Sunday, 18 January 2015

The Right to Live Free

CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!                                                               January 16, 2015

By author
Bryce A Baker


The Right to Live Free

Deep down in my psychological makeup dwells a funny bone. Without that sense of humor, there would be another occupied room in the psych ward. No matter how hard I brush off the negative in this world, it comes to haunt like an ex-wife. Looking to see the sunshine on a cloudy day may seem useless, but there I am with suntan lotion and sunglasses. Now in opposition to my giggle sessions with myself, the dirty real world rears its ugly head. I have a bad habit of venting what I feel is derogatory to our wellbeing; as is laid out below.

I am a Christian, and as part of a spiritual realm that has been defaced by fraud, corruption, and false profits, my spirit and belief in my Savior and God holds strong to be an example of a true Christian to the best of my ability. Now, admittedly the roller coaster ride to where I am now has been, and will always be, far from perfect but at least I am trying. Satan is recognized as my enemy, with nothing in his evil cauldron that can bring me to his dinner table.

With this introduction comes a time to verbally remove the stone in my boot. Silence to me is like thanking a burglar for stealing.

Over a slow, decisive planned program through the years, we in Canada are seeing our rights of freedom take flight. In 1985 the child protection laws severed the right for a parent to discipline their child. Teachers, adults, law enforcement, or anyone was curtailed to teach responsibility to the minors. If the law was to protect the child from abuse I could be behind it a thousand percent. No child should be abused, but with the enactment of this destructive law the child is taught the loop hole of defiance and shrug free from responsibility. From what was alleged as a protective measure to protect children, is filling our jails and even more horrid; killing innocent people.

Speaking of which; what happened to the right to defend ourselves. In a democracy, if the time arises that we need to defend ourselves or family, we open ourselves up to more than the assault itself. Our system gives more rights of democracy to the criminals. We are susceptible to lawsuit by the assailant if we outstep our line of defense, but the criminal has an open book of rights. If we have an intruder break in we must abide by what we are told are our ‘rules of defense’. Ask elderly survivors of home invasions of the ‘laws’ shielding the criminals that violated them.

Surely steps of regulation are necessary, but tell that to the victims.

We are a multicultural country and each has their way of worship or ethnic beliefs. That’s great, but when we are told to say ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas’ because we may insult another ethnic group, I choke.

The Bible has been removed from public schools and not allowed to be read there. Yet, educational books on gay relationships are readily available. I know this sounds prejudicial against gays, but I don’t care what they prefer for gender. That’s not my point. If we are being dictated to what we can say or read or freedom of said right, then we are slowly and most assuredly falling into Hell’s cauldron.

There has been an issue that has been biting me in the butt for some time now. A recently re-signed agreement with the States gives them the right to move their border a hundred miles into Canada in the event of American Marshal Law. This agreement speaks for itself. Now, unless I am misunderstanding this agreement, most of our population will be in that zone of attention.

Canada is a place I was born and have, and will continue to fight for the right to a free country. We have the best country in the world and through my eyes our freedom is being cut from our constitution. We each have a right to worship or believe freely no matter what faith or ethnicity. We have a freedom of speech as well as the written word. Our soldiers, and all that keep our country safe, shouldn’t see that lost to groups of spiritual pirates pillaging our lives.

I have had to battle WCB, which has no governing agency and can do anything they want. Unethical taxes are levied against us by our elected government, yet we have no say in their decisions to levy said taxes. Our tax dollars are blatantly abused, yet again we have no true opportunity to audit them though they can seize at will, our bank accounts or property. Our seniors have paid their way but are still taxed. So why is it, they can go ungoverned but we have to follow strict rules of behavior?
Understandably guidelines are a necessity to maintain order, but a double standard isn’t democracy.

In summary, I would die to defend our country to maintain what used to be freedom. Let us remember our history with lesson to open our eyes to the past mistakes.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of censorship and duct tape, I shall fear no critic, for my faith and my laptop are with me. May the blind see and the corrupt fall.

