Thursday, February 4, 2010

Games Update


Just in case, I haven't been clear about this.

I do not believe.

Like most people, I love sport.

I am thrilled to see people running and jumping and diving and swimming and riding and skating and doing all manner of astonishing great things at super-human levels.

If there was a way to see these things without so much bullshit and groupthink and public monies being wasted, I'd be a much happier camper.

But, alas, that is not the way of the world.

I suppose I should just grow up and dummy up and love every corrupt moment.

Maybe not.

Here is the latest:

1. The Canada Pavilion at the Games, a square boxed pre-fab tent with no food or entertainment, cost $10.4 Million and, in a great act of patriotism (right up there with Danny William's surgery), was built by a Chicago company.

It is a hideous embarrassment.

Second only to the fake dark brown teepee that was the Canada Pavilion at an international exhibition I saw in Venice, Italy a few years ago.

2. VANOC - in spite of receiving millions of tax payers dollars - is not an extension of the government and therefore it is not bound to disclose a damn thing about how it spends money.

Many Games employees will be given substantial bonuses when the shouting dies down.

We, the paying public, will never know who and why and what and how much.

3. CTV makes all its money from an ancient ruling of the CRTC called "simulcasting."

The network shows us programs basically "stolen" or piggy-backed from ABC, CBS and NBC.

Inevitably, there are three second or ten-second delays. If it is a golf game, for example, we usually return from commercial just on time to see Tiger or Phil staring into the fog, trying to see where the little white dimpled thing went.

Nevertheless, CTV and other Canadian vampire networks have the gall to go on and on about how "Local TV Matters."

Hahahaha...

They hire pleasant stooges who look like nice people to tell us how important local TV is, even though CTV and Global and the others give us less local TV every day.

Last night I taped an American program and watched it a bit later.

That way I can zip through the commercials.

About 90 times, till I was ready to heave, I zipped through all those pudgy faced Canadians telling me "I believe."

They asked me even in fast motion if "I believe?"

Well, Steve Nash and Sarah and Sasha and cute little kids, here is my answer.

No.

I don't believe in jumping on your bandwagon.

If this is something you will enjoy, I champion your right to that enjoyment.

I'll read a book.

Or...wait...

Maybe I'll go to Italy...

Hm...there's an idea...

7 comments:

Keith said...

after the games, they could use the Canada Pavilion to house homeless people.

Anonymous said...

We were at the Q.E. last Saturday for a performance of Mahler -- at intermission we stood by a window across from the Canada Pavilion, only I didn't know it was the Canada Pavilion, I thought it was a service tent. I was corrected by my husband who also told me how very expensive it was, I really thought he was either kidding or misinformed. Sadly, neither was the case. The First Nations Pavilion, on the other hand, looked quite interesting from the outside.

Mo.

Leah said...

So that's the Canada pavilion huh? I'd say we taxpayers have been ripped off of about 9.9 million dollars - minimum!

That "thing" looks like an afterthought built on wooden apple crates, owned by people who can't afford to put up decent window coverings, so they used the Canadian flag to keep the nosy neighbours at bay.

In short, it's an embarrassment to Canadian architects and builders. It's an embarrassment to me! I'm glad I don't have to set foot in it.

Evil Eye said...

David, the feds paid $10 million for this farce! I thought Harper had business savvy, obviously not!

Who was the minister responsible for this? Harpo should give him/her the toss!

Oh no, this is Canada where incompetence is rewarded and due diligence is punished.

The real story is that Harpo's Conservatives, like the Liberals before, don't give a damn about BC and as always we get screwed over.

By the way, Gordo is rewarding Harpo for this bit of stupidity, by letting speak to the legislature. I guess its the only game in town as Harpo closed down his own gig in Ottawa!

Evil Eye said...

David, the feds paid $10 million for this farce! I thought Harper had business savvy, obviously not!

Who was the minister responsible for this? Harpo should give him/her the toss!

Oh no, this is Canada where incompetence is rewarded and due diligence is punished.

The real story is that Harpo's Conservatives, like the Liberals before, don't give a damn about BC and as always we get screwed over.

By the way, Gordo is rewarding Harpo for this bit of stupidity, by letting speak to the legislature. I guess its the only game in town as Harpo closed down his own gig in Ottawa!

Anonymous said...

David , at what point do the olymdick supporters say enough is enough.

This multi million dollar emberassment should be the last straw.

By the by the Britiash winter team is bankrupt so pass the hat.

We should start a list of who has gone belly up and award a medal to the biggest looser.
13

Gary L. said...

David, where do these Cost Figures come from? Is there a break down of the 10 million dollar figure somewhere? Anywhere?
It seems that more and more, we the Underwriters of "all things great", are recited a Cost amount, after the fact, and that's it.
I would LOVE to actually be informed as to what comprises the "10 million" for what appears to be a used car Auction tent.

Cheers