Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Martin Luther King Jr. Just Didn't Get It

Toronto has finally stated the obvious.

Eleven souls fought hard and won - delivering the verdict: Dr. King was full of beans.

And let Ontario be known as the front line in the war against the idea that people should be treated equally.

Heck, the idea has worked so well for aboriginals, why not blacks?

Thanks a bunch.

The left works so hard against the very ideal of treating people with equality, that we are all victims - simply because of our race, anything can be rationalized.

'We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal'

11 people do not believe this idea. And they have changed our nation.

Payback Time

The blogosphere has been reveling in CBC's admission that one Krista Erickson has been outed as scripting questions for Liberal MPs on the standing Commons Ethics Committee.

Most of the right wing bunch are of the mind that politicians play the media to their benefit. The media? They're playing the same game. Fair comment.

The left wingers?

Well, this is an isolated incident, and for proof, look no farther than the assurance by the CBC that this was a one off.

Newsflash for readers: The media strokes anybody who can increase the number of eyes hitting their sites, watching their shows, & buying their papers.

Police. Politicians. Utility Boards. Planning Committees. (Insert authority figure here).

For those of you who don't believe me, look up the crime statistics in any major metropolitan area in this nation, versus what is reported in the mainstream media.

Crime is generally reported on a public interest basis - with the public interest determined by the same media who decided long ago that gate keeping and opinion forming is far more profitable than simple reportage.

Now you know.

And from this day, every time you see a 'Man Kills Puppy With Chainsaw' story on the front page of the local rag, know that its a slow news day, circulation is looking for a boost, and that the editor is delivering the goods.

Enough events happen in the crime files daily to fill every page of a newspaper. Ask yourself why reporting of them is selective - down to the individuals and nature of the crime involved.

The media uses sources just as well as sources use the media.

Ultimately, to use you.

On the Other Hand

Biofuels have been heralded as a way for us energy hogs to reduce fossil fuel consumption, reduce total emissions, & provide alternative markets for farmers.

It's a load of bull.

Virtually every benefit and reason held out by government and industry why biofuel is a better energy source, is false.

The UK is ahead of the curve on this, since citizens there take time to inform themselves on the topics of the day, and politicians aren't of the sniveling Canadian variety.

Unlike manufactured lies about polar bears via Al Gore, this article details a very real - and tragic story of man's impact upon their environment.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

The Head Fake

Canada's New Government looks more like Canada's Old Government everyday, happily doling out billions of taxpayer cash to every corporate welfare case who has a connected lobbyist, and a hat in their hand.

And Canada's New Government is now getting better at the 'ol one-two punch of communications strategy: the head fake.

Here, our Prime Minister assures a broad audience that no, the Conservatives are different when it comes to doling out pork to industry, but in the very same week, a story with less national coverage is put to more focused group - the panhandlers themselves.

At first pass, the partisan will have their belief reinforced that yes, Conservatives are different than Liberals: they live to the ideals they purport. While on the side, they're whispering to the locals that the first announcement is not really what they meant.

And presents us with a bald faced lie that Canada's Old Government did so much of.

Always on your dime.

Beuatiful Werld

For the men who brought you Target's ad campaign, Mothersbaugh sold this dark song for lots.

I don't believe Target knew what they were buying. Like good pop, it can speak about abject poverty, and sell you a nice pair of slacks in the same moment.

And at their height, Devo created one of the best videos ever made.

Who Knew?

Sting, when Sting was cool, wore an English Beat shirt in this video, and in debt to those pioneers who gave him sound.

Even Summers and Copeland mattered...

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Quote of the Day

“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first.” - Thomas Jefferson

While Canada's history is colonial - and not that of the republic - we do share many ideals of western liberalism: freedom; liberty; & security of the person.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

A Large Number

Once you've read this, lean back and imagine how many thousands of direct appointments that exist in the vast government holdings - and really - you end up with outfits generally run by the Prime Minister's grace.

There's more than 5,000 positions.

Now, what if another outfit had control over that apparatus for 13 years, as the Liberals did, and see how easy it'll be for the new guy to get things done.

Not a pretty site.

