Heath's Director

An excellent short piece in Newsweek from Christopher Nolan, the director of the new Batman movie on Heath Ledger. This was recommended by our commentor, Ronnie:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/105580

Back to the LIberals? Save us! Save us!

The Sun is on this morning about Stephen Harper's possible "secret agenda."

I neither like nor dislike Mr. Harper. I certainly have not leapt to autpilotly demonizing him because a)he is the prime Minister, b) he's a Conservative, c) he's a white, middle-aged slightly pudgy male (Although I do believe that makes him immediately qualified for News Anchor or talk show host.)

I think he is being a perfectly reasonable, dull manager of the state. Which is fine with me. Pay the bills and be quiet.

HOWEVER...

What am I supposed to do with this brilliant analysis of Harper? Run to the safe warm harbor and bosom of THE LIBERALS???

Does anyone in Editorial Land have a memory?

*** WARNING ***

The video posted below - Ornette Coleman - is not for the faint of heart or slow morning riser.

It is loud, it is pounding, it is jazz, it is Ornette, it is great.

Good luck.

Ornette Coleman 1980

Sex Offender Response

In response to this morning's blog post on Privacy and sex offenders, I received this comment from Craig Jones, who wrote the letter to The Province, mentioned in my posting.

Thanks for ths, Craig.

Comments: RE: your blog ...

From the same article on sex offenders:\

"But given that studies suggest the majority of convicted sex offenders do not re-offend (anywhere from 73 to 87 per cent), some deplore the attention paid to the minority of offenders who fail to readjust to lead crime-free lives.Research has also shown that the majority of sex crimes -- an estimated 77 per cent -- are committed by someone the victim knows.

All of this begs the question of how useful a sex-offender registry actually is.

To make matters worse, a two-year review of the registry, promised by Ottawa, has never been carried out.\"--Why, you wonder, has Ottawa not carried out the review of the sex offender registry?Because the evidence -- does evidence matter? -- from Canada and the U.S. shows that sex offender registries don\'t work.Why don\'t they work? The answer is above: \"an estimated 77 per cent (or >3 in 4) -- are committed by someone the victim knows.\"And the victims don\'t report.

We don\'t endorse what doesn\'t work to make communities safer and reduce victimization.

Show us something that actually works according to the EVIDENCE, not according to what feels good, and we\'ll look at it.

Sound reasonable?--

Craig Jones, Ph.D.,

Executive Director

The John Howard Society of Canada

VIctor on the Short & Nasty

This morning at 6 on the CBC news I heard a voice clip of Bill Clinton reacting to Hillary's loss in South Carolina. He said " Next week the real people of America will vote".

Real people? So is Bill calling the Blacks of South Carolina "sub human?" This from a man the media have called America's first "black"president.

This is shaping up to be a fun race. It has every possible prejudice at play: Romney-religion, McCain-age, Hillary-gender, Obama-colour, Gulliani-divorces.

Policy anyone?

Privacy Above All - The New Cornerstone of Democracy

On Friday, we posted an item here in which we described women who have the gall to call themselves mothers smuggle heroin, coke and meth into prisons for their loving husbands. The dope is hidden in their babies clothes ans strollers. Mothers of the Year.

The Matsqui guard who discovered one such poster Mother was chastised by his "superiors" (At what are they superior? Stupidity? Missing the Big Picture?) for violating the prisoners privacy rights.

Joey Thompson of the Province Wrote about this.

The result is a letter to the editor in today's Province from a John Howard Society worker, arguing that "prohibition" is the culprit here and that we have fought mightily for 500 years to gain privacy rights.

No doubt this letter writer and warrior for democracy will also be intrigued by the Province's front page story, "We've Lost Track of Sex Offenders."

The RCMP officer in charge of the so-called registry says, "the system is a total mess."

Look at some of the more salient points highlighted in this report:

1. Registration isn't mandatory. ???

2. Vacation without notification. Registered sex offenders have a right to a 2 week vacation without notifying authorities. Hahahahaha....we are completely mad...

3. No Proactive Use of the registry. Police cannot look at the registry unless a crime has been committed. Brilliant.

4. No offenders' vehicle registration allowed. Because, as we all know, most sex offenders like to walk.

I am sure that the John Howard letter writer will sleep more contentedly this evening gknowing that the privacyr ights of dangerous criminals are being upheld and honored.

The fact that more women and children have been raped and assaulted because of these absurdities shouldn't bother the good man a wink.

Grant's Law - Thanks to BC Fed

Grant's Law is now a reality.

Beginning next week, late night businesses in BC must ensure that there are at least two workers on shift from 10om to 6am or that solo workers have a locked barrier between themselves and customers.

