Was sent this link courtesy of Umpa and also found it on Garth Turners blog as being the official, “We want Stephen Harper to apologize to Navdeep Bains” petition.

Last time Navdeep asked for an apology the PM basically danced around the issue saying all he did was quote an article from a newspaper, and if Nav’s got any beef he should take it up with Kim Bolan and the Vancouver Sun, in other words, “don’t shoot the messenger.”

Even though I don’t see or believe that the petition will get the PM to change his mind anytime soon, but the fact that you’re reading this means you have nothing better to do anyways so just sign the damn thing!

Petition for Harper to apologize

After watching this video from last nights brawl in Ottawa, I feel like grabbing an Emery jersey. This fight was just to dirty.

I’ve always been a life long liberal, mind you I’ve only been able to vote in the last 3 federal elections, none the less have always committed that vote to the the reds. The conservatives were always seen as the bad guys, the racists the ones who would no quicker put a ban on the dastar, lock away our kirpans and then laugh all the way home. and the NDP just resonates with irresponsible government spending. All the same this time around the blue was looking good. Harper was making all the right moves, and saying all the things I wanted to hear. He seemed like a prime minster who knew the value of a dollar, and for everything else it was worth seemed to be a decent good guy, regardless of how he came across. Yet it only took one question period, to burn that image down, for him to melt away the fisad of a hero and reveal his true colours.

Those of you who follow the news know what I’m talking about, with Harper coming out and insinuating that Navdeep Bains has terrorist ties and that the Liberal party is trying to cover up and protect him by rejecting provisions in the latest of bills. His source for such allegations is non other then everyones favourite journalist turned fairy tale author Kim Bolan and her tabloid newspaper the Vancouver Sun.

This shit bothers me on so many levels that it’s just ridiculous, and I would go as far to call this the nail in the coffin for the Conservative party and their bid to run parliament. To what end will this PM go to not only save his own skin but to make a point? The point alone shows the fact that the PM has no legs to stand on resorting to name calling and finger pointing. It’s as if we’re back in grade school when you’re having a discussion proved to be a dumb ass, so you resort to making yo momma jokes in the hopes that those around you will stop looking at the facts and that the discussion will end prematurely.

When a 3^rd grader does it, it’s understandable but what to make of it when the PM of what is supposed to be a developed nation does it? Harper’s juvenile behavior has proven once again that the Conservatives that were despised in the past are the same conservatives in power today. Why any self respecting Sikh, or human being for that matter would even consider running or even supporting them after all that has been done is beyond me, but I’m sure Sam Hundal will have an answer.

Now for all intents and purposes I could continue this rant and tirade on how idiotic the Prime Minister of Canada really is. That with the RCMP, and CSIS at his disposal the PM instead chooses to use the The Vancouver Sun as his source to drop allegations with. That the provisions and bill in question have little and nothing to do with the Air India Bombing’s investigation, yet he continues to play the same trump card over and over again belittling the intelligence of Canadians everywhere. Or that even after the fact, knowing full well that he crossed the line, refuses to retract or even issue an apology. But screw it, I’d rather just make sure that he doesn’t stay in power by continuing to vote red.

Anyways for those wanting to read up and play catch up with whats going on I’ve included the video of the Question Answer period where Harper makes his allegations and a copy of the Vancover Sun article in question below.

Q & A on the 21st.

(for more reaction from Parliment check out MP Garth Turner’s site)

The Vancover Sun article:

Liberal MP’s in-law interviewed in Air India case

Ontario Liberal is son-in-law of former spokesman for Babbar Khalsa Panthak

Kim Bolan

Vancouver Sun

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

A young Liberal MP who delivered Stephane Dion 250 leadership votes is the son-in-law of a man police have interviewed in connection with the Air India bombing case.

Navdeep Singh Bains, MP for Mississauga-Brampton South, shot on to the national stage after the December 2006 convention in which he delivered huge support to Gerard Kennedy and later to Dion, who won the Liberal leadership by 437 votes.

The Vancouver Sun has learned that Bains’s father-in-law, Darshan Singh Saini, is on the RCMP’s potential list of witnesses at investigative hearings designed to advance the Air India criminal probe.

