A Weathered World

CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!                                   August 23, 2013

By Author Bryce A Baker                                           16^th Edition

 A Weathered World

In all Medias, including the barrage of movies and informative television programing, we are educated in a multitude of ways of worlds end. Then we have the economic, medical viral, terrorist, and social decline to add to the threat against humanity. Wow, good thing for comedy relief.

I understand that these threats are a viable concern but give me a flippin’ break. Let’s get over the Mayan calendar fiasco and sanely evaluate and prepare for crisis within our capacity. No doubt we should reserve food and survival stuffs in case of an event, this should be in EVERYONE’S agenda within reason.

Travelling through our major cities, I see signage on ‘Evacuation Routes’…yeah right! In a crisis people are really going to adhere to the sign direction to a safe location. They can’t read signage in non-crisis travel! Then there’s the reality of over congested roads, panic and above all, self-survival.

Then we have the social levels of society that will demand their 911 call be of first priority. I’m afraid ‘Sunshine’s’ broken fingernail won’t be a priority. In this world, survival in a physical or social collapse will bring out the best and worst in humans. Infrastructure will depend on the seriousness of the event and our ability to organize and cope.

Then there are the Worlds End ‘entrepreneurs’. During one of the many predictions of our end in the last couple of years, there was a man that would take care of a certain group’s pets after they were ‘raptured’’. People actually prepaid him thousands to pet sit… Maybe God is just testing us for the laughs!

I’m not prone to depression, but how can we look toward a brighter day, when the Dooms Day scenario is hammering our physique?

Now, where do I sit with all this? If the event is survivable, and they make it to our well stocked secure sanctuary, then friends and family have a home away until we put the ash back in the volcano, or the ocean back where it belongs, or fill the hole from the asteroid. If it is a financial collapse, family and friends are still welcome but thieves had better be able to run REALLY FAST! The government will have all our money anyway so we get back to the barter system, which happens to presently be under scrutiny by our government. Revenue Canada will have to avoid the sanctuary!

I’m not going to develop paranoia about this subject. If the sun rises and the air is clear, it is a GOOD day. We need to CHILL big time and live the life we have... right after we build bunkers, hoard food and stock up on weapons of mass‘r destruction.

Please... CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!

Bryce A Baker

www.bryceabaker.com

Alone in the Dark

CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!                                   August 9, 2013

 By author Bryce A Baker                                                  15^th Edition

Alone in the Dark                                               

One’s ability to be heard is paramount to relinquish self-doubt, anxiety and burden. It is remarkable how much weight off one’s shoulders can be lessened. We have all had times when just talking about an incident or problem releases the muscle tension in the back and has a resulting sigh of relief. The issue may not be resolved but reasonable counsel may open avenues illusive to the subject.

Personally, there have been many issues miss-scrutinized by people we look to for their professional expertise.  It is not only sad for the diagnosis, but the real damage is the related mental and physical, not only to the victim, but to the family. Several years ago I was struggling with some substantial health problems. To maintain my career I was forced to mask symptoms to keep working. When the symptoms over shadowed, it could not be hidden any longer.

Because of the position I was in, a claim was put in to WCB, or Workers Compensation Board. Thus started a ten year battle with this IDIOTIC bureaucracy.

To substantially summarize the battle against a system designed to kill you if your injury didn’t; I fought with the same tenacity I hunted bad guys with. Their overpaid doctors followed WCB guideline’s to the letter. The form letter starts with a 100 percent denial, and then buries you with enough paper work and frustration so you just give up. Trying to find a lawyer was another joke. Policy is with WCB is to extend the BS if a lawyer gets involved.

Even with substantial ‘physical’ medical support and reports from my attending doctors, their ‘doctors’ denied the issue anyway. Toward the end of my ten year battle I contacted a branch of the provincial government in Edmonton and laid out my story. I asked to talk with the governing agency over WCB. There is none. They operate at their own discretion. I was advised that there would be someone contacting me regarding the claim. I GOT A CALL BACK FROM THE AJUDICATER I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT!

After ten years of extreme frustration, not only to me but my family, I won a settlement. Then two weeks later, they changed their mind. After the forth appeal, I was paid much less than settled.

During this episode of the ‘Twilight Zone’, there was NO ONE to turn to. The media, lawyers, Ombudsman, and government were temporarily insane so they disappeared back into hiding. 

Now the point of this story is a case brought to my attention about a friend’s mom.  First I should say that, the great bunch of apples in the basket, are always seen as the only rotten one amongst them. That said, I have had great doctors save my life MANY times, this is about the ROTTEN one. I’m going to copy and paste this lady’s story. It is a sad state that innocent people suffer because of our disgusting ‘support system’. 

“My daughter is Dawn and she said that I should tell you my story.

