Lots of action near hot dog stand on Friday evening! Should I have been allowed to take pictures???

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Last Friday, I bumped into the hot dog vendor. I was tired after being with Tim Smith all day long.

Robert had to go home for 20 minutes and asked me if I would watch his stand?

I didn’t like it because there’s way too much responsibilities in handling out sausages, hot dogs and change.

I’m no professional. As luck would have it? A guy showed up and I made him a hot dog.







Afterwards, I was alone and I noticed a guy coming out from the club and he jumped over the fence at the Sweetwaters bar.

He went after a girl and suddenly two bouncers showed up.

Being Charles, I was very nosy and went for a closer look.

Close to 20 seconds later, I remembered there was a bag of money at the stand.

I quickly went back and gathered the cash.

The guy took a swing at the bouncer and all hell broke loose. The bouncers forced the guy on the ground and escorted him out the gate.

I was told that the guy belongs to some sort of a gang.

The young punk was standing on the sidewalk.

The next thing I knew, the bouncers went outside to confront the guy.

I quickly grabbed the cash and went to watch the action.

There were around 200 onlookers watching the bouncers put the guy on the street while they waited for the police to arrive.

Now? I had a problem? Should I take pictures with my flash?

Would I be assaulted by the mob? Would someone try to take my camera?

I decided to take pictures < without the flash > but a bouncer told me on a few occasions not to take pictures!!!









I told the guy that I was a blogger.

In the past, I usually have my little press pass inside my sweater but not this time.

I turned around and Robert was back so I concentrated on the scene.

Robert quickly came to me asking me if I had the money? I had the camera on one hand and the money in the other.










I got a question? Would the mainstream media take pictures of a fight on the streets? Would this be considered as a story? If the Police comes to arrest a drunken individual during a fist fight? Should a media person be allowed to take pictures?

Good questions?

I believe that I will stick taking pictures of a non-violent nature.





Safer for me.




I decided to give Robert a helping hand. I went home around 3:00am. My god? I slept like a baby.









Very long day indeed.

Charlotte County is indeed God's Country. < pics by Sean Oshaughnessy >

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

VLT'S - NEW BRUNSWICKERS SHOULD FOLLOW SAME ACTION!!!!

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Complaint made to competition bureau that VLTs use 'deceptive' technologies
Published: Monday, January 15, 2007 | 5:56 PM ET
Canadian Press: MICHAEL TUTTON

HALIFAX (CP) - Six people have launched a complaint before the federal Competition Bureau that electronic gaming machines are designed to entice gamblers into risking too much of their money.

The complaint alleges that by using "deceptive technologies," provincial gaming corporations are violating provisions of the Competition Act that prohibit deceptive marketing practices.

Debbie Langille, a Halifax resident and self-described gambling addict, claims that one example of an unfair trade practice is that software in the machines often produces near misses, enticing a gambler to try "just one more time."

"They give you that feeling that it's going to come, it's going to come. . . . They never, ever display the true odds of winning on the VLT," she said in an interview Monday.

The complaint submitted to the Competition Bureau, based in Gatineau, Que., says the machines give a "false or misleading" impression of the chances of winning.

Langille, a former fraud investigator with the federal government, said she is participating in the complaint because she lost all her life savings to the machines and wants to help prevent others from doing the same.
She said the group's ultimate goal is to force provincially owned gaming corporations to modify the machines to make them less enticing.

Roger Horbay, another complainant in the case, cites Australian studies that suggest VLTs are very similar to "cheating carnival games."

William Rutsey, the chief executive of the Canadian Gaming Association, which represents the major gaming operators and equipment manufacturers, said the allegations by complainants are "nonsense."

"I think they are failing to recognise the fact there are standards around the world," he said. "There are gaming regulators in Canada and the United States that test and approve all of these machines to determine the fairness of these games."

Rutsey said the "near misses" aren't deceptive.

"I don't understand that as a concept," he said. "The games are random events."

