo below may seem harsh but to those who dedicate their lives to protecting the public, pointing a firearm at them is not an issue to be discussed. We expect the IIO to investigate unbiased. Our condolences to the family, friends, students and staff. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/1-dead-police-shooting-surrey-school-yard-1.7455119

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFpXJorNg5H/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Our family was beyond impressed by the organization and presentation of this week long event. https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/video/2025/02/08/invictus-games-2025-opening-ceremony-part-1/

"Throughout my travels, trading nations are the most prosperous nations. A simple Google search tells us that Canada has 15 trade agreements in force with 51 different countries. The U.S., on the other hand, has only 14 free trade agreements with 20 countries. Canada is a trading nation." AMERICANS WILL SUFFER MOST FROM TARIFFS Vancouver Sun Feb 8, 2025 writes Jerry Klassen. Financial Post Jerry Klassen has been a commodity trader for 30 years. From 2010 to 2019, he was chief executive of Canadian operations for Swiss based GAP SA Grains & Produits Ltd. • United States President Donald Trump believes his country's trade deficit with Canada confirms that Canadians have somehow unfairly taken advantage of Americans. Apparently, Canadians have been smarter and out-traded our American counterparts. As a result, Trump feels that tariffs are imperative to level the playing field for American ignorance. In the past 50 years, U.S. government support of its agriculture sector has been unmatched and towered over other countries when accounting for all the subsidies, direct price supports and export enhancement. Don't argue with a fool lest he seem wise in his own conceit, as my dad used to say. I worked in the Canadian grain industry for 30 years and it is based on international trade. I was chairman of the Canadian Grain and Oilseed Exporters Association for four years from 2017 to 2021. I've travelled to 36 countries on all continents. I've observed the implications of tariffs to the full extent. The U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and services, resources and commodities will not end well for Americans. Tariffs are the woke of economics. Throughout my travels, trading nations are the most prosperous nations. A simple Google search tells us that Canada has 15 trade agreements in force with 51 different countries. The U.S., on the other hand, has only 14 free trade agreements with 20 countries. Canada is a trading nation. In my experience in the cattle industry and grain and oilseed sectors, Canadians are professional in trade relations and have the highest respect from nations around the world. Countries would rather trade with Canada than the United States. Simple economics on comparative advantage stresses the importance of trade for a nation. Trading raises the standard of living and puts resources to use in the most efficient manner. More importantly, for the U.S. economic powerhouse, energy, electricity and resources are needed to run the machine at full capacity. Having these products at the lowest cost ensures not only higher profitability, but also enhances economic output. Tariffs reverse these efficiencies. Certain products that the U.S. imports have inelastic demand. Take beef and cattle. Energy demand is also somewhat inelastic. A small change in supply has a large influence on the price. People heat their homes regardless of the price. Trust me, I live in Winnipeg. For commodities with inelastic demand, such as beef and energy, the U.S. consumer will shoulder the bulk of the cost of the tariff. If the demand curve is equal to the slope of the supply curve, the burden of tariffs is equally shared by the exporter and importing nation. If the demand curve is elastic or flat, the bulk of the burden is absorbed by the exporter. This is macroeconomics 101. I was in Hong Kong in February 2007 when spring wheat prices were at historical highs visiting a flour miller. Wheat futures on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange reached more than US$20 per bushel. The flour mill was using Canadian hard red spring wheat, but it was purchased seven years earlier at lower prices. The flour miller stated, “Jerry, we will buy wheat from you/ Canada in two years. Don't be like the arrogant Americans trying to sell us wheat at historical highs." The Chinese man said, “I knew more about trading at five years old than Americans trying to sell me wheat with their Ivy League educations.” Russia was a net importer of wheat when I started in the grain trade. In the early 1970s, the Soviet Union bought large volumes of wheat from the U.S. and other major exporters, including Canada. The U.S. sold large volumes of wheat on credit at subsidized prices. This caused food inflation in the U.S. It's referred to as the Great Grain Robbery. This was before my time, but an old-time trader once told me he was out for drinks with the Russians that had come to Canada. Upon their departure, they said they were going to hang the Americans and buy some wheat. The Canadian asked where they were going to get the rope to hang them. Don't worry, the Russian said, “They'll sell us the rope to hang them with the wheat.” Wheat prices rose to historical highs (at the time), as the Russians cornered the world wheat market, and U.S. food prices sharply rose. Something similar may be happening today. U.S. inflation will be back up to 10 per cent and the U.S. will be heading into a recession. Donald Trump, let me say these words to you: I and most Canadians would rather freeze to death than become an American or become the 51st state. I would rather spend 1,000 years in hell than become an American. You can put the tariffs in place, but Americans will be the ones to suffer the most. Most American imports from Canada have inelastic demand." https://epaper.vancouversun.com/article/282621743421094

Canadians are boycotting American goods. Are they also turning off American television stations? How about the Super Bowl? Will Canadian football fans boycott the game? https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a63572170/how-to-watch-super-bowl-2025/ Guillermo at Super Bowl Media Night 2025 https://metro.co.uk/2025/02/07/expect-super-bowl-2025-halftime-show-22515387/