Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Courtroom 219!

Good Day Readers:
Yesterday a Pre-Trial Conference was held before Court of Queen's Bench Justice The Honourable Joan McKelvey in the Manitoba Metis Federation's defamation lawsuit against the site CyberSmokeSignals and Co-Defendants Terry Belhumeur and Clare L. Pieuk.
By way of brief background, at the first P-TC (September 2008) MMF lawyer Murray Trachtenberg (www.ptlaw.mb.ca; mtrachtenberg@ptlaw.mb.ca) requested and was granted a Publication Ban. It was not challenged because of the court costs had we lost. Essentially it states Motion Hearings normally open to the public can be reported but not Case Management Conferences. In the past, as happened Wednesday, MHs can easily transistion into CMCs which are covered by the Ban.
Counselor Trachtenberg filed a Motion to strike my Statement of Defence arguing I have not paid the court costs related to a successful Motion I filed in March of this year for an adjournment of the initial trial date. This is because I do not have the funds. Mr. Trachtenberg's latest Motion was not considered yesterday, therefore, the S/D has not been struck. In addition, the original March 1, 2010 trial date was re-scheduled yesterday to May 16 - June 10, 2011. The next Pre-Trial Conference will be September 15, 2010.
Regarding the CMC portion of yesterday's meeting, suffice it to say the courtroom dynamic has radically changed with the presence of my attorney Mr. Anders Bruun. Justice McKelvey is to be commended for the excellent way she presided over the Hearing.
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

A long awaited public apology to Murray Trachtenberg and his MMF taxpayer plaintiffs!

Dear Mr. Trachtenberg:

On behalf of everyone at CyberSmokeBlog please accept our heart felt deepest apologies for forgetting your recent birthday. We'd like to call upon bloggers everywhere to join us in extending belated warmest wishes celebrating your 57th June 15.

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Murray
Happy birthday to you

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

The sexy banker!



Is This Woman Too Hot To Be a Banker?
Debrahlee Lorenzana says her no-account bosses fired her over her looks
By
Elizabeth Dwoskin Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Everything about Debrahlee Lorenzana is hot. Even her name sizzles. At five-foot-six and 125 pounds, with soft eyes and flawless bronze skin, she is J.Lo curves meets Jessica Simpson rack meets Audrey Hepburn elegance—a head-turning beauty.

In many ways, the story of her life has been about getting attention from men—both the wanted and the unwanted kind. But when she got fired last summer from her job as a banker at a Citibank branch in Midtown—her bosses cited her work performance—she got even hotter. She sued Citigroup, claiming that she was fired solely because her bosses thought she was too hot.

This is the way Debbie Lorenzana tells it: Her bosses told her they couldn't concentrate on their work because her appearance was too distracting. They ordered her to stop wearing turtlenecks. She was also forbidden to wear pencil skirts, three-inch heels, or fitted business suits. Lorenzana, a 33-year-old single mom, pointed out female colleagues whose clothing was far more revealing than hers: "They said their body shapes were different from mine, and I drew too much attention," she says.

As Lorenzana's lawsuit puts it, her bosses told her that "as a result of the shape of her figure, such clothes were purportedly 'too distracting' for her male colleagues and supervisors to bear."

"Men are kind of drawn to her," says Tanisha Ritter, a friend and former colleague who also works as a banker and praises Lorenzana's work habits. "I've seen men turn into complete idiots around her. But it's not her fault that they act this way, and it shouldn't be her problem."

Because Citibank made Lorenzana sign a mandatory-arbitration clause as a condition of her employment, the case will never end up before a jury or judge. An arbitrator will decide. Citibank officials won't comment on the suit.

Her attorney, Jack Tuckner, who calls himself a "sex-positive" women's-rights lawyer, is the first one to say his client is a babe. But so what? For him, it all boils down to self-control. "It's like saying," Tuckner argues, "that we can't think anymore 'cause our penises are standing up—and we cannot think about you except in a sexual manner—and we can't look at you without wanting to have sexual intercourse with you. And it's up to you, gorgeous woman, to lessen your appeal so that we can focus!"

This isn't your typical sexual-harassment lawsuit, if there is such a thing. For one thing, such suits often claim that women are coerced into looking more sexy or are subjected to being pawed. Lorenzana claims that her bosses basically told her she was just too attractive. And when she raised hell and refused to do anything about it—as if there was anything she really could do about it—she lost her job.

Debbie Lorenzana—whose mother is Puerto Rican and father is Italian—came to New York from Puerto Rico 12 years ago. She was 21 and pregnant, and had a degree as an emergency medical technician from a technical college in Manatí, a small city on the northern coast. The father, she says, didn't want to have anything to do with her or the baby. So she moved back to the States, where she had lived in her mid-teens (pinballing between relatives' houses and group homes), and took care of her elderly grandparents in Connecticut. After her son was born, she moved to Queens to stay with a friend. Then she got her first job in finance: working as a sales representative at the Municipal Credit Union, in 2002. She moved to Jersey City and worked long hours. She was successful.

In April 2003, the Municipal Credit Union named her its sales rep of the month. On the other hand, she says, a manager once called her into his office to ask her opinion of a photograph. The picture he called up on his computer was of his penis. She complained about the incident. In her June 2003 resignation letter—written just two months after she was honored as a top employee—she wrote, "Due to the complaint I made regarding sexual harassment, my work environment has become hostile, painful, and unbearable."

She moved on to other jobs in the financial-services industry. After a stint selling health insurance to immigrants at Metropolitan Hospital in Queens, the hospital cited her in November 2003 for "providing world-class customer service" and for being the number one enroller in the office.

In August 2006, the district managers at Bank of America gave her a Customer Higher Standards Award on diploma paper, on which they wrote: "Debrahlee: You deserve to be recognized for going above and beyond."