Where’s my suntan lotion?

Please... CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!

Bryce A Bakerwww.bryceabaker.com
 

Thursday, 1 January 2015

The Cost of Lonley


CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!                                  January 2, 2015
By author
Bryce A Baker 

The Cost of Lonely
Since the beginning of time there have been, and will remain, the vermin that prey on those that are susceptible to their vile character. Individuals that are unable to understand the concept of working for a living, void of conscience. Of course I speak of con men/women.
It is sad to hear the stories and read in the news of those that have lost property or life savings. Someone that has worked their entire life for retirement only to have it vacuumed out from underneath them.
The internet has provided a risk free environment to which they hide behind in anonymity. Virtually untraceable, pun intended.
Personally, there have been several attempts by unknown individuals online that email scam conversations drawing an opportunity to initiate a relationship or business opportunity that sounds too good to be true. Out of the thousands of these emails sent the percentage of their success rate by them to convince is providing a multibillion dollar business. Elderly or lonely individuals are their prime target and unfortunately when an individual gets the attention they so miss, they can be swallowed in deceit quite easily. Even with advise of warning by family or friends, they hide the truth of suspicion through desperation, or in fact greed that these scams could make them rich overnight.
An eighty five year old man with substantial wealth communicated with one such Russian thirty year old harlot. She convinced him to sponsor her to come to Canada to work on a relationship with him. After a short time she basically told him to take a hike. He went to immigration and advised them of the situation to have her deported back. Unfortunately, they said that since he sponsored her for two years, it is his responsibility to pay for her support. She pursued citizenship and got it at his expense.
Offshore ‘brides’ are a scam… ALL OF THEM! Wake up! The two main countries that provide these cons are Russia and China, where organized crime functions as matchmakers. It is but a branch of business for them, allowing contacts to be sponsored to our country.
A friend contacted me some time back about an offer to purchase a motorized chair of her late grandmothers that was listed for sale. The email offered to purchase and would send a check and have someone arrange a pickup of said chair. They received a Bank of Scotland check for five thousand dollars even though the purchase price was only fifteen hundred. A subsequent email said to cash the check and mail the difference back. It takes several days to clear a deposit check, so if they were to draw cash on their own and send it out, it would be too late when it bounces.
I traced a series of different diversionary internet locations in Africa, Europe, down to Texas. When I contacted the FBI in Texas they asked if my friend actually sent them money or a fraud was completed. I responded no. They said they can’t investigate until the crime is committed, and considering their extreme organization they wouldn’t be able to trace them anyway.
Organized crime has found a risk free avenue of bringing in billions through the internet and identity theft.
Loneliness is a terrible isolation, but even with common sense in a fog we should not give in to a virtual love. The female on the other side has organized crime as a big brother.
The inherent greed that even an honest person possesses will be tested by these vultures that will be picking at your bones.
If I want a friend, a love, or a business, the internet is a great way to cross borders in communication, but when money is used as a tool to draw it, is a curse.
I worked with a fellow that had a great personality, but his looks were not what most women would be drawn to. He told me one day that he had a new girlfriend on the internet from Russia. He was twitterpated with her. His excitement that she was coming to visit after he sent her money for the trip overwhelmed him. The picture he showed me was that of a mid-twenties model type. To see the bright light that shone inside him at the prospect of the relationship twisted my insides. I wanted in the worst way to warn him but couldn’t do it.
These creatures prey on people like my friend and millions of others, with nothing we can do about it. I have said it before and I say it again: Come out from underneath that rock and meet me face to face and see how much is left after.
The old saying of ‘What goes around, comes around’, has little reprieve by the victims. The wake of destruction affects us all.
Trust is a virtue of a great person. When it is breached it is a crime of hearts. 
Please... CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!
Bryce A Baker
www.bryceabaker.com

Thursday, 4 December 2014

Pride and the Prejudice

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!                                                      December 5, 2014
By author Bryce A Baker

 Pride and the Prejudice

There is no shortage of subject matter to go on about. Not so long ago someone said they wanted to read my… (For column sake I will use another word) ‘compliant’ articles… It was a backhanded compliment in a way. Yes, I voice my opinion, but it is not that way… OKAY maybe it is. We all accept daily things with a grain of salt; which allows ‘things’ to only worsen. If we don’t stand up for what we feel is just or fair, then we are but sheep.

