It's with a great amount of humour I read of the trial balloon being floated by none other than Newt Gingrich, Newt it seems is pondering a bid for the 2008 American Presidency. If nothing else he dreams big, but surely even his Newtness isn't thinking seriously that he would have a chance as the candidate for the Republican party?
Does the term excess baggage mean anything to the former Congressman from Georgia, a man whose star blazed brightly during the Clinton years, only to fall spectacularly at that altar called hypocrisy!
Newt of course was one of the leading Republicans during the high drama of the Clinton years, Republican outrage over all things Clinton, but which seemed to strangely focus on the examination of the sexual mores of the then President of the United States. Now to be fair to Newt he never seemed particularly comfortable with that aspect of bringing down the Democrats, perhaps because he was at the same time involved in some rather less than flattering moments in his own personal affairs. It may be that this is a forgive and forget society, but as they say, those that live in a glass house shouldn't throw rocks, nor should they except absolution upon being identified for what they are or in this case were.
Newts own personal life is a catalogue of personal flaws that make him more likely to host a reality TV show than become leader of the free world. But it's America, and one guesses anything can happen. But there must be a limit to one's fanciful beliefs.
Now perhaps all this talk of Newt for Prez, is mere shilling for his new epic tome of political theatre called, "Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America", picking up one assumes with his 1994 exploration of Republican core values. Named as Time Magazines man of the year in 1995, Gingrich held power at the end of his telephone. The creation of the "Contract with America" then, became almost a Declaration of independence for Republicans as they recaptured the reins of Power in the House, resulting in no shortage of pain for the Clinton forces during their years in office.
This time though the pain is mostly Republican, in "Winning the future...."Newt takes on his own party and the leaders that led them to Iraq and have fumbled domsetic issues. He dishes out equal blame to Rumsfeld, Powell, Cheney and Bush, perhaps to prove his bona fides in the debate over Iraq. Not going into a full attack on Republican values mind you, but apparently leaving a bit of wriggle room to distance himself from a flailing policy. Of course it helps to not actually be anywhere near the seat of power when things go wrong as well, thus keeping your options open when the time comes around.
Gingrich who gave up his seat in 1999 after the Republicans suffered unexpected losses, has spent the last few years working on his Civil War novels and cobbling together the update to Contract with America. He also has been wandering the streets of Washington compiling a list of all the attractions that pay homage to God. In his new book he has nineteen pages of listings a "walking Tour of God, in Washington DC" places where Moses, the Bible, and God above are praised and forever immortalized.
Perhaps all that soul searching led to a more contrite Newt, one who can quote scripture and actually lead the life intended, but old dogs and new tricks dictate a different theory. That of cloaking oneself in the tones of the righteous, ringing a clarion bell, all the while having laid the groundwork of the destructive. In other words he can read those commandments, but is a tad selective on the ones to follow.
It seems fitting that he has found a media home in the jowls of the Fox News hurricane, able to find fellow travelers on the network that loves its Republicans. And if Newt were a smart man, he might wisht to forsake the grind of the chicken dinners of Iowa and New Hampshire for the after show meals at New Yorks finest eateries. He'll probably be more revered as a handy acolyte for Bill O'Reilly and more than likely find the heat less intense under the protective umbrella of Fox News. Which seems to not worry about such things as personal demons and bad publicity.
But a Newt for President campaign must have the Grand Old Party worried for the future. Sending Newt up against the Democrats could be the kind of scenario that might help deflect the disappointment of losing to George Bush in 2004. If anything the idea should help get the Democrats back on their message and back into the game. Oh my, the prospect of Gingrich becoming president in 2008 must seem like a God send!
Just the thought of it makes the idea of a Bush dynasty seem almost appealing, Jeb, Neil (well maybe Neil may want to sit this one out) C'mon' Republican's get those papers filed and get to work! If Newt is the best your party can float, then there's surely a spot at a New Hampshire coffee shop for you too!
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Friday, January 14, 2005
Are TSN Producers reading HockeyNation?
While I'm quite sure it's coincidence, it's nice to see that the Programming minds at TSN and HockeyNation are of the same mind! Canada's The Sports Network has picked up the Hockey Day in Canada torch and held it high on their own.
A day after the CBC put the kaibosh on it's five year tradition Hockey Day in Canada, the folks at TSN jumped up to take advantage of the void and offer up their own celebration of Canadianna.
Hockey Lives Here: Canada's game will be broadcast for six hours on February 19th from Noon -6 pm Eastern time ( a 9 am wake up call for us West coasters). Highlights of the day include a stop in Quebec City for the always popular and much celebrated Pee Wee Hockey Tournament. TSN will pop into the rink in Thunder Bay and take in a CIS college game between the University of Western Ontario and Lakehead. They scoot back across to New Brunswick for the World Pond Hockey championships as well.
Other features will include a how to session for home rink builders, a peek into the Canadian Women's team preparations for the defence of their world title and a number of other features from across the country.
In short, pretty well everything that Hockey Day in Canada was all about, without of course the three NHL games to keep it flowing. But TSN will find other ways to keep the show on the right track, utilizing it's stable of top flight hockey experts like Pierre McGuire, Bob McKenzie, Dave Hodge and Brian Burke to name a few there will be no shortage of Hockey Talk in the six hour special.
It's as if they took the recent HockeyNation story on the CBC and put it up on the storyboard. Though to be fair to TSN I'm quite sure that mere minutes after the CBC cancelled their Hockey Day plans, TSN were jumping into the studio to get things rolling.
Kudos to The Sports Network for taking charge of things, Hockey is much more than the bleating of rich owners and well compensated players, it's about heart, determination and love of game. The folks at TSN understand the passion for the game across the land, something that not only has escaped the CBC but indeed has escaped all those involved in the NHL both management and labour!.
May just a bit of the spirit of Hockey Lives Here rub off on them! They all seem to have forgotten the hold that the game has on us. Bring on the Peewees, the college kids and the gals team. February 19th we'll all be dropping by the rink to watch some hockey, just like it should be!
The above posting first appeared in my HockeyNation blog, for more hockey oriented material check it out!
A day after the CBC put the kaibosh on it's five year tradition Hockey Day in Canada, the folks at TSN jumped up to take advantage of the void and offer up their own celebration of Canadianna.
Hockey Lives Here: Canada's game will be broadcast for six hours on February 19th from Noon -6 pm Eastern time ( a 9 am wake up call for us West coasters). Highlights of the day include a stop in Quebec City for the always popular and much celebrated Pee Wee Hockey Tournament. TSN will pop into the rink in Thunder Bay and take in a CIS college game between the University of Western Ontario and Lakehead. They scoot back across to New Brunswick for the World Pond Hockey championships as well.
Other features will include a how to session for home rink builders, a peek into the Canadian Women's team preparations for the defence of their world title and a number of other features from across the country.
In short, pretty well everything that Hockey Day in Canada was all about, without of course the three NHL games to keep it flowing. But TSN will find other ways to keep the show on the right track, utilizing it's stable of top flight hockey experts like Pierre McGuire, Bob McKenzie, Dave Hodge and Brian Burke to name a few there will be no shortage of Hockey Talk in the six hour special.
It's as if they took the recent HockeyNation story on the CBC and put it up on the storyboard. Though to be fair to TSN I'm quite sure that mere minutes after the CBC cancelled their Hockey Day plans, TSN were jumping into the studio to get things rolling.
Kudos to The Sports Network for taking charge of things, Hockey is much more than the bleating of rich owners and well compensated players, it's about heart, determination and love of game. The folks at TSN understand the passion for the game across the land, something that not only has escaped the CBC but indeed has escaped all those involved in the NHL both management and labour!.
May just a bit of the spirit of Hockey Lives Here rub off on them! They all seem to have forgotten the hold that the game has on us. Bring on the Peewees, the college kids and the gals team. February 19th we'll all be dropping by the rink to watch some hockey, just like it should be!
The above posting first appeared in my HockeyNation blog, for more hockey oriented material check it out!
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Another reason for Danny to keep the flag UP!
Haven't really commented much on the "Mouse that Roared" activities of Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams. While I understand the frustration of Newfoundlanders at the state of Federal/Provincial relations (you ain't alone byes and gals), the silly ass act of taking the Maple Leaf flag down from all buildings seemed a tad childish.
Fortunately Mr. Williams finally stopped stamping his foot and called an end to the flag flap, returning the Maple Leaf to all provincial buildings and flagpoles. And Danny you made you decision not a moment too soon!
Out of Ottawa today is news that the New Chief of Defence Staff will be a Newfoundlander, Lt. General Rick Hillier, most recently force commander of our Afghanistan expedition..
Something that Mr. Williams seemed to forget during his Maple Leaf distemper was the fact that a good portion of our Armed Forces personnel are proud Newfoundlanders, who wear that supposedly despised symbol on their arms when they go about the cause of keeping us safe and addressing worldwide humanitarian concerns.
By taking the flag down around the province, the Premier of Newfoundland was in effect, dismissing the efforts of his own sons and daughters. Perhaps a chat with Lt. General Hillier might help Mr. Williams in understanding the concept. If he's in the mood for a little home work, Danny might also find this link helpful, particularly the last paragraph of the History section.
Democracy is all about speaking out when you feel wronged, addressing your concerns in a mature fashion. Danny, make a point if you must and be a tad more creative next time please, but don't do it at the expense of the people who put far more on the line each day than a mercurial politician!
Fortunately Mr. Williams finally stopped stamping his foot and called an end to the flag flap, returning the Maple Leaf to all provincial buildings and flagpoles. And Danny you made you decision not a moment too soon!
Out of Ottawa today is news that the New Chief of Defence Staff will be a Newfoundlander, Lt. General Rick Hillier, most recently force commander of our Afghanistan expedition..
Something that Mr. Williams seemed to forget during his Maple Leaf distemper was the fact that a good portion of our Armed Forces personnel are proud Newfoundlanders, who wear that supposedly despised symbol on their arms when they go about the cause of keeping us safe and addressing worldwide humanitarian concerns.
By taking the flag down around the province, the Premier of Newfoundland was in effect, dismissing the efforts of his own sons and daughters. Perhaps a chat with Lt. General Hillier might help Mr. Williams in understanding the concept. If he's in the mood for a little home work, Danny might also find this link helpful, particularly the last paragraph of the History section.
Democracy is all about speaking out when you feel wronged, addressing your concerns in a mature fashion. Danny, make a point if you must and be a tad more creative next time please, but don't do it at the expense of the people who put far more on the line each day than a mercurial politician!
CBC pulls the plug on Hockey Day in Canada!
An unusual announcement (and one destined to not be very popular) from the CBC today, the extremely well received feature known as Hockey Day in Canada has been cancelled for this year. Victim apparently to bureaucratic stupidity in the absence of money making NHL hockey on television this year.
In the last five years the CBC has turned over the main network on a Saturday in February, to explore our love and passion for the game. Usually set in some small town somewhere in the frozen expanse of Canada, the day long celebration would link coast to coast to coast, featuring items from burgs of all sizes big and small, just dropping into the local rink to see what was up. Ron MacLean would be the host of this national check up on the state of the game and the grass roots, can do attitude that makes it so great.
Of course the day long adventure was anchored by NHL hockey, three games featuring all Canadian match ups, played back to back with our little vignettes liberally broadcast throughout the games. The beauty of Hockey Day in Canada was not the actual NHL games; but the pride that every small town involved would take in showcasing their local heroes, their local rink and the local characters that make Hockey the beloved sport of the nation.
Somehow that message has escaped the bean counters at the CBC, who one assumes feel that without the star attractions there's no show! But one wonders if they don't have it all backwards at the CBC (not that this would be the first time that has happened!) if ever there was a year to keep a tradition alive this would be it.
There is no doubt a serious cash flow problem at the CBC without the cash cow that hockey was to the network. And while the absence of the actual pro games on the network would be hard to program around, there would have been ways to keep the spirit of Hockey Day in Canada alive and maybe send a message to the likes of Mr. Bettman, Mr. Goodenow and their respective representatives that they do not control our game.
Hockey Day could have featured a period of a junior game, a period of a university game, an old timers game, women's hockey, a high profile minor tournament, the options are endless. To counter the lack of NHL hockey on the ice, perhaps a serious debate on the issues separating the two sides. Turn lose their battalion of experts, commentators and reporters and put everything out there for us to examine.
Lets face it, if there's no hockey by February there won't be any hockey this year. What better chance to find out just how things got of the rails than to dedicate a day to problem and maybe offer solution. More importantly by showcasing the game as it is enjoyed in communities across the land, we would be showing that nothing is bigger than the actual game played on ice, any ice, anywhere!
Instead, the CBC just washes its hands of a valuable possibility and what had become a national tradition. One hopes that common sense returns to the public broadcaster and they take advantage of an opportunity to make a difference in the debate. From the reports coming out today, the staff at the CBC are dismayed at the decision, expressing frustration with a broadcaster that seems to have lost its way of late.
Memo to CBC Programming: Listen to your employees and listen to the viewers.
Hockey Day in Canada was much more than a bunch of pro hockey players on the ice, it was a mirror into the country. Which the last time anyone checked, was exactly what the CBC was supposed to be all about!
The above article first appeared on my HockeyNation blog, for more items about hockey check it out!
In the last five years the CBC has turned over the main network on a Saturday in February, to explore our love and passion for the game. Usually set in some small town somewhere in the frozen expanse of Canada, the day long celebration would link coast to coast to coast, featuring items from burgs of all sizes big and small, just dropping into the local rink to see what was up. Ron MacLean would be the host of this national check up on the state of the game and the grass roots, can do attitude that makes it so great.
