Suzan Pawlak story is coming to a close

Thanks to Liberals who decided not to listen to the people who run the party, the Suzan Pawlak story is coming to an end with little political fallout.

John Mark Karr is looking for a job that requires a criminal background check

John Mark Karr is famous for having masterfully played the American justice system. Picked up in Thailand on charges related to sex with children, Karr immediately confessed to some ill-defined connection to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey in Colorado. Karr, who fled the United States when he was picked up on child pornography charges in California, was deported by American authorities eager to close this high profile case.

This despite growing concerns that Karr was making the entire thing up, something I suggested the very day the story broke of John Mark Karr's arrest and confession.

As it turned out, Karr was making the entire thing up. Once he was safely out of Thailand, Karr could only laugh when the Ramsey charges were dropped when the evidence clearly showed Karr had nothing to do with the murder. As for the charges in California, those were dropped too, as it was revealed that in the years that had passed, the evidence was lost.

So John Mark Karr is a free man. And with no criminal convictions or outstanding charges, he can apply for any job he likes.

Nadeem Jiwa due back in court

In August, York Regional Police Constable Robert Plunkett was killed while trying to arrest Nadeem Jiwa and Baseer Mohammed Yousafzai, who were allegedly removing airbags from a stolen car. Jiwa is alleged to have killed Plunkett by pinning him against a tree with the car while trying to make a getaway.

Nadeem Jiwa has been charged with first-degree murder, and he is supposed to make a court appearance today.

Thorarinn Jonsson needs better friends

Thorarinn Ingi Jonsson is out on bail, facing charges related to an art project in which he planted a fake bomb in the Royal Ontario Museum. Unfortunately for Jonnson, he seems to be surrounded by "friends" who seem to want Jonnson to think he did nothing wrong.

Man assaults Santa Claus for his art

Compared to Thorarinn Ingi Jonsson and his art project, involving putting a pipe bomb facsimile in the Royal Ontario Musem in order for it to be recontextualized, the story of Clint Westwood seems tame.

This Missoula, Montana college student filmed himself assaulting a mall Santa to include in a film he was making.

Police caught him as he waited to convince Santa to sign a release form.

Is all conceptual art rooted in cowardice?

The story of the fake bomb at the Royal Ontario Museum has got me to thinking about modern or conceptual art.

Not surprisingly, my conclusion is that it is without redeeming value, but I'm going to try and go a bit deeper than that.

And in particular, I'm going to avoid simply calling Thorarinn Ingi Jonsson an idiot. Plenty of people are doing that already.

I guess we'll be hearing about Cher being pulled over

I don't write about the weird. I should do more. The stories always make me laugh. Call it a guilty pleasure. But I figure my readers like a certain kind of story -- serious attempts at moderately deep political analysis. Well, not this time. Dammit, this story just needs to be told.

It's got transvestites and tire irons and violence -- Quentin Tarantino will be turning this into a move soon.

Suzan Pawlak picked up

The former Liberal Party treasurer who is facing charges after over $13,000 was stolen from a riding association failed to make a court appearance last week. Last night Suzan Pawlak was arrested in Toronto.

Suzan Pawlak on the run?

Suzan Pawlak, the former Liberal Elgin-Middlesex-London riding association treasurer who has been charged with fraud, has failed to appear in court. This is a strange story that refuses to die.

Scofflaw Cliff Tang is in prison

The notorious scofflaw Cliff Tang is in prison right now, a third of the way through a three-month sentence for driving (again) without a license. I am not optimistic that Cliff Tang will abide by the driving ban that will be imposed when he is released. Though he is fortunate that a three-year ban was imposed by the court instead of the ten-year ban requested by the Crown, Cliff Tang's past behaviour suggests that, in his view, a ban on driving is more akin to a guideline.

Letter bombs in Toronto

We live in interesting times in southern Ontario. Yesterday, a major highway was shut down to allow police to safely transport three explosive devices discovered during the arrest of Adel Arnaout, the suspect in three letter bombings in Toronto and nearby Guelph.

Now that the excitement is over, and the dust, literally and figuratively, has settled, many are eager to learn the details of the case built up by the police. What little we know reads like a crime mystery.

I fully expect a Law & Order episode to be based on these events next season.

Paul Cheema, suspect in the murder of his wife Shemina Hirji, is found dead

A stunning development in the case of the murder of Shemina Hirji. The prime suspect in the case, husband Paul Cheema, has been found dead in the family home. Police have the house cordoned off and little else is being reported.

Texas pedophile Richard Jones picked up in Toronto

The good news is that an American pedophile, on the run from the law, was picked up by police.

The bad news is that Richard Jones is from Texas, he was picked up in Toronto, and he got from there to here by walking off a cruise ship in Halifax.

It should simply not have happened.

Raymond Lavigne case shapes up to be Liberal Party embarrassment

In the case of Raymond Lavigne, the Liberal Senator charged with fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction of justice, there was no stone to be left unturned in investigating the allegations.

Indeed, the shining light of justice was cast into the darkest cracks in order to find the truth.

Chinese CEO commits suicide over toy recall

News out of China about the suicide death of Zhang Shuhong, the CEO of Lee Der Industrial, the company that supplied Mattel with toys covered in lead paint, prompting a massive recall.

I found one particular aspect of the story -- the question of just how common these sorts of suicides are in China -- particularly fascinating.

The Cliff Tang case is under a publication ban

Cliff Tang has made an appearance in court. If you are following the case of this serial scofflaw with a penchant for reckless driving and responsible for one death (so far), this will be the end of the line.

A publication ban has been imposed.

A publication ban? For a case of driving while suspended?

Tracking down the Vancouver restaurant shooters

The hunt is on for the restaurant assassins in Vancouver. I'm not holding out much hope that the killers will be found.

The dilemma for Nadeem Jiwa

I wonder if the case of Nadeem Jiwa, the man accused in the first degree murder of Constable Robert Plunkett, is turning into a prisoner's dilemma. That would be very bad news for Jiwa.

Bogus Colgate toothpaste is still being found in markets around the world

Whoever made the bogus Colgate toothpaste that was the focus of so much attention last month was a busy guy. Tubes are still being found. In this case, thousands of tubes in Mozambqiue. The spelling errors are still there, but again, they are different from the ones we found in Canada and then again from those in the United States.

The typos are real zingers.

Nadeem Jiwa facing first-degree murder charges in death of Robert Plunkett

Nadeem Jiwa is now facing first-degree murder charges in the death of Constable Robert Plunkett. Jiwa's lawyer is Azam Murji, and he has offered subtle hints as to the defence strategy. But one thing Murji demands is that his client not lie to him.

Little-known branch of US Department of State involved in Jim Flaherty email investigation

It is being reported today that Lloyd Dewitt Tiller of Shreveport, Louisiana, has been charged with sending two threatening emails to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, allegedly because Tiller was angry over the decision to tax income trusts.

Interestingly, the news brings out of the shadows a little known branch of US law enforcement, the Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service.

Why does it take "sources" to know the scope of danger to children?

We know that police investigating the disappearance of nine-year-old Cedrika Provencher are interviewing registered sex-offenders in the area.

Seems like a prudent step.

But when I learned just how many registered sex-offenders are potential interview subjects, I was shocked.

I thought maybe...what...ten?

I was way off.

Alleged cop killer Nadeem Jiwa was out on bail

If Nadim Jiwa's charges on possession of break-in tools, mischief, and theft had been dealt with four months ago, Robert Plunkett would be alive today.

That seems to be the harsh truth of the matter.

On the other hand, if he is denied bail, time spent in pre-sentencing custody will reduce any sentence he might receive.

Cedrika Provencher search shifts to mystery man

The search for missing nine-year-old Cedrika Provencher has shifted to a search for the man who was seen approaching other young girls in the area, and who is suspected of approaching Cedrika.

Major theft from a Tory riding association

There has been a serious breach of trust at a Tory provincial riding association in Alberta. An arrest has been made. Thank goodness that the justice system has been allowed to do its job without interference.

