Spies, more spies and dumb teachers

Spies in Canada

Apparently for the last five years there has been a foreign spy network operating in Canada, five years at the least.
This comes to light courtesy of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). With over $35 million transfered through Canadian and other foreign companies these spies "were shipping restricted materials in a manner designed to avoid detection and circumvent applicable laws," (pretty lengthy way of saying "smuggling") by "previously unrecognized individuals as part of a known terrorist group" the report continues.
What the report doesn't say is what, exactly, they were smuggling or who was doing it. A few security specialists say it was "likely China or Iran." Senator Colin Kenny goes as far as saying "We've been very concerned, particularly about the Chinese."
That's nice, without all the facts in place we're going to go ahead and start pointing fingers, and hey, the US has been trying to pick a fight with China and Iran for a while now, might as well jump on that band wagon while the jumping's good.

Our own spies not so great

The new book, 'Covert Entry' was released recently. Former Globe and Mail journalist Andrew Mitrovica let's us in a whole bunch of tidbits we wouldn't ordinarily know about the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS... yeah, that name strikes fears in the hearts of our enemies). I have selected some of my favorite snafus for your reading pleasure:

• They've been stealing your mail. So stop blaming your neighbor. Oh, and breaking into your car, so maybe it wasn't that "punk kid down the street".
• CSIS agents used binoculars to watch women undress. Hey, there could be a bomb hidden in-between those ta-tas.
• Smuggling alcohol from the US for a wedding. Nothing says 'party over here, ya'll' like free booze.
• 'For Members Only' travel agency which gives great prices on family vacations for CSIS and Police officers. Just because you're a spy doesn't mean you can't be an entrepreneur.
• One CSIS member took a pair of rollerblades from Russian spies as a "souvenir". It's not only fun, it's also practical, spies gotta stay healthy.
• Building contractor was put on CSIS payroll... to fix the houses of the senior officers. Then let him accompany them on secret operations. I figure a building contractor's gotta know the good places a terrorist would hide national secrets.

Kinda gives you and idea why FINTRAC (yeah, I never heard about them until today either) was the group to break the story about the foreign spy group. CSIS was much to busy helping themselves to the cookies in the cookie jar.

Ontario teachers don't want to work

73,000 public elementary teachers want fewer teaching days. Oh, be quiet and get back to work. "Boo hoo, the others guys get 375 minutes of prep time to prepare material, we only get 200," which leads me to ask: how long does it take to prepare macaroni and glitter anyway? You sound like my nephew, "but Billy gets to stay up until 9, it's not fair." It's not enough that you get three months off in the summer? I don't get three months off, why the hell should anyone else?

Why the cheerleader? I have no idea. She's hot though.

Rock on!
Steve Danger