Of course the day long adventure was anchored by NHL hockey, three games featuring all Canadian match ups, played back to back with our little vignettes liberally broadcast throughout the games. The beauty of Hockey Day in Canada was not the actual NHL games; but the pride that every small town involved would take in showcasing their local heroes, their local rink and the local characters that make Hockey the beloved sport of the nation.
Somehow that message has escaped the bean counters at the CBC, who one assumes feel that without the star attractions there's no show! But one wonders if they don't have it all backwards at the CBC (not that this would be the first time that has happened!) if ever there was a year to keep a tradition alive this would be it.
There is no doubt a serious cash flow problem at the CBC without the cash cow that hockey was to the network. And while the absence of the actual pro games on the network would be hard to program around, there would have been ways to keep the spirit of Hockey Day in Canada alive and maybe send a message to the likes of Mr. Bettman, Mr. Goodenow and their respective representatives that they do not control our game.
Hockey Day could have featured a period of a junior game, a period of a university game, an old timers game, women's hockey, a high profile minor tournament, the options are endless. To counter the lack of NHL hockey on the ice, perhaps a serious debate on the issues separating the two sides. Turn lose their battalion of experts, commentators and reporters and put everything out there for us to examine.
Lets face it, if there's no hockey by February there won't be any hockey this year. What better chance to find out just how things got of the rails than to dedicate a day to problem and maybe offer solution. More importantly by showcasing the game as it is enjoyed in communities across the land, we would be showing that nothing is bigger than the actual game played on ice, any ice, anywhere!
Instead, the CBC just washes its hands of a valuable possibility and what had become a national tradition. One hopes that common sense returns to the public broadcaster and they take advantage of an opportunity to make a difference in the debate. From the reports coming out today, the staff at the CBC are dismayed at the decision, expressing frustration with a broadcaster that seems to have lost its way of late.
Memo to CBC Programming: Listen to your employees and listen to the viewers.
Hockey Day in Canada was much more than a bunch of pro hockey players on the ice, it was a mirror into the country. Which the last time anyone checked, was exactly what the CBC was supposed to be all about!
The above article first appeared on my HockeyNation blog, for more items about hockey check it out!
Monday, January 10, 2005
Essentially yours, best of the Essentials Jan 1-9, 2005
A brand new year and we resolve to keep track of our essentials...
1-Jan-05 Waldo comes home
1-Jan-05 The misery continues
1-Jan-05 A worrisome trend for Mr. Musharraf
1-Jan-05 Must NOT see TV
1-Jan-05 Police work made easy
2-Jan-05 Waldo makes a plan
2-Jan-05 Seven days later and the total still rises
2-Jan-05 An old, sick cow
2-Jan-05 A town called Winterpeg
2-Jan-05 A kinder, gentler McNugget
3-Jan-05 DART aims to help
3-Jan-05 Tony feels some heat
3-Jan-05 The four year scandal that still tops our news
3-Jan-05 Trading pig manure for Tokyo's lights
3-Jan-05 A FOX affiliate with a conscience
4-Jan-05 A golden night for Canada
4-Jan-05 Generous but not Too Generous
4-Jan-05 Blogging a Disaster
4-Jan-05 The Lowest of the Low
4-Jan-05 And we're Cliiiiiimbbbinnng a Staiiiirrrrrwaaaaay to…. Grammy
5-Jan-05 The Toronto Star lists the missing and the Dead
5-Jan-05 Tsunami aid as a Beauty Contest?
5-Jan-05 A general speaks out on Iraq
5-Jan-05 Frank McK enna to join the witness relocation program
5-Jan-05 Just another night for the kids of Winnipeg
6-Jan-05 Toronto Star feels the heat over its list
6-Jan-05 Credit card companies scramble to reverse bad press
6-Jan-05 Anyone know a good plumber?
6-Jan-05 Canadian sub to delay hitch hike across the ocean
6-Jan-05 Flags are still down in Newfoundland
7-Jan-05 Not many planes, nor ships but lots of politicians
7-Jan-05 Eat without worry
7-Jan-05 Winter visits Vancouver and the Island
7-Jan-05 When the off button isn't enough
7-Jan-05 JenniPitt split
8-Jan-05 Relief efforts hampered by rivalries
8-Jan-05 Cows for Drugs?
8-Jan-05 Palestine to the Polls
8-Jan-05 A run on employees at the CIBC
8-Jan-05 Springer saga sprung on the Brits
9-Jan-05 Abass first past the post
9-Jan-05 Decision near on missile defence?
9-Jan-05 Cripes, Danny clam up and just put the flag back up!
9-Jan-05 The people make their choice
9-Jan-05 Suddenly there's a whole new interest in those Columbia House flyers
1-Jan-05 Waldo comes home
1-Jan-05 The misery continues
1-Jan-05 A worrisome trend for Mr. Musharraf
1-Jan-05 Must NOT see TV
1-Jan-05 Police work made easy
2-Jan-05 Waldo makes a plan
2-Jan-05 Seven days later and the total still rises
2-Jan-05 An old, sick cow
2-Jan-05 A town called Winterpeg
2-Jan-05 A kinder, gentler McNugget
3-Jan-05 DART aims to help
3-Jan-05 Tony feels some heat
3-Jan-05 The four year scandal that still tops our news
3-Jan-05 Trading pig manure for Tokyo's lights
3-Jan-05 A FOX affiliate with a conscience
4-Jan-05 A golden night for Canada
4-Jan-05 Generous but not Too Generous
4-Jan-05 Blogging a Disaster
4-Jan-05 The Lowest of the Low
4-Jan-05 And we're Cliiiiiimbbbinnng a Staiiiirrrrrwaaaaay to…. Grammy
5-Jan-05 The Toronto Star lists the missing and the Dead
5-Jan-05 Tsunami aid as a Beauty Contest?
5-Jan-05 A general speaks out on Iraq
5-Jan-05 Frank McK enna to join the witness relocation program
5-Jan-05 Just another night for the kids of Winnipeg
6-Jan-05 Toronto Star feels the heat over its list
6-Jan-05 Credit card companies scramble to reverse bad press
6-Jan-05 Anyone know a good plumber?
6-Jan-05 Canadian sub to delay hitch hike across the ocean
6-Jan-05 Flags are still down in Newfoundland
7-Jan-05 Not many planes, nor ships but lots of politicians
7-Jan-05 Eat without worry
7-Jan-05 Winter visits Vancouver and the Island
7-Jan-05 When the off button isn't enough
7-Jan-05 JenniPitt split
8-Jan-05 Relief efforts hampered by rivalries
8-Jan-05 Cows for Drugs?
8-Jan-05 Palestine to the Polls
8-Jan-05 A run on employees at the CIBC
8-Jan-05 Springer saga sprung on the Brits
9-Jan-05 Abass first past the post
9-Jan-05 Decision near on missile defence?
9-Jan-05 Cripes, Danny clam up and just put the flag back up!
9-Jan-05 The people make their choice
9-Jan-05 Suddenly there's a whole new interest in those Columbia House flyers
A smug Victorian come uppance!
By way of our friend sean at seanincognito comes a wonderful piece of satire directed at those hard suffering British Columbians to the south of Greater Podunk, who as we speak, struggle through the wrath of Mother Nature. Sean sent me a copy of an e mail he received and I found it so entertaining that I have decided to add some resource links and share with the pounkian community.
From the mind of Jack Knox of the Victoria Times Colonist comes this gem of how we handle snow on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Anyone with access to BCTV, CTV in BC, CBC and assorted local radio stations will find some of the following almost too close to the truth, a fine line between reality and parody no doubt....
PREPARE FOR ATTACK OF THE KILLER SNOWFLAKES
Chronology of a crisis, Vancouver Island-style.
5:35 p.m. Environment Canada predicts two to five centimetres of snow will fall on Victoria within a 24-hour period. Ed Bain reads the forecast on-air, turns white and faints.
5:40 p.m. Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe issues immediate appeal for federal assistance. Prime Minister Paul Martin promises to send in the army.
8:45 p.m. Victorians begin queuing at tire stores, leaving vehicles in line overnight to be first served in morning.
10:15 p.m. It turns out B.C.'s last army base, CFB Chilliwack, closed in 1998. Martin promises to send in navy instead.
10:20 p.m. Navy announces deployment to San Diego and Hawaii for "security reasons." Conservative Leader Stephen Harper suggests prime minister call Quebec advertising agencies to shovel the snow, "since that's where the Liberals are spending all our money anyway."
6:22 a.m. Temperature plunges. Word spreads that Saanich man found ice on windshield. Curious neighbours gather to watch him scrape it off with a credit card. One motorist, a former Albertan, claims use of mysterious "defrost"switch on dashboard can aid in process.
8:15 a.m. Terrified downtown skate boarders lose toques to menacing mob of balding, middle-aged men. "We tried to run ," they say, "but those stupid baggy-assed pants made us fall down."
9:30 a.m. Hardware stores sell both of their snow shovels. Islanders begin cobbling together implements made from kayak paddles, umbrellas, plywood, cookie sheets and boogie boards.
10 a.m. Golfers switch to orange balls. Beacon Hill Park cricket players, anxious not to repeat the ugly "snowblower incident" of the Blizzard of '96, switch to orange uniforms.
Noon. Word of impending West Coast snowfall tops newscasts across Canada. Saskatoon hospitals report epidermic of sprained wrists related to viewers high-fiving one another.
1:20 p.m. Elementary schools call in grief counsellors. Grief counsellors refuse to go, citing lack of snow tires.
2:30 p.m. Rush hour begins an hour early as office workers come down with mysterious illness and bolt for home. Usual traffic snarl is compounded by large number of four-wheel-drives abandoned by side of road.
2:50 p.m. Airplanes are grounded and ferries docked. No way to travel between Island and rest of the world. Times Colonist headline: Mainland Cut Off From Civilization.
3:22 p.m. Prime Minister Martin announces Canada's DART rapid response team can be on the ground within six months."We can't leave Victoria to deal with 225 centimetres of snow on its own," he tells Lowe."Um, that's two-to-five centimetres, not two-two-five," replies the mayor. The prime minister hangs up.
3:33 p.m. Provincial government responds to crisis by installing slot machines in homeless shelters.
3:45 p.m. Builders of new arena announce weather-related delays will push completion date back to July 2008.
4: 10 p.m. At behest of Provincial Emergency Program, authorities begin adding Prozac to drinking water.
4:15 p.m. Fears of food shortage lead to alarming scenes of violence and looting. Grocery shoppers riot across the city, except in Oak Bay, where residents hire caterers to do rioting for them.
4:30 p.m. Bracing for the arrival of snow, the city is gripped by an eerie stillness reminiscent of Baghdad on the eve of the invasion. Search lights comb darkening sky for first sign of precipitation.
4:48 p.m. Panic ripples across region as word comes in that first flakes have fallen on the Malahat. False alarm. "Flakes" turn out to be nothing more than anthrax spores released by terrorists. An uneasy calm returns to city.
5:40 p.m. Ed Bain, shaking uncontrollably, tells viewers that snow warning has been extended. This weather pattern could go on for days. Mercury plummets to Calgary-in-August levels. Martial law is declared. Victoria-area politicians announce plans to establish emergency command centre aboard HMCS Regina once it reaches Oahu.
From the mind of Jack Knox of the Victoria Times Colonist comes this gem of how we handle snow on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Anyone with access to BCTV, CTV in BC, CBC and assorted local radio stations will find some of the following almost too close to the truth, a fine line between reality and parody no doubt....
PREPARE FOR ATTACK OF THE KILLER SNOWFLAKES
Chronology of a crisis, Vancouver Island-style.
5:35 p.m. Environment Canada predicts two to five centimetres of snow will fall on Victoria within a 24-hour period. Ed Bain reads the forecast on-air, turns white and faints.
5:40 p.m. Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe issues immediate appeal for federal assistance. Prime Minister Paul Martin promises to send in the army.
8:45 p.m. Victorians begin queuing at tire stores, leaving vehicles in line overnight to be first served in morning.
10:15 p.m. It turns out B.C.'s last army base, CFB Chilliwack, closed in 1998. Martin promises to send in navy instead.
10:20 p.m. Navy announces deployment to San Diego and Hawaii for "security reasons." Conservative Leader Stephen Harper suggests prime minister call Quebec advertising agencies to shovel the snow, "since that's where the Liberals are spending all our money anyway."
6:22 a.m. Temperature plunges. Word spreads that Saanich man found ice on windshield. Curious neighbours gather to watch him scrape it off with a credit card. One motorist, a former Albertan, claims use of mysterious "defrost"switch on dashboard can aid in process.
8:15 a.m. Terrified downtown skate boarders lose toques to menacing mob of balding, middle-aged men. "We tried to run ," they say, "but those stupid baggy-assed pants made us fall down."
9:30 a.m. Hardware stores sell both of their snow shovels. Islanders begin cobbling together implements made from kayak paddles, umbrellas, plywood, cookie sheets and boogie boards.
10 a.m. Golfers switch to orange balls. Beacon Hill Park cricket players, anxious not to repeat the ugly "snowblower incident" of the Blizzard of '96, switch to orange uniforms.
Noon. Word of impending West Coast snowfall tops newscasts across Canada. Saskatoon hospitals report epidermic of sprained wrists related to viewers high-fiving one another.
1:20 p.m. Elementary schools call in grief counsellors. Grief counsellors refuse to go, citing lack of snow tires.
2:30 p.m. Rush hour begins an hour early as office workers come down with mysterious illness and bolt for home. Usual traffic snarl is compounded by large number of four-wheel-drives abandoned by side of road.
2:50 p.m. Airplanes are grounded and ferries docked. No way to travel between Island and rest of the world. Times Colonist headline: Mainland Cut Off From Civilization.