Constable Robert Plunkett killed trying to stop the lucrative business of airbag theft

The brutal death of Constable Robert Plunkett while trying to arrest alleged car thieves has brought into focus the lucrative business of auto theft for parts. In this case, the alleged thieves were trying to steal airbags. Components such as these are sold for lucrative profits to unscrupulous auto shops to sell to unsuspecting customers.

Given, therefore, that the alleged thieves weren't working alone, but quite likely had a buyer lined up for the airbags, you can be certain police will be working hard to roll up the entire operation.

Update: Both suspects were known to the criminal justice system.

Cedrika Provencher and the lost dog

Cedrika Provencher of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, is nine-years-old and has been missing for 40 hours. We know that she was looking for a lost dog, but we don't know whose dog it was or who asked her to look. That is very disturbing.

Repeat offender Cliff Tang challenges the legal system

The story of Cliff Tang is a remarkable one.

He is a scofflaw and a repeat offender, having been in and out of jail for various offenses, but mostly for street racing and other serious vehicle crimes.

Including criminal negligence causing death.

And yet despite this history, he continues to drive while under suspension, and was picked up again.

No doubt his driving suspension will be extended now.

I think that is entirely the wrong approach.

Online pedophile site says to go Montreal festival to look, but offers how-to guides for touching

Disturbing news about a pedophilia site encouraging pedophiles to attend a Children's Festival in Montreal to "watch". Police are worried, but because the site strictly discourages approaching children, it is not illegal.

But here's the thing. This site is in Amsterdam. On a completely unrelated story, I was poking around the dark corners of the Internet looking for two books. I found those books, official German government publications which encourage sexual touching for the health of the children, at an Amsterdam site that is for pedophiles who claim to like only to look at young girls.

Well, then why are those books there?

The Liberal Party history with diverted funds

If history is any guide, Suzan Pawlak has nothing to worry about. The story of Jesse Davidson suggests that the Liberal Party has a lot of tolerance for people who allegedly steal from them -- as long as they're Liberals.

In the end, what really mattered was avoiding any embarrassment.

David Pretlove's offer mixed hardball bargaining and a hint of undesirable consequences

I have more direct quotes from the offer LPC(O) Financial Director David Pretlove made to the London riding association to replace the money allegedly stolen by Suzan Pawlak, his staffer.

It is interesting because he offers to cut a cheque from the LPC(O) to cover half of the amount alleged to have been stolen, and seems to be challenging the other amounts.

The cheques he was willing to cover were made out to Suzan Pawlak.

Except for one...that was a hotel bill. [Update: Turns out it was for a riding event at that hotel that might or might not have actually taken place.]

The message to the riding association? Take the $7,200 I'm offering and clean up the rest of the $15,000 mess, or else you'll miss your Elections Canada deadline, and we wouldn't want that to happen.

David Pretlove was going to use Liberal Party funds to cover up a criminal act

The National Post is reporting on the case of Suzan Pawlak, who allegedly stole $15,000 from the London riding association of the federal Liberal Party, and the attempt by David Pretlove, the financial director of the Ontario wing of the party, to hide what happened.

The bombshell? David Pretlove was going to use party funds to cover up the alleged crime.

Some thoughts about private restitution

David Pretlove has been quoted (allegedly) as saying he was trying to help out Suzan Pawlak when he offered to pay back the London riding association of the federal Liberal Party the $15,000 that was missing from the bank accounts, on the condition that the police not be called.

If true, this means that he had reason to believe that she would be held responsible for the missing money. Pawlak was the riding treasurer until August 2006. At the time the money was found to be missing in January 2007, she had moved on and was working for Pretlove, the director of the federal Liberal Party's Ontario wing.

Was this a simple matter of restitution? I guess it depends on what constitutes true restitution.

Cialis (tadalafil) warning from Health Canada targets all-natural male potency product Zencore Tabs

The latest Health Canada warning is one of a long line of warnings targeting male potency products. Marketed as all-natural, Health Canada seems to repeatedly find that these products contain medically significant concentrations of sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), and tadalafil (Cialis). These compounds are effective, but also require a prescription, since they all have serious side effects and interactions with other drugs.

Checking out a bit about this industry, I wonder if these health industry manufacturers routinely spike their male potency products in order to make they work. I say routinely, because I found a scientific paper on how to efficiently check for this problem, suggesting it is a widespread problem.

Of course, having had absolutely no reason whatsoever to have used any of these products at any time, I have had to depend on what I could find out on the internet.

Unapproved habit-forming Chinese sleep aids containing clonazepam being recalled

Health Canada has pulled a set of sleep aids off the market because they contain a habit-forming ingredient, clonazepam, that is not listed on the labelling. These products have not even been submitted for approval by Health Canada.

The Health Canada advisory does not mention the ties to China, though. So I'll describe them.

Similac scare in Canada -- not the first time baby formula targetted

Falsely labelled Similac, a best-selling baby formula, is being sold in Canada, sent to liquidation outlets by an unauthorized distributor. This is not the first time this sort of thing has happened. Mohamad S. Mostafa made millions in the US selling bad baby formula. When he was caught, he ran north of the border only to be caught in Alberta by the Mounties. He is serving four years in a US prison.

I wonder how harshly Canadians caught doing this sort of thing will be treated?

Obstruction of Justice and Accessory after the Fact

Just checking on the formal definitions of obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact.

David Pretlove's explanation includes admitting he was specifically helping Suzan Pawlak

I've received, third-hand, an explanation by David Pretlove of why he was involved in the London riding association missing money problem. If we accept this at face value, his explanation includes confirmation that he was specifically help Suzan Pawlak out of a jam.

David Pretlove was leaving the party, so no suspension in the works

The Liberal Party is trying to play down the question of David Pretlove's apparent attempt to coverup a major theft of money from the London riding association.

David Pretlove story continues to gain momentum

The twisted story of missing money, criminal charges, and what looks like an attempted coverup in London, Ontario, continues to gain momentum. Questions concerning why David Pretlove, the director for the federal Liberal Party in Ontario, would have offered to reimburse a riding association that had been the victim of a serious loss of cash on the condition that the police not be involved continue to be asked, even as the media confirms that the person who was ultimately charged with the crime, Suzan Pawlak, was working directly for him.

Stephane Dion must suspend Suzan Pawlak and David Pretlove, NDP demands

In my post about the weird mess in London, Ontario, I pointed out that it looks like the director of the federal Liberal Party in Ontario, David Pretlove, tried to prevent an investigation into the apparent theft of $15,000 from the London federal riding association. What was disturbing was that Pretlove attempted to suppress the investigation that ultimately resulted in charges being laid against Suzan Pawlak, the former treasurer for the London riding association, and at the time Pretlove made his offer, one of Pretlove's employees.

Given that at the time no one knew who Pawlak was or that she would be facing charges, Pretlove's prescience looked very suspicious. The obvious question to ask is whether Pretlove actually knew Pawlak was involved when he made the offer, and if so, why try to suppress the investigation.

I'm not the only one wondering. The NDP has issued a press release calling on Stephane Dion to suspend both Pretlove and Pawlak until these questions are answered.

Carcinogenic lipstick laced with lead

Not every consumer warning is legitimate. Especially ones that are forwarded by email. In this case, an old standard -- that major name brand lipsticks are going to kill you because of high lead levels -- is making the rounds again.

But in this environment of heightened sensitivity to hidden dangers in consumer goods, such as with the counterfeit Colgate toothpaste, these old hoaxes are getting a new lease on life.

Did a senior Liberal try to protect Suzan Pawlak from prosecution?

When $15,000 went missing from the federal Liberal Party riding association accounts for London, Ontario, David Pretlove of the Ontario wing of the federal party offered to cover the shortfall as long as the police were left out of the picture. The riding executive turned down the strange offer and called the police.

Today police have charged former riding association treasurer Suzan Pawlak with 42 counts related to fraud and forgery.

But here's the strange thing. Suzan Pawlak was working for David Pretlove when the riding association first discovered the financial irregularities. Coincidence?

