Moments to Savour

You gotta love Steven Hill, the great actor who played D.A. Adam Schiff in the original 200+ episodes pf NBC's "Law and Order."

And his writers.

It is a terrific example of writers writing in an actor's "voice."

In a repeat episode on Bravo this evening, the focus is on a neo-Nazi group.

When the news is given to Schiff that they killed "one of their own," he mutters dryly as only Hill could - "What's the matter? They run out of people to hate?"

Hill was a founding member of the Actor's Studio and, as such, knew and worked with Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and Gene Hackman before they became famous.

Only a wonderful actor with his wealth of personal and professional experience could turn that dire situation into an almost comedic moment.

Money Can't Buy me Love...or a seat in the House

Arthur Griffiths lost in the by-election yesterday.



What was Campbell thinking when he signed the original little-rich-kid-who-blows-the-family-fortune to the team?

ZAP! The Pawn Shop Windows are More Important than your Life, Buddy!

Another man has died after being tasered by the police.

This "incident" (murder?) took place in Edmonton yesterday.

I have an idea.

Why not have police carry swords.

Then they could just behead people who are causing a disturbance.

How have we slipped into this new mode of accepted savagery on the part of our police forces?

Aren't these people supposed to be experts at subduing the out-of-control folk?

A Name

RCMP officer Monty Robinson has been identified as the man facing impaired driving charges that resulted in the death of a motorcyclist on Saturday night in Delta.

Liz James on the RCMP

David: I think you know I am no bleeding-heart excuser of either this kind of behaviour, or of our pitiful excuse for a justice system. Despite that, or perhaps because of it, I do believe in the concept of innocence until guilt is proven. With respect to the Delta tragedy, there are a couple of items I'd like to know about possible contributing factors to the crash itself, before I render my citizen's sentence of "life" imprisonment on the officer for vehicular homicide: 1. What speed was each vehicle traveling at? 2. Did the jeep drift over into the oncoming lane because the officer was drunk, or was he trying to make a legitimate left-hand turn, misjudging the speed at which the motorcycle was traveling? 3. Where were the traffic lights in their sequence? or was it an uncontrolled intersection? 4. Were there, as the media has - inappropriately - leaked, children in the officer's jeep? 5. Despite the fact that the officer was returned to active duty, what has been his REAL state of mind since the airport tasering one year ago? Which leads me to the second subject... Thanks to a quick-thinking bystander, we all know what we saw on that airport video - pretty cut and dried. In my opinion, the officers moved in too quickly; no-one held back while insisting that an interpreter be found; and a man who was unarmed but for a piece of furniture was tasered to death. The single most disturbing sight for me, was that one officer stood looking down on a dying Robert Dziekanski, and matter-of-factly coiled up his equipment - not one of those officers attempted CPR. That seen and said, one of the most important questions I have wanted answered by the much-delayed hearings is this: Did ALL the officers make that ill-considered, split-second decision together to taser Mr. Dziekanski? Or did one or more demur but have their cautions over-ridden by a trigger-happy superior? It's happened before with both guns and tasers and, no doubt, it will happen again. If we just suppose for a moment that one RCMP member cautioned his fellow-officers to hold back from the tasering, but was over-ridden, and suppose, also, that he turned to drink to shut out the memories of that failure...while in no way would that excuse his impaired driving, it might just cause us to lay most of the blame on a system that we, ourselves, have tolerated for far too long...a system that, itself, has tolerated not only impaired driving by police officers, but which has also re-elected a premier who did likewise. No more than any other right-thinking person do I want to see EITHER investigation white-washed - but nor do I want to see a rush to judgment - on these or any other cases. As citizens, we have an important responsibility to carry out here. Every single one of us who is angry with the intolerable delays in our so-called justice system, needs to write or email Premier Campbell, copied to the Prime Minister and to Attorney-General Wally Oppal. We need to draw our line in the sand, with something like this: "Enough is enough! Mr. Premier. We don't care what you have to do to kick-into high gear on three investigations: 1. Basi-Virk 2. Robert Dziekanski 3. The Delta drunk-driving crash. Too bad if it spoils the lead up to Christmas for some politicians, judges and investigators. Too bad if it ruins your re-election plans. Just get on with it - NOW! Because we aren't going to stand for it any more." And we also need to pay attention to the fact that a renewal of the 2012 contract between the province and the RCMP, looks set to slide through Victoria's own non-stick system, with nary a peep from British Columbians. WE NEED TO WAKE UP, FOLKS. Last but not least - I could not end this piece without offering my condolences to Orion's family and friends...and also to RCMP officer Tim Shields whose genuine distress as he answered questions from the media must have been evident to all. Liz. J.

2010...or is it 20,100...or is it 2,100,000?

Day in and day out, Vaughn Palmer continues to be one of the very best newspaper columnists in the business. We're lucky to have him here.

In today's piece, Palmer skewers the administration for what apparently are blind costs when it comes to security for the Olympics.

