Sports Medicine?

THE LANGARA DIALOGUES, a series of debates on important matters of public policy held monthly at the downtown main branch of the Vancouver Public Library, has scheduled a debate on performance enhancing drugs in sports for the evening of October 17th. Doors open at 7:15. The event runs from 7:30 to 9pm. Please join us.

In preparation for that discussion, you might want to read this piece from this morning's NY Times, which reveals the thorough and enormous presence of these substances in the marketplace.

Bruce Springsteen Dancing In The Dark

How great is this?

Small Light at End of Cambie Tunnel

Vancouver Board of Trade Chair, Henry Lee, has made a most practical and useful suggestion: Add 3 cents (!!!) to the new Canada Line fare to compensate the Cambie Merchants' losses during construction.

Of course, proposing something and having it become a reality are often light years apart. Nevertheless, kudos to Mr. Lee for the idea.

Following is the entire story from The Vancouver Courier and then guest blogger Susan's response:

Board of Trade boss suggests small fare increase could provide money for beleaguered businesses

Sandra Thomas
Vancouver Courier

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Diners and shoppers have been reluctant to negotiate around cut-and-cover construction along Cambie St., so Board of Trade executives ventured to the area for lunch this week with Canada Line CEO Jane Bird to show Cambie's open for business.
To get a real feel for Cambie Street, representatives from the Vancouver Board of Trade and the Canada Line should dine inside one of the massive trenches lining the road, says Art Goday.
"I don't know if anyone would want to have lunch on Cambie Street because the noise from the construction is so loud," Goday, the owner of Funhouse Tattoo on Cambie Street, told the Courier Monday.

Last week the Vancouver Board of Trade joined the Canada Line to promote Lunch on the Line, a public relations campaign to encourage the city's business community to eat at restaurants along the beleaguered street. The $2-billion Canada Line project is a rapid transit system under construction to connect the city with Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport.
The cut-and-cover method of tunnelling, used along much of Cambie Street and part of Granville Street, has been highly criticized by businesses owners affected by construction. Since heavy tunnelling began along the main business corridor of Cambie a year ago, almost 40 stores, businesses and restaurants have closed or relocated. Business owners who have survived have unsuccessfully asked for compensation from the city through tax breaks and for low-interest loans from the provincial government. Lunch on the Line launched this week. Today, Vancouver Board of Trade chair Henry Lee and managing director Darcy Rezec, were scheduled to join Jane Bird, chief executive officer of the Canada Line Rapid Transit Project, at Tokyo John Sushi at 3349 Cambie St. for lunch.

Lee said lunching and shopping along the Canada Line immediately injects cash into businesses along the line.

"Right now it's out of sight, out of mind," said Lee. "But it's really not difficult to get to businesses on Cambie. Too many people are focused on the negative and they need to look on the bright side."

But Lee agreed the businesses need financial support.

"I don't like to use the word 'compensated,'" Lee said, "because it's too controversial. But at the Board of Trade we also don't like to sweep anything under the rug, and we all agree these businesses are suffering."

Because the project is a joint effort between a number of partners, such as Vancouver, Richmond, TransLink and InTransit, Lee argued compensation shouldn't come from one partner. He suggested business owners should be jointly supported with money that could be paid back by increasing ride fares on the rapid transit system by three-cents.

He noted the Canada Line estimates it will handle 100,000 rides per day, which works out to more than 30 millions rides per year. Even if that number turns out to be half that, said Lee, at three cents, or even 30 cents, per ride over three years, he estimated enough money would be raised to pay back any amount borrowed.

He said the same goal could be accomplished with "minute" raises to property tax.
"I've crunched the numbers several times and it could work, there are very few merchants along the line," said Lee. "In the meanwhile let's do lunch on the line."