Paul Cheema's dramatically changing fortunes

Since the murder of his wife, Shemina Hirji, in an alleged home invasion, Paul Cheema has changed from devastated husband to prime suspect.

Well, for some observers, he was always the prime suspect, given the strange details of the home invasion story that he told police, and that police now believe is a fabrication.

Still, reviewing the latest news reports, you can see just how dramatically circumstances have changed for Paul Cheema.

Peer Syed Sahib and Ajmeri Baba -- The same scam and links to Taliban terrorism?

I've written a piece about the strange advertising of mystic Peer Syed Sahib I spotted in a Toronto-area Indian-language newspaper. The ad, or what little I could understand, seemed to promise miraculous results after a mere phone call, and a wad of cash.

Plenty of people have complained about Peer Syed Sahib's tactics -- constant phone calls asking for more money (large sums) and for family information. Moreover, I'm not sure that this sort of advertising is allowed in Canada.

But in poking around, I've noticed that at least two of the largest mystics seem to share a lot in common. Too much in common, I think. And suddenly the darker rumours that surround what these people do seem more credible.

Paul Cheema arrested in murder of wife Shemina Hirji while trying to flee the country

Husband of Shemina Hirji, Paul Cheema, is reported to have been arrested attempting to catch a flight to London. The Cheema family is alleged to have tried to give him cover for his getaway.

Update: Police are confirming the arrest of the "primary suspect" in the murder of Shemina Hirji.

Update: The arrested man has been released but remains a "primary suspect".

Paul Cheema's past violence against women revealed in Shemina Hirji investigation

Paul Cheema, the husband of murdered school principal Shemina Hirji, is not a suspect in the murder, insist police. He was attacked in the same home invasion that saw his wife murdered, but was not seriously harmed. Some suspect that there is something else going on here, and it has been revealed that Paul Cheema has a criminal past. Twelve years ago, he threatened his fiance with death and forcibly kidnapped her after the marriage was called off.

The credibility of the home invasion in the Shemina Hirji murder

Though there has been a lot of doubts raised about what actually happened in Burnaby, British Columbia, concerning the murder of Shemina Hirji, the home invasion reported by husband Paul Cheema is still credible. The description of one of the invaders wearing a business suit is not as far-fetched as some people might think.

Search warrant executed on the home of murder victim Shemina (Hirji) Cheema

Police have executed a search warrant in order to gather evidence from the home of Shemina (Hirji) Cheema, murdered during an alleged home invasion. A search warrant will prevent the admissibility of the evidence from being challenged in court. What does that say about the direction this investigation is taking?

Chinese "fake" water

Another report on endemic Chinese fakery. This time, in China, upwards to 80% of barrels containing "pure" water for water coolers are actually filled with tap water. With the Beijing Olympics coming up fast, I wonder if national teams will be making a show of their athletes avoiding all things Chinese.

A story of marriage, murder, family, and Sikhism, with a Canadian link

This is a fascinating story of an abused wife who had become a liability, a husband who arranged for her murder, the help he received from his family to commit the brutal deed, and the police work that uncovered the alleged plot. It links a Sikh family in Calgary and in India.

Anger over mixed marriages prompts promise of "dire consequences"

While the investigation into the murder of newlywed Shemina Cheema (formerly Shemina Hirji) continues under utter secrecy in Burnaby, British Columbia, the question of the possible role the mixed marriage into which she entered is being asked. The fact is, though, that mixed marriages between Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims is a particularly sore point for many in their respective communities, given the history of violence in India and Pakistan where these religions meet. It did not take me long to find a story of a violent reaction in a Western nation perpetrated by those who are bringing that violence from the old country. It happened in Birmingham, England, only three weeks ago, and thankfully only resulted in property damage.

But in a post in a Sikh forum, "dire consequences" were promised if mixed marriages were allowed to be conducted.

Uneasiness surrounds the case of the murder of Shemina Cheema (Shemina Hirji)

The investigation into the murder of newlywed Shemina Cheema (formerly Shemina Hirji) continues, but the police are keeping every detail under wraps. Even the cause of death will not be discussed with anyone, not even the family. Meanwhile, the question of whether Shemina was targeted continues to be asked, with focus on the mixed marriage (Paul Cheema was Sikh, and Shemina was a Muslim). A quick perusal of message boards reveals that the majority of families angrily oppose these mixed marriages, and the news director of Vancouver-based Radio India confirms that those feelings are as prevalent in British Columbia as they are in India.

Dollar stores still don't get it when it comes to stocking toothpaste

You would have hoped that with all the press on the issue of Chinese toothpaste spiked with diethylene glycol and counterfeit Colgate toothpaste teeming with bacteria normally associated with sewage, dollar stories would be much more careful concerning the health care products they put on their shelves.

I visited a dollar store (not the same one in which I found the counterfeit Colgate) and found a toothpaste, clearly not for the Canadian market, and clearly not allowed to be put on the store shelves and sold.

How do I know that this product was not fit to be sold? Trust me when I say it was so obvious.

The power of blogging to affect change

A retrospective on the recalls of products that have happened in Canada makes a comment that speaks to the potential of blogging to tip stories and to change behaviour.

Two distinct views on murder of Shemina Hirji

A newlywed, Shemia Hirji, was murdered during a home invasion in British Columnia. Her husband, Paul Cheema, escaped with minor injuries. Random tragic violence, it seems, according to the English language press. But the problem is that the East Indian media outlets are calling this a possible honour killing.

Remember that bacteria-ridden toothpaste I tasted? More types of bacteria found

Test results continue to roll in. More species of bacteria are being found in the counterfeit Colgate toothpaste sold in Canada. And Health Canada says that the additional contamination poses a "serious health risk".

South African pineapple growers badly hurt by bad Chinese fertilizer

In South Africa, the pineapple crop has been devastated by the use of Chinese fertilizer laced with heavy metals.

Smuggling dangerous Chinese goods into Canada through Vancouver

Merchants in Vancouver's Chinatown have to wary of stocking goods from people who are not genuine licensed importers. What exactly is an importer who is not genuinely licensed? Isn't that the same thing as a smuggler? And smuggling large shipments of consumer goods and getting them past border officials sounds complicated -- like the sort of thing that organized crime organizations will take on.

Exploding battery -- photos and analysis

A reader had a close encounter with an exploding battery at the workplace. The event was so violent that the Health and Safety Committee filed a report, complete with pictures. Though at the time no root cause for the event was identified, I think we can make a go at it, and what we see is consistent with what we've heard about the explosions of counterfeit batteries imported from China.

Cambridge idiot ponders the source of toothpaste bacteria -- and is thoroughly disgusted

After making the local papers as an idiot extraordinaire, a Cambridge man considers what would have lead to serious bacterial contamination of counterfeit toothpaste. His conclusions are quite revolting.

China announces new standards for toothpaste after corruption investigation

The Chinese government has announced the results of an audit into corruption in a recently dismantled oral hygiene organization. These changes are not likely to do much to combat the counterfeiting problem.

It's perfectly legal to import exploding batteries into Canada

Now I take a look at battery counterfeiting. So what's the difference between a real Duracell battery and the Chinese fake? Duracell batteries are designed not to explode. The cheap knockoffs will definitely explode -- it's just a matter of time.

But despite that, milions of counterfeit batteries are knowingly let into Canada, since Canadian law does not consider the import of counterfeit goods an offense.

Bollards play a key role in defeating terrorist attack in Glasgow, Scotland

The attack on Glasgow Airport in Scotland today was foiled in large part by bollards. Ever see a bollard in action? No? Then you've never seen a speeding transport truck ripped apart like so much tissue paper. It's quite the sight to see.

Counterfeit toothpaste teeming with dangerous bacteria

The good news is that the counterfeit Colgate toothpaste I found in an "Everything for a Dollar" store in Guelph, the tube that became national news, did not register for diethylene glycol.

The bad news is that it contains high levels of dangerous bacteria.