It may be $200Million, it may be a Billion. Who can say?

Not the Finance Minister, apparently.

The cash may come from the province or the feds or Vancouver or Whistler or Richmond.

No matter how you cut it, it comes from your pocket, boys and girls.

It's called tax money.

So enjoy your 32 seconds of someone from Norway schushing down your hill.

Crimes Within Crimes

The following was sent to me by a friend who happens to be a police officer. At the bottom you will see his outraged comments. Below that, my own...

METRO VANCOUVER - One of the four RCMP officers involved in the Tasering of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski is facing charges of impaired driving causing death after a collision in Delta Saturday night.

However, Delta police - who are investigating the crash - have refused to identify the officer until he makes his first court appearance on Jan. 15 and is formally charged.

Orion Hutchinson, 21, was riding westbound on his motorcycle along Sixth Avenue around 10:20 p.m. Saturday when his bike collided with an east-bound Jeep at the intersection of Gilchrist.

Hutchinson, who was thrown from his bike, suffered traumatic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Jeep, an RCMP member, was transported to Delta police headquarters where, according to Delta police, he failed a breathalyser test.

The officer was released on a promise to appear in Surrey Provincial Court on Jan. 15, 2009.

Why do British Columbians have to suffer a police force that tolerates if not advocates this kind of behaviour?

This drunken shithead is sent home to chill after killing a second innocent victim while the horsemen are blockading the inquiry into why he killed Robert Dziekanski.

It's despicable. Fire the RCMP now.

Let me add...

It is always dreadful when some fool drives drunk. It is always worse when that selfish fool kills or injures another person.

How hideous that in this case the drunk driver is a police officer.

We appreciate that cops have a difficult stressful life, and we've seen enough bad movies to know that the line between cop and crook can be awfully thin at times...BUT...

Can we not expect some basics to hold?

You're a police officer. If anyone should know better, sir, it is you.

And, as for the squad around this sorry fellow who will release no information ....

and you wonder why the public has increasingly lost faith in you.

In the Wilderness

The video below is a sad commentary on the blindness of mankind.

A gay couple, no doubt offended by the opinions and declarations and politics of Sarah Palin, hang an effigy by the throat from their house.

They excuse their inexcusable behaviour by calling this atrocity "a joke."

Do they not know the history of their own country?

I don't like Sarah Palin either and I shudder when I see people enthralled by her.

But it would never occur to me for a second to do something this reckless.

What these two deluded fools are calling "a joke" is in fact a deeply angry act of hatred and hostility. And it is an incitement to violence.

Can they imagine if someone had done the same thing and called the hanging dummy "Mr. Fag?"

Not Bad Taste, Not Funny...Truly Sick

The Idea Machine

Nick Caumanns is an Independent candidate for school trustee in Surrey.

He says he's trying to spark new ideas.

Too bad his are all wet.

Nick wants to pass a law limiting homework for all those overburdened kids and their terribly stressed parents.

Nick also wants to pay teachers $500 to coach football teams.

Back to the lab, Nick.

But keep sending in all those cards and letters, Babe.

We hear ya...

My Vote

Carole James says she'll axe the (carbon) tax and raise the minimum wage to $10.

Works for me.

Oh Say Can You See?

The day after an eight-year old kills himself by firing an Uzi into his head at a gun show, we learn that in the land of the free and the home of the brave there is a principle -"Hard economic times always result in firearm sales. People buy firearms during periods of uncertainty."

And also, I suppose, take their children to gun shows and let them play with automatic rifles.

Americans are so enamored with their guns that many are still angry at the lefty, John McCain, because he actually had the temerity to support onerous gun-control measures such as requiring purchasers to undergo background checks. The commie bastard!

Did you see the report on The Daily Show last night with real Americans worrying themselves sick about the Muslim terrorist, Barack Obama?

This was just after the story broke last night about the wing-nuts who were organizing - if you can call their frat boy ineptitude "organizing" - an Obama assassination.

The greatest country in the world...excuse me...

Wherever you may travel today, stop, get down on your knees and thank whomever or whatever you may believe in that you are on Canadian soil at this time in history.

President McCain

President McCain

"We are winning the war in Iraq. We are winning the war in Aghanistan."

Proof positive that there are parallel universes at play.

All Quiet on the Western Front

For the second time this week, I have found next to nothing in the news that has caught my attention.

Perhaps the world is laying low.

Perhaps we need that.

To quote the wisdom of your supermarket checkout clerk,

(everyone together now)

"Have a nice day!"

One Good Story

There is not much good news in the financial or business sectors these days.

All the more welcome then the small piece in this morning's Province about YVR.

YVR Airport Services Ltd., a subsidiary of the Vancouver Airport Authority owned jointly by the airport authority and the infrastructure division of U.S. banking giant Citibank, is putting in the bid for Gatwick, London's second-largest airport.