She says she loved to work, and eventually was earning close to $70,000 a year. "My ex-boyfriend says it's my Spic pride," she says. "As long as I have two hands and two legs, and can still walk, I will always work, so my son will have a roof over his head and food."

And she will be well-dressed. Lorenzana is, by her own admission, a shopaholic. She shops for her work clothes at Zara, but when she has money, she says, she spends it on designer clothes. She has five closets full of Burberry, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Roberto Cavalli. In her son's closet, there's a row of tiny Lacoste, Dolce & Gabbana, and Ralph Lauren T-shirts. She says her love of fine clothes is a result of her growing up poor—she recalls running a high school marathon barefoot because she couldn't afford sneakers.

The drunk broker!

FSA fines and bans drunk oil broker
Tuesday, June 29, 2010

LONDON (Reuters) - The financial regulator has fined and banned a former PVM Oil Futures Ltd. broker for manipulating the price of oil last year by the unauthorised purchase of more than 7 million barrels while drunk.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) said in a statement it had fined Steven Noel Perkins 72,000 pounds and banned him from working in the financial services industry for at least five years for buying huge volumes of Brent crude oil without client authorisation.

"As a direct result of Perkins' trading, the price of Brent increased significantly," the FSA said in a statement.

"Perkins' trading manipulated the market in Brent by giving a false and misleading impression as to the supply, demand and price of Brent and caused the price of Brent to increase to an abnormal and artificial level."

The FSA said that in the early hours of Tuesday June 30 2009, Perkins traded in "extremely high volume" on the ICE August Brent crude oil future contract, accumulating a position equivalent to over 7 million barrels of oil.

Perkins had been drinking extremely heavily over the weekend prior to June 29 and had continued drinking through Monday before executing the trades, the FSA said. Since the incident Perkins has joined a rehabilitation programme for alcoholics and has stopped drinking.

"The FSA views market manipulation extremely seriously. Perkins' trading caused disruption to the market and has been met with both a fine and prohibition," said Alexander Justham, director of markets at the FSA.

"This reinforces the fact that a severe sanction will apply in cases of market manipulation, even where no profit is made. Perkins' drunkenness does not excuse his market abuse. Perkins has been banned because he is not a fit and proper person to be involved in regulated activities and his behaviour posed a risk to the proper functioning of the market."

The FSA said it is possible that Perkins may be rehabilitated over time and may be permitted to work in financial services again in the future.

Perkins trading pushed the price of Brent crude oil up to $73.50 a barrel -- the highest level it had hit in 2009 at that time. Closing out the unauthorised trades landed PVM with a loss of almost $10 million (6.6 million pounds).

PVM is an oil brokerage that executes trades on behalf of its clients, but it's does not carry out proprietary trading for its own account.

"Mr Perkins' job was confined to acting as a broker to execute trades ordered by clients; he was not permitted to execute any trades without a client's prior authorisation," the FSA said.

The FSA made no criticism of PVM in the notice. A PVM spokesman at PVM said the company now believes the matter is "fully closed."

(Reporting by David Sheppard; editing by William Hardy)

Building the perfect violin!

You haven't lived until you've been divorced, downsized and sued by Murray Trachtenberg!

Monday, June 28, 2010

No time to pee!

The Public Eye!

Truth To Power (www.accesstoinfo.blogspot.com; vicpopuli1@gmail.com)
__________________________________________________
June 27, 2010
"Counsel for the Plaintiffs" and "the Plaintiffs"

THE QUEEN'S BENCH
WINNIPEG CENTRE

BETWEEN:

MANITOBA METIS FEDERATION INC., ANITA CAMPBELL, DAVID CHARTRAND, ELBERT CHARTRAND, RITA CULLEN, JEAN DESROSIERS, JOHN FLEURY, LAURA HYRICH, JULYDA LAGIMODIERE, LEAH LAPLANTE, JUDY MAYER, DARRYL MONTGOMERY, MARILEE NAULT, JACK PARK, CLAIRE RIDDLE, and DENISE THOMAS,

plaintiffs,

- and -

TERRY BELHUMEUR and CLARE L. PIEUK

defendants.

NOTICE OF MOTION

TAKE NOTICE THAT the plaintiffs will make a motion before the Honourable Madam Justice J.G. McKelvey on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. or as soon after that time as the motion can be heard at the Law Courts Building, 408 York Avenue, in the City of Winnipeg, in Manitoba.

THE MOTION IS FOR:

1. An order striking out the Statement of Defence of the defendant Clare L. Pieuk:

2. In the alternative, such other order as is just.

3. Costs of the motion payable on a solicitor and own client basis.

4. Such further and other relief as the nature of the case may require and this Honourable Court deem just.

THE GROUNDS FOR THE MOTION ARE:

1. Queen’s Bench Rule 60.11.

2. The defendant Clare Pieuk has failed to comply with the order of Justice McKelvey pronounced May 17, 2010 which required him to pay the amount of $4,003.22 to the plaintiffs on or before May 30, 2010.

3. Such further and other grounds as counsel may advise and this Honourable Court may allow.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE will be referred to at the hearing of this motion:

1. Affidavit of Donald Roulette sworn June 2, 2010.

2. Such further and other documentary evidence as counsel may advise and this Honourable Court may allow.
Date: June 4, 2010

POSNER & TRACHTENGERG
Barristers, Solicitors and Notaries Public
Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E4

Murray N. Trachtenberg

Telephone (204) 940-9602
Fax No. (204) 944-8878
Counsel for the plaintiffs

TO: ANDERS BRUUN
Barrister & Solicitor
239 Aubert Street
Winnipeg, MB R2H 3G8

AND TO: TERRY BELHUMEUR
2020 Burrows Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R2R 0Y8

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Take that President Obama we're number one!