Shell Chemical plant struggling with substandard Chinese parts

I have a report from Shell Chemical detailing a shocking problem discovered in Holland. Chinese-made piping for a major chemical plant was discovered to have been deliberately reworked to hide serious flaws that engineers believe could have resulted in disastrous consequences.

Canadian bloggers still having trouble getting credit for their contribution

I keep reminding myself that the most important thing is the Canadians are now learning that they might have dangerously defective tires on their minivans and SUVs. That's what matters. But as an aside, I have to say I feel a bit cheated that the work I did to reveal that this might be the case has not been credited.

I shouldn't be this thin-skinned, but then all bloggers are cheated when this happens, so it's not just about me.

Suspect tires sold by the container-full in Canada

Even as an official recall of tires made by the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company is about to begin in the United States, here in Canada we are learning that potentially a large quantity of these suspect tires have been distributed across Canada. There are no plans for a recall, and the importer insists that the tires are "fine".

Mean-spirited vandalism in Toronto

A friend at the Toronto Police Service put my attention to this particularly nasty business. At Bloor and Dufferin, there is a mural dedicated to the victims of gun violence in Toronto. Well, guess what? Vandals have already defaced it, tagging it with their signatures and symbols, including obliterating the portion of the painting that listed the names of the young people in this city who have been killed. Victims like Jane Creba who were utterly innocent bystanders. To these people, Jane was like this mural, just something that got in the way of whatever pointless thing they decided to do at that moment.

A can of spray paint or a gun -- the same attitude drives these people to ignore everyone around them, regardless of the pain and misery that their behaviours might cause. I don't know if that attitude is because of organic damage to the brain, or because of poor upbringing by parents who probably aren't much better examples of humanity, but the result sure seems like a form of mental retardation in people who are old enough to know better.

Heck, maybe it's the rap and hip-hop that dulls their wits to the point that they operate at a level only slightly better than famyard animals.

In any case, the perpetrators of this particular crime have sullied a neighbourhood and the memories of the victims to which the painting was dedicated. Watch the video, and if by some wild chance you recognize anything that could help police track down those responsible, call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), locally at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or leave information at www.222tips.com.

If you want to see what the mural looked like before it was obliterated, you can see photos and read the explanation of the panels at www.notogangs.org.

Transport Canada has been on the tire issue since Monday, but no recall yet

Word from the Globe and Mail today that Transport Canada has been looking at Chinese tire problem since Monday. But until the manufacturer tells Transport Canada that there is a problem, there is little Transport Canada can do, even as in the US, they are preparing to recall nearly half-a-million tires with a potentially deadly defect.

Tire recall in the US will begin on Monday

The American importer of allegedly defective Chinese-made tires will initiate an official recall in the United States on Monday. The company expects that they will be able to replace 10% of the tires before being forced to declare bankruptcy. In the mean time, we'll wait to see if Canadians are driving on the same tires, and whether corrective action will be taken.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells American consumers to switch tires

The NHTSA is telling American consumers who have bought tires manufactured by the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber company of China, and sold in the US under the brand names Westlake, Telluride, YKS and Compass, to remove the tires immediately. I don't get that sense of urgency in Canada.

Cheap Chinese tires are the subject of the latest recall

Two deaths are already being attributed to faulty Chinese tires. American authorities think over 450,000 faulty tires have been imported and might be on the road right now. Meanwhile, I had no problem finding a Canadian distributor of the suspect brands.

Reciprocal agreement to aid law enforcement comes under attack from Liberals and NDP

Foreign law enforcement officials will find it easier to bring their weapons into Canada in the pursuit of their duties. Of course, the same goes for Canadian law enforcement pursuing criminals in other jurisdictions. Apparently this is a threat to Canada's sovereignty, or so says Liberal MP Dan McTeague, who brings up an incident in which unarmed Canadian border officials abandoned their posts in the face of armed American criminals and the US law enforcement giving chase. That's an odd example to bring up, because the truth is that until the Conservative government started arming our border guards, Canadian border officials depended on US law enforcement to use their weapons on our side of the border.

Is the Colgate South Africa website a fake?

A reporter for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle wonders if the Colgate website listed on the counterfeit toothpaste boxes is itself legitimate. It might not be a great website, but the registration information seems legitimate. And I can't see how the aliasing could have been faked.

Official statement from Health Canada with regards to the toothpaste scare

Health Canada has released an expanded statement with regards to toothpaste safety in this country. It is interesting. For one thing, Chinese toothpaste is out!

Some preliminary results on the toothpaste

Health Canada has stated that the counterfeit Colgate toothpaste found in Canada is not the same as the product found in the United States. Health Canada has not said how it is different, though. While we wait, I can describe one interesting detail in the toothpaste in my possession that might explain just what is going on here.

Counterfeit toothpaste imported by an electronics trader?

It looks like FHT Enterprises, the company that allegedly imported to the counterfeit toothpaste that is now the centre of a Health Canada probe, specializes in importing cables and DVDs and video games.

Counterfeit Colgate toothpaste story starts rolling

First the Globe and Mail, then several radio interviews, and now two TV spots for CTV and CBC (Radio Canada). I suppose it's fair to say that the story of the counterfeit Colgate toothpaste I bought in Guelph has been noticed.

Toothpaste scare spreads

The fake Colgate toothpaste has turned up in Ontario and Florida and Kentucky.

This theory suggests Colgate made the toothpaste declared to be counterfeit

I don't necessarily buy into this theory, but it does explain why the counterfeit toothpaste is in tubes that look completely correct, but why the cardboard outer packaging is littered with errors.

If this theory is true, however, it strongly suggests that the Colgate toothpaste tube I have contains diethylene glycol. It also suggests that it did not start out as a counterfeit.

Colgate leaps into action -- but secretly

Within a day of my call to Colgate Canada about the tube of toothpaste I picked up at the local dollar store, all the tubes have disappeared.

Nigerian compelled to provide real registration information

After I wrote about the strage constellation of websites registered by A Bojali, I was contacted by Bojali, who was getting heat from hosting companies over the suspicious registration information.

I offered some advice, and it looks like it was taken.

London-area Liberals fuming at stolen funds and party coverup

A massive theft of funds from the Liberal Party riding association in London has prompted a criminal investigation. But there is a serious political side to this as well, with allegations of an offer from the Director of Finance of the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario), David Pretlove, to cut a cheque to cover the shortfall with the promise not to take this to the police.

Toothpaste purchased in Ontario is counterfeit

I just got off the phone with a very helpful customer service representative at Colgate Canada, and she confirms that this product is not theirs.

I just bought Colgate toothpaste imported from South Africa in a Canadian dollar store

Update #1: Colgate Canada says this isn't their product and wants to get their hands on the tube.

Update #2: It looks like Colgate Canada is quietly picking up the faux toothpaste.

Update #3: The story has been picked up by the main stream media and is spreading quickly across Canada.

Colgate insists that it does not import toothpaste into the United States from South Africa. Any such products are counterfeits, and might contain diethylene glycol, a component of antifreeze known to be toxic to humans.

So I have to ask myself, why is it that Colgate imports South African toothpaste into Canada? Or is the toothpaste I am holding in my hand also a counterfeit? And is it poisonous?

Reports of contaminated counterfeit Colgate toothpaste

Over a week ago I warned people to be suspicious of all toothpaste. The recall by the FDA covered only Chinese-made products, but I found an interview with a Chinese official in which he insisted that Colgate toothpaste was made in China. Colgate had said that this was untrue.

So was I wrong to be concerned?

It looks like I was ahead of the news by a week. A report today that contaminated Colgate toothpaste is being hunted down by American authorities. But as it turns out, it is counterfeit toothpaste. Authorities haven't determined the point of origin yet. Any guesses?

How do you spot an internet scam? You read below.

No, I mean, literally, you read below. Move your eyes down just a bit. The scam is right there.

Google AdSense serves up a Nigerian scam

This is Adewale Bolaji. She is trying to sell you bogus AdWords advice via my blog. For that I apologize. She might also be the face of Nigerian 419 scams. It makes for an interesting trip through the internet.