Again I speak about prejudice, but this is what we all face without giving our true opinion. We are afraid of reprisal without merit, being labelled a bigot. Well, I am going to voice my experience without prejudice. It’s obvious there are people out there that are just ignorant with roots of hate. This is not me. Prejudice is set in stone as the building block of war and destruction. Isn’t there enough BS to live with?

As a kid, I played and buddied at school with Native children from our area. We played without thought of difference of race or religion. As an adult I was partnered with Native, East Indian, Caucasian, as well as many others and it made no difference in our work relationship.

That said, the verbal and unethical abuse I received from ethnic critics was, and still remains disgusting. We are Canadians, not separate entities to vent stupidity. For example;

- I had a house I was renovating in Surrey a number of years ago. I couldn’t get a construction permit unless I used East Indian trades people.

- There is a sign in West Kelowna at a fenced park. ‘For use by First Nations Only’.

- A lady that broke off a relationship with me married a really nice Jamaican man but his family wouldn’t accept her into the family because she is white.

- There have been endless news video and quotes by many races stating their hatred for the white man, but if we say anything similar we make front page news as a bigot.

Being called a ‘white man’ insults every human being on this earth. Being told the only reason I am arresting them is because of their race is a quote of a sick individual. Hearing African Americans call each other ‘Nigger’ and yet if we make the life altering mistake of uttering that word a riot ensues.
Speaking of riots!!!!!

Considering the mega thousands of cops in Canada and the States, it is obvious there are going to be bad ones. These are the rotten apples in the basket that make it harder for the good ones to do their job. Mistakes and wrong decisions are made, but a destructive racial riot doesn’t solve the problem! Cops are killed every day by many races, but I don’t see public outcry for their injustice! An officer was shot in Kamloops just yesterday after stopping a car late at night and was critically injured. He is a father of two children and a husband. He was just doing his job. Without law enforcement officers, we cannot walk the streets.

I can personally give you thousands of personal incidents of reverse prejudice but I am sure you’ve got the picture. Now some will misconstrue my opinion as being a bigot but that is my point; the worst critics can’t face where they are seated.

Prejudice branches of a tree definitely need to be pruned to where we see each other as people.

Many times I have considered stopping writing ‘Correct Me If I’m Wrong’ because deep down I know nothing will change, but it is my written voice in a hearing impaired world.

My next CMIIW will be after Christmas so all have a safe holiday, and contrary to non-Christian critics… MERRY CHRISTMAS and may God bless.

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

Bryce A Baker
www.bryceabaker.com

Thursday, 20 November 2014

Zombie Technology

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!                                    November 20, 2014
By author Bryce A Baker

Zombie Technology

When I started playing with big cars forty two years ago, I was immersed in a hobby that changed my life. I was a ‘greaser’, buried in a world of road thunder and speed; which brings me to this article.

In the course of my restoration builds, my projects were usually old machines that needed life and fire brought back into them. If it was mechanical, my hands and arms were covered in oil mixed with grease. If we wanted more horsepower, we modified the engine with mechanical parts.

Over the decades, vehicles have been substantially improved for driver and passenger safety, with air bags, reinforcement of the body and so on. BUT… we have entered an age of high priced disposable garbage supported on four wheels. I just finished rebuilding a '94 Suburban. Great body style, but a nightmare of computer driven, hair pulling entanglement of idiotic electronics.

