Jody Wilson-Raybould is no martyr!

I've been through different stages since the article by the Globe and Mail (G&M) about the alleged interference of the Prime Minister Office into the SNC-Lavalin case being prosecuted. My first reaction was one of anger with the Trudeau's Office for pressuring the federal Attorney General about the case, then I was wondering if Trudeau had personally anything to do with the pressures that Wilson-Raybould are alleged by the G&M's article.

Then, as the dust started to clear, I couldn't help but notice inconsistencies in the Wilson-Raybould behaviour: if the pressure was so great on her in September 2018, and if she felt that people in the PMO, or even Trudeau, were crossing an ethical line, why didn't she resign then? Even stranger, why did she accept a demotion, and another position during the last cabinet shuffle in January 2019?

I couldn't help but feel annoyed by how she has been portrayed as almost a "martyr" in the press, a victim of some imaginary misogyny. I don't feel that it is that black and white!

Justin Trudeau & Jody Wilson-Raybould (Feb. 2018)

Let me be clear, if there was any pressure from the PMO, or Trudeau himself, that would be unacceptable, and the Liberal government should pay the political price for that. However, so far (and this might change) it seems that the SNC-Lavalin case generated mainly debates, lobbying, within the cabinet, as well with MPs, SNC-Lavalin representatives and Quebec's Premiers, which is expected considering the size of the company, and the potential impact on its workers.

Speaking with friends after "NAFTA 2.0" was signed by Canada, U.S., and Mexico, I said that the main external risk to the Liberals has dissipated, and if anything will hurt their chances for another term is themselves. As a liberal leaning person, I hope this is not the case here.

We'll see what happens in the next few weeks.

Solving Windows 8 Drag n' Drop issue

I came across an with Drag n' Drop (DnD) lately on Windows 8 and Firefox that really annoyed me, so I hope this post will help others out there who face the same issue.

Drag n' Drop onto Firefox

Beginning of the "story"
Few weeks ago, I accidentally changed Firefox launch properties to 'Run As Administrator' which caused any drag and drop of a file from Windows File Explorer onto Firefox to stop working. I was able to drag from File Explorer, but once the mouse was hovering Firefox, a "wrong way"cursor appeared signaling that dropping a file or a picture onto the browser was not possible.

'Run as administrator' option

Since it was not an intentional decision to make Firefox to always run as admin, I didn't think of linking the issue to that when I tried a DnD a file weeks later.

In addition, DnD on Google Chrome or Internet Explorer was working, so I thought it was a Firefox specific issue. I researched Mozilla forums, disabled all add-ons in Firefox, created a  fresh Firefox profile, created a Windows profile, installed older versions of Firefox. Nothing! I broadened my research to DnD in Windows, not specifically for Firefox, that's when I found pointers to settings in process privileges being the cause of the DnD issues.

So what happened?
With Windows Vista, Microsoft introduced User Account Control (UAC) and other security elements in its OS to enhance security by preventing malware from getting administrator privileges by inheriting

My understanding from all of this (take it with a grain of salt and research further of you want) is that DnD problem I faced is related to differences of process privileges level between Firefox 'Running as Administrator', a higher privilege than Windows File Explorer level.

So basically I was stuck with one application with lower privileges (File Explorer) trying to drop a file into a higher privilege application (Firefox running as admin). The tricky part is that Windows File Explorer process privileges level cannot be set or changed. At least, I didn't find an easy way to do it, or do I think it's the right thing to do from security perspective.

There are at least two options in Windows 8 to solve similar DnD issue related to process privileges:

Solution A: Run your application at normal privileges level (recommended)

• To do so, right-click on the icon of your application (e.g. Firefox) then select Properties
• In the Properties window, uncheck the option 'Run this program as an administrator'

Disable 'Run As Administrator'

Solution B: Change group policy to disable UAC (not recommended)

• Open Windows 'Run' command window. You can do that by searching in Windows 8 search for 'Run'
• Type and enter gpedit.msc in the 'Run' window to open Local Group Policy Editor
• Go to 'Local Computer Policy > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options'
• Change the setting User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode to Disabled

For security considerations and because you will disable any Windows 8 Modern application from running, I do not recommend this option. Click on screenshots below to view the different steps:

If you want to learn more about UAC and related User Interface Privilege Isolation (UIPI), here's a interesting page to read on MSDN blog:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/patricka/archive/2010/01/28/q-why-doesn-t-drag-and-drop-work-when-my-application-is-running-elevated-a-mandatory-integrity-control-and-uipi.aspx

More details on NSA PRISM

The full leaked NSA PRISM document can be view on The Washington Post website
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/prism-collection-documents/

Al Gore's tweet on the topic

In digital era, privacy must be a priority. Is it just me, or is secret blanket surveillance obscenely outrageous? ow.ly/lKS13
— Al Gore (@algore) June 6, 2013

Hey NSA, intercept this: F!#K YOU!