Upcycling!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

SOAR!

Behind the Black Bloc
Published Saturday, June 26, 2010
Jesse McLean
Staff Reporter
Anarchists try to block photographers. They would later set a police car on fire at the intersection of King and Bay during a protest at the G20 summit in Toronto. (June 26, 2010)
The mysterious, sinister faction that calls itself the Black Bloc.

As suddenly as they burst onto the streets, they vanished into the crowd.

The men and women, clad in black clothes, their faces obscured with bandanas, ski goggles and gas masks, had spent the last hour storming through city streets, hurling rocks and debris through the windows of banks and big-chain stores.

They embraced the Black Bloc tactic, a popular sight at almost every international protest since the late 1990s: The crowd, dressed in their black uniforms, moves as a blob, its members indistinguishable from one another. One will run from the pack and lob a rock through a window, before disappearing back into the mob.

On Saturday, as the riot police shuffled closer to the intersection at College and University Avenues — shields up, gas masks on, guns raised — they disappeared again.

Dozens huddled on a patch of grass outside Queen’s Park. Protected by their peers, the ones in the middle changed into their street clothes. Within minutes, all that was left was a pile of black garments.

“Don’t take a f--king picture of me,” said one man, now wearing a brown T-shirt, as he walked away.

As they dispersed through the crowd, onlookers were left wondering: Who are these aggressive protesters?

Many in the black uniforms are self-proclaimed anarchists; some who are members of the Southern Ontario Anarchist Resistance, a group the police say they have been watching for a year.

While Saturday marked their first rampage, many members of the Black Bloc have been attending the more peaceful protests throughout the week, unmasked and limiting their tactics to non-violent actions. Some performed anti-G20 raps; others held banners.

They bided their time and plotted their strategy.

Car loads of protesters arrived from Quebec for the weekend to join the Bloc, members said.

Expressed through an assortment of chants, the group’s causes are many: They’re anti-capitalist, anti-police, anti-colonial. While the labour members marched to have their voices heard, the anarchists are resolute that world leaders aren’t listening and don’t care.

Any change has to come at their own hands.

For the most part, their targets are specific and symbolic: As the crowd tore across Queen St., they hammered police cruisers, attacked banks and other corporate companies. Yet they left a record store, a local tavern and an independent hardware shop untouched.

“This isn’t violence. This is vandalism against violent corporations. We did not hurt anybody. They (the corporations) are the ones hurting people,” one man said.

Others pelted the Zanzibar strip bar with manikin limbs they had snatched from a nearby clothing store.

“This is all part of the sexist, male-dominated war machine we live in,” explained one member.

Factions within that group, however, appeared to just relish the mayhem. As the protest marched up Yonge Street, they became more indiscriminate in what they damaged.

Two young activists sprinted onto Yonge-Dundas Square and battered the tourist information booth, sparking jeers from some crowd members.

On College St, a pack of masked protesters began to vandalize an empty BMW 4X4. A civilian car, albeit it an expensive civilian car.

“Stop it. They’re not our enemies,” one protester shouted.

The other retorted: “Yuppies are our enemy.”

While the end result seems chaotic, the Bloc is intricately organized. It’s made up of smaller groups of 10 or so activists, keeping head counts and decision-making quick and easy. Directions are passed through the mob with codes — on Saturday, “umbrella” was a call to move to the frontline.

And they seize opportunities quickly. After two failed attempts to breach the walls of riot police, the black-clad protesters congregated in the Queen Street and Spadina Avenue intersection. A Communist group set off a flare, distracting the crowd and police alike — and the mob took off across Queen.

One anarchist who identified himself as Roy defended the Black Bloc, saying the tactic makes a division among protesters in the eyes of the police, inherently protecting the “good protesters.”

“Because they’re there, others are safe. Right from the front (of the march) they were pointing guns at us just walking down the street,” he said.

But their presence was criticized by other protesters, who said the destruction was simply justifying the millions of dollars spent on summit security.

“Violence just brings more violence,” a woman said into a megaphone as an anarchist set fire to a police cruiser. “What you guys are doing, it’s breaking my heart.”

With files from Jayme Poisson and Jennifer Yang

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Busted!

Friday, June 25, 2010

What's in you wallet judge?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

An inconvenient truth - no, no not that one!

June 25, 2010
OFFICAL POLICE DOCUMENTS: GORE SCANDAL STATEMENT
In a bombshell new police report vindicating The ENQUIRER's world exclusive of the AL GORE SEX SCANDAL, the alleged victim told Portland police intimate in-depth details of her claimed sexual encounter with the ex-Vice President.

In a comprehensive 73 page investigative report conducted by Portland Police Bureau in 2009 into an unnamed massage therapist's allegations that Gore made inappropriate and unwanted sexual contact at a hotel in October, 2006.

In a witness statement, the 54-year-old alleged victim - whose name is being withheld by The ENQUIRER - told detectives the Oscar-winning Nobel laureate attempted a "big tongue kiss, "caressed" her "back and buttocks and breasts" and "shoved" her hand down to his pubic region.

Gore, who recently split from wife Tipper after 40 years of marriage, also fed the woman chocolate and attempted to coerce her to come into his bedroom to listen to a song by Pink, the document said.

As The ENQUIRER first reported the woman reported the encounter several weeks after the incident, four years ago. The case was eventually cleared.

But police, for reasons not made public, investigated the case further last year.

The woman alleged she was called to a hotel in Portland for a $540 massage, which included 20 percent gratuity, to service the former Presidential candidate, when the alleged assault took place.

On her arrival at Portland's up-market Hotel Lucia, she claimed the ex-VP introduced himself saying, "Call me Al."

He stretched out his arms to wrap her into an embrace before purposefully dimming the lights, the woman told police.

