Interruptions, childish out bursts, insults short of "your mother!". A local playground? No, a meeting of Hamilton council. The playpen squabble? Extending local calls to the suburbs. The answer so obvious; to borrow a phrase from a popular info-commercial "so easy, even a child could do it!"
And to further my allegory to info-mercials, "for just a penny a day" on your phone bill you can have the "privilege" of phoning to the burbs for free. Since 2001, Hamilton has been "one" city officially, long before that we have all lived with the conundrum that is the "905" area code.
Here's the argument that my councillor and other inner city councillors offer, "it's not fair for the whole city to pay the cost of reducing phone rates for the suburbs when they enjoy the benefits of area rating, in which they don't pay the full costs for services such as transit and recreational facilities."
This is so ridicules it's not even funny even if it was a joke. Benefits? You can't take a bus to Binbrook or most of the sub-burbs from Hamilton and there are few recreational facilities in these areas to begin with. What the hell benefits are these councillors talking about?
To prove my point, Sam Merulla, inner city councillor, delivered an eloquent and impassioned speech that's so far over the top, I wonder if he was smelling burnt toast at the time.
Merulla says the 30 cents a month would impact the most marginalized residents to subsidize the wealthiest in the suburbs. If council does this, then they have to revisit area rating to ensure everyone pays equally for all services, regardless of where they live. He says the proposal is a "catalyst" that underlines the hypocrisy of past support for reducing business taxes.
Merulla is surprised by some of the councillors who support the motion. They are, "voting in favour of the hypocrisy and inconsistency, the unpredictability which basically are the characteristics of a dysfunctional environment."
What thesaurus did Merulla swallow? If he's so concerned about the impoverished in his riding, he'd realize most of his constituents either can't understand him or see through his paper thin mirage of deceit. Two can play his game.
Councillor Jackson tries to talk about removing irritants, Merulla becomes one himself, repeatedly interrupting with audible mumbling, something along the lines of "I could'va been a contender" or something like that.
Mayor Eisenberger called Merulla on it, urging a respectful debate, a few more minutes of childish taunts before the good Mayor hands out the "soothies" in the way of an altimatum for the debate to stop getting silly and demands a vote.
In the end council agreed to add an amendment, asking the CRTC to reconsider the 30 cents a month price structure. Then they all voted to support going forward with the request to make all calls within Hamilton local calls. Well, two meetings down in 2007 and the pampers are already full. I hope a new shipment is on its way or its going to be a long four years.
Later,
Kenaz
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
$12 million will never be enough
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is announced the government has reached a legal settlement in the lawsuit filed by Maher Arar over his 2002 deportation to Syria, where he was detained on suspicion of being a terrorist and tortured. The deal is reported to be around $10.5 million plus an additional $2 million for court costs.
Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian, was detained by U.S. authorities at a New York airport in 2002 and deported to Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured. In his lawsuit against the federal government, the former Ottawa engineer alleged negligence, negligent investigation, defamation, false imprisonment, assault and battery and abuse of public office.
Last fall, a public inquiry report by Justice Dennis O'Connor found RCMP mislabelled Arar as an Islamic extremist with suspected ties to al-Qaida. The report also concluded the sharing of that misinformation with U.S. authorities likely led them to deport him.
The shock waves of O'Connor's report were immediate. Then-RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli resigned over the case and apologized and so has Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Yet, American officials refuse to apologize and continue to see a wrongfully accused man as a criminal.
His deportation was the most sickening example of the dangers of ''rendering'' individuals suspected of terror links to third countries for interrogation. Furthermore, Bush continues to stick to his guns; ones from another century and another time. When Americans saw those from foreign lands as a threat to their values.
This week, the issue heated up and threatened to cause a rift in Canada-U.S. relations. U.S. ambassador David Wilkins scolded Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day for insisting that Arar be taken of the the U.S. watch list. Speaking to reporters in Edmonton on Wednesday, Wilkins said the U.S. administration's decision to keep Arar on the list was none of the Canadian government's business.
The decision is absurdly based on personal associations and travel history. Visiting family? Just because they live in Syria? While Washington concedes these points may not warrant Arar's presence on a Canadian security roster, they meet the thresh hold for the American list.
I'm sorry Mr. Wilkins, the mistreatment of our people is Canada's business even if it is by our 'friends'. The U.S can close their border permanently for all I care, but treating this man the way they did is smack right out of Orwells' '1984'. Americas' shady practice of 'extraordinary rendition,' whereby terrorism suspects are sent to regimes with spotty human-rights records for interrogation is criminal, despite what the U.S federal system thinks.
To rub salt in Mr. Arars' wounds the judge ruled legislative precedent showed the Torture Victim Prevention Act, under which Arar was seeking redress, didn't apply to non-U.S. citizens. He determined the court couldn't hear the case on constitutional grounds either.
Elections in the U.S couldn't come sooner, the day Bush and his draconian cronies are gone, the better the world will be. Long live democracy.
Later,
Kenaz
Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian, was detained by U.S. authorities at a New York airport in 2002 and deported to Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured. In his lawsuit against the federal government, the former Ottawa engineer alleged negligence, negligent investigation, defamation, false imprisonment, assault and battery and abuse of public office.
Last fall, a public inquiry report by Justice Dennis O'Connor found RCMP mislabelled Arar as an Islamic extremist with suspected ties to al-Qaida. The report also concluded the sharing of that misinformation with U.S. authorities likely led them to deport him.
The shock waves of O'Connor's report were immediate. Then-RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli resigned over the case and apologized and so has Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Yet, American officials refuse to apologize and continue to see a wrongfully accused man as a criminal.
His deportation was the most sickening example of the dangers of ''rendering'' individuals suspected of terror links to third countries for interrogation. Furthermore, Bush continues to stick to his guns; ones from another century and another time. When Americans saw those from foreign lands as a threat to their values.
This week, the issue heated up and threatened to cause a rift in Canada-U.S. relations. U.S. ambassador David Wilkins scolded Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day for insisting that Arar be taken of the the U.S. watch list. Speaking to reporters in Edmonton on Wednesday, Wilkins said the U.S. administration's decision to keep Arar on the list was none of the Canadian government's business.
The decision is absurdly based on personal associations and travel history. Visiting family? Just because they live in Syria? While Washington concedes these points may not warrant Arar's presence on a Canadian security roster, they meet the thresh hold for the American list.
I'm sorry Mr. Wilkins, the mistreatment of our people is Canada's business even if it is by our 'friends'. The U.S can close their border permanently for all I care, but treating this man the way they did is smack right out of Orwells' '1984'. Americas' shady practice of 'extraordinary rendition,' whereby terrorism suspects are sent to regimes with spotty human-rights records for interrogation is criminal, despite what the U.S federal system thinks.