Study suggests death penalty deters crime

A study suggests that the death penalty deters crime. In fact, the study predicts exactly how many murders are prevented with each execution. The study raises a number of questions, especially in those cases where people have been wrongfully convicted of murder.

Bucking the trend on Paris Hilton

I've discovered I'm in a distinct minority when it comes to Paris Hilton. I just don't like what I see in the larger picture. A lot of people I've spoken to seem all too happy to watch Paris Hilton being jerked to and fro by the various elements of the justice system. I find that attitude odd. What did Paris Hilton ever do to them? I, for one, don't enjoy this at all. Not only do I think we can feel for Paris Hilton, I think the way her case is being handled suggests the machinery of justice is definitely out of kilter.

Colgate toothpaste -- Made in Mexico or China?

Breaking: Ersatz Colgate toothpaste in the United States might contain DEG. And I just bought a suspicious tube of toothpaste in my local dollar store in Canada.

The latest outrage from China is the export of toothpaste using a poisonous component of antifreeze, diethylene glycol, as a thickener. The FDA has blocked all imports of Chinese-made toothpaste into the United States.

The FDA also recommended that consumers with tubes of Chinese-made toothpaste dispose of the products immediately.

I use Colgate toothpaste, and I checked the label. Made in Mexico. Sounds fine, except for the fact that in this interview, an extremely senior Chinese Communist Party official, Cheng Siwei, brags about how Colgate toothpaste used by Americans is made in China.

Curious. And disturbing.

Questions about the JFK fuel line terror plot

Law enforcement officials in the US have foiled a plot to ignited the fuel supply to John F Kennedy Airport in New York. But I have to say that I'm confused by just what the alleged terrorists thought they could accomplish.

Deadly Chinese exports: "Countries around the world have been on the lookout"

When Chinese toothpaste was discovered to be thickened with radiator coolant, authorities around the globe went on alert. The FDA has now discovered this poisonous toothpaste in the USA.

Father tries to kill daughter in a Tamil-version of Romeo and Juliet?

A father allegedly tried to run down his daughter and her boyfriend in Toronto. Looking deeper into the story, you find out that there is a major division within the Tamil community in Toronto. I wonder if the attack was motivated in part by this division.

"We never actually got warrants on bank accounts"

The Public Accounts Committee continues to investigate the RCMP Pension Scandal. During this remarkable exchange, we get to the heart of the matter. Just why would anyone have tried so hard to get around the bidding process?

Cambridge police nab thieves thanks in part to a call from Angry in the Great White North

Real credit goes to Mrs Angry, who has an eye for detail, as well as superb night vision. I just called it in.

Tetrodotoxin in Chinese monkfish

Mixing plastic component melamine in pet food.

Antifreeze diethylene glycol in cough syrop and toothpaste.

Deaths suffered by both animals and humans.

Imports from China have killed, and continue to kill.

Now Chinese monkfish is contaminated. And with one of the deadlist neurotoxins known to science. Tetradotoxin is best known as active poison in the deadly pufferfish.

Brush your teeth...and die! Chinese toothpaste is 5% antifreeze

Breaking: Ersatz Colgate toothpaste in the United States might contain DEG. And I just bought a suspicious tube of toothpaste in my local dollar store in Canada.

Brush your teeth...and die! Thanks to Chinese quality controls. On the other hand, the toothy grin on the skull-and-crossbones has never looked so bright and shiny.

Chinese culture of lies endangers their economy

The Chinese are terrified that the pet food scandal will cause their food exports to collapse in the face of angry Western consumers.

What they don't get is that China primarily exports lies. We ought to close the doors until that changes.

Didn't Jeff Monaghan admit to being an anarchist?

Jeff Monaghan, the former Environment Canada contract employee arrested for allegedly leaking secret government documents, has written a letter to a newspaper taking issue with being labelled an anarchist. Has the media made a mistake, extrapolating from Jeff Monaghan's known associates to judge Monaghan by the company he keeps? Or is there some sort of documentary evidence in which Monaghan states that he is an anarchist?

Jeff Monaghan: Stephen Harper is a radical neocon theocrat, the media is too even-handed, and Environment Canada is all style, no substance

In his own words, on his radio show.

Jeff Monaghan's Monday Morning Radio Show

Is Jeff Monaghan a quiet and withdrawn character driven to act by the hypocrisy of the Harper government, as some would allege? I'm not so sure, if only because quiet and withdrawn characters don't host talk radio shows.

Anarchist punk band uncomfortable with the media attention

I suppose it's one thing to be part of an anti-globalization riot, where you are lost in the mass of rock-throwing mask-wearing anonymity. But when the media focus is like a laser-beam, then anarchists get nervous.

The Suicide Pilots, the band for which Jeff Monaghan plays the drums, has issued a statement.

Anarchists discover authority

Just an amusing aside about how, despite their best efforts to be the human equivalent of chaos, when push comes to shove, anarchists fall back on heirarchy and order in order to save their hides.

Jeff Monaghan, Anarchists, and Spring Cleaning

Jeff Monaghan was arrested for leaking the government's environment plan. Is this anarchist posing as a government worker the only dirt-worshipping, granola-eating, tree-hugging druid wannabe who got by the background checks?

Diethylene glycol is not a traditional Chinese cure for a cough

Yet more horror stories about Chinese exports killing hundreds, if not thousands. But this time we're talking about children being given antifreeze by parents who thought they were being given cough syrup. Why? Because this sort of antifreeze tastes sweet and is cheaper than glycerin. Too bad diethylene glycol is deadly.

Millions of dog, cats, and humans eating tainted Chinese agricultural products

Millions of people have eaten food tainted by Chinese melamine.

Millions.

Melamine? Tastes like chicken

The light-hearted title belies a serious escalation in the food contamination story. Chickens have been fed pet food tainted with melamine.

Melamine use standard practise in China -- Time to end this

The use of melamine as a means of selling substandard grain glutens as high quality stuff has been standard practise in China for years. Then so has been making soya sauce out of human hair instead of soy beans. And so is bleaching noodles white by using lead.

The list goes on. Time to cut the list short, I think.

It's happened; the human food chain has been compromised by Chinese melamine

Humans have eaten food contaminated by melamine. Does everything change now?

Canada to block Chinese grain shipments at the border

If a grain or soy derivative says "Product of China", Canadian border officers will assume that it's contaminated until proven otherwise.

Breakthrough on the pet food melamine contamination?

Scientists think they might be able to explain why melamine, a substance that is not known to be toxic, but that has been found to be contaminating pet food linked to the widespread kidney failures in pets, might have been responsible.

China denies poisoning pets, and promises not to do it again

China has blinked, and though unwilling to admit to being the source of the problem that has sickened and kill thousands of pets who ate contaminated pet food, government officials are promising to fix the problem.

More pet food recalls coming, as well as lawsuits and legislative changes

News that another importer got melamine-contaminated rice protein from China means that there are almost certainly more pet food recalls coming. That means more lawsuits, and that means more impetus for legislative changes to the patchwork system of food inspections currently existing in the United States.

Maybe these Greens have a point with the 100 Mile Diet

With the pet food recall situation getting worse, not better, maybe we need to reconsider the risks inherent in the large scale importation of food. With that in mind, consider the value of a Green idea, the 100 Mile Diet.

Chinese learning about the food contamination via the web

Chinese authorities are maintaining the position that their country's food exports are safe, and not responsible for the pet food melamine contamination that has been detected on three continents. Meanwhile, the web is acting as a conduit for information, getting around Chinese censors.

A third contaminated food from China, human foods compromised

More Chinese food is contaminated. More animals are getting sick. Evidence people might have been exposed. And high-level rumblings of a wide-ranging ban on Chinese agrcultural imports.

Deliberate use of dangerous fertilizer directly on food products?

The FDA is considering the possibility that foreign substances are being added to Chinese foodstuffs in order to falsify protein content readings and other factors that would then increase the value of the product.

Killer Michel (Mikhail) Drachev picked up in Toronto

A vicious killer, Michel (Mikhail) Drachev, featured on America's Most Wanted, has been picked up in Toronto.