Movin' On Up

Our January Trainee of the Month has already begun the transformation with some help from a professional image consultant.

While not widely reported, this story details how Gary rushed to get training the minute he knew he'd have to make a presentation.

While it's encouraging to know Mr. Lunn now recognizes that knowing what you don't know is important, it reinforces that he should have had the skills to communicate clearly before he got a Ministerial post.

Most employers look for this before committing to hire a candidate. This can usually be noticed in documents offered by the individual before screening.

These documents are known as a 'resume'.

Watching his transformation from a snot-nosed kid with pants around the knees (and ring in his nose), to a convincing force of personality - confidently commanding a broad range of expertise in the Ministry of Natural Resources - is Cinderella-like.

At only $400 an hour.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Another piece of nostaliga...

Pete Shelley and his band are regarded as giants of the oeuvre, and darn fine songwriters at that.

One of the best rock songs ever written stands out. The guitars work off of each other late in the song, but fill the mitre with lyrical precision. The bass is killer, and the drum's simplicity is seminal.

Shelley later went on to pen tunes that were really good. While the video appears to come from the same guy who did the first 100 videos ever made (and Shelley is pretty clear about which side his bread is buttered on), the song is solid enough to stand alone.

Economics 101 - Different but Equal

Supply always ends up equaling demand - according to economics. With the marginal supplier or consumer being a point of pricing for the rest.

With a willing Indian Industry constantly ready to consume taxpayer cash as fast as its' collected, perhaps it's time to think that maybe, just maybe, government should not treat Canadians differently because of their race.

And another

The timing is awful, the smoke machine dumb, and the disco thump is...a disco thump. Despite the confused singer surrounded by the worst of the '80's, watch around the 1 minute mark.

Desmond finds his stride - and comes around to say exactly who owns this song.

He kills it from there. By the time the crappy graphic is revealed - look out. Desmond straightens up, and makes the smoke machine his bitch. It's a transformation. While the video doesn't get any better, the music speaks for itself.

Now that you've seen what British pop shows can do to a great song - go buy the original - and support one of the best ska artists ever to record an album.

"...a patois-sung opening line that entranced and confused pop listeners on both sides of the Atlantic."

Can anyone say how many people Lennon and McCartney wrote into one of their songs?

My guess is not too many. They took a pass on Dylan after all...

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Lucky Enough

I saw this band with Mel a few years ago. It was an amazing show, and a band I've been a fan of for a long time.

I had always hoped I could see this outfit, never did work out.

But on a different topic, I did see the Go-Go's in 1983 play at the Stampede Corral. While not sure how I got there, the show was really good, the crowd enthused, and I came away with an appreciation for a band that's upside down: they're critically acclaimed, but despised by listeners.

This video makes Ultravox look manly, but the sound is crisp, and the song is a great slice of pop.

A year later, Belinda went to rehab, and started walking the path of the Michael Jackson Life of Stardom. Yet, I think she did as much to define the '80s as Madonna, with a song written by the band mentioned earlier - the one I haven't seen.

But, what about Jane? She swam with the dolphins and by osmosis, wrote not one song, but two for Carlene Carter eight years later. Mmm, Jane...

Like anthropologists & the gap in evolution, I am convinced there is a link to Motown, I'm still looking.

Vacation is so cool.

While the Indian Industry

churns along, you'd think something intentionally created to address differences in educational outcomes could end up such an abject failure.

Despite thousands of bureaucrats, lawyers, policy contributors, and politicos, something as sad as this occurs in Canada - despite the wealth and privilege we enjoy.

It speaks volumes about Canada's current approaches to aboriginal affairs - as much as this detailed, yet confusing and myopic stance perpetuates.

It will achieve nothing until fundamental changes in policy occurs.

Given the amount of bureaucrats and glad handers that exist in the 'industry', nothing will change for a good, long, time.

They're making out ok, y'know.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

I hope they backed up their data...

What the hell is going on in the world?!?!

and light

Peter Tosh was never given the credit he deserved for his contribution to the Wailers, nor a solo career that possesses a Led Zeppelin like status of the reggae world.

Or credit for a song that transcends decades.