YVR operates a number of large and small airports around the world and, in spite of the dreadful taser incident last year, remains a true local success story. I have been told by friends who know such things that YVR's management team is first rate.

Congrats!

I Put on My Make-up...

The B.C. government plans to spend $4.6 million to repair Robson Square's reflecting ponds in time for the 2010 Olympics.

Oy...

Have you been anywhere near Robson Square in the last 10 years?

Planning to be there soon?

Is Robson Square at all on your radar?

The King Of Priorities strikes again.

The End of the SUV?

General Motors, Driven to the Brink

Now, there's a headline.

Not too long ago, the SUV was the biggest single profit centre a car company ever had.

It is now, thank god, toast.

"What is clear is that Detroit, among its other miscues in recent years, particularly overindulged its romance with S.U.V.’s, leaving it tethered to a product line that may prove to be the industry’s undoing."

Read the whole story here and then bless your Smart Car, scooter or 2-door hatchback and keep lobbying for real transit in Vancouver.

Who knows?

Maybe someday it will arrive.

McCain Jumps into the Microwave ... in a silver paper suit

Frank Rich of the NY Times has written a fascinating editorial this morning on the self-destruction of the McCain campaign.

He says, among other things, that "Republican leaders have no idea what “real America” is."

The piece is called "In Defense of White Americans," and it's definitely a good read.

Six Degrees of Separation

O.K.

I've read my customary quota of newspapers.

Nothing. Zilch. Gornicht. Nyet. Cropotkin. Zero, bubula.

So, as a change-up...

Of late, I've been playing a lot of Six Degrees of Separation.

This is the mindless, time-wasting and way fun game of thinking how close you've come to serious celebrity.

Now, because of my years in broadcasting, I have already met some very interesting folk:

FEATURED INTERVIEWS

---

Oscar Winners Ginger Rogers Russell Crowe Faye Dunaway Sammy Cahn Shelley Winters Oscar Nominees Director Curtis Hanson Director James Bridges Tony Winner Carol Channing

Emmy Winners Dizzy Gillespie Betty Carter Tony Bennett John Denver Cleo Lane Smothers Brothers George Grunz Leiber & Stoller Law & Order's Michael Moriarty Steven Hill Exec Prod. Rene Balcer

The Best of the Rest

Joey Bishop Buddy Ebsen Frankie Lane Phyillis Diller Leslie Nielsen Tippi Hedren Stacy Keach Soupy Sales Brenda Vacarro Jane Russell

Paul Mercer Ellington Harry B. Stanton Harry Hamlin Robertson Davies Don Harron Peter Gzowski Bruno Gerussi Arthur Erickson Toller Cranston Murray Pezim Mordechai Richler

Prime Ministers
Premiers

And 1001 MP's, MLA's, social workers, mothers, doctors, lawyers and Indian Chiefs; Drug addicts, murderers, scoundrels and saints.

On public policy, education, health, justice, sports, food, sex, and rock 'n roll...

But wait - that's not the half of it.

Lately, I've been obsessing (What? You don't obsess? Come on, get real!) with near brushes with even more illustrious stars of the movie firmament.

For example:

Last night I was watching George Stephens' magnificent 1956 move of Edna Ferber's tale of Texas, "Giant."

Or as the Italian posters had it, "Il Gigante."

Starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean, the 3-hour epic was nominated for 10 Oscars, winning only for Stevens himself for best director.

An absolute piece of shit called "Around the World in 80 Days" won for Best Picture.

And look at who was in the running for Best Actor:

King and I, The (1956) - Yul Brynner
Other Nominees:
	Giant (1956) - James Dean (I) - This was James Dean's second consecutive posthumous nomination. Giant (1956) - Rock Hudson Lust for Life (1956) - Kirk Douglas (I) Richard III (1955) - Laurence Olivier

How's that for a list of actors and movies in one year?

Anyway...

Here's my ONE Degree of Separation.

Starring as Luz Benedict II was Carroll Baker. Her scene with James Dean in the empty restaurant is still considered an actor's workshop and there are many famous stories about what went on behind the cameras.

So...I had a long and delightful lunch in, of all places, Edmonton, with Carroll Baker some years ago when she was finishing a run of a play at the Stage West Dinner Theatre and I had just arrived for rehearsals for our 4-month run of "Tribute."

She was warm and charming and funny and we talked about that famous scene, among many other things.

So there's my One Degree of Separation from Liz Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean.

In the same cafe in the same setting under the same circumstances I had a similar lunch with Anne Francis, who, when she left Edmonton to return to California insisted that I take all her kitchen supplies to my apartment.

Anne Francis was a co-star in "Funny Girl," "Blackboard Jungle" and "Forbidden Planet."

Hence, my One Degree Of Separation from Barbra Streisand, Glenn Ford and Sidney Poitier and Walter Pidgeon, who appeared in both "Funny Girl" and Forbidden Planet."

Next time, I'll tell you about my One Degree of Separation from Marlon Brando - twice!