Pet food situation takes a turn for the bizarre

Another brand of pet food is being recalled, and again it is for melamine. But before you think that this confirms the melamine theory, there are so many differences between this situation and Menu Foods that one would think that this eliminates melamine as the culprit.

More pet food recalls as more animals show symptoms of kidney distress

The problem with pet food continues, weeks after the main culprit, Chinese wheat gluten contaminated with melamine, was taken out of the picture. Bizarre coincidence, a sign that the wheat gluten was more widely distribured than thought, or more disturbingly, that it wasn't the feed at all, and that the problem is still out there.

More contaminants in the pet food detected even as China stonewalls

Cornell scientists have found a second contaminant in pet food sample. But they don't know what it is, or how it got there. Meanwhile the Chinese refuse to help, even as we learn about the high rate of rejection of Chinese food at US ports.

Are militant Latino groups possible suspects in the pet food poisoning crisis?

Could illegal immigrants, or their advocates, be the ones behind the pet food poison crisis? Assuming this turns out to be a deliberate act, it is interesting to note that these groups have a particular rage aimed at America's population of companion animals.

Is the FDA thinking that the pet food intentionally poisoned?

An ABC affiliate is reporting that the Food and Drug Administration is considering the possibility that the contamination of the pet food was a deliberate act.

The Chinese government rejects any responsibility for the pet food poisoning

The Chinese government is weighing in on the pet food contamination that has been linked to imported wheat gluten. Not surprisingly, the Chinese are insisting they were not responsible.

The poisoned pet food and a pesticide cocktail including melamine

The media seems satisifed to blame melamine for the deaths of cats and dogs who were fed contaminated food from Menu Foods. I think we're moving too quickly.

Did the RCMP raid the home of one of the people caught up in the pension scandal?

While I was working on the Abotech story, I got word of an RCMP raid on the home of Frank Brazeau. At the time, there was no obvious connection to the pension scandal that is now top news in Canada. Now looking back on it, the raid takes on a different complexion.

Aminopterin? Melamine? Cyromazine? The pet food situation grows murkier

Some people think there has been progress with regards to the pet food contamination that has caused Menu Foods to recall huge amounts of product from store shelves. Now a new compound, melamine, has been named. But after some research, I'm confused. Melamine just doesn't seem to be nearly toxic enough to be responsible for the deaths of the animals reported so far.

Chinese rodenticides -- Not the first time in the news

The pet food poisonings that have struck across North America has been tentatively linked to imported Chinese wheat gluten that was contaminated with aminopterin, a rat poison that is not used in Canada or the United States. But this is not the first time bizarre and dangerous Chinese rat poisons caused pain and suffering in the United States. In 2002, a 15-month-old girl suffered permanent damage from a rat poison whose primary ingredient is so dangerous that scientists aren't even sure what the lethal doses are.

Pet Food and Aminopterin: The irrational application of pesticides by Chinese farmers

Aminopterin is still the prime suspect in the food poisoning that has claimed the lives of over a dozen pets, and quite possibly hundreds. Suspicion keeps coming back to the wheat gluten used as a base for the preparation of these foods by Menu Foods. The wheat gluten was imported by China, so I started reading some background on Chinese agricultural practises.

The application of pesticides has been descibed as "irrational" as recently as last October.

Poisoned pet food: Did aminopterin get on the wheat?

The story of the poisoned pet food has not progressed much since the revelation that the poison aminopterin is almost certainly the culprit. The question remains. Just how did the wheat gluten get contaminated, if indeed that was the source?

Aminopterin, PETA, Anna Nicole Smith and conspiracy theories

Pet owners across Canada and the United States are worried that they've been feeding their dogs and cats poisoned food. Today, that poison, aminopterin, has been blamed for over a dozen animal deaths, and more are likely to be blamed on the contamination. The company that made the food, Ontario-based Menu Foods, is trying to understand how the poison, which is not licensed for use in North America, got into the supply chain. While we wait, I'm going to indulge in some irresponsible musing about who would stand to gain from this.

Carnival of True Crime

The Carnival of True Crime, with all its pulpy goodness, is up at T.O. Crime.

Melanie McGuire: Search Engine Forensics

Melanie McGuire of New Jersey is on trial, charged with the murder and dismemberment of her husband, William.

What is remarkable is how the Web has played a role in the investigation and arrest, and now in the trial itself.

Gregory Nye: Fringe psychotherapist charged with sexual assault

A simple alert from Toronto Police about the investigation of an alleged sexual assault by psychotherapist Gregory Nye might lead to something very interesting. In any case, a look at the background of Gregory Nye reveals a whole new world of fringe psychotherapy.

Jason Belfiglio: Innocent bystander or guilty of attack on the Chabad Jewish Centre?

A Jewish community centre in Toronto was the target of what appears to have been a hate crime. Jason Belfiglio has been arrested, charged with smashing the windows at the Chabad Midtown Jewish Community Centre.

Jason Belfiglio claims innocence, but he is being congratulated by neo-Nazis who seem to think he's being too modest.

YouTube Fight Video: "Happy slapping" has come to Canada

A little-reported incident in Ottawa might actually have been an example of a disturbing internet phenomenon sweeping Europe. "Happy slapping" is posing a challenge to parents, school administrators, law enforcement, and civil rights advocates alike.

Is Stephane Dion's plan to hire more Mounties a public relations sham?

Hiring more Mounties will not do anything to reduce violent crime. In fact, it is a sneaky way of hiring more Mounties to go after people in possession of marijuana for personal use.

You think I'm wrong? Hey, don't look at me. I didn't say it.

Charles Rust-Tierney: This is a reason child pornogrpahy is just banned outright

The former chapter president of the Virgina branch of the American Civil Liberties Union has been arrested on charges of posessing child pornography.

Given the ACLU's position on child pornography, you have to wonder just what happened to Charles Rust-Tierney.

Eva Ho, Jackie Li, and Kevin Lim: The search moves to YouTube

In a strange twist, the search for Eva Ho, Jackie Li, and Kevin Lim has moved to YouTube.

Perley Edmund Holmes: Proponent of drug testing

An interesting comment left on a union blog prompts a guffaw.

Russian interest in Perley Edmund Holmes

I just spotted a curious reference in my search links. So time for some wild speculation about the Russian mob and drug trafficking in Canada.

Perley Edmund Holmes: First drugs and now guns

An arsenal of weapons have been found in connection to the arrest of Perley Edmund Holmes, the BC union leader picked up in Washington state with over $4 million in cocaine in his possession. Now is the time for a cheap political shot.

Perley Holmes, Stephane Dion supporter and alleged drug dealer, triggers union audit

The CBC is reporting more detail about the arrest of Perley Edmund Holmes, the BC union official arrested in the US on charges of possession of cocaine. In particular, there will be an audit to see if money was used illegally. That could be very interesting for this supporter of Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion.

I am not authorized to look at what Stephane Dion's drug dealing friend Perley Edmund Holmes has said about him

A union leader, Perley Edmund Holmes, has been arrested in connection to the trafficking of over $4 million in cocaine. Perley Edmund Holmes came out strongly for Stephane Dion during the Liberal Party leadership campaign. Of course, Stephane Dion can't control what his supporters do. But the Dion people were quick off the mark to expunge the website of Holmes' endorsement. What's wrong with these people? Have they never heard of the Google cache? By doing that, all they've done is pique my interest.

Eva Ho: Her story reaches the National Post

The story of Eva Ho, the Toronto teen who disappeared in August, has reached the attention of National Post. Canada's premier daily has run a story on the front page, in part because of the focus this blogger has applied to the case.

I hope this helps Eva and her family.

Alexander Litvinenko: Where did the polonium come from?

The Russians are circling the waggons, refusing to cooperate in the investigation of the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. The former spy died in Britain, after being exposed to a lethal poison incorporating the radioactive element polonium-210. You know the Russians are hiding something when they resort to bald-faced lies. The Russian Prosecutor-General Yuri Chaika made the outrageous statement that the poison could not have come from Russia. That would only be true if the Soviet space program used up every last bit of polonium for the Lunokhod moon walker program. They certainly had enough polonium on hand in 1970 to keep not one, but two moon rovers warm through the frigid lunar night.