But the ability to hold those hearings will be lost March 1 if parts of the Anti-Terrorism Act expire as expected, after the Liberals recently withdrew support for extending the provision being used to hold them.

Saini, former Ontario spokesman for the terrorist Babbar Khalsa Panthak, said in an interview that if he is called to the investigative hearing, he will testify.

“If they call me, I will see. I don’t know about that,” he said. “It is not that I hide anything. If something comes up again, that is that.”

And he said his MP son-in-law’s political positions have nothing to do with him.

“I can only speak for me. I cannot speak for my son-in-law,” Saini said from Toronto.

Saini is listed as an alternative leadership delegate for Kennedy, according to documents obtained by The Sun. But he said he did not attend the convention because of medical issues.

Kennedy said Tuesday he has met Saini, but was unaware of his link to political events in the Sikh community in the 1980s.

“I had not been aware of it. And it certainly never came up within the course of any of the interactions I had,” Kennedy said. “I have never had the opportunity to discuss it with him [Saini.]”

Nor has he discussed the issue with Bains, he said.

Saini was a controversial figure in the 1980s. He helped a young man named Harkirat Singh Bagga by giving him a place to stay for several weeks in 1988. Bagga left Saini’s Ontario home that summer, travelled to B.C. and critically wounded newspaper publisher Tara Singh Hayer in the first attempt on Hayer’s life. Hayer, who had offered to be a witness in the Air India case, was assassinated a decade later.

Court documents released during the Air India trial say Saini told the RCMP he had met Bagga in Pakistan in November 1987, along with Ajaib Singh Bagri, a Babbar Khalsa leader acquitted in the Air India bombing.

Bagri at one time was charged in the 1988 plot to kill Hayer and Saini was expected to be called as a witness, according to Air India trial documents, but the charge was later stayed.

Hayer’s son Dave, who is a Liberal MLA in B.C., said he had no idea that Bains was related to Saini.

“I was really shocked to learn that a member of Parliament is closely related to someone who was living with the person who came to shoot my father,” Dave Hayer said.

The RCMP has been preparing since 2003 to hold investigative hearings into the Air India bombing to compel people believed to have knowledge of events at that time to testify before a judge.

Bains, who is just 29, confirmed last week his relationship with Saini. He did not call back Tuesday to answer questions about the implications of Saini’s possible involvement in investigative hearings.

He said earlier that he makes all his decisions as an MP based on what is best for Canadians.

He said he had not realized the impact of the change in the Anti-Terrorism Act on the Air India probe.

“It is very concerning,” Bains said. “There is a debate that is taking place and it will continue to take place. There is no doubt about that. We will raise it among ourselves.”

His family also has connections with the World Sikh Organization, another Sikh separatist group that made an address at the resumption of the Air India inquiry in Ottawa Monday.

Saini said he is no longer involved in the Khalistan movement.

“I am not very much into politics any more,” he said. “My views are drastically different now.”

kbolan@png.canwest.com

I’m not a big fan of the Mac, but I just can’t stand Windows, and as the saying goes the enemy of my enemy is my friend. To that end I found one of those Mac vs PC [windows] ads that hasn’t or isn’t scheduled to be aired, but thought it was one of the better ones yet.

For those who didn’t catch what the ad was about, it was basically about Windows taking 5 years to make a clone of Mac OS. Gagan posted this video a while ago highlighting the differences so for those who didn’t get the above clip the following may help clear things up.

Then again they’re both second grade when they compare to a Linux distro running Beryl, as is seen below:

Another all-star game has come and gone, and hands down this was one of the better all star weekends in a while. The skills comp was buzzing, the dunk off wasn’t near as boring [thank God for the 2 minute rule], and this had to have been one of the best 3 point competitions in a long while.

With all that said, I got to dedicate this to #15, Vince Carter. Recently Sarpanch Gagan called me out regarding the last video I posted about Carter and how the fans feel about him, and again how I still think Carter is one greats. See in all likeness Carter may not receive a Hall Of Fame award of any real acclaim other then for his ability to dunk. Apart from that he may not set or win any records, titles, or even championships. All the same any and every highlight video you see of him will show him in a Raptors uniform.