"It was apparent from the beginning he had been drinking," she claimed.

"The hug went on a bit too long and I was a bit taken aback by it. If it weren't Al Gore I would have seriously questioned the situation right there because a hug from an unknown male client before a session is a bit odd and unprofessional. "

The woman noted, "I was in a room with someone who was Teflon coated in terms of his credibility and celebrity status."

The police documents, clearly identify "Mr. Stone aka Gore, Al." as the person of interest in the alleged encounter, the woman then read from a lengthy, detailed prepared statement, describing her session with Gore.

According to her account, Gore said he wanted his adductor area worked on and she considered THAT a warning sign.

"I was taught that a massage of the adductors could cause an involuntary erection," she told cops.

"When I began doing the requested abdominal area he became vocal with muffled moans, etc.

"He began demanding that I go lower and massaging on the abdominal area. I was shocked. He further insisted and acted angry, becoming verbally sharp and loud. I went into much deeper shock as I realized it appeared he was demanding sexual favors."

The woman told police Gore was "bellowing" when she rejected his advances.

He then attempted to lure her into the bedroom where he threw himself on top of her, it was also alleged.

"He bellowed at me ... just scared the (bleep) out of me," she said.

"He was moaning, groaning, moving in a very suggestive way."

She also detailed why she didn't flee, claiming she was fearful she might be shot or tasered by the retired politician's security detail.

However, when Detective Cheryl Daul of Portland Police, quizzed the masseuse further, she later admitted she saw no security in or near the hotel suite; a contradiction that she apparently did not grasp.

After first being rebuffed, Gore tried another tactic, according to the woman, "pleading for the release of his second chakra" -- a euphemism for sexual activity, she claimed.

Instead, the woman said she tried a pressure point hoping it would make him sleepy.

When the session was over, the woman said she left the room to wash her hands. But as she was breaking down the massage table, Gore came over and "caressed my back, and buttocks and breasts."

She said, "I squirmed to try to get out of his grasp telling him to stop."

She told him he was a "crazy sex poodle," to which he giggled.

The licensed masseuse woman then said she distracted Gore - described as obscenely overweight - with chocolates!

Then he opened a small bottle of Grand Marnier, to wash them down.

"He then forced an open mouth kiss on me. I pushed back and said, 'Stop it. You're being way too frisky.' I was distressed and shocked and terrified," the massage therapist told police, reading from a prepared statement.

"I saw he was determined to have a sexual act with me."

The woman alleged Gore tried to take off her top and then told her to come into the bedroom and listen to his iPod, a song by Pink "about the current president, Bush, that would shock me," she told police.

Gore then played "Dear Mr. President" and according to the police documents, that was the trigger for things to get rougher.

"He immediately flipped me flat on my back and threw his whole body" on top of her, the woman suggested.

"Get off me you big lummox! I loudly yelled protested to him."

She managed to throw Gore off her body, she claimed. But he grabbed her hand and then started singing along to the song in what she calls "bizarre karaoke."

She then asked him, "Just how long where you whacked out after the election?"

"He replied six-and-a-half years so far, just giggling his head off."

As Gore persisted to have sex with her, the woman said: "I told him I was sorry to disappoint him and he would just have to take matters into his own hands that night. He pleaded, grabbed me… tongue kissed me… rubbed my buttocks with his hand and fingers and rubbed himself against my crotch saying, 'You know you want to do it.'"

She told investigators she finally managed to break away from Gore and flee the hotel.

Safe at home, the alleged vic "took a long, long warm shower trying to wash off the (laughter) unwanted touching and the trauma and I brushed my teeth for a long time to get out the Grand Marnier and Al Gore's tongue and germs out of my mouth," she told police.

In a Monica Lewinsky blue dress déjà vu moment, the woman said she noticed stains on the front of her pants.

"I wondered if it was soap or bodily fluids from Gore pushing up against me repeatedly," she said.

Those pants were saved in a bank safe deposit box, along with a chocolate bar with his fingerprints as evidence.

The woman told investigators she did not want to make money from the case.

"I only want justice," she said at the time of the interview.

"This is not just my story but this is the story of women in the world and how it is."

After interviewing the woman, the Police Bureau provided additional counseling services through its victim advocate program.

As The ENQUIRER FIRST reported yesterday "If the complainant and the Portland Police Bureau wish to pursue the possibility of a criminal prosecution, additional investigation by the Bureau will be necessary and will be discussed with the Portland Police Bureau," Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk said in a statement.

According to Associated Press, a representative for Gore issued a terse "No comment" yesterday after the DA's statement was released.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Have we got a lawsuit for Murray Trachtenberg!




Hide The Decline II from No Cap And Trade Coalition on Vimeo.

Climate Scientist, Heated Up Over Satirical Video, Threatens Lawsuit
By Ed Barnes

Published April 26, 2010
FOXNews.com

The Penn State climate professor who has silently endured investigations, hostile questioning, legislative probes and attacks by colleagues has finally spoken out. He says he'll sue the makers of a satirical video that's a hit on You Tube.

Their response: Bring it on.

Michael Mann, one of the central figures in the recent climate-data scandal, is best known for his "hockey stick graph," which was the key visual aid in explaining how the world is warming at an alarming rate and in connecting the rise to the increase in use of carbon fuels in this century. E-mails stolen from a university in England were released online, revealing exchanges between climatologists and a reference to a "trick" that Mann had used to get the graph to portray what global warming scientists wanted to see.

The parody video, titled "Hide the Decline," had more than 500,000 viewers on YouTube and received national attention when Rush Limbaugh played it on his radio show. It features a cat with a guitar, a talking tree, and a dancing figure sporting the image of Professor Mann. It's the use of his image that Mann is complaining about, arguing that the video supports "efforts to sell various products and merchandise."