The murder of Alexander Litvinenko, social media, and Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a remarkable tool. By allowing the masses to create entries for an encyclopedia, a hugely important online research source has been constructed in record time.

The news that the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko by means of a dose of polonium-210 is a great example of how the Wikipedia plays out. Is it self-correcting? Sure seems to be.

The Carnival of True Crime Blogs

The Carnival of True Cime Blogs LII is up at The Trenchcoat Chronicles. A mix of reporting on crimes being perpetrated as we speak, recent crimes and their resolutions, and a look back at some famous crimes of yesteryear, it makes for great reading.

Toronto Police Grow-Op Video

Check out this video taken by Toronto police officers after a major bust of a marijuana grow-op on Jane Street:

Eva Ho and the murder of Philip Ho Sing Sit

Recently, I've been posting on the disappearance of Eva Ho, known to her friends as Eve. One of the remarkable things about the web is the way information can be brought together. This story is one of those examples. Eve has been missing since August, and the police only just issued a bulletin. In it, Eve is listed as missing, and little else.

But according to her friends, there is a lot the police are not talking about.

Eva Ho missing with Kevin Lim and Jackie Li

Recall Eva Ho, the 17-year-old girl who was last seen in August. Two months later, Toronto Police issued a notice requesting help to find her.

I have more details, including the names and pictures of the two young men who went missing at the same time, and are still missing. The police have not asked for the assistance in finding these young men, nor had they announced that finding them might lead to discovering Eva's whereabouts.

Eva Ho's disappearance

The Toronto Police issued an alert concerning the disappearance of Eva Ho, pictured below. Eva was last seen on August 14, but the alert was issued two months later.

A friend of Eva's has contacted me, and has provided more details concerning the circumstances of her disappearance.

Yasmin Ashareh: Police are still investigating?

If the police have who they believe to be Yasmin Ashareh's murderer under arrest, then why are they still canvasing the neighbourhood in which she lived?

Yasmin Ashareh: Awad Ashareh is her father

I've confirmed with a Toronto Star reporter that Awad Ashareh is indeed Yasmin Ashareh's father. Yasmin Ashareh is the young woman found with her throat cut in the west end of Toronto this past summer. She lived alone in a rooming house, working as a cashier in a local grocery store. Her family is from Somalia, and for some time ago I began to wonder if her father was Awad Ashareh, an important MP in the Somali government and a conservative Islamic cleric who was once the Minister for Religious Affairs in the Somali province of Puntland.

I found a few people who asserted that this was the case, but today I have received confirmation.

This terrifying moment was brought to you by ABC

A notorious alleged pedophile is seen peering through the window of your youngster's school. Should you be alarmed? Not this time. It was only John Mark Karr, and he was there under the supervision of ABC's "Good Morning America".

What the hell were they thinking over at ABC?

John Mark Karr: Not the end of the story

John Mark Karr has been set free. As I predicted, way back in the beginning. We will hear of John Mark Karr again -- either as victimizer or victim. Which I'm not sure.

A profile of William Imona-Russel

William Imona-Russel, the man arrested for the murder of Yasmin Ashareh, is a con man. But is he a murderer?

John Mark Karr, Marc Dutroux, Karla Homolka

Three pedophiles who benefited from police incompetence. In the case of Belgium's Marc Dutroux, more children died before he was finally recaptured. In the case of Canada's Karla Homolka, she was given a light sentence as a result of an unnecessary plea bargain. In the case of America's John Mark Karr, he is likely to go free very soon, the charges against him dismissed.

John Mark Karr: Luckiest pervert in history, or getting a helping hand?

John Mark Karr is going to walk free. It's playing out just as I expected. But the coincidences are mounting and I can't help but think there is yet another layer to this story.

The evidence against John Mark Karr has been lost

Yet again, John Mark Karr catches a break.

John Mark Karr to go free

John Mark Karr has been offered a deal that will see him walk free.

Assassination attempt on the president of Somalia

The BBC is reporting on an assassination attempt on the president of Somalia's fragile government. Who are the likely suspects? Turns out there are quite a few.

Another Kimveer Gill in the making?

Kimveer Gill opened fire on students at Dawson College in Montreal. He and one of his victims are dead, while others are in hospital. Gill's background is being carefully examined. I've decided to look at people in his orbit.

Kimveer Gill: Looking for beer in the afterlife

Kimveer Gill, the young man who opened fire on a crowd of students at Dawson College in Montreal, didn't believe in truth, but he did believe in the afterlife, beer, and guns.

Dawson College Tragedy

The shooting at Dawson College has the nation shocked. But soon after the shock has worn away will be the search for an explanation. One disturbing possibility comes to mind.

John Mark Karr: Reaching for the consolation prize

John Mark Karr used a bogus confession to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey to escape from Thailand where he was caught getting a bit too close to little girls. American prosecutors flew him out of Thailand, and then within a week, watched the Ramsey case fall to pieces when the physical evidence proved he wasn't involved. Of course, they couldn't send him back to Thailand -- he's a US citizen, and Thailand isn't seeking extradition. So Karr is facing an old child pornography charge in California. It too will pass, and Karr will walk free -- no record, no parole, no restrictions on his movements.

Somali government negotiates power-sharing with Islamists

Somalia continues to slide into religiously justified oppression. Despite the actions of the Islamists, the democratic government is negotiating a power-sharing deal. A familiar name is leading the government delegation.

Yasmin Ashareh: Another rumour

An interesting comment about the initial investigation into the murder of Yasmin Ashareh -- but for now, just a rumour, without even an email address for me to use to contact the person. So I'm not given this any credence, though I'm not saying it's not accurate either. Just...interesting. Maybe a reader with more knowledge of the situation can provide some insight.

John Mark Karr's plan works

He didn't do it. That was obvious on August 17.

John Mark Karr has been cleared of any involvement in the JonBenet Ramsey murder. He faces other child pornography charges, but with the media circus surrounding the Ramsey case, he'll never get a fair trial, and he'll probably walk free. Thanks to Boulder prosecutor Mary Lacy, he'll be walking to a school near you.

More evidence of John Mark Karr's plan

It sure seems like John Mark Karr was working very hard to get out of Thailand.

John Mark Karr: What is he planning to do?

John Mark Karr, who confessed to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey and so was whisked out of Thailand where he was facing sexual assault charges, is acting like a man about to recant his statements. Was this all a ploy to be rescued before being thrown into a hellish Thai prison?

Islamic fundamentalists in Somalia formalizing control

The Supreme Islamic Courts Council is going to dress its militia members up in proper uniforms, suggesting that the Council is confident that it will become the legitimate government in Somalia. It is also stepping up efforts to impose the strictest form of Sharia law on the populace in areas under its control.

John Mark Karr: Deportation versus Extradition

John Mark Karr has been deported from Thailand, not extradited to the United States. The result might be the same in terms of his airline ticket, but the subtle difference between the two processes might shed some light on what is going on behind the scenes.

John Mark Karr: Former DA promotes theory that Karr is acting rationally

An official once close to the JonBenet Ramsey investigation is putting forward a theory (offered on this blog three days ago) concerning the confession of John Mark Karr -- that John Mark Karr is not offering a fake confession as the action of a sick and twisted mind, but as part of a cleverly planned deception motivated by rational self-interest.

John Mark Karr's pre-planned escape from Thailand

Is John Mark Karr's confession to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey just a carefully prepared means of escaping Thai justice?

Radical Islamic gains in Somalia

In following the story of the murder of Yasmin Ashareh, I find myself tracking events in Somalia. With the focus on Lebanon, important events in Africa are going unnoticed.

Yasmin Ashareh: The other man

The Toronto man charged with the murder of Yasmin Ashareh, William Imona-Russel, was picked up only after several days of police surveillance.