Margaret McGee, a spokeswoman for the Nova Scotia Gaming Corp., said her organization would have to examine what the complainants are alleging before submitting a formal response.

"We're committed to educating the public, and in all of our materials we make clear that these games are generated by random chance. . . . We make clear that there's no way to predict the outcome of a game," she said.

McGee noted that her organization publishes the odds of winning in pamphlets and on its website.

In Nova Scotia, the chances are one in 270,000 of winning a VLT game.

There is a cross section of people from across the country participating in the complaint.

David Bornman, a pastor in Vancouver; Christine McKay, an addiction therapist in Squamish, B.C.; Phyllis Vineberg, a homemaker in Montreal; Sol Boxenbaum, a consumer advocate in Montreal; Brian Yeallan, a chaplain in Kingston, Ont.; Bill Clark, a retired pharmacist and teacher from North Bay; and Johannes Deviet, an editor from London, Ont., are also named as complainants.

COULD VAUGHN BARNETT BE SENT TO JAIL THIS WEEK BY THE NEW BRUNSWICK LAW SOCIETY???

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Ok . . . I never blog this issue but since he’s in court? I’ll put this issue so the readers can debate the issue.

Vaughn Barnett is in court this week.






It began late last week and will continue for a few more days.

I walked into the court room this morning and there were a few supporters.








The reason this guy is in court is because he gives advice to the poor on legal issues. He’s not a recognized lawyer.

The interesting part of this trial is it’s the Law Society who wishes to put this guy in Jail.

In New Brunswick, we live in a strange situation.

The Police Forces can grab you from the streets < like what happened to me in Saint John > and you will have to defend yourself in court.







Legal Aid will not give you a lawyer.

So of course, you will be found guilty and put on probation.

The second you break that probation? You end up in jail.

A poor person could use the legal knowledge of Vaughn but the Law Society will have none of it!

So? Vaughn Barnett might end up in jail this week???







Is the Legal system in New Brunswick set up for the poor will end up in jail?

Is Vaughn Barnett right or wrong in this case?

What’s your view on this issue????

Please remind me again that I'm paid to stand in this cold!!!!

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

STAY HOME!!!!

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

oh...oh...snow tires????

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Everyone loves to kung fu fighting!!!!!

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

click below-

target="_blank">Charles
Blog

I have a comment for annonymous coward writers.

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

I wish to say to this coward that he wrote lies about Tim's memorial so therefore I didn't post them.

If you wish to write lies? Don't be a coward!!! Write your name and email in the comment section.

If you wish to remain a coward? Do me a favour??? Leave this blog and don't let that information Highway door hit you on the head on your way out!

Why don't you cowards use a nick or username? It would be nice to have a nick to those idiotic comments.

Merci!

A blogger covers a murder trial!!!

I had lots of questions about this one so I decided to re-post the blog. You can read it by clicking below -

target="_blank">Charles
Blog

IT WOULD BE SAFER FOR COUNCILLOR JOHN FERGUSON TO BECOME AN ANONYMOUS BLOGGER!!!

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Councillor John Ferguson holds a letter threatening legal action if doesn't apologize for comments he made.
Apologize or face lawsuit, board tells councillor

Jeff Ducharme
Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday January 15th, 2007
Appeared on page C1

The latest salvo in the battle being waged between councillor John Ferguson and the city's pension board over how the fund is being managed has been fired squarely at Ferguson. The pension board has threatened to take legal action if the councillor doesn't publicly apologize by Jan. 22 - a week from today - for comments he has made in the media and council chambers.

Ferguson received the strongly worded letter from the law firm Clark Drummie Friday. On Sunday he was quick to fire back.

"Why should pension money be used to silence council members?" said Ferguson. "There should be an inquiry into board conduct in hiring a lawyer to silence opposition."

Undeterred maybe, but the usually outspoken councillor was guarded in his comments about the latest drama in the city's ongoing pension saga.