I'm always amazed by how Obama's administration gets away with "crime" when it comes to civil liberties, including a pass by leftist media. The latest example is the ILLEGAL data mining by the NSA of Internet companies servers to go through personal emails and other documents. Yes, it is ILLEGAL inside the U.S., and it does set participating tech companies in violation of their commitments to users in other countries, especially in the European Union!

Screenshot of the leaked NSA document on PRISM (The Guardian)

If it was G.W. Bush's administration, for whom I have no sympathy, The New York Times, MSNBC and other so-called (leftist) journalists would be all over it, but of course, it's Obama, everything is OK because he smiles at press conferences.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data

NSA taps in to user data of Google, Skype and others, secret files reveal• Top secret PRISM program claims direct access to servers of firms including Google, Facebook and Apple• Companies deny any knowledge of program in operation since 2007

Support the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU):
https://www.aclu.org/secure/stop-massive-spying-program

Best movies & docs on 2008 financial meltdown

During the drama of the last few months around the fiscal cliff in the U.S., Europe bailout of Greece, I felt a 'déjà vu' from Summer of 2008 and the near collapse of the global financial system. Over the years, there were several books, articles, movies and documentaries relating the events and the build-up of the housing bubble and the painful recession that resulted and ruined the lives of hundreds of millions around the World.

As a 'cinéphile' (movie buff), here is my selection of some of the movies and documentaries on the topic; some more interesting than others, but all together give a very insightful portrayal of what happened and all the protagonists involved.

• Inside Job   (2010 - Documentary)
• Too Big To Fail   (2011 - HBO feature film)
• The Flaw    (2011 - Documentary)
• CBC Documentaries: Meltdown  (2011 - Documentary)
• Capitalism: A Love Story   (2009 - Film)

Inside Job
© Sony Classics Pictures 2010

Inside Job
This documentary is by far the best in my opinion to relate the events leading to the bubble of 2008 and the fall of Lehman Brothers and the handling of the crisis by several government stakeholders.

Co-written and directed by the excellent Charles Ferguson, narrated by Matt Damon, the documentary won the Academy Award for best documentary in 2011.

Too Big Too Fail
This is an HBO feature film, adaptation of Andrew Sorkin's excellent book. While the book provides slightly more details about the background of each protagonist, the movie renders very well the events and the urgency driving the events, served by an amazing cast, especially William Hurt as Hebrt Paulson (Treasury Secretary) and James Woods as Dick Fuld (Lehman Brothers). Full cast on imdb.com. Great work of documentation and cinema. I highly recommend it.

The Flaw (2011)

The Flaw
This documentary takes a historical approach to dissect the American Capitalistic system to explain its excesses and the crisis of 2008, very bright and interesting minds are interviewed in this documentary. Worth watching.

CBC Docs: Meltdown

The public Canadian broadcaster CBC aired in 2011 this documentary series in 4 weekly one hour episodes. A good synthesis of the events, similar to Inside Job, with a little bit more details since they had time. Meltdown is available to watch online in Canada only (copyrights restrications). Here is an overview of the episodes:
http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/meltdown/about.html

Capitalism: A Love Story 
This is probably the weakest link of the list, but I wanted to add it because it had some good exposure and Michael Moore films are always funny to watch as entertainment, not as facts-backed documentary. As much as I hated biased Fox News right wing propaganda, I can't stand Moore's; same applies to MSNBC leftist business.

My decade of mobile phones

2012 marked for me ten years of usage of mobile phones. It's a good opportunity to have a list of devices I used over the years as a reminder of the evolution of these devices that have become such a big part of our daily lives.