Dr. Terry O'Farrell operated on my right hip for the third time in the middle of July 2011.Right after the operation I had no feeling in my right leg and I could not move my foot sideways. I asked every medical person that came into my room why I had no movement in my foot and no one gave my answer, and I never seen the Dr. again. I found out from a Neurologist that the sciatic nerve has been cut or nicked, as a result I have drop foot. I must wear a brace to hold up my toes if not I will trip and fall. Wearing this brace is not a thing that is pretty. I must wear runners at all times so I can never get dressed up, and I must walk with a cane at all times. This does hamper me from doing some of the easiest of tasks as I cannot get down on my knees and I cannot sit in a bath tub. There are a lot of little things that I no longer can do and it has made me change the way that I live. Drs. like this should have to pay for their mistakes some way. I have talked to several people who have had him operate on them only to find that something went wrong. It’s not fair that we should have to suffer and suffer we do because of their blunder. Thank you for taking the time to want to hear my story.  Anne

Bryce: yes you may use my story in your column. I have been to a lawyer and was told that it would probably cost me more than I would ever get. My age for one thing is against me and the fact that I am not employed and dependent on my wages I would not get very much. I would also have to go elsewhere to get a doctor to say that it was his fault. I was told that I would have to pay for this Dr. to come to Kelowna and that I would have to cover all of his expenses. I don't think that it is fair that he gets off scot free and not have to prove anything. Good luck with your column and thank you for your advice.  Anne”

We are not alone. There are thousands that have gone, and are going through battles that are similar with NO one to turn to. It can be extremely hard to tell the story like Anne’s. Reliving the horror takes courage on her part. Thanks Anne. So, in a small way, two people have shared their stories and hopefully even just being heard, this lady can find some particle of peace.

Please... CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!

Bryce A Baker

www.bryceabaker.com

Sitting in a Broken Chair

CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!                           July 26, 2013

By Author Bryce A Baker

 

Sitting in a Broken Chair

No matter which way I look at it, being a ‘Gangsta’ doesn’t impress me as a great career choice in life. One can choose from thousands of jobs depending on education and personal skills. After interviewing the emotionally and morally delinquent after an arrest, I found no reasonable or qualifying purpose for them to be stealing or taking another human life. When my youngest step son was in his mid-teens I advised him that his actions now will affect the rest of his life. The phrase ‘You can’t do anything to me ‘cause I’m a minor’ became a sick echo in my ear. But sooner or later the minor can’t hide behind age restrictions in the criminal code.

The glorification of being a ‘gansta’ in movies and TV shows preys on the young people with low self-esteem and their sense of belonging. Whether positive or negative, some young people take the route of least resistance like water but unfortunately it is usually too late when they hit the rapids. One of the biggest personality dysfunctions I have recognized with the criminal element is a sociopathic trait. The lack or total lack of conscience. Another commonality with the destructive criminal is that they see themselves as the victims of society to qualify their actions. I don’t blame the car manufacturer for my speeding ticket!

It is great to see someone see the light and change to become an asset to society rather than a detriment. Their success isn’t easy after the scarring, but at least they are trying.

At an art show I was doing some years ago, a number of young members from an Asian gang came in and I was preparing for the worst. They silently walked around my show for a number of minutes and after they finished, the leader and a couple of others approached me. The young leader stood before me and said “You’re pretty good! I always wanted to do some art work.” Aside from the relief that I didn’t have to defend myself with force, I was totally impressed with the result. No matter how many confrontations I had on the street with these people, with little expectations of improvement, this youth did have a dream and instead of hurting, he shared a positive dream with me. What a high!

The Devil has such a grip on these people, but in his keeping, the promises of notoriety, money, babes and power are only a lie and a ticket to Hell.

I could ramble on about this subject, but no matter how youth are warned, their eyes are closed and waddle aimlessly into the fire. Can’t they see there is no Pension Plan for gangstas, and more importantly, I have yet to see a retired ‘GANGSTA’.

Please... CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!

Bryce A Baker

www.bryceabaker.com

 

 

Save Us from Ourselves

 CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!                                                                   July 12, 2013
                                                                                                                                     13th Edition
By Author Bryce A Baker

Save Us from Ourselves                            

By now I would imagine that most readers of my articles understand that since I was born in the fifties when family values were still relatively intact, my opinions are based there. I wasn’t familiar with the phrase ‘dysfunctional’ until I explored the world as an independent eighteen year old. As most families, ours had some dysfunction but still retained the family unit. We actually sat together at the dinner table and had outings together.

Morality seems to be manipulated over the years to conform to the need of the individual. Since the sweep of the hippie generation of free love and lack of responsibility it has impregnated the juvenile mind, or at least a majority thereof.  The youth have mortified into an antisocial mass against the stable responsible part of society. Everyone goes through emotional and social changes throughout their lives and fortunately most grow to understand drugs, booze and revolt against ‘THE MAN’ are not conducive to employment, family and staying out of the slammer. I for one have seen the worst and have the understanding that our governing agencies are not the greatest examples of morality, but we can make change through proper channels. Speaking for myself we don’t have to be sheep and accept the stupidity laid before us, but have the fortitude to see through it and make responsible positive choices.