To rub salt in Mr. Arars' wounds the judge ruled legislative precedent showed the Torture Victim Prevention Act, under which Arar was seeking redress, didn't apply to non-U.S. citizens. He determined the court couldn't hear the case on constitutional grounds either.
Elections in the U.S couldn't come sooner, the day Bush and his draconian cronies are gone, the better the world will be. Long live democracy.
Later,
Kenaz
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Saying Goodbye to a Canadian Ledgend:Denny Doherty
Denny Doherty, a founding member of the 1960s folk-pop band the Mamas and the Papas, died yesterday at his home in Mississauga, Ontario. He was 66. The cause was not immediately known, his daughter Emberly said. But she said her father had recently suffered kidney failure after surgery for a stomach aneurysm.
With rich, meticulous harmonies that could be tinged with darkness, the Mamas and the Papas where one of the most popular and influential American bands of the era between the Beatles’ arrival and Woodstock. Even for later generations like mine who missed their brilliance, their enduring hits, like “California Dreamin’,” “Monday, Monday” and “Dedicated to the One I Love,” that mixed the gentle jangle of folk with a rock backbeat and sweet, layered pop vocals, will forever be remembered.
Though John Phillips was the group’s principal songwriter, Mr. Doherty sang most of the male leads, in a clear, friendly tenor that he occasionally punctuated with rock ’n’ roll growls. In “California Dreamin’,” the group’s first hit, the singers harmonize about being stuck among the brown leaves and cold gray skies of winter, and pining for sunny respite. But Mr. Doherty’s lead on the verse suggests that his wishes may go unfulfilled:
The Mamas and the Papas, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, were one of the first major rock groups to include both women and men in equal performing roles, with Mr. Doherty, Mr. Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Mama Cass Elliot striking an image of casual, collegiate friendship. In reality, they were a destructive tangle of love affairs, accompanied by plenty of drugs and alcohol.
In 1993 Doherty took on not just the VO role of the Harbour Master but all the VO roles in Theodore Tugboat, a children's television show chronicling the "lives" of vessels in a busy harbour loosely based upon Halifax Harbour.
For more of his early solo career in Halifax and Montreal please click on the title link.
Later,
Kenaz
With rich, meticulous harmonies that could be tinged with darkness, the Mamas and the Papas where one of the most popular and influential American bands of the era between the Beatles’ arrival and Woodstock. Even for later generations like mine who missed their brilliance, their enduring hits, like “California Dreamin’,” “Monday, Monday” and “Dedicated to the One I Love,” that mixed the gentle jangle of folk with a rock backbeat and sweet, layered pop vocals, will forever be remembered.
Though John Phillips was the group’s principal songwriter, Mr. Doherty sang most of the male leads, in a clear, friendly tenor that he occasionally punctuated with rock ’n’ roll growls. In “California Dreamin’,” the group’s first hit, the singers harmonize about being stuck among the brown leaves and cold gray skies of winter, and pining for sunny respite. But Mr. Doherty’s lead on the verse suggests that his wishes may go unfulfilled:
Well, I got down on my knees
And I pretend to pray
You know the preacher lights the coals
He knows I’m gonna stay
The Mamas and the Papas, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, were one of the first major rock groups to include both women and men in equal performing roles, with Mr. Doherty, Mr. Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Mama Cass Elliot striking an image of casual, collegiate friendship. In reality, they were a destructive tangle of love affairs, accompanied by plenty of drugs and alcohol.
In 1993 Doherty took on not just the VO role of the Harbour Master but all the VO roles in Theodore Tugboat, a children's television show chronicling the "lives" of vessels in a busy harbour loosely based upon Halifax Harbour.
For more of his early solo career in Halifax and Montreal please click on the title link.
Later,
Kenaz
New Playlist at The Eternal Kenaz:Dragnet part 1
Dragnet was a popular, influential and long-running radio and television police procedural about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from an actual police term, a dragnet for any system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.
Actor and producer Jack Webb’s aims in Dragnet were for realism and unpretentious acting. He achieved both goals, and Dragnet remains a key influence on subsequent police dramas in many media.
The show's cultural impact is demonstrated by the fact that even after five decades, elements of Dragnet are known to those who've never seen or heard the program:
The ominous, four-note introduction to the brass and tympani theme music (titled "Danger Ahead") is instantly recognizable (though its origins date back to Miklós Rózsa's score for the 1946 film version of The Killers).
Another Dragnet trademark is the show's opening narration: "Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." This underwent minor revisions over time. The "only" and "ladies and gentlemen" were dropped at some point, and for the television version "hear" was changed to "see". Variations on this narration have been featured in many subsequent crime dramas, and in satires of these dramas. On radio, Dragnet ran from June 3, 1949 to February 26, 1957.
Dragnet was created and produced by Jack Webb, who starred as the terse Sgt. Friday. Webb had starred in a few mostly short-lived radio programs, but Dragnet would make him one of the major media personalities of his era.
Dragnet had its origins in Webb’s small role as a police forensic scientist in the 1948 film, He Walked by Night, inspired by the actual murder of a police officer in Los Angeles. The film was depicted in semidocumentary style, and Marty Wynn (an LAPD sergeant) was a technical advisor on the film. Webb and Wynn became friends, and both thought that the day-to-day activities of police officers could be realistically depicted, and could make for compelling drama without the forced sense of melodrama then so common in radio programming. Webb frequently visited police headquarters, drove with police patrols, and attended police academy courses to learn authentic jargon and other details that could be featured in a radio program. When he proposed Dragnet to NBC officials, they were not especially impressed; radio was aswarm with private investigators and crime dramas, such as Webb’s earlier Pat Novak for Hire. That program didn’t last long, but Webb had received high marks for his role as the titular private investigator, and NBC agreed to a limited run for Dragnet.
With writer James E. Moser, Webb prepared an audition recording, then sought the LAPD’s endorsement; he wanted to use cases from official files in order to demonstrate the steps taken by police officers during investigations. The official response was initially lukewarm, in 1950 LAPD Chief William H. Parker offered Webb the endorsement he sought. Police wanted control over the program’s sponsor, and insisted that police not be depicted unflatteringly. This would lead to some criticism, as LAPD racial segregation policies were never addressed, nor was there a suggestion of police corruption.
Dragnet debuted inauspiciously. The first several months were bumpy, as Webb and company worked out the program’s format and eventually became comfortable with their characters (Friday was originally portrayed as more brash and forceful than his later usually relaxed demeanor). Gradually, Friday’s deadpan, fast-talking persona emerged, described by John Dunning as "a cop's cop, tough but not hard, conservative but caring." (Dunning, 210) Friday’s first partner was Sgt. Ben Romero, portrayed by Barton Yarborough, a longtime radio actor. When Dragnet hit its stride, it became one of radio’s top-rated shows.