3:22 p.m. Prime Minister Martin announces Canada's DART rapid response team can be on the ground within six months."We can't leave Victoria to deal with 225 centimetres of snow on its own," he tells Lowe."Um, that's two-to-five centimetres, not two-two-five," replies the mayor. The prime minister hangs up.
3:33 p.m. Provincial government responds to crisis by installing slot machines in homeless shelters.
3:45 p.m. Builders of new arena announce weather-related delays will push completion date back to July 2008.
4: 10 p.m. At behest of Provincial Emergency Program, authorities begin adding Prozac to drinking water.
4:15 p.m. Fears of food shortage lead to alarming scenes of violence and looting. Grocery shoppers riot across the city, except in Oak Bay, where residents hire caterers to do rioting for them.
4:30 p.m. Bracing for the arrival of snow, the city is gripped by an eerie stillness reminiscent of Baghdad on the eve of the invasion. Search lights comb darkening sky for first sign of precipitation.
4:48 p.m. Panic ripples across region as word comes in that first flakes have fallen on the Malahat. False alarm. "Flakes" turn out to be nothing more than anthrax spores released by terrorists. An uneasy calm returns to city.
5:40 p.m. Ed Bain, shaking uncontrollably, tells viewers that snow warning has been extended. This weather pattern could go on for days. Mercury plummets to Calgary-in-August levels. Martial law is declared. Victoria-area politicians announce plans to establish emergency command centre aboard HMCS Regina once it reaches Oahu.
A sure sign that the end is nigh?
So those annoying phone calls from Columbia House may not get the hang up treatment in the near future. When those massive mailings arrive every couple of months offering 5 DVD's for 49 cents, you'll be fighting the kids for those little stickers for your mailing card. All because Columbia House is branching out into the Adult Entertainment sector of the mail order business.
No more dumping that massive envelope from Col House into the recycling bin right away, instead go get the bifocals strengthened, the better to make out the images on those tiny little postage stamp like DVD covers. Across North America the Columbia House magazine may get as dog eared as a favourite old copy of Playboy.
Just think the next time you get a call from the helpful gal at Columbia House she'll be breathlessly telling you the virtues of Prom Queen showdown, Voracious Vixens, et al. Instead of the recitation of the music or mainstream movie stars of the day you'll be tempted with summaries of the latest of the efforts from the seedier side of Hollywood.
You may actually find yourself listening through the entire list, (sorry I missed the first ten could you repeat them please, slowly) before curtly dismissing her from your phone line. And just imagine the fun around the kitchen phone when the little ones listen to you place your first five orders!
Only question remaining for the legal beagles at Col House will such phone calls qualify as a 1 800 version of Adult entertainment as found in your local yellow pages? And if so are they breaking any CRTC rules by listing the lust?
No more dumping that massive envelope from Col House into the recycling bin right away, instead go get the bifocals strengthened, the better to make out the images on those tiny little postage stamp like DVD covers. Across North America the Columbia House magazine may get as dog eared as a favourite old copy of Playboy.
Just think the next time you get a call from the helpful gal at Columbia House she'll be breathlessly telling you the virtues of Prom Queen showdown, Voracious Vixens, et al. Instead of the recitation of the music or mainstream movie stars of the day you'll be tempted with summaries of the latest of the efforts from the seedier side of Hollywood.
You may actually find yourself listening through the entire list, (sorry I missed the first ten could you repeat them please, slowly) before curtly dismissing her from your phone line. And just imagine the fun around the kitchen phone when the little ones listen to you place your first five orders!
Only question remaining for the legal beagles at Col House will such phone calls qualify as a 1 800 version of Adult entertainment as found in your local yellow pages? And if so are they breaking any CRTC rules by listing the lust?
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Wanna be a Spy?
A & E just launched their second season of MI-5 a rather enjoyable and interesting bit of espionage television. Along the lines of North America's 24 with Keifer Sutherland and part Alias with Jennifer Garner, the production from the BBC gives us a look at the world of spooks from the British perspective.
A & E gave us a whirwind tour of the MI-5 world with a marathon Saturday where some of the BBC's season one and all of season two were run back to back through the day. It made for a rather paranoid approach to ones Saturday but none the less provided the necessary background for the new season's debut at 7pm.
While it occasionally lapses into some near "jump the shark kind of moments" it still is a fast paced hour, lots of action, lots of character interplay and a rather believable inside look at the bureaucracy of a major spy agency.
One wonders how hero Tom Quinn continues to stay alive let alone keep his job, but perhaps that is what has made the show a cult hit in North America with its A & E exposure. The folks at A & E also have a pretty nifty little website for the show. Lots of background on the program, past episode guides, an upcoming schedule synopsis, personnel files, downloads for your computer, an ask the expert section and a great little training program for the spy in all of us.
I took the test tonight as I put together this blog item, and while my shooting is fairly accurate and I'm a hell of a bomb squad guy, my abilities to shut off the valves to poison gas need a little work as do my safe cracking skills. On the bright side, I can stick to my cover story pretty faithfully so I can play the role of a mole if need be.
If you want to kill some time (and a few bad guys along the way) check out the site and take the test. Who knows you may have found a secret talent and a new vocation, though one suspects you'll never be able to tell us if you do join the service.
A & E gave us a whirwind tour of the MI-5 world with a marathon Saturday where some of the BBC's season one and all of season two were run back to back through the day. It made for a rather paranoid approach to ones Saturday but none the less provided the necessary background for the new season's debut at 7pm.
While it occasionally lapses into some near "jump the shark kind of moments" it still is a fast paced hour, lots of action, lots of character interplay and a rather believable inside look at the bureaucracy of a major spy agency.
One wonders how hero Tom Quinn continues to stay alive let alone keep his job, but perhaps that is what has made the show a cult hit in North America with its A & E exposure. The folks at A & E also have a pretty nifty little website for the show. Lots of background on the program, past episode guides, an upcoming schedule synopsis, personnel files, downloads for your computer, an ask the expert section and a great little training program for the spy in all of us.
I took the test tonight as I put together this blog item, and while my shooting is fairly accurate and I'm a hell of a bomb squad guy, my abilities to shut off the valves to poison gas need a little work as do my safe cracking skills. On the bright side, I can stick to my cover story pretty faithfully so I can play the role of a mole if need be.
If you want to kill some time (and a few bad guys along the way) check out the site and take the test. Who knows you may have found a secret talent and a new vocation, though one suspects you'll never be able to tell us if you do join the service.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Someone check the mailing lists!
Perhaps Chris Chelios, Tie Domi, Jeremy Roenick and other dissatisfied NHLers (or is that ex-NHLers now) were in the voting booth. But for Gary Bettman this has not been a great way to start off 2005, the votes are in and he's the pits.
Bettman has seen his professional ranking drop in not one, but two major American publications. First he found his Sporting News power ranking tumble from 13th place last year to 40th in the annual listing of the top 100 important people in sport. To add insult to that injury, looking down at Gary from number 39 is none other than Bob Goodenow. No wonder nobody is taking any calls at the NHL office.
And as if that wasn't bad enough, Business Week magazine has released its poll of the seven worst managers in Business and Gary placed fifth in the stumbling seven. Gary shares office space in the doghouse with the likes of Michael Eisner, forced out at Disney in a shareholder revolt, Raymond Gilmartin, he of the troubled makers of Vioxx and Scott Livengood of Krispy Kreme donuts who are in the midst of an investigation into accounting problems.
Also listed in the article in the category of fallen managers is former Nortel CEO Frank Dunn, who has been on watch at the bridge as Nortel took on water. Gary can only hope that he doesn't suffer the same fate, as most hockey fans wish the same for their beloved sport.
Should Gary wish to talk to someone about how to turn things around, Paul Tagliabue is the fellow to chat with. He's listed as the number one sports manager in the pros. Perhaps Gary could ask Scott to send him some donuts for the meeting!
The above posting first appeared in my HockeyNation blog, for more items about hockey check it out!
Bettman has seen his professional ranking drop in not one, but two major American publications. First he found his Sporting News power ranking tumble from 13th place last year to 40th in the annual listing of the top 100 important people in sport. To add insult to that injury, looking down at Gary from number 39 is none other than Bob Goodenow. No wonder nobody is taking any calls at the NHL office.
And as if that wasn't bad enough, Business Week magazine has released its poll of the seven worst managers in Business and Gary placed fifth in the stumbling seven. Gary shares office space in the doghouse with the likes of Michael Eisner, forced out at Disney in a shareholder revolt, Raymond Gilmartin, he of the troubled makers of Vioxx and Scott Livengood of Krispy Kreme donuts who are in the midst of an investigation into accounting problems.
Also listed in the article in the category of fallen managers is former Nortel CEO Frank Dunn, who has been on watch at the bridge as Nortel took on water. Gary can only hope that he doesn't suffer the same fate, as most hockey fans wish the same for their beloved sport.
Should Gary wish to talk to someone about how to turn things around, Paul Tagliabue is the fellow to chat with. He's listed as the number one sports manager in the pros. Perhaps Gary could ask Scott to send him some donuts for the meeting!
The above posting first appeared in my HockeyNation blog, for more items about hockey check it out!
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
There's always FOX, Tucker!
CNN made a move for civil debate today when they offered Tucker Carlson, "the opportunity to pursue other ventures", sending the bow tied conservative commentator off on a job search.
Carlson, who seemed to specialize in high pitched and occassinally nasty sparring of late, found himself at the blunt end of a Jon Stewart salvo recently when Stewart appeared on the CNN program Crossfire. While Tucker exits stage uh right, I guess, his program Crossfire will apparently be dropped altogether, allowing the remaining contributers to to become a calmer more substantive part of CNN's brand. The plan apparently is to keep the three remaining personalities, but give them punditry duties without the Crossfire banner.
Right winger Bob Novak and left leaning Paul Begala and James Carville will still offer up their view of the political scene, though they'll be doing in a less controversial and decibel reduced format.
Crossfire of course is one of the long running fixtures of the early CNN era, probably reaching its zenith of bombastic overdrive when Pat Buchanan and Michael Kinsley used to tee off at each other.
While the folks at FOX may like their volume, it appears that CNN is aiming for more insightful content. For Canadians that are going to miss the noise, hang in there, our ever popular CRTC babysitters are apparently letting you have FOX News very shortly. Tucker was never a shy guy about taking his shots at Canada (whether he had the facts correct to back him up or not), so most likely a spot at FOX would be right up his resume. Though there are reports that he may land at MSNBC, a network he apparently has been in discussion with for a few months now.
And if all else fails Tucker, I hear Al Jazerra (soon to be available in Canada as well) is hiring too, so the options are endless!
Carlson, who seemed to specialize in high pitched and occassinally nasty sparring of late, found himself at the blunt end of a Jon Stewart salvo recently when Stewart appeared on the CNN program Crossfire. While Tucker exits stage uh right, I guess, his program Crossfire will apparently be dropped altogether, allowing the remaining contributers to to become a calmer more substantive part of CNN's brand. The plan apparently is to keep the three remaining personalities, but give them punditry duties without the Crossfire banner.
Right winger Bob Novak and left leaning Paul Begala and James Carville will still offer up their view of the political scene, though they'll be doing in a less controversial and decibel reduced format.
Crossfire of course is one of the long running fixtures of the early CNN era, probably reaching its zenith of bombastic overdrive when Pat Buchanan and Michael Kinsley used to tee off at each other.
While the folks at FOX may like their volume, it appears that CNN is aiming for more insightful content. For Canadians that are going to miss the noise, hang in there, our ever popular CRTC babysitters are apparently letting you have FOX News very shortly. Tucker was never a shy guy about taking his shots at Canada (whether he had the facts correct to back him up or not), so most likely a spot at FOX would be right up his resume. Though there are reports that he may land at MSNBC, a network he apparently has been in discussion with for a few months now.
And if all else fails Tucker, I hear Al Jazerra (soon to be available in Canada as well) is hiring too, so the options are endless!
"Winter nights are long, Summer Days are Gone, Portage and Main, fifty below! "
Randy and Neil forever immortalized a Winnipeg winter with their tribute to cold weather a few years ago. And I can't help but hum along as I read the weather crawler on CTV Newsnet, showing the fact that balmy Churchill, Manitoba is twenty degrees warmer than Winterpeg and southern environs on this crisp Wednesday!
What do hundreds of polar bears know, that hundreds of thousands of Winnipeggers don't?
I'm sure Sean at seanincognito can shed some warm light on the situation for us!
What do hundreds of polar bears know, that hundreds of thousands of Winnipeggers don't?
I'm sure Sean at seanincognito can shed some warm light on the situation for us!
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Sutter's School of Shinny is out for the season!
Professor Sutter's class of 06 has graduated with straight A's. In a spectacular graduation ceremony held Tuesday night at the Ralph Englestad Center for Hockey Excellence, Professor Sutter oversaw his pupils receive their golden diplomas in front of family, friends and a delirious nation watching from the North.
With his team's complete domination of the competition at this years World Junior Hockey Championship, Sutter can take great pride in a job well done. One after another in post game interviews the players would proclaim thanks and respect for their coach, from the early days of training camp evaluations to the pre tourney days of Winnipeg this team came together with one mission in mind, Gold!
Players would recount how he urged them to step up their game, check their egos at the door and buy into a system that seemed perfectly flawless from the opening face off of game one, right to the final buzzer of the Gold Medal game. Sutter never exhibited anything but confidence in his team and with good cause, for this was as impressive a squad as Canada has assembled in a long time.
Night after night, opposition coaches, media observers and hockey fans everywhere sang the praises of a team that seemed to fit together perfectly. Replays of game film will show player after player holding his position, making the hard clean hit at the right time. They never gave up too much ice and rarely left their goaltenders on their own. The offensive players came back and held their checks, the defensive players blocked shots without fear. Rare was the team that could engineer a two on one break, rarer still the player that dared to cross the blue line with a head down.
