Comments for Law is Cool

Comment on 10 Things You Won’t Learn in Law School by Mimi

Mimi — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:21:09 +0000

Holy pedantic Marnie! Do you not know what Tim means? Yes? Then maybe get off your really high Encarta and let it go!

Comment on Do you have a right to marry a foreigner? by Omar Ha-Redeye

Omar Ha-Redeye — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:11:02 +0000

Thank you for sharing your experiences Mitch. You’re right - if it was that difficult for you, it would be probably much more challenging for others.

Comment on Police and the Internet by Grant Puddicombe

Grant Puddicombe — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:09:22 +0000

I am being harassed, and threatened all over my face book, and MSN. What can be done about this????

Law is Cool: It sounds like you’re asking for legal advice for a personal legal problem. We are not positioned to provide legal advice or legal information for specific cases on this site, but please do check out AdviceScene.

Comment on Do you have a right to marry a foreigner? by Mitch Kowalski

Mitch Kowalski — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:50:15 +0000

Omar,

As you may know, it took nearly 12 months for me to bring my wife over from the Philippines.

My experience with Mississauga CIC, where you make the initial filing was excellent, timely and professional.

The problem is located in the individual embassies or consulates.

Manila CIC was exceptionally incompetent and arrogant, in the handling of my wife’s file. This attitude runs right from the top of Manila CIC downwards. Because, yes, I did deal directly with the individual in charge in Manila CIC - who was unimpressive.

As a lawyer, I was able to complete the excessive amount of forms and collect the mountain of evidence (35 separate envelopes of materials) with only minor difficulties. But, God help the average person in completing this task alone.

Yet, despite my attention to detail, Manila CIC insisted that I was missing forms; until I had to point out why these forms were not needed. Apparently Manila CIC does not read its own instructions.

It seems to me that since embassies and consulates are located away from Canada, far from their superiors, CIC officials in these offices adopt a god-complex. They are the gatekeepers and can do as they please.

And, they are exceptionally risk-averse. As a result, the practice emerges that visas should be denied where there is the slightest hint of irregularity or problem, as it easier to deny, than to undertake a considered and careful examination.

The problem is not so much with the rules - as marriage fraud does take place and many of the questions asked do make sense - but with those who are charged with ensuring compliance.

Comment on Do you have a right to marry a foreigner? by John Magyar

John Magyar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:22:33 +0000

Based on the article, the system does appear to be failing with the result that some Canadian citizens are experiencing significant hardship. In a quasi-judicial process that permits appeals, it is my understanding that reasons must be given; and technically, the appeal process is recourse. If the process is slow, complex and opaque, and competent representation is expensive, then justice/fairness is a genuine concern … that’s probably what you mean. Your point is well-taken despite my quibbling with your choice of words (sorry, I couldn’t resist).

Comment on Mau Mau to sue the British Government by Ainsley Brown

Ainsley Brown — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:17:11 +0000

The particular passage that you have chosen to base your whole judgement was merely an illustration of the hypocrisy of individuals. The easy route is indeed to consign past injustices to the bin and stake claim to the current advanced state of the British society. However that would be to deny the very pillars that built the British society.
I would invite your comments on other aspects of the piece and more so any informed insights if existent

Comment on Mau Mau to sue the British Government by Alaska Brigades

Alaska Brigades — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:32:35 +0000

You said, “History appears to be relative as the World Cup win in 1966 is considered fresh enough to be brought up at every opportunity but atrocities committed six years earlier than the win are too far to be worth remembering.” I’d rip this to shreds, but you or your “editors” would just bowdlerize my reply or drag some stinky red herring across it. So just look at what you’ve written, and ask yourself if even you would hire your services, whether as counsel or comic! And then further demean yourself by saying “yes.”

Comment on The Post-Mortem Legal Battles of Michael Jackson by Fryreyesonly

Fryreyesonly — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:09:55 +0000

Hi there I just wanted to say I keep wondering the same thing, that Michael Jackson is alive and just needed out and couldnt take all the nasty attacks anymore, the presure the heat, the drama, the stress, the living up to what everyone wanted him to be in different personalities at different locations that he had to snap into along with making his body perform broken sore frail or not …keep dancing keep singing longer and longer until it just became too much along with the pull of wanting to just be with his children and be normal as he always said he wanted but never had as a kid - what he was doing to his own kids. We may never hear the end of what really happened…but many people have suggested yes he and his small group could have arranged a magical escape that looked like death. The way the stretcher was rammed, the movement of what ever was on the stretcher just didnt seem natural didnt give me the impression it was what we are to think it was. I would be so happy to hear he faked his own death, so very happy to hear he had a the surgery to replace his face with another and maybe not all is lost…its hard to believe that he’s truly gone with the reaction we hear and dont hear from the other celebrities, it’s like they lack emotion the brother seemed like he was reading an announcement he really didnt believe in…and his sister speaks of him as her brother as if he’s back home or back in india hiding out in the basement watching this all happen. There just seems to be an element of …planning and element of planned events speeches people at certain places then the staff were kept from going into the hospital along with many people …..how could all the security be planned so fast?? How could this all fall into place like it did so fast…security ambulance driving roughly, backing out of the driveway that looked like it was half a circle, the doctor disappears that has a bad past, has a bad record of suspension or his partner did….how on earth did that doctor get even close to Michael Jackson …all the events are like a movie script someone there has written and planned - just saying not wanting to sound silly but there are little things that seem to sound as if he is still alive some where. He had to exit, he had to through it all away for a normal life he always wanted in the normal sense…it’s possible with hearing of the new surgery of replacing a face, etc..and to hear that the grandmother is taking full custody of the children as if she’s filling in for Michael on a temporary basis…just saying.
Take a look at her age verses the care of the kids, would Michael risk his life risk his kids being devastated in loosing him as father….the kids and family he always wanted, you have to wonder would he risk his life to drugs. It just seems like his friends near and far are giving artificial reactions to the tv stations..not really genuine about his death but in on the final show as he said in one interview. Just putting this info out there …like it or not yes its possible it is Michael Jackson that is deceased,laying in the morgue……but even the phone call sounds weird and the phone line was not working…of all times then? Weird!

Comment on What country has the strongest civil liberties? by Liam Young

Liam Young — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:22:52 +0000

In answer to your question, we have a government made up of autocrats that are unable to respect the law of the land. Yes, we have moved forward in a number of areas, but we’re slipping back in most others:
1. voting (lowest turnouts, blurred landscape and differences between parties, lack of proportional representation);
2. media (one of the most tightly held media communities on the planet with excessive limitations to what we can see online or via TV);
3. growing police state (more than $50 billion spent per year on defense when we barely even have an army. Where is it all going?);
4. ineffective trade policies; gag orders on public information coming directly from the PMO.
5. No respect for small businesses.

Let’s face it: Canada is a banana republic backwater and we’re failing on most counts.

Comment on Is international law a legal system? by Pulat Yunusov

Pulat Yunusov — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:07:21 +0000

David, no, never had a chance. But I had math and logic training, and I like analytic jurisprudence.