Webb insisted on realism in every aspect of the show. The dialogue was clipped, understated and sparse, influenced by the hard boiled school of crime fiction. Scripts were fast moving but didn’t seem rushed. Every aspect of police work was chronicled, step by step: From patrols and paperwork, to crime scene investigation, lab work and questioning witnesses or suspects. The detectives’ personal lives were mentioned, but rarely took center stage. (Friday was a bachelor who lived with his mother; Romero was an ever-fretful husband and father) "Underplaying is still acting," Webb told Time. "We try to make it as real as a guy pouring a cup of coffee.” (Dunning, 209) Los Angeles police chiefs C.B. Horrall and (later) William H. Parker were credited as consultants, and many police officers were fans.
Webb was a stickler for accurate details, and Dragnet used many authentic touches, such as the LAPD's actual radio call sign (KMA-367), and the names of many real department officials, such as Ray Pinker and Lee Jones of the crime lab or Chief of Detectives Thad Brown.
Episodes began with an announcer describing the basic premise of the show. "Big Saint" (April 26, 1951) for example, begins with, "You're a Detective Sergeant, you're assigned to auto theft detail. A well organized ring of car thieves begins operations in your city. It's one of the most puzzling cases you've ever encountered. Your job: break it."
Friday offered voice-over narration throughout the episodes, noting the time, date and place of every scene as he and his partners went through their day investigating the crime. The events related in a given episode might occur in a few hours, or might span a few months. At least one episode unfolded in real time: in "City Hall Bombing" (July 21, 1949), Friday and Romero had less than 30 minutes to stop a man who was threatening to destroy the City Hall with a bomb.
At the end of the episode, the announcer (George Fenneman) would relate the fate of the suspect. They were usually convicted of a crime and sent to "the State Penitentiary, San Quentin or Folsom" , a state mental hospital, but other occasions the cases had ambiguous, unusual or even disappointing resolutions. Sometimes, criminals avoided justice or escaped, at least on the radio version of Dragnet. In 1950, Time quoted Webb: "We don’t even try to prove that crime doesn’t pay ... sometimes it does" (Dunning, 210)
Specialized terminology was mentioned in every episode, but was rarely explained. Webb trusted the audience to determine the meanings of words or terms by their context, and furthermore, Dragnet tried to avoid the kinds of awkward, lengthy exposition that people wouldn’t actually use in daily speech. Several specialized terms (such as "A.P.B." for "All Points Bulletin" and "M.O." for "Modus Operandi") were rarely used in popular culture before Dragnet introduced them to everyday America.
While most radio shows used one or two sound effects experts, Dragnet needed five; a script clocking in at just under 30 minutes could require up to 300 separate effects. Accuracy was underlined: The exact number of footsteps from one room to another at Los Angeles police headquarters were imitated, and when a telephone rang at Friday’s desk, the listener heard the same ring as the telephones in Los Angeles police headquarters. A single minute of "A Gun For Christmas" is a representative example of the evocative sound effects featured on "Dragnet". While Friday and others investigate bloodstains in a suburban backyard, the listener hears a series of overlapping effects: a squeaking gate hinge, footsteps, a technician scraping blood into a paper envelope, the glassy chime of chemical vials, bird calls and a dog barking in the distance.
Scripts tackled a number of topics, ranging from the thrilling (murders, missing persons and armed robbery) to the mundane (check fraud and shoplifting), yet "Dragnet" made them all interesting due to fast-moving plots and behind-the-scenes realism. In "The Garbage Chute" (15 December 1949), they even had a locked room mystery.
Though rather tame by modern standards, Dragnet--especially on the radio--handled controversial subjects such as sex crimes and drug addiction with unprecedented and even startling realism. Dragnet broke one of the unspoken (and still rarely broached) taboos of popular entertainment when a young child was killed in "A Gun For Christmas" (aired December 21, 1950). The episode followed the search for eight-year-old Stevie Morheim, only to discover he’d been accidentally killed by his best friend while they played with a rifle his friend had received as a Christmas gift. Thousands of letters were mailed to NBC in complaint, including a formal protest by the National Rifle Association. Webb forwarded many of the letters to police chief Parker who promised "ten more shows illustrating the folly of giving rifles to children." (Dunning, 211) "Big Betty" (November 23, 1950) dealt with young women who, rather than finding Hollywood stardom, fall in with fraudulent talent scouts and end up in pornography and prostitution.
The tone was usually serious, but there were moments of comic relief: Romero was something of a hypochondriac and often seemed henpecked; though Friday dated women, he usually dodged those who tried to set him up with marriage-minded dates.
Due in part to Webb’s fondness for radio drama, Dragnet persisted on radio until 1957 as one of the last old time radio shows to give way to television’s increasing popularity. In fact, the TV show would prove to be effectively a visual version of the radio show, as the style was virtually the same. The TV show could be listened to without watching it, with no loss of understanding of the storyline.
source:Wikipedia
(click on the title link or on the radio located in the side bar to go to my station page)
Later,
Kenaz
Actor and producer Jack Webb’s aims in Dragnet were for realism and unpretentious acting. He achieved both goals, and Dragnet remains a key influence on subsequent police dramas in many media.
The show's cultural impact is demonstrated by the fact that even after five decades, elements of Dragnet are known to those who've never seen or heard the program:
The ominous, four-note introduction to the brass and tympani theme music (titled "Danger Ahead") is instantly recognizable (though its origins date back to Miklós Rózsa's score for the 1946 film version of The Killers).
Another Dragnet trademark is the show's opening narration: "Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." This underwent minor revisions over time. The "only" and "ladies and gentlemen" were dropped at some point, and for the television version "hear" was changed to "see". Variations on this narration have been featured in many subsequent crime dramas, and in satires of these dramas. On radio, Dragnet ran from June 3, 1949 to February 26, 1957.
Dragnet was created and produced by Jack Webb, who starred as the terse Sgt. Friday. Webb had starred in a few mostly short-lived radio programs, but Dragnet would make him one of the major media personalities of his era.