This was Sutter hockey played by a collection of players who took it to heart, hard nosed, determined and ultimately quite successful. One suspects that the hockey minds of the other nations were taking their notes, breaking down their film and examining a very successful template for victory. Like it has been in the past and now is again, the Canadian brand of hockey is one that stands the test of time.
This years grads will return to their distant outposts in the Q, OHL, Western or American Leagues. But they've forever formed a bond that will no doubt be tested in competition against each other, but will never be unbroken.
In post game interviews Sutter wasn't making any commitments to returning for next years Championships in Vancouver, but one hopes Hockey Canada knows a good thing when they've seen one. This was a well taught, disciplined group of young men who not only performed to a high level of ability but played with pride of nation and respect of the game. We surely cannot ask for anything more!
Sutter's school of Shinny was the tonic for the Hockey Nation. There are countless other students no doubt wishing to study the curriculum and take their own final exams! Here's hoping the Professor signs on for another semester.
The above blog first appeared in my HockeyNation blog, for more articles about Hockey check it out!
With his team's complete domination of the competition at this years World Junior Hockey Championship, Sutter can take great pride in a job well done. One after another in post game interviews the players would proclaim thanks and respect for their coach, from the early days of training camp evaluations to the pre tourney days of Winnipeg this team came together with one mission in mind, Gold!
Players would recount how he urged them to step up their game, check their egos at the door and buy into a system that seemed perfectly flawless from the opening face off of game one, right to the final buzzer of the Gold Medal game. Sutter never exhibited anything but confidence in his team and with good cause, for this was as impressive a squad as Canada has assembled in a long time.
Night after night, opposition coaches, media observers and hockey fans everywhere sang the praises of a team that seemed to fit together perfectly. Replays of game film will show player after player holding his position, making the hard clean hit at the right time. They never gave up too much ice and rarely left their goaltenders on their own. The offensive players came back and held their checks, the defensive players blocked shots without fear. Rare was the team that could engineer a two on one break, rarer still the player that dared to cross the blue line with a head down.
This was Sutter hockey played by a collection of players who took it to heart, hard nosed, determined and ultimately quite successful. One suspects that the hockey minds of the other nations were taking their notes, breaking down their film and examining a very successful template for victory. Like it has been in the past and now is again, the Canadian brand of hockey is one that stands the test of time.
This years grads will return to their distant outposts in the Q, OHL, Western or American Leagues. But they've forever formed a bond that will no doubt be tested in competition against each other, but will never be unbroken.
In post game interviews Sutter wasn't making any commitments to returning for next years Championships in Vancouver, but one hopes Hockey Canada knows a good thing when they've seen one. This was a well taught, disciplined group of young men who not only performed to a high level of ability but played with pride of nation and respect of the game. We surely cannot ask for anything more!
Sutter's school of Shinny was the tonic for the Hockey Nation. There are countless other students no doubt wishing to study the curriculum and take their own final exams! Here's hoping the Professor signs on for another semester.
The above blog first appeared in my HockeyNation blog, for more articles about Hockey check it out!
Полное Доминирование
Полное Доминирование, those two words told all as the World Junior Hockey Championships drew to a close on the frozen plains of North Dakota. Two teams steeped in hockey history took to the ice on Tuesday night, but only one would be draped in Gold Medals at games end.
The statistics of this Junior tournament give testimony to the Полное Доминирование of the Canadian squad in this years gathering.
With Tuesday night's 6-1 thrashing of the vaunted Russian squad, Canada reclaimed its place at the top of the World Hockey hierarchy. In that 6-1 victory, Canada once again controlled the play, outshooting their Russian compatriots 32-19, neutralizing the offesnive weapons of Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malik. The game was the series in review.
Throughout this tournament Canada had complete control of the exhibition of shinny. Canada outshot the combined competition 259-107, Outscored their opponents 41-7, controlled the flow of the play, made the most hits, blocked the most shots, in short exhibited complete domination of all facets of the game. This was a team that never trailed once in any game of the tournament, such was the high level of their game.
Much was made of the offensive prowess of Alexander Ovechkin (mostly from Ovechkin himself) how the Russians would score often on untested Canadian Goaltender Jeff Glass, as Alex would quickly learn you can't score if you can't get close. Canada's defensive units and strong backchecking forwards shut down any semblance of a Russian attack. Ovechkin himself would be forced out of the game by the third period, a crushing open ice hit by Canada's Sidney Crosby causing Ovechkin enough distress to call it a game by the time the third period would start. In this game there would be no showboating, no gloating by Alex and his mates, they could only sit back and watch the lessons unfold. To his credit Ovechkin afterwards acknowledged that the Canadians were the better team. Though he did come by his evidence first hand and close up.
Hard work, talent and superior coaching would not be denied in the 2006 version of the tournament, as the Canadians provided a clinic on what it takes to build a winning squad. Team Canada kept to their game plan with crushing hits, control of the games flow and tight defensive work. They palyed through the frequent stick fouls (many of which went uncalled) of the Russians, who found frustration strike often in the second period, when Canada finally put them away for good. Power play opportunities by the Russians, where they should have been able to get untracked, would go for naught, as Canada shut down the Russian units one after the other.
The actively pro Canada crowd, boosted by many Manitobans who invaded Grand Forks enmasse began their celebrating midway through the third, the Russians having come to the realization that this night and tournament belonged to Canada. The crowd cheered the medal presentation, applauded with gusto as three Canadians were named to the tournament all star team and of course sang with heartful pride as the strains of Oh Canada rose with the flag to the rafters of the Ralph Englestad Centre.
With the latest in Canadian success on the ice, it's safe to proclaim that "the kids are alright", as is the game they play on all frontiers.
The above posting first appeared in my HockeyNation blog, for more articles about Hockey check it out!
The statistics of this Junior tournament give testimony to the Полное Доминирование of the Canadian squad in this years gathering.
With Tuesday night's 6-1 thrashing of the vaunted Russian squad, Canada reclaimed its place at the top of the World Hockey hierarchy. In that 6-1 victory, Canada once again controlled the play, outshooting their Russian compatriots 32-19, neutralizing the offesnive weapons of Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malik. The game was the series in review.
Throughout this tournament Canada had complete control of the exhibition of shinny. Canada outshot the combined competition 259-107, Outscored their opponents 41-7, controlled the flow of the play, made the most hits, blocked the most shots, in short exhibited complete domination of all facets of the game. This was a team that never trailed once in any game of the tournament, such was the high level of their game.
Much was made of the offensive prowess of Alexander Ovechkin (mostly from Ovechkin himself) how the Russians would score often on untested Canadian Goaltender Jeff Glass, as Alex would quickly learn you can't score if you can't get close. Canada's defensive units and strong backchecking forwards shut down any semblance of a Russian attack. Ovechkin himself would be forced out of the game by the third period, a crushing open ice hit by Canada's Sidney Crosby causing Ovechkin enough distress to call it a game by the time the third period would start. In this game there would be no showboating, no gloating by Alex and his mates, they could only sit back and watch the lessons unfold. To his credit Ovechkin afterwards acknowledged that the Canadians were the better team. Though he did come by his evidence first hand and close up.
Hard work, talent and superior coaching would not be denied in the 2006 version of the tournament, as the Canadians provided a clinic on what it takes to build a winning squad. Team Canada kept to their game plan with crushing hits, control of the games flow and tight defensive work. They palyed through the frequent stick fouls (many of which went uncalled) of the Russians, who found frustration strike often in the second period, when Canada finally put them away for good. Power play opportunities by the Russians, where they should have been able to get untracked, would go for naught, as Canada shut down the Russian units one after the other.
The actively pro Canada crowd, boosted by many Manitobans who invaded Grand Forks enmasse began their celebrating midway through the third, the Russians having come to the realization that this night and tournament belonged to Canada. The crowd cheered the medal presentation, applauded with gusto as three Canadians were named to the tournament all star team and of course sang with heartful pride as the strains of Oh Canada rose with the flag to the rafters of the Ralph Englestad Centre.
With the latest in Canadian success on the ice, it's safe to proclaim that "the kids are alright", as is the game they play on all frontiers.
The above posting first appeared in my HockeyNation blog, for more articles about Hockey check it out!
Monday, January 03, 2005
To blog, or not to blog, that is the question!
The last couple of weeks have seen myself and Sean at seanincognito engage in an industrious exchange of e mailings, hashing over the merits of blogging and whether we should continue to slog away at our keyboards day after day.
Sean was on the blog scene before me, launching seanincognito one year ago, a few days before I managed to put Podunk out into the wired universe. I had toyed with the idea back and forth but didn't really formulate an idea of what or where I wanted it to go til towards the second week of January. Once into the pool though, I quickly added to my workload, launching a Hockey dedicated blog called HockeyNation, a football one focused on Canadian football called Twelve Men on the Field and a political malfeasance blog called Boondoggle.
Interestingly enough the one that has become the forgotten one is Boondoggle, I rarely make a post there of late, perhaps I'm tired of the endless material available or perhaps I just have come to the conclusion that there is precious little we can do about our governmental abuse and thus should move on to more rewarding topics. Every once and a while I'll get the bug and file a story to Boondoggle but of late I have just stuck to my knitting at Podunk and HockeyNation.
At times even that has become almost a task instead of a joy, which is where taking a break from blogging sometimes comes in handy. As faithful readers will remember I more or less vaporized in December, to recharge my batteries (not to mention buy and wrap my Christmas gifts!!) the break has at least given me a chance to refocus on the idea of blogging and whether it's worth the amount of time it seems to take in a day (or more likely in the night).
I find it interesting to note that our little hobby is becoming more and more of a maintstream addition to our form of communicating. The word blog became the top word of dictionary entries this year a sure sign that it's part of our lexicon forever now. The readership of blogs is on the rise as well, as more and more people discover our on line communication and use it to help formulate opinions or just get a good laugh or have a good cry! While our readership is up, we're still very much in the baby steps phase, a good number of internet users are still unaware of blogs and what they are designed for.
Blogs Canada has a terrific list of blogs available by category and item of personal interest. They offer us a chance to submit blogs that readers have stumbled across and offer them up for your browsing. It's a pretty comprehensive logging of what is out there. They also provided an election blog forum this past summer as Canadians went to the polls.
There are even Blog Awards out there, not quite as glitzy as the Oscars, nor as financially rewarding as the Grammies, they will however give you an idea as to what's hot at the moment. This year, you can take advantage of the chance to have your say as to which blogs have caught your fancy, check out the poll here..
Of course 2004 became the year of the political blog, with elections in both Canada and the USA, blogging became yet another way of exchanging information, getting a message across or satirizing the pompous and yet to be deflated. Howard Dean had one, Belinda Stronach launched one (how many accidentally found the other Belinda blog?, erotica and nightware for all!) Paul Martin had one (though everyone and their dog suspects a party hack was the defacto poster or is that poseur?) PM the PM like me took some downtime I guess, his blog hasn't been worked on since the election and now is gone completely! Delegates to conventions, media personalities and anyone with a grudge could weigh in with an opinion. Blogs in 2004 became one part great equalizer and one part logjam of the information highway. Everyone and anyone could put their ideas on paper, from policemen to ladies of the evening and soldiers in Iraq, there was room for all!
Beyond that the commercial interests have discovered blogging, companies are beginning to use blogs to convey their message (possibly a sign that the end of the freewheeling blog era is at hand, nice revolution too bad it had to end!). With that comes the dangers too I guess, bloggers have been fired from their jobs for conveying too much of a wrong message (in corporate eyes) thus joining the ranks of the unemployed (no doubt to join those of us already ensconced and holding the high ground!!).
For me it's been an interesting diversion, a chance to pontificate, explore some Walter Mitty like existence of sending out great ideas and hope somebody notices. Some have, most haven't, when you look at the hits of the Big players of the Blog world, my little efforts are akin to the neighborhood newspaper I put together when I was twelve years old, short of the kids on my end of the street no one really read it, nor probably cared too terribly.
But none the less, it's a chance to work out one's frustrations with the world, bounce out some ideas or just stumble across some funny or sad stories to relate. My enthusiasm for the task will no doubt ebb and flow from time to time. Some days I get gung ho and pound out two or three entries some days I wonder why I just don't sit in front of the TV eat a gallon of ice cream and watch re runs of long forgotten shows. There are the days when "real life" gets in the way and blogging is the farthest thing from my mind, then there are days where I'm in the car driving and some great idea will hit me for an item, only to have it disappear by the time the car makes it across town.
I'm not sure what decision Sean will make, for me I hope he keeps writing, his blog entries have always been interesting and educating at times. His efforts this year have resulted in his nomination for a top blog of the year, he's got my vote!!
Of course I look at his work from the subterranean level of a quasi insider, having a slight concept of his process and his beliefs. Yet I think if I just stumbled across his blog I would add it to my favourites list based on its content and always fresh viewpoint.
For me I think the opportunity to put thoughts out there will continue, the odd day of drudgery can be made up by a kind word from someone who found something of interest and sent an e mail. Equally important are the people who drop a line to say you're freakin' nuts, where is that coming from! Debate is the key to free thought, so for those that bother to write keep it up.
Some say that the day of the Blog is almost done, a novel craze like the CB radio, it's destined to fade to a blue screen of death or to suffer that ever popular DNS error page status. For now though I guess I'll do my bit to provide the content fodder, you do yours to keep it all in perspective..