His online legacy is small - only a handful of his songs can be found on youtube, their quality awful. Compare the same to Luciano, Aswan, and one 'Bob Marley', where you'll find every bodily function not only photographed, but journaled and categorized.

Tosh's sin was to say Marley's success came from the fact his father was white. Translation: He got a free ride.

From there, it gets stranger. But information on him is - unlike his peers - hard to find.

Cool guitar...

Heavy....

you won't see me comment much on the Liberals here - because it's res ipsa loquitur with that bunch.

I mean, these guys say the craziest things when left on their own recognizance.

In a nation where security is smoke, the politicians and military have stated that foreign intervention ain't ever going to happen, yet the promise of stability through dialog continues to be put out to people whose hope denies fact.

Dion and the gang cling to an ignorant population at home, peddling the lie that we could be making the world a better place if we'd only vote for them.

A clearer example of dishonesty is hard to find.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Glittering Generalities

The information age brings with it all of the knowledge and pratfalls of having anyone with a computer (and keyboard) to put an idea or statement out there - leaving the reader somewhat unarmed.

The Americans, handily and consistently ahead of our curve on public discourse, created an Institute of Propaganda Analysis way back in the 30's to understand the phenomenon, and enable consumers of news to be empowered to know when they were being sold a hill of beans.

The presidential race is a great example of how being on message in the media is far more important than facts about public policy or having consistency in a message, or applying basic principles to which policy one promotes.

The most dangerous outcome of this is rabid partisanship - where people discard the usual critical thinking to support an ideology or line of thinking - no matter if it's actually good for the nation, or even congruent with fact. That somehow 'spin', isn't propaganda (see 'Institute' above).

The Tories have their unelected bagmen appointed to senatorial posts to get around the nasty reality of actually having people vote for their representative. Or, an opportunistic colour changer that rationalizes statements made days prior to the conversion in the most secular way possible.

"Who me? Well, I'm different now, but the same, you know."

The Liberals? God, where does a guy start? Here.

Which is really the at the bottom of the political class: people whose ambition exceeds their talent.

The worst of it all, is that partisans themselves are simply useful idiots. Parroting the party line, peddling glittering generalities, used when needed, discarded when not.

I honestly feel sorry for David Orchard. He seems to be a guy who actually thought that contributing to the political process could somehow be an entry point to politics, and a way to contribute to his country.

Sadly, it's only proven he's not too bright.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Nice.

But not for everyone. David Blaine has him featured on his website.

Now, I'm a fan of good illusions. And in my humble opinion, David Blaine is the best performance artist of the past 25 years.

I went to a David Blaine thing a year or two back, and I missed the man by minutes.

Getting there late, I met a guy tearing down the setup. A fella, one Louis Garbayo laid a card on me, thanking me for traveling so far to be disappointed. The event was pretty much a bust, depending upon who is talking.

He suggested I stay in touch - that maybe - David and his team could make it worth my travail somewhere down the road.

I see on Blaine's site he's got something coming in May.

I have some holiday time that could come in handy, and a very cool business card and email address I'll hope will connect me to the event.

To watch Mr. Brown's work, you'll need a pair of headphones, and a dark room.

Sweet and Dandy

It is no wonder this man was called more important and more talented than Bob Marley by critic Lester Bangs.

Bangs was a guy written into songs by artists no less than the Buzzcocks, The Ramones, R.E.M., and The Clash.

It is no wonder that the sounds still sounds today.

If you're still reading, try this. If you're feet don't move to it, you are clinically dead. Honest. The falsetto is dynamite.

And it's a glimpse at a picture well worth watching.

I have an idea...

We'll sue!

In the finest Canadian tradition, taxpayers have to sue to ensure their dollars are used prudently.

Well.

It's certainly an improvement from 14 years ago, where a billion bucks of your cash was spent on nothing, but to replace the same airships 5 years later, at the same cost.

Canada has a sad history of well connected billionaires running the place. It's great to see pressure out there to change it.

But it's bittersweet knowing we need the courts to ensure value for cash from the politicians. And we still get to foot the tab - to find this out.