Dragnet had its origins in Webb’s small role as a police forensic scientist in the 1948 film, He Walked by Night, inspired by the actual murder of a police officer in Los Angeles. The film was depicted in semidocumentary style, and Marty Wynn (an LAPD sergeant) was a technical advisor on the film. Webb and Wynn became friends, and both thought that the day-to-day activities of police officers could be realistically depicted, and could make for compelling drama without the forced sense of melodrama then so common in radio programming. Webb frequently visited police headquarters, drove with police patrols, and attended police academy courses to learn authentic jargon and other details that could be featured in a radio program. When he proposed Dragnet to NBC officials, they were not especially impressed; radio was aswarm with private investigators and crime dramas, such as Webb’s earlier Pat Novak for Hire. That program didn’t last long, but Webb had received high marks for his role as the titular private investigator, and NBC agreed to a limited run for Dragnet.
With writer James E. Moser, Webb prepared an audition recording, then sought the LAPD’s endorsement; he wanted to use cases from official files in order to demonstrate the steps taken by police officers during investigations. The official response was initially lukewarm, in 1950 LAPD Chief William H. Parker offered Webb the endorsement he sought. Police wanted control over the program’s sponsor, and insisted that police not be depicted unflatteringly. This would lead to some criticism, as LAPD racial segregation policies were never addressed, nor was there a suggestion of police corruption.
Dragnet debuted inauspiciously. The first several months were bumpy, as Webb and company worked out the program’s format and eventually became comfortable with their characters (Friday was originally portrayed as more brash and forceful than his later usually relaxed demeanor). Gradually, Friday’s deadpan, fast-talking persona emerged, described by John Dunning as "a cop's cop, tough but not hard, conservative but caring." (Dunning, 210) Friday’s first partner was Sgt. Ben Romero, portrayed by Barton Yarborough, a longtime radio actor. When Dragnet hit its stride, it became one of radio’s top-rated shows.
Webb insisted on realism in every aspect of the show. The dialogue was clipped, understated and sparse, influenced by the hard boiled school of crime fiction. Scripts were fast moving but didn’t seem rushed. Every aspect of police work was chronicled, step by step: From patrols and paperwork, to crime scene investigation, lab work and questioning witnesses or suspects. The detectives’ personal lives were mentioned, but rarely took center stage. (Friday was a bachelor who lived with his mother; Romero was an ever-fretful husband and father) "Underplaying is still acting," Webb told Time. "We try to make it as real as a guy pouring a cup of coffee.” (Dunning, 209) Los Angeles police chiefs C.B. Horrall and (later) William H. Parker were credited as consultants, and many police officers were fans.
Webb was a stickler for accurate details, and Dragnet used many authentic touches, such as the LAPD's actual radio call sign (KMA-367), and the names of many real department officials, such as Ray Pinker and Lee Jones of the crime lab or Chief of Detectives Thad Brown.
Episodes began with an announcer describing the basic premise of the show. "Big Saint" (April 26, 1951) for example, begins with, "You're a Detective Sergeant, you're assigned to auto theft detail. A well organized ring of car thieves begins operations in your city. It's one of the most puzzling cases you've ever encountered. Your job: break it."
Friday offered voice-over narration throughout the episodes, noting the time, date and place of every scene as he and his partners went through their day investigating the crime. The events related in a given episode might occur in a few hours, or might span a few months. At least one episode unfolded in real time: in "City Hall Bombing" (July 21, 1949), Friday and Romero had less than 30 minutes to stop a man who was threatening to destroy the City Hall with a bomb.
At the end of the episode, the announcer (George Fenneman) would relate the fate of the suspect. They were usually convicted of a crime and sent to "the State Penitentiary, San Quentin or Folsom" , a state mental hospital, but other occasions the cases had ambiguous, unusual or even disappointing resolutions. Sometimes, criminals avoided justice or escaped, at least on the radio version of Dragnet. In 1950, Time quoted Webb: "We don’t even try to prove that crime doesn’t pay ... sometimes it does" (Dunning, 210)
Specialized terminology was mentioned in every episode, but was rarely explained. Webb trusted the audience to determine the meanings of words or terms by their context, and furthermore, Dragnet tried to avoid the kinds of awkward, lengthy exposition that people wouldn’t actually use in daily speech. Several specialized terms (such as "A.P.B." for "All Points Bulletin" and "M.O." for "Modus Operandi") were rarely used in popular culture before Dragnet introduced them to everyday America.
While most radio shows used one or two sound effects experts, Dragnet needed five; a script clocking in at just under 30 minutes could require up to 300 separate effects. Accuracy was underlined: The exact number of footsteps from one room to another at Los Angeles police headquarters were imitated, and when a telephone rang at Friday’s desk, the listener heard the same ring as the telephones in Los Angeles police headquarters. A single minute of "A Gun For Christmas" is a representative example of the evocative sound effects featured on "Dragnet". While Friday and others investigate bloodstains in a suburban backyard, the listener hears a series of overlapping effects: a squeaking gate hinge, footsteps, a technician scraping blood into a paper envelope, the glassy chime of chemical vials, bird calls and a dog barking in the distance.
Scripts tackled a number of topics, ranging from the thrilling (murders, missing persons and armed robbery) to the mundane (check fraud and shoplifting), yet "Dragnet" made them all interesting due to fast-moving plots and behind-the-scenes realism. In "The Garbage Chute" (15 December 1949), they even had a locked room mystery.
Though rather tame by modern standards, Dragnet--especially on the radio--handled controversial subjects such as sex crimes and drug addiction with unprecedented and even startling realism. Dragnet broke one of the unspoken (and still rarely broached) taboos of popular entertainment when a young child was killed in "A Gun For Christmas" (aired December 21, 1950). The episode followed the search for eight-year-old Stevie Morheim, only to discover he’d been accidentally killed by his best friend while they played with a rifle his friend had received as a Christmas gift. Thousands of letters were mailed to NBC in complaint, including a formal protest by the National Rifle Association. Webb forwarded many of the letters to police chief Parker who promised "ten more shows illustrating the folly of giving rifles to children." (Dunning, 211) "Big Betty" (November 23, 1950) dealt with young women who, rather than finding Hollywood stardom, fall in with fraudulent talent scouts and end up in pornography and prostitution.
The tone was usually serious, but there were moments of comic relief: Romero was something of a hypochondriac and often seemed henpecked; though Friday dated women, he usually dodged those who tried to set him up with marriage-minded dates.
Due in part to Webb’s fondness for radio drama, Dragnet persisted on radio until 1957 as one of the last old time radio shows to give way to television’s increasing popularity. In fact, the TV show would prove to be effectively a visual version of the radio show, as the style was virtually the same. The TV show could be listened to without watching it, with no loss of understanding of the storyline.
source:Wikipedia
(click on the title link or on the radio located in the side bar to go to my station page)
Later,
Kenaz
Friday, January 19, 2007
Storm of confused thoughts leads to a flow from the mouth
I would like you to read the following about the 'big' storm that hit Hamilton back on December first.