Sean was on the blog scene before me, launching seanincognito one year ago, a few days before I managed to put Podunk out into the wired universe. I had toyed with the idea back and forth but didn't really formulate an idea of what or where I wanted it to go til towards the second week of January. Once into the pool though, I quickly added to my workload, launching a Hockey dedicated blog called HockeyNation, a football one focused on Canadian football called Twelve Men on the Field and a political malfeasance blog called Boondoggle.
Interestingly enough the one that has become the forgotten one is Boondoggle, I rarely make a post there of late, perhaps I'm tired of the endless material available or perhaps I just have come to the conclusion that there is precious little we can do about our governmental abuse and thus should move on to more rewarding topics. Every once and a while I'll get the bug and file a story to Boondoggle but of late I have just stuck to my knitting at Podunk and HockeyNation.
At times even that has become almost a task instead of a joy, which is where taking a break from blogging sometimes comes in handy. As faithful readers will remember I more or less vaporized in December, to recharge my batteries (not to mention buy and wrap my Christmas gifts!!) the break has at least given me a chance to refocus on the idea of blogging and whether it's worth the amount of time it seems to take in a day (or more likely in the night).
I find it interesting to note that our little hobby is becoming more and more of a maintstream addition to our form of communicating. The word blog became the top word of dictionary entries this year a sure sign that it's part of our lexicon forever now. The readership of blogs is on the rise as well, as more and more people discover our on line communication and use it to help formulate opinions or just get a good laugh or have a good cry! While our readership is up, we're still very much in the baby steps phase, a good number of internet users are still unaware of blogs and what they are designed for.
Blogs Canada has a terrific list of blogs available by category and item of personal interest. They offer us a chance to submit blogs that readers have stumbled across and offer them up for your browsing. It's a pretty comprehensive logging of what is out there. They also provided an election blog forum this past summer as Canadians went to the polls.
There are even Blog Awards out there, not quite as glitzy as the Oscars, nor as financially rewarding as the Grammies, they will however give you an idea as to what's hot at the moment. This year, you can take advantage of the chance to have your say as to which blogs have caught your fancy, check out the poll here..
Of course 2004 became the year of the political blog, with elections in both Canada and the USA, blogging became yet another way of exchanging information, getting a message across or satirizing the pompous and yet to be deflated. Howard Dean had one, Belinda Stronach launched one (how many accidentally found the other Belinda blog?, erotica and nightware for all!) Paul Martin had one (though everyone and their dog suspects a party hack was the defacto poster or is that poseur?) PM the PM like me took some downtime I guess, his blog hasn't been worked on since the election and now is gone completely! Delegates to conventions, media personalities and anyone with a grudge could weigh in with an opinion. Blogs in 2004 became one part great equalizer and one part logjam of the information highway. Everyone and anyone could put their ideas on paper, from policemen to ladies of the evening and soldiers in Iraq, there was room for all!
Beyond that the commercial interests have discovered blogging, companies are beginning to use blogs to convey their message (possibly a sign that the end of the freewheeling blog era is at hand, nice revolution too bad it had to end!). With that comes the dangers too I guess, bloggers have been fired from their jobs for conveying too much of a wrong message (in corporate eyes) thus joining the ranks of the unemployed (no doubt to join those of us already ensconced and holding the high ground!!).
For me it's been an interesting diversion, a chance to pontificate, explore some Walter Mitty like existence of sending out great ideas and hope somebody notices. Some have, most haven't, when you look at the hits of the Big players of the Blog world, my little efforts are akin to the neighborhood newspaper I put together when I was twelve years old, short of the kids on my end of the street no one really read it, nor probably cared too terribly.
But none the less, it's a chance to work out one's frustrations with the world, bounce out some ideas or just stumble across some funny or sad stories to relate. My enthusiasm for the task will no doubt ebb and flow from time to time. Some days I get gung ho and pound out two or three entries some days I wonder why I just don't sit in front of the TV eat a gallon of ice cream and watch re runs of long forgotten shows. There are the days when "real life" gets in the way and blogging is the farthest thing from my mind, then there are days where I'm in the car driving and some great idea will hit me for an item, only to have it disappear by the time the car makes it across town.
I'm not sure what decision Sean will make, for me I hope he keeps writing, his blog entries have always been interesting and educating at times. His efforts this year have resulted in his nomination for a top blog of the year, he's got my vote!!
Of course I look at his work from the subterranean level of a quasi insider, having a slight concept of his process and his beliefs. Yet I think if I just stumbled across his blog I would add it to my favourites list based on its content and always fresh viewpoint.
For me I think the opportunity to put thoughts out there will continue, the odd day of drudgery can be made up by a kind word from someone who found something of interest and sent an e mail. Equally important are the people who drop a line to say you're freakin' nuts, where is that coming from! Debate is the key to free thought, so for those that bother to write keep it up.
Some say that the day of the Blog is almost done, a novel craze like the CB radio, it's destined to fade to a blue screen of death or to suffer that ever popular DNS error page status. For now though I guess I'll do my bit to provide the content fodder, you do yours to keep it all in perspective..
Essential's of December
Catching up on our listing of past Daily Essentials, this batch from the entire month of December. (except for those days where I was not to be found or when I forgot to copy my links!!)
1-Dec-04 History 101 from George Bush
1-Dec-04 Great Danes, Get lost!
1-Dec-04 Blog is the word
1-Dec-04 Your Boss won't pony up a bonus, but you'll have a hell of a party!
1-Dec-04 Babar the redneck elephant?
2-Dec-04 Rudy's gang take their places
2-Dec-04 Road rage in a dangerous place
2-Dec-04 Roger and Mel share their snub
2-Dec-04 Never mind missile defence, we need microbe defence
2-Dec-04 MSN spaces, Bill Gates Final Frontier?
3-Dec-04 Blame it On the English and their Railway!
3-Dec-04 Stalin's secret stash
3-Dec-04 Revenge of the Colonies
3-Dec-04 Big Blue Bails
3-Dec-04 Time to control the Internet?
20-Dec-04 He's a uniter, not a divider!
20-Dec-04 With extreme condolence, yours truly, fill in my name
20-Dec-04 Big Paulie's Christmas Vacation
20-Dec-04 Paulie and Mo, pals forever
20-Dec-04 If you don't ask, then I won't tell
21-Dec-04 Quick! Who's buying the Guinness
21-Dec-04 A sudden chill for the Internet
21-Dec-04 You want us to go where?
21-Dec-04 Kyoto a go go?
21-Dec-04 Brits are G7 Boozehounds
22-Dec-04 Forgot to save the silly links!!!
23-Dec-04 Oh Danny boy!
23-Dec-04 Rummy takes a road trip
23-Dec-04 Twenty five years to plan!
23-Dec-04 Servin' Up snacks for Santa
23-Dec-04 Hockey Lockout hitting up your wallet
24-Dec-04 Christmas in Bethlehem
24-Dec-04 Midnight Mass!
24-Dec-04 I'll be home for Christmas! (if only in my dreams!!)
24-Dec-04 They should have been good, for goodness sake!
24-Dec-04 Oh Christmas, Oh Christmas Tree! Why does thou infect me?
27-Dec-04 The rising toll of the Asian Tsunami
27-Dec-04 A slip of the tongue?
27-Dec-04 Ukraine selects its leader
27-Dec-04 Osama's democratic deficit
27-Dec-04 High winds, deep snow make the Maritimes a no go
28-Dec-04 A count with no end
28-Dec-04 Where's Canada?
28-Dec-04 Where did all the animals go?
28-Dec-04 Calling on the people to back up their ballots!
28-Dec-04 The hitch-hikers guide to space travel
29-Dec-04 The ever growing toll
29-Dec-04 Indonesia's events can change the world
29-Dec-04 Rollin', Rolln', Rollin', get them doggies Rollin'
29-Dec-04 The falling Leaf in Newfoundland
29-Dec-04 A farewell to Mr. Orbach
30-Dec-04 The World Steps Up
30-Dec-04 Another Cow, Another Crisis?
30-Dec-04 Boston's Shovel and save ritual
30-Dec-04 Adscam Anger in letters
30-Dec-04 Bonhomme hits the bricks
31-Dec-04 Hard to celebrate a New Year
31-Dec-04 Aid starts to arrive
31-Dec-04 Writing on the wall, read well!
31-Dec-04 Good Riddance 2004, a second defeat for Martha in one year
31-Dec-04 The Big Dig
1-Dec-04 History 101 from George Bush
1-Dec-04 Great Danes, Get lost!
1-Dec-04 Blog is the word
1-Dec-04 Your Boss won't pony up a bonus, but you'll have a hell of a party!
1-Dec-04 Babar the redneck elephant?
2-Dec-04 Rudy's gang take their places
2-Dec-04 Road rage in a dangerous place
2-Dec-04 Roger and Mel share their snub
2-Dec-04 Never mind missile defence, we need microbe defence
2-Dec-04 MSN spaces, Bill Gates Final Frontier?
3-Dec-04 Blame it On the English and their Railway!
3-Dec-04 Stalin's secret stash
3-Dec-04 Revenge of the Colonies
3-Dec-04 Big Blue Bails
3-Dec-04 Time to control the Internet?
20-Dec-04 He's a uniter, not a divider!
20-Dec-04 With extreme condolence, yours truly, fill in my name
20-Dec-04 Big Paulie's Christmas Vacation
20-Dec-04 Paulie and Mo, pals forever
20-Dec-04 If you don't ask, then I won't tell
21-Dec-04 Quick! Who's buying the Guinness
21-Dec-04 A sudden chill for the Internet
21-Dec-04 You want us to go where?
21-Dec-04 Kyoto a go go?
21-Dec-04 Brits are G7 Boozehounds
22-Dec-04 Forgot to save the silly links!!!
23-Dec-04 Oh Danny boy!
23-Dec-04 Rummy takes a road trip
23-Dec-04 Twenty five years to plan!
23-Dec-04 Servin' Up snacks for Santa
23-Dec-04 Hockey Lockout hitting up your wallet
24-Dec-04 Christmas in Bethlehem
24-Dec-04 Midnight Mass!
24-Dec-04 I'll be home for Christmas! (if only in my dreams!!)
24-Dec-04 They should have been good, for goodness sake!
24-Dec-04 Oh Christmas, Oh Christmas Tree! Why does thou infect me?
27-Dec-04 The rising toll of the Asian Tsunami
27-Dec-04 A slip of the tongue?
27-Dec-04 Ukraine selects its leader
27-Dec-04 Osama's democratic deficit
27-Dec-04 High winds, deep snow make the Maritimes a no go
28-Dec-04 A count with no end
28-Dec-04 Where's Canada?
28-Dec-04 Where did all the animals go?
28-Dec-04 Calling on the people to back up their ballots!
28-Dec-04 The hitch-hikers guide to space travel
29-Dec-04 The ever growing toll
29-Dec-04 Indonesia's events can change the world
29-Dec-04 Rollin', Rolln', Rollin', get them doggies Rollin'
29-Dec-04 The falling Leaf in Newfoundland
29-Dec-04 A farewell to Mr. Orbach
30-Dec-04 The World Steps Up
30-Dec-04 Another Cow, Another Crisis?
30-Dec-04 Boston's Shovel and save ritual
30-Dec-04 Adscam Anger in letters
30-Dec-04 Bonhomme hits the bricks
31-Dec-04 Hard to celebrate a New Year
31-Dec-04 Aid starts to arrive
31-Dec-04 Writing on the wall, read well!
31-Dec-04 Good Riddance 2004, a second defeat for Martha in one year
31-Dec-04 The Big Dig
A Gloomy Gretzky!
Things must not be going well in negotiations (if negotiations is the right word for this lack of discussion) between the NHL and the NHLPA. The usually ever optimistic Wayne Gretzky, gave a rather down press conference Sunday night at the World Junior Hockey Championships in North Dakota.
Pinned down in the press centre, Gretzky expressed fears that not only this current season may be in jeopardy, but the beginning of the 2005-2006 one as well. Explaining that the players don't get paid from April to September, he suggested they would be less than interested in going back to work promptly in September, having survived over a year without pay what would be a few more months, possibly stretching over two years! Not a rosy picture to greet the New Year is it!
Unless things have been happening under deep cover of secrecy, there seems to have been no effort made by either side to resolve the impasse, get back to a table and settle things as soon as possible. The clock is ticking, many expect the January 14th date to be the end of hockey for this year. The end of January the last window of opportunity for North American pros to scramble aboard that European league lifeboat.
Should the two sides not make any progress by mid month, expect a swarm of North Americans to be stocking your favourite Swiss, Swedish, German and Italian league team. Before you know it you do may be chanting LETS GO MODO, LETS GO!!
The above posting first appeared on my HockeyNation blog, for more items about hockey check it out!
Pinned down in the press centre, Gretzky expressed fears that not only this current season may be in jeopardy, but the beginning of the 2005-2006 one as well. Explaining that the players don't get paid from April to September, he suggested they would be less than interested in going back to work promptly in September, having survived over a year without pay what would be a few more months, possibly stretching over two years! Not a rosy picture to greet the New Year is it!
Unless things have been happening under deep cover of secrecy, there seems to have been no effort made by either side to resolve the impasse, get back to a table and settle things as soon as possible. The clock is ticking, many expect the January 14th date to be the end of hockey for this year. The end of January the last window of opportunity for North American pros to scramble aboard that European league lifeboat.
Should the two sides not make any progress by mid month, expect a swarm of North Americans to be stocking your favourite Swiss, Swedish, German and Italian league team. Before you know it you do may be chanting LETS GO MODO, LETS GO!!
The above posting first appeared on my HockeyNation blog, for more items about hockey check it out!
Bring on the Bears!
Somehow it seems fitting that this World Junior Hockey Championship will finish off with a one game, winner take all showdown between Russia and Team Canada. With all due respect to our American friends, particularly as they've been such decent hosts this past week, but Canadians live and breathe for the chance to measure up hockey wise against the Nation to the North of us.
