The Last Shred with Chris Johnston
We featured a story last month where Chris Johnston of the Nomads Enduro team went into the details of his “Un-Season”. Chris has had to go back in for some more surgery on his elbow to remove some scar tissue and excess bone that has formed around his original injury. Before he had to give up the bike for a while he went out and self-filmed his last ride on his iPhone and put together this little shred video.
How about that nose-wheelie to slashed corner?
Comments
Jason Van Horn
9 years, 1 month ago
I'm actually ok with that point. I'm happy to be addicted to riding my bike. Falling down occasionally is a small price to pay for a lifestyle that encourages rich life experiences, good healthy and happiness.
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nik saunders
9 years, 4 months ago
Hey Mike V, sorry your parents didn't pay enough attention to you as a child…. Don't take it out on us!
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PeterO
9 years, 4 months ago
WOW!! I have to comment just because this guy is clearly missing a few too many loam slashes out of his V-rut….. Where I come from this guy would be known as a gobshite!
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AndrewR
9 years, 4 months ago
Sorry Cam, I just realised that in letting my amazement at Mike Vandeman's vitriol get the better of me, I have responded to an off topic post and am thereby guilty of poor forum etiquette, namely 'thread hijack'. In penance I will ride at least two laps of my local single track.
To Chris, great riding as always, lovely to see you back on the bike at Crankworx and to have time to stop for a chat. Very amusing film credits. I hope that your clean up surgery goes well and you are back riding as soon as possible.
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Anthony Cadieux
9 years, 4 months ago
Hey MV, my girlfriend and I are coming to California in february for some mountain biking vacations. You seem to know pretty much all the good riding trails so I tought you could be the local guy we're looking for! Maybe we could stay at your place, have a some beer and talk about nature and stuff like that. You seem to be a good guy. Can you hook us up with your local trails and mountain biker friends? Thanks Mike! 🙂
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Bavaria 2.0
9 years, 4 months ago
OK. WHO LET THAT PSYCOPATHIC TROLL MV IN HERE?
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Bavaria 2.0
9 years, 4 months ago
He is mentally ill. Take pity on him, for he know not how sick he is.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Mountain bikers HATE freedom of speech. Maybe you would be more comfortable in China or North Korea.
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sHoffmann
9 years, 4 months ago
Wow, after reading the comments it's hard to tell if this guy is bat shit crazy or a playing a joke on us. Either way it's comical how someone can be so concerned and angry about how harmful bikes are to the environment when there are record amounts of pollution in the world and deforestation is going on. It seems like all your energy and hatred could be directed to something more important than tire marks and the occasional rut on a trail.
Oh and thanks for that awesome video you posted. It gets me in the mood to ride some more.
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Andy Eunson
9 years, 4 months ago
Oh my. Excellent diatribe Mr Vandeman. This is Canada sir. We do not want your opinions here. Seeing how well things are going in the USA, well I think we can do well to do the opposite of any US citizen.
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Rob Gretchen
9 years, 4 months ago
This whole discussion is absolutely surreal… can't believe one individual could harness so much hatred. Sad, very, very sad.
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Jonathan Harris
9 years, 4 months ago
I'm not quite sure what it was about this particular video inspired MV to grace us with his presence. There's been plenty of videos that he could have commented on.
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t.odd
9 years, 4 months ago
maybe Monica fired him a link, if only she would also chime in…..not
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t.odd
9 years, 4 months ago
I think I speak for everyone when I say, please just delete anything MV has to say, he's the ultimate troll and has nothing of any relevance to say that he hasn't already repeated thousands of times all over the internet.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Mountain bikers LOVE censorship. They would feel more at home in China or North Korea.
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t.odd
9 years, 4 months ago
get a new argument, you're a broken record that's been repeating the same tired lines, for decades.
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Pete Roggeman
9 years, 4 months ago
On the one hand, I agree. On the other, reading his froth-spewing rants makes me chuckle. Dude needs a hobby. As well as a new cause, because this one is really a losing battle.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1996: . It's dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don't have access to trails closed to bikes. They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else -- ON FOOT! Why isn't that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking….
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and that science supports that view. Of course, it's not true. To settle the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited, and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see ). I found that of the seven studies they cited, (1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2) in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.
Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them, but scientifically, they are worthless.
Mountain biking accelerates erosion, creates V-shaped ruts, kills small animals and plants on and next to the trail, drives wildlife and other trail users out of the area, and, worst of all, teaches kids that the rough treatment of nature is okay (it's NOT!). What's good about THAT?
To see exactly what harm mountain biking does to the land, watch this 5-minute video:
In addition to all of this, it is extremely dangerous: .