Did Councillor Ferguson and Carrie Le Roy; writer of this piece of over exaggeration; lose their senses? I had to think back to what storm they where talking about. That "fateful" December day, was definitely nothing close to what the story tells. I went to work that Friday like any day, and not once was I concerned with a little rain. The bus home didn't need to navigate it's way through any sea of flood water, no persons or animals where forced from their homes. I live in an old home and even a little heavy rain causes the tool room to flood. That night nada!
So where does Mr. Ferguson get off using such a careless metaphor, he should be ashamed of comparing 66 mm of rain to what they experienced in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and does The Spectator need a proof reader so that this kind of quote never makes print, maybe?
At least 1,300 people died in New Orleans. About 6,600 people, including 1,300 children, are still missing. At the worst in Hamilton, some homes would have sustained damage -- certainly upsetting and costly, but compared to thousands missing and dead? I think not. Shame Mr. Ferguson, I hope this kind of slip never happens again.
Later,
Kenaz
Pounding December rains pushed Hamilton dangerously close to a devastating flood that would have overwhelmed up to 3,000 waterfront properties. Officials were so worried about the rising waters they also took emergency precautions to protect the downtown. It could have been the "New Orleans of the North," Councillor Lloyd Ferguson declared yesterday as staff outlined how close the city came to a disaster Dec. 1. The Woodward Avenue water treatment plant ran at its highest level ever during the storm that dumped up to 66 millimetres in parts of the city. It was the first time the plant was forced to use all eight of its pumps.
"Staff work avoided a potential catastrophe," said Jim Harnum, director of water and waste water. Workers reinforced portions of the operation to prevent a sewage leak that could have shorted out the entire system. That would have flooded downtown Hamilton.
Did Councillor Ferguson and Carrie Le Roy; writer of this piece of over exaggeration; lose their senses? I had to think back to what storm they where talking about. That "fateful" December day, was definitely nothing close to what the story tells. I went to work that Friday like any day, and not once was I concerned with a little rain. The bus home didn't need to navigate it's way through any sea of flood water, no persons or animals where forced from their homes. I live in an old home and even a little heavy rain causes the tool room to flood. That night nada!
So where does Mr. Ferguson get off using such a careless metaphor, he should be ashamed of comparing 66 mm of rain to what they experienced in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and does The Spectator need a proof reader so that this kind of quote never makes print, maybe?
At least 1,300 people died in New Orleans. About 6,600 people, including 1,300 children, are still missing. At the worst in Hamilton, some homes would have sustained damage -- certainly upsetting and costly, but compared to thousands missing and dead? I think not. Shame Mr. Ferguson, I hope this kind of slip never happens again.
Later,
Kenaz
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Saying Goodbye to a Hamilton Ledgend
Bill Sturrup was Mr. Hamilton. As a reporter, he was everywhere. He was the voice of CHML, the Ticats, Bulldogs and others. His legacy will echoes on. Anyone who has attended a Bulldogs game can atest to the sheer excitement his voice drummed up when he belted out the trademark Hamilton BUULLL-dogs call that shook the walls of Copps Coliseum every time the team hit the ice. Bill Sturrup passed away Tuesday morning after a bout with cancer.
Full story,
Hamilton Spectator
Later,
Kenaz
Full story,
Hamilton Spectator
Later,
Kenaz
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
The Tao of Pooh
Hoff uses the British children's story Winne-the-Pooh to explain the concepts of Taoism. It's a simple and effective approach.
Pooh is a small bear whose one love in life is eating honey. Pooh is not cleaver but, rather, bumbles along in the stories arriving at the answer to riddles or problems without meaning to or through little effort or, even, without knowing he has arrived at the answer. He is contrasted with a self-proclaimed purveyor of knowledge, the owl, and a busy body rabbit as well as other animals of the 100 acre wood.
Hoff sets up his thesis of Pooh as Taoist master by first introducing the reader to a few background principles of the religion. He tells of a painting called "The Vinegar Tasters" with three men who have tasted a particular vinegar. The first is un-bending Confucius and he finds the vinegar sour. For him, life was ruled by rituals and reverence for ancestors; hence, the sour vinegar. The second taster is dreamer Buddha and, for him, the vinegar is bitter. He sees life as filled with attachments and desires for this world which lead to suffering and pain. Only by escaping these desires and attachments (thereby escaping this world completely through nirvana) may a person cease the suffering. The last vinegar taster was realist Lao-tse, the founder of Taoism. He is laughing as he finds heaven to exist on earth.
As Pooh as the perfect Taoist, Hoff explains the concept of the "uncarved block" (called "P'u" in Taoism). Hoff states the concept as follows:
The essence of the principle of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed.
Pooh is able to accomplish what he does because he is simpleminded. As any old Taoist walking out of the woods can tell you, simple-minded does not necessarily mean stupid.
Hoff then quotes the Tao Te Ching: "The wise are not learned; the learned are not wise." This is so because the learned individual is restricted by his own learning.
Simply, using the character Owl from Winnie-The-Pooh as an example of a learned individual who lacks wisdom. In the story, Owl's knowledge and education never assist the characters in performing the task at hand. Time and again, it is Pooh's way (simple, slow paced approach) that wins the day.
I believe the point is to Know one's self leads to believing in one's self which leads to self-reliance. To emphasis the point, Hoff reminds us of the story of the Ugly Duckling who later turns into a swan. The duckling had already turned into a swan but still suffered with low self-esteem. It was not until the swan looked at her reflection in the water that she realized who she really was (i.e., saw her true inner self, an inner self that is hidden in us all).
The next principle presented is Wu Wei. Meaning, "without doing, causing, or making." This is exemplified by how Pooh goes about life. Pooh operates on the simple principle of minimal effort and working within his limitations.
These are the main points of the book. The book reinforced the ideas that I had, that being that we don't need to shift our responsibilities onto the shoulders of some deified Spiritual Superman, or sit around and wait for Fate to come knocking at the door. We simply need to believe in the power that's within us, and use it.
Loa-tse wrote: "To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day." All things come from Nothing. This empty-mindedness (or clear-mindedness). The best example of this concept is a small child who's mind is free of prejudice and judgement.
Later,
Kenaz
Pooh is a small bear whose one love in life is eating honey. Pooh is not cleaver but, rather, bumbles along in the stories arriving at the answer to riddles or problems without meaning to or through little effort or, even, without knowing he has arrived at the answer. He is contrasted with a self-proclaimed purveyor of knowledge, the owl, and a busy body rabbit as well as other animals of the 100 acre wood.