An optimist would suggest times are changing...

Sunday, January 13, 2008

One Bad Video

One great song.

"I don't condemn, I don't convert"

The apple that fell closest to the tree - Ziggy sings under the shadow of the Big Man. It just ain't winning a Grammy, you'll get knocked into the 5th paragraph anyway.

Like being Lennon's first kid - a shadow is tough thing to outrun. But, talent to burn.

Reggae is beautiful. And it strives to seek validation, because not every single one of us is yet in a state of rapture. 54-46 baby.

Or just back to the future.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Trainee of the Month: Winner for January....

Our Conservative member for Parliament: Mr. Gary Lunn.

Not content to let things go on autopilot, this Trainee wrote a letter demanding inaction from the head of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

But why Trainee of the Month? Isn't this just a political dust up?

No. Because it threatened 60% of the world's diagnostic testing with radioactive isotopes, and has restarted a crappy, underfunded Model T of a reactor.

Because Gary had the position of Resources Minister for two years, and had every opportunity to get his Trainee head around the fact that persistent problems has swirled around AECL for at least 10 years.

So, while this guy bags some $225k per year, he also has a staff of 12 burning over $1.2 million a year - offering a pleasant 37.5 hour workweek for those Conservatives connected enough to slip into a minister's patronage post. As well, his operating budget has enough room to park a semi-trailer in.

And in the two years this gerbil has been running the place, he never thought to ask what the Auditor General has had to say about it before he got there? Or his staff?

Please.

This Trainee is well deserving of the badge - one will be sent on it's way with an official "Trainee of the Month" Certificate of Achievement.

Way to go Gary!

The Trainee of the Month Award!

is now officially launched.

This award will go to the Trainee of the Month - as determined by our selection committee - me.

While it's not easy to obtain a nomination, let alone the actual winning of the award, only those members of our government that openly and above all others prove it doesn't matter what you know before being put in charge of something that offers both responsibility, and the chance to spend buckets of your taxpayer cash on whatever seems right at the time.

Like being next in line for the new kid on the till at Burger King, you'll be assured the Trainee will ensure you won't get the right change, the right order, and they're guaranteed to forget to check if the fries have been made in the last week.

The award will be presented to those who have the right connections, appearance, and ability to bag cash for their political party. It reveals that anyone can indeed be put in charge of something far beyond their expertise and capability.

Winners will be sent an official 'Trainee' badge and a proclamation of their achievements, and reasons for obtaining such a distinction.

To start, an honorable mention goes to Alberta's own Jim Prentice, the brainchild of the 'Trainee' award.

Jim is a guy who started out in the Indian Industry, and was put in charge of a $19 billion dollar portfolio shoveling your cash out to every connected corporate welfare case with the right lobbyist working the street.

Indeed - his first action was to butcher the DCM, cowing to lobbyists and insiders first without thought or consideration of what he was actually doing.

Oops!

Thank you Jim. You've made this award come to life.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Cronkite's not a liar!!!

Here is what I hope is the future - that people are educated and engaged and know exactly what they are being fed.

I suspect 'common sense' always wins out, and that true leaders will be supported by a majority of the public.

It has been a long time since any Canadian in politics has done that. The Americans are far ahead on leadership, and open discussion about issues and policy.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Ends and Means

The Post ran an editorial last week, critical of the Calgary Health Region's heavy hand of regulation.

In response - like anyone who talks over you - this wet-nurse never does address the issue of freedom of choice or action by individuals - aside from like, trans-fats are bad - y'know?

Sadly, the actions are that of too many bureaucrats to not tackle all of the good in the world they need to do. As well, it doesn't hurt to be seen actually doing something when you can't actually run a multi-billion dollar health region.

But follow his argument further, and ask why other equally pressing public health issues are not so vigorously chased.

This is always the case if the action has little visible impact to consumers. Any complaints will be typically from business - a crowd for whom the public in general has little sympathy for.

The bureaucrats went after smokers first, because, they are low hanging fruit. Now the bullseye is moving on to the fat one and their lifestyle habits.

To them, ends will always justify means.

You might think I exaggerate.