Nokia 3310

Nokia 3310

This was my first cell phone. I purchased it in 2002 in Montreal, with a 2-year contract with Fido (before the company was acquired by Rogers). The phone was released by Nokia late 2000. Here are the specifications of the 3310:

• Dimensions: 113x48x22 mm  (HxWxD)
• Weight: 133g
• Screen: 84x84 pixels pure monocrhome
• Networks support: GSM, TDMA

Motorola V551

Motorola V551

My second cell phone was a gift I received end of 2004, it was a V551 flip phone by Motorola. I loved the flip cover! Here are the specs:

• Dimensions: 87x44x23 mm  (HxWxD)
• Weight: 121g
• Screen: 176x220 TFT Color 65k
• Camera: VGA 640x480 color 
• Networks support: GSM quadband

BlackBerry 8700r

My First BlackBerry!

In 2007, I moved to Toronto for a new job where I received my first BlackBerry device at work, the 8700r (aka Electron) on Rogers network. This was the first time I was able to access my emails on the go, and it was a great feeling of not having to be connected to a PC to check my messages, at least my work emails. It also introduced a major change in my behavior, creating a "need" to be connected, even on the go, something I've been trying (with relative success) to keep under control.

• Dimensions: 87x44x23 mm  (HxWxD)
• Weight: 134g
• Screen: 320x240 Color (2.6 inches)
• Camera: VGA 640x480 color
• Networks support: GSM, EDGE, CDMA

BlackBerry Curve 8300

BlackBerry Curve 8300
This was by far the device I've kept the longest. Another phone provided by my company in 2008, and I used it until 2011 for work. BlackBerry OS was still decent at the time, but I started to feel embarrassed when I was with friends and family members using an iPhone 3G! Still, it did what it was supposed to do: phone + emails. The other reason I kept it was because iPhone devices were not approved by my company IT department and I didn't want to carry two devices. Here are the specs (from GSMArena.com):

• Dimensions: 107x60x15.5 mm  (HxWxD)
• Weight: 111g
• Screen: 320x240 Color (2.5 inches)
• Camera: 2MP (still and video)
• Networks support: GSM, EDGE, CDMA

BlackBerry Torch 9800

BlackBerry Torch 9800

Early 2011, I decided to no longer carry my work phone after hours; that's when I chose to buy my first personal smartphone. I was divided between switching to iPhone or stay with BlackBerry, especially that I wanted a touch screen and I started to feel frustrated with lack of apps on BlackBerry and awful slow software and browser on the phone. The main reasons to stick with BlackBerry at the time were: BlackBerry Messenger that I was using with friends and family around the World, iPhone 4 "antennagate" but most important for me at the time, a physical keyboard. Torch 9800 was a good improvement integrating a good touchscreen technology and decent browser. But that's the issue, everything was decent, but not great, and yet, the prices were not much cheaper than an iPhone.

This marked a consumer mistake I made of signing a 3 years contract with TELUS, which I regretted later when better plans were on the market. Never again contracts for a device. Here are the specs for Torch 9800:

• Dimensions: 111x62x14.6 mm  (HxWxD)
• Weight: 161g
• Screen: 360x480 Color (3.2 inches)
• Camera: 5MP  still, VGA @24fps video
• Networks support: 3G, EDGE, GSM, CDMA

BlackBerry Torch 9810

BlackBerry Torch 9810

This was my third work phone. I received it in 2011. Minor upgrade from 9800, adding HSPA+ to the device. When BlackBerry 6 was out, only 9810 was able to handle WiFi Hotspot support. Specs can be found on GSMArena.

BlackBerry Bold 9790

BlackBerry Bold 9790

This was my last BlackBerry! It was a personal device I purchased in June 2012 after I lost my Torch 9800 in a cab from the airport after a business trip to Europe. This phone (specs on GSMArena) was light, had a touchscreen, but multiple pocket calls, awful software, lack of apps just had it for me. I guess I stayed with BlackBerry for that long because the pride of RIM was a Canadian company. As a consumer, I regret it a bit, I'm so happy with my iPhone 5. Thanks Steve Jobs!

iPhone 5

Happy New Year 2013!

Best wishes for the new year!

NFL: 2012, What A Season!

Since I started to follow the NFL games "religiously" on Sundays eight years ago, 2012 season to me is without question the most exciting.