Hoff sets up his thesis of Pooh as Taoist master by first introducing the reader to a few background principles of the religion. He tells of a painting called "The Vinegar Tasters" with three men who have tasted a particular vinegar. The first is un-bending Confucius and he finds the vinegar sour. For him, life was ruled by rituals and reverence for ancestors; hence, the sour vinegar. The second taster is dreamer Buddha and, for him, the vinegar is bitter. He sees life as filled with attachments and desires for this world which lead to suffering and pain. Only by escaping these desires and attachments (thereby escaping this world completely through nirvana) may a person cease the suffering. The last vinegar taster was realist Lao-tse, the founder of Taoism. He is laughing as he finds heaven to exist on earth.
As Pooh as the perfect Taoist, Hoff explains the concept of the "uncarved block" (called "P'u" in Taoism). Hoff states the concept as follows:
The essence of the principle of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed.
Pooh is able to accomplish what he does because he is simpleminded. As any old Taoist walking out of the woods can tell you, simple-minded does not necessarily mean stupid.
Hoff then quotes the Tao Te Ching: "The wise are not learned; the learned are not wise." This is so because the learned individual is restricted by his own learning.
Simply, using the character Owl from Winnie-The-Pooh as an example of a learned individual who lacks wisdom. In the story, Owl's knowledge and education never assist the characters in performing the task at hand. Time and again, it is Pooh's way (simple, slow paced approach) that wins the day.
I believe the point is to Know one's self leads to believing in one's self which leads to self-reliance. To emphasis the point, Hoff reminds us of the story of the Ugly Duckling who later turns into a swan. The duckling had already turned into a swan but still suffered with low self-esteem. It was not until the swan looked at her reflection in the water that she realized who she really was (i.e., saw her true inner self, an inner self that is hidden in us all).
The next principle presented is Wu Wei. Meaning, "without doing, causing, or making." This is exemplified by how Pooh goes about life. Pooh operates on the simple principle of minimal effort and working within his limitations.
The Wu Wei principle can be understood by striking at a piece of cork floating in water. The harder you hit it, the more it yields: the more it yields, the harder it bounces back. Without expending energy, the cork can easily wear you out.
These are the main points of the book. The book reinforced the ideas that I had, that being that we don't need to shift our responsibilities onto the shoulders of some deified Spiritual Superman, or sit around and wait for Fate to come knocking at the door. We simply need to believe in the power that's within us, and use it.
One of the most important concepts in Taoism is compassion ("Tz'u"). From it comes courage and, without it, one cannot achieve wisdom.
Loa-tse wrote: "To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day." All things come from Nothing. This empty-mindedness (or clear-mindedness). The best example of this concept is a small child who's mind is free of prejudice and judgement.
On his way back from K'un-lun Mountains, the Yellow Emperor lost the dark pearl of Tao. He sent Knowledge to find it, but Knowledge was unable to understand it. He sent Distant Vision, but Distant Vision was unable to see it. He sent Eloquence, but Eloquence was unable to describe it. Finally, he sent Empty Mind, and Empty Mind came back with the pearl...Chuang-tse
Later,
Kenaz
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Cottleston Pie
"The Tao of Pooh" is a new incarnation of Lao-Tsu, the ancient Chinese sage from whom Taoism first arose. Benjamin Hoff's tells of the teachings of the Toa in a fun and enjoyable manner. Each principle is explored through the eyes of the lovable characters of A.A Milne. Hoff's book makes it quite clear: "Eeyore frets, and Piglet hesitates, and Rabbit calculates, and Owl pontificates. Pooh just is." Pooh doesn't fret or hesitate or calculate or pontificate: He is blessed with an indefinable something, a grace that gets him past all the anxiety-driven craziness of those about him. he doesn't think very far ahead, maybe not beyond breakfast. He redeems every situation. He lives in the present. He goes for the sweet stuff, the honey. Blessed are those who go and do likewise.
Pooh's nonsense songs are songs of uncommon sense, though it may seem hard to get at, like the honey in the very bottom of the honey pot. In "Cottleston Pie" Benjamin Hoff gives us a "Tao of Pooh" interpretation of the three riddles in the song. May I remind you how it goes?
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly.
Ask me a riddle and I reply ...
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
A fish can't whistle and neither can I,
Ask me a riddle and I reply ...
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
Why does a chicken, I don't know why.
Ask me a riddle and I reply,
Cottleston, Cottleston, ..."
you know what.
First riddle: "A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly." Nonsense or uncommon sense? People are forever striving to be what they are not because they ignore "the clear reality of Things As They Are." The Cottleston Pie Principle says: Know your Inner Nature. Do not be alienated from yourself, forever in tension, trying to make yourself into something you are not. Accept that you are acceptable at the deepest level of your being. Come as you are. Cherish your integrity. Be attentive to your spiritual life. Seek your center, the place where your freedom resides. Take time, at regular intervals, to relax into yourself and appreciate your Inner Nature.
As yourself, when you need reminding, How could I ever have not known that "a fly can't bird but a bird can fly"? Let yourself laugh at yourself sometimes. And you'll begin to enjoy other people more, too. You'll know that they have Inner Natures of their own, and you'll enjoy the differences between you rather than being distressed by them. Let go of control sometimes. Rather than joining in Rabbit's clever scheme to drive Kanga and Roo out of the forest because they are different, you'll join in creating a community of mutual respect and enjoyment -- and compassion for the thorn-pierced foot.
Second riddle: "A fish can't whistle and neither can I." According to Benjamin Hoff, "Coming from a wise mind, such a statement would mean, 'I have certain limitations, and I know what they are.' ... There's nothing wrong with not being able to whistle, especially if you are a fish. But much is wrong with blindly trying to do what you aren't designed for."
In "Winnie the Pooh," Tigger and Roo are walking through the forest one morning and Tigger is talking about all the things Tiggers can do: " 'Can they fly?' asked Roo. 'Yes,' said Tigger, 'they're very good fliers, Tiggers are, 'stronry good flyers.' 'Oo!' said Roo. 'Can they fly as well as Owl?' 'Yes,' said Tigger. 'Only they don't want to.' " A little later, Christopher Robin and his friends have to rescue Tigger from the limb of a tree onto which he has climbed, letting him drop into a blanket, ker-plop!
Maybe you have known people like that. Or maybe you've had to be rescued from a limb or two you've climbed out on yourself. People who care will cushion your fall. Here's another way the personal side of life is linked to the community: We are forever bumping up against our limitations in unexpected ways; but with the caring concern of others, we can learn from these bumps. Knowing that "a fish can't whistle and neither can I" does not deny the possibility of learning and growth; owning your limitations is the basis of spiritual learning and growth.