"In this day and age with issues of corporate governance and public governance"...exercising due diligence and asking questions is the appropriate thing to do. It's expected of directors and councillors to do this, that's all I've been doing."

After a one-page cover letter, the nine following pages quoted numerous comments Ferguson made, inside and outside council chambers, lambasting the pension fund and how it's run.

The latest estimate on Saint John's pension shortfall is $45 million, but in a strange turn of events the province granted the city an $8.4 million, five-year loan in December to help the city avoid tacking the payment onto this year's budget - something that would have ensured a tax rate hike for residents.

According to the letter Ferguson received, the legal action was launched on behalf of Board of Trustees and individual board members.

Mayor Norm McFarlane is chairman of the pension board. For the last two years he and Ferguson have had a running battle over the pension board and the fund it manages.

"They're not trying to silence a councillor," McFarlane said. "When he says something it has to have facts. Nobody's been gag-ordered."

In July, other councillors told Ferguson to put up or shut up and was allowed to give a 35-minute presentation on the issues he sees with the embattled pension fund. At the end of the presentation, Coun. Glen Tait sponsored a motion to disassociate common council from Ferguson's comments. The motion passed 8-3 with only Coun. Ivan Court and Coun. Bill Farren siding with Ferguson.

Tait is also a member of the pension board. As the former fire chief for the city, he draws a city pension. Ferguson maintains that Tait's even being on the board is a conflict of interest.

Farren says Ferguson has every right to ask the hard questions, and he deserves an answer. "I support every question that Coun. Ferguson has tried to ask and I support the third-party audit (of the pension plan)," Farren said Sunday after learning of the legal wrangling by the pension board.

The first murmurs of legal action came at a July 31 common council meeting when Kevin Estrabrooks, a trustee on the pension board, said during a brief presentation to council that the pension board was considering hiring a litigation lawyer to respond to some of the politician's "unsubstantiated" and "unwarranted" accusations.

McFarlane said he feels like his reputation has been sullied by shadowy accusations of wrongdoing.

"I'm on the pension board and the pension board has been (defamed). So if the pension board has, everyone has," McFarlane said.

While Farren believes that council can overcome the latest rift, he thinks some councillors are playing a game of divide and conquer, although he wouldn't point fingers at any councillor in particular.

"There's some councillors that would seem to like to have that wedge there between council," Farran said.

God's Minute!!!!

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE FROM GOD THE FATHER
AND OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO GAVE HIM-
SELF FOR OUR SINS, THAT HE MIGHT DELIVER US
FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL AGE..
( GALATIANS 1:3-4 *NKJV )

Dear Charles,
As you know, no one knows what the future holds for them,
but the Children of God may have peace of mind! Our
Heavenly Father has great plans for our future, not only on
Earth, but in Heaven as well! For; IT IS WRITTEN: EYE HAS
NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO
THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS
PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
( 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9 )

Therefore we have no reason to fear the future, for with God
in charge, there is no need to worry about anything! For in
this life when we have heartache and woe, He is always there
to comfort and guide us, and in our next life, we will live with
him in Paradise forever!

No, we cannot imagine all of the wonderful things that God
has planned for our future, but one thing that we may count
on is that the best is yet to come! "FOR I KNOW THE
THOUGHTS THAT I THINK TOWARD YOU," SAYS THE
LORD, "THOUGHTS OF PEACE AND NOT OF EVIL, TO
GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE. " ( JEREMIAH 29:11 )
Therefore "THERE IS HOPE IN YOUR FUTURE," SAYS THE
LORD! ( JEREMIAH 31:17 )

So have a wonderful Monday Charles, and may God's
Great Love, Hope and Faith, fill your heart and mind, and may
THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL
UNDERSTANDING, GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. Amen!
( PHILIPPIANS 4:7 )

With My Love & Prayers,
your servant Allen
[ Prayer Requests---Contact Us---Bible Study---*Donations* ]
[ Audio---Subscribe---Change of Address---Unsubscribe ]
at: http://www.godsminute.org
Apostle Paul Ministries, P O Box 55996, Hayward, CA 94545
This Daily Message was sent by request to:
Charles Leblanc at

Couple son's Thomas died Saturday evening!!!!