Vancouver Courier 2007

Thank you Mr. Lee for your support for financial help for the merchants.Even the biggest supporters of the RAV/Canada Line project, the Board of Trade, are searching for ways to do the right thing and financially support the small businesses.One of several suggestions was that 3 cents a trip on the new line would do the trick, says Henry Lee. Just 3 cents. Enough money could be raised to payback ANY amount borrowed."We all agree these businesses are suffering"."I've crunched the numbers several times and it could work, there are very few merchants along the line".So many solutions to this problem, yet the will to even take a determined look at a remedy has been dismissed by those in a position to make it happen.To all parties in this project - Stop the political finger-pointing, show some integrity, and do the right thing.

Susan Heyes

Cambie Merchant

There are Lies, and then there are Statistics

Statistics are almost invariably the other man's argument.

They are numeric fibs set in a row to sell more snake oil.

We must always ask ourselves, in the face of these teasers, who is to profit? What is at stake? What is to gain?

Statistics Canada - now there's a billion dollar expense that we really need and really asked for, NOT - will have us believe that we are tougher on crime here in B.C. than our fellow Canadians are elsewhere in the dominion.

But , as the Indian Chief replied to Columbus, "No. We discover you. All is relative."

StatsCan claims that we have the lowest rate of jailing drunk drivers at 6.4%, compared to the national average of 12.4%.

But what does this tell you?

It tells me that, after all the carnage,, after all the years and tears, we still believe that it is a right to be stupid drunk, drive a car and kill people. Why isn't the national average for jailing the murderous bastards who drive drunk more like 96%? I'm happy to pay for the jail costs, aren't you?

And what are these stories that appear day after day in our newspapers and newscasts about criminals getting off Scott free or with inappropriately small sentences? Are they fantasies? Are they the exception?

Why do police and librarians and doctors and mothers all believe that we are soft on crime?

Because we are, StatsCan be damned.

A horrible asshole who lives across the street from me attacked a school boy last month, absolutely unprovoked. Asshole was drunk and high on drugs. He smashed all the boy's teeth with a rock. Four police cars were on the scene.

Guess where this violent, out-of-control pig is living these days?

That's right. Across the street from me.

May he move into a house across the street from Stats Canada.

Colliding Values

Do I have to respect the social values of an entire nation, when I believe that those values are retrograde?

On the one hand (as Tevye, the Milkman, would say), it is my tendency to respect the ways of other countries and other cultures. On the other hand, I believe in the equalities of rights, privileges and responsibilities of people regardless of the usual package of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, and economic status.

So, what to do about Saudi Arabia where women cannot drive a car or travel abroad without their husband's permission and where there are no movie houses?

I don't respect those values in the same way that I don't respect the so-called "values" of men like Warren Jeffs who screw hundreds of teen-age girls, make hundreds of babies and call themselves direct descendants of Jesus.

Read this morning's NY Times story here, and decide for yourself.

He's not worth the ink.

THREE articles about Mr. Allen, including a full-page spread of him in his rainbow-colored bathrobe, which is funny for such a homophobe?

Come on, kids, let's move on.

What is much more interesting and more to the point is how the radio station shows its true colors.

This is another fine mess you've got us into, Ollie.

UBCM is a Horse's Ass

The other day, we registered a lengthy post about Censorship.

Today, we can add the Union of BC Municipalities' refusal to add the provincial Green Party to their annual gabfest.

The Green Party isn't much and hasn't achieved much, true, but it is a legitimate political party and the subject of the UBCM convention is "Climates of Change."

Could they do anything more to shoot themselves in the foot?

Bush-Wacked

Bush once asked, "Is our children learning?"

Now he has answered, "Childrens do learn." (Spellcheck just had a meltdown.)

A person who cannot speak his own native tongue properly is a dangerous person, a person incapable of real thought.

This is not some adorable, amusing nervous tic. This is a fundamental statement of inadequacy.