For more information: .
The common thread among those who want more recreation in our parks is total ignorance about and disinterest in the wildlife whose homes these parks are. Yes, if humans are the only beings that matter, it is simply a conflict among humans (but even then, allowing bikes on trails harms the MAJORITY of park users -- hikers and equestrians -- who can no longer safely and peacefully enjoy their parks).
The parks aren't gymnasiums or racetracks or even human playgrounds. They are WILDLIFE HABITAT, which is precisely why they are attractive to humans. Activities such as mountain biking, that destroy habitat, violate the charter of the parks.
Even kayaking and rafting, which give humans access to the entirety of a water body, prevent the wildlife that live there from making full use of their habitat, and should not be allowed. Of course those who think that only humans matter won't understand what I am talking about -- an indication of the sad state of our culture and educational system.
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SpaceBacon
9 years, 4 months ago
^^arent you in prison for assault with a deadly weapon?
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Just like a mountain biker -- wal-to-wall ignorance. Can you say "charge dismissed"?
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Cam McRae
9 years, 4 months ago
Just like the cop in Ferguson.
Maybe you should get behind a cause that is real - something that will make a difference in the world rather than this paranoid quest of yours that is based on lies you tell yourself. Perhaps poverty in your community, police brutality or the mess that is the US healthcare system.
Anyway - now that absolutely nobody is listening to you (didn't need to read a word because we've heard your refrigerator hum before) keep on spewing your ignorance and lies.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Sorry, mountain bikers have the monopoly on ignorance and lies. Everyone who knows anything about mountain biking knows that -- including the mountain bikers. Thanks for demonstrating that for the millionth time.
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Nouseforaname
9 years, 4 months ago
I was wondering where you'd been Mike; this is like a visit by royalty Cam! A peculiar, twisted, Game of Thrones type royalty. Nonetheless - royalty.
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Merwinn
9 years, 4 months ago
"mountain bikers have the monopoly on ignorance and lies"
Sounds surprisingly similar to the following 'truths' such as all Irish are drunks, all Scots are cheap, all Americans are violent gun nuts, all Germans are unfriendly, all Jews control wealth, all Muslims are terrorists, all lefties are communists…
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Those are all false. But I have 20+ years of experience with mountain bikers lying about mountain biking and critics of mountain biking. Everyone who knows mountain bikers knows that's true.
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JC Rolz
9 years, 4 months ago
Ugh. What a troll. Time to go ride my bike!
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Cam McRae
9 years, 4 months ago
I am so incredibly sad for you and for your family - anyone who has some sort of obligation to speak to you. I say this with sincerity - you really should get professional help. This blind obsession of yours is killing you. The hatred you spew is killing you.
You are misguided, delusional and completely wrong about this issue. The only people who put more energy into hate are members of the KKK.
Your whole spew about 'inanimate objects having no rights' is so clearly nonsensical a child could see through it. It's hard to imagine anyone taking you seriously. In fact it's hilarious. Shoes are also inanimate - should they be banned from natural areas? How about rocks? Saws used as weapons?
Equestrian traffic has been clearly shown to be far more damaging to natural terrain - but you don't oppose them. This exposes the ridiculousness of your witch hunt. And why bicycles and not motorcycles or ATVs? If your goal was in fact to preserve natural areas these would be a much more logical target - but why should we present logic in the face of insanity?
You have already been found guilty, sentenced to 30 days in an orange jumpsuit and placed on parole for three years. If that wasn't a wake up call nothing will be.
Please get help. This is a disorder - not a cause.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
You obviously don't know what you are talking about. Bikes have no rights, which is exactly why they can be banned. Horses are wildlife, and have the right to go wherever they want to.
The judge, knowing that the jurors were idiots, and that I was actually innocent, sentenced me to do something that I was already doing -- picking up trash.
You obviously don't know the difference between probation and parole, or that all charges were dismissed after less than 2 years.
Thanks for demonstrating just how dumb mountain bikers are.
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Cam McRae
9 years, 4 months ago
If it wasn't so tragic you'd be cracking me up. And your insults have no impact on me I'm afraid because we all know about you. Mountain bikers come from all walks of life, all colours and creeds, and some of us are more intelligent than others. While I may be on the lower end of the scale, your efforts to paint all of us with the same brush give further proof to the obvious - that you are suffering from a personality disorder.
This is an illness and I urge you to get treatment. There are therapies and medications that could help you - but you'll have to finally realize you need help before that can happen. I urge you to do so for your own good and for the good of everyone who comes into contact with you. Otherwise the next time you wear an orange jump suit it might be for a very long time.