While a Canada/US matchup would have been boffo for the box office and would still have brought TSN some incredible TV ratings, don't think for a minute that everyone involved in Team Canada isn't licking their lips for the chance to go line for line with the Russian juniors.
Ever since we first started skating on the same ice surfaces as the Russians there has been something incredible about taking on the sons (and I guess now daughters too) of Kruschev, Brezhnev, Andropov, Chernenko, Gorbachov Yeltsin and Putin to name a few of the past leaders of empires past and present. Despite our now common familiarity with players from Russia in both the pro and amateur ranks there is still that extra feeling when they pull on their national sweaters and line up for the opening face off.
From Olympic games past, through the 72 summit, to the Canada Cups, World Cups, Challenge tours and junior tournies the measure of Canadian hockey is always best answered with a victory over the Russians. A loss can send us into therapy and royal commissions for years, a win and all is well in the Great White North, our step is quicker our smiles brighter. Silly yes, but the importance of the game takes on much more intensity when the Red and White matches up with the Big Reds (now tastefully dressed in touches of blue and white as well!)
Tuesday night, another chapter in the great rivalry will be written. Team Canada has looked rather impressive thus far, with less coverage of the Russians we're not quite sure what kind of team will show up. This will be the ultimate pressure game for our young juniors, having not won a gold medal since 1997 there was more than enough to think about, you add on the arrival of the Russian team and we double our fun.
Brent Sutter and the assistants have done a remarkable job of keeping the team focused on the task at hand. They have cut through this tournament like a machine (comparisons to Russian teams of days gone by continue to be proclaimed) each player knowing his place, taking to his duties without missing a beat. The chance of nerves affecting this crew seems rather slim, instead we should sit back and prepare for a terrific display of hockey.
The Russian's took to taunting the Americans at the end of their semi final game, a mistake in my mind. Despite the relative ease that Canada had in this tournament, they never once seemed to waste their time with that kind of silly behaviour. Russian Wunderkid Alexander Ovechkin was quick to the press on Sunday, busy reminding Canadians that they have never defeated the Russians in a Gold Medal game, making Sutters' job that much easier for Tuesday night.
The Russians had best have gotten the taunting thing out of their system, as they most likely won't be given much of a chance to replay it against Canada. If the Canadians stick to their game plan, stay focused on the prize there's more than a better chance we'll be hearing Oh Canada at the end of Tuesday night! Lets hope that Alex Ovechkin can follow the words!!
The above posting first appeared in my HockeyNation blog, for more items about Canada's favourite passion check it out!
While a Canada/US matchup would have been boffo for the box office and would still have brought TSN some incredible TV ratings, don't think for a minute that everyone involved in Team Canada isn't licking their lips for the chance to go line for line with the Russian juniors.
Ever since we first started skating on the same ice surfaces as the Russians there has been something incredible about taking on the sons (and I guess now daughters too) of Kruschev, Brezhnev, Andropov, Chernenko, Gorbachov Yeltsin and Putin to name a few of the past leaders of empires past and present. Despite our now common familiarity with players from Russia in both the pro and amateur ranks there is still that extra feeling when they pull on their national sweaters and line up for the opening face off.
From Olympic games past, through the 72 summit, to the Canada Cups, World Cups, Challenge tours and junior tournies the measure of Canadian hockey is always best answered with a victory over the Russians. A loss can send us into therapy and royal commissions for years, a win and all is well in the Great White North, our step is quicker our smiles brighter. Silly yes, but the importance of the game takes on much more intensity when the Red and White matches up with the Big Reds (now tastefully dressed in touches of blue and white as well!)
Tuesday night, another chapter in the great rivalry will be written. Team Canada has looked rather impressive thus far, with less coverage of the Russians we're not quite sure what kind of team will show up. This will be the ultimate pressure game for our young juniors, having not won a gold medal since 1997 there was more than enough to think about, you add on the arrival of the Russian team and we double our fun.
Brent Sutter and the assistants have done a remarkable job of keeping the team focused on the task at hand. They have cut through this tournament like a machine (comparisons to Russian teams of days gone by continue to be proclaimed) each player knowing his place, taking to his duties without missing a beat. The chance of nerves affecting this crew seems rather slim, instead we should sit back and prepare for a terrific display of hockey.
The Russian's took to taunting the Americans at the end of their semi final game, a mistake in my mind. Despite the relative ease that Canada had in this tournament, they never once seemed to waste their time with that kind of silly behaviour. Russian Wunderkid Alexander Ovechkin was quick to the press on Sunday, busy reminding Canadians that they have never defeated the Russians in a Gold Medal game, making Sutters' job that much easier for Tuesday night.
The Russians had best have gotten the taunting thing out of their system, as they most likely won't be given much of a chance to replay it against Canada. If the Canadians stick to their game plan, stay focused on the prize there's more than a better chance we'll be hearing Oh Canada at the end of Tuesday night! Lets hope that Alex Ovechkin can follow the words!!
The above posting first appeared in my HockeyNation blog, for more items about Canada's favourite passion check it out!
Sunday, January 02, 2005
A quest for relevance
With the Prime Minister returning to Ottawa on Saturday and convening an emergency cabinet meeting for Sunday, there is a hope that finally we’ll develop some kind of tangible response plan to the Southeast Asian catastrophe.
Sure we’ve pulled out the cheque book, annoucned a debt moratorium and pushed a few less than comfortable looking cabinet ministers in front of the cameras and promised to provide more assistance soon. But with a week already gone by since this horrible situation first developed, we’re still looking a little short on the whole response thing.
The latest promise is that if our reconnaissance team finds it useful we shall begin the process of sending our DART forces off to render aid. Considering the expected time frame of at least a week to get the force in place somewhere in the affected area, we’re decidedly looking to be a little slow on the “rapid deployment” part of the aid programs.
James Travers of The Toronto Star has provided an excellent breakdown of the complete sense of confusion that seemed to envelope "Official" Ottawa as this situation developed and raced beyond the grasp of our political leaders.
Completely unacceptable is the way this was handled by Ottawa. The last six days have not give Canadians much reassurance that their government has any concept as to how to best provide help when help is needed most. From the original offering of 4 million dollars (roughly 96 million less than was thrown away on sponsorgate, or God know how much frittered away on the gun registry) we have moved to the 40 million plateau and now find the government offering to match individual donations to registered charities. Fortunately Canadians have opened up their hearts and pockets and will surely hold the government to that promise. But some very important questions remain questions that the Prime Minister and his cabinet had best ponder with passion.
While Canada sat in neutral as far as tangible assistance goes (i.e.: actual resources and bodies to help) other countries were rushing to the scene. The Australians, the French, the Germans, to name a few, you watch the news you see their planes, they sent aid fast a small beginning but at least a beginning. The USA much kicked around in our country at times, has sent transport planes, naval ships and medical help to the hardest hit areas. While we were trying to find our feet, they had their assets on the scene. They are the world’s richest nation and obviously can do so much more, but they certainly shouldn’t be hearing any bleating from Canada about getting involved. To date one Canadian plane has arrived in the area, landing in Sri Lanka today. One plane! Yet in the Liberal caucus there was concern raised about joining in a coalition with George Bush to render assistance, rather than through the UN. Backbenchers expressed worry that we were getting to close to the American plan and not taking a more multi national approach. To those backbenchers a simple request just shut up. I’m pretty sure that the survivors in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other locales don’t give a hoot if George Bush, Kofi Annan or Paul Martin flies a plane of medicine in, as long as somebody sends the damn plane.
And that brings us to Canada’s non monetary options, other than cutting some cheques, at the moment we seem incapable of offering much more than hopeful thoughts and wishes. The simple fact is our military has been neglected to a state of pointlessness. The situation with DART only goes to highlight that sorry state of capability. In a normal response situation a much needed service such as DART should have been loaded up and in the air within 48 hours of the first word of the disaster. But Canada has no such capability to launch the program at all, our Hercules aircraft outdated, overworked and few in numbers just aren’t up to the task.
The time has come to provide the proper transport ability to respond when needed. There must be Transport planes such as the American Starlifter or the Antonov planes used by the Ukraine out there and available for purchase. The time has come for this government to write that cheque, never again must we be in the position of having to beg off of a task because we just can’t get there.
Another much needed item is some heavy lift vessels for the Navy; huge ships that can load up these mobile hospitals, vehicles and even armed tanks or recon vehicles that will provide much needed back up to forces dispatched to the worlds trouble spots. It will cost money, but I have a feeling that Canadians have been embarrassed by our weak efforts these past seven days, they’ll understand the need to spend the dollars to make sure we never find ourselves standing around wringing our hands because we just can’t get the job done.
There are disquieting reports that when we say that “DART was not requested” it was because we as a country requested that it NOT be requested. Hard to ever prove, but the simple fact that the DART service has never been put in use since 1999 lends more than a glimmer of truth to that idea.
Last year we chose not to send DART to Haiti due to the cost of putting it into motion. There must come a time when you either use it or disband it and no longer pretend that we can and will lend a hand when the time comes to step up.
The level of staffing in the Armed Forces must be increased immediately as well, we have far too long expected too much from a small but dedicated band of soldiers, sailors and air force personnel. No less than 100,000 members should be allocated to the Armed Forces, and not the pencil pushing, bureaucratic forces that we seem so over burdened with. Boots on the ground, sailors at sea and planes in the air that’s where we will find the best results.
It’s a simple question Mr. Martin needs to ask his cabinet colleagues, do they want Canada to be relevant anymore or should we just go on pretending that we can do jobs that we obviously can’t perform in any dependable fashion.
The world will be watching, because sadly we know that eventually another horrible disaster will strike somewhere in the world. The thing we need to ask ourselves today is simple. Are we prepared to step up and do our part, when the call comes. Or will we again see a repeat of the last seven days of dithering. Mr. Martin, it’s time to get back on your message and show that Canada will do far more than our share when the need is greatest. We used to make a difference, we used to respond promptly, and we used to feel proud. The time has come to stop with the used to be’s!
Sure we’ve pulled out the cheque book, annoucned a debt moratorium and pushed a few less than comfortable looking cabinet ministers in front of the cameras and promised to provide more assistance soon. But with a week already gone by since this horrible situation first developed, we’re still looking a little short on the whole response thing.
The latest promise is that if our reconnaissance team finds it useful we shall begin the process of sending our DART forces off to render aid. Considering the expected time frame of at least a week to get the force in place somewhere in the affected area, we’re decidedly looking to be a little slow on the “rapid deployment” part of the aid programs.
James Travers of The Toronto Star has provided an excellent breakdown of the complete sense of confusion that seemed to envelope "Official" Ottawa as this situation developed and raced beyond the grasp of our political leaders.
Completely unacceptable is the way this was handled by Ottawa. The last six days have not give Canadians much reassurance that their government has any concept as to how to best provide help when help is needed most. From the original offering of 4 million dollars (roughly 96 million less than was thrown away on sponsorgate, or God know how much frittered away on the gun registry) we have moved to the 40 million plateau and now find the government offering to match individual donations to registered charities. Fortunately Canadians have opened up their hearts and pockets and will surely hold the government to that promise. But some very important questions remain questions that the Prime Minister and his cabinet had best ponder with passion.
While Canada sat in neutral as far as tangible assistance goes (i.e.: actual resources and bodies to help) other countries were rushing to the scene. The Australians, the French, the Germans, to name a few, you watch the news you see their planes, they sent aid fast a small beginning but at least a beginning. The USA much kicked around in our country at times, has sent transport planes, naval ships and medical help to the hardest hit areas. While we were trying to find our feet, they had their assets on the scene. They are the world’s richest nation and obviously can do so much more, but they certainly shouldn’t be hearing any bleating from Canada about getting involved. To date one Canadian plane has arrived in the area, landing in Sri Lanka today. One plane! Yet in the Liberal caucus there was concern raised about joining in a coalition with George Bush to render assistance, rather than through the UN. Backbenchers expressed worry that we were getting to close to the American plan and not taking a more multi national approach. To those backbenchers a simple request just shut up. I’m pretty sure that the survivors in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other locales don’t give a hoot if George Bush, Kofi Annan or Paul Martin flies a plane of medicine in, as long as somebody sends the damn plane.
And that brings us to Canada’s non monetary options, other than cutting some cheques, at the moment we seem incapable of offering much more than hopeful thoughts and wishes. The simple fact is our military has been neglected to a state of pointlessness. The situation with DART only goes to highlight that sorry state of capability. In a normal response situation a much needed service such as DART should have been loaded up and in the air within 48 hours of the first word of the disaster. But Canada has no such capability to launch the program at all, our Hercules aircraft outdated, overworked and few in numbers just aren’t up to the task.
The time has come to provide the proper transport ability to respond when needed. There must be Transport planes such as the American Starlifter or the Antonov planes used by the Ukraine out there and available for purchase. The time has come for this government to write that cheque, never again must we be in the position of having to beg off of a task because we just can’t get there.
Another much needed item is some heavy lift vessels for the Navy; huge ships that can load up these mobile hospitals, vehicles and even armed tanks or recon vehicles that will provide much needed back up to forces dispatched to the worlds trouble spots. It will cost money, but I have a feeling that Canadians have been embarrassed by our weak efforts these past seven days, they’ll understand the need to spend the dollars to make sure we never find ourselves standing around wringing our hands because we just can’t get the job done.
There are disquieting reports that when we say that “DART was not requested” it was because we as a country requested that it NOT be requested. Hard to ever prove, but the simple fact that the DART service has never been put in use since 1999 lends more than a glimmer of truth to that idea.
Last year we chose not to send DART to Haiti due to the cost of putting it into motion. There must come a time when you either use it or disband it and no longer pretend that we can and will lend a hand when the time comes to step up.