The Year of the Rookie QBs!
First, the 2012 class of rookie quarterbacks is simply amazing; starting with the number one pick in this year's draft: Andrew Luck. He broke Cam Newton's single season passing record by a rookie QB and brought back life and excitement into a Colts' organization that finished NFL's last in 2011, and got his team into the playoff on his first season! What I also find great about this young talent is his calm and humility in his interviews. I expect (and hope) he will continue to improve his game and give us many years of great football.

Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (2012)

At the same level of talent is Robert Griffin III (RG III) of the Washington Redskins. He definitely deserves his team trades to get the number 2 pick in the 2012 Draft. Showing great talent that may get the Redskins to the playoffs for the first time since 2006, and definitely a return to competitiveness for a franchise who was last in the NFC East for years.

Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins (2012)

Another rookie quarterback who surprised many fans and experts is Russell Wilson of Seattle Seahawks. He was able to get his team, under the leadership of head coach Pete Carroll, into the playoffs, and even threatening the 49ers dominance of the NFC West. 2012 was truly the year of the Rookie Quarterback!

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (2012)

The Year of the Comeback!
After being absent from the football fields for the whole 2011 season due to neck surgery, Peyton Manning performance was the talk of everyone in football at the beginning of the season, especially after he was released from Indianapolis (who picked Andrew Luck as the new QB) to join John Elway's team in Denver.

Well, I'm neutral about the Broncos, but I am definitely an unconditional fan of Manning's talent, so I watched all his games this season, and Peyton did not disappoint one bit. His play calling, the way he lifted an offence in constant progress through out the season, and clinching the AFC West title three weeks before the end of the regular season.

I'm a Packers fan, but I have to admit, I really wish Peyton could get another Superbowl ring this year, both for an amazing season back from a major surgery, but also for his amazing talent and career.

Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (2012)

The Year Records Fall!
Two other amazing performances that made this NFL 2012 season so great, is Calvin Johnson breaking Jerry Rice's 1995 single season receiving yards record with a mark of 1,892. "Megatron" Johnson shines in a very average Detroit team, you can only guess what he could in a more competitive team!

Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions (2012)

On the day I'm writing this (Dec. 30th), it's week 17 and last of the regular season, Adrian Peterson is 208 yards away from breaking Erick Dickerson's single season rushing yards record, with a shot of taking his team to the playoffs. This achievement comes a year after a major ACL injury. His talent and perseverance might even get him MVP of 2012 regular season, and it won't be a steal.

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (2012)

Looking forward to the playoff!!!

In Paris until end of January...

I arrived two weeks ago to The City of Lights, Paris, for holidays with the family and some time off. It's always great to visit here enjoying the great architecture and the arrogance of Parisians! I know, I can be mean sometimes. Joking aside, the is quite a strange country, there are so many great things and so many strange behaviors too. Here is an example:

Last week I went  to the top of Arc de Triomphe, as I paid the €9.50 ticket at the ground level, I discovered to my surprise that cameras were allowed, but not tripods! Even stranger, at the top of the monument, there are two security employees watching people and preventing anyone from using a tripod! That means two salaries paid for preventing people from using a tripod at a national monument, visited every year by over 1 million people! What an efficient use of taxpayers money.

View Larger Map

I did ask why this restriction of tripods, and I got the following stupid answer "To prevent potential terrorists from doing reconnaissance". Seriously? A terrorist would need a tripod to do reconnaissance? There are Google Maps, Google Street View, millions of pictures on the web of that location, not to mention that visitors (and potential terrorists!?) still have the right to use their cameras, yet a tripod is the critical element here? Oh well, France and its stupidity.

Well, if you're wondering why I needed a tripod so badly, it's simply because I wanted to snapshot a 180° panorama, which I managed to do without a tripod, but it wasn't simple. Here are the pictures:

Paris view from Arc de Triomphe (Facing East)

Paris view from Arc de Triomphe (Facing West)

The Artist, "Singin' In The Rrain" similarities and 2012 Oscars

The Artist (2011)

Opinion ★★★★☆
On this day of Academy Awards ceremony, as most movie goers, I have my favorites for the best picture award, and as you probably guessed by the title of this post, The Artist is one of my favorites, along with Hugo, by Martin Scorsese. It seems that 2012 Acadamy Awards may end up being the year of movies paying tribute to the art of filmmaking. You would understand what I mean if you watch both these two movies.