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Remember this sad story I blogged a few months ago?


target="_blank">Charles
Blog


My deepest sympathy to the whole family.

TIM SMITH'S SECOND MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE BECAUSE OF THE VLT'S!!!

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Originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

I finally decided to write Tim Smith’s 2nd memorial at the Legislature on January 12th.

This is going to be long one but it’s a story that has to be told.






It all began on January 11th at around 11:00am.

He arrived in Fredericton by bus and we went to my room to drop off the sign.








We made a few visits around Fredericton and later on we were picked up by Robert Sewell.





He invited us over his house for lunch.



I arrange Robert to pick us up because this would give Tim a chance to settle down before the talk show on CKTP.



Tim was a little nervous but I told him to relax.



Once at CKTP, Tim was introduced to the famous 10 seconds delay. Jay is the one who goes over the rules of the game at CKTP! One bad word from a guest? It’s out the door head first!!!!




The two hours talk show went well.







I made a little Boo Boo!!! < Imagine that one?>... lol...

Since I first met Tim Smith in 2005?

We often agitate each other a lot and this was the case on the show.

I began to suggest that the Government should shut down the VLT’S on Sunday.

I told the radio audience that it was my idea.

Well, I don’t know what got over me because it was Tim’s idea and not mine.

Oh well? Nobody prefect.

After the show, I was surprised to see Robert.

He once again bought us to his house for a nice large meal.

Later on in the evening, we played Crib and made it to my place at 10:00pm.








The caretakers gave Tim a nice room for free.

They know what his issue is and they step forward to help. We went to bed around 1:00am and woke up early in the morning for the cold walk towards the Legislature.

Tim set up shop at the same location as last year.

It was 8:00am sharp and I expected Dan Bussieres with his Quebec security staff to disrupt the memorial?

Especially after what happened yesterday.

You can read yesterday blog by clicking below.

There was something different this year.

With all the issues going on especially the injury of his daughter Sheana.








Only once he made it to Fredericton that he realize that he forgot to bring his signs with him.

Sure was different watching Tim in front of the New Brunswick Legislature without his trademark.

It was cloudy and thank God there was no wind.








Last year it was sunny but this time around it was cloudy sky.

Minutes after the memorial began. This guy walked by and chatted with Tim for around 10 minutes.







People would walk by and told Tim that he’s doing the right thing!








At around 9:30am, Jason < a worker for the P.C. Party > walked by and once again debated the issue with Tim.









The P.C.’s are watching the Liberals very closely on this issue.

Lets see what Shawn Graham will do with this emotional issue?

A strong wind came and WHAM!!!










The sign came down hard and broke the back. I quickly went over the Beaverbrook Art Gallery and the guy gave Tim a screwdriver.








After a few minutes the sign was fixes and we moved it to another location.

I noticed the snow blower heading towards us.









I believe that Dan Bussieres had a new way to get rid of protesters in front of the Legislature?..lol . . .

A supporter from last year made another little visit.

Tim forgot another item for his memorial.

He forgot to buy some flowers. I suggested that he saves his money because politicians or someone will bring some flowers< Once again, I was dead wrong!!! >

Tim ran over King’s Place and bought from flowers and candles.








It was 10:00am and not a politician in sight.

Robert came over to give his support.








Tim was told there was a note for his at the Government members House.

He first went inside the Legislature and was quickly met by Dan Bussieres.








Earlier, I told Tim that there’s no way in the world that Dan will meet Tim outside because he knows that I’m in the area with my camera.

The note was a bus ticket from the MLA from Miramichi.

That was very nice gesture by Rick Brewer in helping Tim.

Lunch came and went but still no MLA’S.