The level of staffing in the Armed Forces must be increased immediately as well, we have far too long expected too much from a small but dedicated band of soldiers, sailors and air force personnel. No less than 100,000 members should be allocated to the Armed Forces, and not the pencil pushing, bureaucratic forces that we seem so over burdened with. Boots on the ground, sailors at sea and planes in the air that’s where we will find the best results.
It’s a simple question Mr. Martin needs to ask his cabinet colleagues, do they want Canada to be relevant anymore or should we just go on pretending that we can do jobs that we obviously can’t perform in any dependable fashion.
The world will be watching, because sadly we know that eventually another horrible disaster will strike somewhere in the world. The thing we need to ask ourselves today is simple. Are we prepared to step up and do our part, when the call comes. Or will we again see a repeat of the last seven days of dithering. Mr. Martin, it’s time to get back on your message and show that Canada will do far more than our share when the need is greatest. We used to make a difference, we used to respond promptly, and we used to feel proud. The time has come to stop with the used to be’s!
Saturday, January 01, 2005
A New Year, A New Chance!
2004 has ended on such a horrific global note that it seems hard to even motivate oneself to even contemplate Good Wishes. But part of human nature is to battle forth through the terrible things and try to make things better.
So we approach this post with that in mind. We won't forget the things that make us wonder just how much time we surely have left here due to our own selfishness or the ravages of Nature. But perhaps with a new year dawning we can attempt to turn a page to make life better for all, to improve ourselves, to offer help instead of hindrance, hope instead of despair.
Well enough of the flowery stuff, I'm sure you get the drift. There is much heavy lifting for all of us in the year ahead. Whether around the world, across our country, in your own neighbourhood or even in our own homes. May we be up to the task and not disappoint those that depend on us.
Thanks to those that have read, contributed or critiqued this site, somedays you wonder if anyone is even reading let alone finding anything worthwhile. If I keep getting hits on the site, I'll keep hitting keys on the keyboard..
May 2005 bring happiness, comfort, security and joy to all.
So we approach this post with that in mind. We won't forget the things that make us wonder just how much time we surely have left here due to our own selfishness or the ravages of Nature. But perhaps with a new year dawning we can attempt to turn a page to make life better for all, to improve ourselves, to offer help instead of hindrance, hope instead of despair.
Well enough of the flowery stuff, I'm sure you get the drift. There is much heavy lifting for all of us in the year ahead. Whether around the world, across our country, in your own neighbourhood or even in our own homes. May we be up to the task and not disappoint those that depend on us.
Thanks to those that have read, contributed or critiqued this site, somedays you wonder if anyone is even reading let alone finding anything worthwhile. If I keep getting hits on the site, I'll keep hitting keys on the keyboard..
May 2005 bring happiness, comfort, security and joy to all.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Where's Waldo?
Now first off, I certainly don't expect the Prime Minister to abandon his Christmas/New Years vacation, nor do I begrudge him the use of an Armed Forces plane to travel the world (even if it is used to visit unseemly foreign dictators/tyrants who feel the need to redeem their image, but that's another story) on our behalf.
But when a human catastrophe such as the current Asian basin earthquake/tsunami happens, one at least expects the leader of a G8 nation (and a nation that pats itself on the back frequently for its good deeds) to at least make a statement as to what his nation will do to help. He could have merely called in the press, said we were shocked, alarmed, concerned etc, etc, etc and will work night and day to render whatever assistance we can provide. Find someone in Ottawa to take the point and it could have been back to the beach, the dune or wherever it is that he's at.
I'll tackle the feeble early effort of "official Canada" in a later post, for now the generosity of the "average" Canadian is at least showing we have a pulse. But our government has more than dropped the ball on this situation. From the wandering ministers called in on their holidays to say a few words, over to the folks at External Affairs who really have no idea as to the status of missing Canadians we've been less than brilliantly served by our Political pontificators and our bureaucratic minions.
At least we managed to ratchet up our cheque writing abilities from the pathetic four million dollars to up and over 40 million today, but really we have the capability to offer the world much more than just dollars, but alas we seem mired in incompetence.
The public would have liked to have been reassured that we have a plan, a desire and the ability to do something. Starting with a least a statement from the guy that has been promising to improve our world image and return us to the prominent role we once held. So far were tall on talk, short on action. This whole situation has not been handled well by anyone in Official Ottawa, from a Prime Minister to minor minion in the offices of government we've dropped the ball, time to pick it up and get to work!
But when a human catastrophe such as the current Asian basin earthquake/tsunami happens, one at least expects the leader of a G8 nation (and a nation that pats itself on the back frequently for its good deeds) to at least make a statement as to what his nation will do to help. He could have merely called in the press, said we were shocked, alarmed, concerned etc, etc, etc and will work night and day to render whatever assistance we can provide. Find someone in Ottawa to take the point and it could have been back to the beach, the dune or wherever it is that he's at.
I'll tackle the feeble early effort of "official Canada" in a later post, for now the generosity of the "average" Canadian is at least showing we have a pulse. But our government has more than dropped the ball on this situation. From the wandering ministers called in on their holidays to say a few words, over to the folks at External Affairs who really have no idea as to the status of missing Canadians we've been less than brilliantly served by our Political pontificators and our bureaucratic minions.
At least we managed to ratchet up our cheque writing abilities from the pathetic four million dollars to up and over 40 million today, but really we have the capability to offer the world much more than just dollars, but alas we seem mired in incompetence.
The public would have liked to have been reassured that we have a plan, a desire and the ability to do something. Starting with a least a statement from the guy that has been promising to improve our world image and return us to the prominent role we once held. So far were tall on talk, short on action. This whole situation has not been handled well by anyone in Official Ottawa, from a Prime Minister to minor minion in the offices of government we've dropped the ball, time to pick it up and get to work!
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Jerry it's as though we knew ya!
It was sad to hear of the passing of actor Jerry Orbach, best known for the role of Lennie Briscoe in Law and Order, Orbach was the consummate character actor. You could almost sense the character of Briscoe brought to life by Orbach.
Little known to those of us who just get our pop culture from the tube, Orbach was an accomplished actor in the movies and on broadway including stints as a song and dance man. A long forgotten art of show business.
Perhaps the best testimony to his talent is the fact that he managed to survive twelve seasons in the revolving door cast of the NBC hit. Dick Wolf who created Law and Order had developed a bit of reputation for cycling through his cast members until Orbach arrived and just seemed to fit the role perfectly as the wise, rumpled and cynical officer of the law.
The key at the end of the day one guesses is that your daily toil is recognized as a job well done. In this Mr. Orbach can rest easy, the kind words spoken of him today will bear witness to his work!
Little known to those of us who just get our pop culture from the tube, Orbach was an accomplished actor in the movies and on broadway including stints as a song and dance man. A long forgotten art of show business.
Perhaps the best testimony to his talent is the fact that he managed to survive twelve seasons in the revolving door cast of the NBC hit. Dick Wolf who created Law and Order had developed a bit of reputation for cycling through his cast members until Orbach arrived and just seemed to fit the role perfectly as the wise, rumpled and cynical officer of the law.
The key at the end of the day one guesses is that your daily toil is recognized as a job well done. In this Mr. Orbach can rest easy, the kind words spoken of him today will bear witness to his work!
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Something completely incomprehensible!
You watch the visual images on television or the net and just wonder what must have gone through the minds of the mothers, fathers and children of the Asian basin as that wall of water crashed ashore in so many places.
The fear on the faces is one to wrench your heart, the feeling of helplessness compounded by the distance from the actual event.
The totals of the dead rise by the hour, seemingly never to end as more and more villages are rediscovered abandoned as the water recedes. In most cases those that had so little to begin with, now seem to have even less.
The International community is slowly coming to the scene to offer whatever aid and assistance can be provided with such a historical tragedy of Nature. Donations are asked for and surely will be provided. Yet internal politics will get in the way, already reports are coming out about Muslim groups in Sri Lanka refusing aid from Israel, refusing to put aside hatred in aid of their own people. Splinter groups of rebels have refused to allow government troops inside their territories to render assistance when it is most needed. There are already fears that whatever monies are provided will only get caught up in a bureaucracy that seems incapable of placing the common good at the forefront of the list. The concept of it all boggles the mind, when tragedy on a scale such as this takes place surely ancient hatreds and rivalries, not to mention bureaucratic incompetence can be put aside for the good of the ones suffering the most.
Canada has provided some monies and NGO organizations are sending their forces to lend assistance. One curious absence is the DART component of the Canadian Forces, a supposedly rapid relief force that has been designed to respond to just these types of emergencies, yet curiously has rarely been sent to many international disasters. This time it supposedly is because we haven’t been asked for, yet when you read of the mission statement of the force, there probably is no better example of why it has been assembled. Sadly our cash and equipment starved Forces have found themselves in this situation before, unable to load up and head out until the need has passed. This is not the place for pointing of fingers and such, but there needs to be a serious accounting of why one of the world’s richest countries seems to be incapable of responding promptly when these major disasters strike. Paul Martin has made much of his bid to return Canada to the forefront of the world’s nations. The time is long nigh for less talk and far more action. We need to provide tangible assistance and not just kind words and pats on our own back.
For now though all our thoughts and prayers should be with the people who have found their lives shattered by the wrath of Nature. Totally unpredictable these waves have washed far beyond their shores. You only need watch television and see the grief on their faces to realize the horror that they have suffered. The numbers of the dead are numbing, the potential for even more devastation through disease and hunger even more daunting.
You feel so helpless when these things happen. The feelings we have; is it guilt or relief that it was their part of the world and not yours? The random fate of humankind seems so unfair at times, one day you awaken to start your day, and suddenly you won’t awaken again. Times like these truly are tests of faith, reconciling how such a thing can happen with the human spirit to reach out and do what we can to help. You fear it may never be enough, but you have to start somewhere I guess. The question is will we stay for the long haul, long after the visual images are replaced on our television.
Some who are trying to help:
The Canadian Red Cross
Oxfam
World Vision Canada
Unicef
Care Canada
Caritas Canada
Mennonite Central Committee
The fear on the faces is one to wrench your heart, the feeling of helplessness compounded by the distance from the actual event.
The totals of the dead rise by the hour, seemingly never to end as more and more villages are rediscovered abandoned as the water recedes. In most cases those that had so little to begin with, now seem to have even less.
The International community is slowly coming to the scene to offer whatever aid and assistance can be provided with such a historical tragedy of Nature. Donations are asked for and surely will be provided. Yet internal politics will get in the way, already reports are coming out about Muslim groups in Sri Lanka refusing aid from Israel, refusing to put aside hatred in aid of their own people. Splinter groups of rebels have refused to allow government troops inside their territories to render assistance when it is most needed. There are already fears that whatever monies are provided will only get caught up in a bureaucracy that seems incapable of placing the common good at the forefront of the list. The concept of it all boggles the mind, when tragedy on a scale such as this takes place surely ancient hatreds and rivalries, not to mention bureaucratic incompetence can be put aside for the good of the ones suffering the most.
Canada has provided some monies and NGO organizations are sending their forces to lend assistance. One curious absence is the DART component of the Canadian Forces, a supposedly rapid relief force that has been designed to respond to just these types of emergencies, yet curiously has rarely been sent to many international disasters. This time it supposedly is because we haven’t been asked for, yet when you read of the mission statement of the force, there probably is no better example of why it has been assembled. Sadly our cash and equipment starved Forces have found themselves in this situation before, unable to load up and head out until the need has passed. This is not the place for pointing of fingers and such, but there needs to be a serious accounting of why one of the world’s richest countries seems to be incapable of responding promptly when these major disasters strike. Paul Martin has made much of his bid to return Canada to the forefront of the world’s nations. The time is long nigh for less talk and far more action. We need to provide tangible assistance and not just kind words and pats on our own back.
For now though all our thoughts and prayers should be with the people who have found their lives shattered by the wrath of Nature. Totally unpredictable these waves have washed far beyond their shores. You only need watch television and see the grief on their faces to realize the horror that they have suffered. The numbers of the dead are numbing, the potential for even more devastation through disease and hunger even more daunting.
You feel so helpless when these things happen. The feelings we have; is it guilt or relief that it was their part of the world and not yours? The random fate of humankind seems so unfair at times, one day you awaken to start your day, and suddenly you won’t awaken again. Times like these truly are tests of faith, reconciling how such a thing can happen with the human spirit to reach out and do what we can to help. You fear it may never be enough, but you have to start somewhere I guess. The question is will we stay for the long haul, long after the visual images are replaced on our television.
Some who are trying to help:
The Canadian Red Cross
Oxfam
World Vision Canada
Unicef
Care Canada
Caritas Canada
Mennonite Central Committee
Friday, December 24, 2004
Peace On Earth, Goodwill towards Men!
Merry Christmas to one and all, may Saint Nicholas have lessened his load at each homestead along the way.
One hopes that our goofy little world will one day live up to the salutation at the top of this post.
Now bring us our figgy pudding!!!
One hopes that our goofy little world will one day live up to the salutation at the top of this post.
Now bring us our figgy pudding!!!
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
If I could only find an agent!
Occasionally I’ll let my mind wander and wonder what life would be like had I headed for Hollywood and worked my way into the world of network (and cable) television.
Some of the shows I’m waiting on a script for and the roles I’d like to be considered for!
THE WIRE—Available in Canada on Movie Central, this is a top notch HBO Crime Drama with many intertwining plots rolling from season to season. The series is based on the work of David Simon, who last gave us the equally great Homicide: Life on the Street. It’s an excellent study into life in Baltimore from the docks, to the urban zones that seem to have laws of their own. It’s a terrific ensemble cast and gives you a real feel for policing in a sphere that seems just on the verge of total chaos. Corrupt politicians, crooked and honest cops, drug dealers galore and honest citizens trapped in the middle. This is a show that has it all. My choice for a part would be any police role that doesn’t end in wanton violence and a sudden demise.