"The guy is crazy to threaten legal action," said Jeff Davis, the President of No Cap and Trade, a large organization that includes the group Mann is threatening to sue, Minnesotans for Global Warming. "A lawsuit would give us full discovery -- and there's a lot to look at in his work."

Penn State climate scientist Michael Mann

The evelations of the leaked e-mails brought into question the methodology used to prove the Earth is getting hotter, and the phrase "hide the decline" became a catchphrase for questioning a human role in global warming.

Mann faced investigations both by Penn State and in England. While both found his work acceptable, critics have nevertheless charged that the probes were superficial and have prevented a closer analysis of the science upon which his view of global warming is based.

In his letter Mann threatened legal action, claiming the spoof video "illegally used his image and defamed him."
Neither Mann nor Penn State responded to requests for comments. Mann's lawyer, Peter J. Fontaine of the Washington D.C. law firm of Cozen O'Connor, told FoxNews.com "we don't comment on any pending legal matters for clients."

Davis and No Cap and Trade said they welcome the lawsuit.

The group is eager to conduct an in-depth probe of Mann's work and "finally look at how it was done. We understand why Michael Mann is eager to silence public discussion of the hockey stick scandal, but truth is an absolute defense."

According to Davis, the video was created in the wood-warmed RV that is the "world headquarters " for Minnesotans for Global Warming and its three members, who jokingly think that Minnesota could use a little more heat.

When the letter first arrived, they quickly pulled the video from You Tube and their website because they couldn't afford to defend against a lawsuit. But, as word spread of the legal threat to the jokesters, a number of groups, including No Cap and Trade, rallied to their defense. They even backed a newer version of the video titled "Hide the Decline II" and re-posted on You Tube and the No Cap and Trade site.

"It is hard to believe in global warming when you live in Minnesota. During last winter we all wished we had some global warming," Elmer Beauregard, a nom de plume of one of the members of the group, said at a press conference announcing the new video on Tuesday.

Just what we need a fake lake!


The spill!



Jake Coyle
New York — The Associated Press
Published on Thursday, June 24, 2010

The most memorable comedic take on the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico hasn't come from Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show or a late-night monologue.

Instead, a cheaply made video by an unlikely New York improv troupe has created the only commentary that has truly resonated online: a three-minute spoof that shows BP executives pathetically trying to clean up a coffee spill.

In the last two weeks, the video has been watched by nearly 7 million people on YouTube. By the count of Viral Video Chart, it's been shared about 300,000 times on blogs, Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.

The video was dreamed up by the writers for the sketch show Beneath Gristedes, a monthly stage show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York. While meeting to work on the show, a germ of the concept came to Erik Tanouye, who worked out the script with fellow writers John Frusciante, Gavin Spieller and Eric Scott.

They shot it two days later and within a week, it was up on UCBComedy.com. The site has had some viral hits — a parody of a Google ad, a spoof of the David After the Dentist video — but nothing on this level. UCBComedy.com's servers immediately crashed under the traffic.

“I couldn't do my day job,” said Tanouye, 32, who is the director of student affairs for the UCB training centre.

It's been the biggest hit yet for UCBComedy.com, which was founded in 2007 to give its performers an online outlet. The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, which has popular theatres in New York and Los Angeles, was co-founded by Amy Poehler.

Content director Todd Bieber says that a viral sensation such as BP Spills Coffee can “energize the UCB community” in creating video for the website. Having so much talent at the ready makes UCBComedy.com a little like an amateur version of FunnyOrDie.com, the comedy site co-founded by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, which pulls contributions from famous comedians.

David Letterman, Jay Leno and other late-night hosts have made BP jokes practically a nightly feature. Conan O'Brien, perhaps feeling like he was missing out, recently tweeted: “The past 2 months I've been on tour and haven't followed the news. What's with all the photos of chocolate pelicans?”

The Colbert Report and The Daily Show have battered the subject relentlessly. Mixing comedy with activism, Colbert Nation has launched a “Gulf of America Fund” to raise donations for the recovery efforts.

Why not a vuvuzela button for politicians?

YouTube Adds a Vuvuzela Button
By:
Dan Fletcher The vuvuzela has now cracked the big time: nearly every movie on YouTube can be, um, enhanced! From Techland, TIME’s Allie Townsend explains:

Press on the tiny (red) soccer ball located on the bottom right corner of any YouTube video and you’ll be greeted with the sound of the vuvuzelas, and possibly prompted to bang your head against the surface of your desk. What is it about these annoying little horns that has us so amused?
Try it!

Had enough?

Like to swill wine do we?

What's wrong with these people?

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

And the judge said, ".....

The perfect job for Corporate Team TRACHTENBERG - chartrand!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Donald's back - no not that one!