But for now, I will focus on The Artist, a great silent movie made in 2011. Yes, a completely silent movie, and I was very curious how director/writer Michel Hazanavicius will pull this one and be successful. Well, I believe it was a combination of clear love for the golden era of Hollywood of early 20th century that he shares through out the whole movie, with a very captive story line, light at times, dramatic at times, amazing score to compensate for the lack voices, great photography, and most important a very talented Jean Dujardin, for whom I'm very happy, as he is now recognized for his talent, after being snubbed many years by French cinema elite for playing in comedies. Bravo Jean! I wish him well for tonight's Oscars ceremony.

Jean Dujardin & Bénérice Bejo in The Artist (2011)

As a cinephile, I can only hope that the risk taken by the artists, producers involved in The Artist is rewarded with few Oscars tonight.

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

The second part of my post is related to an interesting feeling I had watching The Artist, one of déjà-vu at moments, and it's only when I got home that I realized it was because of the similarities with the 1952 classic 'Singin' in the the Rain' with Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor.

Indeed, both movies stories take place at the time of transition from silent movies, to talking pictures (aka Talkies). In fact some scenes are very close, almost copycat, but I take them as a tribute, not

Similarities between 'The Artist' and 'Singin' in the Rain'

• Both are about an actor, and Hollywoord in general, transitioning from silent movies to talkies
• At the beginning of 'The Artist', there is a scene where George Valentin (played by Jean Dujardin) is taking applause from his public after a screening of his last successful movie, and he prevents his female co-star Constance from being on stage, preferring to play tricks with his co-star dog. In the 1952 classic, Gene Kelly's character Don Lockwood does the same with his co-star Lina Lamont (played by Jean Hagen) – See screenshot from Singin' in the Rain below
• The complaints backstage of Constance to the director/producer character, played by John Goodman, similar to what Lamont does with producer in Singin' in the Air
• The love story between the established actor Valentin and the wannabe actress Peppy Miller (played by Bénérice Bejo) character of the new actress, similar to the one between Lookwood and Kathy Selden (played by Debbie Reynolds). Even the look of Kathy and Peppy are similar   – See screenshots below
• In both movies, the solution to the transition of the main character career from silent to talkies goes through the musicals – See screenshot from Singin' in the Rain below
• I couldn't help but noticing a visual similarity of including African tribe in the jungle as one of Valentin's movies, and in Singin' in the Rain, a quick scene (see screenshot below), similar theme is included.

Differences between 'The Artist' and 'Singin' in the Rain'
You might think The Artist is a copycat, well clearly it is not. First 'The Artist' is a silent movie, 'Singin' in the Rain' was a full featured with sound film. Second, except for the end where music is the solution for Valentin, the movie is not a musical, unlike the 1952 classic. The 2011 film is a drama with some comedy scenes, the 1952 movie is a classic musical comedy.

Well, I hope you will have the chance to watch and enjoy both these two great movies in theatre or at home.

The Artist (2011), 100 min, La petite reine
Singin' in the Rain (1952), 103 min, MGM

Gene Kelly (Lockwood) & Jean Hagen (Lina Lamont) in Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Jean Dujardin (Valentin) & Missi Pyle (Constance) in The Artist (2011)

Gene Kelly & Debbie Reynolds (Kathy Selden) in Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Bérénice Bejo (Peppy Miller) & Malcolm McDowell in The Artist (2011)

Donald O'Conner (Cosmo Brown), Debbie Reynolds & Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain (1952)

So much for America's Team!

NY Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz runs 70 yards for a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys (Barton Silverman/The New York Times)

I get fed up by the self proclaimed nickname the Dallas Cowboys gave themselves being America's Team. Since when Texas became the whole United States? Anyway, I'm glad they are missing the playoffs for the second season in a row! New York Giants showed tonight great football. I personally didn't care, I'm not a Giants fan, but as long as they did beat Dallas, I was all for them tonight.

Final score: Giants 31, Cowboys 14 

New York Giants Logo

Dallas Cowboys Logo

With this victory the Giants clinch the NFC East division title and a spot in the playoffs. They seem to peak at the right time with consecutive wins over the New York Jets on week 16 and this dramatic finale of the NFC East playoff spot. The first opponent to the Giants will be the Atlanta Falcons @ Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. The rest of the playoff teams of the 2011 season can be found on NFL website. It should be fun!

Happy New Year / Bonne Année