Pooh's third Cottleston Pie riddle asks: "Why does a chicken, I don't know why." Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side. Why does he want to get to the other side, or wherever a chicken might want to go? We don't know, and I suppose the chicken doesn't fully understand it, either. Instinct is the scientific-sounding answer; but appeal to instinct really means: We don't know, and probably nobody else does, either. We could as well say: The chicken is acting in accord with its Inner Nature and its Limitations. But then we'd need to add: Even these do not determine what it will do, for the chicken does what it wants to do, we know not why. In the end it is unlimited, at liberty. And so are we who live within the Unlimited, a reality that is mysterious and transcends us absolutely. Lao-Tsu calls it the Tao. The freedom to choose what we will do and what we would become is our clearest link to ultimate reality.
Pooh's nonsense songs are songs of uncommon sense, though it may seem hard to get at, like the honey in the very bottom of the honey pot. In "Cottleston Pie" Benjamin Hoff gives us a "Tao of Pooh" interpretation of the three riddles in the song. May I remind you how it goes?
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly.
Ask me a riddle and I reply ...
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
A fish can't whistle and neither can I,
Ask me a riddle and I reply ...
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
Why does a chicken, I don't know why.
Ask me a riddle and I reply,
Cottleston, Cottleston, ..."
you know what.
First riddle: "A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly." Nonsense or uncommon sense? People are forever striving to be what they are not because they ignore "the clear reality of Things As They Are." The Cottleston Pie Principle says: Know your Inner Nature. Do not be alienated from yourself, forever in tension, trying to make yourself into something you are not. Accept that you are acceptable at the deepest level of your being. Come as you are. Cherish your integrity. Be attentive to your spiritual life. Seek your center, the place where your freedom resides. Take time, at regular intervals, to relax into yourself and appreciate your Inner Nature.
As yourself, when you need reminding, How could I ever have not known that "a fly can't bird but a bird can fly"? Let yourself laugh at yourself sometimes. And you'll begin to enjoy other people more, too. You'll know that they have Inner Natures of their own, and you'll enjoy the differences between you rather than being distressed by them. Let go of control sometimes. Rather than joining in Rabbit's clever scheme to drive Kanga and Roo out of the forest because they are different, you'll join in creating a community of mutual respect and enjoyment -- and compassion for the thorn-pierced foot.
Second riddle: "A fish can't whistle and neither can I." According to Benjamin Hoff, "Coming from a wise mind, such a statement would mean, 'I have certain limitations, and I know what they are.' ... There's nothing wrong with not being able to whistle, especially if you are a fish. But much is wrong with blindly trying to do what you aren't designed for."
In "Winnie the Pooh," Tigger and Roo are walking through the forest one morning and Tigger is talking about all the things Tiggers can do: " 'Can they fly?' asked Roo. 'Yes,' said Tigger, 'they're very good fliers, Tiggers are, 'stronry good flyers.' 'Oo!' said Roo. 'Can they fly as well as Owl?' 'Yes,' said Tigger. 'Only they don't want to.' " A little later, Christopher Robin and his friends have to rescue Tigger from the limb of a tree onto which he has climbed, letting him drop into a blanket, ker-plop!
Maybe you have known people like that. Or maybe you've had to be rescued from a limb or two you've climbed out on yourself. People who care will cushion your fall. Here's another way the personal side of life is linked to the community: We are forever bumping up against our limitations in unexpected ways; but with the caring concern of others, we can learn from these bumps. Knowing that "a fish can't whistle and neither can I" does not deny the possibility of learning and growth; owning your limitations is the basis of spiritual learning and growth.
Pooh's third Cottleston Pie riddle asks: "Why does a chicken, I don't know why." Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side. Why does he want to get to the other side, or wherever a chicken might want to go? We don't know, and I suppose the chicken doesn't fully understand it, either. Instinct is the scientific-sounding answer; but appeal to instinct really means: We don't know, and probably nobody else does, either. We could as well say: The chicken is acting in accord with its Inner Nature and its Limitations. But then we'd need to add: Even these do not determine what it will do, for the chicken does what it wants to do, we know not why. In the end it is unlimited, at liberty. And so are we who live within the Unlimited, a reality that is mysterious and transcends us absolutely. Lao-Tsu calls it the Tao. The freedom to choose what we will do and what we would become is our clearest link to ultimate reality.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
A step closer towards closure for Matthew Daly
Edin Hodzic, 24, was the last of five Hamilton men to be tried for first-degree murder in the death of Matthew Daly on May 19, 2001. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter for his role in the beating death, thus avoiding a long trial and the risk of a conviction for first- or second-degree murder.
On Dec. 14, a jury convicted Fadil (Neil) Mujku, 23, Vuthy Chak, 23, and Sam Nop, 24, of second-degree murder and Stephen Papadopoulos, 26, of manslaughter in Daly's death. They will be sentenced Jan. 29.
During the trial of his four accomplices, Erin Keller testified she was walking home from the graduation party with her boyfriend Daly, 19, about 3 a.m., May 19, 2001, when they heard somebody running up behind them on Woodland Park Drive in Burlington. She glanced back at a tallish "Italian-looking" man whom the Crown suggested matched Hodzic's description. He stopped briefly after making eye contact with her. Moments later, the stranger crashed into them from behind and forced their hands to break apart. He then grabbed Daly in a kind of headlock and dragged him across the street to a lawn where he was attacked by four other men and left unconscious.
After being arrested and charged on Oct. 10, 2001, Hodzic spent more than 4 1/2 years in jail awaiting his trial until he was released on bail in May 2006. By that time, the court had agreed to sever his case from the other four. He was called to testify against the other four men but refused and was cited for contempt and has been in custody since. He will be sentenced Feb. 12.
Later,
Kenaz
On Dec. 14, a jury convicted Fadil (Neil) Mujku, 23, Vuthy Chak, 23, and Sam Nop, 24, of second-degree murder and Stephen Papadopoulos, 26, of manslaughter in Daly's death. They will be sentenced Jan. 29.
During the trial of his four accomplices, Erin Keller testified she was walking home from the graduation party with her boyfriend Daly, 19, about 3 a.m., May 19, 2001, when they heard somebody running up behind them on Woodland Park Drive in Burlington. She glanced back at a tallish "Italian-looking" man whom the Crown suggested matched Hodzic's description. He stopped briefly after making eye contact with her. Moments later, the stranger crashed into them from behind and forced their hands to break apart. He then grabbed Daly in a kind of headlock and dragged him across the street to a lawn where he was attacked by four other men and left unconscious.
After being arrested and charged on Oct. 10, 2001, Hodzic spent more than 4 1/2 years in jail awaiting his trial until he was released on bail in May 2006. By that time, the court had agreed to sever his case from the other four. He was called to testify against the other four men but refused and was cited for contempt and has been in custody since. He will be sentenced Feb. 12.