Anyone who denies Carter’s talent really needs to go back and re-watch some “vintage” Raptor match ups. This guy did everything he could for us. In places like Cinci, we weren’t known as the Toronto Raptors we were known as Vince’s team, he literally carried this team on his back for his tenure as a Raptor. None the less his lack of heart, (I blame it on his Mom who has never seemed to let him be his own man), is what really hurt us. Then again if you look at it this guy shouldered an entire team, a struggling team, all on his own, sooner or later something had to give.

So apart from the coaching staff, and upper management and their lack of direction or focus what more could a player who wants to go somewhere do? What is the point in trying, when you’re surrounded by a franchise who had no vision or goal for success? The Raptor’s didn’t flop because Carter didn’t give it his all 24/7. They flopped because there was no direction or goal, and if that’s not there then why keep breaking ankles or making high light reels night in and night out? Sure you get paid to do a job, but this is a TEAM game, and by no means of the imagination was Carter ever the weakest link on the Raptors, yet to make that link just seems a bit unfair. Fair enough he wasn’t a leader either, but then again he openly admitted he isn’t the type to take lead, he isn’t the type to make the decisions, it was a role that the franchise put on him that he never wanted, so why are we going to continually dog on him for that? Because he ended up being exactly what he said wasn’t, a non-leader?

See unlike most I don’t regret ever having Carter nor do I disagree with the fact that Raptors fans have a right to hate on him, he has said and done some stupid things in the past. At the same time he wasn’t near as bad as everyone makes him out to be. As far as Carter’s continued stupidity, I think that has as much to do with us always egging him on and not moving on ourselves. After all It’s been 2 years now, we got new direction, new players and we for once have a leader to actually lead this team, so lets get over it.

None the less here’s a clip I’mma steal from Bhagauti :

Even though most of you have your attention and sights set on All Star Weekend, I thought it would be safe to share some info about some other happenings, specifically Amu, a movie that looks at the whole 1984 Riots in Delhi.

I haven’t seen the movie myself, but will probably try and make it sometime to check it out soon, just because it does seem promising. By promising I mean that it does seem to have some potential to educate if not give some insight into just a part of what happened in 1984. I remember few years back there was Hawyian, but that movie no where near lived up to the hype surrounding it, and instead felt more like a SSA/COSS meeting that was aimed at tackling a problem, but instead settled everything by pulling the whole “mis-communication” line.

Hopefully Amu will be different. Hopefully it will take a solid stand and not really sit on the fence as much as I feel Hawyian did. From what I’ve been told by those who have watched it, the movie is worth watching and supporting, so I’ll give it a chance and see what happens.

I’ll probably follow up with a review of it if I do get a chance to check it out, which I do hope is pretty soon. For those interested, below is the official trailer with the synopsis from the site and local show times. The organizers are hoping to get enough people out this weekend to help fuel this movie’s play time at the given theaters since it is limited and the theaters intent on keeping the movie running is motivated almost entirely by ticket sales.

Summary:

Amu is the journey of Kajori Roy, a 21-year-old Indian American woman who has lived in the US since the age of 3. After graduating from UCLA Kaju goes to India to visit her relatives. There she meets Kabir, a college student from an upper class family who is disdainful of Kaju’s wide-eyed wonder at discovering the “real India”. Undeterred Kaju visits the slums, crowded markets and roadside cafes of Delhi. In one slum she is struck by an odd feeling of déjà vu. Soon after she starts having nightmares. Kabir gets drawn into the mystery of why this is happening particularly when he discovers that she is adopted.

Meanwhile Kaju’s adoptive mother – Keya Roy, a single parent and civil rights activist in LA, arrives unannounced in Delhi. She is shocked to discover that Kaju has been visiting the slums. Although Kaju mistakes her mother’s response to a typical Indian over protectiveness – Keya’s fears are deeper rooted.

Slowly Kaju starts piecing together what happened to her birth parents and mother and daughter clash as Kaju discovers she has been lied to her whole life. What was the truth? Why was it suppressed? As Kaju and Kabir undertake this quest they both discover their families involvement with a man made tragedy of immense proportions which took place twenty years ago in the capital city of India: the massacre of thousands of people of the Sikh faith. In a searing climax the young people are forced to confront the reality of the past and how it affects the present.

