Wednesday, February 27, 2008
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
Monday, February 25, 2008
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?
Friday, February 22, 2008
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.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
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.
Blowing LOud, Blowing Long
Congratulations to the RCMP.
Appalled as most of us were with InJustice Catherine Bruce's dismissal of charges against a pot grower because the cops didn't knock loud enough or long enough to give the miscreant time to flush or burn, this time the RCMP blew their car siren before blowing down the front door.
The Vietnamese immigrant/refugees were all hiding in the atttic of their multi-million Surrey dollar home that was curiously full of illegal drugs.
Yah, I know. If only we'd get smart and legalize, blah, blah, blah.
Have another doob and call back in an hour, will ya?
Support from Hell
King George has endorsed The Nutty Mayor.
Thank you, Mr. P. You have just about guaranteed a new mayor for the city.
We trust Sam will enjoy his wonderful new appointment to the UN or the Olympics or Disneyland.
Please also note that in the NPA's brilliant polling job, they forgot to ask the question, "What do you think of the mayor's performance?"
Well, here's my polling question, "What do you think of the NPA's nomination process?
Thank you, Mr. P. You have just about guaranteed a new mayor for the city.
We trust Sam will enjoy his wonderful new appointment to the UN or the Olympics or Disneyland.
Please also note that in the NPA's brilliant polling job, they forgot to ask the question, "What do you think of the mayor's performance?"
Well, here's my polling question, "What do you think of the NPA's nomination process?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
