$110 Million for research Instead of Action is a federal crime

The Federal government is giving something called the Mental Health Commission of Canada (GOD HELP US!!!) $110 million dollars for five research projects across the country. This will be to determine the "best treatments" for people with drug addictions and mental problems.

$110 million dollars.

For research.

Don't you get it, kids?

Nothing will be done. All the money will go to "research." Doctors and professors will win contracts. The homeless and the addicted and the ill will continue to be homeless and addicted and ill.

Imagine me agreeing with the Portland Hotel Society about anything. But this morning they pointed out that you could but a lot of housing for $110 million.

Imagine $110 million going into housing and known existing treatments.

Don't you get it?

Here is THE RULE: WHEN YOU SEE A GOVERNMENT FUNDING RESEARCH FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN HARD SCIENCE, YOU ARE SEEING A GOVERNMENT THAT WILL NEVER ACT. It's a classic stalling technique.

NPA endorsing The Nutty One

Clarence Hansen is the Vancouver School Board Chair.

He's backing The Isolated One because he says that the man "has a vision for where he wants to take the city."

HAHAHAHAHA....WAIT....HAHAHAHAHA...

Who is this guy? Who elected him? What town is he living in? What year?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

I nominate Mr. Hansen for the Most Out of Touch With Reality Oscar.

Shirley MacLaine - I'm Still Here - Postcards From The Edge

Baaad Canada, Baaad Mexico

Something peculiar happened in the Hillary/Barak road show last night.

Both candidates were tripping over each others shoes to declare that NAFTA might be toast.

But, not because it was a bad deal or that it hurt its partners.

But, because apparently Canada and Mexico are the villains here and we must be brought into line.

It's comforting to know that even at the so-called highest levels, Americans are self-serving and self-involved.

Wake Us when it's Over Over

The Sleeper Budget.

Why only $5,000 a year in tax-free savings? Why not $10,000 0r $15,000?

More $ for students is a good thing, for Candu is not.

Torch the Torch.

Housing?

Zzzzzzz......

Province Leaves Children at Risk

There is no department of the Provincial government that is more consistently negligent in its duties than the Ministry of Children and Families.

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond has once again shone a beacon on this Ministries dreadful and often deadly incompetence.

Today she highlights the difficulties for parents of an intellectually limited child to find and secure services for the child.

Read this story, and then, do what I did a few months ago - write Tom Christensen, the Minister, and demand that he resign.

The Secret Life of Hospitals

Nadeem Ismail, the health care specialist for the Fraser Institute, has published a Hospital Report Card.

Whether you like the Fraser Institute or not, I can tell you that Ismail is a good and smart man, who does thorough work.

What a triple shame, therefore, that the information in his report, which is central to good delivery of health care, is missing a few simple details - thanks to your government.

The information is this - Which hospitals are we talking about? None are named because your Provincial Minister of Health wants it that way.

Your Provincial Minister of Health is George Abbott. Send the fellow an email and tell him that you'd like to know which hospitals near you are dangerous places.

William F. Buckley dead at 82

He wrote 55 books.

He was a fixture on the American political and broadcast scene for decades, a distinctive and unique voice.

Read the NY Times bio here.

The Expert on Bullying is The Preem

To the Editor

Re: Wear Pink to fight bullying - SUN Feb 26/08

My shop on Cambie Street is wearing shocking PINK.

Will the Premier be wearing pink to live up to his promise to "stand up forthose who become targets"? Will he practice what he preaches and support allthe families along the Canada Line?

The RAV/Canada Line project was relentlessly initiated, funded and driven byGordon Campbell and the Provincial Government. It is unconscionable that thevery survival of hundreds of livelihoods are in jeopardy due to thenegligence of the project to adequately mitigate the well known impacts ofthe chosen construction method.

They have not accepted responsibility fortheir complete lack of financial support for the small businesses, andturned a blind eye to the abuse we have had to endure for the past two yearsnow.

In other words - they have been bullies.

Our hard earned tax dollars simply burst from the Provincial stash for everywhim of the Premier, including the recently announced $30 million for whathe is calling "outreach and engagement" and "communications and education"to support his spontaneous climate action plan.

Where is the support for all the small businesses?

We have been forced tosacrifice our life's work so that this pet project of the Premier's getscompleted in time for the Olympics - regardless of the consequences.Is the Premier's Pink shirt a sign of hope for justice to finally happen? Oris it just another pretty photo op - and more window dressing?