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Merwinn
9 years, 4 months ago
He baits and waits, time and again. It's his M.O.
Obviously nature conservancy is his passion, but instead of trying to appeal to people about nature conservancy and sell it, he insults them. Bizarre. With an arrest record and such poor 'sales technique', respected org's like the Sierra Club undoubtedly keep him at arms length as he's a potential PR nightmare for any nature conservation group.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Mountain bikers paint THEMSELVES with the same brush, by repeatedly LYING, BREAKING THE LAW. INJURING THEMSELVES, AND INJURING OTHER PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. Your attempts to push the blame onto others will never work. Anyone with half a brain can see through your shenanigans. Yes, you ARE on the lower end of the intelligence spectrum, so you would be smarter to not open your mouth and demonstrate it.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
There is no way to appeal to mountain bikers on conservation, because their only interest is in gaining access for their bikes. That is your choice, and it has never wavered. That is the behavior of addicts. I'm not the only one who has tried to educate mountain bikers. No one has ever been successful. All you care about is shredding the natural environment, as often and as fast as possible. That's obvious to anyone who looks.
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Jason Van Horn
9 years, 1 month ago
So you admit you were sentenced. Doesn't that conflict with the claim you've made across numerous websites — and I quote "Charge Dismissed"?
Don't you get tired of cutting and pasting the same words on different websites all over the internet?
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tw
9 years, 4 months ago
Total area of Canada: 9,984,670 km²
Lots of room for everyone and everything.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Everyone, but not everything, luckily. Mountain bikers are such idiots!
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Pete Roggeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Nothing like going to a place where mountain bikers convene and trying to talk them out of something they love, Mike. If anything is idiotic, that would be it.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
So I should go where there are no mountain bikers? Now THAT is idiotic!
By the way, do you know the difference between love and ADDICTION? Addiction is where you do something that you know is harmful to yourself as well as others, but you are unable to stop.
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Clinton
9 years, 4 months ago
Mike, relax. Stop. Think for a minute. Is your only goal in life to get bikes off trails? Do you really believe that is your purpose? That is why you are here on earth?
This world is one jacked up place. Surely, you can find something more important to worry about…….than people riding bikes.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
In parks (which sane people actually care about), the number one source of harm is mountain biking. You are a class 1 idiot.
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Merwinn
9 years, 4 months ago
There are much more worth while causes to donate your time to instead of living with seemingly never-ending bitterness and anger. Life's too short to be unhappy. And If the unhappiness of others gives you joy, seek professional psychological help.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
There is no more worthy cause than wildlife conservation, which is in direct opposition to mountain biking. Unfortunately, there's no psychological help for mountain bikers' mendacity and addiction to self-mutilation.
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Jerry Willows
9 years, 4 months ago
Class act MV. You should check yourself into Riverview.
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Michael
9 years, 4 months ago
Human hypocrisy trundles on. Aren't you forgetting something important? Your city, and the roads you drive… were once habitat.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Thanks for demonstrating what mountain bikers are like: you change the subject, whenever mountain biking damage is discussed. No surprize there!
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Keith
9 years, 4 months ago
Mike, you are right there is an inherent risk involved with mountain biking. I read your webpage, and while I do love a nice hike, you need to understand that hiking is not a sport, but an activity. Sports have inherent risks. Folks who participate in sports think through that risk and make a calculated decision based on their own life to either participate or not. Personally, I am very glad that the mountain bikers I see (in the comments on this website and at the trailheads) generally come off as much more responsible people than you.
You can't just scream like a banshee and expect an entire health based industry to shut down. If you don't like dealing with bikes on the trail, GO HIKE IN WILDERNESS AREA OR SOMEWHERE WITH LESS FOLKS IN GENERAL. I think Cam is right, you do have a real problem. Maybe throwing your leg over an iron steed and spinning out some of the anger would be helpful?
The cyclists I know participate in a sport they love (not "are addicted to"). They are responsible trail users and are not punk kids seeking thrills and riding recklessly They ride trails in a calculated manner. As with every sport, there are sometimes unsavory run ins with other user groups. But maybe, just maybe, some of this may be due to the person whose lurking in the woods with a saw waiting to assault them. Mike, he ran into you? And your saw happened to slash him across the chest? Grow up, doesn't check out. Oh, and the charges got dropped? While, you have a reputation for being an asshole, maybe they just didn't want to deal with your ridiculous bullshit? If you claim to care about the environment as the backing behind this, you can't single out one user group like this.
I wanted to be nice like Cam and say you should get help, but honestly thats too hard a thing to do after looking into this.