There was a time when a simple mechanical part did more than a good job, and cost a fraction of what they are now. Has the buying public become so stupid that the manufacturers can coddle our wallet with equipment that is totally impractical as well as dangerous? If we have become so complacent with our driving skills that we depend on a computer to park our car or warn us of an impending collision, then we are in deep trouble. It is called ‘paying attention to our own driving’ as well as ‘grab some real driving skills’. Personally, I prefer to be in real control without the aid of a computer. Pretty soon the demanding public is going to want computer controlled grocery carts! That’s when all hell will break loose!

Now let’s figure the economics of the new vehicle. The average cost of the average wheeled computer is around twenty five thousand. Let’s also take into account it lasts five years as opposed to the decades of life thier mechanical ancestors lived. We are paying five thousand a year, plus fuel, plus past warranty repairs, plus, plus, plus. AND these vehicles cannot be restored because of the electronics! Now maybe some people have succumbed to the auto industry marketing but I haven’t.

Ironically, a properly restored vintage vehicle sells for more than a new car. The auto manufactures noticed, so they did retro designs of the old machines. The proof is in the statement. Unfortunately, these retros are laced with wire nightmares that make them impractical to expect to rebuild them.

OHHHH… and gas mileage!!!! My '66 Chevelle got twenty five miles to the gallon with old mechanics. The gas mileage of the new trucks and cars are offset by the extreme high cost of upkeep. My '89 4x4 gets twenty miles to the gallon and more power with a rebuilt pre 1984 V8. Most of the electronics were removed.

This body of mine is approaching six decades, with no electronics. Mind you, parts are now obsolete. But that’s another article.

Anyway…

As you drive down the road next time, consider this: The new car next to you, travelling at a hundred kilometers an hour, could have a computer crash or a psychological meltdown and fry some of its wires. Its sensors may consider you a threat. Then it passes its data through its computer link through the satellites causing other cars to malfunction. We will be in a world of zombie motor vehicles!... A new version of a zombie apocalypse!

No matter what happens… I think mechanical is forever, except when broke down.

Happy motoring.

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

Bryce A Baker
www.bryceabaker.com

Irritated, WWJD?

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!                                    October 25, 2014
By author Bryce A Baker    


                                                    Irritated, WWJD?
          
In this modern world we are surrounded by many events that irritate our mental, emotional and spiritual stability. If I may, I am going to share some of the items that rock, or have rocked my world. Coming from a world of Criminal Investigation the list is rather substantial, but I will reduce it to a few thousand. Let me also state that the question, “What would Jesus do?” is tattooed on my brain cells. Unfortunately those brain cells are smudged on occasion. Oh, and with His Spirit I have maintained a relative state of sanity.
 
Being irritated has an action, reaction when experienced, which at times can get one into serious trouble. How we handle these events is our responsibility. Sometimes biting our tongue will not suffice and we explode into an irrational episode of stupidity, followed by the shock of reality blasting us in the face.
 
Things that have irritated me;
 
ACTION: Working for months on a case only to have a typo error have it thrown out of court.
 

   REACTION: Learn to type.
 
ACTION: Being in a shootout and running out of bullets.


   REACTION: Go for a donut and coffee and hope the bad guy leaves.
 
ACTION: Pulling someone over for speeding and locking myself out of the police car.


   REACTION: Walk for a donut and coffee.
 
ACTION: It taking miles for someone you are pulling over to hear and see your emergency siren and lights. Then state they didn’t see me behind them. 
 
   REACTION: Flatten their tires.
 
ACTION: Having a youth that has just stolen a car state, “I’m underage! You can’t touch me!”

 
   REACTION: Flatten the tires on their skateboard.
 
ACTION: Halfway through my coffee and donut and get a call out.
 
   REACTION: Get them to go.
 
ACTION: Arresting someone with a gun and they state, “I have a license for that.” A fishing license isn’t a gun license!
 
   REACTION: Giving up on trying to figure out the criminal mind.
So you see life is irritating, but if we handle it in a rational, spiritual way, all can be good.


