Fantino to Public: Stay Out of Police Affairs

As if the death of Robert Dzienkanski at the hands of RCMP didn't put the public's perception of Canadian police officers in jeopardy already. Rather than admitting what it was -- a careless abuse of power -- and distancing themselves from the incident (however dishonest that would be), the RCMP have taken to defending it as a matter of due course. It is apparently part of officer training to interpret raising two hands in the air as saying "go to hell", as it is to assume that four officers can't restrain a man with a stapler without recourse to a weapon. Oh yeah, and Dzienkanski "directly disregarded a command", which begs the question of how someone who doesn't speak English is supposed to regard a command in the first place.

Now OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino -- whose dark imprint left on Toronto as the city's Police Chief can be seen here -- has taken to deriding the public for questioning the incident. He sneeringly dismissed criticism from those who "could never pass recruitment training", perhaps because ordinary people wouldn't be able to bring themselves to taser a confused Polish immigrant five times. The message is clear: issues involving police treatment of the public need to be handled within the force. Perhaps someone should tell Fantino that the concept of accountability and third-party monitoring is the backbone of a democratic society.

Falling Asleep with the TV On

by Zoe Alexis-Abrams



Previewed, dreams turn heinous,
untrue: like pausing a foreign film at its climax,
subtitles bright yellow against someone's chest,
set against picture, not to follow
a general rule: shot of Detroit and
you're a good friend, Steve scrolled below—
veins of traffic running yellow

around Motor City, an aerial view,
the same colour, but a betrayal—
my waking sensibility.

Shoes lined up behind the line,
ready to walk before me.
Hatchet through the bathroom door:

this is my dream,
but not.

Reviews of the Next 10 Blogs on Blogger

Just thought I'd have a scope-out of my Blogger neighbours. Greet my virtual community, and maybe get some future ideas for content.


1. Kerolato Hecho a Mano -- Bogota, Colombia

1 Single Post, with a little rosy-cheeked girl holding some kind of certificate. I don't speak Spanish, but I'm pretty sure it's a certificate for "Most Likely to Start a Blog and then Not Do Anything With It". Also, she doesn't have any followers either, so this was a boost to my self-esteem.

2. Combo Ninos, Jetix Combo Ninos, Serie Animada Combo Ninos, Personaje de Combo Ninos

Ok, we get it. Combo Ninos. Which is, apparently an anime featuring capoeira-fighting kids who change into animals. For "ages 6-10" according to Animation magazine, so I think this blogger is a kid too. Maybe I can get him to design my page.

3. The Hokey Pokey

Finally, something in English. Can I just say that no-one wants their music interrupted by a page that automatically loads its own tunes. Especially Squeeze. The latest post is on a device to apply moisturizer to your back, apparently the result of a sudden burst of inspiration after not posting for two weeks. The rest of the blog seems to be about weather, so I guess those two things are "what it's all about" when you live in rural Washington State. I left before I could be plagued with any more AOR. Also, she has two followers, so I hate myself again.

4. Prohibido Decirno

I'm not sure if that's the name of the blog, or just the link which tells me "Permission Denied", but either way I apparently have to be "invited" to view this. Which, ok fine, I mean I baked you this rum cake, and I was going to invite you to play Twister with me, the 40-year old from Washington and the two Spanish kids, but whatever.

5. Shauna's World

Hey "Little Miss Sunshine", how many pictures can you post of people standing by your stupid snow hut? Also, you say there are all these "fab pics" of your mock wedding to Eleanor, but they're not there, which makes me think this whole "mock wedding" is just a scam so you can get your green card.

Sorry, I just found out that when I press 'Back' on my browser and then "Next Blog" I get something different every time, which means it will be very difficult for us all to reach out and form a Neighbourhood Watch.

6. Laguz Brecho

This appears to be some kind of shoe blog, based out of Brazil. You're not coming to my house because you use too many exclamation points, and I don't want those monstrosities sitting in my front entrance. Also, I don't speak Portuguese.

7. Frost 4 Now

"About Me (Rokt): I am a 80 Draenei Death Knight on the European realm Aggramar. A member of British Empire and an avid Warcraft player." I understand Portuguese better than I understand this.

8. La Trastienda

'Trastienda' is Spanish for "back room" and according to the photos, the blog seems to involve the use of high-tech recording devices and/or seances inside old Catholic monuments to find traces of paranormal activity. Moving on...

9. Filipe Cintra

Lots of headline photos with funny (or I can only presume meant to be funny) headlines, way too many capitals, and a pukey-orange design.

10.

口コミ人気美容健康サロン取材比較レポート

"Healthy and Beauty Space"

Reservations

I hope wherever we're going
they save a space for us.

At the gas station,
I held the door for a man
who squeezed by me awkwardly.

I forget whether I returned his nod.

And you,

my first man-crush

knowing all the back routes to Toronto
but cautious with words.

Vaguely aware that one false move will cast us both into oblivion.

3 Prayers

Desire,

I'm so thankful

for everything you haven't given me.


Dear God,

Please let me live
to beg again.


Dear Mother,
I'm sorry,
I've hung with the wrong crowd.

I will learn to use a knife and fork again.

(Painting "Venus of the Rags" by Michelangelo Pistoletto, 1967 -- Hirshorn Museum, Washington D.C.)

For Lynndie England

What starts at the top
of the chain of command










falls




like a rock

to the bottom.

Where the rope
between your hand
and his neck

pulls
back and forth

across a vanishing front line.

Where your nervous smile
Says you'd kill to be
anywhere else.

Where the ghosts of spoiled regimes,

prisoner and guard,

still have their way.

Letters To Places I've Never Been

I felt that strange itch,
somewhere below my thigh,
to go to the other side of the world.

But romance shrivels up,
Where the old man has pissed his pants,
getting dragged away by the cops.