How frightening that America twice elected this disturbing fool.

george michael

I was in a private water taxi on the Grand Canal in Venice at 8 in the morning, when, against the silence and the silver quiet water, this explosion came on the sound system. I bought the CD ("Songs from the Last Century")at Heathrow.

Canada Line Smoke Screens Continue

The Canada Line people just won't stop with their never-ending PR fluff.

Susan, a completely distraught Cambie merchant who has shared her frustrations with us before, brings us up-to-date.

First, the Canada Line Snow Job:

http://www.canadaline.ca/uploads/NewsReleases/News480.pdf

Read it and weep. The TRANSPARENCY!

The read Susan's response:

This is beyond belief.

This rubbish is the result of extensive consultation with the businesses by an executive with Partnerships BC - head cheerleaders of the P3 model - at the request of Canada Line - for the benefit of Canada Line.More retail workshops for gawd's sake? Maybe some tap dancing classes?That's right - It's our fault we're losing our livelihoods, nothing to do with the deception and double-cross by the project and the government - the absolute lack of any financial support planned for or implemented - the "blame the victim" message being relentlessly sent out by the "folks" at Canada Line, and the "inconvenient" canyon outside our doors for years on end - the "disruption" caused by constant changes to the plan (what plan) - the noise - the dirt - the STRESS - the shocking losses we "may" be experiencing.....Cleaning the empty storefronts? You can still see the strings of white lights on the floors of the empty shops from last Christmas.....Enhanced communications from CVBA with the merchants....like ANY communication?Free parking on the weekends? Recommending attendance at a street party?They've lost their minds and we're losing everything as a result. No integrity. No accountability. No compensation of any kind. Three strikes - they should all be out of office.HELP - our democracy is on life support.

Susan

CASTING FOR MORE BAD MONEY

I have written so much and so often about drug rehabilitation and the dead-end, destructive routes that our official "helpers" are taking these days that I am loathe to say another word.

HOWEVER...

The story in this morning's Sun ("TRAIL WOULD GIVE USERS FREE SUBSTITUTE DRUGS") is available to make you sick here.

One needn't go over one more time all the many things about this story that are wrong and hateful and disgusting.

But let's say a few things.

When these bastards claim that they will engage the clients in psych-social counselling and treatment, they are lying. Yes, lying. And for 3 good reasons.

ONE: You cannot talk to a stoned person. You are talking to a drug. So, if these lunatics give addicts drugs, they cannot then have a meaningful conversation about the Canucks, let alone a New Life Plan. Give your child a cookie at 2 am and then talk to him or her about how you're never going to give another cookie at 2 am. Huh?

TWO: The mayor and his hoods don't BELIEVE in treatment. They disparage the whole idea of treatment. Part of their hideous platform is that 75% of treatment is futile. They say these things in public. And when asked about this, the mayor will readily admit that he is ONLY interested in a "civil city." Which is his cute way of saying that if the addicts are given free drug substitutes they won't break into your homes and cars.

THREE: But they WILL break into your homes and cars because 30 minutes after the addicts get their free drug substitutes, they will be back in the alleys getting the real deal, which costs money, which can only be had by breaking into your homes and cars.

The other thing that needs to be said is that this awful program is now proposing to raise even more money from government and the private sector...money that SHOULD go to real treatment.

Finally, the man who has taken on this muddleheaded project is Richard Mulcaster. When I first learned this a few months ago, I was shocked. Mulcaster was for many years the very excellent Executive Director of the Vancouver Foundation. When he retired, he told me that he would be doing some international development work for CIDA and others. He lives in Shaughnessy and one would have thought he didn't need the money.

But you can be assured that Sam is paying him more than $100,000 a year - a sum that would fund 2 places for 2 addicts in a real rehab program for a full year of being clean and sober and learning how to leave The Life. A program that involves Hope and Dignity.

Giving an addict substitute drugs offers hope and dignity? Teenage prostitutes, given free drugs, will continue to be teenage prostitutes. The mayor is enslaving sick youth.

