India is Hip

Hip replacements in India?

Now, that I didn't know.

It is rare that I actually learn a new thing reading the paper.

Mostly, I react to the news.

But in today's massive Health issue of the Sun, I actually was surprised to learn how many BC people are flying to India to pay for private surgeries.

Why not sue Gordon Campbell and Stephen Harper for re-imbursement?

Hollywood North is, of course, A Cruel Ilusion

The local press loves to wax rhapsodic about all the great successes of the local movie industry.

But no one that I know has gotten below the shimmering surface of this nonsense.

It is difficult to get excited by Brightlight's announcement that they made $100 Million on one of their recent, desperately bad projects.

Yes, millions of dollars flow into the local economy and that's a good thing.

Thousands of truck drivers, caterers, cab drivers, costumers find work.

But let me tell you the truth about Vancouver actors.

The best of the best are starving.

Most Vancouver film and television actors, even those with long and exemplary resumes in the Biz, get little work. And the work they do find is tragically underpaid.

Brightlight and other local companies have been paying actors 25% below scale and getting away with it for years. "Small budget," is what they'll cry in their notes to agents and actors.

And, if longshoremen and city garbage collectors had a union like the one that pretends to take care of local actors, they'd all do a Jimmy Hoffa right soon.

I know of at least half a dozen actors who have said, "Thanks, folks, that's all." Most have moved on to completely different careers where they are, oddly enough, well paid and treated like human beings and not necessary evils.

The next time you read about Hollywood North, just remember that reading either a press release or a Valentine from a newspaper writer who is just blindly sick with love for Show Biz.

The poor sap.

The Guilty were Always Known. JUst Couldn't Close the Case - Air India Revisited

It's always reassuring to learn that what we knew all along is what we knew all along.

Thus, how happy and relieved are we to learn that a retired CSIS agent (More! More! Retirement suits this gang.) confirms that everyone knew from the first day that the Maliks and Bagris were the lunatics who murdered 331 people in the Air India massacres.

Little catch. Couldn't prove it.

Yes, we noticed.

$50 Million of courtroom and trail and heartache later.

What an invitation this case must be for all the bombers-in-waiting.

"Hey, come to Canada. You can blow up hundreds of people, and their police are so stupid, even if you're caught with detonators in your hand, they'll believe you were on your way to your daughter's Halloween party. Hahahahaha."

Any Cost Overruns on Anything is OK for 2010

From the day it was announced, we denounced the new Trade and Convention Centre expansion, knowing instinctively that the projected costs were as real as the Wizard of Oz.

Vaughn Palmer's coverage today details (the devil is in the details) the sheer incompetence and running comedy of this sideshow.

Here are two highlights:

"The Liberals...began building the foundation before designs were complete for the upper floors."

"They also budgeted for "know unknowns" and unknown unknowns."

Now, only satirists and science fiction writers can come up with stuff like that. But no, it's award winning Gordon Campbell, whose TV show, Uncle Gordo, kept children around the world howling for so many years. Remember the big floppy feet and the red rubber nose? Hahaha, weren't they great?

Of course, now that the costs have doubled - yes, doubled - we can all sit back and admit what we knew all along.

The machinery that drives almost all public policy in this province has 5 rings and some artificial snow. It's called the 2010 Olympics.

Campbell will do, push, shove almost anything to get his party to be lots of fun.

Lucky us.

Iraq is a Criminal Activity

For the sheer criminality of Blackwater in Iraq, watch this astonishing NY Times video report.

If America had any honour, it would have pulled Blackwater and similar rogue mercenaries out of there weeks ago.

But that's some if.

If my aunt had balls, she'd be at Wimbledon .

The Law is an Ass

In the continuing coverage of the Massacre in the Surrey Apartment, two items stand out:

1) Solicitor-General John Les says, "We need to re-invigorate the notion of deterrence in the criminal justice system."

Duh, John?

Every reasonable Canadian has been saying exactly this since the Federal Government some two decades ago changed all focus in sentencing to the rehabilitation of the crook and threw out almost entirely any concern for the safety of the community.

So, now that you've caught up with the rest of us, John, watcha doing about it, Mate?

Of course, we know this was only another foto op and not a serious consideration. What happened, Sir? Run out of Booster Seats?

2) The ever predictable, horribly over-quoted SFU prof, Neil Boyd, says that Les' remarks are "hasty and ill-considered." He adds that putting people in jail longer is not a good idea.

What a hopeless over-simplification.

The truth is that putting petty criminals in jail for long periods of time or even short ones is often the dumbest thing we could do. There are many alternate choices and we can find many more for these sorry souls.