THE WEST WING—President Bartlet is winding down his time at the White House and judging by the way this formerly enthralling show has gone its not a moment too soon. Back when it first started out the writing was sharp, the dialogue witty and engaging. The characters all seemed to offer up something new and vital from week to week. Lately it’s slipped quite a bit, taking on some rather predictable gimmicks designed to keep the audience attached. The President’s FDR role playing of the last week and the possible attack of the killer asteroid, moved things along the “getting harder to believe” aspect of script writing. But if I could hop in the time machine, it would be back to season two or three, they were at the top of their game, Bartlet was a President to follow and the team were at their energetic best, me thinks I would have found the role of advisor to the President to be a great ride.
NYPD BLUE—now into it’s final episodes now, when it first came on the air it added some fresh views on the ole Police drama format. Fast paced camera work, believable characters it found a loyal audience in the early days. Proving that actors don’t know when they have it good, David Caruso courted career suicide by walking away from the show and toiling away in a rather failed movie career before resurfacing with the CSI franchise on a beach in Florida. While many others have come and gone over the years, Dennis Franz has held the fort at the 15th precinct house. He made his Andy Sipowicz character a mainstay on network television. For my agent, a role as Andy’s partner would be just fine. Lets face it Andy’s career at times resembled a giant train wreck, just by showing up at work and keeping a few steps behind you could fast track your own upward mobility. He takes all the heat from all the bosses, you just clean up the mess and take your promotion.
THE SOPRANOS—Tony runs a tight ship, but just look at his house, his vehicles and his Club (the ever popular Bada Bing) this guy lives the guy’s life. Sure there’s the odd chance of getting whacked by a rival mobster or even by the traitors in your midst, but there’s no gain without a little pain. Silvio has managed to stay alive and pad the bank account as Tony’s dependable fixer. That would be the role to shoot for, (pardon the pun). Too bad for Steven Van Zandt, but hey Bruce should heading back on the road soon anyways, so bada bing, bada boom, I’ll take over the club thank you very much!
LAW AND ORDER—He just retired from regular duty (soon to reappear in the latest of Dick Wolff’s L & O franchises. But when Jerry Orbach was on the job as Lenny he brought the role of Briscoe to life. There was a lot of hard earned experience in that wisecracking frame, much married and equally much divorced Briscoe reeks of the guy that lived his job. He’s seen it all and probably done it all as well. If only for one of those great one liner’s or that exasperated look being one of Briscoe’s partners would be a great role to work.
Shows from the past that would have been an interesting audition in no particular order, M*A*S*H, ALL IN THE FAMILY, SEINFELD, GET SMART, HILL STREET BLUES, STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO, HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREETS just to name a few. Now if only I had actually had some talent!! Or more importantly an agent!
Some of the shows I’m waiting on a script for and the roles I’d like to be considered for!
THE WIRE—Available in Canada on Movie Central, this is a top notch HBO Crime Drama with many intertwining plots rolling from season to season. The series is based on the work of David Simon, who last gave us the equally great Homicide: Life on the Street. It’s an excellent study into life in Baltimore from the docks, to the urban zones that seem to have laws of their own. It’s a terrific ensemble cast and gives you a real feel for policing in a sphere that seems just on the verge of total chaos. Corrupt politicians, crooked and honest cops, drug dealers galore and honest citizens trapped in the middle. This is a show that has it all. My choice for a part would be any police role that doesn’t end in wanton violence and a sudden demise.
THE WEST WING—President Bartlet is winding down his time at the White House and judging by the way this formerly enthralling show has gone its not a moment too soon. Back when it first started out the writing was sharp, the dialogue witty and engaging. The characters all seemed to offer up something new and vital from week to week. Lately it’s slipped quite a bit, taking on some rather predictable gimmicks designed to keep the audience attached. The President’s FDR role playing of the last week and the possible attack of the killer asteroid, moved things along the “getting harder to believe” aspect of script writing. But if I could hop in the time machine, it would be back to season two or three, they were at the top of their game, Bartlet was a President to follow and the team were at their energetic best, me thinks I would have found the role of advisor to the President to be a great ride.
NYPD BLUE—now into it’s final episodes now, when it first came on the air it added some fresh views on the ole Police drama format. Fast paced camera work, believable characters it found a loyal audience in the early days. Proving that actors don’t know when they have it good, David Caruso courted career suicide by walking away from the show and toiling away in a rather failed movie career before resurfacing with the CSI franchise on a beach in Florida. While many others have come and gone over the years, Dennis Franz has held the fort at the 15th precinct house. He made his Andy Sipowicz character a mainstay on network television. For my agent, a role as Andy’s partner would be just fine. Lets face it Andy’s career at times resembled a giant train wreck, just by showing up at work and keeping a few steps behind you could fast track your own upward mobility. He takes all the heat from all the bosses, you just clean up the mess and take your promotion.
THE SOPRANOS—Tony runs a tight ship, but just look at his house, his vehicles and his Club (the ever popular Bada Bing) this guy lives the guy’s life. Sure there’s the odd chance of getting whacked by a rival mobster or even by the traitors in your midst, but there’s no gain without a little pain. Silvio has managed to stay alive and pad the bank account as Tony’s dependable fixer. That would be the role to shoot for, (pardon the pun). Too bad for Steven Van Zandt, but hey Bruce should heading back on the road soon anyways, so bada bing, bada boom, I’ll take over the club thank you very much!
LAW AND ORDER—He just retired from regular duty (soon to reappear in the latest of Dick Wolff’s L & O franchises. But when Jerry Orbach was on the job as Lenny he brought the role of Briscoe to life. There was a lot of hard earned experience in that wisecracking frame, much married and equally much divorced Briscoe reeks of the guy that lived his job. He’s seen it all and probably done it all as well. If only for one of those great one liner’s or that exasperated look being one of Briscoe’s partners would be a great role to work.
Shows from the past that would have been an interesting audition in no particular order, M*A*S*H, ALL IN THE FAMILY, SEINFELD, GET SMART, HILL STREET BLUES, STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO, HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREETS just to name a few. Now if only I had actually had some talent!! Or more importantly an agent!
Something the Car Saleswoman neglected to tell me!
Just found an interesting little bit of information on the car I purchased three years ago, a little something that the lady at the dealership never seemed to mention somehow.
Oh well, three years on still puttering around town, touch wood!!! On the other side of the coin however, there is this from the what comes around goes around department this little tidbit for the bean counters at GM!!
Oh well, three years on still puttering around town, touch wood!!! On the other side of the coin however, there is this from the what comes around goes around department this little tidbit for the bean counters at GM!!
Monday, December 20, 2004
The hiatus nears its end
Regular visitors to the ole Podunk site will have noticed a certain lack of contributions over the last three weeks or so. I arbitrarily decided to take a sabbatical from the daily grind of composing something that might possibly make some sense, adding links and finding worthwhile gems on the internet.
What with Christmas fast approaching I knew that my output would drop off anyways, so I chose to go cold turkey so to speak, just stop dead, not even look at the blog for awhile so as to recharge my brain cells, rest my fingers and give my eyes a chance to return their pupils to a normal size.
But alas, the lure of the blog is calling again, I feel the beginnings of my brain processing the latest shenanigans out of Ottawa, Washington and places near and far and realize that it's about time to get back into the saddle.
I mean C'mon' when the Prime Minister takes two planes to the Libyan sand dunes to meet with a rather strange individual in a tent surrounded by camels, the satirical juices just get a flowing. When the Secretary of Defence of the worlds most advanced military machine, basically slags his own troops as they scavenge garbage dumps for armor plating before they go into battle, well you just know its time to get back into the game.
We'll ease ourself back into the bloglines and may even take the odd day off from time to time, but with a few weeks under the belt listening to music, finishing off the Christmas shopping and reading something other than blogs we feel refreshed enough to get back to our unpaid labour of love.
Interestingly enough, whilst I disappeared for a while, the hits to the podunk (and my other blogs HockeyNation, Twelve Men on the Field and boondoggle) kept on coming. In fact there was hardly any drop at all in the traffic to most of the blogs. Which of course leads me to wonder how I'd be missed, if no one knew I was gone?
Stay tuned new material on the way. Thanks for sticking with A Town Called Podunk!
What with Christmas fast approaching I knew that my output would drop off anyways, so I chose to go cold turkey so to speak, just stop dead, not even look at the blog for awhile so as to recharge my brain cells, rest my fingers and give my eyes a chance to return their pupils to a normal size.
But alas, the lure of the blog is calling again, I feel the beginnings of my brain processing the latest shenanigans out of Ottawa, Washington and places near and far and realize that it's about time to get back into the saddle.
I mean C'mon' when the Prime Minister takes two planes to the Libyan sand dunes to meet with a rather strange individual in a tent surrounded by camels, the satirical juices just get a flowing. When the Secretary of Defence of the worlds most advanced military machine, basically slags his own troops as they scavenge garbage dumps for armor plating before they go into battle, well you just know its time to get back into the game.
We'll ease ourself back into the bloglines and may even take the odd day off from time to time, but with a few weeks under the belt listening to music, finishing off the Christmas shopping and reading something other than blogs we feel refreshed enough to get back to our unpaid labour of love.
Interestingly enough, whilst I disappeared for a while, the hits to the podunk (and my other blogs HockeyNation, Twelve Men on the Field and boondoggle) kept on coming. In fact there was hardly any drop at all in the traffic to most of the blogs. Which of course leads me to wonder how I'd be missed, if no one knew I was gone?
Stay tuned new material on the way. Thanks for sticking with A Town Called Podunk!
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Making History an enjoyable read
With over 50 books published to his credit, Pierre Berton must have had an idea or two on how to turn a phrase. The Canadian icon passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84. And with his passing a chapter of Canadianna has come to a close.
Berton became the National biographer of sorts, compiling stories from the Klondike Gold Rush, to the building of a railroad and over the falls at Niagara. He took us to Vimy Ridge and through the dustbowl years of the Great Depression. If there was an event in Canadian History chances are Pierre Berton has chronicled it for us. Bringing to life the characters and events that have moulded our persona, made our country larger than life at times and showing Canadians young and old that there is a fascinating history to this land, if only you find the time to look for it.
His Canadian epics have been turned into television mini series, his easily identified voice and larger than life persona requested for causes big and small. In the 60’s and 70’s when Canadian cultural nationalism began to find its feet, Pierre Berton seemed to be everywhere.
From The pages of Maclean’s, in major newspapers from coast to coast and on radio and television, Berton was media convergence before the term was even thought of.
While his books were his mainstay, He will no doubt be remembered for his work with the CBC’s Canadian mainstay, Front Page Challenge. Week after week, Canadians became more aware of themselves and the world around us. Pierre, Gordon, Betty and Fred explored the events of our times and asked the questions we would have asked had we been lucky enough to be an eyewitness to history. The longevity of that show and the outcry when it finally went off the air a huge testimony to the popularity of the panel, and none was more popular than Pierre Berton.
But by and large he always was and will always be known as an author. In bookstores everywhere from St. John’s to Victoria, Windsor to Whitehorse, his works would find a prominent place of honour. They would also in the words of the trade, “move” quite nicely providing a handsome reward for the author, who always believed he could make a decent living by staying in his own country.
For those that complain that they don’t know enough about their own country, or find our history “too boring” find a topic you would like to know about and then go find the book on it by Pierre Berton. Whether it’s the history of chasing invading American troops across the border, or trekking across the vast wilderness of the Arctic, the touchstone to your country is no farther away than a book by Pierre Berton!
May he find St. Peter an easy to work for Editor, but oh the tales he shall tell!
Berton became the National biographer of sorts, compiling stories from the Klondike Gold Rush, to the building of a railroad and over the falls at Niagara. He took us to Vimy Ridge and through the dustbowl years of the Great Depression. If there was an event in Canadian History chances are Pierre Berton has chronicled it for us. Bringing to life the characters and events that have moulded our persona, made our country larger than life at times and showing Canadians young and old that there is a fascinating history to this land, if only you find the time to look for it.
His Canadian epics have been turned into television mini series, his easily identified voice and larger than life persona requested for causes big and small. In the 60’s and 70’s when Canadian cultural nationalism began to find its feet, Pierre Berton seemed to be everywhere.
From The pages of Maclean’s, in major newspapers from coast to coast and on radio and television, Berton was media convergence before the term was even thought of.
While his books were his mainstay, He will no doubt be remembered for his work with the CBC’s Canadian mainstay, Front Page Challenge. Week after week, Canadians became more aware of themselves and the world around us. Pierre, Gordon, Betty and Fred explored the events of our times and asked the questions we would have asked had we been lucky enough to be an eyewitness to history. The longevity of that show and the outcry when it finally went off the air a huge testimony to the popularity of the panel, and none was more popular than Pierre Berton.
But by and large he always was and will always be known as an author. In bookstores everywhere from St. John’s to Victoria, Windsor to Whitehorse, his works would find a prominent place of honour. They would also in the words of the trade, “move” quite nicely providing a handsome reward for the author, who always believed he could make a decent living by staying in his own country.
For those that complain that they don’t know enough about their own country, or find our history “too boring” find a topic you would like to know about and then go find the book on it by Pierre Berton. Whether it’s the history of chasing invading American troops across the border, or trekking across the vast wilderness of the Arctic, the touchstone to your country is no farther away than a book by Pierre Berton!
May he find St. Peter an easy to work for Editor, but oh the tales he shall tell!
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