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

Bryce A Baker
www.bryceabaker.com

Thursday, 2 October 2014

Biting the Bullet

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!                                           Friday October 3, 2014
By author Bryce A Baker


Biting the Bullet

Again in the news there is a killer of man that is claiming temporary insanity for his crime.

When are the lawmakers and the judicial system going to wake up?


Through my career I have looked into the eyes of many that have no qualms to hurt or destroy without remorse. Like most in that industry, the vacuum of the futile battle for justice empties those that care. 

For the life of me, I can’t understand why humans need to invade other villages to pillage. Why do humans need to cut another down to make themselves feel superior. Our history of violence started when man made his first footprint on this earth and even though we have experienced the lesson of war, we have learned nothing; leaving in our wake a world ravaged by the insane leading the flock of savages.

I do understand that Satan has his venom flowing deep in our world, but that battle is forthcoming.

Many years ago I worked a brutal case that saw no justice for the family’s great loss. This family approached me and offered fifty thousand dollars to ‘fix’ the sadistic creature responsible. I would have done the job for free, but the difference between revenge and justice stretched a fine line. Seeing him walk free curdled my blood.


Getting back to our world: No matter how many losses we log in our journal of growth as a ‘civilized society’ we continue to saddle the ‘Four Horses of the Apocalypse’. No matter what words I write, or creatures battled, I sit at a loss.

There have been times when I had to take the step to use force, but only as a last resort. I heard a saying once, ‘Strength through peace and peace through strength’. At first it struck me as derogatory, but as I developed as a bodyguard and a detective it clarified. I had to be a force to be reckoned with to keep the peace. It is a sad state of affairs.

It is rather funny; I got a review on Amazon from a lady regarding my book ‘Ghosts of Time’. The content of what she said confirmed exactly what the first page said about society in general. She missed the point completely, because of social programming. Ironically, she still liked the book.

‘Ghosts of Time’ has a great deal to do with what I am saying in this article.


Rena has said to me that she would live in a cardboard box if need be, as long as we are together. This is how the world should look to one another.  But, to be realistic… it would be rather crowded.

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

Bryce Bakerwww.bryceabaker.com

Sunday, 14 September 2014

Baby Boomers

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!                                       Friday September 12, 2014
By author Bryce A Baker


                                                         Baby Boomers

As a member of the ‘Boomer’ generation, I share the most incredible extent of social and technological changes that have molded our lives over the last sixty years. But aside from witnessing man landing on the moon, eight track tapes developing to CD’s or iPods, or to cars parking themselves, there has been an immortal characteristic that has romanced our hearts and souls. I speak of ‘50s and ‘60s rock and roll.

From Do Wop to soul, we have danced, cried, lost and gained to a song seated in our memory. These tunes have something that can never be matched or have the deep impact they integrated into our lives. They spoke from a generation that understood what real romance is. They spoke of experience and realistic, somewhat moral growth. They didn’t portray a social understanding by swearing every second word or promoting anarchistic stupidity.

My step son drove me in his car once. He cranked the tunes like I did at his age but unlike driving the strip to the Beach Boys or swooning my girlfriend with Jay and the Americans the reverberating yelling of antisocial phrases and violence shattered my eardrums. When I had my chance I asked him that it must be interesting romancing his girlfriend to this rap crap. He has no idea what romance is.

There were some antisocial music back in the fifties and sixties but it didn’t carry a gun or an extreme foul mouth. Call me old fashioned, but that’s a label I can be proud of.

I love working in the shop on a custom ride to the sounds of my past that give me peace, love in my heart, and bomp and boogie to the great old times. They energize my spirit. People say we shouldn’t keep rehashing our past, but I love to, so there!

Our music will never fade away into oblivion because we have been sharing our space with a sound that soothes the savage beast and melts the barrier between men and woman.

Our generation has had its faults along with its mistakes but when we listen to our music we can proudly say “I’m a Boomer!”

Please...   CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!

Bryce A Bakerwww.bryceabaker.com