So what is Mulcaster doing? You would have thought that in all those years of funding program for the Vancouver Foundation, he had learned something.

Apparently not.

Richard, hang your head in shame.

Victor (Guest Blogger) vs. Bruce & The Kneejerkers

The problem with tirades like Bruce Allan's recent rant is that they silence all legitimate questioning of unacceptable cultural practices. Instead of simply dismissing his "be like us or go home" rhetoric as foolish, commentators have been lining up protect multi culturalism from an imagined assault. Not surprisingly, of the 70 plus ethnic groups in Vancouver, one has been singularly vocal on this. They always are. Can anybody remember the last time Vancouver's Koreans issued a collective whine? Or the VietNamese community? Or the Malaysians? etc.etc.
The underlying theme in the media forelock tugging is that all differences must be accommodated in Canada, land of block voting.

This brings great comfort to the people in Canada who are slicing the labia from ten year old girls in the name of tradition.

It brings great comfort to people like the lovely Surrey couple whom put a hit on their daughter- in -law in India because she failed to meet tribal standards.

Or the guy in Kamloops who murdered his 15 year old daughter in an honour killing because she dated a white guy.

No doubt, those in our midst who still adhere to their cultural edicts calling for the stoning of gay people and adulterers, are praising the bovine inclusiveness doctrine being chanted by the media.

Yes, the Canadian mosaic is a source of pride to many. But if you look closely at the mosaic, there are some obscene, perverse and vile little drawings that have no place on the canvass. Leaving them there, without comment, on the grounds that no custom should ever be criticized, is foolish and dangerous.

Thanks a lot Bruce.

Sun Letter Nails Construction Addictions

Behind the scenes at construction sites

LetterPublished: Tuesday, September 25, 2007

I have worked in the construction industry for more than 30 years and I've seen a number of destructive changes that led to this current crisis of drug use on construction sites. The most destructive change has been the deunionization of the industry. In the 1970s, building trade unions, with support from employers, maintained some of the best drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs in the country. With de-unionization in the 1980s, employers abandoned these programs, leaving it up to individual workers to get themselves off drugs. Obviously, this hasn't worked.

It's time to return to a more stable construction industry. This requires improved labour laws, more employer and government support for drug/alcohol rehabilitation, and real opportunities for trades training -- as well as better working conditions for everyone in the building trades.

John Shaw

CENSORSHIP AT THE FOUR

Censorship is very much at the core of today's news, far and near.

Here are 4 stories:

ONE

The University of Victoria Student Society will not allow Canadian Forces to be present at a career fair. Or, unfair.

This speaks volumes about how far our armed forces have fallen in the public heart, how spoiled and out-of-touch are too many young people, and how ignorant these students are of the very central purpose of a "higher education."

An appalling decision. Based entirely on fear and ignorance.

TWO

The BC Teachers' Federation has pulled 40,000 copies of its own newsletter because it doesn't like one of the articles written by their own editor.

All articles are supposed to be vetted by the BCTF President. Now, the entire magazine will have to be first vetted by El Presidente.

Can you say, "Petty Dictatorship, Oligarchy, Totalitarianism, Boys and Girls?"

Remember that these enlightened soul claim to be teachers of your children.

BCTF might want to consider renaming itself as Teachers For Censorship. Their value statement could be, "Remember, kids, there's nothing you can create that we won't veto."

Can you say, "Anal, Dr. Freud?"

THREE

Mahmoud the Maniac made his speech at Columbia yesterday.

The President of Columbia University, Lee Bollinger, did two very interesting things.

One the one hand, he stood firm in his decision to allow Mushmouth the platform, saying, "the nation needs the intellectual and emotional courage to confront the mind of evil."

On the other, he introduced Muckraker thus, "Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a cruel and petty dictator. Today, I feel all the wight of the modern civilized world yearning to express the revulsion in what you stand for."