Also, BC will be the first province to demand that customers at gas stations pay first before they pump gas.

All of this came about because Grant DePatie was killed trying to stop an idiot from stealing $12.30 worth of gas.

Full credit and kudos go to the BC Federation of Labour who have lobbied relentlessly for these changes.

The Mysteries of Heart Disease

"In clinical trials, researchers have been unable to generate compelling evidence that saturated fat in the diet causes heart disease."

This is but one of the startling sentences in an op-ed piece in this morning's N Times that questions entirely the role of Cholesterol on heart attacks, plaque build-up and blockages of the arteries.

This is of particular interest to me because I am one of millions who daily takes a statin drug to lower cholesterol. Many physicians today take statins simply as a preventative measure.

This article raises important questions without giving ready answers, but it is an excellent piece, well worth the read.

Susan's Best

Susan Heyes, enraged and lobbying-for-justice Cambie merchant, has written her best piece yet on the scummery of the Canada Line in a letter to Vaughn Palmer:

Re: Voice of BC with Falcon

I'm sure the show drew a lot of response, Vaughn. It reminded me of theTwilight Zone.

On Cutting Edge one morning, both you and Keith said to me that you haddoubts about whether the despicable way we have been treated on Cambie wouldhave any impact on the Fiberals or City at election time.It most certainly will.

Broadway has woken up to the realization that anyplan for their "disruption and inconvenience" are just guidelines, really,and once again, it's TransLink that will decide the scope of the plundering,er...project.And now Peter Ladner has a motion before Council to bore under the Broadwaybusinesses instead of plough them under. (Where was his concern for Cambie 3years ago?) This political gesture is certain to have no influencewhatsoever in the absolute rule enjoyed by the puppets atTransLink......kind of like Falcon's idea of "extensive publicannouncements, er....consultation".How are these circumstances possible in a democracy?

3 years ago I had hopethat with a few good people in public office standing firm for our rights,the coming perfect storm for business failure would be acknowledged - andthis known fatal hardship would be avoided or adequately mitigated.Shamefully, this did not happen.This bunch of publicly funded thugs have taken our tax money and willfullykilled our once successful independant family run shops and services; ourlife's work - month after month, year after struggling year. (Where is the2-3 months in front of any given shop, eh Jane?)

This has been life changing in many ways. Our stress is unimaginable. Thiswill not be forgotten.The eye of the hurricane is passing over Cambie now, and heading downBroadway - right in Clambull's front yard. There is visible devastation inits wake as a warning, unlike the happy spin and lies that preceeded theRAVaging of our neighbourhood by the RAV/Canada Line PR army.

I'm mad as hell. At 50, after working dilligently for TWENTY FIVE YEARS tobuild my successful business, and paying what amounts to MILLIONS in taxes -my own government just demolishes all my earned equity in these effortsalong with my plans for a secure retirement. I've nearly lost my house, forgawds sake! My financial future is in jeopardy, and what do we get from thelikes of Cambully and his bird of prey? "Piss off - it'll be great when itsdone. Quit yer whining - wish it was more like China here, where governmentworks in secret and has absolute power.....oh, wait a minute - we alreadydo."The human tragedy of the Canada Line is just beginning to be told, as moreand more desperate people cling to what's left of their dream ofself-employment and financial security.

This disaster was preventable, had anyone at any time in the lengthy processof approval, acted with integrity. They all knew what would happen when theydropped this bomb on our village, and they arrogantly GREEDILY went aheadanyway, with no factored in financial help for the small businesses. Toomuch profit at stake for the Province, and the project, and we were aperceived weak target and written off as collateral damage.And it's profits we're talking about here. SNC Lavalin's 3rd quarter reportshow profits up 63 million! Right out of our pockets. The Billions inProvincial surplus are largely fed by all the tax contributions made by thesmall business community and homeowners and employers who run them - but itis the big corporations and big developers who are enjoying the spoils.

Thisentire project was designed to capitalize on this man-made disaster, in theform of radical re-zoning and huge shocking re-development. The fix was infrom the start. We didn't stand a chance.

Sam Sullivan has said alot of shameful things in his embarrassing stint asmayor, but his recent remarks about how the Canada Line project was adecision of the "last administration" really has me wondering about hissanity. He was there. As a City Coucillor, he often voted against motionsfrom other coucillors cautioning to take another look at how to help thebusinesses and community. What a weasel. He looks down on all of us writhingin pain, and has done nothing but try to whitewash the whole mess with sparechange for pretty banners that future retailers will enjoy. To do somethingmeaningful might harm his cozy relationship with all the big developers ifhe interrupted the flow of their profits (and funding for his bid foranother term).