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "Murray "$Billable Hours$" Trachtenberg shakes the taxpayer money tree yet again!"
"The Donald" is back that's back in the fold with David (Chartrand), Elbert (Chartrand), Fran, Anita, Richard, John. P, Nancy, Lee H. Can you say Duck Bay X9? That's the MMF Executive Director, the President, Northwest Vice President, the Metis Child, Familyand Community Services Director, the Metis Women Representative, the 2 Northwest Board members, the Duck Bay Head Start Executive Director and the Northwest Local Management Board member.
That's "yes" David, "yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes David whatever you say David." And those are the top spots. Seems its all about the money. If there were none the top 9 would be out of there in a New York minute.
Just wish the other 52,718 eligible voters knew more, said more, voted more.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Anonymous:
Thank you for writing. The names you've provided gave us cause to do a little research. "The Donald" (Donald Roulette) at one time was the MMF's Executive Director until a few years ago when Oliver Boulette left the provincial government to replace him. During the time he wasn't ED no one seemed to know exactly what it was this longtime MMF apparatchik did. From the last Winnipeg Regional Office Annual General Meeting prior to the June election we received unconfirmed reports we were unable to verify that Mr. Boulette had left either because he could afford to retire or he got tired of David Chartrand's controlling ways.
Oliver Boulette was David Chartrand's lawyer Murray Trachtenberg's (http://www.ptlaw.mb.ca; mtrachtenberg@ptlaw.mb.ca) favourite go to guy for affidavits in the Federation's defamation lawsuit against CyberSmokeSignals. It seems recently "The Donald" has inherited that role from Mr. Boulette.
The reference to "Fran" we assume is Francis Chartrand who is David Chartrand's sister. It is our understanding at one time she worked at MMF headquarters then went off to earn a degree from Brandon University. We checked the Metis Child, Family And Community Services website http://www.metiscfs.mb.ca in particular the link to the 2008-2009 Annual General Report but could find no reference to her. Anyone know if she's involved with MCFCS and if so in what capacity?
"Anita" you referenced we believe may be Anita Campbell who if so is the Metis Women of Manitoba Representative. She did not run in this year's election. In the past there have been conconfirmed reports suggesting she may be related to David Chartrand. To date we have been unable to verify this information.
"John P" is likely John Parenteau elected earlier this month to the Northwest Regional Board of Directors while "Richard" is probably Richard Genaille who joined him. A John H. Parenteau was listed in 2001 as a Board Member of the Duck Bay Housing Board. However, we have no way of confirming both are one and the same individual.
"Nancy" appears to be Nancy Chartrand. The Swan River Friendship Centre website (http://www.mac.mb.ca/swanriver/staff.html) shows David Chartrand's brother (or stepbrother) Elbert Chartrand as its Executive Director. Mr. Elbert Chartrand is also a Plaintiff in the MMF's defamation lawsuit.

A Nancy Chartrand is shown as being associated with the Aboriginal Head Start Program - Abinoje Head Start (Duck Bay). Back in 2001 the same name was listed as a Board Member for the Duck Bay Housing Board. However, we are unaware whether a familial relationship exists between President Chartrand and Ms Chartrand. Anyone know? Also noticed Ruby Chartrand appears with the Children for the Future initiative (Swan River).

Finally, the missing piece of the puzzle is "Lee H." which it was suggested is associated with the Northwest Local Management Board. When we checked the NW Metis Association webpage (http://www.northwestmetis.com) all we could find was a link to the Northwest Local Management Board's Newsletter. Problem is it was dated June of 2005. "The Message from the Chairperson" did not come with a name. So the identity of Lee H. remains a mystery.

We'd like to leave you with our favourite image found when we Googled Duck Bay. Looks like the authorities were concerned the locals would drive into the water so placed this sign.

Clare L. Pieuk

The Grassroots News MMF connection!

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "The 9% man!"

I wonder who paid for all the pro-David Chartrand advertiseing in here?

http://www.grassrootsnewsmb.com/images/grn_pdf/grassroots

_jun1.pdf
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Anonymous:
Thank you for writing. The link you've sent is from the 29-page June 1, 2010 isue . In it we tallied:
3 articles about incumbents (David Chartrand, Carl Chartrand - Jack Park, Claire Riddle)
2 David Chartrand campaign ads
1 Ron Chartrand ad
1 Andrew Carrier ad
Story about the St. Norbert candidates' forum
Cancellation notice for the Freighthouse forum
Regular feature Le Metis
List of polling stations
The 11 items suggest the MMF is a significant source of revenue for GRN owner/publisher Arnold Asham - he's the jolly looking fellow pictured second from the left with Paul Martin and David Chartrand.



Unfortunately, you'll never know how much candidates spent to get elected because the Federation's election bylaws are so flawed there's no ceiling on how much they can expense nor are they required to declare from where they raised their campaign funds.
But it just gets better. Article III (Chief Electoral Officer) from the MMF's election bylaws under clause (g) states:
"Providing a written report to the Board of Directors of the MMF within 60 days from the date of the election."
Good luck membership and taxpayers trying to obtain a copy of this document!
Clare L. Pieuk

Monday, June 21, 2010

"Tar ball Tony!"

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sunday, June 20, 2010

My God how can a national leader be so ill informed?

The Public Eye has sent a new comment on your post, "Correction: The 7% man!"

Clare,

Here is the press release in question:

http://www.liberal.ca/en/newsroom/media-releases/18354_statement-by-liberal-leader-michael-ignatieff-on-re-election-of-manitoba-metis-federation-president-david-chartrand

Statement by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff on re-election of Manitoba Métis Federation President David Chartrand.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Public Eye:
Thank you for sending the link. With statements like that it makes one wonder who on earth is advising him? Little wonder the Liberals can't get past the Conservatives in the polls. Excuse me while I become violently ill!
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Correction: The 7% man!

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "The 9% man!"

Actually David Chartrand only got 3,781 votes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Anonymous:
Thank you for writing. You're right David Chartrand is only "The 7% man!"
The 9% figure we originally quoted was based on a total of 14,489 votes cast on June 1oth. However, since each voter can mark their ballot three times - once for President, another for Vice-President and a third for their Regional Board of Directors - the 14, 489 number represents 4,830 voters. In other words, with 52,718 eligible voters slightly more than 9% (9.16%) bothered to vote.
In the case of David Chartrand, collecting 3,781 votes from a possible 52,718 eligible voters represents an approval rating of a little more than 7% (7.17%).
What must be really disconcerting for taxpayers and government funders is the creeping democratization that is gradually occurring under the Chartrand administration:
(1) in the June 2006 election 22,409 votes were cast by 7,470 voters which represents a 35% decline vis-a-vis the comparable 2010 election numbers
(2) this year there were 37 candidates (including 4 of 7 Vice-Presidents plus 2 Regional Board of Directors acclaimed) compared to 49 candidates (3 Vice-Presidents and 2 Regional Board of Directors acclaimed) in 2006
"The Metis Hour on NCI Radio is sponsored by The Manitoba Metis Federation representing all Manitoba Metis. It's President is David Chartrand." ..... Host Ray St. Germain
God we hope he's still not using that line!
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Murray Trachtenberg dancing around the MMF's unlimited Canadian taxpayer money tree!