There is a positive note on the horizon, or at least through my eyes and twisted observation. The youth through the decades went from a majority of good standards down to a majority of bad. The positive point now is the ‘majority’ is swaying back on the up side. There are some great young adults out there looking to change for the better and making it known. Maybe the world stands a chance after all. Anyway the youth are tired of being labeled delinquent, so ‘gangstas’ look out!

I said to my wife a few times that it is unfortunate that the young heroes get a small paragraph on page four, and the psychotic killers get international attention on page one. Where is the support for doing good? I would say it sends a message to those lacking in self-esteem that their moment of recognition is to kill someone. Quite sad. When I see young people flippin’ burgers at a burger joint for minimum wage instead of selling drugs for big bucks, they are HEROES to me.

Please...CORRECT ME IF ‘M WRONG!

Bryce A Baker

www.bryceabaker.com

Unjustice

CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!              12^th Edition    June 28, 2013

By Author Bryce A Baker

Unjustice

Child support is a sensitive subject. Sometimes a single parent that needs such support gets lost in the bureaucracy and struggles on their own. But I have a story that abuses that right to be financially compensated. Not because of neglect from the separated parent, but because of the need for revenge and disruption.

The divorce was settled well before this incident. The parents were married for seventeen years and had two children together, a girl and a boy. The father was apparently injured in a car accident eighteen or so years ago and hasn’t worked since. He collects twenty eight hundred dollars a month after taxes from pensions and settlement. The mom took more education and started work to assist financially.

During the later years the father was drinking and a chronic user of cannabis. The marriage broke down quickly as the two children were in their teens because of his abuse and threats. Documented are police reports of his threats of suicide in front of the children, threats and physical violence against the mom and also a police documented case where the teen daughter was grabbed by the throat by her father and was threatened with death for taking ‘moms’ side.

After the mom and daughter moved out for safety reasons the teen boy was coerced by his dad to stay. The boy had a get together with the mom and decided to maintain a relationship with her. But when he told the dad this, his ‘stuff’ was tossed into the front yard. The boy was convinced mom was bad and decided to stay at home. The mom has not had contact with her son for over four years. The daughter is in agreement that her brother is under threat by his dad and under constant monitoring by him. The father is a heavy drug user and a threat to the well-being of the boy.

When the children were seventeen, and sixteen for the boy, the parents divorced. The mom’s lawyer advised her that she had the right to half of his pensions and half the value of his two classic cars valued at a conservative number of sixty thousand dollars. She decided that since her son was with him he could keep his pensions and half his cars out of consideration for her son. The mom got sole custody of the seventeen year old daughter and as far as child support, they cancelled each other out.

The daughter moved away from home when she was eighteen and is on great terms with her mom. Not with her dad. When he found out the daughter moved out he sued the mom for child support. He had a lawyer and she was expected to pay in excess of six thousand for legal counsel. She was not in a position to afford that and represented her own case in court. This I witnessed. The judge didn’t take a thread of her testimony or her considerations during divorce. The father was awarded support for the son until he is nineteen and retroactive one year. She was unemployed, and the judge said to get a job.

I tried to get Child Protection to look at the case of the boy’s safety in that environment but because he was eighteen they declined to pursue.

The money is irrelevant in this case as far as the main issue, it is the boy’s safety.

Now considering the abuse of spouses and children I had to deal with as a Detective this case infuriates me. I have witnessed miscarriage of true justice a thousand times and this is one of them. I know for a FACT that it isn’t the money he is after but the opportunity to disrupt the mom’s life. He has nothing better to do than toke up and connive. I should also mention that his twenty six year old son from a previous marriage is living with him too. That son is addicted to morphine. Great setting for an impressionable eighteen year old!

If a parent is duly and morally responsible for child support, so be it, but in this case there is something grotesquely wrong!

I have exchanged emails with this… I can’t find a reference name disgusting enough… and he shared his intent in black and white, so I know where he stands.

Oh!!!! I should also mention the process server that came out to serve the court papers on the mom was the infamous disbarred lawyer from Vernon that is now in jail for organized crime connections.

This will not end here. I believe in true justice and JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED!

Please... CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!

Bryce A Baker

www.bryceabaker.com

Correct me if I'm wrong! - Castanet.net - Guest Columnist

Correct me if I'm wrong! - Castanet.net - Guest Columnist

www.bryceabaker.com

Here is the link to the Castanet column, They did an awesome job too! 

http://lnkd.in/SPBUWM

www.bryceabaker.com