If I were in his position, I might not have allowed Madpants to speak in the first place, BUT...I salute Mr. Bollinger (pictured above) for both actions.

FOUR

The Sun editorial is right in defending free speech in the case of Bruce Allen and in noting that the subject of the integration of immigrants in Canadian society is a thorny one and necessary as part of our on-going national conversation.

But they have missed a huge point.

Mr. Allen should be dismissed, as should most of the so-called "management" team for bringing the level of discourse down to a bar brawl. Coarse, name-calling, race-baiting, simplistic in the extreme, without shading of any kind and unmindful of the truth that God and the devil are in the details.

Channel 6 in Victoria is now E! No longer a local station involved in its community, but a mindless dispenser of non-stop show biz bullshit and titillation.

This is where broadcasting has gone.

We are all the poorer for it.

The Abandonment of Broadcasting

Bruce Allen is a crude, distasteful excuse for a human being.

His rant about immigrants the other day expressed what many Canadians feel.

Unfortunately, it was simplistic, ugly, graceless and without subtlety or shading or understanding of the complexities.

Mr. Allen declares that he is an "editorialist." HAHAHAHA...

And that he "makes people think." HAHAHAHA...

When I was a kid growing up in Winnipeg, we used to describe vanity and self-delusion as a mosquito floating down the Red River on its back with an erection and hollering, OPEN THE DRAWBRIDGE!"

Moreover he is in a clear conflict of interest sitting on the board that will select artists for the 2010 opening and closing ceremonies. He has already selected his own stable of clients.

Management at the radio station have been starf**kers for many years now. I'm surprised they haven't given Todd Bertuzzi his own show.

The fact that they defend Mr. Allen and his superior, white, hate-mongering demonstrates the sewer levels to which this once important community resource has now sunk.

It's Monday. It's National Slug a Citizen Day.

Is this the new standard?

The Daily Reporting of which RCMP officer slugged someone or got drunk and then slugged someone and then got off with a fine or loss of vanilla milkshake break for Friday?

So the poor victim was a diabetic, momentarily incapacitated by his illness and the cop, brushing past the nurses, and refusing to pause long enough to ask the poor guy id he was OK, just timbered up on him for the same reason a dog licks himself - because he can.

Is anyone in charge of the RCMP these days?

Does anyone in the Force care about who they are and how the public now perceives them?

As in, really, really badly.

Where's Nelson Eddy when you need him, boys?

Freedom of Speech?

It is impossible to grab all of the details and nuances of the appearance of Mahmoud the Maniac at Columbia this morning.

For those who wish to fully enter the Land of Oz - WARNING: this is only for people who truly know who they are - read the story in the NY Times and then the blow-by-unbelievable blow Blog direct from Columbia.

Sanity at risk...good luck.

MONDAY "MORNING" BLOG DELAYED

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the management of his establishment is sorry to advise that tomorrow's blog will be posted - but a little later in the afternoon.

Bear with us, while these crucial adjustments are being made.

And Czech in again with us towards the end of the working day.

Shoot or Talk - Two Holy Ways

I forgot to add to the blog yesterday the little news about Rudy Giuliani, the man who lays claim to cleaning up New York.

Speaking before The National Rifle Association, Mr. 911 actually said that the right to carry guns is as precious to Americans as the right to free speech.

'Nuff said?

In addition to being the worst President in American history, now maybe George Bush will also be given credit for destroying the Republican party for some many years to come. At least that's something!

Who Said Satchmo Never Spoke Up?

In the light of what is going on in Jena, La. these past few days, it is more than instructive - it's downright wonderful - read what Louis Armstrong did on the subject of racism 50 years ago.

Mr. Armstrong was famously and wrongly accused by many black and white Americans of being a silent Jim Crow apologist.

But, read this NY Times reflection ("The Day Louis Armstrong Made Noise") and you will see that Pop's heart and soul were always in exactly the right place.