KENAZ 'S BLOG: 2008-05

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Mark Nimigan's anti swearing proposal is F@*#ED!

"AM 900CHML radio host Bill Kelly talks with Mark Nimigan" interview date 5/21/2008

Saying that using vile filthy language isn't fair to those who want to enjoy Hamilton's downtown, the vice-chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board is calling for officers to charge people who yell and swear in the core. Mark Nimigan says merchants around Gore Park have complained to him about the foul language. He believes it's so bad "little old ladies" sit on the park benches with their hands over their ears.

Police Chief Brian Mullan backed his collegue's statement in a seperate interview, saying that, police can get tough on profanity and can charge someone if they receive a complaint.

I could not stop laughing when I first read this story in the Spec. Having apparently resolved all of the city's outstanding crime issues, such as drug induced bums using Gore Park and Jackson Square as a squatters paradise, fist fights galore amongst the various gangs that use the core as their own fighting "octogon". The City of Hamilton and Hamilton Police think cracking down on the amount of F-Bombs dropped in the downtown core is getting at the issue. The closed circuit cameras, while they can catch criminal activity in the act, have an obvious deaf spot, they can't pick up what you're saying because they don't have microphones, and THAT would be an invasion of privacy, after all. So, here's the theory from head "dirty mouth" crime dog.

Mr. Nimigan claims that the "Broken Windows" theory (read Rudolph Guilliani's autobiography) is the basis for this idea. It goes something like this: If we clean up the language then people will be more willing to come downtown, if they come downtown, businesses will prosper, if businesses prosper, the city will be more competitive, as Hamilton becomes more competitive more investment will be made downtown. Which will mean increased tourism and overall prosperity. And we'll all live happily ever after.

That would be nice, but do we really believe that by cutting down on the F@*# and S*$#s that are heard repeatedly is going to stop the core from turning into a scene from "Escape from New York" after banking hours? All the talk about new building projects and towers being devised will mount to a hill of beans unless we have cops arresting the scourge for breaking existing disturbance laws which cover everything form being drunk and high in public, possession of illegal substances and weapons to more serious assault and harassment offenses.

Nimigan feels that his efforts are being trivialized, what can he expect when he suggests this type of law. There is no doubt Nimigan is right that excessive profanity can contribute to an unpleasant atmosphere for members of the public who have a reign over their animal tendencies and use the F bomb in a more private setting and not inappropriately in public. But the idea of using police resources to try to stop people from swearing is silly and futile, unless perhaps the policing involves a bar of soap.

Later,
Kenaz

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Dressing our Olympians for er, success?

No this isn't a reveal for a new line of gay and lesbian GI Joe toys, yup you’re looking at the newly unveiled Canadian Olympic uniforms.

Opinions are like rear ends, everyone's has one, just some are better than others. Some liking the styles, some not, I have to say I’m on the ‘definitely not’ side.

At first glance they remind me of Hugh Heff's hand-me-down pajamas or some late period Jackson Pollack painting. The only thing I am sure of is that they certainly don’t appear to be fitting for the national Olympic team, but rather more in line with a Saturday morning jaunt to the surplus store.

Suddenly, I'm having vivid memories from my childhood. I see visions of the bargain basements at the BiWay, Kresge’s and Giant Tiger. Remember those terry cloth jumper suits? Anyway I regress back to the present, but the designer of these fashion travesties sure hasn't. What’s with the 80's aerobics instructor headband on the one guy?

These are, apparently, eco-friendly and organic. Why mess with success? Our bold red and white Canuck Maple Leaf combo is known and respected world wide, why give us this? The clincher to this madness has to be that the materials used in these leisure suits. Apparently to help keep out the Chinese smog.

“Designers have incorporated an element into the gear, called a B-Tube, which could help protect athletes from Beijing’s pollution. The sun-blocking polyester tube can be worn as a head cover, hair band or mask to filter out the particulate matter in the air.”

How about a mini, portable oxygen tank?

Our Canadian athletes’ suits also use materials such as bamboo, organic cotton, and cacona, which is, so I’ve read, derived from coconut. When the suit gets wet can you ring it out and make a fruit drink out of it?

How eco-friendly is this crap if its made in China and shipped into Canada? But that’s not to be spoken of. It’s a far better marketing strategy to con everyone with the eco-everything adverts and remove as much cash from today's consumers, and forget the real-time pollution and environmental costs behind the vendors’ ‘green’ claims.

I applaud the designer for trying to continue Canada's trend setting ways at the Olympics. Remember the backwards Roots cap? But the new Canadian outfits are embarrassing. The German team will wear to Beijing a uniform that is conservative, maybe a little boring, but at least their athletes will look professional.

Later,
Kenaz

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Taliban cowardly attack Canadian Civilian Soldier

"He died helping Afghans build a better future for themselves and their children. His dedication and sacrifice will not be forgotten."-Brig,-Gen. Guy Laroche, the commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

I found this fitting song composed by MacPhee, Schram, Howe in my files simply entitled "Ode To The Canadian Soldier "and uploaded to imeem. Please give a listen. The lyrics pay tribute to the men and women who are "Fighting for freedom and staying the course.

Taliban militants unleashing an ambush that killed a Canadian medic on a goodwill patrol in a hotly contested district west of Kandahar. Cpl. Michael Starker, of the 15th Field Ambulance Regiment, was pronounced dead in a military hospital after his Civil-Military Co-operation team (CIMIC) patrol came under fire in the Pashmul region of Zhari district, about 25 kilometres outside the city. A second, unidentified soldier was wounded. He is reported to be in stable condition, and well enough to be able to call his family at home.

Starker was born and raised in Calgary, where he worked as a paramedic for three years. The death brings Canada's toll in Afghanistan to 83 soldiers and one diplomat since the mission began in early 2002.

full story

Peace