Compensation was and still is, the right thing to do.

Susan HeyesIn the RED and losing our shirts on Cambie Street604 687-0721

About the Province Column

I appreciate people asking about the inconsistent appearance of the Friday Province column.

Let me shelter behind the traditional "creative differences" defense.

The column is expected to be there this Friday, Leap Day, the 29th and then continue once every two weeks.

About the Oscars

Only two points.

When the first 79 Best Pictures flew by, a disturbing trend was clear. Lawrence of Arabia, The Godfather and so on, year after year, great, unforgettable, timeless movie classics. Until a few years ago, when suddenly the Best Pictures were third rate crap. Witness last year's "The Departed."

Thus, "No Country," in which the Coen Brothers cannibalized their own best work, "Fargo," and left us with drek, takes home the prize.

Second point.

Isn't it about time to discontinue the Best Song category?

This is a prize that made great sense when Hollywood was not only making musicals, but making great musicals and when toiling under the palm trees were the likes of Sammy Cahn, Johnny Mercer, George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin.

Every one of the nominated songs last night, as has been the case, for so many years now, was a flat dud that will not be on the charts, that no one will sing, that no one will buy. It's an embarrassment.

Families of Gangsters and Bombers

The front-page story in this morning's Sun is such a convoluted and terrifying tale you must read it yourself in its entirety.

Gangsters and terrorists apparently are best of friends, relatives or in fact the same people in this neck of the woods.

And our criminal justice system is doing What to respond to this?

Look Out! It's Tiger Time

Tiger Woods is better than ever. It's a thing to behold.

Pull up a TV set and enjoy.

Mack The Knife

GETAWAY

The blogger will be happily indisposed Saturday and Sunday.

Enjoy your weekend.

Kick a tire, eat a tomato, enter a spelling bee..

Shmoscars

Like you, I will watch the Oscars out of die-hard habit.

Like you, I will fidget, get more snacks, switch channels during commercials and acceptance speeches by teams of animators for Best Documentary Short Subject Dealing with World Iniquity to Which a Rich Person with a Beverly Hills Postal Code Can Attach herself, check the email in the next room and phone cousins in Latin American countries.

My measue of a Great Movie, or even a realy good one is simple. Staying power. Do I watch it again and again year after year?

Godfather I and II. Lawrence of Arabia, The Bandwagon, Funny Girl.

This year's crop is not so great.

No Country for Old Men is dreadful, pointlessly bloody rehash of the Coen Brothers' best work, Fargo. It is not even close to a good movie.

There Will be Blood is a curiosity that will be watched by seven people over the next decade.

Atonement, which won the BAFTA - British Academy Awards - last week is half a movie - the first half.

Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth is, as always, magnificent, but the movie is one of the owrst balls-ups ever made. No idea who anybody is or what they are doing or why. We turned off the DVD after 40 minutes.

The only guarantees are Javier bardem for best supporting actor and Daniel-Day Lewis for best actor, both deserved in two second rate movies.

A Chorus Line - One Singular Sensation

The race for the mayor's chair is getting busy and full of contestants and that's a good thing.

Peter Ladner, Gregor Robertson, The Nutty One, of course, Al De Genova, Raymond Louie (who will announce in days), Daffy Duck, Brigitte Bardot, Richard Branson and Ted Danson.

Quite a line-up.

The two Big Dailies posted editorials this morning agreeing with what we have been saying here for weeks. The NPA process has been anti-democratic.

What they don't say is what we have all been saying for some time now. The Nutty One must move on.

Who did I leave out?

Roger Clemens?

Your toss.

So Far, So Good

The federal goverrnment has followed through on 2 promises.

Last year they introduced the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights, and yesterday they appointed a taxpayers' ombudsman, Paul Dube, pictured right.

Both initiatives are welcome news.

What remains to be seen is if either policy has direct results in favour of ordinary people.

kd lang sings 'Bird On A Wire'

I prefer concert versions of songs like this great one of k.d. singing a Leonard Cohen classic rather than "videos" with clever shots of who-knows-what.

THANKS TO ALL

Yesterday, the Berner Blog went over 50,000 visits.

I realize that for some sites and blogs that's chump change. That some rack up 10 times that amount every day.

But I am thrilled that people have spent even a few moments reading or listening to these ramblings and posts and taking the time to comment over the past year.

Many thanks to you, and continued best wishes.