Mike Vandeman - Kill yourself. If you don't do it soon, the robot apocalypse will be swift and precise.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Your death threat is duly noted and reported to law enforcement.
You aren't fooling anyone. NSMB is notorious for its illegal mountain biking, trail-building, and habitat destruction.
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t.odd
9 years, 4 months ago
asking you to kill yourself, while wholly inappropriate, does not equate to "death threat". Seriously, get help.
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Keith
9 years, 4 months ago
you are right t.odd, too far is too far. If Mike is just trolling, impressive show!
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Cam McRae
9 years, 4 months ago
While I agree that your request wasn't a death threat Mike, would you please either remove your post or edit that out? It's not appropriate and it gives him fuel. Thanks.
Mike Vandeman has been blacklisted so if he comes back it'll be another ID.
We LOVE censorship!
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Merwinn
9 years, 4 months ago
The real Mike Vandeman:
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Charge dismissed. It was all based on mountain bikers' lies, of course. No surprize there!
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
No. He ran into me while riding illegally, and blamed me. Typical dishonest mountain biker -- just like you.
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Merwinn
9 years, 4 months ago
I'm not debating the charge dismissal, I'm simply showing the Internet facts: what you are capable of and what you regularly engage in.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. If you believe what a mountain biker says about me, I have a bridge I'd like to sell you.
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Andre
9 years, 4 months ago
So he ran into you accidentally? But why the heck did you carry a saw on your obviously relaxing walk? To harm a tree???
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Yes. He tried to squeeze between three hikers without stopping, since he didn't want to hear about bikes not being allowed on that trail.
The saw was for removing French broom, an invasive exotic species.
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OT
9 years, 4 months ago
Many mountain bikers advocate for sustainable trail construction and maintenance. Also, any activity that brings more individuals in contact with wilderness areas also spreads awareness, which in turn affects the nature of human contact with these areas positively. Yes mountain biking can damage trails, but human contact with these areas is inevitable, and mountain biking in the long run brings in more individuals willing to find a solution to trail access and sustainability issues. Some of the most rational and considerate environmentalists I know are mountain bikers who strive to make the sport less damaging to wilderness areas by implementing sound trail building practices. We're not all bad.
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John Utah
9 years, 4 months ago
Hey FUKTARD get the fuck off this CANADIAN website and go shove your head up your ass.
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Brian Banta
9 years, 4 months ago
Mike you may make a point, have the writing skills and knowledge to put forth a solid argument but if there's anything you have to learn about arguing something, it's not to name call the opposition. Your comments on your post are constantly name calling and belittling to mountain bikers and so you lose credibility right there. Also you site a website that is written by you, which does site its sources, but never the less if you want to make an argument, then don't site yourself. While I respect that you have your own opinion, you're not putting yourself and your opinion forward in a way that is going to be respected. Also this isn't the place for posting stuff like this, it's a mountain bike website after all and if you're just in it to get a rise out of people, you also lose all credibility.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
I just tell the truth. You are the ones that lack credibility, because you utterly refuse to do that. I don't need to "get a rise". That is child's play. I don't "name call". I only use words because they FIT! If you don't like being called a "liar", then DON'T LIE! It's that simple.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
The only "assailant" was the mountain bikers who ran into me. That's why the charge was dismissed.
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Brian Banta
9 years, 4 months ago
Let me quote you Mike:
"Everyone, but not everything, luckily. Mountain bikers are such idiots!"
"Typical dishonest mountain biker -- just like you."
"In parks (which sane people actually care about), the number one source of harm is mountain biking. You are a class 1 idiot."
You've called mountain bikers idiots twice, directly attacked someone who has posted twice, and called all mountain bikers dishonest. That's name calling and it just doesn't work when trying to argue a point. I'd suggest you actually read what you're saying next time.
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Mike Vandeman
9 years, 4 months ago
Those are facts. You just didn't bother to check.
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Merwinn
9 years, 4 months ago
Personal opinion does not make for a fact.
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vinnyp43
9 years, 4 months ago
Man I love that video! Thanks for re-posting.
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AndrewR
9 years, 4 months ago
So that would be a judgement in a Federal Court that has no jurisdiction in Canada. So another ill considered retort really, a bit like everything that comes off your fingertips. And please learn to spell!! It is "surprise" or "surprised"; e.g. "I am surprised that you are not moderated off this forum permanently", regardless of which version of the English dictionary one uses.
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Charles Koehler
9 years, 4 months ago
Get a life buddy….
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WWkayaker
9 years, 4 months ago
Dear Douche bag shut up and go somewhere where people want to hear your lame Crap.
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