BUT, for the Gun People, the serious dedicated murdering criminals who have a committed set of anti-social values, long-term prison sentences are exactly appropriate. For them and for me and for you.

You're looking for rehabilitation for guys who execute 6 people in an apartment? Huh?

Does anyone have any sense anymore?

When the AG Lies, Where is Law?

What order of law can you expect when the top cop in the land is a bold-faced liar?

Attorney-General Wally Opaque tells the press gallery that he didn't go near the Booster Seats and certainly never had a foto op with the little devils.

But there on his website is a foto of the Honorable Member handing out one such Booster Seat, plus 20 more, plus his own personal message of Good Will: "The government has provided these seats, etc, yadda, yadda, blah, blah..."

This is what we used to call back in grade three - lying.

I said it yesterday. I say it again. These folks are so bush.

Blame the Judges for 2 Innocent Deaths

In the story about 6 people killed in the Surrey apartment, there is one glaringly obvious factor which is not getting enough attention.

The four now assassinated petty criminals who were the targets of this mayhem were all "known to the police."

That's a too, too polite way of saying that, although they were all under 22 years of age, they had all been arrested and charged many, many times for many, many crimes, including the use of firearms.

So, why were they living Scott free in an apartment in Surrey? Why were they not in one of our illustrious Canadian penitentiaries where they so obviously belonged?

Two completely innocent citizens were murdered in this massacre.

I would argue that the lives and deaths of those two innocent men hang over the heads of the judges and courts who failed the community by not sending these criminals to prison.

Now, Wally Opaque isn't going to do anything, we know that.

And when Stephen Harper talks about getting tough on crime, he is demonized by the snivelling classes.

Is there any such thing as an Honorable Politican?

Politics is losing much of its fascination for me.

It has become so transparently a mug's game, a slime ball's home turf.

The Booster B.C. fiasco is the latest example.

2000 child booster car seats "given" (paid for by your tax dollars) to needy families. Sounds good. maybe.

Until you realize that they were all given by Liberals, each of whom rushed to the foto op.

Minister of State for Childcare, Linda Reid, who as we all know is doing such a remarkable job, said, "There's no politics in booster seats."

Except that no NDP ridings got them.

Buying votes by kissing babies is so bush.

Who $tole the E$$? Watch your E$$!

Did you all notice the day when Spanish Banks became Spanish Bank?

Well, thanks to an old friend of mine, the "s" is back!

This hysterical story is a textbook classic illustration of bureaucratic idiocy and money wasting.

Thanks to Robert Werner for bringing it to my attention.

Everybody Hates Him

And speaking of The Nutty Mayor, I was at a fundraising lunch on Sunday at a Big Hotel, and His Hatefulness was there, madly trying to be cute and charming.

What was interesting and encouraging was that, from a vocal and demonstrative crowd, he got decidedly lukewarm reactions and that Giusseppe, the banker sitting next to me said, "I don't like this man. It's all about Sam. He is dishonest and completely self-involved."

Gosh, I couldn't have put it better myself.

It is good to see that everyone has now seen through the mask.

Kenny Rogers for Mayor

The only "Sunset Clause" this city needs is the one that sends Councillor Kim Capripnats off into the sunset.

This genius says we don't want to close down housing. We want the housing manged in a certain way.

Since when is City Hall in the business of managing housing. You pass the laws and you enforce them.

Oh, sorry, I forgot, you don't like enforcing anything because it isn't nice.

The apartment buildings that are basically clubhouses for drug deals and other acts of lunacy will continue to thrive, despite the desperate please of neighbours for a little peace in the hood.

May we introduce City Hall to that great American cornerstone of philosophical deliberation, one Kenny Rogers, who once famously said (sang), "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, when to walk away..."

Gimme Another $200 BILLION for Iraq

The Iraq War is a corrupt well, down which billions of American taxpayers dollars are poured for corrupt contractors of every kind. It's a gold mine in revenues made, lost, hidden, diverted and overcharged.

However, Bush is now asking for an additional $200BILLION. This is the same man who just vetoed health insurance for children.

Yet, curiously, maddeningly, there are millions of Americans who believe that Bush is wonderful.

A story beyond comprehension.

American Mini-Portrait

An off-duty NY police officer shoots and kills someone with his 9mm Glock in an act of road rage.

This story is tragic, telling, a microcosm, terrifying and a commentary on way too many things.

But, hey, don't tell us we have a gun problem.

Victor Straddles the Cultures and finds VANOC Pathetic

Hey Mensch:

I was watching the Olympic television special last night, a joint celebratory production between VANOC and Beijing Olympic organizers staged in Vancouver. As it happened , I was watching it with Chinese friends. Here were some of the groaners.