Later,
Kenaz
Thursday, January 04, 2007
What's new in the New Year
This is the first time I've had all week to sit down and write, so I guess I better get to it. I spent a quiet New Years at home, a little wine and really enjoying seeing Dick Clark still showing young punks like Ryan Seacrest how its done. The throat cancer hasn't slowed the old fox that much. Keep going strong Dick. The rest of the show sucked, I don't care about Xtina and I wish Fergie would keep her London Bridge shut. I hate that song!
This weeks has been a mix bag really, for Christmas I bought my self EA Sports NHL 2007 for my PC. This is the only video game I can achieve some respectability at. In the past I've had some bad luck with with games on disk, I bought NHL 2005 at a "Cheepie" second hand place and the damn thing never worked, it would load and then freeze up my computer. On Christmas past I got NBA 2000 it worked until it was taken out by a crash caused by Windows ME (stop laughing, I know this was the worst Windows platform ever). I tried to reload the game the other day, but it must have gotten damaged. Damn! The only games I have that work are Duck Hunt and Who Wants to be a millionaire (Regis' annoying voice drove me insane). So I notice EA Sports has a program called EA Link in which you download a small program that allows you to download the game after you purchase it online. Great, I cough up my credit card(securely of course), start the first of three parts to the process. The 2.5GB took four hours and several restarts of the program to complete. Here's the fun part, the next step requires you to shut down all running programs, including all anti- virus programs and even your screen saver to give the program exclusive link to the internet. Of course they don't tell you that. After five times to complete the download, I get a rude popup saying that I've maxed out my attempts for the week! Did some digging through the EA forums and tech support(?) found out I needed to waite 48hours for my attempts count to reset. Fine, last night I shut everything down, gave EA big brother complete control of my PC and started part two and three, the actual install of the game. Crossed fingers and staying up until 6am I finally have the game installed. A little blurry eyed on afternoons at work, but feeling happy. Note to self, read the damn instructions first!
Watching the news Wednesday morning and I had to start laughing when I heard about the theft of the bronze statue from a park in Oakville. Christ, where do you get a few hundred pounds of metal melted down? A back alley foundry? Psst, hey buddy wanna buy a statue? Apparently it was that easy, nobody knew the statue was missing for three days! Good news is, they found the head. I've never shyed away from a cheap pun so here goes, I guess the crooks couldn't get a head in life.
Some other good news in Hockey, it was nice see Stevie Y's number retired in Detroit. Total class act and humble almost to the point of annoying. The Canadian Juniors keeping rolling, defeating the U.S 2-1 in a shootout. Carey Price will have to keep standing on his head in the net as the kids head into the gold metal game.
Finally, did someone cross a Golden retriever with the DNA of B.T Barnum and get Donald Trump? The "Donald" is a modern equivalent to the best snake oil salesman of all time. Yes he is smart, ruthless and could sell you your own watch. What he spent and made on building his empire, he could have included a personality in the deal. He shows he has no class, by continuing to carry on like a child, hurling fat jokes at Rosie O'Donnell. For the fourth time yesterday he went on a talk show and unloaded his useless name calling and then tossed in the my buddy(Barbara Walters) thinks so too. Donny sure looked stupid when his friend said publicly that she never regretted hiring Rosie and backed up the point with the Time article called The Views newest host, the "Best hiring of the Year". I think the "King of Bling" has his weave in too tight and it effecting his judgment. If he's just trying to drum up interest in the next installment of his reality show, starting on Sunday, this stupid stunt could backfire.
Later,
Kenaz
This weeks has been a mix bag really, for Christmas I bought my self EA Sports NHL 2007 for my PC. This is the only video game I can achieve some respectability at. In the past I've had some bad luck with with games on disk, I bought NHL 2005 at a "Cheepie" second hand place and the damn thing never worked, it would load and then freeze up my computer. On Christmas past I got NBA 2000 it worked until it was taken out by a crash caused by Windows ME (stop laughing, I know this was the worst Windows platform ever). I tried to reload the game the other day, but it must have gotten damaged. Damn! The only games I have that work are Duck Hunt and Who Wants to be a millionaire (Regis' annoying voice drove me insane). So I notice EA Sports has a program called EA Link in which you download a small program that allows you to download the game after you purchase it online. Great, I cough up my credit card(securely of course), start the first of three parts to the process. The 2.5GB took four hours and several restarts of the program to complete. Here's the fun part, the next step requires you to shut down all running programs, including all anti- virus programs and even your screen saver to give the program exclusive link to the internet. Of course they don't tell you that. After five times to complete the download, I get a rude popup saying that I've maxed out my attempts for the week! Did some digging through the EA forums and tech support(?) found out I needed to waite 48hours for my attempts count to reset. Fine, last night I shut everything down, gave EA big brother complete control of my PC and started part two and three, the actual install of the game. Crossed fingers and staying up until 6am I finally have the game installed. A little blurry eyed on afternoons at work, but feeling happy. Note to self, read the damn instructions first!
Watching the news Wednesday morning and I had to start laughing when I heard about the theft of the bronze statue from a park in Oakville. Christ, where do you get a few hundred pounds of metal melted down? A back alley foundry? Psst, hey buddy wanna buy a statue? Apparently it was that easy, nobody knew the statue was missing for three days! Good news is, they found the head. I've never shyed away from a cheap pun so here goes, I guess the crooks couldn't get a head in life.
Some other good news in Hockey, it was nice see Stevie Y's number retired in Detroit. Total class act and humble almost to the point of annoying. The Canadian Juniors keeping rolling, defeating the U.S 2-1 in a shootout. Carey Price will have to keep standing on his head in the net as the kids head into the gold metal game.
Finally, did someone cross a Golden retriever with the DNA of B.T Barnum and get Donald Trump? The "Donald" is a modern equivalent to the best snake oil salesman of all time. Yes he is smart, ruthless and could sell you your own watch. What he spent and made on building his empire, he could have included a personality in the deal. He shows he has no class, by continuing to carry on like a child, hurling fat jokes at Rosie O'Donnell. For the fourth time yesterday he went on a talk show and unloaded his useless name calling and then tossed in the my buddy(Barbara Walters) thinks so too. Donny sure looked stupid when his friend said publicly that she never regretted hiring Rosie and backed up the point with the Time article called The Views newest host, the "Best hiring of the Year". I think the "King of Bling" has his weave in too tight and it effecting his judgment. If he's just trying to drum up interest in the next installment of his reality show, starting on Sunday, this stupid stunt could backfire.
Later,
Kenaz
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