Pull up an easy chair and sit yourself down and lean back
While we tell ya about the folks who live in the town of Greenback
They never have to work on their hands and knees
Cause they live in a place where money grows on trees

CHORUS

Oh the Money Tree, the Money Tree
It's a beautiful sight to see.
Why couldn't it happen to you and me

There isn't a person in town who isn't a regal spender
And they never wear a frown for lack of that legal tender
They're all ten years ahead on their income tax
And the whole town's driving next year's Cadillacs

REPEAT CHORUS

Well it grows fresh new bills that snap and crack
As fast as you pick 'em it grows 'em back
Every day there's a bumper crop
With a million dollar bill way up on top

Now there is just one way to visit the town of Greenback
Pull up an easy chair and sit yourself down and lean back
Then close your eyes and suddenly you will see
That beautiful, lovely, wonderful Money Tree!

Harper.S@parl.gc.ca
Glover.S@parl.gc.ca
rod@bruinooge.com

Friday, June 18, 2010

Murray Trachtenberg shakes the taxpayer money tree yet again!

Good Day Readers:

In Murray Trachtenberg's latest Motion filed with the Court essentially he's asking for the equivalent of a death sentence for a traffic ticket. How interested is he in collecting the money owing given there's nothing in his Motion which addresses that issue? He's too busy trying to have me excluded from attending the June 30, 2010 Motion Hearing.

By the way, Motion Hearings are open to the public so anyone can attend. Plus they're not covered by the Publication Ban Counselor Trachtenberg was granted back in early September of 2008.

As you read this latest court document please join us in singing Corporate Team TRACHTENBERG - chartrand's favourite song, "The Money Tree."



Pull up an easy chair and sit yourself down and lean back
While we tell ya about the folks who live in the town of Greenback
They never have to work on their hands and knees
Cause they live in a place where money grows on trees

CHORUS

Oh the Money Tree, the Money Tree
It's a beautiful sight to see.
Why couldn't it happen to you and me

There isn't a person in town who isn't a regal spender
And they never wear a frown for lack of that legal tender
They're all ten years ahead on their income tax
And the whole town's driving next year's Cadillacs

REPEAT CHORUS

Well it grows fresh new bills that snap and crack
As fast as you pick 'em it grows 'em back
Every day there's a bumper crop
With a million dollar bill way up on top

Now there is just one way to visit the town of Greenback
Pull up an easy chair and sit yourself down and lean back
Then close your eyes and suddenly you will see
That beautiful, lovely, wonderful Money Tree!

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

File No. CI 05-01-41955

THE QUEEN'S BENCH WINNIPEG CENTRE

BETWEEN:

MANITOBA METIS FEDERATION INC., ANITA CAMPBELL, DAVID CHARTRAND, ELBERT CHARTRAND, RITA CULLEN, JEAN DESROSIERS, JOHN FLEURY, LAURA HYRICH, JULYDA LAGIMODIERE, LEAH LAPLANTE, JUDY MAYER, DARRYL MONTGOMERY, MARILEE NAULT, JACK PARK, CLAIRE RIDDLE, and DENISE THOMAS, plaintiffs,

- and -

TERRY BELHUMEUR and CLARE L. PIEUK
defendants.
__________________________________________________
NOTICE OF MOTION
HEARING DATE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30TH, 2010 AT 10:00 A.M.
BEFORE THE HONOURABLE MADAM JUSTICE J.G. MCKELVEY
__________________________________________________

POSNER & TRACHTENBERG
Barristers, Solicitors and Notaries Public
Suite 710 - 491 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3B 2E4
Phone No. (204) 940-9602
Fax No. (204) 944-8878

NOTICE OF MOTION

TAKE NOTICE THAT the plaintiffs will make a motion before the Honourable Madam Justice J.G. McKelvey on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. or as soon after that time as the motion can be heard at the Law Courts Building, 408 York Avenue, in the City of Winnipeg, in Manitoba.

THE MOTION IS FOR:

1. An order striking out the Statement of Defence of the defendant Clare L. Pieuk:

2. In the alternative, such other order as is just.

3. Costs of the motion payable on a solicitor and own client basis.

4. Such further and other relief as the nature of the case may require and this Honourable Court deem just.


THE GROUNDS FOR THE MOTION ARE:

1. Queen’s Bench Rule 60.11.

2. The defendant Clare Pieuk has failed to comply with the order of Justice McKelvey pronounced May 17, 2010 which required him to pay the amount of $4,003.22 to the plaintiffs on or before May 30, 2010.

3. Such further and other grounds as counsel may advise and this Honourable Court may allow.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE will be referred to at the hearing of this motion:

1. Affidavit of Donald Roulette sworn June 2, 2010.

2. Such further and other documentary evidence as counsel may advise and this Honourable Court may allow.
Date: June 4, 2010

TO: ANDERS BRUUN
Barrister & Solicitor
239 Aubert Street Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E4
Winnipeg, MB R2H 3G8

AND TO: TERRY BELHUMEUR
2020 Burrows Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R2H 0Y8

POSNER & TRACHTENBERG -Barristers, Solicitors and Notaries Public/Winnipeg, MB R2R 0Y8

Murray Trachtenberg
Telephone (204) 940-9602
Fax No. (204) 944-8878
Counsel for the plaintiffs

Sing along as Murray Trachtenberg flogs "his" dead horse lawsuit on the MMF's front lawn ... 1 ...2 ... 3 ...