1.Absurd Comparisons:

John Furlong, in his insipid style, said Vancouver and Beijing were kindred spirits because they are both ( ready for this) "emerging cities.' My guests were astonished.

Earth to Furlong. Beijing is not emerging. It is a dazzling city of 14 million people that has been around for 3000 years. Vancouver is neither dazzling nor a city. It is a town of 600,000 with a nice view that is emerging from being Canada's largest lumber town.

2. The Drum Competition.

Five precision Chinese drummers performed a synchronized session on ancient drums complete with acrobatic flourishes. One First Nation drummer banged a single drum with monotonous repetition.

Earth to First Nations. Before 2010, practice. A lot. Your drum show is rather bleak by comparison.

3. Dodging the Multicultural Bullet.

Mercifully, the Vancouver contingent did not not trot out the usual contingent of "multicultural performers" which usually consists of young people in unrecognizable costumes, running aimlessly around stage to the strains of a tuneless composition. We would have looked ridiculous because the Chinese show included several splendid acts by Chinese minorities.

Earth to Canadian Multicultural Braggarts. China has over 50 cultural minorities. They all have distinct identities. They are not hyphenated. They have not moved to China in the last 100 years or so. Don't try to play the multicultural card with the Chinese. They'll laugh.

4. The Entertainment Gap.

The Chinese brought in household name entertainers from the Mainland and Taiwan. Thousands of Chinese guests in the audience, as well as my guests, sang along with these familiar songs. Canada's entertainers were a couple of unknowns including a bimbo sporting a crotch level dress and trucker tattoos who felt obliged to tell the audience that the olympics were "about peace." Yeah dude.

Earth to Booking Folks:
Go for quality and dignity.

cheers

Canada Line Devastation Exposed in Hard Numbers

This is the CFIB report on Construction Destruction along the Canada Line.
Irrefutable statistics of loss and hardship that point to immediate action to compensate the businesses.

Susan

Hello,
As you may recall, you participated in a survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) on the impact that the Canada Line Construction is having on your business. Ninety-two businesses completed the survey from all along the Line.
We have released the results of the survey on Monday October 22nd. Here are some of the highlights:
- The average business owner has been at the current location for 11 years and has 6 employees.
- 74 per cent of businesses have seen a sales decrease. The average business along the Line is reporting a loss of $111,927.57.
- 37 per cent of businesses have had to downsize staff of an average of 2.8 employees.
- 74 per cent of businesses have depended on loyal customers to stay open, while 33 per cent have had to take our loans.
- Only 28 per cent expect the Canada Line to be beneficial to their business, while 46 aren’t sure and 26 per cent say it won’t benefit their business.
- 73 per cent of businesses are unsatisfied with consultations with businesses prior to the construction, and 84 per cent are dissatisfied with current support for businesses.
- 88 per cent of businesses say that a property tax rebate would be helpful or somewhat helpful for them to survive the construction.
The full report is available at: http://www.cfib.ca/research/reports/rr3041.pdf

We are expecting that the media will be looking for small businesses to tell their story. If you are willing for the media to contact you, please let us know and we will pass along your contact information accordingly.
Thank you very much for having taken the time to help us better understand the impact that the Canada Line is having on your business and help us make recommendations that reflect your perspective and experience.

Sincerely,
Heather TilleyPolicy Analyst, BC

The Corruption$ of the Iraq War in the Billion$

NY Times writer, Frank Rich, has written a very comprehensive and damning piece about the depth of American corruption in the Iraq war. I spoken on this site often about this isse, but Mr. Rich nails it.

A regular commentator has suggested the piece. The devil is in the details.

When Will My $20 Book Cost $20?

It's not often I will agree with an agent of the Government.

But when Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says that he would like to see retailers reflect the strength of the Canadian dollar in their pricing, of course, I'm cheering him on.

I am still waiting for a paperback book that costs $17.50 US to stop costing $23.95 CAN.

Waiting, but not holding my breath.

Happy Talk, Keep Talking Happy Talk

You'll forgive my dark and morbid sense of humor, but I thought this morning's report that having happy thoughts doesn't cure cancer was long overdue.

Of course, when we are faced with mortality -as we actually are every day, if we want to think about it - the idea that I can will myself or yoga myself into good health is no doubt comforting.

But cancer is cancer and cancer could clearly care less about the mood I'm in or which sack cloth and ashes or summer hat I choose.

On the other hand, there is no question that meditation, hypnosis, group support, flowers, walks, swimming and especially companionship, love and friendship can make our leaving of this world less painful, anxious and miserable. Happy really is better.

So do not dismiss all the happy therapies. They are invaluable; they just won't keep you around any longer.

Norah Jones Live Dont Know Why