That’s another issue?

Compared to last year?

The media never made an appearance? I wonder why? < I’ll get to that issue later in this blog. >

At 1:00pm, Global News showed up.









Wow . . . Finally a way for Tim Smith to spread his message to New Brunswickers beside the blog.

The interview went well and Global news was on their way. Bruce Hughes from CKTP also came by for an interview.








I like CKTP style of interviewing people. They get right to the point and will air the whole interview.








Another individual made a stopover.

It was Nick Brown with his father.







He used to work for Tanker Malley! UGH!!!
> I told Nick to tell Tanker - I still believe he’s a Jerk!!! < Something like that? >

Nick and Tim had a debate just like during the By-election in Saint John.

How times flies!!!

Afterwards, we noticed Lieutenant Governor Herménégilde Chiasson across the street so Tim had his picture taken with the nice guy for a souvenir for his daughter Sheana.









I noticed a couple of people walking by the Legislature.

I believe it was the Carr’s twin brother so I shouted at them not to be afraid?

At the very last second, I noticed it was Gained Vole < Former Minister of Finance >







He’s the part time leader for the P.C. Party.

He shouted - I got to meet with the media. I’ll be back.

Around 20 minutes later, I noticed Volpe in the corner of my eye.

We had our back turn and I was praying that he would just continue his walk towards the building of the opposition.

But unfortunately this never happen. Jeannot came forward and it was the first time I chatted with the former Finance Minister since the election.







Tim and Jeannot had a little debate about the issue of VLT’S.









Tim got the same answer he received two years ago. It all has to do with MONEY!!!!

I would have just let them go at it but I also had some issues that I wanted to share.

At one point? I tried to take over the conversation but Tim quickly raised his arm and politely said - Hey? You had your say!!!

Jeannot looked with amazement and said - My God? This is the first time I ever heard someone telling Charles to be quiet and he listens!!!..lol...

While I was debating an issue with Volpe. I noticed Kelly Lamrock leaving the Legislature. Tim quickly went for his camera and took this picture.









Last year Kelly walked by us without acknowledging Tim and as Minister he does the same thing.

I wonder why? Jeannot and Jack Carr stayed for over 20 minutes and left.

It was close to 4:00pm and for the first time we realized that the Liberals weren’t going to make an appearance.

Especially Ed Doherty?

One commissionaire called for Tim and it was a note from Ed Doherty.








Tim was very surprised to hear for the MLA in Saint John Harbour.

You can read a blog about this issue by clicking below-


target="_blank">Charles
Blog



A worker from the Premier’s office made a quick stopover.







At around 4:40pm, Tim decided to call it a day and get ready for the trip to Saint John at 5:45pm.









He decided to make a stopover at Global News thanking them for the coverage.








He left the city at 5:45pm!









Now? Why did the media ignore this day of mourning in front of the Legislature?

Last year, the Irvings covered his memorial one week before he came?









Could it be because I mentioned this issue in my blog and it’s guilty by association?

The only media who made a presence was Global News and CKTP!

Was it because of the murder trial will is going on right down the street?









Maybe it was because it’s on a Friday?

The media was not the only one not to make an appearance.

No one sent flowers and people I know were supposed to show but never did.

I was very surprise that Don Bishop never made the trip to the Capital? Will this discourage Tim from returning next year?









Of course not! You this was a day of mourning for the victims who committed suicide because of these VLT’S.

If there’s life after death?

< I’m certain there is! >

Those people would have been proud of Tim’s actions.

Now? We also learned something.

The Liberals totally ignored this issue so therefore Tim might come back when the Legislature is open for business.

The day of mourning is not the place of talk about how much money the Government have collected.

It’s just a day of mourning.

Tim will return when the Legislature is in session and this time around?

He won’t forget his sign.

Yes. It was strange how the public, the media and the MLA’S totally ignored this memorial.

I believe it was ignored because it was Friday but who truly knows?

Oh well there’s still next year.