Vaughn, we're tired of all the 'you know what' being flung at our community.They better watch out - there's been a change in the wind. We're not backingoff our right to deserved financial compensation. And the much neededlegislation to ensure that this expropriation of our livelihoods neverhappens again.I'd love to see Falcon and Corrigan have a debate. But I think the Falcon ismore like a chicken!

Regards

Susan

Picture of the Day

Stand-Up Festival Here

Crooks and Liars has created a great new list - the 100 funniest stand-up comedians of all time.

What is especially great about this list is that each name contains a hyper-link to a video clip.

Here...go crazy, laugh your brains out.

ON TV

1. I hate simulcasting. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

Why can't I watch something on CBS or NBC, without suffering the interruptions, inanities and breaks in programming by CTV, Global or City, riding the CRTC-mandated and approved coattails of others?

How many times have we returned to a live sports event to find it is the second down in football, the second point in a tennis match or Tiger has already hit his tee shot and we get to watch Fred Funk?

2. Guilty Pleasure Category. For the first 5 years, I saw approximately 8 nano-seconds of American Idol. Wild horse couldn't draw me. Then the most peculiar thing happened. Last year, I watched the first episode of Season 6. I was hooked. Week after week, right through to the excruciatingly bad final, I sucked in every juicy bad taste moment.

I came to detest Paula and Randy and adore Simon. Don't ask.

But I have a question.

I know we are watching human train wrecks. I know there is something inherently and dreadfully fascinating about watching people disgrace themselves.

Still I don't understand the DELUSION the people exhibit. They can't sing one note, but they are convinced they can. It's like a mental illness. Is there a name for this? Melodius confoundentis syndrome?

3. Guilty Pleasure #2: Deal or No Deal. I have to almost not being able to watch this, which is a minor tragedy, because I think Howie Mandel is one of the funniest and most interesting performers in the business. And I like the basic gambling concept of the show.

But the agony enters when I watch people behaving like idiots and being played for suckers. Show after show, Greed and Vanity derail these sorry slobs.

Look, you enter the studio with nothing. Most of the contestants really have nothing, they are wanting entirely, no house, no money, colorful sob story and so on.

Now, they get an offer from the banker for $345,000. Say, 5 suitcases left, two one million dollar possibilities still out there. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? YOU'RE BEING A GIVEN A GIFT OF $345,000. GET OUT OF THERE!!!

I actually turn the TV off at that point because I can't take it.

Hahahahaha...You think I'm making this up, don't you?

4. Would CITY please stop that insipid Speakers' Corner feature? No doubt they get to count that as "Canadian content" to go with their pathetic 27 second news breaks. Of course, no body would watch anything on CITY were it not for...

simulcasting.

Full circle.

Out.

New Border "Blow-Thru" Lane

Speed is of the essence.

In sport, in business, in sex, in border crosssings...

I anxiously await the cartoons that will follow today's news story that a local hooker has been successfully smuggling dope, concealed in all the usual places, because she had cultivated a special relationship with a stupid, horny border guard.

The story from this morning's Sun is here, but where are the good jokes?

By the way, the guard often collected on his kindness in letting his smuggler friend breeze through the border by pausing for a few moments of gas station sex.

Gas Station Sex - now there's a whole category that demands an opera, a learned treatise and a government grant.

Roger...Please get a Coach

Roger Federer, the man chasing tennis history, the man many of us believe to be the best we've ever seen, lost in the semi-finals last night to Novak Djokovic.

All credit to the young Serb, who was magnificent, beating Federer in 3 sets.

Federer was gracious in defeat, acknowledging that "The Joker" was clearly the better player on that court on that day.

But he added a new thought during the post-match press conference.

“Of course I’ve created a monster, so I know I need to always win every tournament. But semis is still, you know, pretty good.”

I will return to my plea, posted here back in December.

Roger...get a coach!

It is true, he is great, wonderful, amazing, the best.

But even Roger needs a coach on hand to point out the thousand and one little steps and miscues that can creep into elite performance.

Please, get a coach, so I can witness history when you win your 13th, 14th and 15th Grand Slam titles.

With Djokovic, Tsonga and a few other young studs on the horizon, that achievement has suddenly become less assured.

From The Mail

Hello, Sir David

Very puzzling. Senator Larry has changed his mind about the need for a coroner's inquest into the death of Frank Paul. Of course, we all know very well by now that those who disagree with the illustrious Senator are 'morons'. We have the Senator's own word for it, so it must be true.
So, now that the esteemed Senator disagrees with himself, presumably he must now count himself amongst the 'morons'.

Probably a good thing when I consider it. ;-)


all the best

David in North Burnaby

FRIDAY'S PROVINCE COLUMN

Vision Party Vancouver City Councilor Raymond Louie has paid off his mortgage. Have you?