But when mandated exercise becomes de rigeur, and obese people become as socially ostracized as smokers are now, you'll know. It's coming.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Rex & Freedom

In one of the only times you'll see a link to the CBC, Rex Murphy here does a great dissection of the commissars at the star chamber Human Rights Commissions

Friday, January 4, 2008

On a Completely

crappy day - with people nasty to kitties, politicians in full Machiavellia; and Kenyans gang raping anything they can get their hands on....

It is nice to hear an unknown Bob Marley interview is finally....released

"reggae music is what I and I create....reggae music is like news..."

Praise Jah.

Call in the Military

Here's one of the best examples of victim culture I have ever seen. Without regard to Aqsa Parvez - beyond not condoning violence - this person informs us that you, and I, and society is responsible for the death of Aqsa Parvez.

In the writer's words...

"I find the two incidents - Aqsa's death and the school bombing - to have one thing in common: The failure of a community and the society at large to provide healthy ways for individuals, especially those belonging to minorities, to express their frustrations in a healthy and productive manner."

"Healthy ways"? Like maybe a march to support Hizbollah. Or maybe demanding sharia law be formally recognized in Canada?

It gets better.

"The teenager involved in the firebombing might have felt frustration toward the indifference of society to the death and suffering of Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli army and wasn't offered, inside or outside his community, a forum to express his frustration or a productive way to influence that indifference"

So, the poor young fella just needed a basketball court. The 'productive way' is not explained. Maybe the bomber just needed a blog, and he would've been just fine.

Of course, whether lobbing firebombs, or wrapping your hands around your daughter's throat in an act of filicide - as is alleged - is suggested as a misguided sense of responsibility. Who then, is responsible?

"Society at large is responsible. Society encourages Aqsa and her peers to disobey their parents and makes parents feel that they will not get any support if they try to implement their values and beliefs in their homes."

Support? From whom? Why, the police of course....

"It is important to note that to a "brown" father the notion of calling a white police officer to deal with a family problem that the officer most likely would not understand or have experience with is very different than if it happens to a "white" father."

You mean like your 12 year old dressing like a Spice Girl? Why, naturally, any white father would call the police immediately! "You take off that halter top right now young lady, or I'll phone the police. It's for your protection."

Or what if your son gets caught bumping uglies with the neighbor's daughter? Call in the military?

It doesn't stop there. Because there are other co-conspiritors in Aqsa's death: her friends.

"Are those who invited Aqsa to leave home and stay with them to blame in any way? Did they do it because they felt she was in danger, or to help her challenge customs they disagreed with? If Aqsa had been grounded would the course of events have changed?"

But, as everyone knows, racism is really the underlying cause of Aqsa's death.

"If society applied the same standards toward the freedom of girls who want to cover up as toward the freedom of girls who want to uncover, would we be at the same place now?"

Well, now. If Aqsa was simply grounded, and her father called an understanding police department before he throttled her, well, this whole business never would have happened in the first place.

But not to worry, there's a clear solution. It's simply a matter of cultural differences, Canadians just need to lighten up.

"Problems related to culture happen, but they can be fewer and less serious if we learn to listen and accept one another."

The concept of personal responsibility is completely lost on this clown. Creating a victim of virtually everyone is an insult second only to murdering one's daughter to save 'honour'.


Note - references to the events and person charged with Aqsa Parvez's murder are alleged at time of writing. Motivations for the accused's alleged actions are supposition.

Your Gub'Mint

Will screw you. It's screwed Caledonians.

Over and over. With your own money, and with the force of bureacracy, literal or figurative interpretation of regulation (as needed), the forces of White Guilt win over fair treatment of all Canadians.

And throw in a dishonest, politically guided, armed militia - the Ontario Police - to enforce inequitable treatment.

For those curious about the long story....its here

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Where'd I put that reciept?

I went looking for contributions to federal political parties in Canada - and this is all I've found so far.

Data from 2003 that includes the CRAP party as well - before they formed the Conservative Party later in the year.

You can find more recent information on contributions on Elections Canada's website though - but going through it makes me feel like I need a shower.

If I find what I'm looking for, I'll post it.