Yasmin Ashareh was 20-years-old, living alone in a rooming house in the west end of Toronto. Her mother and siblings live in another area of the Greater Toronto Area. The identity of her father has not been confirmed, but I have learned from multiple sources that he might be Awad Ahmed Ashareh, a powerful political figure in Somalia (the Minister for Religious Affairs in Puntland, no less), with ties to a fundamentalist Islamic group, the Supreme Islamic Courts Council (formerly known as the Islamic Courts Union) vying for power in that war-torn country from their power base in Mogadishu.

None of this appears in the media, other than a mention in the Globe and Mail that Yasmin's father was a political dissident who returned to Somalia about six years ago to help rebuild the country.

But I have been giving thought to the question of why the police would have placed Imona-Russel under surveillance, and suggested that a plausible explanation was that the police were observing Imona-Russel because they were hoping he would lead them to another person. Someone the police had reason to believe was linked to the murder.

Idle musings, I thought. Until this morning.

Yasmin Ashareh: Surveillance operations

Just how solid is the case against William Imona-Russel? He is the man charged with the murder of 20-year-old Yasmin Ashareh. She had been stabbed in the throat multiple times. Her body was hidden in a duffel bag and left for garbage pickup. The regular pickup was missed, and when the sanitation crew came around to pick up the garbage on their next scheduled day, the body was discovered.

If you have been following this story with me, you know that Yasmin Ashareh might be linked to powerful people in Somalia, including a conservative Muslim faction engaged in a power struggle with the current government with the goal of turning Somalia into an Islamic state.

But turning my attention back to Toronto, I have to say that there are elements of the story of Imona-Russel's arrest that have been bothering me ever since I first read them. I'm still bothered by them, and I thought I'd share my concerns and hear your opinions.

Yasmin Ashareh: Strange connections

I continue to explore the links proceeding from murder victim Yasmin Ashareh and her family. I would expect to hit a brick wall, but instead the links are taking me in more frightening directions.

Update: Added details concerning the most recent fighting in Somalia, involving the alleged allies of Yasmin's purported father.

Yasmin Ashareh: Important family connections

The investigation of the murder of Yasmin Ashareh continues. A man, William Imona-Russel, has been arrested. My original theory that Yasmin might have been the victim of an honour killing seems to have been discredited.

Fair enough.

Still, with Yasmin's family connections, it doesn't sound so far-fetched.

Yasmin Ashareh: More details emerge [and I ask some harsh questions]

Joe Friesen of the Globe and Mail has revealed more about Yasmin Ashareh, her family, and her alleged killer.

I have to admit that the new information leaves me more confused, not less.

Yasmin Ashareh: Muddled reporting or a change in the facts of the case

I've always assumed that one of the jobs at a major newspaper was fact-checking. Somebody proofreads stories to ensure that the facts reported are consistent with the facts as they are known today, and as they have been generally reported before.

So when the facts being reported change, I have to wonder why, especially when the change is not called out, but simply reported as if it has always been reported that way.

Yasmin Ashareh: An arrest

An arrest has been made in this gruesome murder:

On Friday, July 28, 2006, William Imona-Russel, 32, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder.

He is scheduled to appear at Old City Hall courts, room 111, on Saturday, July 29, 2006, at 10 a.m.

We'll learn more tomorrow.

Yasmin Ashareh: Misreporting details

In considering the murder of Yasmin Ashareh, there is a detail that is constantly being misreported by some media sources:

Police are seeking the public’s help in tracing the movements of a 20-year-old Etobicoke woman before she was stabbed to death and dumped in a garbage bag last week.

This report was published today. Listen to the Toronto Police news conference that took place yesterday. There is much made about the fact that the body was found in a duffel bag and not a garbage bag, though some garbage bags were also seized as being relevant to the investigation.

Not all the newspapers are getting this wrong, I should point out.

Why should this matter?

The duffel bag suggests that the body was moved a considerable distance. A garbage bag is not strong enough to hold a body. It would stretch and split in short order. A duffel bag, on the other hand, means that the killing could have happened just about anywhere. Lugging a garbage bag is hard work. A duffle bag has strong broad straps to help carry the weight.

The contents of the other bags? Bloody sheets and towels, perhaps?

Now this gets interesting. A killer would dispose of the body as far from the scene of the crime, as well as from his own residence (assuming these are different locations) as possible. He’d want to keep police attention away from himself. So why not dispose of the body in a ravine, where it might take weeks or months for the remains to be discovered? The only thing I can think of is that the housing complex is a place where the killer felt comfortable. It is a place he is familiar with, where he felt he could carry out the disposal and not be encountered, and where his knowledge of the garbage pickup schedule meant that he was confident that the body and other evidence would be carried off within hours. As it turned out, the garbage was missed, and the decomposition of the remains drew attention.

Of course, I could be giving the killer or killers too much credit.

In any case, the police must certainly be considering tenants of the housing complex, past as well as present, looking for a name that somehow intersects with Yasmin Ashareh’s short life.

Technorati Tags: Yasmin Ashareh, Toronto, murder

Yasmin Ashareh: Bells going off

When I wrote about the murder of Yasmin Ashareh, I discussed how this crime has the fingerprints of an honour killing all over it.

I took some heat for that:

Wow how about you wait until we know what happened in this case before you start blaming religion and speculating about honour killings? You are going into a whole tirade about "da Canadian values" already in relation to muslim extremism, but if she was born in Canada it is just as likely (if not more) that she was killed in a typical Canadian domestic dispute (which, by the way, happen 1000 times more often then "honour killings").

Well, I did say I was being speculative.

Still, here is some more information from the print edition of the National Post:

A 20-year-old Toronto woman whose decomposing body was found in a duffle bag in the city’s west end on Friday was known to neighnours as a quiet girl, believed to be pregnant and living alone.

Reports that Ms. Ashareh was pregnant could not be confirmed.

A neighbour living beside the housing complex suggested Ms. Ashareh, who is believed to have been Muslim, might have been ill-regarded if she was pregnant out of wedlock.

I know I’m way ahead of the facts as they are known (at least to the public), but the bells keep going off in my head on this one.

I hope I’m wrong, because the implications of this sort of subculture at work inside Canada are scary. But I can’t shake the feeling that we’re going to have to face those implications as a result of this tragedy.

Technorati Tags: Yasmin Ashareh, Toronto, murder

An honour killing in Toronto?

I’m going to state the obvious. That has gotten people in trouble in the past. It might be my turn. We’ll see.

A chat with a security expert

A couple of days ago I had an interesting talk with a senior member of a computer security firm on the topic of the GO Transit vandalism. I'd like to share some of the interesting details of that conversation.

Joshua is not the hacker...he's just not smart enough

Joshua has responded to the suspicion that he is the hacker responsible for putting the "Stephen Harper Eats Babies" message on LED displays on GO Trains last week.

Mentioned in Computerworld

It's a minor quote, but this blogger earned a mention in this article about the GO Train hacker in this online issue of Computerworld.

The GO Transit Hacker: What to do?

Some reaction on the story of the GO Transit hacker.

Is Joshua the GO Transit hacker?

This incident in which someone took control of an LED display unit on a GO Transit train and used it to display the message "Stephen Harper Eats Babies" continues to intrigue me.

Now I think I have an idea of who might have done it. Or at least, I can report on another person's suspicions.

Turns out I was right

The GO Transit hacker probably used a wireless remote to modify the text of the display to read "Stephen Harper eats babies".

More on the Baby-eating ad [updated]

Gerry Nicholls gives use some more on the GO Transit "Stephen Harper eats babies" incident.

It's a big deal

The "Stephen Harper Eats Babies" incident might seem amusing, and if you're not sure what I'm talking about, read the details and consider getting in touch with the people involved to demand some action.

A captive audience

A strange experience for riders of the GO train out of Toronto. Vandalism goes high-tech.

The Abotech Affair: Will the Mounties get their man?

Report of RCMP action with regards to the Abotech affair.

Angry in the Great White North by Steve Janke is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License. Based on a work at stevejanke.com.