Louie is in his early 40’s. He has a wife and 3 kids. He’s a working stiff like you and me. When first elected to Council in 2002, he quite his job to dedicate himself full time to the business of running a government. All for $53,000 a year. His wife went back to work.

What does this tell us? The man’s got focus, determination and old-fashioned goals.

These are liabilities?

Oh. I forgot.

This is a town where the biggest score is spotting Jennifer Aniston eating a pickle. Cooks and Condo Kings are our most exemplary citizens.

In his two terms in office, Louie has been a director or member of 16 boards, corporations and committees, including three Translink boards.

The knock on Louie is that he always has a stack of reports in front of him at Council meetings. God forbid he should be informed.

“I was shocked to learn that some councilors have never cracked a binder,” says Louie. “I want to know what I’m voting on.”

His critics say he’s too dull to be mayor.

Where has excitement got us?

After two show biz mayors, we’ve gone from being a city with some drug addiction, mental illness and homelessness problems to being the world’s poster city for drug addiction, mental illness and homelessness. Lovely.

Mayor Larry Campbell was the sizzle, no doubt. But Raymond Louie was the steak. Together, they approved the Woodward’s development, which holds the promise of re-vitalization for the Downtown Eastside, while adding 200 social housing units.

Louie proposed five childcare centers in the new South East False Creek development, the space provided by the builders, the services run by non-profit. The NPA cut it down to three. He proposed support for the Cambie merchants devastated by the Canada Line in the form of interest free loans. Voted down.

If the gregarious Larry Campbell was the right mayor for Vancouver six years ago, when the city was vying for the Olympics, then maybe Raymond Louie is the right mayor for this era, when what we need is not bells and whistles, but bills paid.

Louie is smart and decent and hard working. He knows what makes 12th and Cambie tick. He believes he has tremendous support from the Chinese and Sikh communities. He and Gregor Robertson, the Vancouver-Fairview NDP MLA who the Vision Party is courting for a run at the Mayor’s chair, are speaking regularly. They are involved in a delicate dance of Who Goes First?

“It’s not about the grandeur of the position, says Louie, “it’s about the right direction for the city and winning a majority on Council.”

He’ll decide in a few weeks if he wants to be mayor or take another term as councilor.

Extremism of any kind is not in his gene pool. So he doesn’t smile and laugh as much as your favorite bar buddy. Maybe we could stand reasonable and well managed for 3 years.

If he runs for Mayor, I’ll vote for him.

Carrying Dope Into a Prison is a RIGHT

Let's see if we understand this correctly.

A Matsqui prison guard spots a baby stroller testing positive for cocaine. The stroller belongs to a baby and its wonderful, caring mother, who are smuggling dope into the joint for their wonderful caring father and husband.

The guard alerts the Children's Ministry - who we all know are the paragon of responsibility - of the situation.

Is he given a medal, a badge of honor or courage, a civic citation for protecting children and the public?

No.

He is was threatened with discipline by the prison authorities for BREACHING THE PRISONER'S PRIVACY!!!

So this is what civil liberties have brought us?

Jails now have more drugs per square inch than any street corner at Main and Hastings because we must respect the privacies of prison inmates, including, apparently, their god-given right to possess, use and sell illegal narcotics.

In a similar case, at the same perfectly run Nut House, another woman arrived twice with a baby and the two sweet things tested positive for coke, meth, smack and THC.

Last year, in Quebec a loving, caring mom and her 6 week old baby were found visiting a prison carrying 32 ounces of heroin...on the baby, of course.

I suppose if the baby could talk, he/she could say, "Hey, I didn't know that shit was in here!"

This, by the way, is an excellent picture of dope fiends.

The same, caring scum that the Mayor wants to give drugs to and everyone else wants to "help" with free needles and clean places to shoot.

Our society has flipped.

We are a turtle lying on its back.

Psychiatry is the Scourge of the Crimianl Justice System

The Province's cover story tell us just about all we need to know about how psychiatry is eating away at our criminal justice system.

A father stabs his teen-age daughter to death because he hears voices from God.

Of course, he is found unfit to stand trial.

The shrinks have 45 days to decide what we, the community, should do with him.

The defense lawyer says Daddy Daughter Killer will "require prolonged treatment and that will be in a secure institution."

First, show me the secure institution. Where is this exactly?

And second, is he just being cute when he speaks of "prolonged treatment?"

Does that hold out the delightful possibility that one day his handlers will declare that he is "cured" and is no longer a risk? I suppose if he's run out of daughters to kill, that would make him a good risk.

Rita Hayworth - Put The Blame On Mame

That's Glenn Ford panting in the crowd...from "Gilda," of course...