Pull up an easy chair and sit yourself down and lean back
While we tell ya about the folks who live in the town of Greenback
They never have to work on their hands and knees
Cause they live in a place where money grows on trees

CHORUS

Oh the Money Tree, the Money Tree
It's a beautiful sight to see.
Why couldn't it happen to you and me

There isn't a person in town who isn't a regal spender
And they never wear a frown for lack of that legal tender
They're all ten years ahead on their income tax
And the whole town's driving next year's Cadillacs

REPEAT CHORUS

Well it grows fresh new bills that snap and crack
As fast as you pick 'em it grows 'em back
Every day there's a bumper crop
With a million dollar bill way up on top

Now there is just one way to visit the town of Greenback
Pull up an easy chair and sit yourself down and lean back
Then close your eyes and suddenly you will see
That beautiful, lovely, wonderful Money Tree!

Harper.S@parl.gc.ca / Glover.S@parl.gc.ca / rod@bruinooge.com

One of Murray Trachtenberg's MMF Canadian taxpayer money trees!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Murray "$Billable Hours$" Trachtenberg shakes his MMF Canadian taxpayer money tree again!

$www.ptlaw.mb.ca; mtrachtenberg@ptlaw.mb.ca$
Trustworthy Murray Norman Trachtenberg laughing all the way to the bank with his monthly MMF taxpayer dollars deposit!
Clare L. Pieuk
__________________________________________________
File No. CI 05-01-41955
THE QUEEN'S BENCH WINNIPEG CENTRE

BETWEEN:

MANITOBA METIS FEDERATION INC., ANITA CAMPBELL, DAVID CHARTRAND, ELBERT CHARTRAND, RITA CULLEN, JEAN DESROSIERS, JOHN FLEURY, LAURA HYRICH, JULYDA LAGIMODIERE, LEAH LAPLANTE,
JUDY MAYER, DARRYL MONTGOMERY, MARILEE NAULT, JACK PARK,
CLAIRE RIDDLE, and DENISE THOMAS,
plaintiffs,
- and -

TERRY BELHUMEUR and CLARE L. PIEUK
defendants.
__________________________________________________
AFFIDAVIT OF DONALD ROULETTE
SWORN THE 2nd DAY OF JUNE 2010
HEARING DATE: WEDNESDAY, THE 30TH DAY OF JUNE 2010 AT 10:00 A.M.
BEFORE THE HONOURABLE MADAM JUSTICE J.G. MCKELVEY
__________________________________________________

POSNER & TRACHTENBERG

Barristers, Solicitors and Notaries Public
Suite 710 - 491 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3B 2E4

MURRAY N. TRACHTENBERG
Phone No. (204) 940-9602
Fax No. (204) 944-8878
File No. 2003-20

AFFIDAVIT OF DONALD ROULETTE

I, Donald Roulette, of the City of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Executive Director,

MAKE OATH AND SAY THAT:

1. I am the Executive Director of the Manitoba Metis Federation Inc. (“MMF”) and as such have personal knowledge of the matters hereinafter deposed to by me save and except where same are stated to be based upon information and belief in which case I do verily believe same to be true.

2. Attached and marked as Exhibit “A” is a copy of an order pronounced by Justice McKelvey and signed the 17th day of May 2010 which requires Mr. Pieuk to pay to the plaintiffs the amount of $4,003.22 on or before May 30, 2010.

3. Attached and marked as Exhibit “B” is a copy of a letter from Mr. Trachtenberg to Mr. Pieuk’s counsel, Mr. Bruun dated May 25, 2010 which I am informed by Mr. Trachtenberg and do verily believe was sent to Mr. Bruun at that time together with a copy of the order of Justice McKelvey.

4. I am informed by Mr. Trachtenberg, and do verily believe, that Mr. Pieuk has not sent the money payable to the plaintiffs, to Mr. Trachtenberg’s office. The MMF has not received any payment from Mr. Pieuk and to my knowledge, none of the plaintiffs have received payment either.

5. Attached and marked as Exhibit “C” is a copy of a letter from Mr. Trachtenberg to Mr Bruun dated June 1, 2010 which I am informed by Mr. Trachtenberg and do verily believe was sent to Mr. Bruun at that time.

SWORN BEFORE ME at )
the City of Winnipeg, in the )
Province of Manitoba, this )
_______ day of June, 2010 )
DONALD ROULETTE
______________________________
A Commissioner of Oaths in and for the
Province of Manitoba.
My Commission expires:

The 9% man!


Good Day Readers:

The idea for "The 9% man!" comes from two sources - the David Chartrand administration's ability to attract a resounding 4,800 voters from a membership of more than 52, 000 and Calouste Gulbenkian.
1869 - 1955

Calouste Gulbunkian was an Armian businessman who became one of the world's wealthiest individuals. He acquired his fortune by negotiating contracts between the giant oil companies such as Royal Dutch Shell and, yes, British Petroleum with the producing states for which he charged 4% of the deal's value thus the name "The 4% man." He had two negotiating principles:

(1) he'd met anytime anywhere with anyone. Being Armian that included the hated Turks

(2) he always knew more about his opponents than they did about him

Later in life to show appreciation for his Portugese physician he founded a museum in Lisbon. While not the Louvre, it's delightfully fascinating and can be comfortably viewed in a couple hours. One interesting feature is the founders penchant for collecting rare sets of whatever. So if were chippendale furnature or Persian rugs he had to have one of each.

So David Chartrand you have now been anointed, "The 9% man!"

Clare L. Pieuk