According to the report, the US military failed to keep records of some 87,000 pistols, combat rifles, mortars, and similar weapons sent to Afghanistan between 2004 and 2008. On top of that, it also failed to properly track some 135,000 weapons gifted Afghan Security Forces by over 20 different nations.

Afghan society remains one of the most heavily armed on earth, with a black market that thrives off the arms trade. Afghan Police forces are also routinely accused of selling weapons and ammunition to the Taliban.

This comes prior to the release of information attained under freedom of information laws by Amnesty International, the Centre for Constitutional Rights, and the Centre for Human Rights and Global Justice that confirms that the Department of Defense was complicit in the CIA's ghost rendition program...

"The groups received about 1000 documents from Defence out of more than 12,000 that have been identified as coming within their request but which are still being withheld by agencies including the CIA and the Department of Justice.

The groups said these documents confirm the existence of secret prisons at Bagram and in Iraq; affirm the Defence Department's co-operation with the CIA's "ghost" detention program; and show one case where Defence sought to delay the release of Guantanamo prisoners who were scheduled to be sent home by a month and a half in order to avoid bad press.

The document from the transport division recommended "hold(ing) off on return flights for 45 days or so until things die down. Otherwise we are likely to have hero's welcomes awaiting the detainees when they arrive."

The email also recommended transfer in a smaller, more discreet plane. Around that time a UN report on Guantanamo had been released.

The groups said the documents also revealed that Defence had a policy not to register prisoners with the Red Cross for 14 days and sometimes for 30 days in the interests of collecting intelligence and that this policy was known to the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

First, I want to make clear that I completely understand the attraction of playing during the games and am certainly not suggesting that any Canadian artist or group pass up the opportunity to gain exposure by doing so. That said, and as many of you are aware, the payout involved in such appearances is commonly significant, especially for those of you that command large fees. Thus, what I am about to suggest might not sit well with some of you, or those that represent you that receive percentages of your earnings, but it is something that I am nonetheless compelled to advocate.

The idea is simple. If you agree to perform at the games, and will be receiving a fee to do so, that you donate your earnings to one of Vancouver's numerous charities in a show of solidarity. Again, I am not suggesting that anyone boycott playing during the games, only that any monies received be donated to various community programs to help those in Vancouver, and British Columbia, that will be adversely affected by the long-term economic ramifications.

As a life-long resident of Metro Vancouver I have been opposed to the games since the bidding process, and have written about the issue on my website and elsewhere for some time, including a recent piece for The Guardian's 'Comment Is Free' section.

All of that said, as an artist that has enjoyed the overwhelming support of the people of British Columbia for some 16 years, I think it in the best interest of all Canadian artists to remember that fans, be they here or elsewhere, are the ones that provide us with the opportunity to make a living doing what we do, and that to capitalize on what will assuredly become a massive Provincial tax burden is somewhat of a slap in the face to many in these economically challenging times.

I sincerely hope that some of you will seriously take this proposal into consideration. If you wish to participate, please feel free to contact me directly at matt@matthewgood.org.

My very best,
Matthew Good

"Two people were arrested Thursday in connection with what was believed to be a targeted shooting at a home in the 2400-block of North Road, just off Como Lake Avenue in Burnaby.

The shooting happened at 2:15 p.m. and two suspects fled in a stolen car that was later stopped by Port Moody Police officers near Coquitlam Centre mall. The occupants of the car were taken into custody by Coquitlam RCMP.

Burnaby RCMP took into custody two people who lived in the home where the shooting took place and another person, who may be injured, was still being sought at deadline Thursday.

The shooting has shaken the Burquitlam neighbourhood.

Residents around the home reported hearing six shots, a pause, and then "bang, bang, bang" before two cars sped off.

"It's crazy. It's every day now," said a young man who lives close by and wouldn't give his name.

He was outside his home, talking to a neighbour when the shots were fired.

"We looked at each other and said, 'That's gunfire, not firecrackers.' And we called the cops."

Vancouver police also found the body of a gunshot victim in the basement of a house in the 3100 block of Nanaimo Street yesterday after shots were reported.

I have also just been informed that gunfire has been reported in the downtown core this evening.

As always, you can play along at home using the CBC's interactive Metro Vancouver homicide map.

Take a look.

Or is that sort of thinking only limited to Christmas time?

"Police say the shootout took place on 86th Avenue near 200th Street [in Langley] around 3:45 a.m. PT, not far from the IGA parking lot where Kevin LeClair was killed by two gunmen on Friday.

Staff at the gas station said about half a dozen shots were fired as two vehicles circled the gas pumps in a cat-and-mouse game before heading across the street to the Tim Hortons parking lot.

Police found an empty black Ford truck at the scene with bullet holes in the door, but there was no blood inside. They said one shot may have hit the engine, stopping the truck.

Officers said a check of local hospitals turned up no victims from the shootout."