Official Website: http://www.amuthefilm.com 

Local Showtimes (as found on the website):

TORONTO

Opening: Feb 16:
Cineplex Carlton
20 Carlton St. (at Yonge St.), Toronto
(416) 598-2309
Show Times: Mon – Fri: 4 30, 7, 9.30
                   Sat Sun: 1.30, 4.30, 7, 9.30

AMC Kennedy Commons
33 William Kitchen Rd.
Scarborough
(416) 335 5323
Show Times: Mon – Thurs: 4.30, 7, 9.45
                   Fri: 2, 4.30, 7, 9.45
                   Sat. Sun: 11.30, 2, 4.30, 7, 9.45

Empire Square One
100 City Center Drive
Missisauga
(905) 275 2640
Show Times: 1, 4, 7, 9.40

Empire Empress Walk
5095 Yonge St. (Empress Ave.)
North York
(416) 223-9550
Show Times: Fri – Sun: 1, 4, 7, 10
                   Mon – Thurs: 4, 7, 10

Hindi print: without subtitles
Rainbow Woodbine
Woodbine Center Mall
500 Rexdale Blvd. (at Hwy 27)
Etobicoke
(416) 213 9048
Show Times: 12.45, 2.50, 4.50, 7, 9.10

MONTREAL
Opening: Feb 23

AMC Forum 22
2313 St. Catherine West
Montreal
(514) 904 1250

VANCOUVER

Opening: Feb 23

Empire Granville 7
855 Granville St.
Vancouver
(604) 684 4000

Cineplex Strawberry Hill Grande
12161 72nd Ave
Surrey, BC
(604) 501 9400

Its hard to believe it’s already that time of year, it seems like just yesterday when I was protesting Nate Robinson winning the dunk competition. None the less tomorrow marks the start of All Star weekend, so I thought maybe I would set my predictions now, giving those of you interested enough to post your own sometime to chime in.

Rookie Challenge: I got the Rookies. I’mma put my faith in this years batch or rook’s. The sophomores have been ruling things for the last 5 years now, and I’m sure Vegas is behind the sophomores, but I’m counting on Bargnani, Gay, and Garbo to hold it down and deliver the win.

Dunk Competition: If only the judges were the ones doing the dunking then maybe I’d be excited about this years competition, but they’re no so we’re left to pick from the scraps we got. Nate Robinson is easily the greatest dunker in this years competition, but if he has to take 30 attempts to accomplish a single dunk then by no means does he deserve to win. Howard is a ferocious dunker, but he just doesn’t get high enough to perform the air time acrobatics that make a great dunk. Thomas I just don’t see him having the creativity to wow the masses. Leaving Green as the only real hope, and personally out of spite for Nate I’m going to go with him to take it this year. This kid enjoys dunking, and he does it well, and if we are to believe all those inspirational quotes that we hear growing up, then my money’s on this kid to take it, in other words, Green is my pick for Dunk King 2007.

Skills Competition: I’m divided on who to pick, Lebron or Wade. It’s not that I don’t think Kobe can win, I just don’t think Kobe wants to win. Come all star weekend he’s all about seeming like one of the guys and I think he does what he can to come across as being a nice and humble guy who isn’t possessed by the demon that pushes him to be the greatest basketball player in the history of the game. As for Lebron, he is the King for a reason, but Wade is Wade, and that laid back swagger he carries himself with may just lead him to reigning supreme once again. As far as Paul, he could possibly pull it off also, but seeing as how I’m not all that familiar with his game nor have I really watched him, I just dont feel comfortable enough putting any hope into him, although everyone’s favourite candidate thinks otherwise.

Shooting Stars: Does anyone really care about this? Get rid of this and get more people in the dunk comp.

3 Point Shoot-out: Due to the dunk comp’s downfall the 3 point shootout is usually the main thing I look forward to watching all star weekend and this year my money is on Jason Terry. This is the year Nortwitzki retires his crown and passes the the thrown to his boy. Gilbert scored 9 points in a game that he called out and said he’s scoring 50; the equivalent of The Babe pointing to the heavens but getting struck out. Damon Jones, yea he’s a non factor.

The Race: Bavetta. Charles it fat, and out of shape, too bad the local sarpanch disagrees.

So there you have it. Now go wild and cut up my predictions or post your own or even check how my picks compare against Sarpanch Gagan’s whatever makes you happy.